Epiphany • Severide.

5| THE UNLUCKY CANDIDATE

The pressure of their hold lowered, but they still held on just in case, while Severide worked with the jaws to get the passengers out. Someone announced that the vehicle was completely stabilized, and it was safe for them to let go and help properly.

Severide and Capp worked together to take the windshield out when Matt patted Jo's shoulder. "I'll be right back." She nodded her head, her eyes not leaving the accident in front of her.

"Okay, careful," Dawson exclaimed as they lowered the father onto the stretcher. Jo helped her roll the stretcher to the ambulance and load it up. The brunette hit the back of the ambulance to signal Shay that it was all good for her to start driving the patient to the hospital.

———

Jo was tired. After an unintentional long shift at the shop, she rushed home to get some sleep before her shift at the firehouse, but it took her about two hours until she could finally zone out but then her alarm went off.

She got ready and prepared her coffee in her reusable cup before grabbing her stuff and walking to her car. The drive was fast and peaceful, just like she liked. She hurried to the firehouse to get changed and properly start the shift, which was beginning with some drills and revisions ordered by Casey.

Six minutes into the shift and they were checking their air tanks when Mills came running, sweating and late. "Oh, good afternoon, candidate."

Mills panted. "Sorry."

"First, he blows a no-hitter. Now he's coming in five minutes late," Otis said. "So much for employee of the week."

Mills inhaled and scratched the back of this neck. "It won't happen again. I promise." He looked at Casey when he said the words.

Casey stared at him in doubt. "Get changed out. Let's go." Mills nodded and left to get into his work clothes. And a minute later, Casey got up and followed after Dawson and Shay, which made Jo furrow her eyebrows.

"You know, you were candidate up until two weeks ago," Cruz started, and it brought Jo back to the conversation. "Why are you riding him so hard?"

"The abused abuse, Cruz," Otis answered nonchalantly.

Jo rolled her eyes, men. "Oh my god. Grow up," Jo said, as she took her air tank and stood up to put it away.

Sometime later, Jo received a call from Frank Polo, and she was aggravated. She was properly mad, and she can't be angry while being a firefighter. She paced around the bunk room having a bit of a screaming match with Frank about a client.

"Look, Frank, I just can't do it in the time she wants. Okay, we need the parts and they arrive tomorrow, late, and I just can't keep staying there over time," she said. She heard a sigh from the other side of the line. "No, no. You don't get to sigh; I get to sigh. Last night I stayed way past my usual shift and I had no sleep, and you know I can't do that while having a twenty-four-hour shift."

"Look, Jo. I can tell Greg to take this one off your hands." Jo threw her head back. Not Greg, anyone but Greg. "I know you don't like him, but he's the only one not swamped with work."

Jo paced and walked out of the room and to the common room. "Don't even think about it. Olga is my client, and has always been." She entered the common room, where they were listening to Mills' ideas for a new television. "I'll do it, okay. Just, tell her it will be done the day after tomorrow at like three-thirty. That's the best I can do."

"I'll see if she agrees, if she doesn't, then it's Greg's, okay?"

"No," Jo said. Matt looked at her and raised an eyebrow. She waved him off and continued talking with Frank. "If she wants the best, she'll accept. Just tell her and call me back with the answer."