Reflections

Chapter 2

Lee looked at the time.

It was nearly nine PM as he finished cleaning up Amanda's kitchen and her family room which had a wastebasket full of tissues next to the couch and on the coffee table, her cough drops and assorted magazines and books she liked to read.

He decided to check her temperature one more time and if it was still the same, he'd get her ready to go to his place.

He couldn't take the chance that the fever would spike suddenly and no one would be here with her until her family got home.

Reaching her room he went in and found her sleeping soundly and shook his head knowing he didn't want to wake her but it had to be done.

Shaking her shoulder gently Lee stated, "Hey, Amanda? Amanda, it's me. C'mon, wake up now. I gotta take your temperature again..."

Amanda stirred slightly and as she saw it was Lee she inched away from him asking sleepily, " L-Lee? Wh-When did you get here? Why are you in my room? What happened tonight?"

Lee muttered as he looked at her and remarked slowly, "Oh, boy...Listen to me, please? You have a little more than a cold here and I've been here trying to look after you since your family's been away. On that note, there was a message again from your mother saying that she and the boys are flying home in the morning. So, I'm checking your temp again to see if it's gone down any. If it has, fine. I'll get myself outta here and you can just tell your mom you got sick but you didn't want to ruin her trip, okay? But if it's the same or a bit higher, I'm afraid you'll have to come back to my place with me-"

But Amanda a little more alert now shook her head immediately replying, "N-No, I'm sorry. Thanks, but I'll be all right. And thank you for the soup and all but I do think it's best that you go after all. I mean, how would it look if they came home and saw you? How would I even explain you to them-"

Lee sighed and commented, "A-man-da! C'mon! I work with you at IFF. Simple."

Amanda sat up slowly and shrugged answering, "Sure. Simple for you and me, but they don't know you from any place I know that they know. And I'm not sure I could pull off an explanation of how you suddenly came here and-"

But Lee tired of her rambling, instantly popped the thermometer in her mouth again before she could say anything else!

Noting the angry stare she gave him he stated firmly, "Okay! Get as ticked off as you want, but I'm not leaving you by yourself in this condition. It-It wouldn't be right, and you know it!"

When Lee finished, Amanda sighed deeply and nodded in understanding.

Shaking her head slowly Amanda thought, Has he always been this way? There were certain things that bugged me about him but now...I just can't figure this out.

Lee had the same thoughts as they waited a few minutes to check her temperature.

Glancing at his watch and then at her he thought, I know she's not well, but something's different about her now and I can't put my finger on it. Yeah, sure. It would be strange to have her family see me. And I'm not normally into the suburban scene but here I am trying to I guess, do the right thing for once and not be selfish...

Lee was alarmed for a moment as he then shook his head thinking, Whoa! Where the hell is this coming from? Amanda's right. I could have had dates lined up tonight if I wanted to but truthfully when Billy told me about her being sick, I just thought I'd swing by and check on her like I do sometimes after our cases which can get pretty hairy.

He then felt Amanda tapping his arm and as he looked she pointed to the thermometer and he nodded and checked quickly.

He noted worriedly that it had gone up slightly but that it wasn't at the dangerous level which was good.

He showed her and then answered simply, "I'll leave this up to you. If you feel you can manage until your family gets back, I'll go. But you can't wait until I leave and then start running around here like you usually do, okay? Either stay in your bed or on the couch downstairs where I found you and-"

But Amanda replied as he was speaking, "I'll go."

Lee was still saying something when Amanda stopped him and responded, "Lee! I said I'll go!"

Lee bewildered asked, "Really? No argument at all?"

Amanda sighed and yawned answering, "Yeah. Turns out I'm too tired anyway at this point to do anything you think I'm gonna do so let me get ready, huh? Wait for me downstairs. I promise I won't try to go out the window here either, all right?"

Lee nodded as he slowly smiled and stated, "Okay. See you in a few minutes."

As he went downstairs he thought, Whew. She must not be back to normal yet if she's too tired to argue with me.

Getting to the kitchen he took the soup pot out of the fridge and put things back where they originally were on the shelves.

When he finished Amanda came into the kitchen commenting, "I'm ready."

Lee saw her overnight bag and queried, "That's it?"

Amanda shrugged remarking, "Of course. It's probably a twenty four hour bug anyway."

Gathering her purse and keys and putting on a coat she then answered as they got to the door, "Oh. Forgot a note..."

Going back to the kitchen she scribbled a quick note for her mother leaving it on the counter.

Lee couldn't resist as he asked, "May I?"

Amanda sighed and replied, "Don't worry. There aren't any typos in it, Mister."

Lee smirked as he read it and looking back at her answered, "Thanks. You took my suggestion after all..."

Amanda shrugged and commented, "Well, I didn't want to fill your head with praise, but you were right about what to say here."

Then noticing that Lee had the soup pot she queried, "You're bringing that?"

Lee nodded replying, "Yeah. Don't want your mother to have too many questions here like she usually does for you...Let's go."

Amanda opened the door as Lee carried out the soup and Amanda turned off the lights and locked the door behind them following him to the car with her things.

Getting to the car he put the soup pot on the hood and helped Amanda in the passenger side.

Then bringing the soup pot back he stated, "Here. You hold this in your lap and I'll put your stuff in the trunk-"

But Amanda then asked, "Wait. Did you turn off the stove?"

Lee nodded answering, "Y-Yeah, I'm almost sure I did."

Amanda thought for a moment and then asked, "Could you go check, please?"

Lee shook his head and taking her keys from her growled, "I'll be right back...Of all the-"

As Amanda watched him go she thought, It happens sometimes. I don't know why he's so upset about it.

As Lee got in the house he went to the kitchen and sure enough, the stove was still on Low!

He gulped and responded out loud, "Oops."

He shut it down completely and doing a quick once over of everything else was satisfied as he once again went out the front door and locked it behind him and headed to the car but Amanda pointed back to the front door telling him, "You forgot the keys."

Lee shook his head and grumbled as he went to retrieve them stating, "Geez! It's almost like we're married or something!"

Coming back finally he got Amanda's bag in the trunk and got in to start the car and asked, "Ready? Here we go..."

Amanda then queried, "Wait. Do you have supplies at your place? I mean, I know you weren't expecting anyone to-"

Lee was beginning to get a headache as he calmly answered patting her shoulder, "I can have stuff delivered, don't worry. Why don't you try to sleep now, huh? We'll be there soon enough."

As he pulled out of her neighborhood he thought miserably, What possessed me to help this woman in the first place?

And Amanda thought as she closed her eyes, Why is he suddenly so grouchy tonight? What did I do?

TBC