Hunting Season (Kelly Severide Love Story)

Put White On Me

"AND THEY SAY, SHE'S IN THE CLASS A TEAM, SHE'S STUCK IN HER DAYDREAM" 

I rush down the stairs, not wanting to run into Jess because I don't want to notice anything. I am nearly out of the house when Jess calls out for me.

"Liv, I bought a bottle of Hennessy, and I can't find it anywhere" she brings up, "you seen it by any chance" I pause, pretending to think but I know exactly what happened to that bottle. "No, I haven't, sorry," I lie, "it's okay, it's around here somewhere" she goes back to looking around.

"I'm heading to work now" I don't wait for her to reply, heading to my car.

Once I am in, I drive down the road before pulling over on a random street. Resting my head on the steering wheel, I close my eyes for a second, wanting to calm down all the voices in my head but it doesn't work. 

There is only one thing that I know works.

Reaching into my glove compartment, I take out the pills, taking four instead of the usual three. I just want to go back to feeling nothing. 

I pop all the pills on my tongue, washing them down with a swing of vodka.

Or a couple of swings. 

Taking out my packet of gum, I take a handful of sticks and throw them in, chewing on them to remove the smell of alcohol. 

Spraying all around me with my perfume before driving to the firehouse. 

Once I reach the firehouse, I get ready into my uniform, rinsing my throat with mouthwash before joining the others in the meeting.

"Sorry I'm late" I apologise, standing at the back.

"Let's not make it a habit, Lewis," Boden warns as I send him a salute.

"So our neighbours at 19 are out of service this morning due to a roach infestation" I cringe at the imagery, "oh, I've been there," Hermann comments, "19 is the worst," he states. "Yes, which means we ought to expect a busy start" there is the tapping of a cane coming towards us.

We turn to see Otis making his way inside, relying on his cane, but he is moving much better than he was before.

Rehab is working for him, and he is recovering quickly.

But I know it doesn't feel like that to him. 

"AYYYYY! OTIS! BUDDY!" We cheer when he comes into full view.

"I am so proud of you! Told you I would see you in uniform again and you look fantastic" I am the first to hug him and the others also do the same. "WELCOME BACK OTIS!" We continue to cheer, but Otis doesn't look as happy as we expected.

"As per my request, Otis has agreed to come back to help out in the bullpen while he recovers" Boden fills us in. 

"Good man" Hermann comments.

"So if any of you have any needs, that's your man right there" he gestures to Otis.

"SQUAD 3, TRUCK 81, AMBULANCE 61! ELECTRICAL HAZARD!" We don't waste any time getting geared up and jumping into the rig before we drive off. 

The pills are kicking in and the weightless feeling I desire returns, I don't feel as though I am in my body. 

"Lewis you good?" Cruz questions, noticing how spaced out I must seem. 

"Fantastic" I shake myself out of my head, "just thinking" I add. "About what?" Capp questions, "I don't know" I admit, "I'm just thinking" I lean back in my seat. 

Once we get to the scene, I nearly fall when getting out of the rig. 

"Woah, Lewis!" Tony helps me keep balance, "sorry" I stand up on my own, "you good Lewis?" Kelly observes. "Yeah, just tripped over my own feet" I laugh it off, "you know me, I'm such a klutz" I readjust my bag.