Chapter 57-Bonnie and Clyde
"One Bear Dances, One Bear Doesn't"
Francine couldn't believe Lee's nerve at ditching their surveillance operation on Zernov...or to be more specific ditching her in favor of Amanda. He'd actually even gone as far as to invite Amanda along while he followed them which left her out in the cold since his car only seated two. She glowered at Amanda, then at Lee, opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, but at seeing the cool look Lee gave when he turned his attention from Amanda to her, she thought better of it instead just gaping at him in surprise. Never had she seen him act like this when it came to something this important, all because he was sleeping with the seemingly innocent housewife. She knew all too well that woman was nowhere near as innocent as she appeared to be. Not only that, but she was beginning to suspect that she'd been wrong in her assessment of their ongoing affair. It seemed that Lee was actually falling for Amanda...hard; he'd never have let her come along simply because her mother was involved otherwise, not on an operation this delicate. She let out a deep sigh and shook her head. Maybe she needed to have a talk with Billy about all this and get his perspective on it.
After Amanda had left them, she hurried back home and attempted to catch her mother before she left to talk some sense into her, but found it was no use as they stood in the foyer arguing about it.
"Mother!" she snapped. "Don't you think you're behaving a bit rashly? I mean, you just met this man and now you're going to spend the whole day with him when you don't know anything about him?"
"I do too," Dotty protested. "I know that he's handsome, he's charming, that he is new to this country and needs a friend. I fully intend to be that friend."
"But for all you know, Mother, it could be like one of those novels you read and he could be some KGB spy who is only pretending to defect and really wants to bring down the United States and all we stand for."
Dotty laughed. "Amanda, you're being ridiculous! You've never even read one of them. Besides, you said yourself this morning that you think they're silly."
"I didn't say silly...exactly," Amanda responded, but was interrupted by her mother continuing.
"Besides, do I try to butt into your life?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Amanda raised her eyebrows.
"Really? When was the last time that I asked you about you and this...what's his name...Lee whatever-his-name-is? Even though it is quite clear that you're still harboring some feeling that things with him will work out, though I can't imagine why now that Joe's back and seems to have done a complete one-eighty."
"As far as the boys are concerned, yes, Mother, but there is no way that J-"
"And do YOU notice? NO! Why, just last week, that man comes over here, hiding out on the back patio...again, instead of coming to the front door like a normal person and what do you do? You take off with him on yet another 'business' trip, but do I say a word? No."
"Mother, that was work. You know what? I'm not going to have this conversation with you again about Lee. We're co-workers. That's it. And don't you think that trying to turn things around on me is going to stop me from worrying about you and this Dr. Zernov!" Amanda stormed upstairs to her room and was about to slam the door, but then she took a deep breath as she remembered that she still somehow had to figure out a way to get that stupid listening device into her mother's purse so she hurried back down the stairs just in time to see her mother loading up the picnic basket. Pausing for a moment, she changed tones and said, "Oh, Gee, the boys forgot their lunch," as she wrung her hands a bit nervously, then caught herself doing it and quickly stopped knowing that her mother would see right through her.
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Sitting in Lee's car a while later, she gave Lee a glare at his "they're talking about marriage," crack.
"Oh, come on!" Amanda protested as she yanked on the cord to the headphones.
As they listened a while longer, Lee kept stealing glances at while her mother told Zernov about Amanda losing interest in Dean and couldn't help grinning, knowing he was the cause of that interest fading, especially when Dotty brought up IFF. The moment that Dotty West said she thought there was somebody at work, Amanda let out a loud and obviously fake cough and Lee turned to gaze out the window to hide his smirk from her, but then couldn't help glancing back her way again. As luck would have it though, the signal began breaking up and they were forced to leave the confined space of the car and continue their surveillance on foot and go their separate ways. This was probably a good thing, he couldn't help thinking because had it carried on much longer like that, he may not have been able to keep refraining from reminding her just how much they'd begun to mean to each other.
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Later than night, the atmosphere in the same car was a much more somber one as they'd been searching for her mother and Zernov for hours. Lee couldn't help feeling just as worried for Dotty's safety as Amanda in seeing how frightened she was. He couldn't bear to see her hurting like this and if he had to, he would spend all night combing the streets of DC until her found her mother. He let out a sigh, "We're gonna find her, " he assured her.
"I know we are," she responded half-heartedly, wanting to have faith in Lee and in The Agency, but the longer it dragged on, the more hopeless she felt.
Sensing her defeat, Lee offered, "Look, I'll take you home. You can cover that base."
"Yeah."
Feeling despondent and not sure what else to do, Lee reasoned, "It's getting pretty late," but this time when he stole a sideways glance at her, it wasn't with the mirthful feeling of earlier and he wasn't trying to smother a sly grin like earlier. His heart broke for her as he saw that she was trying to disguise her fear.
They rode in silence until they reached the house and he walked her to the front door to make sure that she got in safely. "Listen, if you hear from her, you call me, okay?"
"Yeah," Amanda nodded.
"I mean it," he urged. "Don't even think about going after her alone. It's too dangerous. I don't care what time it is, you hear anything, you call, you got it?"
Again, Amanda nodded, then turned to unlock the front door, but before stepping inside, she turned back to him and said, "Lee?"
"Yeah?"
"I-" How could she say what she was thinking without it coming out wrong? She dreaded walking into that empty house, knowing that her mother wasn't coming home that night. She was just glad that the boys were away on their camping trip so she didn't have to face them to attempt to explain that to them. "What are you going to do now?"
"Keep looking," he stated matter-of-factly.
"Lee, I-" She let out a deep sigh. "I don't wanna be alone tonight." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wished she could take them back. She didn't want to admit that she needed him.
He took her hands in his and replied softly, "I know you don't, but someone needs to be out there looking for her."
"But what if you were right? What if she calls here? I mean, that would be her first instinct, right? To call me? Let me know she's okay? If you were here when she did, then we could go back out after her together...a team, like we always are."
"Like Bonnie and Clyde?" He teased remembering her crack from earlier in the night when they'd been held up by the local PD.
"Something like that." She couldn't help smiling a bit. "You know, we never did get our coffee date. I...uh...I could make some. Then, you know, if we hear from her, we'll be alert enough to go after her. I mean, you said yourself it's getting late and you've had just as long a day as I've and it wouldn't be right for you to be out there while I'm here sleeping, not that I think I'd be able to sleep a wink anyway because I'm so wor-"
He words were cut off mid-ramble by Lee's lips on hers. It wasn't a passionate kiss like the ones they'd shared in her motel room the week before. It was sweet, full of longing and...and...comfort, Amanda decided as they parted and gazed at one another. "I guess I could come in for a little while. You know, just to keep you company and the coffee does sound good. I have to admit, I could use it after the day we've had."
"Good," she smiled as she turned and finally entered the house, walking straight through to the kitchen and beginning coffee preparations as Lee followed behind her. She took comfort in Lee's hands on her shoulders. She knew that he meant it for just that, but she couldn't help the warmth that flooded through her at his touch. She turned and slid her hands up his chest and tugged on his lapels, needing to be closer to him.
Sensing her intent, he laid his hands over hers and shook his head. "Amanda, no," he stated firmly. "That's not what you need right now." As much as he wanted her, he wouldn't take advantage of her in a vulnerable state.
"Yes, Lee, it is." She pressed her lips softly to his. "I need you." She wrapped her hands around his and began walking backward toward the stairs, urging him to join her.
"Amanda..." he argued weakly as he paused just as they got to the landing. "No, not like this. It wouldn't be right."
"Really, Clyde? That's never seemed to bother you before."
"But this is different..."
"Don't," she whispered with one finger to his lips. "Please..." She then lightly stroked his cheek then slid her hand behind his neck to pull him to her, their lips meeting again.
Any thought of protesting further was banished as Lee gave into his desire for her, his need to hold her, console her. If this was what she really wanted and wouldn't take no for an answer...if this was what she needed to take her mind off of her missing mother, who was he to argue? He let out a groan as her tongue caressed his and her hands pushed the leather jacket from his shoulders. He soon did the same with her sweater as the clung tightly to each other sharing heated kisses as he pressed her lithe body against the banister. Needing precious oxygen, he pulled back from her just long enough to sweep her into his arms and carry her up the stairs to her room.
Once there, they resumed feasting on each other, shedding articles of clothing one by one, her blouse, his dress shirt, her bra, their shoes... As he reached behind her for the zipper on her skirt, he whispered in a low voice, "Have I ever told you how good you look in blue?"
"You might have mentioned it once or twice," she answered delighted at the look she saw on his face as his eyes swept over her half-bare form.
"Maybe I should start calling you Bonnie Blue."
"Don't you dare! That's nearly as bad as saying I'm your sister."
"Well, you're the one who brought up Bonnie and Clyde. I was just going with it."
"Wrong Bonnie, but if you're going with Gone With the Wind, wouldn't we be better suited as Rhett and Scarlett?"
"Frankly, My Dear..." He paused and grinned at her. "On second thought..." He edged the zipper of her skirt down and watched with wide eyes of anticipation as the garment pooled at her feet. "As good as you look in blue, you look even better out of it." He then captured her lips in a fierce, hungry kiss as he lowered her to her bed.
Amanda reached for the zipper on his pants and soon had pushed the offending barrier and the boxers beneath them out of the way as they caressed and teased each other. Lee trailed kisses down her body until he reached the last scrap of fabric between them, her panties. He slowly eased them down her long, slender legs, tossed them aside then returned to her, dipping his head to taste her like he'd wanted to do last week before she'd stopped him. This time, she offered no protest, just let out a gasp of pleasure and ran her hands through his hair as he fed on her, nipping and suckling, increasing the pressure based on her responses. Seeing her so sad earlier and knowing how much she needed this distraction, he wanted to make it the best kind of distraction for her possible.
"Lee," she hissed as the sensations overtook her and she began trembling under his onslaught, unable to help herself in crying out his name repeatedly as he brought her to her peak again and again. Then just when she thought she couldn't take anymore, he'd shift slightly and begin all over again until she let out a loud guttural scream as her body convulsed uncontrollably, her eyes clamped shut against the powerful stimulation, her breath coming in short, shallow pants as he moved back up her body and immersed himself in her.
"Amanda," He growled as he pulled back and eased back in slowly wanting to make it last as long as possible, wanting to see anything on her face except for the worried, fearful look he'd seen earlier. Out and in again, achingly slowly, but the way that she was pushing up against him, arching her back, her legs wrapped around him, drawing him in, he knew he couldn't keep it this way for much longer. When she reached and squeezed his rear, pulling him toward her, he knew it was done and he drove into her harder and faster until he felt himself erupting within her, screaming her name the same way she'd screamed his. He could still hear it reverberating in his head, that primal scream she'd let out, but then he realized that it wasn't from his memory of a moment before, but in the here and now as she was writhing beneath him, his name echoing her cries from before. He collapsed atop her, his heart racing, his whole body aflame as he tried desperately to catch a breath.
"Lee." His name was spoken softly this time as she cradled him against her, her breathing just as heavy as his as they both attempted to compose themselves. "I-"
The shrill ringing of the phone intruded on the moment bringing the harsh reality of the situation home to both of them as Lee abruptly pulled away from her and she scrambled for the phone with a hopeful, "Mother?" Lee felt his heart hurting for her again as he watched her face fall. "Oh, hello, Sir. No, Sir, we haven't heard anything yet or seen any sign of them. Yes, Sir...He's still here...He...um...he just dropped me off and I was going to make sure he had some coffee before he went back out again." Amanda nodded. "Yes, Sir, I'll tell him." Amanda hung up the phone looking dejected.
"Billy?" Lee questioned.
When Amanda looked over at Lee, she saw that he'd already gotten half-dressed again. "Yeah, he wants to see you back at the office." She reached for her robe and pulled it on to cover herself.
""I..uh...I guess that means we still don't get our coffee date, huh?"
"Well, it took Bonnie and Clyde more than one try to get it right, didn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess it did."
"Well, come on, I've got a thermos downstairs. I can at least make sure you have coffee for the road because who knows how long you'll be up."
"We'll find her," he promised.
She smiled warmly at him feeling more confident in his words with the look of sheer determination on his face. "I know we will."
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As Lee walked into Billy's office, he heard Francine's shrill voice complaining, "This is exactly what happens when you let an amateur do a professional's job and furthermore, the only reason that sweet, precious Amanda was out there is because Lee-'
"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you, Francine," Lee cut in. "If you have something to say about Amanda, say it to me." When she clamped her mouth shut, he nodded. "That's what I thought."
"Oh, I have plenty to say to you, Lee Stetson," she fired back. "But who has time? We have to find Zernov or the whole defection program is at risk."
"I know that, Francine," Lee stated incredulously. "Do you think I don't know the seriousness of all of this? Why do you think I've been out there half the night combing the streets for them?"
"Please!" she scoffed. "You weren't looking for Zernov. You were looking for your little girlfriend's mother!"
"Find her, we find Zernov!" Lee shouted back. "Besides that, has it even occurred to you that she is in a much more dangerous spot than Zernov? He knew what he was getting into. Dotty West didn't!"
Billy rose from his seat with a slam of his fist on his desk to get their attention. "Children! That's enough! This situation is too serious for you two to be bickering over who did or didn't do what. The important thing right now is to find them..." He cast as scolding glance to Francine and added, "BOTH of them!"
"Yes, Sir," Francine conceded.
"Now, Lee," Billy began as he sat back now. "I need your report. What do you know? Is there anything that Amanda told you that we can use?"
"Why didn't you just ask her while you had her on the phone? Or better yet, ask her to come in to tell you herself?" Francine questioned. "That would have made more sense."
"Maybe, but you didn't hear her voice on the phone, how nervous and worried she sounded. The way it seemed that she couldn't catch her breath. It almost seemed as if she was having a panic attack. Making her relive those events would only do more harm than good."
"Couldn't catch her breath, huh?" Francine glowered at Lee. "Gee, I wonder why."
"What are you getting at, Francine? Amanda was worried about her mother, that's it! She was upset. You would be too if it was your mother."
Francine nodded. She had to admit that he had a point, but still, she wasn't at all sure that she liked the changes that she was seeing in Lee under Amanda's influence. He was becoming reckless.
Billy smiled as he watched the two of them and couldn't help thinking of just how much Lee had changed for the better since knowing and becoming involved with Amanda. He gave himself a mental pat on the back for putting them together and that his instincts had paid off. Never before would Lee have ever cared quite so much for the civilian who got caught in the crossfire of an agency investigation. He'd been too reckless for that. This was a good sign. "Well, Scarecrow, I'm waiting..." he said.
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When it was all over and the partners were watching the interviews with Dotty and Zernov, Amanda couldn't help the little giggle when she told Lee that Billy had forbidden her to talk about it. She was going to have some great fun needling her mother about it. Of course, she did have to accept his rightful scolding of her for going after them alone when she'd promised that she wouldn't.
Watching them breaking up the meeting, Lee couldn't resist replying to Zernov's comment to Dotty. Eyes glowing with pride in his partner for figuring things out, he added, "And she has a very special daughter," as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. As he pulled back, he reached to squeeze her hand. "Amanda, I-"
As usual, the moment was not to last as Francine chose that moment to barrel in, "Amanda, Billy wants you to-" The pair hastily broke apart and Francine rolled her eyes at them. "Really? Again?"
"We were just talking Francine," Lee explained as he exited the room, but gave Amanda a wink from behind the blonde just before departing.
"What is it, Francine?" Amanda questioned.
"Billy needs to hear your side of the story for the report."
Amanda nodded. "I'll get right on it." She made her way to the door, but Francine stopped her.
"And Amanda?" When she turned, Francine added, "I'd leave out the details of whatever you and Lee were doing at your house. Just like our little chat in the freezer, there are some things that the agency just doesn't need to know."
"I can keep a secret," Amanda assured her, then grinned and added, "Just call me Bonnie Parker." She left Francine with a dumbfounded look on her face wondering just what that meant.