Title: Never Give Up
Chapter 26 – Another One Opens

"Okay so I was thinking about the house the better part of the day and if I want to go back there alone and stay there alone and…and I think I came up with a solution."

But at the same time that Casey finishes up his sentence, Severide blurts out…"I have an idea about the apartment and…"

The two of them look at one another in wonder until one of them speaks…

"I think I'm going to sell the house and buy a smaller apartment."

"No," Severide simply states, prompting Casey to look at him in shock.

"Uh…what? I think this is a good idea."

"No," he simply repeats as Casey's lips purse before heaving a sigh.

"I've thought about this and I think it would be best for me to downsize. A lot of sad memories are in the house and…well Hallie and I bought the house together and I thought I'd fix it up for us and now…she's not here and I can't see myself starting over with someone else in this place and since I'm not there yet I think…right I'm rambling," Casey stops and then nods firmly as Severide looks at him with a soft smile. "I think it's for the best."

"I get you wanting to downsize."

"So you agree with the apartment idea?"

"No."

"Are you saying that just to piss me off?" Casey asks with a small huff as Severide snickers and nods.

"No," he retorts as Casey's jaw sets. "I have a better idea."

"I can't stay there. You yourself said that."

"And I'm right," Severide lightly boasts. "I'm glad you came to the right idea about moving out of there. I think it has a lot of good but also sad memories that when you're down, keep you down. But I don't think that moving out on your own is the right idea. It's the same situation, only smaller."

"I love living with you guys but um…it's a bit small."

"Right so here is my idea. You know that top floor of the apartment right across the street from us? We looked at it a few months back when we were both off and bored?"

"Yeah we…wait…are you suggesting that I buy that? It's three split levels. It's bigger than at my home now," Casey gently protests. "It's too much for me."

"Was kinda thinking you'd have some company."

"You'd move there?"

"Shay too."

"Really?" Casey asks with a growing smile as Severide also smiles and nods. "But you guys just moved into your current loft a year ago."

"Yeah but we don't mind. The one across the street is pretty cool…well after we talked about it and I know with some work we could turn it into something even better. Remember what you said about each level? The plans you talked about making up just for fun?"

"Yes but…" Casey replies as he looks away and then back at his best friend. "Really? You two would want to move in there?"

"We're all just so used to living together that to send you away would be…odd. And it's not just because we'd feel sorry for you being alone or worry when you have a bad day or whatever and are alone but because we're all just…closer now. Hanging, carpooling…"

"Cooking?" Casey arches his brows.

"Hey I'm getting better," Severide interjects as Casey gently chuckles. "Shay and I talked about it yesterday and she's into it. But you're the one making the bigger sacrifice by selling your home and we're just giving up a rented apartment. The decision is yours."

"The loft across the street huh."

"Whole top floor," Severide adds with a wide grin. "Think of the fun we can all have in there?"

"Would be fun. And the last few months it has been great living with you both. Going home the few times I have and being alone were just…pure misery."

The two of them sit in silence a bit longer before Casey pulls his phone and looks down at the picture of Fred.

"Matt…"

"I wish I had taken one of us smiling. Just…something happy to remember him by. You sort of take that stuff for granted until it's too late and then you realize you can't go back. Hallie and I…damn I miss her so much but at least our last few moments together were happy and fun…and great. Fred…"

"You parted on good terms."

"I had eight years of memory's with Hallie. I have only a few days of Fred and they were all tormented," Casey admits with a heavy sigh. "A real wakeup call…almost too real."

A few moments later Casey watches as Severide pulls his phone and leans in closer; Casey looking at his friend in wonder before a 'snap' is heard. "Did you just take…"

"A selfie. Shay says they're all the rage now," Severide snickers as he shows Casey the picture of his smiling face and Casey's confused one.

"That's lame, take another," Casey insists as they both look up with goofy grins and another 'snap' is heard. "That's better. My turn."

The two of them take a few more candid photos, laughing and talking; the mood lifting higher and higher and the morbid funk that Casey had come to the marina with all but dissipates when they are packing up and heading toward Casey's truck and then home.

Later that night Shay quietly enters the apartment, wondering how the talk Kelly had with Matt went and what conclusion they came to. She spies Severide's phone on the table by his wallet and notices the picture proudly displayed as his wallpaper – him and Casey making goofy grins for their first selfie.

"I always miss the good stuff," she huffs as she puts his phone down. But a smile accompanies her words as she turns off the light and heads upstairs for some muchly needed rest.

XXXXXXXX

The next morning Casey awakens with a renewed sense of purpose. The day before had been mentally and emotionally draining and he wondered how he'd get past the despair he felt after receiving the news about Fred and then going home alone and breaking down to the point of wondering if he'd ever be able to climb back up. But despite not being hungry or wanting food, his body still needed to work through the funk and so while at the Marina he had come up with a plan to sell his home and move into something smaller; reasoning that the space wouldn't suffocate him as much with the silence as it would in the larger space. However, after the visit from Severide he realized that it wasn't the space at all – it was the company. He had come to rely on his friend and depend on the caring support both Shay and him were giving and being away from that on a regular basis was forecasting a future end possibly like Fred. If I'm alone…I'd be worse off than…his mind stops as he once again conjures up a picture of himself on the floor of his home, being found a few days later, empty bottle of whiskey in his hand and his kidney shot to hell by his own means; Kelly standing over him cursing the fact that he was too stubborn and shouldn't have been alone as he told him.

Casey folds his arms under his head and recalls his and Severide's visit to the loft across the street, the two of them goofing off inside the large open space, making loud calls and then talking seriously about what changes they'd make if they were to move in. At that time, it was just a pipe dream…something to ponder and then quickly dismiss. But now…now it was on the verge of becoming a reality. That is if he wanted it. The choice was his.

He could remain where he is and face a daily battle of trying to combat the silence in his empty home while there alone. He could sell his home and move into a smaller apartment; less to take care off, but the problem of being alone still not fixed. He could move in where he is now on a permanent basis; but it was small and there were still personal items that he wanted to keep and use. Or…or they could follow Severide's seemingly brilliant plan and all purchase the loft together and live there – together.

Casey thinks about pictures he looked at afterwards of finished spaces and how each of them would have their own private space if they so wanted but still know have someone there on the days when work and life was too much and silence was the last thing they'd need. It could work, Casey's mind ponders as he pictures himself on one end of the top floor; Severide on the other.

There was a space in the middle for an entertainment area, one large full bathroom and of course two large bedrooms. Shay, if she wanted would take the second level, which was only a half floor and then the main floor would have their kitchen, living room and a small spare bedroom and full bathroom. It could work, he silently states again.

And the more he thinks about the new possibilities the more excited he becomes and the faster his mood lifts. He had already planned to donate most of the money to the Firefighters Injury Recovery Fund and was going to keep some to fix the back deck of his current home. However, with some cheaper supplies, he could fix the deck and have it ready for resale and then use the leftover funds from Fred's generous parting gift to give himself a new start.

It could work.

With that happy thought now dancing around in his brain, he pushes himself out of bed and starts to get ready for the day; his mind almost anxious to tell his friends and see what they'd think of his ideas for their new future purchase together.

It will work.

"Loved the selfie's," Shay greets Casey with a smile as she holds up his phone.

"You looked?"

"So much for privacy. Maybe we all need separate places," Severide teases as Shay narrows her eyes and swats his arm. "What?"

"Okay now it's my turn."

"What?" Casey's turn to ask suddenly.

But the two men can't offer much of a protest as Shay takes her phone, makes them all squish together and then takes a selfie of the three of them making goofy grins. Then one serious, another funny and…a few more until they were all selfie'd out and it was time to really get the day started.

The three of them talk about Severide's idea, both Severide and Shay waiting for Casey to ultimately make the first move – voicing his approval as he'd be giving up the most, the two of them already used to apartment dwelling.

"So you like my idea then?"

"You're idea?" Severide asks Shay in haste as she nods profusely and grins as he shakes his head; Casey watching in amusement as his two argue whose idea the big move should be accredited to. The discussion lasts all the way to Firehouse 51, but is quickly put on hold as an early morning call greets the second day of their shift.

"Casey!" Boden calls out as he heads toward him, Eric patting Casey on the back as he hurries past and up to the front door passenger door of Truck 81.

"I'm okay Chief. I just needed yesterday to…well process all that happened with Fred. But I'm good."

"Okay, do what you can. A few more days and then you'll talk to Dr. Tennyson about your "official" return to work."

"That's great news."

Boden watches Casey pull on his boots and then slip into the back of Truck 81; a nervous smile playing across his face as he can't help but worry at the same time. He knows Casey is anxious to get back and can't blame him but at the same time fears the possibility of Casey holding back pain in the favor of an early return. He gets into his truck with his mind determined to call Dr. Tennyson later on and have a frank discussion about his truck Lieutenant.

"Lots of smoke in here guys. Watch yourselves!"

"We need another vent! Hermann!"

"On it!"

"We also need that back door open!"

"Cruz?"

"Just about there!"

"Casey!"

"Second window vented! Severide, go up now!"

"Chief, Capp and I are on our way up to the second floor!"

"Watch yourselves, from out here all I see is smoke and a few open windows. Casey, open a few more!"

"Copy that Chief!"

Casey's lungs start to gently heave as he heads toward the back of the second floor apartment building; the smoke thick and the heat intense. The boarded up windows and false walls in places they shouldn't be, was making it tricky for all involved to stay safe and yet look for and rescue any stray tenants who were overcome by either smoke and heat.

"Capp and Clark have one. They're coming down!"

"Eric, check that back closet!"

"On it!"

Boden listens to all the chatter, some direction coming from Severide, some from Eric and some from Casey. Even the veteran's like Hermann and Clarke would call out or take charge and he could take confidence that in the heat of battle as it were, they all pulled together as one cohesive unit – unified in thought and deed, put out the fire, save lives.

But things don't always go smoothly and suddenly, without warning, a loud crack is heard followed by some panicked shouting!

"Casey, look out!"

"Eric!"

"Severide, report!"

"Chief a false floor has crumbled under the heat trapping Casey and Eric in the back room. Hermann and Cruz open the back left window boards now!"

"On it!"

Severide pulls his axe and with Clarke and Mills at his side start to hack away at the false wall left standing; Otis, Mouch and Capp on the third floor trying to find a safe way to lower either a ladder or rope to their trapped brothers.

"Casey! Eric!"

"We're…here…" Casey grunts into the radio; Severide's brain racing with frantic thoughts. "Leg's…trapped and Eric's…"

"What? Eric's what? Talk to me! Casey! Eric!"

Severide continues to hack away at the warping wall but a few seconds later, Clarke's shrill voice is heard and he turns just in time to be met it the stomach with a piece of falling drywall; sending him flying backwards, slamming into the wall and making a distinct dent before he falls to the warping floor.

"Severide!" Clark calls out.

"What happened?" Casey asks in haste.

"I'm…okay…" Severide's winded voice is heard. Casey squints in Eric's direction, spotting the fallen frame and growling at the piece of wood as it refuses to move at his bidding. He kicks at the wood once more and it finally moves, allowing him to wiggle out and then crawl over to Eric.

"Eric!"

Eric's slow to respond but finally does, making all of them utter a sigh of relief.

"Getting hot in here guys!" Casey calls out as he slowly stands up. But he quickly realizes that the debris has shrunken their space and standing full erect wouldn't be that easy. "Cramped too."

"We're…almost through," Casey hears Severide's tired voice reply in haste. A few minutes later a gloved hand reaches through the opening and Casey's quickly to clasp it.

"You okay?" Severide asks as he looks at Casey through his mask.

"Fine. Let's get Eric out of here."

"Guys I can walk," Eric groans as Casey and Severide take an arm and help him stand up; a few seconds later all three of them slowly meandering through the mess of fiery debris toward the opening that Severide and Mills were in. Progress is finally made and the pieces of wood are pried away from the back windows and the men inside are able to slowly file back out into fresh air. Boden watches them all slowly climb down the metal fire escape stairs while the rest of 51 turns their hoses on the remaining licks of fire to fully extinguish them.

"That shortened my lifespan a little," Eric lightly jokes as they all reach Boden.

"Yeah…mine too," Severide gently grunts as Casey looks at him in concern. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Just my legs trapped. What happened with you?"

"He got slammed into the wall by a piece of wood," Mills replies in truth as Severide looks at him in disdain.

"I'm fine," Severide states firmly as Boden looks at him in concern. "Just another day in the field Chief."

"Let's head back home," Boden tells them firmly as he walks up to Severide. "Kelly."

"Trust me Chief, I had the wind knocked from me but I'm okay."

Not wanting to argue too much, Boden lets it go and heads back to the scene, Milt pulling up with Jeremy at Boden's request.

"Hey Matt!" Jeremy calls out as Casey walks over to the AI he worked a few weeks with.

"Hey Jeremy. How's Milt doing?"

"Ah stubborn old man," Jeremy gently jokes. "You look like you saw some action today."

"Roof and wall collapsed around us but we escaped with only a few bumps and bruises. Watch yourselves in there. The floor is pretty rotten and now water logged. But you shouldn't have to go upstairs."

"Thanks for the heads-up. How are you feeling? Came back early I see."

"Yeah on my return to work plan. I hope to get my actual walking papers at the end of this week but we'll see. Take care of Milt."

"Will do. See ya around."

Casey waves at Milt who is talking to Boden and a few uniformed CPD officers before heading back to the front of Truck 81 and getting inside; the large rig slowly pulling away from the scene and heading back to Firehouse 51. He hears Mills telling the others about Severide being hit at the scene and inwardly growls but knows much like himself, he too would just downplay his pain at the scene and suffer in silence later.

But that thought makes him pause. Suffer…in silence…later…now he wouldn't have to do that. Severide had told him that having Shay there with him was great because she didn't mother him, all the time, but was there to listen and of course force upon him the occasional band aide when needed. The prospect of knowing that he'd never have to go home alone again for the most part is more than comforting. That would be the same for all of them.

This time it's Casey's turn to walk in on Severide as he tries to cover up his back. "What happened?"

"Was me and the wall. The wall lost," slightly winces as Casey looks at the purple baseball sized bruise just above the kidney area. "I thought it was hit…damn I was worried."

"Trust me, I know the feeling," Casey replies as Severide shakes his head. "Things you take for granted right?"

"Every time I get a pain in my back I worry now," Severide admits as he looks at Casey with a frown. "I guess Fred's death affected us both in a strong way."

"You okay?"

"A bit sore but I think it just looks worse than it is. Don't tell Shay."

"No way," Casey nods in agreement. "You know I was thinking for the housewarming…"

"So it's a yes then?"

"I'm sure I told you earlier," Casey retorts as Severide tosses the sticky soap bar at him. Casey merely chuckles as he places it back on the receptacle and wipes his hand. "I thought about it all last night and I think it's a great idea. I wanted a fresh start and I think this will be a good one. And the more I think about it, the more excited I become and the more plans I start to formulate."

"So…timeframe?"

"How about we stop by the other apartment tomorrow on our day off and see what they want for it and when they want someone and then go from there. We're just about done Nathan's library so would be great to finish that up before we start on something else just as physical."

"Think that place needs that much work? Figured we'd hire a bunch of Molly Maids to do some cleaning," Severide wags his brows, making Casey once again chuckle.

"That's not very PC.

"Why not? That's their job."

"I doubt Shay would agree."

"Trust me, to see a hot chick in a maid's uniform? She'd happily agree."

"You're assuming their hot."

"That's not PC," Severide tosses back as both of them laugh and quickly end their lame conversation before heading back outside. They join their friends at the eating table, sitting down to a meal and to a surprisingly calm rest of the afternoon and evening.

XXXXXXXX

"So the answer's yes?" Shay asks Casey with a wide grin; then giving him a happy hug a few seconds later when he nods his confirmation. "I'm so excited! I can't wait to plan the housewarming."

"You?" Severide teases as Shay tosses him a glare.

"You want to plan it now?"

"Well I at least want a say," he playfully argues back.

The three of them sit around the table the next morning, drinking their coffee, eating their breakfast and talking about their plans for their new shared home. After breakfast is over with and the dishes put away, the three of them get dressed for going out and then head across the street to scope out their new accommodations.

They nervously and excitedly talk about the changes if any they wanted to make or see happen, all of them happy with their current decision. They had all agreed not to come off too eager to the seller, not wanting to be upsold and wanting to see if they could get a better deal if at all possible.

"Sure…come on let me show you around a bit more."

Casey and Severide look at each other as Shay falls into line behind the building's owner and the real estate agent and trade happy and satisfied smiles.

It was going to work. This was going to be a new start for all of them.

A/N: So I hope you all liked Casey's decision about what to do with Fred's money and I hope you like the new solution to their future living arrangements. a few more things to wrap up here so please do review before you go and thanks so much!