**DISCLAIMER** Scarecrow and Mrs. King is copyrighted to Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Production Company. The story however, is copyrighted to the author. This story is for entertainment purposes only and cannot be redistributed without the permission of the author. No infringement intended.

SUMMARY: What might have happened if Lee had continued dating Leslie. Alternate Universe story.

TIMEFRAME: Several weeks after Over the Limit.

RATING: PG-13

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Many thanks to my beta readers, Sybil and AJ!

BACK FROM THE BRINK

Lee Stetson was in love with the woman. She was everything he wanted and more. A tall and slender brunette, she was exciting, fun loving and passionate. Together they made the rounds of Embassy parties and dance clubs. Then late in the evening they would return to his apartment and make love until nearly dawn. It was a wild and exciting time for both of them.

Yes, Leslie was everything he could ask for in a woman. She was nice and normal, just like Amanda. Now, he had everything he could ever want in the world. He had Amanda in his office, smiling at him while she filed papers and wrote his reports. He had her support and insight, and her friendship. And he had Leslie in his bed.

Beautiful and exciting, passionate and loving, he couldn't imagine anything better. He had it all, without risking his partnership or friendship with Amanda, either. He was insufferably pleased with himself.

If only he could get rid of this nagging stomach ache that had plagued him for the last several weeks. Damn stomach bug!

Everything seemed perfect just as it was. But things were not quite as perfect as they looked. He wanted to complete his journey from playboy to normal person. Amanda had introduced him to the idea of `normalcy'. After knowing her for two years, the idea of being a normal person greatly appealed to him. But to become a real life `normal person' he would have to marry Leslie. And that was what he determined to do.

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

Amanda knew. She had heard the talk about Lee's new girlfriend. She had even met Leslie. She felt Lee slipping away from her, bit by bit, every day. Lately, his unkempt appearance at the office made it obvious to everyone that Lee was enjoying some pretty late nights. Lee didn't want to discuss them with Amanda. In fact, he didn't want to discuss much of anything with Amanda right now. He even acted like he didn't want to work with her in the field. He no longer stopped by her house with little made up reasons to talk. He picked fights with her at the office. No, Amanda knew she had been foolish to think Lee could ever fall in love with her, a frumpy suburban housewife. That's how Francine had described her for the last two years, now, each of Francine's teasing comments to Lee served to remind Amanda of this foolishness.

Amanda needed a plan that would salvage something of her dignity and self-respect. The situation was becoming difficult, and she felt, would soon be intolerable. She decided to leave the Agency. She could simply submit her resignation and look for a normal job, but now a normal job held little appeal. But who could help her find something more interesting? It's not like the Post carried classified ads for `Counter Intelligence Agents.' And if they did, she wouldn't be fully qualified anyway. Certainly Francine would be no help. There were so few people she could completely trust at the Agency. Billy had strongly supported her since her arrival at the Agency, but he was so close to Lee. Amanda didn't want her every word funneled to Lee. Harry Thornton trusted and respected her, but he freely admitted that Lee was like his own boy. Amanda needed help. She pushed aside her concerns about confidentiality and made an appointment to talk to Billy.

This was the hardest thing she had done since her divorce. The last thing in the world she really wanted to do was to stop working with Lee. But every time she saw Lee, she thought of him making love to Leslie. It was killing her. The other women had not bothered her. Not like this. The others were mostly bimbos. But now, it was personal. This woman was so like her, that Amanda was scared. Amanda truly felt rejected; how could he love Leslie, but not her? And soon, she was certain, he might propose to Leslie.

Amanda cried herself to sleep the night after she talked to Billy. Not for the first time, nor for the last.

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

This was it. Lee was determined to complete his transformation. He found himself in a jewelry store near IFF. He chose a beautiful diamond engagement ring, best quality, brilliant cut, the most expensive he could afford. He put the small box in his pocket and headed back to the office.

On his way into the Q- bureau he stopped in the men's room to throw up.

Damn stomach bug!

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

Amanda knew this was it. Lee's trip to NY was written on the calendar in red ink! He would be gone a week. Well, Amanda had her new job lined up. She had only to say goodbye. She refused to just disapparate. She had to explain that she wasn't leaving to hurt him, but because, should he marry, she just couldn't maintain either their friendship or their working relationship.

Things were quiet in the Q-bureau that afternoon. As the day drew to a close, Amanda cleared her throat. "Lee?"

"Huh?" Lee answered without looking up.

"Lee, I need to say goodbye."

"Don't sound so serious, I'm not going to be gone that ong. I'll be back in a week." He smiled and laughed as he finally looked up at her.

"No, I mean, when you come back, I won't be here." Amanda rose and approached him.

"Why not? Are you taking a vacation?" Lee did not want to allow himself to believe that she might be leaving permanently.

"I'm taking another job, outside the Agency. But don't worry, I'll be here all next week and I promise all the reports will be finished. I won't leave you high and dry." Amanda said cheerfully. She tried to sound self-assured, but wasn't sure if she was succeeding.

"But you are leaving me high and dry! Billy can't get me someone that fast! I need four weeks notice!" Lee angrily rose to face her.

"Billy knows all about it." She said calmly. "He promised he would have a new partner for you by the time you get back."

"I don't want a new partner! I… I…just got used to working with you."

"Now, Lee." Amanda took his hands in hers and softly said, "What did you think I would do when you decided to get serious about Leslie? I can't stay here the way things are."

"What's wrong with the way things are?" he questioned, looking bewildered.

"I can't keep working with you…not now that you and Leslie are getting more seriously involved." Amanda said simply as she sadly shook her head. "You know all those times you told me not to get personally involved with anyone in this business? Well, it was good advice and I tried to follow it. I really tried." She dropped her eyes, "But I failed. And all those times you reminded me that we were not emotionally involved with each other, and all those times I agreed with you? Well, I lied. I've been emotionally involved, too emotionally involved, for a long time. Holding his hands tighter, as if she were afraid he'd bolt and run, her voice dropped to a bare whisper, "In fact, I think I might in love with you".

Where she got the strength to say all this without breaking down, she didn't know. She took a deep breath to steady her voice and continued, "You see, it's too hard for me to see you every day and to continue being friends the way we have been. It's incredibly hard for me to see the two of you together, to see you come in from your wild nights and know…?" She closed her eyes for a moment and bit her lip, "I want you to be happy, I really do, but I need to leave. I need to get my own emotions in check."

Lee's hands were trembling in hers. "I thought you were my best friend." Lee choked pitifully.

"Lee." Amanda looked directly into his eyes and answered gently. "The happiest married couples I know are best friends. Look at Billy and Jeannie. Your wife should be your best friend."

"How did you know?" he asked as his eyes bore into hers.

"I know you pretty well." Amanda said softly, looking deeply into his eyes. "I know you're planning to propose to Leslie while you're in New York." She continued quietly, wishing Lee would deny it.

"What will you do?" Lee asked choking back tears, clutching her hands even more tightly.

"I've accepted a position outside the Agency." She tried to sound optimistic. "It's a terrific opportunity for me. I can't really say any more, it's `Need to Know.'" Amanda laughed gently. "But it isn't anything you need to worry about. Most people in this line of work have very quiet careers."

"What about the others?" He asked with genuine concern.

"Well, if anything did go wrong, it would be so spectacular that you'd hear about it on every news broadcast." Amanda knew this wouldn't reassure him, but she wanted a little mystery to surround her departure.

Amanda lifted his hands up to her lips and kissed them as she said. "Goodbye, Lee." Then, she left.

As the door closed with a soft click, Lee felt a tear trickle down his cheek. He had not cried since his parents died. He had not even cried when Dorothy died. He would not cry now! She was not going to make him cry!

He cleared his desk with the sweep of his arm sending files, notes and books crashing to the floor. Then he threw up in the

wastebasket. Damn stomach bug!

He thought of her all the way to NY. He could see her beautiful dark hair framing the gorgeous cream-colored skin of her face. He could smell her perfume. He could hear her laugh. He smiled to himself as he thought of her straightening his tie. He sobered as he asked himself how Amanda could do this to him? After all, he had gone to so much trouble, to make sure that their friendship wasn't threatened by his confused feelings. He had worked it all out perfectly and now, she'd gone off and left him! The nerve of her!

What kind of job did she get anyway? What did she qualify for? Two years ago, he would have said "Librarian," but now, she had experience in field operations. She had great instincts. She could become an agent trainee for the CIA or the FBI. She could work for a private company. He suddenly realized that she had lots of options that excluded him.

Lee got out the airsick bag. Damn stomach bug!

Despite his turmoil, Lee dragged himself through a romantic dinner with Leslie. He ate very little; the food at Tavern on the Green usually tasted better. They took a ride in a hansom cab through the park afterward. Lee fingered the small box in his pocket. Just because his professional life was coming unglued didn't mean he had to let his personal life get off track. Did he? He felt his stomach tighten into the now familiar knot that threatened to rise into his throat.

He thought about Amanda. What was it she said about best friends? His wife should be his best friend? His best friend should be his wife? It occurred to him that either Leslie should become his best friend or he should give some thought to marrying Amanda. Neither scenario sounded like a real possibility. It had taken two years to become best friends with Amanda. He had spent more time with Amanda than he ever had with any woman.

Lee suddenly realized that he hardly knew Leslie at all. He was so confused. He needed time to think this through. The ring remained in his pocket.

He took his first step back from the brink.