Take Two – Chapter 9 – Bombers & Family

I wanted to extend the scene in "The Mole" to showcase some family time with Lee and the boys. If you all ever think that this is getting too sappy, please let me know.

Been awhile, but here's the disclaimer: I don't own the show, recognizable characters or dialogue. Parts of the original dialogue were rearranged to make the story move in the direction I needed it go. However, the alternate story plot is mine.

Even with everything going on with the mole at the agency, and Ronnie's death, Lee had made a promise. He really needed to follow up and see where they were on the case. But a promise is a promise. Sure, he had been to the practices before and even helped, but this was his first game.

He felt slightly awkward, but at the same time excited to get to see the boys play in each of their games.

"….head down, you see? And then you keep your left arm real straight."

Lee frowned as he realized Dottie was trying to give Philip pointers for batting. Apparently Amanda was thinking the same. "Mother, I'm not really sure, but I think that you're talking about golf."

"You know, with the … Oh, maybe so." Dottie frowned. "Let me think now."

Jamie jumped in to help dig his grandmother out. "They have a coach, Grandma."

She genuinely seamed both elated and confused all at the same time. "Oh, they do? Well, then just mind your coach, sweetie."

"Okay." Philip looked over to the dugout where the rest of his team was gathering. "Hey, I gotta go."

Lee reached over and twisted Philip's cap that was sitting on his head. "Hey, good luck out there, Chief." Philip stepped back and gave Lee a quick hug and ran off to meet with the rest of his team, hearing his family cheering him on.

Amanda looked over at the concession stand. "I'll go check the mothers' bake booth and see if they can use a hand." She glance at Lee and tilted her head to show she needed him to join her.

Jamie tugged on his mom's coat. "Hurry up. Philip bats cleanup."

Dottie grinned. "Cleanup. They have you batting according to cleanliness and neatness. That's nice."

Lee loved Dottie. Loved how she made him feel welcomed in her home. Loved how she knew when to ask the questions, and when it was "hands off." But this….. Jamie, Lee and Amanda all looked at her blankly. "Uhm, yeah," Amanda replied and looked down at Jamie. "Save us a seat in the bleachers."

Lee followed Amanda over to the concession stand, and watched as she talked to the mother manning the booth. "Hi, Mrs. Scott. Why don't you go let me take over for a few minutes?" She ducked under the awning and then surveyed what was available. She then looked up and smiled. "Hi!" she busied herself with the baked goods as she continued. "I wasn't sure whether you wanted me to keep on, after what happened to Ronnie."

"Amanda," Lee groaned. "I want you to keep on. You are the outsider, so to speak," he continued quickly. "You haven't been with IFF that long and it gives you the edge needed to see what is going on."

Amanda smiled. "Oh, good!" She then pulled a ball cap out of her back pocket. "Would you mind putting this on?" She noticed Lee's confusion. "See, I know you're not a father, but you are my boyfriend. And most of the Bomber fathers wear them. And I thought it might help you feel not as self-conscious about being here."

Lee sighed. "Guess I didn't hide that too well, huh?" He took the cap from Amanda, tugged and slightly molded it before putting it on his head. "Bomber's fathers? I am not sure if I qualify to be a Bomber father."

"Why do you think that?" Amanda queried. She thought she knew the answer, but wanted Lee to work it out.

Lee mulled it over, glancing out to the field watching young boys taking their turn at the plate, waiting to see if Philip was up yet. "You know my past, my family issues." He paused, tugged on the brim of the hat. "As much as you and your family have taken me in, I sometimes wonder if we are moving too fast, if the boys really want me in their lives." He looked back at her. "If I have what it takes be a father figure to them. I know Joe is their father, but with the lack of contact he's had with them, are they accepting me because I'm here and he's not?"

Amanda grabbed his hand, and looked into his eyes. "First off, Joe is not part of this conversation. This is about you and where you stand with the boys." She smiled. "And where you stand, I think the boys have accepted you as a role model. Someone they can turn to. Let's talk about how you've helped both of them recently at their practices. Or how Jamie, my very reserved son, has accepted you unconditionally. When you stood up for Philip and his 2nd place at the science fair. How you've gone above and beyond to ensure that the boys have what they need to make special events just that, special." She let go of his hand and stuffed hers into her pockets. "And from where I'm standing, you make a pretty good father figure. Are you ready to be one?" She shrugged. "Only you and time will tell."

She let him ponder that for a few moments, before she launched into why she pulled him off to the side. "Not to change subjects, but the reason I pulled you over is that I didn't want you to think that I don't trust David."

Lee turned to her at that point, the pensive look gone from his face as he shifted back to agent mode. "Ok, you've got my attention. What did you find?"

"All right." Amanda pulled her notebook out of her other back pocket. "I have been checking into the bank statements and the tax returns like you told me to, and I think maybe I found something strange. About six months ago David started making out checks to Monica Benson, right?" Lee nodded that he was following. "I assume they have to be alimony checks because they had no children. The first check was on June 1st, you see?" Lee waved his hand to continue. "Second check, July 6th, right? The third check, August 14. Do you see the pattern here?"

"I see it, I see it, and?" Lee questioned.

Amanda continued. "And then they stop." Lee looked off into the distance. "Did you hear me? I said they stop."

Lee nodded again. "Yeah, I heard you. The payments stop. So?"

Amanda was struggling to make him understand. "Have you ever heard of anybody paying alimony for only three months and then not being required to pay it any longer?" Lee shook his head. "Neither have I. I mean, I take child support. I never took alimony. But, uh, anyway, it seemed strange to me. So I checked out his 1040, his tax return. Even after he stopped paying the alimony he continued to take a full tax credit for the entire amount over and over and over and over again. Now, don't you think that's pretty strange?"

Lee took a full moment to look at her. "Yeah, that is pretty strange. Unless, unless he was paying her in cash. But if he was paying her in cash, why? And where did it come from?"

"Exactly," Amanda stated, showing self-satisfaction that she was able to finally drive it home.

Lee tuned to look out at the field and saw Philip step up to the plate. "Amanda, Philip's at the plate…"

A crack of the bat was heard, and Lee watched as the ball flew in the air toward left center – and a hole in their outfielders. "Go, go, go!" Lee found himself shouting.

Amanda herself was shouting as she watched Philip make it to second base. "Go, Philip! Slide. Slide, Philip! Slide. Attaboy! Look at him! You see? That was wonderful!"

"Yeah, it was great!" Lee grinned, then pulled Amanda out from the awning and swung her around. "He did great!"

Both boys were ecstatic with the way their games had gone. Not only did Philip do well in his game, but Jamie also managed to catch a fly bay in the 7th inning that drove the tied game into a final stretch. His team lost, but that did not stop Lee from praising both boys on how hard they had played their games. Lee had enjoyed the time he spent that afternoon and evening with the family during and after the game.

The after game dinner of pizza and sundaes was cleaned up and put away. Boys had been ushered off to showers and bed time rituals. Lee had thought that as soon as the boys were sent off, he would be sent home as well. To his surprise, both boys begged Lee to stick around to help tuck them in and listen to bedtime prayers. As he tucked in Jamie and Amanda was doing the same with Philip, Lee couldn't help but wonder back to his conversation with Amanda earlier that day.

And from where I'm standing, you make a pretty good father figure. Are you ready to be one?

Was he ready to take that next step?

He was already doing some of it, from watching their games and assisting at their practices, to helping with homework assignments and doing everyday family activities in the months since he had been introduced to this family.

Only you and time will tell.

After the bedtime rituals were completed, Lee followed Amanda back down the stairs and into the front foyer. He still needed to do some follow up on what Amanda had found on David, but found he was not quite ready to call it a night. But he knew he needed to go.

He pulled Amanda close, leaning down to inhale her scent. "I've been thinking about our conversation earlier today."

Amanda leaned back. "Yeah? Which one?" she asked inquisitively. There had been several at the ball park.

"The one of where do I stand in this family." Amanda stayed quiet, knowing that this was hard for Lee, and waited for him to continue. "I think I'm getting close to being ready. I'm not sure if I am there yet, but you and the boys have really given me the perspective today of what it means to be a family." He tugged her back to him, resting his chin on her head. "I watched how the other families at the ball park interacted, and realized we were doing some of the same things. Jamie sat beside me and filled me on what was going on with Philip's team, and then Philip did the same thing. Your mother filled me in on the gossip of the neighbors." Amanda giggled at that one. "What I am trying to say is, thank you for showing me family time, and how important it is to spend that time together."

"Lee, you are as much a part of this family as any of the rest of us," Amanda replied. "Baseball and family just go hand in hand."

Lee grinned. Not only did he have a home here, but he also found something else.

Family.