"You were planning on sending him off on the Love Boat, and leave me trapped here in Greenland?!" Kit shouted, making even Logan wince at the pitch. "I don't bloody well think so!"

"Look, Kit, this has already been set up," Fury protested. "This is a very restricted cruise. Logan is going as a bodyguard for a very important person, not on a pleasure trip. There's no way I can get you on that boat, even if I wanted to."

"Then I suggest you take me home, Major Fury, because if you try to imprison me here, I will either find a way onto that boat or I will gladly kill someone in the process. Preferably you." She and Fury were both leaning on the table, glaring furiously at each other, while Logan sat back and watched.

"'Scuse me," he started, holding up a finger to interrupt.

"What?!" they both snapped, whirling to glower at him. He fought the desire to smile as Kit sighed and visibly relaxed, straightening and stepping back.

"Since no one's supposed t' know I'm there as a bodyguard, Nicholas, wouldn't my cover be more believable if I brought a wife along?" Kit smiled slowly, then laughed softly, her arms crossed over her chest. "Trust me, anyone seein' her in a bikini ain't gonna be payin' any attention t' me."

Fury opened his mouth to protest, closed it, opened it again, then pounded his fist on the table and spun away. He turned back, a muscle in his jaw jumping as he ground his teeth.

"All right, Wolverine. You and your little lady win. But, you blow this job," he warned, pointing a finger at Logan, "and I'll kill the both of you myself. Keep her outta trouble and outta the way," he added, moving the finger to point at Kit.

"I almost killed the last guy who said that t' me," Logan growled in warning, pushing himself out of the chair. "She can take care o' herself and I'll be glad t' have her at my back. 'Sides," he added with an infuriating grin, "in case ya hadn't noticed, Nicholas, it's kinda hard t' make the 'little lady' do anythin' she don't wanna do."

"No kidding," Fury mumbled as they headed for the door. "The helicopter leaves in two hours to take you to Miami, Colonel Logan," he called to them. "The cruise leaves tomorrow at noon. Make sure she's properly...'outfitted' for the trip."

"Thank you, Major Fury," she replied with a salute and a smile. "You won't be sorry."

"Honey, I already am," he sighed as the door closed behind them.

Logan briefed her on the rest of the mission as they flew to Miami. They were to protect a man and his wife who were taking the cruise to a secret meeting of world leaders taking place on a small Caribbean island where unbreakable security already waited. Logan and Kit's job was to get them safely to the island and see them into the care of the waiting security team. No one on the ship was to be aware of their real identities or the true purpose of the cruise.

SHIELD had provided Logan with a communicator and a plan was in place for emergency evacuation, in case their cover or that of their client was blown. If the signal was given, a SHIELD transport and a full support team would arrive within minutes to take them and their client to the island directly.

Logan and Kit boarded the boat with the other passengers and found their room next door to their client's. He and his wife had been brought aboard earlier amidst tight security and four dark-suited bodyguards remained behind, two to work the days and two to stand by for the nights. More subtle was the presence of Logan and Kit, appearing to be regular passengers on a pleasure cruise, but always nearby. Though many eyebrows were raised in speculation about the guards, most of the passengers entertained themselves by trying to guess if the couple were millionaires, famous or just eccentric.

The second day out, Kit lay out beside the pool, keeping her eyes and other senses on the wife. The sunglasses hid Kit's unusual eyes, and, as Logan had told her it would, her body distracted many men. When she dropped her robe onto a deck chair and stretched, one of the poolside waiters walked into a pole and another man earned himself an elbow in his ample gut from his disgruntled wife.

"Suits like that should be outlawed," a slim blond commented jealously to her friend, sipping a mai tai.

"Honey, it's not the suit," the other replied, shaking her head. "It's how it's filled out."

Kit heard the comment across the deck and smiled as she stretched out on the deck chair and apparently fell asleep in the hot sun. In actuality, she tracked the movements of every person on the deck, including Mrs. Adams, a petite woman in her early forties, with short blonde hair and a youthful figure.

Kit was alert as the woman slid into the water to swim laps, leaving her iced tea melting on a chair-side table, and wondered why the security guard was wandering across the deck. She understood as he brushed against the table and reached out to steady the glass. Kit's eyes and nose caught the scent of the heavy narcotic he slipped into the tea before he walked away to resume his position. Kit rose to saunter casually toward the pool, starting down the stairs into the water as her client started up.

"Mrs. Adams, don't finish your tea," she whispered as they passed. "It's been drugged."

She slid into the water and started to swim a leisurely lap as Dorothy Adams stumbled on the stairs, catching herself with the railing. Kit rose from the water, climbing back up the stairs just as Dorothy Adams was cautiously lifting the glass to her nose. Moving quickly without appearing to, Kit changed direction and bumped forcibly into her, spilling the drink to the deck with the crash of broken glass.

"Oh! I'm terribly sorry," Kit apologized, picking up Mrs. Adams' towel to blot the ice-cold tea from the woman's front.

She met the wide blue eyes with a very small nod as a crewmember appeared to clean up the glass and make certain no one had been hurt. "I'm afraid my foot slipped on the wet deck, ma'am. I am terribly sorry. Let me buy you another drink," she offered as the bodyguard stepped up behind her.

"Really, that's not necessary. It was an accident. They happen," Mrs. Adams replied with what she hoped was a normal smile. "It was an accident," she repeated to her bodyguard who, after another moment, moved away. "I'm Dorothy Adams."

Kit took her hand with a smile.

"Kathleen Keith," she replied easily. "I'd really like to buy you another drink, Mrs. Adams. May I join you?"

"Please." Kit picked up her towel and robe, then returned to take the chair next to the other woman, calling a waiter over to order two glasses of iced tea.

"How are you enjoying the cruise, Mrs. Adams?" Kit asked, aware that the security guard had moved closer. She could smell his frustration and anger.

"Dori, please. The weather has been absolutely lovely so far, Miss Keith. Are you traveling alone?"

"Actually, no. My husband and I are sailing together. And please, call me Kit. Everyone does."

"Really? Where is he? I can't believe he would let a woman like you out of his sight for long." Surprised at the compliment, Kit chuckled and blushed a little.

"Thank you, Dori. I'm certain he's around somewhere. And you? Are you sailing with anyone besides the ape in the suit over there?" Dori laughed aloud at the description, and laid her hand over Kit's, who smiled.

"Oh, I like you! Yes, my husband and I are also sailing together. The ape was his idea. I wish it wasn't necessary. I'm very glad I met you, Kit. I was afraid this cruise would be so boring, with no one to talk to."

"What of your husband?" Dori sighed and took a drink of her fresh tea.

"I don't expect to see much of him, to be honest. The last I knew, he was buried in paperwork in our cabin. Why are you on the cruise, Kit?" she asked suddenly, and Kit smiled, patting Dori's hand.

"Isn't it obvious?" she replied with meaning. "Would you like to find a buffet, Dori? I'm suddenly starving. Maybe we'll even find our missing spouses. I've a hunch where mine may be."

Both women rose and donned their robes and sandals, wandering away from the pool. Kit knew the guard had fallen in behind them and smiled grimly at his agitation. This was going to get more interesting than she had expected.