While the California refugees are the reason behind holding the summit, there are plenty of other things that the leaders need to discuss. Everything from the Texan border problem with Mexico, railroad restorations, and even trade routes. The agenda has meetings scheduled over a two week period, and unfortunately for Bass and Miles, they aren't even three days in yet.

So far, Duncan Page hasn't shown her face, which has served to both alleviate some of their worry for Charlie's safety and cause more stress. It's mostly let them relax though, so instead of dragging Charlie into today's meeting about the railroad construction in Arkansas, they've sent her to take care of some of the President's daily duties. Frank is in the middle of his railroad update when Jason pokes his head into the room to interrupt.

"Mr. President, Duncan Page just arrived out front." The room lapses into silence, everyone glad for the interruption but unnerved by what said interruption might bring. Bass takes a deep breath and stands, mentally preparing himself for the headache that's about to come.

"Thank you, Lieutenant." Jason recognizes the dismissal and starts to leave, but Bass calls him back. "Wait, where's Charlie?"

"She told me that she was planning on catching you up on some of your paperwork while she's in charge for the day, so most likely in your office." Jason looks around the room and takes note of Kelly and Frank. "Sir," he adds as an afterthought. He'd grown up with Bass and Miles as honorary members of his family, so sometimes he forgets that they're supposed to be his bosses.

"OK, I'm going to go down and welcome out 'guest'. Jason, I want you to go let Charlie know that Duncan has arrived, make sure that she's on high alert and assign someone to her detail."

Jason winces like that's the worst thing he's ever heard in his entire life. "Are you sure, because you know she hates it when you give her a detail."

Trying not to roll his eyes, Bass gives him a 'shut up, you idiot' look. "I'm the President, Lieutenant. Your job isn't to question me, it's to do what I say." He jerks his head towards Kelly and Frank, making Jason jump to stand at attention.

"Yes, sir." He salutes awkwardly and hurries from the room in order to find Charlie.

Frank chuckles. "He's not exactly the brightest boy, is he?"

Bass shakes his head with a smile. "No, but he's a good kid and I trust him with my life. Plus, Charlie would kill me if I tried to get rid of him. They've been friends, practically brother and sister, since they were kids. He'll protect her if it comes to that."

"Do you think it will?" Kelly asks, as she rises from her chair.

"I hope not." Frank and Miles rise as well, and they all head for the front of the house to greet Duncan only to find Charlie already doing so. Bass looks around for Jason, who is standing a few feet away from the two women looking equal parts guilty and anxious.

Bass gestures to Charlie and mouths, 'what is she doing?' But Jason merely shrugs, looking completely lost as to what his friend is up to.

"Well, this ought to be interesting," Frank mutters. Bass silently agrees with him as he reluctantly approaches his wife and the woman who had once threatened to kill her.

Charlie's back is to him, but he catches Duncan's attention as he approaches. She's wearing leather pants and a low cut top, nothing like the sensible black pants and white button up that Charlie is wearing. There was a time when Bass would have looked at the two woman and thought that Duncan was the better choice, but now he thinks she just looks desperate for attention. Duncan's eyes travel up and down his body as he approaches, succeeding in alerting Charlie to his arrival. She turns around and gives him a quick kiss before he can even say hello, making Duncan's eyebrows shoot up.

"I thought you were already in your meeting, honey." Charlie says, though with more emphasis behind the word than she would normally use. Bass tries not to laugh at her obvious attempts to mark her territory, deciding to play along instead.

"Oh, well we heard Miss Page had arrived and thought we would all come down to greet her ourselves." He wraps an arm around Charlie's waist and pulls her close with his left and sticks his right hand out for Duncan to shake. "It's nice to see you again, Duncan."

The warlord gives them both an unamused look, taking much too long to shake his hand in return. "It's nice to be here," she says through clenched teeth.

Miles joins them on Charlie's other side. "Great, now that everyone's here, maybe we should get back to work."

"Miles," Charlie scolds. "Miss Page just got here. She probably needs rest and-"

"No, I'm fine." Duncan says hurriedly. "I didn't come here to rest, I came to work. So let's work." Miles nods in approval and leads Duncan, Kelly, and Frank into Independence Hall, leaving a smirking Charlie and an amused Bass in their wake. Once they're out of sight, he turns to his wife.

"Was all that really necessary?" He asks. Though he secretly enjoyed watching Charlie get possessive.

She leans up on her tippy toes to kiss him, sliding her arms around his waist. "I just didn't want her to get any crazy ideas in her head."

"What kind of ideas?"

One of her hands slides down further on his back and she gives his ass a nice, long squeeze, making his whole body hum. "That anyone but me was allowed to do that."

Bass growls low in his throat, ducking his head to nip at her neck. "I wouldn't want anyone but you for that."

Charlie smiles and gives him another quick kiss before pushing him away a little so she can straighten his jacket. "Good, 'cause you're stuck with me."

"And you with me."

She nods and he offers her his arm. The two rejoin the summit linked arm in arm, causing Miles to roll his eyes and Duncan to scowl like an angry child.

XxX

Duncan's first few days go by smoothly, as she's more worried about making her opinions heard than whatever issue she may have with Charlie. However, the morning of day four brings the problems that everyone else had been hoping so desperately to avoid. Charlie is in the process of setting out a reworked agenda before the day's meeting starts, when Duncan decides to join the conference room early.

"Well, look who it is," she says nastily. "The President's bed warmer."

Charlie clenches her fist but releases it quickly, determined not to let the other woman get the best of her. "Actually, I prefer the term 'wife'."

Duncan grins maliciously and moves to lean against the table. "You know what, I was actually thinking that 'slut' might be a better fit."

Raising her eyebrows, Charlie looks over at her coolly. "I think it would be better for you to address me properly. I'll answer to Mrs. Monroe or Madam Vice President, either one. I'll even let you pick which one you prefer."

Duncan's jaw clenches but she doesn't get the chance to respond as Jason enters the room. He looks between the two women worriedly, subtly laying a hand on the weapon at his side. "Is everything alright, Mrs. Monroe?" He asks, using his best soldier voice.

Charlie never takes her eyes off of Duncan, doing her best not to smile triumphantly right in her face. "I think we're fine, Lieutenant. Right, Miss Page?"

Her eyes shift back and forth between them, lingering on Jason for an extra moment as she licks her lips. "Careful, sweetheart." She says, looking him up and down. "Your boyfriend might not always be around to protect you."

Charlie can't help but smile nice and big at that, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. "Thank you for that," she says quietly, her tone of voice changing to complete sincerity.

Duncan's face scrunches up in confusion. "For what?"

Grinning, Charlie steps back to make room for Jason to step between them. "Miss Page, you just threatened the Vice President of the Monroe Republic. You are under arrest."

"What the hell!"

"Lieutenant Neville," Charlie says loudly, practically shouting over Duncan's protests. "Please cuff this criminal before she attempts to do any real harm to our nation."

Jason snaps the metal cuffs around Duncan's wrists, chuckling the whole time. "You know what, Charlie? One day, you are going to be one bad ass President."

Duncan bucks against his strong hold, a look of disgust on her face. "Oh, please, she'll never - ouch!"

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" Jason asks innocently, pulling Duncan black from the table he just shoved her into.

"You can't do this," she growls at them.

Charlie merely smiles and waves for Jason to take her from the room. "Actually, I can. Enjoy solitary, Miss Page."

The warlord struggles as Jason leads her through the doorway, past Miles, Bass, Kelly, and Frank, who are all watching with varying degrees of shock and amusement. None of them say a word as Duncan gets lead away, though once she's out of sight, Bass turns to his wife.

"Should I be preparing for her execution?" He asks hopefully.

Rolling her eyes, Charlie plops down into a chair with a shake of her head. "No, we just need to hold her long enough for us to deal with the California refugees.

Miles sits down across from her, giving her a suspicious look. "Did you just bait a crazy woman so you could have her arrested?"

"It's only temporary," Charlie explains calmly. "This way, we can help the refugees without Duncan and all her little war clan friends interfering."

Kelly takes the seat next to her and laughs. "Wait a minute, is that why you invited her? Did you have this planned the whole time?"

Charlie avoids looking at everyone in the room, choosing to busy herself with some imaginary dust on the table. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she says smoothly.

"Well I'll be damned, Monroe. Your wife is even more devious than you are," Frank says as he joins them at the table.

Bass smiles and takes the seat on her other side, nodding in agreement. "That's just the way I like her."