Amanda running almost blindly now that the sun set tripped over a large rock stumbled and fell forward rolling down a the mountain side. Trying to grab onto anything that would help stop her rapid descent she managed to wrap her arm around a branch.

Looking down she could make out the faint outline of a ledge closing her eyes and saying a small prayer she let go of the branch and dropped to ledge below. When she felt herself land she let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding and sighed a breath of relief that she hadn't drop to her death.

Amanda's head turned when she heard his voice again. "Where did you go little rabbit? Best rest up because you know I'll find you in the morning!" His statement was punctuated by the laugh she had heard the night before and she couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

Drawing her legs up and resting her head on her knees she tried to sleep but every noise she heard startled her. She was scared, exhausted, hungry, thirsty and in a lot of pain. "Not sure you're going to make it out of this one Amanda."


Lee and Francine searched the cave they had left Amanda in while the other team members patrolled the area around the cave searching for clues and keeping their eyes open for the mercenaries.

Lee looking at all the spent shells in and around the mouth of the cave stared upward "I shouldn't have left her."

"Lee she told you to go she knew you needed medical help and she'd never forgive herself if that chip hadn't been delivered. I should have come back though maybe I could have... I don't know."

"No Francine it would have been to dangerous you probably would have been shot." Lee looked over at Francine and let out a small laugh "Who would have thought 6 years ago the two of us would be debating something like this."

"Yea, well you may have fallen in love with her but Amanda's my friend probably my best friend. Guess she kind of sneaks up on you."

They stayed silent for a bit each trying to work out their guilt.

"Lee there's no blood so she's probably OK where would she head?"

"If she could she'd head north towards the border."

"OK let's get up in the choppers and start looking. She's on foot she couldn't have gotten to far."


Amanda woke up and groaned her whole body ached and even though she had managed to sleep on and off throughout the night she was still exhausted. "Well Amanda it's time for a feast of water and granola. Maybe I can pretend its steak and wine."

Looking over the ledge she decided it was the only way to go. Heading back up meant heading back towards her hunter definitely not the best option. Getting out the rope from her backpack and tying it around a branch she threw the rest of the rope over the side. The rope didn't quite reach the ground the below but it was close and she felt confident that she could make it. She really didn't feel like she had any other options.

Just as she started her descent his face appeared over the ledge. "There you are little rabbit told you I find you."

Amanda looked up at the man who had been chasing her and wondered if this was the way it would end. "No Amanda you're not a quitter!" Watching him lower himself down to the ledge she continued her journey down the cliff urging her banged up body to move faster.


Francine piloted the helicopter over the area while Lee scanned the ground looking for Amanda. "I know this is going to sound crazy because I have no reason other then a feeling but head towards those cliffs."

"Ha! Lee I know better then to argue with either you or Amanda when one of you has a feeling about the other." Francine smiled over at Lee as she maneuvered the helicopter in the direction Lee had pointed out.

Amanda could hear the helicopter coming but couldn't concentrate on that now she had to focus all of her energy on staying ahead of the man who had been hunting her.

"Oh My God Lee Look!"

Lee looking over to where Francine was pointing saw his wife let go of a rope and fall a few feet to the ground then getting up and running without even looking back. It took him a few seconds to process that someone was chasing her.

"Francine we need to land NOW!"

"I know, I know. I'm looking for a landing spot."

Lee continued to watch in horror as the man raised his rifle and prepared to shoot at his wife.

Amanda stopped running and turned around to face her hunter. Pulling her knife out of her backpack noting the irony that she brought a knife to a gun fight.

"Well little rabbit I see your friends finally found you. To bad it's to late."

Amanda stood there with her knife knowing she had one chance at what she was about to do. Watching him take aim at her head she threw her knife at his chest.

She watched as he dropped his rifle and pulled the knife out his chest looking at it with a disbelieving look on his face. Lunging at Amanda he threw her down to the ground.

"Lee I can set down over there. Hold on."

Francine had barely landed when Lee jumped out of the helicopter and started running towards his wife. "AMANDA!"

Amanda was struggling under the weight of her attacker she felt the knife slicing through her arm and hands as she tried to fight him off. He plunged the knife into her stomach then pulling it out he plunged it into her chest. She felt him pull it out again and she reached for his hands trying her best to push the knife in his direction finally managing to thrust it into his neck she felt him collapse on top of her.

Feeling someone pull her attacker off of her Amanda looked up and saw two beautiful hazel eyes looking at her full of concern. "You found me." Her voice barely above a whisper.

"I promised I would." Tears falling down his face wishing that he had found her earlier.

Reading his face Amanda reached her hand up and touched his face "No Lee ... Don't...think...like...that...found...me. I love...you." Her hand went limp and dropped from his face and she passed out.

Francine ran over "I called the other teams..." stopping when she looked at Lee's face and seeing Amanda. "I brought the first aid kit. Is she?"

Taking the kit Lee looked over at Francine "She's alive but we need to get her out of here."

The two of them worked together trying to bandage up Amanda as best of they could. Lee picked her up and headed towards the helicopter "Keep fighting Amanda. I love you."


Tucson, AZ

Amanda awoke and saw Lee's head resting on her bed holding her hand she tried to squeeze his hand but didn't have the strength. Feeling Amanda's eyes on him he shifted in his chair and looked at her "Hi beautiful"

Kissing her hand he stood up "Let me go get your doctor." Amanda just followed him with her eyes and slightly nodded her head.

Lee returned with the doctor and Francine a few minutes later "Amanda this is Dr. Ryan."

"You gave quite the scare Mrs. Stetson but it looks like your husband and Ms. Desmond were right you're not a quitter."

Amanda looked at her husband and shyly smiled.

Lee smiled back "I know, I know but you didn't and my life wouldn't have been the same if you had.

Dr. Ryan with a slightly confused look on his face "Did I miss something?"

Francine laughed "Don't worry doctor they seem to have a way of reading each others minds. Sometimes they seem to have whole conversations without uttering a word."

Dr. Ryan smiled and then looked at Amanda "Well Mrs. Stetson I need you to try and say something out loud for me."

"Tired" Amanda managed to whisper.

"Very good Mrs. Stetson. I'll leave and let you get some rest. I'll be back later."


Maplewood Dr. 4 weeks later.

Amanda lay on the couch snuggling with Emily waiting for Lee and the boys to return from picking up a movie and pizza "What do you think Emily? Maybe they'll Bring home a comedy." Emily looked at her yawned and shook her head a little before closing her eyes. "Yea, I know to much to hope for."

"What are you two talking about?" Lee asked smiling down at his two favorite girls.

"Men and movie choices."

"Oh? Well the boys wanted Crocodile Dundee II" Laughing when he heard Amanda groan "But I managed to talk them into Big." Leaning over to kiss her "Have I told you how much I love you lately."

"I never get tired of hearing it and I love you too."

Phillip and Jamie both let out groans.

Dotty looked at her two grandsons "What's the matter boys?"

Phillip sighed "Oh, nothing its just do they have to be so mushy all the time?"

"Yea, it's not like they don't see each other all day." Jamie added.

Dotty just smiled "Come on boys lets go make the popcorn and give them a few more minutes." Dotty looked up "Thank you for helping them find each other."

The End