Eh...my timeline is off...I have no idea what year they were at the academy or how long it takes to go through, or if they went to college first...I suppose could Google...just go with it.

Also, again, medical inconsistencies, deal with it!

Perkins sat in the backseat of his SUV, his driver idling the car, waiting for him to place the call he did not want to make.

Boden sat behind the wheel of his SUV, idling at the curb outside Casey's apartment, waiting to gather the courage to approach the door and knock.

Gabby sat on the sofa, staring at her Chief, tapping her nails staccato on the arm, waiting to decide if she should go wake Casey up, or let Boden do it.

Mills stood on the sidewalk outside his apartment, waiting for….he didn't know what. He'd gotten a phone call to be on the curb in 15 minutes with no explanation as to why….and here he was….waiting.

()()()

Perkins ducked his associate Nickson's demand for an explanation when four angry people with obvious attitudes came marching down the hallway.

Well, shit.

"Chief Boden." Perkins greeted stiffly. "I didn't expect to see you." He certainly hadn't called him. "What are you doing here?" He ignored everyone else.

"And I didn't expect a phone call telling me Severide was in the hospital." Boden returned. "Care to explain that?"

"What are you doing here?" Perkins repeated. "How did you know? Who called you?"

"What's going on?" Nickson asked. "Perkins? You know these people?"

Boden should have expected it, should have been prepared but for some reason – maybe some deep part of him knew and just didn't care – he wasn't ready to catch Casey before he launched at Perkins.

And it wasn't a lazy fist to the face either. It was a 'break-into-a-run-and-tackle' launch that took them both to the floor. Casey had his hands around Perkins' neck, squeezing his face purple, but before he could even attempt to bounce his head off the hard tile, Mills had hold of him, but needed Boden's help to pick him up, drag him off.

"Pimples." Boden greeted as Perkins was helped to his feet by his stunned men who hadn't bothered to come to his aid. "Care to explain what you let happen?" He rotated Casey into Mills' secure hug. "Hold on to him." He told Mills who nodded.

"You sonofabitch." Casey seethed from the comfy restraint of Mills' arms. "I warned you! I told you what I'd….."

"Casey," Boden warned, then followed with an order. "Let the man talk."

"Right," Mills agreed. "Then you can knock his teeth out."

"Let me loose on him." Gabby added. "I'll kick his ass."

"Enough!" Boden barked. "I want answers. An explanation. Someone better start talking."

The woman in the group with Perkins stepped forward. "I'm Nickson. I can't tell you why you were called, Chief Boden, is it?" She only knew that by Perkins' greeting. "We notified the Chicago Fire Department who was to contact next of kin."

Casey went pale. Mills felt him tense, then shudder, start to shake, attempt to control it, fail. He caught the Lieutenant's weight when the man went limp in his arms, managed to keep them both on their feet, though they swayed, clinging to one another.

Boden didn't move. Years on the job the only thing keeping his knees from buckling. His thoughts weren't of Severide and what happened, no…his eyes and mind were on Casey….after all he'd been through, everyone he'd lost this last year and a half, would the truck lieutenant ever recover from losing Severide?

Would Boden?

Gabby swayed, reached out to support her weight with a palm against the wall. She kept her feet, but her knees buckled and Boden had to help her straighten up.

Mills licked his lips. "Nex…" He cleared his throat, his voice raspy. "Next of kin?" He hugged Casey a little tighter, needed the comfort of close contact as much as the Lieutenant did. "What….the…? He…he…he's….." He swallowed. "What…are you saying?"

"Sorry, I'm sorry. Emergency contact." Nickson quickly corrected. "I didn't mean to give you the wrong impression. I should have worded that differently."

"He's injured, not dead." Perkins scoffed. "Always was a nervous ninny, huh Matt? Always quick to overreact."

"Lady, you better choose your words more carefully." Gabby warned.

Casey clutched at Mills' wrists, both sagged in relief, tension easing. Casey growled, clenched his fists, but obeyed Mills' warning hug, accepted the embrace, let him rest his chin on Casey's shoulder.

Boden regrouped, testily replied, "Just tell me what you let happen to put Severide in the hospital. I want to know what we're doing here."

"I'd like to know that as well." Nickson said curiously. "Perkins? Who are these people and why are they here?"

"Now see here!" Perkins sputtered. "I…we…didn't let anything happen to the reckless prick who has never listened…..he just does whatever the hell he wants."

Oh yes, Boden could certainly agree there. "You were supposed to have him consult on an arson investigation." He growled. "I was told that would happen in an office."

"You shouldn't have been told anything." Perkins argued.

"You think I'm just going to let any of my men go with some fancy suit who flashes a badge in my face?" Boden questioned. "Doesn't work that way." He eyed each and every person with Perkins and Nickson. "I'm still waiting for an explanation."

"Dr. Morrison," Nickson gestured towards the man wearing scrubs who had just walked up, "is looking for Kelly's family to gain consent to treat him." She continued calmly with no reaction to the rude response from her associate who cursed under his breath.

Boden wearily massaged his forehead. "Treat him for what?"

"We certainly didn't expect you to come here," Perkins attacked, "And with such a show of….uh….force."

"Force? What force?" Gabby demanded. "Buddy, you haven't begun to see force…."

"Dawson." Boden warned.

"Well, who the hell does he think he is?"

"I warned you," Casey reminded Perkins. "I told you, you wouldn't like it, I had to come after him."

"You didn't have to do…." Perkins growled. "No one asked….how the hell did you even find out anyway?"

"Consent to treat? Since when?" Mills demanded. "You don't need consent to treat an injured person in the ER." He looked at his Chief. "He's hurt and you haven't done anything to help him?"

Wait….what? Confused and distracted, Casey frowned. He wasn't familiar with this hospital, had never been here before. He'd woken up to Boden and Gabby hovering over his bed, identical concerned looks on their faces and here they were; some private or government run medical facility in the neighboring state of Indiana.

"We don't think he's hurt." Nickson hesitated. "He's not fully conscious." She admitted. "Drifts in and out."

"You don't think?" Gabby repeated. "What the hell does that mean?"

"Was he shot? Stabbed? Blown up? Beaten? Does he require surgery?" Casey didn't pay what Gabby was attempting to clarify any attention. "You better say he's going to live 'cause there's no one here who's gonna save you, you don't."

Dickson stood her ground, but raised a hand in warning. "He was found unconscious and brought in unresponsive." She explained. "He's not coherent."

"What do you mean, found?" Gabby demanded. "Found how? Where?"

"Found unconscious where?" Mills echoed. "How did you find him, when he was with you?" Casey was getting restless, wouldn't stop fidgeting and Mills wasn't sure how much longer he'd be content to allow Mills to hold him.

"His vitals are stable, and he shows no obvious signs of injury." Dr. Morrison spoke up. "He is being evaluated but isn't cooperating."

"So, he has been treated?" Mills insisted.

Scowling, Perkins demanded, "Who the hell are you?"

"He hasn't been compliant." The doctor admitted.

"Would you be, you knew this asshole was waiting for you?" Casey snapped. "I want to see him."

"I want some answers." Boden boomed. "Where was he found unresponsive? What, someone found him in the hallway? He lost his balance in the bathroom, hit his head on the urinal?"

"He insisted on visiting the site," Nickson began. "So, we drove him there."

"You did what?" from Mills.

"You didn't." from Gabby.

"What now?" from Casey.

"And you let him?" Boden was incredulous. "I agreed to an office visit where he could view photos and videos, answer questions regarding Squad training." He was fuming. "You took him to the site? I didn't authorize a field trip!"

Nickson was surprised. "To get the answers we needed? Yes, we took him there. We went with him of course." She assured him, smiled at Gabby who glared back.

"Fine damn lot of good that did." Casey muttered. "Enough of this. Where is he? I want to see him. Take me to him."

"That's against regulations." Nickson said calmly.

"You don't make demands and issues orders here." Perkins said. "You…them, shouldn't even be here."

"Then release him and we'll take him with us." Gabby quipped. "You won't have to worry about gaining his cooperation."

"You cannot remove a semi-conscious, possibly injured patient from this hospital." The doctor insisted. "He needs treatment and we need him calm and cooperative to proceed."

"We'll get treatment for him." Gabby bared her teeth that could, if you squinted really hard, be considered some semblance of a smile. "Pete and I are certified EMT's, he'll be in good hands and can lie down in the backseat of Chief's Suburban."

"What regulations?" Mills questioned. "You said you wanted to contact his family to gain consent to treat him…..that doesn't make any sense."

Gabby picked up on what Mills was thinking, asked suspiciously, "Treat him for what?" Horror dawned as her paramedic training kicked in. "Amputation?" She rounded on Perkins so quickly, he didn't have time to step back and the full force of her palm slammed into his shoulder, rocked him back on his heels. "What the hell did you do?!"

"Ampu…." Casey stuttered, twisted around to look at Mills. "What? What did she say? What does that mean?"

"Hey now," Mills said soothingly. "Speculation." He shot Gabby a look of impatient irritation. "Family consent is needed in some cases, not all."

And that was why Boden had wanted to bring Mills with them. He was a steadying influence on Casey with his calm demeanor, thought clearly and behaved sensibly….well, when the situation didn't involve his family.

"Amputation being one." Gabby shoved Perkins' other shoulder, knocked him back again. "You sonofabitch! How dare you?! What did you let happen to him?"

"You shove me again, it'll be a week before you're bailed out of jail." Perkins warned. He'd kept a wary eye on Casey who had contentedly remained with Mills, hadn't expected a physical assault from Gabby.

"Don't you threaten her!" Boden stepped forward.

"Enough!" Nickson said sharply. "Everyone just CALM down!"

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Casey stepped from the comfort of Mills' arms but before he could advance on Perkins, two of his men barred his way. "I don't what the hell you think you're getting away with, but trust me, it's not gonna happen."

"You're not in charge of anything to do with this Casey." Perkins spat.

"And you don't get to make the rules….."

"ENOUGH!" Boden bellowed. "I want to know how he was found unconscious and where and why, so let the doctor speak."

"There is no need for any amputation and as far as we know, surgery is not required." Dr. Morrison stressed. "As for explicit details as to why he was where he was found, I am not at liberty to share them. I can tell you, he's not bleeding externally and there are no visible stab or gunshot wounds or broken bones." He glared at Perkins, then Gabby, finally Casey. "We haven't been able to examine him to determine internal injuries. When we can get him to respond, he's disoriented, agitated and his state of hostility only endangers any injury he may have, so we are looking for a wife. Parent. Relative."

"So, you don't need a family member present to consent for treatment." Mills frowned. "You wanted someone here to calm him down, get him to respond. You should have just said that to begin with, instead of scaring the hell out of all of us."

"Then let Casey see him." Boden told the doctor crossly. "You say you want him quiet and calm so you can examine him, that ain't gonna happen, he doesn't want to be here."

"Until we have the opportunity to talk to him, we can't allow anyone to see him." Nickson explained.

"Then go with Casey." Mills rolled his eyes. Made perfect sense to him.

"We can't discuss anything in his presence."

"You don't have to." Gabby mimicked Mills, rolled her eyes.

Casey snorted. "Then you're fucked."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Who is in charge here?" Dr. Morrison demanded.

"Me." Boden and Perkins chorused.

"Severide isn't going to consent to treatment," Mills told Nickson. "So if you won't release him, shoot him up with midazolam and do what you want. Unless you let Casey go talk to him, it's the only way you're going to get near him until he decides he wants to cooperate."

"And that could be days. You turn your back, he'll be gone." Gabby added. "Won't be the first time he's up and disappeared from a hospital."

Boden, Casey and Mills all snorted. From a hospital? Yeah, right. House 51 Squad's Lieutenant had a tendency to disappear from anywhere.

"You want him sedated?" Dr. Morrison asked Nickson, who shook her head.

"Absolutely not!" Perkins said adamantly. "We don't have time for this! We went and got him on site for a reason!"

"We want him awake and coherent." Nickson added hastily. "If he's sedated, he won't be able to tell us anything." She frowned. "We need to talk to him. Perkins is right, the sooner the better. If he refuses treatment, fine. Once we debrief him, they can take him and go."

"Now, wait a minute!" Perkins protested. "It isn't as simple as that Nickson."

"Knocking him out might not be a good idea. He doesn't come out of sedation well." Gabby nudged Mills. "Remember when he had surgery for his neck? Waking up from anesthesia kicked his ass."

Mills snapped his fingers in remembrance. "That's right! Once he finally woke up and they let Shay take him home, he was so groggy and nauseated, she called you over."

"And the doctor said it was unusual for symptoms to occur so long after being administered."

"Some people throw a stroke coming out of it." Mills nodded.

"Heart attack."

"Do you mind?" Perkins cut in impatiently. "That has nothing to do with now."

"Well, it does, if you sedate him." Gabby pointed out.

"WE DON'T WANT HIM SEDATED!" Perkins yelled, then took a deep breath. "He's the one who suggested it." He pointed at Mills. "We rejected it."

"Your mother never taught you it's impolite to point?" Mills teased.

Boden rubbed his forehead….Dear God, this was getting out of control. "Let Matt see him. He'll get Kelly to agree to talk to People's and once they're satisfied, release him and we'll take him home."

Perkins gnawed on his lip, fumed silently. So, now Severide had everyone deliberately calling him anything that started with a P but his name. Oh…but the cocky asshole was going to pay for that! Wait and see!

"I need a signature to release him."

"What for?" Casey demanded. He was stressed and tense and so tired, he had a headache that the aspirin he'd popped in the car on the drive over wasn't touching. Seeing and dealing Perkins put him on edge, not knowing what happened to Severide and being denied access to him was plucking at his last, intact nerve.

"Since when?" Gabby argued. "He's an adult."

"He's not in his right mind. We can admit him to the psych ward involuntarily or allow Perkins to remove him to a more secure government facility." Dr. Morrison didn't understand the four, confused faces who stared at him. "What?"

"What do you mean, not in his right mind?" Casey demanded. "The hell sense does that make?" If they didn't let him see Severide…take him to him… "Why didn't someone say something about that before?"

Flabbergasted, Gabby turned in a circle. "You're just bringing that up now?" She asked incredulously. "What is wrong with you people?"

"Only thing wrong with him is, he's not getting his way." Mills joked. "He's fine. He doesn't like Porcupine, so he's mad and just being a dick."

"He's good at that." Gabby agreed, fist-bumped Mills.

Dr. Morrison regrouped, thought it best not to keep irritating these people. "Is he on any medication?"

"No," said Gabby. "No…wait….no." She turned to Casey. "Matt?"

"Uh."

Mills shrugged, smirked, pointed at Casey. Perkins flushed, he'd been reprimanded for pointing by the kid who was making fun of him by pointing! Why, he ought to…

Boden gestured with his hands, waved towards Casey. "What?"

"Perrington put him on an antihistamine and antibiotic after we hauled his ass outta that mold infested, uh…..pond." Casey reminded Boden and Mills.

Mills snapped his fingers, grinned. "Pond? Hole full of shit's more like it." He cleared his throat, shot a sheepish glance at Nickson. "Sorry ma'am."

"Winched him out using the aerial." Gabby chortled. "Thank God he was conscious, no one wanted to go in after him. Mouch was great maneuvering the ladder."

No one had wanted to, but everyone would have….Capp and Tony had been ordered to stand down and had only done so after Casey had mounted and started climbing the ladder Mouch was still positioning through the air. He'd dangled off it with webbing and a rescue harness, Capp behind him, anchoring his feet.

"He's allergic to mold?" Dr. Morrison questioned. He wondered why the firefighter had been in the polluted water, but didn't ask.

"No." Casey explained. "It was prescribed as a precaution. Anyone in that, uh, pond would have suffered allergy symptoms. Moss, mold, mud, scum, shit. Bacteria, you name it."

"Aah," Boden nodded, recalled the incident. "That call. Didn't send him back to the station for a shower Doc, wouldn't let him on the rig. We called in hazmat and had him stripped, hosed down, scrubbed raw in a containment tent."

"He didn't have any cuts or scrapes or open wounds, had him checked out, but still, due to what he was in contact with, swam in, they started him on a cocktail of meds." Mills said.

"Well," Gabby hedged with a grin. "Maybe some road rash after that brush they used to scrub him with."

"Right?" Mills laughed. "You see that thing? Coarse doesn't describe it!"

"Do you know the names?" Dr. Morrison asked. "Of the medication?"

"Uh…." Casey rubbed his forehead, tugged on an ear. "Prow-meh…."

The doctor nodded. "Promethazine. Not prescribed just for allergies."

"Again doc, host of potential symptoms," Mills reminded him. "Bacteria. Depths unknown."

"Are you aware of its side-effects?"

Dander up, Gabby glared. "We are." She stared the doctor down. "And other than a slight headache, he didn't experience any."

"Then what was he doing outside in the sun, while on it?"

"He wasn't." Mills cut in sharply. "Our last call was a fire and though he responded, he wasn't sent in where the flames were."

"The sun isn't the only danger. It inhibits a person's ability to sweat." The doctor didn't break from his staring contest with Dawson. "And that causes them to overheat."

"I know that and he wasn't overheated on site." Mills said sharply. "I was there, and Brett and I monitored him."

"If he was outside, in the sun, or overheated, then it happened while he was with them." Gabby raised a lip. "Chief was told he would be inside, otherwise he wouldn't have let Severide go."

"And you know that, do you?" Perkins asked snidely. "He's a Battalion Chief. He wouldn't share private information with you."

"He doesn't have to." Mills insisted impatiently. "He wouldn't release Severide from our care unless he was assured there was no reason to worry about him."

"So, where are we?" Boden asked. "Anyone? Doc? What are we doing?"

"I haven't been able to examine him, but based on the information of the medication he's on, he was exposed to the sun, after spending hours battling a fire and overheated, fainted." Dr. Morrison said testily, paused. "Of course, I can only assume."

"He. Did. Not. Battle. A. Fire." Mills muttered irritably.

"I assure you, with 3 certified medics in the Station, one of which he lives with, he's monitored closely." Hands on hips, Boden slowly turned to confront Perkins. "We all know more than basic first aid. You took him outside."

"He was outside when I was sent to get him." Perkins shot back. "And he's the one who insisted on going to the site."

"Has he consumed alcohol while taking it?" The doctor asked.

"Well, yeah." Casey sounded surprised the question was even asked. "Not today though. He doesn't drink on shift."

"But he didn't operate heavy machinery." Gabby joked.

"Mixing alcohol and any medication is never a good idea."

"Eh." Everyone from 51 shrugged.

Dr. Morrison sighed. "And the antibiotic?"

"Vang-kuh….something. You need to know, call Med in Chicago, his doctor is Kendra Perrington." Casey said with a shrug.

Gabby scowled. "Vancomycin."

The doctor made a motion to a nurse standing nearby and with a nod, she drifted off. "That is given intravenously."

"It can be given orally." She shot back.

"Depends on what it's given for." Mills pointed out. "Prevention, not long term and he's had no serious side effects."

Frowning in disapproval, the doctor told them, "He shouldn't be in the sun while taking that antihistamine." He shifted his weight. "Combined by the consumption of alcohol, and the high temperature of the day, he likely is severely dehydrated."

"It wouldn't take knowing about any medication he's on to know that." Gabby said at the same time Mills said; "Even a courtesy exam would have told you that."

"You haven't treated him at all? What needs to be signed?" Boden was getting antsy. He didn't like hearing the words 'government facility'. "Because we are not leaving him here."

"Wait," Gabby stepped forward, got in Perkins' face. "Since he isn't coherent or agreeing to treatment, you made the decision he isn't in his right mind, called CFD for his emergency contact so you can have them sign him into involuntary hold, am I right?"

Casey snorted. "You sure as hell don't know Benny Severide."

"You can't do that." Mills insisted.

"Oh yes," Perkins was smug. "I can." Call him by the wrong name all the goddamn-fucking time? Go ahead, see what happens. See how everyone liked Severide being forcibly detained on a psych hold…the fucking prick. "He will not leave here until I have what I want."

Casey fought not to frown. Perkins couldn't do that, could he? No. Right? "Nice try Puddlehopper, but you're not gonna pull it off." Whatever 'it' was.

"There's another way, you know that, right?" Mills sighed.

"Wait, hold up." Head spinning, Boden paced. "Who made that decision? You doc? Or him?" He pointed at Perkins who fumed.

"I'm not sure I understand."

"Who made the decision to hold him on a psych hold? Is Dawson right?"

"That would indeed be me." Perkins said snidely, causing Boden to raise a questioning eyebrow at Casey who gave him a mere, slight shake of his head. He wasn't ready to call Voight yet. "He's not going anywhere until he's awake and coherent and we've had time to talk to him."

Casey easily read the smug smirk on his nemesis's face. "If you want blood, you got it."

"Going for blood, eh Matt?"

"You always did."

He always had, and he'd always gotten it, even when Casey gave as good as he got. Well, Perkins didn't care...this was one time Matt Casey wasn't going to win. He'd never been able to best the prick. The one time he had carefully planned an attack - with witnesses - to make it look like Casey had been both the instigator and fight starter, his fucking asshole buddies had stepped up and thanks to Severide, Casey hadn't been kicked out of the academy.

And it had been the last time, he'd been able to goad Casey into throwing a punch.

Well this time, neither of those fucking pricks would emerge the victor. It might be petty and serve no purpose, but holding Severide on a psych eval and denying Casey access to him was, in Perkins' opinion, completely justifiable.

And a win.

"Let me see him." Casey told Nickson. "Let me talk to him, calm him down, see how he is, then I'll talk him into letting the doctor examine him while talking to you and I'll step out."

"You're not going anywhere near him!" Perkins shouted.

"I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU!" Casey blew up, surged forward, was pushed back by both Mills and Boden.

"How will you do that?" Nickson asked.

"Don't," Boden warned Perkins. "Don't get in his face. You won't like it if you do."

Casey allowed the hold, turned to Nickson. "By telling him I'll take him out of here and away from you. If he needs medical treatment, I'll take him to Dr. Perrington at Med."

"I'm going to speak frankly here, because it seems to be the only language you speak." Perkins sneered. "Your lack of education, what with your upbringing and all."

Casey lunged, was again held back by Mills and Boden, but this time, it required a bit of effort.

"Matt," Gabby called softly. "This isn't helping."

"You're not going to see him, you're not going to take him out of here." Perkins said smugly. "You don't have the authority. CFD was contacted to gain information on how to contact Severide's family, as he isn't within his mind to consent to treatment."

"Says who?" Mills asked sweetly. "You?"

And suddenly, Casey was all smiles, blew kisses in Perkins' face. "Well now, you see Pushpin, you're right. CFD does have the ability to provide emergency contact information," he threw his arms wide, grinned manically. "And baby...HERE'S KELLY'S!"

Perkins turned so red, Dr, Morrison stepped forward in concern. He shook off the Dr's hand, stepped around him.

"I'm tired of your games." He told Casey. "We aren't young assholes in the academy anymore. This is a serious situation and I don't have time to entertain your idea of a joke."

Boden held up a tri-folded document. "He's not joking." He said calmly, then addressed Nickson. "His parents aren't local and Severide isn't married. His emergency contacts are Matt and myself and while this document can be contested by his parents, no one here can do so."

"Where is he? I want to see him." Casey shook free of Mills who let him go with a pat on the back. "Take me to him."

Still, Dr. Morrison hesitated.

"We brought Mills and Dawson for a reason." Boden prompted mildly. "We will take him from here. This," he waggled the paper. "Gives us the legal right to do so. So, if you claim he isn't in his 'right mind', this legally gives me and Casey the right to make decisions for him."

"And we will take him with us." Gabby added.

Seeing no other alternative until he made some phone calls, Perkins uttered, "I will accompany you." He would be damned if Matt Casey got in his way again and over his dead body, would he lose access to Severide until he found every last detail that had happened to land him in the hospital.

"I think not." Mills said lightly. "Let Nickson go with him. No one likes you."

"You will not take him from here." Perkins seethed.

"Is he in danger?" Boden asked Nickson. He was ready to punch Perkins in the mouth himself. He easily understood why his Lieutenants loathed the man.

"No." She firmly assured them. "He wasn't attacked. We simply needed him to answer questions about a specific arson case."

"Why Severide?" Gabby asked curiously.

"All I can say is, his experience and training in Squad is beneficial to our investigation into an arson case." Nickson told them.

"He likely fainted due to the heat, lack of fluids and the medication." Mills told his boss. "They'll start him on an IV, cool him down, give him Gatorade or something with electrolytes."

"They should have already done that." Gabby groused.

There was a discussion among the people with Perkins and Nickson and while Perkins was adamant in his refusal to allow Casey to see Severide without him being present, he didn't get his way.

"Dr. Morrison? If you would take Mr. Casey and myself to see Mr. Severide?" Nickson said pleasantly.

Mills moved with Gabby and Boden into another room to sit down, leaving Perkins red-faced and shaking in outrage.

()()()

Casey expected to find Severide on an exam table behind a curtain, but he was led to a private room where his buddy was fully clothed and 'napping' on a bed that was partially reclined.

Casey paused in the doorway; no bloody bandages, no slings or temporary casts or supports or neck brace or c-collar. Other than a gash above his eye that had bled and remained crusted and dirty, and discoloration on his jaw, he looked fine.

"Sev?" Casey entered the room. "Can't let me have one night at home with Gabby, can you?"

Severide stirred. He still wore his work uniform, both pants and shirt were dirty, and his overall appearance was disheveled - he looked like he'd been tossed in a dryer and tumbled all about.

"What? You won't even let them take your boots off?" Casey teased, smacked a foot hard enough to jostle his leg. "Enough of this shit….no lollygagging about. Wake. Up."

Tired of dealing with people who ordered him around, demanded he listen, do as they said, told him what to do when, Severide lashed out. Casey caught his arm by the wrist, wrestled it down to the mattress, leaned over him and nose-to-nose, blew into his face.

"Who you hitting at?"

Severide went limp, rolled his head on the pillow, and with an exaggerated, heaved sigh, opened his eyes.

"Arrgh!" He groaned at the bright light, scrunched his eyes tightly together, turned his head away. "Shh…..iiiiiittt." He licked his lips, bottom one plump from being repeatedly bitten. "Nugghh…ff…ufff…'"

"The light?" Casey reached to move the lamp over the bed that extended from the ceiling only to find it didn't move. Annoyed and impatient, he didn't bother to search for the release lever, punched it, slapped it repeatedly.

"That's enough of that." A nurse scolded, released the lock, moved the arm out of reach of the bed. "No need to beat on things."

"The light bothers him." He snapped.

"I get that." She snapped right back, stared at him, thumbed the switch on the stem of the lamp and the light went out. "See how easy that was?!" Casey responded with a face, wanted to be six and stick his tongue out at her but refrained, decided to ignore her.

"That better?" Casey asked quietly. "Hey, need you with me."

"We'd like to start an IV, get some fluids in him. Does he have a fear of needles?"

"Shouldn't you have already done that?"

Now she ignored him. "Does he have a fear of needles?"

"No."

Severide was content to remain half asleep. Long as he remained still and quiet and no bright lights assaulted his vision, he was able to ignore slight aches and pains and overall discomfort.

But no. Not anymore. Not now. Because Matt was here. And he wasn't allowed to ignore Lieutenant Matthew Casey…..It. Just. Was. Not. Done.

"Hey, hey…relax." Casey's tone adjusted to one of familiarity. "Just me here, you with me? Yeah? Okay, no…you don't have to open your eyes. How about you let the nurse get you outta your clothes so the doctor can look you over? Yeah? Sound like a plan?" But Severide resisted. "No?"

Severide just wanted to be left alone, he wanted to sleep, but his shirt was being tugged up and his arm lifted and when he reached to halt the movement, his fingers encountered a leather band and a large watch face he recognized by feel alone.

"Yeah, just me." Casey reassured him quietly. "You're in the hospital. Doc and Mills think you overheated due to the medication and fainted. You weren't supposed to be outside."

What? Severide tried to think. Say what now? "Ow."

"Yeah, musta hit your head when you fell, got a bump, bit of a cut."

"Ow."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, ow. Raise your arm…..not like that," Casey huffed. "Over your head…..yeah, that's it." He smiled at Nickson. "Pull your arm through, duck your head….other arm."

Despite his reluctance, he was waking up and becoming aware of his surroundings. He didn't need to be told or open his eyes to know where he was. The sounds of clicks and clanks as well as the smell were familiar to him.

"Hey, you with me?" Casey asked when Severide sat up, pulled his shirt completely off over his head. "Right, yeah, no…..don't answer. You're not allowed to talk to me."

Severide glanced around the room, eyes squinting against the dim light, sighed.

"Just tell me you're okay, and I'll step out so Nickson can talk to you." Casey said. "You remember her, right?"

"I'm…good." He winced, stretched, rubbed the cut on his head with the heel of one hand. "Ow…..shit…."

"Your jaw's bruising. Someone hit you?"

"Mr. Casey." Nickson warned with a tight smile.

Casey sighed. "I'll be out in the waiting room," He told Severide. "Behave." He paused. "You okay? Tell me now."

"Aaah, yeah…sore, but…." He raised his arms over his head, stretched his back, twisted one way, then the other, touched his elbows together behind his back. "Nothing broken."

"You're still going to let them take x-rays and scans or whatever they want." Casey waved him still. "Stop moving."

"Why?"

"You were found unconscious. Don't know how you ended up that way."

"Mr. Casey." Came another warning.

"Yeah, yeah."

"I don't need….." Severide began.

"It's not a suggestion."

"Or what?" Severide scowled. "You don't outrank me and I don't gotta listen to you."

"Or we will leave you here." Casey held open the door. "And Boden does and he's here, wanna test him?"

Scowling, he insisted he was fine while doing his best to impede the nurses attempts to get at him.

"Yeah, sure." Casey snorted when Severide swayed, grabbed the bed rail for support. "You're fine."

"Bugger off."

"Let her start an IV, get you some fluids."

"I don't need…"

"Sooner you start, sooner the bag will drip through." Casey advised. "You have a headache, you need fluids"

"I need aspirin."

"You fainted due to dehydration and heat, let her stick a needle in your arm and shut the hell up about it."

Severide flipped him off. Having submitted, he let a nurse unlace his boots, while another started an IV. Now in his socks, he stood up to remove his pants and the closed behind Casey.

()()()

Casey headed back to where he'd left his friends, pulled up short, Boden telling Perkins, 'it wasn't over'.

He stood in the hallway and listened, was finally able to put together what had transpired while he'd been with Severide. Apparently, Perkins had made some phone calls and came up with a way to prevent them from taking Severide from the hospital.

"No, you don't." Casey muttered, pulled his cell from his pocket, made a call. "No way I'm gonna let that happen." His call finished, he pocketed his phone, entered the room. "Anywhere to get coffee?"

"No need to get comfy." Perkins informed him smugly. "Severide isn't leaving here tonight, so go home."

Casey tilted his head, and the next words out of his mouth rendered everyone speechless…even Gabby. "Can I see your ID?" He asked. "Badge?"

Perkins pulled his ID from his inner suit jacket pocket. The movement flashed everyone sight of his gun snapped into an underarm holster. Casey fought a smirk, said nothing. He took the proffered ID, held it – some division of the alphabet Government agencies – took a photo with his phone, handed it back.

"Thanks." Casey sat down next to Gabby. "Right, then, we'll leave after the doctor's report."

Both Mills and Gabby started to protest but Boden shut them down. He trusted his Lieutenant and knew there was no way in hell, he was going to go and leave Severide here after talking to the doctor.

No. Way. In. Hell.

Casey was patient and after a bit, Perkins lost interest, moved off and Casey tucked a hand in his pocket, sent the photo with a text, got comfy, waited.

"Are you out of your mind?" Gabby whispered. "The hell Matt?"

"What'd you do?" Mills asked suspiciously. "What's with the photo?"

"Gambled." Casey muttered.

"So Matt," Boden's use of Casey's first name called everyone's attention to him. "While we wait, tell us, why does Peabody hate you?"

Casey was quiet. He rarely ever talked about his days at the academy or his personal background. He cast a glance at Perkins and though he was in the room, he was out of earshot.

"Darden and Severide came to the academy together. Couple of the guys knew about….my mom….shared it but the only asshole to make a deal out of it, was Perkins." Casey shared. "You know Severide. Darden was easy-going and friendly but Severide didn't want anything to do with anyone, but that didn't stop everyone from wanting to know him."

Mills nodded. Gabby agreed. Boden sighed.

"Perkins had a…uh…following I guess, he always took the lead, but it soon became apparent…..everyone wanted to follow Severide."

"Darden didn't allow it." Boden guessed.

Casey shook his head. "Perkins and I butted heads, it became physical and a time or two, Darden stepped in, which only fueled his hatred. One fight was three on one, then three on two and when it was obvious we were gonna get our asses handed to us, Severide made it a fair fight."

"And you three became friends, leaving Perkins out." Mills finished.

Casey was distracted as Perkins pulled his phone from his pocket, and a slow, smug smirk graced his lips. "Gotcha."

Perkins answered his phone even though the number was unfamiliar. He was too stunned to step out of the room, could only stare at Casey, face turning thunderous.

Casey beamed, crossed his arms over his chest, a foot over his knee. "What's the matter Pumper?" He couldn't resist taunting him. "Bad news?"

"How the hell did you do that?"

A nurse walked up, informed Perkins his associate was ready for him join her to question Mr. Severide who was back from tests, coherent and willing to talk to them.

"You are not going to get away with this!" Perkins seethed. "Do you hear me?!"

"I just did. I'll be leaving here tonight, and I'm taking Kelly with me." Casey informed him smugly. "And there's not a damn thing you can do to stop me."