Chapter 3: Let Us Give Thanks

(A/N: This is a filler chapter. It is set between "Service Above and Beyond" and "Saved by the Bells", which sets the stage for the next two chapters. While I do plan to continue, postings after today will be on Sundays as real life must intrude. Sigh - adulting is hard...)

"Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?"

That question, asked so innocently several weeks ago, had been circling around in his brain for the last week. Prior to having been introduced to Amanda King, the suburban divorced mother of two boys, Lee Stetson generally did not give holidays much of a thought. However, after he had taken Amanda home from the hospital after the near disaster that was the Delano case, he was not fortunate enough to escape Amanda's mother as she had greeted at them at the door, only to ask him that question as he was leaving.

That was not the only time he had been at her house, as he had returned the next day to check on her and finally formally introduced to her two sons. Phillip had very excited to meet the man who had "saved" his mother from the set accident; however, the challenge appeared to be with the youngest King boy. Amanda had been resting in the family room, and when they were left alone, Lee expressed his concerns regarding his interaction with Jamie. She rested her hand on Lee's arm, and gave a sad smile.

"Jamie has had it a bit rougher than his brother. Jamie tends to withdraw and observe before he allows anyone to get close to him, the exact opposite of his brother. Phillip has always been able to make friends readily." She sighed. "I guess part of Jamie's problem stems from the fact that his father has not been around much since he was a baby, and then Joe wasn't really home all that much. Even when he was home, he would be so engrossed in his documents at night that he just ignored the boys altogether." She patted his arm. "He just needs time."

He had been back a few other times, especially when he found himself out of his depth on how to handle the computer whiz kid, Alexi, and then had turned to the only person he knew how to help. Between Amanda and Lee – and some indirect help from the boys - they were able to get through Alexi's self-imposed walls and finally able to reunite him with his parents.

Now as he stood at her front door, he debated with himself if this was a good idea. Sure, he had been over a few times, gotten to know the family. But this was insane. This was a holiday! Lee Stetson does not do holidays….. Get a grip, man… he thought to himself. Just as he was about to press the door bell, the door swung open to show Amanda standing in the doorway. "Well, Stetson. Are you coming in or not?" She had a hand on her hip, but the smile in her eyes contradicted the tone in her voice.

"Coming in," he replied, then answered with a smile. Amanda also began to smile, and in the next moment they both let a small laugh escape. He stepped over the threshold, and held out what was in his left hand. "These are for your mother," as he handed her the bouquet of flowers, then held out what was in his right hand to show what he had, "and a nice bottle of wine for the adults to go with the meal."

"Lee, that is so sweet of you! You really didn't have to go to all that trouble, but thank you! Come on into the kitchen and we'll get the flowers and wine situated." She stepped away from the door while Lee pushed it closed.

He followed her across the landing into the kitchen where Dotty was putting some final touches on their meal. When she saw the flowers, and learned they were for her, she leaned over and gave the young man a kiss on the cheek. "Lee, these are gorgeous! They will certainly look nice on the table after the dinner." She then took the wine from him, and then steered him back toward the family room. "Now, it is not quite ready, so if you wouldn't mind keeping the boys entertained for a few more moments, we should be ready to eat."

Knowing when he had been outmaneuvered, he smiled and then turned toward the room and the current football team that was playing. Phillip looked to be really involved in the game, but Jamie was quietly laying on the couch just watching it unfold. "Hey fellas," he called as he sat down on the couch next to Jamie. "How's the game so far?"

Phillip proceeded to give a play by play of what had been happening, but Jamie continued to remain quiet. Once Phillip's attention was back on the game, Lee decided to try and draw the younger boy into a conversation. "Hey, Sport." Jamie looked up at him. That was when Lee noticed the glassy look in his eyes and the slight ting of red in his cheeks. Not sure what possessed him to do it, but after watching Amanda the week before checking on Jamie's fever, he mimicked her moves and noted that the boy felt rather warm. "Jamie, are you sick?"

Jamie nodded once, and in a raspy voice, "I didn't want to say anything to Mom or Grandma, because I was afraid of ruining the holiday, you know?"

"Yeah, I know, but I think your mom would be sadder if she didn't realize you were sick and were sitting here feeling miserable." Lee turned and spoke into the kitchen. "Amanda?"

"Yes, Lee?" Amanda stepped around the corner wiping her hands on a kitchen towel with a smile on her face; however, once she saw Lee's face and her son laying down, she frowned and hurried around to the front of the couch. "Jamie?"

Tears began to form, another sure sign that he wasn't feeling well. "I didn't want to ruin your day, so I didn't say anything."

Amanda softly smile. "Oh, sweetheart, it's okay. Nothing has been ruined, just a slight change of plans, that's all." She ran her hand over his head, then gently over his face. "Let's get your temperature taken, and then maybe some medicine to bring that fever down. Do you feel up to sitting at the table with us?

After getting a nod from her youngest, she bustled off to get the requested items. Lee moved to follow her. "Maybe I should go…."

"Don't even think it, buster. This is just a slight set back. I promised you a Thanksgiving meal with a normal family." She turned and looked back at the figure laying on the couch. "It doesn't get any more normal than this."

Dinner dishes washed and put away. Any leftovers were carefully divided between dishes, with one set aside to be sent home with Lee and the rest stored away to be snacked on in the following days. Lee sat at the kitchen table with Dotty, watching as Amanda went to check on Jamie and give him another round of medication. "How does she do it?"

Dotty, coffee cup in both hands, glanced up at Lee. "Does what?"

Lee gestured to the family room. "Single mom, finding work, participate in the boys' activities, caring for them, you and her home, but never letting it show that it is a lot. I'll be honest, if that was me, I'd be running for the hills."

"You never know what life is going to throw your way," Dotty stated sagely, then shrugged as she looked into the coffee mug in her hands. "She's been in this position since Jamie was not quite a year old. Joe wanted to see the world and solve its problems. Amanda wanted a steady home for her children. The position was only to be away for a few weeks at a time, but then he began to stay away for a month, then two, and….well, you get the picture." Lee nodded. She continued, "It stayed that way for a few years until Amanda decided enough was enough. She asked Joe for a divorce when the boys were five and seven. I had been living with them for a few years at that time after her father's passing, and it only felt right to stay and help her as much as I could."

Lee sat his mug down. "And became a stand in parent when Amanda was out looking for work."

"No, just a grandmother doing her best not to spoil her grandsons and to follow her daughter's house rules," she grinned. "That's not to say that some spoiling may or may not have occurred." She glance once more back into the family room to see her guiding her children up the stairs. "But she couldn't go on with an absentee father either."

Lee sat quietly contemplating what Dotty had to say, and remembered his own childhood when his parents were abruptly taken away from him and to be bounced from airbase to airbase with a career minded uncle. He could see the appeal of why Amanda wanted to keep her children in one place. "She wanted a home for them, not a temporary living arrangement."

Dotty raised an eyebrow at that. "Yes, that is it exactly. You sound like you speak from experience."

At that moment, Amanda walked into the kitchen and poured herself her own cup of coffee. "What experience?"

"You and your boys," Lee answered. "Why you and Joe went your different ways." He rubbed a fingernail on the table before replying to her question. "And yes, it was from experience. I don't think I've told you this, Amanda, but my parents died when I was 5 years old. I was bounced around from family member to family member until my father's half-brother took me in. Not sure if that was any better, as my uncle is a career military man and constantly moved us from base to base." He glanced up at Amanda and her mother. "While the travel experiences were part of who I became, I hope your boys will always have that stability that the two of you have created for them."

Dotty turned to her daughter, "He's a keeper – don't let him get away!" she grinned. She stood up, and put her cup in the sink. "Well, you two, I'm heading on up to bed myself. Have a good night." She turned and headed up the stairs."

Lee and Amanda looked at each other and stood at the same time. "I think that is my queue as well. I really should back home and let you enjoy the rest of the evening to yourself."

"Lee, we really enjoyed having you here today. Do not think that you were an intrusion." She opened the door as they stepped out and stood on the front porch for a few moments enjoyed the late November night.

Lee did have a good time with Amanda's family that night. He again found himself not wanting the time to end. "Amanda, I know our friendship is still really new, but do you think it would be okay if I saw you outside of the office more? Maybe see where this might take us?"

She tilted her head and contemplated him. "Before I answer the question, I need to know a few things." Lee nodded for her go ahead. "If we do this, it will need to be exclusive. I don't like sharing," she said with a smile. Lee smiled back. "And second, I'm a package deal. I come with my boys and my mother. My boys will always come first. I do want to see where this will take us, but I have to keep them in mind as well. They were hurt when I ended the relationship with Dean, but they didn't understand that I just couldn't continue on pretending to have one with him."

"Amanda," he grabbed her hands and held them tight. "Yes, it will be exclusive. I have not been on any other dates since before the hairdryer case." She laughed. "And two, I fully expected that. I've seen you with your boys, and a small part of me is jealous that I lost that when my mother died." Amanda squeezed his hands. "I want a home, too, and I think I found it in you and your boys. Where will this take us? I have no idea, but I'd like to see where it might."

"I'd like to see that, too."

If Dotty had been asked later who had initiated the kiss, she would have been truthful that she was not sure if it was not the both of them.