Legal note - I don't own these characters just took them out of the Shoot the Moon production company toy box and played with them.

Story takes place mid season 3

Still trying to figure out the rating system but think K+ is right.

Lee broke into the cabin and saw Tony sprawled out on the floor with a broken lamp near by. He looked over at Amanda trying to contain the fear in his voice "Come on Amanda we need to get out of here now!" She simply nodded her head and reached for his hand.

Lee pulled Amanda along as they ran through woods his mind set on putting as much distance between them and Zicaro's compound as possible. They ran silently for over an hour before Amanda yelled "Lee I need to stop. I'm sorry."

Scanning the area he saw a small cave that would hopefully provide enough protection for the night. "Do you think you can make it to that cave. I think we can stay there for the night."

"Yea, I think so."

It was a bit harder of a climb up to the cave then Lee thought it would be but when they made it he allowed himself a small sigh of relief. He was pretty sure they would be safe until morning.

"Amanda?"

"Yea?"

"How did you end up on Zicaro's compound?"

Amanda was silent the adrenalin from the escape was starting to wear off and her body was starting to scream at her. She knew she had to keep the pain from her voice Lee had enough to worry about without him finding out how hurt she was. Steadying herself against the pain she answered him.

"Mr. Melrose sent me to the drop sight to meet up with Agent Hoff but it didn't go as planned."

"Obviously." Lee snapped at her.

"Look it wasn't my fault. I know you probably don't believe that but it wasn't. I knew something was wrong as soon as the drop started but... Never nind I'd rather not talk about it and it won't change or help the situation we are in now." Amanda responded clearly angry but she wasn't sure who she was angriest with Lee, Agent Hoff or herself for not getting away sooner.

Lee looked over at Amanda he couldn't really see her in the dark cave but he could hear the anger in her voice. "I'm sorry you're right." He reached for her and pulled her into a hug feeling her stiffen against him he looked down at her.

"Hey are you OK?"

Amanda took a big breath again to steady herself against the pain "Yea just a little tired. Sorry."

The two of them just stood there holding each other lost in their own thoughts. Lee wondering how long it would take Zacaro's men to realize they were gone and Amanda thinking about the events that led to her hiding in a cave with Lee.

Amanda sat at Lee's desk trying to make sense of his expense reports muttering to herself "I swear Phillip and Jamie wrote better in kindergarten than this man."

"Talking to yourself Amanda surely you know what they say about that." Amanda looked up and saw Francine smirking at her.

"No Francine why don't you tell me."

"Never mind. Billy needs to see you." Francine responded clearly annoyed.

Billy heard Amanda's soft knock "Enter"

"Morning sir. You wanted to see me?"

Billy smiled at Amanda "Yes, I have a job for you."

"Really?"

"Yes. I need you to meet Agent Hoff in Fredericksburg he has some information on Zicaro's operation. I just need you to get what he has and bring it back."

Amanda's sat up a little straighter at the mention of Zicaro. "Sir isn't that the group Lee's been working on?"

"Yes. Both Lee and Agent Hoff have been working on this and I'm hoping the information you bring back today will be enough to bring them home.

"Amanda nodded her head "Me too sir."

Amanda silently went over the recognition codes in her head as she did she wondered and not for the first time who comes up with these. 'Is there a whole department devoted to coming up with these nonsense phrases or does Mr. Melrose just pull them out of the air.' Shaking her head deciding not to think about it anymore she took a sip of her coffee and watched the door.

She remembered meeting Agent Hoff a few months ago he seemed nice enough but as usual Lee became agitated when when he started to pay attention to her which always confused her. He'd had clearly stated on numerous occasions that they were just friends nothing more so why does it bug him so much?

Amanda looked down at her watch noticing her contact was half hour late and wondered how long she should continue to wait when she heard the bell over the door looking up she saw Agent Hoff heading towards her and sitting next to her at the counter.

"Hello lovely weather we are having today."

"Yes, but thought I saw..." Amanda stopped her response when she saw two more men enter the coffee shop. Something about them made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up she knew something was wrong.

She looked back at her contact and quietly asked "friends of yours?"

Amanda wasn't prepared for what happened next Agent Hoff shoved the files at her and ran from the coffee shop. The two men didn't even bother following him one man took the seat just vacated and the other sat next to her on the other side.

"I think you have something that belongs to us."

Amanda in shock at what had just happened looked at the man who had spoken to her. "I have no idea what these files are or who that man was he just sat down and shoved these papers at me. My Mother always told me never trust men who just sit next to you but I thought she was just being silly. Now I wished I had listened to her but how would I ever meet anyone if I didn't trust people well no I know I can't trust everyone but he looked harmless enough."

She knew she was rambling but she was scared. She also wished Lee was here. Of course if Lee was here she wouldn't be in this situation because he wouldn't have abandoned her.

Both men looked at her slightly confused then the same man spoke again "The files lady hand them over."

Amanda started to slide them over when the other man grabbed her arm "I think Tony will want to talk to her."

Amanda looked at the other man "Look you can have the files I just want to go home." She wasn't sure if she was breaking some rule by agreeing to give up the files but it seemed like the safest idea. She knew Lee would figure out something was up when Agent Hoff didn't come back and get out of there. At least that's what she had hoped.

"Your not going home right now. My friend is right Tony will definitely want to meet you."

One of the men threw a few dollars on the counter and lead her to their car. Amanda tried to come up with a plan during the drive but everything she came up with seemed to dangerous. She would just have to wait for the opportunity to present itself and hope it wouldn't be to late.

When they reached the compound one of the men roughly pulled her from the car causing her to let a small yelp escape from her lips. She felt like he was pulling her arm right out of its socket. She tried hard not to look around afraid she would see Lee and blow his cover but she did see him she also saw the flash of anger in his eyes. Thinking he was angry at her she put her head down so she wouldn't accidentally look at him again. The two men shoved her towards a cabin and knocked on the door.

Amanda closed her eyes praying that some plan would materialize. When she opened her eyes she looked up at the biggest man she had ever seen. He wasn't just tall which she guessed was at least 6'8 but he was built like a tank.

He just looked down at her then looked at his men who brought her. "Who's this?"

"She was meeting with Hoffer in town he was giving her these." One of the men said while shoving the files into Tony's hands. She wasn't sure which of the two men were speaking she just kept staring up at Tony.

Tony looked back down at her "Tie her up. I'll deal with her later."

Amanda wasn't sure how long it had been since she had been tied up to a chair and left but the fear of Tony returning made her push everything else from her mind and just work on freeing herself from the ropes. She could feel her wrists being rubbed raw as she struggled against them. Breathing a small sigh of relief as she managed to free one of her hands but her victory was short lived when she heard the door opening and Tony walking in.

Tony slowly walked towards her smiling. Amanda watched as he came towards her noticing the smile on his face she began to feel bile rising up her throat. He cupped her chin and forced her head up "Who do you work for little one?"

Amanda closed her eyes and willed herself to stay quiet. Her brain was rambling in a million different directions but no answer she gave him was going to help her. She kept her eyes closed and waited for the hit she knew would come.

"I'll ask again little one. Who do you work for?" This time his question was punctuated with a slap across her face.

Even though she knew it was coming she wasn't prepared for the amount of pain the slap brought. She opened her eyes and saw stars floating in front of her.

He stared at her clearly surprised she was still conscious. Figuring this might be her only chance she finished freeing herself from the ropes and sprang from the chair running towards the only weapon she saw in the room but before she could get her hands on the lamp she felt Tony's arms wrap around her and pull her down her head bouncing off the floor.

"Not very smart little one. All you had to do was tell me who you work for and we could have avoided all this." His statement ended with a punch to her stomach knocking the wind out of her.

She laid there for a few minutes struggling to get air into her lungs and just watched him.

"Get up little one."

Amanda struggled to her feet. The whole room felt like it was spinning and the tears running down her face weren't helping either. She stood there not sure what was coming next. Tony spun her around so her back was to him.

"You're a lot stronger than you look little one but how much can you take before you beg for mercy."

Amanda felt three quick punches to her back. The punches made her stumble forward she could almost reach the lamp but before she could grab it Tony spun her around again his hands wrapped tightly against her arms.

She knew she couldn't take much more keeping her eyes on him she did the only thing that came to her mind and raised her knee as hard as she could into his groin.

Tony managed to throw her against the wall before he doubled over in pain. Amanda let out of groan as she hit the wall but her hands managed to grab for the lamp using all the strength she had left she raised it above Tony's head and let it crash over his skull. Watching him fall to the ground she just stood there. Her mind became blank not sure of what to do next. Her body screamed at her to lay down and her brain was urging her to flee but she couldn't seem to manage either function.

Amanda heard the door open but she didn't care all she could do was stare at where Tony lay. It took a few minutes before she realized someone was calling her name and when it did register all she heard was Lee saying "out...now" she nodded to him and reached for his hand. Her brain cheering that the right decision had been made at last.