"Don't worry, Shay. Yes, my job is inherently dangerous, you already know this. But you also know I only surround myself with the best people. Now, is it time for you to shut up so we can eat," said Kelly with his trademark grin on his face.

"To clarify, I did not say I would shut up. I said I would shut up about THIS issue," said Shay with a pouty look on her face trying not to smile.

"Yeah I guess total silence would be way too much to ask for," laughed Kelly as Shay softly punched him in his arm. Kelly grabbed her around her shoulders and planted a kiss on her cheek. He hurried over to the stove, thankful that Dawson wanted to try out a new recipe on them. Kelly guessed it was a thank you for putting Mills on the fast track to squad. Well, he wasn't going to turn down her food. That girl could cook. He grabbed the kitchen towel and snapped it toward Shay's butt.

"Really, Kelly? Is it some sort of guy code that you have to be able to do that super mature towel trick?" asked Shay as she tried the same towel snap, failing miserably.

"Yep!" Kelly answered while shoveling a huge bite into his mouth.

"You're disgusting," laughed Shay rolling her eyes. Laughter could be heard from outside their apartment well into the night.

The next morning Severide barely had time to open up his newspaper when Cruz approached him.

"Lieutenant, do you have a minute?" Cruz asked nervously.

"Sure, what's up? asked Kelly a little irritated he was being interrupted before his paper and coffee ritual.

"In private, if you don't mind," Cruz requested knowing he was going to be treading on dangerous ground in a few seconds.

Kelly nodded towards the locker room and Cruz followed him. Kelly stopped in front of his locker and looked at Cruz waiting for him to begin.

"Don't take this the wrong way, lieutenant, but I was just wondering what Peter Mills has done to make him a candidate for squad so early in his career. Don't get me wrong, I like Pete, but he's been here, what, maybe half a second and now you are pushing him to join squad," said Cruz nervously hoping he hadn't just sealed his fate.

Jesus, not Cruz too, thought Kelly. "Cruz, is this your way of telling me you're interested in joining squad?" asked Kelly with more than a little sarcasm in his voice. "You have never said word one to me about joining squad."

"Instead of kissing your ass every day, I kind of thought my actions would speak louder. They would prove to you I was good enough for squad," Cruz said hoping he hadn't just cemented his job with truck forever.

"And I will repeat again that I had no idea you wanted to be on squad," said Kelly chuckling now. "You definitely have the balls to be on squad and no bullshit that save on Casey the other day was real hero stuff. Tell you what...get the class schedule and I'll tell you what classes to take."

"Thanks lieutenant, I hope I haven't overstepped, but a lot of us were wondering why the rush on Mills. Uh, thanks again and I'll get back to you with the course catalog," finished Cruz making a quick exit.

So everyone was wondering why the rush on Mills. Great. Just what he needed - an us versus them with squad and truck. First, Shay, then Cruz and now Everyone. This day was just getting better and better.

Kelly made his way to the kitchen and caught the tail end of a conversation between Otis and Mouch. "I get that Mills is in great shape and a quick learner, but I barely get to drive the truck and he's already joining squad," complained Otis.

"Hey, all you assholes listen up," yelled Severide. "Mills is not on squad. He did not replace me as lieutenant, and he won't be chief next week! He had an interest in squad, talked to me about it, and I am helping him start the process. Any questions? Okay, good! Now quit gossiping like a bunch of old women and do something productive. That truck looks like shit. We can start there!" Severide watched as most of the men scattered to make themselves look busy.

"Whew, looks like someone needs a nap," whispered Dawson into Shay's ear. They both giggled as Kelly gave them a piercing death stare. That only made them laugh harder as they made their way to the ambulance.

Mills hadn't said much all day. There hadn't been anyone to say much to. The guys had avoided him like a rash. When he finally got Dawson alone, he had to vent.

"What the hell," he began. "I can't believe all these douche bags I called friends are not happy for me. It has ALWAYS been my dream to be on squad. If they're jealous...screw them all of ..."

"Babe, calm down. They are your friends! It's just a lot to take in. You've been here for like half a second, so it is unexpected. You are great at what you do. Squad is just a huge step..." Dawson began trying to get Peter to see the other guys' perspective.

"So you don't think I've earned it either. Great, my own girlfriend has no faith in me. Screw it all!" yelled Mills as he rushed out the door.

Dawson was left standing alone with her mouth open wondering what the hell had just happened.

The day had been so slow and it was finally almost over. Shay had actually been praying for a call just to alleviate the tension in the firehouse. Be careful what you wish for she thought as the alarm sounded 30 minutes before end of shift.

Truck, squad and the paramedics all took off hearing that they were going to an apartment fire. Scanning the scene, Shay saw several people out front looking like they needed some medical attention.

"I'll go to that lady in the T-shirt, you take that the guy on the ground first," said Dawson stopping the ambulance.

"Sounds like a plan," said Shay as she stepped out, grabbing her medical case and hurrying to her victim.

Before she even got to the woman she could hear her crying out, "My son! I don't see my son! He must be in there! He's only six!" she wailed heading for the burning building.

"Whoa,whoa. We're here to help. I'm radioing the chief and he'll get the firemen to get him. What floor?" Shay said with a smooth as silk voice calming the woman instantly.

"Second floor! Apartment 206! Hurry!" the woman said obviously in pain.

"Boden, it's Shay. I've got a victim here who says her six year old hasn't come out. Second floor, apartment 206."

"Good work, Shay. We'll get him. Casey, the first floor is engulfed. Get your guys in the front and back to suffocate this bitch. Severide, take one of your team, go in through the window. It doesn't look like the fire is up to the second yet. 206, 206. Got it? Get that kid!" commanded Boden.

"Got it!" yelled Kelly looking for Hadley, scanning the parking lot. Mills was right by his side.

"I can help you lieutenant! Your crew is helping Casey knock down that wall!" said Mills the excitement in his voice evident.

Damn, he was like the over eager puppy who wanted to play at midnight while you were trying to sleep. Every swat of your hand made him want to play even more.

"Okay. We are going up on the ladder. You are staying on the ladder. You are not to come in. I'm getting that kid and when I come back I need you ready to grab him and help him down. Understand?" asked Kelly with a tone in his voice that left no room for arguing.

"Yes, lieutenant," replied Mills not quite believing that he was sort of a part of squad, at least for a few minutes.

"Let's haul ass!" yelled Severide as he flew up the ladder. Man, this guy's in incredible shape thought Mills following close behind.

Kelly was through the window like a man possessed. 206, 206, 206...there it is. He was barreling through the door in a matter of seconds. The smoke wasn't that bad on the second - it was ravaging through the first but had its sights set on the floor above like a predator to prey.

Kelly went room to room in 206, no kid. He checked under every bed, in every closet. No little boy anywhere. Where the hell was he?

Shay had seen Severide shoot up the ladder with Mills close behind. Shit, she thought. So much for my speech getting through that thick skull of his. She couldn't help but smile.

A lady came running toward Shay and the mother holding a little boy. You have got to be kidding me, thought Shay.

"Michael! Thank God!" cried the mother running to her son.

"Chief, there is no boy in 206! I repeat no kid up there. He's safe! Get Kelly out of there!" screamed Shay.

"Severide! Did you hear that? No kid! Get the hell out of there. Mills, be ready to grab him," boomed Boden with the urgency of someone who knew this situation was going south quick.

No shit, thought Severide. He had looked everywhere in that damn apartment worried that the boy had left and gone somewhere else on the floor. Thank God that was not the case. He knew time was running short. He could tell the fire on the first floor was on the ceiling, meaning it was coming up through the floor he was standing on. He moved quickly making good time to the window. Mills was practically hanging half his body through the opening, waiting impatiently.

"Back up!" yelled Kelly. He knew the floor was going to give way any second and he might have to make a dive through the window. He was running as fast as he could each step felt shakier and shakier. He felt part of the floor giving way and made a desperate leap. He knew he was too far out. This was not going to be good, he thought.

Mills caught one of his hands, preventing the lieutenant from falling through to the first floor. He groped for Kelly's other hand but could feel himself being pulled over the sill.

"Let go, now!" commanded Kelly. He could see part of the floor intact directly to the right of the window. "Let go! There's a spot I can get to then drop me a line!" screamed Kelly knowing Mills was going to come tumbling over any minute.

"No way! I am not letting you go!" yelled Mills feeling himself creeping closer and closer to taking a head dive. He couldn't let himself drop his future lieutenant; he knew he could get him on the ladder. His legs were telling him otherwise as they were getting dangerously close to the end of the ladder.

Kelly was beyond frantic; he finally wrenched his hand free and dropped to that beautiful patch of floor still remaining.

"Line! Line! Throw me that line! Now! Mills?" yelled Kelly worried more for his candidate than his own precarious situation.

Kelly couldn't see that Mills had flipped over the ladder but instead of landing through the window he went over the side. He had caught himself and was hanging onto the rungs underneath. Casey caught sight of Mills struggling and ran up that ladder his mind set on pulling him to safety, but he couldn't help but think of Severide and what he was going to find when he got to that window. He grabbed Mill's left arm and helped him inch his way back onto the ladder, all the while he could hear Severide screaming for a line. Jesus, Severide didn't yell like that unless it was serious. Mills was still getting to safety when Casey jettisoned over him, sticking his head through the window. He saw his friend on the little piece of floor that hadn't crashed down to the first floor...yet.

Casey couldn't reach for the line quick enough. He let out a sigh when he saw Severide smiling as he said, "It's about time. Sorry to interrupt your make out session with Mills. He's okay, right?" asked Severide reaching for the line.

Casey was about to say yes but instead only a gasp came out of his mouth as he watched his friend crash through the floor. "Severide!" he yelled. Kelly's patch of safety had given way along with the rest of the second story floor.

"Chief, Severide just went through the floor! He's on one! Get my men in there now and get me down NOW!" yelled Casey.

Mills couldn't see what had happened but he didn't need to. He knew what happened and where Severide was right now. He buried his face in his hands and barely noticed as Casey climbed right over him to get to the ground first.

Shay felt like she was in some sort of surreal nightmare. She had watched as the scene unfolded. She watched as Peter had held onto something; she had watched as he let go of that something; and she had watched as he almost fell off the ladder. Dawson grabbed her hand and let out a small squeal - very un-Dawson like, thought Shay. She felt a little relief when Casey ran up the ladder. She kept waiting for Kelly to come through that window. Praying for him to come through that window. Shay felt herself running toward Boden.

"What's going on? Where is Kelly? Chief, please tell me he's alright!" Shays eyes pleaded with Boden to tell her what she wanted to hear.

"Shay, he fell through, but we're getting him out now. Stay back and let us work. Severide has been in worse situations than this one," reassured the Chief not believing his own words.

Shay felt Dawson's arms around her, tears falling down both paramedics' faces.

"Severide! Severide!" yelled Mouch, eyes frantically searching the floor looking for any sign of the missing lieutenant.

"Shut the hell up!" shouted Casey. "Everyone, no talking!"

He was listening for the tell-tale sign of that long beep saying one of their own was in trouble, was not moving, was perhaps dead. Cruz heard the sound first.

Jumping over ceiling beams, running through patches of fire, ignoring the black smoke, Cruz was going to reach Severide. Casey was close behind his heart being faster and faster worried about what he would find.

"Casey, over here!" yelled Cruz. He saw Severide's face and one arm. Everything else was beneath rubble. He looked lifeless. They knew they had seconds to get him out of there, if even that. Cruz and the rest of the team began getting everything off of their friend. Casey kneeled down to Kelly's face. He hesitantly touched Kelly's neck not knowing if he wanted to know. At first, he felt nothing. He pressed much harder and felt something faint.

"I've got a pulse!" shouted Casey taking a breath not realizing he had been holding it.

Cruz and Otis were pulling a ceiling beam off of Kelly's chest. There was another one across his legs. This is bad, thought Casey, really bad. Shit, why hadn't he really put things to rest once and for all. The blame game they had played over Andy's death. It would have been so easy to get past it. The thing with Heather Darden, Casey knew he was flirting with disaster, but could he admit that to Kelly? No.

"Kelly, it's Matt. Can you hear me? Open your eyes," pleaded Casey. "Guys, are we done? Can we get him the hell out of here?" asked Casey.

"We're good. Should I put him over my shoulder or two of us get his arms and legs?" asked Cruz.

"Arms and legs," said Casey grabbing Kelly's arms. A loud moan came from the injured lieutenant's mouth. That was a good sign, thought Casey. If Severide could feel pain it meant he wasn't dead.

Shay was almost out of control with worry. She was talking nonstop and shuffling through her medical bag double checking her supplies. They saw Casey first, holding onto Severide's arms then Cruz holding his legs and a limp body in between. When Shay saw her roommate, she lost control. She ran to her best friend, touching his face, stroking the side of his cheek, telling him she loves him.

"Peter, get over here! I need you! Shay, keep talking to Kelly. Hold his hand. Casey, what do we have?" Dawson was all business pushing the fact that this was a friend out of her mind.

Casey and Cruz filled her in on where the heaviest beams had landed. Dawson felt Kelly's chest and knew ribs were crushed and internal injuries were a foregone conclusion. She had to keep him alive to make it to the ER. His legs were bleeding heavily, Peter could start on that.

"Get that bleeding under control," barked Dawson glancing at Kelly's legs. Mills was glad to have a job. A job trying to save the lieutenant he idolized. He had been waiting by Boden in total silence, feeling the disappointment in the air. Now he was determined to do anything he could to right the wrong.

Shay was sobbing, inarticulate, yelling at Kelly to open his eyes. Dawson couldn't even think. She had to intubate; the crushed ribs had collapsed Kelly's lungs and breathing was much too labored. Dawson wished she could insert a chest tube, but needle decompression was all she could legally do. The bleeding in Kelly's chest demanded relief; it would have to be okay until he reached the hospital.

"Shay! Kelly needs you! Get it together!" Dawson said to her best friend. Shay calmed down and used a much softer tone, not letting go of Kelly's hand.

They got Kelly to the hospital alive but Dawson and Casey had to pry Shay off of him. He was rushed to surgery - the painful waiting had begun. They were all there, all except Mills. He had strained his wrist and an ER doctor was checking it out. Mills appeared, arm in a sling and sat down by Shay.

"Leslie, I am so sorry. I should have..." began Mills.

"You should have done what you were told! What do you not understand about the direct orders of 'let go'?" Shay was screaming now with a manic look in her eyes that even Dawson had never seen.

Dawson touched Shay's arm gently, "Leslie..."

"Don't touch me!" shouted Shay directly in Dawson's face. "I don't know if you have been keeping track, but Kelly's been in surgery for five hours! Five hours! That is not good! Did you see him? He looked dead! He is broken! If you had just done what you were told, we would be at Molly's right now, having drinks. I would be laughing and he would be telling some bullshit story... But now..." Shay was spent. She had no more words. Chief Boden grabbed her and held her close. Shay's body trembled in the chief's arms. He kept whispering, "Shhhh, shhhh."

The surgeon finally came with a glimmer of hope - Kelly was alive. The hope was short-lived when he gave Kelly's chances. 25%. That was it. Shay stopped listening after hearing about broken ribs, collapsed lungs, damaged liver, removed spleen, one leg broken... She didn't want to hear anymore. She had to see him.

"I need to see him," Shay interrupted. It sounded like a request but was much more of a demand.

"Absolutely not. Lieutenant Severide needs total rest. He wouldn't even know you were there. I suggest you all go home, clean up, and come back tomorrow. We will call you if there is any change," said the surgeon with the sound of God that allowed for no arguing.

"Listen up, asshole. The person I love more than anyone else on this earth is in there. He WILL know I am there and I would like to see you try and stop me," replied Shay with such a matter of fact attitude the surgeon was left speechless.

Shay walked to the nurses station and was led to Kelly's ICU room. Looking in, Shay felt a sob escape her mouth. He looked so small, so not like Kelly. How could this be her roommate? Tubes were literally coming out from everywhere. She opened the door and went to his bedside. She crawled on his bed, careful not to disturb one tube or line. She crawled into a ball and got as close to him as she could without touching his body. She put a hand to his face and began softly stroking his cheek. His face had been untouched. You would think he was perfectly fine if your gaze stayed there. The second your eyes scanned his body you knew otherwise.

Dawson and Casey were outside Kelly's room now looking in. The surgeon had given up trying to tell these people no.

"It's bad isn't it," asked Casey, his voice breaking.

Dawson grabbed his hand tight. "Yes," Dawson said squeezing a little more.

"What is this? With Shay?" Casey asked taking Dawson's hand to his lips.

"What are you talking about?" asked Dawson.

"This looks like a lot more than friends to me. It looks like someone IN love, not just friend love," said Casey softly glad that Dawson hadn't pulled away. He needed her right now.

"I don't know. They are always touching, kissing each other on the cheek, the forehead, but Shay says they are just friends. If it is more, I hope they get the chance to tell each other. I know that's one mistake hard to live with," Dawson said looking into Casey's eyes.

"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean," said Casey meeting Dawson's eyes.