God of War: Part 17
Lynn Jepsen
I like making the Secret Service nervous. I've seen close up what happens
when they get in a rut. We have a mutual understanding that way. They
don't treat me like I can't cross the street by myself, I don't give them
too many collective coronaries. Seems like a good deal to me. It's all
different when I'm with Elle though. We play by the rules then. Josh said
there had to be a "mommy gene" to explain the transformation CJ and I
undergo around our kids. I don't buy it, because Sam and Toby do the same
thing.
Sam ordered everyone upstairs about five hours ago, and I would have been
happy to sleep, except each time I closed my eyes, I was plagued with
these horrible nightmares. I dragged myself out of bed then, and left Sam
alone. It would be a few hours until anyone else had to be awake, barring
further developments, and I wasn't going to rob him of what little sleep
he could manage. Believe me, it didn't look all that restful, but it's
something.
I had checked on Elle then, and made sure both Diana and Rachel were
getting something resembling sleep. Toby had called Captain Lewis up to
sedate them. At least they're sleeping this way. Then I came down here. I
called the hospital. Lily has been upgraded from critical to stable, and
should be awake and ready for visitors around eight. I'll have to
remember to send someone down to check on her, and bring her up to speed
before she turns on the news.
I suppose Elle's delighted she got to plant her tree. Someday I'm going
to have to explain to her that people that hurt the environment aren't
really the bad guys, but people that hurt other people are. I think she's
too young to get the nuances of that concept. Hell, I think half of
Congress misses those nuances. Suddenly, I'm reminded of the joke about
being stupid and being a member of Congress. I don't know where it came
from, but it tips me off that I'm not exactly focused.
Standing up, I shiver slightly in the breeze and move towards the West
Wing. I don't think Rachel will mind if I borrow her desk for a while. I
think I need some things that I've got in storage, and I'm almost certain
Paul's awake and painting right now. He's teaching a seventy-thirty
studio this semester, so the bum's been getting up at five. I remember
five am. It used to be that at five am, Sam and I would be in bed,
sleeping. I can't recall the last time that happened.
Settling down in Rachel's chair, I pick up the phone. Paul is awake, and
he is painting, and he's only too happy to plow through the things I left
with him. When I hang up, I feel more anxious than before I dialed, and
so, without calculating the time difference, I call my mother. I missed
her birthday last month, and although she insists she's quite thrilled to
have made it to eighty without a celebration, I still wish I would have
gone. We could have talked. She could have needled Sam. Maybe she could
even have deflated his ego and saved us from the horror that was the
speech and the shooting.
When CJ takes my by the arm at a quarter to six, the West Wing is already
starting to buzz. "We're sending it to the Hill." I know. I just talked
to Sam. "What do you think about....." I honestly don't know. I do know
that I can still hear his voice. That voice was so far removed from the
Josh I know.... I'm scared. Down in the pit of my stomach there's this
growing terror that we're going to go to war. Josh is going to die. This
administration is going to strangle itself, and Sam is going to turn in
to Nero. "Lisa, if you need to talk..." I need to scream, CJ. Just give
me a few minutes and get everyone together. We're going to come together
on this. Right here. Right now.
God of War: Part 18
HOME | TITLE |
AUTHOR | CATEGORY