DISCLAIMER: Scarecrow and Mrs. King are the property of Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Productions. My use of these characters is intended purely for entertainment, a few laughs, and maybe a sigh or two.
Title: Great Expectations 9/?
Author: Merel Inglis
Time Frame: Takes place after the show ended, the marriage is common knowledge
Summary: We know he can shoot with deadly accuracy, drop-kick a KGB agent in to the next day without mussing his hair, and bootleg his 'vett into any parking space in DC. But how will the charming and dashing Lee Stetson face the adventures of becoming a father?
Rating: PG
Archive: No
Feedback: Definitely!
Author's Notes: Thank you, Pam, for taking the time to beta-read for me. Your feedback and interest in this story is much appreciated.
The light was taking forever to change. The seconds ticked by in slow motion as the strained silence in the car insidiously circled the two agents. Lee, in the passenger seat of the Wagoneer, sullenly stared out of his window, the fog and early morning drizzle accurately reflecting his glum mood.
Amanda tapped her finger on the steering wheel, keeping time with the Led Zeppelin song turned down low on the car stereo. The light finally changed, however, the turn lane she was in moved like molasses in January and she found herself having to sit through yet another cycle of the light. Another five minutes of discordant silence was too much to bear.
She glanced over at her husband. "You know, it could be worse. I could have really had Dengue Fever," Amanda chuckled. Hard green eyes slid slowly over to her and caught her. She offered him an apologetic smile, but his eyes refused to thaw. The light changed and she returned her gaze to the road. "Sorry, just trying to look on the light side of this."
"Amanda," Lee grunted, his eyes still boring into his wife's profile, "there is no 'light' side to my wife's being allergic to me." He managed to emphasize every word, making his disgust with the whole situation painfully clear.
"You know, you act as if I'm doing this on purpose. Do you think I like being allergic to you?" She shot him quick looks as she dodged in and out of the tight Georgetown traffic.
Lee sighed, turning his head to once again study the wet streets and congested traffic. Slowly his hand moved to her knee and he gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry. I know it's not your fault. Penny said…"
"Penny said she wasn't even sure that you're what I'm allergic to. Until we find out what it is, we just have to be patient." Amanda pulled the car into the Agency garage, parking in her assigned spot by the security desk and elevator.
"I'm running out of patience, Amanda. This is so damned frustrating. I knew when you got pregnant that it would change both of our lives. But not being able to be in the same room with my wife for more than five minutes without her vomiting isn't exactly what I expected."
"Yeah, well, it's no fun for me, either. But at least we found a way to be together… well… in the same room, anyway."
Lee reached up and ran a finger along the surgical mask covering Amanda's face. "Amanda, I can't even kiss you. I can't… we can't…"
"I know." She caught his finger and kissed it, the soft cotton material separating their flesh, but allowing them a small amount of intimacy. "I miss you… that… too. You know we could…"
"No. No way." He pulled his hand free of hers. "I refuse to make love to my wife while she looks like Marcus Welby. Besides, you know that mask only helps so much." He frowned, then leaned his head back against the seat and looking at her longingly. "What are we going to do?"
"We're going to hang on and make it through this. We're also going to keep checking other possibilities."
"Well, so far we've ruled out my aftershave, deodorant, cologne, shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, and breath mints." He ticked the list off on his fingers.
"I know… well, we'll just keep checking. I just can't believe I'm allergic to you. To you? Please. No woman in her right mind would be allergic to you." She smiled, hoping that even through the mask he could see the love she held in her heart for him.
"Yeah, well, it would be just my luck to fall in love with the one woman who is," he smiled ruefully.
She removed the key from the ignition, glancing back at Lee, trying to gauge his mood. She didn't want him walking into the staff meeting this morning so frustrated over this situation that he took it out on everyone around him.
"Lee…" she started, but he cut her off.
"Don't. It's okay. I'm okay." He smiled at her, his eyes warm and accepting. "Really. Now, we'd better get to work. I'm late for one more meeting and Billy is going to personally write out my pink slip."
"Oh, Billy would never fire you for being late for meetings. Assign you as Dr. Pain's personal punching bag, maybe. But fire you? Nahhhhh." She grinned over at her husband.
"Gee, thanks," he grunted. He tried to hide a smile as an idea flitted through his mind. "Hey, as long as you have to wear that thing," he motioned to her mask, "maybe we could decorate it or something."
"Decorate it? How?"
"How about putting a big zipper on it?" He winked and hopped from the car before she could retort.
She caught up with him at the door, giving his hind end a good swat at they got into the elevator. "A zipper, huh?"
Lee unbuttoned his winter coat, pushing his hands deep into the pockets of his slacks. Rocking back on his heels, he smiled down at his wife. "How about I take you out to lunch today to make up for that… oh, wait." He quickly fumbled for his calendar in the lining pocket of his suit jacket. "Damn, I have another session with the boys in the chem lab today. How about tomorrow?"
Amanda's brows drew together, a tiny wrinkle forming between her eyes. "Chem lab?"
"Yeah, you remember. I'm one of the guinea pigs they're using to help finetune that new antidote to Zap Gas. This new stuff is great, Amanda… lasts about half an hour, doubling the time we're immune, and it doesn't have any of the side-effects we had with the older version."
The doors to the elevator opened and they walked out into the corridor.
"How long have you been part of this trial?" Amanda asked, walking along side her husband as they made their way towards the bullpen and conference room.
"Guess it's been about two months. It should be over soon. I think they've pretty much gotten the results they want." He stopped at the entryway to the bullpen to motion Amanda through ahead of him, only to find he was alone. Looking back, he found her standing several paces behind, staring at him quizzically.
"A month and a half ago?" she asked as he approached her.
"Yes. Amanda, we're going to be late. I was just kidding about the pink slip, but really, I don't want to get on Billy's bad side today, okay?" He motioned to the conference room and turned to head that way.
"Scarecrow." Amanda's voice caught him and halted his steps. He looked back. She slowly removed her mask and smiled at him. "You know, for two world class spies we're pretty dense."
"Speak for yourself, Mrs. Scarecrow," he shot back. "Amanda, what are you talking about… and you'd better put that thing back on." He motioned to the mask that was now bunched up in her hand.
She shoved the offending object into her pocket. "Nope, don't think I'll have to. Who else is in this trial with you?"
"What?" He ran a hand through his hair. "A handful of other agents. I don't know all of them."
"Who, Scarecrow? What other agents?" she prompted him.
"Dickenson. Alberts. Randel…"
To his dismay, Amanda spun on her heels and headed back down the corridor towards the elevator. He shot a look at the conference room door and then back towards Amanda's departing form. Shrugging and heaving a heavy sigh, he turned to follow his wife.
He stayed a few feet behind her, not willing to risk the tides of nausea that usually swept over her if he got any closer when she wasn't wearing the mask. "Amanda, where are you… we… going?"
"You'll see," she offered him over her shoulder. She rounded the next corner and stopped by a closed office door.
"Randel's office?" Lee asked, looking at the nameplate on the door. "Amanda, why—"
"Wait, " she cut him off, briskly knocking on the door.
"Come," a voice within the office sounded.
Amanda opened the door and walked into the office. Lee followed her, keeping the safety zone between them.
"Dan." Amanda smiled at the agent seated behind the desk, a stack of file folders and computer printouts decorating the old wooden surface.
Agent Randel stood, smiling. "Amanda… Lee… good morning."
"Good morning." Amanda smiled at the dark-haired man.
"Morning, Dan," Lee piped in.
"Dan," Amanda started. "I was wondering if you could help us out?"
"Ah, sure, be happy to," the agent offered uncertainly.
"You're in that chem lab trial for the new Zap Gas antidote along with Lee, aren't you?" Amanda asked, taking one step toward the desk.
"Sure am." The dark-haired agent smiled and nodded.
Amanda took another step and stopped. "Good… would you mind hugging me?"
A frown wrinkled the brow of the agent. "Ah, you want me to hug you?" He looked with confusion from Amanda and then, slowly, to Lee. Scarecrow's look seemed to mirror his own confusion, although he didn't seem that upset by his wife's rather unorthodox request.
"Yes, I'd like you to get close to me," Amanda stated, taking another step.
"Close… to… you?" Agent Randel's voice squeaked uncomfortably and he once again looked back at Lee. It seemed he now had Scarecrow's full interest.
"Yes," Amanda smiled, taking one more step to come up against the front of his desk.
"Ah, Dan…" Lee growled from low in his chest.
Agent Randel's eyes shot back to Scarecrow, irritation now readable in their hazel depths.
"No, Lee, it's okay." Amanda interrupted, leaning over the desk to face the dark-haired agent, although her words were for her husband. "I think you're going to find this interesting."
Agent Randel inserted a finger into the collar of his shirt, as it suddenly appeared to be strangling him for no apparent reason. He'd always found Amanda very attractive. Most of the men at the agency did. However, early on he'd come face to face with the fact that Scarecrow was not only her partner, but her protector as well. It was an unspoken rule that she was off limits as date material… even before the two had become romantically involved. Now he was her husband. A fact that, combined with Mrs. Stetson's current request and questionable actions, was causing his heart to pound like a jackhammer in his chest. He tried to remember if he was carrying his gun.
"Dan," Amanda purred, circling the desk slowly, approaching the nervous agent.
He backed away from her advance. "Ah, Amanda… ah… Mrs. Stetson… I don't think this is such a good idea." He looked over to her husband for some direction and found the man observing the situation with a calm but determined look. He wondered if Lee was carrying his gun.
"Really," Amanda said, "this will only take a… second." On the last word she leapt forward, wrapping her arms around the startled agent. She held on tight and buried her face into the front of his shirt, taking a deep breath.
"Oh, my god," Agent Randel yelped, trying desperately to disentangle himself from the wife of the man that was now gazing at them both through slightly narrowed eyes.
Before he could pry himself free, Amanda lurched back, a hand coming up to cover her mouth. She backed slowly away from the now trembling Randel, her other hand clutching her stomach. She stopped as her back ran into Lee's chest.
"You feel sick?" Lee asked over her shoulder in an easy tone, never taking his eyes off of Randel.
She nodded vehemently and turned to race from the room.
Lee watched his wife sprint from the room, then turned his attention back to the other agent.
Dan eased back as Lee approached him. The back wall of his office not so gently stopped him and he was just about to raise his hands in defense when Lee grabbed one of them, pumping it enthusiastically. "Thanks, Dan, thanks a lot."
After a moment had passed and he realized that Scarecrow wasn't going to do him any bodily injury, his curiosity got the better of him. In a weak voice he asked, "For what?"
Lee smiled a toothy grin. "For turning my wife's stomach. Thanks!" With that, he straightened the dark-haired man's tie, gave his lapel a quick pat, and left the office in search of Amanda.
To Be Continued…