4:33 pm.

"Mr. President, Secretary Moss called. He's on his way over. Two Americans are being held hostage in Syria. CIA. I've rescheduled this evening's appointments." There it was. Emily knew it was coming. There was no way she would be leaving the office at a decent hour tonight.

"Thank you, Emily. Has Aaron been informed?"

"Yes, sir. He's on the phone with the Czech ambassador."

"Military?" the president asked as he removed his glasses.

"We're not sure yet, sir." Emily leaned on the arm of the couch as Aaron walked in. "The Czech ambassador is calling his connections. No word from Syria just yet, so we have some time," Aaron added.

"Any press?" Emily asked.

"Not yet, we should try to handle this quietly, but Moss wants to meet with the families." Emily could tell that Aaron was concerned. Despite their constant bickering when they first started working together and his opinion on the importance of housing issues, Emily could tell that Aaron really did care about the country, the president, and the American people, even if he always had a strictly professional attitude with little mention or show of feelings.

"It's their right to know," Moss stated as he entered the room.

"I agree," the president said as he stood.

"I have some contacts on the ground. I would like to take back channels to avoid any press. Press will be our number one deterrent with Syria," Moss explained.

"I trust you will handle this," the president replied, "let me know if anything escalates. You have the official sign off."

6:00 pm.

Emily was in the Oval Office updating both the president and Aaron on Moss's plan.

"Let's hope this doesn't take us to the situation room," the president sighed, "Emily, bring Seth up to date just in case."

"Yes, sir," Emily replied as she left the Oval Office.

Emily walked down the hallway to the press secretary's office. Her feet hurt, and she just felt generally uncomfortable. The waistband of her skirt was digging into her waist, and her blouse button kept coming undone, forcing her to keep her jacket on all day.

"Hey, Seth." Emily's voice was soft as she shut the door to his office and slumped into a chair.

"I'm not liking the looks of this," Seth replied. "You look awful."

"Thanks, Seth. Two CIA agents taken hostage in Syria. No press coverage yet, and we're trying to keep it that way. Press will just hinder any advancements. Syrian government doesn't know yet."

"Ok, good to know. Stick around?" Seth asked casually.

"Yeah, we're waiting to hear from our intel on the ground." Emily tried to stifle a yawn.

"Why don't you take a nap? Your vampire eyes are coming back." Seth chuckled as Emily threw him a dirty look.

"You're the worst," Emily shot back as she stood up. "I'll get you your memo." Emily turned to leave as Seth called after her, "Forget the memo, find your coffin."

"You're not funny, Seth," Emily replied, rolling her eyes, as she exited his office.

7:30 pm.

Emily had just finished up the memo for Seth and had rearranged the schedule for the week when Aaron walked in.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Hey," she smiled up at him as she started to go through the files her deputy put on her desk. Wrong again. She was so exhausted.

"Our ground intel is preparing to go in. They are about 5 hours out. I'll notify you and the president when they're 1." Aaron explained as he walked further into her office.

"Ok," Emily sighed as her phone rang.

"Hello...I'll be there in a minute," Emily said into the phone.

"Sorry, Aaron, the president calls." She got up from her desk.

"Emily, please don't be mad at me." Aaron's face looked worried. Emily just laughed.

"Why would I be mad at you?" Emily asked as she walked by him and out of her office not giving him a chance to respond.

7:35 pm.

"Mr. President, what can I do for you?" Emily asked as she entered the Oval Office.

"Please, have a seat," the president gestured to the couch as Emily's stomach did a flip-flop. Last time the president said that, he told her that he picked Aaron to be his chief of staff. She didn't have a good feeling about this.

"Aaron told me, and I just wanted to say that I'm happy for you," the president said as he sat down across from her.

"Aaron told you what exactly?" Emily asked quizzically.

"About your relationship." The president took his glasses off. "I was worried about you, and I kept asking Aaron until he finally caved. Now, catch a nap before we're due in the situation room."

Emily laughed and shook her head as she headed to get some coffee.

7:45 pm.

Emily walked into Aaron's office, handing him a coffee. "Any word from the ground?"

"Not yet," Aaron replied. He hesitated, and Emily was sure he was wondering if the president told her that Aaron told him that they were together. Emily turned and started walking out of his office. Her office was much more comfortable, and she really needed to take off her shoes. "So you told the president we're together. Couldn't keep it quiet for one day?" Emily's tone was teasing, and she knew that Aaron would follow her.

She walked down the hall to her office, and Aaron caught up with her. She took a sip of her own coffee. "I'm not mad," she said with an amused look. Aaron smirked in response.

As soon as they reached her office, Emily sank into her couch and flipped her shoes off. She winced as she could feel her bra poke her. "I'm sorry about spilling the beans," Aaron said quietly as he sat down beside her. "Are you going to consume something besides coffee?" he asked.

"I'm not hungry," Emily replied.

"Not now but you will be when you smell food. I'll order you something."

8:30 pm.

Emily had made the painful move from her couch to her desk to get some work done when Aaron walked in with Chinese food.

"Hungry yet?" he asked teasingly. Emily just rolled her eyes at him. She had taken off her suit jacket. She couldn't stand it anymore, and she noticed Aaron looked down at where her top button should be buttoned, but she figured it popped open again. She was glad Aaron had self-control because if he kissed her right now, she would be a puddle on the floor.

Emily cleared her throat to get his attention. "Have you read bill HR 862?"

"No," Aaron replied, "does it deal with national security?"

"You could say that." Emily got up and moved towards the table where the food was. Aaron knew her well. She couldn't deny that. She was hungry now that she could smell the food.

"Proposal to build a border wall on the Mexican border," Emily explained. She watched him closely to see his reaction. He was a democrat and a Mexican-American, but he tried to keep his advice to the president neutral and strictly based on the value of national security. She admired that he was able to do that.

Aaron smirked as he picked up a box and handed it to her. "The budget will never get approved for that."

"The budget will never get approved for what?" Seth asked as he strode into Emily's office grabbing a takeout container. Emily missed this. The three of them. They were all thrown into this together, and they were all friends. It was nice to have coworkers that Emily actually got along with.

1:30 am.

"Hey, Seth," Emily called as she walked into her office. "All clear. Agents out. They land on U.S. soil late morning." Seth groggily sat up on Emily's couch.

"Good. Good," Seth mumbled.

"Do you need me to call you a cab?" Emily asked as she started packing her bag. Seth shook his head as he hoisted himself off her couch and out of her office. She chuckled as she met Aaron at her office door.

"I can take a cab," she offered. Aaron looked tired.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'll drive you home, but I have to stop at my apartment first," Aaron replied rubbing her arm. Emily was more than happy with that. That meant he was staying the night, what was left of it anyway.

2:30 am.

Emily unlocked her apartment door as she yawned. "You can go to bed," she said softly, "I'm going to take a quick shower." Aaron gave her a quick kiss before shuffling towards the bedroom. Emily setup the coffee maker for the morning before she followed.

She stood in the doorway of her bedroom, leaning on the door frame. Aaron was sound asleep. She could get used to seeing him in her bed. She was still buzzing from the situation. She decided to go for a quick run. She doubted Aaron would wake up, and she grabbed her mace just in case.