This is chapter six, and thanks for the reviews so far! I'm glad I can post here with some of my favorite PF authors.


Jimmy studied the couple seated across from him silently, and couldn't help but feel somewhat happy for them. After all, he reasoned, I've seen them date around with a lot of people, and I've never seen them this happy. It just seems so fast, and hell, I worry about them. It's like having two more kids.

"So," he began carefully, "I'm glad that the four of us could do this. It's been an interesting two weeks, and I have a few questions for you both."

Is this going to be an interrogation, Max thought, as she felt Kenny lay his hand on her thigh. Placing her hand on top of his, she felt some of her nervousness recede by just being close to him.

"Jimmy," Jill privy, seeing the quick glance between Kenny and Max, "Do you really need to do this?"

"It's okay," Kenny interjected, squeezing Max's hand under the table, "We know you do."

Jimmy nodded slowly, noting Kenny's use of the word we, "This came as a surprise to me, this development between the two of you. It probably shouldn't of had, but it still did."

"It surprised us too," Max offered, "But I don't know what you want us to tell you."

"Neither do I, really," Jimmy admitted, "I've watch both of you carefully for the past few weeks because I am worried about what this will do to your work for one. Do you both honestly think that you can work together, and not have this effect it? Would you be more concerned about your significant other then the criminal or case you were pursuing?"

"We've always been able to keep our professional and personal lives separate," Max replied, trying not to feel offended by the question.

"We've been partners for five years," Kenny added, "And we've had our ups and downs. Working together for the last two weeks hasn't been difficult."

"There weren't any, uh, temptations."

"Jimmy!," Jill exclaimed, "That's enough."

Kenny glanced over at Max, who replied, "Um, even if there were . . . the station isn't the place that we would act on them. I hope that you know both of us better then that."

"What's going on between Max and me," Kenny added, "We'll keep it out of the office if that's what your worried about. One reason we didn't want to tell anyone right away is because we knew that they would react this way."

"Are you two happy?," Jill asked quickly, wanting Jimmy to shut up for a minute, "I know it's still early and all, but are you?"

"Very," Max replied softly, glancing over at Kenny who smiled at her.

"Definitely," he agreed, wanting to kiss her, but deciding doing it in front of Jimmy and Jill wasn't the best idea.

"Okay, okay," Jimmy cut in, "I have a few things to say, and I want you both to listen carefully. One, I want this, uh, romance kept out of the station. No matter what happens between you two, good or bad, I want professionalism in there. Two, if that doesn't happen there will be some restructuring, and I don't want to do that. Three, no more surprises. Whether you run off and get married, or whatever. That said, good luck with this."


"You okay?," Kenny asked, breaking the silence on the drive home, "You're a million miles away."

Max shook her head, "I'm fine really. I'm glad that they're happy for us."

"But?"

"No buts," she trailed off, "Jimmy's comment about running off and getting married though . . . it just caught me off guard."

"You don't want to?"

"What?"

Kenny glanced over at her in the dimly lit truck cab, "Well, not right now sweetheart, we've barely been a couple for a two weeks. And they've been an unique two weeks at that."

"Did you just call me sweetheart?"

He shrugged, "Yeah, I guess I did. You don't like it?"

Max smiled in the darkness, "I never figured you to be one for pet names. What should I call you? Cuddle bear?"

"You're hilarious," he countered, as they stopped at the red light, "Darling."

"Snuggles."

"Honey."

Max leaned in and kissed him quickly before the light changed back, "I love you."



"They certainly looked committed," Jill offered, "Max was practically glowing, and neither of them looked sick when you brought up the marriage issue."

Jimmy nodded, "I can't help but worry Jill. I think of them both like they're my own kids. Max's last relationship was with Danny, and that certainly ended badly. And Kenny's affair with Rachel! That was just disturbing, and he and Max got together so soon after. He says it isn't on the rebound, but . . . I'm worried that he's going to break her heart."

Jill nodded, "She might break his too, or maybe they'll make it work. This could be what they've been waiting for Jimmy."


"Rachel, uh, hi," Kenny offered, rounding the corner a few weeks later.

"Hello," she said cooly, "Where is your girlfriend today? I thought you two were joined at the hip, or at some other body parts."

Kenny ignored the implication, "She's at work. How are you doing . . . It's been a long time."

"I'm fine. You haven't gotten tired of her yet?"

"No," he said pausing, "Rachel, we didn't mean to hurt you, and we didn't know that you were there. It just happened."

"And you're not sorry that it did? I should have seen it earlier because you've always been in love with her. That's why you could never tell me that you loved me. I was just the filler until you could have her."

"I do love her," Kenny agreed quietly, "I cared about you Rachel, and I never wanted to hurt you that way. Me and Max . . . well yeah."

She nodded, "I'm sure you two will be very happy together. Just don't ask me to be happy for you."



"Go," Max insisted, "Kenny, it's just the flu or something. I'll be fine."

"You look like hell . . . sweetheart," he said, smiling down at her, "Have you gone to see Jill or anything? I've seen you throw up at least eight times in the last two days."

"Stop worrying," she replied, "I feel better, really. Plus, I don't want to get you sick too cuddle-bear."

"You've gotta be feeling better if you called me that," he retorted, feeling her forehead, "You're not warm. Tell ya what. I'll put in an appearance then leave. Do you want anything while I'm out?"

"No . . . I think I'll just take a hot bath and crawl into bed. Maybe try and get some sleep? Now go! I think our friends think we fell off of the planet."

He kissed her on the forehead quickly before replying, "Okay, okay, but I'll be picturing you naked in the bathtub all night."



"Where's Max?," Carter asked later that same night, "She's not working?"

Kenny shook his head, "She's been feeling sick, and getting sick everywhere. I'm going to drag her to the doctor tomorrow if she doesn't feel better."

"Oh," Carter said thoughtfully, "That's to bad . . . How's that going by the way? I haven't seen you two out too much."

Kenny shrugged, "We've tried to keep it quiet, knowing how much this town likes to talk. We figured tonight would be fun, until she started throwing up."

"Who is throwing up?," Littleton asked joining them.



Max sat on the edge of the bathtub, and turned the box over in her hands. Studying the directions on the back, she tried not to panic. It could be nothing, she thought, and I guess I'll find out soon enough. If it is . . . what do I tell Kenny? We've only been a couple, what two months now? Barely, at that. I don't want to freak him out, but what if? I don't think either of us is ready for this if it happens. Everything has been so good between us, everything that I could have possibly wanted. Now this? Rising shakily to her feet, she moved to the counter to pick up the test.



"Hey, good morning. How are you feeling?," Kenny asked the next morning, watching Max stir into consciousness.

"Mmm," she replied, cracking her eyes open and feeling her stomach churn, "Oh no. Not good."

Kenny watched her stumble toward the bathroom, and vowed to take her to go see Jill or something today, "Uh Max? You okay?"

"Fine," she insisted, trying to get her bearings, "Really. Um, how was the party last night?"

"Like you would expect it to be," he answered, studying her pale face, "You need to go and see a doctor. Don't argue with me about it either."

"I don't need a doctor," Max retorted, stepping back from him, "I'm fine. I just want to curl up in bed for a few days. I'll feel better then."

"You've been vomiting for three days."

"Would you stop smothering me Kenny? I told you I'm fine. Why can't you just leave it at that?"

"Sorry for worrying about you."

"Whatever."

"What is going on with you?"

"Nothing. Can't I just have some space?"

He grabbed her hand, and whirled her around quickly, "Max. Talk to me."

"I am dammit! Would you just stop pushing so hard? Did you ever think that I might not want you here every night? Or that you weren't privy to every thought in my head? Can't you just leave me alone for five minutes?"

Kenny stared at her like he had never seen her before, "I'll just go then."

"Fine. Bye."



"I can't do this," Max said aloud, kicking the rock in front of her, "What the hell is wrong with me?"

"Max? Hey wait up," she heard a voice call out from behind her, "I thought that you were sick."

"Hi Jill," she said flatly.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm peachy," she replied, kicking at the rock again, and sending it skidding out into the pond in the center of the park, "I just needed some fresh air."

"You don't look okay."

"Well I didn't ask you to believe me."

Jill regarded her young friend skeptically, "Did you and Kenny have a fight?"

Max gritted her teeth, "Why can't I have five minutes of privacy without someone butting in? Is that too much to ask?"

Jill stepped back at the unexpected outburst, "Maybe because you look like you're about to pass out, and there is obviously something bothering you."

Max bit back her retort, as she looked away quickly, "I don't know what to do Jill. It's been so good between Kenny and me. Better then I could have ever hoped for. I don't want to ruin it, but I don't know how to do this."

"I don't think that one fight will do that."

"I was awful to him this morning . . . but that'll be okay. The rest though, I don't know how he'll react."

"Do you want to tell me?"

Max shook her head, "I've got to talk to him first. If he'll listen to me after the way I treated him this morning."

"He will," Jill promised, "Go. Find him."



"Hi," Max said softly, "Can I come in?"

Kenny regarded her silently, and took in the sight of her standing in his doorway. Clad in khaki shorts, blue tank top and flip flops, she looked ravishing to him. Despite being stung by her words this morning, he wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her. Restraining himself, he stepped back to let her come in.

"I didn't expect you to show up," he settled on, "I thought you wanted your space."

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, "I was awful to you this morning, a bitch even. I didn't mean any of it . . . I just. I don't even know how to say it."

"Max," he replied, trying to stay angry, but not able to at the fear he saw in her eyes, "Yeah, you were awful this morning. I know you're sick, but still. Our first fight, as a couple, I guess?"

"Yeah," she agreed, "I guess it's typical with me. I mean to push someone away when they're getting to close. I didn't want to do it with you though."

He cut her off, "I know you too well to let you do that. I won't let you. You want to tell me what's bothering you?"

She nodded, "Can we sit? I'm scared Kenny."

"You're scaring me too," he said, leading her to the couch, "This cold, it isn't something more serious? You're not dying are you?"

She shook her head, "No. I . . . I think I'm pregnant."



To be continued.