Later that night, John and Frankie checked into their hotel room at the local Days Inn. Upon entering, John opened his suitcase and pulled out Dylan's old camera, setting it up over the bed and programming the timer to take a picture three hours from now. He then flopped down on the bed and kicked off his shoes, stretched, and yawned. Frankie had just started unpacking her things when she noticed him start to doze off.

"Don't you dare fall asleep on me, honey," Frankie said.

"I'm not gonna fall asleep. Promise."

"Okay, but if you're asleep, I won't show you my surprise."

"Ooh, a surprise, huh? Well, in that case, I can stay awake!"

"Well, you'll have to wait. Let me just slip into something a bit more comfortable."

John's eyes widened as Frankie closed the door to the bathroom and got dressed. He smiled and sank into the bed, alone for the moment with his thoughts. After everything that had happened in the past week, they were as close as two people could possibly be. Now that he'd stopped Dylan, they wouldn't have to worry anymore. He was now a welcome guest at Foster's, something of a folk hero to them, even.

Just then, Frankie said, "I've got your surprise!"

"Alright! What is it?"

"You'll have to close your eyes first--otherwise it won't be a surprise!"

"Okay!" John closed his eyes and eagerly awaited what Frankie had in store for him. After waiting for about fifteen seconds, he heard Frankie say, "Open your eyes, John." When he did, he saw her standing before him in a slinky black nightgown, wearing bright red lipstick, stud earrings, black eyeliner, and black stockings that extended all the way up her legs. John's eyes widened with delight as he said, "Come to daddy, you sexy thing."

Frankie playfully crawled across the bed towards him and began to undo the buttons on his shirt. As John anticipated her next move, he was caught off guard when she began tickling his sides, taking care to avoid his bandaged wound.

"DAAAH! Frankie! Ha ha! Stop that!"

"What's that? Keep at it?" She began to tickle him harder, and every attempt made by John to fight back was in vain as Frankie worked him over. He laughed until he was out of breath, and then he laughed some more. Eventually Frankie stopped and put her chin on her hands, which were straddled across his chest, kicked her legs in the air, and said, "Well, I guess I'm a worthy adversary."

"Oh, you're worthy, all right," John said. "Worthy of a massive tickle blast!" He grabbed Frankie by her hips and spun her around on her back, and straddled her lower torso as he grabbed her feet and slowly dragged his finger across her soles. Frankie squealed with laughter and struggled mightily, but John held on and moved up her body, hitting every sensitive spot he could. Frankie's cries of ecstatic laughter were music to his ears, and he began to laugh himself as he worked his way up her chest. When he got to her neck and her face, he stopped and told her, "Well, if you're a worthy adversary, I guess that makes me your rival."

"Only in times like this," Frankie said. John smiled as he began to kiss her and caress her body all throughout the night. Eventually the two of them fell asleep in each other's arms, and when that happened, the camera went off and snapped a photo of them--arm in arm, hand in hand, face to face. Two lovers, having shared a moment of release, now at peace for the night.

The only difference was, this was a moment worth keeping.

FINIS