Tom Sedgewick knew he had to turn a blind eye. His boss, Ron Butterfield, had told him during training that it was the "unofficial duty". Secret Service agents had to see what was crucial, to spot the oddities in normality that might spell danger but they also had to consider discretion and disregard what wasn't relevant. For the President they tried to be literal shadows sometimes- ever present but quiet and nonintrusive. For the Vice President it should have been easier, he didn't require as many agents on him but this particular Vice seemed to make things harder. Tom wasn't willing to believe that President Bartlett had as many risky run ins as Vice President Hoynes did.

Currently they were on Air Force Two, a Boeing C-32, being chartered from Bogotá back to Washington D.C. They had departed just after five p.m., it had been a rush to prepare for the flight as John had been as good as his word and pushed to leave the country as soon as possible.

Tom didn't know what agreements had been made nor was he fully aware of what had happened to Cadence McGarry. Her private security hadn't been able to say much save that they had been knocked out somehow in a car and woken up to her gone. Kidnapped seem the obvious suggestion but by who or why, Tom didn't know. There was now an emphasis that the story had to be that she had just succumbed to nerves and the heat but the Vice President's frown and tense, biting tone when voicing this suggested he wasn't agreeable to the obvious lie.

John had left Bogotá on public good terms with a brief farewell, which had involved smiles and handshakes with both the President of Colombia and his Vice in front of the paparazzi but it had been a hurried job. Tom felt it was merely a price John had to pay but what for he wasn't certain.

Right now Tom knew his client was safe and since he couldn't go anywhere too far for the next five hours, Tom could relax a little and have the Vice President out of his visual. Who the VP was secure with, Tom was choosing to turn a blind eye too.

John's striking blue eyes shifted up briefly to give Tom a serious stare that was edged with fatigue. The lights on the plane remained bright and highlighted the grey, sweat sheened pallor the Vice President had taken on. His mouth was pulled down in a frown, his hair was in an untidy ruffle of blossoming curls, his navy jacket was off and his white shirt sleeves were rolled up to the elbows. It was the most vulnerable Tom had seen the VP.

Tom just gave his charge a brief nod before walking down the aisle of the plane to find a comfortable seat.

John reached for the glass tumbler of clear liquid on his left and took a sip. He could tell everyone it was water and tell himself that he'd more ice cubes in the glass than anything else but the strong, sharp sting of vodka was unmistakable. It hit the back of his throat and trickled down to barely ease the edge he was on.

He sat the glass down quickly as the form on his right shifted slightly. John glanced over to his half-hidden companion, Cadence McGarry, kept mostly from view by his own form and almost lost beneath a blanket and John's jacket. John felt bad having her on the window side but he wasn't quite ready to throw all subtlety out the window by having her close to the aisle and in full view of anyone who happened to walk past.

He pushed back some of Cadence's fair hair before resting his palm lightly against her cheek. She was warm to the touch but nothing to draw concern. Her eyes were closed and he imagined it would be a while before they opened. A doctor had given her strong painkillers, the kind to induce drowsiness which John hadn't objected to given it was probably better she took the flight home asleep if she could.

John withdrew his hand before leaning slightly against her and closing his own eyes. He was exhausted and he didn't know what he was going to do when they arrived home.

The flight was quiet and calm but the airport they landed in was unsurprisingly a little busier. John wasn't surprised to see the stretched black cars waiting outside, hell he wasn't surprised to see the collection of Secret Service agents and police clustered about them either.

The Vice President was looking a little more together as he stood to escape the plane. He had taken a few minutes in the bathroom combing out his hair and fixing his shirt and tie. He finished his glass, his second or third of the flight he wasn't sure, and turned his attention to the bleary eyed woman attempting to compose herself.

Cadence caught John's probing stare and held his jacket out to him with one hand.

John was reluctant to take it but he knew it would only lead to unpleasantness if he let her walk off wearing it. He accepted it calmly and put it back on, pausing to smooth down a few wrinkles.

"There's a bathroom just ahead," he said as he pointed forward with one finger, "and to the right. We can wait a few minutes if you'd like."

Cadence deliberated it only for a few seconds before nodding and standing. She shifted past John, tensing slightly as she brushed against him.

John gripped her right hand lightly in his own and gave it a quick squeeze before releasing it just as swiftly as he'd grabbed it.

"Cady you really frightened me today," he confessed, "when you fell I didn't know what to think. That's not going to happen again, all of this is being put to bed and no Central Intelligence Agents are going to cause anymore grief for you."

Cadence gave a tired nod, too fatigued to attempt any protests or arguments. She headed to the bathroom, which was unsurprisingly larger than the average airplane toilet, and felt a rush of nausea coupled with a wave of heat.

Cadence grasped the edges of the sink with both hands for support before reaching for the cold tap with one hand. She let the water gush briefly before cupping her hands under it and splashing it about her face. The coldness was a shock that did little to relieve her but instead induced a sudden burst of vomiting.

She barely made it to the toilet bowl before the vomit came up. She sank to her knees in time for the second mouthful as the heat came rushing back to her face and brought a dizzying headache with it. She let out a yelp of pain in between heaving as her ribs protested the pressure of vomiting.

The sobs followed as someone started banging on the door rapidly.

Cadence fumbled for toilet roll as she tried to get herself under control again. She snatched off a few sheets and wiped at her mouth with them as her ribcage continued to jolt up and down as she tried to quash the sobs of pain and anymore vomiting.

She flushed the toilet and used the edges of the bowl to drag herself back to her feet again. With effort she turned back to the sink, washed her hands and then cupped one hand under the tap and used the handful of dribbling water to wipe round her mouth.

Cadence opened the door to the confused face of Tom.

"Are you alright?" the agent quipped. He knew it was a stupid question but he had to ask it.

Cadence gave him a faint smile. "Just swell," she murmured hoarsely before stepping past him.

Cadence stayed where she was and glanced down the aisle wearily. "Can I wait here?" she queried, her voice still hoarse from the vomiting. "We're going out this way anyway, aren't we?"

Tom nodded. "I'll tell the Vice President you're ready to disembark," he retorted.

Tom headed back to John who was standing, waiting for Cadence with a worried look, which he banished at Tom's appearance.

"Sir, Miss McGarry is ready to leave," Tom informed his boss. "She's standing outside the bathroom," he advised.

John nodded. "Alright, let's go then."

John let Tom and two other agents walk ahead of him whilst two followed behind. He could hear Gavin's muted voice somewhere in the background, talking quietly with a colleague.

John kept his focus ahead until they reached Cadence. He stopped beside her and took in her appearance quickly.

"Let me walk behind you sir, please," Cadence pleaded quietly.

John frowned but he knew she was right, if she walked beside him it was creating a press opportunity. He nodded and kept walking wordlessly.

Cadence was ready to fall in line with the others until Gavin stepped towards her and offered out the crook of his arm. He gave her a harmless smile.

"You've been through a lot, you deserve some help," he murmured.

Cadence gave him a cool stare. "You helped me fall in the first place," she reminded him heatedly.

Gavin didn't flinch at the accusation, instead he nodded calmly. "And I'm prepared to fall on my sword for it," he admitted. "I'll tell the Vice President tomorrow what I did but let me help you off the plane."

Cadence sighed, she was too tired to start an argument and knew she would struggle to get down the steps on her own. The painkillers had faded and her ribs were screaming in pain. She slipped her hand into the crook of Gavin's arm and allowed him to escort her out of the plane.

Outside the evening was cool and full of noise and lights. The red and blue of the security vehicles flashed steadily whilst their owners lingered near them impatiently, ready to escape the chill of the night and retreat to the warmth of their cars.

Cadence froze up as she picked out one familiar figure in the group.

Leo McGarry stood on the tarmac with wide eyes as he stared up at the metal steps waiting impatiently for his daughter. When he spied her his anxiety only seemed to worsen. He turned to an aide beside him and snapped orders before turning his alarmed stare back up to his daughter.

"Come on Cady," Gavin urged quietly.

They descended the metal stairs with minimal effort, laboured only by the mild breeze that brushed against them sending ties flapping lightly in the air and unsecured hair about in a tangle. There was mercifully no hint of press or anyone outside White House personnel and security.

"Cady!" Leo broke the ranks first, unable to help himself as he moved past the Secret Service and towards John.

The Chief of Staff paused as if only noticing the Vice President as he came into his shadow. He glanced up to John and gave him a grey eyed look of gratitude.

John, feeling the exhaustion of his trip creeping up on him, simply nodded at Leo.

Leo moved about him and his personnel impatiently as Cadence and Gavin cleared the final step and reached the tarmac.

Cadence was like a stunned rabbit as she stared up at her father, at once uncertain and afraid of what would happen next.

Gavin released her and took a subtle step back as Leo moved forward briskly.

Leo grasped his daughter in a fierce hug, pulling her close against him as he embraced her with both arms.

"Cady I am so sorry," he murmured rapidly as he closed his eyes and continued to hold her close. "I really am."

Cadence wasn't ready for the embrace or the apology and she trembled slightly in her father's arms as she felt another sob threaten to creep up. She despised it. For so long now she hadn't had any control over emotions and she was desperate to slip back into that cynical, sometimes snarky, demonic persona Josh so eagerly assigned to her. There was a wince too as fresh agony flooded through her and it was all she could do to swallow down the whimpers of pain.

Leo pulled back and held her tight by both shoulders as he studied her. He could see the hurt and exhaustion in her eyes but what worried him more than that was the uncertainty lurking at the edges of her irises coloured with a wild fear. Robbie's death had almost drove Cadence to her own, now so soon after relieving that again she had been subjected to so much more.

"Cady I've got a room booked for you in my hotel next to mine, you can get a hot bath or shower there, room service, whatever you need and Mallory is going to stay with you too," Leo informed her quickly.

Cadence shook her head as she pulled free from Leo's grip. "No," she said quietly, "I just want to go home."

Leo gave her a look of dismay. "Cady come on now," he urged her gently, "it might not be safe for you there. Let me do this for you, I'll get you whatever you want brought there."

"No," she protested a little louder with a shake of her head, "please dad, I'm tired, just let me go home and sleep there."

"Cadence I can't do that," Leo objected, "the press are liable to torment you there and how can I keep an eye on you there?" he queried, betraying some of his real concern.

"I don't care!" Cadence snapped as anger seeped into her eyes. "I've done enough of what you and everyone else wants, I want to go my home and sleep!"

John turned to the face the pair, giving Leo a haggard look as he did. The rest of his staff were looking everywhere except at the Chief of Staff and his daughter, of course they were more than a little obvious about it, with some even attempting to converse over the argument as if they couldn't hear it.

"Leo," John addressed the Chief of Staff in a sharper tone than intended, "for God's sake let her go home. With all your wealth can't you afford some private security for her? More than a few token guards this time," he added bitingly, alluding to Colombia.

Leo narrowed his gaze as he offered John a frown. "All due respect Mr Vice President this isn't your concern," he retorted quietly in a stern voice.

"With all due respect Leo, it is" he answered in a low voice as he gave Leo a serious stare.

Leo's frown deepened and his gaze darted over to his trouble daughter and back to John again. He sighed before giving Cadence an apologetic look.

"Alright Cady, have it your way," Leo gave in, "but Mal is staying with you," he added sternly as he pointed at her with one finger.

Cadence shrugged. "I haven't got a spare bed," she murmured.

"That is hardly going to stop your sister and if needs be I'll get one sorted," Leo replied. "Now, let's get you in the car."

Leo reached out a hand to her.

Cadence accepted the hand and allowed her father to escort her over to the waiting black stretch. She gave John a fleeting glance over her shoulder before vanishing into the car.

John watched until she ducked down into the car and felt an odd sense of unease when she was lost to him. He figured grimly it was because he didn't actually trust Leo to take care of her. It wasn't really fair given Leo was her father, as well as the Chief of Staff and a very wealthy man who could afford to get whatever protection and help she needed. Yet he was also the man who had agreed to sending her to Colombia titleless and alone, letting her travel on a plane by herself when he knew she was terrified of flying, and sending her into the bowels of a country with a reason to be hostile to her with no real support. Leo had to live with his decision but so did Cadence.

John shook off his emotions as he allowed himself to be escorted to his awaiting car. He gave a smile to his aides that was meant to be charming but was laced with bitterness. Who was he to have fanciful thoughts of protection and devotion? Cadence was his mistress, hell she wasn't even that, a former stress relieving fuck that had fled from him before it could get complicated. Except she'd fled too late because it was already complicated and he'd developed feelings for her without wanting to and had been devastated by her departure.

The problem was John was still married and despite recent events he had no desire to throw off the shackles of marriage or make any public declarations of love for this young, complicated woman. No, he still valued his ambitions and career too much for that and yet he knew he wasn't going to stop thinking about Cadence until he saw her again.

Cadence had no sense of time when she arrived back to her apartment. It was dark but that was all she was certain of. She let Leo and Mallory usher her up and she let them argue over the security and whether or not Cadence needed food despite her refusal. Mallory won most of the debating of course and was quick to take charge of the small household.

Cadence couldn't really recall getting ready for bed, she had been robotic getting washed in the bathroom, avoiding a much desired bath over a need to preserve the bandage across a wound she wasn't ready to think about. She had changed into a set of pyjama bottoms and a t-shirt left out by Mallory before allowing her sister to bundle her up in the living room under the swan blanket with a large mug of soup in her hands and stern instructions to drink all of it.

The soup had the desired soothing effect. It was a consoling warmth in Cadence's hands as she became aware of the Washington chill at last, it was a great difference to the Colombian humidity. The soup was vegetable with some delightfully large chunks of potato and carrot, ordered and collected from some expensive hotel by one of Leo's hired minions.

It hadn't taken Leo long to make the necessary calls to get a detailed private security staff round to keep both his daughters safe. With both of them in a place he considered unscrupulous at best, he had made a private plea with Jed for some extra assistance. Sure it was an exploitation of position and a bending of the rules but given everything that had happened, Jed had complied and asked Ron Butterfield, head of the Secret Service, to provide someone.

Agent Michael Casper had not been the first choice or indeed second, he had simply been the first available who had checked Ron's boxes- not Secret Service but trained in protection, and in the area. He was a FBI Special Agent and based at the J Edgar Hoover Building, also known as the FBI headquarters, which was less than ten minutes from the White House.

Agent Casper's expertise was domestic incidents of racial attacks that could be inferred as terrorist based as they often involved widespread violence and murder with the use of bombs and explosives. As such, he considered White House matters well above his pay grade and, until tonight, had only briefly toyed with the novelty of meeting a high up member of the White House team.

He had arrived just after ten o'clock bringing the much desired soup to save Leo's minion a trip up the stairs. It had instantly endeared him to a grateful Mallory who had given only a brief introduction before snapping up the embroidered, handled bag of sealed up soup pots and tinfoil wrapped steaming bread soaked in a herbed butter.

Now Agent Casper was getting the rundown from a stern faced Leo who was worn down with the day's events and his recent bickering with Mallory.

Leo took the agent in with a degree of scrutiny. He was eager eyed, bright as he smiled at Leo with an obvious awe and humbling embarrassment. Leo might have been flattered under difference circumstances but right now all he cared about was that the man could keep his daughters safe from both threats and the ever hungry press.

"You're here for the night," Leo instructed, "I've got eight others, you've got their details. I'm expecting press to be around soon, it won't be long before they learn Cadence is home, and if I see anyone getting a microphone or a camera near her then I'm not going to wait for the explanation I'm just going to take my wrath out on you, do you understand?"

Agent Casper nodded briskly. He looked anxious but it wasn't from Leo's words, he was simply still in awe of being in the Chief of Staff's presence. Seeing Leo's face shift to mistrust, he felt compelled to speak.

"Sir, this might not be my usual jurisdiction but I take it very seriously and I assure you, your daughters will be kept safe," Agent Casper said seriously.

Leo frowned. "That's what the last one said," he grumbled. He raised a hand slightly to his greyed hair. "Look, I might need you for a few days," he admitted. "This isn't going to blow over quickly."

Agent Casper nodded again. "Ron briefed me, he said as many days as you asked for."

"Right. Well good, get started then."

Leo stepped away from the agent and headed to his daughters who were now bundled up together under the swan blanket. He halted to watch them for a moment. From behind as he took in the back of their heads tilted against the other's and saw the pattern of swans against their shoulders he could almost imagine they were young again. It was a familiar sight, Mallory and Cadence tired out and under the family blanket in the living room as they shared some beverage. Cold milk in the summer evenings and hot cocoa in the Chicago winters.

Leo sighed again, it was picturesque in his mind as he tried to pretend that every night in his earlier years had been some Christmas card styled family fantasy. The truth was he had only caught the image a handful of times, more often than not work had kept him out too late to catch his girls before they went to bed. Then there were the nights he had been home but rather than engage with them he had headed straight for the tumbler and the decanter to swallow down his stress with whiskey.

Leo headed round to the front of the couch, ready to bid his farewells but a look from Mallory told him to stay silent. He noticed then that Cadence was thankfully asleep.

Leo gave his eldest a warm smile and nodded before heading for the door. He realised Cadence was safe at last because she had her sister looking out for her.