New York City firefighter, Tommy Gavin, cannot escape the ghosts of those who have died around him as he faces the everyday challenge of saving lives while trying to fix his own.

Tommy takes one step forward by convincing Janet to leave Roger but two steps backward when she stumbles onto his latest fling. The boys convince Sean to date a woman but neglect to tell him that she is actually a he. Franco discovers he can't shake his newfound fatherly instincts.

While Tommy attempts to make reason of the chaos in his life, he continues to defy death while pulling dangerous stunts on the job. Lou admits his infidelity to his wife and receives an unexpected surprise. When tragedy strikes his family, Tommy must come to the rescue of his father.

When Janet needs more money to cover house repairs, Tommy turns to Uncle Teddy and his "little" friend to help him out with extra cash. When Franco's father has a stroke, Franco finds himself trying to juggle work and raising his daughter on his own. Meanwhile, a goodwill tribute to the firefighters lost in 9/11 goes awry and the firehouse is put in jeopardy.

The hockey game rematch between the NYPD and the FDNY is right around the corner and Tommy must figure out a plan to save himself from being pummeled by the cops who have it out for him. Tommy's relationship with Sheila is discovered by the guys and they must adhere to tradition to handle it in their own way. When Tommy is visited by his demons during a fire, Franco comes to his aid... with devastating results.

In the opener to the second season, troubled Tommy Gavin is having a difficult time adjusting to life at his new uneventful firehouse after the volatile split with his old crew. On top of this he is still looking for his missing wife who has kidnapped his three children and he has to come to terms with the fact that his dead cousin’s wife is pregnant with his baby. His frustrations come to a head and he has a meltdown with a street vendor selling 9/11 memorabilia.

In an effort to get more time off to search for his wife and kids, Tommy joins the new firehouse’s Barbershop Quartet. Meanwhile back at the old station, Lou and Chief Reilly conspire to get Tommy back, but the rest of the crew has grown fond of his replacement.

Tommy has a chance at finding his kids with help from his oldest daughter. Chief Jerry asks his son for help when his wife's condition worsens.

Tommy seeks the truth about Sheila while trying to get his kids back; Lou does not like the person he has saved through a bone marrow donation; Franco's addiction puts those he loves at risk; Sean's new girlfriend habitually dates firemen.

Franco's addiction to painkillers has driven him to a support group to get help with his problem. A young boy clings to life after Tommy saves him from a fire. Jerry is introduced to his gay son's life partner.

Jerry forces the crew to attend a birthday party that his son is throwing for his boyfriend. Meanwhile, Tommy makes a move on Mariel after she tells him she might not be his half sister after all. Franco asks Laura to move in with him while Sheila tries to make Tommy jealous by showing off her new girlfriend.

Tommy starts taking Janet's antidepressants. When Sean meddles in Franco and Laura's troubled relationship he makes things worse. After a gay visitor, the crew wonders about Mike's sexuality.

When Tommy, Johnny, and Mickey confront Father Murphy it results in tragedy. Sheila needs Tommy's help with a domestic issue. Jerry decides it's time to get a nurse to care for Jeanie. Lou offers to help Candy out with her situation. And Laura discovers the truth behind Franco's poetry.

Tommy lays off the antidepressants when he is kicked off the hockey team. Sheila asks Tommy to talk Damien out of being a firefighter. Meanwhile, when Franco sees Laura with another guy he gets jealous and Tommy's dad gets a surprise when he returns home from a three day trip to Atlantic City.

Tommy copes with a tragedy. Jerry must decide what to do when his wife's condition worsens. Sean has a crisis of faith. Lou learns some shocking facts about Candy. And the crew responds to a multi-level building fire with people trapped inside.

Janet decides to meet with Tommy after not speaking with him for months since the sudden death of their son. Uncle Teddy refuses to allow anyone to help him get out prison. Tommy is shocked when he accidentally discovers just who his nephew has been sleeping with.

After Sheila bumps into Johnny's ex-wife, Angie, Tommy seeks her out. Jerry and Rose spend a very romantic evening together, while Mrs. Turbody is in jail for statutory rape. This gives Tommy some relief but also new worries, and Franco loses his daughter, Keela.

A devastating fire has a profound effect on the crew; Tommy wrestles with his feelings about the baby; Alicia (Susan Sarandon) returns with a proposition for Franco; Troy breaks up with Sheila while Lou makes a tough decision about Theresa; and Sean apologizes to Mike about the fire he set that burned down Mike's mother's house.

Janet plots revenge when she learns what Tommy did with the baby; Franco questions his marriage proposal to Natalie in light of Alicia and Keela's return; and Tommy faces his ghosts.

With Damian confined to a chair and a new baby on the way, Sheila and Janet join forces and shake-up Tommy’s family life.