Remembrance of Things Past - tagalogue

Written by Brad Buckner & Eugenie Ross-Leming (excerpts from the episode belong to them)

As Lee untied the belts around Amanda's wrists, she remarked, "Well, I guess this means you're back to the land of the living."

Lee laughed and replied, "Yeah, right. Oh, God, am I glad to be back." He thought for a moment and his voice softened a little. "Yeah, I guess we won't be able to have those hamburgers and wine at your place." He gave her a partially teasing look. "You know, like real people?"

"No, I guess you'll be able to go back to your fancy restaurants and nightclubs. You're not disappointed, though, are you?" she asked, seeming to be searching for a specific answer from him. It was almost like she hoped he would be disappointed, but she didn't want him to know it.

"Me? Nah." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, a slight eagerness in his voice as he continued, "Are you?" He watched her carefully and wondered if she felt the same way he did. Although he'd never admit it, the brief time he had spent at Amanda's had been like a smooth glass of wine sliding down his parched throat and relaxing him, if only for a little while. He did get a little restless, but that was just because he couldn't bring himself to accept that a small part of him really did crave that "normal" lifestyle. It was something he'd never had, and the desire for it had been buried beneath years of believing he never would.

"Me? Nope."

Her voice brought him out of his thoughts. He nodded at her answer and was a little surprised to feel a small inkling of disappointment. Shrugging it off, he finished untying the belts and tossed them aside, stood to his feet and started to walk away, but was stopped by her voice.

"Uh, Lee?"

He turned around and saw Amanda gesture at the belt around her upper arms that still held her captive in the chair, so he took a couple of steps back to her and kneeled down again in front of her. "Oh, yeah." He worked at the belt a little, then glanced up and met Amanda's eyes. They both smiled, and he wondered what she was thinking. Normally, he could decipher her thoughts by watching her eyes, but this time, she hid them very well. A sudden thought entered his mind, so he stopped and without a moment's hesitation, he decided to go with it. "You know," he began and stood to his feet, "I think I'm gonna leave you tied up for a bit." He turned away from her out of necessity, so she wouldn't see him fight to hide his smile.

She sputtered, "You're gonna what?"

He had successfully managed to get his facial features under control, so he turned back around to face her. "Yeah, you're always telling me how important it is to relax and not get fidgety. I figure you can take some of your own advice."

"Lee, the doorman already thinks I'm one of your lady friends, and he didn't seem too surprised to find your apartment in this state of disarray. I can only guess at what normally happens around here, and if you don't mind, I'd rather not be included in that scenario." She stopped, but he still hadn't made any attempt to return and untie the last belt, so she began to struggle against the binds.

"I think I'll pick up a little around here," he said, ignoring her as he righted a lamp and picked up some papers, "maybe pour myself a glass of wine..."

"You wouldn't dare."

Lee just chuckled and walked back over to where she sat, then leaned down so he was eye level with her and placed his hands on his hips. "Wouldn't I?"

For several moments, neither one of them spoke. Then, Lee noticed a spark of mischief in Amanda's eyes just before she concealed it and settled her expression into one of complete innocence. She shrugged her shoulders, leaned back in the chair and sighed. "You win. I'll just watch you work."

He looked at her very suspiciously, knowing she would never give in that easily. He didn't have to wonder what her angle was for long when he heard her next words.

"Of course, you'll also be forced to listen to me point out where things should go as well as the harmful effects an untidy apartment can have. I can't understand how you can come home to this day in and day out and have it not bother you in the least. You have stacks of magazines all over the place, dirty dishes on several surfaces, some of which can be mistaken for a school science project, not to mention your clothes thrown all over the place and piles which probably haven't seen the inside of a washing machine in at least a month or more. I could also address the issue of your kitchen cabinets and the contents of your refrigerator..."

"Okay, you've made your point. Enough already!" He interrupted her nonstop flow of words, and went back to work on the belt tied around her shoulders. When he had it undone, he removed it from her shoulders and tossed it to the floor with the others, then walked away from her and muttered, "I was only kidding anyway, about leaving you tied up."

Amanda stood and stretched, then grinned and retorted, "So was I." He turned around to see her smile. "You know something, Stetson? You give in to easily. If that's all it takes to make you crumble, it's a wonder you're seen as top notch at the Agency." She moved to help him straighten his apartment. "If Mr. Melrose knew about this, he might think twice before putting you on another assignment."

Without missing a beat, Lee replied, "You're right. He'll put you on the assignment instead. You could talk your way out of any predicament you find yourself in." He watched Amanda straighten and glare at him, and he couldn't help but smile at the look on her face.

She picked up a pillow from the couch and threw it at him. "Ohh, you!"

Lee easily caught it and laughed, then saw her smile and roll her eyes, despite her best efforts to remain angry at him. He took a step around the couch and tossed the pillow onto the surface, then straightened the magazines on the coffee table in front of it.

"Lee?"

"Hmh?"

"What do you think caused Russell Sinclair to do what he did?" She paused after she moved the end table back against the couch. "It must have been something bad to make him believe he had to kill those people."

Lee stopped and perched on the arm of the couch. "Sometimes, it doesn't take much to make someone snap. Agents get burnt out all the time."

"Yes, but he wasn't an agent."

"He thought he was, and in his mind, that was the same thing. He got jealous that others were living the life he thought he should have had." He paused for a moment then continued. "Hey! You want something to eat? It won't be hamburgers and wine, but I'm sure I can whip something up." He grinned.

She smiled in return. "With what food? I've seen your refrigerator, remember?"

"Oh, you'd be surprised what I can find to make a delicious throw-together meal."

"Thank you, but I really should get back home. Mother and the boys are going to try to go to Williamsburg again this weekend, and since I won't see them for a few days, I want to be sure to spend some time with them." She reached down and retrieved her coat and purse and headed for the door.

Lee stood and followed her, then helped her with her coat. "Raincheck, then?"

She smiled, settled the coat on her shoulders and turned to face him. Placing one hand on the doorknob, she opened the door and stepped partway out. "As long as it doesn't involve belts or seedy motel rooms," she teased as she stepped into the hall.

Lee chuckled and closed the door behind her, then turned and surveyed the mess that was left in his apartment. As he walked around and put things away, Amanda's words came back to him. Was his apartment really that bad? He knew he had some dishes that needed cleaning, he was usually pretty good about his clothes being clean and pressed. He may not be the neatest man in the world, but he always made certain his clothes looked good.

Still, maybe Amanda was right, although he hated to admit it. "She may talk a lot, but somewhere in all of what she says is usually some good points ... you just have to listen a long time before you figure it out!" He smiled and shook his head as he continued to put his apartment back in order.

(THE END)

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