08x12 - Then Nick Porter Happened

[bunniefuu]

Firefighting expo's this week.

Nick Porter.

I'm the Flanagan rep.

- Hey, hey, Nick!

- Mouch, you old dog.

How you doing, buddy?

I got a letter on my door.

Landlord is raising the rent come this new year.

- Ugh.

- What can I say?

I'm desperate.

This is the, uh, third bedroom.

It's a It's a great place.

Why are you breaking your lease?

It's just too much space for me.

Best friend magic, and no one can take that away from us.

Headquarters forever, baby.

No.

- Good morning.

- Ah, good morning!

What are you up to?

Uh, nothing.

Just browsing the Internet, like people do.

- Okay.

- Damn, I'm late.

What are you talking about?

We got plenty of time.

No, I just I I gotta swing by home before work, 'cause I left my station gear there.

But, um, I will see you at the firehouse.

Yeah.

See ya.

Why are half of these sausages gray?

Those are the vegetarian ones.

Have the meat one I'm just providing healthy options.

There's nothing healthy about that color.

Hey, I'm sorry to bring this up, but, rent is starting to eat into my savings account.

Oh, uh, I can cover a couple hundred bucks a month, at least while the Slamigan money's coming through.

That's really sweet of you, but don't you think we should rent out that extra room?

Yeah, probably.

Course, nobody can replace Otis.

Yeah, that's for sure.

But, ah, I do know someone looking for a place.

Nick Porter.

Middle-aged equipment salesman Nick Porter?

That's the one.

Poor guy's going through a tough divorce.

He's really hurting.

You'd be throwing him a lifeline.

- Aw.

- You'd let Nick Porter stay in that room?

Uh, I guess so.

He's not a bad guy.

And we definitely wouldn't be comparing him to Otis.

That's for sure.

- Hey.

- Hey.

So, I have been trying to plan a surprise trip as a birthday present for Kelly.

Only thing is is that it's his birthday next week, and I still haven't figured out what to do.

He's so tricky.

Hey, you know, my boyfriend, Eric, he's a travel agent.

I bet he could hook you up.

That would be amazing.

Are you serious?

Oh, my God, okay, um, can you have him stop by Molly's tomorrow night?

Sure.

Engine 51, Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61 - Thank you.

a*t*matic fire alarm, Stover Academy - That sounds like a school.

- Yeah, come on, let's go.

We don't know what set it off.

Nobody's seen any smoke or anything.

Herrmann, see anything on the panel?

Looks like an inside pull, Chief.

So somebody pulled the alarm, but they didn't report anything.

- False alarm?

- Yeah.

- You kidding me?

- Hilarious.

Battalion 25, can you spare Squad 3 for a person trapped?

Affirmative, Main.

What's the address?

3815 South Wood Avenue.

Squad, mount up.

8161, come with me and squad.

Engine, stay here.

Search this school from top to bottom.

Reset the alarm.

- What's the problem?

- It's my dad.

This big oil t*nk fell on top of him.

Where?

In the basement?

Yeah.

Hey, guys, air bags and cribbing.

Truck, prep a ladder and the basket.

We'll bring him out through the window.

Copy that!

Over here!

Hurry!

Oh, God Hurry up, please.

He's not breathing.

Step aside now.

Come on.

Ready?

No, no.

Thing's still full.

Must weigh a couple thousand pounds.

Air bags will take too long.

We need a lever.

Hey!

I need a ladder in here now.

Copy that!

Backboard and Stokes basket, too, come on.

I found us a fulcrum.

Let's go!

Ladder coming in.

- Ready?

- Yeah.

Casey, get ready to pull him out.

Copy.

- Clear!

- Brett, Foster, get ready out there.

Still no pulse.

Hurry.

Let's go, go!

Is he on?

Hold!

Lift.

Okay.

Take him out.

Come on, hurry.

Okay, up.

- Omar.

- Daddy.

Hey, hey, hey.

Back up, give him space.

- He's in good hands.

- Is he gonna be all right?

How long has he been under there not breathing?

I don't know.

A a few minutes.

Maybe five?

He was down there by himself, and I heard him trying to move that thing, and I thought maybe I should go down there and help him, but then It's not your fault.

It's just a freak thing.

He's got a pulse and we're helping him to breathe.

We'll get him to Chicago Med as quick as we can.

Why don't you take your kids, and you can follow the ambulance?

It felt like forever, until you guys got here.

That false alarm added at least three minutes to our response time.

Yeah, that headmaster did not seem too worried about it.

My guess?

They're gonna sweep it under that fancy carpeting.

How'd it go?

Doctor's working on him now.

He's got internal bleeding and a few broken ribs.

Probably a ruptured spleen.

So we got to him fast enough?

Won't know for a while.

His brain was deprived of oxygen for a long time.

His poor family.

Mom and the kids huddled in the waiting area holding each other.

Hey, I just combed through the run sheets for first and third shifts.

There's been two other false alarms at Stover Academy in the last month.

So three all together, in a month.

It's an epidemic.

We need to have a word with the man in charge over there.

Oh, Nick Porter is here.

That was fast.

Hey, guys.

Sylvie.

I can't thank you guys enough.

He is taking the place sight unseen.

- Wow.

- Yeah.

Mouch told me all about it.

Sounds perfect, and believe me, the more distance between Ellen and me, the better.

Ellen's his wife.

Uh, soon to be ex-wife, thankfully.

Yeah, it's been rough, just trying to figure out next steps.

But, once again, the man upstairs provides when you need it most.

Actually, in this case it was me, but I'm gonna bring my stuff over tomorrow, if that's okay?

Jeez.

Insta-roommates.

I'm just saying.

It's quick.

That's all.

And the quicker I'm out of my place, the better, for all involved, right?

So listen, I've gotta head out.

I'm repping a fireproof blanket that's gonna knock your socks off, but, uh, thanks a million, guys.

You are very welcome.

We'll see you tomorrow.

Yes, you will.

- Aw, he's a sweetie.

- Mm-hmm.

Thanks for helping him out.

Well, he's helping us out too.

That room needed to be filled.

Excuse me.

Are you the principal?

Uh, headmaster.

Jim DeVoe.

Captain Matt Casey.

This is Lieutenant Kelly Severide.

Pleasure.

We responded to your fire alarm this morning.

Do you realize that your school has had three false alarms since the beginning of the semester?

My apologies.

It's an all-boys school.

There is a certain level of chaos that comes with the territory.

Yeah, we're not talking about harmless fun.

That alarm delayed our response to a real emergency, and the victim is in bad shape because of it.

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that.

Will they be okay?

It's too early to say.

We need to figure out who's pulling these alarms.

Of course, yes, my staff and I will figure out who's behind this.

We'd like to talk to him.

He needs to understand, he's putting people's lives in danger.

I'm afraid that's not possible, but we'll make sure they get the message.

What do you mean, that's not possible?

Well, our students are entitled to their privacy, Lieutenant, and disciplinary matters are kept in strict confidence.

What?

I have to insist on it.

The families of Stover Academy would expect nothing less.

You mean these private school parents expect you to shield their kids from prosecution.

Hold on.

We're talking about a prank here.

A sophomoric and irresponsible one, to be sure Pulling a false alarm is a crime - Okay, Kelly - Whoa, hey, hey.

Sorry.

If you can't have a calm, rational discussion, I'm afraid I need to ask you to leave the premises.

We're gonna find out who did this with or without him.

There's a man in the ICU, a husband and a father, and all this jagoff cares about is the students' privacy.

Was pretty shocking to see how fast he circled the wagons.

And I get it, we're not the cops.

We didn't walk in there with a subpoena, but you'd think he'd want to cooperate.

Sounds like he's worried about liability.

Wants to contain the damage, but he's not going to run me off that easily.

Well, he didn't run us off Transmitting a false alarm is a Class 4 felony.

Gets you one to the three years and up to a $25,000 fine, so if the headmaster doesn't want to help me locate this punk, I will hit him with obstruction.

I'll just stand there and watch Whoa, whoa, hold on.

We just wanted your help with this headmaster.

We're not looking to get some teenager charged with a felony.

Are we?

No, no.

We want him to learn a lesson, understand the cost of what he did.

Maybe we hold off on police involvement for the time being while you two look for another approach.

Okay.

Well, you just let me know when you want to get serious.

Thank you for your time, Sergeant.

Uh-huh.

Any ideas?

False alarms are really dangerous Good morning guys, take a flyer.

Gotta stop these false alarms.

Thank you.

When firefighters waste time on false alarms, we're not available to help people who really need it.

False alarms k*ll, no joke, okay?

- Here you go, guys.

- All right.

Don't worry, there's not going to be a quiz, just read it.

Is this because of that fire drill yesterday?

Uh, that wasn't a drill.

Yeah, one of your classmates pulled the alarm.

Made us late to an actual emergency where someone got hurt really bad.

- That sucks, I'm sorry.

- Yeah, you said it.

Hey, I haven't seen a fire truck like that before.

That's the squad.

It's like a big rolling toolbox.

We've got all sorts of specialized gear in there Saws, jaws, jacks, scuba equipment.

We got an air bag in there can pick up a train car.

- Whoa.

- Hey, c-can you show us?

Tell you what, We'll come do a fire safety presentation to your whole school, let you guys try out some gear.

Cool.

Just ask your parents to call the headmaster, tell him you want us to come.

Think it did any good?

All right.

Better get the rigs back for incoming shift.

Yeah, and then out of the blue, right in the middle of dinner, she says to me, "Nick, we're through.

" Oof, ouch.

Nothing's ever been good enough for Ellen, and each year it gets worse.

Trust me, guys, never get married.

Stay free.

Uh, well, marriage isn't for everyone maybe, but Joe here is engaged to a great girl.

Oh, well, heck, don't listen to me.

Look, I just, uh, I picked the wrong apple.

If you know what I mean.

I thought I got a nice, crisp one, and instead I got pure poison.

Well, Chloe is like a Fiji, or a Granny Smith, right, Joe?

Look, third period's starting.

Ah, forget hockey.

We got something much better.

Classic Nascar races.

Classic as in they've already happened?

Hell, yeah.

First up is the 1992 Hooters 500.

It's an all-timer.

Trust me.

You'll love this.

- But - No, g*ng.

Okay?

No offense but I'm kinda used to being the team leader.

It'll be a great dynamic for the apartment.

- Oh - Ooh!

Ha-ha!

Yes!

Ah, here you go.

Thanks, Christopher.

Hey, it's not a problem.

You should come around here more often.

Hey, Eric, why don't you tell Kidd your thoughts about this trip before Severide decides to come over here.

And thank you so much again for doing this.

So many options for couples.

First there's the outdoorsy stuff, hiking or skiing with a private cabin in the woods.

Little too murdery for me, personally, but some people love it.

I like the honesty.

Moving on.

- Then there's the spa weekend.

- Mm.

Plenty of beautiful locales for that.

But if your fireman is anything like mine, he'll think it's a little on the soft side.

- Yeah - Okay.

Afraid so.

Figured.

So my final and, I think, best suggestion is a cruise.

Hmm.

A cruise.

Kelly does love boats.

Then it's perfect.

I'm telling you, they're really romantic.

The open seas, the nonstop parties, those cozy rooms.

We did one last year, it was crazy fun.

I love this idea.

Love it!

Oh, God, okay, just, uh, talk about something else.

Quick.

Stella's been acting weird.

Ah, Severide.

Don't ever try and figure women out.

Donna and I, we got into another fight about her mother, and now, she's on one of those weekend retreats with all of her girlfriends.

Was wondering why you were making one of your rare appearances at Molly's.

Always glad to have you but sorry to hear the reason.

Ah, don't be.

Truth is, she comes home Sunday night and if history is any guide, just being home together, it'll bring things back to normal pretty quick.

So that was a good effort you all made this morning Stover Academy.

Yeah, bunch of kids avoided us, but a few stopped by to talk.

You think you got through to any of them?

Nah, no way to know, but we're hoping.

I had a thought.

About something we could do for that victim and his family.

Morning.

Hello.

Uh, we're the firefighters who were here the other day.

Oh, of course.

I'm Kelly.

- This is Matt.

- Hi.

Uh, it's Melanie, right?

How's your husband doing?

Uh, they're worried, about the lack of oxygen to his brain what that might have done to him.

We won't know until he wakes up, so Yeah, well, he seems like a strong guy.

If anyone can bounce back, I bet he can.

Uh, the reason why we're here, we wanted to fix the mess we made.

What do you mean?

I do construction on the side, licensed and bonded.

We're gonna replace that window for you.

No charge.

That's so generous of you.

I'm sorry.

I just, um, these last few days It's okay.

Hey.

- It's okay.

- Thank you.

It's okay.

Thank you.

Oh, um, good morning.

Morning.

Isn't it a little early for that?

I was gonna make a Bloody Mary but that seems like a lot of work.

Mm.

You wanna see pictures of Ellen?

Uh, well, yes, but no.

I should really This is Cancun, last year.

Yeah, not a lot of ladies could pull off that look at her age.

- But check her out.

- Yeah, wow.

- Huh?

- Yeah, she looks great.

Joe!

Come and look at photos of Ellen in a sarong.

Uh, yeah, oh, I would totally, I just, um, I gotta This is the wedding reception at the Palmer house.

I don't remember much.

Think I was still recovering from the bachelor party.

If you know what I mean.

Mm Her wedding dress was awful, wasn't it?

Look.

That high neck?

She looks like an Amish.

- Uh - Hmm.

I miss her.

But that could just be the whiskey talking.

Oh, that's kind of sweet.

Hey.

Come on.

- Sit down, you two.

- Mm.

There's more to see.

Yeah uh unfortunately, we can't be late for work.

But, uh, we'll see you later.

We might have made a really big mistake.

Big.

Kidd didn't stay at the loft last night, huh?

Nope.

Trouble in paradise?

She made some excuse about crashing early, but I'm not buying it.

Trying to give her space, but not sure that's the way to go.

Hey, is that the Stover Academy student?

Could be.

So, I spent the whole night looking at those cruise brochures that Eric gave me.

There's just so many choices, it's like where to go, where to leave from, for how long?

- Hmm.

- Lucky you.

I spent all night watching old car races with Nick Porter.

Ugh.

I can't take it anymore.

- What?

- Nick Porter.

You chose Nick Porter.

I admit it wasn't my best move, but why are you so worked up about it?

He wasn't sitting on your couch in his underwear.

My landlord and I have been at w*r for the last two months.

And even though I make the additional money teaching the spin classes, I I'm barely covering the new rent hike.

And I need to find a place to live.

Why didn't you say something?

You knew we had an extra room.

Honestly, it felt like overstepping to even ask.

Considering who was in that room.

Hmm.

I knew I could never replace Otis.

Then Nick Porter happened.

Foster, I would have loved to have you there.

You're one of my best friends.

- Yeah?

- Of course!

You gotta live with who you love.

But, you gotta get Nick Porter out.

Please.

We're getting rid of Nick Porter?

Uh-oh.

We need your help getting Nick Porter out of the apartment.

Whoa, hey, uh, I don't know, guys.

I know it sounds uncaring but It sure does.

The poor guy is in pain.

He needs a stable home and some affection.

He's not a stray dog, Mouch.

He's a man who drinks whiskey at 7:00 in the morning and is starting to convince me that marriage is a very bad idea.

He's been talking about Ellen nonstop.

Wouldn't it be more caring to help end his pain than to just house him?

Are you suggesting k*lling Nick Porter?

Mouch, I'm suggesting we get him back together with his wife.

Oh, that's the same thing.

- You need to call Ellen.

- Oh And you have to try and convince her to make this work.

Uh uh no.

See, Ellen is a very, very difficult woman.

And another good deed ends up smacking me in the face.

When will I learn?

What the hell?

Hey.

Hey.

Get back!

Hey!

What's going on?

Hey!

Looks like we found our punk.

Uh, those are the list of student rolls for the classes near where the fire alarms were pulled.

I got it off the school website.

What's your name, son?

- Jared.

- Jared.

Why did you bring this to us?

Because it I bet it was one of those kids that pulled the fire alarm.

Maybe you could find out who.

I didn't do it.

I swear, I wasn't even in class that day.

I recognize you.

You stopped to talk to us outside the school.

Yeah yeah I thought it was crazy what you guys said.

Someone got hurt because some idiot at Stover pulled the fire alarm for no reason?

Anyway, I just wanted to help.

So why all the sneaking around?

So you wanted to help but you didn't want it getting back to your headmaster.

Yeah.

Or anybody at the school.

People there, they think the rules should like be different for them, you know?

Well, that's probably what got us into this mess in the first place.

Jared.

We appreciate you trying to do the right thing.

Sorry if I gave you a scare.

All right, come on.

You're free to go.

Okay.

There's got to be 50 names here.

Not super helpful.

Maybe if we had the headmaster's cooperation, but we don't.

That list is a good starting point for Platt, just in case we decide it's time to get the police involved.

How long you and Eric been together?

About a year and a half.

- Why?

- I don't know.

I guess I'm trying to figure out if I'm a relationship person.

Lot of yapping going on.

Not enough cooking.

- Pick up the pace, rookies.

- Okay.

Anyway, Violet, the medic from 20, things were going good.

And then she just stopped answering my texts.

Well, how many texts did you send before she stopped?

What do you mean?

One.

So she didn't respond to one text and you're worried?

Okay, well, I'm not worried, I'm just I'm usually the one that stops texting.

I knew you'd met your match with her.

What do you mean?

Means you better not just sit back on your laurels if you want to have a sh*t.

Hm.

So what do I do?

You put the chicken in the oven.

- On it, sorry.

- Yeah.

Here.

Do that one.

- No, put the cheese on it.

- Okay.

It does not seem to be going well.

Mouch looks like he's literally drowning.

We need to take over.

With a fork, a tiny fork, right?

And all along, I thought it was about the oysters.

You see what I'm saying?

Uh, sorry to interrupt.

Uh, Ms.

Porter, my name is Sylvie, this is Joe.

Very nice to meet you.

I was just trying to explain my theory about communication in relationships.

Mrs.

Porter, I'll get right to the point Nick has been talking about you nonstop since he moved in.

Nonstop.

And it's really clear that he misses you and loves you, and we just thought that Mouch should let you know.

So that if, by any chance, you were feeling the same way, you could maybe give this whole thing another sh*t.

You two are the roommates.

- That's right.

- Mm-hmm.

You think I don't know what this is about?

Nicky is a huge pain in the ass to live with and you want him out.

- Mm-hmm.

- Okay, yes, he's a little difficult, but his affection for you is real.

He hasn't stopped flipping through that big blue photo album since he got there.

- Really?

- Really.

We've seen your reception at the Palmer House.

Oh, and the Amish dress.

And you in Cancun.

He really likes that picture by the way.

I had no idea that he took the album.

Nick is a real softie at heart.

Oh, well maybe that softie shouldn't have flirted with everything in a skirt at my niece's wedding.

He he definitely shouldn't have.

But, is it such a bad idea to give him another chance?

What are you doing?

Trying to be discreet.

- A cruise?

- Shh.

Gross.

Cruise ships are like giant Petri dishes.

- What?

- He's not wrong, you know, I always wanted to try it but Cindy, she's got this running tab of, you know, news stories about cruise ships hit with neural virus outbreaks, you know, sewage backups, all kinds of nasty crap.

I heard they have morgues on the ships, in case people die.

Okay, that's insane.

All right?

You and Eric went on a cruise and loved it.

Eric loved it.

Me, I felt like I was trapped in a floating jail filled with old people.

Don't tell him that.

He'd be crushed.

Oh, my God.

Well, what am I supposed to do now for Kelly's surprise birthday trip?

So that's what you've been up to?

Ugh.

Damn it, it's all gone to hell now.

You didn't have to do that.

Duh, I know that I don't have to.

Engine 51, Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61, a*t*matic fire alarm, Stover Academy That prep school again, seriously?

Let's move.

Chief, I'm as angry as you are Oh, I doubt that.

Hermann?

Check the outside box.

Truck, Squad, let's get a search going.

I took a look around already, I I don't see anything out of the ordinary.

We're getting to the bottom of this situation right now.

And you're gonna help us.

Or we call in the police.

Whatever you need.

Looks like it was a pull station right outside the gymnasium.

Oh, yeah, that's in a hallway, let me see.

Uh, no, I don't have a camera that covers that alarm.

What about all the routes in and out of that hallway?

Uh, yeah, we should be able to see everyone who left that area after the alarm went off.

Was there a class in the gym at the time?

No, the boys have gym at the end of the day.

I don't see anyone coming in or out.

Go forward again.

Whoever pulled that alarm, they're still in there.

Okay, everyone listen up.

Converge on the gymnasium.

Cover all exits.

Copy that, Chief.

- Anything?

- Nothing yet, Chief.

Lots of places to hide though Equipment room, coaches' office, locker room.

Elijah, are you responsible for all of these false alarms?

What why?

Why would you do that?

Look this isn't like him.

Has he gotten into any other trouble at school?

No, but he just came to Stover in September.

Well, he's a good boy, an excellent student.

That's why I pulled him out of his public school.

I wanted him to get the best education, even if that meant downsizing to a smaller apartment and working longer hours.

But he's had a hard time fitting in at Stover.

So you thought you could impress people by pulling a few dangerous pranks?

No.

I wanted to get the school in trouble.

What do you mean, Elijah?

I just thought if Stover got shut down, then I could go back to my old school and be with my friends, and nobody would make fun of me.

Are kids picking on you at Stover?

All the time.

I had no idea, I Maybe you ought to worry less about protecting these kids from the outside world and take a hard look at what's happening inside your school.

I am so sorry you're being bullied, Elijah.

I'll do whatever it takes to make it stop.

I'm really sorry about the fire alarms.

Is there anything I can do to fix it?

These ivory tower schools.

They breed these kids that think they're better than everybody else.

Bullies.

I don't know.

I think bullies are everywhere.

That's why you gotta focus on the good people instead, right?

They're everywhere too.

Hey Ritter?

Don't mess with my old man anger, okay?

Because, uh, I need it to get around.

Hey, you coming to Molly's tonight?

Nope, going out with Violet.

So you finally texted her again?

Maybe.

Maybe she texted me.

No, you definitely texted her.

Sorry to leave you high and dry like this, but with Ellen insisting I move back in, I really don't have much of a choice.

She's the team leader in my house.

You'll see what I mean when you get married.

Actually, most of the time it's pretty great.

Just don't tell Ellen I said so.

Oh, uh, Nick, wait, your your DVD.

Uh, oh no, I'm leaving that with you guys.

As a thank you for everything you did.

I'll never forget it.

Oh, hey, hey, let me get that for you.

Thanks.

And the body's not even cold.

This is gonna be awesome.

Hey, bud.

Hi.

Let me see.

I like it.

Good work.

That'll cheer anyone up.

- You ready?

- Okay.

Come on.

What's this about?

My birthday's not for another couple days.

I know, but I wanted to celebrate tonight anyway because I decided that we are not going on any crazy trips.

We're just gonna stay right here, cozied up on that couch.

That sounds perfect but But?

because you should always be here.

Will you move in?

All right, what the hell, you gotta live with who you love, right?

Makes sense to me