"Tell me the truth Jay" My voice began larger
"Ali, just let me explain" He once again took another step to me
"Don't!" My voice shrieked "Come any closer. Just tell me the truth"
He exhaled and gave me a slow nod "Yea" He almost whispered "Julian escaped from prison. But we can't find him, he's like a ghost. No one knows where he is"
A small gasp escaped my lips "How long?"
He didn't answer "Jay" Anger came out as I spoke. I clenched my fist "How long has it been since he's escaped?"
He pressed his lips together "2 months"
I felt like he punched me in the gut over and over again. He's been out, two months. On the loose, he hasn't been caught. I took a few steps back
"Ali.." He whispered
"No, stay away from me"
"Please just let me ex-"
"Stay away from me!" I yelled. Without thinking next I ran to the door, opened it and stormed out. I ran and ran, without looking back. I ran. And didn't stop
-
Jay walked into the district and walked upstairs. He walked to his chair and sat down letting out a big frustrated sigh
"Hey, you okay?" Erin asked him
Jay looked at the ground for a second before he looked at her "Alison found out. That Julian escaped"
She moved to the front of her chair "What? How? Did you tell her?"
I shook my head "I don't know how she found out but she did. I didn't tell her"
"Where is she? How upset did she get?"
Jay let out a sigh "She was upset, and I don't know where she's at. She took off last night and I went looking for her everywhere. But I couldn't find her" He grabbed my phone from her pocket "I'm gonna call Kelly, see if she went into work"
-
"Hey guys I wanna see this fire truck slick and clean" Matt announced
I let out a chuckle "Hey, come on ease up. They washed the truck just last week" I slapped Matt's shoulder lightly as I passed by him walking to the squad table
I felt my phone vibrate. Once I took it out I answered "Hello"
"Hey Kelly its Jay"
"Hey Jay, what's up?"
"Have you seen Alison? Has she shown up for her shift?"
I looked around the room looking for her "Hmm I haven't seen her. She should be coming in. I'll keep an eye out"
"Okay, call me if you see her"
I nodded "I will, bye" I hung up the phone. I walked inside and looked around but no sign of her. I approached Gabby who was pouring coffee "Hey, have you seen Alison?"
She looked at me and shook her head "Shouldn't she already be here? She's always early"
"I haven't seen her. Neither has Jay. He just called me"
Gabby shrugged her shoulders as she finished pouring and put the pot back "Maybe she over slept, you tried calling her?"
"Nope, but this isn't like her"
"I'll call her, don't worry Kelly, she'll be here"
I looked around before I nodded at her. I turned my back around and walked away
-
Camille approached Gabby "Hey, I just overheard. He's right that isn't like Alison"
Gabby slowly sipped her coffee "I know"
"We can't let Boden find out. I'll give her a call and look around, maybe she's around we just don't know"
Gabby nodded "Thanks Camille"
-
I walked outside and walked around looking for her. But I didn't see her, her car neither. I walked back to the table and called her cell over and over. But every single time it went straight to voicemail
It's been hours, and still no sign of her. Luckily we hadn't gotten any calls out. I was starting to get nervous, really nervous. But I don't want Boden to find out. I was sitting at the squad table while Joe and Capp were playing cards
"Severide"
I looked up to see Connie "Boden wants to see you"
I exhaled and stood up. I made my way to his office and on the way I looked around to maybe find her. But still nothing. I walked into his office and stood in front "What's up Chief?" I asked
"I heard just right now that Alison hasn't shown up for her shift. Can you tell me why"
What? Who would tell him this? Gabby's the only one who knew. But she wouldn't tell "Who told you?"
"That doesn't matter. It's been 3 hours Kelly, the better question is why am I just hearing about this"
I looked down for a split second and looked back up "I didn't want to tell you because I wasn't sure, I've been calling her but it's been going straight to voicemail"
"Frankly I'm disappointed Severide. Do you have any place where she might be?"
"I may have an idea"
"Take the truck, find her"
I nodded and walked out. Once I did I noticed Camille standing staring at me. I approached "You told him?"
She shrugged "I was worried. I mean Boden deserves to know right?"
I scoffed to myself "I didn't even tell you"
"I heard you telling Gabby"
I rolled my eyes and walked away. What the hell is her problem? She had no right to squeal. Maybe everything Alison says about her is true. I walked out from the main room to outside
"Squad 3 gear up. We're going for a ride"
They did as told and we soon took off. The entire ride I couldn't stop thinking about her. I had a feeling where she might be. But why would she leave? Why wouldn't she show up for work? Whatever has her running away, was something bad. I knew it. We arrived not soon after we arrived at an abandoned house. We used to live here when we were smaller. When Joe parked the big truck I climbed out and began walking with all my gear on. I walked passed the house and behind was an old tree house. We would spend almost all our time here. I climbed up, I was surprised this small ladder wasn't broken
Once I climbed up I sat her sitting on the floor knees up to her chest. Her eyes were bright red. I walked over to her gently as I heard the floor creaking as I walked. I sat down next to her and we sat in silence "Ali.." I began
"Did you know too?" She asked her voice was shaky. Her eyes glued to the ground
"Know what?"
"That he escaped"
I took a hard swallow. Shit..
He took a while to say something. Which he gave it away, he knew "Look, Ali"
"You knew. But you didn't tell me" I finally got the courage to look at him
"We were just trying to protect you"
I scoffed "Protect me? How are you suppose to protect me when this psychopath is out roaming the streets?" I could feel the tears emerging but I did my best to hold them back
"Ali, I'm sorry. We thought we were doing the right thing"
I moved my eyes back to the ground. I didn't say a word "Alison, come back, please"
I shook my head "I can't do it. I can't go back. How can I marry the man who lied to me? Especially about something so big. I can't do it"
I felt him out his hand behind my back, making me flinch "It's not his fault. We told him, don't blame Jay for this"
I turned to look at him "He still lied to me"
"Because I told him, he came to me and told me about Julian. But I don't him we shouldn't tell you. This is my fault entirely, don't blame him"
I shut my eyes for a second "Just please come home" For some reason I believed him. He held out his hand for me to grab. I hesitated but eventually grabbed his hand
We both climbed down. We walked back to the truck and climbed on. Joe drove back to the firehouse. Once we got there I climbed down and walked back inside with everyone. I walked in side to side with Kelly. Once we walked into the main room I noticed Camille standing in the middle, my fist rolled up into a ball as I approached her. As I got closer I swung my fist and it made contact with her cheekbone. She went flying down and everyone else around gasp
Without listening to anyone I walked straight to Boden's office. He was sitting in his office. He stopped what he was doing when I walked in and stood up
"Chief, I apologize for not coming in today. I just had some problems"
He took off his glasses and set them down "You know Alison. Whenever anyone has problems they leave it outside. You come into work you come in to work. Leave your problems outside of this firehouse"
I nodded "Understood sir"
He looked at me for a second "Get changed" He signaled to the door
"Thank you sir" I turned around and walked out the door. I walked to the locker room and opened my locker
"Hey"
I turned my head to look at Kelly approaching me. I hid my hand as best I could inside my locker. I have him a smile, or should I say tried to
"Let me see" He held out his hand
I exhaled and brought out my hand. He looked at it closely. Once he touched my knuckles I winced softly and flinched my hand "How badly does it hurt?" He asked
I looked down at my hand. I could see the bruising beginning to form around my knuckles "It's just a bruise. Question is how is Camille's face? Did I break her jaw?" I snickered
"Ali, this isn't funny. Why did you punch her like that?" He asked letting go of my hand
I rolled my eyes "Geez, I'm so tired of everyone defending her" I began to pace back and forth from one locker to another in the short distance
"Defending her? Alison she's a part of this firehouse. She's been good here. Just because you guys have a past doesn't mean she's the same person"
I scoffed "Come on, don't you see what she's doing?" My voice began to raise "She's been trying to destroy me every chance she gets, ever since she got here. You know I thought she changed, I gave her a chance, but I was wrong" I threw my hands around making gestures "She's just a bitch who's out to get me!"
Kelly simply stared at me "Ali, come on. Calm down"
"Calm down? Damn, everyone is so damn blind. The only reason I found out Julian escaped was because she told me!" My voice only grew louder by each word
"Lower your voice"
"Lower my voice? Are you kidding me?! Camille is a complete bitch who is out to get me. And I'm not going to stand here and take it!"
"Take a walk" His voice sounded stern "Now" I could see he was holding in his anger
"Kelly"
"Take. A walk"
I let out a sigh. He was standing about a locker and a half away from mine. The anger was building up. I yelled and slammed my locker with the same right hand I punched her with. The slam was so hard it made my ears softly ring. I walked outside ignoring everyone who was staring at me
I walked outside passing the trucks. I ran my hands over my face "Hey. What's going on? What happened in there?"
Gabby asked approaching me "Nothing"
My breathing was heavy because of how much anger I had "We heard a locker slam so loud. What happened?"
"It was nothing Gabby" I repeated
"Look, Kelly just told me to tell you maybe it's best you take the rest of shift off"
I sniffed "Yea, I don't blame him" I looked at her before I walked away
I went back to the apartment and walked inside. Jay was still working so the apartment was empty. I sat on the couch and pulled my knees up to my chest. I sat in the couch for an hour just thinking about everything. I heard the door open and I knew it was Jay
"Alison?" He was by my side in a second sitting next to me
I stayed staring at the ground "Alison.. I'm glad your okay. Where were you?"
"The lying. Did you want to do that?"
He put his hand on my arm "No. Kelly and I, we just wanted to protect you. We don't know how you found out"
I turned to look at him "It was that bitch Camille. She's been out to ruin my life and somehow she found out. What you guys were doing was the right thing" I took a deep breath "I just freaked out when I found out because I don't know, instincts I guess"
He chuckled "I'm sorry baby. I promise I will never lie to you again. I promise"
"I know" Our lips touched
"So what happened? Your home from work early" He said after we pulled a part
I turned my body and out my legs over his "Well when I got to work after Kelly found me and convinced me to go back. I saw Camille standing there and I punched her. Really hard. Afterwards I went into Boden's office and he basically kind of chewed me out. Then I went to the locker room to change into my squad shirt but Kelly came. He looks at my forming bruised knuckles" I brought out my hand and showed him
"Then after that I pretty much lost it. I mean everyone is defending Camille. I mean after everything she's done to ruin my life I still look like the bad guy"
"You shouldn't have let her get to you"
I nodded "I know. But she did"
He began to run his hand over the back of my head "So what do you think going to happen at work?"
I shrugged "I don't know. I don't think I will lose my job. At least I hope not"
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