Tony opened his eyes. He was still lying on the floor.

The first thing Tony thought was how beautiful she is, then all his memories of her came back like she had never left. She crouched, her hand beckoning him to come to her, to take him into her warm, soft loving arms but he couldn't move-shouldn't move. She was dead. She wasn't really there. Something was wrong. His throat no longer ached and burned, he could now breathe with no pain or pressure but with ease and his sight was sharp and not blurry. Where did the smoke go? He could distinctly see the gold flecks in his mother's green eyes that he had admired and looked for whenever he sought courage and strength-whenever he was scared. When he was little and Tim was still a baby and cried for his bottle, he would listen as his mother sang his little brother to sleep with her soothing voice-the one he missed so much.

But, she had died, fell in the kitchen for no apparent reason, the doctor had said. Maybe a ruptured something? Whatever that meant. Stupid doctor She was gone within minutes and the world had still turned, they had still gone to school the next day then to work the day after that but she was gone! Didn't anyone notice? Tim did. Not their stepfather. The man who sold them bread at the bakery on the corner noticed. He had rubbed Tony's shoulder for a brief moment that Tony would never forget because he saw the tears in the man's eyes and Tony knew the gesture was heartfelt. The baker had cried more than his stepfather-the man who had been married to his mother.

"Oh baby," Tony watched her mouth the words and he knew, she wasn't actually beckoning him but giving him that same courage she had always done in the past when she knew he needed it-was desperate for it.

But, wouldn't she want them to be together-because that was how it was and always should be? Didn't she love them?

"Ma?"

"Anthony, my little man, be strong for me. You will live a long, good life for me. Now, get up dammit!"

Uh, oh, Ma swearin'-she meant business.

"But, Ma? Where's Tim?"

/

Tim's face appeared like an apparition through the think smoke and Tony's throat was back to hurting like a he had just swallowed swords like the magician Houdini liked to do.

"Tony! Don't sleep!" Tim's little hand felt like nails sinking into his flesh as he frantically shook his shoulder. "Mom wants you to get up! She told me she'd give you a whoopin' if you didn't! She said people are acccounting you!"
Tony coughed, "Counting on me, is what you mean, you little bonehead." Tony coughed and pushed Tim's hand away. "You're not here, you're with mom! Leave me alone! You went to be with her!" Tony coughed and remained lying on the floor.
"Tony its me! Your brudder!" yelled Tim then coughed.

Tony rubbed his eyes and noticed Tim was on his hands and knees. Tim talked through a handkerchief that was tied around his neck and fixed over his lower face.

"Wait, Tim? You're okay?" Tony pulled on Tim's shirt sleeve to bring him closer. Tim nodded. "Tim!" Tony wrapped his arms around his brother and they fell back to the floor and both belly laughed. Tim lay across Tony trying to get back up.

Tim pointed towards the end of the hall, "I helped people out that door that's unlocked. I finally found you! Now I gotta help you!"

"Tim? But how..."

"Come on and stop being a grouser. Follow me but you have to crawl! Mom told me." Tim crawled past him then hesitated as he watched Tony struggle to his hands and knees. "Hurry!"

Tony pulled on his shirt so the collar at least was in front of his face. He tried to sink his chin deeper so he could breathe through the shirt fabric as he followed his little brother through the cloud of smoke.

"I'll buy you some Necco wafers, Timmy if you can get us out of here!"

Tony had to chuckle when he saw Tim's knees pick up speed, sliding across the floor. What my brother would do for candy

/

"Gibbs, sir! Gibbs! Sir Gibbs!" Abby ran through the people shopping the fish market on the docks. Gibbs wasn't at his usual station and she wondered if he wasn't working today. "Please don't be fired Gibbs or be sick Gibbs or not be here Gibbs, sir," she chanted to herself as she searched through the crowd. She elbowed people and shoved so they'd make room for her. She didn't care when they yelled back in protest. When a large, hairy man with big army boots wouldn't move Abby kicked him in the shin then quickly ran away. "Oh, get out of my way you meanie!" She had seen the worry in Miss Jenny's truthful eyes and she knew she was scared to death for Tony and Tim. If the factory was on fire and Tony and Tim were stuck in that building-well, that problem would make the Butch problem seem like a fly stuck in molasses compared to a fly stuck in a pile of horse manure. Abby stopped and stomped her foot as she looked towards the cloudy sky, "Ahhh, applesause. Gibbs! Where! Are! You!"

Two strong hands grasped her upper arms and she looked over her shoulder. Gibbs was looking down at her with his kind, patient eyes and she could feel the concern in his firm hold. "Oh, Gibbs! We may be in bit of trouble."

"The fire?"

She nodded.

"Tim and Tony?"
She nodded, again.

"Come on, honey." He grasped her hand and they took off toward the factory.

/

Jenny did not get too close to the 'bucket brigade' as they worked and pumped water onto the burning factory. Ladders were now being erected to reach windows. Huge ashes floated from the sky and some landed on the horses causing them to whinny. Jenny held onto Jimmy and Ellie's hands with a iron grip. Debris from the building fell onto the street and people yelled as they ran to avoid it. Jenny darted up to anyone who was in her vicinity, trying to get information on Tony and Tim. "Have you seen two little boys..."
"Look out lady!"
"One little boy is blonde, named Tim..."
"Get out of my way! What are you crazy?"

Jenny heard a girl scream and looked up in time to see her jump from a window. She pulled Jimmy and Ellie to her skirt then turned away so not to see her land. This is horrible She was relieved to notice Ellie and Jimmy hadn't seen the girl jump to her death.

"Jenny, that's Tony's friend, Madeline! Let's ask if she's seen'em!" yelled Jimmy

"Where?" Jenny searched the crowd and noticed Jimmy was pointing towards a little girl with black hair. A lump developed in her throat and she wondered how many children would die today.
"There! Everyone getting out of the building is going over there!" Ellie pointed towards the corner of the building where people that had escaped sat on the curb, doubled over as they violently coughed and gagged. People brought them blankets and water to drink.

"Excuse me, are you Madeline?" Jenny tugged on the soot covered dress of the girl named Madeline. Jenny could make out freckles under the ashe that covered her cheeks. The girl's red-rimmed eyes were full of tears.

"Yes, mam." Jenny waited as the girl bent over and succumbed to a coughing fit.

"Let me get you some water," said Jenny.

"No, no I'm okay." She was dazed with a sort of defeated look and Jenny thought this girl would never be all right. She wanted to hug her. The frown on the little girls face looked like it was etched in for life.

"Do you know Tony or..." asked Jenny.
"Tim saved me! He showed me an unlocked door. If it weren't for him..." said Madeline, her face taking on a promising, lively color.
A man beside Madeline piped in, "His brother showed me that door too. Those boys are heroes!"
"Did they get out?" Jenny asked, a smile growing on her face as hope started to seep in.

"No. Not that I know of." A woman had joined the small group. "Tony opened the door but he said he had to look for his brother. I grabbed for his arm but he ran off too quick."

Jenny felt her shoulders slump as she walked away from the small group. She took a deep breath then continued to search the crowd.