All those hours of driving, Julie didn't want to get in her car ever again. Her legs were stiff and she was reminded of that stunt she'd pulled with that police officer, Jim; reminded of crappy gas station food and aching limbs from driving for days.

He was surely dead. They'd killed her sister and her parents. They had Jim. It was her fault he'd been killed. She thought about it often and the guilt ate at her most nights. If she would have just stayed in that place, not run, so many people would still be living.

She made an effort to shake off these thoughts, though, and that morning was no different. Julie forced herself to talk to people even though she wanted nothing to do with them. These people and this town meant nothing to her; nowhere did, really. But she knew she had to try to lead a normal life and a part of her was almost giddy over the thought of having somewhere to call home.

She'd been running on pure adrenaline and was currently in need of coffee. The coffee shop by the motel was near empty but she went anyway. Glancing around, she found a family of three; a little girl staring unhappily at her pancakes. Suddenly she remembered Kali's mention of another girl like them – how she'd traveled back home to a police officer.

Something felt peculiar and she always trusted her gut.

"Excuse me," she waved over the barista. "Do you have a phone I could use?"

In her purse there was a balled up piece of paper with the number to Hawkins Police scribbled on it. Flo was extremely helpful with her questions about the lab a few weeks back.

"Hello?"

"Hi, I have a quick question: is there an officer named Jim there?"

A sigh left the woman. "What'd he do now?"

Julie's heart jolted – he wasn't dead! Or was it another Jim…?

"Nothing. Is he in now? Can I speak with him?"

"He's running late – as usual. We never know when he'll drag his lazy ass in here, but I'm sure he'll show up before noon."

It couldn't be the same man. The Jim she remembered had been so eager for her case, so ready to jump in and help when no one else was there for her.

"Okay, thank you."

She hung up the phone, tipped the barista, and left the coffee shop.

•••

Julie sat in a chair pushed to the corner of the room, eyes fixated on the door, almost urging it to open. Taking even breaths she ignored Flo's stares of curiosity. It was interesting to put a face to the voice over the phone line.

For fifteen minutes she'd had the urge to leave. She'd known Jim for only a matter of a few days and even though he was an important part of her past, maybe he'd been unfazed. Maybe he wouldn't recognize her. Maybe this was a terrible decision.

But she had to know what he knew about the lab. He had to be chasing down leads, right? Just happening to be the chief here of all places?

What if he was a part of all of this? Hired by Brenner to capture her, convince her she was safe, and then lead her right to them? If Brenner was still alive – like that dead man had said – could Jim be working with him currently?

Her eyes snapped to the door as soon as it opened and her stomach dropped.

The one officer – Powell, was it? – made a noise in the back of his throat, commenting on the chief's lateness.

"Hop," Flo started.

"Honestly, let me get some coffee, Flo – we've been over this," his voice boomed.

"Someone's here to see you," Flo ignored him, pointing to their guest. "Name's Julie Preston."

Jim was about to raise his voice but stopped, mouth agape. Julie stood, shifting her purse from her lap to her shoulder.

"Hi, Jim," she spoke finally.

He paused, closed his mouth, exhaled through his nostrils.

"Hey," he cleared his throat and then pointed down the hall to what she assumed was his office. "Come in."

•••

Chief, she thought as they sat in silence. He'd said he wanted another job but it was surprising to see him so high ranking, especially if he was lazy like Flo made it seem. Jim lit a cigarette and stared at his desk for a moment.

"I thought for sure you were-"

"Dead?" she nodded, a flood of memories – Jim's memories – clicked in her mind. "Same to you…" she paused awkwardly. "You looked for me."

"Uh…yeah. How'd you-" he paused, sighing then rubbing his temples. "Right." She wanted to tell him about what else she was capable of, but his questions started first. "It was here, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"That lab they had you at."

She nodded. "Brenner. All of that power company crap was bullshit. I read it all in the papers after-"

Jim held up his hand, stopping her before she could continue. "It's a long story, but I know everything."

"Wait," she interrupted too, extending her hand toward his on his desk. "I…learned something…" he gave her a look. "May I?" she nodded toward his hand. A second's pause but he nodded curtly.

Closing her eyes, Julie pressed her fingertips to the back of Jim's hand. What came next was a flood of Jim's memories: a crying, desperate woman, a missing son, a monster in the walls, the lab, Brenner, a different world, a little girl with abilities, a cabin, Eggos in the fridge.

Jim pulled away then but some memories were still coming. Julie opened her eyes to stop them.

"What the Hell was that?"

"Brenner trained me, kept working on my mind," it was weird to say aloud. "Jim, I can access people's memories."

Jim said nothing, mostly freaked out about what she saw. He felt sick, almost, like she'd taken away his privacy and now knew about Jane.

"How'd you get out? I looked for you when I was there." That guilt suddenly found its way back.

Julie bit her tongue. "I did something awful," she left it at that for now, suddenly unable to own up to what she'd done. What would Jim think? "Story for another time?" she offered, still wondering if she could trust him. "I went home. Jim, they killed my parents. A car accident-" she paused, looking up at him in an attempt to stop the tears from forming.

"M'sorry," he huffed, shaking his head at the thought of the damage.

"Can I try something?" leaning forward and across the desk, she pressed her fingers to Jim's neck, feeling his pulse. It quickened. He wanted to pull away but remained silent.

It wasn't the first time she'd tried this. Brenner had forced her to share a memory – the same way – and it was way too intimate for her comfort.

The feeling of memories flooding to Jim was like a rush – little peppering of tingles in the veins on her arms. She showed him everything from the moment she got home: her aunt, the accident report, the man she chased to Chicago - how she had to kill him.

She wiped the drip of blood from her nose, grabbing a tissue from Jim's desk. This was the only power that the blood still came from.

Jim was breathless when she pulled away. His pupils were small, shock plastered across his face.

"Jesus…" he narrowed his eyes at her.

"I'm sorry, I just figured that would be easier," but before she sat back in her chair, Jim grabbed her wrist and pulled up the sleeve of her jacket.

For some reason he'd expected to find nothing – that this was some elaborate ruse – but there was the tattoo and now he knew her number: seventeen. He raised his eyes to her but said nothing, still trying to get over the feeling of her using her powers on him. She pulled away, sat back, stared unblinking at him. She felt exposed now, having Jim reveal this without her permission. But after all he'd done for her she figured she owed him that bit of exposure at least.

"And now you're back here?" Jim wasn't trying to get mean with her, but he felt like things were just getting settled around here: his life was finally flat lining again and now here she was to bring more weirdness to this town. For God's sake, she'd given him memories as if this was normal.

"I wanted to see if the lab was still standing," she shrugged.

"It is," he snapped. "Kids got that news story out about Barb," she nodded at this, having read it. "Got 'em outta here."

"Good. And Brenner?"

"Dead."

"You're sure?"

"Well…yeah. Pretty sure." At Jim's words, Julie stilled. Hopper connected the dots. "That was him, wasn't it? The one who took you back that day."

Julie nodded, not wanting to give him those memories. His scent and his mouth – the weight of him in that bed. How he'd call her 'little bird,' keep her company because "she was his favorite." She breathed sharply at the memory.

"That girl," Julie gaped. "With the dark hair – the powers," Jim's eyes darkened. "Was she…like me?"

Gruffly, Jim answered a short, "Yes."

He was trying to hide something from her and a part of her didn't want to push him, but she needed to know.

"Where is she?"

Jim bit his tongue. Sure, they shared a history – a few days mind you – but she was practically a stranger still. And how was he certain she wasn't working with them still? He had to protect Jane.

"I don't know."

"Bull," she slammed her hand on the desk. He didn't flinch, just leveled his gaze with hers. She sensed his anger and hesitation. Though she understood, she couldn't help but feel hurt. "I get it, okay? It's your job – to protect. And, yeah, you could have me pinned in ten seconds, but don't you dare doubt that I can't make a skin connection and read your memories. I can. But I won't." She lowered her gaze a moment, took a breath and Jim felt himself let out a breath he didn't know he held. "You know where she is," she lowered her voice. "I want to keep her away from these people – if there's a possibility of them coming back here. I would never side with them, Jim, not after everything they've taken from me."

"Julie…" Jim shook his head, sighed, "Look, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just…there's been a lot going on these past two years, okay? And now you're here and…"

"-And you think I just brought more shit your way," she nodded at that. "I get it." She felt like such a fool, driving all this way to see some empty lab. "I shouldn't have come here. I'm sorry." She stood to leave.

"Where are you going?" he groaned.

"Tomorrow I'll go check out that lab and then I'll leave you alone."

Jim stared at her. "You plan on going alone?"

"Yes," she snapped.

He pulled out his pack of cigarettes, lit one, inhaled deeply. "What time?" Julie turned to him, unspeaking. "How about noon tomorrow?"

"Jim-"

"I'll pick you up. Where are you staying?"

Julie didn't know if the feeling stirring in her chest was hope or dread.