Amanda accepted the warm tea from her partner and snuggled into the couch. "Thank you, Lee." The warmth of the fire was helping to bring both her body temperature and spirits up. "And thanks for loaning me some dry clothes." His long sleeve grey t-shirt's sleeves had been rolled up to allow her hands to be free of the fabric. The navy sweatpants had been cinched at the waist as tightly as possible and the cuffs had been rolled up several inches, but both items still hung from her small frame loosely.

"Oh, it was my pleasure, believe me."

She eyed him skeptically.

"What? I'm serious. They never looked that cute on me." He winked at her and gave her a dimpled grin.

Amanda could feel the blush rise from her neck and took a big gulp of the hot tea, nearly choking as the burning liquid made it's way down her throat. She sat up quickly and put the cup back on the coaster in front of her.

"Are you okay?" He reached to help her.

Her eyes started to water, but she was able to regain her composure before squeaking out "Fine."

"Okay then, how about you tell me what happened next? I believe you had just left the hotel. Did you rendezvous at the Agency?"

"No, we met up at Rock Creek Park." She snuggled back in to the softness of the cushions with her mug of tea and continued.

8:03 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 1986

As if the previous night wasn't hard enough on her, Amanda had to go over the night's entire events with her section chief and Agent Efraim Beaman as they stood in the middle of the busy park. She only hoped Efraim lived by the credo 'discretion was the better part of valor.' From their discussion, she had gleaned that he had been the agent across the hall during the wee hours of the night before. That information neither comforted nor worried her. If anyone had to be listening to her and Patrick, it was better it was someone benign like Beaman. Amanda thanked her stars it wasn't Lee or Francine. Anyone but them! Who was she kidding? Lee never would have let her be put on this case in the first place, let alone sit across the hall while she went through with it.

The way Beaman's eyes were darting back and forth as Billy went deeper into the details of the case, gave her the distinct impression he was nervous at knowing so much. She thought back to the way he'd been dressed down by Lee when he left his post on their last case together. Lee was furious with Beaman for leaving Amanda alone to go off on a 'hunch.' Amanda was fully aware how Lee treated other agents when it came to her. He could be extremely protective and intimidating when he wanted to be. Most agents were hesitant when assigned as back up on 'Scarecrow and Mrs. King's' cases. The glory of the collar was usually not worth Scarecrow's wrath, she figured.

"Amanda?" Her head snapped up at the call of her name to find both men looking at her expectantly.

"I'm sorry, sir. What was that?"

"Beaman will take the shopping list you found in McGuinnis' hotel room and put some feelers out. Those aren't inexpensive items – He's going to need some help if he intends to get that all in place by next week."

"Yes, sir," she nodded trying to seem more focused than she was.

"All right, so continue your 'relationship' with him. We're sure he'll be making his move soon." Billy turned to leave and almost as an afterthought, added "Amanda, be careful. He's a terrorist that would just as soon kill you as look at you." His eyes held hers and she nodded before he moved in the direction of the woods.

Amanda stuffed her hands into her jacket and tapped a small rock lying at her feet. She'd almost forgotten that Efraim was still there until he'd cleared his throat. Her eyes darted up to meet his in a questioning look.

"I just wanted to say . . ." he looked like he wasn't going to even try to finish his thought and then she saw in his eyes the resolve to continue. "You're doing a great job, Mrs. King. Scarecrow would be proud."

"Thank you, Agent Beaman. That means a lot." Amanda looked around quickly to be sure they were alone and then dove right in. "Efraim, this morning . . . when things got a little . . . heated . . . well, did you, I mean were you the . . ." Her face flushed, she didn't think she could finish. She cast her eyes to her feet in embarrassment, but her head shot up when he responded.

"Hey, everyone should have a subscription to the Post." With that he winked and shuffled off in the opposite direction that Mr. Melrose had taken moments before.

'Just when you think you know someone . . .' Amanda was left alone with a smirk on her face.

"Remind me to send Beaman some of those cigars he likes so much." Lee mused as he wrapped his right arm around the back of the couch and stretched his legs across the coffee table.

Amanda smiled weakly as she stared blankly ahead at the blazing fire. He was trying to put up a good front, but she saw through it. The way his fist clenched at his side just before he moved it strategically behind her; out of sight was a dead giveaway to his true feelings. And the always telltale sign, the muscle in his jaw pulsing like an out-of-control strobe light.

"Hey . . ." He called soothingly and tilted up her chin to look into her eyes. "You did what you had to do. You were a true professional, Amanda. How could you think I wouldn't understand that?"

"Lee, if you had been there–"

"If I had been there you never would have been on this case!" He stated matter-of-factly sliding his feet to the floor and sat up straight.

"Precisely my point, you never would have let me take on this case. To prove myself."

"Not because I didn't think you could pull it off! I just don't want anything to ever happen to you, Amanda. Which, is precisely what happened." He rubbed his forehead before tugging his hand through his hair in apparent frustration. "If I had been there—."

"No," she cut him off shaking her head and she turned toward him and pulled her leg under her. "You can't always protect me, Lee!" Her index finger poked his side. "I'm a grown woman. I'm perfectly capable of making my own decisions, Lee."

"I know you are." He stopped her finger in mid-poke and gently squeezed never taking his eyes off hers. "I just don't know what I'd do if I lost you," he whispered. He now held her hand and lightly ran his thumb across her knuckles.

Amanda felt his discomfort and attempted to lighten the mood. "You won't lose me unless you make me sit here any longer." She slowly pulled her hand out of his. "I'm so stiff!"

Lee smiled. "Well, we can't have that now, can we? Let's get you in the bathtub. I meant . . . um, I didn't mean we . . . uh, I'll go start the bathwater for you so you can soak . . . alone." He stood and held out his hand to help her up.

"I'd like that. Thank you, Lee." She couldn't help but giggle at his discomfort. 'He's even cuter when he's fumbling over himself.' She thought as she allowed him to pull her to her feet.

As he rushed out of the room toward his bathroom, she smiled and stretched out the kinks. She then absently fluffed the pillows on his couch before moving on to organizing the magazines sprawled out on the coffee table.

She jumped when she heard the rich baritone voice of her partner. "Why don't you go soak? I'll have your prescriptions ready for you when you're done." He pointed toward his bathroom before heading out toward the kitchen. "Oh, and I left a t-shirt and some shorts for you on my bed to sleep in. The shorts have a drawstring so you should be able to cinch them up to fit." He smiled and shrugged.

"Thank you, Lee. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking care of me like this."

"Hey, what are partners for?" He winked. She forced herself to leave the room before she said or did something stupid.