DISCLAIMER: Scarecrow and Mrs. King are the property of Warner Bros. and Shoot the Moon productions. The author as for pure entertainment purposes copyrights this story.

AUTHOR: angelsslave

SYNOPSIS: Lee ponders over the change in his life, and the realisation that Amanda King means more to him than just his  `partner' and friend.

TIMELINE: Season Three – after `Dead Men Leave No Trails' and before `All The Worlds A Stage'
 
SUMMARY: This is part 2 of the `Emotions' story. In  `Restless Nights' I took it from Amanda's point of view – this time it's from Lee's. As in the fore mentioned episodes, Lee is more and more being drawn towards her in the most simple of circumstances – finding it increasingly difficult not to give into her charms. Confusion and reality are suddenly becoming a way of life for him as he toys with the idea of letting her know just how he feels.

This is also done is flashbacks – following the same thread as part one. Lee and Amanda have been coming close to three years working together now – and as Amanda had `restless' nights! Lee has `sleepless' days.  Flashbacks are indicated with ***

RATING: PG

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Continuation to `Restless Nights' it's now Lee Stetson's turn to spend a bit of time wondering how his feelings have changed towards Amanda.  Feedback is very much welcome all comments good or bad. I would like to thank the writer of the Scarecrow & Mrs. King episode that I have taken dialogue from: `Dead Men Leave No Trails' – Whitney Wherrit-Roberson.

The song is from a great Irish singer – Brian Kennedy – `So I Will Wait For You' (absolutely love this song) to me it tells of his confused emotions and how is going to have to deal with them…enjoy.

MAYBE TOMORROW

’Emotions’ Story, Part Two - Lee's Emotions

`Last night your eyes were telling me,
What words can never say.
You needed room to breathe – you needed time to get away,
It's the way of a young heart.
And I know how you feel,
Your dreams are real – and I would never hold you against your will.'

`I have to tell her but how? How do you tell a woman who has been married before and has a family of dependants waiting for her as she closes the door at night, that you have fallen head over heels in love with her.'

Lee Stetson fingered his coffee mug absently moving it around the wet circles on his blotter, as he sat transfixed in his thoughts. Thoughts of a dark haired - brown eyed woman with all the curves in all the right places and a laugh that rang out like a melody every time they were together - no matter how dangerous or dire the circumstance. To him Amanda King always found the funny side in situations that were…. Sometimes dangerous always looking to him as her savior, expecting him to `be there' when she needed him. It had taken almost three years to come to the conclusion that he was in love with this `whirlwind' that entered his life, but he had to admit - it hadn't always been that way with them.

He had become an Intelligence Operative `he so much preferred that word to spy' since the age of twenty-four a young `rookie' with a thirst to learn all there was to know about being the best `Intelligence' ever had. Under the watchful eye of Harry B. Thornton who set up `The Agency' he did his training and passed his grades – becoming a `sure' thing in getting the bad guys. Not to mention a hit with all the woman `agents' friend or foe, they had been an enjoyable past time – emotion was never top of `Scarecrow's' list – he had always much preferred the one night fun and frolicking to any serious business, that would lead to regret and recriminations further down the line. Ten years on and everything had been going so well…or so he thought! One of his operations he had been on as a waiter undercover didn't go down so well and he had been forced to use a civilian to save his ass.

That was almost three years ago now! It was hard to believe that being put in a deadly situation of either getting a very important package to his `meet' on a train - or end up in a ditch somewhere with a bullet in his head - opted for the latter and grabbed an unsuspecting beautiful doe eyed woman `in a raincoat and nightdress' who was heading the other direction - breaking every rule in the book, and pleaded with her to help him.
…

`And so I will wait for you,
Just as long as you want me too.
And so I will wait for you – you know I'll wait.'

Using Mrs. Amanda King - a mother-a den mother and in desperate need for work and excitement in her life, had proved to be a life saving exercise for him. Despite all that had been said and done – she had cracked the code that brought down Mrs. Welch's little ring off assassinating `Intelligence Agents' not to mention save his butt in the process. He smiled thinking of the early days when he had found her exasperating, frustrating - and constantly screwing up his social life, as more than once she arrived at his door while he had been entertaining. Or found herself as she often did in deep trouble - with Lee having to go in and save the world and her pretty neck. He had never met a person like her before!  What was it Francine called - her innate way that she talked when she got nervous `oh yeah – her `Amandaramble' talking like she was about to hit a wall'. The first year was a weird experience for him; Billy Melrose `his' Section Chief teamed them up as `partners' that wasn't exactly what he needed in his life back then `another partner' an un-trained one at that. But after the false start – Amanda proved that she was just as smart as the next KGB agent and outwitted even the most feared. Using not stealth tactics or martial arts – the mother of two had more tricks up her sleeves than that; fresh whipped cream `from an canister' had been one way to outrun the bad guys, her handbag proved effective in another – and table lamps with shade's had scared off even the most determined `merchandise' thief.

Her second year at `The Agency' had proved just as eventful as the one before - from various ways to get kidnapped, loosing her memory. Getting targeted in a `sex scandal' and drugged with a serum that made her delusional. If there was a way she could get herself into trouble without knowing it – Amanda King could.  It had taken all his strength and will power, not to think of her as an unvalued employee - finding the safe distance of labeling her `temporary part time civilian' with confidential clearance. A person to help him with his expense accounts and get his reports onto Billy's desk on time – but certainly most definitely `not' a partner equal or other-wise.  What a fool he had been, thinking that he could manage without her breezing in through the `Bullpen' doors with that cheery disposition he tolerated back then - and now always looked forward too.
…
So just when did his feelings change for her? When did it move from the comfortable friendship they had both enjoyed – to eagerly anticipating her arrival in `The Agency' - cover name; `International Federal Film'. Smiling that dazzling smile of hers and relating all that she had done the night before.

When did he suddenly feel drawn to how she looked?  What way she styled her hair `up or down' - or enjoy the subtle fragrance that lingered in the office long after she had left – not too strong not too overpowering like the way some women smelled after they had donned a whole bottle of the stuff.  No Amanda was unique and very `classy' she didn't fall at his feet with admiration, `that did at the beginning annoy his ego somewhat!' always he was used to woman wanting to do `anything' for him and then suddenly finding one not buying into all his `charm and good looks' theory.  Constantly making him feel like he had to try harder to impress her - to prove he was worthy of her attention, and with no idea just how many times he had sat like this - in the early hours of the morning… thinking only of her. He had case files sitting on his desk - more than twenty messages he had to get back to, and… it was getting to the point where he couldn't make out what his desktop looked like anymore underneath all the folders spilling out of his `in' tray. But all that didn't matter, because he knew that she would come through the door all smiles, take one look at his organized ciaos - give him that `mother' look that he found `oh so charming', then shoo him out to go and do `anything' so that she could tidy up his clutter.

Lee Stetson couldn't remember a time when he didn't turn round and she was there, waiting for him - it was as if his past had never existed before Mrs. Amanda King.  He had always lived by `the seat of his pants' the `job' was a thrilling ride of espionage, government leaks with double and triple agents all trying to out best and out smart each other. He had always prided himself in being the best in the field, yeah sure sometimes he gave the top bureaucrats a headache `lousy pencil pushers' but he always got the job done - right?

He had never needed anyone in his life to share the responsibilities, his last partner before he was teamed up with Amanda - had (bought a bullet) for his troubles. He had preferred to work alone - that way only his life would be in danger.  Until Amanda King - both surprised and shocked him into believing that such a perfect suburban mother sweet and naïve would be as tough as the next person. With the determination to follow `none' of his orders – and always manage to come out on top.

`Today I woke up wondering – was I right or was I wrong?
Did I really need to let you go – did I need to act so strong?
Is it the way of a fool's heart – to agree to set you free?
But all I know is if our love is real – then you'll come on back to me.'
…
And so their partnership had grown from strength to strength, watching each other's backs - through good situations and bad. With Lee finding himself in her debt too many times to remember.

The last few cases had been pretty tough on Amanda, especially Carl Eagles and his posse of government vigilantes - all from `the agency' who decided to take the law into their own hands resulting in Amanda getting a paycheck for one hundred thousand dollars that was meant for Ren Jepperd `King' the hit man that they used to dispose of Eastern Block agents that had to be let go, and who then finding her involved - tried to kill her. Lee's heart took a nosedive as he remembered just how close it had been in `him' not making it in time to save her. She had been so brave through it all – determined not to let them win. And he had found himself falling, - falling for her beauty, her strength and her willingness not to let things get her down no matter what the circumstance – she saw things that `with all his training' he would never pick up not in a thousand years. Take for instance the last two cases they were on; how a simple errand for her son, led to her discovering a `dead' American terrorist - who was very much alive.
***
Lee had spent his morning sitting half listening to the `briefing' Billy Melrose was giving his `senior' agents - including a Middle East Cultural Diplomatic Reception that was to be held at the Munroe Hotel – Francine was already assigned to oversee the security there.  He finished off the meeting nicely with the mention of `The Department Orientation Lecture' that was giving each year to all the `New' agents joining the agency. Lee had heard the same droll speech ten years previous by the same agent and felt sorry for the poor `saps' having to endure it - that was until Billy informed the group that the agent's wife had just giving birth to a baby boy and needed a senior to take over the class.

Now Lee `not' one to shirk responsibility tried everything he could to hide, so that he wouldn't get picked – HA fat chance Billy announced that he was perfect for the job. Grumbling was no use - even telling his boss that he had heard the same one over a decade ago and fell asleep half way through it, did nothing to dampen Billy's mood, " Well I hope you'll be awake when you complete it!"

Amanda half way across town had been having just as bad a morning as Lee, trying to rush her mother and two sons out the door to catch the train to a `science fair' ensured they had packed everything – allowed Jamie her youngest to demonstrate his project he was taking along - with the added exception of Phillip cranking up the battery a bit too much and blowing the fuse. Not deterred one bit she sent them on to the station and called into a hardware store for extra fuses to give to Jamie. Simple you'd think? Oh no it wasn't, for as she had gotten into her station wagon preparing to leave - a Mercedes Benz decided to rear end her. The tall dark haired, strangely attractive man as she had called him `Lee hated when she described men like that – total strangers he might add' had introduced himself as Rupert Andretti and offered to pay for the damage. She had tried in vain to argue her way out of it insisting she was just as much to blame – but eventually backed down and accepted three hundred dollars from him for the repair. As far as she was concerned she was getting the better end off the deal - his Benz had suffered more than her station wagon did, took down his license plate number just in case `clever thinking on her part – she'd make a good agent one day'

Seeing her family off, then made her way into work and straight up to the `Bureau' informing a distracted Lee all that had taken place – including getting an estimate of the repair; one hundred and twenty-five dollars, she wanted to give back the remaining one hundred and seventy-five - to the man who had caused the damage. Lee was amazed at her; a man out of nowhere hits your car and then offers to pay for it?

Shaking his head at her determined honesty, "What are you, bucking for sainthood?"

She laughed back at him, "Yeah"

Lee tried to explain to her the finer points of letting matters drop.  "The guy took full responsibility didn't he?"

"Sure!"

"Put the change down to aggravation!"

Amanda wasn't so sure, "No it wasn't really that much trouble and I got the license number, Uncle Wigglies Birthday – UWB115"

She then asked if he could put it into the computer and come up with a name of the owner to repay him the money, as if Lee didn't have enough on his plate that morning,

"What me?"

"Yeah!"

"Amanda you spend more time on that box than I have!"

She smiled up at him, it was the way he paid her a compliment without really knowing it that made her feel special.  "Well yeah I know, but Internal Security has just put in a new AP10 clearance and I haven't made friends with it yet!"

Aha this could be just what Lee needed to get Amanda to help him out of a sticky situation - thus helping her with `her little problem'.  Recently he had begun to enjoy their battle of wits – it had become a favorite past time of his, so getting direct eye contact with her he proceeded, "You realize it is against agency policy to…ah use the data bank for personal use?"

"I know and you're not supposed to handicap the horses at Saratoga…" She wasn't buying it one bit – he was slipping and she was getting `trickier to catch out'. Only one thing for it, he would have to compromise the `Lee Stetson way'

"However…occasionally friends do favor's for friends – didn't you tell me you used to write speeches for a Congress woman when Joe was in Law School?"

Her wide brown eyes told him everything he needed to know – `he shoots - he scores!'  "Oh… you want me to do your orientation speech?"

"Ah!"

Shaking her head she tried not to laugh – she had lost this round of bettering him, but their would be others! "We can make a deal…"

 

`It's the way of a young heart – and I know how you feel,
Your dreams are real and I would never hold you against your will…'

 

They looked up the registration number and found themselves in a suburban neighborhood in D.C in search of the owner of the car, but it wasn't the man that had hit Amanda's wagon earlier that morning.  Instead of the curly dark haired stranger with deep blue eyes, they came face to face with a man by the name of Bolton Jones who assured Amanda that it wasn't his car that had been involved. As it had been sitting outside his door hoping to be sold, and - as he worked nights had been asleep from 6am. Amanda wasn't convinced making Mr. Jones come and look at the damage she assured him was there…except it wasn't - not one scratch not one mark. Lee knew they were getting nowhere fast and felt a pang of sympathy for the man woken out of his sleep `thinking they were both deranged' but Amanda knew what she had seen – even discovering the wet paint on the hood of the car only fuelled her speculation even more.

Lee arguing with her that maybe Bolton Jones `probably didn't want her to know what he did with his car' but it was no use – she wasn't going to give up, "Okay why don't you go back to the agency and I'll just as the neighbors some questions huh?

"Your not going to help me with my speech are you?"

She was already shooing him away as he spoke, "I'll go over your notes and I'll take a cab – now go on! Bye"

Leaving Lee with no choice but to return to the office to a job he didn't really want to do.
…
She spent the morning asking all the neighbors had they seen the man she described to them, and after almost giving up came across an elderly couple that recalled seeing a person fitting her description.  He was a boarder at a Mrs. Millicent MacDonald's home just across the street from where they where standing. Millicent Macdonald was a spinster who took in a man – just as Amanda had described by the name of Alan - a `sweet thoughtful man' who was always buying her things.  She played the violin and, looking starved for company assuring Amanda he was due home asked her in for a cup of tea. Going over the list of things he had done for her, and when Amanda explained about the car and the money - Millicent only confirmed that he was `too good to be true' showing her a picture of him, she had taking while he was sleeping.

Lee's day wasn't getting any better, and as Amanda still wasn't back yet - resigned himself to the fact that he was on `his own' with the lecture. Running late with his arms full of old slides and case files, he was just about to go into the conference room when an attractive short brown haired `first year agent' pleaded with him to look over her `initial registration cards' all hand written - something he couldn't recall doing himself. Making the excuse that he had checked them, handed them back only then noticing that she was looking down at his feet. And as he couldn't see over the load in his arms asked her,

"Is there something wrong? What are you staring at?"

"Your shoes, my dad has some just like that!" And with that comment - slipped by him and into the room.

Lee groaned inwardly watching the `rookie' take her seat – the great `Scarecrow' was loosing his touch and felt very old indeed.

As if his situation was bad – on the other side of town, Amanda's mysterious man did indeed turn up it – except it felt like she was the only one happy at bumping into each other again. Quickly explaining the mishap with the money he had given her, nervously made her excuse and left the suburban neighborhood with a `bad feeling' inside.

Standing in front of a dozen gun-ho first year agents, trying to sound as professional as he could - only made Lee respect just how difficult it was having to say the same speech year after year to someone like him in his early twenties. He stood there amongst the sniggering and side remarks as he explained about the `Lone Wolf Terrorists' a fairly recent breed that had emerged right after the war in South East Asia from 1968 to 69. He explained also that `the breed that had no loyalties, no ties, no fears'. The brunette that had commented about his shoes earlier, couldn't help making another joke at his expense over the comment of them being `fairly recent' letting it slide `just' this time he turned his attention back to the screen and the slides he had brought with him. Running through the list of names that went with the `agency' pictures of the `Wolf Terrorists' Amanda finally sneaked through the door, `late' mouthing an apology to him `too late King' and settled herself against the window as he continued with;

"Steven Saulie, American - the most lethal of them all!"  He tried to explain that he had been killed two years previous in Buenos Aries – Amanda interrupted him,

"He's not dead… I just gave him a hundred and seventy-five dollars!"

Not totally convinced, he returned with Amanda to Millicent MacDonald's trying to make her see sense as the man was blown up in an apartment building and didn't survive it. As they parked his Sliver Corvette - `Alan' who had seen them slipped out into the kitchen. She rang the doorbell as Lee went round to the back of the house. Noticing the door was ajar, Amanda called out for Millicent as she went inside – unfortunate for her, she found the body of Millicent MacDonald behind the couch in the living room, and called out for Lee.  Barging in through the front door with his gun drawn, he found Amanda standing with her back to the room; Millicent had been strangled, and in closer inspection heard a noise in the direction of the kitchen, and cautiously went in. No one was there, but Amanda was visibly distressed. Putting an arm around her shoulders drew her into his embrace feeling her shivering subside – she still couldn't get used to the idea of seeing someone dead.

Amanda was adamant she had seen Saulie, but getting Billy convinced was another story. They had returned to `the agency' after having Millicent `s body shipped of with the coroner. With what the police where able to take from the house it didn't amount to much. Billy had checked with `every agency – national and international who kept tabs on known terrorists, including the soviet – nothing! Steven Saulie was dead!'  Lee decided to try it from a different angle - the marks that had been left on Millicent's neck were a common trade mark Steven Saulie used – known as `la touché de le verve' (the widows touch) The French resistance had developed it during WWII – a wire noose with a handle, easy to conceal and easy to administer with one had. He showed Amanda how easy it was to do, her eyes widened in shock suddenly understanding just how dangerous Steven Saulie was.  All the police had come up with at the house was a diary that Millicent had kept hidden under floor boards in her bedroom closet – all they had found of her tenant was a box containing a thumb tack, a broken pencil lead, two rubber bands and a burnt out light bulb.  Amanda went straight onto the computer to check and see it there was anything on Alan/Saulie – nothing, meanwhile Lee had also come up empty handed as well spending an hour in the `Inner Agency cross check file'

Drawing on their comparisons and Amanda quick thinking of drawing a map based on the information from the diary, she had worked out a bus route that ran trough the neighborhood the same bus Alan/Saulie used every night to get to work. Time was running out fast and Billy had already pulled the plug on their investigation `handing it over as a police matter. Again Lee smiled at the thought of Amanda not giving up still convinced that the diary would unlock the clues that they needed to make sense of what had happened. The next morning she took the same route that Millicent had described, and it wasn't very long before she had discovered one of the clues – a bakery by the name of `Philly Hoagies' speaking to the owner she was able to work out that `Alan' had not yet come in for his `steak and onion' sandwich, called Lee to meet her at the coffee shop across the street with his last words ringing in her ears,

"If Saulie shows up – do not follow him!" 

Sitting across from the bakery waiting for Lee, Amanda notices `Alan' speaking to the owner of the bakery - glancing around nervously as if he was being followed and walks quickly away. Instead of staying waiting for Lee, follows him.
…

`And so I will wait for you – just as long as you want me to,
And so I will wait for you – I know you'll come through.
I hope you find the things you need,
Are the things you had with me?
And so I will I will wait for you…'

It wasn't long before the follower became the followed, as Amanda lost track of him - only to have him sneak out from behind a door in a building an begin to follow her. Lee on the other hand had gone to where she had told him to meet her – the owner of the bakery had seen her and the man that had been his regular at 7am for his breakfast every morning follow her into the park close by. Sensing he didn't have much time took off running in the direction he had been told they had went.

Amanda had sensed that someone was behind her, but kept walking `quickly' hoping to come across a crowd to loose him in.  As she came to a corner – an arm snaked out and pulled her in, it was Lee! Keeping her behind him he looked out to see if her admirer had seen him – standing not too far away was indeed Steven Saulie, holding his infamous noose in his hand. Having escaped a near strangulation, Lee and Amanda headed back to the `office' to try and figure out why Saulie was alive and in Washington D.C. the only thing they could come up with was that it had to be ` something big' checking his diary for anything in the vicinity of `sector three' public and private – `Code Blue and above' they came across six an that day, three the next and eleven the day after. A nightmare was emerging as along that sector was `a dozen Embassies, with a score of government agencies along with hotels and museums'. Lee decides to return to the owner of Philly Hoagies while amanda dug further into the diary coming up with a clue to do `Saulie/Alan's hobby with electricity. Taking out the light bulb that had been found left a note for Lee and left the office.
…
It was Amanda's quick thinking and ability to see more that what was really there, that triggered the solving of Steven Sauilie's untimely demise at his own hands. As she had returned to Millicent MacDonald's house to check all the light fittings – in hope of finding the match to the one the police had recovered from his bedroom – Lee finding her note followed her there, yet again breaking rules set by him.

"You know, you are going to set a new record for disobeying orders!"

Amanda was sitting beside a coffee table on it all her cards with all the clues from the diary she still had in her possession, "Listen, you told me to stay out of sector three – this is sector seven! And besides that, you have an agent outside I couldn't be safer!"

Lee knew there was no argument in that, "Okay" looking down at the table and all that she had on it…"What are you doing there?"

Amanda explained that in the diary Millicent had spoken of Alan's electrical hobby – totally baffled and not to sure where she was going with this he let it continue, as she went on to explain about the fused light bulb that was in the box of things that had been left with Billy. She had checked every light fitting in the house – none of them matched, she had gotten Lee's attention and they both read between the lines. The music sheet from `Ruffles' that he had bought Millicent on his way home from work because she had played the violin, was in sector three – right across from the Monroe Hotel where the Diplomatic reception was being held.

They had rushed to the hotel and with Francine assuring them she had done a `deep background check' on everyone in and out of the ballroom where the function was being held, and as a very distracted Mr. Van-Cleef of banqueting looked on nervously - Amanda showed the picture taken from `Saulie's' file at the agency and asked had he seen him. Shocked to find out that he had indeed – the rogue terrorist had been operating undercover on the night cleaning crew… and time was running out fast. Amanda had been sent by Lee to check with `Plant Maintenance' the persons who contracted out the cleaning crew to the hotel, as he went down to the employee's locker room with Van-Cleef and Francine to search for Saulie. It was no surprise that they had found his locker empty with no trace that he had ever existed - returning to the ballroom just in time to see the main chandelier fuse all it's bulbs. Because of the high security none of the maintenance crew where cleared to enter the ballroom – Van-Cleef had to change them himself, lifting the box and spare bulbs in front that had all been packed with explosives by Saulie.

`Is it the way of a fool's heart – to agree to set you free?
But all I know is if our love is real – then you'll come on back to me….'

Lee was still amazed at how quick the events that followed after that, all because Amanda being ever cautious had brought up the question about the light bulbs of the chandelier looked exactly like the one `Alan' had had in his room,

"Lee – is it possible to make a bomb out of a light bulb?"

Lee looked at the bulb in her hand, then up at the now lit again crystal chandelier above their heads,  "Francine! The bulbs – did you check the bulbs?"

"Yes the bulbs, the sockets, the wiring, the fixtures, the crystals…."

Amanda held up one of the fused bulbs that had just been replaced, "What about the new ones they just put in?"

He also knew that if the light bulbs where to be packed with plastic explosive – the glass from the crystal would cut everyone that would be in the room to ribbons. He went back down into the basement to where the new bulbs had been retrieved from finding - Saulie waiting for him `after seeing to the timer for the explosion to go off' with his famous la touché de le verve, only Lee had anticipated it and blocked the noose with a metal pipe. Struggling with Saulie who got the better hand and hit Lee with the pipe making his escape into the lobby of the hotel, with a slightly dazed Lee behind him in hot pursuit – had no other choice but to grab the nearest `human shield' who happened to be Francine and dragged her into the ballroom with the bomb ticking down. Lee along with the other agent's could only watch helpless as the lights of the primed chandelier grew brighter and brighter, with only seconds to spare he grabbed the handle of the door and shouted in,

"Francine – get down!"

Francine knocked the gun out of Saulie's hand and dove under the nearby table as the crystal chandelier exploded sending down a cloud of glass that then followed the chandelier itself - right on top of Steven Saulie. Lee reached Francine, who apart from a disheveled hairstyle and a lot of debris on her new dress appeared to be unhurt. The hotel was in a state of panic, the reception although running `a little late' went off with a Mr. Van-Cleef emotionally destroyed amongst all the chaos. Francine and Billy went off to `build bridges' with him, leaving Lee and Amanda all on their own with only one thing for it – dinner at Amanda's house as…

"Mother and the boys won't be home until tomorrow – I've got a couple of steaks?"

Lee couldn't believe his luck, "You and me? At your house…just like normal people?"

She slipped her arm through his feeling suddenly for the first time that day elated with emotion for the gorgeous man beside her, "Let's give it a try!"
…

`When I look out the window – and I see a stranger go walking by,
I always imagine it might be you next time…'

The sweetest thing…

Lee had always taken a back seat with his emotions when they had concerned Amanda King - being `part of her life' for almost three years had taught him just how open and generous she was to a fault.  Whereas he had always been told to `guard his feelings' by his Uncle `the military man' who had the unfortunate task of bringing up a very young Lee `Skip' Stetson - when his parents had both been killed. All through his `adolesant life' he had been a emotional wreck, having been starved of that basic `human feeling' of loving someone who was always going to be there for him and not disappear when he closed his eyes.  Amanda had…. always been there no matter what, sharing in his frustrations in his adulations, and sometimes in his pain. She had stood by him when his back had been put against the wall, ready to come out fighting for the sake of clearing his name. She had taken comfort in his pain as he had recalled how his `first' true love Dorothy had died in his arms under a hail of bullets and red roses while in the `Oz' network, a pain that he had carried around with him for ten years. Although he had put the `ghost' to rest a few months back - it had been Amanda that had been his strength to do so, her unfaltering kindness and her everlasting friendship had drawn him to her like a mouth to a naked flame.

He was so tired of hiding just how he felt for her, feelings so strong that they sometimes it made it hard for him to breath. It was as if suddenly someone had opened the blinds that had sheltered his eyes - allowing sunlight to peek through and make him bask in its warmth and quietness. The sunlight was Amanda and her warmth never went away…
***
They had eaten an amazing meal that she had prepared for them, finishing it off with a cake she had baked. Well actually she had baked one for the P.T.A. and then baked another, Lee always found ending the day with her going over the case they had just completed, as a way of winding down and relaxing in the ambience just like a `couple?' He liked the sound of that…after all that's what they where right? Partners in work - friends outside, and right now sitting beside her on the couch looking into those deep velvet eyes of hers – he finally decided he wanted so much more and he could feel, yes feel she wanted it too. An invisible force was drawing them together; it had been for so long and Lee was tired of fighting it, tired of letting her slip through his fingers every time they got a chance to be alone.

`Last night your eyes were telling me – what words can never say…'

She had set her plate down on the coffee table, rubbing her hands nervously on her thigh – Lee put his plate down as well, suddenly the delicious cake had lost it's appeal. She smiled at him, that coy uncertain smile he had grown to love…he knew she was just as nervous as he was,

"Amanda…"

Moving in and closing the distance between them she touched the side of his face…anticipating what was to happen next, Lee was sure his heart was about to burst out of his chest with the excitement that was to come, and the fear of it going wrong. As their lips barely touched – the sound of car doors slamming made them break apart.

"It's mother…. Quick out the back door!"

"Yeah"  Grabbing his jacket he launch himself over the edge of the couch and as quickly as it was humanly possible made it outside.  Amanda put their uneaten cake and cups in the sink and then followed him.

`You needed room to breathe – you needed time to get away…'

As she slipped out the door hearing her mother just come in the front – Lee grabbed her by the arm and pulled her up against his body, enjoying the shock sensation of it and the look in her eyes,

`It's the way of a young heart – and I know how you feel,
Your dreams are real – and I would never hold you against your will…'

Getting a surprised little noise out of her made his heart leap for joy, as she placed her hands against his chest rubbing them slowly as if savoring the moment. They could hear noises coming from inside – her mother calling out to her talking about `a beautiful silver sport's car parked in front of the house' but nothing seemed to matter. Lee had only eyes for Amanda, and she wasn't going anywhere for now…

`And so I will wait for you – just as long as you want me to,
And so I will wait for you – I know you'll come through.
I hope you find the things you need – are the things you had with me,
And so I will wait for you – you know I'll wait…I'll wait

He didn't want their first kiss their first touch to be in the backyard of her home…he wanted it to be special, something that they would look back on with fond memories. They came together briefly lips just touching – tender and caring knowing that they didn't want it to end there, Lee leaned in once more just to make sure that it wasn't all a dream, that Amanda wanted the `kiss' just as much as he did. Her response was to lift her face to his – it was all the encouragement he needed….

`Not yet Amanda King…not yet'

He missed her mouth by inches - as he found the strength in his legs to walk away and not look back…to see the longing in her face as she watched him leave would have been his un-doing.
…
Making his mind up to follow his heart hadn't been an easy decision, he had no idea where all this was going to lead him – and for once in his life the ever-cautious `Scarecrow' didn't really care.  He had spent his life on too many `maybe tomorrow's' that left him feeling empty inside – and he didn't want that anymore.

Lee Stetson wanted love - he wanted a commitment that would make him feel he belonged, and he wanted a woman that was just as brave as he was - yet just as scared. Amanda fitted the profile perfectly; she matched him in all of the criteria's above – her strength, her beauty and yes even her fear, it was going to be interesting finding out what secrets he could unfold. A smile spread across his handsome face as he suddenly saw a plan forming in his head - he would play it cautious, test the waters and when the timing was just right…Mrs. King would be his.

THE END.