"Amanda?" Lee called as he staggered towards the cot.

"I don't feel so good." She answered, reaching out to him. Lee settled back onto the cot and pulled her close.

"Don't worry, don't worry. It's Zap Gas. And right now, you won't be able to move. Let's get comfortable. It only lasts a few minutes."

"Better last longer than that." She managed, making him smile. That was his Amanda, alright. Bruised, beaten, dehydrated, gassed and drugged but she still managed to make him smile.

As soon as the fumes began to dissipate, the Agency EMTs rolled a gurney into the room, Billy hot on their heels. Lee was able to stand up under his own steam but Amanda was taking longer to recover. The two paramedics easily lifted her onto the rolling bed and Lee took her hand.

"Billy, I'm going with her." Billy nodded and looked down at Amanda.

"How are you feeling, Amanda?"

"I'm fine, sir." Amanda managed unconvincingly. "I just want to go home."

"Not until the Agency doctors say you can." Lee told her.

"Lee,"

"Don't argue with me, Amanda." Billy bit back a grin. It wasn't often that Lee got autocratic; in fact he'd always been more of a live-and-let-live kind of guy. The only person he ever tried bossing around was Amanda, but he had never tried except in the field. To Billy's knowledge, he'd never succeeded even then. The fact Amanda was letting him get away with it was a testament to how she was feeling.

"Go on." Billy urged. "Just make sure that the docs give you a once over too, Scarecrow. I'll book Birol and you can debrief us later."

"Thanks Billy."

"Scarecrow." Doc McJohn called, stepping out of the room where he'd been examining Amanda.

"How is she, doc?"

"Not great, but that's to be expected. She took one hell of a beating. She's obviously dehydrated and sleep deprived. She'll need help, and time, to process everything that's happened to her. She's… combative which I don't think is like her."

"No, it isn't." Lee agreed, running a hand through his hair.

"Well, she can't go home in her condition." Billy said.

"I'll take her to my place." Lee announced. It was not a suggestion.

"I'm prescribing ten days of complete R-and-R. But I want her to see Pfaff or Quidd every day. I'll get the appointments sorted and call you later. I think she's going to need some help dealing with what happened to her."

"I'll make sure she's here for any appointments." Lee promised.

"Good. One more thing, she'll need some clothes. We bagged hers for evidence." Lee felt his blood run cold at the implications but forced himself to focus on what Amanda needed.

"Was she…" He couldn't say the word. Doc McJohn didn't need him to.

"No. There was some sexual assault, but it didn't go as far as rape. There are burns and blood stains though." Lee took a deep breath.

"I've got some sweats in the car. I'll go get them and be right back."

Racing to his car, Lee riffled through the gym bag and found a pair of clean sweatpants, a t-shirt, and a Georgetown hoodie. As he slammed down the trunk hood, his knees buckled and he dropped onto the cement floor. For a moment, he sat there, desperately trying not to throw up. Now that he knew Amanda was safe, it was like his entire nervous system was turning on him, taunting him with every fear he hadn't been willing to consider while Birol had her. Gasping for air, he used every bit of training he had to bring himself under control. He was going to walk down to the infirmary and collect Amanda. Then he was going to take her back to his place and hold on to her until he stopped feeling like this. He suspected that might take a month.

Using the car bumper for support, Lee got up and made his way back down to the infirmary. He wasn't surprised to find Billy and Francine there checking on Amanda. "Lee, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine." Smiling at Francine, he gave her a quick hug. "Thanks for seeing this through, Francine. I owe you."

"Consider it a down-payment on what I owe you." She told him, eyeing Billy.

"Uh, Billy. Listen, I'm sorry about –"

"Save it, Scarecrow. It all worked out in the end and that's the most important thing." Giving Lee one of his trademark Displeased Manager faces, he continued. "Doc McJohn tells me that Amanda will need care for the next ten days though. So to remind you who is in charge around here, I'm making taking care of Amanda your assignment. Maybe a week of playing nursemaid will help you keep me in the loop in the future." Lee bit back a smile of gratitude and nodded.

"Yes sir." Satisfied, Billy led Francine away and Lee stepped into Amanda's room.

"Hey." He greeted softly. Attired in the hospital-style gown, the bruises on her arms, legs, and shoulders were glaringly obvious. She even had a bruise on her jaw that he hadn't noticed before. He could see a few dressings that he supposed were covering wounds.

"Hey." Amanda answered, looking down at her hands. Lee felt as if his heart was being crushed. She was his best friend, soon to be his wife, and they were already having to deal with something major. Taking a deep breath, Lee decided that he was going to rise to the challenge.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he reached out and lifted her chin so she was looking at him. "Doc McJohn told me about… your injuries." She nodded.

"I told him he could." She admitted before looking away. "If… Lee, if you want to change your mind –"

"Amanda King, you listen to me and you listen to me good." Lee told her firmly. "There's nothing in this world that could possibly change my mind about marrying you. And I'm not going to let you change your mind about it either. There's no way I'm letting the likes of Adi Birol ruin our future together. I love you and we're going to get through this together." She gave him a wobbly smile. "Now, I think that maybe I'll be in charge for now, eh? All you need to do is do what you're told."

"For a change?" Amanda quipped. Lee gave her his best Stetson smile for her efforts.

"A refreshing change." He agreed. "Now, do you need help getting dressed?" He offered, handing her the clothes.

"No, I think I'm okay, if you'll just untie this." Lee reached over and tugged the strings at the neck and waist of the hospital gown before kissing her and getting up.

"Alright, I'll wait outside."