Comfort and Joy

It was Christmas Eve, and all over the country, even in the city of Chicago, millions of people were split up between being out at parties or spending the evening at home with their friends and family, either way having the time of their lives. It was Matt Casey's luck, he was missing it all because he was sick in bed with a migraine.

He and Kelly had planned to go to Molly's for the annual Christmas party, but Casey had been fighting a headache all day, that by dinnertime had manifested itself to feeling like somebody had stabbed him straight through his eye socket clear through to the back of his skull, and every sound and the lights made his stomach pulsate. It was obvious he couldn't go, he wouldn't last an hour in the bar full of bright lights and people chattering and Christmas music playing on the jukebox. Kelly had offered to stay home with him and sit out the party, but Casey had insisted just because he was stuck sleeping it off at home didn't mean Kelly should miss all the fun. Kelly had argued that it wasn't going to be much fun anyway, but especially without Matt there, but Casey had insisted Kelly go so one of them could have a good time. Finally, reluctantly, Kelly had agreed and he left the apartment at 7 that night, during which time Casey had gone straight to bed.

It was pitch dark in his room as he lay under the covers waiting to fall asleep, every time he turned his head one way or the other the pain was excruciating. He'd had migraines before but never this bad, and never at Christmas, somehow he'd always been lucky that they skipped most of the important events in his life, but this time he didn't get away unscathed.

Knowing how much it was going to hurt, he turned on his side and grimaced as he pulled the covers up tighter. It wasn't that he wished Kelly had to miss out on the party either, and he couldn't do anything for Matt if he was there anyway, he wouldn't even be able to talk to Casey without his stomach flip-flopping, but Casey hated being alone. Maybe it was just because of the holiday, about any other time he'd be glad to have some peace and quiet and not be bothered when he was feeling like crap, but this time he just felt miserable, and alone.

Casey finally fell asleep for a while, this he knew because the next thing he knew, he woke up when he heard a floorboard creaking. He opened his eyes and half sat up and looked around, and he turned his head and saw a figure standing in the darkened doorway.

"Kelly?" he whispered.

"Sorry," the figure stepped further into the room and whispered in response, "I didn't mean to wake you up."

"What time is it?" Casey asked.

"11:25, how're you feeling?" Kelly whispered.

"Huh?" Had he really slept for so long? It hadn't felt like it whatsoever. Feeling? He had to stop for a minute and actually think. His head still hurt, but it wasn't that blinding, paralyzing, pulsating agony he'd had earlier, but it was still miserable.

"I think I'll live through the night," he said with a small moan as he lay back against the pillows. "What're you doing home so early?"

"Eh," Kelly shrugged, "the party wasn't much fun without you. Everybody sent their regards."

"Appreciated," Casey said as he adjusted the covers and lay back down.

He realized that Kelly was standing beside the bed practically hovering over him now, he turned his head and looked up.

Kelly didn't say anything at first, but finally he asked him, "Will it make your headache worse if I join you?"

It took Casey a few seconds to figure out what Kelly was asking, finally he moved over and slightly shook his head, any sudden movements still sent a stabbing pain clear through his skull.

Kelly sat on the edge of the bed and removed his boots and his socks and he laid down, pulled the covers up and got settled under them on the other side of the bed.

"I'm sorry you missed the party," Kelly whispered.

"I doubt I missed much," Casey quietly responded.

"True, but I'm still sorry you couldn't go."

"Thanks."

Kelly leaned over and lightly kissed Casey on the side of his head, it was surprising, but didn't draw much of a response from him except for two slightly widened eyes and a slight turn of his head to look at Severide.

After a few minutes, when Kelly was just about to fall asleep, he felt a sudden weight pressing against his arm and realized it was Casey, who'd rolled over against him, already asleep. He wriggled his arm loose and wrapped it around Casey's back and quietly murmured, "Merry Christmas, Casey."

He guessed Matt wasn't totally asleep because he heard the blonde man tiredly murmur something that was only half coherent, but it sounded like he was trying to say, "Merry Christmas, Kelly."


Kelly was already awake when Casey moaned softly as he woke up, still laying against the man beside him.

"How're you feeling?" he asked as Casey rolled over on his back and stretched out on his side of the bed.

Matt looked up towards the ceiling and slowly moaned and sighed as he tried to even remember what had happened. Then the events of last night came back to him, he reached behind him and felt the back of his head. He turned it one way, and the other, the pain was gone, he could hardly even remember it now.

"Better," he answered. "What time is it?"

"6:30."

"It's Christmas?"

"Yep," Kelly answered.

Casey rolled on his side and looked over at Kelly and said quietly, "Thanks for staying with me last night."

Kelly offered a tired smile, "No problem, buddy. You want to get up and start on breakfast?"

Casey yawned and answered, "Not yet."

"You want to see what you got?" Kelly tried again.

Casey let out a groaning yawn as he inched his way beside Kelly again and told him, "I got everything I need right here, it'll keep."

His comment made Kelly almost laugh but instead just a smile, and a small flush in his cheeks, luckily it was too dark to notice.

"Yeah," he agreed as he pulled the covers up on both of them, "Another hour or so of sleep sounds like a good idea."

Casey tiredly smiled at him and said, "Merry Christmas, Kelly."

"Merry Christmas, Matt."