Chief Casey Season 2: Balancing Work, Family and Friendships

Chapter 252

Matt's POV: After making my way to my office with Commissioner Grissom (and Matteo), I smiled when I sat in my chair and brought Matteo into my lap. Moving close to my desk, I wrapped my arm around him before kissing his head. "Listen Matteo, this is daddy's boss okay? You need to be quiet so that I can talk to him. Can you do that for me?" Matteo nodded and agreed as he just looked at me boss. "But first, can you say hi Commissioner?" Matteo then tried to say it. "Hi commisiner." I smiled when he said that. "Close enough right?"

Grissom smiled and agreed. "Yeah, close enough. How old is he now?" I smiled. "He's 18 months at the end of the month." He agreed and smiled. "So, what did you need to talk to me about?" I sighed when he said that. "I wanted to apologize about my idea. You know about the junior candidate. I am not sure if it's a good idea." Grissom seemed shocked when I said that. "You seemed so proud to have it approved though. And your proposal was written quite well." I smiled when he said that. "You can thank my wife for that. She wrote it."

Grissom nodded and agreed with me. "What's changed your mind about the problem?" I sighed when he asked. "I think it's the fact that my candidate-to-be is in recovery after being at the hospital right now. And I felt like I wasn't the good chief to be in charge of the pilot program if you understand what I mean?" Grissom shook his head. "Why not? It's your idea." I sighed when he said that. "The thing is...I have been at the CFD long enough to know that it's all about ranks and politics. Right now, I don't have enough political capital to really make much change at the Chicago Fire Dept."

Grissom agreed and nodded. "Which is why you asked me to speak to the other chiefs." I nodded. "However, I don't want an idea that I am proposing to be done under someone else's name. I want to be the one who gets credit for it. If it's a flop then...I ruin my credibility with all the other chiefs and that hurts the citizens of Chicago. If other chiefs don't trust me when I am on their scene either as the scene commander or as an assistant...then that is not good for the CFD. It would just hurt us. I know I shouldn't think this way but, I can't help it."

I then sighed before seeing what Grissom would say. "You are right Matt. You do need to make relationships. However, you have something that other chiefs don't...you have a Squad Captain who is a personal friend of mine. I worked alongside his father when we were both still fighting fires." I nodded and understood. "The thing is...sure, when Severide is at the scene it gives me credibility. But, what if he isn't at the scene. It's hard because I am always worried. Worried to let the CFD down, to let you down and to let Boden down. You know about the will right?"

Grissom nodded and agreed. "That's why we offered you the position." I sighed. "That puts a lot of pressure on me as you can probably tell. To know that he personally suggested that I be his replacement. And that he took the time to do it before he died, that's just something that is hard to do. And apparently, he knew he was dying and I never found out. So, I never got a chance to say goodbye. And I didn't come to the funeral because my son was being born in Puerto Rico. Gabby literally went into labor a few hours before my flight to Chicago."

Grissom understood. "Casey, listen. I am going to tell you this. When Wallace told me that he was dying...he told me that I had to try and get you back as his dying wish. He knew that if anybody was ready to lead it was you. He told me that it was because you have been leading this firehouse even when you weren't a member of it. Even while you were gone...members of the firehouse still asked themselves 'what would Casey do?' You are someone that every single firefighter in this house loooks up to. And that is what I want in a chief. What I need in a chief."

I smiled when he said that and agreed. "So, what does this mean for the pilot idea." Grissom then looked at me. "Maybe instead of taking a junior candidate that is related to one of your officers, you take one who isn't related to your officer. I know it can get tricky sometimes when it comes to dealing with family at the firehouse." I laughed when he said that. "You are telling me. Try having to be your sister-in-law's boss. Oh and my brother-in-law (her husband) just so happens to be my surrogate father-in-law since my wife and her dad don't talk. Long story."

Grissom laughed when I said that. "Wow, so when you said that this place is a family...you didn't just mean it figuratively, you literally meant it. You work here, your wife worked here and your sister-in-law works here." I laughed. "Don't forget about Kelly. He and his wife both work here too." That's when I heard the bells for Ambo 61 go off. "In fact, there she goes now. She's currently on Ambulance 61 until the end of her recovery post-birth. Well actually, until her next recovery. Talk to Severide because he has some news." That's when I heard Severide.

"You talking about me?" Grissom then looked up at him. "Hey Severide." I then smiled at him. "Severide here is joining the father to 2 club." Grissom then got up and smiled as he went to hug him. "Congratulations Severide." Severide then sighed. "We aren't telling people. It's still early. It's just...I needed to tell my chief." I then sighed when he said that and just had a flashback to when I told that to Boden. Tearing up a bit, I looked at Matteo. "Matteo, can you go out to mommy for a minute. I need a minute." Matteo nodded. "Okay daddy." I then let him go.

Getting up, he then ran out of my office while I just sat back and teared up a bit. Severide noticed this and was confused. "What's wrong Matt?" I then sighed and looked at him. "That is exactly what me and Gabby told Boden when we were expecting our first child. To have it be done here...it's a little touching yet hard at the same time." He nodded and agreed before walking over to me. I then got up and went to hug him. "Sorry about this commissioner. I should be more professional but, my emotions are still all over the place. Moms aren't the only people who get hormonal when they give birth I guess." Grissom laughed and understood. "That's true."

I smiled when he said that. "Listen commissioner. I am glad you came and I am happy that you understand what's going on. I just hope that you can forgive me for all the mess around the junior candidate." He looked at me and shook his head. "Matt, it's fine. I will test it out at another firehouse okay? I will let you know how it goes. And maybe we can name it the Boden Pre-Candidacy Program" I smiled when he said that. "Boden would love that." Severide nodded and agreed with me. "He would and he would be proud you came up with it Matt."

I smiled when he said that before going to play with my wedding band. "I bet. It's just hard recently. Commissioner, you do know that he never met his namesake right? That's really hard on me sometimes." He agreed and nodded when I said that. "I am sure that he knows Matt, in fact...I am positive the he knows somehow." I laughed and agreed with him before looking at Severide. "Listen, I don't want to get too emotional and right now, since it's quiet...I want to get some rest. We seem to get busy at night." Grissom then looked at me. "Where do you rest?"

I smiled. "I took over the new office we created. The other officers have kept their offices. But, that one was free and we are using it." He agreed and smiled. "That was for the paramedic-in-chief originally right?" I nodded and smiled. "Yes, I spoke to Boden about creating it. I mean, they are considered an officer. Why shouldn't they get a bedroom to sleep in? It's not fair that a paramedic-in-chief doesn't get a good, comfortable bed when they are much busier than firefighters. They go out on a lot more calls." He agreed and smiled.

"Matt, you are making great points. Maybe we can start renovations at our firehouses. Add more bedrooms for officers." I nodded and agreed. "Maybe add one specifically for the chief. And with a real bed. Oh and Grissom, can you please try and get the CFD to replace the matresses? I'm sorry but, those mattresses we have kill our backs." Severide nodded and agreed when I said that. "Oh definitely." Grissom laughed when I said that. "How bad is it on your wife..." I then smiled at him. "Gabby. That's her name, Gabby." He smiled and agreed. "How bad is it on Gabby's back considering she is still post-birth?"

I laughed. "Oh, we don't have any problems with our mattress. We bought one and moved it into the firehouse. I moved it here before I was created chief. It was delivered." He laughed when I said that. "Well, that's a good idea. I will figure something out. When do you guys think you got new ones?" I laughed. "It's been at least 10 years I bet. Those mattresses are not as comfortable anymore. But listen, I am going to let you go okay? I want to get some shut eye since I know I am guaranteed to be up in the middle of the night." He was confused when I said that. "How do you know you are going to get a call at night?"

I laughed. "Even if we don't get a call...I am still up in the middle of the night when we have to feed the babies." He nodded and agreed, remembering that. "Right, of course." Severide then looked at me. "Then go rest Matt. I will walk Grissom out." I smiled and agreed as I got up and went to shake his hand. "Pleasure to see you again Commissioner. Stop by anytime." He agreed and smiled as I went to pat Severide's back before walking away to our bedroom.