Spark Of Life

Chapter 27

NEXT SHIFT

Today was my first shift as chief of 51. Everyone was happy for me. I know I am happy I have got a promotion that I never even asked for. I was sitting at my desk when my assistant Connor walked in with a stack of papers. "Chief here are the incident reports from last shift" "thanks Connor" I said with a smile. Matt and the guys weren't coming in till six tonight for shift so I can get use to things. I was looking at the reports last shift didn't have time to fill the tanks. I have no other work and Severide is here so I ask Connor "Hey Connor can you get Severide in here for me?" "yes Chief" he said. A few minutes later Severide came in "Hey Dawson what's up" "we need to go fill the rigs you take squad I will take truck" "got it". Severide was the one who was the happiest for me. This new promotion meant I am able to send Alex to Washington DC with her friends in a contest she won. We fill up the rigs then go back. Once back I have nothing to do so I start making dinner for the guys they will be coming in about 30 minutes. After I am done cooking Matt comes in and kisses me on the cheek then goes to change. I grab a plate and sit down with Mouch, and Herman. Once I am done eating I go to my office on the way I ask "Connor can I have the list of floaters with squad qualification" "yes ma'am" he said. I go through the list and see that Cruz is qualified for squad. I chose him to fill my spot and I then ask "Connor get me a list of all the truck floaters". I need someone to fill the open spot or maybe two. I go through the list. I see a name I recognize Stella Kidd, I call headquarters. 

Phone Call

Chief: how can I help you

Dawson: I would like to request Stella Kidd to take the spot on truck, Joe Cruz to take the open spot on squad at my house, and a candidate please.

Chief: got it anything else

Dawson: No

End of call

I went out to go let the guys know what is going on and who is being moved where. When I get to the common room everyone is there, so this is when I tell them. "Okay guys listen up I have an announcement. Cruz next shift will be taking the open spot on squad. We are getting a candidate for 81 next shift along wit another firefighter Stella Kidd. Lieutenant Casey you choose who you want to have drive the truck". With that I walked away to get more work done. I sit down just as the bells go off.

Truck 81, Ambulance 61, Squad 3, building fire 3681 Hill drive

As my first call of the shift as Chief I went with my men. I got to the scene first it was a ten story building fire. I radioed "House 51 to main. We need two more alarms for a ten story building fire. Also requesting more ambos" "Copy house 51 back up on the way". I get my crews attention and start barking orders. "Truck 81 search and rescue first five floors, Squad 3 search and rescue the last five floors. I will send additional companies up once they get here when I call it everyone out" they all broke off, and did their thing. About an hour into the call we got everyone out, and started battling the fire. It took us 7 hours to put the fire out, and by the time we got back to the house shift was over. 

On our way home Matt was all smiley I didn't know why. Finally he spoke "You had an eventful first day as Chief" he commented. I just laughed "we only had one call Matt". He gave me the look. I knew this look by heart it was his 'I am so proud of you' look. As I look out the windshield I see we pass our street. I turn to Matt and he has this look. Not like he doesn't know what he is doing but that he has a plan, one he doesn't care to share with me at the moment. "Matt....?" I asked in my sweet voice he just looked at me and said "yeah babe what's up?" "where are we going" I asked knowing I would have to actually try and get an answer out of him. "I am not telling" he said and smiled while driving to a unknown location. When we turned down the street I knew right where we were going we were going to Molly's. He parked right out front, and we went in. When I opened the door it I saw a banner that said "Congrats Chief Dawson" and all of 51 standing under it. I knew I was close to tears, this meant so much that they were happy for me to get this promotion. 

Later that night after the promotion party Matt, the kids, and I went home for a well deserved nights sleep. During the middle of the night I woke up for some reason. When I got up I looked at the clock it was 4 in the morning, and I had some paper work to get done so I just got up. A few hours later Matt got up. As I was doing my paper work he stood behind me reading what  was writing. "What you doing" he asked "paper work" I responded "what kind of paper work" "right now I am working on getting some new tools for the truck, and then I am doing my team report I have to turn in after every shift for a month, because I am new they want to know how my crew is doing" "ah" he said understanding that this next month would be stressful. But it was Matt and I knew we could get through anything as long as we tried.