She Can And She Did

Chapter 9

It was towards the end of the work day when Francine and Amanda returned from a meeting with a contact on a case, and coming off of the elevator, they both heard music playing, which was unusual for the Agency, and coming towards their desks, Amanda spotted white tulips on her own desk, and then saw Lee coming out of Billy's office.

Seeing Amanda, Lee stated, "Hi...Do you have a minute?"

Glancing at her watch, Amanda answered, "Sure, but not too long, alright?"

Lee nodded, and guiding her to her desk, sat her down remarking, "Thanks...Now, I'd like to apologize for our argument, but I realize just saying I'm sorry isn't gonna cut it, and I had to have a little help on this...So, if you'll just go along with me here, we'll begin, alright?"

Amanda, puzzled, shrugged and nodded, while Lee signalled to the Steno group to turn up the music, and when they did, Amanda recognized the tune, and swallowing hard as Lee looked at her, she sang softly with a gesture at her desk,

"You don't bring me flowers..."

Lee responded, "You never asked me to..."

Amanda smirked answering, "You don't sing me love songs."

Lee scoffed, querying, "Have you heard my voice?"

As the Agency crowd gathered around the Bullpen, chuckling, Lee continued with, "In fact, you never talk to me any more, when I get off the elevator at the beginning of the day..."

Amanda shook her head and cleared her throat followed with, " You're usually here before me... But...I remember when...You couldn't wait to leave me, always telling me to stay in the car..."

Lee added, "I learned how to laugh more, and even learned how to cry-"

Amanda, with a frown, asked without singing, "When?"

Lee swallowing hard answered, "When you were in trouble, and I couldn't get to you fast enough sometimes?"

Amanda winced and patting his hand, continued, "Well, I learned how to love again, and I certainly learned how to lie..."

Then they crooned together softly, "So you think I could learn how to tell you goodbye..."

Amanda added, "And you don't bring me flowers any more..."

As the music continued, Lee warbled, "Used to be so natural.."

Amanda sang, "Used to be..."

Lee added, "Talk about maybe someday...But "used to bes" don't count any more, they just lay on the floor 'til this Agency sweeps it away..."

Amanda shaking her head crooned, "Baby, I remember all the things you taught me..."

Lee sang with a nod, "Learning how to love, and learning how to cry..."

Amanda crooned, "Well, I learned how to love, and I learned how to lie..."

They added, "So, you think I could learn how to tell you goodbye..."

Lee stated, "You don't say you need me..."

Amanda, with tears in her eyes, said, "You don't sing me love songs..."

The Agency crowd chimed, "Have you heard his voice?"

Lee and Amanda laughing, finished with, "You don't bring me flowers...any more..."

As the music ended, Lee and Amanda shared a tender kiss, and everyone clapped!

As the crowd quieted down, Billy remarked, "I hope this means you two have finally made up?"

Amanda, clearing her throat stated, "I think so, Sir."

Then in a hushed tone, Amanda responded to Lee, " Hey! That was dirty pool, going to my mother, and all, and hearing that song again..."

Lee shrugged commenting, "Well, no one knows you better than she does-Wait...this was-that song? The one we just-"

Amanda nodded, and grabbing a tissue, wiped her eyes, and answered, "Yes, if she told you the story of years ago with Joe and my telling Mother that it may be over with him then-"

Lee gasped shaking his head, "She just said how upset you were, and that it was Barbra Streisand! She didn't tell me what song! Aw, geez! I'm so sorry! I never would've done this if I'd known what song-"

But Amanda quickly put up a hand responding with a sigh, "It-It's alright, Lee! It was years ago, and I'm fine now...Anyway, thank you for the flowers and the gesture...It was very thoughtful of you...Now, can we get out of here, please?"

Lee winked at her and taking her hand as she rose from the chair, commented, "You bet...C'mon."

Making their way down in the elevator, Lee asked, "Any plans for tonight?"

Amanda shook her head answering, "Nope...Just dinner...If you're free, that is?"

As they got off the elevator and handed Mrs. Marston their I.D.s and said good night, they headed for their cars with Lee responding warmly, "Sounds good...My place okay?"

Amanda nodded replying, "Yeah. I'm gonna go home and change, and check on the boys. So, in an hour alright?"

Lee stated, "Perfect...I've got steaks and wine, and baked potatoes for us, and-"

Amanda giggled querying with a hand up, "Now, wait a minute! What if we hadn't made up?"

Lee sighed, and with a mocked forlorn expression, responded with a shrug, "Well, then it would just be me with a TV dinner, and an action or western movie to watch..."

Amanda shook her head, and pretending to play a violin, answered with a grin,"Ohh! You poor thing! I could recommend some other ones for you the next time you're alone...Let's see...There's... The Sound Of Music, of course, or Grease, or The Way We Were, or-"

Lee growled with a gesture at her car, " Are you trying to make me nuts? Just go home already! I'll see you in an hour, okay?"

Giggling, Amanda got into her car and pulled out of the Agency parking lot, with Lee shaking his head as he watched her go, saying, "No sappy movies for this guy! I'm putting my foot down if she thinks we're gonna do that, and-"

Then he groaned, realizing he was talking to himself, and getting into his car, pulled out thinking, Well, I made up with your daughter, Mrs. West...Sure hope it was worth it...

TBC