A/N: Hello SMK fans! I'm excited about this one and I hope it hasn't been done before - if it has, I hope mine is different enough to give it a fresh flavor! I don't own anything, if I did SMK would have run much longer than 4 seasons! This fic does contain a couple original quotes from the episode "The first time".
No flames please - if you don't enjoy the story, that's okay - just don't shoot the writer!
"You gave classified information to a stranger?"
Amanda met Dirk's stare head on. "I didn't have much time – I needed to hand off the package or risk losing it altogether, and then our crypto department would never get the chance to analyze it, more agents would die, and we'd never find our leak."
"And yet, you don't have the package-" Dirk paused long enough to point to Jefferies' body lying on the gurney. "And your contact never received the package from the stranger you handed it off to! We have classified intel floating around out there with God knows who and no idea of how to get it back! Panda, what on earth were you thinking-"
Billy cleared his throat. "Amanda West is one of my best agents, Dirk. She led those men on a merry chase around DC for hours before she was forced -"
"Why? Why was she forced to hand it off?" Dirk directed his attention back to Amanda.
"I thought I'd lost them," she explained, fighting the fatigue her body was beginning to feel. "But when I saw that they were still tailing me when I ducked into Union Station, I knew that I'd be putting Jefferies life in danger if I stepped onto that train car myself-"
Francine spoke up for the first time, eager to help defend her colleague. "It was the same tactic she employed last year in-"
"Not now, Frannie," Amanda hissed under her breath, but it was too late, and Dirk picked up on the unfinished statement.
"Oh? So, Panda has employed these reckless, unorthodox methods in the past?"
Billy made a face, but Francine plunged ahead.
"As I was saying, Amanda employed this same strategy last year in Brussels and it worked out beautifully. Her methods may not be orthodox or by the book, but she always gets the job done and with the fewest number of casualties."
Amanda shot Francine a small smile of gratitude even as Dirk grunted and muttered, "Tell that to Agent Jefferies and his family."
"Sir, I-" Amanda began but Dirk held up his hand.
"Enough – I know you had to make a split-second decision in order to secure our classified information and save agents' lives. But in the process, you endangered an innocent civilian, and placed him in a very tight spot. If he still has the package, his life is in danger, and we have no idea how to find him because he is a stranger to you-"
"Did I say I didn't know how to find him?" Amanda's lips curled upwards in a smile as she pulled a wallet from the hidden pocket of her black skirt. "His name is Lee Stetson, and he lives in Arlington, Virginia."
4 HOURS EARLIER
Lee bounded down the stairs, straightening his tie and buttoning the vest of his three-piece suit, as he cleared the bottom two steps, landing on the floor between the kitchen and living room. He scanned the room, located his briefcase on the coffee table and went over to it, making sure that the files he had been looking at last night were tucked safely back inside.
"The secret to a crispy chicken skin is make sure you butter-"
He rolled his eyes as he entered the kitchen and saw both his mother and aunt Emily glued to the screen watching the latest TV chef sensation Mrs. Welch.
"Good morning, Mom," he dropped a kiss on her cheek, and then kissed his aunt's cheek as well. "Aunt Em, you do know we have to leave for Union Station in a few minutes?"
Emily nodded but her eyes never left the screen. Lee chuckled and shook his head, turning to see what his boys had found for breakfast. Philip was munching his way through an enormous bowl of Cheerios, but Jamie was eating a sandwich that looked suspiciously like –
Lee reached out and swiped the sandwich, tossing it in the garbage.
"Aw, Dad!" Jamie whined.
"Jamie, no sugar sandwiches! They will ruin your teeth – and I can't afford the dental bills. Mom – mom!"
"Hmm?"
"Are you paying attention to what your grandsons are eating for breakfast?"
Jennifer Stetson blinked at him in surprise. "I made them both cereal and toast-"
"Which Jamie turned into a sugar sandwich-"
"James Stetson!"
Jamie slumped as Lee swung him off the stool and watched while he scamped back to the table to eat his now soggy cereal.
"You are both obsessed with Mrs. Welch, and I don't know why – you are a wonderful cook, Mom."
"But Mrs. Welch could take me to the next level! You all loved her Yankee pot roast I made for dinner two nights ago."
"That was her recipe?"
In all honesty, he preferred his mother's home cooking. When she experimented and tried new recipes, Lee found them over-seasoned and heavy. But if it made her happy, who was he to ask her not to try new dishes?
"Yes! And, I've been waiting for the right time to bring it up – Mrs. Welch gives private lessons – do you think, maybe-"
Lee groaned. "I don't even want to think about how much those cost. Our budget is tight – I don't think I can stretch it to include private cooking lessons." He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "But feel free to watch her show and try as many of her recipes on us as you want."
"Thank you, darling."
Lee winked and turned to his aunt. "Ready?"
Emily nodded. "You sure you have time to take me to the station? I can call a taxi-"
He looped an arm around her shoulders. "I already cleared the morning off with my bosses. And there's no way my favorite aunt is taking a taxi in this town. Boys, listen to your grandmother and I'll see you after school."
"Bye, Dad!"
"You're sure you have everything?"
Emily laughed. "My dear boy, I don't think I could fit another thing in my suitcase! If you find something of mine lying around the house, just drop it in the mail – I'll send you a check to cover the cost of shipping."
Lee grinned. "Did I come off as that much of a cheap skate this morning?"
"A bit – but I do understand. You're a single father, raising two boys, and providing for your mother – it's a lot to take on. I'm just glad you're letting Wendi help-"
Lee's jaw clenched at the mention of his ex-wife. "I'm not touching a cent of her money-"
Emily laid a hand on his arm. "Lee, I know she hurt you – hurt all of you – but you're only hurting yourself by holding onto the pain and the anger-"
Lee shrugged out of her hold, pasting a smile on his face. "I'm fine, Aunt Em, we're fine. It's been two years since she – left us."
Emily pulled Lee into a hug. "I love you, Lee, and those boys so much! Thank you for letting me come visit-"
He shook his head as he pulled away. "You are welcome anytime, you know that-"
"Even though I'm Wendi's Aunt?"
Lee swallowed. "I know things are complicated now – but that's between Wendi and me. You raised Wendi and we grew up next door to each other, so you are practically a second mother to me – I don't want to lose our relationship just because my marriage didn't work out."
She patted my cheek with her gloved hand. "So that's settled then. Shall I plan to come down for Christmas?"
Lee nodded. "We'd all love to see you."
The train whistle blew, and Lee helped Emily up the steps before handing up her heavy suitcase with a groan.
"Have someone help you with that when you reach Boston!" he yelled over the noise of the train pulling away.
Emily laughed and waved, which Lee returned until he couldn't see her anymore, trying to ease the heartache in his chest. As much as he wanted to maintain his relationship with Emily, and keep her in the boys' lives, he couldn't deny the fact that right now the sight of her also hurt. The memories were still too fresh and reminded him of a woman he thought he would be sharing a life, family, and future with until that afternoon when he came home to an empty house and a note on the island in the kitchen.
Lee was so lost in his thoughts that he never saw the brunette approaching him through the early morning crowds on the platform until his arm was grabbed and he was suddenly spun around and heading back in the opposite direction.
Lee blinked and looked down at the woman by his side in surprise.
"I beg your-"
"Darling!" she practically purred as she leaned into his side. "I never thought I'd find you in this crazy crush of people!"
He reared back in surprise, planted his feet and refused to move. "I think you have me confused with someone else-"
"Please," she hissed under her breath, her chocolate eyes meeting his for the first time, and he saw vulnerability in them. "Just walk with me."
"I don't think-"
"Please," she pleaded, her hand digging into his forearm. "I'm in trouble, please." She glanced over her shoulder before returning her gaze to his.
Something tightened in Lee's gut – he didn't know this woman at all – and yet, there was something about her that cried out to be rescued – that she was in danger.
Before he was even aware of it, he was asking her what she needed him to do.
Relief flooded her eyes as she pressed a small brown paper package into his hands and pressed him backwards to the train car waiting on the platform. "Take this and get on the train. Give it to the man in the red hat."
"What? You can't be-"
"There she is!"
The woman looked over her shoulder and groaned. "Go now!" she hissed, giving him one last desperate push with her own body before she turned and ran down the platform. Lee stood on the step and watched, uncertain whether or not to do as she asked, until he saw two men tackle her to the ground. Lee's mouth fell open as he saw the woman come up swinging, delivering some martial art kicks to her assailants before the train picked up speed and he stepped inside the train car.
"Give it to the man in the red hat," he muttered as he opened the door and stopped still at the sight.
Twenty-five men in red fez hats looked back at him.
Damn it. What do I do now?
"Tickets! Tickets, please!"
Lee turned to see the conductor had entered the car and was now expectantly standing beside him, waiting to see his ticket for the train.
"I don't have a ticket."
"Sir, you have to have a ticket-"
"You don't understand." Lee tried to keep the frustration out of his voice. "I'm not supposed to be on this train. I just came to drop my Aunt off on my way to work and then there was this woman and she-" he fumbled to a stop, not knowing if it was wise or safe to tell anyone what had happened. It sounded like such a preposterous story.
"Where is this woman? Does she have your ticket?"
"Damn it, no! I told you, I didn't intend to be on this train!"
"Where did you intend to be?"
"On my way to work – I'm a law clerk at Sloane and Steele in Georgetown," Lee explained, patting his breast pocket for his wallet, but when he didn't feel it, he paled, and then felt his back pants pocket. Still nothing.
"Sir, are you all right?"
"That woman!" Lee growled. "She picked my pocket!"
Jennifer Stetson loved the quietness of the mornings after Lee left for work and the boys caught the bus to school. Every weekday morning she had different chores that needed to be done. This morning, she was baking bread for the week – another way to save money for the household budget. The dough was rising on the kitchen counter, and she now had time to curl up with the morning paper and let her mind drift for a few minutes.
Her solitude was interrupted by the slamming of the front door and the sudden appearance of Lee in the living room.
"What's happened – what's wrong?" Jennifer demanded, casting the paper aside. "Why aren't you at work?"
"I needed to come home to start making phone calls – you know, the bank, the DMV-"
"What?"
"I was mugged."
"WHAT?"
Lee nodded. "I'm such a sucker. I never should have been taken in by a pretty face, a sob story. I know that women lie. They can't be trusted-"
"Slow down. What woman?"
Lee stopped talking and took a deep breath as he thought about how much to tell his mother. His father had been British Intelligence during the war, and Lee knew that afterwards he had continued that work in some capacity. What Lee didn't know was how much his mother had been involved, or even how much she knew about it.
He had no idea if today's encounter had been something intelligence related or if it had been a complicated scam to lift his wallet. Washington DC was a city of spies, lies, and secrets – something he knew all too well even though he was just someone with a law degree.
"Lee?"
"Mom, something odd happened at the station after I dropped Emily off – a woman came up to me, asking for my help, claiming she was in trouble-"
Jennifer frowned. "Was she?"
"I think so – I mean, I saw her get attacked after I got on the train-"
"You got on a train?"
He nodded. "She asked me to deliver a package to a man in a red hat – but when I got on the train – everyone on the train was wearing red fez hats."
Jennifer looked at him in disbelief before she giggled. "You're pulling my leg."
"I swear I'm not – it was like I'd gotten on a car full of Shriners society members. And when the conductor came asking for tickets, that's when I realized my wallet was gone."
"And you think the woman took it?"
"Who else? I don't think it just fell out of my pocket or I dropped it somewhere-"
"Did you check the car – you know, just to be safe? Because once you start making phone calls and they freeze your accounts, you can't undo that."
Lee sighed. "It's not in the car-"
"Humor me and go look. I'll start compiling a list of numbers in the meantime."
Lee stood up and began to loosen his tie, taking it off along with his vest. He unbuttoned and rolled up his sleeves, as he strode to the front door and walked out to his Suburban, staring at it in stony silence.
I know it's not in there.
Feeling like a little boy who'd been sent to his room to cool his heels, he opened the passenger door and stuck his head inside, feeling under the seat, but his only reward was a few sticky fast-food wrappers and a petrified French fry. Lee straightened up and through the driver's side glass his eyes came face to face with a pair of chocolate brown ones.
"Looking for something?" Her voice was muffled but he could hear the humor in it as she raised her right hand, holding out his lost wallet.
"You again!" He pulled back and slammed the car door, reaching his hand across the hood. "Give me that."
She laughed. "Don't worry – it's all there: money, cards, license, pictures. I only borrowed it so that I would have a way to find you in case I needed to." She cocked her head to the side. "Why didn't you do what I told you?"
He shoved his wallet into his front pants pocket. "You're kidding, right? There were twenty-five men with red hats on that train!"
"Twenty-five?" she frowned. "Oh! I said: 'baseball hat' – didn't I?"
Lee rounded the hood of his car to stand directly in front of her. "You most certainly did not! I think I'd have remembered that tiny little detail – and a red baseball hat certainly would have stood out in a sea of fez hats!"
"You're upset with me."
Lee took a step back, surprise written all over his face. "I – I – don't know you, all right? But I decided to help you – because I believed you when you said you were in trouble and how do you repay me? By robbing me-"
"I didn't rob you. I simply borrowed your wallet so that I could return it later – so that I could talk to you – to make sure that you were all right."
Lee's eyes narrowed. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Look, I put you in a difficult spot when I gave you that package – and the fact that you still have it – well, let's just say that the sooner you get rid of it, the better off you'll be. Now, where is it?"
"The package?"
"Yes, the package."
"I don't have it."
"What do you mean, you don't have it? What did you do with it?"
"Well, when I couldn't give it to the man in the red hat like you wanted – I did the next best thing."
"And what's that?"
"I mailed it."
"That could have gone wrong in so many ways."
Lee stared at Amanda in shock and horror as she climbed back into the driver's seat of her red Camaro and floored it. She tossed the package to Lee and waved at the postal worker who shook his fist and climbed back aboard his mail truck.
"Do you know how many postal codes you just broke?" Lee stammered. "Not to mention-"
"Then don't." Amanda brushed his concern aside. "It's not like we're opening someone else's mail – the package was meant for me in the first place-"
"That's not what this address label says!" Lee shouted as he waved the package in her face.
"Well, it had to be addressed to someone, didn't it? I mean, originally." Amanda sighed and glanced at him. "What is it you do, anyway?"
"Didn't have time to do a deep dive on me?" Lee's tone was sarcastic. "I have a law degree from Georgetown-"
"So, a lawyer then."
"That was the plan, but when my marriage fell apart, I needed a job with more flexible hours. I'm a law clerk at Sloane and Steele in Georgetown."
"You're divorced."
"Yes, two years. I have two boys, Philip and Jamie."
"How old are they?"
"Philip is 10 and Jamie is 8." Lee cleared his throat. "What about you – are you married?"
"Hmm, no. This job doesn't exactly lend itself to marriage and family."
"My father made it work-"
Amanda looked at him in surprise. "Your father was –"
"British Naval Intelligence."
"Forgive me, but that's not the same thing. I'm-"
"A spy, yes I've figured that much out on my own."
Amanda frowned. "We don't use that word."
"Intelligence operative, then?"
"Better."
Amanda pulled into an underground garage.
"Where are we?"
"The Agency. Our front – the cover for civilians and the outside world is International Federal Film – a documentary film company that releases a couple of films a year to keep up appearances. Underneath it all is where our true offices and work takes place – to protect the country."
"What am I doing here?"
"I brought you into this when I gave you the package – and so you're here to tell your side of things for my report – and then you're free to go and we'll never see each other again."
"That's it?"
Amanda pulled into a free parking space and turned off the engine. "What else is there? You're a single dad with two kids, a mother, and a mortgage, who helped me get out of a sticky situation. I have the package back and now this information can be used to save lives and plug our leak-"
"Whoa – it's that important?"
"It is. Three agents have lost their lives due to inside information being leaked from inside this Agency and we don't know how. Hopefully once the information inside this package is decrypted, we will have our answer."
"I had no idea the package was that vital."
Amanda smiled but there was no joy in her expression. "You weren't supposed to – this isn't your world, Mr. Stetson."
"Lee."
She gave him a small nod. "Lee. Let's go give our statements and then you can get back to your life."
"And what will you do?"
"I'll plug the leak and solve this case."
"And afterwards?"
"I'll get back to my life – such as it is."
Lee had a hard time falling asleep that night.
He kept replaying the day's events, ending with his short time spent at the Agency. It looked like any other office space, just with beefed up security guards and some areas that were marked private and 'off limits' to personnel. He had to admit to himself that he was curious about what was behind the locked doors and what went on down there all day. As he walked to the area where he was going to give his statement, he passed by departments like 'finance', 'personnel', 'data processing', and 'human resources'. Normal, everyday departments that could be found in any major company. And yet, this was a counterintelligence Agency. He shouldn't even be aware of its existence – let alone walking the hallways, talking to these agents. He should be home right now, safe and sound with his boys, looking over their homework and eating dinner, asking them about their day at school. And yet, today had been exciting – he hadn't felt this alive in a very long time.
Someone from the crypto department caught up to Amanda just as the two of them were leaving the Agency and handed her a piece of paper. She scanned it eagerly but then smothered a scream and crumpled it in frustration. He asked if they had cracked the code and she said yes but it was gibberish to her. He held out his hand for the paper and she gave it to him, waiting for his reaction. He read the following words:
Duck a la Nathan Hale
Valley Forge Flapjacks
Pilgrim's Peach Puff
He made a remark that it sounded like food and Amanda rolled her eyes, saying it was time to get him home.
"This is good-bye then?" Lee asked as Amanda pulled her Camaro up to the curb outside his house on Maplewood Drive.
She nodded.
"Will I ever – I mean, I'd like to know how things turn out."
"Why?"
"I guess – I'm curious. I heard some of the other agents talking – you're going out on a mission tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Be safe."
Amanda rolled her eyes. "I don't need a keeper, Lee. Or a partner. I've been doing this job for a long time, and I know how to take care of myself."
"Yeah, but you said it yourself that you've got a leak – that someone is talking – and agents are being killed."
"We've cracked the code-"
"And you still don't know what it means-"
"You think you can help with that? Lee, stay out of this. You're not an agent – I don't want you to get hurt. Go back to your boys – your life. This doesn't concern you."
"Fine – just – is it too much to ask that you call me tomorrow after – so that I know it's over and you solved the case?"
Amanda's throat was tight as she battled emotions she didn't want to feel. She never wanted to get close to anyone ever again. The cost was too high when the person was ripped away and yet, she had no one but herself to blame since she had been the one to give him the package in the first place. It wasn't so unreasonable a request. He simply wanted closure and then they could both go their separate ways.
"I'll let you know when I've closed the case."
"We'll be setting our ovens to 400 degrees-"
"Isn't it a little early for Mrs. Welch?" Lee moaned as he came downstairs, straightening his tie to see his mom already glued to the tube.
"This is yesterday's show. I taped it because I had a migraine."
"Hmm, yes, heaven forbid we miss an episode."
Jennifer waved her son away and focused back on the screen.
"And what is the dish you ask? I call it Pilgrim's Peach Puff-"
There was a crash from the kitchen and Jennifer paused her show to see Lee standing in the middle of the floor, a smashed coffee cup at his feet.
"Lee! What on earth-"
"What did she say?" he whispered.
"Who?"
"Mrs. Welch- what did she say she was making?"
"Oh! I didn't – you startled me so much I don't remember-"
"Well, rewind it!" Lee strode into the room and grabbed the remote, hitting the rewind button and then pushed play.
"-it Pilgrim's Peach Puff. Doesn't it-"
He hit the pause button again. "My God! Is it possible?"
"Lee, what's going on? You're scaring me!"
He sat down and gripped his mom by the shoulders. "Mom, do the words 'Duck a la Nathan Hale' and 'Valley Forge Flapjacks' mean anything to you?"
Jennifer smiled. "Well, of course they do-"
"They do?"
Jennifer waved a hand at the screen. "Those are both original recipes by Mrs. Welch – I made VF Flapjacks last Sunday."
"You did?"
"Uh-huh."
Lee kissed her cheek. "Thank you!" He grabbed his keys and ran out the front door.
"You're saying that Duck a la Nathan Hale, Valley Forge Flapjacks, and Pilgrim's Peach Puff are recipes from Mrs. Welch's Colonial Cookery Show?" Dirk's voice dripped with disdain. "William, I hardly think this theory of Mr. Stetson's is-"
Lee ignored him and plopped down a computer printout on Mr. Melrose's desk. "Ok, how about this? I stopped by the WPED television station on the way over here. I may have stretched the truth a bit, claimed I was doing a pre-visit for my Trail Blazer troops-"
"Trail Blazer troop?" Dirk repeated blankly.
"Similar to boy scouts," Billy explained. "Continue, Mr. Stetson."
"Anyway, I spoke with the station manager, and I got a printout of all the dates Mrs. Welch's show aired. I thought you could cross-reference them with the dates your agents died-"
Dirk shoved Lee out of the way and leaned over the printout while Billy tried not to grin.
"It's helpful if you search by the recipe names we have-" Lee prompted.
"I know that-" Dirk snapped. "Wait – wait – the dates line up. Melrose – do we have anyone connected to this Mrs. Welch?"
Billy nodded. "Francine has been taking private lessons from her for four months – it was a birthday present from her aunt."
"Where is she?"
"She's at the Welch estate now-"
"Send two teams of –"
"Already done, Sir."
Dirk's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"I sent them as soon as Mr. Stetson showed me the printout and Amanda missed her second call in time."
"Yes, well. Good work, Melrose. You too, Mr. Stetson."
24 HOURS LATER
"Hey, Panda?"
Amanda turned back to look at Billy. "Sir?"
"I think we finally found you a partner."
"Knock it off, Billy."
"Oh, I think you two would be darling together!" Francine smirked. "I hear he's already housebroken."
Amanda locked eyes with Frannie. "I'd button it, loose lips!"
She swept out the door to the underground garage where Lee was waiting. Amanda resisted the urge to bite her lip as her nerves threatened to get the best of her. She knew she owed him a thank you for saving her life even though he wasn't physically present at her rescue. She heard all about how he had been behind the scenes, figuring out how it had been Mrs. Welch and her organization that was the mastermind ordering the hits on the agents. Amanda had every confidence that she would have found some way out of the situation, but Mrs. Welch and her cronies would have got away to fight another day if not for Mr. Stetson.
"Thank you," she breathed the words out as she approached where he was leaning against the passenger door of her Camaro. "And don't lean on my baby – you'll mess up the paint job."
He jumped, coming to stand at a relaxed position next to her. "Sorry," he grinned, his dimples popping out. "And you're welcome – not that you didn't have everything under control."
"I did, you know. I already had my hands free and was trying to figure out how to land that chopper when the cavalry arrived."
"So why did you thank me?"
She took a deep breath in and out. "Because it was still nice to have back up – and you figured out it was Mrs. Welch – the other agents were able to round up her and her cohorts while I was in that chopper. I was too busy trying to stay alive – she would have gotten away if it had been just me out there."
"Wait," Lee held up a hand. "Are you admitting that every once and a while you might need a helping hand?"
Amanda pursed her lips. "Maybe – occasionally it would be nice to have someone there for clean up purposes. I can still take care of myself."
"Of course," Lee nodded as she walked around to unlock the car. "You are the lone Panda, who doesn't need help from anyone."
She frowned but didn't correct him as they both slid into their respective seats. "Are you ready to get back to your life?"
"I know my bosses have missed me – the research is piling up on my desk."
"And have you missed it – your work?"
Lee sighed. "Not as much as I thought I would – the past couple of days have been interesting."
"So you wouldn't mind if once in a while the Agency asked for your assistance – say on a case-by-case trial basis?"
"I think I'd like that. Of course, I'd have to clear the time off with my bosses. Unless - you're not offering me a full-time job – are you?"
"We're not – not yet. You do understand?"
Lee nodded slowly. He did understand. It was too soon. He didn't know what he'd do if the Agency offered him a full-time position now. Family life and the Agency didn't mix – did they? Could he leave the private sector and transition to a full-time intelligence operative, aka a spy? Did he even want to?
Only time would tell.
A/N: The End? Cast your vote and let me know if there should be more to the story... (and let me know what you thought of this AU twist)