MB Chapter 10

Back in Washington Lee and Amanda shared a cab to where Amanda was planning on staying. Amanda was telling Lee, "So naturally when Mother told me she had plans tonight and asked if I was learning a lot I just couldn't tell her I was coming home today so I told her I would be home tomorrow afternoon so that is why I asked if you would be able to give me a lift home; I just meant to tell you tomorrow not today."

"Amanda, why do you want to spend money and stay at a hotel? I have a perfectly good place you could stay tonight and I won't even charge for extra pillows and towels." Lee said half laughing half serious.

Amanda looked at him and said, "I didn't want to impose on you Lee and I wasn't sure what plans you would have had when you got back home. I just really needed a ride back to the house."

Lee asked the driver to turn around and head to his apartment. When they arrived Lee was glad to see that the cleaning service he had hired not long after Amanda got kidnapped in his place had in fact been by and the place was spotless and clean. Lee now understood why Amanda would rather go to a hotel if his place was the only other option.

"Wow, what is she like?" Amanda asked as she saw the neatly ordered apartment and she figured that it must only look like this when he had a new lady friend.

"Who are you talking about, Amanda?"

"The new lady in your life; I mean no offense Lee but I have never seen your apartment this clean." She said as she sat her purse down and sat on the couch.

"There isn't anyone new in my life; I hired a cleaning service. Ya know, Amanda, I think the mess of my apartments over the years had to do with how I was raised by my uncle. There was no room for failure or clutter in his world and so when I had a chance I just rebelled and refused to clean every two seconds; but even in my clutter I know where things were."

"Good to know, Stetson. Does your cleaning service provide groceries as well or do I need to run to the store for you?"

"Amanda, you don't drive a stick; but I do have about a dozen restaurants that deliver on speed dial. What are you in the mood for?"

Her thoughts shouted in her head 'YOU!' but she voiced calmly, "Whatever you're in the mood for is fine. I just really want to eat before we talk."

Lee went to place the order then went in his room to unpack and put his gun away as he opened the bedside table to set his gun in he noticed the full box of condoms that he made sure he always made sure he wasn't without when the last few days with Amanda ran through his mind; not only the number of times they had been together but every one of those times he realized he never took any precautions to protect her. He sat on the bed thinking of all the times in the field that he did everything he could to protect her; now the most important time of all and he never protected her once.

"Lee, the doorman said that the delivery is on its way up." She found him on the bed holding the box in one hand and his head in the other. "Lee, are you okay?"

Standing and throwing the box on the bed he looked at her and she saw anger in his hazel eyes, "Fine, Amanda, I am just great." He stormed passed her toward the door to meet the delivery and she noticed what he had thrown on the bed and she understood his anger.

Walking back in his living room she saw as he began to place the food out on the table and she walked over stopped his hands taking them in hers and said, "Look at me Lee."

"I thought you wanted to eat; if you want to eat then I have to set this…"

"Lee Matthew Stetson, look at me, in the eyes."

When he looked up into her eyes she saw the anger still in them and she pulled him into her arms and ran her hands through his hair and said, "Lee, why are you so mad? Do you regret what happened in Florida?"

"Not what happened but what wasn't done, Amanda, I didn't once think to protect you. You could be pregnant because of me." He wanted to pull away from her soft embrace but found he was unable to.

"You didn't force me; not one of those times; we were both there and it was both of our jobs to protect each other and we both failed."

"Amanda, what if you are pregnant?"

"What if I am?" She asked him kissing him on his neck.

A soft moan escaped his throat as he relaxed in her arms, "What would you tell your family if you become pregnant?"

"Like you said, I already could be; how will you react if I am? I have already done this twice before and I know I could again if I needed to because if I am there is only one option; I will not give a child of mine up for adoption or terminate a pregnancy."

"I would never ask you to consider either of those options; but if you are you know that you have me to deal with for the rest of your life because me having a child and not being a part of their life is not an option for me."

"I would never keep a child of mine from their father. Lee I chose not to worry about a situation I can't change or even know about yet. If I am I will let you know as soon as I do and we will handle it from there if need be. Now don't be mad and lets have a nice dinner."

She saw the anger leave his face but not the worry; she knew he would just have to work through that on his own and deal with it if need be in his own way and time if necessary. They ate in silence and when they had ate their fill Amanda walked over to the couch and patted it for Lee to sit down next to her.

"If I remember correctly, Mr. Stetson, you were worried about things changing between us."

"Yes, yes I am; I really don't want that to happen but it may already have."

"Do you think any differently toward me now that you have seen me wet and naked?"

Lee smiled at the memory of her wet and naked as she put it and he said, "Depends on the situation."

"Okay for work purposes do you think any differently toward me?"

"No I don't Amanda; for work purposes I do not think differently about you."

"Good; now that we have that settled then we have nothing to worry about. If you don't feel differently than you won't treat me differently. I know we haven't known each other even a full year but I have learned that you have always treated your past flings with respect and you have always with me."

"Amanda there is a difference here; my other office 'flings' never was asked to cover my ass and you have and you do. Billy has you in the office and I have you in the field; now I am worried that since I have had you in bed that I will lose focus in the field."

"Lee, I have no intention of leaving this job unless forced to, Billy promised me I would get more training and I intend to get that training. I am good at my job and I am even better at my friendships and where you are concerned I am fabulous for both. I am not leaving you alone in the field and I am not letting you push our friendship out the window either. Look into my eyes Lee, go ahead, look." She sat waiting for him to lock into her eyes before she continued, "Lee have I ever lied to you before?"

"No, you never have."

"Okay; trust me when I said that our friendship and our work relationship will be fine. I am not sitting here harboring some out of this world fantasy that I expect any more from you than I have already gotten and I will be okay. Really I will, you have such a great heart and I know you didn't plan on having sex with me; hell I didn't plan on having sex with you. We are adults and I think we are better than most in our friendship that we will be okay. Does any of that help you?"

"Yes, it helps more than you know. Well, now that I have my answer and we have had dinner what would you like to do?"

"Sleep, I am tired. Where do you want me?"

Standing he leaned over, picked her up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom. "I want you in here and in my arms tonight before I take you home tomorrow."