In Limbo

Chapter 44

After breakfast, Joe started feeling sick again, and ran to the bathroom to empty more contents with Lee following quickly, and when it was over, Lee grabbed a washcloth, and running it under cold water, handed it to Joe.

Sitting on the edge of the tub, Lee said flatly, "Okay...Now it's time for me to ask the questions...First of all, what the hell made you drink that amount, anyway? Thank God you weren't out driving in that condition or that the kids or Amanda weren't with you!"

Joe then sitting against the wall beside the toilet, waved him away and snarled, "Alright, I get it! I get it, Stetson! Just-Just lay off, and leave me in peace and my own misery!"

Lee shook his head stating, "Oh, here we go on the self-pity train..."

Joe groaned muttering, "What do you mean by that?"

Lee commented gesturing, "I mean wake up,Joe! Take-Take a hard look at what you've had, and what caused you to spiral out of control here...Okay, you've had a few hard knocks where your family is concerned, but that, My Friend, is on you! Amanda and the kids are feeling burned by you right now, but I think time and distance is what's required here."

But seeing true remorse on Joe's face then, Lee sighed answering, "Alright, that's enough lecturing from me...So, tell me. Are there any other loose ends to tie up here in D.C.?"

Joe slowly shook his head, stating, "Amanda and I were at the lawyer's office amending the custody arrangement...I was planning to go see my folks in Chevy Chase after that, and spend the night, and head back to Africa first thing this morning...By the way, could I have my wallet and keys back?"

Lee queried warily, "Uh, let's see how you're feeling later, okay? Now, do you think you're able to get up, or do you need a few more minutes here?"

Joe nodded slowly, commenting with a gesture, "I could use a hand..."

Lee, reaching for him, pulled him up carefully and asked, "You alright?"

Joe sighed answering, " Yeah...Well, the room isn't spinning any more... That's good at least...Thanks."

Lee responded lightly, "Sure...Look, why don't you sack out on the bed for a while, and I'll check on you later. I have some calls to make..."

-SMK-

And as Lee turned towards the bedroom door to leave, Joe queried, "Can I ask a favor?"

Lee quipped, "What, sobering you up in my place wasn't enough?"

Joe shook his head disdainfully, answered sullenly, " Aw, forget it-"

Lee stated, "I'm kidding, alright! What is it?"

Joe swallowed hard, remarking, "I want you to ask Amanda if I can see the kids just one more time before I leave."

Lee, caught slightly off guard, gave a low whistle and commented lightly, "I-I dunno, Joe. I mean, that's a pretty tall order, and-"

Joe pleaded softly, "Please? I-I just gotta make them understand that I never meant to say that I didn't want them at all! C'mon, didn't your folks ever say stuff to you that they didn't mean?"

Lee gulped, and with a sigh and a gesture, answered, "See that picture on my nightstand? Those people there were my folks. I-I lost them when I was four years old...But I had lots of people at their funeral say to me, " They're in a better place now, and you'll be alright soon," and the ever popular phrase, "Time marches on."

Joe looked at Lee bewilderedly, asking,"How-How could they have said those things to a kid?"

Lee winced slightly, as he intently stared at Joe, replying, "That's what I've been wondering ever since Amanda told me what you said about Phillip and Jamie the other night...Think about it, Joe...Get some rest..."

Lee then closed the door and went to the living room to call Amanda regarding Joe's request...

-SMK-

Amanda was helping Dotty clean up the breakfast dishes, and Dotty asked, "Aren't you going in today, Dear?"

Amanda shook her head answering, "No, it's my day off...Listen, Mother...Um, I need to tell you what happened the other night when I had to leave suddenly-"

Dotty commented quickly, "Yes! You said something about someone needing black coffee, from a place called Dooley's?"

Amanda nodded, stating, "Yes...Um, Mother, Dooley's is the place Joe and I frequented when we were dating."

Dotty replied, "I see. Guess I forgot that...Well, what about the coffee?"

Amanda responded carefully, "Well,when the bartender there called me the other night...It-It was about Joe-"

Dotty looking concerned, asked, "Joe? You mean...He was the one who needed the coffee? Why for heaven's sake?"

Amanda swallowed, and shrugging, answered, "Well, he and I had the meeting at Kane Burke's office to go over the custody changes, and I guess it upset him pretty badly because when I got there, there was damage done to one of the booths, and a lot of liquor and broken glass ...Mr. Dooley had Joe in the back area to try and sober him up, but he had already passed out...That's when I called Lee to help me get Joe out of there."

Dotty shook her head, commenting, "Oh, my God! I can't believe we're talking about the same Joe King...Wait...Is he at Lee's right now?"

Amanda nodded remarking, "Y-Yes. He offered to help also by putting Joe up for the night to sober him up."

Dotty sighed replying, "Well, that was certainly kind of him. I'm just grateful that the boys didn't hear about any of this...Are you going to tell them?"

Amanda stated, "I don't want them any more upset than they've been already lately, you know? I mean, for all intents and purposes, Joe is still their father, and I don't want the last thing they remember about him is hearing that he got drunk-"

Dotty added, "Or arrested! Can you imagine if they had been with him when that happened?! It's frightening just to think about, Darling-"

Amanda nodded, commenting quickly, "Y-Yes, Mother, I know, so let's not do that, huh?"

The phone rang, and Amanda answered, "Hello?"

Lee said, "Hi, it's me."

Amanda stated, "Oh, hi...So how is Joe?"

Lee replied slowly, "He's on the mend...Listen, he wanted me to ask for a favor..."

Amanda answered warily, "What kind of favor?"

TBC