Secrets And Lies

By smkukfan

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Rating: PG-13

Summary: The secret marriage is revealed, meanwhile Walt DisneyWorld is threatened by Cuban arms dealers.

Timeline: June 1987, 4 months – and 2 days – after the secret marriage.

Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Productions and I claim no ownership of them and make no money from them. The story is mine. I think there's a few trademarks in there – Walt DisneyWorld, Coca Cola and Jell-O (don't ask!) but I'm just borrowing them [consider it product placement!]

The scene from The First Time was written by Eugenie Ross-Leming & Brad Buckner.

Thanks: Tiff for being my beta on this story and Melissa [you know why!] Thanks also to the PAX forum folk who encouraged me to do this [I know you were just trying to get rid of me for a while!!]

Notes: This all started at the end when I was standing in line at Disneyland Paris thinking about why Lee Stetson would wear Mickey Mouse ears. Then I kind of got carried away. This is my first [and quite possibly my last] attempt at fan fiction so make the most of it. Oh, some of the DisneyWorld stuff is real and some is made up – I've never been so what do I know anyway?

Feedback: Yes please, good or bad to [email protected]

Archive: Please don't archive this anywhere without my permission

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PART ONE

Lee's Corvette, Monday 6:40 am

Once again, Lee glanced at the clock on his dashboard. It was 06:40. "Come on, come on," Lee said irritably, as he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel of his silver Corvette.

"Lee, there's nothing we can do, we just have to sit here," Amanda responded, calmly.

"We've been just sitting here for forty-five minutes so far. We're gonna be late." Lee took his right hand off the steering wheel and pushed it through his hair in frustration.

Amanda reached up to take his hand into hers and lowered it to the seat between them. "Lee, so we'll be late."

"Again," Lee interrupted.

"Yes, again. But there's nothing we can do about it so try to relax."

"We should have gone home last night, Amanda, like you said, but no, I insisted we stay at the hotel one more night. I just wanted to spend more time with my wife."

Amanda smiled at him as she thought back to the previous evening. Speaking softly, she said, "you didn't exactly have to force me to stay, you know. And if it's any consolation, I enjoyed the extra night … very much." She gave his hand another loving squeeze. "Look, we didn't know there'd be an accident blocking the road, did we?"

"No."

"So, what's done is done. We'll just have to go straight into the Agency without going home first. Then we won't be too late for Billy's briefing."

"It's just that…" Lee began, then stopped.

"Just what, Lee?"

"It's just that, I don't see enough of you Amanda. I mean, there's work, and the occasional weekend together, but that's all…. We're married and it's not enough."

"I know, honey," she told him, as she rubbed his hand with her own, "but we agreed, it's the safest thing for everyone – for my…our family, for our working together."

"Well I don't like it, I never want to be apart from you."

"Nor I you, but for now, it's just the way it is."

~

IFF, Georgetown Foyer, 7:10

Half an hour later, Lee pulled the 'vette into the Georgetown parking lot. "Only ten minutes late," Lee muttered. "It must be a record." Amanda gave her husband's hand a squeeze, then let go as they stepped into the Georgetown foyer.

"Good morning Mrs. King, Scarecrow, how are you today?" Mrs. Marston asked pleasantly.

"Late," Lee growled and headed towards the closet-elevator door.

Amanda gave Lee a look and said, "Fine, thank you, Mrs. Marston. You?"

"A-man-da." Lee spoke in an annoyed tone.

Amanda just raised her eyes to Mrs. Marston, who smiled in return. "Today's password is steakknife." Mrs. Marston passed two identity badges to Amanda, who took them and turned to proceed to the elevator, where Lee was standing in the doorway, half in and half out. As they both stepped behind the clothes, Amanda passed Lee his badge. As the door closed behind them, Mrs. Marston looked after them as though she'd had a revelation.

Inside the elevator, Lee was fumbling with his badge. Without saying a word, Amanda put her hands around those of her husband, paused for a second, then took the badge and attached it to the lapel of his jacket. Then she attached her own to her sweater. "I don't know why you're so grumpy today, especially after our lovely weekend."

Lee looked at her and opened his mouth to say something, then stopped when he looked into her dark brown eyes. When he spoke, the edge had gone out of his voice. "I'm sorry, Amanda, it's just that I hate all this sneaking around, having to lie to everyone."

"I thought you enjoyed being a spy … agent, I mean," Amanda returned, smiling.

"You know that's not what I mean."

"I know, but it's what we agreed."

"Yeah. But I don't know how much longer I can keep it up."

"So why did Billy call the meeting so early anyway?" Amanda hoped the change of subject would lighten her husband's mood.

"Oh, he said something about some information he's received. Apparently, the scuttlebut is that someone's planning an arms deal at a big tourist attraction. He wants us to get on it."

~

The Bullpen, 7:15

They left the elevator and walked down the corridor towards the bullpen. As the security guards opened the doors for them, Billy was waiting by the coffee machine. He pointedly looked at his watch. "Late again, Scarecrow? Getting to be a habit isn't it?"

Lee opened his mouth to make a rejoinder, but stopped when he saw Amanda looking at him. She placed her hand on his arm and shook her head ever so slightly. He closed his mouth again, and walked into Billy's office. As he turned away from Billy, he missed his Section Chief's expression, surprise followed by a large grin. Amanda didn't see the look either, as she had also turned away from her boss.

Lee and Amanda sat down in two of the three chairs in front of Billy's desk. With his neutral expression returned, Billy joined them in the office. He turned to close the office blinds, then took his seat behind the desk. "Amanda?" Billy asked.

"Yes, sir?"

"Will you go and call Francine in for me, then we can get started."

"Sure, sir." Amanda stood up from her chair and stepped past Lee to exit the office.

As she reached for the door, Billy said, "Oh, and Amanda?"

Amanda stopped with her right hand on the doorknob and turned back to look at Billy, "Sir?"

"I believe congratulations are in order."

Amanda looked puzzled as she looked at Billy. "Sir?" She looked across at Lee who shared her puzzled expression, their eyes expressing what's he talking about? and I have no idea.

Billy just beamed at Amanda, but said nothing, then he nodded towards her left hand. As Amanda's eyes followed his gaze, realization suddenly dawned. Several expressions then crossed her face – panic, guilt, then embarrassment. As she looked back at Lee, who was obviously still clueless, she raised her left hand in front of her face. As Lee saw her engagement and wedding rings still on her finger, she said, "Oops!"

Lee's expression cleared as he realized what had happened. He raised up his own left hand, "Oh, hell," he said. They both turned to look at Billy.

"Looks like you've got a little explaining to do, Scarecrow." He motioned for Amanda to sit again. Which she did.

"Some spy you are, Stetson," Amanda muttered to her husband as she sat.

"So," Billy began, "which one of you wants to go first?"

Lee looked at Amanda, as though he hoped she would explain, but she just shot him a look back that said, not this time, Scarecrow. "Okay, I'll tell it." They both leaned back in the chairs and reached for each other's hand, then they looked up at Billy. "Remember the McMasters case, Billy?"

"That was months ago."

"Four months to be exact," recalled Lee. "Well, now you know why we were so keen not to miss out on our trip-trips." Lee smiled at the memory.

"So that's why you drove off in the limo so fast." Billy laughed. "I knew there was something going on between you two, but I didn't suspect this. And four months ago! But why all the secrecy?"

"We decided it was for the best, sir," Amanda explained. "We thought the Agency wouldn't let us work together if it was known we were involved."

"I see," Billy nodded. "But didn't you tell your family either?"

"How could we?" Amanda continued. "After the case with Khai we thought the risk to them was too high to tell them, so that's when we decided to keep the marriage a secret."

"Mind you," Lee interjected, "it's been getting harder recently."

"Apparently," Billy smiled. "As I've already said, I'm happy for you both."

Suddenly, Amanda blurted out, "Oh, God, Mrs. Marston!"

"What?" questioned Billy.

"Mrs. Marston. She saw us come in this morning, and she doesn't miss a trick."

"I'm sure she won't say anything, Amanda, she's a professional," Lee responded. "She knows a little about keeping secrets."

"Well I know she can about Agency stuff, but…this is a little different."

"Don't worry, Amanda," her boss assured her.

"So, what happens now, sir?" Amanda asked quietly, almost shyly. "I mean, will we still be able to work together? Now that you know?"

"I'll resign first," Lee interjected.

"Not so fast, Lee," Billy replied. "Look, I don't want to break up my best team any more than you do. It wasn't that long ago I told you that your relationship was okay with me, whatever it was, and I meant it."

"Thank you, sir."

"Yeah, thanks Billy," agreed Lee.

"What do you say we agree to downplay this a little longer, give me a chance to work some magic with Dr. Smyth. I still have a few strings I can pull, and I'm sure I can find something to blackmail, ahem, I mean persuade him with." Billy's eyes twinkled as he spoke. Billy then stood up from his chair and Lee and Amanda did the same. Billy walked around his desk to stand in front of them. Standing before Amanda, he gave her his biggest smile and said, "Congratulations again, Amanda." As he spoke he leaned forward to kiss her cheek, then hugged her. "I always knew you were the one to sort out this guy's life." He nodded towards Lee, "professionally and personally." He winked at her.

"Hey!" Lee said, in a tone of mock anger. "What is it you're trying to say, friend?"

"Lee," Billy turned away from Amanda to look at his friend of many years. "You are the luckiest son of a gun I know." Amanda blushed as Billy held his hand out to Lee, shaking it, then pulled him into a hug. As he did so, he whispered to Lee, "Mess this up, Lee, and you'll have me to answer to."

Lee grinned as Billy pulled away from him, "I won't Billy." He looked over at Amanda, "I promise."

"Good, then perhaps we should get back to work?"

"Yes, sir." Amanda grinned and again took Lee's hand in her own.

"Now, where were we?" asked Billy.

As he resumed his seat behind his desk, Amanda said, "I was just going to call Francine in to the briefing, sir."

"Okay then. And please, call me Billy, Amanda. After all, we're practically family now."

"Thank you, sir, er Billy, I'll try but you know how it is when I get flustered I just start talking and then I'll probably forget and revert back to Mr. Melrose again-"

"A-man-da," Lee interrupted, but this time in a gentle, loving tone. Billy looked at Lee and raised his eyes. Lee just shrugged.

"Sorry, sir…Billy", said Amanda sheepishly. She turned to head to the door when Billy again called her back.

"Oh, Amanda?"

Again, she stopped and turned back to look at the Section Chief, "Yes, Billy?"

"You might want to take your rings off before Francine gets in here. Otherwise, your secret will be all over the Agency in no time."

He laughed as both Amanda and Lee removed their rings. Lee put his into his pocket, while Amanda placed hers in the center zipped section of her purse. Amanda then left the office to look for Francine.

As Lee and Billy sat across from each other, Billy said, "Lee, you are a very lucky man."

"Oh I know that, Billy," was all he could say in reply, as the two men grinned at each other.

Just then, Francine walked into the office, Amanda following, and Francine caught the grins on the faces of the two men. Immediately suspicious, she asked Lee, "What's going on?"

Lee and Billy immediately dropped their grins and looked up at her. Lee put on his most innocent voice as he asked her, "What are you talking about Francine?"

"You two. You were both looking like the cat who'd stolen the proverbial cream. So, what is it?"

Lee turned to his boss, "Do you have any idea what she's talking about?" he asked, nonchalantly.

"No." Billy shook his head. "Now come on in and sit down ladies, it's time this briefing finally got under way." Amanda returned to her chair, next to Lee, and Francine took the one on the other side of him. "Francine?" Billy opened.

"Well," she began, taking a sideways glance at Lee, then Amanda. She shook her head slightly, as if to remove any doubt, and put her mind back on the job. "We've received some intel that there's an arms deal about to go down - at DisneyWorld of all places. There's a Cuban connection but that's all we have so far. It's early in the summer season and they don't want a scandal involving guns keeping tourists away from the park. That's why we've been called in. A big chief at DisneyWorld pulled a few strings with Senator Hume from Florida and wants us to do something, but keep it low profile. The powers that be have decided to send in a small team from out of town to investigate."

"That's you two," said Billy, pointing from Lee to Amanda.

Francine continued, "I've got a call into the Security Chief there, a Mike Bannon. Once we've finished here, I'll make sure your covers are in place so you can get right on it tomorrow. See if there's anything he hasn't told us about security breaches down there."

As Francine's briefing came to an end, Billy stood up. The others, mirroring his actions, stood up in response. "Okay, Lee, Amanda, I want you to check with the local information brokers, see what you can come up with, but tomorrow I want you both on a plane to Florida."

"Okay, Billy," Lee replied.

"We'll get right on it, Billy," Amanda added.

At her words, Francine shot her head around to look at Amanda. This was the first time she had heard Amanda call the Section Chief Billy. Normally she referred to their boss as Mr. Melrose, or just sir. "There is something going on," Francine muttered to herself, although she barely realized she'd spoken aloud.

"What?" Billy turned to look at her, "What's going on?"

Immediately hiding all expression from her face, Francine just looked at Billy. "Oh, I don't know yet," she looked pointedly towards Lee and Amanda, "but, when I find out, heads are going to roll." With that she left Billy's office and headed back into the bullpen.

As Lee held the door open for Amanda, he caught Billy's eye. "What did I tell you?" the Chief asked his friend. Lee smiled. "Just give me today, Scarecrow. I'll let you know how my meeting with Dr. Smyth turns out."

~

Q-Bureau, 8:15

Back in the Q-Bureau, Amanda sat at her desk while Lee was pacing back and forth in front of her. "How could we be so careless, Amanda? After all we've done to hide it from everyone?"

"Well, judging by Billy's response," responded Amanda, "I don't think we've been that successful." She smiled up at him as his pacing stopped. "Perhaps, subconsciously, we just wanted it out in the open – after all, it is what we were saying in the car this morning."

"I know it. Oh well, I believe in Billy. He'll talk Smyth around to his way of thinking."

"I hope so."

Lee noticed how her voice had become a little subdued, and she was no longer looking at him, but down at her desk. He walked around to sit on the edge of her desk in front of her. Placing his finger under her chin, he turned her face up to make her look at him. "Amanda," he spoke softly to her now, but she said nothing. He could see her eyes had moistened with unshed tears and she was obviously breathing deeply, trying to control her emotions. "Amanda," Lee said again, this time more firmly.

"Yes, Lee," she spoke quietly.

"Have I ever let you down?"

"No, Lee, but you know-"

"And has Billy ever let you down?" he interrupted her.

"I know he wouldn't want to, but I can't bear the thought of us not working together."

"Neither can I," Lee admitted, "and if it comes to that, we won't." He turned his gaze away from her as he said this.

This time it was her turn to take his chin between her fingers and make him look back at her. "What are you talking about, Lee? This job is your life."

"Was my life, Amanda. Now, you are, and I'm not giving that up for anyone. Even if it meant taking a desk job."

Amanda's heart melted as he said these words. She stood up and put her arms around his shoulders to hug him tightly. "Oh, Lee." She pulled back to kiss him. "I love you." She smiled at him. "And you're right. Let's wait and see what Billy can come up with, yeah?"

"Yeah," Lee replied wistfully, and sought her lips again with his own.

~