"John, I'll be there to pick you up as soon as I can, don't worry," Aeryn said, her voice tight and uneven. A year ago, John wouldn't have believed Aeryn Sun could sound like that. He knew better now.

"It doesn't matter now, Aeryn. It's okay, do what you have to do. Can you get out of here without the command carrier noticing you? Maybe find someplace near enough to land?"

"No! You said you'd never leave me -- I won't leave you." Aeryn cried.

"Aeryn, you have to. I'm all done, all right? I don't want you to pick me up."

"John, I'll get to you, you still have oxygen left -- there's still time."

"No, there isn't. You have to get out of here, and I have a job to do."

"What? John, he's gone. There's nothing more you can do. He -- he wouldn't want you to do this. Remember what you said, that you wanted to go out swinging. What you are suggesting is suicide, and I won't allow it!"

"Aeryn, stop bullshitting. You know that he and I were...that we swore a vow. I swore I'd always be there, right behind him, beside him. I'm just keeping up my end of the bargain. 'Kay? Please understand, and quit arguing with me. Get outta here."

"John -- " Aeryn pleaded, her voice breaking in earnest this time.

"Shhhh. I'm fine. I'll probably freeze before my air runs out. Hypothermia's supposed to be like going to sleep, you know? I read that somewhere, I think. I -- I'm not used to sleeping alone anymore, and neither is he."

A pause, and Aeryn almost lost his next words as she struggled to choke back the sobs that were threatening.

"I loved him, Aeryn. This is important to me."

"I love you, John. I never said it before, but -- "

"Quit stalling, Sun. I love you, too. This is the last thing I will ever ask of you, and if you don't get out here right now, I'm gonna be severely pissed off, okay?"

"Okay," Aeryn answered, nodding, even though he couldn't see her. "Good luck," Aeryn said softly.

"Thanks, babe. You too. Get going."

Aeryn swallowed thickly, trying to concentrate on plotting a path that would keep her from the notice of the other Prowlers returning to the carrier, from the sensors aboard the Prowler itself, but when she heard the soft voice coming though the comlink, John's low clear voice singing, she lost the battle.

/"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..."/

"That's it, I am coming back there and I am picking you up. Frell this death wish of yours!"

"No, you aren't. I'm serious, Aeryn. The second I see you I'm taking this fucking helmet off. /I am staying./ No discussion. Don't make me do it, don't make me arguing with you the last thing I do. Go."

In answer, Aeryn kicked in the engines of the Prowler, streaking away, not really caring if she was spotted or not. John listened for a long while, relieved when he heard nothing further. Aeryn was stubborn, but she'd do what needed to be done. He hadn't been fair to her -- hell, he would have squawked if she'd asked him to do what she'd just done. /In fact,/ he thought, /she did ask me to do the very same thing. Well, life isn't fair. Even if Crais was a murdering, lying asshole, he told the truth about that./

He looked over at D'Argo, laughing softly. /I guess it's also true you see your life passing before your eyes when you croak, because I can remember every single time I was with him, every kiss, every time I woke up and felt safe because he was there./ He felt his eyes slipping closed, and welcomed it. So /cold./ It might be better if he could get close enough to get his arms around D'Argo, but he was afraid to move for fear he'd lose his grip. The only thing that made it okay, that kept him from losing it, was his hold on D'Argo's hand.

Sleep stole over him, and he went willingly, holding an image in his mind -- looking up as D'Argo arched over him, his face abandoned in pleasure. If there was grace anywhere in this universe, it was that -- love and passion and connection.

John's hand relaxed, the puzzle ring slipping away a second time...but his grip on D'Argo's hand remained firm.

END "Grace"