XVI
Monday, September 18, 2001
Late that morning, Captain Randazzo, with Jo in the front passenger seat of a police cruiser, drove both David and Blair Warner as close to Ground Zero as they were allowed to go. Buildings surrounding the rubble were still not deemed safe to enter, out of fear that they, too, could still collapse. But with a Police Escort, they still got close enough to see the enormous size of the debris field, and feel the heat still radiating off of the mangled wreck.
They wore N-95 masks in the area. One reason was, obviously, because there was still toxic particles in the air from the still-burning fire, and secondly, and even more grimly, to mask as much as possible, the smell of the human remains buried in the tomb of concrete, rebar, wires, and steel.
Blair turned to Jo shortly after they arrived.
"God Almighty, Joey", Blair said, tears staining her eyes, her voice trembling with a mixture of awe and pure horror, barely able to comprehend what she was seeing.
Jo had been there. The human mind can adapt rather quickly to even the most gruesome tragedies, and Jo, due to her training and her very nature, was over the shock.
"Yeah, Blair", she said, voice void of any emotion, "it was pure hell after Nathan and I arrived. I watched the second plane hit-hell, I was less than a thousand feet from the damn thing when it hit. I was still damn close when the South Tower collapsed." She paused for a moment, the emotion of that moment coming to the surface. "That was the time I was most afraid, Princess-it sounded like the end of the world." Her demeanor became grimmer still. "And...God I dunno if I'll ever get this outta my mind...but I saw people jump from the South Tower. Maybe some fell, but...Blair many of 'em chose to jump. It was either that or burn to death."
David Warner had been silently surveying the damage in front of him. He had visited the site a few days before, but it still overwhelmed him. He turned to Captain Randazzo "It looks like a goddamned war zone-like pictures of Berlin at the end of World War II."
That hit too close to home for the Precinct Captain. "It was a war zone, Mr. Warner", he said quietly. Everyone here that day-firefighters, NYPD, EMT's, office workers-you name it, who worked like hell to save people, and especially those that died, they were the first people on the front line of a new war." He glanced proudly at Jo. "This young lady being one of 'em. I'm extremely proud of her and all my officers for what they did last week, sir."
David turned to Jo, a smile on his masked face. "As I told her the other day, Captain, I'm extremely proud of her as well. After all", he said, glancing at Blair, his eyes shining at her, "Officer Polniaczek is my daughter."
The Captain nodded firmly. "Help me take good care of this one, you two", he asked them, looking at Jo. "She's a special one."
Blair turned to Jo, pulled down her mask for a brief moment, and kissed her partner on the cheek. "That she is, in every way possible."
Despite the devastation that was in front of them, Jo couldn't resist. "Don't start getting mushy on me, Princess."
They all briefly chuckled. The line deserved a full-throated laugh, but at this place, at that time, it wouldn't have been appropriate.
A few minutes later, the four of them climbed back into the squad car and headed back to the Precinct without glancing behind them.
June, 2002, New York City
It had been eight months since that fearful Tuesday in September of 2001. Life went on-it would never be the same for many people, but it didn't stop. The United States was now at War with The Taliban, and al Qaeda in Afghanistan, The Taliban refusing to give up the mastermind behind the astounding attacks on American soil. It would be years before he faced American justice.
As Captain Randazzo had predicted, Jo and hundreds of NYPD Officers and detectives had been involved in looking for and acting on intelligence related to the attack. Jo had even gotten he wish: she was part of a bust that went down in Brooklyn, where three men who were thought to have been intelligence officers for al Qaeda were living. The three had died in a fierce shootout in their apartment, Jo being one of the first officers that had entered the flat. She felt, at that moment, that Nathan had been avenged, and could now rest in peace.
Blair had eventually gone out to Los Angeles just after the New Year, and the merger between The Warner Company and Trans-Pacific Shipping had been finalized. The new company was now called Warner International Corporation. Blair had received a huge bonus and increase in pay, as had everyone involved in the endeavor.
But today was a day to celebrate: Edna Gaines, Natalie Green, and Dorothy Ramsey had finally made it back to their native state, here to renew their friendship.
Natalie of course arrived first, only living a stone's throw away in Boston. Later that afternoon, Mrs. G landed at JFK from West Palm Beach, and around 8pm, Tootie was the last one to arrive. All three times, Blair and Jo had waited outside security-the days of allowing non-passengers through the beefed-up security were history. All three times, joyous hugs and kisses were exchanged.
Two night later, the five ladies, along with David Warner, were seated in a private dining area in The Palm in Midtown. Upon seeing Edna, David went to her.
"Edna!" He had a beaming smile on his face. "My dear, it's wonderful to see you. You look wonderful!"
"Why thank you, David", she said in a voice only Mrs. G. could pull of. "I haven't seen you since before Monica's death. I know you two hadn't been close for a long time, but...David I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you, Edna", he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "She's no longer in pain, and for that, I'm grateful."
"Well, what about us, Mr. Warner?" Natalie blurted that out in her best reporter's voice.
Yeah", the now grown-up Snoop Sister said, "what are we, chopped liver?"
The wide grins on their faces belied their words.
David laughed hard. "You two, get over here!" They walked quickly over to Blair's father who wrapped them both in a big hug and gave them their own kiss on the cheek. "Good Lord, but both of you have grown up so much since I last saw you. I'm so very proud of both of you on your careers."
"That's more like it", Tootie said, laughing, David given her another hug.
They sat down, the Executive Chef at The Palm, who David had known for thirty years, took their drink orders, which were brought out in moments. Appetizers were ordered, then the six adults started to reminisce.
"Mr. Warner", Natalie inquired, "when was the last time we actually saw you?"
"I think it was for Monica's funeral, so it's been a while."
Natalie nodded. "I wasn't sure, but that's what I thought."
"I bet your life has been nuts since 9/11, Natalie?"
It had. She went into detail about what it was like in Boston that very day, and her travels around the nation, and even Europe and the Middle East since then. She even was on the ground for The Boston Globe, which was an education all in itself.
"It's still the top story we deal with in Boston." She sighed. "I can't wait til that is no longer the case."
"Amen, Nat", Jo agreed. "I stopped by last week and visited Nathan's grave.
Tootie made a gentle inquiry of her friend. "Have they...have they found..."
Jo shook her head. "No, not yet, Toot", she said sadly. She had come to terms with the death of her partner and dear friend. She had followed up with what she had said to Blair just after 9/11, and had started therapy. She suffered from nightmares still-but not as often as she used to. Blair even went to her sessions occasionally. "It may be some time, if ever, before the do. Cap'n Randazzo has told me that if and when they do, he'll let me know. His family already insists that if that happens, that I escort him home."
There was silence for a few minutes, the Executive Chef being circumspect as possible when the appetizers came out, having heard part of the conversation.
When he left, Jo stood up. "In fact, I wonder if you guys would stand while I make a toast?"
They were on their feet in moments.
"First of all Mrs. G, Nat and Tootie. You have been part of my family for years now, and I don't think you'll ever fully realize how much you mean to me. I love all three of you."
They raised their wine glasses.
She turned to David Warner. "David...one of these days", she said with a grin, "I'm gonna be comfortable callin' you 'dad', but I ain't there yet." The others laughed. "And 'Pop' is outta the question." The laughter increased. "One of the best things-one of the few good things to come outta 9/11, was when you told me that you thought of me as your daughter. After losing Pop, I never thought I'd have a father again. But your support over the years for me and Blair-especially since 9/11...it means more to me than you'll ever know. I love you."
Again, the glasses were raised, David mouthing I love you, too back to Jo.
She turned to her partner in life. "Princess, we had a rough week before 9/11, with that cockamamie fight", she said with a grin, the others laughing again. "But that day changed our lives forever. I learned that week what's really important: you love, your devotion, always being there when I'm having a bad day, and to share the joy of the good days.
"Maybe someday we can get married, Blondie, but in the end, does that really matter? We're married in our hearts and souls. I am yours forever. I will always love you, Blair."
She moved in and gave Blair a soulful kiss, as the glasses were once again lifted.
"And...finally, may I propose a toast to my later partner, Nathan Zidek-'Zid' as I called him." She looked slightly skyward. "Zid, you were the best partner anyone coulda had. You were also a wonderful, caring friend, and I'll love you and keep you in my heart forever.
"So here's to Zid, and to everyone that died that day: the fire fighters, the EMT's, my brothers and sisters with the NYPD and Port Authority police; to the passengers on those planes, some of which fought back. We use the word 'hero' too often, but those that gave their lives that day are and always will be heroes.
"So Officer Nathan Zidek, we thank you and those who gave their lives so that we might move on. I salute all of you."
"Hear, hear", all of them responded.
After that, with the reflection of that terrible day over, the six people enjoyed the rest of the night, with food, laughter, and love.