by D J Small
Val released an explosive breath, and her head fell back onto the couch for a second time. Summer was another reason why she was still in the West Wing. Going to the Residence meant facing the argument currently brewing between them, and though her avoidance of it wouldn’t make things any better, Val honestly did not have the fortitude to get into it with her, but it was her own damn fault.
Val lifted her head and looked down at the document sitting on her lap. She wouldn’t be able to finish reading it tonight. It was obvious her mind was elsewhere. She put the document into a folder and got off the couch, making her way into the Oval as she continued to think about Summer. When the director of the Secret Service had informed her of where Summer was, and who she had been with, it affected her more than she thought it would. Val was quite aware of Summer’s flings—her dalliances were all over the tabloids—but knowing she had been wrapped up in some blonde Italian model before coming to the White House had more than upset her.
Addison may have told Val not to fall for Summer again, but in order for her to do that, she would have to fall out of love with her first. Despite Summer’s flings and the divorce, Val would always think of her as her wife. The possibility of them being able to fix things flitted through Val’s mind, and she laughed. It was the epitome of a pipe dream.
“Madam President, are you eating in the Oval or the study?” Caroline asked from the doorway leading to the study.
“You can bring it to me in here, Caroline. I’m going to try to read a bit more of this bill on public school funding,” Val said as she lowered herself into the leather chair.
Caroline walked over to her desk. “I don’t see why you would have a problem with it.”
“Senator Wilcox introduced it.” The scowl that appeared on Caroline’s face told Val she was aware of the man and his reputation.
“I hope you go through it with a fine-toothed comb. That bastard is a double-dealing asshole,” Caroline said as she set the glass of water and sandwich down on the desk.
Val thanked her as she placed the napkin Caroline had given her into her lap. “I didn’t think you felt so strongly, Caroline.”
Caroline grunted. “His backwards way of thinking is affecting the worst elements of this country, and he can’t be trusted.”
Val nodded in agreement as she took a bite out of her sandwich. “I couldn’t agree more,” she said after chewing and swallowing the bite.
Caroline sighed, then asked, “Do you need anything else?”
Val shook her head. “No, Caroline, I am fine. Thank you for the sandwich. It was needed.”
Caroline pointed as she gave Val a stern look. “I want you bed in the next hour. I’ll ask Banner what time you went up when I get in tomorrow.”
Val laughed and nodded. “All right, Caroline, I understand.” She chuckled. “You’re worse than my mother.”
“I’m going to tell her you said that.”
Val didn’t doubt she would. Caroline had worked for the Hawkins family for a long time, and Val honestly didn’t know what life would be like without her around. Caroline bid her goodnight and exited the office, and Val sighed. Once she finished eating, she was going to call it a night, deciding to read the rest of the bill on the treadmill in the morning, however, this meant she would be facing the hell that awaited her in the Residence. Val took a bite of the delicious sandwich and shook her head. She should have put Summer at Camp David.
~~~
Summer stared at the muted holo-screen that currently streamed the late-night news, but she had no idea what current event the reporter was covering. She took a small sip from her glass of wine. For the last couple of hours, she had been lying in wait, and though it was approaching one in the morning, the late hour didn’t concern her. Staying up this late had become second nature to her over the last couple of years. Summer glanced at the open door of the Lincoln Room. The temptation to stand in the hall and wait for Val to come up to the Residence gnawed at her like an irritating bug.
Summer had spent the rest of her day locked inside the room doing nothing but stewing in her anger and irritation. Before dinner, someone from Addison’s staff had brought Summer a personal holo-phone that had the video disabled on it so she could call her parents. The barely functioning device had added more fuel to the anger burning inside of her, but she called her parents and had told them to cover for her in a few meetings and on a couple of projects she was currently in the middle of. Her mother, of course, had a plethora of questions and wanted to know where she was and why Addison had been the one to call her earlier. Summer had told her mom she would explain everything when she could, but she didn’t leave it at that, and when her mom continued to ask questions she couldn’t answer Summer ended the conversation rather abruptly. She still didn’t know why she was in D.C., or why Val had taken her hostage, and it was the lack of information which threw a wrench in telling her mother the vaguest of details.
Done with the secrecy and completely fed up with not knowing shit about anything, Summer planned to get answers, and she was going to get them tonight. The wineglass had almost reached her lips when she heard muted voices in the hall. Moving quickly, Summer set her glass on the coffee table, and got her crutches. As soon as they were secured, she rushed out of the Lincoln Room, spotting Val and two Secret Service agents as they walked down the Center Hall heading for her bedroom.
Summer began to make her way down the hall and called out, “Valarie.”
The two agents reached for their weapons as they turned around—a move that was mimicked by the four other agents stationed on the second floor of the Residence. Val turned, and seeing the concern on her face caused Summer’s glare to worsen. If Val were truly concerned about her, she would let her leave the damn White House.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“You know damn well I am not okay,” Summer snapped. “We need to talk.”
Val sighed and waved off the agents’ response to Summer. “Banner, McIntyre, completely unnecessary.”
“But, ma’am,” the female agent with blonde hair started, “are you sure about that? Considering…”
“You have to be kidding, Banner. Summer may be angry, but she wouldn’t hurt me,” Val countered, and Summer grunted. With her current mood, there was a possibility it could happen. Val narrowed her eyes at her. “Even if she did do anything, she knows I can, and will, defend myself.”
Summer returned Val’s pointed gaze with an intense stare of her own. “I honestly do not give a shit about hurting you. I want some fucking answers, and I want them now.”
Val released a deep sigh and turned. “Follow me,” she said as she began to make her way over to the private sitting room. “Banner, McIntyre, you’re relieved for the night.”
Summer ignored the agents as she followed her into the room. Val closed the door and walked over to the small bar in the corner. She retrieved two glasses and a bottle of brown liquor, pouring an inch or two into each glass, then walked over to Summer and held out one of them. “Bourbon.”
Summer took it, and after taking a tentative drink, she and Val eyed one another, a thick blanket of tension filling the room. Not able to take Val’s scrutinizing gaze any longer, Summer headed for the couch. As she placed her glass on the side-table Val said, “I’m impressed with the work you’re doing with the foundation. The new direction you’re taking it in seems to be breathing new life into it.” She chuckled. “I’m surprised Cassandra and Matt are on board with the changes you’re making.”
“They aren’t,” Summer remarked with a small grunt. “But they wanted me involved with the foundation, so here we are.”
“I know you probably weren’t too thrilled with the idea,” Val said with a slight chuckle. “But helping the veterans and their families….it’s a huge thing, Summer.”
Summer picked up her glass and finished off the bourbon in it. She drew in a deep breath through her teeth as she placed the glass back on the table. “Doesn’t matter if it’s a h
uge thing, it still doesn’t change the reality.” She stared at the empty glass. “People are still in shitty situations, and I would be too if things were different.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Val asked softly.
Summer looked at Val. They would not be having this discussion. Neither of them were equipped to handle it. “Why the hell am I here, Val? Is this hair-brained idea some fucked up way for you to try and get back with me after two years?”
Summer watched as Val finished her own drink before directing a piercing stare at her. “You’re the one who made the decision to end our marriage with no warning. Why would I want to try and work things out with you when you threw me away like garbage?” Val crossed her arms over her chest. “You ignored my attempts at reconciliation, Summer, and I had to quit trying because I have a fucking country to run. But the door has, and will always be, open for you to come back. I can’t do it anymore. This is out of my control.”
Summer stared Val down, her lips set in a firm line. She refused to engage in this conversation. It would bring up subjects she had yet to talk about with anyone, and revealing the true reason why she had left Val was something she wasn’t ready for. “Why the fuck did you bring me here?” Summer asked again, adding more venom to her tone this time.
“I will tell you when I can,” Val shot back.
Summer expelled an agitated breath as she stood. “That sounds like some bullshit presidential excuse.”
An arrogant smirk came to Val’s face. “Well, I am the president.”
The scowl on Summer’s face intensified upon hearing the comment. Val may have been the president, but it didn’t mean she controlled the damn world. She didn’t control Summer either, but at this moment there wasn’t anything she could do. “If you’re not going to fucking tell me anything, I’m going to bed.” She started to make her way out of the room but remembered something. She faced Val, “I have work I need to do, and I need to be able to do it.”
Val walked over to the side-table and picked up Summer’s empty glass. “The offices of the first spouse are still the same, so you can work there.” She met Summer’s gaze and added, “I will make sure you have proper access, but—and I’m certain you are aware this rule is because of the press and not me trying to be a bitch towards you—no one can know where you are, Summer. Do you understand?”
Summer clenched her jaw. She understood, but the authoritative tone Val had taken with her agitated her further. “I got it, Val. Damn.” Begrudgingly, she acknowledged that Val didn’t have to do anything for her and apologized. “I’m sorry. I won’t say anything. Thank you.”
Val chuckled. “Don’t thank me yet.” She moved closer to Summer. “For this small favor, you’ll be my escort for tomorrow night’s state dinner. I’ve been hosting the Italian president for the last few days, and this is the big dinner before he leaves.” She smiled. “Since your parents are also going to be there, I’ll have Damon draft a statement about me inviting you as a guest. It will probably cause a nightmare with the press, but it’ll explain your presence at the White House.”
Summer narrowed her eyes. She couldn’t believe Val. There was no way in hell she would be going to this dinner. She would rather have her other leg cut off. Thinking about the number of people and press that would be in attendance, and the overture that came with such an event caused Summer’s heart rate to increase, and instead of having an anxiety attack, she went off on Val. “You can’t force me to escort you to some fucking dinner when you’re the one who fucking disrupted my life.” For a split second, a stunned expression flashed across Val’s face. Summer took a step forward, and in a low, dangerous tone she added, “No fucking way, Val.”
Summer turned and stormed out of the room, ignoring the two Secret Service agents posted outside the door. As she walked down the long corridor, Summer drew in slow, deep breaths as she struggled to regain control of her body and bring herself back from the brink of an anxiety attack. As much as she didn’t want to escort Val to the state dinner, having an attack in front of her was definitely the last thing she wanted to do. It would only cause more issues.
Summer rushed into the Lincoln Room, and once the door had slammed closed behind her, she fell against it. Squeezing her eyes shut, Summer continued to draw in slow, deliberate breaths, and after a minute or two she no longer felt like she was on a precarious edge.
“Projector off,” Summer barked out as she headed for the bathroom, and the still running holo-screen turned off. The lights flicked on as she crossed the threshold and walked over to the long bathroom counter. She retrieved the small bag that contained her medications and got her sleeping pills.
Almost having an anxiety attack and being back in the White House meant Summer would have a terrible night. She doubted the pills would work, but not taking them wasn’t an option. She filled up the glass sitting next to the sink with water and washed down three of the pills. Going back into the bedroom, Summer sat on the edge of the bed and leaned her crutches against the wall between the bed and nightstand, then got under the covers. Summer drew in a deep breath and stared at the darkness above her. Needing sleep to come quickly, she hoped her slumber would be nightmare-free. A defeated sigh slipped past her lips when she realized the thought was a futile one, especially when she took in her current surroundings. It was guaranteed she would have nightmares tonight.
Chapter Four
In an alternate universe, Val was on an island drinking the world’s most delicious daiquiri, and it contained more rum than peach flavoring. However, Val wasn’t in that universe, so there was no beach and no daiquiri. All there was, was the stone-cold coffee sitting at the bottom of her mug, which she grimaced at before finishing it off. The cold remains didn’t taste any better than they had looked, but she needed something.
Val had been up since three in the morning dealing with a national crisis. An earthquake had hit California, and the damage it had caused was pretty significant. Val sighed. Most days, she enjoyed being president, but days like today made her want to run away to a remote island in the Pacific.
It had been a tough one for her emotionally. She had spent most of the morning on the phone with the governor of California receiving updates about the damage caused, lives lost, and those injured. The numbers were high, and Val knew this would be another point in her presidency where all eyes would be on her. An hour ago, she had given a press conference to update the rest of the country about the events in California and how several organizations, along with federal aid, would be sent to assist the state in the wake of this catastrophic event.
The situation in California was only one of several hundred things Val had to deal with first thing this morning. Around nine, she had found out a key component of the new tax bill had stalled in the House because a few representatives from the opposing party had concerns about the newly created tax credits. After finding this out, Val had ordered Addison to find out who had concerns and what their problem was. She needed this bill to pass, because the current tax laws were archaic and designed for a society that no longer existed. The American people needed the laws to be reformed.
Then, as if a natural disaster and a political tug-of-war weren’t enough, the press had somehow found out about Summer being at the White House. When that piece of information had been passed along to her by Manny, Val demanded to speak to the director of the Secret Service. Angelo Hopkins hadn’t given her much information about how the leak had occurred, but he assured Val he would find out by the end of the day. Val didn’t doubt his abilities to do so she put her faith in him and focused on matters that truly needed her attention.
Val pushed her chair away from her desk, and as she stood the door to the Oval Office opened. Manny walked in and said, “Madam President, I know you are tremendously busy, but the Secretary of Defense is here to speak with you. He says it’s urgent.”
Val walked around her desk and nodded. “Yes, yes. Show him in.”
Manny disappeared for a secon
d, then returned with the Secretary of Defense walking behind him. The man smiled at Val. “Madam President.”
Val chuckled softly. “Jabir, I’ve told you, you don’t have to be so formal with me, especially considering our current circumstances.”
Jabir gave a brief chuckle of his own as they walked to the sitting area of the office. “Unfortunately, since I come bearing bad news, ma’am, I believe formalities are warranted.”
A deep, tired sigh came from Val. “This is the day the universe wants to pile it on me. What’s happened?”
The secretary drew in a deep breath as his dark eyes held Val’s. He slowly released it and revealed, “More American and Alliance troops were taken by Iraqi insurgents early this morning, ma’am.”
“Dammit!” Val shouted. She jumped up from the couch and began to pace in the space between the sitting area and her desk. “How? What happened?”
Jabir sighed. “There was an ambush on a transport unit. Bombs went off and there were some casualties, but they weren’t ours. The survivors were taken by insurgents, and we can’t find them.”
Val bit her bottom lip as she continued to pace, thinking about what needed to be done. They would be able to keep silent about the situation in Iraq for a few days, but then it would need to be reported. To complicate matters further, the prime ministers of Kuwait and Iraq were coming to D.C. tomorrow to hold treaty talks.
Secretary Kanaan’s voice pulled Val from her musings. “We have a live feed with the units in the area, and they’re piecing together everything for us.”
“Good,” Val said with a slight nod. “I’m going to get Basara on the line and see where the Alliance stands on continuing treaty negotiations. Where does the council stand?”
Jabir grimaced. “They are willing to go into Iraq to get our men back, but…”
“We can’t do that,” Val finished for him. The Treaty of 2072 explicitly stated that all Western involvement in the Middle East was to cease so the region could find its footing under the Alliance, which at the time had been a newly created body of government. It was controlled by the leaders from each Middle Eastern country. Unless specifically asked by the leaders of the Alliance, Western engagement in Middle Eastern conflicts was not allowed. The U.S. only had troops in the area because the Alliance had requested support for their forces in Kuwait.
