Title: Out of Time
Chapter 2 – Alternate Universe or Hellish Reality?

A/N: Hey thanks so much everyone who has given chapter 1 a chance! I was really nervous that no one would give it much of a chance when they saw it was an alternate reality but I will say that again there won't be anything like flying cars, powers or anything like that but there will be lots of angst and danger in this alternate world…or is it really? muwhahaha….so stay tuned to see what is all really going on and thanks so much in advance! But if any are really nervous or skeptical you can privately PM me and I can try to put your mind at ease without giving too much away :D

Arriving on almost autopilot at the SRU headquarters, Ed pulls into the underground parking spot and then slowly gets out, his head still pounding and him and Spike both with bits of dust and debris on their uniform, feeling somewhat water logged and wanting more than to get changed and go home and rest.

"You sure you don't need to go to the ER? Because the boss will ask."

"Ed you hit your head harder, I can see the bump."

"You have hair," Ed retorts and Spike smirks.

"Trust me I'm fine. Are you?"

"I'm fine," Ed assures him and then frowns.

"What is it?"

"I'm surprised that no one from the team came to find us sooner," Ed answers with a small frown. "The boss heard me and then he didn't and in that case he should have come or at least sent someone."

"It is odd but um…maybe power was out for them?" Spike suggests with a shrug. "Or they had a real hot call to deal with?"

"Maybe," Ed agrees with a small sigh. It was odd that even Wordy hadn't come to check on them sooner. They had to have been out of contact for at least a few hours; having gone into the warehouse when it was lighter compared to the complete darkness that greeted them when they exited. Something was up.

As soon as they get off the elevator, Ed notices the dim lighting and a few pieces of furniture moved, but figures that maybe it was also due to the storm knocking out the power and a small re-arrange and so heads for the team one briefing room Spike behind him; but they both arrive to find it empty.

"What?" Ed asks with a heavy sigh as he checks his head set. "Boss you there?"

"They left already?" Spike asks in shock. "Really?" He looks at Ed in disbelief.

"I uh…" Ed pauses as he looks around and then back toward the desk where Winnie normally was; it was empty. "Where is our dispatcher?"

"What's going on?" Spike ponders out loud as he watches Ed head for the dispatcher's desk to see what was going on. "Has Winnie left already?"

"I can't see Greg dismissing everyone so early after such an easy day but…"

"But they didn't even come and find out where we were and we were missing for a few hours," Spike mentions.

"Yeah yeah I'm here Constable Lane," Peter's voice pipes up as he casually walks toward them with a cup of coffee in his hands. "What do you want?"

"Where is team one?"

"Where are they usually?" Peter retorts dryly as he sits down at his desk. "So is that a trick question or what?"

"Trick? No…did they…" Ed starts only to have Peter hold up his hand to shush him as a call comes in.

"Oh hi Dave…yeah I'm still here…hold on a sec," he turns and looks at Ed. "What?" He asks in annoyance.

"Nothing," Ed huffs as he heads for the locker room, only to find it empty and return to Spike in the team meeting room. "I tried Greg's cell number and it just rings. Okay so if he let the team go home early I say we do the same thing and just…meet back here tomorrow."

"Ed? Is everything okay?"

"Spike, I tell you truthfully I have no idea what's going on."

"Peter is never that rude to you."

"Maybe just a bad day all around. Let's forget it and come in early and then we'll do the debrief and everything will be back to normal. I'm sure that's what Greg must have planned."

"Ed…"

"Spike I know this is all odd but there has to be a good reason why they didn't come and no one is answering. We'll deal with this tomorrow."

"Okay," Spike shrugs as he hesitates a few seconds before he watches Ed head for the log book. But when Ed opens the book and then looks over at Spike with a strange glace, Spike knows instantly something is wrong. "What?"

"It says in here that I took the day off," Ed groans as he shakes his head and turns the page.

"Why?"

"It says personal reasons. In fact it says that all of Team One had the day off."

"Must be an entry error," Spike tries as he walks over to Ed and looks in the log book. "They musta just wrote in the wrong date, I mean we know we were all working today. Should we ask Peter?"

"No. I'm tired and this isn't making sense and I'm not in the mood to figure it out right now. Let's go."

The two of them head for the locker room, change and then head for the exit doors and outside; neither of them paying much attention to the picture differences in their lockers; nor the glaring SRU emblem that was altered. After saying goodnight to Spike, Ed gets into his Ford Flex and heads for home, his mind trying to push aside the pounding in favor of reasoning why Greg wouldn't come to find them, especially after they had been out of contact for a few hours. He tries Greg's cell number again just as he reaches home but gets only empty rings, no voice mail, and hangs up in exasperation.

He pushes the button on the remote for the garage door but gets no response in return. "What the…" Ed curses softly as he tries again before tossing the small unit onto the passenger seat and then getting out. Telling himself the batteries were just dead, he'd get inside and worry about that later. But as soon as he tries to push his key in the door, he notices it doesn't match and pulls it back in anger.

"Are you kidding me," Ed groans as he knocks on the door and waits. "Sophie? Clark?" He pounds on the door once more before hearing footsteps heading his way and the door being opened by his less than happy to see him son.

"Hey thanks buddy," Ed greets his son with a small smile.

"Whatever," Clark huffs with a frown, forcing Ed to stop in his tracks and look at his son in shock.

"Pardon?"

"Clark who is it?"

"It's just Dad," Clark huffs as he turns and leaves as Sophie appears.

Just? What? Clark…

"What happened to another all-nighter?" She asks with a heavy sigh.

"All nighter? No I…when did I say that?"

"This morning. I didn't save you dinner."

The book said I was taking a day off and Sophie says I was pulling an all-nighter? Huh? Ed's mind swirls with unanswerable questions.

"This morning? That's okay I can…okay did I miss something? What's going on? The lock has been changed, the garage doesn't open…"

"What do you expect dad, you hardly live here anymore."

"Meaning?" Ed asks sharply.

"Don't get mad at him," Sophie pipes up. "He's right. You made it clear long ago that the job comes first, even before us and we have learned to live with that. That was your choice and we deal with it. Now you want dinner, there is a frozen whatever in the freezer. Help yourself."

Ed feels his stomach instantly tighten as he watches his wife and son turn and leave him alone in the entranceway, going about their business as if he wasn't even there. What the hell is going on, Ed's mind ponders as he heads into the kitchen to get at least a small snack to eat. I hope Spike is having a better night than me.

XXXXXXXX

Feeling a small ache starting to grow in his back from the tussle at the warehouse, Spike arrives at home wanting nothing more than to eat a plate of homemade pasta, have a longer than usual hot shower and crawl into bed. He didn't want to question Ed further back at the base because if he and Greg were in the midst of a heated but private discussion it wasn't his to interrupt or exasperate further. Hopefully all would be fixed in the morning.

Spike steps into the back porch area, dumps his jacket on the hook and then heads inside, fully prepared for another verbal battle with his parents about his slightly disheveled appearance and him opting to find another job.

"Spike?" His mother greets him, drawing a small furtive glance as he looks at her in wonder. Spike? She never calls me Spike…what's up?

"Hey ma. Sorry I'm late," Spike tells her as he nears, noticing her just frown at him and then pull back as he goes to give her a hug and kiss on the cheek. "What?"

"What happened to your night out with LeAnna?"

"LeAnna?"

"You said you were staying at her house tonight."

"Sleeping there?"

"No, playing cards," his mother lightly laughs and he just frowns.

"That's not really my style."

"Since when?" She throws up her hands and sighs. "I can't keep track of all your women and one night stands. Leanna, Mary…"

"All my…" Spike stops, looking at his mother in disbelief. "Okay but…who said…"

"Your father isn't that upset – any longer. Now just sit down and eat your supper. Dominic!" His mother bellows, bringing his father into his room in a few minutes. Spike looks at his father, bracing himself for another verbal assault on his already tender psyche.

"How was your day my son?" Dominic asks just as Spike takes a mouthful of wine, nearly choking on it and bringing his mother to his side, gently patting his back. "Mikey, are you okay?"

"Yeah…yeah I'm fine," Spike looks from his mother to his father. "I'm fine…sorry…just…my day? Is that what you asked?"

"Yes I want to hear all about it."

"Since when?" Spike frowns.

"Since always," his mother shrugs. "Everyday he wonders. Now let's eat and you tell us all about your exciting day doing that important job."

Spike looks at his parents and frowns but gives himself a shrug and starts to talk about his day. This is what he's always wanted. Normally he would dread coming home, wanting to stay longer at work with people that cared about him verbally instead of facing a mental battle at home; but since today wasn't following the regular pattern he was actually happy for a bit of the role reversal. Today had started on a sour note but thankfully was ending on a happy one.

XXXXXXXX

Normally he could guarantee coming home from a tiring and painful day at work to a happy and loving family that would sooth those troubles away. But that was lost tonight. After dinner, Ed slowly trudges upstairs, only to find his wife online in the spare bedroom, not wanting to talk about his day and just rest in his arms in their bed as per their norm. Not really wanting to rock the boat, Ed heads into his bedroom, slowly strips down and then gets into the shower, letting the hot water sooth his aching body for as long as he could stand it before getting out and then dressing for bed.

"Sophie?" Ed calls out in a quiet tone as he nears the bedroom, but upon arriving finds it empty. With a small shake of his head he turns and wanders toward their small den where the home computer was set up. Instead of finding Clark on there as he normally might, his wife is on with some stranger, engaged in a web-cam conversation.

"Sophie? It's late you coming to bed?"

"Not tired yet. See you in the morning," Sophie shrugs as she turns her back to him. "No it was Ed…yeah pretending he actually wants me there."

Okay this is not happening, Ed groans inwardly as he heads back to their bedroom and slumps down into bed – alone. He notices a picture of them missing on the bedside table and frowns. Does she really feel that neglected? Is this really all my fault? With that sad thought to keep him company, Ed's body finally gives in to fatigue and is whisked away into a nightmarish world. But instead of seeing his marriage breaking up, his mind keeps replaying the incident in the warehouse, his inner conscience trying to tell him he wasn't where he belonged and things were about to change – and not for the better.

The next morning Ed awakens to find Sophie's side of the bed empty and cold and merely curses as he pushes back the covers and heads downstairs. Instead of being greeted with the tempting aroma of coffee, he finds a note from his wife saying she and some friend named Mona, had gone to the gym and she'd see him maybe at dinner time.

"Clark…okay buddy tell me what's going on. Why is mom so pissed at me? What happened yesterday? Did I drain the chequing account or what?"

"I don't know what you mean dad? Nothing's changed," Clark shrugs.

"Nothing's…changed?" Ed asks in disbelief.

"And really…why do you care anyways?"

But before he can say another word, Clark puts on his headphones, turns up the music and plunks himself down at the table, ignoring his father completely. "I'm in the twilight zone," Ed growls as he forgoes the making of coffee at home in favor of the drive-thru and figures he'll get to work and at least clear things up with Greg. Surely that would be back to normal.

Ed slowly walks into the SRU, passing Winnie's desk and getting a casual nod; nothing really out of the ordinary there. But as soon as he rounds the corner, his world stops short. Greg was pouring himself a drink? An alcoholic drink! What the hell?

"Boss? What are you doing?"

"What the hell happened to you yesterday Edward? You say you're taking the day off and then I get a call that you and Spike were on duty? What the hell is that about?"

Edward? "We got…are you having a drink?"

"Calms my nerves and I do it every morning."

"That's whiskey."

"So what?"

"Okay I get it…it's a joke right? Early Friday the 13th? April fools? That's actually apple juice in that bottle right?" Ed asks with a small smirk. "Ha ha! Had me goin' for a second there."

Greg takes a swig of the whiskey and comes and stands face to face with his team leader, offering a breath so that he can smell the evidence. "And for the record, I don't answer to you. Now I asked a question earlier and I want an answer and I want it now. All of Team One had the day off yesterday, you included. You are not above me. You don't go on duty without checking with me first. Now what the hell were you up to?"

Ed looks at Greg in shock. Ten years…he had been sober for ten years and now takes a swig of whiskey as if it was no big deal?

"Up to? Yesterday… Spike and I got called to…" he pauses as he watches Greg slump down into a nearby chair and take another swig. "To uh…just don't let Holleran see you," he huffs.

"That bastard doesn't care and you know it. Stop stalling…where the hell were you?"

"The warehouse. There was a collapse and yeah Spike and I are fine, thanks. Why didn't anyone come looking for us?"

"Well you're not a child right? If you wanna do your own thing then you can handle it on your own. If you can't handle things on your own then why are you team leader?" Greg asks in sarcasm. "And secondly you said you were taking a day off like the rest of us. So you lied to me and to your team?"

"Lied? No I…what?" Ed stammers in surprise, his anxiety skyrocketing. "Okay fine I'm sorry and…whatever."

"Just don't let it happen again okay? I can't have you working as team leader when no one knows what you're doing. Things not so good at home? I don't care…really I don't. Just don't bring it here."

"Fine, I won't," Ed agrees as he just shakes his head in disbelief. He turns and heads for the locker room, slamming his fist into the nearby door and cursing angrily.

"Whoa big bad wolfe woke up on the wrong side of the den," Sam snickers as he enters the room.

"You seen Spike this morning? I need him."

"Need him? Didn't think he was your type," Sam winks and Ed just glares at him in anger. "Okay man just chill out."

"What the hell is going on Sam? Where were you all yesterday?"

"I was at the club with Jules. Where were you? Greg said you had booked day off like the rest of us and then the other SUV is missing and yeah man what's up with that?"

"The boss having a drink, what's up with that?"

"So?" Sam frowns. "He does it all the time."

"This is all a joke right?"

"Don't think so," Sam shrugs as he turns to leave.

"Sam."

"What?"

"You can tell me, I swear I won't be mad and I promise…who set this all up?"

"Whatever you're smoking I'd probably like to try but later okay?" Sam snickers as he leaves the room.

"What is going on?" Ed growls as he pulls his phone and calls Spike. But the normal message doesn't come on and Ed hangs up in exasperation. This can't be happening, he tells himself as he heads for his locker pulls it open and then stares at the contents in surprise. There were no family pictures; the ones of Sophie and Clark were gone and a few other personal items were missing also.

Ed takes off his jacket, but just before he can take off his shirt, he hears a noise and closes the door to see Wordy watching him with a small frown. "Sorry…didn't hear you."

"Hey buddy you okay?"

Finally something's normal.

"Just took a tumble yesterday at the warehouse. Why didn't anyone come looking for us?"

"First off we were supposed to hang together all day…remember our day off together? It started out fine and then you get a call and are gone the rest of the day. With Spike? What's up with that?"

"We had…what do you mean hang all day? You and Greg were supposed to go and see…"

"What?" Wordy retorts with a small smile. "Yeah okay you really musta hit your head hard."

"Harder than I thought," Ed gently growls.

"That's okay, I like this softer side of you."

"Softer side? I saw the boss take a drink this morning."

"And? Ed, he's a big boy and can take care of himself. It's his life right?"

"I know but…"

"Why are you so concerned all of a sudden?"

"All of a…what?" Ed counters in haste. "I'm always concerned about my team and that includes the boss. He can't go into the field on a drink."

"Like it'll make a difference," Wordy sighs as he turns and heads back to his locker. "He doesn't want to be here anyways but you know Holleran."

"He knows too? What do you mean doesn't want be here?"

"You know this concerned side of you Ed…gotta say it's a nice change," Wordy pats him on the back as he leaves the room.

Change? I've not changed…everyone else has! Ed's mind grumbles inside as he slams his locker door shut and heads back outside.

"Morning constable Lane," Ed hears a small almost sheepish voice behind him and turns to see…

"Spike?" Ed asks in utter shock, staring in disbelief at the slicked back hairstyle; his stance almost cowardly? "What's going on here?"

"With what?"

"With wh…your hair…what happened to the spikes?"

"Spikes?" Spike frowns. "What spikes?"

"You're…hair? How you got your nickname Spike."

"I've never had spiky hair. I got that name because when I saw in school and had these shoes that…please don't make me tell the story again Constable Lane, I just don't…"

"Okay fine just don't worry about it. Yesterday in the warehouse…"

"Yesterday?"

"Yeah yesterday…the whole incident with Sim…"

"Geek boy!" Sam shouts, making Spike turn and give him a small nod. "How's our favorite dork this morning?"

"Fine."

Fine? Ed looks at Sam and then back to Spike. "Sam," Ed says sharply.

"What is it?" Sam asks in annoyance. "You have called him worse so don't get all self-righteous on me this morning."

Ed turns back to Spike who merely eyes him with an uncertain gaze and nearly defeated posture. Did something happen that he wasn't aware of? This wasn't the same confident Spike that he was talking to yesterday. "Spike back to yesterday. Do you remember looking up information about Simon Saze?"

"Simon Saze?" Wordy laughs as he nears them. "Oh come on Edward, you like rougher games than that."

"It's Ed," Ed lightly growls.

"Whatever you say," Wordy chuckles as he leaves. "Ed."

This isn't happening…Ed's mind starts to spiral into a dizzying frenzy. This is all some kind of sick elaborate joke on me right?

"Who is Simon? A new team member?" Spike asks with a frown. "Greg wants to replace me right?"

"New team…Spike come on and quit it with the damn games already," Ed lightly growls in frustration. "I'm tired and this isn't helping. Okay so ha ha at Ed's expense but I'm running low on patience. So did you find anything?"

"Sorry cons…"

"It's Ed," he corrects. "Did anyone pick up Simon? After the warehouse collapse? We put out an APB?"

"I can check. But who is he again?"

"I…never mind. I need some fresh air…be right back."

Ed leaves Spike standing in place and heads for the front door, his stomach tight and his mind wondering just what kind of sick joke the entire team was playing on him and why. He pushes through the main doors and stops, taking in a large breath of fresh air and closing his eyes for a few seconds, telling himself that when he goes back inside, he'll endure the team having a good laugh at his expense and then get on with the day. This has to be a bad joke right? Greg trying to just jerk my chain or something?

But a few words spoken by a familiar voice force his world to come to a complete stop once more.

"Hey Ed? Why are you out here?"

Ed slowly turns and gazes at the one person he thought he had already talked to. He looks at Spike, words failing him and his mind racing with growing agitation. "Spike?" Ed asks as he gazes up on a very normal looking Spike, his Spike.

"Yeah. What's up?"

"When did you unslick your hair and how did you get down here so fast? And that…you weren't wearing…"

"Unslick? So fast? Undress? Huh what are you talking about? Ed I just got here," Spike replies with a small shrug. "I'm not late, honestly I'm not."

"No I know but...this…this isn't possible."

"Sorry what's not possible?" Spike asks with a small frown.

"I just spoke to you. Inside. This is all a joke at my expense right? To celebrate my anniversary as team lead or something? Greg's really going all out isn't he?"

"I don't know about a joke, Ed I just got here, I swear to you. I haven't been inside yet. What's the boss done? What joke?"

Ed turns and looks at the building and then back at Spike, words failing him.

"Ed you look almost…panic stricken," Spike mentions, as Ed's frown grows. "Who did you see inside?"

"Spike…I swear to you right now…not more than five minutes ago…I saw and I talked…to you."

A/N: Okay so still with me? Still liking it? what about the role reversal? And where is the other Ed? Will they run into themselves? What other surprises does team one have for them? And how can they find a way to get back without arousing to much suspicion to themselves? Or is danger ahead?
Would love your thoughts on this so much (b/c I want to know if you don't like it so please don't just leave without telling me why!) and please stay tuned and thanks again!

PS: Good Son will update next (but I'll wait until you are all caught up - sorry if there are too many too close together) :)