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Disclaimer: Scarecrow and Mrs. King and characters are the property of Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Productions. The plot is mine but the credit is theirs. Enjoy!

Lee and Amanda's past resurfaces after Birol escapes from prison and seeks revenge. All secrets are revealed. Takes place after the series ends.

Vengeance and Valor

Chapter 1

Amanda King was sitting at her desk in the Q bureau when a grave looking Lee Stetson entered followed by a concerned Billy Melrose and Francine Desmond.

"Lee?" Her whole face a question as she stood.

"Amanda you need to sit down." Lee told her.

"Why? What's happened? Sir?" She said in one quick sentence before sitting as she was advised. Her mind ran down the possibilities. If it weren't serious Billy would have asked her to come down to the bullpen.

"Amanda," Billy started as he leaned on her desk in front of her. There was no easy way to say this. "Addi Birol escaped from prison last night—"

"What! How? It was maximum security. They promised me…" She trailed off slightly embarrassed by her outburst. "I'm sorry sir, that won't happen again."

"It's okay Amanda, after what he put you through it's understandable." Billy replied. "Unfortunately that's not the worst news. He's got the word out that he wants you no matter what the price."

As the statement sunk in she looked to Lee. He silently knelt down to hug her not caring who was in the room. Amanda stiff at first as if not aware of Lee's embrace returned the hug. "Why me?"

"He blames us for his capture," Lee began "and feels he can get revenge on both of us by getting you."

"Amanda we're going to give you the best security." Billy told her.

"My family? How am I going to explain this?" She questioned.

"We're working on getting them to a safe house already. It's up to you how much they're told." Francine answered.

"I'm going to get some things for you. We're staying here in Billy's office tonight and we'll move early tomorrow morning." Lee finished as Amanda took it all in.

"Grab whatever you need here the bullpen is safer. Francine will wait for security." Billy explained.

"Is all this really necessary?"

"Amanda he's offering seven million dollars to whoever gets you to him alive. Word like that spreads fast and there's no telling who'll crawl out of the woodwork." Lee answered as Billy and Francine left the office. Amanda busied herself by gathering files together when Lee rested his hand on her arm. She wouldn't look at him. He cupped her chin and lifted her head. He could see the tears welling up in her eyes. "Hey come here." He pulled her to him as if trying to prove that not even Addi could tear her from him. "It's okay. I'm not going to let him get you." He tried to reassure himself at the same time.

Chapter 2

It had been a long afternoon. Amanda was staring at the phone on her makeshift desk when Lee came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. She gasped and jumped out of her chair. All eyes were on them. It seemed everyone had heard the news already and were all on edge. "Amanda, I'm sorry." Lee apologized.

"No Lee, it's okay. I'm just jumpy that's all." She answered. "I was thinking about calling mother."

"What are you going to tell her?"

"I'm not sure. I thought I'd tell her the truth about Birol and use IFF as a cover, but now I'm considering coming clean about the Agency."

"Really?"

"The reason I've kept it a secret is for their safety, now they're in danger anyway. The boys are old enough to keep this to themselves. They need to know." She reasoned.

"Whatever you think is best, I'll support you."

"I wish I could tell them in person."

"I know, it's not safe now. Use Billy's phone. They just finished setting up for tonight."

Amanda squeezed his hand and headed for Billy's office. "Sir? I was wondering if I could use your phone to call mother."

"Of course. Have you decided what you're going to tell her?" Melrose asked.

"Actually I'm going to tell her the truth." She said waiting for his reaction.

He smiled warmly, "I think it's for the best." He answered and she was grateful for the encouragement. "Take all the time you need."

"Thank you sir. I have a feeling this will take a while." She said as she realized how much explaining she had to do.

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Dotty couldn't take it any longer. Federal agents had charged into her home, ordered them to get some things together because they were in danger and took them to the Cumberland. That was it. No explanations, no attempts to ease the situation. She opened the door to the room they were in and immediately the guard turned around. "I've had it. I want some answers and I want to know where my daughter is." She demanded.

"I'm sorry Ma'am, we were told Mrs. King will call you and that she'll explain what's going on."

"Is she okay?" Jamie interrupted. "Why isn't she here?" Just then the phone rang. Phillip was sitting next to it and answered immediately.

"Hello? Mom! Where are you? What's going on?" He blurted out. Dotty closed the door and grabbed the phone from here grandson.

"Amanda, I demand to know what's going on." She told her daughter.

"I know mother. Are there three phones so that the boys can listen too?" Amanda asked.

Dotty looked around. "Yes. Boys pick up the other two phones." She ordered.

The boys obeyed and Jamie started talking "Mom where are you? I'm scared. Are you okay?"

Amanda smiled in spite of herself. Her youngest had her gift of being a motor mouth when he was nervous. "Jamie slow down. I need you all to listen right now. I have a lot to tell you and I don't want any of you to interrupt. I'll let you talk when I'm finished." She said with the seriousness touching her voice.

"Amanda you're scaring me." Dotty answered.

"I know mother just listen. There's a man after me. His name is Addi Birol—"

"The terrorist!" Dotty exclaimed. His face had been all over the paper a year ago.

"Mother I said no interruptions."

"I'm sorry it's just…"

"Please listen this is important. Birol wants revenge on Lee and me. We helped put him away last year. He's escaped and is offering seven million dollars to whoever can bring me to him." She paused trying to decide how to continue.

"How did you get mixed up in all this? Is it IFF?"

Amanda took a deep breath, "Mother IFF is just a cover. I'm a Federal Agent." She paused letting it sink in.

"You're a spy mom?!" Phillip asked.

"We don't say that." Amanda answered.

"How long have you been a sp— an agent?" Dotty corrected herself.

"Four years." Amanda replied quietly.

"Four years!"

"Technically. Officially two." She said evenly.

"Well let's get this straight. Have you been lying for two years or four?!"

"Mother please, could we discuss that later? I don't have the energy."

"Mom are you going to be okay?" A concerned Jamie asked.

"I'll be fine but I won't be staying with you. Moving you was just a precaution. Addi wants me but we were afraid they may use you to get me." She continued.

"Amanda, how can you be so calm!"

"It comes with the territory."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"Mom is this Bur- Baur- "

"Birol." Amanda corrected Jamie.

"Birol man mean?" He finished.

"He's a terrorist dork brain." Phillip interrupted

"Phillip please don't call your brother names. Addi's not cruel, but last time he had me he just wanted information not revenge."

"Last time!" Those words were not lost on her mother.

Amanda sighed. She hadn't meant that to slip out. Her family had enough to deal with. "Yes mother. Do you remember last year when Phillip and Jamie had that sock hop that I missed?"

"Yes that was the first time Lee came by… He said you were out of town for another week." Realization dawned on her, "you were a hostage for two weeks by a terrorist! And you weren't in the hospital because you were dehydrated."

"I was dehydrated mother." She answered.

"And all those bruises… you didn't fall down the stairs did you mom?" Phillip asked.

"No sweetie."

"He interrogated you didn't he!" Phillip's reasoning continued. Amanda's silence was his only answer.

"I don't want you guys to worry. I have the best security in the country and I promise to call you as soon as I can."

"How can we not worry? What if something does happen?"

"Mother I promise that if something does happen Billy will let you know, but nothing is going to happen."

"Billy? Billy Melrose! This keeps getting better doesn't it?"

"Mother please don't be angry. I'm sorry I had to drop this all on you. Please believe me when I say that I kept this all a secret for your safety."

"Amanda I'm sorry. I'm scared and this is a lot to deal with."

"I'll try and call tomorrow. I love you guys."

"I love you too mom." Phillip answered.

"Jamie? Are you still there?" Amanda asked.

"Ya- " his voice cracked and he was obviously crying.

"Sweetheart, Jamie it's going to be okay. I know this may not help, but I've been in worst situations than this. You need to trust me, I know what I'm doing and I'm in the best hands okay. I love you."

Jamie sniffed, "I love you too mom."

"Mother I will call." She promised.

"Alright. Be careful." Dotty said.

"Good bye, I'll talk to you later." She hung up and took a deep breath. "That could have gone worse." She said to herself. She looked around the office and realized there were two cots set up for tonight and she smiled in spite of everything. Billy knew Lee wouldn't leave her side.

Chapter 3

Lee walked into Billy's office. It was late. He and Billy were going over the plan for the morning. Tonight Billy and Francine were going to stand guard outside the office while Lee stayed with Amanda. Francine insisted on staying in the bullpen herself. Despite the way she acted Lee knew Francine considered Amanda a good friend. "Amanda- " she was sound asleep. They had been married for about eight months. It was a secret marriage so they didn't do much sleeping when they were alone together but Lee loved to watch her. He brushed a piece of hair from her face and lay down on the other cot making sure his gun was in reach.

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Lee woke suddenly by a scream. He grabbed his gun and looked over at Amanda. She was thrashing around obviously having a nightmare. The door flew open Billy and Francine rushed in. Lee put his gun down, ran to her side, and put his arms around her. She was still half-asleep and struggled against his hold. He was afraid he'd hurt her she was fighting so hard; he released her. "Don't touch me!" She ordered. "Lee!"

"Amanda it is me." He tried to convince her. He turned her and made her look at him. As recognition set in she embraced him.

"Lee, please don't let him get me. I can't go through that again. Please don't let him touch me again." She pleaded. He squeezed her hard and looked up at Billy and Francine.

"We won't let anything happen to you." He promised willing it to be true. Convinced Amanda was in no danger Billy and Francine backed out giving them some privacy. "Amanda I know you never talk about Birol, but maybe it will help." She was silent and Lee wasn't sure if she was considering until he looked down and saw the fear in her eyes.

"Lee I know you never pushed the issue, I also know you stole my debriefing tapes." She answered with a hint of a smile. "Billy told me he had to write you up for it." She explained.

"I'm sorry, I needed to know," he replied hesitantly.

"I know I'm not angry. It made it easier on me. I didn't think I could tell you everything that went on those two weeks."

"Why not?"

"I knew you felt responsible for it and having to look you in the eyes and tell you how he hit me and how he threatened to…" she stopped unable to say the word "…rape me when he caught you. I can still feel his touch." She shivered against him. "Lee" She looked up at him with determination in her eyes, "if he does get me—"

"He won't." He said resolutely.

She put a hand on his chest and looked into his eyes, "if he does, please promise me you won't go after him."

"Amanda…"

"Lee just promise me because if he gets us both again, this time he'll follow thru."

"Amanda I won't just sit back and let him keep you."

"Fine. Do what ever you want; coordinate the strike team but don't physically come in after me. That's exactly what he wants. Please promise." She pleaded.

He knew she was right, but when the time came, if the time came he corrected himself, would he be able to restrain himself? "Alright, I promise."

"I'd rather die than make you watch…"

"That's enough of that kind of talk Amanda Stetson."

"I've also decided that if it comes down to someone getting hurt or Addi getting me I'm giving myself up."

"What! Amanda you're not thinking straight. You can't just give up like that!"

"Lee I could never live with myself if someone got killed because I was afraid to face Birol." She replied evenly.

"There's more to it than you facing Birol. He'll torture you and—"

"Lee I know better than you what he's capable of." That silenced him. Lee knew she was right again. He also knew that he would do the same thing. As if reading his thoughts she continued, "you'd do the same thing to save Billy, Francine, or me. You know it."

"Alright. Let's try and get some sleep tonight." He kissed the top of her head and started to get up.

"Please just hold me for a little longer."

"There's nothing more I'd rather do," he answered and embraced her again.

To be continued…