CHAPTER ONE || ACCEPTANCE

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6 weeks later...

"Casey, Boden wants to see you in his office" Connie announced as she walked into the common room to see Casey sat with the rest of 81: Otis, Hermann, Cruz and Mouch.

The blonde lieutenant looked up at Chief Boden's assistant raising a brow as he nodded getting up from his seat, Chatter from the the rest of 51 quieting down as Matt left the room following Connie through the corridors back to Boden's office.

"Yeah Chief" Casey Spoke as he entered Chief Boden's office, Boden's eyes shifting from the computer screen in-front of him to his lieutenant as he stood up from his seated position at his desk he walked round it.

"You know Isaac Flores? Detective over at intelligence with Antonio and Jay?" Chief reminded the lieutenant of the familiar detective who'd helped him out a few times.

"Yeah helped us out with the same stuff as Antonio" Casey nodded, the memory of Kelly's sexual harassment lawsuit and his previous encounters with Voight replaying in his mind as he wondered what point Chief boden was getting too.

"yeah that's him. he's been asking me about the open spot on truck" Chief explained, His usual booming Voice more relaxed as he Waited to talk things through with his lieutenant, yet Matt's brows only knitted together in confusion.

"His sister Just passed the firefighters test, And he thinks she'd be a great fit here at 51 for the candidate spot, 8 years military experience and has experience with IED's and Bomb squad. But in light of recent events losing Jones, Shay..." Boden took a breath the cloud of grief that seemed to loom over Firehouse 51 never fading.

"i wanted you and your men's opinions before i sign off" Boden finished leaving Casey's eyes glued to him, The lieutenant in deep thought of 51's Recent losses, Running a hand over his face Matt took a breath.

"courtesy for intelligence. i'll talk to the guys, I trust Antonio and Isaac, If they vouch i don't have any problems" Casey nodded.

***

"So intelligence huh?" Harley questioned as her eyes scanned her brothers fridge for beers, As she spotted the Beers lined up on the right side of his fridge she grabbed two before walking back into his Living room.

"how is it?" She questioned her brother on his job for what seemed like the hundredth time as she passed her brother a beer. The muscular man cheerfully took the beer from his sister opening it in seconds.

"Great. good group of guys, and girls. it's heavy work but it's rewarding" Isaac nodded as Harley collapsed against the comfortable material of the couch, Almost sinking into the fabric.

"good." Harley smiled as she took a sip of her drink, The grief of losing her job still adamant six weeks later, even with the joy of passing the firefighter test there was still something missing.

"You really think this is a good idea? The firefighter thing" She sighed her eyes flickering from the tv to her brother, A black abyss forming in her heart, The shift of lifestyle seemed almost impossible to grasp.

Military life, to Living with her brother and training for the fire academy. It was a shift, A shift she wasn't sure she wanted, or wanted to get used to.

"It's something Har. Just try it. You'll be candidate for a year wherever you go. 51 would be perfect, I know all the guys there." Harley rolled her eyes at her brothers words uninterested in his attempts at making her work in a house he deemed appropriate.

"you do know i don't need your help. I don't want or need strings pulled to get a job. And i don't want your protection" Harley huffed raising her beer to her lips, the cold liquid flooding her taste buds with relief.

"i know that. but it can't hurt to take advantage of your big brothers connections" Isaac chuckled, yet his sister only Ran a hand over her face. Oh how she wished things were that easy.

"until i'm the only female firefighter in the house and i'm known as the girl who pulled strings to get into 51" She huffed letting the refreshing beer flood her tastebuds again.

"oh shut up. The two lieutenants, Casey and Severide. They're solid guys." She'd fought to prove herself every second of her military career, She knew men didn't see themselves and women as equals in physical jobs.

"whatever Isaac" Harley huffed a familiar dread filling her stomach as the siblings fell into silence, Her eyes again drifting back to the tv in hopes to be distracted from her thoughts.

Isaac fixated on the Tv playing the replay breakdown of the Blackhawks game as Harley sipped at her beer completely uninterested in the game, She was happy, She passed the firefighters test. she had to be happy right?

silence consuming the siblings until the subtle ringing of someone's phone filled their ears, Harley almost instantly Glancing down to her phone yet disappointment rolled through her realising it was her brothers phone.

"Flores" He answered automatically without looking down at the Caller ID, A smirk growing on his face as he listened to whoever was on the other side of the call. "yeah.... Thanks Matt i appreciate it man really."

As Isaac ended the Call his eyes almost instantly shot toward his sister, A cheesy grin on his face a sense of pride rushing through his veins.

"Casey'd be honoured to have you on Truck 81" Isaac Gushed a cheesy smile plastered across his face at the news, Jumping from the couch he chuckled pulling Harley into his arms.

she accepted the hug, Her arms wrapping around her older brother. A new chapter, A new chapter she wasn't prepared for. She forced the smile upon her face as Isaac rubbed her back in congratulations.

"Mollys tonight. Celebratory drinks!" He smiled voice laced with enthusiasm as he pulled away. Harley raised a brow in confusion.

"the bar you and your squadies go to" Isaac rolled his eyes as he Walked back into the kitchen in hopes of getting another Beer.

"they're detectives, Har you really gotta drop the military talk before you enter a firehouse" Isaac voice searching the fridge for another beer, Pulling two out he made his way back over to his sister.

"you ain't on top of the world anymore Har. you're a candidate. make sure you act like one" The brunette shook her head in disbelief, Bumped straight back down to newbie at 28. Sighing she ran a hand over her face; "i know i know"

***

Harley Followed her Brother into Molly's, An overwhelming sense of unknown clouding over her as she caught sight of the abundance of people in the bar.

"come meet my guys first" Isaac smiled looking down at his sister before instantly walking toward a table of Men, Harley following behind until she saw a familiar face.

"Jay Halstead? he's one of your guys?" Her head swung toward her brother upon noticing the familiar man sat at the table. Isaac nodded completely unaware of the two's past.

"Harley?" Jay stood from the table as he noticed the familiar woman approaching them, A smile tugged at the man's lips as he approached the two siblings pulling her into a hug.

"i haven't seen you in years, How have you been?" Jay spoke As Harley hugged him back, An almost identical smile shining upon her face. Isaac standing beside them raising a brow in confusion.

"good Jay i'm good.. You're intelligence too?" Harley smiled as she broke the hug pulling away to look at the familiar Halstead, He nodded His eyes flickering between the two siblings.

"hold on. you two know eachother?" Isaac questioned in disbelief as to how neither one had mentioned knowing the other, Harley and Jay both chuckled in response as they all settled at the intelligence table.

"rangers, We served together" Jay smiled across the table at Harley before his eyes darted toward a confused Isaac.

"i'll grab the next round" Adam nodded patting Isaac's shoulder as he escaped the confusion to get more beers, Isaacs raised brow still evident as he stared between the two adults.

"so you're the sister i hear so much about" Jay chuckled beer bottle in hand as Isaac shook his head: "i guess so"

"I'm gonna go speak to Casey alright?" Isaac scoffed getting up to leave the two Adults to mingle, Yet as Jay rose a brow he spoke; "wait, you accepted as candidate on 81?"

"Yeah... yeah i was" Harley nodded, She knew she should've been happy. but a lingering grief from her previous career remained.

"Isaac don't fuck it up." Jay chuckled at his fellow detectives clear protective manner as Harley ran a hand through her hair oh how he was setting her up for failure.

"they're gonna bust my balls so much cause of him" Harley sighed waiting for adam to return with more beers in desperate need of one.

"probably, but it's a safe house. Good set of guys" Jay nodded taking a sip from his beer, Harley watching as Isaac spoke to an unfamiliar duo at the bar, A tall blonde man paired with another guy dressed in a leather jacket.

"that's what everyone says. 51, that's a busy house right?" Harley asked as her eyes darted back to Jay who nodded.

"look Flores, If you need anything. you let me know, I've been out a while. I know getting back to normal can be rough. so just call me" Jay spoke, his words causing Harley's mind to flash with memories of her time in the military. Memories she'd rather forget.

She'd been so wrapped up with training she'd barely let her mind fathom the fact she was no longer a soldier, She no longer had the security of the military.

"i appreciate that Halstead, But i'm good" She nodded, Again forcing the smile upon her face as The few memories she had of Jay in combat flashed in her mind.

"Har, this is Casey" a voice beside her pulling her from her thoughts. Isaac had brought the tall blonde he was talking to over to the Table.

"lieutenant" She kept the forced smile remembering the Name of the lieutenant from a previous conversation with her brother, Holding her hand out The man automatically shook her hand.

"Looking forward to working with you, I've heard good things" She nodded taking note of his firm handshake, Matt's blue eyes connecting with hers as he tried to get a feel for how she'd fit in with 51.

"Likewise, Just thought i'd introduce myself. You ready for shift?" Casey offered breaking the handshake as he looked down at Harley as she nodded Taking the way he presented himself in.

"i am lieutenant" She smiled, She'd be working under him. And there it was the realisation. She really wasn't a solider anymore, She'd been bumped right back down to rookie. And she had to prove herself, again.