Hey everyone, sorry for the long delay on the update but my laptop crashed, so I had to go get a new one. I'm sorry if some of this chapter makes no sense. I'm not the best writer, but I try. Please leave any reviews or feedback about this story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter :)
CHAPTER 12
Everyone was on edge after the call that they just came back from. Brett did what she always does when she's on edge, which is clean. She did some of the laundry that included the sheets and blankets from the bunk room as well as washing some of her uniform shirts and pants. She had to stay busy because her mind kept going back to being stuck in that apartment. As she finished a load of laundry, Casey startled her.
"Gotcha!" Casey joked as he scared Brett.
Brett jumped and nearly smacked Casey.
"Matthew Casey, I could kill you for scaring me like that." Brett giggled.
"What? Can't I have a little bit of fun?" Casey teased.
She gave him a knowing look and then smiled.
"After the morning that we have had, a little bit of fun sounds great right about now." Brett smiled.
"Casey, my office." Boden firmly said.
By the tone of Boden's voice, Casey knew that there was something wrong. Casey left to see what Boden wanted, while Brett folded the first load of laundry and took them to the bunk room.
"Shut the door." Boden instructed Casey.
Severide and Herrmann were already in Boden's office.
"I just got off the phone with headquarters. As of right now, Ambulance 61 is out of service for the rest of the day. They can return back to service tomorrow." Boden said.
"Chief, can they do that?" Casey asked.
"Unfortunately, they can. I'm not at liberty to discuss their reasoning, but after talking to Voight, another house had just been hit as well. Same thing. Ambulance got a call and they ended up in a shoot out. Luckily, there was no fire involved." Boden said.
Casey, Severide, and Herrmann all looked at each other and then looked at Boden.
"How is that possible if they have the suspect in custody? Did he have a partner?" Herrmann asked.
"Yeah and it looks like these guys are targeting our paramedics for some sick and twisted reason." Boden said.
"So is headquarters shutting down all paramedics?" Severide asked.
"No, just ours and the one other. We have private companies assisting us in this matter but headquarters is refusing to allow both houses to send out their paramedics until the second person is caught." Boden explained.
"Isn't that against procedure?" Severide questioned.
"Yes, but Voight thinks that the suspect's partner is a threat, so he and the Intelligence Unit are going undercover and have asked that headquarters allow them to use 61 and the other ambulance if there's a next call." Boden said.
"So, that's why they are taking 61 and the other one out of service the rest of the day." Casey said.
"Exactly and after the mess with the protesters, headquarters isn't taking any chances." Boden told the three men.
With that, Boden told the men that they could leave his office. Casey saw Brett in the laundry room taking out the last of the laundry.
"Hey, so I need to speak to everyone in the common room." Casey said.
"Ok." Brett answered.
After putting the laundry in the laundry basket, she went to the common room where everyone else was waiting.
"Listen up, Boden just informed myself, Severide, and Herrmann that 61 and one other ambulance from another house will be out of service the rest of the day due to the safety of the CFD's paramedics after today's incident. Apparently, the guy has a partner and that partner is still out there. Do not post this on social media. Headquarters is aware of the situation and were the ones to make this decision. From what we were told, Voight and the rest of Intelligence are gonna be splitting up and using both 61 and the other ambulance on the next call that either of house receives where the paramedics are needed."
Casey said.
"So, Brett and Foster are on desk duty until next shift?" Mouch half joked.
"Pretty much." Casey replied.
After discussing what was going on, everyone went back to work. Foster went to do inventory and make sure the ambulance was stocked up, even though she had already done that when she and Brett returned to the house. Brett, on the other hand, finished doing what she did earlier and then went to take a nap in the bunk room. Brett tossed and turned. No matter how hard she tried to go to sleep, she couldn't. Casey noticed Brett pacing the bunk room and walked over.
"Hey, can't sleep?" Casey asked.
"No. Every time I try, all I can see is bullets flying towards me. That and the fact that I can't sleep from all of the noise." Brett replied.
"You know you can always go to my office and crash where it's quiet." he suggested.
"You don't mind?" she asked.
"No. Go ahead. I've got some paper work I have to finish up but other than that, it will be quiet." he replied.
She smiled and walked to his office where she laid on the bed. He walked in behind her and sat down at his desk. He left the door to his office open so that no one would get suspicious.
"Hey Casey, here's the report you requested." Severide said.
Casey took a look at the report while Severide noticed Brett was asleep.
"Hey, what's going on with Brett?" Severide whispered.
"She was having trouble sleeping. Kept seeing the gunshots being fired and she could hear everyone in the common room." Casey whispered as he explained what was going on.
"It's bad enough she lost Julie and that Scott moved back to Rockford with her half sister, now this. Poor girl can't catch a break." Severide said.
Casey stood up and walked outside of his office and closed the door.
"Brett's been through enough. Voight and his team better find the guy's partner because we have all been through enough,
especially Brett." Casey said.
"We could all use a break after the year we've had." Severide replied.
"I hear ya." Casey chuckled.
Severide and Casey chatted for a bit before Stella motioned for Severide to come to her. Casey knew exactly what that meant and chuckled. He quietly opened the door to his office but was startled when he noticed Brett sitting on the bed looking at a picture on her phone.
"Hey, how did you sleep?" Casey asked.
"Fine, I guess. Hey, wanna see something?" Brett smiled.
"Sure, what's up?" he asked.
"So, my mom was going through some old photos and found this one." she smiled.
She showed him a picture of her dressed as an EMT when she was younger.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"Nothing. It's just that you look so cute in this picture." he teased.
She blushed.
"I was six. Aren't all kids cute when they are young?" she giggled.
They laughed and then Boden yelled for them to come to his office. They walked to Boden's office and then closed the door behind them. Waiting in the office with them were Foster, Severide, and Herrmann.
"What's going on, Chief?" Brett asked.
"As you and Foster are well aware, Voight and his team are trying to catch this guy's partner and that 61 is out for the rest of the day. I just got off a conference with headquarters and Voight and we have all agreed that the next call for 61, Voight and his team will take over 61. These men are dangerous and we need to keep all of our paramedics safe right now and so, Voight is splitting his team up. Halstead and Upton will take over 61. Ruzek and Burgess will be taking over the house that got hit earlier. As for Voight, Atwater, and Rojas, Voight didn't say but something tells me that he's up to something. Casey, Severide, Herrmann, I need you both to be alert when out on calls. We don't know when and where this guy's partner is going to hit and we need to be prepared. Can you three start running drills with Truck, Squad, and Engine?
I want to make sure everyone is prepared. Brett, Foster, I need you guys to stay here when we get called out." Boden said.
Boden continued to explain the reason behind everything and although they had all heard it earlier, Boden wanted to make sure that everyone knew what was going on again and to reassure Brett and Foster of their safety.
"Thanks, Chief." Foster said before she and Brett left the room.
"Chief, what are you not telling us?" Herrmann asked.
"Look, I didn't want to worry Brett and Foster, but Voight and his team think the guy's partner is a member of the CFD. They aren't sure yet, but that's what they are thinking." Boden said.
Fear and worry crept across everyone's face. They know that CFD is one big family and if one of our own is targeting us as a whole, then we need to see to it that justice is served and that the integrity of the CFD is not compromised." Boden said.
With that, Casey, Severide, and Herrmann left Boden's office just as Squad 3 got called out on a call. Casey went back to his office where Brett left him a note.
"Thanks for letting me use the bed. - Brett." the note said.
Casey smiled and went back to working on paperwork. Squad 3 came back from their call after two hours and it was business as usual around the house. Several hours later, Casey walked over to the bunk room where Brett was reading one of her many books.
"Hey, what are you doing in here?" she questioned.
"Checking on you. I checked on Foster and she's driving Ritter and Gallo crazy." he chuckled.
"Let me guess, she's trying to teach them how to cook something that they have no idea how to cook." she giggled.
"Yeah, pretty much." he smiled.
They sat in awkward silence for about a minute until Casey spoke up.
"So, do you have any plans for after shift?" he asked.
"Uh, no. Why?" she asked.
"You trust me?" he asked.
"Of course." she replied.
"Meet me at the pier after shift." he said with a sly smile.
"Uh, ok...why?" she asked.
"Do you trust me?" he asked.
"Yeah." she replied.
"Well, trust me on this. Meet me down at the pier after shift." he smiled.
Before she could reply, Casey left the bunk room. Questions ran through her mind. Why did he want her to meet him by the pier? What was he up too? Why was she having feelings for him when he literally just got divorced by someone she thought of as her best friend? Why did Julie have to die? All of these questions and thoughts ran through her mind. Several hours passed by and their shift was almost over. The day seemed to drag after the morning that they had but just when things seemed to be calm, chaos broke out. While out on a call with Squad, Truck, and Engine, Halstead and Upton found the suspect's partner. Boden was on the call as well.
"Chief, Halstead and Upton caught the guy's partner." Severide said over the radio.
"Good. Are the victim's out of the house?" Boden asked over the radio.
"Copy that, Chief." Severide said.
"Chief, we are coming out. Have Engine be ready on stand by with the hose." Casey called out over the radio.
"Herrmann, ready with the hose on my order!" Boden yelled at Herrmann.
"Copy that, Chief!" Herrmann replied.
Herrmann got his team and waited for the orders. Meanwhile, Foster and Brett were back at the house waiting on word on what's going on.
"Girl, relax. I'm sure they have everything under control." Foster told Brett.
"Easy for you to say." Brett said with a slight chuckle.
Foster and Brett went to the locker room and changed clothes. Shift was over but no one was back yet. Just as they were coming out of the locker room, everyone from Truck, Squad, and Engine came in. Brett waited until she saw Casey before leaving. She tried to sneak out but he caught her.
"Hey, don't forget the pier." he quietly reminded her.
She smiled and nodded. She left and headed to her car. Her mind was filled with thoughts of what Casey could possibly have in store for her. She got into her car, started it, and drove to the pier. Casey, with a smile on his face, hurried up and changed clothes and then left. Twenty minutes later, Casey was at the pier where Brett was waiting.
"Hey, sorry I'm late. You know how Severide gets when he wants to smoke a cigar." Casey chuckled.
"It's ok. So, uh, why did you want me to meet you here?" Brett asked.
"Tell me what you see and feel here." Casey said.
"I see a pier with a gorgeous view and lots of people." Brett sighed.
"What else?" he asked.
She took a deep breath and then spoke.
"I see a Ferris wheel and the lake." she said.
He walked over behind her and stood there.
"Close your eyes." he whispered.
His whisper sent chills down her back, but in a good way. She closed her eyes and then he stepped in front of her.
"Alright, now take a deep breath and tell me what you feel. It can be how you feel or it could be the wind." he said.
She took another deep breath, kept her eyes closed, and did as he said.
"I feel the wind blowing in my hair. I can smell the air. It smells like the beach. It's peaceful and relaxing. For the first time in months, I feel relaxed." she smiled.
She opened her eyes and saw how close he was standing in front of her.
"How did that make you feel?" he asked with a sly grin.
"Relaxed." she smiled.
He gave her a hug and then pulled away.
"Now you have something good to dream about when you go home and get some sleep." he said.
She smiled and gave him a hug.
"Matthew Casey, you are truly one of a kind and amazing." she said as she pulled out of the hug.
They stood close to each other for a few minutes before heading to their vehicles.
"Are you going to Molly's later?" he asked.
"I might. I know right now, I need sleep." she giggled.
He smiled at her before speaking.
"If you go to Molly's, let me know and I'll pick you up if you want." he said.
"I will." she replied.
They talked as they walked to their vehicles.
"I'll let you know if I decide to go tonight." she smiled as she got into her car.
She closed her door and rolled down the window after starting her car.
"Thanks for this. I really needed it." she smiled.
"Anytime." he replied with a smile.
Brett put her car in drive and drove away. Casey stood there for a moment, watching Brett drive away. He smiled and then walked to his truck, got in, and after starting it, he drove away. Seeing the way she smiled at him today made his heart skip a bit. He hadn't felt this way in a really long time. After arriving back at Kelly's apartment, he went to his room and crashed a bit. Back at Brett's place, she did the same thing.