The third season premiere of "Chicago Fire" aired Tuesday and resumed exactly where the season 2 cliffhanger finale left fans. The Firehouse 51 crew were stuck in a tight spot in a burning building, and audiences were forced to wait to see if their favorite fireman survived a large explosion.

The opening moments pick up right as Chief Boden, who is safely outside, calls out to everyone over the radio, and each member slowly responds that they are alright. However, Severide and Casey make calls to Ambulance 61, but there is radio silence.

Lesley Shay is the one injured. Despite Dawson and Severide's attempts to revive her, Shay's injuries overtake her.

Then the episode skips ahead six weeks following Shay's death to see how her close friends are coping with the loss.

Dawson, who at the end of season 2 had passed her firefighter's exam, has remained with the 51 team until replacements arrive. She seems to be suffering from survivor's guilt and as Boden is suggesting she transfer to a new unit, a new paramedic, Sylvie, arrives.

Dawson is hesitant to accept Sylvie, but her skills shown on a tricky call proves to Dawson that Sylvie is qualified. However, in a flashback where Dawson and Shay switch roles in the rescue just before the explosion, Dawson is snapped back to her distant and depressed attitude.

Since the explosion, Severide has not been found, so Matt Casey tracks him down to convince him to return to firefighting. When Casey tells Severide that Firehouse 51 needs him back on duty, Severide responds that it is cursed for him. After some desparate pleading and convincing, Casey convinces him to come back.

In the final scenes, Severide is packing up Shay's belongings in their apartment and finds an old roommate-agreement contract and looks to the fourth declaration: promise to be there for each other no matter what. Always.