Family First

Annie ran through Chicago Med's ER department and down to one of the trauma rooms. A huge fire had happened downtown, and multiple casualties were reported. While many of them went to Lakeshore, a small number were brought down to Med. As a trauma surgical resident, and the only one on call today, Annie knew she would have her hands full.

Unsurprisingly, the Casey kids had really made a name for themselves in emergency services. Jack and Elliot were a daring duo at Firehouse 51. Under the direction of Blake Gallo in Squad 3, they saved countless lives across the city. Then there was Annie. If Jack and Elliot did the big saves, Annie was the one who put them back together at Med. Sylvie and Matt were incredibly proud of them. Naturally, they worried, particularly about the boys who had a nasty habit of thinking they were indestructible. As Chief of 51, Casey was particularly cautious about keeping an eye on them.

"What have we got?" Annie asked as she appeared at the door while a nurse helped get her gown and gloves on.

"Casey, where have you been? I've sent you three pages!" Dr. Boyd demanded to know.

"Annie—" her fellow doctor Finn Masterson began. He wanted to warn her before she went in. He'd tried to tell Dr. Boyd that she shouldn't be here but he just didn't listen.

Annie looked past Finn and straight at Boyd glared deeply at him, "I've been in surgery, you know, doing my job – oh my god." She said as she walked forward and looked at the patient on the bed.

"Casey what is the problem? We don't have time for this, get in here!" Boyd demanded as Annie remained frozen at the end of the bed.

"The problem?" Annie challenged as the rage flowed through her body. "The problem is you've just paged me down here to perform surgery on my father you jackass!" she exclaimed as Annie looked back at Matt as he lay on the bed, out cold. Annie shook her head at the ridiculousness of this – he was supposed to retire tonight. This was his last shift.

"Father?" Boyd questioned. "Masterson!" he exclaimed. He was the one who he'd told to send the page through, he should have said something!

"I tried to tell you sir, but you wouldn't listen—" Finn defended.

Boyd sighed, "You're the only trauma surgeon on staff Casey."

Annie looked at him in complete disbelief. He wasn't seriously suggesting that she provide medical care to her father when she was in such a state of shock and anger?

"What the hell happened to him?" Annie asked quietly.

"A roof collapsed on top of him during a warehouse fire." Finn explained with a gulp.

"I uh – I need to find my mom." Annie made clear as she rushed out of the trauma area to find Sylvie. As she was running she lifted out her phone and saw that she had a bunch of missed calls from her family.

"Casey!" Boyd called, but Finn snapped right at him.

"Dr. Boyd! This is her father lying here. Have you completely forgotten the ethics of being a doctor? You can't seriously expect her to stay in here and help!"

"We need all the hands we can get!"

"I'm not going to sit here and argue with you about this. Maybe you weren't that close with your father but the whole Casey family practically live out of each other's pockets. Annie cannot be here for this."

Annie ran into the waiting and immediately saw all of Firehouse 51 waiting for news on their chief. She desperately looked around and spotted one of the people she was looking for.

"Elliot" she called as her brother turned around and let out a breath of relief at the sight of his sister.

"Ann" he said as she rushed forward and hugged him.

"Where's mom?" Annie asked desperately as she looked around her and couldn't see Sylvie. Naturally, considering the state her father was in, she assumed the worst.

"She's on her way, she's transporting some other victims in the ambo." Elliot assured her.

Annie ran a hand through her hair, "What the hell was he doing in there? His back is not strong enough to deal with these kinds of jobs!" she reasoned. Matt Casey was one of the best firefighters the CFD ever had – but he was old now. He'd seen a lot, he'd been through a lot and he wasn't as fit and agile as he used to be.

Elliot scoffed, "Annie you know him. When he sets his mind on something there's no stopping him."

"Well then you and Jack should have had his back! What happened to being the dynamic duo?" Annie shouted, gaining the attention of the other firefighters in the waiting area. She knew it probably wasn't fair to blame her brothers, but she was so mad. She just needed to get her frustration out on something or in this case – someone.

Gallo stepped forwards, "Annie, this is not your brothers' fault—"

"Stay out of this Lieutenant." Annie warned. She wasn't about to pick a fight with the whole of 51 over this. "Where the hell is Jack?"

"I'm here." Jack said sheepishly as she walked towards his siblings. He gulped as he looked at his feet. He was so ashamed of what happened back there. He knew he couldn't have controlled the roof falling, but he was certain there was probably something else he could do. And now his sister was standing in front of him, completely terrified for her dad.

Annie scoffed and folded her arms, "You're looking a little guilty Jack."

"… I told him the roof was secure enough. I made a bad call." Jack said as his voice cracked.

"Damn right you did." Annie replied.

"No, he didn't, he assessed the situation and I would have made the same call. It was dad's choice to go into that warehouse, no one else's." Elliot defended.

"Don't defend him—" Annie began as the three Caseys started to loudly talk over the top of one another right there and then. They were all bold characters and that led to some explosive confrontations from time to time.

As they continued to fight, Sylvie walked in and was taken aback by the scene in front of her. She looked at the other firefighters, wondering why they hadn't bothered to break this up, but then she remembered the golden rule in the firehouse – you never get in the middle of a Casey family dispute. If you try, you'll somehow become collateral damage.

Sylvie then decided it was time for a little parent intervention, "HEY!" she screamed as all three of them stopped and their heads snapped round to look at Sylvie.

Sylvie gritted her teeth; "Anyone with the surname Casey, over there, now." She ordered as they all dragged their feet and stormed over to the empty family room at the side.

As soon as Elliot closed the door behind them, Sylvie pounced; "What the hell do you three think you are doing? Screaming at each other in a hospital waiting room, my god you would think you were 5 years old!"

"Mom—" Annie began to defend, but Sylvie held up a hand.

"I don't want to hear it. There is no point sitting here placing blame on what happened to your dad. We should be focusing on him and making sure that he is ok. I know you are scared I know you are worried but this is not how we do things. We stick together and support each other—always." Sylvie said, finally letting her emotions over Casey's condition get to her. She'd managed to stay strong right until this moment, but seeing her children standing in front of her, scared beyond belief was enough to set her off and for her composure to drop.

Annie gulped and looked at her brothers, "… I'm sorry. I know you weren't to blame. I just—I was in shock. I was the trauma surgeon called to attend to dad. They didn't realise who he was to me. I wasn't expecting to see him lying there. I was mad and I took it out on you."

Jack rested his hand on Annie's shoulder, "You don't need to apologise. Mom's right. We have to stick together. Dad's going to be fine. He's always fine."


Matt successfully made through surgery and was now in the ICU. The doctors were hopeful for his recovery, but it was a waiting game at this stage. He was still in a critical condition and they could only hope he would pull through.

After taking a quick water break, Sylvie came back into Matt's room that evening and found her three kids all fast asleep on the sofa that sat to the side of the room. They were like dominos – Annie was asleep on Elliot's shoulder and Jack was asleep on Annie's. She smiled softly at the sight. They used to fall asleep together all the time as kids. It was nice to be reminded of that in the midst of their fear.

Sylvie walked over to Matt's bed and sat on the chair beside it before taking his hand.

"The last time you were in a position like this, you tried to give me the I'm dying speech, but now you can't so this time you're just going to let me talk." Sylvie said, remembering all those years ago when the pole went straight through him. Sylvie couldn't help but find it ironic that he said it wouldn't be so bad for him to go out in a blaze of glory, considering the position he was in right now. She also found it ironic that she told him he should die surrounded by his dream – and here he was, surrounded by the loves of his life. "I told you that you were going to die when you 99 and warm in your bed, surrounded by the people you love most in this world – and I meant that. Please don't leave me. Not yet. We have a lot more memories to make in this new phase of your life." She said as the tears filled her eyes. "You have been by my side for 30 years Matt Casey – we're not done yet. So please. Open those blue eyes that I love so much."

Sylvie lifted his hand to her lips and closed her eyes, the tears streaming past her closed eyelids and down her cheeks as she placed a lingering kiss on his hand.

While she was in her bubble, Elliot stirred awake behind her and looked at the scene in front of him. His heart broke for his mom. He had never seen a couple more in love than his parents and he couldn't bare to see that love taken away from his mom. He looked over Sylvie's shoulder at Matt – and suddenly felt a lot more awake by what he saw.

"Dad." He mumbled as he noticed Matt's eyes flicker open. "Annie, Jack wake up – mom, mom, look." He said as she shoved his siblings awake who grumpily protested.

Sylvie quickly raised her head as Elliot moved behind her and saw Matt's blue eyes staring back at her.

"Matt" she said in a breath.

"Elliot, what the hell are you shoving us for?" Jack asked as he and Annie rubbed their eyes.

"Guys, he's awake, come on" Elliot said as they suddenly jumped up off the sofa and over to the bed.

Matt gave out a weak smile when he saw his family in front of him.

"… boy am I glad to see you four." He grumbled out as everyone's emotions got the better of them and their eyes watered.

"Welcome back chief" Jack jokingly called Matt.

"… that's dad to you Casey." Matt replied as they all held onto each other, feeling more thankful for each other than ever.