Recap: Stephanie watches the crowd at the rally, Lester checks with Bobby to see how Ranger is doing, and Ranger prepares for the president to walk on stage.

Stephanie

I tried to keep an ear on the speakers, but focused 90% of my attention on the crowd. As more people came in I filtered through them, trying to see as many faces as I could without drawing attention to myself. The crowd pushed closer to the stage, making it easier to shuffle around without looking odd.

The speakers didn't start with POTUS, instead it was a parade of people running for congress, Senate, and some local party officials. The woman I'd seen standing at the entrance asked people to volunteer again, giving a rousing speech about being a part of the campaign and not feeling regret the day after the election. All the time I was watching the crowd, looking for something that didn't fit. An angry face in a sea of smiles, or perhaps someone acting nervous. But it was so damn hard to pick out the emotions in a group this large. Was that person rocking back and forth because they were scared and anticipating doing something violent? Or was it because they had been standing for two hours and their feet hurt?

A young man in a suit told his story of growing up in poverty. And then the U2's City of Blinding Lights blared and the crowd let out a roar. Out he walked onto the stage, the President of the United States.

He waved to the fans, loosened his tie, and smiled as the crowd cried out chants of 'O-Bam-A, O-Bam-a'. As the noise settled down he started talking.

"Hello, Philly! Hello, Philadelphia! Oh, it is good to be back in Philly."

I had to stop listening. I focused my attention on the crowd, feeling the vibe. It was warm and happy, then suddenly was filled with boos. I turned my head trying to figure out what had gone wrong, but everyone was still smiling, even as they yelled their disapproval.

"And we play Philly next Monday night. So I've got to stick with my team, but I am going to go to Philly and scout out what all the fuss is about."

Football. They were talking about football. Nothing to worry about. He shouted-out props to a few of the visiting politicians, and returned an 'I love you' from the crowd. I slowly walked from one place to another, trying to see as many people as possible. Then a group captured my eye.

A small collection of guys that looked like they came straight from a frat party were gathered in front of the media platform. They didn't cheer, or really seem to be paying attention to anything. I crept towards them, trying to make it look like I just wanted a better view of the stage.

When I was about 20 feet away they huddled their heads together. Panicking, I got ready to push people out of my way, when they donned red hats and started chanting and yelling. "Make America Great Again!" one yelled. "Trump the Bitch!" called another. "Build the Wall! Keep them Out" said a third.

If they were planning on doing anything other than make a nuisance they probably wouldn't be calling so much attention to themselves. Annoying, but not a security threat. I was about to turn my attention away when an old lady that couldn't be more than 5 feet tall shoved her way over to them and started stomping at their flip-flop clad feet with what looked like very sensible orthopedic shoes. They started hopping around, flailing and trying to avoid her. It looked like they were doing some kind of crazy dance. One of the Rangeman guys came over and spoke to them in a low tone. "OK guys, you've had your fun. Now it's time to go."

Faced with an old lady with the foot-speed of a tap dancer and a guy that looked like he was nothing but muscle and sunglasses, they scattered, hobbling over to the entrance, where someone let them out of the gate. Satisfied, Zip flashed me a grin and went back to his post, and I went back to scanning.

For a while nothing happened. Some talk about policy, why one candidate was better than the other. Then something caught my attention from the corner of my eye.

Bobby

Normally if you are working first aid at an event like this you get notice when someone is coming over the radio, or when the crowd parts. This time, however the notice came from the stage.

"We've got somebody who fainted. This is what happens. They'll be okay. Just give them a little room. Everybody bend their knees one time. Just don't lock your knees. Keep on bending them a little bit. We'll do a little exercise right now. EMS folks, they're right in front. If you can find somebody. Drink some water."

The crowd outside the tent started bending their knees like they were doing a full-body wave, bobbing up and down. A moment later some EMTs helped in a sheeping looking guy in his 50s. His face was pale, but otherwise he seemed uninjured. "Right this way sir," I said in my I'm-being-polite-but-I'm-in-charge voice. "Let's get you a cot so we can get your feet above your head."

Stephanie

I'd seen something, but I wasn't sure what. I scanned the crowd again, trying to figure out what had caught my attention. I pushed closer to the front. I knew what I had seen was there, I just didn't know what it was that set off my spidey-sense.

As I got closer to the front the crowd got denser and I couldn't move as easily. Everyone was jostling for position and noone wanted to let someone through. I still wasn't sure what I was looking for. Nothing looked out of place. Everything was normal.

Then it hit me. What I was seeing WAS normal. A perfectly normal baseball cap. Except that instead of a team logo, there was a number. A number 14. Could be a coincidence. Certainly plenty of players would wear a 14 on their Jersey, but it gave me someone to focus on.

All of the sudden the talking stopped, music came back on, and the President descended into the crowd. I tried to catch Ranger's eye, but he and 4 other people were crowding right behind the President as he started to work the rope line. I wasn't sure what to do. It was, after all, just a baseball cap. But Agent Mankiller had said the number 14 was used as code by white supremacists. Did I signal to move POTUS away over a baseball cap?

I shoved my way closer to the man, and time started to slow. He raised his arm, something white glinting in the sun. As he turned his head I saw what the backwards baseball cap had been hiding, tattoos on the back of his neck, including two S's in the shape of lightning bolts. I'd seen that symbol before, in the info I'd been studying all week. It was the SS flag, symbol of Hitler's secret police. It was enough.

"Ranger!" I yelled as loud as I could over the push of people and blaring music.

Ranger

Guarding POTUS is the most prestigious bodyguarding position in the world, and here I was, getting to do it. I was going to cross an item off my bucket list. In fact, as I'd gotten to cross off 4 other items in the past 2 weeks, guarding POTUS was at the top of the list. And the only one I could tell my mother about without giving her a heart attack. She might love that I was dating, but she really didn't want any kinky details.

I watched the people in front of me, hands reaching out, desperate for half a second of touch. Everyone not in the front row had up a camera phone. It was impossible to see more than two rows back with all the body parts waving around. The verbal chaos was immense, but there was one sound that could cut through any amount of noise for me.

"Ranger!" I heard Stephanie scream. I turned my head just in time to see her move. She was leaping in the air, and landed on the back of a tall man with an arm outstretched, holding something white.

"Gun!" I called out, then turned and tackled the leader of the free world to the ground.

Stephanie

I crashed into the man right as he was aiming, forcing his shot wide. It went off, but I couldn't see where.

And instantly there was panic. The crowd, which had a second before been happy and excited went straight to panic like they were emo fans at a disco. The mass of people surged in every direction. I could just make out the Secret Service guys rushing away in a tight blob.. Then I was shoved to the ground by the writhing horde, and could see nothing but scrambling feet.