Surreal

Chapter 1

Lee was restless as he tried to sleep that night, due to a nagging question in his mind from earlier that day.

He and Amanda had wrapped up the Peter Sacker case, and after both debriefed with Billy, they headed outside to the corridor leading to the elevator.

But Lee had stopped her stating hesitantly, "Uh, Amanda..."

Amanda answered as she looked up at him, "Hmm?"

Clearing his throat, Lee remarked, "A-About last night..."

Amanda nods expectantly as Lee tries to continue, "Um, you know, it-it was just two people trying to keep warm, right?"

Inwardly, feeling her hopes dashed but giving a faint smile, she sighed answering, "Not exactly."

And as she turned to head to the elevator, Lee gave a look of utter surprise as he stared at Amanda's retreating form, and thought to himself, What?! What did she mean by that?!

But he had no time to figure it out as Billy had called him back in suddenly, and he thought, Nah, it was probably nothing. I'll worry about it later...

But that night, Lee found himself having a restless sleep, and asking in a dreamy state, What did she mean by that? Why did she say that?

But suddenly, he was awakened by a glowing light, and sitting up, saw the light materialize into a woman with honey blond hair, and a black chiffon outfit!

Shaking his head, he chuckled lightly, and rubbing his eyes, answered aloud, "What the-?! Whew...Okay, gotta lay off the sauce before hitting the sack-"

The woman stared puzzledly at him asking, "What do you mean, sauce? Are you all right, Mr. Stetson?"

Lee focused on the woman finally, and getting up slowly from his bed, reached for his robe, and putting it on, commented, "Yea-No, and you're clearly not Francine!"

The woman queried, "Who's Francine?"

Lee sighed tiredly, and looking at his watch answered, "A friend. But I'll ask the questions here. Who are you, and how did you get into my locked apartment?! I need to see your I.D. here, before I call the cops-"

The woman sighed as she shook her head remarking, "Really, Mr. Stetson. I'm not here to hurt you. I came to help."

Bewilderedly, Lee replied gesturing with his hands, "With what? You don't know me, and I sure as hell don't know you, so c'mon, Lady. Give me your name-"

The woman waved a hand in the air then, and produced a card that she handed to him answering calmly, "It's my driver's license from Connecticut, with my name and address. Are you satisfied?"

Lee, feeling nervous, slowly took the card, and looking it over, shook his head replying as he picked up his phone on the nightstand, "Sorry, Miss Stephens...Nature of my job. I have to call this in..."

The woman insistently asked as Lee dialed, " I'm Mrs. Darrin Stephens...Are you a policeman?"

Lee sighed as the number he dialed rang, and he stated, "No. I'm a Fed."

The woman groaned answering, " A Government agent? Oh, my. You're really making too much of this-"

Lee put up his hand to stop her talk as he remarked hearing a voice, "Jeffreys? Stetson here...Yeah, I need you to check out a driver's license for me...The name on it is Samantha Stephens from Westport, Connecticut...1164 Morning Glory Circle...Yeah, I'll wait..."

Samantha sighed once more and responded, "Look, I know you weren't expecting anyone like me to come here, but I really want to help you with your friend, Amanda-"

Lee narrowed his eyes at her and growled, "How do you know Amanda? Have you hurt her?"

Just then Jeffreys got back on the line giving Lee the information with much laughter!

Lee was flabbergasted and commented angrily, "What do you mean she doesn't exist...What? Stop laughing!"

Lee shook his head answering hotly, "Alright, alright! Thanks, and no, I don't need to see Pfaff! Goodnight!"

Slamming the phone down, Lee then looked at Samantha responding, "According to our database...You don't exist. At least not that we're aware of."

Then a realization hit him as he rushed out of the bedroom, and going to his TV in the living room, turned it on with the remote answering to Samantha as he flipped channels to find what he needed, "Jefferys says to check some channel called Nick At Nite, that I'd find you there...I dunno what he's talking about, though. I don't watch that dribble."

He then found the channel and dumbfounded, uttered, "Oh my God!" as he stared at the TV, seeing this Samantha person plain as day on the program called "Bewitched"!

Pointing to the TV then he glared at Samantha commenting, "That's you!"

Samantha eying the program shook her head stating affirmatively, "That's not me. I-I mean, it looks like me, Mr. Stetson, but she's clearly acting. What's her name anyway?"

Lee shaking his head answered as he looked inside his TV Guide at the listing, "It says Elizabeth Montgomery...Ring a bell?"

Samantha shook her head. "No. But I'm only here to talk about helping you with Amanda...You see, I'm a witch."

Just then, Lee's doorbell rang, and he remarked, swallowing tiredly, " Did I hear you right, or can this night get any weirder?"

And as Lee opened the door, he found Billy, and as he let him in, Billy stated entering, "Okay, Scarecrow. Time for you and I to discuss vacation time...ASAP!"

Lee put up his hands to his superior answering quickly with a gesture behind him, "Wa-Wait, Billy! I know this is really off the wall, but when you talk to this lady, I think you'll understand why I asked for that info from Jeffreys."

As Billy looked behind Lee, he shrugged asking, "Who am I supposed to see?"

Lee turned, and Samantha was gone!

Shaking his head, he answered quickly, "That lady was here! I swear it, Billy!"

Then looking around, he saw Samantha in the kitchen and she then remarked to Lee, "He can't see me or hear me. I'm only here to talk to you."

Lee sighed as he saw Billy eyeing the TV program, as Billy commented, "So this is who you wanted us to check out? An actress that's no longer on the air?!"

As Lee once again tried to explain, Billy exasperatedly shook his head as he turned towards the front door answering, "Vacation granted...Along with a psych check from Dr. Pfaff upon your return! Goodnight, Lee!"

As the door closed, Samantha came out from the kitchen with a tired smile replying, "Alright, Mr. Stetson...Let's see what we can do to fix you and Mrs. King, hmm?"

A baffled Lee went to the couch to sit down murmuring as he turned off his set with the remote, " I still think I'm dreaming here, and I'm getting rid of this TV!"

TBC