7:30, 18 hours and 30 minutes left.

"Is this how it goes?" Sashi asked, with her hands on Penn's shoulders warily, glancing over at Boone. He shook his head, his pink hair flipping ridiculously.

"No, no, no, no, no!" He grumbles, throwing his hands up in frustration. "No! Sashi, just work with me here. I can't do this if you won't!"

Sashi stops and puts her hands at her waist. "Boone, we've been here for half an hour and we haven't gotten past the 'posture'. Cut it out, will you, and teach us an actual dance!" Her voice was full of venom as she glared daggers at Boone.

Stepping back cautiously, he started the music again. "Okay. Here's what you do. And 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3…"

He began dancing around with an imaginary partner, looking solemn yet stupid with his arms jutted out in front of him. He looked like Elvis with a bucket of paint dumped on his head.

Still, Sashi paid rapt attention. The less time she was here, the better.

"And 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3…"

…

And finally, 2:00!

Sashi was sweating in her dress. Sure, it looked fine, blending in, but seriously. Couldn't Phyllis have sprung for a less glamourous, lighter dress that actually complements the weather? Which was, as it turns out, steadily approaching body temperature?

"Sashi, are you ready?" Penn said, bouncing up and down, trying to burn off excess energy. He felt like throwing up, but he didn't. Mainly because he'd still have to clean it up. He was dressed in a smart suit with a red tie, instead of his uniform, but by the way the stage director was looking at him, he didn't like his chances if someone actually did throw up.

Sashi kept staring straight ahead, as if there was something interesting on the back of the curtain.

"Sashi? Sash? Earth to Sashi?" Penn said, waving his hand in front of her face.

She finally snapped out of it, her eyes wide. "What? Are we going on?" She asked frantically.

"No, not yet," Penn soothed. "Soon, though."

Sucking in a big breath, she gulped. "Yeah. Okay. I'm fine. Nothing is wrong. Everything is going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine…" She started chanting, staring back at the curtain.

Penn gaped at her. Well, different people handle stress differently. Speaking of that, Penn wondered, how many donuts has Boone gone through?

His thinking was interrupted by a smattering of applause from outside. He pulled back a layer of curtain to see a ballet dancer and her partner bow and walk off the stage.

"And now, let's welcome Olivia Jing and her partner, dancing the tango, to the stage!"

There was polite applause as backstage, Penn dashed to drag Sashi out. She came to and started walking by herself, shaking off Penn's hand.

"Let's do this," She whispered fiercely.

They stepped out on the stage. Penn was aware of the large crowd of people watching them. He easily picked out Boone's ridiculous hairdo, and Rippen standing by the side, lecturing Larry. He stepped into his position, and waited.

The music started with a flourish; as in a crack and buzz as the CD cracked. Sashi looked at him with wide eyes, and began to falter. Suddenly, the music cuts in from the very beginning. Immediately, their routine started.

1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, Sashi thought as she bounded across the stage and reached Penn. Okay, step left, right, forward, back, left, right forward, back. She clasped her hand with Penn's and spun, him spinning her.

1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, turn here, step back. Sashi continued her silent dance, perfectly in sync with her partner. Run across the stage, and jump! She executed a flying jump, landing hard, her heel nearly going into the stage's soft wood panels. She winced, and continued. 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3…

Penn caught her yet again, she gazed into his eyes as the repetitive portion started. Just 1, 2, 3 over and over again. I can do this.

They flowed nicely with the music, and as Sashi tossed her head back, she noticed Rippen pointing at her. With growing alarm, she broke the routine for a slight second and whispered in Penn's ear. "Penn, look out. Rippen."

Finally, she arrived at the end of the dance. Okay, dip now. Step here, here, and –

Without warning, Penn dipped her early, nearly causing her to shriek. Something whipped past her head: a bronze metal hairclip –

A knife.

Thinking that was planned, the judges began clapping, louder and louder. The audience joined in, giving them a standing ovation. None of them seemed to notice the knife, now imbedded in a wall at the edge of the stage. She breathed hard, standing on her own feet again. She gave a bow, her legs shaking. Then she quickly walked backstage, with Penn racing after her.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his eyes open wide. He put his hand to the back of his head. "I saw it coming, so I had to try to help. It was aimed for your head."

She nodded numbly. "Yeah. It's fine. It's fine." She shifted and sat on her hands to prevent them from shaking.

"We'll just wait and see the results now, huh?"