Chapter Text
*****
Sylvie Brett was standing on platform of Firehouse 51, looking around, nervously clutching a work bag by strap. She was shaking a little, it was first day in new fire station, she was informed at last moment, as it happens in CFD, about her distribution.
Paramedic found out that it was a house loaded with calls, but she was chosen because this part lost an old paramedic in a fire a month ago. And this unnerved her most of all, not just to get into a new team, but to take someone's place, especially deceased. And on top of everything else, Sylvie was afraid that new team would see her as their old friend.
After learning about appointment at 51, girl tried to find some information about house to be ready, but to her great disappointment, she found nothing but a clipping from a month-old newspaper just with a photo of deceased paramedic. To say that photo was shocking is like saying nothing, Silvie was sure that if they stood side by side, anyone from outside could take them for sisters.
- Someone in CFD has such a sick sense of humor. - blonde said a few hours ago, looking at photo of deceased Leslie Shay, rereading letter with her appointment.
And so Sylvie bypasses fire trucks on floor, feeling her nerves slowly roll up to her throat, fearing that she would vomit, girl stopped behind one of cars and took a deep breath and followed original trajectory, passing by guys at table playing cards and not paying attention to her, she entered inner doors.
Entering inside, she sees only two silhouettes, an elderly man in fire clothes sitting on couch and saying something to a woman at kitchen island, then she notices that woman is dressed in a paramedic uniform, woman's dark hair is gathered in a tight ponytail, a strictly tucked shirt in uniform pants and a tense back saying that woman does not listen to a word of what fireman says to her and is immersed in her own thoughts. Sylvie walks into room with a slight nod and smile at confused fireman and goes straight to woman in front of her.
- Gabriela Dawson?
Sylvie sees paramedic abruptly turn to her voice and almost spit back freshly drunk contents into mug in her hands. She examines Brett from head to toe and this look gives blonde goosebumps. For some reason, she is sure that they both have same word in their heads right now — creepy.
- Uh... yeah.
- I'm Sylvie Brett, new paramedic 61. – being polite, Sylvie stretches out her hand to shake and consolidate a new acquaintance, but sees that second one does not make any movements, just continues to look at her in shock.
- My partner is Chaut.
- I'm sorry, I came to where I was sent. – blonde was still holding her hand in air, waiting for a return shake, but as soon as she sees Dawson's eyes widen and that another firefighter has appeared in room, she lowers her hand.
- Dawson? – an adult, stately firefighter says patiently, judging by his officer's uniform, girl guessed that this was Battalion Chief of this unit.
Sylvie looks at how her partner leaves after Battalion Chief, turning at last moment to her and pulling a smile says.
- Welcome…
- Sylvie. Sylvie Brett. – confused blonde shouts after him.
After looking around room once more, she realized that firefighter who had originally been sitting on couch had disappeared, and now she was standing completely alone, lost and puzzled by such a reception.
- Of course, I didn't expect hugs and a warm welcome, but obviously I didn't count on it either. - paramedic whispered nervously under her breath.
To her left was a room with tables and chairs – briefing room, and behind it was a passageway to recreation room. She assumed that somewhere in that part there must be lockers for personal belongings, and decided to go there, hoping to meet at least someone else in this house.
Walking past empty made-up beds and officers' cabin’s, Sylvie lowered her shoulders and head, not hoping to meet anyone in this part of 51.
- Where is everyone? There were no calls, I would have heard... - girl asked into empty room.
- It's quite normal, before briefing, everyone slips into their secret burrows, doing their own business. Many come a couple of minutes before meeting starts. Are you new? I'm Peter, Peter Mills.
Blonde jumped in surprise and turned to voice, in passage between rooms stood a tall, fit, dark-haired guy in a firefighter's uniform with embroidery "Squad 3".
- Hey, yeah. Sylvie Brett, new paramedic on AMBO. - holding out her hand, she accepted handshake from man with an obvious sigh.
- Do you need a tour? - Peter asked with a smile.
- Yes, thank you! I haven't seen my locker yet, and a tour of 51 would be very welcome. It seems that my partner didn't like me very much, she didn't even shake my hand.
Mills furrowed his brows at mention of Dawson, and suddenly bulged his eyes at newcomer, as if he saw a ghost. Then, actively shaking his head, clearly getting rid of unnecessary thoughts in circumstances, he put on a sweet smile again.
- Gabby's not in best condition right now, from what I've heard. I myself have just come out of a long sick leave. A broken leg in an explosion a month ago. I think she hasn't accepted what happened back then, she and Shay were very close. Don't take it personally and give her some time, she'll open up. Gabby does not know how to be silent for a long time, you'll see.
- gabby? - Sylvie asked, puzzled.
- Yes, it is… That's what they call her at 51. Let's go find you a locker.
Half an hour later, paramedic was very glad that she met Peter Mills. He, as promised, helped her find an empty closet and conducted a full tour of entire 51, introducing everyone they met along way, so she already recognized Mouch, one who was in common room on couch, Herman, Capp and Tony.
After thanking firefighter once again and letting him go about his own business, Sylvie returned to locker room, unfolded tape, girl wrote her name and carefully glued it to iron door. Opening her locker, taking out a phone from her bag that she had forgotten earlier, she sat down on bench opposite checking messages and calls. After making sure that phone was clean, paramedic returned to door and closed it, her gaze caught on name of locker next to her, written in small letters – "Casey".
Girl panicked, and began to blink rapidly, hoping that it was just her imagination. As she hadn't noticed it before when she was here with Mills, she would have given anything to change locker, but what a locker, if it was one she had been thinking about and thinking about for last few years, she would have changed entire fire department. After taking a few deep breaths, girl decided that if it was Him – same Casey, it meant that her fate was really a pig, and that she would apply for a transfer as soon as shift was over. With these thoughts, paramedic left locker room, still praying to all gods she knew that she was at least a little lucky today.
*****
In part, she was still lucky, she did not meet anyone who reminded her of a man for first half of shift, to whom she was simply not ready. There were several calls for a health check, Dawson still kept at arm's length from her, and did not let her drive 61. "We must earn" everything she said to her, to this request. But Sylvie noted that she followed blonde's work during first call, and was clearly pleased with what she saw, Dawson completely gave second call to newcomer, controlling and not interfering from outside.
But after lunch, her luck left her, they answered call about addition of 81 and 66 cars to house fire, arriving at scene, firefighters were already inside, they did not have time to roll out gurney from AMBO as they heard a request for help from house.
On radio, she heard that Lieutenant 81 was stuck in basement with victim and could not get out because only staircase collapsed, and 66 went to help him. Paramedic noticed how tense her partner was after what she heard, and constantly looked back at burning building. Having adjusted gurney closer, girls stood next to firefighters, waiting for victims, and ready to call additional ambulances at any moment, if necessary.
A few minutes later, three firefighters came out of house carrying a large man in a stretcher straight to paramedics, removing their oxygen masks on way. Sylvie focused her gaze on victim, outwardly assessing him for visible burns or injuries. As soon as man was put on a gurney, two of three firefighters left in direction of 66, swearing under their breath "about stupidity of going alone" and "pulling out lousy asses." Third firefighter was next to her, they were separated only by Joe Cruz, and she could not see his face, blonde tried to calm victim and asked him to breathe as deeply as possible.
- No, that won't do. Have you dealt with fire victims? - Dawson spoke softly but insistently at newcomer, and Brett froze. She had not dealt with fire victims before, with smoke inhalation, Indiana, where she transferred from when moving to Chicago, was not so affected by fires, it was more road accidents or injuries.
- No... no, there is no such thing. – honestly admitted blonde.
- It's okay, give me a set. – brunette typed medicine into syringe while talking to her partner. - Victims of fire have severe tumours in trachea. They are removed with metazalam to clear airways.
Sylvie watched actions of senior paramedic and how man began to breathe easier and switch off after action of medication. Dawson, meanwhile, was already nearby, tuning in to intubate him.
- Tube.
Brett obeyed and quickly picked up tube from her bag, handing it to Gabby, carefully memorising actions.
- You enter through vocal cords, do not be shy and do not be afraid. Balloon. - Cruz handed it to her. Dawson had already turned to Brett and asked. – Listen to lungs.
Blonde put on a stethoscope and confirmed correct insertion of tube.
- On spot. It's amazing, I hope I can live up to it.
- You'll learn fast, judging by what I've seen before. – paramedic commented in response, and looking at Cruz and Otis next to her, she said. - Guys, help me get gurney into AMBO.
They started moving towards ambulance, and Sylvie moved away and bent down for bag, giving herself a second to exhale and digest what she saw and heard, looking up she finally saw face of that third firefighter, Lieutenant 81.
He was looking right at her, with his amazingly blue eyes like sky. She remembered those eyes, saw them every damn day for last 3.5 years, falling asleep and waking up. She saw his whole face, bright sensual lips, which, as she remembers, form into a dazzling smile, his girlish long and thick eyelashes, for which she teased him.
Sylvie almost choked, way he was looking at her now was not a bit like what she remembered. His forehead is furrowed, he is clearly concerned about her presence and his eyes, his eyes drill and burn her with hellfire.
- Brett! You're in back. We're leaving! - When they heard Dawson's call, they both looked in her direction. And blonde noticed Casey's gaze on Gabby. It was look she remembered. She had two plus two in her head, her partner's reactions earlier and his intense gaze and pose directed at Brett.
They're dating…
- I'm coming! – shouting, paramedic looked at firefighter again and whispered so that only he could hear her. – I will apply for a transfer by end of shift, and I will try to make sure that we do not overlap. Never.
With these words, she jumped into AMBO as quickly as possible, and before Gabby closed doors behind her, she saw his surprised face, as if he did not understand what she had just told him.
*****
Matt Casey already hated this shift as much as he could. Not only that, his girlfriend never had time to answer his offer because of that call and explosion where they lost Shay, and this question just hung between them for a month. Because of what it was uncomfortable for them to be in same room, it was unbearably oppressive.
His friend was already missing somewhere beyond his vacation and clearly did not want to return. He understood Kelly, he behaved same way a year ago after Hayley's death, but he came back, came back and it helped him. But Severide needed to be stubborn rather than try to heal.
And Welch. How he wanted to stuff his smug face every time he opened his dirty mouth.
And of course he was lucky to meet him at gas station. Thank God call came in, otherwise either he or Cruz would have already been reprimanded for inappropriate behavior on duty, hitting Lieutenant 66 once or twice.
- I hate this guy. - Joe growled through clenched teeth, heading for 81.
- I don't want to arrive after them, Cruz. Take us faster. - Casey shouted to driver as he rounded truck.
- On me, Lieutenant.
And Cruz justified his words, they arrived at place a couple of minutes earlier than 66, when they were parking Matt was already putting on a mask and entering building.
- We are first, look around and take care of movement. And we work.
At that moment, a woman ran out of building and shouted that her son was still in house, somewhere in basement and that she could not find him. Having accepted information, lieutenant entered building heading to basement, fire was already raging strongly, stairs to basement were wooden and burning.
- CFD, respond!
- Help... - a barely audible voice came from far corner of basement. After descending, firefighter saw a man sitting on floor. He clearly did not expect such a "son".
- Are you Bruno? – fireman did not have time to finish question, stairs to basement collapsed. - We need help in basement, there is a victim.
- Help... - this guy knocked him down by pulling him to floor. – I can't breathe…
- Hey, hey! Everything will be fine.
Welch and Malina had just gone down to basement in gear, pushing Casey away from victim.
- We'll get you out, big guy.
They quickly secured stretcher and put guy on it, after Casey, Welch and Malina lifted him out of burning basement themselves. Out on street, they barely carried this "big baby" to 61, Cruz and Otis ran up in time for support. After handing over victim to ambulance, Casey was finally able to exhale, he stayed close if help was needed, as did Otis and Joe.
Finally focusing his gaze on Gabby, he realized that she was talking to a new paramedic. He had heard from Boden about permanent appointment in morning, but he had not met her. Trying to look at her and maybe catch a moment to introduce himself before leaving 61 from bell, he froze.
Paramedic's golden hair was gathered into a beautiful ponytail, fixed at back of his head. Girl herself was intently watching actions of her partner with her transparent big blue eyes shining on porcelain skin. Gently biting with strong, even teeth scarlet plump lips.
Everything he knew that those lips could do popped up in front of his eyes. And for a very long time he couldn't stop thinking about them, about Her.
As incredibly beautiful as he remembered, it was enough to look at her once to fall in love and lose his head – a classic golden-haired blonde. He was ready to swear that all his old desire was reflected in his burning gaze right now.
Trying to calm his heart, which began to beat twice as fast, Casey suddenly realized that everyone was moving. Victim is transported to 61, Otis and Cruz help Gabby. God, he hoped she hadn't noticed his reaction to her new partner. Still confused, he frowned, and looked back at blonde woman packing a paramedic bag on road.
He vaguely remembered that he knew she was studying to be a paramedic when they met, so he obviously couldn't show it to her, but question and concern froze in him.
"What are you doing here?" - it was on tip of his tongue, but he just kept looking at her.
Finally noticing him, she paled a few tones, he was afraid of it. Is she really so scared of their new meeting? He wanted to ask if she was okay, but Gabby called out to her.
That's right, they're still on call and have to do their job, and their personal dramas can wait. He looked back at Brett, and again he didn't have time to say anything, because she spoke, quietly, barely audible, just for two of them, looking down at her hands holding bag.
– I will apply for a transfer by end of shift, and I will try to make sure that we do not overlap. Never.
What?!
She again put him at a dead end, and clearly not expecting an answer from him, she rushed off to 61. Just for a moment before doors closed, he met her gaze again, he was confused.
Why didn't she want to stay? Why didn't she ever want to cross paths with him again?
Never…
He suddenly felt a dull pain in area of ribs on left side, and blindly went to 81. He needs to pull himself together and continue working after extinguishing fire in house. And he shouldn't feel what he's feeling right now.
Dousing himself with water, Casey remembered that he had not thanked Welch for saving him, although he did not really want to. Lieutenant took another bottle and headed for 66.
Of course, it almost turned into a fight, all his emotions were on a high scale after an unexpected meeting, and Welch, who usually pisses him off, could have gotten in full now if Boden hadn't arrived at scene. He dispersed them into trucks and told them to get back to their units.
- What the hell is wrong with me? - Casey whispered to himself as he got into cabin 81.