Author's Note: I wanted to put up two chapters in a row because I know I've been remiss in my updating! I promise you all a daily post... and I didn't do it! So, I apologize! I'm just on vacation and I've completely forgotten! Sorry, sorry, sorry*

Max woke up to the sound of the shower. He smiled as he rolled over and glanced at the clock. Juliet had kept him up all night, almost to the point of complete exhaustion. And he didn't think he had anything left in the tank that last time when she'd slid down his body and took him into her mouth. But she was like magic.

He stretched and sat up, some of his muscles complaining as he twisted back and forth. It was still early enough for some breakfast, if she was hungry. And he figured she would be. Grabbing a pair of shorts from a drawer, he pulled them up and sauntered over to the bathroom door.

"Jules, I'm going to go grab some food, you want me to bring up something for you?"

"That would be wonderful. Pancakes? I'll be down, don't worry about dragging it up!"

"Whatever the lady wants," he said with a chuckle. Turning and heading downstairs, Max found himself humming.

Men don't hum. What the fuck is wrong with me? You're in love.

And he was. He was completely besotted. She had him ready to stand on top of the world and shout out his love.

I will tell her as soon as she comes into the kitchen.

With that decided, he set about gathering everything for breakfast. He was almost finished with the second stack when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Looking up, Max's heart lurched in his chest.

She was beautiful. So very beautiful. Dressed in a simple Pens t-shirt and jeans, her hair pulled into a ponytail, light make up on… it was a natural look. And he blurted out the words before he could think of a suave way to say them.

"I love you."

Juliet stopped mid-step into the kitchen. Her eyes went wide, possibly bigger than the pancakes on the plates in front of him. He watched a slow, sad smile spread across her face and his heart stopped beating. She didn't feel it yet, didn't love him back. Starting back up, she came to a stop in front of him and fell into his arms. He wrapped her up in a tight embrace and felt her shaking. Then he felt wetness on his chest.

"Juliet? I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to just come out like that. I should've figured out a better way to tell you. I… tell me what to do?"

"Did you mean it?"

The question was muffled, but he heard it. Tilting her tear-stained face up to his, Max gave her a brilliant smile. He nodded and she sobbed out the words that made him feel like the luckiest man on earth.

"I love you too!"

"Why are you crying then, silly girl?"

"Because… because I am."

He looked down at her but she was glancing sideways, not meeting his eyes.

"Juliet, what's going on?"

"Nothing," she whispered. He didn't believe it for a second.

"Liar. Do not keep it from me, whatever it is. Is this about the phone call yesterday?"

Max watched the expression play across her face. Shock, anger, sadness, denial, fear… he'd heard her side of the conversation though. She'd been all smiles while talking to Mac.

"Juliet… you can't stay here can you?"

"... No..."

"It didn't go as planned yesterday, did it?"

"Max… I-I… I shouldn't be talking about this. I don't want to put you in any danger."

"I knew the danger when I volunteered for this Juliet. Do not hide things from me. Don't treat me like I'm not important."

"You're the most important person to me right now Max. They got away. And Mac thinks my 'secret hideaway' might not be so secret. He used the term 'mole.' So someone on our side is telling them things. I can't risk you getting hurt because of me."

"Let me go with you."

"I don't even know where I'm going. Mac probably won't tell me until we're in the air and halfway there."

"So this is it?"

He didn't want to believe her. He wanted her to smile and cry out 'Gotcha!' and laugh as he chased her back up to the bedroom. But she didn't laugh. Pieces of his heart were breaking off, floating down his chest cavity and landing like lead in his stomach.

"I have to leave. If I stayed and something happened to you, or Marc, or Vero… I wouldn't be able to handle it Max."

"Promise me you'll come back."

"I don't know how long it will take unt…"

"PROMISE ME."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Even when Mac gets me to this new location… it's still not a certainty that I'll be any safer. Not if there's someone telling them what's going on. Until those two are dead, and the leak is plugged… I can't promise I'll make it through every new day that dawns."

"Don't fucking talk like that."

Taking her hand, Max pulled her close and lifted her onto the counter. His hands were on her face, cradling her head as he pressed his lips to hers. She couldn't stand around talking about the possibility of dying. Leaving was bad enough… if he thought about someone killing her, her life coming to an end… it tore him up.

As if sensing the turmoil within him, Juliet pulled back and tore her shirt over her head. He blazed a trail of kisses over her collarbone, dipping down and nipping at the flesh that was hidden by her bra. He heard her gasp and he stepped between her legs, placing her hand over his crotch and pressing himself into her palm. Her fingers wrapped around him and he groaned as he sucked one satin-covered nipple into his mouth.

Juliet cried out and let him go long enough to push at the waistband of his shorts. He felt them slide down his legs and he kicked them away. His fingers were ripping open her jeans at the same time and he pulled her off the counter, spinning her around as he shoved the denim and her panties down to her knees.

"Max, let me get them off and…"

He didn't let her finish her sentence. With one hand he pulled her hips out. He growled at her to bend over and then he was back inside her tightness.

This isn't fair. I've just found her. I love her. She loves me. Why is she being taken away from me?

Since he knew she didn't have the answer to any of the thoughts in his head, Max punished her with each thrust. All the hurt and anger he was feeling came out each time he shoved his hips against her ass. She was crying out, screaming his name, and he felt her free-flowing juices coat him as she came quickly from the rough pace he set. Staying deep within her, Max leaned in close, nipping at her ear.

"I love it when you scream my name."

She gasped and he rolled his hips, wringing out a whimper from her. Moving her from the counter, Max pulled himself from her depths and walked over to one of the dining chairs. He sat down and grabbed her hand.

"Ride me."

He groaned as Juliet slid down over him, encasing his entire length in heat. His fingers found her hips and he guided her at a slow pace. Her breasts were bouncing in front of him, her head thrown back in pleasure. He pulled her close, her tits now pressed against his chest. She bit her lip as he kept the steady pace.

"Max… please…"

"No, you'll come with me this time."

"Oh god… Max!"

The responsiveness… it was mind-blowing to him that she got so much pleasure out of their time together. He couldn't let her go, refused to believe that this was how it had to be. Burying his face in her neck, he felt tears threatening to escape.

"Do not leave me Mon Coeur… please…"

His voice broke and he didn't care. He probably sounded weak, but he literally felt his heart seizing with each beat, cracking down the middle. Juliet cupped his face in her hands and gave him a sweet yet sad kiss, her lips moving gently over his.

"I'm so sorry Maxime. This is how it has to be though."

She tightened around his shaft and Max cried out in heartbreak and pleasure. He moved one hand, flicking her clit with his thumb as he listened to her shaky voice.

"Make me forget it all Max. Make it all go away baby."

Lifting his hips, Max drilled into her again and again. She told him when she was close, as if he couldn't tell already. They came together and he felt a tear slide down his cheek as she leaned into him and cried into his neck.

Forty minutes later, the pancakes forgotten, he held Juliet next to him in bed. She promised that Mac would keep him updated any chance he could… that he could keep the satellite phone for secure communications. And as soon as she could, she'd come back to him.

They were both fast asleep when the alarm went off. Just enough time to grab a shower and drive her to the restaurant. He refused to let her take a cab. They jumped under the spray together and then it was time to go.

He knew the place that they were meeting at and it had an outside patio that would be nice for this lunch meeting. Juliet didn't take any of her things with her. Just her purse. She told him that it wouldn't do to have luggage with her for a simple 'lunch date' and that she'd end up getting new clothes when they reached wherever it was that they were going.

Max tried one more time, while in the car, to get her to change her mind. He'd get a gun, let her teach him to shoot, protect her. Sure, he was begging. He didn't care.

"Drop me off at this corner. The restaurant is right across the street. I'll be careful, I'll be back… Max… I promise you, I'll be back."

If it hadn't been for the word promise, he probably would've tied her to the passenger seat. But he knew, deep down, he had to let her go. For her own safety, and for his.

"And Mac is going to keep me updated? You swear?"

"He'll be like an annoying older brother."

"I already have two of those, what's one more."

Juliet smiled, slightly, and then she gave him a long, loving kiss. When she pulled away, there were tears in her eyes.

"Leave the light on for me Blue Eyes. I'll be back in no time."

"Stay safe mon amor. Come home to me. If it's in the fall, come to Pittsburgh… meet me there."

She nodded her head and wiped at her eyes. Then, probably before she could change her mind, she hopped out of the car and slammed the door shut. He watched her walk through the crosswalk, sunglasses over her eyes, looking like she didn't have a care in the world. He knew she was taking in every inch of her surroundings, making sure there wasn't a dangerous situation. He watched her sit at a table with a man. It had to be Mac, but he didn't actually know what the man looked like. They talked for a couple minutes and then they both stood up and talked to the waiter before stepping into the building.

Restroom break or going inside from the heat. I need to leave before I make a fool out of myself.

Pulling back out onto the street Max drove by the bistro. He was almost a block away when it hit him that he hadn't told her again that he loved her. He couldn't go back now, not unless he was extremely stealthy. Pulling off the street, he was debating whether or not to get out and figure out how to see her when the ground shook. Focusing his gaze in the rearview mirror, he saw the explosion, the fire and smoke and debris.

No… no, no, no, no, NO!

People were running down the sidewalks and he leapt out of the car and ran toward the insanity. There were people screaming and crying, he could hear sirens already in the distance. He stopped at the rubble where the patio area had been. He could see no one. No bodies, no body parts… everything and everyone was gone.

How could they have known where she was going to be?

Max stayed there, beside the remains of the building, tears streaming down his face as he cried for the loss of the woman who'd come to mean so much to him. He screamed out in pain and anger, looking up towards the heavens. And in his fit of rage… he didn't see the black SUV the pulled out of the alley. Nor the woman who had her hands plastered to the windows, sobbing as she silently begged him to forgive her someday.

Author's Note: I'm sorry... She's not dead though, you saw that part, right? NOT DEAD!