Just Fine
"Amanda, Amanda, wake up!" She stirred long enough to see Lee's face, smiling up at him briefly, before she went back out.
"I am going to call an ambulance." Dotty said.
"No! There isn't time. I'll take her in my car." Lee began to lift her in his arms as Dotty moved from his path down the stairs. She felt small and fragile in his arms and he thought that was strange, as he knew how strong she was. He just wanted to know what had happened.
"I am going to take her to Parker General. It is the closest hospital. Follow me in her car; I don't have room in mine." Without waiting for a response, Lee ran with Amanda in his arms to his car placing her gently in the passenger side. Making sure she was secure, Lee ran to the driver side and headed out.
Dotty grabbed Amanda's purse as she headed to the garage where the car was parked to meet Lee at the hospital. Dotty stumbled on something in the garage dumping the contents of Amanda's purse. Bending to pick the items up, she noticed the small nightie that had fallen from a bag from her purse. Smiling she realized that her daughter was ready to move forward with a man since her divorce, she just wondered what man it was she was moving forward with. Was it the handsome young man rushing her to the hospital or the man she had been seeing for the last two weeks?
Lee ran into the hospital carrying Amanda in his arms while yelling for help. The nurse came out from behind her desk asking what was wrong.
"I don't know. I went to her house and found her passed out on her stairs. She briefly opened her eyes before going back out on me." Lee explained as an orderly came out of nowhere to help place her on the gurney. Before Lee knew what was happening, the nurse and orderly had taken Amanda through to the back, leaving him standing at the closing doors.
Dotty arrived at the hospital about ten minutes after Lee had. When she walked into the ER waiting room, she saw Lee on the pay phone. Allowing him to finish his conversation, Dotty went to the nurse's station and asked about her daughter.
"Yes, the man on the phone over there brought my daughter in and I was wondering if I could see her or find out how she is doing."
"What is your daughter's name?"
"Amanda King; how many woman did he carry in?"
Smiling at the blonde woman in front of her the nurse responded, "I just got on duty; I was unaware he carried her in, that would have made it easier to identify your daughter."
"Well, I am only assuming he carried her in; he carried her out and refused to have me call an ambulance."
"Yes, Mr. Stetson is very efficient, I will give you that. Now let us see if we can find your daughter. Just give me a minute...Uh...I'm sorry, what was your name?"
"I will be right back." After the nurse had left her, she made her way closer to Lee and overheard something that confused her even more about the man that carried her unconscious daughter out of their home.
"I'll see you later, Francine. I'll be able to give you something by then. Bye."
"You certainly are a busy man, Mr. Stetson. Tonight with my daughter, the nurse seems to know you, and now later, you and a Francine, is that about right?" Lee was startled as Dotty spoke behind him.
"Francine is a co-worker of ours, I was calling to let her know that Amanda was here and to let our boss know. I was explaining I should have more for her later. What nurse are you talking about?"
"She was at the desk when I came in and she seemed to know you or at least your name, but she didn't know Amanda's." As if on cue, the nurse that Dotty spoke with walked over to Dotty and Lee. Lee recognized the nurse immediately. She was fully aware of his true profession and he swallowed hard hoping she kept that information to herself and didn't mention it to Dotty.
"Hello, Mrs. West, your daughter is resting in back. We need you to fill out some paperwork and then hopefully you should be able to see her by then."
"Is she awake yet?" Dotty asked.
"No, not yet, but I saw the doctor going into the room as I was coming out. It shouldn't be too long, now we really need you to fill out those papers." She guided Dotty over to the desk then handed her a clipboard and three forms to fill out.
Getting Dotty seated and started on the paperwork the brunette nurse walked over to Lee and placed a hand on his back, "How ya doing, Scarecrow? Is Mrs. King personal or professional?"
"Amanda is both at the time being."
"Her mother assumed you carried her in here; is that true?" Amber asked placing her hand on his knee.
"Oh, you know me; why take a gurney and an ambulance when you have two strong arms." He stopped as he suddenly realized if something was broken, he could have made the injury worse.
"I think she is lucky to have you in her life. From what I understand, it could have been worse. I hope she is worth saving."
"She is most definitely worth saving."
"Then you are lucky, she has one of the best doctors here. Well, I mean she isn't a NEST doctor, but she is still one of the best here. Your friend is in really good hands, Lee. You don't need to worry."
Standing up, Amber went to see if Dotty needed any help with the forms. Five minutes later, Dotty came and sat next to Lee, "You sure do have a lot of female friends, don't you?"
"To be perfectly honest, Mrs. West, I do." Lee felt no need to lie about a fact of his life he could not change.
"How does my daughter fit into your spectrum of 'friends'?" Dotty asked as she folded her arms over her chest, staring down one of the best agents in the operative business. Lee went to answer her only to chicken out.
Lee stood and asked, "Would you like something to drink while we wait?"
She looked Lee in the eyes. Seeing his unspoken pain and worries over Amanda, said, "Mr. Stetson, I would love some tea if you can find some."
Lee and Dotty had been sitting together, pacing off and on, and checking the nurses' station so often that Amber threatened both of them with sedatives. The doors to the exam area opened and finally the original nurse that helped Lee came towards them.
"Mrs. West, your daughter is awake and doing fine. The doctor wanted me to take you to see her. Mr. Stetson, you can come back in a few minutes." Lee watched as the two woman made their way through the doors to the back.
Amanda was sitting up as her mother moved the curtain back and rushed to her side. "Amanda, what happened? I mean, when Mr. Stetson and I walked in the house you were unconscious on the stairs and he just carried you out and I grabbed your purse, that little bag fell out of your purse also, I might add. Was that for Mr. Stetson?"
"I don't think Lee would fit into what was in that little bag. Mother, I am sorry I worried you, but I am going to be just fine. I was coming down the stairs, my foot came out from under me, and I fell down the stairs hitting my head. It must have been pretty good; I have a big knot on my head now." Rubbing the spot on the side of her head that felt the size of a baseball, Amanda smiled at her mother.
"I am just glad you are okay. You are okay, aren't you?"
"Yes, Mother, I have a knot on my head and a sprained ankle. I will be fine with crutches and aspirin."
"Are they giving you anything for pain and swelling?"
Amanda hugged her mother close and said, "I'm just fine, Mother. I am just a little tired. I am ready to go home and get in my bed."
"He is still here." Dotty stated.
"Who is, Mother?" Amanda asked but she thought she knew the answer.
"Mr. Stetson, he is in the waiting room. I think he really wants to see you."
Blushing she said, "I really want to see him too. Can you go get him while I wait for my release papers?"
"Yes, Dear, I can do that." Dotty started to walk away then turned to her daughter to say, "You know he was really scared when he found you on those stairs. I don't know him, but I know he cares very deeply for you." Amanda just nodded at her mother before Dotty turned and walked out of the room to get Lee.
The curtain moved back as Lee walked into the area and saw Amanda resting on the bed with her eyes closed, "Amanda, are you awake?"
Without opening her eyes, she answered with a big smile on her face, "Yes, I am. The light is a little bright at the moment." She reached out for his hand and guided him toward her.
He placed his arm over her belly to brace himself as he leaned in to kiss her. He pulled back from her to see her still smiling.
"For someone who was just injured, you seem awfully happy. What drugs have they placed you on?"
"None, you make me smile. Thank you for helping me. I don't think Mother could have done so well if you weren't there to help her."
"What happened to you, Amanda?" Lee asked as he brushed hair from her eyes.
"I was coming down the stairs, tripped, fell, and hit my head. Nothing major; I am just fine. No more problems. I mean I will be on crutches for a few weeks, but I will survive."
"Well, I am certainly glad it wasn't any worse than that."
"I'm sorry I ruined our date."
"Who said you ruined anything? I think you just like to add excitement to the mix of our new relationship. What else do you have up your sleeve?"
Amanda placed her hand on his arm, shaking her head at him while saying, "Nothing is up my sleeve, I promise. Lee, I am just fine." She pulled him close for a kiss as her Mother and the doctor walked in discussing her care for when she got home. Lee jumped away from her embrace when he heard the two women talking, only Amanda refused to let go of his hand; continuing to hold it tightly.
"Mrs. King, I have your discharge papers for you to sign and we have already discussed what to do at home so I will not need to cover that again. Remember to follow up with your doctor in about a week to check your status. In addition, I have your restrictions for work. I know you said you don't go back until Monday, but I think they should have a copy of what you are and are not expected to do."
Amanda took the forms, signed the necessary papers and placed the others in her purse. Seeing that her mother hadn't taken the little bag out of her purse, Amanda tried to conceal it from Lee's eyes.
"Thank you, Doctor Polar, can I go home now? I am really tired."
"Yes, Mrs. King, I hope you begin to feel better soon." The doctor walked from the room while Lee helped Amanda to stand as he handed her the crutches she had been given. Making their way to the parking lot, Amanda stopped Lee and said, "I wanted to thank you for getting me here again, but I think I am just going to go home with Mother so I can get some sleep."
"Yeah, sure, if that is what you want." Lee started to turn to leave when she whispered, "I never said it was what I wanted."
"What do you want from me Amanda? I'm not a mind reader."
"I want whatever you are willing to give freely from yourself. That is all I want."
"I will come by tomorrow after work and see you. Get some rest; I'll see you tomorrow."
Amanda watched as he walked toward the tiny sports car, knowing she was in love with him and that no other man would ever please her. She wanted so desperately to yell to him and have him come back to her; but she wanted him to come back to her on his own. She hoped that he would come by as he said he would, but if he didn't, then she had his answer and she would have to learn to move on yet again.