To briefly recap the first eight episodes of Chicago Fire season 13 — Firehouse 51 got a new chief (Dermot Mulroney’s Chief Dom Pascal); Jack Damon was fired after disobeying Stella Kidd’s direct orders; Darren Ritter took Damon’s spot on Truck 81 while Kylie Estevez replaced Ritter on Engine 51; Kelly Severide worked with Pascal to take down a corrupt cop; Sam Carver reunited with his high school girlfriend, Tori, but she eventually left him; Violet Mikami started dating a man she met during a call, Flynn; and Christopher Herrmann and Randall “Mouch” McHolland took the captain and lieutenant exams, respectively.

8. What Will Happen To Cruz After Junior’s Return?

Leon Cruz Returned To Warn His Brother About Flaco’s Cousin

As some may recall, Flaco was the leader of the Insane Kings, a gang Leon was a part of. In season 1, Firehouse 51 responded to a fire Flaco was trapped in. Cruz came upon Flaco, but instead of helping him, he left the gang leader to die. Joe Miñoso’s character wanted to help his brother get out of the gang, and he saw the fire as an opportunity to save Leon. Now, Junior, who watched Cruz do nothing to help his cousin, wants revenge.

Junior cornered Cruz at a church, where he told him, “We need to talk, my friend.” Unfortunately, the Chicago Fire season 13 episode faded to black right after Junior’s comment, meaning viewers will have to wait until episode 9 to see what awaits Cruz regarding this new storyline. Cruz is in a lot of danger, and he’ll need a lot of help to stop whatever Junior is planning for him.

7. Will Mouch & Herrmann Pass Their Respective Tests?

Mouch & Herrmann Finally Took Their Exams In Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 8

So, when Chicago Fire season 13 returns in the midseason, the NBC procedural drama must reveal what happened after Herrmann and Mouch’s CFD (Chicago Fire Department) tests. If they both passed, a lot of change may be in store for Firehouse 51. But if Herrmann and Mouch both failed or one passed while the other failed, the audience should expect some drama and heartbreak from two of the most beloved Chicago Fire characters.

6. Will Herrmann Take Over Pascal’s Job As Chief At Firehouse 51?

Herrmann Is On Track To Become A Chief

If Herrmann passes the CFD captain exam, he might take over Pascal’s job at Firehouse 51 by the end of season 13. Chief Boden chose Herrmann to be his replacement during the Chicago Fire season 12 finale, but since David Eigenberg’s character didn’t take the captain test, he couldn’t be in the running. Consequently, the CFD chose Pascal to be Firehouse 51’s new chief, and Herrmann continued being the lieutenant in charge of Engine 51. But if Herrmann passes his exam, he could be on the path to becoming the fire station’s new boss.

5. What Happened In Novak’s Past?

Novak Had A Strong Reaction To A Man’s Attempted Suicide

Novak hasn’t gotten much of a story since she replaced Sylvie Brett in Chicago Fire season 12, but that began to change in the season 13 fall finale. Novak was in her apartment getting ready at the beginning of episode 8. Before she left, she looked at a photograph (assumingly, of her family), kissed her fingers, and touched the picture. Later in the hour, Violet and Novak responded to a call where a man had attempted to die by suicide, and Novak had an extreme reaction to the situation.

4. How Long Will It Take For Violet & Carver To Get Together?

Tori Left Carver In Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 7

After their falling out during the Chicago Fire season 12 finale, Violet and Carver have been putting more and more distance between them as season 13 goes on. The two engaged in a casual relationship in season 12, as Violet didn’t want to date another first responder after losing Evan Hawkins. However, as these things always go, feelings developed between Violet and Carver. He even told her he loved her in the season 12 finale before leaving for Texas for six weeks. Consequently, everything has been different between Casey and Brett’s Chicago Fire replacement since the season 13 premiere.

As of the fall finale, Carver is single and Violet isn’t. However, these two characters are destined to find their way back to one another, based on how their story is being developed. The only question concerns the timeline of Violet and Carver’s reunion. Unfortunately, it might be a while before that happens. When speaking with Us Weekly in September, Hanako Greensmith (who plays Violet) teased Violet and Carver’s slow-burn story in season 13. She said:

“[Violet and Carver’s relationship is a] bit of a dance. [They’re] finding their footing in new situations that both include and don’t include one another.”

3. What Happened To Pascal In Miami?

Pascal’s Past Is A Mystery

Ever since the season 13 premiere, the show has been teasing something big that happened to Chief Boden’s Chicago Fire replacement while working in Miami. Pascal has proven to be someone not to mess with. It’s easy for him to act on his anger instead of thinking first, suggesting a chaotic past. Plus, the characters keep mentioning Miami, and the dynamic between Pascal and his wife, Monica, is strained and quite confusing. Monica seemingly resents Pascal and loves him at the same time, and it might have something to do with what happened in Florida.

During the fall finale, Monica told her husband she wanted to get a gun and take firearms training. Pascal was against the idea but ultimately warmed up to it by the episode’s end. When he gave in, Monica told Pascal, “All I really want is for you to stop going at it alone. No more secrets. No more scorched Earth all around us. That way, we can keep each other safe.” Hopefully, the upcoming episodes of Chicago Fire season 13 have some answers because whatever happened to Pascal (and his wife) in Miami is one huge question mark.

2. Will Ritter Move In With Dwayne?

Ritter Worried About Taking The Next Step In His Relationship

Ritter, one of the most underutilized Chicago Fire characters despite being one of the best, finally has a storyline in Chicago Fire season 13. During episode 8, Ritter worried about the possibility of moving in with his boyfriend, Dwayne Morris. Ritter didn’t feel ready to take that next step in their relationship, but he didn’t know how to tell Dwayne.

1. When Will Severide Return?

Severide Was Absent In Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 8

Sadly, Severide was missing in the Chicago Fire season 13 fall finale. The other characters explained that he was working on an arson case in Michigan, which is why he was absent throughout the episode. Kidd later mentioned that Severide would be coming home early, but fans have heard this story before.