Summary/timing/etc: this is simply a response to the challenge on fanfiction.net for a no dialogue story… And yes, this was a bit difficult to put together.
It's not the traditional "body Language" story, but it's what I would have done with the last 15 minutes of a "goodbye" show if one had been done.
Written: March 7-10, 2001
Rating: G
Archive: at smkfanfic, at fanfiction.net, and I'd be honored to be elsewhere, just email me and let me know where
My ego loves praise. The realist in me needs truthful comments (good and bad). I'll take flames too – I haven't had a good kabob in a while…
Amanda looked up from the kitchen sink at hearing the light tapping on the back door, and saw a familiar face light up with a smile. So many years of tapping at the back window at odd hours, and it was all about to come to an end. Nothing could have made her happier. Everyone else in the house was asleep, so she would not have to come up with an excuse as to why she was leaving. She looked back behind her, out of long-cultivated habit, and headed out the door.
As she softly shut the door behind her, she placed her finger to her lips, and Lee acknowledged with a small nod. It was late at night, and it wouldn't do either of them any good to wake up the neighbors or draw any more attention to them than necessary. He was thrilled to be so close to the end of the sneaking around and so close to a really normal life.
Their hands were interlaced as they snuck through a couple of backyards to get down to the corner where Lee's car was parked. He helped her into the car, as was habit, and then went around to his side. He paused for a minute before folding his tall form into the small car. No more parking around the corner in the middle of the night – he would be able to park his car in the driveway or in front of the house, and keep it there all night.
They rode together in a companionable silence, each occupied with their own thoughts, looking out at the dark streets. One was thinking about how the lies would finally stop, the other wondering, after everything, if they could ever really have a normal life. The car passed in front of the simple building where they had spent so much time together. They drove silently down the street a little ways and then parked. They looked at each other, and Amanda smiled sadly before dipping her head down, and getting out of the car without waiting for Lee to help her. They snuck down a couple of side streets to the parking lot behind the building they had passed just minutes earlier.
The couple headed into the building quietly, so as not to be noticed by anyone, taking the stairs in lieu of the elevator. Lee opened the door with his keys, and they both entered and looked around the quiet room. So much time had been spent here – they had planned and talked strategy here, eaten lunch and dinner here, talked, laughed, slept and even danced. It was going to be hard to leave such a memory-laden room behind, but it was time. Amanda took a deep breath, and walked back out, leaving Lee momentarily, while she pulled herself together.
Lee closed the door slowly, watching as the room shrunk in the crack of the door until he shut it with a light click and locked it behind him. Amanda had startled slightly at the sound of the click, and started for the stairs but he grabbed her arm and led her towards the elevator. The ride was quick and quiet, except for the sound off Lee dropping the keys into an envelope and sealing it.
They reached the darkened main office to find the door slightly ajar.
Lee peeked in, noting that no one was there, and laid the
bulky envelope on the desk. There was no going back now.
They headed back out of the building, knowing that the secrets in that little room would stay that way: secret. And that they could move forward with their lives and whatever the future held. They headed back to the little white house on Maplewood Avenue in Arlington, where the lies would be over and they could be normal together.
Lee and Amanda Stetson went home.
~~~SMK~~~SMK~~~SMK~~~SMK~~~SMK~~~SMK~~~SMK~~~SMK~~~SMK~~~SMK~~~
The next morning, Billy Melrose entered his office balancing a doughnut on top of his coffee cup, and trying to get a handle on the Monday morning news. He noticed the envelope on his desk, noted the bulk, and closed his eyes hoping that it wouldn't explode. After a heartbeat that seemed to last minutes he opened his eyes and recognized the handwriting on the front. He set his load down carefully, and reached over, knowing what was inside without needing to open it. He did so anyway.
The set of keys had been the last thing to be placed in the envelope – it accompanied a gun, two ID's and a matched set of letters. They both basically said the same thing – these were the resignations of best team The Agency had. They were tired of sneaking around in the middle of the night. They were tired of lying to Amanda's family, and to themselves, about what they did for a living and that they could leave their work at work. They were so close to a normal life, married, living in Arlington together with Amanda's mother and her two sons.
Billy could understand their needs. To be safe together. For Lee to be a regular dad. When Amanda went home to check in on the boys, neither of them wanted to have Lee tapping on the back door anymore as the recognition signal that they had to work. And it was a rare night that the two agents could sleep through the night without a phone call to come in and handle something delicate. With a heavy heart, and a deep sigh, Billy knew he couldn't fight it this time as he had many times before.
Sometimes, all good things must come to an end.
The End