The next morning, I woke up from a restless sleep still next to Grif. Still not back at Blood Gulch. Without complaint, I got out of bed, shared casual conversation with my fiancé, prepared to start the day, and we departed at the same time. In the parking lot, he hugged me goodbye, a look of concern still on his face. He knew I was faking normality. I was glad that he didn't try to kiss me—I probably would have slapped him out of reflex.

Besides… kissing Grif… ew.

Church picked me up just as Grif pulled out of the lot and I entered the car.

"I don't need a specialist," I said instantly.

"Dr. Dufresne said that this might happen," Church continued. "I need to take you to a therapist so you can start remembering everything right. I'm not going to let you break Dexter's heart."

"Ch—Leo, I do remember everything. I just don't remember everything like this."

"I don't understand."

"I know all of you, but the way things are… it's just wrong. You're not supposed to be a patient, compassionate preschool teacher. You're irritable and an asshole to everyone."

"Ellen! I—"

"Then, Tucker would never be a priest. He loves women too much. He would never give up sex. For anything. He and I… well. It's just not right. Donut is not manly, Simmons should be working in tech support, and Grif is lazy as hell! Why can't you understand this?"

Church sighed. "Ellen, you and I both know this is getting ridiculous," he said. "You can't keep living like this. Making up stories. This is going beyond just simple amnesia. I'm starting to think you're suffering from delusions."

I was quiet at that. If this really did happen to be my life, then I was delusional. I had given it my best shot. He didn't believe me.

We were quiet the rest of the way there, and I looked up only as I sensed we were pulling into another parking lot.

I frowned, looking at the daunting building. "Leo, why are we at a police station?"

Church glanced at me. "I'm not taking you to jail, don't worry. The best psychiatrist in town doubles as a police officer."

I followed Church tentatively inside the station. He led me down the hallway until we reached a door marked Psychiatric Office.

"Okay, it's just in here," he said to me. "I'll pick you up when your session is over." Without another word, he left me alone to enter the door.

I walked into the psychiatrist's office and almost choked on my own saliva. A man looked up at me wearing a gray suit and yellow tie.

"What the…!" I uttered. "You're a shrink?"

Wash frowned at me. "And a cop. Don't you remember me, Ellen?"

I knew the routine by now, though I could hardly believe my eyes. "You're David."

He smiled again. "At least you remember that."

"Please tell me how I know you," I implored.

Wash sighed. "I wish you could remember. We went to high school together."

I stared at him. "Wa—David, can you explain more of this?"

He gestured at the seat beside him and I sat down.

"I know it's difficult for you to remember," he said calmly. "We did go to the same school. You and me and Allison, your brother's girlfriend."

I watched him closely. "This might seem like a weird question, but… uh… did we ever date?"

Wash chuckled. "No. No, we didn't. Looks like your mind really did get scrambled in that crash."

I frowned.

"Listen, Ellen, it'll take time for you to remember, but you will," Wash insisted. "When we were at school together, do you remember who the principal was?"

Yeah, I bet I knew. I cringed.

"Dr. Church?"

"That's right," Wash smiled. "Your dad."

"What was he like?"

"Hmm…" Wash said thoughtfully. "Dr. Church was so patient. Really compassionate. I never met a man who had better morals. He was just so nice to us, and really involved himself in the teaching of his students."

I wasn't sure how much longer I could handle this.

"So how did my brother meet Allison?"

"She moved from Texas to this town pretty late. She was the new girl for a while, but everyone seemed to like her. She was just this quiet, sweet girl who never said anything mean to anyone. I think Leonard saw her and just fell in love."

I cupped my head in my hands. "This is all so wrong."

Wash was watching me concernedly. "What do you mean?"

"This isn't the way things are supposed to be," I said. "And I'm not crazy!"

Wash only nodded and began writing on the clipboard. "Just tell me how you're feeling."

Oh, for the love of God. He was humoring me.

"You have to listen to me," I said to him. "I don't remember this. This isn't my life. You're not a psychiatrist, and everything else is wrong too."

He only nodded and smiled politely. He still didn't believe me.

"Ellen, this is a very natural state to be in after trauma," he said professionally. "You may have had vivid dreams while you were out, and that would naturally cause the amnesia to be worse. You just need to accept the fact that we are trying to help you remember the truth."

The rest of the session with Wash was much of the same thing. I tried one time to get him to understand that he had been in the military and had gone crazy from Artificial Intelligence, but then he started writing down a shitload more notes and I knew that was a bad idea. The last thing I needed was to get checked into some mental institution.

After that, I just began playing along with his little games. I hated how he refused to take me seriously. How his criminal record was spotless and he had been a rebel in high school. The Wash I was used to wasn't this. I could barely even pay attention as he spoke to me. Physically, he looked exactly the same as how I remembered him. Why had his personality changed when I entered this… this life? Why was everyone different?

...Or was I the one who had changed?

After the painfully long session ended, I bid Wash goodbye and left his office. Part of me was truly saddened. If the Freelancers here—the steadfast, smart military troopers I had grown so close to during my time at the Project—were not even aware of my memories, then I was at an utter loss. Nothing was right.

I was unsure whether anything would ever be right.

I walked out of the police station and saw Church in his car, waiting for me. He honked the horn and waved, so I began approaching him. However, something I noticed out of the corner of my eye made me stop and turn around.

That man.

He was simply standing there in his suit, watching me. Again. I narrowed my eyes at him, this time staring him fully in the face. He didn't look away, however, and a small smile appeared on his lips.

"Ellen, time to go!" Church called, rolling down the window. I ignored him, still watching the man, whose rather arrogant smile widened. I took a few steps toward him and he cocked his head amusedly, taking a step back. My frown deepened and I approached him once more just to have him step away from me again.

"Damn it," I muttered. I was probably going to regret this, but… what the hell. If this man were going to keep haunting me, I was going to find out exactly why. Without another word, I took off running after him.

"Ellen!" Church called from his car. "Ellen, where are you going?"

"I'll be right back!" I yelled at him. The man in the gray suit began running away from me as well, disappearing behind the police station.

The chase was on.