Sam Carver’s return in Chicago Fire’s “Permanent Damage” could have been a much-needed emotional pivot for the series. Instead, it feels like a spark that’s destined to fizzle out far too soon. With Jake Lockett confirmed to be leaving the series by the end of Season 13, every scene he shares with Violet Mikami carries the bittersweet weight of knowing it might be one of their last.

Carver’s comeback, centered on his recovery and potential reconnection with Violet, was once the kind of slow-burn drama that Chicago Fire excelled at. There’s history there—wounds, passion, and unresolved tension. And now that Carver claims to have his addiction under control, fans are invited to hope for a redemption arc, for a second chance at love. But that hope is laced with anxiety. Three episodes. That’s all we’ve got left. And what could have been a story about healing and mutual growth might become just another rushed goodbye.

Violet deserves more than another heartbreaking ending, and Carver deserves more than being written off before his arc fully matures. Their chemistry remains palpable, their interactions tender yet charged. But with the clock ticking, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the writers are building something beautiful—only to tear it down right before our eyes.

The scene that closes their interaction in “Permanent Damage” is especially telling. The way they look at each other, quietly, as if both are searching for something unsaid—it’s the kind of moment that usually signals a beginning. And maybe it is. But if it is, it’s a beginning already doomed to a rushed and likely painful end.

Chicago Fire fans have been through this emotional rollercoaster before. But somehow, this time feels different. This time feels unfair. With Carver’s limited screen time left, we can’t help but brace for a conclusion that may not give the characters—or the audience—the closure they deserve.