In Limbo
Chapter 50
It took Amanda almost forty five minutes to reach the Agency because of the traffic that morning, and giving the password to Mrs. Marston, asked as she was given her I.D., "Do you happen to have any aspirin on you?"
Mrs. Marston stated, "No, but you do know where the infirmary is by now, don't you?"
Amanda nodded glumly, "Yes...Thank you, anyway..."
When she got into the elevator and the doors closed, she pressed the button for the Infirmary floor, mumbling, "What's her problem? She didn't have to deal with that traffic nightmare!"
Getting off on the Infirmary floor a few moments later, she was met by Dr. Kelford, who asked, "Amanda? Is there something wrong?"
Amanda quipped tiredly, "How much time do you have? Never mind. I'm just here to get some aspirin-"
Seeing the obvious strained look on Amanda's face, she gestured sympathetically, "Come with me to my office..."
As they went into her office, and she closed the door, and they sat down, Dr. Kelford's desk phone rang, and she shook her head, replying, "Never a dull moment around here..."
Answering, she stated, "Hello?"
Hearing the voice, she responded, "Yes, but I'm with her now. When we're through, I will send her to you...Goodbye."
Hanging up, she then pressed the Reception extension, and remarked, "No calls."
Amanda, witnessing the move, answered, "Oh, I wish I could do that sometimes!"
Dr. Kelford remarked, "You can...Just get your very own office here at the Agency, and viola'!"
Amanda chuckled, stating, "If only it were that easy! Who was that by the way?"
Dr. Kelford answered, "Scarecrow...Seems he was expecting you a while ago-"
Amanda nodded, getting up from the chair, replying, "Ooh! Yes! He and I had something to discuss-"
Dr. Kelford gently taking Amanda's hand, pulled her back to the chair to sit again, commenting, "Which can wait until you get your bearings...Look, it's either you hang with me for a bit, or I can send you down to Pfaff's office?"
Amanda shook her head, responding, "Frankly, I understand you a lot better than him, but don't you have patients right now to care for?"
Dr. Kelford waved it away, answering, "That's what the assistants are for when I need a break...I had to come in for a consult at six this morning, and I'm dragging a bit..."
Getting up to get coffee, she asked Amanda, "Care for a cup?"
-SMK-
Meanwhile, Lee and Billy were still in Billy's office with Jake Tompkins, with Lee replying, "I-I'm sorry Amanda isn't here yet-I-I mean, she's in the building now, but got a bit sidetracked...If you've gotta leave, we understand."
But Jake shook his head, commenting, "I cleared my docket until noon today, Lee, so I can wait as long as necessary."
Billy queried, "Lee, what did Dr. Kelford say exactly?"
Lee sighed, answering, "Um, that she and Amanda were talking, and when they're through, Amanda will be here."
Jake shrugged, replying, "Well, while we wait, let's figure out what Joe King's intentions meant for you here. Now, do you know the King boys well enough that you'd feel comfortable becoming their surrogate parent?"
Lee gulped and putting a hand up, stated quickly , "Ho-Hold on, Jake! Amanda and I aren't even engaged-"
Jake countered, "But you do intend to remedy that?"
Lee shrugged uncomfortably, "Well, su-sure, but we have a lot to cover before any of that happens anyway, and-"
Jake sighed, and replied, "Look, Lee...I know the prospect of becoming an instant parent wasn't in your radar, but with Joe King deceased now, it's happening whether you're ready or not, alright?"
Billy then said to Lee, "Do you think my wife and I were ready when we had our kids? No, I'm a trained Federal agent...We had to learn the ropes together, and you will learn the ropes from Amanda and Dotty-"
Lee sighed, commenting with a shrug, "Yeah, you're right...I mean, they're not in diapers any more, Thank God. They're teens...How bad can that be?"
With that, Billy and Jake looked at Lee, and then one another, and began to laugh, and Lee, seeing their display, shook his head, groaning, "Oh My God! I'm in trouble, aren't I?"
TBC