Chapter Text
I might have to wait, I’ll never give up
I guess it’s half timing and the other half’s luck
Wherever you are, whenever it’s right
You’ll come out of nowhere and into my life.
And I know that we can be so amazing
And baby, your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility
And somehow, I know that it’ll all turn out
You’ll make me work so we can work it out
And promise you, kid, I’ll give so much more than I get
I just haven’t met you yet.
Michael Buble, Haven’t met you yet
Wallace Boden sat at the indoor bar in Molly’s enjoying one of the rare visits he makes there outside of team celebrations, he had been talking with Herrmann before he was called away to serve a customer; Boden had planned to finish up his drink and go home to prepare for shift the following morning when Trudy Platt came up beside him.
“Chief, I’m not one to raise concerns about anyone else’s House, but we need to have a conversation about your paramedics on 2nd shift” she stated. Trudy had been hesitating to approach Boden for a while now, but tonight seemed like the opportune time now he was alone at the bar and more importantly, both of them were out of uniform.
Boden gestured for her to sit beside him, “My medics? What’s the issue?”
“Honestly their complete incompetency and non-existent professional conduct for starters, then let’s not forget their lack of situational awareness and refusal to follow simple instructions about how to conduct themselves in my Station” Trudy was still reeling over their behaviour the previous day, “if they were my Officers they’d have been read the riot act by now” she raised her eyebrows expectantly, “twice over”.
Groaning and rubbing his hand over his eyes, “I wasn’t aware of any issues on 2nd shift, all reports have been submitted and signed off – care to tell me what happened?” he prompted, keen to hear what had happened. Boden had already bounced a number of medics back to Central, there seemed to be no combination of Dawson and any of their current floaters that seemed to have worked so far.
“They were called to the Station for a young gentleman fitting in a cell, your medics who attended were rude to me and my officers, and failed to follow the protocols we have in place in the holding area putting themselves and others in unnecessary danger. And while we’re talking, I am concerned that Randall wasn’t properly medically assessed last week after that fire on Garfield, he took a knock to the head and Dawson failed to follow concussion protocols and get him checked out at Med. I don’t know what kind of Station you are running Chief, but I suggest you start to get your house in order.”
Not expecting this conversation, Boden's brain finally caught up with him, "yes, 2nd shift is in dire need of another permanent medic we can't keep going with all the floaters Central is sending us and Dawson is still adjusting to being back on 61” he feebly excused.
With an interested look spreading across her face "Still on the lookout for a new medic - I might know a person, leave it with me" Trudy announces with a glint in her eye, before getting off her seat and walking back to the table she had been sitting at with Mouch.
Fearing the person Trudy Platt, a CPD Sergeant, of all people would recommend as suitable, Boden called out after her "it's ok we’re doing fine”.
Shaking her head and calling out “I’ve yet to see any evidence of that so far Chief”, Trudy lifted her coat and walked out of Molly's with Mouch following closely behind; Boden involuntarily shivered and his plans for going home were forgotten as he ordered another drink from Herrmann, who merely gave him a small smile and shrug of the shoulders after having heard the last bit of the conversation.
- X – X – X – X – X -
The following morning Mouch followed Boden back to his office after their briefing with an envelope in his hands; “Trudy sent this for you, she says it’s the answer to your problems” he explained before heading out when the Bells sounded for Truck 81.
Almost afraid of what was in the envelope, Boden took a calming breath and carefully opened it; he withdrew the slip of paper and read it aloud “PIC Sylvie Brett, Fire House 17”.
He sat for a moment studying the slip of paper in front of him, “what the hell” he muttered before calling out to Kylie to get Chief Hatcher on the phone.
“Karl, thanks for taking my call” Boden greets the Paramedic Field Chief.
“Wallace, how are you? I hope you’re not phoning to complain about yet another floater Central has sent 51, I think we’re actually out of spare medics for you” Hatcher greets him with a tone hedging on exasperation; Fire House 51 had quickly become a staffing problem for him, there were plenty of shifts available but fewer and fewer medics were putting themselves forward for them.
Briefly tightening his hold on his phone Boden deliberately shuts and reopens his eyes before focussing on the slip of paper sitting on his desk. “Actually, I’m hoping you can help me solve my staffing problem once and for all; I’m in need of a little information and I’m hoping you’re the man to help me” he gets straight to the point, “I’ve been given a name I’d like to run past you” throwing in a little flattery wouldn’t hurt he thought, “I know you keep track of your medics”.
“What’s the name?”
“A PIC over at 17, Sylvie…”
“Brett” Hatcher cuts him off, “I don’t know Wallace, she’s damn good at her job – one of the best medics I’ve had under my command in a very long time”.
Puzzled, Boden asks “so what’s the problem – 51 is a damn good house?”
Hatcher exhaled loudly down the phone, “51 is a good house, well respected throughout the Department but your Officers are not without their own reputation of…”
Boden took his turn to cut Hatcher off, “let me worry about my Officers, I didn’t reach out about them - what I want is information on Brett.”
- X – X – X – X – X -
Later in the morning, Boden is in a meeting with his Officers about a call they had just returned from when his phone goes, “Boden” he answers.
“Wallace it’s Karl, you wanted to know about Brett – I’m at a major incident at the apartments in North Shore; come see her work for yourself.” Hatcher invites before ending the call.
Boden set his phone down, sat for a few seconds staring at it before starting to gather everything he needed to leave the Station.
“Everything ok Chief?” Casey asked while exchanging a puzzled looks with Severide and Herrmann.
“Yeah, yeah everything is fine; Captain you’re in charge – if you need me, I’ll be on my radio” Boden orders as he strides to his door.
- X – X – X – X – X -
Boden arrives at an all-vehicles response apartment fire and pulls on his helmet, whilst he’s not here in an official capacity, he is prepared to help where he can if called on having put his turnout gear on before leaving 51. He spots Chief Hatcher over by the bank of ambulances standing by and makes his way over; Hatcher is quick to point to a blonde-haired medic directing those around her, “27, her ambulance, was first on scene; I’ve left her in charge so you can see what she’s capable of”.
Brett is obviously running point on triage, she is assessing and tagging victims being brought out by the fire fighters whilst directing the ambulances and other medics that keep rolling up to transport victims to the local hospital; but what sticks with Boden the most is the personal mission she seems to have set herself to check on each fire fighter that comes out of the burning apartment block. She’s hounding them, checking them over for injuries, tending to any she finds and shoving bottles of water at them to ensure they stay hydrated in the intense heat of the fire, but never at the cost to any civilian victims surrounding her and her team.
Suitably impressed he continued observing the scene until most vehicles were stowing their equipment and overhaul was about to begin, he drove back to 51 with a lot to think about.
When he reached the Station he tracked down Kylie chatting with Kidd in the kitchen and directed her to get him Chief Hatcher on the phone, “that’s the second call between them today” Kylie whispered to Kidd who shrugged in response, before leaving to do as asked.
“Well Wallace, what do you think?” Hatcher knew Boden had been just as impressed with his medic as he had, he had witnessed it at the scene but now wanted the verbal confirmation. Hatcher had left Brett to run the medic side of the incident with his oversight rather than call in an Ambulance Commander, she had remained focussed and collected under the pressure – she rallied and directed her colleagues, tended to victims and effectively liaised with the Fire Chief on scene, CFD and CPD personnel, victims and the intaking hospitals to ensure good communication at all points.
“I want her for 61, she’s calm, efficient and takes care of her people – that’s what we need” Boden confirmed.
“I’ll reach out to her and invite her over to your House; but it won’t be until your next watch at the earliest, she’s needed at Station 17 for the next couple of days as they’re worse off for medics than you are with the staffing problems CFD is having, and everyone up there, including Brett like today, is already pulling doubles to keep the Station operational.”
“Just set it up; and Karl - thank-you”. Boden hung up his phone and went to seek out Mouch in the common room, finding him at the table talking with Herrmann; he politely interrupted and squeezed his friends shoulder, “tell your wife I made the call” before he returned to his office to make preparations for a new medic to be transferred into 51. Had Boden hung around for a few more minutes he would have been as dazzled as Herrmann was by the smile that broke out on Mouch’s face.