CHAPTER 28

Lee had almost reached the door that would lead him into Kelford's office when he heard a familiar voice. He looked through the faces, his hazel eyes finally settling on Jeannie Melrose. Registering her presence within the Agency did nothing to alleviate any of his fears.

"Lee," Jeannie breathed an audible sigh of relief upon seeing him.

"Jeannie, what the hell is going on?" Lee asked her.

Billy's wife shook her head and then frowned as she took in the sight of Amanda, who was now coughing horribly.

"Doctor Kelford's been expecting you. First things first, as they say," Jeannie told him. With that, she began moving towards the doctor's office, practically pushing people out of the way in her haste.

Lee didn't even hesitate in following her.

"Oh, and William needs to see you right way," Jeannie told Lee over her shoulder.

"Oh, no. I am not going anywhere," Lee grumbled as they passed through the doorway into Kelford's office.

Kelford was seated at his desk, holding the phone to his ear while chugging down, at an alarming rate, the contents of a bottled water.

Cradling the phone to his ear on his shoulder, he waved a hand towards Lee, indicating to Lee that he should settle Amanda down into the chair along the wall.

"I've got to go," he told the caller. "No, now. I will call back later."

"Ah, just the little lady I've been waiting to see," he said as he rose form his chair.

He came to stand before them and then turned to Lee. "Billy said you're to join him upstairs ASAP."

The furious scowl that appeared on Lee Stetson's face almost made the good physician take a step back, except that he had witnessed the wrath of the Scarecrow in the past and had already been anticipating such a reaction.

Fortunately, Jeannie Melrose interrupted quickly, leaving Kelford no time to comment and giving Lee no time to counter with a response.

"Lee, go on. I promised William I'd see to Amanda once you got here."

"But," Lee began to protest again.

"Go on son. He needs you right now," Jeannie told him in a soft voice that revealed the urgency of her husband's demand while telling Lee that she sympathized with him on the emotional level.

"I promise to take good care of her," Jeannie added as she visually witnessed the turmoil that Lee was so obviously feeling.

"We'll both take good care of her," Kelford promised. "Now go. I think Billy needs all of the capable bodies up there that he can get his hands on."

Lee turned towards Amanda and then knelt down in front of her so that he could look into her eyes. He took her hand in his and squeezed it gently.

"I'll be back soon, sweetheart."

Amanda looked at him with blurry eyes and gave him a weak smile.

"I'll be okay," she whispered. "Go on."

Suddenly, heedless to the consequences, Lee gave her a light kiss, his way of telling her that he loved her without vocalizing the words in front of an audience.

With that, he rose and quickly made his way out of the office, hating the fact that he was leaving Amanda while wondering what type of hell had they all just descended into.