For a man who’s spent his life running into burning buildings, Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) wasn’t ready for this kind of fire.
Chicago Fire’s fourteenth season has already been a rollercoaster of loss, leadership, and loyalty — but few moments hit as hard as when Pascal, still reeling from the death of his wife, finally took off his wedding ring. That quiet, devastating moment opened the door to a storyline that’s now igniting hearts and headlines alike: the arrival of Annabeth Gish as the brilliant, calculating, and surprisingly romantic Chief of Staff, Annette Davis.
And make no mistake — when Davis entered the frame, everything changed.
💥 A Meeting of Fire and Politics
Season 14’s “In the Blood” marked a turning point for Firehouse 51’s newest leader. With City Hall imposing brutal budget cuts, Pascal marched into the bureaucratic lion’s den, determined to defend his firefighters. What he didn’t expect was to cross paths with a woman who could disarm him faster than any explosion ever could.
Annette Davis, played with elegant precision by veteran actress Annabeth Gish, is no stranger to pressure. She’s the Chicago mayor’s right hand — a woman whose charm is as strategic as her intelligence. When Pascal accused her of masterminding the CFD’s budget slashes, Davis didn’t flinch. Instead, she invited him to her office for a “follow-up discussion.”
That discussion? It was anything but business.
❤️ Sparks Behind Closed Doors
In her office, Davis laid down a truth bomb of her own — City Hall was planning to consolidate battalions, cutting manpower and morale in one stroke. But before Pascal could even process the politics, Davis threw him another curveball.
“I was just wondering if maybe sometime you and I go grab a drink,” she said with an inviting smile that could melt steel. “It’s rare to meet a man who isn’t intimidated by a woman in my position.”
For a split second, the Chief who never loses his cool looked like a rookie caught in the flames.
Pascal stammered, visibly shaken: “Well, it’s just… I’m um, married. I was.”
And in that moment, the camera lingered — on his bare hand, his conflicted expression, and the weight of grief that’s still holding him hostage.
The tension was palpable. The timing, terrible. But the chemistry? Absolutely combustible.
🔥 Between Trust and Temptation
Later, Pascal confided in Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), revealing that Davis had leaked sensitive CFD intel — and asked him out moments later. Severide, ever the realist, offered a shrug and a smirk: “Or maybe she just likes you.”
But fans know better. Chicago Fire rarely introduces characters without a purpose — and Annette Davis seems poised to test Pascal in more ways than one. Is she a genuine romantic interest? Or a political operative playing a long game inside City Hall?
Either way, the show’s newest dynamic has the makings of a slow-burning, emotionally charged storyline that could reshape both Pascal’s heart and 51’s future.
🌟 Why Annabeth Gish Looks So Familiar
If you found yourself thinking, I know that face, you’re not alone. Annabeth Gish has been captivating audiences for decades.
Her breakout role came in the 1988 classic Mystic Pizza, where she starred alongside Julia Roberts in one of Hollywood’s most beloved coming-of-age romances. Since then, Gish’s resume has become a tour through television history — from The West Wing and CSI: Miami to cult favorites like Sons of Anarchy and Pretty Little Liars.
She terrified (and mesmerized) audiences in The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, both directed by Mike Flanagan, and held her own as the determined Monica Reyes in The X-Files revival.
Now, at 54, Gish brings a commanding gravitas to Chicago Fire — a perfect match for Mulroney’s nuanced portrayal of a man balancing leadership, grief, and the unexpected spark of new affection.
🚒 What’s Next for Pascal and Davis?
With the CFD facing major restructuring and morale plummeting, Pascal’s every move will be under scrutiny — especially if word of his connection to Davis gets out. But the heart wants what it wants, and the show seems ready to explore whether Pascal is capable of loving again.
For now, fans are torn between excitement and caution. Is Davis truly interested in the man behind the badge? Or will this “flame” turn out to be a political trap?
One thing is certain: Chicago Fire just found its next great emotional inferno — and it’s not happening inside a burning building.
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC, with next-day streaming on Peacock.
