The days turned into weeks and soon it was end of August in Chicago. Danielle would be starting her new job at PS 134 soon and she was ready to back into the swing of real life, summer vacation was coming to an end. She had spent her summer in Chicago seeing the sights, eating some great deep dish pizza, and making some new friends.

Danielle had met Sylvie Brett in the spin class at her local gym. She was in her late 20's, pretty, and worked as a paramedic for the city. They usually met for dinner before their weekly class and had become good friends.

"Hey, what are you doing this weekend?" Sylvie had asked Danielle one night as they were walking out of class.

"No plans here. Just trying to get ready for the upcoming school year, I guess." She replied shrugging.

"Well, if you are interested, my friend is having a little birthday celebration at this bar in Bucktown. It's called Molly's."

"Oh yea, I know the place. I live in Bucktown too!"

"Awesome! Do you think you would want to come? I would love to introduce you to some of the people I work with. They are an awesome group."

"Thanks so much for the invite, I would love to come!"

"Great! I'm on shift until Saturday morning, but I will text you the details tomorrow."

"Perfect. Why don't you come by for a drink before hand." Danielle really did miss having girlfriends to hang out with. "That way we can go over together. She was grateful to have met Sylvie.

"Sounds like a plan to me! I'll see you Saturday."

Danielle smiled and got into her car to head home. When she pulled up to her apartment, she saw the blue mustang pull up behind her. She had not had much contact with the owner since their initial meeting when she first got to Chicago, but she had seen him around the neighborhood. They hadn't spoken since her second day but they have exchanged some coy smiles in the coffee shop in the morning or when they passed each other on the street.

She knew next to nothing about him. The only thing she was able to figure out was that his roommate's name was Casey and that they were both firefighters. She overheard a heated discussion they were having one morning before their shift started. She often spotted him wearing Chicago Fire Department gear, so it was pretty obvious what his job was.

It was Saturday morning, and Danielle was pretty excited to have a night out on the town. She spent the morning cleaning her apartment to prepare for Sylvie's arrival. She made sure she had some wine and beer in the fridge too.

She had been in Chicago a month now, and her place was finally starting to feel like her own. She had finally finished furnishing it and decorating it the way she wanted it. The place was bright and open, she turned the second bedroom into a home office, and made sure she had pictures of her friends and family all over the walls.

It was 10am when she got a text from Sylvie - "Ugh, rough shift. Nap time for me, but don't worry we are all good for tonight."

"Sorry to hear that :(" Danielle texted back, "Are you sure you are up for tonight?"

Sylvie responded quickly. "Trust me, all I can think about is a nap and drink."

"LOL. Sounds like good plan to me! Text me when you wake up."

"OK! Good night :)"

Danielle had listened to some of Sylvie's stories about her job. She gave her a lot of credit for seeing some of the things she has seen. She didn't think that she would ever be able to handle anything like that if it were her.

The day seemed to fly by as Danielle was running errands. Before she knew it was already 6pm.

"Hey there! Just woke up. I am going to jump in the shower and head over, cool?" Her phone buzzed in her pocket with that last text from Sylvie.

"Sounds like a plan. I have beer and wine too. Here is my address." Danielle typed back letting her know where she lived.

"Oh! I know exactly where that is. I'll see you around 8?"

"Perfect." She responded.

Danielle put the tv on and headed over to closet. "Now, what do I wear?" She said aloud to herself. She settled on a pair of skinny dark denim ankle jeans, and chose a coral colored peasant shirt with open shoulders to pair well with tan skin. She slipped her favorite pair of open toe wedges and accessorized with a gold watch, long necklace and stud earrings

She curled her hair away from her face. It had gotten much longer since arriving Chicago, she made a note to herself to ask Sylvie where she goes to get her hair done.

Her doorbell buzzed. "Dani? Are you up there?" She head Sylvie's voice through the intercom.

"Hold on Sylvie, I'll buzz you in." She held the buzzer to let Sylvie in and unlocked her door and waited on her to come up.

"You look fantastic!" She said as Sylvie approached her doorway.

"Thanks! As do you!" She gave her a quick hug.

"I'm trying, just need to finish putting on some make-up. Come in, I'll pour you a drink and we can talk about your day."

"Thanks."

Danielle gave Sylvie a quick tour of her place.

"You know, my Lieutenants live like right across the street from you." Sylvie said as she watched Danielle apply some eyeshadow from the bathroom door.

"Lieutenants?" Danielle peaked over to her.

"Yeah, at the firehouse."

"Firehouse? I didn't realize you worked out of a fire house! I thought you had your own building."

"No silly. I work at Firehouse 51. There is an engine, a truck, a squad, and the ambo."

"Wow, I had no idea! Where I come from in Jersey, the ambulances are in a separate area from the trucks."

"No kidding! Well, remind me to introduce you to them later on tonight. They are great guys and I'm sure will come in handy as neighbors."

"Why do you say that?" Danielle asked curiously.

"Well, Casey has a construction company. He came over to my place two weeks ago to fix my cabinets."

Danielle's ears perked when she heard that name. "Did you say Casey?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Blonde hair, blue eyes?"

"That's the one." Sylvie nodded.

"I've seen him around the neighborhood. When I am up early I bump into him - and I guess his roommate, at the coffee shop down the block."

"Such a small world! So then you know Severide too?"

Danielle blushed with the mention of that name. "I wouldn't say I know them. They definitely don't know who I am. I mean, I've never introduced myself to them at least."

"Well, I'll be sure to make sure you meet them tonight."

"Cool." Danielle tried not to sound too excited.

Danielle and Sylvie headed to the kitchen. "Wine or beer?" Danielle asked opening her fridge.

"Red wine?"

"I have that too." Danielle responded as she headed to the wine rack. She poured Sylvie a glass, "So tell me about your shift last night."

She listened intently as Sylvie told another tale of Firehouse 51. There was a bad chemical spill in a factory near Canaryville. They guy that that squad pulled out was alive when he got into the ambulance but Sylvie and her partner Jimmy lost him enroute to Chicago Med.

"It was so sad. I knew he had a wife and kid. We tried so hard to keep him alive a little while longer but his airway was too inflamed."

"I'm so sorry to hear that. I honestly don't know how you deal with that on daily basis."

"Thank goodness it's not daily. 24 on 48 off." Sylvie reminded her.

"Well hopefully tonight can cheer you up a little bit."

"It's my partner Jimmy's birthday, I think we will have a great time."

"Jimmy? The cute one?"

Now it was Sylvie's turn to blush. Danielle had listened to Sylvie gush over Jimmy since she first met her.

Danielle smiled, "Come on Sylvie, I know you like him!"

"You know, and I know...but no one else can know!" Sylvie stammered into her wine glass.

"I hear ya, my lips are sealed!"

Danielle checked her watch, "It's 9:30, you want to head over?"

"Sure, let's call the cab."

The girls did one last hair and makeup check before they bounced out of the door. Danielle didn't let on to Sylvie, but she was so excited to finally get the opportunity to talk with the mystery fireman.

Danielle recognized the bar when they pulled up. "I've been here for lunch before." She told Sylvie.

"Oh yeah? Three of the firefighters in my house own it, it's a little dive-y but a home away from home for the cops and firefighters in the district."

"Awesome. Cops and firefighters all in one place? I should come here more often!" Danielle laughed as she let Sylvie head in before her. The place was packed. Danielle's head was spinning as Sylvie was introducing her to people left and right.

Danielle smiled brightly at everyone as she made the rounds around the bar. Sylvie had introduced her to the bartender/owner Gabby Dawson.

"Dawson, this is my new friend from the gym - Danielle."

"So great to meet to meet you, Danielle. Brett has told us all about you!"

"Brett?" Danielle asked, confused.

Sylvie smiled, "Yeah, at the house I go by last name, Brett. Everyone does, right Dawson?"

"Oh, I see! So nice to meet you, what a great place you have here!"

"Thanks! So you are new to Chicago, right? What brings you here?" She asked as she poured me a vodka club.

"You know, just needed a change of scenery." I smiled at Sylvie because I knew she had gone through a similar situation not too long ago when she moved to Chicago from Indiana.

Dawson eyes were diverted to the door, "Hey Casey, come on over." She waved him over from the door.

Danielle was too nervous to turn and face Casey, she wasn't sure if he was alone with her mystery guy.

Casey strolled over to the bar shaking hands and saying hello to everyone. Dawson poured him a single malt scotch when he go to the bar.

"Lieutenant, I want you to meet my new friend Danielle." Sylvie said warmly, "She literally lives across the street from you and Lieutenant Severide."

Danielle took that as my cue to turn towards him. She studied his face for a moment, he had such kind eyes.

"Danielle, I'm Matt Casey, so nice to finally meet you."

"You as well….Lieutenant?" She said with a raised eyebrow as she took his extended hand. She wasn't quite sure what to call him.

"Please, call me Matt," he said. "Now that I think of it, I've seen you at my coffee shop at the corner of 5th and Wicker."

"Yup," She laughed, "that is becoming my go to spot as well."

"Welcome to the neighborhood!" Casey exclaimed

She smiled brightly at him. He sipped his drink and turned back Dawson, he leaned over the bar and gave her a quick peck on the mouth. "Severide is on a date, he probably won't get here until later."

"I can't wait to meet this one." Dawson said rolling her eyes.

Danielle kept the smile on her face and listened intently. 'Date?' She said to herself wondering if it was anything too serious.

Sylvie grabbed her hand after Dawson had topped off her drink. "Come on, I want you to meet Jimmy!" She couldn't hide her excitement and I think Dawson knew it too.

"Oh yeah, Jimmy." Dawson gave her a wink.

Jimmy Borelli was hot. Sylvie had told Danielle that several times, but she did not do him justice.

"Danielle, so nice to meet you. Thank you for coming! Sylvie talks about you all the time in the rig."

"Thanks so much for having me! I hope you are having a great birthday party."

"So far so good." He beamed at her.

Danielle could instantly tell that Jimmy liked Sylvie Brett too. He always made sure she was close to him, and she could see him stealing glances at her when he thought she wasn't watching. The whole interaction was so sweet.

The three of them grabbed a table near the bar to sit for a minute. Danielle sipped her drink slowly as she listened to Jimmy tease Sylvie about their ambulance rides.

"Hey Jimmy, Happy Birthday man." A voice bellowed as he approached the high top table where the trio was sitting.

"Hey, thanks Roman." Jimmy extended his hand to shake his. "Wanna join us for a beer?"

"Sure thing," Roman grabbed the stool next to Danielle, "Sean Roman." He took her hand to say hello.

"Nice to meet you," Danielle met his gaze and smiled, "I'm Danielle."

"Pleasure." He smiled back.

"Are you a firefighter too?" Danielle asked.

"Me? No way." He laughed in Jimmy's direction.

"Roman here couldn't pass the test!" Jimmy shook his head with a laugh.

"Yeah right," Roman retorted. "I represent Chicago's finest. I go after the real bad guys."

"Shot's fired!" Sylvie laughed. Realizing her pun, "Not literally, of course." She smiled sheepishly.

"I appreciate the joke, don't worry, Syl." Danielle laughed back at her.

Danielle turned back towards Roman, "So you're a cop, huh? So is my brother."

"Cool, what district?" Roman asked, intrigued.

"Not around here," she answered. "I'm a Jersey girl, my brother is actually NYPD."

"New York's finest, that's awesome," Roman raised his glass to her, "has he been on the job long?"

"Just a few years now. He loves it. He wants to start studying for his detective exam soon too."

"Why leave the beat?"

"You know - I'm not sure. I'll have to ask him and get back to you on that one."

Roman laughed at her response. "Next round on me guys, what are you having?"

"Beer please." Jimmy perked up.

"Vodka club for me, same for Danielle too, right?" Sylvie said.

"You got it. I will help you with the drinks." She stood up and followed Roman to the bar. They stood there chatting about Chicago and places that Danielle must eat at while Hermann from the firehouse poured our drinks.

Danielle had a feeling that Roman was interested. She almost hoped he was too. He was a nice guy, and she was sure that her brother would appreciate having a cop watch out for her in a new city as well.

Danielle grabbed his arm at bar in a flirty way, "thanks for the drink, next one on me."

"No way," Roman replied. "Sister of a cop, this is the least I can do."

She batted her long lashes at him. "Thanks so much, I appreciate that."

She helped him carry the drinks back to Sylvie and Jimmy who were deep in conversation. Sylvie took a long pull from her new cocktail and gave Danielle a look. Her eyes were bright and she quickly glanced towards the direction of the bathroom.

Danielle quickly picked up on the hint. "Will you guys excuse me, Sylvie, can you show me where the bathroom is?"

"Of course, let's go."

They swung open the door of the women's room. Sylvie was smiling so hard Danielle thought she was going to burst.

"What? What is it?" Danielle asked excitedly.

"Jimmy." She sighed. "He's just so sweet sometimes," Sylvie gushed.

"Did he profess his love to you?" Danielle asked half jokingly.

Sylvie laughed, "No!"

"Then what?!"

"It's just with the stress of the job while we are on shift, we don't really get to have these sweet flirty moments like tonight. It just feels so good."

She was drunk, and Danielle was definitely buzzed too.

She turned toward to mirror to reapply her lipstick. "What can you tell me about this Roman guy?" Danielle smiled slyly.

"Sean? He's great!" Sylvie peered at Danielle in the mirror, "Why do you ask?" She grinned.

"He's kind of cute, I guess." Danielle giggled.

"He is! Although, I should let you know though, friend to friend…"

"What?" Danielle interrupted.

"We hooked up once."

"Oh yeah?" Danielle asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing serious, I swear." Sylvie said, "It was a drunken make out session months ago."

"Are you still into him?"

"Oh, no way. He's just a friend."

"So you don't mind if I hang with him a little tonight, get to know him?"

"Of course not, I want you to have fun!"

Danielle gave Sylvie a quick hug, "Thanks, I needed this night out!"

"Come on, let's get back out there. I hear my song playing."

Danielle and Sylvie emerged from the bathroom, they linked arms and headed back into the crowd of people at Molly's. The boys had a round of shots waiting when they got back to high top.

"Who is going to be holding my hair back tonight?" Danielle laughed.

Roman smiled at her, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you get home safe."

Danielle bit her lip and gave him a sideways grin.

It was getting late, and everyone was getting pretty sloppy. Danielle knew it was about that time to head out before the night took a different turn.

"Hey Dani, I'm gonna grab a cab, are you ready to go too?" Sylvie slurred slightly.

"Yup, it's about that time." She nodded in agreement

"Daw-son!" Sylvie yelled across the bar, "You wanna go home with us?" This seemed to pique the interest of the some of the male patrons of the bar.

Dawson laughed out loud at Brett. "I have to close up tonight, but I call you a cab."

"Don't worry Dawson," said Sean, "I'll make sure the girls get home safe.

"Thanks, Roman!"

The three made their rounds around the bar saying goodnight, but the night had pretty much died down about an hour before.

Sylvie stumbled out of the bar first, Danielle not too far behind her. They were hysterically laughing over something Otis said to them on their way out.

"What's so funny, ladies?" Danielle heard someone ask from behind them.

The girls turned and were eye to eye with Kelly Severide. He was smiling and stood in front of them in a pair of jeans and dark grey v-neck t-shirt.

"Heyyyy Luitentenet! Where have you been?" Sylvie asked.

"You know what they say, Brett, better late than never." He peered over at Danielle who suddenly became quiet. She nervously bit her lip.

"Oh Danielle," Sylvie waved her over, "Come meet Lieutenant Severide."

He extended her hand to shake hers, "Danielle? Have we met before?"

"I'm new in town, it's nice to meet you, Lieutenant."

"Kelly. Kelly Severide." His eyes dropped from her head down to her legs and back up into her eyes again.

She held onto his hand until she heard Sean's voice break her spell and then she quickly released it.

"Pleasure is all mine, Danielle. Maybe I'll see you around." Kelly said his cobalt eyes never leaving hers.

"Hey Sev. How are things?" Sean interjected.

"All good here, Roman. Are you getting these girls home?"

"Yeah, cab's on the way."

"Cool, bro. Tell Lindsay I said hello next time you see her."

"Will do." Sean nodded.

Sylvie linked arms with Danielle while the guys were talking. Danielle whispered into her ear, "He's so handsome."

"Yes, yes he is." They were giggling again.

Severide peered over Roman's shoulder to check out what the girls were laughing at. He caught Danielle's eye and smiled again just as their ride was pulled up.

"Get home safe everyone."

Their driver took Sylvie home first, she insisted.

Danielle and Roman were chatting in the car heading back to her place. The driver stopped and Roman got out to let her out.

"I would love to take you out sometime, show you around town." He asked shyly.

"I would really like that too." Danielle answered. "Give me a call sometime."

He handed her his phone so she could key in the numbers. "Are you going to be alright getting up to your apartment."

She bit her lip and looked up him, she knew what he was implying. "Always on duty, aren't you officer?" She teased.

"Just trying to keep the new girl in town safe."

She handed his phone back to him, put her hands on his shoulders and leaned in to give him a kiss on the mouth.

"It was great meeting you, Sean." She looked up him through her eyelashes. "I think I can make it upstairs, so don't you worry."

"I'll call you." Sean smiled.

"I hope so." Danielle smiled as she walked away.

She unlocked her apartment door and immediately headed towards the fridge for a bottle of water. She threw her purse and keys on the counter as she downed the first bottle.

After washing her face and changing into her nightgown she headed to grab another bottle of water to drink before bed. Walking past the large bay window she glanced down at street to see none other than Kelly Severide looking up her apartment.

She froze. It was dark in her living room. There was no way he could see her, right?

She watched as he seemed to shake a thought out of his head. He turned on his heel and walked back across the street to his place.