September 10, 2001

Nick walked down the hall of the hotel to his room. He walked in and saw Brizee talking on the phone.

      Okay, Jane, see you tomorrow, bye, Brizee said hanging up.

      Whats up, Nick said.

      Im going to LA with Daniel, since hes going home to be with Kellie, Im going to go and see your mother, she wants to see how her first grandchild is doing, Brizee said rubbing her tummy.

      Girl, you know what that does to me, Nick said.

      Oh really, what does it do, Brizee said smiling.

      It makes me want you, Nick said pulling her close. He moved her gently over to the bed and she laid down and he gently laid on top of her bracing himself over her so he wouldnt squish her or her stomach. He kissed her deeply and moved to her neck.

      Nicky, please, Brizee said. He pulled her close off and she pulled his off and they made love. Afterwards, he laid there holding her.

      How long are you going to stay in LA? Nick asked.

      Just a week, Brizee said.

      Ill miss you, Nick said.

      Nicky, Ill be fine, youll be fine, just think of how much the reunion will be when I get back, Brizee said.      I love you, Nick said.

      I love you, too, Brizee said. They kissed. 

The next morning, Nick, AJ, and Howies buses left Boston for Canada.  They were stopped at the border and got checked and they went on.  Nick turned on the TV and saw the World Trade Center towers on fire.  The buses arrived in Toronto. They went into the hotel and met up in Nicks room and continued watching the news.  Nick went to the bathroom.  AJ and Howie listened and found out which flights went into the towers.  They looked at each other.

      Oh man, AJ said.

      How do we tell him? Howie said.

      Tell me what, Nick said walking into the room.

      Um, we found out which flights crashed into the towers, AJ said.

      Nick, they both were bound for LA, Howie said.

      Lots of flights leave for LA from Boston, Nick said. Howie looked at AJ.

      Kaos, what flight number was Briz and Daniel on? AJ asked.

      Flight 11, why, Nick said. AJ pointed to the TV and Nick watched as they watched a replay of the flight hitting the North Tower.

      Flight 11 hit the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. this morning, the flight was bound for LA, the TV reporter said.  Howie and AJ looked at Nick.

      No, shes okay, I know it, shes fine, she missed the plane, she had to have missed it, Nick said. Howie called Kevin and talked to him. He hung up and looked at Nick. Nick looked at him.

      Nick, Kevin was at the airport and he saw Briz and Daniel get on that flight, they headed to the gate as Kevin left, so as far as he knows, they were on that flight, Howie said.

      NO! Nick said burying his face in his hands. Howie hugged him.

      Im sorry, Nick, Howie said.

      My baby! Nick cried.  AJ joined the hug.  Nick wen and laid down on the bed and cried. Howie and AJ looked at each other.

      What are we going to do, AJ said.

      There is no way hell recover from this, she was the love of his life and the mother of his unborn child, he wont recover, he wont be the same, Howie said.

      She was my best friend, D, she believed in me when no one else did, she forgave me when I hurt her, she made me realize that I needed help with my drinking problem, AJ said.

      She was everyones best friend, Howie said.

      We have to be there for Nick, this is going to be really hard for him, AJ said.

      Yeah, I know, Howie said. They sat down and continued watching the news while Nick cried himself to sleep. Howies cell phone rang.

      Hello, Howie said.

      D, its Kev, Brian and I are at the border, Kevin said. Howie looked at Nick.

      Um, Kev, did you hear the news? Howie said.

      Yeah, we have been watching it, Kevin said.

      Nicks falling apart here, we all know why, Howie said. Kevin wiped his tears back.

      Yeah, Theresa is really upset and so is Britt, is there any way to know for sure that Briz was on that flight, because when I left, she and Daniel were heading to the gate but she might have ran for the bathroom or something, I tried calling but cant get through, Kevin said.  Howie sighed.

      I can keep trying, Nick cried himself to sleep so hell be out for awhile, Howie said.

      I cant believe this happened, who would do such a thing, Kevin said.

      I dont know, but I hope they pay for what they did, killing all those innocent people, that is so wrong, Howie said.

      I gotta go, man, see you when we get up there, Kevin said.

      Okay, man, Howie said.

      Take care of little bro, Kevin said.

      AJ and I are here with him, he wont be alone, Howie said.

      Bye man, Kevin said.