Carver had one of the most problematic storylines in Chicago Fire Season 13: Here’s what happened to him

Chicago Fire Season 13 had its fair share of emergencies and farewells, but no character spun around harder than Sam Carver. From heartbreak to dealing with alcohol addiction and finally moving away from Firehouse 51, Carver's character arc took a dark and complicated turn.

His arc in Season 13 was the most difficult and unpredictable – both for the character and the fans watching at home. So, what exactly happened to Carver in Season 13?

In short: a breakup, a fight with alcoholism, a stint in rehab, and one last goodbye. Let's unpack it all right here, right now.

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Carver’s struggles went from personal to professional real fast in Chicago Fire Season 13

When Chicago Fire Season 13 started off, Sam Carver was already in a fragile place. He'd just ended his relationship with Violet Mikami, and the breakup hit him hard. At first, he tried to not think on it. But by the time he came back to Firehouse 51, it became clear something was off with the character.

Carver had then soon picked up a drinking problem – one that slowly crawled into his work life and put his role and relationships at the firehouse in jeopardy.

He couldn't shake the feeling off. Though he tried attending the Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, they didn't seem to help much either. His behavior became unstable, and even his closest friends started to notice this downfall. Stella Kidd, his Lieutenant, also confronted him about his spirals.

After a long and emotional conversation, Carver finally opened up and asked for time away to focus on getting clean and sober. He left the firehouse, but not without leaving Violet a heartfelt note in her locker. It was his way of saying goodbye...at least for now.

Jake Lockett, who plays Carver, opened up about the change of his character in Chicago Fire Season 13. He told TVLine:

"He's definitely a little more conflicted this season...It's not just about him anymore. He's fighting things inside and with others too."

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A letter, a kiss, and then another goodbye

While Chicago Fire Season 13 dealt with many twists, Carver not being present left one of the biggest holes at Firehouse 51. During his time in rehab, Violet too struggled with her feelings about him.

She missed him more than she thought she would. In one of the season's most emotional scenes, she wrote Carver a personal letter but decided not to send it, afraid of playing around with his recovery in the process.

Later in Chicago Fire Season 13, Carver came back, but things were far from being simple. Violet finally gave him the letter, hoping it might bring them closer again. But Carver had already made a major decision. Before returning to Chicago, he'd applied to the Denver Fire Department.

Sobriety, he said, meant starting fresh and starting again somewhere new. "Gotta try, at least," he told Violet when she asked if he was really leaving.

Then came the tearful farewell. "I love you, Violet," Carver confessed as they kissed outside the firehouse. "I love you, too," she replied, unsure if this was their ending or just another pause.

According to showrunner Andrea Newman, that moment was intentional. She told NBC Insider:

"We didn't want to make it too sweet or clean...What he's going through is a lot, and we wanted that to feel real."

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Chicago Fire Season 13 didn't give Sam Carver an easy ride to go off of. His story was real and painful. He dealt with heartbreak, relapse, and eventually walked on a road where he could find himself again. Whether or not we see him again, his character arc left an impact at Firehouse 51, especially on Violet.

And for fans, his exit was one of the season's most hurtful moments.

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