Scarecrow and Mrs. King is copyrighted to Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Production. No copyright infringement is intended. Hey, it was getting stuffy in there!
Author: Microdotty
Written: January-April, 2004
Time setting: September, 2002.
Rating: PG
Summary: Can Lee and Amanda survive a terrorist threat in DC and a teenage daughter?
Author's notes: Any undue or unbelievable worship and adoration of Lee Stetson comes purely from my own warped and demented mind. Come on, I know you feel the same way, too. So admit it. Also, please forgive any inaccuracies in my account of the workings of a dirty bomb. With the political climate the way it is, after spending time researching the layout of the Capitol, I didn't what to chance searching the Internet for information on constructing a bomb, too. You never know when Big Brother might be watching! Hello, Gitmo! J
Peace.
A Capitol Crime
Chapter one: Family disunity
A suburban residence in Rockville, Maryland
September, 2002
The young teen girl lay sprawled out on the sofa, her bare feet propped up on the top of the couch while her head dangled off the edge, her long brown hair brushing the floor. She talked rapidly into the phone that was pressed firmly to her ear, "So, he was like, y'know, so hot and I was like, wow, I so want to go out with him!" Pausing briefly to listen to her friend, she replied, "Yeah, just like Orlando; oh, is he hot or what?" She was quiet again for a few minutes, her head moving from side to side, as she listened attentively. Then, she continued, "Yeah, I know, I know, I want to. Oh, I'd just die if he asked me to homecoming, but my dad is so strict, I doubt he'll let me date until I'm 18!"
"Jenny Bear, are you still on the phone? I told you to get upstairs and do your homework."
Jenny brought her head up and glared at her father. "Come on, dad, you said I could call my friend about my school assignment, so I called Rachel. We were just talking about school!" she whined at him.
"That's not what it sounded like to me. And if you don't watch it, I won't let you date until you're 30, young lady. Hang up and get upstairs, now! I want to see your homework before you go to bed." 'When did she start lying to me,' he thought.
Her glare intensified and she hissed into the phone, "Rachel, gotta go. Yeah, he's on my case again. See ya tomorrow." She hung up and looked at her father. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Jenny Bear? I'm not a little kid anymore. Why do you have to be so lame?" she yelled at him as she stomped out of the room.
He yelled back, "And no IM'ing."
A shouted, "I hate you!" came floating down the stairs as Jenny went up to her room.
Lee Stetson stared in wonder at the gangly stranger who left the room, wondering what had happened to the sweet little girl who used to cuddle on his lap and who would dance with him, her tiny feet secure on top of his. He sighed and sat down on the sofa, leaned back and closed his eyes. Suddenly a feeling of contentment overcame him. He held out his hand, his eyes still shut. "Come sit with me, Amanda. I need you near me."
She was no longer amazed that he could sense her presence so keenly. She could do the same with him. Amanda took his offered hand and settled in next to her husband. She turned toward him and with her free hand gently caressed his face, smoothing the graying hair at his temples. "What's wrong, sweetheart? I heard Jenny slam her bedroom door, and when I asked her what the problem was, all she did was scream that I should ask you."
Lee opened his eyes and sat up, taking both of Amanda's hands in his. "Our daughter lied to me, honey. I told her to get off the phone, and she lied to me. She's never done that before. I just don't know how to handle her anymore. She said she hates me. What happened to my little girl?"
"Sweetheart, she's 14. And you'd better get used to it because it's only going to get worse. I'm afraid she's going to be like this for the next few years. She'll take everything very seriously and respond overdramatically, and then she'll have spells where she's almost normal. It's all part of growing up."
Lee looked down at their entwined hands and then back up at her before replying, "Amanda, I don't remember Philip and Jamie acting like her, and they were 14 once, too."
"Oh, I had my times with them, and look how well they turned out." Amanda touched Lee's shoulder lightly and smiled at him before adding, "You did such a great job with them. And after Joe died, well. . ."
Lee smiled at her tenderly and answered, "Amanda, I couldn't love those two boys any more if they were mine. You know I would do anything for them. They're fine young men."
"And both married with their own families already." Amanda shook her head before continuing, "Sweetheart, you were a great dad to them, just as you've been with Jenny. But girls are different than boys. Adolescence is difficult no matter what, but especially so for girls, Lee, particularly with their fathers. It's a time of separation and very complicated, emotionally. You should have seen me at 14." Amanda thought back to her teen years, then looking up at Lee, smiled and added, "On second thought, I'm glad you didn't. I was horrible to my parents."
"Hmm, Dotty always says you were the perfect child, honey."
"Mother has selective memory, sweetheart. I did things I'm not very proud of now, but it's all part of growing up. Just remember, it will get better."
"Well, I guess if your parents survived, I will, too. But I'm not going to like it."
"Let's see if maybe I can help with that." Amanda leaned forward and pressed her lips softly against his, resting her hands lightly on his shoulders.
Lee pulled back slightly and whispered, "I like that," before reaching his hands up and catching her face, gently caressing her cheeks with his thumbs as he returned the kiss. His hands slipped behind her head and pulled her even closer while she ran her fingers up and down his back. The two were lost in their own world as the kiss deepened and intensified.
"Ooh, gross. Do you have to do that all the time? You are grandparents you know."
Lee and Amanda broke apart at the sound of their daughter's voice, and looked over at her.
Lee spoke first, teasing her, "Sweetie, without kissing, we wouldn't have had you."
Jenny made a face and she shrieked, "Eww, I don't want to even think about that!"
Amanda slapped gently at Lee's hands, smiling at his wink before answering her daughter, "What do you want, sweetheart?"
Jenny shoved a paper in their direction. "I forgot to give you this permission slip for my school trip tomorrow. I have to get it signed or I can't go to the Capitol with the rest of my class."
Amanda nodded. "Oh, yeah. Your teacher called me last week and asked if I could chaperon."
Jenny's eyes widened in fear. "Mom, you can't. You just can't! I'll just die if you go on the field trip."
Amanda answered her calmly, "Don't worry, sweetheart, I couldn't get out of work, so you'll live. You don't have to worry about being embarrassed by me."
"Good," Jenny sighed in relief. "Only losers have their parents chaperon."
Lee coughed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Uh, Jenny, your teacher asked me, too, and I accepted."
"Dad, stop teasing me. I know you would never take off work for that, you're always too busy making stupid documentaries about tractors or worms or something. Stupid job." Looking over to her father, she realized it didn't look like he was joking. She turned to Amanda and pleaded, "Mom, tell me he's not. I won't go, I won't! Make him call my teacher and tell her he can't do it."
Lee answered her, his voice rising in volume, "I'm sorry, but your teacher is counting on me and I won't let her down."
"I won't go. You can't make me!" she yelled at him.
Angrily, he replied, "Jenny, you will go if I have to drag you there."
"Lee!" Amanda attempted to calm him down. "We don't need to yell."
"I'm sorry, Amanda, but I'm not going to let her get away with this." Turning to his daughter he told her firmly, "Jenny, you will attend the field trip, and I am going to chaperon. End of discussion. Now go to your room and finish your homework. I'll be up in an hour to check and see if you've done it."
She turned around and stomped upstairs, muttering under her breath. Amanda and Lee waited for the slam of her door. It was forceful enough to shake the pictures hanging on the walls. Lee looked at his wife and asked quietly, "You promise it's going to get better?"
She smiled at him and nodded, before wrapping her arms around him in a warm hug, resting her head on his shoulder. "I promise," she whispered as she tilted her head up and placed a kiss on his strong jaw. "Now where were we?"
