"Miss him already?"

The little jokes, accompanied with a warm smile, entertained a quiet coworker throughout the travel. Claudia joked with Suzanne quite a bit to alleviate the tense work environment, with the snappy quips at the newbie's expense. 'Consider it a compliment. She'd keep the conversation purely professional if she didn't like you' the others shared when it came a barrage of nicknames, especially 'Newlywed.' That moniker seemed to amuse both Claudia and Linda, along with the others on the wing. It was also true; Suzanne was a deliriously happily married woman of a few months. The idle screen image on her work tablet: a heart-shaped carving with initials S & J on a tree.

"It's not that, even though I wouldn't mind talking to Jethro right now..." Suzanne released a heavy sigh once settled inside their suite. The traveling schedule was not an issue. Packing and replenishing go-bags, two mutually agreed, was in their job descriptions. 'It's part of the life.' Suzanne was an E-9's daughter and served with the Peace Corps. Two days for business was a cakewalk compared to four years in Central America with the Peace Corps or an extended Southwest Asian tour during the First Persian Gulf. Suzanne watched the endless stream of cars and pedestrian traffic along the Manhattan streets. She and Claudia managed to blend into the bustling streets, avoiding detection or recognition. The interview scheduled for the most popular AM talk show would end the last shred of anonymity.

"I believe you, Suzanne." Rarely she used her first name in conversation. The vocal protests were dismissed by Claudia, at first. She assumed it was a feeble attempt to mask 'modesty.' The day passed and she watched Suzanne's anxiety intensify. She couldn't believe the sight! It was rare to work with someone in Washington politics without a personal agenda.

'Oh, she'll make it here.' Linda's summation of the new colleague's disposition was genuinely "sweet but underestimated." The fact was evident once Suzanne raised her voice over the phone regarding the President's request.

'Are you kidding me?!' She removed her glasses, took several deep breaths as a method to keep calm. A moment later, the tone escalated to a direct manner.

"Get your supervisor, then. I'll come get it myself, all right. See if they'll stop me when I tell them it's for the Chief..."

She definitely demonstrated knowledge in regards to the job. Suzanne's quick temperament earned a reputation as "The Right One," as if the person not to cross. If there were answers not satisfactory to the task at hand, one or all three attacked until a satisfactory resolution became available. The newest member of the trio closest to President Owens was tenacious.

"You're an excellent public speaker..." Claudia chuckled and referenced to the numerous examples Suzanne presented speeches and informal briefings in the White House. "It boggles my mind why you're insecure about interviews."

"I wanted to just prove a point at the job and ZNN...I didn't want it to go national." Suzanne continued watching the view from the window. "Besides, people want to know about my personal life..."

"What's wrong with that?"

"I like being unknown." Suzanne answered with a chuckle.

"Come on, Newlywed." Claudia suggested to go outside, if not for the fresh air and walk. "Let's go to dinner, have a good meal and relax."

As the two walked from the hotel, Claudia admitted that she suggested the interview and volunteered to accompany Suzanne to New York-'to get away from DC for just a day or two.'

It was that point both smiled and laughed.

"I figured you need someone by your side, just to ease your nerves."

"I'm glad you're here. Thank you, Claudia."

The morning interview was subdued, very much similar to a day's work at the White House for a briefing. There Suzanne appeared on television, dressed typically for a 9-6 day with the President and fielding questions like the Assistant to the President. Embarrassed at the fact she got worked up over a simple apologetic follow-up piece with ZNN, Suzanne left the studio with Claudia smiling and laughing hysterically.

"Oh, that was so easy-peasy!"

"What did I tell you?"

The two agreed to coffee and a light snack at a deli nearby the hotel. They had a few hours left on the agenda before the late evening return to Washington. The laughter subsided when a whimsical cell chime cut through. Suzanne's phone. She glanced downward to see it was Linda, perhaps giving a congratulatory call. Instead, it was a business-related change.

"You and Claudia can stay another day in New York. Your room and tickets have been changed."

"Oh wow." Suzanne said. She whispered to her colleague about the change, adding that 'I guess it was a good job.'

"Good news! You're booked for John Farris tonight as a guest."

The news was not good.

The king of late night talk dominated the 11:35 time slot the past five years, won countless awards, and its young host was wildly popular with the viewership as comedian, political commentator, talk show host, and author. To appear on his show, seriously, his guests had to bring a multitude of arsenals just to maintain step. Suzanne had the responsibility to be exactly on point, for the sake of the President, the White House, and her reputation.