Title: Alternate Universe
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: John Reese/Jordan Hester
Fandom: Person of Interest
Rating: PG-13
Table: 1drabble
Prompt: 40, Alternate Universe
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely John Reese or Jordan Hester, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Jordan stood on the terrace of his apartment, looking out over the city.

He loved New York; there was something about this place that got into a person's blood and stayed there. He had been born and raised here; it would always be his home.

And now that John was in his life, he had even more reason to love being here. He had someone to love, someone who felt the same way about him; that was something he'd thought that he would never have in his life, and it meant more to him than he could put into words.

Even though he and John hadn't exactly met under the best of circumstances, his predicament at the time had brought them together, so he couldn't wish that it hadn't happened.

Still, losing his identity had been a horrible nightmare.

It was still hard for him to believe that it had all happened; it seemed like another world, an alternate universe that he'd been caught up in for a while.

All that had happened had taken on the aspect of a dream world, even though it had been very real. He was far enough away from it now to see it all through a kind of smoky veil, and to look back on it as though it had been another world, another life, in an alternate universe.

Jordan couldn't help laughing ruefully as he thought of how he had been planning to change his life. Him, becoming a master criminal? He would have been terrible at it. He barely knew how to fire a gun, and he had jumped every time he'd heard a shot. His brief escapade as a criminal hadn't worked at all.

But fortunately, thanks to John, he hadn't had to embrace that life. If it hadn't been for John, he would probably be dead now. He owed his boyfriend everything.

He owed John his life. There was nothing he wouldn't do for the man he loved.

Chocolate whined and rubbed his head against Jordan's leg, wanting attention. He laughed softly as he bent to pet the puppy, looking down at the little dog with affection.

He had much more now than he'd had before he had lost his identity. Not only had he managed to prove his innocence and clear his name, thanks to John and Harold, but he also had a wonderful man in his life, a man who he loved more than he could say.

And he had a dog, he added to himself, chuckling as Chocolate licked his hand. This was his life now, and that alternate universe had faded away, to become the stuff of memory.

It was an alternate universe that he hoped the never had to live in again.

***