Serving Chicago

Chapter 5: Too much of a friend?

A/N: in this fanfiction we first meet Louie during an apartment fire.

"Steve-Ste" Mia began to choke she couldn't catch her breath trying desperately to pry her husband's arm away from her neck. Suddenly coming to his senses Steve awoke to find his arm over Mia's neck as she paled he jumped back.

"Emilia..." Steve winced as he heard his wife cough, he ran to their bathroom and got her some water. "Drink" Drinking the water Mia slowly recovered and began to sob into her husband's chest.

"You need to get help" Mia managed to croak.

Steve wasn't prepared to admit he was struggling and instead soothed his wife until she fell asleep.

"I can't let you go. Never alone"

****

Mia wandered to her bright red '69 Ford Mustang and made her way to the firehouse. It had just turned  5:50 in the morning allowing her 15 minutes to arrive for her shift. Speeding through the traffic it was a miracle Mia wasn't involved in an RTC.

Emilia arrived with minutes to spare and much to her dismay she crashed into Severide. "Woah, woah." Stepping back Kelly caught sight of the blue bruise that spread over Mia's neck "What the- What happened?"

"Tripped over landed on the wing mirror" Emilia volunteered wanting to get changed.

Not buying his best friends excuse his eyebrow remained raised before he warned Emilia of the chief's warpath "Chief-"

"Yeah I was almost late, I know"

Emilia made her way to the locker room and quickly changed into her grey truck polo aware the fresh bruise was on show Mia made her way towards the bathroom and quickly covered the area with foundation and concealer. Once satisfied the lieutenant made her way to the common room, as she rounded the corner she caught the tail end of her best friends conversation.

"-if he's hurting her we have to do something about it. He could kill her"

"Who could kill who? You're not having problems with a jealous ex again are you Kel?" Emilia tested as she produces her famous smirk. He knew she knew who he was talking about, he left the smirking lieutenant and the angered one in the common room as he moved outside. Deep down Mia was happy that her friends cared and wished that she could just speak to them and explain but she wasn't ready for that.

"Lieutenant Frances. My Office" Mia rolled her eyes she knew exactly what was coming.

****

Calls had been fairly calm during their 24 hour shift but they still had 5 hours to go as it neared midday.

Squad had been playing their customary game of cards since the candidate made breakfast that morning, and due to the disaster in the kitchen this morning Lieutenant's Casey and Frances had ordered the typical Chicago Deep Dish Pizza for the firefighters. After thanking the two Lieutenants the firefighters dispersed into their usual comforts.

"Candidate, are the showers done?" Casey challenged the relaxed candidate who had just set himself down at the large table with a cup of fresh coffee. Emilia looked up from where she sat with a raised eyebrow because in fact she knew that Matt had asked him to clean them this morning and knowing full well that he had cleaned them after she interrupted him trying his best to unblock the sink.

"On it Lieutenant" Jimmy quickly stood from his position and obeyed his superiors orders abandoning the hot coffee he had just made only to be reclaimed by Gabby who reached over the table from her seat earning an inquisitive look from Emilia .