A Welcome Stranger

I slammed the door to the rig shut and looked around at all the tired faces. It had been a rough call, a car had been run off the road, mother and newborn inside of it. We got the mother out quickly, but the newborn didn't make it. What made it worse, he hadn't even been home yet, they were driving home from the hospital.

I sat on my bunk thinking over and over, is there something I could have done? If I had been faster? If we had gotten to him in time? "there was nothing you could do Gabby" I looked at my husband, seeing the sadness in his eyes. "even if we had gotten there sooner, hospital says he most likely died on impact" I shook my head, I didn't feel like I could speak.

That's when Otis came in. "Dawson, Casey. there is someone on the apparatus floor looking for both of you" I looked at Matt and got up slowly. Who would be looking for both of us?

WE walked out to see a teenage boy with dark skin, short cropped hair, holding a stuffed brown monkey. He looked up as we came in, those eyes.. I gripped Matts arm tightly as we walked closer. Could it really be him? After all these years?

"Hi" he said shyly, "This is probably really weird, but, I think you are the firemen that saved me.."

I could barely speak, tears already running down my cheeks. "Louie?" He nodded. "My grandmother said the couple that took me in worked at firehouse 51. I had to come and see you" He stepped closer and I broke down, I pulled him in for a hug and just held onto him for what seemed like ages.

When I finally let him go the whole house was there watching. I looked at Louie, he had grown so much! I couldn't believe this was the same little boy that stole my heart 10 years ago. He smiled at me "I hope I didn't come at a bad time.." I shook my head "its the perfect time" I told him.

We invited him inside and we all talked for hours. He told us that his father was called back overseas when he was about 6, and never came home, he is living with his grandparents now. He is an honor student, he volunteers at the retirement center every weekend, he babysits the neighbors twins every night while their single mother is working the graveyard shift. He is exactly the person I knew he would turn out to be. When Capp asked about the monkey on his arm he smiled and told us the monkey was his good luck charm, that it goes everywhere with him, though it usually stays in the car or his backpack.

By the time we finished catching up it was dark outside, oops. Herman took Louie home while we all settled for the night, I sat on my bunk smiling. This day, this horrible day that started with disaster, ended up being perfect. This is exactly what we all needed.

Hey guys! i'm back with a Chicago fire story. my current obsession. been rewatching the series and thought of this when they found louies dad. had to write it down. I hope you like it.

~Twilightgirl~