Author's note: Thanks so much to everyone who has been following this story and waiting so patiently for updates I am so sorry for the long delay. I had a really hard time with getting the dialogue between Billy and Dr. Smyth just the way that I wanted it. I hope it was worth the wait.

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Not long after Lee and Amanda had left his office, Billy was irked to see Dr. Smyth entering it. He was already angrier than he could describe at his charges, the last thing he needed was another lecture from his superior. "Dr. Smyth," he said tensely.

"Billy," Dr. Smyth greeted him taking a long drag off his cigarette. "Did I just see our resident Samson and Delilah leaving here?"

Billy scowled at his boss and said, "I think that's a bad analogy. Delilah led to Samson's death, by taking his strength from him."

"As will Mrs King lead to Scarecrow's," Smyth argued. "You saw the video, how pathetic he was. I'd say she's already stolen his strength, much as Delilah stole Samson's."

"I think you're wrong," Billy said. "She is his strength. Look at how much he plays by the rules now when he didn't before. He's always been good at his job, but he's become so much better with her by his side."

"I'll grant you, he's become less reckless with her around, but this sordid display of their makes me question how much longer that will continue if they're allowed to continue as they are."

"I don't know what you mean," Billy said evasively.

"Come now, Billy. It's obvious from their very public sparring match the other day that Scarecrow and Mrs. King have been lovers for quite some time."

"I can't argue with you on that point," Billy said sighing in resignation.

"What do you know about it?"

"Nothing, really," Billy lied. Now was not the time to reveal their marriage when Dr. Smyth was in this mood. He'd save that tidbit as a last resort in case he needed to use it as leverage in the event that he would go as far as to try to transfer one of them out of the DC office. He knew that agency rulebook didn't officially forbid relationships among agents, even if it was frowned upon and he knew that the rulebook did forbid the agency from assigning husbands and wives to different field offices. Although, he had to admit Lee and Amanda's situation was a unique one. While there had been several instances over the years in which a pair of agents married, this was the first time in the agency's history that the two agents in question were partners. "I've suspected that they had a personal relationship ever since the nightcrawler mess when Amanda was abducted by Addi Birol. Lee's reaction was equivalent to that of someone who'd lost a lover, not just a partner."

"As have I, Billy, but even then he kept it somewhat professional. I want you to know that I'm not entirely heartless. On a personal level, I find the whole thing quite charming and romantic, however, on a professional level, there are things that I cannot tolerate and one of those things is compromising the integrity of this agency."

"I don't believe that's what's happening here," Billy argued.

"No? What else would you call when one of our top agent teams has become nothing more that water cooler gossip, negating any positive influence that the good work they've done together had garnered? Have you heard what they're saying out there?"Smyth said with a wild gesture toward the bullpen. Without giving Billy a chance to answer, he continued. "Several of your subordinates out there are questioning my decision to grant Mrs. King full-time agent status back in September. They're even suggesting that she slept her way into that position. That makes not only this agency look bad, but me as well."

"They're not seriously thinking that you and Amanda..."

"Indeed they are. They're even insinuating that that's the reason she and Scarecrow kept their little tête-à-têtes so secret, for fear I might find out about it and send them both off to the ends of the earth in a jealous rage. Now, you and I both know the truth, as do Scarecrow and Mrs. King, but the gossip hounds out there don't. So, if you know something more than you're saying, I need to hear it right now."

"You told me yesterday that you wouldn't separate them unless you had to, unless it started affecting their work."

"And I won't. I can't very well do so now with the rumors that are flying out there. How would it look? I'd just be validating their suspicions that I'm some sort of a spurned lover. You know something, Billy. I know you do, so spill."

Billy sighed, realizing that the only way to get out of this was to come clean with the whole truth. "They're more than just lovers," Billy said. "They were married four months ago. They've been keeping it under wraps both of them fearing for her family's safety. The stress of keeping their secret and being married, but living apart was getting to both of them. That's what led to their fight."

"That's ridiculous. They both should have known that this agency looks after its own," Dr. Smyth said not seeming at all shocked by the revelation of the mystery marriage. He seemed to simply shrug it off.

"That's the same thing I said to them, but it's not important now. The damage is already done."

Dr. Smyth paced silently as he pondered the situation, taking long, slow drags off his cigarette while he did so. He halted abruptly in his pacing as an idea struck him. "The solution is simple, Billy. We just let everyone out there know the truth. That will at least get my name out of it."

"Is that all you're worried about? What they think of you?"

"Not all, Billy, but it's enough. How do you think it looks to have it rumored that the Director of Covert Operations is having a clandestine love affair with a freshman agent, an agent that I put in that position. It affects not only my reputation and hers, but the reputation of the agency as well."

"Ok, I see your point," Billy said. "But I don't see how blurting out the truth about their marriage will help."

"Oh, I'm not thinking blurt out. We're talking about a building full of spies here. If we just hand over this kind of information, they'll never take it at face value. They're all too damned suspicious for that. I'm thinking of something a little more covert, supplying little pieces of the puzzle and letting the rumor mill put them together on their own. I don't suppose they gave you any details on when and where the nuptials took place."

"No, they just said four months ago, but it shouldn't be too hard to figure it out. I actually have an idea already. Do you remember when Amanda was shot back in February?"

"I do," Smyth answered.

"Well, they both had vacation time scheduled for that week and the entire week leading up to that happening, the two of them were acting very anxious, working their asses off to close all their open case files, turn in all outstanding reports. Then when I assigned them to the Nick Grant case, Lee became downright belligerent about not wanting to work it and just letting the state police take it over."

"That's highly unusual for him to give up any assignment, especially to local PD. So, your theory is that this shared vacation time was meant to be their honeymoon?"

"Yeah, so I'm thinking the wedding had to have taken place sometime during the week they were working the Grant case. I could do some digging around that time frame and see what I can come up with."

"I've got a better idea," Smyth said. "Assign it to the freshmen; they're always firmly entwined in the office grapevine. Give each of them different assignments as practice for doing background research. You'll have the perfect excuse since their trainer's on field duty right now."

"Different assignments," Billy questioned.

"Yes, have one them look for a marriage license, another hotel registrations for Mr. and Mrs. Stetson, jewelry store purchases to another, plane tickets, et cetera."

"What exactly are you up to?"Billy said.

"Pieces of the puzzle," Smyth said with a grin. "Trust me, Billy."

"I would if I knew just what it was that I'm supposed to trust you with," Billy countered.

"Ok, here's the deal. If they were as anxious as you say, they'd been planning this for a while. The Stemwinder files already contain enough circumstantial evidence to indicate they were an item at that time. If we build up enough of a paper trail leading back to that time frame, it will be obvious that there's no way she could have been involved with me, not if she was able to do the impossible and catch a seemingly uncatchable bachelor."

Billy couldn't help but laugh at Dr. Smyth's way of thinking. "Oh, this is going to be fun," he said with a mischievous smile.

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Lee and Amanda drove back to the park in silence both agitated by how their conversation with Billy had gone. Neither of them had expected him to blow up the way that he had. They'd thought that of all the people in their lives, he would have been the one who would have been the most supportive of their decision but it had been just the opposite. Out of everyone that they'd told so far, he was by far the angriest.

Amanda was the first one to break the silence. "Billy's right, you know," She said. "We weren't thinking."

"I know," Lee said tensely. "That's exactly the point that I was trying to make the other day when I blew up at the office."

"Yeah, you were right," She agreed.

"Well, yes and no," Lee said with a sigh. "I was right that we made a mistake in keeping our marriage a secret, but I was wrong to explode the way I did. I had no right to do that. The way that I spoke to you was unforgiveable."

"No, Lee, you had every right to be frustrated by our situation. And for the record, you're not the only one who's been frustrated by our impossible situation."

"Amanda, I'm trying to apologize here. Will you just let me get it out? I mean, this whole stupid mystery marriage thing was my idea to start with."

"Yes, you suggested it, but I agreed to it," Amanda argued. "I was so afraid for the boys that I wasn't thinking about anything else. I've been afraid for them ever since I started this job, but Billy was right. It was an irrational fear. He made a good point. The Agency has always done what's necessary to protect them when there was a specific threat against them and he's personally helped my mother at least twice, when she got involved with Dr. Zernov and again when she got involved with Harry."

Lee chuckled and said, "Ever notice how your mother's love life has a tendency to get her in trouble?"

"The same thing could be said about us," Amanda pointed out. "That's what led to this whole thing and for the record; you don't have anything to apologize for. I was the one who was being stubborn. You made a very good point during our argument that if I'd stopped to discuss this with you, it wouldn't have turned into the big scene that it did."

"Still, though I was out of line. I shouldn't have aired our dirty laundry in public."

"Yes, but if I would have been willing to talk to you about it in private, it wouldn't have been brought out in public."

"Seriously, Amanda?" Lee said with a shake of his head. "Are we really going to do this?"

"Do what?"Amanda said.

"Argue about whose fault the argument was? Why can't we just agree that we were both idiots and leave it at that?" he said as he pulled the 'Vette to a halt in front of their cabin.

"Ok, you're right. I'm just worried," Amanda said. "How are we going to fix this with Billy and what if he's not able to convince Dr. Smyth to let us keep working together? What's going to happen if he starts sending you out on field assignments alone? Then where will you be? You and I both know that we work best together as a team and if I'm not there with you, you may get into trouble that you can't get out of and-" Her ramble was halted by her husband's lips on hers and his hand caressing her face. When he pulled back she said, "What was that for?"

"I've learned that sometimes that's the only way to shut you up," He teased.

"Hey," she said as she smacked him playfully. "I have a legitimate concern here."

"I know you do and I have the same concern, but we can't dwell on it. What's going to happen is going to happen. All we can do right now is concentrate on getting this case solved then deal with what's coming when it comes." As they climbed out of the car, Lee couldn't help but notice the lost-in-thought look on his wife's face, "What is it?"

"It just occurred to me that this might be the last case we ever work together," Amanda said sadly as she reached for the shopping bag she was using to hide the agency files.

"I don't believe that. As mad as he is, I believe in Billy and his belief in us and I think he'll do anything in his power to keep us together as partners."

"But what if he can't?"

"He will," Lee said as he reached for his wife's free hand wrapping his around it.

"There you two are," Chambers said from behind them starting both of them. "The first event is starting in about twenty minutes. Where did you disappear to?"

"We decided to take advantage of the free time to check out the shopping area you talked about last night," Amanda covered quickly as she held up the shopping bag she'd just pulled out of the "vette."We'll be ready in plenty of time. We've been looking forward to it."

"Scavenger hunt, isn't it," Lee said.

"Just a warm-up before the really hard part starts," Chambers replied with a leering look at Amanda causing her to shift uncomfortably. "I hope you're up for the challenge."

"I'm always up for a challenge," Lee said pointedly as he wrapped his arms possessively around his wife as he glared at the other man. "Now, if you don't mind, we need to get back inside so we have time to get ready."

"Of course," Chambers said with a gesture toward their cabin. "I'll see you soon," he added with another lecherous look at Amanda as the couple walked away.