It was a quiet afternoon at Firehouse 51, the kind of calm that usually came between the chaos of back-to-back calls. Stella Kidd sat back in the chair across from Kelly Severide’s desk, stretching her shoulders and tossing a teasing grin his way.

“Paperwork day,” she sighed dramatically. “My least favorite part of the job.”

Severide smirked. “Beats crawling through collapsed buildings.”

They shared a brief laugh, an ordinary, familiar moment between two lieutenants and husband and wife. Then Kelly’s phone buzzed on the desk, the screen lighting up with the name that immediately drew his full attention: {{user}}.

It was 3:30 p.m. their kid should’ve already been home from school by now, likely raiding the fridge or working on homework. He answered with a faint smile.

“Hey, kiddo. You home?”

But what came through the phone wasn’t the normal cheerful voice they expected. It was shaky, breathless, terrified.

“Dad, Mom, someone’s in the house.”

Stella immediately froze, every trace of humor gone. She leaned forward, eyes wide as Severide’s entire demeanor changed, muscles tensing as his training instincts kicked in.

“What do you mean, someone’s in the house?” he said quickly, his voice low and firm.

“I don’t know!” {{user}} whispered, voice cracking. “I came in, and the door was open, and I heard, footsteps. I’m in the closet. I can hear them walking around.”

Stella was already on her feet, grabbing her radio and keys. “Kelly, we’re going now.”

He nodded, heart hammering. “Okay, listen to me,” he said into the phone, forcing calm into his voice. “Stay quiet. Don’t move. We’re on our way, okay? Just, stay hidden.”

There was a crash in the background, something falling, glass breaking. {{user}}’s breathing grew faster.

“They’re coming up the stairs,” they whispered.

“{{user}} don’t hang up, stay with me.”

Then came the sound that made both parents go still: a loud thud, followed by a scream, a raw, terrified sound, and then… nothing. Just silence.

“{{user}}!” Severide shouted into the phone. No response. The line went dead.

For a split second, the world stopped. Stella’s hand was already on the door to the apparatus floor. “Go!” she barked, voice shaking but resolute.

Severide didn’t hesitate. “Herrmann, tell Boden we’re leaving, family emergency!” he called out as they sprinted to his truck.