I truly do adore Otis...but he irked me in the one episode...so...


"See, about Severide, he doesn't really warm up to people at first."

"He can be rather abrupt."

"Do not approach before coffee."

"Heard a lot about him at other houses."

"Yeah, heard all about his reputation."

"And Lieutenant Casey."

"….and oh, can he argue. He'll disagree. He'll confront you, shut you down, but he does listen and you stick to your guns, then he'll think about it and do things the right way, he just takes his time."

"And if he's wrong, no grudges held."

"He holds a grudge." Otis corrected, placed his plate of lunch on the table, sat down. "Does things his own way, to benefit him, no one else."

"Here's the thing, he will persist until he's turned over every possibility…"

"Now see, they're all one-sided." Otis claimed the attention of everyone at the table which included a couple of guys filling in on engine, another pulling a double shift, and a relief paramedic. "He's a dick…"

"That's kinda harsh."

"That business with Keeler? You can't convince me he didn't have something to do with that case being, uh, closed." Otis waved his fork for emphasis. "Hear me on that."

"Let it go." Capp advised.

"Oh, right. Right. You were involved in that, weren't you? Yeah, you and Clarke, right up your Lieutenant's ass."

"Hey," Capp protested. "That's uncalled for."

"Yeah, watch it." Cruz warned.

"You just moved to squad." Otis pointed out. "You weren't so quick to defend him before."

"He's been a bit edgy lately." Cruz agreed. "Hasn't been so easy for him, losing Shay, then Brittany, Clarke leaving, then this with Rice, but really, no need to talk bad about him."

"Get all up in my face when I say something that isn't true." Otis said smugly. "Kinda think there's a reason everyone leaves him, don't you think?"

"Otis, you tread a very fine line." Capp said. "I tolerate you and your constant trashing of my Lieutenant, but that ice beneath you has cracked, and you keep at it, you're gonna fall through."

"Cause I'm gonna push you through it." Ferraris added. "Let you sink."

Things had settled out between squad and truck once Severide and Casey had made nice. Severide was still sore with both Otis and Gabby though and Capp wasn't all that thrilled with Otis or the way he had dealt with the whole Rice debacle. He doubted he ever really would be.

"Yeah, see, that's the problem with you squad guys…"

"Well, I'm not squad, you wanna tell me what my problem is Otis?" Casey, at the sink, slammed the coffee pot down so hard on the counter, it cracked. "I've had it with you. You want to place blame? Fine. This is on you. Own up to it and acceptable responsibility for the role you played in this shit show."

He was not in the mood to listen to the men bicker and he did not need to be assailed by the vision of people falling through ice. Not now. Not today.

He. Did. Not.

Otis blinked. What had he done to rouse his boss's ire? "Me? Now wait a minute, Lieutenant. How is this on me?"

"You've known Severide how long? How many years? For Christ Sake, you lived with him. You know how he is. You know that." He dumped the coffee down the drain, went to toss the pot but it somehow remained in his hand. "Look what you made me do."

Otis had attempted to live with Severide and Shay, but it hadn't been all fun and parties and he'd move out soon after becoming their roommate.

"Here now, you aren't going to put this on me," Otis stood up. "Rice wasn't…."

Casey was close to losing it. Very close.

"Rice wasn't your problem!" He raised his voice, but wasn't yelling. Yet. The coffee pot waved through the air, cut an arc several times. "Do you get that Otis? You do get that, right? HE wasn't YOUR problem! He was Severide's and you should have taken your concerns to the Chief, not out them in front of everyone at a bar!"

"Severide wouldn't listen…."

"To you?" Casey snorted in derision. "Why would he?"

"Because I saw what he wouldn't admit."

"But did you try talking to him? Come to me? Go to Boden? Attacking Severide never works!"

"Who attacked him? How'd I do that Lieutenant? By questioning something about a friend of his? Lord knows he has few, what, he can't risk losing one?"

Casey drew back, his nostrils flared, a hand curled into a fist, the glass coffee pot came dangerously close to another thud on the counter. Signs everyone but Otis noticed and recognized.

"Low blow Otis, even for you."

"Not like he ever did anything for me. He…..'

Don't go there, Casey told himself. Don't go there….you fought with Gabby, you're emotionally on edge, Severide can fight his own battles, you'll say something you can't take back, don't go there…do-not-go-there…but he was stupid…because….he went there.

"He's never done anything for you?" Casey slapped his palms against his ears, coffee pot dangling from two fingers. "Am I hearing right? Did you or did you not fall through the ice after you were specifically told to stay off it? But you had to taunt him, didn't you? You didn't listen because he was the one who gave the order. Did he wait? Did he hesitate? Did he get diving gear? A guide rope? Or did he just jump in after you?"

Despite his efforts – mentally bracing himself and channeling his emotions – bringing up that particular incident, made his stomach roil. He swallowed past the sour bile in this throat, blinked hard, but the acid taste remained.

Would his reaction always be like this?

Yes, Otis had fallen in the frigid water, but in truth, with as fast as Severide had gone in after him, he'd been in the water for less time that his rescuer had. Otis had been boosted out by Severide but because he hadn't bothered to listen to orders again, he'd been unable to pull Kelly out, had been forced to run for help.

Severide had told him the ice was weak, to crawl out, stay on his belly, slither to safety. But he hadn't, he'd stood up on the ice and it had cracked. Lunging for the safety of firmer ground had caused the surrounding ice to break apart, sending Severide who'd been bracing his elbows on the edge of the hole, adrift with nothing to help him stay afloat and keep his head above water.

Affected by the freezing water no human could survive in, and weighed down by protective clothing, Severide had unable to get out by himself. Capp, Clarke and Mills had wasted no time retrieving their Lieutenant, but he'd still been in the water longer than Mills was comfortable with.

Clarke, weighing the least, had gone flat, distributing his weight – like Otis had been told to and hadn't – on the cracking ice and belly-crawled out with a looped rope and Severide had been pulled and hoisted out of the water, onto the ice, and finally, firm ground.

Otis had been handed off to the paramedics, but Casey had been unwilling – unable – to relinquish Severide to anyone on the scene and with the girls occupied, he'd turned to and received, the assistance of the guy who never batted an eye, always did what had to be done, didn't care what anyone thought.

Gabby had wanted to leave Otis with medics from another house, tend to Severide, but Chief hadn't allowed it and yes, Otis's feeling had been hurt that all the attention hadn't been on him…..it had gone to Severide...and Casey hadn't cared.

Casey shuddered, a cold line of sweat on his back made him hunch his shoulders. He didn't know why that particular incident bothered him so much. There had been plenty of rescues, some more dangerous, more serious….just…..

()()()()()()

"Mills!"

"Yeah, yeah, right here!"

"Here! Bring him here!"

"Get that coat off!"

"How long was he in the water?"

"Is he conscious?"

" Is he breathing?"

"Does he have a pulse?"

"Do we need to start CPR?"

"He showing signs of hypothermia? Anyone?"

"Anyone know if he was underwater? Submerged?"

"He has a pulse."

"He's breathing?"

"MILLS!?" Though Casey had rank and the right to authority, he was not a trained, certified EMT and was more than willing to allow Mills, who was, to take control.

"Right here Lieutenant. Get all his clothes off! Don't be slow about it, use scissors, find a knife, whatever. IF IT'S WET, GET IT OFF! Move Cruz. Someone get me those instant heat packs!"

"Blankets! HEY! We need blankets over here!"

"Severide? You with me? Talk to me Severide."

"Mills? He alert? He with it?" Casey asked anxiously. "MILLS!"

"Someone hold him!"

"Pat dry, don't rub!"

"Is that ice? That's ice! He has ice in his hair!"

"His hair! Get his hair!"

"Get him off the ground."

"Can you feel this? Squeeze my hand." Mills commanded. "Severide! Severide, hey, need you with me. Don't fade on me."

"Bundle him up!"

"Come on! Move!"

"Heat packs!"

"Give him here."

"Anyone got anything hot to drink? Anyone? Coffee?! Hey! Need some coffee over here!"

Severide felt the frantic motions around him, sensed the panic in the movements, heard the urgency in the raised voices but he didn't know why, or that he was the cause of it, couldn't make sense of anything.

He was held and hugged and jostled about, then held some more. He was picked up, held off the ground and though he wanted to protest the humiliating act of being stripped naked in freezing temperatures in public, in front of everyone, the most he could manage to do was hold tight to the wrist bearing the familiar, comforting watch his blurry, dim eyesight could see.

His arms and legs were patted and petted, his head and hair toweled and wrapped then put down and held. He was rubbed and hugged some more then swathed in a warm, thick blanket, held still by strong arms.

His hands were held, his fingernails squeezed. His lips were thumbed, his eyes pried open one at a time, his cheeks pinched.

"Severide?"

"Kelly?"

"Lieutenant?!"

"Sev?!"

That did it. That name in that frantic tone from that voice, roused him to action. In his befuddled mind, he leaped to his feet, took up arms and prepared to defend his friend from any and all threats. In reality, he forced his eyelids apart, baby blues blinked open, rolled in red sockets, blinked, focused, rolled, and closed.

"Stay with me."

It was an order and he tried to obey, he really did. But he was cold and uncomfortable and his skin hurt and he wanted to move but was trapped and he was about to panic.

"Get him to keep his eyes open."

"Hey, hey, just me," came Casey's quiet voice in his ear and his heart raced a little less. "Severide, look at me. Look. At. Me! Yeah, okay, that's it. Come on….keep your eyes...open...no! Nononono!"

"Tony, fire up the rig, blast the heat, Capp, help me…." Mills issued orders without thought to anyone of higher rank. "Lieutenant, get in first, we'll hand him up, be ready to take him."

Casey didn't need to be told; he was already in motion. Was he as familiar with this truck as he was his own? No. But it didn't matter. He knew what Mills meant, what he wanted and Casey was willing to sit on the floor and give what body heat he could.

"Ambo's arrived, can take him."

"Lift!"

"Watch his head!"

"Clarke!"

"Yeah, I've got him."

"Hand him in."

"Here, right here….give him to me…okay…." Casey, backing up the interior step of the rig, stumbled, fell back on his ass. "I've got him…" He remained on his ass, legs spread, scootched back further into the cab, dug his heels in, and hands under Severide's arms, pulled him close against his chest, closed his thighs around his shoulders.

"Get your coat off Casey, it's wet. HEY! Someone get him out of his coat!"

"I'm goo….ugh!" Casey yelped as he was pushed forward, his arms grabbed, wrenched behind his back. A tug or two lifted him off his ass and then, his coat was gone. A blanket was bundled around his shoulders along with pats and squeezes of support. He relaxed into the warmth, snuggled it up around his neck by hunching first one shoulder, then the other.

"Lieutenant," Mills paused to make sure he had Casey's attention, "he's going to draw the heat from your body, you're going to feel cold, try not to shiver."

Casey nodded, felt a fine line of panic travel down from his chest, settle into his stomach. Severide wasn't fighting…..not who held him, not how, not where.

"Mills, he's not moving!"

"Get him off the floor!"

"Get a blanket under him!"

"Where the hell are those heat packs?!"

Casey relaxed his hug, let his legs fall, waited while numerous hands, in unison, grabbed, lifted and held Severide aloft. A blanket was fumbled into his lap, he helped spread it out, held the corners up until Severide was put down, then wrapped it around him, waited while someone else tucked another blanket over them both, then resumed his prior position.

"Dammit Sev, don't do this." Casey whispered in his ear. "Come on, come on."

"Break those heat packs open Cruz! Neck, chest, crotch. Move! Don't be shy."

"He need a line?" Casey asked. He should consult with Mills about taking Severide to the ambulance, turning him over to the waiting medics on duty with a fully equipped rig, but he couldn't bring himself to bring it up and Mills hadn't suggested it, so...

"Can't hurt." Mills agreed, yelled over his shoulder. "Bring me a jump bag!" He returned his attention to Casey who was digging under the blankets to help Cruz apply the instant heat packs he'd activated. "Casey, you feel cold?"

"I'm good."

"Got coffee, hot chocolate." Mouch said breathlessly.

"What? How?" Cruz asked incredulously. "From where?"

"Ice rink right over there."

"Hot chocolate." Mills said impatiently. "Casey, you drink the coffee. Can he swallow? Where's that jump bag?!"

Casey didn't even try to get Severide to drink. But he was cold, and took the coffee, finished it, then drank the hot chocolate. The cups were small, their contents more fancy then practical but damn, the warmth felt good.

"Here, right here." Herrman handed up the bag, jumped in the passenger seat of the truck, knelt on his knees, hung between the seats. "Geesch Cruz, why so bashful? Gimme that." Leaning forward, he snatched two heat packs from Cruz, plunged his hands under the blanket, pawed his way down until he found skin.

"Jesus Chris." Tony, in the driver's seat, held onto Hermann's coat so he remained on the seat and didn't topple onto Severide and Casey as he leaned further forward. "Falling on them ain't gonna do no good."

"Casey, he's not shivering."

Casey met Herrman's eyes, didn't flinch, shook his head.

"Finally." Mills dug through the bag, removed what he wanted. Everyone went still, waited quietly while Mills took Severide's vitals. "Temp is 84. Pulse not too weak, breathing shallow." He slung the stethoscope around his neck. "Can't get him to drink?" Casey shook his head, "Okay, gonna run a line, give him warm fluids just 'cause I can."

"Med?" Casey asked, blanket-bundled armful of best friend between his legs.

"He shaking?"

"No."

"Teeth chattering?"

"No."

"Mouch said an ambo is waiting for him, will take…." but Casey was shaking his head, tightened his hold on Severide, hugged a little bit harder. If Severide was completely unresponsive, had gone under, if he'd lost consciousness, if he'd stopped breathing or required CPR or further life saving measures, if Mills had said 'Casey' in his quiet, patient tone, then Casey would have relinquished his hold and allowed Mills to summon the paramedics and take Severide away from him, and he'd've had to be knocked unconscious not to go with him in the ambulance...but Mills simply nodded.

Mills was crowded in the backside of the cab in the truck, but didn't really mind. More bodies meant a warmer area faster. "Bring me a bag from the ambo!" he shouted to any and all.

"Gabby said Otis….."

"Otis is upright, conscious and alert." Mills snapped. "There is another ambo on scene. Get me the damn bag."

"Mills, he's too still, he's not moving….." Casey started but Mills was already hovering over Severide, holding his chin.

"You with me?"

No response.

"Who I am?"

No response.

But Mills had a suspicion. "Casey, you try." He ordered, waited to see if his theory was right.

Casey wanted to, he did, but he was afraid how he'd feel, he didn't get the response they were looking for. He licked his lips, nodded, but remained silent. Finally, he cleared his throat, lowered his head so his mouth was right next to Severide's ear.

"Kelly, hey." He said huskily, voice thick. "Can you hear me?"

Barest flicker of one eyelid.

"Severide, you can't do this. Come on, not you we're supposed to rescue today." Mills teased. "Otis is with Dawson and Brett, he's fine. Now come on, need you to talk to me."

Nothing.

"Kelly? Sev? Come on, you're scaring me." Casey swallowed hard. "You don't have to move, just open your eyes. Can you do that?"

A hitch in breathing, tilt of a chin.

"Please?"

And finally, Matt was rewarded by the sight of blue eyes staring up at him for the second time. He blew out his breath out in relief, glanced at Mills - who absolutely loved being right - saw his huge, beaming smile and felt marginally better.

"He's groggy, but responsive." Mills said cheerfully. "He's good guys." He assured Capp and Ferraris and Clarke.

Severide rolled his head, though his eyes were barely a slit, he saw where he was, who he was with, shifted his weight in preparation to move and…shit! He was too tired – exhausted – to do more than close his eyes. His body wasn't moving no matter how much he wished to put distance between himself and the embarrassing position he was in.

The bag arrived, and though Severide wasn't as alert as Mills wished he was, he was responding - if only to Casey - and his vitals were holding steady. It was enough not to tear him away from Casey and turn him over to the medics.

"Mills wants your hand."

Had anyone else suggested he just hold his hand out for whatever reason, he would have questioned it, refused. But this was Casey….so, he squirmed, allowed his hand to be found, extracted from the depths of the blankets, held.

"How'd you get warm fluids?" Herrman, still perched on his knees in the passenger seat, asked.

"Don't worry about it." Mills mumbled around a cap between his teeth. "Say ow."

Kelly blinked, say what?

His skin was poked with a needle…..it stung, actually brought tears to his eyes.

"OW!" And he began to shiver.

And Mills grinned. "Felt that, did ya?" He taped down the port in the back of Severide's hand. "Good."

"So, Med?" Casey asked again. It had been the longest hour of his life but the pit in his stomach was dissolving, and he was finally able to breathe normally. Severide laid calmly in his lap, lazily played with Casey's watch, which...was broken because according to it...not even 10 minutes had passed! DAMN!

"Skin color is good, he's warming up, but yeah. Call ahead, tell them we're on our way, want Dr. Halstead…."

"Ferraris…"

Tony let go of Herrman, turned around in the seat, put the engine in gear...the truck lurched forward with such force, Herrman landed in the footwell.

Anyone who was on that truck, went with it.

()()()()()()

"He's trained for water rescue…"

"No human body can tolerate those temperatures. Could he have waited? Gone in safely? Like he should have? His rig was right there, he could have had his gear on in seconds, but you didn't have those seconds…..with his training, he knew that and went in after you. So yeah, yeah Otis, you'd be dead, he hadn't gone in after you when he did…..and you fucked up because you didn't listen to him and put his life in greater danger. That's one time he did something for you."

"Oh. There's more?"

"Cutting through a beam with a torch your leg was trapped under when everyone said take your leg? Trauma surgeon onsite?"

"Again, he's trained as a welder….."

"Underwater?" Casey questioned. "You trapped yourself in a fire, remember that? Who came with an axe before you burned to death?"

"Yeah, okay, but…."

"Pulled a double-shift at the site of that building collapse, helped get you out? He's always the first in…."

"He's squad, it's his job."

"And yet, you're not thankful for men who do that job."

"Truth is Lieutenant, he is a cocky son-of-a-bitch." Otis said calmly. "He does what he wants and no one does anything about it. It took Shay walking out on him, for him to address his back and during all that time he was popping pills to manage the pain, he put us all in danger. But that's okay, all's good, he's Severide."

"Shay knew how to get through to him. Leaving him was the wake-up call he needed."

"It never should have gotten to that point."

"There's no man I'd rather have at my back," Casey said. "And if I ever had to choose between Severide on pills or some guy I don't know, I'll take Severide every damn time." He really, really wanted a cup of coffee. "We're done, I don't ever want to hear about this again."

"Just wondering Lieutenant, there ever gonna be a time, you don't take his side?"

"Why is this even a discussion? I don't answer to you."

"You're the one who butted in."

Casey braced his arm on the counter, worked through his anger, and still holding that stupid coffee pot, stared. He was too tired to have this fight, wanted it to end. Hell, he didn't even want to have it, but Otis was right, he had butted in.

"I'm only going to say this once and if I hear anything about it again, heads will roll and asses will be moved." He really needed to get out of there. "When Severide is wrong, he is called on it. He doesn't get any special treatment. And when shit hits the fan, he accepts his role in it."

"Thing is Lieutenant, he's not always right. In fact, he's usually wrong. Gets on his high-horse and everyone tiptoes around him…."

"The thing is Otis, he's not your problem." Casey said pointedly. "Me and Chief? We got him. All you gotta do is let him rant, let him shut you down. Given time, he comes around, does what's right. You should know that by now. Rice wasn't a bad guy, he was in a tough situation and Severide tried to help with that. It didn't work out. It's been dealt with, move on or I will move you on."

"Let him rant like you do? Like with Darden's wife? Sorry Lieutenant, I can't do that. I won't stand around and let someone treat me like Severide treats you." Otis was calm, but he wasn't holding back. "He believed the worst of you, does every time he gets a stick up his ass and you just sit there and you take it. Whether you chose to have a relationship with Heather or not, isn't his business. It's yours. And you let him yell at you in front of all of us. It divided the house even though you told him you didn't sleep with her."

"I don't see how any of that concerns you." The way to handle him, was to let him yell, because when Severide was hurt, he lashed out. But Casey didn't share that. Nope.

"Because even though he was an ass, you let him come at you. It was you against him and you chose his side. Who does that? How does that even happen? No matter what or who's involved, you always take his side."

"It's not about sides Otis, me and him? We disagree, we argue, we fight, we pick each other apart, but you wanna force me to choose? Severide has always had my back. You got a problem with him, then you come to me. Let him be my problem. When will you get it? You can't handle him Otis. You can't. You don't know how."

"And you do?" Otis countered.

"Yeah Otis, I do." Casey was losing the ability to control his anger. Everyone knew it. "And I'm willing to do that. But you gotta butt the hell out, leave him alone. Leave him to me."

"And you to him." Herrman muttered.

"Well," Otis paused, "I don't ever recall saying I wanted to."

Casey wasn't really much caring about anyone's feelings. "Not like he'd ever want you close to him anyway."

"See, thing is Lieutenant, he's not the kind of guy I'd want to call a close friend."

"But using him, by moving in with him, was okay?"

"I don't need to go running to my boss to handle my problems."

"See, thing is Otis," Casey mimicked the tone being directed at him. Man, it was getting to him, "he eats your donut, you handle it. He puts the lives of his men or mine at risk, you come to me about it." His eyes throbbed, his neck ached from tension. He needed to get out of here, needed some distance from the 'room.' "I hear another word about Rice and the way Severide behaved, I'll put your transfer in myself."

"Wow," Otis said slowly. "Wow. Just wow Casey. Rumor mill is right, isn't it? Nothing he does, is ever going to make you call him on his shit."

"That's a damn lie."

Otis conceded the point, but didn't let it go. "You got me on that, but you're always going to put him first…."

"Watch your mouth."

Otis didn't heed the warning. "Even before Gabby."

"Whoa!" Herrman, Mouch and Cruz all chorused at the same time.

"What did you just say?"

"He never handles things the right way Lieutenant. You get that, don't you?"

"He's got a point Casey. We all feel butthurt over the Rice business. Severide shut us down, shit hits the fan and only person who pays is Rice." Mouch said carefully. "That just doesn't seem fair."

"You think someone else should've?"

"Severide being suspended, yeah." Otis said. "Yes, I do."

"Well, it didn't happen, and it isn't going to." Casey countered. "Even if you file an aggrievance, nothing is going to happen to Kelly." To him, in his mind, it was as simple as that. It explained all and he was done and it was time to take a walk, get a coffee. Maybe a hotdog from that cart vendor that recently took up on the corner.

Everyone went quiet at the use of Severide's first name.

Except Otis. Even though hurricane Casey was swirling, gaining speed, he just wasn't ready to let it go.

"So, here we are again. The house divided and you're not going to do anything about it because when Severide's feelings are hurt; you say, let him vent, let it go."

"This house is divided because YOU chose to do things your way."

"So, the wrong way." Otis wasn't backing down. He was sick and tired of Kelly Severide always getting a pass for his behavior and attitude. "Things gotta be done Lieutenant Matt Casey's way. At all costs, huh? And what way is that again? Oh right….defend Lieutenant Kelly Severide, protect his feelings."

"You wanna say anything else?" Casey asked. "I doubt you'll regret it, you seem to want to get this all off your chest, but Otis, I'm warning you….back the hell off."

"Alright, yeah." Otis remained behind the table so it was between him and Casey. He was pushing, he knew he was and if Casey decided to come at him, a mere table wouldn't stop him, but still, he felt better with it between them. "Yeah, I got something else to say. I don't get why you defend him, why you're so close to him. Why he can do what he wants, say whatever he's thinking….trash you in front of everyone and yet you stand here and it's me you ream out."

"What's the matter Otis? Your feelings hurt? Fact is, you'll never have a friendship like the one we have." Casey snapped his fingers. "You've always been negative towards squad, the snark, the sarcasm….you think that doesn't bother him?"

"Yeah, well, see…the thing is Lieutenant, I don't care if it does. I don't really care how he feels." Otis said. "And I don't see how you can continue to always defend him. I pretty much see it as a one-sided friendship. Your so-called friend is….."

And Casey saw red. Every single item on the counter was swiped to the floor with a violent swipe and shove. The coffee pot slammed onto the cutting board with such force, the shatter-resistant glass shattered, flew in every direction.

Activity in the room stopped. People who hadn't been in the room, now made an appearance. Chief arrived, glaring at Herrman for allowing the argument to escalate to the point, a fist was going to fly.

"HE IS THE ONLY PERSON IN MY LIFE TO EVER ASK HOW IT MADE ME FEEL MY MOM WAS CONVICTED OF MURDERING MY DAD!"

Otis ducked the orange coffee pot handle whipped at his head.

"Alright, alright," Herrman decided it was time to break up this discussion, he stepped forward, then back when Casey rounded on him with clenched fists. "Okay, okay." He looked at his Chief who merely shrugged.

"Have you Otis? Huh? HAVE YOU? You know about it, you talk about it." He rounded the corner of the counter, and this time, allowed Herrman to stand in his way. "Do you have any idea how much that hurt? Did you ever ask me if I wanted to talk about it? I'M ASKING YOU A QUESTION! ANSWER ME!'

"Lieutenant." Herrman tried. "Casey,"

"Yeah," Casey spat. "What, I thought. You can't even look me in the eye, can you?"

"Hey, here now." Herrman tried again. He knew this wasn't about Casey defending Severide any longer. He wasn't angry, but emotionally shot to hell. This had somehow, gone past a disagreement about Rice.

"Casey, hey, hey now." He spoke quietly. "Casey, come on, let's take a walk."

"Don't you DARE question my relationship with Severide! Who the hell do you think you are?"

Well, okay then, he wasn't done, wasn't ready to let it go.

"Everyone talked about it, whispered about it behind my back, but no one ever asked me if I wanted to talk about it. Did you? Huh Otis? Have you? I was a kid and suddenly, I had no home, no family, my life was upended. Did you once, ever ask me how that made me feel?" Punching a coworker, a subordinate could likely cost him his job, ruin his career but God-dammit…he just didn't care right now. "Did you ever say, 'hey Matt, how you doing? Wanna stay in, watch a movie, pizza and popcorn, just talk?"

His eyes swam with unshed tears from anger, from frustration, from emotion. He'd been pushed when he'd told them to shut down trashing Severide and now, a price was being paid and it wasn't fair.

"He was there when I just needed to be left alone, to talk when I wanted, if I wanted. I was young and stupid and people got in my face and he never judged me Otis. Do you get that? He NEVER judged!"

They all knew Casey and Severide had met at the fire academy. They all knew Severide and Darden had been friends since grade school. They all knew the three had become friends, ended up assigned to the same house. What they all didn't know was, what happened that forged the bond between Casey and Severide. Even Darden, who didn't call Kelly, Sev, hadn't known. Though maybe Casey had just shared some information on that.

Darden had once confided to Herrman, that while he thought Severide would be jealous of the friendship, he and his wife and formed with Casey and his fiancée, he hadn't and Andy had been the one to become jealous of the friendship Severide and Casey formed - a friendship, an understanding, that hadn't included him.

The trio had been close. Severide hadn't cared Darden and Casey had formed an easy-going friendship as a foursome with Heather and Hallie while Severide and Renee had remained distant. Good ole Kelly, always attracted to the 'bad' girl, always kept a distance from everyone. Shay had been the only person other than Casey, to know a side of Severide he kept to himself.

Severide had never, not since Andy had met him in the first grade, tolerated anyone calling him Sev. By anyone. And the very first time he'd heard Casey say it, he'd been prepared for Severide to blow up, and fists to fly. Instead, Severide had accepted a hug and the two had walked off. He'd asked, but neither would confide in him

He'd thought that since everyone got their feelings hurt or their teeth knocked out, Kelly had always gotten his way about his name. Either Casey had refused to fight and got the crap beaten out of him, had fought back and won or hadn't fought after the first punch and instead managed to talk Severide down.

He didn't know. No one did. Not even Shay.

After Darden had died, a gulf between the two Lieutenants had developed, wedged further apart when Darden's widow had blamed Severide and Casey had let it smolder and then before even a year was up, Heather was hitting on Casey and the divide had widened….but let Hallie be in danger and Kelly had refused to allow Matt to risk his life alone… she hadn't made it and day by day, that gulf between them narrowed – mostly due to Severide's persistence about not letting Casey go it alone.

"Okay, okay now, easy." Herrman felt the need to hug Casey who was shaking, but the lieutenant wasn't in a mood to be approached. He doubted whatever had happened that had led to Casey being allowed to call Severide Sev, forge that bond, had been as simple as Severide telling Casey; I'm here, you need someone. It was deeper than that.

"Hey," Severide waltzed in like all was right in the world and Otis wasn't seconds away from being put on his ass. "Something going on?"

Casey sniffed, wiped his nose, turned away.

Herrman snarled at Severide's easy gait and peppy tone. He knew the squad leader damn well knew something was going on and most likely knew what it was about and his next words proved it.

"How's it going Otis?" Severide's tone turned, one lip curled in disgust. He reached out when Casey tried to leave the room, snagged an elbow by a sleeve, pulled him close for a hug and to everyone's astonishment, Casey clung to him, accepted the tight embrace. "Anything else you wanna say before your mouth is shut for you?"

"Not something you need to get involved in Severide." Mouch advised as Casey rubbed his cheek against Severide's shoulder, attempted to pull free but didn't resist when he was held tight.

"No? You trash me behind my back to your Lieutenant, then gang up on him when he defends me and I don't need to get involved?"

"No ganging up on was done," Mouch mentioned smoothly.

"There isn't a man in this house who knows you wouldn't come for him, his life was in danger, but Severide," Herrman began, "You don't call many of us friend, and yeah, that rankles but no one here means Casey – or you – any harm. We didn't mean to upset him, we're sorry."

"Maybe if you didn't always put him a position where he has to defend you, this wouldn't be so hard on him." Otis unwisely pointed out.

"And you wonder why." Severide spat to Herrman. He felt Casey tense, gave him a hug, let him go.

"Kelly," Chief warned when his truck Lieutenant made a move towards Otis with a fist. "Let it go."

"Sever….." but Herrman was talking to a retreating back. "Awww….FUCK!" He smacked his palm against the wall in frustration, howled, but the hit hadn't been hard and no damage had been caused, just stung like a bitch. "Jesus Otis! Do you ever know when to quit?"

Perplexed, Otis looked around. Herrman was mad at him now?

"What'd I do?"

Silence.

"Chief?" Otis looked for guidance but only met a hostile stare before Boden turned and silently walked away.

"Why you gotta do that?" Herrman sighed.

"Just saying what we all feel."

"Well, yeah, but you don't say it in front of Casey."

"Why not?

"Because you push him, he's gonna do what he just did, come down on you and defend Severide."

"You overstepped."

"Yeah, uh, Otis, you need to back off." Cruz told him. "Everyone knows how you feel, so time to let it go."

"Don't drop by the squad table." Ferraris stood up, Capp joined him. "You're not welcome."

Cold shoulders and turned backs had not been what Otis expected. A part of him felt it was Severide's fault but everyone was mad he'd pushed Casey when they'd told him not to. It was on Casey's side everyone gathered.

"Just you and me Pouch."

The dog gave him a look only dogs could give. She jumped off the sofa, shook out, sniffed in disdain and trotted after Severide.

Otis sighed. You knew you were fucked when even the dog wouldn't talk to you.