Disclaimer: I don't own the situations or characters portrayed herein. I'm just playing with them for a while.
All That Glitters Part 3
"You've ignored most of my orders on this case, Scarecrow. Here's one you won't flaunt: go to see Elisa Danton in the hospital, and smooth her ruffled feathers."
As expected, Dr. Smyth had indeed been put out by his blatant disregard for Elisa's advances, and if Lee hadn't been so disgusted by the whole assignment, he might have been amused by it.
But he wasn't being ordered to go alone, so he brought Amanda. She was his partner at the agency, so no one Elisa asked about it would think twice about it. Everyone was just used to hearing his name paired with Amanda's.
But he didn't bring her because she was his partner. He brought her because she was his wife, and his rock, and his protector. She was a breath of fresh air in the cloying atmosphere of Elisa Danton. She knew who he really was, and she loved him the same whether he wore a suit or his most comfortable jacket. She knew him so well that it didn't bother her that he brought Elisa a huge bouquet of flowers from Dr. Smyth, because she knew that he showed love in actions and not flowers.
"Behind all that society glitter and glamour, she's really a very simple person," he told Amanda, not believing a word he was saying. He just hoped it turned out to be true.
"I'm sure she is," she said skeptically. "I've read about her for years in the society columns."
"Yeah, well she might be a little groggy. She inhaled a lot of smoke."
He fervently hoped that she didn't say anything terrible.
They stopped outside Elisa's door as she walked toward them, dressed in a nightgown that was anything but hospital issue. She was arm in arm with a couple interns, both of whom looked entirely starstruck at their companion.
She said something about the interns, but he couldn't force his mind to listen. He despised Dr. Smyth for making him come here at all, and he was afraid of what she would say to Amanda.
She turned her calculating gaze on Amanda. "We haven't met," she said.
Amanda held out her hand. "Amanda King."
"She's my partner," he explained.
"Partner...yes," Elisa said, her eyes questioning. "So wonderful to meet you."
"Yes, well it's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you." She wouldn't say it, but Lee knew that none of what she had heard had been too flattering.
"Well, I haven't heard nearly enough about you. Come on in. We need to talk."
What had she heard?
Had she heard about Amanda from Dr. Smyth?
Had she connected the dots between Amanda and the woman who "had him on a string" these days?
She took Amanda's arm and herded her into the hospital room, then turned to him.
"Alone," she added, and closed the door in his face.
This was not what he had intended to happen when he brought Amanda with him.
