Hi there.

Prompt: September 11th.

This is for the men, women, and children who lost their lives, the emergency personnel who sacrificed, and the family members who are still affected to this day. We remember them and keep them in our thoughts and prayers. Never forget.

Enjoy.

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"Thirteen years." Castle stood at the window in his office, staring towards the direction of where the towers once stood. He couldn't help but remember his friend that he lost all those years ago.

Kate walked up behind him, ducked under his arm, and hugged him from the side. "I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in the academy when it happened. I couldn't really do anything. But I watched my people run into those buildings, and some never come out."

Castle breathed out slowly and squeezed Kate tighter. "It's been 13 years since we lost John. I still think about him, what a great friend he was to me."

She kissed his shoulder. "Did you get to talk to him before?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I had called him the night before. We were going to play poker that weekend. Then he told me he had to go because he had to be at work earlier the next morning." He let out another long,

slow breath.

Kate rubbed Rick's back, still holding into his side. "It's such an awful thing."

"I know." He looked down at her, offering her a sad grin.

"I feel so terrible that I was so useless. We were supposed to have training that day; learning how to use handcuffs of all things. But my instructors came in and told us what was happening. My whole mindset changed." She shook her head, trying to dispel the images.

He faced her, then. "Honestly, Kate, I'm glad you weren't active yet. Because you would have been the first person there, trying to help and not even thinking about yourself. You would have been one that didn't make it out."

"I guess I was in the right place in my life." She nodded and looked at the ground.

"Makes me feel lucky."

Kate looked back up at him. "Yeah?"

"We're here, we're alive, and we're together." He brought her back to his chest again, breathing in her scent, so grateful that they were both here.

She smiled into him, thankful that she had been so lucky. "I agree."

They both turned to look out the window to see the memorial come to life, remembering those that lost their lives thirteen years prior. A day no one will ever forget.

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Please review.

xoxo