Hey everyone! I'm in the process of writing the update for my other story Oh Sugar Honey Ice Tea (This Is A Joke, Right?), but I wanted to get this short two-shot out of my head and posted today. This is dedicated to all my fellow brothers and sisters in the armed forces, all the veterans, NYFD, NYPD, Pentagon employees, the Rescue Dogs, and all the lives effected or lost 13 years ago.
I do not own glee, but I do remember where I was and what I was doing 13 years ago...do you?
Gone, But Not Forgotten: Remembering 13 Years Ago
11 September 2014
"Momma. Can I finally hear the story about you being a superhero and how I saved Mami's life now? I think I'm old enough to handle it. I mean I know the facts about what happened 13 years ago" 15 year old Sugar asked.
"I don't know sweetheart. Ask your Mami once she gets back in the truck" Brittany says.
"She's going to say I'm not old enough again" Sugar huffed out while crossing her arms.
"Give her a chance honeybun. It was a scary day for us" Brittany tells her softly.
"I get that. Uncle Puck and Aunt Q always give me this extra bone-crushing hug while whispering thank you to me repeatedly on this day. Not to mention that Aunt Q also always has this faraway look in her eye and Uncle Puck looks like he is a second away from a waterworks show. I just want to know Momma. I was only 2 when it happened and can't remember a thing. I always stay home from school too, not that I'm complaining about missing school today. I feel like I'm missing an important piece and that this will fill in the blank" Sugar says earnestly.
Before Brittany could reply, Santana popped open the trunk. "You can line them up back here. Thank you" Santana says as the employee goes about unloading the cart. After a few minutes the employee is done and Santana hops into the passenger seat of the truck.
"Okay. You guys ready? We have everything right?" Santana asks as she looks at me then towards around to look at our daughter.
"Go ahead and ask honeybun before we leave the parking lot" Brittany says to Sugar.
"Ask me what?" Santana asks looking at Brittany then back to Sugar again.
"Uh Mami. I want to know the story about how I saved your life and how Momma was a superhero. Please?" Sugar asks Santana timidly.
Santana looks like she goes a bit pale then shakes her head before taking a deep breathe. "No. Maybe when you're older" Santana says.
"Sweetheart?" Brittany says getting Santana's attention.
"No Britt. She's too young" Santana says admittedly while shaking her head.
"Sweetie. She's 15 now. She's able to handle it now" Brittany tells Santana.
Santana looks at Brittany and conveys all her reservations, pain, and worries through her eyes. Brittany looks at Santana telling her it will be alright with her eyes and then grabs her hand to give it a tight squeeze. Santana drops her head some and sighs. "Okay, but we should head over first and I'll tell her my part when we get there.
37 minutes later
"Let's get out and sit over by that tree" Brittany suggests as she takes off her seat belt and exits the truck.
Sugar and Santana followed suit. Once they all are sitting down–Brittany leaning back against the tree with Sugar comfortably against Brittany's side and Santana sitting opposite facing the two of them–Santana took a deep breath before beginning.
"So Sugar Plum, you know that it took years after you were born before Momma was able to legally, in the eyes of state at least, become your parent" Santana says and Sugar nods her acknowledgement. "You also know that she did have legal guardianship over you" Santana continues and Sugar nods again. "Well the CDC has a who gets called first list if a child gets sick or if there is an emergency. I'm the one who always got called first before Momma" Santana says before glancing at Britt who just gave her a nod of understanding.
"That's stupid if you ask me" Sugar says.
"I agree, but it's not an issue anymore for us thankfully. Anyways, Momma had dropped you off that day because I had training over at the Pentagon and you know how traffic can be heading that way in the morning" Santana say and Sugar hums in agreement. "But you my wonderful little savior had an emergency and I received a call from the CDC" Santana tells her.
Flashback
11 September 2001, 0845
"SrA Lopez?" a lady asks.
"Speaking" Santana replies with the person on speaker.
"Hi. This is Francesca from the CDC on Andrews. I'm calling in regards to your daughter, Vanessa" Francesca replies.
"What's wrong with Sugar?" Santana asks.
"Ma'am, I regret to inform you that she has been ill since a little bit after she was dropped off this morning. She has thrown up twice and seems to be running a fever now. It is policy that the child needs to be taken home since she is ill" Francesca states.
"Yes. I know the policy. I'll be able to get there in about 30 minutes since I am stuck in traffic heading towards the Pentagon" Santana replies.
"Is there anybody who may be closer that can pick her up?" Francesca asks.
"Yes, but neither of us would be able to get a hold of them right now. I'll be there. Thank you for the call. See you soon. Bye" Santana states and hanging up once Francesca says bye as well.
40 minutes later, 0925
Santana can hear the whines and crying as soon as she steps into the room. Sugar sees her mami, runs over to Santana's outstretched arms and buries her face in Santana's BDU blouse. Santana stands up with Sugar still in her arms. "It's okay mi amor. Mami's got you now" Santana whispers to Sugar as she sways side to side. Santana looks at Marley. "What time did you give her the medication at?" Santana asks her.
"As soon as I notified the front desk to call you. So about 40-45 minutes ago. I'm pretty sure she probably caught whatever bug PJ had because he went home yesterday with the same thing, but he is doing fine today" Marley responds.
"Figures. Puckerman's child would be the one to pass something on to my baby. Thanks again Marley. Mind if I use the bathroom real quick?" Santana asks.
"Go ahead I got her. Michelle & Tammy have the group covered right now" Marley says taking Sugar, who's whining picks up, slowly from Santana's arms.
"It's okay baby. Mami just needs to use the potty really fast and I'll be right back" Santana says before pressing a kiss to Sugar's forehead and heading to the bathroom.
7 minutes later, 0932
Santana exits the bathroom and sees a lot of parents coming into the CDC with a frantic look on their faces. Santana races back to Marley and Sugar. "Marley, what is happening? I see a lot of parents who should be at work right now" Santana says quickly moving to take Sugar from her.
"The-the-the towers. Two planes cr-cr-crashed into the twin towers. The first one hit about 45 minutes ago and the second one about 30 minutes ago. I have family in Manhattan" Marley says as she turns extra pale.
"Shit. We're a likely target. Look Marley. Call your family now. I need to get PJ and get to Brittany" Santana says snatching up Sugar's bag and running out the door towards PJ's room.
Santana runs into the room. "PJ! Let's go. Now" Santana shouts out for the boy before going to his cubby, grabbing his stuff, and signing him out.
"Here Titi" PJ says running over.
"Good boy. We need to leave now. Hold on to my shirt tight and do not let go" Santana tells him sternly.
"Otay" PJ replies.
Santana moves as fast she can to her truck with her 2 year old sick daughter and her 3 year old nephew. Once she gets the kids strapped into their car seats she feels and hears the boom. Sugar starts crying harder and PJ has a scared look on his face as his eyes fill with tears. Santana runs and jumps into the driver's seat. She spares a glance to the scared toddlers in her backseat. "PJ take Sugar's hand and hold it real tight. I promise you that I am right here okay" Santana says slowly to them trying to keep herself calm. PJ nods his head and does as he told.
"Good boy. We are going to see Britt Britt and I'm going to call your mommy" Santana tells PJ as she starts up her truck and heads towards Malcolm Grow.
Santana dials Quinn as she is at the stoplight waiting for it to change. Quinn answers after the first ring. "OMIGOD SANTANA THANK GOD YOU'RE OKAY! I THOUGHT I-I-I TH-TH-TH-OUGHT YOU WERE IN THERE" Quinn shouts before succumbing to tears.
"What Q? What do you mean you thought I was there? I'm at Andrews. I had to pick up Sugar since she's sick and I grabbed PJ too. I'm heading to Malcolm Grow now" Santana replies as she waits to turn into the hospital parking lot.
"S. A plane was crashed into the Pentagon. You told me you had training today there. Thank you for getting PJ. Bethesda is on lock down and I need to call Noah now. I'll-" Quinn says before the phone loses service.
"Shit" Santana says as she pulls into a parking spot close to the ASF.
Santana grabs the kids' stuff shoves the important stuff into her own backpack before getting both toddlers' and making her way inside Malcolm Grow to find Brittany.
End of Flashback
Santana wipes the tears from her eyes. It sometimes feels like yesterday to her. She was supposed to be there when the plane crashed. Her beautiful baby girl getting sick saved her life. Sugar could be without a mami right now if PJ didn't get her sick. Santana will always get that boy amazing gifts on his birthday and Christmas because by default he had also saved her life by getting Sugar sick.
Sugar moves from her momma over to her mami and wraps her up in a hug. "I'm glad PJ got me sick too" she tells her mami.
Santana has a small smile on her face as she squeezes her Sugar Plum a little tighter and looks over at Brittany. Brittany, who also has tears in her eyes, locks eyes with Santana completely understanding that Sugar inherited the same kind of telepathy as her. Brittany throws Santana a wink before joining in on the hug. After what seems like an hour, but was probably only a minute they all disengage from the hug. Sugar looks from her momma to her mami and back again at her momma.
"So can I hear about how you were being Superwoman now?" Sugar asks.
Santana and Brittany lock eyes before switching places. Now Sugar was cuddled up to Santana leaning against the tree and Brittany was sitting opposite them.
"So..." Brittany says.
A/N: Like I said this is a two-shot. I will get the next part up pretty quickly.
Here is the civilian breakdown of abbreviations I used.
SrA= Senior Airman, which is a rank in the Air Force and has a grade that is E-4.
CDC= Child Development Center, which is child care on military bases.
BDU= Battle Dress Uniform, kind of self-explanatory from there.
ASF= Aeromedical Staging Facility, it is a section within certain military hospitals. I'll give more explanation next chapter.
Now for some of the places.
Andrews is Andrews AFB in Maryland, which is now officially called Joint Base Andrews. It is located about10-15 minutes outside of DC (depending on where you are entering DC at).
Bethesda is a city in Maryland, but it also has a Naval Facility and in this story I am referring to the facility as a whole.
Malcolm Grow is short for Malcolm Grow Medical Center, which was a hospital on Andrews at the time, but has now been downgraded to a "super clinic".
Thank you for reading this. I hope you guys liked the first part, but let me know what you guys think good or bad.
Any questions, comments, or concerns you can reach me on here, Twitter, or Tumblr.
All spelling mistakes and grammar are mine.
Deuces...for now.