~~Jess~~

"Oh come on Matt! I can't believe you don't remember Jennifer Lunty! You dated her for six months! How can you not remember?" Jessica laughed as she heard one of her four older brother's sigh.

"Are you sure I dated her because I really…."

"Yes! I know you dated her! I am 100% sure! Ask dad, or Owen, or John, or Dillon! They'll tell you the same thing. She was short, had braces, long brown hair that was always in pigtails… she went by Jenny back then…" Jess stifled her laugh as she could picture her brother thinking very hard. "Don't hurt yourself" she joked.

"Oh! I remember her! She had the weird eyes right? We couldn't tell if they were black, purple, or brown" Matt said. Jess laughed.

"Yes, that's her, but I definitely wouldn't bring that up on your date! If you think she's quote hott with two ts unquote, then maybe it'll work this time, although it is you we're talking about" Jess joked.

"Ha ha" Matt deadpanned. "How come I don't see you settling down then?" Jess sighed.

"With my job I don't have time to date. Not to mention I just haven't met the right man yet" Jess said. She was about to add more, but she heard the alarm over the line. "Are you leaving me?"

"Jess… Jesus Jess… the World Trade Center… both towers… they just fell Jess. I've got to go" Matt said hanging up. She threw the phone wherever it landed and hit the power button on the remote for her TV.

"…a plane was hijacked and hit the side of the pentagon as well as the World Trade Center. I just received more breaking news. Another plane had been hijacked, but the passengers took the controls back, making a crash landing in a field in Pennsylvania. There is no news as to the condition of the passengers on board. This picture we are showing now…" the screen flipped from the anchorwoman to a pile of trash. "…is all that is left of the Trade Center. Both towers completely fell. The FDNY will be working to find any survivors in the rubble…" Jess turned the TV and lights off as she grabbed her gun and badge, ready to help her city and country.

WWTWWTWWTWWTWWTWWTWWTWWT

"I'm sorry ma'am, but no one with out authorization…" Jess held up her badge. "Sorry officer. Can I help you find someone?" Jess whipped her head towards the man.

"Yeah do you by any chance know where I could find Matthew Angell? He's FDNY" she replied. The man nodded before pointing towards the rubble.

"All firefighters are looking for survivors in this mess. I couldn't tell you how to find a specific one though…" the man trailed off. It was obvious he was not a cop, but a civilian who had either offered or was recruited to help.

"That's all right, thanks" Jess said walking farther into what looked like the biggest crime scene ever. "I'd hate to be a CSI" she muttered to herself as she stepped over pieces of metal and ash. "Matt!" Jess asked as she carefully made her way over the broken buildings to where she had seen some firefighters. "Matt!"

"Jess?" Matt asked as he stepped out from under a piece of metal that was still standing. "What are you doing out here? You should be back with the cops!" Matt yelled as she walked closer.

"I want to help you Matt. I'm not a little girl anymore, but I'm not going to do traffic" she answered as she stood in front of his towering figure. Metal started groaning and Jess looked around only to see her brother's chest. Where she had been standing was now a sharp piece of metal that would have cut right through her.

"I know Jess, but you're still my little sister and I need for you to be safe. Please, go back out there and take over for the civilian or help the EMT. I don't care what the hell you do as long as it won't put you in any more danger than you already are, ok?" Matt reached his hands up and wiped away tears that Jess hadn't realized had fallen.

"Ok" she croaked. "Please be safe, please" Jess begged. She had a feeling something would happen to him.

"I know how to handle myself, little Angell. Don't worry" Matt called as he pushed her farther away.

"I love you" she whispered. Matt smiled.

"I love you too kiddo. Now go" Jess nodded and made her way back to the man.

"Hello sir, I was coming to take over for you so that you could head home to your family" the man sighed.

"Thank you" he whispered before ducking under the tape that had been put up for civilians and walking away, but not before casting one last look at the destruction in front of him. Jess could hear metal groaning from where she stood, about a half mile away from the place where Matt was. She turned and watched as another metal piece of the tower fell. She could hear men shouting and knew that something had happened. She let the tears fall freely as she watched men try to lift the heavy metal.

WWTWWTWWTWWTWWTWWTWWT

Three days later:

"The death toll from the tragic event that happened only days ago has risen." Again Jess thought to herself angrily. "The total now comes to…" What does it matter? Tons of people died before their time. "Also included in the count is FDNY and NYPD officers who lost their lives in the line of duty."

"Why don't you just read off a list of freaking names?!? I'm sure the families of those who died aren't hurting enough! Why don't you just add to their pain?" Jess yelled. She threw her remote against the wall and watched as it shattered to pieces. Just like my heart Jess thought wryly. Jess slid down the counter she had been leaning against and pulled her knees to her chest. She buried her head in her legs and wailed. "You told me you could handle yourself! Dying doesn't count Matt!"

Matt and three other firefighters had been trying to rescue someone, who they were pretty sure was dead, when the metal crashed down on them, crushing them to death.

"Come back big brother. I need you" Jess whispered. She remembered the moment she had found out it was Matt and probably would for the rest of her life.

"Jess?" one of Matt's coworkers asked. She loved spending time at the station, just to bug them about the NYPD being the best. She looked him dead in the eye, her tears still falling.

"It's him isn't it? Matt's dead isn't he?" Jess asked trying to remain brave, but failing as her voice cracked twice. He nodded.

"I'm sorry Jess, but Matt, Drake, and Tony were all crushed by the metal. They didn't even have a chance. I'm sorry" he whispered. She nodded her head silently. "Why don't you head on home? I can take over here for a while" he suggested. She shook her head.

"No, I'm staying. I need to do my job, for Matt" she said turning back to her post even more determined.

Jess pulled herself back from the worst moment in her life. She continued to wife until an hour ago, when Chief Sinclair himself told her she had to leave for a while. No one wanted to let her alone, but she assured them all that she was fine. She wasn't so sure about that now. She should have asked her partner to help her through this, but she needed time to grieve.

"I love you too kiddo." Matt's last words to his little sister rung throughout Jess's head and she would never forget them.