"Hey, Nadine?" Elizabeth stopped her in the hall, they were in Rome at the G20 conference. "You talk to Blake a lot. Has he said anything to you about this trip?"

"Ma'am?"

She huffed. "Before we left, he was anxious, but I was busy with the Middle East situation and… he's not been forthcoming on his own, so I was really hoping he's at least talked to you? I, you don't have to tell me if he said something, I just wanted to be sure he's not trapped himself in his own head."

Nadine considered a moment. "He did come to me before we left."

"Anything I need to worry about?"

"I think he mostly needed to talk it out and, as you said, get out of his head." She chuckled, remembering the state of him in her office and the way he'd left. "I don't think there is anything to worry about. He did introduce Matt and I to an old colleague when we arrived, it was very formal and official but… perhaps you could ask him about that later?"

Elizabeth seemed confused a minute. "Yeah, I can do that. Thanks Nadine." She started to walk away.

"Oh, Ma'am?"

"Yes?"

"I sent him to fetch some things for Daisy. Given the state they both have been in, I felt it was a good momentary use of Blake's time."

"Got it."

=MS=

"Blake!" Elizabeth called through from the bedroom of the suite. "Are you really sure this dress is fine?"

Tucking his phone away, he crossed the main room to lean against the doorframe. "The dress is wonderful. You aren't still bothered by the drone attack, are you?"

"No." She mumbled, twisting to try and pull up the zipper.

He watched her struggle a minute before rolling his eyes. "How hard it is to say please help me with this?"

"Blake, please help me into this thing so I can go have dinner with boring world leaders that I generally don't get along with while you get to relax and have fun." She grumbled. When the zipper was done, she turned to face him. "How has your end been going this week?"

"Well, Daisy has spent most of the week holed up in her room sick and Matt's been doing double duty, so the press releases aren't affected. Also, I learned that many of the aides and assistants to other world leaders know Nadine and some quite literally tremble when they see her coming."

That made her laugh. "Well, she's been in Washington a long time and we all know she's a force when she's focused. So, big plans tonight?"

"Just sitting in the bar waiting for someone to need me."

"Meeting up with any old coworkers?" She asked casually.

"Uh, no. How did you know…"

"I saw B&W on the schedule, you worked there. I know you avoid talking about it ever."

"There are a few people I knew who are here, but… I don't think I'll be meeting up with them, it was a long time ago and our lives are so different now."

"Okay. We'll talk after this dinner." She leaned in to stage whisper before leaving the room. "Find some juicy gossip for when I get back."

"Will do."

=MS=

Blake's stomach sank when Trevor turned up at the bar beside him. When he sat down, Blake held back a sigh.

"So, any word on the next drone strike?"

"I think you're safe for now." He flagged down the bartender and ordered Trevor's drink.

"See, you can be nice."

"I figured you haven't changed, why would your drink?"

"You haven't changed either. Still in the closet I see."

"Wow." All the reasons they'd split were rushing back to him now. "No how ya been, how's the family?"

"Fine. How's the family? Talking to them again? And why so reluctant to introduce me to your coworkers?"

"No, not in a long time."

"You're not doing that 'Blake is an island' thing again are you? Because, I gotta tell ya man, it's not healthy."

"I'm…not. It's complicated." He sipped his drink. "And my reluctance has less to do with our relationship and more to do with you, honestly."

"Ouch. So, this complicated thing? Do they know about Blake's special friends?"

"Do you tell every potential lay your entire history?" He shot back before walking back his irritation. "Sorry. And it's not… Like I said, it's complicated. And it's private."

"Hide it from your coworkers, private?"

Actually…technically no. They're pretty aware."

"Not a man then, so still closeted."

"I like to keep my personal life out of my work life, as much as I can anyway. And I'm not closeted, I'm bi."

"You're still on that thing?"

"It's not a thing, it's who I am." He finished his drink. "And I don't discuss it because it leads to the same stupid conversations about what the right thing to call it is and I hate it."

"Okay." Trevor reached across and put his hand over Blake's. "I guess, I just want you to be happy. And you can't really be happy without being truly honest with another person."

Blake stared at the hand on his until Trevor pulled back. "Yeah."

"It was good to see you, man. Really."

"You too." He didn't move as Trevor walked away, too caught up in his words about being truly honest with other people. He didn't notice time slipping by until security was clearing the building because of a bomb. The agents that rushed him out of the bar he didn't recognize and none of them were speaking English into their radios. "American, Secretary McCord." He hoped one of them would understand. One seemed to because he was being grabbed by his arm and pulled sideways across the mass of bodies until he realized he was being thrust toward a face he knew. "Nadine! Where is everyone?"

"Matt was with Daisy; Jay was on his way to the Secretary. All we can do is pray they all get out." They were jostled in the crowd and she was shoved against him with an 'oof'. She grabbed hold of Blake around his waist, keeping grip on his jacket as he put an arm around her, no need to get separated in the evacuation.

Blake didn't even realize that the agents rushing them out had switched until someone called them by name. "Mister Moran, Miss Tolliver, this way to the motorcade." They were taken directly to the first vehicle.

"Any word on the others?" Blake asked as he climbed in behind Nadine.

"Matt has the Secretary, Tim and Carl have Mister Mahoney and Miss Grant." He started to slam the door shut.

"Wait! What about Jay?"

"He was with the Secretary but stayed behind." The door closed.

Blake turned back to Nadine. "And here I thought my biggest worry tonight was going to be having run into Trevor in the bar."

"Did he say something?" She watched out the window. "There's Matt and Daisy." She pointed as they were taken to another vehicle.

"We need to go." The driver announced. "We can't afford to have all of you at risk of the bomb goes off." Despite their protests, the two vehicles pulled away. Two miles down the road, he spoke again. "Secretary and Mister Whitman are clear."

"Oh good." They both sagged back in their seats.

"Sorry for hanging onto you back there, panicking masses like that sometimes freak me out a little bit." She admitted to him. "Not all of us have the benefit of being big enough to be seen." She attempted to make light of the situation.

"Believe me, I did not mind." He admitted.

"So, Trevor turned up during your downtime?" She shifted the conversation.

"Yeah."

"There was a lot you weren't saying when we ran into him the other day. I doubt Matt caught it, but… Maybe I just know you differently."

He chewed his lip. "Maybe we can talk about it when we didn't all just almost get killed by a contagious bomb?"

"Sure."

By the time they got to the meeting spot, the other two SUVs were joining them. They all piled out, rushing to regroup and be sure everyone was okay. On the plane later, Nadine waited until the others were all asleep before taking the empty seat next to Elizabeth. "About what we discussed earlier today…" She waited to be sure Elizabeth knew what she was referring to. "I believe something happened since then. He's been anxious and cagey, and on him that's never a good combination."

"No, it's not." She twisted so she could see where Blake was sound asleep in his own seat. "Pushing won't get me anywhere either."

"No." She agreed. "But scotch and a piano might."

=MS=

The ride home from the base was quiet. Elizabeth couldn't remember the last time she saw Blake looking so distracted, but instead of pushing, she simply sat quietly, stepping in when they pulled up in front of the house and he kept fumbling with the handle of his bags, a far cry from his usually capable self. "Blake." She softly caught his attention. "I've got it. Go."

He didn't meet her eyes as he nodded and went in, shedding his coat and things as he made his way through.

Remembering Nadine's comment, Elizabeth called out to him. "How about a drink? It was a crazy week and I think we've both earned it. Not wine though." A few minutes later he appeared with two glasses, surprised when she was by the piano. "Sit, Blake."

He complied, getting the feeling she knew there was something he needed to get of his chest and that she was giving him the chance to gather himself first. Delaying as he debated how to start, he randomly began to play along the keys, not any tune in particular. Eventually, he spoke, not looking up at her. "I'm bisexual… I know, you're probably wondering why I'm telling you this now. I ran into an old boyfriend, he's kind of a pain in the ass, but he sometimes makes good points. One of those points was about what I consider my right to privacy, which I believe in, but I realize now that my right to privacy is different than being private." He glanced up at her. "It has more to do with me trusting people with my private business, which has always been hard because people have questions or opinions and I've experienced a lot of phobia issues from all sorts of people. Not that I think you are, I just… I've just gotten used to sharing nothing and I realize now that keeping my life private like that meant I never shared me with anyone and if I never share me with anyone, how can I ever have an honest experience with anyone? I'm sorry, I just… I really like you and I respect you and we're really close and I think that means you like me too." He sighed. "And if I can't be honest about this, then how is any of that even real?" He chanced another look up at her before ducking his head. "That's all." A blush at saying so much was creeping up his neck.

"Blake." She whispered. When he looked her way again, she wrapped him in a hug, tousling his hair when she was done. "I do like you. And respect the hell out of you. And I'm glad we are so close, because then I can say this to you without it being weird." She sat beside him. "You are important to me. I am frequently thankful that you like me enough to be here like this. I trust you… With my secrets, with my thoughts, with my life. And it's an honor that you are willing to trust me back." They sat in silence again, both waiting on the other to say or do something.

Eventually, Blake turned and wrapped her in another hug. When he finally pulled back, he risked meeting her gaze, finding nothing but acceptance there. "Thank you."