Chicago Fire: First Day On The Job

A Truth Or Dare

The Firehouse alarm sounded. "Engine 51, Ambulance 61, Truck 81, Squad 3. Person trapped at North Moody Avenue." After hearing the alert, they all suited up quick and took off. When they got there they saw a decomposing building and a group of five young adults standing outside of the building. "James and River are still inside! We called for help!" One of them said. "Okay. Please move back. This place isn't safe. And you all should've known better than to go inside." Lieutenant Casey said. "It was a dare!" One of them admitted. "Alright! Let's get inside and assess the situation!" Lieutenant Severide said. "We'll take the roof!" Lieutenant Casey ordered. Cruz, Otis and Casey jogged to a ladder on the side of the building and started to climb up. As he was climbing, Casey saw a young man look over the edge at the top. "Are you James?!" He asked as he continued to climb. "Yeah! I made it onto the roof but River's still in there! She's stuck on a platform!" He said. Casey stopped and looked down. "Cruz! Get us some straps and clips! We'll need to lower one!" He commanded. "On it!" Cruz said and began to climb down. As Severide went inside he looked up at the broken stairwell and to a platform about three flights up with a girl in jeans, running shoes, a t-shirt and sweater. "Hang on! We'll get you down safely in a minute!" He hollered up to her. "I trust you!" She said. Severide looked to his team. "Capp, I need you to get the inflatable platform in case that thing breaks. We're not losing a life today." He said. "You got it." Capp said and hurried out. "Go help him. I'm going to head up as carefully as I can and try to keep her calm." He told the others. "You got it." They said and hurried out. Severide took his helmet and jacket off to shed some weight and started heading up the stairs.

"Hey! So you're name's River, huh?" He asked her. "Yep!" She replied while sticking close to the corner. "That's a pretty cool name! I like it!" He said. "What's your name?" She asked him. "Kelly. Kelly Severide." He told her. "Cool. I like your name too." She replied. She began to lower herself into a sitting position with her knees up. "Are you doing okay, River?" He asked as he was across from her. Capp and the team entered and rolled out the platform then began filling it up with air. "Yeah! Never been better, Kelly. Just...you know, sitting on a platform. With...what is that below?" She asked. "It's an inflatable platform in case that thing you're on decides to fall. Then you'll be okay. It'll be like landing on a pillow." He said as he was across from her and looking at a broken stairwell then to her. She was pretty. A brunette. "They said this was a dare." He said. "Yeah. I'm not a coward." She told him. Kelly began to smile. She smiled too. "I like your spirit." He said. "It's almost filled up!" Capp hollered up. A strap and hook was lowered to near them and Casey hollered from above. "Hook yourself on if you can! We'll pull you up!" He shouted. She looked at the strap. "I don't know if I can grab it!" She said. "I'll help you." Kelly told her, and hopped onto the broken stairwell then held onto the steps as they creaked and groaned. "Kelly..." River said, as she looked at him. "I'm okay. I'm alright." He assured her.

He started to crawl up the stairs and his hands made it onto the platform. The stairs cracked and he looked at River. She dove with her body landing flat on the platform and held onto his arm as his feet went out from under him. "Kelly!" Capp shouted from below. Kelly looked up at River. "No way! You're not dying on MY watch firefighter!" She said as she held on with a strong grip. He held onto the platform with his hands. "Oh my God, that was such a stupid decision." Severide said. Beating himself up as he dangled. "Hey. Severide." She said. He was looking down then he looked back up at her. "You were saving my life. That is your job." She told him. She looked down at the inflatable platform. "Think you can shimmy your way over to the far corner? Then I can let you go and you'll fall on the pillow." She told him. He smiled a bit. "Yeah. Yeah I can." He responded. "Okay. On the count to three we'll both move. One. Two. Three!" She said and slid over as he shimmied across with his hands. They moved again in unison and she let out a short cry of pain. He stopped. "What happened?! Are you okay?!" He asked her. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just, a nail scraped me. I'm fine." She said. "Let's move again. One, two, three." She said and they moved again to the corner. The platform creaked. She looked up at the strap and clip and up further to Casey. "Can you give it a little more slack?! I have a plan!" She hollered. "You got it!" Casey responded and lowered the strap and cable more. "Get ready to grip when I say! Okay?!" She asked. "Okay!" Casey responded. She looked back down to Severide. "You're not gonna jump. Are you?" Kelly asked her. "I've already done this dare. Don't you know I'm insane?" She asked him. He held onto the corner. "Look out below!" She said and let go of Severide. He began to fall then landed on the inflatable platform. She started to get up but her shirt was caught on the nail. "Damn it!" She said and pulled while on one knee. "What's wrong?!" Casey asked as Severide rolled off the inflatable platform. "My shirt's caught on a nail!" She told him. She gave a tug and the platform creaked. She looked back at the wall it was separating from then looked up at Casey. "Grip!" She shouted. He held onto the strap tightly. She gave a hard pull and ripped her shirt then rushed two steps and leaped off the platform as it broke away. Grabbing onto the strap and keeping her feet on the clasp she held close and tight. The platform fell and half landed on the inflatable platform and half on the debris below of rotting wood and broken pieces. After Squad uncovered their faces they looked at the platform deflating. "That's gonna cost us." Capp said. "It was worth it." Severide added. Casey, Otis and Cruz pulled River up and helped her onto the roof. Casey was holding her around her back as she lied on her stomach on the roof beside him. "That was both brave and stupid." Matt said. "But a little more brave." He added. "Thank you. For saving me." She said. "Your welcome." Matt responded. Otis helped her to her feet and Casey got up. "That was incredibly inspiring." Otis said to her. Cruz raised his eyebrow and expressed curiosity as well as disgust. "Uh...glad it was." She said and gave a smile. James, River, Otis, Cruz and Casey all climbed down and James and River were evaluated for injuries but had none so they were free to go. Sylvie recommended getting a tetnis shot though just in case the nail could have had anything to infect her as it cut her. But she had a bandage on and was left free to go. She walked ahead and looked at the fire trucks. Severide approached her. "Hey. Thank you. For saving my life." He told her. "You're welcome." She replied. "Let's go Lieutenant!" Capp said as he climbed into the truck. She looked surprised. "Yeah, I'm a Lieutenant. So's Casey." He said and gave her a gentle pat then went jogging to Squad 3.