DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction using characters from the Chicago Fire universe. I do not claim any ownership. This work is solely for entertainment purposes and is not considered film or tv canon (not by a long shot).
A/N: I'm very new to this fandom but I love a/b/o stories and I'm in love with Casey/Severide. Hope you enjoy - comments appreciated.
"Paramedic? But I applied for –" Matthew Casey began.
The employment counselor smiled and Casey thought his lips fairly oozed with condescension. "I know what you applied for, kid. Look … no one is gonna put an omega on a truck. Period. It ain't gonna happen. But paramedics are right up your alley … you stay outta danger and you get to do what you were born to do – take care of others."
Casey clenched his jaw in a near-futile attempt to keep his temper. "But I've been training –"
The counselor sighed. "I know that too … you have to live in the real world, kid. Sure, there's lots of do-gooders out there getting laws passed giving you omegas all sorts of freedoms and such … but this is Chicago. And until the law says different, I can't place you in a testing class for being a fireman. I mean, how're you supposed to manage that? You'd be working with a buncha alphas day in and day out. Not to put too fine a point on it – you go into heat and you could shut the entire house down. And how would that look? People don't wanna read how some grandmother's house burned to the ground with her in it cuz the closest firehouse was too busy fuckin' their pet omega."
Matt blew out a frustrated breath. "They make suppressants –"
"Which can have some serious side-effects and possibly leave you sterile," the man countered. "You're young … why would you wanna take the chance that you might never have pups of your own when you meet your alpha?" The counselor smiled pityingly.
"I have to take them to have the paramedic position," Casey pointed out.
"Yep, and you'll be drug tested monthly to make sure you're on 'em. But no omega stays employed in a job like this more than a year anyway … probably not long enough to harm you," the man explained.
"Why not more than a year?" Matt asked.
"After a year, most omegas decide they can't go against nature. They start wantin' pups and home and all the stuff you omegas were created for – they find an alpha and they settle down."
"That won't be me," Casey insisted. "I want this to be my career … well, I want to be a fireman, but if I can't have that then I'll take paramedic. And I won't be leaving in a year."
The counselor gave Matt a smug look. "Whatever you say, kid. You ain't the first omega to come through here with his or her head in the clouds. You won't be the last. You come see me when you need a referral for a teaching position or maybe when you want to be a nurse."
You mean when hell freezes over, Matt thought angrily.
He grabbed the paperwork and stalked out of the employment center. He didn't care what the hell society dictated for him. He'd find a way to work in a firehouse. Somehow.
The world was changing and Kelly Severide wasn't completely in agreement with it but he tried to not be Neanderthal about it. Alphas filled a certain role in society – they were the protectors, the warriors, the ones that ran into danger. Betas could fill that role as well although few did. Omegas … Severide winced as he thought about the announcement made by Chief Boden this morning. Omegas were winning new rights every day it seemed but Kelly had always believed his world was sacrosanct. The only omegas that came into the station were mates or pups of the firefighters that worked there. Perhaps representatives from support groups. No omega had ever worked in the quarters of Engine Co. 51, Truck Co. 81, Rescue Squad Co. 3 and Ambulance 61. Hell, even Boden's assistant, Connie, was a beta – although it was widely rumored that was just a front and she was actually an alpha. And now they'd gone and slapped Leslie Shay, current lead on the ambulance, with an omega partner on the ambo.
"It's a disaster waitin' to happen," Hermann muttered. "Omegas have a place and this ain't it."
Shay gave a frustrated growl. She, like Connie, was a beta but she could go toe to toe with an alpha any day. Kelly knew that one for certain since she was his roommate and best friend.
"It's just so stupid! Gabby was ready to come onboard – she's one of the best!" Shay protested. "Now what am I supposed to do?"
"Make it work," came a low growling voice from the doorway.
Chief Wallace Boden was a legend in his own time. A scarred veteran of the department, Boden was an alpha's alpha. He didn't take shit from anyone and his house was loyal to him. He'd frowned over the admission of betas 'back in the day' but the world hadn't ended. He didn't necessarily like the omega being thrust upon them now, but he was going to do whatever was necessary to show his house as one that could adapt.
Of course, if the omega couldn't pass muster that was another matter entirely.
"Chief, what the hell are we supposed to do when he goes into heat? I mean, he'll be out of commission for at least a week every month!" Shay grumbled.
Boden sighed heavily. "We will provide a non-hostile environment at this house – that means regardless of designation or sex or any other category someone falls into, we will welcome them and give them every opportunity to prove themselves. Do I make myself clear?"
Boden listened to the desultory responses in the affirmative and tried to ignore the looks that flew around the room. He did not envy the newcomer.
Casey walked into the fire station and had to struggle not to gape like a tourist. Of course he'd been in fire stations before but never like this – never as someone who was going to be working side by side with the alphas that actually went out on calls. He toned down the smile threatening to break his face in two and approached the serious faced young woman currently coming out of the back of the ambulance. She took one look at him and rolled her eyes.
"Oh good. You're here."
Casey ignored the sarcasm and stuck his hand out. "Matthew Casey. I assume you're P.I.C. Leslie Shay?"
Shay ignored his hand and nodded. "That's right. Now, let me fill you in on something, Paramedic Casey … I had to work damn hard for this spot and you being here fucked up what could have been an awesome partnership with one of the best paramedics in the city. Don't expect a cakewalk."
Casey lowered his hand and nodded. "Fair enough. I figured I wouldn't get the red carpet."
"Baby, you have no idea. But come on … I'll show you around," Shay offered curtly.
Closing the back bay doors, she marched around the ambulance and headed for the station proper. Casey jogged to catch up and as he rounded one of the trucks, he ran headlong into a broad chest.
"Whoa! Sorry!" Casey apologized as he danced back.
Looking at the man he'd run into, Matt felt lightheaded. He swallowed hard and prayed his fair skin wasn't coloring the way he feared it was. When the man smiled at him, Casey was pretty sure the entire house heard his heart pounding. Of course, Kelly Severide took that moment to speak.
"Hey, you must be the new omega riding with Shay," Kelly said sweetly.
Casey nodded, not trusting his voice. The man was very obviously an alpha. It wasn't like he'd never met an alpha before but one had never affected him so quickly. He smiled nervously back.
Kelly grinned and suddenly Matt was reminded more of a shark than a teddy bear. "Well, you be good and do what she says. And, omega? See that table over there?"
Casey nodded with a frown.
"That's the squad table … buncha rowdy alpha assholes of which I count myself Lieutenant. I'd steer clear … sweet little thing like you and all might distract them. Can't have that, can we?" Severide said with a smirk.
Casey swallowed again, but this time it was the bitter sting of bile rising in his throat. He'd been so attracted half a minute ago … now he relished the retreating backside, even if it was very nicely proportioned.
"So. Whenever you're done flirting with Lieutenant Severide …?"
Matt jumped at Shay's voice right next to him. He cleared his throat amidst laughter from the squad table. He closed his eyes and exhaled in frustration as the alpha called Severide called out, "Aww, he blushes so pretty, Shay!"
Leslie flipped Kelly off to more laughter and turned on her heel, calling over her shoulder. "Come on, omega … this is only the beginning."
Not for the first time, Matthew Casey wondered if this was also going to be his ending.