Chapter Two
Amanda was rushing and she knew it. She stayed up late last night making cookies for Jamie's science class and she was learning her lines. She had forgotten how much she loved drama class. She slept later than she wanted. Her dreams lately always managed to include Lee in them. She smiled to herself as she parked her car in the Agency parking lot.
Lee.
What could she say about her wayward partner? She knew she loved him more than anything….but did he feel the same. She gathered her things which included extra cookies for her co workers. Her thoughts traveled to Lee a lot more the past few months. She just wasn't sure what to think about it. Lee Stetson was always so confusing. She walked into the Georgetown foyer and smiled at Mrs. Marsden.
"Good Morning Mrs. Marsden! I have some cookies for you today! I had to make some for Jamie's science class…so of course I made extras! Would you take these down to the bullpen when you get a chance? Make sure you take some for yourself. Lee…Mr. Stetson has me doing some research on his computer. He doesn't like working on it. I don't mind but it does take it some time to turn on so I need to get up there and get it started. Plus I was running late so I feel like I am just running… Oh…the password for today is Third Base." Amanda smiled and took a breath. Mrs. Marsden smiled back at her. She had become very fond of Amanda's rambles, but still never understood how she could do them in one breath.
She handed Amanda her guest pass and said "Thank you for the cookies! I will make sure they get to where they need to. I will let Mr. Stetson know that you are up in the Q bureau."
Amanda took her badge and pinned it onto her shirt. She headed upstairs and made her way around the little office Lee had made for himself. She sat down and started clicking on the computer, getting it to come to life. She pulled out a small bag of cookies that she had saved. She smiled as she looked at the little note she had written. To Lee…try not to eat them all at once. Love Amanda. Was the love too much? No Amanda. Maybe he needs a little push here and there. Plus you wanted to tease him as much as possible. Let him think about that one!
She shut the bottom drawer after placing the cookies on top of the mess that was in there. She shook her head thinking about what a slob Lee was and laughed to herself. She heard the outside door open and knew it was Lee. She took a deep breath as he walked into the little office.
She smiled at him and cheerily said "Good Morning! You are here early!"
Lee sighed "Um...yeah, I figured you were gonna be out of the office all day with that silly play so I figured I would get some stuff done and head home early…unless something comes up…"
He walked over to the desk and leaned over her. She could smell his cologne and it was already getting to her. She wanted him to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless, but she knew that it wasn't the time and place. She wanted time alone with him where there would be no distractions.
"So what have you been working on?" He leaned on the corner of his desk and smiled at Amanda.
"Oh well, I am waiting for the tax records for Valentine. It took a little while for your computer to start up. Plus I was running late…I had to make a bunch of cookies for Jamie's science class's party. So I was up late baking and I didn't get up as early as I wanted."
Lee smiled at her again. She knew she was rambling, but lately Lee didn't seem to mind them. He had a silly grin on his face and was staring at her. He cleared his throat and said "Cookies? You wouldn't have made any extras for your favorite partner…would you?"
She smirked at him and said "Look in the drawer, Stetson."
Lee stood up and opened the bottom drawer of his desk. He grinned as he saw a bag of cookies inside. His fingers grazed over her note and his smile got bigger. She knew that he was pleased with her note. Did he feel the same way about her? He looks like he wants to kiss me! I really can't wait until our date on Friday night! We have a lot to talk about! Lee glanced over at her and said "Thanks Partner! You are the best! I promise I won't eat them in one sitting."
She chuckled "I have heard that before Stetson. Oh the computer is up….Okay…Carl Valentine's tax returns for 1981"
Lee looked at the computer screen "Whew…if that was a bad year for him, I'd love to see what a good one looked like! Francine's coordinating a five year screening of surveillance films from the Soviet Embassy…maybe we can catch Mr. Valentine in another lie, huh"
Amanda looked over at the clock and stood up. "Look, it's nearly ten o'clock I gotta get to rehearsal."
Lee reached over and grabbed her script. "You're really gonna memorize these lines, huh?"
"I've already memorized most of them."
"Oh yeah?"
"Oh yeah"
Lee walked around the desk and stood in front of it. Amanda leaned on the corner of it and faced him.
"Ahh… how about Act two Scene Two…the Chanteuse and the German soldier?'
"Go ahead"
Lee looked down at the script "You are the soul of decadence"
Amanda went in full character and Lee gave her a sweet smile.. "Better than to be soulless"
"You see through me to that hollow place inside" Lee grumbled under his breath "Give me a break"
Amanda shook her head "Don't ad-lib"
"Your opacity is transparent"
Lee looked at her. She could tell he did not understand this play. He was like the boys.. They thought it was weird and so did Lee. "Huh?"
"I'll explain the subtext later"
"Ah..well, perhaps that's why I drink…another. Maybe this one is the one to make me forget."
Amanda then did something she knew Lee would have never thought she would do in a million years. She moved close to him and put her hands on his chest. She looked right at him and said, "Wine really make you forget."
The look Lee gave her made her shiver a bit. He was going to kiss her! He threw the script on his desk and put his arms around her waist. "I have another in mind. No hangover either."
Amanda laughed "That isn't your line"
In a very cheesy accent that surprised them both… he said "Who cares!"
He pulled her close and she could feel his heart beating. It was going as fast as hers. They had been playing this will they or won't they scenario for far too long. She needed to let him know that it was okay. She wanted the kiss as much as he did. She leaned closer to them and just as their lips started touching the door to the Q bureau swung open.
Francine.
Amanda backed away from Lee as fast as she could but they both knew that Francine saw them. Francine smirked at them and said "Uh…we've got those Embassy tapes ready…but I see you've got your hands full."
Lee just stood there and put his hands in his pockets. He had nothing. Not one excuse. Amanda knew she had to come up with something quickly. She said "Rehearsing…just rehearsing." Her quick thinking was not lost on Francine. She should have known. Francine chuckled and said right back to Amanda "Oh…Oh…when is opening night?" She started giggling as she closed the door "Just a little joke"
Lee turned and looked at Amanda. She was blushing just as much as he was. They started laughing.
Amanda could hardly breath from laughing and she finally got out "Well, the water cooler gossip will live on that for days!"
Lee rolled his eyes at her and said "She wouldn't dare!"
Amanda went up to him and smiled. "You don't know her very well then. I promise you. By the end of the day this will be all over the Agency."
Lee pulled her into his arms again. She relaxed in his arms. It was like they belonged together. She knew he felt it too. In almost a whisper he said, "You don't really care do you?"
Amanda shook her head. "Oh Lee, I have learned not to listen to the gossip around here. It's none of anyone's business what is going on with us or anyone else in the Agency. Let her have her fun." She reached up and boldly kissed his cheek. She lingered for a minute and Lee could barely breathe. She moved close to his ear and whispered. "We'll continue this conversation later. I have to get to the theater. See you later?"
Lee beamed at her. He leaned down and kissed her nose. She smiled as he did. It took her breath away. How could something as simple as a kiss on her nose do this? I can't imagine what it's going to be like when he finally does kiss me. I wonder what's going on in his mind.
Lee was still grinning at her. "You know it. See you later."
Amanda slowly moved out of his arms and immediately she felt something was missing. She grabbed her sweater, purse and script and headed towards the door. She turned around and gave him one last smile as she said "Be careful….see you later!" She walked out of the Q bureau and downstairs. She noticed Mrs. Marsden smiled at her and knew it had something to do with Francine. She didn't care. She knew that Lee Stetson was falling for her and she couldn't be happier. He just needed it to be on his own time and she was okay with it. She would give him time and a little nudge every now and then. She sighed happily as she headed towards the theater.
