The episode picks up right where the fall finale left off, with Cruz being confronted by Junior, Flaco's cousin, who’s still holding a grudge after Flaco’s death in a fire years ago. Junior presses Cruz to get involved in something illegal, but Cruz stands his ground, threatening to call the cops if he’s pushed again. Junior isn’t backing down, though.
Meanwhile, Mouch and Herman are chatting when Pascal pulls them aside for a private meeting. They’re expecting bad news, but instead, the firehouse erupts in applause as they’re congratulated for passing their lieutenant exams. The pressure’s off, but Kidd’s away with the Girls on Fire program. Pascal drops a surprise: Mouch will be on truck as lieutenant for the shift, with a floater replacing him.
The first call of the day is to a motel fire. Mouch steps up to lead the response, diving into the scene with his team. He rescues an unconscious man, only to find out from Violet that the man, George Thomas, had been dead for days. George was a loner who kept to himself, coming and going without much contact. The hotel staff confirms his identity, but no next of kin.
Back at the firehouse, Mouch receives praise from Ritter and Carver for how he handled being in charge, though Herman’s more curious about how Mouch felt in the role. Mouch admits it wasn’t what he expected. Violet tries to lighten the mood with Carver, but it doesn’t land well. Novak catches the awkwardness, and Violet admits the tension between her and Carver is still hanging in the air.
Severide’s called into the captain’s office and asked to cover a fire investigation class, which he agrees to. But the captain also warns him that a new lead has emerged in the investigation into Flaco Rodriguez’s death, prompting Severide to warn Cruz. The investigation is heating up, and Cruz, uneasy, is told there’s no need to worry just yet it’s all speculative, but the call came from a family member claiming to have new information.
Meanwhile, Mouch digs deeper into George’s death, learning from Trudy that he passed from natural causes, though his lack of a family to claim his body leaves Mouch uneasy. Herman points out that after 62 years of life, someone had to care about George, which sparks something in Mouch. He’s determined to find out who George really was.
Cruz, meanwhile, is still in a fog. When Junior calls again, Cruz is hesitant but eventually agrees to meet him outside the firehouse. Junior wants Cruz’s help to recover a stolen stash of money, claiming it was taken while he was in prison. The plan? Dress as firefighters and steal the money back. Cruz is caught in a moral dilemma help Junior break the law or risk an investigation that could drag him into the middle of Flaco’s case. It’s a no-win situation.
Mouch continues his search, going to the motel where George lived. The front desk worker, Meka, offers him George’s personal belongings, which include a photograph of a woman Mouch can’t identify. He brings the box back to the firehouse, where Ritter starts researching the woman’s identity, though they don’t have much to go on.
Severide teaches his class, but notices Cruz is distracted and clearly troubled. He pulls Cruz aside to ask if he needs to go home, but Cruz brushes it off.
Pascal, concerned with the growing tensions at the firehouse, confronts Van Meter, telling him to clear any future tasks with him first. Van Meter seems surprised but agrees to keep Pascal in the loop going forward. Ritter eventually identifies the woman in the photo as Evelyn Windberry, who lives in New York. Mouch makes the call, only to learn that Evelyn passed away a year ago. Her son doesn’t know if she had any connection to George. The mystery continues. Meanwhile, Cruz is wrestling with his conscience. He’s about to go through with Junior’s plan when he’s interrupted by a phone call from an unknown number. It’s Junior again, pressuring him to help, and Cruz reluctantly agrees, only to discover that the whole thing was a setup. The stash of money never existed.
Things quickly spiral out of control. Cruz and Junior find themselves caught in a gunfight with the men who were behind the stolen stash. Junior is killed, and Cruz, wounded, manages to escape but the fallout is dire. Cruz has left behind his fingerprints at a crime scene and is now a prime suspect in a violent confrontation that’s only going to get worse.
The episode builds tension with the weight of Cruz’s dilemma, Mouch’s drive to find out more about George, and the ongoing investigation into Flaco’s death. Each character is navigating their own moral crossroads, and as the stakes rise, it’s clear that things will only get more complicated before they resolve.
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