God of War: Part 26
Lynn Jepsen
Her head was bowed and her hands were clasped, resting against the rail.
Sister Thecla had been only too happy to call the White House when Diana
broke down and crawled in to St. George's. Jeff is fidgeting near the
door and I'm sure the other agents are just as uncomfortable after the
shooting, but I don't turn to check on him or see exactly how nervous
this excursion is making him. My eyes are focused on the woman kneeling
at the rail, head bowed, hands clasped in prayer.
She either doesn't hear me, or doesn't care, because she doesn't react
until I kneel beside her. Then, her head jerk's up. "Mr. President, I--"
No, I understand. I know she hasn't been home since she left, because I
sent agents over. It was only after Lisa asked if we'd looked at Josh's
condo that I realized I never understood women, and I dropped the ball.
By the time someone went over, she was gone.
I worry. I think that's my job. I worry about my staff especially,
because they're family. I worry about Diana because my best friend's in
love with her. Her head bows again, and her lips move silently. The shirt
is five sizes too big, knotted around her waist - Josh's. Moments later,
I raise my head to find her looking at me levelly. "I'm sorry, sir. I
know I serve at the--" Let's not have this discussion now. My White House
has kept you and Josh apart too long, just like Bartlet's White House
kept Josh and Donna apart. I should apologize to you.
"He's not coming back." Her voice is hoarse, and the statement is flat.
Josh and I snuck out last month to the Jazz Barn. He told me that three
years from now, he planned to buy a ring and marry her, assuming she'd
put up with him that long. Honestly, I think she'd put up with him
forever. I mean, she was willing to sneak around and hide this thing from
the press, and most of the staff. Steadily, I rise to my feet, and offer
her a hand. Come back to the White House. "Sir, I'd rather go back to
Josh's--" Right. Good memories there? A soft blush rises in her cheeks,
and I can't prevent my own small smile.
Come back to the White House. We may not negotiate, but we've never been
called quitters. Her right hand closes around mine, and I pull her into
an embrace. If something happened to me, I have no doubt that Josh would
support Lisa every way he could. I'm just returning the gesture.
*
"The secret headquarters of The Wrath of God is located in downtown
Cairo." Georgia points to a highlighted circle on a satellite image, and
ends her presentation. It's safe to assume Talia Zeta is trying to force
her husband's government into certain concessions. It's also safe to
assume that by winning the war, we give them what they truly want. By
enforcing international law, and putting down terrorists, we're giving in
to those same terrorists, who really just want any homeland they can get.
Believe me, that makes me feel nauseous.
"Mr. President, if you'll look here, you'll see the building we believe
Mr. Lyman is being held in." He pauses there, and Toby clears his throat.
We realize we're assuming Josh is still alive, but I can't really
consider anything else. Besides, we're going to win this war, and we're
going to arrest a band of terrorists because that's what we do. We work,
we defend, and we succeed. If we don't, we won't sleep at night. "We can
deploy an HRT on your order and arrive within twelve hours." We're taking
them from Germany? "We already have a team in Istanbul." FBI? "Army, CIA,
and State." Okay. Are they good? "We sent them to Istanbul." Yeah, but
now I want them to rescue my best-- my Chief of Staff. Are they good?
"Yes, sir."
Toby is leaning forward, arms resting on the table top, and he won't meet
my eyes. CJ is busy concentrating on Toby's hands across the table. She
spent all day chasing down diplomats and beating them into submission.
Josh was right, our women, they run the show. We just think we do.
These are my people. State and Defense has filled the room with experts,
but these are my people. There should be more or them. Lily should be
here, pen poised to jot down thoughts. Josh should be pacing behind me.
Lisa should be sitting quietly beside me, asking the technical questions.
"Do it."
Wallace nods to a uniformed aide and everyone swings into action.
*
"General Zeta turned in his resignation an hour ago. Israel signed a
treaty authorizing the creation of the Nation of Palestine." And Zeta's
wife succeeded him? CJ nods. Did she sign? "Not yet. She will, but not
yet." Why? "She won't say." Yeah, but do we know why? CJ stares at her
hands, and shrugs. "I'm going to go and check on Joe. If I'm not careful,
Toby'll tell another bedtime story about Snow White and the Seven
Democrats." Right. Go.
I sink into the arm chair as she leaves the room. Lisa and Toby went in
to tell the children bedtime stories almost an hour ago. If I were CJ,
I'd be nervous too. We're supposed to be passing the time playing cards,
waiting for Wallace to call with information. Usually, I'd just sit back
and laugh while Josh sharked everyone, because, bad poker face
notwithstanding, he's a damn good gambler. We're still waiting for Carol
to crawl out of her ten o'clock briefing though, and with the first
casualty reports coming in, I'm sure she's getting hit. Hard.
Casting a glance towards Diana, I try to decide if I should talk, or keep
quiet. Her knees are drawn up to her chest, and her eyes are closed. If
her breath wasn't coming in small, painful spasms, I'd believe she was
sleeping.
It's the waiting. I'm bad at it.
CJ and Lisa drag Toby back into the living room then, and Carol stumbles
in a second later, leaning against the door, and muttering something
about the press being directly descended from rabid dogs.
By two am, we've moved from poker to trivial pursuit. I couldn't tell you
why, but it made sense at the time. I guess we're making too much noise,
because I can see Elle peeking out the door. Motioning her forward, I
make room for her between Lisa and I on the floor, and Joe scampers after
her.
This is my family. This is my family, and damn this White House for
tearing us apart.
Elle rests her head against my shoulder, and Lisa curls up against my
side laying her head lightly against my chest. Staring at the ceiling, I
try to answer Toby's question. I've never been good at history questions,
take my knowledge of White House history for example. It's pathetic.
Elle answers. My six year old daughter is smarter than I am. Shaking my
head, I wonder where I'd be right now, if Josh and Lisa had never argued
their way into my life. Somehow, I doubt I'd be here. Here, with Toby,
Joe, and these women.
The women in this room..... Sighing, I let my eyes flutter closed as Toby
picks up the game pieces. In a few hours, the phone will ring, and the
waiting - it will all be over.
In the quiet, I can hear music trickling in from Elle's bedroom. It's a
music box. Josh gave it to her for her birthday last year. She must have
started it before sneaking out here, because as Toby begins to snore
lightly, I can make out the last strains of music.
Amazing Grace.
God of War: Part 27
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