"There you go, Reed," Pierson told a soldier as she finished bandaging his arm. "You'll be all right in a few days."

"Thanks, Pierson," he said, and rejoined the ranks.

"McBryde," an older man called from a few tents away. "A letter came for you. I had 'em put it in your tent."

"Thank you, sir." She packed up her medicinal kit and walked into her quarters. There was a paper on her cot. She set her bag down, then picked up the message and opened it.

"Hey Pierson. Be seeing ya. P.S. Look behind you?" She shrugged at the ambiguity and turned around.

"Darien!" she exclaimed. She leaped up and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'm so glad you're ok! But how did you get in? I doubt they let civilians inside the camp without clearance."

"Whoa, slow down there. A: I'm not a civilian. I work for the government. And B: I make my own clearance, if you get my drift." Pierson just grinned.

"So, I see you've got your memory back, huh?"

"Yeah, figured I'd drop by and thank you for all your help and understanding."

"Understanding?" she asked.

"My, uh, condition, and all." He pointed to his head.

"Actually," she said slyly, " I don't think it's so bad. Just don't go psycho on me like you did earlier."

"Heh, I'll try. But listen, I've got to get back to the old ball-and-chain."

"All right." They hugged again and she stepped back and watched as he was engulfed by the silvery liquid, disappearing from sight. She smiled, then stepped out of the tent, holding the flap open for Darien while trying not to look too obvious.

"Bye, Darien" she whispered.

"Bye," he whispered back.

* * * * * * * *

"Welcome back, boys," the Official greeted. "Did you have a good vacation?"

"Well, I spent mine not knowing who or where I was. Nope, not my idea of a fun time," Darien said flatly.

"Did you get the missile, though?"

Darien's face fell. All that he had been through, and that missile was still in enemy hands.

"Yes, sir. We recovered the weapon," Hobbes said. Darien looked at him. "Agent Fawkes got in a scrape, and while he distracted the enemy, I stole the weapon. Basic smash-and-grab operation." He winked at Darien, who sat open mouthed.

"I think I'll go home and rest. For...ever." Darien excused himself and went home. The dream world was looking a lot less strange right now than this warped reality he was in.

He plopped down on his bed and closed his eyes. And dreamt of papayas.

The End