Title: Rebuilding from the Ashes
Chapter 1 – 24 hours of Hell

Summary: Helping rescue Casey from the Jail hostage standoff was just one part of the day's harrowing events. But what else does Severide discover about Casey's current living situation that forces him to take swift action to save his friend – from himself? How can he help him rebuild his life? Based on some parts from eppy 1.24 Hell of a Ride, Contains some spoilers

Disclaimer: Chicago Fire and its characters are the property of Dick Wolfe, NBC and….well sadly not me

A/N: Okay so haha yeah I did not know they would be having a jail incident when I wrote my 'lockdown' OS a few months back. So I've tried to keep this one different BUT REALLY? They give us such a great broment in the last eppy and then nothing in this one? *Oye* who do we need to talk to over there? Lol So you know Alice couldn't leave this one alone so hope you like what we came up with and thanks in advance!

Note: Words in "double quotes and italics taken from the eppy"

The day had started with a hint of promise.

"Here," Severide mentions as he knocks on the door to Casey's office and hands Casey a mug of steaming coffee as he turns around.

"Just what the doctor ordered," Casey replies with a small nod of appreciation as he takes the mug and absently stares down at the dark contents. But as he feels Severide's watchful gaze upon him, he looks up and frowns. "I'm okay."

"You've lost weight."

"You can tell?" Casey asks with a hint of glum in his tone.

"Yeah I can tell. The crappy or sometimes non existent lunches. The day by days….the I'm fines…the thanks for asking but I'm okay," Severide replies softly as Casey looks at him in sorrow. "I know it's a lie but I don't want to press."

"Kelly…"

"But maybe I should be pressing," Severide states more than questions. "Remember Hallie told you no more fast food," he lightly huffs. But his jaw tightens and his expression clouds the same time as Casey's and he can only wince and utter a reply of remorse.

"Hey man I'm sorry."

"I don't want people walking on eggshells around me. I'm fine," Casey insists firmly.

"You know my offer still stands; come stay with us a few days or even a week until you get your head back on straight."

"Would feel like a third wheel. I'll be okay. Just gotta get past the funeral and I'll um…I'll be fine," Casey insists as he takes another sip of his coffee. "Hallie's mom left me a message last night."

"Wondered you who were whispering to when the rest of us were trying to sleep," Severide lightly retorts. "What'd she want?"

"Said that since she really didn't get a good chance to talk to me when I dropped by the house with the news and she um…she wanted to know if Hallie suffered at all. I told her no and explained about being hit on the um…the head before the fire," Casey's voice cracks as he looks away, forcing Severide to uneasily shift in place before Casey turns back a few seconds later. "I don't think she believed me. She got the same report from the doctor as I did after Antonio confirmed it. She didn't believe me."

"It'll take time for her, you know that right?"

"I do," Casey answers in truth as he leans back in his chair and looks at the picture of Hallie on his desk. "Coffee's good," he mentions numbly as he looks back up at Severide with an uneasy expression. "I'm not sleeping."

"I know."

"I keep seeing her in bed beside me and then myself chasing that guy. Then I see her body in my grasp not responding and then I hear him laughing and I just…I get so angry that I wish he was here so I could beat his ass all over again. A few hits before a bullet between the eyes just didn't seem enough justice to me."

"Maybe you need a few more days?" Severide gently suggests.

"I can't stay…home anymore," Casey replies tightly. "I need to be here and busy. Here is where I belong."

"It is," Severide reluctantly agrees as he looks with concern at Casey's sullen expression. "Just promise me you're done taking foolish risks like that."

"Kelly…"

"Putting yourself in harms way for no reason isn't worth your life and maybe you don't want to hear it, but I'm saying it again anyways. You're not the only one that loses when you go off without thinking things through."

"I know," Casey replies with a weak smile. "I think I'm done playing Rambo Casey for a bit."

"Knew you liked that term," Severide chuckles as he takes a sip of his coffee also. But before he can offer Casey a friendly outing; the overhead paging system goes off and both of them trade worried glances. It was the one call they always dreaded.

"Structure fire…"

"Hopefully it'll be an easy one," Casey grumbles as he stands up to face Severide with tight expression.

"Jail house fire?"

"I know…worst call there is," Casey huffs. "Maybe it's only in the parking lot."

"No more needless chances," Severide reminds as he pats Casey on the back as they both hurry to get their gear and get into the field.

But while the day that had started with hope it was about to end with a cry of utter despair. As least on the part of one of the Firehouse 51 Lieutenant's.

As Severide slowly heads down the hallway of the hospital in search of Casey, his mind thinks back on the day's harrowing events that could have turned out much much worse. Half a day spent in hell.

"You want a hostage, take me instead."

His mind recalls Casey's admirable but desperate plea and in that very instant found himself cursing his friend's name along with his foolhardy bravdo. Damn it Casey what the hell are you doing? You said no more risks! He had felt himself pause for a few seconds as his mind and heart raced. These guys weren't some two bit street thugs – they were angry, agitated, cornered inmates with a mind to do violence only; they didn't care to who.

"Casey!" He remembered hissing, drawing an inquisitive glance from Capp. "We gotta move faster," he had whispered as he tried to focus on the task at hand and Casey's desperate pleas to trade his life as a hostage for Hermann's. Neither were working and all it did was fuel his agitated words that he took out on the nearby guard. The guard's curt but truthful reply forced his head to get back in the game and focus on getting Shay in to Dawson and Mills, his mind praying at the same time he'd get to Casey before anything major happened.

"Chief trapped in here…knife to Hermann's throat…going to the Chapel…"

"Chief I gotta get to Casey."

But the answer from the Chief wasn't what he wanted to hear in that moment – put out the fire first and get power restored, they were working on another plan for Casey – that had forced his frustrated agitation to soar even higher. Fire first, Casey later. The priorities seemed wrong. Casey was in trouble, wiling to offer his life and the Chief was worried about the damn prison fire? All silent thoughts remained just that – silent, for the moment.

"Damn it," Severide cursed as he shook his head and considered defying the order.

"Casey knows what he's doing," Capp's firm reminder brought him back to his sordid reality.

"Does he?" Severide snapped before he rushed toward the rest of his gear. As much as he wanted to defy Boden's order and get to Casey and his team first, he knew inside he couldn't. He had to lead by example and time was running out on them all. There were other lives at stake and restoring power was priority. He'd have to wait and just pray he could get to Casey in time before anything more tragic happened – after the damn fire was put out.

"Casey," he talks into his radio; telling himself that it was time to focus on the task at hand – getting the truck team out of harms way safely and worry about giving Casey his tongue scolding later. "Okay Capp let's move."

But a calm request from Casey to leave the smoke in play so they could use it as a means of escape cover was one that he had to work with and respect. It was risky but he knows that much like himself, he wasn't about to leave the prison guard behind to fend for himself against some bloodthirsty inmates while they walked out scot free. The plan was made; Cruz would give up his gear and under the cover of smoke they would move past the prisoners, tricking them into thinking the guard would remain behind when in reality he was walking out with them – in disguise.

For those few tense for moments, Severide didn't breathe, not until he heard Casey's own voice that they had all cleared the building and Boden gave the okay for them to put out the rest of the fire and then restore power – the military was on their way in to help restore order.

The ending to the tense situation seemed to come quicker than the duration and by the time it was over Severide hurried outside to see Casey's team disperse; the military already inside. He noticed the heavy wince on Casey's face but told himself it was from the anxiety at watching Hermann being so mistreated and then having to tell him that he was the father of a new baby boy despite being held at desperate knifepoint.

"You okay?" Severide asks as he places a protective arm on Casey's back and slowly leads Casey away from the rest of his team and gives him a concerned once over; Casey not putting up much of an outward fuss.

"We got out safe and alive. Mission accomplished right?" Casey replies with an uneasy expression as he turns to face his friend.

"What aren't you telling me?" Severide presses.

"We need to get to the hospital and welcome in the newest member to the Hermann clan," Casey tells him with a firm nod as he sort of leans to one side; his actions drawing Severide's inspecting gaze. "Give it a rest I'm fine."

Severide steps aside and watches Casey in concern as the two teams slowly break apart and head for their own trucks to pack up and head to the hospital. But during the ride over Severide's mind keeps thinking about Casey's actions as of late and knows his outward lies would have to give one of these days and then what?

"Can't let that happen," Severide mutters as he casts a stony gaze out the window. He thinks about Shay's news about the pregnancy not taking and feels his heart sink even further. Why can't anything go right for once? His mind ponders as they near the hospital. Talking with the Hermann's and then being told him and Shay would be the godparents was a mixed blessing as he now wonders if Shay too isn't an emotional ticking time bomb.

But as he heads back into the hallway and looks for Casey and doesn't see him, his worry once again blossoms.

"Chief, where's Casey?"

"He…was right here," Boden turns to the place Casey had been standing and then back at Severide with a heavy frown. "Go find him."

"On it," Severide nods as he pulls away and heads down the hallway in search of Casey. His search on that floor turns out to be fruitless so he wanders down to the main floor and past the ER area. His eyes happen to spy a cap of mussed dirty blond hair and his eyes slightly narrow as he notices the doctor entreat Casey to follow him. What the hell is going on? Was Matt injured?

"Don't say it," Casey groans as he looks up from the small examining table just as Severide appears with a concerned and expectant expression.

"What the hell happened in there?" Severide demands with a sharper tone than even he expected.

"Snagged my side on something."

"Yeah an inmate with a knife," Severide huffs as he moves toward Casey to help him gently remove his undershirt. He looks at the sticky wound and frowns.

"I'm fine."

"You're lying," Severide out rightly accuse.

Casey looks up with a soft remorse-filled expression that instantly forces Severide's heated anger at Casey's lie to instantly subside. He steps back as the doctor enters and watches in deft silence as he cleans and then applies a few stitches to Casey's side before placing a thick bandage over it and giving him back his shirt.

"Come on," Severide entreats as he takes Casey by the arm and helps him stand up. "So much for your promise on not taking any more needless risks."

"I didn't actually promise," Casey retorts as Severide stops walking; both of them a few feet outside the ER exit doors. "Hermann has a family and I have…" Casey tries to qualify.

"Nothing?" Severide turns to him sharply. "You keep telling yourself that and you really will have nothing!" He growls before he takes a step back and shakes his head. "You think because you don't have a wife and kids to go home to, that your life is less valuable?"

"Yes," Casey returns the glare before he tries to storm past. "Move."

"We've been here before as I recall. Having this same discussion after you did something stupid that nearly cost you your life! What happened to no more Rambo Casey?"

"I'll start that tomorrow."

"Damn it Matt."

"I don't answer to you Kelly. I did what I did in that moment and I would do the same thing again if I had to."

"You did that because you think no one cares," Severide challenges.

"I heard what you said."

Without being able to offer something else to Casey, Severide can only watch Casey storm past him toward a waiting cab and get in, slamming the door so hard he was sure Casey would have to offer an extra tip to make up for his mishandling of the vehicle.

"Stupid…stubborn…" Severide growls before he feels a set of eyes watching and turns to see Boden looking at him intently. "I can't watch him self destruct like this."

"Casey's raw right now."

"And he's not thinking," Severide argues back. "I get wanting to trade his life for Hermann's but…"

"But all you could do was listen and wait and not act; not able to save a life of someone you care about, something you're not fond of doing," Boden reminds him kindly as Severide nods and looks away. "It worked out in Casey's favor."

"This time Chief," Severide turns back with a light growl. "I can't just watch him…" his voice trails off as he looks away once again. "He won't open up to me."

"Go there."

"What?"

"Go to Casey's right now. Bring dinner…bring beer…bring whatever you have to to make him open up and listen. He said he heard you say you care. Now you need to really show him you mean those words."

"Can I duct tape him to the kitchen chair?" Severide lightly retorts as Boden gently smirks. "I'm really worried."

"I am too. Call me if you need anything."

Severide gives Boden a nod before he heads for home to get changed and then head to Casey's with a plan to apologize but then try to get him to open up and talk about what he's been keeping from him and everyone else; the guise of 'I'm fine' crumbling fast but wanting to heed Boden's advice and put into actions the words he's so fond of spouting off. I do care…I need to show it better.

"He has no right…" Casey's voice trails off as he enters his home, slams the door without locking it and storms toward his bedroom, shedding his work clothes on the floor and not much caring about anything else around him. But as soon as he starts to look around at the disarray and allows silence to smother him, he slumps down on the nearest chair he can find and bows his head; his eyes instantly watering.

On the drive over to Casey's, Severide tries to shelve his frustration, telling himself that he'd find Casey sitting in front of the TV eating something unhealthy and drowning in his miserable sorrow. He just didn't prepare himself for the state of miserable reality that Casey goes home to each night and now lives in.

"Casey?" Severide gently knocks; his brow furrowing as he's able to open the unlocked door with relative ease. He takes a step inside and then stands and stares at the landscape before him in utter, horrified shock. "Oh damn," he whispers. Casey's home, which his normally the picture of neat and tidy was littered with empty fast food cartons, old newspapers and clothes strewn everywhere.

He takes a few steps further and stops as he notices Casey's frame slumped over the table before Casey turns and looks at him in utter defeat; Severide instantly trying in vain to swallow back the firm lump of emotion that had formed in seconds. He takes in the soft teary eyed expression and feels his heart break as he takes a step closer.

"I don't know what's real anymore," Casey admits humbly as Severide nears him.

"Damn it Matt," Severide huffs as he offers his arms in a comforting embrace; Casey numbly falling into his grasp and just clinging to his friend with all the strength he had left.

"I don't know…anymore. I keep seeing myself walking up with Hallie and then…seeing her dead," he laments in sorrow as Severide's eyes look around the disappointing dwelling. Of course he was depressed; this wasn't helping to lift his mood at all. "I come home…alone, every night…I can't…"

"Just let it out okay?" Severide tenderly entreats as Casey's frame starts to heave in his grasp. His hand gently strokes Casey's trembling back until Casey's sobs finally die down and he pulls back with a soft expression. "I uh…wow I didn't know. Why didn't you say something about this?" Severide asks almost rhetorically.

"No one's problem," Casey replies as he turns around and stares blankly at the messy area before him.

"It's my problem now," Severide states firmly as Casey looks up with a soft frown, defeated watery eyes and a slightly turned down lip; the expression instantly forcing his own eyes to water and stomach to tighten. "You know I live with a clean freak. Damn Shay vacuums at like three in the morning," Severide mumbles as he leads Casey back to the living room chair and helps him ease himself back down. "So here's the plan. I'm going to do a quick clean up, get you some fresh clothes and you're spending the next few days with us."

"Kelly…"

"Chief said I could use duct tape if I had to," Severide quips as Casey purses his lips. "Shay helped me through Andy's death. I wanted to be alone but she refused to let me. I am now refusing to let you be whether you want it or not."

He had expected another verbal rebuttal, but Casey merely nods in grateful resignation; Severide's lips actually uttering a thankful sigh as he nods and then gets to work. He heads into the kitchen and pulls open the fridge, shaking his head at the bleak shelves and feeling his agitation soar. But Casey had agreed to his help so the time for lecturing was put on hold in favor of taking care of his friend for the next few days. Talk was cheap if not backed with actions and offering to help someone meant little if not backed by a heartfelt plan put in motion. The time to act was now.

About five minutes later, he notices Casey finally get up and start to clean away some of the empty food boxes from off the table, his lips still not offering much more than a few anguished sobs to break the silence but it was better than him just sitting and moping the entire time.

Once the food cartons were cleaned up, Severide looks at the clothes strewn haphazardly around and then at Casey who shrugs. "Where's your laundry basket? You have one right?"

"Upstairs," Casey answers in truth as he took takes a handful of clothes and trudges upstairs; dumping the dirty clothing unceremoniously on the floor before turning to face Severide with a weary gaze. "Thanks for the help."

"Not over yet. Get some clothes and…"

"Kelly…"

"I'm not arguing here Matt. You are not staying here alone for a few days. So pack unless you want me to pack for you."

"That would be a disaster," Casey mutters, bringing a small smirk to Severide's lips as he trails after Matt to his closet and then spies his black duffle back.

"Fill er up!" He offers with a small smile as Casey's face finally softens. "Really hurts to see you this broken."

"I feel numb all the time."

"This has to pass right? Eight years. You don't let go of it overnight so stop expecting to. But you gotta stop isolating yourself like this. It's not good. I gave you a spare key last year right? You still have it?"

"I do," Casey answers in truth; reconsidering the argument he had quickly thought of but let just as quickly dissipate.

"Don't forget your jammies," Severide teases as he tosses Casey a pair of black sweat pants.

"Stay out of my underwear drawer."

"Why you have something in there I should know about?" Severide jokes back; his mind reveling in the small but upbeat tone in Casey words.

"Yeah my life savings."

"No wonder you can't afford a better truck," Severide counters as Casey looks up with a purse-lipped expression.

He had successfully deflected the conversation toward vehicles, helping Casey pack up and making a mental note to tell Shay about Casey's laundry situation. The rest of the house was for the most part cleaned up; but was starting to smell musty and Severide knows as much as he hates to even suggest it, a move actually might do Casey some good. But it wasn't something he would even dare to think about suggesting just yet. That time would come.

"All set?" Severide asks somewhat impatiently as Casey finally pulls on his jacket.

"Yup," Casey nods and replies under his breath as he gathers up his duffle bag and allows Severide to almost push him out the door while he locks up and then leads him to his waiting car. The conversation on the ride over is kept light, Severide not really wanting to tell Casey about Shay's fertility not working as Casey was already raw at seeing all the joy from the Hermann clan earlier. It was no secret Matt Casey wanted children. But why kick a man when he was already down?

He had texted Shay on the way over and after the spare room was made up, she had set about making a hearty meal for all three of them; their fridge well stocked and ready to host the party of three for the next few days. Severide had also texted Boden and told him that he was taking Casey to his place but that he was in bad shape.

'He'll need you now more than ever Kelly. Just be there for him.'

And that's what he had planned from that moment on. But more than just saying it – he would prove it by his caring actions.

"Alright hope you like bear," Severide jokes as Casey looks over in horror. "Kidding."

"You sure?"

"Ask Shay, she made…it," Severide snickers as they enter the neatly manicured loft apartment, Shay approaching with a sympathetic expression.

"Hey," she greets Casey with a warm hug, holding him close a few seconds before she pulls back; Severide taking his bag to the spare room as she leads Casey into the kitchen for supper.

"Is it bear?"

"You told him its bear?" Shay scolds Severide, earning a small chuckle from Casey. "It's actually lamb."

"Its um…it's good but…"

"He's eating it all," Severide quickly interjects. "Duct tape remember?" He smiles before he looks at Shay.

"He said he'd duct tape me to the chair," Casey informs Shay as Shay then turns and glares at Severide who shrugs.

"What? The Chief said it was okay," he shrugs and then goes back to his meal.

The conversation is kept light, talking about the jail fire, the newest addition to the Hermann clan, no words about Shay's not being pregnant and nothing further about Hallie's untimely passing. After dinner was over, Severide watches as Casey, who after thanking them for the great meal, politely excuses himself and then heads upstairs, literally collapsing on the small bed and sinking into darkness due to sheer emotional and physical exhaustion.

"At least he ate his whole meal," Shay comments softly as she looks at Severide in concern.

"His place…damn Shay he's so raw and he didn't say a word about anything," Severide groans as he leans back in his chair.

"He's here now," she reminds him with a pat to his hand. "We'll fatten him up over these next few days and tomorrow while you two goof off I'll go do laundry."

"Goof off?"

"He needs it."

"I know," Severide agrees before he pulls away from the table and carefully heads upstairs. He pauses in the entranceway to the bedroom and frowns at Casey's sprawled form on the bed before taking a few steps closer and then gently covering him with the quilt. He notices the etched look of grief on Casey's sleeping face and can't help but feel his own angry frustration starting to surge.

"You'll never be alone again," Severide whispers as he turns out the light and bathes Casey's frame in darkness. "I promise."

A/N: Okay so I had planed to only make this a one shot but want to explore a bit more for our boys in this setting/theme (Casey's angsty grief and Severide helping him through it) that I have decided to expand upon it and hope that's okay! (you all like longer stories right?)