Clipping the leash onto Riley first thing the next morning Megan opened the door to see a young man not much older than her standing just outside her room.
"Are you Jackson?" Megan asked as the dog went to him to sniff him out. "Just put your hand out she's normally friendly if she like I'm not in danger."
"Yes mame… My name is Oliver Jackson… Please call me Jackson most people do."
"Well first things first, not even my students call me mame yet. Please call me Megan." Megan smiled as Riley cam back to Megan. "Second thing is, have you a route in mind? Riley and I are ready to go."
"Yes a route has been arranged." Jackson nodded and the two of them soon found themselves out the door and beyond the protection of the gates of the White House. |By the time they got back, Megan finally was able to look at the agent. He looked winded.
"I should have warned you about my running. Riley likes to take a good pace. Are you alright?:" Megan asked and took a drink of water that had been left just outside the doors to Residence.
"I'm fine. I haven't run that fast for awhile, but its good to be pushed." The young man admitted.
"Well I'm going inside for some breakfast and a shower. Are you able to change too?"
"As long as you don't leave the building in the next half hour I will be ready…"
"Promise." Megan smiled again and went inside with Riley.\
"Megan? Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" C.J greeted. C.J was dressed in what Megan assumed was Saturday casual. She wore a pair of designer jeans and silk shirt, they gave each other a quick hug before C.J realized how sweaty Megan was. "Still running?"
"Yes, Agent Riley has been pushing my run speeds to new personal bests." Megan admitted.
"Agent Riley? I was unaware that you had a detail at home, when did that change?"
"It hasn't C.J. Agent Riley is that Labrador that just went up the stairs." Megan laughed and C.J looked a bit more confused.
"I new about the guard dog, just didn't know he was an agent."
"Well his official papers say so." Megan smiled. "I guess the Secret Service like to give all their trainees a title. What are you doing here on a Saturday? Doesn't my dad give any of his staff any time off?"
"I had some work to do for Wednesday. I need to be prepared for anything that the press may through at us." C.J admitted.
"I'm sure you're going to do fine, every time I've turned on C-Span you've looked great and answer all the questions that you can."
"You sound like a teacher when you talk like that." CJ responded dryly to the comment.
"I am a teacher C.J or have you forgotten?"
"Stop by my office later, we'll catch up on life." C.J offered before turning to leave.
"I'd like that." Megan waved good bye to C.J and the watched the tall red headed woman walk with authority down the hallway.
Abby was already in her office when Megan found her an hour later. With the last of her breakfast still in her bowl she knocked to alert her mom that she was there.
"Good morning…" Megan greeted as she was waved in.
"How was your run this morning?" Abby asked as Megan poked around the office.
"Good.. Agent Jackson was able to keep up.." Megan turned to the shelves. "You've moved a lot of your stuff into this office. It's neat to see some of this stuff again. Brings back memories."
"Well I'm sure you'd remember, You spent so many hours at the clinic growing up, I thought you'd be a doctor for sure."
"Until I nearly failed Grade 11 chemistry." Megan reminded.
"You made up for it in other subjects."
"I managed to get a scholarship for college."
"Yes, although your father and I would have helped you through."
"I know…" Megan sat down at one of the table in the office. "I brought some of my marking. Would you mind if we just worked together here for a bit.."
"I'd like that." Abby admitted and the two got back to their work without much more discussion. Riley reminded Megan that he needed a break and Megan sighed.
"The call of nature wins every time." Megan admitted to her mother with a grin. "I guess the rest of this will have to wait till later. Did you want a break too?"
"No, I'm still trying to finish these letters. Why do you go out towards the winter garden. There is a lot of space for Riley to stretch out."
"Thanks. I'll see you later." Megan put everything back in her small portfolio and left it on the desk outside her room before heading outside. On her way back in Megan got distracted by some of the art on the walls.
"If that isn't Megan Bartlett, then I don't know who it could be!" Sam's familiar voice soon echoed down the hallway and Megan turned to see him striding quickly towards her. Riley not knowing he was a friend started to growl and pull at his leash. "Whoa!"
"Riley stop…" Megan ordered and the dog sat down and looked calm again.
"What did I do?" Sam asked as he waited for the two to come closer.
"Approached with too much threat." Megan admitted and allowed Sam to hug her as they reached each other.
"Well now that I've found you.. I'm taking your to others." Sam pulled Megan towards the West Wing..
"Look who I found!" Sam announced as he brought her closer to the people working.
"Well it's about time you came to see us! You came in last night so why didn't you come then?" Josh greeted and hugged Megan.
"I was tired." Megan admitted. "Plus I thought you'd already left for the evening. I didn't get in till 8:30."
"Well we were here. Live with it?" Josh smiled.
"I was thinking of visiting Siah.. I'm glad I got distracted.."
"So am I.." Leo's voice came from the others side of the door.
"Leo!" Megan gasped and went to hug the older man. "I missed you!"
"You could and visit more often… you don't live that far away."
"I know, don't remind me." Megan sighed in agreement realizing that she had left this second family in the dust these past months. Megan was soon sharing stories about her students and laughing at some of the stories that were offered by the senior staff.
"So this is were you are hiding!" Zoe's voice came from the doorway and she came to sit down amongst the group.
"I didn't think I'd see you till tomorrow at church!" Megan admitted and Zoe sighed. "I wasn't planning, but mom called and said something about a dinner that she had forgotten about and that mom and dad were going to be busy tonight after all and that she didn't want you to lonely so I came by." Zoe admitted and as she shared that everyone started to look at their watches and the clock on the wall.
"We need to be getting ready as well."
"What type of dinner is it?" Megan asked.
"A supporters dinner." Leo sighed and the group broke up as he said that and soon Megan was left with hers sister.
"Come on my sister… Lets go bowling." Zoe giggled and took her sister by the hand lead her out of the bullpen and back into the main building. With a fun night of visiting with her sister Megan fell asleep marking papers.. Jed came into her room and turned off the light.
"Well that's a habit she picked up from you." Abby admonished as she pulled the blankets up around Megan's shoulders
"She is her fathers daughter I suppose." Jed admitted and two left quietly. "Protect her boy…" Jed whispered as he petted the dogs head.