Title: All Our Secrets
Author: Christine L. Davis
E-Mail: nilescc@yahoo.com
Archive: Anywhere, but please let me know where, I like to see!
Summary: Everybody has secrets: Lee, Amanda...even Dotty. But secrets as big as these can't be kept hidden for long.
Rated: PG
Disclaimers: The characters of Lee, Amanda and any other familiar folks belong to Warner Brothers, Shoot the Moon and whomever else is a Power-That-Be. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's Notes: This story takes place about a year-and-a-half after the actual show ended.
Feedback: Greatly appreciated, both constructive criticism and high praise. Flames will be immediately extinguished utilizing my handy-dandy Secret-Agent-Fan-Fiction-Flame-Douser.
Many Thanks: To Larry (lde@alaska.net) for his beta reading and for the inspiration he provides.
~~~~~All Our Secrets~~~~~
"Amanda, dear, I have to talk to you." Dotty's waspish voice called out.
"Oh, Mother, can it wait until after work? I had to help Phillip find his AP Geometry book before school and now I'm late."
"Amanda..."
Amanda froze in place. The only time she'd ever heard her mother use that tone of voice was when... Her hand was reaching for the doorknob to the front door, but Amanda pulled it away, knowing that whatever her mother wanted, it was serious. She took the three steps down into the kitchen rather slowly.
Dotty stood leaning against the bar, her back to her precious daughter as tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced them away, knowing that Amanda would never understand...well, she might understand but she'd never let Dotty go. After several moments, she'd composed herself enough to turn and offer Amanda a steady smile.
"Oh, darling, don't look so worried. Come sit at the table with me." Dotty sat in the breakfast nook and waited until Amanda had joined her.
Amanda's voice was quiet and full of fear. "Mother, that tone of voice you're using used...the last time you sounded that way was when Daddy died."
Dotty covered her daughter's hand with her own. "Oh, no, no, nobody's died this time, I promise. My darling, sweet baby girl." Dotty's eyes misted over as she lightly touched Amanda's cheek. "Amanda, I have to take a trip."
"A trip? What kind of trip? Mother, are you in some sort of trouble? Because if you are, I can help, I-"
"Trouble? Where in the world would you get that idea?"
"Well, you seem very preoccupied."
"I am. Dear, something's happened on my side of the family and I need to take care of it."
"Mother, your side of the family is *my* side of the family, too. Shouldn't I help you? Or at least know what's happening?"
Dotty sighed, giving her daughter a knowing look. "Amanda. How many times have you disappeared for one night, two nights, three nights, without a note, without a phone call, no word whatsoever?"
Amanda grimaced.
"You go missing for days and days and all these Federal agents are looking for you, but you never tell me exactly what it's about. You keep your relationship with Lee a secret and expect me to never ask questions."
Amanda gasped.
"Yes, Amanda, I know you and Lee are involved. And not just involved, but *involved*."
"But how-"
"I'm your mother. I'm also a woman. I know true love between two people when I see it."
"Mother, let me explain-"
"No, you don't have to. That's my point don't you see? I don't know exactly what it is you do at I.F.F., I don't even know if that's the real name of who you work for-"
"Mother!"
"-but I never pry. Well, not too much. Believe me, Amanda, if I wanted to know what really happens in your life, I would get it out of you. But I've left it alone. I let you live your life, now I'm just asking that this once you let me live mine."
"But Mother, I can help you."
"I know you *want* to help, Amanda, but you must trust your mother. I shouldn't be gone for too long, and I promise I'll call, which is more than I can say for you."
Amanda frowned. All her years of lying and sneaking around were finally catching up with her and taking a good chunk out of her hind end. Her mother was right. How could she expect her to be forthright with her when she had been lying both about her profession and her husband for so long?
"Mother, I'm gonna worry. Can you at least tell me where you're going?"
"Don't worry, Amanda, I'll be fine. And no, I'd rather not tell you. Maybe another time, but not just now. Trust me?"
"Of course I trust you, Mother. And I love you. Please be careful."
"I love you, too, Amanda. And I will. I should be back in a week or so."
A horn honked somewhere outside.
"Oh, that will be my cab." Dotty rose from her seat and ran up the steps to her room.
"Your cab?!?" Amanda hopped up and ran to the bottom of the stairs. "You're leaving *now*?!? But, Mother-"
Dotty came back down the steps with a suitcase and a carry-on bag. "Yes, dear, I just found out about...it...late last night."
Amanda swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat. "So I *did* hear the phone ring around midnight."
"Yes, that's right. I'm sorry to rush, but I really must go." Dotty headed for the front door as the cab honked again.
"Mother, I-" Amanda had a bad feeling about this. She didn't want her mother to walk out that door, but really, what choice did she have? Her mother was an adult, and she had a right to have a few secrets. Who was Amanda to begrudge anyone secrets, after all?
Dotty turned and smiled at Amanda. "I'll be fine," she whispered.
"I love you, Mother." Amanda embraced her mother, squeezing her a little too hard and holding on for a little too long. She had a *really* bad feeling.
"I love you, too, don't ever forget that." Dotty pulled away and opened the front door. "I'll see you soon, Panda."
Tears welled up in Amanda's eyes. Her mother hadn't called her "Panda" since she was a teenager. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. As Amanda watched her mother make her way down the sidewalk and pass through the front gate, she knew she shouldn't let her go, she had to convince her to stay or to get help...something...*anything*.
"Mother!" Amanda called as she rushed down the front sidewalk.
But it was too late. Dotty had hurried to the cab and gotten inside. As Amanda reached the front gate, the cab sped away.
"Mother?" Amanda whispered, the tears spilling over onto her cheeks. "Mother."
Lee whistled...yes, whistled...as he rounded the corner onto Maplewood Drive. It was a nameless tune which had never been written, but it didn't matter. He'd been thrilled when Amanda had told him Friday that she was taking her Grand Wagoneer into the shop that afternoon. He knew the shop wouldn't be open Monday morning before they needed to be at work, so he'd offered to pick her up. Any excuse to spend extra minutes with her was cause for celebration. She'd agreed to the ride and that had been that. Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to spend one second with his wife over the weekend, so he was truly looking forward to seeing her radiant beauty this morning.
Amanda stood transfixed, staring at the point where her mother's cab had disappeared. The silver Corvette pulled up right in front of her, but she barely noticed. Lee hopped out of the car, closing the door behind him, and walked over to her.
"Amanda?"
She didn't answer.
He touched her arm. "Amanda?"
She jumped about a foot, then turned and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest. He could feel her body shaking ever-so-slightly and knew she was crying. Very concerned, both about Amanda and about neighbors possibly watching them, Lee led Amanda up the sidewalk to her front door and helped her inside. They walked into the kitchen, where she grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes and nose.
"Amanda, what is it? What happened?" Lee finally asked.
"I don't know." Amanda sank into the chair occupied mere moments earlier by her mother.
Lee had never fully understood odd mood swings women had, but this one took the cake. She was crying, something was wrong, but she didn't know what? "Amanda, tell me, why are you so upset?" He sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her near.
"Well, the strangest thing just happened. I was on my way out the door and my mother wanted to tell me something, so I sat down with her...right here in these chairs...but she wouldn't tell me exactly what was going on, she just said she had to leave for a while and would be back and then she made me feel guilty about all the secrets I've kept from her, I know she didn't do it on purpose, but I couldn't make her tell me what was going on when I never tell her anything and now she's gone...oh, Lee!" Amanda's rambling ended with her turning her face into Lee's suit jacket and crying silent tears.
Lee was very worried now. Whether or not she knew it, Mrs. West was his mother-in-law and as such, he loved her and cared about what was happening to her. Besides, she treated him so well and helped to make him feel like a real member of her family. He let Amanda cry for a few minutes, then pushed her back enough to look into her eyes.
"Please tell me what you mean. She's gone?"
Amanda nodded, using her leftover tissue to dab at her eyes. "Yes, she just left in a cab. I wanted to make her stay, I just have such a bad feeling about this, but I didn't get to her in time and Lee, what right do I really have to keep her here? She's an adult, she's older than I am, I have to respect that...but I'm frightened. I don't know why. I'm really frightened."
"Why don't you tell me absolutely everything that happened, okay?"
Amanda related her and her mother's odd exchange to Lee as she poured them both a glass of milk. He drank up, listening intently to every word. When she'd finished, he asked, "That's it? That's all she said?"
"Yes." Amanda had calmed considerably as she relayed the story. Now she sat next to Lee feeling rather silly for her antics. "I'm sorry, I'm acting like a little girl whose Mommy ran off with the milk man."
Lee chuckled softly, glad to see his wife wasn't as upset now. "I don't know what to tell you, Amanda. You know your mother better than I do. Do you think there's cause to be concerned for her safety? Because if you say 'yes', then we'll do what we can to find her."
Amanda smiled lovingly at her handsome husband. She could always count on him to be there. "Thank you. I don't know, I just can't shake the feeling that something's wrong."
"Maybe that's just because your mother is keeping something from you."
"Yeah, for the first time in my life. It's such an odd feeling."
She became quiet, lost in thought. Lee wondered if she was going to be okay, simultaneously wondering what was up with his mother-in-law.
"You know, I'll bet this is how Mother felt every time I lied to her. How awful."
Lee embraced her once again. "Hey, it'll be okay. I'm sure your mother will be back before you know it. But, how does this affect the boys?"
"Oh! The boys! They don't even know she's gone! Well, I guess I'm going to have to be home by three every day so they're not alone after school. Do you think Mr. Melrose will understand?"
He stood and helped her to her feet. "You know, I don't think he'd mind if you called him Billy."
"Oh, Lee."
"I know, I know. But you are an agent now. All his agents call him Billy."
"Not unless he asks me to."
"Actually, I think he likes you calling him 'Mr. Melrose'. It makes him feel important." Amanda laughed, exactly the reaction Lee had hoped for. "But don't worry, as far as I know there's nothing on our current case load that requires your presence after three."
"Oh, good. Shall we?"
"We shall." Lee grinned and escorted Amanda to his car. He then realized that he'd not yet received his morning kiss from her, something to which he'd become very accustomed. So when he got into the car, he looked at her and loudly cleared his throat.
"What?" she asked. "My hair standing on end?"
He shook his head and pouted.
"Oh!" Amanda blushed when she realized what he wanted. Looking furtively around the car to be sure no nosy neighbors were close by, she then leaned in and touched her lips to his. As she did so, her heart began beating wildly and most of the concern she'd felt for her mother's whereabouts only a few moments before fell by the wayside. Lee could make her brain stop working without even trying to. His heart was going a mile a minute as well. It had been far too long since they'd made love, and they were both feeling the ache.
Turning back so that she was once again facing the front of the car, Amanda's face remained completely straight as she said, "We'd better go before the stick shift has company."
Lee burst out laughing as he started the Corvette. His wife still had many surprises for him. Her risqué sense of humor was something he'd never dreamed she'd have, but have it she did, and it was hilarious. He couldn't wait to discover her other hidden talents...well, even more than he'd already discovered.
Amanda grinned. Only she could make her husband laugh like that, and she reveled in that knowledge. There were actually several things that he himself had told her only she could make him do, but those were classified. Her grin widened as she thought of a few of them.
"What are you smirking about over there, Mrs. Stetson?"
Erasing the smile, her face once again went straight. "Nothing," she replied nonchalantly.
"I'm coming over tonight, you'd better watch yourself."
"Oh, you are, are you?"
"Yes. The boys will go to bed eventually. And then so will we."
She couldn't help but smile again, turning her head to gaze at his profile. How she could love him anymore, she didn't know. "Is that all you think about, Mister?"
"This from the woman who made the stick shift comment."
She blushed. "Touché."
They arrived at The Agency and went inside, intending to head past Mrs. Marsten and get a little hugging time before Billy called them in. Unfortunately they were too late for that.
"Mr. Stetson, Mrs. King, Mr. Melrose would like to see you."
Lee groaned as she gave he and Amanda their passes.
Amanda poked him as she smiled at the woman. "Thank you, Mrs. Marsten!"
She waved at Amanda as the younger woman pulled Lee to the elevator by the bottom of his suit coat. Before too long they'd disappeared inside and the doors had closed behind them. Mrs. Marsten smiled broadly. Who would've thought...the great Scarecrow, fallen for a housewife. She was pleased as punch.
"You'd better stop that," Amanda admonished once the elevator doors had closed. "Mrs. Marsten's gonna suspect something."
He sighed. "I know, I know. I was just hoping for a few moments alone with you." He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss as the elevator came to a stop.
"We'll get our chance, don't worry," she whispered. Amanda sure did love the effect she had on this man. Of course, she loved the man, too.
The two of them walked shoulder-to-shoulder down the hall and into the Bullpen, across the length of the Bullpen to Billy's closed office door. Lee tapped on the door. Billy motioned them in. As they entered, they saw he was on the phone.
"Well, where is she?" he barked.
Amanda and Lee exchanged glances, praying they hadn't done anything wrong as they each wracked their brains for recent blunders.
"That's not *good* enough, dammit!"
Amanda's eyes widened as she sat down across from Billy. Lee remained standing. He knew their boss didn't often curse in front of his subordinates. Something bad was going down, he could feel it.
"Get in there and find her! Now!" Billy slammed the phone down and rubbed his forehead. Suddenly remembering his agents were in the room, he looked up and forced a smile. "Good morning, Lee, Amanda."
"Good morning, Sir!" Amanda smiled.
"Is it, Billy?" Lee asked.
"No, Scarecrow." Billy sat down and seemed to collect himself. "It's not a particularly good morning. Beauty's gone missing, Lee."
Lee's face drained of all color. Amanda looked from one man to the other as they stared into each others' eyes. She cleared her throat, forcing them to turn toward her.
"Excuse me...Beauty?"
Lee quickly composed himself. He could tell Billy was too upset to confront this head-on, so he explained it to Amanda. "Beauty is the code name of one of our best covert operators. Her partner was known as "The Beast," but Beast passed away three years ago, killed in the line of duty. Beauty's been on her own since then, continuing the work she and Beast began, refusing to take another partner."
"Where is...was...she?"
Billy cut in. "Last word was from London. She was with someone you actually know already, Amanda...Emily Farnsworth."
"Emily? Emily knows this Beauty?"
The men nodded.
"How come I've never heard of her? I mean, I *have* been here for a while."
"She's so top secret that only a handful of us even know she exists," Lee replied. "Billy and I don't even know what she looks like."
"Lee, I want you and Amanda on this case. You're to be on the first flight to London. Meet with Emily, find out-"
"Sir?, Uh, excuse me, Sir." Amanda interrupted.
"Yes, Amanda, what is it?"
"Sir, I can't go to England right away. My mother left on a trip this morning, I don't have anyone to watch my boys other than me."
Lee made a face. He'd forgotten about his stepsons needing someone to watch them.
Billy looked at Lee, then at Amanda, then back to Lee. He *needed* Scarecrow on this one, and he knew Scarecrow worked better with Mrs. King by his side. They just *had* to go. And now.
"Amanda, how would you feel if Jeannie and I offered to watch your boys for you?"
"Sir?"
"Billy?"
"Well, Jeannie *does* teach at your sons' school."
"She does?!?" Lee and Amanda exclaimed in unison.
"Yes, I thought you knew that!" Billy said to Amanda.
"No, Sir, I didn't. The boys don't often talk about their teachers. And I guess I just never asked. What does she teach?"
"American Government."
Lee and Amanda burst into laughter at the irony of Jeannie's job. Billy, too, found the humor in it for the first time and joined them in the moment of joviality.
"Sir, I couldn't possibly impose on you like that. I'm sure I could get one of my neighbors to watch them if it's that important to you that I go with Lee."
"Amanda, it's that important not only to me, but to Beauty, to Emily...and I'm sure, to Lee. But I insist, as long as you feel comfortable leaving them with us."
"Oh, it's not that I don't trust you, Sir, it's just that...how much of what you do does your wife know about?"
"Jeannie knows exactly what I do, Amanda. If you're worried about either of us slipping and leaking it to your boys, don't be. We know how to keep secrets."
Amanda chuckled. "Yes, I suppose you do."
Billy became momentarily wistful as he said, half to his agents and half to himself, "Besides, we never had any kids of our own. It will be fun for us."
Amanda's heart melted. She could tell that her boss really wanted this. "Well, alright, but only if you call your wife first to make sure it's okay with her. Then I'll head to their school to talk to them about it."
"Great!" Billy's face broke out into a large grin. "I'll call her now. Meantime, get yourselves booked on a flight and get packing!"
"Yes, Sir!" Amanda grinned as she came to her feet.
"See ya, Billy," Lee nodded his head at his boss as he followed Amanda out of the office.
They heard, "Hello, Jeannie Melrose, please," as the door closed behind them.
"He sure seemed eager to take care of the boys."
"Yeah, I didn't know Billy regretted not having kids that much."
Lee and Amanda got into the elevator. "Was it The Agency?"
"I don't know. Billy never really said. He just mentioned it once, that they couldn't have children. I always assumed it was a medical problem for one of them or something like that."
"That's too bad. I think Mr. Melrose would make a wonderful father."
"Yeah. Yeah, he would at that."
SMK~SMK~SMK~SMK~SMK~SMK
Jeannie had readily agreed to take Phillip and Jaime in. She knew Phillip very well, he was in one of her classes. Amanda had dropped by their school before going home to pack and talked at length with them. They understood that their grandmother was on a trip, and that if she returned during Amanda's absence, they could go home with her if they wanted to. Otherwise, Jeannie made it very clear that the boys were more than welcome to stay at the Melrose home indefinitely. Both of them were excited at the prospect of spending time with Phillip's teacher, whom he seemed to adore. And since they had that connection to the Melrose's, there was no reason for anyone to get into the fact that Jeannie's husband was their mother's boss. It worked out splendidly for all involved.
Reassured that all would be well with her sons, Amanda's thoughts turned to her mother. As she packed her suitcase and garment bag, she wondered what on Earth was going on in Dotty's family that would make her run off somewhere and feel she couldn't share it with her only daughter. Once again that irrational fear began creeping into her mind, forcing her to second-guess going on this assignment. She knew that when she and Lee were together there wasn't a thing they couldn't do...but what if her mother *did* get into trouble and really needed her? Dotty would have no clue where she was, no way of knowing how to get in touch with her unless she came home and found the note Amanda was going to leave for her.
Amanda picked up her phone and called The Agency. She was quickly patched through to Billy. "Mr. Melrose, Sir, would it be possible for my phone to be forwarded to The Agency while Lee and I are gone? You see, I'm worried that my mother might suddenly need me, and she has no idea I'm going out of town."
"Oh, Amanda, that's no problem, I'll set it up as a dummy answering service. Lee called me with your hotel phone number, so if there's an emergency, we'll get you there."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Oh, and Amanda?"
"Yes, Sir?"
"Thank you for letting us take your boys. Jeannie's thrilled."
Amanda smiled. "I'm glad, Sir. Goodbye."
"Goodbye. Be careful. And good luck."
Amanda felt much better as she put the receiver back onto the cradle. Everything was okay. But she made the decision right then and there that when they all were safely back home, after this was all over, things were going to change in the King...Stetson...West...whatever household. This balancing act she was performing was getting way out of hand...to the point now where even her own mother was keeping secrets from her. The truth was going come out sooner or later, and Amanda knew for sure that she wanted to be in control of it when it did.
SMK~SMK~SMK~SMK~SMK~SMK
The rain splattered against the window, effectively turning everything outside into one big blur of nondescript shapes and colors. Inside, however, the room was warm and cozy, a fire crackling in the fireplace, lights turned on only dimly to add to the ambience of the moment. The room's three occupants were, for the moment, content to just sit in companionable silence. Their reunion at Heathrow Airport had been a joyous one, and now they sipped their afternoon tea and warmed their chilled innards.
"Amanda, have I told you how wonderful it is to see you?"
Amanda smiled. "Emily, it is *so* good to see you, too."
"Lee, my boy, you did the right thing sticking by this one. She's a real winner. And such a lovely, lovely girl."
"I happen to agree wholeheartedly," he replied. Amanda blushed. Lee scooted closer to her on the love seat and put his arm around her, a move which both surprised and pleased Emily. It was then that she noticed...*them*.
Emily gasped and almost spilled her tea everywhere as she jumped to her feet. Clumsily depositing the cup and saucer on the table in front of her, she dashed across the room, her outstretched index finger coming to rest on the object of her attentions.
Lee Stetson's wedding ring.
"You're not...you didn't..." Off their beaming faces, she concluded, "You *did*! You got married!"
The couple laughed. "Yes!" they replied in unison, so very happy that they could *finally* tell someone.
"Oh, you scoundrel...come here!" Emily pulled Lee to his feet and wrapped her arms around him, laughing all the while.
Amanda stood and took a step back, enjoying the scene before her. She knew Lee loved Emily like a second mother and she very much took pleasure in seeing him be able to truly be himself with someone other than her. Especially where their marriage was concerned.
"Amanda, get over here, you're not getting away from me that easily!" Emily crowed. She was beside herself, running to hug Amanda as fiercely as she had Lee. "Let me see that ring, now." Amanda held her left hand out for Emily to see. She touched the ring almost reverently. "Oh, Amanda," she whispered, "it's so beautiful." When she looked up into Amanda's eyes, her own eyes were full of unshed tears.
"Oh, Emily, don't cry!" Amanda became tearful too as she hugged the older woman.
"I can't help it, you and Lee are my only family and now you're married...I knew you two were in love, I knew it from the very first."
"Oh, Emily." Lee came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her. "You know, you're the first person we've told."
"I am?"
Amanda nodded. "You sure are."
"Oh, well, now I feel twice as honored!" But as quickly as Emily's spirits had risen, they fell once more. "I only wish you'd come under better circumstances."
Lee and Amanda's moods quickly changed as well. They'd been delicately avoiding the topic that had brought them to London to begin with.
They all parted, walking to different points in the room as they tried to shift their collective focus from personal joys to professional problems. Lee was the first to break the silence. "Emily, how well do you know Beauty?"
"Oh, very well indeed, Lee. She even knew that I'm not really British, that it's just part of my cover when I'm in England. I knew all there was to know about her."
"What's her real name?" Amanda asked. "Or is that need-to-know?"
"No, since you're going to be helping us find her, I think it's alright, don't you, Lee?"
"Yeah," he nodded, "go ahead, Emily."
"Beauty's real name is Amelia Jackson."
"Amelia. How did she get the codename 'Beauty'?"
"Oh, now *that's* a story!" Emily exclaimed. They all seated themselves as she continued. "Amelia fell into the spy business in much the same way as you did, Amanda...purely by being in the right place at the right time. Actually, her beginnings with The Agency follow yours in several ways, now that I think about it. You see, her future partner, Larry James, was in trouble. He had some very sensitive information in an envelope but was being followed, so he couldn't make the drop. Uh, Larry James was with The Agency. At any rate, he spotted Amelia, thought she looked pretty trustworthy and the rest, as they say..."
"Is history," Amanda finished for her. "Emily, I have just one question."
"Yes, dear?"
"Is that how *all* civilians get involved with you guys?"
Lee and Emily laughed, soon joined by Amanda. Once the laughter had died down, Lee picked up the story. "Larry wasn't exactly nice to most people, and because of that he earned the nickname "Beast". He and Amelia began working together a lot and the few people who knew about it started calling them "Beauty and the Beast". When it came time give them codenames, those names stuck and that was that."
Lee fell silent for a moment before asking the question he'd been dying to ask since they landed at Heathrow. "So what happened, Emily? Who's got her?"
"I don't know, Lee, I just don't know. She wasn't working on anything overly sensitive...in fact, this was the first real vacation she'd had since Larry died. She was looking forward to a trip up north for some peace and quiet. I had her over for dinner, you see, because I knew I wouldn't see her for a few weeks. The next morning I stopped at her flat to say goodbye before she left for the airport. I found her door ajar and her home a shambles. I searched for her for two days on my own before I called William."
"Yeah, well, Billy was hollering at someone about finding her when we got in this morning...well, actually, yesterday morning over there."
"Don't worry, Lee, it wasn't me. I fear it was probably members of MI6. You two are the only Agency that's over here."
"Does MI6 know?"
"No. Your presence in England...and your exact reasons for being here...are need-to-know. Now, I'm sure you two must have considerable jet lag. Why don't I settle you into your room and you can rest for a bit. I have to go to market anyway for our dinner."
"Oh, Emily, don't go to any trouble."
"Amanda, cooking dinner for my married niece and nephew could hardly be considered trouble!" Emily smiled as she showed the couple down the hall to a large room with a King-sized bed.
"Thanks, Emily!" Lee smiled as Emily exited and closed the door behind her. He threw himself on the bed and grabbed Amanda's hand, pulling her down with him.
They both sighed at the same time, enjoying the feel of each others' arms as they snuggled together.
"I guess I am pretty tired. Maybe I'll take a little nap," Amanda whispered.
Lee kissed her temple. "Me, too." He wrapped his arms around her even more tightly and the two were soon fast asleep.
SMK~SMK~SMK~SMK~SMK~SMK
"I don't know what you want from me. I don't know anything about Amelia's father or his whereabouts. I didn't even know the baby survived!" Tears ran down the blonde woman's face. "I already told you everything!"
"And for the last time, I do *not* believe you!" the enraged man screamed at her.
The woman raised her chin in defiance. "I am telling you the truth. I can't help it if you don't believe me. Now, please, will you let me see my daughter?"
"Fine. But we are not through. You had better rethink what you're willing to tell me because I will not be so easy on you the next time!"
The man motioned for his two goons to untie the woman and take her away. He followed them and waited until they'd unlocked a door. The door swung open to reveal a beautiful young lady with dark blonde hair and large brown eyes.
The woman gasped as the goons shoved her into the room. "Oh, my gosh!"
The mean man snarled as he stepped into the room. "Amelia Jackson, meet your mother, Dorothea West."
To be continued...
Author: Christine L. Davis
E-Mail: nilescc@yahoo.com
Archive: Anywhere, but please let me know where, I like to see!
Summary: Everybody has secrets: Lee, Amanda...even Dotty. But secrets as big as these can't be kept hidden for long.
Rated: PG
Disclaimers: The characters of Lee, Amanda and any other familiar folks belong to Warner Brothers, Shoot the Moon and whomever else is a Power-That-Be. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's Notes: This story takes place about a year-and-a-half after the actual show ended.
Feedback: Greatly appreciated, both constructive criticism and high praise. Flames will be immediately extinguished utilizing my handy-dandy Secret-Agent-Fan-Fiction-Flame-Douser.
Many Thanks: To Larry (lde@alaska.net) for his beta reading and for the inspiration he provides.
~~~~~All Our Secrets~~~~~
"Amanda, dear, I have to talk to you." Dotty's waspish voice called out.
"Oh, Mother, can it wait until after work? I had to help Phillip find his AP Geometry book before school and now I'm late."
"Amanda..."
Amanda froze in place. The only time she'd ever heard her mother use that tone of voice was when... Her hand was reaching for the doorknob to the front door, but Amanda pulled it away, knowing that whatever her mother wanted, it was serious. She took the three steps down into the kitchen rather slowly.
Dotty stood leaning against the bar, her back to her precious daughter as tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced them away, knowing that Amanda would never understand...well, she might understand but she'd never let Dotty go. After several moments, she'd composed herself enough to turn and offer Amanda a steady smile.
"Oh, darling, don't look so worried. Come sit at the table with me." Dotty sat in the breakfast nook and waited until Amanda had joined her.
Amanda's voice was quiet and full of fear. "Mother, that tone of voice you're using used...the last time you sounded that way was when Daddy died."
Dotty covered her daughter's hand with her own. "Oh, no, no, nobody's died this time, I promise. My darling, sweet baby girl." Dotty's eyes misted over as she lightly touched Amanda's cheek. "Amanda, I have to take a trip."
"A trip? What kind of trip? Mother, are you in some sort of trouble? Because if you are, I can help, I-"
"Trouble? Where in the world would you get that idea?"
"Well, you seem very preoccupied."
"I am. Dear, something's happened on my side of the family and I need to take care of it."
"Mother, your side of the family is *my* side of the family, too. Shouldn't I help you? Or at least know what's happening?"
Dotty sighed, giving her daughter a knowing look. "Amanda. How many times have you disappeared for one night, two nights, three nights, without a note, without a phone call, no word whatsoever?"
Amanda grimaced.
"You go missing for days and days and all these Federal agents are looking for you, but you never tell me exactly what it's about. You keep your relationship with Lee a secret and expect me to never ask questions."
Amanda gasped.
"Yes, Amanda, I know you and Lee are involved. And not just involved, but *involved*."
"But how-"
"I'm your mother. I'm also a woman. I know true love between two people when I see it."
"Mother, let me explain-"
"No, you don't have to. That's my point don't you see? I don't know exactly what it is you do at I.F.F., I don't even know if that's the real name of who you work for-"
"Mother!"
"-but I never pry. Well, not too much. Believe me, Amanda, if I wanted to know what really happens in your life, I would get it out of you. But I've left it alone. I let you live your life, now I'm just asking that this once you let me live mine."
"But Mother, I can help you."
"I know you *want* to help, Amanda, but you must trust your mother. I shouldn't be gone for too long, and I promise I'll call, which is more than I can say for you."
Amanda frowned. All her years of lying and sneaking around were finally catching up with her and taking a good chunk out of her hind end. Her mother was right. How could she expect her to be forthright with her when she had been lying both about her profession and her husband for so long?
"Mother, I'm gonna worry. Can you at least tell me where you're going?"
"Don't worry, Amanda, I'll be fine. And no, I'd rather not tell you. Maybe another time, but not just now. Trust me?"
"Of course I trust you, Mother. And I love you. Please be careful."
"I love you, too, Amanda. And I will. I should be back in a week or so."
A horn honked somewhere outside.
"Oh, that will be my cab." Dotty rose from her seat and ran up the steps to her room.
"Your cab?!?" Amanda hopped up and ran to the bottom of the stairs. "You're leaving *now*?!? But, Mother-"
Dotty came back down the steps with a suitcase and a carry-on bag. "Yes, dear, I just found out about...it...late last night."
Amanda swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat. "So I *did* hear the phone ring around midnight."
"Yes, that's right. I'm sorry to rush, but I really must go." Dotty headed for the front door as the cab honked again.
"Mother, I-" Amanda had a bad feeling about this. She didn't want her mother to walk out that door, but really, what choice did she have? Her mother was an adult, and she had a right to have a few secrets. Who was Amanda to begrudge anyone secrets, after all?
Dotty turned and smiled at Amanda. "I'll be fine," she whispered.
"I love you, Mother." Amanda embraced her mother, squeezing her a little too hard and holding on for a little too long. She had a *really* bad feeling.
"I love you, too, don't ever forget that." Dotty pulled away and opened the front door. "I'll see you soon, Panda."
Tears welled up in Amanda's eyes. Her mother hadn't called her "Panda" since she was a teenager. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. As Amanda watched her mother make her way down the sidewalk and pass through the front gate, she knew she shouldn't let her go, she had to convince her to stay or to get help...something...*anything*.
"Mother!" Amanda called as she rushed down the front sidewalk.
But it was too late. Dotty had hurried to the cab and gotten inside. As Amanda reached the front gate, the cab sped away.
"Mother?" Amanda whispered, the tears spilling over onto her cheeks. "Mother."
Lee whistled...yes, whistled...as he rounded the corner onto Maplewood Drive. It was a nameless tune which had never been written, but it didn't matter. He'd been thrilled when Amanda had told him Friday that she was taking her Grand Wagoneer into the shop that afternoon. He knew the shop wouldn't be open Monday morning before they needed to be at work, so he'd offered to pick her up. Any excuse to spend extra minutes with her was cause for celebration. She'd agreed to the ride and that had been that. Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to spend one second with his wife over the weekend, so he was truly looking forward to seeing her radiant beauty this morning.
Amanda stood transfixed, staring at the point where her mother's cab had disappeared. The silver Corvette pulled up right in front of her, but she barely noticed. Lee hopped out of the car, closing the door behind him, and walked over to her.
"Amanda?"
She didn't answer.
He touched her arm. "Amanda?"
She jumped about a foot, then turned and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest. He could feel her body shaking ever-so-slightly and knew she was crying. Very concerned, both about Amanda and about neighbors possibly watching them, Lee led Amanda up the sidewalk to her front door and helped her inside. They walked into the kitchen, where she grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes and nose.
"Amanda, what is it? What happened?" Lee finally asked.
"I don't know." Amanda sank into the chair occupied mere moments earlier by her mother.
Lee had never fully understood odd mood swings women had, but this one took the cake. She was crying, something was wrong, but she didn't know what? "Amanda, tell me, why are you so upset?" He sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her near.
"Well, the strangest thing just happened. I was on my way out the door and my mother wanted to tell me something, so I sat down with her...right here in these chairs...but she wouldn't tell me exactly what was going on, she just said she had to leave for a while and would be back and then she made me feel guilty about all the secrets I've kept from her, I know she didn't do it on purpose, but I couldn't make her tell me what was going on when I never tell her anything and now she's gone...oh, Lee!" Amanda's rambling ended with her turning her face into Lee's suit jacket and crying silent tears.
Lee was very worried now. Whether or not she knew it, Mrs. West was his mother-in-law and as such, he loved her and cared about what was happening to her. Besides, she treated him so well and helped to make him feel like a real member of her family. He let Amanda cry for a few minutes, then pushed her back enough to look into her eyes.
"Please tell me what you mean. She's gone?"
Amanda nodded, using her leftover tissue to dab at her eyes. "Yes, she just left in a cab. I wanted to make her stay, I just have such a bad feeling about this, but I didn't get to her in time and Lee, what right do I really have to keep her here? She's an adult, she's older than I am, I have to respect that...but I'm frightened. I don't know why. I'm really frightened."
"Why don't you tell me absolutely everything that happened, okay?"
Amanda related her and her mother's odd exchange to Lee as she poured them both a glass of milk. He drank up, listening intently to every word. When she'd finished, he asked, "That's it? That's all she said?"
"Yes." Amanda had calmed considerably as she relayed the story. Now she sat next to Lee feeling rather silly for her antics. "I'm sorry, I'm acting like a little girl whose Mommy ran off with the milk man."
Lee chuckled softly, glad to see his wife wasn't as upset now. "I don't know what to tell you, Amanda. You know your mother better than I do. Do you think there's cause to be concerned for her safety? Because if you say 'yes', then we'll do what we can to find her."
Amanda smiled lovingly at her handsome husband. She could always count on him to be there. "Thank you. I don't know, I just can't shake the feeling that something's wrong."
"Maybe that's just because your mother is keeping something from you."
"Yeah, for the first time in my life. It's such an odd feeling."
She became quiet, lost in thought. Lee wondered if she was going to be okay, simultaneously wondering what was up with his mother-in-law.
"You know, I'll bet this is how Mother felt every time I lied to her. How awful."
Lee embraced her once again. "Hey, it'll be okay. I'm sure your mother will be back before you know it. But, how does this affect the boys?"
"Oh! The boys! They don't even know she's gone! Well, I guess I'm going to have to be home by three every day so they're not alone after school. Do you think Mr. Melrose will understand?"
He stood and helped her to her feet. "You know, I don't think he'd mind if you called him Billy."
"Oh, Lee."
"I know, I know. But you are an agent now. All his agents call him Billy."
"Not unless he asks me to."
"Actually, I think he likes you calling him 'Mr. Melrose'. It makes him feel important." Amanda laughed, exactly the reaction Lee had hoped for. "But don't worry, as far as I know there's nothing on our current case load that requires your presence after three."
"Oh, good. Shall we?"
"We shall." Lee grinned and escorted Amanda to his car. He then realized that he'd not yet received his morning kiss from her, something to which he'd become very accustomed. So when he got into the car, he looked at her and loudly cleared his throat.
"What?" she asked. "My hair standing on end?"
He shook his head and pouted.
"Oh!" Amanda blushed when she realized what he wanted. Looking furtively around the car to be sure no nosy neighbors were close by, she then leaned in and touched her lips to his. As she did so, her heart began beating wildly and most of the concern she'd felt for her mother's whereabouts only a few moments before fell by the wayside. Lee could make her brain stop working without even trying to. His heart was going a mile a minute as well. It had been far too long since they'd made love, and they were both feeling the ache.
Turning back so that she was once again facing the front of the car, Amanda's face remained completely straight as she said, "We'd better go before the stick shift has company."
Lee burst out laughing as he started the Corvette. His wife still had many surprises for him. Her risqué sense of humor was something he'd never dreamed she'd have, but have it she did, and it was hilarious. He couldn't wait to discover her other hidden talents...well, even more than he'd already discovered.
Amanda grinned. Only she could make her husband laugh like that, and she reveled in that knowledge. There were actually several things that he himself had told her only she could make him do, but those were classified. Her grin widened as she thought of a few of them.
"What are you smirking about over there, Mrs. Stetson?"
Erasing the smile, her face once again went straight. "Nothing," she replied nonchalantly.
"I'm coming over tonight, you'd better watch yourself."
"Oh, you are, are you?"
"Yes. The boys will go to bed eventually. And then so will we."
She couldn't help but smile again, turning her head to gaze at his profile. How she could love him anymore, she didn't know. "Is that all you think about, Mister?"
"This from the woman who made the stick shift comment."
She blushed. "Touché."
They arrived at The Agency and went inside, intending to head past Mrs. Marsten and get a little hugging time before Billy called them in. Unfortunately they were too late for that.
"Mr. Stetson, Mrs. King, Mr. Melrose would like to see you."
Lee groaned as she gave he and Amanda their passes.
Amanda poked him as she smiled at the woman. "Thank you, Mrs. Marsten!"
She waved at Amanda as the younger woman pulled Lee to the elevator by the bottom of his suit coat. Before too long they'd disappeared inside and the doors had closed behind them. Mrs. Marsten smiled broadly. Who would've thought...the great Scarecrow, fallen for a housewife. She was pleased as punch.
"You'd better stop that," Amanda admonished once the elevator doors had closed. "Mrs. Marsten's gonna suspect something."
He sighed. "I know, I know. I was just hoping for a few moments alone with you." He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss as the elevator came to a stop.
"We'll get our chance, don't worry," she whispered. Amanda sure did love the effect she had on this man. Of course, she loved the man, too.
The two of them walked shoulder-to-shoulder down the hall and into the Bullpen, across the length of the Bullpen to Billy's closed office door. Lee tapped on the door. Billy motioned them in. As they entered, they saw he was on the phone.
"Well, where is she?" he barked.
Amanda and Lee exchanged glances, praying they hadn't done anything wrong as they each wracked their brains for recent blunders.
"That's not *good* enough, dammit!"
Amanda's eyes widened as she sat down across from Billy. Lee remained standing. He knew their boss didn't often curse in front of his subordinates. Something bad was going down, he could feel it.
"Get in there and find her! Now!" Billy slammed the phone down and rubbed his forehead. Suddenly remembering his agents were in the room, he looked up and forced a smile. "Good morning, Lee, Amanda."
"Good morning, Sir!" Amanda smiled.
"Is it, Billy?" Lee asked.
"No, Scarecrow." Billy sat down and seemed to collect himself. "It's not a particularly good morning. Beauty's gone missing, Lee."
Lee's face drained of all color. Amanda looked from one man to the other as they stared into each others' eyes. She cleared her throat, forcing them to turn toward her.
"Excuse me...Beauty?"
Lee quickly composed himself. He could tell Billy was too upset to confront this head-on, so he explained it to Amanda. "Beauty is the code name of one of our best covert operators. Her partner was known as "The Beast," but Beast passed away three years ago, killed in the line of duty. Beauty's been on her own since then, continuing the work she and Beast began, refusing to take another partner."
"Where is...was...she?"
Billy cut in. "Last word was from London. She was with someone you actually know already, Amanda...Emily Farnsworth."
"Emily? Emily knows this Beauty?"
The men nodded.
"How come I've never heard of her? I mean, I *have* been here for a while."
"She's so top secret that only a handful of us even know she exists," Lee replied. "Billy and I don't even know what she looks like."
"Lee, I want you and Amanda on this case. You're to be on the first flight to London. Meet with Emily, find out-"
"Sir?, Uh, excuse me, Sir." Amanda interrupted.
"Yes, Amanda, what is it?"
"Sir, I can't go to England right away. My mother left on a trip this morning, I don't have anyone to watch my boys other than me."
Lee made a face. He'd forgotten about his stepsons needing someone to watch them.
Billy looked at Lee, then at Amanda, then back to Lee. He *needed* Scarecrow on this one, and he knew Scarecrow worked better with Mrs. King by his side. They just *had* to go. And now.
"Amanda, how would you feel if Jeannie and I offered to watch your boys for you?"
"Sir?"
"Billy?"
"Well, Jeannie *does* teach at your sons' school."
"She does?!?" Lee and Amanda exclaimed in unison.
"Yes, I thought you knew that!" Billy said to Amanda.
"No, Sir, I didn't. The boys don't often talk about their teachers. And I guess I just never asked. What does she teach?"
"American Government."
Lee and Amanda burst into laughter at the irony of Jeannie's job. Billy, too, found the humor in it for the first time and joined them in the moment of joviality.
"Sir, I couldn't possibly impose on you like that. I'm sure I could get one of my neighbors to watch them if it's that important to you that I go with Lee."
"Amanda, it's that important not only to me, but to Beauty, to Emily...and I'm sure, to Lee. But I insist, as long as you feel comfortable leaving them with us."
"Oh, it's not that I don't trust you, Sir, it's just that...how much of what you do does your wife know about?"
"Jeannie knows exactly what I do, Amanda. If you're worried about either of us slipping and leaking it to your boys, don't be. We know how to keep secrets."
Amanda chuckled. "Yes, I suppose you do."
Billy became momentarily wistful as he said, half to his agents and half to himself, "Besides, we never had any kids of our own. It will be fun for us."
Amanda's heart melted. She could tell that her boss really wanted this. "Well, alright, but only if you call your wife first to make sure it's okay with her. Then I'll head to their school to talk to them about it."
"Great!" Billy's face broke out into a large grin. "I'll call her now. Meantime, get yourselves booked on a flight and get packing!"
"Yes, Sir!" Amanda grinned as she came to her feet.
"See ya, Billy," Lee nodded his head at his boss as he followed Amanda out of the office.
They heard, "Hello, Jeannie Melrose, please," as the door closed behind them.
"He sure seemed eager to take care of the boys."
"Yeah, I didn't know Billy regretted not having kids that much."
Lee and Amanda got into the elevator. "Was it The Agency?"
"I don't know. Billy never really said. He just mentioned it once, that they couldn't have children. I always assumed it was a medical problem for one of them or something like that."
"That's too bad. I think Mr. Melrose would make a wonderful father."
"Yeah. Yeah, he would at that."
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Jeannie had readily agreed to take Phillip and Jaime in. She knew Phillip very well, he was in one of her classes. Amanda had dropped by their school before going home to pack and talked at length with them. They understood that their grandmother was on a trip, and that if she returned during Amanda's absence, they could go home with her if they wanted to. Otherwise, Jeannie made it very clear that the boys were more than welcome to stay at the Melrose home indefinitely. Both of them were excited at the prospect of spending time with Phillip's teacher, whom he seemed to adore. And since they had that connection to the Melrose's, there was no reason for anyone to get into the fact that Jeannie's husband was their mother's boss. It worked out splendidly for all involved.
Reassured that all would be well with her sons, Amanda's thoughts turned to her mother. As she packed her suitcase and garment bag, she wondered what on Earth was going on in Dotty's family that would make her run off somewhere and feel she couldn't share it with her only daughter. Once again that irrational fear began creeping into her mind, forcing her to second-guess going on this assignment. She knew that when she and Lee were together there wasn't a thing they couldn't do...but what if her mother *did* get into trouble and really needed her? Dotty would have no clue where she was, no way of knowing how to get in touch with her unless she came home and found the note Amanda was going to leave for her.
Amanda picked up her phone and called The Agency. She was quickly patched through to Billy. "Mr. Melrose, Sir, would it be possible for my phone to be forwarded to The Agency while Lee and I are gone? You see, I'm worried that my mother might suddenly need me, and she has no idea I'm going out of town."
"Oh, Amanda, that's no problem, I'll set it up as a dummy answering service. Lee called me with your hotel phone number, so if there's an emergency, we'll get you there."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Oh, and Amanda?"
"Yes, Sir?"
"Thank you for letting us take your boys. Jeannie's thrilled."
Amanda smiled. "I'm glad, Sir. Goodbye."
"Goodbye. Be careful. And good luck."
Amanda felt much better as she put the receiver back onto the cradle. Everything was okay. But she made the decision right then and there that when they all were safely back home, after this was all over, things were going to change in the King...Stetson...West...whatever household. This balancing act she was performing was getting way out of hand...to the point now where even her own mother was keeping secrets from her. The truth was going come out sooner or later, and Amanda knew for sure that she wanted to be in control of it when it did.
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The rain splattered against the window, effectively turning everything outside into one big blur of nondescript shapes and colors. Inside, however, the room was warm and cozy, a fire crackling in the fireplace, lights turned on only dimly to add to the ambience of the moment. The room's three occupants were, for the moment, content to just sit in companionable silence. Their reunion at Heathrow Airport had been a joyous one, and now they sipped their afternoon tea and warmed their chilled innards.
"Amanda, have I told you how wonderful it is to see you?"
Amanda smiled. "Emily, it is *so* good to see you, too."
"Lee, my boy, you did the right thing sticking by this one. She's a real winner. And such a lovely, lovely girl."
"I happen to agree wholeheartedly," he replied. Amanda blushed. Lee scooted closer to her on the love seat and put his arm around her, a move which both surprised and pleased Emily. It was then that she noticed...*them*.
Emily gasped and almost spilled her tea everywhere as she jumped to her feet. Clumsily depositing the cup and saucer on the table in front of her, she dashed across the room, her outstretched index finger coming to rest on the object of her attentions.
Lee Stetson's wedding ring.
"You're not...you didn't..." Off their beaming faces, she concluded, "You *did*! You got married!"
The couple laughed. "Yes!" they replied in unison, so very happy that they could *finally* tell someone.
"Oh, you scoundrel...come here!" Emily pulled Lee to his feet and wrapped her arms around him, laughing all the while.
Amanda stood and took a step back, enjoying the scene before her. She knew Lee loved Emily like a second mother and she very much took pleasure in seeing him be able to truly be himself with someone other than her. Especially where their marriage was concerned.
"Amanda, get over here, you're not getting away from me that easily!" Emily crowed. She was beside herself, running to hug Amanda as fiercely as she had Lee. "Let me see that ring, now." Amanda held her left hand out for Emily to see. She touched the ring almost reverently. "Oh, Amanda," she whispered, "it's so beautiful." When she looked up into Amanda's eyes, her own eyes were full of unshed tears.
"Oh, Emily, don't cry!" Amanda became tearful too as she hugged the older woman.
"I can't help it, you and Lee are my only family and now you're married...I knew you two were in love, I knew it from the very first."
"Oh, Emily." Lee came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her. "You know, you're the first person we've told."
"I am?"
Amanda nodded. "You sure are."
"Oh, well, now I feel twice as honored!" But as quickly as Emily's spirits had risen, they fell once more. "I only wish you'd come under better circumstances."
Lee and Amanda's moods quickly changed as well. They'd been delicately avoiding the topic that had brought them to London to begin with.
They all parted, walking to different points in the room as they tried to shift their collective focus from personal joys to professional problems. Lee was the first to break the silence. "Emily, how well do you know Beauty?"
"Oh, very well indeed, Lee. She even knew that I'm not really British, that it's just part of my cover when I'm in England. I knew all there was to know about her."
"What's her real name?" Amanda asked. "Or is that need-to-know?"
"No, since you're going to be helping us find her, I think it's alright, don't you, Lee?"
"Yeah," he nodded, "go ahead, Emily."
"Beauty's real name is Amelia Jackson."
"Amelia. How did she get the codename 'Beauty'?"
"Oh, now *that's* a story!" Emily exclaimed. They all seated themselves as she continued. "Amelia fell into the spy business in much the same way as you did, Amanda...purely by being in the right place at the right time. Actually, her beginnings with The Agency follow yours in several ways, now that I think about it. You see, her future partner, Larry James, was in trouble. He had some very sensitive information in an envelope but was being followed, so he couldn't make the drop. Uh, Larry James was with The Agency. At any rate, he spotted Amelia, thought she looked pretty trustworthy and the rest, as they say..."
"Is history," Amanda finished for her. "Emily, I have just one question."
"Yes, dear?"
"Is that how *all* civilians get involved with you guys?"
Lee and Emily laughed, soon joined by Amanda. Once the laughter had died down, Lee picked up the story. "Larry wasn't exactly nice to most people, and because of that he earned the nickname "Beast". He and Amelia began working together a lot and the few people who knew about it started calling them "Beauty and the Beast". When it came time give them codenames, those names stuck and that was that."
Lee fell silent for a moment before asking the question he'd been dying to ask since they landed at Heathrow. "So what happened, Emily? Who's got her?"
"I don't know, Lee, I just don't know. She wasn't working on anything overly sensitive...in fact, this was the first real vacation she'd had since Larry died. She was looking forward to a trip up north for some peace and quiet. I had her over for dinner, you see, because I knew I wouldn't see her for a few weeks. The next morning I stopped at her flat to say goodbye before she left for the airport. I found her door ajar and her home a shambles. I searched for her for two days on my own before I called William."
"Yeah, well, Billy was hollering at someone about finding her when we got in this morning...well, actually, yesterday morning over there."
"Don't worry, Lee, it wasn't me. I fear it was probably members of MI6. You two are the only Agency that's over here."
"Does MI6 know?"
"No. Your presence in England...and your exact reasons for being here...are need-to-know. Now, I'm sure you two must have considerable jet lag. Why don't I settle you into your room and you can rest for a bit. I have to go to market anyway for our dinner."
"Oh, Emily, don't go to any trouble."
"Amanda, cooking dinner for my married niece and nephew could hardly be considered trouble!" Emily smiled as she showed the couple down the hall to a large room with a King-sized bed.
"Thanks, Emily!" Lee smiled as Emily exited and closed the door behind her. He threw himself on the bed and grabbed Amanda's hand, pulling her down with him.
They both sighed at the same time, enjoying the feel of each others' arms as they snuggled together.
"I guess I am pretty tired. Maybe I'll take a little nap," Amanda whispered.
Lee kissed her temple. "Me, too." He wrapped his arms around her even more tightly and the two were soon fast asleep.
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"I don't know what you want from me. I don't know anything about Amelia's father or his whereabouts. I didn't even know the baby survived!" Tears ran down the blonde woman's face. "I already told you everything!"
"And for the last time, I do *not* believe you!" the enraged man screamed at her.
The woman raised her chin in defiance. "I am telling you the truth. I can't help it if you don't believe me. Now, please, will you let me see my daughter?"
"Fine. But we are not through. You had better rethink what you're willing to tell me because I will not be so easy on you the next time!"
The man motioned for his two goons to untie the woman and take her away. He followed them and waited until they'd unlocked a door. The door swung open to reveal a beautiful young lady with dark blonde hair and large brown eyes.
The woman gasped as the goons shoved her into the room. "Oh, my gosh!"
The mean man snarled as he stepped into the room. "Amelia Jackson, meet your mother, Dorothea West."
To be continued...