Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 20 Recap: Why did Jade decide to keep the baby in the end?

Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 20, titled “Cut Me Open,” took us on an intense emotional journey. It was raw, real, and heartbreakingly beautiful. From rekindled trauma to near-parenthood, and a looming threat to Firehouse 51’s future, the episode had it all. In this article, let's break down every twist and turn of this powerful episode.

Even before the episode kicks into high gear, it feels like the team at Firehouse 51 is drowning. And just when everyone thought things couldn’t get any worse, an efficiency auditor named Ambrose walks in with a clipboard and quite the attitude. He's here to evaluate the firehouse, which means everyone's jobs could be on the line.

Then comes Natalie, a woman who survived a house fire years ago. Kidd had rescued her and her family back then, and it was ruled an accident. But now, as Natalie’s memories resurface, she thinks her sister may have started the fire on purpose.

Natalie brings along an old photograph she was holding during the rescue, the one that Kidd instantly recognizes. That photograph stirs up deep emotions and makes Kidd wonder if Natalie might be telling the truth after all.

Severide decides to reinvestigate the incident. The official fire report from a respected investigator showed no signs of arson, but now, everything feels uncertain.

Natalie’s sister, who now takes care of her, shuts everything down, saying Natalie’s just seeking attention. The truth? Still a mystery.

While this mystery simmers, the narrative shifts its focus to something more hopeful, whereby Kidd and Severide are about to become parents! A pregnant woman named Jade picks them as her first choice for adoption. However, there's a catch: she’s already in labor.

Jade hadn’t interviewed them earlier because she thought she had more time. Now, she’s meeting them while dealing with contractions. She’s surprised and touched by how caring they both are, especially when Kidd comforts her through the pain.

Then comes a devastating twist. The doctors find out Jade has been using opioids recently. She’s still in withdrawal. That means the baby might be born with serious health issues or worse.

A life-altering decision

The social worker lays out the risks, but Kidd doesn’t hesitate. She’s ready to love the baby, no matter what. Severide supports her but feels left out. They talk it through, and even though it was a tough couple of moments, they come back together, stronger.

Suddenly, Jade’s condition worsens. She’s bleeding heavily and needs an emergency C-section. Scared and vulnerable, she only wants Kidd with her.

While they wait, Kidd opens up about her own past, how she once felt broken, too. She tells Jade that hope saved her, and now she believes something beautiful is waiting for Jade as well.

While Kidd is in surgery with Jade, Severide meets Jade’s estranged father. He’s shocked to learn she’s having a baby and is heartbroken to see her still struggling. After a painful conversation, he agrees that adoption might be best.

Back at 51, everything is chaotic. Hermann is in charge, and everyone is nervous about Auditor Ambrose’s presence. He nitpicks everything, from how tools are stored to their backup systems.

Ambrose is visibly sick, sweating, groaning, and refusing to take off his coat. Then he collapses outside from heat exhaustion. The crew hoses him down to cool him off. When he wakes up, he's drenched and confused but alive.

After the surgery, Jade decides to keep the baby. Her father agrees to help temporarily while Jade checks into rehab. Kidd and Severide are crushed, but they understand. Jade feels inspired by Kidd’s words and wants to fight for her child.

Just when things couldn’t get heavier, Ambrose’s report arrives. The good news? Firehouse 51 is marked efficient. The bad news? Budget cuts are still coming, and that could mean early retirement for veterans like Hermann and Mouch.

The episode ends quietly, but with a deep emotional punch. Firehouse 51 is bruised and battered, but not broken. They’ve faced heartbreak, change, and hard truths, but they’re still a family, standing together no matter what.

“Cut Me Open” wasn’t just another episode of Chicago Fire. It was a reminder of how fragile life can be, and how brave people can be when they face that fragility head-on. Whether it was Kidd’s compassion, Jade’s transformation, or Firehouse 51’s resilience, every story beat hit with power. In a world full of chaos, this episode gave us hope, heart, and a whole lot of feels.

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