A/N: So, new story.

Now, I make myself quite clear. This story is in no way meant to disrespect the victims and the survivors of 9/11, or anyone affected by it. It's just, I've been watching a lot of 9/11 documentaries and movies lately, so it's on my mind a lot. This story is a way for me to explore the fear and desperation felt by those who were fighting for survival under the rubble.

So please don't have a go at me for being 'insensitive' or whatever, that's NOT what I'm trying to do. If this story really bothers you, just don't read it. What I'm trying to portray here is how new hope and new life can grow out of even the darkest of tragedies.

I was going to write a 9/11 10 year dedication story. You could perceive this as that...just two years late.

Disclaimer: I don't own CM.

Premise: JJ applied for the FBI Academy right out of college, but got cold feet and dropped out. In the hopes of still pursuing something in communications, a bright eyed and bushy tailed young JJ moved from small town Pennsylvania to New York City. And there, in 1999, at the age of 21, she landed a job at AT&T Corporations, one of the biggest telecommunications companies in the country. Within months, she worked her way up from the bottom, and got moved from a small office block near her neighborhood to one of the most famous buildings in the world.

World Trade Center 1.


The irritating buzz of her alarm clock pulled Jennifer Jareau from her dreams in the early hours of the morning. It was just past 6:30 and the sun was beginning to peak above the horizon.

Hitting the 'Stop' button on her clock, JJ buried her face in her pillow for a minute, wishing she didn't have to get up. She knew she had a long day ahead of her, dealing with the mountains of crap that AT&T Corporation seemed to accumulate on a daily basis. Not to mention the amount of ass kissing she was going to have to do to try and sell AT&T's services. Some days, she truly hated her job. She was seriously considering reapplying to the FBI Academy. She had applied straight out of college, but got cold feet and withdrew to pursue something else.

Groaning, she rolled over, pulling herself out of bed. As she passed her nightstand, she switched the clock over to the news radio. Running a hand through her hair, she trudged into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Once the bathroom had steamed up, she stripped off her sleep shorts and T-shirt before stepping into the shower stall.

As soon as the hot water was cascading against her skin, she started to feel somewhat human again. The heat of the morning shower easily washed away the warm icky feeling she seemed to wake up with every morning.

"Good morning New York, it's a bright sunny Tuesday morning as the eleventh of September dawns, and as always, there is plenty to report!" came the voice of the news reader, floating through the bathroom door.

Turning the shower off, JJ grabbed a towel, wrapping it around herself and stepping onto her bathmat. Staring incredulously at her clock, she shook her head.

"You are way too happy for half past six," she said dryly, moving out of the bathroom and into the closet to choose her outfit for the day.


With her clothes selected – a bright blue button up shirt, black slacks, and her favourite skinny black boots – hair done, and makeup just lightly accenting her stunning blue eyes, JJ was ready for a gruelling day in the office. And it was only 7am.

Putting her bag on her shoulder and her jacket over her arm, she locked up and made her way down the street to the local coffee joint. As always, Stefano, an old Italian coffee brewer who had emigrated to New York in the early 60's, was waiting behind the counter with a smile on his face.

"JayJay," he said happily, his accent still lingering in his words. "So nice to see you again"

JJ laughed. "You see me every day Stefano"

"You have a coffee problem," Stefano said, waving a bony finger at his favourite customer. "The usual?"

"The usual," JJ repeated, pulling her Nokia out of her jacket pocket to see if she'd received any messages from her boss. None.

A few minutes later, Stefano handed her a tall coffee cup. "One extra chocolate mocha for my favourite lady"

JJ smiled, handing Stefano some bills. "Keep the change"

"See you tomorrow JayJay"

JJ waved as she left the shop, taking a sip of the chocolate caffeine goodness as she headed towards her subway stop.

She didn't mind riding the subway every day. It was 50 minutes in which she could just zone out completely and get lost in her own little world.

Except for the occasions when a homeless person would find their way onto the train and hassle everyone in sight until they got off. Those were the days she could do without.

Once she was on the train, no later than 7:30, and situated in the back corner of her carriage, JJ leant against the window. Everything else got filtered out, and the only thing on her mind was to listen out for her stop.

World Trade Center.


The one thing JJ hated in the mornings was fighting her way through throngs of people just to get to the lobby entrance of the North Tower.

Every morning, as she approached the Twin Towers from her subway stop, she would look up and admire the incredible height of the skyscrapers as they stood gleaming in the morning sun.

It was a sight she would never tire of.

Managing to get through the aimlessly wandering crowds of people, she reached the lobby, showing her employee ID card to the man standing by the elevator.

Once she was in the elevator, the hustle and bustle of the street was gone, and it was only complete silence she could hear on the ride to the 51st floor.

"They're saying it's going to be a busy day today...what with the end of the fiscal year coming up and all," Eddie, the lift operator, said conversationally.

JJ shrugged. "Yeah, well, I hope your day goes better than mine's going to go"

Eddie chuckled. "Jennifer, you are too negative. Look at it as the glass half full"

JJ smirked. "My desk is half full of papers that need sorting by lunchtime"

Eddie laughed. "I'll guess I'll take what I can get"

The rest of the ride was spent in comfortable silence. With a ding, they arrived at JJ's floor. JJ and Eddie bid their goodbyes as JJ headed out onto the floor containing all the AT&T employees.

Looking at her watch, she smiled to herself. Almost 8:40. She was 10 minutes earlier than she usually was. At least the day was off to an ok start.

"JJ, you're early!" came the voice of her boss, Robert Hunter.

"My train was actually on time this morning," JJ replied, turning to face Robert.

"Well, that's a good thing. I know you've got a lot to do today, but I wanted to ask you if you'd like to join me in my meeting this morning?"

JJ looked surprised. "Uh...sure"

Robert broke into a wide grin. "Great. 9:30 in Conference B. You don't need anything except for last month's professional service report"

JJ nodded. "I'll be there"

Moving to her desk as Robert turned and walked away, JJ sat her bag and her jacket on her chair, keeping her coffee in hand as she leant against the partition in front of her desk.

"Morning JJ," Rosie said warmly, looking up from her computer.

"Hi Rosie," JJ said with a smile. "How was your evening?"

"Less exciting than yours I would bet"

JJ scoffed. "No. I went home, watched a season of 'Friends', ate ice-cream, and went to bed"

Rosie pouted. "No guys in the sack last night?"

JJ let out a shocked gasp, playfully hitting Rosie's shoulder. "Rosie!"

Rosie laughed. "I have to live vicariously through you, girl! I'm just saying, someone looks a little perky this morning compared to usual"

JJ grinned, pointing at her coffee cup. "That would be the extra shot of caffeine Stefano put in my coffee this morning"

Rosie nodded knowingly. "Who needs a man when you have Stefano?"

JJ laughed as she turned to walk away. "Right on the money," she called over her shoulder, hearing Rosie's laughter in reply.

Without any warning, a muffled 'boom' was heard from above, causing the entire floor to fall silent and stare at the ceiling. The building shook dramatically, sending dust flying down through the air vents.

Looking out of the window near her desk, JJ was baffled by what she saw. Thousands of pieces of paper, bits of unknown debris, and a lot of dust were raining down onto the street below.

"What in the world?" Rosie mumbled, coming to stand beside JJ, flicking her long black hair over her shoulder.

JJ looked at Rosie, shrugging. "Maybe the guys up at Port Authority decided a giant confetti cannon would be a good idea"

Rosie chuckled, looking out at the papers falling from the sky. "Your sense of humour, JJ, my word"

"You're never going to believe this, get over here!" yelled a voice from somewhere on the other side of the floor.

Slowly, with a light murmur of worried conversation, everyone on JJ's side of the floor headed to where the person was yelling from.

Within a minute, most people were standing around the central work area.

"They're saying a plane hit the top of the tower!" someone exclaimed nervously.

"They're not saying it! It's what happened! Look!" someone else yelled, pointing up at the TV.

JJ looked up at the screen and felt her heart stop.

Sure enough, on the news channel, was an aerial image of the Twin Towers.

And the North Tower was quite clearly, shrouded in smoke, with a gaping hole staring right at the camera.