Defending Amanda's Honor Part 2
Amanda sat at the restaurant looking over the menu as her mother had gone to the bathroom. She glanced at the bags next to her on the floor and hoped it wasn't too much. She knew she had a lot more items to get before the baby got here, but it was a start on things. Her mother had repeatedly reminded her that she would be having a shower later. They needed to think of places to register.
She was having such a peaceful day with her mother, shopping, talking, and just spending time together. They hadn't really had a girl's day together in a few months. Her work load was easier since she didn't go into the field with Lee as often. She knew why and she was even okay with the lighter workload. She didn't want to go through the loss of another child.
"Did you decide which side of the menu you wanted?" Dotty asked when she returned from the restroom.
"Actually, the whole menu looks wonderful to me. When is this part going to be over? I want to eat normally again before these calories catch up to me. I don't ever remember having this kind of appetite with either boy."
"Oh, well then maybe you are having a girl. Jamie wants a girl, which surprised me. Do you have any idea why Jamie wants a girl?"
"He told me and Lee it was because he already had a brother and since Philip got to choose last time it was his turn."
The two women laughed at the statement as the waitress came to take their order. Dotty decided on the shrimp salad and iced tea while Amanda ordered a double cheeseburger with everything, a large order of onion rings, a glass of water and a large chocolate shake with extra whip cream.
"Amanda, dear, are you sure that is what you need?"
"Mother, it may not be what I need but it most certainly is what I want. Why I am not sure but this baby is controlling my eating at the moment."
"Let's just hope you have more restraint with this baby after she gets here, with telling her no, than you do at this moment."
"I know I spoil my children, but I did learn from the best."
The two women laughed at that statement while neither one noticed the man in the booth behind them sitting listening to their conversation.
"Mrs. King is pregnant? I bet I can guess who the father is." Fred Fielder said to himself. Smiling he stood and went to pay his check.
Just as Amanda and Dotty were leaving the restaurant, Francine walked in almost knocking into them and their packages.
"Oh, Amanda, dear, I didn't see you behind all those packages. Did you ever talk to Lee?"
"Mother, this is Francine Desmond, I work with her at IFF. Francine, this is my mother, Dotty West. No I haven't talked to Lee, why, is anything wrong? Did he have to go ion location again?"
"No, he went to get your son from school. They called him when they couldn't find either of you two. He said that if you called to tell you to meet him at your house."
"Do you know which boy or why?" Amanda asked.
"Um, I think he said Phillip and for fighting." Francine then left the two to go get her order and head back to the office.
"Why would Phillip be fighting?" Amanda asked her mother.
"The question should be why wouldn't Phillip be fighting? He can have a short fuse at times."
"I know but it is only the first week of school, what could have happened?"
"Well, I say we head to the car, then home, and rescue that boyfriend of yours. If Phillip does have his temper up then it could be a knock out drag out when we get home."
"Only Phillip has never seen Lee in a knock out drag out, he could change his tune completely if he wants to fight Lee hand to hand."
Dotty just gave her daughter a strange look and then followed to their car a few blocks away and headed for home.
"Is your mom a slut? Where did you hear that word? Who even said it?" Lee asked feeling his temper rise he tried to put it in check so not to scare Jamie.
"We were in gym class and I was telling my friend Joey that mom was going to have a baby. Some of the older boys said that the only way my mom could have a baby was if she was a slut because she wasn't married. So is she is she a slut? Lee, what is a slut?"
Looking at the Principal Lee stood and said, "I am signing him out, but I think you have a few more suspensions to hand out if you gave Jamie one for defending his mother and nothing to the boys that said what they said. Come on, Jamie, let's go."
Walking to the outer office Lee signed his name to the register so he could take Jamie with him. They walked toward Lee's car and Jamie asked, "Is mom going to be really mad at me?"
"Not if I can help it. In my opinion you did nothing wrong. Let's go and talk about this situation, okay?"
"Okay. Lee, what kind of car is this?"
"This is a classic 1963 Porsche 350 convertible. I love classic cars; do you know anything about cars?"
"No, but I am sure I will." Jamie looked over at Lee and stared at him thinking he was a lot nicer than Dean. Dean wouldn't have come to pick him up or defended him.
"Lee, when you and Mom told us about the baby, you were hurt, but you said you was on location, where and how did you get hurt?"
"I was in the mountains; I slipped and cut myself up pretty bad." Lee hated lying to them but he knew he had to and he was also beginning to feel the weight of his lies like Amanda had when she lied to them.
Lee pulled onto the bridge and headed toward DC. "Lee, we live the other way."
"I know, but I want to you and I don't want it to be around your mom just yet. You had some pretty serious questions and I fell you deserve the answers and your mom may feel uncomfortable with me talking to you about this."
They drove in silence for about ten more minutes. Lee then drove to a drive thru and ordered them some lunch. "Here be careful not to spill this in the car. We are going to Rock Creek Park."
Jamie held the drinks tight and placed the bags between his feet, making sure they didn't topple over. When they got to the park, Lee helped Jamie with the drinks as Jamie carried the bags to the picnic table.
"Here is a cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate shake for you. I get the double cheeseburger with everything, onion rings, and chocolate shake extra whip cream.
"That is a lot of food, Lee. You eat like that all the time?" Jamie asked.
"No, this is just what sounded good today. I normally eat out, unless I am at your house but very rarely do I eat this kind of food."
"Lee, are you going to tell me what a slut is and if my mom is one or not?" Jamie asked as he put three fires in his mouth at once.
"Jamie, the word slut is a word that guys use for women that have sex with a lot of men; usually the same day or night they meet them. Now does that sound like your mom?"
"Mom has only dated you and Dean since she divorced my dad. That doesn't seem like a lot of men. Did mom have sex with Dean too?"
"I don't know and I really don't want to know, but I can tell you that even if she did, I don't think sleeping with two guys since being divorced is considered being a slut. Do you?"
"No, I guess not. Lee, you have said that this baby wasn't planned then does that mean that you and mom had sex just to have sex?"
Lee stopped his chewing to look at Jamie. He wasn't sure how to answer that question. Honestly, seemed to be the best course in this conversation, "Yes we did Jamie."
"Mom always says that you have to really love someone to have sex with them. That it isn't something that two people do randomly. You said you loved my mom and if she had sex with you then she must love you too. Why don't you just get married and then no one can call my mom names anymore."
"Jamie, I do love your mom. She is my best friend and even though we are having this baby together, we both have to be in the right place to get married. I am not saying that one day your mom and I won't get married, but if we do, I want it to be for a stronger reason than a baby. I want to know that I will be the step father you boys need in your life, that I will be the husband that your mother deserves in her life. I will not marry her just because she is having my baby. That will only lead to a divorce and I do not want that when I marry or when your mom remarries. Does that make sense?"
"What does a good step father do?" Jamie questioned.
Lee thought to his uncle. "He teaches you right from wrong, he sets an example that makes you want to be better than he is, he helps you to reach your full potential, he kicks you in the ass when you screw up, but most importantly he loves you unconditionally right or wrong and stands by you."
"Like you did with me today and the school?"
Smiling Lee answered, "Yeah, like I did with you at the school today. Let's finish this up and go find your mom. She is going to be worried."
Amanda was pacing her living room when Phillip came in from school, "Jamie, are you here? Jamie?"
"Jamie isn't here, but I would like to know where you have been since Lee picked you up and where is Lee?"
"Lee didn't pick me up, he picked Jamie up. I found out at recess today that Jamie got suspended today for fighting. I didn't do anything this time."
"Do you know why he was fighting?"
"No, Tommy said that Kevin said that in gym class Jamie started a fight with some of the bigger boys because they were calling Jamie names. Jamie is used to being called names he doesn't let it bother him. Can I have a snack?"
"Yeah, you can have some cookies and milk. Phillip, why do kids call Jamie names?"
"Mom, he blows the curve for everyone, he is such and egghead."
Amanda was in the garden with her mother when Lee and Jamie came through the back yard gate.
"Where have you two been?"
"Lee took me to eat and then to the park." Jamie knew by the look on her face that she already knew about his trouble at school.
"Lee Stetson, he gets suspended for fighting and you take him out for a victory meal and play time at the park? That is no way to raise a child. I can only imagine now how you will be with this one." She said running her hand over her belly.
"He is going to be a great dad, leave him alone Mom!" Jamie yelled at her.
"Jamie, don't, let her get mad at me, it is fine." Lee said as he placed his hands on Jamie's shoulders.
No one noticed as Phillip came in the backyard to watch his brother finally be the one to get in trouble.
"I think you should go and get his suspension lifted if possible tomorrow. He was defending…"
"I don't give a damn what or who he was defending. He knows how I feel about fighting, it isn't tolerated. Now, you will explain to me what happened and Lee I suggest you stay out of it."
Raising his hands in a defeated defense he took a seat next to Phillip and Dotty at the picnic table. While Amanda tore into Jamie, making a mental note to find some way to make her feel better when she realized how wrong she was.
"Now, Jamie I want to hear from you as to why you were fighting."
"I was in gym class. We were changing back into our clothes when I told Joey that you were going to have a baby. A few of the bigger boys said that if you were going to have a baby, that since you weren't married that made you a slut."
"What?" Phillip stood and Lee saw what Amanda meant when she said he could go from zero to hot head in one point two seconds. "Calm down, hear him out."
"No, who said that about Mom?"
"It was Alan Baker, Jimmy Claus, Freddie Stone, and Billy Michaels. I didn't know what slut meant, but it sounded bad and I just hit one across the face and then they all started in on me. I just kept swinging until the coach came in and pulled us apart. The Principal called you and grandma, but you weren't here. She asked if Dad was in town and I said no, so she called Lee and he came and got me and talked to the Principal telling her she had a few more suspensions to hand out. Then he took me to get some lunch and talk to me to explain what everything meant and how I should have let an adult handle it instead of fighting. He said that fighting never really solved anything. Sometimes you might feel a little better but it never solved anything. We ate at the park, but he didn't let me play or anything. I'm sorry I was fighting mom, but I didn't think since I was defending you that I was doing anything wrong. When you love someone you stand up for them, right, Lee? Isn't that what you said?"
"Yes, I did say that, you are correct." Lee looked at Amanda and could tell she was about to cry so he took over.
"Hey, Jamie, why don't you and your brother help your grandmother set the table then maybe I will make something for dinner for all of us?"
"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Lee, come on boys, let's leave these two alone to discuss what happened today."
Lee walked over to Amanda and put his arms around her and just held her as she cried. "Hey, it is okay now. He knows what he did was wrong. He doesn't want to fight anymore. He didn't want to fight in the first place. All he knew was that someone was making fun of you and he didn't like it. I can't say that I wouldn't do the same thing in his place."
"Lee, he got in a fight because I am pregnant."
"No, he got in a fight because some punk kid made a rude remark about you. A remark I might add, that I explained to him and how it has nothing to do with you."
"You told him what a slut was?" Lee smiled as the statement alone made her blush.
"That and a few other things, but yes, I explained things to him and talked to him. Amanda, you can't shield them from the world, but you can better prepare them for it."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that when you explain where babies come from, don't make it sound like that is the only reason to have sex. It means if you are going to have the talk with them then have it and not skirt past the parts that matter just as much. Let them know it is okay to enjoy your partner without the goal of making babies. Explain the importance of enjoyment in a safe manner, and even if precautions are taken they are not one hundred percent effective. We took precautions and we are still having a baby, but that was not the goal when we were having sex. It was for the pure lustful enjoyment of it."
"You told my son all that?"
"Most of it, hell, he needed to know that." Lee let her go and began to pace. "You can't baby them, you have to know they are going to get this information form you or their friends, trust me it is always better to get the information from a reliable source."
"What do you know about it? You haven't raised a child." Amanda argued.
"No, but I plan on it."
"Is this your plan to just tell your child everything as they ask? Sometimes as you will find out you have to modify the facts for the age they are asking at. They asked me where babies came from two years ago when a friend of theirs mother was having a baby. I had no problem explaining where babies came from then but I thought the enjoyment and protection of sex was something I could hold off on for a few more years!"
"I was just trying to help. I am sorry. I will not overstep my bounds again, just let me know where the line is drawn!" Lee stormed out of the back yard, forgetting that he was going to make dinner as he drove off toward the Agency.
Lee stepped off the elevator and headed toward the bull pen. He went to his desk and started looking through the file he had earlier in the day before Jamie's Principal called. He was half way through it making the necessary corrections when Fred Fielder walked up to his desk and sat on the corner.
Looking up Lee said, "Can I help you Fred?"
"Yeah, I was just wondering what she was like? Was she hot and wild or as dull as the sweaters she wears?" Smiling down at Lee and not realizing his foul mood, Fred's grin was one of his biggest grins.
Setting the file back on his desk, Lee asked, "Whom are we talking about?"
"Amanda is whom we are talking about. I mean I know she has the most incredible legs, which look like they could wrap around a man, so do they?"
"Do they what?" Lee clenched his fists on the desk as Fred stood up to be more eye level with Lee.
"Wrap around you and hang on for dear life? I would think that you would have to put a lot of effort into sparking her fire though, she looks great, but looks don't always cut it in bed. I just bet that it took you quite a few times to put that baby in her. What did you have to do pry her legs open first?" Laughing Fred never saw the punch coming.
Lee picked him up off the floor and then hit him again. This time as Fred fell backwards he fell through the glass startling the Marine at the door and turning to see the problem. Billy and Francine were on their way back to the bull pen when they saw Fred falling through the window and then Lee climbing through it grabbing Fred only to him two more times before the Marine pulled him off of Fred.
"Stetson, Fielder, in my office now!"
Lee walked through the broken glass and headed straight for Billy's office. He knew he went over the line, an agent isn't supposed to physically harm another agent purposefully. He meant every swing he gave Fred.
Fred and Billy came in a few minutes later and Lee stood from where he was sitting in military stance. Fred moved along side of Lee.
"Now would one of you like to tell me what in the hell that was all about?"
"I beat the stuffing out him."
"I can see that, Stetson, now would one of you like to tell me why?"
Smiling Lee turned to Fred and said, "After you, pal."
Fred knew he wasn't going to come out of this as the victim of a pissed off Scarecrow. He swallowed hard and then said, "Today at lunch I overheard Mrs. King talking with her mother about being pregnant and I was just ribbing with Stetson, and he well, Sir, he proceeded to beat the crap out of me."
"Amanda's mother is pregnant, Fielder?" Billy asked. Lee stifled a laugh through a cough, knowing he was still in hot water.
"No, Sir, Amanda King is having a baby and I just assumed that Lee was the father so I was just making jokes with him."
"What kind of jokes were you making about Mrs. King and Agent Stetson?"
"Um, I, um, well, I guess I don't really recall."
"You don't recall how hard did you hit him?" Billy looked at Lee who just shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, it isn't important. What is important is that now you both have a week vacation unpaid by the way for your childish antics as well as a formal letter in your files for your annual reviews. Have a nice day, Fred, Lee you stay a moment."
Lee sat down thinking this was where Billy was going to lecture him on office policy, holding his temper, and just to ignore Fred.
"He said some pretty touchy things about Amanda, did he?" Billy asked when Fred was leaving.
"Yeah, now I know how Jamie felt today. Billy, I understand why you did what you did, you had to. I am not sorry though for punching that piece of crap."
"I know you're not. I don't blame you. Amanda and you have worked hard to maintain a professional appearance around here and you two have. You two also knew that one day it was going to come out that she was pregnant, and with your reputation it was always going to cross someone's mind that you are the father, which you are."
"I know I just thought that we had a little longer I mean she isn't even showing yet."
"Are you going to tell me what Fred said that pissed you off so much or do I have to guess?"
Lee went into his day from the point of picking Jamie up to the fight with Amanda to the fight with Fred in detail. One good thing about being an agent the details are very rarely lost or forgotten.
"Damn, Lee, after that kind of day I am surprised you didn't shoot Fred."
"I wanted to but I knew that would be a lot more to clean up. I didn't mean to punch him through the glass; it just happened he fell that way. I guess that is coming out of my check?"
"Fred's too, I make sure though that Fred pays the majority of it. Lee, you can't let comments like that rule you, you have to keep a level head."
"I know I will try. I will go hand over my files to Francine and leave. I think I am going to go apologize to Amanda."
"Well, you do have a week to do it in."
"Yeah, see ya Billy."
The drive to Amanda's was a humbling one for Lee. He knew more comments would be made about Amanda if they didn't do something about it. Hopefully she would have an answer for him.
Lee walked the path to the door and held his breath as he waited to see who would answer and what mood they were in.
Phillip opened the door and said, "You almost missed dinner, Grandma made burgers when Mom told her you two had a fight and you left. We are still eating if you want to join us."
"Dinner sounds great, that is if your mom will let me eat with you guys again."
"Mom is real forgiving." Lee followed Phillip into the kitchen when Amanda looked up she noticed his knuckles the minute he raised his hand to wave at her.
Standing she walked to him and looked over his hand. "Lee Stetson, what did you do?"
Whispering in her ear he said, "Beating the crap out of Fielder." Then he pulled her into his arms and said, "I am sorry if I over stepped with Jamie, I was only trying to help."
"I know you were, but I don't want you to feel like you have to help with them, they are my responsibility."
Shaking his head, "No, I think in the long run they are our responsibility. I am in your life and I want to be here in your life, the good and bad parts. Speaking of bad parts, uh, Jamie."
"Yes, Lee?"
"You know what I said earlier that it was a noble thing you did and your Principal was wrong for your punishment?"
"Yes, I remember."
"Well, I was only sort of wrong. You had noble intentions in defending your mother, but you did it in all the wrong ways. Fighting is never a solution to defending someone and facing the consequences are just as important as the reason you did what you did."
"I don't get it. I'm just supposed to let these guys call my mom names?"
"Jamie, you are to let a teacher and your mom know what happened. Then let them face their consequences for their actions."
"Sounds like being a coward to me." Phillip chimed in.
"Yeah, well, sometimes learning when not to fight is just as important as knowing when to fight."
"I bet you wouldn't let someone talk about mom that way." Jamie muttered.
"No, I wouldn't and I didn't, but I also just lost a week's pay, work, and a negative report in my file for fighting in the work place. Things like that could have me fired. I love your mom but I love my job also."
Looking at him with wide eye wonder Amanda whispered, "What did you just say?"
"I said a lot of things; would you care to narrow it down?" Smiling he knew what she was talking about.
"Lee, please…"
"Oh, that last part where I said I love my job?"
"No, I think it was a little before that part."
"Oh, where I lost work and pay for the next week?"
"Lee, just slightly after that part." She inched closer to his lips smiling at him the whole time.
Whispering against her mouth he admitted, "Then it must be the part where I said that I love you, really love you."
"Yeah, that part. Oh, Lee, I love you too." Lee bent Amanda back and kissed her completely feeling he was right where he needed to be.
October had Amanda and Lee sitting in the conference room listening as Billy went about assigning new details for the agents. "As always from here on out we have Amanda to help with any research that may need done, just don't all attack her at once. Any questions people?"
Amanda reached under the table to grab Lee's hand and place it on her stomach as everyone began to leave the conference room. Lee looked at her and then a wide dimpled grin spread across his face. Billy and Francine were the last to head out when Francine turned and said, "Hey, what is going on over there you two?"
"Francine, come here quick." Lee said to his friend.
Walking over Lee took Francine's hand and placed it on the small round belly that Amanda was finally beginning to show.
"Oh my word, is that little baby Stetson rolling like that? Amanda, how do you not feel like you are on a roller coaster ride? How far along are you now?"
"In about a week or so I will be five months."
"Oh, that isn't long is it, just what four months to go. Are you ready?"
Standing when Lee allowed her to have her stomach back, she answered, "No, but we already have most of the big items, and I am having a shower in January. Mother just isn't sure what date yet, but you will get an invitation."
A knock on the door made everyone face the woman at the door as she stuck her head in and said, "Mr. Stetson, I hate to bother you but you have a visitor waiting for you."
"Who is it?" Lee asked suspiciously.
"A Colonel Robert Clayton, he is waiting for you in the Georgetown foyer."
The look on Lee's face as he turned to Amanda told her all she needed to know, "You never told him, did you?"