John Hoynes looked across the room to the President warily knowing what he had been called here for. He had gotten the summons yesterday in the early evening and despite not being told the topic John knew what it would be.

"John the business of oil has come up," Jed remarked, getting straight to the point. His manner was calm but stern as he faced his Vice with a cool calm and a glint in his blue eyes that suggested he would turn hostile if John expressed disagreement.

Jed looked a little more tired than usual and had opted to sit almost immediately after John had entered the Oval Office. He was leaned back into his chair, rigid in pain with a few extra wrinkles at his brow showing the fresh stress he had gained from Rosslyn.

The shootings might be behind them but the damage remained. Gun rights had been thrust back into the public eye much to both John and Jed's chagrin. C.J had glossed over it briefly after the shootings by advising the country of how many thousands of crimes had happened that same night at gunpoint and how, despite having men armed with guns to protect him, the President had still been shot thus proving that having a gun did not necessarily prevent gun crime. John had tactfully avoided the issue during his stint, distracted with a potential war instead.

"It's been brought up," John corrected, "by Senator Whyte." John said the name calmly but it was hard to keep the annoyance from his voice.

John dug his hands into the arms of the striped, satin sheen chair he occupied and leaned forward slightly in his seat creasing his pale grey jacket. "Sir I can't negotiate with him," he said apologetically. There was a slight plead in his blue stare.

Jed's mouth curled into a bitter smile as he leaned forward as well although the gesture cost him as his chest throbbed in pain. "Publicly you get along very well," Jed retorted with a mocking glint in his own blue gaze.

John frowned at the jibe. He remembered the poisonous handshake Senator Whyte had gifted him with in Texas, purposely stretching across the President to deliver it so the snub was clear and public.

"Sir, you know he did that to cause tension," John reminded the President, "I'm the one who mentioned his shares."

Jed nodded agreeably. "And now you have to be the one to play ball with him. Our money is in coal, no one likes it but it's necessary but it's also necessary for the taxes on fossil fuels to go up."

"The usage of them or the harnessing of them?" John demanded. "Is the companies who pay the tax or the people?"

Jed was frowning now too. His blue gaze turned hostile as he felt his anger budding for his ever volatile Vice. "Both," he snapped.

"Mr. President-" John began.

"Yes," Jed interrupted crossly, "I am the President and yet you question my every decision like we're on equal standing."

John looked surprised at this comment and his vibrant blue stare blazed with anger. "I never tried to take it from you," he protested. "Not that I could," he added accusingly with a careless wave of his right hand, "because you didn't bother to sign the paperwork!"

Jed bristled at this accusation as his fingertips sank into the edges of the arms of his seat. He wanted to jump up and stare John down but he knew the ache of his bullet wound wouldn't be worth the theatrics.

"I'm sorry I was preoccupied with bleeding out on an operating table and unable to take up a pen!" Jed retorted childishly.

John pointed across the room to the President accusingly. "It's why you took me on damn it! Remember, in case you die," he added with a sneer.

Jed stiffened at this reminder, it had seemed a casual scribble on a post it but the importance of it couldn't be ignored. He nodded again as he tried to calm his temper.

"It's hard to face one's mortality," the President remarked quietly as some of the rage faded from his stare. "Certainly I've done it many days with the MS but it has become so familiar to me I don't really consider it a threat anymore but getting shot, ooh boy, well now, that will make you think of the afterlife and God."

John nodded sympathetically although the anger remained in his stare.

"John I signed the paperwork as soon as I was able," Jed reminded him, "and you did do a good job."

Jed sighed and touched a hand to his brow as he saw John bristle at his words and knew they had been taken for mockery when for once Jed was trying to be sincere.

"Damn it John," Jed cursed him out quietly, "I know it's not easy being my Vice President but the hell if you make it easy being your President."

John gave a faint flicker of a smile at this but his anger still lingered. He knew he had done a good job when he had been thrust into the hot seat without warning but he didn't think it had been all that well acknowledged, people tried to spread out the praise amongst Leo and the loyal White House staffers, adamant that they had shouldered the bulk of the burden whilst John had been little more than a figurehead for the brief time it had been required. John found it hard to resist the urge to snap that the National Security Advisor had wanted him plunging into a war and it was at his word, not Leo's that war had been avoided. Sure Leo had advised John but the point was he had listened to the options, balanced them and made the decision.

"John I need the Republicans on board with this tax increase, it's that or decrease fossil production in favour of greener fuels and as nice as that sounds on paper, it costs jobs," Jed addressed him sternly.

John nodded obligingly, he knew the threat wasn't Jed's really, it was simply the way the world worked, fossil fuels might be considered atrocious for the world but the truth was so many, many households still got their power from them meaning so many had their jobs tied into them.

"Unfortunately, Senator Whyte is the most vocal on this," Jed continued calmly, "so it has to be him you speak with."

"And if he makes me grovel sir?" John queried bitterly.

"Then you grovel," John answered flatly. "It's not weak if you do it for the right reasons."

John sighed heavily and rose from the chair. "It is weak sir," he retorted in a quiet voice that betrayed his defeat.

Jed stood too in a slow, laboured movement. "John, you will get your chance," he assured, "and you will do great things when you do." He took a step towards the man and gave him a serious stare. "You did do a great job while I was in hospital and it's why I picked you as my running mate because I wouldn't hand the reins of this country over to anyone else. It's you John, you who I want if something does happen to me and you who I would hope gets the nomination after me."

"Thank you sir," John retorted neutrally.

It was hard for John to shift his bitterness to one side and show some gratitude. As far as he was concerned all he seemed to do was wait and his brief stint in power had been a cruel tease. As Suzanne had informed him coldly the other day he was back to being the lackey.

John cocked his head slightly to give Jed a questioning look. "Is there anything else sir?"

Jed gazed him at him calmly, studying his Vice with curiosity as he considered his response. "Cady will be seeing Leo and I in oh," Jed paused and glanced at his watch, "an hour. We have some news for her and I think it might be best if you hear it too."

John showed surprise at the mention of his PR's name. Cadence hadn't mentioned anything to him about it. "News sir?" John made it a query.

Jed nodded stiffly as his mouth thinned in a serious line. The stress was back in his eyes as he gazed back at John. "I'd rather not get into it until she's here, it wouldn't be fair."

John sighed and rubbed at his dark hair, mussing up the combed back style. "Is she in trouble?" he demanded bluntly.

"No John, just come back in an hour," Jed answered with a cool calm.

John gave a dismissive nod before he headed for the doors and stepped into Mrs. Landingham's domain with a sense of relief. Ever since Jed had returned to power John had felt displaced when he was in the White House and was always eager to return to the Eisenhower where the chain of command was a little clearer for him. Here people just wanted to get back to normal and forget that for a brief moment he had been in charge and capable of starting and averting wars.

John glanced at the clock on the wall, it was just after ten in the morning. Eager as he was to leave there was still one more visit he had to make and since he was due back in the Oval Office in an hour anyway he figured he may as well make the visit now.

John gave a polite nod of farewell to Mrs. Landingham before heading through to the West Wing with his familiar Secret Service agents at his back.

Josh Lyman had been back to work for a week and thought he had seen all the overjoyed well wishers he was going to but now he was surprised by another.

Cadence McGarry arrived into his office sheepish and pale faced. She entered fidgeting with loose strands of her hair as she glanced over her shoulder a couple of times to the door before closing it behind her and banishing the hum of noise from the bull ring.

Cadence's exile had ended a few weeks ago with the President back in position and the Vice President back at the Eisenhower. To Cadence however she still felt like a pariah, Zoey Bartlet was still mad at her, John's team were also resenting her for her absence at a critical time and John was running hot and cold with her, at times treating her as a colleague he barely knew whilst at other times querying her about her welfare and giving her looks of concern as he told her seriously to let him know if things weren't alright. He had made no move on her however, not since he had acted up, then he had had Suzanne by his side like glue, ever determined to be captured at every opportunity as the acting leader's wife.

Josh glanced up from his desk at the woman in bewilderment. He had been determined for the past few days to put Rosslyn behind him and distract himself with his ever mounting work but it wasn't easy. This morning he had been using his office as a sanctuary from the looks of pity, concern and worry from West Wing well wishers.

The Deputy Chief of Staff sat in a slightly creased white shirt with a brown and grey striped tie that was half-hidden by the desk he was leaning over in an attempt to engross himself in the articles stacked there.

"Hi," Josh greeted quietly.

"Hi," Cadence retorted awkwardly. She stared down at him with an expression he couldn't quite decipher. "Josh I'm sorry."

"Huh?" Josh's dark eyes widened in confusion. He was still trying work out if she had just decided to brazenly enter here or if Donna had given her the go ahead, probably thinking having a visitor would do him good.

"I'm sorry," she repeated sincerely as her hands slipped down to fiddle with the ends of her black and grey striped scarf. She took a step closer and gazed down at him with a sad stare. "I called you an asshole," she remarked bluntly, "and it was the last thing I said to you. It could have been the very last thing I said to you."

Josh continued to look confused as he tried to think back to what Cadence was talking about. He wondered when he had last seen her. He was only just starting to grasp what day of the week it was after having spent so many blurred together staring at the same four hospital ward walls.

Josh leaned forward on his desk and pushed both his hands up into his brown curls. "Huh," he repeated quietly as he pressed his fingers into his scalp. He could feel a headache budding at the edge, they came more frequently now when he tried to think back before Rosslyn because he just couldn't skip Rosslyn.

Josh tensed as he thought of red and blue flashing lights and he became annoyed with Cadence for making him think of the past. He rationalised with himself that she was here trying to make amends and made himself keep going back.

"Right," Josh said as he gave a faint smile. "I was interfering with your dating life."

Josh lowered his hands to his desk and glanced up at the young woman.

Cadence nodded. "Yeah but you didn't deserve to be called an asshole. You're right, I was unfair to Tom." Cadence frowned. "I owe him an apology too but it's way too late for that. Anyway, I just, I know we bicker a lot and we both have our reasons but I still like you."

Josh's smile wavered slightly. "Cady please stop with the apology, you didn't know I was going to get...shot," he finished with a grimace. "And I was an asshole for interfering with you and Tom. I'm tired of people being weird around me because of what happened, don't you change as well, not because of that."

Cadence raised her eyebrows slightly at the tacked on 'because of that' and wondered if Josh wanted her to change for other reasons. She thought about her suspicions that he knew about her and John's affair during the campaign but knew she'd never ask Josh for confirmation.

"I know how that is," she murmured empathetically as she abandoned her scarf at last. "Everyone puts on the mittens when they deal with you." She bowed her head and pushed back a stray strand of hair. "And you find ways to move around the issue and do everything you can not to confront it and people respect your space at first and they avoid it too," she cracked a bitter smile, "hell Mallory spent a day telling me about one of her college classes after Robbie died and dad's run through the Watergate menu with me six times since I came back from Colombia."

Josh's surprise returned to his brown gaze. He hadn't expected anyone to have some understanding of his feelings, he didn't even understand them right now. The fact that it was Cadence showing him empathy just made him uncomfortable and he knew he couldn't have a conversation about trauma and feelings with her.

"Tell you what," Josh offered, "I get to keep calling you a demon and you can keep calling me an asshole, deal?"

Cadence gave a bitter chuckle at this. "Well if that's the best we can do," she conceded reluctantly.

Josh shook his head dismissively as he tried to discard the confusion that continued to plague him. He turned his stare up to the clock above Cadence. "I hate to bring him up again but I'm actually meeting with Congressman Landis in about fifteen minutes." Josh gave Cadence an apologetic smile. "We're still working on that environmental bill, Leo figured I'd be better on the lighter stuff this week," he added with a forced jovial tone.

Cadence nodded back in understanding. "I got bounced for a while," she confessed. "After you and the President got shot. John was acting up and they figured the rebels in Colombia might either think we were weak and strike or simply get pissed off seeing the Vice President and I on television." She shrugged and folded her arms. "I think dad and John pushed for me to take a break instead of desk work because I've been...jumpy I suppose."

Josh gaze been solemn as Cadence said John's name, Josh was certain she was normally more careful about being familiar about the Vice President. Even on the campaign, they had usually called John 'senator' or 'sir' it was usually only after a few drinks that anyone on the campaign party called him John and even then, as John was always sober and therefore not demonstrating the same loss of social protocol, the familiarity came rarely.

Cadence gave Josh a serious stare. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, prepare for that, for the stress to sneak up on you and be triggered by something and be grateful when you get the lighter stuff, it does help sometimes." Her hands slackened to her sides as she thought of her own woes, brought up again when the Secret Service had talked about their fears of a Colombian rebel attack. Cadence thought of vengeful natives instead, outraged at her lies and unsatisfied that a scar was justice. She gave an uneasy frown. "Anyway," she said quickly. "I'll leave you to it."

Cadence turned for the door hastily and was surprised when she opened it up to the Vice President. She stared up to him with an expression of vulnerability as her pink lips parted slightly in small o of astonishment.

"I didn't know you were here," John greeted her bluntly.

John was just as surprised as Cadence and a little annoyed that he knew nothing about what she was doing today. He didn't like it figuring it was how rumours could be started.

"Morning sir," Cadence retorted politely.

John stepped back from the doorway to let her out and breathed in her jasmine and night orchid perfume as she passed him. It was one he had always favoured her wearing and now he wondered if she wore it because she liked it or because he had told her that.

"I believe you're meeting the President later," John remarked almost accusingly.

Cadence glanced over her shoulder at John in shock at this remark and nodded.

"Yes sir," she answered calmly. She wondered at John's tone and if he perhaps knew more about the meeting than she did. It was another worry to add to her pile today, the now constantly repeated question in her head of 'what have I done now?'

John nodded back. "He's extended the invite to me," he advised. His blue gaze softened slightly at the unease on her face and he quipped, "do you have anywhere else to be before that?"

Cadence shook her head causing her dirty fair hair to sway lightly in all directions.

"Well, I'll see you in the Vice President's office then," John instructed, "we can discuss P.R tactics for dealing with Senator Whyte."

Cadence's eyes widened slightly as she gave John a questioning look. She couldn't tell if he was hinting at a passionate rendezvous or if he really did want to discuss Senator Whyte. Since she really didn't have anywhere else to go and she didn't want to chance an awkward encounter with the arriving Congressman Landis, Cadence figured it the V.P's office in the West Wing was as good a destination as any.

"I'll see you there sir," she retorted quietly.

As Cadence departed, John entered Josh's office and closed the door behind him.

"Josh, how are you?" John queried with almost the same awkwardness Cadence had.

Josh stared up at his former boss calmly. John's delay with Cadence had given Josh a chance to compose himself for the man. With John, Josh's feelings were always mixed, at times the man infuriated him but at other times Josh had a deep respect for him, sometimes grudging but at other times awe-filled.

"I'm good," Josh lied with a smile. The lie came easy because more often than not Josh believed it, unaware of how his bug-eyed expression and hesitant voice betrayed him.

John's stare turned sympathetic. "I was with the President and thought I would come and see you in person," John explained. "It's been a while since we spoke and after everything that's happened I wanted you to know, directly from myself, that I was thinking of you and I am glad to see you recovered."

John flashed a small smile down on Josh in an attempt to show the sincerity of his relief.

Josh was a little stunned by this revelation. He knew John wasn't hollow hearted and that he had always cared about Josh as part of his team and had been deeply hurt by his betrayal but he hadn't realised that John still cared, figuring he'd cut any emotional ties the moment Josh had jumped ship to the Bartlet campaign.

"Thank you sir," Josh answered as he continued to gaze up at the man in a wide eyed puzzlement. "I...I'd like to talk more but I have an appointment soon," he confessed with an apologetic flicker of a smile.

John looked a little surprised before he nodded. "Right, of course. Well, as I said, it's good to see you well again. That is, you are well aren't you?" he pried as his cerulean stare became serious and almost probing.

Josh frowned before he could help it. "Even though everyone keeps asking that, yes I am," he insisted with irritation, "they wouldn't have discharged me otherwise."

"No." John's answer was quiet as he picked up on Josh's irate tone.

Josh took in John's slightly askew dark hair and the uneven hang of his tie. "Are you well sir?" The question slipped out before Josh could help it.

Josh wondered, as he always had, what had gone on with John and Cadence- before Colombia, in Colombia, and after Colombia. John had fought hard to keep Cadence on his team when the CIA's untrue revelations about her had come out, when Cadence had been banded a traitor and Josh had been keen for her to be burned, the Vice President had openly resisted despite how potentially damaging it could have been for him. Then in Colombia, when Cadence and John had gone to make amends, something had happened, everyone knew that much but the details were a forbidden blank and Josh didn't think John had been quite the same since.

John frowned too, angry that he obviously had some slight in his appearance he was unaware of to prompt the question from Josh and angry that Josh should think their relationship was still familiar enough for him to ask such an imposing question.

"I'm fine Josh," John retorted calmly as he forced some charm to his expression and smiled again.

Josh didn't buy John's reassurances anymore than John bought his.

"Alright sir, well thanks for calling," Josh said sincerely.

"I'll see you again Josh."

John turned and exited out of the room, heading for his West Wing based office where he knew Cadence would be waiting. He nodded to West Wing staffers as he passed them but there was no smile or hint of charm, he was certain they all viewed him as the wannabe, hell maybe even the brief has be or the not good enough to be. He despised every corridor he paced up as he felt an outsider to everyone he passed. He despised the small office he was afforded too as it was only a reminder of how little he mattered in this building.

John found Cadence in the office, dutifully seated with a notepad and pen in her lap produced from her grey satchel. She had already scribbled a few notes and was beginning a sentence when John entered.

Cadence glanced up at the Vice President in a curious silence as he closed the door and drew the blinds, banishing his agents from sight.

John stepped in front of Cadence and reached down a hand to cup her face but she turned away from him.

"John you cast me aside," she reminded him. "The moment you got into the White House, you took the first opportunity you could to get rid of me because I was a complication and it was easy."

John frowned at her as he lowered his hand. "Cady that is not what happened. The Secret Service insisted, everyone was at risk and you," he pointed at her accusingly with one finger, "have been so closed up about what happened in Colombia that no one knows what the danger from there might be to you and maybe me."

Cadence turned an angry stare on him. "It just gave you the excuse you wanted," she continued to berate him. "You couldn't run the risk, no, you had to look the part of doting husband and Suzanne was certainly happy to be the perfect wife this time while she had the White House to give her performance in," she sneered.

"God damn it Cady!" John snapped. "You know I'm married, I've been married the entire time you've known me! I didn't cast you out, I sent you home for your own safety at the pressing of the Secret Service and your father and I'm sorry," he added sardonically as he raised his hands to his hips, "that I had other things to concern myself with than your feelings. I had wars to avert, the potential death of the President, terrorists in our country and policies of the President's making that were not my convictions but his that I had a duty to try and enforce and uphold."

"Spare me the political stance," Cadence scorned as she abandoned the notepad to knot the ends of her scarf together. "You've been on and off me with ever since the shootings. It's like you've seen now that you really can get to the White House but you don't want the scandal of me blowing it all."

John's mouth curdled slightly at her accusation. "Cady you certainly don't want the scandal either," he reminded her angrily, "and if I didn't want you I'd fire you or accept one of your many resignations," he replied sardonically with a wave of his right hand. "Haven't I just come in here and tried to have a moment with you? You came to me that night, remember? You came to the Eisenhower because you wanted to."

"Because I was lonely John," she snapped at him with a miserable look. She abandoned her scarf and hugged her torso lightly, wincing as she felt the ache of an ageing scar on her right side. "And I wanted you, I did and I do but you've avoided me since, we've both been back at the Eisenhower for weeks and you talk to me but you avoid me at the same time. You've seen what you can have John and I'm not in that vision."

John frowned and shook his head angrily before he gestured down to her sharply with his right hand. "Don't do this Cady, I've told you I care about you, I've told you I can't lose you, hell I've risked humiliation to keep you happy over a damn raccoon, I've stood by you in scandal and I'm here now, aren't I?"

Cadence looked up at him with a forced calm, loathing how everything he said was true because she didn't think it was fair of him.

"John you're hot and cold with me," she murmured softly, "and it's hard to keep up with that. I thought I didn't want to be with anyone, not after Robbie and Benny and...the miscarriage," she added with a quiet woe. "And I've figured with all my shit, no one should be tied to this mess," she continued with a small, biting smile and a show of dark humour, "but maybe I do want something. I just I don't think I deserve I suppose."

John continued to frown moodily at her. "Cady, you've been jumpy since Colombia, I think something has triggered something in you and it's getting you upset and feeling guilty, you need to speak to someone about it," he urged her. "As for you and me, it's complicated, it's always been but I have feelings for you," he added as he gave her a serious stare, "you know that and my very brief moment as acting President does not change that."

Cadence sighed and nodded as she placed her hands on her lap. The conversation had already drained her and she regretted starting it. It wasn't the time or place but she had to wonder when was the time and where was the place?

John's hand returned, this time to run lightly through her hair. Cadence allowed the gesture, closing her eyes as she allowed the gentle motion of his fingertips to soothe her.

Cadence and John arrived to Mrs. Landingham's abode together. It drew a questioning gaze from Leo as he stood there with Charlie, ready to enter the Oval Office.

"Cady, Mr. Vice President," he greeted them calmly.

John took note of Leo's sombre stare and knew that whatever news the President had it wasn't going to be good.

"Leo," John retorted politely.

"Morning dad, morning Charlie," Cadence greeted. She turned a smile upon the President's secretary. "Morning Mrs. Landingham."

The older woman glanced up from the desk that was almost a permanent fixture for her and smiled. "Good morning," she greeted chirpily. "You can all head in, he's waiting for you."

Leo went first, holding the door open for his daughter as he did. Charlie waited outside, knowing he would be called when required.

Jed was sitting at his desk as they arrived and attempted to stand quickly. He winced as the gesture cost him and waved off Leo's look of concern.

Jed stepped round the desk so that he was in the centre of the room near the eagle's head. He gestured to the seats but Leo remained standing, taking a stance between Jed and Cadence as if unsure whose side he should be on.

John stood to the right of Cadence but took a few steps from her so they were standing separately rather than together. He studied Jed, trying to spy a hint of the news he had hinted at.

"Cadence would you like to sit?" Jed made it a suggestion but his gentle gaze for her tried to convey it as a preference.

Cadence, wary of why she had been summoned, shook her head. "No thanks sir," she retorted calmly. She knew she hadn't made the news and she had only been back at work for a short while so she didn't think she could have done anything to warrant a scolding yet it seemed rare that she was ever called here for anything good.

Jed's dark blue gaze darted over to Leo as his mouth creased in concern. His stare returned to Cadence at once serious and yet sympathetic. Jed was angry at the timing of the news he had to deliver, wondering why bad things couldn't be a little more spaced out so one had the time to deal with them appropriately. Jed wondered why Rosslyn wasn't enough for the Lord and why the Almighty continued to test them.

"Cadence I have received news concerning Agent Sparks," Jed addressed her calmly.

"Sir?" Cadence's eyes filled with hope as she wondered if at long last a date had been arranged for her to see the man.

The troubled agent had always been on Cadence's mind since Jed had first mentioned him to her. She had tried to push him back when her father had insisted sternly that badgering would not get her an audience with him and that he was unwell and she would simply have to wait for the appropriate time. Naturally, the potential threat of Colombian rebels had brought him back to the forefront of Cadence's thoughts.

Jed and Leo both filled with guilt at the hope budding in her stare.

Leo frowned and took a step towards her before he hesitated. "Cady, baby girl," he began softly.

Cadence's grey-blue gaze darted over to her dad in a startled worry.

"Cadence," Jed drew her attention back to him, he had received the news so he was determined to be the one to deliver it, "there is no easy way to tell you this so I just have to come out and say it. Agent Benjamin Sparks hung himself yesterday afternoon, he was pronounced dead in the early evening."

Cadence stumbled back with a bewildered stare. "I...I told those lies," she murmured with a shake of her head, "to keep us safe. I lied about innocent people to keep him safe. You said I would see him when he was well. You said that," she accused.

"Cady," Leo addressed her again as he took a step towards her.

John was silent as he watched her with worry. The shock was evident on his face, he had forgotten all about the half-crazed agent figuring that Jed was dealing with it. John had certainly never considered that this would happen.

Cadence shook her angrily. "All this death, all these lies, when does it stop?! Everyone just keeps getting hurt, the shootings are constant, no one's safe, everyone keeps bleeding," she babbled as she raised her hands up as if to grasp her face before staring at her palms in bewilderment. "I stood and I lied about those people, I called them terrorists, why did Benny have to pay for that?" she quipped in disbelief as she felt her eyes burn with tears.

Without warning the young woman suddenly turned and bolted for the doors. She pushed one open so hard and fast Charlie couldn't dodge it and let out a cry of protest as the wood smacked hard against him.

Cadence stormed past him in a blur, shaking even as she ran, head bowed as tears started to bud in her eyes and blurred her vision.

Charlie was ready to yell after her about learning to open doors slowly as he rubbed at his nose but he was kept silent in surprise as Leo ran past him.

John watched her and Leo go in astonishment. John wanted to follow too but he didn't dare for fear of how Leo or the President might interpret it. He had seen Leo's questioning, almost accusing glance when he and Cadence had arrived unexpectedly together at the Oval Office. He knew he and Cadence had been getting careless before the shootings and he had to rein it back.

John turned a jaded stare on Jed who was stoic as he waved off a concerned Charlie.

"Sir, all due respect, but you could have done that better," John admonished his superior.

Cadence wasn't concentrating as she stepped up the corridor of the White House. She had stopped running when she had escaped the West Wing and had no idea if her father was still pursuing her or not. At at a walk she was almost invisible to the busy vetted visitors and White House workers. As she stepped into the main foyer only a tourist group took notice, glancing over out of hopeful curiosity.

Cadence's head was bowed as she stepped forward before halting suddenly as the news finally impacted her. It felt like a very real thud to her chest and it took what little energy she had left to make herself stand still and not let it knock her to the ground.

C.J, returning from a morning tea break that she had sneaked with Danny, spotted the young woman standing in the middle of the lobby and wondered what she was doing here. Concerned and curious, she took a step towards her but halted as another reached Cadence first.

"Hey."

Cadence didn't register the voice at first as her ears were filled with a low humming coupled with the wild beating of her heart.

Cadence sucked in a deep breath and told herself sternly that she could not have a breakdown here. She knew she had to leave, where to she didn't know but anywhere that wasn't here would do for now.

"Cadence?"

Cadence's gaze took on a look of embarrassed horror as she realised she recognised the voice speaking to her. She turned her head up slowly all while wondering woefully why did he have to be here right now?

Congressman Tom Landis was standing opposite her, curiosity giving way to concern in his pale blue eyes as he studied her. He was wearing a long, dark blue winter's coat hiding his attire from view and in one hand he carried a black, leather case that contained his laptop and notes.

"You...you were seeing Josh today," Cadence realised aloud. She pushed her right hand up to her hair before letting it drop by her side. "God I'm sorry Tom, Congressman Landis," she corrected hastily. She gave a small, sad smile as she looked at him apologetically. "For more than this," she admitted. "It's not a good morning, I just...I'm sorry I got some bad news."

The congressman looked back at her curiously. "You look pale," he observed. He glanced at the busy lobby area before turning back to her. "I think you should sit," he advised, "but there aren't any seats."

With his free hand, the congressman gripped her arm lightly as he gestured ahead with his laptop case.

Surprised, Cadence let him guide to the back wall where he abruptly turned around and pulled her down with him to sit on the black and cream tiled floor against the wainscotting of the cream wall.

Cadence's palms slid along the floor hastily, she had gone down like a stone suddenly full of fatigue.

Congressman Tom Landis mimed a down motion to her as she looked confused and embarrassed and made a half-hearted attempt to rise again.

"It's okay," he said cheerfully, "we're just sitting, alright they could say it's loitering but they won't because you're the Chief of Staff's daughter."

He and sat beside her with his legs crossed whilst she sat with her knees raised against her, unaware of how they knocked together slightly.

Cadence looked over at him in mortification. The ringing in her ears had faded and she became aware of the confused voices as Tom's gesture gained them more attention.

"Tom what are you doing?" she queried in bewilderment. "People are looking, you're a congressman," she hissed at him in scorn.

"You looked like you needed to sit down," Tom insisted. Aware of a scornful stare upon them, Tom turned his attention forward and up. Recognising a passing Democrat senator, Tom smiled and held his hand up in a wave. "Hey, how are you?" he greeted chirpily with a grin.

The senator eyeballed Tom with an unhidden revulsion before hurrying on without a word, evidently embarrassed that anyone watching might think he knew Tom.

Tom's smile widened before he turned it on Cadence showing that the right corner of his mouth was up higher making his smile unbalanced.

"They tend to give me that reaction any day I'm here," he assured her.

C.J was now observing the scene with everyone else, mystified as she knew she should make some effort to draw attention from it or end it and yet she was too intrigued to interfere. She didn't recognise Tom and had wondered initially if she should stop him when he had pulled Cadence away. Now she just puzzled as she watched him and Cadence converse on the floor.

"Tom the press can take photos here, so can tourists," Cadence murmured in a panic.

"Well I'll admit my shirt's wrinkled," Tom mused as he glanced down at his attire, "but other than that I'm alright with a picture. Maybe the public will enjoy the proof that we don't all turn to ash here."

Cadence cocked her head at him as she gave him a frown despite the small hint of joy seeping into her eyes. "Tom, you're wearing a coat, they can't see your shirt," she pointed out.

Tom's smile brightened at this. "Well even better, don't you think?"

"Tom, why..." Cadence trailed off, she didn't even know what to ask him.

"Cady you look upset and you said you got bad news," he reminded her quietly as his smile faded and his stare turned serious. "I just want to help."

Cadence felt her eyes burn again and she shook her head angrily. "I do not deserve that," she said firmly. Her anger gave way to grief as the tears started to fall. "I said things that weren't true, they said it was for the greater good but lying is always wrong no matter how you dress it and I lied about innocent people, good people and now someone else is dead. Someone who maybe wasn't good either but he was important to me, he mattered and I thought I tried hard to see him but I didn't try hard enough. I let him down Tom," she raised her hands up to her face in an attempt subdue a sob, "I let him down," she repeated quietly.

Tom's blue gaze turned sympathetic although he had no idea what the woman was talking about.

Cadence wiped at her eyes hastily with her hands before lowering them to her lap and giving Tom a more composed stare. "I need to leave," she remarked quietly, "before I'm the subject of another breakdown story."

"Alright."

Tom nodded before he extended a hand out to her.

"We stand up together then it's not just you they'll talk about sitting here," Tom said. "Maybe our feet just got tired and we didn't want to take a seat away from a little old lady who might need it more," he suggested humorously as his smile crept back.

Cadence glanced down at the hand and then back up at the smiling congressman. "Tom, don't let me pull you into this mess," she pleaded. "You don't need the press insulting you just because you were trying to be nice."

"The press insult me for being a Republican," he reminded her, "being insulted for being nice will be a good change of pace."

Cadence shook her head. "Tom I know you must've seen the stories, all the things they label me with."

"Is that why you didn't call?" he quipped with a serious stare. "I figured you didn't want to be seen with me publicly, I didn't think it would be the other way round."

Cadence gave a weak smile and shrugged. "They called me a traitor to the public, I wouldn't care if they ran stories about me dating a Republican but you aren't tarnished yet and you deserve better."

"Hmm." Tom gave his lopsided grin again. "You don't know me, being a Republican isn't my worst offence. I used to work part-time in a Chessie souvenir shop and I still have the 'Chessie Hide and Seek Champion' sweater to prove it and this." Tom tapped a small pin on the collar of his coat pointedly

Cadence stared at it curiously and her smile brightened slightly as she saw that it was cartoonic smiling green sea serpent with Chessie under it in red font. She shook her head as her smile faded suddenly, taken away by her guilt.

"I got bad news but I'm smiling what even is that?" she queried harshly. "Denial? Putting it off? Avoidance I think, I always move around the bad things. You don't even know, well you do, I hid under a desk because a door closed too loudly the day we met," she murmured bitterly.

"Cady, I have read about you," Tom retorted calmly, "I admitted that when we met and what I know is you have a lot of bad experiences and you get reminded of them. I understand. Now, let's stand up and get out of here like you want."

Tom held out his hand again and Cadence accepted and they stood together.

"Back to the West Wing?" Tom suggested.

Cadence glanced to the doors she must have come through. She realised John had not come and wondered if he had even followed. She could only recall her father shouting after her. She thought of what the President had said again and felt fresh tears roll down her cheeks. Benny was dead. She had begged to see him when she had learned about his presence again, she had pleaded with her father and the President but been denied because 'he wasn't well' and it 'wasn't a good idea' and now here they were. She wasn't even sure she really believed it was suicide given everything she had experienced with him. It made her furious, furious that she hadn't had a chance to see him and maybe prevent this and furious that he hadn't been under better protection or in better care.

No matter what Cadence did or didn't do it didn't seem to matter anymore. People kept getting hurt and betrayed and killed. She had given Zoey ill-advice that had led to a serious ripple effect of violence, Zoey had been seen publicly with Charlie prompting some murderous rage from shooters who had wounded Josh and the President instead, almost fatally. She had kept secrets about the CIA and Colombia out of fear and the country had almost ended up at war over it. Then she had lied about the Colombian villagers for the sake of peace and ended up getting attacked in Colombia for it and now Agent Sparks was dead over it and who knew how many others had suffered. Hell, to save herself she had stood by whilst innocent villagers were gunned down. Before that she had entangled herself in a sordid affair with John and a baby she hadn't even known was there had perished inside her. Before that still Robbie had tried to surprise her as a prom date and been knifed down for it.

"I am a traitor Tom," she murmured numbly as she released his hand. "I lied in Colombia about those people."

Tom was silent as he tried to think about her speech in Colombia, he had watched it just like most of the country but he hadn't really paid much attention to it and now he struggled to recall the finer points of it.

Cadence saw her father appear at last and felt the exhaustion of her emotions return. He had spotted her and was moving quickly, eyes full of concern for her and suspicion for Tom. Cadence knew she couldn't run from him again yet she didn't know how to speak to him or the President without getting angry at them.

Agent Sparks had been a nobody to them and a dispensable pawn to others. Hell, Cadence wasn't even sure she'd known the real Benjamin Sparks at any stage but he had still mattered, he had still had value as a human being so why in the hell hadn't more been done for him?

Seeing Leo arrive, C.J snapped into action to help the tour guide urge the visitors hastily on from the scene. The press secretary observed Leo's wide eyed stare of worry and knew that something was horribly wrong but frustratingly she did not know what. She gave him a final stare before she herded the people on to another room.

Cadence felt her stomach roll with bile. She felt such a disgust for the administration she had vowed she wouldn't insult again. It had let her down too. She had been sent to Colombia as a pawn, a sacrifice even, the one who would grovel and apologise and who was worth risking because better she got killed than say the President or his Chief of Staff. Cadence knew she had brought a lot of that mess on herself, she had accepted that but she was still angry to have been hurt for it. It was why she couldn't bring herself to ask her father to contact his psychiatrist friend to help her because she was unwilling to ask for help from a man who had been part of the administration that had allowed her to go to Colombia as a vulnerable nobody in the first place.

"Nobody," Cadence murmured softly, "we're all just nobodies."

Tom looked at her quizzically. "Everyone is someone to somebody," he retorted calmly.

Leo had halted before them and was staring at his daughter with guilt and worry. "Cady, you need to come back," he compelled her gently. "Come on, we need to talk about it."

"Talk about what?" she quipped bitterly. "He's dead because he didn't matter enough to protect."

"Honey that's not true," Leo protested. "He had a lot of issues-"

"Like me?" she interrupted with a savage stare. "Are you going to say he just couldn't be helped dad? Is that it? Too crazy to be stopped? Is it the same for me then? Is it inevitable?" She shook her head in a sudden fury. "Damn it I'm sick of these games!" She stepped back from Leo and gestured down to the tiled floor with one hand. "This place is poison! It's all just politics and pawns!"

Leo glanced about their surroundings warily, C.J might have helped move the bulk of the people on but there were still too many White House workers listening in for Leo's liking. He gave Tom a hostile stare, recognising him as the Republican senator linked to the environmental bill changes Josh was heading.

"Cady enough," Leo said firmly. "I am sorry for the news and how it was delivered to you and I know how much it hurts you, I do. Please just come back with me and we'll talk about it because you need to talk baby girl."

Cadence shook her head as the tears continued to trickle down her cheeks. "Not with you two, you sent me to Colombia without protection, you made me lie, you got me hurt and you knew Benny was at risk, you knew people wanted him dead and you knew he was unstable but he didn't matter enough to either of you and now he's dead. I can't do it anymore dad, I keep trying to make a difference, to do good but there's only bad and it doesn't seem to stop."

Leo's eyes widened as Cadence talked about lying and he glanced to Tom again, willing the man to hurry up and leave already but he lingered, all the while watching Cadence with concern.

Cadence shook her head. "I should have never come back."

To whatever readers I have- This chapter went through so many rewrites. Am I overcomplicating this? I feel dramas and politics are complicated. I also feel, in a way, Cady deserves better than John but they do love each other in a very messed up way. I also feel, I'd like to end this fic soon but I would love to do a sequel, this really has been Season 1 focused, I mean how many fics could I do in this world? Good grief. I'd love to write Ainsley and Amy into it, I love them both.