Jude POV

We had heard the explosion, but had not seen it. It had happened somewhere on the other side of the Fair. As far as the distance between us and the explosion goes, we were safe.

But hearing and seeing the panic and screaming spared afterwards, like shock wave, scared us just as much as if we had been there to see it.

Until today, we had only seen these things on the TV, heard about it on the radio, talked about it the following day with friends and family, expressing our fears and worries, grateful that it had not happened here with us, yet sad that it happened at all and that people were hurt.

School shootings were now a regular thing in USA. We heard about them all the time.

Sames goes for other kind of attacks. Like trucks driving into crowds. I still remember when the news of that happening in Stockholm were broadcast. Or the terrorist attack during the Christmas time in Berlin.

Bombs exploding during marathon events. Subway explosion in Manhattan. Or the bomb on London bus.

The shooting in France – Charlie Hebdo. Shooting at the concert in LA.

It feels as if we hear about events like that each day, happening all around the World. Some close to home, other not so much.

And today...today we witnessed it.

Lena grabbed Frankie by her hand and I'm certain she won't let go for hours. Mariana clung close to her twins arm. Brandon pulled me to his side. Cooper crouched down to Duke, who had whimpered from the loud explosion. We all stood still, watching the chaos spread all around us. Should we run, should we stay still? Will there be another explosion? Will we be caught in it? Were mom and Amy safe? Was my sister and her partner safe? Were people killed? Are people dying at this exact moment as we stand and watch? What do we do, where do we go now? Suddenly, no place felt safe. I guess, that's always the terrorist plan. To make people afraid.

"We stay together!" Lena yelled out. Everyone agreed, nodding heads.

"We should go to the beach! To water!" Cooper said standing up and looking over his right shoulder "It will be safer in the shore."

At first, I was taken aback by the strange suggestion from Cooper. Water was completely opposite way the other people were running. People were running towards the city, to the streets, parking lot, cars, buildings.

And that's when I realized how much sense Coopers suggestion made.

It's more likely, if another bomb exists, that it would be closer to where more people will be. It's easier to drop a bag behind a car, another stand, in trash can near a building. Planting a bomb near water...seemed less likely to happen.

Good thinking - I thought. Cooper always managed to keep a clear and leveled head during extreme situations.

Lena and Cooper had a brief stare down, before she nodded "Let's go. Stay close, everybody!"

We were about to head towards the water, the beach, but Cooper stopped " Wait!" he called

Looking back at him, we saw that Duke was fighting back. Cooper gave a pull on the leash, urging him to follow him. But Duke barked, looked back at us like trying to tell us something, turned towards where the smoke was coming and barked again. Insisting that we should be going the other way, follow him.

"Duke! Come on, boy!" I told the dog but all he did, was pull harder on the leash Cooper was holding. He was yanking Cooper like a doll. Dogs are truly strong and powerful. When Cooper was not cooperating, Duke increased the strength. Pulling him again and again towards the chaos. More barking followed, until he used so much force that the leash slipped out of Coopers hand as it had cut too painfully into his palm. All Cooper could do was let go, unless he wanted for Duke to dislocated his shoulder.

"Damn…" Cooper held his palm, it was red from the rough leash pulling as we all watched how Duke ran full spread into the crowd and disappeared from our sight

"He will find us. He knows where home is," Cooper said turning back to us "Lets go," Cooper placed his hand on my shoulder. I took one last glance to where Duke had ran, before following my family.

Amy POV

"Callie!" I called out frantically searching for her. My eyes scanned over multiple bodies on the ground. There was debris from the stands that were torn apart from the blast, hats, and bags, and shoes, shattered phones, and water bottles, toy animals, food scatted all around. All covered in blood and dust. Some of the people were moving, groaning, crying, screaming in pain and agony, trying to sit up, stand up, others were out cold, motionless, maybe even dead. Part of me wanted to help them all, but I knew I couldn't. It hurt to walk pass them, but I had to find my daughter.

"Callie!" I called out for her again as I continued to walk to where I thought she might be

My heart was racing, beating so fast I thought I could hear it echo in my eyes. The radio on my shoulder rung out. Other police officers interacting with each other. Asking if others were hurt, their location, update about the situation, if anyone had seen anything.

EMT's, fire department and police are on the way to your location. Few minutes out! The dispatcher said over the radio.

I turned towards the sound of someone coughing. Someone pushed off a debris, that looks like some sort of light wood panel. Once it was off their back, the person remained on their knees and hands. Though, being on all four, the person was still swaying, head hanging down. The shirt and pants were ripped, covered in blood and what else. I was looking long and hard, till I recognized that person as Callie, mainly because of the radio, that was still over her shoulder, around her back and front. Her radio was emitting the static noise.

"Callie!" I called out in relief of seeing her alive

Her right hand lifted up from the ground, left palm still remained pressed to the ground, as if she was trying to maneuver her body to a more upwards position. Her left leg moved as well just slightly to have a better balance. She swayed, groaned and breathed heavily. But Callie had managed to get up to her feet. Though, never had I ever seen her look so unstable, so much swaying in spot. Her right arm hung limp beside her, she was putting her weight of her right leg as well.

The right half of her face was red. The one injury I was certain off was the one on the side of her right temple and forehead as I saw blood still oozing out, continuing to cover her right side of the face and dropping down to her clothes. She looked absolutely horrific, completely out of it, confused, exhausted, with unclear mind and still in shock.

"You're bleeding," I found the words leaving my mouth as I ran up to her. Useless, I know, saying the obvious. Yet I still said it. As strange as it was, I found bleeding a good sign. It meant that she was live. Her body was still pumping blood through her veins. Keeping her alive. And alive was good. It's what I need her to be. We can overcome any injury, she just have to stay alive. Breathing. Long enough for us to get through this rough phase.

She hadn't acknowledged me as if she hadn't heard me. When she looked at me, her eyes looked through me as if she did not see me stand in front of her. Eyes unfocused.

Callie turned her head, to look at the damage around. To the other injured people. To the source of the explosion. Her left arm raised up and pointed at a direction and she muttered something incoherent. When she put her palm up against her own forehead, she felt the blood. Pulling her hand back, she looked at her own palm, that was covered in her own blood.

Her mouth moved again, but she said nothing that I could understand. The one word I did manage to catch was wave. But what came before or after will probably remain a mystery forever.

Once again, she swayed in her spot. Instinctively, I grabbed her by the shirt, to make sure she doesn't fall and hurt herself even more. With her right, she was searching for something steady to hold on to. Then slowly and steady I helped her sit down.

"Let's lay you down," I told her as I slowly and steadily, keeping my hands on both side of her waist guided towards a sitting position on the ground. Once in the sitting position, her upper body gravitated towards the ground as well.

Placing my hands on her neck, I lowered her head down to the ground "That's it...nice and easy." Keeping my hands on both side of her neck, I made sure her head was stabilized and still as possible. My thumbs resting under her chin, fingers on the side of her neck.

Her eyes kept darting around, though not sure what she was looking for.

It sounded like the word sound and wave and go was said this time. But I could not understand what she meant by it, what she was trying to say.

"Shh, sssh, shhh," I hummed softly as I kept watching her "I know you are really confused and scared right now, and that's okay, love. I am really scared too. But I got you. You hear me, I got you. I'm not going anywhere. You're not going anywhere as well, Callie. I'm going to stay right here with you. And when the paramedics come, I'm going to go with you. I'm not leaving you alone. I'm right here. Keep looking at me, love."

I felt something touch my left arm. Looking down, I saw her bloody hand gripping my foreamr. She was holding on to me for dear life. Though her grip wasn't as half as strong as it could be any other time of the day.

I choked back the lump in my throat and forced to look back at her eyes "I'm here, pumpkin. I'm here. Stay with me," I continued to speak to her as we waited for help to come.

Raising my head up, I heard sirens in the distance. Help was coming. We just had to wait.

But what arrived first, wasn't anyone that I had anticipated.

I saw Duke, sniffing the ground, making his way towards us. His leash, dragging beside him on the ground. He sniffed around us as if checking us out. Duke licked my face, but then turned to Callie. After a couple of sniffs around Callie, Duke looked to me and whimpered, as if asking me what happened.

"I know, boy. I know," I whispered to him. Duke looked back at Callie and whimpered some more. I think he didn't understand, why Callie wasn't excited to see him. Why wasn't she paying any attention to him. He was right here, next to her. And she didn't even raise a hand to pet him once on the head. To scratch his ear.

Duke walked to the other side and laid down by Callie's side. As the loyal dog that he was, he didn't leave her side. With his muzzle he gently pushed at Callie's palm nudging her.

And Callie did react to him "Duke..." I heard her say weakly. I watched as she rested her left palm on top of Duke's head. Duke wriggled away from her touch for a moment, only to lick her palm a couple of times, before allowing her hand to find the top of his head again and her fingers to dig into his soft fur, seeking comfort.

AN: The end is kind of dedicated to my dog. My black Labrador has actually saved me from getting bit by an angry neighbors dog, who was trying to attack me by stepping between me and the other dog. Also, the one time that I had passed out from too high blood pressure, I woke up to my dog licking my face and lying next to me.

Dogs truly are our best friends.

Also, this goes without saying. Thank you to those who are still with me and support me even after all this time.