Jordan Calloway on Jake's grief and bond with Genevieve in Fire Country season 2

Fire Country fam, we're coming off the tragedy of Cara's death in "This Storm Will Pass" with "Alert the Sheriff" on the horizon which kicks off Jake Crawford's grief arc and the challenge of being a father figure to Cara's daughter, Genevieve, without her by his side.

I got the opportunity to touch base with Jordan Calloway again to talk about the changes coming to the show in the wake of Cara's passing and how it'll affect his character moving forward. Remember, Jake had been on the verge of proposing to his girlfriend but, in a heartbreaking twist, he had to give a semblance of the speech he'd prepared to her as she slowly slipped away.

Calloway shared where Jake is at emotionally when we catch up with him in episode 6 along with some teases about the episode in general, whether Sabina Gadecki will be back for flashbacks this season, and more!

Jordan Calloway talks Jake Crawford's grief arc in the back half of Fire Country season 2

What was it like having to balance the fear of being stuck in a fire tornado and then moving into the heartbreak of hearing Jake's love [Cara] dying on the line?

This was a heavy, heavy episode emotionally, physically, and mentally. I think I've been saying it over and over. We have to have the right context. This episode picks up immediately after the previous one ["Too Many Unknowns"] after having done the fire over at the chemical plant. The reason why I say that is because now you have a whole day where these firefighters are without rest going and going and going.

We're trying to protect these kids and find some shelter to hold tight. That is the physical draining aspect of it, then you also have the mental fatigue after having worked on two different fires and now trying to protect people. Then the last thig is the emotional, which if you think you had an ounce of emotion left in that episode, just wait and it's like we're going to take that, too. It really was like a Red Wedding, Game of Thrones type move but less bloody.

It was very draining for Jake, and for everyone that was involved in that day, to the point where he feels he has nothing left to give. He doesn't know how to even react. They're on an open wave radio. He's a captain, he's driving this engine, he's in charge of the other three lives in there. He has to make sure he checks himself while also compartmentalizing this emotion of losing the love of his life.

It's incredibly sad. I got caught up in the moment because I was watching like "No, this can't possibly happen" and then it does. You said that Jake is compartmentalizing, will he continue to do that as he tries to be strong, particularly for Genevieve, as he movies into this grief arc? Because he started the season in joy and now we're definitely without it.

Oh yeah, definitely without it. I love that you picked up on that because it's a complete 180 for him. Yes, he's definitely compartmentalized, however, the thing is he doesn't know how to, and he's struggling with that. He's trying to put on a face for Genevieve. Before even dealing with Genevieve, he's trying to deal with losing Cara, but he doesn't even get to deal with losing Cara because he still has to take care of this child that's not his, but she wants to be with him. The two of them have a bond, you know. But, before he can even think about that, his whole world got pulled from underneath him.

I think he definitely buries himself in work. He reverts back to the Old Jake's way of running away from the situation instead of actually handling it because this isn't a situation that he can handle with his hands. That's easy. This is something internal, this is something emotional. This is something raw that's hard for Jake. Cara was able to do that for him, to help him. She was able to coach him, she was able to guide him through that and help him deal with his emotions.

Then it's going to be very heavy for him as we continue [through the season]. Was the scene in the kitchen between Cara and Jake the last we'll see of the two of them together or will Sabina be back for flashbacks as Jake grieves?

No, there are no flashbacks. We haven't done any flashbacks yet, so there could but, as of right now, no. [Note: Fire Country season 2 has wrapped. If Sabina Gadecki does return for flashbacks it won't happen until season 3 which has been greenlit by CBS.]

Ok. Then I am concerned that it might be too many cooks in the kitchen since everyone now is aware that Genevieve might be Bode's daughter. Will that impact how Jake is choosing to help Genevieve as she grieves yet another loss?

Absolutely. 100%. Like I told you, Genevieve and Jake have their own relationship as well. I mean, Alix [West Lefler], she's a phenomenal actress. I love the girl to death. She's amazing. Her mom's amazing. Her dad's amazing. She's a sweetheart. I say all that because I've got my little buddy over there with Alex as well. But Jake and Genevieve, they really do have their own bond.

The thing about Genevieve is that he sees all of the best qualities of Cara in her and that's haunting for him as well. It's a constant reminder of what he wanted but never could have but, at the same time, he is grateful for having loved and lost than to never have loved. He did get that with Cara but, as it pertains to after dealing with [her loss], his sole focus is Genevieve. She becomes his main priority. That's who he feels Cara entrusted to him because he was going to [marry her] and eventually have a family with her. I'm excited to see the later episodes that come out because it does get a little heated.

Ooh, that's exciting! We love drama.

[Laughs] We love drama!

The last time we spoke, you teased a bit that there might be some friction between Bode and Jake regarding Genevieve. I'm assuming that is going to come up.

Oh, it's gonna come up. I mean, it don't help that you've got Cole--Tye [White] who's also my friend--over there talking stuff, saying like that's supposed to be you with that family, that's supposed to be you, why is he in your family? You know, Cole just don't want Jake to be happy. Like, man, be your own. [Laughs]

Oh no, that means instigating is gonna be happening which is unfortunate but great for us! Considering all of that I do wonder, you know I'm gonna ask, is Mama [Lilly Crawford] going to arrive? Is she going to be around or will we at least get a phone call?

You know you brought up a great--I'm not going to say anything--but that's a great question. That is a fantastic question.

Okay, I'm going to be on the lookout.

[Laughs] Don't look too hard. I'm just going to say that. That's all I'm going to say.

Good to know [Laughs]. Then my last question is about episode 6, it's a two-parter. What can you tease for Jake specifically? And what can you tease that fans will be excited about in general since this is the big sheriff episode everyone's been waiting for?

First of all, Max [Thieriot] directed that beautifully. He has some really great shots in there. Some fun, aerial shots as well that they did. I mean Morena [Baccarin] is such a delight to work with. I'm a big Gotham fan so I was already like fanboying and when Ben [McKenzie], her husband, showed up I was like I can't even, give me more, God, you just love me. But, no, she was so wonderful to work with. She's so down to earth and sweet, such a beautiful family, too.

I'm so grateful with this show for the people they bring on because they have the right attitudes, the right mentality. They're eager to work, but they're also grounded regardless of their stardom or their status. Everybody has been just a delight to work with but to answer your question, what can I tease? There's a pretty sick fight, a whole lot of fire. Definitely some twists.

Our director Bill [Purple], he was like "Oh, this is Fire Country, Sheriff country though is like Fire Country but with guns." So it's gonna be intense. It's going to be fun. There's a mystery as well. Some cases get solved. It's going to be a good ride. A fun, fun ride.

For Jake you're going to seem him struggle. He's going to be dealing with the loss, that compartmentalization. Sort of like zoned out, lost in his own world trying to find some sort of an assimilation of the meaning of life again. You're going to see him distant which is another form of dealing with trauma and emotions and pain. He's going to be dealing with that a lot in episode 6 but then, you know, you ride out with your boy and he eventually comes around.

"Alert the Sheriff" premieres Friday, Apr. 12 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more Fire Country news and coverage!