[So, I felt bad leaving it on a cliff-hanger at the end of the last chapter so decided to post this new chapter a bit earlier than planned. This chapter jumps around a bit, looking at different people's perspectives so I hope it makes sense and isn't too confusing!]
Casey froze and raised his hands slowly into the air.
'I said DON'T MOVE!'
The voice behind him sounded panicked, and Casey tensed as the gun was pressed harder against his head.
'Okay… all right… just take it easy… there's a fire somewhere and it's not safe in…'
'SHUT UP! Just… shut up… take that mask off and drop the tool.. and just… turn around… slowly.'
Casey slowly lowered his halligan to the floor, trying not to make any sudden movements. He removed his helmet and took off his mask, letting it drop to his side as he placed his helmet on the floor. He turned around slowly, hands in the air and saw a man pointing a gun straight at him.
'Listen, I'm not a cop. All I want to do is get you out of the building. So how about you drop the gun and we get out of here.'
The man shook his head.
'Na, you'll turn me in as soon as we get outside.'
'We can't stay in here, it's not safe. All you have to do is drop the gun, leave it behind and we can go.'
The guy lowered the gun, looking between it, Casey and the smoke that was flowing even faster out of the room. He started pacing and looked around the warehouse before back at Casey, who slowly lowered his hands.
'Look, you wanna get out of this smoke right. So do I. If you drop the gun I will get you out. No cops. I just wanna get us both out of this warehouse, alright.'
The man coughed, but before he could do anything else Casey's radio crackled to life and Boden's voice came over the radio, making him jump and raise the gun again.
'Casey, you find anything yet?'
Casey flinched and raised his hands again as the guy walked towards him and placed the gun against his head.
'You said no cops. They'll all tell the cops. Tell them everything's good.'
Casey slowly reached up to grab his radio, trying to think of something he could say to tip the others off that something wasn't right without the man realising.
Severide exited the warehouse with squad, supporting a couple guys as they helped them over to the ambulance. He walked over to Boden as he removed his mask and rubbed a hand through his hair.
'Found those guys near the back, don't know what they were doing in there. We didn't find the fire though, think Casey was closer… smoke seemed thicker that side of the warehouse.'
Boden nodded, as he turned back towards the warehouse and grabbed his radio.
'Casey, you find anything yet?'
There was no reply for a few seconds, and Severide sighed with relief when he heard Casey's voice come over the radio.
'All good in here Wallace. Can you tell Kelly and Christopher I haven't found anything at the back of the warehouse, north west corner.'
Everyone froze as they listened to Casey. Boden turned to face Severide, frowning deeply.
'Did he just call me Wallace…'
Casey took a deep breath before replying to Boden, hoping that the man didn't figure out what he was trying to do.
'All good in here Wallace. Can you tell Kelly and Christopher I haven't found anything at the back of the warehouse, north west corner.'
Casey glanced at the guy, who still had the gun pressed against his head. He frowned slightly, but didn't say anything and Casey let out the breath he didn't realise he had been holding.
'Uh, copy that Casey. Do you need any help sweeping the rest of the warehouse. Squad is outside but Truck are still in there with you.'
The guy shoved the gun harder into the side of his head.
'No, no, uh… request truck pull out and um, tell Kelly to stay put and not to do anything stupid.'
The man nodded slightly, and lowered the gun as he coughed into his hand. The smoke was definitely a lot thicker now and Casey was wishing he had his mask on. He looked at the man, and decided to try and get him to drop the gun again.
'You know when I don't come out they're gonna realise something is wrong. Then they will call the cops.'
The guy had started pacing again, muttering under his breath and once again looking around the warehouse.
'Look, no-one has to know this even happened. All you have to do is walk out with me and no-one will know any better. All you have to do is leave the gun behind and walk away.'
Casey watched the man, who seemed to be getting more and more panicked by the situation. Boden came over the radio again, sounding concerned.
'Casey switch to channel 3. I repeat, switch to channel 3.'
Casey smiled slightly, they must have figured what was going on, why else would they get him to change radio channels. Casey glanced at the guy who didn't seem to have realised anything had happened, and switched the channel.
Everyone outside the building seemed frozen in place. What was going on. Severide looked first at Boden, and then at Shay who had made her way over from the ambulance.
'Something's definitely wrong. Why would he call us by our first names?'
Boden nodded as he grabbed his radio.
'Uh, copy that Casey. Do you need any help sweeping the rest of the warehouse. Squad is outside but Truck are still in there with you.'
They didn't have to wait long for an answer this time, and from the tone of Casey's voice they knew something was wrong.
'No, no, uh… request truck pull out and um, tell Kelly to stay put and not to do anything stupid.'
Severide shook his head, already making his way towards the warehouse. He didn't get far though before Boden had grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
'Severide stop. We have no idea what kind of situation we are walking into here. Herrmann and the rest of truck are still in there. We need to figure out what is going on before running in all guns blazing.'
Severide huffed, and shook his arm out of Boden's grip.
'I'm not leaving him in there alone if he's in trouble Chief. We gotta do something.'
Boden stepped in front of Severide and nodded.
'And we are going to do something, we are gonna find out what the hell is going on and come up with a plan. You got that. Now, if someone is with Casey as I'm guessing they are, we can't talk to truck who are inside without whoever is with Casey hearing our plan or that we know what is going on.'
Everyone nodded, and were quiet for a second. Shay looked up suddenly and spoke.
'We could get him to change his radio channel… then we can still talk to him on the other channel but the guy won't hear any plans we come up with or get that we are onto them.'
Boden considered it for a second, it was risky… what if the other guy realised they were onto them, but right now it seemed like the only thing that might work. He nodded and grabbed his radio.
'Casey switch to channel 3. I repeat, switch to channel 3.'
Boden then changed his own radio to channel 3, realising they needed to check Casey had changed channels or the plan would be ruined.
'Casey… you on channel 3?'
There was silence for a second, before the sound of a radio being pressed came over Boden's, along with the sound of someone yelling and Casey sounding like he was trying to calm someone down.
'…IS NOT HOW THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO GO. YOU MESSED THIS UP.'
'…just calm down, you getting worked up isn't…'
'Just SHUT UP! THIS IS YOUR FAULT. I'D BE LONG GONE IF YOU…'
Everyone stared in horror at Boden, nobody knowing what to say.
'Well that confirms he's not alone I guess.'
Everyone looked at Shay, and then at Severide who was pacing back and forth looking like he wanted to punch something. Boden once again grabbed his radio and switched it back to the main channel.
'Herrmann, what is your location in the warehouse? You know where Casey is?'
Herrmann's voice responded almost immediately.
'Rest of truck is almost with you Chief, I sent them out. Something doesn't feel right and I haven't got eyes on Casey.'
Just as he'd said this the rest of truck walked out of the doors, looking worried as they joined the others.
'Herrmann proceed with caution. Someone is with Casey and doesn't sound too happy.'
'Copy that Chief, I hear yelling coming from the back of the warehouse but it's too smoky to see very far ahead.'
There were a few seconds before Herrmann came back over the radio, this time whispering and sounding panicky.
'Chief, there's a man with Casey. I can't see properly but it looks like… it looks like he's got a gun.'
Everyone stood motionless. Boden took a deep breath and looked over at Severide who seemed to be pulling his hair out of his head with worry.
'Okay Herrmann, stay back and out of the way. We'll call CPD.'
'Copy that Chief. I'm gonna… ah shit, think he…'
'WHO'S THERE. COME ANY CLOSER AND I SHOOT HIM! STAY BACK!'
'Okay, just take it easy and let go of my Lieutenant. Then we can talk, alright…'
'I SAID STAY BACK, YOU MOVE AND HE GETS IT!'
This time Boden wasn't quick enough to stop him, and Severide ran straight into the warehouse.
Casey was more worried now; the smoke was even thicker which seemed to be making the guy panic, and he still had the gun in his hand.
'This is so messed up… so messed up…'
The man was still mumbling to himself, and didn't hear Casey's radio go off once again.
'Casey… you on channel 3?'
He was trying to figure out how to reply without the guy noticing when he turned and walked over to Casey, waving the gun in the air as he shouted at him. Casey lifted his hands, and grabbed his radio, at least the others would know someone was with him now.
'THIS IS NOT HOW THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO GO. YOU MESSED THIS UP.'
'…just calm down, you getting worked up isn't…'
'Just SHUT UP! THIS IS YOUR FAULT. I'D BE LONG GONE IF YOU HADN'T WALKED IN WHEN YOU DID, AND THEN WE WOULDN'T BE STUCK IN A WAREHOUSE THAT IS ON FIRE!'
'Okay, listen. We're not stuck, alright. All you have to do is drop the gun, and we can get out of here. I can get you out of the smoke as long as you let go of the gun. Okay.'
For a moment, it seemed as though the guy had calmed down and was considering what Casey had said. But then the sound of a radio going off and someone talking from across the warehouse made him spin around and squint through the smoke. Casey sighed to himself as he recognised Herrmann's voice, and hoped he would stay back and out of the way.
'Copy that Chief. I'm gonna… ah shit, think he…'
The man grabbed Casey and dragged him in front of him, wrapping his arm around Casey's neck in a headlock and pressing the gun into his temple.
'WHO'S THERE. COME ANY CLOSER AND I SHOOT HIM! STAY BACK!'
Casey raised his hands, as Herrmann came into view and locked eyes with Casey.
'Okay, just take it easy and let go of my Lieutenant. Then we can talk, alright…'
'I SAID STAY BACK, YOU MOVE AND HE GETS IT!'
Herrmann nodded, and took a few steps back, dropping his radio. The guy was obviously panicked, and the smoke probably wasn't helping. He looked at Casey, who was staring straight at him.
'Look, if you…'
'JUST SHUT UP AND STAY BACK!'
The man pressed the gun harder against Casey's head and tightened the hold he had around his neck. Casey raised his hands higher, with one coming to rest on the guys arm as he tried to relieve the pressure on his windpipe, it was already hard to breathe with the amount of smoke in the room, and this was not helping. Herrmann looked at Casey helplessly, not wanting to say anything that might set the man off again. Casey looked back, and then tilted his head slightly, seeming to gesture at something behind Herrmann. Herrmann looked around slowly and saw Severide kneeling behind a few oil drums, out of sight with a finger held over his lips, gesturing for him to be quiet and not give away his position.
Severide crept silently through the warehouse, cautiously making his way towards where Casey and Herrmann had said they were positioned. As he got closer, he could hear a panicked voice yelling, and the sound of Herrmann trying to calm him down.
'Look, if you…'
'JUST SHUT UP AND STAY BACK!'
Severide spotted some empty oil drums nearby, and crouched down behind them before peering around them to try and see what was going on. It was smoky but he could just make out Herrmann and two figures near an office, one with a gun pressed against his head in a headlock. Panic rushed through Severide, as he tried to figure out what he could do. Casey had only just recovered from his last injury; it was his first shift back for God's sakes and now he was once again in a life-death situation. Shay was gonna kick his ass when they got out of this. Before he could come up with a plan Herrmann slowly turned around, looking around the warehouse before his eyes rested on the oil drums and where he was hidden. Severide raised a finger to his lips, warning Herrmann not to give his position away. Herrmann nodded, as he turned back towards the man and took a small step closer, raising his hands into the air in the process.
'I know you're panicking right now. I get it. It's smoky, and getting harder to breathe. You just wanna get out of here, right. Well all I want is to get my Lieutenant out of here in one piece. So how about we make a deal huh?'
Severide stayed low, and moved to the right of the oil drums. If he doubled back on himself slightly, he might be able to get to a position behind the man and use the element of surprise to get the gun off him and away from Casey.
'We don't care what kind of illegal stuff is going on in here. At this moment all we want is to get out of this warehouse and put out the fire.'
Severide slowly made his way back towards the man, hoping he was out of his line of vision. He saw the guy shake his head at Herrmann and once again tighten his grip around Casey, which caused him to groan slightly and sent him into a coughing fit. The smoke was thicker than ever and Casey didn't have his mask on. They needed to move, fast.
'All you have to do is let my Lieutenant go and you can be out of here before the cops show up. Okay.'
The guy seemed to consider this for a moment, looking between the gun and Casey who was slowly turning red and struggling to breathe. Severide crouched down where he was, trying to figure out what his next move was going to be. He could see Herrmann cautiously taking a few steps towards the man while he was distracted. However, when the guy looked back at Herrmann and saw him moving forward he panicked and dragged Casey backwards with him, causing him to almost trip over. In his panic, he raised the gun away from Casey and pointed it towards Herrmann. Severide realised this was his chance, and he stood quickly as he ran towards the man and shouted out towards Herrmann.
'HERRMANN!'
The guy spun around in surprise and looked in the direction of where this voice was coming from. As Severide reached him he grabbed his gun arm, and raised it into the air. Herrmann ran towards him at the same time and grabbed the arm wrapped around Casey, trying to pull him away from the fight.
Outside, nobody had a clue as to what was going on. The last thing they had heard on the radio was Herrmann trying to reason with the man, before the radio cut out and Severide dashed into the warehouse. Cruz and Otis had tried to follow him in, but Boden had caught hold of both of them before they got very far and pulled them back to the others. At the moment, they were waiting for CPD to arrive, feeling helpless that they weren't doing anything when one of their own was being held at gunpoint. Boden sighed again and glanced at Shay, who had started pacing up and down as she glared at the warehouse.
'They'll be fine you know. Don't worry.'
Shay nodded and stopped pacing.
'Yeah, I'm not worried. Just seems like they can't stay out of trouble without me babysitting them 24/7.'
Boden chuckled, and squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. Cruz walked up to him, frowning.
'Chief, it's been ages and we haven't heard anything. We need to go in and get them.'
Boden shook his head.
'No Cruz, stand down. We are gonna wait for CPD backup.'
Cruz sighed and looked towards the warehouse.
'But Chief…'
It was at that second that a gunshot was heard and everyone's heads snapped around to look at the warehouse. A few people moved towards the doors, but Boden stepped in front of them, trying to stop them from taking another step.
'I SAID NO. Stay where you are. Anyone takes another step and there will be consequences.'
Everyone huffed, and started to complain all at once. Boden glared at them and turned once again to face the warehouse.
'Herrmann, report. Severide, report. What's going on in there.'
Everyone listened intently, but there was no reply.
Severide, Herrmann, REPORT!'
[And once again, I'm sorry it ended on another cliff-hanger!]