Author: Sirius
Disclaimer: See Part I for rating and disclaimer info.
Author's Note: Part X picks up right where Part IX left off. This is shorter than I'd intended, but it just seemed like the right place to end this chapter. There will be more details on the "How to lose a Frenchman" portion in Part XI.
Chapter Summary: Zoey – will she stay or will she go?
Zoey stood in shocked silence for a moment, the depth of Charlie's desperation only now becoming clear to her. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. Then, she slowly moved around the bed until there was nothing between them save empty space.
"I'm not going, Charlie. I won't leave you again."
"Jean-Paul won't like that news." I can't believe I'm dragging him into this… but if it will get her back to France… well, I'll try anything.
"Jean-Paul doesn't have any say in how I live my life, and hasn't been in any position to comment."
"Really? Why?" If I keep up the chatter, maybe I can divert her from the idea that she wants to stay.
"Because he did something monumentally stupid and I had Gina drop-kick him out the door two weeks ago. I'll fill you in on the details later. The fact of the matter is that I'm staying, Charlie, and the only way that you could get me back to France is if you come with me. Somehow, I'm thinking that might be frowned upon by the general public, and that running away isn't gonna help much." With every word, she moved just a little closer, and Charlie, trying to keep the distance between them, retreated until his back was against the bedroom wall.
"Zoey." His voice near breaking, Charlie slid down the wall until he was sitting on the floor. "I can't lose you, too. Don't you understand that? I can stand seeing you with another guy, but I'm not strong enough to get through your death. I could never be strong enough for that."
The young woman took the last step needed to close the space between them and knelt on the floor by his side, taking him in her arms and holding him tightly to her as the tears started to stream down Charlie's face. She rocked him in her embrace, her mouth only an inch from his ear, whispering. "I'll never leave you again, Charlie. We can work our way through the danger, but we're stronger together… we're stronger together."
The whispers continued as Charlie's arms went around her and he held on tight, shaking. One hand went up to her silken hair and he ran his fingers through it. She's real. She's real. Joy mixed with grief as the two sat together on the floor, Zoey calling Charlie back from the edge of despair.
Jed and Abbey, watching their children, knew that Charlie would heal, now, but it was a long road and this day was only half over. "Ron," Jed said. "Call Gina and ask her to meet me in the Oval before Senior Staff. I want more information on this drop-kicking thing." For the first time since this trial had begun – only one day ago – the President felt a tiny bit of hope that his son would be ok.
Josh knew that there were things he should be doing, but he couldn't summon the concentration for them. The look on Charlie's face as he'd sat in that car last night seared Josh's soul. Enough of this, he thought. I have to see how he's doing. As he left the office, Donna fell into step beside him, seeming to know exactly where he was going. How does she do that, anyway?
As they walked through the halls toward the Residence, they heard the murmured words of the patrolling Service agents. Josh didn't pay much attention until he caught the phrase "heard that Phoenix was awake."
"Phoenix? Who's Phoenix?" He hadn't actually meant anyone to hear him, but Donna was too close to miss the question.
"It's Charlie's new codename," she said. "They changed it last night."
"How do you always know this stuff?"
She shrugged. "I hear things." He looked at her with one raised eyebrow as they continued to walk. When the two reached the main inner doors to the Residence, the agents stationed there motioned them in with a nod, surprising the Deputy Chief of Staff. He'd been prepared to debate his way in… or at least knock.
They had been expecting to see two agents outside Charlie's door and Josh was somewhat taken aback by the presence of four agents and the First Daughter calmly standing in the hallway.
"Zoey?"
"Oh, hi, Josh. I convinced Charlie to step out of his room so that we can grab some food, but he wanted to clean up first. He should be out in a minute."
"Have you two had a chance to talk?"
"Yeah, Donna. We've… almost… reached an understanding. He still wants me to go back to France, and I'm still not going anywhere. Gee, that kinda sounds like my parents. Should I be frightened?"
"No, I think your parents are an inspiration, actually. Why does he want you to go back to France – where there are only the two agents of your main detail – rather than stay here, where there are a lot more agents?"
"He thinks that my safety is directly proportional to my distance from him – and now I sound like my father, the economist. Anyway, he needs me here, and here I stay… whether he likes it or not. He doesn't have to be the strong one this time. I think I've almost got him around to my way of thinking, but right now, my focus is on getting him to eat something. From what I can gather, his last meal was breakfast yesterday."
All three turned toward the door as it opened, revealing Charlie, hair still damp, dressed somewhat more casually than usual in slacks and a sweater. It wasn't casual enough for Zoey – he still looked like he could be on his way to work – but for now, it would do. At least he was out of the room. Josh knew that Charlie had slept – the sedative had seen to that – but he couldn't tell it by the look in the younger man's eyes.
He still looks exhausted, but there's something there… what is it? He doesn't seem quite as… ragged? Close to the edge? What's changed? Josh realized that Charlie wasn't seeing them. His eyes were focused on Zoey now, and held… what? Gratitude? Desperation? A connection. Josh watched as Charlie released a deep, tired sigh, and Zoey reached out a hand to him, that silent gesture coaxing him to take the strength that was offered. Come on, man, don't push her away.
Seconds seemed like hours as they waited for Charlie to make his decision, and Josh felt like he could touch the sky when he saw dark hand reach for light. Charlie's thumb ran circles over Zoey's palm, a counterpoint to whatever thoughts were going through his head. Then, the younger man pulled Zoey into his arms and whispered words that no one else could hear, before setting her apart from him and walking by her side down the hallway, his hand once more finding hers.
Donna turned to Josh with a brilliant smile on her face, and said what both were thinking. "She's staying."
TBC… And what stupid thing did Jean-Paul do, anyway? Stay tuned for the next chapter and I'll fill you in. As always, reviews are welcome.
