DISCLAIMER:The characters belong to Shoot the Moon and Warner Brothers; I only borrowed ‘em, I’ll return them when I am done playing with ‘em.

Rating:PG-13

SYNOPSIS: This takes place after The Eyes Have It. Amanda has been assigned to make sure that Lee rests for five days. They are back at Lee's apartment. Amanda is in the kitchen. The stereo is playing softly…

REST AND RELAXATION

"The soups almost ready, Lee. Maybe five more minutes."

Lee sat on the couch. He stared into the kitchen at Amanda. An REO Speedwagon song came on. Lee listened intently to what the words were saying as he watched Amanda. "I can't fight this feeling anymore. And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow. What started out as friendship has grown stronger, I only wish I had the strength to let it show. I tell myself that I can't hold out forever. I say there is no reason for my fears. Cause I feel so secure when we're together. You give my life direction, you make everything so clear. And even as I wander, I'm keeping you in sight. You're a candle in the window on a cold dark winter's night. And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might. I can't fight this feeling anymore. I forgotten what I started fighting for. Its time to bring this ship into the shore and throw away the oars forever. Cause I can't fight this feeeling anymore. I've forgotten what I started fighting for. And if I have to crawl upon the floor, come crashing through your door, baby I can't fight this feeling anymore. My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you. I've been running around in circles in my mind. And it always seems that I'm following you girl. Cause you take me to the pow on a cold dark winter's night. And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might. I can't fight this feeling anymore. I forgotten what I started fighting for."

Amanda came walking out of the kitchen holding a bowl of soup. Lee's train of thought was shaken from the song. Amanda placed the bowl in front of Lee.

"I hope you like it. Come on, eat up."

"Amanda, I do not need to be mothered. I can not believe I have to rest for five days. I'll go crazy. There are things I need to do at the agency."

"Lee, there is nothing there that can't wait. If you were to go and work like normal, you may injure yourself even more, and then you'd be laid up for weeks. And you wouldn't like that very much, would you?" Amanda could tell Lee was definately stressed out. "I tell you what. If after three days, you're feeling good, I'll let you go back to the agency. But you have to be perfect for three days. No leaving the apartment, and lots of rest."

"How will you know that I'm being good? You're not going to be here all night, are you?" Lee said with a smirk.

"Yes, I am. Because I don't trust you. I already talked to mother and told her that I had to go and help make a documentary for IFF and wouldn't be home Monday night. That means you're stuck with me tonight, all of Saturday, and all of Sunday. And you'll just have to live with it."

"Hey, was I complaining? Its nice to know that you care so much." Lee finished up the soup.

"You better get to bed, its already 10:30. If you want me to let you go back to the agency on Monday, you better get your rest."

Lee stood up slowly. He disappeared for a few minutes, and the reappeared carrying a pillow and blanket. He arranged them on the couch.

"Lee, you're not sleeping on the couch. I'm sleeping there."

"I know how uncomfortable the couch can be. You take the bed Amanda."

"Lee, you're the one that needs the rest, not me." She took him by the arm and led him into the bedroom. "Now lay down and get some rest. She left the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Amanda layed down on the couch, and listened to the sounds in Lee's bedroom. When it was perfectly silent, she decided that he had actually layed down. She closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

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"No! Lee! No!!!!"

Lee ran out of the bedroom and picked Amanda up. He held her tight in his arms. "Its ok Amanda. Its ok. It was just a dream."

Amanda was in hysterics. "I dreampt that you had really died there in the hospital; that it wasn't just an act."

"Its ok Amanda. I'm right here. I'm not dead. I don't plan on going anywhere for a long time if I can help it." Lee pulled her closer. "Shhh.

Its ok. Try and go back to sleep. I'll stay right here." He rocked her in his arms. He slowly felt her relax and fall back asleep. He closed his eyes. Before he knew it, he was drifting off into a sound sleep.

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Lee opened his eyes. It was light outside. He looked next to him. Amanda was still lying close to him. He had his arm around her. Slowly and carefully, he got up. His arm was stiff. He flexed it a little. Lee walked into his room and put on a pair of jeans and a button down shirt. He felt good. He hadn't slept that well in a long time. Lee went into the kitchen. Quietly, he started to make breakfast.

Amanda woke up. She felt good. She heard some noise in the kitchen, and headed that way. She walked in to see Lee placing two plates on the table, with scrambled eggs and french toast.

Lee looked up. "Oh good, I won't have to wake you up. I made breakfast."

"Lee, you shouldn't have. You should be resting as much as possible."

"Amanda, cooking breakfast isn't going to kill me. Its the least I can do, after all that you've done and are doing for me."

Amanda blushed. She sat down in front of one of the plates. She started to eat. "Wow, this is good. I never knew you could cook at all."

"I do live by myself. What do you think I eat, fast food and pizza all the time?"

They didn't talk a whole lot while they ate.

When she finished her food, Amanda stood up and walked to the sink. She started cleaning her plate. She then got Lee's plate and did the same. Amanda surveyed the kitchen. Lee needed someone to do the shopping for him.

"I'm going to go to the market and buy a few things for you. I want you to stay here, and not do much of anything."

"Do you know how boring its going to be?"

"Well, find something to do." Amanda got up and headed towards the door.

"Amanda!" She turned around as Lee threw his car keys at her. "You can't take that ugly purple thing. Take my car." He smiled at her.

Amanda smiled back, and walked out of the apartment. She immediately met up with one of Lee's neighbors.

"Another girl stayed the night. You don't really look like the other girls. I suppose its nice to see a change. I thought maybe something was wrong with him, he hasn't had a girl over here in weeks." Amanda just chuckled and kept walking. The neighbor followed her. "Have you been seeing each other long, dear? Its about time he found a normal girl and settled down."

"Actually, we aren't seeing each other."

The woman looked at Amanda with horror. "I see..." She hurried away.

Amanda laughed to herself. She walked up to Lee's corvette and got in.

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Amanda walked up the stairs to Lee's apartment. She knocked on the door. It wouldn't surprise her if there was no answer. The door opened.

"Amanda, you sure took long enough. I'm bored out of my mind." He reached for the bag of groceries, but Amanda pulled it away.

"You can't be carrying things Lee. You can help me put the groceries away if you like, but you are not carrying them."

"A saturday, and I'm stuck in my apartment...."

They started putting the groceries away.

"I met one of your neighbors as I was leaving."

"Oh, and what did my neighbor tell you about me?"

"Oh, she said that I was a nice change from all the other girls that stay the night here."

"Really. I'm glad to know my neighbors keep an eye on me."

"She also asked how long we'd been seeing each other. She said it was about time you found a nice, normal girl and settled down."

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her we weren't seeing each other. Her only response was oh, I see. Then she hurried off."

Both of them laughed hard.

"You should have told her that we're married or something and really fried her brain."

"Lee, I wasn't going to lie to her."

They finished putting away the groceries and then sat down on the couch.

"So, what would you like to do today? We could play a game, if you have any that is, or we could go to the park and just sit down and relax, or you could take a nap?"

"Gee, what a choice I get... I can't stand sitting in this apartment any more. Lets go to the park."

"Good, just let me get us some stuff for a picnic."

Lee rolled his eyes as Amanda went into the kitchen and emerged 5 minutes later with a picnic basket full of food.

"Come on, lets go. And I'm driving." She held up the car keys that she hadn't given back to him.

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Lee helped Amanda spread a cloth out on the ground. They sat down. Amanda spread out the food. Both of them started munching on food.

"So, do you feel better today Lee?"

"I feel a lot better. I didn't realize just how bad I felt." Lee started to say something about last night, and then decided not to bring up anything about the nightmare Amanda had. "How about you?"

"I feel great. I slept better than I have in a long time. I thought you said that couch was uncomfortable!"

Lee just smiled back at her. She must not remember about the nightmare. It was better left that way.

The two carried on a conversation about meaningless little things.

Lee checked his watch. "Its already 3pm. We've been here for a long time! We should probably get back, although I don't know what we'll do in that apartment. Could it hurt if we walked around the park for just a little while?" Lee looked at Amanda with pleading eyes.

"Oh, I guess it won't hurt too much. But we aren't going to walk around for long." They both stood up and picked everything up.

As they started walking, Lee reached for Amanda's hand. They both looked at each other, and their eyes met. Lee smiled, and then looked away. He didn't let go of Amanda's hand though.

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"Lee, its almost eleven. You better get to bed." They both stood up. Lee headed towards the bedroom. Amanda got out the blanket and pillow and placed them on the couch.

Lee turned to close the bedroom door. "Goodnight Amanda." He stopped and watched Amanda. He started to open his mouth to say something, and then changed his mind. Lee closed the door and changed his clothes. Then he got into be. He lay there, looking at the ceiling, thinking. He finally drifted into a restless sleep.

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Lee woke up early that morning. He hadn't slept well. It had been so nice when he had been with Amanda on the couch. He shook his head and got dressed.

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Amanda woke up to find Lee had made breakfast again. "Did you sleep well again last night?"

Lee didn't want Amanda to worry about him. "Yeah, I slept pretty good. How about you?"

"I slept ok. Somehow that couch got more uncomfortable."

Lee smiled to himself. Maybe Amanda had felt the same way as him. Maybe she had felt good in his arms the night before.

"So, what are we going to do today?"

"Well, I had fun at the park yesterday. I thought maybe we could do that again. And then tomorrow I can go back to the agency!"

"I was kinda thinking we could go see a movie, and then go to the park."

"Thats a great idea, Amanda. You'd be surprised at how long its been since I've been to the movies."

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As they sat and watched the movie, Lee instinctively put his arm around Amanda. When he realized what he'd done, he looked over at her. She hadn't moved at all, and was intently watching the movie. Before he realized it, Amanda's head was leaning on his shoulder.

They watched the movie in silence. When it was over, they both pulled apart.

"I, uh, sorry about leaning my head on you. I didn't even realize..."

"Its ok."

They headed towards the corvette. Amanda tossed Lee the keys. "You can probably drive."

Lee smiled. "Where to? The park?"

"If thats where you want to go. I've got the picnic in the back."

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Lee seemed very talkative as they sat on the cloth on the ground.

"Your parents died when you were five, right?"

"Yeah. I didn't really know them that well."

Amanda listened intently as Lee told her about his life. He had opened up to her more than ever before. He was talking freely. Maybe Lee was coming around after all.

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Lee pulled the corvette up to IFF. He and Amanda got out of the car and headed up towards Billy's office.

"Listen, Amanda, thank you for everything."

"You don't have to thank me Lee."

"Yes I do. I don't know what I'd do without you Amanda. If it had been up to me, I would have been wearing myself pretty thin. I feel a lot better, and its thanks to you. You're always doing things for me. I owe a lot to you."

They looked into each other's eyes.

"Stetson! I need you in my office!"

They both looked towards Billy's office, and then back at each other.

"Thank you Amanda." Lee leaned forward and gave Amanda a kiss on the cheek. Then he headed towards Billy's office.