AN: I know the first chapter is short, later chapters will be longer. Just setting up setting up a few plot points. Enjoy!


It was an average morning; sidewalks were filling with people hustling to work, taxies were making their rounds, and small, corner-side baristas were busy making coffees. The garbage men were finishing their routes and all the newspaper stands were now open. Everything was normal.

On the street outside an apartment complex, the driver of a SUV failed to pay attention and rammed into the tail end of an expensive sports car. The sound of metal crunching echoed down the streets and the voices of the drivers yelling at one another carried even further. Their shouts invaded every apartment unit that they were beneath, including that of John Reese.

Reese turned in his bed, annoyed at the arguing strangers. He tried to close his eyes tighter but to no avail; he pulled a pillow over his head. The extra insulation from the noise made no difference, and Reese tossed the pillow aside as he sat up in bed. Getting ready to go yell at the quarreling drivers, he was quickly distracted by his surroundings. Reese wasn't in his apartment. He quickly scanned the bedroom and realized he had no idea where he was or how he got there.

Reese shoved the blankets off of himself and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. His feet were met with plush white carpet. He glanced down, but something more important grabbed his attention. Slowly, he raised his left hand in front of his face. There was a simple golden band wrapped around his ring finger. The precious metal glinted lightly in the morning sun. Reese's eyebrows furrowed out of great confusion. The ring felt alien on his finger. He pulled at it gently and removed the piece of jewelry. There was a tan line where the ring had been. Reese tested the weight in his hand and found an inscription on the inside: "Forever and always."

Unsure of what to do with the ring; Reese slipped it back on his finger. Upon further inspection of his own hand, his line of sight was directed to the night stand. His eyes widened a bit as he picked up the picture that was displayed. It was a picture of him and Jessica, obviously at their wedding. Jessica looked beautiful and radiant in what had to be the most beautiful dress Reese had ever seen. His thumb glided over the glass. They both looked so jovial. In the corner of the picture was a date. In scripted text it read, 'October 20, 2002.' Slightly shaken at the current reality, he set the picture down and stared at the wall.

Reese closed his eyes and reopened them a second later. He was still sitting in the bedroom, surrounded by an unfamiliar environment. He pulled his hand over his face and slapped himself on his cheek. The impact stung, but soon faded. Whatever this was, it was actually happening. It wasn't a dream. Reese tore his gaze from the wall and looked out the window; he was met with a sight that caused his jaw to drop.

Pushing himself off the bed, Reese leaned against the window sill and attempted to fight off a wave of vertigo. He couldn't believe what was looking at. Rising above the skyline was the World Trade Center, the north tower proudly flying the American flag. "What the hell is going on?" he said aloud as he watched the sun rise from behind the towers.