When news broke that Jake Lockett was leaving Chicago Fire, we thought that was the last we’d see of Carver on the show. This was a fear that was doubled down on in the season 14 premiere, as we learned that Carver had officially left town to accept a new job in Denver. Even worse, he had cut off communication with Violet in hopes of giving them both the space they needed to move on after their breakup.
Perhaps that’s why we were so surprised when the promo for Chicago Fire season 14, episode 11, “Frostbite Blue,” teased Carver’s return to the Windy City. So what has Carver passing through Chicago and returning to his former stomping grounds?
Early in the episode, Violet tells Novak that Carver reached out to her about wanting to meet up. It seems that Carver is passing through Chicago with members of his new firehouse in Denver and wants to learn more about the paramedic program Violet has helped to launch in hopes of launching a similar program in Denver. At first, Violet is not sure whether to accept the invitation given how they left things, but with Novak’s encouragement she responds and arranges for him to drop by.
Speaking of dropping by, as the conversation between Violet and Novak nears its end, Vasquez tries to apologize to Violet for not making it to Molly’s. Before he can explain why he couldn’t make it, she walks away, clearly distracted by Carver’s text.
When they get back from responding to a call, Violet is spinning out about seeing Carver after so long and not talking after he left town. Novak reminds her there were never any bad feelings, it was just heartbreaking. Violet isn’t sure how she’ll handle seeing him as Kidd and Novak both assure her that no matter what happens, they’ll be there to support her.
Shortly after, Kidd gets a call notifying her that an injury lawyer, Uncle Larry, who owned the sign where they responded to a call where a man was injured while working on a billboard for the ambulance-chasing lawyer. Herrmann is immediately worried the lawyer is coming after them, but before the group can process the call, Carver arrives and the team all go out to greet him.
As everyone welcomes Carver back, he informs the group that things are going great in Denver. Before he can catch up with Violet, she and Novak are called away to respond to a man injured in his garage. The pair get some support from a familiar face as Mouch and Firehouse 40 respond to the call to provide support in freeing the man from the chain of his motorcycle.
Back at 51, Herrmann and Kidd get their own surprise visitor as Uncle Larry rolls up and immediately requests to speak to someone in charge. Kidd quickly goes on the defense when Larry begins to mention a multi-million dollar lawsuit, but he quickly makes it clear he’s not looking to sue the CFD: he’s the one being targeted by the man injured during the repair. He asks for Kidd’s help in looking into the incident, and she takes his number and agrees to look into the incident report to see what she can find.
After looking into the report, Kidd calls in Herrmann as he was the first on the scene. She notices how his report suggests that the injured man had clipped his restraint to an electrical conduit pipe, hinting that the man was to blame for the accident, not Larry. Herrmann isn’t sure about helping Larry given his reputation as an ambulance chaser, but Kidd reminds him they don’t get to choose who they help: they answer the call and that’s all. She gives him Larry’s contact information and requests he meet with Larry after the shift to give him an update.
Herrmann goes to meet with Larry and turns over the incident reports. He assures Larry that the billboard technician’s actions were responsible for his injury and assures him he’s off the hook. Larry assures him that his reputation isn’t what it seems, telling him about coming to the defense of a bus driver and held the city accountable. The moment seems to trigger an idea for Herrmann.
Elsewhere, Carver and Violet sit down and he apologizes for not having more time this trip to connect. They’re joined by Vasquez and Novak to discuss the program, and Vasquez walks Carver through the benefits of the program. As Vasquez busts Violet’s chops playfully, Carver picks up on the chemistry between Vasquez and Violet as things get slightly awkward before the conversation moves on to the details of the program.
Later at Molly’s, Carver gets the chance to catch up with Kidd, Violet, Vasquez and Novak as he tells them about settling in at his new firehouse. When Vasquez steps away, Carver asks the others about Vasquez and they tell him he’s settling in nicely and references chipping away at his hard exterior. As Carver goes over to greet some other familiar faces, Vasquez stops him and tells him that he’s glad he’s taking the program to Denver as it means a lot to Violet. Carver gets defensive saying he knows how much the program means to Violet because he knows her best as he makes it clear she deserves better than someone with a chip on his shoulder.
A new day begins as Vasquez arrives at the firehouse and tells Novak about the lead he has on a new car. After showing her the car, he asks about whether Carver will be dropping in again and she tells him that he’s going to be dropping by to say goodbye. Without giving her much context, Vasquez mentions how Carver seems to be having a hard time moving on… and all signs suggest he’s certainly not wrong.
Following his chat with Uncle Larry, Herrmann asks Severide if he can get the OFI paperwork connected to the fire that started at his family home connected to the oven unit that started the fire. Turns out the conversation he had with Larry convinced Herrmann to retain Larry as his legal counsel. Larry is going to help Herrmann look into the house fire and the hope is that he might be able to help them get back on their feet, something that wouldn’t be possible without Severide and Van Meter’s help.
Carver finds Violet as she’s looking for some forceps. She assures him she's happy that he’s doing well and that everything worked out for the best as he pulls her in for a goodbye hug, promising to talk soon as he walks away.
Violet tells Kidd and Novak she tried to hide as the idea of saying goodbye sent her into a panic. She was pissed by how cool and calm he seemed to be, and then in walks Vasquez, much to the group's surprise.
Mouch drops into Molly’s and Herrmann tells him that Larry looked into the stove that started the fire and they have a slam dunk case. He sent out a demand letter but the oven manufacturer doesn’t want to fight, instead they sent back an offer that will be more than enough to help Herrmann rebuild on their own lot. Mouch is so happy for his friend and how he’ll get to finally go home, but Herrmann quickly notices something seems to be weighing on his friend.
Mouch admits things aren’t going great at Firehouse 40. He hates how the guys there see him as some old-timer with no clue of the hardwork and sacrifices it took to get where he is. It’s hit him that this is how he might finish out the job. If it’s not at 51, he’s not sure what the point is. Herrmann recalls standing on the burned down lot of their home and how he thought things would never be the same, as he reminds Mouch you have to hold out for hope.
As the episode draws to a close, Novak heads out to meet Frost, and he invites Kidd and Violet out to see his new car. Kidd has to close up at Molly’s so Vasquez and Violet head outside alone. Vasquez offers her a ride, and she admits she’s in a bad headspace at the moment and should probably get an Uber instead. As she turns to leave, Vasquez recalls how Kidd told him he was replacing a hell of a driver and he asks if that driver was Carver. He assures her he’s not Carver and is nothing like him as he moves in closer before the pair share a sweet kiss that quickly turns into something more with Violet taking him up on that ride. as the episode closes.
Elsewhere in the episode…
Severide helps Van Meter adjust following his injury
Early in the episode, Severide and Kidd are out jogging as we learn that Van Meter is back at home recovering. After Van Meter texts him about a case, Severide drops in for a visit as Van Meter enlists him to help in finishing up his case by chasing a lead.
After agreeing to help with the case, Severide goes to meet with a witness in hopes of getting information and the witness informs him that another firefighter already gathered the information, which surprises Severide as the names didn’t make it into the report Van Meter provided him. Severide goes to meet with the interim captain to press her for information on how the names failed to end up in the files. She assures him the witness statement was added to their files and the case has already been closed. In fact, it was closed weeks ago, and it was Van Meter who closed the case himself. She asks Severide if Van Meter put him on the case and Severide covers for him, saying he made a mistake and hadn’t realized the case was closed.
Severide goes to meet with Van Meter and tells him the case had been solved already and that he had signed off on the final report. Van Meter suggests that he just needed Severide to double-check the work to be thorough and Severide suggests he see a neurologist to be safe. Van Meter quickly shuts him down telling Severide he’s out of line as he sends him away as he reminds Severide he’s not family: he’s just a firefighter who works for him.
Later, Severide tells Kidd about the blow-up with Van Meter and she assures him that he may not be family, but the bond they share is real and deep. Severide isn’t sure he’ll ever be able to pass the physical required to return to active duty, and knows that must be killing him. Kidd suggests that’s why he’s lashing out and how it reminds her of what he used to say about his dad being disrespected as work was his life too. Kidd reminds him that all Benny wanted was to feel needed and appreciated, suggesting that’s what Van Meter needs as well.
As the episode comes to an end, Severide goes to see Van Meter and Van Meter apologizes for lashing out at him. Van Meter informs Severide that he went to Med to get checked out and he needs some R&R. He’s determined to prove the doctors wrong, though, and is set on passing the fit-for-duty exam. In the meantime, Severide mentions that Captain Hargreaves is hoping Van Meter can help out as a consultant, helping to work on cases, giving his friend a purpose as he adjusts to his new normal.