Reflections

Chapter 1

Amanda hated being sick. She was used to helping everyone else when this happened , but now it was her turn!

And she wasn't about to call her family back from Vermont, for a little thing like a cold.

She called IFF to relay she wouldn't be in and Billy told her not to worry about anything there. Just to take care of herself and to return when she could.

She looked around the house while fixing her tea and saw she was low on some things but as long as she had her medicine and cough drops and tissues, she knew she'd be all right for a few days.

Her tea kettle whistled signaling her that the water was ready and as she steeped the teabag she put the thermometer in her mouth once more.

Returning to the family room couch she put the tea cup down on the coffee table and after a few minutes, took the thermometer out and shook her head.

It was still at 100.1.

She sighed and looking at her watch saw that it wasn't quite time to take her next dose of medicine, at least not for another half hour.

As she laid down she thought, Was it starve a cold, feed a fever or the other way around?

She couldn't remember at that point and shrugged muttering, "Oh, well. I'm not hungry anyway."

She put on the TV and yawned finally finding an old movie and pulled the blanket over her settling in to watch it but soon enough, had drifted off to sleep.

She stirred some time later to the smells in her kitchen, soup to be exact and bread maybe?

Sitting up on the couch she turned to see Lee of all people stirring something in a pot and mumbled sleepily, "Lee? How did...What're you doing here? My mother didn't call, did she?"

Smiling he turned the stove on low and came over to her putting a hand on her forehead gently stating, "Hi. Looks like you've been out a while You're still kinda warm, though."

Getting the thermometer he shook it and remarked bringing it to her mouth replied, "Open wide..."

About to protest she was stopped by it entering her mouth as Lee commented shaking his head, "Quiet! That is, if you can do that for at least a couple of minutes here-"

Amanda immediately took it out of her mouth and responded quickly, "I will as soon as you tell me-"

But Lee grabbed it out of her hand and stuck it back in her mouth answering firmly, "As soon as we find out your temp here, okay? Now just relax, huh?"

So Amanda had no choice in the matter. She had to wait...

Meanwhile as she waited, she studied her partner thinking, What is he even doing here? Had he called saying he'd be stopping by and she just forgot?

Shaking her head she then thought, This just doesn't make sense. I know he's got better things to do on a Friday night then to come see a sick housewife/civilian auxillary.

Then Lee removed the thermometer answering slowly, "Ahh. Only went down by one degree."

Putting it back on the tissue she had on the table he got up commenting, "We have to get you well. Time for soup."

As Lee went to get bowls and utensils Amanda got up slowly and eyeing her get up he firmly remarked, "Sit down now! I will bring this to you on a tray if you will just be patient, all right?"

Amanda shook her head replying, "Lee! I'm okay for the moment. Just a little tired, is all. I can eat in the kitchen-"

Lee growled stating, "You are the most obstinate-"

Amanda shrugged asking,"And you're pretty good at hiding things. Now, please. Has my mother called? Because if she finds out you're here-"

Lee sighed and gestured to the kitchen table answering, "Sit down and have some soup...C'mon."

As Amanda sat Lee brought over everything including oyster crackers.

She reached for them but Lee took the bag from her responding, "Uh-uh. I don't know what you can handle on an empty stomach tonight. Try it solo, huh?"

Amanda sighed and shrugged resignedly replying, "Fine. But let me guess. Mr. Melrose told you I was sick, so you felt obligated to-"

Lee shook his head remarking, "Oh, c'mon! I came because I felt like it, okay? I only came by to see if-if you needed anything, that's all."

Amanda swallowed commenting, "Oh... Well...Thank you. I think I'm pretty much set with my medicine and all."

Taking a taste of the soup she answered, "It's very good. Now, about my mother?"

Lee sighed and getting up from the table went over to her answering machine and pressed the Play button.

It was her mother from three o' clock that afternoon.

She stated: "Hello, Darling. I was hoping to catch you if you were home from work. Which of course as usual, you're not yet...Oh, well. Anyway. Your Uncle Herman has come down with the flu, so the boys and I are staying a few extra days. It's a good thing they're off from school the rest of the week. I'll call again when I get a chance. The boys send their love and we'll see you later, all right? Take care, Dear. Bye, bye..."

The message clicked off and Lee queried to Amanda, "There. Feel better now?"

Amanda sighed answering, "Poor Uncle Herman. Hope he'll be better soon."

Lee nodded remarking, "I know. And I'm sure he will be. Now, why don't you finish that bowl and then you can go lay down again."

Amanda shook her head asking, "Lee... It isn't that I don't appreciate what you're trying to do here, but...why-"

Lee shrugged questioning her, "What is it, Amanda?"

Amanda took another spoonful of soup to placate him and commented, "I really need to know why you're here. I mean, it's Friday night and usually, you have a date or two lined up and-"

Lee groaned answering, "You know, I'm really starting to regret coming over here at all."

Putting up a hand as she was about to answer he replied defensively, "Okay, okay! As soon as you finish and I get you settled back on the couch I will clean up everything and leave. All right, Your Highness?"

The genuine hurt he showed in his eyes spoke volumes to Amanda as she responded quietly, "I'm sorry. It's really very sweet what you're doing. I-I guess I'm not used to having people fuss over me. It's just that it's only a cold and I will be over it soon enough. But I just don't like to lean on anyone when I'm sick. I usually help them, you know? But-But it's all right. You can stay if you want."

Lee half smiled as he patted her hand and remarked, "All right. Let's finish the soup and you can get some rest, hmm?"

Amanda nodded and they finished a while later with Amanda leaving half a bowl.

Lee shook his head at her but stated, "It's okay. You can have what's left over later. Let me go clean up. You go ahead over to the couch."

Amanda went over to lay down and queried, "That was good soup. Where did you get the recipe?"

Lee smiled as he was making room in her fridge for the soup pot and commented, "Believe it or not, it was my mother's. Her own version of Leek and Stilton soup. My uncle had been given some of my parent's things after they died and that was among my mother's things, along with jewelry and pictures..."

And as Lee finished speaking he looked over and Amanda had dropped off to sleep.

He shook his head thinking, Best thing for her right now...

But it didn't last long.

Within forty five minutes, Amanda was up and running to the bathroom to vomit!

Lee rushed after her and upon reaching her went to hold her hair back until she was done.

A few moments later Amanda sat down on the floor against the toilet answering weakly, "I'm so sorry. I dunno why I'm feeling this way now. Maybe it's good that you are here, huh?"

Lee dampened the hand towel that was there and mopped her forehead commenting gently, "And maybe it's not just a cold, huh? Maybe you caught a bug of some sort and you didn't realize it."

Looking at her concernedly he queried, "Do you think you can get up now or do you need to sit a minute?"

Amanda shrugged as she leaned her head against the toilet stating softly, "It's cool here. Feels good..."

Lee then felt her forehead and shook his head remarking, "Aw, jeez! You're burning up! Here, let's get you to your room and I'll get your meds and some aspirin. C'mon..."

He helped her up and then as they reached the landing he picked her up and carried her upstairs to her room amid her tired protests!

Placing her gently on her bed he answered, "Stay put, all right? I'll be back."

It took Lee no time at all to return with her medicine and some water from her bathroom.

Getting Amanda settled in her bed he gave her the aspirin as well and remarked, "Now, I'll be right downstairs if you need me-"

Just then the phone rang and as Amanda reached for it Lee shook his head replying, "You have a machine, remember? Now, get some sleep and I'll check on you in a little while..."

At the door on his way out he commented, "And I'll leave this open a bit so you can yell for me if you need to, okay?"

Amanda nodded and responded weakly, "Th-Thank you, Lee."

He winked answering, "You're welcome. Lie down now..."

He waited until she got comfortable and closed her eyes before he headed downstairs.

Getting to the kitchen he checked the answering machine.

It was Amanda's mother leaving yet another message that stated: "Hello, Sweetheart! I hope you get this message because I have some good news. Aunt Edna has come to visit and insisted that she will stay to look after Uncle Herman who's holding his own thankfully, so we decided to come back in the morning. I decided to have us fly home this time and our plane lands at nine AM, but don't worry about coming to get us. We're taking a cab home. See you tomorrow, Darling! Bye, Bye!"

The machine clicked off and Lee panicked. Tomorrow morning?!

He had to think of something.

He couldn't just leave Amanda to fend for herself at this stage. She was still too weak and hopefully her fever would go down during the night, but what if it hung on?

As he pondered what to do it amazed him that he started to care about someone like her in this way.

When had that happened?

Usually when they were together at work he couldn't wait to be free of her and he was sure that she felt the same at certain times.

And yes, it was he who initially needed her the day they met for one little piece of help.

But who knew they'd still be working together, one crazy case after another?

And if it wasn't for Billy he probably wouldn't have seen her again for the rest of his life, and it wouldn't have been a bad thing.

Or would it?

TBC