Irritation swelled through his body as he entered the building. The campaign was over, re-election was theirs and he was supposed to be on vacation; yet again he was sacrificing his personal life for the sake of his country. One failed engagement, one failed father-son relationship, one failed marriage and a long friendship that was being sorely tested was just about enough. He had long gotten over his failed engagement with Lisa; hind sight had proved that it would never have worked. With his father, now dead and gone, he would never get the chance to repair what his father had essentially broken. Eighteen months post-divorce and things were supposed to be looking up but he could never get past the feeling that he just hadn't tried hard enough. Now things with Josh were hanging by a thread simply because they could not see eye to eye on this whole China issue. It seemed that the Deputy Chief of Staff and the Chief of Staff had trouble being in the same room and it was getting harder and harder to hide it from the rest of the staff and more importantly from the president. Now he was being thrown into another situation where he was sure that he would not be fully informed but would be asked to perform miracles. Looking at history, he knew that this is what initially drove a small wedge between he and Toby – trust – and now it appeared that the same thing was going to happen with Josh. It wasn't that he didn't mind not knowing; hell, he knew there were things that he was not supposed to or even allowed to know – that he didn't want to know – but for some reason this was no longer acceptable. Recently, too often, he felt as though he was scrambling just to keep up and this was not an emotion with which he was comfortable. Perhaps it was just time. He had done it once, unsuccessfully, but he had done it. Maybe now was the time to do it again. Maybe this time he would succeed with the great state of Maryland. Andy was planning to leave office and she had already said she would publicly support Sam, as did President Bartlett. Maybe Maryland would give him what California didn't.
Smiling at Ronna, Sam took his seat in the outer office, waiting to be called and he reflected on his last conversation with President Bartlett.
"You aren't happy."
"Excuse me sir? Of course I am."
"Sam," Jed smiled and took his friends hand into his own. "You are not happy and it has nothing to do with your divorce. You are unhappy at the White House."
"No sir! I love my job."
"Yes, Sam, you do; but you were never meant to be behind the scenes, you aren't wired that way. You were supposed to do your time and then move up to bigger and better things."
"Sir –"
"Now the timing was off way back when but it was your sense of duty that made you run anyway. I think the time is right to strike again."
"Mr. President, I am happy working with President Santos and Josh. I just seem to be off lately."
"I think that if you were to really look at yourself, you would see the same thing I do. I see a young man who is no longer just satisfied with being in the back ground not only at work but also in life." Jed leaned back in his wheelchair and studied his young friend. "Do you remember out first chess game?"
"Of course" Sam replied, his blue eyes twinkling. "As I remember, you beat me."
"Yes but what did I tell you?"
"We talked about a lot of things that night; mainly the Taiwan Strait."
"I believe I told you two things; two very important things."
"Yes sir" Sam answered a shy smile gracing his face. "You told me to 'see the whole board' and you said that I would be president one day."
"And you will but only if you can see the whole board."
"And the board is telling you that it is time to try again?"
"I can't tell you what the board is saying; that is for you to decide. I can tell you that the board does not just include your professional life" Jed replied. He held Sam's gaze for a few more seconds and then slowly turned his chair. "Come on Sam; I think Abby is hiding some scotch in the kitchen. Find it for me and we will talk some more."
"Sam?"
"Yeah? Sorry, Ronna; I guess I was someplace else."
"The president will see you now."
"I still say B is smoking some strange weed or something" Faith stated as she closed the car door. "After her experience with the Initiative, I can't believe she is willing to trust someone else in the government. I mean politicians are just a step above vampires."
"Really; I thought politicians were giant snakes who crash high school graduations" Willow sarcastically answered.
"Wow Will! You really aren't pulling any punches! And you are the one who is always telling everyone else that people can change."
"I'm sorry; I guess I'm just tired" Willow replied as she pulled their bags out of the trunk. "Anyway, it's not the government; it's Riley and Buffy trusts Riley. Who else are we going to turn to? We need training facilities that aren't constantly bombarded by vamps; we need technology to keep information going between Rome, Tokoyo, London, Cleveland and our home base and we need money" Willow stopped short placing her hand on Faith's forearm, astonishment clouding her eyes. "Oh Gaia, Anya was right all along."
"About what?"
"We need to be charging people" Willow answered her expression still wide with shock. "I can't believe I just said that Anya was right."
"Don't worry Red, your secret is safe with me." Faith whispered before turning to the front desk clerk. The brunette sighed, slightly embarrassed as she locked gazes with the clerk. "I cannot believe I am doing this….Velma Dinkley and Daphne Blake checking in."
Willow turned away from the desk so she could hide her smile. She studied the lobby as Faith checked them in to the Watergate hotel. Willow wished that she was not here on business; she would love to explore the city and drink in the history.
"Ms. Blake? A crate for a Shaggy Rogers arrived in your care; it has been placed in your room."
"Thank you" Willow replied her eyes darting to Faith. As they walked to the elevators, she pulled the slayer in close. "I thought I was Velma? And who is Shaggy?"
"Does it really matter who is who? As for the Shaggy part, I think Andrew was having a little fun. Spike will go ballistic when I tell him."
Their laughter mingled together as the doors closed.
"You two birds have your laughs but Andrew is going to get it when we get back" Spiked hissed as the trio exited the car. "I'll show him Shaggy."
"Give it a rest man; it's not like he did any damage or anything" Faith stated as she took in her surroundings. "Maybe he just meant screwing or something. Can you two believe this? Two years ago I was a wanted felon and now I'm getting ready to have a sit down with the President of the United States. Damn!"
"I'm nervous; I feel a little out of control."
"Of course you are Will."
"Careful Slayer, you didn't see the witch out of control."
"Neither did you; you were off getting all souled up for your honey. How'd that turn out for you?"
"Sod off" Spike hissed before turning to Willow. "Not feeling the bad mojo, are you?"
"Not the kind of control I'm talking about, Spike but thank you for asking" Willow answered with a smile and a soft pat on his shoulder. "There is something in the air; something not altogether nice."
"I feel it too; wonder what the nasties are up to now" Faith whispered as she followed her friends. "Do you think they know?"
"Who? Know what?"
"Do you think the demons know that we are meeting with the Initiative?"
"I told you the Initiative is no longer in operation" Willow replied. "As to what the supernatural realm knows; with our luck, I'm sure they do."
"Hang on Pet" Spike grabbed Willows arm blocking the trio from progressing through an iron gate. "These blokes know right? I don't have anything to worry about right?"
"Thinking we should have brought a broom" Faith joked.
"Other than Riley, no one knows you are…special. Riley swore on pain of death that your secret is safe. Why can't we go someplace warm? How come Andrew and Xander get to go to the tropics and we always get snow?"
"Most demons aren't bothered by the cold or the heat for that matter" Spike answered, leaning up against the guard shack as Willow handed the guard some documents. The trio was silent as the guard checked their credentials before motioning them to move forward.
"I can understand the heat" Faith stated as she let Willow pass her, "but the cold? You would think that since most of you are from hell…"
"You know slayer if it wasn't for Red I'd…"
"You would be a pile of dust and you know it. Remember that you aren't with the slayer that has a thing for vamps with souls. Why aren't you with Angel anyway? I thought birds of a feather like to stay together."
"I could ask the same of you; why are you with the good girls?"
"Would you two stop it? Faith is here because Buffy wants her here and the same goes for you. Angel and Buffy talked and if what we think is coming is in fact coming; they think I'll need you. Now can we please get to where we are going?" Willow walked a few steps before stopping suddenly, her eyes closed. "There is something…a demon…tall, thick and mad."
"Does he have a Freddy kind of hand" Faith asked as she and Spike turned their backs to Willow.
"Yes" she replied opening her eyes. Her green eyes widened as she turned and looked over her friends' shoulders. "That would be him."
"Stay Red" Spike commanded as he and Faith rushed the demon.
Willow watched as Spike and Faith tag teamed the demon while trying to avoid the knife like fingers. As each friend tumbled and spun they were able to get a few solid hits in and it appeared that her allies were going to be able to hold their own against the mystery demon. Willow felt the same tingling that had alerted her to their attacker. Her eyes scanned the lawn and driveway as Faith flipped the demon onto its back holding its arm out so Spike could snap the blades off the demon's hand. Willows green eyes grew wider before she began to chant in her head while she called for her friends to gather around her. As the wind swirled around the red head, Spike and Faith continued to battle the demon. Both felt the electricity cracking around them as Spike pinned the demon to the ground and Faith quickly broke its neck. They both turned to Willow just in time to see her shoot a ball of fire over their heads taking aim at one of the three other demons who had joined them. The demon stumbled backwards before gathering itself for another attack. Spike jumped on the second demon while Faith dropped to the ground and performed a round kick on the third demon that was charging her. As she pounded hit after hit on the third demon, she noticed the first demon rising from the ground.
"Damn! These bastards just won't die!"
She and Spike moved so that their backs were to each other as the four demons circled.
"I don't even know what they are" Spiked hissed. "Any ideas Slayer?"
"Hey, I leave all the book stuff up to the geeks. I'm just here to kick some ass."
"How can we kill them if they won't stay dead!"
Electricity shot down from the sky hitting the fourth demon in the head and driving him into the ground. All motion stopped; the demons remained confused as to what killed one of their kind. Spike shifted he gaze to the gaping hole in the ground before turning back to the slayer.
"Guess all we needed was the witch." Faith smirked and turned her gaze to Willow preparing to let her friend take out the rest of the demons. Her brown eyes widened as she started to run to Willow, screaming her name.
