I have finished my internship, I am officially a college graduate, and I am completely exhausted after two weeks in Florida. I am done with Florida summers, and if I could hibernate for the rest of the week, I probably would. Alas, I found the energy to continue where I left off . . . and boy, did I forget how much fun it is to write the Chicago Fire Golden Trio 2.0 . . . or would it be better to just call them the Silver Trio?

It's the first official shift for the rebuilt 126, and the Brettseyride household warns their guests they may be in for one hell of a shift. Meanwhile, back in Chicago . . . well, considering the city's circumstances, Greg and Jason are really glad Wendy wants them in on her investigation.

***

"OK, I'm just going to say this now." The Cosgroves and the Dardens, all four clad in Austin Fire Department jackets, turned from the dining table as Sylvie strutted (there was no other word for it) into the room and twirled on the spot, arms held out in expectation. "I missed this uniform so much."

Frank raised an eyebrow as he took in the all-black uniform she wore, her blonde hair intricately braided into a bun. "You didn't wear that while you were working?"

"Not at Paragon," Sylvie made a face. "I didn't mind the blue . . . but that private company sucked."

"Literally, from what we heard from Nancy," Kelly quipped cheerfully as he handed her a mug of coffee. "What was the owner's goal?"

"Uh, pumping our patients full of as much medicine as we could," Sylvie nodded.

"Couldn't that be bad if someone doesn't need all that medication?" Lily asked worriedly.

"It could be," Sylvie nodded in confirmation. "You could get them hooked on meds, and that is dangerous."

"I've seen it happen," Nolan nodded as he walked into the room next, accompanied by Matt. Frank still had to get used to seeing Nolan in denim and boots compared to his impeccable suits. "If someone gets addicted to meds when they were never needed in the first place . . . "

Frank made a face. "I wish we could charge for that."

"Wouldn't that be nice?" Nolan scoffed.

"So," Ben eagerly looked around the room. "What's the plan for today?"

"Well, assuming Owen jinxed us, we might get a lot of weird calls," Kelly shrugged. "But our goal is for the three of you to accompany as many as possible."

"Awesome," Griffin grinned.

"Of course, if the two of you want to see any of them, too," Sylvie grinned at Frank and Nolan. "You're more than welcome."

"If anything, I'll want to watch the medical calls," Frank admitted as he checked his off-duty weapon. "We know basic first aid for the job . . . and when I say basic, I mean basic."

"Yeah, in that case, definitely ride with 99," Kelly pointed at Sylvie.

"She directed Eddie through improv surgery while in a restaurant kitchen," Matt nodded in agreement.

"Whoa!" Lily spun to look at Sylvie with wide eyes. "You did?"

"Did we hear about improv surgery?" Ben looked at Griffin.

Nolan grimaced. "That was the hostage situation, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," Sylvie scratched the back of her head. "Tommy and Nancy have been lucky in their ventures . . . Eddie and I are the paramedics that constantly get into danger. That was when we answered a call for a pregnant woman in labor and instead got kidnapped by arsonists to save the life of one of them. That was the second time in a year I had to save someone's life at gunpoint."

"Thank God for Stabler," Kelly sighed.

The three teenagers stared at Sylvie in nothing short of awe, and Nolan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I swear, every time I hear one of these stories, I lose a little more of my sanity."

Kelly snorted. "Tony nearly crashed the squad rig when Sylvie FaceTimed me about one of her calls."

Sylvie blushed. "Let's not bring that up again."

Frank scoffed. "I'm starting to regret ever asking Nolan for help with Lily if this is what we get in return."

"Hold back that regret until something goes wrong on shift," Matt checked his watch. "And speaking of shift . . . " He grinned at the three teenagers. "Ready for spending twenty-four hours at a newly-reopened firehouse?"

The immediate chorus of affirmations from all three made Frank sigh and turn to Nolan. "You know, I used to worry Lily may choose to follow in my footsteps . . . now I'm starting to worry about her choosing to be a firefighter or paramedic."

Nolan chuckled as the trio of captains herded the teens towards the door. "For all the chaos and fun they have, you'll never find any team better than them. The moment those bells go off, you'll see it. They're the best of the best. Lily couldn't be shadowing any better firefighters unless Owen was still in command of the house."

Frank tilted his head thoughtfully, then he looked at Nolan as they reached the doorway. "Any chance I could see that at some point?"

Nolan grinned and gestured Frank ahead of him. "He's always up for giving a show."

***

"You're a real pal, Grainger."

Greg couldn't help but laugh as he spun in his chair in his office, phone pressed against his ear. "The great Matt Casey is panicking over the start of a shift. Let me get my humor when I can, man."

Matt's sigh of irritation made him snicker. "I got a big pair of shoes to fill and a big name to follow. No pressure, you know?"

Greg snorted. "Now you know how it feels taking over a firehouse as good as this."

"Grainger . . . "

A knock on his doorframe made Greg look up, and Jason beckoned to him. "Van Meter," he said in explanation.

Greg nodded and got to his feet, still talking to Matt as they headed for Boden's office. "Look, Casey, you've already had the reins of the 126 before," he said. "You know the house, you know the people. What's there to worry about?"

"Owen jinxed it," Matt deadpanned.

Greg snorted. "Oh, well, in that case, you're screwed."

"Grainger!"

Greg grinned at the complaint. "Casey, you and Severide are a one in a million catch. You got the Dardens out of Portland . . . and don't give me that 'you had help' spiel. So get to the house and knock this shift out of the park."

Matt sighed. "Thanks, Grainger. Wish you could've made it."

"Shift schedules," Greg shrugged, even though his friend couldn't see the motion. "I lived through Marwani's Instagram page."

Matt laughed. "Talk later?"

"You bet. Enjoy, Casey."

"Thanks, Grainger."

"First shift nerves?" Jason guessed with a grin.

"Probably telling himself to not let the firehouse burn down," Greg chuckled as they reached Boden's office. "Again."

Jason laughed. "Maybe we can send Wendy their way if that happens."

"And maybe we can go with her," Greg joked.

Jason snickered as he knocked on the doorframe. "Chief?"

"Lieutenants," Boden beckoned, and Van Meter nodded politely to them as they entered. "Come on in." Greg and Jason stepped to either side of Boden as Van Meter flipped through the pages in his hands. "The incidents are yours to take," Boden told the OFI captain, "and we can run copies of the logbook if you need them."

"Great," Van Meter smiled. "Although I'm not seeing anything here that we don't already know." He looked between Greg and Jason. "None of you guys saw anything suspicious in or around the church?"

"No," Jason shook his head. "Just the cat . . . the very dead cat."

Greg grimaced. "Not pretty."

"I can only imagine." Both men looked up with grins as Wendy walked through the door next, a matching smile on her face as she looked at them. "That's why we leave the dirty work to you."

"Oh, is that how it is?" Jason sniffed.

"Oh, that's how it is," Wendy winked.

"Careful," Greg smirked. "You might have just insulted us out of helping you with whatever you need."

Wendy tilted her head innocently. "What makes you think I was coming to ask that?"

Jason snorted. "So we aren't getting the band back together?"

Van Meter grimaced. "I was just about to broach that subject."

Boden sighed. "Van Meter . . . you trying to commandeer two of my lieutenants this time?"

"We got a very twisted arsonist out there," Van Meter defended himself. "We don't know the first thing about him – "

"Or her," Wendy interrupted.

Van Meter nodded in agreement. "Which means we don't know the first thing about their motives or their intentions. Are they planning more attacks?"

"I got it," Boden held up his hand. "Save your breath." He took in Wendy's hopeful face, and he looked between Greg and Jason. "You want in on this investigation?"

"Oh, yeah," Jason nodded.

Greg nodded in agreement. "We want this psycho."

Boden sighed heavily. "OK. I'll put Cruz in charge of Squad while I run Truck, try and get floaters. They're all yours, Van Meter."

Van Meter smiled as Wendy beamed. "Thanks, Chief."

"Go on," Boden waved Greg and Jason away. "Get out of here."

The two men bounded after Wendy. "So, Boss," Jason smirked at her. "What's our first move?"

"I'm the boss?" Wendy grinned.

"We're just the heavy lifters," Greg snorted. "You're the brains to work for OFI."

Wendy giggled. "Flattery gets you everywhere, boys."

Jason gestured vaguely to the ceiling above them. "Gets us out of whatever's going on with Dispatch today."

Wendy frowned. "Yeah, I saw a few mix-ups on my way here."

"Happened to Engine and Ambo," Greg explained. "Two engine companies got sent to the same call. Dispatch swore they also sent a truck, but Herrmann had to call for one."

"Huh," Wendy frowned in confusion.

"So . . . first move?"

Wendy shrugged. "We tell the priest what happened to his church wasn't an accident."

"Father Anthony?" Jason grimaced. "That won't be a fun conversation. We met him on the scene."

"Good," Wendy nodded. "Let's go see if he has any idea who'd wanna do something like this." She abruptly giggled and rubbed her hands together. "This is gonna be fun, boys."

"Arson investigations, fun?" Greg looked incredulously at her.

"This one is the one who wondered about getting 'the band back together!'" Wendy smacked Jason on the arm.

"Well, pardon me!" Jason scoffed. "I get to hang out with both of my best friends. Where's the problem?"

Greg chuckled and shook his head fondly. "Nowhere, Jason."

***

"And the 126 is officially online!" Matt announced as he jogged back down to the main level of the firehouse.

"Yes!" Paul whooped, high-fiving Marjan. "We back, baby!"

"Oh, I missed this place," Buck sighed happily as he rotated and looked around the bustling 126. "It feels good to have our firehouse back."

"It feels good to have an official officer again," Judd grinned at Matt, who chuckled and fistbumped him.

"It feels good to be back with my actual crew," Mateo beamed from where he sat atop the ladder rig.

"It feels good to have a full crew," Kelly clapped Marjan on the shoulder, the woman smirking smugly.

"Uh, hey?" Sylvie poked her head out of the back of EMS 99. "We paramedics are back in an actual firehouse. We win this little competition about who feels better."

"No more Count Dracula hovering over our shoulders." Nancy's expression reminded Frank of a cat who caught a canary. "Out of hell and back into heaven."

Tommy chuckled as she shut the back of their ambulance's doors. "Wait until we get called out to say that, Nancy."

"Hey, at least they often got called out with Squad 9," Nancy pointed at EMS 99.

"It helps to have firefighter training," Eddie smiled innocently.

Nancy stuck her tongue out at him in return. "Inventory, Nancy!" Tommy chuckled fondly.

"On it, Cap!" Nancy immediately turned tail.

Sylvie hopped out of the back of her ambulance with a giggle. "I missed this."

"It feels so different," Lily whispered as she looked around, dark eyes drinking in the work taking place in the firehouse.

"There's a difference between celebrating the reopening and getting back into the swing of action," Kelly nodded in agreement. "It's different from police departments, too. We know that when officers are in their precincts, it's almost constant work. Most of our work happens when we aren't in the house, and we could have a handful of calls one shift or have them back-to-back the next. On the other hand, that handful of calls could all be serious emergencies like five-alarm fires while the back-to-back calls could simply be minor medical calls or the like. You never know what you'll get when you get called into service." Lily nodded, her brow furrowed as she intently listened to the captain's words. Kelly smiled fondly at her dedication to absorbing everything she was being told. "But if we ever arrive at a call that makes you uncomfortable, let us know. We won't force you to stay and watch."

"Thank you," Lily smiled. "If that happens, I'll say it . . . but I'd like to see as much as I can."

The bells abruptly rang over their heads. "Squad 9. EMS 99. Man down."

"Yes!" TK whooped and ran for the rig.

"And so it begins," Kelly laughed. "Let's roll, Squad!"

"Of course they get the first call!" Mateo huffed.

Matt snorted. "Keep talking like that, our first call is going to be crazier than theirs."

"Stop jinxing everything!" Judd barked.

Kelly grinned as Griffin and Ben scrambled to follow TK into the rig. "You wanna ride with us or with 99?" he asked Lily, pointing to where Eddie was running for the ambulance.

Lily considered, then she ran for the ambulance. Sylvie grinned at her and opened the door to the back of the cab. "You ready?"

"Ready!" Lily beamed as she climbed inside.

Frank shook his head as he joined Kelly. "You mind?"

"Not at all," Kelly gestured to the rig.

Marjan waited for Frank to climb inside before she hopped up after him, Nolan taking the passenger seat of the ambulance with Eddie. Satisfied everyone was in place, Kelly shut the door to his seat as Buck flipped on the lights. "Have I mentioned?" he began.

"Yes," Kelly chuckled as he put on his headset. "You have."

Buck laughed as Eddie peeled out of the firehouse, and he drove after the paramedics and turned on the sirens. "It's good to be back!"

"Just like Los Angeles, guys!" Marjan chirped from the back.

TK snorted. "Let's not have another treasure hunt from hell."

"That's exactly how Sylvie advertised it," Frank remarked.

"So many stupid calls," Griffin shook his head.

"And stupid people," Ben added.

Marjan laughed at the Dardens' faces. "Oh, I'm so glad you two came to Austin."

"So are we," Kelly chuckled and turned on his radio. "99, do you have any information on what we'll be arriving at?"

"Negative, Kelly," Sylvie answered. "Dispatch says whatever happened occurred inside the building. We'll check it out before the others come in."

Kelly nodded in agreement. "Copy that." He twisted in his seat to look over his shoulder at the boys. "When we get to the scene, stay outside with the crew while Sylvie and I see what's going on. You can decide if you want to come in after we know what we're working with."

Griffin nodded in agreement. "Depending on the danger?"

Kelly exchanged looks with TK. "Sometimes, it's not just danger. The call's for a man down . . . which means we're likely en route to assist a call where EMS is taking charge. That could be anything, and . . . well, considering one of the calls Squad helped with before I came to Austin was a kid whose hand got put through an ice cream machine . . . "

Frank winced. "That sounds gruesome."

"Have Marjan show you the Insta video she took of the teenagers who made fun of the poor worker," Buck chirped from the driver's seat.

Frank looked at Marjan in surprise, and she shrugged. "I hate bullies."

"Squad 9, this is Dispatch, do you read me?"

Kelly grinned at the familiar voice. "Loud and clear, Dispatch. Got any information on what we're rolling up to?"

"Not much," Maddie answered. "The caller was panicked, but she said it was an awry archery shot."

Kelly blinked. "Did you say archery?"

"Archery," Maddie confirmed. "That's why I dispatched you, too. I didn't hear what kind of wound there is, but if depending on what the arrow hit . . . "

Kelly sighed. "Clock's ticking."

"I think so."

"Thanks, Maddie."

"Go save the day, Captain." He could hear the smile in her voice. "Welcome back, Squad 9."

Kelly grinned and settled back in his seat. "It's good to be back."

***

Father Anthony was addressing a crowd of parishioners when the trio of lieutenants arrived at the church. "With the love and support of this neighborhood and this great city, I know that it won't take us long to rebuild and to make our church whole again," he said, earning applause from those gathered. "Till then, remember what the Lord said to Joshua: 'Be strong and steadfast. Do not fear or be dismayed and know the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.'"

"He's a good speaker," Wendy murmured as the priest spoke with his parishioners.

Greg nodded in agreement, and when there was a break in discussion, Jason led them forward. "Father?" he called, and Anthony turned to them. "I don't know if you remember us. I'm Lieutenant Pelham, this is Lieutenant Grainger. We were with the firefighters from the other day."

"Oh, yes!" Anthony nodded, reaching out to shake their hands. "Bless you. You folks are extraordinary."

"Just doing our jobs," Greg waved away the thanks. "This is Lieutenant Seager, she's with the Office of Fire Investigation."

"Hi, Father," Wendy smiled politely. "Can we have a moment of your time?"

"Of course," Anthony nodded. "How can I help?"

"We're investigating the cause of the fire, and I'm afraid we have reason to believe someone set it intentionally," Wendy answered.

Anthony's face froze. "I see."

"In fact, we think someone actually used the church cat to spread the fire."

Anthony gulped and looked down. "That poor thing," he murmured.

Jason frowned and tilted his head, watching Anthon's expression. "Father, why do I get the feeling that none of this is news to you?"

Anthony blinked at him. "How do you mean?"

Jason gave him an incredulous look. "We just told you someone lit your cat on fire and burned down your church, and you don't have a single follow-up question? Like, do we know who did it?"

"Do you?" Anthony looked between them.

Greg snorted softly and leaned around Wendy to whisper to Jason. "Way to open up for that one."

Jason jabbed Greg in the ribs in retaliation. Wendy ignored both of them. "Can you think of anyone who may have wanted to target your church?" she asked.

Anthony bit his lip. "I'm sorry. I can't help you there."

Greg narrowed his eyes. "Can't?" he repeated. "Or won't?"

"I can't," Anthony shook his head. "I'm sorry."

Wendy folded her arms. "Father . . . did you receive a confession related to the fire?"

Anthony's shoulders slumped. "All I can say is . . . I thank the Lord that Sister Monclair wasn't hurt in the fire." Wendy nodded in understanding, and Anthony backed away. "Good luck with your investigation."

The lieutenants watched him leave, then Jason cleared his throat. "I missed something."

Wendy chuckled. "I'm guessing you weren't raised Catholic?" Both men shook their heads. "I've got a devout mother and twelve years of Catholic school under my belt. The sacrament seal outweighs any form of professional confidentiality."

"Even when it involves protecting whoever tried to kill him and his entire church?" Jason asked incredulously.

Wendy nodded. "He has to."

Greg sighed. "And meanwhile, a deranged arsonist keeps roaming the city." He frowned, thinking over Anthony's words. "Do you remember a Sister Montclair from the fire?"

Jason knitted his eyebrows as he thought. "No," he said slowly. "I don't. I don't know why he said that."

Wendy's eyes brightened. "If he can't give us any information, maybe he's pointing us towards someone who can."

***

Squad 9 and EMS 99 parked along the sidewalk, and Kelly dropped from the officer's seat as Eddie left the ambulance, the paramedic looking up at the archery building in surprise. "I didn't know this was here."

"Learn something new every day," Kelly shrugged as Sylvie joined them. "Hey, Squad, stay here. We'll see what's going on in here."

"Copy," TK nodded in agreement.

A woman held open the doors for them, her face pale. "Hurry, please," she waved them inside. "It's really bad."

"What happened?" Sylvie asked as they headed inside.

"Everyone's supposed to put their bows down at the firing line while people go and retrieve their arrows," the woman answered as she led them through the building. "But some idiot kept fiddling with his, and an arrow got away from him."

Sylvie nodded when they arrived at a group of people huddled around someone on the floor. "Give us some room, guys," she ordered. "Give us some room."

The group parted for the firefighters, and Eddie's eyes widened when he saw the man on the floor choking and gasping, an arrow through his neck and sticking out the other end. "Oh," he cleared his throat.

"I can't," the man rasped, looking up at Sylvie as she knelt next to him. "I can't – "

"Stay still, don't talk," Sylvie ordered. The man made a small motion with his head, and she looked up at the woman. "What's his name?"

"Alex," she answered.

"Alright," Sylvie turned back to the man on the ground as she clipped a device to his finger. "Alex, I know you're having trouble breathing, but I need you to relax. Take your hand back so I can have a look, OK?"

Alex lowered his hand, and Eddie surveyed him with a thoughtful frown. "We can cric him and secure the airway," he suggested.

Sylvie checked the monitor next to her. "His oxygen levels are good," she hummed. "I don't wanna sedate him. It's better for him to breathe on his own . . . but I can't take this arrow out. we have to leave it in place and get you to the hospital."

"I could rig up a C-collar, try and stabilize the shaft," Kelly offered.

Sylvie shook her head, gesturing to the arrow. "I can't transport it with this much sticking out."

"Yeah," Eddie placed his hands from the end of the shaft to where it embedded in Alex's neck. "This isn't gonna clear the ambo."

"And the slightest bump could cut off his breathing, make him crash," Sylvie nodded. "We need to cut this arrow shorter."

"Alright," Kelly nodded, checking the wound. "You think the rest of the gang can see this?"

Sylvie pursed her lips as she considered. "As long as this doesn't go pear-shaped," she decided. "And if it does – "

"We'll get them out," Kelly promised. Sylvie nodded, and Kelly clicked on his radio. "Strand, grab me a whizzer saw and a tool bag, ASAP. Buckley, Marwani, stretcher. Everyone's clear to come inside."

"Copy, Cap," TK answered as Sylvie looked up sharply at the orders. "On our way."

"You can't just clip it?" Sylvie asked. "Like, with bolt cutters?"

"No, this is carbon," Kelly gestured. "Bolt cutters will crush it to razor-sharp splinters. You don't want that."

Sylvie grimaced in agreement. "I'm just afraid of the vibration."

"We'll keep it to a minimum," Kelly promised.

Sylvie sighed. "Alright."

"I'll start suctioning him," Eddie told her, and Sylvie nodded. Eddie shuffled closer, carefully inserting the suction into Alex's mouth. "Open for me."

Alex opened his mouth wider, and Kelly turned as footsteps approached. "TK," he nodded, seeing Frank, Lily, and Ben behind his 2IC. "Get some vice grips on the back of the shaft."

"Whoa!" Ben's jaw dropped, Lily's eyes wider than saucers.

TK did a double take, but he cleared his throat and nodded. "Yeah, got it."

"Give me that towel," Sylvie held out her hand expectantly.

Eddie passed it over as Buck and Marjan entered with the stretcher, Nolan and Griffin bringing up the rear. "Anything else?" Buck asked, blinking rapidly when he saw Alex. "Whoa."

Eddie snorted. "That seems to be the universal reaction."

"Sorry," Buck winced.

TK carefully placed one of the grips on the shaft next to Alex's neck. "Good to go."

"Alright," Sylvie unfolded the towel and draped it over Alex's face. "I'm gonna protect your eyes with this, OK?"

TK handed out safety glasses to the paramedics, and Kelly checked to make sure all four of them were wearing the gear before taking the saw and placing it against the shaft. "Cutting."

He cut about a quarter of the way through the shaft before Alex groaned and Sylvie made a sharp gesture. "Stop, stop, stop!"

Kelly pulled away immediately, switching the saw off. "What?" he asked, removing his safety glasses as Sylvie leaned in close. "What's wrong?"

"Vibration's giving him subcutaneous emphysema," Sylvie pointed to the neck. "The bubbles are putting pressure on his throat."

Lily turned to look at Marjan. "What does that mean?" she asked quietly.

"It means air is getting underneath his skin," Marjan whispered in return. "The vibration from the saw is making it so air can get through the wound."

"That's forming the bubbles," Lily nodded in understanding.

TK glanced at his grip. "I'm holding it as still as I can."

"We just have to figure out a way to keep air from getting in," Sylvie sat back on her heels, brow furrowed in concentration. Frank realized with a fond glance at Nolan that the expression was just like the prosecutor's. "Eddie, let's do a figure-eight wrap with the Kerlix," she finally said.

"On it," Eddie searched through his bag.

Kelly watched attentively, green eyes following every move as Sylvie directed Eddie on how they would wrap the gauze around the arrow. Their hands were steady as they wrapped the gauze in the figure-eight pattern Sylvie described until Alex's entire neck was covered by the gauze. "Nice," Sylvie nodded approvingly. "Alright, good to go."

"TK?" Kelly looked at his 2IC.

TK fixed the grip in place and nodded. "Ready."

"Watch your eyes," Kelly warned, and Eddie dropped his glasses into place as Sylvie covered Alex's eyes with the towel again. "Cutting."

Sylvie's gaze never moved from Alex, checking for any sign of discomfort. The shaft finally clattered to the floor, and Kelly moved the saw away. "That do the trick?"

"Yeah," Sylvie grinned, and Griffin audibly sighed behind them. "Let's load him up. TK, get his head."

"Yep," TK nodded, placing his hands on each side of Alex's head.

"On my count," Sylvie took one of Alex's arms, Kelly taking the other. "One, two, three!" They lifted Alex to his feet, and Buck pulled the stretcher closer. "Good," Sylvie nodded, guiding the three firefighters to help Alex onto the stretcher and lay back, Marjan moving to help Eddie pack up the equipment. "Ready."

"Alright, make some room!" Kelly ordered.

The other people scattered, allowing Buck and TK to push the gurney after Sylvie as she headed to the ambulance. "That could have ended really badly," Eddie sighed, shouldering his bag.

"Score for Squad, then," Kelly tucked his safety glasses away, and he looked at Griffin, Ben, and Lily as Eddie jogged after the stretcher. "You three OK?"

"I'm fine," Ben nodded.

"I'm good," Griffin agreed.

"Yeah," Lily nodded, looking at the remnants of the arrow shaft on the ground. "These types of saves don't always make the news."

"Guess the newscasters think fire and water rescues are more newsworthy," Frank shrugged.

Marjan snorted. "They'd be wrong."

Kelly chuckled. "Nolan, you still wanna ride with 99?" Nolan nodded, and Kelly looked at the teenagers. "You'll have to ask Sylvie if one of you can ride as well. She may say you can, but considering the wound . . . "

The three were shaking their heads before Kelly finished. "We may distract her," Griffin said. "We'll ride back."

"I haven't ridden in the squad rig yet, anyway," Lily added with a sheepish smile.

"That's the spirit!" Marjan grinned.

Sirens started up outside, and TK poked his head back into the building. "Ready to roll, Cap," he reported.

"Alright," Kelly gestured. "Let's get moving."

***

"Well," Greg sighed as he looked at his frozen phone. "There goes that form of communication."

"It explains everything at 51, too," Jason said as he returned, face grim. "The ransomware did are real number on the alarm office. Dispatch is out for the count."

"It's got computers locked up at OFI, too," Wendy nodded. "Van Meter's having a nervous breakdown."

Greg snorted. "I'd pay good money to see that."

"You may not even have to pay," Wendy grinned. Greg chuckled in agreement, and Wendy nodded at his phone. "Who were you trying to contact?"

"Casey," Greg admitted. "It's the 126's first official shift back after the firehouse reopened. He's, uh . . . a little nervous."

Wendy's eyebrows rose. "Matt Casey, nervous about a shift?"

"That was pretty much my reaction," Greg snickered. "They've been online for a few hours now, I wanted to see how they were doing."

"It's a firehouse run by Casey and Severide," Jason snorted. "Whatever happens, they'll make it work out." He paused. "Eventually."

Greg pointed to him. "Key word is eventually."

Wendy grinned. "Brett will keep them in line."

Greg laughed loudly, the sound almost covering up a door opening behind them. "Hello," a blonde woman bustled out to meet them. "I'm Sister Montclair. Sorry to keep you waiting. This church fire has thrown the whole school into disarray."

"Thanks for letting us interrupt," Wendy smiled and shook her hand. "I'm Lieutenant Wendy Seager with the CFD's Office of Fire Investigation. This is Lieutenant Greg Grainger and Lieutenant Jason Pelham."

They waved in acknowledgement, and Montclair looked around. "What can I do for you?"

"We're here to investigate the cause of the fire," Greg explained, "and we wanted to see if you might know anything about it."

Montclair shook her head. "I wasn't there, so I don't know how I could have."

Wendy blinked. "You weren't at the fire?"

"Nowhere near it," Montclair confirmed. "Who told you I was?"

"Father Anthony," Jason answered. "He didn't say you were actually there, but he seemed to suggest that you might have some idea who started it." Montclair blinked in confusion, then a contemplative look crossed her face. "Do you know of anyone who might have – ?"

Montclair didn't wait for him to finish the question. "Mosiah Adler."

Jason blinked in surprise. "Who's that?" Wendy asked.

"A student," Montclair told her. "A former student. We expelled him last year after he lit a classmate's hair on fire."

Wendy grimaced at the mental image.

***

"So, first call back at the 126," Nancy smirked at Eddie as she helped him restock EMS 99, Lily watching attentively. "How was it?"

"It was so cool getting to watch it up close," Lily grinned.

"Arrow through the neck," Eddie gestured.

"Ooo," Nancy winced. "That sounds . . . fun."

"Surprisingly not too much blood," Eddie shrugged as he checked compartments. "We need more Kerlix, though."

"Kerlix, coming up!" Nancy mock saluted as she searched the bins.

"Ooo, hey," Buck bounded around the corner. "Cap said we can take the rig out for our favorite sandwiches since it's close to lunch. Your usual?"

"Yeah, thanks," Eddie nodded.

"Lily?" Buck grinned. "You wanna come with? Your dad OK'd it with us."

Lily grinned and hopped out of the ambulance. "Sure!"

"Awesome," Buck patted her shoulder. "Griffin and Ben are loading up – "

"Can we help you with something, bud?"

Eddie and Nancy looked around the ambulance at TK's words, and they found a lanky boy in his late teens wringing his hands nervously as he stood in front of them. "I'm looking for Mr. Judson Ryder?"

"Yeah," Nancy nodded. "He should be around here somewhere . . . "

"I saw him in the back," Griffin poked his head out of Squad 9, and he pointed towards the back of the firehouse. "He's reading the paper. Can't miss him."

"Alright," the boy nodded with a trembling smile. "Thank you."

He looked around at everyone, then he scurried into the house. "Wonder why he's looking for Judd," Marjan tilted her head curiously.

"No idea," Kelly shrugged as he walked up to join them. "But Sylvie's still writing her report, and Matt's about to grab Judd to go over what they need on the rig, so . . . who's hungry?"

"Buck," Eddie pointed. "Without a doubt."

"Hey!" Buck protested as Marjan and TK laughed loudly.

***

Shortly after Greg knocked on the metal gate in front of a door, the door opened to reveal a young black man. "Yo," he nodded, looking at the navy-clad officers in front of him. "What's up?"

"We're looking for Mosiah Adler," Wendy answered.

The young man looked around at them. "Who is?"

"We're with the Chicago Fire Department," Jason told him.

The man narrowed his eyes. "So what do you want from me?"

"You're Mosiah?" Wendy clarified, and he nodded. "Mosiah, are your parents home?"

Mosiah folded his arms. "You don't need my parents. You got something to say, say it to me."

"OK," Wendy shrugged. "Are you aware there was a fire at St. Sebastian's?"

Mosiah scoffed. "You think I got something to do with it."

"You do have a history," Greg pointed out.

"Yeah, that's gonna dog me forever?" Mosiah scowled. "It was a prank. I threw one of those tiny firecrackers at her. I didn't know it was gonna light up her hair gel. It was stupid, I get it. Now you think I'm some kind of firebug?"

"So you don't know anything about the church fire?" Jason asked.

"I know I ain't got nothing to do with it," Mosiah nodded.

"And how do we know that?" Greg gestured between himself and his friends.

"'Cause I'm telling you," Mosiah answered. "I have – " He broke off and turned to Wendy. "The fire was on a Wednesday, wasn't it?"

"About a month ago, Wednesday morning," Wendy nodded. "Yes."

"Oh, I got you now," Mosiah nodded and opened the gate. Jason stepped inside first and followed Mosiah into the living area of the house, and as Greg and Wendy joined him, Mosiah handed a newspaper clipping to him. "Yeah, read it and weep," he said as Jason scanned the words. That's my uncle. His funeral was that Wednesday." Jason sighed sadly and handed the paper to Wendy for her to read. "Now, you tell me how I'm gonna start a fire in the church when I'm in Evanston helping my cousins carry my Uncle Eddie's coffin, huh?"

"You can't," Greg sighed, watching Mosiah sit down. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," Mosiah nodded stiffly, bending down and picking up a cat that plodded over to him. "Now you can tell Sister Montclair she can stop worrying about what I'm up to. She got enough to worry about with Father Anthony."

Wendy's eyes flashed. "And why should she worry of Father Anthony?"

"He's in big trouble," Mosiah answered. "That's what I heard."

Jason frowned. "What kinda trouble?"

"With the church," Mosiah said as if it was obvious. "Yeah, I still got a lot of friends at school. They said the archbishop is all in his business." He smirked at them as he stroked his cat. "He said he might lose his parish."

***

"So, correct me if I'm wrong," Jason leaned forward, forearms resting on the rests of Wendy and Greg's seats as Wendy drove through the streets. "Our current theory is that Father Anthony burned down his own church?"

"Anything's possible," Greg shrugged.

"But we know for sure that Mosiah Adler is in the clear?"

"For sure."

"If his alibi checks out," Wendy interrupted.

"Come on, Wendy," Greg sighed. "You saw him with that cat, and the cat with him. There's no way he could use one as a method of burning something down. He's not our guy."

Wendy nodded in agreement. "I guess we could head over to Archdiocese, see if they'll answer some questions."

"Let's do it," Jason sat back in his seat. "Because if the good Father deliberately led us astray with that whole confession thing . . . "

"Alright, then," Wendy nodded, executing a perfect U-turn. Jason yelped behind them, and Greg turned to watch him fall back against the seat. "Off to Archdiocese."

"Wendy!" Jason protested as he scrambled to sit up. "Warn me next time!"

"Buckle up next time!" she retorted, making Greg laugh loudly.

***

"So," Elliot reclined in his chair, twirling one of the pens from Owen's desk when he heard the man's office door shut. "Scale of one to ten, how's the first day going with the brass?"

"Oh, geez," Owen huffed as he rounded his desk and dropped a binder in front of his computer. "Remind me why I took this promotion?"

Olivia hummed from where she leaned against the wall and sipped a mug of coffee. "Maybe because it was the one sure way you knew you could get Casey and Severide at the 126?"

Elliot pointed the pen in Olivia's direction, raising his eyebrows in agreement, and Owen huffed. "OK, that's part of it."

"Well, at least you have a backbone to deal with them," Elliot chuckled. "That's important."

"Yeah, they're gonna be so happy when we're likely going to butt heads often," Owen pinched the bridge of his nose.

"That sounds like me and McGrath," Olivia tilted her head.

Elliot snorted. "This is why I'm just gonna let Ayanna run the show."

Olivia smirked. "She's the brains, you're the brawn?"

Elliot threw the pen at her head, which she nimbly ducked. "Shush."

Owen smiled at the byplay as he rubbed his forehead. "You two should take this act on the road."

"We're missing our third link, though," Elliot pointed at him. "And you're needed to run this show."

"The brass needs someone to butt heads with them," Olivia nodded in agreement, pushing off the wall to join Elliot in the chair next to him. "I only met Chief Radford briefly, and I could tell based on the 126 that he wasn't one to just go with their words. The white shirts need someone who can hold a match to them . . . torch them."

Owen's eyebrows raised. "Then I'll need the 126 to put out the fire."

Olivia's head dropped back onto the chair, causing Elliot to laugh as the police captain sighed heavily. "Jesus, Owen."

"I get the idea," Owen chuckled with a smile. "I've pretty much only been the deputy chief in name until now. I just have to get used to the ropes."

"Well, the good news is you've got a few other contacts in Chicago in case you need them," Elliot smiled. "Boden and Grissom."

Owen sighed. "That's if Grissom has forgiven me for taking Casey and Severide."

***

"We just need to talk to someone about Father Anthony," Greg told the secretary, holding his hand out in front of Jason to stop his friend from saying anything.

"It could be anyone with information on the church's investigation at the St. Sebastian," Wendy added.

"I understand," the secretary looked at them, "but that meeting would have to be approved by the archbishop, and he's traveling right now."

"Can someone call the archbishop?" Jason asked. "Get approval? It's urgent."

"If you leave your name and number, his office can contact you when we hear from him," the secretary answered. Jason gave Greg an exasperated look, but Wendy's attention wandered behind them and out into the waiting area. "I'm sorry. Right now, that's the best I can do."

"Sure," Greg nodded before Jason could open his mouth, and he wrote down his name and number on one of the sticky notes on a desk nearby. "Thanks."

The secretary nodded and took the note, and Jason finally scoffed as she left. "That was a brick wall."

"Yeah," Wendy nodded as she turned back to them. "But you know who has the tea on every tenant in my building?" She pointed to the side, and Greg saw the janitor working nearby. "The super." She smirked and led them over, a pleasant smile on her face as the janitor straightened. "Hi," she greeted. "I'm Wendy, this is Greg and Jason."

"Hi," the janitor nodded, shaking their hands. "My name's Louis." He peered past them, then asked, "You're asking about Father Anthony? I heard you."

"You know him?" Greg asked.

"I've seen him in and out of here a lot the last couple months," Louis nodded, lowering his voice. "I don't know exactly what's going on, but I can tell you they've been looking into St. Sebastian's donation books. Everyone knows Father Anthony is old school. No computers, paper only. And I heard he stalled on handing over his ledgers."

"Stalled?" Wendy repeated. "So he eventually turned them in?"

"No," Louis shook his head. "Because all his parish papers? They burned up in that fire."

***

Van Meter gave the trio in front of him a textbook dubious look. "So far, all the sharpest arson team in the Midwest has is hearsay from a juvenile delinquent and a janitor. Do I have that right?"

Jason grimaced. "When you put it that way, it doesn't sound so impressive."

"Maybe not," Greg conceded. "But there's something here, Captain. Jason and I may not have done this as often as Casey and Severide, but we've done this with them before. I know we have something."

Van Meter considered, then he looked at Wendy. "What do you think?"

"My gut's telling me this is worth digging deeper," she answered immediately. "And frankly, it'd be reckless not to."

"But if the archdiocese is icing you out, what's your next move?" Van Meter asked.

"We could talk to Father Anthony's flock," Wendy suggested. "See what the parishioners know about this audit."

"Waste of time," Jason shook his head instantly. "They're just gonna be circling the wagons. I think we go right to Father Anthony and find out what he's doing."

"We can do both," Greg shrugged. "Priest and parishioners. Better than one and not the other."

"Alright, give it a try," Van Meter ordered. "You, talk to the parishioners." Wendy nodded in agreement. "And you two, see if you can trip up the priest," he told Greg and Jason.

Greg smirked at Jason as he opened the door for them. "Guess he knows which of us has the shorter fuse."

Jason's protests started almost immediately, and Van Meter gave Wendy an exasperated look as Greg's laughter echoed down the hall. "You sure know how to pick 'em, Wendy," he remarked.

"I do," she giggled as she reached the door. "They're worth the headache, though."

***

The door to St. Sebastian's rectory was cracked open when they arrived, and Greg paused with his fist raised to knock. "Oh, no."

"That's not good," Jason grimaced.

"No, it's not," Greg shook his head, cautiously creaking open the door. "Father Anthony?" he called, walking further into the building. "Anybody home?"

Jason peered through the closed doors as they entered the hall. "Maybe he's meeting a few parishioners?" he suggested.

"We can ask Wendy," Greg sighed, turning away from the staircase.

Thumps from upstairs stopped them. "Or we ask that person," Jason started up the stairs. "Hello?"

Incoherent shouts started, and Greg reached for his radio. "Something's wrong."

Jason was halfway up the staircase when a figure in a jacket and cap shoved him into the wall. Jason yelped in surprise as he hit the window. "Greg!" he warned. Greg swung around, only to get shoved in a similar manner against the corner. He cried out when his back hit the edge, and Jason balked, running back down the stairs. "Greg!"

"I'm fine!" Greg ground out, waving him away. "Go!" Jason hesitated, then nodded and took off up the stairs. Greg grimaced as he rose to his feet again, and he made for the door, looking outside to see if he could find the intruder. He caught a glimpse of him running around a corner, and he huffed. "Figures."

"Greg!"

The yell from the upper level made Greg run for the stairs and take them two at a time. He found Jason at the end of the hall, and he coughed and made his way through the smoke to see Jason using a curtain to smother the flames engulfing a bound Father Anthony. "What the hell?" he stared in shock.

"I think it's safe to say this wasn't the good Father," Jason shook his head, making sure all the flames were out.

"No, it wasn't," Greg agreed as he pulled out his phone. "Come on, pick up . . . "

Herrmann picked up on the third ring. "Firehouse 51."

"Herrmann, it's Grainger," Greg told him, looking out the windows.

"You OK?" Herrmann asked, worry in his tone. "What's the matter?"

"I need an ambulance at St. Sebastian's rectory," Greg answered, looking at Anthony in concern as the man wheezed and gasped. "I need a squad car at 51st and Western. Suspect's fleeing on foot, headed north."

"OK, hang on."

"Here," Greg turned to Jason, holding out the phone. "Swap me." Jason nodded and took the phone without a word, and Greg crouched next to Anthony, beginning to check him over. "Hang in there, Father," he whispered. "Hang in there."

***

Violet shook her head as she looked over Anthony, adjusting her grip on the stretcher. "It's a good thing you got to him when you did," she remarked. "We'll get him to Med as quick as we can."

"We'll let you know what they say," Gianna added.

"Thanks, Mackey," Greg gave a strained smile.

The paramedics were passed by Wendy as they left, and Wendy's dark eyes raked over the lieutenants, searching for any sign of injury. "Are you OK?" she demanded.

"Yeah," Greg nodded, wincing as he twisted experimentally. "Just furious."

Atwater surveyed the markers he had placed around the room, then he turned to the men. "OK . . . you wanna go ahead and give me that description?"

"Uh," Greg sighed. "Male, roughly six foot tall, buck-eighty, give or take. I . . . I really didn't get a good look."

"Shoved into the corner, right?" When Greg nodded, Atwater winced. "Guess it's a stretch to ask if he was Caucasian?"

"I think he was," Greg shrugged. "I don't know." He pointed out the door. "He went that away, hooked a left at the corner. Didn't cameras pick up something?"

"That was part of the cyber-attack," Atwater shook his head. "We won't even have access to those files until the city pays the ransom, but hopefully, they were still recording."

Jason ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "I should've gone after him."

"No," Greg shook his head. "I told you to check on what happened. There was a vic, that took precedence."

"Well, I'm going to Med," Jason said decisively. "I wanna be there when Father Anthony is able to talk. There's no sacramental seal stopping him from telling us who did this to him."

"Sounds good," Greg nodded.

"I'm coming, too," Wendy agreed.

"Well, listen," Atwater watched them head for the door. "As soon as he wakes up, you let me know, and I'll come down and take a statement."

"Thanks," Greg nodded.

***

"Oh, you gotta be kidding me."

Multiple heads rose at the incredulous tone, and Ben swallowed his water before speaking. "What happened?"

"I think when I called Grainger this morning, I may have transferred whatever jinx Owen gave us to 51," Matt answered as he stared at his phone. "That was Gallo . . . ransomware knocked out the 9-1-1 call center and several of the servers in Chicago, so 51 took over as the dispatch center."

"You're kidding," Sylvie's eyes widened.

"How did they manage that?" TK asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, even though Maddie can send the units, the system tracks which ones are available," Buck nodded.

Lily looked curiously at Matt, who chuckled as he joined them at the table. "Mouch basically ran it single-handedly with help from Herrmann," he answered. "They had a map with all the firehouses and units, and they used coins to represent each type of unit. Cruz, Capp, and Tony took the calls – "

"Oh, God," Kelly facepalmed at the thought, making Frank snort.

"And Gallo and Ritter logged them all," Matt continued with a fond eyeroll. "61 was still in the field."

"Because of the low amount of ambulances," Sylvie nodded in understanding.

"I really hope that problem is getting fixed," Eddie frowned as he sipped his coffee.

As Kelly checked his chirping phone, Sylvie shrugged. "I'll ask Mackey."

"Hang on," Griffin frowned and looked up from his plate. "What about the other two lieutenants? Grainger and Pelham? You didn't mention them."

Kelly's eyebrows shot up as he read the message on his phone. "Because they were tackling their own problem," he answered. "That was Seager. Turns out a call to a church fire they responded to shortly before we left Portland was arson. They spent the day running around Chicago with her to try and find the culprit. They're currently at Chicago Med waiting to hear about the state of their only lead."

"What happened to him?" Nolan asked worriedly.

Kelly eyed the Dardens and Lily, then he sighed and placed his phone on the table. "The priest was tied to a chair in his vestments, mouth duct taped shut, and lit on fire."

Lily balked in shock. "Oh, my God!"

"Did they say who's taking care of him?" Matt asked worriedly.

"Marcel," Kelly answered.

Sylvie sighed in relief. "Oh, well, he's in good hands," Buck nodded.

Eddie stared at Buck. "Are you basing that on Los Angeles?"

Buck blinked at him as if he had asked a dumb question. "Of course, I am."

TK and Sylvie laughed at the blush that formed on Eddie's face, and Nolan smirked at Frank. "Dr. Marcel was in charge of Eddie's surgery after the sniper attack."

"Ah," Frank nodded in understanding.

Eddie's head made an audible thump as he dropped it into his arms, causing Ben to giggle into his drink. "My boyfriend, everyone," the paramedic grumbled.

Matt shrugged as he sipped his coffee. "To be fair, Kelly and I do the same thing whenever we hear about Connor and Natalie's work."

"As you rightfully should," Nolan raised his drink in acknowledgement.

Frank looked at TK. "Those are the two who – ?"

"Worked on Sylvie?" TK finished for him. "Yep."

"Don't worry, Eddie," Sylvie patted his shoulder. "You get used to it."

Eddie sighed wearily. "Thanks, Cap."

***

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?"

"My neighbor's house is on fire!"

"Where are you calling from, sir?"

***

"Ladder 126. Squad 9. EMS 126. EMS 99. Structure fire."

***

"You know, this is the point where I'm really glad Matt drew the line at us running into fires," Griffin remarked from the back seat as he stifled a yawn.

Frank couldn't help but laugh, seeing Lily listing forward in her seat. "Easy, sweetheart," he leaned forward, stopping his daughter from pitching to the floor.

Lily shook her head as she tried to wake herself up, and Mateo chuckled from Griffin's other side. "Welcome to the life of firefighters, guys."

"It's worth the wonky sleep schedule," Paul grinned.

"What is a sleep schedule?" Matt asked rhetorically from the officer's seat.

Judd's bellowing laugh could be heard even without the headsets. "Man, I ain't known what a sleep schedule is for years . . . and I really don't know what one is now that I've got Charlie."

"Oh, yeah?" Frank smirked. "Try being a homicide detective in New York."

"It's true," Lily chimed in. "Calls for cases at any time of day and night."

"And probably on call constantly, too," Paul remarked.

Frank grinned. "Pros of the job outweigh the cons . . . well, most of the time."

"Guessing that 'most of the time' means when there's a conviction?" Matt guessed.

Frank nodded. "Let me guess . . . Nolan's told stories?"

"Stone, actually," Matt shook his head. "He's been a prosecutor longer than Nolan."

Frank sighed. "That's still hard to think about sometimes."

"Oh, hey, Cap!" Judd straightened and pointed. "Looks like this one isn't yours."

"Why not?" Griffin craned his neck to see.

Matt grinned. "Frank, you remember what Nolan told you this morning?"

"Yeah," Frank frowned.

"Well," Matt put on his helmet as Judd rolled the rig to a stop. "You finally get to see it." Mateo hopped out of the rig and helped Griffin and Lily out. When Frank hit the ground, he saw what the senior members of the crew had: Owen was stepping out of his vehicle, Olivia and Elliot climbing out of the back. "Just couldn't stay away, could you, Chief?" Matt grinned.

"Well, you know me, Casey," Owen smirked, then he turned to survey the burning structure. "You or me?"

Matt gestured pointedly to him. "Highest-ranking officer here, Chief."

"Alright," Owen looked around, and Frank watched Kelly lead his team to join them, Nolan and Ben joining him, Griffin, and Lily. "Strickland, Chavez, you're on the ladder and venting the roof. Casey, Ryder, man the one-by-one and get inside. Squad, you know the drill."

"Yep," Kelly turned. "Marwani, with me on the main level. Buckley, Strand, up top."

"Yes, sir," TK nodded.

"Get moving," Owen ordered, and in what seemed like the blink of an eye, the eight firefighters had vanished to their duties. Frank did a double take, and in the next moment, Owen was turning to Sylvie and Tommy. "Seniority goes first," he said. "99, then 126."

"Copy, Chief," Tommy nodded.

As the firefighters charged into the house, Elliot grinned as he and Olivia joined the quintet of firehouse observers. "Can't take the captain out of the chief, huh?"

Olivia snorted. "You'd have more luck catching lightning in a bottle, El."

"Don't tempt him," Nolan warned. "He may actually do it."

"Seriously?" Griffin looked up curiously.

Elliot smirked. "That a challenge, Price?"

Nolan sighed. "Why am I friends with you, Stabler?"

As one, both the captain and the Organized Crime detective pointed to where Sylvie was running to gather supplies, and Ben burst into laughter at the resignation on Nolan's face. "They aren't wrong, Nolan," Owen chuckled and patted his shoulder.

"No," Nolan agreed. "They really aren't."

"Chief, we got two patients," Buck's voice came over the radios. "Tell EMS we're bringing 'em out right now."

"Copy," Owen nodded, seeing Sylvie give him a thumbs-up. "How's everybody else doing in there? Severide?"

"First floor's clear," Kelly answered. "Marwani and I are heading up."

"Good work," Owen nodded. "Casey? Ryder?"

"It's hotter than a burnin' stump up here, Chief," Judd answered.

"We're moving as fast as we can," Matt added. "If I think it's gonna flashover, I'm pulling us out."

Owen nodded. "Good call, Casey. Keep it up."

"Yes, sir."

Buck and TK emerged from the house, and other firefighters rushed to assist them. "You good?" Owen asked.

"Yeah," TK nodded as he removed his helmet. "They're both unresponsive but breathing."

"Got it," Sylvie nodded. "Eddie, let's take the woman."

"Nancy, let's go," Tommy beckoned.

Frank's hand tightened instinctively on Lily's shoulder as they watched the paramedics work on the pair, then the man on EMS 126's gurney started to scream and tried to lurch off the surface. "That morphine would be great right now!" Tommy gritted her teeth.

"Copy," Nancy nodded as she filled a syringe.

Tommy leaned over the man, her hand on his shoulder. "You've been in a fire, but you are OK," she told him.

"Where is she?" the man looked around wildly. "Where's Katie?"

"Alright, try not to move," Tommy told him. "Your wife, she's right there."

"No, no, no," the man shook his head. "Where's my daughter?" Lily's face paled, and Olivia swallowed hard as Owen whipped around sharply. "Katie . . . where's my daughter?"

"Where's your daughter's bedroom?" Owen asked in return.

"Up there," the man coughed and pointed. "Please . . . she's just six!"

Owen moved along the sidewalk to check, and he narrowed his eyes as he clicked on his radio. "Casey, Severide, we have a six-year-old girl who may be upstairs. Her name is Katie. Bedroom closest to delta wall."

"We're on it, Chief," Matt answered.

Flames suddenly shot up from the roof, and Griffin's eyes widened. "Owen?"

"Yeah, I see it," Owen murmured. "Strickland? Chavez?"

"Chief, there's fire in the attic," Mateo answered. "It's spreading fast, moving on to the rafters."

Owen closed his eyes. "Casey?" he asked. "I need an update."

"We're in her room, but we can't find her," Matt answered.

"Look under the bed and in the closet."

Olivia began to pace the asphalt, and Elliot pressed his lips together tightly. "How long could someone last in there before . . . ?" Lily trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.

"A lot of components go into determining that," Elliot answered heavily. "But with what we're hearing from the group up top – "

He cut off when Paul came over Owen's radio. "Chief, structure's not gonna hold much longer!"

Multiple emotions crossed Owen's face, and the man grimaced before he spoke again. "Abandon your equipment and evacuate now. Structure is unsound."

"No!" Judd protested. "We're not leaving a little girl behind!"

Owen ignored him. "Casey, Severide, Marwani, you copy?"

"We copy, sir," Marjan answered.

"I want you three to remove Judd from the scene. I don't care if it means you drag him out. Charlie is not losing her daddy tonight." Three confirmations rolled in over the radio, and Owen turned around. "Back out, across the street."

"Come on," Nolan put his hands on the Dardens' shoulders, and the boys followed him to the other sidewalk.

Lily's hand clutched Frank's like a lifeline, and Frank tugged his daughter into his side as they joined the others. Paul and Mateo hopped down from the ladder rig, no tools or equipment in sight as they impatiently waited. Marjan was first out of the doors, followed by Matt and Kelly, the two men dragging Judd with them just as Owen had ordered.

The three men had barely cleared the structure before the upper level collapsed on itself, and as Lily shrieked in surprise, Frank automatically pulled Lily behind him, his other arm rising to cover his eyes. He vaguely saw Nolan do the same with the Dardens and Elliot and Olivia move away, but Owen remained firm, the man's face set like stone as he watched the upper level of the house crumble . . . and potentially take a young girl with it.

***

Jason returned from Chicago Med's cafeteria and smiled when he finally saw Greg. They had been waiting for so long that he finally commandeered a few seats in the waiting room, and the truck lieutenant was scrolling through his phone with his left hand. Jason frowned in confusion, seeing Greg use his nondominant hand . . . then he saw Wendy leaning against Greg's right side, her head on his shoulder. Jason chuckled, realizing that was just like Greg: he was restraining from moving so he wouldn't dislodge the OFI lieutenant.

Wendy sagged forward in her sleep, and as Greg moved to stop her, she jolted and caught herself before she fell completely forward. "Oh, my God," she grimaced, reaching up to rub her eyes.

"You good, Wendy?" Jason asked as he joined them, holding out the tray of coffees he had gotten.

"I am now," Wendy sighed, plucking one of the cups from the tray. "Guess I was more tired than I thought. Thanks, Jason." She eyed Greg, who was wringing out his arm. "Sorry, Greg."

"I am happy to be a pillow whenever you need it," Greg assured her as he, too, took one of the coffees. "I'm glad you got some sleep."

"Kind of ruined any chance for you to get some, though," Wendy murmured as she stood.

Greg snorted as he joined her. "I've had 24-hour shifts where it's been back-to-back calls. Today has been nothing."

"It's been fun," Jason admitted. "Hate the circumstances that led to it, but it's fun."

Wendy grinned. "I told you."

"Yeah," Jason chuckled. "You did."

The doors to the ICU slid open behind them, and they turned to see Crockett Marcel emerge as he pulled off gloves. "Hey, guys," he greeted them.

"Hey," Jason approached first, Greg and Wendy behind him. "How'd it go?"

Crockett sighed. "Well, he's got full-thickness burns around 40% of his body and his wounds were contaminated with fibers from his vestments, so that required extensive debridement."

"Can we talk to him?" Greg asked. "It's urgent. We need him to ID his attacker before the guy does anything else."

Crockett was shaking his head before Greg even finished. "Unfortunately not. Look, it's a good thing you pulled him out of the flames as fast as you did, but because he didn't suffer much damage to the nerves under his dermis, he could feel everything that happened to him. We're gonna have to keep him in a medically-induced coma."

Wendy's eyes widened in horror. "For how long?" she whispered.

Crockett shrugged. "At least a few days . . . maybe weeks."

Greg thought Wendy's eyes couldn't get wider. He ended up being wrong, and as Wendy turned away, hand covering her mouth, he gave Crockett a strained smile. "Thank you, Dr. Marcel."

Crockett nodded, shaking his hand. "I wish I had better news for you."

"Hey, this is better news than what could've happened," Jason shook his head. "Thank you."

Crockett nodded and turned back to the ICU doors. "See you around."

The lieutenants watched Crockett disappear, and Greg sighed. "We're back at square one now."

"Let's just hope the end of the ransomware means we get something from cameras," Wendy whispered.

Jason downed the rest of his coffee in one go. "Let the fun continue."

***

I love the new best arson investigation team in the Midwest. The quickest thing to write this time around was the Grainger, Pelham and Seager scenes . . . which I think you may be able to tell from reading this. I added those after vacation.

Well, since we're still in the thick of firefighting and we're not back in New York next chapter . . . here's a recap of Buck's bio!

***

Evan

Welsh, "the Lord is gracious"

Sanguine

cheerful, positive, mindful

The Artisan

creative, imaginative, playful

Type 7, The Enthusiast

spontaneous, versatile, scattered

ESFP

The Performer

Gryffindor

bravery, daring, nerve

Aries

the fearless, impulsive, enthusiastic, optimistic, passionate

Fire

passionate, bright, daring

The Upright Fool

freedom, adventure, foolishness, spontaneity, new beginnings

Archetypes

Action Hero, Big Little Brother, Chronic Hero Syndrome, Family of Choice, Firemen Are Hot, Greater Need Than Mine, Jumped at the Call, Mr. Fanservice, Romantic Wingman, The Seeker, Ship Tease

Chaotic Good

The Rebel

Status

alive

***

The investigators continue to take center stage next time, and now the police start to get in on the fun! We get "Whom Shall I Fear?" in Chicago, and "Child Care" continues with Carlos putting on his detective cap . . . and remember, there's three of NYPD's finest in Austin, too! ;)

graphic by marvelity