chapter 2

"Brooks where is our back up we can't wait any longer," I told him. "You right let go," he said. He took the point and I follow his lead. He had the shotgun while I have my standard issues 9M. We saw people running and other people carrying the wounded. I directed them to the gate and told them help was on the way. I radio for the medic to help the injured. Then a second container blows up. Fuck and I duck for cover. It wasn't close by but still had to take cover in case anything went flying your way. I look over from my cover and saw Brooks helping women to cover. She didn't look so well and I was going to get to her but then a few rows over another bomb went off. This one was big and I felt the explosion even though I was far away from it. I felt the shock wave and drop to my knees to brace for it. I saw brooks do the same thing. This was the largest and I hope it was the last. There were three total and we needed to get the injured out. I wasn't going to wait for backup but I knew I had to. I call out to brooks and ask what to do. I was the rookie and he was in charge. "Go out and help those who aren't badly hurt and call for more back up now!" he yelled at me and I quickly radio for more help and explain the situation. Within minutes there was a helicopter overhead and more uniforms running about. They took the sweet damn time coming I thought.

As more uniform guys come on since I went to go find Brooks and help him find more people that were badly hurt and needed some help moving. I saw an LAPD and a hospital chopper fly back going off in the direction of the hospital. I made it to the triage that was set up by the front gate and started my search for Brooks. A few minutes later I find him with some cuts on his face and arms. "What happened?" I ask him. "I was thrown a bit back when the third bomb went off and hit some wood boxes, I'll be fine," he said with a smirk. Well at least he's not dead or I'll be out of a partner. After he pitched up when went in scare for more people who survive the explosions and find those who did not. We radio in and told them how many were lost and where to find them. There weren't as many dead as there were alive. A Lot of people made it out but some were severely injured. Today was going to be a long day filling out paperwork and giving statements but for right now I help those who needed it.

A few hours later and then about a dozen or so people left waiting for transport to the local hospitals and the cops searching the shipping yard for any clues. I wanted to stay and help but my body was in need of rest. Brooks and I drove back to headquarters and did our paperwork. It was close to two in the morning when I called it quits and change out of uniform and walked to my car. I got in and drove home. There wasn't much traffic and it was a fast ride home. I shower and ate and went to sleep. I had about four hours before my shift started and I wasn't looking forward to it. I already made some overtime and now I was rethinking my career choice. But I knew in my heart that this is what I live for, that this is who I am and that will never change. I felt sleep pull me under and I let it claim me. I didn't dream of anything and when I awoke my alarm was going off. I got up and got ready for work and drive there. I walked to the second floor and when to the conference room and waited for Brooks and the other officers to come in. soon everyone was here and the meeting was about to begin. "ok listen up after yesterday explosions the city was on high alert for any more threats." said our chief. I look over to see Brooks and Josh's partner talking to each other. I look over and saw Josh standing in the back taking everything in. soon the chief stop talking and dismiss us without assignments. I needed to finish the paperwork from yesterday but that would just have to wait. Brooks and I were going to back to the shipper years and help the detectives working the case. It was our job to tell him where the bombs went off and how close we were to them. Brooks and I took the squad car 5478 out and I drove to the shipper yard. We met the detective that was working the case. His name was Mike Kaller. He was wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt. He was an ok looking guy but needed to stop wearing the cheap cologne that I could smell.

After talking to them I could feel his eyes watching me. This guy was a creep and I wasn't going to stay long to find out creepy he can be. But I had to stay and work with him. I had to put up with him staring at me and I hated it. After going through the play by play with him he asks me some questions that weren't related to the case and I ignore it. He was started to piss me off but then his partner asks us to show them around the area. Brooks took Mike's partner and I was mad as hell. He thought he can help this guy get a hookup.

I lead the way to where the third and final bomb went off. I lead him to where I was at when it went off then show him the container that it went off it. He seems to be studying it and taking more crime scene photos to get a better understanding of it. He then started asking me questions about the first explosion and how big it was then the second and third. I told him the first and last were the biggest and the second seem to lapse into something smaller like it caved in on itself. He nodded and took what I said into understanding. He asks me more questions about it until Brooks radio us to go to his location and to call for the medics. We rush over and I told Mike to lead the Emts to us when they got here. I nodded and went running for them and I took off to where Brooks was. "Brooks what's wrong" I yelled when I saw him. "We got someone here. There still breathing" he yells back.

Make my way over to him and sure enough, there was a kid here. She looks bad. How did we miss this yesterday? She was covered in dried blood and had burns are most of her small body. She was breathing and I went close to her. Soon Mike was back with the Emts and they took care of her. I radio back to let the other know what we find and now they are sending more uniforms to research the area. She didn't put up a fight and let them take her. I sigh and started to look around when Brooks call me. He told me that we were heading back to speak with the chief about what happened yesterday. "Oh, joy," I thought to myself. I just wanted to forget the whole thing but I couldn't because everyone and their mother what talking about it. But I had to. Brooks and I were the first ones on the scene and it was our job to give the right details of the event so we can try and form a timeline. Brooks and I left Mike and his partner, which I never got the name of, to explore the area some more and headed to headquarters.

Once we were back we went straight to Chief Frederick's office. Brooks knock and we waiting to enter his office. When we heard the call to come in brooks enter first then I did. We were greeted by our chief and captain and two other people. "These are offices Santiago and Brooks, they were first on the scene and were there for all three explosions. We have Jake from Homeland and Robbins from the FBI. they would like to question you for the details of what happened yesterday afternoon and what you could've found today" said our chief. So Brooks and I retold our story on how we were going to portal that area and when we reach the shipper yard the first bomb went off. And how we geared up and started to get people out of there and looking for the wounded.

After being questioned on yesterday's events and today's Brooks and I were finally released and I went over to my desk to finish yesterday's paperwork and starts today. A few hours later and some Chinese took out I was finally on my way home. It was midnight by the time I got home. I was tried and would only get a few hours of sleep again tonight, today was a long day and I was glad it was over. I took a shower to wash off today's sweat and dirt and I changed into shorts and a t-shirt and went to bed. I felt my body relax and soon I was out. I didn't dream of anything.

I wake up to the sound of my father's ringtone instead of my alarm. I groan out in protest but answer the phone. "Hey, dad what's up," I said. "Nothing much baby girl I just wanted to see how your first two days were on the job," he asks. "It was fine my first day was crazy and my second day a little less crazy but I gotta ask dad why are you up so early?" I said. "Just miss my baby girl I know that it has been a month since you move out and only a few days since you started working but I am just worried but I know you can handle yourself." said my father. I smile and told him I was good but I was happy he called. He let me go and I got ready for work. There was no use going back to sleep because in five minutes my alarm would go off anyway. I made a quick and light breakfast and headed out the door. Forty minutes later I was walking through the door with Jack by my side talking my ear off about his wedding in a few months. I was really happy that my brother was finally going to marry this man but I was tired of hearing about it. But none the less I was still happy about it. Our parent was happy about it and said it was about damn time that Jack and my brother Greg was going to get married. Everyone could just see the love they have for each other.

After hearing him talk some more I saw Josh and wave hello to him. He smiles back and went off to find Holland and sit with him. I find Brooks sitting in the back of the room drinking his morning cup of joe. After I sat down our chief came in with four other people. I remember two of them but not the other two. Brooks and I share a look and watch as they all spoke. First, our chief told of that the bombs were just to damage and not mere but it still did secondly the FBI agents introduce themselves and ask us for help in looking for the people responsible for it and lastly the Homeland agents were here to help us track down information. Brooks and I left to speak with our chief after the meeting was over and ask what was going on. All he could tell us was that the same thing happens in New York City but instead of three it was just one small one and people started getting sick and dying. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I look over to Brooks to see if he was believing this or not and he looks to have the same face as I did.

I didn't know that this was the same thing that happened there over a year ago. All I knew was that a wall was built around the city to stop the infection from spreading but nothing of the intimate details. This was bad. Every one of use was exposed to this and we didn't know anything about it. But at the same time, this could be something extremely different in nature. But I had a gut feeling something was going down but I just didn't know what.