"Gun Hill Road"
Author: carmen_085
Disclaimer: I don't own any Third Watch characters. All original characters in this belong to me
Summary: In the years following 9/11 Bosco and Liz struggle with health issues and emotional trauma. But when Fred dies suddenly, Faith's children have no where to go. Can Bosco and Liz keep their own demons at bay and give Emily and Charlie a good life? (Sequel to "Last Exit to Brooklyn")
Chapter Six
Two Weeks Later
Emily sat on her bed staring at the empty boxes on the floor. The morning sunlight streamed through the blinds and cast long slatted rays across her pillow. Her favorite way to wake up. It meant she had slept in past six, it meant no school, it meant a day spent with her family. Family…she exhaled a ragged breath. What did that even mean anymore?
She wasn't complaining; she was so grateful that they had Bosco and Liz. Two wonderful people that loved her and Charlie and welcomed them into their home. Where would she be without them ? She shuddered to know. Still… a family is a mom and a dad…a brother and a sister. She'd had that once hadn't she ? It was beginning to feel more and more like it had all been a dream.
"Hey kiddo…those boxes aren't going to pack themselves…" Her eyes flicked to the doorway and her Uncle Stanley with his stupid smile. She forced a smile and a nod and he seemed satisfied to keep moving toward her parents' room in the rear. Rolling her eyes when he was out of sight she shook her head.
"Hey I saw that…" Bosco's lips turned up in a smirk as he stepped inside the door. A giggle escaped Emily's lips; he always made her feel better somehow. Throwing a glance over his shoulder he saw Stanley's black hair disappear around the corner.
'He's an Uppity Prick from Connecticut…fucking Stanley.' Bosco shook his head hearing Fred's words as if he had just said them. Still, he wasn't wrong. Stanley was uppity and he was definitely a prick. Emily moved to begin emptying her dresser drawers into the boxes as Bosco took a box toward Charlie's and did the same. The boy didn't want to come; cried about it all morning, so Bosco just said he would pack everything and let him sort through it when he was ready.
After Fred died Bosco learned all sorts of things about the Yokas household that were never his business before. He wasn't surprised that Faith and Fred lived paycheck to paycheck; and that making the rent each month was sometimes a monumental effort. He WAS surprised to learn that it wasn't the bank they were paying but Stanley…..Stanley who raised the rent every year….Stanley who enforced late fees….and Stanley who threatened to throw them out on their asses if they missed a payment. Faith was his sister for Christ's sake. But Fred…he didn't owe the man a single thing and hated him enough for both of them. When Faith was gone why did Fred remain beholden to her brother? When he said it out loud, Liz just shrugged; it was the only home the kids had ever known. It was where all their memories were. It was where their life was.
The kids came first. Fred was buried a week ago….next to Faith. Bosco had thoughts about that too, seeing as how their marriage was rather loveless at the end, but he kept those thoughts to himself. It made more sense for Emily and Charlie to have their parents in one place; doing anything else would have placed an unnecessary burden on them. The kids came first and what he thought or felt didn't matter at all. Marriages weren't perfect; surely neither of them planned for things to work out the way that they did.
Neither of the kids had a lot of stuff. That was something Bosco always respected about Faith and Fred; a few toys at Christmas, for birthdays or another special occasion. They just didn't have the space or the money. Occasionally a tantrum would flare up as with any kid, but overall Emily and Charlie were good kids who knew there was more to life than stuff. Bosco emptied Charlie's drawers into the box. He also had a kids book shelf with a globe and a night time star projector on top.
"Oh Charlie will definitely want that…he loves looking at the stars before he falls asleep." Bosco smiled at her before putting the projector safely in the box. Momentarily forgetting her own things she went to his bed to also pack away the stuffed animals and dragon pillow. "Mom bought him that pillow, he says he can still smell her on it." Bosco didn't expect that as he swallowed hard nodding. Emily didn't seem to notice his stricken appearance as she pulled a few more toys out from under the bed throwing them into the box. When Bosco gathered himself he looked at her somberly.
"You're a good sister, Em. You take good care of Charlie." She met his eyes before looking away, clearly uncomfortable with his praise where her brother was concerned. It was her job to take care of him, her daddy had said so. Bosco wasn't finished, though, as he studied her for a moment before turning back to unloading the book shelf. He had seen the look on her face and didn't want to make this anymore awkward than it already was. "If I was half as good to my brother growing up maybe he wouldn't have turned out like he did." Bosco looked down at his shoes for a moment before resuming the task at hand. Emily had met Mikey a few times and he was nice enough although she knew he had been in trouble before.
"I'm sure you did the best that you could…" Bosco stopped for a moment. God she was so much like Faith, more than she could ever know. Emily moved toward her and Charlie's shared closet pulling clothes off hangers not paying much attention as she threw them into the box.
"You know you're just like her…." Bosco didn't look at Emily as he shuffled the rest of Charlie's books off the shelf. He stopped and their eyes met briefly before she turned back staring motionless into the closet.
"How?" It was quiet and he was surprised that she asked. Her back turned to him, she absentmindedly ran her hands over the material in front of her. Taking a deep breath Bosco stuffed his hands in his pocket.
"Well for starters you worry about everyone else first….you always try to fix things, to make it better even when it can't be made better." A hum of acknowledgment was Bosco's only assurance that she was still listening. He was silent for a moment thinking of something really profound to say to make this seem like it had been a good thing to bring up in the first place. "I wish you had gotten more time with her, more time to know her as a person and not just your mom." Not really profound nor something that would make her feel better about anything. Great.
Emily was silent as she kept working pulling clothes off the hangers. Bosco tried so hard even if sometimes it didn't come out right. She knew what he meant. Her mom lived inside of her; in the little things that she did and in the big things too. Sighing she packed the last of her clothes away. "Thanks Bosco."
"How's it going here, guys?" Stanley appeared in the doorway taking them both off guard. Emily briefly acknowledged him before turning her attention back to the task at hand.
"Fine." The stupid smile on his face faded as his expression grew serious.
"Now remember, anything you leave behind will be boxed up and taken to Goodwill. The cleaning company will be coming in Friday." Emily's eyes remained on the floor as she nodded her head.
The kids come first.
Those words repeated in Bosco's mind. Because if not, he would have flown through the air and strangled that son of bitch where he stood. Fred was dead for two weeks….these kids had no parents, no home, and no idea what the hell was going to happen next. They didn't have much but what they had was theirs. Stanley wanted to rent the apartment as soon as possible to keep the side income flowing. He didn't care that this was their home with their things….their memories. He also had made no attempt to take them into his own home. For that matter he hadn't even addressed the fact that a friend was raising his sister's kids. At the funeral he offered Bosco a half hearted thank you; adding that his wife was hoping that things would work out this way. Bosco hated lawyers and their bullshit semantics. Just say my wife didn't want them, she's a bitch…I'm glad you're more of a man than me. Had he put it like that Bosco would've respected him more. But he didn't and now this.
"What about my Mom and Dad's things?" Stanley leaned against the doorframe sighing as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Well your Grandma Shirley said to send her your dad's things and your mom didn't have much left…" Bosco felt a twinge in his heart; only two years later and Faith was almost totally erased from the world. "I'm going to take her things to your Grandma Mona's storage locker out on the island." Emily nodded solemnly. "Unless there's something specific you want…". Something specific ? What if she wanted everything; they were her parents for fuck's sake. Bosco didn't miss the look that crossed Emily's face as he was quick to jump in.
"Yeah there are some things so if you could hold off on boxing it up until we take a look, Stan." The stupid grin was completely gone now.
"Yeah sure…whatever." He disappeared feeling the mood of the room shift decidedly against him.
When he was out of earshot Emily let a giggle escape her lips. "You and my daddy were more alike than you know." Bosco rolled his eyes as he shook his head.
"He deserves more than that." The smile faded from Emily's face as she shook her head.
"Thanks, Bosco, really…thanks for everything."
Coming to stand next to her he put his arm around her shoulders and she didn't pull away. Hugging her to his side he took the stack of clothes she was working on and began to fold. "Why don't you go take a look and see what you want. I'll finish up here."
Exhaling a deep breath Emily nodded. She didn't want to go back there but she wanted a few things and would be heartbroken if she didn't find them. It was all she had left.
Bosco loaded the last of the boxes into the Explorer slamming the door shut. Stanley had taken off a couple hours ago after his wife called. On his way out the door he asked Bosco if he could handle locking up and for the fifth time today he had to resist the urge to throttle the smug bastard right there. He could see why Fred hated the man so much.
Today would be the last time he would ever go inside Apartment 3B. It would be the last day this could ever be considered 'Faith's House'; and another piece of her would be gone forever. Had it just been him he might have wallowed a bit but it wasn't just him anymore. Forcing his face to relax he climbed the stairs one last time. Emily told him she would meet him down at the car but twenty minutes later she was no where to be found. He had loaded everything she wanted to take. She was worried where they would put it all, his house wasn't that big. Smiling he assured her that he had an attic and a basement; they would make room.
The door was wide open as Bosco stepped inside. Emily sat at the kitchen table staring down at the worn wood. "The thing I miss the most is sitting here having dinner as a family." She paused, Bosco stuffed his hands into the front pocket of his jeans. He always did that when he didn't know what else to do. "It didn't happen often with my mom working evenings but that's what made it even more special." Bosco remembered sitting at that same table, eating spaghetti and Emily just a little girl. He wanted to make a good impression on his new partner and her family; Fred had other ideas.
Bosco didn't say anything. There wasn't anything to say; those moments were nothing but memories now. Standing Emily pushed the chair in. "Do you have everything?" She stopped nodding slowly as she looked around, impossible to not feel like something was being left behind. Running her finger along the table, she walked past Bosco without another word, never looking back. Flicking the lights off, Bosco looked around once more before closing the door.
"You want to do what ?" Sully took another sip of cold coffee before walking over to the trash can. They were parked under the highway, a late spring shower soaking everything but them. Sully loved this time of year; everything smelled clean and new. Casting a glance at Bosco he sighed seeing the hopeful look on his face.
"Oh come on…Sully….you should have seen how she was looking at the table. They've lost so much already." He nodded not being able to argue with that. Davis sat back on the hood of the RMP contemplated the situation before he spoke.
"You sure what's his face doesn't want it?" Pushing himself up onto his own RMP Bosco shook his head a wry smirk coming to his lips.
"Stanley?" Snorting he looked toward the wet street not wanting anyone to see how much it bothered him. Emily and Charlie's own flesh and blood; more worried about making a buck than anything else. "He's donating all the furniture to Goodwill, wants to get the place on the market as soon as possible."
Sully hummed his understanding as Bosco's eyes momentarily flicked toward him before looking away again. "So it's a table and chairs and two twin beds ? Where you putting all this ?"
"I talked to Liz this morning, we're going to empty the guest bedroom out and put it all in the basement. I figure two twins and a table would fit."
Davis crossed his arms over his chest wanting to ask the obvious but not sure that he should. Exhaling loudly Sully got the point before he found the balls to say it himself, "So this is going to be permanent? The kids living with you?"
Bosco stilled for a moment. He thought about it, of course he thought about it. He thought about it every minute of everyday. Bosco wasn't their blood and he had no rights to them. "Well, Sully…none of their family seems to want them so I guess so." Bosco shook his head meeting his eyes. "In any case they should have a place that feels like home." Davis looked away as Sully nodded slowly.
"Sorry, Bosco." Regarding the older man for a moment Bosco shrugged.
"It's alright." They were all quiet for a moment chewing over the facts at hand. "Liz is back to work tomorrow and the kids are back in school. I was thinking of heading over around nine loading up and coming back to my place. I wanted to get everything set up before they get home."
"Alright…what the hell." A smile spread across Bosco's face as Sully finally relented. He could have and would have done it by himself, but this way would be much faster. Liz was going to dismantle the guest bedroom after he left to take the kids to school. They could do this, no sweat, before they had to leave for work at three. Emily and Charlie would be so surprised when they got home.
"Yeah, man, I'm in…..Whatever you need." Fist bumping Ty, Bosco nodding his thanks to both men.
"Thanks guys, shouldn't take long at all." Glancing at his watch Bosco slid off the hood of his RMP.
"I gotta run for now….talk to you guys tomorrow morning ." Sully's brow furrowed as he watched Bosco start the engine and slam the door.
"I didn't hear any calls…." Not offering the older man a reply Bosco peeled out of the spot headed downtown.
"Looks like we're up next, Sul." Sully watched the RMP disappear into traffic as he muttered.
"Crap."
On the morning of 9/11 six hundred and fifty eight employees reported to work at Cantor Fitzgerald's New York Office. Two thirds of their entire New York workforce. And not single one of them made it out alive.
Bosco sat solemnly in the new relocated mid-town offices of the firm. The lights buzzed as he stared at the framed photo on the wall. Six hundred and fifty eight faces. Most of them smiled, some of them just stared; not a single one had a clue of what an ordinary Tuesday morning would bring. Business people dressed in business attire headed past him out the door, it was almost five thirty. No one wore orange and khaki. Thank God.
Standing up he got closer to the photo; it nearly occupied the entire wall. A lot of people could have been the guy. The pictures weren't very large and so many people looked alike, especially when you wanted to find someone.
"Should have been six hundred and fifty nine." A man with a black hair, thick eyebrows and an otherwise ordinary expression appeared. He looked at the faces on the wall before extending his hand toward Bosco.
"David Johnson…nice to meet you."
"Maurice Boscorelli…everyone calls me Bosco." The man nodded hiking the laptop bag higher on his shoulder. They stared at each other for a moment not sure what to say next.
David gestured toward the doors. "There's a place I like to get coffee just across the street.." Bosco quickly nodded.
"Yeah…yeah that would be good."
Ten minutes later they were sitting across from one another in a small table near the back. Bosco stared out the window at the passing commuters headed for the subway. It had started to rain again as tiny droplets slid down the window. David Johnson sat across from him stirring his coffee. He knew what this was about; how could he not know? Two people who walked into that office on that day walked out; the rest left behind families with nothing but questions. And the last thing he had were answers. So he was ok with the silence.
Bosco took a sip of his coffee before looking down at the table. He was wasting this guy's time trying to find the nerve and the words for what he wanted. Johnson looked at Bosco for a moment. He saw the raw emotion on his face; in another life something like that would have made him uncomfortable. But after seeing raw emotion in the faces of six hundred and fifty eight husbands, wives, mothers, and children he felt nothing at all. Eyes wandering a bit he took in Bosco's slightly shaking left hand and the simple wedding band on it.
"Did your wife work for the company?" Bosco snapped out of it as he looked at the other man confused. Johnson pointed to the wedding band on his hand. "I know it's been two years…but most people still can't take them off."
Bosco shook his head suddenly putting it together. "Oh…No. No. My wife was there that day but she's a cop. She was looking for me." Johnson raised his eyebrows in surprise. The young cop in front of him was pretty torn up, hard to imagine that kind of emotion for a brother or sister. Bosco took a deep breath; this guy was a stranger but he was sure that this meeting was not anything new for him. "I called the Cantor 9/11 Relief Fund looking for someone who could help me find an employee from the company that died that day. They told me about you and that you were involved with a lot of the families."
Johnson licked his lips and nodded. It wasn't something he had wanted for himself not then and not now. Swimming in that ocean of grief day after day just trying to keep his head above water. But it didn't really matter what he wanted because as a survivor it was his duty. A small price to pay for being alive. "Yes I do know a lot of the families…."
Bosco cut him off before he could go any further, "I don't have a name."
Johnson paused clearly confused about where this was going. Bosco knew this guy's patience had to be running thin. He was doing nothing but talking in circles. Shaking his head he took a deep swig of coffee before clearing his throat. There was no good way to say any of this so he might as well just come out with it.
"I was there that morning. In the plaza right after the second plane hit and people had started jumping." He saw Johnson's lips draw into a thin line, a sense of knowing cross his features. "I saw man….up close…he jumped and he…." He stopped closing his eyes feeling that familiar lump in the back of his throat.
"I know…you don't have to say it. I know.." Johnson's voice was reassuring which was strange considering that Bosco should be the doing the reassuring. This was one of His co workers they were talking about here. Bosco stopped taking a deep breath before meeting the other man's gaze.
"I see him every night when I close my eyes." Johnson was silent waiting for him to continue. "My wife, she gets it…you know…so it was alright before, but now…" He licked his lips shaking his head. He had to look away, this part would definitely have him choked up if he wasn't careful. "Well, a very dear friend passed away a couple of years ago and now her husband is gone too; so her children….well….they're with me and I can't let This get in the way…" He didn't know what else to say, didn't know how else to say it. Neither of them spoke for a moment as the background clatter of the shop filled the void between them. Bosco took another large gulp of coffee not quite understanding his sudden need to consume the bitter liquid with such purpose. A wry smile came to his face. "I sound like a selfish bastard right now….I'm sorry for wasting your time." Bosco moved to reach for his wallet before Johnson held up a hand shaking his head.
"No. Please….it isn't selfish at all." Bosco stopped digging through his pockets as he deflated, feeling extremely exposed in front of a complete stranger. Johnson shook his head as he looked out the window. "Today is May 19, 2003, six hundred and fifteen days since the eleventh." He met Bosco's gaze briefly raising his eyebrows, "Six hundred and fifteen more days than I should have had." Closing his eyes he shook his head, the memories easily coming back to him.
It was always a struggle in the morning. Two young children, a wife, and a house in the suburbs. It was the American dream, right ? It was chaos most of the time and he usually didn't slide into the office until around nine. It was the best he could do. He would stay late ,honest, as late as he needed to get everything done. Everyday was the same test of his patience: two screaming kids, a short drive to the PATH train, and then the gridlocked morning commute under the Hudson into the city. Forget breakfast, coffee, or combing his hair down straight, He was a young father and this was purely survival.
Not today, though….oh no not today. David Johnson settled himself down at his desk at sharply eight am, coffee and bagel in hand. Not just any bagel either; cream cheese and lox, his absolute favorite. He left the house early, before the kids had woken up as he explained to his wife that he had an early morning meeting, which he did. Eight fifteen sharp he was expecting a client who was bringing by a group of tech guys to update Cantor's technology company E-Speed. Logging into his terminal his eyes flicked to the clock.
0815
The phone on his desk rang. It was the client calling to say they were running late. He was busy that day, meetings non stop. Biting his tongue he shook his head; it would be hypocritical for him to say anything. Normally it was he who was running into the office on a wing and prayer. Ever since the attack in '93 everyone needed to show ID before entering the building. His client had been there before and knew this, still he reminded him that the tech guys had better have their IDs ready.
0830
Still nobody. They were fifteen minutes late. He DID have other things to do today. Narrow slats of sunlight poured through the eastern facing windows. Rocking back in his chair he rolled his neck side to side. Maybe this was his problem; always rushing around from one thing to another. Maybe this was good, to slow it down. Taking a long sip on his coffee his eyes roved over the office. Most everyone was at their desks, the coffee pot sizzled across the hallway, someone had brought donuts. It smelled like toner….toner and fresh paper always….but today the smell of chocolate icing and powdered sugar permeated the air. Someone must have left the donuts on the Xerox machine, the heat of the never ending slapping of gears amplifying the sugary sweet smell. Normally he would be all too happy to help himself to a copy machine donut but not today…oh no, he had the king of all bagels today. It was going to be a good day.
0839
His phone rang. Security, the client was downstairs but someone forgot their ID. And…AND they had apparently went to the wrong tower first, wasting time. What the fuck. From one hundred and five floors up the commute to the ground took five minutes if he didn't have to wait too long for an elevator. More wasted time. Logging his terminal off he stood up, his eyes briefly roamed to the assistant sitting across from him. She was eight months pregnant and on the phone. Twirling her brown hair around her finger she sat cross legged under the desk despite the short blue summer dress she wore. On the screen in front of her she scrolled through cribs. How lazy was he? Sighing he reckoned he wasn't THAT lazy as he grabbed his wallet.
0840
The phone rang again. Now what? This time it was his wife. Christ. She wanted to cancel the newspaper delivery. The kids might run out into the street. The newspaper delivery ?! Was he going to get anything done today at all ? He was short with her, short and testy. It wasn't how they usually were. He didn't have time for this, though, and he told her they would talk about it when he got home. He hung up without saying I love you or good bye.
0841
Finally heading toward the elevators he turned back as someone called his name.
"Hey Dave…" It was the pretty assistant, glowing with that mother to be light. She smiled at him, now off the phone, tan legs still crossed under her swollen belly.
He looked back at her and smiled. Not because he was happy about the way things were going but because he just couldn't look at her and not smile.
"Remember….it's going to be a great day." She laughed. He laughed. And that was it. He disappeared into the lobby and jammed the arrow pointing down. Not knowing that he would be the last person to leave alive.
0846
The commute to the lobby took less than five minutes as he felt his spirits begin to lift. This could still be a good day. Rounding the corner toward the security booth he was just about to yell something out when he heard a huge boom. His first thought was a bomb…another bomb. He had been there in '93 and hadn't heard a thing being up that high, but today he was in the lobby. Everyone froze; their brains not able to catch up to the reality of the situation. Maybe it was the elevators. Yeah…a problem with the elevators. Turning back he heard a loud screeching, numbers flashed erratically. They were in free fall. And then came the fire. Fire exploded from the elevators and rolled towards him. It was terrifying but he couldn't move. He was paralyzed…hypnotized. People were getting incinerated. He didn't think about running, just of dying. He was going to die an he felt so sad in that moment. And then just as quickly as the fireball had erupted it sucked back into the elevator shaft and it was gone.
0920
David and his client left the building in a daze running through the financial center and coming out onto the west side highway. Weaving their way toward the marina he finally stopped and looked back at the building. At the gaping hole. A plane had hit the building….and then another one hit the other building. It was terrorism. It was war.
His eyes roamed toward his tower, where everyone he knew was trapped. He counted the floors down from the top once, twice, three times. He tried to understand it. He thought for a moment he did, and then he saw something falling end over end straight down. Debris. It was debris.
His client looked at him like he was nuts. It wasn't debris. It was people. His people. His friends and coworkers. The people he knew for fifteen years. They were jumping. He was watching his friends die and he didn't even know it. They came one or two something three, four, and five. He couldn't watch.
At the urging of the FDNY they began to move north. His client had an apartment in midtown, he could try to contact his wife there. They ran at first, feeling the primal urge to survive. When they became exhausted they jogged. After that they walked, always looking over their shoulder for what…nobody knew.
1029
Hopping a bus headed north they made it quicker than expected. TV flicked on he watched as his tower burned ominously. The south tower was gone, they felt the vibration and heard the screams almost a half hour ago. Phone pressed to his ear he listened to the never ending busy signal. His wife…..she was probably worried out of her mind. He prayed she left the house and was deep in Target or Walmart somewhere with no idea what was happening.
His building swayed and then a puff of black smoke before it began falling away from the horizon. The phone fell away from his ear. Floor after floor collapsed downward until there was nothing left but a trail of dust.
'Remember….it's going to be a great day.' She was gone. Everyone was gone. Falling to his knees he covered his face as he wept.
For a while he couldn't tell the story without losing it. Those days were long gone, though. He had told that story so many times to so many people it felt like he was talking about someone other than himself now. Bosco stared at him before looking away, suddenly realizing that his riveted expression was more rude than anything else.
"There were a lot of people working there that day and I didn't know most of them." Bosco nodded, he knew that this was a long shot. "Six hundred and sixty people got there before 0846 AM that day. And only two of us walked out. Only two of us have memories of our co workers from that morning." He was silent for a moment. "And most days I wish I didn't have those memories."
Bosco was silent. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. No…it wasn't a good idea. He was about to apologize and leave when Johnson's voice brought his racing mind to a halt. "Can I ask you something, Bosco ?"
He paused nodding hesitantly. "Of course."
Staring out the window the other man licked his lips before looking back at him. "Why do you want to know who he was?"
Bosco inhaled sharply. It was the unasked question. The million dollar question. Why. Why did he need to know? "Because I'm selfish. Because I want him to leave me alone. I don't want to see him anymore, I don't want to hear his scream. I thought if I knew who he was, that he was more than that….that moment. That I could somehow make sense of what I saw."
Johnson let out a wry laugh. "Yeah you would think that, right? But you know what? I knew Kristy, the assistant, I knew her as everything except that day. I left her that morning and she was fine, everyone was fine." He paused as a wave of emotion rolled over him. "But when I think about that day I think about her burnt….ripped apart….I even wonder if she jumped…."
Bosco knew this was a mistake. Standing up he threw a ten on the table and turned to leave. "I'm really sorry David, I shouldn't have called…..I…." He turned and left. He heard enough. He had made this guy dredge up a past no one would ever want to remember.
The warm spring rain hit his face as he jammed the door of the coffee shop open and headed back across the street toward his RMP. Swinging the door open he was about to get in and forget this ever happened when a voice stopped him.
"Bosco…wait…" Johnson stopped in front of him breathing hard from obviously chasing him across the street. Catching his breath tiny droplets of rain clung to his eyelashes as he blinked them away. "What did he look like ? The man you saw…" Bosco paused for a moment staring at him before shutting the door leaning against the car, the back of his uniform getting wet.
"He was white, brown hair. Average build, maybe six feet tall." He paused swallowing hard. "Khaki pants, orange polo…"
Johnson blinked staring down at the sidewalk.
Glancing at his watch David bit back a curse. The damn elevator was taking forever. Behind him one of the express elevators opened going up. A man stepped out looking harried and rushed. The guy's hair was a bit disheveled as he consumed his bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit straight out of the wrapper. A large iced coffee was in his other hand and his laptop was slung across his back. The corner of David's lip turned up in a smirk. On any other day, that was him.
They made brief eye contact. David offered the poor bastard a knowing glance. Two young men just trying to survive fatherhood. The Sky Lobby was on 78, a hub of transport for the tower. The local elevator came and the man got on slurping on his coffee. Ice cubes in coffee…he was still trying to get over that one. '101 please.' At the same time the express down to the lobby arrived and he got on. The doors shut on both and the two men went in opposite directions, neither knowing they were perched on the precipice of history. One destined to live….the other destined to die.
101 please. He remembered that always. But there was something else….something he didn't remember until just now.
The man was wearing orange and khaki.
Rain was running down both of their faces as they stared at each other dumbfounded. There was a chance it wasn't him….six hundred odd chances in fact. But Bosco had a feeling….a feeling deep in his gut.
"You know you should try to meet with Howard….he's the CEO. He's been really committed to putting the company back together. He knew everyone, personally. He's met with all their families. The only reason Cantor is still around is because of him ." Bosco was silent for a moment, thinking that over. "And I don't think it's selfish. We all have to find a way to survive…to get on with what we saw or what we did." His eyes averted to the ground. The guilt of living written all over his face. "I talked to a man last year….his wife worked for Marsh and McLennon, just below us…they took the direct hit. He didn't hear from her that day, she never called. He nearly killed himself thinking about her burning alive, suffering….he could imagine nothing worse." He paused licking his lips. "They found her a couple blocks away, outside of the main debris field. He knew what it meant….and he found peace knowing that she hadn't suffered….that her last act was one of her own will."
He had never thought about it like that. Most every choice that existed on the eleventh had been made by a group of men who were pure evil, leaving the majority of people to pick between bad and worse. There was, however , something calming in the reality that this man chose his own fate. He chose to die on his own terms. Nodding slowly, Bosco rolled that over in his mind.
"Is this the last of it ?" Sully dropped the two kitchen chairs down next to the table. Bosco looked back at him from where he was assembling Charlie's bed.
"Yeah that's it." Ty was making quick work of Emily's bed as he hefted the box spring and mattress onto the frame. Liz looked around the room, it was cramped but it wasn't that bad. They would need to share a dresser for a while and keep some of their clothes in the totes down in the basement but otherwise everything fit. Two twin beds, a small kitchen table between the two with a set of chairs and Charlie's book shelf against the wall. Bosco had wanted to take more but he knew that it would never fit.
Sully lifted Charlie's mattress onto the bed as they all looked around. Not bad for a couple hours work. "Thanks guys…we couldn't have done it without you."
Sully laughed that wry, knowing laugh of his before nodding at Bosco, "Oh I know you would have done it without us. Nothing stops you when you get an idea in that hard head of yours." Bosco bit back his usual retort, thinking of the other hard headed idea he was currently pursuing. Liz spared him a quick glance and a smile before turning her attention back to Sully and Ty.
"You're right…it just would have taken him all day." They laughed as she shook her head. "Alright….now everybody out." Bosco picked up his tools needing to take the U-haul back anyway. Liz had been insistent that she was going to decorate the room and make it look like home. They had all offered to help but she said it was something she wanted to do for Emily and Charlie herself. Bosco knew whatever she did would be great, she made this house a home after all.
Bosco brought the RMP to a stop outside his house a little after four pm. It wasn't ideal but it was the best he could do to get them back and forth to school. There were closer schools in Pelham but he didn't want to uproot their entire world for the sake of convenience. They would figure this out; there was only a few weeks left in the school year anyway. Liz got out opening the back door for them as she kissed Charlie on the head and gave Emily a quick hug.
"I have dinner for you in the fridge and don't let the two idiots stay outside all evening like they want." Emily smiled and nodded as she put her arm around Charlie.
"We'll be fine. I promise. I'll call you if anything happens." Bosco rolled the window down as he chimed in,
"We know you can handle it." Liz got back into the car really wishing that she could go inside and see their faces. She was so excited for them she was about to burst.
"I LOVE surprises! Can't we go in…just for a second?"
Bosco shook his head, "Not unless you want Sully to shoot you." They had five calls stacked on them already, and Sully seemed more than perturbed on the radio. Waving good bye, Bosco pointed the RMP back toward the 55.
Emily watched them go before pulling the key Bosco gave her from her pocket. Callie and Atlas were immediately at the door tails wagging ready to push Charlie over and smother him with kisses. Laughing, the boy ran toward the guest bedroom delighted as both dogs chased him barking excitedly.
"EMILY !" Her heart stopped for a second as she flew around the corner. Dropping her bag onto the floor she stood there staring completely speechless. Her eyes roved over the small space completely in awe.
Her bed….her white bed from home was against the wall, the tie dye bedspread she was so sad to leave smoothed out perfectly. A mountain of pillows against the headboard. Her posters were up, hung just like she had them at home. The copy of Little Women she had been reading was on the night stand, bookmark where she left it.
Charlie dove head first onto his own bed shoving his face into the dragon pillow. "It still smells like mama!" He excitedly exclaimed as he rolled around on the bed, making a mess of the pillows and stuffed animals. Against the wall his bookshelf was complete with every title lined up neatly. The star projector was plugged in and his globe sat perfectly next to it.
Stepping over the threshold she gasped, her eyes settled on the middle of the room. Right between the beds under the window was the table….their table….the small kitchen table that they had so many meals on as a family. Only two chairs would fit but that was fine because it was all they needed. Someone had put a little desk lamp in the middle and a caddy complete with pencils, pens, paperclips, crayons, and stapler. Coming closer her eyes landed on a small framed photo sitting under the light. It was her family at the beach a couple of years ago. All smiling in the sand; her mom's long hair blew in the wind, Charlie sat on her dad's shoulders. Tears came to Emilys eyes as she sat down on the bed….Her bed….Looking around a real, genuine smile came to her face. It was all so perfect.
TBC…Obviously
The man Bosco meets with from Cantor Fitzgerald is a real person whose name I changed as this is purely a work of fiction. I kept some similarities with his true to life story.
If anyone is interested, a lot of my ongoing 9/11 story telling and inspiration for this piece comes from 9/11 "One Day in American" on Hulu, best 9/11 related series ever made. Check it out if you are interested.
As always thanks for reading and please review.