A miserable morning outside framed the atmosphere for the start of a busy morning inside the Driskill Hotel. It was just after six and many of the hotel guests were rising or had already risen and were dressed and preparing for the day ahead. It was the end of the presidential party's brief stay in Texas. At eight o'clock sharp there would be a public press appearance between the President, Vice President and Senator Whyte, then breakfast and then they would depart for their flight back to Washington.
Vice President John Hoynes was awake, washed and dressed. He had awoken purposely early, aware that the finality of the day meant his last chance for something else for a while- a moment alone with Cadence McGarry. Here in the hotel he was away from prying eyes despite ironically having the press pool staying in rooms not too far from him. He had two hours before his live meeting with the President and senator was due to begin, so that meant approximately an hour, maybe an hour and a half, before Cal was bugging him to go over things. John couldn't imagine what things, the senator would be voicing his change of opinion on gun control unless he wanted to risk his shares in the industry going public and the President would be keeping it brief because he was still mad that John had been the one to threaten the senator.
John moved through the hotel corridors quietly and briskly, marching ahead of his two Secret Service agents. Heaven forbid he would be allowed to wander the corridors of a hotel alone. John appreciated the security, hell sometimes he considered it an amusing challenge trying to practice discretion with them in tow but it was suffocating as well. He knew they would be discreet but they were still human and humans could be manipulated, blackmailed and bought. Still, John knew it would have been far too telling of him to insist they didn't come.
John had advised his security detail that he was simply seeking a moment with his Public Relations Deputy Assistant to confer over his press conference this morning. It was crap, he knew it and they probably did too but it sounded good anyway.
John had reached Cadence's room. The moment he looked at her door he suddenly had a moment where he didn't feel like the Vice President anymore but instead he was just John Hoynes. He swallowed the uneasiness that overtook him with that notion. He knocked the door gently with his right hand. He knew one of his agents- Malcolm- was itching to knock the door for him, just in case. Malcolm was young, energetic, jumpy and paranoid. John might have gotten him shifted along but Malcolm was also so engrossed in his role at a protector that he was too busy watching for threats to notice scandal.
John had to deliver two more knocks before the door was opened.
Wrapped in the hotel's complimentary nightgown, Cadence glanced out with a sleepy stare. Her eyes widened at the sight of the Vice President and she instinctively drew herself upright, pushing her tangle of fair hair over her shoulders and tightening the knot at her robe.
John smiled, his confidence bolstered by the nervous surprise on her face. He could hear the sound of a bath running and his smile widened a fraction.
"Morning Cady, can I come in?" he queried softly. "I thought we could discuss the image I should present this morning."
Cadence blinked at this, she wasn't fooled. Wary of his intentions but curious, she nodded and stepped back from the doorway to grant him entry.
John closed the door behind him as he stepped into the room.
He stared across at the young woman staring up at him with a calm intrigue. There was his own puzzled uneasiness again. Why was he like this with her? Part of him was full of confidence, ready to reach out and grab her as he had done in the West Wing, smug in the knowledge that she was still drawn to him, that this young, pretty woman was attracted to him. Yet there was another part of him that wondered and worried about her, questioned where she had been for two years, what she had endured, what she had put herself through and God help him that had come here in the early hours of the morning because he was concerned over her well being because she had been humiliated, admonished, teased and taunted since coming here. That set John ill at ease knowing how she made him worry, how his feelings for her were deeper than he realised, dormant for two years but apparently not extinct. He wasn't sure how to handle such a dangerous concern.
"You aren't really here for advice," Cadence accused him. She gave a small, teasing smile. "If I told you the best way to speak to the senator this morning you'd tell me to shove it up my ass."
John chuckled at this and nodded. "I would," he agreed. "Although I did take your advice on him, remember? He knows we know about his gun shares so he will play meek today and comply with the administration's desires for stronger gun control."
Cadence turned her head slightly at this, not missing how John distanced himself from the gun control issue. She knew how he felt about it and realised he hadn't mellowed over it. She nodded and glanced towards the ajar bathroom door.
"I've got to turn off the bath," she said softly. "Why are you here Mr. Vice President?" She turned her curious stare back on him. "It isn't to see me modelling the hotel nightgown."
John felt a prickle of heat as she uttered his title. There was something in the way she said it, maybe it wasn't even intentional, John didn't know but he found it a little arousing. The mention of her attire only added to his buzz of excitement as he stared hard at the aforementioned nightgown and thought of the naked body underneath.
He stood with his hands in his dark trouser pockets, trying to feign a sense of casualness. He didn't want her to know the conflict of emotions she caused in him.
She looked tired and John wondered if she had gotten any sleep.
"I wanted to see how you were," he confessed. "We haven't spoken much since we came to Texas and the President made me aware of the trouble you had over some misunderstandings," he explained delicately.
Cadence sneered slightly at this and fumbled with her hair, pushing at it even though it was already tucked behind her ears. "Yes, misunderstandings, good way to say bullshit," she retorted bluntly, "but I expected it. I'm not just a newcomer, I'm the memorable traitor and most people think I'm only employed because of who my father is. Some good old-fashioned bullying was to be expected, add the fact that we are playing with politics and it is only natural. I'll encounter worse I'm sure and I will survive it."
John's pale eyes widened slightly at her frankness. "Cady you weren't a traitor," he retorted sincerely.
Cadence frowned before she headed for the bathroom wordlessly.
John listened as the taps were turned off and the water flow ceased. Cadence had always loved her baths, he had queried the practicality of showers versus the time consuming nature of baths with her but she had only laughed and said she would sooner live without something practical like a fridge than a bath.
Cadence returned to the room hastily. She crossed her arms over her chest and glanced over her shoulder at the window. The curtains were open but the blinds were drawn, the light coming through was dull and now that the bath taps had been turned off the sound of rain was audible against the glass pane.
"It's not a good morning," she murmured.
"Are you nervous about flying?" John quipped.
She glanced back at him sharply and frowned. "In that weather, who wouldn't be?" she snapped. "It's crazy even considering we might fly in that."
"Might?"
Cadence shuddered.
John stepped forward quickly and his hand was out and on her shoulder before either of them even realised how close he was standing to her now. The movement had been instinctive. John gazed down at her with a serious stare as his hand moved up slowly from her shoulder to her cheek.
"Cady it will be fine," he assured.
She closed her eyes briefly and pressed her cheek against his palm before tugging it away swiftly and shaking her head. "John why are you here?" she queried again. Her gaze was desperate now.
John smiled at her sympathetically and he knew she was trying to put up her walls. Well, he had agreed that they would just be professionals. He took a polite step back. "I really did just want to see that you were okay," he insisted. "That's all Cady, nothing untoward."
She gave a small smile and nodded. "Alright John, I mean Mr. Vice President." She turned her head up to him again. "I'm okay, the bath will help with my nerves I think." She rubbed her hands up and down her arms and glanced to the window again.
"Well take your tablets before the flight anyway," John murmured, "just give me some warning beforehand."
Cadence's ears and cheeks turned pink with embarrassment and she let out a groan. "I don't think I'm going to live that down, do people really need a replay of it?"
"Can you get on the plane otherwise?" John pried quietly as he cocked his head and gave her a serious look.
The colour vanished from her as quickly as it appeared and she shook her head quickly. "No," her voice was hoarse.
John glimpsed the unfocused horror in her eyes before she turned her face away from him. He was eager to ask about the plane crash she had been in but he knew it would tactless to bring that up now.
"You did well Cady," he assured. "Your idea to come here, your intel with Whyte, it's been a strong way to start your career."
"Thanks," she said sincerely.
John gave her another warm smile. "Go have your bath before it gets cold. Did the hotel include a rubber duck for you?"
Cadence laughed at this and her stance slackened at last as her arms fell by her sides. She nodded. "Yeah, posh looking one with a little top hat. Did you get one? Do Vice Presidents get those sort of things?"
"I don't know, I didn't really investigate the bath," John retorted. "Tell you what, I'll have it checked before we leave and if I did, you can have it."
"Thanks Mr. Vice President."
John nodded. "I'll see you soon Cady."
"See you soon. A little PR advice before you go, just because I can, the senator is a sore loser, beware him trying to offer a pyrrich victory for you. Don't give him the chance to speak too much."
John nodded again. "I will keep that in mind."
He retreated from the young woman, swallowing down temptation as he put his back to her and headed for the door. His ego hoped that it was difficult for her too.
At eight in the morning the President, Vice President and Senator Whyte stood in an office temporarily designated for the press addressing the public in a live feed. The room had been styled the night before the address with a small, wooden stage and podium for the three men with a towering American flag standing on either side of them. The room was brightly lit and the cream walls and light honey floor added a warmth to it. There was a faint odour of lemons in the air from the vigorous sterilising it had gone through and every surface sparkled from cleaning.
Senator Matt Whyte looked tired but had a smile fixed to his face as he prepared to give his address. This was it, the moment of cowing or challenging. He felt the Vice President's presence despite having the President between them and knew which way he was going to go.
The President had already begun the press proceedings with a jovial morning greeting and a light comment on the vibrant Texas weather, which like the day before it was proving to be miserable. The rain rattled against the windows, light for the moment but promising to get heavier. It was almost drowned out by the clicks of cameras and the low breaths of the press people who looked up to the politicians with eager eyes.
The press predators were in their element, attempting to stun their prey first with the blinding flashes of cameras before they darted in for the kill, looking for public weakness to devour upon. They sensed the tensions between all three men and were hoping for blood because peace didn't make much of a story.
Senator Whyte placed his palms on the podium and leaned forward to the microphones waiting there.
"After several lively conversations and debates with the President and Vice President I was, after a few thoughtful points were raised by Vice President Hoynes, persuaded to change my stance on gun control," Senator Whyte announced calmly. "I think there is something to be said for better vetting who we sell to."
The hands and microphones instantly shot up.
Senator Whyte gave a real smile at this, hopeful he had delivered a final blow with his defeat. If he could cause some strife between the President and his Vice then at least he was going down with a fight.
John gave a small smile, pleased for the credit although he knew the price the President would make him pay for it. It was a good endorsement to receive, if this senator was willing to be swayed by him publicly maybe others in Texas would consider he was worth heeding to.
Jed smiled too but there was no joy in his blue gaze as he turned towards Senator Whyte.
The senator moved to finish his attack and stretched his hand across the top of the podium and the President to reach for John's hand.
John glanced down at the hand in surprise. He could almost hear the senator saying 'checkmate' as John found himself without a move. If he didn't take the hand the press would hone in on it, demand to know why he didn't and query what he had really done to persuade the senator to the President's viewpoint but if he did take it he was acknowledging the snub to the President.
John felt all eyes upon him. He had no time to debate what he was going to do because a delay would be queried as well. He took the hand briskly and shook it hard as he let Senator Whyte feel the tightness of his grasp.
The cameras flashed. The President smiled. At the back of the room Josh facepalmed and Toby murmured 'oh boy'.
The rest of the address continued calmly and brightly but it was all fake and the press weren't buying it anymore.
It was after nine in the morning when the presidential party gathered for a brisk breakfast before they readied to depart from the Driskill Hotel and Texas. Outside the sky was heavy and dark and rain drops smacked off the windows in an unrelenting pattern. Inside the room was dark as the deep red carpet and dark wooden ceiling absorbed the rays of the spotlights.
There was a breakfast buffet for the staff to pick from. Sam was standing by it with Josh when he spotted Cadence enter the room. He watched as she avoided the buffet and instead took a seat in the corner of the room. He glanced at the buffet hastily before snatching up a variation of food onto his plate and scurrying off in Cadence's direction.
Josh watched his friend go with a perplexed look before he resumed selecting his own breakfast.
Sam halted at Cadence's table with a sudden flush of nerves as he realised he didn't quite know what to say.
The young woman glanced up at him with bloodshot eyes heavy with dark bags. She sat with a napkin on her lap clutched between both hands.
"Oh my," Sam murmured before he could help it, "Cadence you look exhausted." He placed his tray down quickly.
"And there I was wondering if I had done a good job with my make-up," she murmured sardonically.
"I...I should've brought you a coffee, I'll get you a coffee," Sam offered. His head darted about in all directions as he tried to spy the coffee station or a member of staff.
"Um...are you practising to be a waiter?" she quipped in confusion.
Sam, as usual, looked immaculate, fresh faced and bright eyed. It made Cadence even more conscious of her own tired appearance and the fact that her brown suit was cheap. She decided that keeping up with these ivy league political powerhouses was in itself as much of a job as her actual job. She had known from her father's role in politics that appearance was key as much as anything else but appearance was something of a conflict for Cadence. She had no style and no money to feign any. She drifted between feeling that she never washed enough to being haunted with a fixation that her scars were never well-hidden enough and her hair was never quite the right style and feeling that she simply didn't care, that a haircut wasn't going to solve tax cut debates and a tailor made blazer sure as shit wasn't going to to convince people that the issue of drugs in Colombia needed taken more seriously. Finding a balance was going to be tough.
"Were you getting prank phone calls again? You know you look like a raccoon," Sam blurted out before he could help it.
Cadence gave a wide smile at this as she looked up at Sam. "Really?" she queried happily.
"Yes, I mean no!" Sam snapped as he glanced down at her apologetically. He was surprised when her smile dimmed. "Wait, is that a compliment?" he queried in puzzlement.
A waiter approached the table and gave Sam a helpful smile. "Can I get anything for you sir?" he asked.
"Yes, two coffees please," Sam said.
"Could you make one of those a cappuccino?" Cadence queried.
The waiter smiled at her and nodded. "Certainly madam."
The waiter walked off and Cadence turned her stare back up to Sam.
"How may I help the Deputy White House Communications Director this morning?" she queried. "Please don't say it's about that handshake," she added moodily, "that was bad PR for us as well."
"I doubt that," Sam sneered before he could help it as he tugged out a seat. He sat down on it and glanced at Cadence apologetically. "You didn't get breakfast," he observed, "you really should, the plane food won't be good, even with the chefs they bring it's never good," he remarked quickly.
Cadence frowned and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her right ear. "Well it's just as well I'm not going on the plane," she murmured.
She placed her hand back to her lap.
"You're not?" Sam was puzzled again.
"Nope, I'm going to stay in Texas," she retorted happily, "because that is not flying weather and if you fly in that you're totally insane." She gestured to the windows which had been turned to blurs with the constant flow of water running down them.
Sam glanced at one nonchalantly but was unperturbed by the weather. "You know planes are designed to fly in rain," Sam replied briskly.
"Nope, flying itself isn't natural," Cadence murmured, "and when you consider what a plane weighs, how does it even get up there?"
Sam glanced at her in surprise. He had taken her to be an intelligent person but he couldn't see this as anything but a dumb question. "Honestly, it makes sense when you consider the technology," he retorted dismissively, "but you don't have to because the weather isn't that bad and it really is quite safe."
"How do pilots see in the rain and the clouds?" she queried with a frown. "I mean sometimes when it rains and I'm driving it's a struggle and I'm not trying to navigate through clouds unless it's a foggy I suppose. Do you consider driving through fog and rain and wonder how a pilot does it in the sky?" she demanded, her voice picking up tempo as the whites of her eyes begin to show.
Sam shrank back from the woman slightly and shook his head. "No I do not because really, it's fine and that's not why I sat down."
"Why did you sit down?" she queried wearily.
"To talk and offer you food." Sam gestured down to his tray awkwardly. "Would you like something?" He looked up at her again.
Sam more nervous now than when he had approached her and was uncertain whether his decision to speak with her had been a good one.
Cadence looked to his food and shook her head. "No, thanks."
The waiter returned with their drinks and set them down with another smile.
Only when Sam glanced down to the drinks did he notice Cadence fidgeting with something in her lap. "Can I ask what you're doing?" he pried curiously.
She nodded. "You can."
Sam waited for an elaboration and then frowned as he realised she was waiting for him to actually ask the question. "What are you doing?" he queried bluntly.
Cadence smiled teasingly before lifting the napkin from her lap. She had, with help from a hair bobble, knotted and twisted it into a rabbit. Well really it was two mounds as if a body and head with a dent at the back to suggest a tail and two neatly tucked and folded pointed ears.
"That's quite good," Sam murmured.
"I've had years of practice," she mused. "So, Sam, what did you want to talk about?" she pried.
"Well I guess," Sam raised his hands slightly to expose his palms to her, "and this is not an apology," he waved his hands, "because I've done that and I'm not doing it again."
Cadence was amused at the man's nervous animation as he shook his head and waved his hands again.
"I just wanted to be nice I suppose."
Cadence nodded as she sat back in her chair and gave him a knowing stare. "You're annoyed I didn't accept your apology and it's been eating at you," she guessed. "Mallory did say you were passionate, she considers it a perk, I'm thinking it's more obsessive."
Sam's expression jumped between excitement at the mention of Mallory to annoyance at being termed obsessive.
"I'm not obsessive," he insisted. "You are in the right to be angry with me, us," he corrected pointedly.
"Sam I'm not angry," she interrupted calmly. "This is politics, it happens. Please, eat your food, it's getting cold."
Josh, Toby and C.J sat at a table together eating breakfast. C.J was occupied with enjoying hers whilst Josh and Toby watched Sam with a mystified expression.
"Aren't we good enough for him?" Josh grumbled sardonically between mouthfuls of croissant.
"Maybe he doesn't have Mallory's number yet," Toby murmured.
"No, he does," Josh retorted, "I remember high fiving him when he got it."
C.J's cutlery clattered on the plate angrily at this. "You high fived him for that?" she queried.
Josh, calm despite the clatter, retorted tranquilly without looking to the woman, "you know you really shouldn't abuse cutlery when you're angry."
"I'm genuinely in awe Josh," she sneered sarcastically, "you both work for the President but high five each other like teenagers when someone gets a woman's number."
"I was pleased for my friend and expressing it, what's wrong with that?" Josh demanded defensively as he finished his croissant and spewed crumbs onto his plate.
"The same thing wrong with you talking with food in your mouth," Toby retorted in a deadpan manner as he frowned across the table at Josh. "Please cease from doing that."
Josh smiled at Toby before looking back to Sam again and gesturing in his direction with one hand. "Why is he still over there? Is he grovelling?" He glanced from C.J to Toby. "Do you think he's grovelling?"
Toby looked appropriately awkward at this. He had apologised to Cadence just before the ball. His apology had been brief, awkward and coldly polite. He had been embarrassed to make it and she had seemed just as embarrassed to receive it.
They watched as Sam finally started eating his breakfast and realised the scene probably wasn't going to get anymore interesting.
It was interrupted just a few minutes later as Sam was finishing up.
Leo approached Sam and Cadence's table and looked at them with a small smile.
"Sam, do you mind if I talk to my daughter alone for a moment?" Leo queried quietly.
"Not at all," Sam said hastily. "I was finished anyway."
Sam stood up from his chair briskly and made to depart.
"Don't forget your coffee," Cadence called to him. "You didn't let him finish his coffee dad," she chided her father.
"Sam get another coffee, I don't think the hotel is in short supply," Leo advised.
"Right," Sam retorted.
Sam, spying C.J and the others, hastened in their direction.
Leo occupied the empty seat beside Sam's and eyed his discarded tray distastefully, finding the rind of bacon fat off-putting.
A waiter came over and lifted the tray up. "Can I get you anything sir?" he offered.
"No thanks," Leo said.
The waiter nodded and headed off.
Leo looked over the table at Cadence. She had her head bowed and was fidgeting with the napkin she had lifted off Sam's tray.
"Cady I just wanted to talk to you about our flight," Leo explained. "I imagine you're a little anxious about it."
"Nope," she said cheerfully to the napkin, "because I'm not going to be on it."
Leo frowned. "Cady of course you are."
"Nope."
"Leo, Cady, good morning," Jed's voice greeted them merrily as he approached their table.
He gave them a wide smile as they both glanced up at him. Cadence looked startled and immediately abandoned her napkin project in her lap. She and Leo both made to stand but he waved them down.
"At ease," he insisted.
Jed occupied Sam's seat and faced Leo. "Well Leo, have you asked Cady if she's looking forward to our flight?" Jed queried.
"She says she's not going Mr. President," Leo retorted as he glanced to Jed appealingly.
Jed laughed as he look over at Cadence. "Of course you are, although I can understand not wanting to be near John when his ego would probably fill the entire cabin today," he grumbled in a lower voice.
Cadence gave a slight smile at this. "I'm sure you won't believe it sir but this morning was all the senator's doing not the Vice President's, it was no PR manoeuvre on our part."
Jed's smile dimmed slightly. "Be that as it may, it certainly did him no harm," he murmured. "Anyway Cady, you know I can order you on the plane, right?"
Cadence glanced over at Jed calmly. "And if I refuse sir?" she queried.
"Then I have the right to get the Secret Service to drag you on," he retorted brightly.
"Cady you've done very well on this trip," he praised her, "for yourself as well as John, he's lucky to have you, in fact I think you're too good for him," he added teasingly. "I know you have had a lot of ups and downs with my people as well as Hoynes' but you've gotten through it."
"It's the nature of the game sir," Cadence dismissed.
"Now see I don't believe that," Jed argued. "I don't think politics should always be considered corruption and ruthlessness. We're here to serve the country, to unite to do better for the American people and we are better when we work together."
"Well isn't that why we're here? To show you and the Vice President working well together," Cadence reminded him.
Jed frowned and there was a flare of temper in his blue gaze.
"Cadence," Leo scolded her quietly.
"No, she has a point," Jed murmured reluctantly as he waved off Leo's ire. "That man can be as stubborn as a bull, you know it's not all me Cadence," he added as he gave her a defensive stare, "John has a real problem with teamwork too."
"I know sir but that's why you have me on his team, isn't it? To build a bridge." She gave him a curious stare. "It wouldn't be for any other reason now would it, sir?" She shifted a scorning stare onto her father. "I mean you wouldn't exploit my ties to yourselves, would you?"
Jed laughed before he could help it. "Cady let's just say your bridge sounds better."
Cadence smiled at this.
"And finally, you're getting on the plane and that is a presidential order."
Cadence's smile vanished. "Mr President we shouldn't fly while it's raining, it's not natural."
"Nonsense," Jed dismissed as he stood up from the table, "ducks do it all the time."
Cadence and Leo stood as well.
"You have my permission to take your prescription as necessary," Jed added quietly, "but do make sure you board without too much of a scene for the press. I'm sure your father would appreciate it if there isn't an article about it."
Cadence nodded sombrely at this.
It was deja vu for John all over again. Well maybe it was a little different. The press had been evaded more easily as the bus transporting them across the tarmac to the plane had delayed causing them to miss out on the presidential party boarding. Not that there had been an opportunity for photos anyway given the weather.
The weather was a problem, in fact it was the problem. The rain was a torrent, the clouds had darkened to iron grey and the winds had picked up. This had pushed Cadence into taking more of her medication that she probably should have.
"You know I could just hitch-hike," Cadence murmured, "I mean it'd be fine. We could have singsongs in the car."
Gavin, who was trying to aid Cadence up the aisle, snickered quietly as she started to sing. He halted and smiled at her, he had forgotten Cadence's talent for song. "You should've been a singer," he murmured as he resumed escorting her.
Charlie glanced up in surprise as he heard the pleasing lyrical utterances of a familiar song. "Is that...November Rain?" he queried dubiously as he glanced over at Josh.
Josh, who had paused at the sound, smiled and nodded. "Yeah Charlie, it is."
Josh turned back to see the Vice President marching down the aisles, stone faced as he caught the disapproving stare of the President. There was no cordial greeting for him this time. John gave a nod of acknowledgement before he continued on to his seat.
"She still sings," Josh murmured as he caught John's blue stare.
For a very brief moment Josh had forgotten their stations and the political battlefield that had come between them. It was just over two years ago and John Hoynes' campaign team was bonding in a smokey bar. The campaign was still in its early stages, young, full of hope, life and energy and not yet dominated with a sombre seriousness. A wager had been made, a competition started over shots and the out of tune warbling of a middle aged man on karaoke.
Cadence was on stage, a bet lost to Josh who had deviously picked a difficult song he didn't even think would know the lyrics to. She was stunning them with a surprisingly good rendition of That's Life.
John glanced over his shoulder at Josh's words. He could see it too, Cadence half-pissed, clutching a shot glass of tequila and belting out the Frank Sinatra hit with a pantomime to accompany the lyrics. Those had been happier times. He had believed in himself better then.
John turned a cold look on Josh and wondered how Cadence could call herself a traitor when Josh was the real betrayer. John's success as Vice President was hollow, a pyrrhic victory, it had done him more harm than good so far and he had lost the state he was meant to win over his decision to ally with Bartlet.
"She keeps her word too," John retorted bitingly in a quiet voice, "you never did deliver that song."
Josh flinched at the Vice President's words and looked at him in surprise. Usually, despite their opposing sides, John still showed him a friendliness, maybe it was forced out his nature to be polite but Josh liked to believe John accepted that Josh meant no hard feelings with his move to the Bartlet camp. It had all been professional after all, not personal, or so Josh kept maintaining. Remembering their moment of camaraderie and a show of friendship in the bar had Josh realising that of course it had been personal. Just like he was still hurt and confused by Cadence's thesis and vanishing act of course John probably felt the same way about Josh's move to the Bartlet team.
Josh stepped into a free row to let the Vice President pass. He had no retort in mind.
Cadence had reached the guitar solo of November Rain and was now dramatically trying to sound it out as she waved her arm up down in the form of strumming a guitar. "Oooh do do, do," she sang. "Oh damn," she interrupted herself, "it really is quite bright in here, the lights are all shiny. Do you think birds get confused when they see planes? I always wondered, do they think they're giant predator birds like a condor?"
"Who knows," Gavin murmured wearily as he tugged her on.
Her eyes darted to the windows nervously. "It was raining last time," she said numbly, "water and electrics aren't good." She stopped and dug her heels into the floor. "You know it's unnatural to fly, it really is and when it's dark and raining, wouldn't you call that a bad sign?"
Gavin shook his head. "I'd call this morning's press conference a bad sign," he grumbled quietly. "That senator ain't slow, he'll remember what we did and he'll find a way to get us back."
"You know everything was fast, it was a blur, you can't tell up from down when it's a blur, things can happen too fast," Cadence continued, "and you can scream for them to stop but when they do stop it's jarring, it's death."
Gavin looked at her oddly at this. "Thank God you're not sitting with me," he muttered.