A/N this chapter is not set in a particular episode, just after Otis was shot in 6x15 and his struggle to get back to truck during Cordova's time on eighty-one. This is set somewhere between 6x15 and 6x19, so I have not used direct quotes in this chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Joe was trying to watch the TV but if asked, he would not be able to say what exactly he was watching. He was watching Otis with concern. He watched as his best friend completed his physio exercises for the third time that day, he winced when he saw Otis turn to complete another short walk across the apartment without his walking stick. He could see that Otis was visibly tired, but was continuing to push himself. Yet again. Just as he had been doing for the past two weeks. When it looked like Otis was going to complete another walk across the apartment, Joe hastily got to his feet and stepped in front of Otis.

"Hey brother, don't you think its time you gave yourself a rest? Its like the third time today that you've been doing your exercises. And you've been doing more each time than the Doctors told you to do," commented Joe with his hands held up in surrender, in the hopes that Otis would see that he only had his best interests at heart.

Otis frowned at him, "Well I've got to improve. That means I've got to do more. Especially if I want to get better enough to get back onto truck. I don't want to be permanently replaced."

"Woah! Who said anything about you getting replaced?" exclaimed Joe. If someone had hinted at Otis about not coming back, he was going to be knocking some heads around. Especially after the riot act Cindy Herrmann read to truck after joking Otis was being replaced the last time he was on medical leave.

Otis shrugged the best he could while leaning against the wall. "Well last time I was off. Everyone on truck said my replacement was great and I've been off longer this time. So maybe eighty-one won't want me back." Otis did well to hide his anxiety at the thought of not making it back to eighty-one, but Joe knew him very well, and for him, Otis' fear was plain as day.

He reached out one hand and rested it gently on Otis' shoulder. "That. Is never going to happen."

"But you don't know that!" protested Otis. His voice broke on the last word and he looked down at his feet.

Joe brought Otis in for a hug and squeezed his brother close to him. "I just want you to be healthy. That means you can't rush your recovery."

Otis pulled away from the hug sharply. He grabbed his walking stick and as he began to storm as fast as he could away from Joe, he looked back over his shoulder and snapped, "that's easy for you to say. You are still at fifty-one. You aren't facing losing your place."

Joe's heart broke as he watched his brother walk towards his bedroom. The door slammed shut and Joe sank back down onto the couch. He rested his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes. He wished with all his heart he was able to trade places with Otis. It wasn't fair on his brother, just two years ago Otis was struggling to get back to fifty-one after his diagnosis. Now this.

The next day, Joe started his shift in a bad mood. Otis had not left his bedroom before Joe and Sylvie left the apartment. Sylvie had patted his shoulder, "he'll be okay." Joe had nodded, but he wasn't so sure. From what he had heard in the house, Cordova was very persistent and adamant that he would be turning his temporary spot on eighty-one into a permanent one.

Cordova seemed nice enough, but Joe kept himself away from the guy. He was the living embodiment of Otis' fear of never getting to return to eighty-one. And that was grounds enough for Joe to have nothing to do with the guy. Nobody hurt or threatened his brother.

Then to top it all off. When Otis came in to work in the office, Joe's stomach plummeted seeing the despondent look on his best friend's face. He followed Otis to the office and sat down on the edge of the desk Otis had been using. "What's wrong?"

"I didn't pass the physical," murmured Otis. His eyes were bright, showing the unshed tears he was trying to hold back. Joe moved so he was sitting in the chair beside Otis' and pulled Otis in for a hug. "I guess I was over doing it. But I just wanted to get back on truck so bad."

"Hey, I know you do. And you will. I refuse to believe anything else." Joe tightened his grip, ashamed that he hadn't realised that Otis had hidden his physical from him. "You've just got to take it a little easier. You were shot in the neck. It takes time to heal from these things."

Otis' shoulders shook as he quietly sobbed. "I just want things to get back to normal."

"I do to buddy, I do to." Joe quietly murmured as he rubbed a hand up and down Otis' back. He looked over Otis' shoulder and saw Boden looking at them in sadness. Joe just hoped and prayed that the CFD would give Otis longer to pass a physical, to get him back onto truck. Apart from the two stints at Morningside, Otis had spent his entire career as a firefighter at fifty-one. The house would never be the same without him.

Word soon spread about Otis' physical, Herrmann was clearly avoiding Cordova now, which was probably for the best. Herrmann was one wrong comment away from punching Cordova again. Joe wanted to spend the rest of shift with Otis, but squad were called out to assist a truck company from another house. When they got back an hour later, Severide nodded towards the office, a clear okay to spend whatever time they were not on a call with Otis. Joe nodded his thanks and hustled himself towards the office area. He paused in the doorway to smile. Sat clustered around Otis and his desk was Mouch, Herrmann, Kidd and Casey. The four of them were passing around stories. Joe had arrived in time for Casey, Herrmann and Mouch to explain to Kidd how Otis ended up with his nickname.

"Wait," grinned Kidd, "Otis isn't your real name?"

"Ha ha," snarked Otis, "No it is not. As I have explained countless times my name is Brian. Even if I am okay with being called Otis now. I do want it on the record that my real name is Brian."

"Its on the record, trust me. Otis." Smiled Casey. "Trust me. I have seen it on your personnel file."

Mouch soon launched into another story. Joe remained stood by the door watching, with his arms crossed and a smile on his face. He turned feeling another presence by his side, Severide stood beside him also watching the truck group smiling and laughing.

"Glad Otis is looking better," commented Severide.

Joe nodded, "It's a weight off my shoulders. I've been really worried about him. Today more so."

Severide gently knocked their shoulders together. "Well take some of that weight off your shoulders." He nodded his head in the direction of the group they were watching, just as the group burst into laughter. Casey almost falling off the desk as he leaned back holding his sides, which set Otis off laughing even harder and leaning to the side which sent his chair spinning around leaving his back to the others. "Truck are going to make sure Otis is okay. Casey wouldn't have it any other way. Otis is special." At Joe's questioning look, Severide smiled and continued. "Otis was the first Candidate Casey trained as a Lieutenant. That makes him special. Also, eighty-one is special to Casey, they're close friends and family. That matters to Casey."

Joe nodded, "Very true." He remembered working on truck, and how Casey would ensure the company became a tight-knit group.

Severide's shone with amusement as he grinned, "Also I think Casey is scared to death of getting another angry lecture from Cindy about teasing Otis."

Joe snorted in amusement, looking at Otis smiling as he was surrounded by truck. "Maybe now Otis will believe me when I say fifty-one doesn't want him going anywhere."

Severide's eyes glinted with determination, "Otis is not going anywhere. Between Chief, Casey and I. We'll make sure Headquarters gives him time to heal and pass the physical when his body has healed enough."

"Thanks Lieutenant," smiled Joe, while also breathing a sigh of relief at Severide's omission that the officers were working to ensure Otis returned to the driver's seat of eighty-one. Both he and Severide turned back to the group and watched them laugh and joke with smiles on their faces.

A few weeks later

Joe woke up with a wide smile on his face. Today was the day. Finally, after weeks of stress and uncertainty, Otis was heading back to fifty-one. Joe made sure he was up earlier than normal so he could cook a celebratory dinner. He just started to get the ingredients out for Otis' favourite pancakes, when he jumped. He turned and found Sylvie heading into the kitchen. "Guess we both had the same idea huh?" she grinned.

"Guess so," responded Joe, also with a wide grin on his face.

The three roommates ate breakfast together, laughing and joking. Otis had thanked them for making breakfast. "You guys didn't have to do that," he said as they walked out of their front door.

"Of course, we did!" protested Sylvie.

"Yeah brother," added Joe as he pulled Otis into his side so he could give a one-armed side hug. "What kind of roommates would we be if we didn't celebrate your return to eighty-one?"

Otis rolled his eyes, "We celebrated last night by going out for dinner."

Sylvie turned to face them, she held her arms up and exclaimed, "Well today is a big big day! One that needs to be celebrated!"

"But-"

Joe shook his head, "Don't argue this Otis. We want to celebrate." He tightened his hug. "You mean a lot to us, and today means a lot to you. So, we are going to be celebrating as long as Sylvie and I deem fit!"

Otis pulled them to a stop, he smiled his shy smile and then hugged Joe with both arms tightly. "Thank you, Joe."

Joe squeezed Otis tightly, thinking of how easily the bullet could have ended either Otis' career or killed him. "Always remember what you mean to me brother. I'd do anything for you." With one more squeeze, they ended the hug and met a grinning Sylvie at the car. Today things were finally going back to normal, just the way they should be.