Disclaimers: The characters in this story are copyrighted by Warner Brothers and Shoot The Moon Productions. I make no money from these characters; I simply like to share their world for a short time.
A/N As happens so often, another song has taken up residence in my head . . . this time it's Something Just Like This (Chainsmokers with Coldplay). Hope you enjoy! (Constructive reviews are always welcome.) A special thanks to Bruce Boxleitner and Kate Jackson—as well as the rest of the cast—for portraying these characters so wonderfully.
How stupid could he be? While he was over the moon that he had been able to find Amanda and rescue her from Addi Birol, he couldn't believe how he had finally proposed to her. Not only that, but rather than riding to her rescue on a white horse, so to speak, he had showed up in black fatigues that were covered in disgusting slime. While he regretted his past relationships with all those women, he did still consider himself somewhat of a romantic. And as romantic proposals went, his had been the most unromantic one he could have ever imagined. He had meant every word of it; every word had come from his heart. He knew Amanda had understood, but what a fiasco.
Well, at least he had purchased a beautiful solitaire engagement ring. The salesclerk had even complimented his choice when he had finally decided on the simple but elegant ring a few weeks ago. He hadn't known exactly when and where he was going to pop the question, but he had been absolutely certain that it would be sometime soon. But in the middle of a life and death case? Smooth, Stetson, really smooth he admonished himself.
The ring currently sat in its beribboned blue box on her desk in the Q Bureau while he hid quietly in the upstairs men's room. They really hadn't had time to talk privately after their rescue from Birol. There was, of course, the mandatory debriefing, after which Amanda had quickly headed home to Arlington. He knew she had to get home to the boys and her mother. It was bad enough that she had been away from them for days while she was captive. He wasn't about to keep her from her family any longer. And since it had been after midnight till he was finished with his debrief, stopping by and tapping on her kitchen window had been out of the question.
He suddenly heard her light footsteps coming down the hall; his heart felt like it was taking up residence in his throat.
That all changed, however, the moment he slowly opened the Q Bureau door and saw her sitting there with the ring in her hand. As he came around the desk and into her line of sight, their eyes locked and both broke out into wide smiles. Taking the ring from her, he gently placed it on the third finger of her left hand, then just as gently kissed her lips.
"This is all real," sighed Amanda quietly. "Deep down I knew it was, but after so many hallucinations in the past week . . . "
"Don't ever doubt my love," he pleaded. "I just wish I had waited and proposed in a more romantic way. Hell, I wish I had been able to rescue you properly instead of showing up as a captive myself—not to mention covered in slime."
"Lee Stetson!" she exclaimed. "Don't you ever apologize for rescuing me . . . no matter the circumstances. I'm here because you took a chance on finding me. You could have gotten yourself killed, you realize that! I don't need a superhero; I was never a fan of men who have to wear tights to get attention . . . although I bet you would look better than Superman." She grinned as she looked him up and down, allowing her eyes to linger on his finer assets.
"But A-man-da . . . "
"No . . . no buts . . . no ifs . . . This is exactly what I want. We have each other to turn to . . . to count on . . . to rely on . . . to kiss . . . and to love. And that's exactly what I want and need."
"I love you, Mrs. King."
"And I love you, Mr. Stetson," she said as they shared a tender kiss.