In Limbo

Chapter 1

Lee Stetson woke up that Monday morning in a new place, new town, and looking around, seeing his moving boxes scattered, realized how much his world had changed since last Friday... Remembering the last day he spent with Amanda King, his mind wandered...

He and Amanda had wrapped up the Sullivan case, and he had asked her to have dinner that evening, to which she accepted.

On the way back to the Agency to retrieve her car, Lee and Amanda were then summoned on Lee's car phone by Billy to get back ASAP for a meeting,with Lee grumbling as he hung up, "It's Friday...What the hell could be so important now?"

Amanda laid a hand on his arm as he drove, stating gently, "The Agency isn't a nine to five job as you keep telling me, Lee, and I can't make my mother understand either...Look, the only thing we'll probably miss is the cocktail hour at whatever restaurant we decide to go to. Cheer up...How bad could this meeting be?"

But they had no idea what lay ahead of them as they returned to the Bullpen and everyone associated with Billy's unit was in attendance as he began, "All right, People...I've just gotten the word that the Agency has been compromised, which means that we will ALL be relocated. as soon as possible...Your new locales and identities will be sent to each of you by messenger tonight..."

As groans and murmurs went through the Bullpen, Billy put up a hand, stating, "Look, I don't like this any more than the rest of you...I've been very lucky with this unit...You people are the best...I'll never forget any of you...Dismissed..."

As the crowd dispersed, Billy stood with Lee, Amanda, and Francine, and looking at them, gestured, commenting, "Let's have a farewell drink in my office, hmm?"

As the three followed Billy inside, and he closed the door, he pulled out liquor from his cabinet with plastic cups, and pouring some into each cup, gave the three agents their drinks, and filling his, said in a toast as they raised their cups, "To the future...Good luck to all of us..."

Touching cups, they sipped, and Lee then noticed Amanda put hers down on the desk, as she asked Billy, "Sir? I understand about relocating, but I'm just not sure what to tell my family about all this, since it's so sudden, you know?"

Billy replied with a shrug, "Just say it's a new job opportunity once you find out what location you'll be in. And don't worry about your house. The government will take care of the move, and the sale of the place-"

Amanda nodded, and swallowing, answered softly, "I'm-I'm gonna need a minute...Excuse me..."

As she left the room, Francine shrugged, responding, "What's the big deal? She knew this might happen someday...Did she forget the time Harriman-"

But Lee shook his head as he glared at Francine, and answered, "The big deal is that Virginia is the only place she's known her whole life, and telling her family that they suddenly have to move is gonna be an adjustment."

Billy sighed remarking, "Yes, and changing their names won't be easy, either...Scarecrow, go see if Amanda's alright..."

Lee nodded, and as he left, Francine scoffed, saying, "C'mon! All this fuss because she has to move her family somewhere else? She knew what to expect when she signed up-"

Billy answered gruffly, "That's just it, Desmond. Amanda didn't sign up! Lee recruited her, and if you don't think he's feeling guilty about that, then start thinking about it! As it is, I also have to talk to Jeannie and the girls-"

Francine sighed and asked quietly, "Oh, right...How do you think they'll take it?"

Billy shrugged, replying in a somber tone, "Jeannie knows what to expect from the Agency life...The girls, however, don't know what I do, so I'll have to tell them about a new job offer and that we'll be moving soon..."

Meanwhile, Lee found Amanda in a conference room down the hall, and coming in, closed the door asking, "Hey...Are you alright?"

Amanda, dabbing her eyes with a tissue, stated sadly as she cleared her throat, "Y-Yeah, just peachy...Listen, would you mind if we got out of here? I-I don't feel much like going home just yet. I already called Mother to tell her I'd be late, anyway, so..."

Lee nodded, and helping her up from the chair she was seated in, squeezed her hand as he answered softly, "You bet...Let's go say goodbye to Billy and Francine first, huh?"

Later, as they made their way to the Agency parking lot, after turning in their badges for the last time, Lee replied, "We'll go to Milo's...I never did get to treat you there...Follow me with your car, huh?"

As Lee drove, making sure Amanda was behind him, he shook his head, commenting sadly, "I'm so sorry, Amanda...For everything you've been through these past three years...And there's no fixing this problem...

TBC