The Fear of the Past

Confessions

Severide's POV:

The alarms had stopped their screaming, and Stella was breathing again. I sat there with head in my hands, tears spilling out of my eyes. Until now I hadn't really realized how much I had come to love the spunky, coy and kind woman that is Stella Kidd. What if I realized it too late? What if she didn't pull through? Or what if she wasn't the same? I heard a soft "Hey." behind me. I turned to see Dawson looking at me.

"How is she?" she asked me.

"I-I don't know.... Th-they had to—" I started.

"Maggie told me." she said, looking at me carefully. "Any updates?"

"They're still working on her." I gestured towards the room, taking a deep breath.

"Okay, well, call us if there's any news." she said gently. I nodded.

30 minutes later, Dr. Halstead walked out of the operating room, taking off his bloodstained gloves. We stopped the bleeding, but the war is not over yet.

"What do you mean?"I asked.

"We still need to do a scan of her brain to see if there is any bleeding or brain injuries, and if there is, there could be complications."

"Why?"

"Because it took us so long to fix the internal bleeding, if there is anything wrong with her brain, all that time passing did not help things."

"Oh."

"I'll call Chief Boden with the updates okay Kelly? I know this is a lot to process." he said. I nodded. Watched as they prepared Stella for her head scan. As they rolled her out of the room, my voice caught in my throat, and my hand flew to my mouth when I saw her. "Kelly." A soft voice called behind me. "Kelly." I turned to see Maggie looking at me. "Come with me." she gestured for me to follow her.

"But"

"She'll be down soon and then you can see her." Maggie told me.

"Okay." I felt my phone buzz. I pulled it out and saw a text from Rebecca.

Can you guys come down to PD after shift? I need to talk to you guys about a possible Co OP thats in a few weeks.

Can't. Stella's in the hospital. Injured from a fire. Will let you know if there are any updates

Okay. Thank you. Wish I could be there, but I am tied up in this case.

Stella would prefer you to be working on the case than here anyway.

I know, but she's still my sister.

I'll let her know of your concern.

Haha. Thanks Kelly.

"Hey Kelly." Maggie said. "You can go see her now."

"Okay. Where is she?"

"In the ICU, I'll take you."

"Thanks."

When we reached Stella's room, I felt like I was dreaming. The woman laying there didn't look like Stella. She looked small and weak, nothing like the strong and defiant Stella that I knew. I walked over to the side of her bed. I pulled a chair up, and sat down beside her, taking her hand into both of mine. "I'm so sorry Stella." I whispered. "Life's too short. I should've told you how I felt. I almost lost you." I said, my voice breaking. "I love you Stella Kidd, you are like no one I've ever met, and I love you for that. So please don't leave me, I need someone to give me a hard time."

"Oh stop it with all that feeling nonsense." she said giving me a weak smirk.

"Stella! Oh thank god!" I wrapped my arm around her.

"Ow!"

"Sorry, sorry!" I jumped back. She gave me a small smile and intertwined her fingers with mine.

"You still have to make me dinner." She mumbled, her eyes drooping.

"I didn't forget." I said looking at her. "Hey Stella?'

"Hm?"

"You never answered my question."

"What question?"

"About you being my date to the academy dinner."

"Yes, I will be your date to the academy dinner. Now can I go to sleep?"

"Yes, thank you." I said, kissing the back of her hand. I watched as she drifted to sleep. Once she was asleep, I laid my head down on the side of the bed, still holding

her hand, as I slowly drifted to sleep.