By: Nectar99
Disclaimer: These characters don't belong to me. They belong to WB and Shoot The Moon Productions.
Rating: PG-13
See chapter 1 for summary and guideline.
Thursday
11:20 p.m.
While at the station, Lee refused to relinquish Amanda, his arm wrapped protectively around her. They appeared to be drawing strength from each other and were unwilling to break that physical bond. Amanda clung to Lee and the blanket from his apartment as if they were the only things keeping her together. Sal noted their reluctance to separate, finally convincing Lee that they were not going to be able to leave until they cooperated. Lee quickly suggested completing their interviews in side-by-side interrogation rooms with a large window in the dividing wall. All he could do was hope that a visual connection would give them the strength they needed to retell the events of the last few hours.
The drive back from the station was a quiet one. They both agreed that it would be better to go there while the information was fresh in their minds and have it all done and over with.
Even though Billy had assured Lee that he would send some men over to clean the apartment, he didn't think it was a good idea to stay there, at least not tonight. Amanda had been through enough torture for two lifetimes, let alone just one. Pulling into the Holiday Inn, he looked over at her, hoping for some kind of reaction, but she was quiet and very still. 'How am I going to get her to open up after all she's been through?' he asked himself.
He ushered her into their room, the blanket still protectively shielding her body. Without a word uttered, he walked her toward the bed, pulling back the covers and placing her beneath them. He reached out to brush his fingertips against her cheek and murmured, "Do you want to talk about anything?"
Amanda's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression changing to a look of pain. She shook her head quickly, her answer unmistakable.
"Okay, it's okay, I understand," he spoke soothingly. Lifting her
hand from beneath the covers, he placed a tender kiss on the top of it. "You
get some rest."
Friday
1:45 a.m.
Lee sat in the chair beside the bed, watching her intently. He wondered if she'd ever be the same person again. Deep down, he knew the events would change her attitude, but he hoped the warm, trusting and loving Amanda would be back soon. A smile was upon his face as memories of adventures they had shared in the past raced through his mind. Coming back to the present, he smiled, viewing her long lashes curled against her cheeks. He was happy because it appeared as if she was finally resting comfortably in a sound sleep.
"I saw him at the restaurant," she uttered softly, her eyes still closed.
Startled momentarily, Lee replied, "What? What did you say?" He got up from the chair to sit with her, taking her hand in his.
Unable to look at him directly, Amanda sat up, leaning against the headboard. The warmth of his hand holding hers was making it easier for Amanda to talk about the situation. "The other night at the restaurant…I saw him there," she spoke softly.
"Saw who?" Lee asked, holding on tighter to her hand.
"I…I saw the man who attacked me," she admitted, turning away from him completely.
Grasping her by the shoulders, Lee turned her to face him. "Look at me. Please," he begged. "Amanda, why didn't you tell me?" he asked, hurt that she hadn't shared the information with him.
Breathing heavily, the tears began to fall. "I…I…don't know, I mean I was scared, Lee. I'm sorry…"
"Shhh, I'm sorry," Lee interrupted, pulling her into his embrace. "It's alright, Amanda. I understand completely," he comforted her.
"No, if I had told you…" she sobbed.
"Don't do this," he blurted out before she could continue, shaking his head. "I don't want you blaming yourself for any of this," he insisted, pulling back to look into her eyes. Placing a hand on either side of her cheeks, he uttered, "Do you hear me?"
She nodded affirmatively, unable to respond with words. This time it was her
who pulled him closer, content in the safety and protection of his strong arms.
9:00 a.m.
Opening her eyes, the only thing that Amanda saw was Lee's chest. His arms were wrapped around her snuggly, pressing her against him. Inhaling deeply, she could smell the familiar scent of the detergent he used, mixed with his unmistakable aftershave. Deciding not to disturb him, she stretched nonchalantly, hoping he'd loosen his grip a little bit.
"Mmm," he groaned, fluttering his eyes. Releasing her, he looked down to find her wide-awake.
"Sorry for waking you," she mouthed, smiling slightly.
"No, you didn't wake me," he assured her, smoothing his wild hair.
"Besides, I'm actually hungry," he added, rather surprised by the
statement. "If you're not careful, Amanda, you're going to turn me into
a morning person," he teased lightly.
After breakfast, they drove back to his apartment to change. They were both
hesitant about going back so soon, but agreed that they needed to face it together.
Lee opened the door slowly, flashbacks of the previous day fresh in his mind.
Shaking off the images, he took a deep breath, trying to be strong for her.
Normally, he would have stepped aside, the gentleman that he is, however this
time, he reached behind him, taking her hand to lead the way.
After both of them showered and changed, Lee suggested that they spend the
day at the park. He wanted to get away from all the memories of the past week
and he thought an outdoor park would be just the place to go. Overplaying his
enthusiasm just a little, he was successful at getting her to agree to join
him.
11:30 a.m.
Walking through Rock Creek Park, Amanda interlaced her fingers through his and nothing had ever felt this right. She inhaled the scent of springtime; the sweet smell of the budding blossoms filled the air. The smile that she wore only widened, noticing all the beauty that nature had to offer. "This is so beautiful, Lee," she spoke, motioning with her hands.
"Yea, I think this was a good idea for us to get away for a little while," he admitted, smiling back at her. After a long stroll along the wooded pathway, Lee suggested sitting to grab a bite to eat. He was now grateful that Amanda suggested they pack a picnic lunch.
Amanda carried the blanket from the car to a nice location by the water. She sat down, serving the food and drinks. As she bit into her sandwich, she couldn't help but notice him staring at her out of the corner of her eye. Putting her meal down, she turned toward him, startling him slightly. "Is something wrong?" she asked, surprised to find herself self-conscious with Lee. They were friends; best friends, yet something was strangely different.
"Oh, no, nothing's wrong. I was just thinking, that's all," he maintained
an even tone. Averting his gaze to his plate, he was still able to see her smiling
at him out of the corner of his eye.
The sun set, reminding them of the real world they needed to return to. They agreed to spend the weekend at a motel, away from the constant reminder at his apartment. This time, they both packed a bag so they wouldn't have to go back to the apartment until Sunday.
"I'm glad I kept the room," Lee chided, opening the door for her.
"Thank you, Lee," she replied, the sentiment meaning much more than holding the door for her.
"You're very welcome," he replied, looking at her as if he could
see into her soul.
10:40 p.m.
Lying across the bed, they talked and laughed for hours. Lee filled her in on
his call to the Agency, while Amanda gave him a rundown on life at the King
household.
"Are you sure you're ready to come back on Monday?" Lee inquired, searching her eyes for the answer.
"I'm very sure. I want to get back into my normal routine," she replied softly, smiling to reassure him. "I told Mother that I'd be home Sunday afternoon. I really miss my family," she added, noting the pain in his eyes.
"I'm sure you do," Lee uttered softly. "What time do you meet with Dr. Phaff on Monday?"
"I'm meeting him at 9 o'clock. If everything goes okay, I'll be seeing him for a few weeks or so," she informed him.
"Good, that makes me feel better," he admitted, letting out a sigh.
Reaching out for him, she cupped his cheek with her hand. "I don't want you to think for one minute that I could have made it this week without you," she informed him, her smile fading into a look of determination. "I should have trusted you from the start."
"Come on, Amanda, don't blame yourself. You've been through a traumatic experience…but I'm sure glad you did trust me," he stated firmly, watching her closely. Her warm smile lit him up inside, however her yawn reminded him of the time. "Wow, I didn't realize how late it is. Why don't you turn in and I'll take the couch tonight," he offered, avoiding her awaiting glare.
As much as she wanted him beside her, she understood exactly what he was doing. "Okay," she agreed, leaning over to kiss his cheek before allowing him to get up off of the bed. "Thanks, Lee," she murmured.
"You're welcome," he smiled from ear to ear. "Goodnight, Amanda."
Saturday
After breakfast, Lee and Amanda spent the day in D.C. They ventured into every
art gallery in a ten-mile radius, viewing spectacular works from various talented
artists. After lunch at a small outdoor café, they stopped at a winery,
sampling various red wines and cheeses.
Later in the evening, he took her out to Spencer's for dinner. Both he and she sampled plenty of wine on their afternoon adventures and decided to take it easy for the remainder of the evening. Afterwards, they went to see Top Gun. Fifteen minutes into the movie, he wondered if she'd actually be able to appreciate the flick. It seemed rather "male" oriented, however when he glanced over at her, she was entranced in the movie. Every time an f-14 took off, Lee felt her squeeze his hand a little bit tighter.
"I had a wonderful evening," Amanda declared, her arm wrapped snuggly around his.
"So did I," Lee admitted, unable to contain the grin that continued
to widen.
Sunday
10:30 a.m.
They shared breakfast in companionable silence. Throughout the week, Lee had become quite fond of early meals, but now, he could only sit and stare at his plate. Lee stole occasional glances at her as an uneasy feeling churned in the pit of his stomach. He felt as if he was losing her today, even though he rationalized how silly that sounded.
Amanda was rather quiet also, packing her things for the trip home. She'd periodically glance over at him, wondering what he was thinking. Staring at him, she couldn't understand why he was unusually silent. "Lee, is everything alright?" she asked softly.
"Huh, oh, yea, fine," he replied, trying to recover from daydreaming. "What time do you have to leave?" he asked nervously, pacing the room.
"Lee, come here," she insisted, reaching out for him. When he joined her on the couch, she took his hand in hers. "Tell me what's wrong?" she asked, unable to read him at the moment.
"Nothing," he countered defensively, avoiding eye contact. "Listen, are you ready to go?" He quickly changed the subject.
"Are you trying to get rid of me that quick?" she teased him lightly.
Looking up, he stared at her, his eyes darkened considerably. "No, what would make you think that?" The words came out louder than he expected.
"Lee, I'm only kidding. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," she apologized, her smile fading.
"It's just…well…I'm going to miss you, that's all," he stumbled over the words, fidgeting with the button of his shirt.
"I'll miss you, too," she smiled warmly, cupping his cheek. "But I have the distinct feeling that there's more to this than meets the eye," she prodded.
Lee stared in wonderment, unable to believe that she could read him like a book, even with everything that had happened to her. He shook his head slightly, searching for the courage to ask the question that could no longer be left ignored in his subconscious. "Amanda, why didn't you tell me? I mean why were you trying to keep this from me?" he inquired softly, trying to hide the pain he was feeling.
Her breath quickened as her mind began working overtime. "I…I…just didn't want you thinking less of me," she mumbled, taking a step back.
"Amanda, don't run away from me," he began, reaching for her. "How could you even think…?"
"Lee, please let me finish," she interrupted. "I blamed myself for not reporting it…I was just so…so...ashamed," she finally admitted, folding her hands protectively in front of her.
Pulling her back in his arms, Lee held her close, unable to show her his emotional state. After a few deep breaths, he kissed her on the forehead. "Don't you realize how much I care for you? You mean more to me than anyone I've ever met. Nothing will ever change the way I feel about you," he spouted. Pulling back, he looked into her eyes, finally showing her how he felt. The feel of her fingertip against the warm tear on his cheek made him shudder.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, kissing him on the cheek.
Lee was quiet during the trip back to his place. Amanda needed to pick up her
car and make sure she hadn't forgotten anything in his apartment. Once she was
all packed up, she turned to him to say goodbye.
Leaning heavily on his car, he smiled slightly. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
Looking rather confused, Amanda replied, "That's it? That's all the goodbye I'm going to get?" she teased him.
Taking a deep breath, Lee pulled her in a tight embrace. Against her eardrum the words began to flow freely. "God, I'm going to miss you. I'm sorry for acting like a jerk this morning. I…just didn't know how to…deal with how I'm feeling," he admitted softly.
"Please talk to me, Lee?" she inquired, gently caressing his back.
"I miss you already, if that makes any sense. I can't wait to see you again, Amanda. You mean so much to me," he whispered, his sincerity unmistaken.
Trembling in his arms, she held him close, unwilling to show him her tears. "I'll miss you, too, Lee. Call me later on?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood."
"You bet," he pulled away slightly, kissing her softly and tenderly on the lips. It was a lingering kiss, not passionate and demanding, but hopeful and promising. When he pulled back, he saw that unmistakable sparkle in her eyes, reassuring him once again that he had her heart.
THE END