Mark ”That was like, what?  Two weeks ago?  And…not really.  She had one beer and decided to go home.  Didn’t say anything, either.  Figured I’d ask the two of you since you know her better.”

Shane ”Um…I dunno, Mark.  Al’s just a little wound up right now.”

Mark ”I kinda noticed.”

Shane ”I just think it’s cool she’s able to hang out with Dana some again.”

Mark ”Don’t forget Lara.  I think she’s in there, too.”

Shane ”Yeah, I guess.”

Carmen ”What’s that supposed to mean, Shane?”

Shane ”Nothin’.  I uhh, just don’t think of her automatically.  Al and Dana were best friends for years before Lara came around.  It’s probably been a little weird for Alice.  Nobody’s used to seein’ Dana be with someone this long.”

Wax.

It is the next day.  It is 1 PM on a Saturday.  Later in the evening, Carmen will be D.J’ing for Shane’s opening at Wax with Chase, the co-owner.  She has had to turn down Russell Simmons and is, as Shane describes it to Chase, ”a little bummed.”  Upon realizing what time it is, Shane and Carmen rush over to the television.

Peabody-Shaolin.  Tina’s office.

Tina puts her call on hold to tune in to The Sports Channel’s coverage of women’s tennis.  There is a good reason Tina is watching this from her office.  There is a good reason Shane and Carmen are doing the same at Wax.

The Mercedes-Benz Challenge Women’s Championship.

Dana had lost the first set to her opponent, Stephanie Ivanova, 6-2.  From there, it was fiery and competitive between the rivals with Dana winning the second set, 7-6.  Dana was now up 6-5 in the deciding set.  The Championship was hers for the taking.

Peabody-Shaolin.  Tina’s office.

Helena arrives, discussing setting up a meeting with Dylan Moreland over a documentary Dylan is working on.  Soon, she joins Tina in watching the final moments of Dana’s Championship match.

Wax.

Chase has joined Shane and Carmen.  Mark has also arrived.

Mark ”Beautiful ace right there.”

The Mercedes-Benz Challenge.

Lara sits in the front row, next to Sharon, Dana’s mother.

Wax.

Alice arrives.  Now she is watching as well along with Shane, Carmen, Mark, and Chase.

The Mercedes-Benz Challenge.

This is it.  This is the end of the journey.  This is Championship Point.  This is the product of the muscles aching.  This is the product of her body being on the brink of exhaustion.  She is tired.  Her body is beginning to fight her in ways she is not used to.  She has been issued a warning for a false serve.  Anything left for Dana to accomplish in this profession is going to have to go into this moment.  She sees Ivanova on the other side.  She forgets the rivalry.  She puts out of her mind, the past.  All of it ends here.  She aces to get the advantage on deuce.  One more serve.  This is everything.  Seconds later, the Championship is hers.  This tournament is not among the Grand Slam, but among secondary tournaments is one that has received higher billing than most thanks to its partnership with T.S.C.