Chapter 2

Abby ran into her first problem at the official new VP announcement. The event was a democratic rally in Boston and the issue was a piece of fabric that Abby dangled in front of his face.

"Get it away from me," He said with a pleasant smile, the effect ruined by the tone of disgust in his voice.

"This isn't your courtroom Kane, you are not in charge here," Abby told him through clenched teeth as she tried to pin the "support our troops" ribbon to his lapel again.

"And I suppose you are?" He asked with a sneer. He tore off the ribbon and handed it to a passing aide, "I am not putting my policies on my chest for anyone to misconstrue. Supporting our troops means bringing them home, keeping them out of countries we have no business being in, and providing care for our veterans. It does not mean wearing a damned ribbon like it actually matters and if anyone wants to know my opinion on the matter, they can simply ask me. I'll be happy to talk about what needs to change."

Anger bubbled and churned in her stomach but Abby counted to ten before turning around and sliding the curtain so he could out into the sea of people.

"I am not in charge, they are," Abby said, pointing to the crowd of people cheering on Thelonious and waiting for Kane to be announced, "and they want a VP who follows their future president in every way. They need to believe that after Walters, Theo has chosen someone who is responsible and level headed and not a pain in the ass. I know that is a big sacrifice for you but deal with it. Thelonious is wearing the ribbon so you are too and if you say anything demeaning about wearing it, your words will reflect onto Theo and I will not let that happen."

"No," Kane said, crossing his arms, "I don't know how to make my decision any clearer."

Abby closed the curtain and tried not to think about the way the suit pulled across his broad chest as he crossed his arms, missing the beginning of his next sentence.

"-jacket and he is the one I am doing this for, not them. If you think that I would do anything to jeopardize Theo's chance at changing the world, then you don't know me very well Ms. Griffin."

Getting her thoughts back in order, Abby refocused on his frowning face, hating how attractive he was when upset, and waved an intern over.

"I know my job Kane," she said in a voice she usually only reserved for her teenage daughter, "and I will do it whether you like it or not."

Pulling another ribbon from the offered box, Abby held it up, "you are not walking out there without it and Theo isn't going to be happy if he has to keep calling for you. It would be rude."

"I could move you," Marcus said, his temper flushing his face and making everyone around them step back.

"Just try," she said, her own face flushing as she stepped into his space and grabbed the lapel of his coat.

Theo's voice as it called his name broke through the tension and Abby pushed the pin plus ribbon into the fabric of his suit before shoving him out onto the stage. His scowl lingered for a second before he walked up to stand by Thelonious in front of a thousand happy democratic voters.

"Theo, you better get elected. If I put up with this man for nothing, I will kill you!"

Marcus waved at the crowd and smiled at Theo as the crowd cheered and Theo clapped Marcus on the back and Abby glared as the cameras clicked and lights blinked. She could see some of the people sitting in the front row and frowned at the sight of Finn Collins taking up what should have been Raven Rayes' seat. The little worm was writing something in his black notepad that she was sure would be splattered all over the tabloids tomorrow. Most tabloid writers would say the fantastical and outlandish things, like Marcus being an illegal alien (or one from outer space) but Collins was ruthless in his destruction and adding enough truth to make people speculate. Abby couldn't see how there was possible any bad blood between Collins and Theo but based on the angle Collins was pitching with all his latest stories; he wanted to take the democratic candidate down. The man had been aggravating to the point of homicide ever since Walters slipped and Collins wouldn't pass up an opportunity to bring Kane down to his level.

Good luck trying to crack Kane, Abby thought and then hid her face in her hands as she realized that Kane was up there on that stage simply because he wouldn't crack. Kane could stare down any reporter and give one word answers without stumbling or falling apart. Walters didn't have that element and he broke.

Yeah yeah, just because I get it, doesn't mean I have to like it, Abby told herself, I'm still not giving him any slack.

Directing the interns to begin packing up, Abby found a quiet place to sit and call up an old friend.

"Hey girl," the voice said on the other end of the line, "please tell me you are calling to get me to talk you out of jumping your new vice presidential candidates bones."

"Hi Callie," Abby said with a sigh, " and no, his personality does that for me just fine."

Callie snorted, "Whatever you say sweets, he is fine as hell."

"Do all editors of major newspapers talk like that or am I just lucky?"

"You are so very lucky," Callie retorted, "You need someone to tell you to get your head out of your phone or schedule and ogle a bit."

"I'm not calling about the current pain in my ass Callie, I am calling about the old one. I thought we agreed that as far as my campaign is concerned, Finn Collins wouldn't be covering anything."

Callie hummed an apology into the phone, "I am sorry Abs but Raven had an assignment in Iran where the current president is trying to make sure no Republican gets voted to office again. I had to send someone and he volunteered in front of everyone so I couldn't say no without his father finding out. I didn't think anything could go horribly wrong while you were in charge."

Abby sighed and rubbed her head as a loud cheer from the audience signaled the end of the speech making.

"No Callie, I get it. Maybe give me a heads up next time though?"

"Sure thing Abby, I'll put it in my memo next to 'get Abby laid.' Do you think Judge Kane would agree to be in a tasteful charity calendar I just thought up?"

Laughing at her friends antics, Abby didn't see Marcus walk past her on his way to the greeting area so she didn't see a smile ghost over his face at her laugh before he could control himself.

"I don't even think charity would get that stick out of his ass Callie," Abby answered with a wrinkle of her nose.

Marcus kept walking even as the words washed over him like ice water.