Surreal

Chapter 2

Lee Stetson sat on his couch that early pre-dawn morning, wondering as he stared at the woman, Samantha Stephens, seated on the chair adjacent to the couch, if he had really lost his marbles, as it were!

He had taken an aspirin and gulped down the water as she asked then, "Are you alright now, Mr. Stetson, or should I come back after you've had more rest?"

Lee shook his head and after a moment stated with a gesture towards her, "N-No, I'm-I'm okay...I think. So, let's start again. You-You're a witch you said, and you want to help me with my friend Amanda King? How are you supposed to do that?"

Samantha smiled faintly as she got up to walk around the room as she responded, "Well, you're concerned about the talk you had with her after your case? What were you referring to?"

Lee shrugged answering uncomfortably, "Uh, well, we were hiding out in the woods the other night. We were chained up together, and sitting in front of a fire, and she was worried we wouldn't make it out of there alive..."

Lee commented with a gesture, "See, as Federal agents, we come across a lot of crazy people that we have to be able to outsmart to get away from sometimes. So, anyway, I tried to calm her down, make her feel better, and then there was a moment when we...um, we almost-"

Samantha smiled and nodded responding, "You kissed her?"

Lee's face turned a crimson red as he shook his head and gulped, stating firmly, "N-No! But almost. Anyway, I tried to explain the next morning at work that all it was, was that we were just two people trying to stay warm, and Amanda said this strange thing...She said, "Not exactly." Then I thought, Did I hear her right? What did it mean, anyway? So, that's where I am right now-"

He stopped and looked at her commenting, "And since no one thinks you exist, how is it you came to be here anyway? I mean, it's not like I could've summoned you here-"

Samantha thought for a moment, and then answered emphatically, "Well, I have something to show you...Let's take a little trip, shall we?"

Lee looked pensively at her responding, "To where?"

Samantha stated, "To Amanda's place-"

Lee gulped, looking at his watch, and queried quickly, "At this early hour? Are you crazy? We'll wake up her family and then have a lot of explaining to do-"

Samantha shaking her head replied, "Calm down, Mr. Stetson. No one will even know we're there. Are you ready to go?"

Lee looked at his pajamas and robe stating, "Uh, no. I-I have to change first-"

Samantha held out her arm answering, "Not necessary. Here...Take my arm, and hold on-"

And as Samantha raised her arm, Lee went to grab it remarking urgently, "Wait! We can't just-"

But in a flash, they were on their way with Lee hollering nervously, "SAMANTHA!"

Suddenly, they were in Amanda's family room, and Lee looked around and swallowed hard answering, "Okay, that was weird, but we could've done it my way and taken my car."

Samantha looked strangely at him commenting, "But you just finished saying that we'd wake up her family unnecessarily, didn't you? Alright...In any case, we're here now, but I believe your friend needs help as well...Take a look."

They both observed Amanda coming down to the kitchen to fix herself a cup of tea, and talking to herself, stating, "Why on earth did you say, "Not exactly"? What was Lee supposed to think unless you spell it out for him! Way to go, Amanda! Imagine him asking what you meant, and then you fall all over yourself trying to explain, and then find out he doesn't feel that way about you, and you're embarrassed and humiliated to boot!"

Lee watching her and hearing her ramble, shook his head sadly stating to Samantha, " Aw, Geez...But I was the one with the foot cramp, and I was only trying to comfort her anyway."

Samantha replied, "Well, maybe this is something you both need to figure out so you can keep working together, hmm?"

Just then, they saw Dotty coming down the stairs to the kitchen, and Samantha immediately froze her in place!

Lee, flabbergasted, asked, "Wh-What did you do that for?! Is she gonna be okay?"

Samantha nodded commenting, "Yes. She'll be fine," and next, twitched her nose, and she and Lee were out on Amanda's patio, and was in his blue sweatsuit and sneakers!

Lee looked down at his outfit then, and remarked gulping, "Thanks. But why-"

Samantha commented, "Because you two need to talk. Now, I put your car out in the street at the curb where you usually park. The keys are now in your pocket, and I'll stay out of sight until you two finish talking, and then, I'll unfreeze her mother. And don't worry. Amanda won't know a thing about it...Good luck."

And then, Samantha disappeared, as Lee stood at Amanda's back door.

Lee shaking his head as he noticed Dotty was no longer on the stairs, and answered nervously, "Thanks, I think...Whew! Maybe I should go see Pfaff when this is all over."

Then he chuckled answering, "No way! He'd probably send me to the funny farm, and my career as an agent would be kaput!"

Clearing his throat, Lee then knocked gently on the door, and Amanda, seeing him, looked at the time and remarked, "At this hour? Must be an Agency thing."

She went to open the door and greeted him stating with a gesture, "Oh, Lee. Is anything wrong? I could go change if you need help with something urgent-"

But Lee shook his head commenting, "N-No, I just need to talk to you if it's alright. Can you come out here?"

Amanda nodded worriedly and came out, following him to the picnic table answering as they sat across from one another, "Well, what's this all about, Lee?"

TBC