Author's note: only four more chapters to go! This is where the surprises begin (because, let's face it, Rod and Mac getting back together didn't surprised anybody)… I hope you really enjoy these last chapters that will be longer than the rest. Also… here is where I start my tribute to "The West Wing".
Announcement: Chapter 12 will be dedicated to whoever recognizes witch lines and situations I use in this chapter are borrowed from "The West Wing"!
Chapter 11:
What's the worst that could happen?
White House. Residential part. The morning after Mac's birthday.
Mac woke up with a small headache; she rubbed her eyes and noticed that she wasn't in her regular bed; she had spent the night in one of the Guest Rooms. She turned around and saw Rod sleeping next to her, and then last night came all back to her. She smiled widely remembering everything… The night before, she had come to the Guest Room Rod was using during the separation because she desperately wanted him back and they had spent a wonderful and hot night there. Rod woke up and saw Mac looking at him…
Rod- good morning, honey…
Mac- good morning…
Mac kissed him softly on the lips and then tried to get up, but Rod stopped her before she could leave the bed and whispered.
Rod- what do you think you are doing, Ma'am President? Is too early for you to leave the bed…
Mac smiled and allowed Rod to pull her into an embrace. She just laid in his arms for a few seconds, enjoying the fact that she had his arms wrapping her body again. Then she muttered…
Mac- I really should get up… The President shouldn't be late for work…
She said those words but she actually didn't move an inch. She wanted to stay in Rod's arms forever. He answered…
Rod- yes. But, you see, while you are the President of the United States, I'm the President of this bed… and I won't let you leave it yet…
Then Rod started kissing Mac's shoulders and neck in a way she loved.
Mac- Does it make me the First Lady of this bed?
Rod- actually, you are the ONLY lady of my bed…
Mac smiled and kissed Rod's chest.
Mac- much better…
Rod- so… what do you say? Am I getting reelected for President of your bed?
Mac kissed him passionately and then said…
Mac- you got reelected for that job last night… Remember?
Rod smiled remembering the night before and said…
Rod- yeah… but last nigh was just my campaign for the reelection…
Mac- oh… and what a big campaign it was…
They continued kissing and then Rod said…
Rod- it was a big campaign, but I only need one vote… Do I have it?
Mac- definitely… Rod, you can officially be the President of my bed for 20 more years… actually, you always were… no one could ever vote you out of that job…
Rod kissed her more passionately… Then Mac couldn't help laughing a little and said…
Mac- we should write a book: "bed talk for politicians"…
Rod- sounds a like a best seller to me…
Mac looked in his eyes and said in a sexy way…
Mac- Who is your "Chief of stealing your heart"?
Rod- you are.
Later that same morning. Becca and Horace's school.
It was Monday morning and the twins were at they school. Horace was getting a book he needed from his locker when Becca came to talk to him…
Becca- Horace… Can I ask you a question?
Horace- is not like I can say no…
Becca rolled her eyes.
Becca- well… here is the thing… my friend Karen likes a guy from the baseball team, Paul Smith… the problem is that I totally think Paul is gay, but what do you think?
Horace took a deep breath and counted to ten… then he answered.
Horace- jeez Becca… I'm new… I'm haven't had my "gay radar" installed yet…
Tim had seen the twins and walked towards them to greet Horace and give him some news, but he heard the last part of the conversation and pretended being shocked.
Tim- you haven't had your "Gay Radar" installed! But, honey, is illegal to be gay without it.
Becca got tired of Horace and Tim's sarcasm and he simply left, very angry. Then Horace kissed Tim softly on the lips.
Horace- I admit I'm intrigue now… Is Paul Smith gay?
Tim- he has the entire collection of Celine Dion's CDs… what do you think?
Horace- gayer than a picnic basket…
They laughed a little but then Tim got serious.
Tim- look, Horace, we have to talk about something…
Horace- sure… tell me…
Tim got suddenly very uncomfortable.
Tim- since everybody knows about us… I've been receiving very hateful insulting letters and some of them include death threats…
Horace nodded sadly. He wasn't surprised at all.
Horace- I know… I received ten insulting letters and four death threats in two days….
Tim couldn't believe something like that was happening to them… they didn't hurt anybody with their relationship.
Tim- This is stupid, really… we are in the XXI century!
Horace- so… what do the letters you received say?
Tim- I guess they same thing than the ones you received… but take a look a this one… is the one that worries me the most…
Tim took a letter from his pocket and handed it to Horace. The letter was written in computer so no one could recognize the handwriting. Horace read it and then he pretended to be very shocked and disappointed over something…
Horace- Oh No! We won't go to heaven? That sucks! I wanted to run for Saint…
Tim rolled his eyes… That wasn't the part that worried him, besides he definitely didn't think the insulting letters were funny.
Tim- this letter is not laughing matter… please, just read the next part…
Horace read a little more, and once again faked surprise to tease Tim…
Horace- wow… The Bible really says ALL that? I wonder if it mentions us by name…
Tim was very upset now…
Tim- I don't care about the stupid quotes from The Bible! Just read where it says that they are going to KILL us both…
Horace folded the letter and handed it to Tim… and very seriously said…
Horace- I don't need to read that… the letters I received say exactly the same thing…
Tim- what does the Secret Service think about all this? Are they trying to find out who…
Horace shook his head and interrupted Tim…
Horace- I didn't tell the Secret Service…
Tim was shocked and very worried about Horace.
Tim- Horace! Somebody wants to kill the President son…
Horace- look, whoever wrote that letter probably wasn't serious… they just want to scare us…
Horace didn't sound very convinced. Tim looked at the black female Agent that was looking at them from far, not hearing any part of the conversation.
Tim- I still think your agent should know…
Horace- I don't want to make this a big deal…
But Tim thought it was a big deal. He was very afraid for both of them but at least Horace had the chance to protect himself.
Tim- if somebody wants to kill you I think you should at least warn the woman whose job is to jump in front of the bullet…
Horace nodded, knowing that his boyfriend was right; he had to tell the Secret Service.
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White House. Inside the Pressroom. One week later. Early in the morningKelly was in the pressroom doing the morning briefing like always; she was almost finishing.
Kelly- And, as you already know, the President had a small biking accident in Camp David. She hit her head pretty hard and has a bruise in her right knee but the Doctor said she doesn't have any serious injuries. The accident happened when the President and the First Gentleman were riding their bikes. The President challenged her husband for a race, speeded up and crashed her bicycle into a tree.
There was a general laugher coming from the reporters who found the situation very amusing. Kelly first looked at the reporters with a cold "that's not funny" look… but then she smiled and added.
Kelly- If you look inside the folders I gave you with all the information, you'll find pictures of The President not accepting any help after the accident and falling again… enjoy them.
The press laughed very hard. After that, the briefing was over and Kelly left the pressroom. While walking towards her office, Dickie started walking next to her….
Dickie- Kelly! Did you really have to use the phrase: "crashed her bicycle into a tree"?.
Kelly- well… that's what happened…
Kelly entered in her office, still followed by Dickie who was protesting…
Dickie- seriously Kelly! They are still laughing…. You should have been more serious about it…
Kelly thought Dickie wasn't the most appropriate person to talk about seriousness… so she rolled her eyes and said sarcastically…
Kelly- what was I supposed to say? "The President, while riding his bicycle, came to a sudden arboreal stop"?
Dickie- never mind…
Kelly noticed that Dickie, instead of leaving, made him self comfortable and took a sit in a couch she had in her office… That annoyed her a little bit.
Kelly- you know, Dickie, they won't fire you spending time in your own office for a change…
Dickie- actually, they never told me anything about that… so, just in case, let me stay here…
Kelly, trying to sound cold, said…
Kelly- seriously Dickie, May I help you with something else?
Dickie- actually, I have four questions for you…
Kelly- ok… tell me…
Dickie- Is the President back from Camp David? Is she really OK? Would you have dinner with me tonight? And could you give me a copy of the last speech she gave?
Kelly shook her head in disbelief and then She answered …
Kelly- Yes. Yes. Under no circumstances, and sure
Dickie- ok… I think "sure" was the answer to the dinner invitation, so I'll pick you up at seven.
Dickie was about to leave but Kelly stopped him.
Kelly- Dickie! "Under no circumstances" was the answer to the dinner invitation… I'm sorry but I can't go out with you…
The truth was that Kelly felt very attracted to Dickie, but he was Washington's bigger womanizer and she would probably end up getting hurt if she got involved with him
Dickie- why not?
Kelly- Because I'm not insane! Now, go to work!
Dickie left Kelly's office. He wasn't angry or offended at all. She expected Kelly to react like that because he knew exactly how Kelly felt about him and he was willing to be patient and slowly change the way she saw him.
Later that same day. Oval Office.
Vince and Horace entered in the Oval Office because they both had things to talk with the President. When they walked in, they saw Mac alone, talking on the phone with somebody…
Mac- yes, I'm really fine… it was nothing (She listened for a moment and then answered) Yes… the doctors have done X-raids and nothing is broken…
Horace clucked and said secretly to Vince …
Horace- except her big ego and three-thousand-dollar bike that I swore I would never lend anyone.
Mac continued talking on the phone, not hearing her son's comment…
Mac- well… Thank you so much for your concern, General. I'll see you in an hour…
She hung up the phone and then looked at Vince and Horace wondering what they needed.
Vince- ma'am President… the Secret Service needs your order signed right now…
Mac- ok… here you have it…
Mac took a piece of paper she had just sing and handed it to Vince.
Vince- thank you ma'am...
He left leaving mother and son alone. Horace got curious.
Horace- what was that order about?
Mac thought that there was no problem with telling Horace, so she explained…
Mac- is about a security procedure… see, I'm going to a TV program next week and I don't want to use a canopy or a tent to enter and exit the building where they'll film the show… and they wanted that in written, just for the record…
Horace was now a little annoyed…
Horace- and do they also have in written that you are a hypocrite?
Mac could imagine why Horace was saying that; she suspected it was for the same reason he had come to see her in the first place.
Mac- look… I know you are upset….
Horace- you bet I am upset, Mom! My sisters and me have ten more Secret Service agents following us… TEN more!… Because you and dad ordered it…
Mac could understand perfectly why having the Secret Service's help was annoying, and she herself avoided it as much as she could, but when I came to her children she thought that no security measure was excessive.
Mac- Horace, you need to be extremely careful right now… somebody wants to kill you!
Horace- yes, I know that… but I also know that if you don't soft a little the security measures Becca will be the one who kills me…
Mac- Becca will understand why you have to be more protected than ever… it's not your fault…
Horace- she is really mad at me…
Mac was losing her temper. She was tired of Becca being a spoiled little brat who doesn't understand why some things are more important than her.
Mac- I don't give a dam! I need the Agents to be extremely careful with you right now. I don't care if it affects her as well…
Horace shook his head in disbelief…
Horace- It's not just that Becca is mad at me… I also thing the new security measures are excessive… I agree with her…
Mac couldn't believe Horace had said those words…
Mac- you agree with Becca?
Horace- yes, and you know that makes me crazy…
Mac nodded. Unfortunately, she couldn't please her kids on this. She had to put her foot down.
Mac- well, I'm sorry… but the security measures will stay high until they catch the guy who sent you the threats…
Horace got angrier than ever and yelled…
Horace- you are such a hypocrite! Mom… you scare the hell out of the Secret Service, a President like you is the Agent's worst nightmare because you are incredibly carefree when it comes to your own security. Why do you expect Becca and me to be extremely careful when YOU are not careful?
Mac shook her head. She wouldn't let Horace win this.
Mac- I didn't want to mention this… but I'm the President and I'm your mother, so I get to do whatever I want…
Horace- that's not fair! If you are too arrogant and stubborn to take care of your self then I have the right to act just like you…
Mac was loosing her temper… very seriously; she looked at Horace and explained…
Mac- Horace… you have to understand something…. My getting killed would be really bad, but that is not the nightmare scenario. That's not the worst that could happen… The most horrible scenario is you getting killed. Just imagine this: You go out to a bar or a party in some club and you get up to go to the restroom, alone. When you enter in the bathroom somebody comes from behind and puts his hand across your mouth and drags you out the back door. You're so petrified that you drop you panic button and you don't even notice the bodies of a few Secret Service agents laying on the ground with bullet holes in their heads. Then you're taken to a very lonely and dark alley. The party where you were It's very big party, with lots of noise and lots of people coming and going… so, half an hour passes before someone says: "Hey, where's Horace?"… Then it's another hour and a half before anyone even THINKS about shutting down all the airports. So… while you are already dead in that ally, the killers are in a plane that will take them to the middle South Africa, where no one will be able to find them… Now it's game over. The Secret Service tells me that they found your body. Here is where the nightmare really begins, because this country is no longer ran by a President… This Nation is now ran by a mother who lost her child and is going out of his mind because his little boy got murdered and she can't find the killers because they are somewhere in the middle of South Africa. Can you get that, Horace!
Mac had tears in her eyes and she had gotten really nervous just imagining all those things. Horace was stunned after hearing what her mother said… he was speechless and simply nodded.
Horace- yes, I get it, mom.
They couldn't say another word because, at that moment, Vince entered shyly in the Office.
Vince- I'm sorry ma'am, the Vice President is already here to see you…
Mac- thank you Vince, send him in, please…
Horace left and then Vince went to get the Vice President. After a short while, Warren Keaton entered in the Oval Office. In the minute Mac saw him, she knew something was terribly wrong.
Warren- Good evening, ma'am.
Mac- Good evening, General. Please… take a sit…
They both took a sit in the big couch, so they could talk more comfortable.
Warren- you must be wondering why I wanted to talk to you alone…
Mac- yes… you said it was something personal… and I have the feeling that you have bad news.
Warren nodded sadly.
Warren- yes, I have bad news.
Mac looked at him, and nodded to encourage him to continue talking, but apparently it was very hard for Warren to say what he had to say…
Mac- please Warren… you can tell me anything…
Warren Keaton sighed, and then, with a lot of pain in his eyes, he said…
Warren- I have to resign, Mac..
Mac was stunned. "What the hell?" she thought.
Mac- What?
Warren- I can't run with you for the reelection anymore… and I can't even finish this term...
After the first shock… Mac simply felt angry. She stood up yelling…
Mac- unbelievable!
Warren felt incredibly guilty. He tried to mutter an excuse…
Warren- I'm sorry… but if you knew…
Mac ignored that and continued complaining…
Mac- I don't believe you are doing this to me! Jeez…this administration doesn't really need an opposition party, we do that pretty fine ourselves.
Now Warren just felt like crap. He really didn't want to hurt Mackenzie, but he had no choice.
Warren- Mac… I don't want to do this…. But I have to…
Mac- the elections are in six months Warren! Why are you doing this?
Warren hesitated for a few seconds. What he had to say was very difficult and it really hurt him.
Warren- I can't tell you…
Mac- please… After all I've been through this year, and after working so dam hard to get to where I am, I think I deserve to know why my Vice President is trying to destroy my hard work by leaving like a fucking coward...
Really out of the blue, Warren yelled…
Warren - because I'm going to be dead in six months!
Mac was stunned…
Mac- what?
Warren- I have a brain tumor …
Mac's face became white. She gasped and put her hand in her mouth, shocked.
Mac- oh my god! Warren… I'm so sorry… What are you going to do now?
Mac was asking if Warren was planning to have and operation or maybe chemo. But he just said…
Warren- I'm just going to die, I guess.
Mac's eyes filled with tears.
Mac- oh Warren…
Warren- The Doctor says I will only live four more months if I'm lucky… what I have is inoperable.
Mac was crying now, and she gave the great man in front of her a friendly and supportive hug. After talking for a while, Warren left. Mac decided that they would announce Warren's resignation the following day and that she would have to function without a Vice President for a while. Besides her multiple concerns, she now had to find a new partner to join her in the run for the Presidency.
To be continued…Author's note: For the record, I love Warren Keaton… I had my doubts at first about him… but he really had me in "First Scandal"… I hated giving him a terminal illness but I needed his spot in the administration (and in the Presidential succession line) to be wide open. Later you'll see why…
By the way… THANKS SO MUCH for the reviews I got… I love them… they make my day! Please… keep them coming! You are great!
Lara