Max stuffed the last of his clothes into the backpack and, after a quick glance at his watch, left the office to look for 99. She had gone to the lab to return some food packs Carlson had given her for their latest assignment. They had discovered the packs were well out of date and 99 was not happy. Max told her he would take care of it, but 99 was stubborn and insisted on going herself. He prayed she had changed her mind and gone to talk to Dr. Simon instead (who was working the main Control lab while Control scraped up the money to re-open her regular lab at the Follies theater).

One of the longest running discussions around the break room coffee pot was Carlson’s dislike of Maxwell Smart. The most recent and sizzling topic, however, was Carlson’s supposed crush on 99. Two weeks before their wedding, Max had entered the break room just in time to see Carlson put an arm around 99. It had taken poor 99 the better part of an evening, and a great many tears, to convince a distraught and heartbroken Max that he had misinterpreted what he had seen. If he had just hung around a bit longer, she told him, he would have seen her slap Carlson’s arm away and warn him if he laid a hand on her again, she would report him to the Chief.

Max stopped at the lab door. He could hear 99’s voice, so he stopped for a minute to listen.

“Can I exchange these packs?” 99 was asking.

“You’ll have to take what I’ve given you,” Carlson said coolly.

“But they’re out of date,” 99 frowned.

Carlson shrugged, “So what?”

99 sighed, “I’m not going to risk food poisoning.”

When Carlson didn’t reply, 99’s temper flared. “Carlson, I’m getting tired of . . .”

“Your husband?” Carlson interrupted. “I knew it was only a matter of time. If you’re looking for someone new, I’m available.”

Max was enraged by the comment. But instead of kicking the door open, as was his first inclination, he calmed himself and opened it slowly.

“Hey, 99,” He said nonchalantly. “What’s takin’ so long? Are you having trouble making up your mind again?”

“I thought you might like to decide,” 99 said, catching on.

“Okay.”

Max gave Carlson a cursory glance, then crossed to the supply room. He examined the selection of foods and put his choices in a cardboard box. As he crossed the room, 99 gave him a smile. He winked back.

“86, put those back. I’ve already pulled your rations, you’re screwing up my inventory,” Carlson said heatedly.

Max shrugged. “Well, then you’ll have to un-screw it. Where are those old packs, 99?”

99 picked up a bag sitting at her feet. He handed her the box and took the bag. He turned back to Carlson and stood silently for a moment, just looking at him.

“Forget what you were going to say?” Carlson taunted.

Max shook his head. “No.”

Suddenly, he threw the bag. It bounced off the wall near Carlson’s head and dropped to the floor. Max grabbed the front of his lab coat. “I’m warning you, don’t ever speak to 99 like that again,” He said in a slow monotone. He shoved Carlson away and poked a finger in his face. “Never, Carlson. Never.”

Max picked up the box and left. 99 started to follow, but instead she turned back.

“I won’t allow Max get into trouble over me.”

“So what do you think you can do about it?” Carlson asked sarcastically.

“I told you once before, I’ll report you. I’ll have your job.”

“You don’t have that kind of power,” Carlson scoffed.

“Don’t I?” Without waiting for a reply, she left.

When she entered their office a few moments later, she found Max pacing nervously, trying to control his anger.

99 put a hand on his arm.

“Where does he get off talking to you like that? Why didn’t I hit him?” He said, almost as an afterthought

“Max, please, let me take care of him.”

“How?” Max asked, eyeballing her suspiciously.

“Max! What are you saying? Oh, don’t be silly. Just let me handle it.”

“That’s going to make me look real valiant, isn’t it? I ought to go back and . . .”

Max’s words were cut off by the Chief’s voice, emanating from the intercom on the desk. He ordered them to his office immediately.

“Uh-oh,” Max said.

Looking at each other in resignation, they headed to the Chief’s office. When they got there, the Chief was not. So they sat, and waited.

Max took 99’s hand and kissed it. “I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have thrown that bag.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it too much, you were defending me. Did you see the look on his face when . . .” 99 paused as Max kissed her palm. “Max, stop. You‘re starting something we won’t be able to finish.”

At that moment, the Chief came in. He sat down and drummed his fingers on the desk.

“I’ve just spent the last ten minutes with Carlson. Max, he says you destroyed some food packs.”

“I did no such thing,” Max said. “I threw them at him.”

“He also says you threatened him.”

“I did.”

“Why?”

“Because he said something to me,” 99 said.

“What did he say?” The Chief asked, rubbing his nose.

“He said he knew it was only a matter of time before I would tire of Max. Then he told me, ‘If you’re looking for someone new, I’m available.’ ”

“Oh, Lord.”

“I heard him through the door,” Max said. “I had to defend my 99.”

“What’s up with the food?” The Chief asked, putting a hand over his eyes.

“It’s out of date,” 99 said. “I asked him to replace it and he said we had to take what he gave us.”

“So, I got some new packs,” Max continued. “99 had the others in a plastic bag. I threw it at him and warned him never to speak to her like that again.”

“He says you grabbed him and threw him against the wall.”

“I did.”

The Chief groaned.

“What did you expect me to do?” Max flared. “Nothing? Because of who he is?”

“Of course not, Max. I’m not angry with you.”

“Oh.”

99 leaned over the desk. “Tell Carlson to keep his conversations with me limited to business matters. He’s a good scientist, but this ‘fixation’ with me and his obvious dislike of Max is disturbing.”

The Chief nodded in agreement. “I just spoke with Larabee about it. I’d heard the rumors, but I never thought it was this bad. I’m sorry.” Under his breath he muttered, “Maybe I should transfer him.”

99 heard his quiet words. “Are you really thinking of sending him away?” She asked.

“I think I may transfer him to our New York branch.”

Max tugged on 99’s arm. “Come on, we have to finish packing. Chief, we’ll see you before we leave.”

The sub dropped Max and 99 about a half mile from shore on a small, uncharted island in the South Pacific. As their tiny craft bumped ashore, they quickly jumped out and dragged the rubber raft up onto the beach. 99 glanced at her watch.

“We made it, Max.”

“Let’s get this thing deflated and hide it in those rocks over there,” he said, pointing to an outcropping of rocks along the shore.

They unloaded their gear, then let the air out of the raft . . . and tried to fold it. After fifteen minutes, they gave up and dragged it over to the rocks. They rolled it up the best they could, carefully stuffed it into a small opening and covered it with sand.

As they climbed down onto the beach, the earth rumbled beneath their feet. Max grabbed 99’s arm and they steadied each other.

“Exactly why are we on this island, 99?” Max asked as the shaking stopped.

“Max, don’t you remember our briefing?” 99 asked.

“No . . . I couldn’t make the briefing, remember? I had to escort the Kaos deserter to the airport so he could be picked up by the CIA. You told me a bit about the gold, but that’s all. You‘ve got the sealed instructions . . .”

“Oh, right. Sorry, Max,” She pulled the envelope out of her pocket and handed it to Max. “Control got this map of the island from your Kaos deserter. He said that millions in pirate’s gold is supposedly buried somewhere on the eastern or southern shore of the island. Kaos has been looking for it for months. While they were looking, several of their geologists starting experimenting with magma. He didn’t have a clue as to what was going on, but if their experiments are successful, there’s the very real possibility that they could have a stranglehold on the world’s fuel supplies. And the Free World would be forced to knuckle under the rule of a demagogue.”

“A what?”

“A demagogue. An unscrupulous, tyrannical ruler.”

“Of course! That’s right!” Max said, his face lighting up. He smiled at 99.

99 couldn’t resist smiling back. Max forgot things easily, but he never gave up. This was only one of the many reasons she loved him so much. She put her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes. Max’s arms went around her.

“What?” He asked, admiring those baby blues.

“I love you.”

“I love you. Come on, let’s take a look at the map.”

They unfolded the map. 99 ran her finger along the shore and suggested that they take an eastern route, where the land, with it’s palm trees, would provide better cover.

Max shook his head in disagreement. “No, 99, I don’t think so . . .” He stopped and looked at the map more closely. “You’re right, 99. Coming from the east is better.”

99 was stunned. “What was your idea?” she asked.

“I thought about coming around from the west, but we’d be doing an awful lot of climbing, especially up the side of this knoll. I think we need to leave that for an escape route.”

“Okay.”

They pulled out their canteens and hooked them to their packs. Then they helped each other hoist the packs onto their backs and set off. The heat was stifling and it seemed that every five or ten minutes, a tremor shook the island. After several hours, 99 put a hand on Max’s arm.

“Max, we’ve go to stop. This heat is killing me.”

“We’ve got to keep going, 99, at least for a little while.”

“How far have we gone?”

Max looked at his pedometer. “About five miles. Can you make another mile or so?”

“Yeah. It’s taking forever to hack through this.” She took a long drink from her canteen and handed it to Max. “I can make it. How about you?”

“I’m okay. But you’re right, this heat is vicious.”

He took a drink of water and handed it back. “Let’s go.”

The going got worse. 99 pulled out a machete and began whacking at the undergrowth.

“Hey, 99, let me do that,” Max said, trying to take the machete from 99’s hand.

“Max, you’re carrying most of the gear. I can do it.”

Max was deeply impressed by her willpower and his heart turned over. They continued on until it got dark.

“Okay, 99, I think that’s enough.”

99 dropped the machete and her pack.

“I’m exhausted,” She said, sitting down and leaning against a tree. “Give me a couple seconds to catch my breath and I’ll help you with the tent.”

“You rest. I’ll do it.”

Max had the tent set up in no time. They were both so tired, they decided not to cook any dinner. Instead, they munched on a granola and fruit mixture concocted by their friends in the lab. Then they stretched out on top of the sleeping bags. They lay there, listening to the sounds around them

“I’m so tired,” 99 said, putting an arm around him. “ ’Night, Love.”

Max woke just before dawn. He got up, went outside, drew in a deep breath . . . it smelled of the sea. He drew in another, relishing the relaxing feeling it set through his body. As he stood there, the first light of dawn broke over the horizon.

“Max?” 99 stepped out of the tent and stretched.

“Good morning,” Max said. “Take a breath of that incredible air.”

99 took a deep breath and smiled. “Wonderful. How ’bout we eat then check the map to see what we’re up against.”

“Aww . . . I was hoping to stay here all day and relax,” Max said.

“As nice as that sounds, I’d venture a guess that the Chief wouldn’t think it was a very good idea.”

“You may have a point there.”

They spent the next hour eating, studying the map and packing up their gear. Then they set off.

About an hour later they came to clearing. 99 put out her arm and stopped Max.

“Wait, Max,” she whispered. “This looks man-made.”

“What?”

“Look . . . see those marks? They look like they were made with a rake. And here . . . footprints.”

“You’re right. A trap maybe?”

“Could be.”

“It is.”

The both turned around to find themselves face to face with Seigfried.

“Well . . . if it isn’t Mr. and Mrs. Agent 86. You know, it is polite to call and let someone know you’re coming.”

“Sorry about that,” Max replied sarcastically.

“Boris?” Seigfried said.

A large man stepped from behind a tree.

“Take Agent 99 with you. I’ll bring 86.”

99 gave Max a look as the man grabbed her arm and dragged her off into the surrounding foliage.

“What are you going to do?” Max asked.

“I think you’ll find this . . .” Seigfried was cut off in mid-sentence by the sound of gunfire.

“Come on, Max, let’s go.”

He forced a worried Max through the trees until they came to two small buildings nestled against the side of the mountain. Seigfried forced Max into one. Max found himself facing a cave in the side of the mountain.

“Where’s 99?”

Seigfried shrugged. “Boris is a crack shot . . .”

They were interrupted as Boris entering the building.

“She tried to get away,” he said. “I got off a couple shots. I think I hit her. But it really doesn’t matter, I heard her fall off one of the cliffs.”

Every bit of color drained from Max’s face. As he stood there trying to digest the what he had just heard, Seigfried pushed him towards the cave entrance. They walked several hundred yards until they came to a cell. Seigfried open the door and, after relieving Max of his weapons, shoved him into the room with his pack.

“Keep your gear, Schmart. You’ll need it later.” Then he slammed and locked the door.

Max stood motionless in the middle of the room. His pack hung loosely from his fingertips for a moment, then dropped to the dirt floor. The only light in the room came from a naked bulb hanging against the wall. He shut it off and sat down on a cot, staring out into the darkness. His beloved 99 was gone. A fierce, blinding, agonizing pain started in his chest and radiated throughout his body. He slumped to the floor. On his hands and knees, with his face buried in his fists, he wept. He sobbed and sobbed for what seemed like an eternity, absolutely powerless to stop. Finally, he passed out from sheer exhaustion.

He awoke several hours later. The room was dark and, for a moment, he forgot where he was. As he rolled over on his back, the memory came crashing back like a tidal wave, engulfing him.

The tears burned again. “Oh, 99 . . . ” He moaned.

The door creaked open.

“Well, what have we here?” Seigfried’s asked mockingly.

Max didn’t move, he remained on the floor, an arm covering his eyes.

“You’ve won, Seigfried,” Max said weakly. “You’ve beaten me. I’m nothing without 99. Nothing, with nothing to live for. Just kill me.”

The egotistical expression left Seigfried’s face as he watched as Max lay unmoving on the floor. He frowned, then spoke into a walkie-talkie. Several moments later, a scuffling and cursing was heard as someone was dragged down the passageway. The person was shoved into the room. The person slammed their fists on the door as it rattled shut.

Max didn’t move.

After several minutes of stumbling in the dark, the person finally found the string for the light. Dim light flooded the room.

“Max?” 99 knelt beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Love?”

Max leapt from the floor and scrambled away, staring at her in shock.

“Max! For Heaven’s sake . . .”

99 was horrified by the look on his face. “What!?”

Max slid to his knees and continued to stare blankly.

99 got down on her knees in front of him. “Max,” She took his face in her hands, it was cold and clammy. She knew he was close to going into shock. “Max, listen to me. Close your eyes, then open them.”

He closed his eyes tightly, but refused to open them.

“Max. I want you to look at me!”

“If I open my eyes, you won’t be there . . .”

“Maxwell,” She ordered sternly. “Open your eyes.”

He slowly opened his eyes and focused on her. “99???” He asked weakly.

“Yes, Max.”

“Prove it,” He said, giving her a hard stare.

99 held out her left hand. Max examined her ring finger with his finger tips. He nodded. “All right,” 99 said. “Now, prove to me you’re you.”

Max whispered something in her ear.

“Now, tell me . . .” Max said.

99 whispered in his ear, completing the intricate series of passwords and countersigns they had devised.

“99!?!?!” He threw his arms around her, gripping her tightly. He buried his face in her shoulder and wept incoherently.

99 started crying too. They sat on the floor, holding each other as close as possible.

99 finally managed to pull herself together. “Max.”

He took several deep shuttering breaths.

“Talk to me, Love,” 99 said anxiously, wiping the tears from his face, caressing his cheek.

“I heard the shots. Boris told me you were dead, fell off a cliff. When I heard that, I entered a deep, dark tunnel. There was nothing, nothing. No end . . . ” His voice faded away.

“Oh, Max . . .”

“What did happen?” He asked. 99 sighed in relief. He was calming down.

She told him she had pretended to fall and twist her ankle. When Boris reached to help her up, she had thrown dirt in his face and ran. He fired several shots, one of which whizzed by her left ear. She skittered to stop at the edge of the cliff and, thinking fast, kicked a several rocks over the side and screamed. She climbed a nearby tree and watched in fascination as her plan worked better than she ever imagined. Boris had been joined by Starker and the two searched the surrounding area for about a ten minutes. They looked over the edge of the cliff many times. Satisfied she had fallen and the tide had pulled her body out to sea, they left. 99 had followed them. They came to the buildings and entered. She sat down to watch and think. Unfortunately, she fell asleep, and awoke when Starker inadvertently stumbled upon her when he stepped into the woods to . . . well . . . relieve himself. They scuffled for a moment, but Starker was stronger and he dragged her to Seigfried. Seigfried was sitting in a chair, his feet propped up on a folding table, deep in thought, a strange look on his face. When he saw 99, the expression changed. He took her weapons, but allowed her to keep her pack. He told Starker to bring her to the cell when he called him on the walkie-talkie. Along the way, they passed what appeared to be a small weather station. 99 got a close enough look at the grainy radar to see that an intense hurricane was headed towards the island. It was less then twelve hours away, according to the voices she heard. The scientists were getting scared. They were saying they were going to have to leave the island.

Max had calmed considerably as he listened to her story. By the time she finished, he was pacing the room.

“We’ve got to get out of here, 99.”

“Max, we can’t leave on the raft.”

“I know . . .”

The door opened. Seigfried and Starker entered.

“Feeling a bit better, Agent 86?” Seigfried asked. “Good. Get your gear, you’re going to continue your little camping trip.”

“You can’t put us out there,” 99 said.

“Why not?”

“I heard your scientists talking about the hurricane.”

Seigfried shrugged and gave Max a odd look. “You know, Schmart, I never would have believed you loved her that much. Well, at least you’ll get to die together.”

Max glared at him.

Max and 99 picked up their packs. Starker motioned, so they followed Seigfried out of the cave to a to a helicopter. He ordered them aboard then gave them an arrogant salute as it lifted off. 99 returned the salute with her middle finger, eliciting a caustic laugh from Max.

Starker flew the chopper to the South end of the island and ordered Max and 99 to the ground by a rope. Max swung to the ground, 99 followed.

Max called up to Starker. “Hey, what about that magma project your scientists were working on?”

“Magma project? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Smart.”

“Please, Starker?” 99 said slyly, using her best, sultry voice. “At least tell us a bit about it. We‘re gonna die anyway. What difference does it make?”

Starker laughed. “There is no project. I made it up to throw Control off the track. I did. All by myself.”

“Stupid idea.”

Starker looked at her, confused. “Why?”

99 gave Max a wink. “Because, silly, the world’s fuel resources are far more important than some gold,” She lied.

Starker scratched his head, unable to figure out just what 99 meant. He shrugged and the helicopter rose and disappeared.

“99, do you still have the map?”

“I didn’t have the map, you did. What did he take besides your weapons?”

“I don’t have the slightest idea. I didn‘t care what he took.”

“Let me look, Love.”

99 pawed through his pack and came up with the map. She studied it for several minutes, then nudged Max, who was staring at the sky.

“Here,” She said, pointing East. “This way. There’s a row of caves along here. There should be one big enough to provide us with some shelter. Max, are you okay?”

“I think so,” He put an arm around her and looked around. “Come on, let’s go.”

They plodded along, following the map the best they could in the fading light. Along the way, 99 suggested they collect as much dry wood as possible. They dropped their packs and quickly chopped a good amount, picking up twigs and small branches to use as a starter. They wrapped the wood in the covers from their sleeping bags and dragged it behind them. It was starting to sprinkle when they came upon the caves. They explored several without much luck until they came upon one with a smaller opening than the rest.

Max turned on his flashlight. He dropped his pack and told 99 to wait. He crawled in the opening. 99 walked a short distance away to a spot where the trees opened onto the beach. She could see the storm coming nearer, in all it’s intensity. She knew Max’s fear of lightning and hoped the cave was big and deep enough.

Max’s face appeared at the opening. “Come on,” he said. “This will work out great.”

“Good, let’s get . . .” She was interrupted by a flash of lightning, followed immediately by a earsplitting clap of thunder. Max ducked back into the cave. 99 grabbed the packs and wood and shoved them through the opening. Stealing one last, worried glance over her shoulder, she squirmed into the cave.

Max had pulled out a larger battery-powered light and turned it on. The interior of the cave was much larger than the opening suggested.

“Wow . . .” 99 said. “Amazing.”

They picked up their packs and walked deeper into the cave. It narrowed slightly towards the back, then opened up again to a larger room. The sound of water could be heard and their flashlights picked up a small waterfall at the back of the cave.

“How are we gonna build a fire in here?” Max asked. “The smoke will rise and come back down.”

99 continued to study the ceiling. “Hmmm . . .”

“You’re the one who convinced me to quit smoking . . .”

99 gave Max a grin for this bad pun and pointed the flashlight back towards at the ceiling. She frowned and followed something with the light. She walked over to waterfall and held up her hand.

“There’s an updraft here. If we build a fire here, won’t the smoke rise and naturally vent?”

“How am I supposed to know?”

“Max. Come on, let’s give it a try.”

They gathered some rocks and made a circle. They piled the wood in the center and 99 lit the fire. It roared to life. The smoke did just what 99 had hoped . . . It naturally found it’s way up and disappeared from sight.

99 turned to say something to Max, but the look on his face stopped her.

“Max? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on, Max . . .”

“Nothing’s wrong, 99.” He snapped.

99 shrugged. “Okay, okay! I’m tired, I’m going to bed.”

99 spread her bag out near the fire. She said good-night, but he still didn’t respond. She snuggled into the bag. She was so tired, she fell asleep immediately.

Max awakened her about a half hour later.

“99 . . .”

“Huh?” She asked sleepily “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t sleep. That storm is really bad,” He glanced towards the opening of the cave.

99, too, could hear the shrieking wind and thunder. Flashes of lightning reflected off the walls.

“Can we make one big bag, 99?”

99 smiled. They zipped their bags together and Max joined her, putting his arms around her, his head on her chest. He sighed deeply.

“Max, my Love,” 99 said, stroking his hair. “Talk to me.”

He swallowed hard. “99, you’re the only person who’s ever really cared about me. Except for my Mom.”

“The Chief loves you . . .” She interjected.

“I know. But you give me self-assurance by simply holding my hand. And sticking up for me all these years, even when you know I’m wrong.”

“But, Max . . .”

Max put a finger to her lips, stopping her mid sentence.

“You don’t understand,” Max said quietly. “I thought you were dead. I curled up on the dirt floor of that cell and wept. I even told Seigfried to kill me. I’m a coward in his eyes now.”

“Seigfried knows you’re no coward.”

“What about you?”

“Why on earth would you ever ask me such a question?” 99 snapped.

Max suddenly sat up, abruptly changing the subject. “What’s that noise? Hear it? It‘s not the water fall.”

“I hear it.”

They got up and, using their flashlights, followed the source of the sound. The cave narrowed near the back again, but opened up again. Inside this room was a hot spring. Steam rose to the ceiling and hung there, long enough to create a light mist. It crept along the ceiling, following the same course as the Smart’s fire.

99 knelt down and dipped her hand into the water.

“This feels marvelous.”

Max ran his hand through the water and nodded in agreement.

“Hey, Max, I’ve got an idea . . .” She said with a twinkle in her eye.

“What,” Max asked, not looking up.

“Let’s go skinny-dipping.”

“Let’s do what?” He asked, turning to her.

“Skinny-dip.”

He caught the look in her eye.

“99!” He said, scandalized.

“What?”

“What you said!”

“What did I say?” 99 asked.

“What?”

“What do you think I said?”

“About the hot spring,” Max said.

“What about the hot spring?”

“What you said.”

“I said what?” 99 asked, continuing the banter.

“Huh?”

“What did I say?”

“About what?”

“The hot spring.”

“Oh,” Max paused. “Uh . . . skinny dipping.”

“Well?”

“Well what?”

“Are we gonna?”

“Are we gonna what?”

99 rolled her eyes. “Stop this conversation.”

“What about the other?”

“The other what?” 99 asked, taking the bait.

“You know . . .” He nodded toward the bubbling water.

“Do you want to?”

“Do you?”

“I suggested it. You were shocked.”

“I wasn’t shocked. I was just . . . well . . . I was . . .” He shrugged.

99 found it adorable that after four months of marriage, Max could still be shy.

“I want to check it out first,” he said.

He went back to their gear and pulled out one of the tent poles. He walked around the pool, plunging it into the water until he found the bottom. Max estimated that the pool was about five feet deep and ten foot around. 99 discovered the warm water was fed into the pool from an opening along the back wall, which created a mini whirlpool.

“Looks safe to me,” Max said with a smile.

99 smiled back. She lowered herself into the water, sighing in contentment. She settled on a rock near the edge of the pool and let the water cover her.

“Oh, Max, you’ve got to try this.”

Max joined 99 in the pool. Sitting beside her, he sighed deeply as he luxuriated in the warmth of the water. They sat there for some time, totally relaxed and in silence, with their eyes closed, their feet floating.

Suddenly, a splash of water hit Max in the face.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

99 tapped on the shoulder. “Tag . . . you’re it!” She said and swam away.

Max gave chase. 99 dove under and popped up beside him. When Max turned to grab her, she dove under again and came up near the wall. She wiped the water from her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair, looking around. Max was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, he popped up beside her.

“Got’cha!” He said, throwing his arms around her.

“You do, huh?” 99 asked, not the least bit sorry she had been caught.

“Yeah . . .” Max said, pulling her close and giving her a passionate kiss. She put her arms around his neck.

“This could get dangerous,” 99 said, stroking his hair.

“Dangerous how?” Max pressed his forehead against hers.

“You know . . .”

“Ohhh . . . 99, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“What’s your name?”

99 stared at him, speechless. When she finally found her voice, she said, “You’re finally getting around to asking after all these years?”

Max pulled her closer and looked deeply into her eyes. “What’s your name?” He repeated, kissing her cheek.

99 whispered something in his ear.

“Really?” He looked at her curiously for a moment. “Funny, you don’t look it . . .”

99 awoke before Max and climbed carefully out of the sleeping bag as so not to awaken him. She stoked the fire and added more wood. She pulled out a small pot and put some water on to boil for coffee. While waiting, she decided to do a bit of exploring. She figured she better not go too far alone, so she tied one end of a rope around a rock and the other end around her waist. She picked up a flashlight and started at the hot spring. She played the flashlight along the walls until it lit upon a large rock. 99 frowned. It just didn’t look right. It looked as if someone had pushed it against the wall. She got down on her hands and knees and inspected it for a few minutes and, finding nothing, shrugged, and started to get up. Suddenly something caught her eye. It was a wider gap running along the side of the rock, near the bottom. She put out a hand and felt cool air. She lay down and shined the flashlight into the opening. The light glinted off something. She jumped up and ran back to Max, who was still asleep.

“Max, get up!” She said, shaking him.

“Huh? What . . . ?”

“You’ve got to come help me move this rock.”

“Rock?” Max asked, groggy and confused.

“Max, I’ve found something . . . I think.”

“Oh.”

Max got up and threw on his pants and shoes and followed her back to the rock. 99 handed him the flashlight and told him to look through the opening. Max yawned, got down, and flashed the light into the opening. He squinted, did a slight double take, and looked up at 99.

“I wonder if we can move this thing?”

“It must weight several tons . . .”

“True, but somebody put it here,” He went around to the other side and got down on his hands and knees.

“There’s another gap over here. If I push the rope through, do you think you can squeeze your hand in and reach it?”

“Sure.”

“Let’s get the rope and the tent poles. I’ll pull the rope and you put one of the poles here,” he said, indicating a slight gap between the rock and the wall.

After getting the rope and poles, Max pushed the rope through the opening and 99 easily grabbed it.

“Let’s pull this rope up as far as we can,” Max said.

They tugged and pulled until the rope was secure.

“Okay, now what?” 99 asked.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“Well, you’re right. This rock weights a ton. Even with the rope and the tent pole, the only thing we’ll probably succeed in doing is breaking the pole.”

“Max, someone put it there. And there certainly isn’t any way to get large equipment in here. Let’s just try it.”

“Okay.”

99 shoved the pole in the bigger space between the rock and the wall.

“Let’s go . . .”

Max wrapped the rope around his waist and pulled. 99 put everything she had into pushing the pole. To their utter amazement, the rock slid easily away from the wall.

“Wow . . .” 99 said softly.

“Yeah . . .” Max answered.

They turned on their flashlights and together shined them into the cave. In the middle of the small alcove sat what could only be described as a treasure chest, wrapped in chains and fastened with a gigantic lock. They tied the rope around it and pulled it back to the main room. 99 got a small sledge hammer from Max’s pack.

“Get back, Max, let me try.” She heaved the sledge over her shoulder and smashed it down on the lock. It shattered. They stared at each other.

“This is too easy,” Max said. He pulled the chest open. It was filled with gold. Not coins, but pieces of gold, in all shapes and sizes.

“Oh, Max . . .” 99 said, sitting beside him and picking up one of the smaller pieces. “What do you think this is worth?”

“I wouldn’t even venture a guess.”

“What are we going to do? It’s heavy. If Kaos is still hanging around, they’ll find us and then everything’s lost.”

Max rose, rolling a piece of gold in his hand. He motioned to 99 and they sat by the fire.

“How about something to eat?” 99 suggested.

“I’m not hungry.”

99 put a hand on his forehead. “Are you sick?”

“I don’t know,” He sat down on the sleeping bag and put his head in his hands. 99 put an arm around him.

“Max, are you all right?”

“I’m drained.”

“We’ve been through a lot.”

“Let’s think for a minute,” Max said tiredly, putting an arm around her waist. “How about this. Let’s roll up the gold in the sleeping bags. It’ll be heavy, but we should be able to drag it back to the raft.”

“Max, that raft is probably out to sea by this time.”

“Maybe it’ll still there. We tucked it in pretty tightly. Let‘s think positively,” He paused, thinking. “Hey, what about the hot spring?”

“What about it?” 99 asked. “Do you want to go back and relax some more?”

“I’d love to go ‘relax’ with you some more. I was thinking about the bottom of the pool.”

“That sounds fascinating. How would we breath?”

Max stared at her in utter confusion for several minutes. “I meant the gold, 99.”

“Oh. I don’t think we should leave it here, Max.”

Max studied the piece of gold in his hand for a moment. He sighed in irritation. “We’ll just have to take it with us. There’s no other choice.”

“We can roll it up in our sleeping bags,” 99 suggested.

Max gave her a puzzled look. “Isn’t that what I just said, 99?”

“Oh, I knew I’d heard it before.”

“Let’s see if it’s still storming,” Max said.

They ventured to the entrance of the cave. Max hung back and let 99 investigate. The storm was still raging violently. Torrential rain with high wind gusts bent the trees, and there was enough lightening and thunder to scare both of them. 99 turned around and ran into Max, who had come up behind her.

99 hooked a thumb over her shoulder.

“Come on, let’s go back to bed.”

They went back to the campsite, stoked the fire and talked for a while. 99 was nearly asleep when Max suddenly swooped her up into his arms.

“What‘s up, Max?” She said sleepily.

“Let’s take another look at that hot spring,” He said

“Why?” 99 asked, confused.

The fire was burned down to glowing coals when Max awoke. An eerie silence permeated the cave. He suddenly realized he could no longer hear the storm. His watch said 8:00AM. 99 was sleeping so soundly that he didn’t want wake her, so he got up slowly, re-zipped the bag and ventured toward the cave entrance. The morning sunlight filtered through the trees, showing the destruction the storm had left behind. Max scratched his head and yawned.

“How are we gonna get through that?” 99’s voice came from behind him.

“I don’t know . . .” He sighed, turning around. “But we better get packed and see if our raft is still there.”

“What if it isn’t?”

“One thing at a time, 99.”

They filled their sleeping bags with the gold then they filled the chest with rocks. Before putting it back it’s niche, and despite of Max’s protests, 99 scribbled a sarcastic note and put in in the chest. They loaded their packs and started dragging their gold towards the cave entrance. They pulled the it through the woods, hacking at the undergrowth as best they could, using fallen limbs. They came out on the beach close to where they had hidden the raft.

“It’s still here!” Max said happily, pulling the raft from it‘s hiding place in the rock.

99 grabbed his arm.

“What . . . ?” Max turned to her, puzzled.

99 pointed. Standing a few yards away were two Kaos agents.

“Shit,” Max muttered under his breath.

The Kaos agents had seen them, but they didn’t move. Instead, one of them lobbed a grenade. Max threw 99 to the ground as the grenade exploded only a few feet away, showering them with shrapnel from the rock. 99 pulled out a gun hidden in the raft and lifted her head slightly. The men were making their way towards them, talking excitedly and not paying the least bit of attention. When one raised a walkie-talkie to his lips, 99 fired off two quick shots, dropping them both in their tracks. The whole incident had taken no longer than two minutes.

“Max . . .” She turned and found him lying on the ground, grasping his left forearm.

“Love . . . ?” 99 knelt beside him. “Are you okay? Let me look.”

“NO!” Max pulled away.

“Max, don’t be foolish.”

He moved his hand. A piece of shrapnel had cut a four inch gash in the muscle below his left elbow. She winced and pulled the first aide kit out of her pack.

“What are you doing?”

“Max, for Heaven’s sake!” 99 said. “I’ve got to bandage your arm.”

“Do you know what you’re doing?” Max asked suspiciously.

“No, I’m only guessing . . . ” 99 said, hurt.

“Sorry,” Max said.

“This may hurt a bit. You’re going to have to hold still.”

Max flinched.

“I haven’t even touched you yet.”

“Is it bad?” Max whimpered.

“I don’t think so. Let me clean it up with peroxide and bandage it with gauze and tape.”

“All right . . .”

She opened a bottle of peroxide and poured it in the wound. Then she grabbed some gauze and applied direct pressure. She applied antibiotic ointment, covered it with sterile gauze and taped it.

“Good work, Dr. Smart. What do I owe you?”

“I’ll take it out in trade.”

“What kind of a ‘trade’ do you have in mind?”

“I’ll let you know later.” 99 said with a wink.

“What happened to the two Kaos agents?”

“I shot them.”

“Are they dead?”

“I shot them,” 99 repeated unemotionally.

Max nodded in understanding. “Good. Let’s get that raft together.”

“You try to contact Control with that thing,” She said pulling a small box from a secret compartment. While she got the raft inflated, Max unfolded a mini-scanner. He turned it on and typed in a series of numbers.

99, meanwhile, pulled out a pair of binoculars and scanned the beach for marauding Kaos agents. Seeing nothing, she turned back to Max.

“Anything yet?”

“No. Wait . . .” Max said. The scanner beeped several times, indicating his message had been received.

“Good. They got it! Now let’s get out of here before somebody else comes.”

“Like Seigfried and Starker?” 99 asked, pointing.

Max took the binoculars and continued to watch for several minutes.

“MAX! Come on!” 99 yelled, pulling on the raft. “Let’s get out of here before they do see us!”

“Well, now they really know we’re here, with you yelling.”

99 pulled Max to his feet. Together they pulled the raft from behind the rock and into the water. Before they left, 99, with sadistic glee, threw several pieces of gold she had stashed in her pocket onto the beach. Max grabbed her around the waist and practically threw her in the boat.

“Now who’s wasting time? Come on!!”

They rowed frantically, getting well beyond the surf and out of view before Seigfried and Starker got anywhere near. 99 rowed with one hand and put the binoculars to her eyes with the other. Seigfried stopped when he spotted the gold. She watched in amusement as he and Starker crawled all over the beach on their hands and knees, not once thinking to look out to sea.

99 dropped the binoculars and laughed gleefully. “They fell for it! You should see them, Max. They’re crawling all over thinking they’ve found that long lost treasure!!”

“Will you please forget about Seigfried and Starker and help me row?! We only have two hours to get to the rendezvous point.”

“Right, Max. Sorry.”

With the both of them rowing, and Max guiding, they made it to the to the rendezvous point. Max looked at his watch.

“We’re a bit early.”

“I don’t like the looks of that sky, Max,” 99 said. Her eyes opened wide. “Max?”

“Yeah?”

“The eye.”

“What eye?”

“Of the hurricane. Did we go through the eye?”

“I don’t know . . .”

“Looks like we’re about to find out,” 99 said, indicating the dark clouds. “When’s the sub due?”

“Any minute now. Don’t worry, 99.”

“What if the storm . . .?” She was interrupted by a loud whooshing as the submarine surfaced, a bold American flag painted on it’s conning tower. A hatch opened and the Captain popped his head out.

“Come on, get in here. We’ve got to dive and dive fast. The backside of that hurricane is coming.”

99 jumped aboard and Max threw her the sleeping bags. As he reached for the ladder to climb aboard, his injured arm shrieked in pain and he nearly fell overboard. Only 99’s quick reflexes saved him. She grabbed him and, with superhuman strength, hauled him aboard. They fell to the deck, with Max landing on top of 99. He grinned at her. She rolled her eyes and they pulled themselves to their feet. Despite loud protests from the Captain, they tossed the sleeping bags down the hatch first, then scrambled down. The Captain secured the hatch and picked up a microphone.

“DIVE!” He ordered. The sub gave a lurch and dove beneath the sea.

The Captain turned to Max and 99. “What the hell is so important about those damn sleeping bags that you had to jeopardize our lives and the lives of my crew? It took a lot of persuading by Control to get the Navy to come out here to rescue you in these conditions.”

99 unrolled one of the sleeping bags and held out a handful of gold. The Captain’s jaw dropped. He took a took a piece and stared at it in opened mouthed awe.

“Both sleeping bags are full. That’s what we were doing out here,” 99 said. “Captain, would you please take charge of this gold. And we need a doctor. Max’s arm needs attention.”

“Ensign, take these two to sick bay.”

An young Ensign helped Max and 99 down the corridor to the ship’s doctor, who easily and quickly stitched and bandaged the wound. He gave Max a shot of Penicillin, told him to keep the wound dry.

Max and 99 followed the doctor an empty cabin. He told them the galley was down the passageway to the right. Max thanked him and the doctor returned to his duties.

Max took one look at the two skinny bunks attached to the wall, one above the other.

“Oh, this looks cozy.”

“I get the top bunk!” 99 said playfully.

“Now wait a minute! How come you get the top bunk? I want the top bunk!” Max said.

99 hid a smile. “I called it first!” She said.

“Geeze . . .” Max pouted. “Well, can I at least use the shower first?”

99 shrugged and pulled open the small door leading to the bathroom. “Look,” She said and laughed.

Thirty days later, Max and 99 were still in the small cabin of the sub. Max was infuriated. 99 was trying desperately to calm him.

“It’s okay, Max, it doesn’t matter.”

“Yes it does! We risked our lives to get that gold. Then the Chief sends a helicopter for the gold and leaves us in this sardine can! Do you really think that’s fair???”

99 sighed deeply. “I didn’t say I thought it was fair, it’s just the way it is. We can’t change it.”

“That’s not the point!”

“I know!”

“I want to go home! We’ve been here a whole month!” Max whined.

“Max, for Heaven’s sake! The Captain was ordered to break away from maneuvers to rescue us from the middle of the Pacific, during a hurricane.”

“I know that, 99, and I’m grateful,” Max interrupted. “But why couldn’t we fly back too?"

“Money. They could only afford to take the gold back.”

Max groaned. “That doesn’t make any sense. And what about that gold? Isn’t Control is rich?”

“No. The gold belongs to the government.”

“But we found it! Doesn‘t belong to Control, 99?”

“No.”

“You mean to tell me the Chief has to turn the gold over to the government?”

“Had to. They probably already have it. Control doesn’t get a cent.”

“What a waste of time and effort. Not to mention the emotional . . .” Max sighed.

99 put a hand on his shoulder. “At least Kaos didn’t get it.”

“That’s the only good thing. We can’t even go anywhere in this tub except to the dispensary and the galley because it’s so top secret,” He said, motioning around the room.

“Max, please . . .” 99 moaned, running her fingers through her hair. “I don’t like this any more than you do. It’s only a couple more days.”

Max touched 99’s face. “I’m sorry. It’s just that being cooped up is starting to get to me.”

She took his hand. “I understand, really I do. I don’t feel so good myself. I don’t see how these guys do it.”

Her hand was cold and clammy. Max studied her face. “99, are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

“I . . .” She suddenly clamped her hand over her mouth and ran for the bathroom. Max followed and found her dry heaving into the small toilet. He ran a towel under water in the sink and knelt down beside her. She lifted her head out of the bowl and flushed. Max gently wiped her face with the damp towel.

99 stood up weakly and, with Max’s arm around her waist, she brushed her teeth and rinsed the nasty toothpaste taste out of her mouth as quickly as possible. Max filled a glass with water.

“Here, drink this,” He offered.

She drank a bit of it, then he helped her into the bottom bunk.

“99, did you eat this morning?”

99 shook her head.

“Why? You’re always getting on to me about eating breakfast.”

“I know,” 99 sighed softly.

“You need something?”

99 nodded. “Yes, please.”

“What?”

“The doctor.”

Max touched her forehead and frowned. “Are you sick? You think it’s the flu or something? The whole crew could come down with whatever it is.”

“Max, believe me, the whole crew couldn’t possibly get what I think I have.”

Max gave her a puzzled look.

“Max, I think I’m pregnant.”

“Huh? How did that happen?’

99 looked at him, amused. “You don’t know?”

Max rolled his eyes at her. “Of course I know. It’s just . . .” He stopped, a small smile playing on his lips. “The hot spring . . .” He said.

“It sure was . . . twice.” She turned on her side and rested her chin on her palm. “Especially the second time, when you carried me off in your arms,” She smiled at him.

Max sat on the floor and looked up at her. “99, we just got married.”

“I know.”

“We talked about this . . .”

“I know.”

“We were going to wait at least a year.”

“I know.”

Max rubbed a hand across his face and sighed.

“This isn’t completely my fault, you know,” 99 said.

“I know. I didn’t say it was.”

“You’re just . . . not happy.”

At first, Max didn’t reply. Then, “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

“You think this is a big thrill for me? The hot spring was. But honestly, Max, I’m not sure I’m ready for this either.”

He looked at her, startled. “Really?” He was truly surprised by her statement.

“Yes.”

Max looked at her dismally.

“Max, are you angry with me?”

“Why on earth would I be mad?” He sat on the edge of the bunk.

99 hesitated. “You seem to be bothered by what I said.”

“I am not. Let’s not get carried away before we know for sure.”

“You’re right, maybe it’s just stress. I’m going to go talk to the doctor,” She said, getting up.

“I’m going with you, 99.”

The doctor made Max to wait in the outer room while he examined 99. He drew some blood, then handed her a cup and motioned towards the head. He gave her some pills for nausea and sent them back to the cabin.

99 lay on the bottom bunk and immediately drifted off. Max watched her for a moment, then squeezed in behind her, slipping an arm around her waist. He put a hand on her lower abdomen and left it there for a while, thinking he might feel their child move, even though he knew this was a ridiculous notion. He finally drifting to sleep himself.

A knock on the door woke him several hours later. Max stumbled out of the bunk, and after stubbing his toe several times on the table, he hopped to the door.

“Come in, Doc,” He said.

Doc winced as he watched Max hop around on one foot. He had spent quite a bit of time with Max and 99 after they had been picked up. In addition to Max’s injury, they had both lost weight and were dehydrated. Over the last thirty days, he and the Smarts had developed a good-natured relationship and he had gotten used to Max’s clumsiness.

“Ouch . . . that hurts,” Doc said.

“Is that an expert medical opinion?” Max asked.

Doc laughed out loud. “She’s asleep?”

“Uhhh . . .” Max looked over at 99. “Looks like . . .” He said brightly.

“No I’m not,” 99 said, sitting up. “How could anyone sleep with the two of you making so much noise? Well, Doc?”

“Yes.” He waited a moment as the Smarts looked at each other. Then, sensing he ought to take a powder, he said, “Hey, Max, spaghetti for lunch. See you later. Congratulations,” He said, pulling the door shut.

Max and 99 were still looking at each other.

Max reached out and took her hand. “Sit down, 99, I want to talk to you.”

“I know you’re not thrilled about this, Love.”

“99, will you please be quiet and to listen to me?” He asked, sitting her down on the bunk and putting an arm around her.

“Okay,” She said.

“Sweetheart, I’ve been thinking. Thinking hard . . .” He played with the wedding ring on her finger.

“Max,” 99 interrupted. “I . . .”

“99! Please let me finish! You know I have a hard time saying things sometimes.”

“Sorry, Max,” 99 said, squeezing his hand.

“I thought Seigfried’s goons had killed you. I thought I’d lost you. I was numb. I wanted to die, because the thought of living the rest of my life without you was just too awful to comprehend. I couldn’t believe it when I saw you, I didn’t believe you were real. But at the same time, I was also afraid to let go of you, for fear you really were real,” He lowered his head. “And you were real,” he said quietly. He looked up. “And now, with the baby . . .” He stuttered to a stop. “It’s like we’ve been given back what I thought we’d lost. With a bonus. Understand? Am I making any sense?”

“Yes, Love,” 99 said softly.

“It doesn’t really matter if we’re going have the baby before we planned, does it?” Max asked her.

“No, Max,” 99 said, hugging him. “Let’s go eat.”

Max eyed her. “Are you sure you feel okay? I don’t want to have to clean spaghetti off the wall.”

“I’m fine. And stop worrying about having to clean anything off the wall. Come on, let‘s eat,” She said, getting up and pulling on his arm.

As soon as dinner was over, the Captain decided to go to the surface so the men could get a breath of fresh air, sunshine and a bit of exercise. Max and 99 joined them.

After a while, it became apparent that Max had been correct in his assumption that 99 should forgo the spaghetti dinner. Most of the men, except for the Max and Doc, fought and clawed their way back into the bowels of the ship when 99 began heaving over the side.

“Well,” Max said brightly, handing 99 the damp towel he had brought along, amid 99’s protests, just in case. “At least I don’t have to clean it off the walls.”

“Shut up, 86,” 99 said, taking the towel from him.

The Captain appeared next to them.

“Are you all right, Mrs. Smart?”

“I’m fine. Thank you for asking, Sir.”

“I hear congratulations are in order,” The Captain said with a smile.

99 gave him a look.

“And I have some more good news for you. They’ve called us home, we’ll be in Hawaii tomorrow. We notified your Chief and he’ll have a car waiting at the pier to take you to the airport. I must say, you’ve been incredible passengers. Most people would have been climbing the walls by this time.” He saluted smartly and went below.

“So who isn’t climbing the walls?” 99 asked.

“This is great!” Max said, picking 99 up and swinging her around.

“Max, put me down. Unless you want . . .”

Max immediately deposited 99 on the deck.

Max stood in his ‘86’ robe watching 99 as she slept. He had just completed a case involving a female Kaos agent who married Control agents, then killed them for the insurance money. Why in the world the Chief had put him on this particular case had confused him from the start. He had gotten into a violent argument with the Chief about it on their way home from the tennis courts. The Chief had ordered him to go . . . or else. Not wanting to ask what the ‘or else’ could be, Max had submissively agreed. He had dreaded telling 99, who was in her eighth month of pregnancy. He knew what her reaction was going to be. To top it off, the day he was supposed to take the lovely Ann Cameron out on their ‘first date’ was Max and 99’s first anniversary. After a stupid, over-embellished, patriotic speech by the Chief, 99 had agreed that Max should stay on the case. For the last week, he has romanced Ann. And although on the surface it appeared as though he was thoroughly enjoying himself, he hated every minute of it. Even though Ann was absolutely stunning, he hated kissing her. Hated holding her hand. Hated going out on ‘dates’ with her. And when the Chief had ordered him to propose, he was so angry, he had left Control and driven down the George Washington Parkway towards Mt. Vernon. Parking at one of the scenic area parking lots at midnight, he had walked down to the Potomac River, strolled for a short distance along the quiet lapping water and beat up on a tree.

99’s reaction to his upcoming ‘marriage’ had been about as he expected. She invited herself along to the wedding, much to the Chief’s chagrin. But one look from Max had convinced the Chief he better keep his mouth shut.

The wedding had been an absolutely ludicrous affair, with the very pregnant 99 weeping profusely in the back row. After pawning her off as an ‘old girlfriend’, he suddenly discovered he had forgotten the ring. He went to 99 and had to convince her to loan him hers in order to finish the ceremony At first she refused, but after Max told her the ‘dating’ would have to continue, 99 grudgingly handed her ring over to Max.

The wedding had nothing on the scene at the hotel, which could have been a script from a Marx Brother’s movie. Ann’s little assistant had loosened the struts holding up the high terrace in the hopes that Ann could convince Max to have drinks out there, and plunge to his death.

As Ann was ‘getting more comfortable’, a bellhop came to the door. It was the Chief in disguise. There was a second knock, announcing the chambermaid. The Chief hid on the terrace. Max opened the door to find 99. He was less then thrilled and was about to tell her to leave when there came another knock. It was the hotel manager. 99 hid on the terrace. Larabee entered the room. Suddenly, Ann announced she was coming out of the bedroom, sending Larabee scurrying out to join 99 and the Chief. By this time, Max was a nervous wreak. Not only was his pregnant and about to give birth wife on the terrace, but also his two best friends.

Ann asked Max to take the drinks out on the terrace. When he refused, she pulled a gun, saying he was going out on the terrace so she could kill him, like she had all her other ‘husbands.’ 99, the Chief and Larabee had then confronted Ann. The Chief, out of sheer stupidity, put his gun away. Of course, her little friend entered with a gun and got the drop on all of them. Confused about the stability of the terrace, he went out and discovered he missed a screw. Max’s quick question ‘Which one is that?’ doomed the poor man as he foolishly pulled the screw to show Max. When he did, the terrace went crashing to the ground below. Larabee’s lack of common sense in not turning on his tape recorder, nearly doomed the rest of the whole miserable mission. But 99 had come through again, having hidden a large reel to reel tape recorder in the cleaning cart.

As Ann was being taken away, she gave Max a kiss and told him he was the only one of her ‘husbands’ she had really liked and had almost gone through with the honeymoon.

After Ann left with Larabee, Max and 99 got into a huge, nasty fight . . . fueled mostly by Max’s comment, made off the cuff and completely as a joke (in his mind), that Ann could possibly get out of prison early for good behavior. When the Chief tried to intervene, 99 had turned on him, telling him he could have sent any one of a dozen other agents on this particular case, including Hymie. Then she had stormed towards the door. Max caught up with her, grabbing her arm. He apologized profusely, explaining he was only kidding.

99 had looked deep into Max’s eyes and had seen the truth of his statement there. She had given him a kiss on the cheek and said she would see him at home.

The ride back to headquarters by Max and the Chief was what could only be described as a mini World War lll. Max ranted and raved, telling him that under no circumstances would he ever go on another assignment like that. The Chief had ranted back, telling him he would do as he was ordered. Max remained resolute and they spent the rest of the trip back to headquarters in silence. Once there, Max wrote his report, then went to his office, took a long, hot shower and drove home.

That’s where he stood now. He hadn’t been thinking primarily of the Cameron case, but of the mission to the volcanic island, where he had almost lost his beloved 99.

As he watched, 99 stirred and woke up.

“Max? What time is it?”

Max looked at the clock. “3:00.”

“What took you so long?”

“I wanted to get that report out of the way before I came home.”

“Oh. Come to bed, Love, it’s been a long day.”

“It’s been a long week. Are you sure you . . .”

“Come to bed, Max.”

Max, relieved, settled in beside her. He reached over and put a hand on her large, protruding belly. The baby moved immediately, bringing a smile to Max’s face. He leaned in closer, his lips touching her.

“Hey, kid, how’s it going? Daddy’s going to teach you how to play golf.”

99 smiled. “Oh, Max . . .”

Max supported himself on his arm, his chin cupped in his hand. “99, I’m so sorry.”

“She’s a very beautiful woman. And it’s been a long time since we . . .”

Max frowned. “99, did you think I was going to sleep with her?”

99 turned away, unable to answer.

Max grasped her arm, angry at her implication. “99, answer me. Did you think I was going to sleep with Ann?”

99 turned back to him. “No,” She said with a sigh. “I didn’t think you were going to sleep with her. But you sure acted like you were enjoying yourself.”

“I wasn’t. It was an ACT. It was awful. 99, I’d rather be celibate the rest of my life than cheat on you. You remember the island, I thought you were dead. I thought I’d lost you. I still feel those dark, empty feelings sometimes. But all I have to do is look at you, feel that baby move and I know everything’s okay. I love you and I always will.”

99’s eyes filled with tears. She knew deep in her heart how much Max loved her. “Oh, Max, I was so jealous. She’s so slim and beautiful and . . .”

“And you’re not?”

“Yeah, right.”

“You are beautiful.”

“But not slim,” 99 said, baiting him.

“Well, 99, to tell the truth, you have been packing on the pounds lately.”

99 pretended to look offended. “Thanks a lot!” She said. In reality, she wasn’t in the least insulted by the remark.

“Sorry about that, 99,” He shrugged in embarrassment.

“It’s a boy.”

Max looked up. “Huh?” He saw the twinkle in her eye. “Nope. We’re going to have a girl,” He retaliated.

99 had been more surprised than anyone when Max had announced to everyone that they were going have a girl.

“No way. We’re going to have a boy, I know, I can tell.”

“Really? How?”

“Women’s intuition. I’m telling you . . . it’s a boy.”

“A girl.”

“A boy.”

“A girl.”

“A boy.”

“A girl.”

“A boy.”

Max touched her face. “Would you believe . . . one for both of us?”

Jodi Goldfinger