Why Jake Lockett's Carver Is Leaving His Current Post on Chicago Fire
Before going on his sudden furlough, Carver made sure to leave a message to a dear Firehouse 51 friend.
Chicago Fire fans are rooting for Sam Carver (Jake Lockett)'s happiness as his sobriety journey continues on Season 13 of the show.
Carver's struggles began after his relationship with Firehouse 51 paramedic Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) fell apart at the end of Season 12. Upon his return to 51, Carver was back together with a toxic ex-girlfriend who enabled all his demons and encouraged him to begin drinking heavily. Carver and Violet are friends again, and he has fortunately ditched the problematic girlfriend that had him slacking at 51. But Carver is still struggling with alcohol. Carver has been attending AA meetings, and while he's been working hard to stay sober, he hasn't found peace within the program thus far.
RELATED: What's Happened to Sam Carver on Chicago Fire?
Here's what happened to him in Season 13, Episode 14 ("Bar Time"):
Sam Carver has been navigating a rocky road to recovery
After running into Carver at the station, Violet asked him how his AA program was going. Violet's one of the few people Carver trusts, so he was eager for the catch-up, telling her it was going well. "I went to a great one last night," Carver told her.
"Sam, that is great to hear," Violet smiled.
However, Violet later overheard a paramedic from another firehouse mention Carver picking up a shift there the night prior. But wait, wasn't he at an AA meeting? Violet instantly smelled smoke, confronting Carver about it. But Carver shrugged her away, claiming he must have misremembered.
Violet wasn't entertaining the dishonesty, leading to a tense conversation with the firefighter in the locker room after Carver helped a drunk driver and had alcohol spilled all over him. Smelling the booze on Carver and lacking context, Violet confronted him about drinking on the job. Carver quickly clarified that he hadn't, but his previous lie didn't help his case.
"I didn't mean it as a lie," Carver confessed desperately. "I just said it."
"Yeah, you did, right to my face," Violet reminded. "Like I don't even matter to you? Why would you do that?"
"I'm sorry, it kind of flew out of my mouth, I guess, but I'm not drinking in here," Carver maintained. "I wouldn't do that."
Violet was fed up, unsure of what to believe. "I mean, maybe you are telling the truth," Violet conceded. "But honestly, I don't even know. Because if you can outright lie to me once, then, I mean, you're not even you anymore."
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Sam Carver told Lt. Stella Kidd he needs time from Firehouse 51
Carver's altercation with Violet got him musing and mobilized. After all, Violet hadn't been too far off in her accusation. Carver later flagged down his Lieutenant, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), to ask for a furlough; he needed time away from the firehouse. Carver tearfully confessed that he'd begun drinking again.
"You take a drink on shift?" Stella asked.
"No, the only time I haven't taken a drink is when I'm on shift," Carver explained. "But I sure as hell keep thinking about it. I worked my whole life for this job, I don't want to risk losing it. But I 'gotta really get myself sorted out. I need a chance to build some kind of foundation, I guess, before I can rely on those meetings for help."
"And I am sorry, Lieutenant," Carver concluded. "You asked me to step up, and instead, I'm letting you down."
"You did not let me down," Stella told him earnestly. "I'm proud of you, Carver."
Violet's instincts were ultimately right — Carver had relapsed. Knowing Violet would want to know of Carver's sudden disappearance, Stella visited Violet to deliver the news that he was going to be "gone for a little while."
"Gone?" Violet asked. "I didn't even get a text."
Violet was disheartened by the fallout of her and Carver's conversation, especially considering the lack of closure. But Carver refused to ghost her. At the end of her shift, Violet found a note from her cherished friend in her locker.
"You've always mattered," Carver wrote. "See you on the other side."
Watch Season 13 of Chicago Fire on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
