You ever have a weekend where you just wish everything would stop? That was this weekend. So much was going on that when I tried to take it easy today, my body went "wrong!" and kept my adrenaline going. This is the result of that adrenaline. So . . . if you give me comments I'll pay for your dental bills after the inevitable cavities you'll get?

It's a pretty simple summary here . . . it's time for the return and the reopening of the 126, and the 2-7 finally sees just what family they're getting drawn into.

***

The morning of the reopening ceremony dawned bright and cloudless, which Frank thought was a perfect way to describe Sylvie when he entered the kitchen of the barndominium. The paramedic was already in her dress blues, her jacket hung over the back of one of the stools and her blonde tresses tumbling down her back as she puttered around and made her morning coffee. "You're out here early," he noted as he checked his watch.

"Back atcha," Sylvie laughed as she pulled an additional mug from one of the cabinets. "Matt and Kelly are the commanding officers of the firehouse, and I'm the chief paramedic. We need to get to the house before the rest of our crews and make sure there isn't anything else that needs to be done before the ceremony." She smirked as she poured them heft helpings of coffee, and she handed one of the mugs to him, which he accepted gratefully. "That means you, Nolan, and Lily are among the first who get to see what the remodel looks like. The boys have already seen it."

"I'll take that honor," Frank chuckled as he took a sip. "Who else you think is gonna be there?"

"If I had to guess, probably Benson and Stabler," Sylvie shrugged as she mulled over the fruit in the basket. "You care what color?"

Frank smirked. "Surprise me."

"Copy that," Sylvie grinned and tossed a green apple over her shoulder at him, with Frank effortlessly caught with his spare hand. "I remember Owen saying that Noah wanted to wait until the push-ins to see what the firehouse looks like, so Peter will bring him with the others. According to the grumpy texts I got this morning, Noah may be more wired up for this than the actual firefighters."

"Except for you, looks like," Frank noted as he watched her continue to walk around the kitchen. "I don't think I've seen you stop moving since we got here Thursday evening." Sylvie paused in surprise, and Frank gestured to the stool next to him. "Unless you think the world will stop if you do, you can take a moment."

Sylvie sighed and walked around the counter to hop onto the stool; Frank watched as her fingers drummed the top of the island. "I know it won't," she said as she looked into her coffee. "Frank, the sniper incident is the closest call I've had . . . but I've had close calls the entire time I've been with the 126. I'm very lucky to be here today, and I know that. I'm lucky that I get to see Matt and Kelly here, too, because I know I'm lucky they were able to bring the boys to Austin." She rested her arm on the counter and looked at Frank, the seriousness in her eyes making him put down his coffee to give her his full attention. "Remember how I told you I was blackmailed into leaving Chicago?"

"I do," Frank nodded with a scowl.

"You know what she had on me?" Frank shook his head, and Sylvie scoffed. "Matt and Kelly had been my best friends for two years at that point, and she overheard a private conversation with a few other friends where I admitted I was in love with them and that I've been polyamorous since high school. When she confronted me after I became friends with another lieutenant in the CFD, she threatened to out me to the brass and use that to twist my friendships to make it look like I was sleeping my way through the officers."

Frank's eyes widened in alarm and just as quickly narrowed to slits. "What?" he growled.

"That was Buck and TK's reaction when they found out why I moved to Austin," Sylvie gave a wry smile as she traced the rim of her mug. "I know how lucky I am, Frank. I don't know what twist of fate made me meet Buck and TK at the train derailment in Los Angeles the summer prior, but it was that connection that had Owen calling me after TK pitched me as the potential riding paramedic for their new squad rig. After Kidd threatened me, they were the first ones I called. I was out of Chicago and moving to Austin in no time." She snorted and started ticking off fingers on her hand. "And since I moved to Austin, I have been shot at with a crossbow, under fire from a volcano, crashed a helicopter into wildfires, leapfrogged across a minefield, been forced to improvise surgery at gunpoint, chased a serial arsonist, had my firehouse blown up . . . and I've been shot by a sniper."

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," Frank shook his head in disbelief, taking a gulp of his coffee and wishing it was spiked with something stronger than caffeine.

Sylvie lifted her mug in a mock toast. "And people wonder why I'm called a danger magnet," she quipped. "After that, I went back to Chicago for a friend's medal ceremony and got threatened again . . . but Matt overheard everything. He recorded it, and the very next morning, she was booted out of the CFD and blacklisted from joining any departments ever again. I got with Matt and Kelly the night after shift, and then Kelly and his former crew almost lost their lives in a diving rescue off Navy Pier. Eddie and I had to dive in and help them. The one constant we had the entire time? The backing of this house and the people attached to it." She folded her hands and sighed heavily. "People can find it humorous that we call ourselves a family, but we mean it," she said. "No matter our situations, we've found a way to pull through it together. That's what family does for each other. I'm lucky I had Owen, Buck, and TK when I came to Austin. I'm lucky I ever found Nolan at all, and I'm so, so lucky Jack rallied everyone around Matt and Kelly when they fought for Griffin and Ben. This day, this ceremony, means more to some of us than others realize. The fact that we get to see this day, that so many have come to help us celebrate it, is a reward we will never forget."

The coffee suddenly tasted bitter in the back of Frank's throat, and he swallowed hard as he stared at the woman who had gone through so much darkness and came out shining brighter than the sun. "I had no idea," he whispered, feeling his head spin as he tried to process just how much he had not only been wrong about Nolan, but also the prosecutor's little sister.

"How could you?" Sylvie gave him a kind smile. "You've only been with the 2-7 a few months, and even then, Dixon and Bernard don't know most of what we've been through. You just started building bridges with the DA's office, and take it from me, I know Nolan is tough to crack. You're hearing everything we've been through the past year and half in a few days. You're doing awesome with all this getting dumped on you."

Frank laughed, his discomfort starting to disappear in the face of Sylvie's encouragement. "That makes one of us."

"Put it this way," Sylvie crossed one leg over the other and grinned at him. "The 126 members are magnetic. There's just something about its members that draws others into their orbit. The Strands did that for me and Buck, we did it with Eddie and Maddie, we did it with Matt and Kelly, and it just keeps rolling on and on. We don't leave anyone behind. Elliot said it when Eddie and I were shot . . . this family doesn't bleed red or blue. We bleed purple. You and Nolan . . . we both know to say you butted heads on the job would be an understatement, right?"

Frank winced at the reminder. "No kidding."

"I don't care about that now," Sylvie said bluntly, making Frank stare at her. "No one else is going to, either. Everyone has made missteps in the past, things that on any other day would send up red flags left and right. What has mattered to us, in the end, is what gets done in an attempt to make us . . . not necessarily forget those missteps but allow us to see those missteps are not who we are. You're doing that, and we can see it. The rest of the 126 will, too." She grinned. "Think you can handle a crazy family like that?"

Frank chuckled. "I guess I'll find out today, won't I?"

"That's the spirit," Sylvie beamed and hopped off her stool as she checked her watch. "Grab anything else you'd like. We're heading to the 126 in an hour."

"Looking forward to it," Frank smiled and watched her head back to the master wing.

***

"These are probably the cleanest rigs I have ever seen," Lily blinked in surprise as they approached the 126.

"They won't look like this for long," Matt laughed as he glanced appraisingly up and down Ladder 126. "But yeah . . . you aren't wrong."

"Definitely the cleanest I've ever seen a squad rig," Kelly chuckled as he patted the side of Squad 9. "Oh, I'm so grateful Chief Abrams kept my team together . . . but I really want the entire crew back."

"What's that mean?" Frank frowned as he circled the squad rig. Most of the rigs he had seen in New York were engines, trucks, or ambulances. This was the first time he had seen the type of rig that heavy rescue firefighters like Kelly rode.

"When Owen first formed Squad 9, it was a four-person crew, but I'm a paramedic, not a firefighter," Sylvie explained. "There were only three firefighters: Owen as the captain and a pair of heavy rescue specialists, aka Buck and TK. It stayed a three-firefighter team when Eddie and I became the crew of EMS 99. When Kelly temporarily took over while Owen was on leave, he added Marjan to the crew. Then the explosion happened, everyone was reassigned, and then it was him, Buck, and TK on Squad 7."

"And now that you're back to the 126, you're back to having Marjan on the team," Lily concluded.

Kelly pointed at her. "Bingo."

"Oh, I missed you," Sylvie sighed in relief as she looked over her ambulance. "If I ever see a Paragon ambulance again, it'll be too soon."

"You really didn't like that place, did you?" Nolan asked with a grin as he shielded his eyes and looked over the pristine apparatus doors of the 126.

Ben snorted. "She called her temporary boss Count Dracula."

"Hey, he wanted us to try and use as much drugs as we could," Sylvie rolled her eyes. "No, thank you."

Nolan blanched at the thought, making Frank frown. "I never want to meet this guy."

"No, you don't," Sylvie agreed as she rounded her rig to inspect the other side.

She abruptly stopped in her tracks, her azure eyes widening and her jaw dropping. Just as quickly, tears welled in her eyes, and Griffin frowned. "Sylvie?" he asked in concern as he walked over to her. "What is it?"

Kelly, who was closer to the ambulance, joined them first, and his breath hitched when he saw what Sylvie had. "Oh, wow," he breathed.

Lily tilted her head and examined the pristine white lettering painted on the side of the rig. "'I will serve unselfishly and continuously in order to make a better world for all mankind,'" she read.

Nolan's eyes widened, and for the second time in two months, Frank saw the prosecutor struck speechless. "Is that the EMS oath?" he asked.

"It's the oath every Austin paramedic lives by when they join the department." The voice, warm and welcoming, made everyone turn, and Frank felt his spine instinctively stiffen in the presence of a commanding officer as a man with silver in his dark hair approached; where the stripes and fastenings on the uniforms worn by Matt, Kelly, and Sylvie were silver, the newcomer's were gold. "And this house will always remember those who died by that oath," he finished with a smile at Sylvie. "Now, so will the community you serve."

A sob bubbled out of Sylvie, and she ran forward and tightly hugged the man. "Thank you," she gasped. "Thank you so much."

Owen rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head. "Consider it one last gift before I leave you at the mercy of these two."

"It's such a nice gift, we'll let that slide," Matt chuckled wetly as he finally tore his eyes away from the lettering.

Owen snorted. "I'm your deputy chief now. I have the authority to reassign you as necessary."

Laughter came from behind Owen, and Elliot barely got his words out as Olivia grinned like a lunatic. "Oh, Sylvie wouldn't have to open her mouth before you would be transferring them back!"

Owen rolled his eyes in fond annoyance. "Why the hell did I invite you two again?"

"Because if you didn't, TK would've," Olivia smiled innocently.

Owen huffed. "Yeah, he would've."

"Seriously, Owen," Kelly smiled. "Nice touch."

Owen nodded in return, then he smirked. "And look who finally decided it was time to visit our humble abode!"

Nolan grinned and accepted his hug. "Good to see you, Owen."

"You, too, son," Owen patted his shoulder. "And I heard the 126 has a temporary probie for its first shift back?"

"Yes, you will," Nolan nodded and beckoned the Cosgroves forward. "Frank, Lily, this is Deputy Chief Owen Strand. Owen, meet Detective Frank Cosgrove and his daughter, Lily."

"It's an honor, sir," Frank nodded and shook his hand.

Owen made a face, causing Sylvie to giggle. "Please, we're not doing anything formal yet. Call me Owen."

Frank grinned sheepishly. "That may be a little difficult, sir."

Owen sighed as Olivia and Elliot laughed. "I guess it can slide today." He winked at Lily, indicating his teasing, and the teenager giggled. "How are my captains treating you, Lily?"

"I really like them, sir," Lily smiled brightly. "And the Dardens."

"The boys couldn't be in better hands," Owen smiled, making Matt clear his throat. "Well, we're glad you were able to join us. I understand it required you to miss a few days of school?"

"A few days," Frank nodded, placing his hand on Lily's shoulder. "But since this is for a school project, they're excused absences."

"Good," Owen nodded in approval. "Today's a pretty busy day and a more public celebration, but you've heard that we're having a barbecue tomorrow evening before the first shift?" Lily nodded in confirmation. "I've gotten confirmations from everyone on A-shift, they'll be in attendance and have all agreed to answer any questions you want to ask for your paper, both about the ceremony and a regular shift." He paused. "I say 'regular,' but there really hasn't been any normal shifts since I took command of the house." He made a face and turned to Matt and Kelly. "Here's hoping your first one is regular."

"Well, now it won't be," Matt rolled his eyes. "You hear that, boys? You blame the chief if we have the craziest shift ever."

"You got it," Griffin grinned.

"Everything's ready inside?" Sylvie asked, glancing at the apparatus doors.

"All set," Olivia nodded. "And it's hard to say if the 126 or my son is more excited for this."

"We'll find out," Owen said as he checked his watch. "The rest of the team starts arriving in a few minutes."

***

In what felt like no time at all, the apron in front of the 126 went from empty to full, and Lily's eyes were wide as she looked around at all of the people who had gathered to see the push-in ceremony. "There's so many!" she whispered to Griffin and Ben.

"The 126 means a lot to the community," Griffin nodded. "Owen said when the house first reopened after the silo explosion, they had so many visitors bringing so many gifts that they didn't have to start cooking on shift until two weeks later. They had that much food delivered to the house to welcome the new members."

Lily gulped. "Wow."

"Considering how many firefighters can be on shift at a time, that's a lot," Frank whistled.

"Griffin! Ben!"

"Oh!" Ben brightened and gestured to Lily. "Come on, that's who we're standing with!"

"Dad?" Lily looked up at Frank pleadingly.

"That's where the rest of us will be standing," Nolan beckoned. "You'll be able to meet a handful of the family before you meet the rest of the 126 after the ceremony."

Frank nodded, seeing Nolan wave to get the attention of the rest of their team. "In that case, after you."

Ben had already run ahead and was chatting excitedly with a pair of twin girls, and Griffin was hugging a curly-haired boy with a pair of crutches. "Nolan!" a petite black woman gave a pearly-white smile to the prosecutor, and her obvious joy was infectious. "Oh, it's good to see you."

"Hi, Grace," Nolan smiled in return, bending to hug the woman. "And congratulations. Is this Charlie?"

"Yes, it is," Grace beamed and gently pushed the stroller next to her back and forth, the baby inside staring up with wide brown eyes. "She's meeting all her new aunts and uncles and cousins today."

Nolan smiled brilliantly down at Charlie. "She's beautiful, Grace."

"Thank you, Nolan."

"Nolan!" Next to arrive was a dark-haired woman with a brilliant smile, and she was followed by a man with black, curly hair. "It's been too long!"

"About time you got down here," the man agreed.

"I thought about it when TK went through the ice, but every meteorologist in the country said that was a bad idea," Nolan snorted as he hugged both newcomers. "Then I was a little occupied elsewhere."

"And we thank you for your service," the man patted Griffin's shoulder.

"OK, so a few quick introductions before we get started," Nolan checked over his shoulder, and Frank saw what he had: the uniformed firefighters were starting to assemble by the rigs. "This is my partner Sam and our boss Jack, and from NYPD we've got Lieutenant Kate Dixon, Detective Kevin Bernard, and Detective Frank Cosgrove, and this is Frank's daughter, Lily. Meet Austin's favorite dispatchers, Grace Ryder and Maddie Buckley – "

"Nolan!" Maddie blushed.

"Just telling the truth," Nolan smirked. "Our favorite patrol officer, Carlos Reyes."

"I will take that compliment," Carlos elbowed Maddie.

"These are Captain Vega's twins, Evie and Izzy," Nolan gestured to the girls, who waved at the same time. "And Eddie's son, Christopher."

"Hi!" Christopher beamed at Lily.

"Mom said you would be on shift Monday, right?" Izzy tilted her head.

"Yeah," Lily nodded timidly.

"Awesome!" Evie cheered, and Frank smiled at the visible relief on his daughter's face at the girls' acceptance. "That's all the kids from New York!"

"Well, except mine," Elliot chuckled as he joined them, followed by Olivia, Peter, Noah, Sonny, Amanda, and Jesse, Billie on Sonny's hip. "But close enough."

"This is way too big a group," Kevin frowned as he looked around.

Ayanna snorted as she and Jet joined them, Fin bringing up the rear. "You weren't at Cedars-Sinai when all hell was breaking loose. That was a big group."

"I like this big group better," Jet decided as she looked around.

"Yeah," Olivia agreed with a smile, setting her hand on a bouncing Noah's shoulder. "This is much better."

"If I could have everyone's attention, please!" The authoritative voice, not a shout but still loud enough to silence all chatter, rang through the air, and Nolan shuffled before waving Lily closer to him. Lily shuffled to stand at his side, and she gave a pleased smile when she found herself with a clear view of Owen at the podium. Matt and Kelly stood directly behind him, Sylvie on Kelly's other side, a woman resembling Evie and Vega next to Matt. "Thank you," Owen nodded as Frank stood behind Lily, Sam finding her way to Nolan's other side. "I have the pleasure of officiating this ceremony. Although this would usually be the responsibility of the firehouse's commanding officer, this ceremony accompanies a changing of the guard. As such, Captain Casey has asked me to have this last hurrah, for which I am honored and grateful. I want to start by thanking the Robertson family, whose generous gift to the AFD allowed us all to be here together today."

A man in a suit and tie smiled happily. "It's the least we could do after what your people did for us."

The redhead teenager next to him gave one of the firefighters a bright smile, and as applause rang out in the crowd, the black firefighter in Matt's line of crew members smiled in return. "Paul Strickland," Nolan whispered.

Frank nodded in acknowledgement. "The push-in ceremony has its origins dating back to the 1800s, when horses were used to pull hand pumpers," Owen continued. "But upon returning to the station, the horses could not back up to push in the rigs. So the firefighters had to manually push them into the bays. In honor of that, it's become tradition for firefighters to push their rigs in the very first time they enter their firehouse." He turned to survey the assembled firefighters, a proud smile on his face. "The push-in ceremony reminds us that even the best equipment in the world is useless without the people who operate it."

He turned back to those gathered, and Frank saw how each member of the 126 had straightened, their pride in their former captain, now their deputy chief, clear in their smiles. "The 126 is a family," Owen declared. "These uniforms bind us tighter than blood." Starting from the end of the lines, each of the firefighters strode forward and pulled the rope of the bell on the podium, two sharp rings coming each time. "Like a family, we argue, screw up, let each other down. But as long as we keep fighting for one another, there is no challenge that we cannot rise to. There is no crisis that we cannot overcome. This building stands today not because of brick and mortar, but because of the heart and the soul of the family inside of it. 126, and so it shall always be."

Tommy Vega rang the bell next, then Sylvie. With that, there were only two left, and Owen stepped back from the podium and turned on his heel. Matt and Kelly stiffened to attention, and as if on the same wavelength, the other ten members of the 126 pivoted to face them and salute. "Captain Casey, Captain Severide, I am relieved," Owen announced. "Lead this firehouse and serve your community well."

Matt and Kelly delivered sharp salutes, which Owen returned. "Your trust is not misplaced, Chief," Matt promised.

Owen grinned. "I believe it." He stepped around the podium, and like clockwork, the twelve members of the 126 rotated to face him. "It has been my honor to serve as your captain," he told them, meeting the eyes of every member. "You have proved to be the most loyal of firefighters, the shining example for not just this department, but the example for most of the country. I am proud to now call myself your deputy chief." He stood at attention and saluted. "Long may the 126 ride."

"Long may we ride!" the firefighters chorused as Matt and Kelly rang the bell together.

The resulting applause was deafening, but Frank decided he didn't care when he saw the pride and glee on the faces of the 126 members as they spread out among the rigs, the captains taking their place at the front with their crew forming behind them. At a cue from Owen, the doors to the apparatus bay lifted in unison, and the captains reached inside their rigs to turn on the lights. The ambulances were the first to start to roll forward, but when they broke even with the fire rigs, Matt and Kelly led their crews forward. Frank had to marvel at the precision of the firefighters as all four rigs breached into the apparatus bay at the same time, the myriad of lights flashing and illuminating the fresh paint and sleek lines of wood and metal and tile inside the firehouse. "And halt!" Owen ordered.

With the click of heels, the firefighters stopped, their rigs coming to a gentle halt with them. "Whoa," Noah's quiet voice barely reached Frank's ears.

Jesse nodded fervently in agreement, her pigtails bouncing as she stared with wide eyes. "Ladies and gentlemen," Owen turned to face the crowd with his arms extended, the chief grinning ear to ear. "I give you Firehouse 126!"

Elliot whooped in glee, and it was only because Frank was watching that he knew Olivia was the first to start applauding. Owen dropped his hands, and that seemed to be the cue for all decorum to disappear. Three bodies slammed into him at once, and Owen almost buckled under their weight. Nolan burst out laughing when Sylvie's head popped up over Owen's shoulder, the paramedic clinging to his back like a koala. The grinning firefighters bracketing Owen on either side had to be the other members of the original Squad 9 crew: Owen's son, TK, and Evan Buckley. "Let's go!" Buck cheered.

"Let's party!" TK shouted.

Frank placed a hand on Lily's shoulder, keeping her close to him as those in attendance for the ceremony swarmed to explore the rebuilt 126. He noted that Nolan remained as well, and Frank inclined his head to where Owen was half-heartedly trying to push the trio away from him. "Buck and TK?" he guessed.

Nolan grinned. "How'd you know?"

"Call it a lucky guess."

"Nolan!" The prosecutor looked up at his name, and Matt beckoned to him. "Come on, we'll get introductions done now."

Nolan nodded in agreement, and he teasingly smirked at Frank. "Brace yourself."

"Not sure I can brace myself any further," Frank admitted.

Lily giggled as they followed Nolan towards the firehouse. "They probably won't be that bad."

"The majority of the 126, maybe," Nolan allowed. "Owen's boys, though? They're bad."

"Who're you calling bad, Price?" TK poked around Owen, green eyes playfully narrowed.

"You and Buckley, Strand," Nolan smirked. "I don't know how Carlos and Eddie keep you in line."

"I ask myself that question every time they do something stupid," Carlos sighed.

The burly man behind Matt let out a loud laugh. "I'm telling ya, Team Dumbass!"

"This is why we have a chat to try and keep them in line," Kelly deadpanned.

"And you do a horrible job of it, dearie," Sylvie patted his cheek.

Frank glanced at Sam, Kevin, and Kate, and he snorted when he saw their slack-jawed expressions as they stared at the firefighters in front of them who had been by-the-book professional for the ceremony and were now teasing and joking like . . . well, like a family. "Talk about whiplash," Sam murmured.

Jack chuckled. "You sure know how to pick your house, Chief."

"Well, someone has to find the diamonds in the rough, Counselor," Owen grinned, finally managing to push TK off him. TK danced away with a gleeful laugh, and Owen strode forward, hand extended. "Glad you could make it, Jack."

"Glad I could, too," Jack shook his hand with a tight grip. "Congratulations on your promotion, Owen. If anyone deserves it, it's you."

"I almost didn't take it," Owen admitted with a grin. "Casey gives good speeches, though."

Matt shrugged. "I've been known to give one or two."

Buck snorted. "One or two, he says."

He ducked to avoid getting hit in the back of the head by the lone man in paramedic dress blues. "Behave, Buck," Eddie Diaz narrowed his eyes.

Buck grinned devilishly. "Yes, sir."

"Evan!" Maddie groaned.

"OK!" Sylvie cleared her throat loudly. "Everyone knows Nolan. If you don't by now, I'm worried about any head injuries you've had from the job." For some reason, Buck and TK turned to look pointedly at Matt, who pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "His partner is Samantha Maroun, and their boss, the District Attorney, is Jack McCoy. They prosecute the cases brought by the 2-7 Homicide Squad: Lieutenant Kate Dixon, Detective Kevin Bernard, and Detective Frank Cosgrove. Joining them, and us on shift Monday, is Frank's daughter, Lily."

"In all seriousness, we're happy everyone was able to make it," TK grinned. "Have you gotten the family spiel yet?"

"I think I've heard that word more since we got to Austin than I've heard my entire life," Kate admitted. "I don't think I'm exaggerating, either."

"You know, gotta hammer it home," Buck shrugged.

"Alright, how do we do this," Sylvie folded her arms. "Medics first. This is my partner, Eddie Diaz. I stole him from the LAFD and he's the designated Buck controller."

"Yeah, no, that's Christopher," Eddie rolled his eyes with a fond grin.

"True," Sylvie nodded. "EMS 126 is run by Captain Tommy Vega, you were standing with her daughters. Her partner is Nancy Gillian, she's the lucky woman who got Buck's sister, Maddie."

"And I'm not letting her go," Nancy nodded firmly, wrapping her arm around a blushing Maddie's shoulders.

"They're adorable," Sylvie smiled. "I think you already figured out who my dumbasses in crime are."

"That is the only title I will accept," Buck pointed at Sylvie.

"You just said you would accept Dumbassest instead of Dumbasser the other day," TK pointed out.

Buck scowled at him. "And we both agreed to never name Sylvie one of those titles if we valued our lives . . . or our reputations, because Nolan would drag those through the mud without hesitation."

Nolan's smirk made Frank shudder. "Gladly," the prosecutor purred, his voice glacial.

"See?" Buck huffed.

Sylvie swatted his shoulder. "Evan Buckley and TK Strand," she introduced unnecessarily. "Lily, if you want a sane squad firefighter to talk to, your best bet is Marjan Marwani."

The woman with a beautiful hijab laughed and waved to Lily. "Don't listen to her. You want to talk squad stuff, you're staying with the best in the business. No offense, Chief."

"None taken," Owen shrugged as he clapped Kelly on the shoulder. "It's one of the reasons I wanted him as my successor."

"Yeesh, Chief," Kelly coughed awkwardly, Matt chuckling at his blush. "We get it, part of why you hired us is because of Sylvie."

"Hey, I'm just saying," Owen smirked. "One hundred percent success rate when it comes to hiring firefighters if I'm tempting them to join a house with their significant other."

Eddie guffawed. "No argument there."

"My dad, the matchmaker," TK grinned.

"I won't argue with the results," Nolan shrugged as he nudged Sylvie.

"And that leaves Team Ladder," Matt gestured to the three remaining firefighters. "My second, Judd Ryder." The burly firefighter nodded, Grace tucked into his side. "Paul Strickland." The black man Nolan had pointed out gave them a wave. "And Mateo Chavez. Back at the 126, and no longer a probie."

"Finally!" Mateo cheered.

"Thank you all for having us," Kate smiled at his enthusiasm. "Most of us didn't expect an invite."

"I think it's safe to say the NYPD has been our greatest friend since last year," Paul looked around. "Right?"

"Oh, after what happened in Los Angeles?" Marjan nodded. "Definitely."

"Besides, you're Nolan's team," Judd shrugged as if it was that simple. Based on what Frank had seen of the 126, perhaps it really was that simple to him. "Took us until Los Angeles to see the rest of Stabler's team. We were bound to meet y'all eventually."

"You sound really sure about that," Kevin tilted his head.

Judd snorted. "Either y'all came voluntarily or Brett woulda flown up to New York to drag you here herself."

Sylvie smiled prettily, and Sam giggled. "No dragging required for me."

"I'm just glad I was able to see this," Lily looked around, eyes bright with wonder. "I don't think anyone in my class would ever get to see something like this."

"We here at the 126 like to deliver," Nancy grinned smugly. "And we accept nothing but the best."

"So," Sylvie winked. "Want a tour of the rigs?"

Lily's eyes resembled saucers with their size. "Really?!"

Sylvie laughed and gestured to her. "Buck, TK, you're coming with me. Someone has to keep an eye on you two."

"Then who's keeping an eye on you?" Buck protested, even as he followed Sylvie.

"That's what I'm getting the Dardens for!"

Lily's hysterical giggles as she bounded after TK echoed back to Frank, and the homicide detective sighed. "Yeah . . . she's getting spoiled with this trip."

"We may have police as family, but we sure as hell want to come out on top in anything," Owen chuckled. "So when Nolan called, asked if Lily could come, and explained her project, no one here said no."

"Evie and Izzy were excited by the thought of another girl being interested in the firehouse," Tommy added with a laugh. "I saw the moment they realized Lily was here. I swear, they just lit up like Christmas trees."

Frank smiled, touched by their inclusion of his daughter. "She's having the time of her life."

Delighted laughter made him turn, and Nolan grinned when he saw Ben scale the squad rig and Griffin give Lily a hand with climbing aboard. "So are the Dardens, it looks like."

"How difficult a time are we gonna have trying to separate them when it's time for Lily to leave?" Kelly grinned.

"A very difficult time," Frank snorted. "I've never seen Lily bond with anyone so quickly."

"That's the boys for you," Matt smiled fondly. "They're just like their dad."

"Uncle Owen!" Owen turned around at his name, and Noah tugged on his hand, the boy's megawatt smile making a matching smile form on his face. "Come on, Uncle Fin's gonna eat all the cake!"

"You little rat!" Fin scowled as Elliot and Peter laughed hysterically behind him.

"Keep your hands off that cake, Tutuola!" Owen barked.

"Oh, yes, sir, chief, sir!" Fin sarcastically saluted.

Ayanna sighed defeatedly as Jet snickered into her drink. "Lord, help me."

"Alright, cap," Owen smirked at Noah. "Let's get that cake, huh?"

Frank was not surprised when Kate gravitated towards Tommy, and Paul started interrogating Kevin as the group headed for the tables groaning under the weight of food. Matt and Kelly remained with him and Nolan, and to his surprise, Carlos and Eddie lingered as well. "Should someone be keeping an eye on them?" Carlos warily looked over at the rigs.

"Nah," Matt shook his head. "Sylvie will keep an eye on the kids."

Frank frowned. "I thought he meant Buck and TK."

"That's what I said. She'll keep an eye on the kids."

"Sometimes, I swear I have two kids in the house instead of just Chris," Eddie scoffed, smiling over at where Christopher was giggling with Evie and Izzy. "Then I saw him with TK and realized it might just be his influence."

Carlos's eyebrows rose. "I thought it was Buck's influence on TK."

Eddie considered. "Who's the common denominator?"

"Owen," Matt and Kelly said at the same time.

Frank eyed Nolan. "I noticed neither of them said your sister."

"Because we saw what he was willing to do to my ex-girlfriend in defense of his sister," Kelly deadpanned. "So we know better than to piss him off."

Carlos guffawed then turned to cough into his arm. Eddie did nothing to hide his laughter, and Nolan rolled his eyes. "You're not gonna piss me off by calling Sylvie insane, guys," he grumbled. "I knew she was insane way before I knew she was my sister. She was all over a treasure hunt, for crying out loud."

"That you went along with," Eddie pointed out.

"Uh, I'd just like to say," Carlos held up his hand, "of everyone here who was in Los Angeles, I'm the only one who didn't go hunting for treasure."

Eddie raised an eyebrow at him. "Like you wouldn't have tumbled head over heels to do it if TK asked you instead of Rollins and Carisi."

"Dad!" Eddie swung around, and Christopher pointed one of his crutches at the first responders swarming the tables. "Are you getting food or not?"

Jesse giggled at the look on Eddie's face, and the paramedic fondly rolled his eyes. "Excuse me," he sighed, and he smiled at Frank. "Nice to meet you, Detective."

Frank huffed. "Call me Frank."

"Copy that," Eddie chuckled with a mock salute as he turned and headed for the food.

"We should probably get something before everyone eats it all," Kelly admitted.

Carlos snorted. "Like the Robertsons would accept that."

Frank shook his head, amazed at the amount of byplay he was witnessing as he followed the trio towards the table. He looked at Nolan, who was watching him in amusement. "You really have to see it to believe it," he said as he gestured around at the 126. "You can talk about it all you want, but you have no idea what you're getting into until you see how they are with each other."

"I know," Nolan nodded. "That's part of why I'm glad the whole team was able to come. Judd was right: some way or another, we all meet eventually. Jet was right that this is a much better way for it all to happen."

"This is definitely preferable to a serial sniper," Frank nodded in agreement, pale gaze sweeping over the tables full of first responders and civilians alike. The redhead Robertson daughter had found her way to Paul, Mateo, Marjan, and Nancy, and the Vega girls had somehow commandeered Kevin's attention. "They just suck you in with no escape," he realized.

Nolan scoffed. "Do you want to escape, Frank?"

A squeal from the rigs made Frank's lips curl in a smile, and he watched Sylvie pull Lily up into her ambulance as the Darden boys ran around with Buck and TK. "No," he shook his head. "Not even a little bit."

Nolan chuckled. "I didn't think so."

***

"That's what I'm talking about!" Mateo whooped later as he pointed at the table. "That's game, baby!"

"No way!" Paul shook his head vehemently, and across the table, Nancy and Lindsey leaned down to look down the table. "My girl Lindsey's puck wins it for team red in a squeaker."

"I think you've had too much punch, Paul," Mateo frowned. "Nancy's is definitely the winning puck."

Paul scowled, then waved at the trio that approached. "Hey, guys! Come on!"

"Oh, what's going on here?" Nolan peered at the table curiously.

"Which puck is further?" Paul gestured to the red and green pucks on the table.

Maddie tilted her head. "You know I'd say my girlfriend no matter what, right?"

Nancy smirked smugly, but Marjan snorted. "I'm gonna have to go with whichever one belongs to the daughter of the man who bought the table and the building that it's in."

Nolan pointed at Marjan in agreement, and Paul whooped, reaching across the table to fistbump Lindsey. "Red!" he chanted. "Red!"

Mateo grumbled under his breath in annoyance as he collected the pucks, and Maddie giggled as she kissed Nancy's cheek. "You'll get 'em next time, babe."

Nancy returned the kiss. "Round two?" she asked, looking around the table.

"Actually, Nancy," Nolan cleared his throat. "Can I steal you for a moment?"

Nancy blinked, then she stepped away from the table. "Sure," she nodded. "What's up?"

Nolan sighed and looked around the 126, multicolored eyes lingering on the pair of ambulances. "You saw the new dedication on the side of 99?"

"I did," Nancy smiled happily, dark eyes glittering. "No paramedic will ever come through the 126 again without taking Tim with them."

Nolan took a deep breath. "I was wondering . . . I mean, if you're willing . . . "

His voice faded, but he didn't need to complete his question. Nancy knew what he was thinking because she had seen that same question before in the eyes of Matt and Kelly. "Yeah," she nodded, walking over to one of the tables. "Excuse me, Mr. Robertson," she smiled and reached to the centerpiece of the table. "Can I steal a few of these?"

"Of course," Cole gestured. "By all means."

"Thank you," Nancy plucked a few of the flowers from the enormous vase. "Hey, Cap?"

"Yeah, Nance?" Tommy turned from her discussion with Kate and Ayanna.

"I'll be right back," Nancy told her. "There's something I need to do real quick."

Tommy's gaze moved from Nancy to the flowers in her hand to the silent prosecutor who followed Nancy, and understanding dawned on her face. "You take your time," she nodded.

"Thanks," Nancy nodded, and she led Nolan out of the firehouse. "It's not too far of a drive."

***

Music pumped out of the speakers around the 126, and Frank smothered an amused snort as he listened to Owen worry over if the renovations were overboard. Carlos's attempted reassurances were making TK laugh, and Frank veered away from that conversation as he continued to explore every nook and cranny of the firehouse. It had been ingrained from him since his academy days to always be familiar with his surroundings, and while he knew the 126 would look very different when shifts began, he was determined to become as familiar with the station as he could get.

Framed photos around the corner caught his eye, and Frank curiously walked over to the wall. His eyes widened as he took in the ring of photographs surrounding a massive gold shield labeling them members of Engine Company 126. Gold lettering at the bottom of the ring proclaimed Forever In Our Hearts. He swallowed hard, seeing every firefighter but one had the same death date. He heard footsteps behind him, and after residing in their home for two days, he recognized them instantly. "These are all the men who . . . ?" he trailed off.

"The firefighters who died in the fertilizer explosion," Kelly nodded, stopping at Frank's side and admiring the wall. "When the firehouse was being rebuilt, to hell with everything else. This was what Owen said would be completed first. They would be here to see the rebuild as soon as they could."

"He did the same thing when he rebuilt the 252, and Judd said when he was rehired here, Owen completed the wall of valor first, too," Matt added. "These are all of the men who died in the line of duty."

Frank nodded as he took in the heroes, then his eyes were drawn to the lone firefighter whose death date didn't match those who died in the fertilizer explosion. He frowned as he took in the date, then he recognized the name, and it felt like ice went down his back. He had seen this firefighter's – no, paramedic's – name emblazoned on the side of EMS 126. "Tim Rosewater," he whispered.

"Sylvie had never lost anyone under her command until his death," Matt nodded somberly. "And I know there's still a part of her that blames herself for it."

Frank swallowed. "This house will always remember those who died by the oath," he repeated Owen's words, seeing the paramedic oath included on Tim's frame.

"Sylvie's closest call is the sniper," Kelly sighed, and Frank noted the white-knuckled grip he had on his tumbler. "Her second closest was the lava bomb when Pilot Knob woke. Tommy and Nancy were working one side of a pool party, and Sylvie had Tim working with her. Owen was helping them move a victim when a lava bomb flew towards them." The air thickened with tension, and Frank saw how pale both men had gotten. "The only reason Sylvie is still here is because Tim knocked her out of its path and took her place. She was that close to dying . . . and we never would have known."

"Wow," Frank whistled lowly, looking at Tim's photo with newfound respect.

Matt was silent for a few seconds as he looked at Tim's photo. When he finally spoke again, it was in a neutral tone that had Frank doing a double take. "Up until a few years ago, Sylvie didn't know a thing about her birth family," he said. "Then in the course of less than two months, she met her birth mother, got a baby sister . . . and her mother died in childbirth. The days in Los Angeles when she was recovering and had Nolan by her side after she learned he was her brother . . . I can't think of many other times she was so happy. The fear Nolan had for her while she was in her medically-induced coma is something I never want to see again, whether it's on his face or hers. Sylvie will probably ask it of you, too, but I will, too. Watch out for Nolan, please? Keep him safe?"

The utter terror in Nolan's eyes when he had seen his phone, likely full of messages inquiring about Sylvie's location, flashed in Frank's mind, and he nodded in agreement. "You have my word," he promised.

Matt smiled and held out his glass. "To new friends."

Frank tapped his glass against the captain's, then he did the same with Kelly. "Let the good times roll."

***

"Did they tell you how he died?" Nancy asked as she and Nolan walked arm-in-arm through the cemetery.

"Sylvie told me when she was recovering in Los Angeles," Nolan nodded. "He barely knew her a few months, and he sacrificed his life for hers."

"That was Tim," Nancy smiled when they arrived at their destination. "When Buck and Sylvie came to the 126, they were a huge reason why the house became more tightly knit. Before, there was a clear difference between firefighters and paramedics. They made sure we were always included in hangs. When Tim died, there was a shadow over the house for days. And when the wildfires hit . . . " She stopped in her tracks, then she carefully laid the flowers across the headstone. "I'm glad we were given the time for the funeral."

Nolan crouched in front of the grave, swallowing hard as he read the headstone.

Timothy M. Rosewater

Friend, Brother. Hero, Savior.

"He'll always be known as the paramedic who, without hesitation, was willing to sacrifice his life if it meant a member of his team would live," Nancy sniffed and wiped at her tears. "If he had done anything differently . . . "

"I never would have known I had another member of my family still out there," Nolan whispered, his stomach churning at the thought. "I hate these 'what ifs.'"

"Me, too," Nancy nodded. "But he would be happy to see the 126 thriving. This job was his life. That he could save someone else by dying for them . . . other than old age, I don't think there's any other way he would have wanted to go."

Nolan carefully traced the lettering of Tim's name, feeling tears sting his eyes. "I wish I could have met you," he whispered. "Thank you for making sure I'm not alone. Thank you for my sister's life."

Nancy kissed her fingertips and pressed them to the top of Tim's headstone, and as Nolan rose to his feet, he shivered in the breeze that curled around them. A smile formed on his face as the petals from Nancy's flowers rustled, and he sighed. "Thank you for bringing me here," he told Nancy.

"You're welcome," Nancy smiled, curling her fingers into the crook of his arm. "I'm glad you were able to meet him." Nolan rested his hand atop the headstone for a few seconds, and she carefully squeezed his arm. "We can stay as long as you would like."

Nolan took a deep breath and reluctantly stepped away. "I'm ready."

Nancy nodded. "Let's head back."

***

Christopher's giggles of glee reached the second floor of the firehouse, and Owen smiled as he leaned on the railing and watched the boy dance with all of the kids from Austin and New York. The rest of the firehouse had managed to pull most of their New York guests into the dance party as well, the notable exceptions being Jack, Kate, Kevin, and Frank, though Frank was smiling as he watched his daughter laugh in delight as she spun around Griffin and Ben.

"It's not the same without you down there, Owen."

He turned as Sylvie walked up to join him, her hair out of its tight braided bun and now tumbling in waves down her back. "They'll have to get used to me no longer being a member of the house eventually," he smiled sadly.

"No," Sylvie shook her head immediately. "Owen, that's not true. You may no longer be captain of the house, but you are our deputy chief. You are a member of every house under your command. You will always be a member of this house, no matter what position you hold." She poked him in the chest with a smile. "You're stuck with us, Owen."

Owen chuckled and wound an arm around her shoulders. "Not a bad place to be."

She snuggled into his side, her head resting against his collarbone. "We are going to miss you, Owen," she whispered.

"You'll be just fine," he assured her. "And I'll never be far away. I'm still around if you need me."

"We'll always need you."

Owen smiled against her scalp. "Then you know where to find me."

Sylvie bit her lip. "Thanks, Dad," she whispered.

Owen reared his head back in shock as he looked down at Sylvie, and she blinked pure blue eyes at him. He smiled widely and tugged her closer to him, and she curled into his hug with no resistance. "Any time, sweetheart," he kissed the top of her head. "Thank God for whatever caused you and Buck to meet TK way out in Los Angeles."

"And I don't know where I'd be now if it wasn't for you," Sylvie smiled. An upbeat, jazzy tune started coming from the speakers, and she perked up and stepped away, holding out her hands. "Come on," she grinned at him. "For old time's sake?"

Owen laughed and took her hands, allowing her to pull him to the stairs. "For old time's sake," he nodded.

Sylvie giggled and led him down the stairs onto the apparatus floor, and before she could make a move, Owen tugged her to him. She squealed in delight as he spun her around, and there were resounding cheers around them as the deputy chief led his former chief paramedic in a lively dance that had the rest of the firehouse pairing off and joining them.

Even the New Yorkers joined, some with little to no prompting (Amanda with Sonny and Olivia with Peter) while Sam and Jet joined in with Paul and Mateo after some prodding from Ayanna and Jack. Frank watched Matt and Kelly effortlessly maneuver around each other, then he felt movement off to the side. "Hey," he greeted Nolan as the prosecutor joined him.

"I see I missed something," Nolan observed, amber eyes tracking the dances.

"Sylvie started it," Frank smirked.

Nolan laughed as Maddie grabbed Nancy's hand and pulled her into the whirling dance, the paramedic laughing as she followed her girlfriend. "I'm not surprised."

Frank tilted his head when he saw the red in Nancy's eyes, and he turned to see Nolan's more somber expression. "Everything good?" he asked in concern.

"Yeah," Nolan nodded. "Yeah, I just . . . I asked Nancy if I could visit someone."

Frank nodded his understanding, then he chuckled as he watched Evie and Izzy dance around Christopher. He couldn't see Lily in the throng of people, but he could see Griffin and Ben dancing nearby, and soon enough, his daughter spun into view, her dress flaring around her. "Well," he stepped away from the wall. "I wouldn't want to be a spoilsport. So, in the spirit of having a good time . . . " He turned to Nolan and smirked as he extended his hand. "May I have a dance, Counselor?"

Nolan's eyes widened, then he matched Frank's grin and took his hand. "You may, Detective."

Frank couldn't deny the smugness he felt when he saw Fin and Kevin's shocked looks, but Kate grinned approvingly and raised her cup in a toast before accepting Jack's offer to dance. His partnership with Kevin was still too new for much of their personal information to be exchanged, but Kate had known him for years and was more than aware that he was attracted to both men and women. He also knew that, if he asked it of her, she would take that information to her grave.

But as Carlos spun TK past them and Nancy lightly tossed Maddie into the air, the dispatcher shrieking in delight at the move, Frank knew there was no need to ask that of any members of the 126. Buck and Eddie's raucous laughter came from somewhere nearby as detective and prosecutor slotted themselves into the dance and effortlessly joined the motions as if they had been part of the dance since the beginning. He had led several dances during his marriage to Julia and even occasionally after their divorce, and the steps came to him almost as naturally as breathing. There was an undeniable thrill he felt, however, as Nolan easily accepted his lead and followed him through the dance, and the younger man grinned at his approving look. "I draw the line at that," he nodded in the direction of Nancy and Maddie, the paramedic much more daring as she tossed Maddie in the air this time.

Maddie's shriek was more fear than delight that time, but she was still laughing when she landed back on her feet. Frank's laughter was drowned out by the laughter from those watching, and he nodded at Nolan. "Copy that," he said with a grin as he spun Nolan under his arm.

Nolan laughed at the words, and as they settled into the dance, Frank realized this was the most relaxed he had ever seen him. Frank understood why as other dance partners whisked past them, all giving exclamations of joy as they celebrated the reopening of their home away from home. All cares were tossed aside in favor of just going with the flow of the moment, and all they focused on was being in the presence of those who accepted everyone no matter their circumstances. Frank had seriously underestimated how much of a family this community was, and he resolved to never do that again.

As the music came to an end, Frank playfully bowed to his partner, and Nolan laughed as he returned the gesture with a flourish. Lily cheered from nearby, and Frank turned in time to see Owen dip Sylvie, and the paramedic's delighted laughter rang through the rafters. This family had him hook, line, and sinker, Frank realized as the observers applauded and whistled.

He didn't care one bit.

***

All fluff, some angst, and way too much exploitation of the "found family" trope. I don't care, it's my story, and I needed a chapter that would make my teeth rot with its sweetness. Mission accomplished.

And I have also decided that, since the next episode gives Carlos a chance to shine, it would be fun to have the police stay around a little bit longer. We'll have Olivia, Elliot, Frank, and Nolan around a little longer, then it's back to business in New York.

Also, yes, I'm sowing the seeds for Pricegrove already. Sue me.

Here be Sylvie's bio!

***

Sylvie

Latin, "from the forest"

Sanguine

cheerful, positive, mindful

The Priest

inspirational, uplifting, motivating

Type 9, The Peacemaker

receptive, reassuring, agreeable

ESFJ

The Provider

Hufflepuff

dedication, patience, loyalty

Pisces

the creative, compassionate, gentle, wise

Water

trusting, devoted, forgiving

The Upright Sun

positivity, freedom, optimism, vitality, joy, self-confidence, happiness

Archetypes

Beware the Nice Ones, The Captain, Dude Magnet, Earn Your Happy Ending, Everyone Can See It, Hair of Gold Heart of Gold, Has a Type, I Want My Beloved to Be Happy, Long-Lost Relative, Ms. Fanservice, Polyamory, Practically Different Generations, Survivor Guilt

Lawful Neutral

The Judge

Status

alive

***

"Child Care" will be next, as will Chicago Fire's "Dead Zone!"

graphic by marvelity