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. All characters in this story are fictional. Do not distribute this story in part or full without the express written consent of the above author.

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The Agency, Washington DC - November 1995

Francine walked into the bullpen and groaned inwardly when she noticed Charlie was on the phone yet again. Charlie was Francine’s extremely green assistant; he was less than a year out of college and fresh out of Agency training. Every call Charlie got was a national emergency, at least to him. She saw how diligently he was taking notes, and knew that all too soon he would be in her office to brief her on what, he of course would imagine as a major ‘flap’. Francine tried to ignore his frantic look and headed into her office, shaking her head, thinking how much things had really changed around the Agency.

She sat down in her leather chair and let her mind drift back to a different time, before Billy Melrose had passed away, when she was his assistant. She thought back to the time when Amanda was the pesky ‘green’ agent and Lee was trying to keep her out of trouble. God she missed Lee. He was the best agent she had ever known and more than that, a good friend. There wasn’t an agent in her section that could measure up to him – he left one hell of legacy behind and a huge void. Thinking about Lee made her forget her more immediate problems, an agent in the hospital, a possible leak, and two major heads of state coming for visits. Sometimes she wondered how Billy handled it all for so long and why she ever took the Section Chief position.

She shook her head, her thoughts returning to Lee and Amanda… Had it really been seven years since he died? She could still recall that awful day back in July 1988, when Billy made the announcement. She never remembered the office being that quiet before. But her thoughts of the past were interrupted, as always, when Charlie LeRoux barged into her office.

"Miss Desmond, we just got a call from the US Customs Service in El Paso, Texas," he exclaimed excitedly.

Francine rolled her eyes, and couldn’t help but wonder how he ever made it through Agency training. She would need to keep a better eye on what was going on down at Station One. "Calm down, Charlie, not every call is worth getting your blood pressure up over."

"But Miss Desmond," he rushed. "This was a really important call, it’s not a hoax like the last one was. It was an actual officer of the US Custom Service. The Agency Manual clearly states that we must give government agencies priority!"

Francine was at her limit, this ‘kid’ was worse than Amanda had ever been. "I’m well aware of what the Agency Manual says, Charlie." She took a deep breath and tried to calm down. "OK, what’s the latest emergency."

"They have a border jumper in custody that they picked up last night."

Francine snapped at Charlie. "That’s their job, to keep the undesirables out! Hardly cause for you barging into my office and disrupting an already dreadful morning."

Charlie was shaking his head. He knew he had gotten off to a rocky start: first shredding the priority list accidentally, then sending an ‘eyes only’ memo as a broadcast fax and just last week hanging up on ‘Blue Leader’ when he was overseas. He really did think it was a joke. Who would have thought ‘Blue Leader’ would call on the IFF line? He could call Miss. Desmonds’ direct line.

"But this isn’t just any border jumper, the Customs agent said this guy’s code name is ‘Scarecrow’."

Francine shrugged it off. "Charlie, we get a Scarecrow sighting every year or so. There are plenty of nuts out there, and with the "Freedom of Information Act" they can get a hold of a lot of non classified materials. I know you’re well acquainted with Lee Stetson’s old cases, he worked here for a long time. But he’s been dead for over seven years now."

Charlie kept looking at the notes he had taken while he was on the phone. He knew he was a rookie and still in his probationary period, but he really thought this time he had something.

Francine could see the look on his face. She felt bad for him he had worse luck than anyone she knew. She really needed to cut him some slack. Charlie was smart, hard working and extremely loyal. He had the makings of a good agent, that is, if she didn’t strangle him first. He reminded her so much of Amanda in her first couple of years.

"All right, let me hear what you have," Francine relented.

"Last night they picked up a border jumper. He claimed to be a US citizen, but had no identification on him whatsoever. They arrested him for crossing the border illegally. He claims he’s Lee Stetson, AKA our legendary, Scarecrow."

Francine was getting aggravated. ‘Our legendary Scarecrow’, Charlie probably hadn’t even started shaving when Lee died. She groaned.

"Miss Desmond!" Charlie declared. "They fingerprinted the guy, it came back a match, now what’s the chance of that?"

"Charlie, you did take the Agency training classes, you should know the different ways to manipulate fingerprints. So this guy is sharper than most - he either doctored his fingerprints or somehow switched the set. I was a good friend of Lee Stetson, I tell you he’s dead; he was killed in Honduras after an explosion. End of story."

"I don’t think so, he knows too much. He asked for Amanda King, she was his partner right?"

Francine just grunted, "That’s public record."

"He asked for Billy Melrose next."

"Public record," she reiterated shaking her head. What was it going to take to convince this amateur? Lee was dead, she wished she could bring him back to teach this kid a thing or two, but he was dead.

"OK, you’re right, but how many people would know the code to the vault door in the Q Bureau was ‘Stemwinder?’ That’s NOT public record!" he declared with authority.

She grabbed his notepad from him abruptly. That WAS bizarre, it was also hard to believe that they still hadn’t changed the password to the vault. Somehow Billy never changed it. After Lee died and Amanda left the Agency he left that password as kind of a memorial to him. Francine never had the heart to change it either. With that password upstairs in the Q Bureau it seemed like a piece of Lee was still with them.

"Where is this guys description? Did they fax you his mugshots? The arrest report? I want a copy of his fingerprints, I want them now!" she demanded.

"Yes ma’am," Charlie stuttered, stunned by her sudden change of interest. He cursed himself quietly for not having thought ahead and having them ready. That’s what a good agent would have done. That’s what Scarecrow would have done. He headed out of her office and was back on the phone instantly.

Francine stared out the doorway. It was probably a ruse, just another sicko getting his jollies at the Agency’s expense. But still, Lee’s body was never found. They had sifted through the rubble of what was left of the hotel he was staying at. There were human remains but the local police botched things so badly the Agency never did find…. She shuddered. Could it be possible? No way. If Lee was alive, where had he been for the last seven years?

Charlie got the information faxed ASAP: the fingerprints, the arrest report, and ‘Scarecrow’s’ mug shots. Pulling them quickly off the fax machine he again barged into his section chief’s office.

"Ms. Desmond?" he asked apprehensively, not wanting to interrupt her as she combed through some files.

She looked up and quickly snatched away the information he held out to her. She looked at it cautiously not sure whether to trust her eyes. It looked genuine enough. But how could it be? This man looked like Lee might have looked if he had lived. He certainly was a lot older, thinner and terribly worn. But plastic surgery couldn’t be ruled out. It could be some crazy plot to infiltrate the Agency. She knew instantly what Billy would do, he’d be on the next plane to El Paso to find out for himself.

"OK, here’s what we’re going to do. First, I want you to book me on the next flight out of here to El Paso. Next I need an update on where Amanda King is. I want to know her phone number, address, what she’s been doing the last couple of years and what her plans are for the next week. I want all that information before that plane takes off, and that plane better take off in the next few hours. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Ma’am, but I talked to Mrs. King just a couple of months ago and did the usual Agency update. She’s living…"

Francine interrupted him. "I want an update today. I don’t want the basics, I want everything - details, what she’s doing, is she married, what she had for breakfast – capeche?"

Charlie nodded. "I’m on it!" he shouted and hurried out of her office.

He returned with a status report a few minutes later. "I’ve got you on a flight from Dulles; it leaves in two hours. Mrs. King wasn’t in her office, but I’ve left an urgent message for her. Do you want me to fill her in on what’s going on?" he asked naively.

"Oh my gosh no!" Francine gasped, then laughed. That was something Amanda used to say, wasn’t it? "Don’t breathe a word of this to Amanda. This could very well be an elaborate hoax; this is to be kept between you and me – understood?"

He nodded, but he hated to lie.

Francine saw the look on his face, so she took the time to clarify her position. "If one word of this leaks out, and I mean one word, you’ll be out parking cars for the winter. Is that understood?" Francine would be the laughing stock of the Agency if this turned out to be a wild goose chase. But if it really was Lee…She still wouldn’t let herself go there yet. Better to err on the side of caution; she wasn’t about to let herself get carried away.

End Chapter 1
 
 
 

TIME PASSES        Chapter 2

Amanda King was busy as usual, her mind making mental notes of the things she needed to get done that week. The boys, correction, her sons, they were men now; would be home the following week for Thanksgiving. She was looking forward to seeing them both. Now that they were grown and moved away, she didn’t get to see them as often as she would like. Her mother and Curt were coming down for Thanksgiving and Leeann would be out of school for the long weekend. God she was growing so fast, already in first grade. If Lee could only see her, if he had only known he was going to be a father. Life seemed so unfair. Leeann had her father’s eyes, twinkling that devilish gleam and so many of his mannerism too.

Amanda would be off for the weekend too. UVA closed for the traditional Thanksgiving holiday and she was only working part time at Legal Aid. Despite how busy they were there, Leeann came first. Amanda looked forward to a long weekend with her family. But first she had to get through this week, exam week. She still hated them almost as much as the students did. She was the one who was stuck grading them, she didn’t have the luxury of a teaching assistant.

She was only teaching two classes, on a trial basis; she’d never taught before. Both classes were basic law courses, but she enjoyed teaching so much, even more so than practicing law. She found the classroom was much more enjoyable than the courtroom. She was glad that Billy had talked her into going to law school; it did help fill the void after Lee was gone. Staying at the Agency without him was just unthinkable. Lee had left her everything, including making her the beneficiary on his life insurance policies. For the first time in her life, money was not an issue and as much as Leeann filled her life, she needed something more.

Leeann was a joy, and all her activities kept Amanda hopping; from school to soccer and her beloved horseback riding. She loved to ride the most; Leeann had begged her almost since she could walk for a pony. Amanda had finally agreed to riding lesson. Leeann seemed to be a natural at it. It wasn’t hard to figure out where she got it from – Amanda remembered how much Lee had loved to ride. Looking at her watch she knew she better hurry to class. Today was the review for Thursday’s exam.

After class, Amanda luxuriated in the sunny fall day and walked slowly back to her tiny cubbyhole she called an office on campus. Her class had gone on longer than usual, Jean, the department secretary wasn’t at her desk, so she quickly checked her mailbox. There was one message marked ‘urgent!’ Thinking it might be about one of the kids, she opened it quickly. It read, ‘Please call, IFF. They said you had the number – Jean.’

Amanda was surprised. She had gotten her annual ‘where are you what are you doing’ phone call at the beginning of the semester. Nothing much had changed in her life. The Agency didn’t know about Leeann. Billy had known but not until after she was born. She had told him everything one afternoon when he showed up at her house unexpectedly and she had Leeann in her arms. But Billy kept his word to keep it their secret and it wasn’t in any of the records – official or otherwise.

She didn’t talk with anyone at the Agency anymore, not since Billy died last year. He was the only one there who knew she and Lee had married. He was so great with Leeann, he loved to spoil her with candy and toys. She missed Billy terribly, he would call her every few months, just to talk, meet her for coffee on occasion in Georgetown. It was Billy who encouraged her to go to Law school, he even came to her graduation! Sat with Dotty and the boys. Dotty and Billy had long since patched their strained relationship from their meeting during the ‘Stemwinder’ case.

Amanda had told the family the ‘Truth’ about her job and her relationship with Lee when she left the Agency. She had to, she was pregnant with his child, the truth was going to come out sooner than later! She remembered the conversation well. The stunned looks on her mother’s and the boys’ faces when she told them she’d been working as a spy since 1983. At first they didn’t believe it, it took a lot of convincing and for weeks she would catch her mother staring at her and then mumbling something inaudible. After that conversation, telling them she was pregnant was a breeze.

She picked up the phone and dialed the once very familiar number.

"IFF," Charlie answered the line.

"Yes, this is Amanda King. I had an urgent message to call."

"Mrs. King, thank you for calling me back so quickly. I’m Charlie LeRoux, and I just need to update our records."

"Hi, Charlie, didn’t I talk with you just a few months ago?" The name sounded familiar to her, she knew she just talked to someone from the Agency in September.

"Um, yeah, it probably was," Charlie hemmed, he couldn’t tell her the real reason for the call, so he covered as quickly as he could. He looked around the bullpen and then whispered nervously, "I’m really sorry Mrs. King. But I accidentally purged some files the other day on the computer and if Miss. Desmond finds out I’ll be in a lot of trouble."

Amanda tried to stifle a laugh, covering the receiver with her hand; she was glad he couldn’t see the smile on her face. She still couldn’t picture Francine in Billy’s old job, she never seemed to have the finesse Billy had with people. But she certainly could imagine Francine if she found out that he had purged the records, and that would not be a pretty sight!

"No, Charlie, I understand. I remember Francine, ah Miss Desmond very well. May I suggest a box of Godiva chocolates, they’re one of her favorites," Amanda encouraged.

"Thanks, I’ll remember that," Charlie answered, making himself a mental note. That certainly could come in handy at some point, especially the way his luck was running.

"So what do you need?" Amanda asked, Charlie seemed a nice enough young man, but she wanted to get this inquisition over with. She was never comfortable with the questions the Agency always asked about her personal life. The longer she had been gone from the Agency the more it seemed to bother her. She had left the Agency almost seven years ago, she wished they would leave her alone.

"Well, let’s start with the basics…" Charlie started, hoping to be able to smoothly transition into the more personal stuff later.

After several minutes of taking down the ‘basics’ Charlie asked. "So things haven’t changed much for you in the last year have they, Mrs. King?" He hated asking such personal information of the retired agents.

"I wish you’d stop calling me Mrs. King, please call me Amanda. No, not much has changed. I’m working part time at the University and part time at Legal Aid. Still living in the house I bought in last year, but now the roof needs fixing and the gutters are clogged with leaves." She joked with Charlie, he still sounded nervous. All the rookies got stuck with this job and some of them handled it better than others, Charlie obviously needed some practice.

"Have you remarried, Mrs. King, I mean, Amanda?"

"Remarry?" Amanda wasn’t ready for that question, sure she remarried, she had married Lee in 1987. Now that seemed like a lifetime ago. But after he was gone she never met another man who could fulfill her as he did. She had dated, mostly at the insistence of her mother, and her friends had set her up on endless blind dates. But they had never developed into anything more than acquaintances.

"Amanda?" Charlie inquired politely, "Are you still there?"

"Yes, I’m still here. No, I haven’t remarried in the last year," Amanda smiled, no lie there.

Darn! Charlie had hoped she would elaborate, Ms. Desmond wanted more details than that; he knew it. But he couldn’t just ask her if she was seeing anyone, she’d know something was up.

"So there isn’t anyone special person in your life right now?" Charlie questioned, trying to find that fine line where he could dig out the information without showing his hand.

"Other than my children, no! Charlie, is there anything else you need, I’m running a little late this afternoon." She wished she hadn’t made that crack about her children! She didn’t want any questions coming up about Leeann. After all these years the Agency might be a little perturbed to find out she had omitted that little bit of information. So she hoped she could wrap up the call before she slipped again.

Charlie stammered slightly, hoping he had gotten enough information. "You’re not planning any trips out of the country in the next few weeks are you?" he added informally. It was required procedure that a retired agent notified The Agency before they went abroad in case there might be any problems brewing politically.

"No, Charlie, I’ll be home. Next week is Thanksgiving, I’ll be home cooking for the family. If I have any plans to leave the country I’ll be sure and let you know."

"Thanks, Mrs. King, I mean, Amanda. I, ah, gotta ask you know. It’s procedure," he said more than slightly embarrassed by his questioning.

"I understand," she said softly, sympathetically. "I guess I’ll talk to you next year."

"You bet. Have a great holiday," he answered as he hung up the phone. Boy he was glad to have that over with.

End Chapter 2
 
 
 
 

Time Passes          Chapter 3

The plane ride to El Paso was a long and bumpy one. Francine had hoped to get some sleep on the plane, but her mind kept wandering. She glanced at the briefing Charlie had prepared on Amanda. After all these years, she did wonder what had happened to her. She hadn’t seen her since, hmm, she couldn’t quite remember. She stopped in at the Agency once or twice to talk with Billy, but Francine hadn’t known she moved to Charlottesville.

She perused the notes briefly. Amanda was working two part time jobs, one for UVA and one for Legal Aid. Francine thought to herself, ‘She was a good typist, I guess she’s working as a secretary.’ Francine failed to look in the back of the file, only glancing at the most current data. She wasn’t aware that Amanda had gone back to law school and of course, Billy kept his word, there was no reference to her daughter Leeann or her marriage to Lee.

The plane finally landed in the early evening. As she exited the plane, she looked for the Customs Agent. It didn’t take long before she found him. She was surprised by his youth. Why did she feel so old all of a sudden? Agent Lane was in his late twenties, had short dark hair and a bushy mustache and sported a very muscular build.

He introduced himself to Francine with a smile and a firm handshake. Francine merely grunted. Her displeasure from the long trip was evident on her face. She didn’t want to be in Texas, she just wanted to make sure once and for all that this was NOT Lee Stetson and be on the first plane out of here in the morning. Texas was definitely too far from DC for Francine, and most definitely not where she wanted to spend more than one night.

"So where exactly is he being held?" she finally asked, breaking the cool silence in the car.

"We transferred him to county hospital this morning," Agent Lane replied calmly. He could tell the ‘Ice Queen’ as he thought of her after her chilly greeting at the airport was less than thrilled to be here. But she wasn’t the only one; he had other work to do. He didn’t have to pick her up at the airport, she could have rented a car. He was giving her a professional courtesy, not that she had noticed.

"Hospital? What did you do to him? Beat him?" Francine accused hastily.

Agent Lane looked over at her. "We’re not barbarians down here. Unlike ‘The Agency’ we have rules and regulations that we have to follow," he snapped back, not about to take her attitude. He had hoped this would be an easy case, but already this looked like a nightmare waiting to happen. With any luck he’d be able to transfer custody of his prisoner to the Agency and get rid of this Scarecrow character and The Ice Queen. "For your information, the prisoner was not in the best shape when we caught him last night. He was hospitalized as a precaution."

Francine regretted her last comment, she was tired and on edge. "I’m sorry, that was uncalled for. It was a long and bumpy flight and I have about 18 hours of work that needed to get done in DC today. So every hour I’m away, I’m two more behind. What’s his condition?"

"Apology accepted. He’s stable; some virus he picked up in Mexico, no doubt. So depending upon your discussion with him, we might do a psych evaluation. If he’s your man, you can take him, if he’s not, they move him to the psych ward."

She nodded her agreement. "So how much further?"

"It’s just two more blocks."

"Good," she smiled as she took a deep breath. She still wasn’t sure she was ready for whatever she might find.

As they entered the hospital Francine got a strangling feeling in her stomach. She remembered Lee’s dislike of hospitals, these days she shared his feelings. In the last few months she had spent more than her share in them with agents; not all of them made it out. They took an elevator to the fifth floor and headed down the hallway. There was a guard outside a room at the end of the hallway. Francine knew that was where ‘he’ was.

"You want me to go in with you, just in case?" Lane asked.

Francine shook her head, slightly aggravated at the comment. She doubted he would have asked if she were a man.

"I think I can handle it."

"I’ll be right outside, just call if you need me," Agent Lane replied.

She nodded, took a deep breath and walked quietly into the hospital room. The man was lying down in bed; she wasn’t sure if he was asleep or just resting – his eyes were closed. Her eyes got wide and she swallowed hard, he looked like Lee Stetson. All he needed was a shave and a haircut. He had lost more than a few pounds, his hair was a little grayer, skin darker than she remembered it to be, but she had to admit he looked like Lee. She was quick to remind herself that looks could be deceiving.

She cleared her throat loudly. His head turned quickly towards her.

"Francine? What are you doing here? Where’s Amanda? Where’s Billy?" he asked as he sat up in bed.

She automatically went to work, "Recognition code: Alpha 5"

"Francine, it’s me, Lee. Really."

She didn’t reply to him, she only repeated, "Recognition code: Alpha 5."

Lee rolled his eyes. He was definitely back, and some things never changed. He sighed loudly and then replied, "Answer: Delta 9."

She continued her sequence, "Baseball."

He continued as well, "Meatloaf."

"Lincoln"

"London," he replied, finishing the sequence. "Francine, was that really necessary? Satisfied? Now how about you answer some of my questions? Where are Amanda and Billy?"

"You want some answers?" she snarled. "Just where the hell have you been for the last seven years? We thought you were killed in that explosion."

"Explosion? What are you talking about? It was nice of the Agency to just abandon me in Honduras, didn’t you get the letter?"

"Letter? What are you talking about?"

Francine was confused, so was Lee. She finally pulled up a chair, but kept her distance, still not sure if she could trust him. It was hard for her to fathom, but he could be a double agent. He disappeared into thin air for seven years and miraculously reappears virtually unscathed; she was definitely skeptical.

"Lee, start from the beginning. You obviously weren’t in your hotel the night of the bombing. Where were you?"

"Bombing?" he questioned.

She nodded. "The place was leveled. All they found in the rubble were traces of human remains, the fire afterwards was so hot, there wasn’t much left but ashes."

"So that’s why nobody ever came after me," he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I mailed a letter in the lobby that night, before I headed out. Had a lead on where the arms dealers were, but it was a long trip so I left that night with my contact. Only he led me straight into some drug smugglers who weren’t so friendly. Next thing I know I was in a Honduran jail charged with drug smuggling. Justice in Honduras isn’t quite like the States you know, more like Dr. Smyth – tried and convicted by association. Been in one jail after another ever since, escaped a few times, but they knew the jungle better than I did, I never could get very far." Lee’s tone was downhearted. He rested his head back onto the bed and closed his eyes for just a few seconds. His body was still exhausted from his arduous travels.

"But you’re here now, how did you finally make it?" she asked, still not sure whether she could believe him.

"The hurricane, it came through a few weeks ago. It leveled just about everything, the flooding was devastating. But it was my ticket out; I was the least of their problems. I’ve been heading north ever since. I’ve tried calling the Agency, but I couldn’t get anyone to accept the charges – just who IS answering the phones there now? Amanda’s changed her old phone number, so did Billy. So I just kept coming north until I hit the border. I came across last night. I knew the way I looked I’d never make it through customs, so I tried to sneak in." Lee stopped for a moment. "However, I’m a little worn out from the trip," he admitted uneasily. "I’m not quite as agile as I use to be; I got caught. But you’re here now, so I guess it worked out OK."

Francine was stunned. "Hurricane Miguel," she murmured quietly. "Oh my god. I saw the pictures on the TV. You survived that."

Lee nodded and looked down at himself. "Survived yes. Obviously I’ve been better. Now answer my questions, where’s Amanda? Francine does she thinks I’m dead too? She is OK isn’t she? Where’s Billy?" he asked with growing agitation.

Francine finally got up and hugged Lee still not answering his questions. "I’ve really missed you, Lee. But you do look like hell."

"Geez, thanks. You obviously haven’t spent a lot of time in the Honduras prison system," he answered flatly. "Now will you please tell me where Amanda and Billy are?"

"Amanda’s in Virginia. She left the Agency a few months after you, after you disappeared. I haven’t seen her in years, according to our records she’s living in Charlottesville."

"She left the Agency? Why?"

"I don’t know, I guess she was never comfortable after you were gone. You two were kind of tight, like two peas in a pod," Francine shrugged, she had never had given it much thought.

"I don’t suppose you went out of your way to help her," Lee answered angrily.

"Lee, that’s water under the bridge, I’m sure she had her reasons."

"She’s OK though? You’ve heard from her."

"My assistant called her earlier today. Relax, Lee, she’s fine."

"Your assistant? Since when do you have an assistant?" Lee asked with some trepidation. He’d been gone a long time, he wasn’t sure he wanted the answers.

"Lee, a lot has changed in seven years. Dr. Smyth retired; we have a new ‘Blue Leader’. I hate to tell you this, but Billy died last summer. I’m the new Section Chief."

Lee looked away. Billy had been one of his best friends. Nobody was closer to him, except for Amanda. Billy gone, it seemed too unreal. He had lost more than seven years when he was in prison, he lost one of his best friends and maybe even his wife.

Francine knew that would be a big shock to him, knowing how close the two men were. She gave Lee some time to ponder it all, she needed time to absorb what she just learned as well. Wandering over to the window, Francine stared out into the night.

Lee’s voice was more than a little shaken. "Can you get me out of here tonight? I want to go home and see my wife."

Francine’s head snapped towards Lee quickly. "Excuse me? Your wife?" Francine asked, with a puzzled look on her face. Maybe he did need a psych evaluation after all.

The color in Lee’s face drained away. But if Amanda had left the Agency after he disappeared maybe she never did tell them; maybe it was easier for her to cope with his so-called ‘death’ that way. "Amanda and I were married in February 1987 – secretly. We wanted to protect her family."

"Oh god, Lee. She never said anything, not to me at least…"

"She hasn’t um, remarried or anything?" Lee’s tone was filled with tension. It had been his worst fear over the years that she would marry again.

Francine wished she had called and talked to Amanda herself. Instead she let Charlie do it and now she didn’t have answers that she knew Lee wanted to have. Not to mention the shock it was going to be for Amanda now that her husband was back.

"Lee, you could have told me and Billy about your marriage." Francine was obviously hurt.

Lee looked over at her. "You were never one of Amanda’s biggest fans, as for Billy, if he had known he might have been forced to split us up."

Francine sighed. He was right, she was never a big supporter of Amanda, but she truly had missed her presence after she left the Agency. She wished now she had made an effort to keep in touch, they had been on the verge of forging a tenuous friendship.

"So tell me, did she remarry?"

"No, according to our records she hasn’t, but then again we didn’t know she was your alleged widow," Francine snapped, exhaustion catching up with her.

Lee sighed, same old Francine.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Francine quickly tried to change the subject. "Well, let me get out of here. I’ve got a ton of paperwork to fill out to spring you. Won’t happen tonight, but tomorrow morning I’m sure. I need to talk to the doctors and make some travel arrangements."

"Damn it, Francine, don’t leave me here tonight. They treat me like I’m public enemy number one. They have a guard outside the door. I was treated better in the Honduran prison."

Francine laughed, same old Lee. "I’ll get you out of here tomorrow and I’ll get rid of the guard tonight. In the mean time get some rest, we’ll do a full debriefing when we get back to Washington. I need to make some arrangements. I’ll see you in the morning."

"You can have your debriefing as soon as I see Amanda," Lee yelled in his usual defiant manner.

"I’ll get in touch with her as soon as possible." She got up and headed for the door. "Lee, it’s good to have you back."

"Thanks, Francine, it’s good to be back."

End Chapter 3
 
 
 
 
 

TIME PASSES         Chapter 4

Francine got to bed late that night, after finally talking with Lee’s doctors to get medical clearance for him to travel. He seemed to have some type of virus native to Central America, but would recover fully with rest and medication. The transfer paperwork was never ending. She had to sign everything in triplicate, government bureaucracy at its best. When she finally got to her hotel it was well after midnight. Too late to call Amanda, besides she still wasn’t sure how to tell her what was going on. ‘Oh, Amanda, can you come into the Agency for a few minutes? Your long lost husband needs a ride home.’ She shuddered at the thought of her impending conversation.

The next morning she picked up Lee and headed immediately to the airport. Their flight connected in Houston and then went onto Dulles. They were reasonable lucky; they had minimal flight delays and found themselves heading into DC just in time for the evening rush hour.

"Francine, you said Amanda is living in Charlottesville. With this traffic it’s going to take well over an hour to get into DC. In two hours I could be on her front porch; come on, be a friend, I want to see my wife," Lee pleaded as he fidgeted in the passenger seat. He hadn’t seen her in over seven years. He had dreamed of this day, every day, for the last seven years. That was how he had survived the brutality and the loneliness; by keeping alive the thought that someday he would hold her in his arms once again.

"Lee get a grip," she scoffed at him. "Amanda thinks you’re dead. Now no matter what, this is going to be one hell of a shock; I’m still trying to get used to the idea. I really don’t think you should just show up on Amanda’s door without some kind of warning. What’s one more day? You’ve been gone for over seven years."

"Tomorrow! Or I swear, Francine, I will drive to her house myself. And no debriefing until I see Amanda."

Francine knew there was no arguing that point with him. Besides, they were going to do a full medical on him when he got to the Agency, a point she had yet to mention to Lee. If she had, he would have high tailed it to Amanda’s so fast her head would spin. She sighed and nodded.

"Tomorrow," she agreed with a sigh. "I’ll make the arrangements tonight personally."

They arrived back at the Agency. The older agents who knew Lee were astounded, the newer agents weren’t quite aware of who he was until they heard the name ‘Scarecrow’ - that name was legendary. Francine escorted him down to the Agency hospital. Dr. McJohn had long since retired, now they had a new younger doctor. Francine wasn’t sure if Lee would like the new doctor as fond as he was of doctors, not to mention she was a woman.

"What?" he screamed when he realized what was going on. "I’ve just got out of the hospital in El Paso. Have them fax you the records."

But Dr. Kim was more than ready for Lee’s arguments. "I’ll use them for comparison, but I’ll need some additional information. Lee you’ve been gone for a while; why don’t you just sit back and relax, this is going to take some time."

Lee glared over at Francine, "I’m going to get you for this, I promise you."

She shrugged her shoulders; what could she do, it was Agency policy. "If you two will excuse me, I’m going to make an important phone call."

"She better be here first thing in the morning, Francine, or else." Lee was still yelling even after she had closed the door.

Dr. Kim just smiled. "OK, Lee, let’s get started."

He groaned as the doctor rolled up his sleeve to take the first of many blood samples.

Francine went back to her office and closed the door. She opened up the personnel file on Amanda King. There was no putting it off. The sooner she made the call the better. She looked down at the number and picked up the phone. On the third ring Amanda picked up with her familiar hello.

"Amanda, how have you been?" Francine greeted her.

It took Amanda a few seconds to place the once familiar voice. "Francine?" she answered with a little bit of hesitation in her voice.

"It’s been a long time."

‘Not long enough apparently,’ Amanda muttered under her breath. "It certainly has. So what do I owe the pleasure of two phone calls from the Agency in one week?" She knew something was up.

"Well, we have something we need to talk to you about. I need to see you tomorrow morning, say nine o’clock?" Francine wanted to tell her in person; this was not something she was going to blurt out over the phone. Besides, she had promised Lee Amanda would be there in the morning. She wasn't going to let him down.

"You want what? Francine, I do have a life now. I can’t just drop everything and drive into DC at your convenience. I don’t live over the river in Arlington anymore." Amanda was almost yelling at her over the phone.

"I realize this is an inconvenience, Amanda. I wouldn’t have called you if it wasn’t urgent. So I’ll see you tomorrow morning." Francine wasn’t expecting Amanda to give her such a hard time. She used to drop everything when Billy called; what could possibly be so urgent in her life? She didn’t even have a full time job.

"How about Monday, next week?" Amanda suggested. "I could probably make some arrangements at work."

"Amanda, it can’t wait until Monday. Now you can either drive up to DC yourself, or I can send a car to pick you up if I have to. But either way you will be in this office tomorrow morning."

Amanda just looked at the phone in her hand. She’d like to strangle Francine right through the phone if she could. "Francine, can’t we do this over the phone? This is really an inconvenient time for me. In case you forgot, I’m a civilian again, I don’t work for the Agency anymore."

Francine sighed; this was not going well. "Amanda, I think you should have read the fine print on your old contract. The Agency has the prerogative to call you back into service at any time. I’m sorry for the inconvenience; this is no picnic for me either. If this was something I could handle over the phone, trust me, I would. So tell me now, do I need to send a driver for you?"

An extremely frustrated Amanda reluctantly agreed. "No, Francine, you don’t need to send a car, I’ll be up in the morning. Is there something going on that I should be worried about?"

"No, Amanda, it’s not like that. I really can’t go into any details over the phone. I’m pretty sure your line hasn’t been ‘cleaned’ lately." She emphasized the word heavily.

"No, I’m sure it hasn’t!" she snapped, angry with herself for letting Francine get under her skin yet again.

"Great, I’ll leave a visitors pass for you at the Georgetown entrance. See you then."

"Yes, Francine." Amanda gritted her teeth. "I can hardly wait."

She hung up the phone and looked at her watch. It was already after six. She knew the Agency well enough to know she might not be back in one day. Damn Francine anyway. She had a mid term exam to give tomorrow, not to mention a daughter. She looked out into the backyard where Leeann was playing soccer with the neighbor’s little boy. She sighed deeply; it was too late to find someone to watch her. She hated to pull her from school for the day, but what else could she do?

Again she reached for the phone, hoping her mother was home. Leeann could spend the day with her while she was at the Agency. She dialed the number and waited for an answer. Curt picked up the phone and greeted her.

"Hi, Curt!"

"Hi, Amanda, how’s my favorite daughter-in-law?"

Amanda laughed, he always asked that. But even though she was his only daughter in law, she still enjoyed hearing it. "I’m just fine. Is mother there?"

"So I’m not good enough for you tonight?" he complained jokingly.

"I’m sorry, Curt, but I’m in a hurry."

"Only teasing, hang on I’ll get her."

Moment's later Dotty picked up the phone. "Amanda why are you calling in the middle of the week? Is there anything wrong?

"No, not really, Mother. I’ve got to be in DC tomorrow morning for a meeting and I’m not sure how long it’s going to last. I was hoping I could come up tonight and stay with you…"

Dotty interrupted, "What are you doing with Leeann?"

"If you hadn’t interrupted Mother, I was going to ask if you could watch her tomorrow. I’m planning on bringing her with me, but I don’t want to inconvenience you and Curt."

"Inconvenience us with Leeann? Never!" she scolded Amanda. "We’ll take her to the zoo, she loves the zoo and Curt and I could certainly use the exercise."

"You sure you don’t mind?" Amanda asked with a smile on her face. She was glad her mother was still in such good shape; a six-year-old girl at the zoo could be a handful.

"I don’t want to hear another word about it," Dotty reprimanded her. "Amanda, I am curious, why didn’t you come up earlier in the day, we could have had dinner ready for you and all. You won’t get here until late; Leeann will be half asleep."

"Mother, this just came up." Amanda knew it wouldn’t take Dotty long to start her barrage of questions.

"Just came up? What kind of meeting are you going to anyway?" Dotty inquired insistently.

Amanda quietly answered, "Mother, The Agency called me, something seems to have come up that they needed to discuss with me. I guess an old case or something, they couldn’t go into the details over the phone."

"Are you in danger? Some sicko hasn’t escaped from prison or something…" Dotty worried.

This time Amanda interrupted, "No, Mother, now just calm down. The sooner I get off the phone, the sooner I’ll get there. I’ll see you in a couple of hours. I’ll have my car phone if you need me OK?"

"OK, sweetheart, please be careful, love you."

"Mother, they would have sent someone if there was any problem, quit worrying. I love you too, see you in a while."

She looked outside to see Leeann still playing soccer, so she made one more quick phone call, this time to the secretary at the University. She made arrangements with Jean to find someone to proctor her exam tomorrow, explaining she was called out of town unexpectedly and might not return until the weekend.

With that call finished, she grabbed a bag out of her closet and began packing for a couple of days. She had a strong feeling that she wouldn’t be home tomorrow night.

Leeann always chattered in the car. Amanda loved the way she did it, talking about this and that, school and soccer and riding. She was so excited to be going to Grandma’s house in the middle of the week and thought it was neat to be playing ‘hooky’ from school too. With Leeann’s chatter, the drive seemed to fly by. She was just starting to lose steam when they pulled into Dotty’s townhouse complex.

They quickly grabbed their bags and headed up the stairs to the front door.

"Grandma!" Leeann yelled.

"Leeann! I didn’t think you’d ever get here!" Dotty cried in delight.

Amanda followed her daughter into the house. "Upstairs and put your pajamas on, it’s already past your bedtime, young lady. Then you can visit for a few minutes before you go to bed."

"Aw, Mom! I’m not going to school tomorrow."

"Yeah, well, I think your grandma might have some plans for you tomorrow. So up those stairs now, munchkin," Amanda chided good-naturedly.

Dotty gave her a quick smile and winked. "Cookies and milk waiting for you when you’re done."

She sprung up the stairs and Dotty turned and hugged Amanda. Then she whispered cautiously, "So, Amanda, what exactly is going on? Can the Agency just call you anytime and drag you back for any reason?"

"Mother, I don’t know anything more than I told you over the phone. It must be important or they wouldn’t have asked me to come in. It doesn’t happen very often. After all, I’ve been gone from The Agency for almost seven years and it’s the first time."

"I suppose when you find out what’s going on you won’t be able to tell me anything."

Amanda tried to cover her smile; she knew that would probably bother her mother more. "Yes, Mother, that’s probably true."

Leeann bolted back down the stairs joyously, quickly giving Curt a belated hug and then heading for the kitchen and her cookies. Her bright and cheerful laughter and the twinkling in her eyes made Amanda think of Lee. Even after all these years, there were times that she missed him so much. She wished he could be here to share in their little girl’s joy of life, something that Lee had appreciated greatly.

End Chapter 4
 
 
 

TIME PASSES...                             Chapter 5

The next morning Amanda woke up early, finding herself somewhat uneasy about her day ahead. She quickly dressed and got on her laptop to keep her mind from wandering. She emailed Jean at the University with every last detail she might need about the exam. She called Leeann’s school and left a message that she would be out today and possibly tomorrow. Making herself at home in her mother’s kitchen, she started to make breakfast, but time was moving slowly.

"Amanda, what are you doing up so early? I thought you didn’t have to be there until nine?" Dotty asked as she came down the stairs in her bathrobe.

"I couldn’t sleep, mother, I hope I didn’t wake you."

"I smelled the coffee." Dotty nodded, as she headed towards the freshly brewed pot. "So any idea how long this might take today? We’re going to the zoo, I’m sure Leeann would love it if you joined us."

"No, mother, I don’t have a clue. But if I finish up early, I’ll head up there I promise," Amanda smiled.

Amanda waited until Leeann was up and dressed but finally couldn’t take the waiting any longer; she kissed her daughter goodbye and headed down the old, yet familiar route to the Agency.

She walked into the Georgetown foyer to see a new receptionist, Mrs. Marston no longer the familiar face behind the old wooden desk. Other than that, there was little different about the hallway. She looked up the wooden staircase, which led to the Q Bureau. The memories began to flood into her mind. The first time she had walked in the Agency she had no idea what she was getting herself into. All she knew was Lee had intrigued her; he was so handsome and exciting. It was eerie to be back.

She took a deep breath and smiled at the young receptionist. "Hello, I’m Amanda King. I’m here to see Francine Desmond."

The young woman nodded. "Yes, she is expecting you. Someone will be right up to escort you." She handed Amanda a visitor's pass and she pinned it on. It was only a moment later when a guard stepped off the closet/elevator to escort her to Francine’s office.

Amanda sat down and waited for her, she was early. She looked out into the bullpen; it was bustling as ever. The only things that had changed were the faces. The once familiar faces had been replaced by younger ones, some a little older than her now grown sons.

It was a few minutes later that Francine came into the bullpen and noticed Amanda already waiting in her office. She swallowed hard, still not sure how to tell Amanda that Lee was not only alive, but in the building. Amanda had flown down to Honduras herself after the accident, never quite believing that Lee was gone. They all thought she was going off the deep end at the time. Little did any of them know that she was right all along.

"Amanda, you’re early," Francine greeted, as she walked into her office and closed the door.

"Yeah, well, I thought from our phone conversation last night that the sooner I got in here the better."

Francine nodded agreement and sat down behind her desk. She was silent for the longest time. She just stared at Amanda, still not knowing what to say to her. How was she supposed to tell her that Lee, her husband was downstairs in the Agency clinic?

"Francine?" Amanda asked uncomfortably, waiting for her to say something.

"I’m sorry, Amanda, I’m not sure where to start," Francine admitted, as she tapped her pen nervously on the desks’ blotter. She was trying to think how Billy would have handled this. "We’ve had a recent development on what happened to Lee."

Amanda leaned forward in her chair, waiting intently for Francine to continue. Until now, they had nothing; no one was ever charged with the murder of the thirty-seven people including Lee who were killed in the explosion. Billy had had agents follow up and investigate the case, but the local police had bungled the investigation so badly, there was little evidence to go on.

"You found out who blew up the building?"

"Well not exactly," Francine stated, frowning uncomfortably.

"What exactly do you know?" Amanda asked impatiently.

"Amanda, I’m not sure how to tell you this," Francine stalled.

"Francine, tell me what? If you know something about Lee’s death I want to know, I can handle it. It’s been seven years; I’m a little more rational about the whole thing now," Amanda asserted.

"Lee’s not dead."

"Not dead?"

She shook her head, no.

"Francine, you’ve done a lot of mean things over the years, but this is downright cruel. You drag me away from my home to pull a stunt like this." Amanda was yelling at her now as she picked up her purse and coat and stood up to leave.

"Amanda, this is not a joke. I’m serious. I didn’t believe it myself at first, but it’s true."

Amanda just stood there in shock. Her coat slipped to the floor, but she didn’t even notice as it fell. Lee was alive? How could that be? And if it was true, where had he been for the last seven years?

"Amanda, sit down."

She complied without any objection. Francine wasn’t sure whether she agreed to her request or if her knees had given out on her. She suddenly had lost all the color in her face.

She was shaking her head in disbelief. "It can’t be, I saw what was left of the building, no one could have survived that explosion. Francine, it must be an impostor."

"Amanda, he knew the recognition codes, he knows things only Lee would know. His fingerprints match, I tell you, it is Lee."

She kept shaking her head, mumbling "it can’t be". Her voice barely more than a whisper, quivered strongly. Her Lee wouldn’t have stayed away from her for all these years. He would have found a way home.

"Amanda, does the date February 13, 1987 mean anything special to you?"

Amanda looked directly into Francine’s eyes, nobody knew they were married, she knew at that moment it had to be Lee. "Where is he?"

"He’s downstairs in the clinic."

"I want to see him now!" she demanded.

Francine nodded, stood up and led the way. As they were walking down the hall Francine commented, "I um, didn’t know quite how to tell you. I didn’t want to tell you this over the phone."

Amanda barely nodded, her own mind reeling with a thousand questions. "How is he?"

"He’s doing OK, considering everything. He’s been adamant about seeing you. We’re scheduled to do a debriefing at ten, but he’s refused to be debriefed until he sees you. So you have an hour. You’re welcome to stay for the debriefing of course."

Amanda followed Francine to the Agency clinic to see Lee, her husband, after all these years. Was she dreaming or was this really happening?

They got to the clinic door and Francine paused for just a moment. "Amanda, he’s in kind of rough shape, but he’s going to be fine. He’s got some kind of virus; we’re treating him for it now. It’s not contagious, but he’s weak. He’s lost some weight; a lot's happened in seven years." Francine was trying to prepare her for what she was about to see. He was no longer the dashing, handsome well built Lee Stetson, but a fatigued, exhausted man who had been on the run for his life.

Amanda looked over at Francine and whispered hoarsely, "Francine, thanks." She turned the knob on the door and headed in to see her husband.

End Chapter 5
 
 
 

TIME PASSES...          Chapter 6

Lee couldn’t sleep knowing it was only hours before he was going to be reunited with Amanda – his Amanda. His Agency issued clothing hung on him, he needed a haircut, but at least he shaved with a decent razor, and the shower he took last night felt wonderful, hot water and soap. But despite every attempt to make himself presentable for her, he was still worried. So she hadn’t married, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t involved with someone else. She was an attractive, intelligent woman. The boys would be out of the house; Jamie would still be in college, but she’d be a lucky catch for a lot of men.

He had been watching the clock tick ever so slowly, minute by minute. He wasn’t sure he could endure the next few minutes. Francine had told him that Amanda was due in at nine. It was only ten minutes to the hour. He should have been there waiting for her in Francine’s office. How was she going to tell Amanda the news? Lee began to perspire. He paced frantically around the small room. How romantic to be reunited with a lost loved one in the Agency’s clinic. He shuddered at the thought.

Lee was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn’t hear the door open. He only heard a small gasp; and turned quickly. There she was, standing only ten feet in front of him looking more beautiful than he remembered. She looked older, but the years had been very kind to her. She was in fantastic shape, god she hadn’t gained a pound. Her hair, straight now, was just past her shoulders, her beautiful dark eyes were still warm and loving. He looked at her with the biggest grin.

"Oh my gosh!" was the only thing she said as she ran towards him. He met her in the middle of the room. They embraced each other tightly, each closing their eyes as if this was not really happening, that it was yet another moment in a dream from which they were bound to wake. But this time it was real. Their lips met each other’s hungrily and time merely stopped.

When they finally broke their kiss, neither of them could speak. Amanda tried not to stare at him, but found herself doing it just the same. Her eyes darted from his eyes down to his arms and body. It was Lee; there was no need to deny it. Her husband had come back to her. Her breathing suddenly became short and shallow. She stepped back, as tears filled her eyes.

"It’s you, it really is you?" she asked in disbelief.

"Yes, it’s me, Amanda. It’s really me, in the flesh."

The next thing he felt was a sharp stinging slap across his face. For a moment he was stunned, what had happened? He stepped back and looked at her face.

Anger filled her voice, seven years of pain spilled out in just a few harsh words. "Just where the hell have you been for the last seven years?" she spewed at him in anger.

Lee swallowed hard, he hadn't expected that, especially after the kiss they had shared. She was in shock, but who could blame her? What exactly had Francine told her?

"Didn’t Francine tell you what happened?" Lee asked as he tried to close the distance that she had put between them.

Amanda shook her head, no. With each step Lee took towards her, she took one back. Not quite sure whether to trust her eyes, her ears, her senses. She leaned against the door for support, not sure she could continue to stand on her now wobbly legs.

He reached his arms out, to steady her. "Amanda, sit down, you look like you’re going to faint."

She felt like she was going to faint: sensory overload. She sat down on the chair next to the bed.

Lee was scared, more frightened now than he had been over the last seven years. "Amanda, let me explain. Please." He knelt down beside her and looked at her with those beautiful eyes of his. Despite everything, his long hair with a smattering of gray, the baggy clothes, his now thin frame, his eyes were still captivating.

She merely nodded, unable to speak.

"Amanda, I’ve been in prison in Honduras for the last seven years. The night of the bombing I wasn’t at the hotel, I was on my way to a setup. My contact had sold me out. I was arrested for drug smuggling and sent to prison. I tried to escape and actually succeeded on several attempts. But I never got out of the jungle before they snagged me again. I finally got out for good when the hurricane hit. There was so much damage down there, I headed north and never looked back. This time nobody came after me, or if they did, at least they didn’t catch me."

She looked up at him with sorrow in her eyes. She reached out, hugged him tightly and whispered, "I’m sorry I slapped you, I don’t know what came over me."

He smiled in relief. "It’s OK. I guess I got home kind of late?" he joked.

She laughed. "Yeah, I’ll say." She leaned her head against his, as the tension started to drain from her body.

"I missed you so much," he whispered and then casually added. "How are you? Your mother and the boys, everyone's OK?"

"I’m OK, just a little overwhelmed. Mother is fine, she remarried; do you remember Curt?" She looked over at him but his face was blank. "Well anyway, they’re doing just fine. Phillip and Jamie are both doing great, Phillip’s got a steady girlfriend, they’re thinking about getting married. Jamie’s still in college, he’s a junior now at Virginia Tech." She stopped short, again looking over at him, not quite sure how to mention Leeann, his daughter, their daughter.

"I’ve thought about you every day for the last seven years. You look more beautiful than the day I left," he sighed. "So I hear you’re not married."

"Of course I’m married!" she said abruptly.

He looked up at her with horror. He stood up and staggered over to the bed, leaning against it for support. ‘Damn Francine!’ How could she lie to him? His biggest fear since he was gone was now a reality. She had moved on with her life. He shook his head as he thought, ‘Of course she has, she thought you were dead.’

"Lee, I’m still married to you." Amanda corrected herself. "I thought you were dead, but since you’re not, we’re still very much married."

A look of relief slowly came back to his face. A smile grew. "Are you," he paused, how do you ask your wife if she’s seeing anyone? "So is there, um… Amanda, are you involved with anyone?"

Amanda got up from the chair and sat down next to him on the bed. Her hand caressed his weathered face tenderly as she replied with a simple, "No."
 
 

"I could understand if there was, after all, you thought I was dead. You’re a very attractive woman, I’m sure you’ve had your share of men chasing after you."

She blushed, feeling a little uncomfortable about having this conversation with him. "Lee, we have a lot of catching up to do. Francine says they’re debriefing you at ten. That doesn’t give us a lot of time. But let me set your mind at ease, I have dated over the last few years, but there hasn’t been anyone special; I haven’t shared a bed with anyone. I guess it’s a good thing now, huh?"

He was speechless. He didn’t know what to say. But the look of relief on his face spoke volumes.

She leaned over and kissed him again. "There is certainly a lot we have to talk about. A lot has happened since you left."

He put his arms around her, closed his eyes and kissed her again. His desire for her had not changed at all over the years; it had only intensified. "I’m sure there is, but I just want you to know how much I love you."

"I love you, too."

There was a knock at the door, moments later Francine came in. "I hate to break up this family reunion, but we have a debriefing to do."

Lee looked over at Amanda and asked tentatively. "This is going to take a while, I’m sure. Will you be here when I’m finished?"

She looked at him incredulously. "Lee, I’m not going anywhere without you."

He grinned, and they got up off the bed together. His hand grasped hers tightly as they followed Francine out of the room.

*** *** ***

The debriefing went on for hours. Amanda had stayed as she had promised and listened, absorbing what he had been through, how it happened, and the brutality of Honduran prison life. As the day dragged on, the strain of exhaustion began to show on Lee’s face. They had skipped lunch; Lee had just wanted to get the debriefing over with. However it was becoming increasingly apparent that they wouldn’t finish in just one day.

Amanda whispered over to Francine, "You need to stop this, he’s about to collapse from exhaustion. We can finish up tomorrow."

Francine was annoyed at the intrusion. "He can stop whenever he wants if he needs a break."

"At least call a dinner break. You know him well enough that he won’t ask for one," Amanda said firmly. "Francine, look at him. He hasn’t eaten since breakfast, and we both know what he eats for breakfast."

Francine looked up at Amanda. She hated to admit it but Amanda was right. Lee was starting to look a little unsteady and getting confused. It was probably due to lack of food and exhaustion. "All right people. Let’s take a dinner break. We’ll reconvene in an hour."

"Thanks," Amanda smiled.

The room cleared out and it was again just Lee and Amanda. He got up out of the ‘hot seat’ and met her near the door.

"I wonder whose idea this was?" he asked knowingly.

"Lee, there’s no way this is going to be done tonight, I knew you wouldn’t ask for a dinner break, but you need to eat."

He kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks, you’re right of course. I hoped this would go faster."

"Seven years is a long time."

"Yeah, and a lot has happened," Lee replied.

"You can say that again!" she murmured.

He looked at her, not quite sure what she meant, but feeling a little uncomfortable with how she said it. He let her remark slide – for now. He wanted to talk with her, but he would tonight. She was probably staying at a local hotel. They would finally have some precious time alone, to talk, to become reacquainted.

End Chapter 6
 
 
 

TIME PASSES...            Chapter 7

They took a short walk to a nearby Italian restaurant and sat down at a corner booth for added privacy and ordered. They smiled at one another uneasily. The silence continued on, until neither of them could stand it any longer and they both spoke at once. They laughed and Lee took her hand in his.

"Amanda, there’s so much I want to ask you, but I don’t know where to start."

"I know, there’s so much to tell you but I don’t know how to start. I didn’t want to believe you were dead.  I flew down to Honduras, you know. Billy came with me; I was a basket case. But I saw what was left of the hotel – it wasn’t much, mostly charred ashes, not one single survivor." She started to get teary eyed.

"Hey, now, don’t start crying on me, you know how I hate it when you cry."

"I’m sorry. Some things never change," she sniffled as she tried to control her emotions.

"How about we keep our dinner conversation light. We can talk tonight when we get back to your hotel."

"Hotel? Lee, I’m staying in Vienna with Mother and Curt," Amanda explained.

"Just call them and tell them you’ll be gone overnight."

Much to Lee’s dismay, she shook her head, no.

"Amanda, we’ve got a lot to discuss. No offense, but I don’t particularly want your mother’s prying eyes and ears to be in the next room. I’d like some privacy with you, I haven’t seen you in seven years!" he pleaded emphatically.

"Lee, my mother knows all about our marriage and the Agency. I told mother and the boys the truth after I left."

"You what?" he asked loudly, obviously perplexed by her admission of truth after the fact.

"Lee, keep your voice down," Amanda warned as she looked around uncomfortably.

"What I don’t understand is why you left the Agency in the first place. They didn’t ask you to leave did they?"

Amanda fidgeted nervously, not wanting to discuss things publicly and definitely not over a pizza. "No, Billy tried everything to get me to stay. But I had my reasons. Lee, there’s so much to tell you. I don’t know where to begin and we don’t have a lot of time right now."

"I realize that. So when we get back to the Agency call your mother and tell her that you’re spending the night in DC. We need to talk privately, without the Agency, your mother or a room full of strangers. She’ll understand."

"Lee, I can’t," Amanda reiterated.

He was getting angry, unable to understand her reluctance to give him one night alone. "Why not? It’s me, really, I’m not an impostor; this isn’t an elaborate hoax. I want to get to know you again. I know this isn’t easy for you, it’s not easy for me either. Just give me some time alone with you we can take things one day at a time. This isn’t about sex…"

"No, it’s not that," she countered angrily. How could he even think that?

"Then what is it? You’re involved with someone else isn’t it? Don’t try to sugar coat it, Amanda. If it’s true just tell me. I’m a big boy I can handle it. I’ve handled a lot worse in the last few years."

His temper was flaring and she was beginning to lose hers.

"No, it’s not that - really. There isn’t another man in my life," she repeated.

He just looked at her, not quite believing her. He could tell from the look on her face that she wasn’t telling him something. He was exhausted and confused and he desperately wanted to know what was going on.

"Damn it, Amanda, what the hell are you hiding from me?" he yelled, his emotions giving way.

People from the tables around them stopped talking and eating and stared at them. Lee cringed at the unwanted attention; Amanda wanted to crawl under her seat.

"We can talk about this later," she whispered uncomfortably.

"When, later at your mother’s? I want the truth and I want it now!" he growled heatedly.

Her temper got the best of her. She didn’t know how to tell him, so she grabbed her wallet from her purse and opened it up. He just watched, still not following her chain of thought.

She opened up the pictures of the boys, and her mother, and then finally came to one of a little girl.

"It’s not a what I’m hiding, she’s a who!" She pulled out a picture of Leeann, taken only weeks before and pushed it across the table to Lee. "Let me introduce you to Leeann Jennifer Stetson – your daughter! She’s at mother’s house waiting for me. As much as I might like to, I can’t spend the night at a hotel with you for conjugal visits or otherwise; I have a responsibility to our daughter. You think this is hard on you and me? How am I going to explain this to our six year old?"

Lee was stunned. He looked at the picture and then looked back up at Amanda. His lips tried to form words, but nothing came out. Finally he carefully picked up the picture. His hand shook slightly but his fingers gently touched the edges, being mindful not to smudge the precious photo. His eyes became moist and he swallowed hard trying to contain his emotions. Suddenly seven years seemed like an eternity.

Amanda just sat there and stared at Lee. She hadn’t planned on telling him this way, not in anger, not like this. But the truth was she had never expected to have this conversation with Lee. He was supposed to be dead.

He finally stammered a response. "She’s beautiful. Francine never said a word to me. I didn’t know you were pregnant when I left; I would have never gone. Why didn’t you tell me?"

Her voice was weak, but the words came quickly now. "Francine doesn’t know about Leeann, the Agency doesn’t know. That’s why I had to tell Mother and the boys the truth. I didn’t find out I was pregnant until weeks after you were allegedly killed. Do you remember the night before you left? I spent the night at your place, we made love most of the night. Leeann had to have been conceived that night."

Lee nodded and a smile returned to his face. He remembered that night very vividly. He had known he would be gone for a couple of weeks and they spent hours making love until the early morning. The memory of their last night together kept him going many a long lonely night in Honduras. He answered hoarsely, "I remember."

"I left the Agency that November because I couldn’t conceal the pregnancy forever. I didn’t have the strength or the courage to handle the explanations, the looks, the sympathy and shock. It was easier for me to leave. I gave Billy my resignation and there was nothing he could do or say to change my mind. Billy stopped by the house about six months later and I answered the door with Leeann in my arms. That’s when I told him the truth, about our marriage and your daughter. But Billy never told a soul, he kept it a secret until the day he died."

She sat back in the booth and just stared at Lee. Tears were starting to stream down her face. This day had taken its toll in many ways. Lee was physically exhausted and she was emotionally drained and she still had to go home and tell her mother and her daughter that Lee was alive.

"I can’t believe this is happening. I knew I missed a lot, but I never knew or thought…You must hate me," Lee murmured.

"I don’t hate you, you fool. I love you, that’s never changed," she cried.

Lee moved over and sat next to her in the booth. He held her in his arms. He whispered to her over and over, as he dabbed her tear stained face with a napkin, "I love you, please tell me you know how much I love you."

"I know you love me," she whispered as she looked up at him. "I can see it in your eyes. I've always loved you, I always will."

He looked back at the picture, at his daughter, their daughter. "She’s really beautiful, she has your smile."

"She has your eyes." Amanda smiled up at Lee, resting her head on his shoulder.

Just then their pizza was delivered to the table. Lee took the picture of Leeann and with a bright smile tucked it lovingly into his shirt pocket. "Do you mind? I wouldn’t want to spill anything on it."

"Not at all," she smiled, relieved that the truth was finally out.

After dinner they hurried back to the Agency, but they were at least a half-hour late. Lee didn’t care, what could Francine do, fire him? He knew she’d be irate, but so was he. He had missed a lot more than he ever imagined in the last few years. He wanted to go home to meet his daughter, to get reacquainted with his wife.

Francine was waiting at the Georgetown entrance when they finally walked in.

"Oh, so gracious of you to join us, Scarecrow! Nice of you to stroll back in here tonight at all," she began to badger them the moment they walked in.

"Francine, I’m sorry, we lost track of time," Amanda began.

"Amanda, I’ve got a room full of agents waiting on the two of you. They all have families that they’d like to go home to…"

"Don’t start, Francine," Lee interrupted hotly. "I’ve got a lot of information on Central America that you can use. I’m sure you’d love to get a handle on the drug and weapons smuggling going on down there. It would be quite a coup for you now wouldn’t it?"

He stared at Francine, waiting for her reaction. He knew he was right, she wanted that information.

"My Spanish is a lot better than I let my captors and my fellow inmates believe. Now we can go back upstairs and continue or I can go home with my wife. You’ve gotten the basics from me and you know it. But the choice is yours. You push me too far and all you’re going to get is a hasta la vista!"

"All right, Lee. Give us a couple more hours tonight, and we’ll reconvene tomorrow," Francine conceded reluctantly.

Lee nodded, took Amanda’s hand and followed Francine back down to the debriefing room.

* * * *

Amanda ducked out of the briefing room once the proceeding got started again. She needed to call her mother. She picked up the phone and dialed the number.

"Hello," Dotty answered.

"Mother, it’s me."

"Amanda, I was starting to get worried about you. We haven’t heard from you all day. Is everything all right?"

"I’m sorry, Mother, it’s been a very hectic day. This is the first chance I’ve gotten to call. Did you have a good time with Leeann? I hope she wasn’t too much trouble."

"My little angel? She was as good as gold. She just loved the tigers and lions and bears! We kept chanting that little phrase from the Wizard of Oz! We laughed all day long. We’ve already eaten dinner, should I keep a plate warm for you dear? When will you be home?"

Amanda took a deep breath. She desperately wanted and needed some time alone with Lee. But what about Leeann? This was going to be very confusing to her. How do you explain to a little girl that her long dead father is really alive and well?

"Mother, I’m not sure what time I’m going to be home. It looks like it’s going to be a long night. Make sure Leeann gets to bed on time. Don’t let her wait up for me," she warned.

"Are you going home in the morning, Amanda? If not surely she could stay up later tonight. She misses you, she wants to tell you about her day."

"Mother, please, for once, do as I ask. I might not get home until very late. We’ll be staying at least another day."

"Amanda, something is wrong! I knew it! Are you all right? Are you in danger? Are…"

Amanda cut her mother short. "Mother, stop – please! I promise I’ll explain everything later, but right now I’ve got to get back…"

Dotty let out a big sigh. "Yes, dear, I’ll make sure she gets to bed on time. I didn’t like what that job did to you years ago and now it’s starting all over again! Not to mention how worried you have me."

"Don’t be worried, Mother, everything is going to be fine. Now I’ve really got to go…" With that she hung up the phone and headed back to the debriefing room and to Lee.

After a few more hours, Francine finally called it a night with strict instruction for all parties to return ‘promptly’ at nine in the morning to continue.

"I need a phone number of where you’re going to be tonight," Francine advised.

"We’ll be staying at my mother’s house in Vienna. Here’s the number." She wrote it down for Francine and gave it to her.

"Nine AM sharp, remember," Francine reminded them.

"We’ll be here," Lee replied drolly.

Lee and Amanda walked to her car in an awkward silence. After spending the day together with a crowd of people and limited time to talk, now they had the time and no idea how to start.

"How about a drink?" Lee suggested.

"It’s getting kind of late, you look exhausted. Wouldn’t you just like to go home?"

He swallowed hard. He wanted nothing more than to spend the night with her, but he wanted to be alone with her. The thought of going to her mother’s house and the inquisition awaiting him, not to mention meeting his daughter unnerved him to say the least.

She read the look on his face. Even after all these years she knew that look. He had it the first time he met her boys. "How about a quick drink at Emelio’s for old time sake?" she asked brightly.

"I’d like that. See if the old place has changed."

The place hadn’t changed much. Norman was still tending bar and was more than surprised to see them. They headed for a quiet booth in the back with their drinks.

Lee finally broke the silence. "So any other surprises for me?"

"What do you mean?" she asked softly as she sipped at her glass of wine.

"Well I come home looking for my partner to find out she’s left her job, moved away and raised my – our daughter. So what are you doing in your free time?" Lee kidded with a somewhat serious tone.

"Free time? There’s not a lot of that; your daughter keeps me pretty busy, she’s a little tomboy. She likes soccer and swimming and horseback riding."

"She rides already?" Lee asked with an astonished look on his face.

"Started lessons in September. Her teacher tells me she’s a natural; I wonder where she got that from?" Amanda teased with a big grin.

"Maybe we should wait before I show up on your mother’s doorstep."

She reached over for his hand. "Lee, waiting isn’t going to change anything. When I thought you were dead, I promised mother and the boys no more lies. I won’t go back on my promise to them. Without them I don’t think I could have survived that first year."

"I’m sorry, I can’t imagine how hard that was on you. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for this whole mess."

"Hey, I’m doing just fine. I won’t lie to you and say things haven’t changed. They have, but Leeann is a wonderful little girl. Once you get to know her you’re going to fall in love with her."

"I know, I’m just nervous. Maybe you should tell her about me before I show up."

"Leeann knows all about her dad. We talk about you often. She’ll be in bed when we get back to Mother’s."

"Amanda, if she’s going to be asleep, what’s the rush? We could go to a hotel for the night – and just talk," he added reassuringly. "Then we can head over to your mother’s in the morning. First thing," Lee pleaded with her, his fingers entwined with hers on the table like a couple of newlyweds.

She looked into his eyes, the twinkle of years past, glowing at her. His smile and his warm hand in hers brought a comforting sense to her, a feeling that she hadn’t felt in over seven years. It was a combination of warmth and serenity.

"She’s an early riser. We’d have to be at the house really early. Not to mention you’d have to deal with my mother and Leeann at the same time. If we go back to the house tonight, you’ll have Mother taken care of," she explained logically but her defenses were obviously weakening.

"I’ll take my chances. I really want to talk with you alone, quietly, get to know you again."

Amanda shook her head and rolled her eyes. "You always get your way, Stetson, don’t you?"

He looked at her with wide eyes and was unable to stifle a small laugh, "ME? You’ve got to be kidding."

"Come on, before I change my mind. With our luck, Francine will call the house looking for you and really blow our cover."

Lee grinned, half with relief and half with the excitement of spending time alone with her again. He got up and reached back for her hand. Instinctively it was in his, their fingers wrapped tightly around each other’s as they walked out of Emelio’s and to her car. Time might have passed but the love they shared was still growing strong.

End Part 7
 
 
 

TIME PASSES...          Part 8

When the bellman left the room Lee and Amanda stared at each other. Suddenly they felt very awkward being alone with each other. Amanda thought back to the first few years they were on assignments together, when they pretended to be a married couple and how awkward it had been then to sleep in the same room with Lee. Her feelings for him were sure even then. But now he was her husband, her long lost husband. Hadn’t she played out this scene in her mind a million times, him coming home to her?

"You know I don’t have a change of clothes or anything to sleep in," she said bashfully, her face reddening with embarrassment as she looked down at herself in her simple dark blue dress. This was not the way it was supposed to happen in her dream.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t even think about that. You certainly can’t sleep in that," Lee said with growing discomfort. He chastised himself for his ‘bright’ idea, he never had given it a moments thought. He had Agency issued clothing, credit cards, driver’s license, the whole package. Amanda had a suitcase at her mother’s house, where his daughter was sound asleep. He silently cursed himself, what kind of a man is afraid to meet his own daughter? Then he smiled and thought to himself, ‘The kind that desperately wants to hold his wife in his arms all night.’

"What are you smiling about? This isn’t funny," she asked with an annoyed look on her face.

He winked at her. "I’m sure I have something in this bag you can wear for the evening – perhaps a T-shirt or something. You know the Agency, they’re thorough."

They opened his bag together, looking through if for something suitable. As they sifted through his meager possessions their hands touched. It was as if lightening had struck them. Amanda caught her breath, and started to draw back. Lee reached for it, holding it gently in his own.

"I know this is awkward; I feel like a complete stranger with my own wife. Relax, please, I love you, I would never hurt you," Lee whispered with as much control as he could muster.

She kissed him gently on the lips. The sensation was familiar yet peculiar. She replied to him in a soft tone he remembered so well. "I know that. It's just not every day a woman gets to spend the night with a ghost!"

"Very funny!" Lee snorted as he grabbed a Washington Redskin’s T-shirt from his bag. "Will this do, or would you prefer the sweatsuit?"

"No, the T-shirt will do just fine," she replied playfully. "Do you want to hit the showers first?"

Lee thought for a moment, his mind going places he knew he shouldn’t let it. "No, you can go first."

Amanda showered quickly and came out of the bathroom wrapped in a white cloth bathrobe, compliments of the hotel. "Hmm, that felt good. Your turn!" she smiled gleefully as she threw a towel at him. The shower had helped her relax.

Lee showered and then shaved. He deliberately took his time, feeling as nervous as a bridegroom. He paused before heading out to talk with Amanda. The surges of nervousness were growing in his stomach: how was he going to survive emotionally the next few days? He knew that their reunion would be difficult, time passes – people change. But he also had a daughter who didn’t know he was alive. His stepsons now were both men and most likely fiercely protective of their mother. Then there was a very inquisitive mother-in-law who would want to know every detail. He shuddered at the impending days ahead.

Amanda waited for what seemed like forever. The water had stopped almost twenty minutes ago. He never took this long in the bathroom. "Lee, are you OK?" she finally called out to him.

He exhaled slowly as he opened the door, rubbing his clean shaven face. "I thought I’d shave now so I wouldn’t have to in the morning," he explained nervously, hoping she would believe the fib.

"Feel a little more relaxed?" she asked quietly.

He nodded, but was less than successful in convincing her. He looked more nervous than he had at Emelio’s earlier in the evening.

"I hoped the shower might make you feel better," she said as she got off the bed, crossed the room and greeted him with a light kiss and a comforting hug.

He barely moved, but stood rigid near the foot of the bed she had just been laying on.

"Lee, I’m your wife. You can relax a little with me. Talk to me."

"I’m sorry, but I’ve imagined this night in my mind for years. It’s just this isn’t exactly how I thought ‘things’ would work out. You in my nightshirt covered from head to toe in a rather cumbersome robe..."

Amanda giggled; her thoughts were almost the same, "Have you looked in the mirror lately?" she asked as she turned him towards the mirror in the dressing area directly behind him. She rested her head on his shoulder; he was dressed similarly, in a white robe.

He laughed a quiet, uneasy laugh and turned back to her, "I guess you’re right."

She reached over to the thin belt that was holding his robe tight, and pulled it with a quick tug. It opened up to reveal that he was wearing only a pair of boxer shorts. She reached up to his shoulders and deftly pushed the robe off and let it fall to the floor.

"Maybe you’d be more comfortable without the robe?" she asked with a fervent lilt in her voice as her hands massaged his shoulders and neck.

He rolled his head with enjoyment of the massage. It was awakening other feelings in him too. "Amanda!" he groaned with a husky voice. She interrupted him, turning him towards her and greeted him with a sensuous kiss.

"I don’t know about you," she replied, "but when I agreed to come here tonight, I didn’t expect we’d talk all night. I, ah, think we both know what we really want," she said with her eyebrows raised and an expressive grin on her face.

She looked into his eyes to find a stunned expression on his face. "Lee, I know you’d prefer me in something a little more revealing than this." She took her own robe off, letting it pile on the floor with his.

"Amanda, no. It’s not that."

She put her finger to his lip to quiet him. Then that same finger trailed gently across his face. Her hand touching his tanned weathered skin, and slowly roamed through his still damp hair. Her other hand caressed his back, gently gliding over it, inch by inch with sensuous fingers.

Lee no longer stood idle, his desire for her overwhelming him. He drank in the smell of her freshly shampooed hair, and tenderly touched her soft and fragrant skin. His kisses were tender and gentle, starting just behind her ear and trailing ever so carefully down her neck to where her nightshirt started. He stopped suddenly, trying to hide his aggravation. She could hear his teeth clench in frustration at the thin gray nightshirt which seemed at the moment to be an enormous barrier between them.

She stepped back only inches and in one smooth motion removed the nightshirt to reveal herself totally to him. He marveled at her beautiful supple body, kept tone and svelte even after all these years.

"Amanda, you’re more beautiful today than the day I left," he said with desire.

She smiled at the compliment but didn’t say a word. She closed the distance between them, and hungrily captured his mouth with her own. Exploring his lips at first, she traced them with her own tongue, and then darted in quickly to savor that once familiar taste. Her hands held him close, almost afraid he might disappear like a ghost.

He gently lifted her in his carms and carried her a few short feet to the bed. He carefully placed her in the middle of the bed.

"Oh Lee," Amanda whispered almost out of breath.

"Amanda, I want you more right now than I ever thought possible," Lee replied with deep desire ever so apparent in his voice.

"Oh, Lee, I can’t believe this is really happening."

Hours later, Amanda lay in his strong arms, satiated yet exhausted by their lovemaking, each touching the other wordlessly, not wanting the evening to end. The time that had separated them had been filled quickly by a love that time couldn’t break. The challenges ahead of them were daunting, but somehow their love, trust and passion would get them through it all…together, always and forever.

End Chapter  8

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