Chapter Fifteen

Amanda felt as if her body was drifting, lost on a lonely sea. She couldn't open her eyes to see anyone, but she could hear voices, far away and dim. She could feel someone moving her onto a stretcher, gently probing her shoulder. She heard Billy and Agent Ross yelling for the other agents. As she lay there, she could hear Lee arguing heatedly with someone.

"Sir, you're going to have to let her go. We need to get her to the hospital." Amanda heard him say, one of the paramedics apparently.

"She's not going anywhere without me." Lee said firmly.

"All right sir, let us get her into the helicopter." The paramedic said.

Amanda felt herself being rolled over the rooftop. She could hear the helicopter's blades cutting the air as she was rolled to it. She could hear the other paramedics speaking about the other shooting victim as she was placed inside the helicopter. She moaned softly as they strapped her inside the helicopter, jostling her shoulder. Amanda could hear the pilot preparing to takeoff as she heard Lee's voice as he climbed into the helicopter.

"Sir, you can sit there beside her, but it's going to be a bumpy ride." The pilot told Lee.

"I don't care." Lee argued "I'm going with her."

Amanda felt relief wash over her. Lee would be with her. He would take care of her. She tried to speak, but no words came out. Her shoulder throbbed unbearably. As she drifted into unconsciousness, Amanda wondered who the other shooting victim had been.

Four hours later, Lee paced worriedly in the Emergency Room of the hospital, running his hands through his hair. Billy had alerted the NEST team to be ready when they had arrived at the hospital. Agent Ross and Billy had assured Lee that Amanda had the best care possible. Lee hadn't been reassured. He wanted to see Amanda, to know that she was all right. He wanted to be the first one she saw when she woke up. As he continued to pace, Agent Ross and Billy came in.

"Lee, Amanda will be fine. She's a fighter." Billy said.

"We've got one of the best surgeons working on her." Agent Ross said.

"They're taking too long." Lee complained, "They should have been done with her by now."

"Lee, they're doing the best they can." Billy said as he motioned to two chairs. Lee sat down tiredly. "You know, Amanda's going to need you when she wakes up. You exhausting yourself about something you can't control isn't going to do her any good." Billy said fatherly.

"I know Billy, it's just.. Amanda and I...." Lee said and faltered.

"I know Lee." Billy said, "You're as much in love with Amanda as she is with you. I can see it in your eyes." Billy said.

"Billy, if Amanda doesn't make it. I don't know what I would do... Amanda's my whole life... I couldn't..." Lee choked.

Billy placed a hand on Lee's arm comfortingly. He looked at Lee. Lee's eyes were fatigued and red. He knew the pain Lee was going through. Billy knew the regret Lee was feeling. He'd almost lost Amanda once, to Leslie, and now she was here in surgery. Billy wanted to find the right words to say to Lee, but words wouldn't come. As Billy sat there, he noticed the tears escaping from the corners of Lee's eyes. Billy stood up and moved away to give Lee some privacy. Tears came harder for Lee than most, Billy knew. He prayed that Amanda would pull through this and she and Lee could have a happy life together. Lee stood up and wiped his eyes. He hadn't cried in a long time, not for anyone. Lee knew his emotions were threatening to overwhelm him, and he decided to get a cup of coffee. As he walked towards the swinging doors, the NEST doctor pushed through the other side of the doors.

"Doctor, how is she, how's Amanda?" Lee demanded.

"Mr. Stetson. Mr.Melrose. Mrs. King is in recovery right now. The bullet passed through her shoulder. She's lost a lot of blood, and right now she's still unconscious, but the prognosis looks good. She'll need a lot of TLC, but she'll be fine." The doctor said.

"When can we see her?" Billy asked.

"As soon as we bring her down from recovery. Give us about ten minutes or so, then you can see her." The doctor said.

Lee and Billy thanked the doctor. As Billy turned, he asked Agent Ross to go with him to get some coffee. While Agent Ross headed down the hall to the cafeteria, Billy turned and placed a hand on Lee's shoulder.

"We'll take our time. You go and see her first." Billy said with a wink.

"Thanks Billy." Lee said.

After Billy and Agent Ross left, Lee looked around for the chapel. He found the sign pointing the way. As he approached the chapel, he felt a peaceful feeling. The stress of the past few months seemed to evaporate as he opened the chapel door and walked inside. He found a pew and sat down. He stared ahead of him at the altar and the figure of Jesus placed on the wall above it. He clasped his hands together and thought about Amanda. He thanked God that she would be all right. As he sat there, his throat tightened and the tears he'd tried so hard to hold inside poured from him. He cried, long anguished tears. Tears of guilt for hurting Amanda and allowing her to be physically hurt today. He cried for Leslie, for the horrible mistake they'd made in getting married. He cried for the precious life he'd almost lost today, the second time he'd almost lost her. As the hurt and anguish drained from him, he began to pray. Not being particularly religious, Lee didn't exactly know where to begin. He prayed that he and Amanda could find a life together, he prayed for the strength to be her partner. For life as well as an agent. Words that he could never express out loud, he prayed for silently with his heart. As Lee's tears dried, he heard the chapel door open quietly and heard the doctor calling him.

"Mr. Stetson, you can see her now." He said.

Lee stood up from the pew and followed the doctor down the hall. As he approached the door to Amanda's room, he looked up towards the heavens. He mouthed a silent thank you to whoever was up there, for giving him this second chance with Amanda.

Amanda slowly drifted out of unconsciousness. She was faintly aware she was now in a hospital. She didn't remember much. She knew she'd been shot, and vaguely remembered being flown to the hospital for emergency surgery. Lee had been with her on the helicopter ride here. Lee. She tested her vocal cords and whispered:

"Lee." Amanda said.

Amanda opened her eyes slowly, adjusting to the fluorescent lighting in the hospital room. She saw Lee sitting beside her, her hand in his. Lee's eyes were red and shadowed, but they brightened when she looked at him. He stroked her fingers with his and smiled tenderly at her.

"Amanda!" Lee said as he bent down to the bed. His hazel eyes looked longingly at her as he bent down and kissed her gently. Amanda's eyes closed as he touched his lips to hers. The kiss was warm and sweet. Amanda sighed contentedly as Lee broke apart from her to gaze at her.

"Lee what happened?" Amanda asked softly as Lee sat down beside her again, taking her hand in his.

"You were shot by Leslie on the roof. The bullet passed through your shoulder and you lost a lot of blood, but you're going to be fine." Lee said.

"But when I felt the shot, I heard another shot." Amanda said, "Who else was shot?"

Lee looked down at the floor. Amanda watched the emotions play across his face. Lee was quiet for a long time. When he looked up, Amanda saw a resigned, sad look on his face. She squeezed his fingers lightly and waited. When Lee spoke, Amanda heard the guilt in his voice.

"Leslie was shot. I shot her Amanda." Lee said.

"Oh my God, Lee. How is she?" Amanda asked fearfully.

"She died. They got her here to the hospital, but she died before they could operate on her." Lee said.

"Oh, Lee. I'm so sorry." Amanda said sadly.

Lee withdrew his hand from Amanda's and stood at the foot of her bed. As he looked at her, he could see the sadness in Amanda's deep brown eyes. He paced for a moment in front of her bed. When he turned to face Amanda, he saw her looking expectantly at him. He sighed and toyed with the end of her blanket.

"Amanda, before Leslie died, she asked for me. She told me she was sorry for shooting you. She was so jealous and angry, she didn't know what else to do. She told me she planned on taking Brousseau's money and trying to talk me into leaving the Agency. She asked you and I to try and forgive her. Then she died." Lee said.

"Lee, I had no idea she felt that way." Amanda said.

"Neither did I." Lee said, "I didn't love her the way she wanted me too, and that's my fault. But we never should have gotten married. I don't know how to make things right anymore. I want fix everything, but I don't know where to start." Lee said.

"Lee, if you still want me, I'll be here for you. I'm not going anywhere." Amanda said.

"What do you mean, if I still want you?" Lee said, "You're all I ever wanted, Amanda King. You're my whole life. My heart is empty without you. I don't ever want to be without you." Lee said as he sat down beside her.

"Lee, are you sure?" Amanda said, "I don't...."

Lee silenced Amanda's words with another kiss. Being careful of her bandaged shoulder, he gently put his arms around her as he kissed her deeply. He threaded his fingers through her soft curls, relishing the feel of her. Amanda sighed against Lee's lips as the kiss intensified. After a moment, Lee broke the kiss and looked at her.

"Amanda King, I love you more than life itself. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you. I want you to be the mother of my children. I want to be a father to your sons, I want to grow old with you. I just hope you feel the same way." Lee said.

"Lee Stetson, I love you too. You mean more to me than words could ever express. I want to spend the rest of my life with you too. I can't wait to start our life together." Amanda said, tears in her eyes.

Just then, there was a knock on Amanda's door. Billy walked in followed by Agent Ross. Billy walked over to the bed. He glanced at Lee and asked:

"How are you feeling Amanda?"

"Fine, sir." Amanda said, "My shoulder's hurting pretty bad, but other than that, I'm OK."

"We'll need to brief you as soon as you get out of here." Agent Ross said.

"I understand." Amanda said, "By the way, what happened to Andre Brousseau?"

"Brousseau was being booked on money laundering, extortion, and bribery charges when we left him." Agent Ross said, "Looks like he'll be going away for a long time."

"Thanks to you, Amanda." Said Billy.

Agent Ross crossed the room and stood beside Amanda's bed. He smiled down at her. As Amanda looked up at him Agent Ross said:

"I know we're going to lose you down here, Amanda, but it was great working with you."

"Me too, Michael. You take care of yourself down here." Amanda said.

"I will. If you ever need another job, you're always welcome down here." Agent Ross said, as Billy smiled and Lee glared at him.

"Thank you." Amanda said.

Agent Ross turned to Billy and extended his hand. As he and Billy shook hands, Agent Ross thanked Billy and asked Billy to thank Dr. Smythe for allowing Billy and the other agents to assist him. Finally, Agent Ross turned to Lee. As he extended his hand to Lee, he leaned in to whisper confidentially:

"Remember what I said. Take good care of her." Agent Ross said.

"I always will." Lee promised, smiling at Agent Ross.

As Agent Ross left the room, Billy turned and smiled at his two agents. He stood in front of Amanda's bed and looked at the two of them.

"Lee, once we get all the debriefings done here, you and Amanda can fly back to D.C. I hope you don't mind Amanda, but I've arranged for your family and belongings to be moved back up to D.C. The Agency has arranged to pick up the tab. After you get home Amanda, I expect for you to rest and recuperate. No coming into the office for at least a month. Is that clear?" Billy said.

"Yes, sir. Thank you sir!" Amanda exclaimed.

"And Lee, I know you'll have some legal things to take care of." Billy said pointedly, "so I'm giving you a month off also. I want you to keep an eye on Amanda. Make sure she gets her rest. I'll need my best team back to work ASAP." Billy finished.

"Thanks Billy, I appreciate it." Said Lee.

Billy smiled at the two as he walked toward the door. As he left, he cast a glance back at Lee and Amanda. By the time that month was over, he should be receiving a wedding invitation, he thought as he closed the door softly behind him.