Chicago Fire returned after a three week break tonight, with a daring rescue, wedding plans, bar openings, and a plot to take someone’s job.

Severide has been training Gallo to join Squad 3, as Gallo’s peaked interest in vertical rescue has inspired Severide to take him under his wing. This was brought to the test as a construction worker was hanging for dear life on a crane. Gallo joined Severide up on top of the crane, and Gallo was able to successfully save the worker with no trouble at all.

Gallo informed Stella of his desire to try out for Squad, and she began accusing Severide of stealing people from her team, not wanting to change things that are working well. Severide even told her that these conversations were happening when Casey was running the show, so everything predates her, but Stella shut it all down, not wanting to let Gallo grow professionally. Severide stuck with his girl, and persuaded Gallo to stay away from Squad for the time being, and to get as much experience on Truck 81.

Stella then saw how much going on Squad means to Gallo, and said that she would support him no matter what he decides to do. Gallo then visited Pelham at his new firehouse, who told him to not overthink anything, and the only person he should really be listening to is himself.

Gallo then told Stella that he wants to stay on Truck 81, and does not plan on trying for Squad yet. It was the strongest decision that I think he could make for the sake of his career.

Violet uncovered Emma’s possible plot to take her job as paramedic in charge, and she was having absolutely none of it. Emma even asked Gallo out at one point, who was promptly rejected. Emma continued to exhibit her awkward and attention grabbing behavior around Violet, Gallo, and Ritter throughout the episode, causing general confusion and nervousness all around.

Emma opened up to Mason about the rifts in the social setting, and admitted that exaggerated her background to impress them. Mason assured her that everything is fine, but Emma still felt bummed about it all.

While on a call to help a patient in the field who needed help breathing, Emma saw that there was no nebulizer mask in their jump bag, which Violet had put in when she restocked. A makeshift one was made in the heat of the moment, but it made the rift between the two that match greater. Violet inadvertently accused Emma of messing with the bag, further angering her. Ritter assured Violet that there isn’t any way that Emma would put a patient in danger to make Violet look bad.

Turns out, the whole thing was a big old fashioned RUSE, because Emma went to Chief Hawkins, threatening him to transfer Violet out of 51, or she’ll put in a negligence complaint in with the department for the mask incident. Hawkins’ hands are tied in the situation, considering he’s dating Violet.

A family friend of Herrmann, Sean DeGrimes, asked Herrmann about his best advice to open a bar, as Molly’s is his favorite bar of all time apparently. Herrmann gave him advice on how to run a great institution. Turns out the bar that he’s opening is called Olly’s, and has the exact same layout and design as Molly’s, right down to the wall decorations. Herrmann had lawyers on the phone ready to go, but his wife had to swing by and stop him from doing anything drastic. Sean just wanted to do something that he had always wanted to do, and Herrmann inspired him, even if it looks like a copy.

Gallo’s characterization throughout this whole season has just been phenomenal. I think he’s really grown into his own, and it’s been showing the last several episodes.

I’ve been pretty into this Emma storyline throughout. I think it’s insanity that one person actually WOULD put patients in danger just to make one person look bad, and kudos to whoever came up with that idea, because this B plot has become my primary focus through the rest of the season. Emma is going to keep trying to gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss her way to be paramedic in charge, and I’m sure she’ll be stopped in one way or another.

What did you think of tonight’s episode? Will Emma take control of Violet’s job? Leave a comment below!