Chapter 1 – 3 Years Later
"Shit," Audrey muttered to herself. At this rate, I'm going to be late to my own birthday party. She was stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire just outside of Twin Peaks. I didn't even want to come, I should've just told Daddy no. Yesterday, was Audrey's 21st birthday, and she had already celebrated with her friends in Seattle, but her father had insisted on throwing a huge bash in her honor, and had invited nearly everyone in the town. Audrey hadn't been back in Twin Peaks in nearly 2 years, so she felt obligated to at least pay a visit to her family. Truthfully, Audrey hadn't wanted to come at all. After a year of searching unsuccessfully for Dale Cooper and a declined marriage proposal from John Justice Wheeler, Audrey felt that Twin Peaks didn't have much for her in the way of opportunities or a future. She was bitter about the fact that even with all her father's money and power, Audrey couldn't find Dale, or any sort of lasting happiness. Audrey eventually gave up her life of money and privilege, found a job in Seattle and was paying her way through a college education, determined to make her own way in the world, asking for money only to secretly see a therapist about her dreams. They were much fewer and farther in between now, but that almost made the few times she did have them even more disturbing. In her heart, Audrey hadn't given up on him yet, but had accepted that she was powerless to help him, and that if she was going to have any hope for a normal and happy life, she would eventually have to let go of Her Special Agent. A realization that had taken extensive and expensive therapy for Audrey to come to. Her most recent dream of Dale and the red room had been last night, and as always, it left her feeling on edge. The dreams always evoked old feelings of regret and frustration, but she did her best to move on. It seemed to her that the rest of the world had already forgotten about Dale Cooper, that only Audrey still thought of him fondly, and drank black coffee in his memory, but coffee be damned if there was anything in the world, even Dale Cooper, that would keep Audrey Horne from living her life the way she wanted. So she took the advice of Agent Rosenfield, stopped searching, and lived relatively content in Seattle.
Something that she reminded herself of now, cursing her luck and her decision to come back to Twin Peaks as Audrey got out of the car to look in the trunk for her jack and spare tire. Learning to change a tire was one of the first things that the independent Audrey had done. As she leaned over the rear fender to reach for the tire iron, she heard a twig snap on her right side. She quickly looked, brandishing the iron like a weapon, but the woods were too dark now to see anything. If it was an animal, it would most likely leave her in peace, so she bent back, lugging the heavy spare out of the trunk. She heard what sounded like another footstep in the crunching of leaves. She reached back for the tire iron and took a tentative step toward the noise.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" she called, but there was no answer.
"If there is, I could really use some help changing my tire." She heard only silence and the hooting of an owl. Satisfied that it was only her imagination Audrey turned back toward her work, as the owls watched. She did not see or hear the figure approach her from behind, but when he reached out to touch her shoulder, she swung the tire iron around so fast, he didn't have time dodge it, and he was knocked out cold.
"Deputy Brennan? Oh my god! Are you okay?" She knelt over him and patted his cheeks trying to wake him up. Now that she wasn't focused on her flat tire, she saw the police car parked on the opposite side of the road.
The Deputy's eye-lids fluttered as he came to,"You're late for your party Ms. Horne." Audrey laughed.
"I know Andy! But right now I'm more worried about you! Are you alright? I'm so sorry I hit you, living in the city makes you a bit paranoid I guess."
"Oh I'll be fine. I've survived worse." Audrey smiled at the dazed look in his eye and his drawn out speech.
"It sure is good to see you Ms. Horne, your father was worried when you were so late, so he asked us to see if you were having any trouble. I can give you a ride back to the hotel now. I'm sure everyone is excited to see you."
"Oh I think I'd better drive you to the hospital to get your head looked at. Come on Deputy," and she helped him stand. He swayed a little bit, but she supported him, "Goodness, still never a dull moment in Twin Peaks," and they walked back to Andy's police cruiser.
After she buckled him into the passenger seat, Audrey reached for the radio, and spoke into the mouth piece, "Lucy? Hawk? Sherriff Truman? This is Audrey Horne, I'm alright but I'm afraid Deputy Brennan startled me, and now I'm taking him to the hospital. He seems fine I just want to make sure he doesn't have a concussion."
"Audrey?" said Sherriff Truman's voice, "Well it sure is good to hear from you, and I'll let your father know you're safe. And Andy?"
"Yes Sherriff?"
"Good work."
Both Andy and Audrey smiled, as she put the radio back and turned the key. When Audrey looked back up from the ignition, the man from her dreams, with the long grey hair was blocking the car, his hands on the hood, leering, licking his lips, and looking directly at her. Audrey screamed and slammed her foot down on the gas hoping to run him over, but when she didn't hear or feel the car hit anything she realized that Andy had been calling her name.
"Audrey! Audrey! Are you alright? What happened?" She didn't answer, but stopped the car, and warily checked their surroundings for any sign of the man. "Audrey!"
She drew a shaky breath and answered, wiping the tears from her eyes, "Yes I'm fine Andy, but I think you're not the only one who needs to see Doc Hayward," and she started the car once more, heading to the hospital.
