Happy Sunday! Thank you for all the love on the last chapter!

cecillahellis: I did do a little research about the Atlanta Fire Department and their set up but I took the 51 schedules direct from Chicago Fire and made some inferences about why the schedules were different. So not sure how much a leap it is from the actual truth!

Stay tuned until next week, don't be too mad at me until next Sunday!


"Tris! Caleb! " Matthew yells excitedly as he spots his older siblings when they enter the backyard.

"Hey, Kid, Happy Birthday" Caleb grins as Matthew hugs his waist and then their sister.

Caleb had conceived Tris after some back and forth to show up for Matthew's birthday party, reminding her that it wasn't his fault that Jeanine and Andrew were how they were. This was the first time Tris has been to see them since she moved to Chicago. She was a little nervous considering tense things were with her father during her last visit but she felt calmer knowing Caleb was there with her.

"Happy Birthday Matty," Tris tells him as she returns his hug with a grin.

"Gracias! Hoy es mi cumpleaños. See I've been working on my Spanish" Matthew tells them proudly after carefully thinking and enunciating his words and speaking slowly.

"Eso era bueno, (That was good) Matty!" Caleb tells him with a grin and holds his hand for a hi-five that Matthew eagerly returned. He was shocked during his last visit when Matthew asked him if he learned Spanish would Caleb help him. His father didn't say anything other than he thought it was a good skill.

"Beatrice, Caleb, thank you for coming," Jeanine says with a tone. She hated nicknames, and she hated that Tris always referred to Matthew as Matty. At 9 years old now, he didn't need to be associated with such childish things. She was happy that he was exercising his mind to learn another language though.

"Slow down Matthew" She calls as Matthew takes off running toward his friends.

"Are those scrabble boards?" Caleb asks, looking at the setup of the backyard and the direction Matthew ran in.

"Yes, Matthew is quite talented with spelling. We plan on him competing in the national spelling bee in a few years. We thought the party would be a great way to allow him to practice and help his friends understand the importance of studying.

Tris gives Caleb a look like she was about to choke and he rolls his lips between his teeth trying not to react.

"Jeanine, I think we need more bottled water" Andrew calls. He gives an awkward wave to his two oldest children that they awkwardly return.

"Make yourselves comfortable" Jeanine instructs as she goes back into the house.

"Caleb…." Tris laughs out.

"Pobre niño (Poor kid)" Caleb laughs out, whipping his hand across his face. His father and Jeanine were absolutely ridiculous.

"Podría matarlos si es rebelde. (It might actually kill them if he is rebellious one day)" Tris whispers.

"Esa es la verdad (That's the truth)" Caleb tells her as they go find a seat.


"Dawson, I really need to come shopping in your closet" Shauna observes as she flips through a section of Christina's closet.

Shauna, Tris, and Marlene were all piled in Christina's room getting ready to go out for their night off.

"Tris usually shops in here so be my guest" Christina grins as she inspects her strapless black peplum top and faux leather leggings. Her curly hair had been styled and she'd added dark smokey eye makeup for a sultry look.

"What's the name of this club we are going to?" Marlene asks, applying lip gloss in the mirror next to Christina.

"Onyx" Tris replies looking at Shauna who gives her a wink when Christina isn't looking.

"Oh, hoping you run into someone you know, Tris?"

"Shut up Christina" Tris groans but still lets out a laugh.

"You've been there before Tris?" Marlene turns and looks.

"Oh, she sure has" Christina grins as she goes to her shoe rack where she settles on a pair of simple black stiletto sandals.

"Well this sounds like a story I need to hear," Shauna says as she perks up and moves to look at the earrings Christina had laid out on her dresser.

Christina raises her eyebrows as Tris huffs before leaning back on her hands on the bed. She trusted Shauna and Marlene. They had become close friends in her few months in Chicago, Tori as well.

"So before I moved here, I came for a visit and went to Onyx when Chris got pulled in for a shift during her leave. I was just looking for some fun and I went home with this guy."

"Ohhhh a one-night stand, was it memorable?" Marlene teases.

"Oh I would say so" Christina interjects.

"Well it turned into us spending the entire next day together and another night" Tris shrugs. She hadn't told anyone but Christina about her and Tobias. She wondered since he was so close to Shauna and Zeke if he had told them but she could tell Shauna didn't know.

"OH MY GOD" Shauna screams, turning around with her eyes wide and Marlene jumps at the sounds.

"Good grief Preston," Christina complains at Shauna's outburst as she steps into the pair of black pumps she had decided on. Then she looks up and sees Shauna's mouth open and Tris hanging her head as she realizes that Shauna finally put the pieces together.

"What? Am I missing something?" Marlene looks at Tris whose head had fallen back and then to Christina who was doubled over laughing.

"It was you! I can't believe it! I only saw you walk out the door. How did I not put this together before now? But he never used your name….and Holy Shit! The first day you showed up at 51! Wait until I see him, I can't believe he didn't tell me, I bet he told Pedrad…"

"You're Eaton's mystery girl!" Marlene screeches as she jumps up and Tris sits up biting her lip and nodding.

"It is ridiculous how nothing is a secret at 51" Christina shakes her head as she moves to look for a pair of earrings on her dresser.

"Have you two been hooking up since you moved to Chicago? Spill it Prior" Marlene says hopping up and moving to sit closer to Tris.

"No, I swear" Tris holds her hands up in surrender as Shauna puts her hands on her hips and Marlene narrows her eyes.

"Do you want to?" Shauna inquires with a raised eyebrow.

"I mean…" Tris scrunches her face up knowing that if she said no it was a full-out lie. Tobias had literally been amazing in bed, she'd gotten off by her own hand thinking about him more than once. It wasn't as if she didn't, there were several times when she wanted to pull him to her and kiss him during the quiet times late at night at the firehouse.

"Oh you two have got to be fucking" Christina adds brashly as she looks at herself in the mirror studying the earrings she had chosen.

"We are not! For real! We both sat down and decided with us both in the same house it wasn't a good idea" Tris defends.

"He really liked you, Tris, He wanted to go to Atlanta to see you but he wasn't sure how to find you," Shauna says sincerely sitting down next to her.

Tris sighs as she feels her heart tug at the thought of him trying to find her, he had told her that morning that he wanted her but she had been the one who pushed him away. He wanted more than she could give him.

"You two just look so natural with each other, anyone can see it," Marlene adds.

"It's better for us to just be friends, I love it at 51 and I don't want to do anything to mess that up," Tris tells them with a sad tone in her voice. Christina looks at her best friends and knows she's putting up a wall, denying herself what she really wanted.

"I get it, I hooked up with a guy at my last house and it was not great when we stopped messing around," Marlene tells her, giving her an understanding smile.

"Really? Who?" Shauna leans over to look at Marlene.

"Cruz at 90, he was on Squad" Marlene grins and blushes a little.

He had been a great guy, super sweet, a big teddy bear but in the end, they were just too different and he had been clingy when she broke things off with him. Just then Shauna's phone buzzes and nods her head at Marlene and Tris. Tris hops up and does a once over in the mirror.

"So it looks like Caleb needs me to meet him, something about needing my input on a case," Tris says randomly.

"Yeah, Eaton just told me he locked himself out. I need to go let him in, it might take me a while" Shauna says dramatically as she hops up to follow Tris.

"Wait, what? We've been planning this all week, this is the first night we've all been able to go out in a month" Christina whines.

"Dang, I forgot I said I would go help Foster and Myra with wedding stuff tonight" Marlene apologizes as she heads to the living room.

"You three are up to something" Christina narrows her eyes and places her hands on her hips watching her friends grab their things and put their shoes on.

"We're really sorry Chris, Love you! See you later" Tris calls as she, Shauna, and Marlene hustle out the door.

Christina looks down at her outfit and huffs. Before she can think about what to do a knock comes from the door.

"Don't tell me you are suddenly free now!" she yells and then snatches open the door.

She gasps when on the other side is Uriah, holding a huge bouquet of flowers.

"Uriah, what are you doing here?" She smiles, still taken aback that he was standing in her doorway.

"I heard that you suddenly had the evening free so I thought I could take you to dinner"

"Uriah" She whines as she takes the flowers and stands to the side so he could come in. This was the sweetest thing and she felt warm all over thinking about how he was making her feel special.

"These are beautiful, How did you know my favorite flowers were tulips?" She gushes as she carries them to the kitchen counter.

"I had a little inside intel" He grins as he gives her a wink. "You look amazing by the way"

He wasn't exaggerating, she looked so beautiful, the way her jeans hugged her hips, the way her staples top tastefully exposed the mounds of her breasts. She never overdid it with makeup, it was just right and her warm brown skin radiated.

"You do too" Christina looked him over in his slim-fit black dress pants and black button-down that pulled across his chest showing his muscles. She could tell he'd gotten a haircut as his hair was perfectly lined up and the waves of his hair brushed down.

She takes a minute to put her flowers in water, smiling at him the entire time. When she finishes, Christina grabs her black clutch and they head out the door. Her heart beats wildly as she inhales his cologne and he places his hand on the small of her back to guide her down the hallway. He'd touched her like this, small intimate touches, but now it had a new meaning like it was finally the start of their next chapter.

"So do I get to know where we are going?" She asks as he opens the car door for her and she slides into the passenger seat.

"It's a surprise" He grins before shutting the door.

Uriah navigates them to the London House Hotel and Christina gasps as he pulls up to the valet.

"Oh Uriah, I've always wanted to come here" She feels like she hit the jackpot meeting Uriah. Not only was he sweet and thoughtful but he listened. She had randomly mentioned to him one night at the bar how much she wanted to come to the London House Hotel when they were talking about all the new spots that had been opening up as Uriah was getting acclimated since he had been gone from Chicago for so many years.

He smiles as they hop out. The rooftop restaurant was one of the best in the city and it had a spectacular view of the city. He was glad she was excited. He could tell Christina would have been happy with any place he had picked but he wanted to show her how special he thought she was.

"How long have you been planning this?" Christina asks as she sips her glass of wine after they finish their meal. The food had been excellent and their conversation had been light-hearted and fun.

"A while….I wanted our first date to be special and it's been kind of tricky with when I could get a reservation and our schedules"

He was thoughtful and caring but she could tell he was still battling with some of the things he had seen when he went to war even though it had been almost 10 years since he was active duty. There were nights when they were both off shift and they would facetime when he couldn't sleep. He had layers, like her, and she could admit she was falling for him, hard.

They enjoy the live band playing on the rooftop, wandering over to the rail to enjoy the view with the band playing on the other side of the rooftop.

"Thank you, You've made me feel very special tonight"

They were standing close and Christina could feel her body heating up.

"You deserve it," He says quietly rubbing her arm.

Christina lowers her eyes. They had been talking at the bar, texting for a little over six months and she still hadn't told him about being kicked out of medical school.

"I really like you, Uriah," She tells him honestly as her eyes flick down to his lip and back up to his eyes. She'd wanted to kiss him for so long and she wanted to right this very moment.

"I really like you too, Chris"

He leans in to kiss her and just as their lips are about to touch, Christina puts a hand on his chest and pulls back. Uriah furrows his eyebrows as he pulls away. He was sure he read the signs right so now he wasn't sure what was happening.

"Uriah, there's something I need to tell you, and I've been worried that you'll change your mind about how much you like me when I do"

He studies her face, seeing the worry etched there. She was holding something back, but he had things that held back too. He wanted her to feel safe with him, to let him know she could open up when she was ready.

"Chris, don't feel like you have to say anything. Nothing is going to change the way I'm feeling right now."

'"Yeah, you say that now" She scoffs and playfully rolls her eyes.

Before she can formulate her next sentences, Uriah moves in and presses his lips to hers while moving his hands to her hips. As soon as the shock wears off she kisses him back. She parts her lips as he pulls her close and she moves her hand to his jaw. It was a soft and sensual kiss. Christina lets out a moan when he sweeps his tongue into her mouth and slides his arms around her back. Christina forgets everything around them and the sounds of the city below fades away as she cups his face with her hands.

When they need air, they finally break apart, Christina smiles and bites her lips when she sees Uriah smiling just as big, she'd never been kissed like that. It made the night just that more special.

"Don't feel pressured to tell me anything right now, we can take our time" he reassures her.

Christina breathes a sigh of relief as she nods her head, even if it was only temporary. She would have to tell him eventually but tonight she just wanted to enjoy the moment.


Tris, Shauna, and Marlene still end up going to the club and having fun and they head to breakfast afterward.

"Chris says she's still smiling and thank you" Tris coos as she reads her texts from Christina.

"I think she and Uri are so cute together," Marlene gushes.

"Yeah, I do too," Shauna agrees.

"Wait you mean after all that she went home alone! I just knew we wouldn't hear from either of them until tomorrow" Marlene reasons out.

"Leave them alone, I think it's cute they are taking it slow" Tris grins as she picks up her phone and sends her brother a text.

Tris: Haven't seen you in a few weeks, want to grab breakfast or lunch tomorrow?

Caleb: You're up late

Tris: Yeah been out, at All Good Diner

Caleb: Mind if I stop by, I'm not too far away, just wrapped up investigating a crime scene

Tris: Yes! Come on, I'll order for you.

"Hey, do you care if my brother comes to eat with us? He's out too and not that far away,"

"Sure the more the merrier" Marlene shrugs as she looks at the empty chairs at the table.

"Maybe you should tell Eaton to come through" Shauna waggles her eyebrows at Tris.

"I should have never told you," Tris laughs.

"Ehh We would have figured it out sooner or later. So many things make so much sense now" Marlene reflects.

"So Shauna, what's up with you, and what was her name? Leslie? Lisa? Eaton and Pedrad are rubbing off on you, you haven't been on more than two dates with any of these women lately " Marlene asks, taking a sip of her drink.

"Lauren" Shauna scoffs with an eye roll.

"Lauren, that's it"

"Who's Lauren?" Tris grins drawing out the name.

"She's a nurse over at Chicago Med, we went out a few times"

"And…" Tris asks and leans back as the waitress brings their food.

"Ehhh, I like her, but I think she was just looking for a good time, so I was cool with that"

"Sounds familiar" Tris grins "But if you really like her, ask her out again"

Just then the bell rings as the door opens and Caleb strides through the door.

¿Qué haces afuera tan tarde? (What are you doing out this late?) Tris asks, nudging his shoulder as he sits down in the chair next to her.

Debería preguntarte la misma (I should ask you the same) Caleb teases and Tris sticks her tongue out at him.

"Ladies, meet my brother, Detective Caleb Prior"

"I think I've seen you around on a few calls. Shauna Preston, I'm an EMT at 51" Shauna extends her hand and Caleb smiles shaking it.

"Now I would have remembered you if we had met before" Caleb grins as he focuses on Marlene.

"Puedo decir lo mismo. Mi nombre es Marlene (I can say the same. My name is Marlene)" Marlene flirts back.

Shauna grins while Tris puts her elbow on the table and drops her head in her hand dramatically at Marlene and Caleb's not so subtle flirting. Clearly, tonight was a night for love. Tris lets her mind wander to Tobias. Even though she and Tobias agreed to just be friends, it was getting harder and harder for her to stop thinking about the possibility of them being together.


Tris jolts out of her sleep, as the sound of the bells go off.

Ambulance 61, Engine 51, Truck 81, Squad 3, Structure Fire 114 West Mercy St.

The bunk room had been just filled with light snores but now everyone was up on their feet. Everyone slept in their clothes so it only took a few minutes for everyone to be up and moving to the floor to hop on into the vehicles after pulling on their turnout gear.

Tris looks out the window as Truck 81 pulls up to a burning building. It looked to be a warehouse of some sort and there were people running out to the street already.

"Get ready, this is going to be a tough one" Zeke hollers from his seat.

As soon as they hop off, Zeke stops a woman to ask her what was happening.

"Do you know what happened?"

"Yeah, I work in the building next door and clean late at night. This building had been boarded up for over a year after the owners went bankrupt but these teenagers started using it as a hang-out spot and some homeless people started squatting there. I saw smoke when I was on my way back to my car and called 911.

Max comes up and takes a look, the building was blazing now, they had to move quickly if there were people inside. He wasn't sure how much longer the structure would hold up.

"I want Truck 81 and Squad on a primary search, Squad find a way down the alley to clear the first floor, 81 you take the front and clear the second and third floor. 51 I want two lines in to start working on those flames now"

"Truck, mask up, let's get in and get out" Zeke instructs.

Marlene, Will, Zeke, and Tris head into the building while Tobias, Harrison, Fernando and Drew head around the alley.

Tobias kicks in a side door and they spread out looking for anyone still inside.

"Barnes with Me, Let's clear this section, Rameriz, Carson to the other side, and let's meet up at the front.

Tobias can see the embers flowing through the room as the smoke increases.

"Fire Department Call Out" Tobias calls.

"Over here" a voice that was coughing calls out.

Harrison and Tobias locate a young man who was on the ground.

"My friend, I can't find her" he coughs as they help him.

"I got him Lieutenant' Harrison calls as he slings the young man's arm over his shoulder while supporting him with his arm as he turns to go out the exit they had come through.

Tobias nods and checks his oxygen levels and keeps moving to look for the friend. He hears a loud boom as he moves and sees more flames ahead.

"Eaton, get out of there the roof is coming down" Zeke calls over the radio.

"Rameriz, Carson, report" Tobias calls into the radio.

"We are pulling out two victims on the B side"

"May Day, May Day, I need help, Foster and I are trapped"

"Pedrad, Report" Max's voice crackles over the radio.

"Vega and I just pulled a victim out from the second floor."

Tobias feels his heart start to race as he hears Tris over his radio.

"I'm coming Prior, I'm still inside" Tobias calls out as he moves through the building. There was a staircase he ran up, the smoke was thick and he could hear the cracking of the beams.

He feels the wall and then he hears a blaring alarm that was attached to their turnouts that signaled when someone was down.

"Prior, Foster, Where are you?"

"Here" Tris calls back. She was trying to stay calm but she was panicking a bit.

A teenage girl was on the ground, she hit her head when part of the ceiling fell in blocking their path. Will and Tris were stuck with a structural beam pinning them. Tris has almost wiggled her way out.

"Prior" Tobias runs over scanning the situation.

"I'm okay, there's a girl, right there and Will is stuck"

"Get the girl Eaton" Will instructs as he pushes on the beam, still struggling to get out.

Tobias kneels down. She was out cold with a gash on her head but breathing. He was going to have to carry her out.

Tris moves over to Will and pulls on the beam with everything she has.

"Ahhhhhh" she screams as her muscles burn with exertion as Will pushes up and he slides out. His leg was throbbing and there was a gash.

"Come on we got to move, we have to go back the way I came" Tobias instructs before he bends down to pick the girl up over his shoulder.

Tris helps Will up and he leans on her as they navigate through the smoke and flames trying to get back to the staircase.

There were flames above them and Tobias could tell another ceiling collapse was coming.

"Fuck" he swears when he hears another crash, there was no way they were going back the way he came now and the fire was crawling the ceiling, looking for oxygen.

"Eaton, Prior, Foster, report" Max calls through the radio.

Every second they were getting closer to not getting out of this building.

"Window" Tris yells at him and points ahead.

"We need a stretcher and the ladder on the B side second-floor window, Now!" Tris calls into her radio.

She takes her elbow and knocks out the glass and then tosses her mask and Will does the same as he hops on one leg.

Tobias sets the girl on the floor and Tris checks her again looking at her head wound.

Amar presses the buttons and flips the switch to extend the ladder. Zeke and Marlene look up feeling helpless at the moment. Drew and Fernando take the ladder with the stretcher as fast as they can.

Tobias and Tris secure the victim while Drew and Fernando move her down slowly. Tobias was halfway out the window helping steady the stretcher and was turning to reach for Will to help him down. He needed a stretcher but there was no time.

"Come on Foster, We gotta move," Tris says.

Will turns his head and he hears a loud whooshing sound. The fire found the oxygen it was looking for and that meant there was a backdraft about to come. He had to get Tris out that window, it was the only thing he could do.

"Will," Tris says looking at him but before she can say anything else he pushes her out the window and onto the ladder causing her to slide headfirst into Tobias.

Max, Zeke, Marlene, Amar, Drew, Fernando, and Harrison all watch in horror as a fireball explodes through the window.

"Tobias" Tris screams as she falls back and Tobias goes flying over the side of the ladder.