Emilia Frances served her family and friends of the 21st District and Firehouse 51 as she stood behind the bucktown bar watching as the first responders of Chicago socialised and talked about the situations they had all encountered over the past 24 hours.

Lieutenant Emilia 'Mia' Frances-Gray was a decorated firefighter/EMT who grew up in Chicago with her best friends Andrew Darden and Kelly Severide. Mia's father - Lieutenant Robert Frances - was also a firefighter and had worked alongside Chief Boden, Chris Hermann and Benny Severide at Firehouse 51 but unfortunately lost his life in the line of duty when Mia was 17, after this she had found it hard to come to terms with the loss and spent many shifts at Firehouse 51.

Emilia was not single, she had been married for 5 years to a US soldier, Sergeant Steven Gray whom she had met through a mutual friend Jay Halstead, the two soldiers had been stationed together overseas with Benny 'Mouse' Gerwitz who now worked with CPD Intelligence. She started working at the small bar when it had opened a few years after she began her new position as second command of Truck 81 as Lieutenant/EMT Field Officer nearly 7 years ago at Firehouse 51. Her transition to the Firehouse had been fairly easy and had instantly become friends with the EMT's and firefighters of 51.

Emilia enjoyed her job and was happily married well that was until 6 months ago when Steve had returned from his deployment with a changed character. This scared her, some nights she had been too scared to go home and spent time with Gabby. Steve wasn't a drunk, oh no he was a gentleman who loved his wife dearly but this was a different world compared to the man she slept beside in the evening. Mia understood the effects of war, her brother Sam was currently serving in the US Navy and had been stationed in Pearl Harbour for the past 4 years. Mia was petrified as Steve tossed and thrashed in his sleep and woke up completely unaware of any altercation the previous night, Emilia couldn't bare for him to find out is was actually him hurting her and decide to disguise the bruises as an injury caused during a call. Two nights ago had been one of the worst nights where Steve had his strong arms pinning Mia's petite body down unaware of his surroundings leaving a horrible bruise on her right arm.

Mia's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a beer bottle being tapped on the bar.

"Hey Frances, what does a guy have to do to get a drink around here?" Antonio Dawson joked but immediately stopped as he watched one of his closest friends struggle to find her place between her thoughts. "Penny for thoughts?"

"I'm just-just thinking about the past few years" Mia sing-songed as she poured the beer on tap.

"Okay? You sure you're not the one who's had too many" Antonio joked accepting the beer from his closest friend. Emilia had been friends with the Dawsons since her early teens and could always rely on the siblings in her time of needs and had initially met Antonio after getting herself in trouble in the following days of her fathers death.

"Keys" She held her hand out and glared at Antonio until he handed the keys over.

"Yes mom" Antonio mocked saluted "Where's Steve?"

"He was -he was going out tonight. I'm not sure where though" Mia stumbled across her words which didn't go unnoticed by Antonio. He raised an eyebrow slightly but refused to take her elaborate.

Molly's had been really busy that evening and the night had started taking it's toll on Emilia. 'She wasn't as young as she thought' was the excuse her best friends used to torment her when she left a bar early, Emilia chuckled slightly at the casual memory that surfaced.

The young lieutenant jumped slightly when she felt a hand on her shoulder but quickly composed herself when she realised who the hand belonged to "Hey kid, take the rest of the night off you look exhausted" Mia quickly protested

"But-"

"Hey kid, you'll make yourself ill. Go home. I'll see you tomorrow" Hermann was like a father to Mia after her father had been killed in a fire when she was 17 years old.

"Thanks Hermann" Mia quickly kissed Herman's cheek before grabbing her bag and heading out the door without a word.

"Hey baby, I'm home" Emilia called as she entered the 3 bedroom apartment she shared with her husband. The apartment was fairly large and was 'ideal' for when the two decided to start a family of their own though Steven had insisted they buy a house in a nice neighborhood when the time was right. The two had decided to wait until they were in the right place to start a family, Steve was still coping with the effects of war and Mia was still coping with her fathers death to a degree.

"Mia? Is that you?" Steve made his way to the front of their apartment with a smile on his face. Mia hadn't seen him in 24 hours and all she wanted to do was be held by her husband.

"Yeah it's me" Mia said tiredly walking into the loving embrace Steve invited her into with his arms.

"You look beautiful" He cupped her face in his strong hands and brushed his thumb across her face.

Mia closed her eyes and forgot all about the times he lost control or became a different man as he slept beside her for this moment Emilia Frances-Gray was truly in love "I love you"

The firehouse had been summoned for a briefing and the firefighters had suddenly started to become skeptical about a certain lieutenants absence.

"Where's Frances?" Matt slightly whispered to his girlfriend realising the time.

"Dawson. Where's Frances?" The Chief asked looking around the briefing room unable to see his third Lieutenant.

"I haven't heard from her Chief" Dawson straightened up in her seat.

"Find out where she is" Chief barked clearly unimpressed that the second in command of Truck 81 had decided to turn up late for her shift.

The change in atmosphere could be felt and the chief's voice echoed. The firefighters quickly departed from the briefing room leaving Dawson, Casey and Severide gathered before the doors of the apparatus floor.

Dawson quickly pulled her phone out and quickly dialled her best friends phone. "Come on Mia, answer the phone" Gabby muttered letting the phone ring but hung up seeing the third lieutenant rush through the corridor "Where have you been?!"

"I know, I know" Emilia said practically out of breath adjusting the strap on her bag quickly.

"You're late" Casey stated firmly, of course he was worried about what had been making his best friend late but he still had a duty as first in command of Truck 81.

"This is the third time Lieutenant Frances has been late this week." Borelli whispered to Otis as they stood behind the kitchen counter.

"Sorry Lieutenant" Mia sighed apologetically as she continued to rush towards the locker room.

"Make sure it doesn't happen again" Matt called as he watched his best friends petite figure leave the room.

Mia sat in front of her locker as she changed into one of her long sleeve Squad shirt, it just covered the bruises left from last night. Emilia had spent the morning trying to explain to her husband that she had been the one to cause the bruises on her arm during a call.

She made her way towards the common room and began pouring herself a coffee. The hot water quickly filled the cup.

"Lieutenant Frances. My office now!" Chief ordered from the door making the contents of the mug pour over her arm, Emilia hissed sharply gaining the attention of the firefighters that stood in the common room. She quickly rolled her sleeve up forgetting the bruises that supported her arms where on display.

Mia followed the chief quickly "It's the third shift in two weeks you've been late to. Is there a problem i need to be aware of?" Chief's voice was stern but some what considerate.

"No chief, everything's fine. I can assure you it won't happen again"

"Make sure it doesn't" She quickly made her way to the door but was stopped when she heard the Chief speak again "Emilia, your arm" the chief said pointedly. Mia quickly covered the bruised arm with her sleeve and silently cursed herself for walking around with the sleeve rolled up.

"It's nothing"

A knock at the door revealed Lieutenant Casey "You wanted to see me Chief?" Casey moved further into the office sitting himself on one of the chairs opposite the desk.

"Casey, come in" the chief lowered himself to lean on the front of his desk, he took in a breath before he continued "Has Lieutenant Frances suffered an injury whilst on a call recently?"

Casey tried to comprehend what the Chief was asking and shook his head in a negative motion. The chief dismissed him quickly leaving him alone in his thoughts.

What was Emilia Frances-Gray hiding?