Next day. Morning. at the Firehouse.
Gabby sat down next to me.
I looked at her and shook my head "i am not talking about it"
Gabby "but you have to"
I shook my head "i don't have to do anything"
Gabby put a hand on arm "Florence"
I shook my head, in tears "i can't, Gabs , i fucked up, i know i did but..."
I saw Stella walked past me and sitting down on the couch.
The woman can't even look me in the eye anymore.
Gabby "Flo"
I looked at her.
Chief walked in "oh, good lord"
I turned around and saw Kelly walk in with Benny.
Benny "Wallace"
He had some bruises on his face.
Chief "Benny. what's the occasion?"
Benny "Just a harmless Chicago weekend"
Chief nodded "yeah. "
Benny turned to us "morning, fellas"
Everyone cheered "Benny!"
Benny walked over to the couch "yeah, what he said. i hope you guys don't mind if i hand out at 51 for a little while. I'm -- i just want to catch a couple of Zs"
Then he dropped dead onto the couch, face first.
The alarm went off "Truck 81, Squad , Ambulance 61. Person trapped. 67 South Hoyne"
--
We walked into the building.
The guy "Vonn, the cleaning guy, he comes in before we open and gets everything situated, but he didn't answer when i called out to him today. The hinges on this thing are always swinging the door shut. you're supposed to be able to open it from the inside, but the latch has been acting up. "
Casey "how long has he been in there?"
The guy "not sure. couple of hours"
I froze when i saw finger sitting out of the door crack. they were purple. Looks like his hand had gotten caught in the door when i slammed shut.
Casey "Hermann, Otis, get the jaws"
Kelly "hey, Tony and Capp, get behind the building, check the compressor or the condenser, see if we can get quicker access"
They nodded and left.
Casey "Hey, Vonn, can you hear us? Make a noise or wiggle your fingers if you can"
No reaction.
Brett "if he's still alive he probably has hypothermia of frostbite"
Gabby and Brett were here with a trainee.
Gabby "I'll get blankets and warm fluids. okay, let's go"
She and the trainee walked out.
Kelly "Casey, i think these hinges might be a weak point. I say we cut them, pry it open from here"
Casey nodded "yeah"
Me "what about his fingers?. we push this side out, they're gonna snap off"
Kelly "I'd rather save his life than save his fingers"
Capp "no access back here, Lieutenant"
Kelly "hey, Capp, check the roof. The condenser and the evaporator -it's got to be up there somewhere"
Capp "copy"
Casey "all right, let's go"
Me "what if we put two Halligans above and below his fingers to preserve the gap, and then we pop the door on the hinge side, comes this way?"
Kelly nodded "yeah, yeah, good idea. Flo, you go check on Capp. Cruz you put the Halligans in position"
My jaw dropped "you're kidding me, right?"
Kelly looked at me confused "what? Florence, i gave you an order"
Me "to hell with that order."
Kelly "Florence-"
Me "you don't have the time to argue with me, okay? now cut the damn hinges through"
Everyone looked at us.
Kelly said off here "off the scene, Florence, now"
I froe "what?"
Kelly "that's an order"
I scoffed, stepping back.
Kelly turned on the saw while Cruz the Halligans in position.
Then he cut open the hinges.
Cruz "tell us when"
Casey "okay, ready"
They pulled the door out. A guy fell to the ground.
Brett and Gabby took care of him.
At the Firehose. At Chief's office.
I slammed the door shut behind me "I was only doing my job, Chief"
Chief "I have to transfer you to Truck 81 for a few shifts, Flo"
I shook my head, shocked "no, not happening"
Chief "you are not leaving me a choice"
Me "I'd rather not work at all than join team goat, Chief"
Chief nodded "I know, Flo, but-"
I asked confused "why am I the only one getting punished?"
Chief didn't say anything.
Me "I was only following the others my Lieutenant gave me. It is not my fault that he can't even make one simple order"
Chief "I think separating you two would be a good idea"
Me "but why am I the one who has to go?"
Chief "because you are a firefighter and he's a lieutenant"
I scoffed, shaking my head "I am not joining the Truck"
He sighed "Florence-"
Me "what if I take some time off?"
Chief "Flo, you can't just take a time off every time something doesn't work out in your favor"
I nodded "I can, if you let me"
He shot me a look.
I sighed "Wallace, i'll follow Kelly's orders, okay? just don't put me on the truck, okay?"
He nodded "fine"
I sighed, nodding "okay"
In the locker room.
I closed my locker when i saw Benny standing there.
I sighed "who told you?"
Benny "my son"
I nodded "and what did he tell you?"
Benny "why? are there two sides of the story?"
I sighed, shaking my head "you don't know the whole story, Benny"
Benny nodded "i know enough"
I shook my head "no, you don't. Because Kelly doesn't even know the whole. There's more to that, way more"
Benny asked confused "then why don't you tell him? you think breaking up is a good option? Flo, he's miserable"
Me "he looks fine to me"
Benny "i know my son, okay? and he's not doing okay"
I nodded.
Benny sighed "Florence, i've always considered you as family since you were born, okay? and i was beyond happy when you and Kelly got together ,because you guys are meant to be?"
I asked confused "since when do you believe in faith?"
Benny shook his head "i don't. But i believe in my son and in you. Tell him everything"
I shook my head "it doesn't matter anymore, Benny, the damage has been done. And there is nothing i could do or say to make everything right"
Benny "do you love my son?"
I nodded "of course i do"
Benny nodded "then tell him the truth"
Me "Benny, you're my family too and i love you for that. But why don't you tell your son to stop using his Lieutenant status to let his anger out on me. He's angry? well, i am too. And i've been angry for months now, i can't do anything about it. If i tell Kelly the truth about what happened 6 years ago, he'll hate me more than he does now. What i did 6 years ago was my decision. Did it concern him? yes. but it in the end of the day? it's my life. But your son is just as stubborn as you which means he's gonna give me hell for that. "
Benny "what happened 6 years ago?"
I shook my head "doesn't matter. What matters is that you all believe that this is easy for me just because i am not a crying mess? i am a crying mess, Benny, i cry every night i come home till morning. I don't know how but i manage to pull myself together during work. I know everyone can see through it since the look at me like a hurt puppy but Kelly and i are not together anymore. And as much as that fact kills me inside, i have to accept it"
Benny nodded.
Me "now if you wanna talk some sense into someone then go talk to your son, okay?"
In the kitchen.
Hermann "hey, Flo, there was someone here for you when you were talking to the Chief"
Me "and who?"
Hermann asked confused "he said he was your boyfriend?"
Everyone looked at me, surprised.
Kelly didn't look happy.
I asked confused "my boyfriend? Hermann, I am single"
Hermann shrugged "he only said to tell you that "your boyfriend" was here and that you should call him immediately"
I nodded and took my phone out " "boyfriend" my ass "
Then I called Kol.
Kol "hey, babe"
Me "you're my boyfriend now? Are you serious?"
Kol chuckled "what, I thought it was true?"
Me "the fuck it is! Just because I'm single doesn't mean you get to call yourself my boyfriend!"
Kol "f I remember correctly there was a time I was more than just your boyfriend"
I scoffed, shaking my head "the next time you show up here, I'm gonna run you over with a truck"
Kol "are you really threatening me?"
I shook my head "that was a promise, honey. You wanna hear a threat? You show up here again and I'll kill you"
Kol "I could arrest you for threatening a detective "
I asked amused "so, now you're a detective? I thought you were my boyfriend? But hey, do me a favor and arrest me, 'cause I've had a hell of a week"
Everyone looked at me.