A/N This is the second part of the series. It's a good idea to read Part 1 first. Enjoy!
Scarecrow and Mrs. King and its characters do not belong to me. They belong to Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Productions.
Duty's Price 2
It seemed a simple decision, should they leave fieldwork for a desk job. But for Lee and Amanda Stetson, it wasn't that simple.
Lee cursed under his breath. Traffic had again come to a complete standstill. Was there an accident, or just too many cars trying to get to the same place? "It had been this way since he had left work. He was so close to the restaurant that he could almost smell the steaks. "Come on people, it's just a few more blocks."
The cars in front of him crept forward until he reached the exit. Finally… Finding a parking place proved to be another challenge. The evening dinner rush was in full swing; the parking lot jammed. He waited, not too patiently, until a parking spot opened up.
He dashed up to the entrance, then approached the hostess.
"Hi, do you have a reservation?" the hostess asked.
"My friend said he did. His name is Melrose." He searched the room for Billy. He pointed towards Billy's table. "I see him over there."
"Oh, very good."
Lee made his way to Billy's table and patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, sorry I'm late. I got caught in traffic," he said, as he removed his coat.
"I figured as such," Billy said. "Traffic was a bear when I drove over."
They had postponed the dinner twice because of conflicts in either Billy or Lee's schedule before they both had a free evening. Billy got the server's attention and nodded.
The server made his way to the table."My name is Jeremy. Can I get you guys something to drink?"
"I think I'll have a Heineken," Billy said.
"Sounds good. I'll have the same," Lee said.
The server smiled in a friendly manner and nodded. "Would you like separate checks?"
"Please," Lee said.
"I'll have those right out for you."
"So, how are things at home?" Billy asked.
"Good. Busy,"
"I can imagine. I remember what it was like when my kids were that age. It was hectic. Sometimes I felt like I was running a taxi service. But now I relish those memories. You will, too." Billy grinned at him."You don't miss your carefree bachelor days do, you?"
"Not a chance. You couldn't pay me to go back to that life. Knowing there'll be someone there when I get home means everything to me. I used to hate to go home at night to an empty apartment."
He did not often speak of those days. They were in the past. Having the love of Amanda and her family had shown him how lonely and isolated he had been.
"How are you and Dotty getting along?"
"Mostly good. She's something else." He pursed his lips. "She worries about us. I think she's figured out a lot of what we do, that we're not documentary filmmakers. She reads too many spy novels. I think the boys have ideas, too."
"It's very difficult to mislead people you love. I ha to do the same thing with Jeannie. She was angry and hurt that I didn't tell her when we started getting serious. She came to understand why it was necessary, but took a while."
"Amanda has always hated to have to make up stories, and I don't like it one bit either." He shrugged and exhaled. "We've told them about all we can about our jobs. They don't really ask questions anymore, so it's easier on all of us."
Lee paused, then continued. "Jamie and Philip are doing well in school. Amanda says good grades are a new thing for Philip. He's never really applied himself before."
"I bet you're at least responsible for some of that."
Lee shrugged. "I don't know how much is me. Philip's a bright kid. I think he just needed to mature a little." Lee remembered how he drove his uncle nuts because of his poor grades. In his case, he knew it was a form of rebellion against his situation. He regretted antagonizing his uncle like that. He knew the man did the best he could to raise him.
"Or he has a good male influence in his life," Billy said. "From what Amanda told me, his Joe hasn't been around much."
"Joe's been more involved recently. He's taking them to a Bullets game tonight. I'm glad to see it. Kids need their fathers."Lee thought of his own experience. How would it have been different if his father had been there? "As much as I care about those boys, I'm not their father and I don't try to be."
"That's a healthy attitude to have. I know some step-fathers who do try to become the father, and it causes a lot of resentment with the children. You have good instincts."
Lee chuckled. "I read some books and tried to take the best ideas from them. But honestly, Billy, I'm guessing most of the time."
"Lee, take it from me. That never changes."
Lee shook his head. "Oh great, thanks for letting me know."
They both laughed as their waiter approached with their drinks. "Here you go. Are you ready to order? How about an appetizer?"
Billy looked at Lee in question.
"Lee said. "No appetizer for me. I'd like a ribeye, medium rare, and a baked potato with everything, and a side salad with ranch on the side."
The server nodded and turned to Billy. "And how about you, Sir?"
"I'll have a New York Strip, medium rare, with steamed vegetables, and a Ceasar salad."
"Very good. I'll be back with your salads."
Lee grinned at Billy and took a sip of his lager. "Trying to go healthy on me?"
Billy chuckled and took a drink of his beer. "Jeannie's been after me to eat healthier foods, so I'm giving up one food at a time. The first casualty is my morning donut."
"Billy, I'm shocked. You've been having a donut for breakfast for as long as I've known you."
Billy pointed at him. "You watch. Eventually, Amanda will be on you about the same subject."
He chuckled and nodded."You're probably right."
In a few minutes, their server brought their salads. "Can I get you anything else?"
Billy glanced at Lee, who shook his head. "I think we're good," Billy said.
The server nodded. "Great, I'll be back later with your steaks."
They paused their conversation to work on their salads. After a few bites, Billy took a long glance at Lee. "So… Where are you with the fieldwork question?"
Lee frowned. "I don't know where I am. I only know how to be an agent."
"I don't agree. Despite what happened with Birol, you managed the ATAC team very well. You encouraged the team and kept them motivated. They believed in you and believed in what they were doing. Take it from me, that's the hardest part of the job to get right. Don't sell yourself short. You have a lot more talent than just being a field agent."
"I never thought of it like that. You know, when you gave me the team, I thought I'd hate it. I thought it would be boring. But it wasn't. I enjoyed it, well, up to the part where Birol took Amanda." He frowned with the memory. "I enjoyed working with the team. Not ordering them around, but guiding them, getting everybody working towards the same goal."
"There you go. That's the key."
Lee ate most of his salad, then placed his fork on the plate. "You trying to talk me into quitting fieldwork?"
Billy chuckled. "No, not at all. I hate to lose my best field agent, but if I'm being honest, I'd say you've outgrown the position."
"Billy, as a field agent, I'm comfortable. I know what to do, how to react. I guess I'm afraid…I'm afraid of failing in a new position." It was something he never admitted to anyone, not even himself.
"That's a perfectly natural feeling. You're human. There's only one way to find out, by taking that risk."
Their server returned with their steaks. "Are you finished with your salads?"
"I am," Lee said.
Billy nodded. "I'm finished."
Placing their steaks in front of them, he gathered up their salad dishes.
Lee cut a couple of bites from his steak. "Amanda will never get me to give up steaks. I can't help it if I'm a carnivore."
Billy guffawed. "What about Amanda? Is she going to remain a field agent?"
"She's making her own decision on what to do. She has different things to consider than I do."
Once again, they paused their conversation to eat their meal. After a few bites, they continued their conversation turned to lighter subjects. The Redskins prospect for the coming season, the weather. It was the type of conversation the two friends rarely had time for.
After paying their bills, Lee downed the last of his beer. "Billy, thanks for the good advice and the conversation. I really enjoyed it."
"I did too. I'm glad to help. I hope that your mind is a little clearer."
"It has helped. Well, I'd better get home."
"Tell Amana hello for me. See you tomorrow, Scarecrow."
"I'll do that. Later, Billy."
As Lee drove home, he felt calmer than he had been in weeks. He now knew the biggest obstacle in leaving fieldwork was his fear of failure. He was used to taking risks as a field agent, did he have the courage to take a risk in a new position? He did not know.
He entered the house, his home. What happened here was now the center of his life. The place where he was not 'Scarecrow,' he was just Lee.
"Hi. How was your talk with Billy?" Amanda asked as she leaned in for a kiss.
"It was good to talk to him. I figured out some things."
"Good. I thought he would help you."
"Is there a problem with your work?" Dotty asked, hugging him in greeting.
"Not really a problem. I'm just thinking about the future."
Dotty looked sharply at him. "Oh, I see."
"Did Joe pick up the boys?" he asked.
"He did, " Amanda said.
Normally, Amanda wouldn't have been in favor of attending the game on a school night. However, the boys had done their homework and chores in the last few days without too many complaints. She had talked it over with Lee and decided as a reward; they had allowed them to go.
"They got through their tonight's homework in record time," Amanda said. "I checked over it, and everything looks fine."
"I bet they did. I guess Phillip and Jamie are going to have hot dogs at the game. What did you two have for dinner?"
Dotty nodded. "They were talking about hot dogs when they left. We had some of that delicious chili. from yesterday. Well, I'm going to retire upstairs so you two can have some private time," Dotty said.
"You don't have to do that," Lee said.
She patted him on the arm. "I know, but I want to. Goodnight, my dears."
"Thanks, Mother," Amanda said, hugging her.
"Goodnight, Dotty," he said.
They watched her go up the stairs. Lee turned to her with a grin. "We haven't had much time alone since I got back from Labado have we?" he asked, nuzzling her ear.
The week had been filled with work and the boys' school activities. She put her arms on his chest. "You're right. Maybe we can make up for lost time."
"I'm thinking we have some time to make out on the couch like teenagers."
With a sly grin, she put her arms around his shoulders. "Now that's an idea."
The phone ringing interrupted them. Lee frowned and reluctantly answered it. "Stetson."
"Scarecrow, I've got some news on Sandoval."Lee heard the tension in Billy's voice. A shot of adrenalin went through him. "What's happened?"
Billy took a deep breath. "We got word from the Labadan government. Sandoval's escaped from detention."
