Within the hour, the team was once again in Billy's office, and the teens were parked on the street outside.

"Junior, it's getting late. Your grandmother will talk to my dad and we'll all get in trouble if I don't get you guys home." Kevin signaled and pulled out into traffic, pointing the Nova in the direction of Arlington.

Phillip looked at Jamie and shrugged his shoulders. They both knew he was right. It was after four o'clock.

In Billy's office, Lee was leaning against the windows for the third time that day. Obviously worried about being caught in a blackmailing scandal, Colonel Marshall had decided to be proactive and had called Billy right after Emily had left his office. Lee listened as Emily debriefed with Billy about her meeting with the colonel, but he watched his wife once again. She just looks tired. This case is almost over. We're going to the doctor tomorrow if I have anything to say about it.

A knock sounded on the door to the office. At the sight of one of the office assistants, Billy called out, "Come in."

The young woman looked around the room, growing shy when she saw Lee glance at her. "Uh, sir. The security team is on the line. They say that the same Chevy Nova was parked on the street outside once again. It has the same plates as the car that followed the van to the hotel earlier."

"Please put the call through and I'll speak with them."

"Billy, you didn't tell us about the tail."

"Jones noticed it on the way to Emily's hotel, Lee. He thought he lost them after the hotel, so we didn't mention it to you. I was planning to bring it up in this meeting."

The phone rang, and Billy picked it up. "Melrose here. So, I heard the car was on the street. Did someone follow it? Well, why the hell not, man? Did you at least run the plates?" Billy scribbled something on a sheet of paper. "Well, I expect a background on the owner of the vehicle on my desk ASAP. And I want an agent assigned to watch the owner's house."

Billy hung up the phone and turned to Amanda. "Ever hear of a John Nelson? He lives near you in Arlington. He's the owner of the Nova that followed the van. We're running a check on him."

Amanda's eyes grew large and she looked over at Lee, then back at Billy. "Phillip has a friend named Samantha Nelson. Her father's name is John."

Billy thought for a moment, but decided to continue the conversation after everyone else had left. He looked at Francine. "Desmond, I want you to set up an op for tomorrow. We're going to give Colonel Marshall some plans for Whitsett, but it will be like last time. Get someone in crypto to make some changes that will render the plans useless. And I want a team there, ready to bring in Whitsett and anyone else he's working with—Rostov if need be."

As the meeting broke up, Billy asked Amanda to stay behind. When Lee sat down in a chair, Billy looked over at him. "Lee, you don't need to stay. I just want to ask Amanda a few questions about the Nelsons. This could be the KGB closing in on our investigation."

"Actually, if it concerns Amanda, it concerns me." Lee was not sure why John Nelson was tailing him and his wife around town, but he was determined to find out why. And I sure as hell want to know if the KGB is a threat.

Billy stifled a chuckle. "Oh, really? I know you two have something going on outside of work, but…" He hoped that Lee might make a slip and spill the beans about their marriage.

Seeing his gaffe, Lee stuttered a bit. "Well, we're partners. We all know that."

"Just partners, Lee?" Billy decided to push the issue.

Lee was not looking at Billy because he was too busy sending silent signals to Amanda.

She nodded at him and sat back in her chair, placing a hand on her stomach first, then quickly moving it to her lap. If I'm right, it will be so much easier if we get this part out of the way. It's going to be hard enough telling Lee.

Might as well get it over with, Stetson. "Uh, Billy. We're married." Lee looked a little sick, waiting for the section chief's reaction.

"Well, then! Congratulations are in order! I always knew I was right, having you two work together." Billy stood up and came to shake Lee's hand, then gave Amanda a hug.

Lee's face was a mixture of surprise and relief at his superior's reaction. Amanda sighed, feeling as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Sitting back down, Lee reached for Amanda's hand.

His eyes twinkling, Billy went back to his desk chair and took his seat. He placed his elbows on the desk and grinned at the agents. He really was pleased they had finally gotten married, even though he was a bit miffed that they had kept the marriage a secret for so long. "I should be honest and tell you that I've known for a several weeks about your wedding. It came up during a random security review of the courthouses in the counties surrounding D.C. Why did you wait so long to tell me? I've been hoping you would."

Lee grew uncomfortable again. "You know, Billy, when I called you from California, I hadn't just rushed to Amanda's side. We were both there on our honeymoon."

"Oh." Billy's grin faded and he grew sober. "I am sorry about that. You know, at some point you two need to take another honeymoon."

"Thank you, Sir. But that's not why we didn't tell you. It was for my family's security."

The phone rang again. Billy looked apologetically at the couple. "I should take this. It could be about Nelson."

Once he was off the phone, Amanda spoke again. "Sir, we were worried about the boys' and Mother's safety. After Kai…"

Billy put a hand to stop her. "Well, it seems that you have a safety issue close to home, now. Apparently our agent came across the Nova before it made it to the Nelson home. He says that two boys, in their early teens, were seen getting out of the car at 4247 Maplewood Drive in Arlington. The driver was a young male, and there was a girl with him."

Amanda leaned forward, worried. "Sir, it sounds like Samantha's older brother, Kevin, drove my boys and his sister around today. Since their parents divorced, he has kept an eye on her."

"Well, it also sounds like your boys thought it would be entertaining to find out what their mother does for work." Billy smiled ruefully. "Amanda, I know I don't have to lecture you about this."

Amanda went pale, remembering the hook up with Whitsett at the hotel lounge. She gripped the sides of the chair and turned to her partner. "Oh Lee, you don't suppose?"

Concerned at his wife's expression and remembering the lecture Joe had given them the other night, Lee was trying not to panic. He started to say something, but Billy cut him off.

"Now, don't assume the worst." His voice was kindly. "You know, when my girls started to get older, Jeannie and I decided that the best thing was to tell them what I did for a living. Not too many details, but enough so they understood the need to take precautions. You know we have classes for family members. You don't need to worry that your family will end up like Kai's."

"Oh, but they don't even know we're married." Amanda was not feeling well. She continued to grip the chair's armrests.

"Well, you two may have to spill the beans on that one, too, at some point. It's better to have them take precautions—and not follow you around while you are working. They could have interfered with the operation. Or worse, if the KGB was following Whitsett…"

Gazing at his wife, Lee was eager to cut off Billy's line of reasoning before Amanda became more upset. "Uh Billy, I think we get the point." He turned to Amanda. "I need to take you home."

"Right. I need to talk with the boys."

"That's not the only reason. You haven't been yourself since before the weekend—and it keeps getting worse. You're seeing the doctor tomorrow. Please don't argue with me."

Putting her head on her hand, Amanda nodded. She dreaded the fallout of the Agency doctor telling her what she was fairly certain of already. Face it, Amanda. You can't keep it a secret for long. You know it's a risk to be on an operation if you aren't well. And if it is what you think it is… Well, all the more reason to play it safe. But I just want to finish this case with Lee. And Emily.

Amanda forced herself to sit up straight. The faint feeling had passed. "I will see my doctor tomorrow afternoon. I'll even make an appointment before I leave tonight. Hopefully I will be better, or we will have everything wrapped up by then."

"Well, that would be nice, Amanda. But Lee is right. I'm making that an order. If you aren't feeling better tomorrow, I want you to report to the medical staff, not just your personal physician. If you continue to have symptoms, you'll be a risk to the team." Billy chuckled. "Although I must say that it is pretty amusing to hear Scarecrow insisting that anyone go to the doctor."

Once they ended their meeting with Billy, Lee and Amanda found Emily catching up on phone calls at a desk in the bull pen. Amanda excused herself to call her doctor. Then she called home.

"Mother, I'll be a little late. Lee and I have to drop off a friend at a hotel… I know, but she's… Well, okay. Let me ask." Amanda put her hand over the mouthpiece and looked at Lee and Emily. "Mother is insisting that you both join us for dinner. She made a roast..."

Lee was hoping he could offer Amanda some moral support when she confronted the boys. "Sounds great."

Emily hesitated. "I would love to come, Amanda, but I do have an old friend I'm meeting for dinner tonight. Perhaps you and your mother would like to join me for tea at that quaint little tea house again before I leave?"

"Oh, I'm sure she would. But if you can come for dinner another evening, that would be nice."

"Most certainly. And please pass on the invitation to her."

"Lee said it sounds great, but Lady Farnsworth has other plans, Mother. She wants us to have tea at the tea house with her, and she'll come another evening before she leaves town."

As the three emerged from the Agency and started towards the Jeep, Lee put his hands on the backs of the two women and leaned in to speak quietly. "I think I saw Rostov near the Jeep just now."

Before they had time to react, Rostov stepped out onto the sidewalk and approached them. "You are chasing a decoy." He stepped back into the shadows and waited for them to leave.

Lee looked over at Emily, then Amanda, before guiding the women to the vehicle. "I'm glad we went through the hassle of getting you that car phone, Amanda. We need to call Billy."

Reaching Billy on the phone, Amanda told him about Rostov's comment. "Yes, Sir. We also wondered the same thing, since Whitsett had been caught before and was not experienced the first time." Amanda looked across the front seat at Lee, who glanced back at her, trying to guess what Billy was saying.

"Yes, Sir. I will tell him. Thank you, Sir." Amanda ended the call and put her car phone away. "He said that he will tell the surveillance teams watching Colonel Marshall to keep a sharp eye out. The colonel said he is meeting at ten a.m. with Whitsett. Beaman is looking at the flash traffic to see if there has been any other activity having to do with those plans."

Having taken Emily to her hotel, the couple headed towards Arlington. Before they reached Amanda's usual exit, she put her hand on Lee's arm. "Would you get off here, please? I thought I'd go the Pay 'n Go. I want to get something for the nausea, and they have more variety there."

"Are you sure? You always go to the pharmacy in your neighborhood."

"Yes, please." Amanda hoped Lee would not press the issue. She did not want anyone she knew to see what she was purchasing.

Lee looked at his wife sideways and started to say something, then decided against it. The nagging feeling he had had earlier in the day was back. Amanda's symptoms added up to something, and somehow, he should know what it was. He thought back over the last few days.

His thoughts were interrupted once again as Amanda directed him to the drug store.

When Amanda insisted she go in alone, Lee sat in the Jeep. He was using the time to think through her symptoms again, when he was distracted by the harried mother and her three children who parked next to him. As the woman pulled one of the children from a car seat, it finally dawned on him.

Her errand completed, Amanda stuffed the bag containing her purchase into her purse and went back out to the car.

"No luck?"

"Oh, it's in my purse. It was a small package."

Instead of backing out of the parking space, Lee regarded his wife. "Amanda, what aren't you telling me? I'm your husband. Clearly you're covering something up."

"What makes you say that?"

"I know you too well. You've had me worried sick at times these last couple of days, but you don't seem worried at all. Even if this isn't something serious, you need to tell me what's wrong."

"It isn't anything serious."

Lee took her hand. "I've been thinking that something was wrong with your heart. You know, maybe you didn't heal up all the way, and the doctor missed something… Then I got to thinking about your symptoms and wondered if it might be something else." Lee waited for her response.

He has a good point about having a right to know. You're scaring the poor man, when the truth is, you're afraid of what he'll say. He has a right to know. You might be wrong about how he'll react. He might enjoy finding out.

"I think I'm pregnant."

I was right! "Really?"

Amanda was not sure how to read Lee's expression. "I was wondering if you would figure it out."

"Last month, at the cabin… You forgot the…"

"Yeah."

"Wow."

Amanda thought she detected a sparkle in her husband's eyes. Was his dimple starting to show? "You don't seem upset."

"Why would I be upset? We might be having a baby." Lee was quiet a moment, then a big grin spread across his face. "We might be having a baby!" He leaned over and threw his arms around his wife, hugging her tightly to him.

Breathing a heavy sigh, Amanda could not contain her relief. "Oh, I was so afraid to tell you."

Lee was sober as he pulled away and squeezed her hand. "Because the great Scarecrow used to be afraid of kids. You probably thought I never wanted any of my own."

"Well, we've never talked about it. To tell you the truth, I was afraid to talk about it."

Rather than reply immediately, Lee backed the Jeep out of the parking space and started towards Maplewood Drive. He wanted to take a minute to make sure he formed the right words.

Looking over at his wife, he felt a pang of guilt, knowing this topic of conversation was long overdue. "You know, I've come to love Phillip and Jamie like they are my own boys. But before we were married I had started thinking it would be great if we could have one of our own. I was afraid to bring it up before the wedding, because of the scare with Kai's family. Then after you were hurt, it seemed out of the question." Lee was quiet a moment. "You haven't been well, Amanda. Are you sure it's okay for you to be pregnant already?"

"I'm probably fine. And we don't know for sure. I just have the same symptoms I had with the boys. Only I think it's a little worse this time because I'm older." Amanda hesitated. "I bought a test at that Pay 'n Go because I was afraid a neighbor might see me. No one knows I'm married again."

Lee glanced over at Amanda, regret on his face. "I'm so sorry. This whole secret marriage idea was idiotic. It's bad enough being apart from each other, but now you're worried about your reputation." Lee looked ahead, determination on his face. "That's it. We're making the marriage public. And we'll make sure people know it was in February, so no one thinks the less of you."

"Well, we don't know for certain I'm pregnant."

"But what if you aren't, and you do become pregnant later?" Lee's expression was hopeful.

Amanda was quiet.

"You do want to be pregnant?"

"This is a lot to process all at once, Lee. I'm thirty-six. We weren't trying—supposedly. I thought I was done having babies."

"Oh. Of course."

Seeing Lee's disappointment, Amanda's heart went out to him. She had never considered he would want their baby. Amanda, you are being foolish about being pregnant. The boys would love it, your mother would love it, and, it seems, Lee would be on top of the world. Certainly you can enjoy it, too. And maybe we could try to have a little one, if you really aren't pregnant right now.

"I'm sorry. That sounded incredibly selfish. It was selfish."

"It was a natural reaction."

"But it would mean so much to you. And, I have to admit, seeing how excited you are, it makes me enjoy the idea, too."

Lee offered Amanda a smile of relief at her admission.

She sighed. Having eaten only one meal that day, Amanda was famished once again. And very tired. They were nearing the house. "Well, I guess we'll find out after dinner. What an evening this is going to be."

"We're in this together, okay?"

Suddenly, Amanda knew she would be just as happy having a baby as Lee would be. She would not be alone this time. Lee Stetson, who once was determined never to marry, let alone have children, wanted to have a baby with her. They could enjoy raising a child together. From the start. He was willing to be there when things were hard. She was not on her own.

"I love you, you know."

"I know. I love you." He kissed her hand.