Harleigh dialed the number for the hundredth time. She knew the Gallagher's all shared the same phone and she knew she'd have to be able to reach them eventually. The phone rang and rang until finally, a girl's voice answered.
"Stop calling this number," the voice growled. "After everything you put them through, don't you think it's time you take your fucked up life and disappear?"
Harleigh didn't know what to say. She wasn't entirely sure, but the voice sounded vaguely like that of Mandy Milkovich.
"Tell Lip or Fiona to call me as soon as they can," Harleigh growled. She was not in the mood to deal with childish games. "It's important."
"If you call one more time…if you so much as step foot back on Chicago soil, I'll have you killed, I promise," the voice growled. Before Harleigh could respond, the line went dead. Harleigh sighed and stared down at the phone in her hand. She was sitting in a crowded hospital, nearly 600 miles from how, her heart literally breaking as she stared vacantly ahead.
"Miss Reid?" The doctor called her name. She looked up to see a younger woman than last time, her face covered with a mask. "You can see her now."
Harleigh silently stood, her hands trembling as she followed the doctor down the whitewashed hallway, her eyes locking on the various decals that were pasted to the walls in no particular rhyme or reason. She would become acquainted with those walls as the months would drag on.
Three Years Later
Harleigh studied the view from her office window, for the first time, truly taking in the amazing hue that seemed to cast over the cityscape as the sun set. She watched as people left their jobs for the evening, returning home to their husbands and wives and children, their big homes and happy family dinners. Even after all those years, Harleigh still didn't have the same lifestyle as her coworkers or friends.
"Sad to leave?" Melony, her supervisor, asked as she helped Harleigh put the last of her belongings into the small box on the desk.
"Not one bit," Harleigh said truthfully. "I'm looking forward to going home."
"What about Al? How's she feel about moving?" she asked, referring to Harleigh's daughter, Alanna.
"She's not even three yet, she doesn't know the difference. All she knows is she and her dog get to go on a long road trip," Harleigh chuckled. "Cody's excited to meet his niece though," she added with a smile. After three years of fighting the system, Harleigh had finally obtained full custody of her youngest sibling. While she tried her best to fight for Tess, the troubled teen had made it impossible for Harleigh to gain custody. She was the state's problem, serving a five-year sentence for armed robbery and possession of a firearm while on probation.
"Is he meeting you in Chicago or are you picking him up before you go?" Melony asked.
"He's taking a train to Chicago, he'll be there a week after we get in," Harleigh said with a smile. "Gives me just enough time to get the house in order."
"I can't believe you bought that house. I saw pictures, it's a dump," she scolded. "You could have stayed here for half the price of buying that shithole."
"That shithole is home," Harleigh shrugged. "Besides, it's time to track down Al's family too," she said with a sly smile.
"Still certain that hottie from the hood is her dad?" she teased. While Melony was Harleigh's boss, they had become close friends since she started working for her three years ago. Melony often watched Al overnight so she could work at the diner a few blocks over. Working sixteen-hour days meant it was hard to keep a steady sitter. Thankfully, the company she worked for during the day offered childcare.
"There's no doubt in my mind," Harleigh smiled. She knew who Alanna's father was. He was the only person she had unprotected sex with. Despite her history as an escort, Harleigh always used protection with her clients and always took the morning after pill if she had any inkling that there may have been a mistake.
"I still can't believe you're going back. With that many people wanting you dead, you'd think you'd never want to return," Melony sighed. "Your own family has a death threat hanging over your head."
"Jake's serving twenty to life for vehicular manslaughter while under the influence and TJ's somewhere on the west coast right now," Harleigh reminded her. "And Monty's been dead for a year. I think it's safe to go home."
"What about the bitch that threatened you when you tried to touch base with your friends? Think she'll hold true to her promise?" Melony asked, her expression tensing.
"No," Harleigh nearly laughed. "After damn near four years, I don't think I'm a threat anymore. He never stuck with one chick for long, I bet she's long since out of the picture."
"Just make sure you keep in touch, okay? I know this means a lot to you, but you're like family now, and I'm going to worry about you and that beautiful little girl of yours," Melony said. She pulled Harleigh in for a hug. "C'mon, let's get her from the daycare and get you guys on the road."
"We're going to miss you Mel, thanks for everything," Harleigh said with a sad smile. Melony had been the only person to support Harleigh through some of the hardest moments of her life.
The pair walked down the hallway to the daycare, where a little girl with curly, chestnut brown hair was coloring. She looked up with brilliantly blue eyes, her thin lips forming a huge smile when she saw them approach. Since it was long past closing time, Melony had made an exception and let the family's dog stay with Alanna while her mother packed up the last of her belongings. The middle-aged mutt was laying patiently by the wall, his tail thumping eagerly when he saw his master approach.
"Ready to see Chicago?" Melony asked the little girl. She bobbed her head merrily and rushed to her mother's side.
"Can Mel come too?" she asked Harleigh, her eyes dancing with excitement.
"Sorry kiddo, Mel's got a business to run," Harleigh said with a sly grin.
"I'll come visit some time, I promise," Melony said with a smile. She scooped Alanna up for a hug before nodding to Harleigh. "Go, before I start crying again."
"This isn't goodbye," Harleigh reminded her. "This is see you soon."
"See you around Leigha, take care of my favorite tiny human!"
With the box in one arm, Alanna's hand in her free hand, and the dog, Chance, trailing behind them, they made their way out of the office building for the very last time. Harleigh had no plans of returning to Minnesota, but she knew she would always have a job there should she ever need it. With one final glance back at the huge building behind them, Harleigh loaded the toddler into the back seat of her van before ushering the dog in behind her. Once buckled, she made her way over to the driver's side door, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
She didn't know what was left for her in Chicago, but she knew she had unfinished business there that had to be sorted out. She had a life there, despite the time away. She knew this was the right decision, no matter how things played out.
She couldn't help but think back to the last time she was in the neighborhood that she grew up in. It was the day after Christmas. The day she laid her older brother to rest and left without a trace. She vowed to never come back to the city that caused her so much heartache and awful memories, but even then, she knew it was a promise she wouldn't keep. The Southside was her home; she belonged there. Three years working for uppity, rich people hadn't changed her one bit. If anything, it made her realize her place in the world even more.
With a glance in the rearview mirror, she started on the nine-hour journey home. She knew she'd be there by late the next morning, but the anticipation was killing her. The sooner she got there, the sooner she could return to her old life.
A/N: As promised, this is the sequel to Time After Time! While this will loosely follow some of events that did happen in the actual series, Harleigh's presence definite made certain things play out differently. As always, reviews, faves and follows keep me motivated! This one is going to be a lot longer, since it will flash between the past and present a lot, digging deeper into Lip and Harleigh's relationship, and span all the way through at least season 6/7.