Chapter 13

Elizabeth was on the couch, skinny jeans and a long, cozy gray sweater. Her legs were tucked up beside her under her red blanket. She was sipping her tea and eyeing the rack of clothes Roxanne was pulling into the living room space and listening to Daisy talk to her.

"We just think with the Inauguration coming up it would be a good time for a wardrobe makeover. Second term, new feminine look. More dresses, less pants?" Daisy stared at Elizabeth as she furrowed her brow at Roxanne.

She gave her a small grin, side-eyed a look to Daisy, pointing at the rack, Elizabeth said firmly, "Who put you up to this? Mike B.? Or was it Blake? If it's Blake, he and I are going to have a talk."

Daisy was trying to counter her, "Roxanne and I talked and we think it is time for a bold new look for you. You know lose the tie blouses and more buttoned blouses."

"Oh God, Daisy is channeling high!" Jason's voice boomed into the room as he dropped his bag.

Elizabeth put down her tea and jumped up, "Well this is a surprise! My baby and his girlfriend are here!" She hugged Jason and kissed his head.

"No, Mom. No kisses. You still sound like crud! Dad purposefully didn't tell you that we were coming today. He thought you could use a surprise," Jason said.

Claudia leaned in and gave Elizabeth a hug, "It's so good to see you, Elizabeth."

"How was your flight?" she asked them, heading back for the couch and her tea.

"It was fine," Claudia answered.

Jason pointed back to the doorway, "We're going to go get settled in."

Elizabeth turned to Claudia, "You are welcome to stay with us as we do the fun part of the job. Wardrobe makeover!"

"Sure," Claudia answered. Jason rolled his eyes, "See you in an hour," he placed a hand on her back and kissed her on the cheek.

Daisy and Elizabeth shared a wide-eyed look at each other.

Claudia sat in one of the chairs really unsure of what to do. Daisy jumped in to make her feel more comfortable. "Do you want anything? Glass of water? Snack?"

Claudia turned and said, "I'm fine." Her long blonde hair and dark blue eyes reminded Daisy of a young Elizabeth.

Elizabeth laughed, "Claudia, she doesn't bite. This is Daisy, my press secretary. Roxanne, my stylist."

"Nice to meet you both," Claudia replied.

Roxanne continued to pull out outfits for Elizabeth. They easily went through them for the next hour or so, picking out a whole new wardrobe that would begin Inauguration Day.

At the end, Claudia headed to Jason's room as Elizabeth held Daisy back.

"That was cute, but you didn't answer my question. Who put you up to it?" Elizabeth asked again.

"Uhhhh. It was just a conversation that Roxanne and I had," she shrugged her shoulders.

"Daisy, I took the afternoon off to rest. Blake added you and Roxanne to my schedule this morning. A wardrobe change is something that doesn't just pop up. So, once again I am going to ask you, with a reminder of who you work for, who put you up to this?" she was half-grinning.

"It was a collective effort between some of the staff and others," she said, looking at her watch. "I really got to go."

"Who are the others?" Elizabeth asked deadpan with no expression.

"Well, Henry…" Daisy began. Elizabeth's expression changed. She paused and looked away from Daisy as that was not the answer she expected. She clearly thought it was the girls and this was their way of getting her to agree without telling her they hated her wardrobe.

Daisy finished, 'Well, when I talked to Alison today she also agreed you need a change. She was going to talk to you about it when she gets here tomorrow," Daisy winced.

"Well, thank you for making the effort and I am pleased and excited for the new look," she laughed with her.

Daisy left and Elizabeth went back to the couch and laid back down, feeling the exhaustion of the impending conversation she was about to have with Henry when he got back. She hated any conflict between them. Even more so, when the kids were around.

A slight knock at the door, she sat up, "Yeah, Come in."

Blake stepped in and said, "You are needed in the Situation Room, Ma'am."

"Okay, let me change into one of my tie shirts that apparently nobody likes. Be right there," she winked at him.

His face went blank and maybe a little pale. As she headed for the bedroom, he stood frozen, thinking to himself, "Oh God, she is going to kill me!"

She came back in the clothes she had on this morning. They headed down the stairs, she was rambling on about how even though she loved the new wardrobe, she still loved the tie shirts. "You know, he could have just said something. I don't get it."

Blake stopped her halfway down the stairs, "He did, Ma'am." She gave him the look she gave when he defended others to her.

"You weren't listening. You know how sometimes you get stuck on stuff." She was still giving him the look, his speech was broken but somebody had to be honest with her. He also needed her to let this go before she went into the Situation Room.

"Okay, we need to be quick here. Henry tried telling you a few times because everyone was talking about it and you wouldn't listen to him. You were all about doing this honor thing to previous Presidents. The girls didn't want to touch it with like a ten-foot pole. But now, it's time for a change, okay? So just make the damn change. Let's go!" He marched her down the stairs and for once she was speechless.

They got to the Situation Room corridor where Jay met them, "Hey, we found Adila Ah-jamil."

"Okay," she took a breath and opened the door, Jay following closely behind her.

"What do we have?" she asked.

As everyone sat back down, her new General Rodriquez spoke. He was younger with dark brown hair cut short, dark eyes and just the hint of a Southern accent. She was impressed with him and his stellar military career.

"We have found her in a As Salmān. Most likely trying to get to Saudi Arabia. We have Marines ready to go."

Elizabeth looked around the room, "Where's Isabelle? Does she have no guards with her?"

Jay whispered to her, "She was dealing with something and said she would be right along."

Elizabeth nodded and looked back to her General Rodriquez

He was beginning to speak when the door pulled open and Isabelle rushed in. She leaned into Elizabeth's ear, "Kurt is missing."

Elizabeth nodded letting her know she heard her. She gestured her hand to the General to continue.

"She seems to be traveling light with only about four men. We have twenty." He stated.

"Okay. Send them in," she stated firmly.

While they got ready, she turned to Isabelle. "You have got to be kidding me? Who is looking for him?"

"Just about everyone," she answered.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

The Marines began to move on the property. The heat and sand so visible on the screen brought back memories for Elizabeth. It was a raid just like this that started this whole thing. Her mind wanted to wander back to that day but she held back and watched what was unfolding on her screen.

Two of her guards already shot and wounded as they made their way through the stucco home. Marines tore down her guards as well as tapestries hanging in the doorways one by one. They found a locked door and barricaded through it. Adila stood naked behind a man in only his boxers, holding a gun at the guards.

Elizabeth immediately yelled, "Hold fire. I want them alive."