After just a few short weeks of wondering how Sal ended up at 51 and why Chief Pascal was unable to bounce him from 51, Chicago Fire finally revealed how exactly Sal landed at 51.
As the episode begins, Sal is trying to process his dad’s request to reach out to the family of the victim he let down in planting evidence. He tries ignoring his dad’s calls, but that backfires when his dad calls the firehouse and Kidd ends up being the one to answer the phone.
Sal is not happy about his dad calling the firehouse and lashes out, telling him not to call his work ever again. His dad says he was left with no choice when Sal ignored his calls and makes it clear that if Sal doesn’t help him in the next few days, he has no chance of making parol. Before hanging up, Sal mentions not allowing his dad to ruin this for him too – hinting he was kicked off the force as a result of his dad.
After accepting the call, Kidd puts the pieces together that Sal’s dad is the detective who planted evidence in the case involving the woman killed by her ex. She tells Severide that it’s almost like Sal’s dad is trying to stir trouble for Sal by calling into the firehouse, and she’s at a loss for what to do.
Later, Kidd tries to reassure Sal that she has his back, but he fails to accept the olive branch as he internalizes things and assures her it won't happen again.
Sal goes to see his cop friend and tells him that his dad asked him to get Lindsay’s husband to testify on his behalf to help him get parole. Sal says his dad wants him to explain that everything he did was to get justice for Lindsay, but he’s not going to cross that line.
He goes to visit his dad to tell him this which is when Sal’s dad reveals that he wasn’t to blame for Sal getting kicked out of the CPD. In fact, he’s the reason he has a job. Turns out Sal’s dad called in a favor in order to get Sal a job in the CFD and a place at the best firehouse in the city.
As the episode ends, Sal is looking through articles about the murder case and his father’s words seem to have convinced him to reach out to Lindsay’s husband, though we fear that won’t end well.
Episode 5 had fans worrying Kidd was leaving Chicago Fire
Between piecing together more about Sal’s past after his father called the firehouse, Kidd had a brush with death that left many fans worried she was in danger.
During a call, Kidd passes out while helping a victim on the scene as the result of a gas leak. Thankfully, Sal is able to contain the leak, while Violet and Novak are able to help Kidd and give her some oxygen as she comes to.
What would Chicago Fire be without the occasional close call? While everything happened quickly, it was enough to make fans worried about Kidd's future. She gets checked out as a precaution, but the moment had fans worried.
After getting cleared to return to duty during the next shift, Kidd and Severide join the rest of the 51 family at the Pass the Boot fundraiser for Herrmann.
Herrmann tries to take steps to move forward as Mouch comes to his aid
Herrmann starts the episode coming to the firehouse to work on the insurance paperwork following the house fire. He confides in Mouch that he wishes people would stop asking him what he needs, to which Mouch assures him he’ll take a step back.
That step back doesn’t last too long as Mouch comes up with the idea to host a fundraising event at Molly’s to raise money for Herrmann and his family. When he lands on hosting the event on Halloween, Novak convinces him to turn it into a costume party and offers up her services to help with decorations and snacks.
As the pair prepare for the fundraiser, Herrmann tries to make steps forward and tells Cindy about a house near their former home that is up for sale. He suggests they look into the house, but Cindy makes it clear she’s still processing things and shuts the idea down.
Once he catches wind of the fundraiser, Herrmann comes into the firehouse and confronts Mouch. Herrmann tells Mouch he has things under control, and Mouch points out that this event is a way for his friends to show support. Herrmann gets to witness this first hand when he drops by Molly’s to grab some glasses for their apartment and overhears Mouch giving a moving speech about how much Herrmann means to them all.
Cruz chases a literal ghost
During a call early in the episode, an older man shows up and helps point Cruz in the direction of a woman in the apartment building in need of help. The older man’s help allows Cruz to get to the woman in time; however, when Cruz asks about the older man once outside, no one seems to have seen any trace of him.
Cruz is worried about the man and begins a search for answers. Violet informs Cruz that no one has reported seeing a man matching the older man’s description, but assure him the scene was cleared. She suggests that perhaps the man was taken to another hospital, and so Cruz begins to call around.
Unfortunately, his efforts don’t result in any leads, but Violet was able to get the number of the woman who Cruz saved. The woman comes to visit Cruz at the firehouse and he gets the chance to ask about the older man, but the woman has no idea who Cruz is talking about, as there is no one fitting the older man’s description in her building.
As the episode ends, Violet shows up with a file on the man Cruz saw in the fire. Cruz immediately recognizes the man in the photo Violet shows him, but it turns out the man died three years ago — a twist perfect for Halloween.