Chapter Text
Today the sunlight conjured the most brilliant of mosaics, reflecting from each leaf and wisp of cloud. It was pure joy in the light, as if it were happy to create art where it shone, warm and steady. It was as the smiles of friends, as fresh rain after summer sun, something to quench and soothe all at once.
A woman smiled as she got out of her car taking her bags out of the back before closing the door. She walked up to the station she called home for most of her life. Taking in everything around the station, she prayed that this shift would be as easy like the past two have been.
Firehouse 51. Her home. All the men in her family had been firefighters. Her father, brothers, uncles, best friends. She was surrounded by them, so it made sense that she became one with her childhood friends, Matt Casey, Kelly Severide and Andrew Darden. It had always been the four of them against the world.
She lost her mother to a car accident when she was five and her father when she had just turned sixteen at an apartment fire. Since then she had lived with her brothers, until recently she had moved in with one of her best friends.
Knowing her way around the brunette walked up to the door and went inside one of the rooms and over to the sleeping area.
"Hey Cas!" She turned around to see Gabby walking towards her with Shay following. Her dark eyes sparkled with amusement.
"How was your guys' break?" Cassandra asked. The three of them had to stick together when surrounded by all these men.
"Same ole Same ole." Shay said, wrapping her arms around Cassie's shoulders. Her blonde hair was unruly; thrown back into a messy ponytail at the base of her head. The blonde hair and vibrant blue eyes made her fair skin pop. "Any dates, we need to talk about."
"Only date I went on was with my TV and couch." Cassie said, smiling at her friends as they rolled their eyes. "What about you two?"
"Nothing to tell." Gabby said.
Shay and Cassie shared a look. "You mean nothing to share?" Cassie smirked.
Gabby stopped, and turned to the duo. "Nothing happened."
"Was it that bad?" Shay asked. "Like no sex?"
"Leslie Elizabeth Shay!" Cassie laughed.
Gabby rolled her eyes. "Exactly."
"You two are a mess." Cassie looked down at her phone for a moment. Ten minutes in, everything was looking calm.
Laughter down the hall made her look up as she heard the loud voice of Andy Darden. "He never changes." Smiling, Cassie walked with Gabby and Shay into the kitchen area.
She stopped a moment and took in each of her friends.
Her friends were not perfect, or neat or tidy. Her friends were those with enough love in their hearts to fight for and defend what is right and good. So come with those frayed edges and scratches, because what counts is what holds a steady rhythm within.
Her eyes found her three best guy friends. Her brothers from another mother. Andy was explaining some story he probably has told hundreds of times due to Kelly's face. Though he had a smile and nodded when Andy would tell him to agree. Matt, though, was just silence listening. That was the type of friend he was. He listened to anyone who wanted someone to hear what they had to say.
Each one stuck up for each other in front of others, even when they knew they were wrong. Then privately they''d let each other know what they really thought and how they should have behaved differently. They were friends no matter what.
"I hope you all got empty stomachs, cause I'm making my famous chili tonight," she said, leaning against the doorway and watching her second family interact with each other.
Herrmann looked up as he heard her voice, as well as Andy, Kelly and Matt. "Thank the Lord."
Cassie laughed.
Otis grinned, looking over at her. "You making dessert as well?"
Snorting she turned "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Matt laughed as he and Kelly came to give her a hug. "Hey, Cas!"
Andy pulled her down to sit on the free chair next to him. "Let me see her! Cassie, How have you been?"
"You just saw me 24 hours ago, Andy."
"24 hours too long," Andy smirked, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
Cassie rolled her eyes, "Dear goodness, you're an idiot."
"You love me," Andy said. "You can't live without me."
"I can't live with you." Cassie commented.
"I resent that." Andy pointed toward his heart, "My heart's broken."
"It's broken alright," Cassie commented only to be interrupted.
"House fire, 788 Maple Street. Engine 51, truck 81, ambulance 61."
The group raced out of the kitchen to their trucks, putting their suits on. Cassie jumped in the back of Truck 81 beside Andy and Herrmann.
"Let's rock," Cassie said as Cruz pulled the truck out with the horn blaring.
Matt shook his head, leaning his body back and raising his fist up for Cassie and Andy to hit it with theirs. Laughter was heard in the truck.
Days like this made Cassie realize how blessed she is to have everyone here as a second family. They make every ups and downs in her life easier to deal with. Movement caught her eye as Andy looked at her with a smirk. "What are you doing?" She asked. With Andy no one ever knows what he is going to do.
"Guys, how do I look?" Andy asks after he put his mask on the side of his head like some people wear their hats.
"As usual. Like the class clown." Matt says, turning around in his seat, as everyone laughs. He shares a smile with Cassie as they both shook their heads at their friend. They should have known he was going to put something like this.
Matt took his radio from his side and spoke, "Yo, Severide, how soon till you can take Darden off my hands?"
"Andy makes squad the day after I'm no longer in charge." Kelly jokes back.
"Hey, Matt. Now we know where the two munchkins learn it from." Cassie laughed.
"Sure did. They have asked every day when Aunt Cassie would come over." Andy said.
"I was just over a week ago." Cassie responded, but went quiet as they reached the house.
As the trucks pulled up all joking went outside the door. It was time to get down to business. Cassie followed Matt and Andy to speak to the woman crying as she watched his house burn.
Once the woman noticed they were right beside her, she spoke. "The attic. My brother lives up there." She glanced at the house. "He hasn't come down."
"That window there?" Matt asks, pointing to the top floor window facing the street.
"Yes.. I haven't seen him." Tears continued to flow down her cheeks "Oh, god."
Cassie wrapped her arm around the woman. "We will get him out, I promise." She saw Herrmann walking up beside her. "My friend, Herrmann here, will take good care of you while we save your brother." The woman nodded her thanks as Herrmann led her away.
Kelly walked over to the trio, as Matt said to him. "Think there's a guy in the attic."
"I'll raise the aerial." Andy said.
"He could be on the stairs, in the hallway, anywhere." Kelly states. "We'll go in back, work our way up."
Matt and Cassie nodded.
"Case of beer, we get to him first." Kelly says walking away from his friends.
"Just vent the back." Matt rolled his eyes as Cassie and Andy laughed.
"Was Severide always such a cocky prick?" A voice came up behind them.
"Only since kindergarten." Cassie replied as Matt and Andy say yes. Andy started to make his way up to the ladder.
Fire flickering in the windows as the rich oaky smell of the fire permeated the air outside. Wisps of silver grey smoke curled and danced their way through the thick, hazy air. A twist in Cassie's stomach grabbed her attention as she looked up at the burning house. Something wasn't right.
Matt grabbed her arm. "Help me do this so Darden can get up top."
Cassie helped Matt out the hose into the fire hydrant as Chief Boden got out of his truck and onto the radio. "This is chief Boden. Want an inch and 3/4 on the front. Need two and two halves on the neighbors' houses. I want my entrance through the rear and ground ladders to the roof."
"Matty..." Cassie started.
Hearing the uneasiness of his friend's voice, Matt looked at her. "What's wrong, Cas?"
"Something about this doesn't feel right." She said.
Matt shook his head, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Everything will be fine, I promise."
Cassie faked a smile, watching the blond walk back to the truck. She turned on the water to the hose as Andy and Matt started to make their way up the aerial to the top floor of the house. Matt's voice came over the radio, "Severide, do we have a vent?" A moment later. "Darden, wait."
Cassie watched Andy break the glass of the window, turning around and giving the thumbs up. "We're good." Cassie wondered what Andy was thinking. They haven't confirmed a vent yet. She found her feet moving closer to the house. Worried started to creep up inside her. Andy had moved into the house, searching for the brother.
"Casey, there is no vent." Kelly's voice echoed in Cassie's mind several times, before she registered what was happening.
"Darden, back out!" Matt yelled.
Kelly shouts over the radio, "Get down."
"Darden!"
A shrieking ray of fire purged out of the window. The flames rolling outwards like an arm reaching out. Cassie watched as Matt duck, before looking at the window and dropped his head.
It was chaos as they all tried to come to terms what just happened. For Cassie, it seemed like slow motion. People yelling, only for them to sound like they were in a tunnel. Her eyes stuck on the window waiting, pleading for Andy to come out. Seconds turned into Minutes, No Andy.
"No." She whispered. "No!" Her yell drew the attention of her co-workers. Her feet taking a mind of their own as she made her way to the house. "Andy!"
Arms wrapped around her, stopping her from going into the danger zone. She did everything she could to get loose. "Andy! No." She sobbed. "I need to save him."
"Cas.." A voice tried to calm her down. The key word was tried. She watched the ever burning fire blazing inside of the house. She couldn't breath, nor could she hear her heart in her chest. Everything was burning. No matter how much effort was given, the fire didn't cease it's reign of terror. She couldn't run, nor could she scream. She only watched as they burned. The home, her friend, everything. All turned black as fire ate greedily. There was no escaping it, the pain, and death it caused, and the memories it stole.
"Cassie.." Another voice made its way into her mind. "She's in shock." The voice sounded muffled. "Take her to the ambo." Cassie saw a blurred face in front of her, as a hand on her back pulled her away from the house.
"Cassandra, can you hear me?" The blurred face cleared to show Cassie that Gabby was the one holding onto her.
"Andy." She whispered. "Gabby we need to get him."
A sorrow look crossed Gabby's face, "We will, Cas. We will."
"I'm okay," Cassie said as she got up.
"Cassie. I think it best that you sit." Gabby stopped her from moving forward.
"I'm fine, Gabby." Cassie pushed her way around Gabby to come face to face with Shay.
"Are you refusing orders?" Shay smirked, but the concern was still in her eyes.
"Come on, Les. Let me get back to work. You have others to worry about." Cassie tried to go pass the ladies.
"Yes we do, but we are more worried about you." Gabby said.
"How many times do I have to say, I'm fine." Cassie stated once more before looking at the house to see her co-workers bring out a body. .
Her eyesight blurred, but not because tears were welling up. Everything became fuzzy; then she saw nothing at all. Her consciousness was floating through an empty space filled with thick static. Throughout the inky space, her heartbeats pounded loudly, echoing in her ears, alongside fading calls from her friends.
Feeling in her body drained away until finally all was black.
----
Death wasn't kind. Cassie knew that. It snatched where it could, taking people who were far too young, far too good. It didn't pretend to care, it didn't pretend to distinguish.
The hooded vale of death hung over the firehouse for the past month, always threatening. It had never touched Cassie quite so close. Death had ripped away a part of her, the part of her that was most loved. Not only had she lost her parents, but her ranger brothers, and now one of her best friends.
Now Cassie would sit staring for hours. Her face sunken and haunted, her mind cold and empty. The more the days went on, the more the firehouse started to worry about her. The world had gone cold, because of the plague that was death, and war. There was a war in Cassie's mind, and in front of her. The truck guys and squad guys were at each others throats, well more like their lieutenants.
They all had lost Andy, but it seem that all Matt and Kelly wanted to do is blame each other.
Cassie walked into the locker room to see Matt putting Andy's things into a cardboard box.
All she could do was stare. Even though it had been a month, it still didn't feel real. She sat down on the bench, watching Matt.
"What the hell are you doing, Casey?"
Cassie startled a bit. She didn't hear Vargas come in.
"Can't stand looking at this another day." Matt turned around, his eyes widened when he saw Cassie staring at the locker. For specifically, a photo taped on the door.
"Heather might want it." Vargas said, looking concern at Cassie.
Matt caught the look from Vargas, sighed at the pain that was on his friend's face. "Yeah, I'll call her when I get a chance."
"Boden's looking for you." Vargas walked out of the locker room, not before sending one last look to Cassie. The entire firehouse was concern about the quiet woman. She was one for talking and laughing all the time, but now it's like pulling teeth to even get a smile out of her.
Cassie looked up when a photo was given to her. The pain swirled in Matt's eyes. "I miss him." She mumbled, unsure that Matt even heard her.
But he did. "We all do." Cassie glanced down at the photo.
The picture was a time machine. One glance and she was back in three years when it was taken. Andy had grabbed her from walking away, so she ended up on his lap, with Kelly and Matt on either side of them laughing. All the decisions from her life stretched before her. Everything she needed was right there beside her. Her three childhood friends. How impossible it seemed that just in three years one would leave the others behind?
Cassie stood up, feeling the gaze of Matt on her as she walked out of the room. She needed to some air. There was only one place she felt the peace and quiet for just a few moments.
In the fresh air, her lungs expand as if on automatic refill, and with the rising of her chest came a sense of calm. As she breathe the image of waves gently rising over wet sand came to her thoughts, along with the sounds of water and song of sky-borne birds.
Only for a dew moment she felt like she was free. Then sirens from downtown interrupted her thoughts.
"You okay, Cassie?" Cruz asked the woman.
She nodded while glancing over at him. He was scraping dirt off of his boots. The last fire was at a farm, they all came back smelling awful, well more than they usually do.
"Hey, Umm... My... My Name is Peter Mills." A man came up to Cassie and Cruz. They both looked at him. Cassie smiled. Wonder what this man needs.
"I'm the new candidate on 81." Peter said.
Cassie's smile faded. Chief was moving on way too quickly for her liking, as like everyone else it seems.
"Oh, fantastic. Joe Cruz." Cruz introduced himself and then Cassie. "Cassandra Doyle." He pointed at Cassie. "We've been waiting for you."
"Really? Great." Peter smiled.
Cassie watched the young man. He seemed like a nice person, but Cassie wasn't going to be overly joy to have him here. He was placing Andy, and that didn't sit well with her. Peter was too joyful, she thought.
"So, Peter Mills?" Cruz asked as the three starting walking into the station. Cassie was in front as the two men followed.
"Pete, actually, I-"
"Okay, Peter Mills, right this way." Cruz didn't give Peter a chance to finished his sentence. "So, uh, gym's through there." He pointed to where the gym was. "There's a TV in the kitchen, but satellite's busted. Uh, equipment room." Cruz continued to show Peter where some stuff was, if Cassie called it showing. All Cruz was doing was pointing. "Rescue squad a-holes. Think they own that table. Kitchen. Tower."
As Cruz mentioned the rescue squad, Kelly looked up at him from the table. He was met with Cassie shaking his head. He raised his eyebrow at her and tilted his head to her.
She walked over there and sat on his lap. Leaning back against his shoulder, she release a deep sigh.
"Who's the new kid?"The baritone of his voice reverberating through Cassie's bones as Kelly slid his arm around her waist. The low rumble of his voice was comforting as it wrapped around Cassie, bring her home;
"The new candidate for truck." Cassie pouted.
"It will be okay." Kelly comforted her. The key word was tried.
"Will it though? We all are doing fine with who we have here. We don't need another person." Cassie said.
"Cas. Truck is down a person. They needed a person." Kelly turned her to face him. Concern in his eyes.
Cassie knew he was right. Especially after the last fire, they felt the weight of missing one person. The fire headquarters tried to send new or others filled the spot till they found the right person, but Cassie knew the Chief declined help. Knowing the firehouse wasn't ready for someone to replace Andy. Yet, she knew it was time. Andy wouldn't want her to be sad anymore. She wished he would pop out somewhere and tell them he was playing one of his pranks, but knew it would never happened. She came herself false hope.
"So this is called a pass alarm. Now, if a firefighter is totally still for more than 18 seconds, a loud alarm goes off until he moves again."
Peter caught Cassie's attention again. She frowned, Otis was supposed to be giving the tour, why was the new kid doing it.
"Why?" One of the kids asked.
"Well, if he's hurt or trapped, we'll know where to find him." The alarm let out a shriek as the kids covered their ears. Peter shook the thing turning it off. "That's loud."
The kids nodded. Some had an awe look on their faces. Cassie couldn't disagree that Peter wasn't knowledge about anything. He knew more than she thought. She figured either his dad or grandfather was a firefighter.
"See, this house is special because it has a rescue squad. Squad three serves a big piece of the city. They're experts at water rescue, extraction, pretty much everything. They're, like, the best of the best." Peter mentioned the Squad.
Cassie rolled her eyes, she felt Kelly turned the chair a bit towards the kids. "Don't get a big head." she whispered to him.
Kelly responded with a smirk.
Cassie knew it was too late, so she just shook her head.
"Why aren't you with them?" A kid asked.
Cassie lean forward to hear Peter's responds, but caught Matt's eye. He shook his head, but turned his attention to the candidate.
"Well, I mean, I plan to be. My father was a member of this squad years ago." Petter said.
Cassie knitted her eyebrow, that was why Boden approved of him. His father had worked here. She suddenly remembered a Mills that used to work here, but was killed. This couldn't be his son, could it?
"Mills, right?" Matt asked, causing Peter to turn to him. "Last to show, first to go. That's the rescue squad."
"You truck guys do such a good job getting everything ready for us. Why would we want to take that away from you?" Kelly smirked.
Cassie elbowed him. "Stop." She whispered.
Matt chuckled. "Kids, you should know they make the rescue helmets extra big to fit their heads inside them."
Cassie gave Matt a dirty look. They shouldn't be doing this in front of the kids. She even saw the teacher give the two a look. "Guys, please." She stood up, walking to Matt.
"There are two types of firefighters. Those who are on squad, and those who wish they were on squad." Kelly smiled.
"Ooh." Matt smirked.
"Guys. Stop." Cassie got in the middle of the two.
"Come on, kids." Peter said, walking the kids away from the incoming fight. Cassie gave him a slight nod, he returned one of his own.
Kelly turned in his chair. "Bet I get an application from him by the end of the month."
"He wants you, you can have him." Matt said.
"Stop!" Enough was Enough. Matt and Kelly looked at Cassie.
Before she could say anything else. The alarm started to wail and voice sounded from the P.A. "Pin-in accident. Columbus Drive Bridge. Ambulance 61, Engine 51, Truck 81, Squad 3, Battalion 25."
Cassie ran over picking her equipment up before entering the truck.
"Let's go, let's go!" Cruz called as Peter ran to them. The truck drove along the streets of Chicago, the siren wailing as they went by. With Cruz driving, Cassie knew they would make it quicker than normal.
"Mills, shadow Mouch. Walk with a purpose, but don''t run." Matt told Peter. "Take it all in, know the details of the situation before you act." He advised Peter. "Oh, and Mills, don't be a crow."
Cassie rolled her eyes at his statement. "You will do, great." She smiled at Peter.
He nodded his thanks, as he look towards the scene, they were coming upon.
Arriving at the scene, Cassie got out, putting her helmet on, assessing the damage. Matt had her following him, as they headed to the red car. The woman in the front seat, had blood running down on the side.
Cassie tried to open the door, shaking her head to Matt.
"Ma'am, can you hear me?" Matt asked.
"My daughter." The woman groaned as she tried to move. "Madeline?"
Cassie looked in the backseat to see the little girl. Her mangled lip and obviously broken nose were caked in blood, some of it already dried. Some blood was starting to drizzle down her face onto her neck.
"Hey, Cruz, grab the saw!" Matt yelled.
"Madeline! My little girl." The mother cried as the girl groaned.
"We need to get her out now." Cassie shared a look with Matt. She looked around for Shay and Gabby who were just arriving with Squad 3. They made their way to Matt and Cassie. "I see her. She's okay." Cassie tried to calm the mother down.
"Mother, daughter trapped. Both responsive." Matt told Shay and Gabbie.
"Can you hear me?" Gabby asked through the window.
"Madeline." Cassie told Gabbie.
"Madeline? Are you hurt, honey?" Gabby asked.
The little girl nodded. Concern grew inside of Cassie as Madeline turned her head for Gabby. The blood was dried on her head.
Cassie bent down look under the car with Herrmann. "We're leaking fuel." She hollered.
"He's in the water!" Mouch called, loud enough for Chief Boden and everyone to heard him.
"Who?"Chief asked.
Cassie walked around to the edge of the bridge to see if she could see anything from where they were.
"The driver. He was ejected." Mouch answered.
Chief ordered Squad to dive into the river for the missing driver.
Cassie went back to the red car, checking everything before noticing the gas. "It's leaking gas!" The car started to smoke, before flame erupted in the front.
Herrmann handed her the hose, as Otis started the water. The fire finally was washed out, as Peter yelled. "That's the driver."
Cassie watched as Peter ran after a man, tackling him to the ground. She saw the frustration grow in Matt. "He did great, Matty." He looked at her, sighing.
Everyone packed up and was on their way back to the firehouse. Cassie saw Matt sent some glances back to Peter. She caught his eye and mouthed. 'It's okay.' He rolled his eyes. Cassie knew this was the tip of the ice burg. Matt was about to explode, and it wouldn't be good. She knew how he was, and she did everything in her power to help him and Kelly. It was just the three of them now and she would do anything to keep it that way.
"Hey, What's up?" Cassie asked Mouch, as they were taking their gear off. He had a frown on his face since they left the scene.
"I really thought the guy was in the river," He said, sighing.
"We all did, Mouch. Cheer up! I'm making cookies tonight." Cassie smiled.
"You are a blessing." Mouch pulled the girl into a hug.
"Love you, Mouch." She said walking towards Matt. Mouch and Herrmann were her father figures, as well as Boden. They all had worked with her father back in the day, and now since he was gone, all three shared the role for her as well to her brothers when they were in town.
"Hey." Kelly caught Matt and Cassie's attention."Guy in the water? How about a guy with his head up his ass?" Kelly threw a dirty look at Mouch as he passed.
Cassie threw a look at Kelly. "Really?"
"You handle your firefighters. I'll handle mine." Matt said. He was growing tired of Kelly's attitude. In all honestly, everyone was getting tired of it.
"That's a good theory, Casey. How about giving it a try?"Kelly threw back at Matt, as he put his watch back on.
"Know what? I'm getting real tired of your bull, Severide." Matt walked towards Kelly.
"I don't give a damn what you're tired of." Kelly leaned towards Matt.
"Stop!" Cassie got in between both men. "Please." Her voice cracked. Anger, pain and sadness- so intertwined between the three. "We all lost Andy." Her eyes glimmered with watery tears. She felt as if her whole world was about to crumble. "I lost one friend. I can't." Her voice stumpled. "I can't lose my only two left." She tried to fill her lungs with fresh air as she ran into the house. Not noticing the sad looks from her friends as well as the Chief.
__
Gathering herself up, Cassie got up from her bed. She put the book down and walked around the hallways. Heading towards the kitchen.
"Kelly." Shay's voice whispered thought Cassie heard it.
She glanced around the corner to see Shay show Kelly a bottle of some sort.
"Here." Shay handed it to him.
"Thanks." Kelly said as Shay walked away.
Kelly started coming towards her, though Cassie didn't hear him. She was lost in her thoughts. Only that pulled her out was someone running into her.
"Whoa, Cas. What are you doing here?" Kelly asked.
"Um. I worked here." She said.
Kelly laughed but Cassie knew it was a nervous one. He wondered if she saw anything. "You okay?" She asked.
"Are you?"
She hated when he answered with a question back. It also was a tale that he was hiding something. Cassie nodded before walking around him. "Fine as always." She headed towards the kitchen. Part of her wanted to ask Shay what he gave Kelly, but figured Kelly would tell her sometime.
It was time for their shift to end, they had 48 hours off this time, before they had 24 on. Cassie put her bag into the backseat of her car, before she heard footsteps behind her
"You okay, Cas?" Matt walked up beside her.
"Uh, of course." She smiled. "Yea, yea. It's, uh... Some days, you know?"
Matt gave her a look.
"Forget it. It's all good. You?" She wanted the attention off of her.
Matt just shrugged.
This awkward silence was new for them. Guess since she blew up at him and Kelly, that's how it's going to be.
"Right. So, um, some of us are going to Buzzard's tomorrow night, if you want to come." Cassie stepped back. "Bring, Hallie too, would like to see her soon." She lied. Hallie was a nice lady but Cassie felt like they didn't mesh well.
"We would, but we do a date night thing. Just us." Matt said.
Cassie smiled, but turned to head back to her car.
"But, maybe we'll try." He said.
"Yeah, sure. That's sounds," Cassie started but saw Kelly was headed over to them. "Cool. See ya." Cassie got into her car and drove away.
---
Cassie walked into her small house. It had taken her a couple of years to save up for one. She was tired of apartments, but it was a plus when she shared the house with one of her college friends. But two months ago, her friend, Ainsley got married and moved to Dallas.
Now, She was alone. It was nice but then again, lonely. She needed to get a dog. She thought about going to the adoption center and get one tomorrow.
A ring echoed through the house. She opened her iPad up to see her one of her brothers FaceTiming her.
"Hey, Nicholas."
Her oldest brother rolled his eyes. "Hey, Cassandra."
She smiled. "How's D.C?" The picture froze. "Nick?"
"I'm here, sorry. It's good." Nick replied as the picture cleared. His bright blue eyes shined with the lights around the room. "Internet stinks here, though."
"That's what you get for moving away." Cassie smiled. Her two oldest brothers had moved to Washington D.C. They were still in the military but now held an office at the pentagon. They were firefighters when they weren't on tours, but duty called often.
"Is that Cassie?" A voice came through the iPad.
Cassie smiled. "Hey, Jason." The blond came into the picture. "How's work?"
"It's going. Miss the action. Already tired of paper work." Jason sat down next to Nick. "Any fires lately?"
"Had a car accident early today, but after that it was quiet." Cassie said. "Hold on, Alec and Nate are joining." Two more faces filled the screen. Cassie laughed as Nate was explaining to Alec that he has the touchpad upside down.
"Nathan, leave him alone." Nick shook his head. Even hours away, he tried to control the younger two.
Alec and Nate were in New York City being firefighters . All siblings were spread around the main cities in the East, though she was more west than them. She was thankful that they had another with them, and they weren't alone.
These were the times, Cassie was glad that there was such thing as FaceTime. Yes, hearing the voices over the phone was good, but seeing their faces, making sure they were safe. Even though, she was the youngest, she looked out for her brothers.
"Cas? You okay?" Alec asked.
"Yeah, sorry, I was in my own little world."
"Still having changed." Jason smirked.
"You saw me a couple months ago, Jase." Cassie laughed. " I haven't changed that quickly."
The conservation went from work to the Holidays coming soon to dating. Though her brother tried their hardest to find out who she liked, she didn't give a clue. To be honest, she didn't even know.
Cassie looked at the clock as it shined: 10:00 PM. She hated to cut her brothers off since it was their weekly FaceTime, but she was tired. "Hey sorry, head off, but I'm exhausted. Love you all." Four replies came as she signed off. All was well in the world.
---
"Yo, Peter Mills!" Cassie greeted their new candidate as she walked up to see some the truck teaching him what was what.
"Cassandra Doyle, right?" He asked.
"Please call me Cassie. When I hear my full name I think I'm in trouble." She laughed. Time to mess with the newbie, she shared a smirk with Gabby
"Our friend, Shay, she's been asking about you."She told him, hiding her smile.
"Mm-hmm, been talking about you all morning." Gabby agreed with her. The group looked over at the blonde who was in the Ambo checking things off the list.
"I heard she's a monster." Otis said "Dude I know over at 19, he walked with a hitch for a week."
"Ah, you guys are busting my balls." Mills finished rolling up a hose as he stood up.
"Listen to me, kid." Herrmann joined in, "I just lost my house to foreclosure because I took a bath in the market. We're now living with my in-laws, which is two bedrooms shy of unpleasant."
Cassie and Gabby laughed as Herrmann continued.
"My wife won't take her birth control because the Pope said if she did, God would cry, so I'm not having any sex. So if there's any chance that I could live vicariously through you, it's literally all I got."
"All right." He smiled a little. He took a minute to think over what the group had said, before making his way to Shay.
Dawson, Herrmann, Otis, Cruz, Mouch, Capp and Cassie all watched him saunter over to Shay. Laughing at the known outcome.
"Hey." Peter started
"Hey." Shay nodded in return.
"I'm Peter Mills." He introduced himself, "uh Pete."
Cassie almost burst out laughing right. She wished she pulled out her phone and record this, but figured it would be too embarrassing for the newbie.
"Uh-huh." Shay glanced in our general direction with a smirk knowing that we've set the poor guy up. She caught Cassie's smile. Shaking her head a bit. It was Cassie's fault, Peter would be shut down. "Peter Mills, can you hand me that box right there?"
"Uh, yeah." Peter handed her the box next to him.
"Thanks." Shay said, a smiled still on her face. She felt bad for the boy.
"So, the little girl from the bridge accident, she okay?" Peter asked.
"You really are new, aren't you?" Shay started, and took release a breath. "Listen, We get 'em to the doctor best we can, and then we move on. It's the only way to make it here."
"Uh, yea. So, um I was thinking, I mean, I was wondering do you maybe wanna hook up for a beer or dinner or something?" Mills asked with a nervous shrug and smile.
"Peter Mills, are you gay?" Shay stopped what she was doing and looked at Peter
"Me? No." Peter stepped back. He wasn't expecting that question.
"Because I am."
The group couldn't hold in their laughs anymore as Mills turned around to look at them with a glare but he was smirking as well.
"Dawson, Shay." Boden walked up to the group. "Which one of you put a needle in the girl's heart?" Their smiles immediately disappeared at the question.
Cassie looked at two woman and knew it was Gabby who did it by looking at her face. There was a hint of fear. As the two followed Boden in the house.
Cassie figured it was about the little girl from the crash last shift.
---
Cassie sat down at the table in the common area where most of her friends were. Her eyes landed on Matt who looked like he was cooking. She got up as Peter asked Otis a question.
"How long were you the candidate here?" Mills asked Otis.
"Not long." Otis shrugged.
"It was four years, Otis." Cassie laughed at the look Otis sent her way. She walked by Matt. "Need any help?" She whispered.
"Hey. Can you put the sides into dishes and place them in front?"
"Sure thing, Lt."
Matt laughed at her response, before get something out of the oven.
"I can't believe we're gonna miss the fights tonight." Cruz shook his head.
"What fight?" Cassie asked.
"Chief and the guy who spent with his first wife." Otis said.
"Second wife." Matt replied.
"Well, that's just as well, 'cause I just found out he fought golden gloves." Boden walked into the room.
"Ah, That was 20 years ago, Chief." Cruz disagreed. "We gotta tape it or something. We gotta see it." Cruz walked over to gave a cookie from the tray Cassie just put up. She smacked his hand. "Save them for Dessert."
"But Cookies are the best hot, Cas. Everyone knows that." Cruz whined.
"Joe." Cassie warned, as Cruz ended up with one. He looked at her with an innocent look. She rolled her eyes, sometimes these guys need a mother figure while on shift. Cassie filled that gap, fussing over anyone who got injury.
"What's the Lieutenant doing?" Cruz asked Herrmann walking past him back to the table.
"He said he wanted to cook the Saturday corned beef." Herrmann shrugged. "Ah, look at that." He leaned over the stainless steel counter to look at Casey's cooking. "It smells good, Lieutenant."
"He made the best chicken parmigiana I ever put in my mouth." Mouch called from his usual spot on the couch.
"What do you got there, Casey?" Cruz asked, finishing his second cookie.
Cassie wondered how he got another one. She sent him a glare, but he purposely ignored.
Matt cleaned his hands with a towel on his shoulder and said. "Don't you worry about it. Call everyone to chow."
"Chow!" Cruz called out and a line started to form. Cassie watched as everyone dishes a serving out.
Matt looked to her, as she came him a wink. "Smells good, Matty."
Nodding his thanks, Matt saw Kelly coming in with squad behind him, and walked up to the dish of food. "Have at it." Matt pushed a new dish towards him kindly.
Kelly stares at it and everyone went silent to watch what would happened this time between the two. Cassie started to walk between them. This has to end. It was not only affect their friendship but the whole firehouse as well.
Kelly looked at Matt, before picking up an orange and ignored the corned beef as he walked out.
"Matt." Cassie started, but didn't finished as Matt went out to deal with Kelly.
She sighed but saw Boden looking at her and tilted his head to outside. She nodded her head and went to find the two. Hopefully they were fighting.
Well, At least they weren't punching each other, Cassie thought, but they were screaming.
"You think I need your help?" Kelly yelled.
"I'm trying here, Severide." Matt said. Cassie knew this was wearing him down. It was tearing her down as well.
"Keep on," Kelly smoked his cigar.
Matt tried a different approach. "I cleaned out Darden's locker."
Silence met his statement. That was it. Matt was tired of it. That was the breaking point of his patience. At that moment, he was blinded by a five-corse serving of rage that tasted bitter, yet surprisingly satisfying. "You should have vented the back."
Kelly turned on him. "We're called the rescue squad, Casey. We don't vent."
"Kelly! Matt!" Cassie jogged up to them. "Stop, both of you."
"You shouldn't have put Andy through the window." Kelly commanded back.
"Kelly!" Cassie pushed him back a bit.
"I don't have to explain myself to you. I sleep like a baby. You?" Kelly stared at Matt behind Cassie's shoulder, then back to her. "And you, Where were you? You should have stopped him. You said you had a bad feeling. Maybe the real reason he's gone is because of you, Cassandra."
"Kelly." Matt pushed Cassie behind his back.
"Just like your father. It was your fault." Kelly looked straight at Cassie.
Everything started to spin. How could he say that? The burden she carried was now out for the world to know.
"Cas..."
She held it back as long as she could, then she let it go. "I hate you, Severide." She ran inside past the kitchen to the bathrooms. She slammed the door, dropped down on her knees and sobbed. Tears flooded like the waters rushing down from a water fall and the only time she'd stop was to fill her lungs with fresh air.
It was her tears that kept her soul alive in the furnace of the pain. There was static in her head once more, the side effect of this constant fear, constant stress she lived with. She heard her own sounds, like a distressed child, raw from the inside. Brick by Brick, her walls came tumbling down. The memory of losing her father.
The heat of the fire, the screams of her father. The flames licking her own skin. The worst thing was knowing that the fire was cause by her. She begged her father for a candle that smelled like Christmas cookies in her room. The night he finally agree, she fell asleep with it on.
It was like a theft of the spirit, an injury no other person could see. She was anything but innocent. She was trembling. She could't- couldn't stop. Even as she pressed her hand against the cold wall, it shook, it trembled.
She lost the feeling of feeling. Everything darkened into nothingness as she passed into the oblivion of unconsciousness.
---
Nightfall came, and Boden was gone, getting ready for his fight. Cassie sat in a chair turned away from everyone, as she read her book. She heard people talking around her but not until Matt took away her book.
"We are going for a ride." Cassie's eyes focused on all the truck people heading to the truck. She followed Matt as they jumped into the truck.
"Hello, sports fans." Otis' voice rings through the radio. "This is Brian Zvonecek, coming to you live from the annual battle of the badges. Firefighters versus the police."
Cassie smiled sitting down on the bumper of the truck. Matt sat down next to her. "I'm sorry."
"What?" Cassie looked up at him. She wanted to know if she heard him right.
"Boden looks like a heat-seeking missile as he climbs in the ring to take on captain Olmstead from the C.P.D. Olmstead, of course, looks like the quivering cop slob that he is." Otis spoke over the radio.
Cassie and Matt laughed, before the blonde spoke once more. "I'm sorry that Severide said that to you. You know it isn't your fault. Either one."
"Matt. It was my fault. Kelly's right. I had a bad feeling, I even told you that. It should have been me."
"What? No." Matt jumped off the truck and stood in front of her. "I don't ever what you to say that again."
Cassie nodded but she still believed it.
"Wait. Here it comes. Three straight lefts and--"
A voice came through the radio "Accident. Building fire. Ambulance 61, engine 51, Truck 81."
"That's just down the black." Vargas said.
"81 Responding," Matt said into his radio.
"Copy that, 81." Dispatch responded.
Firehouse 51 arrived at the scene of a tall block of apartments. Fire licked around the building like it meant to play. The heat so intense that all moisture was driven sky bound.
Herrmann whistled, "Wow, this is bad, bad, bad."
They always ended a shift with a hard fire, accident or more. Cassie started to have that gut feeling again. She searched for Matt and Kelly. She couldn't lose either of them. Well, she couldn't lose anyone.
Matt walked up to her, with everyone else surrounding. "Otis, get to the elevator and tell us what we're looking at. Mills help Cruz vent the roof. Herrmann... Doyle... Us three to the top floor and work our way down. Let's move."
The trio made their way inside to see what they were dealing with. Cassie looked around, everything was covered in flame, bright orange swirling up the walls.
"Keep moving." She yelled to the adults running toward the door outside. "Two coming out." She said over the radio.
"Let's go, Herrmann. Doyle. Second floor, clear the doors." Matt said, making their way upstairs.
Cassie jumped as mice ran down the stairs. "You got to be kidding me." She whispered. Did they ever clean this place up? No wonder the flames were spreading quickly.
"Fire department! Anyone here?" Cassie yelled. No answer, she moved to the next door. The rich oak smell of the fire permeated the building, wisps of silver grey curled as the trio checked each room.
"Otis and Vargas heading up to five." Otis called over the radio.
Cassie moved along with Matt. "Fire department! Anyone here? Call out!" She yelled. Hoping that if anyone was here, they would scream.
As if her prayers were answered, a child scream echoed down the hallway.
Matt and Cassie moved their way toward the yells.
"Help us!" Coughs erupted from the child. "We're under here." Call came from under the bed.
"It's gonna be alright. We'll get you out." Matt reached for the children. "Come on."
"Watch your head, sweetie." Cassie was by Matt's side, helping him with the children. "I gotcha." She whispered.
Matt, Cassie and Herrmann brought the children outside.
"Think you can walk, sweetie." Cassie held onto the little blonde girl.
She nodded as Cassie helped her down.
"There you go." Cassie said as the girl ran to safety.
"Truck 81, we need two more alarms." Matt radioed over. There was no way they could do this alone.
This building looked unstable as Cassie looked upwards watching the aerial ladder move around.
"We're going back in." Matt said. "Let's go." As the three firefighter put their helmets on and went back to the flaming building.
"Roof is opened." Cruz radioed in.
"It's too hot. We gotta go now." Herrmann yelled to Matt and Cassie as a flame flared up almost knocking them to the ground.
"Everybody out, out! Let 'em get hoses on it!." Matt radioed to everyone.
"Casey, up. Go up to the roof." Chief Boden's voice came over the radio. "Casey, do you copy?"
"Up, up, we can't go down." Herrmann yelled.
The trio made their way to the stairs as Otis and Vargas were coming down the stairs.
"Move." Otis yelled.
"Go, move, go." Cassie shouted.
A groan came from below their feet. Cassie looked right at Matt. "It's about-" The floor beneath them collapsed since the three down several floors. Debris flying everywhere.
The pain had an unpleasant warmth to it, eating at her stomach. There was nausea too, just enough to make her look around before coughing and her vision and mind blurred as she heard someone call for them and the pass alarms went off.
All she could do was writhe, the occasional whimper escaping to echo off the walls.
She heard coughing beside her. "Matt?" She gasped as pain surged through her head.
"Cas!"
"Kel?" She mumbled. When had he gotten here? His form came into her sight.
"Cas. Come on. get up." His eyes in line with hers.
"Matty.. Herrmann. Are them okay?" She got up with Kelly's help. If he hadn't had a good grip on her, Cassie knew she would have fell down. Everything seemed slow and messy.
"Herrmann!" Matt's voice caught her attention.
"No." She whispered then yelled. "Herrmann!" Cassie fought against Kelly's hold.
"Cassie. You're injured. Leaning against this table." Kelly got into her line of sight making sure she heard him.
"Help him, Kel. Please. I can't-" A cough left her.
"You won't. Put your mask back on, now." Kelly left her as she put on her mask.
Fresh air made its way through her. Thank goodness, her tank didn't get damage. The same couldn't be said about Herrmann. Cassie watched her two best friends work together. She would smile but that during a time like this.
She saw the two wrapped a rope around Herrmann before he was lifted upwards. Cassie looked up to see Squad three pulling the rope. She smiled. They would get out of here.
"You ready to go Princess?" Kelly was right in front of her, but she didn't hear what he said. "Cas?"
That time she did. "Yea?"
"Let's go. I need another rope!"
Before she knew it, Cassie felt Kelly and Matt wrap the rope around her. "My Heroes." She smiled.
"I think you hit your head harder than I thought." Kelly laughed.
"Whatever, Kel." Cassie mumbled. She felt herself be lifted up as Squad three's faces were in her eye sight. "Hey, Guys. Late to the party."
The group chuckled. "You okay?" One asked. Cassie didn't have a clue who asked, but nodded. "Let's get Herrmann out of here." Cassie helped the group carry Herrmann outside.
Cassie watched Shay and Gabby work on Herrmann.. His breathing was ragged and wheezy.
Cassie walked away before she could hear anymore. She had pushed Shay away to work on the older gentleman. She released a deep breath she didn't know she was holding, when she found Kelly and Matt walking out. Chief walked toward her.
"You okay?" He asked.
All Cassie did was nodded.
"How's Herrmann?" Matt came up beside her.
"On his way to Lakeshore." Chief said as he walked away. Cassie watched the burning building in awe. It didn't hit her till then how her, Matt and Herrmann almost died. Well, Herrmann wasn't out of the woods yet.
"Did you get looked at?" Matt asked her.
"Yup. Slight concussion." Cassie handed Matt a water bottle, before she walked away. She knew lying to not only her friend, but her lieutenant was bad, but she knew she was fine.
"Looks like we're gonna meet the mayor after all." Vargas said, as the group turned to see the mayor getting out of his car. He was in awe of what he saw
---
Once the shift was done, the group walked outside.
"Let's head to the hospital." Matt said as everyone got into their cars and headed to Lakeshore.
"You okay?" Cassie asked Matt as they walked into the waiting area, that some of their co-workers already sat in.
"I know we can't lose another one." Matt whispered. His eyes got a little misty.
"We won't." Cassie hugged him as they went to sit down.
"What do we know?" Matt asked.
"Still in surgery, trying to find the bleed. They don't know." Cruz responded.
"Hey, doc." Matt went up to the doc as Cassie hugged Shay and Gabby. "Um, Dawson, what was the name of that little girl from the bridge?"
Cassie shook her head. "Matty, don't" She didn't think Gabby nor Shay could handle it if the girl didn't make it.
Gabby hesitated for a moment, looking at Shay who nodded. "Madeline. That was her name."
"A little girl named Madeline, pin-in from the Columbus drive bridge. Where is she?" Matt turned back to the doctor.
The man looked down at his clipboard with a sigh and Gabby started to looked worry, with a little hope. "Madeline Pokress. Vitals are stable. Released by the end of the week." The doctor replied.
"Thanks." Matt said.
Gabby let out a deep breath as Cassie pulled her into her arms. "You saved her life, Gabs. Be proud." Cassie said.
The two sat down as they waited for more on their friend.
"Any change?" Boden walked in.
Otis sighed. "No. I called his family. They're on their way in from Wheaton."
Cassie frowned. She knew Cindy would be a basket case as soon as she arrived.
"Come get me if there's an update." Matt said walking outside. Cassie grimaced. Who could he be calling at this time?
Cassie changed her attention when Kelly walked into the room. She smiled as he sat down next to her, nodding to Matt. Cassie laid her head down on his shoulder. Even though they still needed to talk, she already forgiven him. Friends go through hardships, but still needed to be there for each other.
Matt sat down next to Cassie, grabbing her hand.
All was well, for that moment.
Every thought and prayer was going toward Herrmann.