[WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS REAL LIFE SCENES AND MINIR GORE. ALSO, THIS STORY IS TRUE.]
"Antonio, please can we go and see mum and dad." Jamie asked as he walked into the room, a glass of water in his hand.
"Jamie, your parents are at work, they will be back here tomorrow morning." he replied looking over his shoulder as his nephew who was walking towards him.
"But Mum said that we could come and see her and dad if we wanted to." he said taking a seat next to him.
"Ok, if you promise to go and have a shower, then I will give her a call. They may be out on a call."
Jamie slid off the sofa and placed his cup on the coaster that was closest to him. "Fine, but don't forget that Libby is still at school. Mum and Dad both dropped her off on their way to work, I can't wait to go back." he said as he made his way towards the door.
Watching Jamie walk away made Antonio really think about how his relationship with his ex-wife and his kids. As soon as he got the call from Boden that Jamie had gone into hospital he could remember the feeling that spread across his body. He remembered that his body went on to auto-pilot and the next thing he remembered was getting on the first plane he could from Orlando to Chicago. Although he was his uncle, Antonio always felt something more than an 'Uncle Love' for Jamie. Afterall he was there when his sister had gone into labour and her at-the-time boyfriend was being arrested by his boss. Jamie had been everything they had wanted, Matt and Gabby included, and spending time with him was what he wanted. A light vibration woke him from his daydream. He pulled out his phone and Matt's caller ID lit up the screen, "Hey Matt you ok?" he asked putting the TV remote on the table beside him.
"Hey Antonio, i just got off the radio with Gabby and asked me to call you. She said that she had spoken to Jamie about coming to the firehouse today if he felt like it." he said through the phone.
"This is Jamie we're talking about, he would never turn down an opportunity to come to the firehouse."
"Yeah, he likes it here." Matt said his voice a little distant.
"Hey bud, is everything ok?" Antonio asked sitting up in his chair as Jamie walked in.
"Who is it?" he whispered.
'Your Dad.' he mouthed back.
"Oh, can i talk to him?" Jamie asked making his way closer to his uncle.
"Yeah I'm fine." Matt exhaled "I just miss him you know, it sounds sad but it has been nearly seven hours and it feels longer than it has been."
"Yeah i know how you feel, i miss the kids a lot. But there is something i can do about that." Antonio said as he looked over to Jamie, who had a huge smile on his face. "He's right here, you want to talk to him?"
Matt's tone lifted almost instantly as the news came down the phone line. "Antonio, don't ask stupid questions." Matt teased.
"I'll speak to you later." Antonio concluded as he passed the phone over to Jamie.
"Hi Monkey." Matt said happily, making everyone look up with a smile.
"Hi daddy, i'm sorry i wasn't awake before you and mummy left for work."
"Don't worry about it sweetie, did Antonio tell you that you can come to the firehouse today if you feel up to it!" Casey looked up to see the 61 girls walk through the common room doors towards the rest of the team.
A Gabby walked in she realized that Matt was on the phone and mouthed 'Who is it?'
"Jamie" he whispered as she reached him.
"Put him on speaker, i want to talk to him." she said with a smile.
"OK baby, i'm going to put you on speaker so everyone can hear you." Matt said as he clicked a button and placed the phone on the table in front of him.
"Hey guys!" Jamie said through the phone.
There was a pause as the whole team looked around to each other and planned something without saying a word. "JAMIE!" they all shouted in unison.
Herrmann walked over to the table where the phone lay and began to talk. "How's our little soldier doing?"
"Feeling a lot better then I have in a long time. I can't wait to see you all later." Jamie exclaimed happily through the phone.
Gabby looked over to Matt, who was distantly smiling at the phone that lay on the table, and touched his shoulder making him shiver. "Are you ok sweetie?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Would you mind if I spoke to him, alone?"
"You have just as much right to as anyone here but he is coming to see us. Are you sure it can't wait until he gets here?"
"I just want to speak to him." Matt said reaching down and picking up the phone. He put it to his ear as he walked away through the door towards his office.
When he reached the door he lightly pushed it open with his shoulder, closed it with his spare hand and took a seat on his bunk. "Are you ok dad?" Jamie's voice came from the speaker of the phone.
"I'm ok now Monkey, I'm ok now."
"Dad are you sure? You seemed a little down today as you and mum left for work."
"I just want to be at home, with you and your mum, instead of here with the guys."
Jamie was a little confused at his father's answer. He knew that Matt was extremely enthusiastic about his job and for him to answer with that, he knew there was something he was hiding. "Dad, I know you're lying."
"God Jamie, why are you so go at this? You always put a smile on my face."
"Well I'm glad that I make you and mum happy."
"You make us more than happy Monkey. Now enough of the drab stuff, you have made me feel better by just hearing your voice. Where are you?" Matt heard his son ask his brother-in-law where they were before he answered the question.
"At the intersection of 24th and Main." Jamie answered happily.
Then, in the distance, Matt could hear the familiar wail of sirens. "Jamie, what can you see?" he said as his gut told him that 51 may be called to the call that that company was en-route to.
"There are a lot of people crowded round the entrance of the station. There are also a lot of police and a firetruck just pulled up!" Jamie said, his voice showing the wonder that his face would be telling if you were standing in front of him.
"What company is it?" Matt asked, his heart now beginning to beat just a little faster.
"Truck 66, isn't that Welch's truck?"
"Yeah, Jamie is there -" Casey started just as the Klaxon sounded.
"TRUCK 81. SQUAD 3. AMBULANCE 61. ONE UNDER. 24th AND MAIN STATION!"
"Dad?" Jamie's voice went from happy and cheerful to a low undertone of panic.
"Yes Monkey."
"Promise me you'll stay safe?"
"Always. Now stop ya worryin' and I will see you later. I love you." Matt said as he started to walk down the hallway towards the trucks.
"I love you daddy."
"Bye sweetie." he finished as he kicked off his boots and pulled on his fire ones. He slid the trousers up his legs and pushed up his braces before grabbing the handle and swinging himself up into the cab of 81.
"Casey!" Welch called from the doors of the station. "I requested for main to send you all."
"Why?" he replied with an unsure smile as he walked across the roped off road surrounded by traffic. Jamie's in there somewhere, he thought putting a smile on his face.
"We all know how much you all love one unders." Welch joked as Casey and the rest of 51 followed the two lieutenants down the steep, dark stairs that took them deep underground to the station platform.
After their years of rivalry, Casey and Welch decided to put their differences to one side and focus on their jobs, the grown-up thing to do. Ever since, the two lieutenants became good friends and actually began talking the whole work situation became a whole lot easier, also, Molly's was re-opened for 105.
As the team walked down the stairs Welch slowly looked over to Casey, who was looking down at the stairs as he took them in his stride. "Everything ok bud?"
"What? Oh, yeah, i'm fine." Casey replied not looking up.
"You're sure? it sure as hell doesn't look it."
"It's just I kinda wish I wasn't here. Jamie was meant to be coming to the firehouse and then we got the call..." He took a breath. "...Just having to go back to work and stuff, I just wish I was at home with him that's all."
"Yeah, I'm sorry to hear about what happened to him Matt, I really am. No parent should have to go through that, I'm just happy he's ok." he looked over to his friend. "If you need anything, any of you guys at 51, just give us a call, anytime."
"Thanks Tommy, that really means a lot." Casey finally said looking up as they all reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped onto the blindingly bright train station platform.
There was a train stopped at the platform with a load of passengers trapped inside, all pounding on the glass. A man dressed in navy blue came running up to the team as they spilled out onto the platform.
"I didn't see him! I didn't see him, it was to late!" The man kept shouting as he stumbled towards the group of firefighters and Paramedics. "I'm sorry!" he began to cry.
He collapsed into Casey's arm and began to sob. "Sir, Sir? I need you to listen to me." Matt said firmly. "I need you to tell me what happened?"
"I was slowing the train down, like we're meant to when approaching a station. Then all of a sudden he threw himself out onto the tracks. There was nothing I could do."
Casey looked over to Severide, who nodded in agreement even through nothing was said. He then turned round and mouthed 'We need to get under there' to Welch.
"Sir, would you mind coming with me so you can let the rest of the firefighters do their jobs?" He asked in a polite tone as he pealed the man, who was still crying into Casey's shoulder, away to the door of the steps.
Casey turned round to face the team, Squad and Ambo included. "We need to get this train moved but before we have to go down to see what state this 'John Doe' is." Casey cringed at the grim job. "Any volunteers?" he asked. As always, the whole group of firefighters put their hands up. "Ok, Kelly, Tony, Herrmann and Jago your coming. The rest of you I want you to either help pass the tools down or help get the people out of the carriages."
There were a few 'You got it lieutenants' but the team all began spreading out across the length of the platform opening the jammed train doors. The CTA were usually a very well run company with hardly ever an incident but when the call comes through as an 'One Under' all firefighters know that the call will stick in their mind for a long time. The first responders use the term 'one under' because it says exactly what the call is without all the gory bits. Before the term was implemented, dispatch would call out 'Train Casualty' or sometimes worse.
"Guys I need the ladder!" Casey shouted as he reached the platform edge. Once it had been brought, he began to climb down into the shaft, followed by the rest of his small salvage team. As theyall began to crawl one-by-one, lead by Casey, under the train carriages they had to keep themselves close to the ground and their heads down. Every once and a while they would stop and search the underneath but would come up empty until they got 30 yards down the train, this was the worst part. The body was wrapped around the wheels and there was no way of getting him out without moving the train forward until it was all off. Casey grimaced as he reached round the wheel axil and tried for a pulse, it was there but only just.
He pulled his radio up to his mouth and spoke frantically. "Dawson, I have a pulse on our victim. The only problem is that we need to move the train to get him out!"
"Can't you use the jacks?" She asked. Matt could tell she was in the middle of something but the call was to save this man and he new he could, there had to be a way.
"We can't, not with the amount of people still onboard. What's the strongest pain killer you have. He needs to be sedated really, and even still he has lost a lot of blood."
"Matt, I don't know, there is something but-"
"Send it down here!" He exclaimed. "Main can I be put through to the CTA?"
"Lieutenant Casey, the line is busy, what's the emergency?" He didn't answer.
"Guys all crawl back, we need to get this train moved. Is Tony at the back, TONY?" she shouted.
"I'm here lieutenant." He called distantly from the back of the line.
"I need you to go up to Dawson and get the drug she was talking about. I needed it like five minutes ago!" he demanded.
"You go it!" Tony replied as he began to crawl backwards towards the front of the train.
Kelly shuffled forward so he could talk to his friend without any of the team hearing. "Hey, what's up with you?" he asked, half joking half serious.
"I'm fine." Matt answered bluntly.
"Well your obviously not, what's going on?"
"Kelly, I'm fine!" he said again.
"Casey, whatever it is it is affecting your judgement. You can't keep making irrational decisions."
"Irrational - Pfft, are you kidding me?" he slammed his halligan against the large metal wheel. "I am not being irrational!"
"Whatever Casey."
"Seve, that's not what I-"
"Lieutenant, the medication!" Tony said as the needle began to make its way up the chain of firemen until it reached Casey.
Matt pulled the plastic tip off and tried to look for the closest vein he could. The victim's neck was tilting away from him and so he stretched over and sunk the needle into the visible carotid artery that ran down the side of his neck. "Gotcha!" he whispered to himself.
"Guys we need to back out and move this train. Hope he's there when we get this hunk of metal moved." Casey shouted down the line to hint for the men behind him to start moving back the way they came.
Once they were all out from under the carriage, the whole team regrouped to continue their 'plan of action'. Casey took a step forward and took of his helmet, that was now covered in soot and other dust from the undercarriage of the train. "The man is sedated but our main priority is getting this train moved."
"What about the driver?" Jago suggested making the whole group begin to look around them for the person of interest at that moment in time.
"Where is he?" Mouch asked vocalizing the whole teams thought.
"He was just over there-" Welch started but then an earsplitting screech sliced through the air of the underground platform.
The whole team's heads whipped round to see the train, still holding many of its trapped passengers, begin to pull away from the station. Shit, Matt though as he bounded into action and raced towards the ever quicker disappearing carriage. "Shit!" he said aloud as the last part of the train disappeared into the tunnel to the left of the station. He came to a not so controlled stop and leaned forward on his knees as he caught his breath. Soon after he was surrounded by the firefighters from 51 and Welch as they all stood in disbelief at what they had just experienced.
"Is the man still down there?" Santiago asked, breaking the silence.
"Shit!" Matt said aloud again as him and a few others began to run towards the edge of the station platform, their worst thoughts threatening to become a reality. However, this wan not he case. As they looked down the badly mangled body now lay flat on his back over the first and second tracks.
"The team I took down, Jago, errr Tony, Seve and Herrmann lets go!" He said as he eased himself down onto the tracks and jogged towards the body. "Bring the Ambu-bag!" he shouted.
"Casey let me and my team come down!" Dawson called from up on the platform.
"You guys aren't coming down here, that's final."
"Matt!" she started.
"Gabby, I mean it." He said before he turned his focus back down to the body that lay before him.
Severide, Jago, Tony and Herrmann all climbed down the ladder and made their way towards Casey with the backboard and medical equipment. Herrmann opened the back next to Casey and he instantly began taking out gauze and wrap and covering the wounds that were bleeding the most.
"Casey let me do that, you and Kelly work on his airways." Herrmann suggested as he hopped over and crouched the other side.
"Ok, Kelly pass me a tube and check his pulse." Casey asked.
"Matt do you even know how to tube someone?" Gabby shouted down.
"No, that's why your here to tell me how."
She rolled her eyes. She wanted to be down there, needed to be down there but as always, Matt was being the 'protective' fiancé again. "Slide the blade down his throat until you can see his chords, than slide the tube in and pull the blade out. When the air is squeezed in, you shouldn't hear anything above his lungs." He did as she said as she called out the instructions and soon after the tube was in and Jago was bagging him.
"Lets get him outta here." Tony said as he helped roll him onto the back board. "On three we lift. 1-2-3." The guys carried the man towards the latter and Tony, Kelly and Jago all climbed up do help slide him up, Matt and Herrmann pushing from the bottom.
All of a sudden the floor began to rumble and the lights began to flicker lightly. Casey felt the tremors fly up his legs as he looked to his right and saw a train rolling straight towards them. "Casey, get up there!" Herrmann shouted, pulling him from his shocked stare.
"I'm not letting you get hit by a train Herrmann, you have a family!" he shouted as he looked towards the train as it continued to speed ever closer. It was so close they could both see the panicked expression of the driver in the window.
"You have a family to. Think about Jamie-"
"As your Lieutenant Hermann, I order you to get up that ladder before its to late for both of us!" He shouted over the rumble of the train. Herrmann finally did as he was ordered and climbed up the ladder and rolled across the platform as the ladder was pulled by the train from under his feet.
"MATT!" Gabby screamed as the train rolled through the station unable to stop. "MATT!" she screamed again as she sunk to her knees but there was still no reply. "NO!"
The train seemed to go on forever as it continued through the station. The commuters faces turning from complete and utter boredom to complete horror as they saw the expressions of the men and woman dressed in the familiar CFD uniform, a look of horror also painted across their faces.
The whole team all stood with their heads down, thinking of him, the memories, the laughs, his kindness - but for some it was to much. Gabby was kneeling on the concreate, her head in her hands sobbing and Brett and Santiago down by her sides. A few of them heard shuffling from in front of them and looked up to see the figure of the man they thought they'd lost appear from the tracks. Casey held his finger to his lips saying that he didn't want anyone to say anything. He silently made his way towards the huddle of paramedics and managed to get Brett and Danny's attention without them saying anything. He went behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She began to sob even harder into her hands as the person behind her pulled her to her feet. Gabby then turned around and began to sob into the dusty chest of the firefighter that was comforting her. Then it hit her. dusty, why would they be dusty? Unless!... She took a deep breath to try and calm herself down then looked up to see the person who was most important to her. Casey was holding her so tight and as he pulled away to see why she had stopped crying, his blue eyes connected with hers.
"Don't ever do that again." She whispered quietly. "I thought you were dead!"
"Not even a train will be enough to take me away from you." He said as he leant down and kissed her lips.