Stress Amanda Style

Chapter Three

Lunch with Charlie went well and afterwards Amanda excused herself to go to the ladies room while Lee and Charlie chatted at the bar.

Charlie said, "I like her, Lee. She's a keeper-."

Lee chuckled. "W-Wait, hold on. She and I are just friends. Don't get crazy now."

Charlie said, "What? You really can't see yourself with someone like her? Why the hell not? "

Lee was getting uncomfortable. "I-I dunno. I guess I never thought about it."

Charlie shook his head. "You gotta be kidding me?! It never entered your mind about someday-?"

Lee shook his head saying, "Uh, no. Definitely not. Remember, I'm a loner for a reason, pal."

As Amanda was coming out of the ladies room, she heard Charlie say this, "Ohh. I get it now! You're afraid of going in the "ball and chain" area, huh? Well, with someone like Amanda, that wouldn't be so bad..."

Amanda hung back near the wall to listen. They weren't aware she had just come out.

Lee said, "It wouldn't work because she's been in that area already. She's divorced, she's a mother with two boys, a house and a mother living with her. Yeah, great ready-made setup there- but not for this guy. Trust me. No, when I want to go on a trip, I can just pack up and go. None of this checking with family to see if they want to go, and fixing schedules. Nah, the only person I check with is me on anything! Besides, what about that girl you saw last month? Carol? Connie?"

Charlie laughed and groaned! "Ohh- don't remind me! Crystal! "

Lee chuckled, "Yeah! She was nice. What happened?"

Charlie nodded, "Yeah, she was nice until she wanted to fix my place up a little. Man, you remember that nice setup I had in my living room? The big TV I had for the game nights? "

Lee groaned, "Don't tell me-."

Charlie said, "Remember when I went to Toronto to do that sales pitch for that ad deal I had? Well, I came home and had to check in with the boss on the deal, and my secretary says that Crystal called and said she had a surprise for me. So, here I am thinking we'll get reaquainted, go out for a nice dinner and then later go back to my place..."

Lee said, "And? "

Charlie said," The surprise was on at my place! The secretary said Crystal was there and to knock when I came home. So I get there, and she blindfolds me and I'm thinking we're gonna get something going soon! She brings me in, whips off the blindfold and you shoulda seen her face! Lit up like a Christmas tree! She said, "Surprise! Do you like it?! It's so cozy now and comfortable, and-" And I cut her off saying, "It's crap! What the hell happened to my stuff? She said, "You don't need a big TV for when we watch movies and want to stay in sometimes, do ya? " Lee, I ended it right there! I couldn't believe her gall! I mean, I just..."

Charlie sighed and said, "Lee, I'm sorry. Here I was talking about Amanda to you and Crystal may have been just like her! What was I thinking? "

Just then, Charlie glanced in Amanda's direction and realized she'd heard more than part of their discussion as he saw her coming! He cleared his throat and nudged Lee saying," Ohh boy, this is where I leave."

Lee soon knew what Charlie meant as he saw Amanda's face. It was not going to be a good car ride! Lee said, "You ready to go? "

Amanda smiled at Charlie. "Yeah. Nice to meet you Charlie."

Charlie looked at Lee and said shaking his hand, "Yeah, see ya around. I'll call you next week for the ball game, Lee."

Charlie left and Lee said,"You okay?"

Amanda led him out of the restaurant, and they got in his car and she said, "Sure. Let's go..."

Lee thought now would be a perfect time to find out what caused her day to go south! He took them back to his place and when he parked Amanda said,"Why are we back here? I thought you'd be bringing me home?"

Lee said, "I will. But I thought maybe we could talk first. Alone. "

They got out and got up to his place and he let her in and said, "Would you like a drink? "

Amanda sat on the couch and said, "No. I'm fine."

Lee sat down next to her and said slowly, "Okay. You told me you woke up this morning with your fists clenched and you were crying. Do you remember why that happened? "

Amanda sighed. " When did you get your degree in psychology Lee? I don't remember you having a degree in it? "

Lee said, "C'mon Amanda! I just wanna help here all right? "

Amanda got up from the couch and went to look out the window and said softly, "Do you ever get scared, Lee? I mean so scared you don't know what to do about it? "

Lee swallowed hard and nodded. "Yeah, but there are techniques on the job I use to try to combat the feeling. Why? "

Amanda waved her hand and shook her head. "I'm not asking you to tell me what scares you, but lately I've had this dream that seems so real. I'm on this mountain in the Alps, and suddenly, there's an avalanche and I'm swept away, and I'm gone and nothing I do gets me back to you-to my family, to everything I've ever known."

She began to rock herself back and forth as tears came to her eyes and she let them fall and gulped saying, "I-I know it's silly and you don't like displays like this, but I can't help it! There's a new world I'm trying to get used to with the Agency, and then the world I actually know-where my family's safe and there's crime and violence, but nothing like what you're used to! How do you not get swallowed up from that?! How do you exist?! "

Lee came slowly over to her and folded her gently in his arms and said softly, "My god! Why didn't you tell me any of this before? I woulda helped you! When did this start anyway? "

Amanda said between sobs,"W-Well, when we-we were tr-trying to f-find Em-Emily and Arianna d-died! I-I th-thought I wa-was okay, b-but I g-guess n-not! I'm so sorry!"

Lee soothed her and rubbed her back in slow circles. "Shh.. it's okay. You're safe, and we just gotta do what we can to stay that way. There are no guarantees with this job, but so far so good, right? "

Amanda calmed down finally and Lee brought her to the couch and she got a tissue and blew her nose and wiped her eyes and said, "Could you see me having this talk with my mother? "

Lee whistled, "No! Thank god you decided to tell me about it. " He held her again and he said, "Feeling better? "

Amanda sighed and nodded saying, "Yeah, thanks." Then she looked at him and said, "Now about what you and Charlie were talking about..."

The End