Chapter 26

Billy's office was eerily quiet when Dr. Smyth left. Lee was standing beside Amanda, rubbing her back protectively, Francine standing, her arms crossed just watching Billy and Billy shaking his head, trying to process everything he had just heard. Amanda was the first to break the silence when she said, "Sir? What do we need to start doing for Internal Affairs? We know they will be involved so what can we start doing right now to get ahead of this?"

Billy slowly turned to look at her, almost confused for a moment before realizing what she was thinking. "You can start by writing out your reports down to every minute detail from when you left this office until you arrived back here this afternoon. I mean everything, a cough, a sneeze, all of it. Don't give Internal Affairs anything they can even nibble on, never mind sink their teeth into. As of now, you are all on Administrative suspension."

"Suspension? Billy, you can't be serious?" Lee bellowed angrily.

"I am and you are until this blows over. That means any additional cases you may have been working on will be turned over to someone else ASAP. Amanda, Senator Michaels' background checks… what is left?" Billy retorted.

"Nothing sir, it was just Noves and Elaine Harris… Veronica Tucker and now they're both … well…." Amanda explained, unable to verbalize the fact they were both dead.

"I understand, Amanda. So that's good. Francine, what were you working on?" Billy turned to her.

Francine dropped her arms and leaned onto Billy's desk as she replied, "Nothing. I passed off the case I was working on when you gave me and Edwards Veronica Tucker."

"Good, good. So you can focus on just this… Scarecrow?" Billy looked at Lee who was currently pacing nervously.

"Ah… nothing... " Lee answered dismissively, waving his hand for emphasis.

"Then I need reports from all of you on my desk tomorrow morning. Do them here, go home and work on them, I don't care, just get them done. And someone head over to the hospital and check on Edwards. We're going to need a report from him as well," Billy instructed the nervous agents.

"I'll go. I'll make sure he understands what we need. I've helped Lee with his reports enough times," Amanda offered.

"That's a good idea, Amanda. Check on his status as well. I need to know if he's going to be out for a while or if this is only short term," Billy agreed.

"Yes, Sir. I'll have Lee drive me over to there this evening once Edwards is settled into his room. Then we can talk privately," Amanda replied sweetly.

"Okay people, you all know what needs to be done. Right now it's about damage control. Let's make sure those reports are air tight. I'll see you all in my office first thing tomorrow morning," Billy dismissed the group.

Francine exited the room first, followed by Amanda and Lee. The trio stopped at the elevator and stood silently until they were inside. "What do you think is going to happen?" Amanda asked Francine quietly.

Francine shrugged her shoulders and replied, "Infernal Affairs will do their investigation and find we did nothing wrong. Amanda, you have nothing to worry about."

Glancing at Lee, Amanda stated, "It's not me I'm worried about."

Lee was standing silently, his hands jammed into his pockets, rocking on his heels nervously.

Francine leaned close to Amanda's ear and whispered, "You need to talk to him, away from here, find out what is going on in his head. This can't be easy for him. Amanda, take care of him, for all of us."

Amanda nodded in understanding before turning to Lee. "Lee, why don't we get out of here, work on these reports before heading over to the hospital," she said.

"Yeah, that's fine," Lee replied non-committedly.

Francine and Amanda exchanged a worried glance before the elevator doors opened. In silence the trio walked toward the parking lot, separating outside. In the car Amanda suggested, "Why don't we head to your apartment. I'll call Mother and tell her we won't be home for dinner. We can work on our reports without being interrupted and head over to the hospital before visiting hours end."

"I need to shower," Lee stated, not offering anything else.

They rode to Lee's apartment in almost uncomfortable silence, Amanda trying to draw Lee out every few minutes with no luck. Inside, Lee walked right into the bathroom off his bedroom, closing the door behind him, leaving Amanda standing in the living room shaking her head, confused. Hearing the water turn on, Amanda moved to the kitchen and made coffee. She sat at the dining room table and immediately began writing out the details of the day. By the time Lee emerged, dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, his hair still damp, Amanda was finishing her first cup of coffee, her report nearly complete.

"I made coffee," she offered, trying to get some kind of reaction from Lee.

He smiled weakly before replying, "Can we talk?"

"Of course. Here or in the living room?" she asked.

"Here's good," Lee leaned on the back of a chair, trying to collect his thoughts. Amanda waited but when he still didn't say anything after a full minute so she got up and poured him a cup of coffee. Sitting back down, she folded her hands and looked at him.

"Lee…" Amanda began at the same time Lee said, "Amanda."

"You first," Amanda said, smiling at him, hoping Lee would open up.

Pulling the chair out, Lee finally sat down, took a sip of the coffee Amanda had placed before him. "Thanks," he said before taking a deep breath. "Amanda, I can't tell you how scared I was today. Seeing Veronica pointing that gun at you… and yeah I know we've been in situations like this before but seeing her…"

Amanda reached across the table to hold his hand, "Sweetheart, I'm okay. I knew the risk, just like you…"

Lee shook his head, "You don't know Veronica… if Francine hadn't…"

"But she did and we are both safe," Amanda said softly rubbing his hand.

"I just… I just don't want to lose you now, not after everything we've been through," Lee stated.

Amanda got up and moved to put her arms around Lee's shoulders, he returned her hug with his arms around her waist. "You're not going to lose me. We've been down this road before and we're still here. And in just over four weeks we are going to be Mr. and Mrs. Stetson to the world, remember?" Amanda said softly as she held him close. She brushed a kiss across his forehead, Lee held her tightly.

"You're an amazing woman, Amanda Stetson," Lee said, a small smile on his face.

"And you have a report to write," Amanda teased. Releasing him, she sat back down across the table and picked up her pencil again.

Lee smiled again, sighed and replied, "The smell of that sauce on my clothes made me hungry. You hungry?"

Amanda shook her head and said, "You start your report, I'll make us some sandwiches. My boys try the same trick when they don't want to do their homework. So let's go, Stetson."

Two hours later, Lee finally pushed the notepad away. "I'm done. If Billy wants a rehash of everything that happened today, he just got it," he stated. Glancing down at his watch, he added, "We should probably head over to the hospital now, see how Edwards made out."

"Mother said the boys are fine. I told her we were visiting a friend that got hurt today and we would be home late. Do you want to stay the night at the house or will you head back here?" Amanda asked. She didn't think Lee should be alone but didn't want him thinking she was worried.

"You know what, I think I'll stay tonight, if that's ok. I… ah… I like waking up with my wife," Lee smiled as he leaned forward to give Amanda a kiss. "Oh, you know what Billy told me this morning… before everything happened?"

"No, what did Billy tell you?" Amanda asked, raising an eyebrow as she did.

Lee pulled her close, kissed her lightly before saying, "The house is officially ours." His dimpled smile lit up his face for the first time that day.

"Really? He's sure?" Amanda could hardly believe him.

"How about we bring your mother and the boys by Saturday morning? They don't have practice or anything, do they? I was thinking they could pick their rooms, get some ideas for a game room maybe in the basement, a place for them to hang out and still have some privacy," Lee said, his face lighting up more and more with each idea.

"I think that is a wonderful idea, Sweetheart! Now, let's go see Edwards then head home and tell everyone the good news," Amanda said before kissing him softly.

Lee pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. When they separated, he teased, "Or we could just stay here and celebrate…"

Amanda blushed, dropping her chin for a second as she shook her head. Looking up again, she stated, "Edwards is waiting for us… even if he doesn't know it."

"How very practical of you Mrs. Stetson," he replied but released her with one more light kiss.

"And Billy will appreciate your sacrifice. You'll just have to wait until later this evening, Mr. Stetson," she replied indicating his efforts may still be rewarded when they returned from the hospital.