Hope you don't mind me posting the next chapter. Unfortunately, I don't think many of you are going to be happy with Em in this chapter.
One Hello
Em faced the large window and looked out at the meticulous garden. The bright sunlight filled the room and warmed it. But Em was oblivious as she listened to Charles Keifer.
"I understand, Charles," she interrupted. "I'm saying that it's time we evacuate."
"Emily… You know what you're asking so soon and Christmas just three days away?"
"I'm saying that after the bombing, I've come to the conclusion that my daughter's life - and those of other Americans - is not worth the cost of peace."
"It means sending in troops and support…."
"And…?" she countered back. "Your job, should I remind you, is to protect me while I'm protecting other Americans and foreign nationals. I've done everything you asked. I've even kissed ass to try and get it across that peace needs to be accepted. But I cannot force people to accept when they are intent on killing and dying for a cause."
"Emily. See it from…"
"No! You see it from my point of view, Charles! I have telegrams ready to be sent out to various news organizations, and the President, if you don't get your shit together. I'm sorry, but through playing games!"
"You do realize that if you abandon your post, you will never be appointed again. At least not as long as I hold office," his threat was clear.
"Seriously and honestly, I don't care. Not anymore." And she didn't.
The silence on the line carried on for a long minute as Charles considered his reply. "I may be able to compromise and get all non-essential personnel out. Then we can send for the rest."
Em nodded. At least Claire and Dave and the others would be safe. That's all she wanted.
"Okay," she agreed. "Send me everything so I can coordinate and get everyone where they need to be."
"You'll have it by the end of the day," he promised and disconnected the line. Sighing, Em hung up the receiver and leaned back in the chair. A light knock caused her to jump.
"Em?" Dave asked and walked into the room.
She spun around to look at him. "Hi, Dave."
"I heard you on the phone. Keifer?" Em nodded stiffly. "What did he have to say?"
"He thinks there might be a way to get everyone out. He's going to send me everything by the end of the day."
"Good. Then we can start preparing to leave this hell hole."
Em stood up and walked to the window. "I don't know."
Dave was flummoxed by her answer. "What do you mean 'I don't know'?"
"This has been my home. I raised Claire here. Now I have to run away."
"You're preserving and saving your lives," he corrected. "There is no shame or blame in that. You need to go back home."
Her eyes were sad. "And where is that?"
Dave stepped closer and took her hand. "It's wherever you want it to be."
"Right now…" She shook her head. "I really don't know." She dragged a hand thru her hair. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay. Can we talk about last night?"
"What about last night?"
"I was surprised that you came to me. I mean, after all we've been through." He cupped her cheek and realized how perfectly it fit in the palm of his hand.
"I know what you mean, but I…" She tried to put into words the way that she was feeling. "I thought it was time for us to bury the hatchet."
Dave smiled. "I see."
"You said it yourself that we have been given a second chance. And we don't get many second chances."
"Are you ready for what comes next?" he asked. "Because holding you and making love to you for one night is never going to be enough for me."
"I know."
Dave caressed Em's hair. "I won't lie and say that I never thought this moment would ever happen. I prayed for it. But I'm a realist, Em. I want to know what's waiting down the road. I want it all."
"I'm sure that we can work it out."
"If we both work at it, I know that it will work out. The question is: how badly do we want it?" He felt her tense up. "But," he added quickly, "I think the best thing for us right now is baby steps."
She nodded. "I can deal with that."
Silence fell between them. Each wanted to hold on to the moment before it went away.
"I talked to Mother."
Dave felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth. "Oh? What did the Ambassador have to say?"
"As soon as the weather clears, she's coming out here to get Claire. And…" Em hesitated to finish relaying the conversation.
"And what?"
"And…she wants us to go with her."
"Sounds like a good idea."
Em took a deep breath. "I'm not going with her."
"What did you say?"
"You're going with Claire when Mother gets here."
Fear filled his gut. "And where are you going to be?" He was pretty sure he knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it from her.
"I'm staying here. I have to help coordinate the evacuation process."
"The hell you are!" he growled. "Everyone leaves!"
Em raised herself up to look him in the eyes. "I'm following orders. I don't have a choice."
"No, Em! You go with Claire, and I will stay here."
Her eyes blazed with anger. "You can't; you're not an ambassador."
"Maybe not," he conceded, "but my obligation is to guard and protect every American."
"And so is my job. I can't abandon my post. At least not until help arrives."
"And if it doesn't?" he challenged.
"You tell Claire that I love her. And make sure she goes to Georgetown," she replied in what she hope was her best attempt at nonchalance.
Dave stepped back and counted to ten. "The hell I will! You're getting out of here! I don't care if I have to drag you kicking and screaming on to the plane or boat or what ever the hell form of transportation they decide to send."
"And if they don't send anything? Then what, Dave? Do we swim out of here? Run? Our options are limited."
"And because of those options - or rather lack of options - you're giving up?"
"I'm not giving up," she defended passionately.
"It sounds to me that you are. What's going really going on, Em? What happened after I came downstairs?" he asked, but he was pretty sure that he knew what made her change her mind.
Em looked down at her hand and fought not to pick at her cuticles. "I just…I did some thinking. If something were to happen, I want one of us to get out of here alive."
"You never struck me as a fatalist," he countered.
"I am trying to look at this from a logical point of view."
"Which is…?" he fished for something to explain what he was missing with her attitude. "Help me, here. I'm not understanding what you are trying to tell me."
"My job is representing America. That job entails that I defend all Americans, and…do everything I can to protect them."
"Bullshit!"
"I'm not going to argue about this, Dave." She turned around. She couldn't face him.
Dave reached out and grabbed her arm. "You're not leaving! I want to know what made you change your mind. Two days ago you were ready to do everything you could to get out of here. Now you want to stay, but you want me to leave. Explain to me what is going on."
"There is nothing to explain. I made some decisions last night that needed to be made. And I am good with it." She pulled away from his grasp.
"What if I said I didn't want Claire unless I have you too? Would that change your mind?" he threw at her.
"Dave…"
"Emily, I've never stopped loving you. Even when I was going thru hell and throwing things away, you still had my heart. There is nothing I won't do for you, but I won't leave you behind. I won't let you die."
"You may not have a say in this. My orders are clear. Charles is sending transport and will want the non-essential personnel to leave. After that, I will follow," her tone was cold as ice, and her gaze just as chilly. "My authority as an ambassador outranks you. If you don't like it, call Charles Keifer and tell him. But he's already informed me what needs to be done and I cannot resign."
"Heh," Dave snorted.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Here I thought we had finally crossed that line and found a way to connect. But letting me make love to you was your way of putting me exactly where you wanted as you pull the rug out from under me," he said. Em crossed her arms over her chest. "I thought you were better than that."
"What can I say? I learned from the best," she replied.
Dave reached into his pocket and pulled out the envelope. "I was going to hold on to this. But considering the way you changed the game, I guess I won't be needing it now." He handed it to Em. Reluctantly, she took it.
"Let me know when you get word from D.C. so I can help Claire pack."
Em nodded, but she didn't speak.
"Okay," he conceded. "I know when to take my cue." He walked across the study. "I thought we connected and I was going to say that I love you. But I realized why should I, when you obviously don't feel the same?" With more force than he intended, Dave slammed the door behind him.
"I love you," she whispered to the empty room.
