She Can And She Did

Chapter 6

Lee came out to the Agency parking lot, and seeing Amanda's car parked next to his, nodded to Security, and heading over carefully, knocked gently on the passenger window of her car.

Amanda, startled a bit, saw it was Lee, and leaned over to unlock the door, letting him in.

Lee, climbing in, closed the door, and shook his head asking, "What's up? They told Billy you were here, but that you weren't getting out?"

Amanda, swallowing, gave a shrug answering softly, "I-I worked out the problem with my family-Mother, in particular, who thought I had been inconsiderate when I didn't call yesterday morning to let her know I was all right, and when I'd be home-"

Lee interjected with a chuckle, stating, "Well, you were kind of "three sheets to the wind-"

Amanda shook her head and shushed him commenting, "I know, I know! Please don't remind me! Anyway, Mother also made a comment about her being with the boys daily-I -I guess she meant "stuck" in a way-"

Lee put up a hand, remarking, "Wait! So, she wants you to quit your job? That's insane-"

Amanda nodded, answering, "I know, but you know, Lee, I did think about it-"

Lee gave a deep sigh, and responded slowly, "Oh...I see...And?"

Amanda reached with her right hand to touch his cheek, but Lee shaking his head, cleared his throat, and pulling her hand back down and holding it, stated, "Security, remember? So, what did you decide?"

Amanda sighed commenting, "I asked the boys what they wanted me to do, but they were fine, reminding me that they were older now, and that they loved me, but they don't need me as much..."

Lee squeezed her hand as he saw her expression change to sadness and softly remarked to her, "Hey, c'mon...They're always gonna need their mom in some way or another, huh? So, you're staying here after all?"

Amanda nodded answering, "Yeah, and I told Mother that-but all she meant was that I should remember to call if I'm going to be late or whatever from now on..."

Lee, glancing at his watch, said, "Okay, so are we good here? Can we head in now?"

Amanda with a final sigh, commented nodding, "Yeah. I guess so..."

Taking the keys out of the ignition, Amanda got her purse, and got out of the car, locking it, and putting the keys in her purse, followed Lee, who'd already gotten out, locking the passenger side.

Coming inside, Amanda gave the password to Mrs. Marston, who gave Amanda her I.D, and she and Lee went into the elevator...

-SMK-

As it went down towards Billy's office floor, Lee, helping Amanda with her I. , asked,"Are you really okay, or would you like to talk more about it later?"

Amanda shrugged answering, "No, I guess I'll be alright...Besides, I just don't think you'd understand."

The elevator stopped on the office floor they needed, but as they both stepped off, Lee glanced over, seeing Billy come out of his office, and Lee, shaking his head, stated with a hand up, "Uh, Amanda and I need to clear up something, okay? We'll be there in a minute-"

Amanda, puzzled, queried, "Lee? What in the world-"

But Lee firmly took Amanda by the arm, and pulled her into the nearby conference room, closing not only the blinds, but locking the door as well, answering tiredly, "Sit down! Apparently, you just lied when you said that you were okay! And why the hell wouldn't I understand? Now... I'm here, we're alone, so spill it!"

Amanda, sitting down in a chair then, bewildered at Lee's sudden attitude change, asked, "Wh-What's wrong with you? I simply meant that whatever still may be bothering me, I appreciate you wanting to help, but I don't want you to worry about it, and that I would just have to figure it out for myself-"

But Lee, standing by the closed door, shaking his head vehemently, responded angrily, " And again, I have to ask why? If it has anything to do with making things work with the two of us, I have the right to know, so I can at least try to help you! See, this is why women tick men off sometimes!"

Amanda then bristled as she crossed her arms across her chest, and remarked haughtily, "Really? Well, this I have to hear, Buster!"

Lee, clearing his throat, stated, "It's simple, really...Women play their problem game of "This is what's wrong", and sometimes, you all automatically assume, without giving a simple clue, that we know what the problem is, and when we men say that we honest to God don't know, what do you all say...?"

Just outside the conference room, all agents, including Billy and Francine, and the Steno Pool, became rapt with attention to Lee and Amanda's suddenly loud argument, wondering what started it, and how it would end!

Then came Lee's answer, as he said, "Well, if you don't know, I'm not going to tell you..."

There were stunned murmurings, and low chuckles and whistles from the group that heard Lee's not-so-bright answer! He was in deep trouble now, and if they knew it, why didn't he?!

Billy shook his head slowly remarking, "When will that boy ever learn to think before he opens his mouth?!"

And from inside the conference room, Amanda was bowled over by Lee's comments, and clearing her throat as she commented crisply, "Oh, I see! Well, if that's how you see us women, then let me make the burden of having me around a bit easier, hmm?"

It was at that moment that Lee finally realized that he went too far and gulped, answering with a gesture, "H-Hey, I'm-I'm sorry! I don't know what I was thinking! Pl-Please! Can't we start over here, huh?"

Amanda, then shaken by Lee's outburst, rose from the chair faced her partner of two years, and firmly answered as she pushed him away from the door, "First of all, you recruited me, not the other way around! Oh, and one more thing..."

She stated in a hushed tone to Lee, "Whatever you and I discussed a few days ago, in regard to what we have or hope to have for the future between us, is now off the table! I'll still work here, but I suggest you go back to your "Lone Wolf" lifestyle and leave me the hell alone!"

With that, she unlocked the door, and called to Billy, as she gestured towards Lee, who was now looking abashed, "Sorry, Sir...I'm taking today off. Call me when he's away on assignment!"

As they all watched Amanda leave in the elevator, Billy motioned to Lee, stating, "Scarecrow? My office! As for the rest of you, the show is over and you all have work to do!"

So, as Lee came into Billy's office, closing the door and sat down across from his desk, Billy asked as he stared incredulously at the younger agent, "What the hell was that all about? What's wrong with you?"

When Lee simply shrugged without a word, Billy commented tiredly, "All right...Go catch up on your files for now, but let me leave you with this...If you truly love that woman as I know you do, you're going about it the absolute worst way! Dismissed!"

Lee had a lot to think about as he tried focusing on his work the rest of the day...

TBC