Although they did not realise it, the two men, ordinarily polar opposites, had the same motivation right now, to get through the next foreseeable moments for her. John Hoynes and Tom Landis both sneaked a glance at the oblivious her of their attention, Cadence McGarry, as they headed to the stage to address the wolves.
Cadence had her head bowed momentarily, fidgeting with her hands as she wished for a piece of paper that she could manipulate into a creature. She headed with a Secret Service agent to sit on the sidelines, to the right of the stage and back from the bulk of the crowd.
The young woman flinched as she heard the cameras click and felt their flashes even as she avoided meeting their blank eyed lenses. She took her seat quickly, almost falling into it rather than sitting as she felt a surge of panic rise into her chest and sit uncomfortably there. She clenched the edges of her seat and tried to channel her breathing as a ringing started to fill her ears and block out the chatter of the journalists.
Cadence looked up and saw Tom's worried stare as he glanced back to her. The last thing he needed was to be distracted by her. She made herself give a reassuring smile and even offered a discrete thumbs up as she kept her hands level with her seat.
Tom gave a weak smile back, his mouth rising up unevenly at the corner as it always did. Cadence adored Tom's crooked smile, seeing it settled the stiffness in her chest slightly and had her regulating her breathing better.
John felt a hint of nerves as he eyed up his hungry audience but he kept it hidden. Charm came easy to the Vice President and this was far from the first time he had dealt with a hostile press gathering. Hell, he'd become a regular at them thanks to Jed sending him out as some sort of scapegoat or sacrifice to the unhappy media when it suited him, sometimes with a biting comment about John wanted to court the media if he protested.
John smiled and offered a placating wave and nod to the journalists, noting with amusement how many faces he recognised and wondering how fast they had jumped on the planes from their temporary base in Austin to get out here so quickly. Even Danny Concannon had joined them. John could visualise C.J's rage quite easily and even clearer came the rage he knew the President would have for him for pulling this stunt without notice or asking permission. John hoped it would count for something that he was doing it to fix a mess in their party and to help mend the broken relations it had caused between Cadence and the Democrats.
"Good afternoon," John greeted politely. "Welcome to Alexandria in the beautiful state of Virginia and thank you for coming. I, as I hope you are aware, am the Vice President John Hoynes." He smiled to show he joked rather than bragged, which earned him a couple of chuckles in between cameras flashing. "And this is Tom Landis," John gestured to Tom with his right hand, " a former Congressman and perhaps a Senator to be." John lowered his hand and took a second to gage the audience's reaction to those words.
There were a few murmurs as pens and pencils scribbled on notepads whilst microphones and heads inched forward.
"We are here today to address the leaking of incorrect information to yourselves."
"Why are you together?"
John resisted the urge to frown as he glanced down to Danny. No surprise the question came from him, with a hint of a grin on his mouth and a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. Danny was a senior White House correspondent, meaning he sat in the central home of politics irregardless of the leading party but certain articles of his held a tone to suggest two things, one- he was a Democrat, and two- he did not like the current V.P much. John knew these two things well and wondered how they might affect Danny's report on today's broadcast.
"A member of our party gave you one opinion on this matter. Unfortunately, he did so in retaliation to the information leaked without fact checking it. I want the public to be clear of the facts on this matter and to not misconstrue opinions for facts."
John held up his hand and offered out another calming smile when the hands shot up as expected. "Please, hold your questions for the end."
John lowered his hand and looked to Tom expectantly. "I'm going to let Tom tell you about his family now." With a sterner gaze John turned his attention back to the journalists. "I would compel you to give him your attention and your respect. He has already been robbed once of his chance for talking about it, let's not make it twice."
John dipped his head and took a conscious step back from the podium of microphones. He had requested a singular podium on purpose. John didn't want sides today- left, right, wrong, he and him, us and them, Democrat, Republican, Cadence's past and Cadence's present.
John clasped his hands behind his back and tried to spy Cadence out of the corner of his eye without turning his head. He could just about make out the brunette blur of her hair on the peripheral of his vision but there was no guessing at her expression.
Cadence had her stare fixed upon Tom as she hoped that he could somehow sense her support. Nausea crept up her as her stomach started to tighten into nervous knots. She had imagined this conference a hundred times over now, visualising the worst ways it could go in the hopes that maybe if she imagined them she could deal with them if they came true.
"Afternoon," Tom greeted the room politely in a more muted tone than John's. There was no missing the sombreness his striking blue stare had taken on or how unease had sapped the colour from his skin leaving his face as drained as his voice.
"I'm going to tell you all how my family lost their lives. There will be certain details missing, some because I was not there and some because they have been sealed from the public and will likely remain that way until their killers are caught. I do this, not to clear any ill feelings there may be towards me on the matter nor to earn some sort of sympathy vote in this election but to ensure you know the truth for their sakes and the sakes of their living relations who have been through enough without rumours muddying truth."
Tom paused for a moment and took a grip of the wooden podium with both hands as if to anchor himself to it.
"There was a family gathering at my parents' house for a dinner close to the holidays. My parents, my sister, my brother-in-law and my nephew were all in attendance and waiting for me. While they were waiting there was an intrusion by people looking to rob me because I had what they felt was a lot of money and they wanted it, nothing more complicated than that. I was named for my father, only he was Thomas and I Tom, though he went by Tom plenty enough to his friends. They mistook his house for mine and when they became aware of their mistake they became very angry. Realising I should be due to join the dinner they decided to wait me out."
Tom lowered his head to the microphones briefly and sucked in a breath. He cursed internally as the mikes picked up the sound of his laboured breathing. He lifted his head to face judgement once more, steeling himself to the lenses that winked back at him.
"I was with a woman, not paying attention to the time or considering that I should let my family know of my whereabouts or delay. These people waiting for me grew impatient and they started to hurt my family. I have been advised there was an attempt to call me but it went unanswered. I can say quite honestly that I do not know if I ignored it or just didn't hear it, either way it is a regret I live with every day. When I didn't show they chose to take it out on my family."
Tom fixed an unhappy gaze onto the journalists. "My father, mother, sister and brother-in-law all died that day under violent circumstances. My nephew survived but it is not thought that it was the assailants' intentions to leave him alive. If I had shown maybe they would have all lived. I can't know that, no one can. To this day the people that committed these killings are still free."
Tom bobbed his head slightly in a weak nod and released the podium. "Those are the facts."
The hands shot up and voices immediately started shouting questions over each other. Tom stood there numb, unable to take in the faces anymore as everything seemed blurred before him.
John stepped forward again when Tom failed to respond. His hand was about Tom's shoulder in a loose, sympathetic embrace before he even realised it. Only when he saw the shock written across every reporter's face did he realise what he had done.
"Those are the facts," John repeated kindly, "not speculation, theories or opinions. A colleague of mine spoke of secrets and said to represent the public we must have honesty, morality, selflessness and an unwavering sense of justice. What he neglected to point out was that Tom didn't hide this from you, no one was good enough to come and ask him about it."
Tom felt himself tense under John's hand, loathing the touch even as he appreciated it. It was a quandary, John Hoynes was actually supporting him but that didn't exactly undo the grief he had caused between Tom and Cadence.
Danny's hand rose up as his stare darted from Tom to John and back again.
John nodded to him. "Yes Danny?"
"Are you representing the White House today sir? That is, does the White House support Mr Landis' run for the Senate?"
John gave the best pleasant smile he could muster even as he wanted to yell expletives back at the reporter. "I am not Danny. I am here as a friend, irregardless of political allegiances friends support one another."
John turned his gaze upon Tom, warm and yet with a stern edge to it warning Tom not to expose this information as false.
"Tom, as you are all aware, is dating my aide Cadence McGarry and it is through this relationship that we have become acquainted. As a friend I very much hope that Tom will get a fair run for the Senate without any more backhanded tactics such as one-sided story leaks interfering with it."
John stilled himself and his smile became tainted with bitterness as he visualised the obituary Jed would probably write for his career.
Tom offered up a sardonic smile to John before flashing a more sincere one to the reports. He had almost tasted vomit when John had used the word 'friend' and felt a heated urge to punch the V.P.
"I hope everyone running for Senate has a fair run," Tom said, his tone now firm with confidence. "In the end it is for the people to decide who can best represent them."
"So you're still running then?" another reporter queried.
Tom nodded. "I am."
"And do you have any words for your opponent Judge Markway?"
Tom's smile widened. "I hope the people can remind us both what makes a good judge of character."
The reporters chorused with questions again but Tom waved them off.
"I have no more to add," he insisted, "except to thank you for taking the time to listen to me."
He turned away from them and felt relief as John's hand left him. Seeing Cadence had his smile lighting up with warmth as he hastened towards her.
Cadence rose from her seat and embraced Tom quickly. She blushed slightly as she glimpsed photographers intruding upon their tender moment.
"I'm proud of you Tom," she said gently.
Tom kissed her lightly on the cheek. He resisted voicing his feelings that he had just made a bed with the devil standing on stage with John. It wasn't Cadence's fault he had agreed to this and he couldn't deny that it had probably helped his career.
Tom took Cadence's hand in his and squeezed gently before turning back to John with a barely concealed reluctance. He knew it would be rude to quit the room without the Vice President.
John smiled at the pair before standing beside Cadence's other side much to Tom's irritation.
The headed out from the room in the safety of the Secret Service agents, slipping out a back corridor and then out a back door to escape the hotel. There would be no staying here with the press aware of them.
"Well," John said cheerfully as they exited to fresh air. "I must rush back for my execution now." He looked to Cadence. "Are you coming with me Cady or will you follow after?"
Cadence glanced to Tom as expected.
Tom braced himself for Cadence suggesting that she go to help the V.P defend himself against the President's wrath. He could understand it but he hated the thought of it as it had him wondering what kind of feelings she still had for her former lover.
"I'm here to support Tom," Cadence said. She looked back to John gratefully. "Give me a few days and then I'll rejoin the party."
John nodded before giving a mocking smile. "Well let's hope the President still permits me to hold office then."
"Thank you," Tom said quickly. "You didn't have to do this."
John glanced from Cadence to Tom and then back to Cadence. "I did." His blue stare focused back on Tom. "You and I have our differences and make no mistake, I hope you lose the Senate seat because if you win it's a loss for my party but you have worked hard for this and the fight should be fair. What Markway did was dishonourable."
"You're admitting he leaked the story then?"
John frowned at the query. "Well neither of us can prove it but I'm sure we both suspect it."
Tom nodded agreeably before extending out a hand reluctantly. He told himself he could stomach one more moment of contact with the man since he was leaving.
John grasped the hand and shook it briefly. "We're friends now Landis, let's live up to that for the press or we'll both be out of a career."
Tom jerked his hand back as he felt a roll of revulsion. Anger bubbled in him as he saw the glimmer of amusement in John's blue stare. "Sure, long-distance friends."
Cadence glanced from Tom to John with uncertainty, knowing she had missed something between them.
"Goodbye John," she said warmly, "and thank you."
"Goodbye Cady, I'll see you soon." John smiled again at Tom. "Bye Landis."
"Goodbye." Tom didn't bother with a title or name, loathing how John had said 'I'll see you soon' to his girlfriend as he wondered at the implication in those words.
Tom couldn't believe that Cadence had any sexual relations with John anymore, she had been adamant about that but it didn't mean John had abandoned the notion of further relations with the woman. Tom felt certain that the V.P had brought her back into his life not just for her skills but to attempt to start up another steamy affair with her.
John nodded to the pair before he turned and headed off with his Secret Service agents for a waiting car to take him to the airport.
Cadence tensed as she felt a moment of vulnerability with the guards gone. She stepped into Tom subconsciously as the outdoors had her feeling exposed.
Tom wrapped an arm about his girlfriend and gave her a squeeze. "Let's get out of here. I've a car waiting at the front, we'll go to a nice hotel, you can have a hot bath and we can order room service and watch whatever cheesy movie you want and hide from the world for a bit, what do you think?"
Cadence smiled up at Tom gratefully. "I think that sounds good."
"Leo I want his resignation for this!" Jed's anger came out in an explosion of words as he stormed into one of the many rooms his staff has secured for White House personnel access only.
Leo glanced up from the desk he had cluttered with paperwork and gave a half-hearted nod. The live broadcast the Vice President and Tom Landis had hosted had gone out about three hours ago. It was still early yet to guess at the ramifications of it and Leo wasn't quite ready to decide it was a disaster.
"Now Jed," Abbey's calmer voice called as she followed after him, "you're overreacting. I agree, John should have told you what he was planning but we both know you wouldn't have permitted if he had."
Jed whirled round to face his wife with a biting rage burning in his gaze. "No," he said sardonically, "I don't think I would have permitted going up live in front of half the press to announce a friendship with a Republican, in election season!" Jed's voice gave way to anger once more as he pointed at the ground repetitively in emphasis to his words.
Abbey shook her head, unperturbed by his anger. "He wouldn't have to do it if Judge Markway hadn't insulted Tom the way he did."
"Tom?" Jed balked at his wife's familiarity for the Republican.
Abbey placed her hands on her hips, creasing her bronze skirt slightly. "Yes Jed, Tom." Abbey's stern stare searched past her husband to seek out Leo. "A lovely man who had been through an unspeakable tragedy and somehow come out the other side of it and been able to help Cady through her troubles as well. Tom deserves a fair chance at the Senate and you know it and thankfully and surprisingly, John has given that chance back to him."
Jed shook his head crossly. "Any other time of year sure but not when I'm trying to run for a second term and the House and Senate are both Republican!"
Everyone in the room glanced up at the door opened quickly again. Josh Lyman came rushing into the room clutching at piece of paper.
"Sir," Josh said as he hurried over to Jed. "I know Toby's talking damage control speeches and distancing ourselves from the V.P but you need to see this first."
"What is it?" Jed glanced down at the sheet of paper Josh thrust before him.
"It's the recent take on the polls, as accurate as half an hour ago," Josh explained. "The Vice President's points just soared sir, he's not only more popular than he's ever been with the public but he's finally past the Republicans in Texas."
Jed glanced up to Josh in disbelief and then back down to the sheet.
The sound of a phone ringing broke up the silence that had descended on the rest of the room. A staffer snatched it up quickly and answered.
"Josh," the staffer said as they looked over to the Deputy Chief of Staff. "It's for you."
Josh gave the president an apologetic smile before hurrying over to the waiting phone. "Josh Lyman," he greeted as he accepted it.
"I believe I'm about to win our bet over who get can get the most votes in Texas," Cadence's voice answered mockingly.
Josh cracked a smile before he could help it though he was very glad he couldn't see it. "Cady," he answered calmly. He rubbed the side of his cheek with one finger and glanced over to Jed and then Leo to see if they had heard the name. They had.
"You remember, three days of campaigning and then we'd get an independent adjudicator to take a poll and see who was ahead in Texas, John or Jed," Cadence said. "Well maybe you haven't seen the polls yet-"
"I have," Josh admitted.
"Then you know it's John."
"Yep. Well played Cady." Josh gave a brief laugh. "When are you coming back so we can a rematch? We're still in Texas after all."
Cadence laughed too. "I don't think you're going to catch us. Let's just say at long last, it's the Vice President who's going to take this party to a win. Except in Virginia," Cadence's voice filled with a cheerful cockiness, "have you seen those polls?"
Josh's smile widened and he nodded. "I did Cady, tell Tom congratulations from me." Hearing Leo give a pointed grunt he wilted slightly. "Just from me I think," he added sheepishly.
"I will, bye Josh."
I'm sorry this took so long guys! The truth is I've been busy working on my own original stories lately, one is now up on Amazon whilst the others are on Wattpad. I've always wanted to be an author and I've really wanted to get my own work out there. That being said, I can't forget my fanfics or the fans they've gained. I appreciate all of you and hope I can keep going with this.