I was shooting to 4.5K, and less than 5K . . . I failed miserably. XD Have 5.4K words of me filling stuff in until I actually get to episode content, lol.

The 126 does some snooping, Buck realizes FaceTime exists, Owen's contacts in New York scare Carlos a little, Maddie gets flustered by a coffee and a pretty face, and Matt learns he's a comfortable pillow.

Enjoy!

***

"OK," Carlos leaned on his elbows. "Let me get this right . . . TK met two first responders at a train derailment in Los Angeles."

"Yes," TK nodded from next to him.

"Marjan, you know one of them because some of his more insane stunts are on Instagram."

"Yep," Marjan nodded from her perch on the arm of the chair Mateo sat on.

"And Paul, you know the other one because she works in Chicago."

"That's right," Paul nodded, coming from the kitchen with another water bottle.

Carlos sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Only you, TK."

"Hey, they are awesome!" TK protested.

"TK isn't wrong," Paul nodded. "I followed a lot of 51's calls just because it seems like they get involved in everything that happens in Chicago. I'm pretty sure Brett's the most badass paramedic the CFD has."

"And Buck's a serious daredevil," Marjan waved her phone in the air. "One with a heart of gold, from some stories that come out of Los Angeles."

"OK, let's put this to bed," Nancy took out her phone. "I'm looking them up."

"I'll look up Buck, you look up Brett?" Michelle suggested.

"Sure, Cap."

"Why did you take Buck?" TK asked curiously.

Michelle raised an eyebrow. "I can only imagine how danger friendly the two of you together would be."

"Oh, God," Owen facepalmed.

"You're one to talk, Cap!" Judd retorted.

"Buck's on another level, Cap," Marjan snickered.

Nancy made a sound of surprise, and Tim tried to crane his neck and look. "What was that about?" he asked.

"The first thing that popped up isn't about a call," Nancy swallowed. "Or . . . not only a call."

"What's it about?" Judd rested his chin on his fist.

Nancy took a deep breath. "She was one of the three who organized a mass of Chicago support for a man who lost his wife on a call."

There was silence in the loft. "She did that?" Carlos asked with wide eyes.

"I'm pulling up the story now," Nancy leaned over her phone. "OK, the man's wife died from injuries in the fire. She didn't make it through surgery. They had just moved to Chicago a month ago, and they had no family to call or personal contacts in Chicago he could turn to. Brett, Captain Casey, and Lieutenant Severide went through all of their contacts in the city, and they showed up to support him at his wife's funeral."

"Oh, my," Marjan covered her mouth, eyes watering.

Nancy turned her phone around, showing the pictures with the article. "They didn't want it to be a big deal in the news . . . but there were these two pictures."

TK leaned forward to see an old man in a suit at the front of a group of black-clad men and women; he recognized his new friend and her officers in the picture, which meant that had to be the crew of Firehouse 51 behind the man. The second picture was only of the man, Sylvie, Matt, and Kelly, Sylvie with her arm threaded in the man's elbow, her blonde hair wisping out of its updo. Kelly was on her other side, his arm around her waist, and Matt's hand was on the old man's shoulder supportively. TK swallowed. "That definitely sounds like Sylvie."

"Casey and Severide, too," Paul whispered. "Those three have hearts of gold."

"So does Buck," Michelle looked up from her phone. "Buck met a firefighter at a bar with mesothelioma. On his last trip back from the hospital, Buck made calls around the department and to retired firefighters; his captain arranged the men through the hospital to the exit when the firefighter left." She smiled fondly. "I haven't met these two, and I like them."

"Me, too," Mateo nodded. "I kind of wish TK hadn't hoarded them that first night after the derailment."

TK glared. "Buck had to rescue his ex-girlfriend's fiancé in that derailed train, then talked to her the very next day. I don't think he would have been up for socializing with other firefighters he hadn't met directly after that."

"Ooo," Owen winced. "Yeah, definitely not."

"I didn't think so," TK shook his head, reaching for his water bottle and taking a drink.

"Well, the next time you talk to Brett, tell her I say hello," Paul said. "Not sure if she'll remember where I worked, since 51 often runs calls with several houses."

"Will do," TK nodded.

***

"You smile a lot more, Buck."

Buck looked up from his phone as he finished his trek to the sofa, and he tilted his head. "What do you mean, Superman?" he asked, putting his phone on the cushion next to him as he sat down.

"That," Christopher pointed at Buck's face. "You're smiling really wide."

Buck chuckled. "I'm with my favorite kid in the world while his dad is working a last-minute shift. How could I not smile that much?"

Christopher giggled. "Because something on your phone made you smile that much. I saw it, Buck!"

Buck sighed dramatically. "Alright, kid, you caught me. Guilty as charged." He sat down next to Christopher. "There was a firefighter conference in Santa Monica a few days ago, and I met two really awesome people when they were here."

"Were you at the conference, Buck?" Christopher tilted his head.

"No, buddy," Buck shook his head. "I actually met these two at a call they helped us with. One is a firefighter, and one's a paramedic. TK and Sylvie. They . . . " He chuckled. "They fit in well with me. If your dad wasn't my best friend, I think they would be."

Christopher tilted his head. "You're still friends with my dad, though, right?"

"Of course," Buck instantly put his arm around the boy. "I promised your dad I would always have his back. That's not gonna change because I met two new friends."

"Good," Christopher nodded. "I don't want them to steal you."

Buck burst out laughing. "Don't worry, Christopher. I'm perfectly happy here with you, your dad, and the 118."

Christopher nodded, then looked up at Buck. "Can I meet them?"

Buck blinked. "You want to meet them?"

"If they're important to you, they're important to me," Christopher smiled.

And if that didn't melt Buck's heart, Buck didn't know what would. "Thank God for you, kid," he grinned widely. "Uh, you can't actually meet them in person because they had to go back home to their cities."

"Oh," Christopher's face fell. Then he perked up. "But you can call or text them, right?"

"I can," Buck nodded slowly, then picked up his phone. "Give me one second, OK?"

Golden Retriever: Are the two of you free right now?

Grumpy Cat: Define "free."

Cocker Spaniel: ^

Golden Retriever: Are the two of you able to do a FaceTime call now?

Golden Retriever: Or a few hours?

Grumpy Cat: Give me a few seconds.

Cocker Spaniel: You caught me at the right time!

Grumpy Cat: Can I invite a plus one?

Golden Retriever: I have a plus one, so of course!

Grumpy Cat: Let's go for it!

"OK," Buck exited the group chat and opened FaceTime. "Give me a few seconds . . . "

The call connected, and within seconds, TK appeared in uniform. "Hey, Buck!" he waved.

"TK!" Buck grinned. "Wait, are you on shift?"

"No, this is my 24/7 gear," TK rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'm on shift, but it's slow going right now. Mateo and Marj are on cleaning duty, Paul's cooking, and the ambulance is out on call."

"So who does that leave in the house?" Buck raised an eyebrow.

"Is that them?" a faint voice called.

"It's Buck right now!" TK shouted back. "Sorry, that's Carlos."

Buck raised an eyebrow at Christopher, who was bouncing up and down excitedly. "Looks like we're both meeting new people today, buddy."

"Wait," TK's eyes widened as Sylvie finally connected. "Who are we meeting?"

"Well, now I regret asking to wait until Emily got back," Sylvie quipped, brushing her hair behind her ear.

Buck squinted, seeing Sylvie walk through what appeared to be a packed-up living room. "Are you moving?"

"Oh, no," Sylvie shook her head, looking behind her. "Not yet."

"Not yet?" TK parroted.

"Emily is," she explained, walking into what appeared to be her bedroom. "My first roommate got married recently and moved in with his wife, and Emily is going to medical school. I don't have anyone else who needs a roommate, so I'm looking for a solo apartment while Emily prepares to move."

"That's your partner, right?" Buck asked.

"Yeah," Sylvie confirmed.

"One of the paramedics at my house is entering med school, too."

"Nice!"

"Bucky!" Christopher pawed at his arm.

"Oh, right," Buck grinned. "I have someone who as soon as I said I met new people wanted to meet you for himself."

"Oh, no," TK deadpanned.

"TK!" Sylvie scolded.

Buck arranged a few things on the coffee table, then rested his phone so it included him and Christopher on screen. "Superman, meet my new friends, TK Strand from Austin, and Sylvie Brett from Chicago," he gestured to his screen, where Sylvie had brightened and TK had grinned widely. "TK, Sylvie, meet the best kid in the world and Eddie's son, Christopher."

"Hi, Christopher!" Sylvie waved enthusiastically.

"Hey, there!" TK laughed. "We've heard a lot about you, buddy!"

"I just heard about you two," Christopher smiled. "It's nice to meet you."

"It's wonderful to meet you, too," Sylvie smiled back. "Wow, if I had a kid like you, I would absolutely talk someone's ear off about them."

TK smirked mischievously. "Well, you know what to do to get there!"

"TK Strand!" Sylvie's jaw dropped as Buck laughed hysterically. "You did not just go there!"

"Oh, he did!" Buck wheezed. "Oh, my God!"

"I just told the truth!" TK defended himself with an innocent grin.

"Babe, are you trying to kill your new friends?" a face Buck had only seen in a picture appeared behind TK.

"It's not my fault they're setting themselves up," TK looked up at him innocently.

The man in a police uniform sighed, looking at them. "I apologize for my boyfriend," he told them seriously while TK gave a Cheshire cat grin.

Buck snickered. "He's an idiot."

"My idiot, unfortunately," the officer deadpanned, giving a small wave. "I'm Carlos."

"Nice to meet you, too," Sylvie waved back. "I'm Sylvie, and that menace is Buck."

"Yeah, Sylvie's the angel out of all of us," TK pointed. "Except maybe Christopher."

"No, Christopher is a national treasure I will protect with my life," Sylvie declared.

"I take it back. I'm going with Sylvie's response."

Christopher giggled, looking up at Buck. "I like your friends."

"Thanks, bud," Buck ruffled his hair fondly. "I like them, too. I think I'll keep them."

"Oh, by the way, Sylvie," TK perked up. "Paul Strickland says hello."

"Strickland," Sylvie mumbled, then nodded. "I remember that name, yeah! I think 51 crossed with his house when we were dealing with that infection last fall."

"Infection?" Buck blinked.

"Yeah," Sylvie scowled. "A microbiologist got his funding cut and decided the best revenge was to release the infection he created on Chicago. Those were awful shifts. We barely got a few minutes between calls, we were having to deliver infected people to hospitals."

"Please tell me you got the guy," Carlos stared at her with wide eyes.

"Intelligence did," Sylvie nodded. "Full of bullets, according to them. Which is good, he tried to make one of the detectives infect himself." She sighed, putting her chin in her hand. "51 was pulled to be on duty for the Oktoberfest parade downtown, and it was a ghost town because of the infection."

"Chicago, a ghost town?" TK whistled. "What kind of infection was this?"

"Necrotizing fasciitis."

TK balked and gagged, turning away from the camera to put a hand over his mouth. "Um," Buck looked bewildered. "What's that for the people who don't speak medical jargon?"

"Seconded," Carlos put a hand on TK's shoulder.

Sylvie looked grim. "Flesh-eating bacteria."

"What?" Carlos's eyes bugged wide open.

"That doesn't sound good," Christopher remarked.

"It's really not, buddy," Sylvie shook her head.

"Really, really not," TK looked queasy.

"Especially the kind this guy created," Sylvie shuddered. "I was very glad when I heard Sergeant Voight killed him."

"Yeah, I would be, too."

Carlos shook his head in bewilderment, turning to look at TK. "How have these two not gotten you killed yet?" he asked in disbelief.

"I think only because I'm just as much a disaster as them," he responded.

"Hey!" Buck protested.

"That's Casey and Sev!" Sylvie defended herself at the same time.

"Oh, sure, blame the officers you are disasters with!"

"They drag me into it! It's never my idea!"

"Ahem," TK cleared his throat. "Ladder truck. Tsunami. Pulmonary embolism. Train derailment."

"OK, yes, I'm a disaster," Buck pinched the bridge of his nose. "Thank you for reminding me what hell my life has been the last year."

"Hey," TK leaned forward. "I'm an opioid addict who had an overdose at the start of the year, and I got shot by a kid on the job. I'm pretty sure that makes me a disaster, too."

Buck smiled weakly. "That helps."

"Wait a minute," Sylvie leaned forward, eyes wide. "You got shot?!"

TK flinched. "Did I not mention that?"

"No!"

Buck turned to Christopher, lips quirking up. "This happens a lot."

The boy just smiled up at him. "It's like listening to you." Buck tilted his head curiously. "I'm happy listening to them because it's fun!"

Buck couldn't help but grin widely, hugging Christopher around the shoulders. "You're amazing, kid."

***

"Strickland!" TK yelled when Buck ended the FaceTime call.

A clatter of pots and pans and cursing came from the kitchen, causing Judd to look up from his phone at the table. "Uh oh," he grinned.

"Paul?" Owen poked his head out of his office.

"I'm good!" the man called from the kitchen, glaring at TK as he cleaned up the mess he made. "What was that for?"

"Three words! Flesh-eating infection!"

"A what?!" Owen balked.

"Oh," Paul blinked. "Did I never mention that?"

"No!" TK glared. "I had to hear from Sylvie!"

"Yeah," Paul sighed. "That was not a fun time for Chicago. 51 was the first house to find out about it. They were at the tailgate party where the first victim appeared."

"Of course they were," TK pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let me guess. That included Casey and Severide?"

Paul smirked. "Is now a good time to mention Firehouse 51 was basically center stage in that troubling time?"

"Sylvie," TK groaned, dropping his face into his hands.

Paul chuckled. "That's what they get for being on friendly terms with the Intelligence Unit."

"Intelligence?" Owen asked, leaning against the doorframe and folding his arms.

"Yeah, they're the go-to investigative team in Chicago," Paul nodded. "Organized crime, drug traffickers, high-profile murders . . . you name it, they're in it."

"Intelligence," Owen mumbled, thinking hard. "Intelligence . . . I think I've heard of that team before."

"You ever been to Chicago, Cap?" Judd leaned back, folding his arms.

"No," Owen shook his head. "That's why I'm trying to figure out how I've heard the name."

TK scratched his head. "Now that I think about it, I've heard the name, too," he admitted. "But I have no idea why."

"Did they have any cases in New York?" Owen asked.

Paul thought hard. "Actually," he said slowly, "I think they did a few times. Not often, but a few."

And TK finally had it. "Captain Benson!" he snapped his fingers, pointing at Owen, who brightened. "They've worked with Captain Benson's squad!"

"That's it!" Owen nodded enthusiastically. "I remember her talking about them!" He snorted loudly. "Liv had . . . quite the opinion of Sergeant Voight."

Paul chortled. "Everyone has 'quite the opinion' of Sergeant Voight."

"That's reassuring," the captain deadpanned.

"He gets stuff done and he doesn't care what it takes to get there," Paul said. "Which can be both very good . . . "

"And very bad," Owen finished. "The stories Liv and I shared have told me enough about crossing that line."

"You sure sound familiar with this Captain Benson," Judd remarked.

Carlos had been silent up until that point. "Would this Captain Benson happen to be Captain Olivia Benson of the Manhattan Special Victims Unit?" he asked.

"That's her," Owen nodded.

Carlos whistled, impressed. "She's been with that squad for years, she's basically NYPD royalty. Not to mention she's worked with and trained some of the best detectives in that department. One of them even passed the bar exam to practice as a lawyer if he wanted. And she's dating one of the most ruthless attorneys there."

"Oh, we know all about that fallout," TK made a face. "Rob Miller . . . that was a mess."

"But man, has Liv got herself a keeper," Owen shook his head, looking impressed. "For a man like that to risk his entire career because of a threat to her and her son . . . no one is ever going to want to mess with the power couple that is Olivia Benson and Peter Stone."

"And they're good-looking together, too," TK smirked.

Owen rolled his eyes. "There's that, yes. I'm thinking no one wants to screw with the team that took down Tobias Moore."

Paul whistled, eyes wide. "That was them?"

"That was them," Owen nodded. "That was quite the tale over beers."

"How did you meet Benson?" Carlos asked, giving Owen his full attention.

"It was after 9/11," Owen answered, folding his arms. "There were a few times I went out to bars for a drink. I ran into Liv and her former partner, Elliot Stabler, after one of their cases. Sometimes, my crew and her squad would run into each other on calls. Over time, we arranged meetings . . . oh, once every few months? Just to catch up and check in with each other. Sometimes, I just needed an ear from someone outside the department."

"Always a good idea, Cap," Judd nodded.

"Then Stabler left the force, and Liv turned up at our door," Owen nodded to TK. "That's when we started meeting up more often. One of the few things I regret about leaving New York was leaving the friends we made at her precinct."

"Carisi always made the best food," TK recalled with a grin.

"He's Italian," Owen deadpanned, making Paul snicker. "That's in his blood."

"Touché," TK sighed. "Man, Rollins is one lucky woman. If I hadn't been stuck with Alex, I would've loved to jump him."

Carlos looked at TK worriedly. "Should I be concerned?"

"Absolutely not, babe," TK pecked him on the lips. "Because Rollins has had Carisi wrapped around her finger since her first daughter was born."

"Where's the lie?" Owen grinned, brushing his hands off and walking back into his office for his phone. "Jesse had us wrapped around her finger, too."

"So let me get this straight, Cap," Paul leaned on the table. "You basically have one of, if not the, most influential police squads in the country at your beck and call if needed?"

Owen paused in picking up his phone. "I probably do," he grinned.

"That doesn't even begin to cover it," TK rolled his eyes. "I mean, the NYPD was on good terms with NYFD before Benson took over the precinct, but once she did? I think most people were scared about what would happen if she and Dad teamed up on anything. Her squad and the 252 were all buddy-buddy."

"Oh, that's not terrifying at all," Carlos balked.

Owen's grin became a mischievous smirk. "Better treat my son right, Reyes."

"Yes, sir," he gulped.

***

Maddie swiped through the pictures on her phone the next morning as she waited in line for her coffee to be finished. Josh's words kept ringing in her head from before, and no matter what she tried, she couldn't get it to stop.

"He's lucky that no matter what, he's got you."

"Buckley?"

Maddie shrieked and fumbled her phone, dropping it in her scramble to try and hold onto it. A well-manicured hand caught it, and Maddie sighed in relief. "Thank you so much," she brushed her hair out of her face, taking her phone back.

"You're welcome," the gorgeous redhead smiled in response, holding her coffee out for her, too. "You were lost in thought, and you looked just like Buck, so I thought it was you."

Maddie blinked, taking her coffee slowly. "How do you know my brother?" she asked. She blinked again, slowly looking the stunning woman in a bronze pantsuit, her catlike green eyes glittering in amusement as she obviously waited for a lightbulb moment. When it hit, Maddie's eyes widened. "Oh, my God!"

"Sorry," the woman laughed, brushing her shining red hair out of her face. "It's just funny when people see me in places like this." She extended her hand. "Taylor Kelly."

"Wow," Maddie shifted her phone under her arm and shook her hand. "I remember the segment you did on the 118, but I never thought I would actually meet you."

"Yeah," Taylor made a face. "I was . . . not the kindest person back then."

"So I was told."

Taylor chuckled. "Yeah, I think that earned me a banishment from the firehouse. It doesn't surprise me. Two years later, I look back on that and am not proud of that moment. There's a difference between having a good story and being a good person."

Maddie looked at her appraisingly. "Not many people have that realization in their careers."

"I just sometimes kick myself for realizing it later than I should have," Taylor admitted. "Buck is a great guy."

"He is," Maddie agreed. "But I think I'm a bit biased."

"You're forgiven," Taylor winked.

Maddie blushed and ducked her head, wishing her hair could completely hide her red cheeks. She hadn't felt this thrown by a woman since she had gotten a crush on one of the girls she partnered with for a class in school. "Sorry," she cleared her throat, checking the time. "My shift at the call center starts in thirty minutes, and if I'm gonna beat the traffic – "

"Of course, go," Taylor stepped aside immediately.

"Thank you," Maddie rushed out, taking a sip of her coffee and hurrying for the door. "And thanks for saving my phone!"

"Always happy to help a beautiful woman!" Taylor gave her a grin.

Maddie almost dropped her phone again in her rush to get out of the coffee shop, certain her face was on fire. Oh, no wonder Buck had liked that reporter.

***

Gallo's quiet snoring from where he had fallen asleep at the kitchen table was, in a way, soothing background noise for Sylvie as she sat cross-legged in Mouch's spot, the man himself in the bunkroom sleeping away like most of the house. The entire house had been called to a three-alarm fire a few hours ago, and almost immediately, Squad had been called for reinforcements at another call. When Sylvie and Emily had gotten back to 51 after delivering their patients to Chicago Med, they had found the crews of 51 and 81 in various places around the house asleep; Gallo hadn't even made it to the bunkroom.

Emily had crashed and Sylvie had to fill out her reports, and once that was done, she still couldn't sleep. That led her to where she was now, a folder of apartments in her lap and a stack of résumés in her hand, staring at the one Joe had recommended to her.

She almost didn't see the white captain's polo in front of her before the cushions next to her sank under the weight of one of her best friends. "How long has Gallo been out like that?" Matt asked quietly.

"He was like that when Foster and I came back," Sylvie's lips curled up in a smile. "Reports?"

"Yeah, I just got finished," Matt checked his watch. "It always takes a while to come down from a fire high."

"I get that," Sylvie nodded, tongue between her teeth as she read the paper.

Matt put his feet up on the coffee table, reclining against the back of the couch. "Whatcha looking at?"

"One of the paramedics," Sylvie answered. "Joe asked me to take a look at this one and . . . I actually like her."

"Really?" Matt smiled. "Good."

Sylvie nodded, then was distracted when her phone buzzed against her leg. She shifted to pull it out, then smiled at the texts she got.

Grumpy Cat: My dad scared my boyfriend while I was on shift last night.

Golden Retriever: Isn't that his job?

Golden Retriever: The "scaring the boyfriend."

Golden Retriever: Not necessarily on shift.

Grumpy Cat: Oh, no.

Grumpy Cat: He pulled the "I have police contacts that scare you" card.

Golden Retriever: How scary are the contacts?

Grumpy Cat: My dad has known the captain of the precinct for nearly two decades.

Golden Retriever: Holy shit.

Grumpy Cat: And two of her detectives were really good friends of mine.

Grumpy Cat: Poor Carlos.

Grumpy Cat: If you look up "deer in headlights," his expression would be there.

Golden Retriever: Poor Carlos.

Grumpy Cat: Also, Sylvie?

Grumpy Cat: We found out what you, Casey, and Severide did for that man who lost his wife early this year.

Grumpy Cat: You are too precious for this world.

Sylvie smiled softly, texting back.

Cocker Spaniel: Chicago shows up for each other.

Cocker Spaniel: That's what we did.

Golden Retriever: This is why we call you an angel.

Sylvie giggled and put her phone down, then shuffled and put her feet up on the coffee table over Matt's. The captain didn't complain; instead, he put his arm up on the back of the couch, allowing Sylvie to rest her head against him as she continued to read. "Everything good?" he asked.

Sylvie hummed noncommittedly, thinking back to that day.

***

" . . . go with Gorsch?" Matt was asking Kelly as Sylvie headed for the officer quarters, Dusty the cat in her arms.

"He won't be causing any problems," Kelly's smirk was obvious as Sylvie stepped into Matt's office.

Matt looked up from his bunk, Kelly leaning against the wall. "Hey," Matt smiled. "How's the little boy from the river call?"

"Good as new," Sylvie nodded. "Handling it better than his mom, actually."

"And Dusty?" Kelly raised an eyebrow at the cat.

Sylvie smiled at him. "I wanna take him home and keep him forever."

Kelly snorted. "Did you consult Mr. Larson on that?"

"Yeah, I don't think he'd agree," Matt laughed.

Sylvie nodded in agreement, then bit her lip. "Um, speaking of . . . Matt, do you still have any press contacts from your alderman days?"

Matt raised an eyebrow. "Sure. What do you have in mind?"

***

Tim Larson's face of surprise as she walked into the empty funeral home, Matt and Kelly her shadows, would remain in Sylvie's head for days. The pure shock at seeing them cut right into her heart. "Oh," he mumbled, standing up to greet them. "You didn't have to come."

Sylvie shook her head before he finished speaking, taking his hands in hers. "Chicago shows up for each other," she whispered, squeezing comfortingly.

She gave him a hug, then Matt and Kelly stepped forward to offer their condolences. When they finished, Joe led the rest of 51 through the doors. They were followed immediately by Jay Halstead and Kim Burgess; just past them were Will Halstead and Maggie Lockwood. Tim watched with widening eyes as other members of the CFD, CPD, and staff members from Chicago Med led other Chicago residents into the room, every spot filled until there was barely any room for the press contacts Matt had reached out to. Even Commissioner Grissom had attended; thanks to Kelly's in with him, several Chicago firehouses had appeared, including Firehouse 20 with Captain Delaney and PIC Mikami at their head.

Tim finally broke down in tears, the weight of everyone's support finally crashing into him. Sylvie slipped her arm through his, squeezing in support as he sat down in front of the preacher. The man started the Bible passages as Sylvie sat with Tim, Kelly's hand supportive on her back. Tony pulled a chair for Kelly to sit in next to her as Matt took the other open spot next to Tim. The three sat as close to Tim as they could get, never letting him doubt how much they were going to support him.

Chicago indeed showed up for each other.

***

"Yeah," Sylvie mumbled, feeling herself start to drift off. "We're good people."

Matt smiled down at her, watching her eyes droop. "And you're the best of them."

By the time Kelly led Squad 3 into the common room, the paramedic was completely out, nose buried in Matt's neck. Kelly halted when he saw them, and Matt held a finger to his lips before using the hand that had been stroking her hair to point at a sleeping Sylvie. Kelly's lips quirked up in a smirk, and he let the other Squad members head to the bunkroom before he walked over to join Matt on his other side. "How long has she been out?" he whispered.

"Not long," Matt shook his head, returning to stroking her hair. "Not long after I came in here." He snorted softly. "Actually, almost as soon as she started laying on me."

Kelly raised an eyebrow. "Are you complaining?"

"God, no," Matt shook his head. "She can use me as a pillow whenever she wants if that's what makes her comfortable." He shifted so he could put his arm around her comfortably, and Sylvie shuffled closer in her sleep. "She's really tactile when she's comfortable with someone," he noted.

Kelly smiled. "I'm just glad that's us."

"Yeah," Matt nodded in agreement. "Me, too." He paused when Kelly, too, swung his feet up onto the coffee table and leaned against him. "Yes?"

"What?" Kelly smirked innocently. "You are comfy."

Matt rolled his eyes. "So it's use me as a pillow day?"

"Sylvie's already doing it."

He sighed. "I'm not waking you up if you end up aching."

Kelly snorted. "What a good friend you are."

"The best, thank you very much," Matt sniffed pompously.

Kelly chuckled. "You really are."

When Matt heard his breathing even out, he shook his head fondly and reached for the paper that Sylvie still held in her hand. The paramedic she was thinking about taking on, if he remembered correctly. He tilted his head, reaching the qualifications with interest. "Gianna Mackey," he read the name.

There were no calls the rest of the evening, and eventually, even Matt ended up asleep in the common room, his head resting on top of Sylvie's. When Tony and Capp emerged from the bunkroom for a snack, they froze in the doorway, eyes wide at the group on the couch. "What izzit?" Herrmann mumbled as he walked into them, only to pause when he, too, saw them. "Aw, that's just precious."

Joe couldn't keep a smile off his face as he looked at the limbs on the couch. Somehow, their legs had gotten tangled together, and he couldn't tell how that had happened. One of Sylvie's papers was in Matt's hand, which had ended up around Sylvie's back. At some point, Sylvie had thrown an arm across Matt's waist; as if knowing she was there, one of Kelly's hands had met hers, their fingers interlocked. They were dead to the world in what looked to be uncomfortable to them, but completely comfortable to the three on the couch. "That's adorable," Capp gave a goofy grin.

Herrmann searched through the basket at the end of the couch, finally coming up with a blanket he knew stretched the length of the couch. He tossed the other end to Tony, who helped him carefully cover the three best friends up. "Sleep tight, you three," the lieutenant smiled wistfully.

Joe maneuvered around them to take a picture with his phone, smiling at how peaceful they looked. He was sending that to Chloe as soon as he could. "Buenas noches," he whispered, dropping a quick kiss on Sylvie's head.

She made a small noise but didn't wake; if anything, she tried to burrow closer to Matt. Joe smiled and tiptoed past them, Tony and Capp following. They planted themselves at the table, ignoring a sleeping Gallo. They had the doors to the apparatus floor, the locker rooms, and the bunkroom in their sights.

No one was disturbing Matt, Kelly, or Sylvie on their watch.

***

Happy Sylverasey. :) I'm not looking forward to splitting them up. Well, I kind of am because that reunites Sylvie with TK and Buck . . . but she's away from her boys. The wildfires are gonna be fun when that comes around.

And Taylor Kelly's back a little early! I loved her character this season on 9-1-1, so I thought I would bring her back while Buck is still in Los Angeles . . . and give you guys a bit of Bisexual Buckleys while I can. I will also tell you Ana will be making an appearance, and while I'm neutral about Eddie/Ana, they will not be happening in this book as I figure Eddie will have his head on straight before that ever happens. While I also don't mind reading Ana bashing, I'm neutral/fond of her, so she will be portrayed in a better light here.

Poor Stella, getting all the hate from me when I normally love her. XD Sorry, girl, I promise I'm nicer to you in "Warriors."

And of course since the Chicagos exist in this universe, SVU exists too, and since they're in New York, it's completely possible they would have run into the Strands at some point. The idea of Liv and Owen being power captains and best friends? With their fire son/detective children also being best friends? That needed to be written. I had it in my head at some point, too, that Owen/Bobby/Liv would be an awesome power throuple . . . I have a thing for poly shipping, apparently.

And that's enough of my spiel. XD We're getting closer to a time jump! Maybe another chapter or so to cover Sylvie moving to her new apartment, then we'll get into more canon stuff . . . CF Season 9 is approaching!

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