The Wrong Way Home:
The Journey After
Written By: Nia M.
Disclaimer: The Characters are owned by Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Productions. I DO NOT own any of the characters used in this story. I just love to watch them and write about them.
Plot: This story is a continuation of the Scarecrow and Mrs. King episode, "The Wrong Way Home", giving another way Lee and Amanda may have finally told each other the truth about their feelings.
Time: The middle of the 3rd season
Chapter 1
There she was. Dancing right there in front of him in another man's arms. But not just any man. The man she was dancing with was the man she had fallen in love with, married, and had kids with. The man she was dancing with was Joe King.
It was amazing how she could be right there in front of him but feel as though she were a million miles away. It was as though she was dancing inside of a glass box and there was no way for him to get inside.
"Why did he have to show up now?" Lee wondered. "I mean, who does he think he is? Does he actually think he can just waltz back here and take away my precious Amanda? Wait a minute. Where did that come from? There was nothing between him and Amanda. A very close friendship, yes, but nothing more. Nothing."
"Yeah, except for the fact that you've fallen in love with her," Lee's conscience badgered him.
"Oh, shut up."
* * * * *
Across the room, Amanda and Joe swayed to the music that had once been so familiar to them both. "You don't want to go back?" Joe's words kept replaying in Amanda's mind. Go back? How could she go back? Things had changed since he left, she had changed, he had said so himself.
Lee had been the difference and she knew it. She had become a whole new person ever since the day Lee had walked into her life and handed her that package. He had opened up a whole new world for her. A world she had come to love and he was the man she had come to love.
Sure, in the beginning Lee continued to push her away but now they were past that. Now not only did he admit that they were partners but that they were friends, too. Very close friends.
But friends were all they were going to be. It had taken so long to even get this far. There was no way he would give up his glamour girls and parties for a mother-of-two with a mortgage and a station wagon. It was time she stopped trying to live in some dream, some fantasy, and just...
Amanda's thoughts were suddenly cut off when she caught the gaze of the eyes that had taken her breath away from the first day she looked into them. There was just some kind of magic there that held their eyes together. A magic that neither of them were willing to break. Without realizing it, Amanda pulled out of Joe's arms.
"Amanda," Joe said. "Amanda, what is it?"
"What? Oh, nothing." Amanda glanced at Joe and quickly turned her attention back to where Lee was standing but he was gone. Had she just imagined him there?
"Are you okay?" Joe followed Amanda's gaze towards the bar but couldn't figure out what it was that had her so distracted.
Amanda gave herself a mental shake and turned her attention back to Joe. "Yes, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Joe still didn't look convinced.
"Yes, I'm positive," Amanda patted Joe's arm reassuringly. "It's getting kind of late and I have to get to work early in the morning. Would you mind if we go?"
"Of course not." It was obvious that Amanda must not be feeling well. The events of the week must have been taking its toll on her. "Let me just take care of the check. I'll be right back." Amanda smiled in gratitude and headed back to the table to wait for Joe.
By the time she made it back to the table Amanda was completely convinced that Lee must have been there and it wasn't her imagination. But why was he here? Surely he hadn't followed them there. He had always been very protective of her but he wasn't interested in her daily activities. The things she did were to boring for him. It must have just been a coincidence.
"Are you ready?" Joe asked as he walked up to her.
"Yes, I'm ready." Amanda grabbed her purse from under the table and they headed out the door.
* * * * *
Joe closed the door after helping Amanda out of his car and they started up the walk to the front door. "I had a wonderful evening, Joe."
"Really? You seemed a little distracted."
"I'm sorry. It's just that so much has happened the last few days and I just have to have some time to figure everything out, that's all.
"Yeah, I understand. Me showing up like this must have been a shock to you. I wish I had come back under different circumstances, but I'm here now and I plan to stay. I want to be here for the boys. I want to get to know them and I want them to feel like they have a father again. I just hope they'll let me."
"Joe, they'll let you. You are their father and they love you." Amanda placed her hand on his arm and looked up into his eyes to show him that she was sincere.
"Thank you, Amanda." Joe leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. He started to walk back down the walk but turned back around to face Amanda. "Amanda?"
"Yes."
"Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow? I mean, if you are not busy, of course?
"That would be nice. What time?
"Um, 7:00 alright?
"Sure. See you then." Amanda waved good-bye to Joe as he pulled away from the curb and watched his car until it was out of sight before she went inside.
Lee, who had been following them since they had left Dooley's, was sitting in his Vette down the street. "What were they talking about? Why is he still here anyway? Doesn't he know she has to go to work in the morning?" Lee's fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly as he had watched Joe lean over and kiss Amanda. After a couple of minutes Joe finally turned and headed towards the car. "It's about time," Lee mumbled. Suddenly Joe spun around and started talking to Amanda again. "Now what?" After another minute Joe again started for the car, this time getting in and driving away. Amanda waved good-bye and went into the house.
There were so many unanswered questions Lee had flowing through his mind. The one that was really bothering him was the question of what he was doing here at Amanda's house. After making eye contact with her at Dooley's he had quickly escaped out the door and went to his car. At first he was just going to sit there to figure out how he was going to explain being there to Amanda, but then he saw them come out of the restaurant and the next thing he knew he had ended up here.
After several more minutes of wrestling with his thoughts in his mind Lee finally decided to get out of his car and walk around to the back of the house to see if Amanda was still up.
Sure enough, there she was sitting there on one of the stools in the kitchen drinking a cup of, what appeared to be, hot chocolate from the container sitting on the counter. "Probably with marshmallows, too." Lee couldn't help but smile. She looked so innocent and so beautiful. She certainly didn't look like someone who would be outsmarting some of the most ruthless terrorists in the country.
Lee fought back the urge to knock on the window. Instead he just watched until her finish her cocoa. She obviously was very deep in thought. Probably thinking about everything that had been going on lately. He knew these last few days had really put a strain on her, even though she tried to cover it up with her professionalism. She couldn't fool him, though. He could tell these things about her, even if no one else could.
Finally, Amanda slid down off the stool, taking her final sip of cocoa. She rinsed out her mug and deposited it in the dishwasher, before quickly and efficiently cleaning up the rest of the kitchen. After checking the locks one more time, she turned out the light and went up to bed.
Lee sighed deeply. Slowly, he headed back to his car. It was late and time for him to go home and go to bed. Tomorrow, he would probably have some questions to answer that he would prefer not to, and for that he was going to need all his strength.
* * * * *
Amanda took in a deep breath before opening the door to the Q Bureau. When she opened the door she saw that Lee was sitting at his desk, talking on the phone. She stepped in and closed the door behind her.
"Hi," Lee mouthed.
"Hi," Amanda whispered.
"Yeah, Billy," Lee said into the phone," I'll have it to you by noon. Hey, have I ever let you down. All right, bye." Lee hung up the phone and ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation.
"Was that Mr. Melrose?" Amanda put the flowers she was holding into the vase that was sitting on Lee's desk.
"Yeah. Billy wants that report on the Valeski case. He wants it on his desk by noon."
"Well, I guess we better get started." Amanda hung her purse on the back of her chair and sat down opposite of Lee.
"Yeah." He handed her half of the stack of papers that were sitting in front of him and he took the other. They each intentionally dove into the task, neither of them quite ready to discuss the events of the previous night.
After a couple of hours the report was finished. "I'd better get this down to Billy," Lee said on his way out the door. He looked at his watch. "Five minutes early, too." He winked at Amanda, causing her to smile, and then he was gone.
Amanda sat there starring at the door for a couple of minutes. Lee hadn't said anything about last night. He probably wasn't going to either. Why hadn't she said anything? She had avoided the subject just as much as he had, she thought guiltily.
Amanda got up and went around to the other side of the desk. She sat down in Lee's chair and started to straiten some things up when the phone rang. "Hello, I.F.F."
"Amanda? Hi," Joe said from the other end of the line.
"Joe!" Amanda exclaimed.
"Yeah, surprised to hear from me?"
"Yes. I sure am." Amanda said, hoping she sounded calm and like him calling her was no big deal. "How did you get my number?"
"I called your house and your mother gave me this number. It's all right that I called, isn't it? I'm not interrupting anything?"
"No, of course it's okay that you called.
"Good."
"Is everything all right?" Amanda asked starting to get concerned. "There's nothing wrong is there?"
"Oh, no. Everything's fine. I was just calling to say that I would be a little late for dinner. A couple of things were dropped on my lap that I have to take care of, so I can't make it until at least 8:00. We could reschedule if that would be better."
Just then Lee walked in. "You should have seen Billy. He was down there counting the seconds for me to---" Lee stopped when he realized that Amanda was on the phone.
"No, that's all right. Tonight will be fine," Amanda said quickly not wanting to be having this conversation with Lee in the room. "Okay, Joe. I'll see you tonight. Okay. Bye-bye."
"You're not actually considering going out with that guy tonight, are you?" Lee exclaimed as soon as she hung up the phone.
"No," Amanda said calmly. "I'm not considering it. I am going. Not that it is any of your business." She folded her hands and placed them up on the desk and stared at him challengingly. "Anyway, why shouldn't I?"
"Amanda, I don't have to remind you what he did to you?" Lee walked around the side of the desk, crouched down in front of her and took her hands into his. "I just don't want you to get hurt again," he said quietly, his thumbs absently rubbing the backs of her fingers.
"Lee, I'll be fine."
"And what if things don't work out? What if he runs off again?"
"At least this time I won't be left with two babies to raise," Amanda said trying to lighten the mood but saw immediately, from the paled look on Lee's face, that all she had done was make things worse. She took and deep breath and started again. "Lee, look, we're only going out to dinner. After tonight I might not even see him again, so please don't worry and just trust me." She slipped her right hand out of Lee's left and reached out to touch his cheek, letting her fingers slide from the top of his jaw to beneath his chin. "Please." She gave him a small reassuring smile.
Lee studied her face for several seconds. He could tell that she had already made her decision, so there was no point in arguing with her. If he had learned anything about her over the last couple of years it was that when Amanda's mind was set on something there was nothing that you could do or say to change it. He breathed a sigh of resignation. "Okay," he reluctantly agreed. He stood up slowly and looked down at her. "But I swear if he does anything to you I'll ---"
"Lee," Amanda warned.
"Okay." He sighed again. "I trust you. I trust you. Him, that's another thing completely."
"Thank you," Amanda said, looking up at him, unable to hold back a smile from his last comment.
Lee stood there staring at her for a moment, as if he was trying to figure out whether he had just done the right thing. He was about to say something but then seemed to change his mind. Instead, he held out his hand to her. "What do you say to us going out and having some lunch, huh?" He smiled.
Amanda placed her hand in his, letting him pull her to her feet. "I would say that I think that that sounds like a wonderful idea." They walked around the desk and over to the door, Amanda reaching down and snagging her purse off the back of her chair with her free hand. "What did you have in mind?"
They paused as Lee opened the door, standing just inside of it giving her room to go out first. He grinned down at her mischievously. "That is for me to know and for you to find out," he teased.
"Oh, yeah," She grinned. She pointed her index finger at him, letting the tip of it lightly touch his chest. "Well, it better not include a chicken sandwich with extra mayo," she warned.
Lee grimaced, remembering back to the time a little less than a year ago, when she had eaten his chicken sandwich that had contained a poison, that was meant for him, causing her to become delirious. Fortunately, he was able to get the antidote and she had recovered without any long lasting effects. But up until this day he still wasn't able to eat another chicken sandwich. "No," he shook his head. "No, chicken sandwiches, I promise you." The corners of his mouth turned up, giving her one of his irresistible, dimply smiles. "Actually, I was thinking, we could get a couple of small salads and maybe split an entrée."
"That sounds like a good idea," Amanda felt a quiver of excitement run down her back. She let her finger start to slide away from Lee's chest but he caught her hand and held it in his.
"Shall we?" Lee led Amanda into the hall, still holding her hand. He closed the door behind them and they went to lunch in companionable silence.
The Journey After
Written By: Nia M.
Disclaimer: The Characters are owned by Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Productions. I DO NOT own any of the characters used in this story. I just love to watch them and write about them.
Plot: This story is a continuation of the Scarecrow and Mrs. King episode, "The Wrong Way Home", giving another way Lee and Amanda may have finally told each other the truth about their feelings.
Time: The middle of the 3rd season
Chapter 1
There she was. Dancing right there in front of him in another man's arms. But not just any man. The man she was dancing with was the man she had fallen in love with, married, and had kids with. The man she was dancing with was Joe King.
It was amazing how she could be right there in front of him but feel as though she were a million miles away. It was as though she was dancing inside of a glass box and there was no way for him to get inside.
"Why did he have to show up now?" Lee wondered. "I mean, who does he think he is? Does he actually think he can just waltz back here and take away my precious Amanda? Wait a minute. Where did that come from? There was nothing between him and Amanda. A very close friendship, yes, but nothing more. Nothing."
"Yeah, except for the fact that you've fallen in love with her," Lee's conscience badgered him.
"Oh, shut up."
* * * * *
Across the room, Amanda and Joe swayed to the music that had once been so familiar to them both. "You don't want to go back?" Joe's words kept replaying in Amanda's mind. Go back? How could she go back? Things had changed since he left, she had changed, he had said so himself.
Lee had been the difference and she knew it. She had become a whole new person ever since the day Lee had walked into her life and handed her that package. He had opened up a whole new world for her. A world she had come to love and he was the man she had come to love.
Sure, in the beginning Lee continued to push her away but now they were past that. Now not only did he admit that they were partners but that they were friends, too. Very close friends.
But friends were all they were going to be. It had taken so long to even get this far. There was no way he would give up his glamour girls and parties for a mother-of-two with a mortgage and a station wagon. It was time she stopped trying to live in some dream, some fantasy, and just...
Amanda's thoughts were suddenly cut off when she caught the gaze of the eyes that had taken her breath away from the first day she looked into them. There was just some kind of magic there that held their eyes together. A magic that neither of them were willing to break. Without realizing it, Amanda pulled out of Joe's arms.
"Amanda," Joe said. "Amanda, what is it?"
"What? Oh, nothing." Amanda glanced at Joe and quickly turned her attention back to where Lee was standing but he was gone. Had she just imagined him there?
"Are you okay?" Joe followed Amanda's gaze towards the bar but couldn't figure out what it was that had her so distracted.
Amanda gave herself a mental shake and turned her attention back to Joe. "Yes, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Joe still didn't look convinced.
"Yes, I'm positive," Amanda patted Joe's arm reassuringly. "It's getting kind of late and I have to get to work early in the morning. Would you mind if we go?"
"Of course not." It was obvious that Amanda must not be feeling well. The events of the week must have been taking its toll on her. "Let me just take care of the check. I'll be right back." Amanda smiled in gratitude and headed back to the table to wait for Joe.
By the time she made it back to the table Amanda was completely convinced that Lee must have been there and it wasn't her imagination. But why was he here? Surely he hadn't followed them there. He had always been very protective of her but he wasn't interested in her daily activities. The things she did were to boring for him. It must have just been a coincidence.
"Are you ready?" Joe asked as he walked up to her.
"Yes, I'm ready." Amanda grabbed her purse from under the table and they headed out the door.
* * * * *
Joe closed the door after helping Amanda out of his car and they started up the walk to the front door. "I had a wonderful evening, Joe."
"Really? You seemed a little distracted."
"I'm sorry. It's just that so much has happened the last few days and I just have to have some time to figure everything out, that's all.
"Yeah, I understand. Me showing up like this must have been a shock to you. I wish I had come back under different circumstances, but I'm here now and I plan to stay. I want to be here for the boys. I want to get to know them and I want them to feel like they have a father again. I just hope they'll let me."
"Joe, they'll let you. You are their father and they love you." Amanda placed her hand on his arm and looked up into his eyes to show him that she was sincere.
"Thank you, Amanda." Joe leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. He started to walk back down the walk but turned back around to face Amanda. "Amanda?"
"Yes."
"Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow? I mean, if you are not busy, of course?
"That would be nice. What time?
"Um, 7:00 alright?
"Sure. See you then." Amanda waved good-bye to Joe as he pulled away from the curb and watched his car until it was out of sight before she went inside.
Lee, who had been following them since they had left Dooley's, was sitting in his Vette down the street. "What were they talking about? Why is he still here anyway? Doesn't he know she has to go to work in the morning?" Lee's fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly as he had watched Joe lean over and kiss Amanda. After a couple of minutes Joe finally turned and headed towards the car. "It's about time," Lee mumbled. Suddenly Joe spun around and started talking to Amanda again. "Now what?" After another minute Joe again started for the car, this time getting in and driving away. Amanda waved good-bye and went into the house.
There were so many unanswered questions Lee had flowing through his mind. The one that was really bothering him was the question of what he was doing here at Amanda's house. After making eye contact with her at Dooley's he had quickly escaped out the door and went to his car. At first he was just going to sit there to figure out how he was going to explain being there to Amanda, but then he saw them come out of the restaurant and the next thing he knew he had ended up here.
After several more minutes of wrestling with his thoughts in his mind Lee finally decided to get out of his car and walk around to the back of the house to see if Amanda was still up.
Sure enough, there she was sitting there on one of the stools in the kitchen drinking a cup of, what appeared to be, hot chocolate from the container sitting on the counter. "Probably with marshmallows, too." Lee couldn't help but smile. She looked so innocent and so beautiful. She certainly didn't look like someone who would be outsmarting some of the most ruthless terrorists in the country.
Lee fought back the urge to knock on the window. Instead he just watched until her finish her cocoa. She obviously was very deep in thought. Probably thinking about everything that had been going on lately. He knew these last few days had really put a strain on her, even though she tried to cover it up with her professionalism. She couldn't fool him, though. He could tell these things about her, even if no one else could.
Finally, Amanda slid down off the stool, taking her final sip of cocoa. She rinsed out her mug and deposited it in the dishwasher, before quickly and efficiently cleaning up the rest of the kitchen. After checking the locks one more time, she turned out the light and went up to bed.
Lee sighed deeply. Slowly, he headed back to his car. It was late and time for him to go home and go to bed. Tomorrow, he would probably have some questions to answer that he would prefer not to, and for that he was going to need all his strength.
* * * * *
Amanda took in a deep breath before opening the door to the Q Bureau. When she opened the door she saw that Lee was sitting at his desk, talking on the phone. She stepped in and closed the door behind her.
"Hi," Lee mouthed.
"Hi," Amanda whispered.
"Yeah, Billy," Lee said into the phone," I'll have it to you by noon. Hey, have I ever let you down. All right, bye." Lee hung up the phone and ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation.
"Was that Mr. Melrose?" Amanda put the flowers she was holding into the vase that was sitting on Lee's desk.
"Yeah. Billy wants that report on the Valeski case. He wants it on his desk by noon."
"Well, I guess we better get started." Amanda hung her purse on the back of her chair and sat down opposite of Lee.
"Yeah." He handed her half of the stack of papers that were sitting in front of him and he took the other. They each intentionally dove into the task, neither of them quite ready to discuss the events of the previous night.
After a couple of hours the report was finished. "I'd better get this down to Billy," Lee said on his way out the door. He looked at his watch. "Five minutes early, too." He winked at Amanda, causing her to smile, and then he was gone.
Amanda sat there starring at the door for a couple of minutes. Lee hadn't said anything about last night. He probably wasn't going to either. Why hadn't she said anything? She had avoided the subject just as much as he had, she thought guiltily.
Amanda got up and went around to the other side of the desk. She sat down in Lee's chair and started to straiten some things up when the phone rang. "Hello, I.F.F."
"Amanda? Hi," Joe said from the other end of the line.
"Joe!" Amanda exclaimed.
"Yeah, surprised to hear from me?"
"Yes. I sure am." Amanda said, hoping she sounded calm and like him calling her was no big deal. "How did you get my number?"
"I called your house and your mother gave me this number. It's all right that I called, isn't it? I'm not interrupting anything?"
"No, of course it's okay that you called.
"Good."
"Is everything all right?" Amanda asked starting to get concerned. "There's nothing wrong is there?"
"Oh, no. Everything's fine. I was just calling to say that I would be a little late for dinner. A couple of things were dropped on my lap that I have to take care of, so I can't make it until at least 8:00. We could reschedule if that would be better."
Just then Lee walked in. "You should have seen Billy. He was down there counting the seconds for me to---" Lee stopped when he realized that Amanda was on the phone.
"No, that's all right. Tonight will be fine," Amanda said quickly not wanting to be having this conversation with Lee in the room. "Okay, Joe. I'll see you tonight. Okay. Bye-bye."
"You're not actually considering going out with that guy tonight, are you?" Lee exclaimed as soon as she hung up the phone.
"No," Amanda said calmly. "I'm not considering it. I am going. Not that it is any of your business." She folded her hands and placed them up on the desk and stared at him challengingly. "Anyway, why shouldn't I?"
"Amanda, I don't have to remind you what he did to you?" Lee walked around the side of the desk, crouched down in front of her and took her hands into his. "I just don't want you to get hurt again," he said quietly, his thumbs absently rubbing the backs of her fingers.
"Lee, I'll be fine."
"And what if things don't work out? What if he runs off again?"
"At least this time I won't be left with two babies to raise," Amanda said trying to lighten the mood but saw immediately, from the paled look on Lee's face, that all she had done was make things worse. She took and deep breath and started again. "Lee, look, we're only going out to dinner. After tonight I might not even see him again, so please don't worry and just trust me." She slipped her right hand out of Lee's left and reached out to touch his cheek, letting her fingers slide from the top of his jaw to beneath his chin. "Please." She gave him a small reassuring smile.
Lee studied her face for several seconds. He could tell that she had already made her decision, so there was no point in arguing with her. If he had learned anything about her over the last couple of years it was that when Amanda's mind was set on something there was nothing that you could do or say to change it. He breathed a sigh of resignation. "Okay," he reluctantly agreed. He stood up slowly and looked down at her. "But I swear if he does anything to you I'll ---"
"Lee," Amanda warned.
"Okay." He sighed again. "I trust you. I trust you. Him, that's another thing completely."
"Thank you," Amanda said, looking up at him, unable to hold back a smile from his last comment.
Lee stood there staring at her for a moment, as if he was trying to figure out whether he had just done the right thing. He was about to say something but then seemed to change his mind. Instead, he held out his hand to her. "What do you say to us going out and having some lunch, huh?" He smiled.
Amanda placed her hand in his, letting him pull her to her feet. "I would say that I think that that sounds like a wonderful idea." They walked around the desk and over to the door, Amanda reaching down and snagging her purse off the back of her chair with her free hand. "What did you have in mind?"
They paused as Lee opened the door, standing just inside of it giving her room to go out first. He grinned down at her mischievously. "That is for me to know and for you to find out," he teased.
"Oh, yeah," She grinned. She pointed her index finger at him, letting the tip of it lightly touch his chest. "Well, it better not include a chicken sandwich with extra mayo," she warned.
Lee grimaced, remembering back to the time a little less than a year ago, when she had eaten his chicken sandwich that had contained a poison, that was meant for him, causing her to become delirious. Fortunately, he was able to get the antidote and she had recovered without any long lasting effects. But up until this day he still wasn't able to eat another chicken sandwich. "No," he shook his head. "No, chicken sandwiches, I promise you." The corners of his mouth turned up, giving her one of his irresistible, dimply smiles. "Actually, I was thinking, we could get a couple of small salads and maybe split an entrée."
"That sounds like a good idea," Amanda felt a quiver of excitement run down her back. She let her finger start to slide away from Lee's chest but he caught her hand and held it in his.
"Shall we?" Lee led Amanda into the hall, still holding her hand. He closed the door behind them and they went to lunch in companionable silence.