Wow. A very retarded title, but it was all I could come up with. I'm not good at coming up with titles anyways, but "There's Something In the Pizza" just proves that. Anyways, this is kind of like a re-do of the Impossible Mission, but not really. Most of it is from Max's point of view, something I've wanted to try for a while. Well now, that's a very retarded description too. But that's ok, it matches the author.     As 99 finished the rest of the pizza, I unrolled the sleeping bags and hooked them together. "Do you think we'll wrap up the case tomorrow?" "I think so 99. So we'd better get a good night's rest, because we'll need all our strength to finish off the forces of evil." "Right, Max. Goodnight." She gave me a hug and planted a soft kiss on my lips. "Goodnight 99." I turned off the lantern and settled into my sleeping bag - then the strangest thing happened. One minute, I had my fingers over my lips, thinking about the wonderful little kiss 99 had just given me, and the next...well, what could I say. I was thrown into a completely different world. *** I never thought it would happen, but here I am. 99 and I have been hiding in this planter for what feels like years. I hate to admit it, but Kaos has the upper hand this time. God, I just wish 99 hadn't come along on this assignment...if only she hadn't talked me into bringing her. I knew it would be a bad idea. At least we're together...God, how selfish of me. How could I say that when her precious life could have been spared? "Max?" 99 whispered, interrupting my train of thought. "Are they still out there?" "Yes 99. I guess the jerks just wont give up until they find us. They're searching planter to planter now...it's only a matter of time." I replied nonchalantly. "Oh Max! Well, if they catch us, then..." She started to stumble over words. "...I mean, then they're definitely going to...Max, I'm so scared! I don't want it to end this way!" She buried her head into my shoulder and started to sob. "Oh, 99...please don't cry..." I pulled her into my arms and held her tight. I could feel her heart racing...the jerky moves she made as she struggled to stop crying. I've never seen her act this way...and thank God for that, because it tears me apart to see her this way. Not only that, 99 has always been so strong. I mean, most of the time, she gives me the courage to go on when I don't think I can. And if she's given up, then what am I supposed to do? I have to be strong, I suppose, for the both of us. And I can do this...right? I gently lifted her face and looked into her eyes. "99, we're going to make it." Maybe I didn't say enough, or I guess I didn't sound too convincing, because the tears continued to stream down her face. Seeing her like this, so worried and so vulnerable...I knew I had to pull it together. For her sake more than mine. I wiped the tears from her face and brushed her hair back. "99, listen. Please stop crying. It makes me want to cry. We will get out of here, but both of us need to be strong. We can do it 99. I have faith in you, just like you've always had faith in me." I didn't know what else to say. But I hope I said enough this time. "Max...I'm sorry, it's just..." She said in between sniffles. "...it just that I really think we're done for this time. Even you don't think we can make it." She studied my face intently, waiting for my reaction...which made me incredibly nervous. "You're right, 99. I don't think that we can make it." She looked away and started to sob again. Great job messing that one up, I thought to myself. "99, I meant to say that I know we can make it." She turned back to me and still had a doubtful expression on her face. What can I say to make her stop acting this way? If she keeps this up, I think I might just give up too, and that's the last thing we both need. I know - I'll try to change the subject. I decided to say the first thing that popped into my head. "Uh, you know something 99? You're the only person I've ever seen who still looks pretty good after crying so much." Well I guess it worked. At least she's smiling now. "Really, Max?" Oh good. This is working great! I'll just keep going and everything will be fine! "Sure! I mean, your eyes are all puffy and red, your cheeks are tearstained and pale, and your hair is kind of matted now - " I could've gone on and on, but I noticed that the smile had been replaced with a slight frown. That can't be good... "Gee, thanks so much Max, that was just what I needed." No! She's not supposed to be acting sarcastic and mean! She didn't let me finish! "All that maybe true, but you're still beautiful to me." I blurted out before even thinking. 99 was surprised by his comment, but she was thrilled to hear it. "Wow...thank you, Max." She murmured. Oh good, the smile is back, and it's a big one too. Thank God she stopped crying, because when she's happy, I'm happy. Gee, how about the look on her face? The way she's looking at me is giving me warm fuzzies inside. I sat back and just admired her for moment before taking her hand. I'm going to find out for sure whether she actually likes me or not. I can't die not knowing. Besides, I have nothing to lose. Well, there's always my heart, but if I'm going to die I won't need it anymore. So, what the heck. "99, there's something I've got to tell you. Well, we've know each other for a while, and well..." "Yes, Max?" "...well, I guess what I mean to say is that...well, is that - " Suddenly the bushes we were hiding behind were violently ripped apart. We came face to face with a cruel Kaos agent who had a look of triumph on his face. "Well, well, well...if it isn't the Control vermin we've been looking for? Or should I say, the Co-" The guy didn't even get to finish. 99 punched him so hard, he fell to the ground. "I'm sorry Max, please continue." I was so ecstatic, I couldn't hold back anymore. "I love you!" 99 wasn't even sure if she had actually heard him right. "I'm sorry, you what?" No! Why did I have to say it! What if she doesn't love me too? And now that she's saved our lives, I'm going to need my heart - and she's already sorry! That can't be good! On top of that, she wants me to say it again? I clammed up and couldn't utter a word. She was the one to break the long period of silence that followed. "Max...you didn't mean it?" Mean it? Of course I meant it! With all my heart and soul! The hurt expression that now crossed her face made me feel a million times worse then when she was crying earlier. So what was I doing? Am I just going to sit here and lose her? Again!? I quickly made a makeshift ring out of a sprinkler washer I sat next. I put it on her finger and pressed my lips to her hand. Before I knew it, she was in my arms once again... *** Maxwell Smart shifted in his sleeping bag as he pulled 99 towards him. 99 seemed to be doing the same thing, and nuzzled her face close to his. They lay there for a moment before leaping straight out of their sleeping bags. "Oh my God, Max! I'm so sorry! I was just having this delightful dream...I must have been acting it out." "Oh don't worry about it, 99, I did - acting it out?" She realized her slip and started to explain. "Uh, well, you were in it, and we were out on assignment, when Kaos caught up to us and forced us to hide from them. Well, I thought we were going to die, but you made me feel better, and you...well, anyways, I knocked out the Kaos agent, and well, I guess that's a lesson for me to not eat pizza right before I go to bed." "99, it's the strangest thing, but I actually had the same dream." "You did?" 99 was genuinely surprised. "I mean, everything was the same?" "Well...there's just one thing I'm not sure of. Max hesitated. He wasn't sure about the whole proposal thing, and he could tell she was uneasy about something too. "Did I give you something? Like...a sprinkle washer ring?" He mumbled the last part. 99 didn't hear what he had said, but she knew exactly what he was talking about. "Yes, Max." was her simple, yet tender reply. "Wasn't it exciting though? Imagine if we really were trapped by Kaos, having no hope left in the world, when...well, when you give me a sprinkler washer that doubles as a ring and we're saved at the last minute?" Max had a large smile on his face. "Exciting? It was wonderful..." he murmured. He quickly turned his face when he felt himself blush. "Uh, we really shouldn't order Amici's anymore. There's something funny in that pizza...well, we do need to get all the rest we can to defeat the forces of evil, so goodnight, 99." 99 nodded and they got back into their sleeping bags. "Goodnight Max." "Yes Max...wasn't it exciting though?" her voice echoed through his mind. "Exciting? It was sheer bliss..." Max imagined acting out the dream in real life. "It was all wonderful, but I really doubt something like that would ever happen to me. I'm just not that lucky." He let out a small sigh before drifting off to sleep. The End