WE'RE GOOD

AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER

Takes place directly before the end of "Down Is Better". Chicago Fire belongs to Dick Wolf and NBC.

Kelly gently grabbed Brett's arm and the girl turned to him. What does he want? To say that my apology isn't accepted, she worried.

"What? I have to go. The alarm," she stated. Don't want to hear that everything's been ruined, she moped. Like she had told Hope, she had worked hard to make a life for herself here and now it was all ruined. Not that she blamed the others for being pissed off at her. She had been the one to vouch for the other girl, and she had proven to be untrustworthy. That was a reflection on her.

"We're good," he assured. Hate that she thinks she's to blame for this, he thought to himself. It wasn't her fault that Hope had tried to screw them all over.

"What?" she gasped. Had she heard right? No, she couldn't have. That was her hopeful ear. Hope was her friend which meant that everything that had happened was on her.

"We're good," he repeated. "What Hope did-that's not on you. Her actions are her own."

"But-"

"No buts. You're our family. And when someone messes with one, they mess with all." Brett nodded. That made sense. And she couldn't blame him for being pissed about what had happened to Stella.

"And she messed with Stella. And for that-"

"She messed with you too."

"Well-"

"She did. She tried to put you in the middle of something. As far as I'm concerned, we're good." Brett nodded.

"Sylvie, let's go!" Gabby called and the blonde-haired girl hurried after her friend.

"Sorry. Kelly wanted to talk to me," she apologized.

"I heard," came the response. "And we're good too." Sylvie nodded. As she headed out, she looked to Stella. I hate that we ruined our friendship, she thought to herself. It was her fault though. And she didn't have time to talk to her. Stella's eyes flickered as she studied the other girl. Brett looks wrecked, she thought to herself. She was really beating herself up about what had happened. And yes, she was still pissed about it, but at the same time, wouldn't she have acted the same way if the situations had been reversed?

"Hey," she said as Gabby and Brett started to enter their rig. Hearing her speak, Sylvie turned around. "We're good," she told her and the medic's face lit up as she went into the ambo. Things were going to be okay…