2 days later
''You could have put me on the job, would have been done by now.'' Matt teased Boden, hitting the chief against his shoulder as they looked at the ravaged office. A lot still had to be done, the wall had to be repainted now most of the damage had been fixed at least at the wall and the window, but Casey's hands itched, wished he could do it. But as the CFD had asked another contractor and it was Sunday, there was not much happening today.
''Ah well, at least I am all settled in your office.'' Boden teased back before they walked back to the common room.
Mouch was on the couch, Pouch laying on his lap with her head and he scratched behind her ears.
The last few days, Trudy had been worried about him, checking in with the district if they knew something and he wished that she would lay it off. They were hoping they were good and he didn't want it to worry her.
Suddenly a call came in and they jumped up, Pouch jumping of Mouch's lap en couch and laid on the ground, moaning sad as she wanted more attention, but everybody was leaving.
They arrived at the scene of a fire and before they could even assess the situation, a woman came running their way.
''my baby is still inside. ''
''Not even having a second though, Casey called Herrmann along and they ran inside.
Herrmann followed Casey closely and all he could think of was the fire they had not been able to go in. it felt terrible to leave somebody in the building, but they also knew there was nothing to be done.
''Found the baby.'' Matt yelled and he walked to the crib, cradling the baby in his arms and they made their way out, quickly.
As Casey and Herrmann ran out, Severide sighed relieved as he saw Matt holding a bundle of blankets and knew they had found the baby. Casey brought the baby to Brett and Borelli and engine got ready to put out the fire.
Severide look around it was always great that they got people out in time, especially when it was a little baby.
Some younger boys were staring at them and Severide looked at them, almost staying.
''Chief.'' Severide said through the radio then and Chief Boden walked his way.
''Anything wrong?''
''Think that might be the gang.''
Casey saw the two men talking and walked their way.
''What is wrong?''
''Thought that might be the gang.''
''It's not them.'' Matt said, taking a look and Boden nodded as well, thought the truck lieutenant was right.
''These are younger.''
''Must be getting paranoid.'' Severide said then.
''Not the same boys.'' Casey assured them and they all nodded. Maybe they had been overly cautious. It was not so weird after the molotov cocktail that had been tossed into the firehouse. But these boys were not the same boys and it was no danger to them.
Engine finished up the scene and they left back to the firehouse.
Maybe they were being too paranoid. Maybe it would all be okay now. Maybe it would finally be fine again.
6 days later
Kelly Severide arrived at the firehouse early in the morning on his motorbike. The past few shift he hadn't dared to take it, too worried that something would happen to it. But after the last shift was so calm and he finally dared to put out in front of the firehouse again.
He walked inside. For the first time since the shift where they had not been able to go in and save the gang member and being told that they had to watch their backs, it was like they were safe again.
Walking inside, he knew that this shift would be the turning point, that everything would finally be okay again.
Matt parked his car up ahead in the street and took Gabby's bag out as well, carrying both bags as she walked beside him.
''Such a gentleman.'' She said as she grabbed his elbow for a minute, walking beside him before she let go of him as they were almost at the firehouse. Walking inside, it felt so good again today. Even though they knew they still had to be careful, it just felt a lot safer now. Nothing had happened for over a week now and that calmed them down a bit.
Casey walked beside Dawson to the lockers and put their stuff inside and got ready for shift.
A little later they all sat together after breakfast, passing time till the afternoon as there was not much happening.
''So, do you think we can finally let go of our fears?'' Otis asked as he was shuffling the cards in his hands, ready to play a game with Dawson, Herrmann and Cruz while Matt was reading the paper.
He looked up and nodded.
''Yeah, I think so. Think either the police scared them off, or they realized it makes no sense to attack first responders.'' Matt mumbled as he kept on reading.
''Feels good again, actually.'' Herrmann said and the rest nodded. Even though they also knew they were not assured that everything was going to be fine just it did feel a lot better.
Otis was dividing the cards.
''Care to join, lieutenant?''
''Nah, not now.'' Casey said from behind the newspaper.
''Oh, you have come to us now.'' Herrmann teased, ''Now we need to behave cause our lieutenant is here. To which do we owe your visit.''
Casey gave him a small smile, knew the man was only messing around with him.
''Cause Boden is in my office as long as his is not fixed up yet.'' Matt mumbled.
''Well, now you have left your office, alderman Casey, maybe we should elect a new lieutenant.'' Herrmann teased him.
''No, I am still your leader.'' Casey teased back.
''You weren't in bed last night.'' Gabby said softly, as a joke, more to herself but the whole common room was suddenly silent, waiting for what Casey was going to say now. He frowned for a second, threw his paper aside and got up from the table. He felt the anger and worry brewing inside of him. Gabby spoke her mind and at times like this, at work, that was the worst timing.
''Dawson, my office.'' Matt said, less than amused and the rest were silent as they walked away. Gabby bit her lip, knew that what she had said was stupid.
Casey realized that Boden was in his office right now and instead they walked on to the locker room.
''Sorry, I shouldn't have said that.'' She said, knew she was wrong for saying that. ''But it was just a joke.''
''It's not about what you said, it's about where you said it.'' He mumbled.
''I know-''
''You wouldn't say that to your lieutenant if I wasn't your boyfriend. Dawson, you can't say stuff like this at work.''
She wanted to get upset with him but since he was indeed her lieutenant, she knew it would only make matters worse.
Brett and Borelli came back the firehouse, parking the ambulance back on the apparatus floor.
They had just been called to a scene were nothing had been going on and when they arrived at Lakeshore, if Lakeshore knew more and had already received their patient, the hospital hadn't known about anything either.
''Well, at least we got some fresh coffee.'' Brett smirked.
''Do you want to do counting?'' Jimmy asked and Brett nodded.
''Yeah, let's do that.'' She nodded.
Sylvie wanted to grab her coffee as he made her way to get out of the ambulance and walk around it to get to the back more easily when they suddenly looked as multiple people entered the firehouse. Only when Jimmy pulled her down, the coffee making a dark brown spot on the floor, she realized that it where the gang members and that they were carrying their guns.
Crawling into the back of the ambulance, they tried to stay low. Jimmy still had his hand in front of Brett's mouth, worried she was going to make too much noise. They heard the doors to the common room open and close and Jimmy wanted to grab the radio to warn them about what was coming up, but it was already too late.
Brett wanted to scream as she heard the shots ring out in the common room.
NOTE: So there we are, at the part where the story started! I hope you all liked where this is going and that you want to know more, even though the topic might be a bit heavy. First of all, thank you so much for reading this chapter!
So please let me know what you think by leaving a review. (As English is not my first language I am also always happy to hear about things I can still improve) and hopefully till next chapter.
