For the prompt: "You don't need to protect me."
Nadine made their excuses and then practically dragged him out of the meeting by his ear. She could practically see the signs of another heart attack creeping the horizon, and there was no way she would allow it to manifest on her watch. Carol would commit mass homicide.
Out in the hallway, Russell fumed.
"Deep box breaths," she reminded him. For good measure, she plucked the half-empty coffee cup out of his hands. Earlier, he'd said that it was decaf and only his second cup of the day, but she thought both claims were dubious. "Get your heart rate down before you yell at me."
He glared daggers right through her. "My office," he muttered finally. And then he tore down the hall, leaving her little choice but to follow. As she walked, she took a sip of his coffee and made a face. Definitely not decaf.
As Russell blew through his own outer office, Nadine exchanged glances with Adele and rolled her eyes. When she passed Stevie, she pressed the coffee into her hands. "Decaf only," she reminded the young woman. "I know he yells at you for it, but you have to stand tall."
"Sorry, I know, it's just that he notices—"
"I get it. Try brewing it twice as strong. He might not even know."
"Okay." She nodded. Her eyes darted nervously into his office, where they could all hear Russell banging around in frustration. "What... what happened in the meeting?"
"Morejon happened. I dragged Russell out of there before he could have a second coronary." And now she was going to get screamed at for her trouble.
The things she did for her country.
"Probably for the best. I don't envy you having to deal with him now, though."
"Oh, don't worry about me. I can take him." Nadine winked. She headed into his office and closed the door behind her.
"You know, if you were anyone else, I'd have you fired for your little performance in there," Russell told her.
"By all means, call up the Secretary and tell her to fire me. I'd have another job lined up by the time I got back to my office."
He narrowed his eyes. "I've never liked you."
"I've never lost sleep wondering if you did." Really, nothing had ever concerned her less. "Someone has to reign you in every now and again and God knows that no one who works for you is going to do it."
"You don't need to protect me, you know. I can look after my own health without your help."
"If that were true, you would've done a better job restraining yourself in front of Carlos," she shot back. "I swear you're going to drop dead a second time."
"I should be so lucky," he muttered.
"Seriously, Russell!" she pressed. "No one else, and I mean no one else wants your job. So... you need to try a little harder to stay alive so that you can keep doing it."
"You're a pain in my ass," he said. "You realize that by anyone's definition, I outrank you? So I don't know where you get off thinking you can address me like a junior moron."
"Your rank doesn't really mean much of anything to me, honestly," she said. And then she waved a hand. "Anyway. Let Carol know that I'm keeping an eye on you. All the way from the Truman."
"I really think you've gone batty."
"And yet, I will probably still outlive you. Are we done here?"
"...Yes. Fine."
She had her hand on the door, waiting for whatever final parting shot he'd decide to throw her way.
"But Nadine—"
There it was.
"—If you ever yank me out of a meeting like that again, I'll have you tossed out of the White House on your ass."
Well, that didn't bother her. He'd already threatened her with that one before.