Jason makes his way through Independence Hall on his regular route for check-ins with his men. He calls them 'his men' even though they technically aren't. They are men and women assigned to protect the capital just like him. But as a Lieutenant and trusted friend of the President and General, he has been tasked with the general security of Independence Hall. His duty is to keep the building secure as well as all of its occupants, though the President's personal security is overseen by Captain Maddox. Charlie and Miles are both supposed to have personal security teams as well, but he and Bass had quit trying to impose that on them years ago since neither would listen. Because of that, Charlie's security also falls under his responsibilities, though only when she's in the house or on the grounds. He doesn't bother trying to help Miles anymore, it'd probably just get him another drunken lecture on war tactics.
He checks in with Sergents Kale and Bowman along the southwest corridor and moves along the west wing toward Sergent Phillips who is stationed in the residential area with Lowery. To the east side, Sergent Thomas guards the south end of the hallway full of upper command offices with Gordon at the other side. His friend and fellow Lieutenant, Collin Zimmerman is assigned directly to the Vice President's office. When she's in a good mood, Charlie even pretends not to notice him following her around.
Sergent Rolland, who is one of the guards assigned to the front door, comes running down the hallway in a panic.
"Lieutenant Neville," he breaths, giving him a sloppy salute. "You gotta come to the front. There's this guy, he's yelling and screaming-"
"-About what?" Jason cuts him off.
"Something about the General." Rolland shrugs. "It's kind of hard to understand him, sir."
Jason nods. This isn't the first crazy guy they've had on their doorstep. "Alright, back to your post, Sergent." Rolland takes off as Jason looks around the corridor and nods to Collin and the door that Charlie is currently behind. "Keep and eye on things back here," he says.
Collin nods in understanding. Charlie is his priority. "You got it."
Out on the front lawn, a man dressed in tattered clothes is trying to force his way past Sergent Rolland so he can get in the house. Jason can see a small wagon led by a single horse out on the road with a tired looking woman standing next to it. She's watching the man fight with Rolland with a blank expression.
"Rolland," Jason shouts over the noise. "Cuff this idiot and put him in a cell. I'll deal with him later." The Sergent hastens to obey, disappearing with the dirty, angry man into the house. Jason cautiously approaches the woman with the wagon.
"Ma'am, I'm Lieutenant Jason Neville, head of security at Independence Hall. Do you know the man that was just arrested?"
The woman turns to look at him with wide, pale blue eyes. Her face is covered in dust from traveling and her long, blonde hair is matted with dirt. "Yes," she says calmly. "He's my husband."
"Your husband?" Jason asks, slightly surprised by her aloof attitude. "Alright... Well, can you tell me what you and your husband are doing here?"
Suddenly, the woman's face turns grim. "I'm here to see Miles," she says quickly.
This confuses him, of course. Outside of the few people in the Matheson/Monroe family circle, no one calls the general by his first name. "Do you mean General Matheson?"
Her eyes flicker with anger. "Miles," she says firmly. "I need to see him."
The way she's referring to not only his General, but trusted friend and practically family member, irritates him. "Listen, even if General Matheson were here, you can't just walk into Independence Hall expecting to see him."
The woman appears to hear nothing he says except for the fact that Miles isn't home. "Not here?" She shakes her head in an irritated sort of way. "Bass. Then I need to talk to Bass."
Jason scoffs. "OK, I don't know who you think you are, but you can't just demand to speak to the President. It doesn't work that way."
She glares at him. Red, hot anger burning in her eyes. "Who am I?" She asks in a mocking tone. "I'm Rachel Matheson. And I will see Bass. Now."
Jason stares at her. "Excuse me?" He says stupidly.
"Matheson," she says harshly. "Rachel Matheson. And I need to speak to Bass."
"I'm sorry, but the President isn't here. He left for Trenton last week."
"Then take me to Charlie!" She shouts at him.
"Charlie?"
"Yes, you idiot. I want to see my daughter!"
And now, just like her husband had, the woman runs toward the doors of Independence Hall and attempts to get inside. Still slightly in shock, Jason yells to Rolland who has just come back outside. "Get her inside now!"
The Sergent nods and does as he's told, leaving Jason out front with the couple's abandoned wagon and a handful of Privates. He turns to the nearest one. "Find Captain Baker and tell him report immediately. Tell him it's a family emergency."
The Private takes off at top speed as Jason addresses the rest of the group. "As for the rest of you, not a word of this to anyone. There will be no gossip about the man and woman who arrived today. Is that understood?" They all murmer in agreement. "Alright, then get back to your posts."
Finally, Jason turns to the wagon. He pats the horse on the neck before peering into the small wagon bed, letting out a gasp of shock at the sight of the young man sleeping there. He moves around to the back of the wagon to get a better look at the man. He's more like a boy, really. Late teens with dirty, blonde hair and grimy, pale skin. Jason nudges the boy's leg with a hand.
"Hey, kid. Wake up."
The boy stirs slowly, blinking up at the brightness of the afternoon sun. "Are we there yet?" He asks in a sleepy voice, then he coughs and clutches his chest as if he's in pain.
A little on edge about the possible Matheson's in the house, Jason isn't in the mood to play games. "What's your name, kid?"
He blinks over at Jason, his eyes blearily taking in the militia uniform. "Uh, Danny. Danny Matheson." He sits up suddenly. "Where's my mom and dad?" Then he coughs again, harder this time.
"Are you alright?" Jason asks uncertainly.
The kid nods. "Just my asthma." Though it's useless as he drops into a coughing fit.
Jason signals to Rolland as he once again returns from inside the house. "Take the kid inside and put him in a room. And get him some water."
Rolland disappears with the coughing kid as Jason turns to another Private. "Go find Doctor Foster and tell her she's needed at Independence Hall." The kid starts to go, but Jason pulls him back for a moment. "Tell her to come straight to me and not to let the Vice President know she's here." The young Private appears confused, but does as he's told.
Of all the things for him to have to deal with while the President and General are away, the possible arrival of Charlie's parents is not something he was anticipating.
Maggie arrives mere minutes later, breathless, with her medical bag swinging on her shoulder. "What's wrong? Who's hurt? How's Charlie?"
Jason sets his hands on her shoulders to settle her, very conscious of the guards in the hallway watching them. "Let's talk in here." He leads her into a spare room and sits her down in a chair.
"I'm sorry if I scared you, but I couldn't risk Charlie finding out."
"Finding out about what?"
"Just a little while ago, a man and a woman arrived claiming to be Ben and Rachel Matheson."
Maggie's eyes grow huge with shock. "That's... That's fantastic! Why wouldn't you want Charlie to know?"
Jason sighs. "Because for all we know, they could be impostors."
"What are you talking about?"
"It wouldn't be the first time. It's widely known around the Republic that Miles has been searching for Charlie's parents for years. We've had dozens of couples show up claiming to be Ben and Rachel, but they've all been fakes. At first, Charlie would get excited when they came because she thought it meant that her parents had come for her, but every time she'd be more and more dissapointed when it turned out not to be true. After a while, Miles devised a system to keep the people claiming to be her parents a secret until their identities could be verified, that way if they turned out to be fakes, she wouldn't have to be disappointed."
"So you think these people are impostors," Maggie says simply.
Just then, the door flings open and Jeremy hurries into the room. "Have they been isolated?" He asks without preamble.
"Yes, both of them had to be restrained and put in holding cells. They were pretty pushy."
Jeremy nods, then notices Maggie for the first time. "Doctor Foster," he says, turning slightly pink. "What are you doing here?" He turns to Jason. "She's not supposed to know about this."
"Know about what?" Maggie asks, looking between the two of them.
Jason sighs. "She's here for the kid."
"Kid?" Jeremy asks, his interest clearly piqued.
"Yeah. The couple brought a boy with them, he said his name is Danny."
"Oh," Maggie sighs. "Charlie will be so excited that her brother is here."
"You're sure?" Jeremy asks seriously.
"He's the right age, too. When I talked to him he was coughing, he said something about having asthma."
Maggie nods as if this makes perfect sense. "Well, yes. Miles has said before that Charlie's little brother was sickly. His lung condition could have caused asthma." She looks between Jason and Jeremy suspiciously. "What's going on? Why does the boy matter so much?"
Jeremy gives her a sympathetic look. "Because not many people know that Charlie has a brother. We know she does because we're close to her, but the general public has never been told about the Matheson's son. It's one of the questions we use to weed out impostors." He looks over at Jason. "You think it's really them, don't you."
"Yeah, I just... I've got a feeling."
"Well, we should tell Charlie," Maggie says excitedly.
"No!" The boys say together.
"We can't," Jeremy adds calmly. "It's Miles' number one rule. Charlie isn't to know anything about these people until he or Bass have verified that they are who they claim to be."
"But Miles is weeks away in Providence," Maggie protests.
"And it'll take at least a week for Bass to turn around and come back." Jason adds.
"I know, I know," Jeremy says quickly. "We'll send riders out immediately. But in the meantime, we have to make sure that Charlie doesn't find out."
Maggie shakes her head. "She's not stupid Jeremy, if we deliberately try to distract her, she'll realize something's going on."
"OK, so it's business as usual. But we don't say a word to her about this."
Jason shifts uncomfortably on his feet. "I don't like lying to Charlie."
Jeremy glares at him. "These are direct orders from the General. You will do as you're told."
"I don't like it either," Maggie says quietly.
Jeremy's face softens as he looks down at her. "I don't like it either. But it's for her own protection. Alright?" She sighs heavily, but nods. "Jason?" He looks like he's eaten something sour, but he nods along as well.
"Good." He turns and opens the door for them both to exit the room. "Now let's go see about that patient."
As Jeremy and Maggie enter the room that holds the supposed Danny Matheson, Jason sends riders out to Miles and Bass. Hopefully, Bass can get home soon, otherwise the guilt of lying to his best friend might eat him alive.
A/N Sorry this took so long. A friend's grandpa passed away so I've been spending a lot of time over there with her. Anyway, I hope you guys are still liking this story. Thanks for reading!