Advice and Understanding
Jamie King walked over toward his mother sitting next to her on the bed. "I don't understand how you can be having a baby?"
Hugging him close while asking, "What don't you understand?"
"I guess any of it. I know that you have to have a mom and a dad to have a baby but you're just a mom, dad isn't here. I heard you say Lee's name, not dad."
Smiling at the fact he still had innocence in him, "I was talking to Lee because Lee is the father of this baby, not your dad."
"Well, if Lee is the father then are Phillip and I still the big brothers?"
"Of course you and Phillip will still be the big brothers, why do you ask?" Kissing his head and stroking his hair down.
"I thought Phillip and I was brothers because dad was our dad, if dad isn't the baby's dad then how can we be the big brothers?"
"Jamie, I am still the mom. That is what will make you the big brothers."
"So, brothers and sisters are brother and sisters no matter who the father is, right?"
"Right; Jamie, no one but us two know about the baby and I would like it if you had questions to ask me until I have told your brother and grandmother."
"Okay Mom. Can I ask you something else?" Amanda watched as Jamie stood and began fidgeting from one foot to the next. "Can you please have a girl?"
Monday morning Amanda was walking without her crutches as she still tenderly limped from her ankle injury. She walked into the bullpen to see Lee sitting at his desk with his head down as he read a printout. She almost went over to talk to him but changed her mind as he looked up and saw her standing there, then without even an acknowledgement he went back to reading his report. She stood a little straighter and headed toward Billy's office without looking in Lee's direction again.
Lee saw her as she limped toward the bullpen doors, smiling and thanking the Marine for opening the doors for her. He pretended to not notice her enter but felt her eyes on him as he pretended to look over the morning report Billy had given him. Lee looked up at her hoping his expression gave nothing away as to how he wanted to run and pull her to him. He looked down at his report again before he could act on it.
"Enter!" Billy yelled to Amanda as she knocked on his door.
"Good morning, Sir, Francine. How are you today?" Amanda hoped she sounded as cheerful as she always had instead of the pile of nerves she was really feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Amanda, what brings you here today? I thought you were off work?" Francine asked while indicating her wrapped ankle.
"Well, Francine, that is why I am here. I have some reports to give Mr. Melrose and I need to speak with you as well, Sir, if that is alright?"
"Go ahead, Amanda, what did your follow up appoint tell you?" Billy waved her to sit down.
Amanda took her seat and then looked in the direction of Francine and asked, "Could I just speak with you alone, please?"
"Amanda, surely you understand that I, as his assistant, can hold information close to the vest. Besides how important of a conversation could it be over a little ankle?"
Amanda looked to Billy before she said, "I understand that but it isn't my ankle I want to talk with him about and to be honest Francine this is a need to know situation and you don't need to know."
Billy concealed his smile under his hand as he cleared his throat while Francine stood straighter before rolling her eyes and exiting the office. They both watched as Francine headed straight to Lee's desk, waving her hand in the direction of the office. When Lee shrugged his shoulders at her and went back to his report, Francine put her hands on her hips and stormed off.
"Mrs. King, now what is this all about?" Billy asked but with gentle concern, as he knew she needed special handing at times.
"When I fell and hurt my ankle the ER doctor told me to inform you of any restrictions I might have until I can be fully back at work."
"Sounds routine, but at the moment you are helping with just updating our reports and filing. That should be well within any restrictions the doctors have put on you."
Reaching into her purse she sat silently as she handed him her lab report and validation report from her doctor letting him read and digest the complete reports before looking at him again.
Billy read and reread both reports. "Amanda, are these reports accurate?"
"Yes, Sir, my ankle is healing fine but I will be showing signs of the other condition in a few months."
"I understand we do have a protocol for just these occasions. Amanda, how do you wish to move forward with this information?"
"I want to continue to work for you. I like my job and I think I do a really good job, Sir, but I still know that occasionally I am asked to go out and help in the field, which I don't care to do, but now, well…" her hand waving in the air finally resting on her abdomen.
"Our standing policy is we follow your progress. If you feel safe, your condition progresses normally, and your doctor has no problem with you in the field then we don't either. I might suggest though that you stay out of the field, not through any fault of your own, things get rather dangerous with you in the field."
Laughing she said, "Only a time or two, Sir." Billy joined in the laughter.
Turning his conversation back to a serious tone Billy asked, "Can I ask about the father? Is it your ex-husband? Was there reconciliation?"
Looking down and then toward the bullpen to Lee's desk, the blush in her cheeks told Billy all he needed to know.
"Does Lee know?"
Tears formed in her eyes as she nodded and then began to explain, "He does but we had a big fight and haven't spoken since."
"A big fight; Lee didn't do anything to hurt you did he?" Fatherly concern raised in his voice.
Shaking her head, "No, Sir, the fight was more my fault than anything. I really wanted to wait until I had confirmed everything today and then tell him. The other night our fight was because he knew I was keeping something from him. I kind of just blurted it out in the heat of the fight, without meaning to, and then he accused me of not trusting him, which is just crazy because I do trust him, I just didn't want him worrying about something that might have been a false positive." Taking a deep breath Billy sat amazed at her art of ramble.
"That seems pretty logical; my wife did the same with me with both girls. I suspected, when I asked her, she told me that when she knew I would know."
"We mothers really like to be sure before we go around spreading false information."
"Do you think you would be able to work on some files today for me?"
"Yes, that would be fine. Which files are those?" She asked standing up.
"Well, it is typing up Lee's debriefing. There was a lot to cover and Francine is swamped, like the rest of us, and I was wondering if you would mind handling that."
"Sir, that is fine, but do I have the clearance for this particular assignment? I know that this was a pretty intense case."
"Yes, Amanda, it was, but nothing that we can't trust you with. Francine has all the files. You can work at any open computer; we have a few agents out today." Seeing a worried look cross her face Billy added, "Don't worry I'll tell her to give them to you." True to his word Billy picked up the phone telling Francine to get all the files that still needed typing and added to Lee's report ready for Amanda to finish up.
Limping from his office, Amanda retrieved the files from Francine to find the only open desk at the moment was the one closest to Lee's. Lee looked up as she set the files down and waited for the computer to boot up.
She was looking toward him when he looked up and she smiled shyly. She knew it was her turn to make up some ground between them. Usually it was Lee that would get hot-headed and need to make up. Smiling she waved for him to come over.
Standing he walked over and sat on the edge of the desk and waited for Amanda to speak.
In a shy voice she asked, "Can we have lunch today please?"
Shaking his head he replied, "I have a lunch meeting today with Billy."
"Can you come by the house for dinner tonight or maybe afterwards? I really want to clear the air between us."
"I do too, Manda, but…"
"Jamie heard me." She knew it was a dirty tactic to get him to come over and talk with her but she thought that if he knew at least one of the boys knew he would be willing to talk with her.
"What? How did that happen?" His voice rising a little before lowering it again he said, "Who else knows?"
Amanda pointed her eyes toward Billy's office before looking up at him again. She could see the anger in his face even though his voice was calm as he spoke again. "I guess it is the right of everyone else to know before I was told?"
"No, I was waiting, I told you." She eyes as well as her voice imploring him to lower his voice.
"Yeah, I know you did. You also told me you had to come to grips with being pregnant with my child." This statement came out harsher than he had intended toward her.
"Will you lower your voice?" She asked thinking Francine may have heard what he just said.
Standing up he grabbed her arm and helped her into the conference room. Closing the door as well as the blinds when he entered, Lee pushed her up against the door and began to kiss her as his hands laid across her abdomen.
Returning his kiss Amanda sighed as he broke from their kiss asking her, "Why did you have to come to grips with having my baby?"
Shaking her head she answered, "I would have had to come to grips with being pregnant no matter the father. Being a divorced mother is one thing, being single and pregnant is still shocking. I was on the pill, Lee, I promise. The doctor said even if used correctly it isn't one hundred percent, but to add an antibiotic to it reduces its effectiveness as well. I forgot I had been on antibiotics."
Leaning his head against hers he said, "I guess me not wearing a condom didn't help matters either." Turning from her, he sat in the chair at the table running his hands through his hair. "Amanda, what are we going to do?"
Walking over to him and placing his hands in hers she said, "The best we can. I don't want to advertise this around here, it will show eventually."
"Oh, yeah, I can hear the rumors now. I don't want you going through that."
"Lee, this happened and now we just have to take it one day at a time. I have no intention of keeping you from your child if that is what you think. I also have no intention to force you to be with your child if you are not ready."
"Amanda, I never once thought about being a father. It has never entered my realm of thoughts, but since the other night I have thought of nothing else. I very much want to be a part of my child's life."
"Lee, are you scared of being a father? I know I was scared with Phillip. Joe was a basket case with Phillip."
"Not with Jamie though?"
"We were first-time parents with Phillip, everything was new and scary. We found out with Jamie that it wasn't much different than the first time."
"I thought every pregnancy was different, or so I have heard from some of the guys around here."
"They were both different; even this one has been different." He pulled his hands from hers and placed them on her stomach again.
"In what ways has it been different than the first two?" He asked.
Laughing she said, "Well, I haven't had any morning sickness. In all honesty, my appetite is much stronger with this one." Lowering her voice she whispered, "I have also been extremely horny."
Lee raised his eyebrows and gave a big dimpled grin toward her whistling low, "Really, Mrs. King? How horny are we talking?"
Leaning over to kiss him deeply she pulled back and said, "Horny enough to forget we are at work. When I saw you this morning sitting at your desk I just wanted to attack you then and there."
Lee saw her blush slightly and thought it was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. "Well, unfortunately, I didn't lock the door or I would get you through the morning, but I think if we behave today at work then maybe I could help you out with that problem later."
"I look forward to that. Look, we still have a lot to talk about; can you stop by for dinner or after?"
"I know we do, but are you sure your house is the best place to talk this over?" Concern was on his face and she knew he was still nervous around his family.
"I could come over to your place after dinner and homework."
Shaking his head he said, "No, I guess I have to get used to being around your family, I can come by. I don't know if I can make dinner, but I will still stop by."
Lee stood and pulled her into his arms to give her a kiss as the door opened, causing Amanda to jump out of his arms quickly before being seen.
Francine saw that they were in the conference room and sarcastically said, "Is this room also off-limits too, Mrs. King or can I do what I need to in here?"
"Francine, cut it out. I dragged her in here away from her work to talk with her." Lee put his hand on Amanda's lower back and guided her out of the room. After leaving her back at her work, Lee went into Billy's office.
"Hey, Billy, I have a few leads to follow up on so I will see you at lunch."
"I didn't think you had anything in the works at the moment." Billy sat his coffee mug down.
"I got a call a little while ago from one of my sources; she overheard some of our Russian dignitaries talking about some possible action tomorrow at an embassy party. I was just going to see if it had any merit or not."
"Okay, Scarecrow, let me know at lunch what we may be dealing with. Oh, and Lee have you spoken to Amanda today?"
Stepping fully into the room Lee sat down and nodded his head, "Yes, we just got done talking and we plan on talking some more tonight after work."
"Good I think you need to work things out in order to continue to work together."
"Work together; whoa Billy, she isn't going to be doing any work with me for the next few months unless it is with my reports. She will not be out in the field! That is final!"