Take Two: Packaged Deal

A/N: Thank you all who have reviewed or followed this story! It had made my day to come home and see these messages pop up in my inbox.

Moving forward, I decided to ignore the standard cannon that Jamie was 8 at the beginning of the Session One, and went with what some others have often thought about Philip and Jamie's ages. For my stories, Philip was born in March 1973 and Jamie in November 1975. That means when Session One began, Philip would have been 10 and Jamie was still 7. This also means that they could not have been in the same Cub Scout den due to the differences in their ages, and later in this series while I do plan to add in the Little League Bombers as well, I will break cannon there as well. This is because there is no way the boys could have been on the same team with that kind of age difference. Sorry, was a mom with one in little league baseball along with Boy Scouts, and just cannot overlook these two things.

Standard disclaimer: I do not own the recognizable characters or dialogue in this story. The plot is mine, and this story is set during and after "Saved by the Bells". While some of the dialogue is from the episode, parts have been changed to fit the "Take Two" universe. Enjoy!

….Taken….she's been taken… in his place….

Lee stood in disbelief in Billy's office. No, no, they couldn't have taken her. She was supposed to only go by and feed the fish. That's it! Why was she still there?

He then recalled their conversation. "Well, tell you what. As long as I'm here I think I'll clean your apartment up a little bit."

Lee paused in zipping up his bag. "Uh, no. You don't need to do that."

"It's all right, I insist," Amanda reassured him with a smile and a dismissive hand.

"No, you don't have to do that."

"No, I insist," as she lifted something off the table with two fingers.

Billy looked his senior agent sympathetically. "Lee, we're not supposed to take this personally. It's our objectivity which makes us effective."

"Amanda is dying in my place, that's as personal as it gets." Lee snarled.

Billy paused, and looked at his agent again, as if seeing him in a new light. "If it were another agent, would you feel the same way? Is there something between you and Amanda?"

Lee turned and paced away from Billy, his supervisor, running his hand frustratingly through his hair. He sighed and turned to face Billy waiving his hand surrendering to the admission he was about to confess to. "We….have been seeing each other….socially….outside of work the last few weeks."

"How long now?" as Billy sat down.

Lee shoved his hands into his pockets. "Officially? Since Thanksgiving. Unofficially? Since the Connie Beth Cosmetics case."

Billy nodded, sat back in his chair, and rested his chin on his hand to contemplate his agent. "This one isn't easy. I wish I knew what I could tell you, man."

"Yeah, well, no shit that this is not going to be easy." Lee sighed. "If she's traded in my place, how do I tell Dotty, Phillip and Jamie that Amanda is never coming home? How the hell do you expect me to be able to face them when that does happen?" He turned and paced back to the door. "I'm sorry, Billy, I can't live with this one." And on that final note, Lee turned and stepped out the door.

Billy dropped his hand, and stared at the door. "I hope you know what you are doing, Scarecrow."

Lee stood at the top of the hill, looking out across the golf course, hoping to see any sign of her. Next to him in the golf cart, Rostov – the Russian Intelligence Officer he was committing treason for – kept up a monologue. "You know, I've been in your country off and on for 20 years. You know what I like best? Hamburgers. Burritos. Extra beans, hold the sauce. You're excellent at what you do."

Lee put down the binoculars. "There they are." He looked at the Russian. "Do you think this is a trap?"

"They want me back very badly. I think they'll behave." They both looked down the hill and saw Amanda being forced over into the driver seat of her golf cart. "She must be worth it if you are willing to do this." He glanced at the agent with a measured look. "I'll miss your country, it's been very good to me."

Lee picked up his high powered rifle. "All right, let her go," he shouted down the hill.

Rostov looked at Lee once more. "Take care," he stated then put the cart into motion.

After what seemed like an eternity, along with a brief unsuspecting civilian interference, Amanda was finally next to Lee and pulled to a stop. Lee took one last glance down the hill, before telling her to drive on. Once they were at a safe distance, he had her pull over and stop. He could barely keep his hands from shaking as he loosened up the knots that still had her hands bound.

"They were gonna kill me."

It was softly spoken. "I know." He kept working the knots, not looking at her.

She sniffed. "They thought I was you. I told them I wasn't, but they wouldn't listen to me. They stuffed me in a crate."

Attempting to speak in a normal voice, he replied, "I know. I know.'

"I don't know how anyone could mistake me for you, you're so much taller." That made him pause and finally look at her. Her eyes were filling with tears. "Hey. I'm sorry." He pulled her into his arms, kissing her temple. "Take it easy. Take it easy. It's all over."

Amanda was fully crying then. "I was, I was so scared. I thought I wouldn't see the boys, or mother, or you ever again."

Lee held onto her tighter. "I know, I know, so was I. It's all over." He looked over his shoulder once again to see the other golf cart in the distance taking Rostov and the others far, far away from them.

And he was seeing his future with Amanda disappearing before his eyes.

"It's all over," he repeated, pressing his lips into her hair, pulling her tighter against him.

After finding out from Francine what Lee had done for her, Amanda racked her brain to remember what Lee had told her that not many people knew of him. Taking a chance, she called the gym she knew he used. Luck was with her, and was able to convince him that she would be by.

"God, it really is you!" he exclaimed, as he hopped into the front seat of her station wagon, then took a moment to give her a passionate kiss. "I've been wanting to do that since the trade with Rostov," he sighed, still cupping her face with his hands and tilting his head until his forehead rested against hers.

After a moment, he released her and nodded forward. "We better get driving." He turned in his seat to look behind him. "You weren't followed, were you?"

Amanda shook her head. "Oh, no, I was very careful." She paused, glanced in her rearview mirror, before glancing sideways at her passenger. "Lee? Why didn't you tell me the truth about that trade?"

"Because it wasn't important," he replied, trying hard not to look at her.

She couldn't help but look at him incredulously. "Oh, it wasn't? Well, I think it's important and the government seems to think it's pretty important." She paused. "I know that you're your own man and that you like to handle things your own way, by yourself. And I really respect that. You're in a lot of trouble here. And I think it's time that you admit that you need somebody else. I'm your partner, a packaged deal. Something we agreed to." She sighed. "Let me help."

Lee also sighed. "There's nothing that you can do." He glanced in the side mirror, then turned to look back through her rear window. "You weren't followed, huh? Speed up a little." When she didn't go fast enough, he coached her, "Come on, step on it. Move it!"

"Lee, who are they?" she asked as she followed his instructions speeding through the next intersection and barely missing several cars.

"Federal agents."

Once they had determined that they had lost their tail, Lee and Amanda looked for a safe spot to pull over and review what they both knew. After pouring over the maps to find the house she was held at, they retraced the route trying to find the house in question.

Amanda sighed. "I don't think this is the right area. The houses don't look big enough. The library that I was in had to have been in a very fancy house."

Lee nodded in the direction they were heading in. "Well, the neighborhoods get a little ritzier a couple of blocks from here."

"I think it's back that way," Amanda declared.

Lee felt like smacking his head on the steering wheel. If he didn't care for Amanda the way he was feeling…. "We've been back that way."

"Well, I can only go by my feelings," she snapped. "Listen, I'm sorry, I'm trying, all right? I'm doing the best that I can. I should be at home, helping Jamie arrange his birthday party. He wants Pretzel the Clown there, and Pretzel the Clown has chicken pox. Can you imagine, a man that old hasn't had chicken pox? Not to mention the fact that you were going out of town….." she let the sentence drift off.

She popped the map open again, but did not really look at it, only feeling the tension between them, as Lee stared at her in disbelief. How could he have forgotten Jamie's birthday? Was it really this week? "Amanda, I'm…."

She sighed and put down the map once again. Using a softer tone, she started speaking again. "Look. I am sorry. I was tied up and in a crate. I have to go by sounds and well, by the birds singing and the children playing. Bells."

"Bells?" Lee was confused.

Amanda cocked her head, listening. "Wait a minute. Pull over, pull over here." She listened for a moment, then pointed toward a house next to them. "There."

Initially, Lee thought they had intruded on the wrong home of a well to do upper middle age couple eating dinner. However, unfortunately it was also home to the Russian base that had held Amanda not too long ago. And once again, Amanda found herself at the end of gun and called Scarecrow.

After finding themselves once again at the hands of Delong and company, Lee and Amanda struggled not to let the tension of the situation get to them.

Lee thought about what Amanda was trying to tell him about Jamie's birthday party. He suddenly felt really guilty. He looked over at her, and asked, "So, Jamie's birthday – is that really this week?"

Amanda scuffed her foot along the floor not really wanting to look at Lee to see what was going on in his face. "Yeah, he was pretty excited about it – until he heard that you might not make it." Lee closed his eyes and let his head tilt back to hit the wall.

"Now I feel like a down right bastard." He looked over at Amanda, then reached over with his fingers to tip her head up. He wanted to look her full in the face. "Amanda, I am really sorry. I am still not used to this package deal. I completely forgot about Jamie's birthday, and I don't want it said that I don't care for your boys at all." Lee grasped her hands at that moment. "When we said we would see where this went, and that you were a package, I told you I was in it as well. But I need help on this. My own childhood was not the best, so I may not remember to get all the little things squared away like you have the last 8 years of his life." He squeezed her hands. "Think you might give me a small break and remember to remind me of these things?"

Amanda gave him a watery smile. "Yeah, I'll give you a break." She gave him a quick peck on the lips, then smirked. "So, unless you decided you have to continue on to your Bermuda vacation, you could make it up to Jamie by showing up on Saturday for his birthday party. Think you might be up to dealing with about ten 7 to 8 year olds?" she teased.

Chuckling, Lee replied, "Yeah, I'll be there. That is if are able to get out of this sticky situation we managed to get ourselves into."

Amanda laughed as well. "Well, Scarecrow, let's get our heads together and plot a way out! We have a birthday party to attend!"

Saturday morning had dawned beautifully in Arlington, and the rest of the day was proving to be just as nice for a late fall party. As Lee drove the now familiar route to Maplewood Drive that afternoon, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself how he and Amanda were able to get away from the Russian operatives.

Pulling up next to the house, he noticed that there weren't any additional cars around, even though the party was set to start in the next few minutes. He walked up the sidewalk, glancing at his watch and carrying the birthday present that he had picked up for Jamie. Ringing the door bell, he looked around once again checking for additional traffic as if they had mysteriously appeared in the short time it took him to get to the door.

Dotty opened the door to see Lee standing there. "Oh, Lee! You made it! I thought you were going out of town on vacation?" she questioned as she stepped back and allowed him to come on through.

"I was, but then I remembered there is a certain young man who is having a party today, so I wanted to check in on him and wish him happy birthday." He looked around, then lowered his voice. "There is a birthday party, right?"

Dotty's smile dimmed a bit as she took Lee's jacket. "I'm afraid not. Remember when Jamie was not feeling well at Thanksgiving? Well, it came back with a vengeance and then some. He also got the chicken pox." She turned to hang the jacket in the closet, then turned back to him once she had closed the door. "Because of the double whammy, we had to cancel the party." She looked to the den area, then back. "He is one very sad young man today."

"Well, I have two surprises for him then. I just happen to be the first – I asked Amanda not to say anything in case something happened." Lee smiled. "And I'll wait for surprise number two to make sure it arrives before I say anything about that one!"

Dotty's smile returned. "Well, let's go see if we can make him smile as well!" Stepping into the den, she announced, "Jamie, you won't believe who's here!"

Lee went around through the living room and stepped through the sliding doors to better surprise Jamie. If Lee could define what one word could describe Jamie's face, it was excitement. "You made it!" he rasped.

"I'm glad you were able to make it," Amanda commented as Jamie continued to lean against his mother. Lee stepped forward, flashing her a quick smile before turning his attention to the boy.

Lee knelt down next to the couch. "I'm sorry you don't feel well, sport. But, I did come and I brought you something to celebrate your birthday, that is – if you want it." He was rewarded with a bright smile. Amanda pushed up on Jamie and tilted her head toward the couch, indicating that Lee trade places with her. Lee was a little hesitant at first, but as soon as he sat down, Jamie leaned up against him as if he trusted this man unconditionally while he opened his present.

Several moments later, after Jamie and Lee were discussing the now unwrapped present, the doorbell rang once again. A very distinctive "honk honk" came from the foyer as Philip hollered, "Holy cow! It's Pretzel! Pretzel the Clown!" He ran ahead of the clown, who chased after Philip then came around to the front of the couch.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute. You can't start this party without me," the clown exclaimed.

Amanda looked at the clown with confusion on her face. "Could I have a word with you, please?" They stepped out onto the patio through the French doors, which she pushed to for a moment, watching her mother dishing out ice cream to all three of the men of her life. Whispering, she leaned in, "I thought you were sick."

The clown shook his head. "Nah, just a little burned out. Boy, you have some connections. This guy calls me up, says he's with the federal government and says he has friends with the IRS and they're gonna audit me all the way back to '67 if I don't show up. You don't mess around, do you, lady?" He shook his head and continued his story. "Well, you know, I'll tell you the truth, I've never been sick a day in my life." He looked around. "Hey, where's the rest of the party?"

"Had to cancel it," Amanda responded, shoving her hands into her pockets.

It was the clown's turn to look confused. "Why's that? "

"Jamie's got the chicken pox." At that moment, the birthday boy starting chanting, "Pretzel, Pretzel."

Sighing, Pretzel turned to his audience. "Hey, I once had chicken pox too." Pretzel began to laugh and making chicken noises.

Amanda stood there for a moment watching the scene. Philip sitting next to Jamie on the couch, Jamie leaning against Lee laughing, and Lee with his arm around Jamie. As if he sensed he was being watched, he turned his head in her direction, then tilted it. Seeing the smile on her face, he began to smile and relaxed even further into the couch. Looking down and seeing similar smiles on each of her boys' faces made it worthwhile to Lee to do whatever he could to make life easier for not only Amanda, but for her two young sons.

He just might be able to figure out this package deal after all.

TBC...