Lee drove the Agency sedan like a maniac, Amanda clutching her door and managing to keep her whimpers of fear down to a minimum.

"I thought you liked it when I drive fast," he quipped. "Don't you trust me?"

"I trust you – but I trust the Porsche a lot more than this old government-funded rusty bucket of bolts," she admitted, sneaking one eye open then closing it again with a faint groan.

"Don't worry – remember, it's Leatherneck that takes care of these babies," he reminded her.

"That does make me feel better," she squeaked. "But I still want this to be over."

"We're almost there," he said, turning into the stadium parking lot. "You find Bela and get him somewhere safe, while I find the Prime Minister and his kids. Got it?"

"Got it," she replied, scrambling to get her seatbelt undone.

They ran to the entrance, skidding to a stop to try and spot their targets. Lee shaded his eyes and scanned the bleachers but couldn't see anyone.

"Oh no, Lee!" Amanda clutched his arm. "The Prime Minister is on the sidelines!"

Lee looked where she was pointing and felt his heart seize up. The play was being set up directly in front of the dignitary and his children and if Big Phil got the angle just right to take out Bela in that busted play and sent him into the sidelines…

"Phil's going to use Bela to hit the Prime Minster and make it look like an accident," he exclaimed as he took off running.

He didn't think he was going to make it – he had to cover so much ground and Phil was already moving towards an unsuspecting Bela. Lee ignored the screaming pain in his knee and dug down to find an extra burst of speed, intercepting Phil and throwing his whole weight against the big player's stocky frame. It was like hitting a brick wall – Phil went down but so did Lee, the two of them bouncing off each other like crashing cars. Lee went backwards, Phil toppling over him and landing on top of him with a thud that had Amanda wincing as she ran toward them. Phil's helmet connected with Lee's forehead, sending his head snapping back against the turf.

To Amanda's relief, she could see Billy and a team of agents pouring into the stadium from another entrance; one team raced to bundle the politician and his children off to safety, while another ran to grab Crandall who was screaming at the field in frustration. As yet another group of agents tackled Phil again, who had stood up and was looking around in confusion at this turn of events, Amanda dropped to her knees beside Lee who hadn't moved.

"Lee? Lee, wake up, please wake up," she found herself saying for the second time that day as she ran her fingertips over his scalp, feeling for injuries.

"That was a hell of a hard hit," said Billy, kneeling down on his other side. He stood up and turned to the sidelines. "Get me a doctor or a medic out here, right now!" he bellowed.

"I think he's coming around," said Amanda hopefully. "Lee? Can you hear me?"

"Yeah," he groaned. "What happened?" He blinked up at her in confusion and struggled to sit up.

"You got knocked out when you tackled Phil to save Bela," she explained, trying to hold him down. "Now you just stay still until the doctor gets here."

"Oh no, no Ma'am – no doctors," he said, fighting harder to get up.

"Oh yes doctor," said Billy firmly. "Now don't move until you get checked out."

Lee's eyes rolled around trying to see past them for a way to escape. "No, if the old man thinks I got hurt again, he won't let me play."

"What?" asked Amanda, looking up at Billy in confusion. "What old man?"

"My uncle," said Lee in cross tones. "You didn't already tell him I got hit, did you? I know he isn't here since he never comes to watch me play."

"Lee," said Billy gently. "What year is it?"

"Oh, you can quit it with all the stupid questions," said Lee immediately. "I'm fine!"

"Oh Lee," said Amanda, running her hand over his head again. "You're really not."

"Quit that!" Lee batted her hand away. "I said I was fine and I am!"

"Son?" Billy continued. "Do you know who we are?"

Lee stopped trying to get up and looked from one to the other, frowning slightly. "Yes," he said, slowly. "You're… you're… ugh! I know I know you! I just can't think of your names!" he burst out, obviously frustrated.

Billy looked up at Amanda with a wry grimace. "He had his bell rung pretty hard. I think he's just a bit disoriented, but he's definitely going to the hospital."

"No – no doctors, no hospital," protested Lee. "Don't tell Uncle Bob. I just wanna go ho-" His eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped backwards, Amanda catching him before his head hit the ground again.

"Lee!"

A paramedic dropped down beside Amanda and gently moved her hands from where they were gripping Lee. "He'll be fine, Ma'am. You just let us get in here."

"Come on, Amanda." Billy helped her to her feet. "Let them do their work."

Amanda lifted her head and looked around. The field was swarming with people now, Crandall and Phil were in handcuffs and Bela was gesticulating wildly as he obviously explained something to an agent. "Everyone's safe?" she asked. "We got here in time?"

"Yes, everyone's safe," answered Billy. "Well, almost everyone." They both looked back at Lee who had been lifted onto a stretcher and was being wheeled toward the ambulance. "Come on, Amanda, I'll give you a lift to the hospital."

"Amanda."

She lifted her head from where she'd been dozing beside Lee's hospital bed and met worried hazel eyes. Lee was holding out a hand, but wasn't quite able to reach her.

"Oh Lee, oh my gosh, you're awake!" She leapt up and sat on the edge of the bed, wrapping her hands around his outstretched one.

"Amanda, what am I doing here? Why am I in a hospital? What happened? Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" He was brushing his free hand along her arm, looking for injuries.

"Lee, calm down. It's fine, I'm fine! You just got a little bump on the head." She reached out to brush her fingers over the goose egg on his temple left by Phil's helmet. "Well, maybe a couple of bumps, I guess. But you're awake now and you remember me! Thank goodness! I was so worried about you!"

"Remember you?" he asked. "Of course I remember you! Wait - did I forget you?"

"Only for a minute – that hit to your head kinda knocked the sense out of you for a bit, but you're awake again, thank goodness, and you remember so-"

"I hit my head?"

"When you tackled Phil at the field." Her brows drew together at the look of confusion on his face. "Lee? What's the last thing you remember?"

He opened his mouth, then closed it again with a frown. He tried again. "There were sirens and lights. And you… you were in a car with someone… with Pravik…" he paused and concentrated. "There were two guys – I was trying to stop them."

Amanda nodded. "Yes, that's right, go on."

Lee tried again then shook his head. "I can't remember anything after that." He looked her over. "Did I stop them?"

"Of course you did," she laughed. "At least, you jumped on the hood and told them to stop the car."

"And after that?"

"You really don't remember?"

"No," he shook his head in frustration.

Amanda reached over and pressed the call button. "It's okay – the doctor said you might have some trouble with your memory."

"But why can't I remember?"

"You got hit in the head twice in under 24 hours," she smiled with sympathy and squeezed his hand. "I'm sure you're just a bit scrambled – and at least you know who I am this time."

"This time?" Lee didn't like the sounds of that.

"The first time, you didn't know me. And you were frantic that we not tell your uncle and get you into trouble," she said lightly. "Apparently 16-year-old Lee was just as bad a patient as the current one."

Lee wiped a hand over his face and stared at the ceiling. "I forgot you."

"Don't feel bad – you didn't know Billy either." He turned his head to look at her again, eyes wide, and she paused, filled with doubt. "You remember him now though, right?"

"Of course I do," said Lee. "I just can't believe I could have been that out of it."

"Well, you know what concussions are like," Amanda replied. "You'll be back to your old self in no time."

"And in the meantime, we're in another hospital," groused Lee.

"Well, it was your turn," teased Amanda. "And at least we don't have to worry about trying to avoid my mother this time."

"Always the bright side, hey Kid?"

The door swung open and a doctor swept in, followed by Billy. "Well, Mr. Stetson, good to see you awake. How are you feeling? We were just about to bring you around, but it's a good sign that you came out of it on your own."

"Out of it? How long have I been out?" Lee struggled to sit up.

"Just a couple of hours," Amanda raced to calm him. "You missed all the fun - the x-rays, the exam, the sponge bath…"

"I missed a sponge bath?"

Amanda turned to Billy and smiled. "There you go – he's fine."

Billy let out a bark of laughter. "Good thing he has that hard head of his. Now, Scarecrow – how are you feeling really?"

"I'm fine – just a headache," answered Lee. "I just…"

"He can't remember the last day," murmured Amanda. "Not just yet anyway."

Billy looked at Lee incredulously. "The whole last day? None of it?"

"I can remember chasing that cab and after that, nothing." Lee spread his hands in frustration.

"That was the first time he hit his head," Amanda pointed out. She barely contained the shudder at the memory of Lee flying off the car and the sound of his head cracking against the curb. "Although he didn't lose any memory after that one," she added.

The doctor, who'd been checking Lee's pupils and examining the bumps on his head, stepped back and scratched his chin. "Well, that's not so surprising. The second injury coming so close after the first one would have had a greater impact, so to speak, and with concussions it is usually the most recent memories that go."

"Go?" fretted Lee. "Will I get them back?"

"Probably," replied the doctor, making notes on his chart.

"Probably?" repeated Lee, his voice rising. "I can't just have lost a day!"

"Lee, it's fine," soothed Billy. "The doctor's right – your memory will probably come back, and in the meantime, Amanda can tell us everything we need for the case. She was with you the whole time."

"She was?"

"Of course, I was," said Amanda. "I'm back to being a good sidekick."

"Sidekick?"

Her smile faltered as she realized Lee had forgotten that conversation. And everything else that had happened in Price's office.

"Just a joke," she said, weakly.

"Well, Mr. Stetson, outside of the memory loss, you're fine – if you were any other patient, I'd discharge you," said the doctor.

"Great. Then I'm out of here," said Lee, tossing back the bedclothes.

"But I can't," finished the doctor. "Mr. Melrose here says you live alone – and I can't send you home without someone to check on you through the night. You've had concussions before – you know the drill."

"Oh no. You are not keeping me in here," said Lee. "Not in this hell-hole of noise and lights and scratchy sheets and nurses bugging you all night and not in the good way!"

"Scarecrow, you know the rules," said Billy. "You can go home tomorrow."

"I didn't have to stay in here last time!" fired back Lee. "I went home and I was fine. Just because I can't remember a few little things, you…"

"Last time you had a partner who agreed to keep an eye on you," Billy reminded him. "And this time you don't," he added pointedly.

Lee's mouth snapped shut and his lips thinned.

"Just one night," Billy continued. "And two days off work."

"I don't need two days off!" Lee complained. "I need to get out of here!"

"I'll look after him."

All three men turned to look at Amanda who was now standing beside the bed, blushing slightly.

"I mean, if that's all he needs, to have someone around to keep an eye on him, and it would get him out of here…" She waved around the sterile room. "I can do that."

"No you can't. What about your family?" asked Lee, obviously torn by the offer. "Your mother will want to know where you are."

"Oh I'll just tell Mother the truth," said Amanda. "Or most of it – sick friend needs a hand, that sort of thing." She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm going to have to explain where I've been since last night anyway."

"You haven't been home since last night?"

"No – we were stuck in Price's office all night."

"Price has an office? For what? Assassins Are Us?"

Amanda began to laugh, realizing that was another chunk of memory Lee was missing. "He's not an assassin," began Amanda. "He's a bookie."

"A bookie? That what? Takes bets on assassinations?"

"No," Amanda shook her head. "Just a regular- You know what? Never mind – it's too much to explain right now. I'll tell you all about it later, when you're feeling better. "

"I feel fine now!" complained Lee. "And I don't need a babysitter! I just need-"

"You need to rest and not get yourself worked up," said the doctor in acid tones. "And if I were you and my partner was offering me a way out, I'd take it."

"She's not my-" Lee started to grumble, but stopped at Billy's raised brow. "Fine – if it will get me out of here."

"Are you sure about this, Amanda?" Billy inquired with a sigh. "You know better than anyone what he's like."

"It'll be fine, Sir," she confirmed.

"Good," said Lee, pushing himself up off the bed and standing up. "That's settled. Let's go."

Well, first I think-" Amanda began, turning away and opening the small locker beside the bed.

"No, let's go now. Before Doc here changes his mind," Lee wheedled.

"You should get dressed," finished Amanda as if he hadn't interrupted, and held out a neat pile of clothing.

Lee looked down at the hospital gown he was wearing, as Billy choked back a snort of laughter. "Oh. Right."

"I'll just go wait in the hall," teased Amanda. "If you think you can manage it alone?"

Lee looked up at her with a crooked smile. "I'll manage."

"Then I'll be outside when you're ready to go home."