So sorry this has taken so long to finish but here it is. Heads up:
Get your Kleenex ready. Enjoy.
34 leaned back into the easy chair, "I can't believe the Chief gave in, he doesn't give in to anyone. And you being a rookie agent. You're amazing, I don't know how you did it." 34 said with a sense of awe. "Anyway, this is what you wanted. Now you are just that much closer to becoming Mrs. Agent Shoephone."
99 laughed, "Yeah, well… we'll see." Her tone changed to one of sincerity "You know, it started out to be that way but now… I am really excited about this mission and to be a part of it. It's what I've been training for all these months."
"I know this is a stupid question but here goes anyway…
How are you going to disguise yourself as a male chauffeur?" wondered 34.
99 stared down at her chest, "with extreme difficulty." 99 looked up with a hopeful sigh "Maybe he won't notice?"
"Are you kidding? Look at you… he'll notice." informed 34.
99 walked up to the mirror and assessed the situation, " If I get the right clothes, and stuff my hair up under a hat… I think I can pull this off"
"Knowing you, I think you will." 34 got up and walked over to 99 placing her hand on her shoulder. "Good luck 99. Remember this is your first mission, be careful ok?" 99 smiled and gave a hug to her best friend. As 34 walked out the door, she stopped and turned back,"Just remember, I didn't buy that maid of honor dress for nothing you know."
It was Thursday morning and 99 arrived at the airport as instructed. The boys in the disguise department really outdid themselves. She really looked the part of a male chauffeur and with a little luck she'd be able to fool Agent 86. 99 scanned the airport and spotted him. He was sitting reading the headlines of the paper when she walking up to him and gave him the password. 99 held her breath to see if he noticed but she passed with flying colors and off they went.
The rest of the mission went like clockwork, discovering clues to find Mr. Big and the Inthermo machine. One of the clues, The rubber banana peel, took them to a novelty shop near the harbor. Not knowing the proprietor was a KAOS agent almost cost 86 his life. If it weren't for the quick thinking of K13 pushing Max out of the way, it would have been Max disintegrated by the inthremo machine instead of the KAOS agent. 99 sat back on the table. Without thinking, she took her hat off to wipe her brow and
her shoulder length hair cascaded down from under the hat.
Max turned to talk to her and was shocked by the discovery.
"Why… you're a girl" Max said with amazement on his face.
"Yes" 99, said seductively as she looked longingly at him.
They both looked into each other's eyes and as their lips almost touched, Fang roared out a big bark.
The bark caused them to stop. "He's right" 99 said as they both parted.
Max went to the window to see where that ray could have come from while 99 narrowed her eyes at Fang.
"Damn that dog" 99 thought to herself.
Max used his bino specs to get a closer look at the old garbage scow out in the middle of the harbor. No seagulls? Max put two and two together. Of course, the rubber banana and rubber trash. It was a great cover for KAOS. The ray had to have come from the boat. Max and 99 made their way on to the garbage boat but were quickly apprehended by KAOS henchmen and brought to the infamous Mr. Big. His plan was to destroy the Statue of Liberty with the Inthermo ray. They were held captive but soon escaped. Max took care of the henchmen while 99 made short order of Mr. Big's accomplice, Zalinka. They freed Professor Dante and he reversed the polarity of the Inthermo machine for it to destroy the boat. Everyone then dove off the scow and into a lifeboat getting as far away as possible. Just as Mr. Big pushed the button, the Inthermo blew the boat to bits. That was the end of Mr. Big and KAOS's sinister plan.
The rowboat reached shore and Max helped 99 out of the boat.
"It was a close one but we did it, we defeated the evil Mr. Big." Max said as he looked at the wreckage of the boat in the harbor. Max turned towards 99, "You did a good job Agent 99, you're going to make a very good CONTROL agent."
99 was beaming.
"I…ah…hope we work together again sometime 99." Added Max, "I think Fang would like that too."
"Thank you Agent 86…and you too…Fang" 99 shyly said.
Fang let out a hearty bark.
Max fixed his tie and grinned at her, " I think you can call me Max now."
"Ok… Max…I… I wanted to tell you…." 99 started out.
"Agent 86!" shouted one of the police officers from the
edge of the dock.
"Be right there" Max shouted to the officer. He turned back to 99.
"You wanted to tell me what?" inquired Max
"Oh nothing… it can wait till later" 99 said.
"Ok, well, I have to make a report about all this with the local police so… I guess I'll see you back at CONTROL." Max said as he gave a playful punch to 99's arm.
99 just nodded as she watched Max walk back to the dock.
She gave a heavy sigh. She did it, her first case and it was a success. Also getting praise from the love of her life was more than she could ask for.
Suddenly she felt a wave of dizziness hit her. 99 made her way over to a wooden crate and sat down. Thinking it was maybe just the excitement of everything that was happening, she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths….
Slowly 99 opened her eyes and looked around. The view of Washington DC from the hilltop was breathtaking especially this time of year. She breathed in deeply and exhaled, white mist forming in the cold air, as she closed her notepad and placed the pen on top of it. It had been 47 years since that day when she first laid eyes on him and since then she treasured every moment. 99 watched as a reddish-orange autumn leaf drifted down lightly on top of his grave. She gazed upon the marble grave marker. The words engraved Maxwell Smart with the year he was born and died.
"Max…I miss you so much…" 99 said sadly.
Her tears had stopped but the feeling that caused them would not fade in the least. She wondered how the man before her, once insurmountably brave and seemingly indestructible, could ever die. He had lived 82 years, a good long life especially for a secret agent. They were married for 44 years and every hour spent together, lived within her heart. She was his wife and partner and she loved him beyond what was humanly possible. It was a loving marriage that blessed them with three wonderful children and four grandchildren who would continue his legacy.
Her mind wandered back to all of the times they had spent together in quiet bliss. Countless sunsets, moonlit walks, cuddling in each other's arms while it rained and the passion-filled nights.
Reaching into her trench coat, she pulled out a letter in a loose envelope, both were slightly yellow with age. The smile turned into a melancholy one. The letter was addressed to Agent 99 from Agent 86 . It was dated, September 19th 1965. He had written it a day after their first mission together but never sent it to her. She found it a week after he passed away buried in an old shoebox.
Staring down at the letter. The words on the paper had really touched something inside of her.
Dear 99
Something happened to me yesterday, the most incredible woman I'd ever seen came into my life. She was vibrant, she was fiery, she was passionate, she was wonderful, and she was you. It was as if everything that I had ever wished for and dreamed about had finally come true.
When I look into your beautiful blue eyes, I see a young woman that shares the same desires, the same aspirations as I did when I started as an agent for CONTROL.
Tomorrow I will inform the Chief that I found my new partner. You and I were destined to be together 99. I can only hope that in time you'll feel the same way. Maybe someday I'll find the courage necessary to tell you of the things I feel about you. But till then I will keep you in my heart and there you will always be. You're the only person who ever showed concern for me, expecting nothing in return and with motives that were truly sincere. And for that I will always hold respect for you.
We're in for some tough times ahead as agents and as bad as it may seem at times, you'll never have to worry.
I'll always be there for you, 99.
Max
Her eyes drifted over the letter as memory after memory came to her. Tears began to fall from 99's eyes as she placed his letter to her back into her pocket.
"You ready?" the deep voice behind her asked.
99 looked over her shoulder towards a young man leaning against the tree. 99 looked down at her watch, "Is it time already?" then smiled as she nodded to him.
The young man came and sat beside her and clasped her hand with his. She reached her hand to rest against his cheek, which he leaned into more for comfort than anything else.
"You look so much like your father," she smiled proudly.
The young man smiled back and nodded slightly in understanding.
He was their youngest son, Max Jr. Now a grown man of 35, he bore a remarkable resemblance to his father. Nose and mouth were near identical to that of Max's, same shaped face along with many similar features, the same dark hair.
His cocoa brown eyes staring right back at her as she remembered back to the day when she first saw Max.
99 patted the notepad, "I'm writing about the first time I met your father. He was the same age as you are now and I fell instantly in love with him at first sight."
Max smiled and nodded, "He was a very lucky man to have such a beautiful woman by his side all these years"
99 blushed at the complement.
He stood up and placed a hand on 99's shoulder, "Everyone is at the house for dinner, we should go."
"In a minute, I'll meet you at the car" 99 said.
Max nodded and headed down the hill.
99 stood up and walked over to the grave. She placed two fingers over her lips, gently kissed them, and placed them on the marker. "I'll love you always," she softly whispered. She slowly made her way back to the car then stopped and turned back. A seemingly comforting wind blew through the cemetery at that moment. A warmth filled the space around her. "I'll always be there" repeated in her mind. She knew he'd always be protecting her. He'd forevermore live on in her heart.
The End