AN: Presenting "Service Above and Beyond" feat. my rudimentary knowledge of 80s pregnancy tests. Sorry if updates slow down m'feeling the writers block real bad.

/

The matter of her mother was a ticking time bomb.

Amanda knew that Dotty was getting suspicious. Lately Amanda was behaving differently, waking at odd hours, prowling the halls, and indulging in wild food combinations. Then, of course, there were her frequent trips to the toilet each morning. All of this was becoming increasingly difficult to hide.

And yet, she still hadn't taken a test.

After a long day of typing and Little League, Amanda gathered up her things and left for the drug store. A doctor, while more reliable, would've made things too real. She zigzagged the aisles until she came to the right shelf. The line to the till felt miles long and she clutched her purse strap like it was a lifeline.

She slid the bill and coin across the counter then took the box with trembling fingers. The side of the box announced its contents for all to see. 'EPT In-Home Pregnancy Test'. Quickly, she stuffed it into her hoodie pocket and scurried to the door. All the while she was conscious of the cashier's sympathetic stare burning a hole in her back.

She emerged outside with a gasp. The store had been too stuffy, too crushing, almost claustrophobic. The walk to her car felt more like a mad dash than a casual stroll.

Why am I freaking out about this? she scolded herself. We've done this twice before, and Joe was only there for a quarter of it. What's one more?

But deep down Amanda knew that it was not the same. Not even close.

Lee Stetson was not a husband. He was barely more than an acquaintance. An acquaintance she'd given herself to, sure, but an acquaintance nonetheless. Amanda would even hesitate to call them coworkers, and Lee was adamant that she was absolutely not his partner. Half the time she wasn't even sure they were friends. The man was so hot and cold towards her. Nothing about their relationship was orthodox.

Ever since her mishap at the Pioneers training camp, she'd studiously avoided him. It was a moment of weakness that she had no intention of repeating.

...For the moment.

The car door slammed shut but the dull thud did little to rouse her. All the way home she was lost in thought, too overwhelmed to turn on the radio, and too conflicted to cry. Even the trees zipping by seemed pensive and drooping.

Still on autopilot, she pulled into the driveway and parked. She gripped the steering wheel, schooling her body into submission. Sooner or later she would have to face her family, but the thought brought her dread. Her ever-perceptive mother lurked just on the other side of those walls.

She limped inside, careful not to exert her burning ankle. She'd wrenched it earlier and too much weight made it sting. There were more pressing problems to attend to, however.

With some effort she was able to dodge Dotty and distract the boys until she reached the privacy of her bathroom. The white bulb above was blinding and sterile—like an interrogation lamp, or something from a hospital. She unloaded the EPT box and lined each tiny test tube on the counter. The collection of glass sparkled mockingly in the light.

The next part came easily. She'd been too nervous to pee all afternoon and her bladder was brimming.

With everything mixed it was time to face her family. The two hours' wait bordered on agonizing. She spent the majority of it cooking supper and tidying her kitchen, but no matter what she did, her thoughts stayed upstairs.

Wringing her hands, she returned to the bathroom and was horrified to find Phillip and Jamie playing with the kit. Jamie held a phial at eye level, beaming at her through the glass.

"Wow, Mom! You didn't tell us you got a chemistry set!"

"Yeah! It's wicked!"

"Can I have one for my birthday?"

Amanda moaned. "What have I told you two about coming in here? Out, go bother your grandma. Or better yet, get ready for bed."

The pajama-clad boys breezed out of the room, but not before hugging Amanda's waist in turns. Amanda smiled fondly after them, then turned her attention to the test. Fortunately, the main dish appeared undisturbed. She peered into the liquid.

Clear as day, a dark brown doughnut stared back at her. All the air left Amanda's body at once.

Minutes later, she staggered down the stairs in a sort of daze. Her trepidation evaporated and in its place she was numb. Empty. Subconsciously, her hand moved from the bannister to her abdomen.

"Are you alright?" Dotty asked as she emerged in the kitchen. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Amanda swung her head in the voice's direction. Her mother was leaning against the island with a novel in hand, adjusting her reading glasses.

"It's just my ankle," Amanda mumbled. "It's been bothering me since that Bombers game. I was demonstrating the hook slide and I think I hooked the wrong way. I'll soak it before bed, don't worry."

Dotty appraised her from over the paperback. "That's sensible," she said, but Amanda was too distracted to hear her.

The phone rang as if from far away. In one rote motion, Amanda unhooked the handset and put it to her mouth.

"Hello?"

Lee's strong tones punched through the speaker and made her stand at attention. The man's timing was impeccable.

"Hi. If you have any plans, break 'em."

"What?" She blanked.

"This is a priority situation. Meet me by the reflecting pool. I'll explain then."

Amanda shook her head, sorting through the gibberish tangled in her mind. Dotty flipped a page but kept her eyes trained on the conversation unfolding in front of her. Nothing escaped her notice. If she had any comments, she kept them to herself.

"I'm glad you called," Amanda said, speaking at last. "There's, um, something I need to talk to you about-"

"We can talk in person. By the way, do you have a nice dress?"

"Of course I have a nice dress-"

"Perfect. Put it on and come by at nine. I'll drive us and debrief on the way."

"Oh, oh, OK." She snapped awake. This was an Agency call, then. "Priority situation, reflecting pool, nice dress, nine o'clock. Got it."

A disconnect sound droned in place of a goodbye. Amanda clasped the phone to her chest, sighed, and dropped it back in its base. Dotty broke the silence first.

"Who was that, dear?"

Amanda gritted her teeth in a smile, already hobbling back to the stairs. She was fairly certain that there was a black sheath dress somewhere in the back of the closet. Yes, that would do nicely.

"Oh, just someone I work with at the office."