When Chicago Fire revisits its past, it doesn’t do it halfway—and Season 13, Episode 9 is proof. The NBC drama just pulled a storyline from way back in Season 1, and it’s left Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) bleeding, shaken, and hiding a deadly secret that could destroy everything.
The episode, aptly titled “A Favor,” throws Cruz into the kind of life-or-death chaos that shaped him over a decade ago. For longtime fans, the callback is chilling: a reminder of the moral compromise Cruz once made to protect his family. For newcomers, it’s a stark lesson in what happens when old ghosts refuse to stay buried.
From Season 1 to Season 13: The Ghost of Flaco Returns
It all started in Chicago Fire’s early years when Cruz made a harrowing choice—leaving gang leader Flaco (José Antonio García) to die in a fire to save his brother Leon (Jeff Lima). For seasons, that secret sat dormant… until now.
Enter Junior (Richard Cabral), Flaco’s cousin, who knows the truth and uses it to blackmail Cruz into helping him recover stolen money from a man named Moreno. What should have been a quick favor spirals into disaster: Junior ends up dead, Cruz takes a bullet to the arm, and Moreno disappears into the wind.
“It’s a shocking moment, but also, ironically, the best-case scenario for Cruz,” Minoso tells TV Insider. “Junior being dead means the secret dies with him… at least, that’s what Cruz hopes.”
The Aftermath: Cruz’s Worst Decision Yet?
Episode 9 ends with Cruz alone in his car, drenched in shock, blood, and guilt. His plan? Bury the truth and get back to work like nothing happened. Minoso admits it’s the wrong move:
“The worst idea Cruz could have had is thinking he can shove this all back in the closet and move on. He works with a fire cop. Severide is basically an investigator who cannot stop investigating at his own peril.”
And that’s where the tension simmers. Taylor Kinney’s Kelly Severide—now deeply embedded in arson investigations—isn’t just Cruz’s Squad leader anymore; he’s a bloodhound for secrets. How long before he picks up Cruz’s scent?
Severide, Family, and the “Sins of the Father”
Severide’s arc this season adds even more drama to the mix. His relationship with Jack Damon (Michael Bradway)—the son of an old adversary—has already been testing his loyalty. According to Minoso, that’s not by accident:
“Early this season, I had a scene with Severide warning him about what you’re willing to do for family. That line was flavored with what’s coming for Cruz. Who knows more about getting in too deep for family than him?”
The parallels between Severide and his late father Benny (Treat Williams) also resurface, creating what Minoso calls “juicy daddy-issue symmetry” that has defined much of Severide’s journey.
What About Cruz’s Future? Leadership vs. Loyalty
As Herrmann (David Eigenberg) and Mouch (Christian Stolte) celebrate passing their tests, fans wonder if Cruz is reconsidering his own career ambitions. But Minoso says Cruz has other things on his mind:
“There are too many officers in the house already. Right now, Cruz is just proud of Mouch. He and Mouch have a deep bond—let’s not forget Mouch was the one Cruz confessed to in Season 1. But honestly? Cruz can’t even think about his future right now. He’s in survival mode.”
Behind the Brotherhood: 13 Years of Cruz and Severide
Through all this chaos, Minoso reflects on the evolution of Cruz and Severide’s relationship:
“I remember when Cruz first wanted to join Squad, Severide was thinking about quitting. I went to his house to beg him to stay because the whole reason I wanted Squad was to learn from him. And now, after 13 years, they’ve built this incredible respect for each other. It’s been a joy to watch that dynamic grow.”
It’s a friendship forged in fire—literally—and now, one secret could set it ablaze.
What’s Next? Episode 10 Picks Up Immediately
Minoso confirms that the fallout is far from over:
“Episode 10 is a direct cut from nine. Cruz is reeling from this ridiculous shootout that almost cost him his life. Moreno’s still out there. Severide’s going to start asking questions. And Cruz is about to realize you can’t just outrun your past.”
🔥 Prediction: With Moreno on the loose, Severide’s instincts on high alert, and Cruz balancing on a razor’s edge of loyalty and survival, the next few episodes could explode into one of Chicago Fire’s darkest arcs yet.
