Unforeseen Path

Chapter 15

It was around 2 AM when Amanda was awakened by the phone. She groggily answered. "Uh, h'lo? "

It was Billy. "It's Billy Melrose, dear. I need you to get dressed. I'll be at your house in a few minutes to pick you up. Meet me at the curb. "

Amanda was about to ask as she yawned what was going on but he'd hung up! Groaning, she got up and went to get her jeans and top and sneakers on grumbling that he usually had better manners than Lee!

It must be important though or he wouldn't have gotten her up. She put her hair up in a ponytail and grabbed her keys and purse and headed downstairs remembering to leave her mother a note before she headed out the door.

She no sooner got to the curb when a limo came up and stopped. Billy got out to let her in and she got in and sat next to Francine who said, "My! Look who's ready for anything! "

Amanda made a face and said, "I didn't know what to wear since I didn't know where we were going and am I allowed to know where we're going, sir? "

Billy and Francine spoke at the same time. "Yes." "No."

Billy said to Francine, "He asked for her. He's been asking since they took him in the medivac from the Dulles airport! "

Amanda looked at both of them and got a funny feeling in her stomach. Swallowing hard she said, "Lee's hurt, isn't he? Wh-Where is he? "

Billy said, "He's at Galilee General. Yes, he's hurt, but they are examining him right now. Don't worry. I'm sure he's going to be fine." He said to the driver, "John, let's go."

When they got there Billy went to the front desk and showed his badge saying, "They're examining one of my men, Lee Stetson. Where is he? "

The nurse behind the desk said, "E.R. # 3. Down the hall..."

When Billy got to the E.R. he said to the nurse there, "May I see him? "

The nurse said, "Is the woman named Amanda with you? He's saying her name over and over. "

Billy nodded and signaled to Amanda who followed him into the room. Billy pulled out the chair for her to sit and stood by the bed saying, "Lee, Amanda's here son. She's right here..."

Lee moaned and muttered something Amanda couldn't understand. She looked at Billy and said, "Wh-What's he saying? I heard my name, but I didn't understand the rest of it. "

Billy said, "It's Portugese, Amanda. Onde esta' a Amanda, meaning where is Amanda? " Leaning closer to Lee he said, "Amanda's here, Scarecrow. She's right here. Just relax now."

Lee felt like someone had been beating his head into a wall all night! He then tried sitting up and Billy put him down! "Where do you think you're going, son? You have to rest! "

Lee yelled, " Preciso encontra' la!"

Billy sighed and said to Amanda, "That meant he had to find you. "

Just then the doctor examining Lee said, "He's not going any where for quite a while. He's got a bad concussion right now. I've ordered him a room that's ready for him now. Give us a little while to settle him in and then you can visit with him. "

Billy took Amanda upstairs to the waiting area and said, "It could be a while. Maybe I should take you home now and I'll call you later to visit. "

But Amanda shook her head. "No, sir. If Lee wanted to see me, I'm not gonna leave. Besides, I have to know if he'll be okay. "

Billy nodded. He then went to the nurse at the desk and said, "Can you set up a cot in Lee Stetson's room for his friend here? They both work for me. "

The nurse said, "Let me make the arrangements with the doctor. "

Soon Amanda was settled on the cot across from Lee's hospital bed. Billy said to her, " I'll let your family know where you are, dear. "

Amanda said, " I left a note with my mother but I'd appreciate you letting her know I may be longer here sir. Thank you. "

Billy went to the door and said, "Get some rest. I'll be back later... "

As Amanda settled down on the cot, she wondered if Lee would be all right. Why on earth was he so frantic about her? She'd have to ask him when he was more coherent...

TBC