Too Close To Call

Lee and Amanda were heading down the stairs from the construction site as Gordon Redding was being led away in handcuffs, and the EMT's were taking Karen Brinkman out on a stretcher, her body covered with a sheet. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and as Lee helped Amanda into his car, she murmured shakily, "That-That could've been me, Lee..."

Lee swallowed hard, seeing Amanda's sudden ashen pallor as he went to the driver's side, and getting in, stated firmly patting her arm and shaking his head, "It wasn't, Amanda! You're fine. I got you out of there, okay? Everything's all right now-"

Amanda protested, still a bit unnerved by the incident, "Lee! If I hadn't said what I said up there, you know Karen would've killed you, and then my mother would be raising my children with her, because she would've gotten away with it-"

Lee touched her hand and answered quickly, "No! Your mother would have known it wasn't you! You don't smoke, and you only drink socially like me. Besides, I told you, you said, "Oh, my gosh". I never heard that woman utter those words. That's how I knew it was you finally-"

Amanda swallowed and replied shaking her head, " Well, Gordon told me the plan he had about Karen replacing me to get back at you. He said everything was perfect. She was a complete exact lookalike for me. But he also said he thought that you and I were a lot closer, which would've made killing you easier somehow-I dunno... It didn't make sense to me-"

Lee cleared his throat answering quietly, " He was behind the two agents we lost...Creadle and Treloggen. They were found dead in their hotel rooms. Karen must have started impersonating you then, but we didn't know yet, because the hotel people just told the police that the woman that was with them was average looking."

Amanda shrugged lightly and replied, "Well, that's me in a nutshell, I guess-"

Lee shook his head remarking, "Ohh, no! You are far from average, Amanda King."

Amanda tilted her head at him and clearing her throat, answered with a half smile, "Really? Thanks. That's nice of you to say, Lee. Look, can we just go now? This place gives me the willies."

Lee chuckled lightly at her phrase and nodding as he pulled the car out of the area, responded, "You bet. I'll take you to the hotel to meet with your family, and you can debrief with Billy tomorrow, alright?"

Amanda nodded answering, "Sure...Um, about my house? She's been there and I'm sure it's a mess, and I just don't feel comfortable having my family back there yet, you know?"

Lee commented, dialing his car phone, "Let me check, okay?", and putting on his speaker, connected with the Agency, and Billy answered, "Melrose."

Lee stated, "Billy? It's me. Amanda and I are okay, and I'll be in to debrief about Gordon Redding in a while, but I'm dropping Amanda off to see her family at the hotel. Everything clear at her house?"

Billy replied, "Yes, Scarecrow. The house has been swept thoroughly. Amanda? It's safe for you to bring your family home tonight, if you'd like."

Amanda sighed. "Thank you, Sir. I appreciate all you've done. See you tomorrow."

Lee answered then, "Thanks, Billy. See you soon."

But as he hung up the phone, he noticed Amanda's demeanor had changed slightly, and looking concernedly at her asked, "Hey, you're not alright, are you?"

Amanda just shook her head and replied in a ramble and a gesture with her hands, "Not really...Still shaky from being up that high. I mean, not that I'm afraid of heights really. Gosh, you should see me with the boys on the roller coasters at the amusement park. But not the upside down ones. I can't do those at all, but we have a blast anyway, and-"

Lee grabbed her left hand with his right one and said softly to stop her chatter, "A-Amanda! Hey...Look at me."

Amanda sighed deeply and looked at Lee as he responded gently, "Let's go take a breather, huh?"

Amanda shook her head answering, "Thanks, but I don't want a drink-"

Lee shook his head replying, "I didn't say a drink. I mean, we'll just go to the park and relax. We'll sit, we'll talk, whatever you want until you feel better, okay?"

Amanda gulped and commented with a nod, "Sure."

-SMK-

They went to Rock Creek Park and sat on one of the benches near the footbridge, but Lee noticed Amanda shivered at one point, and putting an arm around her, asked, "What is it? You feel cold?"

Amanda shrugged as Lee held her close and she replied, "It's silly. She's gone, and I'm still afraid. I mean, she went through my house, touched my things. I'll never get the cigarette smell out completely-"

Lee sighed and stated, "Amanda, Billy had the house swept. Meaning fingerprints and all, and had the place aired out. It's all right now."

Amanda rose from the bench asking quietly, "Is it? I mean, I thought I was handling Agency stuff pretty well, but this hit too close to home, and I-"

Then Amanda suddenly sank to the ground and Lee rushed to her side, and holding her, gently patted her face, with no response. "Amanda? Amanda!"

He uttered, "Damn," then scooped her up and carried her back to the car, and settling her in, got on his car phone to dial Billy.

When Billy answered, "Melrose," Lee stated, "Billy, it's me! I'm bringing Amanda to the infirmary. She just passed out on me! We were here at the park!"

Billy answered, "I'll have Scardelli meet you there..."

Lee was there within minutes, and Amanda was put on a gurney and taken back to the exam area.

The nurse, Rachel, said, "Sorry. You'll have to stay in the waiting area until the doctor finishes his exam. Excuse me."

She left quickly, and Lee then saw Billy getting off the elevator nearby, and Billy asked, "What happened?"

So, Lee related what had occurred since he and Amanda left the construction site, and he lamented, "She was a little unsettled, but she's usually able to come back from things. This shook her up a bit too much, I think. Damn, Billy. If I'd only known what Redding was planning-"

Billy shook his head responding, "No one could've foreseen this, Scarecrow. Don't beat yourself up about it. I'm sure Amanda doesn't blame you-"

Just then, Dr. Scardelli came out from the exam area and greeting both men answered, "Amanda's fine. She just needs rest for a while. I've given her a light sedative, and she'll be able to go home later."

Lee nodded and asked, "Can I see her now?"

Not waiting for an answer, Lee headed back to the exam area.

Seeing Amanda asleep and laying so still, Lee shook his head and began to pace, trying to put his thoughts together.

He sighed deeply and looked at the woman who turned his world upside down almost three years ago.

Shaking his head as he paced, he remarked, "I'm really sorry for everything you've been through, Amanda. Not just today, but since the day we met. I should've insisted to Billy that he not have you on board with us from then on."

Continuing to pace slowly, he faltered a bit, then putting a hand up and saying as if she were awake, "J-Just hear me out, huh? My mind's going a mile a minute here..."

Clearing his throat, he responded shakily, "H-How many times are we supposed to cheat death in this crazy business, you know? From the tally here, I'd say that you've racked up more than nine lives, Amanda..."

He chuckled lightly and nodded answering, "I-I know, I'm to blame for getting you mixed up in the spy business-yes, I said it. I still don't like using that word, but I'm paraphrasing a bit here. Okay, so your instincts are good, and you manage to help me out a bit here and there."

But he stopped pacing and went over to the bed, and grabbing a nearby chair, sat down near the bed at her side.

Taking her hand, he commented softly, "But you also get yourself in a good deal of trouble all on your own. It scares me to think that someday, down the line, I won't be there to save you or your family if the need arises. But until then, don't worry, okay?"

Sighing deeply, he stroked her knuckles gently with his thumb answering, "One more thing and I'll let you rest...I-I just want to thank you for the help you have given me over the years, and to say also that I really, really, do-"

He stopped himself at that moment as Amanda's eyes fluttered and she faintly murmured, "I really do too, Lee,"as Dr. Scardelli walked in!

Lee gasped and pulled his hand away as if it had been on fire, and looking at Amanda, he asked, "Wh-What did you say, Amanda?"

Dr. Scardelli smiled as he looked at Amanda who was almost half asleep and then at Lee and remarked, "My guess is that she was thanking you for something, Scarecrow...But then sedatives have a way of confusing our thoughts. I'd say, let her rest for a bit longer, and you can come back later to get her back with her family, alright?"

Lee gulped and nodded answering as he rose from the chair, "S-Sure, Doc..."

Lee then squeezed Amanda's hand gently replying, "I'll be back in a bit, huh?"

And as he left the exam area, he met Billy in the waiting area, and Billy, seeing the confusion on Lee's face stated, "You look like you've seen a ghost. Everything alright, Son?"

Lee swallowed hard and shrugged, offhandedly answered, "Yeah, fine...Want to grab some coffee?"

Before Billy could answer, Lee headed quickly for the elevator, and Billy, furrowing his brow thought to himself, What exactly did happen to them on this case, I wonder?

The End