Hey all you amazing readers and reviewers. You really got my smiling brightly. I LOVE your comments. SOOOOO many so great and so long comments. THANK YOU! Got the new chapter ready for you guys. I hope you will like it and leave a comment.

Did you recognize during the last episode...Dawson calling Casey, the picture of them showing up on his phone...poor poor him...:o(

Chapter 8 – Realization

Two days later...

Casey felt like hell after getting up in the morning. He had spent the whole day drinking. As he entered the silent fire house he got straight to the dressing room before heading to his office.

"Casey. Welcome back." Chief Boden said as he peeked into Casey's office minutes after arriving.

"Thanks Chief."

"Hospital filled me in you are back to full duty. You feel up to it?"

"Of course."

Casey knew that he had to come out of his hole to face his team. To face Gabriela.

"Look who is back!" Hermann cheered first as Casey walked in.

"Skip the applause. Nothing big." Casey said immediately before accepting the warm hugs and handshakes of his team.
"I am glad you are back. Couldn't stand another day under Mister Squad guy here." Mouch joked so Severide could hear every single word.

"I think he covered my spot quite well. You are all here in one piece so..." Casey said before facing Severide. The two of them just shared a look before Mills spoke up.

"Hope to give you a mild start for today." He said while everyone turned around to face the candidate. "Oh come on Mills! In all those month here you haven't learned anything. Don't tell me you just said that!" Hermann said while Mills got his hands up in defeat.

"Come on, what's wrong with that one? I know that I am not allowed to say something else here I get it but what is wrong with this one?"

"Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61, Engine 51...Apartment fire."

"No more explanation necessary I think. Thanks for that one Peter Mills." Casey said getting into action. He had hoped for a mild start on his own.

"Oh come on! This is bad!" Hermann said as they arrived on scene. Indeed Casey widened his eyes for a second as he could see the fire already spreading on six levels of the ten leveled building.

"Any reports about people inside?" Casey asked meting Severide in front of both trucks.

"Yes there are people missing but we don't now if they where in the building as the fire started."

"Doesn't help. Okay I want Hermann, Mills and Cruz with me. Otis, Mouch vent the building..." Casey started with his instructions as well as Severide did.

"Casey Severide be damn careful. Smoke and structure doesn't look to good." Chief said before they where heading inside.

"Hermann we are going up top with Severide." Casey said following Severide closely. They had to hurry.

"Got two down here. Taking them out." Casey could hear Mills through the headset.

"Fire department. Anyone here. Call out " Severide screamed while Casey and Hermann headed up another level.

"Can't reach floor 10 and 9. Starting to clear 8." Casey said proceeding slowly with Hermann by his side. The smoke was thick and the heat of the flames nearly felt like they where on fire on their own. "Lieutenant watch the ceiling." Hermann pointed out.

"We have to fall back. Ceiling is about to give in." Casey said following Hermann to the staircase.
"Help!" Casey stopped in his tracks locking around frantically.

"You heard that?" He asked towards Hermann but just got a head shake.

"Coming down with an old lady. Unconscious badly burned. Paramedics be ready." Severide interrupted them.

"Help!"

"It's Casey. I hear somebody. I am going up again!" Casey said turning around again.

"Lieutenant the ceiling is about to give in." Hermann pointed out once more before Casey could hear the strong voice of the Chief.

"Casey fall back now. Smoke is getting thicker. The upper levels can't be cleared anymore. Fall back." Chief said but Casey already made it back to the 8th floor.

"Copy that. I am back on 8 and will come down in a second. Fire department. Call out!" He shouted.

"Hermann get down here. Get the old lady outside. I am going with Casey." Severide pointed out before handing the woman to Hermann and climbing up the stairs as well. He could hear the building scream under the flames. He knew that they had to get out of there now but he also knew that there had to be a damn good reason for Casey to go back up.

As he got closer to where Casey's last position was he could see him emerge out of an apartment a little girl in his arms. Severide could see that Casey was struggling but he held the little girl firmly even as he dropped to his knees not far away from Severide's position.

"I get her. Come on. We have to get out. Are you alright?" Severide asked while Casey just nodded handing the little girl over to Severide. Casey was beyond exhausted and remained still for a second before getting back to his feet. He knew that he had to get out of there now.

As Severide got down he handed the girl over to the waiting paramedics before turning around, Casey no where to be found.

"The building is going to collapse. Everybody fall back." Chief said while Severide got back inside just a little to find Casey stumbling down the remaining stairs. He grabbed him under his arm before they both made their way out of the building.

"Casey, you're alright?" Severide asked as he ripped down his mask as soon as they where surrounded by fresh air again Casey doing the same.

"Little hot in there." He said before accepting the bottle of water Mills handed to them getting his head cooled off.

"Are you two alright?" Shay asked while Casey's eyes met Dawson's for just a second.

"Of course we are."

"What about the girl?" Casey asked getting a thumb up from Dawson.

"Thank good."

Back at the firehouse all Casey could think about was the comfort of his bed. He knew that it was a huge mistake to get drunk yesterday. Normally he never did things like that. His job was way to important to just give 85 percent.

"Lieutenant you okay?" Mills asked after watching Casey for a second.

"Yeah." Casey replied storming towards the bathroom. He had been sick from exhaustion and the ride in the fire truck had done the rest.

Cassey shoved the doors open and knelt down in front of the Toilette before throwing up violently. He felt sick, sick and exhausted.

"Seen Casey?" Severide asked as Mouch crossed his way.

"Jup. He's clearing out his system on the toilette."

"He….what? What are you talking about?"

"Severide I don't know what happened in the elevator. Everybody refuses talking about it but I can tell you that the Lieutenant is sick and is throwing up violently."

"Thanks Mouch. I got this." Severide answered before heading towards Matt.

"Casey?" He asked while Casey just flushed the toilette. He was pale as a ghost as he got out, Severide leaning against the sink.

"What's going on?"

"Used the Toilette."

"The guys are talking. Mouch told me you where throwing up."

"Damn it."

"You have a good team back there. They are caring about you."

"What the hell is going on with all of you? I am fine."

"Yeah? Throwing up on shift. Perfectly fine I can tell."

"It's nothing. I just had too much to drink yesterday."

"Who did you go out with? Please don't tell me you got shitfaced all alone at your house."

"Skip it."

"Casey!"

"Leave me alone Severide. I am fine!"

"No you…."

"Truck 81, Ambulance 61. Gun shot victim."

"Got to go."

"I will cover up for you."

"No you won't."

"Casey!"

"Severide! It's my team, my truck. Don't even think about it! Not a second." Casey warned while heading for his truck leaving a cursing Severide behind.

As the got to the scene Casey told his man to stay in the safety of the truck before heading towards a police officer.

"All clear?" He asked waiting for the answer before he gestured the rest of the team to get out of the truck as well.
"Couldn't find him. Few of my man are in pursuit."

"Alright. Dawson Shay, you can't go in alone. Mills with me." Casey said before heading for the front entrance. Casey was walking in first, Shay and Dawson following, Mills at the end.

"Did the officer say anything?"

"They are still in pursuit, didn't want you to go in all alone. Don't know quiet sure if it's save." Casey answered before knocking on the door harshly.

"Fire department. Open up!" He called out waiting for the door to open. A woman in her forties opened the door and Matt could tell with one look that they where in the middle of a drug hell.

"Ma'me your son got shot?"

"Yeah. Bastard. Right over there." She said with her raw voice pointing towards the couch.

Casey watched as Shay and Gabriela hurried towards the victim while he secured the door and the hallway. He couldn't stand her presence today. It was hurting him to much. Casey watched suspicious as Mills handed Gabriela something.

He could see his hand resting in hers for a second to long.

He could see the look the two of them where sharing.

He could see the sparks flying.

Mills.

His Candidate.

Casey felt like his beating heart was ripped out of his chest forcefully and without any warning. He winced slightly getting Shay, Dawson and Mills to look over at him immediately.

"Casey you alright?" "Lieutenant?" Dawson and Mills asked simultaneously.

"Sorry. Everything okay." Casey replied nearly slapping himself for wincing.
"Just leave this bastard to die. He isn't worth all this work." The woman behind him started to scream getting Casey to turn around .

"Ma'me step back please!" He said with a strong voice.

"Who are you god damn it. It's my house. Get out of my way."

"Ma'me the paramedics are doing their job. I want you to step back." Casey said again with a strong voice while he could feel Mills presence behind him.

"Ah whatever." She said turning around before starting another turn out of nowhere shoving Casey, who had just turned away, to the side but got caught by Mills.

"Ma'me I don't want to hurt you so stay calm." Mills said before looking over at Casey who had dumped to the ground.

"Lieutenant?"

"Get her to the police." Casey said while he could see some blood on his hand.

"Damn it!" He cursed after touching his head again. It was just a cut nonetheless he was bleeding.

"You are bleeding Lieutenant." Mills said while Casey grabbed the woman on his own.

"I will bring her down. Secure the door. I will be up in no second." Casey said before getting the woman down to the police.

….to be continued!

I really can't wait to read all you great great great great reviews! :o)