Arlington Part 2

Standing as fast as she could, Amanda stood up and without thinking threw her arms around Colonel Robert Clayton, Lee Stetson's uncle. Uncharacteristically, Colonel Clayton hugged Amanda back. He hated tears more than his nephew did, but under the circumstances he didn't question her actions.

Patting her on the back he said, "Mrs. King, I understand you found him?"

Amanda nodded as she was still having a hard time speaking. The Colonel helped her back to her seat, sitting next to her as Billy walked up saying, "He has been taken to surgery. He has lost a lot of blood. It wasn't a gunshot wound; he was stabbed."

Amanda's hands flew to her mouth to silence her cry. "Is he going to be okay?"

"Amanda, they really don't know at this point. What was he doing at your house?" Billy asked.

"I really don't know. Mother and I went to lunch then did some shopping. We got home just as the boys were and I found Lee in my bedroom bleeding. He handed me the case and told me to get it to you. I really have no idea what is going on. Lee would not just come to my home with the chance that Mother and the boys could be there."

Just then Amanda's mother came off the elevator with a plastic bag with her. "Amanda, I brought you a change of clothes. The boys are worried but they are with Joe. I told them you would talk with them after they get home on Sunday. How is that man doing?"

Everyone stood staring at Dotty West and finally Amanda broke the silence by saying, "Mother, Lee has been taken down to surgery; he was stabbed. I thought you had a date to get ready for?"

"I called Kitty and told her to let him know that my daughter needed me. If that man really wants to go out then we can reschedule. Amanda, how do you think I could go out tonight after what happened at the house? I mean, what did happen at the house? Who was that man? How did he get in our house?"

Amanda sat and then before she had a chance to explain Colonel Clayton said, "That man was my nephew, Lee Stetson. He was on an assignment and became injured. Now the only thing we don't know is why he came to your daughter's house. The only thing I can think of is that he went to your house because of your relationship with one another. He was hurt and knowing his aversion to hospitals; he came to you, his girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" Was the response from every person in the room all looking from Amanda to the Colonel? Amanda blushed slightly at the lie that Lee obviously hadn't corrected his uncle on after their last visit. "Uh, Colonel, I think you should know that…"

"That Amanda you really should go change your clothes that your mother brought you." Billy intervened. Shaking her head Amanda took the bag her mother handed her and the two of them walked toward the bathroom.

In the bathroom, Amanda looked at herself in the mirror. What she saw staring back at her frightened her. Her hair, shirt, and pants all had blood on them. Dotty stood behind her and watched her daughter. She knew that Amanda was in shock but she also knew she was scared.

"Amanda, let's get you out of these and cleaned up." She walked over to her daughter and began help her out of her things. Amanda didn't resist the help as her mother took her shirt off over her head. She had gone to put the dirty clothes in the bag after taking the clean ones out. "Throw them away, Mother. I don't want them."

"Okay, I can do that."

"Are the boys okay, Mother?"

"They are fine, but they are worried for you and your friend."

"I should call them and talk to them when I am done here. I really should go and see them."

"Whatever you feel is best. Amanda, can you tell me who that man is to you?"

"Next to you and the boys, Lee Stetson is everything to me." Her tears returned as her mother held her allowing her to release the fear and pain she was feeling. Francine walked in seeing Amanda breaking down; she realized that even if the Colonel was mistaken by the real relationship between Lee and Amanda; it was clear that Amanda King loved Lee Stetson very deeply.

"Amanda, are you able to remember anything else? I am about to take the case back and see what we can get from it. Did Lee say anything else to you?"

"No, Francine, he just said to get that to Billy."

"Okay, call me if anything changes." Francine went to walk out then turned having Amanda face her eye to eye; "Call me if you need anything as well." Amanda nodded and hugged Francine.

Walking from the bathroom Amanda went and sat back down in the waiting room with her mother, Billy, and the Colonel. No one was talking until the Colonel asked, "Why was everyone so surprised that you and Skip are dating?"

Amanda could feel all eyes on her. She simply said, "Lee and I weren't really dating then. He just thought I was someone that you would approve of and he wanted a buffer at dinner. I'm sorry for lying to you."

"No, I understand. We didn't have the greatest relationship then, but I think you have helped get us closer. You said that you weren't then, does that mean that things are different now?"

"Nothing official; we do have dinner together now and then, but nothing definite."

"Funny, I got the impression then and since that Lee was quite taken with you."

"Amanda, how do you know this man?" Dotty asked.

"I work with him, Mother."

"I thought you said at the house that he was a Federal agent? You work at a film company."

Looking at Billy waiting for his silent approval she said, "No, no, I don't, Mother. IFF is a cover business for the real work of Federal agents. I work with Federal agents. That is the reason for all the crazy stories you never believe, the wild hours I work, and all the weird phone calls. Every time I have tried telling you the truth, you didn't believe me. I stopped trying. I am sorry. Lee is my partner and best friend. I have known him almost three full years. He has been a part of our lives without you even knowing it. He is the reason your flowers have been having a rough time of it."

A doctor walked in before Dotty could respond and said, "I am looking for the family of Lee Stetson?"

All four stood and the doctor said, "Okay, he is out of surgery. He lost a lot of blood. We even lost him twice on the table, not to mention the times in the ambulance, but he seems to have a strong will to live. We were able to give him the blood he needed. At this point he is still unconscious. His vitals are holding well and we are moving him to his room within the hour."

Amanda asked, "Can we see him?"

"Once he is in his room that will be fine, but only one or two at a time. I will send a nurse with his room number when we have him settled in."

Thirty minutes later, a nurse came and took them to Lee's room. Everyone stood waiting as the nurse gave them the rules, "Two of you can go in at a time for only about five minutes. He is still asleep and weak. He needs his rest." Billy went in first, checked on his friend and best agent.

"Lee, if you can hear me, you need to stay around. You can't leave me alone with Francine and Smyth. I need you on this one. Come back, my friend."

He left the room and told Amanda he would be back in the morning. He knew that she would leave unless something happened to the boys. He stopped at the nurse's station explaining to expect two agents within the hour and to inform her they would be posted out Lee's room. "Only the people on this list are allowed near that man; is that understood?"

"Yes, sir, that will not be a problem." Taking the list she reached for Lee's chart and made the notation.

The Colonel went to walk in and stopped. "Sir, are you okay?"

"I don't know what to say?"

"You don't have to say anything; just let him know you are there for him." Amanda encouraged.

"I will go with you." Dotty offered; taking both Amanda and Robert by surprise.

"Mother, are you sure?"

"Colonel, you obviously want to see your nephew; it is going to be difficult, you shouldn't have to do that alone."

Opening the door Dotty held it opened for the Colonel to pass through. Stepping into the room Amanda watched as the door closed and was glad that her Mother had dropped the subject of her job for the time being. She knew that when it was over she would have a lot of explaining to do. She was welcoming that conversation; even it meant giving her family time to heal from her lies.

Colonel Clayton looked down at his nephew taking in the resemblance to his younger half-brother, Matthew. Dotty spoke breaking the silence, "Mr. Stetson, I don't know you, but I sure would like to so if you could please just wake up and get better I have a cup of coffee with your name on it. The doctor said you tried to die twice, stop that. Do not do that again. If you do I will not be happy and you don't want to see me when I am upset, is that understood?"

Colonel Clayton smiled at the woman standing next to him and said, "That goes double for me, Skip. You do not have permission to die until we finish repairing our past like that Amanda of yours thinks we need to. Is that understood?" The only answer either one of them received was the sounds of the monitors and machines that Lee was hooked to.

They exited the room to find Amanda leaning against the wall waiting. Dotty walked over to her and said, "You don't have to hurry home; stay with him. Take care of your friend, we will talk later."

"Yes, Mother, we will, I promise. Mother, I love you." She said hugging her mother before walking into Lee's room.

The lights were dim, the monitors were loud and Lee was still. Amanda walked to the side of the bed and pulled a chair close. Placing her hand over his, she rubbed her thumb over his like he had done for her so many times in trouble to calm her. She reached with her other hand and picked up the phone and dialed Joe's number.

Joe answered, "Hello?"

"Joe, hello, how are the boys? Can I talk with them?" Amanda asked.

"How is Lee doing?" Joe asked.

"Hard to tell now, he was stabbed and died twice on the operation table. He is in a room right now and sleeping."

"Is that his monitors I hear in the back ground?"

"Yes, now I can I please talk with the boys for a second, Joe?"

"Fellas, your mother is on the phone and wants to talk to you. One of you can go in my office line and you can both talk with her."

"Mom; how is your friend?" They asked the same question at the same time making their mother smile at their concern for Lee, a man they didn't know yet.

"Hopefully he will be fine. He had to go through surgery and now he is resting in his room. I am going to stay here tonight and keep an eye on him while you two are at your Dad's house. Tomorrow evening when you get back from your dad's the five of us are going to sit and have a family meeting."

"Five of us; who is the fifth?" Phillip asked.

"I want your dad involved in this talk because when things affect you two it affects him and vice versa. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, Mom, I hope your friend is okay. Is he a real Federal agent?" Jamie asked.

"Yes, sweetheart, he really is. That is one of the things I need to talk to all of you about. Don't worry about Lee and have fun with your dad tonight. I love you both and I will see you tomorrow night; how does pizza sound?"

"Great, here's Dad, Mom."

Jamie hung up in the office as Phillip gave the phone back to his father. "Amanda, is everything really alright?"

Her voice broke as she said, "I really hope so. Joe, I am really scared. Usually when things like this happen Lee is here to make it all better and now…"

"And now he needs you to make it all better. Amanda, you are so strong; Lee needs your strength now. We will see you tomorrow. Take care."

Amanda hung up the phone as the nurse came in. "Mrs. Stetson?"

"No, my name is Amanda King. Mr. Stetson is my partner and friend."

"Sorry; I just came in to check his vitals. This is against regulation but your boss and the doctor both said that if you wanted you could stay in the room. They both think that if Mr. Stetson wakes he would need to see a friendly face." She said as she checked his vitals and made her notations.

The nurse left and Amanda began to talk to Lee; knowing he hated it when she rambled. "Lee, you need to really wake up. Do you really want me to partner with Fred Fielder? That is low even for Francine; she wouldn't even do that to me. In all these years, you have to admit that while I am not a full agent like Fred; I am still better at this than him. What were you doing to get yourself stabbed? Why did you come to my house and not Billy at the Agency? If you thought you were being followed, why my house with my family? I just want to understand. You confuse me so much; you always have."