**Authors note: ok, so I know in the show, Stevie and Harrison are the same age, but in my story…mainly because I can, that will not be the case. In my story they will be around 6 years apart, (so in the flashbacks he will be a cute, rambunctious 5-year-old who absolutely loves Bess). These next few chapters are going to be a little different as they are going to be in many different points of view (POV) so keep that in mind. Thanks for reading and I enjoy your reviews immensely. -Kate
Ch. 7
Lydia Dalton was a strong woman, she prided herself on being so. She was what the British referred to as a WASP-dominant, privileged, and influential in American society. She was all that and more, but when her Connie had walked into the sitting room in the residence with a pale face and shaky hands this morning, she immediately became the one thing that Conrad needed. His wife. She led him to the sofa and held him to her as he cried. Once he had calmed, she asked "Connie, what's wrong? Is it Harrison… or Bess?" she had long ago realized that even though she only birthed one son, she gained a daughter in Elizabeth.
**Flashback**
Conrad led Elizabeth out of the CIA infirmary into the underground parking lot and over to his detail. Once in the car, the detail asked if they were dropping off Elizabeth at her home. She opened her mouth to say yes, but Conrad just gave her a look and she quickly closed her mouth and turned to look out the window. Conrad then looked to the front seat and said "No, Bess is coming home with me. Thank you, Chuck." Chuck said "Yes sir" and that was that.
During the drive, Conrad looked over at Elizabeth and knew she was barely holding it together. He leaned his arm over and pulled her to him. She resisted slightly, but once she was near his chest, she just gave in and snuggled up to him. And before long, she was asleep.
Once they pulled up to his home, Lydia was already outside on the porch. She came over to the car having already been informed of what was going on by Conrad before he ever told Elizabeth of what was going to be happening. When she opened the door of the car, she almost cried. There was the strongest woman she knew, holding on to her Connie like he was her last lifeline. Lydia meet Conrad's eyes and they silently agreed that this was the best decision. Their girl needed them. And they would be there for her. No matter what.
"Elizabeth, sweetheart, can you get up for me?" Lydia spoke softly in a tone that she only used with Harrison and when Conrad was sick. "Come on sweetie, you need to come inside, then you can lay back down…" slowly Elizabeth started to respond to Lydia. Once she was awake, she realized she was laying on something very soft and warm. When she went to set up, she realized she had been laying on her boss.
"Oh my God, Sir, I am so sorry! I…" she was cut off by Conrad who grabbed a hold of her before she could back out of the seat into the floorboard of the car. "Elizabeth…Bess…calm down, its fine, look at me" Conrad said as he got her to look at him. He noticed the glassy eyes and asked her soothingly "Do you know where you are?" Conrad waited patiently for her to answer. Off to the side, Lydia stood just observing. She knew that Bess was not handling Henry being MIA, who would she thought, but she had not expected this.
Elizabeth was confused and foggy. She felt drugged. Oh yeah, because you were. You lost it in your boss's office and had to have medical treatment and now you are being babysat by your boss and his wife she thought guiltily. She shook her head to clear it and said in the clearest voice she could "Yes sir. I am in your car, at your home because I cannot be alone with the medication I was given."
Conrad shook his head in response and said "Close. You are in my car and at my home. But not because of medication, but because…and look at me in the eye when I tell you this..." he waited until she did and continued "You are here because WE – Lydia and I, want you here because we love you and don't want you to be alone. You are family. And family are there for one another. I will continue to repeat this as needed. But I have hope that you will eventually let it sink in." as he finished, she gave a tearful deep breath and then turned to Lydia who she had just noticed and went to say something, only to be wrapped up in her arms and held tight. Before she knew what had happened, she had been led into the Dalton home by Lydia and sat on the couch and a blanket was wrapped around her.
As she laid on the couch with her head in Lydia's lap, while Lydia softly hummed a song she couldn't place and Lydia rans her hand through her hair, Elizabeth drifted off to sleep with the feeling of family and just the smallest bit of pain as she wished it was her mother and not Lydia whom was giving her comfort, but at the same time, eternally grateful that she had her and Conrad. She gave off a contented sigh as she finally accepted her new family…
Lydia continued to pet Bess's head even after she went to sleep. Conrad had gone upstairs and changed out of his suit into lounge pants and an old US naval academy shirt. As he came down the stairs, he noticed that Bess was again asleep. He knew this was normal as she was given a sedative by the doctor, but he still worried none the less. As he walked near silently to the other side of the coffee table to face Lydia and Bess, he meets the eyes of his wife and smiled. "How's she doing Liddie?" he asked quietly
Lydia smiled in return and gave a small sigh…" She is doing about as good as one can expect for a young woman to be told that her husband is MIA. About as good as I would be if it had been you. Did the doctor give you any instructions for her care?"
Conrad replied "just to keep an eye on her this weekend. He said she would be sleepy as he gave her a sedative in the infirmary. We are to call 911 if she is having any trouble breathing or if she faints and doesn't regain consciousness within 5 minutes." He didn't want to scare Lydia, but he also needed to tell her exactly what happened. He knew the look he got when he said trouble breathing. His wife wanted answers and would not let him beat around the bush.
"Conrad, you had better start telling me everything! You left out more than a few things when you called earlier. I knew the day you introduced me to Bess when she was 17 years old and about to start college that she was going to be a package deal. I knew you had become attached to her and that you were more to her than just a CIA recruiter. So, you had better tell me what's going on with our girl now and do it before she wakes. I don't want to have to hash this out twice" said Lydia in a hushed, authoritative voice.
Conrad just smiled and said in an equally quite voice "Yes, Ma'am…. Well, I got a call this morning from Henry's CO. Henry told me had me down as a point person in the event of something happening because he didn't want Elizabeth to be told and be alone…"
**End Flashback**
As Conrad calmed completely, he knew he had to tell Lydia everything. "Russel just told me he got a call from Elizabeth's DS detail. There was an incident…" he trailed off an put his face in his hands.
"Conrad, what kind of incident?" Lydia asked worriedly.
"Some crazy man with a gun tried to kill her!" Conrad was so angry and guilty. He got up and started pacing. "it's my fault she was in that position. I talked her into this. I recruited her to be Secretary of State despite the fact that Vincent had been killed, I made sure she ran because I wanted my legacy to be intact. It's all my fault…"
"Conrad! Stop this right now" Lydia yelled to get his attention. When she had it, she pointed to the couch where he slowly sat and looked at her. She was in fierce wife mode. He knew he had proverbially 'fucked up'.
"Yes Ma'am" he said sheepishly.
She just shook her head and smiled like she did every time he spoke to her like she was his commanding officer. "Now, before we tackle your misspaced guilt…ah, ah, ah…" she stopped him interrupting with a shake of her finger. He just lowered his head and then looked at her again and she continued "is Bess ok?"
Conrad began to explain that he was only aware of the incident, that he didn't have any news yet when his cell phone went off. He looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Ali. He turned to Lydia and answered the phone "Hello? Allison are you ok?... Ali…Ali, calm down. I'm not mad. You know you can call me whenever you need to. Now slower this time, what's going on?"
Lydia for her part had a bad feeling. She watched Conrad try to call down Allison and get all the information he could.
Conrad was getting more and more upset. What was Henry thinking? He knew all three of his kids were smarter than most CIA and NSA agents. He thought about telling them that one day. But now he needed to stall Alison and get her and Stevie here…"Ok, Ali, I will find out what's going on. Until then, I'm going to call your detail and have them bring both of you to the white house. That way you are not alone. Lydia would love to see you both. Ok sweetheart. Lydia will meet you at the east entrance."
Once he had hung up the phone, Lydia was ready for information.
"Henry in his haste to get to Elizabeth yesterday, sent a blanket text to Ali and Stevie about him going to see Elizabeth and to not watch the news. He apparently also said this to the detail because they have no access to cable news or the internet. They can't seem to get a hold of anyone." After he had explained, Lydia was not happy.
"Well I'm sure he was not thinking straight, but to not respond. That's what's worrying me…"
Conrad agreed. Then Lydia stopped. "What do you mean yesterday?" you were just told this morning? Conrad what the Hell is going on?" Lydia all but yelled.
"Lydia, I want you to get the girls and make sure they have eaten. The director of the diplomatic security is about to have a 'come to Jesus meeting' and then we will more than likely be on our way to Tennessee as that was where Elizabeth was yesterday. I am not in the mood for long distance right now!"
Lydia just gave him a hug and then told him "Good, you go kick some ass and I will get my grandbabies. Make sure you express both our displeasure for being left out of the loop! Wait, Connie, where is Jason? Oh, never mind I forgot about Australia. Should he be contacted and brought home?"
Conrad hugged her again and said "God, I love you so much Liddie. I think he is ok where he is. I will ask Henry and Elizabeth once we have a better idea of what is going on. Go get our girls. They need you now and I will find out all I can. Be ready to leave in the next few hours." With that he kissed her forehead and left the residence to potentially fire a few people.
Lydia took a deep breath and then headed to the east entrance to wait. She sent up a silent prayer for her family to be ok and help her to help the girls. She was taken from her silence by the arrival of a Black SUV.
Once the SUV stopped, Alison was the first one out. She ran up to Lydia and wrapped her in a tight hug. "Aunt Liddie, thanks for meeting us. Does Uncle Conrad have information about Mom and Dad yet? Stevie still can't get a hold of Blake. She is about to lose it!"
Lydia hugged Alison back just a tight. "Oh, my girl. You have grown since I last saw you. And not yet. He has gone to get some information for you both." As she said this Stevie had made her way up and said "Hi Aunt Lydia. I'm sorry for all the drama. I'm sure everything is fine; it's just Blake never misses my texts and calls. I feel like something is wrong…"
As Stevie spoke, Lydia had a flash to all those years ago and discovered that Stevie took after her mother in more than appearance. Lydia opened her arms and took Stevie into her embrace just as the first tears broke free. "Oh honey. I wish I could say everything will be fine. But I am in as much of the dark as you. But I promise your Uncle Conrad will get to the bottom of this and we will find out everything. Ok? Come on both of you. Let's get inside. Uncle Conrad told me he was going to go yell at a few people then we would more than likely be going to see your Mother and Father. And yes Stevie, we will also be seeing Blake." Lydia tried to soothe both Stevie and Alison. But unfortunately, her words only reassured Alison. Stevie just cried harder.
They had been sitting on the sofa in the residence for about an hour and a half when Conrad returned with a grim look on his face. Lydia saw his face and knew something was wrong. Very, Very Wrong.
Lydia was not the only one to see this look. Stevie did and she was on her feet before Lydia could stop her.
Stevie looked at Conrad and said "NO! no, no, no, no… don't look like that! That looks means someone is dead! I know that look!" she was breathing hard and began to shake. Conrad knew what was about to happen as it did with Elizabeth. As her eyes rolled back into her head, Conrad had just grabbed a hold of her as she dropped.
Lydia yelled for medical to the Secret Service agent in the corner and grabbed a hold of Alison who went to run to her sister. "baby, she is ok. I promise. Let the medics take care of her. She is ok honey." She was rocking Alison on the couch and watching as the medical team who had just arrived were crowded around Stevie.
After about 20 minutes. The medical team had loaded up Stevie and had transported her to one of the guest rooms. She had regained consciousness and they had sedated her.
She and Alison approached Conrad who motioned them over. He told them both that Airforce One was waiting at Andrews for takeoff to Memphis. He told them both that Elizabeth was fine. And that Henry was with her. But that Blake had been shot. He was in critical condition and that they were going to them as soon as Stevie woke up.
Alison for her part took the news ok. She was upset of course. But she just turned and cried in Lydia's chest. Lydia for her part was also crying. She loved that boy just like the other McCords.
Conrad was worried and shared a look with Lydia. They both knew that if something happened to Blake, it would affect more than just Stevie. It would affect the whole family. Conrad was also making an executive decision in regards to Jason. "Alison, do you know the number to get in touch with Jason's chaperone? I want to get him to Memphis too. Our family needs to be together right now."
Alison cleared her throat and said "Yes sir." She took out her phone and texted him the name and number of the parental contact.
"Thanks honey. I am going to go call and get Jason on a plane. Stay with your sister and Lydia. As soon as Stevie is awake, we will leave for Andrews. Ok?"
"Thanks Uncle Conrad. Love you." Said Alison as she hugged him. He returned her sentiment, "I love you too my dear. Always and forever. You're my little princess. Now, go on with Lydia."
To Lydia, Conrad gave her a kiss and said "Take care of our girls. I am going to get trouble on a plane. We should be able to leave in about an hour. The medic said he gave her a low dose. And he will be flying with us in case she needs to be dosed on the plane. I am assured that it will take a little more than two hours to fly there."
Lydia replied "Ok. I love you too Connie. Go get our little trouble maker. We will be ready to go."
