Disclaimer: This story is based on characters copyrighted by Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Production Company. It is meant for enjoyment purposes only. I retain the right to the plot and not the characters. Do not distribute, repost or copy this story in part or full without the express written consent of the author. All characters in this story are fictional.
 
 

Lee pulled up to the house, late yet again. The front porch light was still on, beckoning him home, but the rest of the house was dark. He sighed heavily as he looked at his watch. It was after eleven. Since Billy had retired and Lee had taken over his job, he seemed to spend more nights at the office than with Amanda. He couldn't keep track of how many lunch appointments, dinners and other family obligations he had missed over the last couple of months.

He slowly headed up the front walk when he remembered that Amanda had asked him to come home early. He shook his head as he realized it had totally slipped his mind. He rummaged through his keys, finally finding the front door key; he silently slipped into the darkened house and flicked a light on. His stomach began to grumble immediately at the delicious aroma that wafted from the kitchen. A quick peek into the dining room and Lee's stomach sunk as quickly as it had begun to grumble. The table was set with candles, linen napkins and the good china. A bottle of champagne sat in a bucket off to the side; the ice long ago melted. The crystal champagne flutes rested noticeably empty on the table.

He headed into the kitchen to find a fully cooked, yet uneaten Chateaubrianne with all the trimmings. "Oh, boy," Lee mumbled, disgusted with himself.

He loosened his tie and slowly headed up the stairs. Inside their bedroom, Amanda slept soundly but the message was clear. Candles had been placed on both of their night stands; music was softly playing and she was dressed in a sexy red negligee that Lee hadn't seen before. His stomach tightened. Should he wake her and apologize or let her sleep?

His question was quickly answered for him as she started to stir. He sat down on the bed next to her.

"Sorry I'm late," he whispered.

She glanced at the clock, and noticed the hour. "You're just getting home?"

He nodded as he leaned over and kissed her.

"Lee, you can't go on like this night after night," Amanda admonished as she pulled herself up on her elbows and straightened the new nightgown that she wore. She wasn't angry with him. She was frustrated and lonely. She missed her husband and partner and she missed her old job. Her new position in 'Casual Surveillance' lacked the variety, challenge and excitement that the years of working in the Q Bureau with Lee had provided.

"I'm sorry about tonight. It totally slipped my mind that, um, you had planned…" he stammered. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was so special about tonight.

"You don't have a clue as to the significance of tonight, do you?" she asked point blank.

His face turned red with embarrassment. A few uncomfortable moments passed before he finally admitted to her verbally. "No, I'm sorry, but I don't."

"I guess it's a woman thing," she shrugged disappointedly.

He looked at her with a blank look. "Are you going to tell me? I'm pretty sure my security clearance is high enough."

"I thought you might like this," Amanda said with a grin, as she fingered her new red nightgown. "A little more than a red hat."

He looked over at the calendar on the wall and smiled, quickly remembering the train station that fateful October morning. "We met ten years ago today," he answered quietly. His hand reached out and caressed her face. "A very important day in my life."

She smiled. "In mine, too."

"I'll make this up to you, I promise," Lee said.

Amanda reached out for him and removed his loosened tie. "No better time than the present…"

"Mrs. Stetson," Lee said in mock surprise as he quickly shed his suit jacket, eager to comply. He smothered her with tiny kisses, starting with her lips, and then trailing down her neck to the thin red strap of her nightgown. His fingers magically slid underneath her nightgown, gently caressing her; expressing his love to her in ways he could never find with words.

Amanda was becoming lost in the magic they shared; she quickly forgot about the late hour and the missed dinner. Her own hands expertly unbuttoned his shirt, feeling his warm muscular body underneath. She welcomed his attention, his lips, his hands and his fingers….

The phone rang once, twice, three times before either of them was aware of the unwelcome intrusion. Reluctantly, Lee pulled away and grabbed the phone on the nightstand.

"Stetson," he snarled crossly in the phone. Then his attitude turned professional. "Who? When?"

Amanda sat up in bed once again and sighed with annoyance. She listen to the one sided conversation and was able to piece together enough to figure out Lee would not be staying long.

"Yeah, I'll be down as soon as I can. Interrupt? No, of course not. I'll be there soon," he answered and hung up the phone. Then he mumbled loudly, "What could you possible have interrupted?"

"Lee, you just got home. Isn't there someone else who could handle this?"

"No. This one's pretty big. Senator Jennings was just found in his car with a bullet in his head," Lee answered, disheartened.

"Murdered?" Amanda asked quickly.

"Could have been a suicide," Lee replied as he got out of bed bending down to retrieve his shed clothing which lay haphazardly on the floor.

"I could go with you?" Amanda suggested eager to spend some time with him.

Lee shook his head. "For one thing you're not dressed appropriately, and secondly you're not my partner anymore. Not exactly fitting of your new job description."

Amanda looked away. She didn't mind the first statement at all, but the last part hurt - and badly. When Lee took over as Section Chief she was forced from her old position as a field agent. The Agency would not let her work directly under Lee. Years before when they announced they were married, they had had a hard time convincing Dr. Smyth that they could work together as partners. There was no way Amanda would be allowed to work in Lee's section. The answer was a confirmed NO: they were married.

Lee dressed hastily, oblivious to her reaction; his mind swamped with the Senator's death. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and headed for the door.

"I'll make tonight up to you," he said with a wink. "I promise."

As the door closed to their bedroom, the tears in Amanda's eyes began to fall.

***

Several nights later Amanda was on the phone with Jamie when Lee came home.

"Lee, Jamie's on the phone," Amanda called out to him. "He wants to know whether you're coming to parents' weekend this weekend."

Lee answered somberly. "Give him my regrets, but the way my schedule has been I doubt that I'll be available for the whole weekend. I'll try to make it up for dinner Saturday night."

Amanda had hoped this weekend would be different, but she knew better. She sighed unhappily thinking to herself, 'So much for making the other night up to me.'

Jamie replied before she could tell him. "I heard. Things are still pretty hectic for him at the office, huh?"

"I'm afraid so, but I'll be up for the weekend regardless," Amanda confessed. She had hoped she would had been wrong about the way Lee tackled this new position. But Lee was determined to prove he was the best person for the post and was working night and day to prove it.
 

"OK, I'll see you on Friday night," Jamie answered.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. Love you."

Jamie looked around his dorm room then whispered into the phone. "Yeah, I love you too."

*** *** ***

Amanda picked up the phone and dialed Lee's private line. She still hoped that Lee might be able to get away.

"Stetson," Lee answered authoritatively.

"It's only me. I just wanted to say goodbye. I'm heading down to the University. I don't suppose you can slip away?"

"I wish I could. I'll try to make it down tomorrow afternoon in time for dinner," Lee reminded her. "Drive careful."

"I really miss you. It would mean a lot to me and Jamie if you could get down there tomorrow for dinner," Amanda pleaded. "We haven't eaten a meal together in over a week."

"I know. I'm going to work late tonight and hopefully clear off this desk. Give Jamie my best."

"See you tomorrow. I love you," Amanda said wistfully as she hung up the phone.

**** ****

Jamie, Amanda and Joe waited in his dorm room until the last minute. But it was clear that Lee was going to be late if he made it at all.

"We could leave a note on your door telling Lee we headed over to the dining hall. He can catch up to us there," Amanda said with a resigned sigh.

"That's a good idea," Joe replied as Jamie headed to the note board on his door. A few of his friends drifted on by with their families as he finished and they headed down to the dining hall in a small group.

Dinner was pleasant in the large dining hall. Amanda watched in delight, as her once-shy son seemed to be at ease with his numerous friends. As dinner wound down many of the other parents were beginning to leave. Jamie looked over at Amanda and Joe, not quite sure what their plans were for the remainder of the evening.

"Jamie, we're going down to the Square. They got a band playing down there. I hear that Michelle is going to be there," one of Jamie's friends remarked.

Jamie's face lit up brightly. Then he looked over at his parents. "Um, Mom, Dad, did you want to go down to the a, um Square?"

Amanda blushed. For the first time in his life, her son was trying to politely give her the brush off. She looked over at Joe uncomfortably. "No, sweetheart, I think I'll pass. Why don't you go on down with your friends."

"You two don't mind?" Jamie asked, unable to hide his grin.

This time Joe answered. "No, you go ahead. Have a good time. How about we pick you up for lunch tomorrow morning, say about eleven thirty?"

"Yeah, OK. I'll see you tomorrow then," Jamie answered. Without as much as a hug goodbye, Jamie turned quickly and headed after his friends.

"I feel like a relic," Amanda commented sourly as she watched Jamie leave.

Joe chuckled. "Seems like only yesterday that it was you and me in college and we were blowing off our parents."

"We never did that," Amanda quickly replied. Then quietly asked, "Did we?"

"So what are your plans this evening, Amanda?"

"I thought I was going to spend it with our son," she sighed.

"I think he has other plans," Joe said as he looked down at his watch. "It's still pretty early. You want to go to the movies? There's a theater down the road."

"The movies, huh?" she repeated unenthusiastically.

"It was a bad idea. I just didn't feel like sitting alone in a hotel room watching TV," Joe answered uncomfortably.

"No, it wasn't a bad idea. I haven't been to a movie in ages. Your car or mine?" Amanda smiled as they both turned and headed out of the dining room.

*** ***

The phone was ringing when Amanda arrived back in her hotel room. She quickly grabbed it; concerned about who would be calling her this late at night.

"Hello?" Amanda answered apprehensively.

"Amanda, where have you been?" Lee asked with concern of his own.

"I could ask you the same thing?" Amanda replied accusingly.

"I've been calling your room for the last three hours. Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"I know it's late, but did you expect me to sit around the hotel alone all night?"

"Well, no, and I'm sorry I didn't call this afternoon. I got tied up at the office and didn't have Jamie's dorm phone number with me. So where have you been?"

"I went to the movies and then out for coffee," Amanda answered casually.

"So what did you and Jamie go see?" Lee asked curiously.

Amanda laughed thinking about how easily Jamie had dismissed her earlier. "Jamie had other plans for the night. I went to the movies with Joe," Amanda responded innocently.

"You went out with Joe?" Lee snapped suspiciously.

Amanda was angered by his tone. "Yeah, he asked, and I didn't have any other plans."

Lee's jealous temper began to rise. "Amanda, you were married to the man for ten years. Don't you think going out with him is a little out of line?"

"Lee, he's my ex-husband; we're just friends. Friends can go out and do things together. Now I'm really tired so I'm heading to bed. We're taking Jamie out to lunch tomorrow before I head back home if that's OK with you? I'll see you tomorrow; perhaps we could eat dinner together. Good night," she argued, annoyed and hung up the phone.

Lee sat looking at the receiver. He hadn't gotten jealous over Joe in ages. Why was he letting that old feeling creep into his head now? Then talking to his own conscience he answered. 'Because I haven't spent any time with my wife in over a month and she's spending the weekend with Jamie and Joe.' He hung up the receiver and vowed to himself. 'I'm going to make some time for you, Amanda, I promise.'

*** ***

When Amanda returned home on Sunday afternoon, she was pleasantly surprised to see Lee's car in the driveway. Her telephone argument with Lee last night reverberated in her head. She quickly parked her car behind Lee's, grabbed her bag and went into the house.

"Hi," she greeted Lee cautiously as she walked into the kitchen.

Lee was chopping vegetables and smiled brightly. "Hello, yourself. I missed you."

"I've been missing you for weeks," Amanda replied with a sigh. Then she shook her head, silently berating herself for her ill-chosen words. She didn't want to start another argument.

"I know I haven't been around much lately, and I'm sorry," Lee answered as he crossed the room.

Lee pulled her into his warm embrace. Their lips met. She melted into his arms. "Now that's more like it."

"How about just you and me tonight? You hungry?"

"I'm starved. What's for dinner?"

"You leave that to me," Lee winked.

Amanda peeked over to the stove where the lids were tightly on the pots. "Well, something smells delicious. Let me go upstairs and put this stuff away."

"Hurry back down or I might come up there looking for you. And if that happens, I can't be responsible for what happens to dinner," Lee grinned devilishly.

"Really? Maybe I'm not as hungry as I thought. Sounds like an interesting proposition," Amanda answered with a grin.

"Better than an evening with Joe?" Lee whispered jokingly into her ear, but Amanda's body stiffened in anger.

"You just couldn't leave that alone?" Amanda snarled as she pulled away and grabbed her bag and headed out of the room.

"Amanda," Lee called after her, cursing himself silently.

*** ***

Amanda woke in the morning to find Lee had already left for the office. She sighed in frustration; she had hoped to talk with Lee in the morning. She didn't want this squabble to continue, but she knew she wouldn't see Lee again until late in the evening.

Her assignment this week was casual surveillance at the airport. She'd be canvassing the airport observing passengers come and go; watching video monitors for known targets and suspicious activities. It seemed to be a major step backwards. She knew Lee was right: it was safer, it was more nine to five, but it was also boring. At least when they were working long hours before, they were together. She thought she was going to go stir crazy.

She picked up the phone and dialed Lee's office.

"IFF," the switchboard operator answered instead of Lee.

"Lee Stetson, please," Amanda replied.

"I'm sorry, but Mr. Stetson is in a meeting. Would you like to leave a message?"

Amanda thought for a second, but then decided against it. "No, no message. I'll try back later."

She made herself some breakfast and then headed to the airport.

After checking in, she headed down to the terminal with the two rookies she was assigned with. The morning crawled by. She must have walked up and down the terminal a dozen times. Her feet started to ache. She'd perused the magazines at the newsstand, sat down for a cup of coffee at the snack bar and surveyed the souvenirs in the gift shop. She did an good job mixing in with the tourist and the business travelers, while always keeping an ever-present eye open for something out of the ordinary, but it was just as Amanda expected - dull.

About midday, she headed to the ladies room and passed by a bank of pay phones. Since she was supposed to blend in with the other passengers so she decided to give Lee another call.

"IFF," the switchboard operator answered.

"Lee Stetson, please."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Stetson isn't available. Would you like to leave a message?" the operator answered mechanically.

"No, no message." Amanda sighed and hung up the phone.

As she stood up, another wave of passengers began to go by. She dutifully scanned their unknowing faces. She saw one of the rookies assigned with her across the corridor. Amanda was about to flash the 'all clear' sign when she noticed a familiar face. Her heart began to beat quickly, her throat suddenly dry. It couldn't be? He was in England. He'd been put away years ago for the remainder of his life. It had to be a look alike; they say everyone has a double. She began to follow him. Her cohort watched and followed her. Amanda got on her walkie-talkie and radioed in.

"This is Amanda King in 'B Terminal', gate seventeen. I have a possible sighting of 'The Mongoose'. Check the video monitors and cover the exits."

"Who?" The voice answered back.

"The Mongoose!" Amanda answered with authority.

The crackling voice came back over the radio. "Repeat your location."

Amanda turned down the volume on her radio, trying not to attract unwanted attention. "I'm at terminal 'B as in Bravo', gate seventeen. I'm heading towards baggage."

"Ten - four. We're sending back up your way. Can you give us a description?"

"Tall, lanky man with white hair that's thinning on top. He's wearing a black suit, white shirt, and dark tie. He's carrying a trenchcoat over his left arm, and a camel colored briefcase in his right hand," she answered back, making her observations as she followed him inconspicuously down the corridor.

"Keep your distance, Mrs. King. Backup is on the way."

"You got it," Amanda replied as she glanced over at Dinkens, the rookie, who was close at hand. He nodded towards 'The Mongoose' and Amanda nodded back, confirming the ID.

Without warning, Dinkens shouted out. "Stop! Federal Agents."

The startled crowd turned quickly, looking at the voice that yelled. The Mongoose used the diversion to his advantage and quickened his pace. A shot rang out. People began to scream, dropping to the floor. The Mongoose paused for an instant, turned, and within seconds, made eye contact with Amanda. Under the trench coat came a barrel of a gun. He aimed his gun towards her.

"Oh my gosh, no!" Amanda shouted, but the Mongoose fired a shot and quickly sped from the chaotic scene...

End Part 1
 
 
 

Friends and Enemies          Part 2

Lee returned to the bullpen after what seemed an interminable number of meetings. Despite his hectic day he couldn't help but notice a 'buzz' going on. The bullpen, always busy, seemed to have a louder hum than usual. People were scurrying about nervously.

He looked over at Francine. "What's going on?"

"Didn't you hear?" she queried with surprise.

"I wouldn't have asked if I had. Something I need to know about?" he asked, annoyed.

"Shooting down at the airport. We don't have all the details yet. We've got a team on the way."

Lee nodded. "Let me know if it pans out to be anything."

"Sure thing, Lee," Francine replied. "Tough way to start the week, huh?"

"Start the week? Did last week end yet?" he grumbled as he headed into his office.

Lee closed the door to his office, glad to have a moment of peace and quiet. Just a few minutes later Francine knocked at the door.

"Come in," he bellowed.

"Am I interrupting?" Francine asked in concern.

"Yes, but when wouldn't you be?" he answered apologetically as he looked at the mess on his desk.  "What's up?"

"Do you know where Amanda is working today?"

"No, I left before she got up this morning. She didn't mention anything to me last night," he said shaking his head. Truth was, she wasn't talking to him last night. They hadn't had a meaningful conversation in weeks.

"Well, she mentioned last week that she was due for her casual surveillance rotation at the airport. I was just wondering if she was at National today," Francine asked.

"She hadn't mentioned it," Lee answered, shrugging off the question. "Is there anything else, Francine? I've got a lot of work to sift through."

"No, I'll keep you posted if I get anything more," Francine answered as she closed his office door.

Francine had a hunch, maybe it was women's intuition, but mainly she had a bad feeling. She checked the rotation schedule for 'Casual Surveillance' on the computer and found Amanda's name. She was scheduled to spend the week over at Washington National. Another phone call downstairs confirmed her hunch, Amanda had been involved with the shooting. A few more phone calls to the hospital and Francine barged back into Lee's office. He was on the phone, but quickly ended the call.

"You have heard of knocking, haven't you, Francine?" he snarled in frustration.

She ignored his comment. "We've got confirmation about the shooting at the airport. We have an agent down, but we don't know how bad it is yet."

"Damn! Just what we needed today," Lee snarled, "What hospital and who's the agent? We'll need to contact the family. I want details."

"Lee, I've been working on the details, but the hospital won't give me any over the phone. But we do have the agent's name."

"OK, so who is it?"

"It's, um, it's Amanda," Francine said softly.

"What?" He looked at her, perplexed.

"We haven't gotten a condition yet. Like I said, the hospital won't give out any details over the phone."

"Francine," Lee answered with a growing lump in his throat. "I don't want the standard answer. I want the truth."

She answered hoarsely. "Lee, it's the truth. They won't even confirm it's Amanda, but one of the rookies assigned with her just called in. He saw her go down, but went after the suspect. Other than that, all the details are sketchy at best."

Lee grabbed his jacket, and nervously pushed past Francine and headed out of his office. She followed, close on his heels. Lee thought to himself, this can't be happening. Casual surveillance was a 'cake walk' compared to what Amanda had handled over the last ten years.

"I'll drive, Lee," Francine suggested as the elevator doors opened to the parking garage.

"I'm fine, Francine," Lee mumbled as his pace quicken to almost a run. As he got into his car, his face paled; he thought back to the last few weeks. He couldn't remember the last time that he told Amanda he loved her. He told her that he missed her, to drive carefully, but those very important words 'I love you' hadn't passed his lips in weeks. Was he really that busy to forget how important she was in his life? Wasn't that the warning Billy had given him just before he retired?

Lee drove hastily to the hospital, frustrated by the heavy local traffic. He got angrier and angrier as he was stuck behind what seemed to be every red light, slow moving trucks, insufferable detours and road construction. Lee laid on his horn as the light turned green and the driver in front on him didn't move quickly enough. He swerved erratically around the car.

"Lee, calm down. Getting yourself killed isn't going to help Amanda," Francine urged nervously.

But Lee's death grip on the wheel only seemed to intensify.

*** ***

Amanda was in the examining room being treated for a superficial gunshot wound to her upper left arm area.

"You're pretty lucky, Mrs. King," the doctor noted as he examined the sutures. "It looks a lot worse than it is."

"I've learned to duck over the years," Amanda commented, smarting slightly from the stinging pain.

"How about you keep a low profile, OK? I'm recommending you take a few days off." The doctor noticed her grimace as she pulled her bloody blouse back over her shoulder. "I can write you a prescription for the pain if you like. That shoulder's going to be stiff for a few days at least."

"No, thanks, Doctor. I'll be fine."

"If you're sure, Mrs. King," he asked as he looked over at her. She nodded her head.  "Very well, I'll get your release papers ready. I understand you have a visitor waiting to see you. OK if I send him in?" the doctor asked.

Amanda smiled. This was a heck of a way to finally spend some time with Lee. He was probably worried sick. She nodded her consent and the doctor left. A few minutes later, Arty Reed, Amanda's supervisor came through the door. Amanda's smile faded quickly.

"How are you feeling, Amanda?"

"I'm fine, just a little sore. I don't suppose you caught the Mongoose?" she asked quickly.

"No, Dinkens lost him in the terminal."

Amanda grimaced, unsure of what Dinkens had told him about the shooting.

Arty looked over at Amanda. "What happened at the airport?"

"I was following the Mongoose. He hadn't spotted me yet. Dinkens was across the corridor; he nodded that he saw him too. But the next thing I knew he yelled, 'Federal Agent's' and then… everything happened so fast. The Mongoose recognized me; he pulled out a gun and fired at me. I ducked," Amanda whispered. "Apparently, not fast enough."

The nurse came in with her discharge papers. Amanda signed them and Arty helped her off the bed and held the door open for her. "I'll give you a ride home. You can file an official report tomorrow. You need some rest, you've had quite a day today."

"Thanks, Mr. Reed. I'm sorry you had to come all the way down here. It really wasn't necessary," Amanda answered as they walked into the hall. She was still a little downhearted that Lee hadn't come to the hospital. Surely he knew about the shooting by this time.

"Amanda, you're my best agent. I don't want to lose you. I'm just glad that you're all right," Arty answered, patting her on the back.

"Thanks, Mr. Reed," Amanda replied. "I needed that."

Arty laughed. "You're never going to call me, Arty, are you?"

They both laughed and Amanda looked down the hallway.

"Amanda?" Lee called out from the emergency room door in relief.

"I'm OK, Lee," she responded.

Lee walked briskly down the hall.

Amanda pointed to her upper arm. "Just a nick. Half dozen stitches and I'm good as new," she joked.

"I'm glad you think this is funny. What the hell happened? Nobody gets shot doing casual surveillance at the airport for god sakes!" Lee bellowed. His pent up emotions turning to raw anger.

Amanda was stunned at his belligerent attitude. "Another first for Amanda King, huh?" she answered, trying to break the growing tension.

"If you think this is such a joke, maybe a two week suspension would give you sufficient time to think things over," he railed.

"Lee," Amanda gasped in disbelief as Arty, Francine and a few other Agency personnel looked on. "I think you're overreacting."

"Don't tell me how to do my job, Mrs. King," Lee roared harshly.

"Scarecrow, calm down," Arty suggested, trying to intervene on Amanda's behalf.

"Arty, this is well within my jurisdiction," Lee argued. "Last time I checked, your department reports to me."

Amanda stood in the hospital corridor, embarrassed and stunned. "Lee, please. I spotted the 'Mongoose' and things kind of got out of hand," she whispered hoarsely.

"Amanda, I don't care if you saw Jack the Ripper. You caused an incident at a major airport that could reflect badly upon the Agency."

"Lee, I saw the 'Mongoose'," Amanda snapped harshly.

"Amanda, the 'Mongoose' is locked away in Pentonville prison in London. Now I don't want to talk about this anymore. My car's parked just outside. I'll take you home," Lee snapped at her sharply, still unable to control his emotions.

Amanda started to regain her composure. Her defenses were now building. She tried to assemble some control of this situation with a little dignity intact.

"Thank you, Mr. Stetson, but I'd rather take a cab," she answered, her voice wavering ever so slightly as she maneuvered past Lee and headed out of the hospital. She couldn't exit the hospital fast enough. She hailed a cab, never looking back at the hospital, leaving Lee, Francine, Arty and a few other agents in a stunned and awkward silence.

Francine was the first one to speak. "Lee, aren't you going to go after her?"

"Francine, stay out of this," he snapped. Then he turned to Arty Reed. "I want a full report on my desk in an hour."

"Yes, sir," Arty answered with a hint of sarcasm in his voice before he turned away from Lee and headed out of the building.

The other agents dispersed quickly. Lee stood in the hallway, feeling very much alone.

*** *** ***

Amanda had the cab driver take her back to the airport to pick up her car. She headed home, half-expecting Lee to be there. She wasn't sure if she was disappointed or angry that he wasn't there waiting for her. She checked the answering machine. Surely there would be an apology from Lee for his rash behavior, an explanation that he had been acting out of fear or exhaustion or something - anything. But the only message on the machine was from her mother inviting her and Lee over for dinner later in the week.

Amanda paced her quiet living room with growing agitation. She couldn't believe the scene he caused at the hospital. "How could he treat me like that?" she yelled in fury. Tears of frustration began to flow. She hadn't done anything wrong, yet he blamed the whole incident on her without even giving her a chance to explain. He had gone so far as to suspend her for two weeks. "Two weeks!" she cried loudly at the vacant walls.

Amanda sat down as the flow of tears continued on, lost in a myriad of emotions. Her tears finally began to slow and her breathing started to return to normal. She stood up and said determinedly, "If that's what you want, Mr. Stetson, you got it!" She wiped her tears and headed up the stairs to their bedroom. Opening the closet door she reached into the back for a suitcase. She packed with lightning speed. She needed to get away: from the house, her job, and especially Lee.

Before heading out, she contemplated leaving without a note, but finally decided against it. She left a very concise note on the refrigerator door. *Lee, I'll be back in two weeks, Amanda.* With that complete, she locked up the house, threw her suitcase in the trunk of the car, and drove away. She wasn't sure where she was going...

End Part 2
 
 
 
 

Friends and Enemies Part 3

Lee arrived back to the Agency and headed for his office. He slammed and locked the door. He hadn't said a word to Francine on the interminable drive back. Francine was stunned and confused, even angry. Lee had always been Amanda's biggest supporter, but today he didn't even give her the benefit of the doubt. Amanda had mentioned the 'Mongoose', a case that they tackled years earlier. Francine quickly headed to the computer and started to do some research of her own.

Within the hour, Arty Reed headed into the bullpen. Nodding towards Lee's office he asked Francine. "So has the hot-head cooled down any?"

She shrugged. "He locked himself in as soon as we got back. What really happened at the airport?" she asked, intrigued.

"One of the rookies got a little trigger happy. He's on report. I'm sure Stetson will put him on suspension. Amanda followed procedure. Her only mistake was getting in the Mongoose's line of fire."

"MI6 should have sent us a wire as soon as he escaped; he's been on the loose since Saturday. One of the worlds most notorious killers and they try to keep it quiet!" Francine scoffed angrily. "Amanda's lucky she wasn't killed today."

"We're lucky she's the only one injured. The Mongoose is usually rather ruthless," Arty answered. "Well, I better get this report in there. My hour is up."

Arty knocked on Lee's door. A few moments later Lee unlocked his door and opened it, letting him in. Without saying a word, Arty handed Lee his preliminary report.

Lee nodded, sat down and began to read the facts of the case. Lee swallowed hard as he finished it. The truth was Amanda should be commended for her part, not suspended. The rookie, Dinkens, had acted prematurely and caused the incident.

Lee cleared his throat. "Have we confirmed that Amanda saw the Mongoose?"

"The video from the airport gives us an 85% match that it's him. We're trying to get a recent photo from MI6. He escaped from Pentonville prison on Saturday night, Greenwich time. He arrived at National on a domestic flight; my guess is from New York. We're checking it out. He probably flew in there on Sunday, unnoticed. We were lucky Amanda has a good eye or we would have missed him too," Arty suggested.

Lee nodded in agreement. "Thanks, Arty. I owe you an apology for the scene at the hospital. I lost my cool and I'm sorry."

"You don't owe me an apology, but I assume you'll lift Amanda's suspension?" Arty inquired.

"You can count on that," Lee answered, embarrassed. He wasn't looking forward to that conversation with his wife, but he knew he deserved what he was going to get from her. "Meanwhile, we need a game plan to find the Mongoose."

"I'll put my department on alert. We'll be doubling up our surveillance teams in all the usual spots. We'll find him," Arty assured.

Lee smiled. "I appreciate that Arty. I'll give Amanda a call, bring her in. The Mongoose may be looking for her."

Arty nodded. "Other than you, she's probably the hottest ticket in his book right now. I'll talk to you later."

Lee knew what Arty said had merit. Amanda was one of the few people who had met and could easily identify the Mongoose. The Mongoose would be looking for her. He picked up the phone and dialed their house. The phone rang three times before the answering machine picked up. He waited for the beep and then left a message.

"Amanda, I know you're there. I know you're angry with me and you have every right to be. I'm sorry," he said with emotion. "Amanda, pick up the phone. You were right, it was the Mongoose. Now pick up the phone, please…." Lee waited a few more seconds. "OK, you deserve an apology in person. I'm on the way."

Lee hung up the phone, grabbed his jacket and headed out of the door.

"Lee?" Francine called out. "Where are you going?"

"Home," he answered somberly, "to apologize. In the meantime, coordinate with Arty and set up additional surveillance teams. I want the Mongoose."

"What about putting a tail on Amanda and an extra set of eyes on your house."

"Do it," Lee nodded. "Just promise me you won't tell her the order came from me. Got it?"

"You got it. Good luck, Lee," she called out as he headed out of the bullpen.

*** ***

Lee arrived home. "Amanda?" he called out, but there was no answer.

He headed up the stairs to their bedroom, thinking she might be asleep. She had been shot after all, he reasoned. When she wasn't up there he began to get worried. He headed back downstairs looking for signs that she had been there. There was one message on the answering machine. He knew it was the one he'd left.

"Damn it, Amanda, where are you?" he called out. Then he looked on the frig and saw the note pad hanging there. But there wasn't a grocery list, or a 'honey do' list. It was a terse note; there was no 'Dear Lee' salutation, it just said 'Lee'. It was signed plainly, 'Amanda'. The word 'love' was unmistakably absent. It was at that moment that Lee knew how badly he had hurt her. He knew it wasn't just the scene at the hospital, but the last few months culminating to a crashing crescendo. His actions at the hospital clearly had been the last straw.

*** *** ***

Amanda headed west, towards the Blue Ridge. The leaves in the mountains were just starting to take on their brilliant yellow-orange hues now that the cooler autumn weather had arrived. Normally she would have taken great delight in nature's glorious exhibition, but today she barely noticed her surroundings. Her mind was still in an incensed haze.

She stopped at a motel in the mountains and asked for a room.

"Do you have a reservation?" the manager asked.

"No," Amanda answered honestly, forgetting that this was the last few weeks of the high season for most of the local motels.

"We only have a suite left," he explained. "It comes with a small kitchenette."

"That will be fine," she smiled, relieved to have a place at all.

"I just need you to fill out the registration form," he said as he handed her the register.

As she began to fill out the form, she signed in as Amanda King, a name she used nowadays only at work. She had long ago dropped her pseudonym in her personal life, preferring to use her married name - Stetson. But today she needed to distance herself from that person.

"Is there a grocery store nearby?" she asked, not much in the mood to be out dining - alone.

"Down the road about five miles; it's on the right, just past the traffic light."

Amanda smiled and thanked him, then headed for her room to unpack. She glanced in the tiny kitchen and decided to make a quick run to the grocery store before dark. She really was starting to get hungry.

She drove down into town on the winding mountain road. She was still distracted by the thoughts of Lee, and their altercation at the hospital. She hadn't yet noticed the car that had been following her since she left Arlington earlier in the day. Normally she would have picked up on it right away, despite the distance the car was following at. But her shoulder was beginning to ache from carrying in her suitcase, her head was pounding, she hadn't eaten since breakfast, and despite the radio playing she couldn't get Lee from her mind.

She got to the grocery store, grabbed some supplies for the next few days. She planned on a relaxing evening. The doctor prescribed R & R; she planned on it. Amanda headed back to her room. Glad to have most of the day behind her, she fixed dinner, soaked luxuriously in the tub careful to keep her wound dry. Then she sat on the balcony watching as the stars began to brighten in the dark night sky. The stress from the day had finally started to ebb from her weary, aching body. She covered a yawn, barely noticing how late it had gotten. Finally deciding to call it a night, she headed back into her room, carefully locking the door behind her and prepared for bed.

Off in the shadows he watched as she sat alone on the balcony. He smiled contentedly as she got up, locked the door and closed the curtain. "It will take more than a locked door to protect you tonight, Mrs. King," the Mongoose chuckled with a sickening laugh as he stealthily headed towards her room.

*** ***

Lee raced back to the Agency, alarmed by her note. Would she be prepared to meet the Mongoose again if he followed her? Where had she gone? He had made a few quick calls to Dotty and each of the boys before leaving the house. He didn't want to upset them so he kept his conversation light, but in the end it was obvious that she hadn't called any of them.

Francine looked up, seeing Lee enter the bullpen. "So how did it go with Amanda?"

"My office, now!" he demanded urgently.

Francine knew that tone and didn't dawdle. "What's up?" she asked as she closed the door behind her.

"Amanda took off," he started.

"What do you mean, took off?"

Lee sighed. "That's just it. I don't exactly know. She left a note that she'd be back in two weeks. Didn't call her mother or the boys. Her suitcase is missing, and some of her clothes."

"Well, you did suspend her. She must be really pis…" Francine stopped short. Lee glared at her.

"Francine, you're not helping things here. You've talked to her more than I have lately. Has she said anything to you in the last week or so? Mentioned anything about wanting to go on a trip somewhere? I need to find her before the Mongoose does," Lee stated in a pleading tone.

Francine tried to think back to the short conversations she had with Amanda over the last couple of weeks. She hadn't really spent much time with her. She couldn't believe that Lee had been that distanced from his own wife. But Amanda had seemed frustrated the last time she saw her. Perhaps it wasn't just the new job; perhaps it was Lee's job and the hours he was keeping. "She did mention something about wanting to go to London."

"No, she wouldn't have gone out of the country. Besides, she left her passport at home," Lee replied as he paced behind his desk of his office.

"Did you have much cash at the house?" she asked.

"Cash? No, we don't keep much around," he answered distractedly.

"I could run her credit cards; see if there's any activity. Sounds like she took off spur of the moment, so maybe she didn't stop for cash," Francine theorized.

"Do it." Lee nodded, and Francine headed back to her desk to search the computer.

A few minutes later she returned. "Found her!" Francine announced happily.

"Where?"

"She checked into a motel on the north end of Skyline Drive."

Lee smiled. "I owe you one. You got a phone number?"

She handed him the number. Lee quickly dialed it.

"Yes, I'm trying to reach Mrs. Stetson's room," Lee asked when the phone was answered.

"I'm sorry, we don't have anyone by that name registered," he replied.

Lee stood silent in his office. Had someone stolen her credit card? No, he was convinced it was Amanda who had registered.

"Sir?" the voice asked.

Trying to keep calm, Lee asked. "I'm sorry, did I say Stetson? I meant Mrs. King."

"One moment please while I connect you to her room."

The phone rang and rang. There was no answer.

"Damn!" Lee swore in frustration as he hung up the phone.

"Not answering the phone?" Francine surmised from Lee's reaction.

"I'm going up there. Give me the address," Lee ordered.

"What about the Mongoose? Aren't you going to want backup…"

"Francine, I don't have the time to assemble a team. My gut tells me that Amanda's in danger; I'll find Amanda when I find the Mongoose. I just hope I find Amanda first," he answered hurriedly as he headed out the door.

*** *** ***

Amanda finally headed to bed. Pulling down the sheets, then fluffing her pillow, she carefully adjusted her tired and achy body, trying to find a comfortable position. She thought the minute her head hit the pillow she would be out like a light. But after she turned out the light she lay in tormented darkness. The incidents at the airport and then at the hospital churned over and over again in her mind.

She was startled out of her living nightmare by a soft click coming from her motel room door. She got up out of the bed and threw on her bathrobe. Could it be Lee, she wondered? Quiet footsteps headed towards her bedroom, but did not call out to her. Lee would have identified himself; she was sure of that.

She adjusted the covers on the bed to make it seem like she was sleeping. Hastily rifling through her suitcase, she hid by the door as the intruder opened it ever so cautiously, and neared the bed. Amanda waited until she could see the outline of a gun. Then she flicked on the light, startling him.

"Put the gun down, slowly," she ordered the Mongoose, in a bitter voice training her own gun at him.

"We meet again, Mrs. King," the Mongoose replied calmly.

"For the last time I hope," she answered.

"That could be arranged," he replied smugly as he started to turn.

Amanda fired a warning shot from her gun. "I said drop your gun; the next shot won't miss."

The Mongoose, complied, throwing his gun down.

"Kick it away," she bellowed.

He kicked it just under the bed.

"Put your hands behind your head," she demanded, as adrenaline took charge of her weary body. "Back away from the bed - slowly."

He only took a small step backwards in the tiny room, then stopped.

"Lace your fingers behind your head - now!" she yelled nervously, trying to keep her hands steady in spite of the fact that her body was quivering in fear. She concentrated on fully disarming her enemy.

Gradually he raised his hands, sluggishly putting them behind his head.

"Get down on your knees," Amanda ordered apprehensively, waiting for him to comply. Her own heart was racing a mile a minute.

He ignored her last request. Instead he lunged at Amanda with a knife that had been carefully concealed up his sleeve. She screamed and backed herself into the corner, trying to get away from his threatening reach. There was a struggle and the gun went off…

End Part 3
 
 
 

Friends and Enemies      Part 4
 

As Lee drove into the motel's parking lot, the luminescent lights of police cars and ambulances eerily filled the otherwise peaceful, dark mountain sky. His heartbeat quickened while a lump formed in his throat. Was he too late? He raced into the lobby only to be stopped by a local police officer.

"I'm sorry, sir, but no one is allowed in at the moment," the officer advised him.

Lee reached into his jacket pocket, and flashed his official ID. "Federal agent; what happened?"

"There was a shooting in one of the guest's room. An intruder…" the officer began to explain.

"Who's in charge?" Lee interrupted.

"Captain Piper," the officer answered with a nod. "He's upstairs."

"What room?" Lee questioned urgently. He was desperate to know that Amanda was all right.

"Room 207," the officer answered.

Lee raced for the stairs; he took them two at a time. His heart was pounding. His mind rehashed the incident at the hospital earlier. Why had he acted like such a jerk? Why hadn't he just taken her in his arms? He should have told her that he loved her. This time he intended to do just that. 'Please let her be all right.' Lee mumbled to himself as he raced down the hall. He started to enter room 207 but another officer stopped him.

"Hold it! I'm sorry, sir, but you can't go in there."

Lee tried to see past the burly officer, but wasn't successful. In frustration, he reached back into his pocket, again pulling out his ID. "I'm a Federal Agent. I believe the shooting tonight may involve a suspect that we've been tracking. Who was shot? What's their condition?"

The officer carefully looked at Lee's ID and then back at Lee. Finally he called to his supervisor, "Captain, we have a Federal agent out here."

Lee was about to jump out of his skin. He needed to know what happened. He ran his hand nervously through his hair. Finally, Captain Piper emerged from the bedroom.

Lee plied him with the same questions. "Who was shot? Was it a woman? Was it the Mongoose? What…"

"Slow down," Captain Piper urged. "A man was shot…"

"Then Amanda's all right," Lee exhaled with relief.

"The ambulance crew is still working on Mrs. King," Captain Piper explained.

"But you said the man was shot," Lee argued nervously.

"Yes, but Mrs. King was stabbed in the fracas."

"Oh my God!" Lee exclaimed. "How badly?"

"Mister, if you would let me finish, I could tell you," the Captain warned, tiring of Lee's interruptions. Lee bit his lip to silence himself and the detective continued on. "The wound isn't that deep; she was stabbed in the right forearm. She's lucky. If she hadn't shot him when she did, she'd be the one on the way to the hospital, not him. We've sent an officer with him, but she shot him in the knee. He's not going anywhere."

"I want to see her," Lee demanded.

"When the ambulance crew is finished treating her. I have a few more questions for her then you'll be free to speak with her. Should be in about a half hour."

Lee didn't like the answer. He wanted to see with his own eyes that Amanda was OK, and he wanted to see her now. He pushed passed the detective and headed towards the bedroom. Captain Piper grabbed him. Lee elbowed him in the stomach. The other officer quickly responded and pinned Lee against the wall.

"One more stupid move like that, hotshot, and I'll arrest you for interfering with an investigation. Got that? Have a seat and when I'm done, I'll let Mrs. King know she has a visitor. What's your name?"

"Stetson, Lee Stetson," Lee answered dourly.

*** *** ***

The ambulance crew finally left and after what seemed hours later Captain Piper came out of the back bedroom.

"She said she'd be out in a minute."

Lee nodded. "Thanks. The Agency will be making arrangements to transfer the Mongoose to a federal prison hospital, first thing in the morning."

"I'll need the appropriate releases before we can transfer him, of course."

Lee glared at the detective. "Of course."

The Captain shook his head and left with a casual warning. "Don't stay too long. Mrs. King is quite tired. She's had a heck of a day."

Lee nodded as the two officers headed out of Amanda's suite. A few minutes later she emerged from her bedroom in a blood stained bathrobe.

"Lee," Amanda greeted very curtly.

Lee stood up and started to cross the room. Amanda held up her hand, motioning him not to come any closer.

"Amanda, are you all right?" he asked, noticing the bloodstains on her bathrobe.

"I'm all right, Lee. Nothing that won't heal in two weeks," she snapped back, holding her arms tightly around her body; she was more emotionally wounded than she was physically. "Despite what you might think, I CAN take care of myself. I'm not a rookie agent despite the fact that you cast me off so easily to Casual Surveillance.

"Amanda, I know you're a very capable agent."

"So that's why you followed me up here?" she questioned angrily. "Wait a second… You didn't follow me up here, or you would have been here sooner. When I left the house, I didn't know where I was staying. You ran my credit card - didn't you?"

"Amanda, it's not what you think," Lee mumbled, but he knew he had been caught.

She shook her head in disagreement. "It's exactly what I think."

"OK, so I had Francine run your credit card. You were right; I was wrong. I went to the house to apologize and you were gone. I got worried; the Mongoose is a pretty unsavory character. I had a feeling that he'd go after you," Lee explained logically noting her present condition. "I was right."

"So you didn't think I could handle the situation by myself; admit it," she yelled.

"Amanda, you're putting words into my mouth. I was worried about you. I'm really sorry…"

"Lee, those words roll off your tongue like people say, 'have a nice day'. They don't mean anything to you anymore," she argued wearily.

Lee didn't know what to say; she was right, he had been saying that a lot lately. "I really am sorry; it's not just a line." Lee stated defiantly. "I'm sorry about the last couple of months, for not being around. I'm sorry about the last week and the weekend. But most of all, I regret what I did at the hospital today, for suspending you."

"I really don't want to discuss it. If you don't mind, I'm tired and I'd like to change. I'm going home."

Lee didn't know what else to say. He certainly didn't want to antagonize her any further. But what could he say to counteract the way he had acted over the last few months? She was right; 'I'm sorry' seemed woefully inadequate.

"I'll wait and take you home when you're ready," Lee suggested.

"That won't be necessary. I have my car," Amanda reminded him.

"Amanda, you just said you were tired, you've been shot and stabbed today," he reminded her. "I'll send somebody up for your car tomorrow. We'll have agents all over this place…"

"Lee, I said no. You're not on the top of the list of people I want to spend time with right now. The Mongoose is at the hospital. You could ask for directions downstairs or follow those helpful little blue signs. I'm sure you'll be rather busy tonight with the paperwork and all. So don't let me keep you," she said sarcastically. Then without another word, she turned and headed into the bathroom.

*** *** ***

Amanda got home in the wee hours of the morning, exhausted both physically and emotionally. She left her suitcase in the car and just headed upstairs to her bedroom. She collapsed on the bed, not even taking the time to undress and quickly fell asleep.

It was the pitter-patter of rain dripping on her windowsill that caused her to awaken. Her left shoulder was stiff and aching. Her right forearm was oozing blood through her bandage. She looked over to find she was alone. Either Lee hadn't come home, or he slept elsewhere. She got up, headed for the bathroom and grabbed some aspirin. Then she went downstairs, calling softly for Lee, but there was no answer.

Again a mixture of emotions washed through her ragged body. She was lonely, week after week of coming home from her dreary new job to an empty house had taken its toll. Her friend and husband no longer there to share her joys and sorrows with. His job obviously came first and she, even after what happened yesterday, came in a distant second. Tears sprung to her eyes. This is what happened in her first marriage to Joe. Was she making the same mistake again, but this time with Lee?

She made herself some coffee and nibbled on some toast as she pondered some very difficult questions. Was she falling into the same trap? Loving and waiting for a man to come back to her who may never do just that. Although Lee wasn't a continent away, as inattentive as he had been since he took this new position, he might as well be in Africa. She gulped down the last bit of coffee, then headed back upstairs to freshen up and change. She made a decision.

"Need to get away - Amanda," was the cryptic message she left. Then she grabbed her checkbook and purse and headed back to her car. This time she would be careful not to leave a trace as to where she was going. She needed some time and space to work a few things out. The fact was, she wasn't sure where she was going, she just knew she couldn't stay in the house. She had always assumed when the boys left, she would have Lee around. The thought of it being just the two of them had seemed somewhat romantic. However, once Jamie had left for college, the house seemed monumentally empty as Lee was rarely around.

After making a withdrawal from the bank, she headed north on the interstate. As she neared Baltimore, she confirmed that she was being followed. Amanda silently cursed Lee as she abruptly changed lanes and headed into downtown. She watched her rearview mirror as the car following her did the same. "OK, Lee. Let's see how good your boys really are," Amanda said aloud as she started to navigate the heavily trafficked streets, swerving lanes, turning corners haphazardly and running red lights. Lee had taught her well. It didn't take very long to loose her tail in the late morning traffic. Once she was sure that they were gone, she headed back onto the interstate, continuing her trek north.

The farther north she got, the weather seemed to clear. When she crossed into New Jersey, blue skies welcomed her. She started to consider where she was going. Then she thought of an old friend, one whom she hadn't seen for ages. A smile formed on her face. "Well you did say drop in anytime." A little over an hour later, she was knocking at her front door. As the door opened, a familiar, yet older face greeted her.

"Amanda West - no, wait - King, no, no, that's not right, oh my gosh! I can't believe you're here," the woman replied exuberantly.

"Hope I don't have bad timing?" Amanda questioned awkwardly.

"No, of course not. I just never expected…."

"I know and, well I probably should have called, but it was spur of the moment and we haven't seen each other in ages," Amanda babbled. "How are you Debbie Ann?"

"Debbie Ann. Nobody calls me that anymore, Amanda," Debbie remembered nostalgically with a laugh as she hugged her old friend. "Come on in, can I get you something to drink? Are you hungry?"

"A cup of tea would be great if you have some," Amanda answered as she followed her childhood friend through the door…

*** *** ***

Lee arrived back at the house in Arlington, fatigued. He had spent the night at the hospital, following the Mongoose's condition through surgery and recovery. Amanda had put a bullet into his knee and shattered it. He wouldn't be walking for a while, yet Lee made sure that Agency personnel arrived to guard him until he could be transferred to a more secure location. As flighty as the Mongoose proved to be in the past, Lee wasn't taking any chances.

When he didn't see Amanda's car in the driveway, he presumed it was in the garage. He called out to her as he entered the house, but there was no answer. He trudged upstairs, only to find their bedroom empty. Too exhausted to think he pulled off his jacket and tie, kicked off his shoes and fell soundly asleep on the bed. He wasn't sure how long he had been sleeping when he heard the sounds of sirens off in the distance. It seemed to be coming closer and closer. Finally he reached a high enough level of consciousness to realize it wasn't a siren, it was the phone. He grabbed it quickly.

"Stetson," he mumbled.

"Sir, we lost Mrs. King in Baltimore. We thought that maybe she had some friends or relatives in the area," the agent answered nervously.

"What?" Lee asked, confused and groggy.

"We've been tailing Mrs. King. We lost her in downtown Baltimore," the agent repeated.

Lee finally realized what was being said. Apparently, with all that happened overnight, nobody had told the agents watching the house that the Mongoose had been captured.

"What do you mean you lost her? Who taught you how to run a tail anyway?" Lee growled angrily.

"Sir, we ran the standard grid pattern…"

"She knows the grid pattern better than you," Lee snarled as he got up and headed downstairs to the kitchen. He knew she would have left him a note. He looked on the refrigerator and read the short, vague sentence on her whereabouts. Knowing now, that Amanda must have spotted the tail and shook them only increased his annoyance. "Just come on back in. She's long gone. Probably half way to Pennsylvania by now."

"Yes, sir," the agent answered as he hung up the phone.

Lee leaned against the kitchen counter, still exhausted and now realizing that he had a bigger problem than transferring the Mongoose. His inattentiveness had driven his wife away from her own home, the home she raised her two sons single-handedly in. Billy had warned him not to neglect his family. Amanda advised him against taking Billy's old position, suggesting that it would interfere too much with their personal lives. In the end, he had ignored both of their advice and what had it cost him?

End Part 4
 
 
 
 

Friends and Enemies Part 5
 
 

Wednesday morning Amanda helped Debbie get her two children off to school.

"I feel like I just ran a marathon," Debbie complained as she sat down at her kitchen table, exhausted after making lunches, preparing breakfast, locating lost books and backpacks before finally ushering her children to the honking school bus.

"You have no idea how lucky you are," Amanda sighed longingly.

"Yeah, you're right," Debbie conceded. Then she looked at her friend and asked a question that she had wanted to ask since Amanda arrived. "Amanda, how long have we known each other?"

"Do I really have to answer that?" Amanda quipped back, knowing that Debbie was indeed a lifelong friend.

"I want to ask you a question; I hope you don't think I'm out of line. It's just because I care about you and frankly, I'm worried about you."

"Worried, about me?" Amanda joked uneasily.

Debbie nodded. "Remember when you hid me in your attic the day I found out we were moving?"

Amanda chuckled. "We sure got in trouble then, didn't we?"

Debbie shook her head. "I got the longest lecture of my life from my mother - 'You can't run away from your problems.' I don't mean to pry, Amanda, but isn't that what you're doing now? Isn't that why you're here?"

Amanda looked out to the backyard, unable to look Debbie in the eye. She hadn't thought about it that way. She whispered hoarsely, "I honestly don't know."

"Does anyone know you're here?" Debbie asked. "I know we haven't been close for years, the miles have separated us, but you seem somewhat distant, like you're hurting inside, but trying to hide it. Are you and Lee having problems?"

"That obvious, huh?" Amanda answered softly, swallowing hard. "No, nobody knows where I am. To be honest when I left the house, I didn't know where I was going."

"Don’t you think you should call home and tell them you're all right?" her friend suggested.

"Truth is, Lee and I have been having problems since he accepted a promotion a couple of months ago. I never see him anymore, and when I do, he's usually exhausted and falls right asleep. I'm not even sure he'd notice I'm not there," Amanda answered sadly.

"Amanda, from what you've written to me about him in the past, the guy must be frantic," Debbie warned.

"I'm not ready to talk to him yet," she answered honestly.

"What about calling your mother at least? She could relay a message to him for you. You can stay here as long as you want. The kids love having you around and it's so nice to have somebody to talk with…"

Amanda looked as if she was miles away. "If you don't mind, I think I'll go for a walk on the beach."

Debbie watched. She certainly didn't want to make her old friend feel uncomfortable, but she also didn't want to make matters worse.

*** *** ***

Lee was in his office, blinds drawn, door closed. There was a knock at his door. He bellowed. "It better be an emergency!"

"Is that any way to greet an old friend?" Emily asked as she walked into his office.

"Emily, what are you doing here?" Lee asked, as he quickly attempted to tidy his rumpled appearance.

"I've been sent by MI6 to collect The Mongoose. They want to make sure he doesn't get 'lost' again. Lee, my boy, what's wrong? You look awful," Lady Emily Farnsworth queried with genuine concern.

"It's a long story, Emily," Lee said with a sigh. "As for the Mongoose, it will be a week, maybe more before you can take him back."

"I heard Amanda got the old fellow in the knee. That ought to slow him down for a while, the dirty scoundrel," she cheered with delight.

"My question is why MI6 didn't put his escape on the wire the moment it happened?" Lee asked angrily.

"That's a long story, too," Emily sighed. "Perhaps we can discuss things over dinner tonight? I haven't seen you and Amanda in ages."

"Ah… well, um, I'd love to, but…" Lee hedged.

"Now, Lee, surely you can share your wife's lovely company for one evening - for an old friend," Emily cajoled him good-naturedly.

"Emily," he started then paused. He didn't know what to say or how to say it. When Emily had met Amanda years ago she quickly took a liking to her, much as she had to Lee years before. How was he going to tell such a good friend that he didn't know where his wife was at the moment? That technically, she had walked out on him.

"Lee, is something wrong with Amanda? Is she ill?" she asked in concern.

Lee knew his silence wasn't helping things. The truth was going to come out soon enough. All Emily needed to do was stand by the water cooler long enough to hear about the last few days. It was still the 'buzz' of the Agency.

"Emily, this whole thing with The Mongoose has put a rather large rift between Amanda and myself," Lee admitted, and thought to himself that it was putting things mildly.

"Oh, Lee. You and Amanda have butted heads before. Surely this too, will blow over. From the report we got in London, she handled things marvelously," Emily boasted.

Lee ran his fingers nervously through his messed up hair. "Yeah, well let's just say that for everything Amanda did right, I screwed up royally."

"Now, Lee, this is no job for a pessimist. Meet me at 'Lenny's Restaurant' tonight at eight, and bring your wife," Emily requested as she headed out of his office.

Lee watched as the door closed behind her. "Great, now all I have to do is find her."

**** **** ****

The phone rang in Lee's office late in the afternoon. He grabbed it quickly, "Stetson."

"Lee, it's Dotty. I just got off the phone with Amanda."

"Is she all right? Where is she?"

"She says she's fine," Dotty reassured him. "She's out of state, staying with an old friend."

"Did she give you a message or anything for me?" Lee pressed dubiously.

"Lee, she's not ready to talk with you. I don't know all that's happened between you two, but Amanda can be stubborn when she wants to be. So just give her some time," Dotty suggested.

"Dotty, I need to talk to her. Do you have a number where I can reach her?" Lee pleaded.

She was reluctant to give him the number but finally gave in. "Lee, I still think she needs more time."

"Thanks, Dotty," Lee said as he hung up the phone.

He held the paper in his hand with the phone number on it. From the area code he recognized it as South Jersey. 'At least she didn't go too far,' Lee thought aloud. He knew with the phone number that he could easily locate the address. With his access to computer data banks it would take only minutes. He could drive up there in a few hours. Then he shook his head, knowing that would probably only make matters worse. He crumpled up the paper in his hands and tossed it with frustration into the middle of the room.

*** *** ***

When Lee arrived at Lenny's Restaurant a few minutes before eight, Lady Emily Farnsworth was waiting at the bar for him. He put a smile on his face and headed over to her.

"Lee, where's Amanda?" she asked immediately.

"She's up in New Jersey, Emily."

"New Jersey? Is she there on an assignment?"

Lee shook his head and answered her quietly. "No, Emily, I wish she was."

Emily could see from the look in Lee's eyes that that was just the tip of the iceberg. She had known Lee since he first started out at the Agency. He was always well put together and usually hard to read. That made him an excellent agent. But at the moment, despite his pressed suit and tie, he looked as if he was falling apart.

"You know, Lee, I'm not really that hungry. Perhaps we could head back to my suite and catch up."

Lee smiled at Emily. She, like Amanda, could read him like a book. "Lady Farnsworth, I think that's a wonderful idea." He extended his elbow to his old friend and escorted her out of the restaurant.

They talked about little things on the way back to her hotel, nothing serious. Lee made them each a drink once they arrived in her hotel suite. Then he sat down on the white starched sofa and sighed heavily.

"You look like you could really use a friend, Lee. What's going on?" Emily gently prodded.

It didn't take anything more for Lee to pour his heart out to his good friend. After he gave her the condensed version of what had happened over the last few months, Emily sighed.

"Lee Stetson, I'm surprised at you," she scolded.

Lee hung his head in shame. "I really blew it didn't I?" Lee berated himself. Then he pulled out a crumpled up piece of paper from his jacket pocket. "I've got her phone number right here. I've been carrying it around all day since I've gotten it. I'm afraid to let it out of my grasp. I'm also afraid to call her."

Emily moved down next to Lee on the sofa and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You know, I don't think I've ever met two more stubborn people in my life."

Lee face almost cracked a smile at that statement. He wouldn't even try to deny it. It was as true as the sky was blue.

"Lee, you're right for not ringing her. Perhaps you'd feel better if I called her?" Emily suggested.

Lee looked up at his good friend with wide appreciative eyes. "Oh, Emily, that would be perfect."

"I'm not promising anything. But perhaps I could be the mediator here. I've never been much at politics, but this is a matter of the heart. This is much more important than politics," Lady Emily answered as she gingerly took the crumpled up piece of paper from Lee's hand…

*** *** ***

Amanda relaxed as she sat alone on Debbie's back porch. It was a few minutes later when Debbie came back outside to join her friend on the cool autumn evening.

"I remember when I used to know all the answers to their homework. But now some of the stuff they bring home takes me a while to figure out," Debbie grumbled.

"I remember when we lived what they now call 'history'," Amanda complained as they both laughed.

"Amen to that," Debbie agreed whole-heartedly. "Are you feeling better tonight? You look a little more relaxed."

"Yeah, I am. It felt good to talk to my mother. It's amazing how much smarter she is now than when we were teenagers.

"I'm glad you called her, too."

"I'm just surprised that I haven't heard from Lee," Amanda retorted with a wistful tone.

"Are you surprised; you sound a little disappointed?" Debbie asked pointedly.

Amanda gave it some thought before she answered that question. "I guess a little of both. Mostly I'm relieved that he hasn't called."

"You can stay here as long as you like, you know that. But sooner or later, you two have got to start talking again," Debbie wisely replied.

Just then Debbie's husband Roger came onto the porch. "There you two are. There's a phone call for you, Amanda."

Amanda looked at Debbie with an alarmed, yet knowing look. Debbie looked back at her. "Do you want me to tell him you're not here?"

Roger interrupted. "It's not a man, Amanda, it's a woman."

"Must be my mother," Amanda sighed with relief. "Thanks, Roger, I'll be right in."

Roger nodded and headed back into the house.

Amanda went back into the house and picked up the phone. "Hello."

"Amanda, it's so lovely to hear your voice," Emily responded.

"Lady Farnsworth?" Amanda queried in surprise.

"Must we be so formal, my dear? I thought we got past that years ago," Emily reprimanded her.

"No, of course not, Emily. It's so wonderful to hear from you. Where are you?" Amanda asked eagerly.

"I'm in the States on business for a few days, maybe longer. I'm staying at the Key Bridge, Marriott. I was hoping to get to see you, and was very disappointed to find you were out of town. How long will you be in New Jersey?"

"Ah, I ah, really don't know. I've been visiting an old friend," Amanda answered honestly.

"Well this old friend would love to see you as well. I don't get to the States as often as I used to."

Amanda didn't know what to say. She wanted to see Emily. She hadn't seen her in quite some time, but was she ready to go home to Lee, to talk to him? Then the thought occurred to her, where did Emily get the phone number? She had only given it to her mother.

"Emily, how did you get a hold of this number?" Amanda asked pleasantly.

Emily looked over at Lee who was standing next to her. He was unable to hear Amanda's side of the conversation and was dying of curiosity.

"Why, Lee gave it to me, of course," she answered without missing a beat.

Amanda swallowed hard. So Lee did have her number and didn't call. Her stomach tightened and her heart began to race. She didn't know what to say to Emily. Did she know they were having problems? The silence on the phone seemed unending.

"Amanda, dear, is everything all right?" Emily questioned hoping Amanda would open up to her, but trying not to push her too much.

"Ah, yes, fine," Amanda managed to reply.

"You know, they have a lovely brunch here on Sunday morning. Perhaps you would like to join me, just the two of us. That is, if you'll be back in time?"

"Sunday?" Amanda said out loud as she was thinking.

"So I can count on you to meet me," Emily answered definitively.

Amanda slowly exhaled. She had to go home sooner or later and as gracious as Debbie had been, she was right, she couldn't hide out forever. "Yeah, I'd love to."

"Wonderful," Emily cheered. "I'll see you at eleven o'clock sharp, Sunday. Have a safe drive home."

"I'll look forward to it," Amanda answered and then hung up the phone.

Emily hung up the phone and looked over at Lee who was quite pleased.

"You're the best, Emily. How can I ever thank you?" Lee asked, appreciatively.

"You can thank me by working things out - and quickly."

End Part 5
 

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