AN: I changed the year on the photograph from the first chapter. I had an awkward brain fart and forgot that Jessica and John had known each other for six months as of 9/11 and for some reason I thought that was in 2006... anyway. Enjoy the second chapter!
Reese placed his hand on the glass, the surface cold to the touch. He leaned forward, his mind heavy with confusion. Reese found his breathing to be unsteady; with each breath he fogged the window. How was any of this happening? Reese closed his eyes to regulate his breathing and attempt to get his heart rate under control. Lost in thought, he heard his name called out. Reese turned quickly, it was Jessica's voice. He waited a beat and heard her again. "John? Are you awake?" She called up the stairs.
Startled, he made his way to the door. In the process he slammed his toes into the edge of a hope chest that was sitting at the foot of the bed. John yelped and cursed as he hopped around on one foot. The chest was solid wood and he kicked the piece of furniture with great force. Gingerly he tested his weight, nothing was broken but there was significant discomfort. Reese took a moment to examine the bedroom. It appeared that it was the size of the whole floor, except for a bathroom that was located towards the back side.
With a slight limp, Reese approached the staircase. It was an open stairwell, but had a door at the bottom that was slightly cracked open. Reese took each step carefully; a part of him wished that he had a gun. He had no idea what was going on, this could have been some elaborate scheme. Pictures could be fabricated, a ring slipped on his finger. His mind searched for an explanation for the Twin Towers, but he let the thought go as he reached the bottom of the stair case. Reese slowly pushed the door open the rest of the way. He was met with a wide hallway that had three doors.
The first door was a second bathroom, the second was a closet. Reese reached for the third door when he heard Jessica's voice again and shortly after she appeared around the corner. "Are you alright? I heard you yell." She said approaching him.
Reese could only stare, it was really her; alive and two feet away from him. He took in the sight. She was even more beautiful than he could have ever remembered. She was dressed in a pair of relaxed jeans and a flowing peach blouse. There was a kitchen towel hung over her shoulder and on her left ring finger were two rings, an engagement and wedding ring. "John?" She asked, now standing six inches away from him.
"Oh, I'm fine… I uh, stubbed my toe on the um," He fumbled for his words. "The uh, chest at the end of the bed," He said finally. Jessica smiled and laughed lightly.
"That is the third time since we've moved here you've done that and it has only been a week. We really should move it somewhere else before you break your toes." She leaned in and gave him a good morning kiss. "Breakfast is almost ready." She said turning back down the hallway. "While I finish up, can you let the dog out of the cage?"
Reese furrowed his brow again. What dog? It didn't take him long to realize what she was talking about and smile quickly formed on his face. Bear. "Yes, of course." Reese looked around, wondering where the cage was. He found the cage in the living room. It was covered in a blanket and appeared to be too small for a Belgian Shepard. He unlocked the door and the dog came out. It was not Bear. It was a small, fluffy white dog; a Bichon Frise. Reese stared at the small animal and it yipped back at him before running into the kitchen. It was wearing a pink collar with a small bell that jingled as it ran.
Reese kept staring at the spot that the dog had previously been for a few more seconds until he blinked rapidly and followed the dog towards the kitchen. Jessica was behind a large island when Reese appeared in the door way. "Is that Bear?" He asked and pointed to the dog.
"Bear," Jessica questioned, she gave him a quizzical look. "No, that's Princess. Who is Bear?" Reese made a face himself as he watched the fluff ball drink some water.
"Who named the dog, Princess?" Reese had no idea why he would have a dog named Princess, or a breed that seemed like it would be afraid of a leaf. Jessica walked around the island and laid the back of her hand over his forehead.
"Are you feeling okay?" She asked, moving her hand to lay it palm side down on his cheek. "We told Kara she could name the dog and she picked Princess." Jessica moved her hand away from his face. "Remember? I know you weren't thrilled, but it is what she wanted."
"Kara? Like as in Kara Stanton?" Reese asked quickly, wondering why his old handler would be naming a toy-breed of a dog Princess.
Jessica narrowed her eyes for a moment. "No, Kara your daughter, who is Kara Stanton?" Jessica had walked back to the stove and paid attention to her cooking. She didn't see Reese's reaction.
Instantly, if felt as if someone had turned up the gravity and Reese stumbled back against the door frame and leaned heavily onto it. He was about to ask Jessica to repeat what she had just said when he heard a small voice come from behind him. "Good morning, Papa." The voice said. Reese spun around and was greeted by a small child, six or seven years old. She looked just like Jessica except she had dark hair and bright blue eyes. She was dressed in a white floral dress and white strappy sandals. Reese couldn't help but stare at the child, he had a daughter. How could he have a daughter?
"Mama," Kara said as she walked into the kitchen. "Papa is still in his night clothes." The little girl said as she climbed up one of the bar stools that was seated along the island. Reese looked down at his attire; he was dressed in a simple pair of dark green and blue plaid pajama pants and a gray t-shirt. It wasn't what he had fallen asleep in the night before. As he thought about it, he passed out on his couch with his suit pants and white undershirt.
Jessica placed a glass of orange juice in front of Kara and looked up at her husband. "Indeed he is." She said giving Reese a knowing look and her daughter and wink. "And if he doesn't hurry up and get ready, he is going to be late for his first day of work." Jessica said as she looked at Kara but directed the comment to Reese.
"Work," Reese repeated. He searched the back of his mind to figure out what 'work' could be. The only answer he retrieving was his partnership with Finch and tracking down the irrelevant numbers; a job that never technically had a first day.
Jessica shook her head as she walked around to the other side of the island. "Yes work, the job that you have been trying to get for two years now?" She walked up to John and gave him a light kiss. "Now, go get ready and your breakfast will be waiting for you." She gave him a little slap on the rear that caused Reese to jump. Jessica grinned as Reese turned to go back upstairs and watched Jessica over his shoulder.
As he walked away, he could hear Kara ask for a bowl of cereal and Jessica asking which kind she wanted. The walk back upstairs was a daze. Reese looked at all the pictures on the walls; there were nails where more pictures were going to be hung up. He stopped at the top of the stairs and removed one of the pictures from its spot. It was him with Jessica at a hospital and a little baby wrapped in a soft pink blanket. Jessica was smiling at the camera, but John was enamored with the baby. It appeared he wasn't even aware there was someone with a camera.
Reese smiled but had a distinct feeling of sadness. He had no recollection of this event, one that seemed to have brought him great joy. But to him the moment was just a photograph, nothing more. Reese replaced the picture to its spot and continued to the bathroom.
In a few minutes he had stripped of his clothes and was in the shower. Everything felt real enough; the water running over his body, the kiss from Jessica, stubbing his toe. But he lacked any explanation for how this was happening. He wondered where Finch was, but had no idea where to look for him. He figured the best thing he could do was act as if things were normal and sort things out on the side. Fabricated or not, he didn't want to make Jessica panic by professing none of this was real or that she is supposed to be dead.
After he toweled off he went to the closet to get dressed. He put on a pair of black slacks and he moved shirts around until he found one that had 'Orchard Security' embroidered on to the left chest. He removed the shirt from the hanger, it was his size. He put it on and tucked the ends into his pants. Reese checked his outfit in the mirror. The shirt was purple in color and he made a face. Did he really work at a place called 'Orchard'?
Reese looked around the room and saw a wallet sitting on a night stand, he opened the billfold and he was greeted by his face on the license. He pocked the wallet, keys and cell phone sitting nearby as well. Reese grabbed a pair of shoes before heading back downstairs.
Jessica and Kara were still in the kitchen, laughing at the dog. Jessica looked up, "Well, look at you." She said with a smile. "Where's the tie?" She asked pointing to his chest. Reese looked down at his tieless attire. Jessica disappeared to a different room and came back with a black tie and clip. "You'd probably forget your head if I wasn't around." She said looping the fabric around his neck and tying the knot. She smoothed the fabric before clipping the tie to his shirt.
Jessica nodded, approving of her own work. "You are going to be late; you'll have to grab something to eat one the way there." She said before giving him another kiss. Reese smiled, he could get used to this.
"I'll do my best." He said before stealing another, rather aggressive kiss from his wife. Jessica laughed and pushed him off of her. Reese turned to leave before Kara called out.
"What about me, Papa?" She asked between bites of her cereal. Reese stared at the girl for a second and waited. "Don't I get a kiss too?" Kara finally asked. Reese smiled and nodded. He walked over and gave her a light kiss on her forehead. She reached up and put her arms around his neck for a hug and returned the favor by placing a kiss on his cheek. "Love you, Papa." She said before letting him go and returning to her cereal.
Reese smiled at the little girl before brushing locks her thick brown hair from her face. Kara had already busied herself with her cereal as Reese turned to leave. Jessica walked with him to the door. "You'll be great, I just know it. See you when you get home." She leaned up and gave him one more kiss before he left the apartment.