Blake was sitting at his desk, pristine as ever, despite the fact that it was three o'clock in the morning and the team hadn't slept in two days. Nadine gave him a weary smile as she passed, heading towards the Secretary's office. Hearing her boss's voice, she slowed her approach and hovered just outside the open door. She would never interrupt the Secretary unless it was vital and the matter in hand could wait. It took Nadine a few seconds to adjust to the Secretary's lowered tone, and just as she realised it was a personal call the Secretary unexpectedly raised her voice.

"I'm sorry Henry, but I can't. I've still got a lot to do and everyone's still here working." Nadine heard the Secretary shift in her chair, the movement accompanied by a frustrated sigh. She was surprised when she heard the phone being returned to its cradle without any form of goodbye. The McCords were a solid unit and it bothered her that on the basis of what she'd just heard, or more accurately, not heard, there appeared to be a rift between them. Her boss needed her personal life to be as calm as possible and Henry had so far provided the stability which allowed his wife to commit as much as she had to her job.

Nadine cleared her throat before entering.

"Madame Secretary, it's past three. The rest of this can wait until the morning." She smiled at her boss, "well, until later this morning." She emphasised her point by looking at her watch. "Let me tell Blake to get your car." Nadine's heart swelled at the sight of her boss smiling up at her, her eyes tired, but still managing to look radiant. She was heart stompingly beautiful, and even tired and weary she was the most alluring woman Nadine had ever seen.

Nadine hadn't felt this degree of attraction to a woman in a long time; not since she'd been living in Paris and she and Amelia had had a glorious year together before Nadine had moved back to the States. She'd met her ex-husband soon after her return and had her son Roman, before moving onto a new life after law school working for then Senator Vincent Marsh before he was appointed Secretary of State. She thought of Amelia often. They would catch up when she passed through D.C., but it wasn't the same as having her around more often. She was a successful choreographer now and came to town when her dance company performed at the Kennedy Centre. This gave them a chance to see each other and Nadine would be spoiled and treated to the best seats available. Nadine smiled, remembering that she was going to be in town next week, a fact she had let slip from her mind in the chaos that had been the last few days.

Elizabeth ran her fingers through her blonde hair, pulling it back from her forehead - a gesture that never failed to set Nadine's pulse beating a little faster.

"I know Nadine, but I can't. I want to finish this paperwork. It's been a manic few days, for all of us, and I want to end the week feeling I have some semblance of control."

Nadine studied her boss. There was definitely something bothering her. She would often talk about the amount of work they all had. It was one of the reasons Elizabeth McCord was respected as much as she was by her staff. She was acutely aware of the long hours her staff put into their work and of the sacrifices that demanded from them, but Nadine had never heard her talk personally about feeling out of control.

"Ma'am?"

"I'm fine Nadine." Elizabeth dismissed Nadine's concern with a wave of her hand. She smiled and walked around the side of her desk; brushing Nadine's arm briefly as she passed her en route to the coffee pot sitting on the table by the sofa.

Nadine reflexively touched the spot on her arm where Elizabeth's warm touch now left what felt like a rapidly cooling gaping wound. She wanted to trap the remnants of the warmth before it bled out. She turned, intending to continue her attempt to get her boss to go home, but the sight that greeted her silenced her. Elizabeth was bent over the coffee pot, the material of the tailored black pants she was wearing stretched taught across her well toned butt. Nadine shook her head. When did I become a horny teenager, she wondered, it's like having a crush on the headmistress.

Elizabeth flopped onto the sofa, putting one foot on the edge of the table and letting her head fall back. She patted the empty space next to her. "Sit," she instructed her chief-of-staff. Sensing Nadine's hesitation, Elizabeth said "Come on Nadine, sit with me for just a little while. Have a cup of coffee and keep me company." It was the gentle persuasion that finally broke Nadine's will and she perched on the edge of the sofa and poured herself a cup. She'd lost count of how many cups she'd had during the last twenty hours. She took a sip and a small sigh escaped her. She turned to meet Elizabeth's gaze, which despite being tired, held her with an affectionate gaze.

"I know that feeling well." Elizabeth said referring to the joy of hot coffee on a body on the edge of collapse. "At a time like this it's better than comfort food, a warm bath and sex." At Nadine's raised eyebrow, Elizabeth chuckled, "okay, maybe it's not better than sex, you're right." The laughter that bubbled from them both was warm, affectionate and a much needed release for both women after such a prolonged period of stress. This was how Blake found them as he knocked and walked into the office.

"Ma'am, Russell Jackson is on the phone."

"Well, if he's phoning instead of turning up unannounced, this can't be good," Elizabeth said. Rather than walking round to sit at her desk, she perched on the closest edge, taking off her glasses as she picked up the phone. It was a simple action, but Nadine felt her cheeks burn; Elizabeth McCord could make the most mundane action sexy as hell. She felt Blake's presence lingering at the door and turned to find him smirking at her. She pinned him with her best maternal, crossed with 'boss with firing capabilities', look and he hurried back to his desk. She'd been spotted, but she was relieved it had been Blake who'd been the one to notice her attraction to the Secretary. She doubted the other members of her team were that astute. Blake, however, was efficient, empathic and fiercely loyal to the Secretary. More importantly, he was also discreet and she doubted that her secret would ever be shared.

"Well, I was wrong - it was good news after all." The Secretary said as she put the phone. "India have agreed to hold off on the latest test until after the peace conference. The President just got off the phone with the Prime Minister and she's agreed."

"That's good news Ma'am." Nadine said once again standing and adopting the more formal stance she used when in her boss's company.

"Tell the team to go home Nadine, and that includes you as well." Elizabeth pinned Nadine with a pointed look. Nadine smiled, it appeared that her boss was getting to know her habits well and knew that unless ordered to, she would stay in her office for what little remained of the night.

"I'll get Blake to get your car Ma'am." Nadine was surprised by the flicker of trepidation that crossed the Secretary's face at the thought of going home. She'd gathered from the snippet of conversation she'd heard earlier that there was some discord, but the Secretary was usually over the moon to get back to her family, even if it was in the middle of the night.

"Yes, I suppose he should," she said looking out her office window.

"Ma'am?" Nadine wasn't sure if that was an agreement or a rhetorical statement.

"Yes, Blake can get the car." Elizabeth turned to look at her chief-of-staff. "And thank you Nadine, for everything. I don't say that enough, but I really am grateful for all the work you do to keep me afloat." Elizabeth said. Nadine was about to leave, but her boss took a step towards her. "I depend on you so much Nadine. I don't want you getting sick on me. So, get some rest."

"Yes Ma'am." Nadine was touched. It was rare for Elizabeth to show vulnerability; occasionally just a hint in front of her staff to remind them that she was human, but this felt different; far more personal.

"I will ma'am. Have a good what's left of the night and I'll see you tomorrow. I'll push back the staff meeting to nine to give everyone an extra hour if that's alright with you?"

"That's fine Nadine. I'll see you tomorrow." Nadine turned and left the office, aware that Elizabeth was still standing watching her retreating figure, making no move to go home.

Elizabeth ascended the steps to her front door slowly. She was tired; bone tired and she realised that her reluctance to enter wasn't as new as it felt. For months now home had ceased to be her refuge. Jason was staying with a school friend tonight cramming for finals. He'd be starting college in the fall and then the house would truly be empty. Stevie had moved into her own apartment after having briefly moved back home after her break-up with Jareth. She was happy and had a great job. She'd turned into an exceptional woman: beautiful, strong, disciplined and dedicated to becoming an instrument of change. Helping those who didn't have the money or the ability to help themselves. Elizabeth was so proud of her and they had grown even closer.

Alison was in her second year of college and looking towards post-grad in either New York or London. After a tough first couple of semesters, she'd happily confessed that she'd found her groove. Her designs were exquisite. She'd made a couple of outfits for Elizabeth that she loved. They were strong but with feminine lines that were comfortable for long days in the office but that held their shape and drew people's appreciative gazes, of which there had been many. Elizabeth had even noticed Nadine admiring them appreciatively.

Elizabeth smiled at the thought of her chief-of-staff. She hoped that Nadine had listened to her and gone home. She was well aware that without Nadine she'd be lost. Blake was her right hand man; without him she would have burned out long ago through lack of food, water, coffee and time with her family. But, without Nadine's quiet counsel and belief in her, even at a time that was personally devastating for Nadine, Elizabeth would have been far less effective than she had been. She was wise, warm and steadfast although Elizabeth sensed a loneliness in her that made her ache for her chief-of-staff.

At the top of the steps the agent opened the front door for her. "Thank you. See you in the morning."

As the door closed behind her, she found herself enveloped by a suffocating silence. Not sure what she had been expecting at three thirty in the morning she acknowledged that the silence came from an emptiness; an emptiness created by the absence her kids, but more revelatory was the acknowledgement of an emptiness within herself.

It was becoming more obvious to her that perhaps her relationship with Henry had run its course. Without their children around, there was little connecting them beyond work and friendship. Henry's intelligence work was going well and that kept them connected but it didn't bring them together as a couple. The phone call earlier had been a perfect example, but Henry still appeared to be clinging to the remnants of their old relationship; it was typical Henry, loyal to a fault even when that loyalty was no longer the sensible or viable choice.

Elizabeth stood at the bedroom door watching him sleep. As he so often did, he'd fallen asleep reading, his glasses perched on his nose and the book on Scottish saints splayed across his chest. He looked peaceful and she didn't want to disturb him, so she quietly grabbed a suit from the walk-in closet and went to the spare room to sleep for a few, much needed, hours. As she drifted off, she pictured her chief-of-staff and smiled; she'd put money on Nadine having slept on the sofa in her office tonight.