Title: Nowhere Left to Fall
Author: Katie
Disclaimer: I own nothing but this story and my original characters.
Show/Movie/Book: Chicago Fire
Couples/Category: Scott/Allison (original female character, played by Emmanuelle Vaugier), others to be determined. Slightly alternate universe (AU)
Rating: M
Summary: "I gave up because you never once fought for me." AU. When Rice has the opportunity to reconnect with his former high school sweetheart, neither of them expect it to be during a traffic accident that 51 gets called to. Nor does he expect the surprise that is in store for him. [Rice/OC]
Author's Note: I got the idea of this story from a prompt, and I don't know if I'll ever work on it, but I do hope that you all like it!

Chapter One
It was supposed to be the typical emergency call. "Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61, Battalion 25; five-car traffic accident, Moore and Duffy..." They got these kind of calls all the time. So why did it feel different for Scott Rice?

As Squad 3 pulled up to the scene of the accident, a familiar memory flooded the firefighter's mind: "Allie, babe, you knew this was going to come sooner or later," Scott said to his high school sweetheart as he continued his attempt to console her. He had come over tonight without hesitating, and the high school junior knew she deserved to get an explanation that this had something to do with the fact that he'd recently considered signing up for the Fire Academy for when he prepared to go off to college.

Allison Knight only shook her head fiercely as she let her fists beat on his solid, muscled chest. "I don't care!" she all but yelled. "Do you hear ME? I DON'T CARE!" She turned but not before he saw mixed emotions flashing in her gorgeous jade green eyes.

He turned her back to face him once more, his callused fingers combing into her hair as his hands framed her face. "Allie, baby, I know you're upset, but I am promising here and now: I WILL come home to you and our baby." Two days after they had finished their junior year of high school, they found out she was pregnant and knew it had happened on their prom night, their first time making love.

"Do you swear by it, Scott?" she asked; her voice shaky and his own eyes traveled south as he watched her bite on her lower lip. Whenever she did that, all of the blood flowing in his veins pooled downward until he thought he would burst.

"Oh, my beautiful Irish lass, I cross my heart," he responded with a low chuckle as their gazes met again. He silently repeated what he'd told her over his heart, and she couldn't keep the smile from curling her lips. Scott turned serious once again as his thumb moved in a back and forth motion across the spot where her pulse began to thrum loudly in her ears. "I love you, Allison Victoria Knight," he said softly, so soft she almost didn't hear him. "I'll love you until the day I leave this world."

"And I love you, Scott Nicholas Rice," she said. "I won't stop loving you until I am back in your loving embrace. Now, can you do a favor for your Irish lass, and make love to her? She's itching for a scratch, if you know what I mean." They both laughed at that last comment before Scott turned serious again.

"Say goodnight, Allison," a voice said from the living room and 17 year old Allison stiffened before turning to see her tall, imposing father emerge into her line of vision. "I won't repeat myself."

"You're no father of mine if you're doing everything in your higher power to drive us apart," Allison hissed before grabbing Scott and putting as much force and demand into the kiss she gives her boyfriend as possible. And then she turns to flee into the house without looking back.

That was the last glimpse Scott had of his former sweetheart…

Present Day – Scene of the traffic accident
Allison had been so worried about getting Scarlet and Hadley in the back seat safely out that she didn't hear the sirens of the fire trucks until there was a tapping on the driver's door window. Whirling, she gasps in shock at the familiar set of intense and dark blue eyes from the past – and her present. "We'll have you out in no time, ma'am," he said in his familiar hoarse tone as if seeing her again hadn't fazed him.

Inside, Scott was in turmoil. He hadn't expected to see HER again after so long. Turning to the other firefighters – as well as Sylvie Brett and Jessica "Chili" Chilton – he nodded to let them know that the woman was alive and responsive. The two paramedics nod in acknowledgment before Kelly arrives on the other side of the car, looking across the top at his longtime friend, sensing that the woman was not just the average civilian. "Capp, grab a knife," Kelly calls over to the bald-headed Squad member, who tosses one toward the lieutenant.

Kelly catches it easily then carefully starts to cut through the belt on one of the young women after opening the passenger door. "Don't hurt them," her mother said in a soft, demanding tone.

Rude much? Kelly thought to himself but gave the brunette a reassuring smile instead. "She's in good hands, ma'am. We'll have you all out in no time," he reassured her.

Once mother and daughters were safely out, Allison climbs into the back of the ambulance driven by Sylvie and Chili. As the blonde-haired Sylvie shut the doors, Allison let her eyes be drawn to the ones belonging to her ex. She couldn't let him know that she was returning to Chicago for good – or let him confront her about the teenagers in the car with her.

It would all come out eventually.

CF CF CF CF CF CF CF CF CF CF

Upon returning to the firehouse, Scott sat down on the couch and attempted to put his focus on a recap of the Blackhawks-Blues game from the night before. It didn't do him much good as Brian "Otis" Zvonecek made his way over and flipped the channel to some cooking one. "Otis, why are we…"

Otis fixes him with a look before turning back to the television and Scott leans back, closing his eyes. As much as he admired Otis for getting excited over seeing Katie Nolan – a girl that just happened to be Severide's half-sister – on a cooking show, the Squad 3 member knew he'd get little to no sleep with his ex back in town. Scott opened his eyes again as Otis began clapping, heaving a sigh. The other firefighter was going to drive him nuts! On the television, Katie began to talk about a new recipe that she'd never tried before. No sooner than Scott was focusing on the television than his cell phone began ringing.

On the other end, Allison sniffles and wipes at the tears just beginning to pool in her eyes as she sat in a chair between the end of the two beds where her twin daughters were resting. "Hello?" His voice was deeper than it had been seventeen years ago and it sent a rush through her.

"Hey," she said and cleared her throat. "It's me. Are you busy or…?"

"I can talk for a bit until the next call," he told her, pausing briefly to sit down on an empty bunk. "How have you been, Allie?"

Allie; a nickname that he and very few people had begun calling her. "I'm doing as well as can be." She sniffles again. "I don't know if you had heard or not, but…"

"I heard. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, Allie, but I doubt you would have wanted me there, especially after…" He trailed off, letting out a sigh. One hand ran tiredly down his unshaven face. "I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing." He quickly hung up.

Allison attempted to protest before the dial tone sounded in her ear. "Mom, who are you talking to?" The soft voice belonging to her daughter Hadley made the dark brown-haired Allison turn her head.

"It was an old friend of mine from high school," Allison responds with a soft smile on her lips. Hadley returns the smile then turns her head to focus on the still-sleeping Scarlet. Scarlet took after her father so much that it frightened the mother inside of Allison.