A/N: Sorry for the delay folks. Family was in town and I had to entertain. I hope everyone enjoys the chapter despite the sadness in it and tragedy. Please keep the reviews coming and the chapter involving the aftermath will follow this one. Thank you.
Chapter 9
December 7, 1941
Pearl City, Territory of Hawaii
6:00 AM
Castle's alarm clock went off at 6 that morning. He stirred and slowly silenced the ringing alarm. He looked on his wife side of the bed, and missed seeing her laying there. He slowly got out of bed and made his way to the bathroom to handle his morning routine. By 7 he was freshly showered and shaved and in uniform as he made his way to the kitchen. As he started a fresh pot of coffee and made his self some toast and a 3 minute egg. As he buttered the bread, he smiled at the note he found on the counter. "My love, I have made reservations for the four of us at the Royal Hawaiian tonight for dinner at 5. See you there. Love Kate."
Last night, the family largely stayed in and had a simple dinner at home, before Alexis and Martha decided to catch a 7pm showing of the movie "Dive Bomber" giving Kate and Castle some alone time. Kate and Castle decided to put their alone time to good use before falling asleep. Kate had left her sleeping husband in bed around 11 that evening when a fellow married nurse on her shift that evening picked her up to drive her to the hospital. Now Castle finished off his coffee, toast and egg, before grabbing his cover and keys and heading out. His mother and daughter were still asleep. Deciding not to wake them, he shut the door quietly and climbed into the Chevy Roadster and drive down to the base.
7:15 AM
Naval Hospital Pearl Harbor
Kate sat in the care ward looking about at the mostly empty beds wishing it was 8 already so she could go home and curl up in her bed and take comfort in the smell of Castle's scent on the sheets a little longer. It was a long boring night. Only a couple patients had come through, and they were minor injuries that were treated and released by her and her team. She heard the door open and was surprised to see Captain Bryan coming into the care ward. She got up and came to attention. "Good Morning sir."
"At ease Kate. How's it going?" Captain Bryan asked as he approached the desk. "Hows it going?"
"Slow sir. Only had a few patients last night. A couple sailors and Marines who got involved into some bar brawls. They were treated and released to shore patrol or their commands." Kate replied taking a seat again. She looked up. "What brings you by on a Sunday sir?"
"I got word from headquarters they need an updated status report on patients that we have seen by Tuesday." Captain Bryan replied to the question. He patted Kate on the shoulder as he stood by the desk. "It's almost over then, you can go home and spend the rest of Sunday with your husband and family."
"He has a watch today sir, but we are having dinner later today." Kate replied smiling thinking of the early dinner seating at the Royal Hawaiian. She noticed Captain Bryan smiling at her. "Thank you for asking sir."
"Not a problem Kate." Captain Bryan replied moving towards the door. He stopped and turned around. "Isn't he a little high rank to be pulling an OOD watch?"
Kate smiled. "He's covering for Ensign Tolliver whose wife gave birth on Friday. He wanted to give me some peace and quiet and he wanted Samuel to have time with the baby and his wife."
Captain Bryan smiled again. "He's a good man. Glad you two found each other."
"Me too sir." Kate replied thinking of the honeymoon Rick promised they would have over the Holidays. That brought a smile to her face as the Captain left the ward.
7:35 AM
Pier side, Pearl Harbor
Castle stood around for the next duty boat to take him over to the Arizona for his watch. He looked around and saw about 20 other half hung over sailors from his ship also waiting for the duty boat to ferry them over. He then noticed a couple of familiar faces waiting along with everyone else. He walked over and saw a bunch of the sailors jump to their feet. "At ease. Morning Ryan, Esposito."
"Morning sir." Ryan and Esposito replied tiredly.
"Esposito tuck in that cross. You know the regulations." Castle said to Esposito as he saw the cross out. He smiled at the man. "Lanie give that to you?"
"Yes sir. Early Christmas present." Esposito replied with a smile on his face as he looked at Castle.
"She has good taste, so does my wife. They picked it out together." Castle remarked as the duty boat pulled up to the pier and tied off. He looked around. "All right sailors get aboard."
Castle was the last on aboard and as soon as he was the boat pulled away from the dock and towards the Arizona.
7:40 AM
Pearl City, Territory of Hawaii
"Morning Grams." Alexis said coming into the kitchen. She went to the fridge and pulled out the fresh orange juice. "Dad left already?"
"Yes he did dear, but Kate will be home in a little while." Martha stated as she looked at the paper. She looked at the time. "Figured we go to church, then into town for a little brunch and afternoon shopping before meeting them for dinner at the Royal Hawaiian."
"I saw the note Kate left for dad." Alexis stated with a chuckle. She brought the glass over to the table. She noticed Samantha walking in from her early morning church service. "Morning Samantha. Looks like another beautiful day in paradise."
7:45 AM
USS Arizona
Castle saluted the flag and then the officer he was reliving as the OOD as soon as he came aboard the Arizona. "Morning Donaldson. How is everything?"
"All quiet. Comm guys picked up a message from the Ward stating they sank a sub trying to enter the harbor, I informed the Captain, but he says unless something comes from CINCPAC, not to worry about it." Donaldson stated making a notation in the log. He looked at Castle. "You got time still."
"I know, I'm going to grab a cup of coffee, and relieve you at five till." Castle stated getting a nod from Donaldson. He made his way to the wardroom where he saw Roy just finish serving an officer his breakfast. "Morning Roy."
"Moring Mr. Castle. Breakfast?" Roy asked.
Castle shook his head. "None, had it at home. What's for lunch?"
"Fried Chicken, mac and cheese, corn bread, and tea sir, plus pecan pie, my wife's recipe." Roy stated with a smile.
"Sounds good. I look forward to it." Castle stated as he took the mug from stand and filled it coffee. "I'll bring the mug back."
"It's alright sir, I'll send someone to come and get it." Roy told Castle who nodded and left the wardroom. Roy turned to the other mess steward in the wardroom with him. "Willie, I am heading to the forward galley to check on the lunch prep and make sure the pies are ready."
Roy's assistant nodded as Roy left the wardroom and proceeded forwarded.
7:50 AM
Pearl City, Territory of Hawaii
Unknown to the fleet a mighty Japanese task force had sailed undetected to a launching point about two hundred miles north of the Hawaiian island. Six aircraft carriers loaded with planes began turning into the wind at about 6 in the morning Hawaiian time and began launching. Two waves sixty minutes apart took off. The first wave approached the island Northwest side, and spilt into three groups with two groups of bombers, fighters, and dive bombers assigned to attack airfields across the island, and the third group proceeded to Pearl Harbor with bomber, dive bombers, and fighters. Aware they had achieved complete surprise, the attack commander sent a simple coded phrase. "Tora, Tora, Tora." The first wave moved into its attack speed and sped towards the harbor.
"Dear, sounds like the army it's up early today isn't it?" Martha asked as they sat in the kitchen having breakfast as aircraft passed nearby.
"Could be navy planes. Patricia's dad is supposed to be coming back today on the Enterprise." Alexis stated sipping at her orange juice.
7:53 AM
Naval Hospital Pearl Harbor
Gina walked into the care ward. "Morning Kate, how was it?"
"Slow thank goodness. Only a few patients." Kate replied as she heard the sounds of the aircraft flying overhead. "Our boys must be up early today even though it's Sunday."
Gina nodded in agreement as they prepared to change over.
7:54 AM
USS Arizona
"I stand relieved. Lieutenant Commander Castle has the deck." Lieutenant Donaldson stated after they had completed the relief of watches. Donaldson looked on as the band prepared for colors. "I'll do colors."
"Thank you." Castle stated as he looked up at the sound of aircraft buzzing the harbor. He noted the time. "A little early for….."
The sounds of explosion ripped across the harbor as the sounds of tearing planks from bullet strikes hitting the deck ripped across the ship. Castle looked up battleship row and saw the Oklahoma starting to capsized. "Holy Sh….It's the Japs. Sound General Quarters this is no drill. And get the captain."
A yeoman was in shock before the next explosion shocked him out of it. He nodded and raced towards the hatch. A bousn got to the ship's intercom and blew the whistle before speaking. "General Quarters, General quarters. This is not a damn drill. All hands man your battle stations."
Castle raced from his OOD position to the closest battery which was number 4. As a security measure the lockers were locked in port and he, the captain, and despite his objection, Lieutenant Bracken had the keys. He unlocked number's four ammo locker when several close explosions rocked the ship. He noticed smoke coming from the Vestal and towards where the captain's pantry was. More bullets hit the deck near him as he dove for cover behind a five inch gun. He looked up and continued to run forward and in less than a minute he reached his former battery where Esposito, Smith, and Ryan were getting their crews together. Ryan looked on in fear. "Is this really happening sir."
"It is Ryan. Just do what you are trained to do. Chief Smith you are in charge in Ensign Tolliver's absence." Castle stated as more explosions rocked the harbor and close to the ship.
"Aye sir." Chief Smith shouted as he nodded as Castle unlocked the ammunition storage locker.
A young seaman came running up. "Sir, Lieutenant Donaldson, and Chief Parker are dead sir. Shot by a Jap plane. No one is in charge of battery 3."
"Ryan get down there and take charge." Castle ordered as the crews took cover behind their guns as more Japanese zeros strafed the deck.
Ryan nodded still looking scared but he summed up the courage. "Aye sir."
As Ryan took off running towards the aft battery, on the bridge Captain Valkenburgh arrived within a couple minutes of the alarm being sounded. He saw the planes and explosions across the harbor. He turned to the talker as the Admiral came onto the bridge. "Tell the engineer to get the engines fired up, and find Commander Castle and have him check on the magazines before heading to his battle station."
The talker nodded and spoke into the microphone.
7:58 AM
Pearl City, Territory of Hawaii
The first explosions caught the Castle women in shock as they raced to the windows that faced the harbor. They saw the smoke rising from the base and the harbor. Martha and Alexis were in shock as they saw the planes diving on the base.
"Alexis we should head towards the shelter." Martha claimed as they continued to see the planes attack the harbor. She turned to her granddaughter. "That's what Kate and your father would want."
"Grams we can't just…." Alexis started to say. In the short time she had known Kate, she and her became very close. She felt that Kate was more her mother than Meredith was.
"Sweetie, they have their jobs to do, and we need to be safe for them." Martha told her one and only grandchild. She then turned to Samantha. "Go home to your family Samantha. Keep them safe."
Samantha nodded as she turned and hurried towards the door as Alexis and Martha prepared to move to the shelter.
Naval Hospital Pearl Harbor
The first explosions that echoed across the harbor and shook the windows of the care ward. Gina, Kate, and other nurses rushed to the window as they watched the attack unfold. They stared in disbelief. They saw the planes sweep in and launch their torpedoes and drop their bombs on the ships and strafe the ships and Ford Island. Captain Bryan rushed in as the air raid warning siren went off. He stared in much disbelief as the rest of the staff did. He then snapped out of it. "People listen up, we are going to have a lot of casualties coming in. We need to be prepped for when they arrived. Lieutenant Castle, get the nurses together and starting the gather of supplies. With the casualties coming in we will not receive them in the normal fashion. Triage will be handled outside, move those that need to immediate surgery will receive it, then on down the line. Let's move."
Kate stared out the window still in shock when she felt Captain Bryan's hands on her shoulders. "Kate he'll be fine, I know it. He is on a good ship with a good crew, but we need to look out for those that will be coming in here. He'll find you after this over, but I need to you focus ok."
Kate nodded and moved quickly away from the windows and towards the supply room. "Please come back to me Rick, please for us and our family."
The explosions continued to ripple across the harbor.
8:00 AM
USS Arizona
"Sir, the captain wants you to check on the magazines before you head to your battle station." The talker shouted over the noise of the attack.
"Great, tell him I'm pinned down here." Castle shouted as the crew since their ammo locker had been unlocked had not manned the guns yet due to a constant strafing attack from zeros. He looked as he heard number 2 battery get into action. "Pass the word, I'm sending Lieutenant Bracken back aft to check on the aft magazines, while I check the forward."
The talker nodded as Castle made a dash for the space in between turrets one and two. Bullets ricocheted off the turrets as he made the dash. He finally heard his former battery get into action. Castle dove for cover as zero strafed near the battery positon just missing most of the crew. He found Lieutenant Bracken also taking cover. He turned to Bracken. "Bracken, I need you to check on the magazines back aft to make sure they are following proper procedure then get back here."
Bracken looked on in shock. "You want me to make a dash for the after magazines during a time like…."
Castle slapped the man. "Just follow the orders Bracken."
Castle got up and made a dash for the hatch way near number two turret. Bracken rubbed his face and looked for his chief. "Chief Michaels, take command of battery, I have to run aft to check on the magazines."
"Aye sir." Chief Michaels acknowledged the order. He was glad the lieutenant was leaving. Bracken had been cowering since the third strafing attack.
Bracken looked at his watch. It was just about 8:03 in the morning. He looked up at small fire near the rear of the ship and the closest hatchway. The strafing of the deck near him forced Bracken to run towards the rear over the exposed deck.
Down below Castle worked past sailors and Marines trying to get to their battle stations. He past the powder magazine whose hatchway was opened. "Secure that damn hatchway, we don't need fire in the powder magazine spreading."
It would be the last words spoken by him.
8:10 AM
Nine thousand feet above the ship a formation of five Japanese level bombers approached the Arizona through minimum anti-aircraft fire. They were normally Kate torpedo planes, but they could be used as high level bombers as well. In torpedo plane mode the crew would be only two, but in level bomber mode, a bomber was added. In one of the planes a bombardier eyed the attack through his scope as the plane made its attack run. Hung below the aircraft a converted 16 inch battleship shell that was now a bomb waited to be released. The bombardier identified the ship he was supposed to hit, which was the USS Arizona. As the plane reached the released point, the bomb dropped away. On the deck of the mighty ship anti-aircraft guns tracked the new attackers and put up a array of fire. 22 seconds later, the bomb struck the deck near the number two turret and penetrated down and next to the powder magazine. It exploded a second later.
Castle, Roy Montgomery, Lieutenant Bracken's battery, Esposito, Chief Smith, Captain Valkenburgh, Admiral Kidd and over thousand sailors and Marines died in the blast. The blast lifted the ship out of the water as the powder and ammunition forward ignited. The blast gutted the interior of the ship causing the forward mast to collapse forward, as turrets 1 and 2 collapsed into their barbettes. Oil from the ship ignited that caused the inferno to rage more. The inferno received more fuel as Aviation gas from ruptured tanks on Ford Island added fuel. Parts of the ships, men, were thrown about the harbor. Waves generated from when the ship was lifted by the force of explosion slammed into Ford Island. On board the surviving crew slowly picked themselves off the deck.
Pearl City, Territory of Hawaii.
Alexis and Martha started to leave the house when the biggest explosion of the attack echoed across the harbor and evened reached them. They saw the fireball rise and the cloud rise above everything else. Alexis gasped. "Grams that is where the Arizona is berth."
Martha nodded and also grasped. She took a deep breath, and then turned to her granddaughter. "I'm sure he is fine sweetie. Come on we got to get moving."
Alexis nodded, even though in the pit of her stomach she knew something was wrong.
Naval Hospital Pearl Harbor
Kate and half of dozen nurses were still gathering supplies in the supply room as a corpsman came rushing in out of breath. "They got the Arizona. She's gone."
"Get out of here corpsman, go." Commander Randall stated after finally making it in to the hospital. She saw Kate had dropped her supplies to the floor and covered her mouth with her hand. Commander Randall went over to her. "Kate, Kate, I'm sure he's fine, okay. Look at me I'm sure he's fine. We have a job to do okay, stay with me."
Kate started to tear up, but nodded slowly as she went back down and picked up the supplies she dropped. Yet in her heart and stomach she knew something terrible had happen to her husband of a week.
8:11 AM
USS Arizona
Ryan slowly picked himself off the deck and looked around, most of the battery under his charge were okay, but when he turned and looked forward, the front end of his ship was a blaze with fire. "Abandon the battery and grab some hoses."
The sailors nodded and rushed forward to fight the ranging inferno, only coming to find out that there was minimal water pressure was available. Men on fire stumbled out of the blaze and dropped dead to the deck, while others stumbled out with their skin completely burned off. The senior officer on board was Lieutenant Commander Samuel Fuqua. "Ryan try to control the fires, while get the wounded off."
"Aye sir." Ryan stated as him and his team moved forward to try and battle the blaze. On the starboard side Lieutenant Bracken tried to get up and he couldn't. One of sailors rushing forward spotted him. "Don't move sir you have shrapnel and wood in your legs and back."
Bracken nodded as a couple more sailors arrived to bring him towards the side to be offloaded. The ship shuttered as secondary explosions and the structure of the ship continued to shift. Ryan and his team were making little headway in fighting the fires on board. Lieutenant Commander Fuqua came over to Ryan. He tapped him on the shoulder and spoke to him as Ryan turned around. "The water system is failing. We're going to abandon ship."
"Sir, the Captain, the admiral, Commander Castle…" Ryan started to say.
"Ryan, they're gone, we have to move now." Lieutenant Fuqua told him. He turned around and cupped his hands to his mouth. "Abandon ship, Abandon ship."
Ryan set the hose down and moved towards the railing and the boats that would run the survivors over to ford island. He took once glance back as the ship shuttered and continue to settle. He then slipped over the side.
8:30 AM
Naval Hospital Pearl Harbor
The sounds of the first wave of the attack dissipated as the planes flew off towards their carriers. An eerie silenced fell across the shattered island only to be broken by the sounds of men shouting orders, sirens screaming, the groans and moans of the wounded, flames crackling. At the hospital men started to arrive in a stream now as the staff began to triage the patients. Kate overwhelm looked about. "You think it's over?"
"Don't know Kate, probably not." Captain Bryan stated as he examined the young wounded man from one of the ships. The young man was uncounicous and Captain Bryan shook his head. "Make him comfortable that's all we can do."
The corpsman nodded and moved off. Another team brought up another stretcher. "He's from the Arizona."
Kate rushed over hoping it was Rick, but her heart sank when she saw Ensign Tolliver on the stretcher. "Sam what happen?"
"When the attack started, I raced back to try and get aboard, but was caught when a bomb landed near the pier I got assigned to." Ensign Tolliver replied in great pain. "Kelly and the baby?"
"They're fine. Safe so far." Kate replied taking Tolliver's hand looking at Captain Bryan who finished his triage assessment.
"Take him to surgery, he has a chance." Captain Bryan stated getting up and looking at Kate who watched Tolliver being taken away for surgery. "Kate, I'll send you down there when I have a chance, but until then."
Kate nodded and moved onto the next patient, only taking a glimpse towards where the Arizona was.
10:30 AM
Naval Hospital Pearl Harbor
By 9 am that morning the Japanese had returned and faced more intense response this time, but with smoke from fires already and lack of un-hit targets the second waved focused more on shore installations and undamaged ships. What few American aircraft that survived the attack tried to defend the harbor, but the damage was done. Patients continue to flow into the hospital, as the staff, augmented by civilian doctors and nurses continued to work on the wounded. Kate was passed the point of exhaustion, working on peer adrenaline, when two familiar voices called out. "Kate?"
"Martha, Alexis?" Kate said in shock and rushed over to hug her family good and tight. She and them both cried happiness. She let go. "What are you doing here?"
"We came to see if we can help?" Martha stated as she looked around. "By the looks you could use it."
"How's the clinic?" Kate asked.
"Lanie says untouched but she has her hands full of people injuried during the attack." Alexis stated as she also looked around. She then looked at Kate. "Have you heard from dad?"
"No, and Ensign Tolliver is in surgery. He was wounded trying to get back to the ship." Kate told them as more wounded men streamed past her. She then noticed a familiar face coming in with the crowd. "Ryan, Ryan, Gunners mate Kevin Ryan?"
Ryan spotted them and came over giving everyone a hug. He had tears in his eyes. The Castle ladies looked at him. He held his head down. Kate saw this and started to break down as well. "Ryan, no, no, don't say it, don't say it."
"He's gone ma'am. He was below decks by number two turret when the bomb hit." Ryan stated as he fell to the ground crying. He looked up. "Esposito, the admiral and the Captain, Commander Castle. They're gone."
Kate held her hand over her mouth and fell to the ground next to Ryan. She pulled him into a hug along with the rest of the Castle ladies doing the same. Captain Bryan came over to see what was going on when he heard the news. He backed away and motioned for Commander Randall and others to leave the shattered family in peace.
They remained there crying and hugging each other for a while.
Authors note: I wanted to focus this from the different sides of the characters, but not stretch into the second wave. Kate would have been more than likely triage patients with the staff. I was also aiming for not making it too much like the movie Pearl Harbor. At the end, it wouldn't have happen like that in real life nor that fast. There was still plenty of confusion just moments after the attack, and very much doubt Alexis and Martha would have been allowed onto the base. Went there for a little happiness amongst the devastation of the attack and them receiving the news.