A New Life Begins

By Jessica and Amanda

Part 1

Amanda's alarm clock went off at 6:00am sharp.  It was Friday and it was Lee and Amanda's last day of work before they were going on vacation with Philip and Jamie.  It was going to be their first family vacation and everyone was really excited about it.  Lee was especially excited since it was his idea and he had completed all the necessary travel arrangements. They were going to Florida and Amanda thought that was the perfect place to go for their first trip together.  As she thought about it she got out of bed and got dressed.  She knew that she better get to work in good time so that they could leave and have enough time to pack.  The week had been so busy that they hadn't had the time.  Lee even had to pull an all-nighter so that they would be able to make their flight tomorrow.

As soon as she was dressed, Amanda headed downstairs.  She entered the kitchen where she saw her mother cooking her favourite breakfast: oatmeal, toast and freshly squeezed orange juice.

"Oh Amanda, I'm glad to see you're up!  I couldn't sleep so I thought I would cook breakfast this morning.  Where's Lee, is he coming?"

"Good morning mother."  Amanda kissed her mother on the cheek.  "Lee had to work late last night, so he decided to stay at the agency."

"Oh, that's a shame, I was hoping I could cook you all one last breakfast for all of you before you go away," Dotty said as she stirred the oatmeal.

"It's okay mother.  You can always cook for us tomorrow since we don't have to leave for our flight until after lunch."

"Oh that's good," said Dotty as she put some oatmeal in a bowl.

"Now mother this looks really good, but I must run to work so that we can come home in good time.  We haven't had time to pack yet you know."

"But Amanda I..."

"Just give the food to the boys mother.  You know how much they eat now a days.  Sorry, gotta run"  Amanda took a piece of toast and ran out the door.

---------------

At the agency Lee was in Billy's office and tired since he hadn't gotten any sleep the night before.

"Now Lee," Billy said, "as soon as Amanda gets here I want you to tell her about your assignment."

"Yeah, I know Billy.  I just don't know how to break the news to her.  It was going to be our first family vacation.  A time when we could actually act like a normal family, when I could be myself around the boys without any interruptions," Lee said with a lump in his throat.  How in the world was he going to tell Amanda that their trip wasn't going to happen.  It was going to break her heart.

"I know Lee, and I'm very sorry that I have to do this, but Dr. Smyth wants you tow to take over while I'm away because he knows that you're the best for the job."  Just as Billy was finishing his sentence Amanda walked in.  "Who's best for what job, sir?"  Amanda asked with a curious look on her face.

"I'll let Lee explain that," Billy answered as he walked out the door, "I really have to run.  Good luck you two!"

"All right then."  Lee cleared his throat.

"What is going on Lee?" Amanda asked.

"Well Amanda...Billy has to go away for a while on some personal business and so..." Lee paused and looked at his wife.  "Lee please go on," Amanda said with a smile.  "Okay, well since we have done such a great job lately, Dr. Smyth has asked us to take over for Billy while he is gone.  So, that means..."

"That we can't go on vacation," Amanda said.

"Yeah," said Lee.

"Oh no," Amanda said as she sat down on a nearby chair, her heart sinking.  "The boys are going to be so disappointed."

"I know, I feel terrible.  All of us were looking forward to this time together."  Lee knelt down on the floor in front of Amanda.

"We shouldn't get too upset Lee," Amanda said looking in her husbands beautiful eyes, "I mean an opportunity like this doesn't come along very often, especially from Dr. Smyth and there will be other times to go on vacation."

"Yeah I know, but this was going to be perfect," Lee said as he took her hand, "I do promise you that after this whole mess is over we are going to go on our vacation."  Lee's eyes glimmered almost into tears.  "I know we will," Amanda said with a big smile.  "I hope you know how much I love you Amanda," Lee said as he kissed her softly on the lips.  "I know, and I love you too."  They kissed again, but then realized that they better go and get some work done.  They both got up and walked out of the office holding hands and feeling a little better.  Before they made it out of the bullpen, however, Dr. Smyth came up to them.  He was his usual charming self.

"Good morning Scarecrow, Mrs. Scarecrow.  Just the people I wanted to see."

"Good morning sir," Lee said, "we were just on our way to the Q Bureau."

"You don't need to go up there.  I want the two of you to work out of Billy's office," Dr. Smyth said as he lead them back to where they had come from.  Inside the office Dr. Smyth sat down in a chair and Lee and Amanda sat together on the couch.

"So," Dr. Smyth began, "I guess Billy informed you of my plans?"

"Well he didn't know much, only that he had to leave and so you thought that Amanda and I could fill in for him while he is away."

"Yes well that is partially correct."  Dr. Smyth got up out of his chair, lit up a cigarette and walked around the room.  "Scarecrow, you will take over Billy's position and Amanda...May I call you Amanda?"

"Yes, of course sir."

"Good.  Amanda, you will be Lee's assistant.  Does that sound okay?"

Lee looked into his wife's eyes and he could tell that she was okay with their temporary positions.  "Yes sir, I think that is fine with us."

"Good, then first thing on your agenda is to call a meeting and we can announce the new temporary arrangement."

---------------

Everyone met in the conference room and Dr. Smyth personally announced that Lee and Amanda were now in charge while Billy was away.  Afterwards, Francine came up and congratulated them.  "Good luck you two!"

"Hey, that's what Billy said before he left," Lee said, "Is there something you're not telling us?"

"No, just meant good luck because now instead of going to Billy when you have a problem, you have to go to you know who."  Francine looked at Dr. Smyth and Lee rolled his eyes.  "Oh I know Francine, that's why they put Amanda with me, so I won't blow my top."  All three of them laughed until Dr. Smyth walked up to them.  "Don't you three have some work to do?"

"Yes sir," said Amanda before Lee had a chance to say anything, "we were just leaving, weren't we Lee?"  She nudged him in the arm.  "Yes, just leaving sir," Lee answered rubbing his arm.

Dr. Smyth left the bullpen to go back to his office while Lee and Amanda went back to their new office to begin their new jobs.

---------------

When Dr. Smyth arrived back at his office Billy was sitting down on a chair reading over some files.  "How did it go downstairs?" Billy asked.

"Great," Dr. Smyth said as he sat behind his desk and lit up another cigarette, "Our plan worked perfectly.  Scarecrow and his wife think they are just in your office until you get back from your 'personal business'."

"So, they have no clue that this is all a test to see if they are ready for a promotion?"

"Not the faintest idea."

"Good."

"I hope this works Melrose.  I hope that Scarecrow is up to the challenge."

"Oh he is.  I know he is, and besides he will hopefully end up loving the job and wishing it was his all the time."

End of Part 1