The Bomb 6

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The next morning, Lee arrived promptly at eight a.m. to pick Amanda up from the hospital. "How's your rib?" He asked as he saw her wince when getting into the Vet.

"Oh, it's alright, Lee." She told him. "Just a little sore, but I'll be fine. Glad Mother can't see me though. She'd swear I was dying." Truthfully she hurt all over but she was not about to admit it. Lee was worried enough about her to begin with and she was half afraid, he'd make her stay in the hospital.

Lee chuckled at the thought. "Well, you don't have to worry about that right now." He said as he started the car and drove away from the curb. He wanted to say a great deal more but wasn't quite sure how. How do you tell someone that you think you may be falling in love with them? It wasn't exactly light conversation.

"Lee, are you sure Mother and the boys are alright?" Amanda asked after they'd driven for a while, trying to break the uncomfortable silence and ease the nervousness they both obviously felt. "I mean, when I called her to tell her I'd be gone for a few days she seemed alright but..."

"Um?" Lee's mind was obviously not on her mother and boys.

"My family." Amanda repeated. "Are you sure they're alright?"

"Uh, oh… your family. Yes, yes they're fine. I told you, we have a security team surrounding them." He answered distractedly.

"Oh, well, I was just thinking… well, you know, it's just well… I was just wondering." She finished lamely. She was feeling very uncomfortable for the first time in a long time with Lee and she suspected he was too. And it all centered on that kiss.

"Amanda" "Lee" They both spoke at once. "Oh, I'm…" Oh, I…" Both pursed their lips for a moment.

"You first." Lee smiled at her.

"Well," Amanda paused uncertain of exactly what she had been about to say, or at least how she was going to say it. "I just… well, back in the hospital, when I came to and you were there and then right before you left... well..."

She was interrupted when they pulled into the parking space in front of his apartment building. "I'll get your door." He told her as he hurriedly jumped out of the car and came around to her side of the car. "Let's get inside and then we can talk."

Amanda nodded and took his hand as he helped her up and out of the car.

Lee saw her wince again as she got up from the seat and he instantly wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "You sure you're alright?" He asked. "You know, maybe I should take you back to that hospital."

"No, Lee." Amanda said seriously. "Honestly, I'll be fine."

Lee studied her face intently for a moment, finally nodding and leading her towards the entrance of the building. Once inside, Floyd Feller, the doorman, greeted them warmly and watched them with a smile as they got on the elevator. "Such a nice looking couple." He said to himself. "Sure hope he keeps her."

Once inside his apartment, Lee led Amanda over to the couch and bid her to sit down, picking her feet up and pulling them up onto the couch as he did so. "You lay there and get comfortable." He told her. "I'll get you something to drink."

He started to rise, but Amanda stilled him with a hand on his arm. "Lee, you said we could talk."

Lee sighed as he sank down on the couch beside her. "I know I did, Amanda. And I…"

Just then the door bell rang. "I'll just get that." He told her, glad for the interruption. He wasn't sure he was ready yet for this conversation.

"Francine." He greeted his blond co-worker when he opened the door to find her standing there with an irritated look and a briefcase.

"I still think it'd be a better idea to take her to the Cumberland." She said with an arched brow.

"Francine," Lee shook his head as he held the door for her. "You know as well as I do that the fewer people who know where she's at, the better. We'd have to have too many other agents involved if we used the Cumberland."

"I know, I know." She waved him off as she came in and laid her purse and briefcase on the table. "So, I'm here for my turn at guard duty."

Lee avoided looking at Amanda as Francine spoke. He hadn't told her that Francine would be staying with her while he went to meet with a contact. He knew Amanda wanted to talk and he knew what about, but right then, was just not the time. "Uh, yeah. Uh, Amanda, I've got to run down some leads. I have a couple of people in my family that just may be able to give me some info on this. Francine promised to stay here until I get back."

Amanda's legs were off the couch immediately as she struggled to gain her feet. "Shouldn't I be going with you?" She asked. "I am your partner and…"

"And you just got out of the hospital after being nearly killed." Lee pointed out as he headed once again for the door. "Amanda, believe me. This is something I do not need a partner for. But I do need my partner to be well and alive. So stay here and keep Francine entertained." He said that last as he quickly slipped through the front door and closed it tightly behind him.

Francine sighed deeply and looked over at her charge. "Well," she looked around the room. "You want play hearts?"

Amanda sighed and laid back down. Playing hearts with Francine is not what she wanted to do.

TBC