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I promise you this
I’ll always look out for you
Yeah, that’s what I’ll do
Coldplay, Sparks
♡♡♡
The firehouse in the early evening always had a strange balance between the comfort of routine and the tension of waiting for the next call. The sunlight was fading outside the giant app floor gates, painting the floor with a soft golden tone that made the firehouse look almost cozy. The television hummed quietly in the background while laughter echoed around the room.
Stella was leaning against the kitchen counter with a natural sandwich in one hand and a cup of peppermint tea beside it. The sandwich had been assembled quickly in the kitchen, nothing fancy, a crusty bread, mozzarella, and fresh tomatoes. It tasted really good, though lately she had learned that pregnancy hunger came with very little patience.
Her free hand rested instinctively on the gentle curve of her five-month baby bump. Five months already. The thought still felt surreal sometimes.
Across the room, Vasquez, Cruz, and Ritter were sitting at the table next to Herrmann. The chat moved from sports to teasing insults to half-remembered stories from previous shifts.
“I’m telling you, the Bears are coming into a nice place, and I’m sure there is gonna be something good for us.” Herrmann beamed at the table.
“Yeah, that would be so nice to see,” Cruz smiled. “It’s been a while.”
“So you guys gather around to watch the games then?” Vasquez genuinely asked. Apparently, being the new guy came with a lot of questions.
“You have so much to learn, young man,” Mouch replied, even as he sat on the couch, remote in hand and eyes glued to the TV.
It was loud, comfortable, familiar, and very, very male.
Stella watched them quietly while chewing the last bite of her sandwich. With the paramedics attending a mandatory training that shift, the firehouse had turned into a boys’ club. She had not really noticed it at first, but the absence of the usual chatter from Violet and Lizzie made the difference way too obvious.
For a moment, she simply stood there, listening to the noise and watching the people she led. But then, her chest tightened with a strange feeling she had not expected: she was already missing something she had not lost yet.
Stella stared at her tea and let out a slow breath. In a week, she would step back from active duty and would start the desk job. She already had a few things lined up to fill the gap.
A week of classes at the Academy, then coming back to run a training session of Fire Prevention for the rest of the firehouse, because they were new rules about it. There were the major administrative tasks that always needed someone willing to handle them, and everything she did with Girls on Fire, which by itself could easily fill entire days if she let it. In theory, her calendar would stay full enough that she would not have much time to sit around missing the job.
This is the right decision, Hannah said when she brought up the subject at her appointment four weeks ago, and when they pulled the paperwork requesting changes to her activities, the department had not even hesitated to approve it. She knew exactly why it had to happen, because firefighting was unpredictable and physically brutal, and the last thing she wanted was to put her baby at risk.
Still, knowing something was right did not make it easy. She loved the chaos of the calls, the fast decisions, the responsibility of leading a team that trusted her, and the adrenaline rush.
Even being just a temporary thing, the thought still felt like stepping away from a piece of who she was.
Stella finished her tea and pushed the cup into the sink. Her gaze drifted toward the hallway, and a small smile appeared on her lips as a thought crossed her mind. She stood slowly, brushing her hands on her pants, and walked out of the common room; the laughter behind her faded into a distant murmur as she moved down the hallway.
She stood outside Severides’ office, paused at the doorframe without saying a word, and simply watched him. He was standing, pushing a binder into the small shelf above his desk, brows furrowed with concentration. She saw an empty coffee mug on the desk and the small, grainy picture of their baby right next to their wedding photo.
Severide looked in her direction, sensing a presence in the doorway. The change in his expression was immediate – his face lit up with a wide smile that reached all the way to his eyes.
“Hey there,” He greeted.
Stella pushed off the frame and stepped into the room, closing the door gently behind her. “Hey.”
Severide rested lightly against the edge of the desk, studying her. His gaze moved quickly over her face, and his smile softened when he noticed the small twitch in her brows. He knew that expression very well. Years of partnership had taught him how to read her moods faster than she sometimes understood them herself.
He tilted his head slightly. “What’s going on?”
Stella looked at him for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh. A small smile followed, though it carried a hint of frustration.
“I’m just missing being on active duty,” she admitted. “And the weird part is that I haven’t even left yet.”
Kelly’s expression shifted with understanding. He gestured for her to come closer, and Stella walked over without hesitation. He placed both hands gently on her waist and guided her between his arms, pulling her closer until she stood right in front of him.
Her belly pressed lightly against his stomach for a few seconds, and he glanced down at it briefly with a soft smile. Every week, the changes were a little more noticeable, and he loved it more each time. Their baby was growing safely in their temporary home, just getting ready for them.
His hands rested carefully on her hips.
“You’re allowed to miss it already,” he said gently. “You’ve done this job your whole life, Stell. That kind of routine doesn’t just disappear overnight.”
She nodded slightly. “I know.”
He brushed a thumb along her side in a comforting gesture before continuing.
“And remember this is temporary, you’ll be back before you know it.”
Stella looked up at him and gave a small, thoughtful smile. “Hm.”
“What is it?” He asked, eyes still on her face.
“I’m not sure I want it to be too soon, though.”
“You don’t?” Kelly raised an eyebrow.
She shook her head slowly. “If it’s soon, it means the baby will be old enough for me to come back to active duty. And honestly... I don’t want that to happen too fast. I want to enjoy every second of this.”
Her hand lifted to cup his cheek, and Kelly’s smile softened even more. One of his hands moved gently to her belly, his palm resting there with quiet affection.
“Good thing we have a lot of months ahead, then,” he said.
Stella smiled back at him, her thumb brushing lightly across his cheekbone.
“I missed you today.”
Kelly frowned slightly. “You saw me all day.”
“That’s not what I meant. You were on calls on and off, the girls were out for that seminar, and I was stuck with a room full of loud guys. I was losing my mind.”
“Yeah, guys can be loud sometimes.” Severide’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Tell me about it,” Stella rolled her eyes dramatically.
He chuckled softly, pulling her a few inches closer. Then he leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers briefly.
Stella pulled back slightly with a small sound of protest.
“Hey,” she said. “I just had a sandwich and a massive cup of tea.”
“And I just had a massive cup of coffee,” he replied, “So what’s your point?”
Her smile widened despite herself.
She barely had time to answer before he properly kissed her, warm and unhurried. Stella melted into the kiss immediately, her hands sliding up to rest on his shoulders. He wrapped his arms more securely around her waist.
There was something different about her lately, and he had noticed it more with every passing week. Her skin felt warmer and softer; even the way she leaned into him carried a new kind of closeness. Pregnancy had changed small things about her, but somehow every change only made him more drawn to her, like a moth chasing light.
The thought made him smile against her lips.
Stella responded by deepening the kiss slightly, clearly enjoying the moment just as much as he was. They forgot about the paperwork on his desk and the noise in the common room. For a few quiet minutes, it was just the two of them standing in the small office, wrapped in the familiar comfort of each other.
Severides’ thumb traced small circles on her side while Stella rested comfortably against him. At some point, she spoke softly against his lips, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I can’t wait to take you home tomorrow morning.”
Kelly drew back just enough to look at her. His hand slid gently to the back of her neck, his fingers resting there as he kept her close while studying her face. It still amazed him how much he loved her.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, absolutely,” Stella nodded without hesitation, with the 'Kelly Severide smirk' on her face. “Drag you to the sofa and make out with you all day.”
“All day? Hm, sounds like a pretty good plan.” The thought clearly pleased him. A playful smile spread across his face before he leaned forward again, capturing her lips in another slow kiss.
He could feel the warmth of her body through his shirt, steady and comforting, and for a brief moment, he couldn’t help but imagine their future. Late nights with a newborn, the kind filled with exhaustion and quiet chaos, the house dim and silent while the rest of the world slept. Sleepless nights, endless love, a whole new rhythm to their lives, and instead of worry, the thought filled him with nothing but excitement.
Stella shifted a little closer, her hands sliding up to rest at the back of his neck as the kiss deepened. His arms tightened around her waist, holding her there as if neither of them had anywhere else to be.
One second, they were still kissing, lost in each other, and the next, the station speakers erupted with the sharp mechanical tone that every firefighter knew by heart.
“Truck 81, Squad 3, Engine 51, fire in an apartment complex…”
The dispatcher’s voice continued, calm and precise, and the address followed immediately.
He felt her entire body tensing in his arms so abruptly that it startled him. Her shoulders stiffened, her breath caught sharply, and her hands that had been resting on his neck went rigid. Stella stepped back from him before he could say anything else. The movement was quick and unsteady, her eyes wide and unfocused as her chest rose and fell faster than normal. One hand moved instinctively to her sternum as if she were trying to steady the frantic rhythm of her heart.
Then the recognition hit him hard. The address replayed in his mind, and suddenly it connected with a memory that made his stomach tighten.
Violet’s building.
They turned toward the hallway and began moving, running through the hall until the app floor. The calm that had existed minutes earlier was completely gone. Without hesitating, she grabbed her own gear and stepped into the heavy turnout pants, pulling them up quickly and fastening the suspenders over her shoulders.
Stella picked up her turnout coat and jumped into her seat, closing the door quickly. She was trying to pick up her phone to call Violet. On a normal day, a call at her address would just be a casualty, but she wasn't working. The chances of her being home, catching up on her sleep routine, or just relaxing while watching Bridgerton cozy on her couch were huge, and that made Stella’s stomach tighten instantly.
The engine roared to life beneath them as she climbed into the cab, heart pounding harder with every unanswered ring.
“Pick up, pick up, pick up, come on,” Stella murmured.
After a few rings, the voicemail picked up, cheerful and painfully familiar.
Hey, you reached Violet. I can’t talk right now, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Bye!
Stella swallowed. Her stomach twisted sharply, making her breath hitch.
“Voicemail,” she said quietly.
Vasquez glanced at her, his low voice somehow grounding her. “We’ll find her.”
She nodded faintly, but the reassurance barely penetrated the fear growing in her chest. Violet always answered, even when she was busy or exhausted after a long shift; she always called back quickly. The silence from the other end of the line felt wrong in a way that made her mind spiral immediately toward the worst possible scenarios. Violet lived in a small apartment building, quiet and well-maintained, the kind of place that felt safe the moment you walked into the lobby. Stella had been there too many times over the years, sharing dinners or collapsing on her couch for girls’ night. It was supposed to be a safe place.
She forced herself to breathe slowly, but the tight pressure in her chest would not ease.
The ride felt endless. Every turn stretched out painfully as the truck raced toward the address. Stella stared out the windshield without blinking, her mind running through possibilities she desperately wished she could stop imagining.
When the truck turned onto Violet’s street, the reality waiting for them hit immediately.
Flames climbed violently through the windows of the building, bright orange against the early night sky. Thick smoke poured upward, spreading across the block while the heat radiating from the structure was strong enough to feel even from inside the truck. It was bad.
The rigs came to a stop along the curb, and firefighters jumped down quickly. Engine 51 moved into position outside the building, pulling hoses into place while waiting for the command to begin suppression, while Squad and Truck were already moving toward the entrance.
“Squad, primary search on the first floor, Truck on the second floor,” Severide ordered. “There is too much smoke, so the visibility is gonna be low. We have to move fast!”
They pulled their masks into place as they approached the smoke-filled doorway. The air inside the building was already thick and dark, visibility dropping to almost nothing within seconds.
They entered, and the interior stairwell was filled with smoke. Heat rolled through the hallways in heavy waves, and somewhere above them, the crackling sound of flames eating through wood echoed through the structure.
“Fire Department, call out!” Cruz shouted.
Stella’s voice rose above the others as they moved toward the staircase, to the second floor.
“Violet!” Her voice echoed against the walls, but there was no one answering back.
They reached the second floor quickly, but the smoke there was already heavier. Flames were spreading somewhere above them, their presence obvious in the increasing heat and the sharp popping sounds coming from the upper levels.
Then the building made a sound that immediately changed everything. It was not the normal noise of fire; it was a deep groan rolling through the structure. The beams above them creaked loudly, the entire structure shifting in a way that made Severide’s stomach tighten instantly. He recognized that sound; the building was becoming unstable. He reached for the radio without hesitation.
“All units, evacuate now,” he ordered, his voice was clear and firm. “The building’s unstable. Pull back immediately.”
Stella did not move. Her gaze was locked on the staircase that led to the third floor.
“There’s still—” She stopped herself, jaw clenching. “Her car is outside.”
Severide stepped closer to her.
“No, we have to go.”
Around them, everyone continued retreating down the stairs. Within moments, the hallway was nearly empty, leaving only the two of them standing in the smoke.
Stella took a step toward the upper floor, but he grabbed her arm immediately. She turned toward him, frustration flashing across her face.
“We have to go right now,” he said firmly. “Come on.”
Reluctantly, she followed him down the stairs and out of the building.
Cold night air rushed over them the second they stepped onto the sidewalk. Stella tore the oxygen mask from her face before she had even fully cleared the doorway, sucking in a sharp breath as her eyes immediately started scanning the chaos unfolding across the street. The paramedics were moving quickly between the few civilians who had been evacuated from the building, checking vitals, wrapping blankets around shaking shoulders, and guiding people toward stretchers.
Stella searched every face, her gaze jumping frantically from one person to the next, but Violet wasn’t there. Her heart began to pound harder, each beat heavier than the last, dread crawling up the back of her neck as she grabbed her radio with unsteady hands.
“Did someone have eyes on Violet?”
The seconds that followed stretched painfully long. Then, finally, Cruz's voice crackled through.
“Negative, Lieutenant Kidd. She’s not outside.”
The words landed like another punch straight to her chest, knocking the air right back out of her lungs. That couldn’t be right. It just couldn’t. Stella’s head snapped back toward the burning building, the fire still roaring through broken windows, and panic surged fast and sharp in her throat.
“Hey,” she said urgently. “We need to go back inside.”
She had already taken two quick steps toward the building when Severide moved, fast and instinctively, placing himself directly in her path before she could reach the building doors.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, frowning as her brown eyes snapped up to his blue ones.
“We can’t get back in, Stell.” His voice was steady, controlled in the way it always was on scene, but his chest was already tight.
“Kelly,” she said, panic clawing into her voice, raw and jagged. “Let me pass. I need to get her, please.”
He shook his head once. “No.”
She tried to slip past him anyway, angling around his shoulder. He moved with her immediately, blocking her again without hesitation.
“Come on,” she begged, her voice cracking now. “She lives on the third floor. We go in, we’re out in five minutes.”
“Stella,” he said, firmer.
She pushed harder this time, panic flooding her muscles with reckless strength. “We can’t just leave. She could be in there!” The words broke apart in her throat.
“Stella.” His hands closed around her shoulders, steady but unyielding. “We can’t get back.”
She tore herself free from his grip as it burned her. “Let me pass, please!”
The sound of it twisted something deep in his chest. “No,” he said quietly, the word heavy but certain. “I can’t do that.”
Something in her snapped.
“Lieutenant Severide, get the fuck out of my way right now!” The scream ripped out of her, raw and fractured.
His heart pounded painfully at the words. Not Kelly, not babe, not even just Severide. Lieutenant Severide. Like she wasn’t falling apart in front of him, and like he wasn’t barely holding himself together watching it happen.
He stepped closer instead of moving aside, his voice dropping into the command tone she knew better than anyone.
“No. I’m not moving.”
Stella pushed him with all her strength, but he barely moved. If adrenaline was making her reckless, it was making him resolute. He shook his head, catching her arm before she could bolt again, his grip careful but solid as she twisted violently against him.
“Let me go!” she screamed, her throat so tight the words tore their way out of it. “Please!”
His voice lowered, thick with something that hurt. “Not gonna happen.”
She leaned forward again, desperate, breath breaking into ragged gasps. “Please, Kelly, please. She can d—”
The word shattered before it could leave her mouth. She choked on it, refusing to finish it, refusing to make it real.
Severide felt something inside his chest crack wide open.
Seeing her like this — terrified, shaking, and unable to even say the possibility out loud hurt worse than any burn he had ever taken. He guided her back despite her resistance, one arm wrapping around her shoulders as she fought him like something feral, her nails digging into the fabric of his coat while sobs and rage and terror tangled together in violent waves. He held on anyway, steering her away from the building until he got her to the back of the Truck.
He helped her sit, then crouched down in front of her so she couldn’t look anywhere but at him.
His voice softened immediately.
“Babe, I know you’re worried,” he said quietly. “I know. But you need to breathe for a second, alright? Let’s try calling her again.”
Stella’s hands were shaking so badly that she fumbled with her phone twice before she could even unlock it. She nodded faintly, dragging in an unsteady breath as she hit Violet’s contact and pressed the phone to her ear.
“Come on, Vi,” she murmured, her voice thin and trembling. “Pick up… pick up.”
The phone rang once, twice, three times, four…
“Hey, you reached Violet. I can’t talk right now, but—”
The second the automated message started speaking, Stella’s vision blurred completely with tears.
“Shit,” she whispered.
The idea of a world without Violet Mikami in it didn’t feel real. Violet had woven herself into the fabric of Stella’s life, so naturally it was impossible to imagine that thread suddenly gone. She had been the first person Stella told when she and Kelly decided to start the adoption process, the one who showed up with takeout and a bottle of wine when the paperwork got overwhelming. She had jumped into Girls on Fire lessons whenever their schedules aligned, turning every session into something brighter, louder, and better for the girls who looked up to them. She was there on nearly every shift at Molly’s, leaning across the bar with that sharp smile, there during celebrations and the worst calls, and the quiet nights when they had all just collapsed on the couch, talking about absolutely everything and nothing at all. Losing her wasn’t something Stella’s mind could even wrap around.
Severide saw the moment her breathing started to spiral, the quick, shallow pulls of air, the trembling in her shoulders. He placed his hand gently on her knee and squeezed.
“Babe,” he said softly. “Breathe for me. Please.”
Stella attempted to reply, but Severide’s expression suddenly changed, a faint crease forming between his brows. He shifted sideways, looking past the back of the rig toward the street, his head tilting slightly as if trying to pick up a sound through the noise.
Something had caught his attention. Despite the chaos around them, a faint voice echoed down the block.
“Hey! Over here!”
Severide straightened slowly. Two figures were moving toward them from the far end of the street, silhouettes at first through the haze of smoke and flashing lights. His eyes narrowed as he focused, trying to make out who it was, and then he recognized the shape of the person helping someone walk beside her.
Violet.
He grabbed the radio immediately.
“Medics, we need help on the side street right now!” he said quickly.
Then he turned back toward Stella, who was staring at him in confusion, still trying to catch up to the sudden shift in his attention.
“That’s Violet, babe,” he said softly. “She’s safe.”
Stella was on her feet before the words had even fully settled. She moved toward the street just as one of the medics arrived, pushing a stretcher. Violet was coughing but still upright, one arm wrapped around an elderly woman who looked shaken but alive. Carefully, Violet helped her lower herself onto the stretcher while the paramedics stepped in, taking over and beginning their checks.
Relief hit Stella so suddenly that the world tilted. For a second, she thought she was going to cry, but instead something else surged up from deep in her chest — a familiar, awful sensation she hadn’t felt in weeks. It started small and tight, then rose quickly, bubbling and twisting into a violent mix of fear, despair, stress, and overwhelming relief, all colliding at once. She braced her hands on her knees and bent forward, retching hard onto the pavement.
Severide’s hand was on her back instantly, rubbing slow circles between her shoulder blades while she tried to breathe through it.
“Easy, babe,” he murmured quietly, again and again. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”
“Fuck, I—” Stella tried to speak, her voice thin as another wave of dizziness rolled through her. Her hands trembled when she tried to straighten up. “I’m fine.”
He guided her back toward the truck without arguing, reaching into the compartment to grab a water bottle and pressing it gently into her hands.
“Drink it, please.”
She did, because she knew better than to fight him on that. Dehydration was no joke at any point during pregnancy, especially after getting sick like that. She took a few slow sips until the nausea settled and her breathing evened out.
Once she looked steadier, Severide stayed close as they walked together toward Violet.
She was sitting on the edge of the stretcher now, a smear of soot across her cheek, her eyes still wide while she tried to catch her breath. A paramedic held an oxygen mask to her face as they checked her vitals.
Stella couldn’t take her eyes off Violet. She was there, looking tired, but she was alive. Her heart was beating louder in her ears, and she wanted to ask her how she was doing, if she was feeling anything, but she knew the moment she opened her mouth, she would cry.
“How are you doing, Violet?” Severide asked, reading Stella’s mind. God bless her husband.
“I’m fine, I just… I– Everything happened so fast,” Violet said hoarsely, briefly pulling the mask away to speak. “I was at home when the fire alarm went off. I didn’t even remember to grab my phone, I just ran. Mrs. Alvarez was still inside her apartment — she’s my neighbor.”
“Violet, you need to leave the mask on,” the paramedic reminded her gently.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” She snapped. “I’m a PIC.”
“Yeah, I know, but right now you’re a patient, so mask up.”
Violet nodded and looked back at Stella. She saw her face go kinda pale, her eyes worried, and Severide had one hand protectively on her shoulder, guiding her.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Stella. I’m so sorry I scared you.”
Stella shook her head immediately. “Do not apologize for doing your job. I’m proud of you, Vi. I’m just…” Her voice faltered, and she stopped, swallowing hard. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“I know,” Violet said softly. “Things escalated fast.”
For a moment, none of them said anything.
“We need to take her to the hospital to get checked,” the paramedic said after a second, already guiding the stretcher toward the back of the ambulance.
“We’ll meet you there,” Severide said without hesitation.
“I’m fine, really,” Violet protested weakly.
“We’re going anyway.”
He closed the ambulance doors once she was inside and gave the metal a firm double pat as the vehicle prepared to pull away.
♡♡♡
When they arrived at Chicago Med, Stella stepped down from her rig a little more carefully than usual, one hand briefly steadying herself against the metal. Now that the fire was behind her, her body felt strange. Hollowed out, too light and too heavy all at once, the adrenaline that had carried her through the call was still pumping through her veins.
Across the bay, Severide climbed down from the rig, their eyes met through the movement of medics and stretchers, and he searched her face the same way he always did after a rough call. She gave him a small nod in return. It wasn’t the same thing as saying she was fine, and he knew it.
Violet was already being wheeled toward the entrance, an oxygen mask pressed to her face, while she weakly argued with the paramedics about how she could walk on her own. Stella followed a few steps behind until the automatic doors slid shut between them with a soft mechanical hiss, cutting off the sight of Violet’s soot-streaked face.
Severide glanced at her for what had to be the third time in as many minutes, then finally stepped closer.
“You should be checked too,” he said.
“I’m fine,” she snapped, sharper than she meant to. “Violet’s the one who needs to be checked.”
He exhaled slowly, patient but clearly not convinced. “You got really nervous back there.”
She turned toward him immediately, eyes flashing. “I said I’m fine.”
The word carried a brittle edge that told him exactly how not fine she actually was.
“I know you think you are,” he said carefully. “But you were shaking, your color was off, you threw up—”
“That was the adrenaline,” she shot back. “It happens all the time.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Dr. Kidd, I didn’t realize you were on shift tonight,” he said dryly, his eyes fixed on her in disbelief. How was it possible for someone to be that stubborn?
“I’m a certified paramedic. I know what happened.”
“You’re also five months pregnant,” he added quietly.
She looked away, jaw tightening. “Please don’t do this right now.”
“Listen, I’m not trying to fight, okay?” His voice softened a notch. “I just want to make sure you’re both okay. Please.”
For a long moment, Stella didn’t answer. The hospital doors whooshed open and shut behind them, the controlled chaos of the ER continuing as if nothing had happened. Just before she could respond, a familiar voice cut through the noise.
“Hey guys! What are you arguing about?”
Hannah Asher approached them, already looking between the two of them with sharp curiosity. Her eyes landed on Stella and immediately caught the details she thought she was hiding, like the slight paleness in her face and the faint tremor in her hands.
She wasn’t getting past Hannah with that.
“Stella just needs to get checked, please,” Severide said.
Hannah’s mouth curved into a small, knowing smile as she gestured down the hall. “Alright. Come on.” She guided them toward an empty exam room and motioned toward the bed. “Up in the bed, Lieutenant.”
Stella climbed onto it with a resigned sigh, her boots dangling uselessly off the edge. Severide stayed near the wall with his arms crossed, watching every movement in the room like he might catch something invisible if he stared hard enough.
Hannah moved efficiently, wrapping a blood pressure cuff around Stella’s arm. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” Stella answered automatically.
Hannah paused and gave her a look.
“You’re still a little pale. Want to try that again?”
Stella huffed quietly. “I’m fine, I swear. Just a bit shaken.”
“Okay,” Hannah said, pumping the cuff. She measured her blood pressure, then listened to Stella’s heart, then grabbed the ultrasound so she could take a quick look at the baby. After lifting Stella's shirt and moving the ultrasound across her abdomen, the baby’s heartbeat filled the small room, steady and unmistakably strong.
“Everything is perfect with mom and the baby,” Hannah said, smiling.
Severide let out a breath he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding.
Hannah cleaned Stella’s stomach and helped her sit upright again. “Just your blood pressure is a bit high.”
Stella straightened immediately. “How high?”
“It’s high, but it’s not dangerous,” Hannah said right away. “What happened tonight?”
He answered before Stella could shut it down. “We had a call, and it turned out to be at Violet’s building. She and Novak were off shift today, and we got worried when she wasn’t answering her phone…”
He gave Hannah a meaningful look that said the rest without words: Stella thought something bad had happened.
Stella sighed, irritation flaring again. “I said I’m fine.”
“She got sick too,” Kelly added gently.
Hannah nodded, tapping something into the tablet before glancing back up. “Okay. Give me a minute.”
She stepped out of the room, leaving the two of them alone.
Stella stared at the wall. “You didn’t have to say that.”
“I only told Hannah the truth.”
She looked up at him sharply. “I handled it.”
“You almost ran back into a burning building, Stella. I had to physically stop you!” The words landed heavier than he meant them to.
Stella looked away again, her throat tightening.
A few minutes later, Hannah returned, her expression softer now.
“Okay,” she said. “I checked with Dr. Ripley. Violet’s okay. Minor smoke inhalation, and we’re keeping her overnight just to be safe.”
Relief washed over Stella’s face instantly. “Oh God… that’s great.”
“Yes, it is,” Hannah continued gently. “But I’m still sending you home for the rest of the shift.”
Stella’s brows pulled together immediately.
“No, no, there’s no need for that. I’m fine. I can finish the shift and—”
Hannah shook her head before she could finish. “You’re fine now, but you still need to rest. Once that adrenaline crash hits, you’re going to feel like a bus ran you over.”
Stella opened her mouth again, already lining up another argument, but this time, Severide spoke first.
“Stella, this isn’t up for discussion. You’re going home, end of the story. Your safety is the priority.”
Slowly, she turned her head toward him. Her eyes were bright again, the same shine that had appeared earlier when fear had taken hold of her chest outside the burning building. She was clearly fighting the tightness in her throat, pressing her lips together like sheer determination might keep the emotion from spilling out.
For a moment, she didn’t say anything, then she gave a small nod.
“Fine,” she said quietly. “But I’m staying here.”
Before either Severide or Hannah could respond, Stella slid off the bed and walked out of the room.
Severide stayed where he was for a moment, staring at the glass door with a mixture of frustration and concern. Then he sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair before looking back at Hannah.
“This one hit her pretty hard, Hannah.”
She leaned lightly against the wall, folding her arms loosely as she watched him with a sympathetic smile.
“I know.” Her voice was calm and thoughtful. “She’s always been a very caring person, but pregnancy changes the way the brain reacts to certain things. Some areas become more sensitive to danger signals and to emotional bonds. Add the hormone levels she’s dealing with right now, and everything gets amplified. Fear, attachment, the need to protect the people she loves…”
Severide nodded slowly. “That sounds exactly like what happened tonight.”
“It’s completely normal.” She paused before continuing. “We should let her see for herself that Violet is okay. Once she sees her friend is safe, she’ll begin to relax. That will help lower her blood pressure.”
He let out a slow breath, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “I think if I had pushed any harder tonight, she might have punched me.”
Hannah laughed softly. “She knows you just tried to help, trust me.”
“Honestly I think it's for the best that she's stepping back from active duty next week,” he admitted quietly. “Im sure Girls on Fire will not put her under that much stress.”
“I totally understand. It will help to keep something familiar on her routine. Growing a human is a massive task, but it becomes much easier when the partner is there to help. She will be okay because she has you on her side.”
“Thank you, Hannah,” he said quietly. “Really. I just… thank you.”
“No need to thank me.” She waved it off. “If you two need anything, call me. Day or night, okay?”
“We will.”
Hannah gave him one last reassuring smile before walking down the corridor, her steps calm and unhurried as she disappeared around the corner. Severide remained where he was for a moment, the quiet of the hospital settling around him in a way that felt strangely heavy after the chaos of the night.
He rubbed the back of his neck and took a long breath. Tonight had stretched every nerve in his body, and the look on Stella’s face outside that burning building was something he never wanted to see again.
After another moment, he pushed away from the wall and headed down the corridor, already knowing exactly where he’d find her. He slowed as he reached the room, his hand resting briefly on the doorframe before he stepped closer.
Stella stood beside the bed, quiet and still. One hand rested lightly on the rail as she watched Violet sleep. Her shoulders had finally relaxed, the tight tension that had gripped her earlier slowly melting away now that she could see Violet with her own eyes.
Hannah’s words echoed quietly in his mind.
Let her see for herself that Violet is okay.
It was exactly what was happening. There was something deeply protective in the way Stella stood there, her gaze resting gently on her friend, as if simply being present was enough to keep everything safe.
He saw the small shift in her posture before she turned around to face him.
“I’m so sorry for snapping at you,” she said softly. “I shouldn’t have shoved past you like that and said the things I said. I didn’t mean it.”
Kelly stepped into the room and let the door fall halfway closed behind him.
“I know. You don’t have to apologize. I will always look out for you, Stella Kidd.”
She sighed, eyes starting to sparkle again.
“When I thought she was in there, I just reacted.” She shook her head, still trying to untangle the storm of emotions that had hit her earlier. “It was like this switch flipped, and all I could think about was getting to her. Nothing else mattered. I didn’t even think.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of Kelly’s mouth, remembering his conversation with Hannah a few minutes earlier.
“Well,” he said gently, “Hannah says that’s the pregnancy.”
Stella blinked. “What?”
“Apparently your brain’s changing. It’s something about instincts getting stronger.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “So what, I’m just losing it now?”
“No,” he said with a quiet chuckle. “You’ve got mom brain.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Mom brain.”
“Yeah. According to her, it means you’re gonna worry about the people you love even more than you already do. Add the hormones and congratulations, you’re officially turning into a mama bear.”
Stella stared at him for a second before letting out a slow breath.
“This shit is no joke, Kelly. I swear I’ve never felt anything like that before.” Her hand drifted unconsciously to her stomach. “And that’s saying something.”
He knew exactly what she meant. Lieutenant Stella Kidd didn’t scare easily; she’d run into burning buildings more times than he could count. But mama Stella Kidd was another story.
“I think it’s good this is my last week before stepping back,” she continued quietly. “I love this job. You know I do. But… I’ve got something more important to think about, too. I can’t afford to lose control like that again.”
Kelly stepped closer.
“You didn’t lose control,” he said gently. “You cared. That’s the whole reason you’re such a good lieutenant.”
She looked up at him, searching his face.
“You’re still you, Stella. Pregnant, not pregnant, doesn’t change that. You’re still the badass lieutenant who runs a team full of male firefighters and face the danger when everyone else runs out. Now you’ve got a new priority too, and that’s okay.” He reached for her hand. “And when things get heavy… You can dump it all on me.”
A faint smile started to replace the tension on her face. “Are you sure about that?”
“Oh, absolutely.” He didn’t hesitate. “I’m fully prepared to step into my role as papa bear.”
She huffed out a quiet laugh, and he squeezed her hand gently.
“Our baby is really lucky to have you as their mom...” he said softly. “They’ve got the bravest mom I know.”
The warmth of his words settled deep in her chest. When Kelly leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, Stella didn’t hesitate. Her arms slipped around him, holding on for a moment longer than usual. Now that the adrenaline had faded, the exhaustion crept in. She relaxed against his chest, and Kelly’s hand settled protectively along her back, steady and familiar.
After a quiet moment, Stella pulled back slightly and glanced towards Violet one more time, and a faint smile crossed her face.
“I think it’s better if we go. We all need to rest after that.” Stella added, looking back at him with tired eyes.
He huffed a quiet agreement, feeling her fingers slip naturally into his.
“You can help her tomorrow, check if the building’s safe, see if there’s anything worth saving, figure out what started the fire… all the fire cop stuff.”
Kelly smiled, lacing his fingers more firmly through hers.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’ll take care of it.”
They stepped out of the hospital room together and headed down the hallway towards the waiting room. Everyone looked exhausted. Vasuez looked up first when he saw them approaching.
“How is she?”
Stella gave a small, reassuring nod. “She is fine. They are keeping her overnight just to be sure.”
“That's excellent news,” Cruz said, sighing in relief. “Do we know if there is something left to save?”
“Haven't heard from Mouch yet, but we will know soon,” Severide replied, looking at Stella. “Come on, 51, let's go back to the firehouse.”
The ride back to the firehouse was far easier than the one that had brought them to the hospital earlier. Stella sat quietly during the drive, staring out the window while the streetlights slid past one after another. The tension that had ruled her body earlier had finally begun to fade, but a dull heaviness remained in her muscles. Hannah had not been exaggerating; the crash after the adrenaline had arrived right on time.
When they reached the firehouse, the crews immediately separated: some headed to take a shower to wash the call off, and others went to the kitchen to eat something. She walked straight toward the locker room without saying much.
STella opened her locker slowly and began pulling out a few things, placing them carefully into her bag. Her hands were still a little shaky, though not like earlier. She had just closed the locker door when she sensed someone watching her.
Severide was standing a few feet away, leaning casually against another locker with his bag in his hand. His expression was calm, but his eyes were studying her carefully.
“I was just picking some stuff from my locker,” she said quickly, adjusting the strap of her bag over her shoulder. “I swear I wasn’t trying to hide around here.”
He smiled immediately, the corners of his eyes crinkling.
“Hey,” he said gently. “I’m not here to kick you out, I just wanted to see if you were ready to go.”
Stella’s gaze dropped to the bag in his hand. “Where are you going?”
He frowned at the question as if the answer should have been obvious. “I’m coming with you. No chance I’m letting you go home alone.”
Stella lifted one eyebrow.
“Babe, I promise I’m good to go by myself and…”
“I’m coming with you,” Severide repeated calmly, leaving no room for negotiation.
She studied his face for a moment.
“You don’t have to get yourself into trouble for me,” she said, though the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
Severide shook his head, unimpressed with that argument.
“Stella, I don’t care about being in charge while Pascal is gone.” His blue eyes locked onto hers, steady and warm. “I love you, and you will always come first.”
The words settled in the quiet space between them.
“It’s all good,” he continued. “Herrmann will cover for you, Cruz will cover for me, and Mouch will take charge until the end of the shift.”
Stella felt something soften in her chest at the quiet confidence in his voice, then Severides’ expression shifted slightly, a small hint of amusement creeping in.
“Besides, I’m pretty sure you said earlier you couldn’t wait to take me home tomorrow morning.”
Stella blinked once as the memory surfaced instantly, and his grin widened when he saw recognition cross her face.
“Yeah, I remember.”
“So, consider this an early release.”
She let out a tired laugh and shook her head. She stepped closer and squeezed his hand gently.
“Lieutenant Severide, abusing your authority as a battalion chief already… That is dangerously hot.”
He smirked, entirely pleased with that.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m gonna need you to keep that thought to yourself until you’re not recovering from a medical scare.”
“I can do that,” She let out a quiet laugh.
Without a word, he took her bag from her shoulder and slung it over his own.
“Come on,” he said gently. “Let’s get you home.”