Title: Trouble in Paradise
Chapter 7 – Paying your Dues

"You have another idea?"

"Actually…I do."

Severide looks at Casey and nods, a simple gesture beckoning him to tell him his idea.

"I still have access to his jet you know."

"Kelly, I said to just call him. We don't have to go there in person."

"Will make more impact. 'sides, I think if I texted him and told him I want to come where he is…he'd send it. Trust me, this can work," Severide grins. "Let's get you fixed up first okay?"

"You were shot," Casey reminds him as both snicker and then look at Hector.

"Come on…I have a friend at the hospital who will fix you both up," Hector tells them as they head for the small car that the tow truck has now fixed the tire of. "I want to thank you for the help with this but…really it's not necessary. I don't want you to put yourselves out any more than you already have. This Travis…I don't think he'll give you what you want."

"I have to help you Hector. I want to make his right. I know it's not my fight but I think I can get what Travis owes and that'll get that cop off your tail right?"

"It…should," Hector replies with a small sigh as they head toward the hospital. "I just don't think he's going to give you what you want."

"Well…that's the power of social media," Severide exclaims in truth. "It can bite you in the ass for the bad…when you least expect it," he states with a small huff as they near the entrance to the ER of the local hospital.

"Kelly…"

"Travis needs to pay for what he's done," Severide reiterates as the ER doctor heads toward them. "Hey this was your idea."

"Maybe I've had a bit more time to think. What if he turns the tables? Or…"

"Then he'll have to admit to taking and using drugs…or doing a deal with third world gang bangers and reneging on his end of the deal. Trust me. He'll want this to go away. I don't want to blackmail him…I just want to make this right. And turn the tables how? I have nothing," Severide ends with a painful grimace as he slowly slumps down onto the nearby examining table at the doctor's bidding.

"But…" he pauses as he slowly lifts his shirt for the doctor and then winces as the thick, damp bandage is pulled free. He can only snicker as the doctor starts scolding him in Spanish and he looks at Hector for some translation help.

"He wants to know why you didn't see a doctor sooner."

"Was busy," Severide retorts as Hector offers the doctor something that makes him just shake his head and read for a needle.

"Travel insurance?"

"Yeah paid for…I'll just…ahhhh," Severide hisses as the doctor next applies some cooling disinfectant. "Thanks doc," he deadpans as Hector slightly chuckles. But his side is cleaned, treated, stitched up and then bandaged before he's told he can go and it's Casey's turn to get his arm tended to.

The cut wasn't too deep, thankfully not hitting a tendon or something that would leave any kind of permanent damage so it doesn't take long for the wound to also be cleaned, treated, a few stitches applied and then bandaged so he too can be on his way.

"Sure do love the weather down here," Casey comments as they follow Hector toward a waiting cab.

"You're long overdue for a vacay aren't you?" Severide retorts to Casey with a grin as they stop a few feet away from Hector. "Thank you," he tells him as he shakes his hand and grasps it for a few seconds longer. "You go home to your son, Hector. You're a good man. I want to make this right for you."

"I wish you wouldn't trouble yourself Senior Severide," Hector offers formally as he looks at him with a serious expression. "I live a simple life down here and don't want you to get in any more trouble."

"Trouble is my middle name," Severide replies as he slaps Hector on the back. "I'll be okay. Take care Hector. And if you're ever in Chicago – you and Carlos, call me," he pauses as he hands him his card and scribbles his cell number on it. "We'll go to a Cubs or Hawks game. Depending on when you come."

"Think we'd like that. But might be in another lifetime my friend," Hector admits simply.

"We'll see."

"Take care Hector," Casey offers the man a hug and then pulls back with a friendly smile.

"We'll be in touch," Severide tells Hector after he writes down his number and hands it to him. "Call…no matter what. Collect if you want or have to."

With that they both get into the cab, Severide turning and giving Hector a friendly wave before they get into the cab and it finally drives them to the airport. Casey can't help but notice how quiet Severide is on the way to the airport but doesn't say much to his friend as he knows he has a lot on his mind and what they were about to do. It was one of the riskiest things ever and he knows that there was still a good chance that Travis could ruin Severide in a few ways, but Kelly was right. It was the right thing to do and had to be done. He had suggested Kelly call him, make him pay and then go back directly to Chicago. But this…maybe they'd get a small holiday out of it after all.

"Everything seemed so clear a few hours ago," Severide huffs as he watches Buenos Aires start to get a bit smaller on the horizon and then turns and looks at Casey in distress.

"We can tell the pilot to just take us to Chicago. You know I'm not gonna call you on it right?" Casey assures his friend with a tightly drawn smile.

"I know. Just gotta make this right. Hey was your idea."

"I said to call," Casey retorts seriously. "But if it was my idea, can I call it off?"

"You want to?"

"Worried if there will be any personal backlash," Casey tells his friend in truth. "For you."

"He has nothing to blackmail me with. But I have 50 thousand reasons to come at him with. Hey, look I hope it won't come to that. I hope I just have to reason with him and he'll see it my way."

"50 G's is a lot of money, even for Travis Brenner," Casey comments quietly as he settles back in the plush chair of the small leer jet.

"He's good for it. Shared with me how much some of those places pay him for a tweet or a post or whatever," Severide sighs as he settles back into his chair and then purses his lips. "Wonder how much my tweets would be worth?"

"50…cents?" Casey laughs; prompting Severide to pick up a nearby magazine and toss it at his friend.

"Ha…ha…" Severide deadpans in sarcasm as he shakes his head and then looks down at his phone; the saved pictures he had downloaded from Travis's social media feed before they boarded the plane. "He just goes from place to place to…place," he mutters with a hint of disdain in his tone. "Girls…drinks…admiration," he continues as he looks at Travis on the Riviera surrounded by a few scantily clad women and holding up some brand name booze – paying the bills. "Doesn't he give a damn about what he leaves behind?"

"If he actually stopped to think about that then his party would probably be over as soon as it started," Casey retorts dryly as Severide nods in agreement.

Severide turns his worried gaze outside the window and stares absently at the clouds and then the ocean and feels his heart starting to race; his mind just as agitated. Yeah just gonna waltz in there and demand that Travis wire 50 grand to some drug dealer and then...can I really convince him to do the right thing? This guy doesn't care about doing the right thing. He just…ah damn it!

Casey glances over at Severide and feels his countenance slightly fall as he looks at his friend's rigid posture, tight jaw and clenched fists. He can't blame Severide for being nervous, as he was also. Travis Brenner wasn't a man to suffer lightly and they were walking into a lion's den. But he tells himself the worst Travis can do is say no and that'd be it; they'd be on the next flight home.

But as he thinks about their current situation and why they are where they are, he wonders how much it would set them back if they were to spend a few days on the Riviera – just enjoying themselves. He'd suggest it to his friend after this was all over and if they were still able to stand on their own merit without any personal repercussions.

XXXXXXXX

"Would love to have my own jet someday," Casey comments as they slowly head for the front door of the private jet as soon as it had come to its final stop in Nice on the French Riviera.

"You gonna win the lottery?"

"Plan to blackmail you."

"Have fun with that paper airplane," Severide snickers as Casey rolls his eyes. "Come on…let's just get this over with. Starting to feel sick already."

"You haven't eaten much in the past…when did you eat a solid meal last?"

"Few days ago," Severide huffs as he rubs his face. "Hate airplane food. Even stuff from a private jet."

Casey wasn't going to argue as he couldn't blame his friend. Facing another person about a hefty debt they owed…to someone in a world they weren't a part of just to make things right for a virtual stranger was stressing indeed. His plan was to confront Travis right now while it was still fresh and the drug dealer was still in jail but Severide finalized the details of confronting Travis while he was at a social event and then threatening to make it public…just in case.

You're just gonna walk in there…tell him straight up and…AND WHAT? his brain tosses back. Ask him to give 50 G's to some drug dealer so he won't make trouble for the locals? No…I'll tell him he knows where Travis is and the 50 G's will stop him from getting on a plane.

Casey tries to ease some of Severide's tension by showing him the paper airplane that Gabby and Louie made for him but he only returned a tense smile and then turned and looked back out the window. This just needs to be over…Casey inwardly sighs as the taxi they are in starts to slow.

They near the newest resort on the swanky beach and instantly the knots inside Kelly Severide's stomach start to tighten. But tells himself that Travis also brought his upon himself by inviting Kelly into his world and then showing him the good and the not so good parts of his charming lifestyle.

"I know where he is," Severide mentions to Casey in a low tone as he heads straight for the club attached to the posh hotel resort. He nods to the hotel concierge as they near the desk and mentions he and his friend, pointing to Casey behind him, are with the Travis Brenner entourage and were allowed to enter.

"I see him," Severide states as they enter the pulse pounding establishment; instantly hit with the smells of perfume and expensive food, the sound of merriment assaulting their visual and ocular senses.

"Kelly! Hey buddy! See you changed your mind!" Travis greets with a wide grin as he pulls away from his adoring group and then nears the somewhat out of place pair from Chicago. "This place is amazing!" He states as he shakes Casey's hand and then turns back to Severide. This time, he finally notices the black eye, small cut on Severide's lip and bruised jaw. "Customs that bad?" He asks weakly.

"We need to talk in private," Severide insists as Casey's expression turns grim.

"Guys…what's going on?"

"Not here. If you want me to make a scene I will. But I'd prefer not to."

"What's this about?"

"Julio Gonzalez."

Instantly Travis's expression changes and both 51 Lieutenants know, he knows exactly who they are referring to. "He did that to you?"

"He killed Leon," Severide answers in truth. "Private?"

"Uh yeah…yeah…" Travis nods as he turns back to the group at the table, one of them the clubs owner. "Just gotta help out a few buddies. Be right back."

"Follow me," he tells Severide in a low tone as they slowly push their way through the jumping jungle of bodies and then enter a small, quiet room in the back. "What happened?"

"My last night in Buenos Aires, figured I'd go back to that place we first went for dinner. I was with Leon and figured no big deal. About half hour later, the SUV has the tires shot out, Leon is killed and two crooked cops who deal on the side are wanting to kill me because they think I'm you!" Severide hisses as he moves in a few inches from Travis's face. "They shot me!"

"What?" Travis asks weakly as he looks at Casey who nods and then gestures to Severide's side. "Oh damn…okay, thanks for telling me. I'll uh…I'll contact Leon's family and make the arrangements."

"That's it? Seriously? After all that?"

"You want to rejoin me?"

"Man I just want to hit you right now!" Severide glowers as he looks away and then back at Travis, his fist instantly balling.

"Kelly!" Casey warns as he takes a step closer.

"Do you have any idea what the hell I had to endure because of you? The only way I escaped is because Matt flew down there on his own damn dime and managed to find the local man whose boy I helped save when he was trampled by your damn fans! I was on the run for two days!" Severide's voice raises to an angry pitch. "One of the dealers was killed in a shootout with some good cops and a local resident with us in the middle! The other…Julio…he's still alive and vowing revenge. On you."

"What?"

"You asked me to come along with you, not because you like my company. That's bull and you know it. It's to fix your messes because that's what I did the first day we met. I fixed a problem with your buddy…but really I was fixing your image so it wouldn't tarnish because of something some jackass did at your party! Tell me I'm right."

Travis looks at Severide and then at Casey and shakes his head as he looks back at Severide. "Fine…you're right. But you fit in with the group here and I thought we were buddies…friends."

"We were until someone tried to kill me for being in your company. I told them I have nothing but they didn't care. They want payment or at least this guy does or he's on the next plane here," Severide gently bluffs as he launches into the meat of his plan.

"You…told him I was here?"

"Your social media feed isn't exactly private," Casey pipes up in sarcasm.

"Looking down the barrel of a gun brings out the confessions!"

"You wanted me to fix things and this is gonna be the last thing I fix. You're going to wire Julio Gonzalez the money."

"What? 50 G's? Seriously?"

"You took their drugs and stiffed them of their payment? I might not agree with them but you agreed to a deal and backed out. No wonder their pissed but others are getting hurt for something you did! I know you have it. You told me you don't supply…but this makes you a dealer!"

"It wasn't mine!" Travis growls as he pulls away and then turns around. "Damn bastard!"

"Look Julio doesn't care where his money comes from, he just wants it. If not you then the other guy better be just as public because he only remembers your face!"

"I was the middle man for…look it makes no difference now."

"Leon is dead. His only mistake was driving me where I wanted to go. I have to live with that but it wasn't my fault they were looking for you! He wants his money. I can make this public but I don't want to," Severide starts to conclude as his voice starts to lower and his agitation lessen.

"All he wants is his money?"

"He said if he got it wired into this account," Severide hands him the small scribbled note from the angry drug dealer/cop, "he'd forget everything else and stay put. If not…first flight out. He gave me 24 hours after I found you."

Travis looks at Severide and then frowns as he nods in agreement.

"Hold on," he states as he starts to type on his phone; Severide shuffling back to Casey.

"I need a drink."

"Okay…it's in play," Travis mentions to them as he nears them once more. "Didn't even think about…"

"You're right, you didn't think about what you're leaving behind," Severide interjects with a sour note. "I had my stuff stolen and I…just make it right. Hector helped me and I want him and his son to be able to walk the streets and not have to look over their shoulders or fear being shot in the back for something, someone else did."

"All this for a stranger."

"He saved my life…helped Matt. He's no longer a stranger," Severide states proudly.

"Okay…money just transferred," Travis confirms as the banking confirmation pops up. "Anything else?"

Severide and Casey look at each other and Severide slightly shrugs a few seconds later. "No I guess…"

"Actually…there is," Casey steps up as he gives Severide a firm nod and then nears Travis. "You're not getting off that easy."

"What?"

XXXXXXXX

"Papa…what is it?" Carlos asks his father about an hour later as he stares at his father's surprised and emotional expression.

The middle aged man stood in the middle of his humble home staring at his phone in shock. He had gotten a text that at first he didn't believe.

'So Carlos can have that future you want for him. –Kelly'

He simply thought that it was just a nice thought but no…it was something more. He quickly looks back at the email confirmation from his bank that 10 thousand US dollars had been transferred into his account from another US account.

His eyes well with happy tears as he looks down at his son and hugs him tightly.

"What is it papa? What's wrong?"

"No Carlos…nothing is wrong," Hector answers with a happy smile. "Everything is right. Very right. Come on…let's go visit your mama and let her know that everything is okay." And as his custom, he picks up the single Red rose that he'd lay upon his beloved wife's gravestone and tell her about all the things that happened and how one stranger restored his faith in outsiders and that his son would be able to go to school…and become the nurse she had wanted him to be. Maybe more.

"Everything is very right."

Hector and Carols would make a small detour – an extra five thousand – fifteen in total from Travis Brenner, was to be given to the old woman – Isabella to properly thank her for hiding Severide and helping him when others would trade him in for a few measly bucks.

They walk out the door into the setting afternoon sun, hand in hand; Hector offering a silent thank you to Kelly Severide for his kindness – a man he'll never forget and hopes one day he can repay – in person.

XXXXXXXX

"Great idea," Severide smiles as he lays on the beach chair with a cold beer in his grasp; his white cotton shirt slightly unbuttoned to get some sun on his chest but also to hide his recovering wound from the blazing sun.

"I'm full of…"

"It," Severide snickers as Casey tosses a small plastic bottle at his friend a few feet over from his beach chair. "Needed this."

"No I needed this, you had a holiday remember?"

"Oh yeah…getting cozy with two guys that like it rough."

"Thought you liked it rough?" Casey chuckles as Severide shakes his head. "Think Travis will ever speak to us again?"

"You…nah…me? maybe," Severide smiles as he looks out over the gently lapping water of the French Riviera. "I'm just glad he didn't make more of a fuss. I didn't want to ruin him for good."

"Good thing he didn't want that either."

"A few days here…will heal everything," Severide sighs contentedly as he looks out into the azure waters. "Fishing tomorrow?"

"You know it," Casey smiles as his phone beeps. He looks at the picture and chuckles as he holds it up to Severide.

"See Louie gets it…"

"I thought that was his best one yet," Casey praises as he texts back. "Gabby says get yourself a steady woman already so that we can do this next time as a group thing."

"Yeah…" Severide smirks as he watches a bikini-clad beauty walk by. "Think they only want guys with money down here?"

Both of them look at each other and then say "YES" at the same time and laugh.

"Ah yes, so true," Severide smiles as his phone beeps. He looks at the picture and instantly his heart warms.

"Who's it from?"

"A new friend," he whispers as he shows him the picture of Hector and Carlos in a selfie with big smiles; the setting South American sun behind them.

"Wonder if we'll ever see them again?"

"I… hope so."

Severide files the picture away and then rests back on his chair. His agitation was gone, the tension nearly left his system; his body well on the way to full recoery. He had had a full lunch and now was resting with his best friend on one of the funnest beaches in the world for the next few days – a vacation Boden agreed they both had certainly earned. He had helped an honest and descent man to right a wrong that nearly cost him his life. He doesn't know if he had earned new respect from Travis Brenner and he really didn't care – it was himself he had to live with at the end of the day and would go home knowing he didn't leave any messes behind that someone else had to fix.

"To the good life," Casey holds up his chilled bottle of imported beer.

"To the good life," Severide agrees as he clinks it and then takes a swig. "The one we already have."

THE END!

A/N: well hope all liked how this little adventure ended; especially for Hector and his son. But hmm will Travis resurface with a little 'payback' for Severide? Please let me know and if you liked this sevasey adventure and if you'd like a possible sequel. Thanks everyone!