I would've loved to have this chapter done last night to celebrate the return of One Chicago (it definitely wasn't happening Monday), but geez, I felt a lot of pressure to get the majority of it right. This has what a lot of people have been waiting for, and . . . well, let's just say I spent a lot of time rereading to make sure it was what I would be satisfied with waiting to read. I'm satisfied, so I hope readers are, too.

On another note . . . I have only seen the Chicago Fire premiere, and I have decided that Squad 3 are 100% my favorite crew, and any arguments made are null and void. Honestly, the loyalty and bond those four men have with each other . . . if anything, Joe, Tony, and Capp would probably follow Kelly anywhere he went. I know I'll definitely include at least the dive rescue because now that I know how it ends, I know how I'll wrap up the Chicago plotline. I think after what I do to some characters, everyone will like the twist I write.

Oh, and welcome back 9-1-1, too. XD I didn't forget about you, I promise, you just premiered less than 24 hours after I updated the previous chapter, so there wasn't really anything I could do to celebrate you. I guess consider this chapter a "welcome back 9-1-1, One Chicago, and Law & Orders" celebration? Can that work out?

OK, that's enough. On to what everyone wants to read!

*clears throat* Grainger has the only braincell of the Chicago crews, Tommy takes control of the situation that gets dropped in her lap, the 126 is grateful TK and Buck are Dumbasser and Dumbassest, Owen learns what Buck and TK risked, the Sylverasey reunion everyone's been waiting for, and a stand-off with De Leon leads to an uproar that causes Deputy Chief Radford to make a decision.

Enjoy a dangerous combination of angst and fluff!

***

"So they just . . . drove off with Buckley, Strand, and Diaz?" Delaney asked, looking around the other Chicago firefighters. "Without saying a single word?"

"Not a word at all," Boden shook his head.

"I mean, one moment we saw the Squad firefighters getting food, but the next they were gone," Herrmann shrugged. "I guess that's when Severide grabbed them."

Grainger frowned, hands on his hips. "I know Casey and Severide are the types to go off and do their own things . . . is Squad 3 always right behind them, though?"

"Not always," Mouch shook his head. "Though they're loyal to a fault to Severide. If they followed both Severide and Casey . . . "

"Something lit a fire under their asses," Herrmann agreed.

Delaney nodded, then noted the way Grainger had stiffened. "Grainger?" he asked.

"I might have an idea," Grainger said slowly, turning to look at where the paramedics were gathered.

"Well, anything filling in would be helpful," Stella scoffed, downing the rest of her water bottle.

"When there's something to fill in, I will," Grainger countered. "Excuse me, would you?"

He turned on his heel and headed to the paramedics, making Delaney frowned. "He knows there's something to fill in."

"Oh, absolutely," Herrmann agreed.

Grainger walked up to where Maddie was still speaking quietly to Nancy, the woman with tear tracks down her face. He saw Violet with her arm around Gianna, the younger paramedic looking close to a panic attack, and he took a deep breath. "It's Brett up there, isn't it?" he asked.

All five women looked up at him sharply. Tommy folded her arms, giving him a considering look. "What brought you to that conclusion?" she asked, not confirming his suspicion nor denying it.

"I seem to be the only one who can put two and two together and get four," Grainger looked back at the Chicago firefighters. "Casey and Severide go off on their own things all the time, but when the rest of Squad 3 tags along . . . it's something pretty damn important. Based on what Strickland said, this isn't a something, this is a someone. And from the little time I've gotten to know Firehouse 51, there is only one someone all five of them would go after no matter what they were told, someone they would go after because there is no way they would take no for an answer. That's Sylvie Brett." He snorted. "Hell, if I'd come back from the lines and caught them, I'd've joined them in a heartbeat."

Nancy's eyes shifted to Violet and Gianna, and both paramedics nodded. "He's become good friends with the captain and the lieutenant," Gianna said.

Nancy took a deep breath, then nodded. "Yeah. It was Sylvie who went down with Captain Strand."

Grainger took a deep breath. "Well . . . good on Casey and Severide for blatantly ignoring De Leon."

Tommy snorted. "Good on Buck and TK for doing the same thing. De Leon isn't gonna know what hit him."

"Hopefully it'll be Radford," Nancy growled, eyes flaring. "He left one of the best paramedics in the country and a firefighter captain recognized as a national hero up on that mountain . . . and Captain Strand just got his cancer in remission!"

"We'll tackle that issue when we get to it, Nancy," Tommy soothed, putting her hand on Nancy's shoulder. "Right now, we just need to wait for the word they're coming back . . . with both captains."

Grainger snickered. "Oh, 51 is gonna be kicking themselves when they realize what idiots they are."

"Take pictures," Gianna's eyes widened. "Please, seriously, take pictures."

Grainger chuckled. "You got it, Mackey."

Tommy shook her head fondly, then all six froze when the crackle of a radio sounded. "Captain Casey to Captain Vega," a familiar voice came from the radios of the 126.

It caught the attention of everyone gathered, and Tommy and Nancy exchanged startled looks before Tommy turned her radio on. "This is Captain Vega," she said. "Go ahead, Captain Casey."

"We're coming in hot," he informed her. "The chopper pilot was DOA. We found the captains in critical condition. Strand and Diaz say it's oxygen poisoning, not to mention dehydration. TK's confirmed his father has a concussion, and he's concerned about his lungs. Captain Brett is another story." Violet and Gianna looked at each other worriedly, and surprised sounds came from 51. "She has a nasty gash on the back of her head, and Diaz has advised to treat her as if she has a concussion, too. Captain Strand woke up briefly when we found him. Captain Brett has overall been unresponsive. We need them moved into medical when we get there right away."

Tommy took a deep breath. "We'll be ready, Captain. Be ready to move them as soon as you arrive."

"Copy that. ETA three minutes."

Tommy nodded, turning around. "Nancy, are you clear to work on Captain Brett when she arrives?" she asked.

"Yes, Captain," Nancy nodded, a determined glint in her eyes.

"You'll work with Diaz," Tommy ordered, then turned to the Chicago paramedics. "I know the two of you would prefer to work on Brett, but I need your heads in the game. Captain Strand recently announced his remission from Stage 1 lung cancer, and I need your help."

"You have us, Captain," Violet promised.

"Did they just say – ?" Judd jogged over, eyes wide.

"They got them," Grainger nodded, looking around. "Your house, get two gurneys ready. The quicker we can transport them into the tent, the better."

"Copy," Judd nodded, rushing for the tent. "126! Let's go!"

Marjan, Paul, and Mateo almost crashed into each other to run after Judd, all of them putting a burst of speed on. "I'll get in contact with the other officers around the camp," Carlos said.

"Good," Grainger nodded. "Clear the way as best you can."

Carlos nodded, turning his radio on. "363-H-20 to all units, be advised, Austin Squad 9 and Chicago Squad 3 are returning to base," he said. "Ensure they have a clear path to the medical unit. They have Captain Strand and Captain Brett onboard, both in critical condition."

Confirmations came rolling in as Gallo and Ritter suddenly appeared, both pale. "They found them?" Gallo demanded, eyes wide. "And Brett's with them?"

Grainger looked past them, nodding. "Help the 126. Go!"

Gallo and Ritter disappeared just as quickly as they came, running to help Mateo when the 126 reappeared with the gurneys. The faint wail of sirens reached them, and Tommy braced herself, narrowing her eyes. "Be ready for anything, ladies."

"Copy," Nancy nodded, rubbing her hands together.

Squad 9 was the first to roll up, and it had barely stopped before Matt threw open the officer's door and dropped to the ground. Judd, Marjan, and Paul barreled past with the gurney, and Tommy strode forward. "Captain Strand?" she guessed.

"We got him," Matt nodded, opening the door to the back of the rig.

Buck shimmied his way out, and Grainger saw Capp run from the driver's seat. TK was next out, a woozy, barely awake Owen held against him. Violet and Gianna joined Tommy as Judd, Paul, and Marjan helped Buck and TK transfer Owen onto the gurney, TK holding an IV bag. "Pushing fluids?" Gianna asked, carefully taking the bag from him.

"Started it almost as soon as we started moving," TK nodded.

"Alright, let's move," Tommy ordered, removing her stethoscope from around her neck as Gianna and Violet took the gurney from the firefighters. "Nancy, you get Brett!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Nancy nodded, watching the last rig roar towards them as the three paramedics whisked Owen away.

Squad 3 hadn't even stopped before Joe practically fell out of the officer's seat. Matt and Capp appeared from nowhere, and Grainger sharply gestured for Mateo, Gallo, and Ritter to get into action. Nancy joined them in running for the rig as Joe opened the door to the back. Eddie twisted to check the drop down, and he turned back. "Keep your hand on the gauze," he ordered.

Kelly made a response of some kind, and Eddie backed out, Capp watching intently to make sure he landed on his feet. Matt moved when Eddie backed up, and Kelly shifted Sylvie's limp form to his arms, the lieutenant still holding the back of her head. Grainger heard the startled cries from 51 when they saw Sylvie covered in ash and soot, strands of her hair streaked red . . . that had to come from the gash he saw Kelly covering with gauze. "On my count," Eddie said as Kelly hopped down. "One, two, three!"

The two officers moved together, carefully placing Sylvie on the gurney that the candidates had brought. "IV in?" Nancy asked, moving across from Eddie as Capp and Tony wheeled the gurney towards the medical tent.

"It's in," Eddie nodded, holding up the bag. "She still hasn't woken up since we got her out of the mineshaft."

"The mineshaft?" Nancy asked sharply.

"That's where we found them," Matt nodded. "Abandoned mineshaft. It looks like they blew the entrance in to block the smoke from getting inside."

Nancy quietly swore. "I'll let Captain Vega know. Diaz, keep pushing those fluids into her. Get her hydrated again."

Eddie nodded, then looked at the assembled firefighters as he grasped his side of the gurney. "I'll do my best to keep everyone updated," he promised.

Buck swallowed hard. "Thank you, Eddie."

He nodded and followed Nancy into the medical tent with Sylvie. The moment they vanished from sight, it was like strings had been cut from marionettes. All seven remaining firefighters who had gone on the rescue mission seemed to lose the energy to stand, and Delaney leapt to make sure Matt didn't collapse where he stood. "Easy, Casey," he told the captain, watching the 126 and Maddie rush to make sure there were chairs and benches gathered around the medical tent. "Easy."

"Oh, my God," Matt choked out, running a hand over his face. "That was – "

"I can go my entire life without seeing that ever again," Kelly swallowed hard, Grainger's hand grounding on his shoulder.

"The ambulance crash was bad enough," Joe gulped. "That helicopter . . . "

"How did they get out of that?" TK's voice trembled, and Carlos wrapped his arms around his neck comfortingly, letting TK slump against him. "Seriously, the pilot didn't survive the crash. How did they?"

"Because Sylvie's the most badass paramedic you'll ever meet, that's how," Paul answered fiercely. "And your dad has kicked lung cancer in the ass. Nothing ever stands a chance against them."

"Just breathe, OK?" Judd crouched down, hand on TK's arm. "Breathe, little brother. You got them, and they're safe. They're with Tommy and Nancy. They're gonna be good."

TK nodded shakily, and Buck exhaled slowly. A hand on his shoulder made him almost jump out of his seat, and Bobby held up his hands. "Just me."

Buck sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sorry, Bobby."

"Hey, no, don't apologize," Bobby shook his head, sitting on Buck's left. Maddie was instantly on Buck's right. "You're worried, I startled you. Should've given you a heads up."

"Would've been nice to get a heads up about what kind of wreck we'd be pulling up to," Tony muttered.

"What happened?" Marjan looked around.

Matt sighed. "Tony and I went to get Squad 3's key from the board when I noticed Squad 9's was already missing. We met up with Buck and TK and rolled out as soon as we figured out who was riding with who. Found the crash site easy enough . . . I almost had a heart attack when TK said there was a body inside."

"I felt awful when all I felt was just relief that it wasn't Cap or Sylvie," Buck swallowed hard.

"It makes sense, Buck," Maddie squeezed his hand. "You know your family. You didn't know the pilot."

"I know," he sighed.

"Casey had us split up," Joe took over. "Diaz was the one who found their brush jackets marking the entrance of the mine. Dug our way through the wood . . . there they were trapped inside, unconscious. I heard Captain Strand wake up once." He shook his head. "Sylvie never did."

"Don't remind me," Kelly ground out.

"She ended up all the way out here?" Herrmann asked incredulously.

"Well, Austin," Paul shrugged. "Same state."

"We knew," Gallo raised his hand timidly. "I, uh . . . I follow Marjan on Instagram. She made a post a few weeks ago that had the entire firehouse included. I saw Sylvie there."

"I knew where she was going before she even left," Joe admitted. "And I never would've found out if I hadn't by chance overheard her having a conversation with Buck and TK."

"What?" TK's head shot up.

"Yeah," Joe winced. "Not my finest moment. Still, I heard 'promotion' and 'Austin' in the same sentence, and . . . well." He sighed. "She's kept me up to date about everything that's happened. She's been more quiet than usual this past week, though."

Just like that, it was like the 126 shut down further. "Yeah," Judd glowered. "There's a good reason for that."

Matt nodded. "I knew what it was the moment Sylvie basically tore into Buck from the chopper. Today was the funeral of the paramedic from the volcano, right?"

Ritter's eyes widened. "One of the paramedics was from your house?!"

"Yeah," Mateo swallowed hard. "Uh . . . he was working on a patient with Sylvie. Captain Strand came to help transfer him when the lava bomb hit."

"A lava bomb?" Stella balked.

"There was barely anything of him left," Buck swallowed. "Sylvie . . . she didn't talk to anyone afterwards. I think Cap was the only one who was even able to get her out of the station."

If Matt and Kelly didn't look pained before, they sure did then. "Oh, Sylvie," Matt's voice broke.

"Did the two of you know she was here?" Boden asked quietly.

"No," Kelly shook his head vehemently. "She never told us she was leaving. She left voicemails a few days later but never said where she was."

"She pointed out we could check the area code of the number she called from," Matt began.

"But you never thought to check?" Stella's eyebrows shot up.

"No," Matt shook his head. "We respect her privacy, Kidd. It's called basic human decency."

"Glad to know you two have it," Paul folded his arms.

Matt snorted. "When she called in hysterics right before we got deployed here, it was seriously tempting to actually look the area code up."

Joe frowned. "You never mentioned that."

Kelly sighed. "What part of 'respect her privacy' went over your head there for a moment, Cruz?"

"Well," Judd leaned back, reclining next to TK's chair. "Considering all Sylvie's said about you two . . . my opinion went up even higher just hearing that."

Grace nodded in agreement. "I'll go to the command tent and pull the 126 from the lines. Stay here with the captains."

"Thanks, Gracie," Judd smiled appreciatively.

"Mrs. Ryder?" Boden cleared his throat. "If it's possible to remove 51 from the lines as well . . . I know Casey and Severide aren't moving. I'm not inclined to, either."

"Nope," Gallo agreed.

"Not even a little bit," Ritter nodded, plopping down on the ground.

"The 118, too," Bobby said, squeezing Buck's shoulder.

Grace smiled. "I'll get right on it."

***

All three teams waited in tense silence, barely saying a word to each other. Ritter, Gallo, Mateo, Marjan, and Lena made a food and water run at some point, but barely anyone ate or drank. TK, Matt, and Kelly were the only ones who outright refused anything, despite prodding from Judd, Carlos, and Grainger to do so. Boden looked tempted to try and convince his officers to eat or drink, but a silent headshake from Bobby stopped him. Buck was grateful his former captain saw what he knew: the entire 126 had Owen and Sylvie as captains, and Sylvie was the former PIC of Firehouse 51 . . . but Owen was TK's father, and Sylvie was Matt and Kelly's best friend and, assuming Sylvie's feelings were reciprocated, more. They had the most to lose if the two captains, God forbid, didn't make it through the night.

No one knew how long it took for Tommy to emerge from the tent, but when she did, TK was on his feet so quickly, he toppled Carlos and Judd onto the ground. "Cap?" he asked expectantly.

The rest of the house was on its feet just as quickly, 51 and the 118 looking up intently. "It took a few more professionals to take a closer look at your father, just because we were cautious about his lungs," Tommy addressed TK, though her voice was raised so the rest of the house could hear. "But we all came to the same conclusion. Your father is very, very lucky to get away almost completely unscathed."

"Oh, thank God," TK collapsed back in his chair, Carlos hugging him tightly.

"So he's OK?" Marjan asked, eyes wide.

"I have Mikami and Mackey keeping an eye on him, especially his vitals," Tommy nodded. "He breathed in a lot of smoke and ash just from being out in the wildfires, but the oxygen poisoning was just as concerning. With the IVs still pumping and him being in a secure part of the tent, his lungs are clearing and he's getting back to healthy levels of hydration. If he continues to improve over the next half hour, I'll lift the sedation."

TK swallowed hard. "Thanks, Cap," he whispered.

Tommy nodded, then took a deep breath. "As for Captain Brett . . . " She turned to Matt and Kelly, clearly knowing exactly who to speak to. "She's the one we're turning most of our attention to. That wound bled through the gauze you had, and she definitely has a concussion. We're determining right now if it's Grade 2 or Grade 3. That's not even including what she inhaled while she was in the mine. From what we've determined, she was the first to lose consciousness, so we're keeping her sedated longer, just to make sure all of her levels are back to normal. Captain Nash, I know he wasn't assigned to the medical tent, but if you don't mind, Diaz is adamant about staying and treating her."

"Not at all," Bobby shook his head. "He's all yours, ma'am."

Tommy nodded, looking at TK. "I'll be back to tell you when we're lifting the sedation on Captain Strand."

"Thank you," he smiled weakly.

"Seriously, Captain," Matt nodded. "Thank you."

"They're family," Tommy said simply. "And very, very lucky." She walked back to the tent. "If Commander De Leon happens to come by, make sure he knows the four who decided to take the rigs made the right call. From what we've been able to tell . . . if another half hour had gone by, we likely would have lost both captains."

The blood drained from Kelly's face, and Matt made a sound similar to a cat being strangled. TK just whimpered and buried his face in his hands, Carlos squeezing his shoulders tightly. "That close?" Mateo whispered, eyes wide in horror. "Holy – !"

"Thank God you made that call," Herrmann looked at Matt and Kelly, swallowing hard.

"Yeah," Matt looked like he wasn't even all there. "Thank God."

***

There was a soft snort from TK later, one that made Buck lift his head from where he had ended up leaning against Bobby. "What?" he asked.

"Dad's doctor is gonna have a field day with him when she finds out what happened," TK remarked softly, snuggling into Carlos's embrace.

"I'm going to kill him," a steely voice announced, one that had all of the 126 looking up. Michelle Blake strode across the camp, eyes narrowed. "All that work I did keeping an eye on him when I was the chief paramedic of the house, and he pulls this stunt?"

"Captain Strand and Sylvie saved a kid, Michelle," Carlos soothed her, glaring when TK flinched. "They had a good reason to fly up there."

"I wouldn't have expected anything less." The entirety of the 126 scrambled to their feet, almost throwing Bobby and Carlos to the ground as Radford walked up behind Michelle, the Deputy Chief looking intimidating yet out of place in his uniform. "I find it unfortunate it took so long for them to be rescued," Radford looked around, then waved his hand. "At ease, firefighters."

"I'm wondering why it took so long, too," Michelle folded her arms, frowning. "It was twilight when the chopper went up. Deputy Chief Radford called me well past sunrise to say the rescue had just happened."

"Because it had," Buck closed his eyes, rubbing his temples.

TK looked just as drained as him. Joe took one look over at Matt and Kelly, who had drifted to sit next to each other, legs pressing against each other and heads against each other, the two close to nodding off. He finally cleared his throat and stood up. "Sir, my name is Joe Cruz. I'm Lieutenant Severide's 2IC on Chicago Squad 3. We were among the firefighters who went up the mountain against Commander De Leon's wishes."

Michelle's eyes widened, and Radford narrowed his eyes. "Against the Commander's wishes?" he repeated.

"He wasn't gonna let anyone up the mountain while it was still dark," Buck nodded. "Not in the dark, not when the chopper went down in an active burn zone . . . not when they weren't responding to any contact."

"Is he insane?" Michelle exploded, making Chimney wince and Stella look at the woman with respect. "He knew Owen had just recovered from lung cancer! And no contact? The chopper went down! Was anything gonna work where they were?"

"I think I'll be having a chat with the Commander when we're done here," Radford said coolly. "Now . . . has there been any updates?"

"None for . . . " Mouch checked his watch. "Actually, I'm not sure," he admitted. "I'm still wrapping my head around the thought of Brett being here."

"Trust me," Stella dropped her chin into her hand. "We all are."

Footsteps approached, and Bobby sat up straight. "TK."

The green-eyed firefighter's head shot up at his name, and Tommy stepped out, smiling as she removed a pair of gloves. "Good news," she said. "All of the medical professionals here agree. I've given PIC Mikami the order to lift Captain Strand's sedation."

Buck slumped against Bobby in relief, Maddie rubbing his back. "Oh, thank God."

"Thank you, Cap," TK swallowed hard. "Am I allowed to . . . I mean, can I – ?"

Tommy smiled and gestured to the tent entrance. "I think he'd appreciate seeing you and Buck when he wakes up."

"Me?" Buck blinked in surprise.

"You are coming with me even if I have to drag you by the ear," TK pointed at him threateningly.

Buck held up his hands placatingly. "No need to do that," he grumbled. "I got that enough when I was a kid."

"Hey, tell Cap we look forward to seeing him up, alright?" Judd told TK.

"I will," he nodded, then on impulse, jumped forward and hugged Tommy.

She stumbled a little, then laughed and hugged him back. "What was that for?"

"Just . . . helping and wanting to go after Commander De Leon," TK smiled bashfully.

"Oh, trust me, TK," her eyes darkened. "When he gets here, I will be giving him a piece of my mind."

Buck gulped. "Someone record that?"

"On it," Lena raised her hand.

"You're the best, Bosko!"

Lena snorted as Buck bounded after TK towards the tent. "Don't let Diaz hear you say that!"

Maddie snickered. "You'll never reach Eddie standards, Lena."

"Eh," Lena shrugged, taking a swig of her water bottle. "Your brother is basically like my brother, anyway. Annoying little brother. Not sure what I'd label him and Diaz, though."

"Don't we all wonder that," Hen said dryly.

"We didn't stop when Buck left?" Chimney raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, we heard about that," Marjan smiled sweetly. "And whose fault was that?"

Chimney froze, eyes wide. "Yeah," Judd folded his arms. "Do remember you're talking about our brother in front of us before you try and put your foot in your mouth."

Chimney looked around wildly. "I don't know what you've heard – "

"Oh, we heard enough." The ice in Nancy's voice could freeze lava, and everyone looked up to see the woman exit the medical tent, her arms folded, hands clenched into fists. "We heard you overheard a private conversation between Buck and Maddie. One that you should've backed away from, but instead you heard something so personal you thought that, for some reason, it should be shared immediately with the rest of the house. Without any context at all. Not to mention, you shared the wrong information with the house and ambushed Buck the next shift and tried to use Eddie against him, too. Which backfired, obviously." She shook her head furiously. "Honestly, I wonder how you managed to survive a twenty-hour trip here with him," she told Maddie.

Maddie smiled shyly. "Howard was in the ambulance with Hen."

"Ah," Nancy nodded. "That makes sense."

"Look, you don't know – " Chimney began.

"I know enough," Nancy snarled, making Tommy look at her, impressed, and Michelle smile proudly. "I know Buck, as a firefighter, was crucial to helping involve me and my partner with the firehouse more than we ever were before he joined. That helped me make friends with everyone in the house. He has been a support system for me ever since Tim died, and I know from his point of view what happened. I know I'm standing with my friend. I'm not gonna listen to you badmouth him."

"Atta girl, Nance," Paul nodded proudly.

"Chim," Bobby looked at Chimney firmly. "I'd watch what you say from now on." Thoroughly chastised, Chimney swallowed his pride and backed down. "Now," he turned back to Nancy, eyebrow raised. "Is there an update on Captain Brett?"

The reactions were very interesting, and Bobby hadn't even thought what he said was that noteworthy. Matt and Kelly were suddenly very much awake, the rest of Squad 3 turned in unison to Nancy, Delaney and Grainger straightened from their places behind their fellow officers, Gallo and Ritter jumped to their feet, Boden, Herrmann, and Mouch looked expectantly at the paramedic, Stella tilted her head . . . and yet the 126, Sylvie's new house, were all observing the Chicago firefighters as if they were expecting to see something. He made a note to ask Buck what that was about.

Nancy, meanwhile, smiled. "She's in much better shape now that her hydration is back. That gash in the back of her head looked much worse than it was, since head wounds bleed more than others. As for the concussion, we ruled out a Grade 3, so it's likely a Grade 2. Anyway, we plan on taking her off sedation more slowly, ease her out of it. Eddie's keeping an eye on her, and when she wakes up, he'll run through a few final checks."

"Good work, Nancy," Tommy nodded.

"In other words," Nancy's nostrils flared. "I'm happy we don't have to bury our captains right after we lost a brother."

Herrmann gulped, and Bobby saw the uneasiness on Matt and Kelly's faces. He had a feeling if it weren't for Delaney and Grainger behind them, they wouldn't be sitting upright for long. "It was a close call, then?" Radford asked.

"Very," Tommy nodded. "Captain Strand's cancer may be in remission, but his lungs are still healing. It was impressive enough that he lasted slightly longer than Captain Brett did on the mountain. If it had been any longer, both would have died."

Radford's eyes narrowed. "Thank you, Captain Vega, Paramedic Gillian."

"You're welcome, sir," Nancy nodded respectfully, turning and heading back into the medical tent.

"I'd like to take a look at Owen myself, if you don't mind?" Michelle stepped forward.

"By all means," Tommy nodded. "You know what to help us look for."

Michelle followed Tommy back into the tent, and Boden glowered. "Brett may not be 51 anymore, but I would've been arguing to bring her back down the mountain as soon as I knew she was here."

"I think these two would've stowed on the rigs, honestly," Joe pointed to Gallo and Ritter.

Ritter grinned sheepishly as Gallo shrugged unapologetically. "Guilty."

"I know Eddie was coming to ask me something right before we heard the rigs were gone," Bobby scratched the back of his head. "That must've been what he was coming to say. Throw as much authority at De Leon as possible."

"I know we weren't back from the lines yet, but we would've been there, too," Delaney gestured to Grainger, who nodded immediately. "I swear, Brett was the only sane one of your house."

Herrmann snorted loudly. "You clearly never saw her run with Casey and Severide."

"I've heard about that," Maddie looked at Matt and Kelly with a mixture of disbelief and awe. "Three arsonists? Really?"

"Casey and Brett were only there for two of them," Kelly grimaced. "The third was when I was poached by OFI."

"Still haven't forgiven Grissom for that, by the way," Matt glowered. "We were miserable for weeks."

"You were miserable? I got stuck with Seager!"

"Guess who had to wrangle those three while you were gone!"

"Hey!" Joe protested loudly, Tony and Capp looking offended. "We take after our lieutenant, thank you very much!"

Matt looked triumphantly at Kelly. "See?"

"Again," Kelly reiterated slowly. "Seager. You remember? The lieutenant that seemed to hit on me every chance she got?"

Matt paused. "Should I give that to him?"

"Considering what we always saw at Molly's?" Capp snorted. "Yes."

"Thanks, Capp," Kelly rolled his eyes. "That is so encouraging."

"See, this is why we stick together," Matt gestured between them. "So that doesn't happen again."

Kelly nodded. "Agreed."

"Talk about ride or die," Mateo whistled, impressed.

"Look that up in a dictionary," Herrmann smiled. "I guarantee you'll find those two in there."

***

Various voices swirled in Owen's head as he returned to consciousness, but he was primarily aware of two things. One was a pinch on the back of his hand that said there was an IV line there. The second was his other hand was in the grasp of another. Owen gave a timid squeeze, and there was a sudden squeeze back. "Dad?" TK's voice asked. "Dad, can you hear me?"

" . . . hear you, son," Owen croaked, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Welcome back, Captain Strand." Owen slowly opened his eyes, and he found an unfamiliar face looking down at him, but then he saw the Chicago Fire Department logo on her jacket and the silver bars on her collar, and he guessed who it was. "You gave everyone quite the scare while you were out."

"PIC Violet Mikami, I'm guessing?" Owen asked.

"Yes, sir," she nodded with a smile. "Mackey's getting Captain Vega."

"How are you feeling?" TK asked nervously from next to him. "How's your head? Your lungs?"

"TK," Owen began.

"Do you need anything? Water? Pain meds? Food?"

"TK!" he barked, and TK shut his mouth with a click. "I'm fine, son," he smiled gently. "No need to freak out."

TK's face abruptly shifted. "No need?!" he asked shrilly, making Owen wince. "Dad, you were stuck out in the wildfires for hours! Not only that, but you had to take shelter in a mineshaft! Do you know how bad that was for your lungs?!"

"Oh, I'm very aware right now," Owen rubbed his chest pointedly.

"Want help sitting up, Cap?"

Owen turned to see Buck stand from the chair at the other end of the tent, and Owen nodded. "That'd be helpful."

"Easy," Violet backed up, watching with a critical eye as TK and Buck slowly helped Owen sit up. "There we are."

"Well, look who's up!"

Owen turned to see Tommy and Michelle walk into the tent; the beaming young woman behind them in the same uniform as Violet, sans silver bars, had to be Sylvie's former partner, Gianna Mackey. "Captain Vega," he smiled. "And Michelle? What are you doing here?" He paused. "Wait a minute . . . " He squinted. "Are you here?"

TK balked. "That's concerning."

"That would likely be the concussion talking," Michelle smiled. "I'm right here, Owen."

"Here," Tommy held up a small cup filled with pain meds, then extended a water bottle. "They'll help with that headache."

Owen nodded, taking the pills and tossing them in his mouth. "When did you get here?" he asked Michelle.

"First light," Michelle answered, sitting down across from him. "Deputy Chief Radford got the call that your helicopter went down in the wildfires and you had just been recovered. I figured it would be a good idea to have someone who has treated you after fires to be here."

"She was very helpful," Tommy added. "We knew exactly what IVs and treatments to use once she got here. The sedation was much easier to lift."

Owen smiled. "Thanks, Michelle."

"Any time, Owen," she nodded.

Owen sighed, looking between TK and Buck. "Did it really take Commander De Leon that long to authorize a rescue team?"

He must have said something wrong, because TK's eyes darkened and Buck's jaw clenched. "Captain Strand," Gianna whispered. "There was no rescue team authorized. The firefighters who went to rescue you and Brett . . . they did so against De Leon's orders."

"What?" Owen's eyes widened, and he looked between his two men.

"He didn't want any firefighters going up to an active burn zone in the dark when there hadn't been any type of communication since the Mayday," Buck nodded.

Owen stared blankly. "How the hell were we supposed to communicate when nothing in the helicopter worked? And there isn't exactly stellar cell reception up on that thing!"

"Which is exactly what I said when I got here," Michelle glowered. "Radford isn't going to go lightly on De Leon when he rolls around."

"Good," Owen scowled. "I'm tempted to haul our house out of here now."

"No complaints here," TK snorted, folding his arms. "I've had enough scares out here to last a week."

Owen reached up and cupped the back of TK's neck, and he relaxed under his father's touch. "I'm right here, son," he said. "You got me out of there."

TK smiled. "If you think we were gonna leave you up there to die, you don't know us very well." He grinned. "Buck's the one who stole the key for the rig."

Owen chuckled, looking at Buck, who looked far too smug. "Atta boy, Buck."

He saluted jauntily. "Long may we ride, right?"

"Amen to that," Tommy nodded in agreement.

Owen turned to look at the youngest paramedic there. "Gianna Mackey," he smiled, watching the paramedic jolt in surprise. "Sylvie has only the best things to say about you."

Gianna flushed, pleased. "Thank you, sir," she said. "I'm glad she's in good hands here."

Owen nodded, then froze. He looked around sharply, realizing he was in a private part of the medical tent. It was just his bed in here, with the chairs TK, Buck, and Michelle were in. "Where is she?" he demanded, looking back with wide eyes.

"She's on the other side of the tent," Tommy answered. "Nancy and Firefighter Diaz are monitoring her. They're taking her off her own sedation. She should be waking soon. Diaz will give her the final checks."

Owen sighed in relief. "So who do I need to send gift baskets to or something for thanking them for going up that mountain with you boys?" he asked, looking at Buck and TK. "I assume Eddie's one."

Buck smiled. "Who do you think?"

***

The first time Sylvie woke from the sedation, she only remembered a few seconds. She remembered the pinch of an IV in her hand, the muffled voices of Nancy and another voice she had only heard over the phone and radio (or had she heard it in person, too?) before her eyes slipped shut again.

The second time she woke, she managed to stay awake. She blinked her eyes open all the way, then she groaned, feeling her head throb. "Holy shit."

"All due respect, but that is exactly what I thought when I saw you in the mineshaft." Sylvie turned her head slightly to see a face she had only seen in Buck's pictures walk over, a small cup and a water bottle in his hands. "First question, we'll see how easy this is . . . do you know who I am?"

"Eddie Diaz," Sylvie mumbled, giving a dopey smile. "Thought we'd have to twist your arm to meet you in person."

Eddie snorted, grinning as he sat down in the chair next to her cot. "Christopher still considers himself the luckiest kid on the planet to say he got to see you and TK first out of everyone."

Sylvie's smile turned more genuine. "That kid . . . I wanna meet him."

"We'll arrange that later," Eddie smiled. "You wanna try sitting up?" Sylvie nodded, and Eddie watched with careful eyes as she slowly sat up, wincing as her muscles protested. He nodded in approval when she was upright, and he handed her both objects he held. "These should help with the headache."

She nodded, sighing as she took the cup of pills. "I feel like my head just got rung like the Liberty Bell."

Eddie chuckled as she downed the pills with a gulp of water. "Well, based on what Nancy and I evaluated, you hit your head harder than Captain Strand did. It sounded like you had an initial hit even before the chopper crashed?" Sylvie nodded, wincing when it hurt her head. "Yeah, one hit followed by another likely worsened your concussion."

Sylvie grimaced. "At least I didn't hallucinate."

Eddie blinked. "Captain Strand was hallucinating?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "Uh . . . did Buck tell you about the paramedic who was killed?"

"He did," Eddie nodded, eyes softening. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," Sylvie smiled sadly. "Yeah, Owen was hallucinating Tim. It was, uh . . . interesting, to say the least. That was how he got the idea to blow the mineshaft entrance."

"Well," Eddie shook his head. "Good job, Tim." He watched her put the water bottle down, then cleared his throat. "Speaking of concussions . . . "

She sighed. "Let's get it over with."

Eddie chuckled, reaching for a penlight on the table nearby. "First question. Do you know where you are?"

"Somewhere in the medical tent at base camp," Sylvie frowned. "I've never been in one of the isolation rooms before, though."

"Good," Eddie turned back to her. "Think you're good enough to get on your feet and try a balance test?"

Sylvie snorted. "Definitely not."

"OK," he clicked the light on and held it up in front of her. She flinched at the brightness, and Eddie frowned. "Follow the light." Sylvie slowly tracked the movement, and Eddie hummed, clicking it off. "Light sensitivity, but you followed it just fine. You've got the headache . . . any sensitivity to sound?" She shook her head. "Dizziness?"

"Not much," Sylvie answered. "Mainly if I move too quickly."

"See any stars? Black spots?"

"Again, only if I move too quickly."

Eddie nodded. "Any nausea? Fatigue?"

"Definitely fatigued," Sylvie sighed, feeling like she wanted to slump back down and sleep again. "And hopefully the nausea goes away after this is done," she held up the water bottle.

"Oh, yeah, you have a concussion," Eddie whistled, standing up. "Not Grade 3, but since the helicopter went down, I'm classifying it as Grade 2." He smirked, gesturing for her hand. "Sorry, no staring at your phone and having a chaotic group chat."

Sylvie grinned, extending her hand for Eddie to check the IV line. "Buck mentioned that, then?"

"Oh, he's mentioned it," Eddie snorted. "I thought the chat he created for us in Los Angeles was crazy. Then I heard you two and TK over the phone and I realized we were nowhere near close to your level of insanity."

Sylvie giggled. "Owen's first reaction to seeing all three of us at once was to declare that Austin was doomed and he signed his death warrant, if that tells you anything."

Eddie stilled in his actions, looking at Sylvie with wide eyes. "That was his first reaction?!"

"The first one I saw and heard," Sylvie smiled innocently.

Eddie stared at her, then shook his head in disbelief. "I pity the captain now. God, how does he keep you three in check?"

"Who said he always does?" Sylvie grinned widely.

Eddie pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're gonna give me a headache," he groused.

She giggled, her grin expanding even more. "Sorry, Eddie."

He sighed, shaking his head. "I'm just gonna get this IV out of you before you say something that makes me have a heart attack."

Sylvie shook with the force of her laughter, completely missing Eddie looking towards the entrance of the tent as he carefully worked on the IV. "Sorry, am I being annoying?"

"I thought Buck was a pain in the ass," Eddie shook his head, removing the tape from her hand and picking up a piece of gauze. "Ready?"

She nodded, wincing as Eddie swiftly removed the needle and pressed the gauze down on the injection site. "I swear, I'm not as bad as just him and TK."

"Yeah, I heard you're the Dumbass and they're Dumbasser and Dumbassest," Eddie smirked. "The question everyone has is which one is which?"

"Yes," Sylvie giggled. "It varies depending on what's going on." She tilted her head. "I think Buck got the Dumbassest after he led Nancy and Tim to tackle a woman who was shooting a crossbow at me and Owen. He almost got hit in the eye with a bolt."

Eddie looked torn between looking impressed and upset. "He almost got hit by a crossbow bolt."

"He didn't mention that?"

"Oh, he mentioned the crossbow," Eddie gritted his teeth. "He did not mention that he was almost shot."

Sylvie smiled innocently. "Whoops."

Eddie shook his head. "You are a devious woman, Sylvie Brett."

"Thank you," she preened. "Buck and TK have rubbed off on me."

"You don't say," Eddie sighed, peeking under the gauze to check the injection site. He nodded in satisfaction, then swapped the gauze and started securing it in place with medical tape. "Alright, you're a paramedic captain, for the love of God. Please tell me you're going to be better at looking after yourself than Buck sometimes is."

Sylvie blinked innocently. "What, you don't trust me?"

"Something that got ingrained in me from the moment I started training to join the LAFD," Eddie gave her a knowing look. "First responders make terrible patients."

"That goes for paramedics, too." Sylvie froze at the familiar voice from the entrance of the tent, and she and Eddie looked over to see Matt with a strained smile on his face as he stepped inside. "Remember Will had to come and check you out after the ambulance crash?"

Sylvie swallowed hard, feeling her heartbeat faster at finally, finally seeing Matt again after so long . . . and that was before Kelly stepped in behind Matt. "That's not easy to forget," she managed to say.

Eddie smiled knowingly, securing the tape and standing from his seat. "I need to report everything to Captain Vega," he said. "Call if you need anything."

Sylvie nodded dazedly, experimentally opening and closing her fist. "I will."

"We'll make sure she does," Kelly said, eyes not moving from where they were locked on her.

Eddie nodded, making his way out the back of the tent, leaving the three alone. Sylvie felt small under the green gazes of Matt and Kelly, both men drinking her in as if they thought they would never see her again . . . which, given what had just occurred on the mountain, had been a very real possibility. She sank her teeth into her lip, trying hard to rein in her emotions as time seemed to freeze and she took in just how soot-covered their bush gear was, how utterly exhausted they appeared, how they refused to look away from her . . .

She shuddered, finally closing her eyes and turning her head away as the emotions of everything that had happened ever since Pilot Knob crashed down on her. "Oh, my God," she sobbed out.

Time resumed, and when there had been nobody at her side once Eddie left, Matt and Kelly were finally there after three months. "Sylvie," Kelly whispered, gently uncurling her hand from its fist to entwine their fingers, other hand curling around her neck, the skin-to-skin contacts hotter than the wildfires she had just been in the middle of. "We've got you."

"We're right here," Matt's arm wrapped securely around her waist, and as the captain's fingers gently closed around her wrist, fingertips at her pulse point, he leaned his forehead against her temple. "We're right here, Sylvie. We're not going anywhere."

Sylvie just shook her head, unable to speak as she shook with the force of her sobs. Apparently, that evening she had spent collapsed against Owen had not been all of the tears she had to shed. There were times she cursed herself for having all the emotions she went through, for caring too easily, for having such a huge heart.

Having Matt and Kelly back at her sides, the two quietly validating every feeling she had, their touches the burning contact she had missed and needed and craved for months . . . that was almost worth all the pain.

She had no clue how long they sat there squeezed on the cot, but by the time she had settled down, she realized Matt's thumb hadn't stopped brushing the pulse point in her wrist, and Kelly's own fingertips on her neck would be able to feel her pulse jumping as well. She swallowed hard, then took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "How bad was it?" she asked quietly.

Kelly's hand tightened its grip, and Sylvie gritted her teeth against the pain from the IV. "Bad," he whispered. "When TK called he found a body still inside the chopper . . . God, I think I wanted to rip the thing apart."

"It took everything not to shove in front of TK to get into that mineshaft first," Matt admitted. "It was his dad in there . . . but you were there, too, and you looked worse than you did in the ambulance crash, and then we saw the blood . . . "

Sylvie couldn't help but laugh. "I swear, I'm not trying to make you worry on purpose. This, the ambulance crash . . . " She gulped. "Leaving without a word . . . "

She felt Kelly's thumb brush the nape of her neck, just barely grazing the stitches someone (either Nancy or Eddie) had sewn to close the gash at the back of her head. "Neither of us expect you to tell us anything, Sylvie."

She gave him a knowing look. "But you've been trying to figure it out, haven't you?"

"Someone – and we know it was a someone – made you leave Chicago," Matt said flatly. "You were right. There was no way we were just going to take that and not find out what made you run."

Sylvie couldn't help the small smile that formed. "You didn't have to, though."

She felt Matt stiffen, then Kelly let go of her hand. She let out a small whine at the loss of contact, but he cupped her jaw. "Look at me," he ordered, and her eyes fluttered up to meet his. "Saying we didn't have to find out why you left is like saying we don't need oxygen," he told her bluntly. "You mean the world to us, Sylvie, and more. No matter what your reason – or reasons – for leaving, that is never going to change. We're always going to do whatever it takes to keep you with us in some form." He paused. "God, that makes me sound like a possessive bastard, doesn't it?"

"Way to go, Sev," Matt scoffed.

Sylvie just giggled. "There isn't anyone else I'd rather have be possessive bastards."

Matt laughed loudly, and Kelly grinned, kissing her temple. "Oh, we are so reminding you of that the next time you complain."

"Are you kidding me?" Sylvie snorted, grinning as she leaned into Kelly without a second thought. "Three months without you two? I'll let you be as possessive as you want."

Kelly laughed that time. "You might regret that."

"If it gets me back in touch with my two favorite people?" Sylvie looked from him to Matt. "No. I don't think I will."

Matt smiled, shaking his head. "How in the world do you exist?" Sylvie giggled and burrowed her head further into Kelly's neck, the lieutenant smug and holding her closer.

The tent rustled, and they turned to see Eddie poke his head in, looking worried. "I really don't want to disturb you three," he said, an irritated note in his voice. "But Commander De Leon just got here."

Sylvie frowned, wondering what had the firefighter on edge, but she felt Kelly tense and saw Matt's hackles raise. "Just to check in?" she asked.

"Oh," Eddie smirked. "If he's just 'checking in,' then Bobby and Chief Boden are just 'practicing their disappointed faces.'"

Sylvie looked around in confusion. "I'm . . . I don't understand."

"Let's get this over with," Matt sighed, standing up and holding out his hand.

Sylvie slipped her hand in his and slowly stood up, Kelly's hand on her back supporting her the entire time. Kelly stood up next, and Sylvie kept her hand in Matt's as the lieutenant's arm encircled her waist to help support her. "Get what over with?" she asked, looking between them. "What happened?"

Kelly grimaced. "You'll find out."

***

"You have some nerve to finally show your face right now," Judd's growl was like a grizzly's. "And I say that with all remaining respect I have for you, Commander."

"Watch your tone, Firefighter," De Leon scowled.

"I don't think I will," Judd snapped. "Not after I heard what the captains were subjected to on that damn mountain."

"Neither captain is from my department, not even in the same state, and I'm inclined to agree," Bobby slowly stood to his full height, eyes narrowed. "You had two first responders who, from what I've heard, are the best in their fields . . . and you were gonna leave them up there?"

"Until it was light enough to search for them," De Leon corrected.

"That would have been far too late, Commander." Bobby turned to see Tommy step out of the tent, her hands on her hips, Michelle by her side. Behind them came TK and Buck supporting Owen, Violet and Gianna flanking them. "Did you know that if it hadn't been for the decisions of Buckley, Strand, Captain Casey, and Lieutenant Severide to disobey your wishes and take Diaz and Squad 3 up the mountain for the captains, we wouldn't have them here right now?" Tommy tilted her head, eyebrow raised. Bobby was reminded of Athena for a split second, then decided he was happy he wasn't on the other end of Tommy's cool fury. "If they had been even minutes later, they wouldn't have survived."

There was a sharp inhale, and Bobby looked past Tommy to see Sylvie supported by Matt and Kelly, the blonde looking very pale. "He wasn't going to – ?" she began.

"No," Matt growled, eyes narrowed as Eddie and Nancy joined them. "He was gonna let you and Captain Strand rot in that mineshaft."

"You are out of line, Captain," De Leon warned.

"I'll deal with that later," Boden said in a tone that clearly said otherwise. "Even though I fully agree with Casey and Severide's decision."

Sylvie looked between the men, eyes wide. "You knew of Captain Strand's recent announcement of cancer remission," Tommy told De Leon. "That information was given to you by me personally. How did you think leaving him on that mountain surrounded by wildfires was a good idea?"

"It was the only idea, Captain Vega," De Leon narrowed his eyes. "There was no contact at all after the Mayday call."

"I wonder how that could be explained," Michelle tilted her head. "Certainly not by the . . . oh, demolished helicopter? That would have taken out the radio? And who ever heard of excellent cell reception right in the middle of wildfires?"

"I haven't!" Mateo held up his hand.

"Definitely not me," Marjan nodded.

"We're in Chicago, and we've never heard of it," Herrmann joined in.

"We're in California," Hen smirked. "Never happens."

De Leon looked past Tommy to Owen. "Then perhaps a helicopter shouldn't have gone out to begin with."

"Perhaps," Owen shrugged. "But perhaps that means a boy would have died bleeding to death on the mountain. Or burned to death. We'll never know, and I'm glad. Going up there meant we saved a life. I'm glad that isn't on my conscience."

"Yet there is one dead still," De Leon pointed out. "Your pilot didn't survive the crash."

"And I tried to see what I could do once we went down," Sylvie frowned. "There wasn't anything to be done."

De Leon scowled. "Sooner or later, you'll run out of people to hide behind while they die in your place, Captain. You got lucky."

Bobby felt ice go down his spine at his words. When he looked around, he saw all remaining blood drain from Sylvie's face, and her knees buckled from under her. In quick moves, Matt's arm was under her shoulders, and Kelly's arm, already tight around her waist, tightened even further, keeping her upright. What was confusing was the stupefied looks on the 126's faces. "What – ?" Paul began to say.

"You bastard!" Nancy screeched, eyes blazing with fury as tried lunging for the commander. Eddie quickly grabbed her arm to hold her back, looking just as bewildered. "You have no right – !"

"You dare?" Tommy strode forward, fingers curling into fists.

"You say Captain Casey is out of line, Commander?" Owen's voice was pure acid, and Bobby turned to see the captain looked ready to murder their incident commander; Buck and TK didn't look happy, either, but they appeared just as confused as the other firefighters. "What do you call that?"

"A point," De Leon answered.

Nancy snarled. "Diaz, let me go!"

"What did he mean by that?" Chimney asked, looking around.

"Cap?" Marjan swallowed.

Owen took a deep breath. "You guys know that at the frat party . . . there was one firefighter and two paramedics there. A firefighter and only one paramedic walked away. What wasn't shared until the funeral, as far as I know, is that if Tim had been too slow or hadn't chosen to move at all . . . a different paramedic would have been walked away."

Bobby frowned uneasily, not sure of the point, but Buck's face paled and TK's head whipped over to where Sylvie was attempting to hide behind Matt and Kelly. A whimper came from Gallo, and he turned to see the candidate was looking at Sylvie with wide eyes. "Wait," Stella looked over, eyes wide. "You mean – ?"

"My partner knocked Sylvie out of the way of the lava bomb," Nancy snarled, wrenching her arm out of a stunned Eddie's grasp as she stormed up to De Leon. "I would have buried a paramedic captain yesterday if it wasn't for his sacrifice . . . one you are making light of!"

"Stand down, Paramedic." Nancy whirled on Radford, but faltered when he saw the venomous look in his eyes. "Paramedic Rosewater was buried with high honors yesterday for his sacrifice to save Captain Brett's life. I am not going to have his actions be mocked in such a way by a commander I entrusted my best house to."

De Leon turned to Radford, eyes wide. "Chief – "

"You made the decision to leave Captain Strand and Captain Brett on that mountain to die," Radford said flatly. "You had at least five firefighters willing to save them, at least three trained for heavy rescue just like they would be riding into. That is at least six if you add the three who joined their commanding officer. You denied them that mission, right to the faces of their two crew members. You wanted to wait until first light when, if the strike team hadn't arrived when they did, the captains would absolutely be dead. If that is what you think one of the best paramedics in Texas and a highly-honored fire captain deserve, then I dread to think what you would do with the rest of this house. I am withdrawing Firehouse 126 and the other Austin houses from these lines immediately."

"Thank God for someone with common sense," Judd sighed, the rest of the house looking relieved beyond measure.

"Alden!" De Leon protested.

"You said yourself that the fires are being contained with the work done on the line and with the weather rolling in," Radford raised an eyebrow. "You gave the order for all out-of-state crews to depart." Bobby and Boden looked at each other in surprise; they hadn't gotten that memo yet. "The 126, the 109, and the 112 are being pulled from the lines with them." He turned around. "I want my houses on the road to Austin within the hour, if that is possible."

"Oh," Tommy grinned. "We'll make it happen, Chief."

"We'll be right behind you," Boden vowed, his glare scathing on De Leon. "51, pack up."

"You heard the Deputy Chief," Bobby turned to his crew. "We're out of here."

"Thank God," TK glared daggers at De Leon. "We're getting out of here."

"Mrs. Ryder, Officer Reyes, you're coming as well," Radford ordered. "I'll place the calls to your superiors and explain the circumstances."

"Thank you, sir," Carlos nodded gratefully, moving to help TK with Owen.

"Captain Strand?" Owen looked to his left to see Sylvie trembling, Matt and Kelly the only reasons she was still on her feet. Matt looked like he was clinging to her for dear life, and Kelly was barely able to speak. "Can we – ?"

"Take her with you," Owen nodded. "I think our houses have a lot to discuss."

"Go," Boden ordered. "Casey, with them."

"Thank you, Chief," Matt sighed in relief.

"Cap?" Eddie looked at Bobby.

"If Lieutenant Severide gives the go," Bobby understood what he wanted.

"We'll have room," Kelly nodded. "He can ride with us."

"I've got Owen," Michelle told Tommy.

She nodded in agreement. "Let's get the hell off this mountain."

"Amen to that," Gianna whispered, and Violet gave her a comforting side hug as they joined the scramble of firefighters preparing to leave.

No first responder, from Texas or out-of-state, dared to cross the three houses as they made their preparations to leave. Squad 9 was the first to roll out, Marjan in the driver's seat for Buck, who took the officer's post while TK and Michelle rode in the back with Owen. Two knocks on the driver's door of Squad 3, and Tony peeled out of the motor pool after them, Capp next to him. The two veterans of Squad 3 exchanged looks, and Capp shook his head in disgust. "The nerve," was all he could say.

Tony peered in the rearview mirror. "We've contemplated murder before," he reminded his partner.

Capp snorted. "It's tempting like you wouldn't believe."

"Let me know when you plan it," Joe said darkly. "I'll be your alibi."

Capp grinned. "Noted."

Joe turned back to where Sylvie was curled on her seat, shakes still going through her body despite Matt and Kelly bracketing her. Eddie's fingers were on her pulse point, the man watching her for any sign of a medical problem. "That close?" Matt's voice was hushed. "We were that close to losing you and not even knowing?"

Sylvie just whimpered, burying her face in her knees. "It was supposed to be me," she sobbed. "It should have been me!"

Joe's heart shattered more than it already had, and Sylvie's cries filled the rig, the paramedic inconsolable as the two officers hugged her tightly, both men looking like their entire world had almost ended. Eddie ducked his head, attempting to not be part of the moment, and Joe appreciated it more than he could say. Judging by the increased speed Tony put, his two brothers up front were just as on edge.

All three knew, after all, that had Sylvie died, Matt and Kelly would have lost their entire world because that was exactly what Sylvie was to them.

***

Oh, that ended up being more angst than fluff . . . whoops?

There should be at least one more chapter interlude before we get back into one of the actual episodes. And we'll have some guest stars for "Friends With Benefits," too!

Next chapter, expect more from the three houses, more from the central trios from each show (Owen, TK, Carlos, Buck, Eddie, Maddie, Sylvie, Matt, Kelly), and more guests showing up. After all, the Chicago Fire and Los Angeles gangs are here . . . there are a few more people who will have something to say about what happened.

graphic by marvelity