Diane looked at him to see if he was planning to try anything strange, but he looked sincere. Slowly, she put her arms around his bruised shoulders and hugged him. He put his head on her shoulder, and she put her head gently on his. She felt good in his arms. Their bodies fit well together. She felt Harry breathing, and his slow, steady rhythm was soothing, almost hypnotic. He smelled clean and masculine; his natural aroma was very pleasing to her. She no longer detected the telltale sweet smell that most drunks emit from their perspiration. She lost track of time, and was unaware of how long they sat there together comforting each other. Finally, she became aware that the hug had lasted a very long time, and she gently pulled away. Harry�s arms reluctantly fell back to his own sides, and he looked smaller and lonelier than he had before the hug.

�That�s an interesting look for you,� Denby quipped.

�What do you mean?�

�We have matching targets on our heads,� he explained.

�Very funny. Ho, ho, ho.�

�I just wish we had slept together so I could remember that experience into my next life.�

�Well, you�ll have to wait for your next life, because it�s never going to happen in this one,� Diane scowled at him. He couldn�t go fifteen minutes without being an asshole, could he?

�Why don�t we do it right now? One last fling before we enter the afterlife? We have a bed right here, we can take care of it in under and hour, and when they come for us, we�ll die happily in each other�s arms. It will be romantic on a Shakespearean scale. What do we have to lose?�

�I�m not ready to give up on this life just yet, Romeo. Get dressed. We�re leaving.�

�Where are we going?�

�To my apartment.�

�Even better. We�ll hole up there, experience rapture, then die at the hands of my omnipotent rival.�

�Denby, let�s get moving,� Diane tapped her foot impatiently.