Leaders Lead

Air date

May 8, 2013

Runtime

42 minutes

Production information

Series information
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Retaliation Hit	Let Her Go

Leaders Lead is the twenty-second episode of the first season and the 22nd overall episode of Chicago Fire.

Summary[]

A frustrated Severide, turns to an unlikely ally to resolve his current dilemma. Casey begins to find satisfaction in his personal life, while Mills and Dawson face personal challenges. Meanwhile, the squad is called to the scene of a harrowing apartment building collapse.

Plot[]

Casey and Hallie are back together and better than ever. Dawson spots the happy couple outside the station and seems confused by her feelings. On the one hand, she knows she is happy with Mills. On the other hand, she also feels a little jealous of Casey and Hallie's reconciliation. Mills chooses the worst time to complicate things by inviting Dawson to move in with him. It is a huge decision and she will have to think about it.

Before Dawson has time to reflect on the conversation, a call comes in and she and Shay hit the road. On the way, she confides in Shay that she feels guilty for not telling Mills that his mother had a relationship with Boden in the past. The squad arrives at the scene of a balcony collapse in which dozens of college kids are trapped in a pile of sharp wood planks. They systematically pull the kids out of the rubble.

Boden talks to Severide in the bathroom about confronting Tara, the girl who is accusing him of sexual assault. Boden assures Severide that he's just trying to help, but that if he attempts to contact Tara again, he'll take away Severide's position as Squad Leader. Severide takes offense and tells Boden that he'll handle it himself.

In the ambulance, Dawson tells Shay that she is trying to look at the bright side of things, get over her concerns about Casey and appreciate Mills more. Back at the station, Severide confides in Shay about his issues with Tara. Shay suggests that Severide go on the offensive and look into Tara's past, because this is probably not the first time she is accused someone of assault for personal gain.

After their shift, Mills and Dawson meet up for a date. Mills is troubled that, when he told Dawson that he loved her, she did not say it back. Dawson assures Mills that she loves him too and that she is excited to move in with him. It is exactly what he wanted to hear.

Severide meets with Antonio, who helps by pulling some information on Tara from the police files. Severide learns that Tara pressed similar charges against another man a few years ago, and decides to investigate. He tracks down Clay White, a former co-worker of Tara's who was also accused of assault. It seems Tara has a pattern of false accusations, clearly meant to secure financial settlements from each organization. Severide enlists Clay to help in his case.

Casey stops by the clinic where Hallie has been working. It is full of injured patients, but Hallie loves the environment, and Casey is happy to see Hallie content with her work. The next day, after a daring rescue at a hellacious car accident, Severide and Clay corner Tara in her work cafeteria and threaten to expose her pattern of false accusations unless she retracts her statement against Severide, leave him alone, and quit her job. Tara reluctantly agrees to drop the charges against Severide.

Back at the station, Herrmann introduces Chief Boden to a visitor, a 12-year-old girl who tells the chief she was left on the steps of the station as a baby, and Boden was the firefighter that rescued her. It is a heartfelt moment for the Chief, and a pleasant reminder that sometimes his job can be rewarding. Later in the locker room, Otis discovers that Mouch has a Japanese internet girlfriend.

Chief Boden informs Severide that Tara Little has resigned from her position and dropped all charges against Severide. Severide says he understands the Chief was just looking out for him, and he assures Boden that his methods of persuasion were perfectly legal.

Dawson pulls Mills aside to tell him what she knows about Chief Boden and Mills' mother. She explains that she wants to be honest with Mills in order to strengthen their relationship, but Mills is upset that Dawson didn't tell him sooner. The relationship instantly becomes rocky and uncertain. Before anything can be resolved, they're called to the scene of a fire, and it is at Hallie's clinic.

Upon arriving at the clinic, Casey immediately notices Hallie's car in the parking lot. She is trapped inside the inferno. He rushes into the flames without hesitation. The other firefighters pull survivors out of the flames while Casey frantically searches for Hallie. Eventually he finds her unconscious in the back of the clinic, and he and Severide barely drag her to safety.

Hallie is badly burned and not breathing. Dawson struggles to revive her in the ambulance before she is rushed into the emergency room. Later, the doctor comes out to inform Casey that Hallie didn't survive. It is a crushing blow to the entire squad, and especially to Casey. After having learned that Hallie has died, Casey begins weeping over her loss, and his firefighting friend consoles him. Today, they have lost one of their own.

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

Recurring Cast[]

Randy Flagler as Firefighter Harold Capp
Teri Reeves as Dr. Hallie Thomas
Brooke Nevin as Tara Little
Robyn Coffin as Cindy Herrmann
David Von Kampen as Lee Henry Herrmann
Lucas Von Kampen as Lucas Herrmann
Jon Seda as Detective Antonio Dawson

Guest Cast[]

Tania Raymonde as Officer Nicole Sermons
Scott Eastwood as Officer Jim Barnes
Christopher Cousins as Steven Goody
Ryan Kitley as Clay White
James Zoccoli as Tim Campbell
Natasha Lowe as Meredith
Ariana Burks as Charlotte
Paulina Olszynski as Valerie
Deanna Myers as Katie
Trina Siopy as Bridgette
Allison Latta as Esther
Antonia Arcely as Miranda
Steve O'Connell as Roger
Christian Castro as Virgilio
Diana Simonzadeh as Margaret
Deanna Reed as Bystander
Otis Fine as Shopper

Notes and Trivia[]

Tara is revealed to be a con artist, having lodged a similar accusation against her ex-boyfriend.
- Under threat of being exposed by Severide, she drops the charges and quits her job.