A big thank you to all my reviewers and my followers and favoriters. You guys are why I write.
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Tuesday slipped past easily for Emma with no dramas. In fact she hadn't even seen the President for the whole day as the woman had been sat in a meeting with the American Counsel a crazy bunch of whackjob politicians who all just sucked up to her for a promotion. Wednesday slipped by just as easily but for the day she had spent it alongside Mary-Margaret at the fair with Ruby as the driver and David as third member of the protection detail. The kid had enjoyed himself which put a smile on Emma's face and the President's apple pie had been a hit and she wasn't just saying that to appease the woman - not at all. She had snuck in a bite between her duties and the pie really was to die for.
Thursday - Thursday however...she didn't like to remember Thursday.
It had started of like every other day as normal as possible for the President's security detail and for the President herself. The Press Interviews were to be held for the day and they had managed to breeze through the White House interview and two in house studio ones with no problem.
It was the third that had brought everything to screaming halt.
"Madam President the inside is clear and personnel have been security checked." David spoke clear and shyly.
"Thank you Agent Nolan." Regina nodded to the man as she awaited the elevator to the top floor. When it came she stepped inside with David, Mary-Margaret and another Secret Service Agent who stood more like he was bored out of his mind then actually interested in anything that was going on around them. She couldn't blame him she knew what being an SS Agent did with the mind. It had you living a fantasy in your own head just to pass the time.
Ten minutes later and she was sat in a plush white leather couch facing the host, a mic attached to the blue collar of her jacket on the same side as the american flag, legs crossed and skirt pushed over her knees. She was ready for any questions that were thrown her way and if the previous interivews were anything to go by she knew what questions where coming.
"Well Madam President it's a pleasure to have you here." Damien said with a warm smile thrown in her direction.
She held up a hand and with her own warm smile said, "Please Regina is fine."
"Okay Regina," he said giddily as he flicked through the Ipad he had gripped in his hand. "Let's get on with the questions..."
Emma remembered listening to the broadcast - a whole twenty minutes of non-stop questions ranging from the womans promises during the election to how being the first female President was like and how well she was being treated since being in. The same questions asked at the previous interview but it was the last one that made her sit up and Ruby turn to face the radio paying that slight bit more of an interest.
"What's your stand on Gay Marriage?" Damien asked as if it where the most casual thing.
Regina leaned forward a slight tad bit more trying to determine a right and wrong answer and trying to get over her surprise at the question she had yet to be asked before. Appease the public or speak her mind? What would my mother do? She'd more then likely go for against it. But what's so wrong with it? Don't turn out like her Regina. This is your choice not hers, your the President, you make the decision - don't let her dictate your choices.
"I'm for it. Fully supportive of the LGBT community."
"So you'll fight for Gay Rights?" He gave her a curious look.
"People have a right to marry whoever they wish. A free country should give them that. So yes I'll fight for Gay rights because I believe that's what America is. A free country." Regina nodded leaning back in her chair confident with what she was saying.
"Saying stuff like that could be particularly harmful to your career."
"Trust me Damien I know but I like...to believe that the...American Nation is open minded enough to see that there is nothing wrong with it." Regina stated with small pauses.
"But is the American Nation not one of God and is God not against same-sex couples."
Emma scoffed, "Bigot asshole."
"Bust a cap in him!" Ruby yelled at the radio before high-fiving Emma who laughed at that inside the black, window tinted, thick glass windowed sedan.
Regina leant forward and with her signature smirk in place she answered. "Have you read the bible? I believe the Old Testament agreed that yes it was wrong for a man to lay with another. How about the New Testament? The one most religions go off nowadays? Nowhere in it does it mention the fact that same-sex couples are wrong and was Jesus not the New Testament?" Regina watched as brief thoughts and replies went through the mans head but before he could answer Regina cut him off, "Does it not say that 'judge not less he be judged himself'."
"With all due respect Madam President I would have to disagree with that."
Regina's smirk faded as did her friendly approach. "We're all entitled to our own thoughts and opinions Mr. Johnson. You asked a question and I gave you an honest answer."
"That's true but isn't it best to hear both sides of the story or are you just refusing to acknowledge the religious crowd? Aren't you refusing to acknowledge their beliefs by supporting Gay rights?"
Regina briefly considered the thought of getting her security detail to shoot the man in front of her. She could get away with it she was after all the most powerful woman on the planet, she had contacts. Instead she stood, "I'm not refusing to acknowledge them. In actual fact I am acknowledging them. Did God not give humanity freedom? If you can give me a viable religious argument Mr. Johnson I would more then welcome it. If you could give me a viable argument that suggests that being in love with someone is wrong please do so by all means." With her 'winning' smirk on her face she pulled the mic off her collar and sauntered out with her security detail, each one giving a 'you got owned' smirk over their shoulder at the man still sitting lost in thought for answer on the couch.
"Ouch," Ruby cringed slightly. "You think that was the Presidents way of saying 'Fuck you'?"
Emma laughed and nodded as she clambered out of the vehicle. Sarcastically "The President always has to be polite. Manners and proper etiquette." She answered when Ruby exited with her, "Even when saying 'Fuck you'."
Emma laughed along with Ruby as they watched the President make her way through the crowd and over to the vehicle that was sat on the other side of the street. It all happened so fast Emma swore she had imagined it all at first, it was like those movies that you sit through and when something big and fast happens you sit there going 'what the fuck just happened?'.
The blurry white snap of the flash of a camera in her face revealed a scraggy brown haired man with a wirey smile. "What the fuck? Get out of here." She blinked furiously as she ordered the man away. Between the dark spots in her eye sight she watched the man scamper away.
It sounded like a crack of thunder had erupted next to her ears. The crowd of reporters and on lookers dropped to the ground. Screams erupted in waves. Emma came back down to reality and took stock of the small gleam coming from the apartment buildings top floor window across the park no more than a hundred meters. She turned to face Ruby who looked just as shocked as her. "Check on the President!" Emma took off in a mad dash across the park towards the apartment building.
Barrelling through the doors she took the stairs two at a time to the fourth flight and then took them three at a time. By the time she reached the last floor she withdrew her gun from the holster and took large steps towards one of the only two apartments that overlooked the park and the shooting. She planted her boot to the door and watched it snap open with a violent smack against the wall and only came face to face with children's toys and an untidy living room.
Turning she looked at the last door. The last place the shooter could have been. She went to plant her boot to the door like the previous one but instead she reached out, one hand gripping the gun, the other reaching out to twist the door knob. It popped open with no force. Swinging it open cautiously hearing the creaking in the old wood. Returning the now free hand back to her gun she stepped inside.
The apartment looked overall empty, a coat rack next to the door sporting items of clothing and a bathroom in the corner and a wide open space with a telescope and - a customized sniper sat by the windows. Making her way over to the telescope she lowered her gun to her side as she peered into it.
Police lined the street across the park. The wailing of ambulances could be heard in the distances and the sounds of screaming could still be heard ringing in the air. Emma snapped back when a rope found it's way around her neck and tightened.
With a choking sound she dropped the gun with a clatter, to the wooden floorboards and reached up to the tightening rope trying to slip her fingers underneath it as she rushed backwards until the assailants back came into contact with the wall that made them stop abruptly. A loud sharp intake of air was heard and the rope loosened enough for Emma to pull away from the wall and flip the unknown assailant over her shoulder to the ground and rid herself of the rope.
Glancing around the room she spotted her gun back over near the window next to the telescope and quickly bounded towards it. A hand encircled her ankle and caught her forcing her to the ground. The assailant crawled over Emma towards the gun. Apparently both of them had the same idea which meant that her assailant was weaponless.
Emma flipped them over straddled the assailant and planted a fist to the masked face. Just as quickly as she had found herself on top she had found herself flipped off. She clambered to her feet as did the other occupant of the apartment. She lunged for the figure and forced them to the ground. She felt the air leave her as a fist collided with her stomach forcing her backwards with hacking coughs.
The next thing she knew she was staring down the barrel of her own gun. With a swallow she awaited her fate at the hands of her attacker - whatever it was. Emma listened to footfalls from below them and she noted her attacker heard them as well as he briefly looked towards the door before looking back down towards her.
Emma squeezed her eyes shut as the man pulled back on the trigger. A small click resounded throughout the apartment and Emma opened her eyes to find herself still inside the apartment and not floating her way to Heaven where would I go when I die? She watched as the man looked down at the jammed gun then back to her.
"I guess it's your lucky day."
With that Emma saw him throw the gun to the side and watched it slide across the wooden floorboards until it came to a stop forcefully from the wall. She turned in time to see the man remove his balaclava force it into his pocket and don a jacket and sunglasses before stepping out of the apartment.
With a sharp intake of oxygen that burnt her lungs she stood using shaky arms and hands to push herself to her feet. Police piled into the room and greeted her with concern and questions involving the shooter. Ignoring them she pushed past them and made her way out into the halls and towards the staircase railings looking down the gap in between the floors, she noted her attacker quickly scampering downwards.
Emma had never moved so fast in her life taking the stairs by leaping great expanses. When she reached the ground floor she once again barrelled through the apartment entrance door and out onto the street, looking up and down the street for any sign of her attacker within the hysterics and police.
"Fuck!" Emma cursed before leaving her spot on the side of the street and making her way over to the ambulance's across the park. The closer she got the worse she knew the shooting was, blood splashed across the side walk and the road, forensics started piling out of vehicles and Emma noted an ambulance held an occupant as the doors shut.
With a look towards the second ambulance she noted. Four people lined it raggedly...
There should have been five.
Next chapter will be up probably before the Bucket List's next chapter as I'm still writing a little bit of the Bucket List's 7th chapter. Anyway hope you enjoyed.
