Nixon - November 1943

It took some getting used to, having a shadow. That's what Nixon took to calling Emily privately. At first he found her presence annoying. He felt, and had made those feelings clear to everyone, that she was a cumbersome addition to their staff. Much to Nixon's chagrin, he found himself in an exhausting loop of getting frustrated with her without reason, lashing out, and immediately feeling guilty. She was getting too comfortable for his liking; like a stray cat who had wandered into his house and made herself at home. But Emily seemed unperturbed by his clear, bordering on hostile, indifference towards her. She persisted in her diligent work and objectively, Nixon had to admit, was proving to be more helpful than he thought. There was a quiet comfort to her presence; she had a unique talent of being in a room without being felt. She was always there with a quick answer, anticipating his needs. Emily was much more than the secretary title he had given her credit for. She was completely and wholly his support.

After a particularly frustrating afternoon that had nothing to do with Emily, Nixon found himself complaining about her anyways.

"I'm not saying she's wrong, I'm just saying that it bothers me when she flips the mugs over by the coffee pot."

"Mm," Winters was only half listening as he scribbled something in a journal.

"I don't know, it just might not work between us. Working together I mean," Nixon said to Winters' questioning glance. "We're too different, we may not make a good team, I need someone who's not going to get under my feet."

Nixon was just thinking out loud at this point but Winters chose this moment to chime in."Well that doesn't make any sense," he said, "she's exactly like you."

"Disarmingly attractive?"

"Audacious," Winters retorted.

"What?" Nixon slumped in his chair, "I don't think so."

"Lew, you have to admit she's good at her job."

"Yeah, she's good-,"

"Our radio operators have almost completely grasped morse code and are advancing in their coding."

Nixon sighed, "I just, something about her irks me! Like, like a cat."

"I was going to suggest a sibling."

"I've got a sister, it's not like that," Nixon said.

Winters shrugged, "well I don't think she's going anywhere. Sorry."

"Yeah, I can feel the sympathy."

Winters was right, Nixon couldn't deny her work ethic. Nor could he deny he actually had a lot more affection for the young geographer than he let on. Little pockets of their time were permeated by small talk and Nixon couldn't help but find her folksy innocence somewhat charming.

"So how's John?" Nixon accepted the cup of coffee she handed him. He made for his flask.

"I uh, may have already put a little something in there," she smiled knowingly at him before going to collect her own cup.

"Oh, was it-,"

"I know what you like," she assured him. She settled down in a desk chair, "he's alright I think."

"Well have you heard from him recently?" Nixon asked.

"About two weeks ago."

"What's that? Four letters since you got here?"

Emily shrugged, "the international post is slow. He's writing from Italy."

"So what do you like about this guy anyways?" Nixon asked.

"He's nice," Emily began.

"They're all nice, what do you like about him specifically?"

Emily shot him a dry look then continued, "well, we liked to read the same books. We met a social at his college and started talking about Johnny Got His Gun, and,"

"Johnny Got His Gun?" Nixon was surprised, "I made you for more of a By The Shores of Silver Lake kind of girl."

Emily grinned, "I mean, I'm here aren't I?" "Yeah, I guess you are."

"So anyways, we like talking about books, he's handsome,"

"Naturally."

"And, I don't know, we just get along well plus my parents really like him."

"Ah, always important to please the parents," Nixon said wryly.

"Right," Emily matched his tone, "so we got engaged and,"

"Ah so he's a fiancee? Official and everything?"

"No ring, seemed a bit," Emily shrugged, "of a faux pas with the war and everything. And then after Pearl Harbor he enlisted with the marines and was sent to Italy."

"And you found your way here."

Emily's face lit up more than it had when she was talking about John, "yeah, now I'm here."

Their morning ran into lunch so by the time they arrived for the meal it was only Nixon and Emily in line. Once their trays were full they weaved through the crowded tables looking for a place to perch.

"Mind if we join you?" Nixon sidled up beside where Harry Welsh sat.

"Please," Welsh made room for them both. Emily sat directly across from Nixon.

"How's the day been?" Welsh asked cheerfully as he mopped up what remained on his plate with a piece of white bread.

"No real complaints," Nixon said, and Emily nodded her agreements.

"You two going to the pub tonight?" Welsh asked.

"Who's going?" Nixon asked.

"Me," Welsh grinned.

"When aren't you going? Dick told me he had to drag you out the other week," Nixon chuckled.

"You're one to talk," Welsh retorted. Nixon shot a weary glance at Emily. "Oh come on," Welsh said, "we don't need to keep any false pretenses around her. I've seen her spiking your coffee for you."

Nixon looked at Emily cautiously but relaxed when he saw her smiling. "I'm not shy with the bottle," Emily said, "even if it's unladylike to say so!"

"There we go," Welsh smiled at her, "she's one of us."

Emily took some coaxing to come out with them. She wasn't convinced it would be entirely appropriate. Nixon reminded her that if her Captain didn't take issue with it then who would? He had considered that perhaps her fiancee wouldn't be thrilled to know that she was going to a bar with scores of soldiers, but Nixon didn't verbalize that thought.

They had agreed to meet in the foyer of the headquarters building since both Emily and Nixon were quartered there. Welsh had arrived after Nixon had already been waiting for a few minutes.

"Where's Emily?" he asked. Nixon shrugged a response and took a swig from his flask. The men made idle chit chat while they waited for their final companion.

"Dick?" Welsh asked.

"Nah," Nixon shook his head, "couldn't get him tonight." He offered the flask to Welsh who took it.

Finally, Emily made her way downstairs. She was dressed in a neat navy blue dress. The dark fabric of her dress made her red lipstick and observant gray eyes stand out in stark contrast.

"You look nice," Nixon politely helped her down the last couple stairs with an outstretched hand. "Bit dark for the season isn't it?" Nixon asked.

"Only you would make a comment on a lady's outfit!" Emily scolded. "Besides, I only have this one and a red one. The red one seemed a bit um, ostentatious, for a casual night out."

"Next time wear the red one."

Emily rolled her eyes and went to greet Welsh, "Hi Harry," she kissed him on the cheek.

"Hi doll. You look nice."

"Thank you!" she looked pointedly at Nixon.

"Shall we?" Nixon held the door open.

The bar was packed with soldiers and locals when the trio arrived. Nixon recognized the faces of a few local women who seemed to frequent the soldiers social occasions.

"Think we can find a place to sit in here?" Nixon wondered out loud as they pushed their way through the crowd.

"'Ey Cap!" a southern voice shouted above the crowd, "here, Captain, sit here."

"Thanks Smokey," Nixon accepted the seat Smokey Gordon offered him at a near empty table. Welsh and Emily took seats on either side of him. "Beers?" Welsh asked.

"Sure, hey see if they can give you an empty tumbler too will ya?" Nixon shouted after Welsh as he got up to collect their drinks.

As soon as his seat was empty, it was filled.

"Hiya Em," an inebriated George Luz leaned across the table. "Fancy seeing you here! You told me you weren't coming!"

"I changed my mind," Emily shrugged with a smile, "are you surprised?"

"Happily surprised," George smiled back at her, "you need a drink?"

"I think Lt. Welsh is getting us one."

"Nice, well would you be interested in a game of darts later?"

"Oh I don't know," Emily hesitated.

"Aw come on, it'll be fun. We'll give you a handicap."

"Oh will you now?" Emily asked teasingly, "well if that's the case then I may just take you up on that offer."

"I'll come grab you when it's our turn," George winked at her and got up just in time for Welsh to sit back down with their drinks.

"And here's your snifter," Welsh slid the empty glass over to Nixon with a flourish.

"Oh perfect, thank you." Nixon upended his flask into the glass. "Are you really going to go play darts?"

"Yeah, why not?" Emily asked. Nixon just shrugged into his glass, his eyebrows reaching his hairline. "Oh you are such a snob!" Emily chided. "I like George, he's sweet."

"I didn't say a thing!"

"Mmhm, you didn't need to," a smile curved on the corner of her mouth.

"Does being in intelligence mean you're a mind reader?" Welsh teased.

"Apparently," Nixon said dryly.

"You good friends with Luz?" Welsh asked conversationally.

"I wouldn't say good friends, but I like him. He was an eager student and caught on quick to everything we went over."

"Probably had a little crush on teacher," Welsh wiggled his eyebrows cheekily. Nixon looked up, excited by the prospects this line of teasing offered.

"Tough like the nuns are you? Have to use a ruler on the boys?"

"Lewis!" Emily shrieked.

"What?" he laughed as Welsh spluttered beside him, "I don't blame Luz, probably been so long since he's been with a beautiful woman it's natural to get a little hot for teacher."

Emily smacked his arm but was suppressing a grin, "you shouldn't talk to a lady like that!"

"Ah come on, Em," Nixon said, "cut the crap with all this lady stuff. I've had to deal with your nagging and bossiness the last two months. It's my right to give you a little shit."

Emily shook her head laughing, "you wouldn't last another month without my nagging and bossiness thank you very much!"

"Aw," Welsh crooned, "looks like you got yourself a work wife there, Nix."

"Right," Nixon polished off his whiskey, "because a regular wife wasn't enough."

"Unfortunately for him I'm already taken," Emily sighed. Welsh looked at her, those green-blue eyes catching hers.

He cleared his throat, "guess that makes three of us," he said taking a drink of his beer.

"Hey! Emily!" Luz shouted from a couple yards away, "we're up!"

"That's my cue, boys."

Nixon watched as Emily stood and chugged her beer. "You can take that with you, you know," he said.

"No," Emily wiped her mouth with the back of her hand in a very unladylike fashion, "the losers are about to buy me another drink."