Disclaimer: I don't own the situations or characters portrayed herein. I'm just playing with them for a while.


Suitable for Framing Part 2

"A month," he said, and held his breath. It was the least Dr. Smyth could do, after being so thoroughly manipulated by the Soviets that he had asked for their resignations, thrown them under the proverbial bus, and hung them out in the cold to dry.

In typical Dr. Smyth fashion, "the least" was still too much.

"Two weeks," he said, blowing smoke into the Q Bureau's usually clean air. It would take a while to get the stench out so Amanda could breath properly, but their director had never been one for considerate behavior. "All right? I expect to see you in about two weeks."

"Uh, one moment, sir," he said, stopping Dr. Smyth from leaving. He turned back, and Lee tossed the chess pawn at him.

"Checkmate?"

What was the worst he could do, really? Fire him? He'd already tried that.

The infuriating man just looked at the pawn, as if he'd forgotten all about that unpleasant little conversation. To Lee's astonishment, he actually nodded before he left the office.

Billy followed him, looking entirely too pleased with the situation, even winking at them both as he closed the door behind him.

Francine turned to grin at him, absolutely delighted. He wondered how she would spend her two weeks, especially with Jonathan out of the picture, but he didn't ask.

Well. He had a solid two weeks.

He had things to do.

He'd stop by a bookstore on the way home — pick up some books about how to be a stepdad to two teenage boys. Maybe he'd stop by a sporting goods store, too, for a new basketball.

On the way home.

Home.

He had not been thinking of the apartment.