It was surprising how little pain there was. He could feel the hardness of the concrete under him, the warmth of the sun, even the caress of a slight breeze on his face, but only a kind of throbbing ache from his many wounds. He knew it was ending now – either from the blood loss or the missile which surely must be approaching. It was only a question of which would get him first.

Then there was an instant of overwhelming noise which whited out all his senses, and it was over.

POI*POI*POI*POI*

He was standing under a spreading tree looking out over a smooth, green lawn. The sky was blue, with just a few pure white puffy cumulus clouds like stately galleons making their ponderous way across the sky. He studied them for a few moments, then looked down at himself. His shirt was as dazzling white as the clouds, his jacket and trousers a dense sable black. Shoes polished to a shine which would have satisfied the most exacting sergeant he had ever encountered. He felt good.

"John! John!" A woman's voice. He turned, his heart contracting within him.

"Jessica! Jess!" He was rooted to the spot as she came across the grass towards him, breaking into a run for the last few strides. Then she was in his arms.

"I waited for you," she said at last. "Just like you said."

"Jess – I'm so, so sorry. I came, I tried to come-"

"It's okay, John. Everything's okay now."

There was the sound of a throat being cleared behind him. "Ahem. John?"

Reese turned.

"Joss." He found himself at a loss for words. "Umm..." He gently disengaged his arm from Jessica. Joss was watching him with one eyebrow arched, and a very… neutral... expression on her face.

"So, do I get a hug?" she asked.

"Oh. Uh..." He tried to move toward her, but Jessica clamped down on his arm. Hard. He looked down at her with confusion.

"Perhaps I should introduce myself," said Joss. She shifted her gaze to Jessica. "I'm Detective Carter. I was John's comrade in arms for several years. Saved his ass a few times. Had his back – you know?"

Jessica met Joss's stare. "I'm Jessica. I was the love of his life."

"For six months," said Joss silkily. "But you never really understood him, honey."

"He told me to wait for him," said Jessica defiantly. "And I did. He was coming in twenty-four hours."

"It was me he wanted with him at the end," snarled Joss.

"Oh yeah? And were you there?" Jessica's hands were on her hips.

"Ooohhhh. Oohhh, just you wait-" Joss advanced towards her rival, her hands coming up and forming fists.

"Uh, Joss, Jessica. There must be some way to settle this," said John despairingly.

The two women paused.

"Maybe there is," said Joss after a moment.

"Okay," said Jessica.

"Right. Best of three?"

Jessica nodded. "Here goes, then. Paper, scissors, ROCK!"

Reese looked on, a slight headache starting behind his temples. He was beginning to wish himself back on the rooftop….