Still not mine and no money is made from this, also nothing belongs to me.
Again thanks to Detty this story will be much better to read because of all of her Beta work! THANK YOU!
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Love Is A Shield
- Part 2 -
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Olivia was surprised by the force with which the small boy launched himself at her and nearly knocking her over.
The first thing she noticed was the strange smell of motor oil, but as soon as she noticed it she forgot about it because Jerry started to tremble in her embrace.
She had not heard the whole conversation between the older man and Huck, so she had no real idea of what had happen, but suspected the other two where nearly as clueless as she was.
When she tried to free herself a bit from the shaking form to get up he simply held on tighter.
Huck had noticed her predicament and was at her side in no time to help her to get up without having to let go of the child.
"Could you please get us a cup of hot chocolate?" Olivia asked Huck as soon as she was standing again.
"And thank you Mister….?" she addressed the driver for the first time.
"Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln, Miss Pope I assume?" He had the nagging feeling he knew her from somewhere. This place was strange, the boy had not said much during their ride here, but this was supposed to be a law firm right?
On the other hand he did not know a single boy around his age who had a lawyer as friend. Jerry, he finally got his mane, reminded him so much of his own grand son who was approximately the same age. He could only image the worry and terror his parents or even grand parents must feel right now that their little one was missing. He had debated the whole time if it was wise not to drive to the police or radio them at least, but the distress the boy had obviously been in and the reaction to this Miss Pope made him feel much better and he had done right, at least by the boy and that was the only thing that mattered for him.
He was always a bit hesitant to state his name, cause most of the time he received some bad jokes, or at least strange looks and many accused him flat out to be kidding. But here in this strange place he just received a welcoming smile and he felt himself relax even more and oddly enough really welcome.
"Mr. Lincoln" the Lady addressed him again in a friendly tome. "You look like you could use some coffee. Care to join us?"
She just shared a look with Huck who answered her silent question with a barely noticeable nod, turned and started to walk into the direction of one the other rooms.
Huck had carefully observed everything that just had unfolded in front of his eyes. He knew Jerry from some pictures, but he had not recognized him, he was supposed to do so. He should have known the millisecond the elevator opened, hell even when those two people had reached camera range.
He had been sitting behind his computer for more than 24 hours barely eating, no sleep just looking for clues to find a hint of Stephen. He had vanished into thin air about a week ago, no contact, no calls, no messages and no clues at all.
This was an explanation that he missed who their visitor would be, but no excuse not by his standards, this needed to change and he needed to apologize to Olivia about it. He knew she would understand and that she would never blame him, but he also knew that she knew that he needed to apologize and that she simply would accept that need.
She always seemed to just feel what the other needed exactly in that moment and that made her as good as she was. Huck sometimes feared that over all this she would somehow loose herself, like he lost himself so long ago. She was his light to guide him back, but with her lost who would be her light, her strength? He knew batter than anybody what burnout means and she was burning brighter than a star on an extra Helium boost.
Having the President's son here, showing up in the middle of the night freezing in his pajamas picked up by a Cabby spelled trouble with a big T.
The whole damn Amanda Tanner thing had cost them so much already and he had been grateful that after that they seemed to have stepped back from the White House at least a little bit. He got form one of his sources that Olivia had handed in her Hard Pass, first he was worried, but things have calmed considerably since the last weeks, so maybe it had been the right decision, at least at that time, whatever had let to up to it.
He made his way over to the kitchen to make some fresh coffee for their guest and a chocolate for the kid.
While he waited for the milk to heat he found some strange comfort in the sucking and spitting noises of the coffee maker.
What cold make a small boy leave his home at this hour trying to walk through a big city? No matter how often he had asked himself the same question over and over since Jerry arrived he came up empty handed. What made his blood boil even more was the question how the heck had that kid managed to sneak out of what was supposed the most secure building in the country?
If the situation would have not been so damn strange as it was she would have laughed at the irony, the son of the current President got lost in what was supposed to be his city and picked up by a man who was named after one of the best known Presidents in history.
Maybe God tried to tell her something.
Jerry had wrapped himself around her, he had never done something before. She could clearly remember when she had met him and Karen for the first time. Karen two years older than her brother had already held the promise to become as beautiful as her mother, but she also had by than started to develop the icy demure of Mellie as well. They both could be so charming to but Olivia had learned that it was only when they wanted something. Karen observed every move her mother made and became more and more the perfect mirror image. Normally you always say little girls and their fathers, but nothing was further from the truth here, her relationship also resembled that of their parents it felt cold and distant.
Jerry was to complete opposite, so much like his father, he was friendly with a winning nature, when he came into a room he took it by storm, smiling and joking. Some had even joked during the campaign if Fitz would not make it, they just had to wait some years Jerry would simply charm his way into the White House.
When he was around he had been always close asking her questions and eager to help, as much as a at this time six year old could help. He adored his father and was happy to work on every task she gave him and so she made sure he became real tasks not simply stuff to get him busy. He was a very bright boy and so it was not that hard to do so.
But it was on their Ranch in California where they became real friends.
Shortly before the election they all had made a trip there for Fitz to show his face in his home state and for all of them to relax a bit before the final spurt of the race for the Office.
Her train of thoughts found an abrupt end when she felt the boy shaking even more, at the same time she felt some wetness soaking through her blouse at that moment she realized he was not shaking because he was still freezing but he had started to cry, silent tears. She could no remember a time when he had not a big smile on his face, so have him like this in her arms broke her heart.
For a second she felt helpless and unsure of what to do. Funny she would face a room full of heavily armed criminals without even breaking her stride, but the boy in her arms did just that. Just like his father always did, maybe there was more to that saying like father like son.
She was not sure if Jerry felt her insecurity, but he tightened his grip and tried to snuggle even close if that would have been possible.
What was she worrying about? He came to her, he was here because he wanted to be here, with her, in her arms.
She walked over to the couch and while sitting down she grabbed the thick beige blanket she always kept there if somebody needed a makeshift bed.
Luckily the trench was only wound around him so she could get rid of it without letting go completely, she was sure Jerry would have not allowed to break the body contact completely, not even for a second.
When the coat was forgotten on the floor and the President's son was securely wrapped in the warm and fresh blanket she remembered the man who brought him to her.
"Mr. Lincoln, please take a seat", she gestured to some of the comfy chairs.
With curious amusement she watched as he sat down at the very edge of the chair, looking around and making clear that he wanted to be everywhere right now, just not here.
If he thought the strange night would be soon over from him, he was in for a big surprise. She was thankful for this stranger who helped a little boy in need and she was sure he had no idea who he picked up tonight.
First she had thought to just thank him and let him go, not revelling who he had rescued, but she needed him to find out what had happened, and if he had seen anything that would explain why Jerry had been able to wander of.
She learned to trust her gut and everything in her told her to trust this man, he was one of the people, one of the Americans who needed a good leader and they had the best at them moment they could get. In a way this old cab driver in front of her was the reason she had given up the man she loved, but in doing so he had repaid her and the President in taking care of his son, not that he was aware of this fact at the moment.
"Huck will be here with the coffee any second now", Olivia tried to calm the man and if on cue Huck stepped into the room with a tray full of steaming mugs.
He handed their older visitor the first one cause he was sitting the closest and moved than further to place one mug next to Olivia.
He placed the tray with his cup on the table and took the chocolate in his had to offer it directly to the boy.
"Jerry?" Her addressed him in a low voice as if he was scared to spook him by talking normally.
He lifted his head from Olivia's shoulder and looked at him, this eyes red an puffy, the normally bright grey eyes dark like storm clouds.
He looked away from Huck's eyes to his hand with the proffered hot liquid. Jerry pursed his lips and looked back Olivia, who gave him an encouraging nod. Getting the permission and encouragement he needed he squirmed so he could turn in her lap, when he had succeeded and had had his back snuggled up against Olivia he reached out with both hands and carefully took the tread offering as small shy smile to the man handing him the cup.
Huck had never at ease around kids, but seeing this little boy smiling at him, he a warmth spreading through him and he swore right at this moment who ever caused this sweet child so much distress would pay.
Knowing Huck as well as she did, Olivia knew that Jerry found a new bodyguard and as far as she was concerned the best anybody could hope for.
She took one of her hands to smooth some of his hair out of his face, while she keep the other arm around him.
"We need to call your mother and tell her that you are save before she will send the whole National Guard to search for…."
Before she could even finish the sentence Jerry shock his head so violently that his whole body moved along and he even managed to spill some Cacao.
"No, please no, I want Daddy!"
TBC
