*DISCLAIMER** Scarecrow & Mrs. King is copyrighted to Warner Brothers and Shoot The Moon Production Company. The original portions of this story, however, are copyrighted to the author. This story is for entertainment purposes only and cannot be redistributed without the permission of the author. Situations and some dialogue have been used from the episode "Bad Timing", written by Robert W. Gilmer. No infringement of copyright is intended.
Summary: This is a slightly alternate version of the fourth season episode "Bad Timing". This story is set at the end of January, 1987.
Part Five
Nightfall had already descended when he circled the house. He could easily have rung the doorbell like a normal person, but he opted instead for his usual unconventional entrance. Even though these days he parked his corvette on the street in plain sight, it still seemed strange to simply march up the steps to Amanda's front door. Coming in this way made him feel as if he belonged here, too.
The light from the comfortable kitchen illuminated the windowpane like a beacon as he moved surely to the back door. He didn't need the light to find his way. Lee could navigate this backyard even in total darkness. He'd done it often enough in the past three and a half years. He crept up to the window, his hand suspended in mid-air, ready to knock on the glass. A contented smile spread over his features as he quickly surveyed the scene.
The tableau that presented itself was really quite ordinary. He'd seen the same picture countless times before. Yet tonight, it felt totally new, almost as if he was seeing it for the first time. Fascinated, he suddenly realized that the scene wasn't different; they were. What they'd shared last night had bound them together in a way he'd never dreamed was possible.
His mouth formed a crooked smile as he watched her preparing dinner at the kitchen counter. Her fingers rhythmically chopped the carrots, pausing every few seconds to stare dreamily into space. She appeared totally lost in some very pleasant thoughts.
He recognized the look. She was reliving their memorable evening the night before. Lee himself had been guilty of the same thing earlier. All day, Amanda kept popping unbidden into his thoughts at the most inopportune moments. In the midst of his shower this morning, when he walked the corridors of the Agency, during his meeting this afternoon – she was there. He had a feeling that the cream of western intelligence was still trying to figure out how the subject of anti-terrorist tactics could cause his face to break out in a silly grin. Their experience last night seemed permanently engraved on his mind.
Although, when he'd been in the custody of that crusty Doc Kelford this morning, his thoughts of her had been less pleasantly engaged. Amanda was absolutely unbelievable. He'd spent the first fifteen minutes of his medical exam silently enumerating the ways he could pay her back for dragging him down to the Agency hospital. He'd tried to tell her that the only thing he'd injured was his dignity, but she'd refused to listen. Doc Kelford was quick to remind him that Amanda was only following Agency procedure, but he thought he detected some thinly disguised laughter as he examined him. The old man seemed pleased to finally have him in his clutches - Scarecrow's distaste of doctors and hospitals was legendary. Amanda hadn't stopped there, though. She had even visited Billy's office at the crack of dawn, evidently for the singular purpose of informing their boss of his little mishap.
Although he grudgingly admitted that being on the receiving end of such loving attention did make him feel pretty special. And it was wonderful to have someone who cared enough about him to worry about his health and well being. That was a new feeling for him. One he was only just beginning to appreciate. He finally belonged to someone other than himself. As he stood in the dark January night, he realized that Amanda had become his family.
She looked up with a bright smile as he rapped lightly on the glass. Somehow, Amanda didn't seem the least bit surprised to see him lurking in the backyard. It seemed more ordinary than extraordinary to see his face in her window. She gestured for him to enter, pointing to the back door with her paring knife. Discarding the tool on the counter, she happily met him as he entered the kitchen.
"Hi." He kissed her lightly, bestowing an extra hug before he released her.
"Hi, yourself. " Her fingers brushed over his lips, wiping away the trace of her lipstick that remained behind. "I missed you today."
"I missed you, too," he grinned. "I couldn't stop thinking about that reward you promised me for my heroics in Doc Kelford's office this morning."
"Oh, yeah? I was just working on that. " She smiled up at him mysteriously. "The first part, anyway."
"Yeah, I see." Lee followed her with his eyes as she headed back to the counter. She picked up her paring knife and resumed her rhythmic chopping. Lee whistled softly. He'd never realized someone could look so sexy cutting up a carrot.
Amanda could feel Lee's eyes watching her from across the room. She breathed deeply as she continued her dinner preparations. Something in the way he looked at her sent a shiver up her spine. It was something new, something that hadn't been there before. The electricity between them was almost tangible.
"How was your meeting?" Amanda inquired, unable to stop herself from smiling.
"It went well – but longer than I expected."
She glanced up at Lee who was leaning comfortably against the counter. He had the cutest expression as he surreptitiously stole a carrot stick. And his dimple was really adorable when he smiled. Why hadn't she ever noticed that before? The same way he looked last night when he…
"Of course," Lee continued as he munched on his carrot, "the meeting would have been over with much sooner if someone hadn't dragged me off to the doctor this morning."
The sound of his voice startled her and she unconsciously blushed at what she'd been thinking. "Yeah," she said absently, not really hearing what he said. "But it must have been really exciting to have the best minds in counter-intelligence in the same room. That's quite a coup."
"Well, it was certainly productive," he responded, stealing another carrot from her pile. "I think we made real progress profiling some of the newer terrorist groups that are popping up."
He silently watched her finish the carrots and start on some celery stalks. He couldn't remember when he'd seen her look more beautiful. That pale blue blouse and slacks made her eyes look even darker. Her soft hair pulled back with a clip…it was getting more and more difficult to just stand here and not touch her. He quickly crossed to her, his arms encircling her from behind.
"So," he whispered in a low voice, "what's for dinner?"
Amanda closed her eyes in anticipation as she felt his arms come around her. Abandoning her knife, she leaned back into his embrace. "Chateaubriand, wild rice and truffles."
"No oysters?" Lee teased as he tightened his hold. His lips nuzzled her neck, planting tiny kisses along her soft skin.
"I didn't think you needed any," she laughed, reveling in their newfound closeness. It was an exhilarating feeling. She tilted her head slightly to give him better access.
He slowly turned her around, his lips immediately covering hers. He felt Amanda respond to his kiss, their tongues meeting as she opened her mouth invitingly. "I've thought about doing that all day," he breathed as they parted.
"Me, too," Amanda gasped, drawing a shaky breath as she relaxed in his arms. She could feel him beginning to respond to their nearness. She closed her eyes, drinking in the scent of his aftershave. It had always been her favorite. As his hands traveled lightly over her back, her skin began to tingle. A few more minutes like this and dinner would be a lost cause. Much as she wanted to, she wasn't quite ready to follow where this was leading. Reluctantly, she pulled away, stepping back to put some well-needed distance between them.
"It's getting late," she parried, feeling herself flush slightly under the strength of his gaze. "I've got to get the dinner on."
"You're right, " Lee rejoined, his voice low and inviting, "it's very late." He smiled brightly, circling around her like a lion stalking its prey.
"Scarecrow," Amanda warned with a nervous grin, "you keep your distance." She took a deep breath as she watched him sizing up the situation.
"If I do that, you might not get the full effect of what I'm trying to say," he countered, taking a giant step forward and pulling her tightly into his waiting arms. He nibbled temptingly on her ear as his hands roamed down her back. "Actually, I'm not sure this is the right place for this conversation. What d'you say we continue this upstairs?"
"Lee," Amanda croaked, trying vainly to block out the feelings his touch was evoking. She unconsciously shivered as her thoughts ran wild. This would never do. Taking a deep breath, she summoned up what little willpower she still possessed. "Lee," she repeated firmly, "Stay right where you are."
"That won't be any fun." His laughter floated through the air, warming her with its sound.
"I mean it, Scarecrow," she stated emphatically. She looked at him with the barest hint of amusement. "Besides, if you come any closer, you'll spoil your dessert."
Lee grinned back at her, his eyebrows rising suggestively. "Dessert?"
"Yes," Amanda replied with a sultry smile. "You know, the stuff that comes after that special dinner I promised you?"
"You aren't talking about the dishes, are you?" he teased.
"No, I'm not," she responded with a laugh. "Actually, I was thinking of following your example tonight and just leaving them in the sink. I have other plans for after dinner."
"This is starting to look like a very special dinner indeed," he returned, flashing her his most charming smile.
"Just the beginning of a very special weekend." She smiled as her mind quickly replayed last night's encounter. "I think I promised you that last night. And I always keep my promises."
"So do I." He leaned forward to kiss her again, but Amanda stopped him.
"First things first," she said with a grin. "I fought my way through a crowd of Friday afternoon grocery shoppers for that chateaubriand. I don't want it to end up a charred mess." She leaned over and kissed him lightly. "We do have the whole weekend."
"You're right," he agreed affably. "After all this time, what's another hour? I'm sure dessert will be well worth the wait." He returned her kiss, adding in a barely audible whisper, "after all, it certainly was last night."
Amanda's cheeks reddened a little at his words and she quickly returned to her dinner preparations. "So…what did Doc Kelford have to say after I left this morning?"
"Nothing," Lee answered with a pained expression. "Like I told Billy, he poked a little, prodded a little and said I was fine."
"Good."
"By the way, speaking of Billy, he said you were in his office at seven o'clock this morning. Wasn't that a little extreme?"
"I was worried about you," Amanda said with a sigh. "I wanted to make sure you were okay. I knew you'd never tell Billy on your own."
"I'm fine, Amanda." He regarded her warmly, leaning over to place a tender kiss on her cheek. "Really, I am. You don't have to worry."
"I won't worry as long as you're well." She smiled innocently at him as she surveyed the kitchen counter. "Hey, there's a bottle of wine over there that could use your attention."
"Oh, yeah?" He broke into another grin at her uncanny ability dodge a touchy subject and quickly reached for the bottle of wine. He lifted his eyebrows again as he inspected her choice. "Amanda," he said with grudging respect, "this is a fabulous Beaujolais."
"Glad you like it," she responded with a smile, hearing the unmasked surprise in his voice. When they first met, she didn't know Chablis from Merlot. But three years with Lee Stetson had taught her, among other things, how to choose a good bottle of wine.
Lee focused his attention on the Beaujolais, manipulating the opener with practiced skill. "Someone once said that a good relationship is like a fine bottle of wine," he stated sagely, raising his eyes to glance over at her. "The older it gets, the better it is."
"Well, that's very wise. Who said that?
"Me."
She looked up at him and smiled. He presented a perfect picture of domesticity as he stood here in her kitchen. This moment had been a long time coming and she quietly savored it.
"It was just a theory though,' Lee finished, leaning over to kiss her cheek again. "Until now."
The sound of the doorbell intruded on the scene and they both paused for a minute, starting at the noise.
"Huh," Amanda said, looking at Lee with a quizzical expression. She had no idea who could possibly be at the door. The boys' friends all knew they were out of town. With a shrug of her shoulders, she went to answer it, brushing her hand across his arm as she passed by.
Lee turned his attention back to the wine. He trusted that Amanda would dispose of whoever was intruding on their weekend alone very quickly. Pouring himself a glass, he took a sip. Excellent, he thought once more as its distinctive flavor titillated his pallet.
"Oh, Amanda," he called, heartily approving of her choice, "this wine is to die for."
"Lee." Her voice was tentative as she reentered the kitchen, Billy Melrose in tow. "Uh, Billy's here."
He glanced up in surprise, smiling as his friend followed Amanda into the room. "Hey, what's up?"
"Sorry to bother you, Lee," Billy began brusquely, effectively sidestepping the customary small talk. "But when I didn't find you at home, I…" his voice trailed off and he regarded Lee through eyes laden with concern. "We have to talk." He gave Amanda a nervous glance, and then added, "alone."
"Is it business?" Lee inquired with a forced laugh. Visions of another curtailed weekend flashed through his head. He had a sinking feeling that Billy hadn't tracked him down at Amanda's just to pay a social call.
"No." Billy Melrose deliberately studied the floor. At times like these, he knew with unqualified certainty that he hated his job. He crossed the room, looking anywhere but into the waiting eyes of his friend and colleague.
Lee followed suit, moving over to stand beside Amanda. He suddenly felt an inexplicable need to be closer to her. Billy's uncharacteristic behavior was beginning to worry him. "Well, then," he said at last, facing his boss with a hesitant smile. "Amanda doesn't have to leave. Right?"
Billy frowned, pausing for a fraction of a second before speaking. "Doctor Kelford phoned in the results of your blood tests. They're not good."
He could feel the heat of Amanda's worried glance. "Meaning?" The hair on the back of his neck prickled as he anticipated Billy's next words.
"You're carrying something called PD-2. A bacteria. The chemical warfare people think it's Russian."
This time Lee met her eyes, allowing himself one brief contact before he asked the inevitable. "Cut to the chase. What's the damage estimate?"
"Death is certain within 72 hours. And we don't have the antidote."
* * * * *
Amanda sat quietly in the Q-Bureau, her anxiety growing with each passing moment. She didn't know if she wanted or dreaded Lee's return. She had a sinking feeling that when he walked through the door, the news would be anything but good.
They had followed Billy back to the Agency after he'd delivered his bombshell in her kitchen. She had wanted to accompany Lee to Billy's office to meet with Dr. Andrew McJohn, the Agency's current chemical warfare specialist, but he had asked her to wait for him up here. Sensing that her presence would only make things harder for him, she silently acquiesced. But now she felt so helpless as she waited for his return. Here she sat, alone in their office, while elsewhere, in the bowels of the Agency, Lee listened to McJohn solemnly pronounce sentence.
Unable to sit still any longer, she began to nervously pace the floor. The Q-Bureau had a different feel to it at night. The silence made the most ordinary things appear ominous. Or maybe it was just her mood. She desperately searched the room for something familiar to hold onto. Something that would tell her this was just another routine assignment, not the beginning of the end of everything she held dear.
Hey eyes fell on Lee's cluttered desk and she smiled in spite of herself. It presented such a contrast to the orderly files resting on top of hers. She didn't know how he managed to work amid all that chaos. That particular mess had been sitting there since Thursday afternoon. She'd offered to straighten it up, knowing that his schedule was tight on Friday. But he'd told her that he could never find anything after she'd been on one of her 'neatness kicks'. He'd joked that the mess wasn't going anywhere; he would get to it on Monday. It briefly occurred to her that now he might never get the chance.
She banished that gloomy thought from her mind. They'd been in tough situations before and had always come through. It wouldn't be any different this time. The Agency had lots of resources at its command. If their government didn't have the antidote, there must be a way to acquire it through diplomatic channels. Surely the powers that be wouldn't just sit back and allow one of their best to fall prey to this Russian plot.
Visions of Stemwinder flashed through her mind and that voice in the back of her head told her she was grasping at straws. The Agency dealt with issues not individuals. In this world, everyone was expendable.
No, she couldn't believe that. Billy was Lee's friend; he wouldn't just sit back and calmly watch him die. If she let herself think that help wouldn't be forthcoming from the Agency, she might start screaming. And the last thing Lee needed right now was a hysterical female. Her tears would frighten him more than the ordeal he was facing.
She took a deep breath, trying to gain some semblance of composure. She remembered how happy they had been last night. How right it felt to finally be in his arms and in his bed. The future had never seemed brighter. Now, it seemed like that had happened in some other lifetime. And they might never get another chance to…
'Stop it, Amanda,' she firmly ordered. Thinking like that wouldn't change anything. It only made things worse. Any minute now, Lee would come through that door and she couldn't let him see her despair. She formed her features into an impassive mask, hiding the emotions that churned just below the surface. She would keep her feelings under tight control. For his sake. She settled back on the sofa once more to wait.
To be continued…