Feedback: Of course!
Disclaimer: The characters are owned by WB and Shoot the Moon Productions. I just like roaming in their universe for pleasure. No infringement intended.
Summary: Lee gets in a little over his head.
Timeline: Sometime between Utopia Now and before All The World's A Stage.
Note: Thanks Ceeg for the beta read and the suggestions you made. I appreciate everything you do for me.
Amanda plopped down on the bed. She had forgotten how exhausting it was car-pooling six boys to a quick dinner and then to a sleepover. Somehow she was nominated by Philip as the 'car-pooling mama', but she really didn't mind. It felt good being needed by the boys. They were growing up so fast and she knew someday they would not 'need' her as much.
Getting up, she walked over to her closet to get her robe. 'All I need is a hot shower,' she thought to herself. Grabbing her robe she went out into the hallway and ran right into her mother.
"I'm sorry, Mother. I thought you left," she said picking up the robe she had dropped when they bumped into each other.
"I'm trying, dear, but every time I think I'm ready… I realize that I forgot something." At that moment she stopped and turned on her heels. "Like right now…" She went back into her room for something.
Amanda couldn't help but laugh. Mother was always forgetting something or running late. 'Poor Capt. Kurt,' she thought, as she pictured him out in the car, his fingers impatiently tapping against the steering wheel.
Dotty came out of her room in a rush. "Enjoy your evening alone, dear. You deserve some peace and quiet." She almost ran down the steps. "Oh, and don't wait up for me. I don't know when I'll be home."
"I won't, Mother. Have a good time."
Amanda thought about what her mother had said. She did deserve this evening to herself. It had been so long since she has been alone in this house. Since Lee was out of town on a 'need-to-know' assignment, she knew that her evening would not be interrupted by the Agency.
Amanda went into the bathroom and got undressed. Putting her dirty clothes in the hamper, she turned towards the shower. Reaching in, she turned on the water, then waited a moment for the water to warm up. Getting in, she immediately relaxed as the warm water cascaded down over her shoulders.
Lee sat in his car, which was parked down the street from Amanda's. He knew the boys were at a sleepover and, seeing Dotty leave, he knew she was alone. He had been gone for almost a week, so he thought he would check in with her to see if anything exciting happened while he was gone. 'Right Stetson. Just admit that you missed her,' he thought to himself.
He got out of the car and went around to the back of her house. Looking in, he didn't see her, so he knocked quietly. When she didn't answer, he knocked louder. Still there was no answer. He tried the doorknob, but it was locked. He took out his pick case and went to work on the lock.
Opening the door he went inside and called for her. She still didn't answer him. He started to get worried. Her car was in the driveway and he knew she was supposed to have the day off, but she was nowhere in sight.
He walked into the foyer and went to the bottom of the steps. Pausing for a moment, he called for her.
"Amanda?" No one answered. He had an uneasy feeling about this. He reached inside his jacket and pulled out his gun. Climbing the steps two at a time, he made it to the top in record time. That was when he heard the shower running. 'So that's where you are,' he thought smiling to himself. He holstered his gun and walked over to the door and knocked.
Amanda was startled to hear someone knocking on the bathroom door. Sticking her head out of the shower she listened again. 'Probably mother… again,' she thought to herself.
"Amanda, are you in there?" Lee felt a little nervous about the whole situation.
Amanda's eyes grew large. 'Oh my gosh!' her mind screamed. She had to fight off a panicky feeling that was rising from deep within. Just as she started to step out of the shower to answer him, she heard the door open. She quickly stepped back into the shower and stuck her head out around the shower curtain.
"Lee! What are you doing here… in my bathroom." She was so shocked to see him standing there. They had never been in such a compromising position before. She started to blush profusely.
Lee looked at her and then quickly turned his back to her. He has never seen her look more… natural. He liked the look. He swallowed hard, trying to silence such thoughts. 'Get a hold of yourself, Stetson, or this situation can get out of hand… real fast.'
"Amanda, I'm sorry. I got back in town and I wanted to check in with you… to see if everything was OK… and then you weren't down stairs… and I couldn't find you… and now I think your mother is back…" he took a deep breath trying not to think about the fact that she was… naked behind that shower curtain. It took every ounce of control he possessed to calm his frazzled nerves.
Amanda wanted to laugh at him for being so flustered, but she was still shocked by his presence in her bathroom. 'I can't believe this is happening!' Her mother's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Amanda, it's just me again. I forgot my new necklace. I hope I didn't scare you, dear," Dotty called from the other side of the door.
Amanda sighed. "Um… no, Mother, you didn't scare me."
"OK, dear. I'm leaving now, for sure."
"Goodnight, Mother."
She looked at Lee standing with his back turned to her. She smiled, and then trying to sound firm, she said, "Lee, as soon as mother is out of this house, I want you out of here!"
Lee cringed at the tone of voice she was using. He just nodded and slowly opened the door just in time to hear Dotty going out the front door.
"She's gone. I'll wait for you downstairs." Lee went out in the hallway wearing a smile that went from ear to ear. He knew she was upset with him, but the shocked look on her face was priceless.
"That will be fine." As soon as she heard him shut the door she stepped out and quickly dried herself off. She put her robe on and wrapped her hair up in the towel. Just as she was about to open the door, Lee walked in with his hand over his eyes.
"Lee, what are you doing?"
Lee could tell she was standing in front of him. He slowly took his hand down from his eyes. He shrugged his shoulders innocently. "She's back."
Amanda glared at him. She quickly stepped around him and went out the door, closing it behind her.
"Mother, what are you doing?" she asked her mother, who was now standing in front of her.
"I forgot my brush. I think it's in the bathroom, on the sink." She tried to walk around Amanda to get into the bathroom.
Amanda blocked her way. "Mother, you don't want to go in there… the steam is so thick in there right now… it will mess up your new hairstyle." That panicky feeling was starting to emerge, again.
Lee heard through the door what was being said. He knew Dotty wanted in there. So he looked around to see if there was any place to hide. Seeing nothing, he stepped into the bathtub and shut the shower curtain.
The smell of the soap she used still filled the air. It was intoxicating to him. It smelled like… like her. 'I could stay here, forever.' The sounds of their voices brought him out of his reverie.
"Amanda, don't be silly. The way you are acting, I'd swear you were trying to hide someone in there." Dotty went into the bathroom and retrieved her brush.
Amanda waited for her mother's screams, but none came. Amanda took a quick look around the bathroom. Lee was nowhere to be seen.
"Amanda, what is wrong with you?" Dotty stood there looking at Amanda.
"Oh, nothing, Mother. You just scared me when you came back again…" 'Where did he go,' she thought to herself, taking another look around the bathroom. Seeing Lee peek out behind the shower curtain, caught her eye. She rolled her eyes at him.
"Well, I have to go. Kurt is fit to be tied," Dotty said as she started down the stairs again.
"Goodnight, Mother."
"Goodnight, dear."
Amanda gave Lee a signal to stay put. She went to the top of the steps, to make sure her mother had left. Seeing that she had, she went back to the bathroom. She took a deep breath and went in.
"You can come out now. Mother is gone." Amanda leaned up against the wall and crossed her arms in front of her. She wanted him to think she was mad.
Lee stepped out of the shower. He looked at her and then looked at the floor. She was mad and he was embarrassed. As he walked past her he whispered, "Sorry about that. I better go."
Amanda grabbed his arm before he could leave. "No, it's OK. Why don't you wait for me downstairs? I'll go and change." She followed him out into the hall. "Um… Lee have you had dinner?"
Lee turned to answer her. 'God, she is so beautiful.' "No," he choked out, not able to look her in the eye any longer, lest his feelings would betray him.
Amanda smiled within herself. 'Good, he's as nervous as I am.' "Well then, I'll be down in a minute and fix us something. All of these… interruptions have made me hungry."
Lee smiled. He was relieved to see that she wasn't mad at him anymore. He nodded and started for the steps.
Amanda went into her bedroom to change into her clothes. She paused for a moment, reflecting on how thankful she was for all of the interruptions in her life.
The End.