Screen Captures Courtesy of Swoopes For personal use and select distribution only © February 2002 by Amber Stockton It's All in the Water - tagalogueWritten by Tom Chehak (excerpts from the episode belong to him)
Amanda's eyes were focused on her desk as she spoke to Lee about Carmine and Sally. "They haven't set a date. They're going to take it one step at a time." Lee nodded and looked away pensively. "Well, you never know," he said with a sigh as he turned back to look at her with a sly grin. "Maybe one day..." "What?" "Well, that's what you said on the phone," he replied and gestured towards her desk. "Oh yeah," she said, trying to ignore the increase in her heartbeat at his look. "Sure, she asked me if I thought I'd ever get married again, and I said, well, you never know, maybe someday," Amanda told him with a smile. Lee grinned and winked, then leaned down to give her a kiss. The door the Q-Bureau opened, startling them apart. Amanda immediately pretended to write on the paper she had on her desk. "Scarecrow, I have a meeting at the White House. Where's the report?" Billy asked, slightly agitated. Lee jumped up from the desk to retrieve the folder. "Uh, it's right here, Billy, just relax a second." "Yeah, it's right ... there." Amanda gestured with her pen and tried to assist. "Second one under." "Yeah. Right here." Lee stood up and walked behind Amanda's chair to hand the report to Billy, then moved to follow him out. Amanda didn't turn around but called out to Lee. "See you later!" "Mm-hm," Lee replied. "Mm-hm." She heard Lee sigh before he closed the door, then smiled. She could feel his eyes on her a moment ago and knew he felt the same way she did. However, work was work, and as she had told him a couple of weeks ago, they had to act like they were at work, or else risk someone finding about their relationship. That thought alone was enough to make Amanda determined to be careful. Lee may not be thinking as clearly about it, but she knew the rules at the Agency about involved couples working together. There was no way she was going to do anything to jeopardize their partnership. It was difficult enough persuading Dr. Smyth to allow her to work with Lee after Stemwinder. If it was ever discovered that they were involved, she would no doubt be reassigned. So, in the interest of maintaining what they had, she knew she was going to have to be the rational one, no matter how difficult that was going to be. With a sigh and a nod, certain that this was the best course of action, she pushed back her chair and stood, then took the folder from her desk and headed toward the vault. As she stepped in front of the door to the hall, it suddenly opened, making her jump back against her desk in alarm. "Lee!" Amanda placed her free hand against her chest and struggled to recover her breathing. "I thought you left with Billy to go to the White House." He stepped a little further into the room, then pushed the door almost closed behind him. "Well, I did, but I forgot something." There was a mysterious quality to his voice accompanied by a roguish grin and a gleam in his eyes. Unable to think clearly with the way he slowly advanced towards her, Amanda barely managed to rasp out, "What did you forget?" "This," he whispered, placing his arms at her waist and drawing her to him. He lowered his head and captured her lips with his own. The kiss was soft and tender. It didn't last nearly as long as she would have liked, but Billy was probably waiting downstairs, so she knew Lee would have to leave again in a moment. When he pulled away and gazed down at her, her heart was in her throat at the tenderness reflected in his eyes. She reached up to wipe away the slight trace of lipstick on his lips and smiled. "And how are you going to explain to Billy what caused you to have to come back up here?" Lee squeezed her waist and grinned. "Oh, I told him I forgot my badge, and we both know I wouldn't be able to get into the White House without it. Besides, I couldn't leave without getting a kiss for good luck. Meeting with the Attorney General and National Security Advisor and whoever else will be present is no picnic. I needed a little something to bolster me." "Hmm." Amanda raised one eyebrow. "Something tells me you simply used that as a convenient excuse to get what you wanted, not what you needed." "Both," he stated succinctly, then placed another quick kiss on her lips before releasing her and turning towards the door. "We'll have to finish this conversation later. I can't make us late for our meeting at the White House. Billy'll skin me alive!" "How long will you be gone?" "I don't know, but I'm sure it'll be a few hours. I'll stop by your house tonight when I get back." She nodded and grinned. "All right. I'll start working on a good reason why I have to spend time in the backyard." Another wink from Lee, and he disappeared through the door again. This time, Amanda was sure he wouldn't be returning. She tried to remember what it was she was about to do before he interrupted her. Glancing down at the folder in her hand, she walked towards the vault and turned the combination to the door before pulling it open to step inside. Once the file was back in its original drawer, she shut the door to the vault and returned to her desk. She had one more report to finish and file, then she could head home. Her thoughts strayed quite a bit during the completion of that task, and her mind kept replaying the way Lee had looked at her in those few moments when he had come back into the office. She lifted a finger and traced the outline of her lips, reliving the moments of the tender kiss and feeling the touch of his lips even now. With a sigh and a shake of her head, she forced herself to focus on her work. It was difficult enough with Lee in a constant battle for her thoughts. She knew he definitely wasn't going to make it very easy on her to stick to her decision about their behavior at the Agency. That was one thing she would address when she saw him later tonight. * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * The boys in bed, Amanda placed the last dish in the dishwasher, put the soap in the door, then closed it and started the cycle. The immediate whirring sound caused her to release a sigh of relief that it was actually working. After the number of times it had broken down and required repairs, it was a nice change to have it function. With a final swipe of the counters, she hung the dishtowel on the bar, then turned to pour a cup of coffee. "Amanda, would you believe this?" Dotty suddenly exclaimed. "This article states that there's a thirty-five percent chance that Carmine Davis' theories and experiment results were leaked, and that there's still a threat of our water supply being contaminated again! I thought the news last night said that Mr. Miller, the man who was going to cause the problem, was stopped." "He was, Mother," Amanda replied from the kitchen as she added sugar to her coffee. "I really don't think there's a chance that Mr. Davis' work got out in any way. Security was pretty tight from what I could tell in that news report, and I spoke with someone at work today whose friend was involved with the case. The results and research have been carefully put away and are under constant watch." "Well, at least some good came out of all of this. Mr. Davis is working [i]for[/i] the government and not against it." "Yes, and since he is, you can be pretty sure that his work will be used to help people and not hurt them. I really don't think we have to worry about any more problems with the water, Mother. You shouldn't believe everything you read in the paper." Dotty sighed. "Yes, I know, but it does make for some fascinating reading!" Amanda smiled and shook her head, then took a sip of her coffee. "Speaking of reading, I think I'm going to take my book outside and enjoy the nice evening. We won't have too many more nights like this before the weather starts turning cold." "All right, dear," Dotty replied absentmindedly, her eyes once again focused on the newspaper. Making certain that her mother's attention was diverted, she reached into the cabinet and took down another cup, then poured coffee into it as well. As quietly as she could, she opened the refrigerator for the cream and poured a little into the cup, then replaced the cream and closed the door. Once the cream was sufficiently mixed with the coffee, she turned to grab her book from the counter where she had left it. "I thought you took sugar in your coffee." Her mother's voice startled her, and Amanda almost spilled the coffee. "I normally do, but I've had cream before and decided to try something different tonight. Wasn't really sure I wanted the sugar this late at night." Dotty nodded. "Oh. That's probably a good idea." Her mother turned once again to her paper. Amanda released a quiet sigh and kept her eyes on her mother as she tucked her book under her arm, then grabbed both cups in her hands and headed for the back door. She carefully balanced one cup on the underneath of her arm and opened the door with her now free hand, then took the cup back and slipped outside. After she set the two cups and her book on the picnic table, she turned to close the door. As soon as she did, she was grabbed from behind and swung into a pair of very familiar arms. When she was face to face with Lee, she started to say something, but he held a finger to his lips and silently told her to remain quiet. After a quick kiss in greeting, he stepped away and turned towards the table to pick up the two coffee cups. She watched his eyes fall on the novel she had brought out to read. The heat stole into her cheeks at his raised eyebrow when his gaze found hers again. She ducked her head. When he chuckled, she raised it again and saw his amused look. He silently nodded towards the gazebo, and she followed behind him until they were both seated on the bench, each holding a cup of coffee. Lee took a sip, then lowered the cup. "So, did you miss me?" Amanda shrugged and raised her cup to her lips. "Maybe a little," she replied as she took a sip. "A little?" Lee reached out to lightly squeeze her leg just above her knee. Amanda purposefully removed his hand and set it on the bench between them. "Yes, a little," she repeated. "I do have work to do even when you're not around, you know. Then I come home to fix dinner for the boys and help them with their homework, not to mention cleaning up after dinner and putting the boys to bed." She deliberately kept her voice even, so he wouldn't misunderstand and think she was upset. "So, it's not like I have nothing else on my mind." "And you only thought about me a little bit during all that time?" She glanced up and saw the twinkle in his eyes. Although she tried her best to deny it, she knew it was no use. Her thoughts had constantly turned to him throughout the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. "All right, more than a little," she confessed. His voice was confident and sure when he replied. "That's more like it." "And how about you? Does absence make the heart grow fonder?" "In my case? Most definitely!" He finished the last of his coffee, and she did the same, then let him take her cup with his to set them on the bench on his other side. His hands immediately reached for hers when he turned back to face her, and a devilish grin appeared on his lips. "Coffee was great, now how about dessert?" She pulled one hand free to place a finger over his lips. "We have to talk first." He kissed her finger. "Can't it wait a few moments?" "No." Lee sighed. "All right, what's so important that it has to stop us from enjoying the evening a little more?" She slowly lowered her hand and placed it in his again. "It won't spoil our evening, Lee, but it's that enjoyment that we have to talk about." His eyes drew together in confusion. "I'm not following." "We almost got caught again today by Mr. Melrose," she pointed out, "and you and I both know it's not the first time. I think we need to set some guidelines and draw some boundaries for when we're at work to reduce the chances of it happening again." "Amanda," he grumbled, "I thought we've already been through this. We're not going to get caught." She started to reply, but he squeezed her hands and continued. "Look, we've managed to avoid your mother for a little over three years. I think we can handle a few people at work." "Yes, but we're not around my mother on a daily basis," she countered. "Lee, you've been working with these people for over ten years. Some of them know you pretty well, especially Mr. Melrose and Francine. They know me too, and I just don't want to do anything that's going to cause them to be suspicious of us." "Amanda, our actions aren't going to raise any red flags, so you really should stop worrying about it." "I can't help it, Lee. If they were to find out..." "Which they won't," he interrupted. "If they were to find out, it could mean the end of us working together, and ... I don't want that to happen," she finished in a whisper and looked down at their joined hands. "Is that what's bothering you? You're afraid that someone's going to find out about our relationship and make it so that we won't be able to work together anymore?" Not trusting her voice, Amanda simply nodded. "Funny how a little romance can complicate things," he teased, then cleared his throat. "Hey," he said softly, releasing one of her hands to place his finger under her chin and raise her head so he could look into her eyes. "You don't have to worry about that. I won't let it happen, no matter what. I promise." "But, Lee, what if..." "No buts," he refuted. "Just trust me, okay?" She met his gaze straight on and saw the silent vow in his eyes that told her there was no reason to worry. His love for her was shining clearly in them. She knew she could trust his word, just like she had been doing for the past three years. "Okay," she finally responded. "Good, now that that's settled, could we get back to our dessert?" He winked. She smiled, glanced down, and reached out her free hand to lightly trace the pattern on his tie, then slid her hand upwards to rest at his left shoulder. Biting her bottom lip between her teeth, she slowly slipped her other hand from his grasp and slid it up the front of his jacket to rest on his other shoulder. When her gaze met his again, she saw a clear reflection of her feelings in his hazel depths. As he leaned closer, her eyes fluttered closed. She inhaled a sharp breath just before his lips touched hers. Unlike the sweet kiss they had shared back at the Agency, this one was slow and passionate. It communicated their shared feelings for each other as they both gave and took in the embrace. Amanda's hands moved to the back of Lee's neck and automatically entwined in the soft strands at the base of his hairline. He shuddered at the contact, then deepened the kiss. Overwhelmed by a myriad of emotions coursing through her, Amanda got lost in his touch. After several moments, he pulled back, only to rest his forehead against hers. His eyes were still closed as he swallowed several times in an obvious attempt to regain control of his breathing. She was fighting a battle of her own with her erratically beating heart and labored breath. Finally, Lee appeared to recover enough to speak. She watched his eyes slowly open and focus on her. With a slight smile and tender gaze, he softly spoke. "No matter what happens between us, Amanda, I promise they won't keep us apart, working together or otherwise. I've spent too many years of my life alone to allow that to happen. Even if something changes and they do find out, I'll quit the field before I let them assign us other partners," he vowed. "Oh, Lee!" she breathed. Amanda leaned forward and tightened her hold around his neck, embracing him and never wanting to let go. His arms tightened around her as well. He buried his face in her neck. Each held the other and relished the joy and comfort of their touch. Several minutes later, as if by mutual agreement, they both pulled back and their gazes met. He offered a crooked grin that revealed his dimples. "I think I better head on home, before I forget where I am and my promise to you to take things a little slower!" "I miss you already." Lee grinned, and Amanda's heart fluttered. "And I thought you only thought about me a little while we were apart!" "Well ... so I wasn't completely honest," she admitted with a grin. He smiled and shook his head. "I love you." "And I love you." He leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on her lips. "I meant what I said too. No matter what happens between us, whether in our relationship or at work, we will always be together. That much, I can promise." She nodded. "I know, and I do trust you. Wouldn't have stuck by you this long, if I didn't." He shook his head, placed another kiss on her lips, then stood, drawing her up with him. "I really do hate saying goodnight to you." "Me too, but we'll see each other at work in the morning." Lee sighed. "Yeah. Well, thanks for the coffee. I'll see you tomorrow." "Bright and early!" "Well, maybe not early, but I'll see you," he countered. "Goodnight, Lee." "Goodnight, Amanda." After another quick kiss, he turned to step down from the gazebo, then walked toward the hedge along one side of her house. She watched him leave and thought back to the underlying tones of their conversation, unable to shake the feeling that he was trying to tell her something, but not sure what. There was just something in the way he spoke about the future and them being together that made her sense he was thinking about something else. There was no time to think about that now, though. She had to get back inside before her mother came out looking for her. The nip in the night air had turned cold enough for her to want her sweater or a jacket. That was the sign that it was time to go back into the house. So, she reached down to retrieve the two coffee cups along with her book and left the gazebo, pausing to glance inside before slipping through the back door into the kitchen. Her mother had already gone upstairs, and that was just as well, since she was sure her mother would catch her with two cups and start the interrogation. Relieved that she wouldn't have to face that tonight, she handwashed the two cups and dried them before putting them back in the cabinet. Then, she dumped out the remaining little bit of coffee, cleaned the pot, and returned it to its place. A quick glance around once she reached the doorway to the living room found everything in order, so Amanda held tight to her book and ascended the stairs to her room. She had the feeling that her life was going to change drastically very soon. That thought caused a flutter of excitement in her stomach. There was also a feeling of apprehension, though she couldn't figure out why. Deciding to brush it aside for now, she went through the motions of getting ready for bed. Her thoughts were on the man she had left only moments ago and how happy she was at that moment. He was right. No matter what happened, they would always be together. She felt it in her heart and knew they both would do whatever it took to make it a reality. With a smile on her lips and a peace in her heart, she slipped beneath the covers and laid her head back on the soft pillows, sure that her dreams would be full of a certain, handsome spy with amazing hazel eyes. (THE END) |
