Did Jake Lockett’s Carver Leave Firehouse 51 on Chicago Fire?
Throughout Chicago Fire Season 12, viewers were obsessed with Carver’s (Jake Lockett) relationship with Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith). They had a whirlwind romance, and Carver was devastated by the breakup, taking a leave of absence in the Season 12 finale. Violet regretted the breakup and was eager to make up when Carver returned to work in Season 13. However, by then, he had already gotten back together with his ex Tori (Holly Hinchliffe).
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While many assumed that Carver’s relationship would lead to him becoming all goggle-eyed and hairy around the firehouse, the opposite was true. Carver didn’t do well, and things came to a head in Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 6 (“Bird of Prey”). Here’s what happened:
Tori wasn’t the best thing for Carver. Since they got back together, he’d been acting distant and alienated from his 51 friends. Meanwhile, Tori’s partying lifestyle had taken its toll on Carver, who was drinking heavily between shifts. Sensing his instability, Violet encouraged Carver to take care of himself, but to no avail, as Tori continued to isolate him from his 51 family.
After partying with Tori and waking up hungry, Carver went to work.
When the alarm rang for an incoming call, Lieutenant Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) was confused to find Carver not in her car. After she found Carver napping in his bedroom, not hearing the alarm because he’d been up all night, another alarm began to ring in Kidd’s head. Kidd is under pressure from her new boss, Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), to get her squad together after a major job loss, and she doesn’t want Carver slacking off while Truck 81 is under close scrutiny.
“There will be no more mistakes,” Carver promises his lieutenant.
That’s easier said than done for Carver, who remains cautious around his 51 colleagues and eventually calls Tori to bring him a firefighter item he forgot at home. After Tori asks why the rush is so great, Carver explains that forgetting his item would be considered a problem after falling asleep on the job.
“I don’t know how you handle it here, with everyone butting in,” Tori tells him.
“It’s okay, I can handle it,” Carver says.
“I know you can; I just don’t know why you’d want to,” Tori explains. “It’s nice to work somewhere where you actually feel appreciated instead of being judged for every little thing. You know, any fire department in Austin would kill for someone like you.”
Later, Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri) calls Carver over after noticing a problem with their call.
“Hey Carver, do you have a check?” Ritter asks.
“Not really; I was going to try and shower before the next call,” Carver says.
“Okay, I’ll make it quick,” Ritter reassures him. “The water level in your SCBA. You didn’t change it after the last call.”
“Of course I did,” Carver responds defensively. “And who told you to second-guess my job?”
“Our lieutenant,” Ritter explains, confused by the aggression. “She asked me to check all the equipment, and instead of bringing it to her, I came straight to you.”
“You know, as a friend,” Ritter added before leaving. Carver immediately regretted his words, but it was too late—Kidd had heard the entire exchange. Kidd moved closer to Carver, who immediately tried to back away.
“Lieutenant,” Carver began. “I’m sure—”
“Go home, Carver,” Kidd told him.
“What?” Carver asked.
“I’ll call a replacement to finish the rest of the shift,” Kidd told him sternly. “And don’t you dare come back until you’ve calmed down.”
