Chapter 13

The remainder of the week passed quietly. Each day, Amanda had fewer headaches and thanks to Dotty constantly feeding her, the nausea surpassed as well. Lee spent Saturday afternoon with the boys watching the race while Dotty and Amanda went out shopping, a much-needed break for Amanda. Andy had time before his race started to show Lee and the boys the vantage point, he had mentioned at the garage. Philip couldn't wipe the smile off his face as the cars sped past, each one seemingly faster than the previous one. Jamie asked questions about the different cars until finally, Lee had to admit he didn't know much about how the size of the engines impacted the power and force on the turns and different surfaces of the race track. Once the race concluded, Lee promised the boys he would take them to the track one afternoon after school. Later that evening, Lee and Amanda settled into bed, "Sweetheart, I think it's official," she said softly.

"What's that?" Lee asked, adjusting his arms around Amanda as she rested her head on his chest.

"You've become a great dad without even trying," Amanda explained.

Lee pulled back so he could see her face, "What makes you say that?"

Amanda lifted her head to look at him. She smiled and whispered, "Because you've learned how to make the boys as happy as you make me."

Lee shook his head slowly, "Amanda, I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything," she said huskily before kissing his lips and running her hands across his chest lovingly.

Lee responded instinctively, immediately deepening the kiss. He pulled away, breathless and scanned her face for any hesitation. "You sure you're feeling up to this?"

Amanda kissed him once more before stating, "I'm feeling better than I have in weeks. Now, where were we?"

"Right about here," Lee whispered as he pulled her into his arms. He made love to her slowly and tenderly, her cries of pleasure encouraging him. He held her as she shattered in his arms before succumbing to his own release.

Monday morning, Amanda was awake and dressed before Lee was out of the shower. She made breakfast for the boys and much to Lee's chagrin, handed him a plate with his coffee when he found her in the kitchen. "Oh, I'm so glad you're feeling better, Dear!" Dotty exclaimed loudly.

"Yeah, Mom, I don't know about Jamie, but I was getting nervous," Philip admitted.

Amanda kissed her boys before reassuring them, "Well, it was just a matter of time. I haven't had a headache for a few days, my stomach is feeling much better, so stop worrying about me."

"I'm your mother, I'm supposed to worry," Dotty stayed firmly before adding, "Don't overdo it today, Amanda."

"Mother! I won't, I promise," Amanda assured her. She followed Lee to the garage and climbed into the passenger seat of the Vette.

Lee slid into the seat beside her with a smile announcing, "Let's go to work." An hour after they arrived, Lee was called to Billy's office for an emergency meeting.

"Amanda!" Francine exclaimed as she entered the Q Bureau. "What are you doing here?"

Amanda looked up from her desk with a smile, "Well, good morning to you too, Francine."

Francine closed the door behind her and dropped the file folders she was carrying onto a free space on Lee's desk. "I thought you were still home recovering," Francine stated.

"No, I'm feeling much better. Besides, it's been almost two weeks since I was hurt, and I haven't had a headache in a few days. I figured I could help Lee with some of these files on his desk," Amanda pointed to the rapidly growing pile of files that needed to be organized.

"Well don't let Lee make you do all the work. You don't want to do too much," Francine insisted.

Amanda frowned, "Why is everyone so worried about me doing too much?"

Francine stood and crossed from Lee's desk to stand beside Amanda's. Hesitantly she placed her hand on Amanda's shoulder and stated, "Because we know you, Amanda and we all know sometimes you don't stop until…" Her voice faded as she thought back through the months after Amanda had been shot. She had watched Amanda fight to get stronger and return to work much earlier than anyone else had anticipated. "Well, I know you're stronger than anyone gives you credit for but be careful," she added.

Amanda stood and gave Francine a hug, "Thank you. I appreciate that, especially coming from you. And if it makes you feel any better, I just got off the phone with my regular doctor, Dr. Goodman and he had me make a follow-up appointment for tomorrow morning."

"Good. I'm sure Doc Kelford will be happy to hear that too. He's always going on and on about how we should have our own doctor and how we shouldn't rely on the Agency to provide us with medical care," Francine smiled. "But, enough about that! I know Lee is going to be down with Billy for a few more hours so how about I take you out for a bite to eat."

"What's going on?" Amanda asked in a solemn voice.

Francine shook her head, "Nothing you need to worry about. Billy's going through Lee's list of contacts in the Middle East to see if he can get confirmation about the reports that we have been getting regarding a new terrorist cell."

"A new terrorist cell? Lee's contacts in the Middle East?" Amanda repeated. "You don't think Lee's going to have to-"

"No! Billy's not going to send him over there! Don't you worry!" Francine cut her off.

Amanda sat slowly back into her seat, shaking her head in disbelief, "But you don't know that. You can't know that for sure."

Francine sat on the edge of Amanda's desk and covered her hands, "I do know! Billy will not send him over there, not now. Lee's already put in his request for homeland assignments only. Billy's not going to risk sending him in the biggest hotbed of terrorist activity now."

"Francine, I know how things work. If Lee is needed, they will-" Amanda began but Francine stopped her again.

"They will NOT send him. Dr. Smyth has made a point that Lee is not going. He needs him here, in DC, not on the ground in Djibouti!" Francine snapped.

"Dr. Smyth? Why would he care if Lee was here or over there?" Amanda groaned, confused.

"Well, Mrs. Stetson, Scarecrow is much more valuable to our country here than he is halfway across the world," Dr. Smyth explained as he opened the door and stepped inside.

"Hello, Sir," Amanda automatically replied when she saw him.

"Dr. Smyth, I have to say I'm surprised to see you up here," Francine stated.

Dr. Smyth looked from Francine's stern face to Amanda's sad, frightened one. "I came up to see how Mrs. Stetson was feeling. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not entirely heartless," he stated.

Amanda exhaled loudly, fighting tears that threatened to fall. She inhaled once more before she replied, "Thank you, Dr. Smyth. I'm feeling better, but this whole thing with Djibouti…." She was distracted as Lee stepped into the office.

"Dr. Smyth, Billy asked me to find you. He just got word from my contact, Arvio, that there's a shipment moving tomorrow. He gave us the coordinates of the rendezvous point for pickup," Lee explained. He looked at Amanda's face and instantly knew something was wrong. She was pale, her hands were trembling slightly, and she looked as if she was going to cry any moment. "Amanda? What's wrong?" he asked, moving to her side. "Are you feeling sick again? A headache? I knew you shouldn't have come in today!"

Amanda shook her head defiantly, still fighting the tears, "I'm fine. I'll be fine. But this whole thing… Lee, is Billy sending you to Djibouti?"

"No. I told you that before," Lee insisted.

"And I told her that too!" Francine interjected.

"Well, Scarecrow, I hate to say it, but I said the same thing. Apparently, the missus here doesn't believe any of us. Since it sounds like you need to have a conversation to clarify things, I'll take that as my cue to leave. I'll tell Melrose you'll be down in a bit," Dr. Smyth sounded almost sympathetic. He opened the door but paused long enough to add, "But don't be too long. We don't have all day." He left without another word.

Francine followed behind him but not before reminding Amanda, "That offer for lunch is still on. I'll be in the bullpen when you're ready to go." She disappeared into the hallway, closing the door behind her.