*** Just wanted to give everyone a heads up on this story…as of right now I have 10 chapters written but I know that there will be at least 5 more after that. I am trying to get one chapter out each day I am at work. Hope ya'll like this! As always I don't own these amazing characters…just borrowing them for my/our enjoyment!*****

Chapter EIGHT - Being Schooched has its rewards

Flashback to when Beamon was still at the Agency - the marriage of Lee and Amanda is announced.

Efrim Beamon sat back in his chair and took a deep breath. He was tired. He was frustrated. Things were not turning out the way he wanted. Francine was hot and heavy with that Jonathan dude. I don't know what she thinks is going to happen. He left her once at the altar….what makes her think he won't again. Efrim sat there and thought. His eyes got a little bit bigger as an idea came to him.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of laughter and chatter. He looked out of his office door and he saw Lee Stetson and his beautiful partner, Amanda King, walking down the hallway. They were both beaming and laughing. They were holding hands. Efrim made a face as he thought to himself how the couple wasn't trying to hide anything between them. He always felt that Amanda slept her way to the top. Getting to work with the best agent the Agency had. But Efrim's opinions of her waivered as he saw how good she really was. Maybe it was why or how Lee Stetson was so good. It was BECAUSE of Amanda King. His changed opinion of the novice agent didn't stop him from feeling the loathing he had for both of them. Why do they get to have everything? He thought to himself as he stood up and headed towards the bullpen. He walked into the heart of the Agency. It was bustling full of people and he could see Billy Melrose standing in the corner by his office chatting away with Stetson and King. He was beaming and laughing. Efrim watched as he saw Billy shake Lee's hand and take Amanda's as well. He stood by the row of desks in the back as Billy Melrose stood in the middle of the room and cleared his throat. He yelled at everyone to get their attention. Lee and Amanda walked up towards Billy. Efrim snorted as he imagined that Billy's announcement obviously had something to do with the great Scarecrow and Mrs. King.

Billy Melrose smiled at the crowd of agents that gathered around him. He cleared his throat again and started speaking. "Well, I think the office gossip will have a field day with this news. It has come to my attention that our Scarecrow is officially off the market!" The whispers and snickers filled the room. Billy continued "I would like to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Lee Stetson!"

The group of agents burst into applause. Lee was beaming as he held onto Amanda's waist. Amanda blushed as Billy came up to her and kissed her cheek. The agents made their way towards the couple to congratulate them. Efrim Beamon glared at the couple and he walked out of the bullpen. He didn't want to hear any more of it. He stormed towards his office and slumped into his chair. Married! He never expected them to get married. He knew that he had to come up with something to get back at them. The feeling of jealousy was too great and he knew it wasn't fair that Lee and Amanda Stetson get to have it all. He didn't care how long it took him, he wanted the great Scarecrow and Mrs. King to pay.

********* Flashback - several years later - to the night before the bombing of the Agency

Efrim Beamon sat in his car waiting for the last agents to head out. It was night time and the night crew would be on duty. It was usually a skeleton crew and he knew he could come and go without suspicion. He checked his watch and he saw the little light flash in the window. He knew that it was his sister, Mary Ellen, giving him the signal. He grabbed his bag and headed towards the building. Mary Ellen was able to distract the night guard and Beamon slipped in without being detected. He made his way to the very quiet empty bullpen. He looked around for a perfect place to plant the bomb. He figured right in the middle of the desks would be a good place. He set the timer for 11:15am. He knew that Billy would come out of his office and get some coffee. He knew that Stetson would join him and they would banter about what amazing things Lee and Amanda's little girl would do. He snorted thinking about the past few years since Amanda Stetson gave birth to Jennifer. In the eyes of Lee Stetson, his daughter or sons for that matter could do no wrong. Beamon hated him for it. Beamon looked down at the bomb and smiled. He knew that after tomorrow he wouldn't have to worry about Lee Stetson or Francine Desmond or Amanda King or Billy Melrose anymore.

He planted a few more smaller bombs around the room. He was finishing the last one when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw his sister standing there.

"What the hell Mary Ellen? You aren't supposed to be here! I told you to stay away. I mean it. I have this all planned."

Mary Ellen looked at her brother with tears in her eyes. "EJ, you can't do this! I mean ….it's going to hurt a lot of people. Please."

He rounded on her and stuck his finger in her face. "I told you to STOP telling me what to do. I will have my revenge on Lee and Amanda Stetson. On Francine Desmond. You have NO idea what they have done! I am sick of it and tomorrow they will all pay." He softened and took her hands. "Come on sis. I know what I am doing. This is going to be a piece of cake. Please. Just trust me."

Mary Ellen nodded but still had a bad feeling about what her brother was capable of doing.

******************* Flashback to a few weeks after the bombing

Lee Stetson sat at his desk and looked out of the window. He sighed as he watched people walking down the street. He saw a couple holding hands as their little boy ran ahead of them. He smiled to himself as he watched the little boy run back towards his parents. He didn't hear Amanda when she walked into the room. She slid up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"Hey I am supposed to do that!"

"Now you know how I feel when you do that to me, Scarecrow. What are you thinking about? You seemed lost in thought."

Lee turned his chair around and he stood up. He put his arms around his wife and gave her a hug.

"Amanda, I think we need to have a serious conversation. I just don't think I can do this anymore."

Amanda rested her hands on Lee's chest. She smiled at him. "Sweetheart, I know that. I think I have been ready to walk away since the bombing." She wiped a tear from her face. "Billy's death did something to me. I mean ….that could have been us as well. And with Jennifer being so little…."

Lee held her closer and kissed her forehead. "I know Manda. I love what we do. Billy dying...I just cant seem to think about anything else. And our kids. They mean more to me than anything else... I think it's time we retire. I am ready. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Jennifer and the boys."

Amanda held him tighter and whispered. "You say the word Scarecrow and I will follow you."

Lee smiled as Amanda reached up to kiss him gently.

***************** As Lee and Amanda Stetson were making a life decision to walk away from the Intelligence community, a very well dressed man stepped out of a cab. He looked around and up towards the apartment building that was in front of him. He smiled as he walked into the building and pushed the elevator button. The doors opened and he stepped into the elevator. He pushed the button and headed towards the 5th floor.

Once out of the elevator he headed towards apartment 5D and knocked on the door. Efrim Beamon opened the door and saw who was standing there. He smiled as he let the man in. He offered him a drink and the man said "I will take whatever you have, Beamon"

They sat down after getting drinks and Beamon cleared his throat. "Well, what do you think of my plan so far?"

"Well, in all honesty it failed. You only managed to take out Billy Melrose. What about Desmond and Stetson? And you faked your own death. What purpose does that serve? What are you planning and how long do you plan to play out this revenge? Don't get me wrong…I am all in this with you. I will finance you for as long as needed. If you fail, I will finish it. I have enough people in my corner that will help. But what's the overall plan? Stetson is leaving the Agency. So is Amanda. Francine left for Paris. I sat in prison for years wondering how I could get back at them. I would have never figured someone within the Agency would want revenge against them. Tell me why."

Beamon sat taller in his chair and explained to the man what drove him to his revenge plan. He wanted what they had and he wanted it with Francine. She didn't. He hated how the Stetsons flaunted their romance. He told the man about his plan to keep tabs on the Stetsons and Francine. He would know the moment things would work for him. He had someone on the inside of the Agency.

The man sat back and thought about what Beamon had told him. He took a sip of his drink and smiled at Beamon. "Well, Mr. Beamon. I think we have a deal. I will give you financial support for this vendetta. Whatever you need I will help you with. Now, I have done my homework on Scarecrow and I have found someone I think would be an asset to our cause. I need you to go pay him a visit." He reached into his briefcase and handed Beamon a folder. Beamon read the front of it and chuckled "I was around for this case. It nearly destroyed Stetson. This Birol character kidnapped Amanda. I always felt it was Stetson's fault for putting a rookie in such a key position."

The man laughed, "He tended to do that a lot when it came to Amanda King."

Beamon rolled his eyes at the man. "I will head to Birol within the month and we can get things started. I need to lay low for a little longer. Everyone thinks I am dead…I would like to keep it that way. Can I ask you something?"

The man looked at Beamon and raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Why are you so set in helping me? What did the Stetsons do to you?"

The man leaned forward and said, "It's very personal."