Bodie...Bodie....Where are you? Typical that is, you're never here when I really need you....Christ, but it's warm in here...stuffy...feel a bit...strange...maybe some fresh air'll help clear my head.

Oh great, here comes Cowley...doesn't look too cheerful....

"...Your problem. Bodie is my main worry right now, doctor."

Thank heavens for small miracles....Cow must be going blind in his old age....Wonder what Bodie's been up to now? Cowley sounded...worried... Reminds me, must find Bodie, got to tell him...something.

Excuse me, have you seen - Hey, I said have you se- Deaf cow, be like that then...see if I care....Ask that nurse over there...the Chinese one....Brr...gone cold all of a sudden. Maybe I won't ask her...doesn't look all that friendly...nice eyes though...must find Bodie.

There's Murph...might of known he'd be chatting Betty up....I wonder about those two sometimes....Why's everone looking so glum?

"...condition critical and unstable. The doctor still seems to think it could go either way."

"He's fit and healthy, Pat. He'll make it."

"Bloody hope so. Can you imagine what his partner'll be like if he doesn't?"

"Where's Bodie now?"

Good question that....I've got something to tell him.

"Police called in. They've found her but she was picked up by her embassy a few minutes ago. Diplomatic bloody immunity. They've taken her to the embassy, Bodie's gone to see her in."

Thanks, Murph. The embassy it is then.

There's the embassy...now where's...what's going on? ...the girl's hurt...Bodie...Bodie...what's happening?

"You're there, near as damn it. Home soil. I'm not paid to make any further waves."

What's wrong, Bodie? You're hurting so bad...who is she?...looks... familiar...think I know her...feel so cold. Bodie...frightened. Hurts me, too....Christ, but it hurts....Something to tell you, Bodie...but it hurts...can't quite...remember.

"I just want to look at you before they spirit you away. I want to remember the face of the girl who shot a policeman for doing his job."

Bodie!....She's the one...the one who...shot...me. No. No. I'm here....I'm alive...look at me...Bodie...Bodie...where are you going? Come back...don't leave me....I'm still here, Bodie, I'm not...dead. I can't be...I'm right here...why won't you look at me?

He can't see me...but I'm not dead...I'd know - wouldn't I? I can see you, Bodie....Look, I can even touch you...you're...crying. I can touch your tears....It's all right, no one else can see. No one's even looking....

"Ray. Oh, Christ, Ray!"

I'm here, Bodie, can't you feel me? I can feel you...your skin is so soft, and hot, you're sweating...even your shirt's damp...don't cry... please don't cry. It hurts even more when you cry. Let me wipe away those tears...can you feel my fingers on your cheeks...can you feel me kissing you....I can even taste you...so nice...tangy...salty....Can I hold you? There, that's better...you're still crying, though...never seen you cry before...no sound...just tears...don't cry...not for me...I'm all right... really I am.

"I love you, Ray. Just live, please, so I can tell you how much I love you."

Love you, too, Bodie...love you so much....I remember you once told me that you always keep a promise...hope you'll keep this one...because I've got a few things to tell you, too....

That's better...a good blow and then no one will ever know you've been crying...and it's dark now, no one will notice your eyes are a bit red....Now where are you going?...The door's opening...they're putting her outside to die....

Don't hurt her, Bodie...she didn't kill me...won't kill me...know she won't...got too much to live for haven't I....That's it...gently does it...here's the ambulance...go with her....I'm coming, too...hold her hand, Bodie...she knows she's dying....Told you she had a pretty pair of almond eyes, didn't I....

"How is your friend?"

Fine. I'm going to be fine...tell her, Bodie....

"He'll make it."

Good, you even sounded as if you believed it, mate.

"I'm glad...."

Makes three of us, darling....Here we are then...too late for her - but I've got a feeling this is where I should be now...they're taking her over there, but...I've got to go this way....Had a feeling you'd be coming this way, too....

There's Cowley...can't stop to talk, Bodie...gotta go...something important to do...feels...weird...there's me...all those tubes...and the doctor...ouch, I felt that...should be more considerate, Doc. Just because you think I'm not there doesn't mean you can use blunt needles....

"...brain activity. Should be responding to the drugs by now.... Ahh, yes, yes...heart rate strengthening and leveling out. Seems to be over the worst now, why don't we..."

Can't hear you, Doc...everything's going funny...fuzzy...all sort of fading....Not frightened though...just feel...strange...Bodie....It's all right, Bodie...don't look so worried, Love...Love you...going now... see you soon, though. I...love...you.

-- THE END --