Chapter Three

The day after

Nine pm, 9-11-2001, Somewhere in the rubble of the North Tower..............................

Tyler coughed as he came to once again. He forced his eyes open and looked around, it was dark, smoke and dust were still in the air. He coughed again sending spasms of pain throughout his body. Memories started creeping into his head, his dad's office, Michael's voice, the stairs. The memories after that were hazy, he slighted remembered the loud bang and the force that sent him into the wall. Then waking up and seeing, Brian!

"Brian!" Tyler called though to him it didn't seem to much more then a whisper, his chest felt like it was on fire and like he was was under a slab of concrete, "Brian!"

"Sh, its alright Tyler I'm over here, don't yell though alright, I'm afraid any movement or sound and this beam I'm under is going to fall right on top of me," Brian's voice seemed to come from behind him which confused Tyler. Wasn't he in front of him when the tower collapsed?

"Are you alright?" Tyler asked wheezing as he struggled to take in another breath.

"I think so, but I'm stuck, I can't move. What about you, how are you doing?" Brian asked, he sounded okay except for the coughing.

Tyler winced but didn't reply right away. To be honest with himself, he wasn't sure how he was, he knew something was wrong, he couldn't feel his left leg. He reached down with his free right hand and grimaced when he felt the hard metal beam that was digging into his leg, he mentally told himself he was glad that it was numb. At least he hoped it was just numb. He continued up his body. He was relived to see that there was nothing on his chest which was a very good thing, it was hard enough to breath without something making it worse. His relief was short lived however when he continued to his left side, his left arm was pinned under some large heavy panel, making it impossible for him to move. Not that he would want to, the pain in his chest was enough to make him want to pass out again.

"Tyler-you still with me?" Brian's voice made Tyler realize that he hadn't answered him yet.

"I can't move either, my whole left side is pinned," Tyler answered, not sure if he should tell him about his chest or not.

"I know there's smoke and dust in here, but other then the natural cough, are you breathing alright?" Brian asked remembering the way he was breathing before the colapse.

"Well, I'm in pain, I feel like passing out, does that answer your question?" Tyler was in no mood to sugar coat anything.

"You must of cracked some ribs, just try to breath easy and stay with me alright?" Brian asked, he was really worried that the kid's lung might collapse but he wasn't about to tell him that.

"I'm with you," Tyler said though really his thoughts were already taking him away. Out of the rubble, away from the site all together, his thoughts were taking him home to Caroline-to Ally.

Nine am 9-12-2001 Caroline's room............................................

Caroline sat on her bed, gripping the necklace that Tyler had given her for her eleventh birthday in her hands. It was a hand made necklace, it was a black band with five little charms on it, one was a small heart with her birthstone on it, another looked like an arrow head. One was shaped like her favorite flower forget me nots and one looked like a pair of angles wings in memory of Michael. Her favorite was the biggest charm, it was a heart, it too had her birthstone on it and it said "follow your heart" on it. On the back of that charm, it said in engraved letters, to Caroline, Love Tyler, 9-18-2000.

Caroline gripped the necklace even harder as fresh tears fell, it was just a little over twenty four hours since the first plane hit the first tower. One day since her brother had been taken from her life. One day since her life had changed forever.

A knock at her door made Caroline turn towards the wall, she didn't want to see anyone, she didn't want to talk to anyone. She just wanted to be alone.

"Caroline?" surprised by the voice Caroline rolled over tears still flowing freely down her face. Ally's face was also a little tear stained as she came in the door, "Is it okay if I come in?"

Her hand still gripping the necklace Caroline nodded as she pushed herself up, still allowing the tears to fall. She didn't care if Ally saw her cry, she knew how much Tyler meant to her.

Ally walked in and sat down beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders. She didn't say anything, she some how knew that Caroline just needed the company.

After a few minutes Caroline broke the silence, "From the floor he was on they are saying that they will never find him. Dad's having a headstone made for him anyway, we're going to put it right next to Micheal's when its done."

Ally smiled glad that Caroline could talke to her about the loss of Tyler, "I think Tyler would like that."

Caroline nodded and finally put the necklace back on. Ally smile when she saw it, "You are always wearing that when I see you, I was wondering were it was."

Caroline nodded, "Its my favorite, Tyler made it for me."

Ally nodded, "I know, he told me about it."

Caroline still played with the charms as they dangled just below her chin, her face showing way to much grief for someone so young.

"I heard the funeral is tomorrow," Ally said rubbing Caroline's arm gently.

The young girl nodded, "Tomorrow at ten, I don't want to go."

Ally looked surprised, "You don't want to say goodbye to Tyler?"

Caroline shook her head, "It's not that I don't want to say goodbye, its just that, if I think about it, if say goodbye, then its real. I-I'm not ready to say goodbye."

Ally sighed and squeezed her shoulder again, "Caroline-no one ever is."