[So this is the fifth chapter! Sorry it's been a while, my uni work has been super busy! Anyway, I thought I would mention that Severide will be getting a chapter, near the end, and it will be a big one! In these chapters, where you see everyone else's grief and how they are dealing with the loss, I'm also trying to show how Severide is dealing with it at the same time… but more in glimpses and through what people have heard from Shay. Enjoy!]

Otis sighed as he glanced around Molly's. While there was music playing in the background, the atmosphere hadn't been its usual upbeat self for a week now, and tonight seemed even more subdued. He rubbed a hand across his face and leant on the bar. A week today since they had lost their Lieutenant. Boden had suggested that everyone meet up at Molly's tonight, to grab a drink and raise a glass to celebrate Casey's life. Everyone but Shay and Severide had arrived, but if he had heard Brett correctly apparently Shay was going to try and get Severide out of their apartment. How well that would go nobody knew, but it would be good to see the Squad Lieutenant and try and support him the best they could. The sound of the doors opening brought Otis' attention back to the bar, and he watched as Shay walked inside with Severide behind her. Otis smiled slightly as Shay approached the bar.

'Hey Shay. What can I get you?'

Shay smiled back and looked over at Severide before ordering.

'Uh, we'll just get a couple of beers please Otis.'

Otis nodded, and turned around to grab them. As he reached for the beers, he couldn't help but overhear the whispered conversation going on behind him.

'Shay, this isn't a good idea.'

'Kelly, we're here for Matt. Just drink your beer, raise a glass and you can go.'

'Shay, I can't. Our table…'

'We'll sit down the other end of the bar. You won't even have to look at it.'

Otis turned back and placed the beers on the counter.

'Those are on the house guys.'

Shay smiled at him and passed Severide his drink. He watched as they walked off, and then turned to see Herrmann looking at him. He held up his hands.

'Just the first round… I'm not planning on giving everyone a free drink.'

Otis watched as Herrmann shrugged.

'I'm just happy to see him.'

Otis nodded and then turned to face Boden who had tapped his glass with a knife and was standing from his chair. Otis turned the music down and listened as Boden started to talk.

'So… this past week has been tough. Really tough. We are a man down, have been for a week now. Matt Casey was an amazing firefighter. A real smoke-eater who did whatever he could to help those people who needed it. I want to raise a glass, to Matt Casey…'

Otis swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat as he raised his glass along with everyone else. Boden paused before he continued.

'…one of the best and bravest men I had the good fortune to meet.'

The bar was silent for a moment as everyone drank and thought about what Boden had said. Otis watched as Boden looked around the room.

'Um, while we are all here… I wanted to let you know about the, uh, funeral arrangements that have been made for Matt…'

The sound of a door slamming shut took everyone's attention away from Boden and towards Shay, who was running a hand through her hair and staring at the now empty seat across from her. She looked at the others and sighed.

'Sorry guys, Kelly didn't… I'm gonna go after him. I'll see you all on shift.'

Otis watched as Shay downed the rest of her drink and walked out of Molly's. Everyone was quiet for a second before Boden resumed what he was saying.

'Matt's funeral will be held a week today. Full dress blues. Get to 51 for just before noon, we're taking the rigs over to the church for a proper send off. You'll get more details over the next few shifts.'

Otis watched as everyone nodded. Herrmann turned the music back up, and muted conversations started back up across the room. Otis rubbed a hand over his face and turned to face Herrmann.

'I'm just gonna go grab some more glasses from the back.'

He didn't wait for Herrmann to reply before he started moving and was through the door in seconds. He looked around the room, sighed and sank down onto an upturned crate. He rested his elbows on his knees and rubbed his eyes, trying to stop the tears from forming. He hadn't cried yet and he certainly wasn't going to break now. That is not how Casey would want people to react. His life was to be celebrated, and Casey would have hated tears being shed over him. Otis glanced around the room again, before he reached into his pocket and pulled out the envelope he had kept with him since he was given it by Boden. He sighed to himself. Of course he wanted to open it, but he couldn't manage it. He couldn't face the fact that this was his Lieutenant's goodbye. He was supposed to become a Chief one day, then retire when they could make fun of him being too old to run into burning buildings. Otis stuffed the letter back in his pocket as the door opened. He jumped to his feet, grabbed several glasses and walked past Herrmann who was searching for napkins.

'Morning Otis.'

Otis nodded at Mouch as he made his way into the locker room. He hadn't had much sleep since the night at Molly's, and he definitely needed some coffee before the calls started rolling in. Otis opened his locker and a picture that had been stuck on the inside fell to the floor. He crouched down to pick it up, then sat on the bench to look at it. It was a picture taken a few years ago, that had made it into the papers. They had been on scene for a big factory fire that had gone on through the night and into the next day. While they had all been exhausted, spirits had been high as all the people in the factory were accounted for with very minor injuries. He had been sat on the front bumper of 81 with Casey on one side and Mouch on the other, while Herrmann had been lying on the floor. They were all covered in soot but smiling happily and waiting to complete overhaul. A photographer had captured the photo and the picture had been plastered around the firehouse for weeks. Otis swallowed heavily, dumped his bag in his locker and headed out to the app floor. He didn't need coffee right now, he needed somewhere he could be alone. He climbed into the front of Truck 81, and shut the door behind him. He pulled the letter out of his pocket and placed it on the dashboard in front of him. He knew he would have to open it sooner or later. He sighed, then reached forward and pulled the letter from the envelope.

Brian… no sorry I can't, it's just too weird.

Otis.

Otis chuckled at this.

I remember when you came to 51 as a candidate. You walked through those doors and my heart sank as I heard your last name. How the hell was I supposed to yell Zvonecek across a fire ground every time I was trying to get your attention.

And then we had an elevator call. The fuse box was completely fried, and I just remember you calmly stepping forward and sounding like you were regurgitating a textbook you had swallowed as you talked Mouch through how to get the elevator moving without dropping sixty feet. And from then on you were the elevator guy, and you were known as Otis, which was a lot more convenient to shout out through the radios.

Otis smiled, remembering how up until that call Casey had just called him candidate after several attempts of stumbling over his last name as he shouted out orders.

I have had the opportunity to watch you grow from the young candidate who glued the TV remote to the table to wind up Mouch, to the much more experienced firefighter who glued Mouch's glasses to the table… to wind him up. Now this part might sound kinda sappy, but I am proud of how far you have come. You are one hell of a smoke-eater. All the incredible saves I have seen you make have shown me how good you have gotten over the years.

Otis rubbed at his eyes, trying to get rid of the tears that had formed.

So I know that the future of the CFD will be in good hands when I am gone. And now we get to the purpose of this letter. If you are reading this, it means I am gone. And I am sorry about that.

Otis shook his head. Casey shouldn't have to be apologising. Those idiots who crashed into that armoured security van just to try and steal from it were to blame for what happened, and if he ever saw any of them again… well there would be hell to pay. He sniffed and continued reading.

There is a lot I've been hoping to teach you, but I'll let Herrmann carry on nagging you about it all instead.

Otis smiled at this. Herrmann had been going on about him straightening up the Truck when he reversed into the station almost as much as Casey had and he had only been Lieutenant for a few shifts.

All I ask is that you don't go on about changing the crest on Truck. It has always been a goat and it is staying a goat. There's been many elaborate stories over the years as to why it's a goat… I think it's just because firefighters are stubborn as hell… like goats.

Otis laughed and ran a hand across his face to get rid of the few tears that had escaped.

So that's how I know you'll be okay. All of 51 will, because you're all too stubborn not to be.

I'm gonna wrap this up now, don't want it to seem like I'm rambling on. Short and sweet right. I'll see you later Otis… try not to wind Herrmann up too much.

Otis folded the letter in half and took a deep breath. He leant forwards and rested his head on the steering wheel. It wasn't fair that they had lost Casey. He still expected to see him pop up around the firehouse, walk into the common room to refill his coffee mug, appear by the Truck with his clipboard in hand…

'…Truck 81… ambulance 61… single vehicle accident…'

The bells going off startled Otis, and he jumped out of the Truck to pull his turnout gear on. He was already back in the Truck as the others ran out of the common room and started to gear up. He stuffed the letter into his pocket as Herrmann opened his door. He glanced back at the others, then frowned as Herrmann seemed to mutter something to himself.

'Get out of my seat.'

Otis looked over at Herrmann, who seemed to be smiling at something or other, but didn't have time to puzzle over it as the other doors slammed shut and Herrmann shouted over to him.

'Let's roll Otis.'

Otis nodded and pulled out of the station with the lights on and the sirens blaring.

Otis sighed as he walked out of the common room. Jimmy had made some sandwiches for lunch, but he wasn't hungry. Wherever he went in the firehouse, he constantly saw glimpses of Casey. He had hoped for a busy shift to keep his mind off things but they'd only had the one call. He would have even been happy carrying out drills, but Herrmann was still attempting to get used to the amount of paperwork he had and had locked himself away in his office. Otis walked outside, and pulled out one of the lawn chairs that was rested against the wall and sat down. That was another thing he missed seeing, Casey and Severide sat right where he was now, smoking cigars and chatting. It was weird walking out onto the app floor and not seeing both of the Lieutenants grinning as they had one of their famous 'cigar chats'. Otis rubbed a hand across his face and leant back in the chair.

'You know, if I could I'd offer you a cigar. You look like you could do with talking to someone.'

Otis almost fell out of the chair as he sat up suddenly and looked at the person talking. He rubbed at his eyes, sure that the lack of sleep over the past two days had finally caught up with him.

'Ah come on Otis, out of all the people at 51 you're the one obsessed with this kind of supernatural crap.'

Otis felt his jaw drop as he looked at Casey, who was leant against the wall next to him. He swallowed before he spoke up.

'Yeah, when I think of ghosts I picture faded figures in dingy houses, not my Lieutenant standing outside the firehouse.'

He watched as Casey spoke up, grinning broadly at him.

'Well, here I am. In the flesh… or whatever this is.'

Otis shook his head slightly, before smiling up at Casey.

'What's it like?'

He watched as Casey shrugged.

'I don't know. I can't pick anything up, or knock things over. But I can lean on stuff and sit on stuff without falling through it. Don't know how that logic makes sense.'

Otis pulled out the other lawn chair and watched as Casey sat down and stretched.

'Can you… walk through walls and stuff?'

Casey chuckled.

'Funnily enough, I haven't tried running at a wall to see if I go through it or faceplant.'

Otis grinned at his Lieutenant.

'Can everyone see you?'

He watched as Casey frowned slightly and shook his head.

'Nope.'

Otis nodded.

'So, I better keep this to myself or the others will think I've gone crazy.'

Casey grinned.

'Well, crazier than usual at least.'

Otis shook his head at the Lieutenant, smiling. They sat in silence for a minute until Casey spoke up again.

'Herrmann got you doing drills?'

Otis shrugged.

'Not as many as you made us do, but that's because he's trying to get on top of all the paperwork he's got. I think he's stressed about the whole Lieutenant thing, being in your shadow and not being good enough for the job, which is obviously ridiculous.'

He watched as Casey nodded slightly.

'Yeah, well it'll take a bit of time for him to adjust.'

Otis nodded, took a deep breath and spoke quickly.

'We miss you.'

Casey looked slightly surprised at this outburst, and Otis continued.

'Mouch won't face forwards in the Truck. Shay is hiding in the back of ambo all the time. We have no idea how Severide is doing, but from what Shay has said, he's not good. Chief is coming out on all of our calls with us, even when he doesn't have to, and then he stays in his office the rest of shift. Cruz is barely talking to anyone, even me and we live together. Capp hasn't pulled a prank or…'

'Woah Otis, slow down.'

Otis stopped talking and looked over at Casey, who held his hands up slightly as he spoke.

'I'm sorry about all that. I really am, but you will all get through it. Sure, it seems hard now… but in a few weeks it'll get easier.'

Otis sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

'It shouldn't have to get easier. None of this should have happened. If those two jackasses hadn't…'

'Otis, it was a freak accident. There was nothing anyone could have done. If you start asking the what ifs, and the whys, you're just gonna spiral. I've been there, done that and it leads to nothing good. You just have to hold your head up and keep going.'

Otis nodded, then smiled slightly.

'See, you always said you were terrible at speeches but that right there wasn't so bad.'

He watched as Casey snorted and leant back in his chair.

Otis grinned at Cruz as they watched the scene unfolding before them. Everyone was in the briefing room, waiting for Boden to start their morning briefing and they could all see their Chief and Lieutenant talking through the door. Cruz turned to face Severide.

'Hey Lieutenant. What's taking the Chief and Casey so long?'

Severide shrugged.

'I don't know.'

Otis continued to watch the interaction at the door, and Boden seemed to shove his folder at Casey, who shook his head and tried to hand it back. Herrmann spoke up from across the room.

'Whatever it is, Casey does not look happy about it.'

Everyone nodded, and watched as Boden opened the door and walked into the room. However, instead of standing in front of them, he smiled at them and headed to the corner of the room. Otis turned his attention to Casey, who was stood outside the room with the folder in his hands and seemed rooted to the spot. It was a few seconds before he moved forwards and into the room. He cleared his throat several times before he spoke up.

'Uh… right. So Chief has asked me to carry out morning briefing. Uh…'

Otis raised an eyebrow at a grinning Cruz, as Casey sighed heavily and placed the folder on the lectern in front of him.

'Okay, right. I'm not one for speeches, so we're gonna keep this short… uh… assignments. According to this, we have window duty this shift…'

A chorus of groans went up around the room, and Otis tried not to chuckle as Casey raised his hands, looking slightly flustered.

'Hey don't blame me. I'm just the messenger. After that's done we're cleaning out the side compartments on the rigs, oh and me and Severide are gonna run some combined drills with Truck and Squad later today… just so you're aware of that. Um… I think that's everything so…'

Otis turned quickly to face Boden, who had raised his eyebrows and gestured at Casey to continue.

'Uh, right. So, let's go out there and… smash it today or… not smash it but just try our best and…'

'…Squad 3… Ambo 61… person trapped…'

Otis heard Casey's sigh of relief as the sound of chairs scraping the floor filled the room and Squad, Brett and Shay ran out of the room. The room filled with silence, before Herrmann spoke up.

'So… can we go or…'

Casey nodded.

'Yeah.'

One by one Truck filtered out of the room. Otis hung back for a moment, and watched as Casey followed Boden out of the room.

'Never again Chief. I don't know how you make speeches look so easy. I butchered that completely.'

'Eh, you'll get there. It's all about experience. The more you do it, the easier it'll get.'

'Wait Chief, I'm not doing that again. That was a nightmare… Chief!'

Otis chuckled to himself, and looked sideways to see Casey still sat in the chair with his hands behind his head, looking at Otis. Otis sighed.

'I think we could all use one of your pep talks right about now. Even if it's just to make us laugh a bit. Nobody has smiled or laughed in about a week.'

Casey nodded at him.

'Thanks Otis, it's great to know my pep talks were funny.'

Otis grinned.

'You'd get so flustered when talking to us in the briefing room. If you talked to us in the Truck, or one at a time some of your speeches were motivational… in some way…!'

Casey shook his head, but was smiling at Otis. He stood up from his chair as he spoke up.

'You know what this house needs. A good old fashioned prank war. Go unscrew the wheels off of Capp's chair, or loosen the screws in his bunk. He'll be down for a bit of fun and it might cheer everyone up slightly.'

Otis smiled.

'Right, and when I get into trouble with Chief who do I blame?'

Casey shrugged.

'Laughter is a good medicine right… if you manage to lift everyone's spirits slightly I'm sure he won't mind.'

Otis nodded, and stared at road in front of the firehouse for a minute. When he turned back, Casey was gone. He stood up, folded both of the chairs again and made his way inside. He headed straight for the bunkroom. If his Lieutenant wanted him to loosen the screws on Capp's bunk, who was he to argue, and hey… maybe he could come up with something slightly bigger that everyone would see and find amusing.