Chapter Six
Sitting in the hallway, Dotty on one side and Phillip on the other, Lee looked across the hall to Jaime. He'd been quiet since they'd left for the hospital and Lee could tell by his face that he was worried. Sometimes he wondered if he should have let Jaime work for the agency the way he had. It had seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Like his mother he always seemed to be in the wrong place at the right time to help them. Lee had allowed him to undergo the training and he had flourished in it.
'Just like Amanda,' he thought to himself.
A teenager. Lee had to remind himself that that's all Jaime was. A teenager. He acted much older than his years and it was hard for Lee to remember that he was still in high school. They had talked about it once and Jaime had insisted he could keep on top of everything. And so far he had. Lee was so proud of the boy. 'Young man,' he corrected himself. 'He's a young man.'
"Mr. Stetson?"
Getting to his feet Lee looked at the young doctor that had called his name. She was petite and he had to look down to see her face. "Yes? How is she?"
"I'm afraid she's slipped into a coma. The effects of the drugs were too much for her body to handle."
"Will she wake up?" he demanded to know.
"At this time we have no way of knowing. I'm sorry but the best we can do is to keep her comfortable and keep her stable right now." Tucking her chart under her arms she smiled sadly at him. "You can go in and sit with her if you'd like."
Nodding he stood, unmoving as he watched the young woman walk away. A coma. He wanted to break down right then and there but he knew he couldn't, he needed to be strong for the boys and for Dotty. Turning to face them he smiled encouragingly and, he hoped, convincingly. "Why don't you three go sit with her for as little while. I need to make a call in to work and then I'll be right in."
They filed into the room silently and Lee turned, heading away from the room. He didn't stop walking until he was outside. Staring at the parking lot he took deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. It wasn't working. Tears filled his eyes, stinging and persistent. Swallowing he swiped them away but they were replaced faster than he could get rid of them.
'Hey,' he heard. Looking around he saw her, standing in the blurred vision of his tears. 'I'm still here.'
"You can't leave me, Amanda," he despaired. "Not now when you finally came back."
'You can't get rid of me that easily, big fella.' She smiled at him. 'I'm still here, Lee. I love you.'
"I love you too."
"Lee?"
Whipping his head around he saw Billy and Francine walking towards him. Wiping at the tears again he tried to smile for them but it was no use. "She's in a coma," he told them.
"Oh no," Billy moaned.
"The drugs were too much," Lee expounded. "They don't know if she'll wake up or not. Dotty and the boys are in with her right now. I just needed... some fresh air."
Placing a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder Billy nodded. "Come on in when you're ready," he advised before turning to head into the building, Francine following him after giving her friend a small hug.
'Beaman's really mellowing her out,' he couldn't help but think to himself. Lowering himself onto a bench near the doorway Lee folded his hands and hunched over, staring at the concrete below his feet for a few moments before closing his eyes. Worry filled him and he felt older than his actual age.
Much, much older.
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Through the open doorway he could hear the muted sounds of a hospital at night. The room was dark except for a small light overhead and he was glad for it. His headache had been nearly intolerable but when everyone else had left and the lights had gone down he was able to nurse it down to a dull ache behind his eyes. Every hour on the hour a nurse had been in to check Amanda's vitals and all of them had tried to get him to leave or lie down.
Finally he had given in and told the last one he would lie down for a little while. And, after making sure she was gone, he had. Lee shifted slightly and laid his head back on the pillow. He could smell her shampoo and an ache settled over his heart. How long had it been since he'd smelled her shampoo? Since he'd been able to lie in the same bed with her, his arms around his wife?
He felt a small twinge of guilt that it had taken a coma to allow himself to hold her again but he dismissed it. Amanda would understand. She would. When she woke up.
Closing his eyes again he sighed and shifted again, nudging himself closer to her, tightening his hold on his wife before drifting off to sleep before he could notice the woman in the doorway watching them closely. After a brief second she turned and left, heading to the nurses' station and reaching for the phone. Dialing several digits she waited for the other end to pick up.
"We have a problem."
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Sitting behind his desk, relaxing while he smoked his cigar and drank his glass of brandy, he scowled when the door opened and a man walked in. "I thought I had left instructions not to be bothered?" he said with a tone the sent chills down the messengers back.
"I understand that sir but I bring a message from the one of our eyes at the hospital."
"Well?" he sneered when the man didn't continue.
Scared, wishing he was anywhere but here, the man stammered for a moment before he was able to get the message out. "Mrs. King is at the hospital. She's in a coma as a result of the memory drugs she took to remember the things she's forgotten."
He was silent for a moment as he thought over the message. "Is Scarecrow with her?"
"Yes sir."
Setting his glass down on the desk gently he stood and moved to the window to look out over the bustling crowds on the street below. "I want her here. Bring her to me."
"Yes sir," the messenger said, overjoyed to be dismissed and able to flee from his presence. "I'll have her here in no time."
"See that you do," he advised, turning to face the messenger that was inching towards the door. "And make sure Scarecrow doesn't follow."
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Sitting in a chair by the edge of her bed Lee ran a tired hand over his face. He had gone home to get cleaned up and had run into the office for a few minutes to take care of some work that hadn't been able to wait, but then he had returned to the hospital as quickly as he could. Everyone had been very understanding during the last three days. Billy and Francine had chipped in to take care of the bulk of his work and the agents had taken care to stay on top of everything so his attention could rest solely on Amanda.
Looking up at the noise in the doorway he saw a nurse bringing in a tray of food. "I thought you might like something to eat," she smiled at him. "I'll leave it right here for you."
Thanking her he ignored the tray until his nose caught the aroma of the chicken broth and his stomach growled in protest that he wasn't drinking it. Giving in he reached for the bowl, gulping down the hot broth until it was gone. Still sitting in the chair he felt his limbs growing weaker as the tiredness he'd been fighting suddenly became too much. His head dropped forward onto his chest as Lee feel into a deep, drug induced, sleep.
"He's out like a light," the nurse said as she moved back into the room. "Unlatch the brakes on the back wheels," pointing toward the head of the bed. "I'll grab the front ones."
Working quickly they mobilized the bed and rolled it out of the room, making sure they attached the necessary equipment and IV's to the bedrail. Hurrying down the hallway they blended in with everyone else, and orderly and a nurse transporting a patient through the halls. As the turned the corner and headed towards the sliding doors they were too busy to notice a young man watching them with a frown.
Following them Jaime's frown deepened into a scowl when he saw them loading her into a waiting ambulance. Pulling out his camera, knowing better then to try and stop them by himself, he snapped as many pictures as he could before the ambulance pulled away. Waiting only long enough to see which way they were heading he hurried to the nearest phone, dialing the alert number.
"This is Jaime King. I've got a code red. Ambulance number thirteen eighty-five just pulled out of St. Sisters Hospital heading west on Gelding Road. Mrs. King has been taken. I repeat Mrs. King has been taken."
Confirming the information the operator advised she would pass on the information and get a team activated at once. Satisfied that they would hurry Jaime hung up the phone and hurried up to the room where his mother had been, wondering why Lee had let them take her. He knew it wouldn't have happened if Lee had been able to stop them and Jaime was worried that something bad had happened to his stepfather. Entering the room he saw Lee slumped over in a chair and called for a doctor to come quickly.
Dr Risht hurried into the room, hesitating just a moment in surprise that her patient was gone before turning her attention to Lee. Calling out for an orderly to bring a gurney she felt for his pulse and breathing. When the gurney was rolled in the two men lifting Lee and putting him on the gurney. Calling out orders she took a vial out of her pocket, taking a sample of Lee's blood and sending it down to the labs for a full work up.
When he was satisfied that Lee was in good hands Jaime went out into the hallway to see Billy and Francine walking towards him. Meeting them halfway he explained what he had seen while his mother was being taken. "They're testing Lee's blood to see what they did to him, Sir. I have to get back to the agency to develop these pictures."
Billy nodded, impressed with the detail that Jaime had picked up on and relayed in his debriefing. "Francine will drive you back to the agency. This film takes top priority."
With a brief nod on confirmation Francine turned to head back out of the hospital but stopped when Jaime didn't follow her.
"Sir, has there been any word on the ambulance?"
"I'm afraid not, Son," Billy said as he shook his head. "We'll keep looking but those pictures will really help."
"I'll get on them right away."
Watching them walk away for a moment Billy couldn't help but be amazed at the young mans determination and aptitude for this line of work. The nations best agents, even Jaime who was technically an agent in training, had been hiding in the Washington suburbs all this time. A small smile tugged at his lips as Billy walked into the room to check on Lee and get an update from the doctor.
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Sitting at her desk Francine saw Jaime coming towards her and her thoughts flew to Amanda. The woman had a knack for getting herself into trouble. 'Of course,' she thought to herself with a small smile. 'She also has a knack for getting out of it too.'
"How did they turn out?" she asked when Jaime was within distance.
"Good. I'll take them to Identification to see if we can find out who they are. Hopefully we can get the word out to the airports and bus terminals in time."
Francine nodded. He definitely had her skills when it came to the game of intelligence. "I'll come with you."
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The ambulance drove through the open sea of concrete and blacktop before coming to a stop next to a smaller sized jet engine. The man and woman jumped out of the front and hurried to the back to open the doors. As they pulled the gurney off the ambulance two other men emerged from the plane.
"Be careful of the IV's, they need to be kept in place," the woman directed.
Working together they loaded the bed into the plane, locking it down for the ride out of the country while the nurse hooked the IV bags onto the poles waiting nearby. When they were set she gave the signal and the door to the plane shut, the plot told they were ready for takeoff. Outside the ambulance drove away, heading towards the nearest chop shop to be taken apart and sold for pieces.
High in the sky a comatose Amanda was unaware she was flying toward the hell she thought she had escaped.
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Sitting in the hallway, Dotty on one side and Phillip on the other, Lee looked across the hall to Jaime. He'd been quiet since they'd left for the hospital and Lee could tell by his face that he was worried. Sometimes he wondered if he should have let Jaime work for the agency the way he had. It had seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Like his mother he always seemed to be in the wrong place at the right time to help them. Lee had allowed him to undergo the training and he had flourished in it.
'Just like Amanda,' he thought to himself.
A teenager. Lee had to remind himself that that's all Jaime was. A teenager. He acted much older than his years and it was hard for Lee to remember that he was still in high school. They had talked about it once and Jaime had insisted he could keep on top of everything. And so far he had. Lee was so proud of the boy. 'Young man,' he corrected himself. 'He's a young man.'
"Mr. Stetson?"
Getting to his feet Lee looked at the young doctor that had called his name. She was petite and he had to look down to see her face. "Yes? How is she?"
"I'm afraid she's slipped into a coma. The effects of the drugs were too much for her body to handle."
"Will she wake up?" he demanded to know.
"At this time we have no way of knowing. I'm sorry but the best we can do is to keep her comfortable and keep her stable right now." Tucking her chart under her arms she smiled sadly at him. "You can go in and sit with her if you'd like."
Nodding he stood, unmoving as he watched the young woman walk away. A coma. He wanted to break down right then and there but he knew he couldn't, he needed to be strong for the boys and for Dotty. Turning to face them he smiled encouragingly and, he hoped, convincingly. "Why don't you three go sit with her for as little while. I need to make a call in to work and then I'll be right in."
They filed into the room silently and Lee turned, heading away from the room. He didn't stop walking until he was outside. Staring at the parking lot he took deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. It wasn't working. Tears filled his eyes, stinging and persistent. Swallowing he swiped them away but they were replaced faster than he could get rid of them.
'Hey,' he heard. Looking around he saw her, standing in the blurred vision of his tears. 'I'm still here.'
"You can't leave me, Amanda," he despaired. "Not now when you finally came back."
'You can't get rid of me that easily, big fella.' She smiled at him. 'I'm still here, Lee. I love you.'
"I love you too."
"Lee?"
Whipping his head around he saw Billy and Francine walking towards him. Wiping at the tears again he tried to smile for them but it was no use. "She's in a coma," he told them.
"Oh no," Billy moaned.
"The drugs were too much," Lee expounded. "They don't know if she'll wake up or not. Dotty and the boys are in with her right now. I just needed... some fresh air."
Placing a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder Billy nodded. "Come on in when you're ready," he advised before turning to head into the building, Francine following him after giving her friend a small hug.
'Beaman's really mellowing her out,' he couldn't help but think to himself. Lowering himself onto a bench near the doorway Lee folded his hands and hunched over, staring at the concrete below his feet for a few moments before closing his eyes. Worry filled him and he felt older than his actual age.
Much, much older.
SMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMK
Through the open doorway he could hear the muted sounds of a hospital at night. The room was dark except for a small light overhead and he was glad for it. His headache had been nearly intolerable but when everyone else had left and the lights had gone down he was able to nurse it down to a dull ache behind his eyes. Every hour on the hour a nurse had been in to check Amanda's vitals and all of them had tried to get him to leave or lie down.
Finally he had given in and told the last one he would lie down for a little while. And, after making sure she was gone, he had. Lee shifted slightly and laid his head back on the pillow. He could smell her shampoo and an ache settled over his heart. How long had it been since he'd smelled her shampoo? Since he'd been able to lie in the same bed with her, his arms around his wife?
He felt a small twinge of guilt that it had taken a coma to allow himself to hold her again but he dismissed it. Amanda would understand. She would. When she woke up.
Closing his eyes again he sighed and shifted again, nudging himself closer to her, tightening his hold on his wife before drifting off to sleep before he could notice the woman in the doorway watching them closely. After a brief second she turned and left, heading to the nurses' station and reaching for the phone. Dialing several digits she waited for the other end to pick up.
"We have a problem."
SMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMK
Sitting behind his desk, relaxing while he smoked his cigar and drank his glass of brandy, he scowled when the door opened and a man walked in. "I thought I had left instructions not to be bothered?" he said with a tone the sent chills down the messengers back.
"I understand that sir but I bring a message from the one of our eyes at the hospital."
"Well?" he sneered when the man didn't continue.
Scared, wishing he was anywhere but here, the man stammered for a moment before he was able to get the message out. "Mrs. King is at the hospital. She's in a coma as a result of the memory drugs she took to remember the things she's forgotten."
He was silent for a moment as he thought over the message. "Is Scarecrow with her?"
"Yes sir."
Setting his glass down on the desk gently he stood and moved to the window to look out over the bustling crowds on the street below. "I want her here. Bring her to me."
"Yes sir," the messenger said, overjoyed to be dismissed and able to flee from his presence. "I'll have her here in no time."
"See that you do," he advised, turning to face the messenger that was inching towards the door. "And make sure Scarecrow doesn't follow."
SMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMK
Sitting in a chair by the edge of her bed Lee ran a tired hand over his face. He had gone home to get cleaned up and had run into the office for a few minutes to take care of some work that hadn't been able to wait, but then he had returned to the hospital as quickly as he could. Everyone had been very understanding during the last three days. Billy and Francine had chipped in to take care of the bulk of his work and the agents had taken care to stay on top of everything so his attention could rest solely on Amanda.
Looking up at the noise in the doorway he saw a nurse bringing in a tray of food. "I thought you might like something to eat," she smiled at him. "I'll leave it right here for you."
Thanking her he ignored the tray until his nose caught the aroma of the chicken broth and his stomach growled in protest that he wasn't drinking it. Giving in he reached for the bowl, gulping down the hot broth until it was gone. Still sitting in the chair he felt his limbs growing weaker as the tiredness he'd been fighting suddenly became too much. His head dropped forward onto his chest as Lee feel into a deep, drug induced, sleep.
"He's out like a light," the nurse said as she moved back into the room. "Unlatch the brakes on the back wheels," pointing toward the head of the bed. "I'll grab the front ones."
Working quickly they mobilized the bed and rolled it out of the room, making sure they attached the necessary equipment and IV's to the bedrail. Hurrying down the hallway they blended in with everyone else, and orderly and a nurse transporting a patient through the halls. As the turned the corner and headed towards the sliding doors they were too busy to notice a young man watching them with a frown.
Following them Jaime's frown deepened into a scowl when he saw them loading her into a waiting ambulance. Pulling out his camera, knowing better then to try and stop them by himself, he snapped as many pictures as he could before the ambulance pulled away. Waiting only long enough to see which way they were heading he hurried to the nearest phone, dialing the alert number.
"This is Jaime King. I've got a code red. Ambulance number thirteen eighty-five just pulled out of St. Sisters Hospital heading west on Gelding Road. Mrs. King has been taken. I repeat Mrs. King has been taken."
Confirming the information the operator advised she would pass on the information and get a team activated at once. Satisfied that they would hurry Jaime hung up the phone and hurried up to the room where his mother had been, wondering why Lee had let them take her. He knew it wouldn't have happened if Lee had been able to stop them and Jaime was worried that something bad had happened to his stepfather. Entering the room he saw Lee slumped over in a chair and called for a doctor to come quickly.
Dr Risht hurried into the room, hesitating just a moment in surprise that her patient was gone before turning her attention to Lee. Calling out for an orderly to bring a gurney she felt for his pulse and breathing. When the gurney was rolled in the two men lifting Lee and putting him on the gurney. Calling out orders she took a vial out of her pocket, taking a sample of Lee's blood and sending it down to the labs for a full work up.
When he was satisfied that Lee was in good hands Jaime went out into the hallway to see Billy and Francine walking towards him. Meeting them halfway he explained what he had seen while his mother was being taken. "They're testing Lee's blood to see what they did to him, Sir. I have to get back to the agency to develop these pictures."
Billy nodded, impressed with the detail that Jaime had picked up on and relayed in his debriefing. "Francine will drive you back to the agency. This film takes top priority."
With a brief nod on confirmation Francine turned to head back out of the hospital but stopped when Jaime didn't follow her.
"Sir, has there been any word on the ambulance?"
"I'm afraid not, Son," Billy said as he shook his head. "We'll keep looking but those pictures will really help."
"I'll get on them right away."
Watching them walk away for a moment Billy couldn't help but be amazed at the young mans determination and aptitude for this line of work. The nations best agents, even Jaime who was technically an agent in training, had been hiding in the Washington suburbs all this time. A small smile tugged at his lips as Billy walked into the room to check on Lee and get an update from the doctor.
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Sitting at her desk Francine saw Jaime coming towards her and her thoughts flew to Amanda. The woman had a knack for getting herself into trouble. 'Of course,' she thought to herself with a small smile. 'She also has a knack for getting out of it too.'
"How did they turn out?" she asked when Jaime was within distance.
"Good. I'll take them to Identification to see if we can find out who they are. Hopefully we can get the word out to the airports and bus terminals in time."
Francine nodded. He definitely had her skills when it came to the game of intelligence. "I'll come with you."
SMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMKSMK
The ambulance drove through the open sea of concrete and blacktop before coming to a stop next to a smaller sized jet engine. The man and woman jumped out of the front and hurried to the back to open the doors. As they pulled the gurney off the ambulance two other men emerged from the plane.
"Be careful of the IV's, they need to be kept in place," the woman directed.
Working together they loaded the bed into the plane, locking it down for the ride out of the country while the nurse hooked the IV bags onto the poles waiting nearby. When they were set she gave the signal and the door to the plane shut, the plot told they were ready for takeoff. Outside the ambulance drove away, heading towards the nearest chop shop to be taken apart and sold for pieces.
High in the sky a comatose Amanda was unaware she was flying toward the hell she thought she had escaped.
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