Part 3:

Matt woke up long before his alarm went off, partly due to nerves, and partly due to his body still being on East Coast time and not yet adjusted to being on Central time, but thankfully it is only an hour difference and won't affect him too much. Matt sat on the bed looking down at his daughter sleeping peacefully in her portable crib, savoring these moments with her. It was going to be hard going back to work and not seeing Alexa for a full 24-hour shift. He hadn't been back to work since Hallie passed and Matt knew that this was going to be a tough shift. Not only was it his first since he lost Hallie, but it's his first as a single father, and his first in a new house in a new city.

It's not much longer before Alexa starts to stir. She is wet and hungry so Matt changes her and takes her to the kitchen for a bottle of milk. He wants to hold off on her actual breakfast a bit to help acclimate her to the time difference. She's happily drinking her milk looking around the room as if taking everything in. Matt leans in and kisses her head, settling her into the crook of his arm.

"Daddy needs you to be a good girl for Aunt Christie today ok pumpkin. I hate that I have to leave you for the next twenty-four hours, but we'll get through this. It's time to get used to our new normal. Not that you haven't been away from me for this long before, but now Mommy won't be there to be with you, and I am so sorry about that Alexa. I wish I had seen the signs, then maybe I could have helped mommy and she wouldn't have done what she did."

Matt took a deep breath, he didn't want to break down, it was not the time for that, and he had a feeling that before this day was through, he'd have to relive his least favorite day more than once and wasn't sure if he'd be able to keep it together then, so breaking down now is not an option.

Christie walked into the room about fifteen minutes after Matt and Alexa entered it. They wished one another good morning before Matt handed his daughter over to his sister so he could get ready. He took another quick shower and got dressed, he would pick up his uniforms today at the firehouse and change once he got there. He packed another set of clothes, some toiletries that he bought to keep in his locker, and some pictures to hang in there as well before grabbing his bag and heading back out to the living room.

Christie was sitting on the couch holding Alexa while she finished up her bottle. The little girl was staring up at her aunt in fascination, as if memorizing her face. Matt loved when his daughter looked at him like that, as if he was the only person on the planet.

"Ok, well I'm off. If you need me text, or if it's really dire just come by, everyone will find out that I have a kid soon enough anyway and I'm not trying to hide her."

"I'm sure we will be fine Matt, don't worry about us. I know where the house is, and I promise I will come and find you there if we truly need you."

Matt nodded then leaned down to his daughter. "Good bye sweet pea. Daddy loves you so much."

A quick kiss on the head for his daughter and Matt was out the door. He knew that if he didn't leave, he'd never walk out the door and he didn't want to make a bad first impression. Matt took his time driving to the firehouse, savoring being back in his home city. He grew to really like New York, but he hadn't realized just how much he missed Chicago until now, driving around. Before Matt knew it Firehouse 51 was in front of him. He could see first shift still taking inventory of the rigs and he just hoped that Chief Boden was already at the station.

Matt nodded to a few of the guys as he made his way through the doors. He stopped one of the firefighters from first shift to ask where Boden's office was and thanking him made his way to the bullpen. Chief Boden was already sitting at his desk going over paperwork, but there was no one else in the office. Apparently, the office staff weren't in yet, which didn't bother Matt at all. He knocked on the door waiting for the chief to acknowledge him.

"Come in," Boden said, looking up from his file.

"Good morning, chief. I'm Matt Casey today's my first shift." Matt said, extending his hand to the chief.

Chief Boden stood up and shook Matt's hand. He appreciated the firm handshake he received and continued to look at the younger man, making his first assessments of him. He seemed like a decent guy, quite and polite. Boden knew that he was taking a chance on this transfer lieutenant from the FDNY but Severide spoke very highly of him and his academy results were really high. Boden was never one to back away from a challenge and was used to going against the grain and standing here looking at his new Truck Lieutenant he felt he made the right decision.

"Welcome to Firehouse 51 Casey. Severide had some really nice things to say about you. But if you don't mind my asking, what brings you back to Chicago? You seemed to have been in a really good house in New York."

"Thank you, Chief Boden, I'm really happy to be here. I was just thinking to myself as I was driving here that I didn't realize how much I missed Chicago until I was driving over here. As for why I am back, my fiancé took her own life about a month ago leaving me to raise our 10-month-old daughter alone. I have family here and I not only needed to be closer to them so that I had support and could go back to work, but I needed to escape the memories in New York. Granted Hallie and I met here in Chicago so there will be memories here too, but the ones in New York were oppressive."

The chief's eyes widened. He wasn't sure what his lieutenant was going to say, but that was definitely not it. "Casey, I am so sorry for your loss and everything you are dealing with. Are you sure you want to start today? I would understand it if you needed some more time. Why the hell didn't Severide tell me."

"Thanks Chief, but I'm good. I need to start today and Severide doesn't know, any of it. We haven't been in as close contact since Hallie and I moved to New York. We would talk on occasion, but I haven't spoken to him in about a year, he doesn't even know about Alexa."

"Alexa, huh, your daughter? Do you have any pictures?"

"Of course," Matt laughed, pulling up some pictures on his phone and showing the chief his pride and joy.

"She's beautiful. Ok, if you sure you really want to start today, let's get you all settled in. I know your transfer papers were sent over, and once Connie gets into the office, I'll have her get all the benefits papers and everything else you need to fill out together. I'll give you until next shift to have them all completed and back on my desk. Now, these are your uniforms and Headquarters said they will have your dress blues ready in about a week, they needed to order new ones."

"Thank you. If you could point me in the direction of the locker room I'll just go and change."

"I'll give you the tour," Boden said smiling. He walked Matt through the firehouse, pointing out the different areas before showing Matt his office.

"This is your office," Boden said. "Severide's is right next door."

The two men then walked into the locker room where the chief ripped off a piece of masking tape and slapped it onto an empty locker and handed Matt a marker. Matt looked around at the other lockers next to him. There was one that said Cruz, one that said Otis, one that said Brett, one that read Shay and one that said Herrmann.

"Um, first or last name Chief?"

Boden laughed; he could understand Casey's confusion. "Last name Casey. I'll see you in the morning briefing."

"Thank you again chief. I really appreciate you taking a chance and bringing me into your house."

"I have a feeling it was one the best decisions I've ever made Casey. I am looking forward to working with you and seeing what you can do."

Matt dressed quickly, unloading his bag into his locker and taking out the lock he had on his old locker in New York. He locked everything up and placed a picture of him and Alexa on his desk before heading to the common room for a cup of coffee. He was going to meet with the officer of Truck from first shift before shift change to go over the compartments on the truck and what equipment is kept where. Matt knew that he would be spending a lot of the down time this shift and next shift familiarizing himself with his new Truck. He didn't want to be out on a call and not know if he had anything on the truck or where to find it.

Boden watched his new lieutenant take his coffee out on the apparatus floor and introduce himself to the first shift lieutenant. He then watched the two men looking through the truck, taking out equipment and putting it back. So far, he liked what he saw of his new lieutenant, he definitely seemed like an upstanding guy, and the fact that he was going out of his way to learn what was on his truck and where everything belonged was a huge check in the I made the right decision column for Boden. He trusted Kelly Severide and his assessment of people, Kelly was a great judge of character, but to see it with his own eyes made all the difference.

The two lieutenants started laughing about something before shaking hands again. Casey stayed by Truck 81 going through the compartments again while first shift went to the locker room to change and head home. Boden continued to stand in the Tower and watch his crew come in, some looked over at Casey quickly, others looked longer, but everyone proceeded to the building to get ready for briefing.

"Matt Casey as I live and breathe!"

"Kelly Severide! How've you been man?"

Kelly walked up to Matt and the two exchanged the manly slap hug thing that all men do. Kelly was already in his uniform and had his overnight bag slung over his shoulder, his dark hair cropped close to his head, a few grays visible here and there. For the most part he looked exactly the same as the last time that Matt saw him.

"I'm doing well man, so excited that we're going to be working together! I still can't believe you left for NYC right out of the academy. Why did you and Hallie come back?"

"Um, well, that is a bit of a story, one that I know we don't have time to get into right now because Boden told me about a morning briefing, but as soon as that's over let's find somewhere to talk privately, ok?"

"Yeah sure. Is everything alright Case? You're kinda scaring me a bit."

"Everything is ok Sev, I swear."

"Ok. Let me just drop off my bag and I'll meet you in the briefing room. I always stand in the back."

"You got it, I'll be right there, I just need to put this equipment back."

Matt and Kelly went their separate ways, Kelly to the locker room and Matt turned back to truck to put everything away. As he was turning back to the truck, he saw three women walking into the house, two blonde and one with very dark brown hair. The two blondes looked like they could have been related.

"Sylvie!" the one blonde said slapping the other in the arm, both of them laughing. The one who got slapped, Sylvie apparently, had her head tipped back and a look of pure joy on her face. Matt couldn't help but notice how attractive she was. The other two were good looking, don't get him wrong, but there was something about Sylvie that almost sparkled he supposed. And how he was sounding like a sappy idiot even in his own head. Sparkled, really?

He quickly tuned to the truck and starting putting everything back in its place, not noticing the three women looking in his direction. He missed the look of surprise on Sylvie's face, and the look of pure lust on the dark-haired woman's face. He was trying to keep himself from blushing at his thoughts of the pretty blonde, Sylvie, he reminded himself, and focused on getting everything away so he wasn't late for the briefing.

The three women were gone by the time Matt finished, which he was grateful for, and he hurried into the building. He saw Severide at the back of the briefing room and quickly made his way over to him, standing next to him waiting for the rest of the house to file in. Everyone rushed in quicky taking seats around the room looking at Boden who was already standing in the front of the room waiting for his people to file in.

"All right, settle down." Boden said addressing the room. "Just a few things we need to go over. Next week is the Firehouse picnic and I expect everyone to be there. This is for the families everyone and all companies not working are expected to show up and help out. Thank you. The only other bit of news we need to cover is today our new Truck Lieutenant is starting. Everyone, this is Matt Casey, he transferred here from Firehouse 126 in New York City. Let's give him a big Firehouse 51 welcome. Now I expect you all to make him feel welcomed here. He grew up in Chicago so he knows the city it's just been a few years since he's been here."

With that the meeting was adjourned. Kelly took Matt around and introduced him to everyone, starting with his squad guys.

"Casey this is my Squad 3 crew, Capp, Tony, and Cruz."

Matt said hello to them all and followed Severide to the next group. He met all the guys on Engine 51 then the Paramedics on Ambo 61.

"Casey these are the best paramedics in Chicago. PIC Lesley Shay, and Sylvie Brett."

"Hi ladies, it's a pleasure to meet you," Matt said shaking hands with the two women. He couldn't help but notice that despite the fact that Sylvie had a strong grip she had really soft hands.

"Come on Case, I'll introduce you to your Truck crew." Severide said, walking over to where all of Truck 81's crew was standing waiting for them.

"Casey, this is Christopher Herrmann, Mouch, Otis and Gabby Dawson."

"I'm looking forward to working with you all and know that there is a lot I need to learn about this house and this Truck crew. I just ask that you be patient with me as I learn it all. I've got some drills in mind for today just so I can see how we all work as a team, but first I'd like to get to know you all and find out what your normal roles are while on Truck. I don't want to get to a call and ask you to do something that you've either never done, or are not comfortable doing."

"I'm really looking forward to working with you to Casey," Dawson said, touching Matt's arm, giving it a squeeze and slight caress as she pulled it away.

Matt swallowed. He didn't want to make a big deal out of it, maybe it was her way of being friendly, but it made him uncomfortable.

"Oh my God, look at Dawson making eyes at the new lieutenant." Shay whispered to Brett.

Sylvie rolled her eyes. She loved Dawson, she was a good friend, but that woman tried to get into everyone pants.

"Poor Lieutenant Casey. Gabby is relentless when she wants something."

"I know and he seems like a really good guy. Maybe we will have to save him and put a stop to Gabby's nonsense. Kelly is super happy that his friend is back from NYC and I don't want Gabby running him off, not now that Kelly is working with his friend."

Sylvie smiled at Shay. "I agree. Operation save Casey is in effect."

Shay laughed out loud capturing said lieutenant's attention., He smiled at the two paramedics wondering what they were talking about to have them laughing that loudly. Whatever it was had Brett giggling and blushing slightly shrugging her shoulders and pushing Shay slightly.

Herrmann cleared his throat capturing Casey's attention again. "I swear those two are always causing some kind of mischief. But, no one can stay mad at Brett, she gets away with more pranks than anyone in the house."

Matt laughs. "Why don't we go get some breakfast and then we can go over what everyone's rolls are so that I am a little more prepared for shift. I did read through some of the reports form the last few calls, just to get a feel for everything, but I want to hear from your mouths what you do and what you'd either like to do, or even what you don't like doing."

The rest of the morning flew by with thankfully no calls save a wellness check for Ambo 61. Matt knew that this wasn't normal, he heard that this was a really busy house, but he wasn't complaining. He got to sit with his team, making sure to sit far away from Gabby Dawson, and learned what they liked and disliked doing on calls, and what they wanted to learn or improve on. He then took them outside and ran some drills and was pleased to note that they all worked well together.

It was just after dinner now and Matt went to find Kelly. They really needed to talk about everything it was only fair to his friend. Matt stumbled upon Shay and Brett on his way to Kelly's office.

"Hey, have either of you seen Severide?"

"I believe he's sitting at the Squad table." Shay said.

"Squad table? They have their own table?" Matt asked.

Sylvie smiled. "Yeah, they do. Come on I'll show you where it is."

Matt followed Sylvie through the hallway toward the apparatus floor. "Thanks Brett, I probably could have found it myself but I'm grateful for the help. This way Kelly and I can get this uncomfortable talk over with sooner rather than later."

"Of course, lieutenant, if you need anything just ask, I'm always willing to help. I'm sorry that you guys are going to have an uncomfortable conversation. Severide's a really good guy…"

"Oh, it has nothing to with Kelly, we've been friends for years. We wend to the CFD academy together. He just asked what brought me home earlier, and I hadn't had a chance to talk with him yet. Thank you again for your help, and if I ever need anything I'll let you know. The same goes for me by the way, if you ever need anything just let me know I'll do my best to help you out."

Matt and Sylvie parted ways at the Squad table. Matt motioned to Severide that they go outside away from prying eyes and ears for this conversation. Kelly knew it had to be serious if his friend wanted to talk privately. Did Hallie break up with Matt was that why he was home? If she did after Matt dropped his entire life in Chicago for her and moved to New York he'd call her up and give her a piece of his mind.

"What's up Case?"

"Sorry, if this house is anything like my house in New York, then everyone would know my business in a matter of minutes and I'm not ready for everyone to know yet. Obviously, the chief knows but I wanted to tell you myself before you found out from any other sources.

"So, I am back in Chicago because a month ago Hallie committed suicide. Ten months ago, she gave birth to our beautiful baby girl Alexa and I guess she had been struggling with post-partum depression. She never let on that anything was wrong and she always seemed to enjoy being with Alexa. I mean, I know that she didn't want kids it was the one argument that we always had, but when we accidently got pregnant, she kept the baby for me, or so her note said. Then one day I came home from shift and Alexa was crying and I found Hallie with her writs slit in the bathtub."

"Oh man Case, that is horrible! I can't even imagine what you are going through right now. I can't even process half of what you told me just yet. Hallie's really gone? Why didn't she just leave you guys if she couldn't handle it?

"I can't believe you have a kid, man. Alexa, you said. I need pictures."

Matt gave Kelly a small smile and whipped out his phone opening up his photo app and letting Severide go through all the pictures on there.

"I don't know why she chose death over just leaving. Her note didn't say and now I have to raise that amazing little girl on my own and I will one day have to explain to her why her mother isn't here and the fact that she didn't want her and chose to die than stay with us."

"Casey, whatever you need man, you let me know and I'll help you however I can."

"Thanks Kelly, that really means a lot to me. I need to find a day care and was hoping you could let me know who has kids here so that I can ask them what day care they use. Right now, Christie is keeping Alexa, but she's got to go back to work soon so I really need to find a day care soon."

"Herrmann has like four kids he would be the one to ask, although I am not sure if Cindy stays home with the kids or not, but I'd start with him. After that, well we'll ask around."

Just then the bells went off.

Truck 81, Squad 3, Engine 51, Ambo 61, Battalion Chief 25 multi-vehicle accident on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

Matt and Kelly looked at one another and ran for their rigs. Matt kicked off his boots and put on his turnout pants and boots before grabbing his jacket off the door and hopping up into the Truck. Otis, Herrmann, Mouch, and Dawson came rushing out of the station and climbed into Truck 81 quickly. Once everyone was situated Otis pulled out of the bay door, sirens blaring following the chief's buggy with Ambo 61 following behind them. Matt had a feeling this was going to be a long night.

The scene when they got there was mayhem. There were at least ten cars involved.

"Let's go people!" Boden shouted. "Severide you and squad start checking these cars over here for any injuries. Shay, Brett set up triage, Casey you and Truck start checking the cars over there and assess the damages. Battalion Chief 25 to Main, I'm going to need three more Ambo's to our location."

"Copy that Chief, dispatching additional Ambos to your location."

Casey turned to his crew. He could see the look Dawson was giving him and it still made him uncomfortable. "Otis, Dawson take the blue sedan, Mouch, Herrmann check that red Buick, I'll check the station wagon."

Everyone jumped to follow his orders and he ignored the crestfallen look on Dawson's face for not being able to work with him. He really wasn't ready to start dating and even if he was, she was a little too forward for his tastes.

Matt walked toward the brown station wagon cautiously. He was constantly looking around him assessing any hidden dangers. At the same time, he was keeping an eye on his people making sure that none of them needed any assistance. He could see a head in the car he was heading toward and knew that there was at least one victim in that car. Moving more quickly now he rushed to make his way to assess the situation.

"Chief, we got a guy in the silver sedan with what looks like a deep laceration on his neck he's losing a lot of blood. I need Shay and Brett over here." Severide's voice said through the radio.

Boden dispatched the women to Severide's location. Shay radioed that they needed to get a car moved and the Ambo pulled closer so that they could load him up and move him once he was stabilized. By now other companies arrived to the scene and were trying to move some of the cars so that the first responders could work more easily, especially the paramedics.

Matt made his way to the wagon and saw a man with a small gash on his forehead pacing in front of the car.

"Sir, there are paramedics just over there, they will take a look at your head and patch you right up."

"My wife, she's in the car, she's in labor."

Matt gulped. He had gone through this himself, but Hallie was in a hospital room with doctors and nurses, and lots of machines and instruments in case something went wrong.

"Uh, I need a medic over here," Matt called into his radio, "I've got a woman in labor who is about to give birth on the highway."

Boden cursed under his breath. "Casey all the medics are busy or already left with victims to take them to Lakeshore. Only Brett and Shay are here and they are working on a critical victim."

"Casey, you're going to have to deliver that baby," Brett called through her radio. "I'll walk you through anything you need help with. Can you see anything?"

Brett's voice was calm and strong, soothing Matt's frazzled nerves. He took a deep breath, took off his turnout coat and crouched in the door of the station wagon. "Uh, yeah, I can see the head."

"Ok, tell her to push on the next contraction." Brett said

"Ok, ma'am when you feel your next contraction, I need you to push, alright? I'm right here with you. We are going to bring this little one into the world together."

Dawson climbed into the car behind the woman to give her some back support and on the next contraction she pushed, groaning in pain.

"You're doing great," Matt encouraged. "Ok, I need one more big push. Ready."

The woman nodded and pushed again. Matt was able to hold onto the baby's head now. "Great! One more big push to clear the shoulders and your baby will be born."

The woman nodded again and pushed once more screaming as the shoulders passed. Matt pulled the baby free and held her in his arms. "It's a girl," he told the woman. However, the baby wasn't crying.

"Brett, she's not crying."

"She probably isn't breathing. Casey, you're going to have to breathe for her, place your mouth over her nose and mouth and give two breaths, just like doing CPR."

Matt did as instructed. Nothing. He waited a moment and then gave the baby two more breaths. "Come on," he whispered, "come on."

"Casey?" Brett called through the radio. "CASEY?"

Matt gives two more breaths, and then the baby started crying. Matt gave a relieved laugh, wrapped the baby up in his turnout coat and handed her to her mom. He could hear Brett's relived chuckle though the radio.

"You're going to have to deliver the after birth too Casey." She said and instructed him how to do that. "Ambo 93 is almost here they will transport the family to Lakeshore."

"Thanks Brett," Matt said.

Ambo 93 arrived about ten minutes later and loaded up the new mom, baby, and dad who Gabby bandaged while they were waiting for the Ambo to arrive. Just after they pulled out Ambo 61 pulled out with their victim loaded in the back. The rest of the firehouse stayed there for overhaul and clean up of the highway before heading back to the station. On the way back Matt couldn't help thinking about what he had just done. That was his first on the job birth, despite being a firefighter for five years, and he couldn't help thinking what a heck of a first day.