A/N: Sorry, sorry, sorry for the delay :(
A/N 2: There has been so problems with this chapter. So I'm uploading it again. Let me know if it's okay now.
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle...sad I know...
Underneath the Wreckage
Chapter #6
Officers had barricaded the entrance to the station, keeping the crowd that was gathering in the front steps at a distance. Kate cut through the crowd with Alexis following close, her hand firm in Kate's. Alexis was looking at the crowd, Kate could tell by the way her eyes searched every face around them she was looking for her father.
"Do you think my dad is here?"
Her little voice was drowned by the pleas and shouts of everyone around them. Kate noticed they were shouting out names, with pictures in their hands. They slowly started pushing and Kate was soon pressed against one of the police fence that separated them from the building's entrance, Alexis' little body pushed against her back. One of the steel pipes was embedding in Kate's stomach; she exhaled sharply. She looked over her shoulder to see the man pushing against her back, and noticed Alexis' body squeezed between the two bodies. She tried to shout, say something, but she couldn't breathe.
"You are hurting the little girl!"
The voice came from the building's doors. A young woman wearing pink medical scrubs ran down the steps and shouted to the police officer in front of the crown.
"They are hurting the girl!" she told him, pointing with her finger to Kate and Alexis. The police officer recognized Kate in an instant.
"Beckett!" he ran behind the young woman until they were in from of Kate. "Glad to see you're okay."
"A little help here, Ryan," Kate told him. She turned and grabbed Alexis, while Officer Ryan and the woman in scrubs pushed the man behind her. Kate swung Alexis over the three something feet fence and handed her to the officer. Kate's exhausted arm protested at the movement.
"Kate! Kate!" Alexis screamed, clearly not comfortable leaving Kate's side. Her little hand tried to grasp Kate's but she was already being carried to the station's door. "Kate!"
Once Alexis was safe on the other side Kate gathered every ounce of energy she had on reserve and pushed the guy who was pressing his big body on her. He stumbled two steps backwards as the crowd around them moved and gave them space, clearly interested in the conflict. Kate took out her badge and showed it to him.
"Back off!" she told him, her teeth clenched and giving the man a stern look.
Without another word, she turned around as Ryan separated two of the fences to let her in. Alexis was standing on the entrance steps, held by the woman in scrubs. Kate walked over them and Alexis extended her arms to Kate, who didn't hesitate to take her into her arms and finally entered the precinct. She headed to the squad room at the third floor, when she sometimes did paper work, taking the stairs. The brief confrontation with the man downstairs kicked her adrenaline once more. Alexis hung tight against her chest, clearly still scared.
The squad room was full with activity. Officers in uniforms and plain clothes were zigzagging through the desks and other people. Phone rang and people shouted from one side to the other. The newscast was barely audible over the noisy room, but Kate could see the replay of the day's event on the corner television. She walked over an empty desk and sat Alexis on it. She took the backpack from the girl's back and place it on the floor. Alexis was looking around, overwhelmed by the noise and the activity that surrounded them. Kate noticed she was staring at something and her blue eyes watered. She was looking at the news, which in this moment was replaying how the first tower collapsed.
"Hey, Alexis. Looked at me." The girl obeyed, big eyes holding back tears. "We're safe now. We're safe."
That moment she noticed a presence behind her. She turned around and there was Officer Kevin Ryan and the young woman in scrubs. Ryan had been in the force for a five years. He started working in Narcotics a few months back, when Kate started working at the 12th. They have exchanged words in the break room over the coffee machine, but they barely knew each other. Kate enjoyed his Irish charm and charisma. The woman in scrubs, well, Kate had no idea who she was.
"Thanks, Ryan."
"No problem, Beckett. You okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine."
"I'm glad. Montgomery was worried because you were assign traffic patrol near Ground Zero." Ryan eyes looked tired and sad, but Kate noticed he tried to keep his voice upbeat.
"Ground Zero?"
"Yeah, the towers."
His eyes shifted to the television, where there was a shot of people walking in the Brooklyn Bridge, leaving the island. That moment Alexis began coughing.
"Let me get my bag," said the woman in scrubs and disappeared in the crowd of officers.
"Who's that?" Kate finally asked Ryan.
"That's Dr. Parish. Well, almost doctor Parish. She is one of the med students volunteering in the station. A group of doctors and students just appeared here and offered their services. I think they will be assisting in identifying the victims, too. All the hands we can get…"
"Oh." Kate didn't want to hear about Ground Zero, or victims, or missing people, or identifying bodies.
"Where's Collins?" asked Ryan, looking around.
Collins...she had forgotten about Collins, her partner for the day.
"He's not back?"
"Nope."
Kate remember he order her to go to the station before he disappeared in the crowd and headed to the Towers...well Ground Zero now.
"He...after the second plane...he went to...to the Towers..." she had trouble breathing. Suddenly the dust on her clothes was creating a small aura around her as she moved making it harder to breathe. Collins...
"I'm sure he's okay. Everyone was called on duty, and we're still waiting to hear from some uniforms," Ryan said, almost to himself.
Almost Dr. Parish came walking towards them.
"Here, we are. Let's see sweetie. My name is Lanie and I'm a doctor, well I'm studying to becoming one. Let me take a look at you. Open your mouth for me, please," she told Alexis. The girl's big blue eyes looked at Kate, hesitant. Kate nodded and Alexis obeyed.
"Who's the kid?" Ryan asked Kate.
"Alexis," was all Kate told him. Her eyes glued to the young med student and how she examined Alexis.
Officer Ryan shifted uncomfortable. "I'm going to tell Montgomery you're here."
"Where's the Captain?"
"Captain Murphy is at Ground Zero with half the station. He left Montgomery in charge." And with that Ryan walked over to the Captain's office.
"Did you breathe a lot of dust?" Lanie asked Alexis.
"Not much. I had my face covered with this," Alexis answered while showing the red cloth napkin that she had clutch in her hand.
"That was a good idea," she smiled at the girl. "She's fine. Although a change of clothes will help with the coughing. A shower would not be a bad idea either" she told Kate. "Now you. Open."
"I'm fine," Kate said, evading the young woman's gloved hands and tongue depressor.
"Nu-uh, everyone's getting checked. Right?" Lanie asked Alexis. The girl nodded and Kate obeyed. "Did you covered your face too, officer?"
"Beckett, Kate Beckett. And yes."
"Lanie Parish," she smiled as she took off her latex gloves. "You both look good. But if you keep coughing let me know."
"Thanks, Doctor."
"Pfft, call me Lanie, I'm not one yet," she said with a huge smile.
"Now we look for my dad?" Alexis asked Kate.
"Yes, we'll try calling him again."
"Beckett!" Ryan called from the Captain's office. "Montgomery wants to see you."
Kate hesitated; she looked at Alexis who was pleading with those puppies blue eyes not to leave her.
"I can watch her," said Lanie unexpectedly. "We can call her dad while you come back, okay?" she asked Alexis. The girl was not too convinced.
"I'll be right back, okay. I'll be at that office right there. You can see me through the windows," Kate said, as she gave Alexis a reassuring kiss on the forehead. She walked towards the office, trying to steady herself. She didn't want to appear weak or tired, or even scared in front of Montgomery. He was one of her superiors and there were rumours that he would be the precinct's Captain when Murphy retires in a couple of years. And he always looked at her weird. When Kate started working at the precinct he was always lurking and watching her, but never approaching her. The first time he actually talked to her, Montgomery told her she would be a good detective. And after that, they had just exchanged a few words.
"Beckett, good to see you," he told her as she entered the office.
"Sir."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Officer Ryan informed me that Officer Collins and you got separated. Why?" There was a severe tone in his voice. He looked tense and worried, but who in New York City wasn't that day?
"A little girl," Kate told him and looked at Alexis through the glass. "She was lost and we were assisting her when the second plane..."
Suddenly, Montgomery face softened and there was an empathic look as he watched Alexis talking to the young med student. He turned to look at Kate, and noticed for the first time the thin layer of dust that covered her clothes, face and hair.
"You were close."
It wasn't a question, Kate knew. More like a guilty statement.
"Close enough."
"I'm glad you are here...I wouldn't forgive myself..." he didn't finish his statement. Kate looked at him curiously. He cleared his throat and continued in a more formal and down-to-business tone. "We are sending uniforms to assist in the fire department at Ground Zero. But we need hands at the station, too. I'm sure you have been through hell today, I can't make you go home and rest, but you can assist Officer Ryan in whatever needs to be done here."
"Sir, I think I can be of more assistance in the field."
"You've been out there long enough today."
Kate nodded. She would rather be out there, doing something more productive than answering phones but she was tired and really needed a shower and some food.
"Fine," she yielded.
"But first take care of that girl, and yourself."
It took Rick two hours in line to finally get the 100 copies of Alexis' picture with her name and his phone number. The small office supplies shop was packed with people doing the same thing he was, looking for loved ones. The store's owner was not charging anything, but was taking donation to anyone who was willing to give. Rick was moved by this and left him most of the cash he was carrying.
He began posting his flyers all over the street and decided to go to the more crowded areas and leave some on the walls they were already using to put pictures and flyers. He had hope, it was the only thing that he had. And he couldn't afford to lose it.
He looked at his cell phone. The battery had died, he didn't know when. Great, now he really was unreachable on so many levels. He was thankful he left his home number, because the 100 flyers he had in his hands were useless without any way to reach him. He decided to go home after posting all the flyers. He was sure he would go crazy waiting by the phone for any news, but at least while he charged his phone's battery.
"You ok there, kid?"
Kate looked through the locker's mirror at the reflection of the shower where Alexis was.
"Yeah. There's so much dust."
She smiled at the girl's clear frustration. She went through the same one just a few minutes ago. Washing her hair has never been so troublesome. The dust and debris it gather was amazing. She almost clogged the shower's drain.
Kate stared at her reflection. Her hair was wet and beginning to curl. Her face was clean and she changed to her gym clothes. The weight of the day's event finally caught up with her. Her shoulders were tense and she felt was so exhausted. At least she wasn't hungry anymore. She and Alexis had some of the take out someone order but didn't eat. She didn't remember who the blessed soul was but she was grateful. The food lifted her spirits, and Alexis' too.
After Alexis came out of the shower she dressed in one of Kate's NYPD t-shirts and her dirty jeans, since Kate didn't have any other clothes that will fit the girl. The dark blue t-shirt looked huge on Alexis, the hem almost to her knees. Kate braided the girl's long red hair and did the same with her.
"Has my dad called?"
"Not yet, baby girl. But I will be beside the phone all day waiting if I had to."
"I'm tired."
"Me too. Maybe we can find someplace to crash for a while. I'll tell Ryan to keep an eye for your dad, okay?"
They went to one of the empty offices. This one had a couch and Alexis went directly towards it, plopping into it with a huge sigh.
"It's comfy."
Kate smiled. Alexis' voice was already heavy with sleep.
"Would you stay?"
"Sure," answered Kate. "Scoot."
She sat and Alexis rested her head on Kate's lap. She absentmindedly caressed her red soft hair that smelled like cherries as she waited for the girl to fall asleep.
"Kate…"
"Yeah, baby girl?"
"What is a terrorist?"
The question took Kate by surprise. How to do explain to a 7 year old terrorism without crushing the hopeful way children looked at the world?
"Well…sometimes people try to send messages in different ways. Terrorist do it scaring people. Sometimes they used bombs, other times…"
"They use planes?"
The knot on her throat prevented her to form an answer. She just nodded. Alexis was quiet for a few moments.
"I'm scared."
"I know, sweetie."
"Are you scared too?"
"A little bit."
"I want Monkey-Bonkey."
"Who?"
"My monkey," Alexis answered. She stood up and searched through her red backpack. She took a plush monkey. "My Dad doesn't like me to take him to school, but this was the first field trip I go without my dad."
She climbed back to the couch and resumed the same position she was before, clutching the monkey on her arms.
"Kate, eWhere's your mom?"
Another question that took Kate's breath away. What is it with this kid and questions?
"You told me she called you baby girl. And that you miss her," the girl continued.
"She…she died, kid. A couple of years ago. She was…she was the best mom."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"Me too."
"Kate?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't mind you calling me baby girl. Even if I'm a big girl."
Kate felt her chest tighten. In the few hours she had spent with Alexis, they already formed a strong emotional bond. Near death experiences tend to do that.
"Thank you," Kate whispered, as Alexis' drowsy eyes closed. "Thank you, baby girl."
The sun was setting when Rick finally arrived his building. The security guard at the entrance greeted him, and when he noticed his face and his dirty clothes he gave Rick an apologetic smile.
His loft was empty. He didn't know what he was expecting. Maybe for Alexis to come running into his arms; maybe for this day to be a nightmare and wake up.
He went directly to his phone and saw he had 10 messages in his answering machine. Maybe one of them was from Alexis…
"You have 10 new messages," the robotic voice filled the empty loft. "Press one…"
Rick pressed one quickly.
"Message one. Tuesday, September 11. Nine thirty a.m."
"Richard. I've been trying to reach you at that mobile phone of yours. Please call me as soon as you can."
BEEP
"Message two. Tuesday, September 11. Ten forty eight a.m."
"Richard!" his mother voice was tense and worried. "Richard, were are you?" Rick swore he could hear a sob coming from the machine. His mother had to be very worried about them. "I saw the towers…Richard please answer. I've trying to get out of Boston. They say they can attack us here too. But the airports are all shut down. Richard, please call."
BEEP
Rick was impatient. Two out of 10 messages heard and nothing of Alexis.
"Message three. Tuesday, September 11. Eleven twenty five a.m."
"Daddy! Daddy! Pick up!"
Rick's heart practically stopped. Alexis's voice filled the loft and suddenly he felt dizzy. She sounded close to panicking.
"Hey, calm down. Everything will be okay. Leave him a message," he heard a woman's voice say.
"Daddy. I'm…I'm okay. I'm in…I'm at a police station. Please pick me up, soon. Daddy…I got lost and I went to some police officers, like you taught me. They took me to a police station before the towers…Daddy, please pick me up soon."
BEEP
"Where?" he yelled at the machine. " What station?" He was the one panicking. He knew she was safe. At 11 the towers had already fell and she was already at the station. She was alive and safe. But there were dozens of police stations on Manhattan alone. It didn't matter. He will go to each and everyone to find his little girl.
"Message four. Tuesday, September 11. Eleven twenty eight a.m."
"Daddy, I'm at the 12th pre…pre…"
"Precinct," the woman finished.
"Precinct. I love you, Daddy."
Finally we're going somewhere with this story. Sorry again by the delay. I'm grateful for your reviews, alerts and favorites. I'm also honored that this story has been chosen for a community archive. It's the first of my stories to receive this honor. Keep the love coming, reviews inspire me. Not in a "I won't write until I see some reviews" type of thing. But they really get my inspiration going, specially knowing that people out there like my story enough to leave a comment, prediction o message. (:
Also, we learned some for info on Kate's college days. I might edit the first chapter to incorporate this, but it won't change the main story.
I'll try to update soon.
PS: OMG next week's Castle will be the death of me. I'll live only 47 seconds after it ends. Please be Monday already (the only thing I look forward on Mondays TBH)
