~THE OFFICE~

Olivia Dunham headed up a terrorist investigative unit at the NYPD. This branch of the police department was formed right after the attacks on the White House and Pentagon. Today the office was small; it was just Dunham really and her assistant. There have been fewer and fewer cases over the years. Most usually end up like the one last night. Whatever resources she needed was provided by the uniformed personnel from the precinct. She preferred it that way. As long as the caseloads didn't involved Fringe Division was OK by her. That would have been a sad reminder of all the things she had to leave behind.

When she arrived at her office at a quarter to eleven, case reports from last night were already piling up on her desk. There was a knock on her door.

"Come in."

It was Mathers, her assistant. His usual baby face demeanor always afforded her a smile everyday.

"Hey boss. There is someone here to see you."

Olivia looked at her watch. 12:30.

"OK. Send him in...Oh. Mathers, before I forget, clear my calendar for the rest of the day. I have a meeting at the DOD this afternoon."

"Yes ma'am."

When Mathers had left, Olivia returned to reading the case reports. She was so engrossed, she didn't notice the person who had just stepped into her office.

"Hey boss, you should have someone take look at that arm."

"I did..." Wait. Only one person sounded like that. "Charlie! When did you get back? It's so good to see you."

"Liv. Liv. Liv. Would you let a guy get a word in edge wise?"

Olivia shook her head and laughed. Charlie enveloped her in a big bear hug.

"You cut your hair." Charlie brushes a stray strand from her face. "It suits you."

"You let yours grow." It was true. Not only did he have a shaggy, curly mane now, he also had a full beard as well.

"Two months in the Himalayas will do that to you."

"Aw! How was your second honeymoon?"

"Great. Sonia sends her love."

"Are you going to keep that thing on your face?"

"I don't know. It's growing on me." He strokes it with pride. They both burst out laughing at his pun.

"Did I hear right, Liv? You are going to see the Secretary today?"

"Yeah. Come on. I'll tell you all about it over lunch."

~MR. SECRETARY~

Walter Bishop looked at himself in the full-length mirror. There has been more gray in his hair then the last week. Oh well. He smirked at his reflection. He still look good for his age. He noticed his posture and consciously stood a little straighter.

"Mr. Secretary."

"Ah. Olivia, you've arrived. I hope your journey over here was pleasant."

"It was sir." He gestured over to the low slung couches. She sat down facing him.

"Excellent. You must be wondering why I've invited you here after all these years."

"The thought did cross my mind."

"You see my retirement is next month and I need to tie up some loose ends before that happens." He paused for effect. "Olivia, I want you to join Fringe Division."

"Why?"

"Well. When you agreed to cease your traveling, there have been few fringe or pattern events. None at all. The environment is safe thanks to you. I am afraid that when my successor takes over, Fringe Division will have little use in the Department of Defense. It will transition to more research oriented investigations."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"I promised Peter a reunion between the two of you. And our technicians finally made a breakthrough." He took an object out of his pocket. "Do you recognize this?"

"It's a cell phone."

"It's no ordinary cell phone... It is yours." Olivia considered what she had just been told.

"It came from the other side."

"Yes. Precisely. We have the means to establish a stable gateway that will allow objects to crossover. Remember how I crossed ten years ago." Olivia nodded. "The principle is the same. The same way we can broadcast audio and video waves, we can send transmissions. Any transmission."

"The holo-corder!"

"Very astute, Agent. Yes. Real-time holographic transmissions are possible. This phone has a countdown for when the next time our two universes come back to sync." Olivia took the phone that the Secretary just handed to her.

"So then. It's a date, Olivia."

Olivia looked at the counter on the phone display, 6 days. What's 6 more days compared to 10 years?