Chapter Four

After Lee and Amanda left Ernie they went straight to Billy's office. Lee didn't even realize he was holding Amanda's hand as they walked through the bullpen. It was just something that he expected when they were together. He almost depended on it. It was a lifeline to her and he needed to have her near him. He felt like the luckiest man in the world holding her hand. He really didn't care what other people thought. He saw the looks the other agents were giving the couple and he chuckled to himself. He turned towards Amanda and smiled at her as they walked into Billy's office. She had the same type of smile on her face as he did. He knew she was thinking the same thing. How do we even do that? We can have a conversation with just our eyes? Who does that? I don't even have to say anything to her. She really is ….wait…would saying Amanda is my soulmate be the right word? He knew that she was his best friend and he wanted so much more. He knew she did too. Her eyes said everything to him.

Their section chief grinned as they walked in holding hands. He knew there was something going on between the pair but he wasn't sure what. He was happy for both of them and wanted to see them together.

"Billy, we ID'd the woman! ``It's Maria von Clausen."

Billy stood up and said "She's the director of the strategic defense initiative! Bring her in Scarecrow. We need to find out what happened and stop Krutiov before something else comes up!"

Amanda smiled at him and said "Yes Sir!"

Lee opened the door and they walked out and took Amanda's hand again. They walked towards the elevator. Once the doors opened they got in and Amanda turned towards Lee.

"Lee, this isn't going to be easy. Talking to Maria. The man she loves betrayed her….because of her job. It's going to break her heart."

Lee sighed and gave Amanda's hand a tight squeeze. "I know. Look, it's gonna be okay."

Amanda sighed and nodded but Lee knew that she was concerned about having to tell Maria Von Clausen about Tony's betrayal.

They stepped out of elevator and handed Mrs. Marsden their badges. Lee took Amanda's hand and they headed to Lee's car. Amanda was relatively quiet on the ride to the Watergate. Lee didn't say anything to her but at one point he reached over and took her hand and held it until he stopped the car. Lee jumped out of the car and opened the door for Amanda. They walked up to the apartment and Lee knocked on the door. Maria Von Clausen opened the door and Lee flashed his badge.

"Dr. Von Clausen, I am Lee Stetson and this is Amanda King. We are from the Agency. Um…we need to talk to you about Tony Martinet. We need you to come with us."

Maria looked at them and tears started forming in her eyes. Amanda sensed Maria's fear and heartache. She smiled at the other woman and said "Maria, we need to know if anything happened yesterday when you were at the hotel with Tony. I know this isn't something you want to hear….but it would really be a big help if you would come with us."

Maria nodded and said "Of course. Let me get Walter. He's in charge of my security."

Lee handed her a card. "This is the Agency's address but we will have to follow you there. Is Walter around? I need to talk to him as well."

Maria let them into the apartment and offered them a seat. She went to get Walter. Amanda took a deep breath and sighed. Lee put his arm around her and just held onto her. He knew how much this was hurting her. Moments like this regarding their jobs wasn't the easiest and Amanda took them personally. He had to be there as her best friend and reassure her things were going to be okay.

"You could have said anything Dr. Von Clausen. Blood analysis indicates he gave you a powerful new psychotropic…the Russians are calling it the Deja Vu drug."

They were all standing in Billy's office. Maria Von Clausen was pacing. She was trying to hold it together. Amanda stood closest to her just in case she needed someone to lean on. Walter and Francine were standing behind Lee as he talked. Billy leaned on the edge of his desk. "I'm afraid you have been compromised, Dr. Von Clausen."

Maria turned around and said "I cant believe Tony would do this!" She was fighting back tears. Amanda looked at her and said "He was probably pushed pretty hard."

"Which is Krutiov's forte." Lee added.

Walter piped up. "When I searched him…he was clean!"

Lee gruffly said cutting Walter off… "He could have hidden it anywhere…all you need is one thousandth of a grain of that stuff."

Billy stood up and looked at Francine "Let's presume we have a level nine security breach. Sound the alert, Francine. Lee, you and Amanda go out and round up Martinet and bring him back here. I'll work with Walter and get Dr. Von Clausen back under wraps."

Amanda said "Yes, sir!" She walked over to Maria and put her hand on Maria's arm. "He probably had no control over this Maria." Amanda smiled at her and Maria weakly smiled back. Amanda said goodbye and followed Lee out of the bullpen. Lee looked over at her and smiled. "You know…you were pretty great with Dr. Von Clausen."

She smiled at him. "Thank you very much. I appreciate you saying that to me."

Lee needed to reassure her…be there for her. "Amanda, I mean it. You have something that I just can't explain….I mean…when you talk to people. They just gravitate to you and start spilling out their life stories! It's impressive….really. You are going to ace Class C interrogations! You have come a long way, Mrs. King and I couldn't be prouder."

Amanda blushed and smiled at him. She had tears starting to well up in her eyes but she batted her eyes so they wouldn't be seen. Lee had already seen them and his heart soared with love and pride for her. She was his partner and best friend. He wanted to move their relationship further and he hoped she did as well. She took his hand and whispered "Lee, hearing you say that you are proud of me means the world to me. Thank you for that." She took a big breath and said "Well, what do you say we go pick up Tony and then maybe have a late dinner?"

Lee smirked at her. "Why Mrs. King, dinner with you two nights in a row? How scandalous….whatever would the gossip hounds have to say about this!" She raised her eyebrow at him and he laughed. "Amanda, you know I would love to have dinner with you. After we take care of this Krutiov mess…we'll grab some take out and go to my place. What do you say?"

Lee was praying silently that she would agree to going to his apartment. He knew he would kiss her and tell her how he felt about her. Maybe not tell her I love her….not just yet. I want her to know how I feel…that she's special and I want to have a real relationship with her. Lee's thoughts were interrupted by Amanda taking his hand and saying "That sounds like a great plan Stetson. Let's go! The sooner we bring Tony back here the sooner we can head to your place!"

Lee laughed and said " You're so right! Let's get outta here!"

As they headed to the theater Lee felt so much better about things regarding his relationship with Amanda and he was looking forward to telling her exactly how he felt about her.

The curtain fell to the ground and Lee jumped over the chairs and grabbed Krutiov. He handcuffed him and handed him off to the group of agents that had descended on the stage. They took Krutiov away along with Valentine and Martinet. Billy walked over to Lee and Amanda and smiled at them.

"Good job you too. You can knock off tonight and work on your reports tomorrow. I think you have done enough for one week."

Lee laughed as he handed the tape Martinet had made and said "Well, thanks Billy. You are sure you don't need us?"

Billy shook his head. "Get out of here Scarecrow…before I change my mind. I will see you both tomorrow."

Amanda smiled at their section chief and said "Thank you sir. See you tomorrow."

Billy walked away and Lee turned towards Amanda. He took her hands. "So you ready to have some dinner?"

Amanda smiled and her brown eyes were dancing. Lee beamed at her with his dimples showing out in full force. They walked out of the theater hand in hand. They reached Lee's Vette and he opened the door for her. She turned to face him before getting into the car and reached up to kiss him on his cheek. Lee felt like he couldn't breathe. She smiled at him again and got in the car. He shut the door and walked around to the driver's side. He was beaming as they drove away both knowing that things were changing between them and they were both happy about it.