For personal use and select distribution only © February 2002 by Amber Stockton Photo Finish - tagalogueWritten by David Brown (excerpts from the episode belong to him)
Lee perched on the edge of the table next to Amanda and waited for the door to the conference room to close before he spoke. "Now that the smoke is cleared, what do you say we take that day off? We've lost the cabin," Lee grinned, "but I think we can find some trouble to get into." "I still have a lot of work to do at Static Aerospace," Amanda countered, testing Lee to see if he would take the bait. He sighed. "Okay. Suit yourself. I don't want to be accused of putting ideas in your head." He pushed away from the table and turned to leave. Amanda grabbed a hold of his tie and restrained him from leaving. "Ooh, you gave up to easy!" "Oh, yeah?" Lee challenged with a knowing smirk on his face as he propped his weight on his arm and rested it on the table. "Yeah!" Amanda pulled gently on Lee's tie and drewing him closer to her. When their faces were mere inches apart, she stopped and looked into his eyes. She knew what she wanted to do, but she also knew they weren't exactly in a very private place. There was a rather expansive window looking out into the bullpen, and someone was bound to either see them or already be watching. Before she could decide though, a tap on the window interrupted them. They immediately backed away from each other. Amanda ducked her head in embarrassment. Lee turned towards the window to grin at Francine, who jerked her head over her shoulder at the curious glances from some of their coworkers. With an almost imperceptible wink, she continued about her business. For a moment, Amanda watched Francine walk away, surprised that she seemed so accepting of the two of them. Lee turned back in her direction and grinned. "We don't want an audience, do we?" he teased, then lowered his voice as a familiar gleam appeared in his eyes. "What do you say we go up to the Q-Bureau and write the report from our assignment with Static?" Amanda knew that writing a report was not what he had in mind, but she smiled and nodded, just as eager as he was to find some time alone. "I think that's a wonderful idea!" Lee nodded his head towards the door and silently invited her to follow him. When they reached the door, he opened it, then stood aside to allow her to duck under his arm and pass in front of him. Placing his hand at the small of her back, he guided her towards to doors to the hallway. As soon as they walked past Billy's office, he stepped outside. "Lee, Amanda," he called from the doorway. "Do you have a moment?" Amanda watched Lee force a nonchalant expression before he turned to face the section chief. "Uh, actually, Billy, we're going to go get our report written on Static Aerospace." Amanda saw Francine approach to stand next to him. "Right, sir, we don't want to forget any important information." Billy appeared to struggle to keep a smile from his face and nodded. "All right, but as soon as the two of you are finished, I want you down in my office, pronto. We have another assignment to discuss." "Sure thing," Lee promised. "Yes, sir," Amanda agreed. They both turned back towards the door and quickened their step, briskly walking out into the hallway and towards the elevator. Amanda was certain a silent look had passed between Billy and Francine, but she honestly didn't care. The only thing she cared about right now was Lee. Without a word, they entered the elevator and took it upstairs. Lee's hand touched hers, and she intertwined their fingers. Just before he reached to open the door to the Georgetown Foyer, he gave her hand a little squeeze, then released it, and they stepped out to walk upstairs to the Q-Bureau. As soon as they entered, Amanda took a few steps toward the center of the room and paused. She heard Lee close the door and click the lock, and couldn't help but smile at his obvious wish to not be disturbed. His slow and even footsteps echoed across the linoleum. She felt his breath on her hair before his hands touched her shoulders to turn her to face him. "Now," he lowered his voice suggestively, "where were we?" His left hand touched her chin and slowly raised her eyes to meet his gaze. Slowly, he inched closer, then covered her lips with his own, lowering his right arm to her waist as he drew her closer to him. Amanda placed her hands on his chest, then methodically slid them up his chest until they came to his shoulders, where she moved them behind his head to lock around his neck. Lee's left hand dropped to join his right at her waist as his lips moved over hers in a slow and thorough manner. The kiss deepened, and she felt her senses come alive, her entire body responding to his touch. Several moments later, Lee broke off the kiss, then grinned. "See? I told you I could find some trouble for us to get into," he teased, placing a quick kiss on her nose and relaxing his hold to rest his arms loosely at her waist. Amanda fought hard to regain her breath and tried to determine if Lee was as affected as she, then cleared her throat. "Never doubted it for a minute." Her voice sounded hoarse, even to her own ears. She felt the warmth of a blush steal into her cheeks. He leaned his forehead against hers. "I sure am glad you got your security clearance back." "Mmm," she replied and gave him a quick kiss. "Me, too." She unlocked her hands from behind his head and slid them down to rest on his shoulders. "I have to hand it to Mrs. Frampton, though. She really was thorough with her review and investigation." "Yeah, a little too thorough!" "Well, would you rather they not be and then have an agent who has shady activities in his past that could cause a problem with the Agency in the future?" she countered and gave him a pointed look. He sighed and shifted his hold on her waist a little. "You've got a point. I just wish it hadn't been you that got singled out for this. I really was worried that they'd chain you to a desk in processing or something and make it near impossible for us to see each other." He paused and grinned. "I've kind of gotten used to having you around." Amanda raised her eyebrows in surprise, but smiled. "And this is from the same man who spent nearly three years denying his feelings and constantly insisting that everything was just business?" He shrugged and gave her a smug grin. "What can I say? You've managed to throw a lasso around this stallion and bring him in from the pasture." "Stallion, hmm? You know, Mrs. Frampton did say that the agents here at the Agency are rather spirited people. I get the feeling she was directing that remark at you." When Lee averted his eyes and cleared his throat, she smiled, then smoothed her right hand down the front of his tie. "Just how often have you managed to slide by when some of your little adventures have been brought up in a review?" She saw a glimpse of panic in his eyes before he quickly changed it to a silent plea. "Uh, Amanda, look, why don't we ... uh ... talk about something else, huh? Your clearance has been reinstated, the HK-86 is safe, Static Aerospace is back to running its operation in top form, Williamson is in jail where he belongs, and the rest of your secrets are safe. So, how about paying closer attention to one of your little secrets that's been feeling a little neglected lately," he suggested in a low and husky voice. Sliding her hands down his chest, she smiled and slipped her arms beneath his suit jacket and around his back where she locked her fingers together and pulled him towards her. "Neglected, hmm?" she stated and gave him a quick kiss. "We're going to have to do something about that." "I couldn't agree more!" he replied with enthusiasm and slowly dipped his head. Just before his lips touched hers, Amanda averted her face, then took advantage of his surprise to slip out of his embrace and walk towards his desk. "But first," she said with a smile, "we have a report to write. Mr. Melrose expects us down in his office with the report done. If we don't get started, he may come up here to find out what's keeping us." She turned around to face him and saw the evidence of his dazed state in both his eyes and his expression. It was almost comical the way he stood there staring at her in confusion. She watched his mouth open and close a couple of times, but no words came out. Having the upper hand with him was a nice feeling, but she knew it wouldn't last long. He always managed to find a way to get her back, only this time, she knew she'd enjoy whatever form of revenge he decided to enact. As she pulled out his chair and took a seat, then retrieved a folder from the corner of his desk, she glanced up at him again. "Are you coming or not?" He groaned and released a loud sigh, but moved in her direction and came to stand next to her. "Amanda," he ground out, barely concealing his frustration, "if this is your idea of a joke..." "No joke," she interrupted, then smiled. "I just don't want anything hanging over our heads when we do decide to remedy your neglected state." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lee smile and relax, then step closer to her. "In that case, what all needs to be done?" He placed his hands near her neck as he began to slowly massage the muscles around her shoulders. Amanda glanced down at the information they had and began filling in some of the pertinent information. "Well, we already have the preliminary information from when I first started the case. I did that when I began my investigation," she told him. "We also have the connection we made between Mr. Williamson, Grimebusters and Static Aerospace from our investigation together." A quick glance at the bottom of the report, and she continued. "So, all that's needed is the final findings and resulting conclusion at that warehouse on Twelfth Street." "Well, that shouldn't take long!" Amanda made some more notations on the report and felt Lee brush her hair back over her shoulder a moment before his lips made contact with her neck just below her left ear. She swallowed several times, trying in vain to concentrate on what she was writing. Lee wasn't making it very easy. He really wasn't kidding when he boasted about his 'magic fingers.' His right hand was still lightly stroking her neck and massaging her shoulder, but then his lips moved to the sensitive area behind her ear, and she felt herself responding to his touch. Making a final comment in the conclusion section of the report, she put down her pencil and reached over her shoulder to clasp his chin in her hand as she pivoted in the chair to face him. His left hand dropped from her shoulder and his right slid across her back. Still stooped, his face was inches from hers. She held his chin securely in her grasp as she stared intently into his hazel eyes. "The typed report can wait," she whispered, then leaned forward. When his lips touched hers, Amanda immediately felt the familiar wash of feelings course through her. She felt him reach for her hands to pull her up to stand with him as he straightened, then his arms came to wrap around her waist as he pulled her closer to him. Her hands fell to his chest, but methodically slid up to rest on his shoulders. She parted her lips slightly to his kiss, then felt his left hand slide up her back to tangle in her hair and press her head closer to him as he deepened the kiss. All too soon, he pulled back. His eyes were dark with undisguised feelings she knew were mirrored in her own. His lips slowly spread into a sly grin. "Now, how about that day off?" Amanda smiled and placed a quick kiss on his lips, then winked. (THE END) |
