Disclaimer: Scarecrow and Mrs. King and characters are the property of Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Productions. The plot is mine but the credit is theirs. Enjoy!
Lee and Amanda's past resurfaces after Birol escapes from prison and seeks revenge. All secrets are revealed. Takes place after the series ends.
Me sincerest apologies for the long wait, I am embarrassed to show my face. I hate unresolved stories. Life is crazy right now; my composition prof is a slave driver. My last final is Dec. 20th. I promise to dive into to this and several other stories I have in the works. I can't wait to do some recreational writing so look out. You'll be so sick of me you'll beg me to stop! Enjoy and I promise no more waiting like this. It's short but I figured you deserved something for your patience with this unworthy writer.
Vengeance and Valor
Chapter 12
Dotty and the boys had returned home after their family meeting. Now Amanda had been gone for five days and the house seemed empty while everyone's mood was somber. Joe and Lee were making frequent calls to check up on them. Dotty was trying not to give up hope but as the days drug on they all knew the worse it was. When the doorbell rang no one jumped to answer fearing it was bad news. Dotty opened the door meeting Francine's gaze. "Yes?"
"Mrs. West. My name is Francine Desmond, I work with your daughter." She started.
"What is it? Have they found her? Is she okay?" Dotty blurted out.
Francine grimaced. Rambling seemed to be a family trait. "We found her. She's at the hospital."
"How bad?" Dotty asked as the boys came into view.
"Who is it Grandma?" Jamie asked.
"Have they found Mom?" Phillip continued.
"Boys I want you to go upstairs. I'm going to call Joe and ask him to come over here and watch you guys while I go to the hospital."
Francine nodded her approval. Now was not the time for the kids to find out what Birol had done to their mother.
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The nurse had finally allowed Lee into Amanda's room. The NEST team had worked on her for nearly two hours. Looking down at her pale face she almost looked dead. He could barely tell she was breathing. The constant beep of the heart monitor was all that assured him his wife was still alive.
They had been pumping blood into her since they began transporting her. The doctors told him they couldn't stitch up her back until the antibiotics had run their course and there was no sign of infection, so her back continued to bleed. The major concern; however, was internal bleeding and blood clots.
Lee sank down into a chair next to her bed and gently took her hand. He watched the subtle rise and fall of her chest allowing the fact that she was alive comfort him from the knowledge of what she had gone through. "Amanda, I'm sorry. This should have been me. I'm so sorry." She whispered burring his face in the bed.
Dotty, noticing the guard, walked into the room with Francine. She was shocked to see tubes, wires and equipment everywhere. In the middle of the web lay her daughter with a bruised and pale face, sleeping. She saw Lee with his head resting on the bed and his hand firmly clasping hers. "Lee," she spoke quietly.
Lee looked up and wiped the tears from his eyes. "Mrs. West," he began but was cut off by a groan issued from Amanda. Dotty rushed to the other side of Amanda while Lee ordered the guard to get the doctor and returned to his wife. Francine remained a respectful distance. Amanda began to stir and her eyes slowly opened. "Amanda don't try to talk right now. There's a tube down your throat to help you breath okay."
Amanda's nod was barely perceptible. She looked over at her mother and squeezed her hand as best she could with her broken finger and soreness in her shoulder.
The doctor quickly entered and looked down at Amanda. "Mrs. King, I'm Dr. Taylor. I'm a NEST surgeon. You seem to be breathing alright, let me take the tube out so you can talk." Amanda nodded again and Dr. Taylor disconnected her from the respirator. "Okay, I need you to breath out as I pull." Amanda doing as she was told began coughing once her airway was clear. The pain was evident on her face. "Would you like some morphine?" He asked.
"No," she answered hoarsely. "Back hurts."
"We can't stitch you up until we're sure there's no infection. The antibiotics should do their job in a week. You also need to be careful with those broken ribs. You're very lucky they haven't punctured your lung."
"How many?" She asked.
"Amanda," Lee warned.
"I need to know."
Dotty watched the exchange confused.
"14 Breaks total." Taylor said reluctantly.
"Ribs?" Dotty asked looking from the doctor to Lee to Amanda. "14 broken ribs Amanda?"
"Mother please sit." Amanda ordered weakly. She wasn't sure how to tell her everything that had happened. Amanda didn't know how bad it was herself. "Doctor, can you explain everything."
He nodded and started with the minor issues. "Your finger has been reset and should heal fine. You left shoulder will need to remain as immobile as possible. We're giving you fluids and nutrients. Obviously you haven't eaten in about six days so take food slowly. The ribs will mend with two weeks of bed rest and no sudden movements. Your back concerns me. As I said before we can't close the wounds until we're sure there's no infection, but the bleeding may become a problem because of the blood thinner you're on to prevent a pulmonary embolism."
"A what?" Lee asked. Dotty remained silent as she listened. She couldn't image what her daughter had been through to cause such injuries.
"A blood clot that blocks the blood flow in the heart. It was a tough call. Loss of blood is easier to fix than PE." The doctor admitted.
"How long do I need to stay here?"
"A few days at least for observation." Taylor stood and looked and Amanda. "You're very lucky. One more day and I wouldn't be talking with you." He finished and left giving them some privacy.
An awkward silence hung in the air. Amanda let everything sink in as she considered the pain. She glanced at her husband, mother and Francine. "It sounds worse than it feels." She spoke quietly.
Dotty on the verge of tears stood. "I need some fresh air and some coffee. Would anyone else like some?" She asked.
Lee and Francine shook their heads, "I'm fine. Thanks." Lee answered.
Once the door closed Dotty slide down and sat uncaring of the guard as she her body racked with sobs.
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Amanda studied Lee and Francine. "Okay guys, spill it."
Francine looked down and Lee spoke, "Spill what?"
She gave him an un-approving stare. "Whatever it is that you're not telling me." She paused. "It's Birol isn't it? What happened?"
"He got away." Lee answered. Amanda tensed. "There's a guard outside and a team at your house. We'll get him." Lee vowed.
Amanda met his eyes. He was amazed at the resolve that burned there. "Maybe it's time to lure him in."
To be continued…