Chapter Text
February 2002
The sound of a key sliding into the lock of the front door has AJ's eyes snapping open. Maggie, predictably, remains asleep next to him, but Gadget and Sprocket, who would normally be up and vibrating with alertness at the noise, if not yapping their tiny little heads off, also remain fast asleep. Heart pounding, AJ sits up.
"Just me man."
"Ollie?"
"Heeeey buddy." Ollie sits indian style at the foot of the bed, almost on Maggie's feet. Still, the dogs don't stir.
AJ scrubs his hands over his eyes and through his hair. The lights are all off, and Ollie is still sitting on his bed, streetlight shining through the window glinting off his pale hair. "The fuck?"
"So, we need to talk."
AJ blinks at him. Blinks at the dogs, dead to the world, snuggled up next to Maggie. It's so quiet - too quiet. "Dude. What. The. Fuck."
Ollie lights a cigarette, and AJ automatically hands him Maggie's ashtray from the bedside table. He accidentally jostles Gadget, and still she doesn't even twitch. "Is this a dream?"
"Sure, if you want." Ollie blows a smoke ring.
"I don't - what?"
"Ok, so here's the thing. Remember when you died?"
AJ's heart, which had just begun to calm, races again.
"What the fuck. Ollie." He gasps in a breath. "How did you even know about that?"
"Er. Uh. So. Here's the thing…"