What If

A Glimpse

Kate's pale face came into fuzzy focus as Brian opened his eyes again.Worry wrinkled her brow as she patted his face softly.

"Brian?" she said in a low tone.

"Mommy, is daddy dead?"

The sound of the little girls voice made Brian's eyes open wide.

"No, Jessie, daddy isn't dead," Kate said patiently helping Brian sit up. "Can you do me a favor and go wake Kat up?"

"She'll throw a pillow at me," the little girl said.

"If she does, tell her I'll take her presents away," Kate said assuredly and the little girl frowned but went on her way.

"Are you okay?" Kate asked as Brian stood.

"Where am I?" he asked looking down at his sweat pants and his shirtless un-tattooed chest. He moved to look in the mirror....even his arm and hand tattoos were gone. "What the fuck?"

"Really Bri?" Kate said angrily. "We don't need Jessie repeating your cuss words anymore."

"Jessie?"

"Yes...Jessie...you know...our daughter."

"Oh my fucking God....I've got to get out of here," he said quickly grabbing a green t shirt from the chair.

"Where are you going?" Kate called but Brian was halfway down the stairs.

"Home," he mumbled to himself as he made his way into the living room decorated with a large Christmas tree and presents. The stockings hanging on the chimney caught his attention as one clearly said "Brian" in Kate's glittery cursive. He shook his head and grabbed for the Nike tennis shoes near the door. He managed to pull them on quickly and stepped out into the California morning.

He was in an ocean side neighborhood he didn't recognize and his Benz was no where in site.  A blue Honda mini van and a black Chevy SUV sat in the driveway. How the hell had he gotten here?

"Fuck," he said to himself as he took off jogging down the street. He didn't have his cell or his wallet and no idea where the fuck he was. He ran for a good ten minutes aimlessly before finally getting to one of the main roads. 

A blue Mercedes S Class stopped in front of him and the window rolled down. "Hey there handsome..."

Brian turned to find that he recognized the driver.

"You lost, Gates?" the girl gave him a smile.

"Jamie?" Brian remembered her name.

"You remembered!" she said delighted. "I'm glad."

"That's my car," Brian said angrily "You stole my car. Are you even old enough to drive?"

"I'm A LOT older than you are," she shook her head. "And I'm just borrowing it for now."

"Till when?" Brian asked confused. 

"Till you learn...." she began but thought the better of it "Just until you're ready. Look....get in."

Jamie leaned over and opened the door. "Seriously...get in."

Brian was unsure but he opened the door and slid into the car.

"You may want to buckle your seat belt," she replied as she took off quickly.

"What the hell is happening?" Brian said as she sped down the PCH.

Jamie handed him a paper bag. "Most guys don't handle this kind of thing very well...so if you don't want to ruin your leather, you may want to use that."