winded

Two weeks surpassed since Kelly revealed the hard truth of what left her in a devastating heartbreak eight years ago. Layla couldn't deny that hearing this new piece of information stung an old wound as she reflected that day. However, she became infuriated that another person whom she loved played a part into her pain.

When she confronted her grandfather later that day, he had no use to rebuttal Kelly's word. The old man had always owned his truth. He still believed his decision to break the engagement was for the better despite hurting his granddaughter. His selfishness merely angered Layla even more. Never in her life has she held much anger nor lash out on anyone until that day. Her voice startled her grandmother in the other room with her book club. When Macy went to intervene the tense conversation, Layla refused to remain in the same room with Henry. She cut him out of her life and then stormed out of the house.

Catherine stood at the front steps of the house by the time Layla arrived. She had a sympathetic look on her face before bringing her daughter into her arms. Layla figured that her mother knew the truth considering the strained relationship between her and Henry all these years. Although, there's more than what meets the eye.

Doors opened to a café in New York where Layla sauntered to the cashier ordering a coffee and bagel. The moments she stepped out of line after paying, a familiar voice called her name. She spun her heel to feel her lips grace into a delighted smile before moving to hug the figure.

Now seated at a table by the window, Layla brought her drink to her lips. "Thank you for saving me the other night."

"Anything for my little sister."

Layla rolled her eyes at Ryan her older stepbrother. Ryan is the only child of Nathan from his first marriage. His mother Theresa died in a car accident one night when he was ten years old. With Nathan being his one parent left had taken time off from the firehouse to be there for his son.

Then time moved on, Nathan entered in a serious relationship with Catherine in which he had never thought would happen for himself. They decided to bring their families together. Relief washed over the two adults when it appeared Ryan and Layla got along right away.

Like Layla, Ryan left Chicago and bounced around until making home in Washington D.C. working as an architect.

"Besides being cornered by your grandparents looked like you needed some saving."

Unexpectedly, Macy and Henry took a short trip to New York for an event where Layla attended. She hasn't spoken to either of them since that day in his office. Of course, her grandmother attempted to orchestrate an olive branch such as a family dinner during their brief visit. Lucky enough, Ryan interrupted the conversation to whisk Layla away.

Layla blew out a deep sigh, "Yeah, I'm not really up to speak with either of them right now." She received plenty of unread messages and calls which she's ignored.

Ryan shrugged, "You have a reason. Henry ruined your wedding and left you thinking that Kelly didn't want to marry you."

"Kelly still left though." Layla deadpanned.

"And I don't expect you to feel Kelly wasn't partially at fault."

She leaned back into her chair. "So, how did you get into that event?"

"I was my model friend's plus one." Ryan held a sheepish grin before drinking his coffee.

Layla snorted as her brother somehow has mutual friend everywhere. "Were you going to tell me you were in the city?" She arched her brow at him.

He stifled a chuckle, giving a short nod. "Yes, I was going to tell you the night after. I'll be here for a few days."

"To just visit or..." Layla trailed off, eyeing him.

"I have an interview for a job. There's a possibility that I could be moving here." Ryan shared with Layla.

He watched the corners of her mouth tugged upward. "That's exciting! It would be nice having another familiar face here!" She exclaimed.

"Are you sure about that? You've been visiting Chicago a lot." He teased lightly.

"Only because mom got me sucked into doing workshops at her studio since my first visit in years." Layla said. "Plus, we both know the day had to come. Kind of missed the windy city that we used to call home."

"Tate seems nice."

Layla voiced to April in the Chicago apartment as she observed her best friend pouring their glasses of wine in the kitchen. The man mentioned is April's new boyfriend. They met on her shift at med when she attended to his young son Eric who swallowed magnets which he mistaken for candy. In Tate's eyes it was love at first sight with April. Between the policy between patients and employees, April was reluctant to accept a date with him. Eventually, she changed her mind to give him a chance as she couldn't deny the connection with him.

"Well, that's part of the reason why I like him." April said in a sarcastic tone. She carried their drinks to the couch where Layla was seated. "You have nothing to worry about."

"Some good guys seem too good to be true." Layla argued innocently. "He is an athlete too." She emphasized when April added about Tate being a former NFL Chicago Bears player.

April shook her head, sipping her glass. "First Maggie, now you." She murmured.

"By the way, Ryan is moving to New York after accepting this big job." Layla informed.

"Awe, good for him. I've missed seeing his face."

Layla let out a scoffed, "The same face you used to suck on."

"It was one time."

"Several times, actually."

"And years ago, Layla." April reminded in a firm tone.

She tilted her head, "Sure, but it's hard when that memory of your best friend and brother is embedded in my brain. You would understand if tables were turned with Noah and I." She paused then scrunched her face in disgust. "Never mind, don't imagine that."

April shuddered herself, "Lucky for us, that never happened."

"Speaking of the future doctor, how is he doing at the hospital?"

Layla pondered and still in shock of April's little brother becoming a doctor. She thought that would be more of April's future. The woman is extremely intelligent and talented to shape up as one of the best doctors. Unfortunately, April's parents asserted their expectations onto Noah to be the doctor. Layla witnessing her best friend sacrificing her career to mentor him wasn't the easiest. She knew April was aware of her opinion yet kept her mouth shut because April never complained.

"He's getting the hang of it." April smacked her lips together in annoyance.

Immediately, Layla had a feeling there was more than that vogue response. She set her glass down on the coffee table. "Okay, what did he do this time?"

It took a minute for April to cave in—not without a frustrated sigh escaping her lips. "He brought banana bags for Tate's friends at this party which he shouldn't be doing as someone who isn't a licensed doctor. His reason is this need to pay me and our parents back for medical school" She huffed, rubbing her temples.

"Oh Noah..."

"He doesn't understand and will be reckless as always. But, that's his problem not mine. I will not be his saving grace anymore."

Layla formed a small smile, "Good because he's a grown man. You've done enough babysitting after all these years."

April laughed into her glass before taking a sip. Layla's phone ringing on the table garnering the duo's attention. Reaching over to check her phone, April took note of her best friend's face faltering at the screen then turning it off and placing by her side.

"Your grandma is very persistent, I see."

"Truly. She doesn't seem to get the memo." Layla pressed her lips together. She propped her arm on the head of the couch to rest her head against her hand. "Not easier when I'm here now. She means well but she can't try to fix his actions. I can't wait to fly back to New York after this."

"Chaos always ensues when it comes to family."

"It never fails."

The day grew tense for Firehouse 51 upon the news of Detective Holloway shot at the courthouse and sent to surgery. They had to save face for the sake of her son present at the firehouse for the time being. Helping him on a school project couldn't have been the best distraction right now. As Sylvie took her turn, the alarm went off to report a call of an injured child. She sent the boy an apologetic smile before dashing off with Jimmy.

Layla comforted the young girl though felt in distress. She tried to hold it together for her and the students behind them. When she listened to the incoming footsteps, she rose to find Sylvie and Jimmy being the paramedics to their rescue.

Her face softened, meeting the latter in the middle to guide them towards Sally. "I don't know what happened, I gave them their two minute water break and Sally came back acting unwell then unresponsive." She entailed, Sylvie and Jimmy nodded in response then dropped next to Sally and began checking on her.

Sylvie turned to Layla, "Okay, do me a favor. Can you get all these girls to go outside? Thank you." Layla complied in a haste having the TA to usher the girls out of the room.

"Alright, tell me what exactly is going on."

Layla crouched down, sighing. "We were at the bar. She kept stumbling. She's not responsive. From the few times I've taught and my mother, she's quite talkative."

Meanwhile, Jimmy attempted to earn the little blonde girl's attention. "Hey Sally, I'm Jimmy. It's a real cool tutu you got there. Can you look at me?"

"Your breathing is a bit shallow. Any asthma, allergies?" Sylvie announced, she whipped her head at Layla.

The ballet dancer shook her head, "No, nothing on her sheet. I called her mom. Had to leave a message."

"Sally, we're going to put a really cool mask on you now, okay?" Jimmy told her in a soft tone. Sally only mumbled in response before he placed the oxygen mask on her.

Sylvie caught a glance of one of the ballet students peeking in the doorway. She asked Layla if she could make sure none of them were lingering in the doorway. Nobody wanted them to witness to what feel traumatizing, let alone give Sally privacy.

When Layla reached Katie, she squatted in front of her and rested both hands upon her shoulders out of comfort. "Hey sweetie, I need you to stay with Janelle and the girls. We need to let these paramedics help Sally get better."

Katie gnawed her lip, still sneaking a glance of Sally over her shoulder. Layla shifted her body to block her view and had a concerned look by Katie's scared face. "You feeling okay, Katie?"

Jimmy kept spotting Katie's expression as well. "Something wrong?"

"Sally did something really bad." Katie told the two adults, grabbing Layla's hand to take her and Jimmy to her friend's backpack.

"What did she do?"

"Sally drank this. She thought it was candy." She released Layla's hand to remove a small item attached to the backpack and then handed to Layla.

Layla's stomach dropped when she and Jimmy realized that Sally consumed a hand sanitizer by accident. Inside the hand sanitizer was filled with 60% of alcohol. Layla guided Katie out of the room to have Janelle take her back to the rest of the students. Sally's state escalated for the worst when her pupils enlarged and her blood pressure increased than average. Jimmy retreated to Sally and Sylvie to start an IV going, however, the vein in her arm turned blue. Instead, he performed an intraosseous as an alternative IV with the hopes to stop the seizure.

Sally continued to seize when Sylvie and Jimmy escorted out of the studio and into the ambulance. Sylvie let Layla tag along to be the adult present for Sally until her mother receives the message to meet at the hospital. The seizing stopped on the way to the hospital much to their relief though Sally shown signs of a brain bleed.

Layla paced in the waiting room as the two paramedics exited from the ER.

"Hey, are you good?" Sylvie rubbed Layla's arm.

Taking a sharp inhale, Layla nodded. "I'll be fine. Just hoping for it to work out. I wished this never happened or should have noticed—"

"Don't beat yourself up over it, Layla." Sylvie cut her off, having to been in scenarios where people blamed themselves without any control of it. "You did everything you could."

"Kids are kids, they do a lot of things that they aren't aware of." Jimmy added in a comforting tone.

Layla nodded in agreement, "I mean, April did tell me her boyfriend's son came in because he thought small magnets were candy."

"See? Don't dwell on it too much." Jimmy quipped.

"I won't. Thank you for saving Sally back there."

Sylvie shared a solemn smile, "It's part of the job. Keep us in the loop?"

"I will."

The two paramedics bid their goodbyes to the ballet dancer to drive back to the firehouse. Layla's eyes remained intact on the duo as they exited the building. She tucked her arms into her body and settled into a seat in the waiting room to relax after feeling winded in the last hour.

"Kids." She breathed out.

Part of her is relieved that she didn't have one at the moment while terrified to bring one into the world. Yet again, that was less of her worries and possibly couple more years to remain in the back of her head.

The bell at the entrance of Molly's bar rang upon Layla's arrival night. She became familiarized with the crowd as some being the members of 51. She carried on inside, gripping the colorful crayon drawn cards in one hand. Stella resided behind the bar noticed her presence and greeted with a nod. By speaking through the look in their eyes, Stella went ahead to produce Layla a drink as she traveled to one of the tables.

"Just the two I'm looking for." Layla beamed at Sylvie and Jimmy seated with Cruz.

The paramedics and firefighter shared perplexed looks. Layla presented the cards in her hand to the two paramedics.

"Sally's brain surgery went well and she is in recovery. Her parents are very thankful for saving her as am I." She further explained, moving into the empty seat next to Jimmy. "And with that, I'm paying for your drinks of the next round or two."

Sylvie's eyes lit up, "Love to hear some good news but love me some free drinks." She beamed.

"Happy to hear she's well, thanks Layla." Jimmy grinned.

Meanwhile, Cruz appeared flabbergasted. He cleared his throat, "Sure, I didn't save that little girl's life, but I do save lives on a weekly basis. I believe I should count...please?" He pleaded with an innocent smile while ignoring Sylvie's hand swatted his arm.

Layla rolled her eyes at the desperate firefighter. She hummed playfully, "I guess you should count too, Cruz."

"Now that's what I'm talking about!" He cheered shamelessly.

With his head hung low at the bar and finishing a glass of scotch, another one glided into his view. He lifted his head in surprise yet confusion at Herrmann whose mouth stretched into a warm grin.

"She thought you needed another one."

Kelly swiveled his head to find Layla joining him at the bar.

"I heard about your friend. I'm sorry." Layla tugged a small frown.

He simply nodded his head, "Thanks." His eyes lowered to his drink. "Can't stop thinking about the kid though."

"No child deserves to feel the loss of a parent." Layla commented. "But I'm sure you did enough on your end by being there for him that entire day. He'll always remember that especially having Pouch by his side now."

Kelly enveloped a small grin, tapping his fingers against the glass. "So...is your presence in Chicago a recurring thing?" He snuck a side glance at her.

"Only until I'm over my mom using the guilt trip card on me." She shrugged lightly. "I still have my life in New York even though it feels a little nice to drop in here. Guess you could say, it's a recurring thing." She mimicked, sending him teasing smile.

"Good, it's nice seeing you around here." 

-Not too keen of this chapter but I managed to write one up! I'm still navigating a timeline, so bear with me. Layla and Kelly's relationship is slowly but surely evolving. If you have any ideas, don't be afraid to share. Hope you like it! Tell me what you think! Don't forget to vote and comment! Stay tuned!-

WRITTEN: 1/6/23

PUBLISHED: 1/7/23