Mom, Secrets And More

Chapter 34

Amanda returned to the bullpen after Dr. McJohn took care of her eye and asked Francine, "Have you seen Lee?"

Francine stated, "Up in the "Q". Don't say I didn't warn you about his mood, though..."

Amanda asked concernedly, "Oh? I know he was upset earlier, but what's wrong now?"

Francine gave her a blank look and asked, "You're kidding, right? He's worried about you and your son. About what all of you went through because of Hawkins. Agents usually have to remain detached in some way. Lee went through years of training to deal with the unexpected cases he's had to handle. We've had agents burn out or be killed, like his first partner. But this?! He's upset because he's blaming himself and doesn't know how to help his partner who's got a kid that went through a pretty rough time but she's acting like everything's peachy-"

Amanda put up a hand and gestured to her injured eye answering firmly, "Hold on, Francine! I never said everything was peachy! Were you in the room when I mentioned Jamie's nightmare? And this was an accident," she said pointing to her eye.

Francine sighed and shrugged remarking, "Okay. So why tell Lee that you and Jamie are fine when clearly you're not? Look, Lee cares about you and wants to help you because you're his partner and friend. Why not let him try?"

Amanda commented tiredly, "Because Jamie wanted to go back to school today and that told me that for right now, he is fine. Besides, if I force the issue with him it'll only upset things more...I know my son, Francine. If he needs to talk he will, all right-"

Francine put up a hand answering, " Sorry. Just trying to also be a friend here."

Amanda nodded and said, "I-I know. Thank you for your concern...I'm gonna go see Lee now."

Francine touched Amanda's arm then. "Hey...You do know that we are here for you and your family, Amanda?"

"Yeah, I know, Francine. Thanks a lot. I mean it." Francine nodded and Amanda walked towards the elevator.

Coming off the elevator in the main foyer where Mrs. Marston was a few moments later, Amanda gave a nod and was heading to the stairwell to head for the "Q" Bureau when Mrs. Marston remarked with a shake of her head looking upwards to the office, "I wouldn't go poking an angry bear right now."

Amanda sighed and replied softly, "Yes, I know Lee's upset with me, but I'll handle it."

Mrs. Marston answered, "It's a concerned anger, which is why I think you'll be all right."

"Duly noted. Thanks." Amanda commented as she headed up the stairs.

Coming to the office, she let herself in, locking the door behind her, and putting her purse in the bottom right hand side drawer of her desk, she sat and put her forearms on the desk, resting her hands on them.

Looking at Lee, she stated, "Hi. Look, I'm sorry about earlier in Dr. McJohn's exam room. Are you okay?"

As Lee saw her sit at her desk, he noticed her eye and swallowed shaking his head, querying gently, " I'm okay. Just worried about you. How are you doing?"

Amanda sighed and responded, "Okay. Dr. McJohn says the swelling should go down tonight and the eye should be better in a few days. He gave me ibuprofen to help if I need it. Lee... I'm sorry if I've upset you by not talking about this but as I told you earlier and just now Francine, Jamie isn't talking about this and probably won't until he's ready to..."

Her desk phone rang and she answered,"Hello?"

Lee noticed her expression turn serious as she listened intently and asked the caller urgently, "When? Well, is he all right? I-I see. No, I'll be there soon. Thank you for calling. Goodbye..."

She hung up putting her elbows on the desk and her head in her hands and gulped commenting, "Oh, gosh..."

Lee came over and knelt in front of her at her chair and asked carefully, "What happened? Is it Jamie?"

Amanda nodded and remarked quickly, "He was outside with his classmates for gym class just now when something exploded in the science lab near the football field! No one was hurt, but he yelled for everyone to take cover and went under the bleachers and he's still there. No one can get him out..."

Lee swallowed hard and queried carefully, "He may now be reliving the bomb incident in Anacostia. May I go with you?"

Amanda answered quietly and gulped, "Y-Yeah. That would help, I think. Thank you..."

Lee helped her up from the desk chair and held her for a moment stating softly, "Hey...He's gonna be all right."

Amanda nodded slowly as Lee then got on the phone dialing Billy's extension and when Billy answered Lee responded, "There's a problem with Jamie at school. I'm going with Amanda now..."

Billy questioned concernedly, "Need any of us there?"

Lee replied somberly, "No, I don't think so... Be back soon."

He hung up as Amanda got her purse out of her desk and they left the office.

As they got to Amanda's car, Lee asked, "Want me to drive?"

Amanda nodded wordlessly handing him the keys as he helped her into the passenger side.

As they buckled up, Amanda sighed and asked Lee shakily, "Is this what they call hitting a wall?"

Lee squeezed her hand nodding as they pulled out of the Agency parking lot, "Yeah, I'm afraid it is..."

TBC