Teen Mom

We're told Gary recorded his take on Lonestar's "Amazed" last week -- the pseudo-couple's "song" -- less than a month after a judge ordered Amber to stay the hell away from him and their child ... for beating the crap out of Gary on TV.

Here's the thing -- HE'S NOT THAT BAD, right? Anyone ..? Amber ...?

We spoke to Gary -- who explained his bad mouthing of Amber like this ... "I've said a lot of s**t because I am mad but if anyone wants to come up and talk s**t about Amber I won't let it happen because she is a good girl, and she's my baby mama."

Gary sounded like a textbook spousal abuse victim when he continued, "I am fine with the fact that Amber hit me because she has gotten all the help that she needs. Ever since that she hasn't put her hands on me."

As for a reunion with Amber ...Gary's optimistic. Kinda, sorta. "When the no contact order is lifted ... if she's single and I'm single then I'm sure we would try our relationship."

Get him while you can ladies.

In an audio recording from December obtained TMZ, Gary is heard on the phone with Krystal, Amber Portwood's cousin. Gary explains to Krystal he kind of has a crush on her ... pointing out, "You've got things that Amber don't ... like a job."

Then Gary drops a real gem and tells Krystal, "Amber is sluttish. You've been with six dudes, Amber's been with f**king a million."

The topper ... dude actually tries to convince Krystal to come to his place by saying, "If you ever want to piss off Amber, let me know."

Gary and his friends were on their way to spend NYE in NYC. We hit up Gary with all sorts of questions about baby mama Amber Portwood and his daughter Leah -- but Gary repeatedly, though quite respectively, declined to comment.

The one time Gary did get fired up was when he yelled at one of his friends for making an attempted joke about Leah.

The newest drama went down at Buffalo Wild Wings in Anderson, Indiana -- where Gary ran into Amber Portwood's newly crowned ex-boyfriend Clint ... and got into a verbal confrontation with Clint's brother.

But here's the rub -- once again, Gary's friend taped the whole thing ... only this time, he was inciting other people in the restaurant and threatening to make them "famous" by selling the video to other media outlets.

It's clear Gary knows what his friend is up to -- so we gotta ask ... is the whole thing a setup to make money? And if Gary knows conflict sells ... was the "violence" between him and Amber staged?

The audio -- recorded Dec. 15 -- captures "Teen Mom" co-star Gary on the phone with a girlfriend named Ashley. He's telling her how to stonewall reporters who got wind of a Dec. 14 incident where Amber allegedly beat him again.

Gary advises Ashley to tell reporters, "No comment, no comment, no comment ..." adding, "every time they leave you alone."

During the call, Gary admits, Amber "f**king hit me." You also hear Gary whisper to a friend in the room that Ashley didn't actually see Amber hit him -- she was outside waiting in a car.

In return for Ashley's silence ... Gary makes this gallant offer to her -- "Maybe one day we can start a family."

TMZ has obtained court documents "In The Matter Of Leah Shirley, A Child Alleged to be a Child in Need of Services."

According to the docs, the judge will conduct a "Fact-Finding Hearing."

Among the witnesses who will appear:

-- Amber Portwood, the mom
-- Gary Lee Shirley, the baby daddy whom Amber beat
-- Dorothy Ferguson, a Department of Children's Services staff attorney
-- Rebekah Johnson, DCS Case Manager

The docs also show Amber has denied the allegations of neglect: "Amber Portwood ... denies the allegations of the petition and the matter is set for a Fact-Finding hearing on 1/19/2011.

There is also reference to removing Leah from Amber's home, to secure the baby's "health and welfare."

We do not know the nature of the visit, however, sources say CPS has serious concerns about the welfare of baby Leah, whose mom, Amber Portwood, is now charged with felony child endangerment, among other crimes.

Earlier today, Amber was seen exiting a counseling facility near her home in Indiana.

Law enforcement sources tell us Gary called court officials this morning asking how he could help convince a judge he doesn't need a legal order prohibiting Amber from contacting him.

We're told Gary was informed either the prosecutor or Amber's attorney would have to file paperwork. Gary claimed he was "interested" in getting that done.

The video, which was shot by a friend in April, shows Shirley on the phone with Amber, as she rails on him. Far from looking like a victim, Shirley makes sure his friend captures the diatribe in all its glory.

At times Shirley and his friend are laughing at Amber, who sounds genuinely upset.

The police report detailing the violence that started months before this video was shot -- and continued after it -- notes Amber claimed it was not done for the TV show but was authentic anger.

So we want to know: Do you think Gary was really a "victim" of violence or was he playing it up for the camera ... as he seems to be in this video. And if so, should Amber be prosecuted?