10 Times Leslie Shay Proved She Was the Heart of ‘Chicago Fire’ — And Why We Still Miss Her

Lauren German’s Leslie Shay was the first major Chicago Fire character to die in the show, and all these years later, her death remains infuriating. Since then, plenty of other Firehouse 51 members and their loved ones have died. From Brian “Otis” Zvonecek in season 8 to Monica Pascal in season 13, Chicago Fire has had its fair share of heartbreaking deaths.

At the end of the Chicago Fire season 2 finale, the characters responded to a fire in an abandoned building. While everyone was inside (sans Chief Wallace Boden), it exploded. Season 3 then picked up where the previous episode left off, revealing that everyone survived except for Shay. A falling pipe struck Shay in the head, killing the paramedic almost instantly.

10Shay Tells Peter She’s Gay

Chicago Fire Season 1, Episode 1

One of the biggest reasons why Shay’s Chicago Fire death is so maddening is that she wasn’t only the heart and soul of the show, but she was also the comedic relief. The series showcased Shay’s comedic talents from the get-go in the pilot when Peter Mills tried hitting on her. His face when he realized that Shay was gay was priceless.

After leaving Chicago Fire, Lauren German famously starred as Chloe Decker in the Fox/Netflix urban fantasy series Lucifer from 2016 to 2021.

The others put Peter on to it as a prank, knowing Shay’s sexual orientation. They laughed as they watched him ask Shay out, only for her to ask, “Peter Mills, are you gay?” He was flustered by the question and told her, “No.” Shay responded, “Because I am.” From that moment on, it was clear that Shay was one of Chicago Fire‘s best characters.

9Shay & Severide Agree To Help Each Other Recover From Their Injuries

Chicago Fire Season 1, Episode 11

Although we only had them for a couple of seasons, Shay and Kelly Severide’s relationship was, without a doubt, Chicago Fire‘s best friendship (and always will be). It’s honestly difficult to pick between all the heartfelt moments they shared. However, Shay and Severide’s scene at the end of Chicago Fire season 1, episode 11, “God Has Spoken,” will be remembered forever.

The hour picked up with Shay in critical condition following an ambulance crash. She had a serious head injury, but she pulled through. Although Shay and Severide left things on bad terms because he refused to deal with his arm injury, her brush with death convinced him to take action. The two friends decided to help one another recover from their traumas.

Now, here’s where the devastating heartbreak comes in. Knowing her fate, Severide telling Shay, “I really don’t know what I would’ve done if anything happened to you,” with tears in his eyes, is the ultimate gut punch. Shay tells him that she feels the same. If this scene doesn’t make you frustrated with Shay’s departure, I don’t know what will.

8Shay & Severide Decide To Have A Baby

Chicago Fire Season 1, Episode 20

After Celeste left Shay, she decided that she wanted to be a mother. So, she turned to her best friend, Severide, in Chicago Fire season 1, episode 19, and asked him to donate his sperm. Even though he agreed during the hour, it wasn’t until the next episode that reality set in, and Shay and Severide worked out their issues.

In Chicago Fire season 1, episode 20, Shay and Severide made up after a fight that resulted in Shay cutting off her and Severide’s deal. She told him, “Our friendship is one of the only really good things I have going on in my life,” and she didn’t want to mess that up. Severide insisted that he still wanted to have a baby, though.

Shay and Severide’s friendship was truly special. Yes, they fought at times, but they always apologized and forgave one another. Shay and Severide even trusted each other enough to raise a baby with them. Unfortunately, that never came to fruition in the original One Chicago TV show.

7Shay Saves Herrmann’s Wife & Baby

Chicago Fire Season 1, Episode 20

During the same Chicago Fire season 1 episode, Shay proved how good she was at her job when she saved Herrmann’s wife, Cindy, and their unborn child. If it wasn’t for Shay, Cindy and the baby could have died. Then, after they got her to the hospital, Shay even stayed with Cindy to make sure she was okay.

The Herrmanns were eternally grateful to Shay, as they should have been. Of course, this wasn’t the only instance of Shay saving someone’s life, but the when, who, where, and what of it all just encapsulated how good a person she was. It’s also a reminder of how many more people Shay could have helped if she hadn’t died.

6Herrmann Asks Shay To Be His Baby’s Godmother

Chicago Fire Season 1, Episode 24

After Herrmann and Cindy’s baby was born, they asked Shay and Severide to be the godparents. Again, this was just one of many examples of how much Shay was loved by her Firehouse 51 family in Chicago Fire. They admired her for her intelligence, fearlessness, loyalty, and strong will. There was no one better to be the baby’s godmother than Shay.

5Shay Warns Otis About Dating Katie

Chicago Fire Season 2, Episode 12

Shay was and always will be one of the funniest characters in Chicago Fire. If we could only pick one scene to prove her comedic talent, it would be the one between her and Otis in season 2, episode 12. The moment features Shay telling Otis exactly why he shouldn’t pursue Katie (Severide’s half-sister), stunning Otis in the process.

German’s delivery of “getting all hetero on each other” was perfect. Then she followed it up with a masterful impression of Katie going to Severide to tell him that Otis broke her heart. Chicago Fire can be a heavy show at times, which is why it needs comedic relief. Unfortunately, it lost its best source of levity when it killed off Shay.

4Shay Thinks Mouch Is 60 Years Old

Chicago Fire Season 2, Episode 17

Another example of Shay being hilarious came in Chicago Fire season 2, episode 17. She was trying to help Mouch with his love life when she referred him to a dating website — GoldenOldies.com. Mouch recognized that it was for an older crowd, which is how he found out that Shay thought he was 60. It doesn’t get much funnier than that.

3Shay Helps Casey Pick Out An Engagement Ring For Gabby

Chicago Fire Season 2, Episode 19

Shay was a great friend, as proven by her helping Matt Casey pick out an engagement ring for Gabby Dawson in Chicago Fire season 2, episode 19. She was hesitant at first, believing that it was too soon for them to be engaged. Nevertheless, Shay pushed these feelings aside and assisted Casey in his search.

2Shay & Severide’s Last Scene Together

Chicago Fire Season 2, Episode 22 & Chicago Fire Season 3, Episode 1

When watching Shay and Severide’s last interaction in the Chicago Fire season 2 finale for the first time, it was already tear-inducing because of how sweet it was. However, knowing that Shay would die just a few minutes later makes the scene all the more devastating. Severide apologized to Shay, and they told each other that they loved one another.

Perhaps this is cheating a bit since it’s technically two moments, but Severide and Gabby performing CPR on Shay in the Chicago Fire season 3 premiere is so heartbreaking that it warrants a mention. It came moments after Shay and Severide made up. The scene also just goes to show how much Shay deserved better in Chicago Fire, as well as Severide.

1Flashbacks To Shay’s First Day At Firehouse 51

Chicago Fire Season 3, Episode 1

To make matters worse, the Chicago Fire season 3 premiere showed flashbacks to her first day at Firehouse 51 after killing off Shay. The scenes revealed how she met Gabby and Severide, the two people closest to her (and the ones who would be the most devastated by her death). It was a stab to the gut and only made Shay’s Chicago Fire exit more frustrating.