I wanted to get this done last week to celebrate the return of (all but one of) the shows, but today's my birthday, so I'll take this instead. :) Overall, I'm very excited for all the shows to return, though the ending of Chicago Fire bummed me out, and the upcoming departures of Jay and Amanda brought down the moods for those episodes. The Law & Order premiere event sure as hell lived up to the hype, though. Definitely looking forward to new episodes from the mothership.

Onwards to the episode! The calls for treasure hunt incidents continue, Athena and Nick respond to a call that turns everything topsy-turvy, and it's a race to find the treasure before someone else does. It all turns out in a surprise ending for all, but there is good news around the corner when Owen's concerned.

Enjoy the ending of "Treasure Hunt!"

***

Ten years ago, before Elliot had left the NYPD, it had been a common occurrence to see him, Owen, and Olivia together. They had been an inseparable trio, and it was always a flip of a coin to see whether they were serious or up to no good. When Elliot had left, it was like an entire limb had been missing, and once Owen and TK had left for Austin, Olivia had been the last of their group to remain.

So even though she thought Owen and Elliot were absolutely bonkers to go after this treasure, she had been more than willing to join their hunt. After all, even though she had Elliot back in New York, who knew when their group would be in the same city again?

"So, surprise surprise, there was a shortage of maps in the city once the treasure hunt began," Owen told them as he gestured to the map spread out on the table in his room. "But I nabbed this one. It's got all the woods and parks in the city, and I marked where the creeks and rivers are. These pins are color coded to willow trees, herons, and bullfrogs." He scratched the back of his head. "I'm not sure what the 'gray bridge roared' means, though . . . "

"Might be a metaphor," Elliot mused, twisting a pencil between his fingers.

Olivia tilted her head, looking down at the map, then noted where a cluster of pins were located. "Knock out Solstice Canyon," she said. "Kat was partnered with Ayanna for the day. They arrested someone there this morning. No treasure."

Owen huffed. "Damn . . . I thought I was onto something there."

"I think she told me about that," Elliot scrolled through his phone. "Aha . . . ooo." He winced. "I didn't know it was possible for someone's arm to look like that."

"I guess that's what happens when you slip on the rocks," Olivia shrugged.

Elliot shook his head. "So much for everyone saying this is no different than playing the lottery. I'm pretty sure no one's ever ended up in the ICU trying to buy a ticket."

"Actually, Buck once told me a story about two people – " Owen began.

"OK, look," Olivia cut across them, and both men blinked at her. "As I said when I agreed to do this . . . let's not end up in the ICU ourselves, got it? The last thing we need is Owen getting another surgery."

"No doing anything reckless like scaling cliffs or digging around gas mains," Owen crossed his heart.

Elliot blinked. "Who dug around a gas main?"

"That was Casey and Herrmann," Owen snorted. "Guy used an excavator. Bye bye, gazebo."

Elliot sighed. "Is nothing safe in this treasure hunt?"

"Given how many people's sanity is burning at the stake, I'd say no," Olivia shook her head, lacing her fingers together and looking down at the map. "So let's just focus on making sure we nail where this is."

"Five million split three ways," Owen shook his head. "I still can't believe how much money that means we'd end up with."

"I still don't know what I'll do with it all," Olivia admitted. "But that would be enough to pay for whatever college Noah would want to attend."

"I was thinking the same," Elliot nodded. "I'm not hogging it all. I'll be giving most to my kids."

"TK would absolutely get a chunk," Owen agreed. "But I was thinking . . . "

He trailed off, and his friends looked at him. "What?" Elliot asked, seeing Owen struggle with his thoughts.

Owen sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Is it wrong of me to think about setting some aside for the Vega twins?"

Elliot blinked in surprise. "Why would it be wrong?" Olivia asked, sitting up straight.

Owen ran a hand through his hair. "Tommy initially thought she would leave the 126 to care for the girls," he admitted. "Charles left behind more than enough for them . . . but I feel like if there's any support I can give them – "

"You said she wasn't at home when he died because she was helping TK and Carlos after the serial arsonist hit their house," Olivia recalled.

Owen gave a strained smile. "That took a toll on a lot of us."

"I think it's kind of you, Owen," Elliot told him. "And I'm sure Captain Vega would appreciate knowing she has your support."

Owen sighed and nodded. "Thanks, Elliot. I just don't want to send the wrong message, y'know?"

"I get it," Elliot assured him. "And I'm sure Captain Vega would, too."

***

"Austin Ladder 126. Austin Squad 9. Austin EMS 99."

***

"Guess this didn't require Captain Vega or Nancy, huh?" Paul looked around as the crews gathered.

"Doesn't seem that way," Kelly shook his head, watching Sylvie and Eddie gather their supplies. "Case? What have we got?"

"According to dispatch, woman fell into a septic tank," Matt answered, nodding in agreement when TK and Mateo wrinkled their noses. "Roof rusted through. She's been stuck down there for seven minutes."

"Septic tank like that, it's gotta be full of methane," Kelly thought aloud. "Brett, Diaz, make sure you've got breathable air ready to go!"

"Copy!" Sylvie called back.

Matt approached the pair of men at the side of the tank, both looking in. "What's the name of the woman down there?" he asked.

"Keisha," the younger man answered. "She just fell in."

"OK, the ground could still give way," Matt gestured them back. "Take a few steps back. We don't want you falling in, too."

"Keisha?" Kelly peered down into the hole. "Just sit tight. We're gonna get you out of there."

Keisha gave a grim smile. "Not exactly going anywhere."

The older man whirled on the younger angrily. "What were you doing out here?" he demanded.

The younger snorted. "Duh. Digging up the treasure."

Buck and TK turned, interested, but the old man looked confused. "What treasure?"

"River's Edge B&B?" the younger man gestured to the main building. "Willow Tree Suite? Of course, it's here!" He faltered, seeing the older man's anger. "It . . . is here, right? 'Cause . . . otherwise, she's gonna kill me."

"Maybe we'll need Captain Vega and Nancy, after all," Marjan mumbled, making Paul snicker.

"OK, Keisha?" Eddie called into the hole. "I'm gonna lower a mask to you, and I need you to put it on. Can you do that?" Keisha nodded faintly, and Eddie crouched down. "Alright, coming down!"

Sylvie frowned, watching Keisha's actions. "Guys, she's already showing sign of hypoxia," she told Matt and Kelly. "We need to get her out of there before she has permanent neurological damage."

"Copy," Matt nodded, turning to Judd. "Get the aerial ladder over the hole so Squad can lower someone down."

"Buck, gear up," Kelly ordered. "We'll send you to pull her out."

Buck did a double take. "Why me?" he protested, shying away from the stench of the methane.

Kelly smirked. "Lieutenant's honor, remember?"

Buck groaned as TK and Marjan laughed. "Not the rescue I was hoping for, Lieutenant."

***

"Ready up here, Lieutenant!" Judd called from the top of the aerial.

"Alright, nice and slow, Judd!" Kelly gave him a thumbs-up. "Just keep it coming." Judd nodded, starting the line, and Buck, in full mask and protective gear, carefully hopped over the hole, watching TK and Marjan adjust the line. "I'd say about five more feet, Judd!"

"Yes, sir!" Judd nodded.

"Buck?" Kelly looked down. "How're you doing?"

"Well, I'm not looking forward to this next part," Buck admitted, looking down as he entered the hole. "Alright, Keisha, let's get you out of here." Keisha's eyes suddenly rolled back into her head, and she collapsed into the water in the tank. "Keisha!" he shouted. "She's drowning! She's gone under! I can't see her!"

"Judd, get him down there!" Kelly barked. "Drop him, drop him!"

The line dropped suddenly, and Buck splashed into the tank, immediately searching for Keisha. "Keisha! Keisha!" He grabbed her and hauled her up out of the water, watching in relief as she coughed weakly. "I got you. You're OK." He adjusted the oxygen mask, making sure it was over her nose and mouth. "We'll get you out." He fitted the safety harness around her, then clipped it to his line. "I got her!" he called. "Get us out of here!"

Matt turned around, gesturing to Judd. "Bring 'em up!"

The line went taut, and Buck held on as they were brought out of the hole. "Keisha?" Sylvie crouched, checking her oxygen as Eddie threw a blanket around her. "I'm Sylvie, and this is Eddie. We're gonna take you to the hospital, OK?"

Keisha nodded numbly as Paul and Mateo pushed the stretcher over. "Alright, let's get you up," Eddie took her arm, helping her onto the stretcher.

Judd jumped down from the ladder rig, watching the group head to the ambulance. "Phew," he looked down at the open septic tank. "I wouldn't wanna be the one who has to fix that."

"Nope," Matt agreed, holding in a wince. God, that thing stunk to the hells. "Definitely not."

***

"Sorry we couldn't find the five mil, babe," the young man apologized as he joined Keisha in the ambulance, Sylvie and Eddie prepping her for transport.

"I don't need the money," Keisha shook her head. "I just need you. So whatever you're waiting for, you don't have to wait anymore. My answer is yes."

Sylvie looked up from prepping the oxygen lines, and she looked at Eddie, who was preparing to back out of the ambulance. Eddie looked like a deer in the headlights; were they about to witness what she thought they were? "Uh," the man blinked rapidly. "Yes what?"

"Yes, I will marry you!" Keisha laughed. "We can settle down and start a whole new adventure as a family."

The man's face drained of color with every word spoken, and Sylvie fidgeted, looking helplessly at Eddie. "Babe, uh . . . I thought you knew," the man chuckled nervously. "I am married."

Keisha recoiled. "What?!" her eyes narrowed.

"You're my adventure," the man nodded. "Just . . . on the side."

Sylvie winced, watching the woman's face turn red . . . and not from a lack of oxygen.

***

As Buck shimmied out of his gear, the doors to the ambulance suddenly opened. Eddie dropped out, looking like he was trying not to laugh, and he was followed by Keisha's boyfriend. "All good, Diaz?" Kelly asked with a frown.

"She wanted some space," the young man nodded, giving a shaky smile.

Behind the man's back, Eddie spun his pointer finger in a circle next to his head, indicating the man was crazy as he headed to the driver's seat of the ambulance, whistling a tune as he went. TK watched the ambulance drive away, then winced when he caught a whiff of the methane coming from Buck. He wrinkled his nose, coughing to hold in a gag as he hastily retreated to the driver's side of the squad rig. Buck looked helplessly at Kelly, who made a face as he clicked his radio on. "Dispatch, this is Austin Squad 9," he said. "We're going offline for an hour to clean up after this call."

"Copy, Austin Squad 9," Grace told him.

"Thanks, Lieutenant," Buck smiled sheepishly, finally pulling his arm out of the suit.

"Trust me, this is for our good as much as yours," Kelly made to pat him on the back, then rethought his decision. "I think we'd go mad if we kept smelling methane all day."

"I don't blame you," Buck muttered.

***

Athena's cruiser wasn't the only one that roared up the drive to Hollis Harcourt's mansion in Los Angeles. When she parked, she watched curiously as a pair of plainclothes exited the other; she recognized both only from video. "Captain Benson and Sergeant Tutuola," she realized with a smile. "Didn't expect this to be how we finally met."

"Likewise, Sergeant Grant," Olivia nodded, shaking her hand. "We were in the area when we got the call that there was a reported break-in?"

"We got the same call," Nick grinned. "Hey, Liv, Fin."

"How you doing, Amaro?" Fin nodded.

"I'm with my favorite patrol sergeant," Nick smiled innocently, making Athena huff and roll her eyes fondly. "I'm peachy."

Olivia eyed the mansion. "Looks like all that writing the author did paid off for him."

Athena nodded, then turned to the man waiting anxiously on the sidewalk. "We got a call from the alarm company about a break-in?" she prompted.

"They called me, too," he nodded. "Jeremiah. I was Mr. Harcourt's personal assistant."

"The door's open," Fin noted, eyes narrowed.

"It was like that when I got here," Jeremiah said. "I haven't touched anything. I figured it was probably some treasure hunters looking for clues."

"Alright, stay out here," Olivia told him. "We'll check it out."

"Seniority leads, Captain," Athena gestured.

Olivia smirked. "Your turf, Sergeant."

Athena was tempted to argue, but based on the chuckle from Fin, she figured she wouldn't win. So she nodded and drew her gun, ascending the steps to the front door. "Police!" she called, hearing Olivia, Nick, and Fin draw their guns as well. "The door's open. We're coming in."

The grandfather clock by the staircase chimed the hour as they entered, and Nick poked his head into the living area. "Clear," he reported.

Fin turned the corner into the kitchen, scoping the entire room before calling, "Clear!"

Drawers closing from a nearby room caught the attention of Olivia, who lightly whistled for Athena's attention. The two women entered the study, where the chair was drawn away from the desk. A drawer shut, and both women aimed their guns at the desk. "Police!" Athena barked. "Hands in the air!"

"And get up," Olivia ordered. "Slowly."

A pair of glasses was deposited on top of the desk, then a pair of hands emerged. That was followed by a man who made Olivia almost drop her gun. "What are you doing in my house?" he demanded.

"Hollis Harcourt?" Olivia gawked.

Athena scowled, lowering her gun as Nick and Fin joined them. "Looking mighty good for a dead man!"

"Jeremiah?" Nick called. "You mind confirming this is actually your boss? Who's . . . not so dead?"

"He's what?!" Jeremiah appeared in a rush, and his eyes bugged wide when he saw the author. "You're alive?" Harcourt smirked, and Jeremiah growled. "I'm gonna kill you!"

"Hey, hey!" Fin stepped in his path, holding up a hand. "I just met the guy, but I'm pretty certain he ain't worth it."

Jeremiah scowled. "You're such an ass," he accused Harcourt.

"What happened to 'he had such a good soul?'" Harcourt mocked Taylor's report as he sat at his desk. "And who changed my alarm code?"

"Oh, I don't know," Jeremiah narrowed his eyes. "Maybe the person who's not supposed to be dead? And who was conveniently left out of the will?"

"Speaking of that," Athena nodded. "Mr. Harcourt, I think you and I need to have a conversation about your unexpected return to the land of the living."

"Fifteen years of working for a solipsistic, narcissistic – " Jeremiah ranted, spinning on his heel and heading for the door.

"Don't let the thesaurus hit you on the way out!" Harcourt quipped.

"I'm tempted to hit him with a thesaurus," Fin muttered to Olivia.

She smirked. "Join the club."

Harcourt folded his hands in his lap, looking at the police officers. "Sorry for dragging you out here for nothing, officers, but as you can see, there's been no break-in. Just a simple misunderstanding. I think your work here is done."

"Maybe the break-in is done," Olivia shook her head. "I don't think everything else is. Tell me, Sergeant Grant . . . are fraud, filing a false report, and forging a death certificate all crimes like they are in New York?"

"Indeed, they are, Captain," Athena nodded, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow.

"And you would be right to arrest me if I had done even one of those things," Harcourt nodded. "But I didn't. Simply had my lawyer have my publicist release a statement, and . . . voila! Cue the heartfelt tributes and outpourings of emotion."

"Yeah, I'm definitely feeling some kind of emotions," Nick deadpanned.

"Your ridiculous treasure hunt has the city completely off the rails!" Athena scowled.

"Isn't it great?" Harcourt grinned gleefully. "Confirms everything I ever thought about this town: full of selfish, greedy morons."

"Those selfish, greedy morons are dropping like flies," Fin told him. "So call the damn thing off."

"I can't," Harcourt shook his head. "I need to find out how it ends."

"You buried the thing," Nick pointed out. "You know how this ends."

"Not the hunt," Harcourt shook his head, standing from his desk and moving to pour himself a drink. "The book. Gutted in Glendale. It's my next novel. I've been working on it for two years. Huge advance, already sold the movie rights. Tom Hanks wants to star." Olivia couldn't help but scoff; Athena was tempted to do the same thing. "He loves these blood and treasure stories. Mine is gonna be like The Da Vinci Code, only bigger."

"You sound pretty confident in this book you haven't finished for two years," Fin remarked.

"That's my problem," Harcourt nodded. "I don't know how it ends."

Athena frowned. "So you buried the treasure . . . "

"To find my ending," Harcourt nodded, taking a large gulp of alcohol. "I've blown the last three deadlines, and people have started asking some very uncomfortable questions. Saying a lot of very ugly words, like 'refund' and 'lawsuit.'" He shuddered, making a face of disgust. "But I am so close, I can feel it. I'm gonna find my ending. I just need a little more time. So . . . maybe you keep the news that I'm not dead between the five of us? I could just sneak back out and – ?"

"We were called here over the radio," Olivia told him with a sweet smile. "And where radios are, reporters aren't too far away."

"We're heading back to the station," Nick gestured to Athena, "so chances are good we'll run into a few on our way."

Harcourt narrowed his eyes. "And what are you gonna tell them?"

Athena smirked. "The truth."

She turned on her heel and left, and Fin snorted as they left Harcourt to nurse his drink. "Bastard doesn't even feel any guilt about this," he muttered.

"All for a story," Olivia shook her head in disgust.

"Better be a good one, that's all I'm saying," Fin huffed. "Gutted in Glendale . . . he really likes these horror names, doesn't he?"

Olivia slowed in her steps. "Yeah," she said, pulling out her phone. "He sure does."

Olivia: How's Glendale looking on your map?

Owen: Glendale?

Elliot: Where'd you come up with that idea?

Olivia: I'll tell you when I finish with this shift

Olivia: Which will not be as entertaining now that the party's over

Elliot: What the hell happened?

***

"What a bastard," TK scowled.

"No kidding," Amanda scoffed. "So we were . . . what, his research?"

"I feel more like a lab rat," Sonny wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"Running round and round in his little treasure hunt simulation," Jet made a circle mimicking a hamster wheel. "I knew it would end badly."

"She's been keeping a map of all the failed locations," Ayanna rolled her eyes.

"Nice going, kid," Elliot nodded approvingly.

"So all of this was just . . . ?" Buck trailed off.

"Every emergency on the news was a new chapter for his book," Owen scowled. "Impressive line of thought."

"It's surprisingly diabolical for Hollis Harcourt," Peter remarked.

Matt frowned. "You read his books?"

Peter snorted. "Believe it or not, there's useful stuff in there for prosecuting attorneys looking for motives and the like."

Sonny tilted his head thoughtfully. "Huh."

"Well," Sylvie folded her arms, pouting. "If we were his research, I say we should get paid."

"Hear, hear," Eddie held up his drink.

"I don't suppose you were told where the treasure was located?" Kat asked Olivia.

"No," Olivia shook her head. "I mean . . . if there even is a treasure."

"You mean you don't think he buried anything?" Kelly asked.

"Well, look at what everyone believed when Harcourt's publisher said he was dead," Fin shrugged.

"So he's a big fat liar," Nick concluded. "And we shouldn't trust a single thing he said, including anything about treasure."

Buck sighed sadly. "No more treasure hunt."

"Damn," TK grumbled.

As the rest of the group departed the hotel bar, Olivia watched them go before she leaned in to Elliot and Owen. "Did you find anything about Glendale?" she asked quietly.

Elliot grinned. "As a matter of fact . . . "

***

"Hang on," Grainger frowned in disbelief. "Hollis Harcourt is actually alive, and this was all big scheme for him to write his next book?"

"Yep," Kelly nodded. "That sums it up."

"So he's a bastard," Pelham decided.

Matt snorted. "That's the decision we came to."

Grainger sighed, shaking his head. "If we end up in his book, I say we should get paid, considering all the work we put into saving people and working on finding this 'treasure.'"

"Sylvie said the exact same thing," Kelly snickered.

"Smart woman," Pelham remarked.

Grainger burst out laughing. "Oh, wait until you actually meet her." He paused, then looked at Matt and Kelly. "That's gonna happen, right?"

"It should," Matt nodded, checking his phone. "Captain Strand's mandated medical leave is due to end while we're here in the city, so he'll get his exam done at Cedars-Sinai with his doctor in Austin checking in. Assuming he passes, he'll retake command of the 126 and we'll be back with 51."

"And since Captain Benson and Detective Stabler are in the city, I'm betting they'll throw some kind of celebration for him being back on duty," Kelly nodded. "Which means the New York crew will be there, of course the 126 will be – "

"And they'll likely invite Chief Boden, which then brings the entirety of 51," Matt concluded. "Geez. That's one hell of a party."

"You know, I just realized," Kelly grinned. "We get to subject everyone to TK, Rollins, and Carisi as well as Owen, Benson, and Stabler."

That made Matt cackle. "When people say the reds and the blues feud . . . "

"Didn't Carlos mention something about hearing TK filled Carisi's desk with peanut butter?" Kelly asked.

"No, I think he and Amaro filled it with jelly," Matt corrected. "TK filled the 252's lockers with peanut butter."

"Right," Kelly nodded. "That was it."

Grainger stared in a mixture of horror and awe. "You're kidding."

"I wish," Kelly shook his head. "Just don't mix TK with police officers."

"Unless it's Carlos," Matt amended. "The rest of them, he just turns into a prankster."

Grainger shuddered, turning back to the book he held. "Good to know."

"So to recap," Pelham clasped his hands together. "I need to meet Brett at some point, I should avoid TK if he's anywhere near a cop other than his boyfriend, and we all got played by a selfish, lazy bastard."

"Sounds right," Kelly nodded.

"Mmm, not so lazy, actually," Grainger shook his head. "He liked to jog."

Matt frowned, lowering his beer bottle. "How the hell do you know that?"

Grainger flashed the book title: Stabbed Beneath the Stars. "He has little biography sections in the back," he explained. "It's mentioned in this one."

"Fine," Pelham rolled his eyes. "Not-so-lazy bastard. Happy?"

"Very," Grainger nodded, then he paused. "Hang on . . . "

Kelly tilted his head, almost able to see the gears in the man's head start spinning. "What?" he asked.

Grainger looked from the book to the map they had spread out in their room, and he slowly grinned. "We missed a place."

***

"I'm more surprised by the idea that some people didn't actually read his books than the idea that this scumbag pulled something like this," Nolan rolled his eyes from where he was in the corner of his room, Stabbed Beneath the Stars open in his lap. "That's the most obvious place to look . . . other than the man's 'grave,' that is."

"Well, money can do funny things to people's brains," Peter shrugged. "They hear an author's dead, they'll say, 'oh no' and move on. They hear 'a dead author had five million dollars buried' and that's another story." He paused, then snorted and waved exasperatedly at the book Nolan held. "Pun intended."

"I was just so sure this would be buried somewhere book-related," Sylvie sighed from where she sprawled on the floor, examining a map of Los Angeles. "And yet so many places people looked had nothing to do with any plot locations."

"Did any calls actually happen at plot points?" Nolan wondered.

"Yeah, actually, the 118 and Squad 3 had a call at the observatory," Sylvie pointed to his book.

Peter's eyebrows raised. "Huh."

"There's one other thing I was surprised by," Nolan shut his book and let it drop onto the table next to him. "How many calls there were to places listed in the biography sections."

Sylvie blinked. "Biography sections?"

Peter snorted. "Let me guess . . . you read portions of the books but never paid attention to the author's notes in the back?"

Sylvie blushed. "Maybe."

Peter rolled his eyes. "This is why Jack makes us read everything . . . and thoroughly."

"It's good work, though," Nolan pointed out, flipping through to the back of Stabbed Beneath the Stars. "It's a lot of information to process, but small diamonds can be found anywhere."

"So these biographies in the books," Sylvie sat up on her heels, gesturing to the map. "Is there any place missing?"

Nolan looked down at the map thoughtfully, then he narrowed his eyes. "We are missing one . . . "

***

"'I walked along the river's edge to hide my secret treasure. A heron soared, a gray bridge roared, a bullfrog croaked, 'Good measure.'" Sonny paused from reading the paper in his hand, and he snorted, rolling his eyes. "God, this sounds like some cheesy book I would read to the girls."

"Nuh uh," Amanda shook her head, pointing at him. "You wouldn't subject our girls to that useless, awful poetry."

Sonny wrinkled his nose. "Yeah, you're right," he agreed, flinging the paper onto the table. "They deserve better than that."

"At least it did rhyme," TK pointed out.

"Yeah, that's the only decent one," Amanda snorted. "He just used the same word the next two lines."

TK nodded, taking over the reading. "'I stopped beneath a willow tree in the narrow place, and then I saw a light beam fall upon my treasured place.'" He shook his head. "I'm glad this guy didn't take up poetry."

"See, I'm still trying to figure out this 'narrow place,'" Sonny folded his arms, looking at the map of Los Angeles they had spread out on their bed. "There's no reference to that anywhere in his novels. And I should know, I checked."

"How many has he got?" TK scratched his head.

"Well, we know he's got one unpublished one," Amanda rolled her eyes. "Whole lot of good that does for everyone."

Sonny paused. "What if that's the point?" he asked, turning around. "He said he's looking for the ending to his book, right? His unpublished book . . . and the only reason we know about it is because Harcourt let it slip."

TK straightened. "So what if where this book takes place is where he hid the treasure?"

Sonny nodded victoriously. "What was the name of the book?"

"Uh . . . " Amanda pushed open her laptop, fingers tapping the keys rapidly. "Liv didn't mention it, but I think I saw Fin shared his report . . . " She grinned. "And I know where the treasure is!"

***

"Nick?"

"Yeah?"

" . . . this is a concrete channel."

Nick rolled his eyes. "Does he always complain like this with you, too?" he asked Eddie.

"Sometimes it's worse," Eddie quipped.

"Hey!" Buck protested. "Guys, this is a concrete channel. This isn't a river!"

"And yet, this 'concrete channel' is called the Glendale Narrows," Nick smirked. "And it's why no one else thought to look here. Everyone hears 'river' and thinks they had to go trek up into the mountains or go digging in wildlife. No one ever thought to look right here in the city."

"It certainly never crossed my mind," Eddie admitted, pointing to the gate across the channel. "And it's got herons – "

"And bullfrogs," Buck cupped around one of his ears, hearing the croaks.

"And that gray bridge roaring?" Nick pointed to the bridge over the channel, cars soaring by, engines roaring in the night. "So much for a metaphor. It was quite literal."

"This guy really wasn't trustworthy, was he?" Eddie sighed.

"Apparently, he's not the only one!" The trio whipped around in time to see TK, Amanda, and Sonny approach, TK with his equipment bag slung over his shoulder, just like Buck and Eddie. "So much for no more treasure hunt," Amanda scoffed.

"Hypocritical much?" That came from Kelly as he, Matt, Grainger, and Pelham came from another direction.

"Yeah, we're all hypocrites," Nick rolled his eyes. "We all decided to keep looking after all, right?"

"Technically, Jason and I weren't part of that discussion," Grainger held up his hands defensively.

"Neither was I!" The ten turned to see a final group of three approach; it was Nolan who shrugged nonchalantly. "And yet here we all are."

Sylvie snickered. "Looks like Eddie and I were on the same page."

"Hey, how full is your laptop of medical reports because of all the injuries?" Eddie huffed, holding up his medical bag. "There's no way I was leaving this back at the hotel."

"Which is why the heavy rescue paramedic was gonna scout the terrain first," Peter inclined his head to Sylvie.

"Though since we've actually got firefighters, we could always let them go first," Nolan smirked.

Matt's eyebrows raised. "Said one of two lawyers."

"OK," Sonny rubbed his forehead. "Amaro was part of the group that found Harcourt and got the unpublished novel's name. How did all of you figure out this was where the treasure is supposed to be? What tipped it off?"

"Greg got it for us," Pelham nodded to Grainger.

"All of Harcourt's books have little biography sections in the back," Grainger explained. "And in the back of one of them – "

"It mentions he jogs down this river path," Nolan finished, gesturing along the channel. "Stabbed Beneath the Stars. Home of herons, bullfrogs, and willow trees."

"And a gray bridge that is roaring quite loudly," Grainger nodded.

"Wait a minute," Peter blinked. "Amaro's here . . . I get that. Rollins and Carisi, I get, too. They're part of the SVU team. Fin isn't here, and I know he complains left and right about this hunt being insane. I see Sergeant Grant having a more level head . . . "

Nick groaned, closing his eyes. "Did anyone else see other cars parked in the area before we got here?"

"Uh," Matt and Kelly exchanged confused looks. "Not where we parked."

"I think we saw a Cadillac near where we did?" Grainger looked around. "Is that anyone's car?"

Simultaneous groans came from around the group. "Yeah," TK groused. "That's my dad's."

"Who is best friends with Liv," Nick rubbed his forehead. "Who also heard Harcourt say what his unpublished book's name is."

"And that means they're already out here somewhere," Amanda concluded. "Great."

"Not so great, actually!" Olivia's call made them look over the bridge, and it was Matt who caught the police captain with his flashlight beam. Olivia shielded her eyes, which didn't hide her irritated look. "Because the three of us weren't the first ones here, either!" she finished.

"The three of you?" Pelham repeated.

"Considering how tightly knit Cap is with Benson and Stabler?" Buck sighed. "Yeah . . . that makes sense."

"So nothing's here?" Sylvie clarified.

"Oh, there's something here!" Owen clambered out from under the willow tree next, Elliot bringing up the rear, effortlessly carrying the chest from the video. "It's just empty."

"Yep!" Elliot flipped open the lid of the chest. "Whole lot of nothing."

TK sighed. "Well, I guess that saves us a whole lot of math to find out how we would have to divide this up."

Sylvie wrinkled her nose. "Ugh."

"Here's the kicker," Owen stuck a shovel in the dirt. "The chest was still buried when we got here."

"So someone got the treasure and then reburied the chest?" Amanda asked in confusion.

"Or was anything even in there before it was buried?" Nolan pointed out.

"Pessimistic much?" Buck raised an eyebrow.

"Considering how we've already established this author's a lying bastard, do you really want to put that option to the side?" Nolan countered.

"Price is right," Olivia shook her head. "If Harcourt went to all that work just to bury an empty chest . . . I want a word with him."

"I'm with you there," Elliot agreed.

"Great," Nick rubbed his hands together. "A storming of the literal castle."

"Seriously?" Pelham's eyebrows rose.

Nick snorted. "Man, you have no idea."

***

"That really is a castle," Buck blinked in surprise.

Nick snorted, maneuvering his car to drive through the gates, following behind Owen's and Sonny's vehicles. "I told you."

"How much money did this guy make off his books?" Kelly asked incredulously, he and Matt stepping out of their car.

"A lot," Peter folded his arms, surveying the building as Nolan and Sylvie stepped onto the sidewalk. "All of his books were best-sellers, and assuming this new book of his was going to get the same attention – "

He was cut off when Nolan put a hand on his chest, stopping him in his tracks. When he turned, he found the other prosecutor had his other arm in front of Sylvie, stopping her as well. "Captain Benson?" he called tensely.

"I see it," Olivia nodded, drawing her sidearm in a quick motion. Elliot mirrored the action, and Peter finally saw what the officers had seen: the door into the house was open. "Amaro?"

"I'll check around back," the sergeant nodded, drawing his weapon.

Olivia turned and made a sharp motion with her hand, and without a word, Sonny jogged after Nick; TK never saw his best friend draw his gun. "Maybe we weren't the only ones who wanted a word with this guy," Pelham swallowed.

"Stay out here," Elliot warned, glaring at Owen in particular.

Owen held up his hands placatingly. "I'm not that anxious to talk to him."

"Assuming he's here," Amanda murmured, a click in the air signaling she had removed her gun's safety.

Olivia lightly ran up the steps, Elliot and Amanda on her heels. "NYPD!" she called. "We're coming in!"

Elliot reached past her and opened the door wide, and a crunch made him look down. "Watch your step."

Olivia nodded, carefully stepping over the shards of broken glass on the rug. She pointed to her right, and Amanda peeled away, moving further into the house. Elliot continued to have Olivia's back as the captain slowly made her way down the hall. She heard a door open in the back with Nick's call of "Police!" but she focused on the body she found lying in the hall. "Clear!" Amanda shouted.

"Clear in the kitchen!" Sonny responded.

"Clear in the study!" Nick added.

"Got a body," Elliot answered.

The three other officers emerged from their searches as Olivia crouched down next to Harcourt, pressing two fingers against his neck. When she didn't find a pulse, she sighed, shaking her head. "Guess he found his ending."

***

"So," Romero folded his arms as he walked down the line of people. "You all found an empty treasure chest, drove down here like an angry mob to confront him, now he's dead . . . but these facts are unrelated to each other?"

"Detective, he was dead when we got here," Nick told him.

"We didn't kill him," TK nodded.

"We just wanted to," Buck muttered, then yelped when Eddie sharply elbowed him in the ribs.

"If they say they didn't kill him, Rick, I'm inclined to believe them." They turned to see Athena walk up, the sergeant with her badge clipped to her belt even though she was in plainclothes. "They weren't the only ones who went looking for the treasure tonight," she added, folding her arms.

"You did?" Nick's eyebrows raised.

"I thought you didn't have an interest in all this," Olivia blinked.

"I didn't think you did, either, Captain," Athena snorted.

"Wait," Romero shook his head. "Captain?"

"Did you even ask who these people are?" Athena asked in surprise. "You have a Park Police sergeant, four highly respected NYPD officers, several firefighters, and . . . " She paused, pointing at Nolan. "I don't know you."

"She's still breaking me in," Nolan deadpanned, tilting his head towards Sylvie.

Peter snorted loudly, then coughed into his arm as Matt and Kelly looked down the line incredulously. "You couldn't have put that in better terms?" Sylvie blushed.

"Two prosecutors," Peter smothered a grin, pointing between himself and Nolan. "Manhattan DA's office."

"Sergeant! Detective!" Athena and Romero turned as Stafford jogged down the stairs. "We got the security footage. Wasn't them."

"Told you," Elliot rolled his eyes.

"I don't think you're helping," Owen whispered.

Olivia merely held out her hand, raising an eyebrow. "Apologies, Captain," Romero cleared his throat, handing her sidearm back and gesturing for the other officers to do the same.

"Apology accepted," Olivia nodded, watching Stafford bring a tablet over. "So who did this?"

Romero looked at Athena, who smirked. "She's the highest-ranking officer here."

As Stafford shifted the tablet so Olivia could see, Eddie turned when he heard heels click on the bricks. He sighed, shaking his head when he saw the redhead approaching. "Can we deny an interview?" he asked dryly.

"Why am I not surprised to find you here?" Taylor grinned teasingly.

"Oh, God," Buck groaned, closing his eyes. "We are never gonna hear the end of this."

"Nope!" Taylor chirped with a laugh. "And if I can't say it, I happen to have your sister's number in my contacts. She'll do it for me."

"This is payback for us not saying when we got into the city," Eddie decided. "Isn't it?"

"Sure," Taylor gave him an innocent look. "Let's go with that."

Eddie rolled his eyes. "Would a hug help towards forgiveness?"

Taylor laughed, accepting the offered hug. "The city's been weird without all of you. Ana and I miss our gossip partner."

"Maddie misses you, too," Buck smiled.

"Hey, Taylor!" Sylvie waved.

"Captain," Taylor gave a playful salute.

"OK, so pretend I don't live in California," Olivia's voice brought them back to the present, and they turned to see her frown at the footage. "What uniform is that?"

"Zip Parcel," Nick answered, and unable to help herself, Taylor inched closer to peer over their shoulders. "That's the uniform, but that's not one of their trucks."

"Who makes a delivery at zero dark thirty?" TK asked incredulously.

"It doesn't happen in Chicago, that's for sure," Grainger shook his head.

"It looks like she might be pregnant, too," Amanda murmured.

"She is," Olivia confirmed with a frown. "Why does she look familiar?"

Taylor, however, blinked. "Wait a minute . . . is that – ?" She squirmed through to take a closer look, and she scoffed. "That's the woman who interrupted my broadcast the other night!"

***

"So this really did just end up like one of his novels," Peter frowned, helping distribute drinks around the restaurant table.

"Hmm," Amanda leaned back in her table, mocking a headline with her hands. "Dead in the Doorway."

TK choked on his mineral water. "Nice one," Sonny grinned.

"Yeah, not as catchy as Gutted in Glendale," Nick shook his head.

"At least he didn't end up gutted in Glendale," Kelly grumbled.

"Might've been better for all of us if he did," Elliot shrugged.

"So the woman came to his house to confront him about what happened to her husband, and when he didn't do anything, she just started breaking everything in sight?" Eddie asked in confusion.

"And when he was getting to call 911, he dropped to the ground," Nick nodded. "The woman picked up the phone, but didn't say anything. Police were on their way when we arrived."

"So because she pretended to be a delivery driver, she was let into the house," Nolan frowned as he swirled his drink around. "No breaking and entering. He had a heart condition, which explains the dropping. She didn't really kill him."

"She just left him to die," Matt pointed out.

Nolan shook his head. "I can't see a DA's office wanting to pursue that."

"And they don't," Olivia nodded. "The entire city just wants the fuss about this to go away."

"Including the money, apparently," TK grumbled.

"What did happen to the money?" Buck wondered.

"There was no money," Eddie shook his head. "Hollis was just yanking everyone's chain."

"He even got us," Elliot gestured between him and Olivia. "That's impressive."

"But why bury an empty chest?" Pelham asked, accepting the beer slid his way by Matt. "Why bury anything at all?"

"You sure you're not hiding anything, Cap?" Sylvie narrowed her eyes at Owen.

"Scout's honor," Owen held up his hand.

Elliot snorted. "You were never in the Scouts, Strand."

Owen narrowed his eyes. "Shut up."

"Well, unfortunately, the only person who could tell us the truth is dead," Nick shrugged. "And considering what a snake he was, I don't think he'd tell us the truth, anyway."

"You know, I did talk to Taylor after everyone left," Buck said. "According to her, there was one other person who knew."

"Hmm?" Sylvie raised an eyebrow.

"Jeremiah, Harcourt's assistant," Buck explained. "According to her, he swore he'd seen the treasure with his own eyes."

"So was he on the 'fake my own death' thing, too?" Kelly asked.

Both Olivia and Nick shook their heads. "No, he was just as surprised as we were to see Harcourt was alive," Nick said.

Olivia threaded her fingers together, looking down at her drink, a faraway look on her face. "Liv?" Owen prompted.

"Let's be honest here," Olivia finally said. "Who here thinks Harcourt would actually be willing to get his hands dirty to bury a chest himself?"

Nick snorted loudly. "Definitely not. Did you see his house? Complete neat freak."

"That could have been cleaning staff," Sonny pointed out.

"But the point stands," Olivia shrugged. "Harcourt didn't like to get his hands dirty . . . so someone else's hands got dirty instead."

Grainger nodded in realization. "The assistant."

"The ever-loyal assistant did the dirty work for him," Olivia confirmed. "Oh . . . and did I mention he was left out of the fake will?"

Sylvie did a double take. "I'm sorry," Peter leaned forward. "He had a fake will for his fake death?"

"And the assistant didn't get anything?" Sonny looked offended by the thought.

"Now I'm starting to agree with Buck," Eddie muttered. "We should have killed him. This guy was a real piece of work."

Elliot put down his beer, looking at Olivia. "So if Jeremiah was the only one who knew, other than Harcourt, where the treasure was buried . . . what was it that Harcourt said when you went to visit him?"

Nick cleared his throat, then mimicked a pompous voice. "'Confirms everything I ever thought about this town: full of selfish, greedy morons.'"

Amanda scowled. "I know it's bad to speak ill of the dead . . . but God, I really want to."

"Well, seems to me that Harcourt insulted the wrong people," Elliot pulled out his phone, tapping his contacts. "I'd bet his faithful assistant heard every word . . . and I wonder what he thought would be a good way to get some form of payback?" The call connected, and he smirked. "Jet!"

"Yo!" the young detective's voice responded.

"Hey, can you check into someone's financials for me?" Elliot asked. "Real quick, not an in-depth search."

"Sure," Jet answered. "Who am I finding?"

"Jeremiah Ruiz."

The clacking of keys was accompanied by Jet humming to herself, then the detective let out a triumphant sound. "I have him – whoa!"

"Let me guess," Elliot said dryly. "He has a whopping amount of money in his savings now?"

"Yeah," Jet whistled. "Where the hell does someone like this guy get five million dollars?"

A thunk down the table signaled TK's forehead hitting the surface, and as Amanda and Sonny laughed at the firefighter's expense, Elliot chuckled. "Have you not seen what's been happening around the city, Jet?"

Pause. "Wait, that treasure was real?!"

Jet's incredulous squeak made Sylvie giggle into her wine. "Well, now we definitely know it is," Elliot smiled fondly. "Any chance you know where Jeremiah ended up?"

"Uh, let me see . . . " Jet snorted loudly. "I can do a lot, Stabler, but I can't get you a flight to the Maldives."

Elliot laughed loudly. "Appreciate the honesty, Jet. Thank you."

"Any time!"

Elliot hung up, shaking his head. "The Maldives . . . "

"Considering what his boss put him through, I think I can pardon him," Olivia quipped.

"No extradition treaty," Peter added.

"But Jeremiah didn't commit a crime," Sonny pointed out.

"So what do we call him running?" Buck asked.

Nolan smirked. "A severance package."

Sylvie choked on her wine, then covered her mouth with her hand to avoid spraying it everywhere. Peter burst out laughing from her other side as the paramedic hastily swallowed before hacking, making Nolan start laughing as well. "You good, Cap?" Eddie grinned from across from her.

"Yeah!" Sylvie coughed, nodding faintly. "Just . . . " She reached out and punched Nolan in the shoulder, making the prosecutor laugh harder. "I hate you!"

"Yeah, right!" Nolan crowed.

Sylvie's face turned red, but Eddie couldn't tell if it was from a lack of oxygen or embarrassment. "Shut up!" she whined.

By that point, TK had almost fallen out of his chair, he was laughing so hard. Buck couldn't help but snicker as well, seeing the way Matt and Kelly were watching Sylvie interact with the senior prosecutor. Maybe that will finally get them in gear, he thought.

***

"Fate is laughing at me," Owen decided as he went through the instructed stretches. "Ever since I moved to Austin, I swear the gods have made me a guinea pig."

Connor couldn't help but laugh as he circled Owen, critically watching every move. "Yeah? How so?"

"Rebuilding the 126," Owen answered. "Stage 1 lung cancer. Billy Tyson trying to steal the firehouse. My son getting shot. Getting shot at with a crossbow. Getting stuck in a wildfire." He paused. "Actually, I think I can blame Sylvie for that one."

Connor snorted. "Don't say that in front of my boyfriend or hers."

Owen rolled his eyes. "We wish."

Connor turned to the tablet he had propped on the counter. "Is he usually this chatty with you, too, Dr. Jacobs?" he asked.

"More," Jacobs laughed.

"Hey!" Owen frowned at her. "I was a great patient!"

"That wasn't his question," Jacobs grinned.

Owen sighed defeatedly. "No, it wasn't."

"Well, he passes my requirements," Connor decided, signing on his clipboard. "And I've signed off on a lot of firefighters while in Chicago. Dr. Jacobs? All it needs is your confirmation."

"Send it to my office, and I'll file it right away," Jacobs nodded with a smile.

"Excellent," Connor smiled, clicking his pen and putting the paperwork down. "Congratulations, Captain Strand. You're officially cleared for the field again."

Owen grinned in delight, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. Finally, he was able to rejoin the 126. While he was eagerly anticipating taking the reins from Deputy Chief Radford, he had been on his toes waiting for the end of his required medical leave. "You're a godsend, Dr. Rhodes."

Connor smiled, turning around to let Owen dress. "You'd be surprised by the number of firefighters I've heard that from."

"Let me guess," Owen snickered. "Casey, Severide, and Sylvie?"

Connor laughed. "Casey and Severide more than Brett, believe it or not."

"Huh," Owen smirked. "Must just be Austin, then."

"No," Connor grinned. "Her visits started to increase after she became best friends with Casey and Severide."

Owen cackled. "I believe it!" When he stepped back into Connor's view, the current head of Chicago Med's emergency department turned to face him. "Thank you for this, Dr. Rhodes," he said sincerely.

"You're welcome, Captain," Connor smiled, shaking his hand. "And I hope when I'm not here at the hospital, I get to see your team in action sometime."

Owen chuckled, shrugging back into his jacket. "You got it."

He followed Connor out of the back, and as soon as he was led into the lobby, he was ambushed by a wide-eyed son and his boyfriend. "Well?" TK demanded, looking from Owen to Connor.

"Clean bill of health," Connor announced, patting Owen on the shoulder. "You just got your captain back, TK."

"Yes!" TK cheered, leaping onto Owen in a hug. "Finally!"

"No more running into burning buildings without the proper equipment, right, Owen?" Carlos grinned.

Connor looked sharply at Owen. "When was this?"

Owen coughed sheepishly. "Arsonist."

Connor sighed heavily. "Damn Severide . . . I swear, he's an arsonist magnet."

"That also ended up with our place burning to the ground," TK added with a grin.

Connor pinched the bridge of his nose. "Get out of here," he sighed.

"Thanks again!" Owen managed to wave before TK dragged him out of the waiting room.

Connor waved in reply, then shook his head and chuckled when he felt his girlfriend wind her arms around his waist. "Firefighters are the weirdest bunch I have ever met," he decided. "And our boyfriend's brother runs with an insane group of police officers."

Natalie giggled. "Suddenly, I'm so glad we're in a different hotel."

"No kidding," Connor agreed, pulling his phone from his coat and tapping out a text.

Connor: TK has acquired your package

Connor: Expect delivery to the hotel shortly

Sylvie: You're the best!

***

Owen had planned to have a meeting with Matt, Kelly, and Boden the next day to discuss whatever outcome he received from his appointment with Connor.

That meeting, apparently, was now out the window as TK and Carlos led him to the restaurant in the hotel and he was met by an explosion of cheers from the gathered firefighters and police personnel. Owen stumbled back in surprise, blinking when he saw the mass gathered. "Squad attack!" TK declared, pouncing on Owen.

Owen barely managed to hug TK in time before Buck and Sylvie followed TK's lead. "Oh, geez!" he sputtered, flailing to get his other arm around his other two kids. "Guys!"

Eddie just laughed, applauding with the rest of those gathered. "Congrats, Cap!"

"About time he got back in action!" Paul agreed.

"Wait, this means I'm back on the ladder!" Marjan pouted.

Kelly snickered, patting her on the back. "If I could steal you for Squad 3, I would."

"We'd take her in a heartbeat!" Cruz agreed.

Owen finally untangled himself from his team, but TK and Sylvie stayed tucked into his sides as he looked around. The entirety of the 126 and their families had gathered, of course, but the entirety of Firehouse 51 was included, too, and so were the NYPD teams from New York. Jet's phone was aimed at him, and he had a feeling that was yet another reaction video that was going right to Olivia and Elliot. "What is all this for?" he asked in disbelief.

"Oh, come on," Olivia scoffed, stepping forward with a wide grin. "You didn't think we'd miss a chance to celebrate, did you?"

"Since you are officially cancer-free!" Elliot whooped.

That brought about a new wave of delight from those gathered, making Owen duck his head, unable to hide his wide grin. "Best friends ever," he decided.

"And don't you dare forget it," Olivia warned before hugging him.

Elliot completed their little trio, and Owen closed his eyes. He loved Austin and the home he had made at the 126, but the familiarity of Olivia and Elliot just couldn't be matched. "Thank you," he whispered.

"We got your six, brother," Elliot promised.

"Always," Olivia agreed.

"Oh, Dad?" TK laughed. "Look out!"

The trio looked over their shoulders, then Elliot and Olivia had to jump aside so they wouldn't be run over by the excited children rushing for Owen. He laughed and dropped into a crouch so he could hug Christopher and the Vega girls at the same time. "We're glad you're OK, Owen!" Izzy beamed at him.

"You're all better now!" Evie grinned.

"And you're back at the firehouse for good," Christopher added. He paused, then amended, "Until you become chief."

Owen laughed. "Thank you," he told the kids with a smile.

"Let's party!" Amanda shouted.

***

"Captain Vega?"

Tommy turned from her conversation with Ayanna to see Gallo, Ritter, Gianna, and Violet standing behind her, Gianna and Ritter each holding something behind their backs. "Hi," she smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"Uh, nothing you can do for us," Violet shook her head.

"More like what we can do for you," Gallo nodded.

Tommy frowned in confusion, then her eyes widened when Gianna and Ritter revealed what they had been holding: two turnout boots, each filled to the top with cash. "Oh, my God!" she gasped, Ayanna's eyes wide as well. "What is this?"

"When Chief Boden told us what happened to your husband, we brainstormed to see what we could do to show our support," Ritter answered with a smile. "This was our answer."

"Yeah, at 51, whenever a member of the community needs a pick-me-up, we set out a boot to collect money," Herrmann appeared behind the younger first responders. "We set up one in the common room at 51, and another was put up at Molly's in case Intelligence and the doctors at Med wanted to contribute."

"As you can see, it was a pretty successful haul," Mouch smiled proudly.

"We kept the boots out from when we first heard about Charles to when we left to come here," Gallo explained.

"And all of it is for you and your daughters," Gianna nodded. "No give-backs."

"Oh, my – " Tommy covered her mouth with both hands, feeling her eyes brim with tears as she looked at the boots stuffed with money. She had no clue how much was in each, but considering each boot looked close to bursting . . . "I don't know what to say!"

"That's a wonderful thing you did for her," Ayanna smiled, squeezing Tommy's shoulder in support.

"Sylvie may be with the 126 now, but she's still family," Gallo told Tommy. "And 51 looks out for family."

Herrmann and Mouch looked proudly at the young firefighter, and Tommy laughed joyously. "Thank you," she told them. "Thank you so much."

***

"Thank you again for loaning me your officers, Wallace," Owen told Boden gratefully. "That saved me a heap of trouble."

"I'm glad they were useful," Boden smiled proudly at Matt and Kelly, who nodded in reply. "Though I have to say . . . should I be worried the NYPD is going to be stealing them next?"

"I just made that suggestion to Owen," Elliot grumbled, making Olivia snicker into her glass. "As far as I know, there's no one in the NYPD who needs replacements from out of town."

"Good."

Elliot gave Owen an exasperated look. "I'm not gonna hear the end of this for a while, am I?"

"Your idea put these three in the same city again," Owen gestured to Matt, Kelly, and Sylvie, the paramedic captain blushing. "Really, I think you did everyone a favor."

"Besides, it gave me and Jason a chance to run rigs at the same house for a month," Grainger grinned. "That was a blast."

"Man, I've missed the Squad days," Pelham sighed. "And while Capp, Cruz and Tony can be pains in the ass – "

"Hey," Kelly scowled as Matt laughed loudly. "Don't diss my crew like that!"

" – they're three of the best I've seen," Pelham finished with a pointed look at Kelly. "I'm glad I got to work with them."

"Well, the good news is you still can," Boden looked around the table. "Since Firehouse 40 didn't come to the conference, and Pelham floats around the department, you two are still assigned to 51 until we get back to the city. So, assuming these two don't have any objections, you'll remain on the rigs."

"Oh, I don't know," Matt smirked. "Think you can handle taking orders from me, Grainger?"

Grainger playfully saluted. "Sir, yes, sir!"

Pelham snorted. "Yeah, I think they'll be fine."

"This is still just surreal," Sylvie shook her head, pointing to the group of four. "I could have sworn when I left Chicago, you never would have gotten along."

"Oh, this one ripped into me after our first call when I subbed for Herrmann," Grainger smirked, nudging Matt in the arm.

"I was in a bad mood that day," Matt muttered.

"We were all in a bad mood that day," Kelly admitted. "Who'd have thought using words could solve that problem?"

Matt paused, beer bottle halfway to his lips, then he scowled darkly at Kelly as Grainger and Pelham burst out laughing. "You bastard."

Kelly grinned smugly. "Your bastard."

"What am I missing?" Olivia looked around the table curiously.

"Matt was an idiot and didn't get his head checked out after he went for a ride with a drunk driver," Sylvie summarized.

Elliot blinked, and Grainger snickered. "He reached through the window to pull out the keys, and the driver hit the gas. When he hit another car, Casey here went flying down the street. The car nearly hit my engine, so we stopped to help."

"Oh, ow," Olivia winced sympathetically.

Elliot frowned thoughtfully. "Was that the hit to your head that happened before I came to Austin?"

"Yeah," Matt sighed. "That was it."

Elliot stared at him. "How long did it take for you to get it checked out?!"

"Too long," Kelly deadpanned. "I had to yell at him."

"He actually took my buggy to do it on shift," Boden added.

"And his squad was preparing in case one of them murdered the other," Grainger said helpfully.

Olivia whistled. "Jesus."

"Everything turned out just fine in the end," Matt told her, smiling at Kelly. "We got our heads out of our asses."

"About damn time, too," Pelham muttered, taking a sip of his beer. "Even though I lost our bet."

Grainger patted his shoulder. "I appreciate the attempt."

"I don't want to know how many people in Chicago bet on us," Kelly sighed.

"A lot," Boden deadpanned, making Pelham choke on his beer. "And not just at 51."

Owen snorted. "Put it this way . . . I know there was a pool at the 126."

"How did I not know that?" Sylvie sputtered.

Owen gave her a knowing look. "You were involved in that pool."

Sylvie's jaw dropped, and it was Matt's turn to choke on his drink. "OK, so speaking of Brett," Grainger turned around. "How are you friends with two prosecutors?"

Sylvie closed her eyes and dropped her head onto her arms. "Why is everyone so surprised by this fact?" she complained.

"No one's surprised about Stone," Owen shook his head. "He used to work in Chicago. I think what everyone is surprised by is how quickly you and Price ended up so close."

Sylvie snorted. "The lawyer stops you from passing out and you repay him by indirectly getting him a new job, and suddenly everyone thinks you're dating."

Olivia's eyebrows shot up. "Seriously?"

"That's what Marjan and Nancy thought," Sylvie rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Nolan and I are just friends. He's pretty much the most unbiased ear I've got if I ever need to talk to someone about something. And I'm not interested in him like that."

"No?" Kelly asked.

Sylvie looked him dead in the eye. "Definitely not."

A nudge to his ribs made Grainger turn away from the show, and he raised an eyebrow at his best friend. "What?" he asked quietly.

Pelham merely inclined his head in the direction behind Boden, Matt, and Kelly, and Grainger saw what he had. Stella was at the bar, appearing to listen to Violet and Gallo as they discussed some of the treasure hunt calls. However, her eyes weren't on them – she was watching Sylvie like a hawk, her eyes narrowed.

Suddenly, his beer did not look as good as it had a few minutes ago, and Grainger swallowed, putting it down on the table. "What do we do?" Pelham asked quietly.

Grainger turned back to the table as Elliot and Olivia launched into a tale of one of their more lighthearted cases, and he sighed, seeing how into the story their friends appeared to be. "Later," he answered softly. "Tonight's for celebrating. Let's not bring down the mood." Pelham nodded in agreement, but neither man smiled as much as they had before as the celebration continued.

After all, how could they possibly smile at the thought of confronting Matt and Kelly with a potential suspect in why Sylvie left Chicago?

***

Well, boys, I suggest you figure out how to make that confrontation happen. I think an episode titled "Suspicion" is a good time to raise the point, don't you?

I had so much fun writing all the snark that happened between Matt, Kelly and Nolan, and it's just fun to write Nolan and Sylvie in preparation for their little reveal. There's going to be more with this odd quartet next episode, too. We've heard Sylvie's opinion . . . wonder what Nolan's take will be?

As I promised, we're starting with the character bios . . . and up first, one of the members of Team Dumbass!

***

Tyler

English, "maker of tiles"

Melancholic

brooding, thoughtful, sensitive

The Sage

charming, entertaining, expressive

Type 2, The Helper

demonstrative, people-pleasing, possessive

ENFP

The Champion

Slytherin

ambition, cunning, resourceful

Aquarius

the revolutionary, independent, progressive, humanitarian

Air

witty, charming, independent

The Upright Devil

addiction, secrecy, dependency, sexuality

Archetypes

Dark and Troubled Past, Dead Guy Junior, Extremely Protective Child, In the Blood, Not Good with Rejection, Parent-Child Team, Romantic Wingman, Straight Gay, Recovered Addict, Tropaholics Anonymous

Neutral Good

The Benefactor

Status

alive

***

Credit to (most of) the archetypes goes to the TV tropes website, where several of the archetypes (except for 9-1-1, that show doesn't have any for the characters yet) are already picked for the characters. I got a request for the rest of Team Dumbass, so expect Buck and Sylvie's bios to come in the next chapters!

One of the Los Angeles episodes is down, and there's two more to go! Be on the lookout for "Suspicion" soon.

graphic by marvelity