AN: The Long Christmas Eve got split into a two-parter because, eugh, could not look at my words any longer. As usual I played with the script a bit, so not all of this is my dialogue/narration, per se. I don't own the show I'm just writing a lil' fic.

Unrelated, but Amanda is not quite 3 months in this AU-timeline.

/

Against all odds, Amanda was starting to unravel Lee Stetson.

He'd opened up to her on the car ride to the cabin. Not by much, but enough for Amanda to get the gist of his childhood. It did not paint a pretty picture. Home for little Lee Stetson was wherever his uncle, the Colonel, was stationed. Once in Greenland, once in Hambourg, twice in Guam, the Sahara, and so on. His Christmas dinners were spent in mess halls with five-hundred burly bodies fighting for the dark meat.

No wonder he was such a scrooge around the holidays—he'd never properly celebrated them.

"Christmas is just like any other day of the year," he said. "It's twenty-four hours long, the sun rises and sets, they don't deliver the mail and the next day is the twenty-sixth."

"And how do you usually spend those twenty-four hours?"

"On my living room couch with a large bowl of guacamole, a chilled bottle of Perignon seventy-three, and a good football game."

"Sounds lonely."

He kept his eyes on the asphalt. "As you might've gathered by now, I like being alone. You don't tend to form deep attachments in this business."

Amanda tried not to show how stung she was. "Well, if you ever get tired of being alone, I'm sure I can spare some turkey and stuffing. I can even fix up a plate for you to take home. It's much more filling than guacamole dip."

His pupils flickered over the gearstick and his dimples peeked into being. "I'll keep that in mind."

Amanda glanced out the passenger side and blushed at the blurred woodland. It wasn't much, but it was a start. Bit by bit, she was making headway in piercing the enigma that was her partner. She braced a hand on the dash and took a breath.

As long as they were sharing personal details, she might as well broach the unmentionable skeleton looming over them.

Before she could act on this whim, Lee eased his foot on the brake pedal and pulled onto the shoulder. He parked the Porsche by an off-beaten trail, got out, and headed for the front of the vehicle. Glumly, Amanda followed him.

It was probably for the best. Daylight was running out and they needed to be on their toes for this assignment. From what she'd heard, Ted Rudolph was a very volatile character.

Best to ease the information gently and at the proper moment.

Lee unloaded the trunk, announcing items as they came out. One binoculars, one map, two ponchos, two canteens, extra socks, two flares, and chewing gum. Amanda juggled everything in her arms, growing more agitated with each addition. One by one she passed most of the supplies back.

"If you think I'm going to be your pack mule for three miles, you're out of your mind."

Lee blinked but didn't argue. He bowed sardonically and brought a gloved hand to his sternum.

"Apologies, oh pack mule. C'mon, let's get moving."

They set out at a brisk pace through thick timber and winding game trails. Lee spoke very little, only opening his mouth to call out directions. At times he looked around wildly, folded and unfolded the map, marked the sun's position, or seemed otherwise confused. Eventually Amanda took pity on him and pointed out the moss growing on the northside of the trees.

Agency manuals had nothing on the Cub Scout Handbook.

As they scaled an incline she started to lose her footing. Each step was a hazard in the making. Stones stubbed her toes, loose soil made her slip, and she nearly tripped over a tangle of roots. Panting and puffing, she stopped at the top of the slope and put her hands on her knees. The steep terrain was murder on her legs and lungs.

"Could we take a little breather?"

Lee chuckled ahead of her. "You're the one who wanted to be back by five. Something about stocking stuffers?"

"Please, just- slow down a bit."

Something in her tone alerted Lee that this was serious. He glanced behind him, took in her condition, then picked his way back to her.

"Jesus, Amanda, are you OK?"

Amanda swayed to one side. In truth, she was on the verge of collapse. She thought she could handle one little hike, but evidently not.

"Just winded. Sorry."

Lee opened his mouth to speak but went stiff. His eyes zeroed in on a point somewhere beside Amanda's ear. Before she could do anything, he yanked her behind a tree and pressed her to the trunk. A glove covered her mouth.

She struggled for only a second. Bark scraped her jacket and the fog of Lee's breath parted over her nose. He glanced furtively behind the sycamore, saying nothing for a few tense heartbeats. Gradually, his posture relaxed.

"Sorry, I saw two men up there with rifles. Probably just hunters," he said, releasing her.

Amanda wriggled out of his grip. She didn't want him near her for a number of reasons.

Timorously, she adjusted the zipper of her thick coat and stuffed her hands in its pockets. Winter had coincided perfectly with her burgeoning bump. It wouldn't be obvious for another month or so, but Amanda had been down this road twice before and she knew her body better than anyone. She'd make do with baggy sweaters and lots of layers until the time was right.

"It's no problem. That was, uh, very gallant of you, thank you."

He gave her a once-over. "Are you good to keep going? 'Should be only fifteen more minutes."

She nodded at him. Fifteen minutes was more than doable.

"Yes, I'll be fine. I guess the holidays have me burning the candle on both ends."

"Well, if you feel like keeling over, let the resident pack mule know, OK?"

"I'll do that," she said.

Lee dimpled at her, turned, and trudged down the path. Amanda's eyes tracked him through the undergrowth. Despite the chill and the frost, she felt a sweat break out along her arms.

She allowed herself a moment's reprieve, then set off again.