**DISCLAIMER**
"Scarecrow and Mrs. King" is copyrighted to Warner Brothers and
Shoot the Moon Productions. We retain rights to the plot, but not the
characters. This story is meant for enjoyment purposes only. No infringement is
intended.
Author: Kate
Synopsis: A
scene which tells what might have happened while Lee waits for news on Amanda.
I
AM NOT NOW, NOR HAVE I EVER BEEN…A SPY
Lee Stetson
looked up at Billy Melrose, his section chief, with tortured eyes. "I blew
it, didn't I, Billy?"
"What do
you mean?" asked Billy puzzled.
"You
think she's still alive?" Lee voiced the question that had been buzzing
around in his head since he'd failed to save Amanda King from being abducted
right in front of his very eyes.
"I
haven't heard any differently, have you?" questioned Billy logically.
"No,"
replied Lee quietly and lowered his head.
"Lee,
that drop has always been safe. There was no way you could have known,"
said Billy trying to comfort his friend.
Lee stared at
him appreciating what he was trying to do. Unfortunately knowing it still
didn't ease the wretched feeling of helplessness that had engulfed him since
the incident. He sighed, stood up and walked dejectedly over to the door.
Billy also
rose and stopped him before he left. "There's a copy of the Martinez file
on your desk, if you'd care to look through it again."
Lee looked
back at Billy sadly and walked out of the office without saying a word.
Billy waited
until the door shut, then walked over and picked up the phone receiver.
"Francine, run a check with the police and the local hospitals for anyone
matching the description of Amanda King."
On the other
end of the line Francine replaced the receiver just as Lee passed by her desk.
She reached a hand out to stop him. "Lee, I know Amanda and I don't always
get along but I really am sorry about what's happened. I hope we find her
soon."
"Thanks
Francine," said Lee giving her half a smile and patting her hand. "I
appreciate that."
He walked over
to his desk and sat down heavily. Absently he picked up the Martinez file then
dropped it back on the desk unopened. He couldn't just sit here while God knows
what was happening to Amanda.
Restlessly he
got up and walked back towards Francine who was on the telephone. As he stood
waiting for her to finish he couldn't help but overhear her side of the
conversation. "…wondering if a woman has been brought in this morning,
she's about five ten, early thirties, brown hair and brown eyes. Yes, I'll
hold, thank you."
Lee stepped in
front of her and Francine's eyes widened. "Is that about Amanda?" he
demanded.
Francine
hesitated and then nodded.
Suddenly Lee
had to get out of the office. He couldn't be there while they were checking
hospitals and morgues for Amanda. He didn't want to think of her hurt somewhere
or even worse - dead. It just made him feel sick.
Francine
watched as Lee grabbed his coat and made his way to the doors. "Lee, where
are you going?" she called holding one hand over the mouthpiece.
"Home. I
need to get changed," he replied abruptly. Without waiting to hear her
response he stalked out of the room.
The Porsche
screeched to a halt outside the tall apartment block and Lee got out slamming
the door behind him. Upon entering his apartment he made his way to the
bathroom shedding his dirty clothes along the way.
He got into
the shower and let the hot water cascade over his body as he forced his aching
muscles to relax. Bruises were already appearing where he'd fallen off of the
car earlier. He grimaced as the injuries brought Amanda vividly back to mind.
What had they done with her?
The shower
finished, he padded into his lounge wearing just his robe and flopped down onto
his couch. He let his head fall back and rubbed a weary hand over his eyes as
he realised that for the third time in as many months he was having serious
trouble dealing with his emotions when it came to Amanda. It was becoming a
habit he acknowledged dryly to himself as he thought back to recent cases.
He sighed at
how easily he recalled his anguish upon seeing Amanda laying prone on a bed in
James Delano's house after being given a lethal injection. As he'd carried her
seemingly lifeless body down the stairs he had wanted to do more than threaten
Delano he remembered grimly. Luckily for Delano though, Amanda's welfare was
more important to Lee than getting even.
Then, more
recently, she had been mistaken for him and abducted by the Russians to trade
for Rostov. He had chanced charges of treason to get her back safe that time.
That was the
difference though. At least he had had a chance to do something. All he could
do this time was wait. And that's what he was having trouble dealing with right
now.
He'd had to
wait for developments on other cases before though, so what was the matter with
him now? Lee let his hand drop to his side and sighed again already knowing the
answer but still reluctant to admit it even to himself. Somewhere along the
line he'd allowed himself to come to care a hell of alot for Amanda King. He
couldn't understand how it had happened. Amanda had been a nuisance in his life
from the moment she hadn't delivered that package. Always getting into trouble.
Always arguing with him. Always insisting on tagging along no matter how much
he made it clear that he didn't want her. A soft smile crossed his tired
features. Always standing by him no matter what.
What would he
do if he lost her? Lee sat bolt upright in surprise at the almost physical pain
he felt as that thought entered his mind. Shaking his head slightly he refused
to allow his thinking take that track. He had to think positively. Amanda was
going to be alright.
He pushed
himself off of the couch and gathered up his discarded clothes. Walking into
his bedroom he dumped them in the basket and retrieved fresh ones from his
wardrobe. Dressing quickly he decided to have a cup of coffee before returning
to the Agency. He knew Francine would call if she'd turned up anything. That
was what was bothering him. Francine hadn't called. It had been an hour and he
was starting to worry in earnest.
He carried his
coffee back into the lounge and tried to control his feeling of dread. He hated
feeling like this. He'd vowed never to let anyone get close to him again after
his partner died but somehow Amanda, with her frustrating stubbornness and
amazing courage, had done just that.
The telephone
rang and Lee's heart rose to his throat as he snatched up the receiver.
"Stetson."
"Lee, how
are you darling?" came a female voice down the line. "I didn't expect
you to be in…"
"I'm
sorry Angela but I can't talk right now. I'm just on my way out. Goodbye."
Lee put the phone down not caring how he had sounded.
He drained his
coffee and made his way back down to his car totally frustrated. He had to get
a grip on his feelings. This wasn't a complication he needed in his job or his
life right now.
Heading back
to the Agency he hit some traffic and decided to take a back route. Down one
such turning he had to come to a stop behind a couple of other cars because
there was an ambulance attending an accident ahead of them. It looked like a
car had swerved to miss a truck and smashed into a wall.
He tapped his
fingers impatiently until finally the ambulance moved off. As he passed the car
he frowned and hoped fleetingly that the person driving was alright. It looked
nasty.
An hour later
Lee was sat at his desk trying to concentrate on the Martinez file. He'd read
the same page at least ten times and glanced at the clock even more. Francine
hadn't got anywhere with her enquiries and Lee knew it was starting to look bad
for Amanda.
He ran an
agitated hand through his hair and stood up suddenly. He needed to talk to
Billy.
At the sound
of his knock Billy called out for Lee to come in.
"What can
I do for you Scarecrow?" asked Billy as he gestured for the agent to sit
down in the chair opposite him.
Lee sat down
and cleared his throat wondering how to begin. He didn't want Billy to know how
affected he was about Amanda.
"I'm
waiting," pressed Billy.
"Uh, I
was just going to……" began Lee. He stopped as Francine knocked and walked
into the room.
"Yes?"
queried Billy.
"We've
found Amanda King. She's in one of the local hospitals. Here," she said
passing a slip of paper to Billy.
Lee was so
relieved Amanda had been found that it was all he could do to stop himself from
snatching the paper out of her hand and rushing straight out of the door.
That's great news Francine," replied Billy smiling. "Arrange for
someone to go over and see how she's doing will you?"
"Sure
thing," said Francine. She turned to go but Lee's next comment stopped
her.
"Uh, I
don't mind going Billy," offered Lee trying to act casual. He stood and
took the piece of paper from Billy's hand. "I'm just on my way out anyway
to uh, to check on, uh…." He faltered. "Something urgent," he
concluded lamely.
"Something
urgent," repeated Billy solemnly.
"Yeah,"
agreed Lee quietly, unable to meet his superior's eyes.
"Well,
that sounds important. You better get going straight away if you're going to
check on Amanda too." Billy smiled understandingly at Lee. "Don't you
think?"
Lee smiled
back gratefully. "Yeah." He walked to the door and turned. "And
thanks Billy," he said before leaving the room.
Francine
turned to Billy. "And what was that all about?" she asked in surprise.
"Since when does Lee go and do a routine check like that? "
Billy looked
out of his office window and watched Lee almost run through the Agency doors.
"Well, I could be wrong Francine but I'd say it's since he got a new
partner. What do you think?"
Francine gave
a snort of disgust and walked out of the office shutting the door loudly behind
her.
Billy laughed
out loud. "She obviously agrees with me."
THE END
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