Chief Casey Season 1: Chicago's Newest Chief (Dawsey)

Chapter 170

Meanwhile, with Firehouse 51 as they arrive on scene:
Matt's POV: Getting out of Truck 81, I smile because it was nice to get a ride in the Truck again. That's when I see what we are dealing with. "Severide, get your guys ready. You are going in for a search. Stella, get the hoses out. Gianna and Noah, open your doors and be ready to go ASAP." Gianna nodded and agreed. Everybody then listened to my orders as I stood back. That's when I looked around and saw people in the top window. "Severide, start at the top. I see people up there." Severide then looked up at nodded. "Tony, Cruz...get in there." Cruz agreed. "Got it Captain." They both ran in so that they could save the people.

I then went to grab some hoses and moved them. "Chief Casey, you don't have to do that." I then turned to look at Grissom who just walked up to my scene. "Commissioner, I am sorry to say this because I know you are my boss but, you are not wearing gear so please stand back." Grissom then looked at me and nodded. "I am good with you right?" I then nodded and agreed. "Listen, I am not going to argue with you. This is my scene, you are under my orders okay? Please don't be mad I am speaking to you this way." He nodded and agreed, rubbing my back. "Happy early birthday by the way. I was on the way when I saw you guys come here."

I smiled and nodded. "Yes, now can I concentrate?" That's when I heard Severide over the radio. "Matt, I need paramedics up here! We have a woman who is pregnant and in distress!" I nodded and then turned to look at Gianna and Noah. Grabbing my face mask and tank, I then looked at Noah. "Noah, put this on and head upstairs. Get the pregnant woman and help her down." Gianna then stopped him. "Chief, I need to go. He can't deliver a baby if required. Only I am certified to do that. You know what I am talking about. I am like Gabby." I then agreed. "Understood, get up there and go help her. Noah, get in the seat."

I then went to put it on her. "Watch your gage and get up there. If you feel bad, get down here ASAP okay?" She then agreed and went to run in with the air tank. Grissom looked at me and liked that idea. "That was smart." I agreed and nodded. "Maybe we should get them tanks in case that happens." I then turned to look at Stella. "Kidd, get the hoses ready. Once Severide is out, you start spraying. Gallo, get another hose on the side of the house and start there on my signal." They both agreed. "Got it chief." He then went to do it. "Ritter, assist him. Capp, assist Kidd. If she starts to get too overwhelmed...you take over for her."

Stella nodded and agreed as they got into position. I then grabbed my radio and spoke to Severide. "Severide, how is it going up there?" Severide then replied. "Let's just say that I am glad I was at the delivery of my kid. I know that the baby is in breech. Matt, she's in active labor." I then got scared. "Chief Casey to CPD." That's when I got Platt. "District 51 responding. What's up Casey. Hi Randy." I then sighed. "Platt, my boss is here." She then shut up. "Sorry." Grissom then looked at me. "Randy McHolland aka Mouch...married to Desk Sgt. Trudy Platt." He agreed and nodded. "Platt, can I get a police escort to close streets? Baby in breech position. Active labor."

Platt agreed. "Of course, I will get that for you. What's the address? And the nearest hospital?" I then looked at it. "Nearest intersection is Division and Ashland. Nearest hospital is Gaffney." Platt understood. "Okay, they are on their way. Lead car is Upton and Roman." I agreed. "51 to Gaffney Medical." I then got their dispatch. "Go ahead 51." I then replied to them. "Ambo 61 en route via police escort. Pregnant woman, baby in breech position. Be prepared for emergency delivery." They agreed. "Roger that 51." The commissioner then looked at me when i Saw them come out. "Ambo 61, get it. The police are here." That's then I saw a CPD car arrive. "Follow them, they are giving you a police escort. Anybody else in there?"

Noah then shook his head. Severide then agreed with him. "Nobody." I then took one last breath. "51, we're clear. Hit it!" That's when the hoses started. I then let a deep breath out and then just took a minute. I then walked over to my truck and went to grab some water to try and compose myself. That's when I felt Grissom walk up to me. "Chief..." I then put my hand up. "Sorry, need a minute okay Commissioner. Remember, my wife just gave birth a month ago. Still a little raw." He nodded an understood as I went to take a drink. I then took a breath and looked at him. "Listen, before we start...I want to just say that I am sorry for ordering you. It's just...safety."

He agreed and nodded. "Matt, it's okay. It was your scene and you had to protect the public." I agreed and let out a deep breath. "Sorry, I just don't know what happens when I have a superior join me on scene. Do I continue control or do you take over as commissioner?" Grissom then shook his head. "You continue with cont..." That's when I saw a flash and went to speak over the radio quickly. "Guys, fire just flashed on the upper right side of the house. Get it out!" The crew then brought a hose over and did as I told them. "Sorry, you were saying." Grissom then laughed. "You continue with control. I am not an active firefighter anymore. I am a bureaucrat."

I nodded and agreed. "God, do I know what that's like." Grissom was confused. "Former Alderman." He then remembered that and nodded. "Right, forgot." I then smiled. "Now, about the call. Was that okay or..." Grissom smiled. "Boden was right to leave you in charge. You are doing great. Now, before I leave...what's this with problems I heard with the candidate-to-be?" I sighed and looked at him. "He has been suspended for 1 weeks after disobeying orders to stay behind the water line when he is observing. He has not yet graduated. I am trying to get him to listen to me. I am doing a 3 strike system. 1st is 1 week suspension, 2nd is 2 week suspension. 3rd, you are out of my house and back to the academy. No guarantee he gets 51 again."

Grissom was confused. "Why is that?" I sighed. "Because my expectations for him are much higher than a normal candidate. His father is my captain. I pulled some strings remember to get him to my house?" Grissom nodded and remembered. "Right, I helped with that." I smiled. "Yeah so, I just have higher standards for him with his dad being my captain. Is that okay?" Grissom agreed. "You personally taking on the candidate?" I sighed. "Only until he is an official candidate. He is at my house to practice. Once he is graduated, he is under Severide." Grissom agreed. "I like that idea." I then smiled.

"I was actually going to propose something. I was thinking we do like sponsoring. So instead of people applying to the academy, they apply to the firehouse and we get to pick them ahead of time. Then, instead of just training at the academy...they can come in on shifts like the rest of us. Get used to the firehouse environment and see the realities of fire. They can sit in the trucks and watch while also getting used to it. Having seen it both from the standpoint as a candidate and then a candidate's fiancé...I am liking this idea better. And then it helps them get close to their crew. Builds trust before they head into fires."

Grissom then looked confused. "He's not going into fires yet?" I shook my head. "No, that's for when he is an official candidate. He still wears the gear though so that he can get used to the weight. Basically, he is just doing what he learns at the academy and does it in real scenarios." Grissom thought about it and liked the idea. "I will bring it up with the other chiefs. At least that way, it might be easier. I really like the idea of the sponsorship. That way we don't have to cap the spots since you do it." I agreed and nodded. "Just think about it okay? And speak to my captain. He's the one who's kid is doing it."

Grissom agreed and nodded. "Boden was right in suggesting you. You come up with good ideas Casey. I will propose it. Why aren't you?" I then sighed. "Because I don't have the rank yet. Or what's it called...the standing. You don't trust me all yet." Grissom laughed and understood. "I will try and spread the word with my sounding board and get back to you okay? Oh, just one candidate per house or one per vehicle." I smiled. "Per vehicle. Also saves on manpower. I can put more men inside the fire and leave the water to the Jr. Candidate." He agreed and smiled. "I'll talk to my sounding board. Good job and I will call you."

Grissom then walked away and smiled when I saw Severide walk over to me. "What you guys talk about?" I then laughed. "I just told him about my Jr. Candidate proposal. He heard about Lee Henry and stuff with him. We talked and he liked the idea for Jr. Candidates/Sponsorship. That might be the new reality." Severide smiled at me. "You are a great chief Casey. Now listen, I am going to clean up and head back to the house." I agreed and nodded, just watching everybody clean up as we prepared to head back to the house. That's when I decided to help so it was done faster.