For personal use and select distribution only © February 2002 by Amber Stockton Promises to Keep - tagalogueWritten by David Brown, Lynne Kelsey & Lee Maddux (excerpts from the episode belong to them)
"I want to hear all about it!" Francine was definitely excited as she and Amanda walked into the bullpen. Amanda smiled, and Lee wondered at Francine's obvious anxiousness. [i]What exactly were they discussing?[/i] He could hear what they were saying, but they weren't being specific enough for him to determine the subject. By the looks on both of their faces, it was him. "Was it really ugly? Did you have like a big shouting match or anything? Did you really give it to him, really good...? "Francine." Amanda reached out and touched her shoulder. "Thank you. I took care of it." "Good." Francine looked like the Cheshire cat with the smile on her face. Amanda sighed as Francine left. Lee waited for her to glance in his direction. His gaze fixed directly on her, he saw her turn towards Billy's office to face him. He grinned and winked. She raised her shoulders, as if to say, "Here we go again, still finding ways to keep our relationship a secret." Lee did his best to give her a reassuring smile. She winked in return, then ever so subtly nodded, gesturing upstairs. He imperceptibly nodded, letting her know he understood her unspoken request, then turned to the desk nearest him to issue instructions from Billy. After a moment, he glanced up to see Amanda go to one of the cubicles and pick up a folder, obviously attempting to appear to everyone that she was legitimately working. Hugging the folder to her chest, she exited the bullpen and headed for the elevator. Eager to join her, Lee hurried to finish what he needed to do. About ten minutes later, he turned the doorknob and entered the Q-Bureau. Amanda's back was partially turned toward the door, and she was flipping through the file folders in the filing cabinet drawer. She wasn't doing a very good job of acting nonchalant, although he had to give her credit for her charade. With a smug grin on his lips, he turned the lock and watched her for any reaction to the loud click. Nothing revealed she had even heard him. Knowing that she had, he confidently sauntered over and paused behind her. After a brief moment of hesitation, he reached out and poked her in the sides, then retreated to perch on the corner of her desk. She jerked back and almost screamed at his touch, then whipped around to face him. "So, did you miss me?" She did her best to appear stern, but he saw right through her. "Miss you, Stetson?" She crossed her arms across her chest. "Now, why would I would miss you? It's only been ten minutes, and if you're going to insist upon sneaking up on me like you just did..." Not letting her finish, he reached out and grabbed her by the waist, then pulled her to stand between his legs and covered her mouth with his, effectively silencing her with a very passionate kiss. She placed her palms flat against his chest, as if she was trying to push away from him. His kiss put a stop to her resistance. A few moments later, he pulled back and her eyes slowly opened. "Mmmm, yes," she whispered and smiled. "I did miss you." Lee chuckled. "So," he lightly rested his hands at her waist, "you going to tell me what that little tete-a-tete with Francine was all about? You had her really interested in whatever you were discussing. I haven't seen a smile like that on her face in a long time. What exactly did you say to her?" Amanda looked into Lee's eyes and smiled. "Well," she drew out, "I told her I broke up with you." "You what?" His hold on her waist tightened slightly in sync with his surprise. "You heard me." "Why would you tell her a crazy thing like that?" "Oh come on, Lee!" She took a step back and out of his reach then turned and walked out in front of her desk to pace. "You heard what she was saying in here a few days ago. She all but doused cold water on the thought of you being able to make serious commitments and hung you out to dry! I had to say something to pacify her so she'd stop trying to dissuade me." She turned back to face him and placed her hands on her hips, fixing him with a pointed stare. "Just what kind of relationship did you and Francine have anyway?" Lee cleared his throat and stood straight, reaching for his tie and unnecessarily straightening it. "Uh, we ... uh ... we had a little fling. That's all. It was nothing." Amanda raised one eyebrow, and he became very uncomfortable. He pushed back his suit jacket and placed his hands in his pants pockets. "We worked together a lot and spent a lot of time together, and our ... uh ... relationship just progressed from there." He stopped then quickly amended, "But, we soon realized that it wasn't going to work, so we mutually agreed to break it off." "Mutually agreed, huh?" Amanda almost mirrored Lee's stance as she faced him, placing her hands in her skirt pockets. "Well, it seems Francine remembers things a little differently. She told me she thought you had changed when you were together, but then you dumped her. You and I spend a lot of time together, work together, and our relationship has progressed. How do I know the same thing won't happen with us?" Lee saw the unspoken question in Amanda's eyes and knew she needed the reassurance just as much as he needed to offer it. This was unfamiliar territory for him, but he didn't want her to doubt his love or sincerity. "Because, Amanda," Lee immediately replied, "I never felt for Francine what I feel for you. I never trusted her the way I do you, and..." he paused and slowly removed his hands from his pockets as he took a couple of steps towards her, a devilish grin forming on his face, "she was never as much fun to tickle!" "Oh no, you!" She quickly removed her hands from her pockets and held up one hand. "Stay right where you are!" she warned, pointing a finger at him while backing away from his advances. He made a lunge for her, but she stepped aside and went around the mini-refrigerator to the other side of his desk. Her gaze never once strayed from him. Lee recovered easily and continued to approach, stopping opposite her with his desk between them. He made a move to the left and she did the same. Then, he moved to the right, then back to the left, keeping a close watch on Amanda. He faked left. When she moved to the right from behind the desk out into the open, he cut her off and snaked his hand around her waist, swinging her around and pulling her into his embrace. "She's also not half the woman you are," he whispered, his gaze full of love. Amanda smiled, then placed her hands on his chest and slowly moved them upwards to lock behind his neck. "Mmm, you always know just the right thing to say," she whispered in return, tilting up her chin and meeting his lips in a very long and satisfying kiss. Several moments later, Lee slowly pulled back and smiled. "You know," he began in a low voice that was thick with emotion, "T.P. was right." She smiled. "About what?" "You *are* the best thing that's happened to me." "Oh, I bet you say that to all the girls." He felt his throat constrict at her remark, hoping that she didn't really believe it was just a line. Then, he saw the twinkle in her eye and the way one corner of her mouth turned up and knew she was teasing him. Well, two could play at that game. "No, not really. When I say that line to the other girls, I don't usually mention T.P.," he retorted, then waited for the insulted reaction. Her hands unlocked from behind his neck and lowered to shove against his chest as Amanda stepped back away from him and pinned him with a glare. "And just what is that supposed to mean, Stetson!" she demanded, her hands on her hips. "Just what it sounds like," he replied. "I won't lie and say that I've never used the line before, but by adding T.P. to it, I'm qualifying it a little more." "Mmm, and I'm supposed to just accept it without any argument?" "If you did that, I'd have to wonder what happened to my real partner," he countered with a grin. Their gazes locked. Something changed in her eyes, but Lee couldn't identify it. Her hands dropped to her sides and she slowly approached him. He smiled when she placed her hands on his chest, then enjoyed the feel of them sliding upwards to his shoulders, a definite sensuality in her touch. "Mmm, and arguing with you is what you would consider one of my trademarks, perhaps one of my skills?" Her voice lowered and became very husky. He matched his tone to hers. "One of many." "Uh-huh, and I suppose that these skills of mine are unique enough to make our relationship different from any other one you've had?" Her hands slid back down his chest then slipped beneath his jacket to wrap around his waist. Her gaze locked with his, and he saw the emotion in them through her partially lowered lids. He didn't exactly know what had brought on this change, but he certainly wasn't going to complain. Wrapping his own arms around her waist, he pulled her closer and gave her one of his most charming smiles. "Well, I'd say there's a good chance." She didn't immediately reply this time, and he had only a second to ponder why. "Then, how about I add one more skill to that list," she finally said as her hands moved like lightning from around his waist to poke him in the ribs and tickle his sides. There was no way he could have seen it coming the way she had pretended to cuddle up to him and turned on her charm. He immediately backed away and swatted at her hands, but she kept getting in little pokes and jabs. Never one to live his life according to the rule of joining them if you can't beat him, he decided that it was the best rule for this situation. So, instead of backing away, he began to advance on her. "You're asking for a retaliatory strike!" he threatened. For every poke she sent in his direction, he had one for her. Her laughter was infectious. Soon, they were both laughing as each one of them tried to get the upper hand over the other. Neither one of them were paying attention to where they were headed, but Lee realized it as soon as Amanda stopped, the couch in the Q-Bureau preventing any further retreat. The look on her face as she also realized it gave him the advantage he needed. He reached down to squeeze the inside of her knee. Her legs buckled as she fell against the vinyl seats. "Now, that's not playing fair!" she protested from her prone position. "Oh no? And I suppose your little performance a moment ago is?" "You had every chance to back away!" His gaze intent on her face, he bent at the waist and leaned down towards her, watching as she slid back on the cushions and countered his approach by backing away. He placed his hands on either side of her and pinned her arms against the couch, then brought his face within inches of hers. "And you knew full well why I wouldn't." With an impish grin, she nodded at his hands on her arms. "Is this to keep me from getting away?" "Keep you in line, yeah." "Can I help it if I see an opportunity and take it?" "Can I help it if I don't trust you?" "Well, that's not what you told me in hall the other day when you were worried about T.P." "That was before you stooped low enough to take advantage of an unfair situation by making me believe one thing while you were plotting another." He placed a kiss on her nose and smiled. "Just another one of your hidden talents." "There was absolutely nothing unfair about it, and I wasn't taking advantage of you in any way." "No?" He feigned surprise. "Well, how about I show you what it was like?" He yanked her off the couch and whipped her around so that her back was to him. Pulling her arms behind her and holding them with one hand, he lifted his right to her cheek and lightly ran it down the side of her face, tracing the outline of her ear as he lowered it to her neck and along the open collar of her blouse. Amanda shivered and took a shuddering breath, and Lee grinned. Then, just as had done, he lowered his hand to her side and gave her a few swift pokes to her ribs. She immediately squirmed, but he held tight to her arms and prevented her from escaping as he continued to torment her. "Stop, stop!" she cried out, amidst her laughter. He chuckled as well, then brought his tickling to a halt, loosening his hold on her hands and placing his arms around her waist as he drew her back against him and placed a tender kiss on her neck. "Now, do you see what I mean by taking advantage?" he whispered, his lips next to her exposed skin. "All right, all right, you win!" She stepped away from him and walked to her desk. He turned to follow her with his gaze and watched her take a few calming breaths. She was obviously not as unaffected by him as she tried to be. Clearing her throat, her gaze once again found his. "Now, as much as I'd rather continue this rather entertaining conversation, we do have some work to finish." She walked behind her desk and lifted a few folders from the top. "I have to get these downstairs to Francine, so she can finish her report, and I believe you have a report to write on T.P." She gave him a pointed stare. He sighed, running his hand haphazardly through his hair as he placed his other hand in his pocket. "Don't remind me," he grumbled, then a thought came to his mind. "Hey, wait a minute. You never told me what I win." She hugged the folders to her chest with one arm, then turned the lock on the door with her free hand before opening the door. "That's something you'll have to wait to find out," she retorted with a grin and a wink as she stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind her. Lee shook his head, then grinned and stared at the closed door. Somehow, she had managed to get the upper hand again. Normally, that would incite a desire in him to gain it back. However, Amanda possessed the ability to make even losing a very enjoyable experience. Their relationship certainly was like no other he'd ever had, but he found everything about it stimulating and looked forward to whatever was around the bend. (THE END) |
