MB Chapter 13

Amanda walked into the Georgetown foyer the next morning smiling and cheerfully said, "Good morning, Mrs. Marston, I believe the word is 'checkerboard'.

"Very good, Mrs. King; have a nice day." The older woman said with what could be called a smile.

Amanda rode the elevator down to the floor that would take her to the busy bullpen swarming with agents. It was just a typical Monday for her except that she was carrying Lee's baby and he seemed okay with it. She sat her things down at the cubical across the room from Lee's desk and took out a legal pad of paper and pen so she could take his notes for him when Francine walked up and in that voice that raked Amanda's nerves and began a conversation.

"Amanda, I didn't know you were coming in today; not after what Lee said last night."

Amanda's eyes widened in surprised and trying to hide her emotions she said, "What did Lee tell you Francine?"

"Oh, come on Amanda we are both grownups here; I mean he blew off Jillian for it, why don't you tell me your side."

Feeling her blood pressure rise she stood up and said, "Well, if Lee told you then I guess nothing else needs to be said, except I will tell you this Francine Desmond it isn't your job to let anyone else know so I suggest you just leave your high priced nose out of this situation." Storming off from the blond with her mouth hung low Amanda went and found a phone and hoped she would catch Lee before he left for his meeting.

Hearing his machine pick up Amanda spoke quietly but firmly into the phone leaving a message that Lee would know in no uncertain terms that he overstepped his boundaries with their secret, his notes would be on his desk when he returned and he didn't have to break any more plans with Jillian so not to worry about coming to her house for dinner later.

Lee walked into his living room to get his keys and leave when he heard Amanda leaving her message and wondered what had happened and how did she know about Jillian. He knew he she was mad at him but he had no idea why; he hadn't told anyone about the baby, not even Billy.

Amanda sat taking notes for Lee when the conference door opened and Lee stepped in and took the only seat available next to Francine across from Amanda and he saw the hurt and anger in her eyes and wondered what was wrong. He may not know what it was he supposedly done but he was going to find out.

"Lee, I thought you were at the Capitol in a meeting."

"It was rescheduled for this afternoon, Billy." Lee was talking to Billy but his eyes never left Amanda.

Billy nodded and continued on with the meeting and noticed the tension between Lee and Amanda and the snarky smile on Francine's face. 'What did she do now' he thought to himself as the meeting ended. "Okay you have your assignments, report back in three days and Lee, Amanda, and Francine will you three please stay put."

When the room cleared Billy calmly said, "I don't know what it is with you three; but we are going to get it worked out and now. Now, Francine, I spoke with Amanda when she came in and she smiling and happy like nothing could get to her and then you spoke to her. Did you say anything to her?"

"Francine, I warned you to layoff; what did you do?" Lee spat out.

"Why were you talking to her about me anyway; if I remember when you left the house last night we agreed that we would tell people when it became necessary, but no the minute you leave you tell the first person you see." Amanda popped up.

Leaning across the table o lock eyes with Amanda Lee shouted, "I didn't tell her anything except to stop whining about you working here because you do a good job."

"Then why did she want my side of things from what you told her?" Amanda said raising her voice.

Francine thought it was time to come clean at that moment, "I was just trying to find out why he was at your house; he never said anything about anything. I was just being nosey."

Lee smiled at Amanda feeling like he just won the World Series; instead of a disagreement. "I told you I didn't say anything."

"Well, you are now. I told you if any tension between you two at work together I would split you up. If you don't want that then I suggest you consider me your confessor; Francine leave."

Amanda and Lee sat looking at one another until Lee said, "I thought you knew me better; why would I tell her anything?"

"Why wouldn't you? She is your friend." Amanda replied with embarrassment than anything else in her voice.

"One thing you still need to understand is that professionally or personal partners have each other's back; no matter what."

"Do you two want to clue me in on this?"

Lee looked to Amanda to follow her lead; he made her a promise that he wouldn't say anything until she was ready or if her life was in danger before he would say anything about the baby. "Amanda this is your call; I will support you in anyway."

"Sir at this time if I assure you that nothing like this will happen again can you just forget today and my actions?"

"Amanda I told you before you went to Florida that I knew how Lee could push people's buttons, don't deny it Scarecrow, but I will tell you that I know what happened in Florida and before you jump Lee didn't deny anything when I confronted him with it."

"No, Sir, I wouldn't think that he would and neither am I; I just over reacted to Francine and I just as Lee has told me I just need to ignore her and trust myself."

"He is right Amanda this is a hard business and dangerous, Francine fought her way to where she is and when she sees you excelling she thinks you didn't earn your stripes, but you have and still are, don't let her get to you. Now," he looked from one to the other "if we are finished with this can we get back to the job at hand."

Lee and Amanda just nodded and went out to their work areas as Lee began on his reports and Amanda began to type her notes for him. As she finished she walked over to Lee's desk and laid the notes on his desk; Lee covered her hand with his as she placed them down. She smiled at him and said, "I'm sorry, do you need any help with your reports?"

"Yes, Amanda if you have time. It is these two here and then I will be caught up. I can finish them tomorrow if you don't have time."

"I have time; when are they due?"

"Yesterday afternoon; I told you I came to ask you to help me yesterday and then well, you know."

Smiling she said, Well, since it is sort of my fault you didn't get them done; I will help you get them done."

"Thanks; I really do appreciate the help."

"Oh, I didn't say it was completely my fault." She picked up the reports and took her hand from him and then smiled and whispered to where only he could hear, "You can make it up to me tonight after dinner."

He raised his eyebrows and with a smirk on his face he said, "Really and what are you proposing, Mrs. King?"

"Well, Mr. Stetson, dishes do not wash themselves." She said as she walked off hearing him laugh.

Three weeks later Amanda walked into Billy's office to turn in a report and Billy stopped her gesturing for her to sit down; which she did. Waiting for him to finish his phone call he looked up and said, "Amanda, I have a courier assignment for you. I need you to go to Germany and deliver an envelope."

"When would I have to go?"

"In the morning; you will be gone about three days."

"Oh, okay, Sir what time do I leave?"

"Your plane leaves at six in the morning; is everything okay? I mean if you aren't available I can get someone else."

"No, sir, I can do it, I just have to make arrangements with my mother. Thank you, sir." Amanda stood to leave and then turned and asked, "Does Lee know about this?"

"Only if you tell him before he is done with his assignment; which you will be gone before he gets back any way. Are you sure you can do this?"

"Yes, it will be fine."

"Good come see me before you leave and I will have your travel tickets and your correspondence and your meeting information codes."

Amanda went straight to her desk called her mother to explain and said they would talk more at dinner. Next, she called and rescheduled her doctor's appointment for the following week and finally she wrote Lee a note and left if for him. She knew he had a long weekend planned but he said he would try to be back in time for her appointment; if he didn't have to worry about the appointment now then his weekend could start earlier. The next morning Amanda was on a flight to Munich as Lee's plane was landing in Dulles.

Lee arrived at the Agency and went straight to his debriefing then on into Billy's office. "Lee, are you ready for you long weekend?"

"More than ready; I was going to ask you if I could take today off; there is an appointment that I need to go to with Amanda."

Billy looked up at Lee and said, "What appointment?"

Lee not realizing what he had said fully out loud until Billy questioned him replied, "Oh, she said that she had an appointment today and asked if I would go with her so we could go to lunch afterward and then she could fill me in on what I have missed while being gone."

Billy didn't buy it but tried to hide his smile as he told Lee, "Well, I hope she rescheduled that appointment because if it is for today she is going to miss it; she left for Germany this morning and won't be back until for at least three days."

Lee jumped to his feet and said, "Are you crazy? Why is she going to Germany?"

"No, my psych evaluation came back fine, but I think you might have missed yours with the way you are acting. We have sent Amanda on courier assignments before; she'll be fine Lee."

"Billy you don't understand; hell it is Amanda we are talking about, anything could happen."

"As it could with any of you when you leave to go home at night; Lee it will be alright nothing is going to happen. Would you like to explain to me why some of her assignments lately have gotten you sent over the edge? She is your partner, not your wife. It isn't like she is pregnant; right Lee."

Lee gave Billy a sideway glance and halfhearted smile when he answered, "Now how in the world would I know that or not Billy?"

"Lee, is she?"

"That is classified information on the fact that Amanda is not here to let me know if I can declassify that file as of yet."

"Lee Stetson are you telling me that you and Amanda King are going to have a baby and I am now just hearing about it?"

"She said she would tell you if you tried to give her any assignment that might harm the baby; but she said most people wait until they are farther along to say anything."

"Lee, get to Germany; make sure nothing goes wrong with this assignment; get her home and then all three of us are going to have a long talk about when a Field Section Chief should be let in on the big news."

Lee went to stand up and before he made it to the door Billy said, "Hey, Lee, congratulations."

"Thanks, Billy."