Title: Bonded by Fire
Chapter 10 – Good House. Bad House?

Casey gives Boden a nod accompanied by a tight lipped smile. It's all or nothing…new House…new start?

Both Casey and Hermann stand quietly, side by side staring at all the unfamiliar faces staring back at them, while Chief Boden tells his 51 crew a little bit about the two men standing before them, what roles they'll each be filling and to give them the same warm welcome they gave to Joe Cruz a year earlier and the others before him.

"Well…I'll let you all get acquainted and I'm assuming that you'll welcome them as readily as you have the other team members. Severide will show you where your lockers are. Casey, as the new Truck lieutenant, there are certain things I will require so once you're settled in come and see me and we'll go over a few more things."

"Yes sir," Casey replies with a tight lipped smile as Severide walks up to them with a welcoming smile; Joe Cruz in tow.

"Welcome," Severide extends his hand for Casey to take, wanting to take the lead for his team and the others in welcoming the two newest Firehouse 51 team members.

"Hey man…welcome," Cruz greets Casey as Severide moves on to Hermann, the other teams lining up behind them and all taking their turns welcoming the two strangers to their second home.

"Come on, I'll show you to your lockers and then your office," Severide tells Casey as the two of them pull away, Hermann still talking to Mills and Dawson. "How you feeling this morning?"

"I think my nervous stomach beat out my pounding head and chest," Casey replies with a small smile. "First day…always the hardest. But so far everyone seems friendly. How's Shay with all this? I don't think she's too happy for us to be here," Casey mentions as they enter the locker room.

"She's just overly protective. Trust me once she gets to know you she'll drive you crazy also," Severide lightly smirks as he shows Casey two locker doors without masking tape name plates on the front. "This is yours…and this can be for Hermann. Come on, I'll show you your office. Boden gets the big one but at least we get some privacy to write reports and…well whatever."

"Whatever…yeah," Casey smirks as his mind thinks back in time to a happy memory when Hallie dropped by his office, closed the blinds and they made the most of a quick but loving intimate union.

"Matt?"

"Yeah, sorry," Casey stammers as the happy memory quickly fades. "Lead the way."

Casey's eyes take in all his new surroundings, his brain processing all the new sights, sounds and smells. Most Firehouses have the same layout so that was somewhat comforting, but despite the building's age, it was all so brand new. His heart races a bit faster as he's shown to his new spare office.

"So this um…"

"This was Andy Darden's right?" Casey asks softly, remembering what Severide had told him about Darden and their childhood to adult friendship.

"Yeah…yeah it was."

"Kelly…"

"You need an office and you're…his replacement," Severide replies with a small huff. "It'll be weird to see someone else but him sitting in there but it has to be done. I don't hold it against you and I know he wouldn't either. I'm actually glad it's someone I respect."

"Okay," Casey agrees as he looks inside the modest space and then follows Severide to Boden's office where he's left to talk about his new leadership role with 51's top man. Casey watches Severide leave and then turns back to Boden, giving him his full attention; his mind, however, wondering how Hermann was fitting in.

Severide reenters the main area and looks around for Hermann and frowns when he doesn't see him. "Mouch, where's Hermann?" Severide inquires. Mouch gives Severide a small head gesture toward the locker room but says nothing more, simply goes back down to reading the paper while seated on the end of his favorite couch. Severide gives him a slight huff as he turns and heads for the locker room.

"Settling in?"

"Ah I'm pretty scary," Hermann retorts with a smirk as he puts his jacket in his locker and looks at Severide in question. "We have to prove ourselves. I get it."

"They're good guys," Severide reminds him with a firm nod. "But if you're not feeling…"

"It'll be fine in a few days," Hermann states in haste. "I'm not too worried about it."

"And Casey?"

"Think he's worried about something happening to one of the guys here and then feeling guilty about it," Hermann explains as he closes his locker.

"Think that'll happen?" Severide asks somewhat innocently.

"I…hope not," Hermann pauses as Mills and Newhouse enter the locker room. The four of them make small talk, before Severide excuses himself and goes to check and see if Casey is finished with Boden.

"Your Chief doesn't seem as scary as Ryerson did," Casey admits in an undertone as he leaves Boden's office and nears Severide at the end of the hallway. They both watch Shay approach but before another word can be said, the overhead paging system goes off and it's all hands on deck.

"Baptism by fire," Severide grins as he slaps Casey on the back and hurries toward the truck area.

"I hope no one gets hurt today," Shay tells Casey seriously before she turns on her heel and marches away; Casey's lips heavily exhaling before he looks at Hermann and then hurries toward the rest of the Truck 81 team members as they gear up.

Casey's mind races and his stomach tightens as he pulls on his boots and then hurries to the front of Truck 81, hopping onto the seat and looking at Joe Cruz behind the wheel of the large professional rig.

"Ready?" Cruz asks with a grin as he sounds the alarm and Truck 81 pulls out of the large garage doors. Cruz offers Casey a small chuckle as he glances over and see's Casey looking at a piece of paper with each member of Truck 81 written down on it, what they look like and what they do for Firehouse 51. "It'll come to ya," he comments as Casey looks up with a kind smile.

"I just don't want to screw up on my first day," Casey admits in a weak tone; Hermann offering a sympathetic smile from the back seat. But the tension with the new crew is also very palpable for Hermann as he sits in the back with Mouch and Otis. They weren't rude to him, just a bit…indifferent. He was used to his team at 47 and despite all their stupidity at times, he was used to it and it was familiar. But these guys…it was different but not in a bad way. It would just take some getting used to and that he didn't mind doing.

As soon as they pull up to the scene, Casey jumps from the front of Truck 81, ready to act. He turns and looks at Mouch and Otis, his mind racing to find names but in that moment being unable and saying the first name that comes to mind.

"George!"

"Mouch," Mouch replies with a small frown as Boden looks on in wonder.

"Mouch…you and Otis go with Hermann to…" he starts to give out a command. A very small part of him half expected them to be a bit stand offish with the new day on his first day giving them orders, but each of them reacts in a very professional and respectful way; springing into action as they had been trained.

"Cruz, you're with me!"

Severide looks over at Casey and the men surrounding him and also breathes a sigh of relief as the men under his command put into action the orders they're given. Casey hurries past Severide with a firm nod and then charges toward the front of the burning building with his men right behind him. Boden listens as both Casey and Severide call out to their men once out of his view and inside the fiery structure. With Mills first day on squad, his mind also has him in addition to Casey and Hermann to keep track of.

"Mouch when you're done with the side windows come and join me and Cruz!"

"Copy that!"

"Cruz! Over here! Severide…found one!"

"Capp! Finish here!"

"Casey! Otis and I are finished on the first floor, coming up!"

"Copy that Hermann! Capp's coming down to you with two, a mother and daughter. Help him out!"

"Copy!"

Casey tugs on Severide's coat furiously pointing toward the windowless back room. "I think I saw…" he starts in a loud tone as he rushes toward the open door.

"Casey! Wait!" Severide calls out as he gestures for Newhouse to stop him. But just as Casey reaches the windowless bedroom, he watches in horror as a swirling band of smoke races toward the door, threatening to close it, creating a backdraft and cooking alive anyone inside. For a split second he hears Andy's screams before he's consumed by the fire and his jaw sets. "Casey!"

But just before the door can close and consume Casey, Hermann appears and puts something on the floor to make sure it remains open. Then he joins Casey, Otis and Newhouse to help the fallen father while Severide finally snaps back to reality and then helps Mills rescue the family dog.

"Barney!"

The two teams watch the family dog rush up to the little girl and bark excitedly while she wraps her soot stained arms around his thick hairy neck and hold him close, her mother at her side holding her daughter close while the medics work to revive her husband.

"Good work," Boden praises all his men as Casey looks at Boden with a small frown.

"Haven't heard that in a while," Hermann utters in a low tone as Mouch looks at them in wonder. "We always knew when we screwed up."

"It's different here," Otis pipes up as all three turn to give him their attention.

"Okay Otis…why is your name Otis?" Hermann asks in confusion as Otis's grin widens.

"Well…" he starts out as his arm offers a friendly drape around Hermann's shoulders and two of them head back to Truck 81.

"How was it?" Boden asks Casey in wonder.

"The hardest part is remembering the names," Casey admits with a small huff. "But at the end of the day as along as everyone comes out that's what counts the most right?"

"In this job yes," Boden answers with a smile. "Let's pack up and get going."

"Copy that."

"Well…no one called me on the name screw up in there," Casey admits to Severide in a low tone as they get back to 51 and both head for the side of the garage to take off their boots.

"Did you?" Severide tosses back with a smirk as Casey nods and smiles. "And did you see any um…you know cars watching or whatever?"

"No. But I think I was more nervous about getting everyone right on my first day. Did you?"

"No. So maybe that means it's 47's issue and not personal," Severide tells Casey directly.

"Maybe," Casey answers slowly, wanting to believe the small amount of false security his brain wanted to delight in. But after he takes off his gear he turns around and looks at all the faces and frowns. It'll take a few days before this feels like home…maybe even a few weeks before you really feel like you belong.

"Lieutenant?"

"Matt's fine…or Casey," he answers Cruz with a friendly smile. "Thanks again for the help. I just hope I'm doing the right thing."

"Doesn't hurt to know right? I mentioned it to Antonio and he's gonna check a few things and get back to us."

"Thanks," he offers a weaker smile as he hears a few of the members of 51 laughing at something and then turns to look at them with some inner tension. "Always hated to be the new guy."

"Come on. Mills and Dawson always have the best cook offs," Cruz gestures with his hand as he heads toward the back of the eating area.

"In honor of our two new additions," Mills announces as he holds up the two spoons. "We'll let them decide which one has the better chili. Bowl A or bowl B."

"How about we pick a draw?" Hermann suggests with a wide grin. "Casey?"

"You taste first," Casey puts it back on Hermann who purses his lips but steps up to the counter.

"Alright but if there's chocolate or something funky in here…"

"Hey man we mess around with a lotta stuff around here but we take our food very seriously," Cruz pipes up as Hermann takes the first mouthful.

"Mmm actually…pretty good."

"Okay and this one," Mills gestures to the other, all the while keeping a straight face; Dawson looking on with the same placid expression.

"And this one…okay I like this one better. What's my prize?" Hermann asks proudly.

"Declaring me the winner. Again," he grins at Dawson who looks at Hermann unimpressed.

"I'm in trouble now right?" Hermann groans as Otis slaps him on the back.

"That look says…yes."

Casey watches the lively chatter as he notices Shay slowly edging her way closer. "Thanks for letting me crash for a few hours last night. Been a long time since I have had a place to just…"

"Drop by?" She interjects softly as he nods.

"That isn't Hermann's. I know he doesn't mind but with five kids, I sometimes feel like I'm intruding. I know you don't want us here…"

"No," Shay insists as she takes him aside; Severide watching in wonder. "That's not it. I don't know you two very well. Look, Kelly is my family. I have other family but…but he's not close to his dad and I'm okay with mine and we just…I worry okay?"

"I don't have to…"

"No, I don't want you to stop coming to Kelly for help or…or just a beer. It's kinda nice since Andy died that he has another guy to just be…friends with. He told me about Hallie. I'm sorry."

"Thank you. I know you worry and I don't want Kelly or you or anyone here to get hurt because of what happened at 47. But I'm also glad I have a strong friend like Kelly on my side."

"Great. Now this means I have two of you to worry about," Shay states with a mock groan as Casey's brows arch. "Hard to worry about him only when he's worried about you."

Casey watches Hermann walk up to them with a bowl of chili. "They mixed the two offerings together in the same bowl," he sighs. "I guess this is my initiation?"

"Glad I sit up front in the truck," Casey snickers as Hermann casts a less than amused expression before he heads for the table and sits down; Mouch and Newhouse joining him a few moments later. Casey looks at them and then turns back to Shay. "Well I worry about him."

"One great big happy worrying family," she drawls before she pulls away and heads for the kitchen counter.

"You two making peace?" Severide asks with a smile as he joins Casey.

"Should I be worried?"

"She's harmless…most of the time," Severide chuckles as he slaps Casey on the back and then urges him to be next in line to get some food. Casey takes a bowl with some soft fresh bread and plunks himself down beside Hermann. At first the conversation is somewhat strained as the regular members of 51 get to know their two newest additions. Casey tries to enjoy the chili, offering a few comments here and there but his mind unable to shake the feeling that a quiet storm is still brewing – waiting to unleash its full fury. After he finishes he excuses himself and heads for his office, pulling his phone and texting George at 47.

'How are things today? Tense?-Matt.'

While he waits, he starts to unpack his box, standing up the picture of him and Hallie and then arranging a few other items, wanting to keep his mind occupied until George can text back. He doesn't. Casey's anxiety starts to grow as he ponders the fact that something might have happened to his former team member and it might be his expense. That night after his first shift at 51 and not hearing anything from George, Casey decides to drive by House 47 to see if George's car is still there. Maybe he didn't get the text? Doubt he'd be ignoring me…maybe he is? He nears 47 and instantly his anxiety starts to rise; his mind wondering who the man pulling the strings actually is. He hadn't heard from Antonio but Cruz assured him that Antonio was a good and honest cop and that he could trust whatever he finds.

He stops in the shadows on the other side of the street, eyeing George's car and wondering why he hadn't heard back. He's okay right?

But just as Casey pulls his phone, it buzzes to life and his wondering is instantly put to ease.

'Sorry Matt. Things are busy here. Carl came back but I think only b/c Chief begged. Might have another guy coming tomorrow on an interim basis. Stan's been an ass all day but what else is new? Miss you and Hermy here. Just not the same. Tension is high. Stan got a few of his guys to badmouth 51. Very small. But watch your back. Something's up. Talk again soon.-George'

Casey's eyes look at the text and then back up at the few remaining cars at 47. As much as he remembers Cruz telling him to wait on Antonio, his mind hints that maybe he should follow Stan and see where he goes. This is my mess…I should help fix it!

He waits for about half hour, his body tired and wanting to just shut down but his mind reminding him that the sooner this is dealt with and over the sooner he can get down to what really matters – starting a new life at 47. Finally Stan emerges and slowly heads toward his car, getting inside and then pulling out of the opposite end of the parking lot. Casey follows at a discreet distance, falling behind a few cars but knowing the area already by it's bad reputation.

Casey's truck finally stops and he watches Stan get out and head into an establishment that was known to House those who dealt in the drug trade. You can't go inside…he knows you…let Antonio deal with it. He knows if he does take a chance and go inside and he's seen, he'll have proverbially shot himself in the foot and they could lose their only viable lead with the detective looking at things that 47 might not know about. Go home…now…

With that Casey turns and heads for home. However, as soon as he stops his truck and gets out he stops in his tracks as he notices a dark figure waiting by the side of the House. But before he can call out and make a spectacle the voice speaks.

"Matt it's me Antonio Dawson. Joe Cruz told me to contact you."

"What word did he give you?"

"Annabelle."

Hallie's middle name, Casey's mind takes some comfort in the level of trust the two strangers were working hard to establish with the paranoid firefighter. "Go around the back," he suggests since he knows Antonio will want to keep his presence there as secretive as possible.

Casey hurries inside, wanting to know what Detective Dawson has found and if it fingers anyone other than Stan Williams or Chief Mike Ryerson.

"You can leave the main light off," Antonio suggests as Casey flips on the small light over the stove to on, the back shades drawn for added privacy. "You okay?"

"I just want all this to be over," Casey admits with a heavy sigh as he slumps down on a kitchen chair and looks up with a heavy frown. "What did you find out?"

"Some you already know and some…you won't like," Antonio replies rather candidly.

"I already don't like it. Stan right?"

"From what we can figure. Stan, Ryan and Doug on squad are on the take. Ryan you know is gone but Stan and Doug are still active. To what degree, I'm still working on it. But Stan has been seen by one of my most trusted CI's with some pretty bad guys. The two just at the House for small deals. Ryerson's bank account has some monthly transactions coming in on the same day and going out on the same day but we're still working on who's putting it in and where he's sending it to. It's possible he's being blackmailed or it's possible he's a willing participant."

"So the House is being kept open to launder money and drugs?"

"Looks to be that way but…"

"But what?"

"But the calls to arrange the deals are coming from within the department."

"47?"

"No…higher."

"What?" Casey asks in shock. "You mean…"

"We don't know which Chief is pulling the strings or even a lieutenant or even an assistant…but from a few things we've uncovered it's coming right from inside the top administration."

Casey looks at Antonio and feels his heart sink; not knowing that a familiar nemesis was the one pulling the strings. "I thought…I thought it was Ryerson maybe being blackmailed by Stan or Stan and Ryerson on the take with an outsider but um…Chief Bromley? Can it be him? He's a good man."

"Don't know which one it is yet or to what degree they are involved."

"Okay so now…"

"Now you just gotta hang tough for a few more days until I figure out who's the top guy pulling the strings; the one making the deals. That's the guy we want. When I find that out I can work on a motive and then put a plan into place to bring him down and all those with him, including Stan and Doug."

"There are still a few good guys at 47."

"And you've told me who they are but the House is only being kept open because of this. But no matter what, you can't let on to any of them…or anyone outside of myself and Severide, Cruz to a degree that you we talked and you know all this. If we tip our hand they could shut down the operation and or take things to a more dangerous level. And outside you and me no one else needs to know what I've found out."

"Great."

"Sorry man. I know you've faced a few bad things but the best you can do is what you're doing now, ignore as best you can. If they publicly attack, fight back and always threaten to call 911 and report them in that moment. I'm working as fast as I can."

"Are you doing this alone?"

"Yes…"

"But?" Casey pushes as Antonio's expression turns even more serious.

"But…there might be a complication."

"Meaning?" Casey urges impatiently.

"Meaning…there might be another insider."

"What? Where?"

XXXXXXXX

"Ugh I need sleep," Shay grumbles as her and Severide leave House 51 about half hour after Casey had left.

"Too tired to go to the bar?" Severide smiles as he playfully wraps his arm around her neck and pulls her in close to him.

"Strip bar?"

"Sure," Severide chuckles as they head for his car. "Okay how about we go home, order pizza and watch striptease?"

"You're getting tired in your old age?"

"Yeah I think so."

"Home sounds good. How was Casey's first day?" Shay asks innocently as they both get into the car, each unaware of the set of narrowed eyes watching them intently.

"I think okay. He left pretty fast so maybe it was just from all the stress of the day," he suggests, not knowing of the meeting going on between Casey and Antonio right now.

"Well…maybe all the bad stuff has stayed with 47," Shay ponders hopefully as they pull out of the parking lot; a dark sedan pulling into traffic two car lengths behind them.

"I hope so," Severide replies as he looks up into the rear view mirror. But…I don't think so…I think it's just starting.

A/N: Yup Severide…it is just starting! Eeks! So how'd you like our boys first day at 51? Some tension but hey we all love the guys at 51 so I think it'll be a good fit. And some nice Casey/Shay friendship building. Yup soon she'll have more than one of our boys to worry about *wink* So we know who one of the main baddies at the Chief's headquarters is (did you all get the hint in the last chappie?) but Casey won't find out just yet (gotta build a bit more tension for him hehe). Hope you liked the bits of Antonio in here. So what is the other complication? Who's watching Shay and Severide? And what will happen when 2 worlds collide at a fiery scene? Please do review before you go and thanks so much!