Chapter 20

Dzhugashvili studied Amanda's unmoving body carefully, noting the small rise and fall of her chest as her lungs took in air. A rush flowed through him as he imagined how easy cutting off that supply would be. He was so absorbed in his fantasies that he didn't hear the faint rustle behind him, nor hear the muted click of a gun being cocked. It was only when he tuned around to admire his latest murder that he was met face to face with Leslie's .35.

She held her injured body awkwardly, her glazed eyes making the scene all the more dire. Like a robot, she scuffled forward, her one mission to kill. Dzhugashvili whipped his own gun up and trained it on her. A standoff ensued. One adversary had everything to lose, the other had already lost everything she had dreamed of. A sudden involuntary muscle spasm from Leslie's dying body startled Dzhugashvili and he tensed his finger on the trigger ready to fire. Simultaneously the shots whistled through the air, instantly killing Dzhugashvili and dropping Leslie nearby. With her last breath of life she crawled over to Dzhugashvili and placed her head on his chest as their hearts beat their final note.

Lee was just getting out of the Corvette when he heard the shots. He momentarily froze as his heart plummeted to his stomach and traveled upwards again. Both agents rushed into the building, expecting the worst but clinging to hope. Lee quickly navigated over to the little-used stairwell in his building and bounded up, swinging around the corners with his gun drawn. Billy followed as fast as he could behind, amazed at the tireless fight Scarecrow exhibited.

Lee slowed as he reached the top, eyes scanning over the destroyed yellow barrier of tape resting on the ground. With a deep breath he cautiously walked into his apartment gun first and saw...nothing. He eased his agent stance in confusion and scanned the room for any hint of movement. He heard Billy mimic his actions from the doorway behind him.

Lee's eyes landed on a tip of a shoe peeking out from in front of the couch. Lee silently alerted Billy and they headed in opposite directions, one on either side of the couch. Lee was the first to spot the dead assailants and crouched down to check their pulse, shaking his head ruefully at Billy. He glanced over his shoulder at the couch and gasped at seeing Amanda lying there, unnoticed in their absorption with the gory scene before them. Billy's head jerked at Lee's exclamation and as his eyes lighted on Amanda's still form his jaw dropped open.

Lee reached a shaky hand over to her neck, half expecting to be hallucinating, half expecting her skin to be cold and lifeless. His eyes closed in relief as he felt a steady pulse under his fingertips. He gently rolled her over, tears filling his eyes as he took in her battered appearance. Behind him Billy clenched his jaw in barely concealed anger and concern, but let Lee have his privacy. He walked out of the room to intercept the backup that would soon be arriving. Running a hand over his face in exhaustion and relief he flashed a brief smile back at the reunion before heading outside.

Lee gently ran his thumb over her bruised cheek, softly calling her name. He buried his face in his hands, holding back sobs of anger and release. Amanda stirred beneath him, and he raised his head, clutching her hand tightly in his.

"Lee?" Amanda questioned fearfully, cringing against the battering that usually came from her utterance of his name.

"I'm here Amanda," Lee responded, a smile breaking out on his tear-stained face.

"You're here?" she said in amazement as she struggled to clear her vision to see him.

"I'm here," he repeated. "And I'm not going anywhere. It's over."

"Hmm...Lee." She murmured contently, reaching up her free hand to cup his cheek. Lee leaned down, the insatiable urge to kiss her directing his lips closer to hers. She smiled and gazed half-lidded into his eyes, showing her acceptance of his actions. Suddenly a commotion from outside forced them apart as Francine and a team of paramedics bustled into the room.

'After all this time they couldn't have waited a few more minutes?' Lee and Amanda silently thought to themselves, each unaware of their similar line of thinking. Lee bent down and gently lifted Amanda up onto the waiting stretcher, never leaving her side as the paramedics wheeled her out of the room and down the stairs to the ambulance below.

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"Amanda, are you sure you're ready?" Lee questioned as he eyed her with concern. With a dislocated shoulder, 5 broken ribs, a concussion, and a menagerie of other injuries, Amanda had been forced to stay in the hospital for four weeks. Finally the agency doctor relented to her protests and signed the release papers, with orders for rest.

"I've never been more ready! If I never see the inside of a hospital room again it will be too soon," Amanda retorted with a twinkle in her eye. Lee had been hovering over her for the last four weeks, catering to her every need. Amanda appreciated the time he spent with her but at the same time she needed a break from his overprotective nature. The experience had made her think about a lot of things, one being their growing relationship, and she had a feeling that nothing would be exactly the same between them again. ' Not that I mind,' Amanda thought to herself, a silly grin adorning her now unmarred face.

Lee sighed and shrugged a grin on his face as well. " I tried!" he said. "You know Amanda King, I think that you may just be a worse patient that I am."

"Oh, no. See--I stayed in the hospital," she teased.

"Is that the difference?" Amanda nodded. " Oh well, I guess you're right then. I'm the bad patient." With a chuckle, Lee held out his hand and helped her off the bed that she had occupied for so long. He tucked her arm in the crook of his elbow and held her hand with his own. Slowly they moved out the door and along the corridors, mindful of Amanda's still sore body.

Once in the parking lot, Lee rushed to open the Corvette's door for her and helped her get comfortable before assuming his position in the driver's seat. He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, heading towards Amanda's house.

"This isn't the way to the agency," Amanda noted after a few minutes.

"I know," Lee said mysteriously.

"Lee?" Amanda prodded curiously.

"I have a surprise for you." Lee turned towards her and winked.

"Now close your eyes," he said as they turned the corner that would lead him to 4247 Maplewood Drive. Amanda reluctantly complied, a good-natured smile gracing her lips. She had never thought it could feel so good to smile and just...be. The car came to a stop and she fought the instinct to open her eyes as she heard Lee exit the car. He opened her door and took her arm, steering her out of the car.

"Okay, open them," Lee said with barely concealed excitement.

Amanda gasped as she looked at her home. The house had been completely repaired and looked exactly as it had before the bombing. A new coat of white paint glistened on the wood and even the fence in front had a new shiny coat adorning it.

"How...?" Amanda questioned, stunned. She had counted on being forced to move or stay in a hotel while the extensive damaged was repaired.

"I had a friend who owed me a favor--he started on it the day after you were admitted to the hospital," Lee beamed proudly.

"Oh, Lee," Amanda said. Her eyes landed on new door, which was slowly opening and she gasped. " Lee, Mother and the boys..."

"It's okay. I've met them already," Lee assured her.

"Do they know?" Amanda questioned in shock.

"They know who I am but not what we do." Lee's face sobered. " I was the one that told them that you were in a car accident. Then later on I told them that the police had made a mistake, that your car had been stolen and you were in the hospital all this time with amnesia."

"And she bought it?" Amanda said, trying to lighten the mood. It worked and Lee let out a loud laugh even as Philip and Jamie raced down the steps towards their mother followed close behind by Dotty. Amanda welcomed them with open arms, ignoring her sore ribs as the boys showered her with bear hugs. Lee stepped aside, somewhat jealous that he was not a part of this family until he caught Amanda's reassuring eyes. He winked at her in amusement as Dotty babbled on and on in the fashion he had become accustomed to from Amanda's ramblings.

As they made their way towards the house Amanda glanced back at the hesitant Lee and motioned with her head for him to join them. He briefly thought about it then closed the Corvette's door with an exuberant bang and started up the walk. He had a feeling that this was just the beginning of a whole new life for him.

The End (or the beginning?)

Authors End Notes:

Thanks for taking the time to read this! If you enjoyed it I am working on a sequel currently whenever real life hands me a break so I can write. :-D

I would also like to thank my beta, Becky once again. This is the product of months of work (began Oct. 2000) and her editing skills and insight have helped this be the best it possibly could be.