Thank you so much for all your reviews on the last chapter! I'm having fun with this story so far as I'm hooked on Chicago Fire! Let me know what you think of this chapter! Love Ya'll!


Dauntless was closed on Mondays and Mondays when he didn't have shift, Zeke started reserving those days as family days. Hana worked as a desk Sergeant in the 21st district for the Chicago Police Department. She had done 4 years of service in the Army, joining when she was 18. She took a desk job after her husband was killed, she never wanted Zeke and Uriah to worry about if she was coming home.

When Dallas was born, she decided to retire after 25 years at the CPD. Now, she worked part-time on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the morning covering the desk at District 21 so she could keep Dallas when Zeke and Tori both needed to work. It started out with Zeke taking Dallas to the park when he was old enough to run around, then Hana would pack a picnic in the Summer to join them. Now that Uriah was home, Monday nights had become family dinner night for them usually followed by a movie or a game before Dallas went to sleep. This particular Monday, Dallas whined that he wanted Tori to come have dinner with them. Tori usually hung out with Shauna and Marlene or got some rest, whatever she wanted to do on those nights so it wasn't a big deal.

"Is he finally down?" Zeke asks as Tori comes downstairs.

Zeke thought she looked so adorable with her hair pulled up in a messy ponytail and a pair of sweatpants on. At first glance, you wouldn't know that her mother was from Taiwan but if you looked closer, you saw the shape of her eyes and the less defined waves of her long black hair against her mocha skin tone. She was proud of her heritage, and she was excited to teach Dallas as he got older about his maternal grandmother's traditions.

"Yes, I read Brown Bear three times before he finally went to sleep. Are Ms. Hana and Uri gone?" She asks, looking around.

Zeke's townhouse was a small cozy two-bedroom with just enough room for him and Dallas. It was in an ideal location, close to 51 and to his mother's. He had offered to get a three-bedroom when Uriah moved back but Uriah insisted he was fine at Hana's, he was working so much he was only there to shower and get some sleep.

"Yeah, Uri had already fallen asleep as soon as we finished playing Candy Land after dinner"

"Poor thing, all these hours are really rough" Tori frowns.

"Yeah, he's tough, he'll be okay. Ma is loving getting to baby him though. I've got a fridge full of leftovers because she's been cooking like she's feeding an army ever since he came home"

Tori snorts with laughter. Tori's parents had passed away in a car accident when she was younger so all she had was her brother George who lived in California. Hana had mothered over her as soon as Zeke introduced them. It had made things that much harder when Tori wanted to distance herself when she and Zeke ended their relationship.

"Hey, You don't have to rush off, you want a beer? I think the new Spiderman is on Starz" Zeke offers.

Tonight was a good night. It felt like old times, everyone together for dinner. Dallas on the couch cuddled between him and Tori.

"Sure that would be great, I can't tell you the last time I watched a movie all the way through or that wasn't Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" Tori goes to claim a seat on the couch while Zeke heads to the kitchen.

"You used to love all these Marvel movies when you were pregnant" Zeke hands her the beer and sits down next to her.

Tori grins as he sits down. Zeke pats his lap for her to swing her feet up. He immediately begins to massage her sock-clad feet. He would do this all the time when she was pregnant while they watched a movie.

"I forgot how good you were at that" Tori practically moans and Zeke smiles while he continues to massage her. He appreciated how good of a mother she was to their son. Even if they weren't together, he would never be able to thank her enough for giving him the gift of their son.

Halfway through the movie, Tori had somehow scooted closer to him to where her legs were all the way in his lap.

"I think I would be a kick-ass Spiderman," Zeke comments after Spiderman does an acrobatic fight scene.

"How? Do you see his outfit?" Tori teases and then sticks her tongue out at him when he grabs his chest in mock outrage.

"You aren't funny" Zeke challenges, as he quickly grabs her and starts tickling her side.

Tori shrieks with laughter and then covers her mouth quickly hoping that Dallas didn't hear her, he would never go back to sleep if he knew she was still there. They both hold still for a minute and don't hear anything and Zeke resumes his tickling.

Tori keeps her hand over her mouth while trying to get away from him. She stops squirming as she catches her breath but realizes the position they were in. Her knees were pulled together close to her chest, but she was contorted so her knees were twisted to the side. Zeke was hovering over her smiling and breathing just as heavy as she was from their playful wrestling.

Tori bites her lip as she continues to smile and Zeke leans over her, caging her in with his arms. Neither one of them speak but Tori shifts and spreads her legs so Zeke can lean closer and lay between them, covering her with his body. His eyes flick down to her lips not sure if this is what she wanted, but she hadn't pushed him away yet. Tori leans up at the same time Zeke leans down and their lips meet in a soft kiss. Tori lets her hands roam over his back, as he deepens the kiss letting his tongue probe her mouth.

It had been two years since they were together last and Zeke had never stopped noticing her. The sway of her hips, the way she tossed her hair when she finished ringing up a customer at Dauntless. The scent of her when he held her close. He missed being with her like this.

She lets out a little moan between kisses, raising her hips to meet his seeking friction where she most craved it. She wraps her legs around his waist and Zeke moves his hands up inside the shirt she was wearing giving her breast a squeeze. She hadn't been with anyone since Zeke and it had been so long, she needed this, she wanted this.

"I missed this," Zeke moans against her mouth. He was hard as a rock from the way she was pressing herself against him.

"I want you, make love to me Zeke," Tori whispers in his ear.

Zeke lets out another groan as she pulls his earlobe with her teeth. They work together and tug off each other's clothes, in between kisses. Zeke takes his time, kissing all the places of hers he hadn't seen in years. He moves to sit, pulling her with him so she could straddle his lap. He runs his hands over her back, his fingers tracing the lines of the tattoo of the hawk on her neck. She grinds against him and he leaves kisses on her chest, moving down to her breasts to lick and suckle. When he slips inside they both groan and Tori braces her hands on the back of the couch.

"Fuck, Baby, You're so tight" Zeke whispers as he moves his hands to give her a smack on the ass holding on to her hips.

Tori wanted to shout but she couldn't risk waking up Dallas, so she bites her lip as she throws her head back and Zeke attaches his lips to her neck.

"Zeke, we need a condom" Tori breathes after a few minutes of moving up and down with him inside her, and both of them panting. It felt so good but she knows having another baby wasn't a good decision right now.

"Yeah, We do", Zeke chuckles, remembering they had gotten careless which is exactly how Dallas was conceived.

Tori laughs and drops her head on his shoulder before sliding off him. He quickly gets up and grabs her hand and they quietly race up the stairs together.


Zeke groans when hears his alarm go off. He reaches out to the spot next to him and realizes the bed was empty. He wasn't sure what came over him and Tori last night and he sure as hell wasn't sure what to think this morning. He glances at the clock on his nightstand and sees it was just after 6 am. Dallas would probably sleep for another hour which gave him time to get dressed and make breakfast for them before shift. He sighs and sits up rubbing his eyes but he hears movement in the bathroom as Tori walks out pulling the shirt she had on from the night before over her head.

"Hey," She says quietly, grabbing her leggings from atop the trunk at the foot of his bed.

"Hey, I was about to fix breakfast before I have to leave for shift," Zeke tells her as wraps the sheet around his still naked lower body and moves to sit on the edge of the bed while he watches her pull on her leggings.

Tori comes and sits down next to him on the bed and she takes a deep breath before she starts talking.

"Zeke, last night was fun and spontaneous but what are we doing?"

Zeke wasn't sure what to say. He wanted his family but at the same time, he was scared that the same pressure that caused the break in their relationship after Dallas was born was still there and he knew Tori felt it too.

"To be honest, I don't know…But I do know I missed this, being able to wake up and be a family"

Tori nods knowing that she felt the same.

"If you aren't sure you want to do this, us again" she motions between the two of them with her hands "I don't want to confuse Dallas. Being here to help put him to bed is one thing but having him wake up to us sharing a bed, making breakfast together ..."

"Don't worry, I get it" He sighs. He knew she was right, he had gotten caught up in the moment the night before. They had agreed that Dallas came before anything when they broke up.

Tori leans over and gives him a gentle kiss and cups his face when she pulls back. She looks at him for a moment before getting up.

"See you when you drop off Dallas before your shift"

Zeke nods and gives her a smile as he watches her leave the bedroom to head downstairs.

He flops back on the bed and closes his eyes until he hears her shut the front door.


"Come on Prior, You can't rank the best Marvel movies if you haven't seen all of the Marvel movies, You just can't exclude Ant-Man" Will complains.

"You are killing me, Foster, Who actually wanted to watch Ant-Man?" Tris says with an eye roll as she finishes polishing the halligan she had in her hand.

Thankfully it had been a slow day so far and she, Marlene, and Will were taking the time to do inventory and clean their equipment.

"Eaton, please tell Prior she can't rank the Marvel movies because she refused to watch Ant-Man" Will calls to Tobias as he walks out on the apparatus floor.

"Who actually wanted to watch Ant-Man?" Tobias scoffs.

"Ugh, You two are insufferable" Will groans as he throws his hands up in the air.

Tris falls out laughing as Tobias shakes his head with a smile. In the two months Tris had been at 51 the awkwardness had subsided between the two of them even though there were moments when they were in close proximity to each other and the sexual tension flared. They had hung out at Dauntless with Shauna while Christina was working a few times. They were all planning to attend Will's wedding the next weekend. It was comfortable and the more they hung out, they found out just how in sync they were.

He admired her firefighting skills, she was tough and worked hard. It made him admire and like her even more. Late at night was when Tris found herself thinking about him and wondering if he was thinking about her too. It never failed when she couldn't sleep on shift and everyone was fast asleep in the bunk room, they would both find themselves in the common room watching television and talking about random things just like the day they spent at Navy pier.

Truck 81 and Ambulance 61 stay busy the rest of the morning responding to two calls.

"Prior, you cooking dinner?" Zeke asks when they hop off the truck back at 51.

"Sure, I swapped with Rameriez this shift. How does everyone feel about Chicken and Waffles?"

Usually, firefighters in training were made to do grunt work around the firehouse, but there wasn't a candidate at 51 at the moment. The chores such as cooking duty for meals on shift, cleaning the bathroom, cleaning the trucks and equipment, and taking out the trash were divided by those on shift by week. Since Tris had been at 51, everyone had quickly gotten in line after she made her first meal to swap chores so she would cook. This week Fernando had bargained with her to take over cleaning the showers for his meals.

"Pedrad, have I ever thanked you for selecting Prior as McHolland's replacement?" Marlene says dramatically, wrapping her arms around Zeke's shoulders.

"Tris, If I wasn't already marrying Myra, I would marry you" Will jokes as they head toward the common room.

"Get in line Foster!" Amar yells loudly causing everyone to chuckle.

"All the thanks goes to Dawson, she's the one who pitched the idea" Zeke laughs.

Tris shakes her head with a chuckle, she really loved cooking and she was glad her cooking skills had helped her settle into 51. Her old house in Atlanta didn't appreciate her as much as everyone here did.

"I think I need to make a run to the store. Is that okay? Can we take a ride? It shouldn't take me more than 30 minutes if I hit that little supermarket on Walnut two blocks away."

"Sure," Zeke shrugs, knowing they wouldn't be gone long.

Normally, everyone took the truck and their gear if there was an errand that needed to be run so that they were able to respond quickly to the call.

"We need to get going before the bells go off again" Tris announces. She was happy that she was fitting in as a 51 and she really did enjoy cooking. Things were so stressful, they risked their lives every single day, and having some laughs over a good home-cooked meal took the edge off.

"Want some help? I'll go to the store with you so 81 doesn't have to go" Tobias offers.

"Sure!" Tris says brightly and then turns to Zeke. "Pedrad do you mind?"

Zeke grins as he looks between Tris and Tobias. He could tell that Tobias was finding any excuse to spend time with her now.

"Keep your radio on in case there's another call" Zeke replies with a wave of his hand even though he knew Tobias would be doing the same.

Tris bites her lip and grabs her CFD as she followed Tobias to his car. In their late-night talks when everyone else was asleep, they talked about her teaching him how to cook or him learning Spanish or what he could do to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement. Tobias loved that she was so intuned with both sides of her culture. He felt like he could listen to her talk for hours.

Once they get into the store Tobias pushes the buggy while Tris grabs the things she needs quickly. She had stocked up the spices so she always had those but sometimes 1st or 3rd shift used things.

"Ugh, I can't remember how much flour was left from when I made pancakes last shift, let me call Vega"

Tobias leans against the buggy while Tris speaks to Marlene on the phone in Spanish, nodding as she grabbed what she needed off the shelf.

"Gracias chica, vuelvo pronto (Thanks Girl, Be back soon)" Tris tells Marlene as she hangs up the phone.

Suddenly a blonde woman who looked to be in her early 40s comes up to them with a list in her hand.

"Excuse me, sir. I'm in a bit of a hurry" She says as she moves to stand in front of Tris.

"Excuse me….Do..you... know…when…. they….restock….the milk…la leche… Por Favor?"

Tobias feels like his eyes might pop out of his head at the rudeness of the woman and she was not only speaking like Tris didn't speak English but talking loudly like she thought she was hard of hearing. He didn't understand much Spanish but he knew enough to know that Por Favor and her enunciation of Favor like party favor was incorrect.

"First of all, I speak English," Tris snaps, putting her hand on her hips.

"Well, there's no need to be rude about it" The woman huffs.

"Second of all, what makes you think I work here? Am I dressed like I work here?" Tris waves her hand in front of her outfit.

"I just simply asked for help" The woman replies angrily, getting defensive.

"No you assumed the brown girl speaking Spanish worked here, did you bother to ask him when they are restocking the milk?"

"Well I never" The huffs again after she regains her voice.

"Me das asco, ojalá te ahogues en tu leche. Si no estuviera de servicio, realmente te daría un poco de lo que pienso. (You disgust me, I hope you drown in your milk. If I was off duty I would really give you a piece of my mind)" Tris spits out with her hands on her hips speaking as fast as she could and looking the woman up and down.

The woman turns around in a huff and heads back down the aisle as Tris rolls her eyes.

"I'm sorry that happened," Tobias says quietly as they grab the last few items and head to the checkout counter. He was angry but also angry at himself for not speaking up in the moment.

"It's not the first time," Tris says nonchalantly as she tosses the times on the conveyor belt.

"That's not fair to you," He says as he pulls out his wallet to pay for the items.

"Okay, Tobias" Tris rolls her eyes as she grabs the bags and starts to head to the car.

"Why are you upset with me? What am I missing here?" Tobias asks as they walk together.

"Just drop it," Tris tells him as they load the truck with the bags.

"I don't want to drop it, Prior, I want you to talk to me"

Tris huffs and goes to sit in the passenger seat. Tobias doesn't start the car when he gets in. He turns in his seat and looks at Tris indicating he wasn't moving until she told him what was on her mind.

"You want me to be real with you?" She asks, pursing her lips.

"Yes, I want you to be real with me, always" he insists.

"Next time do better Eaton, you stood there and watched her profile me knowing she wasn't asking you, the white man if you were a fucking stock boy. Use your privilege for something good, I don't need comfort and I don't need anyone to protect me, I need you to call out what's wrong when you see it. "

Tobias takes in her words and nods his head. It stung a bit but he understood. He just watched the whole thing play out. He takes a minute to formulate his thoughts.

"I'm sorry, I've lived in this bubble my entire life. Being friends with Pedrad has opened my eyes to things but clearly, I still have some work to do. Will you call me out again if I don't step up?"

"We don't need performative allyship, Eaton" She warns.

"I'm for real about this Tris"

Tris smiles as she sees the sincerity in his eyes.

"Deal, I will call you out and you are going to do the work, I'll give you some recommendations on some things to watch and books to read starting with White Fragility"

Tobias grins as he cranks the car up. She challenged him to better and that for better or worse made him even more attracted to her.

"What did you say to her in Spanish? I'm assuming it wasn't very nice" Tobias asks as he gives her a curious look before putting the car in gear.

Tris bites her lip and she tries to hide her smile with her hand as she puts her elbow up on the car door.

"I told her I hope she drowns in her milk"

Tobias lets out the purest and heartiest laugh that she thinks she has ever heard from him that makes Tris smile even bigger as he drives them back to the firehouse.


When they make it back to 51, they move together in the kitchen, laughing as Tris gives instructions to Tobias on how to season the flour and the chicken, fussing at him when he doesn't add enough. Shauna, Marlene, and Christina peak around the corner as the two work.

"Look at them" Shauna coos.

"How long before they hook up?" Marlene whispers as she leans against Shauna.

"I got 20 bucks on one month" Will calls out as he passes by.

"I'll take that bet Foster" Shauna pipes up.

"Put me down for 6 weeks" Amar adds as he walks by and Shauna and Marlene run off to get the pool of bets started.

Christina giggles as she gives them one last look before heading to the bunk room, she wasn't going to out Tris and Tobias to everyone but Marlene had a point. She didn't think they were going to be able to pull off the just friends thing much longer.


Caleb walks into the Intelligence office and plops down at his desk, on the second floor of the 21st precinct. He and his partner, Susan Black had just finished working on a murder investigation. Susan had been undercover for the past two months to bust a narcotics operation. They got along well, she was tough and he appreciated how hard she worked.

There was never a shortage of cases in Chicago but he was looking for some downtime to go over a few unsolved cases, two specifically linked to arson fires.

"You were totally that kid who read books on summer break just for fun, weren't you Prior" Susan teases as she comes to sit on the corner of his desk and looks over at the files he had open and spread out.

He leans back in his chair and throws his head back in a laugh.

"Yeah I was actually, I probably should have gone into medical research like my father wanted"

"Ehhh, You're a pretty badass cop, so I think you made the right choice"

She winks at him as he shakes his head. They had a short-lived affair a few years ago but decided to cool it and just be friends.

"What are you looking at?"

"These arson cases, I'm missing something." The last one, the victim was a homeless guy but he remembered one of the firefighters on the scene saying the joker playing card had been found on the scene of a fire his father died in 15 years prior. There had been two other fires with the same pattern, a homeless victim set on fire.

"See this picture of the crime scene… this card, the joker I've found at three different scenes where the body was burnt"

"A serial killer?" Susan asks picking up one of the files to look at the pictures.

"And arsonist…the question is who is he after and why"