Thayer Hospital - 8:00 A.M.,

"They do look peaceful," Jill commented, as she observed a sleeping Kenny and Max, "I was terrible to Max yesterday."

"I'm sure she didn't mind," Jimmy said, as he noted the way the Kenny was holding her tightly against his side, even in sleep, "Neither of them have been that forthcoming with any of this. They don't trust us."

"It's been just the two of them for a long time," Jill commented, "An intense two years at that."

"Baker thinks that they're going to bolt. I'm not sure that I disagree with him."

"They're different people. Not just in appearance, but in everything. You don't go through what they have, and come out unscathed."

"Hi," Max called sleepily, as she sat up, "Ugh, what time is it?"

"A little after eight," Jimmy said, as she sat up, "We didn't wake you up?"

"No."

"Kenny is still sleeping?" Jill asked.

Max smiled, as she slid off of the bed, "Yeah. He sleeps like the dead, even when he isn't on painkillers."

"Where are you staying?" Jimmy asked, "Max, this isn't a hotel."

"I haven't put much thought into it," Max replied, "Everything happened so fast."

"What about when Kenny gets out of the hospital?" Jimmy asked, "You do realize that Baker's questions yesterday were just the beginning."

"I'm not a moron."

"And Varitek wants their diamonds back too."

"Believe me, if I had them, I would."

"He's coming to question Kenny at 11. I thought you should know."

"Thanks," Max said, "Um, how is Matthew doing?"

"He can go home today," Jill replied, "Thanks for asking."

11:00 A.M.

"How did you know that Maxine was alive?" Baker asked.

"I didn't," Kenny said, as he told him of searching Tom's apartment, the coordinates, finding Max, and the rest leading up to their disappearance, "And we decided that it was better for everyone, safer for everyone, if we didn't come back."

"Where are the Varitek diamonds?"

"I have no idea. We looked," Kenny said, "They could be anywhere."

"I don't believe you."

Kenny thought of the note and map that they found of Toms. Don't tell him, a voice nagged, not until you know for sure, "Too bad."

"I don't like your attitude, or your wife's for that matter. All your doing is impeding a federal investigation."

"Impeding? Between the two of us we gave you enough information to put away half of the mob."

"Yeah, the dead half."

"Well what do you want from us? We can't tell you stuff we don't know."

12:00

Max settled into the alcove in the hospital, and waited for Baker to leaved again. Pulling out Tom's note, she reread it quickly. X marks the spot. What does that mean, she wondered, why does he have to be so cryptic? Do we just look for a giant X? Kenny isn't in the best shape of his life right now, and he shouldn't be trekking all over the world searching for a hypothetical X.

"Max? Are you hiding?" Littleton said.

She slid the note in her pocket, as she told herself that she would be nice to Littleton and Carter, as they joined her, "Just taking some me time."

"Haven't you been taking that for two years?"

Max gritted her teeth, "Yeah, I've been gone for awhile. I'm a selfish bitch. Can we move on now?"

"No. When are you two planning on sneaking away again?"

"Who says that we are?"

"You don't think that there is a price on your heads?"

"Oh, I'm sure there is. One thing at a time right now."

12:30 P.M.

"I want you to know that if you bolt, the immunity agreement is null and void. Your wife blew up a boat with an FBI agent on it. I'll see her thrown in prison for the rest of her life."

"Bullshit. He shot a beach full of fishermen. He was there to tail me? It's crap. He and Tom were working together to bring down the mob? I doubt it. Tom maybe. He wanted to be a better person for Max. Whatever Morell claimed to be doing, he was going to kill us."

"How do you know this?"

"I was there."

12:45 P.M.

"There are going to be guards on you until The FBI is finished with you," Littleton said, "You won't be able to run."

"Trust me. If I want to vanish, I will. I did it for two years, and I can do it again," Max retorted.

"Guys," Carter cut in, "Listen, everyone has to work together to stop this thing."

"Forget it," Littleton said, as he walked away, "Just forget it."

1:00 P.M.

"That's it for now," Baker said, "Remember about the immunity agreement."

"Oh, I will."

1:15 P.M

"What?" Max said, as she heard her name being called again, "Are you back to berate me again?"

"Oh no. We're here to make a deal," Alana Millani said, "Your husband and your life for the Varitek diamonds."

Max recognized the woman from Sicily, "What?"

"The diamonds," Fernando repeated, "You know the ones."

"Don't tell me that you don't have them," Alana said, "It would be a shame to have to kill you. After all the two of you have rid of us some of the dead weight in our family, and it's been entertaining to chase you. You're very hard to catch."

"If anyone can find the diamonds, I'm betting on you and your husband. I'll give you," Fernando trailed off, "Well considering he is in the hospital, five days to hand them over. I assume you remember where our house in Sicily is?"

"Don't even think of double crossing us," Alana said, "We'll be in touch."

1:30 P.M.

"How are you feeling?" Max asked, before blurting out her latest news, "Did it go okay?"

Kenny held her gaze, "If we bolt, you're going to prison for the boat explosion. Or so Baker says. Immunity will be null and void. He thinks I killed Tom too."

"We might not have a choice," she said quietly, as she filled in on her two visitors, "What do you think?"

"The time frame is better," Kenny said, "What floor are we on?"

"Twenty. Don't even think of going out the window."

"Sweetheart. How many guards are there?"

"Two . . . One deputy and on FBI."

"We need to think."

"We need to figure out what the third clue is, before we go traipsing all over the world."

"What if we did it by the book this time?"

"What?" Max asked.

"We could use the resources we have here, Bella. The more people put on this the better. You were really planning on handing everything over if we found it?"

"They'll be a lot more red tape," Max mused, "Stupid X. Why can't it just be on a map somewhere?"

"A map," Kenny repeated, as he grasped her hands in his, "Shit, we're idiots."

"What's this we crap?"

"Listen. Maps. Latitude and longitude. It's how I found you. The locations of Tom clues. They have to make an X somewhere."

Max stared at him for a long instant, before breaking into a grin, "You're amazing!"

"So you've told me. Usually when were otherwise engaged," Kenny said, as he pulled her down, "Come here."

He pulled her down next to him, and kissed her. Trailing his fingers through her hair, and tracing her jawbone, he just wanted to touch her until everything else disappeared.

"We can't do this here," she argued weakly, as he kissed her again, "Oh, this isn't fair."

"You mean I don't get a prize for figuring this out?"

"I'll be happy to reward you," Max said, as he slid his hands into her pants, "Can we wait . . . oh that feels good . . . until you're not in the hospital? Oh . . . Hmm."

He pulled her tighter to him, and looked down at the beautiful creature that was is wife, "I want you. Right now."

Max grinned, as she kissed him, "Oh?"

"Whoa! What is going on in here?" Jimmy asked, as he looked at his two former deputies wrapped around each other, "What are you doing?"

Max felt herself flush, as she sat up quickly, "Uh, nothing."

"Yeah, nothing," Kenny agreed, "What are you doing here?"

"Alana and Fernando Millani are in town. We're doubling the guards on you two."

"What do they want?" Kenny asked, knowing damn well.

"I'm going with killing the two of you, and getting the Varitek diamonds. Do you know them, Max?"

"Tom never associated with his family, at least while I was around," Max said truthfully, leaving out that she talked to them a few hours ago.

"You're getting released today," Jimmy continued, as he nodded in Kenny's direction, "Where are you two staying? Any ideas?"

"We haven't put much thought into it," Max said, "Probably a hotel."

"You two can stay with us," Jill said, as she joined the trio, "You saved our lives after all, and to make up for what I said the other day."

"You don't have to," Max started.

"We want to," Jill countered.

"Thanks," Kenny agreed, as he exchanged a look with his wife. We have less than 10 days before the Millanis come after us again. We can't waste time here, "We'll give you a call when I'm released?"

"No need," Joey said, "I have the paperwork right here."

2:00 P.M.

"You think that Tom's bitch of an ex knows where the diamonds are?" Fernando asked.

Alana shrugged, "Tom was more clever than any of us thought. I don't know. If she doesn't, I'll be more then happy to put a bullet in her brain."

3:00 P.M.

"This is surreal," Kenny said under his breath, as they sat in the Brock living room for the first time in more than two years.

"You think?" Max asked, in a voice meant for his ears only, "Not to mention that there are at least six guards outside. How the hell . . . you know?"

He squeezed his hand in hers, "We'll find a way. We always do. A map first."

Max nodded, as Jimmy and Jill rejoined them. Jimmy handed their two reluctant house guests each a beer before asking, "So . . . is there anything else that you need?"

"You've been more than hospitable," Max said carefully.

"The two of you haven't had anyone but each other for a long time," Jill offered, "Let us help you. You can trust us."

"What do you want to know?" Kenny asked.

"First off, what language are you speaking when it's just the two of you?" Jimmy asked, "When did you decide to get married? Who the hell are you?"

"We only got married a few days ago," Max offered, as she threw him a bone, "Right before all this started. It seemed like it was time to make it official."

"Made an honest woman out of you," Kenny commented, "Who are we? What is that supposed to mean?"

"The two people I used to know wouldn't have done any of this!"

"Well when it happens to you, I'll be interested to see how you react," Max said flatly.

"You can't run again," Jimmy said, "There are FBI agents all around this house."

Kenny and Max exchanged a look, before Kenny said, "We're aware of that."

"So when are you planning on slipping out of here?" Jill asked.

"We're not," Max lied, "We came to rectify everything, and we're not going to bail on that. No matter what happens."

"Why don't we put a movie in?" Jimmy suggested, wanting to do something to relieve the tension and hostility in the room.

6:00 P.M.

"We still haven't found out where Kenny and Maxine came into this country. I've reviewed security cameras from all major airports, "New York, Miami, LAX, Dulles, both coasts. I looked at Greenbay, at connecting flights. They aren't anywhere."

"Keep looking," Baker demanded, "I want to know everything about their life over the past two years."

7:00 P.M.

The Shawshank Redemption, Max thought, any reason that we had to watch a prison movie? What message is that sending? She snuggled in closer to her husband, and watched the ending. She smiled to herself, as Kenny absently stroked her hair. She felt him stiffen beside her slightly, and elbow her. Shooting him a worried glance, he nodded toward the television and the lines that Morgan Freeman was uttering,

"If you've followed me this far, maybe you'll be willing to go a little bit farther. Do you remember the name of the town? I could use a good friend to get my project off the ground. I'll keep an eye out, just in case."

"Is everything okay?" Jimmy asked, as he looked back over at them.

"Fine. I thought I saw a spider. I hate spiders," Max said.

"Interesting," Kenny breathed in her ear, "Tom liked this movie?"

Max nodded slightly, as the film ended.

8:00 P.M.

"Sir? I may have something here," Cooper said, "Not from the airports, but from the hospital. Look at this."

Baker stared at the image, "Son of a bitch!"

9:00 P.M.

"We have to go, tonight," Max whispered, as they lay on the Brock's pull out.

Kenny nodded in agreement, as they studied the map, "Look. Chili, Rome, Zurich. They all intersect over Zihuatanejo, Mexico. The town from the movie. Son of a bitch!"

"I even watched that movie with him," Max mused, "I didn't even think of it."

"Who would?"

"How do you want to do this?" Max asked, seeing the unmarked and marked cars parked outside, "They don't have an alarm system."

"How about a fire drill?" Kenny asked, nodding toward the smoke detector, "I saw some matches over there."

Max nodded, "Okay."

"What the hell is that?" Jimmy said, as the fire alarm shrieked to life, "Do you smell that?"

"Fire!" Zach yelled, bursting into his parent's room, "The house is on fire!"

"Come on!" Jill said, as they rushed to get Matthew, "We have to get out of here!"

10:00 P.M.

"Son of a bitch!" Jimmy growled, as the reality of what happened set in, "I believed them. I trusted them, and they stabbed us in the back. We let them into our home, Jill."

"Then they used that," Jill finished, "They pulled our fire alarm, after Matthew had been burned. Who does that?"

"Someone who was ambushed by Alana and Fernando Millani this morning," Baker said, "We reviewed the hospital security tapes this morning, and Maxine had a run in with them this morning."

"Why the hell didn't she say anything?" Jimmy demanded.

"I bet they were threatened," Baker said, "And it has to do with those diamonds. They have to be going after the diamonds."

"Max said that they didn't know where they are."

"Do you believe her?" Baker asked.

"I don't know if I believe anything that they told us. Ever."

"I wanted to help them," Jimmy said, "They can't just take the law into their own hands. What happened to them? They were two of the best cops that I knew, and now they're running around the world and living like criminals."

11:00 P.M.

"It's not an island," Max said, "But a coastal town."

"You think we'll ever get back to our island?" Kenny asked.

"We have to return Mikkos' diamonds at least," Max trailed off, "If we return these to the MIllanis, they won't let us walk away."

"Yeah. It's a nice thought though," Kenny sighed.

Max looked over at him hesitantly, "I know you want to spend time with your family."

"It's not gonna happen. I'll deal with it."

"Hey."

"I really don't want to talk about this. Not now."

"When?"

"Why are you pushing this?"

"I saw the way you looked when we were parked outside their house. I wish I had that type of relationship with my family, but . . . I want you to have it with yours. To be able to have it."

"Sweetheart, I'm not going to put them in danger by contacting them. Period. It's the best thing I can do," Kenny said evenly, "Can we drop it for now?"

Max bit her tongue, "Okay. The train station is up ahead."

11:30 P.M.

"They left a note," Jimmy said, as he eyed the envelope on the coffee table, "How thoughtful."

"Jimmy."

He snatched up it up, and tore into in angrily, "Why don't we see what they have to say for themselves?"

Dear Jimmy and Jill,

We're sure that you are both angry at us right now, and we're sorry for that. You opened up your home to us, and this is how we repay you. It isn't right, but it is necessary for now. We figured out the last piece of the puzzle today, and we have you to thank. Tom left cryptic clues all over the world, and we've been unraveling them. The first was his box in Zurich and the second led us here. We're going to find the diamonds, and whatever else he has hidden away. We need all the pieces, and maybe this will all be over then.

You said that we could trust you, and that is going to come into play right now. We have five days. Everyone likes to give us deadlines. Until then, we don't need the FBI chasing us. Anything that you can say to them would be appreciated. If you need to contact us for any reason, we do have a cell phone - 555-6686. It's not traceable, so don't bother.

We want our lives back, and not have to be scared anymore.

Kenny and Max

"They figured it out today?" Jimmy asked, "When? We were with them all day! When did it happen? When they were making out in the hospital?"

"I wish we knew what the clues were," Jill trailed off, "Are you going to do it? Tell the FBI to back off?"

Jimmy paused, "They won't. We have their cell number, and I want more information then they are giving us. Like where the hell they are going."

"Hello?" Max said, as their train pulled away. Shooting a glance over at a distant Kenny, she was glad for the distraction, "Hello?"

"Maxine! What the hell are you two doing?" Jimmy demanded.

"Hi, Jimmy," Max said, "I'm surprised it took you this long to call."

"You two have less than an hour to get back here, or the FBI will be all over you," Jimmy said, "They will find you. It won't be as easy to vanish this time! They know what you look like, your names."

"Our names?" Max asked dubiously, "Believe me, we have enough aliases to travel under."

"Give me the phone," Kenny said, "Now, Sweetheart."

Max didn't like the look in his eyes, so she passed it over quickly.

"Jimmy?" Kenny said, "This is how it is going to work. We're going to go get the diamonds. After that, we'll deal with the FBI and the Millanis. They both want our heads on a platter. We'll just see who is easier to deal with when we get done. Then when that's done, we're going on about our life. No one chasing us, wanting to kill us, nothing. We'll be in touch. Bye. What?"

Max swallowed, "Did you mean that?"

"I don't know who I hate more, the FBI or the Millanis. I don't give a rat's ass about these diamonds, and I wish everyone could just leave us alone for five minutes!" Kenny ranted, "What in our life has been normal in the last two years? Even our wedding took less than 10 minutes!"

"Hey," she said softly, "Honey. Talk to me."

He didn't say anything, as he wrapped his arms around her, "I want this over with, Bella. I want to be able to walk down the street again, and not be afraid that someone is pointing a rifle at my head. I want to have a normal marriage and life with you, whether it be in Santorini or anywhere else. I want to have kids with you, and not having to keep one eye open as we wait for the other shoe to drop."

"I want that too," she practically whispered, as she processed what he just told her, "You've thought about us having kids?"

"Of course I have. Haven't you?"

"A few times," Max trailed off, "The time never seemed right to bring it up."

"And this is?"

She smiled, as she tilted her head up to look at him, "Maybe there isn't ever a right time."

"Tell you what. When we finish this, then we'll talk about it. Until then," he said, as he wrapped the blanket around them, "Why don't we get some sleep?"