I do not own the characters but I sure do like to play with them.

Thank you so much to Lanie Sullivan for your help on this one; I could not have done it without you.

This is my version of what would have happened and how things might have been if Lee had shown up at Amanda's for that first Thanksgiving when they first met.

Do You Have Somewhere to Go?

"Do you have someplace to go for Thanksgiving?" That is what she asked me on those steps. She only knew me for what two days? For all she knows I could be working both sides of the Iron Curtain and she invites me to her home, with her family, her friends, who in the hell does that? What was that crack about singles bars? I am Lee Stetson and on a social rooster duty that leaves very little time for singles bars; I rub elbows with the elite of the elite. Then this tiny woman with big soft brown eyes comes into my life, no not my life, my existence for a minute and thinks she can just push in to it. Well, she can't, I am perfectly happy just the way I am.

Lee stepped from the shower and began to get dressed. He went to the dresser to pull out his underwear and socks and the small piece of paper fell from the top. He went to pick up the paper after he had dressed in his favorite jeans and dress shirt then began to leave his room to find his cowboy boots. It took him by surprise as he looked over thg3e small paper, he thought he had left it at the office; it was Amanda King's address and phone number. Sure, they had done a few more assignments in the last month since they met. He smiled at a thought; he wondered what she would do now after all this time if he showed up at her normal family Thanksgiving dinner she invited him to all those weeks ago right after they had met. Only one way to find out he told himself; he grabbed his keys and coat and headed out of the door. Just another way to do some background on her for his file he was working on.

The King household was in full swing when Lee pulled up in front of the house. He almost didn't get out until he saw Amanda walk out the front door, carrying a bag in one hand and a tray in another. He got out and went to help her, "Here let me help. Where are you going?"

"Lee, what are you doing here? My family is inside they might see you?"

Smiling he said, "I thought about that and then I realized that it would be impossible for them not to see me; you did after all invite me today." Continuing to walk with her as she went across the street and watching as she rang the doorbell she said, "You also made it very clear that I was overstepping my bounds and that you wouldn't be here."

Before Lee could say anything or back out of it Amanda went on to say, "I sure am glad you are here though, I was just going to make you a plate and bring it by to you later anyway. Thank you for saving me a trip out."

"You're welcome, Amanda." He said in that tone she knew was his mocking of her and she overlooked it and smiled back at him. "What are we doing here; you live across the street?"

"Mr. Harris's wife is out of town and he is alone and he was supposed to come over but he called to say he wasn't feeling well and so I told him I would just bring him a plate and some dessert over for him if he started to feel better."

The door opened to a man around Lee's age and Lee stood taller at the sight of Amanda's neighbor. "Hello, Amanda, why are you here?" His eyes never left Lee's when he spoke to her.

"Hello, Peter, this is a friend of mine, Lee this is Peter Harris and I told you I would bring you something over in case you started to feel better and it isn't a lot but enough if you…" Amanda noticed the woman walking up behind her neighbor and stopped talking. Lee didn't think anything could ever get her to stop talking until he noticed the woman walking toward them looking completely sexually satisfied and enough light behind her to notice nothing was under the dress shirt she was wearing.

"Hello." Amanda said and Peter said, "Thank you Amanda, it was very nice of you to bring this over. I will return the dishes as soon as I can. It was nice to meet you." Peter said dismissing the two and closing the door. On the way back across the street Lee said, "Sex and scandal in suburbia, Amanda why do you need the Agency for excitement when you have it all the material for a bestselling novel right here in your own backyard?"

Slapping him on the shoulder while he laughed she said, "I know him and I am sure it was perfectly innocent."

"Perfectly innocent is what you are, Amanda, if you think that; she was wearing nothing and I mean nothing but a dress shirt and a smile."

"Oh, I am sure you know all about dress shirts and smiles, Lee Stetson." She said as she and Lee walked into the house.

"I know more than you do I can tell you that." Neither one realized that their voices were beginning to rise as they walked into her house.

"What is that supposed to mean, Stetson?" Amanda asked as the others gathered at the doorway of the den watching Amanda and a man they have never saw before have an argument in the front foyer of the house.

"A-man-da, do you expect me to believe that you know the 'ins and outs' of dress shirts and smiles? You are not the type."

"How do you know what 'type' I am? I could be just as dress shirt and smiley as the next woman. I mean you aren't the friendly and sociable type but here you are in my home on Thanksgiving being just that, Scarecrow."

"Amanda?" Dean asked and interrupted their conversation. Amanda and Lee's heads both turned to notice the five pairs of eyes staring at them.

"What?" Amanda snapped and then closed her eyes and said in her normal voice, "Sorry, yes, Dean what is it?"

"I was just wondering if you were going to introduce your friend or fight all through dinner; the only fighting the boys planned for today was the Lions and Steelers game." He said as he walked toward Amanda placing his arm around her waist pulling her closer to him and farther from Lee. Patting Dean on the chest Amanda said, "Of course I was going to introduce my friend; we just get into some heated debates at times. Dean this is Lee Stetson he works at…" suddenly at a loss, she looked at Lee for help.

"…IFF, a film documentary company in DC." Lee finished for her.

"Lee, this is my boyfriend Dean McGuire, my mother Dotty West, my sons, Phillip and Jamie King, and my Aunt Lillian Majors; everyone this is Lee Stetson."

Lee had just finished shaking Dean's hand which seemed more like a test of strength than a handshake which Lee didn't back down from. Lee was then greeted by Dotty and Lillian; which he gently shook their hands and gave his best Lee Stetson smile, dimples and all. Phillip and Jamie waved a hello and Phillip asked, "Mr. Stetson, do you like football? The Lions and Steelers play first and then the Cowboys and St. Louis."

"I love football. Who are you two cheering for?" He asked the boys.

The room exploded "Steelers and St. Louis" all except Amanda who was walking back and forth from the kitchen to the dining room. When Amanda reemerged Lee asked, "What about you Amanda who do you cheer for?"

Amanda said, "Lee, don't let mother and Aunt Lillian fool you they only cheer for the players with the cutest backsides; I am the outcast, I cheer for the Lions and Cowboys."

"Lions and Cowboys huh; well we agree on one thing." Walking over to her and taking the platter from her he stood inches from her smiling down at her.

"Yeah; what would that be?" She said following him into the dining room.

"Football; you won't be alone today, I have your back today, Partner."

"Why is it that I am only your 'partner' when you delegate it?" Amanda asked.

He just smiled and flashed his smile and she saw what he wanted to say, 'Senior Agent Status' and Amanda responded in kind, "Shut up, Lee Stetson."

"I didn't say a word I believe, is your mind in the gutter again, Mrs. King?" He said causing both to burst out in laughter.

Dotty watched the two interact together and when she heard Lee say he had her daughter's back and calling her a partner she wondered if Amanda remembered she had a boyfriend in the other room. Walking back to the den where everyone but Dotty was Amanda said, "Okay, fells, go and wash your hands and then we can have dinner it is ready."

Amanda walked over to the sink and began washing her own hands and Dotty asked, "What were you two arguing about when you came in?"

"Lee thinks that Mr. Harris is having a thing with some woman while Ellie is out of town."

"Why would he think that? Although, I wouldn't put it past him," Dotty said to her daughter and the other adults as well.

"Mother, Peter wouldn't do that; he just wouldn't. Men like him don't just have casual things such as those."

"Amanda, you can't even say the word affair and you wonder why I think you wouldn't notice one when it was right in front of your face. You cannot be that naïve; you saw her; she was only wearing a dress shirt and a smile." Lee said as if he was proving his point instead of just repeating it.

"I think Mr. Stetson is right Amanda." Dean said. Amanda looked at Dean and said, "You have only known the man for five minutes and you agree with him?"

"Yes, men have the need to set the boundaries and mark their territory. If he and his wife are having problems for whatever reasons then he will go and search out what he is lacking in his life."

"His wife is five ten, blonde, and has a body men drool over and stare at where ever they go; what could he be lacking?" Dotty asked as everyone sat down to eat.

"Mental attraction more than likely," Lillian said, "a beautiful woman can be intelligent but if she is just going by her looks than a man will get bored fast and move on; married or not." Amanda sat and glanced at the man sitting to her left and noticed he was watching her; she just wished she knew what he was thinking.

The boys bounded in the room and sat and went to grab food then stopped as their mother said, "Let's say grace and then we can eat; I know the boys are just starving." Amanda took Lee's hand and felt a calming feeling as he closed his fingers around her own and everyone followed by taking the hand next to them; connecting them all. "Dear Heavenly Father, We ask that on this day that you bless this food, bless the ones around this table, bless the ones fighting and away from their families, and the ones that are lost; may they find where they belong and not be lost any longer." Amanda felt Lee squeeze her hand and she squeezed back, "we ask that you show us our way and guide our choices in your will and love. Amen."

"Amen." Everyone said and opened their eyes and then the conversation moved into other areas than whether Peter was or was not having an affair.

"Mr. Stetson, what do you do and how do you know my mom?" Jamie asked.

"I work for a government film company. We make documentaries; I am a director and producer."

"What is the company called?" Dotty asked.

"IFF; that stands for International Federal Film, my last project was in Alaska about the bear population."

"The bear population?" Lillian asked.

"Yes, the protection of the bears and their cubs that live on federally protected government land. The population shouldn't be decreasing, but it slowly has." Dean jumped in the conversation at that, "I think I have seen that one; it aired over a year ago. That was your most recent documentary?"

Lee looked at Dean and felt the need to punch him but smiled and said, "Yes, that was the last one I worked on from start to finish; but as a producer I have my hands in all sorts of things from finding new ideas, location scouting, pre-production for directors, filming, post production, and previews and premiers. Most of our films take as much time to edit and prepare for release as they do to film what we need."

"How long did it take your bear film to do, Mr. Stetson?" Philip asked.

"From start to finish, about eight months I think."

Dotty looked at Lee and asked, "Mr. Stetson, how did you and Amanda meet?"

Lee looked at Amanda and when she didn't offer an answer, Lee said, "At the train station about a month or so ago; I think she had just dropped someone off there."

"Was that when you took me, Amanda?" Dean asked.

"Yes; it was that morning. Lee was there working and we ran into each other."

"Mr. Stetson," Dotty began again until Lee interrupted, "Mrs. West, please call me Lee. If you continue to call me Mr. Stetson I will start looking for my father to walk in the room."

"Okay then, Lee, I was just going to ask about your family; do they live around in the area."

Lee shifted uncomfortable in his seat and Amanda went to help him out, "Mother, you are not Perry Mason trying to solve the case. You don't have to interrogate Lee."

"I wasn't interrogating, I was just asking."

"Amanda, it is fine. Mrs. West, I have an uncle who raised me after my parents passed away but he is stationed in California with his Air Force unit for the time being. We see each other as much as we can; in our lines of work we do what we can."

"Are you dating anyone at least?" Lillian asked.

"Well, there is this one woman I have been seeing on and off for a short time; but her life is just as complicated as mine is." Lee smiled at Amanda with that sarcastic grin she was coming to know all so well but that didn't stop Dean from asking about Lee's friend. "Lee, so what is she like; this woman you have been seeing."

"She isn't like anyone I have ever met before in my life. I try to explain things to her about my job when she asks and she disregards what I have to say; ignores it in fact. Rambles on about things that make no sense and yet at the same time makes all kinds of sense. She wants to save me from myself, I think."

"That sounds like you, Mom." Phillip said and Amanda choked on her wine. Lee began to pat her on the back and ask if she was okay. "I'm fine, Lee, thank you. Do you think you need saving, Lee?" As Amanda answered him, he continued to rub her back making sure she was in fact okay as she said she was.

Dotty sat back watching the scene unfold in front of her between her daughter and her new friend. The secret smiles they were sharing, the sideways glances, the way he looked when she began to choke and his definite need to say and do things to get under Dean's skin. Dotty noticed that Dean did his best to one-up Lee at every turn of the conversation and if anyone had been keeping score Dean was behind in points. Dotty wondered if Lee Stetson was the latest reason that Amanda wouldn't give Dean an answer to his proposal. Amanda seemed positively glowing while engaged with Lee in conversation, but when she talked to Dean; it was if she was talking to the postman about a package. Yes, Lee Stetson was going to be a raging hurricane for Dean to contend with; Dotty just hoped Dean survived the damage after the storm.

Lee offered Amanda a hand in clearing and cleaning up, "Lee, that is okay, you are a guest, if you want the first game is getting ready to start, why don't you go and watch it with the boys and Dean and cheer our team on until I get in there."

"Amanda, I don't mind helping, I mean you weren't really expecting me so the least I can do is help with the clean-up." Lee said sincerely. He wasn't planning to stay for the games but he didn't want her to know that yet. If he at least helped clean up, then maybe she wouldn't feel bad when he ditched out in a few minutes.

"No, Lee," she said placing her hand on his arm, "my house, my rules; now if you want to stay for dessert then you have to go and watch the game. Besides if we stand here and argue about this we will both miss both games and I really want to watch them."

Shaking his head Lee said, "Okay, you win; but I still can't believe you like football."

"Lee, all cheerleaders like football, well, football players; they have the best moves on and off the field." She said as she walked away leaving him to just watch her without a response in his head. Maybe I will stay.

Amanda and Lee cheered the Lions on and as they stomped the Steelers, Lee grabbed Amanda as she was walking by, hugged her tight and looked her in the eyes and said, "One down and one to go, what is for dessert?" The look in his eyes made Amanda think he wasn't thinking about the pie and cakes in the kitchen.

"Cake and pie are in the kitchen." She said as she extracted herself from his arms and hoping no one noticed how her voice cracked or how weak knee she seemed to be. She went into the kitchen and noticed that Lee followed her, "Can I help with something in here?"

"No, I already told you that you were a guest and hot; I mean not allowed."

Raising his eyebrows he whispered, "I'm hot, huh?"

Rolling her eyes and blowing out an exasperated breath she said, "You think you are so cute."

"I am cute and apparently hot too." He said.

"Oh, shut up, would you like cake or pie?" She asked.

"What kind do you have?"

"I have chocolate pie and chocolate chip cake."

"I. Think. I. Want. Pie." Inching closer to her with every word Amanda was forced to move back until her back was to the counter.

"Why are you here?" She whispered.

"You invited me; do you regret it?"

She found that with Lee so close that she was having a hard time forming a sentence so she opted just to shake her head. They both jumped apart when Lillian came in and asked, "Amanda, did you get your tree yet to decorate this year?"

"I, um, get it closer to Christmas so it stays longer and doesn't start to die before Santa comes."

"You get a real tree every year?" Lee asked.

"Yes, why?" She asked as she cut the pie, placed his piece on his plate and then proceeded to finish cutting the cake as well and placing them on plates.

"It seems like a waste of money to buy a tree every year; why not just get a fake one to really get your money out of it."

"I always had a real tree growing up and so have the boys. What kind of tree did you have growing up?"

"Amanda, I was raised by Mr. Military himself, I just got to pick things out and he bought them; there were never trees of any kind involved."

Lee saw a look of sadness come across her face and before he could say anything Dean came into let them know the next game was coming on and asked Lee if he wanted to change sides or place a wager on the game.

"Dean, you know I feel about gambling." Amanda said.

Lee asked, "Oh yeah how do you feel about it?"

"I don't approve but I think in this case it wouldn't be fair for you to make a fool's bet with Dean."

"Amanda, I thought we were on the same side?"

"Oh, we are. I didn't say your side of the bet was foolish; Cowboys are going to wipe out St. Louis." She said laughing as Dean began to tickle her and pull her next to him. Lee watched the exchange between Amanda and Dean and silently responded in the same manner as the boys. "Gross, Mom."

Lee's thoughts went into overdrive. After that, he never really paid attention to the game except to cheer when he heard Amanda cheer out and the boys groan. What does she see in that guy? I mean sure he is tall, so are a lot of men. He has a stable job with the weather bureau, anyone can be a weatherman; it isn't like they get it right. She seems to look like he makes her happy. She is snuggled close to him and he even fed her some of his cake; making a wedding joke about it at the same time. Wedding; she isn't going to marry this dingus is she? I mean I suppose without any other options, he is okay for her to hang out with but the rest of her life? She has too much spirit for this man; she needs someone that is going to let her be herself and not hold back her natural spirit.

"Did you see that touchdown, Lee?" Amanda asked. "You should have made that bet with Dean; he would have owed you a fortune." Her laugh, not her words brought him back to the conversation. When he looked at her and saw a sparkle in her eyes, he felt something inside him break and he looked away from her and said, "Yeah, it was great." He stood to take his plate back in the kitchen and saw that her mother and aunt had begun a card game at the table.

"What are you two young ladies playing at?"

"Gin Rummy, do you play, Lee?"

"Yeah, but I am more of a poker player. Who is winning?" He asked sitting with them he thought would help keep his thoughts off the cheerleader next to the weather geek.

"I am, Lillian is mad about it; I always win." Dotty said.

Lee thought he heard a double meaning in her statement, "I bet you do, Mrs. West, I just bet you do."

"She only wins because she cheats, Lee, don't let her fool you." Lillian said.

The card and football games came to an end and Amanda was sending the boys up to get ready for bed while both complaining that they didn't understand why they still had to go to bed because they didn't have school the next day. The phone rang and Dotty let know Dean it was for him.

"Fellas, that is not the point; the point is that I told you to go get ready for bed and that is what I need you two to do please."

"Okay, but I still don't know why we have to." Phillip said.

"Go, I will be up and tell you goodnight in a few minutes." Both boys relented their case and as they walked away they turned back around to tell everyone goodnight, "You too, Lee. It was nice having you here today. Happy Thanksgiving everyone." They went upstairs after that, and did what their mother asked of them. Lee stood watching the two boys retreat and was about to say goodbye himself until Dean said, "Amanda, I am sorry. I have to go into work, Nick has strep and will be out for a few days and I have to replace him during that time. So, the next few days we planned on will have to be postponed. I don't know how long he will be out sick."

"I understand just don't bring it into this house; I don't want the boys sick and now that I know that it is going around I can better prepare them not to get it."

Dean said his goodbyes and he knew Lee was around but not seen as he kissed Amanda goodbye at the door and made it a point to hold her closer and kiss her longer than normal to prove to the man Amanda was his. "Wow, what was that for?" Amanda asked.

"Him; he needs to understand that you are taken." Dean said indicating Lee whose attention was now focused on something Lillian was saying.

"Dean, Lee and I are just friends; you don't have to mark your territory like you said men like to do."

"Amanda, I don't trust him."

"Dean, I do and that should be enough for you and anyway you have the weather to go report."

"I love you."

"I love you too. Drive carefully."

Amanda closed the door and shook her head at Dean's crazy thoughts where Lee was concerned. "I will be right back down; I am just going to check on the boys." Amanda said and didn't wait for an answer before climbing the stairs.

Ten minutes later Amanda came back down to find that her mother and aunt had started the dishes with Lee sitting and drinking coffee filling them in on one of his exciting travels.

"England? How long were you there?" Lillian asked.

"It was right after I started with IFF so I want to say I was there about two years or so."

Amanda sat next to him and said, "Is that right? What was that two years like?"

"Amazing; I was working with this fabulous woman; and she knew all the hot spots and had the best Intel of where to go and what to see." Lee looked at Amanda and saw her genuine smile and light in her eyes and he knew she understood his double talk. "Did the boys get in okay?"

"Yeah, they are like all little boys; trying to get away with more than they should. That is why I didn't send in one of them." She indicated her mother and aunt.

"Amanda, they did make a valid point; they do not have school tomorrow, would it have hurt for them to stay up a little later?" Her mother said.

"Mother, boys need structure."

"They also need to have fun, slave driver. I am so glad you aren't my mother." Lee said.

"I wouldn't want to be your mother; she would still have her hands full with you now even at this age." Amanda and Lee both laughed at that and once again, Dotty got that nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach.

The four adults sat talking together for a little while longer and then before either of them knew it Amanda and Lee were alone at the table; talking and laughing and Lee found himself relaxing and enjoying himself more than he thought he would. He came here today to call Amanda out on her invitation and she still ended up making him feel welcomed in her home with her family.

"Why is someone like you with that weatherman?"

Smiling nervously for the first time in hours Amanda said, "I am going to take that as a compliment from you, Scarecrow, but Dean is really a great guy."

"If he is so great then why is it that you refuse to give him an answer to that all- important question women seem to make a huge deal out of?"

Amanda sat staring off past Lee; he knew she wasn't looking at him so he forced her to by placing his fingers under her chin forcing her to look him in the eye, "Amanda, where did you go to?"

"I was thinking on how to answer your question. It seems to me that you are asking all the questions and not answering any yourself."

"Ask away; what do you want to know?"

"How come you aren't married?"

"Well, to be honest she married someone else."

"Sorry, I really wasn't trying to pry." Amanda said avoiding his gaze. "I keep telling myself that I am just not ready; it has only been a year since being divorce. I guess in truth I know why I haven't said yes; Dean is a great guy and will make a terrific husband, just not for me."

Lee sat looking at her and said, "You may very well know about dress shirts and smiles if you are willing to lead a man on in hopes of something more."

"Yeah, something more, everyone deserves something more don't they? I mean, why settle for perfect when you can have something more? Does that make me a bad person because I am willing to spend time with him but not commit forever to him?"

"No; no it doesn't Amanda. I think deep down that is all that anyone does; they spend time with someone for a time in their life until they find that something more that they knew they were waiting for."

The two sat drinking coffee not talking for the longest time. Both thought the silence should have been awkward but it wasn't. It seemed that both knew that the day was over but neither one seemed to want it to end. Amanda stood to refill her cup and automatically grabbed for his as well just as his hand went to pick up the cup and as their hands touched so did their eyes.

Lee stood breaking the contact and said, "Well, thank you for a wonderful time today. I had a lot of fun hanging out with your family today. It wasn't like any Thanksgiving I have ever known. I guess I will see you around the bullpen at the Agency."

"Yeah, I am really glad you came too; I am glad you enjoyed yourself today." She said but avoided his gaze that didn't seem to leave her. She faced out the window by the kitchen and as she looked out she saw his reflection behind her and he walked toward her and placed his hands on her arms and whispered, "Dean was right; he shouldn't trust me." With that, he walked toward the front door. She followed him out, watched him get into his car and stood on the porch until she could no longer see his taillights.