An hour later, Amanda found Francine sitting at her desk in the bullpen, staring at a small photograph. She approached her slowly, dipping her head slightly to study her friend's face. "Francine, you okay?"

Startled, Francine inhaled sharply and brushed her hand under her eye to sweep away the tears threatening to fall. "Amanda. Sorry. I didn't see you there." She peered down at the picture and shook her head slightly. "No. No, I don't think I will ever be okay. He's never coming back."

Amanda peeked over and saw the photo she was holding was of Francine and Jonathan on a beach. "What a nice memory. You look very happy there."

Francine sighed heavily, opened her desk drawer, and dropped the picture in. "We were. Then. But things changed. Things happened. We drifted apart. Again. I think after the last time we decided we really weren't meant to be together. I mean, we had some good times, had some laughs, but in the end, we were two very different people with different goals than we were before."

"And sometimes it's for the best. It wasn't easy when Joe and I decided to go separate ways but we made it work. And we still may not see eye to eye on some things, but we still love each other." Amanda rubbed her hands together and offered Francine a sincere smile.

"Wait… did you just say you still love Joe?" Francine's eyes widened as she stared back at her.

Amanda chuckled softly. "Yes, Francine. I love him. I'm always going to love him. But I'm in love with Lee."

"Yes, she is," Lee stated with a chuckle from behind Amanda, causing her to jump.

"Hello, Sweetheart. I didn't see you there." Amanda turned and grinned at her husband.

Lee placed his hand on Amanda's lower back and leaned closer to Francine. "You holding up okay?"

Francine rolled her eyes. "What is this? Suddenly everyone thinks I'm a delicate flower who can't keep it together?" She straightened her shoulders and her face stoned.

"Not at all, Francine. We just care, that's all. I know how close you and he were and—" Lee began.

"And what?" Francine snapped at him. "You don't think I can do my job now? Is that it?"

"Francine, we just care about you." Amanda reached out and tried to grasp her hand but Francine pulled it away.

"I'm fine. I don't need to be coddled or reassured or anything else of the sort. I just need to get back to work." She flipped a file open, lifted a pen, and began marking the report before her.

Lee leaned close to Amanda's ear and whispered, "Let's give her some space."

Silently, Amanda nodded and cast a sympathetic look at her friend once more. She started to turn to follow Lee but stopped. "Francine, Lee and I will be right upstairs if you need anything or if you just wanna talk."

Francine straightened her spine rigidly. She glanced up to see Amanda's worried face looking back at her. "Thank you, but I'm fine. Really."

Amanda nodded once and fell in step with Lee as they headed toward the doors. "Lee, do you think we should call Leatherneck and tell him what's going on?"

"You know, Amanda, that might not be a bad idea. Francine might not want to talk to us right now, but maybe she'd open up to him. I'll stop down there and–"

Lee stopped when Billy's voice filled the bullpen once more. "Scarecrow, I need a minute with you."

"Go. I'll give Leatherneck a call and tell you all about it when you get back."

"I'll meet you in the Q Bureau." Lee gave Amanda's hand a squeeze and turned to walk to Billy's office. He inhaled deeply and watched Amanda disappear from view before peering back at Francine. His chest tightened when he saw Francine pinching her lips together tightly, leaning her forehead on one hand as she struggled to keep her composure. He slipped into Billy's office. "You wanted to see me?"

Billy stood close to the window, peering through the blinds in Francine's direction. "How's she doing out there?"

Lee coughed nervously. "She's trying to put up a brave front, but I think she'll be okay. It's just a shock, you know?"

"It was a shock to me, as was the letter he wrote. The locals just dropped it off," Billy informed him with a heavy sigh.

Lee furrowed his brow. "Really? What's so surprising about it?"

Billy lifted the evidence bag and handed it to Lee. "Read it and you tell me."

Lee took the letter and read it aloud.

"I, Jonathan Stone, have failed. I've failed my country. I've failed my business. And, I have failed myself.

Lies find their way back to haunt you, like an old enemy. Truth hurts more than any drug. I don't see any way out of the mess I've found myself in, except through what I've done.

I never set out to hurt anyone, especially Francine Desmond. She is the one person who knows me better than I know myself and she alone will know what to do with my estate. She won't have to search hard to find what she's looking for. It's all here.

Francine, our past kept coming back and managed to get between us once and for all. I'm sorry I wasn't completely honest with you from the start. If you knew the truth then, maybe things would be different. I wouldn't be the man I am right now and my hands wouldn't be tied with what I've done.

I know you dislike cats, but I have one you'll need to find a home for. He's a sly one… always getting into mischief. The keepers have him now, but just reach out and let them know Bohdi needs a new home. One that will take care of him for the rest of his life.

Jonathan"

Lee scowled at the paper in his hands. "What kind of goodbye letter is this?"

"That's what I've been asking myself. What do you think? You think it's legit?" Billy steepled his fingers and leaned back in his chair.

Lee exhaled slowly and scanned the paper once more. "It's hard to say. I didn't know the guy real well before that whole mess a few years ago and even though he and Francine got back together for a while, it's been what… over a year since the last time I saw him? Before Amanda and I even got married."

"I guess there's only one way to figure this out. I'll get Francine in here." Billy lifted the handset on his desk and dialed her extension.