The Language Between Us

"No!", Kelly realized desperately, "Lina! Lina talk to me! Please talk to me!" Minutes felt like hours as they anxiously awaited for Lina to talk. Suddenly they heard Lina cry, "Fire. Everywhere!" Severide just shook his head in disbelief. Why does such a catastrophe have to happen to his child of all people?

"Okay a burning collapsed house should attract attention right?", Stella said optimistic. As if the dispatcher had heard them, the alarm rang out, "Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61 - Explosion of a building on Addison Ave."

"That's near the airport," Joe noted. They all immediately made their way to the vehicles. This could only be the building where Lina was inside, "Lina, we know where you are. I'm coming to you, okay? Don't be afraid, I'll be with you any moment," Kelly reassured her over the phone, his voice soothing. Lina quietly wept as she heard her father's words.

Kelly sat in the passenger seat of the squad 3, his heart pounding with a mix of worry and hope. He glanced over at Toni, who gripped the steering wheel tightly, his focus unwavering. Cruz, riding in the back, held onto the safety handles, his thoughts consumed by the urgency of the situation.

As they approached the location on Addison Ave, the sight that met their eyes was a big industry building still in flames.

Kelly, his mind solely focused on his daughter's safety, kept Lina on the line. He updated her on their progress, assuring her that they were getting closer. "Listen kiddo, we arrived. I'm gonna hang up now," Kelly said through the phone.

"No, please don't. Dad!" Lina sobbed. Kelly's heart skipped a beat as he heard those simple yet powerful word escape Lina's lips. Dad. It was the first time she had ever called him by that endearing title, and it sent a wave of emotions rushing through him.

"Don't be afraid, kid. I am gonna find you now, okay? I'll keep you safe I promise you that." The phone connection was far from good. The line was filled with disruptions. Dropouts and static, making it difficult for them to understand each other.

Kelly's heart pounded in his chest as he and the team, Joe Cruz, Capp, Stella Kidd and Blake Gallo, made their way through the smoke-filled, burning building, "Lina! Call out! " Severide screamed.

"Here! I am here!" As they followed Lina's voice, their call took a sudden turn. They discovered Lina and Zachary, trapped in the basement. Both children were injured.

"You good?" Kelly asked. Lina's head throbbed with pain as she nodded in response to her father's question. Blood trickled down her forehead. She could see the worry etched on Kelly's face, his eyes filled with both relief and concern. As Lina pleaded for her father to help Zachary, Kelly's attention shifted momentarily. He took a deep breath, composing himself, and turned to where Zachary lay, injured and still unconscious. Luckily Joe came along to take care of Zachary, "You take care of Lina. She needs you now. I'll take care of the boy."

"Lina," Kelly said gently, his voice a mix of comfort and urgency, "I need you to trust me. We're going to get you out of here, but we need to be careful. I'm going to secure this sling around you so we can hoist you up together." Lina nodded, placing her trust in her father's hands.

She winced as he carefully fastened the sling around her, ensuring she was secure for the ascent. The pain was intense, but her determination to escape this dangerous situation outweighed the discomfort. With Lina safely secured, Kelly positioned himself beneath her, ready to bear her weight and guide her upward. They shared a silent understanding, their eyes locked, conveying love, strength, and a profound sense of connection.

"Okay, Lina," Kelly said softly, his voice carrying a mix of encouragement and caution, "On my count, we're going to start moving. Ready?"

Lina nodded, steeling herself for the ascent. She gripped her father's arm tightly as the firefighter began the slow and arduous process of pulling them up, inch by inch.