Part 4:
Matt finished up his report after a short nap. He turned in his report to Chief Boden, placing it in his inbox and turning saw a folder with his name on it on a desk just outside the chief's office. Matt opened the folder and saw the paperwork that he needed to have filled out before the next shift. Grabbing the folder he headed back to his office, he didn't want to forget the folder because then he wouldn't make Chief Boden's deadline for having the paperwork filled out. He was a lieutenant and needed to be responsible and turning in late paperwork was not going to show that he was responsible.
Matt saw Kelly in his office getting some last-minute things together and knocked on the door frame.
"Hey Casey, what's up?"
"I was just wondering if you wanted to head to Christie's with me after shift for breakfast. I'd like to catch up with you some more, but I can't really go out for breakfast right now, I haven't seen Alexa in twenty-four hours and I want to relieve my sister of her duties."
"Yeah sure, I'd love that, and I will get to meet that beautiful little lady at the same time."
"Awesome, wait for me after shift and you can follow me over there," Matt said.
Kelly waved his acknowledgement as Matt walked back to his office to put his folder down. He needed to do a last-minute inventory on Truck 81 to make sure that all the equipment was there before he signed off for the day. As Matt walked out onto the app floor, he saw Shay and Brett doing inventory on their Rig, and Severide walked out just after him to do inventory on his Rig. Matt waved to the two women before going through the compartments on his truck. He took his time because he was still learning where everything was supposed to go and what was kept on the Truck in general.
"Hey lieutenant you want a hand?" Herrmann asked walking up behind Casey.
"Hey Herrmann, yes that would be great thanks. Um, Herrmann I was wondering if I could ask you a question."
"Sure, thing Lieutenant."
"I heard that you had some children and I was wondering what day care you had them in."
Herrmann looked at his new lieutenant closely. He was a mystery to all of them, but he seemed like a really good person and the way that he handled himself on today's call, birthing that baby and staying calm while doing it, keeping both parents calm earned him some respect in Herrmann's eyes.
"Yeah, Cindy and I have four kids. Cindy's been staying home with them, but we do use a day care on occasion when Cindy has things to get done and she can't take the kids with her. I'll get the name and number from her and give it to you next shift."
"Thanks Herrmann. Can we keep this between us for now? I'm not ashamed of my daughter, but I'm not really ready to get into the whole think with everyone just yet."
"Of course, lieutenant, your secret is safe with me."
Matt nodded and he and Herrmann finished up the inventory on the truck, which went much faster with Herrmann's help. That man knew everything about Truck 81 and Matt made a mental note to himself to have Herrmann go over everything with him on the next shift. Matt knew that he could learn a lot from Christopher Herrmann and he was determined to do so. Hopefully the other man would not see it as a weakness his lieutenant coming to him with questions about their rig. From what he's seen of Herrmann so far, he didn't think he would, but you never knew.
Matt grabbed his things from his office and told Kelly he'd meet him outside. Kelly nodded and headed to the locker room to grab his things. As he entered the room he heard Dawson, Shay, and Brett talking.
"Did you get a look at the new lieutenant?" Dawson asked. "He is super fine; I'm definitely getting that man into bed."
"Gabby, I don't think that's such a good idea," Sylvie started.
"Why not? He's hot, I'm hot, and he looks like he'd be an amazing lay."
Shay sighed. "I'm not letting you run him off. Not after Kelly just got him back. Leave the man alone Gabby, he's not an object he's a person. You are not to go all Gabby Dawson on him, do you understand me?"
Gabby scoffed. "You're not my mother Shay. I can sleep with whomever I want."
"That's to say he is looking for someone to sleep with," Sylvie mumbled.
"What you don't think I could bag him?" Gabby asked. "I've never been rejected."
"Well, there's a first for everything. Besides, I agree with Shay, he's a person not an object, he should be treated with some respect."
"Whatevs, I'll see you two later. I'm out." Gabby said collecting her things and walking out of the locker room.
Kelly shook his head, he'd have to warn his friend about Gabby Dawson and what she was capable of, and he'd have to keep an eye on Casey, just in case Dawson tried something drastic. He couldn't help but smile though at the fact that Brett and Shay were trying to protect his friend even though they barely knew him.
Kelly gathered the rest of his things quickly and rushed out of the firehouse. He saw Matt talking to Chief Boden and breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't sure if Gabby had managed to corner him or not but seeing him talking to the Chief made Kelly feel better. Gabby wouldn't try anything with Boden right there.
"Hey Case, I'll ready."
"Great! Chief thank you. I will have all the benefits paperwork filled out and handed into you by the beginning of shift. I just want to thank you again for taking a chance on me and letting me join your firehouse."
"Casey, the pleasure is all mine. I really do think you'll be a great addition to this house, and maybe you'll be able to keep this one in line."
Kelly laughed. "Not a chance, Chief. I'm hoping to bring out the carefree Matt Casey I went to the academy with."
"I bet you are." Boden laughed. "I'll see you boys next shift."
Boden walked away from his officers and climbed into his buggy. He watched as the two young men talked and then got into their own cars pulling away from the house moments later. It was a tragedy losing Darden the way that they had, but Wallace had a feeling that Matt Casey was just what the house needed to get past such a tragedy.
The drive back to Christie's wasn't too long and Matt waited outside for Kelly to find a place to park. Matt was a little nervous for Kelly to meet Alexa, but at the same time he was excited.
"Alexa should be up; I just hope she's not super cranky. It's been a while since I've been away from her for a fill twenty-four hours."
"It'll be fine Case, even if she is cranky, I'm really excited to meet your daughter."
Matt smiled. He opened the door and was greeted by early morning chaos. Violet was running around gathering her school things, while Christie was trying to get Alexa to eat something and simultaneously helping her daughter pack her school things.
"You look like you could use a hand." Matt chuckled.
"Matt! Your home, great, here take Alexa," Christie said, practically shoving his daughter into his arms. "Sorry," she apologized while rushing around with Violet getting her things packed into her school bag.
Matt didn't comment he just look at his daughter drinking her in. It was a long twenty-four hours without her. "Hey pumpkin! Were you a good girl for Auntie Christie?"
"She was an angel, mine on the other hand."
Matt laughed turning to Kelly. "Kelly, I'd like you to meet Alexa. Sweetie, this is Uncle Kelly."
Kelly's eyes welled up with tears. He could get used to Uncle Kelly. "Can I hold her?"
"Of course," Matt replied handing his daughter over to his best friend. He watched as Alexa sized up Kelly. Matt was ready to take her back if she started wailing, but she just grabbed Kelly's cheeks with her chubby hands and babbled at him. Matt chuckled; it appeared his daughter was smitten with his best friend. Kelly had always been a ladies' man, apparently that also applied to little ladies as well.
"She is beautiful man," Kelly said, clasping Matt's shoulder. "You did good. I'm sorry that you are going through what you're going through but I am so glad that you are home, and that I can meet this beautiful little lady right here. I swear it Case, you need anything you call me."
"Thanks, Kelly. That really means a lot to me."
Matt and Kelly had breakfast and hung out for a while, just talking about the past few years. Kelly told Matt about the call where they lost Darden and Matt went into detail about being an FDNY fighter fighter. It was a nice visit and they parted ways both feeling that their friendship was beginning to mend, which Matt was really thankful for. He missed his friend when he lived in New York and was really grateful that Kelly didn't go running and screaming when meeting Alexa but embraced her and told Matt that he couldn't wait to see her again.
Matt fell asleep after her put Alexa down for her nap and thankfully was able to get a solid three hours before she woke again. After grabbing something quick to eat he took his daughter for a walk around the neighborhood, just trying to re-familiarize himself with the area. He was going to start looking up day cares online tomorrow, but today he just wanted to spend some quality time with his daughter. There was a park about two blocks from his sister's house, Matt remembered taking Violet there when she was really little, before he moved to New York, and that was his destination. Alexa loved the swings so that's where he was going.
The day was pretty warm and he only needed to have Alexa in a light jacket. She was enjoying being outdoors and squealed with excitement over everything making Matt smile. He was grateful that she was so young and really didn't know what was going on. One day he'd have the difficult conversation with her about her mother, but for right now she got joy out of the littlest things and Matt cherished that.
The next two days flew by. Matt and Christie were researching daycares for Alexa, checking reviews and the better business bureau to make sure that they were legit businesses. Matt hated that he was going to have to leave his daughter in a daycare every three days as it was, he wanted to make sure that the place he left her was reputable. So far, they had a few potential places to look at and after his next shift he and his sister would go and check them out.
Kelly had come by the house again, this time for lunch and the two men took little Alexa out. They went out to lunch and then took her to a park for a while. Kelly was loving his time reconnecting with Matt, and spending time with his "niece". He smiled brightly every time that Matt called him Uncle Kelly.
"You're a really good dad, you know that right?" Kelly asked as they headed back to Christie's house.
"I like to think so, but it's always nice to hear," Matt laughed. "You're really good with her too, and she really loves her Uncle Kelly."
Kelly smiled. "I love it, Uncle Kelly! I am going to be the best "uncle" ever."
Matt didn't doubt that. It was really nice to be back with one of his best friends. He was sad that Andy wasn't there and would never get to meet Alexa, but things happen and there wasn't much that he could do to change the outcomes. At least he had Kelly who was being so supportive of his having a baby to take care of. It was nice knowing that Kelly understood that he couldn't go out as much as they could, being as young as they were, and he didn't judge him for that.
Matt's second shift was upon him. He went through his morning routine, spending as much time with Alexa as he could before rushing out the door so as not to be late. That wouldn't look very good, being late on his second day, but it was so hard to leave Alexa behind. She was being cranky today, which was unusual for her. It was as if she could sense that he was going to be gone for the next twenty-four hours and was showing her displeasure. Matt had apologized to Christie before running out the door.
Morning briefing was short, just a few safety protocols to go over and some housekeeping things that needed to be done. As soon as Chief Boden released them everyone rushed to the kitchen to grab some breakfast. Matt and Kelly were sitting at the table enjoying some coffee and quietly talking about some plans for the weekend when Gabriella Dawson sat down next to Matt.
"Good morning lieutenant." She smiled.
Matt glanced over at her, noticing how closely she was sitting next to him. "Morning Dawson." He was polite but not too polite. He didn't want to give her the wrong impression.
"So, I was thinking," she said, clearly not reading his uncomfortable body language. "We should totally go out for drinks tonight."
"Um…thanks Dawson, but I am not really interested."
Gabby laughed, he was playing hard to get, well she wasn't about to give up. "I promise you; you won't regret it. We'll have a really good time. Some drinks to loosen up and then we can go back to my place for a night cap."
Matt looked at Kelly, who was trying not to laugh. The expression on Matt's face was saying is she for real?
"Thank you but no. I'm not interested in going out for drinks with you Dawson, I'm not interested in sleeping with you either."
Gabby scoffed; he was turning her down? How is that possible. "Come on Casey, I can guarantee you a good time. It doesn't have to be anything serious, just some casual sex if that's what you want."
Matt sighed. "That's not what I want and as much as I hate to be rude, I do not want you. Please just let this go, walk away, and I'll forget it happened. If you continue, I will have to fill out harassment papers and I would hate for that to be on your record."
Gabby stared at him long and hard. She was not going to give up, she'd get him into her bed. Gabby Dawson always got what she wanted and she wanted Matt Casey. But she knew better than to push right now, he was right, she didn't want that spot on her record.
"Fine, I'll walk away for now, but I will change your mind, you can count on that."
Matt held his head in his hands as Gabby walked away from the table. A small groan escaped him. This could not be happening; was he really being harassed by one of his one crew? Kelly couldn't hold back his laughter any longer.
"I'm sorry Matt, I know it's not funny, but I swear I never expected Gabby to go all Dawson on you."
"Oh, so that's a normal occurrence for her?"
"Well, she does tend to go off half cocked a lot of the time. She charges at things full bore and doesn't think of the consequences."
"Great! Am I going to have to go to Boden with this?
"Let's hope not buddy. I'll do my best to run interference, and I'll recruit Shay, and maybe Brett to help, but if she keeps it up, you might have to. Hopefully she'll let what you said sink in and leave you alone."
"One can only hope."
Just then the bells went off. Squad 3, Engine 25, Truck 28, Ambo 61, Battalion Chief 25, structure fire 259 North Main Street.
Everyone dropped what they were doing and ran to their rigs. Time was of the essence. They all grabbed their gear quickly and rushed out of the firehouse. When they got to the house, they could see flames shooting out of the roof, it was a fully enflamed fire. Shay and Brett set up behind Truck 81 and were helping some victims who made it out of the house already, giving them oxygen and checking for any burns. Boden sent Squad 3 to do a primary search of the second floor and Truck 81 the first floor.
Casey sent Otis and Dawson up to vent the roof. Mouch raised the aerial quickly as the other two rushed up once it was locked and secured. Matt and Herrmann, Severide and Cruz masked up and entered the house as soon as Otis verified that they vented the roof. Visibility was almost nothing and each firefighter knew that they didn't have long before they would need to get out of the house. Severide and Cruz carefully made their way to the second floor, checking all the rooms up there while Matt and Herrmann searched downstairs. No one was in the kitchen or the living room. Herrmann was heading to the dining room when Matt found the basement stairs.
"Chief, Herrmann is checking the last rooms on the first floor, dining room and bathroom, I'm going to check the basement."
"Copy that, Casey. Make it quick, I don't like the way this is looking."
"Copy that Chief," Matt replied. He opened the basement door and quickly made his way down the stairs. It looks like the fire started there in the dryer as there were flames shooting out of the machine and smoke filled the room.
"Fire department, call out," Matt yelled. He slowly made his way around the room, skirting the dryer, making sure no one was hiding down there. If they were, they would be in really bad shape once he got them out.
"Chief, basement is all clear. Coming up now."
"Carefully Casey, but quickly. Severide, Herrmann report."
"All clear Chief. Cruz and I are on our way out." Severide said.
"All clear Chief," Herrmann called.
Kelly and Joe were walking past the basement door when they heard a loud groan and a crashing sound. Moments later a pass alarm could be heard faintly from the basement. Kelly almost panicked, Matt was down there.
"Casey!" Kelly yelled. "Casey, call out!" Severide yelled.
There was no response from the basement. Kelly had flashbacks of losing Andy all over again. He almost didn't survive that; he would definitely not be able to survive losing Matt. On top of that, Alexa needed her dad. She already lost her mom; she couldn't lose Matt too.
"Mayday, Mayday, Firefighter down!" Cruz called into the radio. "Chief, the basement stairs collapsed. Casey is down there and not responding."
"Capp, Tony, get in there with some rope and a backboard." Chief Boden called.
"Matt! Come on buddy, call out!" Kelly yelled.
"Ugh, Kelly?" Matt called.
"Thank God. Hang on I'm coming down for you."
Tony and Capp reached Severide and Cruz. Kelly harassed up and they lowered him into the basement. Matt was standing, although swaying slightly but he was upright which relived the biggest of Kelly's fears. He got his friend hooked up and the others pulled him out of the basement. Matt waited until they had Kelly up too before walking out of the house. He didn't know what happened, but it appeared that the fire had reached the stairs sooner than he anticipated and compromised the structure. Thankfully he was ok.
"Casey, let the paramedics check you out." Boden yelled, his tone showing he would not take no for an answer. Matt nodded and walked over to Shay and Brett.
"I'm alright," he said. "Just had the wind knocked out of me for a minute."
Brett nodded, "We'll be the judge of that."
Sylvie checked Matt's pupil response and his lung sounds before feeling his head for any bumps.
"You seem alright, but we'll be keeping an eye on you back at the station. No concussion or anything and breath sounds are good."
Chief Boden nodded and ordered Engine to knock the flames down. Once overhaul was done everyone packed up and headed back to the station. Matt just wanted to shower and lie down, his back ached a little, due to the impact on the ground, but he also wanted something to eat. He settled for a quick shower to wash the smoke smell off of him and then headed to the common room for some lunch.
Gabby Dawson cornered him in the hallway before he could make it to the common room. She pushed him up against the wall, pressing her body into his. "That was close today Lieutenant. What do you say we go to your quarters and I will give you a nice sensual massage?"
She pressed a small kiss to his neck rubbing her chest against his. Matt really didn't need this right now. He was sore, and still a bit shaken up by that last call. It was close, he could have died, and then what would have happened to Alexa.
Matt pushed Gabby off of him. "For the last time Dawson, I am not interested. You need to stop because if it happens again, I will go to Chief Boden and I will make a formal complaint."
Matt quickly walked past a stunned Gabby and into the common room. All he wanted was some food, pain relievers and sleep. He grabbed some food, pasta and salad before sitting at the table next to Herrmann and Brett. Sylvie was watching him as he came into the room and she could see the stiffness he was trying to hide. He was obviously hurt worse than he let on earlier, but then again adrenaline was running high and he might not have felt it. She would let him eat and then she'd give him some pain relievers and check out his torso.
They ate in silence everyone decompressing from the previous call. Gabby walked in and looked for Matt. Her face fell when she saw that she couldn't sit next to him but covered it up quickly. Just as Matt was getting ready to get up from the table the door leading to the app floor flew open and the wailing cries of a baby were heard.
Matt knew that cry. He looked up quickly, seeing Christie rushing through the door, a crying Alexa in her car seat. Christie looked frazzled and slightly guilty. She really didn't want to bother Matt at work but nothing she did would calm Alexa down.
"Matt, I'm so sorry," Christie started.
Matt didn't let her finish, he took the car seat out of her hands and placed it on the table quickly getting his daughter out of the carrier. He held her to his chest, rubbing her back and whispering soothing words in her ear, kissing her head every so often.
"I don't know what happened. Everything was fine and then about an hour ago she just started screaming and crying and nothing I did could calm her down."
"It's ok Chris. I'll get her to calm down in a few minutes."
Just then Kelly came running into the room. "What happened?"
Everyone was watching the exchange with interest. Matt ignored them all, mostly forgetting that they were there.
"She just started crying an hour ago and won't calm down. I think she just needed her daddy." Matt laughed.
"You know," Kelly said, "I've heard that sometimes children can sense when their parents are in danger. Maybe she instinctively felt something wrong with you. You did fall through those stairs on the last call about an hour ago."
Matt gave Kelly a skeptical look, but didn't say anything because he was wondering the same thing.
"Lieutenant?" Herrmann asked, bringing Matt's awareness of everyone back into focus. "Is this your little princess? I have the list of day cares from Cindy, but she told me to tell you that if you'd like she would watch your daughter when we were on shift. She loves kids, and said it wouldn't be a bother."
"Yes, this is Alexa. That is really sweet of her to offer Herrmann but I don't want to take advantage…"
"Oh, you wouldn't be, I swear. I was told to give you the hard sell," Herrmann laughed. "At least come by tomorrow and meet her. She told me to at least make you promise that."
"Alright I promise."
Sylvie stood up and quietly approached Matt. Alexa was starting to settle down, but was still crying and hiccupping slightly.
"She is so precious. Do you mind if I hold her?" Sylvie asked.
Matt was hesitant because Alexa was still crying and Sylvie didn't push. She touched Alexa's hand softly. She had always love babies and one day wanted to have a bunch of her own. She hadn't met the right person yet, but she was still young and hoped that it would happen for her sometime in the not-so-distant future.
"Aren't you just a sweet little pumpkin," Sylvie cooed at Alexa.
Alexa turned her head toward Sylvie, taking in the blonde paramedic softly rubbing her hand. Still crying slightly Alexa lifted her head off Matt's shoulder and reached for Sylvie. Matt had never seen her do that while she was worked up. She normally wanted him and no one else, not even Hallie, although now knowing that she was struggling so much with being a mother he understood why Alexa didn't want her then.
Matt handed Alexa to Sylvie. She rubbed the little girl's back, swaying to and fro, humming a soft tune in her ear. Alexa snuggled into Sylvie's neck and quieted down, only hiccupping occasionally, but no longer crying.
"There you go, see, you're alright." Sylvie said. "Your daddy's right there, he's safe, I made sure of it myself. Although once you and I are done I'm going to check out his chest and back because I know he didn't think I noticed, but I could see the stiffness in his movements earlier and I know he's in pain. That's right, I know he is."
Matt's eyes widened slightly. Not only was Brett calling him out to his own daughter, but she was a natural with her. This was what he wanted for his daughter, someone who wanted her, and who would love her. He watched as Sylvie soothed his daughter, rubbing her back and kissing her head and wished that Alexa had that, a loving mother.
He had found Brett attractive when he saw her walking into the station during his first shift, but now, seeing her with his daughter he was certain he was attracted to her, and part of him longed for them to be together. However, currently he wasn't sure if he was ready for that. Hallie was only gone a short while, but he knew better than anyone that life was short, look at what almost happened today. If an opportunity presented itself, he might just have to ask Sylvie out on a date and see what happened because his daughter looked like she belonged in Sylvie Brett's arms.