"Sam, here. You have to eat something." Bailey said as he held out half of a corned beef sandwich. She just shook her head, "No thanks. I'm not hungry."
Bailey re-wrapped the sandwich; he'd try to get her to eat later.
"Have you tried his phone again?" Sam asked, never taking her eyes off of downtown and the billowing smoke.
"I tried 5 minutes ago. I still can't get a line. Everyone and their brother must be calling in and out of New York." Sam turned and looked at Bailey, the pain reflected deep in her eyes. It was just beginning to dawn on Bailey that there was something deeper going on with Sam. It's not that she wouldn't feel deeply for her friends, but there was something more, and Bailey was willing to bet it led to John.
"I'll try again." He smiled and reached for his phone.
Sam had just turned back toward the destruction when she heard Bailey say he got through. Sam flew over to Bailey, her eyes as wide as dinner plates but her hopes began to sink when she saw Bailey's expression turn. He hung up his phone and looked at Sam very pensively.
"I got his voice mail." Bailey began. Sam quickly turned away. "He could have the phone turned off Sam, or he could have lost it in the evacuation." Bailey tried to comfort her but he could see it wasn't helping. He walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. She turned to him and buried her face in his chest and began to sob.
* * *
"I'm hungry," a small voice said from somewhere in the dark. A light flashed over onto the young girl sitting huddled next to a partially filled water dispenser bottle.
"I'm hungry too," George answered her. "What about you, John?"
John opened his eyes; the thought of food actually turned his stomach. "No, not really," he said. George looked down at his friend lying there, bleeding, in pain and trapped and there wasn't anything he could do for him.
George thought back to the first time he met John at the Atlanta Police Department. He never would have imagined that day, that they would have become such good friends. John was one of those obnoxious, macho kind of cops. The kind that George fantasized about but would really never want a relationship with. John walked into the room with such a strut that he immediately caught George's attention. He wasn't bad to look at either, but George could tell right off that John wasn't the type who would be interested. After listening to him small talk with his friends about his date the night before, George immediately knew that John was a ladies man all the way. It was strange how their friendship grew both at the Atlanta PD and the VCTF. After Nathan left, the bond between the two men got even stronger. George knew he could always count on John, like the time he was mugged at the video store. When he went after Luke Dickerson, John was there for him and helped him through it. Now, John was in seriously trouble. Hell, they all were in serious trouble. They had no idea what it was like outside this tomb they had become enclosed in. Had there been more attacks? Was anyone out there digging for them? How many people died in this thing, George wondered. He thought back to the firefighters rushing up the stairs. Were they still in the building when it came down? This was the first time George had stopped to think about the gravity of the situation. His thoughts were interrupted by a moan from John.
George flashed the light over on John's face. His eyes were shut again but he could tell he wasn't sleeping; it looked more like he was trying to shut out the pain.
"John, hey. What do you think about the World Series? Who do you think will go?" George said trying to take John's mind off of the pain. John opened his eyes and looked up at his friend with an expression that said 'Are you kidding?'
"Okay, so you don't want to talk about baseball, what do you want to talk about?" George said with an understanding smile.
"Call again." John said simply. The pain continued coursing through his upper leg, from the thigh up through his hips and into the small of his back. Although the pain was a concern to him, it was the lack of pain he was feeling below his left knee that was a bigger concern. George had flipped open the phone and pressed the re-dial.
* * *
Bailey and Sam had just started walking over to a small command center that had been set up by the NYPD when Bailey's phone rang.
"Malone," Bailey answered putting his arm around Sam's shoulders as they continued to walk.
"Bailey? Is that you Bailey?" The connection wasn't very good. There was a lot of static and Bailey had a hard time hearing the caller.
"This is Malone, who is this?" Bailey and Sam had stopped and she looked at him very intently, hoping that it might be good news.
"Bailey, it's George. We're tra…." The line went dead. Bailey called back several times but once again he only got an 'all circuits are busy' message. Bailey looked to Sam, her eyes wide and filled with anticipation.
"Well, they're alive." Bailey said as a small consolation. "Let's go grab some coffee." He gave Sam a squeeze and they began walking again toward the command center.
* * *
"Bailey? Bailey!?" George shouted into the phone. "Damn line is dead" George cursed as he slammed the phone shut. "Well, at least they know we are alive."
"For now." John said weakly.
George was about to scold John for his negative thinking when he was stopped by the sounds of movement a few feet away from him. Annalise had crawled over to where the two men were.
"What are you doing over here honey?" George asked shining the light on her.
"I'm cold and hungry," she replied simply.
"My coat not warm enough for you?" John asked.
Annalise pulled the coat tighter around herself. "No, it's fine," she said. John shifted his upper body and quickly regretted the move. "Maybe you should come and sit here between George and me. It might be warmer." John said, his voice tight and controlled.
Annalise quickly moved in between the two men. John began to take off his suit jacket when George reached over to stop him.
"What are you doing?" George exclaimed as he placed his hand on John's shoulder.
"Here, just help me take this off." John said, ignoring both George's plea and the pain. George helped him out of his suit jacket. It had seen better days. The bottom was torn ragged and there was a hole in the sleeve. John took the jacket and laid it out on the ground next to him.
"Here, lay down on this. With this under you and my coat on top, you should be okay." Annalise laid down on the jacket and George laid the coat over her and within ten minutes she was fast asleep.
George looked at the sleeping girl and then over to his friend. "So, now you'll be cold."
John smiled, "Turn off the flashlight and save the battery."
5:25 pm
It happened again. A roar that began like distant thunder and grew and grew until it felt as if it would consume them all. George, John and Annalise were awakened by the sound and huddled together in the ruins of World Trade Center building 5; their home…their prison for the last 7 hours. The rumble emanated through the concrete and other debris surrounding them, kicking up the dust and filling the air with the suffocating particulate. George thought about the concrete beams that were precariously perched over John and silently said a prayer that the whole thing wasn't going to come down on them. Soon, the rumbling died away and eventually the dust settled back down. They had little idea what new catastrophe had just occurred outside.
* * *
The new collapse had once again drawn everyone's attention back down to the plaza. Bailey and Sam moved to try and get a better view of what was happening. They couldn't see anything but did overhear a call on the police radio that building 7 had just collapsed. Before Bailey could move or say anything, Sam turned toward him and demanded, "Call them!" Bailey quickly opened his phone and dialed John's cell.
George's thoughts of a cave in were quickly shaken by the sound of the cell phone. He heard John move but knew that the phone was out of his reach.
"I have it John." George said as he answered the phone. "Bailey? Is that you?"
This time the connection was strong and Bailey could hear George loud and clear.
"Yes, George, it's me." Bailey responded, a smile spreading across his face. "Are you guys okay? Where are you?"
"We're in one of the buildings near the towers. We have a young girl with us."
"Do you know which building? Are any of you hurt?" Bailey continued with the questions.
"It's one of the smaller ones across the plaza from the towers. We got stuck out in the plaza when the building came down so we ran for it and made it here," George told him. "John's hurt. He is trapped under some beams. Both the girl and I are okay though."
Bailey's eyes shifted to Sam and then off somewhere over her shoulder.
"What? How is he? Where are they?" Sam blurted out but Bailey didn't respond to her he just turned away.
"How bad is he?" Bailey asked, trying not to let Sam over hear him. He wanted to wait until he had something to tell her.
"He needs help, Bailey. His left leg looks broken, a compound fraction and his right leg is pretty torn up too.
Bailey knew he couldn't let his emotions get the better of him; he had to stay cool and stay in control. "Okay George, what building are you guys in?"
George did his best to explain their location but he had no idea what it looked like at ground zero. The geography of New York had been changed and what it looked like when George and John went in to building 5 was nothing like the mountain of rubble that was sitting there now. Bailey told George to conserve the battery and that he would call them back in no more then a half an hour.
George hung up the phone and flashed the light over toward John. Annalise was sound a sleep again cuddled up against John. John had his eyes closed but he wasn't sleeping. He was mulling over his own mortality. Thinking about all those things he was never going to get to do, and all those things he was never going to get to say. All the things he wanted, no needed to say to Sam. He knew he loved her, why didn't he just say so. Does she realize that he loves her, after last weekend she should, but he never said the words to her.
September 8 midnightJohn had carried Sam to her bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. He was still kissing her as she laid back and pulled him on top of her. He quickly removed his suit jacket before his hands began caressing her shoulders and back and then he moved them slowly down her waist and thigh. John thought he must be dreaming, a wonderful, vivid dream, but a dream none the less. As he continued to touch the body he had only fantasized about, he prayed that no one would wake him, at least not yet. His hand slowly began to slip up the side of her dress, pulling it up as he went. He moved down from her lips to her neck and began to nibble. Sam, for her part had already pulled his shirt up and he only pulled his mouth from her to allow her to pull the shirt over his head. Sam's hands were all over his chest and back but abruptly she stopped. She pushed him up, off her and sat up. He stood there looking confused as Sam stood up.
"It's okay…" she began but John interrupted her.
"Sam, look, if you don't want to, I understand. This is all…well…kind of quick."
Sam smiled. She just stood there taking in the view; John, half naked with his incredible upper body and a noticeably growing budge standing no more then 6 inches from her. How could she not want him!? "John, I told you, this is what I want."
She then slowly slipped her dress off, letting it fall casually at her feet. Now it was John's turn to enjoy the view. His heart was racing and his breath became shallower, as he gazed at Sam. The beautiful shoulders he had enjoyed all night gave way to soft full breasts. He wanted her so bad for so long and now, he was getting his chance. He took a half step toward her brushed his fingers down her shoulders and across her breasts. Her nipples were already very erect but the sensation of his hands sent a tingle throughout her whole body. He wrapped his arms around her and lowered her once again onto the bed. He kissed her softly and then moved down to her chest. While he kissed one breast, he gently massaged the other. She could feel him circling her nipple with his tongue and then his mouth engulfed the rest of her breast. He didn't stay to long before he switch sides and gave her left breast equal treatment. Sam had her eyes closed as she let John have his way with her. She felt him moved down her belly and as his hands slid along her thighs, she felt him reach her panties. Sam let out a moan as John continued kissing her and touching her. She knew she could let him continue all night but she wanted to participate in this as well.
"John," she said breathy as she tried to sit up slightly.
"Mmmm" John said without stopping what he was doing.
"John," Sam said again this time more forcefully.
John looked up, wondering if he had done something wrong. But one look at her face, told him he was doing everything right.
"What, Sam?" he asked as he continued to rub the inside of her thighs.
"My turn," she said as she stood up and backed him up a few steps. He still was a little confused but it all became clear when he felt Sam undo his belt and slowly pull off his pants and boxers. She pulled him toward her and they both laid down on the bed but this time, with John on his back and Sam completely in charge. She kissed him gently on the mouth and ran her fingers through his curly hair. He tried to embrace her but she pulled back and looked down onto him. She ran her fingers across his chest and then began covering it with kisses. She worked her way down his hard stomach and as she reached his abdomen, she felt him quiver. When she finally reached his penis she slowly stroked down the shaft and massaged his balls. John gasped when he felt her lips brush up against it. Although he was already rock hard, Sam could feel him grow even harder with each kiss she gave him. John reached down and stroked her hair and then drew her back up towards him. He smoothly changed positions with her and now he was gazing down upon her. He slowly eased into her, as she let out a gasp. It was everything he had dreamed about and more. He held himself over her as he began to gently thrust his hips. He was enjoying watching Sam enjoy him. As he increased his motion she began to let out small moans and they got louder with his increasing speed. Their two bodies moved as one, connected in the most intimate way. Her nails were raking across his back and shoulders as they reached a fevered pace. John had finally reached his climax but he could tell Sam was still in the throws of hers so he continued until he could feel her body begin to relax.