Trading Air (closed with VictorianBooty)

[Interstellar Bun]

There was someone laying in the park. Why there was someone laying in the park, Jane couldn't say. Strolling along the sidewalk, Jane paused, taking a sip of her hot coco as she mulled the situation over. The cool fall breeze made her scarf flutter and, after a moment, she moved forward.


He looked...weird, peaceful, but weird none the less.


This early in the morning, the park was all but empty save for an old couple feeding the birds on a bench not too far off.


Her knees popped as she lowered herself, gently tapping his arm.


"Hey, you alright?"


He wasn't dead, was he? That would put a damper on her morning. She didn't want to touch a dead guy. But, thankfully, those fears were pushed aside as she noticed he was, in fact, still breathing. That was good, at least she wouldn't have to talk to the police today. Not like she had anything better to do.

 

[sumurset]

Fuck. That was never fun.


Wormholes had to be his least favorite. Damned things were so unpredictable.


It was no surprise he got knocked out. Shepard and everyone else must have, as well.


When a familiar voice registered in his unconscious mind, Jeff smiled and sucked in a breath as he opened his eyes.


His brow quickly furrowed.


The air smelled too sweet.


They didn't have trees on the Normandy.


He slowly sat up. The motion would most likely be far more sudden, had instinct and years of caution not prevented him from moving too quickly. Didn't want to snap a rib.


Even after a month of treatment he was cautious.


"The hell?"





Jeff turned and looked to Shepard. He exhaled in relief. Thank god she was there, at least.


Why was she dressed so oddly?


"Shepard? Why're you dressed like that? And where the hell did we land?"

 

[Interstellar Bun]

Shepard. The name caused Jane's brows to furrow slightly. No one called her that unless it was prefaced by a Miss and the person speaking was some sort of higher-up. But he had said it casually, as though they were friends, like they had known one another for years, which they hadn't. She, like many others, happened to be good at remembering faces.


As he sat up, she leaned back slightly to give him room to breathe.


His questions only confused her more and she let her eyes flicker to the side of his head. There was no blood, well, none that she could see. Confusion was starting to set in and Jane likely would have chalked it up to drugs or alcohol had he not known her last name. In fact, she would have left if he hadn't said that one work.


"How do you know my name?"


Given the situation that was probably a lame question to ask, but she genuinely had to know.

 

[sumurset]

"What d'you mean?"


The look he gave her made the confusion palpable. He knew if he was on her end, he'd be rethinking his own certainty.


What was Shepard on about?


"Delilah. Collectors. The ship--Normandy. We just went through a wormhole."





This had to be some kind of sick joke. Sure. Tease ol' brittle bones. Pretty typical. His legs might be weak, but damn. He'd figured Shepard would have figured out his brain wasn't.


His expression deadpanned.


"Don't fuckin' play with me, Shepard. This is serious."

 

[Interstellar Bun]

Delilah. Collectors. Normandy.


This meant absolutely nothing to the very confused French Canadian. Where could she even start with this? Maybe she should just walk away. She could just walk back to her apartment, finish her coco, and be done with it. But he looked so worried, so serious. He was genuinely convinced that what he said made sense.


"I'm not...I'm not Delilah. My name is Jane, Jane Shepard."


"Did you hit your head?" There was tentative concern in her words, something laced with mistrust and even a touch of fear.

 

[sumurset]

Jeff stared at Shepard--Jane--and blinked. His brows were furrowed in frustration, worry, and confusion.


He reached up and gently pressed a few fingers into his scalp.


Nothing.


No pain.


"No. I'm fine."





His eyes narrowed and he looked back at the woman.


"You're not playing?"





Finally looking at his surroundings, Jeff stood. The clothes were.. weird. Less functional and more artsy-fartsy. Shit.


Shit, shit, shit.


Shit.


This was Earth.


But it wasn't his Earth.


The cars were on the ground.





"What--what is the year?"

 

[Interstellar Bun]

Jane took a swig of her coco. Well, if she was going to be dealing with a mental case, she could at least enjoy her drink before it got cold. She had spent her brother's hard earned money on this drink. Her knees were starting to hurt and she opted to stand up straight, feeling the pain dissipate. Some part of her almost felt bad for him, the crazy bat.


"2014."


She rubbed her knee absently. God, when did she get so old?


"What's your name by the way?"


Calling him "That crazy guy" might be considered offensive, after all. It was the confusion in his eyes, the disbelieve in his voice, that told her that things might not exactly be just right.

 

[sumurset]

He simply stared at her.


Dammit.


How was he supposed to get back?


The hell had that wormhole done to the other guys?


Fucking--


"2014. Yep. Great. That's exactly where I wanna be right now."





He groaned and rubbed his face with a palm.


"Look, I don't mean to freak you out, but I just popped in here from 2185. I need your help."





A short pause.


"You say your last name was Shepard, right?"


Hopefully the brains were a family thing.


Hell be gentle if it wasn't.

 

[Interstellar Bun]

"2185."


She flat our stared at him, brown eyes blinking. She reached a hand up, running it through her mess of short red hair. He had to be lying. He was a fucking weirdo who was just trying to make her look like an idiot wasn't he?


But, he seemed to believe it.


"Sure, alright I'll believe that. Why not."


She took another long drink of her coco. She'd indulge him for now she supposed. What was the worst that could happen other than ending up on that evening's news for her body being found without her legs or something. Of course that would happen to her.


"But, yeah. The name is Shepard. Why do you ask and...if you're from the future what the hell are you doing here?"

 

[sumurset]

Jeff sighed.


Perfect. Beautiful.


It was certain.


He was in the past.


Fuckin' wormholes. He would never let this down.


"I work with a Shepard. Nice women. Looks exactly like you. Kinda creepy, actually, how much you look alike."





He eyed the woman wearily an looked around.


"Came here through a stupid tear in space time. You wouldn't understand."





Yeah, he was a little smug about that.


Turning back to her, he quirked a brow.


"You guys haven't even found aliens yet, have you."

 

[Interstellar Bun]

"I think I understand the concept of space time continuum and the concept of ripples allowing for theoretical interdimensional time travel. Though, I guess in your case it's more than theory."


For once, listening to Don's lectures seemed to have paid off. He was rather passionate about the subject and the concept of space travel, actually.


She finished off her drink and strolled to the nearest waste bin. Hands shoved into the pockets of her jeans, she took her time walking back to him, resting the urge to ruffle her hair again. She did that too much when she was thinking.


"As for aliens, ah, no. Haven't found those just yet. But now I have something to look forward to in the future, thanks for that." Yeah, right. Aliens. Sure she knew they were probably out there, it was mathematically impossible for them to not exist (or so her brother had said), but she had never thought humans would actually, you know, meet them.

 

[sumurset]

Jeff blinked at the woman.


Saucy. Damn.


Matched her red hair, at least. He really hadn't expected her to know shit about shit. Then again, look could be deceiving. He of all people should have known that.


"Alright then. So no aliens. That's good. Y'know, I never really was one for history. Don't have any idea what you guys did."





He blanched; turning his head away to focus on people walking around in the park. They all looked so calm and peaceful. Nothing like those damned husks. It was relieving.


"Uh--know anyone I could talk to? To get back to my time, that is."

 

[Interstellar Bun]

"You realize that telling anyone you're from the future will end with you in an asylum, right? I mean, other than me, but I've heard weirder, if you can believe it."


Growing up in a not so nice part of the city had left her with some interesting stories. But this was not the time or face for such things.


"I mean, my brother studies quantum mechanics, so he might be able to help you out."


Fishing in her high-wasted jeans, Jane pulled out her phone. She swiped the screen, drawing a little image on it in order to unlock the device. The more he talked, the more she believed him. After all, she was willing to call her brother for this nonsense.


"I'm not sure if he's left the apartment yet, though." A pause. "Do you have a place to stay?"

 

[sumurset]

He stared at her blankly.


"D'ya really think I have a place to stay."





His gaze didn't break.


"I just popped up here, Shepa--uh, what's your name?"





That would be a bad habit to break..

 

[Interstellar Bun]

"Jane."


She held the phone up to her ear, her gaze flicking to the side as she waited. Finally, there was a click, and she heard the familiar 'what do you want' that greeted her every time she called her brother.


"Hey you still at home?"


"About to leave, why? What did you do?"


"Doesn't matter. Hey a friend of mine needs a place to crash and he's interested in quantum mechanics so I was thinking you could chat with him."


"I don't think this is a good idea, Jane."


"It probably isn't. Well, I should go."


"I'll see you in a bit." A sigh was heard before the call was ended.


Jane shoved her phone back into her pocket and gave Jeff a smile.


"And now you have a place to stay."

 

[sumurset]

He watched her in amusement. The quiet buzz of her brother's voice completed the conversation, making a rather entertaining gag.


When she spoke, Jeff shook his head.


"Damn. Don't waste any time, huh?"

 

[Interstellar Bun]

"Well I've spent twenty four years with that guy, it's not like it's anything I haven't heard before."


She motioned for him to follow along as she headed out of the park. Her pace was slow, easy and almost care free. It wasn't like she was in any rush to sprint up stairs and harass her brother. She got to do that on a regular basis anyway. There was no need to hurry up.


"We don't live too far from here, just a few blocks. It's not much of an apartment, but I think you'll like it."

 

[sumurset]

"Worryin' about if I like it or not? Shit, I wish half the people I know had your attitude."





He snorted but followed anyway. This chick's brother was probably his only chance at getting back. Or even getting to others who might be able to help him. There was no way he'd pass this up.


With all the shit going down back in his own time, he was needed there. Not here. This place was a fucking coddled babe if he'd ever seen one. Had it way too easy for its own good.