Determinant: a gene or other factor that determines the character and development of a cell or group of cells in an organism.
Chapter 33: Interstices - Part Seven
The team heads to D.C. to brief the President. Jamie has a surprise for Mitch.
Jamie woke up before Mitch on Friday morning, though she didn't make a move to get out of bed. It was still dark out her window and she could hear Clem's soft breathing from the makeshift bed near the closet. Her family. It was still unbelievable to her sometimes. It had only been three days and, although she had understood what marrying Mitch meant, it was still weird to think of the girl as her step-daughter.
She was married. That thought was still new to her as well, and she reached over to fiddle with the ring on her left hand as she repeated the phrase over and over in her head. Married. She and Mitch were married. The ceremony had been short but sweet, not quite what she'd pictured as a child but no less perfect because of the man standing with her. She'd been surprised to see him in a suit, though her own nerves and excitement had quickly overwhelmed her curiosity. The faint strains of music emanating from Charlie's iPod had been enough to ground her and allow her to focus as Uncle Bo led her down the walkway.
The Greenbaughs had been kind enough to open their home for the after party. It was an expansive manor on a large plot of land. The front lawn was overgrown and the windows had been boarded up, but the backyard looked like it could be used as a model for a magazine. The lush green grass was clipped evenly in neat rows and large maple trees dotted the area, casting large shadows across the lawn. The Greenbaughs obviously weren't strangers to hosting a large party because in a matter of minutes they produced enough tables and chairs to seat everyone.
The party had lasted well into the evening, and Thomas kindly offered their home for everyone to stay the night. Jamie and Mitch had been given the guest house out back, a small cottage with one room and a kitchenette. They'd made good use of it, and the next morning both of them were teased endlessly about the dark circles under their eyes.
Things had settled back down once they drove home. Sam and his family had stopped by to say hello, and Jamie was surprised at the almost brotherly fondness between her cousin and Mitch.
"Hey," Mitch's rough whisper pulled her from her thoughts, and she burrowed into his warmth as he rolled toward her. "It's too early for that much thinking."
"Says the man whose brain never shuts off."
He hummed in reply and kissed her forehead. "What time is it?"
"Almost six," Jamie told him. Then, with a heavy sigh, she added, "We have to leave today."
"I know."
"What do you think Allison will say?"
His eyes cracked open at that, though she could barely tell. "About what?"
"About this," she ran her left hand down his arm and set it between them. "Us being married."
"I don't give a sh- I don't care what she thinks," he amended as she cleared her throat pointedly. Clem was probably asleep, and she was almost twelve, but it still felt weird. She supposed it was her newfound status as step-mother, but she was suddenly very self-conscious where the girl was concerned.
"I don't either," Jamie agreed. "But you and I both know she isn't going to just ignore it."
"We don't have to tell her," Mitch offered. "Do you want to keep it to ourselves for now?"
"No," Jamie balked at the idea. There was nothing to be ashamed of, and anyone who didn't like it wasn't worth the time it would take to tell them off. She could tell from Mitch's tone that he didn't like that either, and somehow knowing they were on the same page bolstered her. "No, I don't. I mean, it probably won't be the first thing I say to her, but I don't think we should lie if she asks. It's none of her business anyway."
"Good," Mitch's fingers curved around her hip and pulled her closer. "Full disclosure: it will probably the first thing I say to her."
Jamie rolled her eyes and stifled a gasp as he turned to his back, bringing her with him. She clutched at his shoulders to stay balanced, and once they had settled she was lying completely on top of him.
"Mitch," she hissed as he began kissing her neck. "Mitch, Clem is right there." She couldn't help the quiet moan that escaped her as his lips pressed firmly just below her ear.
"Can I help it if my wife is irresistible?" he murmured back, his teeth grazing her ear lobe lightly. Jamie felt her eyes flutter shut as a thrum of energy shot through her at his words. They'd both been surprised on their wedding night when he'd said something similar and Jamie had responded...arduously. He'd teased her later - cautiously amending it to "the 'w' word" lest she jump him again - and she'd laughed with him. She'd had no idea the effect that simple four-letter word would have on her, but every time it spilled from his lips she couldn't help herself.
She almost surrendered to his ministrations, but then Clem shifted under her blankets and they both stilled comically. She could hear Mitch's heart pounding under her own, their rhythms synced in a quick pace from passion and panic. The girl finally stilled with a heavy sigh, and her following breaths were shallow and even. She was still asleep.
"Too close," Jamie warned as she carefully pushed away from him and stood up. Her shirt rode up when she stretched, and Mitch's hand was warm as he caressed the soft skin of her stomach. "Behave." She swatted his hand away and left him in bed as she padded across the hall to the bathroom.
She paused at the top of the stairs to listen to the soft sounds of her aunt bustling about in the kitchen. Reese and Uncle Bo were probably already up and out tending to the morning duties that came with living on a farm. She knew from experience that they would return just after sunrise, and Uncle Bo would settle in his chair with a mug of coffee and the paper as Reese helped his mother with breakfast.
Jamie closed her eyes for a moment as a wave of nostalgia washed over her. Her teenage years had been fraught with grief and anger, and it killed her now to realize everything she'd missed back then by shutting herself away from the world. Looking back, she knew her childhood had been one full of love and happiness. She'd been lucky, though it hadn't felt that way back then. Between her mother's death and her father's abandonment, young Jamie had felt anything but lucky.
"You gonna stand there all morning?" Mitch was leaning against the door frame of her bedroom looking almost smug.
"Just thinking," Jamie whispered back, mindful of the still-sleeping occupants of the other two rooms on the second floor.
Mitch pushed away with his good shoulder and walked toward her. "About what?" He stopped behind her and wrapped both arms around her middle, tugging her back gently to rest against him.
Jamie laid her hands over his on her stomach and let her head fall back to his shoulder. She felt his lips press into her hair just above her temple as she relaxed in his embrace. "Growing up here," she told him honestly. "I was so awful to them after my mom died. I wish...I wish I could go back and tell myself how lucky I was to have such a great family. They all did so much for me, and I was so ungrateful."
"They know you love them," Mitch murmured in her ear. "They know it now, and they knew it back then. You were twelve, Jamie. No one blames you for being angry."
Jamie turned around and slid her arms over his shoulders to pull him into a hug. He seemed to sense her need to just be held, so he fell silent and obliged. After a few moments she felt them start to sway. It was just a small movement side to side, a barely noticeable shift of their weight between their feet, but she smiled anyway and let him lead her in an early morning dance there at the top of the stairs. It reminded her of their first dance as husband and wife - his panicked expression and clumsy stumble as she pulled him up out of his chair and onto the open area between tables that served as the dance floor. Charlie had been nominated the unofficial DJ, and Jamie hadn't even had to threaten him to play something nice. He hadn't disappointed.
"We should start getting ready." Mitch stilled their movements and stepped back. "Allison said the plane will meet us at ten."
Jamie was the first one downstairs after a quick shower. Fran greeted her with a bright smile and a kiss on the cheek.
"Good morning."
"Morning," Jamie returned.
"Sit down," Fran directed. "Breakfast will be ready in about twenty minutes. You want some orange juice or milk?"
"I'll get it," Jamie waved off her aunt's attempts to get her to sit and moved to the cupboard. "Thanks for letting us stay here."
"Oh, nonsense," Fran fussed and dried her hands on the dish towel near the sink before returning to the oatmeal cooking on the stove.. "It's been wonderful having you home again."
"Well, it's been wonderful being home again," Jamie smiled. She filled her glass with juice and sat down at the table. "You're sure it's okay for Dianne and Clem to stay while we're gone?"
"Of course! They're family." Fran turned around with a more serious expression. "Do you know how long you'll be gone?"
Jamie shook her head sadly. "I don't. A couple weeks, at least. Maybe a month? I have no idea."
"Well don't let them run you ragged," Fran pointed with her spoon, though none of the oatmeal on it slipped off onto the floor. "The good Lord knows you've done enough."
"I won't," Jame promised. "Honestly, I think Mitch is going to be the busiest of us. Everyone is going to want to know how he made the cure."
"Then you make sure to take care of him," Fran said. "Don't be afraid to use your trump card once in a while."
"My trump card?" Jamie inquired.
Fran just smiled knowingly. "You're his wife," she explained. "If he ever gets too busy and you think he needs a break, just tell him you miss him and you want to spend some time with your husband. He'll have to take some time off."
Jamie laughed. "Have you ever had to do that with Uncle Bo?"
"Oh heavens, yes," Fran sounded almost proud. "Works every time. Sometimes, he even feels guilty enough to buy me a present."
"Aunt Fran!"
"What?" the older woman chuckled. "Oh, it's a win for everyone, dear. But be careful, because that road goes both ways."
Jamie doubted that either she or Mitch would ever get so busy that they would forget about the other, but she filed the advice away anyway. It was weird to be getting marital advice from her aunt, and for a moment she was hit with the sad realization that it should have been her mom standing there talking to her about all of this. But as quickly as it had come, it faded. Her mom was gone, and Jamie had to stop living in the past. This woman had taken her niece in without hesitation and raised her like a daughter, and Jamie had taken her for granted for far too long.
Fran was surprised when Jamie wrapped her arms around her from behind, but she stopped stirring long enough to turn and hug her properly. "What's this for?"
"For always being there for me," Jamie spoke into her shoulder. "I know I was sort of a brat when I was younger, but you and Uncle Bo always treated me like I was one of your own. I'm really, really glad that you took me in after Mom died, and I love all of you so much."
Fran's arms tightened, and when she spoke again her voice was rough with tears. "Oh, sweet pea, we love you, too. You never have to thank us for taking care of you. You're family, and this will always be your home no matter how far away you are."
They stood there for a few more moments gathering themselves and drying tears, and as Uncle Bo and Reese walked in they were chatting about things Jamie had missed in Folsom in the years since she'd left for college.
Everyone else slowly trickled in throughout the morning, and by the time the sun was peeking over the treetops the kitchen was bustling with the activity of nine people and one rambunctious pup. Jamie was perched in Mitch's lap as they shared a plate, talking about their plans between bites.
"Allison sent me a very tentative itinerary," Mitch said. "We're briefing the President and his Cabinet on Saturday, then we fly to California on Sunday for a press conference at the Salk Institute on Monday. After that, we're supposed to go to Europe for 'an indefinite amount of time.'"
"I've always wanted to go to Europe," Fran said wistfully.
Jamie just snorted. "Our last visit was rather memorable, wasn't it?"
"Oh sure," Dariela agreed. "Wait, what are you referring to? Killer bugs in England, thousands of venomous spiders in Portugal or our chasing crazy-Jackson through the streets of Helsinki?"
"All of the above," Jamie laughed.
"Oh my," Fran sighed. "Jamie, I can't wait to read your book. I imagine it's going to be quite a story."
Mitch nudged her slightly with his free hand as he scooped another spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth. "How's that coming, by the way?"
"Slowly," she admitted. "But I think I've compiled enough to start writing. I've never written a book before. I have no idea what I'm doing."
"I'm sure you'll do fine," Bo said. "But it's about time for you to go."
Sure enough, it was nearing half past nine and they had to get to the airfield by ten. There was a flurry of activity as everyone finished up breakfast and gathered in the living room for a round of goodbyes. Mitch started with Jamie's family, so Jamie reached for Dianne first.
"Take care of each other," the older woman - her mother-in-law - whispered in her ear. "And keep in touch."
"Of course," Jamie promised. "We'll be back as soon as we can."
She moved from Dianne to Clem, pulling the girl tightly against her. In a moment of boldness, she dropped a kiss into her hair. "See you later, Clem." She wanted to say more, to tell her that she loved her, but she wasn't sure Clem was ready to hear it. They'd just met a couple weeks ago, and so much had changed for the girl in such a short time. Jamie was unsure how such a declaration would be perceived, but it was no less true for the hesitance she felt in uttering it.
Clem pulled back first. "Stay safe."
Jamie ran her fingers through the girl's hair affectionately. "We will.
Jamie hugged Reese just as Mitch released his hand. "It was good to see you," she told him. "Say goodbye to Charlie and Sam for me?"
"Sure thing." He squeezed her tightly, then let go. "Take care of yourself."
Jamie nodded and stepped up to her uncle. She melted into his embrace eagerly, soaking in the warmth and love he seemed to always exude. She would miss all of her family dearly, but her uncle had always held a special place in her heart - probably because he had been the one with the closest connection to her mother.
"You come back home soon, bug," he told her firmly. "I love you."
"Love you, too, Uncle Bo. Thanks for everything." She kissed his cheek quickly, earning a soft smile and a fatherly pat against her shoulder.
Fran was last, and Jamie had no words for the woman. They embraced quickly, and Jamie held on tightly as she felt Fran's shoulders shake beneath her hands. "We'll be back soon," she promised. "I'll be back before you know it."
"You just take care of that husband of yours," Fran wiped her eyes and stepped back. "And yourself, too. Be careful out there, and don't forget to call."
"I will," Jamie said. "I'll call you tonight after we land."
"Jamie." It was Jackson, his voice soft and apologetic. She nodded at him and wiped her own tears away as she joined the others by the door. Mitch was just releasing Clem, and Jamie wasn't surprised to see she wasn't the only one fighting to stay composed. Clem was leaning into her grandmother's side as her father walked away, and Jamie offered the girl an encouraging smile.
"Thank you for everything," Abe addressed the group. "We are grateful for your hospitality."
"You're very welcome," Fran tutted. "And don't be strangers. Our home is always open to you."
Jamie's friends chorused their thanks, then shuffled out the door quickly. The Hummer was a tight fit, but they agreed that taking one vehicle was better than two. Allison had been either unclear or unsure about sending their plane, and Mitch didn't want to risk leaving two cars unattended at the airport for an indefinite period of time. Reese had promised to retrieve the Hummer if they ended up in a plane that wasn't their own, and Mitch had gone with him the day before to make a copy of the key.
Jamie turned in her seat as Abe drove away, wanting to keep the farmhouse in her view for as long as possible. As they crested the hill and the house disappeared over the ridge, Jamie felt a jolt of homesickness that she hadn't felt since her first year of college.
She felt Mitch's hand slip over hers, and she laced their fingers together as she turned back around. "You alright?" he asked.
"Yeah," she sighed. "Let's get this over with so we can come back soon."
The plane waiting for them was most definitely not theirs, and Jamie shot a quick text to Reese to let him know to pick up the Hummer when he could.
"It looks small," Jackson commented as they unloaded their bags from the back of the car.
"It'll be a tight fit," Abe agreed, "but we'll manage."
It was a bit more spacious on the inside than it looked, but they were still a lot more cramped than they were used to. Their pilot introduced herself as Shannon Daugherty and told them they'd be taking off in just a few minutes.
"Not even a mini-bar," Mitch lamented as they buckled in. "Allison is definitely getting an earful when we get to D.C."
No one spoke as they thundered down the runway and lifted from the ground; it was entirely unlike any of their takeoffs with Trotter. The flight from Louisiana to Washington D.C. normally took almost two and half hours. Daugherty promised to shave as much time as she could, but there were storms over Tennessee that would likely detour them.
"It's fine," Jamie pulled out her laptop and powered it on. "That gives me time to go through the finer points of press briefings with all of you."
Allison met them on the tarmac as they deplaned. Jamie thought she might have looked a little more haggard than the last time she saw her, but that was probably to be expected. With the success of the cure, the Deputy Secretary of Defense was likely at the forefront of all operations. It had been her team, after all, no matter how much Jamie hated the idea.
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Allison dove right into business as they were ushered toward a large stretch sedan. It was standard issue black - and probably bulletproof, Jamie mused as they slid into the plush interior. The ride to the Capitol was short, but Jamie could tell so much had changed in the few weeks since their last visit. There were more people out, for one. People were slowly beginning to pick up their lives again, learning how to navigate this new world as they tried to restore some semblance of normal for themselves. Grocery store lots were half-full, and there were even people playing in a park.
"Things are slowly getting back to normal," Allison told them. "But there are still a lot more questions than answers."
"Well, that's what we're here for," Mitch quipped. "Just point us in the direction of the grand council or whatever it is and let's get this over with."
"It isn't that easy," Allison snapped. It was clear she was still miffed about Mitch's rather abrupt exit last week. Jamie resisted the urge to interject on his behalf; he could hold his own against Allison just fine. "The President and his Science Council came to me last week with a litany of questions that I couldn't answer. That's why I needed you all. We can't begin to move forward without knowing how exactly we got here."
"You want us to tell our story?" Abe asked pointedly. "All of it?"
"Yes," Allison nodded as she unlocked her tablet and began swiping through emails. "And don't worry about those NDA's you signed. The President has already ordered for a compelled disclosure in the interest of national security."
Jackson perked up in his seat. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Allison looked up from her screen briefly, "that the non-disclosure agreements you signed are now null and void."
Jamie reeled at the implications of Allison's words. Reiden no longer had a hold over them; they were free to tell their story. Still, there was something Allison wasn't saying, and it took a moment for the pieces to connect in Jamie's head.
"Thank you, Allison."
Her suspicions were confirmed the moment the other woman looked up. She didn't insult Jamie's intelligence by feigning ignorance, but neither did she openly accept her gratitude. Instead, she just returned her attention to her emails and let the matter drop. It was the best Jamie could probably hope for.
They pulled into a parking garage ten minutes later, and there were about a dozen Secret Service members standing around in various stages of alertness. It could only mean one thing - the President was on the premises.
"What's he like?" Jamie whispered to Mitch as they were escorted into an elevator by two agents and an aide.
"The President?" Mitch shrugged. "Uh...he's, presidential. I don't know, you've seen him on the news. He's like that."
None of them uttered a word after that as they were rushed through a dizzying series of hallways. They passed groups of men and women in uniforms or expensive clothes talking in hushed tones, and more than once the whispering stopped as they walked by. Jamie felt the curious stares on her back as Allison and the aide led the procession to a set of heavy oak double doors.
Jamie had heard the term "war room" before, but this was the first one she'd ever seen in person. A large square table sat in the center, its dark wood gleaming under the fluorescent light overhead. Eight identical chairs surrounded it, their black wire frames selected for function rather than form. Banks of computers lined one wall, though only a few were manned at the moment. The opposite wall was covered floor to ceiling with a map of the country. Closer inspection revealed that it was, in fact, one large smart screen. There were several regions on the map highlighted in various colors - probably to indicate the danger level at each of those locations - and Jamie wasn't surprised to see most of the major cities with large red circles around them.
A round table sat near the back corner, and it was here that a small group of people had gathered. The aide that had been escorting them gestured for them to wait, and he stepped forward a few more paces to address the group.
"Mr. President?"
The crowd parted, and there he was. Jamie was hit with a sort of surreal wave of disbelief as he stepped forward with a tired smile. The aide introduced them as "Miss Shaw's Team," but Jamie was too overwhelmed to be offended.
"Welcome back, Dr. Morgan," the President extended his hand toward Mitch who took it briefly. "And thank all of you for coming. Secretary Shaw has told me all about your work. I have to say, it's quite an incredible tale. The world owes all of you a great debt."
Surprisingly, it was Dariela who answered. "Thank you, sir." She was ramrod straight as her military training kicked in and she stood at perfect attention.
"At ease, Lieutenant," the President smiled, then turned to Allison. "Have they been given accomodations yet?"
"Not yet, Mr. President," Allison spoke so deferentially it was hard to believe it had been her who had spoken. "We wanted to introduce them to you first."
"Very good," he nodded. "I believe your briefing is tomorrow at nine o'clock. We're all looking forward to hearing more about the cure and your adventures." He turned back to his advisors and was immediately drawn into the conversation again, leaving the team standing alone with Allison and the aide.
"Come on," Allison gestured toward the door. "We'll get you settled in your rooms."
The door shut behind them as they exited, and Jamie felt her shoulders relax. She hadn't realized she was nervous, but now that it was over she could feel the jitters that suddenly left her. Next to her, she saw Abe and Jackson loosen up as well.
"I thought you already briefed the President," Jamie leaned over to whisper to Mitch.
"I did," he said. "But it wasn't anything in depth. I talked to the Council once, but that was just to let them know that the cure had worked, that the animals weren't a threat any longer, and that we had a whole new problem to face now." Jamie knew he was talking about the worldwide sterility problem that affected every human on the planet. "Honestly, I'm surprised he remembered me. Our meeting was brief and uneventful. And I left rather abruptly the next morning."
"Where are we going?" Abe spoke up from the back of the group, his deep voice echoing off the walls.
Allison glanced over her shoulder quickly. "There's a tunnel system that will take us to the hotel across the street. We've already set up rooms for you."
Jamie raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. I wonder if the public knows the government has a series of secret tunnels beneath the city."
Allison stopped at that and turned with a stern glare. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you that anything you see or hear within these walls is strictly confidential, and in the interest of national security you will not utter a word about it. Is that understood?"
Jamie had mostly been joking, but Allison's severe tone set her hackles up. She returned the woman's icy stare with one of her own. "Of course."
"We need to focus on the important matters," Allison whirled around and continued leading them through the halls. "There's a packet in each of your rooms that gives you the rundown of your schedule, as well as the talking points we'd like you to focus on. You won't be talking to the press - not yet, anyway. We need to make sure we have a full grasp of all of the information before we unintentionally start a mass panic."
She opened a door using her keycard, and the slate gray concrete walls beyond were a jarring change from the wood paneled corridors they had just come down. It was noticeably cooler in the tunnel, though that was to be expected as they walked beneath the city street. Jamie shivered slightly from the temperature change and hoped no one had noticed.
If anyone thought six people exiting a nondescript door into the lobby of the hotel was odd, they didn't show it. The man behind the desk barely looked up, offering Allison a feeble wave as they passed him on their way to the elevators.
They rode in silence up to the top floor, which could apparently only be accessed via keycard. Jamie thought about making a joke about going out for dinner and not being able to get back to their rooms, but decided against it. Allison didn't look like she was in a joking mood.
"You have the whole floor," Allison said as they stepped off the elevator into a second smaller lobby. Unlike the rest of the hotel, there were no long hallways dotted with doors. Instead, the entire center area was a circular communal space with couches and chairs. A large television was mounted on the back wall, and several complicated looking remotes sat on a small coffee table in front of the middle couch. Three doors sat on each curved wall on either side, no doubt leading to spacious suites given the size of the hotel they were in. A small hallway sat just to the left of the elevator, and Jamie caught a glimpse of a small conference room through an open door as Allison breezed into the center of the sitting area.
"The room doors don't lock," she told them. "Each one has its own en suite bathroom that does, though. I'll be by around eight o'clock tomorrow to go over any questions you have. Get a good night's sleep and be ready." She turned to leave, but Dariela blocked her path.
"Hang on," she held out her hands to stop Allison's exit. "You can't just leave us here. What about meals? Or clothes?"
Allison turned and pointed to a small white telephone mounted on the wall next to the elevator. "That phone connects you to someone at the front desk. They can bring you anything you need. Only two people in this hotel have access to this floor, and they've both been vetted thoroughly by Secret Service. As for clothes…" she trailed off and glanced at the rest of them. "I'm guessing none of you brought appropriate attire?"
"Appropriate for what?" Jackson asked.
Allison looked exasperated, and Jamie could hear the derision in her tone as she answered. "For addressing the President and his Cabinet. At the very least, you should comb your hair."
"Okay," Mitch stepped up and cut in before things could get ugly. "Look, we're here because you asked us. And not nicely, either, I might add. So instead of being nasty, perhaps you should be grateful and find us something wear that isn't jeans and t-shirts. Because I have absolutely no problem standing up in front of a large crowd of high-ranking officials in my sneakers."
Allison stared him down for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Send me your sizes and I'll send someone out to get something for you."
Jamie could tell by the looks on her friends' faces that they were as enthusiastic about that solution as she was. "Why can't we just go shopping ourselves? We have the time."
"No, you don't," Allison corrected. "You need to familiarize yourself with the information in your packets."
"We lived it," Jamie shot back. "I'm pretty familiar with it."
But Allison was done with their little game. "Despite what you may think, I actually don't have the time to stand here and argue. This is how things are right now. I'm sorry if it feels inconvenient, but we're trying to restore order to an entire country. To the world. Your fashion choices aren't exactly high on my priority list. Someone will be by later." She stepped around Dariela and into the elevator before anyone else could protest.
"I think she's warming up to us," Dariela joked, earning her wry smiles from the rest of them.
"We should probably find our packets," Abe reasoned. They picked rooms and set their stuff inside, swapping their luggage for the bland manila folders sitting on the beds. Each room only had one, so Jamie and Dariela grabbed two from the spares and met the others in the central area.
Sometime later the elevator dinged, and the doors opened to admit a rather mousy looking man with styled black hair and a nice suit. He was on the young side - maybe a few years behind Jamie - but he looked competent enough. He fidgeted with the strap of the messenger bag hanging across his chest as he stepped out and introduced himself.
"Miss Shaw sent me to assist you," he spoke quickly in spurts, like he was used to someone interrupting him all the time. "I'm David, David Grier."
"Come in," Jackson beckoned, gesturing to an empty chair.
David crossed the space in long strides and sat on the very edge of the cushion as he pulled a tablet from his bag. "Miss Shaw said I should let you shop from the store's website and I'll go pick it up later." He handed the device to Jackson and let his hands fall into his lap, his fingers laced together tightly to keep from moving. He looked so high-strung, though if he worked for Allison it was probably hard not to be a little stressed out all the time.
Dariela stood up and grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge under the television. She tossed it to David, who barely managed to catch it. "Relax kid."
He did, but just barely. When it was Jamie's turn to select her outfit she browsed the business section thoroughly. She'd never addressed anyone as prominent as the President and his advisors; she guessed her usual working attire wouldn't cut it. In the end, she selected a simple skirt and blouse combo that she thought looked super boring but professional. She added shoes and pantyhose, then went ahead and ordered a makeup kit just in case. Satisfied that she'd gotten everything, she passed the tablet off to Dariela and turned to David.
"So how long have you worked for Allison?"
"Uh, t-two, no, three years," he stammered.
Mitch let out a humorless laugh. "Wow, that long? Usually it takes her a lot less time to break someone's will to live."
"Mitch," Jamie hissed at him, then turned to David with an apologetic smile. "Sorry."
"No," David shook his head and seemed to relax a fraction. "She can be...demanding. But she knows what she's doing and she has good connections. My parents don't understand why I put up with everything, but if I want to get anywhere in this town I have to pay my dues."
"So what do you do for her, other than run her errands?" Mitch asked snidely.
"Keep up with her schedule," David ticked off points with his fingers, "answer the phone, proofread her reports, that sort of thing. It's not glamorous work, but it'll pay off in the end."
Jamie could sense Mitch was going to follow that up with something less than kind, so she jumped in before he could say anything. "Where are you from?"
"Pennsylvania, originally," David answered. "My folks still live in Allentown."
"Done," Dariela brandished the tablet proudly toward David.
He took it and glanced at the screen for a moment before nodding. "I should be back in a couple of hours with this." He stood and shoved the tablet into his bag. "It was nice meeting all of you." He scampered away almost comically fast, and Jamie glared at Mitch.
"What?"
"You scared him," she chided softly, then stood. "David, wait." Jamie closed the distance between them and pitched her voice low so her friends couldn't hear. "Could you maybe pick something else up for me?"
She spoke with him a few more minutes, detailing exactly what she needed, then thanked him profusely as the elevator arrived and he stepped inside. When she joined her friends, they were all staring expectantly.
Mitch beat the others to the question. "What was that?"
"Nothing," Jamie shrugged as she sat down. "I just asked him to pick up something else for me."
"What?"
"Something personal."
Mitch looked positively delighted. "Please tell me you just ordered lingerie on the government's dime."
Jamie just rolled her eyes and opened her folder, ready to pick up where they'd left off at David's interruption. It was tedious, and more than once they had to take a break before they argued themselves in circles, but by the end they all felt more comfortable with the material and they had a rough idea of how the meeting would go.
David returned a little over two hours after he'd left. The poor boy was laden with shopping bags, and Jackson rushed to help him as he stumbled off the elevator.
"Men always gotta make it in one trip," Dariela quipped.
"Give the poor boy a break," Jamie laughed. "It's like twenty stories one way."
They divvied everything up and laughed at Mitch's expression when he realized there was, in fact, no lingerie to be found. Jamie had found the small bag quickly and stuffed it under her clothes before anyone saw. When she scooped it all up into her arms, it was tucked safely beneath her bundle. She was halfway to her room when Jackson asked where she was going.
"Gotta try it all on," she said by way of explanation.
Abe sighed as Dariela disappeared into their room to do the same. "I hope it all fits for David's sake."
Jamie shut the door behind her and dumped her clothes on the bed. She grabbed the bag and pulled the item out, smiling as she inspected her secret purchase. Realizing Mitch could walk in at any moment, she tucked it into her pocket and set to the task of trying on the outfit she'd picked out.
Dinner passed in much the same way it always had with her friends when they had down time - lots of laughs and semi-embarrassing stories. Jamie listened to Mitch's horrific homecoming tale and tried not to laugh too hard. Jamie had gone to homecoming with her friends, and had even spent an enjoyable portion of the evening with her sweetheart. Mitch had reluctantly taken his mother's coworker's demanding daughter, and Jamie could guess how it had turned out.
"Did you kiss her goodnight?" Dariela was reclined in her chair, one hand resting on her stomach and other other curled around a glass of water.
"God no," Mitch shook his head sharply. "I didn't even turn off my car. Just got out, walked her to her door and left."
"At least you didn't kick her out at the curb," Jackson chortled.
Mitch finished the rest of his soda in one long swallow. "Believe me, I thought about it."
"Alright," Jamie stood and stretched. "I'm gonna turn in. What time do we have to be up?"
"Allison said she'd be here at eight," Abe reminded her.
That meant Jamie needed to be up by six-thirty. "Ugh. Fine. Goodnight."
"I'll be there in a bit," Mitch told her, standing to kiss her as she passed. "I'm gonna help Jackson clean up."
Jamie slipped into her pajamas, brushed her teeth, washed her face and made it all the way to the bed before she remembered her prize. She dug through her clothes until her fingers curled around it. She pulled it from her pocket and stared at it for a moment as though it held the secret to cure the butterflies that had suddenly sprung up in her stomach. She slid under the covers still holding onto it, and she didn't bother trying to hide it as the door opened and Mitch came in.
"Hey," he whispered.
"Hey." She watched him as he stripped down to his boxers, going through almost the same routine she had to get ready for bed. She was on her side facing him when he laid down, and his eyes immediately fell on her clenched fist.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh? Oh nothing," she propped herself up on her other elbow and turned her hand over. "This is what I had David pick up today. And don't worry, I gave him my own money to buy it. Well, it was Uncle Bo's money, but I promised him I'd pay him back." Her fingers relaxed, opening to reveal the small silver ring inside. "I have one, I figured you needed one, too."
In the dim yellow light from her bedside lamp she saw the emotions play across his face. Surprise, delight, love. Then he laughed and held out his left hand expectantly, and Jamie's earlier nervousness faded away. She slipped it on his third finger easily, but before she could retract her hand he grasped it and used it to pull her closer. She settled against his chest and kissed him, humming as his hand let hers go to rest against her cheek. It was one of the things she loved most about him, how he kissed her with his whole body. His hand that always seemed to cradle her face as though she were made of porcelain. His body angling just the right way to fit her against him perfectly. His lips that pushed and pulled against hers, never demanding or obsequious, but always a willing and eager partner.
She felt a familiar jolt of emotion pulse through her, and she reluctantly broke their kiss with a groan. "We have to get up early."
Judging from his blown pupils and quick breaths, her reasoning had fallen on deaf ears. "Or we could just take a nap tomorrow." His fingers were dancing across her pulse point, rendering the voice in her head silent. She tried to argue, knowing how horrid both of them were in the mornings after little to no sleep, but then he leaned in with a wicked grin and whispered against the shell of her ear. "We are still newlyweds, you know. We have a reputation to uphold."