So here is the second chapter. At first, the story itself might be a little slow but I promise it'll get to the action and drama that everyone reads for. I might add a little romance later on but for right now I'm just seeing where this idea takes me. Note: flashback takes place in this chapter. Flashback is in italics.

I woke up the next morning to the sound of my phone ringing. I reached over and grabbed the phone and answered it.

"Yeah."

On the other end I heard Mary's voice.

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything."

"No, I was just sleeping. You know the thing that people do to recharge from a long day or to forget all of their problems for a few hours."

"Ahhh, I see, well rise and shine sleeping beauty. I'm on my way to get you because I have found you a job. I'll be at your place in 10 minutes."

And with that we hung and I was up and out of bed. I walked over and pulled some jeans and a t-shirt out of my duffel bag. Once I was dressed I walked into the kitchen and stood there. I looked down and realized that I was still in my socks. I walked over and put my shoes on in the living room and I just sat there lost in my thoughts.

A knock on my door is pulled me from my thoughts. I got up and looked through the peep and I saw Mary standing there.

"Who is it?"

And of course she answered with a snarky little remark.

"It's the maid service, now would you come on so we aren't late."

I opened the door and she moved so I could step outside and I locked the door and started off down the hall to the exit. The ride in the car wasn't very long but it was quiet. We pulled into the home depot and I looked over at Mary.

"Seriously? Home depot?"

"Well we couldn't just give you a badge and a gun and let you patrol the streets. This way if I need to get a hold of you I can and quick."

"Well it's not exactly what I'm used to but I guess it's better than nothing."

She gave a small and weak smile.

"Plus you get one of those orange aprons."

I gave a small chuckle then got out of the car. I walked into the home improvement store and for the first time in a while I felt like everything was going to be ok. I met with the manager and I got the apron and my schedule and with that I was off again. Mary pulled into this small diner that was a good 5 minutes from my apartment.

We walked in and found a table in the corner and sat. We ordered coffee and that was it. Once our coffee had arrived and we were settled I looked up from my coffee and saw Mary looking at me.

"Look, Shawn, I know this may be a grey area or something you don't want to talk about but maybe it'll help with your transition if you talk about what happened. I mean eventually you'll have to because you're testifying but maybe it'll be easier if you start by just talking with me about it."

"Maybe it will Mary but right now I just don't feel like talking."

I looked back over to her and I saw she was still looking at me with that look that said she wasn't going to let me get off that easily.

"Fine, I'll tell you about it."

For the next five or ten minutes we sat there as I told her about the events that landed me here in program. It wasn't easy but I did feel a little better afterwards but I wasn't going to let her know that, I mean after all it would prove that she was right and I wasn't going to let her have that satisfaction just yet.

Once we were done Mary took me to get some groceries for my place and then took me back to my apartment. After Mary left I went over to the fridge and pulled out a beer. I opened it and then I sat down in the living room and I turned on the TV. Sure, I could've been entertained by the antics of Ted and the gang on How I Met Your Mother but, I was lost in my thoughts again. The flashback to that day just became too much for me and it was currently all I was thinking about.

It was a normal and regular day for me. I had the day off and I was just enjoying a little bit of much needed free time. I spent the morning down at the local park with some friends just playing a game of basketball and talking. After that I went shopping and picked up some things so I could make a nice meal for my girlfriend. As I was walking out I noticed a group of guys gathered on the side walk across the street. It seemed odd but I didn't think anything of it.

When I got home, I started right away on making dinner. I got a call from my girlfriend saying that she got held up in court and she was going to be late. I told her not to worry about it. Once she arrived the night went well. Dessert time came around and it had completely slipped my mind that I had forgotten to even think about dessert. My girlfriend, Casey, told me it wasn't a big deal but I insisted that I would just run to the store on the corner and pick up some ice cream and I would be back in no time. I gave a quick kiss before heading out.

I quickly picked up a pint of vanilla ice cream. It was plain but Casey wasn't the type of girl that liked super fancy things. I was walking to the front when I saw Frankie Ventura walk in and start hassling the lady at the desk. He was an enforcer for the Colombo family. The Colombo family was one of the five families in New York. The cashier made her way to the back of the store and I saw a random person walk in. the cashier made her way back up to the front and told Frankie his package had been delivered. They talked a little more. I made my way to the back of the store and I opened the door. It made a squeaky noise but I didn't think that they noticed. I peaked through and I saw some guys opening one of the boxes. The box was filled with cocaine and what looked to be heroin. I realized I had just walked into a store that was a front for a major drug distribution center and the Colombo family was running it. I made my way to the front of the store and bought some the ice cream and left. When I left the store let out a sigh of relief. As I was walking I heard a voice that was behind.

"Hey, Buddy let me ask you something."

I turned around and saw Frankie Ventura walking towards me and before I knew what happened I heard the sound of a gun firing twice. I felt the hot metal as it entered my body. I laid there on ground and saw the sky but it was a blur and then I saw nothing but darkness.

I must of blacked out because the next thing I remember was waking up the next night and saw two federal agents standing in my hospital room. They were there to inform me that I was officially dead. I really didn't understand what they were talking about until I picked up the newspaper that was on the table next to my bed. It such a surreal feeling when I read the headline.

US Marshal Killed in a shooting

I saw my face on the front page but that was impossible. I was alive in this hospital room and then it hit me. The FBI was going to want me to testify about what happened to me and what I might have saw. I told the agents in the room about what had happened and that I would testify. They nodded and then made a few phone calls. I fully understood that now I was going to be put into the very program that I worked for. I was a federal witness that had to completely start his life all over again because he was in the wrong place and saw something that he shouldn't have saw. It dawned on me that I had messed up. I didn't completely close the door before I left and that's how they must have figured out that I saw something that I had no business knowing bout. I read the rest of the article and my funeral was going to be held that weekend. I was allowed to go but I had to stay a distance. Everyone was devastated. The twenty one gun salute took place and then the casket was lowered. I felt a tap on my shoulder which meant it was time to go.

I just sat there thinking about it. That's how I got here. No goodbyes or anything. I knew that I couldn't because that would defeat the whole purpose of everyone thinking that I was dead. At least my family was safe and I didn't have to worry about Casey because the mob didn't want them. They wanted me dead and they got what they wanted. They thought I was dead but once the trail started for Frankie Ventura I would have to testify and then they would know.

I looked over at the TV and gave a chuckle to what was happening on the TV and then just thought that at least for now I could relax and just blend in and enjoy life.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter will make a time jump and I just wanted you to know that. I will also update anytime that I can. I wanted this chapter to explain what happened and that's why I added the flashback. So comment and let me know what you think. Again I will try and respond to all of the comments that I get.