She Can And She Did

Chapter 3

As Amanda and Francine angrily faced each other that afternoon in Lee's living room, Lee put up a hand stating, "Okay, Ladies...Let's just relax for a second, alright?"

When they both looked at Lee with daggers in their eyes, Lee gulped, answering quickly, "L-Look! I-I have a landlord and other people below me in this building who would not take kindly to glass breaking, and screaming matches-"

But Amanda shook her head, commenting with her own hand up, "Lee, there's going to be none of that, alright? Besides, Francine apologized for what she said, and I apologized for hitting her...However-"

Francine, with a sweeping gesture towards Amanda, sighed remarking irritatedly, "And here we go with another "Life lesson" from our own "Mother of The Year"-

Amanda pointing a finger at Francine stated, "That! That right there, is what I hate the most about you-"

Francine asked belligerently, "Wh-What?"

Amanda remarked coolly with a curt gesture, " You know! That condescending, "I'm better than you" attitude of yours-"

Francine bit back with, "Oh yeah? Well, you're no picnic in the park either, Lady!"

Looking at Lee, she gestured answering, "If I hear one more "Mother and the boys" story, I'm gonna scream-"

Lee stopped her comment by answering fiercely, "Hey, Francine! Get off it! That's hitting below the belt! She lives with her mother, who helps her raise her kids-"

Francine shrugs, stating tiredly, "I know, but it's always the same thing! It's either, "I missed a play because of the stakeout", or "The Bombers have practice, so I have to leave early, blah, blah, blah-"

Amanda queried angrily, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Francine answered drily, "It means that the other agents, who are also parents, figure it out somehow. If you're working, you're working!"

Lee sighed answering with a shake of his head, "Francine, c'mon! That's enough!"

Amanda tersely shot back to Francine with, " Really? Well, at least I don't try to overstate my love life half the time-"

Francine chuckled sarcastically remarking with a tilt of her head, "Well, you'd have to have one first, Dear-"

As Amanda was about to respond again, Lee had enough at this point and barked with gestures, "Alright, you two! Neutral corners! Let's go!"

He pointed to Francine, answering, "You! Kitchen!"

Looking at Amanda, he commented, "You! Bedroom!"

Francine shaking her head, stated, "Ooh! My, my, my-"

Lee growled at Francine, "Can it already! I'll be back in a minute!"

Meeting Amanda in the bedroom, Lee closed the door asking with a gesture, "What the hell was that out there?!"

Amanda protested, "Y-You're blaming me for her sideshow performance?"

Lee nodded, stating, "In a roundabout way, yes-"

Amanda responded, "But I was trying to defend myself-"

Lee argued, "Which you wouldn't have had to do if that word hadn't come out of your mouth-"

Amanda narrowing her eyes at Lee and queried, "What word?"

Lee sighed answering, " You had to say the word, "However"...You were being polite and respectful to one another, and then you came at her with both barrels! Why did you start that?"

Amanda, shaking her head, commented quickly, "As I've already acknowledged to you, I was trying to defend myself, but since you're so quick to defend her-"

Lee groaned and remarked aggravatedly, "Oh, come off it, will ya?! You know how she is already! Why did you feel the need to push her buttons, anyway? I say, let sleeping dogs lie-"

Amanda bewildered, asked blankly, "Are-Are you referring to me as a dog, Lee Stetson?"

Lee, flustered at this point, shook his head vehemently, growling, "NO! I'm saying , just let it be, alright?"

Amanda chuckled tiredly with a gesture stating, "Oh, great. Now you're quoting the Beatles...Look, Lee, why don't I just go home now since this isn't getting us anywhere, huh? Please give me my car keys, and I'll be out of your way-"

But Lee put up a hand answering firmly to her, "Hold it! I still have to talk to Francine. Would you please come out to the living room and wait until I'm through talking to her?"

Amanda shrugged resignedly remarking, "Fine...Let's go..."

-SMK-

So, as Lee went into the kitchen to talk to Francine, Amanda sat on the living room couch, having some time to think about Lee, and about how she wanted this new aspect to their relationship between them to go forward.

Sighing, she then realized it may be for naught as their backgrounds were too different somehow.

And who knows? she thought miserably, The interest that he showed in her that changed the dynamic between them earlier that week may have waned by now anyway...

Lee, in the kitchen, with Francine then, stated, "Look, I know what she said threw you, but-"

Francine chuckled remarking snidely, "Yeah! Came out of left field, if you ask me, and after I tried to meet her at least halfway yesterday...Just what is her problem, anyway? Aside from the obvious things, that is-"

Lee stopped her, answering tiredly, "Knock it off! Look, talking over drinks wasn't the smartest idea-"

Francine nodded responding, "You got that right-"

Lee, having enough, shook his head stating, "But neither was this debacle...Come out with me, please, while I attempt to fix this for now."

Francine shrugged, remarking, " Sure...I'm game, since I didn't start this..."

As she and Lee left the kitchen, he went over to the couch, and seeing Amanda lost in thought, cleared his throat, and asked, "Uh, Amanda? Are you okay?"

Amanda looked up to see both Lee and Francine standing there, and shaking her head, rose from the couch stating quietly, "Oh, sorry...Yeah, sure. I'm fine. What do we do about all this?"

Lee half smiled and answered, "Well, I think you two just need breathing room for now, but can you please both promise me something?"

Francine and Amanda glancing at one another, nodded, as they focused on Lee, unsure of what he was going to ask of them.

Lee continued with, " Okay...It's abundantly clear that you both will never get along socially, but if Billy and I were ever in dire straits on a mission, you both promise to drop the petty stuff, and save our hides, no matter what?"

Amanda and Francine nodded and repeated slowly, "We promise to drop the petty stuff, and save your hides, no matter what."

Lee sighed, and nodding stated firmly as he handed Amanda her car keys, "Good! Now, shake hands, and go to your separate houses...Dismissed!"

Begrudgingly, the women shook hands, and when they both were gone, Lee went to his bathroom cabinet, getting two extra strength aspirins, and downing them with water!

He then went out to the living room, and getting on the phone, dialed Billy's number.

When Billy answered, "Melrose," Lee, feeling drained, queried, "You free for dinner? How about Monty's? I have had a day you wouldn't believe..."

TBC