A/N – Hi all, so here I am a Chicago Fire fan from the UK going to attempt to write a story for Chicago Fire. To say I'm nervous is an understatement but this story has been rolling around my head for months now and so here I am or more to the point here it is. All Chicago Fire characters are involved, obviously, but I'm introducing my own character in. Jessica Johnson also known as JJ, JJ is 29 from the UK, five foot seven, brunette hair that sits just at her shoulders and blue eyes. Sorry for the long authors note and hopefully I still have you with me. So here goes.
A place to call home
During her first two years of being in Chicago, life for Jessica Johnson hadn't been all plain sailing, she had left the UK for what she believed would be a new start. You see Jessica had been a paramedic for three years previously before moving to Chicago, but still deciding to apply for the CFD and even trying her hand at becoming a firefighter, this is where she first met Lieutenant Kelly Severide her tutor for the few weeks she managed, but the smoke box put an end to being a firefighter. So JJ decided to revert back to being a paramedic and this is now why she'd been in the floater pool for over a year.
JJ was eventually placed at Firehouse 37 but never felt she truly belonged, Firehouse 37 had their cliques and no matter how she tried nobody wanted her to join, JJ often would sit on the back of the rig staring into space. Staring into space is exactly what she was doing when Mouch arrived selling the fireman's picnic tickets.
"Hi could you point me in the direction of where Captain Lewis is please?"
JJ still in a daze replied "Sorry are you talking to me?"
"Yes, if you don't mind me asking, but why are you sat out here by yourself?"
"I prefer it you see, lone ranger me. Captain Lewis will be in the common room"
Mouch looks like he's about to make his way into the firehouse turns completely around and joins JJ on the back of the rig. Mouch sits and waits for JJ to speak or even acknowledge that Mouch is there. JJ shifts and turns to face Mouch is about to speak when the booming voice of Captain Lewis spreads through the apparatus floor.
"Mouch as I live and breath, what brings you to 37?"
"Fireman's picnic tickets, how many does 37 need?"
"Oh well we need 15 of them"
"15? But what about the paramedic sat over there on the Ambo? Surely she needs a ticket?"
"Well seeing she won't be my responsibility after this shift then I won't be buying her ticket, if she wants to go she can buy it herself?"
Mouch looks over at JJ who heard everything Captain Lewis had said and can see the hurt in her face and shakes his head.
"What do you mean not your responsibility?"
"After shift is over she goes back into the floater pool, all I can say is good luck to the next firehouse that gets her, thanks for the tickets Mouch see you around "
"Ummm yeah" Mouch slowly walks towards JJ, whilst taking a ticket out of the plastic wallet "Here for you"
"Thanks, but no thanks"
As JJ passes the ticket back towards Mouch he shakes his head "No can do, look I know you heard what he said and well I'm sorry about that, you see...?
"I don't mean to be rude but I'm just not interested, in anything you have to say or give me"
"But.."
"You really don't get it do you? I don't need the ticket and I don't need your sympathy or whatever this is, I just want...no never mind forget I said anything"
JJ leaps up from the rig, pacing and trying to calm down the tears attempting to escape, she turns to look at Mouch who just looks back waiting for JJ to either stop pacing, cry, scream or sit back down beside him to get whatever was eating her up inside completely out. JJ shakes her head and continues pacing.
"How?"
"Come again?"
JJ sighs "How do you do that? I mean you don't even know me, hell I don't even know you and...and...nope"
"For starters what's your name? I'm Randall 'Mouch' McHolland from firehouse 51"
JJ stops pacing and looks at Mouch "I'm Jessica Johnson, JJ and not sure where I am"
"JJ? Can I call you JJ? JJ nods "Come to the picnic, come meet my friends from the firehouse, you could always gain some more friends"
"Friends? What are they?"
"Well I'm a friend"
JJ laughs out loud "You have only know me, what ten minutes and in that time all I've done is rant at you"
"Yes that's true, but isn't that what friends do? Listen to them ranting and making them feel better?"
JJ giggles again "OK I guess you're right, thanks"
"Come here" Mouch pulls JJ into a hug, JJ freezes "Too much? That was too much, I'm sorry"
"No not at all just wasn't expected that's all"
Mouch can't help but sigh in relief, looking down at the fireman's picnic tickets that started this friendship, looking back up at JJ, Mouch hands JJ her ticket.
"Please come, 51 hosts it this year so everyone will be there, trust me you won't regret it"
"OK I'll come and Mouch, thank you" JJ leans over and gives Mouch a quick kiss on the cheek.
"What the..?"
Just as Mouch was about to ask the bells went off signalling that Ambo 16 had a call.
"Ambo 16, person in distress, 1525 Walbrook Avenue"
As JJ climbed into Ambo 16, she smiled "Bye Mouch see you at the picnic and thanks "
Mouch stood waved, felt his cheek and walked to his car, pulling out his phone he dialled Boden's phone, he waited for it to be answered.
"Mouch?"
"Hey Chief is Brett still looking for a partner on Ambo 61?"
"Yes, why? You found someone?"
"Yeah it's just she's not had a great start to the CFD, her last house 37 practically ignored her, from what I've seen or more to the point heard is she'd be a good fit for 51"
"OK will she be at the fireman's picnic?"
"Yes and that wasn't easy"
"Right, so what's her name so I can pull her file?"
"Jessica Johnson, Chief she needs 51, just as much as we need her before Brett kills her latest halfwit"
Boden laughs "Fair point, see you at the picnic Mouch"
"See you there" Mouch can't help but smile as he returns his phone to his pocket and starts his journey home, looking forward to the picnic the following day.
There it was again the nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach as she made her way to the fireman's picnic, JJ spent half her morning pacing talking to herself, trying to convince herself that going to the picnic was even a good idea, but eventually the image of the disappointment on Mouch's face won the argument. Well that was new JJ had only met Mouch the day before, gained him as a friend and was making sure she didn't hurt his feelings. JJ arrived at the picnic to find it in full swing and everyone enjoying themselves, before even attempting to get out her car the feeling of her having to give herself a pep talk resurfaced.
"OK get it together, you'll be fine, it's Mouch and the whole of 51 and the rest of the CFD"
Taking deep breaths "Oh who am I kidding?"
Then there was a slight tapping on her car window, which made JJ jump, yell and curse, something she didn't do often or at all if she could manage it.
"Oh my goodness, you scared the shit out of me Mouch"
"Hey sorry, was just heading back to the picnic from my car when I saw you pull up"
"Oh OK, will you let me out then?"
Mouch looked at the small gap in the car window and then JJ herself "Whoops sorry"
"It's OK, so now what?"
"Well I'm going to introduce you to the whole of 51"
Mouch allowed JJ to hook her arm through his, he'd already explained to Trudy about JJ and that she needed extra care, Trudy understood and was even looking forward to meeting JJ, she was the girl that stole her husbands heart but for different reasons than love. Mouch sensing JJ's nervousness patted her hand.
"You'll be OK, be yourself and they are going to love you"
Mouch takes the final steps to the group, JJ looks up and sees Kelly Severide looking back at her.
"Jessica Johnson as I live and breathe, how you doing?"
"Hey Lieutenant Severide"
"Kelly or Severide, you can drop the Lieutenant"
"I..OK Severide, I'm now a paramedic in the floater pool nonetheless"
"How long?"
"Over a year now, nowhere felt right you know? Or nobody's wanted me more than one shift and bam back in the floater pool I go"
"Here come meet everyone"
Kelly pulls JJ away from Mouch and takes her go the group of men and women stood around the drinks cooler.
"Hey this is Jessica Johnson I had the privilege of teaching her at the academy"
"Hi do you want a drink?"
"Oh yes please, urmm?"
"My names Sylvie Brett, would you like introductions?"
Sylvie goes into the cooler and hands JJ a bottle of water, JJ accepts it gratefully and looks around the firehouse 51 group.
"So there's Captain Casey, Severide you already know, Lieutenant Herrmann, Capp, Tony, Cruz, Gallo, Ritter, Mouch and Tuesday"
"Hi Tuesday, Hi everyone"
Tuesday promptly gives wet kisses to JJ's face causing her to giggle and Ritter apologising and trying to pull a eager Tuesday off JJ.
"Tuesday stop!" "I'm so sorry and on the brightside it means she likes you"
"Aww thank you Tuesday, I like you too"
Ritter smiles and finally gets the happy over excited pup to calm down, Sylvie looks around for two more people, smiles when she sees them approaching.
"Jessica, this is Stella Kidd and our Chief, Chief Boden"
"You can all call me JJ"
"Hey girl, you don't want to hang around with the boys, we were just about to go wandering"
"Of course how silly of me, JJ would you like to join me and Stella?"
"Yeah sure, Hi Chief Boden"
Boden nods his head and smiles when Stella drags JJ away from the group, watching as Stella and Sylvie drag her from one event to the other smiling and giggling as they go, he looks towards Mouch and gives him a slight nod, knowing that before the day was out he was going to offer JJ the permanent place on 61.
When the day was drawing near to the end, JJ, Stella and Sylvie returned covered in face paint and holding Teddy bears they'd won, giggling about something Stella had said. Mouch was over the moon to see JJ so happy, as was Trudy who had joined her husband earlier in the day. JJ looked at Mouch and pulled him into a hug, before stepping back and looking at Trudy.
"I'm so sorry, it won't happen again"
"Don't I get one of those?"
"I...what?"
Trudy laughs at JJ's awkwardness "I said do I get one of those? Randall you never told me how sweet she is?"
"I'm sorry I don't mean to be rude, but.."
Before JJ finishes her sentence Trudy pulls her into a bone crunching hug, smiling at Mouch.
"Chief before you make the announcement can we borrow JJ and Ritter?"
"Go ahead"
JJ follows Mouch, Trudy and Ritter from the group her nerves starting to get the better of her, tears falling noticed by Ritter who pulls her into a hug. JJ accepts gratefully and watches as both Mouch and Trudy look at her.
"Oh my dear girl, dry those eyes, this a good thing"
"It's true JJ, but you'll see shortly"
"So we both know you've not had a great start here in Chicago, no family or friends"
JJ starts to cry openly for the first time "Yes that's so true, I have no one"
"You have us, all of us"
JJ looks from Mouch, to Trudy, to Ritter who has the goofiest grin plastered to his face.
"I don't understand"
"I do, not that long ago I was where you are now, lonely wondering if it was ever worth it"
JJ nods and allows Ritter to hug her and continue.
"You see, Mouch took me under his wing, showed me that life is worth living and I'm grateful for everything he's done and continues to do for me, you would say he's like an adopted dad and Trudy a mum"
"Yes thank you Darren, so we were wondering whether you'd allow me and Randall to be your go to people?"
"I don't know what to say?"
"Say yes" Trudy rolled her eyes at Ritter "Sorry"
"I...oh what the heck, yes please I'd love that so much" JJ turns to Ritter "Does this make you my brother?"
"Now, now children"
JJ gives everyone a hug lingering more with Trudy, before she whispers "Thank you, you don't know how much this means to me, but we best not keep Chief Boden any longer"
Trudy and Mouch walk behind JJ and Ritter and smile knowing exactly what was going to happen next and their smiles went even wider, just then Chief Boden clears his throat drawing all the attention to him.
"As you are all aware we've been looking for a partner on Ambo 61 for Brett for quite sometime, how Brett hasn't killed any of them I'll never know?"
"A punch bag Chief, works every time"
"Noted" Chief looks at JJ and "I hear by today offer the permanent place on Ambo 61, to JJ"
Everyone from 51 cheers but then stops quickly as JJ's sobbing and clinging to Ritter, Stella and Sylvie approach JJ cautiously and instantly JJ turns from Ritter and wraps her arms around Stella's neck.
"Hey girl, talk to me, to us, we've got your back me and Brett"
"I'm so sorry I should be happier than this, I am happy. It's just I've waited so long to feel as if I belong and I'm scared it's all a big dream"
Stella pinched JJ "Hey what was that for?"
"To prove to you this is no dream, you gained two new sisters and a whole lot of crazy over there with the boys, just don't get me started"
"OK, umm thanks and I'm sorry for getting your shirt wet"
"It will dry, how come on girl let's celebrate"
JJ couldn't help but smile and accept all the hugs from her new family, she was also looking forward to her first shift at 51 on Ambo with Brett, after two years of having no one she was thrilled of what she did gain, but in the profession they were all in she knew that could all change at a drop of a hat and JJ hoped that wouldn't happen for quite sometime.
TBC
Well I hope you liked the first chapter, I do have other chapters to add but will get others judgement beforehand, I hope I got the characters in character, but seeing as this my first ever Chicago Fire story I'm nervous, please review and thanks.