Dawsey: Starting a Family Part 3

Chapter 340

Matt's POV: After making my way to my office in Firehouse 20, I smiled when I went to set up my laptop with the keyboard and attaching it to the external monitor. Opening my e-mail, I went to check what was happening with our original firehouse when I got a text from Gabby. 'Remember to wear your mask. This is another firehouse. -XO' I agreed with her when she said that. Going to grab my mask, I went to put it on when I went to send her a text. 'I'll implement a mask mandate effective immediately.' She agreed with me when I said that. 'Sounds good. Lunch?'

I thought about it and sighed. 'We'll see. Depends on whether Captain Delaney behaves or not. He's not happy that I am in charge.' She then went to text me back one last time. 'Okay. Take a breath and just relax. Remember you are a CHIEF...he's just a CAPTAIN.' I nodded and agreed with her when she said that. 'I love you. XO' I then went to put my phone down before opening my e-mails when I saw my leadership enter my (much larger) office here at Firehouse 20. Looking up at them, I waved for them to join me. "Come in everybody."

Delaney then walked in first before being followed by Hermann, Severide and Kidd. Looking at them, I sighed and then looked at them all. "Okay, so before we begin...I want to address what happened out there. Captain Delaney, that was disrespectful and inacceptable. I am your interim Chief and I would like to remind you that you have no authority over my trucks. I do not have Captains on my Trucks or Squad but you are not to tell them to do anything without clearing it with me. Is that understood Captain?" Delaney god nervous and nodded, agreeing.

I then went to look at him. "Second thing, if someone in my house needs to cry...you do not disturb them. Firehouse 51 is still grieving the loss of our former leader, you do not speak in negatives terms about the late Chief Boden nor do you try and provoke a reaction from your co-workers. By the way, that's what you are to treat my trucks as. We are no longer Firehouse 51 and Firehouse 20...we are one consolidated firehouse covering twice the amount of ground. That's why effective immediately...there will be changes." Everybody then got scared.

I looked at Delaney especially. "Delaney, you do not go on calls without me. And if you dare go above my head...you will be dismissed from shift. Are we understood?" Delaney nodded when I said that. "Yes Chief." I nodded and agreed with him. "Firehouse 20 is on bathroom duty today, Firehouse 51 is on cooking duty today. Also...are you the one that drives Engine 20?" Delaney nodded and agreed with me. "Yes Chief." I then agreed. "Park your engine BEHIND mine. I do not care if you are a captain...my Engine Lieutenant will be in command at my scenes."

He agreed with me and nodded. "Is this punishment for..." I nodded. "For undermining my authority, embarrassing me in front of my new men and sewing doubt into whether I am the right leader for this firehouse? Yes, it is. As long as I am here...your lives are in my hands. I do not need any of the men working under me to have doubts as to whether I will make sure they get to go home to their families tomorrow. For that, you do not deserve to be in a leadership position between me and the men I need to make sure get home to their children. Is that understood?"

He agreed with me and nodded. "Of course Chief." I nodded when he said that when I heard the first bells go off. "Track jumper, possible suicide - POLK CTA Station" I agreed and went to get up.  Looking at Delaney, I then sighed. "Get your men and do traffic control. Until I trust that you will not undermine my authority...you will do the easy stuff while Firehouse 51 will do the stuff that deals with the public. Is that understood?" Delaney nodded when I said that as we all ran out to go deal with our first call as a joint Firehouse 51-20.