Kalinda was sitting on a stretcher in a hallway of the local ER. Half her head was covered in an impressive white dressing wrapped around it like a large headband. With her hair down, she looked ten years younger, lovelier than ever and terribly vulnerable. She was so tiny, sitting there by herself in her stained clothes. Alicia could feel a lump grow in her throat.
"It's not as serious as it looks," Kalinda stated before Alicia could say anything. "Since I wouldn't let them shave half my head to patch me up, they had a bit of trouble making sure the compress holds."
"Kalinda," said Alicia, upset, "You took a bullet for me!"
"No I didn't," Kalinda said quietly. "It's just a few stitches."
Alicia was speechless. Kalinda's head had been on the trajectory of a bullet shot to kill her, and she acted like it was nothing worth mentioning. She let out an aggravated sigh and without further warning, hugged her. Holding Kalinda tight in her arms, she could smell her spicy perfume and feel her warm body against her, a reassurance that Kalinda was definitely alive and (mostly) well.
"You saved my life again, Kalinda," she said, her voice hoarse, "and it almost got you killed!" She wanted to say don't do that ever again, but protecting people's lives was Kalinda's job. It seemed inappropriate to ask her to stop doing it. What right did Alicia have to tell her what to do?
"Don't worry Alicia," Kalinda said, gently pulling away. "The attack is going to attract a lot of media attention, but this time it's a good thing – you'll be more popular than ever."
Alicia hastily looked away to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. How could Kalinda think about her popularity in such a moment? "Oh, Kalinda," she whispered. "I'm going to miss you during your recovery."
"You won't," Kalinda assured her. "They said I needed to stay here for another twenty-four hour, just to make sure I don't have a concussion or internal bleeding. But after that, I'm good to go."
"Oh no you're not!" Alicia said in her most definitive First Lady voice. "This is all my fault to begin with, I overworked you. I'm staying here as long as you have to, and then I'm bringing you home. You'll get back to work if and when Peter's doctor gives you the green light and not a minute sooner. Am I making myself clear?"
"Ma'am, yes Ma'am," Kalinda replied half-jokingly, looking a bit puzzled. "What do you mean, "home"?"
"The White House of course. It's big enough to accommodate you and there I can make sure you are taken care of properly. It's the least I can do."
Kalinda seemed baffled by the very idea and on the verge of arguing, but Alicia looked at her with pleading eyes belying her First Lady tone and took her hand in hers. They said nothing for a few moments.
"You do realize it's not your fault, right?" Kalinda finally whispered, putting her other hand on top of Alicia's. "These psychos tried to assassinate you twice. I just did my job keeping you safe. You didn't make me do anything I wasn't willing to. OK?"
"How could you possibly tell that somebody was going to shoot anyway?" Alicia dodged, fighting back a few tears. "Nobody had seen that coming except you, apparently. You were so quick to pull me down I didn't even hear the gunshot!"
"I was watching that woman from the wings," Kalinda explained. "Thought there was something weird about her. I saw her take out the gun. Sorry I didn't have time to warn you. I hope you didn't get too many bruises."
"I'm a complete mess," Alicia joked, showing her ruined suit stained with flower sap, pollen, and the blood from Kalinda's wound. "The flower bouquet softened the fall," she added. "Lucky me that thing was so huge!" Getting one of her hands back, she reached up to Kalinda's head dressing but let her hand hover next to it, not daring to touch her.
"How bad is it really?" she asked.
"Seven stitches," Kalinda admitted. "Believe me, I've had much worse. Plus I avoided the mullet haircut!"
Alicia did her best not to smile picturing Kalinda with half her long shiny black hair shaved off. "So, you're more the lipstick lesbian type then?" she teased.
Kalinda gazed at her, surprised by Alicia's boldness. "I guess I am," she said with a half-smile. "I'm like Samson, my strength lies in my hair!"
"I don't think so!" Alicia laughed openly this time. She was so relieved to know that Kalinda was mostly fine, she almost paid her a compliment on how strong and beautiful she was regardless of her hair. But it sounded much like flirting in her head, and even as she kept that thought to herself, she felt her cheeks blush. OK, this was becoming awkward and it was all her fault. She had to get a grip on herself.
"So," she said, getting up. "We need a few supplies if we are to make it through the next twenty-four hours in here. Are you allowed to eat and drink? What magazines can I get you?"
"You have a schedule Alicia! Plus all the media in the country are probably hot on your trail right now. You can't stay here with me!"
"Watch me," Alicia answered, unconcerned. That First Lady job had taken a high toll already, she could use a break. She took her phone and called her assistant.
"Courtney? I need to reschedule the next two days. Now."
