Chapter 1

It was a week before Christmas, and let's just say things at 51 were not as festive as one would have hoped for. Severide and Casey had gotten into a fight, but no one else in the house knew what it was about. But let's just say the tension could be felt throughout 51. Severide and Casey were in Matt's office fighting while the rest of the house avoided the tension in the common room. "What are they so fired up about ?" asked Gallo. "I don't know, but I haven't seen Severide this mad at him in a long time," said Capp.

"Are you out of your fucking mind, Casey!" Kelly yelled. The Lieutenant was angrily pacing in the Captain's office while Casey was sitting at his desk. "You slept with Dawson, she calls you back, and you don't even have the decency to return her voicemail?! And you are making eyes at her best friend and Ambo partner", Kelly shouted. The rest of the house couldn't here because they were busying themselves with conversation about the holidays in an attempt to lift the mood. "Severide, it's more complicated than that!" Matt said with gritted teeth. "Bullshit, Matt! If you're sleeping with her, you care about her. And frankly, if you still have the message saved on your phone and are still playing it a year later. It means something to you," Kelly said. Matt's head was looking down. "I thought you made the biggest mistake divorcing Dawson, but I didn't question it and was there for you. But to treat Gabby like some one night stand and be messing around with Brett. It's low, Matt!" Kelly said. Matt got up and shoved his finger in Severide's face. "Watch it, Kelly, your one to talk!" Kelly looked at Matt, "I may have slept around in the past, but that was before I met Stella. Also, you never saw me trying to fuck Dawson. I would never betray you like that; I don't know why you're trying to do that to Dawson."

It was then when Matt felt all the anger rise in his body, and he was about to punch Severide before the bells rang. Severide ran out of the office, heading for the turnout room. Matt was pulling it together so he could be professional for this call. Everyone headed to the turnout room to change and their specific rig.

Matt was getting in the passenger's seat of the rig, which Stella was driving. "What's going on with you and Severide?" she said. "I'm not talking about it!" he said with a scowl on his face. "Ok, Captain!", she said clearly seeing he wasn't in the mood and went back to having her eyes on the road.

The call was in Prarie Avenue District, often called Millionaire's Row. It was filled with gorgeous properties that represented the gilded age of Chicago architecture. At the corner of the neighborhood, one of the smaller houses was engulfed in flames. A group of adults were fighting, some teenagers were on their phones, and some younger kids were huddled together on the lawn.

51 immediately exited their vehicles and entered the scene. Boden approached first. "What's going on here?" Boden asked. A furious woman pointed to a man covered in minor grease burns. "This idiot wanted to deep fry a turkey for Christmas in the kitchen. It exploded in flames, and now our inheritance is gone!" "Is anyone inside the building?" Chief asked. "Mom, where's Grandpa?" a little girl asked a woman who must have been her mother. The women turned from frantic to angry in an instant. "George didn't you grab Dad ?" the woman asked. "I did! He came out with us," George said. He must have gone back inside to grab that memory box on the second floor", Another woman said.

"Our Dad Richard, he got diagnosed with dementia this year, was married to our mom for 50 years she died last year. He's terrified of forgetting he collected this box of letters, pictures, everything of their life together. It's in his bedroom right there", she said. She was pointing to a corner window towards the back of the house. Please find him", the woman asked. "We will," Boden said. "Casey, you head in there with your team, Squad stand by. Herman, you get ready to take this thing out. This should be an easy in and out you got fifteen-minute". Boden said. Chief noticing that the fire was taking a turn for the worst. "Got it, Chief," everyone said, taking their positions.

Casey, Gallo, and Stella headed inside. "Kidd spot Gallo as you survey downstairs." "I'll go upstairs and get him," Casey said. "Captain, why are you going upstairs alone?" Stella asked. "I don't want to spook him; I'll be quick," Casey said. "Casey," Stella said. "I've got it, Kidd," and he sprinted up the stairs. Stella having no choice but to follow her Captain's orders and did what she was told as Casey was walking up the stairs. Stella motioned for Gallo to come closer. "We are giving him five minutes, and then we are going up there," she said. Gallo nodded. Then began to do a brief look around of the first floor as Casey ran upstairs.

Casey ran up the stairs to the bedroom the daughter pointed out. He saw Richard. He was in a corner clutching a jewelry box with all his might. "Sir, my name is Captain Casey, and I am with the Chicago Fire Department. I'm here to bring you to your family", Casey said. Matt then extended his hand towards him. Richard shouted, "She died in this house, and I want to die here too," he said. Matt sighed. "Sir, we don't really have time for that!" Matt said. He started inching towards Richard and finally was able to kneel right next to him. "I'm sure Rebecca was a wonderful woman; it would probably pain her to see you go like this and have your kids to see this. Let's get you back out to them, ok," Matt said.

Richard looked hesitant but grabbed Matt's hand. Matt smiled and slung Richard over his shoulder, and they started walking down the stairs. Before they exited the room, Richard was coughing but managed to ask Matt this. "Keep the box under your jacket, please," he said. Matt nodded and slid the box under his turncoat. They made their way to the door of the bedroom. Stella and Gallo were standing right in front of them. "Come on, Captain, time to go," Kidd said. Matt nodded. Gallo and Casey helped get Richard down the stairs. As they made the front door, Casey realized he had dropped Richard's box down the stairs. "Dammit," Casey said. "Kidd, you get him outside. I got to grab something," Casey said. "Captain, this place is going to blow any minute," Kidd said. But Casey didn't even hear her; he was already halfway up the stairs. Gallo and Kidd handed over Richard to Mackey and Brett.

Kidd and Gallo did the transfer over too quickly, hoping Casey was right behind them. Kidd and Gallo turned around to see that was not the case. "Dammit!" Kidd said. They were about to enter the building again as they heard a loud crash, and the home burn even more. "Chief Casey's in there," Stella said.

"I sent squad in! They are going to get him", Chief said. Gallo and Kidd breathed a sigh of relief. 51 waited in bated breath as they waited for their Captain to come out. A mere 5 minutes later, Cruz and Severide come out with an unconscious Casey clutching on to the box Richard had. "Chief, he's unconscious; he's got to go Med," Severide said. Chief nodded and put Casey on the second ambulance on the scene. "Stella go with him," Severide said. Stella nodded and was already heading to the ambulance. The medics got to him. "40-year-old male, severe head trauma", the medics said as they loaded him into the ambulance. Stella was sitting there right beside him.

"Come on, Casey!" Stella said as she sat by his bedside all the way to Med.