"Mommy, hungry." Jennie complained as Lee began to try yet another tactic to lose the Mercedes that now followed closer than ever. Whomever drove that car had been well trained in following, and Lee knew instinctively, that in a few seconds, the car would pull back a little, and make Lee wonder if the car was still there, Lee wouldn't question it.
"We're almost there sweetheart, just wait a few more seconds." Amanda smiled back at her children then turned around to stare absently out of the window. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute, and until the Mercedes had receded and given up, she had a feeling her heart rate could only speed up.
"I'm hungry too." Eric whined as he pulled a few toy army men out of his pocket and began to line them up on the armrest and begin a battle.
"Hungry." Adam joined the crowd as he continued kicking the car seat to a beat that lived in his head. The twins' cries had subsided nearly eight minutes ago, and if it hadn't been for this Mercedes they'd have been enjoying their pizza by now.
Lee tried as hard as he possibly could to ignore the six people he loved that accompanied him on this trip. It wouldn't do him any good to go panicking that his family was in danger. He was thankful that Philip and Jamie hadn't been staring at the car, or even looking for it, they'd obviously given up hope of trying to help. Definitely become to accustomed to this terror that Lee was putting his family through. He could only regret that.
Still he loved his job. And only in times like this did he think of settling for a more normal job. He loved serving his country, and he loved the feeling when he locked one more potential threat up in prison. He was doing his country well and that was in indescribable feeling. But was the feeling worth what he was doing to his family.
Yes. He and Amanda kept all of their children safe, and only in rare instances, such as this one, were they at risk. Amanda loved him, and God did he love her. They were strong, and they still handled everything together. They always would.
Lee began to get into the right hand lane, preparing to turn right. He didn't know how long it would take to lose them if he kept going in funny shapes through Washington, but he hoped it wouldn't be much longer.
"Left." Amanda said off-handedly. It was his faith in her that had him turning left. "Look, right there, see, this is the Tower Complex, and with these three parking lots right in a row, it'll be harder for him to find you." Lee followed her thinking, and couldn't have been more impressed. "Take the second one, it wraps around and it'll put you right back on Lincoln."
Lee smiled, thought for a moment and let out a little chuckle. "You're amazing." Lee followed the road as it wrapped around the first parking lot, just like Amanda had said, and lead him back to Lincoln. He was now on the road that he'd just turned from, with the Mercedes left to wonder at which parking lot it was he'd gone into, and where he'd gone from the parking lot. Lee drove down Lincoln a while to make certain the Mercedes hadn't picked up on it then kissed his wife's hand. A hand which he hadn't let go of for the whole trip.
"I love you." He said finally as he knew they were out of danger.
"The feelings mutual." Amanda smiled at him as they pulled into Pete's Pizza.
Lee parked the car, and ran around front to open the door for his wife, he pulled her out and into his arms. "I mean it you know." He whispered staring into her eyes.
"I know. I mean it too." Amanda agreed and kissed him lightly on the lips. She pulled back reluctantly. "How about some pizza before we completely embarrass Philip and Jamie."
"Sounds good." Lee kept his arms wrapped around Amanda as he opened the side door and Eric jumped out. "Take Philip's hand." Lee told Eric as Philip climbed out, Jamie close behind.
"Way to go you two." Jamie said as he started across the parking lot.
Lee climbed into the van and unlatched Jennie from her car seat, then handed his beautiful daughter to his wife. "And you too little man." Lee said as he did the same for Adam. Adam giggled as Lee stood him on the ground and took hold of his tiny hand. Walking slowly so that Adam was able to waddle at his own pace they walked into the pizza place, and they were happy, and together, and that was what was important.