Chapter 1
Notes: I have been a fan of this show for a long long time, but I have recently gotten back into it with the seasons FINALLY becoming available on DVD. So, this is my first SMK fic, so please, take that into consideration, though constructive criticism is welcome. I have tried my hardest to keep the characters in cannon … I think that is SO important to the show, the characters, and the fans. Note, the title "Foks Okhota" means "fox hunt" in Russian.
Summary: A ruthless crime boss aims to settle a score with Lee for breaking up his weapons smuggling ring, and forcing him to flee the country; and he employs a top tier hitman to do it. I know the summary isn't very good, but I promise the story will be better, I have never been that great at summaries LOL. Set in season 3 after the Episode 'Over the Limit', when I think their relationship really started to change.
George Nukem sat poolside in a lounge chair sipping lazily on a tequila sunrise. A small man by the name of Anthony Greggers slowly walked up to Nukem, wringing his hands nervously.
"Y … you called for me, Mr. Nukem?" He squeaked.
"I have a job for you and your …. Associates." Greggers cleared his throat nervously.
"J … job?" He squeaked.
Nukem slid his hand into his briefcase and handed the hitman a file.
"I need you to kill someone for me as only you can." Nukem said as he looked over his Ray Ban's at Greggers as he read over the file.
"But … this cat's a secret agent! I know of him, he's one of the best they have!" Greggers said.
"If you don't think you can do it, just tell me." Nukem said, his tone was calm and pleasant, but everyone knew that it was always code for 'do it, or I'll kill you in some terrible way'.
"No, no sir, my associates and I can do it ... in fact, I will handle this one personally." Greggers said hurriedly, he could feel the sweat trickling down his back under his shirt, and it wasn't from the warm weather.
"There is a flight already arranged for you, it leaves at 1900 hours sharp, don't be late." He said as he settled back against his chair, signaling an end to their conversation.
Greggers wasted no time in getting the hell out of there. Nukem terrified him, as he did everyone he came into contact with. George Nukem was one of those people who would terrify the devil himself … and now he was in his pocket for the second time.
One of the setbacks of being one of the best hitmen in the business, was that he was hired by the worst humankind had to offer … and they didn't come any worse than George Nukem. The bright side was that the pay would be plenty worth the stress and ulcers this job would likely cause him, George Nukem always paid very well, if he could pull this off, he might even be able to retire.
Lee stepped out of the elevator into the bullpen in a haze due to sleep deprivation.
"Why Scarecrow, there you are! Long night with Leslie? Oh no, it's not her anymore, is it, it's what's her name … Margret?" Francine said as she fell in step with him.
"Lay off, will ya, Francine, I've been on a stakeout for the last three days, now, what's so damned important that I couldn't even go home for a shower and some breakfast first before coming here?" Lee said.
"Scarecrow, Francine! My office, now!" they heard Billy bark over the ambient noise of the bullpen.
"I guess we're going to find out." Francine said as they entered.
"Okay, Billy just what is so damned important?" Lee said irritably.
"This." Billy said, his tone sharp as he tossed him a print out.
Lee's annoyed expression melted into one of horror and realization as he read the document, he wordlessly passed it on to Francine, whose face acquired the same expression as she read it.
"Anthony Greggers? I thought he was dead?" Francine said.
"I'm sure you remember him." Billy said to Lee.
"Sure I remember him, he's the son of a bitch that almost killed me six years ago." Lee said, his tone bitter.
"Well, apparently he's back in town to finish what he started." Francine interjected.
"I want this one, Billy." Lee said, the look in his eyes told Billy he would be futile to try and deny him.
"Alright, Scarecrow, though it is against my better judgement." Billy said
"Billy, I don't want Amanda involved in this one, Greggers is one of the best hitmen in the business, I don't want her anywhere near the line of fire." Lee said, concern was evident in his eyes.
"So what am I supposed to do, just send you in naked?" Billy asked.
"Did you forget that I was in the field on my own and doing just fine before she came along?" Lee said, bristling.
"Lee, she can handle this, she's faced off against the worst this world has to offer, KGB, terrorists, arms dealers, and you're going to need backup …" Billy began, but Lee cut him off.
"She's never been up against someone like Greggers, Billy. If there ever was a person that was tailor made for a career as a professional hitman, it's him and I don't want Amanda anywhere near me, because if I'm not sure I can protect myself, than I'm damn sure I won't be able to protect her." Lee said, his expression was one of urgency.
Okay, Scarecrow, okay ... you have it your way … I'll tell her you're still on assignment again, but don't be surprised when you can't shake her for long, she's smarter and more resourceful than you give her credit for." Lee nodded, his expression was a flurry of emotion as he exited Billy's office.
Billy watched the younger agent depart, a knowing smile spreading across his face. It was a strange turn of events that had brought Lee and Amanda together, Billy thought back to what kind of a person Lee was before she came along; Mr. "Different girl every week". Sure he was a good agent, one of the best young agents Billy had seen in a long time, but he didn't care about anyone but himself. It wasn't long after they were partnered together that he started to see a change in Lee. Gone was the brash, petulant, hot tempered young agent Harry Thornton had brought on ten years ago.
Over the two and a half years he'd known Amanda, he had matured, and learned how to care for someone other than himself. There was an emotional connection between them, was it love? Billy couldn't be sure, but one thing was for sure, it was strong.
"And Francine? Don't even you think about it." he scolded her as she turned to leave.
"Why, whatever are you talking about, Billy?" Francine said, feigning surprise.
"Letting it slip to Amanda where Lee is." Billy said as he crossed his arms in front of him.
Francine waved him off. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed." She said as she exited his office.
Billy looked up from his stack of paperwork upon hearing Amanda's trademark knock on his door, he waved her in.
"Good morning, sir!" she greeted him cheerfully.
Billy smiled at her warmly, Amanda was such a sweet person, she was one of those people that you couldn't help but like and in turn, he knew she cared about everyone that worked at the agency, especially Lee. Part of him felt dirty for having to deceive her.
"Amanda, something urgent came up, and Lee had to leave on a priority one assignment." Billy said, mentally wincing at Amanda's hurt, and downcast expression when she learned that she had been essentially … ditched.
Billy rounded his desk and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't feel too badly, Amanda, it's nothing personal, it's just how the spy business is. But I'll tell you what, we busted a huge international weapons smuggling ring last week and we're all still drowning in paperwork, I could really use the extra help around here.
Amanda brightened a little. "I'd be happy to help, sir." She replied.
In the weeks following Lee's departure, Billy kept Amanda busy helping various agents with the paperwork from their cases, but he knew it was only a matter of time before someone opened their big mouths and she found out … and judging by the look on her face when she walked into his office this morning, his luck at keeping a lid on this had run out.
Billy blew out a sigh.
"I guess you've heard." He said.
"Yes sir, but why would he go off without at least telling me?" She asked, the hurt in her voice was evident. Billy ran a hand over his face, Scarecrow was really going to owe him for this one.
"Amanda, I think you'd better sit down." Billy said.
"Six years ago, we got a tip from one of Lee's family who worked in the White House that a terrorist attack on the Pentagon was being planned. Because of their tip, we were able to stop and break up an international terrorist ring led by a man by the name of George Nukem. We arrested all but two, Nukem, and his right hand man. Nukem fled the country before we could throw the nets out for him, and he hired an international hitman by the name of Greggers to kill Lee in retaliation. I'll spare you the gory details, but six years ago, Greggers came damn close to completing his assignment."
"Oh my gosh!" Amanda breathed, her hand covering her mouth in shock.
"Three weeks ago I got word that Greggers was back countryside, and there is only one reason he would be here." Billy said.
"… And Lee went after him." Amanda finished for him.
"Amanda, I am giving you a direct order not to follow Lee on this one, do you understand?" Billy said, his expression and his tone told Amanda this was not up for negotiation.
"But sir, the first and most important rule in the Agency handbook is that an agent NEVER goes in without backup." Amanda said.
"I know, and normally, I would agree with you, but this case is special, and unfortunately, I have to take my orders from someone, too and that someone says that they don't want to risk spooking Greggers by sending a team after him." Billy said, he almost seemed to choke on the words as he said them, almost like they left a bad taste in his mouth.
"And by 'someone' you mean Dr. Smyth." Amanda said.
Billy wordlessly nodded.
"I don't like the way he runs this ship any more than you do, but like it or not, he's the admiral, and we have to obey his orders. Look, why don't you go home for the day and we'll pick up where we left off first thing in the morning." Billy said gently.
Amanda walked through her door and let her things fall, her emotional and physical exhaustion trumped her normal penchant for neatness.
It didn't help that she had an empty house to come home to; the boys were off at summer camp for another three weeks, and her mother had won a spa retreat in a raffle at one of their fundraisers and wouldn't be home for another two weeks. She blew out a sigh and made her way up to her room for a nice, long, hot bath.
She walked into her room and turned on the light, it was times like this that made her almost wish she had never taken that damn package on that fateful day. She also remembered how many time she had come close to leaving the Agency, but something had always made her rethink her decision. She liked to think she was doing it because she felt like she was making a real difference in the world, and helping to make it a safer place for her kids, but was that the only reason? She jumped as the telephone suddenly rang, cutting off her train of thought.
"Hello?" She said.
"Amanda." She recognized Billy's voice, heavy with emotion.
"Sir? What's wrong?" Amanda said, she could feel the panic already starting to rise in her.
"Amanda, the weather's turned really nasty, and the spooks have been called in." Billy said.
Amanda's stomach suddenly felt like it was filled with lead, she had been working long enough at the Agency to have picked up some of their spy jargon, and she knew this meant that the mission had gone south, and Lee had been injured.
"You know where the clubhouse is, they are already expecting you." Billy said, Amanda heard his voice crack with emotion.
"I'm on my way." She said as she hung up and rushed out the door.