Unfinished Business, Unresolved Feelings chapter 24

Amanda found herself standing at the door to Lee's apartment with no memory of the short drive from the Agency. She was trying desperately to believe that Lee was nothing more than a little shaken up as she'd told Billy. Her shaking hands, as she worked at picking the lock, betrayed how worried she truly was. The lock finally gave way and Amanda entered the apartment where she and Lee had spent so much time over the last few months.

As Amanda looked at the messy state that the apartment was still in she was reminded of her last conversation with Lee. If only she hadn't let her anger get the best of her Lee might have told her why he'd gone to see his uncle. Amanda began to absently pick things up and put them away. Lee is much more comfortable talking to me about his feelings then he used to be. Why didn't he come to me with whatever is troubling him? Why would he go to the Colonel; they've never been able to talk to each other about their feelings. Amanda picked up several books that were lying on the floor and placed them back on the shelf where they belonged. I thought that Lee was glad that I talked him into confiding in me about his investigation into his parents' past. Did he find out something that he thought he couldn't share with me? Doesn't he know by now that there isn't anything that he can't talk to me about? After all, there's nothing that I won't talk to him about. Liar. Amanda knew deep down that there were certain topics that she avoided discussing with Lee; even when he specifically asked about them.

Amanda sat down on the sofa and clutched a throw pillow to her chest. Mr. Melrose and Francine think that I've changed Lee so much but they have no idea how much meeting him has changed me. I can't lose him now. You have to be strong, Lee; I need you to come back to me.

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Lee was feeling tired and as soon as he moved slightly he felt sharp pain. I think I'll go back to sleep. I'm bound to feel better later. Lee was about to allow himself to go back to sleep when he heard a faint whimpering sound. What the hell is-? Lee was startled by a slight movement under his chest and he opened his eyes and suddenly remembered how he wound up in his current state.

When the tornado warning had been issued the airport management moved all the passengers and staff to the few places that weren't in the path of the terminals huge glass windows. Lee was seated on the floor next to a young mother who was traveling with a baby and a small boy. The woman looked as though she was frightened but didn't want her son to be scared so she allowed him to continue playing next to her. The thunder and lightening outside drew the boy's attention as the roar of the funnel cloud drew closer.

"I wanna see what's happening out there", the boy exclaimed as he dashed from their safe hiding place.

"Stay with the baby", Lee yelled at the boy's mother, "I'll go get him". Lee ran after him and reached him as he was getting dangerously close to a huge glass window. Lee pushed him to the floor just as everything around them began to be ripped apart. Lee's thoughts returned to the present as the small child underneath him reminded him that they were still in danger.

"Mister, please don't go back to sleep. I'm scared", the boy said as Lee rolled his weight off the child's body but found that they were trapped under a large pile of debris.

"Don't be scared. I'm awake now and I'm going to get us out of here", Lee reassured the boy. Jeez, how long was I out and how am I going to get us out of here? "My name is Lee. What's your name?"

"My name is Andy."

"Andy, do you know how long I was sleeping?"

"It seemed long. I'm only four so I can't tell time yet. My mom says I'll learn that next year when I start school."

"While I was sleeping did you hear any people nearby", Lee asked as he tried to assess how soon help might arrive.

"I heard voices but I couldn't hear any words. I heard noises, too. Banging and scraping; is that good?"

"Yes, that's good. I'm going to need your help to get us out of here", Lee said as he was berating himself for not being able to get them out without the boy's help.

"You really think I can help? My mommy and daddy always say I'm too little to do stuff."

"I'm sure you can help. In this case it's very good that you're small", Lee said as he tried to look at Andy's face in the mostly dark space they were trapped in.

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Amanda spent several hours cleaning the apartment and reliving the ups and downs of her relationship with Lee. The phone began to ring as Amanda was straightening up the bedroom. She grabbed it on the second ring and answered with a raspy hello.

"Amanda, its Billy."

"Is Lee okay", Amanda begged to know.

"I'm sorry, Amanda. I haven't been able to get any information about Lee specifically. There have been dozens of injuries; some of them are serious. I've tried to reach the Colonel but I haven't been able to get through to him." The sadness and frustration in his voice was obvious to Amanda even over the phone.

"Sir, I know you're trying but I don't know how much longer I can wait for some kind of definite news about Lee. I need to do something."

"I understand how you feel. If we haven't gotten any information about Lee by morning I'll go down there with you. I suggest that you get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day."

"Thank you so much, Sir. I'll talk to you first thing in the morning. Good night."

Amanda hung up the phone and sunk down onto Lee's bed. She was terribly disappointed that Billy didn't have any good news but she was also relieved that she hadn't received the terrible news that she might have. Tomorrow she would get answers but for tonight she would take Billy's advice and try to get some sleep. Amanda curled up on the bed with her arms wrapped around Lee's pillow.