SMK Chapter 3: Back at the Agency: Still Day 1

"So, Billy knows, but Francine doesn't?" Lee and Amanda came out of the Georgetown elevator and headed toward the bullpen.

"Right. As far as she knows, we're just..."

"...having a fling." Amanda nodded her head. "Yeah, I know. She's told me before; I'm just another victim of Lee Stetson's killer charm and short attention span."

"Hey, don't forget my incredible good looks." She shot him 'the look.' "Well, it must have worked," he bent sideways to whispered conspiratorially in her ear and nudged her side with his elbow. "You married me." She slid him another sly look as they rounded the corner...

...and collided with the mail cart coming from the opposite direction. It nearly scattered them all over the floor right along with the mail.

"Oh, Mr. Stetson...I'm so sorry! I didn't see you!"

Lee rubbed his leg where the cart had banged against it and bent down to help pick up the mail.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" Amanda stooped to help them.

The lady looked up at Lee. "This is like Deja vu."

"Excuse me?"

"Remember a couple years ago when I was subbing in the bullpen?" Lee dropped her a quizzical look as he stood and reached out a hand to help her up. Somehow in the process, she ended up between him and Amanda. "You don't remember?" She pushed a long lock of blonde hair behind her ear. "Oh, well, I dropped a bunch of employee computer disks, and you helped me pick them up. My name is June?"

Lee nodded his head slowly and smiled politely. "Yes, I do seem to recall that." He looked around her to Amanda who had been very neatly pushed out of the conversation. Their eyes met, and he knew they were both thinking about how that little fiasco had nearly ended with Amanda crushed beneath a human-induced rockslide. He looked back at June. "So now it's mail, huh?"

"Oh," she smiled shyly at him. "I'm part of the temporary pool, so I do whatever is needed."

Lee grew increasingly uncomfortable as she continued to stare at him. "Well, hey, I'm so sorry for the collision," he glanced at his watch. "But if you're okay, we have an important meeting."

"Oh, yes. Sure." She pushed the cart out of their way. "Thanks for your help!"

"No problem." Stepping around her, Lee reached for Amanda's arm. As he did so, he noticed June glance at Amanda. A scowl swiftly blanketed her features, but it was gone as soon as it had come. "Have a good day, June," he waved. "And watch out for those corners, huh?"

It might be worse than she thought; Amanda King seemed to really have her hooks into him. They were sleeping together after all. But for how long, she had no idea. At least since last night. Her eyes narrowed as she turned and watched them walk away.

They were always together and always so…chummy. It didn't matter. It would only be a matter of time before he got tired of her, just like he had all the others. And then she'd show him that they were meant to be together.

She watched as he opened the office door for Mrs. King and placed his hand on the small of her back, ushering her through. She sighed. He was always such a gentleman. But these days he only seemed to have eyes for that Mrs. King. She shook her head; better not to dwell on that. She would accomplish more by focusing on her plan. Then, one day soon, she would be the one at his side. A smile spread slowly over her lips. Phase one had already started; Mrs. King had no idea what was about to hit her.

"Another victim of that Stetson charm and good looks, I see," Amanda said slyly as they entered the bullpen. "Jeeze. It was like I wasn't even there."

"Yeah, that was weird." Lee glanced back just in time to see June quickly turn and walk away. "Creepy, even." He gave a little shudder.

"Yes, well I'm more worried about this meeting," Amanda admitted. "I've grown used to having to deal with women staring at the legendary Scarecrow…" She put a warning finger in the air. "…as long as he doesn't stare back."

"Amanda, Sweetheart, we're newlyweds."

"Very funny, Stetson." She smacked him teasingly on his stomach with the back of her hand. "Ah, well, who can blame them? I certainly have no room to talk." She winked at him.

Lee shook his head and rubbed his stomach. Without breaking eye-contact, he knocked on Billy's door.

"Come!" said a voice from inside.

"You ready for this?" He was still rubbing his stomach even as he began to open the door.

"Not really," she whispered and walked before him into the office.

"Have a seat, you two." Billy walked over to the windows that separated his office from the bullpen and closed the blinds for privacy.

Lee and Amanda took a seat on the small sofa in the room. With no need to pretend, Lee draped his arm along the back of the sofa and cupped her shoulder with his hand.

Billy turned, looked at them for a full thirty seconds, then sat in a chair facing them. "Well, first let me say I hear congratulations are in order."

Lee glanced over at Amanda to see her looking down into her lap. Oh, how he wished he could spare her this embarrassment. He tightened his arm around her.

"No, I really mean it. Congratulations."

That brought Amanda's head up. "Thank you, sir."

"Unofficially, I couldn't be happier." Billy beamed at them, leaned his elbows on his knees, and clasped his hands together. "You may not realize this Amanda, but when you first started working part-time for us, it didn't take me long to realize you might be exactly what Lee needed."

"Excuse me?" Lee asked, confused.

"Well, Scarecrow, didn't I say those exact words to you four years ago."

Lee smiled and nodded. "Yes. Yes, you did."

"You were like a machine at work, Scarecrow. No emotions, a bit reckless, but a damn good agent. Outside of work, however, you were like a man without a compass."

"Aw, Billy." Lee rolled his eyes at the trite metaphor.

Billy pinned Lee with a look. "You know it, and I know it." Lee sighed. Billy was more right than he knew. "Amanda was the real deal. Smart, intuitive, genuine…a woman with real depth."

"Thank you, Sir," Amanda was touched by Billy's description of her.

"You were surrounded by smart and beautiful women, Lee, but you were never satisfied with any of them. You got tired of them." Lee grimaced, uncomfortable hearing his boss nail him so perfectly. "You didn't understand why at the time, but I knew it was because they were too shallow. Everything was on the surface. They may have glittered, but they were not gold.

"I threw you two together every chance I got just hoping you'd finally see what a really special woman was like. And I was right," Billy puffed his chest out like a proud papa. "Oh, I watched you fight it for a while, but..."

"But…" Lee turned to Amanda. "…I couldn't help coming back time and time again." He squeezed her shoulder. "Even in the beginning I kept finding myself knocking on your kitchen window."

"I've watched you become not only a better agent, Scarecrow, but a better man as well. More focused, more astute, more compassionate, more honorable. A man your parents would be proud of."

"Well, thank you, Billy. That means a lot to me coming from you."

Billy turned his attention to Amanda. "And who could have foreseen the great asset you've become to this Agency. You've really blossomed into quite the agent, Amanda."

Billy leaned back in his chair and sighed. "But that's unofficially. Officially, we've got a problem."

"What do you mean, Sir?"

Billy stood and walked toward his desk. He stopped and sighed, then turned and rubbed the back of his neck. "If Dr. Smith hears about this, it may not go well for the two of you." Lee took a breath to say something, but Billy held up an open palm. "It's one thing for two agents to have a casual fling, but long-term, committed relationships between partners? Those are fraught with complications."

"Billy..."

"Let me finish, Lee." Billy came back to sit and face them. "Think about it. What happens when you two get into a serious fight? It happens even in the best of marriages." Lee and Amanda looked at one another. "How will that affect your working relationship? Your job performance?"

Lee cleared his throat. "Well, Billy, that happens even with normal work partners. We've certainly weathered our fair share of those moments over the last four years."

"Yes, but marriage adds an entirely different dimension. It's more…personal. And what happens if one of you is captured? How does that impact your impartiality to your job? Your ability to think rationally and dispassionately?"

"Sir, if you'll excuse me," Amanda broke into the conversation. "You've already been with us in that situation several times." Billy turned to look at her and and leaned back into his chair. She glanced up at Lee. "I think being in loved has saved our lives on more than one occasion."

"She's right, Billy," Lee continued. "We're more in-tune with each other, more determined not to give up..."

"More stupid, more reckless...more inclined to break the rules." Billy interrupted. "And for you, Scarecrow, that's saying a lot."

"More creative, stronger, smarter, more able to fight to stay alive," Lee parried. "Come on, Billy. You yourself said I've become a better agent. We make a great team, and you know it."

"Yes, I know it, Lee." He shook his head. "The ability you two have developed to bounce back from situations that would send most people to a shrink is astounding. But me knowing it isn't the problem." He stood again and walked toward his desk. "It's Dr. Smith knowing it."

"Sir, don't you think he may already have some suspicions?" Amanda asked.

"Yeah, Billy. You know how this place is. There are bound to be rumors flying around." Lee waved his hand in the air.

"Suspicions, yes," Billy acknowledged as he turned to face them again. "Rumors, yes. But hard facts? No. And that's where the problem lies. Right now, Dr. Smith has plausible deniability. If his suspicions are confirmed, he may have to throw the book at all three of us just to maintain his credibility."

"So, what do you suggest, Sir?"

"I suggest you break up..."

"No," they spoke emphatically at the same time.

"...not for real, for appearances."

"What would that look like, Sir?"

"Well, for starters, Amanda, I suggest you go back to your house."

"Billy," Lee growled in frustration.

"Then, I suggest you stage a fight. Afterward, Amanda, I want you to come to my office asking for a different partner."

"But Sir..."

"Not permanently. Just until we find out what this guy's game is."

"If I may, Sir, wouldn't that just be playing into his hand? Giving him exactly what he wants?"

"It will buy us time to find him, Amanda," Billy argued.

"No, Sir." She shook her head. "I don't think so."

"Yeah, think about it, Billy," Lee pulled his arm out from behind Amanda and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. "Let's look at this by the numbers." He ticked off his points on his fingers. "One. He wants Amanda out of the way. Two. He wants me working alone. Three. He now knows we were, well..." He gazed over at Amanda. "...together. Four. He was able to get into my house without being detected..."

"Five," Amanda continued. "He has internal access to the agency. Six. He's at least somewhat familiar with agency policies."

"Okay, those are very good observations, you two. But why does this mean you shouldn't temporarily separate?"

"Because I think he's inside, Billy. At the very least, he has good connections inside. He knows us, and he knows a lot about us. So, I don't want Amanda alone at her house. Who knows what this guy's willing to do."

Amanda laid her hand on Lee's knee. "And maybe, with what we already know, we can get him playing our game instead of us playing his. Besides, we work best as a team. We can watch each other's backs and get help if we need it."

"Alright, you make your point well, you two." Billy conceded. "But do you realize how dangerous this could get? If this guy thinks we're not going to give him what he wants, he's going to keep trying other things. Assigning Amanda to work with someone else may be the least dangerous option. If you stay together, he's going to escalate...maybe even try to get rid of her permanently, you know what I mean?

"On top of that, there's the Dr. Smith issue. If this guy has access to the agency, he may just go straight to the top." Billy glanced back and forth between Amanda and Lee. "And if that happens, I may not be able to do anything about the consequences."

"We've got enough to worry about right now." Lee pinched the bridge of his nose; it was only eleven o'clock in the morning, and it had already been a long day. "Let's cross that bridge when..."

"If," Amanda interrupted.

Lee looked at her, then back at Billy. "...if we come to it."

Billy lifted his hands in surrender. "Alright, you two. If that's how you want to play this, who am I to argue with my dynamic duo. But…" He held up a finger. "...there are some things I want to happen, and I won't take any argument from either of you."

"Okay, shoot," Lee responded.

Billy leaned against his desk. "Amanda, where are your mother and your boys? I'm assuming they're not at home since you stayed the night at Lee's place."

"That's right, Sir. Mother decided to take the summer and go to Europe. She's always wanted to do that but with me working and Joe doing humanitarian work for the EAO she felt that the boys needed her at home but since Joe is home for the summer and the boys went to spend their summer with him, it gave Mother the chance to finally get to do something she's always wanted."

She looked up at Billy who appeared vaguely shell-shocked. Lee just grinned at her and shook his head. She cleared her throat. "Uh, no, Sir. They're not at home."

"That means we don't have to worry about them." Billy sighed. "There's some good news at least. Now, we have to assume our guy is going to realize pretty quickly that nothing came of his little recording. Amanda, that means you're the prime target for now because he wants you out of the picture. And since we know he has access to the Agency, it's likely he's an employee or even an agent. Damn…" Billy ran his hand over his balding head. "…it could be absolutely anybody. Hell, we don't even know if this guy is working alone. So be extra careful. Both of you."

Lee turned and looked at Amanda. "Right. So don't trust anyone, Amanda. Be careful not to be alone in a room with anyone no matter what reason they give you. Don't even go to the ladies' room alone."

Billy looked at them both for a moment. "I want Francine in on this."

Amanda looked up sharply, and Lee read her non-verbal communication loud and clear. "Uh, Billy," he countered, "I don't think anyone else needs to know about…this." He waved a finger between Amanda and himself.

"And why not?"

"It's just another person who knows about our personal lives." Lee glanced at Amanda. "Besides, you know how Francine is with Amanda."

Billy nodded. "Yes, but I also know she's a professional, and a damn good one. She can put aside her personal feelings."

Amanda stood and walked across the room. Lee watched her, worried. "Uh, Billy, you know, we have good reasons for keeping our relationship under wraps."

"Believe me, Lee. I understand." Billy smiled. "You want to protect your family – even the part of the family who don't yet know they're family."

"Yes, but I don't think we're doing a very good job of keeping it a secret." Amanda turned and looked at them. "Think about it. If there are rumors going around, then we must be feeding those rumors, or there wouldn't be any rumors. And no matter how hard we try, our feelings for each other have to be written all over our faces...in our body language..." Amanda waved a hand in the air, "I mean, look at how many times I've already been a target because of what was assumed about us, even before it was true." Lee's eyebrows lowered, but Amanda began ticking her fingers. "Edson Ballon, Alan Squires, Yuri Valoff…"

"Amanda, Yuri was a good guy; he doesn't count."

"He knew he'd be able to find you by following me, Lee." She reminded him.

"That's hardly the same thing, Amanda."

She looked him pointedly and ticked of some more fingers. "Gordon Redding, Serdeych…"

Lee sighed. "Yeah, you're probably right."

"I trust Francine, Lee." He frowned and began to speak, but Amanda plowed on. "No, really. I know she doesn't understand me. I know she thinks I'm boring and beneath her. But we work well together when we have to, and we've even bonded..." she chuckled and shrugged her shoulders "...in some kind of weird way. She may not understand what you see in me..." Lee began to interrupt again, but Amanda held up her hand. "...she may even be jealous of our relationship. But deep down, she cares about both of us, and I think she's proven that on a number of occasions."

"Amanda is right, Lee. Besides, she doesn't need to know the full extent of your relationship if you don't want to let her in on it. That would lend credibility to the possibility that the rumors are just that. Rumors."

Lee looked back and forth between Amanda and Billy. He stood with a sigh. "Alright. If you both think it's a good idea, who am I to say it's not?"

"So, what do we want to tell her?" Amanda asked.

Billy stood and walked toward the door, signaling the end of the meeting. "That's a decision you two will have to make on your own. Either way, I want an extra set of eyes on the two of you. Especially you, Amanda. Do you both understand?"

"Yeah, Billy..."

"Yes, Sir..."

"Alright, let's meet at Emilio's in..." Billy looked at his watch. "…one hour. Since we don't know what we're dealing with here in this office, we can talk with Francine there." He opened the door and dismissed them.

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