Surreal

Chapter 3

Lee, with Samantha's help, had gone over to Amanda's house to try to talk things out concerning the night in the woods, since his theory to her of what occurred fell flat basically.

Now, whether Amanda wanted to rehash things or not he wasn't sure, but Lee knew he had to set this right once and for all.

And as they sat across from one another at Amanda's picnic table on her patio, Lee was suddenly at a loss for words.

Amanda waited for a moment, then reached for his right hand with her left, and gently giving it a squeeze, stated quietly, "Lee, we've known each other a good while now. You know there isn't anything you can't share with me-uh, Agency stuff aside, that is. Now c'mon...Out with it. You know I won't break."

Lee looked at her hand, and returning a brief squeeze to her's, slowly let go and rose from the table, walking to the other end of the patio, towards the gazebo to look out in that direction answering softly as he shook his head, " No...You won't. But I might..."

Amanda rose from the table, and walking towards this man, her partner, and friend, that she thought she knew better than anyone, remarked slowly, "Lee Stetson, what on earth are you talking about? Please, just talk to me."

Lee swallowed hard, and turning to face her replied gently as he took both of her hands, "Okay...Ever since you said "Not exactly" about our night in the woods, I've been going nuts trying to figure out what you meant by that...Amanda, you-you mean something to me. More than anyone I've known in my entire life, Eva included."

As Amanda raised her eyebrows at his statement, Lee nodded answering, "Yeah, I mean it. But here's the thing. Since we're friends, uh, good friends, don't you think we'd mess it up by exploring whatever new thing we might have going here?"

Amanda, moved by Lee's question, swallowed hard and commented softly as tears welled up in her eyes, "W-Well, here's my thing, Mister. You mean something to me as well...I trust you more than anyone I've known in my entire life, my ex-husband, included. So, that being said, if we truly mean something to each other, and trust one another implicitly, who's to say we couldn't make our relationship better and stronger than it's been? I know there's still a lot we have to learn about each other, but don't you think it's worth it to at least try?"

Lee nodded slowly as he folded her gently into his arms replying with a whisper, "Yeah...Let's give it a shot..."

Suddenly, as Lee pulled back from Amanda, she froze, and Samantha appeared!

Lee then stared at Amanda, and gulping, glanced at Samantha answering with a shake of his head, "Lady, what's wrong with you?! You must have noticed that we were working things out, right?"

Then noticing that he was still holding Amanda slightly, he gestured towards Amanda remarking to Samantha, "Hey, would you mind helping me a bit here?"

Samantha nodded, "Certainly," and twitching her nose, put Amanda back at the picnic table in her original spot!

Lee sighed heavily and running his hands through his hair, growled, "Aw, c'mon! I don't have time for games, Sam! What gives?!"

Samantha slightly cringed at Lee's tone and as her face clouded over she swallowed and stepped back from Lee a bit replying quietly, "I-I'm sorry. I just stopped by to tell you that I'm going now. Now that you and Amanda have talked, that is."

Lee, realizing then that he acted hastily, cleared his throat, feeling abashed and stated softly, "Oh, right. I'm-I'm sorry...Samantha. It's just all that hocus-pocus you've been doing has made me a little jumpy. But I should be thanking you, instead."

Samantha gave a little wave with her hand answering calmly, "Oh, it's quite alright. But actually, you did me a favor by needing my help, anyway. "

Lee puzzled asked, "How so?"

Samantha with a tilt of her head, commented wistfully, "Kept my mind on someone else for a change...A small distraction, but a good one."

Lee responded with a slow nod, "Ohh, yeah. You said you were married...I'll bet he's missing you, huh?"

Samantha sighed with a wistful look in her eyes answering with a swallow, "Not half as much as I'm missing him...Darrin passed on some time ago, and sometimes it feels as though he's still around...Wh-When you called me "Sam" just now, it reminded me of him. Especially when he'd get upset with me at times."

Lee nodded responding gently, "I see...I'm so sorry..."

Clearing his throat then, he asked, "So, anyway, what about Amanda and her mother? Will they remember any of this night?"

Samantha shook her head commenting, "Not at all, I promise. Her mother is unfrozen now and sound asleep."

Looking in Amanda's direction, Samantha gestured towards the picnic table and stated to Lee, "Look, you just go over there when you're ready, and I'll put everything back into place so you can be on your way, alright?"

Lee smiled as he gently kissed her temple. "Thanks, Sam."

Samantha smiled in return, answering, "You're welcome...Lee."

So, as Lee returned to his place at the table, Samantha disappeared after Amanda was unfrozen, and Amanda asked him, "Is everything alright now? I didn't mean to upset you by that comment...I just thought you may have picked up on it and understood where it was coming from."

Lee nodded, and looking at his watch remarked, "Yeah, I do, finally. But look, we'll have time later to delve into all that, and anything else that pops up, okay? But right now, I should leave and let you get back to bed, huh? I just stopped by to check on you. Sorry it's so late to come over, but-"

Amanda shook her head as they both got up from the table, and giving a slight yawn answered, "N-No, it's fine. Gosh, I'm so used to your M.O. by now, with all the cases we've done over the years."

Lee surprised, asked, "Wa-Wait! Are you saying there's no more I could surprise you with, Partner?"

Amanda shrugged lightly with a wry grin stating as they walked towards the back gate, "Nope! I'm beginning to know every move you make, and it's about time, since you claim you know everything about me, and-"

Lee chortled commenting as they reached his car at the curb, "Ooh! I sense a challenge from you, Mrs. King! We'll see who knows how much about each other and go from there...You're on!"

Amanda smiled remarking as Lee got into his car and started it, "I love a good challenge! Goodnight, Lee."

Lee returned the smile answering as he drove off, "Goodnight, Amanda...Meet you at the winner's circle!"

And as Lee got to the beltway towards Georgetown, he then gulped remembering what happened earlier with Billy, and called out, "Samantha? What about Billy? I don't want vacation!"

He couldn't see her anywhere around as he drove, but she answered, "He and your associates won't remember a thing either, Lee. You'll be going to work as usual...Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Sam. And thanks!"

Lee continued his drive home thinking after a fashion, Hmm...maybe I have been working too hard lately.

Shaking his head as he later turned into his apartment complex, pulling into his space and turning off the motor, he got out and said aloud, "I hung out with a witch tonight? I am going bonkers!"

Heading towards the complex entrance, he thought drily, Maybe I will check out that Nick At Nite channel sometime...Might be good for a laugh...

The End