WWW.MY-SUBS.CO
Your skull and brain
are severely compromised.
I feel fine.
Until you get hit again.
This doesn't go away.
It was supposed to be a one-time thing... your words.
- Maybe we should be exclusive. - Maybe we should break up.
Here at 33,
we could use your skills and confidence.
You will definitely be missed here.
Thanks, Brett.
We appreciate you stepping in
while we find a replacement for Mackey.
I'm really glad Chief Kehoe let you swap out a shift.
I personally requested you.
Thanks, Brett.
It's good to be back at 51.
Well, my door's open.
Most of the time.
So just let me know if there's anything that you need.
Will do, Chief, thank you.
Welcome.
You know what a great group it is here.
- Everyone is super friendly. - Mm-hmm.
And, uh...
You know, welcoming.
Mm-hmm. I can feel it already.
Violet Mikami is here.
Yeah.
She's covering this shift while Brett looks for a new partner.
Just one shift?
Wow.
I like Violet. I do.
But the way things ended between us was...
awkward.
And I get weird when I'm around her.
- Never noticed that. - It's my house.
I shouldn't be the one getting flustered.
She should be the one...
Flustering.
Where's the aspirin?
Bottom shelf, last I saw.
Oh!
Lullo's pastries.
Wow, two boxes. Look at you.
Yeah, I figured after the shutdown,
I should spend all I could. Help him out.
We need more of that attitude from Molly's customers.
While I was there, I ran into Ellis Watson at 39.
She told me Bill Maloney died last night.
Junior or Senior?
Uh, Senior?
Hmm, I guess they were close?
What's this?
My own little wall of inspiration
to help motivate me while I prep, for the lieutenant's exam.
This is my Aunt Laverne,
always had my back growing up, formidable woman.
Pam Greer.
Badass and kick-ass.
Misty Copeland.
Fierce, graceful,
big community activist.
And, uh...
Gloria Hill,
the CFD's first and only female deputy commissioner.
She's a legit rock star.
- Very nice. - Mm.
Not one guy up there, huh?
Uncle Ray.
I mean, he is kinda hidden behind my aunt.
No one cuts in front of Laverne.
Truck 81, Squad 3,
Engine 51, Ambulance 61. Structure fire.
Yeah?
Please, my manager is in there.
Luis, he's got really bad asthma.
- He's the only one inside? - I think so.
I stepped out back for a minute, but then there was this loud bang
and when I went back in, the whole row of dryers
- was on fire. - All right, what do we got?
- Lint-trap fire? - Could be.
Get an extinguisher in there, and be ready with the hose line.
- Copy. - Manager is still inside.
We'll take the front, Squad takes the back.
All right. Cruz, mask up, we're going in.
Tony, Capp, shut down the utilities.
Mouch, raise the aerial
in case we need the roof opened up.
- Copy. - Gallo, Kidd, with me.
Let's go.
Fire department! Call out!
Fire department!
Call out!
Fire department, call out!
In here!
Fire department, call out!
Kidd!
Synced & corrected by -robtor- www.MY-SUBS.com
Kidd!
- You okay? - Yeah, yeah.
Kidd!
- What happened? - The dryer.
Squad, you find the manager?
Bringing him out now.
Copy that.
Come on, get the extinguisher!
Herrmann!
Over here.
Captain.
Captain!
Right behind you.
Keep going.
Okay.
Herrmann.
Got a pulse. Let's get an IV going.
Prepping it now.
You all right?
Yeah, I just got the wind knocked out of me.
Huh. Yeah.
51, progress report.
Fire's knocked out, Captain.
We're giving it a final wash down.
Keep wracking my brain.
I can't figure out why those dryers would blow like that.
Me neither. I mean, if they were gas units,
I might chalk it up to a leak, but they were all electric.
Yeah, I don't get it.
This is Randall McHolland.
Yes.
Yes, of course. I understand.
Appreciate the call.
I'll be there.
I finally got it!
- Pipes and Drums! - Ah!
What's Pipes and Drums?
What's Pipes...
It's the band that plays the funeral marches.
Oh... right.
That's just the tip of the iceberg, okay?
We're talking parades, baptisms, weddings,
and the mother of all mothers,
the Chicagoland...
Celtic Classic.
You see, entering the brotherhood
is like being appointed to the Supreme Court.
It's a life-long tenure, so,
a spot only opens up
when someone dies.
R.I.P. Bill Maloney Senior.
You got Maloney's spot?
Well, I got an audition.
Oh, jeez, I got an audition.
Yeah.
- I gotta get my head right. - Okay.
Right as I approached the dryer, boom!
Like it was waitin' for me.
Oh, you're lucky you didn't get hurt.
Uh, speaking of...
- What is that? - Veronicat.
Ugh, how's that goin'?
She is an angry animal.
Just take her to a shelter.
There are crazy cat people everywhere.
Somebody will adopt her.
Yeah, but I really don't think they should.
- Hmm... - Hey there. Which bunk should I take?
Oh, uh, this one. It's right next to mine.
Okay.
- Hey, Violet. - Hey.
- How's 20? - It's good, thanks.
It's a great house, so.
Pam!
Oh.
I could have sworn that I secured this.
That is weird.
What are you doing with Baggs' locker?
There is no "Baggs."
"Baggs" is your bagpipes?
Been storing 'em in here since Trudy and I got hitched.
She thinks I sold them.
You've been squatting on this locker for five years?
You know that Jaffee and DiNardo on first shift
have to share one because there aren't any available.
Dreams need lockers too, Joe.
Hey, Captain.
What do you need, Gallo?
Nothing, just, uh...
It was a little hairy back there on that call,
when the dryer blew.
Yeah. Sure was.
Is, um...
is everything okay with you?
Sure, why?
Oh, I just...
you know, there was a moment there in the fire
where you looked like...
I don't know, maybe you lost your bearings.
That explosion knocked my mask loose.
I got some debris in my eye.
Okay, good. Just making sure you're okay.
Because then outside, you seemed...
I seemed what?
Just almost like you were... rattled.
What are you asking me, Gallo?
Nothing. I was just, you know...
When we finish clearing a fire,
your job is to grab a pike pole
and get ready to do overhaul,
not stand around gawking at me and playing junior doctor.
Next time those bells go off,
I better see you doing your job.
Yeah. Absolutely, of course.
What the hell is that?
I don't know.
I don't know!
What exactly is going on down there?
Mouch!
Too distracting?
"Distracting"? I couldn't hear my call
at the other end of the firehouse.
I'm real sorry, Chief.
- No more of that. - Copy.
What are you thinking, Mouch?
This is a workplace. You interrupted my nap!
I gotta bone up, Herrmann. I'm out of practice.
- Then practice at home. - I can't.
It triggers Trudy's tinnitus.
What am I gonna do?
My audition's in two days.
Pipes and Drums is my dream.
And my birthright
as a second-generation Scottish-American.
Don't you ever watch "The Voice"?
Anybody can just walk in there and play a song.
But if you really
want to get the judge's attention,
you gotta have the best sob story.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, Chief, I went through this list of
- potential medics. - And?
It's not the most inspiring read.
Ogle's on there. He's solid, isn't he?
Ish. Anyway, look, it says
it says he's only willing to work again once herd immunity has been
scientifically secured in Chicagoland, so...
Ah, I missed that.
Um, but there is a name I don't know here.
Jovi something?
I'll call around and ask about her.
Yes, you do that. I gotta get back
and see if I can get Acquisitions back on the phone.
- Hey. - Hey.
What's up?
Permanent medic options.
What about Violet? You guys work great together.
I know, and I was hoping for that,
but sadly, she's very happy at 20.
So, um, do you know a Jovi Delandis?
No. Sorry.
It's my fourth partner in four years.
- Hey, Violet. - How's it going?
Do you guys know if the enchiladas
have flour tortillas instead of corn?
Yes, it's flour.
Don't tell me you're one of those no-gluten people.
You know,
only five percent of the world's population
has an actual allergy to gluten.
So...
But it's not impossible. Like, you might.
You might. And it's actually
always better to be careful. Right, Ritter?
- Right. - Mm-hmm.
I was just wondering about the ingredients. It's tasty.
Do any of you know a Jovi Delandis?
Yeah, Jovi's awesome.
- Really? - Totally skilled.
She was a combat medic specialist in the army.
Yeah, I was at her going-away party last week.
Where's she going?
Knocked up. Third kid.
Decided to go full-time mom.
Young people.
I come to you, hat in hand.
Which one of you would you say is the best...
TikTok... person?
Ah, that'd be me.
Don't say it's you.
You have less than 2,000 followers.
Mm, and how do you know that?
Look, Mouch,
it's not rocket science.
Now if you're looking to gain more views,
you just need to understand how the algorithm works.
Why are you interested in this stuff?
Truck 81, Squad 3...
To be continued.
Structure fire.
Smoke up ahead.
Man, two working fires in one shift.
Hey, you guys okay?
Yeah.
You sure?
Dead in the water.
Everyone, grab your packs and tools.
We're going on foot.
- Let's go. - Copy that.
Hey, no need to rush.
Fire's already out.
No injuries.
Sorry, we had a mechanical issue.
You kidding me?
- Another laundromat? - Yep.
Started the same way as the last one, clothes dryer.
Owner said she cleaned the lint traps this morning
but it still ignited. Heated up so fast,
it blew the door right off the machine.
I've never seen that happen.
Now I've seen it twice in the same shift.
What the hell's going on?
Hey, Cruz. Hold these, will you?
Why you digging through first shift's files?
Just checking to see if there's any more laundromat fires.
That was too weird to be a coincidence.
Right? So, Boden's got us gathering up
all the incident reports going back a month.
- Oh, hey, um... - What?
You hear Mouch playing the bagpipes earlier?
You know what?
I think he was just warming up
when, you know, Boden put the kibosh on it.
I tried to give a little encouragement.
Is that a good idea, though?
Encouraging him?
It's his dream, Joe.
It's my dream to hit
a World Series winning walk off for the White Sox.
That mean I should pick up a bat
and head to the big show in October?
If you do, let me know.
I will be there
to help you carry your equipment.
Brakes look good.
Control arm is fine.
Yeah, everything else looks good.
We just need a new tire and that upper ball joint.
Okay, let me know.
We'd love to get back in service.
They don't have the part in stock.
He's calling around to see what he can locate
but we're out of action for a few hours at least.
Sorry, Captain, I...
I should have seen that pothole.
It was full of water. Looked like a puddle.
Don't beat yourself up.
It's just one more thing that's gone wrong today.
Are you thinking that there's a connection
between these laundromat fires?
Gonna get into that right now.
Whoa, what happened to the truck?
Ugh, this...
I hit a pothole
and I almost mowed down two teenagers.
What?
Yeah, it's a miracle no one got hurt.
You've had one crazy shift.
Is it always like this?
No! No, it's not.
Hmm, well, good luck with the truck.
Yeah.
Engine 17 responded to one.
Bronzeville, 43rd and King Drive.
"Facility manager reported
"that the dryer belt from the motor to the drum
was replaced on the sixth of the month."
Found another one?
We found three more.
Hyde Park, Lawndale, and now...
Bronzeville.
Five laundromat fires since Monday.
And every one started in the dryers.
Could it be some kind of insurance scam?
Doesn't seem to be any link between the establishments.
They're all independently owned.
None of the dryers had frayed belts
or build-up in the lint filters.
All the exhaust ducts were clear.
It doesn't make any sense.
Is somebody targeting these businesses?
Random laundromats all over Chicago?
Something's going on, that's for sure.
We've got four victims in the hospital, one of them critical.
Well, 81 is up on blocks for a while.
If you want to go nosing around,
I got time.
You wanna jump in the Squad,
head back to that first fire for a closer look?
I'll call HQ and tell them they better issue an alert.
Red leather, yellow leather, red leather,
yellow leather, red leather, yellow leather...
Go a little further back and space them out about
eight feet apart. We need to make sure you're both out of frame.
Okay, Mouch...
You cannot let me talk to her anymore.
All I do is make an ass out of myself.
If I open my mouth,
just start talking right over me, okay?
That seems like it might make things even more awkward.
But only for you.
Okay, Mouch. Stand right here on your mark.
Perfect.
Gallo, a little higher on your side.
- Like this? - Like this?
Okay. And action.
When my grandfather left
the rocky Scottish Highlands
and crossed the gusty winds of the Atlantic,
he brought with him the few possessions that he owned.
A frayed picture of his parents,
a hand-me-down suit he was beginning to outgrow...
Oh!
Stella, you scared me.
You see this?
Misty, Gloria, Laverne,
all shattered.
Herrmann said they just dropped down
while he was taking a nap.
Mm, that tape must not have...
I use that tape at home all the time, works fine.
Do you think I did something to them?
Of course not.
It's Violet.
Sorry to tell you this, Brett.
But your temporary partner is a jinx.
What?
My shift started great, all right?
I made out with Kelly in the car
before we headed into the firehouse.
- Aww. - I know, right?
Then came inside.
I had a nice cup of coffee,
my pictures go up, everything's hunky-dory.
And that's when Violet arrived.
Stella, we've worked with Violet before
and she's an amazing paramedic.
I will admit that.
Honestly, I really like her.
But there are some people
who create a certain kind of jinx-y energy.
And she's one of them.
Any news on your boss?
I heard they had to keep him overnight for observation.
Probably just being cautious.
You said you were outside, right?
So you didn't see how the fire started?
No, sorry.
There are no heat marks on the motor.
Coil's intact.
Doesn't look like it was anything mechanical.
Burn patterns are similar
to the ones we saw at the other laundromat.
It's as if the clothes burned the machine
instead of the machine burning the clothes.
Almost like the laundry was soaked in gasoline.
Do you happen to know
who the customer was that was using these dryers?
Actually, I was using them for our wash and fold service.
Could anyone have tampered with the loads after you put them in?
I don't think so, but then, I was outside.
I had to clear my head. The perfume was getting to me.
- Perfume? - In the detergent.
That cheap-o stuff.
It's nothing special.
You'll probably find boxes of that in every laundromat in Chicago.
It's produced and distributed locally.
It's not just scented. There's something else in there.
If this stuff contains a combustible compound,
something that doesn't break down in the wash,
but clings to the fabric...
And they're shipping this to every laundromat in Chicago?
Then we have a problem.
You got no right to do this.
I don't get these orders out, that's my ass on the line.
Well, sorry, pal. This truck's not going anywhere.
Ms. Heimark!
Hey, these guys just came barging in here,
telling me I can't make my run.
What is this, another surprise inspection?
We're not with Fire Prevention, ma'am.
We're from Firehouse 51.
Well, I don't see anything on fire,
so why are you telling my drivers
what they can and can't do?
You in charge here, ma'am?
I am. Marcy Heimark.
Well, Marcy, your detergent
is starting fires at laundromats all over town.
At least four that we're aware of.
- What? - It clings to clothes
and ignites inside of commercial dryers.
Hang on.
Dryers are a very common fire hazard,
as I'm sure you're aware,
especially in winter.
These fires aren't caused by mechanical defects, ma'am.
What are you doing?
The burn patterns indicate that the clothes
were contaminated with a substance
that reacted exothermically.
I'm sorry, you're firemen, right?
We deal with product safety inspectors
at the state and federal level who...
Marcy, your detergent is contaminated
with some sort of combustible fuel.
- You okay? - Yeah.
Must be the fumes from that junk.
We recently switched chemical suppliers
and it's possible they sent us something that was mislabeled.
We have never had this problem before.
How many units have you distributed since the changeover?
A lot.
We haven't shipped any of this batch out of state yet,
but we've been making deliveries
across the Chicago area.
About a 30-mile radius.
But don't worry, we are halting production
until we get to the bottom of this.
That's not good enough.
You've got to track down every box you've sold
and make sure not even one more gets used in a load of laundry.
I'm sorry, that's just not feasible.
You're talking about hundreds of laundromats,
nursing homes, uniform suppliers...
Here's what we're gonna do. You take Squad
back to the firehouse and cover for me.
I'll stay here,
and we are going to make a lot of phone calls.
'Cause if we don't, someone's gonna end up dead.
Saw you and Greg Grainger together at Molly's last week.
Yeah, we've been hanging out.
I've worked with him before. He is a great firefighter.
And he seems like a great guy, too.
He is.
But?
Oh, no... no "but."
I meant, "He is." Period.
How 'bout you? Are you seeing anyone?
The pandemic put a serious damper on my dating life.
But I'm determined to get back out there, have fun.
I mean, who doesn't need fun right now, you know?
So true.
- Oh, no! - What's wrong?
Oh, this is very bad.
- You okay, Mouch? - Nope!
- Casey, I got a real emergency. - What's the matter?
I thought I had two days to prepare,
but there was some kind of mix-up, and now they want to see me today
in 20 minutes.
Back up. What's this about?
My audition. Pipes and Drums.
I was hoping, since Truck's still out of action,
maybe you'd let me run down to the union hall real quick.
Sure, go ahead.
Thanks, Casey.
Hey, Mouch.
Knock 'em dead.
Thank you.
I just got a call that Ogle might actually be available.
I thought you didn't like Ogle.
He's fine.
You know why you've had all those different partners, right?
Because they leave?
Sylvie, they leave
because you've lifted them up.
Been a great partner and an even better teacher.
You cheered Foster on,
gave her the confidence to go back to med school.
You taught Mackey so well that in six months with you,
she was capable of moving to a leadership position.
You make people better. Trust me, I know.
Thank you for saying that.
I say that as your captain and as your friend.
Those are just the facts.
And here's another fact.
You deserve to be with whoever you want to be with.
No compromising.
So go get the partner you really want.
Okay.
- I will. - Good.
Bringing people together in ceremony.
That's why the sound is both haunting and mournful.
The bagpipe is more than an instrument.
It's the intersection of tradition and suffering.
The sound is the cry of my people.
Thank you, Randall... for that.
This one's for Grandpa.
Without further ado,
I will perform "The Battles of Lochanside."
Actually,
everyone is expected to
perform the same audition piece.
That one there.
Oh, but I've been preparing "Lochanside."
I'm sorry, this is our policy.
And it has been since 2015.
Says so right on the website.
Hey, Captain.
I figured I'd go on a grocery run since Truck is out of service.
Good thinking.
Picked up some more aspirin.
You can put that in your locker.
I got another one for the house.
Thanks, Gallo.
Hey, uh...
not to pry anymore, but can I say just one thing?
You really crave the rolled up newspaper, don't you?
No, I don't, really. But, uh...
Remember how you called me out after the gas station fire?
- Uh-huh. - You were mad because,
by not reporting my situation,
I robbed you of your accountability.
- I said I remember. - Well...
it's kind of a two-way street. Isn't it?
Meaning?
How can your firefighters look out for their captain
if he's withholding information from them
about his own situation?
That's it, that's... Just wanted to say that.
Hey, Casey, we're getting an update from Severide.
Marcy's people figured out the problem.
Thanks to a shoddy supplier,
they ended up with methanol in their detergent
instead of sodium lauryl sulfate.
Any luck on rounding up the bad batch?
We've contacted just about every customer who received any,
but there's still one truck out there, making deliveries.
Driver won't answer his phone, so we're pinging his GPS unit.
Hold on a sec.
- You find him? - Yeah, we located the truck.
He's at one of our clients right now,
but he's still not answering his phone.
- Try calling the client. - We've been calling them.
They're not answering either.
I don't like the sound of that.
Where is this place?
1492 West 18th Street.
Hey, you guys hear that? That's right by the firehouse.
We'll check it out.
Should be up here, end of the block.
Is that truck on fire?
Hey.
My exhaust is smoking,
I can't figure it out.
Get away from there. Back up.
Engine 51, roll out to 1502 West 18th.
What is the big deal? It's probably just
a plastic bag stuck to the catalytic.
Chief!
Cargo's burning.
If you weren't ducking calls from your office, you'd know.
This isn't a truck you're driving.
It's a bomb.
How much detergent you carrying?
Four pallet loads.
That's enough to level the whole block.
Herrmann, get your foam working as soon as you land.
Copy that, Chief.
Guys, move back.
Come on.
Hey, what happened?
Detergent leaked through the floorboards.
Hit the hot exhaust.
Second we open that tailgate, we flood the truck with oxygen.
We don't have a choice. We'll just have to be ready.
I'm gonna need a volunteer to open that door.
Chief, let me and Severide handle this.
- Really heating up in there. - Waiting on you, 51.
- Almost there, Chief. - Got it?
How's that solution?
I'll be ready. Charge the line.
All right. Charging the line!
Okay, everyone.
Take cover!
Let's go. Back out, back out.
It's all good.
Damn, I gotta get out of the office more often.
Got an update.
The delivery truck lit up right when they got there.
Chief knocked down the flames himself.
Wow.
What's this?
Just filling out the shift report
before I head back to 20.
- Violet. - Hmm?
I know that you're happy at 20, but...
51 is a truly special place
and you are a truly special paramedic.
There are so many reasons that you should be here.
I'm in.
I-I don't... I don't have to list reasons?
Because I actually wrote down a whole bunch.
I only need one:
Getting the chance to be your partner.
Really?
I was gonna suggest it myself,
but I felt it should come from you.
I am really glad you asked.
We make a great team.
We do!
There's one little issue.
What?
Stella.
Kidd.
There's a big wig from CFD in the briefing room.
Wants to talk to the driver of Truck 81.
Deputy Commissioner Hill.
You're the driver of Truck 81?
- I am. - A video was circulating
online that got sent to my office.
Truck 81 hitting a pothole
and coming right at a couple of kids.
I...
The pothole was filled with water.
I didn't see it, and, after I hit it,
the rig started to...
I came here to shake hands with the man
that got control of that rig and saved those kids' lives.
But it makes me very proud to know it was a woman
and a woman of color at that.
I...
I cannot tell you
how much that means coming from you.
I mean, you're on my wall of inspiration.
Which, unfortunately, did fall down and shatter,
but I am gonna reframe them.
Just... n-never mind about that.
Just... thank you,
Deputy... uh, Deputy Commissioner.
Was that...
Yeah, we were just hanging out, chillin'.
She saw a video of me corralling the rig.
Gave me her card
and she said I could call her any time.
- You are something. - I really am.
And he directs me to this sheet music
that makes my blood run cold:
"The Marchioness of Tullibardine,"
one of the toughest bagpipe marches
- you'll ever hear. - Whoa.
It's full of doublings and hand changes and tachums.
Tachums? Oof.
Okay, so what happened?
I composed myself.
I scanned the first few bars,
and then I turned to the judges and I said, calmly,
"Madam, gentlemen,
"I don't read music.
I just play it."
How are you gonna be in the band if you don't read music?
I play by ear! I figured I could get by,
but, no, Maloney Senior
had to go and change all the rules
before he skedaddled out the door.
He died, Mouch.
So if you didn't make it into the band,
why are you in such a good mood?
That video Violet and I made?
They loved it.
Gonna show it at the Chicagoland Celtic Classic
as a promotional piece for Pipes and Drums!
- Hey! - That's great.
Ah, Grandpa Seamus
would be very proud.
Hey, guys.
- Hey. - Hi!
It's fine, we're not at work anymore.
Just wanted to let you guys know,
I'm full time at 51 now.
Really looking forward to working with you.
You're gonna have to pull yourself together.
You know that, right?
This is gonna be a disaster.
What did I do to deserve this?
Violet is coming to 51.
And Kidd doesn't think she's a jinx anymore
on account of meeting her idol, Commissioner Hill,
so it's all good.
Okay.
Point is, I went after the partner I wanted.
No compromises.
What you said meant a lot, Matt.
You're a good friend.
And a good captain.
Hey, Will.
Matt, how are you?
Can't complain. How about you?
Making it through the storm.
It's been a rough 12 months, you know?
Yeah, I do.
Hey, um, a question for ya.
Yeah.
Buddy of mine, firefighter.
He's had some issues lately.
Got a head injury a while back,
then started having headaches and some tunnel vision.
Any advice?
- Well... - There ya go, Doc.
Thanks, Herrmann.
I'd recommend your friend see a neurologist immediately.
Yeah, you don't mess with head injuries.
Good to know.
- Thanks. - You bet.