Chapter Text
From what I understand, an introduction is in order.
My name is Doctor Julia Ogden. While I still practice medicine from time to time, my main career is writing. I have several best selling fiction books and one non fiction book that is used in medical classes to teach necessary people on recognizing criminal activity on possible victims.
I went into writing since it was easier to raise my son.
When I was in college, I became pregnant from a small romp with a man. During that time, I had a series of dreams that led me into remembering my past life. Doctor Julia Ogden, who started in the City Morgue and ended up starting the first woman’s hospital while raising a lovely daughter and helping out with a step son.
After that, my outlook changed with all of this new-to-me knowledge. I legally changed my name to Ogden, connecting myself to my former life. Before that, it was Brackenreid. My father remembered his time as Inspector of Station House Four, the one where I met the love of my life, William Murdoch, a detective. Once he found out I had remembered, he took to interrogating me over everything. Including the reason why I remembered.
I have now found that man again, but he doesn’t remember our past. George Crabtree and Henry Higgins, who had served William well until his retirement, are now detectives working alongside him. Neither remember as well, but that may be for the better at the moment. Percival Giles is the current Inspector over the trio, as the trials of his former life hadn’t completely happened here.
Using the example that a ‘dear’ friend in New York used himself, I have attached myself to William, using him for the basis of a new character. Really, it’s just his old life, with some changes and suggestions from the Toronto Police Department. I don’t really need to be near by. But it is good publicity on both sides.
When he remembers, and if the others by associations, it will be the moment that I hope for. Well, except for one that I don’t want remembering.
Balancing a full cup holder with a sack of goodies from a local cafe, Ogden dodged more than a few cars still driving through a crosswalk to get to the police station.
In the three months that they started ‘working’ together, Julia became a witness to how things changed, and not, in Station Fifty One. A fair amount of them she saw immediately. George and Henry were detectives. Detective Constables, as William was their senior. There were levels now in Stations as there was more need for detectives that developed when Toronto got bigger and bigger. Which meant that George, who made it once, then went back down, made it up to Inspector before leaving with the superior investments for him and Effie, got to be detective and stay that way without Edna. Higgins, who hadn’t shown it as much the last time, was also doing well as a detective.
The constables were completely different. No Hodge, he retired years ago thanks to an injury. Already opened the pub from last time. A woman that she never met in the previous life took the place of the Sergeants that worked the front. Giles was already in his office. The man that tried to blackmail him this time for his relationship with a rent boy was drummed out, thanks to her father and his work on getting the LGBT community accepted among the department. Although, it sounded like he had problems in his personal life. Long time boyfriend wanted to leave after ACAB started and kept trending.
Emily and Violet were coroners, which she found to be fantastic. The two of them enjoyed it, and shared their inside jokes. Emily and George didn’t last here either, although that was more after Emily figured she was a full out lesbian and not merely bisexual. Violet had dated Arthur, but that didn’t end up the way it had last time. Thankfully. She flirted between men, but more focused on her work. She wanted to go up.
Murdoch, Crabtree, and Higgins, were already sifting through paperwork and settling down for the day. There were no active murder investigations. A few robberies, a couple of assaults. One nasty case that should rightfully end up with a full sentence. She passed out two coffee orders, and one tea for the lead detective, before settling down with her mocha monstrosity.
He looked at the new cup before glancing over at the treat bag. “I have what was left of the cafe’s pastries,” she said.
The other two perked up and quickly moved. They each grabbed something before sitting back down. She passed what was left to the man. “Blueberry scone?” He smiled before accepting. She had chomped through hers on the way there, so instead she sipped her drink.
After a few minutes, once he realized that Ogden was merely watching him, instead of going through old, solved, cases and former interviews, did Murdoch understand that something else was afoot. “May I help you?” he inquired, dreading the answer.
“Oh, you might actually be able to, and possibly enjoy it,” she said, absolutely loving the situation, “I have to attend the opening of an exhibit at the Natural Museum of Toronto. A pair of complete dinosaur skeletons?”
He perked, a little, and turned to her. “The Terror and Albertosaurus that have been going around?”
Oh, he had been following it. Julia remembered the last time they had gone to the unveiling of the two, and she hoped that it didn’t end up like last time. She casually dropped her hand on to the wooden part of the desk a couple of times. “That one. Marcus said I was invited to the opening, and that for the sake of being seen while working on my newest book series, I should most definitely attend.”
“So, there’s going to be a quiet night ahead,” he mused, “Sounds like I’ll be able to finish one of my projects.”
“Or, I drag you out as the plus one that I’m being told to bring.”
He stopped typing and turned to her. She smiled. “Marcus believes it would be good publicity to be seen with the man that has inspired my latest book.” His brain may have stopped working, as he thought about being brought along on an engagement. Or his brain was caught on seeing the dinosaurs. “It’s also a school night, so Llewellyn shouldn’t be there, even if he were interested. And Dad has a date night with Mum.”
She may have found out from gossiping with George and Henry that William had something for her as well. Marcus figured as well. Apparently developed from reading her books, as he rarely kept anything fictional and he actually has all of her books in hardcover. She wondered if his previous life influenced him into falling for her before even seeing her. She did read about Liza, and was sadden that they hadn’t been able to stay together this time either. They hadn’t crossed paths at all, so her writing was good enough to make her husband in a previous life fall for her without meeting.
It also helped that she remembered when they officially met and she asked if he wanted her to sign his chest. Watching him fumble was entertaining.
“Please tell me you have a tux hidden somewhere in your apartment,” she said. “Hopefully not stained or faded. It’s relatively formal, but not white tie. That would be a little much.” To be honest, if he didn’t have one, she would gladly buy one for him. Maybe even splurge for a little bespoke. Watching him walk around in the trousers he currently has for work was sad. She wondered if gifting him some better cuts would be going a bit far at the moment. Then she thought about it being ‘anonymous’ to his apartment. “I have a gorgeous, pale-ish pink dress that I was planning on. A bit shimmery.”
He thought about it, and what he had at home. “I do have something that would work,” he relented. “And a black tie.”
“Clip on or actual tie?” Henry asked, his pastry finally gone. The man glared before they all went back to their paperwork.
-
The dress still fit her well. Even if she had to have a bit of help with the spandex undergarment. She brought it several years ago. Walking by with Llewellyn during a little break from writing, he had pointed it out and said she would look pretty in it. At the time, she was dating someone that didn’t work out, the dress having one outing during that time. It had been worn maybe five times between then and now.
Now, she was able to pull it off without the regret or issues of the past.
Llewellyn was working on his homework from the couch. A tv show that she didn’t recognize was playing. He caught a glance at her when she walked through the hall, then did a double take when he saw the ensemble. “You’re wearing it?” he gasped, happy that she had put it on again. The shoes were smaller heals, likely due to the nature of the exhibition and where it was being held. Neutral makeup, although there was a smudge of brown liner. Good, good, she had listened to the ramblings he had in middle school while talking with a girl that was thinking about makeup artistry.
The jewelry, however…
Julia warned him. “Don’t.”
“Gold looks better,” he said.
“Gold is flashy, as Marcus keeps reminding me.”
Llewellyn rolled his eyes, used to her ex’s comments. “A giant gold pendant on a chunky chain is flashy, and more for award shows. A pendant on a simple chain with small earrings definitely isn’t. The heart that Grandma helped me buy for you and the gold studs would be tasteful and beautiful with the dress.” He went ten seconds before adding one more item. “And the charm bracelet Grandpa bought you. They’ve been slowly coming back. You’ll be ahead of the curve.”
Shaking her head, she went back and put the silver ensemble back. Pink and silver worked, as far as she could tell, and they were more demure. Which would work around the museum’s unveiling and bringing William around. Her thumb absentmindedly went to a ring that was no longer on her finger. She did switch to the heart, but the earrings she went with were small drops of crystal. And the charm bracelet that had family birthstones between a book, a Caduceus, and the theater masks that John had managed to sneak on. She wondered why Bobby and Ruby hadn’t tried to do so as well. There was room.
Walking back out, she noticed the camera in her son’s hands. “No.”
“Oh, come on, Mom.”
“You do not need proof of you winning arguments.”
“Yes, I do, otherwise Aunt Ruby calls me a liar.”
She shook her head and walked up to him. “You didn’t get a before image, and therefore, still would be a liar,” she pointed out. He thought about it before groaning. “Didn’t think of that, did you?”
“Mom.”
She smiled, before grabbing the camera out of his hands. “No pictures. At least not in this dress.”
“But the pink and gold!”
“No.” She may not have been able to put it on high shelves anymore, since his last growth spurt has now finally put a couple of inches on her. And more, if he got to his previous height. But she could put it in her office and lock it up. He hadn’t picked the lock yet.
And turned around to see his phone out and capturing the moment.
She had been played.
Hand on her hips, she stared at Llewellyn while he smiled triumphantly. “Did you send a picture already?”
He nodded, “It was Aunt Ruby’s idea. And Uncle John wanted to see the pink.” Walking up to him, the phone immediately shot up in the air to prevent her from grabbing it. So, she dove her fingers carefully into his armpit and started tickling. “Ack, no, Mom!”
Smirking, she attacked the other pit when his arm went up to switch hands. Laughing, he kept going at hot mobile until someone started knocking at the door. Using the distraction as an escape, he withdrew in on himself and ran to answer the door.
Murdoch had the presence to not back away when he saw Llewellyn answering instead of the woman who had invited him. Looking past, he saw Ogden wearing the dress she had been talking about, with jewelry that played with the shimmer. Beautiful. His confusion at the voice that sounded like his own but did not act like it was quickly squashed. “No,” he said, realizing why the mobile was out.
“Aww, but Detective Murdoch.”
“No pictures. I don’t need this getting to Crabtree or Higgins,” he reiterated. Frowning, Ogden picked up a light jacket and her purse before poking her son out of the way.
He tried putting on a pair of puppy eyes. “Are you sure? Prom photo?”
Ogden stared at her son until he dropped the eyes. “You’ve already had dinner, but there’s veg in the fridge and some dip that I was curious about, if you want to snack on that,” she said, “Your grandfather’s not coming back tonight unless he upsets your grandmother. Lock up the apartment before going to bed. Don’t stay up until midnight unless you have something to bribe me with to call you in tomorrow.”
The teen sighed in disappointment. “Yes, Mom.” She shut the door before he brought up the mobile again.
She turned to William, finally able to appreciate the view. The tux was not fitted, but it was not the shapeless thing that his work suits were. “Well, better head out before the event is finished. Then, I’ll be hearing it from Marcus.”
The museum parking lot had hired a valet service for the night. Murdoch passed off his keys before helping Ogden out of the passenger’s seat. Walking up to the doors felt a little weird, knowing that the place was closed to the public. However, it was worth it to see the exhibits that weren’t covered for unveiling.
Ogden waved to a few people, explaining to Murdoch why they would have been invited. Professor Verne was head of the archaeological department, Toronto. Professor Yong, Ontario. Mister and Missus Pendall are large contributors, retired and donate to the museum and art programs for teenagers. It’s just usual to invite the Chief Constable and his lovely wife.
“Sir,” Murdoch greeted, realizing that his top boss was in front of him. This was awkward.
“Detective Murdoch,” he said, nodding along. His wife and Ogden were chattering a little bit away. “Her idea?”
“Half hers and half her publicist.”
“Hmm.” There was a minute of mutual silence that neither wanted to break. When the waiter passed by with champagne, the Chief grabbed one. Murdoch did not. Understood. The non-alcoholic came by quick enough. So did the hors d’œuvres tray. They both stole something off of that.
They were rejoined by their respective companies and parted to mingle among the others, and to get into position. There was a rustle in the air as the hosts were about ready to unveil the exhibit. A couple of photographers were going around getting shots of the group in attendance. Ogden took his arm for a couple of shots from a woman going around, then slowly dropped it but didn’t completely let go.
The woman that came on the stage had the air of a tenured professor that was doing this to not piss off her place of work but also still loving what she does. She was not dressed in something showy, but something more comfortable. It appeared knitted, with multiple colors acting as a show and blind feature. “Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming,” she announced, the microphone turning on for the later half of her sentence. “The Natural Museum and the University of Toronto are thrilled to have you here for the unveiling of these two complete skeletons. The Albertosaur speaks for itself, discovered in Alberta, it is the second complete skeleton, but the first that has started roaming in millions of years. The first complete skeleton has been unable to travel around due to structural issues. The permanent residence has kept it from degrading further.”
Everyone mumbled a bit over the knowledge. Murdoch wanted to travel and see that one at some point as well. Ogden thought about it when Llewellyn was six, but he wasn’t as much of a dinosaur kid as Bobby had been.
“The Terrorsaur was discovered by a team led by the famous Doctor Oliver. We had one come through over a hundred years ago.” Ogden remembered. Although it hadn’t been found by someone named Oliver. “This one is in even better shape, as even some of the cartilage managed to fossilize. Seeing it myself, I truly understand how certain areas of the planet have manage to preserve so well what happened in history.”
“Now, if everyone is ready.” She turned to someone that was designated to pull down the curtain. At her signal, it was done. The heavy sheet dropped, while fluttering a little bit.
The skeletons stood upright with the help of wire and steel rods jutting up. One had a jaw posed as if it were roaring at the audience. The other was clenched, which was surprising as that had not been how it was set up. It was merely supposed to be closed to showcase the almost perfectness of the alignment of teeth.
Sounds of delight turned into gasps and shrieks, as they realized that the dinosaur with a clenched mouth had a body tangled in its teeth. “Oh, not again,” Julia muttered.