Chicago Fire season 14 episode 18 recap: Do Violet and Novak survive their brush with death?

As Chicago Fire season 14, episode 18 opens, Violet is presenting to a room of firefighters talking about how vital instincts are to being in the field. There is no backup or guide book: it’s just you and your partner. As Violet continues, she notes that there is nothing more important to a partnership than trust, as everything else depends on it, as we pan to Novak, who seems to clearly be pondering about the bombshell Violet dropped on her in episode 17 when she came clean about hooking up with Vasquez. 

We cut to 51 with Vasquez dropping his time sheet off to Lucy, who was sitting at her desk staring at the internal affairs report Hopkins had given her last shift and requested she take to HQ. It seems Lucy is struggling with what to do as she puts the report back in the envelope as we return to Violet and Novak in the ambulance after their presentation. 

As they drive, Violet asks if everything is okay, and Novak admits that she was thinking about what Violet said about trust. Before Novak can finish her thought, Violet quips that she knows that part of the presentation is a bit wordy. They arrive at the mart to pick up some snacks, and Novak admits that’s not what she meant; she knows Violet had her back in the field, but something has been weighing on her, and she needs to say it. Novak is struggling with the hurt of how Violet hid what happened between her and Vasquez. 

Before Violet can respond, a man runs up to the pair, asking for help with his girlfriend, who is pregnant. He suspects that she might be going into labor, and the pair grab their gear and follow his lead. As they walk to his building, he explains that he’s the building super and has an office in the basement where his girlfriend sometimes does laundry, and that’s where he found her doubled over. 

Violet and Novak head down to the basement where they find the woman, Sarah, restrained to the bed as she warns them to get out of here before the man walks back in with a gun and takes them hostage. 

The man orders Violet and Novak to turn off their radios and hand over their bag, as the woman informs them the man’s name is Ryan. He then makes them slide over their phones as Violet questions what is going on. He claims to be protecting Sarah and the baby, telling them that he watches over her, but then she tried to leave and he had to do what he had do to to protect her. 

Violet and Novak begin taking her vitals and assessing the situation. It seems the contractions were Braxton Hicks contractions as she informs them that she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes five months into her pregnancy. She’s showing signs of hyperglycemia as she needs her insulin shot. They try to convince him to go get the medication from Sarah’s apartment, as he takes Novak with him to ensure that Violet doesn’t try anything while they’re away. 

After he leaves, Violet attempts to free Sarah’s restraints and escape but finds the door locked. Ryan leads Novak up to Sarah’s apartment, a gun pressed to her back, while Violet speaks with Sarah. Sarah reveals that Ryan was normal at first, but a few months back he began faking reasons to come over, and then she started noticing him looking into her windows. She put in notice with the building manager, and when he found out, he broke into her place and tried to grab her. When she grabbed a knife, he pulled the gun on her and forced her down to the basement. 

Ryan leads Novak to the apartment and he begins to look for the insulin in the fridge. Novak tries to connect with Ryan. He notes that he can fix things and make things better. Novak reasons that it’s clear he cares about her, but if he wants them to deliver the baby safely, they’ll need supplies. He gives her a garbage bag as Novak begins grabbing various items from the bathroom, including medications and towels. She then comes across a pair of scissors, which she tries to conceal in her hand.

He orders her to hand the scissors over before forcing her to empty her pockets, which she does, leaving her belongings in the sink of Sarah’s bathroom before he leads Novak back out of the apartment to the building. 

Violet begins looking around and finds something she thinks can be used to break the zip ties. However, before she can try to free Sarah, Ryan and Novak return with her insulin, and Violet tucks the tool under the mattress. 

Sarah tries to convince Ryan to let her go to a hospital, as she can’t deliver the baby down here, but he notes he can't, as she’ll tell them he kidnapped her. She suggests it's too late for that as the paramedics know what he did, and he tells her not to worry about that, as once the baby is born, he’ll do what he has to do. 

Violet requests the OB kit and notices that his wrist is bleeding through the bandage. She removes the dressing and begins to wrap it up as he asks why she’s helping him, to which she replies it’s her job and she doesn’t get to choose who to help. 

Before he can hand her the supplies, Ryan gets a call asking about a noise complaint from the building owner and has to go meet him outside. He allows Violet to grab what she needs from the kit before he locks things back up and heads out. 

Sarah’s contractions are now five minutes apart, but Sarah worries this is something else. Violet races into action, and it seems the baby is in distress. They roll her to her left side and administer oxygen, and she points out they’ll need Versed, which she tells Ryan is used to lower cortisol levels when in reality it’s a drug used as a sedative, hinting that Violet is looking to get her hands on the medication to use on Ryan when the opportunity strikes. 

Vasquez begins to worry something is wrong and starts a search for Violet and Novak

Back at 51, Vasquez begins to worry about Violet and Novak, as they were supposed to return a while ago and haven’t returned. Worried something is up, he enlists Lucy’s help as she prepares to head out, presumably to take the internal affairs report to HQ. 

Lucy calls dispatch, and they confirm that Violet and Novak haven’t responded to multiple radio checks. They flagged their last location, and CPD is sending a unit on its way to the scene as Vasquez jots down the address and heads out. Before leaving, he asks if she could hang back at the firehouse just in case any news comes through while he’s out, and she agrees. 

Vasquez heads to the mart where Violet and Novak left the ambo and finds it empty. He heads inside and finds Chris, his old pal from the academy, inside working the case. Chris informs him that the clerk said the pair never came inside, but he’s pulling security footage. The footage shows the pair outside the building and leaving on foot. As Chris calls in for some backup to help canvas the area within the search radius. Vasquez makes it clear that something is very wrong and that every second they waste is a second something could go wrong. Chris agrees but notes they don’t have anything else to go on, to which Vasquez pulls out his phone and calls Lucy to ask for a favor. 

The baby’s heartbeat has returned to a normal rate, and the trio begins to wonder how they can get out of things. Novak suggests they try to yell to draw attention from the building manager, but Violet notes that if the building manager hears them, so will Ryan, and they can’t risk anyone else getting hurt. Violet notes that the Versed will help them get out of this, but Novak comments that it might take 30 seconds for the sedative to take effect given his size and suggests they get the gun out of his hand before taking action. 

They hear footsteps approaching, but it’s not Ryan: it’s the building manager, Mr. Dalton. When he sees Violet, Novak, and Sarah, he’s shocked, but before he can react, Ryan shoots him in the stomach. Ryan begins to spiral as Violet tries to ground him and makes it clear he can still save Dalton’s life. He makes it clear that it’s time they all start listening as they now know what will happen if they don’t. 

Lucy was able to check with PD dispatch about other calls that came through in the area. There was one in the area about reports of shouting in a unit as he and Chris head to the building to check it out. They split up as Vasquez checks out back and heads up to the apartment. Through the window, they spot blood on the wall, which gives them exigent circumstances. 

Down in the basement, Violet and Novak work to try to tend to Dalton’s wound as Sarah begins to worsen. We learn that Ryan’s wife and kid left a couple months ago, which seems to be what triggered the events that are now unfolding. 

Chris and Vasquez head into the apartment, but no one is there. As Vasquez looks around, he finds the contents of Novak’s pockets in the sink, which indicates they were here. 

Cut to the basement and Ryan orders Violet to pack up what they need. The plan has changed now, and he wants to move before anyone else comes snooping around, but Violet points out that moving isn’t best with Sarah in active labor. As Ryan turns his back to begin packing, Violet and Novak exchange glances as Violet pulls out the Versed syringe. 

Before Violet is able to use it, Sarah notices that her water has broken and slips the Versed back into her pocket. As they tend to Sarah, Novak notices that Dalton is bleeding and needs fluids and medication to control his bleeding. Violet is able to convince him to allow Novak to tend to Dalton as she focuses on Sarah. 

Chris and Vasquez go to speak with the neighbor who called in the noise complaint. Vasquez pushes for information, and the woman encourages them to speak with the super, who could be of more help. 

Violet and Novak team up to take down their captor

After getting Dalton stabilized, Violet calls Novak back over to help with the delivery as Sarah delivers her son. Ryan orders them to clean Sarah up and get her ready to go. Violet attempts to explain that she’s in no condition to be moved right now, but he doesn’t care and again orders them to get ready. 

That’s when Sarah speaks up and tells Ryan she has something to tell him. She remarks that he was right; they do have something special, and she asks him to take them to the hospital so they can start their life right. He sees through her act, though, telling her he’s not stupid. He gives Violet and Novak five minutes to leave as the door alarm begins to ring. 

Ryan heads out and greets Chris and Vasquez upstairs. Vasquez and Chris question him about whether Sarah lives with a boyfriend or husband, as she’s gone missing and they think he could be involved. They press him for any leads, and Ryan points them in the direction of another resident in the building he claims to be a registered sex offender. As Vasquez and Chris prepare to leave, Vasquez turns back and notices the bandage on Ryan’s hand, hinting he might not be telling them the truth. 

As they wait for Ryan to come back, Violet admits that Novak was right: a lot can go wrong in 30 seconds and they have to get the gun out of his hands first. Violet asks how they do that, and Novak replies, "Instincts." 

When Ryan returns, he orders them to move Sarah, and Violet remarks that they can’t move her until he cuts the restraints. He hands her keys to the desk where she’ll find pliers. As Violet pulls out the syringe continuing the Versed, Novak hits Ryan on the head with the oxygen tank. 

A struggle ensues, and Novak is able to kick the gun out of Ryan’s hands as PD enters with backup. As Chris helps work on getting the restraints off of Sarah’s legs, Novak asks him how they found them, to which he points out they had some help. Novak looks back to see Vasquez kneeling alongside Violet helping Dalton. 

After taking Ryan into custody, Chris compliments Vasquez on what he caught and calls it great police work. He asks Vasquez to come in and give a statement, but before he does he goes to speak with Violet and Novak. They ask how he found them, and he explains that he noticed Ryan’s hand bandage was Violet’s signature and that he found Novak’s caffeine gum in the sink.

As he leaves to head down to the precinct with Chris, Novak wonders what would have happened if he hadn’t found them. Violet admits she’s not sure what could have happened, but she’s glad it was Novak who was down there with her. Violet admits she never should have kept anything from her and again apologizes, noting that partners shouldn’t keep secrets. Violet confesses that she didn’t say anything before, as she was worried about losing the relationship that she values the most, as Novak quips that Violet can’t get rid of her that quickly. 

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