Unfinished Business, Unrealized Feelings chapter 3

Billy parked his car across the street from Lee's Georgetown apartment building. He got out of his car and saw Lee's Corvette parked in its' usual spot. Knowing that Lee was at home was reassuring on the surface but it left Billy to wonder why Lee hadn't responded to his phone calls and shown up for work. There was only one way to get answers and Billy had put off confronting Lee for far too long so he strode purposefully across the street.

Norman, the doorman, recognized Billy from his prior visits to Lee and allowed him access to the building without calling up to Lee's apartment to announce him. As he rode up in the elevator Billy steeled himself for the difficult task that lay ahead of him. He couldn't deny that Lee was special to him, he wasn't just another subordinate. Even though Billy cared for everyone that he supervised he had an undeniable soft spot for Lee despite the aggravation that Lee had caused him over the years. Billy had always been able to see through the Scarecrow persona that Lee hid behind. The challenge he now faced was to get past Scarecrow and get Lee to come to terms with his past.

Billy rang the doorbell and waited for Lee to let him in. After a couple of minutes passed with no response Billy rang the bell again. When he still didn't get a response he became concerned so he decided to pick the lock. The lock gave way and Billy quietly opened the door and slipped into the darkened apartment. Initially it was difficult to see because all the drapes had been closed and the lights were off. Once his eyes adjusted to the lack of light Billy could see Lee sprawled out on the couch. Lee was still dressed in the clothes that he'd been wearing the day before minus the jacket and tie. There was a glass and a mostly empty bottle of scotch on the coffee table next to the couch. This is going to be even tougher than I expected. I can't let my sympathy for all that he's been through get in the way of my saying the harsh things he needs to hear. I've put this talk off for too long already. Billy walked over to the sofa and quietly said Lee's name so not to startle him. He repeated his name several times and got no response so he gently shook his shoulder.

"Aamaanda, I,I knew you'd come. I don't feel so good" Lee said without opening his eyes.

"Lee, it's not Amanda. It's me, Billy. Get up, we need to talk " Billy stated in a quiet but firm voice.

Lee opened one eye and looked at Billy standing over him looking disgusted.

"Billy, I don't feel so good. You're gonna have to come back later. I'm goin back to sleep." He then closed the one blood shot eye and hoped Billy would leave him alone. Why isn't Amanda here? Isn't she worried about me? I didn't really think she'd leave me yesterday even though I told her to.

"Stetson. I'm not leaving. You are going to get up right now and take a shower. I'm going to make us a pot of coffee and then we are going to have a long talk. Get moving."

"Ah, Billy. I don't feel like talking", Lee argued. He did open his eyes and sit up.

"I didn't ask you if you felt like talking… I told you that we were going to talk and I meant it. Get off that sofa and get yourself cleaned up this minute."

Lee got up without saying anything and sullenly walked towards his bedroom. I can see he's going to fight me all the way. That's okay. I think his future is worth fighting for even if he doesn't think so yet. Billy went into the kitchen to start the coffee he would need to sober Lee up. As he opened the cabinets to look for the coffee and for mugs Billy was surprised to find them stocked with food. He opened the refrigerator to get cream for Lee's coffee and found more than the leftover takeout food he expected to see there. Lee's lifestyle had already begun to change even if Lee wasn't ready to admit it yet.

While he was waiting for the coffee to brew Billy walked back into the living room to open the drapes enough to allow some light into the room. He knew better than to open those too wide because Lee wouldn't be in any shape to tolerate a lot of light. When Billy turned back to face the sofa he noticed a pile of photos that had seemingly been pushed off the coffee table into a heap on the floor. Billy stooped to pick them up. They were all photos of Lee's parents and a few of the photos included a very young Lee. Billy was shocked by the strong physical resemblance between Lee and his father. He placed the pile of photos back on the table and picked up the bottle of scotch and the empty glass to take them into the kitchen.

Billy returned to the living room with two cups of coffee and a plate of what he suspected were cookies that Amanda must have baked. Jeannie doesn't need to know about these cookies. I'm going to need them to get through this morning. Lee came back to the living room dressed in jeans, a long sleeved Henley shirt and bare feet. His hair was still damp and since he hadn't shaved in two days he resembled the pictures of his father even more. The two men stood looking at each other, neither one knowing quite how to start the conversation that couldn't be put off any longer.