If you love somebody enough

Boston July 2004

Early the next morning

Holiday Inn and Suites

Democratic Convention

He knocks on her door, suitcase in hand.

"You ready yet?"

She looks surprised. "Am I driving back with you? I thought I was in the van with the rest of them."

He stumbles over his words, trying not to telegraph just how very much he's been looking forward to the drive back to New York. "Oh… uh… I just thought… you don't have to… I mean if you'd rather go in the van I just…"

She's staring at him, serious as all hell. Dark chocolate. His argument is virtually inchoate. He stumbles through sentences like a grade schooler.

"It'd be nice to have the company," he finally blurts out.

She smiles at him, warm and sweet, "Well, as long as you're not expecting me to drive…" Her eyes crinkle with the smile, and she opens the door wider, "Come on in, I'll be ready in fifteen."

He watches her compacting clothing into her duffle; folding and rolling, even tucking things inside her four inch heels. She's methodical about checking the room, making sure there's nothing left behind. He enjoys watching her. Allows himself to fantasize just a little about lying on the bed, watching her move around the room. Reminds himself that he's an idiot, since she's at least fifteen years younger than he is, and his field producer to boot.

She stands at the door, head cocked to one side, waiting.

"Earth to Will," she says.

He looks up. "Oh right. All ready then?"

"Just need to check out."

He holds the door open for her, but he's not sure if the glance she throws back over her shoulder at him means "Thanks for being a gentleman" or, "Please, for god's sake I can open my own door."

She leans against the back wall of the elevator, smiling softly at some secret she has. He wants to know it. Wants to know everything she's thinking. He leans against the wall beside her, feeling the purr of the elevator vibrate through his bones.

She glances sideways at him. "We did good this week, Will"

He nods, then says, "You know Charlie's considering us both for the ten o'clock spot…"

She turns to him, straight clear and serious. "I know he was… and after this week I'd be tempted….."

He looks at her with alarm, "What do you mean, tempted? The way Charlie said it, it was a done deal."

She shakes her head. "Not a done deal by any means. They offered me a one year contract on dayside…noon show…news and cooking…some kind of scramble..."

He looks at her aghast. "That's not what Charlie said to me!"

"Well that's what Reese Lansing said to me. But Will," she puts her hand on his arm, "CNN offered me their five o'clock back in Washington. I know their news director. He's a good guy. I was a field producer for him a few years ago."

He looks at her bleakly.

"You should consider looking around too, Will. You're a good correspondent… you'd be a good anchor. Get yourself a good agent…if nothing else you'd get a better deal."

"I'll think about it," he says dully.

"You can't mean to stay at ACN forever, Will. No one truly values you until someone else wants you. Every company says they like to grow their own talent, but when push comes to shove they look elsewhere. Broaden your resume and come with me to CNN. With my brains and your beauty…"

"Or vice versa" he interrupts.

She grins, eyes shining, and then thumps him in the chest. "Ahem! With my brains and your beauty we could rule prime time news!"

The elevator doors slide open and she heads out. He stays leaning on the back wall of the elevator for a moment or two, until she turns back and says, "You coming Billy?"

He nods, and follows her out into the lobby as if he's been following her all his life.

The End

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