The next morning the wooden door of the bedroom opened slowly so as not to disturb the resting patient. Two pale, slender hands closed the door as softly as they had opened it. Her feet barely made any sound as she crossed the floor to stand next to the bed.

Max sensed a presence and woke with a start. Katrina stopped just short of the bed, "Just me." Katrina said holding a cup of broth. "How are you feeling this morning?"

Max shifted in bed, "Better without that bullet in me but a little stiff and I still have a headache"

"Well.You look much better." She held the cup in front of him, "Here drink this."

Max looked into the cup and smelled it, not sure whether or not to take a taste.

"I assure you it's not poison." Katrina stated.

Max was embarrassed by his actions and shyly nodded.

"We need to get you on your feet so we can find out just who you are." Katrina sat at the edge of the bed. "Can you remember anything at all?"

The confidence in his eyes had faded away and was now being replaced by confusion once again.

Max shook his head, " Its all a blank. When you found me, did I have any ID in my pockets?"

"No, nothing. You know, I'm going to have to give you a name till you can remember your real one. Let's see." Katrina studied Max's face, checking every detail. "You look like. an Eric to me."

"Eric?" Max thought about the sound of it, "Eric, sounds ok to me"

Max took a sip from the cup. "Mmmmm. Its good." Max began to think, " From your accent, my guess is that I'm in Germany somewhere? "

"Yes, just outside Hanover in the Harz Mountains."

Max shook his head, "I must have come here for some reason. I can't imagine that I live in this country. I wonder if I'm on some sort of job or vacation."

"Maybe. you were mugged or kidnapped? Katrina said hoping to touch a memory.

Max's face dropped, "Or maybe I'm a criminal and I was trying to escape from the law, that could be why I was shot" he replied sadly.

Katrina held his hand, "No, you don't have the eyes of a criminal. You are a good man, I can tell." She tucked the blanket up around him to keep him warm, "You rest now and I'll check on you later"

Max settled back and wondered if his memory would ever return.. Something inside of him sensed he was in Germany for a reason, an important one. He began to wonder about his life. Was he married or did he have a girlfriend? Was he a loner or on the run from the law. He seemed to agree with Katrina, he didn't feel like the criminal type. At this point, he didn't feel like any type. Max stared at the ceiling, a thousand questions flooding his mind. The one thing he did know, he felt safe being here with Katrina. She was kind and understanding not to mention beautiful. Max couldn't help but feel something towards her for all she's done for him but until he could find out his past it was best for him not to get involved.

*************************************************** Later that evening, 99 and the Chief were sitting in the lobby of the hotel. The Chief took a sip of his coffee then set the cup down "99, you realize were going to have to get back to Washington in a couple days."

99 lowered her head and stared into her cup. " I know Chief" she said solemnly.

The desk clerk walked over to the Chief; "There is a call for you sir. You can take it over there" pointing to one of the many phones at the desk.

This was the moment they had waited for. It was the call 99 didn't want the Chief to take. The Chief picked up the phone and purposely keep his back turned away from 99. It wasn't long before the Chief came back to the lounge; the look on his face was one of anguish.

The Chief looked down into 99's mournful eyes; the trace of tears still evident. He gently placed his hand on 99's shoulder. She looked down at the floor but the Chief raised her chin so he could talk to her. "They located the plane," he said softly, "About 100 miles from Hamburg. It crashed in some rough and mountainous terrain in the Harz Mountains. The search party hasn't reached the plane yet due to nightfall. They will pick us up in the morning and drive us to the site. I'm sorry 99, It doesn't look good."

99's chin quivered, she shook her head, not wanting to believe all hope was lost for her husband. The Chief sat next to her and put her hand in his to keep it from shaking, " Are you sure you want to do this?"

99 regained her composure, her body tense and stiff, wiping the tears from her eyes, "No, but if Max didn't survive and this is what it takes for some sort of closure then yes, I have to."

****************************************************

Katrina knocked softly on the door then poked her head in, she could see Max's thoughts were far away as he stared out the window.

"Eric?"

Max looked over to see Katrina with a tray of food.

"Oh, is it time for dinner already?"

"Yes, what we're you thinking about?" she said as she placed the tray on his lap.

Max checked out what was on his plate, "Trying to recall any memory in my past. But its like I never existed before I woke up. You.ah. mentioned you were married." Max inquired as his fork pushed around the carrots on his plate.

"Yes, I was. My husband passed away last year."

"Oh, I'm.sorry"

Katrina nodded to acknowledge his empathy.

"How do you manage this farm by yourself."

"It's hard work but I do alright and when the harvest is ready I hire help from the village."

Katrina looked down at Max's plate with the uneaten carrots, "Something wrong with the carrots?"

Max gave a disconcerting look at the carrots, "Something in my brain is telling me I never liked them."

" Well. that's a start," she said taking his plate.

The evening was warm and the bedroom where Max was convalescing was a bit stuffy. He was about to ask Katrina to open a window when she entered with a large porcelain bowl.

"What's that for?" Max wondered.

Setting the bowl along side the bed, Katrina reached in and pulled up a sponge, wringing out the water.

"It's for your sponge bath" she said simply.

"Oh, my sponge bath" Max said very nonchalantly, then his eyes grew wide. "My sponge bath?" Suddenly realizing what was about to happen, he started to get up.

"Oh no you don't," she said sternly, laying a hand upon his chest gently pushing him down. "Now you just lie there, this is for your own good."

Max said nothing and begrudgingly did as he was told.

Katrina pulled down the blanket to his hips, "You've been lying in this bed for the last three days, this will make you feel better." Max's body began to tense. "Relax, I won't bite." Katrina took the sponge and began to softly wipe down his shoulder and arm. The sensation felt good and Max felt his body react to her touch in ways he did not expect. Electricity seemed to be running through his body. All of Max's senses were heightened. He knew his heart rate and breathing had increased with each stroke from his chest to his stomach. All he could think was how beautiful she was. He began to lose himself in her eyes. Katrina couldn't help but notice his body was well built for a man his age. His stomach muscles were firm and finely toned. A light scattering of soft brown hair covered the upper part of his chest; his skin was tan and soft. Katrina and Max began to stare at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Katrina was the first to look away, as she put the sponge back into the bowl. Wiping off her hands she then reached over and grabbed on to his shorts.

"What are you doing?" Max exclaimed as he grabbed on to her hands to stop her.

"I need to get those shorts off. How am I going to wash you with them on?"

"You can't. I mean.I can wash myself" Max told her with an air of desperation in his voice.

Katrina looked at Max with amazement; "You Americans are so shy." She said amusingly.

"I am not shy.I just don't want to get.." He stumbled for the words.

Katrina realized what was distressing him, "Oh, if you're worried about the. stimulation, It's perfectly natural for a man to."

Max cut her off, "It's not that either. I just would prefer to wash myself." Max cleared his throat, ". in that area."

Katrina didn't want Max to be embarrassed so she smiled and laid the fresh shorts next to the pillow. "These should fit you, let me know when you're done".

Max waited till she left and slowly got up. With one arm he awkwardly got his shorts off, all the while checking the door for any uninvited guests. He washed and dried himself then changed into the clean shorts. Afterward Max sat exhausted on the edge of the bed. It took some doing but he did manage to get cleaned up without her help.

"Ok, you can come in now" Max yelled back to the door.

Katrina walked back in and with took one look tried not to laugh. "Eric,'" she chuckled with her hand over her mouth. "Those might fit better if you." Katrina paused as she motioned with her hand in a circular motion.

Max looked down and saw that he put the shorts on backwards.

Giving an exasperated sigh he rolled his eyes, "What do you expect, I'm handicapped.

"I need to change the sheets, or would you prefer to do that too." She chuckled.

To be continued.