Chapter 1

Emma Aldaine drove through the familiar Chicago streets, although today she wouldn't be doing her regular routine of going to the Northern Chicago firehouse 26. Today she was going to the firehouse 51, and had a place on the squad team saved for her.

The move back happened somewhat suddenly, but she was going to be closer to her parents and family again. Moving away was the hardest, but now she was walking around in the city she grew up in. She needed to get away from her old life. The constant effort of dragging herself through another day. It was the fact that her fiancee was actually sleeping with her best friend, and the best friend's boyfriend was making moves towards Emma. It was all very screwed up in Emma's eyes. What kind of people were they?

She forced those thoughts out of her head as she pulled up to the large building and got out, grabbing her bag of things from the back and slinging it over her shoulder. She walked through the brisk fall air, the slight wind blowing back her long wavy brown hair. She brushed her bangs from her eyes, forcing them over to one side again. She walked into the open garage and found about five men sitting around a table. Some had coffee, others were reading the morning paper, and a few were playing cards.

She cleared her throat awkwardly as they all turned to look at her. "Sorry, but I was wondering if any of you could point me in the direction of Chief Boden?" she asked and one burly man with curly black hair and mustache smiled.

"I can point you in the direction of a lot of things," he started and Emma felt embarrassment welling up inside her stomach.

"Give her a break Otis," one of the older men said, shoving Otis in the shoulder. "Right through that door sweetie, end of the hall, can't miss it." he said kindly with a smile and Emma returned it.

"Thank you," she said, nodding before going through the said door. She heard the man and Otis whispering in harsh tones behind her.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"What? She's hot!"

"You're such an idiot...I don't even know what to say..."

She smiled to herself while walking down the hall, hearing the door close. She looked over her shoulder, still slightly amused before turning around just in time to bump into someone.

"Oh," she said as she looked up into the blue eyes of a tall man, who looked down into her emerald ones. "Sorry," she said as he shook his head, almost like he was waking himself up.

"No, it's fine. Don't worry about it." he said as she laughed a bit.

"I wasn't looking so I'll take the blame, but I'll see you." she smiled, walking around the guy with a giddy feeling inside her.

Kelly Severide watched her walk past him, wondering where the stunning girl had come from. But she disappeared into the Chief's office, who looked out the door for a moment and caught Kelly's gaze. Feeling uncomfortable, he looked away and walked down the hall towards the lounge area.

"Did you see her though?" asked Rodriguez who was on the truck team. "Man! The girl was hotter than the flames we put out, Jesus.." he shook his head, dazed. "Did you see her Kelly?" he asked looking to his friend.

"Yeah, actually bumped into her in the hall." he said, going to the fridge and retrieving a mug which he started to fill with coffee.

"What? Did you talk to her?" asked Marks who was a buddy of Rodriguez.

"Yeah, I did. Instead of sitting here and wishing I talked to her like you guys," smirked Kelly as the other two rolled their eyes and turned away sheepishly.

Casey entered with Dawson and they were talking about whether or not to keep some of the first aid equipment on the truck just in case the ambulance was delayed for some reason. Shay followed in with her medical bag as did Lopez.

Mills was behind the stove, cooking up some breakfast hurriedly.

More people filed in, and Kelly was talking with the members of his team when Chief Boden walked in with the girl at his side. She had changed from her street clothes into her navy blue cargo pants, boots, and grey t-shirt which was required as the uniform of the firehouse.

"Fifty one," Chief called everyone to attention as they all turned and looked. "As you know we recently made the transfer of Stevens up to twenty six, and in return we've been given the valuable asset of miss Emma Aldaine. I've known this girl since she was in diapers." he said and Emma laughed quietly, tucking hair behind her ear embarrassed as Chief smirked and chuckles circulated around the room. "Her father is one of my oldest friends, so you will all treat her like your own," he began but saw the way Rodriguez was eyeing Emma. "sister." he finished as Rodriguez looked over and swallowed heavily. Even Kelly had to admit she pulled off the drab uniform really well. "She'll be joining Lieutenant Severide on the squad, any words Emma?" he asked, looking over to her as she looked around.

"Oh well, I just hope that I get to know you guys as well as I can, and I'm sure we'll all be good friends," she smiled.

"Oh we'll be more than good friends," Otis muttered but Kelly then hit his shoulder, shutting him up. Emma went on,

"I grew up here and it feels good to be back, I did two years on the squad at twenty six and I hope I'll be able to be the best that I can for you guys here." she said with a nod and finished her piece.

"All right! Back to your conversations," he said and before leaving he took Emma aside and muttered something to her, which she laughed at and nodded before he walked away.

She was invited into conversation by Dawson and Shay and Kelly watched as Emma talked easily with them. She circulated around the room, meeting Casey and the truck crew and then made her way over to the squad area.

"Lieutenant Severide," she said as they shook hands. Kelly felt that they were soft, but cold.

"Please," he said wishing his last name was a little less stupid sounding, "call me Kelly." he almost asked and she nodded with a smile.

"Okay then Kelly," she said. "It's good to put a face to a name. Sorry again, about that." she said with an embarrassed grin.

Kelly thought it was cute how persistent she was on apologizing but waved a hand. "I already said, it's fine. I'll let you take the blame if it makes you feel better," they both laughed. "but it's fine either way." he said and she nodded.

"Good, well I hope I can meet your expectations." she said and he smirked.

"I guess we'll find out today when we do our drills." he was eager to see how she would do against him and his other members.

She smirked back, clearly just as anticipated about the challenge. "Yeah, I guess we will." she said. "Better watch out," she said and he raised his brows.

"Really?"

"Yep." she confirmed as he nodded sceptically.

"Well I will," he assured as the intercom came through.

"1021 Wilshire Rd, report of smoke billowing out of a lower story house. Believed to be the tenant's suite. Ambulance 61, truck 81, squad 3," people were already rushing to get their gear and get to their desired vehicles.

Emma was handed some gear by Rodriguez and she just took it before they all got into the truck. They arrived at a red brick house, and the bottom window had smoke spewing out of it.

"Smells like a grease fire," Casey said as he got out of his truck. "We'll take the back, you get the roof for a vent just in case." he instructed as the ladder was deployed into the air. "Aldaine, come with us," Casey invited.

She looked to Kelly who just nodded with a shrug.

There was a short, stout black woman in her slippers and robe yelling obscenities at the house.

"Ma'am," Otis greeted as they walked down the path that led to the back area.

"You a little think ain't you?" she asked as they continued on their way.

Casey kicked in the door and they found a black man, standing back and looking at the relatively small fire in shock.

"Awe, this is it?" asked Otis.

"Sir you gotta clear out of here," Emma said, leading him over towards the door but he chose to sit down in a chair.

"No, no, no." he was saying grasping her arms. "I can't leave. My land lord will kill me, I got no place to go. You gotta understand this is all I have." he was pleading.

Emma looked to Casey who looked unsure. "The microwave, look," she said and they saw that the microwave was the point of ignition.

With their plan in place, they walked out with the man on Emma's shoulder as she helped him out and towards the sidewalk.

"This your place ma'am?" asked Casey.

"You damn right it is," she said bluntly.

"That microwave yours too?" asked Emma.

"Oh what of it?" the woman asked shortly as Casey looked to the man.

"Well if it wasn't for this man here, the whole place could've burnt down." Casey told her.

"He really was quite a hero," added Emma with a smile and patting him on the shoulder.

Otis came over and offered his hand, which the man took. "Just wanted to say, I've never seen a civilian act so heroically." they shook hands before everyone walked away.

Emma stood beside her truck and smiled to herself as she saw the woman give in and hug the man.

"Hey!" there was a yell from beside her, making her jump as she saw Kelly looking to Mills, the candidate who was on the ladder with an axe. "One hand on the beam candidate! I don't care if you're carrying a cow! People die when hey relax!" he shouted angrily up at the young man.

"Okay, Kelly," Casey said with a look of 'what the hell are you doing?'. "He gets it."

"Yeah he better," Kelly said and Emma looked to him and saw her look before huffing and walking away towards Dawson and Shay. She watched as he asked for a moment alone with Shay. She knew they weren't going out since she knew Shay was actually gay. But Shay handed him something, which he slipped into his pocket, but she couldn't see what.

She made sure to look the other way as Kelly turned back around and Emma decided that it was a good time to get back into the truck now.

They left shortly after and Emma was beating herself up for being so nosey towards Kelly. Not even an hour later she was told they were going to be doing their drills.

First was a simple 'retrieve the victim' with a blacked out mask, which Emma then set the new house record for. And she also set the record for being the fastest runner and lastly, another record for climbing up the side of the building with her repelling gear.

"Well, you've broken almost every record anyone has ever set so I guess I can safely say you'll do just fine," Kelly said at the end of the day and she laughed a little.

"Thanks," she said taking her hair out of it's hold. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said.

"And Saturday, I hope." he added before she left. "It's the house barbeque at Grands Park." he told Emma. "Three o'clock." he said and she nodded.

"Yeah, sure, sounds fun." she smiled before giving a small wave and leaving. "See ya,"

"Later," he said as he was left in the empty locker room.

A.N please review and rate! Greatly appreciated! I'll be uploading more chapters and if some updates are slower than others please be patient! Promise you I'll make this worth your while! :)

~Writinggurl101