So, this was supposed to be part of These are the Days...but somehow, it got buried on the laptop and I forgot all about it...eh...

I still miss Mills...*sniff*...

The day was hot. Hot and humid and uncommon for Chicago, but eh, climate change, right? Storms were forecasted and would be welcome should the skies decide to pick now, while the firefighters of Station 51 gathered near their rigs, sought shade in whatever capacity they could, to open up and down pour.

"Well, well, well," came a sarcastic, unfriendly tone. "As I stand here and breathe, can that be? The one and only, Matthew-I'm-a-dick-Casey?"

Casey went still, the Gatorade in his mouth turned to turpentine and he promptly spit it out, tossed the bottle into some open compartment of the truck. He tightened his grip on his Halligan, turned oh-so-slowly to confront the man he'd gone through the academy with and had hoped never to lay eyes on again.

"Gentlemen, meet Matthew Casey, we went through the academy at the same time." The man chirped to the two men in suits standing with him.

"Keep walking." Casey uttered through a clenched jaw.

"Whoa hey now, fellow fire mate here, be polite."

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Always were an arrogant prick, weren't you?" The other man dropped all pretense of friendliness. "Strutted around, stick up your ass, always acting like you were better than the rest of us."

"No acting required."

The other man paused, tilted his head. "You and Darden. Another self-centered asshole, eh? Don't think I've ever seen you without him up your ass?"

Casey glared. He humped the Halligan into a position where he could swing it like a bat but before he could respond, Herrmann stepped forward.

"Day's hot, tempers don't need to be. Move on." Herrmann went ignored. "Nothing to see here."

"Darden was halfway decent." The man sneered. "Never understood how the two of you were friends. He tried to get along with everyone, unlike you and that mother-f'r…" he caught the surprised looks around him, amended his words, "….your other friend." The word was spat, clearly showing his disdain to everyone. "Good ole Kelly Severide, even a bigger dick than you. Always had your back though, didn't he?"

Casey blinked. He had?

"Still got all your teeth?" Darden handed Casey a towel of ice. "Yeah? Okay. Any loose?"

Casey ran his tongue around his mouth, ground his teeth a time or two, shook his head. He grunted a thanks for the ice, burned his face in the towel.

"Perkins is an ass." Darden spoke again. He'd been quiet so long, Casey thought he'd left. "Always picking a fight with someone who is smarter, faster, better than he is 'cause he can't compete and it pisses him off."

"Hmmppphh."

"Didn't fight fair, huh? Couple buddies with him I bet?"

He sat near Casey, but his attention was on waiting for Severide who had yet to show up to see what the fuss was about. He hoped his friend would put in an appearance but doubted he would. If he did though, then that meant maybe he was going to accept Darden's gesture to befriend the guy in the class no one wanted to go near.

He waited, but Severide never showed.

"I hear my name?" Severide ambled over. "What rock did you crawl out from under Pickles?"

"Still does." Casey couldn't resist saying smugly.

"It's Perkins," He automatically corrected, then flushed when he realized who had addressed him. "Jesus Christ." He stared at Severide, lip curling in distaste. "You." He glanced from one to the other, noted the familiar symbol with different numbers on their helmets. "You two are at the same house?" No matter how many times he corrected the snarky pain-in-the-ass, Severide never called him by his name. "Unbelievable."

"What are you doing here?" Boden asked. He glanced around the trucks and various emergency vehicles. Obviously, the man was cleared to be in a restricted area, but he didn't wear any kind of badge. "Who are you? Why are you on my scene, harassing my Lieutenant? Anyone know who this guy is?" He wrenched the Halligan from Casey's resisting, fisted grip all the while muttering, 'gimme that' and 'let go' during the game of tug-of-war. "Kelly?"

"You two are….? Wait...you….you are at the same house?" Perkins said in disbelief. "You work together?"

"They live together." Otis supplied, earned death glares from everyone on both truck and Squad. "Roommates," he clarified. "Uh, yeah….right."

Perkins turned red in anger. "I knew you two bonded at the academy, thought maybe Darden would get his nose outta joint, you wormed your way in to Severide's affections but Kelly-with-a-belly welcomed you with open arms and the duo became a trio." He snarked. "Just never thought it'd last."

Casey begged to differ. It hadn't quite happened that way, but eh….it was good ole Perkins….he only saw what he wanted to see.

"That's really what got up your ass, eh Puddins?" Casey snarked. "Everyone wanted to be friends with the guy who didn't want any. I ever thank you, helping us become the friends we are?"

Perkins snarled, started forward with clenched fists, was warned off by one of the men with him.

"This is Pied Piper. We went through the academy together." Severide told his boss. "We were all, uh, great friends, right Peckles?" His disdain was evident in his tone, his stance, his look, his entire demeanor. "Couldn't stand the guy." He said to Boden who nodded in understanding. "He's a fucking asshole."

Perkins scowled. "Yeah, sure, friends." He caught sight of the back of Casey's coat and Boden's words hit home. "Lou….Lieutenant? You….you're a Lieutenant?"

"My truck Lieutenant, Matt Casey." Boden introduced with a friendly sneer. "Firehouse 51. Now, you need to be moving along."

"Good Christ!" Perkins sputtered in outrage. "They actually promoted you?!"

"Always got something to say, don't you?" Casey shot back.

"As always, you never gave a damn what anyone said, 'less, maybe boy-toy here." He jerked a thumb at Severide. "All you ever had to do was pull a pout and he was all over anyone who looked at you cross-eyed."

Casey shrugged, Severide smiled. But again, not the way it had happened!

"Maybe you shudda fought fair fights." Severide accused. "Always 3 on 1, huh Pampers?"

"Want Matt to throw a punch?" Perkins addressed the men standing around. "Call him a pansy-ass momma's boy." He whistled. "Or his momma a jailbird."

"You just never got it," without realizing it, Casey took a step closer to Severide who stepped forward and Boden had to wrangle another Halligan out of another Lieutenant's hands. "How to be a friend without expecting something in return."

"Friend? You? Him? You three didn't let anyone else in." Perkins snarked. "He didn't want anything to do with anyone and no one wanted anything to do with you 'cept Darden."

"And that's what pissed you off, huh?" Severide said easily. "Darden and I knew each other since we were kids and Casey came along, and we didn't freeze him out. But you….eh…you were on the outside always looking in."

Casey cast a quizzical glance at Severide….the man everyone wanted to know because man, ladies just flocked to him; the lazy smile, the flirty eyes, the seductive grin….oh, Severide had it….he had it and Perkins had wanted it but Darden hadn't let him anywhere near his childhood friend...but he had Casey.

He'd been the one to let Casey in, not Severide. If Darden hadn't reached out, accepted him as a friend, he never would have gotten to know or become friends with the difficult, moody Squad Lieutenant because the man hadn't wanted to be bothered with anyone.

It's why losing Darden had been so hard; Severide and Darden were friends, Casey and Darden were friends, Severide and Casey rubbed along because of Darden. His death had caused a rift between them, and Heather hadn't helped and though Casey had remained loyal to Severide and Darden and refused her advances, Severide hadn't seen it that way.

The House hadn't agreed with the way Casey had handled that mess, thought he should have called Severide out on his attitude, but that's not the way you handled
Squad Lieutenant Kelly Severide.

Nope, see, you had to…

"….isn't that right, Matt?" Perkins drawled sarcastically.

Perkins had been one of the dumb dicks who had given him a hard time about his family. There'd been more than one physical fight, but Casey was the only one to ever fight without friends having his back.

Until Darden.

Darden had never interfered or involved himself when Casey had been holding his own and if he moved to help, Perkins and his goons moved off. He hadn't had to jump in until one fist fight had become three against one and two weren't just holding Casey while Perkins beat him up. He hadn't hesitated but Severide, who had been with him, had sighed and seemed reluctant to get involved.

Once it had become evident three on two still wasn't enough to save Casey from a rib-cracking, concussion-possible thrumping, Severide had finally made it a fair fight….and there had never been another. But Perkins' animosity towards Casey had remained and it had only grown once Darden and Severide had included him….and not Perkins.

"So….Kelly," Casey said morosely. "Does that guy like anyone?"

"Kelly," Darden repeated with a grin. Finally, finally, Severide had bestirred his lazy ass and come to Matt's assistance. "Kelly Severide." He sipped the coffee Casey had provided, grimaced. "Didn't have to cut me off, I'm not driving."

"I'm not carrying you out of here and your boy split."

Kelly hadn't had to join the fight. Matt certainly hadn't expected him to, and Darden hadn't been convinced he would. There'd been no reason to, an ass-thrumping wasn't a death sentence and most likely would have ended once Casey went down and didn't get back up. Perkins was an asshole, but he wasn't brutally violent.

"There's something about you I like," Darden slapped him on the back. "So, you wanna know about Kelly, huh." He sighed, stirred more sugar in his coffee. "Well Matt Casey, I'm gonna tell you."

"Maybe, I….uh…aah…don't wanna know."

"Everyone wants to know him, but he doesn't let anyone close. Never has. Too embarrassed. His old man lacks morals, has few manners and fucked-up priorities but he does love his kid. His Mom…well, she tries but again, her son isn't her first priority so, he grew up with loving parents, but raised himself."

Loving parents? What were they?

"He always wanted to be a firefighter, just like his dad." Darden shrugged. "Not gonna let him go it alone, so here I am."

"He's that good a friend?"

"He is." Darden was quiet. "If he calls you friend, no matter what happens, how angry he gets, how big a dick he's being or what you do - if he doesn't leave, hang in there, ride it out, handle it – him – the way you think you should. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, don't let them change your mind."

What the hell was he babbling about?

"He'll always have your back if he calls you friend. He doesn't have patience and his needs and wants come first and he'll throw shit in your face, make you wanna bounce his head off a wall, and when he deserves it, go ahead. But Matt, it's worth it, he's worth it. If you fall, he'll pick you up. He will follow you anywhere, for any reason. Remember that."

"Follow me? The hell Andy? Follow me where?"

"Anywhere...everywhere. Into a burning building, collapsed house, unstable structure…uncertainty." Darden was quiet. "The unknown...to hell."

Casey was quiet. Oh.

"You've known him since he was, what, six?"

"Kindergarten," Darden confirmed. "Growing up with him, I've seen him handle shit kids his age shouldn't even know about. Not an excuse, I know, but it made him who is he and I accepted that." He sipped more coffee. "Course, and I'm gonna say it, don't punch me – your family's fucked up too…just, I wasn't there to see how you dealt with it." He shrugged. "You seem to be doing okay. Other than you're quick to throw a fist." He grinned, sighed. "He doesn't hate you Matt, so maybe, anything ever happens to me, you'll be there, have his back."

"He's hated me since the first day of academy." Darden was correct, Casey's childhood hadn't been sun and roses. People knew the outcome, but they didn't know what had led up to it. "I dunno Andy, sounds like it's always gonna be a thing."

"Yeah, see, that's right, it will." Darden smiled, "And he doesn't hate you," he repeated. "If he did, he never wudda knocked Perkins on his ass and wudda split by now. He doesn't stick around unless he has a reason to." He knocked his shoulder against Casey's. "Be that reason Matt."

"Split? From here? No way he's walking outta the academy. Where's he gonna go?"

Darden grinned. Matt would see what he meant. Oh yes he would. "He can cut you cold." He shared ruefully. "People just seem to navigate to him, follow him, want to be with him, want him to like them. Been that way all through school. Don't matter so much now, but he can make life miserable without even trying just by doing his own thing. You'll see." He finished the coffee, softly repeated. "You'll see."

"So, if we fight, even if it's a fist-fight, no matter what either of us says, if he doesn't 'leave', all will be good?" 'Leave me', is what he wanted to say, but didn't quite have the balls to do so.

"You catch on quick. I like that about you." Darden pushed the empty mug away. "He'll shout and throw accusations and place blame, but he does that when he's spinning out. He's a friend worth having."

"I get….you want me to be there for him…..but….it's gotta work both ways…When I need him…"

"He'll surprise you." Darden assured him. "He'll be there….trust me."

"You better be around, so when shit hits the fan, I can throw 'I told ya so' in your face."

Darden clapped him on the back. "Me and him, we're a package deal, stick around, you'll see."

Casey recalled when Kelly, injured and reeling from Andy's death, had nearly fled to fucking Spain….

Perkins pulled it together, turned to address Boden. "You are the Battalion Chief for Fire Station 51?" When Boden nodded, he continued, "I'm here…" He showed Boden his credentials as he relayed the story that had brought him on scene. "So, on a referral, I'm here asking for the loan of your Squad Lieutenant who is skilled in arson investigation."

Boden couldn't stop the oh-so-slow spread of a smile. "My….." pause "Skilled," pause "…Squad….Lieutenant?" He repeated, shook his head. "...Eh…" He was quiet, smirked just a bit. "I'll admit he has a knack for it."

"I'd like to take him with me, talk to him." Perkins explained. "There is a…case, we need him to look at for us."

Now Boden couldn't help the smug smirk that twitched his lips and grew. Oh he tried, he truly did…..but he failed to stop it.

"You want….to take him….?" Boden chuckled. "Uh, sure…sure…you, uh, take him….sure, you do that." He turned his head, covered his mouth to cough through a giggling fit. "Go ahead….take him."

Perkins frowned, got the feeling he was being laughed at, didn't get the joke. He knew it couldn't be Casey, because all his gear said 'truck'. "Just point me in his direction. You're done here, correct?"

Boden nodded at Severide. Perkins blinked, looked around, saw no one.

"Chief?" He prodded.

"Didn't get his name, did you?" Capp snarked.

"He's right there." Positioning his hand, Boden merely lifted a finger off his radio unit. "Right. There."

Perkins saw no one but Severide, then noticed the smug look on the faces all around him, and his eyes widened, his mouth dropped. "Wait….No….You? Him? Not…" He swallowed. "Severide? That dick? No. No…."

"Never bothered to ask the man's name you were seeking?" Casey taunted. "Typical Pudknocker shit."

"He….you…he's….wait…Severide is Squad? Squad? This is a joke. Squad's Lieutenant?" Perkins had been told to track down the Battalion Chief for Firehouse 51 and gain the services of his Squad Lieutenant. No names had ever been discussed.

"Can you read?"

"See the back of his coat?"

"Severide went Squad? He…he's.…a Lieutenant? Of Squad? He's responsible for…he has men under his command?" He snorted. "Pity those poor suckers."

"Hey!"

"Watch it!"

"I'm one of those suckers, don't need nothing from you."

Darden swung a leg over the bench, straddled it, sat down with his dinner. Casey cast a glance sideways, stared morosely in his coffee cup.

"You okay?" He asked, laid a hand on Matt's back, paused, pulled him close for a hug. "Matt, it sucks, it does. But we can't save them all, this one got away from us, but you're here and you're safe and….."

"Because Severide bucked orders and came and got me." Casey moaned morosely.

"Well….yeah." Darden failed to see what Matt was upset about. "So?"

"He risked his life Andy."

"We do every day."

"Not like that. He was clear."

"I told you, he calls you friend, he has your back."

"Yeah, you did…but…"

"But what? What do you think I meant?" And it dawned on Darden, and he chuckled. "You didn't believe me, did you?"

"Yeah, kinda….maybe not so much." He flushed. "Didn't think you meant…..'til death us do part."

"That's exactly what I meant." Darden released him, sat back, reached for a bottle of ketchup, squirted a healthy dollop on his fries. "He accepted you, you two now work together and this house will be better for it."

"He came here because of you."

Darden laughed, offered Casey a fry. "You got that backwards, he knows I'd follow him anywhere." He added salt. "Know this Matt, there's gonna be times you're gonna hate him, but you ever need an alibi, he'll provide it, you won't even have to ask. He's that kind of guy. Remember that."

"Yeah, okay, but Darden…..he…I….I dunno."

"You're gonna be a great leader Matt, men are going to blindly follow orders you give because you're confident and willing to do whatever it takes, Kelly will too, just….not the way you're gonna expect."

Casey finally realized what Darden had truly meant. How many times had he gone rogue and Severide had been on his heels or attached to his hip? The times he hadn't had to ask…Severide had just been there….risking limb and life….in the fire with Hallie…the collapsed hospital with Gabby….

Heather hadn't been thrilled her husband wished to remain a firefighter after the birth of their first son because of Kelly Severide. Darden had known Kelly wouldn't reach out to Casey on his own, had done it for him….and the three had become friends. A friendship that continued and despite a few major problems – the death of Andy Darden – remained strong, if not close.

Boden patted Perkins on the back, shouted for his men to round up, load up, stepped to the side, made a phone call. "Puddles?" he returned his phone to his pocket. "You bring him back in the condition I gave him to you or I'll return Casey's Halligan and let him have at you…uh….it."

"He won't be alone." Tony added darkly.

Perkins stared down the quiet, dark-haired man who neither blinked nor twitched under his scrutiny. He knew Matt Casey and those like him. They didn't just issue idle threats, they backed up their words with their fists….but this guy? Yeah, he most likely operated quietly in the dark, Perkins didn't trust him not to be sneaky and underhanded.

He looked at each and every face standing behind Boden….not one was friendly. He scowled, turned away.

"Chief?" Severide questioned with a frown. "I gotta go?"

"You do."

"Why does he have to?" Capp asked. "I had my way, they wouldn't be taking our Lieutenant anywhere."

"Capp," Boden murmured without heat. "Orders from over my head."

Perkins looked at Severide who was dirty, sooty, sweaty.

"You want him, you got him." Boden moved off, most of the men followed, but not all. No, one smirking, arrogant sonofabitch remained.

Severide removed his helmet, wiggled out of his tank and coat, snapped his suspenders which released a cloud of dust and soot, made Perkins cough.

"So, let's go." Kelly snarked.

Perkins wrinkled his nose in distaste. He'd want a shower, clean clothes, a toothbrush, but leave it to a prick like Severide to be content to run around dirty and smelly with no thought to anyone's preference about his personal hygiene.

Severide didn't miss Perkins reaction, said nastily. "You came and got me on scene, you get me as I am."

Casey handed Severide a bottle of Gatorade, glared at Perkins. "If I have to come after him….."

"What do you think I'm going to do to him?" Perkins scoffed. "Leave him on the side of the road?" He barely kept from poking a finger in Matt's chest. "Gagged and tied?"

Casey held Severide's gear, pointed the Squad Lieutenant's helmet at Perkins. "I don't trust you."

"My car is this way." Perkins told Severide, turned his back on Casey. "I'll fill you in on the way."

"You let anything happen to him, you won't have a career." Casey didn't know who the men with him were or what office or agency they worked for, but if anything happened to Severide because of Perkins, if Benny, Boden and Grissom couldn't extract payback, Casey wasn't above calling Voight.

He'd lost Darden, Hallie, Heather had moved away with the boys, Shay...he couldn't handle losing Severide too.

Perkins ignored him but felt a nagging itch to throw a punch in that smug face. He doubted Casey could to anything to him, but the asshole was so damn confident, he felt a twinge of doubt and he hated that Casey was still able to make him feel that way.

"Casey." Boden called. "Let's go!"

"Yeah, coming." He didn't like Severide leaving with Perkins when he didn't know where they were going or why or what they were going to do or when Severide would be back, but whoever Boden had called, talked to, had made the Chief be at peace, so Casey would have to trust that. He bumped fists with Kelly. "You need me, I'm there."

"It's hot," Mills had come back, handed Severide a bottle of water. "Get something to eat, get some rest before you go and do anything stupid." He turned to follow his Chief. "And hey, stay inside!"

Severide grinned, nodded at Casey slapped, Mills on the shoulder, followed after Perkins who hadn't bothered to wait for him.