Hey guys, if you didn't know, today is the 20th anniversary of 9/11. In honor of 9/11, I wrote a newsies au! This has literally nothing to do with the book, but this'll replace this weeks chap.

Much of these plots are based on real stories. I'll put links to the news report and I'll make another chap for the real stories.

I hope you guys enjoy!

6:40 AM EDT

"Today's my off day!" Davey grinned, leaning back on the coach.

"Mhm..." Jack kissed Davey's cheek, snuggling into the taller boy's side.

Suddenly, Jack's phone rang, making the twenty-five year old groan.

"Hello?" Jack huffed. "Race what do you-"

"I need a pep talk Jackie." Race stood in front of a mirror, fixing his bright yellow tie.

"For what?" Jack squeezed his eyebrows up in confusion.

"For the business meeting I've been talking about for weeks?" Race snapped. "You know, the one that if it goes right will pay for all the materials we need in the lab?"

"....oh...right." Jack blinked, still not remembering.

The twenty-three-year-old let out a long sign, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Just put Dave on the line."

"Why didn't you call him then!" Jack whined.

"Jack!" Race hissed. "I don't have time for your b*llsh*t!"

"Alright, alright!" Jack rolled his eyes. "There, you're on speaker."

"Hi Race!" Davey smiled down at the phone, even if the boy on the other line couldn't see.

"Dave- I'm real nervous. What if I mess up?"

"You won't, I promise." Davey reassured.

"What?" Jack frowned. "When did Davey take over the role of big brother?"

"It's not my fault you weren't helping!" Race's voice raised in frustration.

"I was trying!" Jack crossed his arms.

"No you weren't." Race's face contorted into one of a wounded puppy. "Jack, this is such a big meeting for me! I just- I hoped you would care enough to take it seriously..."

Jack stayed silent, not a single sound leaving his mouth.

"...I'll see you guys later then. After work? With Albie and Charlie?"

"Yeah, see you Race." Davey held the phone up, about to end the call. "Good luck."

Race sighed, wiping the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes.

"I ruin everything, don't I?" Jack buried his face into his hands.

"I'm sure Race'll understand you just wanted a break." Davey rubbed Jack's back comfortingly. "You'll make it up to him, maybe spend some bonding time this weekend."

"That's so far away!" Jack whined.

"I know." Davey cracked a grin. "Katherine says her students are more tired on a Tuesday than a Monday."

>>>||<<<

8:45 AM EDT

"You're such a scaredy-cat!" Jack teased lovingly.

"Shut up!" Davey flushed bright red, still hiding his face in the pillows as the movie continued.

"Don't be embarrassed." Jack beamed. "I think it's cute."

This only made Davey flush more, burying himself in a pillow pile up to his middle back.

The phone rang.

"Hey! Maybe it's Race!" Jack immediately shot up, running to his boyfriends phone.

He paused, looking at the screen sadly.

"Jack? Who is it?" Davey paused the movie.

"...it's your boss." Jack handed the phone to the taller boy, sadness overcoming him.

"Don't worry." Davey kissed Jack softly. "They have more than enough men on board today, I'm sure it's nothing."

Davey answered his phone, his smile slipping of his face quickly.

"I'll be right there."

Without sparing a question, Davey grabbed Jack's hand. Dragging him to their bedroom as he grabbed his gear.

"Dave, what's happening?" Jack looked at his lover in concern.

"J- Jack." Davey's wide eyes met Jack's, his hand shaking. "What- what tower was Race's meeting at?"

"The south one, why?" Jack furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

Davey let out a short sigh, but his hand was still shaking.

Jack grabbed the taller boy's hands, looking up at him in concern.

"Dave, what's happening?"

"Some- some terrible accident." Davey's eyes darted around the room wide eyed, as if a plane would hit them too. "A- a plain crashed into the North tower."

"What!?" Jack jumped back. "Dave! You need to be there."

"I know!" Davey grabbed his bag, nearly running out the door. "I love you."

He stopped, pressing his lips to Jack's most likely more than he was supposed too.

"I love you too." Jack wiped hair out of his lovers face.

"I have to go now!" Davey dashed out the door.

The first thing Jack did was turn on the news, eyes widening.

What the h*ll?

He watched as the tip of the tower burned helplessly.

>>>||<<<

8:46 AM EDT

"So, with these physics you can see why this solution would work." Albert used a pointer to show what he was talking about.

"Anthony, do you have anything to add." Pulitzer ringed his fingers together, thinking carefully.

"Well..." Race gulped, standing up and smoothing out his suit briefly. "To back up what DaSilva stated-"

BOOM

"What the f*** is that?" Pulitzer stood up.

"EVERYONE QUIET DOWN" The security guard on the floor yelled.

"What's going on?" Race turned to Albert in worry.

"I got no clue." Albert shrugged.

"Keep calm everyone!" The guard shouted, which for a record, did nothing to calm anyone's nerves. "The North tower was just hit by a plane, most likely and accident."

"Who wouldn't see a giant a** tower in their way?" Blink scoffed.

"I'm sure everything is going to be okay." Mush breathed sharply.

"Yeah." Race smiled wearily. "Let's um- continue the presentation?"

>>>||<<<

9:03 AM EDT

Jack watched, slowly breathing in and out.

When he suddenly saw a big explosion again.

From the South Tower.

"THE SOUTH TOWER WAS JUST HIT! IT WAS JUST HIT!" The reporter screamed.

"NO!" Jack jumped up, racing to find his phone. "Where did I- where- where-" tears came to his eyes as he ran around the apartment.

>>>|<<<

9:03 AM EDT

"I think you've got yourselves a deal!" Pulitzer smiled warmly.

"D-" Race was cut off by a loud bang, followed by violent shaking.

"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK, EVERYONE GET OUT OF HERE!" The security guard yelled, guiding everyone to the staircase.

Race's eyes widened in fear as Albert grabbed him by the arm, dragging him along.

"Hurry up Racer!" Albert dragged the twenty-three-year-old through.

"I have to talk to Jack." Race felt tears whelm in his eyes as he quickly dialed the number.

>>>|<<<

Jack heard his phone ring from the kitchen.

As fast as he could, he ran there, answering.

"Race!" Jack let out a sigh of relief. "You're okay!"

"I'm scared Jackie." Race cried, continuing to run down the flights of stairs. "We're on floor seventy!"

"Shhh. Shh." Jack silenced the younger boy. "It's gonna be okay Racer." A sob left his mouth. "It's gonna be alright kiddo."

"I- I remember you telling me that when we were little." Race chuckled sadly.

"Hurry up Higgins!" Was heard from the other line.

"You uh- you used to tell me that when I had a bad dream."

"Just keep going." Jack urged. "Davey's there, Davey'll be there."

"Dave's here too?" Race whispered.

"Of course kid." Jack cracked a smile. "He's always here for you."

"So are you." Tears rolled down Race's cheeks. "I love you so much Jackie, I'm sorry for arguing with you this morning."

"Shh, it's alright." Jack silenced the younger boy. "I'm sorry too, just- just focus on getting down those stairs. Cardio, right?"

"Right." Race sniffed, whipping his eyes. "I gotta go now Jackie."

"I love you." Jack choked up. "I love you so, so, so, much Racer."

"I love you too Jackie." Race's voice broke. "You, Jack Kelly, are the best big brother ever, know that?"

"I know you're the most pestering little brother ever." Jack smiled through his tears.

When he heard the call hang up he collapsed.

>>>|<<<

"That was your brother?" Albert asked quietly.

"Yeah." Race sniffled.

"I have a little brother." Albert admitted. "Romeo, is his name. I hope I can see him again."

"You aren't gonna die." Race put his arm around the older boy's shoulder. "I won't let you."

"Don't say that." Albert brushed his arm off.

>>>|<<<

9:55 AM EDT

By the time they reached the tenth floor, Race had seen Davey.

"DAVEY!" Race threw his arms around the older boy.

"Race come on, you need to get out of here!" Davey took note of the shaky structure.

"Not without you!" Race protested, Albert waiting for him.

"Race, it's my job." Davey stroked the younger boy's hair gently for a moment.

"Come back down with us, you can check for survivors on the bottom floor." Race begged.

"Listen to the kid, Jacobs." The Chief smiled warmly. "It ain't even your work day."

"Are you sure?" Davey's eyebrows rose in questioning.

"Positive," the chief grinned.

"Let's go," Race dragged Albert and Davey down.

>>>||<<<

9:58 AM EDT

"We're out, let's-" Albert stepped out of the building, but his eyes widened when he saw gusts of smoke billow down.

"THE TOWER'S COLLAPSING!" Davey screamed. "RUN!"

Everyone within the vicinity began to run when Race heard a small voice.

"Mommy? Where's my mommy!" Race turned and saw a small girl behind him.

"RACE-" Davey's eyes widened was he turned around to see the blonde running back. "RACE NO!" Davey shrieked, beginning to run back when strong arms stopped him.

"I CAN'T LET YOU GO BACK DAVE!" Albert hugged the taller boy's abdomen, stopping him from moving.

"RACE!" Davey cried, watching as the blonde disappeared into smoke.

"We have to keep going!" Albert dragged the taller boy.

"Why would you do that!?" Davey sobbed. "We can'- we can't just let him die!"

"Race is my best friend!" Albert continued to drag the brown-haired-boy, "I sure as h*ll ain't gonna let his brother-figure get killed too! I owe it to him."

"In here!" Someone beckoned them inside a garage.

Davey's vision was blurred as he wiped his eyes furiously.

"He's an idiot!" The he cried.

"I know." A tear slid down Albert's cheek. "I know."

>>>|<<<

9:58 AM EDT

"We're as close as we can get to the World Trade Center." The reporter gestured to the building behind him while Jack chewed on all his fingernails. "As you can see, everything's smokin- OH MY GOD! THE SOUTH TOWER IS COMING DOWN!"

"No." Jack whispered, dialing Race's number immediately.

The phone kept ringing.

And ringing.

Jack didn't care if Race hadn't answered yet.

"RACE!" Jack screamed at his phone. "PICK UP! RACE, KID. YOU BETTER BE OKAY I SWEAR!"

He covered his mouth as a sob escaped his lips.

"Please be okay. Please. Please. I just- I need you to be okay. I love you so much Race please."

That became his chant. "Please. Please. Please."

His eyes snapped open when he heard a familiar voice.

"THE TOWERS COLLAPSING! RUN!" A voice screamed.

Davey's voice.

His lovers voice.

Jack let out a sigh of relief when he saw the blonde-haired boy behind him.

His breath hitched however, when he saw his brother run back, scooping up a little girl in his arms. Smoke quickly surrounded them.

Then nothing.

"Race." Jack whimpered, eyes trained on the T.V. looking for anything.

"RACE!" A heart wrenching scream was yelled into the silence. The camera immediately panned to Jack's lover. "RACE NO!"

Jack had never been more grateful for Albert. He'd owe the redhead for life for keeping his lover safe.

And before he knew it, the camera was moving again.

He knew who he needed to call.

>>>|<<<

Katherine's phone rang, making her roll her eyes as the middle-schoolers laughed.

"One second class." Katherine put down the smart board marker.

"Yes Ms. Plumber." The class collectively responded.

"Jack?" Katherine picked up.

"Oooo." A couple of kids went. "Ms. Plumber has a boyfriend!?"

"Katherine!" Jack cried. "Please- please I don't know who to talk to! Please Kath-"

"Jack slow down." Katherine's eyes scrunched up. "I'm in class."

"HE'S GONE!" Jack sobbed. "MY LITTLE BROTHER'S GONE!"

"Charlie?" Was Katherine's immediate reaction.

"No." Jack's voice seemed to stop working. "Racer."

That punched Katherine in the gut.

Jack always referred to Charlie as his little brother, even though he and Race also had a decent age gap, Katherine knew Jack thought of his brother as an equal.

"What happened?" Katherine blinked tears out of her eyes.

"New York." Jack choked. "Under attack!"

"What!?" Katherine jumped.

"The world trade center!" Jack sniffed. "Both towers collapsed!"

"They what!?" Katherine's eyes widened in shock.

"Tell your class." Jack wiped his eyes. "I don't- I don't want them to feel like they've been punched in the gut on surprise."

Katherine nodded in understanding.

"I'll call you back, Jack."

When Katherine returned to the front of the room, the class was silent.

They could tell something was wrong.

Katherine cleared her throat.

"I just got a very important phone call, from a dear friend... and..." Katherine choked back tears. "A very important building in New York City was attacked- it just- it just collapsed."

Class questions immediately bursted out.

"Yes Peter?" Katherine asked the six-grader.

"Did you know someone there? Is that why you're sad Ms. plumber?"

Katherine smiled softly at the smart boy.

"Yes, one of my close friends was there." Katherine turned to answer another question as she felt tears come to her eyes.

"I hope his family is okay." River pointed out.

"I hope they are too," Katherine forced a smile before turning to another girl. "Sophia?"

"What building collapsed?" She tilted her head to the side.

"The world trade center."

"Oh that's good." Sophia sighed. "Because my papa works at the twin towers!"

Katherine felt the air knocked out from her lungs.

The next second, the girl was pulled from the classroom as the loudspeakers went on.

"Boys and girls." The principal cleared her throat. "The world trade center in New York City was under attach. We- we understand if parents would like to pick you up. Please wait for further instruction."

>>>||<<<

11:32 PM EDT

Jack heard the apartment door click open.

"I- I couldn't save him." Davey whispered.

"Oh Davey." Jack raced up, hugging the taller boy.

"I couldn't save Race." Davey spoke up louder.

"Shh." Jack ran his fingers through the dark locks. "You're alive. I'm grateful for that."

"But I didn't save Race." Davey pointed out.

"I love Race so much," Jack cupped Davey's face in his hands. "but I'm so grateful Albert held you back. I- I-" a tear rolled down his face. "I couldn't handle losing both of you."

"Tomorrow we're gonna check for survivors." Davey held his head high. "I know we'll find him. I just-" His voice broke. "He- he has to still be alive."

"Dave," A tear rolled down Jack's cheek. "please don't get my hopes up."

"I won't give up Jackie." Davey spoke with such determination that Jack believed every word.

>>>||<<<

6:00 AM EDT

Charlie flew in from Santa Fe.

By this time, Jack had been curled up in a blanket on the couch, watching the news.

"Jack?" A soft knock came from the apartment door.

Normally Charlie's knock was quiet, not ever aggressive. This one, however, sounded like it came from a mouse.

"Coming." Jack winced, hearing his hoarse voice for the first time since this morning.

"Hey." Charlie immediately hugged his older brother, burying his face into the crook of his neck. "I heard what happened. My flight got canceled so I booked the first flight out."

"I miss him." Jack cried, wrapping his arms around the younger boy.

"I know Jackie." Charlie sniffed. "Me too."

"Stupid heroic blondes!" Jack huffed.

"Do you- do you think talking about him will help?" Charlie questioned.

"...maybe?" Jack slowly released his hug.

"Come on." Charlie dragged Jack to the couch. "You remember when we bought this? Before you and Davey moved in we were picking out furniture already."

"He did a test flop on every couch." Jack laughed sadly.

"And when he saw it, he knew this was the one." Charlie beamed.

"Race insisted on buying it." Jack snorted. "It stayed in his apartment for like, three months?"

"He always had a good taste in furniture." Charlie smiled softly, but it slowly slipped off his face.

Had.

Past tense.

A loud sob escaped from the twenty-two-year-old's mouth.

"Hey, hey what's wrong." Jack wrapped an arm around the younger boy.

"I miss him." Charlie sobbed. "I miss Tony!"

"Shh." Jack let the pale-skinned boy curl up into his side. "I do too. We all do."

"Who would do this?" Charlie looked up at Jack. "Who would want to cause people pain?"

"I don't know." Jack shook his head.

"It's just-" Charlie didn't bother to wipe his tears. "Race is one of the most kind-hearted people in this whole city! I- I saw him go back for that little girl! I saw him!" Charlie cried. "Why did God let him die?"

"Hey, hey maybe God decided Race was to good down here, you know?" Jack theorized quietly, tears slipping down his face.

"He didn't deserve it!" Charlie kept repeating. "He didn't deserve to die!"

"I don't like Crutches!" Charlie whined, staring down at his broken leg with discontent.

"You have to use them!" Jack ordered the younger boy.

"Hey." Race gently took Charlie's crutches. "Look! It can be fun!" He swung around the back yard, having the time of his life. "See!"

"I guess it can be fun." Charlie hesitantly took the crutches back.

>>>|<<<

"Race, I'm gonna fail this test!" Charlie cried, burying his face in his arms.

"No you're not." The blonde-haired-boy gently lifting up the younger boy's head. "Cause I'm going to help you!"

"Really?" Charlie's eyes shined with delight.

"Really." Race smiled.

>>>|<<<

"Can we get a popsicle?" Race sighed.

"No." Jack rolled his eyes.

"Why not?" Race whined. "It's so hot in the city! That makes everything freaking smell!"

"Mamma said we can't!" Jack protested.

"That's never stopped us before!" Race rolled his eyes.

"Do you really want to end up at another foster home!" Jack snapped. "This time we could actually get separated!"

"Medda already adopted us." Race wagged his pointer finger in Jack's face. "No take backsies!"

"Race, I am not walking five blocks to get us Italian Ices!" Jack huffed, pushing Race's finger away.

"Who said I wanted Italian Ices?" Race cracked a grin.

"You're either allergic or you hate everything else." Jack rolled his eyes fondly.

"Hey Charlie!" Race called across the apartment. "You want a popsicle?"

"Did you say popsicle?" Charlie opened the door to Jack and Race's room.

"Kill me!" Jack groaned.

>>>|<<<

Jack woke up to screaming.

A blood curdling scream.

"Race?" Jack climbed up to the top bunk.

"No! Don't hurt me!" The blonde-haired-boy thrashed around in his sleep.

"Race." Jack shook the younger boy awake.

"STOP!" Race begged.

"ANTHONY!" Jack yelled, waking the twelve-year-old.

Race breathed heavily, wide blue eyes darting around the room until his eyes met Jack's.

"Jack!" Race collapsed onto the older boy, sobbing hard. "Jack I'm scared."

"It's going to be okay." Jack ran his fingers through the blonde curls. "You're gonna be okay."

"I don't like foster homes." Race cried. "I don't like Mr. Snyder!"

"Shhh." Jack held the younger boy close. "You're not there anymore. You're not there."

Race let out a loud sob, burying his head into Jack's shoulder.

"You're with me now Racer." Jack kissed the top of his head. "You know I love you."

"I love you too Jackie."

>>>|<<<

"Race? You home?" Jack opened the apartment door slowly.

Silence.

"I don't know why you don't want me to meet your family." Davey rolled his eyes.

"You don't want to meet them." Jack chuckled. "They're crazy."

"Jackie?" A quiet voice responded.

"You should go Dave." Jack immediately tried shoving his boyfriend out the door.

"No! I want to meet your-" Davey stopped when a younger blonde-haired-boy stepped out, a black eye and other bruises littered his his face.

"What're you-" Jack turned around and immediately went brother mode. "Race! What happened!?"

"The- the Delanceys." Race mumbled. "You're with your boyfriend it's alrigh-"

"No! We need to treat those wounds before they get infected!" Jack immediately ran to get the first aid kit.

"Hey," Davey waved shyly to the fifteen-year-old.

"Sorry for crashing your date." Race spoke quietly.

"No, no, it's alright." Davey gave him a smile that made Race want to smile too.

In that moment Davey decided he was adopting Jack's little brothers as his own too.

>>>|<<<

1:23 PM EDT

When Jack thought he and Charlie had no more tears to cry, he got a phone call.

"Hello?" Jack answered, his voice soft.

"Is this Jack Kelly?" The voice of a lady echoed through the phone.

"...yes...why?" Jack scrunched his eyebrows up.

"Do you know anyone by the name of...Race....Higgins?" The lady sounded unsure, as if she pieced the name together.

"Yes?" Jack jumped. "Is he alive? Is my little brother okay!?"

With this Charlie jumped up too.

Silence echoed the other line.

"I'm sorry."

Jack felt his heart synch.

"We're just a news channel." The lady sounded sympathetic.

"...oh." Jack's smile dropped off his face. "...I'm sorry- I just- sorry."

"It's alright dear." The woman went back to business. "We're putting together a news report of 9/11? Our cameraman got your brother on camera running back to save a little girl? We think that was pretty heroic."

"That's my brother." Jack laughed sadly.

When he thought he couldn't cry anymore, tears came to his eyes.

"We also got footage from a survivor of Mr. Higgins calling you while they ran down the stairs, is that correct?"

"Y- yes." Jack choked, trying to hide the sob that came after that.

"I'm so sorry for your loss." The woman shook her head, even if he couldn't see her. "I know this must be so hard for you, but... do you think you can come to talk about your brother? For remembrance? Maybe people can see they aren't alone."

"If it'll help people I'll do it." Jack nodded.

"Oh thank you!" The woman rejoiced. "Do you think you can come in tomorrow?"

"Sure, what time." Jack wiped his eyes.

"Maybe twelve? At our headquarters between **** and ****."

"Who was that?" Charlie questioned.

"Some news station wanted to talk- to talk about Racer." Jack cracked a small smile. "He would've bragged about this for weeks."

Charlie grinned sadly. "I'm glad people care about him- about the people who lived the tragedy."

"Me too." Jack nodded.

>>>||<<<

12:27 AM EDT

The door to the apartment creaked open.

"Davey?" Jack sat up from bed, rubbing his eyes.

"Hi Jack." Davey looked so defeated, so worn out.

"Come on." Jack brushed the dust off of Davey's clothes. "Let's get you cleaned."

Once Jack made Davey sit in the bath tub, he filled it all the way to the top with water. Dumping in a heck ton of bubble soap in the tub, then on Davey's head.

"How was it?" Jack questioned softly, massaging the soap through Davey's hair.

"You wanna know how many people we found alive?" Davey choked up. "We found twenty three. Twenty three people alive."

Jack paused, a tear slipping down his face.

From Davey's actions he knew Race was gone.

He knew he'd never see his little brother smile again.

>>>||<<<

11:59 AM EDT

The next day Jack found himself about to enter a news set, cameras about to be shoved in his face.

"We're just gonna ask you some questions, okay kid?" The lady he talked to on the phone, Debra, told him.

"Al- alright." Jack looked weary as he sat down on one of their chairs.

"We are back everyone!" Debra smiled warmly at the camera. "As of now we are joined by Jack Kelly, the brother of one of the victims from 9/11."

"...hi." Jack waved shyly at the camera.

"Now Jack." Debra turned to the younger boy. "Your brother Race was working at the tower yesterday, correct."

Jack nodded.

"What did he do for a living?" Debra questioned.

"He- he was a scientist." Jack wrung his fingers together.

"What was he doing at the twin towers then?" Debra scrunched her eyebrows up in confusion.

"He- uh." Jack blinked back tears. "He was there for a business meeting. His lab needed funds for materials for their project."

"You love him very much, don't you." Debra grabbed the younger boy's hands.

Jack nodded, trying so hard to resist the burning feeling in his eyes.

"He was my little brother." Jack desperately tried not to cry. "I just- I wish I could tell him how much I love him."

"You can." Debra pointed behind the camera, to which a blonde-haired-boy wobbled in. Accompanied by an overgrown tree.

"Oh my god." Jack's jaw dropped, hands immediately going to his mouth.

"Heya Jack." Race smiled softly.

Jack pushed the chair back, not caring for the loud sound it made when it tipped over.

"Is it you? Are you real?" Jack cupped the younger boy's face in his hands.

"It's me." Race nodded, tears strolling down his cheeks. "It's me Jack."

"You're okay." Jack cried, hugging the younger boy tightly. "I thought I'd never see you again- I thought- I thought you were gone." He didn't care if the camera's were pointed at them.

He just knew he had his brother back.

"You can't get rid of me that easily." Race smiled up at his older brother, tears shining in his bright blue eyes.

"I love you." Jack whispered. "I love you so much Race."

"I love you too Jack." Race buried his face into Jack's shoulder.

"And you!" Jack gently shoved Davey, his arm still wrapped around Race. "You knew and you didn't tell me!"

"I wanted to surprise you." Davey smiled softly.

"You b*stard!" Jack laughed through his tears.

>>>||<<<

12:47 PM EDT

"Charlie, we're home." Race shook the younger boy awake.

"Lemme sleep Race." Charlie pushed the blonde-haired-boy away. "WAIT!" He jumped up. "RACE?!"

"Hey Charlie." Race smiled.

SLAP.

"Hey!" Race whined. "What was that for!?"

"Is this a dream?" Charlie stared down at his hands. "Is this- is this some sick joke? JACK?" He turned to the older boy. "Did you- did you pick up a clone on the street or something!?"

"I didn't." Jack shook his head, laughing softly.

"Tony?" Charlie cried. "Please tell me it's you."

"It's me Charlie. It's me."

Charlie's eyes whelmed with tears, jumping up to hug the older boy.

"Don't do that to me again." Charlie cried. "I don't care if a puppy is gonna die! Don't save it!"

"Okay," Race laughed. "I promise to never be a good person again."

"Good." Charlie nodded. "Cold blooded things live longer anyways."

"They do?" Race questioned.

"No, I'm just making it up so you don't play hero again."

"Hey, the little girl got reunited with her mother." Race defended. "My broken leg is totally worth it." He glanced down at his boot.

"Alright mister hero." Charlie pulled away from his hug.

"What do you say for some bro-time this weekend." Jack laughed, slinging his arms around his younger brothers.

"It's already Thursday, why wait?" Race beamed.

"I'm down." Charlie smiled. "Just so long as we go to that Italian Ices place!"

"Deal." Jack grinned.

I hope you guys liked today's chap <3 PLEASE READ BELLOW! PLEASE!

Rest in peace all of those souls who were lost during 9/11.

Katherine's story from 9/11, the one where the little girls father worked at the twin towers? That story actually happened to my ELA teacher. It was her first day as a student teacher and she said that was the first question she was asked as a teacher. Don't worry though! The little girl's father was actually late for work that day! So he is all right <3

The news report story was based off of an actual news report. One of my best friends dad was the cameraman!

Unrelated story, but my favorite teacher I've ever had lost her twin during 9/11.

I'll link the rest of my resources later!

Please be safe you guys. 9/11 is such an impactful thing and it means so much to me as I lived in New York for a while, and my teachers would tell their stories every year of how terrified they were, and how at least one kid in all of their classes lost someone.

Love you guys <3

This is Izzy,
Over and out!