Giving Thanks for What We Have

by Two Phantoms

A sequel of sorts to "More than Meets the Eye"; A man from Lee's past turns Amanda's family life upside-down

2. Giving Thanks for What We Have - Part 2

Disclaimers: Scarecrow and Mrs. King is copyrighted to Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Production Company. This story, however, is copyrighted to the mentioned authors. This story is for entertainment purposes ONLY. If you would like to add it to an archive, please just let us know.

Summary: This story takes place after the series has ended. It's a "sequel" of sorts to our story "More Than Meets the Eye." A man from Lee's past turns Amanda's family life upside down.

Author's Notes: We did extensive research surrounding the Vietnam War and events that took place during that time. Some scenarios mentioned really did occur; we just added the wonderful world of SMK to them. Any airplane scenes mentioned we checked with a flight expert to handle any reality issues as we wrote. A very special thank you to Tammy for beta reading and being a true part of helping us write this story.

Timeframe: Thanksgiving the year they were married.

Rating: R (some suggestive situations and language)

Giving Thanks for What We Have

By Diane & Amy (Two Phantoms)

Chapter 4

Frank West looked at Lee and got the confirmation he needed by the look of love in the younger man's eyes as he touched the picture with his fingertips. "Panda, don't you think I would've gone home if I thought I had a home to go to?"

Amanda looked at the crippled man, her face showing confusion, mixed with anger. "What is THAT supposed to mean?" she shouted.

Frank hesitantly held his hand out, hoping to touch his daughter after all these years. Letting his hand fall on her arm, he tried to explain. "After my chopper was shot down, I was badly injured." Waving his hand dramatically over his body, he continued, "The scars I could handle, but I had complications with my circulation, and they had to amputate my legs at the knee joints. I was devastated that I might never fly again, that I might not be able to dance at my daughter's wedding, and that I would no longer be able to be a good husband. But, I kept focusing on you and your mother's love for me, and that kept me alive. I lay in the hospital just counting the days till I would be sent home," he paused and looked into Amanda's eyes before continuing, "Then I received the telegram."

Amanda watched the man whom she now knew to be her father, curiosity winning over anger; she let her features relax.

The man in the wheelchair saw the change on his daughter's face and found the acceptance he needed to go on. "I was told that my wife, daughter and two grandchildren had been killed in a house fire. I was overcome with grief. I didn't want to go home, knowing I was alone and a cripple to boot. I was so devastated. The only family I had left was your Aunt Ruth, and I didn't want to be a burden to her. So, I let everyone think I was dead because, deep down, that was how I felt."

Lee remembered this story very well. He realized that the reason he'd never was able to put two and two together was that the Captain had never told him the names of his wife and daughter, only that they had died before he was to be sent home. Lee never knew or thought about the Captain having any other relatives. He had always assumed the Captain was a loner, much like himself.

New tears were forming in Amanda's eyes. Her father had thought they were dead. The realization that this reunion was as much a shock to him as it was to her wiped away all traces of the anger she had felt. "Oh, Daddy!" she cried and rose from her seat and embraced the older man.

Lee leaned back against the chair, watching this scene. He felt a tremendous feeling of joy for his wife, but, at the same time, felt a bit sad at the thought that he would never get the chance to embrace his own father in such a way.

Amanda broke the embrace and wiped the tears from her eyes. She looked over at her husband and saw the look of remorse on his face. Knowing he was missing his own father, she stood from her position and embraced Lee. "It's funny how small the world can be isn't it? Thank you for giving me back my father, Lee."

Lee was a little shocked at her words but tightened his arms around her.

"Congratulations, my boy. I don't think I could ask for a better match for either one of you," Frank stated. "I know what this joker does for a living, so I can only imagine that if he calls you his partner, you must be very good at your job. He spoke very highly of you the last few times we talked." He winked at the younger man as a smile crossed Lee's face.

"Oh, my gosh!" Amanda exclaimed, breaking away from Lee. "I never thought about that."

Frank's bushy gray eyebrows furrowed together at his daughter's concerned face. "What?"

Amanda tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth as she thought over the irony of the situation now at hand. Turning to look at her father, she explained, "That you would know what we do for a living. Mother and the boys don't have a clue that I work for the Agency. Heck, they don't even know that we're really married. We were going to surprise them with the news of our engagement when we got home from our trip up here." She plopped herself back into the chair and looked up at Lee, who just shrugged his shoulders and continued smiling at the older man, who was now, not just a friend, but his father-in-law, too.

"I guess I can understand the need for secrecy. Like father, like daughter. Doing what she can to help out her country." Frank's face beamed with pride.

"Speaking of our country," Lee interrupted. Talk of secrecy and work reminded him of what Bird-eye had told him. "Captain, I hate to break up this wonderful family reunion, but I need to talk some business with you. A contact of mine told me some disturbing news. A man by the name of Greg Carney, better known as 'Weasel,' is apparently back in the States. We thought he was dead, but it appears we were wrong. My informant tells me that he has some unfinished business with you."

Frank's face quickly lost all joy and now showed signs of fear. "What…do you mean? Weasel's alive?"

Lee's eyebrows furrowed as he realized that his old friend did indeed know something about Weasel. "I haven't seen him, but I have a confirmed report that he is alive and here in Massachusetts. What do you know about Weasel? I thought you were only a rescue pilot?"

Frank shook his head. "That was only one of my war duties." He wheeled his chair back and forth, as if he were pacing the floor. "When the war started, they needed good helicopter pilots to fly troops from one battle sight to the next. Realizing that my day-to-day talents could help save a few of our boys, I volunteered to take on a few of those transfer flights. As the war progressed and more and more soldiers were put into dangerous positions, I started to perform rescue missions under the cover of night. That's how I came by the nickname 'Nighthawk.'" Pausing, he looked up to see Lee absorbing his story.

Turning his eyes to Amanda, he took a deep breath. "A lot of agents, like your husband here, got killed trying to get critical information back to the States. So, I volunteered my services to the government to help transport some of the more high-risk rescues. By the time I met up with your Secret Agent Man here, I had worked my way up in the spy business to a Delta Green 19 status." Glancing again at Lee, he smiled widely at the younger man's shocked expression.

"I wanted to tell you that I understood all the political bull you were dealing with, but my status was a need-to-know only. I was an undercover operative. I could easily get information in out of the battlefields as I picked up our boys. Nobody would suspect that a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of guy would be involved with National Security. So, I continued performing rescue missions for the next several years."

Pausing to catch his breath, he looked from Lee to his daughter. The look of pride his daughter's eyes reflected made him straighten his shoulders as he continued his explanations of his accomplishments for the United States during the war in Vietnam.

Giving Amanda a wink, he continued, "Then in 1975, the US started sending food aide to Cambodia. One of the generals approached me, informing me that a large portion of the food wasn't reaching its proper destination. He'd found out that some high-up government officials were being paid off to leak details of flight plans for the rations to the Viet Cong supporters." The Captain rolled his chair directly in front of Lee. "They were selling the information to the Viet Cong, allowing them to intercept the supplies meant for our boys!"

Lee nodded slowly then stood. "Yeah, I know. Stan and I were sent out into the middle of all that shit to find out who was leaking the information. We met up with a friend of Khai's, another double agent. He pointed us in the direction of Weasel. We tried to convince Weasel that we wanted in on the action. He was a little leery of us at first, but after we flashed some green-backs in his face, he let us sit in on some of his 'meetings.' Then there was the incident at that bar." Pausing his assault on the defenseless floor, he looked out the window as his mind left the room.

Amanda looked curiously at her husband. "What happened, Lee?"

Lee's head jerked slightly as the voice he'd come to cherish reached through time and gently coaxed him back. Turning slowly away from the window, he met Amanda's concerned, loving gaze, and as had happened so many times in the past few years, he'd found all he'd ever wanted in life in the promise of her eyes.

As his last comment and her subsequent question came back into focus, he feared the loss of her soft expression, so he responded, "Let's just say that I saw a side of the man that made my skin crawl." When her eyebrow rose, prompting further explanation, he sighed and looked away. "Weasel, who gave a new meaning to the term wasted, took it upon himself to brutally attack an innocent Vietnamese woman. No one would help her no matter how much she begged. Regardless of how much Stan tried to convince me that it was none of my business, I couldn't just stand by and let that son-of-a-bitch have his way with her."

Closing his eyes to the memories, he sat down on the window ledge. "I calmly went up to him and tried to reason with him."

He paused once again and opened his eyes to look at the Captain. "He just wouldn't listen and I let my emotions get the better of me…so I gave him some of what he was dishing out. I would've killed him if Stan hadn't pulled me off and taken me outside. Fortunately, Weasel liked the feel of money in his hands and overlooked the incident, but I don't think he forgave me. He sent us on to Cambodia to meet up with two of his contacts. Stan and I split up when we reached the border. I'm positive Weasel set me up to be captured because that's when I ran into the raid."

Clearing his throat, he swallowed the nauseating feeling that was threatening to take away his breath, and continued. "I'd never witnessed such a bloodbath. Women, children, soldiers…it didn't matter what stood in their way…they were shot down like some kind of animals being taken to the slaughter."

Looking back out the window, he clenched his fists, willing himself to continue. "That's when Khai found me. I'd been knocked out cold by a grenade blast. Khai pulled me to one of the trenches until most of the initial attack had ended."

Amanda watched her husband's body shake as he relived the nightmare. She wanted to take him in her arms and whisper soothing words to him, but she knew by his stance that he didn't want comfort; he needed to release some of his pent up anger.

Lee ran his left hand through his hair as his right traced the metal lines dividing the windows. "We used the bodies of …" Taking a deep breath, he turned to face the Captain, avoiding the lifeline he knew he would find in Amanda's eyes. "Well, we hid until you were able to come in and pull my ass out."

Amanda started to rise and go over to her husband. "Lee—" She settled back into her seat, however, when she caught the almost imperceptible shake of his head, saw the pain in his eyes. She knew he needed a few minutes to collect his thoughts and wouldn't open up anymore to her, until they were alone.

"I'm all right, Amanda."

Noting the exchange that passed between the couple, the Captain decided to continue the conversation at hand. "I know, I was on my way to deliver some information to one of the President's Secret Service men when I was called on to rescue you."

Leaning forward in her chair, Amanda placed her elbows on her knees and her chin in the palms of her hands. The relationship between her husband and her father dealt mostly with pain and loss, but held an air of respect, too. The similarities in the two men were remarkable, not only in their actions, but also in the unique experience that brought the two men together. "Daddy, how does this Weasel fit into the picture?"

Frank smiled warmly at his daughter's "get right to the point" attitude. In his eyes, she was still the young woman he'd left behind sixteen years ago, and her actions hadn't changed a bit. "Well, Panda, the night I was sent to rescue your husband, the documents I was carrying contained an incomplete list of names of those involved with the Viet Cong. Greg Carney, better known as the Weasel, was among those names. Because I hadn't been able to deliver the information to the agent, Weasel had a window of opportunity to go deep underground."

Lee slapped his hands together, "That's right. Shortly after that, things died down, and some of the food started getting to their destinations."

"Yep. However, a few days after you rejoined your unit, someone infiltrated my unit and killed two of our privates. Turned out they were involved in aiding the Viet Cong, but with word coming down the grapevine that the U.S. was soon pulling out of 'Nam, they wanted to cover their asses and come clean. A third private, who abandoned his fellow officers, hid out in a nearby trench until Weasel left. Fearing for his life, he came directly to us for help."

The Captain stopped and nodded at Lee's snort of disgust. Both men knew that the traitors of the war had cost many lives. "In return for safe passage home, he gave us the locations he knew of where the Viet Cong were hiding their POW's. He also told us that he had witnessed Weasel participating in the brutal deaths of his comrades as well as any innocent that stood in his way of gaining the almighty dollar. After giving us a full description of what Weasel looked like, we put the private on a plane back to the U.S. Thanks to his information, we made several successful rescues, but we were never able to find Weasel. Last we'd heard, he was killed during a raid on a Viet Cong camp."

Sighing, he looked sadly at his daughter. "On my last rescue mission, my chopper was shot down before I made it to the P.O.W. camp. I was one of only two survivors."

Amanda sat in awe of how easily her father had put aside his own life to save others. "Daddy, you gave up so much."

"When I woke up in the hospital, I was devastated. I was just getting over the shock of everything and looking forward to going home when I received the telegram telling me you and your mother were dead. I felt so lost and alone, I wished I'd died in the crash."

Amanda rose from her seat and once again embraced her father. "I'm glad you didn't, Daddy. If you had, then I'd never have been able to hold you again."

Frank returned the embrace. "You're right about that, my dear Panda."

Lee smiled at the two; they did bear some resemblance to each other. Since he hadn't been to see the Captain in the last six years, he never got the chance to make that distinction earlier. Clearing his throat, he got back to business. "Captain, what I don't understand is why you never went home to see to things."

Releasing his arms from around Amanda, he wheeled his chair to face his son-in-law. "Lee, I was never given the chance. The general of my unit figured that since I was privy to such important information, it was best to send me off into hiding. Since I didn't have to worry about my family's protection, it was just easier to send me here. I registered here as Captain Phillip Nighthawk. No one ever questioned it. I was a Veteran, with no family to speak of, and that was all they needed to know. I didn't care about any national security issues; I wanted to crawl into a hole and be left alone. Then, when you started to come and see me, I stopped feeling sorry for myself. I began to feel like I had someone, and I enjoyed hearing about your 'adventures.'"

Lee watched the twinkle return to Amanda's eyes as she walked towards him. "Lee, do you think that the telegram was a plant, to get my father out of the way? Make him so upset that he wouldn't think of anything but his losses?"

He looked lovingly at his wife. Her intuitions never ceased to amaze him. "It's possible. It's very possible. Captain, do you mind if I use your telephone? I want to call and fill our boss in on the latest details."

The Captain shook his head. "Not at all, my boy. And while you're on the phone, I can do some catching up with my daughter."

Before retreating to the phone that rested on the Captain's nightstand, Lee placed his right arm around Amanda's shoulder and quickly kissed her on the cheek.

As he briefed Billy on the details he could in the presence of the Captain, he asked for someone to be sent to watch over his friend. Hearing the voices of his wife and father-in-law recalling the events that transpired over the past twelve years, he told Billy that he would call him later that evening and fill him in on the rest. Hanging up, he joined the small family in conversation.

Amanda briefly filled him in on the events leading up to her divorce from Joe and what fine young men his two grandsons had grown into. Frank in turn told her stories about Lee's first attempts at flying a chopper and how they didn't go well at all. Amanda patted her husband's leg as her laughter filled the room at his expense.

After about an hour, Lee sadly told them that he and Amanda needed to head out. He wanted to get on the road before the Boston rush hour began. They said their goodbyes and promised to keep him informed of any new updates with Weasel.

Walking to the car, Lee suddenly realized that the surprise waiting for his wife back at the White Swan, might not go over as well, now, as he had hoped it would just this morning. He helped Amanda into the car and tried to decide exactly how to break this news to his wife.

~~~~~ ~~~~~

Amanda closed her eyes to the evening sun that now penetrated the Blazer window with fiery scorn. So much had happened within the past three hours. Fighting the tears that threatened once again, she glanced over at her equally quiet husband. "It's hard to believe," she whispered.

Lee gently stroked the palm of her hand he hadn't released since entering the vehicle. Keeping his eyes on the road before him, he found his own voice cracking over the emotional scene they had just departed from. "I know."

"What am I going to tell mother? Guess what, Mother? Dad's alive and well. Well, not exactly healthy. He's in a wheelchair because of injuries he suffered in Vietnam. He's staying in a veteran's home only a few hours from our home, just as close as crows could fly. He thought that we had been consumed in a house fire. That's why he never came home to us."

"Amanda…"

"He didn't want to burden Aunt Ruth with his handicap, so he just fell off the face of the earth. Oh, and he's a retired government agent, and while I'm throwing surprises your way, I'm a spy and I'm married to a spy, and well, we just thought that you should know because you can't marry Captain Kurt because you're still married—"

"Stop it, Amanda. Stop torturing yourself." Lee pulled the Blazer to the side of the road and turned off the engine. "Of course your mother will have to be told and the boys, too. It'll be hard for them to accept, just like it is for you. But remember. I'll be there with you, and we'll take it a step at a time. Everything will be rough to start with, but things happen for a reason. Amanda, your father is alive and wants to be part of your family." Lee firmly grasped her hand and pulled it to his lips.

Amanda looked down at her hand where his promise to love her for better or worse glistened in the evening sun. "I'm sorry to take this out on you. It's just that after all these years of believing he was dead…to find out that he's alive! And to boot, you've know him for over ten years." She took a deep breath trying to regain her composure. Giving Lee a brief smile, she leaned over the console and touched her lips to his. "I'm sorry, honey. I'm doing it again. At least I have some time to sort all of this out before I have to face Mother." Settling back in her seat, she brought her hands up and rubbed her face, trying to clear her head of the thought of her mother.

Lee inhaled a large amount of air through his nose then exhaled it out his mouth. Laying his head back against the seat, he closed his eyes. "Amanda."

Amanda looked over to see her husband's worried expression. Placing her hand on his arm, she asked, "Are you okay, Lee? You look as white as a sheet."

Lee kept his eyes closed and rolled his head from side to side on the headrest. "I've got something to tell you, and you're not going to like it."

Amanda began to gently rub his arm in reassurance. "After this afternoon, it can't be all that bad. What is it?"

Lee opened his hazel eyes and slowly turned his head to find his wife's tear-swollen eyes inches from him. Swallowing the large lump that now blocked his airway, he managed to get his next statement out in a slight whisper. "I invited your family here tonight as an engagement surprise."

Amanda's eyes grew wide as she processed the few words Lee had uttered. "What! Right here! In Cape Cod. TONIGHT! Oh, Lee, you didn't?"

Closing his eyes to the imminent onslaught of words his wife was sure to have, Lee nodded his response and let his head roll back against the headrest. After a few moments of silence, he opened his eyes to the sound of the car door opening. "Amanda...Amanda! Wait up!" he exclaimed as he grabbed his coat and exited the car.

Amanda slowly walked through the vast number of tombstones that spread through the open field before her. Looking at each marker as she passed, she gently ran her fingers over the cold stones.

Lee followed close behind, remaining quiet on the outside but cursing himself in his thoughts. 'Of all the places to stop, I had to pick a war memorial graveyard.' He ran his left hand through his hair and continued his silent observation of his wife.

Amanda stopped when she noticed a woman, possibly in her early sixties, kneeling beside a fresh grave. In her shaking hands, she held a bouquet of fragile yellow roses to place on the tombstone before her.

Lee stepped behind Amanda and enfolded her in his strong arms. He had shielded her many times over the past five years with his body, but now there was nothing he could physically do to protect her from the fear, hurt, and knowledge that she currently faced.

Amanda leaned back against his chest and watched the grieving woman. "Did I tell you that Mother still goes to Daddy's grave site and places a fresh arrangement of orchids there every month?"

Lee tightened his embrace. "No."

"Daddy loved…loves orchids, especially the 'Dancing Doll.' He would get serious when he tended to his bed of flowers. He used to tell me if you looked close at the blooms, they looked like little ladies in full yellow skirts. I can remember that Daddy would tease Mother mercilessly about the flowers when there was a soft breeze blowing and the blooms would dance in the air. He would sweep her off her feet and insist they join the 'dance of the flowers,' and Mother would finally give in, and they would laugh and dance the afternoon away."

Lee gently brushed the hair from her shoulder and rested his chin in its place. "They were very much in love, weren't they?"

Amanda tilted her head to rest against his. Enjoying the feel of his soft strands of hair brushing against her face. "Yes." She paused and glanced at the woman placing the roses one-by-one on the loose dirt that covered her loved-one's body. "Mother doesn't know that I know she still visits him. I used to visit his grave, too, to talk things over with him." She shrugged lightly against her husband's chest. "It just seemed right."

She paused again as she watched the woman slowly stand from the ground, clutching an American flag to her chest as tears cascaded down her face. The woman looked over to her and Lee, the November wind catching her long strands of gray hair, twisting them in her anguished face. They watched as she straightened her grieving shoulders with pride for the one she had lost and retreated slowly to her car.

Amanda turned in Lee's embrace to face him. "A few weeks ago, when I went to visit Daddy's grave, Mother was there. She didn't see me, and I felt as if I was spying on her, but I stayed and listened. She was telling Daddy about Captain Kurt. About how she had to move on in her life, and that even though she loved Kurt, she would never love another man as she did him."

"Your father was…is… her soul mate." Lee stated calmly as he brushed a stray tear from her cheek.

Amanda placed her hand over his, where it now rested on her cheek. "Yes. I can understand what she lost with Daddy now that I have you." She released his hand and pressed her head against his chest.

Lee tucked her head beneath his chin and gently stroked the soft wisps of her brown hair. He closed his eyes as a shudder passed through his body at the thought of losing his own soul mate one day. He had always respected Dotty and loved her unconditionally because she was the mother of the woman he loved, but he had a new understanding of the woman now. She had lost part of herself many years ago, in just an instant during the insane war that wasn't a war, and now she was just beginning to put her life back on track towards true happiness. How would all of this affect her?

"We need to go, honey. It's going to be dark soon, and your mother and the boys will be arriving in a few hours." Lee gently moved her around to his side and, his arm protectively around her shoulders, guided her back to the car. Tonight wasn't going to be filled with the happiness of their engagement announcement as he had hoped.

Helping her into the car, Scarecrow suddenly felt as if someone was watching him. He turned back to the graveyard and scanned the area, his eyes narrowed at the empty sea of tombstones before him. Closing her door and giving it a soft tap, his eyes remained alert to his surroundings. Not only did he have to help his new family deal with the past, but he had to protect them from the future. With what Nighthawk had told him, along with the information of Weasel's return, this happy family gathering was turning into a real nightmare.

~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Amanda looked at the large windows of the old white frame house. In this night of revelations and reunions, they seemed to call out a welcome to lost travelers as oil lamps flickered in the darkness of the night. As they pulled into the parking lot of the White Swan, she caught sight of her two sons standing next to a shiny white Cadillac. Her eyes softened at the thought of her father being a once-lost traveler who would now have his family returned to him.

The familiar sight of the two teenage boys arguing over who was going to carry what luggage in encouraged Lee that some things would never change. It was time to help his new family deal with the events of the day. Reaching for his wife's hand, he placed a brief kiss on her lips for reassurance. "I guess it's time for me to start practicing my step-fatherly skills."

A nervous laugh found its way from Amanda's lips as she looked over at her sons. "Yep.

I'd say tonight will be filled with you getting experience in all the things that come along with a ready-made family."

Lee gave her hand a tight squeeze. "No time like the present." Feeling her rings press against the palm of his hand, he remembered that they still wore their wedding bands. "Amanda, we need to take off our wedding rings."

"You're right. Mother is sure to want to see my engagement ring; we'd have a lot more to explain if she saw our wedding bands." They both removed the rings, and Lee gave his to Amanda who placed both rings in the change portion of her wallet. Reaching over, he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before exiting the Blazer. He quickly walked around to the passenger side to help his wife out of the car. With her right hand firmly clasped in his left, they went to break apart the small argument brewing between the boys.

Releasing Amanda's hand, Lee stepped behind his oldest stepson who was struggling to get his grandmother's huge suitcase up the steps. "Mind if I help you out with that?"

A warm feeling of acceptance rushed through Lee's body as the young man turned with a brilliant smile etched across his features. "Lee! Boy, am I ever glad to see you. I think Grandma packed the kitchen sink in this thing."

Jamie and Amanda soon joined the pair on the steps, carrying more of Dotty's luggage. Amanda gave her husband a slight shove with the duffle bag she was trying to balance herself with. "If you two don't get a move on, we're not going to get the car unloaded until Christmas."

The loud outburst of laughter brought Dotty and Captain Kurt out to the front porch to investigate. Dotty pushed her way around the small bunch heading through the door to find her daughter.

Embracing her with all the strength she possessed, Dotty exclaimed, "Sweetheart! I know we're early, but I just couldn't wait to see you. I've been busting at the seams all week not to tell you that I already knew he was going to do this!" She paused to place a kiss on her daughter's cheek and noticed the tired look on Amanda's face, and the signs of recent tears. "Amanda, dear, is everything all right?" Dotty asked, breaking the embrace. Putting her hands on her hips, she glared directly at Lee. "You did ask her, didn't you? If you didn't, and we traveled up here for nothing, I'm gonna make sure you get a one-way ticket to Guatemala."

Before Lee could answer, Amanda took a deep breath and defended her husband. "Yes, Mother, he did ask, and I accepted."

Lee rolled his eyes and gave his wife a thankful smile. Casting a brief glance towards the remaining men on the porch, he mumbled, "Does this whole family have a thing about South America?"

Dotty beamed with joy once again. "Oh, Amanda! You had me worried for a minute." She then walked quickly over to Lee and pulled him into a tight embrace. Lee wasn't prepared and dropped the suitcase he'd been carrying, as he returned the hug.

Breaking apart, Dotty turned back to Amanda. "I've been so excited about Lee finally popping the question. He's so old fashioned! Did you know that he came to the house, when you worked late last Monday, and wanted to talk things over with the boys and me? He asked the boys for permission to marry you. I thought I would just die on the spot. He's so wonderful, and the boys are just thrilled with the idea of having him around all the time. We have so much to plan, and this works out just perfect. He'll be moving in with you just as I'm moving out with Kurt. I'm so happy for you both." She once again took Amanda in her arms for a renewed hug.

Shaking his head, Lee was once again reminded of just where his wife's gift for gab was inherited. With the help of Captain Kurt, who was equally amazed at the rush of words flowing from Dotty's mouth, Lee managed to finish gathering the suitcases and usher the boys into the Bed and Breakfast. He knew Amanda would need time alone with her mother to explain the events of the day.

Chapter 5

No matter how hard she tried, Amanda couldn't keep up appearances. The weight of her other news was beginning to takes its toll. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she tightened her arms around her mother. "Mother, we need to talk."

Dotty's eyes widened, and she felt fear strike her heart, as mothers do whenever they hear hurt in their children's voices. Loosening her arms from around her daughter, Dotty stepped back to look into Amanda's eyes. "Amanda, honey. What's wrong? Everything is okay between you and Lee, isn't it?"

Nodding her head yes, Amanda took her mother's hand and headed for the two empty rockers at the end of the porch. "Lee and I are just fine, Mother." Once they were seated, Amanda proceeded to show her mother the beautiful engagement ring Lee had given her over a year ago.

Dotty gasped with pride when she saw it. "It's beautiful, dear. If everything is okay, then why do you look like someone just died?"

Amanda sighed. She wasn't quite sure how she was going to break the news to her mother. "It's not exactly that, but…Oh gosh, how do I put this to you--"

A sudden banging of the front screen door interrupted her. Jamie stood before his mother, hands waving. "Hey, Mom. When are we going to go eat? Lee said he made arrangements for us to go to some fancy restaurant not far from here."

Dotty shook her finger at her youngest grandson. "James King, this is your mother's special weekend. You need to mind your manners."

Jamie shrugged his shoulders and started back towards the door. "Sorry, Mom."

Amanda smiled at the disappointed figure leaving in defeat. "I'm starved, too, Jamie. Those I.F.F. people wouldn't give us time to even eat lunch today. Go tell Lee and the others to get ready to go soon."

Dotty placed her hand on her daughter's knee as the sound of the door slamming again echoed over the front lawn. "Amanda, what's wrong?"

Amanda placed her hand over her mother's and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Nothing, Mother. I guess it's just that I.F.F has found a few more things for us to deal with while we're here. Lee and I won't get to spend a lot of time with you, the boys, or Captain Kurt tomorrow."

Dotty rose from her chair and stood before her daughter, relief written all over her face. "Is that all? I'm used to that by now! Goodness, sweetheart, I thought it was something serious. Come on, let's get settled in and change clothes. I can't wait to see where that handsome man of yours is taking this bunch to dinner."

Amanda pulled her sweater closed and stood to follow her mother in. Deciding she needed a few more minutes to herself, she stopped at the door. "Go on in, Mother. I forgot something in the car. I'll be inside in just a minute."

Dotty placed a soft kiss on her daughter's cheek and entered the house. Amanda listened to the ever-present chatter of her mother giving instructions to her grandsons to finish unpacking the car, and then for them to proceed to change into their Sunday best for dinner. Amanda chuckled at the sounds of protests that escaped her children's mouths. She turned to head into the house to help encourage her wayward teenagers to listen to their grandmother but paused as she heard the familiar deep voice of her husband coming to her mother's rescue.

After convincing the boys that they should do as their grandmother requested, Lee decided to go and find his missing wife. He noted the carefree expression his mother-in-law wore and decided perhaps he should see what transpired between the two women. Upon exiting the house, he found her leaning against one of the tall white pillars of the porch. Her arms were embracing her thin form as the cold air nipped at the wisps of hair at base of her neck. Stepping behind her and encircling her with his own arms, he waited for her to speak.

Amanda leaned into the broad shoulders of her husband and exhaled the breath she'd been holding. "I couldn't tell her tonight. She's too excited about us. I'll tell her in the morning after a good night's sleep."

Still encircling her waist with his arms, he took her hands in his. "I understand, Amanda. I think maybe you did the right thing."

Amanda tilted her head back to look into the hazel eyes of the man she had come to depend on for extra support over the years. "I love you."

Lee leaned his head down so that his mouth was close to her left ear. "I love you, too. Let's go enjoy our night, and then we can deal with what tomorrow brings."

Turning in their embrace, Amanda placed her hands on his shoulders and rewarded him with a seductive smile. "I don't think we'll have as much fun tonight as we did last night."

The dimples deepened in Lee's face at the playfulness that had returned to his wife's words. "Nope. You're right about that. And before you start to worry, while we were out today I had my things moved to another room, which I'll share with Captain Kurt. Your mother's things are in our room from last night, and the boys have a room in between the two of us. I figured they can't get into too much trouble without their super spy step-dad hearing them."

Amanda pulled her hands from her husband's shoulders and placed them on her hips. "What about their super spy mom?"

Lee leaned his head back as he released a thunderous laugh at his wife's obvious frustration with his words. "I figured you would be too busy dealing with your mother and her non-stop excitement about us finally 'tying the knot.'"

Amanda playfully smacked him on his stomach and joined him in laughter. "I guess we'd better get inside and get ready."

Lee's face turned serious as he looked over the parking lot. "You go ahead, honey. I need to call Billy and give him an update. I'll use the phone in the Blazer so Kurt won't wonder what in the hell I'm talking about."

Amanda was all too aware of the look her husband now held in his eyes. Turning to look at where his eyes were now focused, she whispered, "What is it, Lee?"

Lee pulled her to him and placed a soft kiss on her head. "Nothing. Probably just my senses on overload with all that's going on."

Amanda squirmed loose from his embrace with a determined look on her face. "I don't think I've ever known you to have a sensory overload. What is it?"

Lee looked into the determined eyes before him and couldn't resist the urge to tease her. "Oh, I can remember a few times over the past year that my senses have gone into overload. As a matter of fact, you were the reason."

Amanda placed her hands back on her hips and tried her best to hide the smile that was forming. "You can't wiggle your way out of this with compliments, Stetson. What gives?"

Shaking his head, Lee placed his hand on her elbow and led her down the steps towards the parking lot. Once out of earshot of the house, Lee ran his left hand through his hair as he leaned against the black Blazer. "I'm just being a little cautious with Weasel lurking around somewhere. Your dad may have had a few rounds with him, but I know Weasel would really like to rake me over the coals for a few things that happened back in 'Nam."

Amanda stood directly in front of her husband with her eyes wide, observing their surroundings. "You don't think he would try something here, do you?"

Reaching out, he placed his hands around her waist and pulled her to rest against his body. "Amanda, you know that in the line of business we're in, the one thing you can be sure of is the unexpected. I'll give Billy a call and have him make arrangements for us to have a few extra eyes around, just to be sure that our family is as safe as possible."

Amanda's body relaxed with the thought of having her family protected by the Agency. "I guess I'd better go check on the boys and make sure they're getting ready." She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked him square in the eyes. "Will you be all right by yourself, tonight?"

A wide smile crossed his face at his wife's unfading protective nature. "Yes, I'll be fine. Now get back in there and get our family ready for our night of celebration." Lee pushed himself from the Blazer with his back and placed his hands on her arms. "I feel like we'll need the memories of this morning to hold us over for the next few days."

Amanda placed a quick kiss on his cheek then turned to head inside. "Hurry up and make your phone call. You know how I hate to be kept waiting."

Before she was an arm's length away from him, he reached out with his left hand and gave her butt a playful smack before quickly retreating to the other side of the car. "Oh, I promise to be in as fast as I can."

Amanda spun around with the feel of his hand on her ready to return the favor but found she was too late as she watched the mischievous smile of her husband's face disappear into the car.

~~~~~ ~~~~~

Amanda watched as her mother and Captain Kurt turned down the path beside the house that headed down to the beach. Her mother's laughter filled the air even after they had been gone from her sight a few minutes. The evening of celebrating their engagement had been perfect. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she pulled her knees to her chest. Closing her eyes, she allowed her mind to drift as she felt the soothing motion of the large porch swing beneath her.

'How am I going to tell my mother that her husband is still alive? I can tell by the way that she looks at Captain Kurt that she loves him, and he's the one who has finally made her happy after all these years. Will she want to go back to Daddy, or has too much changed in her life over the years? She's definitely not the same woman she was fifteen years ago." Amanda opened her eyes and looked up at the crescent moon peering through the now-forming clouds. "We've all changed, Daddy. I'm not the little girl you left behind, Mother's not the woman you left behind, and the world as you knew it doesn't exist anymore.'

Amanda's reverie was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching the front porch. Putting her legs down to the floor, her body tensed in anticipation of the possibilities of who might be approaching.

Relaxing at the newly-familiar face of the man who now stepped onto the porch, a friendly smile crossed her face. "Good evening, sir."

The man walked over and took a seat in one of the chairs beside the swing Amanda was enjoying. "Good evening." Turning to look at his surroundings, the man continued, "Beautiful night, isn't it? I would've assumed your husband would be out here enjoying it with you."

Amanda could feel the heat rise to her face, remembering the discussion she and Lee had been having when she had first noticed the man that morning. "My fiancé is upstairs tucking my two boys in. We came here this weekend to celebrate our engagement with our…my family."

Nodding his understanding of her words, he rose from his seat. "Ahh…a simple mistake on my behalf. Sometimes things are not as they seem. Are they, Amanda?"

Amanda tilted her head to the left as she watched him turn to leave. "Have we met before?"

Stopping his track to the door, he turned back to face her. "I don't think so. I overheard you and your husband…sorry…fiancé, this morning. Forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Richard Fire."

Amanda's eyebrows furrowed together at his explanation of knowing who she was. His eyes held a slight twinkle of knowledge. A twinkle that told that he knew far more than what he had gathered from the conversation he'd overheard that morning. "Nice to meet you."

Tipping his hat to her, he continued to the door and opened it. "Nice to meet you, too, Mrs. King." With that said, he left Amanda on the porch to ponder his comments as the door clicked closed behind him.

~~~~~ ~~~~~

Lee lowered his head slightly, narrowing his eyes as he looked at his two teenage stepsons. They were trying desperately to make him see their side of wanting to stay up and see the sites of the area. Running his left hand through his hair, he took a seat at the table near the door. Looking at his watch, he rubbed his eyes. It was already approaching eleven o'clock, and he wanted a few minutes alone with his wife before Kurt and Dotty returned.

Deciding it was time to end their feeble attempts to win him over to their side, he cleared his throat and tried out his new parental authority. "Look, you two. It's time to go to bed. Your grandmother and Kurt have big plans for you tomorrow."

Phillip joined him at the table, eyes wide with excitement from the evening's activities. "Aw, come on, Lee. Just one more hour, and then we promise to hit the sack."

Jamie soon followed suit and joined the two at the table. "It would be very educational for us if you and Mom were to take us out and show us some of the historical sites around here tonight."

Lee looked at Jamie then Phillip. "At eleven o'clock at night!"

Phillip propped his elbows up on the table as a wide smile of mischievousness crossed his face. "Yeah, man. That's when all the babes are out."

Jamie smacked Phillip on the arm at that comment. "Way to go, Dufus."

Lee rolled his eyes at the brotherly "love" they shared. "Babes, huh?"

Phillip scooted his chair closer to Lee. "Yeah. When we were at the restaurant tonight, there was this blonde girl sitting at the table beside us. I got to talk to her for a few minutes while you and Mom were all google-eyed at each other. Her name is Sarah, and she's staying a few blocks from here."

Lee's face cringed at Phillips choice of words. "Google-eyed?"

Jamie nodded in agreement with Phillip's description. "Yeah, you know how you and Mom get when you're all caught up in that love thing."

A robust laugh erupted from Lee at the boys' description of him and Amanda. His attention fell back to Phillip. "I'm surprised you even noticed tonight with that blonde girl beside you."

Phillip shrugged his shoulders. "We're used to you two by now. So, can we stay up for awhile?"

Lee watched the twinkle ignite in Phillip's eye. His mother's eyes held the very same light when she was trying to convince him of something. Shaking his head, he stood. "Not tonight, boys. Get ready, and go to bed. I'll make sure you get to visit your little friend tomorrow, Champ."

Jamie stood to follow Lee to the door. "Lee, could we get a snack before we go to bed? I'm hungry."

Phillip quickly followed at the mention of food. "Yeah, me too. If I have to go to bed, you don't want me to starve to death before morning."

Rubbing his stomach, Lee's eyes grew wide with disbelief. "You two have got to be kidding. I know for a fact that you both choked down a salad, two steaks, and least one baked potato each. God knows how many bread rolls. And then you ravaged the dessert cart. You can't seriously be hungry!"

Phillip pulled up his shirt in protest to Lee's obvious reluctance to feed them yet again. "Oh, come on, Lee. We're wasting away. You can even see my ribs!"

Lee looked at Phillip and then turned to Jamie's pleading expression. "Oh, all right! Go down to the kitchen and ask Lorna, the woman who runs things, if she can find something for you. But don't pester her. And…I expect you to be back up here, in bed with the lights out, in thirty minutes! I'll be back up to check on you then."

Phillip and Jamie pushed past him to get out the door before he changed his mind.

"I will be back to check on you." Lee called after the boys who were quickly headed down the steps.

Lee closed the door to the boys' room and slowly followed their lightening path towards the steps. He had every intention of finding his wife, checking on the boys, then heading back to her room for a little goodnight kiss before Dotty and Kurt returned. Hearing the boys asking Lorna for cheeseburgers made Lee wonder, once again, just how Amanda ever made it as a single mother having to feed those two.

"We may have to buy a farm, or at least a cow to put in the back yard, to feed those two next year," Lee mumbled as he opened the door that led out to the front porch. He stopped in his tracks at the shivering form of his wife standing before him.

"Lee, I was just coming in."

Lee stepped back for her to enter. "You're blue, Amanda." Before she was all the way through the door, he pulled her into a bear hug and quickly closed the hardwood door.

"Come on. Let's get you warmed up."

Amanda greedily accepted the heat from his body and wrapped her arms around him as they walked into the living room. "I didn't know I was so cold until I stood up to check on you and the boys."

Lee maneuvered them towards the overstuffed couch and gently guided them to sit on the soft beige cushions. "Amanda, you're still shivering." Pulling the patchwork quilt from the back of the couch, he draped it around her shoulders, snuggling it up under her chin.

Amanda warmly smiled her thanks as she leaned her head onto his right shoulder. Lee wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "Lee, did you know the man we saw on the front porch this morning before we left to go to the hospital?"

"No, I don't think so? Why?" Lee tilted his head to look at her face.

"He was outside tonight, a few minutes before you came down. He knew my name was Amanda. Then when I asked him how, he said he overhead us talking this morning."

Lee brought his left hand up to her face and gently stroked her cheek with his fingers. "It's extremely possible that that is where he heard it."

Amanda lifted her head slightly so she could look into his eyes. "I don't know. I've just got a weird feeling about him. He thought we were married and then he called me 'Mrs. King' when he said goodnight. I'm not sure what it is, but he just set a few alarms off in my head."

Lee stilled his hand against her cheek and gently nudged her to relax against his shoulder. "I know you and your instincts. I'll check him out in the morning."

Amanda absorbed the reassurance of his words, and her body relaxed against him as his warm, protective presence swirled around and through her senses. It was wonderful to have this strong, loving man a part of her life; the boys were going to benefit from a male presence as well. Thinking of the boys, she realized she wanted to know how things had gone. "So, how did it go with the boys?"

Lee rolled his eyes, and Amanda could feel the rumble of laughter in his chest. "Let's just say that they're really getting good at seeing just how far they can push me."

Amanda nodded against his shoulder and placed her hand on his chest. "You knew they would."

Lee tucked her head under his chin. "Yep. They just don't know that I do have some experience under my belt." When Amanda shifted against him, he tightened his embrace and continued, "You know, all those times I've had to negotiate with terrorists."

Amanda swatted his stomach with her hand. "They're not terrorists, Lee."

"Ow! It's not nice to abuse you're husband like that." Lee rubbed his injured stomach with his left hand. "Well, I must say that your sons do seem to know a few things about getting what they want."

As if knowing the topic at hand involved them, the two teenage boys entered the living room, each with one hand holding a greasy cheeseburger and the other a Pepsi. Phillip took a big bite of his and proceeded to stand in front of Lee. With his mouth half full, he extended his cheeseburger towards Lee. "These are really good. Lorna said it was no trouble at all. She was glad to keep us from starving to death. You want me to see if she'll fix you one?"

Lee closed his eyes momentarily from the vision of the oozing monstrosity before him. "No thanks, I'll just save my appetite for breakfast."

Phillip shrugged his shoulders and started back towards the stairs with Jamie close behind. "Mom says you don't eat breakfast."

Lee's eyes snapped towards his wife at the sound of her chuckling. "Well, I usually don't."

Jamie waved the hand holding the Pepsi over his shoulder in lieu of a goodnight and then nudged his brother. "I bet Mom changes that."

Phillip eagerly nodded his agreement. "Yep. Goodnight, Mom! Goodnight, Lee!"

Jamie followed him up the steps. "Yeah, goodnight. See ya'll in the morning."

Lee pulled his arm from Amanda's waist and stood as he watched the two boys troop up the stairs. "I'll be up in a minute to make sure you're settled in."

Amanda reluctantly unwrapped herself from the warmth of the quilt and followed suit, rubbing hand on his arm as she followed him to the stairwell. "We'd better get some sleep too. Tomorrow's going to be a big day."

Lee turned his hazel eyes to look at his appealing wife. "Bedroom, yes. Sleep, no."

A slight shiver of anticipation flowed through her body at the look of lust evident in his eyes. "Mother will—"

Lee grabbed her hand and headed up the steps. "Not for a little while."

They stopped before Jamie and Phillip's door. "I'm going to go get ready for bed while you make sure 'our' boys are snug as a bug in a rug."

Lee pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Mmm…," he growled softly, "I like the sound of that."

Pleasure lit Amanda's eyes. "I'm glad," she said, almost breathless from his nearness. "I do too."

Placing his lips on her neck, Lee began nibbling his way up to her ear. "I'll help you get ready; just wait on me."

Pulling back, she gave him an innocent smile. "Why, whatever are you proposing?"

A wicked grin crossed Lee's face. "You just get to your room, missy, and I'll be there shortly to show you just what I mean."

Amanda raised her eyebrows and gave him a mock bow then retreated down the hall.

Lee inhaled a deep breath and stood quietly a moment before opening the door to the room. To his surprise, both boys were already in bed, and the lights out. Waiting a minute to see if they were playing tricks on him, he leaned against the doorframe. Seeing Phillip's covers move slightly, he walked over to the beds. "Goodnight, boys."

"Goodnight, Lee" The two replied in unison.

Lee walked back to the door and closed it quietly behind him. "They just don't know who they're dealing with."

~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Amanda was pulling her flannel gown over her head when she heard the door handle click in the bedroom. Butterflies attacked her stomach at the thought of her husband's intentions. She turned on the water in the sink and began to wash her face. Trying to continue his game from earlier, she acted as if she hadn't heard him enter.

Lee slipped up behind her and wrapped his hands around her stomach, the feel of the flannel under his fingers brought pleasant thoughts to mind. "You know…," Lee's left hand began to slide up to her breast. "You're the sexiest when you're dressed in nothing but flannel, including no makeup."

Amanda leaned her head back against his chest, her hands massaging his thighs. "Mmm…I think you're the sexiest when you just get out of the shower and the moisture is still clinging to all your muscles."

Lee brushed his right hand against her neck and gently moved her hair off her right shoulder while his left hand began to tease the nipple of her breast through the fabric of her gown. "Want to take a shower?"

Amanda turned in his embrace, meeting his passion-filled eyes with her own. "I don't think we have time."

Waggling his eyebrows, Lee pulled her hard against him. "Let's just skip the shower and get to the good stuff."

Amanda smiled as she took his hand in hers and led him to the king-sized bed. Pulling him down with her, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Lee hungrily possessed her mouth with his as he supported his weight with his arms. When they broke apart for air, Lee rolled over to his left side and began to unbutton the brown objects that kept the material gathered around her neck. "I don't think you'll be needing this to keep you warm."

Amanda placed her hand over his to stop his rapid work. "Mother will be here anytime now, and the boys are in the next room."

Lee placed a wet kiss on her hand. "I promise to be quiet and just look. I won't touch."

Amanda felt her body betraying her as his hand found the warmth of her left breast. She closed her eyes as she felt his breath on her neck. "I thought you said only looking."

Lee looked up into her flushed face. "Can I help it if you're so intoxicating and I can't think straight?"

Amanda shook her head and gently removed his skilled, masculine hand from inside her gown. Only to find that his reaction time was much quicker than hers as he replaced his hand with his mouth. A soft moan escaped her lips as he began to suckle her wanting breast. "Lee…"

Lee's body tensed at the sound of the doorknob turning. Quickly rolling from the bed and keeping his back to the door, he began to straighten his clothes the best he could. Amanda hastily found the bed covers and jerked them up around her neck just as the ceiling light flashed on.

Dotty stopped just inside the door and smiled at the two startled lovers. A soft laugh escaped her lips as the image of a deer caught in headlights came to her mind. "Am I interrupting something?"

Amanda looked up at her lover to see his eyes closed and jaw clenched as he ran his hands over the fresh wrinkles in his shirt. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm the raging emotions that her husband's touch had imbedded in her body. "Oh, no, Mother. Lee was just tucking me in for the night."

Dotty gave them both a knowing look. "I see. Well, I'm just going to change clothes in the bathroom so you two can say goodnight properly." She turned her back to them as she opened her suitcase and started to dig for her bedclothes.

Taking a final calming breath, Lee opened his eyes and focused on the pillow near the edge of the bed. "I was just leaving, anyway, Dotty." Looking down at his wife's disheveled hair, sparkling brown eyes, and rosy lips, he felt the heat that had momentarily started to calm quickly rising back up through his body. Raking his left hand through his hair, he shut his eyes, trying to imagine anything but the curves and secret hollows of the body that lay in the bed before him.

"Goodnight, Lee." Amanda's soft whisper sent quick shudders through his body as he opened his eyes to see gentle laughter dancing in hers.

As he bent over to kiss her goodnight, he placed his left hand on the other side of her on the bed and then proceeded to brush her cheek with his right. Slowly descending his mouth to hers, his breath caressed the slightly exposed skin of her neck. Amanda sucked in her own breath as she looked into his passion-filled eyes.

Softly brushing his lips across hers, he lingered momentarily. Inhaling the scent of her body that would fill his dreams, his whispered words were deep and filled with longing. "Sleep well, Amanda."

Amanda placed her hand on his arm, her voice cracking as she tightened her grip. "You too, Lee."

Lee stood and ran his left hand through his hair as he started to exit the room. "Goodnight, Dotty."

Dotty had picked up her clothes and was headed to the bathroom, never looking at the flustered couple behind her. "Goodnight, Lee." Before closing the door, however, she couldn't resist teasing her son-in-law-to-be. "The ocean water is quite cold tonight if you want to go for a swim."

Lee shook his head and opened the bedroom door. "I'll keep that in mind." He gave Amanda one last look before he exited and went to join Kurt in the other room.

As he slowly closed the door to his wife's room, the images of her soft body under his hands fresh in his mind. Sighing heavily, he resigned himself to the fact that his night would be spent with Captain Kurt, and not with his gorgeous wife. Mumbling under his breath, he started to make his way to his quarters. "It would have to be my bright idea to invite the whole family up here."

Hearing the unmistakable laughter of his stepsons, he stopped to investigate. Giving the door a firm knock, he opened it. "Everything all right in here, boys."

Jamie and Phillip looked up from where they sat on the floor with expressions of complete horror that they had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

"Yes, sir," Jamie whispered.

Closing the door behind him, Lee stepped into the room. "I'm serious, guys. You need to get to bed. You don't want your mother worrying all night that you might sneak out or that you're not getting enough sleep for tomorrow."

"No, sir," Phillip answered.

Lee nodded his approval as he watched the two climb into bed. "Goodnight, boys." With that he closed the door and continued his way to his room.

"You like him telling us what to do?" Phillip rolled on his side and looked at his brother.

Jamie gave his brother a crooked smile. "I think it's kind of neat that he actually cares enough to check up on us."

"Yeah. I guess you're right. Goodnight, Dufus."

"Stop calling me 'dufus,' and goodnight to you too, Phillip."

~~~~~ ~~~~~

Amanda closed her eyes, trying to gain control over the sudden cravings racing through her body caused by her husband's simple touch. Clicking on the nightstand lamp, she picked up a magazine from the table and tried to take her mind off her husband.

A short time later, Dotty emerged from the bathroom and turned off the overhead light before slipping in bed beside her daughter. "Sweetheart, don't feel like you have to cover up your actions with Lee, for my benefit. I'm not too old to know what goes on between couples in love. I'm happy you two are getting married. He's good for you."

Amanda rolled onto her right side, facing her mother. "I love you, Mother."

Dotty gently stroked her 'little' girl's hair. "I love you, too. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Mother." Amanda reached back and turned out the small lamp.

Dotty rolled over to face the window. "Sweet dreams, Amanda."

Amanda closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around the pillow she held at her chest. "You too, Mother. You, too." She closed her eyes and tried her best to fall asleep as visions of her mother's reactions to the news that her father was still alive raced through her mind.

Chapter 6

Amanda traced the deep scratch embedded in the dark cherry wood dining table with her left index finger as she listened to the idle talk of her family. Her mind reflected on who had placed it there and what other families had shared this table many times before her family joined the list. Hearing her name mentioned in the conversation, she picked up her hot cup of morning tea and glanced up to see her sons devouring what was left of their breakfasts. A warm feeling ran through her veins as she watched them in their morning ritual of teasing each other.

Feeling her husband's eyes watching her, she graced him with a soft smile, and he returned her smile tenfold. As she watched his eyes wander back to her two sons, she thought back to the lecture she'd given him before breakfast. 'Lee Stetson, you need to set a good example for your sons. Coffee does not cut it for breakfast. Could you at least choke down a Danish or something with some substance to it?' Amanda knew his thoughts as she watched his eyes dart to his stepsons as they ordered more biscuits. A soft chuckle escaped her lips at the comment he'd given her after her 'speech' that morning. 'Amanda, the only example your sons need about eating is maybe to stop before their stomachs explode.'

Hearing his wife's soft laugh, Lee turned his eyes back on her and gave her a lavish wink. Shrugging her shoulders at her sons' request for more food, she turned her attention to her mother and Captain Kurt. Remembering what the day's events held, her features immediately turned serious. A slight shudder replaced the warm feelings she had as she pondered the upcoming conversation she'd managed to put off until now.

Seeing Amanda's expression change, Lee knew that the time had come for him to take Captain Kurt and the boys out for a while. Standing up, he proceeded to walk behind Phillip and place his hand on his shoulder. "Kurt, if you're done, what do you say we take the boys outside and do some exploring of the grounds?"

Jamie turned his head to look at the man who now stood behind his brother. A wide, approving grin etched across his face. Turning his attention back to his mom, he asked, "Mom, is that okay with you?"

Looking at the excitement her sons held at the thought of spending time with Lee eased her tension. Nodding in response, she tried to put a serious expression on her face. "Go on and have fun, but remember…behave yourselves. Lee's in charge while you guys are out and about, understand?" After receiving a reluctant nod from both boys, she started to turn her attention towards her husband, who had moved from behind the boys and was walking toward her, and then turned back to her sons. "Wrap those biscuits in a paper napkin, young men," she warned as she watched her sons raiding the basket the waitress had just brought to the table.

"Aw, Mom," Jamie grumbled, but he took the napkin Phillip handed him, and between them, they quickly emptied all of the fresh biscuits and made two "doggie bags."

Amanda smiled as she watched them head for the door, then tipped her head up and closed her eyes as Lee leaned down to kiss her cheek. When she opened them, again, she gave him a serious look. "Don't let them get away with everything, Lee. You don't have anything to prove."

Taking advantage of being so close to her, he pulled her hair back from her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "I'll keep them in line. Remember, I've had formal training in the art of exploring and a very good teacher in the art of parenting." Placing a quick kiss on her lips, he stood and followed the two boys out of the room.

Remembering the chill in the air, she turned in her seat and called after them. "Oh, Lee! Make sure they grab their coats and the new hats you got them at the restaurant last night, okay?"

Popping his head back around the corner, he gave Dotty a quick wink before replying, "Yes, Dear."

Hiding her obvious amusement at his teasing, she took a large drink of the quickly chilling tea. Looking up from her teacup, a sigh escaped her lips as she watched Kurt place a loving kiss on her mother's cheek. The look in her mother's eyes was that of love. Amanda tried to remember the last time that she had seen that much contentment in her mother. Closing her eyes, she thought back to the day her father had left for the service and fondly remembered the look on her mother's face. It was the same powerful trust, commitment, and desire she had held for her dad. If it was at all possible, she now dreaded the upcoming conversation even more than she had just minutes earlier.

Dotty watched Kurt leave the room before turning her attention to her daughter. "Amanda, what's wrong? You've been awful quiet all morning and there has to be something up; otherwise Lee wouldn't have so eagerly offered to leave your side."

Amanda rose from her seat. "Why don't we head out to the terrace, Mother?" She pushed her chair in and headed outside.

Placing her napkin on the table, Dotty stood and followed her daughter. Reaching the terrace, she watched her daughter cross slowly to the edge of the balcony and stop, obviously lost in thought. She had seen her daughter upset and worried many times in her life, but the quiet demeanor that she now held scared her. Hearing the waves crash against the white sand, Dotty proceeded to stand next to her daughter. "Breathtaking, isn't it?"

Amanda nodded as she watched the swans gathering the breakfast that had been placed just below the terrace.

Dotty's curious nature took over as she watched her daughter's stony expression. "Amanda, sweetheart. What's wrong? You tossed and turned all night."

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she started the dreaded conversation. "Did I tell you why Lee and I were sent up here?"

Dotty shrugged her shoulders. "You only mentioned that it was for some I.F.F. documentary. Why? Is this about you having to work while we're here?" Placing her right hand on her daughter's shoulder, she gently turned her around so she could see her face. "If it is, then stop worrying. I've resigned myself to the fact that this company asks a lot of you. But knowing that you've found such a wonderful man like Lee, I can understand why you stay there."

Amanda shook her head. "No, Mother. It's not that." Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. "Mother, I think you need to sit down for this."

Dotty's curiosity was now really piqued. She looked at the concern on her daughter's face and began to wonder just where this was all heading. Taking a seat on one of the terrace chairs, she looked intently at her daughter.

Amanda sighed at the look of innocence her mother held. 'Better to get this over with and out in the open,' she told herself. "I.F.F. sent us here to do a documentary on war veterans. One of Lee's Vietnam buddies happens to be staying in a veteran's rehabilitation home in Boston. We decided we'd stop by and see him and get some good information for our film. Turns out this friend…" Amanda paused and started playing with her heart pendant. Turning to look out at the ocean, she continued, "Turns out this friend of Lee's was a helicopter pilot…"

Dotty looked curiously at her daughter. The mention of a helicopter pilot brought some memories of her husband floating back. Rising, she walked over to her daughter again, and placed her right hand on her shoulder. "Amanda, did this friend of Lee's know your father? Are you afraid that hearing stories about your father's war exploits would upset me?" She shook her head slowly, a smile appearing on her face as she thought of Kurt. "I've moved on, you know that. I still miss your daddy very much, but I know he'd be happy for me."

Biting her lower lip, Amanda fought back the tears that were threatening to fall. She gripped the terrace ledge to muster her courage. Turning, she looked her mother straight in the eye. "Mother, Lee's friend didn't know Daddy. He is Daddy."

Dotty's face slowly turned from worry for her daughter to one of shock. Not quite sure she'd heard her daughter right, she whispered, "What did you say?"

Amanda took her mother in her arms. "I didn't want to believe it at first, but the man in that room was…is…Daddy. He's alive," she replied in a gentle voice.

Dotty broke away from her daughter's embrace and walked back towards her chair. Shaking her head, she protested, "That man can't be your father, Amanda. I know your father. If he had been alive, he would've come back to us after the war ended." Sitting down, she stared at her daughter. "You always did fantasize about your father waltzing back into our lives, telling us that the reports of his death were just rumors."

Amanda hadn't been sure how her mother would react, but she'd never expected to hear her mother say that she was imagining things. Walking over to Dotty, she knelt before her and placed her hand on her mother's knee. "I'm sorry, Mother. But this isn't a pipe dream of mine. I saw him with my own two eyes. We talked for hours yesterday. I'm sorry, Mother, but it really is Daddy."

Dotty was about to protest again, until she saw the look in her daughter's glistening eyes. Amanda's eyes never lied; she really believed what she was saying. Anger started to well up inside her at the thought of her husband abandoning his family. "Well, if he is your father, then where the heck has been for the last twelve years? Did he at least have a good reason for not coming home to us?"

A few tears trailed down Amanda's cheeks as she nodded. "He was told we were killed in a house fire. He thought we were dead."

Dotty body began to tremble with the thoughts of her husband still alive. "Well if that isn't the silliest thing I've ever heard. We didn't die. Why didn't he come back home to us and find out that it was a false report? Why didn't he contact your Aunt Ruth?" Dotty looked at her daughter. This just couldn't be happening now. She had finally come to terms with the loss of her soul mate. After so many years, she had finally found someone to fill the void Frank had left, and now it was all about to fall apart.

Wiping away the tears from her cheeks, Amanda placed a hand on her mother's arm. "Because, when his chopper went down, there were complications, and he lost his legs. He didn't want to be a burden to Aunt Ruth, and he was totally devastated by the news that he didn't have a family to come back to."

Dotty's eyes filled with tears at the thought of her husband feeling lost and alone. Forgetting the anger she felt, she was suddenly overcome with an urge to go see him. "Amanda, do you think we could head over and see him?"

Amanda's eyes widened at her mother's request. "Are you sure?" she asked in a whispered voice.

Dotty looked into her daughter's eyes. "Yes, I think it would be best if we went to see him, now. Do you think Lee could take us? I'll ask Kurt if he'll watch…Oh my goodness, Kurt."

Amanda saw the look of anguish in her mother's eyes. She knew this news was going to be hard for her to explain to her fiancé. "Mother, I'm sure if you explain to Captain Kurt…I mean if you tell him the truth; he'll understand. It's not like anything has changed. You're a different woman. There's no reason for you to decide anything right now," she rambled, not really sure what to say to her mother.

Dotty took a deep breath. "Would you mind tracking the boys down so I can compose myself, and figure out just what to say to Kurt?"

Standing, she paused briefly and gave her mother a quick hug. "I'll go see where they got off to. Everything will work out. You'll see." Kissing her on the cheek, she headed back inside to grab her coat and find her wandering family.

~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Captain Kurt watched the black Blazer pull out of the parking lot. Waving his goodbyes, he inwardly hoped that the man his fiancée was about to visit was not Frank West; however, he knew deep down that it probably was. He loved Dotty, he was certain of that; and the thought of not having her in his life…well that was something he didn't want to think about right now.

When Dotty had pulled him aside and began to explain the current situation, he could see that this was not news that she was exactly ecstatic about. She had told him that she was a different woman than the one Frank West had left behind, and she didn't know what she would do if he really was still alive. He had told her that no matter what happened, he loved her, and he knew that she loved him.

He knew Frank was her first husband, and she owed it to herself to see if the man in the hospital was indeed the man she had married so long ago. He prayed that in the end, no matter what happened, as long as Dotty West was happy, he would be able to go on with his life. Turning, he went inside to see what Amanda's two teenage boys were up to.

Dotty glanced once out the back window of the Blazer toward the White Swan. Sighing, she faced forward and tried to relax as she leaned against the plush back seat. Her eyes began to focus on the wintry scene that passed by her window. Her mind, however, was remembering Kurt's calm and cool nature as she explained the situation. He'd been more than understanding and had promised to love her regardless of the outcome. That was one of the things she loved about him.

She thought back to the irony of when they had first met and how she hadn't even hesitated in going out with him. He was a pilot for goodness sake. After Frank, she'd sworn off pilots and flying, and anything that had to do with the idea of her feet leaving the ground. However, when she had met Kurt, it was attraction at first sight, mostly because of his charming wit and she never thought twice about his career choice.

The idea to take up lessons, and the fact that Kurt was so eager to teach her, allowed her to quickly overcome her fear of airplanes and flying. Frank would never even consider the idea of taking her up in the helicopter. Then again, maybe it was because she had never asked, nor felt like he wanted her to intrude on his job. Amanda was his little girl, and it never seemed a problem for her to go up with him. Maybe the reason she hated it so much when Frank took Amanda up was because she was just a little jealous. Jealous that she didn't have the guts to get up in that helicopter and experience her husband's other world.

'Damn fear of heights,' she thought. The more she thought about Frank, the madder she

got. Why did he have to reappear now? Now, when everything was finally going so well for her. Her daughter was getting remarried, as was she. She was looking forward to giving her daughter and Lee time to adjust to family life, as well as moving out to live with her new husband. It had been a long time since she'd had the type of companionship that comes with marriage. 'Damn documentaries,' she thought. 'We would all be better off if Amanda hadn't discovered Frank was still alive. Why now?' Sighing she glanced at her daughter and the man in the driver's seat. A brief smile crossed her lips.

She was glad that her daughter had finally found a man, who had made it pretty clear by his constant presence in their lives, was going to stick by her through thick and thin. She had noticed, from the first few times she had seen Lee and Amanda together, that there was a special bond between the two. It was almost as if they'd known each other a lot longer than a year or two.

Her daughter's relationship with Lee was much stronger than it had been with Joe. She had known, from the start, that Joe and Amanda were more friends than they were 'lovers.' Sure, she had grown to love Joe King; after all, he was the father of her grandchildren. Joe had run off to provide for his family, while Amanda had chosen to raise her children on solid ground. Joe's accepting the job in Estoccia, had probably been the best thing that had happened for both of them. The only sad thing was that Phillip and Jamie had grown up pretty much without a father. Now with Lee entering their lives, she was certain that they would have a strong male figure around all the time. Not just on weekends, as it was with Joe.

"It's truly amazing," a frustrated Dotty said aloud.

Amanda, who had been watching her mother through the side view mirror, awoke from her own thoughts. "What was that, Mother?"

"Oh gosh. Did I say that out loud?" Dotty asked.

"Afraid so, Dotty." Lee smiled as he glanced up in the rearview mirror. "So, what's so amazing?" He had been paying close attention to the road and stealing glances at his wife since they had left the bed and breakfast. He knew Amanda was worried about her mother and father's reunion. He was just glad he had taken a few minutes to call the Captain and let him know of their arrival. He owed his friend that much. Besides, he also wanted to remind the Captain not to mention anything about Amanda and his marriage or their work for the Agency.

"I was just thinking about how much our lives have changed since Frank…well since we thought Frank was gone. And now…now the things that seemed to be moving forward have come to a complete stop…at least for me," Dotty explained.

Lee squeezed Amanda's hand as she turned around in her seat to look at her mother. "Oh, Mother. Everything will work out, you'll see. It's just going to be very tough at first. Are you sure you want to see Daddy now?"

Dotty nodded. "Better to get it over with now then let it stew. Face the past so you can get on with the future. Haven't I always told you that?"

Lee stole a quick glance at his wife. Wasn't that what she always tried to make him do. He smiled. 'Like mother, like daughter.'

Turning back around, Amanda caught her husband's look. "Yes, Mother, it is." Sighing, she decided to change the subject. "Do you think Captain Kurt will be okay with the boys?"

Dotty smiled at the mention of Kurt's name. "Amanda, the boys will be fine with him. I just hope they don't try to get away with too much."

"Well," Lee said, glancing up at her in the mirror once more, "I told them to stay near the house and not to stray. Especially, since Phillip seems to have this itch to explore. Something about meeting some girl at dinner last night."

Amanda looked towards her husband. Phillip was at the age where girls were definitely one of his top priorities, and she was glad Lee was around. Lord knew his history with woman might just prove insightful when it came to raising a teenage boy who was just starting to be bombarded by hormones.

Lee felt his wife's stare. "What?"

Amanda chuckled. "Nothing. I was just thinking about how nice it will be to have you around to help guide Phillip in the ways of female relationships."

"Amen to that," Dotty muttered from the back seat. Both Amanda and Lee heard her, and they all broke out into laughter.

They continued to make small talk until they reached the city limits. An eerie silence filled the car as soon as the "Boston City Limits" sign appeared along the highway and they realized they weren't far from the veteran's hospital. No one was particularly anxious about the impending reunion.

As Lee pulled into the parking lot, Dotty took a deep breath. Was she ready for this? A small part of her hoped that Amanda was wrong and that the man inside wasn't Frank. However, the voice of reason told her that it probably was. Taking another deep breath as the Blazer came to a stop in a parking spot, she undid her seat belt and prepared to exit the vehicle.

Lee quickly exited the vehicle and started to head around to open the passenger doors for Amanda and Dotty, but they were both already out of the Blazer. Amanda walked up to her mother and put a comforting arm around her shoulder. Lee took Amanda's hand in his, and the trio made their way into the building.

~~~~~ ~~~~~

Amanda and Dotty waited outside Frank West's room. Lee had told them that he just wanted to make sure that the Captain was okay and prepared to see Dotty.

Amanda knew her husband was really filling the Captain in and getting any new information surrounding the case, without having to deal with any distractions. She also wondered if he was reminding her father not to mention anything about the Agency or the fact that she was already Mrs. Stetson.

Walking over to her mother, she put an arm around her waist. Dotty sighed. "It's okay, Amanda. I'll be fine. I'm just trying to collect myself. I'm just thinking about out what to say to the man in that room."

Before Amanda could respond, Lee stepped out into the hallway with one of the hospital nurses.

He nodded towards the nurse, who was really an undercover agent, as she headed down the hallway. "Shall we, ladies?" Lee was trying his best to make this as pleasant a situation as possible.

Dotty took Amanda's hand, and the two followed Lee into the Captain's room.

"Mother, I'd like to re-introduce you to Frank West." Amanda squeezed her mother's hand.

Although Dotty had been told that Frank was in a wheelchair, the sight of the man sitting there, so devastated by the horrors of war, was almost more than she could handle. Moving her gaze from the wheelchair to the man's face, she lost all control on her composure as she realized that the gentleman in front of her was definitely the man she had believed to be dead.

Noticing his mother-in-law's faltering form, Lee quickly stepped behind her and put his hands supportively on her shoulders.

Frank looked at the woman before him. She was as beautiful today as she had been all those years ago at the airport. Finding his voice, he managed to speak in a soft whisper, "Dotty, my you're a beautiful sight for sore eyes." It had been a true shock when he'd first seen Amanda; but the sight of the woman he'd loved so long ago standing before him was truly a dream come true.

Lee helped Dotty to the nearby chair then turned to his wife. Extending his hand for her to accept. "Come on, Amanda, why don't we give these two a little time alone."

Amanda blinked back tears as she looked at her parents. 'So many dreams over the years for this to happen, and now they've finally all come true.' Looking towards her mother for reassurance that she was ready to be alone with her father, Amanda softly smiled at the slow nod Dotty gave her. "I guess we could go explore a little, Lee."

Frank rolled his chair closer to Dotty. Extending his hand for Amanda to take, he encouraged her to go. "Go on, Panda. We'll be all right. I think after all this time apart, it would be wonderful to spend some time alone with your mother."

Amanda accepted her father's hand and gave it a tight squeeze. "Mother, is that all right with you?"

Hearing Frank speak Amanda's old nickname made something snap in Dotty's mind. Turning her attention to Lee and Amanda, she spoke in a firm tone, "Yes, please go on. I think there are few things that Frank and I need to re-find out about each other."

Amanda released her father's hand and went to stand beside Lee.

Taking her hand in his, Lee led her out of the room, closing the door behind him. As soon as they were a few feet away from the room, he stopped and took Amanda in his arms. "They'll be fine, Amanda," he reassured her as he gently stroked her hair.

"I hope so. I can't even imagine what's going through their minds. I'm sure Daddy is truly excited to see Mother again, but I'm not so sure Mother is very excited about seeing Daddy." She looked into her husband's eyes and saw love and devotion in them, something that was no longer in her mother's eyes when she looked at her father.

Lee raised his eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Pulling from his embrace, Amanda shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure. There was something about the tone in her voice when she told us to leave them alone that just didn't sound…well...I don't know, but it wasn't happiness." Taking her husband's hand in hers, she started to lead him down the hallway. "Come on, husband. Let's go explore the grounds. Maybe we can find something wrong with this place and convince my father that he should move closer to us."

Leaning down as they walked, Lee placed a quick kiss on his wife's cheek. "Oh, I can think of a few things that this place doesn't have."

"Oh yeah? And what might that be?" Amanda was enjoying the jovial tone in her husband's voice. It was taking her mind off the couple in the room down the hall.

As they approached the elevators, Lee reached out to push the down button. "For starters, you're not here. I know I couldn't stand to be away from you, knowing that you were waiting on me. I'd come running home with boots on."

Knowing what her husband meant, she placed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you. I love you, you know."

A mischievous smile played on his face, as Lee pulled her closer to him. "I love you, too. I think I'm going to enjoy this bit of quality time with you."

As the elevator doors opened, Amanda followed him in. "Me too, Lee, me too."

Neither one had noticed the orderly slink around the corner just past Nighthawk's room.

"Weasel isn't going to be happy about this," the man muttered to himself. "Not happy at all when he finds out that Nighthawk's been reunited with his family. However, maybe if I tell him that Scarecrow has a wife and family, and that that family is Nighthawk's family, too, he won't slice my head off for not finding the list." He headed towards an empty room to phone Weasel with this new information.

To be continued…