Malone watched with a slight feeling of detachment while his body paced restlessly back and forth across the laboratory floor. The infamous ruined experiment still lay where it had fallen as the two desperate partners in crime tried desperately to think of some way out of their predicament.

"I think you're wearing out my knees," Malone said to the moving figure before him, but all he got in return was a dirty look, which was more odd than threatening coming from his own face.

Marguerite abruptly stopped pacing. "This is simple, all we have to do is fix the machine."

Malone nodded. "It's our only option, besides getting used to our new genders." He started to move for the stairs. "I'll go get Challenger and I'm sure he can-"

"No!" Marguerite cried, stepping in front of him, "That is absolutely out of the question!"

Malone's brow furrowed, and he said in frustration, "What are you talking about? We have to tell them. Why shouldn't we tell them?"

"Well, for one thing, stop doing that to my forehead you're giving me wrinkles," Marguerite scolded. Malone turned back toward the stairs but Marguerite caught his arm.

"It's too late Malone! We already played along with it, it would be too awkward now."

"More awkward then this!" Malone gestured angrily at his feminine body. "What are you going to do? Fix the machine yourself?"

"Of course not!" Marguerite rolled her eyes. "You're going to do it. Now all we have to do is get them to leave us alone and-"

"Whoa! Wait a minute!" Malone protested, "I can't fix it!"

Marguerite glared at him in annoyance, "You fixed the electric fence when Challenger's heart stopped. You fixed the plane that German pilot crashed. A machine is a machine, Malone."

"Marguerite, it's not that simple. I can't-"

"In the meantime," Marguerite interrupted, "We need to get you dressed properly before Scotland Yard up there gets even more suspicious."

Marguerite was already heading up the stairs before Malone could stop her with his protests. He followed right behind her with the impossibility of this task on the tip of his tongue and bumped into her when she stopped abruptly at the top.

Challenger was there smiling at them both. "Ah, done are you? Good. Roxton and I are ready to go whenever you are Malone."

Marguerite gave him a confused stare. "Go? Go where?"

Behind Challenger, Roxton had already shouldered his knapsack and was getting his rifle off the gun rack.

"To the windmill of course," Challenger answered, donning his hat, "Lots of manual labour to get of the way."

Marguerite just stood at the top of the stairs like a statue frozen in stone. "Manual labour?" she echoed.

Malone snickered behind her.

While Challenger piled supplies into Marguerite's disbelieving arms, Veronica had gathered her own things and approached Malone.

"Ready for that swim?" She asked, "We can join the boys later and give them a break."

"You bet," Malone answered, slipping past Marguerite.

As Marguerite rode down the elevator, loaded down with heavy equipment, the last thing she saw was Malone's, or rather her own, face. A big Cheshire cat smile was stretched across it, which Malone felt was fitting as he had seen Marguerite use that same smile on him dozens of times.

---

It was a perfect jungle day. It wasn't too hot, the sunlight was golden, and there was a slight refreshing breeze. Best of all, Malone was spending it with the most beautiful girl in the world. If only Marguerite didn't have to come along, he thought moodily as his petite feet stumbled over the too large strides he was trying to take.

Veronica and Malone were walking down the well-worn path that led them to the bathing lake. Much to Malone's dismay, Veronica had spent the entire trip walking a few strides ahead and had barely said two words to him. Malone was used to smiles and companionship when he was with Veronica but right now all he was getting was tension.

Bored by the lack of conversation, Malone let his mind wander back to the tree house before he and the others had left. Marguerite had been able to convince their housemates that she needed to check something in her journals and that Malone needed to fix his disheveled appearance before either of them went anywhere. They were still suspicious, but Roxton and Challenger had went down the elevator and Veronica had removed herself to her room to wait. This gave Marguerite the opportunity to sneak into her own room, for the second time in so many days, and help Malone get her body ready.

"Alright Malone," Marguerite said, placing a pile of clothes before him, "Don't worry about the undergarments, just change into these. I thought pants might be a better choice this time."

Malone stared down at the small clothes and he ran his hands through his tangled raven locks nervously. "No problem," he said.

"Oh and Malone," Marguerite added, "try to not to touch anything. As much as possible!"

Malone replied with an agitated half-grin and then just stood staring at the clothes.

"Well," Marguerite pushed, "they're just clothes, Malone. Same as yours only smaller. And nicer and-"

"If you would stop talking and turn around this would go a lot smoother," Malone interrupted, his hands posed over the fragile buttons of his blouse.

Marguerite gaped at him. "I assure you Malone, I am quite familiar with everything

you-"

"Marguerite!"

"Alright, alright!" With a healthy eye-roll in his direction, Marguerite turned around and crossed her arms over her chest.

When she turned back, she had to laugh at the very embarrassed, ruffled Malone in front of her. "What's the matter, Malone?" she cracked, "Didn't they teach you how to dress a woman in boy scouts?"

Malone clenched his jaw and tried to push past her.

"Ah, ah," Marguerite insisted. "You're still a mess, just a minute." Marguerite quickly went to work at straightening Malone's clothes and fixing his wild hair.

As he stood there helplessly, he couldn't help but think of what a strange picture they made. What would anyone think walking in on Malone's body fussily combing through Marguerite's hair? He decided that it was a very good thing that Roxton was far below the tree house.

While she worked, Marguerite chatted away with advice for Malone's approaching time without her. "Now remember, no one can know what happened. They probably wouldn't believe you anyway. It's best that-"

"Can't I do up my shirt any farther?" Malone interrupted, looking down at the exposed cleavage. "I don't think I like what I'm advertising."

Marguerite gave him a weary glance. "It's always done well for me in the past but if you must be a prud…" she trailed off as she obligingly did up the shirt's top buttons for him.

"Anyway," she continued, "remember to treat Veronica like a friend not a girlfriend."

"She's not-" Malone protested, but Marguerite ignored him.

"And try not to spend any alone time with Roxton, just in case-"

I do not want to know what the 'just in case' is, Malone groaned inwardly.

"-and for goodness sake, don't be nice to him!"

Malone pulled Marguerite's knee length coat over his well-highlighted, curved body self-consciously and asked, "Why not?"

Marguerite arched an eyebrow at him and headed towards the door.

"I'd wear those suspenders if I were you," Malone called after her, looking at the loose straps that hung at Marguerite's waist.

She looked back at him with displeasure as she awkwardly tried to get the elastic straps over her broad shoulders. Now it was his turn to raise his eyebrows at her. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Well, here we are."

Malone jerked back tothe presentat the sound of Veronica's voice. They had finally made it to the lake and the jungle beauty was settling down on a grassy patch on the bank. Not knowing what else to do, Malone sat down beside her. It took him a moment to find a comfortable way to adjust his legs but at least he wasn't wearing that damn skirt any longer. He glanced over at Veronica and jumped as he realized she was staring at him in annoyance.

"Well, Marguerite?" she asked. "Aren't you going to go first?"

"First?" Malone managed.

Veronica sighed and stared into the lake. "Well you do always insist on it and you do take the longest so…"

"Right," Malone agreed slowly, "but I think I'll let you go first this time." He wasn't so sure he wanted to get undressed after the hassle it was getting this way in the first place. Besides, he was sure that undressing Marguerite's body was against one of Marguerite's unwritten rules.

Veronica cast him a quick, puzzled glance and then returned her pretty blue eyes to the still water's surface. The tension built between them until Malone thought he would burst.

Finally, Veronica said, "I saw Malone coming out of your room this morning before he left."

Thanks a lot Marguerite. "Uh, he was-" Malone started weakly.

"Don't bother, Marguerite," Veronica interrupted harshly. "I am getting pretty tired of your ridiculous stories. I don't care what's going on but why don't you just drop the charade?"

Malone flinched. It wasn't as if Veronica had never been cross at him before or spoke to him in anger, but he had always felt as if it would pass. Like he could redeem himself and she didn't really want to be upset with him. This Veronica was cold and detached, as if she expected a fight whenever she spoke to him.

When Malone didn't say anything, Veronica's face softened and her eyes grew distant. "I don't know what's wrong with Ned, but…" Her voice trailed off, and Malone thought he saw some moisture in the corner of her eye.

His heart ached painfully, and he forgot everything that was going on. All that mattered was that Veronica was in pain and he was the cause.

"Veronica, there is absolutely nothing going on between Mar-Malone and me. How could there be with as beautiful, strong, amazing woman as you living only a few rooms down from him?"

Veronica shook her head and moved to get up. "There's no need to be patronizing, Marguerite."

Before she could move, Malone grabbed her arm and forced her to look at him. Feeling confidence surge through him from the detachment of referring to his feelings in the third person, Malone reached up to touch her face. He looked into her eyes and said, "You're the only reason he has for living each day, Veronica. If it wasn't for you Malone would hole up in his room and spend all his waking hours in the safety of his journals. You give him a reason to really live, for the first time in his life."

As Malone lost himself in Veronica's wide eyes, he felt himself gravitating towards her. Suddenly, she jerked away from his hand and jumped up with a disbelieving expression on her face. "I don't know what's going on, Marguerite," Veronica bit out, her voice changing from shock to menace, "but just stay away from Malone!"

Shestomped away into some nearby bushes, calling out as she disappeared, "I think I will go first after all."

With a frustrated sigh, Malone leaned back in the grass and stared at the sky. Some curly, dark hair blew in his face, and he moaned in discontent to see that even his view of the heavens had changed. How am I going to fix this?

The distraught journalist heard a muffled splash in the distance and reddened at the thought of Veronica bathing so near him. Well, he thought resignedly, I hope Marguerite is having more luck then I am.

To Be Continued...