Casey walked towards the Chief's office, saying hello to Connie as he walked by her. Casey knocked on the Chief's door and entered once he heard a rough voice say to come in.
Casey opened the door and the Chief looked up over the top of his glasses "Casey, what can I do you for?"
"I have an idea I wanted to run by you."
"Alright. Close the door and have a seat." Chief motioned to one of the chairs in front of his desk.
Casey nodded his head, closed the door and took a seat in front of Chief Boden's desk. "I wanted to see if you would talk to Alex about coming back and working on 61."
Boden's brow furrowed inward. "Why?"
Casey took a deep breath. "Because Gabby wants to move to truck but I know she can't without someone to be the new PIC."
Chief took off his glasses and sat them on his desk. "What makes you think she would comeback?"
"It's Lex Chief. 51 has always been her family and she is moving back to Chicago."
Boden looked down at his rough hands debating with himself. Once he made a decision, he looked back up at Casey. "I'll talk to her but I make no promises Casey."
"Understood Chief. Thank you." Casey left the Chief's office with a smile on his face. Maybe having Alex back in the house would help.
Hermann couldn't stop thinking about calling Mason and checking in to see what was going on. He was doing inventory on 81 but handed the checklist off to Kidd.
Kidd gave him a confused look. "I'll be right back." She took the checklist and Hermann walked to the locker room and pulled out his phone.
He went to his contacts and looked for Mason's name. Hermann hesitated for a moment but then pressed the call button, bringing the phone up this ear.
Hermann listened to as the phone rang waiting for Mason to pickup.
You have reached Sargent Mason Jameson. I can't answer right now so leave me a message and I'll get back to you.
"Hey Mason, it's Christopher Hermann. I just wanted to talk about you guys coming to Chicago. Alex stopped by 51 and everyone is excited that she is moving back. Just wanted to see if there was anything going on or if you needed help. Call me back."
Hermann ended the voicemail and threw his phone back into his bag. The picture on his locker door catching his eye just as he was about to close it.
The picture was of him, Alex, and his brother. "I've got her Bill. Don't worry." Hermann closed his locker and went back out to do inventory.
"Alex where are you going?!?" Mason shouted at his wife as she began to throw her things into bags.
"I'm going back to Chicago Mason! I can't do this anymore! Your drinking has gotten out of control!" Alex began setting her items next to the front door.
"Alex please! I'll do better! I'll get help. please... please don't leave me." Mason had tears forming in the corner of his brown eyes.
Alex stopped and looked at the man she had fallen in love with. His eyes seemed so dark and hallow. His once buzz cut black hair was now untamed and reached his shoulders. His once fit body was now undefined. He had stopped caring.
"I'm sorry Mason. It's too late for that. I've given you too many chances and I can't do it anymore." Alex picked up her bags that sat by the front door. She took off her wedding ring and sat it on the kitchen counter. "Goodbye Mason."
Alex walked out of the house they shared and tried not to look back. She could hear Mason shouting her name and then glass breaking as he threw probably one of her many flower vases at the wall.
She put her bags in the backseat and then got in the drivers seat. Alex allowed herself a couple minutes to cry before starting her dodge charger. The roar of the engine came to life and she began her drive back to Chicago. Leaving North Carolina in her rearview mirror.
"Lex wake up." Kelly Severide began to shake his best friend awake when he realized she was crying. "Lex!"
Alex bolted up out of bed and fell onto the floor, her heart racing.
"Lex?" Kelly moved slowly towards her but she shuddered away from him. Kelly stopped moving when he realized she was scared. "Lex? It's me Kelly. You're safe."
Alex looked up from the floor and locked eyes with Kelly. Her shaking slowed down as she realized where she was. "Kelly?"
"You're okay Lex. It's just me." Kelly opened his arms up and Lex got up and crawled back into them. Kelly held onto her tight until he felt her shaking completely stop. "You okay?"
Alex nodded her head against Kelly's chest. "Bad dream."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"no not really." Alex had a death grip on Kelly's shirt.
"Well if you do I'm here." Alex just nodded her head against his chest. His heartbeat washing out any thoughts she had in her head. But her peace was quickly interrupted.
Beep Beep
Truck 81 Squad 3 Ambulance 61 Car accident. Washington St.
Kelly groaned as he had to let Lex go. "You gonna be okay?"
"I'll be fine Kelly. Go."
Kelly placed a kiss to her forehead before running out to head to the emergency. Alex waited till she couldn't hear the sirens anymore before she got out of Kelly's bunk.
Alex walked over to his desk and found a blank piece of paper. She wrote out a quick note.
I'll be staying in the apartment above Uncle Hermann's and Aunt Cindy's garage. Text me later or stop by after your shift.
XOXO Lex
Alex placed the paper and pen in the center of the desk before she headed out. She walked out of the firehouse, climbing into her car and then headed for Hermann's house.
