A/N: This is a story that I originally started about 7 years ago. It has lounged on my hard drive, and I finally decided that I should post it. I'll try to work on it regularly. I'm hoping with the release of the new GS movie and my acquisition of GS on DVD, it'll spark my creative appetite again for this wonderful genre.

Disclaimer: Get Smart and all characters associated with this series are not my creations. I am merely playing in Mel Brooks' and Buck Henry's sandbox.

Warehouse Woes

Chapter 1 – Many a New Day

It was a good day. Maxwell Smart, secret Agent 86 for CONTROL, had managed to sleep until 9 a.m., no small feat considering that he was on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Like time, evil waited for no man and one never when or where KAOS would strike. But this morning, there was no evil waiting for him. Instead, he had awakened to the smell of coffee and bacon. It was one of the things he had discovered he really enjoyed about being married – having someone who knew how to cook bacon without burning it to a crisp. He had been a bachelor for many years so inevitably, he'd learned how to cook. But, he had never been able to master the art of cooking bacon. Of course, he mused, cooking wasn't the only thing he enjoyed about being married. There was a certain blue-eyed, 5'9", brunette that constituted 99.9 percent of his happiness. He grinned. Yes, the bacon was merely a perk.

After donning his favorite robe, a deep maroon, cotton robe with the number 86 embroidered in gold on the left pocket (actually it was 99's favorite), he successfully navigated the staircase without falling down – another great feat in itself. He usually managed to make it down to the bottom one way or another, but it was always nice not to do it by paying homage to the floor.

It was Tuesday morning, Max realized as he made his way to the kitchen. Today was the day the Chief was going to brief him and 99 on their new assignment. It was almost a given that he and 99 would work together. Rarely did they ever work alone. Now and then a case would require them to go their separate ways, but they had always been a team – five years, in fact, before they decided to become one in every sense of the word. Max wondered what the Chief had in store for them. A mad scientist? Protecting an ambassador? Perhaps it'd be to foil a plot to take over the world. Those were his favorite kinds of missions.

"No matter," he mused aloud, pushing open the kitchen door. "We always come out on top."

"Who comes out on top, love?" Agent 99, Mrs. Maxwell Smart, asked, turning from her place at the stove.

"We do, sweetheart," he replied, crossing over to where she stood. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. "Good morning."

"To you, too. Sleep well?" She smiled and returned to the bacon.

"Remarkably well. Someone let me sleep in late."

99 laughed and placed an affectionate kiss on his cheek. "You looked so tired, and I didn't have the heart to wake you. Come on. Breakfast's ready."

Max followed her into the dining area, making sure to sit close to the bacon, snagging a piece as 99 sat down next to him.

"So, what do you think out new case is going to be?" 99 asked as she reached for the jelly, pretending not to notice Max hoarding the bacon.

"I haven't the slightest idea, 99. The Chief explained it to me once, and then he asked me if I had any questions. When I told him I did, our call was suddenly disconnected." Max shrugged and stuffed yet another piece of bacon in his mouth.

"What exactly did you ask him, Max?" 99 had a growing suspicion that she knew exactly what Max had asked their Chief.

"Well, he asked what part I didn't understand, so I told him – everything after 'this is going to be a very difficult assignment.'" Max shook his head. "That's been happening a lot, come to think of it." He pursed his lips. "I wonder if I should talk to the Chief about it."

99 brought a napkin to her lips to hide her grin and waved her hand, dismissing his observation. "I don't think that's necessary, Max. I'm sure the Chief is already on it."

He perked up. "You think so?"

The napkin came up again. "Yes, dear. I'm sure his not talking to you weighs prominently on his mind."