I was up early on Sunday to watch the live broadcast of the New York City Marathon online. 45,000 to 48,000 people they estimate ran it this year.

Here's the latest chapter. Enjoy

Chapter 3

Friday, November 2, 2012

Jarvis Center, New York City

She had finally made it to New York City. Back on Tuesday, both Hetty and herself had learned that flights were being resumed to the east coast but the Airports in the New York City were still trying to get back on their feet. The good thing was that there was an alternative. Fly into another airport not too far off and then make her way to New York from there. Nell had already been in touch with other runners she knew about doing this and so it was agreed that they would all fly into Philadelphia and meet up there and make their way to Manhattan by car as a group. Wednesday found Nell bouncing around airports until she landed in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. On Thursday, she met up with three friends who were also running the marathon and undertook the long drive to New York. Instead of taking a direct route through New Jersey and along the coast, they took an inland route instead, they had really no choice. The New Jersey coast was in shambles and both the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels were closed. They thought about going by way of the Staten Island expressway from New Jersey, but after learning how bad the damage was there, they opted to find another route over ground which meant driving further north and entering New York City from the north instead. That took pretty much a chunk of Thursday since they found themselves zigzagging along the major highways to get there. They had found ways to make light of the road trip by watching movies that they had put on their iPads or listening to music and singing along to them. Or just talking and having a good time. They also were thinking of ways to help out those affected by Sandy while they were there when they weren't concentrating on a Marathon.

Now Nell and her friends were at the Jarvis Center. Nell was busy going through her race packet and filling out any last minute paperwork. The place was a buzz of activity as people gathered to talk or check out exhibits, or in Nell's case, snap up a few souvenirs while she was there. Nell was texting an update to her family when she noticed a change in the volume in the hall. Looking up she saw her friend coming towards her, "What's going on Kate?"

"there's a news conference, it's on TV, I'm going to go check it out."

"I'll join you," putting everything back in her bag, they went to join a crowd gathered around a giant flat screen TV set up for people to check the news and updates on the Sandy Recovery.

They listened as the CEO of the New York Road Runners announced that they would not be conducting the Marathon after all. At that the place erupted in conversation at once.

"Why didn't they do this days ago?" Kate was asking.

"Yeah, not everyone has made it to New York," spoke up Nell who was now in a panic inside her head. This can't be happening! Not now! Her dream of running this marathon was shattering in front of her. All the planning, running other marathons and finally qualifying for this one was now coming to a crashing halt in front of her. Nell separated herself from everyone else and made her way to a n area that was devoid of people since people were gathered in several groups discussing the cancellation. Pulling out her phone, she texted the news to her family and immediately texts started coming back.

I'm so sorry Nell. Her mom said.

Just heard the news, you ok. Came one of her brothers.

Her father was none too pleased by the news. They should have done this sooner. I know how much you wanted to run this Nell. Call me later. She was expecting this considering her father was a Navy Admiral. He felt the people affected took priority over a marathon and said this to her back on Monday. Leave it to her father to be right on this one.

And it went on for a few minutes. Finally Nell looked at her watch, it was 5:40 p.m., 2:40 p.m. in LA. So she dialed Hetty's number.

Los Angeles

Everyone was working in the mission. Eric was upstairs in OPS while G, Sam, Kensi and Deeks, were out to lunch and Hetty was in her office. Eric nearly jumped out of his chair when he heard, "They WHAT!" from his boos downstairs. It took everyone a minute to recover from Hetty's outburst. "Wonder what that was all about," one of the other tech said out loud.

"I don't know but I'm going to find out." Spoke up Eric as he got up and went downstairs. He found several people gathered around the flat screen in the main area watching ZNN. At that moment the others arrived.

"What's going on," Eric asked.

"They cancelled the Marathon," spoke up one of the other agents.

"it's about time," spoke up Sam. He hadn't been none too pleased to hear that the Marathon was still going on earlier this week despite the damage on Staten Island and other parts of New York City.

"I'd say that was the right call," spoke up Callen.

"I heard not all the runners have not been able to make it there,' said Deeks.

In her office Hetty was on the phone.

"After busting our chops to get you there, they decide to cancel it 30 hours before the race! Maybe we should just shoot the whole lot of them for this." Hetty was saying on the phone.

"I know," came Nell's voice on the other end.

"Are you going to stay there then,"

"Yes, I'm going to volunteer and help the survivors instead. I'll be back on Wednesday."

"Very admirable of you Miss Jones. But we could use you back here,"

"No Hetty this is something I want to do. If something comes up, I'll head for the office out here."

"Very well then, see you Wednesday."

Hanging up the phone, she got up to join everyone who was watching the news. Not to thrilled that her protégé's dream of running on Sunday had just been shattered. But then Hetty had a thought as she listened to the announcer on ZNN say that all this year's runners will be automatically entered into next year's race. You will run next year Nell. And Hetty would make sure Nell had the time off to do it.

You are welcome to R&R