AN: So this is a pretty short chapter that is really just kind of funny, in my opinion. I haven't updated this story in a REALLY LONG TIME (over two weeks!!!) and I really wanted to get an update out before Christmas. I was working on a longer section of this chapter, but I am dealing with some serious stress-induced writers block, so I figured I'd post what I have finished. I'm going to try to have another chapter out in the next week, but given how hectic my life has become (I wasn't living at home for six days last week), I honestly can't make any promises. Sorry!!!
Please leave a review. Oh, and if you have any suggestions or brilliant ideas for this story, leave a comment and share them with me! I'm writing this as I go, and other people's input really helps my writer's block go away!
Disclaimer: Yeah, I think you already know what this is going to say, but I don't own Madam Secretary or any of its characters. Duh.
Nadine looked up at the sound of knocking on her office door frame. She sighed at the sight of Blake, though she wasn't all too surprised. It wasn't that she was upset to see Blake in particular; it was just that he only seemed to show up if Deputy Secretary Cushing was doing something… ill-advised. It happened more frequently than they wanted to admit.
"What did he do now, Blake?" Nadine inquired, smirking at the look of complete bewilderment on Blake's face as he tried to figure out how she had read his mind.
"Uh… Deputy Cushing is on a call with Forign Minister Chen from China… and they seem to be engaged in a screaming match. Now, I know this isn't Chen's first time being yelled at by a US Secretary of State, but if we don't have a valid excuse this time…" Blake was cut off by Nadine.
"I'll handle it," Nadine nodded, standing up from her desk, passing Blake where he was standing near the door to her office, and stepped out into the hallway, beckoning him to follow. They walked the ten feet it took to reach the office that Matt and Daisy shared. Nadine popped her head in.
"Any chance you guys could come up with another "urgent meeting" that Cushing has to attend right this instant? We need to get him off of a call with Chen…"
"Well, I did see some rumor of instability in Canada…" Daisy suggested with a smirk.
"Why do we always have to cover for you?" Matt wined.
"Because I have to manage the US forign policy until Secretary McCord returns, and I can't do it all, as shocking as it might sound," Nadine replied with a hint of sarcasm.
"We'll get on it. Blake, can you get Cushing to Conference Room F? Matt and I will be there to brief him on instability in Canada," Daisy instructed, and Blake nodded.
"Once you get him out of the office," Nadine added, "transfer the call to my office. I'll take care of Chen."
"Sure thing. I'll let Cushing know," Blake stated, before scurrying off to interrupt the screaming match between Cushing and Chen. Daisy and Matt scrambled to pull together a few files and tablets before running off to Conference Room F, which just so happened to be the farthest conference room from the main office, but the closest to Matt and Daisy's office.
Nadine quickly made her way back to her desk, clearing a few files and empty coffee mugs before her screen lit up with an incoming transfer request. She hit accept, and was suddenly face to face with Ming Chen.
"Nadine Tolliver, I remember you," Chen started, his tone clipped as ever. Nadine had only directly interacted with the man once: after the other screaming match he had had with Secretary McCord. After she had been taken by ambulance to the hospital, Nadine had had to deal with the fallout.
"I suppose you do. Now, I must apologize for our deputy secretary's actions. The stance he showed was not condoned by Secretary McCord or any of the officials higher than us."
"Speaking of which, where is Secretary McCord?" Chen asked with a hint of concern.
"Minister Chen, I am sure you are aware of what happened to Secretary…" Nadine responded, slightly confused. Surely the man knew what had happened to Elizabeth McCord! It wasn't exactly like they could hide all of the videos that had been surfacing for the past month. Of course they had tried, but a top government official not knowing...
"Well, yes, I know that. But hasn't it been nearly a month?"
"Minister Chen, are you aware of the seriousness of her injuries? Trust me, I wouldn't blame her for not coming back just a month after being shot in the back and…" Nadine trailed off. That piece of information wasn't hers to tell.
"She was hit in the back? We were aware she was hit by a bullet, but… oh, she's having mobility issues, isn't she?" Chen had struck the nail on the head, and it grated on Nadine's nerves. How on earth did he guess that?
Nadine simply nodded. "I trust you will use your discretion with this piece of information?"
"Contrary to popular belief, Mis Tolliver, I find it appalling to use personal problems to hurt a political rival, especially one who has been nothing but kind to me personally. The secret is safe with me."
"Anyway, you're going to have to deal with Deputy Secretary Cushing a while longer," Nadine said, circling back to a more pertinent subject.
"Well, I can see why he didn't receive your president's appointment to be Secretary of State. That man is… oh, how shall I put it… a royal pain."
"I don't disagree, but we don't have much of a choice. So, can you tell me what was going on in that call?"
"We were discussing the rumors of political instability in Canada."
Nadine suddenly felt very bad for Matt and Daisy.