She stops in front of a run down building.

            "You live here?"

            "It's an apartment I use when I'm undercover.  I don't put my family at risk, ever."  I follow her inside.  It's a basic second floor apartment, nothing special.  She immediately picks up the phone, as I sit on a recliner.

            "Got cable?"  She nods, tossing me a remote, as she dials a number.

            "Hey, angel.  Yeah, I'm fine.  They found someone else to go in.  A girl Raiden left me to watch.  She's OK.  I know.  I'm talking to Witherspoon tomorrow about another advance, but no promises.  How's JJ?  You didn't tell him I was going in, did you?  I trust you with my life, angel.  Don't worry, I'm fine, OK?  I love you, too, angel.  Give JJ a hug for me.  Uh-huh.  Bye, Jamie.  Good luck on that test.  OK, love you, too.  Bye, angel."  She hangs up, opening a beer.

            "Can I help?"  She hands me the open beer, and sits the six pack on the coffee table.

            "Help with what?"  She lays on the sofa, popping a beer.

            "With whatever you're gonna talk to Witherspoon about."

            "You've got your own set of problems."

            "I'm fine."

            "Really, is that why you've been favoring your right leg since that fight?"  I sip the beer, flipping the channels.

            "I was hoping no one noticed."

            "I notice almost everything.  It comes with the territory."

            "I have a pin in my right knee.  It bugs me sometimes."

            "Well, kicking a 6-10, 300 plus pound man tends to aggravate that kind of thing.  There's some ice in the freezer."

            "Thanks."  I get up, and grab some ice, rapping it in a towel.  I sit back down, putting it on my knee.

            "Turn on TNN, there's a TNG marathon going on."

            "You're a trekkie?"

            "Yeah, you?"

            "Yeah, I got hooked on Voyager."

            "Did you see the finale?  I missed it, and Johnny's VCR fucked up."

            "You missed one hell of an episode."

            "Thanks for reminding me."

            "I had to buy the video online for thirty bucks.  I missed it, too."  She's on her second beer, as a new episode begins.

            "I've been meaning to ask you.  What's with the glove?"  Oh, boy

            "It's a long story."

            "Well, we've got four beers and two episodes left."  I laugh.

            "Only if you promise not to laugh at me."

            "I'll try not to."

            "OK.  I was 17, and living at home.  The Mortal Kombat live show came to Louisiana.  I had my dad drive me from Baton Rouge to Lake Charles to see it."

            "That's a hell of a road trip, just to see a show."

            "ARE YOU KIDDING?  I would've driven across the country to see you live!"

            "And, all it took was jumping earths," She chuckles, "Sorry, go ahead."

            "Well, my cousin's mom brought him in from Houston to go to the show with us.  Anyway, we had some time to kill, and there was a big swap meet in the same building, so we checked it out.  I saw a pair of gloves that looked like the ones you wore in MK3, so I snatched them up."

            "You baught a pair of gloves because they looked like the one's the character wears?"

            "Let me finish, please."  She sighs.

            "Go ahead."

            "The guy that was working the memorabilia stand must've felt bad for us, because he let us sit in between shows."

            "I'd feel bad for you guys, too."  She laughs, opening the third beer.

            "Do you want to hear this, or not?"

            "Yeah, go ahead."

            "Well, we got to meet a lot of the actors, but I thought I was shit out of luck.  The young lady that plays you wasn't one of them.  I got front row seats, though.  I don't remember much about the show, just that she kicked ass.  Besides, I glanced two seats from me in act one, and see her standing there.  I could've cared less about what was happening on the stage.  After the show, I was hanging out with everybody else in the back, trying to get a glimpse of her.  I would've been happy with just an up close look.  I got luckier than that.  I caught her walking to her car.  I totally spazzed."

            "As bad as with me?"

            "No, not that bad, thank God.  I managed to ask her to sign my T-shirt and book.  I shook her hand wearing this glove.  I gave her a hug, whispered you're the greatest, and walked away in tears.  She could've destroyed me, and anything I thought of you, right there, but she didn't.  She said thanks.  I lived off it for years.  Still do.  This is my keepsake."

            "That's cool."

            "Yeah, Kerri Hoskins ROCKS!   She is AWESOME!  She was so nice."

            "Sorry I slammed you earlier.  It hasn't been the best week."

            "It's cool.  I didn't take it personally."

            "I'll say this.  If all my fans on your world are as cool as you are, let them keep making those damn games."  I sit back, stunned.

            "You think I'M cool?"  She looks up at me, and smiles.

            "Yeah.  After what you did in that warehouse, I think you're pretty damn cool," Oh, that did it.  I start crying, "What?"

            "God better take me now.  It can't get better than this."

            "He better not take you now.  You've gotta fight tomorrow.  The door to the left, take my bed.  I'll take the couch."

            "I'll take the couch."

            "You'll take the bed.  You fight tomorrow.  All I do is watch."

            "But . . ."

            "Goodnight."  Damn, am I ever gonna win one of these?  Yeah, against Sonya Blade?  When hell freezes.  I go to the bedroom, defeated, "OH, I FORGOT!  JAX LEFT AN OVERSIZED T-SHIRT AND SHORTS WHEN HE WAS HERE LAST!  THERE IN THE DRAWER!"

            "THANKS!"  I change into them, and slide under the blanket, pulling it over my head.  I must be tired, because I'm out like a light.  I wake up, to someone hugging my neck.

            "I'm sorry, baby.  I missed you too much."  A deep voice whispers passionately.  Oh, this is too much.  I pull the blanket down, laughing.

            "You know, I bet you're looking for Sonya."  The frantic man turns on the lamp.  I start laughing harder, seeing all the color drain from Johnny's face.

            "WHO THE . . ."

            "SHHH!   She's on the couch.  If you're quiet, you can still pull this off."  I watch the color return.  Mostly red.

            "Yeah."  He slowly backs out.

            "Oh, yeah.  This NEVER happened, OK?"

            "Yeah."  He backs out of the door.  I laugh again, turning off the lamp.  I can hear them yelling at each other, and the door slam.  I get up, and walk into the hall.

            "You OK?"

            "Yeah, sorry I woke you up."

            "You didn't.  Did Johnny listen to Sonya in your world?"

            "No, but he loved her enough to die for her."

            "He did here, too."

            "What was that about?"

            "He doesn't understand why I can't see him for weeks at a time.  He doesn't understand why I don't just come home after work like everyone else.  Doesn't he understand that I can't put him and JJ at risk?  If anyone sees me with him, my cover's blown.  If they find out that they can use them to get to me, I'm fucked, because I won't risk loosing them."

            "He should understand that."

            "Well, he doesn't."

            "How long has it been since you've spent some time with him?"

            "About three weeks."

            "I think I can hold down the fort by myself for a while.  Go spend some time with him."

            "You sure?"

            "Come on, it's 11:30, and I'm in the ghetto.  I ain't going anywhere.  Besides, there's more Star Trek on."   She smiles, grabs her keys from the table, and runs out.  I lay on the couch, turning on the TV, and promptly fall back to sleep.

            "Come on, Jess, wake up!"  I open my eyes, groaning, seeing Sonya standing over me.

            "What time is it?"

            "4 AM."

            "Five more minutes."

            "Come on, get up.  I don't want to miss this."

            "Miss what?"

            "Mitch."  I jump up.

            "Damn, I forgot all about it," I quickly take a shower, and change.  We ride to the base.  Damn, every woman on this base must be in this mess hall!  We grab two cups of coffee, and a ringside seat, "I didn't know you drank coffee."

            "Yeah, I'm useless without my first cup," I add my sugar and cream, "I thought you said you drank coffee.  That's a milkshake."

            "Hey, you drink it your way, I'll drink it mine."  I said, sipping it, as Charlie walks in, camcorder in hand.

            "They give you any trouble?"

            "Hell no!  The boys at the gate know better."  Jax walks in, and sits next to us.

            "You think he'll show?"

            "BRING HIM OUT!  BRING HIM OUT!"   The natives are getting restless.

            "He'd better, or these ladies are gonna go get him."  Charlie said, pointing the camera at the door.  We all crack up as Mitch, true to his word, walks in naked, except for his boots.

            "HEY, MITCH!  SHOW US SOME MOVES!"  Sonya screams, laughing, as the women howl.

            "Very funny, Blade."  He sounds like he's about to cry.

            "HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A FACE THAT RED?"  Jax doubles over laughing.

            "HELL WITH HIS FACE!  LOOK AT THAT ASS!  YOU COULD BOUNCE A QUARTER OFF THAT ASS," I throw an imaginary quarter, "PING!"  I think I'm gonna go into convulsions from laughing so hard.

            "COME ON, MITCH!  SHAKE THAT THANG!"  Sonya screams, between laughing so hard.

            "SMILE FOR THE CAMERA!"  Mitch flips off the camera, as the doors fly open.

            "ATTENTION!"  The man from yesterday storms in.  Everyone stands at attention.  He walks to Mitch, and looks him over, to the stifled laughs.

            "SEARGEANT, ARE YOU NAKED?"

            "S . . .Sir?"

            "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN MY MESS HALL NAKED?"

            "B . . .But, sir . . ."
            "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!  GET DRESSED, AND REPORT TO MY OFFICE, RIGHT NOW!"

            "Yes, sir."  Mitch slinks out, to a chorus of boos.

            "I'M SORRY!  DON'T YOU ALL HAVE SOMEPLACE TO BE?  FINISH YOUR BREAKFAST, AND REPORT TO YOUR STATIONS, NOW," The women grudgingly return to their breakfasts, as he walks over to Charlie, "Did you get it?"

            "Every second of it."

            "Good, I want a copy," He tosses me an envelope, "Sonya, you might as well come with me now."

            "What did I do?"

            "Like you didn't have anything to do with this little show?"

            "Who, me?"

            "Come on, let's get it over with."  She smirks, following him out.  I open the envelope, to find twelve crisp one hundred dollar bills.

            "I thought we agreed on six."

            "When he heard what you did for Sanchez, he doubled it as a bonus."

            "I didn't do it to get paid."

            "I know.  That's why it's called a BONUS.  I'm gonna get a ringside seat for the fallout."  Jax walks out, as Charlie leans over a plate of runny eggs.

            "You hungry?"

            "Starved."

            "Well, I wouldn't feed my dog this shit.  Come on, ol' Charlie'll cook you breakfast," I follow him to his truck, and we drive to the bar, "How's that leg?"

            "Is the limp that obvious?"

            "Yeah."

            "It's fine."

            "Uh-huh.  You can run that shit past Sonya all you want, but don't try to bullshit me."

            "It's got a pin in it.  It acts up once in a while."

            "And you didn't think to tell them this BEFORE you started?"

            "Nobody asked.  Plus, it ain't that big of a deal.  I put a little ice on it, it'll be fine."  He parks the truck, and we go in.

            "You want a smoke, you'd better get one now," I light one, following him into the kitchen, "So, what's your poison?"

            "I usually have a bagel and cream cheese."

            "Now, that's an insult.  I offer to make you breakfast, you ask for a snack."  He starts cracking eggs into a bowl.

            "Hey, what's the problem with Jamie?"

            "How the hell would I know?"

            "Come on, now you're blowing smoke."

            "Catch on quick, don't ya, kid?"

            "I want to help, if I can."

            "I get a pretty good read on most people.  You I can't seem to read.  Confuses the hell out of me.  What the hell are you doing here?"

            "I told you, I'm on vacation."

            "And I told you.  I got no idea what the problem is."

            "Can you keep a secret?"

            "That's why I know everything."

            "OK, the day before yesterday I get a call from my boss asking me to cover a shift.  I show up, and he swears he never called.  I go to leave, and I hear someone screaming for help.  I go over to assist, and get knifed in the stomach for my efforts."

            "That's nice.  See what you get for sticking your neck out for strangers?"

            "Yeah, tell me about it.  Anyway, I'm laying in the hospital, and Raiden appears.  He tells me Sonya's in trouble, and asks me to help.  That's why I'm here.  Your turn."

            "Jamie's stuck.  She has to pay her tuition, but all of her money is tied up in coming back here.  So, it's stay, and be homeless in a couple of days, or come home, and loose her fall classes."

            "I've got twelve hundred, will that cover it?"

            "That's your money, kid.  She'd never go for that."

            "She would, if she didn't know about it."

            "The last time I stuck my nose into her business without telling her, she broke it for me."

            "She doesn't seem that violent."

            "You haven't set her off yet.  She's mellowed a bit since she came back, mostly because of JJ.  Trust me, Jessie, she's one you don't want to cross."

            "I don't want to cross her.  I want to help.  I can't even spend this money on my world.  It can do her a hell of a lot more good than it's gonna do me."

            "See, that's what I'm talking about.  You are a hard read.  On the one hand, you seem to genuinely care for anyone in trouble.  If I asked you to help me, you'd kill yourself to try.  That's not a bad thing.  On the other hand, and this is the bad part, you couldn't care less about yourself.  You spend your life chasing some fucked idea of what your life should be, and you're missing what it is."

            "My reality sucks dick."

            "If you show half the heart you have in this world, I doubt it.  Jax told me all about you looking up to Sonya.  Try being Jessie, sometimes."

            "Jessie is a fat, worthless coward."

            "Tell that to Sanchez, but don't be surprised if he knocks you on your ass.  Tell that to Sonya, and she'll slam you so hard, your grandchildren's grandchildren will feel it."

            "I'm not talking about this.  You gonna help me, or not?"

            "Well, Jamie needs the cash.  It's not gonna be the first time she's kicked my ass.  I'll wire it later."  He takes the envelope, and puts it in his back pocket, continuing to whip the eggs.

            "What are you making?"

            "You'll see.  It's a specialty of mine."  Sonya barges in, out of breath.

            "What major malfunction are you two having slipping off without telling me?"
            "You had a meeting.  Figured I'd cook the girl some real food before I let her eat that slop."

            "Tell me next time.  If anything happens to her, Raiden will ride my ass forever."

            "Then you should thank me.  I saved her a good case of food poisoning.  Besides, Blade, I knew it wouldn't take you long to figure out where she was."

            "You making those omelets?"

            "Yeappers."

            "Throw me on one, too, please?"

            "Do you need to ask, Sonya?  I was planning on it.  Now, tell ol' Charlie how that meeting went."

            "I'm officially on unpaid suspension for two weeks."

            "Now, that sucks."

            "Well, fuck him.  I've got a job to do."

            "You're not coming with me tonight."

            "Excuse me?"

            "I didn't stutter this time.  You're not going with me."

            "Oh, shit.  Both of you, out my kitchen."

            "And what makes you think you call that shot?"

            "ARE YOU BOTH DEAF?  GET OUT OF MY KITCHEN, NOW!"  I walk out, Sonya following me.

            "You're not going.  After last night, I don't want you within a hundred feet of me or that fight."

            "You got spooked good last night, huh?"

            "Good enough not to want you there tonight."

            "For starters, I have been working too long on this case to get pulled off by a Colonel trying to score points with some three star jackass.  Secondly, I've already lost two members of my team with the right training to handle this.  You have no clue what you're doing.  You proved that last night."

            "I thought you said I did good."

            "You did.  You saved Sanchez' life.  That's REAL good.  Unfortunately, you also got Marcus' attention.  That isn't.  Jax said you know him?"

            "He's my teacher on my world."

            "Then you know you don't have the skills to handle him."

            "I can handle him.  It's having your life on my head I can't handle."

            "And who the hell said my anything is on your head?"  Charlie walks out, sitting the tray he's carrying on the table.

            "You're still conscious," He sits the plates on a table, and picks the tray up, "She must like you."

            "Too bad she won't listen to me."  Charlie laughs, pouring two cokes.

            "Kid, there are three things you need to remember about this world.  First, you don't tug on superman's cape.  It annoys the ever living hell outta him.  Second, unless you want to get wet, you don't spit into the wind.  Third, and this is the important one, Sonya Blade does what she wants, when she wants, for as long as she wants to do it.  Just do what I do.  Shut up and hang on."   I take the pops to the table.

            "Good advise.  When did you become Yoda?"

            "Whip your ass, I will."  Charlie walks into the kitchen, as Sonya laughs, sitting down.

            "Has he always been like this?"

            "As long as I've known him.  He's got a gift for cutting through the bullshit."

            "Yeah, he does," I try the omelet, "OH, MAN!  This is awesome."

            "This is why I don't eat on the base."

            "What's in it?"

            "I have no idea.  He won't tell me, I've tried."

            "Will you, at least, stay out of things tonight.   He's gonna be watching me."

            "I'm sorry, I thought this conversation was over.  Oh, wait, it is.  You just didn't realize it."

            "I'm serious."

            "So am I.  If he IS watching you, and Carmen doesn't show up, it's gonna raise a red flag."

            "I don't like this.  What if you get hurt?"

            "Me hurt?  Hell, according to you, I'm Superman, Wonder Woman, and Wolverine all rolled into one, and you're worried?"

            "This is different.  If  I screw up . . ."

            "Then don't screw up.  It's not like I'd let you, anyway."  We finish the omelets.

            "Well, that's gonna put at least five pounds on."

            "And?"

            "Well, some of us actually have to worry about that."

            "Why?"

            "Yeah, like you don't."

            "I don't."

            "Yeah, you don't have to.  You look like a supermodel."

            "I just don't care.  All things considered, I've got enough to worry about with my cases."

            "Like I said, you don't have to.  You don't look like Godzilla on steroids."

            "You have some major self image issues, don't you?"

            "No, I'm just honest."

            "Oh, you're challenging me, huh?  I like challenges.  We've got a busy day today."

            "Where do we start?"

            "I want to talk to Sanchez.  See what he can remember."

            "Sounds good to me."  I follow her out, and we ride off.  She pulls into the parking lot of a Harley dealership.

            "Stay here."  I watch her go inside, and talk to some greasy looking dude behind the counter.  She walks back out, obviously pissed.

            "NEXT WEEK, BLADE!"  She flips him off, not looking back, as the door closes.

            "What was that about?"

            "None of your business."  She gets back on, and we ride to the hospital.  We knock on Sanchez' hospital room, and walk in, to find a little girl playing on his lap.  He looks up at us, smiling.

            "Hey, guys!"

            "Morning, Sanchez.  How're you feeling?"

            "I'm here.  My baby girl's here.  My son came in from college to see me.  Hell, I feel great."

            "I'm glad to hear it."  The sound of a toilet flushing and running water precedes the door opening.  GOD DAMN, WHO IS THAT?

            "Hey, Sonya!"  The guy hugs her.

            "Why aren't you in school, Anthony?"  He lets her go.

            "Because when I hear my dad's in the hospital, I know where I need to be.  Besides, I already took my finals.  The only thing I missed was the parties after."

            "Those are the best part!"

            "Sonya, don't encourage him."  He notices me.

            "Who's your friend?"

            "I'm . . .Uh . . . ."

            "Anthony, this is Jessie.  She's a little shy."

            "Could've fooled me.  You couldn't shut her up last night."  I smile, blushing.  He smiles back.  Damn, isn't there a law making it illegal to look THAT DAMN GOOD?

            "Come on, Sara.  Let's go so the grown-ups can talk, OK?"

            "No, I'm playing with daddy."

            "Go ahead, sweetheart.  Sonya and I need to talk.  Then, I'll play with you all day."

            "Promise?"

            "I promise, sweetheart.  Go ahead with Anthony."

            "OK, daddy," She climbs up, and hugs his neck, "I love you, daddy."

            "I love you too.  Now, go play with Anthony," She climbs off the bed, and walks out with Anthony.  The door shuts behind him, "You can pick your tongue up, he's gone," I flip Sanchez off, "She's been hanging out with you too long, Sonya."

            "Not long enough, I would've followed it up with a bitch slap.  Seriously, how are you doing?"

            "I'm beat all too hell, but that's not what you wanted to know.  They nailed all of us the first night."

            "Jesus, that fast?"

            "Yeah.  Somebody's got to be feeding them intel.  They had Carter when they got me, and he was monitoring.  It has to be somebody inside."

            "Who?"  Yeah, smart question, Jess.

            "I wish I knew.  But, when I find out . . ."

            "They'll get it, one way or the other."

            "You damn right."

            "How's this thing set up?"

            "Two fights a night, until one winner emerges.  Two day rest period, mostly to get the bets in, I'd imagine, and then the big finale.  One on one with the current champion."

            "Did you see the champ?"

            "Guys, the only thing I saw is the boots of those guards, and the butts of their guns.  I'm sorry, Sonya."

            "For what?"

            "I wish I had better intel for you."

            "I'm glad you're OK.  I can get my own intel."

            "If you're going in there tonight, be careful."

            "I'm always careful."

            "Yeah, but they might know you're coming.  Please, Sonya, watch your ass."

            "He doesn't know it's me.  If he did, he would've pulled the trigger last night."

            "He let us make it to the first round.  On the other hand, I didn't recognize you, either."

            "That's because you were beat senseless."

            "Yeah."  His eyes fill with tears.

            "Well, her and I have some serious ground to cover.  Take it easy, Sanchez."

            "You guys, too.  Watch your ass."

            "Why?  You do a good enough job of watching it for me," He laughs, "Oh, speaking of watching, I've got a video for you when you get outta here."

            "Yeah?  Bring it in.  I'll have one of these doctors hook up a VCR in here."

            "No, trust me, you want to see it at home.  With Sara asleep."

            "I thought you didn't watch snuff flicks."

            "Who said it was snuff?  Just trust me.  See ya later, Sanchez."  He takes Sonya's hand.

            "Be careful."

            "I always am, Sanchez."

            "I don't want to see you laying next to me."  She gives him a hug.

            "I won't be.  Take it easy."  I follow her out.  We get into the elevator, and takes it down.

            "You think he's right?"

            "I'd bet on it.  Come on, let's go back to the apartment.  If he is right, I want Jax to start looking, now."  I follow her to the parking lot.  We ride back to the apartment.

            "I'll be up in a minute."  She goes in, as I sit on the stoop.  I haven't gotten two drags into it before a car pulls up.  The man from the alley, carrying an SKS, leans out of the window, and fires a shot at Sonya's apartment widow.  I dive inside, as the explosion booms.  OH, FUCK!  I run upstairs, and kick in what's left of the door, "SONYA," I go inside.  The smoke chokes me, as I go farther in.  Come on, where is she?  I find her next to the couch, unconscious, the phone still in her hand.  I grab her arms, and drag her out.  I get out the door of the building, when I hear the fire engines pull up.  Seconds later, I find myself on the concrete, "WHAT THE . . ."   I feel a cold spray on my back.

            "Take it easy, you're gonna be fine."

            "FUCK ME, GET HER!"  I point to the doorway, as two firefighters pull Sonya the rest of the way out.  OH, SHIT!  GOD DAMN, THIS HURTS!  I lay on the concrete, more pain than I've felt in my life coursing through me.  I see Sonya slowly begin coming through.  A relieved sigh escapes my lips, as darkness engulfs me.  When I come through, two men are putting me on a gurney.

            "What's your name?"

            "How is she?"

            "How's who?"

            "The other one they pulled out.  The blonde."

            "Now I'm just the blonde," I try to look back at her, and the pain hits me again.  I give up, burying my head into the gurney.  I feel her take my hand, "It's OK, Jessie.  I'm fine."  As they put me in the ambulance, I feel myself go under again.