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“Good morning, Captain.” Sylvie smiled at her boyfriend as she approached the coffee machine. “How are you?”
“Good morning.” Matt looked up from the bowl he was mixing in and smiled. “I’m great. How are you?”
“I’m good.” Sylvie eyed the ingredients out on the counter. “What’s for breakfast?”
“French toast. I’ve been told I make the best.”
“Hmm.” She had told him that about a week before, when he’d made them breakfast in her apartment. “Sounds good.”
Sylvie sat next to Stella at the table, sipping on her coffee as her best friend leaned over towards her.
“Heads up, your hair looks a little disheveled.” Stella said with a smirk. “Did it suddenly get windy outside or something?”
Shooting her best friend an unamused look, she brushed her fingers through her hair; she hadn’t thought to check her hair in the mirror after their make-out session against Matt’s truck in her building’s parking lot before they’d gotten into their separate cars to drive in, so she knew Stella was serious.
It also meant she had looked that way during ambo’s first call of the day, which she’d rushed out for almost as soon as she’d walked into the firehouse.
“We do live in the Windy City.”
Sylvie glanced around at everybody else around the table; Herrmann, Mouch, and Cruz weren’t paying them any attention, and Kelly was hiding his smirk behind his coffee mug.
“Oh, wow.” Gallo said as he sat down on the other side of her while Violet and Ritter sat down on either side of Kelly. “Captain’s cooking again? I think he’s cooked more these last few weeks than he has since I got here.”
Herrmann turned towards Matt, then back to the group at the table. “Captain usually only cooks to celebrate or if he’s in a really good mood.”
“He does seem to have been in a pretty good mood lately.” Gallo glanced back towards the kitchen.
“He has been in a good mood, hasn’t he?” Stella said as she turned her head towards Sylvie. “I wonder what’s gotten into him.”
Sylvie said nothing as she looked around the table again; Herrmann and Ritter had turned their attention towards Kelly, Gallo was still looking at the kitchen, Violet had a knowing grin on her face, and even though Mouch had picked up his newspaper, she was pretty sure he was grinning too.
“I’m not the person to ask, if you want to know what’s been going on with Casey.” Kelly shrugged as Herrmann continued to look to him; Sylvie eyed him warily, but she was almost certain he wouldn’t turn the attention onto her. “Then you should ask him.”
“Yeah, I’m not doing that.” Ritter said with a laugh.
“I’ll do it.” Gallo stood up, but the bells went off before he could walk towards the kitchen. “After this call, apparently.”
“Hey Captain.”
Matt looked up from his phone as Gallo sat down in the open seat across from him at the table. “Gallo.”
“Breakfast was great.”
“It would’ve been better if we hadn’t had to reheat it.” He shrugged. “But thanks.”
Assuming that was the end of the conversation, Matt turned his attention back to his phone, back to the text message conversation he’d been having with Sylvie, even though she was only a few seats down.
“It’s been great, having you cook more often. I mean you’re a great cook.”
“And it keeps you off cooking duty?” Matt said with a laugh.
“Well, yes.” Gallo chuckled. “But it’s just, you don’t usually cook.”
“Being the Captain has its perks.” Matt glanced down at his phone again as it vibrated.
He’s suspicious of your good mood. Matt tried to hide his grin as he read the message.
“I guess so, but I just meant you don’t usually cook unless you’re in a really good mood.” Gallo continued, even after Matt looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “I mean, it’s been great, you being in a good mood. Some of us were just wondering… why.”
Matt glanced around the table as Mouch, Ritter, Herrmann, and Violet all suddenly looked away. “Nobody else is asking me about my personal life, Gallo.”
“Right.” Gallo leaned back in his seat. “Sorry, Captain.”
“Maybe you’ve got too much free time on your hands around here these days.” Matt waved at Stella at the other end of the table. “Hey Kidd, want some more lieutenant experience?”
“Always.”
“Great.” Matt said with a laugh. “You can supervise Gallo while he runs some ladder drills.”
“Okay, Captain.”
Gallo followed Stella out of the common room as Matt’s phone vibrated again.
That’s just mean, Matt Casey.
When he looked up from his phone, he found Sylvie grinning at him, shaking her head ever so slightly.
Mean would’ve been making him clean the ap floor.
Sylvie laughed as she looked at her phone, earning a few glances from other people around the table. “Just something funny on Instagram.”
“So, do you have any idea what’s going on with Captain Casey?” Violet’s tone was nonchalant, but the grin on her face was not.
Sylvie didn’t even pause as she checked the gauze supply. “Why would I?”
Sylvie’s phone vibrated in her pocket, and she angled away from her partner as she read it.
Come to my office after you’re finished with inventory?
She typed out a quick yes before slipping her phone back into her pocket.
“I can’t believe Gallo actually asked him about it, though.” Sylvie replied. “That took some bravery.”
“Considering he had to run drills afterwards, I’m not sure it was bravery. I think it was just stupidity.” Violet grabbed the towels from Sylvie, putting them in their spot. “And don’t think I didn’t notice you not answering the question.”
“What’s the deal with you and Gallo?”
The look Violet gave her assured her she knew Sylvie was trying to change the topic. “Nothing.”
“Really? Because I heard you kissed him a while back at Molly’s.”
“That was nothing.” She said with a shrug. “That was just proving a point.”
“Okay. If you say so.” Sylvie pointed at a box of medicine. “Hand me that. Let’s get this done.”
“How long do you two think you’re going to be able to keep this a secret?” Kelly appeared in Matt’s door frame, leaning against it as he crossed his arms. “Because you’re not all that subtle.”
“When they find out, they find out.” He said with a laugh. “But for now, it’s nice being in our own bubble, and it’s been fun trying to keep it quiet.”
“One of you is going to let it slip any day now.”
“You’re losing your bet with Stella, aren’t you?” He’d overheard his roommates making their bets on how long he and Sylvie would manage to keep their relationship private.
“How do you know about that?”
“Sound travels in the loft.” Matt turned in his desk chair to face Kelly. “How long did you guess?”
Kelly rubbed the back of his neck. “Three weeks.”
“You lost already then.” He said with a laugh. “It’s been four.”
“Yeah, Stella guessed seven. She seems to have more faith in Brett’s ability to keep a secret than I do.”
“Well, I guess you’re just going to have to wait and see who’s closest.” Matt motioned to the paperwork in front of him. “I gotta finish this.”
“Alright. See you later.”
As soon as Kelly left, Matt stood up and closed the blinds; he knew Sylvie’s routine, and she’d finish with inventory any minute, and she’d come straight to his office.
Matt focused his attention back on his paperwork, which he did need to finish, until Sylvie appeared in the doorway.
“Hey Captain.” She said with a smile, leaning against the doorframe. “You were looking for me?”
He raised an eyebrow as he turned his desk chair to face her, prepared to ask why she was acting so formal, until he saw Gallo walk behind her. “Yes, please come in and close the door.”
Sylvie pushed the door shut behind her and leaned against it with a smirk on her face. “If I keep disappearing during shift and your blinds are always closed, it’s going to be pretty obvious why you’ve been in such a good mood lately.”
“So?” Matt tilted his head to the side. “Let them figure it out.”
She laughed as she crossed the small space of his office, leaning down to kiss him. “At this point I just want to know how long it’ll be before somebody point blank asks us.”
“It’s been fun sneaking around.” His hands on her hips pulled her down onto his lap. “Hasn’t it?”
She ran her fingers along the collar of his white polo before leaning closer, leaving a trail of kisses along his jaw. “It has been, Captain .”
“Hold on.”
“What?” She asked, just before Matt stood up and she squealed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Matt!”
“Shh.” He grinned as he laid her down on his bunk. “Wouldn’t want the entire house to hear, would you?”
“Oh, I see what you’re doing.” She said with a smirk as she leaned up on the bed, reaching to loop her fingers through his belt loops. “And two can play that game.”
“We both know which of us is louder.” Matt said with a laugh as she pulled him down on the bunk with her.
“We’ll see about that, Captain.”
Sylvie had just gotten Matt’s belt unbuckled, a task made exponentially more difficult by the distracting feeling of his lips on her neck, when the bells went off.
Matt sighed, burying his face in her neck as the call came through for all units.
“Those damn bells.” He said with a sigh as he climbed off her and the bed, extending his hand to help her up. “They have impeccable timing.”
“As always.” She said with a laugh, quickly kissing him as she straightened her shirt. “To be continued.”
Sylvie rushed out the door, bumping directly into Cruz.
“Sylvie? What are you doing in Casey’s office?”
“Oh, I, uh, I just like to go in there for some quiet and rest sometimes.” She lied as she ran her fingers through her hair, trying to straighten it. “See you at the scene!”
Sylvie rushed through the house to the apparatus floor, yanking the driver’s door to Ambo 61; Violet was already in the passenger’s seat, waiting.
“Where were you?”
“The bunk room.”
Violet eyed her suspiciously, but said nothing as they pulled out.
The address wasn’t far from the house, and as they pulled up to the gate, Sylvie looked at her partner.
“This is the right address, right?”
“It’s right.” Violet said with a nod. “A filming studio?”
The gate opened, and a guard waved them through.
“The fire’s in the kitchen. We got everybody out.” The guard said as Sylvie jumped out of the ambulance.
“Okay, the trucks are right behind us to take care of the fire. Are there any injuries?”
“The chef, she’s having trouble breathing but I think it might just be a panic attack.”
“Take us to her.”
Sylvie was listening to the chef’s lungs when truck and engine pulled in, squad right behind them.
“I’m so sorry we called you all out.” A woman approached Matt with a smile plastered on. “I’m Elise, I’m the showrunner here. It was just a minor kitchen fire, and they have put it out.”
“Well, we’re still going to need to check it out.”
“Of course. Right through those doors, it’s on the left.”
The guard was right; the woman was having a panic attack, no signs of smoke inhalation.
“Okay, I think you’re just having a panic attack, miss.” Sylvie said with a reassuring smile. “Just keep taking deep breaths.”
It was only a few minutes before the truck crew returned, confirming the fire was out and it was safe to return inside.
“I still can’t breathe. I need to go to the hospital.”
Sylvie nodded; if it would make her feel better, she wasn’t going to argue with her. “Okay.”
“Just out of curiosity, what are you filming here?” Violet asked the showrunner.
“A new dating reality show.” She replied. “Actually, if any of you were interested in signing up, first responders are always extremely popular.”
Sylvie watched as the woman eyed Matt, Kelly and Gallo; she glanced towards her partner and saw the wide-eyed excitement on her face.
“We should sign up!” Violet grabbed her arm. “Gallo, too! I mean we’re pretty much the only single ones left, except for Casey, and I don’t -”
Violet glanced towards Matt, who laughed and shook his head. “There would be flying pigs in a frozen over hell before that happened.”
Sylvie sniggered because she knew that, even if he were single, that was true; he’d never sign up for a dating reality show.
“I mean, I’d do it.” Gallo said with a shrug. “Sounds like fun.”
“Brett?”
“No, thanks.” Sylvie replied.
“It’ll be fun!” Violet said with a grin.
“Uh, no.” Sylvie glanced towards Matt; he was trying not to grin, watching her. “I’m, uh, not actually single.”
“What?” Cruz asked. “Since when?”
“We better get this victim to Med.” Sylvie closed up the jump bag, ignoring everybody’s eyes on her.
“So, you and Grainger are back on?” Herrmann asked. “That’s good to hear. I like him.”
Violet tried to mask her laugh as a cough, unsuccessfully.
“Alright, we’re ready to roll. Violet, you ride in the back.” Sylvie headed for the front of the ambulance, glancing back at Matt to find him watching her with a raised eyebrow, the humor that had been on his face a minute ago gone.
Matt knew Sylvie wasn’t avoiding him; it had been a busy shift, they’d barely seen the inside of the firehouse, much less each other.
It was just bad timing that the one shift he really wanted to talk to her, they were ships passing in the night.
Sneaking around had been fun, but letting the house think she was back with her ex-boyfriend to avoid them finding out about their relationship was too far.
He was laying in his bunk, staring at the ceiling; it was the middle of the night, but he couldn’t sleep anymore at night when 61 was out on a call by itself.
He always found himself awake until he knew Sylvie was safely back inside of 51, either when he heard her climb into her bunk, or when she slipped inside his office and crawled into his bunk with him; Matt hoped she’d opted for the second choice when she came back.
The door to his office opened, and he turned towards it as she stepped inside, gently closing it behind her before kicking her shoes off.
“Hi.” Sylvie said in a whisper as he lifted the blankets for her to slip into the bed next to him.
“Hi.” He smiled, kissing her forehead as laid on her side facing him. “Busy shift, huh?”
“God, yes. I’m exhausted.” She sighed. “Are you mad at me for not correcting Herrmann? Because honestly, I just didn’t want to tell everybody right there on a call.”
“No. I’m not mad.” Matt promised, reaching up to touch the side of her face. “But I think it’s time we tell everybody.”
“I think so too.” Sylvie nodded in agreement before scooting closer until her face was against his chest. “Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.” He leaned over to turn off his bedside lamp. “Get some sleep.”
“I love you.” Her voice was muffled against his chest. “Goodnight.”
“I love you too.”
“Ready for this?” Sylvie asked with a grin as she climbed out of his truck.
“Of course.” Matt walked around to the passenger’s side of the truck, taking her hand in his. “Are you?”
“Absolutely.” She replied. “Besides, if Boden wasn’t surprised, it’s probably because there’s already been gossip around the house.”
They’d spoken to Boden together at the end of shift, and he’d been less than surprised by them disclosing their relationship to him.
“Boden knows everything that’s happening in the house.” He said with a laugh. “It’s always better to assume he’s gonna find out about everything long before you tell him.”
Matt opened the door to Molly’s for them, and they stepped in together, hand in hand; Sylvie scanned the bar, but the only members of 51 inside were Herrmann, behind the counter pouring a drink, and Mouch sitting at the bar, back to them.
“Hey two you.” Herrmann greeted them; they watched as his eyes moved down to their intertwined hands.
Sylvie squeezed his hand tighter; if there was one member of 51 whose reaction she was worried about, it was Herrmann’s. “Hi Herrmann.”
Mouch turned towards them, a grin on his face when he saw them together.
“Well, I guess that explains why I haven’t seen either of you two around here much lately.” Herrmann said with a laugh.
“Yeah.” Sylvie breathed out a sigh of relief as they walked towards the bar, leaning against it. “Can I get a glass of the Rosé that Stella hides back there?”
“Sure thing.” Herrmann replied. “What about you, Captain?”
Matt ordered a beer and Sylvie turned towards Mouch as she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m really happy for you.” Mouch said with a smile. “Glad you two finally figured it out.”
“Thank you.” She said with a smile, then turned to look at Matt. “Apparently, we weren’t all that subtle before.”
“There’s not much that’s subtle about jumping out of a moving truck.” Mouch said with a laugh, picking up his beer.
“Or trying to ask someone out without actually asking them out.” Herrmann chimed in as he handed Sylvie her glass.
Matt’s face reddened as he laughed. “Okay, I wasn’t the smoothest.”
“Aw.” Sylvie smiled, brushing a finger across his cheek. “I thought you were being weird but cute.”
Matt leaned forward and kissed her quickly, not caring they were in public and right in front of their friends.
“That’s gonna take some getting used to.” Herrmann said. “Despite that, I’m happy for two. You both deserve to be happy.”
“Thank you.” Sylvie said with a smile. “Both of you.”
They excused themselves to step out onto the patio; they’d barely stepped outside when Violet pointed at them with a grin.
“I knew it!” She exclaimed. “I knew trying to get you to sign up for that show would force you to come clean!”
“And I knew that’s what you were trying to do.” Sylvie said as they sat down at the table across from her and Ritter and Gallo.
“So much makes sense now.” Gallo said as he glanced back and forth between Matt and Sylvie with wide eyes. “Jumping out of the truck, your bad mood when Grainger was around, your good mood lately. It all makes much more sense now.”
“I knew that was why you’ve just been randomly disappearing during shift!” Violet said with a laugh, then turned towards Gallo. “I don’t know how you’re surprised. I picked up on it on day one at 51 and you’ve been there what, two years?”
“What these two mean to say is they’re happy for you.” Ritter glanced between Gallo and Violet, shaking his head. “So am I.”
Sylvie looked up at the door as Cruz walked in; she squeezed Matt’s hand. “I’ll be right back.”
“Well, here I thought I was going to have to quiz you on your new boyfriend.” Cruz said. “But I guess I have my answer, huh?”
Sylvie pointed towards a smaller table off to the side, and they both took a seat. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything before. We’ve just been enjoying our little bubble.”
“I get it.” He replied. “Although I’m not gonna pretend I’m not a little surprised. I mean, it’s Casey. That’s a lot of complicated history there.”
“I know, but we’ve worked past that.” Sylvie said with a smile as she turned her head towards him and met his eyes, then focused her attention back on Cruz. “And I’m happy, Joe. I love him.”
“Well, he better not hurt you or he’s gonna have to deal with me.”
“As much as I appreciate you looking out for me, and I do.” Sylvie said with a laugh, reaching across the table to put her hand on his. “He loves me, too. We’re happy.”
“Well, that’s all I want for you.” Cruz said with a smile. “Alright, let’s go join your boyfriend and you can explain how all this happened.”
Matt watched Sylvie as she took her jewelry off, a smile on her face that hadn’t faded in hours.
“You’re happy.”
Sylvie met his eyes in the mirror. “Of course I am.”
“I mean, you’re really happy tonight.”
“It was really nice, wasn’t it?” She turned towards him and leaned against the vanity. “Spending time with our friends and not trying to keep this a secret anymore.”
“It was.” He said in agreement as he closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her waist. “As much fun as hiding out in this apartment has been, I feel like we’ve barely seen anybody this past month.”
“I’m just glad it’s all out there and everybody was supportive.”
“Were you afraid they wouldn’t be?”
“I mean, a little. Some people, anyway.” Sylvie said with a shrug. “But they all seemed happy for us.”
“You know what I’m happy about?”
“What’s that?”
He leaned down to capture her lips in a kiss, his hands sliding down her sides until he reached her hips, then lifted her up so she was sitting on her vanity; she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer and wrapping an arm around his neck.
He pulled away from the kiss, and she groaned in response.
“I’m happy I can do that whenever I want now.” Matt said with a smirk.
“Didn’t we promise Boden barely twelve hours ago that we’d keep it professional at work?” She said with a laugh that ended abruptly as his lips moved to her neck. “So maybe not whenever.”
“Then I guess we’ll just have to keep being a little sneaky, won’t we?”
Sylvie bit her lip to hide a grin. “Well, we have gotten pretty good at it.”