LEE

He missed her. God did he miss her. He was out of his mind with worry. He couldn't protect her this time. He spent most of the morning pacing in Billy's office going over what happened. He was yelling and screaming. He knew the status of his relationship with Amanda was out in the open by now but he didn't care. Let them know that he loved her with everything in him. Let them all know that she is the best thing to ever happen to him. And she was gone.

He spent an hour in the Q bureau looking over reports and maps…anything that could give him a clue to where Birol would take Amanda. He couldn't think straight. He stood up and threw the papers across the room. He knocked his chair on the floor. He needed to get out of there. He had to find her. He was heading out of the door almost throwing his badge at Mrs. Marsden when he heard his name being called. He turned around and saw Billy Melrose standing there.

"Let's go, Scarecrow. You're with me." he said glancing at Mrs. Marsden. He smiled at the older lady and said "I'll be out of the office for the remainder of the day. Forward all of my calls to Ms. Desmond" She nodded and averted her eyes towards Lee. He couldn't even look at either of them. He was angry and trying to keep it together. Billy slightly nodded to Mrs. Marsden and the two men walked outside towards Billy's car.

Once in the car, Lee couldn't keep quiet. "What's going on Billy?"

"We need to talk, Lee…alone. Where there are no ears pressed against doors ``.Lee nodded and asked "Where are we going?" Billy took a deep breath and said "Just calm down and I'll worry about that. You need to relax and get your mind straight." Lee just stared at his boss for a moment and then looked away. The rest of the drive was silent as Lee's mind was far from relaxed. His mind could only concentrate on Amanda. Was she okay? Would Birol hurt her?...Would he? Lee couldn't even think about it. The torture Amanda could be going through at that very moment. He needed to focus on how he was going to get her back.

Billy stopped the car and turned towards Lee. They were in Rock Creek Park. Lee looked around and thought of the picnics he and Amanda had there over the summer. He would lean up against a tree and tell her what little he remembered about his childhood with his parents. She in turn told him about her divorce to Joe. His mind went specifically to one week when the boys had gone camping with their dad and Dotty went to visit her sister. He and Amanda had a whole week together. They had candlelit dinners at his apartment, dancing, picnics in the park. Everything. It was one of the best weeks he had in a long time. He smiled as he looked out of the window as he remembered that was the first time they had made love. He took a deep breath. He could smell her perfume. The shampoo she used. Somehow she was there with him. He could feel her. He missed her. God he loved her. He had to find her.

Lee looked over at his boss. Billy of all people knew how much Amanda being kidnapped rattled Lee. Billy knew how much Amanda meant to Lee. But nothing would prepare him for Billy's words.

"I'm taking you off the case Lee. I have to. You are too close to this and you know it."

Lee felt he had been punched in the gut. OFF THE CASE? NO! Amanda needs me to come and get her! She's counting on me! Billy can't do this! He started arguing right away.

"Oh come on Billy! You can't do that! Amanda needs me to find her! She's counting on me! I need to find her!"

Billy shook his head. "Sorry Scarecrow. My hands are tied on this one. You can get status updates but you are no longer part of the ATAC team and the rescue of Amanda."

Lee shook his head and opened the door. Billy wasn't going to back down. He took off walking with his fists balled up next to him. Billy knew he needed to blow off some steam. He started the car and drove away. He watched Lee walk across the bridge and stop to stare out at the water. Lee took a deep breath and looked around the park. There was no one around and Lee screamed as loud as he could. The anguish he felt knowing that he couldn't help find the love of his life was overpowering. He didn't care what Billy said. He was on his own. He would find her.

***** She said yes. She agreed to marry him. He held on to her as they sat on the rickety cot in Birol's house. He never wanted to let her go. Birol would be back soon. He demanded Lee give up his aliases, his assets…everything. Lee had to make it look good. At least on paper. He knew that Adi Birol wouldn't get very far on the bogus list he had made. But then again he knew that Birol wasn't going to get out of DC. If Francine and Magda had come through for him.

At that moment he really didn't care. He found Amanda. She was okay. She was exhausted. He noticed some bruises. He'd deal with that later. The important part was that she was safe and in his arms. Where she belonged. He chuckled to himself as he realized again for the hundredth time that she agreed to marry him.

"What's so funny, Scarecrow?" he heard her husky voice whisper.

He held her tighter, kissed her forehead and whispered back "This amazing woman I know agreed to be my wife."

"Really? She sounds pretty wonderful. She must be. I mean after all…she snagged a marriage proposal from Scarecrow!" She sighed and went on. "There are hearts breaking all over the world as we speak! Scarecrow's completely off the market!" Lee was amazed by her. With everything she had been through, her sense of humor wasn't tarnished. She was teasing him. He loved every moment of it.

He laughed. "Oh Amanda, I've been off the market for a very long time. Seems a housewife from Arlington tamed me. I've almost become a normal person"

Amanda snickered. "Oh you'll never be normal Stetson. It's not in your DNA."

"Well, soon to be Amanda Stetson I guess that will be your next assignment once we get out of here. Turn me into a normal person."

Amanda snuggled closer to him. He could barely hear her say "I really like the sound of that."

"What? Me? Being normal?"

"No. The other part. Amanda Stetson"

He looked down at the woman he loved and smiled. She had opened her eyes and he was lost in her deep brown eyes. He loved her more than anything in the world. She would be his wife. His wife. He loved knowing that they would somehow have a life together…despite the crazy world they were in. He leaned down and softly kissed her.

"You know I really like the sound of it too. It's like…" he stopped. He took a deep breath and tried to think of the right words to say. Amanda continued for him "It's like it was always supposed to be me. I feel it too Lee. Somehow I was always supposed to be your wife."

He nodded. She always knew what to say. He kissed her again. "I love you Amanda."

She snuggled closer to him and closed her eyes. His thoughts drifted to when he proposed. She was right when she said they were the luckiest two people on the face of the earth. They really were.