Author's Notes: Dead Men Leave No Trails Filler. Inspired by Motown Lady's story: A Case of Dreaming; you might want to read her story first. When I asked her about Lee's thoughts, she suggested that I write it. So, here it is. Set at episode; in cannon/AU. As promised, Normandy; here is a story for July…not the one I was planning on doing but I always try to keep my promises. However; a few more stories will be coming soon.

Molly thanks for the idea; I've been wanting to do a story for this episode for some time now. And thanks to Molly and Cindy for looking at it; however; any errors or mistakes found are my own.

The sound of the telephone ringing awakened Lee from his sleep. Slightly disorientated he sat up, a huge smile upon his face as he rubbed his hands gently across his eyes as he reached for the telephone.

"Hello! This better be important!" Lee barked in the phone, grouchy from being disturbed from a wonderful sleep and dream. When there was no response, Lee replaced the receiver. As he looked around he became more fully awake, and his eyes focused on his bedroom; the realization set in that he had been dreaming and was in his apartment and not at Amanda's. Standing, he walked into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face then went in the living room, poured himself a drink, and sat on the couch as he thought about the dream he had.

He and Amanda had certainly had themselves a hell of a time with this last case they'd been working on. Amanda's day started with a bang when someone hit her car before she even made it to work and Lee got stuck running a meeting he didn't want to do. Things got progressively worse; his heart had nearly stopped beating on a few occasions…once when they found Millicent McDonald dead, again when Steven Sallee followed Amanda and then later at the hotel when Sallee nearly blew up the ballroom. In the end, they managed to leave in one piece and headed to Amanda's house where they spent a few hours together, enjoying a meal just like 'normal people' and were just about to sit down for a slice of cake that Amanda said she just whipped up when of course Dotty and the boys came in.

After Amanda rushed him out the door, she came out and after a chase kiss, he headed towards his car but as he made it closer to the sidewalk, he paused and turned around and went back to the house. Once at the door, he snatched it open, and as he did so, called out, "Amanda! I think I left my wallet behind." Lee paused as his eyes came upon a very startled Mrs. West and Amanda's sons. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that Amanda's family had come home."

"Lee, what about your wall-" Amanda stammered.

"Hi, I'm Lee Stetson, Amanda's co-worker and," a slight pause, "a good friend," Lee said extending his hand out towards Amanda's mom.

"Amanda, your co-worker from IFF? I thought his name was something else."

"Oh that, Amanda might have told you another name," Lee said lightly, "sometimes when we are doing a shoot, we use different names; Amanda uses Keane and I'm usually Steadman. Comes in handy, you know what I mean?"

"Lee, what-, oh, yeah, that's right, Mother!" Amanda confirmed she was still slightly off balance by Lee's coming back into the house.

Dotty was so surprised she didn't know what to say; she wasn't exactly sure why they would need different names while filming a documentary but she was so shocked to finally meet someone from Amanda's work, that she momentarily forgot the boys were standing beside her for a moment. She looked towards Amanda and then towards the boys.

"Mother, boys, I, well—yes this is one of my co-workers and a good friend."

Dotty's eyes twinkled at Amanda's admission as Amanda introduced both boys, "This is my oldest son, Philip and this Jamie, my youngest. And my mother, Dotty West."

The boys smiled and said hello. "So nice to meet Amanda's family at last," Lee said.

"At last?" Dotty asked.

"Yes, after a busy day, we thought we'd come back here and have some dinner."

"I hope me and the boys didn't run you off."

"Oh no, I must've walked out the door just as you pulled up."

"What about your wallet?" Dotty asked. "That's why you came back…"

"Yeah, what about your wallet?" Amanda asked, her eyes bright and steady on Lee's face.

Lee leaned towards the couch and ran his hands along the couch cushions then patted his back pocket. "Oh, silly me, it's right here."

"Hmm hmm-so glad you found it," Dotty said with a knowing look. "Well, it certainly was nice meeting you. Amanda, me and the boys will go on upstairs, while you say goodnight to Mr. Stetson."

"Yes, Mother, that's a good idea. I'll be up soon to say goodnight."

"Okay, Buster, what was that all about?" Amanda asked, quietly as soon as she and Lee were alone.

"Well, Amanda, I thought that it was high time your family met me. I mean after all…I've certainly been hiding in the bushes long enough."

She found it a little difficult to keep a straight face at 'hiding in the bushes'. "It's just that, you and I have never talked about your meeting my family."

"Well,, that is true...but now things have changed."

"Lee, have things changed?" Amanda asked.

"Yes, Amanda things have changed." Lee raked his fingers through his hair as he moved closer towards her and stood still. "I started having other thoughts about you. No, not those thoughts," Lee quickly amended at the look on Amanda's face.

"No?"

"Well, of course, I've had those thoughts. I wouldn't be a man if I didn't. But Amanda, I think it is way past time I got to know your family better."

"And why is that Lee?" Amanda wasn't gonna let him off the hook that easily.

"Because…because…I want to get to know you better as well."

"You do?" Amanda asked with a smirk.

"Yes, I do."

"But I'm just a housewife-" Amanda's smile was even wider now.

"No, Amanda, you're much more than that...at least to me," Lee said, his dimples showing as he moved closer towards Amanda and they were mere inches from their lips touching when the phone began to ring.

Damn, we even get interrupted when I'm dreaming. Now fully awake and staring down at his drink, Lee ruefully shook his head. While what if…if only this had not been a dream. They'd come close for what the second or third time now but not quite. Maybe one day soon, they would share that kiss that he was so longing for.

Just as that thought was playing around in his mind, there was a knock at the door. Just who in the world could that be this time of hour? Lee thought as he stood.

To his surprise, Amanda was standing at the door.

"Amanda, what brings you here, this time of night?"

"Lee, you left your wallet at my house. I tried to phone you to tell you but there wasn't any answer, I hung up before the machine could pick up."

Lee's face lit up in a broad smile.

"What?" Amanda asked.

"I just had the strangest dream," Lee began.

"Did you? That's odd, so did I," Amanda said as Lee opened the door wider, Amanda walking in; their eyes now on one another as Amanda moved inside; their smiles even brighter as Lee used his foot to close the door.

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