Chief Boden watched as first Herrmann and then Squad exited the building. He relaxed slightly knowing that at least some of his men were out of the building safely. But he knew they were not out of the woods just yet. Casey and Severide were still inside the dangerously unstable building. Boden made his way over to Herrmann, who was just removing his mask.

'Herrmann, make your way over to ambo 61, let Shay and Dawson check you out.'

Herrmann shook his head and turned around to face the building.

'If it's all the same with you Chief, I'd like to wait until Casey is out of that building before getting checked out. I'm fine anyway, just a few scrapes and bruises.'

Boden sighed. He knew that Casey was like a son to Herrmann, after all he had trained Casey since he was a candidate on truck and had seen him operate for his whole career, and he knew Herrmann was worried about him, even if Casey had said he was fine. Boden walked over and patted Herrmann's shoulder.

'Fine, but as soon as Casey is out of that building you are getting checked out. Understood?'

Herrmann didn't turn away from the building as he replied to Boden.

'Copy Chief.'


Severide and Casey watched as squad made their way towards the exit, before snapping back into action themselves.

'Right Casey, you go next and then help pull me up. Okay?'

Severide knew this probably wasn't the best way to do it, and ordinarily he would have gone first and then pulled Casey up. But Casey was starting to look a bit unsteady on his feet, and he didn't want to get out of the hole and have Casey collapse and not be able to reach up for Severide to pull him out. At least if Casey collapsed then he would be within reach of squad and truck to pull him out and get him medical attention. Casey nodded, still coughing as the smoke continued to fill his lungs. Severide helped Casey up onto the table and then boosted him up so he could haul himself onto the floor above. It took longer than it should have, and proved to Severide that Casey was more injured than he was letting on. He didn't bring it up though, he could force Casey to get medical attention once they were out of the burning building. Casey scrambled up and turned around.

'Right, now help pull me up. Sorry if I'm a bit heavy, I'll try to make myself as light as possible.'

Casey took Severide's hands and took his weight as Severide reached for the edge of the floor so he could try and pull himself up so he didn't injure Casey more than he was already.

'Oh God Severide, what have you been eating?'

Severide chuckled as he attempted to pull himself up. If Casey was joking around that should mean he wasn't injured too badly… right. Finally Severide managed to get a firm grip on the floor and between him and Casey managed to haul himself up and out of the basement. He lay on the floor panting for a second before getting to his feet and looking down at Casey, offering him a hand to get up. But Casey had gone pale and was coughing even more now. Severide knelt down and began to take off his own mask. He knew it was against regulations, but if Casey was going to get out of this building he needed oxygen.

'Hold on bud. Here, have this. We aren't that far from the exit.'

Severide helped fasten the mask on Casey's face. The building groaned once more, louder this time and Severide knew they had to get out of there. He pulled him up off the floor and put Casey's arm around his neck, practically dragging him to the nearest exit.


Everyone outside watched the building, the tension was sky high, as they all waited for Severide and Casey to exit the building. Boden was watching, hand glued to his radio as he waited to hear something from his lieutenants or see them run out of the building. Herrmann was pacing backwards and forwards, practically ripping his hair out with worry. The rest of 51 switched between staring at the building intently and sharing concerned glances with each other. A loud groan came from the building, making everyone jump. Herrmann turned around and fixed Boden with a stare. Boden shook his head at him and pressed his radio.

'Severide report. How you doing in there?'

It was only a couple of seconds before Severide responded, but to everyone outside the building it felt like hours.

'We're out of the basement Chief. Just making our way to the exit now.'

There was a pause before Severide could be heard over the radio again. But this time he sounded like he was panicking, and he was not talking to Boden or the rest of 51 outside the building.

'Shit Casey, why didn't you tell me you were this injured. We could have got you out sooner.'

Everyone outside froze as they heard what was going on inside the building. Obviously Casey was injured. But they didn't know how badly or if Severide would be able to get him out of the building on his own. Severide spoke up again, this time speaking to Boden.

'Chief, make sure ambo are ready… me and Casey are coming out now.'


As Severide dragged Casey towards the exit Boden's voice came over the radio.

'Severide report. How you doing in there?'

Severide looked towards the exit and saw they weren't too far away now and would be outside in a matter of minutes. He grabbed his radio and answered Boden.

'We're out of the basement Chief. Just making our way to the exit now.'

Severide glanced at Casey, who seemed to be leaning on him even more, and saw that he was struggling to stay conscious. Casey coughed again, and that was when Severide saw the blood splattered on the inside of the mask.

'Shit Casey, why didn't you tell me you were this injured. We could have got you out sooner.'

Casey shrugged and mumbled something about how he was fine and that he had to make sure Herrmann was okay before he got out himself. Severide shook his head at Casey's stubbornness and radioed Boden.

'Chief, make sure ambo are ready… me and Casey are coming out now.'

They had just made it out of the doorway when Casey collapsed against Severide completely, forcing Severide to lower him to the ground and call out for someone to help get Casey to an ambulance.


All eyes were on the entrance to the burning building, waiting for the figures of their Lieutenants to emerge from the smoke. Finally they saw them exit the building, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Until they heard Severide's panicked voice and saw him lowering a seemingly unconscious Casey to the ground.

'I need some help over here!'

Herrmann was the first to run over to the two Lieutenants, having started to make his way over as soon as he had seen them emerge from the building. Boden, Otis and Mouch were close behind him, with Shay and Dawson hurrying over with the gurney and jump bags. Herrmann's heart sunk as he saw the blood on the inside of the mask, and he knelt down next to Severide, helping to pull the mask off and trying to take Casey's turnout coat off so they could see what damage the fall had done. Shay handed Herrmann a pair of scissors, and he cut away Casey's shirt. Everyone's gasped as they saw the dark bruises across his chest and by his ribs. There was obviously some internal bleeding and they needed to get him to the hospital as fast as possible. They lifted Casey up, placed him on the gurney and ran him over to the ambulance.

'Severide, Herrmann. You ride with ambo; we'll be right behind you once the relief teams get here to take over.'

Severide and Herrmann nodded and jumped into the back of the ambulance with Shay as Dawson ran around to the front and started the engine. Dawson put the sirens on and drove as fast as she could towards the hospital. Herrmann and Severide stared at Casey, who was led unconscious on the gurney. Shay's eyes were filled with tears as she placed an oxygen mask on Casey's face and hooked him up to the heart monitor.