Stellaride steps into parenthood—or so they thought

In Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 20, titled “Cut Me Open,” the emotional spotlight shines on Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide as they prepare for one of the biggest steps in their lives: adoption. The couple has expressed a desire to become parents before, but this episode puts that hope into motion—and then heartbreakingly, into question.

We open with Kidd and Severide telling their colleagues at Firehouse 51 about their plans to adopt a baby from a young woman named Jade. The mood is hopeful, even celebratory. Herrmann, who knows a thing or two about raising kids, offers heartfelt encouragement. There’s laughter, excitement, and a quiet nervousness from the couple, who believe they have a few weeks to prepare for the baby’s arrival.

But everything changes in an instant when Jade unexpectedly goes into labor. Suddenly, there’s no time left to second guess. Kidd and Severide rush to the hospital for a crash course in parenting, emotions already running high.

The past resurfaces with painful consequences

While Kidd and Severide wait to meet Jade in the maternity ward, Dr. Hannah Asher, who welcomes them at the hospital, delivers difficult news. Jade, as it turns out, has a history of opioid addiction—and worse, she used just two days before labor. The baby, she tells them, may be born with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

The shock is immediate. Severide is stunned, visibly struggling with the reality of raising a child who may have lifelong health complications. Kidd, ever the fighter, insists that she’s ready to take on the challenge. But Severide—more pragmatic, more guarded—worries about whether their dual careers in firefighting can accommodate such a monumental shift in their lives.

Then Kidd drops a bombshell: she too has a history of addiction. This quiet revelation adds unexpected depth to her character and paints her desire to adopt Jade’s baby in a new light. For her, this isn’t just about becoming a mother—it’s about redemption, about breaking a cycle, about giving someone else the second chance she was once given.

Herrmann and the firehouse face a different kind of pressure

While Kidd and Severide navigate an emotional storm, Firehouse 51 is facing a bureaucratic one. A city-appointed efficiency expert arrives at the station, clipboard in hand, ready to assess the team’s value—and possibly make cuts. Herrmann, already stretched thin with key members off duty, is thrust into a defensive position.

Sam Carver is on part-time leave, medics Violet and Lizzie are missing from the shift, and even Chief Dom Pascal takes a personal day. The station looks half-abandoned just as the expert arrives. Herrmann scrambles to hold the line, leaning on Ritter and newcomer Jack Damon to maintain the appearance of order.

When the expert joins them on a call—a man trapped in an air vent—the stakes rise. Herrmann makes a split-second change to his rescue strategy, which the expert questions harshly afterward. But Herrmann is nothing if not experienced, and with help from Damon and Ritter, he orchestrates a clever series of drills that leaves the expert physically exhausted and, more importantly, humbled by the station’s skill.

The delivery, the heartbreak, and the aftermath

Back at the hospital, Jade goes into labor suddenly, prompting an emergency C-section. While Kidd and Severide wait, hope flickers again. Perhaps this will be the start of their family after all. But when the baby is born, Dr. Asher confirms the worst: the newborn has tested positive for opioids and needs to be hospitalized for detox and observation.

In a twist that’s both tragic and entirely understandable, Jade changes her mind about the adoption. As she recovers from the operation, she tells Dr. Asher that she wants to keep her baby after all. Kidd and Severide are devastated. The car seat, the toys, the mental preparations—all for nothing. They leave the hospital empty-handed.

Back at Firehouse 51, their teammates rally around them. The firehouse is often a place of physical rescue, but here, it serves as an emotional one. Herrmann, Mouch, Violet—they all offer comfort in their own way. One poignant moment sees someone quietly pack the toys away, saying, “We’ll keep these for next time.” It’s a gut-punch, but one laced with hope.

Trouble ahead for Firehouse 51

The episode ends on another ominous note. Despite everything Herrmann did to prove the value of his team, the efficiency expert informs him that cuts are still coming—orders from higher up. Worse, Herrmann and Mouch, due to their age, are now at the top of the “likely cut” list. The fallout from this decision is sure to play out in the episodes to come, setting up tension and uncertainty for the rest of the season.

A brutally emotional hour of television

“Cut Me Open” is one of Chicago Fire’s most emotionally raw episodes in recent memory. It balances the heartbreak of lost opportunity with the ongoing bureaucratic challenges of running a firehouse under scrutiny. Kidd and Severide shine in one of their most vulnerable moments to date, and the station itself continues to prove why it’s one of the strongest families on TV—even in the face of failure.