30 days. He was at the halfway mark. He was 30 days in and had 30 days left until he could return to somewhat normality. Chase finished packing his bag before he walked out to the front desk with his facility nurse, or 'buddy' as they called them, Jason.
"So you have my number. Call me anytime. And you have your sponsors as well." Jason told Chase as he signed his exit paperwork. Chase nodded before he handed over the clipboard.
"Well, here's to freedom. Well done mate." Jason held out his hand. Chase smiled and shook it.
"Thanks for everything." He said truthfully. He hadn't agreed to rehab in the beginning, but he soon found it very helpful and knew deep down that it had been the right thing for him. Jason typed in his code and opened the door. They said their farewells before Chase was free to leave. He walked through the reception area and out of the main doors. He smiled as he found Olivia leaning against her car out front. As soon as she saw him she pushed herself off her car and started walking over to him. No words needed to be shared between the two friends as they pulled each other into a tight embrace.
"Ready to go home?" Olivia asked him.
"Very ready." Chase nodded happily.
"I was thinking we'd stop for a burger on the way back. Are you hungry?" Olivia asked him once they were in the car.
"Always." He laughed. Olivia laughed as she switched on the engine, pulled on her seatbelt before she pulled out of the facility carpark and onto the main road back towards town. They stopped for food on the way home before Olivia took Chase back to her place. She showed him around, even though he'd already been there before, before she left him to get settled. She had brought a bunch of stuff over from his apartment to make the next couple of weeks easier for him. Now was the start of the next 30 days.

Week One:

Now was the start of a long wait to see whether he could go back on duty. 60 days. That's the minimum amount of time he had to be clean before the department would even consider letting him back to work. He was halfway there. 30 days in. The first 30 days had probably been the hardest as he went through rehab, alone. Besides a visit from Olivia halfway through, it had been something he had to do alone and deep down he knew that. Now he was out and back home, well staying with Olivia and Antonio, the real journey started. He was on week one back in the real world. Probably the hardest week for Chase. Now started the readjustment period of getting his life back on track after rehab. He was glad that Olivia had done what she did and he had had plenty of time to think about his actions in session back in rehab. He had gotten into a routine pretty quickly since coming out. He would get up at 7am, nothing new for him even on his days off, before going for a run. After running for about an hour he would come home and shower before having some breakfast whilst watching the news. If Olivia was off shift they would do something together whether it was just going for a walk or going for some lunch. When she was on shift he'd make them all something to eat for when everyone was home. In his eyes it was the least he could do whilst he was staying with them. He still hadn't seen anyone from 51. He wanted to give himself a little more time before agreeing to that.

Week Two:

Now it was hitting Chase that even when he reached the 60 day clean mark, that didn't necessarily mean he would be back to work. It all depended on what terms the department and Boden agreed on. And that made him nervous. He completely understood their point of view on everything but he wanted nothing more than to be back on the ambulance with Heidi, doing what he did best. Olivia had woken from her nap after her long shift to find Chase sitting out on the back porch steps. She pulled on her hoodie and grabbed a cup of coffee before she went outside to join him.
"You alright?" She asked as she sat down next to him on the step.
"Yeah, I just wanted some fresh air." Chase nodded.
"It's kinda cold out here." Olivia said quietly.
"I'm fine." Chase reassured her. A few moments of silence passed before Chase spoke up again.
"They're gonna let me back right? After everything...I've done everything they wanted. Rehab, getting a sponsor...they have to right?" Chase asked her, taking Liv by surprise slightly.
"I think they will. They have no reason not to Chase. Like you said you've done everything they've asked and you're doing really well." Olivia said to her friend. Chase just nodded.
"It just feels like forever." Chase sighed.
"Hey 60-"
"60 days...I know." Chase nodded, cutting her off.
"You've made it this far, Chase, you'll be back before you know it." Olivia reminded her friend, patting him on the shoulder as she stood up from the step and headed back inside the house, giving him some alone time outside as she could sense he didn't want to talk anymore.

Week Three:

The busiest yet best week. Chase had somehow managed to arrange plans for every single day of the week, Monday through to Sunday. Some plans bigger than others.

On Monday, he met up with his sponsor that he had met whilst in rehab. His sponsor, Markus, lived just a few blocks away from him and was a point of contact for Chase day or night if he needed someone other than anyone from 51 to talk to. He didn't see much point in a sponsor in the beginning but had quickly come to terms about it when he realised it meant he didn't have to burden Olivia or anyone else for that matter, with his issues anymore.

Tuesday, a day of two smaller events. First he went to breakfast with Olivia after her shift before he went for his physical with the department to ensure he was fit to return to work when the time came.

Wednesday, he had a meeting downtown with Boden, Severide, Casey and Oliva all present as ranking officers of his firehouse. Things were looking up. The department had looked at the situation and agreed that when Chase hit the 60 days mark, he could return to full duties on ambo with some strict rules in place. He would have random drug tests as well as scheduled weekly ones for up to six months after his return and during that time he was on a probationary period. He would also have to have checks in with Liv as his lieutenant at the start and end of every shift. And finally, whilst Chase was on probation, Heidi would act as the P.I.C on 67 considering she had enough experience to do so.

Thursday. The day he was probably most nervous yet most existed for. He had planned to go for lunch and meet up with Heidi and it was the first time they would be seeing each other in person since everything had happened. They had text and called but it wasn't the same. His nerves had all but washed away as soon as they sat down at the table together. It felt good to see her and talk to his best friend again.

Friday was a little more chilled. He was going round to Jay's place to watch the game with him and his brother. Of course whilst they were sipping away on beers, Chase stuck to the soft drinks as part of his 60 days rules. It was nice to hang out with the Halstead brothers. It was something they used to do often before their schedules had started to collide a lot more and they had been unable to meet like they once did.

Saturday - He was once again out with Olivia as they decided to clear out his apartment from top to bottom and give it a proper spring clean with Antonio's help. They started at 8am and ran right through to almost 9pm but they got the job done. Every inch of his apartment had been cleared, cleaned or reorganised and it meant it felt ready to come back to the apartment.

Sunday, probably the biggest day of them all. He was going to 51 to see everyone for the first time since everything happened. It felt great to be back there. Be back home. It didn't feel off or awkward in any way shape or form which felt nice. He had been nervous to go back there but looking back on those feelings, he had no idea why because his family had welcomed him back in with open and loving arms.

Week Four...the final home stretch:

The final 7 days until he hit the 60 days mark. He was nervous yet ready to get back to normal. After 3 weeks with Antonio and Olivia, it was finally time for the final adjustment stage before his imminent return to work. Going back to his apartment. Was he nervous? Sure? Was he excited though? Yes, definitely. It was a major step in the journey back to normality. He needed to do this to feel like himself again and to prove to himself that he could. Deep down he knew he could but that didn't mean he wasn't scared. Being alone meant he would have a lot of time to think and that wasn't always a good thing.

The Big Day...

68 days. That's how long it had been since Chase had last stepped foot into the firehouse for a shift. 68 long days. He was practically bursting at the seams to get back. The department had taken their time to get all the checks and paperwork completed but Chase had received the official go ahead for his return to work two days ago and now there he was. Standing outside the firehouse with his bag slung over his shoulder. He was having deja vu. It felt like his first day at 51 all over again.
"Ready for today partner?" A very familiar voice asked, starling Chase slightly as she had made a silent approach.
"Ready and raring to go." Chase smiled happily.
"Good to have you back bestie." Heidi grinned happily as she took hold of his arm happily in hers. Chase smiled as they started walking into the firehouse together. Something of which a few weeks ago he thought he might never do again and yet here he was. Proving to himself and everyone else that he was ready to get back to what he does best.

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A/N - So Chase is back!!! I went for a different approach with this chapter so the idea didn't long out too much as we're very close to the end of this book before the sequel! Let me know what you thought and what you think is going to happen next! :)