Taylor let her mind wander. She was exhausted yet she couldn't sleep. She kept thinking back to that morning.

September 11

Taylor sat up on her bunk. She had slept well and could smell Walsh's famous breakfast cooking coming up from the kitchen.

"That smells good." She thought as she got up and made her bunk up

She walked into the bathroom and brushed her teeth and hair. It was 8 o'clock. An hour left in the shift. Lombardo was still snoring away in his bunk. She laughed. She packed up her duffle bag and pulled on her polo shirt. The sun was shining in through the window next to her bunk.

"It looks beautiful out there." She thought to herself. "Maybe I'll do some shopping or something today."

Taylor closed her locker door and grabbed her bag to head downstairs. Jimmy was reading the paper, DK had the TV on, and Lieutenant Johnson walked into the kitchen to get some coffee.

"That smells good Billy." Lt. Johnson said

"You want me to make you up a plate?" Walsh asked

"Sure." Lt. Johnson smiled

"Today is going to be a beautiful day to get out and enjoy the city. Maybe play a round of golf, but don't expect this heat wave to last too long." The weatherman on the news said

"It's gorgeous out there." Jimmy said

"I think I might go play a round of golf." Lt. Johnson remarked

"I might join you." Jimmy added

"The more the merrier." Lt. Johnson laughed

"Is breakfast ready yet?" DK asked

"If you keep rushing me it won't be." Walsh commented

"Morning guys." Taylor said

"Good morning bright eyes." Walsh teased

"You know, Lombardo's still snoring away." Taylor laughed

"How can you sleep on a day this great?" DK asked

"His loss." Walsh said as he started to fill the bowls with the breakfast.

"I'll get that Billy." Taylor said taking the plate of pancakes to the table

"No wonder I gained 5 pounds this month." DK said looking at the spread.

They sat around the table and started to eat breakfast. The guys were slowly starting to trickle in for the next shift.

Tommy Doyle sat down with them.

"Why do I have to be on B-shift? You guys have good cooking all the time." He laughed

"Transfer and join us." Walsh said

"That would make you a hero." Jimmy laughed

"It's a perfect day out there." Tommy said

"It looks like it." Lt. Johnson said

"And I'm gonna be stuck here working." Tommy complained

"Luck of the draw." Taylor said as she put some eggs on her plate

"Yeah luck my ass!" Tommy laughed

They slowly ate their breakfast and cleaned up the kitchen. It was a little after 8:40. They heard a plane fly overhead

"That sounded low." Jimmy said

"Yeah, that's odd." Tommy replied

Jimmy was tying his shoes when the alarm went off.

"Squad 55, Ladder 100 respond to Box 8087 1 World Trade Center." The alarm called out.

The guys all jumped. Both shifts piled aboard the Squad. Taylor, Jimmy, and Lombardo caught the tailboard of the Squad as it pulled out of the bay and headed downtown.

Taylor sat up. It was more than she wanted to remember. She gave into the fact that she wasn't going to get any sleep. Finally, she grabbed some things from her locker and headed off to the shower.