Screen Captures Courtesy of Swoopes

For personal use and select distribution only © May 2002 by Amber Stockton

The Triumvirate - tagalogue

Written by Robert Bielek (excerpts from the episode belong to him)

 

Lee waited until he saw Dotty and the boys disappear upstairs, then gave a few solid knocks to the back door. When he saw Amanda set down the dish towel, he stepped back and waited for her to join him, clasping his hands behind his back. He was clad in a tie-dyed shirt, tight patchwork jeans and a brown suede jacket complete with fringe and topped off with a strand of beads around his neck.

As soon as Amanda stepped outside, he straightened and faced her. "Hey baby what's happening?"

"Shhh!" She closed the door.

He chuckled quietly then spread his arms to show off his outfit.

"Where'd you get the ancient threads?"

"The anc..." he asked in mock offense.

"Uh-huh."

Lee assumed a stance of nonchalance. "Well, I heard through the grapevine that you just might be needing an escort to your reunion."

"Oh no, I'm not going to go to the reunion."

"And why not?"

She reached out and lifted the strand of beads that hung around his neck. "I'm not going to go."

"Amanda..."

"I don't like the dress!"

He placed his hands on her elbows and stooped to look her in the eyes. "Come on, let's go!" He really turned on the charm. "We'll make the perfect couple."

She paused for a moment and looked at him. Something changed in her eyes. "Okay, thanks." She smiled, and he knew he had her.

Lee reached into his back pocket. "Here, I brought you something."

Amanda eagerly took the envelope from him. "Terrific!"

"Tomorrow is your grocery day, right?"

"Yeah, that's right," she said as she opened the envelope and pulled out her check. "Oh boy!"

The look on her face caused a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He hoped there wasn't another problem. "What's the matter? They overpaid you again?"

"No, no!"

"What?"

"It's a day late and exactly one dollar short."

He cocked his head and smirked as he looked down into her smiling face. "Well, at least you have your real check. Now, go on!" He encouraged her with a wave of his hands. "Go change into whatever hip threads you got from that head shop so we can go dig the groovy scene tonight!"

Amanda chuckled. "With an invitation like that, how can I resist?"

"Well, go on!" He turned her towards the house and gave her a little push. "I'll wait out here."

Lee watched her disappear into the house. Just before the door closed, he heard her call to Dotty.

"Mother! I've decided to go to that reunion after all."

Slipping into the shadows to avoid being seen by anyone who might glance out the windows, he was surprised when the door opened again less than ten minutes later. As he watched Amanda step outside, he couldn't keep the surprise from his face. She was clad in a cream-colored peasant kurta and patchwork skirt with sandals on her feet. Her brown hair was pulled back away from her face with a rolled scarf, and she had donned a pair of 'peace' earrings.

"Oh wow! Those threads are out of sight!" His gaze traveled down the length of her slender form in an appreciative perusal before it made its way back up to her face. "So, what happened to that paisley print thing you were holding a few minutes ago when you decided that you weren't going to go tonight?"

"Oh, Mother went digging through some boxes in the spare bedroom and found some of my old clothes." She shrugged. "Turns out I didn't need to go to that sixties shop after all!" Amanda stepped closer to him. "So, are we ready to go?"

"Almost. Your outfit needs one more thing." Lee reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and withdrew a long beaded necklace, almost matching the one he wore. At her look of delight, he smiled, then held up the strand. "Come here."

Once she was directly in front of him, he slipped the strand over her head and lifted her hair out to cascade over top of it, then rested his hands on her shoulders. She glanced up at him, the moonlight reflected in her eyes with a mesmerizing gleam. "Perfect!" he whispered. After a quick kiss on her forehead, Lee slid his hands down Amanda's arms and turned to extend his elbow. "Shall we?"

She placed her hand at the crook of his arm with a smile. "We shall!" Amanda allowed him to lead her around the corner of the house. "Oh! I almost forgot!" She placed a hand over her mouth and came to a sudden stop.

He almost lost his footing at her abrupt halt, but managed to keep his balance as he turned to look at her. "Forgot what?"

"We have to take my car ... at least drive it around the corner. Otherwise Mother will be suspicious and wonder if I really went." She paused. "She's already a little suspicious about my sudden change of heart about going."

"Well, if she's suspicious, won't she be watching out the window?" he pointed out. "How is it going to look if I get into your car? She'll give you the third degree when you get home."

"You know, I hadn't thought of that, but you're right." She lifted a finger and tapped it a few times against her pursed lips, appearing to be deep in thought. "How about you make your way to your car? I'll get in mine and drive like I'm going alone. That way, if Mother is watching, she'll see me leave alone. Then, I can park it around the corner and meet you back at your car."

"Sounds good to me!" Lee impulsively leaned down to kiss her cheek. "I'll see you there, babe!" Then, he disappeared into the shadows.

Once he was seated, he watched Amanda slowly back out of the driveway and drive her car around the corner to park. She got out, locked the doors and made her way to him at a brisk walk. He leaned across and pulled the handle, then pushed the door open for her.

She got in and reached to buckle her seatbelt. "Thank you."

"So, are we ready to rock and roll?"

"Ready as we'll ever be!"

"Right on!"

Lee grinned, then put his foot on the clutch and turned the key. The engine roared to life. He put the car in gear and started for the hotel where the reunion was being held. As he glanced at Amanda out of the corner of his eye, something told him tonight was going to a very memorable night.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Lee pulled the 'Vette to a stop right across from Amanda's wagon several hours later. It was after midnight, but he couldn't remember the last time he had enjoyed himself so much, especially at a high school reunion. He never knew they could be so much fun! His gypsy lifestyle as a kid with the Colonel hadn't allowed him to be in any one place long enough to form any relationships. There certainly weren't any friendships developed that would even warrant an invitation to an event like they had attended tonight.

Amanda's voice broke into his brooding.

"Well, thank you for coming with me, Lee. I really had a nice time tonight."

He turned his head to look at her and noticed her fidgeting with her hands in her lap. She seemed to be nervous or at least uncomfortable. Had he done or said something to make her feel this way. Was he doing something now? He gave her the most reassuring smile he could muster, just in case.

"Yeah, me, too."

She reached for the door handle and opened the door a little, then turned back to face him. "I guess I'd better get my car back in front of the house. Mother's probably waiting up for me. I don't want to give her any reason to grill me when I get back."

Lee smiled. "Not that she really needs a reason."

She smiled in return. "Good point, but I don't want to encourage her." She swung the door open and stepped out of the car, then leaned down before closing the door. "I'll see you on Monday?"

Staring into her beautiful brown eyes, he was suddenly at a loss for words. "Yeah," was all he could manage.

"Goodnight, Lee."

He repeated the farewell after the door closed and knew she couldn't hear him. As he reached for the stick shift, he paused. His gaze seemed pulled to Amanda as she walked to the wagon, unlocked the door and got in. He watched her start the car, then back up to make the turn down her street and into her driveway.

As he put his own car in gear, something made him hesitate before he drove away. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to leave. So, after waiting a moment longer, he pulled his car around the corner until he was parked diagonally across from her house. To avoid detection, then shut off the engine, and got out, careful to close his door as quietly as he could before making his way across the street.

He crept between her car and her neighbor's house, then slipped into the backyard and stopped short when he saw her sitting on the bench on one side of the picnic table. Thankfully, her back was to him, so she couldn't see him approach. In a moment of indecision, he stood there and watched her. He couldn't just walk away without saying something. If he did, it would be a wasted opportunity.

"That was one happening scene tonight!" His voice interrupted the silence of the night.

Amanda jumped up from her seat and whipped around to face him, surprise clearly evident on her face. "Lee! Oh my gosh! You startled me!"

Her hand immediately pressed to her chest. The rapid rise and fall and the way she closed her eyes for a moment made it obvious obvious she was attempting to calm her breathing.

A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth, but something held it back. Tonight, the circumstances didn't seem to warrant his usual teasing manner. The only problem was that it left him feeling uncomfortable. "Oh, sorry about that."

He glanced down and scuffed his foot against the ground. Words failed him. How could he explain his presence, when he didn't even know why he was there himself? Part of the reason was because he had a need to be near her a little longer. If he was honest with himself, the other part was because he wanted to say goodnight to her in different manner.

"I thought you'd left. Was there something else you wanted?"

His head snapped up at her question. He had the oddest feeling that he had actually spoken his thoughts aloud. However, the unassuming look on her face and the way she waited expectantly for his reply told him otherwise.

"I ... uh ... wanted to tell you that I had a really great time tonight. I never knew class reunions could be like that."

"Well, you didn't exactly have the kind of life during high school that allowed you to experience anything similar. So, how would you know what the reunions would be like?"

Lee nodded. "Yeah, and I wanted to thank you for agreeing to go with me."

"And that couldn't have waited until Monday morning?"

He couldn't think of an adequate response, so he stood there and stared. She seemed to know exactly what he was thinking, that he had returned for a reason. Amanda had gotten extremely good at doing that. A little too good, in fact. It made him uncomfortable to know how well she could see right through him, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. What was it she had told him the other week? Something about him only being obvious when he was trying not to be?

"Lee?"

He shook himself out of his reverie and focused once again on her face. "Yeah?"

"Why did you follow me back to my house?"

Leave it to Amanda to get straight to the point. No way to get out of this one. He had to say something, and it had to be now.

"I don't know, Amanda." Lee sighed in frustration and haphazardly ran his hand through his hair. He took a few steps closer and stopped when he stood in front of her. "I guess I just felt like we parted rather abruptly, and I didn't want you to think it had anything to do with you." At least that was halfway honest.

"It is awfully late, Lee, so I just figured you wanted to get back to your apartment and crash. It's been a very busy last two days."

"Has it only been two days?" He was amazed that more time hadn't passed. "Seems like a lot more since you came into Billy's office with your check for that hundred-thousand."

"Well, a lot has happened since then." Amanda sighed. Her expression changed to a hint of sadness. "Hardly seems possible that all of this with that 666 file and the Triumvirate group happened in less than twenty-four hours."

At a loss on where to put them, Lee placed his hands in his pockets and rocked a little on his heels. "I know what you mean. I still can't believe that Eagles and Falcon were in on that scheme, or that they hired Jeppard to do their dirty work for them!" His hands came out of his pockets as he clenched them into fists. "And that Lance is gone because of them! One of our best computer guys, all because his name showed up on the access for that stupid file!"

"And he wouldn't have done that if we hadn't gone to him for help with my check." Amanda's voice sounded very guilty as she ducked her head.

"Hey..." Lee stepped forward to lift her chin and meet her gaze. "None of that was your fault, so don't go blaming yourself. Stuff like that happens in this business. Remember, Jeppard was after you too. If Lance hadn't broken into that file, you or I most likely would have. Things wouldn't have been much different from how they were." He reached down to clasp her hands in his. "Besides, it's why we have a place like the Cumberland. Provides a safe place for those who are in any kind of danger."

"The Cumberland." Her voice was barely a murmur as she glanced down at their joined hands. "You know, that really was a very nice place, for being what it was. I'm sorry I wasn't able to stay a little longer."

One corner of his mouth turned up in a crooked grin. "Yeah, me, too." Lee watched Amanda lift her head to meet his gaze once again. "You know, I almost have to wonder if..." He paused and tried to decide if he should continue with this train of thought.

"What?"

He shrugged. "Well, if Francine hadn't interrupted, what we..."

"...would have ended up talking about?" she finished, a little too quickly it seemed.

He smiled. "Yeah."

"Oh, I don't know. Conversation between us has never really been a problem." She shrugged. "We probably would have found something to talk about to pass the hours. It was obvious neither one of us was going to sleep that night, not with worrying about Jeppard."

"I still wish I knew how he managed to convince Francine that he was Billy." He unconsciously squeezed her hands in anger. "I knew something didn't feel right when she showed up, but I just couldn't think of a reason to stay." At the disappointment that crossed her face before she managed to conceal it, he grinned and hurried to continue. "Well, not one that would fly with Francine, anyway!"

Amanda ducked her head a little and hint of pink stained her cheeks. "Yeah, she seemed bound and determined to get you back to the Agency."

"What did you two do after I left, anyway?"

She sighed. "Absolutely nothing. She actually asked me if I wanted to play hearts or something. I chose to read my magazine." She grinned. "We did end up starting a game, but then you called, and that was the end of that."

"It's a good thing I called Billy when I got back to my car. When I found out that he hadn't spoken to Francine since that afternoon, I knew something was wrong and immediately headed back to the Cumberland." He softened his expression and began to lightly caress her fingers with his thumbs. "And you know what?"

She paused before answering. He watched her swallow, obviously trying very hard to appear unaffected by his touch.

"What?" she managed to croak out in a mere whisper.

"I'm sure glad I did. I don't even want to think..."

She interrupted him by pulling one hand from his grasp and placing a finger over his lips. "Shh. Don't think," she instructed. "You did come back, and you and Mr. Melrose did what was necessary to find me before anything happened. So, don't worry about the what-if's."

He smiled and placed a quick kiss on her finger before reaching up to clasp her hand in his again.

"I'm just sorry that Francine had to get shot because of all of it."

"Me, too. But, I stopped by the hospital this afternoon to check on her. She's doing fine. She'll be on crutches for a couple of weeks, so Billy will probably give her work around the Agency." Lee grinned. "Despite the drugs she was given for the pain, she was back to her usual, charming self."

Amanda smiled. "Sarcasm and all?"

Lee nodded. "Sarcasm and all."

"Well, that's that, I guess. Nothing left on this case." Her words seemed to carry a note of finality.

"Not quite," Lee countered with a grin.

Amanda's eyebrows drew together. "What else is there?"

"This," he whispered.

Lee released one of her hands and lifted her chin as he leaned down to kiss her lips. After just a moment, he slowly pulled back to gaze at her face, illuminated in the soft glow of moonlight. Her eyes had drifted shut, and they now fluttered open to meet his. Her mouth turned up in a smile.

"Mmm," she murmured. "A very nice way to end a case."

He chuckled, then gently pulled her to him and wrapped her in his arms. Her arms slipped beneath his suede jacket and wrapped around his waist. Her hands moved up and down his back a few times before coming to rest at his hips. She placed her cheek against his shoulder. As they stood there, gently swaying, he had to agree with her assessment. This *was* a very nice way to wrap up a case.

(THE END)

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