And The Towers Fell Down
By Thomas Mc


Note: I have always felt like the end of this story was missing something. This new chapter, hopefully, will fill in that little something that I felt it needed.


Chapter 12 : The Aftermath

Chris glanced around at the organized chaos of the hospital waiting room. After three days and nights spent trapped under the rubble of the World Trade Center Towers, the crowded waiting room seemed downright spacious. The influx of injured from the collapsed towers had slacked off significantly but the Saint Vincent Hospital waiting room was still seriously overcrowded. Chris quickly turned his attention from the surrounding chaos as the group approached Elliot and his satellite phone. Being the only working phone in the area meant that it was in high demand and there were several other people, including those that had been trapped with Chris and his children, waiting for their turn to call out and let their loved ones know that they were alive.

The others of his group insisted that Chris go first on the satellite phone. Chris dialed his mother's number.

"Hello Mom, it's me Chris." . . .

"Mom? . . . Mom . . . Mom! . . . I'm fine, Mom, the kids are fine." . . .

"Yes, Mom, Sharon and the kids are right here with me." . . .

He turned to the rest of his family. "She wants to talk to all of you."

He handed the phone to his wife who tearfully spoke to her mother-in-law. "Gloria, it's a miracle. They were trapped under the rubble but some people found and rescued them." . . .

"They're fine. Larry got a broken arm but other than that it's just a few bruises and scrapes." She glanced over at her son. "Larry wants to say hi." She held the phone out to Lawrence, her eldest. "You're next."

Lawrence took the phone.

"Hello Grandma, I'm doing fine." . . .

"Uh huh, I broke my arm when the building collapsed but dad fixed it. The doctor said that Dad did a perfect job of setting the bone." . . .

"Yes I am. He was great, you would have been so proud of him, Grandma. Dad took control and helped us all survive until they rescued us." . . .

"OK." He handed the phone to his sister. "Here, Linda."

Linda took the phone.

"Hi, Grandma." . . .

"It was really crazy. The day after the building fell a boy my age got trapped near where we were and dug his way to us and early this morning that boy's father dug all the way down to us and got us all out." . . .

"All I got was a little bit skinned up and some bruises but I'm just fine. Larry was hurt worse than me." . . .

"OK, Grandma. Love you." . . .

She handed the phone back to her father.

"Yes, Mom." . . .

"Like they told you, we got trapped in the lower garage level when the buildings collapsed. It was very scary for a while but some new friends found us and dug us out." . . .

"I got a couple of deep cuts but they weren't that serious. Larry's broken arm is the worst injury we got and the doctor said that it is going to heal just fine." . . .

"I don't know. It's nearly impossible to get out of Manhattan right now but the friends who rescued us are putting us up 'til the crisis is over. There is no phone service here so I'm using someone's satellite phone to call you and there are many others waiting to call their relatives so we can't talk long. I just wanted you to know that we are all OK." . . .

"Love you too Mom. I'll try to call you again in a day or two. Bye."

Chris handed the phone back to Elliot, who handed it to Phillip, the next person in line.

"I have to go check on Jennifer." Catherine told them.

Linda jumped in. "Can I go up and see her too?"

Chris responded. "If it's alright with you, I would very much like to meet her as well. We all heard that she had been injured while helping to dig us out."

Catherine paused a moment then nodded. "I suppose it will be OK."

While the rest of the group took their turns on the satellite phone Catherine went up to see her daughter. Chris and his family went up with her. After a short discussion with the nurse that was running the recovery ward, they all went over to the bedside of a little girl that was same age as Linda. She looked so small and helpless with all the monitoring equipment and the IV tube connected to her. Catherine gently reached out and caressed the child's forehead.

She opened her eyes. "Mother?"

"I'm here baby. I just wanted to check in on you before I took our guests to the house." Catherine smiled at her daughter. "I'll be right back as soon as I get them settled."

"What about Jake and his friend?" She asked. Catherine drew Chris and his family to her daughter's bedside and introduced them to her. Jennifer looked at Linda. "Your Jake's new friend?" Linda nodded her head. Jennifer half smiled at her. "Glad to meet you." Then she looked up at her mother. "Jake's Below waiting for you."

"I know dear, so is your father. I'll be back soon."

Catherine turned towards Chris and Sharon then they all noticed that Linda and Jennifer were both staring intently at each other. After a couple of seconds both girls shrugged and smiled at each other. Then they both giggled.

Jennifer's giggle turned into a cough and a groan as her face screwed up in a momentary look of pain. "Hurts to laugh." Then Jennifer's smile returned a bit tentatively. "See you later." She remarked to Linda.

"Hope so." Linda touched Jennifer's forearm. "You take care of yourself and get better. Jacob really worries about you." Jennifer smiled back as Linda gave Jennifer's forearm a quick gentle squeeze then turned towards the rest.

Jennifer shifted her eyes to Catherine. "Bye mother, see you later."

"I'll be back soon honey." Catherine then indicated the door. "Let's head home." She led them back to the elevator.

As they were riding down in the elevator Sharon asked Linda. "What was that all about between you and Jennifer?"

Linda giggled again. "Jennifer and I were teasing Jacob."

Sharon and Chris looked at Linda puzzled as Sharon asked. "Teasing Jacob?"

"We were both sending silly feelings at him at the same time." Linda replied with a big smile

"What?" Sharon asked more puzzled. She looked up and saw comprehension dawning on Chris and Catherine's faces. Catherine also looked somewhat surprised by this revelation. She noticed that even Larry nodded his head in understanding. "Chris what does she mean." Sharon asked, with a puzzled frown.

Chris looked at his wife a bit sheepishly. In all the excitement he hadn't told her about the link. He glanced down at his daughter then back at his wife. "You remember how I told you that Linda and Jacob bonded while we were together in the collapsed garage?" Sharon nodded uncertainly. "That was more than just a figure of speech. Linda and Jacob have somehow become linked mentally. They can feel each other's emotions." He glanced momentarily at Catherine. "I don't really understand it. I just know that it's real." He shrugged looking helplessly at Catherine.

Catherine jumped in. "Jacob, like his father and his brother, can sense the emotions of those near him." She looked down at Linda. "You can feel him even now?" Linda nodded back. Catherine raised her eyebrows a bit then looked up at Linda's parents. "Normally they can only sense those that are in the same room with them though they can sense particularly strong emotions from a little bit further away. That's how Jacob found those trapped in the garage. Vincent and I have a permanent link or bond between us. He can feel my emotions and I can feel his at any time no matter how far apart we are. Vincent also has links of varying strengths with all five of our natural children." She paused. "We don't really know what causes this bond. It just is." She glanced down at Linda again and gently touched her cheek. "Apparently such a link has formed between Linda and Jacob."

Sharon looked down at her daughter, her eyes wide in surprise and concern. "You, mean he always knows what she's thinking?"

"No Mom." Linda spoke up. "We only know what the other is feeling." She looked up into her mother's worried eyes. "And Jacob taught me how to block it when I want to. And most of the time I hardly notice what he's feeling."

Catherine smiled. "Most of the time Vincent and I perceive the other's emotions as a barely perceptible background noise, like a radio turned down 'til you can barely hear it. It's there but you are hardly aware of it, unless it goes away entirely or is turned up much louder."

"Yea, most of the time, I don't even notice it. Unless I start thinking about him or he is thinking about me, like right now." Linda added.

"He's thinking about you now?" Catherine asked.

She nodded. "Uh huh, he's kinda . . . anxious. I think he wants to know about what happened with Jennifer and me."

The Elevator door opened. They went over and joined the rest of their group. Five minutes later the last of their group had all had their chance at the phone and they left the crowded chaotic waiting area. They went down into the tunnels where they were met by Vincent and Jacob.

"You and Jen are mean." Jacob accused as soon as they met.

"Well that's what you get for listening in on us." Linda shot back.

"I just wanted to be sure that Jen was OK with you." He replied a bit plaintively.

"We got along fine. We didn't talk much but I think she's nice." Linda responded as she punched him playfully in the undamaged shoulder. "You worry too much."

The adults observed this little exchange with amusement. Sharon was amazed by it.

Vincent led them all down to the main home tunnels. Along the way they talked more about the nature of the link between Linda and Jacob. Sharon was still a little unsure how she felt about it. They stopped at the community library Below for a while to let everyone know how Jennifer was doing. Then those of the group of survivors that lived in the Manhattan area were escorted to the tunnel accesses closest to their homes by members of the tunnel community. They were each given instructions on how to contact their new friends in the tunnel community.

A short time later Chris, his family and about half of the survivors, who could not easily get back to their homes, were left milling around in the subterranean library wondering what they should do. Vincent and Catherine invited them to go back to their home where they were welcome to stay until things had settled down enough for them to get back to their own homes. Chris and Sharon were also invited to spend the rest of the day with them. Catherine headed back to the hospital while Vincent and Jacob led the rest to their home.

After traveling a complicated path through various types of tunnels, the group came to a narrow set of dimly lit walled-in stairs that led upward. They passed two apparent landings then came to stop on the third landing. Vincent reached out and pushed causing a large rectangular section of the wall to swing outward letting in brighter light.

As they stepped through the opening they found themselves standing in a large understatedly elegant parlor. The section of wall swung closed and Chris looked back to see an impressively wood paneled wall and a large entertainment center but there was no sign of the doorway that they had just passed through.

Vincent faced the group and spoke. "Welcome to our home. You are all welcome to stay here until arrangements can be made to get you back to your own homes."

Jacob grabbed Linda's hand. "Come on." Then he led Linda and Larry through the adjacent open dining room and into the kitchen to grab some snacks.

Chris, Sharon and the rest of the new guests gazed around in undisguised admiration. Toward the front of the place was a beautifully carved front door flanked by two lovely narrow stained glass windows. To the right of the doorway stood a large stone fireplace. The rear of the parlor was dominated by a beautiful wood and iron spiral staircase. The room was furnished in fine antique Stickly furniture. Jacob, Linda and Larry came back out of the kitchen carrying hands full of snacks and Jacob led them up the spiral stairs.

A few seconds later a younger eight year old version of Jacob and Vincent came pelting down the stairs and paused staring at the room full of strangers who were all staring in surprise back at him. Vincent went over to the staircase and picked up the stunned leonine child. He gave the child a kiss on the cheek then faced the group.

"Charles, these people are all new friends of ours." Vincent shifted the child slightly. "Let me introduce all of you to our youngest son, Charles." Everyone gathered around to get a better look at the youngest leonine child and greet him. They were all fascinated by him. Several of them reached out to touch him.

At this point a pair of five year old girls came down the stairs accompanied by a very pretty teenage girl. Vincent glanced up and beckoned for them to come down and join them. "This is our eldest daughter Naomi and our youngest twin daughters, Brigit and Nancy. Girls, Say 'hello' to some new friends."

A few shy greetings were exchanged and Sharon again commented on what a lovely family Vincent had and how very happy she was for him.

After a few minutes Vincent set Charles down and gave him a gentle nudge up the stairs. "You children go on up and join your brother and his new friends."

Shortly after the children had disappeared up the stairs Joe and Sammy came down the stairs to see who had come in. They were both surprised at all of the strangers that stood in the parlor. Vincent introduced Joe and Sammy to the rest of the group. They were all very surprised to learn that the District Attorney of New York was in the know about Vincent, his family and the tunnels. Until then it had not really registered with most of them that Catherine was an ADA and the possible ramifications of that fact. A half hour later Diana and Dennis arrived by way of the hidden basement doorway and were also introduced to the group.

By now it was lunch time and Vincent fixed sandwiches and drinks for everyone. They settled down and spent the rest of the afternoon exchanging stories about their various experiences over the last four days.

That evening around dinner time, Catherine returned to the Brownstone with Jenny and Elliot in tow. Again the new guests were surprised that someone like Elliot Burch was familiar with Vincent and his family. Then Elliot commented that Vincent had stolen Catherine from him. That led to the story of Elliot's short lived attempt to romance Catherine and how Vincent had unintentionally introduced Elliot to his wife, fashion model Victoria Hansen. The new friends were also surprised to learn that the head of the New York office of the FBI knew about Vincent's family as wellas being married to Jenny.

Late that evening Elliot, Jenny, Dennis and Diana left the brownstone for their own homes. Vincent led Chris and Sharon back down to the chamber that Father had prepared for them. Linda stayed above and slept in Jennifer's room while Larry shared Charles and Jacob's room. Though a bit crowded, room was found for everyone that was going to be spending the night in the brownstone.

~ x x x x x ~

Over the next few weeks things slowly got back to some approximation of normal as work began on clearing the rubble at the site of 'Ground Zero'. Chris and Sharon actually enjoyed the time they spent together in their subterranean guest chamber and were a little sad to leave it behind when they were finally able to get back to their own home. The guests of Catherine and Vincent were also soon able to make their way home with many bittersweet goodbyes and some very close new friendships.

Some rather unusual stories from a few of the people that had been rescued from the buried subway car began to circulate leading to the rise of a few new urban legends. Chris and those survivors from his office were the only ones left from that company and, like so many other survivors from the towers, were soon having to find other employment while trying to piece their shattered lives back together.

Chris and Sharon, with the help of Catherine did everything they could to help the family of their deceased friend, George. With their help, George's widow and children eventually moved to Virginia where she had other family. Chris and Phillip decided to start their own investment company. Their first two official customers were Catherine Chandler and The Wells-Chandler Foundation.

Continued in Part 13


'Beauty and the Beast' and its characters are owned by Witt-Thomas Productions and Republic Pictures. No infringement on copyrights is intended. This story is presented merely for the enjoyment of fans. Original concepts and story elements may be used by other authors as long as appropriate credit is given.