Disclaimers et al. in part 1
Previously…
"Hannah's back, here in the US."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"So you think we should…"
"Yeah, I think we should."
"Yeah."
"So, I'm thinking we should talk to Leo and the president. Now."
Chapter 3
We're on our way to the Oval when we run into Toby. Literally. He does not look happy. But then again, when does he ever? I think the happy vibes are radiating off us and Toby just picked up on them. He's looking at Sam now with this paternal/big brother look. Gotta file that one away for later, you know, to tease him with.
"What are the idiot twins up to now?"
Sam just shakes his head and laughs out, "He's channelling CJ now."
I simply say, "Idiot twins, Toby?"
"If the shoe fits."
"Very mature. Are you going home now?"
"Yeah. What about you?"
"Yeah, but we're gonna meet with Leo first." If we're going to suggest recruiting Hannah - and effectively change the way the campaign will be run--I should tell Toby, he might want to have some sort of input.
"Actually, you should join us."
"Does this have something to do with the ridiculous grins you both have plastered on your faces?"
I'm about to say something but we reach Leo's office and he does not look happy. Toby can wait. As soon as we walk in, without looking up from his papers Leo asks, "What are you still doing here?"
Yeah, he's pissed.
Toby stands by Leo's desk while Sam takes a seat on Leo's couch. I stand by the door, leaning against its frame.
We've been here for about a minute and neither Sam nor I have said anything. Leo takes off his glasses, rests the papers he's been reading on his desk, and then finally looks to us for an explanation.
Sam looks at me, giving me my cue to talk to Leo, but this is Sam's discovery, so I signal for him to take the initiative.
"Josh and I think you should hire Hannah."
"She's back?"
"You didn't know?" I ask with an incredulous tone. Leo knows where she is all the time; he's one of the few people who do. And if she were in here in DC, he'd certainly know.
***
By the sound of Josh's tone, he and I are thinking the same thing. How could Leo not know? He always, and I mean always, knows where she is. Josh and I are protective of her but that's nothing compared to Leo. There is no way in hell he would not know.
Leo's look is making it pretty clear that he does not want to be teased, so before Josh can put his foot in it, I think I should talk.
"She was on a the passenger list for United Airlines yesterday, she took a direct flight here, to DC. So, in answer to your question, yeah, she's back."
Leo just looks at me with this amused face. Before I can ask what's so funny, Josh starts to talk.
"And we think that you should talk to her."
Leo just lost the amused expression and replaced it with a tired one. This conversation has taken place over a thousand times, mostly during the first campaign, and then when we took office.
"Josh," Leo says in an exhausted manner, while rubbing the bridge of his nose.
The thing is, Josh and I both tried to convince Hannah to join us, and in a way she did, but not really. Josh knew that if Leo asked, she would.
Only, Leo didn't.
All I know is that Leo and Hannah have some sort of deal, he won't ask her to work with us and she… I don't actually know what Leo got in return.
"Look, Leo I know you don't want to ask, but she'd be good. She'd run this campaign as we would, and still bring a fresh perspective. She'll work with us, Bruno really doesn't, and because of that he's not doing his job effectively enough."
Josh, you are an idiot. This is why Leo is now glaring at you.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but Bruno isn't the only one who has been screwing up lately."
Ouch. He walked into that one.
"Yeah, but he hasn't done anything to help fix the mess either."
True, but way to win the argument there, Josh.
"Yeah, and Hannah would?" That was Toby. Leo knows she would. He's seen her do it first hand.
"Yeah, she would. She's actually a master at fixing their screw-ups." He says it like in the past there were a million screw-ups to fix.
There really weren't that many.
Really!
"Maybe I should a have asked this earlier, but, Hannah would be? Do I even know her?"
I forgot Toby's doesn't know her personally, only somewhat professionally.
"Yeah, you met her in Chicago during the campaign just before the primaries. She was the senior political strategist for Parsons' camp back then, only she quit working for him when he started a media hate campaign against some of local DNC members with the help of Republicans. You should at least remember how she kicked his and a lot of Republican ass as a goodbye gift. It was the first time I heard you praise anyone." Josh answers with an amused tone.
Ann Stark was one of the Republicans that got royally screwed. I don't think she ever managed to get Hannah back for that.
***
"Yeah, I remember, I liked her." Toby says in his usual gruff manner. He pauses before continuing to speak. "If we fired Bruno now, we would just be giving away ammunition to Ritchie's camp. Josh, you should know better than anyone, the kind of message that gives out."
"Hannah would take of that," I answer automatically.
"How?"
"I'm not sure how she would either Toby, but that's not something we would have to worry about. Josh's right, Hannah would take of that." I'm not about to say this out loud, but Leo, you're making my case for me.
"Well, in that case… Leo I hate to-and you have no idea how it pains me to say this-agree with Josh--"
Hey!
"Hey."
"--But, he's right about Bruno. From what I understand, you don't want to, or can't ask her to take the job, so maybe either Josh or Sam should."
"I hate to disappoint you, Toby, but, even though Hannah has these two wrapped around her little finger and can get them to do anything she wants, they don't quite have the same effect on her."
Okay, may I state for the record, I take offence to that? If she has anyone wrapped around her little finger… it's Leo. Definitely Leo, and possibly Sam.
"That's not true, it's not me she has wrapped around her little finger, its Josh."
"Me? …" I'm about to object to what Sam just said when Toby talks over me.
I hate when people do that.
"So, we get the President to ask her."
"Won't work either." Sam replies, "She respects Leo more."
I was about to say that. I'm glad I didn't though, because the President chooses that particular moment to walk in.
"Who admires Leo more?"
Did that sound pompous?
Sam answers, "Hannah."
"Ah, my extremely intelligent and might I add beautiful, god-daughter. She has a tendency to admire and look up to those that deserve respect." He briefly glances at Leo after he says this and then looks back at Sam.
That pompous comment I just made, I take it back.
"Not that she isn't one of the more interesting characters in this world, but we're talking about her at," he looks at his watch and continues, "quarter past two in the morning, because…?"
"She's here in DC." Sam tells the President.
"She's here and she didn't call either Abbey or me?"
"Actually, she's not here yet. She's on a private plane on her way here as we speak. She called me before we left for New York and said that she'll call back when she lands." Leo corrects.
See, I knew he knew where she was.
Also, that explains the amused look he had earlier.
"We think Leo should ask--"
"The campaign." He nods his head in understanding. After a moments silence, he says, "Before I spoke to Ritchie, winning and coming back here in January was important, it just wasn't…" He sighs not sure how to finish that thought.
I think it's something we can all relate to.
"They're right Leo. I told Ritchie that an agent had been killed and his response was, 'Crime, Boy, I don't know.' The idea that the future of this country could be in his hands is infuriating. So now winning is more than important. It's necessary. I want to seriously kick his ass. I don't trust Bruno to do that for me. Hannah, she'd do it regardless, it's in her nature to kick ass."
"But sir…"
The President speaks in a quite voice, "Ask her, Leo. If she says no, she says no. You and I both know she left for the wrong reasons, give her the right one to come back."
"I'll talk to her." Leo says in a defeated tone.
"Good. So now, if we're finished, I'm going to bed. I suggest that you all do the same. I have a feeling that things are going to change around here - and fast."
Leo replies, "Yeah, goodnight Mr. President." There's a chorus of good byes as he leaves.
"I'm going too. Sam, walk with me."
Both Toby and Sam leave and it's just Leo and me. He looks tired.
"You should go home." I tell him.
"Yeah." He pauses, "She was my first choice, before Bruno."
I didn't know that. Although it doesn't surprise me.
"Go get some sleep. The President's right, things are gonna change tomorrow." And with that he starts to pick up the phone.
Things are going to change.
For some reason all of us have had more than our fair share of screw-ups lately. None of us have really been in the game-me in particular. Some how this past month has found a way to give each of us a kick up the backside and get our asses into gear. With Hannah here, there's no way we'll be complacent.
"Night." I say as I leave Leo trying to get a hold of Her.
He's not looking forward to this conversation. He knows that she'll say yes if he asks. But she won't want to do it, and trying to convince her otherwise is a challenge he's not looking forward to.
*
The next morning in senior staff, Leo tells us that there's going to be a change in the campaign management.
Whatever he said, it worked.
After staff, I walk back to my office.
Oh shit.
I've just realised something.
Hannah is going to be here.
I have to tell her about Amy.
TBC…