A/N: I continue to appreciate the reviews that I've received on this story, and I will continue to improve on it. However, I have discovered one glaring error I made and that no one, thus far, has mentioned. I appreciate that, believe me, and I readily admit to it. In chapter one, Jack's opponent is Congressman James Berkeley. In chapter two, he is suddenly Congressman Cal Berkeley. I apologize for this big, fat error and promise that from now on, all the characters will maintain the same name, and I think I'll keep the name Cal Berkeley for obvious reasons.
Again, I announce to all those who are listening: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS. THEY ARE THE PROPERTY OF STEVEN LEVITAN PRODUCTIONS, SONY PICTURES, BRILLSTEIN-GREY AND NBC. SO THERE!
MR GALLO GOES TO WASHINGTON--CHAPTER THREE
From the moment Maya and Berkeley arrived at Chateau de Ville, Maya felt the weight of every eye on them as the overly polite matre-d showed them to 'the usual table', silently deposited two menus and disappeared, replaced by an equally polite waiter, who stood back as Berkeley told Maya to order whatever she wanted, as "It's on me."
Maya ordered a simple plate of pasta with no sauce as Berkeley called for a large plate of spaghetti. He also called for a bottle of champaign. "Wow," Maya said, impressed, "Chateau de Ville. My father has been trying to get in here ever since it opened."
"Yes," he was saying, "I've heard quite a bit about this place and have been trying to get in also, but you know, the business of Washington."
Maya smiled back at him. "Yes, I can understand how busy you've been between being here for the campaign and in Washington for the health bill debate. You know, I don't know how you do it without going crazy."
"Well, it's a necessity. Health care is very important and it's necessary to see this bill through. We need it."
"Oh, I agree."
She'd only seen him once or twice before. He was a tall man, about six feet, with a boyishly handsome but intelligent looking face and a well groomed thicket of red hair atop his head. He looked much younger than his forty-three years and his build, in his blue suit, white shirt and red tie, seemed athletic. This was the first time she'd seen him up close. Previously, it had only been in passing as he'd made token appearances at his campaign headquarters to keep up his troops' spirits as they awaited the announcement of his opponent. An opponent who seemed to be none other than...
She suddenly slammed her fist into the table, drawing startled glances from the neighboring tables.
"Something wrong, Ms. Gallo?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing. It's just...well...my father. OOH, I could just kill him when he does things like this!"
"I take it you're against his campaign?" Berkeley asked.
"Don't get me wrong, I love my father, even if he is occasionally a conservative hypocritical blowhard, but I just wished he was doing it for a good reason, like... oh, I don't know...any reason other than the one he's got for doing it."
"Some do it because they feel they need to, regardless of the reason. I mean, my first political campaign here in New York was to impress a girl."
Maya laughed. "You're kidding."
"Oh, no. I mean, I found purpose once I got there, of course, but if you were to demand at gunpoint the real reason I ran for the city council that first time, I'd have to confess it was to show Maureen O'Neill that I was more than a head in the clouds recent grad from Stanford."
"So," he raised his glass, "Let's toast to all the dumb reasons to enter politics and hope that out of all of them, some good will emerge."
"I'll drink to that," Maya responded to the toast and they clinked glasses.
"Tell me something," Maya asked, "Of the two men who are planning to run against you, is there one you'd rather run against?"
The smile returned and Maya wondered if his face ever got tired from doing it all the time, even if it was attractive.
"Ah," he answered, "Maya Gallo, reporter, has arrived."
Maya smiled shyly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to turn this into an interview."
"Oh, that's OK, Maya. Don't worry about it. If I had to do an interview, I'd much rather have it be someone as pretty as you."
Now, Maya blushed and turned her smile down towards the floor.
"To answer your question, I really don't care who I'm running against. I'm of the belief that I will fear nothing if I'm in the right."
They talked the rest of the hour, promising not to discuss 'work', although, at his urging, she told him all about working for a magazine like Blush. She told him of all the frustrations and, she added grudgingly, the joys of writing for a national publication, even if it was only Blush.
As she talked, Berkeley buttered his bread and watched, observing her body, her face and their language. She was a passionate woman, he decided, liberal in beliefs and, judging from her choice of clothing--the black turtleneck, matching slacks--conservative in fashion. She seemed as though she was ashamed of the fact that God had given her a powerful weapon in that figure and wanted to hide it. Maybe until necessary, he though to himself. She was intelligent, well read and smart, which was, he'd learned, different than intelligent.
Berkeley turned down the smile and leaned forward. "How about meeting at the office tonight around five or so and I'll give you that interview. If you don't mind having dinner along with it, I mean."
"I'd be honored, Congressman..."
"Please, call me Cal. And please, stop saying you're honored. I'm honored that you accept."
Maya suddenly looked down at her watch. "I have to be getting back to work. Thank you for lunch, and yes, I'll see you tonight at around six?"
"Perfect. I'll see you then."
Berkeley watched her leave. As he did, he barely noticed the phone ringing in his suitcoat pocket. Removing it, he pushed a button.
"Berkeley...yeah, Stewie...I'm at Chateau de Ville...yeah, the Italian place...yeah, the one with the bod who works at the office down here, and get this, she's Jack Gallo's daughter...yeah, ain't it great? I kick his butt and bag his daughter...Look, last time it was an accident. I'm sure not gonna get in that deep again, and this time I'm not going to get caught..."
A/N: OK, everyone saw this coming, right? Well, then, who am I to disappoint? It's not the best, but it gets me from chapter two to chapter four, which will have the feel of the show again, I hope. I'm tired, it's late and...no, to quote John Wayne, "Never apologize, it's a sign of weakness." I'll just leave it the way it is and improve next time. Once again, review and please be gentle. It gets better and, who knows, we may even get around to seeing Elliot...maybe...Till then, fellow readers...