There are many questions about Vasquez, and we have plenty of concerns about Firehouse 51 going into Chicago Fire season 14, episode 3. It doesn’t take long to get some details.

The episode opens with Vasquez waiting in line to, presumably, see his father in prison. However, there’s a message over the tanoy to say that visitation is over. Of course, Vasquez kicks off, and we immediately cut to Pascal getting a call. And it doesn’t seem all that surprised, but he is annoyed.

 

 

At Stella and Severide’s place, we learn that Severide has been able to connect with Isaiah quickly thanks to the video games. Stella is jealous, struggling to connect to their foster child. Is this going to lead to problems between her and Severide?

There is a chance for her to connect when she finds out that a pen exploded on the bed. Isaiah had tried to tape his shoes together, and Stella thinks she should take him shoe shopping. There’s something about his connection to the shoes that must mean something.

 

 

The call to Pascal had nothing to do with Vasquez, though. It was to say that Engine was being pulled, and Mouch and his team was being called home (with just two hours notice) so that explains why Mouch isn’t around for the episode. However, it will mean stress on the rest of the team.

In fact, the first call is to an accident that involves an ambo. Naturally, Violet worries about the driver in the ambo, and I can’t help but feel like this is something bigger to highlight the dangers of longer shifts.

Violet does as she’s ordered and focuses on everyone involved in the accident, but she can’t help but check on the paramedic who was driving the other ambo. Things aren’t looking great, but she needs to get her patient to Med first.

Herrmann tries to offer Kidd some advice about handling Isaiah, and it turns out that one of his sons quit the soccer team without saying anything. Cruz also shares some of the downsides of having a teenager, but honestly, are these two really the people to take advice from? Sometimes, they have the worst!

As for Violet, she shares why everything that happened to the other paramedic hit her so hard. They went through the academy together, and she was at the woman’s wedding. Things aren’t looking great for anyone who was involved in the car accident, and the other paramedic that was in the other ambo blames himself for the situation. There’s clearly more to this, but he refuses to talk and then walks out.

Violet wants to understand how the guy who was in the back of the ambo could have caused the accident. And yes, since Murphy was in the driving seat, Pierce was definitely in the back. This puts Violet on a mission to get to the bottom of it.

Meanwhile, Pascal’s mission begins to get answers, turning to Annette from the first episode to learn what is going on. She doesn’t give immediate answers, and she wants to speak with him privately in a meeting instead.

Then there’s Vasquez’s mission to find out how long lockdown at the prison will take. He’s angry when he doesn’t get answers, and Novak is there to see the frustration. When he puts his shirt on, she spots the visitor label on it, but she isn’t asking question right now. It’s not like she has a chance when she’s called into the breakroom, though.

Things aren’t looking good for Murphy. Pierce said in his own report that he was thrown around the back of the ambo like a ragdoll, leading to Violet and Novak questioning each other whether Pierce lied to Chief Robinson. It’s possible, but Violet isn’t going to let that happen.

With shift over, Kidd is able to take Isaiah show shopping. It’s not that easy, but a shop assistant works out that he wants a pair of shoes just like the one he’s already wearing. It’s exactly what Isaiah wants, and just what Kidd needs. It’s clear that Isaiah hasn’t had much help in basic necessities for a while, and Kidd just wants to help.

Violet and Novak decide it’s time to visit Pierce, looking to understand why he put the blame on himself. It turns out that Pierce knew Murphy was exhausted, and he blames himself because he shouldn’t have let her drive. She fell asleep at the wheel, and Chicago Fire season 14, episode 3 is going the route exactly as expected considering the budget cuts.