☆ prologue ☆
༄ WELCOME TO CHICAGO

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Showing up in Chicago, her hometown, without telling any of her family members didn't seem like the smartest idea Malia had ever had. After her mother's death, when she finally turned 18, Malia ran away from home, ready for a fresh start in California, where her dream university was located. Her dreams faded quickly after she realized that a career in medicine wasn't for her. She still wanted to save and help people, but she also needed some action. The idea of spending years in classrooms, studying, was not at all what she wanted.

That's why she decided to become a paramedic. And now, after two years of practice in Los Angeles, it seemed like the best time for her to return home. She wanted to take it one step at a time, to see if she really fit in Chicago. Besides, the idea of facing her father wasn't too much to her liking. Especially after the way things had ended between them.

Walking into a new firehouse felt like the first day at a new school. Backpack over her shoulder, Malia walked into Firehouse 51 - the best in Chicago, or so she'd heard.

The doors to the truck parking lot were wide open so she could see the vehicles clearly. They were somewhat different from those in Los Angeles, especially the ambulance, as these were usually different colors depending on the location. In Chicago they had always been white, but she was used to the California red ones.

The eyes of a firefighter soon landed to her. He was standing next to truck 81, bending over a dog, which she assumed was the firehouse mascot.

"Can I help you?" The man stood up and walked toward her.

"Hi. I'm Malia." She introduced herself, with a smile on her lips. "I'm looking for Chief Boden."

"Of course. Come, I'll walk with you." He pointed toward the main building before starting to walk.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

The young girl's blue eyes watch the place with interest. There was no doubt that the firehouses in Chicago were very different from those in Los Angeles. There they were much more smaller.

The break room was the first thing she saw. There were the rest of the firefighters on that shift, having breakfast and talking to each other. The atmosphere seemed pleasant and even familiar.

"I didn't remember Chicago winters being so cold." She said, breaking the silence between her and the firefighter who was leading her to the chief's office. "Although, of course, I've been in L.A. for two years."

"Yeah, the temperatures are very different." He admitted. Malia beat herself up internally for bringing up such a typical and uninteresting topic of conversation between strangers. She certainly wasn't making the first impression she wanted to make. "What made you come back here?"

"Well... I don't know yet." She admitted, shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, I hope you find out. We're here, it's right over there." He pointed as they entered the firehouse's administration area. "Connie will escort you inside."

A woman, who must be the boss's secretary, approached them.

"Thank you..."

"Herrmann." He introduced himself.

"Thank you very much, Herrmann." She smiled.

"My pleasure." He replied, before turning to walk away.

Connie gestured for her to follow her into the boss's office, who, as soon as he notices the door being open, looked up at her.

"Chief, the new paramedic just arrived." Connie announced.

"Thank you, Connie." He said before turning his gaze to the young girl.

The woman stepped aside, allowing Malia to enter the office.

"Chief Boden, it's a pleasure." Malia said, shaking his hand.

"Likewise. I've heard a lot of good things about you." He remarked, pointing to the chairs in front of his desk and inviting her to sit down. Malia decided to accept the invitation. "See, a few months ago we lost one of our paramedics in a fire."

"Yes, I heard. I'm sorry about that."

Boden nodded in appreciation.

"It's been complicated. There have been a lot of rotations on the ambulance." He explained. "I was recently recommended to have three paramedics on one ambulance. I thought it might be a good idea to try it, to give new people a chance."

"It's an honor to be here, sir." She sincerely assured him. "Firehouse 51, everyone in Chicago has heard of it. I really hope I can fit in here."

"I'm sure you will. I've already talked to your ambulance partners, they're well aware of everything and will be happy to show you around on your first day." He said, getting back to his feet. Malia does the same.

"Thank you very much, chief." She smiled slightly before shaking his hand again, this time as a farewell.

As Malia left the office, she soon met the kindly gaze of Herrmann once again, who seemed to be waiting for her at the hallway door.

"New paramedic. I just heard." He said as she approached him. "You'll love it here, believe me. I'm on truck 81, but I'll walk you to the locker room and show you around the firehouse."

"Thanks."

"Hey, guys." Herrmann turned to the left, walking into the break room, catching everyone's attention. "This is Malia, the new paramedic from Ambulance 61. Be nice to her, will you, and welcome her."

"New paramedic?" The man sitting on the living room couch shared a glance with another firefighter, both looking equally confused.

"I've heard of it, in some parks they have three people in the ambulance." A woman commented.

"In Texas it's common." Another firefighter pointed out.

"Yeah, right."

"It's true. I read about it."

"Hey." Herrmann said catching their attention and interrupting their small conversation. "I said to be nice."

"Herrmann is right. It's a pleasure, Malia. Matt Casey, lieutenant of truck 81." A blond-haired man about her brother's age approached her. A friendly smile on his lips as he stretched out his hand toward her.

"Likewise, lieutenant." Malia didn't toke long to shake his hand.

"Let's see, that's Mouch sitting there." Herrmann pointed to the man sitting on the couch, who raised his hand slightly to greet her. Malia mimicked his gesture. "That's Gabriella Dawson. Otis, Cruz. And Squad 3 Lieutenant Kelly Severide." He pointed to each of the people in the room. "And last but not least, your partners, Brett and Mills."

"My pleasure." Malia smiled at them, who seemed to be, next to her, the youngest in the park. "I'm really looking forward on working with you guys."

"Likewise." The blonde smiled. "You can call me Sylvie."

After that quick introduction, Sylvie herself decided to be the one to escort her to the locker room, telling her where everything was located and showing her which would be her locker and bed for the nights she would be on shift. Barely five minutes later, Malia had already changed her clothes and was ready for work.

"Hey, newbie." A firefighter, whom Malia recognized as Otis, caught her attention when he saw her re-enter the break room.

"Malia." She was quick to remind him of her name.

"Malia." He repeated, giving her an apologetic look. "Turns out you're not the only new member in the firehouse."

"I am not?" The girl frowned, walking over to the kitchen so she could pour herself a cup of coffee.

"No. Scott Rice, new member of Squad 3. They say that in his previous firehouse, on a call, he threw a guy out of a window."

His words surprised the girl, forcing her to frown in confusion. Boden didn't seem like a chief who would accept problematic firefighters in his firehouse.

"Otis, I told you to lay off the gossip." Matt handed the coffee pot to Malia, who gave him a small smile in response.

"I talked to Weathersby from 59. He confirmed it."

"What did he confirm?" Matt asked, not wanting to jump back into the subject.

"About... Rice. That he threw someone out a window." Otis answered.

"Was Weathersby there?"

Malia looked up at them, setting the coffee pot on the counter.

"He wasn't. But his cousin worked on 31 when Rice was there."

"Weathersby's cousin saw Rice throw someone out a window." Matt tried to piece together all the information, not quite believing the rumors Otis thought he'd confirmed.

"Not directly. He was in the basement. But there are witnesses. The guy ended up in a wheelchair." He said, defending his theory.

"Let Severide worry about Rice, okay?" Matt asked.

"Okay." Otis sighed, disappointed by his lieutenant's lack of interest.

"Even if it were true. Boden doesn't seem to accept problematic people here, does he?" Malia decided to join in their conversation.

"She's right." Matt looks back at Otis. "She's been here for 20 minutes and seems to know the firehouse better than you do."

"I'm just saying..."

Ambulance 61. Squad 3. Unconscious victim. 3230 Grant Street.

The announcement over the speakers forced Malia to set her coffee cup down on the counter.

"First call. Wish me luck." She smiled at both firefighters.

Grabbing her jacket, which she had placed on one of the chairs in the break room, she ran out to the parking, joining Brett and Mills in the ambulance. Once there, Sylvie let her climb into the passenger seat, commenting that if she ever wanted to drive she had to earn it. Malia understood that. Driving the ambulance was a privilege.

Once they arrived at their destination, a theater in the center of town, the three of them grabbed their medical backpacks and the stretcher so they could make their way into the building. The squad had not yet arrived, so they were the first to evaluate the situation they were facing.

"They only sent you?" Asked the woman who had called them, leading them to the stage.

"The rescue squad is arriving." Peter replied. "And the victim?"

"This way. He's one of the stagehands. He's been hit in the head with a spotlight."

"One of these?" Malia pointed to the two men on the stage as she helped Brett lift the stretcher.

"No, no, no, no. Him, up there." She pointed to the theater's staging bridge, which was several meters up from where they were standing.

"Help, I'm slipping!" The man, who was on the edge of the bridge about to fall, exclaimed.

"Hey, don't move any more." Mills told him, dropping his medical pack on the ground.

"Hurry up, I can't take it anymore!"

"Squad, where are you?" Brett turned on the radio on her left shoulder.

"We're turning for Grant now." Severide replied from the other side of the signal.

"I'm on it." Mills declared.

"Mills, they'll be here in a minute." Malia said.

"Yeah, but a minute is too long. He's hit his head. He could pass out and fall." He answered, looking back at her.

"Is that really a good idea?" Brett looked at him hesitantly and worried.

"Brett, relax."

"Quick!" The man shouted in panic, forcing them to raise their gazes at him again.

Peter didn't think twice before grabbing his backpack again to walked to the vertical stairs on one side of the bridge. Brett tenses as he watches him slowly climb the steps. Malia turned to her, somewhat confused by herconcern. It was a high place, but Malia didn't think it was anything to be so concerned about. That changed when she saw him slow down.

"Mills?" Malia called, a little worried.

"What is he waiting for?" The woman who had called them approached her and Sylvie.

"He's being cautious. It's easy to get dizzy up there." The blonde explained, trying to reassure her.

"I'm fine! I've got it!" Mills exclaimed, continuing his climb until he reached the staging bridge.

Once there, Mills grabbed the man and pulled him back onto the platform, opened his backpack and began to put him in a collar and gave him a quick medical examination.

"Hey" Kelly Severide said as the squad quickly climb onto the stage. "Where is he?"

"There." Malia pointed as she notices the lieutenant's gaze on her.

"Mills?" He frowned as he saw the paramedic up there. "What the fuck is he doing?" He looked back at his team. "Rice, come on."

The man nodded, getting ready to climb up there to pull the injured man down. Once they got the staging bridge, Mills came back down, rejoining the two girls and the rest of the squad.

After getting the man off the platform and onto the stretcher, both groups left the theater. The squad getting back in their truck to return to the firehouse, while Brett, Peter and Malia dragged the stretcher to the ambulance.

"You didn't get dizzy? You didn't get vertigo?" Brett's question to Mills caught Malia's attention.

"No, nothing. I looked down and didn't feel anything." He smiles. But, noticing Malia's confused look, he didn't hesitate to explain why he's so happy. "I had an injury and it caused me vertigo. That's why I had to leave the squad."

"You were part of Squad 3?" Malia looked at him in surprise. Mills nodded.

"And I will be again." He assured her firmly.

❀.•° ✿.•° ❀.•° ✿.•°🔥°•.✿ °•.❀ °•.✿°•.❀

After a calm first shift, Malia was now at her locker, finishing tying her shoes and gathering all her things. Brett had kindly invited her and Gabriella to go out partying with her, but Malia had to refuse. Parties were not her thing, plus she had to find a place to spend the night.

Going to her childhood home and confronting her father was not an option. And she didn't want to show up at her brother's house just yet. She hadn't told him she was back in Chicago yet, and she didn't want to bother him either.

"Did you buy beers?" Severide and Matt walked back into the locker room. Apparently the latter had forgotten his car keys in the locker.

"Yeah, but you're going to Molly's, right?"

Severide nodded, noticing the girl's presence.

"Hey, Malia, you have to come to Molly's." She looked up at him. "It's Herrmann, Otis and Dawson's bar, we usually meet there in the evenings after work."

"Sounds good." She admitted, getting to her feet.

"Yeah, it's great," He smiled.

"I'd love to go today, but I don't have a place to stay yet." She explained, grabbing her jacket and backpack before closing her locker. "My car is full of luggage and boxes. I think I'll look for a hotel. At least until I find something else."

Both lieutenants exchanged a quick glance with each other.

"If you don't mind, you can stay with us. We have a spare room." Matt suggested then.

"Oh, no. I don't want to intrude." She quickly replied. "I'll probably end up showing up at my brother's house."

"You're not intruding. Besides, if it's just for a few days... It's no problem, really."

Malia considered for a few seconds, weighing her options. Going to live with two of her coworkers on her first day didn't seem like the smartest idea. Even if she was pretty sure that they were good people and that their offer was made with the best of intentions. However, her father wasn't an option and she still didn't want to tell Jay that she was back in Chicago.

"All right." She said. "I'll stay for a month at the most, I swear."

"Whatever you need." Matt gave her a friendly smile.

"Thank you." She gave them a small smile.