She
studied the encapsulated view from the window for the hundredth time that day,
her eyes following the bare, twig-like branches as they bent beneath the wind.
Turning away with a shudder, she focused instead on the silent figure sitting
in the ugly green vinyl chair. She could just make out the faintest hint of a
frown as he read, one leg tucked up underneath him.
"Mom,"
she heard him ask in a small voice, and she suddenly noticed that he was
staring back. "Are you okay? Can I get you something?"
"No,
I'm fine," she told him with a sigh. "Just a little sleepy."
"Grandma
called earlier. She and Jamie will be here after his basketball practice."
She
nodded. "And then you should go home, Phillip. You really don't have to
sit here. There isn't anything you can do."
"I
don't mind. I kinda wish I could come here instead of school tomorrow."
She
smiled faintly. "Not a chance."
"Aww,
Mom," he grinned back.
"Besides,
they may let me go home tomorrow."
Phillip
put his history book down, coming around the other side of the bed to look at
the monitor. "His heart sure beats fast," he whispered in awe.
"It's
supposed to," she assured him. "It means he's okay." She reached
out to take his hand. "Thank you, Phillip."
"I
didn't do anything special," he mumbled.
"You
were here with me. That's pretty special."
He
shrugged as he looked down, and she smiled softly, watching his fingers weave
in and out of the blanket's small holes. One minute he seemed so adult and
serious; the next, exactly like her little boy. Maybe that's what growing up
was all about after all - finding a balance between the two.
She
heard him mumble something under his breath. "I was really scared,"
he repeated in response to her puzzled look. "You know, it's kinda funny.
I thought I hated. . . well, you know, didn't want. . ." He stuffed his
hands in his pockets, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "But then
when I thought maybe there wasn't going to be a baby after all, I don't know. .
." He looked up, smiling shyly at his mother. "I guess he really is a
person, huh?"
She
trailed her hand lightly across her belly. "Yeah, I guess so - with a
definite mind of his own. Phillip," she added, resting her hand lightly on
his arm. "I know Lee and I have kind of been caught up in Jamie's
problems, then all this baby stuff. I. . . we. . . didn't mean for you to feel
left out. I really do love you. Every bit as much as Jamie and your new
brother."
"I
know, Mom," Phillip said, struggling to hide his embarrassed grin. "Me, too." He glanced over at the
monitor again. "You know, you guys really oughtta give him a name."
"Well,
we were thinking about calling him Matthew, after Lee's father."
"Matt,"
Phillip said, slowly trying it out as he eyed the small blips on the screen.
"Yeah, I like it."
"I
like it, too."
The
words spoken in familiar, deep tones caught them off guard.
"Lee!"
Phillip exclaimed, his face breaking into a smile as Amanda struggled to find
her voice. "You're back."
He
nodded slowly, crossing the room and bending down to give Amanda a tender kiss
on the forehead. "Yup, I'm back. In one piece, more or less."
"Are
you. . ." Amanda began, taking in a quick breath.
His
hand found hers and their fingers quickly entwined. "I'm fine. Although," he added with a short laugh,
"I didn't expect to find a welcoming committee here at the hospital."
"How
did you. . ."
"Billy's
downstairs. He met us in emergency."
Phillip
looked up uncertainly. "Is Dad. . ."
"Your
dad's fine, too," he said, smiling at both of them. "Or he will be.
He has a little infection from a leg wound, so they're admitting him. In fact,
he should be in room 248 in just a few minutes."
"Mom?"
he asked tentatively, and she nodded.
"Go
on," Lee agreed. "Carrie's on her way, but I'm sure your dad would
appreciate seeing you about now."
"Okay."
Phillip paused by the door, smiling thoughtfully at the tableau by the bed.
"Thanks, Lee."
The
boy disappeared through the door and Lee frowned, puzzled. "What was that.
. ."
"It's
a long story," Amanda sighed. "It'll keep. Come here." She
inclined her head for a kiss as Lee pulled up a chair, sinking into it and
brushing his lips gently across her cheek.
"I'm
kind of a mess," he murmured apologetically, his eyes locking with hers.
She
reached up, her hand gently caressing his bearded face. "As if I
care."
Smiling,
she watched him lean in, felt his lips close on hers in a warm, deep kiss. As
her hand came around the back of his head, pulling him closer, he suddenly
flinched. "What on earth," she said, her touch turning maternal as
she quickly inspected him for injuries.
"It's
nothing," he said a little too quickly. "Just a little bump on the
head."
"Little
bump? That's an understatement if I ever heard one, Stetson." She turned
her head, taking in his appearance in one long, knowing look. "I think maybe you should be admitted,
too."
"I'm
fine, Amanda, really. I've been officially poked and prodded." Rolling his
eyes, he added with a grimace, "Billy insisted."
"Good.
Now you can tell me exactly what happened to you."
He
took her hand, bringing it to his lips. "Nothing much," he parried,
nibbling lightly on her fingertips. "I just lost an argument with hill and
a couple of rocks, that's all."
"Uh-huh,"
she said, pursing her lips. "If you say so. See, look what happens when I
don't watch your back."
He
laughed, leaning in for another kiss. "I guess I'll just have to make sure
you do from now on."
"I'm
gonna hold you to that." She took a deep breath, searching his eyes.
"Lee, you missed your check-ins. . . I thought. . ."
"Shh,"
he whispered, "it's okay. It got a little dicey for a while and I couldn't
risk it, that's all."
"Is
Joe really okay?"
"Physically,
he'll heal. As for the rest. . . that might take a little time." He let
out a long breath. "After his debriefing, Billy's going to have Pfaff see
him. But how are you? When I heard. . ."
"I
guess things were a little dicey here, too, but I'm fine now." She smiled,
placing his hand on her stomach. "And so is Matthew. . . that's all that
matters."
"Billy
said you went into labor."
She
nodded. "They gave me something to stop it. I've been a little
uncomfortable, but it seems to have worked."
"I'm
so sorry you had to go through that alone," he said, a funny catch in his
voice. "Damn, I should have been here."
"You're
here now, that's what counts."
He
squeezed her hand, bringing it to his lips for a tender kiss. "From now
on. I promise."
"Phillip
was with me when it happened. He was wonderful, Lee. He drove me to the
hospital, stayed with me the whole time. Oh, ah, by the way," she added
with a mischievous laugh. "Your car is down in the hospital parking lot. I
wouldn't let Mother drive it home."
"Thank
you," he teased, squeezing her hand. "I appreciate. . . wait a
minute. Phillip drove you in my car?" He grinned, clutching his heart.
"And it's in one piece?" She nodded and smiled, as he added, "I
guess we have a lot to talk about."
"Yeah."
She took a deep breath, her hand closing around his. "Lee, when they let
me go home, I'm going to have to be on bed rest."
"It's
okay, we'll manage."
She
sighed, frowning as she stared down at the nondescript hospital blanket.
"I guess I'll be starting my maternity leave a little sooner than I
thought."
"We'll
manage that, too," he assured her. She felt his eyes on her and she looked up, suddenly encountering his
lips. "It won't change anything, you know," he whispered as he pulled
back to search her face.
"What
won't?" she asked in a small voice.
"The
baby. Amanda, you don't have to worry. He won't pull us in different
directions."
"I
don't know what. . ."
"You're
still my partner," he told her in a low voice. "You always will
be."
She
sighed, looking away for a moment before returning his gaze with equal
intensity. "I guess we really do have a lot to talk about," she told
him softly.
"Unfortunately
it's gonna have to wait a bit. I've got to be debriefed."
She
tightened her grip on his hand. "Right now?"
"Yeah."
He smiled ruefully. "As it is, I had to bully my way up here. They refuse
to officially sanction this mission, but now that I'm back they can't wait an
hour for the information. Go
figure."
"Some
business we're in, Scarecrow." She gave a short laugh. "Go on, get it
over with before Billy sends out the bloodhounds."
He
brushed his lips gently across her forehead. "I'll be back as soon as we
finish."
"Uh,
don't take this the wrong way, but you might want to take just a few minutes to
clean up a bit."
"You
don't like the 'jungle look'?" he teased as he rose, pushing the chair back
into place. "That's too bad, I was thinking of keeping the beard as a
memento."
"Keep
it if you want," she laughed. "I just won't be kissing you any
more."
"Oh,
yeah?" He paused in the doorway to give her a playful wink. "We'll
see about that, Mrs. Stetson."