Dennis swore over and over again as he kept checking the two-metre-by-two-metre compartment they were in for some way of stopping the rocket from there. He found nothing.

Jackie was lying on the floor opposite him, her eyes closed. She was still clutching the jagged cut in her leg, the blood spreading to her other hand now. Dennis wished he had something to bind her wound with, but he had nothing, so all he could do was continue to find a way out.

Helpfully, the rocket had a glass window in it. Unhelpfully, the glass was there to let them see how close they were getting to their target. Dennis tried smashing the glass, but it proved fruitless.

Eventually, he slumped down next to Jackie and lay his paw on her shoulder. She stirred at his touch and looked up at him. "Dennis, are we going to die?"

Dennis exhaled deeply. "Well…I can't find a way out, so…it's probable."

Jackie let out a quiet sob and raised her paw to her forehead, smearing blood there too. "Hopefully I'll bleed to death before we explode."

Dennis raised his eyebrows. "I think that's the first time anyone's ever said that to me."

Jackie chuckled weakly. "And hopefully it'll be the last."

"Because we'll die or because we'll never get into this situation again?"

Jackie gave a weak giggle. "Hopefully the latter."

"You say "hopefully" a lot, have you noticed?"

"Well, hope is the only thing stronger than fear," Jackie said, rolling onto her back. "And right now, I am REALLY scared, so I'm trying to stay optimistic."

Dennis scoffed. "What can optimism do for us in OUR situation?"

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement," Jackie replied, lacing her fingers together. "Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."

"I beg to differ," Dennis said, raising his paw as if he was in class. "I once painted the entire reception area while complaining that I couldn't do it."

Dennis delighted in hearing Jackie laugh as she did. She had a lovely laugh. Even if these were to be their last minutes, he was glad he had brightened a couple of them.

"Why were you painting the reception?" Jackie asked amusedly.

"Because I may or may not have decked Perry the Platypus in the face when he first arrived."

The remark had been intended to make Jackie laugh, but she sighed instead. "What is it with you and your hatred of Perry? He's a nice guy."

"He's a perfect little goody-two-shoes showoff," Dennis snarled.

"Oh." Jackie hummed in understanding. "So it's jealousy, is it?"

"Absolutely," Dennis said, not fully hearing what she had said until a second later. "Jealous?! NO!"

Jackie burst out laughing. "You're funny, Dennis."

Dennis smirked. "So I've been told. Is funny your type?"

Jackie made a pained face as she touched her wound again. "Sort of. I have a rule of three, so to speak, when it comes to my type: loyal, honest, and willing to listen. That's all I ask for in a potential mate."

"Would you ever give me a chance?" Dennis asked hopefully.

Jackie gave him a look that clearly said, you don't want me to answer that question.

"If it helps, I like to think I'm all three of those things," Dennis said genuinely. "I'd never cheat on a mate, I'm always honest with people—sometimes too much—especially a mate, and if someone needs to talk, I'm almost always there."

Jackie burst out laughing, to Dennis's irritation. "What?" he demanded.

"I'm s-sorry," spluttered Jackie, calming herself down. "It's just that…I know that that last one isn't true."

Dennis frowned. "That's sort of rude. Why do you say that?"

"Because Wanda told me that she's been trying to ask you out on a date for the last year and you've never listened to her."

Dennis stared at her, suddenly feeling panicked. Wanda had been trying to ask him out?! Why hadn't he noticed that?! Was she mad at him for it?! "Wh-what?"

Jackie suddenly started shaking. Dennis checked on her, concerned, and found her laughing hysterically, clutching her stomach. "Your face!" she spluttered. "D-don't worry, she hasn't a-actually been-." She had to break off as she laughed again.

Dennis sulked. "At least that's taken your mind off our impending death."

Jackie stopped laughing and sat up, leaning against the wall next to Dennis. "Thanks," she said sarcastically. "That was totally necessary."

Dennis sighed and looked out the window of the rocket. Jackie gazed at him thoughtfully. "I like guys who are skilled enough to beat an impossible situation," she said eventually.

Dennis glanced at her. "What are you saying?"

Jackie gave him a weak smile. "If you get us out of here, I'll give you a chance."

Dennis chuckled. "Emotional blackmail."

Jackie smirked. "Call it motivation."

Dennis DID feel motivated. He felt the glass panel in front of him with his fingers. "If the two of us hit it at the same time, we can probably break this glass. Let's try it."

Jackie crawled over to the glass window. Together, she and Dennis slammed their fists into it until there came a smashing sound, and the entire panel fell out.

"Now what?" Jackie asked. "We've gotta be at least five hundred feet up."

"We're over water, look," Dennis said, staring downwards at the dark blue of a lake. "We'll survive that drop. I think."

"That's so uplifting," remarked Jackie sarcastically.

"Look, that's our only chance, okay?" Dennis looked into her eyes. "You said you'd give me a chance if I got us out of here, right? This is our only solution. It's either this or blow up when we get to Texas."

Jackie hesitated, looking down out the window. Her face showed real fear.

"Trust me," Dennis said. "I need you to trust me."

Jackie's eyes travelled up to meet Dennis's. She nodded nervously. Dennis took her hand and stuck his head out the gap. "Ready?"

Jackie nodded again.

"Three…two…one…GO!"

Dennis leapt out of the rocket, followed by Jackie.