Coming to you live from the gate at the airport, here's the latest chapter. Hope you enjoy and we're coming up on the election! Catch you in two weeks.
Chapter 22
The week of campaigning in the Northeast was good for Bella. She showed gains in her polling, while John Caius continued to rail against the polls and their inaccuracies.
At the end of the week, Bella was back in DC. On one particular morning, she made a rare visit to Walter Reed for a doctor's appointment. While the medical team in the White House Medical Unit could handle most things, since her primary care physician was the head of the unit, her OB-GYN was not a part of the in-house medical team. Still, Dr. Keller was a trusted physician, and a woman, something Bella valued.
"Madam President, if you come back with me, we can begin the exam." It didn't faze Dr. Keller that a suited agent would be following her patient as they entered the exam room.
Agent Harper stood in the corner behind the President so she wasn't in view of anything she shouldn't be.
The exam was routine. Everything was monitored, including the agent who followed Dr. Keller to her private pharmacy in the Presidential suite of the hospital for Bella's contraceptive shot. She returned to the exam room and administered the shot before giving Bella a moment to change and join her in her office.
With a pleading face, Bella turned to Agent Harper in the hallway. "Will I get a moment in private with Dr. Keller?"
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. Agent Pace delayed the shift change by an hour so that I could be the agent present. I promise that anything I hear will be in confidence. I know I'm still new, but I hope to earn your trust in time."
"It isn't about a lack of trust. But I haven't even fully discussed this with Edward yet, you understand."
"I do, Ma'am. He won't hear anything from me. I assure you."
Resigned that she wouldn't get a break, even though her doctor was a US Army Major, they entered the office and Agent Harper closed the door before taking her spot on the wall.
"Everything looks good, Bella," Dr. Keller told her. "We'll have your results in a few days, but barring anything abnormal, we should be able to have your next appointment just before Christmas."
"Excellent, I'll have my office confirm my appointment closer to the day."
"If you don't mind me saying, you seem a little anxious today, Bella. Do you have any questions or concerns?" Dr. Keller asked.
Bella inhaled deeply before speaking. "As I'm sure you're aware, I'm engaged now. My fiancé and I have spoken about children, but with my age, we would likely start trying for a family soon after the wedding. I was curious when it would be wise to stop my shot."
Dr. Keller nodded. "For most women, their period resumes a month or two following you discontinuing the shot. So for you, the next dose is due in December. If we didn't administer that dose, you should ovulate by February. Then it is a matter of nature taking its course. Studies show that eighty percent of women who stop the shot become pregnant within the first year. We'll just have to monitor you closely, some of which can be done through the White House Medical Unit."
"It can really happen that quickly?" Bella was surprised.
"Yes. It can. So if you choose to stop the shot, no appointment would be necessary in December, so you can inform your aides and they can call for an appointment or to let me know not to hold my morning appointments that week."
"Thank you, Dr. Keller."
"You're very welcome, Ma'am."
Bella knew the end of the appointment had come when Dr. Keller began to call her Ma'am again. She stood and shook her hand before she and Agent Harper departed.
Isabella climbed into Beast to see Garrett behind the wheel of the car.
"Ma'am," he said in greeting, their eyes meeting in the mirror.
"Garrett, how was your evening off?"
"I made an offer on a house. I'm hopeful."
"That's excellent news. Any idea when you might hear something?"
"The house is vacant. It was owned by someone who worked in international relations and moved quickly. I spoke to our realtor and she assured me that Alice could sign electronically since she's still in isolation. If the offer is accepted, we could close in a month."
"And you have everything you need? Because if you and Alice need anything—"
"We're good," Garrett assured. "She's actually contacted Virna to help her since she can't do things hands-on. As soon as we have the keys, Virna will have her people take care of a lot of our decorating."
"Good. If anything comes up, just ask."
"You've got a busy six weeks. You won't slow down until a few days before the election."
"Don't remind me. I'll be happy when the election is over and I'm able to return to governing."
They arrived back at the White House and Isabella returned to the business of the day.
She had just finished her afternoon meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff when her intercom buzzed.
"Ma'am, Mr. Masen is asking for a moment," Shelley informed her. No matter his insistence that using Edward was fine, she still addressed him formally.
"Let him in," Bella answered.
The door opened, and with a look, her agents left for a moment of privacy for the couple.
"How was your appointment this morning?" Edward asked.
"Fine. Barring anything abnormal in my labs, it was mostly routine."
"Mostly?" He questioned.
"I did have something to ask Dr. Keller."
Edward rested both of his hands on her desk and leaned forward. "Are you being obtuse on purpose?"
"No, just not here. We'll talk later."
"Bella, if something is wrong you need to tell me. And then we have to tell Garrett so he can help plan for whatever contingencies we might—"
"Edward, nothing is wrong. I asked about the timing for stopping my shot. It takes time for my body to return to normal after the last one and I wanted to make sure I was prepared."
"What did Dr. Keller say?"
"That it could take a month or two for my cycle to return to normal after the last shot, so if I stopped after the one I just got, I should be able to conceive by January or February."
"So I should stock up on condoms until closer to the wedding." His smirk was unmistakable; he was definitely a fan of this news. "And there isn't a reason to worry about the lasting effects?"
"No. The pregnancy rates are good within a year of stopping the medication, so it will be a waiting game once we start trying."
"I'll enjoy that type of waiting."
Bella couldn't help the shy smile at his innuendo. "You're incorrigible. Now, I have work to do. We're on the road again in a few days."
The next trip began the final push before Election Day. Edward and Bella crisscrossed the country; Emmett was doing his own rounds, occasionally meeting up with them for events together. The Midwest would be a big battleground for her, as would the South, but it didn't mean Bella was giving up on those areas. She attended town halls and rallies. Pressed the flesh and answered hard questions. She had plans for her next four years and she wasn't shy about what she'd do if elected into the office she'd assumed after the tragedy.
Her poll numbers reflected the shift, and so did the attack ads aired by her opponent after he'd failed to best her in their final debate.
The much discussed location for her election night party had been decided and Garrett and the local field agents were working on securing the Seattle Convention Center. The Mayor and Governor were both eager to help the former Governor celebrate the end of her presidential campaign and hopefully her win.
The campaign had to pay for certain improvements to the space, but Garrett was thankful there weren't any skyscrapers behind the glass wall, so the number of windows that would need to be replaced with bulletproof glass was minimal.
That work continued as Isabella and Edward went to one of the last planned campaign stops in Phoenix, Arizona. Bella had just approached the podium, with Edward beside her, when the hiss and pop of fireworks began in the distance. The sound sent agents in the crowd into action as her own agents moved from their positions.
Edward's eyes also scanned the surroundings, and he moved quicker, pulling Isabella into him and pushing her down behind the podium. The agents reached them just as he hissed in pain.
Bella desperately wanted to look up at him, but the angle prevented it.
Hands grabbed and pulled, first to get Edward moving, then the President. Shouted commands and screams filled the air as the couple was swarmed and moved to the waiting vehicle. Garrett followed the couple inside and immediately began assessing them.
"Ma'am, were you hit?"
"No," she responded.
"You're sure?" Edward asked beside her.
Bella stripped off her suit jacket and ran her hands down her clothed legs to show that she wasn't injured. "I'm fine. Now, will you please check out Edward?"
"I'm fine," Edward parroted her.
"You hissed when you covered me," Bella told him.
"Edward, your arm," Garrett pointed out. "Take off your jacket."
Edward did as he was told, revealing a jagged line across the outside of his arm, a few inches below his shoulder.
"Edward, you need to have that looked at," Bella insisted.
"Getting you safely out of the area is the priority. We were headed back to the base to depart for DC after this anyway. They can stitch me up on the plane."
"I really think—"
"Ma'am," Garrett interrupted. "I have to agree with Mihos here. The city is compromised. If we try to bring him to a local hospital, it will put you both at risk. There's a complete operating room built into the Air Force One fleet for a reason. We can take care of it once we get off the ground."
Bella's ringing phone silenced all further arguments. "Hello?"
"Bella, what's happening in Phoenix?" Emmett's voice sounded on edge.
"I can't talk now. I'll call you back as soon as I can."
"I just got pulled off the stage in Omaha. Monica and Quil are trying to find out why."
"There was a situation, but it is under control. If you can safely give your speech, do it. If not, then cut the event short."
"All right. I'll call you again once the event is over. That should give you enough time to get wherever you're headed."
"Be safe, Emmett."
"You too, Isabella."
The SUV took a sharp turn and Edward hissed again as he braced himself. Minutes later, they were on board Air Force One and Garrett tried to lead Bella away.
"I'll put on a gown or something, but I'm going to be with him."
"I'm already annoyed that Carmen wants to photograph it for 'history' or whatever bullshit campaign reason. I don't need the pressure of you wincing with every stitch. He'll be out in fifteen minutes, twenty tops."
"Garrett—"
"It's Agent Pace. Now go sit with Athenodora," he said angrily.
Bella stopped short at his harsh tone and stalked toward her office.
Athenodora tried to calm Isabella, but after clicking on the link to the news coverage, she picked up the phone and began returning phone calls. Riley wanted the broad strokes for a press release, the agents on the ground having informed her of the initial details.
The door opened and Edward entered, wearing a US Secret Service T-shirt.
"Mr. Masen was injured, but it was minor and has already been treated."
"Okay. Emmett was able to give his speech. He's on the move now. Do we have any photos from the event?"
"Check with Carmen; she should have everything you need. I'm going to try to rest. My head is killing me."
"Of course, Ma'am. We'll see you when you arrive home."
"Bye, Riley."
Bella set the phone in the cup holder in the arm of the couch, while Teeny already held out a bottle of water and some aspirin.
"You can go and relax now, Teeny, I'll be fine."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Bella?" Edward called out to her.
"You should try to rest," Bella said coldly.
"Are we back to this?" he asked.
"Back to what?"
"You being mad at me for something beyond my control."
She turned to him. "You chose me over the job, remember? But the first time you were faced with it, you went back to old habits."
"Bella, did you see the news footage yet?" He stepped closer, knowing better than to try to reach out.
"Yes."
"Can you tell me where I was supposed to find adequate cover, besides that podium? Yes, I protected you, but doing so gave me the ability to protect myself. If we're in a situation where the best for both of us is for the agents to separate us, I'll go along, no matter how much it kills me. But in this case, what I did kept us safe until the agents reached us."
Bella let out a shuddering breath. "I didn't think about it that way."
"No, because this is new to you too. We'll get better at this. Or hopefully, we won't have to."
Bella opened her arms to Edward and he pulled her from the corner of the couch so he could sit there, then pulled her into his side.
"Why was Garrett so pissed earlier, if you did the right thing?"
"Because it was the first attempt since the bomb scare and he was in charge. He's mad that it happened on his watch and that I was hurt. He's my best friend, Bella. Imagine thinking you made a mistake that put Alice at risk."
"When will this be over?"
"Garrett got an update as he was stitching me up. They killed the shooter."
Bella looked up. "Really? Good. Now hopefully we'll get some answers from him."
"We can only pray they find something. But for now we need to come up with a plan. We're less than two weeks from Election Day and we had other engagements. Plus, the media circus this will create."
"I'll contact Quil. He was with Emmett today, but I'm sure he'll have ideas. And Riley was going to contact Carmen for any photos they could use in the press releases."
"Then let the team do their job. For now, we should just rest. We won't get a lot of that when we return home."
"You're right. I'm sorry for getting angry earlier. I just worry about you."
Edward held her tighter. "I know. Just remember that I will always act in your best interest. And that includes staying safe for your peace of mind."
"I love you."
Bella yawned and Edward leaned in to whisper. "Sleep now. We'll have to face the world soon enough."