Unforeseen Path
Chapter 7
The sun was just rising as Lee opened one eye slowly. Turning slowly in bed he groaned! Why was it so bright in here?! "Oh God, somebody turn off the light already! Ugh!"
Then he became aware that someone was watching him and he began to focus both eyes around the room and saw Billy standing at the side of his bed. ""B-Billy? Wh-What the hell are you doing here? How did I get here? Wh-What happened last night? "
Billy sighed and said quietly. "Let's get you up now. Slowly. C'mon..."
As Lee began to sit up he shook his head gingerly and groaned, "No, no. I think I'll just stay put for now."
Billy said as his voice got louder, "No! You will get your butt up now, soldier! Get up and get in the shower!"
Lee said sighing as getting up was the last thing he wanted! "Lay off, Billy! Just leave me the hell alone! "
Billy pulled the young agent to a sitting position and said gravely, "Son, do you even remember what day this is? "
Lee thought for a moment and then swallowed hard and nodding said, "Y-Yeah. Yeah, I do..."
Billy touched his shoulder and said,"Ahh! There's a light at the end of this hell tunnel that you put yourself in! Great! Now, get your butt in gear and go take a shower while I see what you have in the kitchen for breakfast! I got your suit out from the closet there. Let's get moving!"
Lee managed to stand carefully as he got up from the bed and shook his head. "Ah, Billy. I don't really want to eat anything-."
Billy sighed and said, "Lee, I'm not asking you anything. I'm telling you! You need to pull yourself together here! I know what you've been through son but my God man if your uncle could see you now he'd be rolling in his grave! Just what the hell were you thinking last night getting plastered that way?! Your uncle is counting on you today at that service and I for one am going to make damn sure you're functional! Now move it!"
Lee nodded slowly and made his way carefully to the bathroom and started the shower groaning as it sounded like a waterfall next to him!
Meanwhile, Billy was preparing Lee's "remedy" and fixing eggs and coffee. He shook his head hoping Lee was at least stabilized for the service. He remembered when he last saw Lee in this bad shape. When his partner died. He thought he'd never see the lad like this again in his life.
The phone rang and Billy picked up, "Hello? "
It was Amanda. "Good morning, sir. I just called to see how Lee was doing and if I could help at all? "
Billy smiled. He thanked God every day she entered Lee Stetson's life and that he insisted that she be his partner at the Agency. It was a stroke of genius on his part even though Lee didn't agree at times, but it helped to humanize him more in this world.
He said, "Good morning, dear. Lee is in the shower as we speak and I don't mind telling you it was a struggle at first to get him up but at least he's mobile. How you can help is just by being there with him today. He'll obviously need to talk but he'll deny it at first. We'll see you at Arlington."
Amanda nodded and said, "Yes, sir. Thank you. I will. Goodbye. " Hanging up, she sighed in relief! She was grateful Billy was there because she realized she probably wouldn't have gotten through to Lee at all anyway in that state he was in. She went in the shower to get herself ready for the day.
Lee came out into the living room in his suit and saw what Billy had at the dining room table and said, "B-Billy, I really don't want anything but coffee and aspirin. Thanks for going to all the trouble though-."
Then he saw the glass that was filled and said slowly gesturing to it, "Wh-What's that? "
Billy smiled. "That my boy is your wake up juice. You can and will drink every last drop because I need you sobered up enough for the service. Sit down..."
Lee sat slowly and said, "Geez Billy, you aren't being a parent here are you? "
Billy said shaking his head and chuckling, " Comes from dealing with the two kids at home. Who knew I'd have to be raising kids at work too? Eat your eggs. You need a lot of protein today."
The service at Arlington National Cemetery went off without a hitch and everything went like clockwork the way the Colonel requested. Near the end of the ceremony, the flag was presented to Lee to honor Colonel Clayton and he nodded at the service man and got up to go to the podium.
Swallowing hard he glanced at the colonel's coffin and then looked out at the sea of faces and then focused on Amanda's face. She gave him a nod of encouragement and half-smiling at her for a moment began his speech.
"Distinguished guests, family and friends. We're here to honor Colonel Robert Clayton. A well respected and revered man who took on anything and everything in his long career with a vengeance. "No." simply wasn't in the man's vocabulary. Especially when I entered his life. When my parents died and I was cared for by various relatives who basically didn't know what to do with me this stranger my uncle, took me in and raised me. How either of us survived is beyond me!"
At that comment, there was chuckling and Lee continued." Anyway, I'm here to tell you that I was proud of him and never got to tell him so. He had every reason to kick me to the curb if he ever chose to but looking back, I have to honestly say that I'm glad he didn't."
Facing the coffin he swallowed hard and said, "Colonel, thank you for raising me after my parents died. You deserved all the respect and accolades you earned throughout your illustrious career and I was honored to have been your nephew."
Lee turned and went back to his seat and then the procession of people rose as the music started and everyone filed out slowly.
Amanda took Lee's arm as they left and as they walked together with Billy and Francine, she said to him, "Are you all right? "
Lee said nodding, "Y-Yeah. Thanks to my drill sergeant over there. Th-Thanks, Billy."
Billy smiled. "Glad to have you back in one piece, Scarecrow. Quite a speech up there. "
Francine said, "You did a great job, Lee. "
Lee smiled. "Thanks, guys. Uh, Billy. I hope you don't mind but I'm really not up to work today. Do you mind if I take off? "
Billy said, "Not at all. Amanda, why don't you take off as well and keep him company today, hmm? He needs some rest. Oh, and Scarecrow? "
Lee said, "Yeah? "
Billy said, "Don't go to Ned's or Monk's, okay? I think you've had enough of that for a while. I need you back in one piece for work."
Lee nodded." Right. And thanks for helping me this morning. It would've been an insane morning if you hadn't."
Billy shook his head. "Not a problem. Go get some rest now. "
Billy and Francine left and Amanda and Lee went to her car and they got in and Lee said, "So...last night. How bad was I? "
Amanda sighed. "I was frightened a little. I hadn't seen you that way before so I called Mr. Melrose. Luckily, he was able to come. I hope you're not upset because I got him over there. I-I was worried about you and-."
Lee patted her hand. "It's-It's okay, Amanda. I appreciate the help. Wait. Was Norman there? I coulda sworn-."
Amanda nodded as she started the car and they buckled up. "Yes. I had him get you in your pajamas so you'd be comfortable. " Blushing she said, "I-I was going to, but I-."
Lee chuckled at her obvious embarrassment! "It's fine, Amanda. Let's go home, huh? "
Amanda said, "I gotta check your fridge and see what edible food you have. I may have to go to the market."
Lee groaned and said, "Do me a favor though, huh? No more eggs, please? The sight of them is not going to help my stomach today..."
Amanda shook her head remembering what Billy's "remedy" entailed and said, "I promise. Just soup maybe? And BLT's with a touch of mayo? Could you handle that? "
Lee smiled slightly. "Yeah. Sounds good. So does a nap. God, I sound old today!"
Amanda patted his arm as she drove toward his apartment complex. "It's okay, Lee. You've been through more than most people have lately. But promise me you won't drink like that again? "
They pulled in and she parked and they got out and Lee took her hand as they went in the building and he said, "I promise. Believe me, I don't want to feel like this ever again..."
TBC