Welcome to Bermuda

Situation Six: The Bermuda Pentagon

"Hey." Seth looked up at Aaron Shore suddenly feeling very small.

"Hi." The National Security Advisor raised his eyebrows. "What's up? You look like you just got caught with your hand in the candy jar."

"I do? I don't. I mean I didn't." Wright sputtered.

"Okay then?" The left side of Aaron's mouth pulled up into pained look.

"Something happened." Seth mumbled.

"With the press?" Aaron asked worriedly.

"No. With.. Emily." It sounded suspiciously like he was asking a question when he spoke.

"Oh." Aaron's face went flat for a second. "Yeah."

"That's all you have to say? 'Yeah.'" Seth murmured. "You don't even know what happened yet! Wait, do you?"

"I have a pretty good idea." Aaron sighed.

"I like good ideas." Lyor Boone chimed in as he joined them in their walk and talk.

"This really isn't-." Seth began.

"Emily got to him." Shore blurted.

"Oh." Lyor rolled his eyes a little.

"I don't think you two understand-."

"Let me guess, she looked at you with those beautiful brown eyes and gave you a little pout." Aaron almost sighed.

"Then she laid it on you." Boone finished.

"Wait-."

"It's a thing she does." Boone shook his head.

"Sorry Dude." Aaron clapped Wright on the back.

"How do you-?" Seth squeaked.

"It's usually after you've done something nice." Lyor raised an eyebrow. "I saved her ass with our old boss. She came to me all 'I don't know how to thank you Lyor. You're too good to me Lyor.'"

"It was after the thing with Hazelton." Aaron added.

"It's just something she does?" Seth felt sick.

"Yep." Lyor nodded as they stopped outside of the meeting room. He looked down the hall to where Potus was standing talking to an assistant. "You ever think she's-?" He nudged his shoulder towards the president.

"He's married." Seth blurted innocently.

"That's not a thing for everyone." Lyor shrugged.

"It would be for him." Aaron smirked, scratching his temple. "Kirkman's not like that."

"What are we talking about?" Kendra asked in a stage whisper.

"Nothing." Seth said quickly.

"The Emily thing." Lyor provided.

"Oh the thing with her dad?" Kendra's voice was empathetic.

"Sort of." Lyor nodded, with pursed lips. "But mostly the other thing."

"The kissing thing?" Kendra squinted her eyes up in surprise.

"Does everyone know?" Seth grimaced.

"Wait how do you know?" Aaron tilted his head with sudden interest. Kendra gave him a coy smile and he leaned his head closer.

"Lyor told me." She laughed. "In case it was a thing. Wait is it a thing?"

"That depends on Seth." Aaron chuckled, but Kendra looked at him in all seriousness.

"No. I don't think-. No it's not a thing." He stammered.

"Okay then." She grinned before sighing. "Poor Emily. Daddy issues make girls do stupid things." All three men turned to look at her in annoyance. "No offense boys."

"None taken." Seth sulked.

"Speak for yourself." Aaron muttered.

"She's my friend." Wright rubbed his face.

"She was my best friend at the time." Aaron comisorated.

"She was my only friend at the time." Lyor shrugged again.

"At the time?" Aaron asked flatly.

"Kendra's my friend." Lyor pointed at the other woman.

"Okay." Aaron quipped.

"Maybe that's why she's so invested in Kirkman." Kendra continued to muse. "Daddy issues?"

"That's…" Aaron's voice trailed off.

"Hey." Emily's voice snapped them all to attention. "Oh wow. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"You didn't." Kendra smiled.

"Is he still-?" Rhodes looked down towards the president.

"Talking? Yes." Lyor sighed.

Emily turned to Seth.

"Do you want to go to dinner after?" She asked him softly.

"Actually I've got plans." Seth lied.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I forgot."

"You forgot?"

"I still can't believe you forgot." Kendra said sharply, her eyes widening slightly when Seth looked confused. "You promised me last week we'd try the new Thai place."

"I thought you and I were going to-?" Aaron grumbled under his breath.

"I told you you could come too!" She snapped.

"Yeah, we're all going." Lyor said hopefully, Shore rolled his eyes.

"You should join us Emily." Kendra grinned.

The chief of staff looked at the four faces around her. Seth looked as uncomfortable as Aaron looked annoyed. Lyor just looked hopeful. Kendra, well Kendra looked almost mischievous. There was something in the glint of her eye that Emily found enticing.

"Thai food for five it is then." She gave Kendra shrug before starting into the meeting room.

"Great!" Lyor chirped.

"Great." Seth swore.

"I thought-." Aaron muttered.

"Stop pouting I'll make it up to you." Kendra told him in a quick whisper.

"I can think of something-." He wagged his eyebrows at her, guiding her into the room with his palm on the small of her back. She tilted her head back and looked at him.

"Get me drunk Aaron and I just might make out with her." She whispered.