It has been a really rough couple of weeks around here. Aside from my existential grief over the environmental tragedy that is this very early Spring, my cat has been sick and I managed to break my phone. The phone breaking was really the least consequential of everything. A quick bout of online shopping and a few days later I had a new one. But it really got me thinking about how important communication is to society. With communication comes the cross pollination of ideas, the constant opportunity to grow and learn, and the ability to physically adventure away from our loved ones and still stay connected at the same time. I don't think we can really fathom how incredibly different our world would be if we were isolated from other communities.
**Bring It On Home To Me, James Cotton**
Kara was sitting on the steps of the courthouse, enjoying a relatively warm day for the beginning of February. At least, that was what she told herself. It had nothing to do with the fact that the President and his entourage, including both Danny and her mother were expected this afternoon. She wasn't so sentimental that she couldn't wait five minutes for Danny to be released and come see her. But still, she wanted to be there, to see how he was the minute he emerged from the car.
"I thought I might find you here." Val plunked down beside her. "Do you think they are really going to get home today? Maybe who ever is sending the messages is just guessing."
"Last night's message was unusually specific. 1600 at 1600? If that means what I think it does, we should be seeing them in about 15 minutes."
Val looked around behind her. "I guess that explains the new armed guards we've got at the front doors and the two men I can see on the roof of the parking garage?"
Kara turned her face up the sun and tried to let the warm rays calm her. She had wanted to keep all the extra security as invisible as possible so the mole wouldn't even suspect they were on to him. But no matter how much she argued that they didn't seem to be a threat to the President given they had ample opportunity to harm the man while on the trip and had not, Chandler disagreed. He insisted that whoever they were, they would very likely be able to spot the changes and know they had been discovered anyway. "Our primary duty is to protect the President. We don't have to hide that."
Master Chief arrived in a perfectly pressed uniform, several of the young people in training following after him like a flock of ducklings. They were carrying guns and he was directing them to positions around the square facing the courthouse. Even though she knew they were loaded with rubber bullets, it still made her a little queasy. Most of the current recruits were practically children. She hoped the flyers Burk had distributed at the President's stops brought in some more mature applicants. More than anything they needed people with prior experience and good judgment to join them.
"Mind if I toke?"
Kara rolled her eyes. Halsey began nosing her oversized pockets. "Doesn't matter if I mind, this is a historical landmark and smoking is prohibited."
Val winked, not in the least put off by Kara's statement. "I'm just kidding. I wouldn't smoke around the baby. Although God knows you'd probably benefit from a little relaxation." She pulled an assortment of colorful lollipops from one of her pockets. "Candy?"
Kara couldn't keep a straight face as she shook her head in denial. "You're nervous, aren't you?"
"Yeah, you know it. I'm not at all sure what I'm doing here. I just know that I want to see that she's ok with my own two eyes." She sighed and popped the lollipop once. "Other than that, I just have no idea."
They sat together quietly for a while. Other people began to filter into the square a few at a time. Commander Garnett and Judge Siskin came over from the coffee shop and took a spot near the top of the steps.
Kara noticed Lee chatting quietly with Ray and some other young men. She'd accompanied Chandler when he'd delivered the news of Betty's death. The kid had taken it remarkably well, but Kat told her a few days later that she'd slept over with the kids because Ray had been out all night keeping Lee from getting into trouble after Rob and Colin took him out to drink away his grief. "We all feel kind of crummy that he needs a good friend right now, but no one knows Lee very well." Kara remembered feeling the same way when Danny was grieving for Frankie. She'd hardly known what she could do to help.
"All you can do is be there and let him know that people support him." That had sustained her when her father and brothers died, but no amount of kind words and companionship had kept her mother from turning to the bottle for escape. "It was nice of Ray to try to reach out, but he shouldn't feel bad if Lee doesn't take advantage of his help. Everyone mourns in their own way."
Kat had pressed her lips together and nodded. Kara had wondered if she was thinking of how she had mourned her own mother. Ever since they had first learned of the Red Flu, time had seemed to slow down. But it really hadn't been all that long since Claire was killed. But Kat hadn't mentioned her mother at all, just shrugged and said lightly "Oh you know Ray, now that he's put Lee on his list of people he needs to take care of, Lee is stuck with him."
Plenty of civilians were gathering in the square as well. Apparently the added security had not gone un-noticed. People were coming up the street from the market area and pretty soon the sounds of conversation filled the air. Kara looked at her watch, wondering if they had time to organize some crowd control, when a few police arrived on horses. The men and women riding were dressed in parade uniform, but they still carried weapons and Kara noticed that a few of them had rolls of zip tie cuffs at their waists too. A group of four officers quickly deployed a rope line at the edge of the square while two others approached the steps.
"Valorie! So good to see you again! Do you know who is in charge here?" A tall blond officer approached the women.
"Do you know him?" Kara had never seen him before. After the incident in Memphis, she'd stopped automatically trusting in uniforms. Halsey say up as attention as the man stopped a few steps down from them.
"Hey Officer Gund! Good to see you again. I guess Kara would be the one." Val pointed to her. When Kara struggled to get to her feet, he quickly offered her a hand.
"Oohhh somebody's going to get in trouble." Val whispered hoarsely. Kara shot her a dirty look. "Actually, after the Dr. Scott thing, he was one of the officers that came to investigate." Kara turned and pasted on her most winning smile. She didn't consider diplomacy her best suit by any means, but she'd have to do her best unless Garnett choose to get involved.
"Hi officer…"
"It's Officer Gund. Nice to meet you Ma'am."
"Officer Gund, I'm Commander Foster-Green. I work with the Chief of Naval Operations, Captain Tom Chandler. We weren't planning a public event today, although the President and a contingent of Navy personnel and civilians that have been spreading the cure for the last few weeks are expected to arrive any minute."
"With all due respect Ma'am, when the President of the United States walks into McDonald's to buy a BigMac it is considered a public event." She looked across at the now hundreds of people lining the street. He had a point. They should have known the courthouse was under constant scrutiny. "The mayor sent us over as soon as he heard what was going on. He wants another sit down with the President's people to properly organize security procedures ASAP. In the meantime, we're going to do our best to give the President and the Navy the welcome home they deserve."
She smoothed an imaginary wisp of stray hair behind her ear. "Well, I can't speak officially, but as far as I'm concerned, any help you can provide will be welcome."
"Thanks Ma'am." He tipped his parade hat. "Any idea what time they are expected? Are there any specific threats we should know about?"
She couldn't help but look up the road toward the direction she was expecting them to arrive from. "To be honest, we don't really know. The best guess I have is 4 PM."
The young officer nodded. "Alright, well unless you disagree, I'd like to designate the steps for the President's staff, Navy personnel and their families only. We'll get some ropes up ASAP so that anyone who wants to enter this area has to come in through the building. Can you put a few guys on the back door, limiting entry, and we'll handle the rest?"
Kara liked the way he acknowledged her authority but didn't shy away from telling her what he, with his relative expertise in this realm, would like to do. He'd make a good lieutenant. She nodded and looked around for Jeter. He would have a team organized and doing the job faster than she could even figure out who was available. "I'll get that set up in a few minutes. Thank you Officer."
"Perhaps you can rely to the President's office that we do have a permit process for parades and public events, so that public security can be organized ahead of time."
"Yes, thank you officer." She had been feeling like things in her office were starting to go more smoothly but the officer's words reminded her that there was still so much to learn.
Master Chief smiled as she approached him. "Lieutenant Foster-Green, how can I help you?" She explained the situation and she was right, before she knew it he had organized some of the recruits and sent Ray, Lee, and Rob around to secure the building. "Impress me today and I'll let you sleep in from PT tomorrow." He promised the young men.
As they jogged away up the steps she heard Rob say to Ray,"I'm happy to get out of PT, but I wanted to crowd watch from the front. There were some hotties over there. Look." She knew it was pointless to be annoyed at the stupid things that young guys said, but she still wanted to go over and slap him. Something about that kid just bugged her. Still, as Danny had pointed out when he'd accepted him into the training group, sure they needed people who could develop into leaders, but right now, they just plain needed bodies.
She was inordinately pleased when Ray replied "Dale, we're too busy for that right now."
Twenty minutes later Kara was suddenly surrounded by a chattering group of kids. "So, the rumor is that the President is coming home today?" Kat Nolan asked hopefully.
"Well, no sign of them yet but my intel says today."
Kat narrowed her eyes. "This a new development since I left at noon yesterday? Not that I would have dressed up or anything to see my dad again, but I might have at least cleaned up my room."
Val waved hello to Kat. "Kara, that girl pretty sharp. You still sure I can't hire her?"
Kara looked down the line of laughing and talking kids. Halsey was hamming it up and playing dead while the kids pet his pale belly. "She'd already booked. Although, it seems like you've got a small group today."
Kat sighed contentedly. "Yep! Brie met some kids at the library yesterday who were going to go check it out the old YMCA on Olive Street today. Ray told the older kids to go along and find out if the gym and pool were usable."
"A pool sounds dreamy!" Kara patted Flutter. "If it turns out that there's a real lap pool, you have to let me know. I would be there doing my whale routine every day."
Kat ducked her head. "Great, you can take the kids! Practice your parenting."
Val leaned around Kara, a sardonic arch in her brow. "Don't tell me you can't swim!
"Not a stroke. I grew up in the desert you know."
A little girl sitting at her feet turned around abruptly. "I can teach you Kat. I was in the blue group at camp."
Kara hadn't heard much about the camp they had all been at and curiosity got the best of her. She'd always wanted to go to a summer camp with shady pine trees and cabins with bunk beds like the one on the movie, The Parent Trap. But the closest she'd ever come was a one night school field trip in 5th grade. "Was it a camp on a lake?" She asked the little girl.
Another girl nodded vigorously. "It had a beach and a dock with a diving platform. And there were canoes for the big kids and even two sailboats!"
"And we went swimming tons. We had lessons and free time and you had to stay in the zone for your color wristband." The young blond proudly brandished her wrist where she wore a royal blue rubber sport band. Whatever lettering had been on it was long ago worn away. "I was in the blue zone. I could go to the end of the dock but I couldn't go out to the platform yet."
Kara smiled. It sounded like the perfect way for a kid to spend the summer, especially when their parents might be otherwise occupied. "That camp sounds like it was fun. What else did you do there?"
"Oh yeah, it was the best! We had an little farm with animals to take care of, and arts and crafts, and we had nature hikes, and campfires, and ice cream every night in the mess hall!"
A dark haired girl leaned in, giggling. "But swimming was the most fun."
A chubby boy with thick glasses shook his head. "Uh uh Luna! I say the ropes course was the most fun!"
Luna stuck her tongue out at him. "No way, the ropes course was scary! You had to climb up a giant ladder! Swimming was the best."
A young man with braids in his hair shook in laughter. "Don't bother trying to win that one Ethan. All the girls loved swim lessons..because Ray was the dreamiest lifeguard they'd ever seen!" He fluttered his lashes dramatically and pretended to swoon.
Will and Ethan giggled uncontrollably. "Yeah, we know why you all liked swim lessons so much."
Although her cheeks turned beet red, the little girl would not admit it. "That's not true. Swimming is just more fun than climbing around in the woods. You like swimming, don't you boy?" Hlasey made a satisfied groan as the little girl scratched behind his ear.
The young woman sitting between the boy's knees agreed with the younger girls. "Yeah, don't you remember how mean Ray was? He was always blowing his whistle and telling the little kids to stay in their zones and all that. We didn't like him then."
It occurred to Kara that if time had seemed slow to her, the first few weeks of not knowing what was going to happen in the outside world must have been like a lifetime to these kids. "So what changed?"
Luna shrugged. "Turned out he was nice. He kept us safe after everyone else went home.
"Yeah, there were a couple times that people tried to steal our food and he scared them away. And he made the plan to move when we ran out." Ethan defended him vigorously. "I bet he's a nicer lifeguard now. He wouldn't let you drown Kat."
Kat shook her head. "That's ok. Swimming just isn't my thing."
Val listened with half an ear. The kids were cute and nice, but their chatter on and on about inane things was pretty boring. She saw Kat hug the little girl who had been getting mad about camp activities and whisper something in her ear, pointing toward the policemen on horseback that were circling around the edges of the crowd. Maybe there was something about kids she just didn't get that she could learn over time?
Over her Kara's shoulder she saw the police suddenly all turn in one direction. "I think this is them!" The first of a long line of cars had come off the highway ramp and was stopped where two of the mayor's officers were keeping the roadway clear. Val twisted the wrapper from her long ago consumed lolli between her fingers. "And it's about time! My butt is getting flat from sitting here so long."
Kara sighed. "I should be so lucky! This baby has an unnatural love of french fries." she smoothed an imaginary stray hair into her tightly pined chignon and tugged her blouse forward so it was looser in the chest.
She gave Kara a sidelong look and her best cheeky grin. "Well, If Lieutenant Green doesn't like the new you, he's an idiot. You are F-I-N-E fine. Take it from a woman who knows how to appreciate a womanly figure."
Kat laughed. "Yeah, I am totally jealous of your boobs." She glanced down at her own chest. "Maybe there's hope for me after all." The women shared a laugh. But instead of ending with a sigh of obvious relief like the women beside her, Val felt her shoulders tighten. She didn't exactly have a plan, but somehow she was going to admit her crush or whatever it was to Lieutenant Granderson today. Who knew how long it would be before she had to leave again? Ever since the incident in the tunnel, the thought had been hounding her. What if that had gone differently? What if she'd missed her chance?
The line of cars pulled forward and she could see Wolf in the driver's seat as the lead car pulled past the steps. An older man that she didn't recognize was sitting in the seat beside him, his grayed head bobbing excitedly as he talked. Kara nudged her in the side. "Don't look now, but there she is, driving the second car."
Of course she looked, how could she not? Alisha had her hands at a perfect 10 and 2 and she sat up rigidly, as if one could be at attention in a car. A knit cap covered her hair but otherwise, she looked exactly the same as when she left. Val watched as she shifted the car into park and then looked up, her gaze shifting from the windshield to the side window. Even with the mirrored glasses Alishia was wearing, Val could see she was scanning the crowd. When she suddenly stopped, Val's breath left her in a huff. She didn't look away even though she had the ridiculous urge to duck her head and smooth her hair. Instead she leaned back, settling her elbows onto the steps behind her and slowly smiled back. "This is it bitch, take it or leave it." She muttered.
"Halsey! Stop it!" Willy and Ethan giggled as the dog stood, his tail suddenly brushing across their faces as it rapidly wagged back and forth. Kara gave a quiet command and the dog sat at her heels, although his tail didn't stop wagging.
"Come on kids." Kat bounded to her feet. "We stand for the President."
Car doors began to open and there was a smattering of applause from the gathered people as uniformed personnel began to emerge. Danny and Wolf came out first. She could see that Danny was talking into a regular old fashioned walkie talkie instead of his usual earpiece and added fixing that to her list of things to get working on. He scanned the crowd and then talked for a few seconds with officer Gund. After he gave a satisfied nod, more car doors opened. Tex appeared beside the third car back and waved to Kat as he crossed to the opposite side to hold the door for someone.
"Oh that man is waving at you Kat!" Luna bounced in excitement.
"That's my dad. You can call him Mr. Nolan."
"Is he friends with President Michener?"
"Ah, sort of." Kat's brows rose in amusement.
"How come he doesn't have a uniform then? He looks like a biker dude."
Kara tugged on one of the girl's ponytails. "Well, not everyone who works for the President wears a uniform."
"But uniforms make people look official. I bet your dad would look handsome in one. He should get one." This was from a different girl sitting near Kat.
"He already has one. He just doesn't need to wear it anymore."
This came as a surprise to Val, who had just assumed the old coot was some kind of cowboy type. But when she thought about it, it made sense given the incredibly brave things she'd heard that he'd done.
"Ray is going to have a uniform, isn't he?" said a little boy, maybe 10 or 11 years old.
Kat pointed out Miller. "He'll have one like Miller's. See that red haired guy there? And he'll have some other fancier ones for special occasions."
"Yeah but Ray will be waaaay more handsomer!" The first girl fake swooned and batted her eyes up at Val. "Don't you think Ms, uh Ms. whoever you are."
"Luna, this is Ms. Raymond. She works for the President and she doesn't wear a uniform either." Kara held out a hand to help the girl up. "It's not nice to fall on strangers."
Despite her general dislike of children, Val found herself saying "Oh let her be." She smiled down at the girl. "I think Ray will be very handsome in his uniform too."
Kat winked at her. "Too bad they aren't wearing dress uniforms. I think Lieutenant Granderson would look quite fetching in the skirt and jacket combo you've got on today Kara.
Kara and Val both laughed. "Alas, she is one of the few women I know who chooses the pants over the skirt option."
"Such a shame." Val shook her head.
The president emerged, looking quite surprised to see such crowds here in St. Louis. But he quickly leaned down and said something to Tex who radioed Danny. At Danny's nod, Alisha, Mason, Miller, and a tall blond man in a uniform more similar to Danny's slid out of cars and took up positions surrounding the president. Together they quickly began traveling the rope line on the other side of the street.
Val nudged Kara. "Your husband must have seen you. You'd think he could blow you a kiss or something."
"Oh, you still have so much to learn!" Kara jerked her head to indicate Alisha. "Don't feel bad that she didn't acknowledge you. We're not supposed to break form until we are released from duty. Wait around until the President releases his escort, then I bet you'll be the first person on her list."
Val felt the makings of a grimace twist her lips but she fought to keep from revealing her frustration. It was bad enough that she was here, possibly making a fool of herself over a woman that so far seemed to hate her. Now she had to wait until the end? She felt around in her left pocket but she was out of candy. She could smell something delicious and suddenly had an intense craving for snacks.
"You want some?" Kat passed over a paper lunch bag filled with popcorn.
"Where the heck did this come from?" She dug in immediately. "I could eat two or three of these right now." It wasn't very buttery but it was salty and crunchy and exactly what she needed.
Luna held open her backpack. "Kat taught us how to make popcorn today! Want your own bag Ms. Raymond?"
While she munched, she watched Alisha. Her movements were so smooth and efficient that she seemed to glide along behind the President. Most of the time her gaze swiveled back and forth over the crowd but every once in a while she stopped and said hi to someone or thank you or shook a hand. Once or twice she glanced over her shoulder toward the steps where the Nathan James crew had filled in. Each time Val would get a prickle of nervous sweat. What, if anything, was she going to say. Maybe she should have planned this out better.
When they reached the corner of the building Michener stepped back from the ropes and waved his hand overhead to the crowd. Then Danny led him toward the edge of the steps.
Kara leaned over. "He'll take Michener around the back. The steps are too unprotected given that they haven't scouted the sight lines."
Val felt some of her frustration reach its peak. "You mean I sat here through all that and I don't even get to say hello? I could have just waited for dinner!"
"Who's that lady? She looks nice." Luna pointed toward where an older blond woman had separated from the civilian volunteers exiting the cars and stood at the bottom of the steps, twisting her scarf in her hands. She was stopped at the edge of the crowd fencing, looking like she wanted to come up the steps but uncertain how to proceed. A stout man with beefy arms and curly gray hair stood slightly behind her.
"That's my mom!" Kara's face split in a smile a mile wide. "And Vince, Danny's ah, I guess you could say mentor. Help me up kids." She waved to the woman to cross the barrier while the kids made a silly game of pulling Kara to her feet and Halsey wove in and out of their little bodies.
Kat persuaded the kids to give the pair some privacy by pointing out the police horse trailer parked on the other side of the square. "Maybe if we ask the police officers what kind of help they need they will let us pet their horses." Val took the hint and began ambling up the steps. She supposed there was a 50/50 chance that Alisha would come back out the main entrance in a while. She lingered at the back of the line that formed as people crowded through the narrow doors. There was clapping and cheering echoing off the marble walls inside and she supposed Michener was giving a speech or something but she'd had enough of politician's speeches for one lifetime. Perhaps it would be better to go wait somewhere private? By the time she reached the porch, people were coming back out again. She leaned against one tall column to consider her next move. She'd never thought of herself as chicken but maybe she should just go back to her room and get to work.
