Remember the Heroes
by Nelson
September 11, 2006
Ben hurriedly wiped his eyes with the heels of his hands when he heard Vic approaching.
"Hi, babe," he greeted Ben as he sat wearily next to him on the sofa. "I'm sorry I was so late tonight."
Ben kissed his partner and gave him a manufactured smile, hoping it would be enough to cover the emotion bubbling beneath the surface.
"That's ok. I saved you a plate for dinner."
Vic took Ben's hand and interlocked their fingers together. "Thanks. I'm starving."
"I'll heat it for you," Ben said, eager to escape to the kitchen.
He had just put the plate in the microwave when he heard Vic come into the kitchen. Ben glanced sideways at his partner leaning against the counter.
"You can go change. I've got your dinner under control."
"Want to tell me what's wrong?" Vic asked intuitively.
Ben felt his throat tightening and he wordlessly shook his head.
Vic moved behind Ben and wrapped his arms around him. Leaning his head close to Ben's ear he said, "Tell me."
Ben angrily wiped away a tear as the microwave purred in the background. "You know what today is."
"I do."
"I just remember… It's been five years. I was watching a special on it and –" Ben's throat caught and he turned to Vic and clung to him.
"I wish you hadn't watched that."
"I felt like I had to. It's important not to forget."
"I know."
"So many lives lost."
The microwave beeped three times and came to rest. Vic pulled Ben away and brushed his hair back with his fingers.
"I'm ok," Ben assured him. "Get a drink and I'll put your plate on the table."
After a long, penetrating look, Vic gave Ben a tender peck and moved to get some tea out of the refrigerator. "Keep me company," he requested as he put the glass on the table.
Ben sat at the table next to Vic and moved the salt and pepper closer to him. "Do you remember when we saw it happen?"
"I'll never forget it."
"Some vacation," Ben said with a watery grin.
"It was one to remember, that's for sure," Vic reminisced. The events of that morning five years ago were as fresh in his mind as if they just happened. "We wouldn't have seen it when it happened if Zach hadn't wanted to watch Imus."
"I know. I kept thinking the first plane was an accident. Some freak accident. Then the second one hit."
"Yeah. Just think, if we had gotten an earlier start, we would probably have spent the whole day on the beach, oblivious."
"I know. But you had to insist on sunscreen," Ben said smiling.
"There was no way you were going out on the beach all day without it."
"We hadn't been together long at all and I thought you were so ridiculous about some things. Still do, sometimes."
"You love me for it," Vic said with a wink.
"I do." Ben loved Vic so much at that moment. Memories of thousands of lives lost needlessly, made him appreciate his partner that much more.
"I love you, too," Vic said as he ate his dinner.
"I'll never forget that day," Ben said sadly. "I'll never forget any of it. Two towers half a mile high brought down in ten seconds. The firemen and policemen who lost their lives, all the victims in the towers, on the planes."
"I doubt any of us will forget. We'll always remember what we were doing when it happened."
"We have to remember," Ben said soberly. "We have to remember for them. For all of them."
"They're heroes in my mind. Every one of them."
"Heroes," Ben agreed.
~End~
