So this is an old fanfic I once started but never really got going, but I have decided to restart it. It is covering the ten years before the start of the show and will cover it up until the pilot. I hope you do like this idea! I am trying to keep it as close as the show would be as possible. Please do let me know what you think by leaving a review.

Because it does take place 10 years before the pilot of the show, some characters may seem OOC but it has a reason...they changed in 10 years! ;)

November, 2002

''You gonna drive like this when you finally ask Heather out?'' Matt Casey asked as the car came to an abrupt halt. Andy Darden got the key from the ignition with a chuckle and shook his head.

''Only when you are the passenger.''

''Thanks.'' Matt said, ''Appreciate it.''

They walked inside the firehouse. Matt was putting his stuff in his locker when he suddenly nearly got pushed in.

Looking back he saw Kelly Severide had joined them there and looked around his locker door.

''Ego couldn't fit past?'' Andy said angry as he saw it happened.

''Sorry, just trying to get past.'' Kelly answered him angry as he put his stuff in the locker and walked off then.

''I am Kelly Severide, I am in rescue squad, I am the youngest ever in rescue squad. My ego is big now I need to push my friends into their lockers to walk past.'' Andy mumbled in an annoyed way, mocking Kelly a bit.

''Stop it, he was our friend.'' Matt said that even though Kelly had been so different since he had joined squad, he hoped they could be friends again. It been such a shame, Andy and Kelly had been friends since childhood and Casey had joined them as a friend in the academy and remained friends through their candidacy, but after working in the firehouse for two years Kelly had made the move to squad and even thought they had tried to remained friends, Kelly suddenly stopped talking to them and hanging out with Squad.

''Well he is not our friend anymore. He is so much better than us now.'' Andy said.

''Maybe he will still come around.'' Matt said. They walked into the common room, greeting the rest of the truck members. There was the lieutenant, Young, whom was ironically enough old. Together with Jose Vargas, Christopher Herrmann and Randy McHolland. The paramedics were sitting there as well, Morris and Peterson.

Chief Boden walked in then, holding up a list. He had just moved from lieutenant of truck into the chief slot and all them respected him, because he had worked so hard for it and did it so well.

''We are trying to get a shift together for Christmas eve.'' Boden said then. ''We already have two other firefighters for truck from shift 1 and the lieutenant from shift 2''

''Sign me up.'' Matt immediately said.

Everybody looked a bit surprised because Casey usually wasn't that vocal but immediately said he would do it now.

''No Christmas with the family?'' Boden asked.

''No, sign me up.'' Matt said and Mouch raised his hand as well.

''I will do it too.''

Andy doubted for a minute. He really wanted to be with his mom during Christmas time. He saw Herrmann doubt as well.

''I cou-''

''I will do it too.''

''That means we have got enough, thanks so much guys. We will make sure the Christmas shift will be a good one.'' Boden promised and Herrmann looked a bit surprised.

''You should spend your Christmas with Cindy and your kid.'' Andy said then. He looked at Matt, his friend silent again after volunteering and looking down into his book again.

Matt didn't mind doing the shift. There was no way he was going to have a Christmas anyway. His dad was dead, his mom was in prison and Christy was still working on her master's degree in Portland.

Not that he wanted the firehouse to know. Except for Kelly and Andy, nobody knew about his parents and he wanted to keep it that way. They didn't know a much about him and he sort off liked it. They didn't need to know his life was a mess ever since his mom had shot his dad. Not about his crappy home situation since he had left his uncles house and how is sister didn't really talk to him as she was so far away.

A call came in and they rushed to the trucks.

They all sat in the truck, rushing down the scene.

''Did we forget Casey again?'' The lieutenant said then.

''I am here.'' Matt said, Andy shaking his head.

''Oh. You are easy forget you kno-''

''Leave the kid alone.'' Herrmann told the lieutenant. For some reason the lieutenant had to pick on Casey all the time, as he was pretty quiet.

They arrived on the scene and jumped out. Together with Matt, Andy was send in and they walked through the house, searching. Together they searched around, calling out suddenly finding a man.

Dragging the man out the fire to the ambulance, they looked as Boden called for Kelly through the radio. Soon Kelly came running out, carrying the family dog.

''Show off.'' Andy shook his head and Matt did wonder what had happened between the two that their friendship had turned so sour.

After the return to the firehouse the shift was quiet, but the next morning shift was over and Andy and Matt walked to the locker room again.

''My mom asked when you are coming over for dinner again.'' Darden said as he put all his stuff in his bag.

''I don't know. I don't want to keep coming over as some sort of meal plan.'' Matt said. Ever since he had been honest about his situation his mom tried to keep inviting Casey over for dinner.

''She likes having you over.''

''I appreciate it, but I don't need your pity.'' Matt said as he swung his bag over his shoulder. ''I have been living on my own for three years now, can take care of myself.''

''Sure.'' Andy said. ''Want to drive along?''

''I will take the bus.'' Matt said as they walked outside.

''No please drive along, I want to go to the restaurant. '' Andy said and Matt let go of a deep sigh.

''Again?''

''Please. I will pay''

''Fine.'' Matt said as he did sit down in the car with Andy again. They drove the restaurant where a girl was working Andy was so in love with. It was small diner and honestly Matt didn't mind getting some breakfast here after the long shift.

As soon they sat at the table and Heather came to greet them with some fresh coffee. Immediately Andy looked so smitten at her.

''how many cats did you save from trees again today?'' Heather chuckled as she poured some coffee.

''Three, named all three of them Heather.'' Andy said and Matt hid himself behind a menu, cringing a bit.

Soon they ordered and she came to bring their breakfast, both of them digging in and when it was time to pay, Andy looked a bit doubtful at Heather standing behind the counter.

''Just ask her out, no more cringe conversation.''

''Says the guy that hasn't dated in 5 years.'' Andy huffed but finally he got up then walking to the bar then.

Matt looked as his friend walked there, talking with Heather then. He really hoped it would work out for Andy.

As for himself, he didn't feel like dating, not wanting to drag a girl into his life as well now it was such a mess.

Andy came walking back excited.

''I paid, let's go!''

Frowning Matt got up and walked with his friend.

''I am going out with her!'' Andy said excited.

''That is great man!'' Matt hit his friend on the shoulder as they walked to his car.

Andy drove him home, probably even more excited to tell his mom he was going out - they were so close Matt couldn't help but feel jealous from time to time.

''Are you not feeling bad about taking the Christmas shift, what about your mom?'' Matt asked then, still surprised his friend had done it.

''No, no. My brother is coming from Salt Lake City. She will be fine, besides, it will be good to have a Christmas at the firehouse.''

''Yeah.'' Matt said then, knew he also had a Christmas with a family not. Not his own, but the firehouse family.

''Alright, time for you to get you.'' Andy said as he parked by Matt's building.

''Thanks for the ride and the breakfast.''

''All good.'' Andy said before he drove off again.

Slowly he walked into the building, putting the key in the door and entering his apartment. Closing the door behind him, he looked at the mess in front of him. The studio was tiny, a mess and he had tried to make the best of it but it was such a rundown ruin.

Sitting down on the edge of his bed, he laid his head against his hands. He wished he could go home, but even after 5 years, he was trying to pick up the pieces that the drama in his family had left behind.

NOTE: So here it is the rewrite of the story! I know the last one didn't get ended and was a really short one, but this one will hopefully do better and I hope you want to read more! Like I said, some characters may seem a bit OOC but it is 10 years earlier and I promise it will all make sense. Also not all of the characters are in here yet, but they will appear sometime leading up to the pilot ;) Thank you so much for reading the first chapter, I hope you liked it! Please let me know what you think.