Severide continued his Crusade. Every call, he pulled riskier and riskier stunts. At one particular fire, he went in with no plan and no information that could determine life or death. "I got him, Chief." Birch ran in after him and followed him up the stairs. He stood in the middle of the room as it collapsed. She dove for him and caught his hand. "Oh my god, you weigh a lot."

"What are you doing? You'll get yourself killed!" He couldn't help but look down at the inferno that could burn through his turnout gear.

"If you die, it won't be alone." Her grip only tightened as she started pulling him up. "Anytime you want to help, that'd be great." He snapped out of his momentary daze and grabbed hold of the floor. Flames surrounded them with no hoses. Cyra picked up a chair and threw it out of the window. "Get the vic now!" Severide picked up the burned teenager before heading out the window onto the ladder. Things were getting hotter. As Severide went down the ladder, a random blast of fire made Birch disappear.

"Cyra!" Severide yelled. The other firefighters seemed frozen in shock. He hurried down the ladder and gave the victim to the Dawson before climbing back up. She was unconscious on the floor, her PASS device beeping from the lack of movement. He threw her over his shoulder and took her down the ladder. After a few seconds, she took off her oxygen mask and started coughing.

"Oh, that wasn't fun." She wiped off her forehead, which was covered in sweat and ash. "Let's not do that again. In fact, if you do, Kelly, your ass is on the curb."

"Sorry, Lieutenant Birch. I promise it won't happen again."

"Great." Another cough. "You're in charge of clean-up."

He raised an eyebrow. "After I just saved your life?"

"After I had to save you from your own idiocy, Hell yeah." He followed orders, and she noticed Mills staring. "Still wanna join the squad?"

"Oh, uh..." He left instead of saying anything.

Life was better. Life was simple. The entire station was rocked with tragedy but also with success.

"When are you opening the bar again?" Birch asked while eating right out of the ice cream container.

"Seriously?" Dawson asked, eyeing the nearly gone dessert.

"What? Oh, sorry."

Dawson laughed. "Anyways, it opens... well, I don't know when. Matt helped me pick out a door, so that's done at least."

"I'm excited to see this place. Maybe I should've invested."

"It's never too late."

"True. I could use a little extra cash. Having three good-sized babies and a son isn't cheap."

Herrmann laughed. "Those things are huge. You should bring them to the station one day. As long as Pouch doesn't mind."

"Maybe. It seems only a few of the people here have met them."

"I've seen pictures. That's good enough for me. I'm more of a cat person." Dawson grabbed her cup of coffee before going to sit at the table. Chief Boden walked in and poured himself a cup.

"So Chief. I was wondering if Birch here could bring in her 'little babies'." Herrmann sat waiting for an answer.

"What?" The chief was obviously unaware of what Herrmann was talking about.

Birch sighed and rolled her eyes. "He means my dogs."

Boden nodded. "I don't see why not. Bring them next shift. I think Pouch needs some company other than Mouch." They all automatically looked at the two sitting on the couch together.

At the end of the shift, Birch walked out to her car to wait for Casey. Looking over her shoulder, she noticed Joe Cruz staring at her. "Hey, Cruz." She waved, and he nodded before walking to her.

"Hey, Lieutenant. I was um... never mind."

"You sure?" He nodded again. "Cause you don't look too sure."

"Want to go get drinks tonight?" He blurted out before looking away awkwardly.

"Oh." Birch was taken aback.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have asked. I'll just go."

"Don't be sorry. I would love to get a drink."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Really?"

"Yeah. You have my number?" He nodded while a smile spread across his face. "Then text me later." Casey interrupted their conversation. "I'll see you later." They got into the car, and Cruz went back to his car.

"What was that?"

She smiled. "We are going to get drinks tonight. Is that okay?" She only asked when she saw the look of doubt on his face.

"I know no matter what I say; you'll go anyways. Just be careful with him." Casey was worried about what Cruz had done in the past and what his brother was involved in. "I'm being serious."

"Okay. Whatever it is you're so afraid of about him, he'll tell me when he's ready."