The Chief's eyes grew wide, "What?! If this is some sort of
joke ..."
"Chief, it's no joke. Christy Mayfield is pregnant with my child," Max said with his head hung.
Max took a few minutes, and explained the whole sorted mess to the Chief. The Chief sat back in his chair and shook his head, "Max, this whole thing sounds so unreal. I don't know what to say."
"Right now, say I can get involved with the rescue mission," Max pleaded.
The Chief gave Max an apprehensive look, "Given the circumstances, of course, I'll allow you to join the rescue team. But Max, I can't make you any promises. And, I won't lie to you. You know what KAOS is capable of. Most couriers that are captured never make it back. You might be walking into a very unpleasant situation if we find her."
"I'll take that chance to save my child."
"Just prepare yourself, in case she's ..."
Max nodded to stop the Chief from saying what he didn't want to hear.
"I'll have the team track back from the time she was captured, and we should know more by the morning. You should go home now and let 99 know what's happening."
Max left to go home. He wondered why Christy would take such a dangerous job, knowing that it could put her and the baby at risk. Now he had to deal with 99, telling her what happened. And worse, being part of a very dangerous rescue attempt. The direct approach was best. No more lies. 99 would just have to accept him doing this.
Max burst into the house shouting, "99? 99, WHERE ARE YOU?"
Max rushed to the kitchen, then to the laundry room, and back out to the living room. "99!" Max yelled.
99 came out from the bedroom upstairs. "What is it, Max? What's all the commotion?"
"99, sit down," Max instructed.
99 could see by his _expression that it had something to do with this baby matter.
"99, for the last five months, our lives have been turned upside down. You know the situation, and we can't turn our back on this and think it will go away. Christy Mayfield is having a child that's part of me."
99 interrupted him, "Max, get to the point. Is she back? Is she trying to convince you to be with her? Because if she is, and you want her, then I won't stop you ..."
Max grabbed 99, and pulled her close to him, "Damn it, 99, I don't love her! I love you. I don't want anyone else in my life but you." He looked deeply into her eyes, "I made a mistake and because of it my life has been a living Hell. Yes, there is a child that is going to be brought into this world that is a part of me. I can't change that fact, so either accept it, or there is no point of us going on together."
Max released her. 99 sat and gave him her utmost attention.
"Now I need to tell you something that just developed. Christy volunteered for courier service. She was bringing important information to the U.S. that was going to be used to help nail a KAOS kingpin, and now KAOS has captured her. The rescue team is tracking where they might be holding her." Max hesitated, then continued, "I'm going to be part of the team that goes in to get her out. I don't even know if she's alive, but I can't turn my back on this. Not when my child is at stake."
A panic came over 99, "Max, you could be walking into a trap. If something should go wrong ... I could lose you, and your children would be without a father. Is that what you want?"
"I want what's right. I need to give my unborn child a chance. I know it's dangerous and there is a chance ... that she's already dead, but if I didn't at least try to help, I couldn't live with myself, knowing I might have helped save them."
99 knew Max would go whether she agreed or not. She stood tall and spoke calmly.
"Alright, Max. I can't fight you on this. As much as I hate the idea of you walking into what could be a trap, you need to do this for your own conscience. I love you too much to stop you with threats and ultimatums. If you get her out alive, then we'll deal with it at that time."
99 went over to Max and hugged him. Max grabbed her and held on. "Max, you need to come back to me."
"You're the reason I'm going to make it through."
The next morning, Max got a call that the rescue team found the location where Christy was being held. The mission was to go off at 11:00pm.
Precisely at 11pm, the attack was swift and done with expert timing. The three KAOS agents that were assigned to get information from Christy were quickly subdued. Max searched every room and came to one that was locked, but the door was too thick for him to break.
"Bring me one of those KAOS agents," Max asked.
They hauled in one of the agents, and shoved him over to Max. "What's in this room?" he questioned.
"Supplies," the agent replied in a snide tone.
"Supplies, my ass! Open it!" Max demanded.
"I don't have the key," the agent quipped.
Max was in no mood to hear that answer. Grabbing the agent, he slammed him against the door, "You either open it with a key, or I'll open it with your head."
"Alright, alright," the agent caved in. The agent reached into his pocket, and retrieved a key. Max grabbed it from his hand and quickly opened the door. The room was dark but Max could make out a figure in the corner. Finding a light, he switched it on to discover Christy, tied to a chair, nearly dead. He rushed over to her and untied her as she slumped into his arms. He carefully laid her down on the floor, her head resting on Max's lap.
"I ... knew ... you'd come for me," Christy whispered weakly.
He turned to one of the other agents and shouted, "Get the doctor, and hurry!" Turning back to her, he pushed the sweat-matted hair from her face. "You'll be ok. Stay still. We're getting a doctor."
Christy was in bad shape. For the past few days, the KAOS agents worked her over, trying to get information. Her body was battered and bruised. He could see dried blood down her inner thighs, and knew it was more serious than what he wanted to believe.
Christy's breathing became shallower, as she struggled to speak, "Max ... it's too late."
"It's not too late. You'll be ok, and the baby will be ..."
"The baby is dead," Christy said point-blank.
"You don't know that for sure," Max reasoned.
"They ... took the baby from me. It's dead."
Max gritted his teeth, not wanting to believe what she'd just told him. But, by the looks of her condition, he could see it was probably true. He closed his eyes.
Then, looking up, he shouted, "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME!? First you took 99's baby, now you've let them take this baby! What kind of god are you, to allow such a brutal thing to happen? DAMN YOU! HOW CAN YOU BE SO CRUEL!?" Max bowed his head, as the tears streamed down his face. "This was my child ... my child ..."
Christy used all her strength, and grabbed his arm to pull him to her. "Max, ... please listen to me."
Max cradled her head, and tried to comfort her pain.
"The baby was not ..." Christy paused, afraid to continue. "It never was ..."
Max looked confused at what she was trying to say.
"You're not the father of the baby."
Max figured that Christy was delusional from the loss of blood, and didn't know what she was saying.
"Of course, it was my baby. That night, the timing ... of course it was mine."
"No, it's not," Christy repeated.
Max's head was spinning with this shocking confession.
"I got involved with another man after I left, and I got pregnant. At first, I thought it might be yours, but I needed to be sure. So, I had a blood test. But, it tested positive with the man I was with. I told him it wasn't his. That's when I came back to you, hoping that if you thought it was your child, you'd want me back. I never counted on your wife being pregnant, too. When she lost her baby, I wanted another chance. And the only way to come back was to take this mission. I didn't count on this happening. I'm the one He's punishing, not you. I'm sorry, Max. Please forgive me. I only wanted to love you." A wave of pain hit her body, as she grabbed Max's hand, "Please don't let go..."
He gathered her close to him, "I won't." She smiled weakly, feeling his warm body around her. Her smile faded as she felt something wrong. She felt darkness wrapping itself around her. Her breathing decreased and her eyes rolled back in her head. Max felt her hand go limp. He held her close, "No, no, not yet. Come on, hang in there, Christy. Don't give up." He began to give her mouth to mouth. As hard as he tried to give her life, she was gone. Max lifted up, knowing his attempts to revive her were futile. He looked down at her. God, she was beautiful. So young and full of life. But now death had taken her. A death that shouldn't have come so soon. His finger lightly traced her cheek, then over her lips. Bending over her, Max kissed her one last time.
The doctor arrived with a stretcher and came over to Christy. Max looked up, and just slowly shook his head. The anger rose within Max, as he got up and walked straight into the room where the three KAOS agents were being held. Max motioned to the guard to leave, leaving him alone with all three. Max locked the door, and stood in front of them, each tied to a chair. "Who did it?" growled Max.
All three agents looked at each other, and said nothing. Max pulled his gun and went behind the first agent, and placed the barrel against the back of his head.
The first agent cowered, "I didn't touch her."
"I don't believe you!" Max pulled the trigger, blowing a hole in the back of the agent's head. He went to the next agent.
With the gun to the back of his head, the agent stiffened. "We were under orders to get information by any means."
"Who gave the order?" Max asked sternly.
The second agent looked over to the third man. A blank look from the third agent quickly made the man accept his fate.
"Go to hell," said the second agent.
"After you," Max calmly replied, as he pulled the trigger, killing the second agent. The third agent was cool and calm as Max placed the barrel of his gun against the back of his head.
"You gave the order, didn't you?" Max asked, in a cold, calculated tone.
"Yes," he proudly exclaimed. "You want details?"
"Just shut up."
The agent disregarded Max's request. "Those two held her down. The bitch struggled quite a bit ..."
"That's enough! Just shut up."
Max didn't want to hear anymore, but the agent continued, just for spite.
"I got over her, spread her legs open and tied them apart, for easier access ..."
Max's anger was raging, "You bastard, I said SHUT UP!"
The agent got louder and more descriptive, "I put my hand up into her and pulled ..."
Before the agent could say any more, Max pulled the trigger and silenced him.
The picture in his mind of what was being described made Max sick to his stomach. After a few moments, Max opened the door. Standing by were the CONTROL agents. Not one word was spoken. Max looked at each one. "They all committed suicide."
The agents nodded in agreement.
Max took his time getting home that night. He needed time to sort everything out. Being an agent, he'd seen it all. But nothing affected him as bad as this. It was going to be a long time before he could erase the memory of Christy, if ever. He thought back to the first time he met her. There was something about Christy that made him feel alive. He never knew whether it was her smile, the sparkle in her eyes, her beautiful, rich laugh, or even, the thought that he knew she loved him. Thank god he had 99. He needed her now more than ever. He knew this whole ordeal was tough on her, but she was strong, and could see it though. He would need her help now, more than ever, to get on with his life.
Max walked into the house, and 99 jumped up and ran to him, "Max, I'm glad you're safe!"
"I'm fine. But Christy ...," Max choked.
"I know, the Chief called me as soon as he heard. I'm so sorry, Max."
99 was sorry. Sorry for her husband, and what he'd been put through, the past few months.
"I also know that the baby was not yours," 99 said, reassuringly.
Max nodded sadly, but didn't want to talk about it.
"I just want to go to bed, 99. Let's talk in the morning."
99 held Max most of the night, needing to feel his warm, life-filled body. Over the next couple of weeks, the healing process between Max and 99 was strong. They were good for each other, and would see it through. The blood test Christy took was sent to Max, just to confirm that the child was not his.
It had been a long week, as 99 got into bed and slipped next to Max. He placed his arm snuggly around her, holding her close.
"99, I want to talk to you about something."
"Yes, Max?"
"I made an appointment tomorrow with Dr. Kramer."
99 suddenly sat up, "What's wrong, Max?"
"No, no, 99. I'm ok. It's just that ...," Max hesitated.
"Just what?"
"Well, I'm going to talk to him about having ... a vasectomy."
"Oh," 99 said, surprised.
"We still have an active sex life, and why take chances? This way, we're sure ... well ... no surprises."
"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" 99 questioned.
"We're not having any more kids, right?"
99 didn't answer him. Max looked down at her. "Right?" he repeated again. "Max, I have to confess. I've been thinking about ... trying again."
This news made Max sit up. "99, I thought ..."
"I know, especially the way I've been acting lately. But ever since I lost the baby, I felt this void inside."
"But what if you have another miscarriage? It's not safe."
"I want to take that chance. And if something should happen this time, then it was never meant to be."
99 could see Max's face light up as he reached in and hugged her tightly.
"When do you want to start trying again?"
"I'll send the kids over to my mom's this weekend, and we can have the whole house to ourselves."
Max thought, then said, "No."
"No?"
"Room 23," Max smiled with a far-off look on his face.
99 sat puzzled, "Room ..." A sudden memory hit her, "... 23!"
99 now got the picture and smiled.
"That little hideaway hotel we stayed at, the night after we were married," Max explained.
"Oh yeah! We didn't leave the room for two days!" 99 said proudly.
"Let's go back. Spend the weekend there," Max suggested.
99 nodded as she passionately kissed her husband.
"Goodnight, 99."
"Goodnight, Max."
Max leaned over and turned off the light, with 99 still snuggled under his arm.
A moment went by when Max commented in the dark, "I wonder if they got a new bed in that room. You wrecked the one that was in there."
"I wrecked it ...?"
The End (finally)
"Chief, it's no joke. Christy Mayfield is pregnant with my child," Max said with his head hung.
Max took a few minutes, and explained the whole sorted mess to the Chief. The Chief sat back in his chair and shook his head, "Max, this whole thing sounds so unreal. I don't know what to say."
"Right now, say I can get involved with the rescue mission," Max pleaded.
The Chief gave Max an apprehensive look, "Given the circumstances, of course, I'll allow you to join the rescue team. But Max, I can't make you any promises. And, I won't lie to you. You know what KAOS is capable of. Most couriers that are captured never make it back. You might be walking into a very unpleasant situation if we find her."
"I'll take that chance to save my child."
"Just prepare yourself, in case she's ..."
Max nodded to stop the Chief from saying what he didn't want to hear.
"I'll have the team track back from the time she was captured, and we should know more by the morning. You should go home now and let 99 know what's happening."
Max left to go home. He wondered why Christy would take such a dangerous job, knowing that it could put her and the baby at risk. Now he had to deal with 99, telling her what happened. And worse, being part of a very dangerous rescue attempt. The direct approach was best. No more lies. 99 would just have to accept him doing this.
Max burst into the house shouting, "99? 99, WHERE ARE YOU?"
Max rushed to the kitchen, then to the laundry room, and back out to the living room. "99!" Max yelled.
99 came out from the bedroom upstairs. "What is it, Max? What's all the commotion?"
"99, sit down," Max instructed.
99 could see by his _expression that it had something to do with this baby matter.
"99, for the last five months, our lives have been turned upside down. You know the situation, and we can't turn our back on this and think it will go away. Christy Mayfield is having a child that's part of me."
99 interrupted him, "Max, get to the point. Is she back? Is she trying to convince you to be with her? Because if she is, and you want her, then I won't stop you ..."
Max grabbed 99, and pulled her close to him, "Damn it, 99, I don't love her! I love you. I don't want anyone else in my life but you." He looked deeply into her eyes, "I made a mistake and because of it my life has been a living Hell. Yes, there is a child that is going to be brought into this world that is a part of me. I can't change that fact, so either accept it, or there is no point of us going on together."
Max released her. 99 sat and gave him her utmost attention.
"Now I need to tell you something that just developed. Christy volunteered for courier service. She was bringing important information to the U.S. that was going to be used to help nail a KAOS kingpin, and now KAOS has captured her. The rescue team is tracking where they might be holding her." Max hesitated, then continued, "I'm going to be part of the team that goes in to get her out. I don't even know if she's alive, but I can't turn my back on this. Not when my child is at stake."
A panic came over 99, "Max, you could be walking into a trap. If something should go wrong ... I could lose you, and your children would be without a father. Is that what you want?"
"I want what's right. I need to give my unborn child a chance. I know it's dangerous and there is a chance ... that she's already dead, but if I didn't at least try to help, I couldn't live with myself, knowing I might have helped save them."
99 knew Max would go whether she agreed or not. She stood tall and spoke calmly.
"Alright, Max. I can't fight you on this. As much as I hate the idea of you walking into what could be a trap, you need to do this for your own conscience. I love you too much to stop you with threats and ultimatums. If you get her out alive, then we'll deal with it at that time."
99 went over to Max and hugged him. Max grabbed her and held on. "Max, you need to come back to me."
"You're the reason I'm going to make it through."
The next morning, Max got a call that the rescue team found the location where Christy was being held. The mission was to go off at 11:00pm.
Precisely at 11pm, the attack was swift and done with expert timing. The three KAOS agents that were assigned to get information from Christy were quickly subdued. Max searched every room and came to one that was locked, but the door was too thick for him to break.
"Bring me one of those KAOS agents," Max asked.
They hauled in one of the agents, and shoved him over to Max. "What's in this room?" he questioned.
"Supplies," the agent replied in a snide tone.
"Supplies, my ass! Open it!" Max demanded.
"I don't have the key," the agent quipped.
Max was in no mood to hear that answer. Grabbing the agent, he slammed him against the door, "You either open it with a key, or I'll open it with your head."
"Alright, alright," the agent caved in. The agent reached into his pocket, and retrieved a key. Max grabbed it from his hand and quickly opened the door. The room was dark but Max could make out a figure in the corner. Finding a light, he switched it on to discover Christy, tied to a chair, nearly dead. He rushed over to her and untied her as she slumped into his arms. He carefully laid her down on the floor, her head resting on Max's lap.
"I ... knew ... you'd come for me," Christy whispered weakly.
He turned to one of the other agents and shouted, "Get the doctor, and hurry!" Turning back to her, he pushed the sweat-matted hair from her face. "You'll be ok. Stay still. We're getting a doctor."
Christy was in bad shape. For the past few days, the KAOS agents worked her over, trying to get information. Her body was battered and bruised. He could see dried blood down her inner thighs, and knew it was more serious than what he wanted to believe.
Christy's breathing became shallower, as she struggled to speak, "Max ... it's too late."
"It's not too late. You'll be ok, and the baby will be ..."
"The baby is dead," Christy said point-blank.
"You don't know that for sure," Max reasoned.
"They ... took the baby from me. It's dead."
Max gritted his teeth, not wanting to believe what she'd just told him. But, by the looks of her condition, he could see it was probably true. He closed his eyes.
Then, looking up, he shouted, "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME!? First you took 99's baby, now you've let them take this baby! What kind of god are you, to allow such a brutal thing to happen? DAMN YOU! HOW CAN YOU BE SO CRUEL!?" Max bowed his head, as the tears streamed down his face. "This was my child ... my child ..."
Christy used all her strength, and grabbed his arm to pull him to her. "Max, ... please listen to me."
Max cradled her head, and tried to comfort her pain.
"The baby was not ..." Christy paused, afraid to continue. "It never was ..."
Max looked confused at what she was trying to say.
"You're not the father of the baby."
Max figured that Christy was delusional from the loss of blood, and didn't know what she was saying.
"Of course, it was my baby. That night, the timing ... of course it was mine."
"No, it's not," Christy repeated.
Max's head was spinning with this shocking confession.
"I got involved with another man after I left, and I got pregnant. At first, I thought it might be yours, but I needed to be sure. So, I had a blood test. But, it tested positive with the man I was with. I told him it wasn't his. That's when I came back to you, hoping that if you thought it was your child, you'd want me back. I never counted on your wife being pregnant, too. When she lost her baby, I wanted another chance. And the only way to come back was to take this mission. I didn't count on this happening. I'm the one He's punishing, not you. I'm sorry, Max. Please forgive me. I only wanted to love you." A wave of pain hit her body, as she grabbed Max's hand, "Please don't let go..."
He gathered her close to him, "I won't." She smiled weakly, feeling his warm body around her. Her smile faded as she felt something wrong. She felt darkness wrapping itself around her. Her breathing decreased and her eyes rolled back in her head. Max felt her hand go limp. He held her close, "No, no, not yet. Come on, hang in there, Christy. Don't give up." He began to give her mouth to mouth. As hard as he tried to give her life, she was gone. Max lifted up, knowing his attempts to revive her were futile. He looked down at her. God, she was beautiful. So young and full of life. But now death had taken her. A death that shouldn't have come so soon. His finger lightly traced her cheek, then over her lips. Bending over her, Max kissed her one last time.
The doctor arrived with a stretcher and came over to Christy. Max looked up, and just slowly shook his head. The anger rose within Max, as he got up and walked straight into the room where the three KAOS agents were being held. Max motioned to the guard to leave, leaving him alone with all three. Max locked the door, and stood in front of them, each tied to a chair. "Who did it?" growled Max.
All three agents looked at each other, and said nothing. Max pulled his gun and went behind the first agent, and placed the barrel against the back of his head.
The first agent cowered, "I didn't touch her."
"I don't believe you!" Max pulled the trigger, blowing a hole in the back of the agent's head. He went to the next agent.
With the gun to the back of his head, the agent stiffened. "We were under orders to get information by any means."
"Who gave the order?" Max asked sternly.
The second agent looked over to the third man. A blank look from the third agent quickly made the man accept his fate.
"Go to hell," said the second agent.
"After you," Max calmly replied, as he pulled the trigger, killing the second agent. The third agent was cool and calm as Max placed the barrel of his gun against the back of his head.
"You gave the order, didn't you?" Max asked, in a cold, calculated tone.
"Yes," he proudly exclaimed. "You want details?"
"Just shut up."
The agent disregarded Max's request. "Those two held her down. The bitch struggled quite a bit ..."
"That's enough! Just shut up."
Max didn't want to hear anymore, but the agent continued, just for spite.
"I got over her, spread her legs open and tied them apart, for easier access ..."
Max's anger was raging, "You bastard, I said SHUT UP!"
The agent got louder and more descriptive, "I put my hand up into her and pulled ..."
Before the agent could say any more, Max pulled the trigger and silenced him.
The picture in his mind of what was being described made Max sick to his stomach. After a few moments, Max opened the door. Standing by were the CONTROL agents. Not one word was spoken. Max looked at each one. "They all committed suicide."
The agents nodded in agreement.
Max took his time getting home that night. He needed time to sort everything out. Being an agent, he'd seen it all. But nothing affected him as bad as this. It was going to be a long time before he could erase the memory of Christy, if ever. He thought back to the first time he met her. There was something about Christy that made him feel alive. He never knew whether it was her smile, the sparkle in her eyes, her beautiful, rich laugh, or even, the thought that he knew she loved him. Thank god he had 99. He needed her now more than ever. He knew this whole ordeal was tough on her, but she was strong, and could see it though. He would need her help now, more than ever, to get on with his life.
Max walked into the house, and 99 jumped up and ran to him, "Max, I'm glad you're safe!"
"I'm fine. But Christy ...," Max choked.
"I know, the Chief called me as soon as he heard. I'm so sorry, Max."
99 was sorry. Sorry for her husband, and what he'd been put through, the past few months.
"I also know that the baby was not yours," 99 said, reassuringly.
Max nodded sadly, but didn't want to talk about it.
"I just want to go to bed, 99. Let's talk in the morning."
99 held Max most of the night, needing to feel his warm, life-filled body. Over the next couple of weeks, the healing process between Max and 99 was strong. They were good for each other, and would see it through. The blood test Christy took was sent to Max, just to confirm that the child was not his.
It had been a long week, as 99 got into bed and slipped next to Max. He placed his arm snuggly around her, holding her close.
"99, I want to talk to you about something."
"Yes, Max?"
"I made an appointment tomorrow with Dr. Kramer."
99 suddenly sat up, "What's wrong, Max?"
"No, no, 99. I'm ok. It's just that ...," Max hesitated.
"Just what?"
"Well, I'm going to talk to him about having ... a vasectomy."
"Oh," 99 said, surprised.
"We still have an active sex life, and why take chances? This way, we're sure ... well ... no surprises."
"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" 99 questioned.
"We're not having any more kids, right?"
99 didn't answer him. Max looked down at her. "Right?" he repeated again. "Max, I have to confess. I've been thinking about ... trying again."
This news made Max sit up. "99, I thought ..."
"I know, especially the way I've been acting lately. But ever since I lost the baby, I felt this void inside."
"But what if you have another miscarriage? It's not safe."
"I want to take that chance. And if something should happen this time, then it was never meant to be."
99 could see Max's face light up as he reached in and hugged her tightly.
"When do you want to start trying again?"
"I'll send the kids over to my mom's this weekend, and we can have the whole house to ourselves."
Max thought, then said, "No."
"No?"
"Room 23," Max smiled with a far-off look on his face.
99 sat puzzled, "Room ..." A sudden memory hit her, "... 23!"
99 now got the picture and smiled.
"That little hideaway hotel we stayed at, the night after we were married," Max explained.
"Oh yeah! We didn't leave the room for two days!" 99 said proudly.
"Let's go back. Spend the weekend there," Max suggested.
99 nodded as she passionately kissed her husband.
"Goodnight, 99."
"Goodnight, Max."
Max leaned over and turned off the light, with 99 still snuggled under his arm.
A moment went by when Max commented in the dark, "I wonder if they got a new bed in that room. You wrecked the one that was in there."
"I wrecked it ...?"
The End (finally)