Author's Note: So, for this one, there were a couple of different ways that I could've played with this one, but I opted for extending the scene in the restaurant when Lee's explaining to Amanda what he's been up to as his sincere apology seemed to get things back on track for them. I thought it was the perfect spot for a little make-up action.

Chapter 42-All the Classic Symptoms

"Burn Out"

Amanda looked worried as Lee barreled out of the bullpen past her without so much as a hello, his disheveled appearance, the rumpled suit, the five o'clock shadow making him even more worried, Before she could dwell too much on it, she jumped as she was startled the slamming of Billy's office door.

She marched resolutely to Francine desk wanting some answers, "Francine?"

"Huh?" Francine said somewhat distractedly.

"What's the matter with Lee?"

Francine sighed and answered, "I'm afraid it's called burnout," which did nothing to alleviate Amanda's worry.

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Dotty was worried about her daughter. She was busy poring through books and hadn't even looked up at her well-timed comment about getting married until you get it right. She'd expected at least to hear a smart-alecky reply, but got nothing.

"Amanda, you're not paying much attention to me," Dotty said.

"Well, I'm trying to read this," Amanda explained, still not looking up.

"What are you reading these medical books for?" she said with a glance on one that had been abandoned on the coffee table.

When Amanda explained to her mother about her ill co-worker, she sighed as her immediate reaction was inviting her to dinner. When she'd corrected her and told her it was a him, she cringed at her mother's look instantly wishing she hadn't because then she insisted on inviting Lee to dinner. She hedged a little and made an excuse about him being shy.

"Maybe I'll spare him that," Amanda said kissing her mother before she hurried out the door.

A short while later after dragging Lee back to the agency at the coffee station with Francine, she said worriedly, "I still don't think Lee's a burnout."

"Oh, Come on, Amanda," Francine scoffed as she poured Amanda's coffee then fixed her with a steely gaze. "He's got all the classic symptoms; erosion of skills, lack of confidence, depression. Have you noticed how defensive he's bee lately? And then there's the little matter of his...uh..." she mimed downing a drink.

"You know Lee's just a social drinker," Amanda said in his defense.

"Well, then let's just say that he's been socializing an awful lot lately," Francine said acidly.

"But isn't it possible that this is only temporary?" Amanda said hopefully grateful that Francine, for the moment anyway, was addressing her as an equal since it had become obvious that they both shared the same concern for Lee.

Francine glanced toward Billy's closed office door, her normally sparkling blue eyes now dark with worry, then turned back to Amanda, and said, "Out of all the agents that I've ever seen hit the wall, I can't think of one who's ever really made a recovery."

"Well..." Amanda herself now glanced toward Billy's office. "...Lee will," she said with a firm nod as if trying to convince herself. "I'm sure he will," she added more emphatically wishing she were as confident as she sounded.

A few minutes later, Lee came flying out of the office, Billy close behind, his booming voice blaring through the bullpen as he chased him down.

Amanda wanting desperately to help him, rushed after his retreating form, pleading with him to talk to her, but wasn't even able to complete her sentence before Francine stepped in front of her.

"I don't think you're getting through to him," Francine said worriedly, holding up her hand in a "stop" gesture.

"Well, I will, I know I will," Amanda said wringing her hands.

"Amanda, Let's talk," Francine said with a sigh, taking the other woman's arm and guided her out of the bullpen away from prying eyes. She steered them toward an office that she knew was empty and when the door was closed behind them, she said, "Listen, I know how charming Lee can be, how with his way of romancing women can make you feel like you're the only woman in the world for him, but don't you think you're being a little naive here?"

"Naive, Francine?"Amanda said feeling insulted. "Why is it naive to want to help a friend when they're down, to have faith in them when they don't have faith in themselves? Isn't that what a friend is supposed to do?"

"Friends, Amanda? Really? Come on, I think we're long past the point of pretending that you and Lee are just friends, especially after that intimate candlelight dinner I walked in on at his place two weeks ago."

"I already told you, that was just Lee-"

"I know what you told me," Francine cut her off, "But I also know Lee and how he'll use just about any excuse to get a woman right where he wants her. Then once he does, it's all over"

"You're wrong, Francine," Amanda said. "I don't mean any disrespect, but you're wrong. He just has a bad reputation, that's all. He told me that he-" she broke off abruptly, not wanting to tell Francine that Lee had told her not too long ago that he hadn't been to bed with anyone but her in months, but more than that, not wanting to admit that it really might be over. "Lee's really not like that, not the way that people think he is. And this burnout thing? You're wrong about that too. He's just going through a rough time and I'm going to help him through it whether he wants me to or not. Excuse me," she then pushed her way past Francine and marched toward the outside elevator.

Francine stepped out of the empty office, watching her go, the worried look on her face now not only concern for Lee, but for Amanda as well. The woman had obviously deluded herself into thinking that she had a real relationship with Lee. She sighed slightly as she recalled all too well how that had felt when she'd believed the same thing until it had all come crashing down around her ears.

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Amanda sat at her desk in the bullpen typing furiously on Lee's reports, trying to concentrate on anything but the sting she'd felt when Lee had slapped her. It wasn't the sting on her skin that had bothered her so much, but the sting in her heart that she'd been sure after their last two encounters, that they'd been getting closer and now he was shutting her out again. For the last two weeks, he'd been distancing himself from her more and more.

"Lee's report, Sir," Amanda said in a clipped tone as she tried to scurry out of Billy's office, but was halted by his low voice.

"Did Lee do this himself? I mean, it seems pretty complete for a man who considers 12:00-12:05 a full working day." He glanced at her knowingly with a nod and slight smile.

Amanda hedged for a moment and said, "Well, Sir, they're...they're done, aren't they?" She gave him a shy smile then her face once again turned to one of worry, "Sir, I'd just like to say one thing. Even though Lee's going through a pretty rough time, I think that we should all remember that he's really a very...well, a dedicated...Uh...caring...and," she paused for a moment as she tried to gain control of her emotions, but couldn't stop the quaver in her voice as she completed her thought with "...a...a good person."

Billy smiled and said, "I'll keep that in mind, Amanda." After she made her excuse to leave, Billy sighed thinking how much she truly cared for Lee and that it was a mark of her deep feeling for hm that she still believed in him even with the harsh way he'd been treating her as part of this cover assignment. He couldn't wait until the operations was a done deal and things could go back to normal. He hated seeing the sorrowful look on Amanda's face, knowing that he couldn't alleviate her worry.

"Good shot," Lee said impressed with Amanda's quick thinking with the broken limb that she'd used to knock Jack Harris out with.

"Do you think I killed him?" Amanda said nervously.

He reassured her that she hadn't and they made plans to replace her blown-out tire and meet later. He was very glad that he'd been following as that had provided the distraction that Amanda had needed to get the jump on Harris. He couldn't help smiling at he mused for the umpteenth time since he'd begun working with Amanda that while she wasn't like others in the spy business, that just might be what would make her a great agents som3e day.

Sitting at Chez Nouvelle a while later, Amanda smiled slightly at Lee gushing, "Amanda, you were really terrific. He never knew what hit him."

As they talked a while about what Lee had been up to and he explained why he'd been acting so not himself, Lee felt a horrible wave of guilt crash over him at the fact that Amanda was being so patient and so understanding even though he'd been cruel to her and had even slapped her. The hurt look on her face when he'd done that had been unbearable, but he knew he couldn't blow his cover. Now, that they were alone and away from prying eyes, he had to make it right. As he babbled and tried to get his feelings out, he became frustrated by Amanda, just saying she understood, but without making eye context with him.

"It's all right," Amanda said finally looking up, but she knew her voice didn't quite sound convincing.

"No, it's not," Lee said. When Amanda looked down at the table again, he said, "Amanda," with a little more force this time to get her to look at him. When she finally steadied her eyes on him, he said sincerely, "I really am sorry."

"It's okay," Amanda said and finally genuinely meaning it as she smiled at him. "I really do understand.

At seeing her smile, Lee couldn't help smiling back. His smiled widened at her smiling back and him and said, "What did I do to deserve you? I mean, I...I've never had anyone who's believed in me the way you do, who I..." his voice trailed off as he felt he was very close to betraying himself. He cleared his throat and said, "Uh...what do you say, we get out of here?" as he broke the powerful eye contact.

"Uh...yeah," Amanda said.

Lee took her hand, helped her rise, and still held tightly to her hand as they left their table and walked toward the exit. Lee paused before getting there, though and tugged on Amanda's hand leading her beyond the restaurant's doors and into the manager's office.

When the door was closed and locked behind them, Amanda began, "Lee, what are we doi-"but her words were but off by his lips on hers, kissing her hungrily as his hands slid to her waist and pulled her closer. Amanda gasped as he moved his mouth to her neck; his lips closing over the sensitive skin that he knew set her on fire.

"I'm sorry," he breathed against her skin. "I'm really, really sorry," he choked out in a hoarse whisper between his assault on her neck as he hands skimmed over her slender body. He looked up at her and tenderly caressed her cheek where he'd inadvertently slapped her, following the caress by a feather-light kiss. He stared into her soulful brown eyes to gauge her response and when he saw nothing but acceptance and dare he hope...love...in her eyes, he again captured her lips with his own as he pulled them further into the room lifted her up to sit on the desk, delighted at feeling her loving arms sliding around his neck, her thighs parting for him as he stood between them.

"Lee," Amanda whispered raspily through her heavy breathing and rapid heartbeat as she felt his hands moving up under her skirt, tugging at her panties and sliding them down. She was so lost in sensation, that she was taken by surprise when he abruptly broke their heated kiss and in one smooth move, dropped to his knees in front of her, his head under her skirt. "Lee," she cried louder than before at the feeling of his mouth taking possession of her. As he worked his lips and tongue furiously alternating sucking and lapping at her, driving her mad with sensation, she couldn't help her hands flying to his head as her cries grew even louder. Two weeks without him, of worrying that he was tired of her only increasing her need for him. As she neared her peak, she tugged at his head to stop his actions. "Now, Lee," she said looking deeply into his eyes.

Those two words were all Lee needed to her as he quickly freed himself from his pants and immersed himself inside her, never breaking his eye contact with her, groaning at feeling her tightening around him. He pushed into her as deeply as he could, needing her to know that this was right where he wanted to be. ""Manda," he whispered as he stood still for a moment, "So, sorry,"

"Shh, it's okay" she said as she caressed his face with both hands. The look in his eyes, the repeated apologies told her all she needed to know. He still needed her, still wanted her and even though he hadn't said the words, still loved her. She thought back to her conversation with Francine about his "burnout" and thought once again just how wrong the other woman was. What she really had were all the classic symptoms of a man in love, "Don't. Just make love to me."

"Yeah," he said with a smile as he pulled back and pushed into her again, elated at the heart within this beautiful woman and her unwavering belief in him. Even when he'd done everything he could to push her away, she refused to give up on him, still trusted him, trusted that she could help him and now was trusting him again with her heart, her mind and her body. As he advanced and retreated slowly, wanting to prolong this moment, he felt her thighs gripping his tightly, her hips pushing against his. "Amanda," he gasped in a warning tone.

Amanda shook her head as she ran her hands down his back to tug on his butt and urge him on. "Please," she rasped.

Unable to control himself at seeing the pleading look in her eyes, he pulled back again, driver into her harder than before, "Oh, God," he cried knowing that he was now beyond maintaining any semblance of self-control. He plunged into her repeatedly, gratified that she was there to meet him every time, that the distance between them over the past two weeks was a thing of the past and in this moment, there was nothing but them. Feeling her tight muscles constricting around him as she shuddered in release brought on his own, filling him with a sense of completion, of wonder that she'd still give herself so completely to him after the harsh way that he'd treated her. "Amanda!" he cried out as he erupted within her, the waves of pleasure at not only the physical release, but also the emotional one, consuming him until there was nothing left. "Oh, Amanda," he said as he caressed her cheek again, his movements now stilled.

Amanda placed her hand over his, bringing it to her lips, lightly kissing the same palm that had slapped her, not speaking, but knowing in that one gesture, that she didn't need to. They stayed locked like that for a moment, just holding each other, gazing into one another's eyes until there was a rattle of the doorknob, spoiling the moment of forgiveness.

They quickly scrambled apart and hurriedly righted their clothing, Amanda yanking her underwear back on, while Lee tucked his shirt in and re-fastened his pants, calling, "Just a second," when a knock followed the rattling. He glanced at Amanda to make sure she was decent, quickly appraised his own appearance and then opened the door to find the manager on duty on the other side. "Aaron, hi, sorry, we just needed a moment." He then turned to Amanda and said, "Aaron here's one of my contacts. He lets me use this place for work drops and meetings from time to time."

"Ahh," Amanda said as she nodded in understanding. "Speaking of work, we should...uh..."

"Yeah, you're right," Lee said as he clasped her hand again, nodded at his acquaintance and led her out of the room and couldn't help smiling at how lucky he was to have such a warm-hearted, forgiving, understanding woman in his life.

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Lee kept his cool at Brackin telling him that he was going to have to kill someone, but almost lost it when he saw Amanda enter the room. At hearing Brackin say Amanda was his victim, he locked eyes with her across the room and at seeing her give a barely-perceptible nod, his panic subsided knowing everything was going to be okay.

The next day, once it was all over he heard Amanda bashfully say, "I really don't deserve this," while staring at the certificate of valor in her hands.

"Yes, you do," He said beaming with pride in his resourceful partner as he recounted all the things that she'd done to earn that award.

After everyone had exited Billy's office, and they were back in the bullpen at her desk, he took the framed certificate from her hands, his proud look never fading as he said, "Amanda, you should be very proud of this."

"Well, I am. I just wish I had a place to hang it," She said a little hint of sadness in her voice, which was soon replaced by a warmth flooding through her at Lee suggesting that Billy could find a place for it at the office.

As they talked awhile longer, Lee couldn't help the wide grin that spread across his face as Amanda asked about getting reimbursed for her damaged sweater, one long finger poking through the bullet hole in it. "I'll see what I can do about it," he said and unable to control himself, raised her hand to his lips, kissing it with a wink at her.

"Aw," Amanda said the warmth that had been flooding through her becoming an entirely different kind.

The moment was not to last as they were both startled by Francine loudly saying, "Thank you very much," in her typical sarcastic tone as she slammed the door to Billy's office. Lee and Amanda abruptly broke apart as they saw her approaching them. "Well, well, I guess you two are back to being "friends" she said making an air quote with her fingers.

Lee and Amanda both began stammering, "I...uh...was just telling Amanda what a great job she did," while Amanda said, "you know, Francine...um...Lee was just congratulating me...on..." she picked up her award."

"Spare me, both of you," Francine said with a roll of her eyes as she flounced to her desk and threw herself into her chair, leaving Lee and Amanda laughing in her wake, Lee giving Amanda one more wink before he walked to his own desk, the smile on both of their faces never fading as they returned to work.