The July heat was unbearable, even for Ohio standards. Sure, I knew it would be hotter than this back home in Kentucky - the humidity here was nothing like it was there. However, when you automatically broke out in a sweat the minute you stepped outside your door, it qualified as too hot no matter your location.

I reached into the shopping cart and retrieved my bags. I was actually excited - I'd just gotten my specialists degree in counseling, and was really looking forward to my first day as the guidance counselor at William McKinley High School. It would definitely be different than being in the classroom, that was for sure. I still loved teaching English and Literature, but I was ready for a change.

I climbed into my car and cranked the engine, then backed out of my parking spot, excited to get back to my new condo. I had already met my neighbors next door, and other than having an annoyingly friendly dog, they seemed to be fairly nice. I couldn't wait to get home and finish unpacking the last few boxes and finally sit down to rest in my own home.

I noticed the back-up in traffic ahead and started to slow down. It looked like construction work - the traffic was down to one lane on either side of the four-lane highway. Cranking up the AC and the Beatles song on the radio, I put the car into park and tapped the steering wheel in time with the drum beat.

The jolt from behind scared me as my head hit the steering wheel, the force of the speeding car behind me coming to a stop as my car slammed into the semi-truck in front of me. I could smell the gasoline and the burned rubber on the pavement, a wave of nausea coming over me before my eyes closed.

"Miss, hey - Miss, can you hear me?"

The sound was faint and muffled, with a slight echo. It was like they were calling to me from the end of a long tunnel.

I opened my eyes to see two men standing outside my door.

"Miss - can you get out?"

I looked at the men again - they were now sharing a body. "I'm…what's that smell? I'm sleepy."

I felt my nose wrinkle up, along with the shooting pain that accompanied it. Reaching up to wipe the sweat from my forehead, I glanced again at the man, then to my hand. It was covered in thick red liquid.

"Miss - can you -?"

I tried to pull at the door handle, but it wouldn't budge.

"Try your window," the one bodied, two headed man shouted.

I waved at him. "I - I can't…"

I felt my eyes began to close again, and rather than fight it, I lay my head back on the headrest.

The shattering of glass startled me back to consciousness. I opened my eyes to see the same two headed man as before - only this time he was shirtless and leaning over my body. Somehow he had gotten my door open, and his hands were working to unfasten the seatbelt around my waist.

"C'mon, stay with me," he said, pulling me out of my car. I felt the sharp pain in my legs as he draped them over his arm, and I cried out in agony as he carried me away. Before long, I was lying down - just where I was lying I wasn't sure - but it wasn't comfortable. My head was pounding, and the pain in my legs was making me nauseous.

"Hey…what's your name?"

I chanced to look up at the two-headed man again, but this time, I was met by the most beautiful hazel eyes I had ever seen staring into mine.

"Emma…" My voice was barely a whisper.

He smiled down at me, his voice tender. "Hello, Emma. I'm…" The buzzing in my ears was deafening now, and I closed my eyes, unable to hear anything but the roaring in my head.

"Hey, c'mon…stay awake. Emma - please, you need to talk to me. Tell me anything…but please, keep talking to me."

There was a sharp, shrill noise now along with the buzzing sound, and I just wanted it all to stop. "You're beautiful." I said as my eyes closed once again.

"Dammit," I heard the stranger above me cursing, then felt something touching my mouth. "Please, Emma…you have to wake up."

I began to cough just then, and opened my eyes to see him above me, his tanned arms and torso leaning over my body. "Hey there," he said. "Glad you're back."

I started to sputter. "I never left - I…you have amazing eyes."

He chuckled, and I tried to smile, but my face hurt. "Thanks - why don't you keep yours open, and I'll let you look at mine for as long as you want."

It was at that moment that the deafening sirens came to a halt, and instantly the warm and caring hazel eyes were pulled away from me; his soothing voice was now just a memory. In his place were several pairs of gloved hands, reaching all over me. I felt the mask slip over my face and the unrelenting pain once again as they lifted me onto the gurney and into the awaiting ambulance.

Then - nothing.

Authors Note:

Before I take a self-imposed vacation, I wanted to get this prologue out there for all of you who so faithfully read my other story "Life in Focus".

This will be the premise for my new fic - I just wanted to give you all a teaser to garner interest. Please let me know if you think it should be continued.

NOTICE: THIS WILL BE AN AU FIC. There will still be some of the same character traits in Will and Emma, but I will not stick to canon for this story.

To all of my readers in the States - have a very safe and HAPPY 4th! To everyone else, Happy Sunday.

To ALL OF YOU REGARDLESS OF YOUR LOCATION, THANKS FOR READING.

UNTIL SOMETIME NEXT WEEK when I post the first full chapter, ~Jilly