No More Games

Chapter Twenty Six

Lee stood there in the gym totally bowled over by the fact that Amanda had come all the way here and wanted to talk! He gulped trying to get the air back in his lungs from the wallop of the punching bag before.

He shrugged, "Sure. Wh-When did your speech come back? "

Amanda sighed. "When I saw you leave my driveway and it hit me like a ton of bricks that you may have left for good. I- I never wanted that. I was just so angry at the world for what happened to me and all. I'm so sorry for everything I put you through. You didn't deserve it at all. Neither did my mother."

Lee nodded. "I understand you really felt powerless. Not being able to walk and do the things that came naturally to you. I really wanted to trade places with you. It killed me to see you so vulnerable for so long. "

Amanda cleared her throat. He really understood how she'd felt all this time and it thrilled her completely! She then said, "Speaking of which, I still can't drive for a while. Would you mind very much taking me home? "

Lee sighed cupping her cheek. "Wouldn't mind at all." Giving her a tender kiss he said, "Let me go change and we can get outta here, okay? "

Amanda nodded and Lee went to the shower and locker area. He was quick in the shower and then changed and came out and they held hands as they left the club and got into his car.

Amanda put her hand over his on the steering wheel as he drove and Lee said, "I know you miss the driving most of all."

Amanda shook her head saying, "But not the nightmares..."

Lee glanced carefully at her as he drove into Arlington. "What do you mean nightmares? Why didn't you tell me? "

Amanda shrugged. "Because I'd felt alone for the longest time and I didn't want anyone to fit me for a straitjacket-."

Lee sighed. "Tell me about the nightmares. Please. I want to help you through them."

Amanda said, "Well, they're always the same. I'm being chased into the Potomac because I don't have a better escape plan. I should've-."

Lee shook his head. "Amanda, even I knew that what happened was unavoidable. You heard gunfire and so you thought that if you stopped, you'd be killed, right?"

Amanda swallowed hard and said quietly, "That day was the scariest one I'd ever been through. I hope I don't have to relive that. "

Lee said, "Uh, well you still have to be debriefed by Billy. Sorry. If it would help, I could be there while you talk to Billy, okay? "

As Lee pulled into Amanda's driveway, she touched his shoulder. "That'd be nice. Thanks for the lift. "

Lee parked and took her hand and kissed it saying, " Any time. " They got out and came in the front door and her two boys, Phillip and Jamie nearly knocked her down giving her hugs!

Lee said quickly, "Hey guys! Easy! She still has a way to go yet."

Dotty witnessed the exchange and said, "Lee's right, fellas! Why don't you go on now and go do your homework, hmm? Your mother's not going anywhere. "

Amanda held her sons and shook her head. "It's okay, Mother. I've missed these two!" Giving them each kisses she finally let go and sighed. "Now you can go upstairs. I love you guys! "

The boys chimed in, "We love you too, Mom! " Then they took off and the three adults went into the family room and Dotty said to Lee and Amanda, "I still have the salad from our lunch we didn't eat. Anyone hungry? "

The two nodded and they all sat at the kitchen table and ate the salad and had iced tea as well. When they were finished, Lee helped Dotty clean up and then Dotty went upstairs to check on the boys.

Lee joined Amanda on the couch and said, "So.."

Amanda said, "Yeah. It's been a long time since we've really had a chance to talk. I'll understand if you have someplace to be right now though. "

Lee put a finger over her lips and said quietly, "The only place I want to be right now is here with you."

Amanda took his finger and kissed it saying, "So, where do we begin with our talk? "

Lee sighed. "I think we'd better start with the one I had with Leslie..."

TBC