Chapter four

Tyler's Charms

nine pm....9-12-2001.....once again in the rubble of the north tower.......................

Tyler forced himself to open his eyes, he was confused. Where was he? He looked around, it was pitch black. Coughing, he tried to move-big mistake! Pain shot throughout his body from his left leg all the way up his left side to his arm, it was almost unbearable, his chest was tight, almost like he was under water and couldn't get up to get air. Not being able to see, he reached out blindly, looking for what ever it was that was on top of him, Caroline he thought. But when he reached over his chest, there was nothing there. He reached farther and finally ran into the panel that was over the left side of his body.

Then memories flashed through his head once again. A plane had hit the World Trade Center, he was buried in the rubble of the building that used to hold one hundred and ten floors of offices, his father's included.

"Tyler?" Brian's voice reminded Tyler that he was not alone.

"Brian?" Tyler's voice was really no more then a whisper this time.

"Hey buddy, are you back with me?" Brian asked, coughing as he finished his sentence.

"Yeah, I think I'm back for now, any idea how long I've been out?" Tyler asked his voiced strained with the smoke in the air.

"Well, I've been calling you every few minutes since the sun came up and now its down again, so I say at least twelve hours if not more," Brian said, he sounded worried but tried to keep his voice calm, "Bud, you really need to try and stay awake."

Tyler nodded to himself, then realized Brian couldn't see him, "I know I should stay awake, but I'm so tired."

"I know you are kiddo, but you need to try alright, they're looking for us I'm sure, just try to stay with me alright," Brian said hoping that he could keep the kid awake and praying that they would be found, "I know, tell my more about you sister, does she have hobbies, what does she like to do?"

Tyler swallowed, trying to wake himself up, his body wanted he sleep, he wanted sleep, but he knew that he had to stay awake. If he fell asleep now the chances were very slim that he would wake up again. He had to stay awake, for Caroline, yes his sister needed him, he couldn't give up, not now.

"Caroline-she's an amazing artist, I mean her drawings should be on display in a museum, they are that good," Tyler said trying to picture his sister in his head, trying to focus on her face.

"How old did you say she was?" Brian asked.

"She'll be twelve on the eighteenth," Tyler said , he was starting to wheeze again, which was not a good sign.

"Wow, I would love to see her drawing some time, maybe when we get out of here, we can meet and I can take a look at some of them. I'm in business with a museum, I might be able to get some of her drawings out there if they are as good as you say they are," Brian said coughing, but smiling, he thought that he finally got a way for him to keep Tyler awake.

"Really? She would freak, that would be amazing for her," Tyler said coughing again making Brian wince when he heard it.

"I'll see what I can do," Brian said with a smile to himself, he wasn't lying, if they got out of here, he would look at his sister's drawings. The question was, were they going to get out of here?

1am still in the rubble.....................

"Ally's amazing, we've only know each other for a few months but I know now. I'm in love with her," Tyler said wheezing now coming with each breath.

"Are you going to tell her?" Brian asked, just trying to keep the talking going, neither of them could sleep, they had to keep going.

"As soon as I can, Ally will know how I feel, the moment I see her she'll know," Tyler said, his breathing was getting more shallow, he wasn't getting a full breath anymore.

"Will you ask her to marry you?" Brian asked with a smile.

"Not right away, but she will know that I love her, and I hope that will be enough for her to know that she will some day be my bride," Tyler said silently praying that they would find them, he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on.

11:30am 9-13-2001 New York Cemetery....................................................................

Caroline stood on the grass covered path, her black dress fell to just below her knees, black knee socks keeping her legs warm. It was cold for the middle of September and people had not stayed long since there was only a stone to be placed. Caroline however, had stayed behind even after her parents had left. She walked up to the newly placed stone and the older one beside it. She sat down between them, crossing her legs Indian style and pulling her dress out go over her legs to hid them.

She looked at Michael's stone, very simply it read, "Michael James Hawkins, May 20th 1973-May 20th 1995. Always Loved."

Caroline bit her lip as fresh tears started to fall. She forced herself to look at the newly placed stone, not really wanting to read the simple words that now resided there. Tyler's stone was simple but it told who he was as a person. "Tyler Jacob Hawkins, July 22nd 1979-September 11th 2001, A loving son and brother. He will always be remembered."

Caroline sighed and wiped at some of the tears that were now gracing her face. It didn't help, the moment she wiped the old ones away, new ones took their place. She reached up and started playing with the charms that hung around her neck, the last birthday present from Tyler that she would ever have.

"Caroline?" Caroline jumped a little at the suddenness of the voice but knew who it was without even turning around, she turned tear stained cheeks toward Ally, who managed a small smile, "So you came."

Caroline nodded, "Yes, I knew if I didn't I would regret it later. He's gone, I know he's gone, but its just like a dream. Like I'll wake up and he'll be standing there waiting to take me to school."

Ally bit her lip and nodded, "I know sweetie, its like that for me too."

"I just wish, I could see him, one more time. I miss him so much and he's only been gone two days," Caroline said more tears falling down her already tear stained face

Ally nodded again as she sat down beside her, "I know, I miss him too."

Caroline nodded again, "He didn't deserve to die that way." Tears were once again falling freely down her face.

"No, he didn't," Ally agreed and then reached into her pocket and pulled something out, "I got this for you yesterday, I saw it and thought of your necklace, I hope you can get it on."

Ally pulled up Caroline's hand and dropped something into her hand, Caroline held up her hand to look at what it was, she tried to smile when she saw what it was. In her hand were two little charms, one was Tyler's name, the other was two numbers 9-11.

Caroline looked up smiling through her tears, "Thank you Ally, I love them!"

Ally smiled, "You're welcome."

Caroline took off her necklace, she rearranged some of the charms so that the big heart was still in the middle and "Tyler's charms" were side by side and it was even on both sides. Satisfied, she put the necklace back on.

"How's it look?" Caroline asked looking at Ally.

Ally sighed and nodded, "Its beautiful Caroline, its beautiful."

Fresh tears came to Caroline's eyes, the new charms sparkled in the sun light as she leaned forward, "Goodbye big brother," she said and she kissed the new face of the headstone.

1pm 9-13-2001 back to WTC....................................

"Tyler, you still with me?" Brian asked, Tyler's voice was growing weaker, he couldn't last much longer.

"Ya, I'm with you," Tyler answered his voice low.

"You're doing a good job kid, hang in there okay," Brian said hoping that he could keep him talking. He knew that they could only do it for so long.

"Brian, I can't do this any more, I have to sleep," Tyler wheezed.

"No, Tyler you can do this, just a little longer Tyler, okay, think of your sister, think of Ally, you have to hold on-for them." Brian bagged, this kid had come to far to quit now.

Tyler didn't answer, he was fighting to keep his eyes open. Right before they closed, some of the darkness was flooded in light as something was lifted off of him and then as soon as the darkness was gone was back again as Tyler gave into the darkness.