Stress Amanda Style

Chapter Two

Lee pulled into the gas station as the rain was just letting up. Getting out of the car, he went into the garage area.

Tony saw him and said, "Can I help you? "

Lee said, "Yeah, my friend Mrs. King is here. I came to pick her up? "

Tony shook his head and then Pete said, "Ohh, the one blubbering in the can? Yeah, I'll haul her outta there-."

Lee stopped him. "Uh, no thanks. I'll just get her myself."

Finding where the bathroom was he got to the door and heard crying. Great, he thought as he knocked. "Amanda? It's me. C'mon out now. "

She whimpered, "N-No! I'm a mess, and I've made a mess of everything today! Go away and leave me alone! "

Lee suddenly heard silence as the men had stopped their work and came over slowly to listen!

Lee sighed. "Amanda, the day has barely started. How could you have already ruined it? "

Then Lee heard between sobs about her waking up the way she did and then not getting goodbye kisses from her boys and then her tale of the flat!

Pete came up to Lee and said, "You didn't bring flowers? Geez, it goes a lot better with them. "

Tony said nodding, "Yeah. He and his old lady have great makeup sex when he gets her-"

Pete glared at Tony! "Knock it off and all of ya get back to work now! "

They walked away and Pete shrugged at Lee. "Sorry, mac. You know how it is..."

Pete left Lee and Lee shook his head. Knocking again he said in a curt tone, "Amanda, come out of there now, or I come in after you! Which is it?!"

Amanda came out slowly and sniffed. "Okay, okay! You don't have to get huffy! Let's go!"

Lee stood there and Amanda said, "What? "

Lee gestured toward Pete and Amanda sighed and said, "Thanks for trying to help and I'm sorry about getting in your way and getting upset..."

Wallking to the car with Lee Amanda said, "Makeup sex? He thinks you and I are going to-?!"

Lee growled! "Of course not! He was talking about his wife! Tony said-aw, geez, forget it! Just get in the damn car already so we can get back to work!"

On the way, Amanda said, "What about my car though? I still need a new tire put on. "

Lee's anger was coming to the surface again. "Okay. Where did you leave it? "

Amanda told him the exit number and Lee got on his car phone and dialed Leatherneck. "Hey, it's Scarecrow. I need a favor..."

Hanging up, Lee looked at her and shook his head and looked at her again.

Amanda looked at him and said, "What? You never had a bad day? I've been with you countless times when that's happened, buster!"

Lee chuckled angrily, "Well, that's usually because you're the instigator! But you happened to start your bad day and drag everyone down with you this time! What's wrong? "

Amanda looked away and sniffed. "Nothing. It's not your problem, so don't worry about it. "

Lee sighed. His day was getting better by leaps and bounds! He got on his phone and dialed Billy's extension. "Yeah, it's me. Amanda's with me and we're taking the afternoon off...Why? Because she's not fit for work and neither am I right now! We'll see you tomorrow. "

Without waiting for a response, he hung up. Amanda said, "Why did you do that? I can work. I mean I'm upset, but I can manage-."

Lee drove into Georgetown and pulled into his apartment complex and parked. Amanda said as they got out, "What are we doing here? "

Lee said, "I know exactly what you need. When was the last time you went to the gym? "

Amanda shrugged. "I do that exercise program off the TV every morning. Well, when I can anyway. Why? "

Lee said, "Because the TV program is like a warmup for the day. It's not really a workout per say. Anyway, we're going to the gym to work through some frustrations that I think you may have had lately. Judging by your mood today that is. So, are you up for it? I came by here to pick up my clothes and then we'll swing by your place to do the same."

Amanda shook her head as she followed him to the elevator on the way to his place. "I don't see how that's gonna help. I probably just need some time off. I've been tired lately and-."

Lee put up a hand. "Save it. Trust me. A few rounds with the old punching bag and you'll feel better, okay? "

Amanda slowly nodded and within an hour they were at the Athletic Club where Lee got her to join and she said, "Lee. I can't afford this place. What are you thinking? "

Lee smiled as they made their way to the locker rooms. "Special rates for friends. Hurry up and change and I'll meet you in the gym."

When she changed and got to the gym, Lee was standing near the punching bag. Amanda said, "You start there and I'll go to the bikes-."

Lee shook his head, "Uh-uh! You need to start here by walloping the hell out of this thing. C'mon, let's go."

Amanda said, "I-I don't have gloves-. "

Lee held out a pair and crooked his finger at her. "Got you a pair. I don't know what you're afraid of here. It's just a bag of sawdust and other crap. Believe me, it weighs a ton, but it does help when you're upset. I use it a lot myself."

Amanda swallowed hard. "Yeah, you pretend you're letting me have it, right? "

Lee genuinely looked hurt! "H-Hey, c'mon! All right, so I get a little mad sometimes but I'd never hit you! You believe me, right? "

Amanda nodded and shrugged. "Sorry. I don't know what's gotten into me lately." She went in front of the bag and Lee helped her put on the gloves and she said, "What do I do here? "

Lee smiled. "Think of something that's been really gnawing at you and let the bag have it. Here, I'll hold the bag from the opposite side. Otherwise, the bag'll knock you clear to the ground, okay? "

Amanda nodded and she started with a few moves and Lee said, "Do it harder! Don't be afraid to let go now!"

She worked harder at it and Lee said, "Good girl! Starting to feel better now? "

Amanda panted saying, "Yeah, but what about kicks? Can I do that too? "

Lee said, "Go for it! "

Just then, a friend of Lee's came in and said, "Hey, Lee! Wanna grab some weights when you're done there? "

As Lee looked over at the friend, Amanda's foot came up to the bag and with one swift kick sent Lee sprawling to the ground! "OOF!"

Amanda immediately rushed to his side along with the friend! She helped him to sit up away from the bag. "I'm so sorry, Lee! Are you all right?"

Lee coughed and wheezed and nodded saying, "Just knocked the w-wind outta me- I'm okay."

His friend chuckled and patted Lee's shoulder. "Sorry, pal." Looking at Amanda, the friend stuck out his hand. "Charlie Watts. Nice to meet you. "

Amanda sheepishly smiled and shook the man's hand. "Amanda King. We uh, work together at IFF. Nice to meet you. "

Then Charlie and Amanda helped Lee up and Charlie said, "I think he's had it for today. Have you had lunch yet? I was just gonna go grab something. "

Lee swallowed hard and coughed again and shook his head. "N-No thanks, Charlie. I was helping her work out and-. "

Amanda said, "Lee, I think we should take a break from this. Thank you for making me feel better. I think I'll be okay now."

But Lee knew better. He'd talk to her later about it. "Suit yourself. Okay, Charlie. I guess we will have that lunch with you after all. We just gotta change. "

Charlie said, "Great. I'll get us a table and get our drinks. Amanda, what can I get you? "

Lee and Amanda both said, "Iced tea." They both chuckled uncomfortably and Charlie nodded and left.

As Amanda walked with Lee back to the locker rooms she said, "I really am sorry, Lee. I guess I don't know my own strength. "

Lee shook his head and said, "Amanda, stop please? I told you. I just got winded. I'm okay. Now let's go change, huh? "

Amanda nodded and went to the women's area and as Lee watched her go he was concerned. Something was eating at her all right but he was determined to find out what it was and soon.

TBC