Jay opened his eyes, wondering what was going on. He couldn't remember anything and he certainly couldn't remember how he got here.

He sat up and looked around. This place looked nothing like anywhere he'd ever been, it was peaceful and quiet, with a lake at one end and flowers blooming everywhere. It seemed to be some kind of valley surrounded by trees on one side and mountains on the other. The animals seemed not to notice Jay as they moved around eating or drinking from the lake. Looking around some more he noticed Steve by the lake shore and he looked like he was talking to a man Jay didn't recognize. What was Steve doing here too? Weren't they both supposed to be working?

When Jay stood up the stranger looked at him and waved him over, as if he'd been waiting for Jay to wake up. He walked over to Steve and the stranger with a wary look on his face.

"It's ok, Jay," Said the stranger, "I'm a friend. My name is Anthony."

"Jay, you aren't going to believe what's going on.' Steve started to say then he was stopped from saying more by a wave of Anthony's hand and a warning look. "Sorry," he mumbled, turning away and wandering over to the lake shore.

Jay looked Anthony up and down, not saying anything for a moment. He knew he'd never seen the man before, he would have remembered someone dressed totally in white. He would have remembered the long blonde hair too, streaming like silk down the man's back. He didn't approve of long hair on men, never would, but somehow it seemed to suit Anthony. He couldn't be sure but Anthony also seemed to have a glow about him that, if Jay had believed in the supernatural, he would swear was an aura. No, he had never met Anthony before and had no idea how Anthony knew his name. It was just one more piece to a very puzzling puzzle that Jay was finding almost impossible to put together. The only thing he could say for sure was that, for some reason, he knew he could trust Anthony.

"How do you know my name?" Jay finally asked. "What's going on here, where am I and why is Steve here?" He glanced over at his short, plump friend and foreman who was walking along the lake, refusing to look at Jay.

"One question at a time, Jay." Anthony said with a smile. He indicated a large rock near them and Jay automatically sat down. "I'm only allowed to tell you one thing and you aren't going to believe me, at least not yet." He said. He took a deep breath then continued. "You, Jay, are dead and so is Steve."

Jay sat there in shock, feeling like he'd just been punched in the gut. He couldn't be dead, he was too young, he had a young son to take care of. He couldn't imagine Clarissa having to raise John alone without him there to help. No, he wasn't dead, this was a bad dream and he would wake up anytime now and see that.

"It isn't a dream, Jay." Anthony said in the same soft voice he'd been using all along. "I'm not playing with your mind and neither is anyone else." Anthony wished he could tell Jay more but his instructions had been clear-he couldn't tell Jay anything else until Jay remembered what happened, only then would he be ready for the rest of what Anthony would have to say. He saw the bridge beginning to appear and knew he'd have to leave Jay alone for awhile. He touched Jay on the shoulder to get his attention then indicated the bridge.

"I have to take Steve over now." He told Jay. "I will be back, don't worry, and I'll help you try to remember what happened."

"Wait!" Jay called, standing and grabbing Anthony by the arm. "Where are you taking Steve and why can't I come too?" He looked at Anthony in confusion, not understanding what was going on.

Anthony smiled at Jay. "It's time for Steve to cross over and I'm here to lead him. I can't tell you right now why you have to stay behind and I'm sorry. You have to remember what happened before I can tell you anything else." He tapped Jay on the forehead. "It's all here, you just have to unlock the memories, then I can tell you everything else. Try to do that while I'm gone and I'll help you along when I get back if you haven't succeeded. And don't worry about anyone walking up on you, this place is hidden and the only living people who find it have been allowed to find it."

Jay looked over at Steve, who was returning from the lakeshore. The short, plump man was dwarfed by Jakes own six foot-four inch burly frame but the two had been best friends as long as Jay could remember. Steve stopped in front of Jay.

"It wasn't your fault, Jay." Steve said, grabbing Jay in a bear hug. "It was just my time to go." He hurried off to Anthony and the two started up the bridge before Jay could ask what Steve was talking about. As the two disappeared over the top of the bridge Jay sat back down on the rock he'd been sitting on before and thought about everything he'd just learned.

"I'm sorry Anthony," Steve said when they were out of Jay's earshot, "But I had to say something, he's my best friend."

"I know, Steve." Anthony said, smiling. "Maybe what you said will help Jay remember what happened. After all, you didn't give anything away, you were just telling Jay in your own way that you forgive him for not being able to get you out too."

"Yeah, I was." Steve said. "So what's going to happen to Jay? It wasn't his time yet, at least that's what I think you were telling me before Jay woke up."

"Yes, that's what I was telling you." Anthony answered. "You'll find out soon enough what Jay is supposed to be doing, I can't say anything until he remembers."

"Oh, right, I forgot." Steve said. The two men continued talking as they walked across the bridge toward a door at the far end that seemed to be a very long way away.

Jay watched as the bridge, which seemed to be nothing more than a rainbow, started to disappear as Anthony and Steve disappeared over the crest. He was going to miss his friend and wondered what Steve meant by telling Jay it wasn't his fault. What wasn't his fault?

TBC