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Agent Valdez's phone fell out of Elizabeth's hand and hit the floor of the backseat.
"What is it, Babe? What did he say to you?" Henry asked, rubbing her arms.
"Hey! Give me my phone back!" Agent Valdez shouted, when he realized she was no longer holding the phone.
"I don't give a crap about your phone," Henry shouted back. He turned his attention back to Elizabeth, who was visibly shaking in his grasp. She turned her body into his chest.
She must be terrified and embarrassed at the same time. I wish we were alone in the backseat.
"It's okay," he whispered into her ear. "I'm here."
Agent Rogers reached down below the seat to find Agent Valdez's phone. He brushed Elizabeth's foot accidentally and she whimpered and pulled her legs up, burying her face into Henry.
"Sorry, Madam Secretary," Agent Rogers said. He passed the phone to Agent Valdez who put it up to his ear to see if the assistant to the Foreign Minister was still on the line.
Henry leaned down to whisper in Elizabeth's ear. "Did he threaten you?"
She nodded and he pulled her closer.
"It's okay. You're not going to meet the Foreign Minister. I'll think of something."' He kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her.
"But…"
"No, Babe. I'm drawing the line here. I'm done. They are going to have to pry you out of my arms before you go anywhere near the Foreign Minister, his assistant, or his residence."
Agent Valdez overheard Henry's words to Elizabeth and turned around to face him. "Do I need to remind you who's in control here, Dr. McCord?" He pointed his gun at them.
Thank God Elizabeth is turned away right now from Agent Valdez. She doesn't need to panic anymore.
Henry swallowed. He tried to cover as much of Elizabeth as possible with his arms. "You will not harm my wife." He felt Elizabeth tense against him and he rubbed her back.
Agent Valdez chuckled. "You think you can stop me?" he asked.
"Dr. McCord," said Agent Rogers, glancing over at Henry. "I wouldn't test him."
Henry's eyes darkened. "Who said this was a test? I meant what I said."
Elizabeth pushed back from Henry's chest and turned around to face the agents. Her eyes widened at the sight of Valdez's gun, but she stood her ground. "Can everyone stop making decisions about me? I'll meet with the Foreign Minister of Iran on one condition," she said.
I don't like the sound of this.
Henry squeezed her waist, reminding her that he was there.
"You must guarantee Henry's safe return to the United States."
Valdez looked at Elizabeth like she had two heads. "Are you crazy? You think we're interested in what happens to your husband at all? He wasn't even supposed to be with you, until Farhad got himself arrested and detained by the government."
"Kyle," Agent Rogers said. He shot Agent Valdez a warning glance begging him to stop talking, but he ignored it.
"It's not like it matters anymore. The Secretary is meeting with the Foreign Minister according to plan. And I'm not agreeing to any conditions right now." Agent Valdez lowered his gun and turned back around in his seat. "We'll be at the Foreign Minister's residence soon."
Henry gently tugged on her shoulder to get Elizabeth to face him. He held her gaze and cupped her cheek. She stared into his eyes and he saw so much love reflected there. Everyone else in the car ceased to exist as he allowed himself a moment to look at Elizabeth and marvel at how lucky he was that she came into his life.
How can she think he would ever leave her behind willingly?
"I'm not leaving Iran without you, so you can just go ahead and forget that you even suggested that," he said.
A tear rolled down her cheek. "Henry…"
He smiled at her. "Baby. I couldn't live with myself if I left you here with these men. We'll find another way."
The driver honked and then slammed on his brakes. Elizabeth went flying out of Henry's arms, hitting the back of the driver's seat.
What in the…
Henry reached for Elizabeth and helped her get situated against him. "You okay?" he asked.
She nodded and gripped his hand, linking it with hers.
"Why'd you stop like that?" Agent Rogers asked.
"There's a van blocking the road. We need to turn that way," the driver said, pointing to the right.
Agent Valdez reached for the door handle. "I'll make them move," he said. He stepped out of the car, waving his gun around.
"Hold on," Agent Rogers said, stepping out of the backseat. The door slammed shut and Elizabeth and Henry were left inside the car with only the driver for company. They both watched as Agent Rogers approached Agent Valdez and began arguing with him. Henry couldn't hear what was being said, but the hand gestures and the pointing were enough to know that the agents didn't agree on the proper action to take right now. He turned his attention to the van that was parked in the street blocking their turn. There were no markings on the van but Henry could just barely make out the silhouette of the driver.
Is he intentionally blocking the road? Who does this guy work for?
"I don't like this, Henry," Elizabeth whispered.
"Me either."
Two men jumped out of the back of the van, wearing United States Army uniforms while carrying some kind of machine gun. They aimed their guns at Agents Valdez and Rogers who raised their handguns as well. Henry heard muffled yelling through their spot in the car's backseat.
Could it really be the United States Army? Did Conrad understand Elizabeth's code? Are we saved?
Elizabeth scooted closer to the window to get a better look at what was going on. Henry followed suit.
"Could it be?" Elizabeth asked.
"I don't know. Certainly looks like the army. But are they here to save us?"
"Henry, what are the odds a random van in Iran on the way to the Foreign Minister's house is carrying U.S. soldiers?"
"I would guess pretty low." He squeezed her shoulders.
The driver of their car opened his door and walked toward the chaos. With the door open, Henry and Elizabeth could hear what the soldiers were yelling.
"On the ground now! Drop your weapon! Get back in the car!"
"Hey! Wait! Let's just talk about this," the driver shouted with his hands in the air. A bullet hit the ground near his feet and he dropped to his knees.
One of the soldiers shot at Agent Valdez. He yelled out and crumpled to the ground, grabbing his leg.
Elizabeth gasped in the back seat and covered her hand with her mouth.
"Whoa! Hang on!" Agent Rogers yelled out. He dropped his gun and raised his hands in surrender.
"Stay down!" shouted one of the army soldiers. He approached Agent Valdez to check on him and kicked him in the leg. Valdez screamed out and rolled around on the ground. The soldier reached down and picked up the handgun, tucking it into his pants.
The other soldier ran over to Agent Rogers and put a gun against his back. "Don't move," the soldier said. He then bent his head into his shoulder, presumably talking into a microphone.
Seconds later, another person dressed in army fatigues jumped out of the van and jogged over to the car that Elizabeth and Henry were in. They watched the scene through the window. "Do we go with him?" she asked, turning around to face Henry.
"I want to know who he is first."
"Madam Secretary," the soldier said, approaching the car and opening the door to the backseat. "I'm General Smith and President Dalton sent us here to get you and Dr. McCord out of Iran."
Elizabeth grabbed Henry's hand tightly. "How do we know that we can trust you?"
Henry eyed the soldier warily and made no motion to let Elizabeth out of his hold at the moment.
"Do you want to talk to the President?" General Smith suggested.
She nodded. "Yes, please."
"I have a secure line back in the van."
Elizabeth's face fell, uncertainty written all over it. Henry rubbed her shoulder.
"No offense, but we don't know you," he told General Smith. "And after Agents Rogers and Valdez held us hostage and forced us into Iran, forgive me if I'm not exactly ready to trust you right now. They were supposed to be her protectors and they ended up making everything worse. So either bring the secure line to us, or we're not leaving this car with anyone."
"Dr. McCord, I can assure you that-" General Smith said.
"I said no. My wife has been through enough. Bring the secure line to us."
General Smith sighed and closed the door to the backseat, turning to walk back toward the van.
Henry surveyed the scene outside through the car window. Agent Valdez was in handcuffs, being led to the van by one of the soldiers. He was limping heavily and all Henry could think was that it served him right. Agent Rogers and the driver were standing by the van in handcuffs, kicking the dirt with their feet.
"Do you trust that Conrad really set this up?" Elizabeth asked.
"I think it's a possibility. Especially with your code. Smart move, by the way."
She shook her head. "I just don't understand how this happened so fast. I mean, I just talked to the Foreign Minister's assistant not that long ago where he threatened that Iran would be the last country I would ever see."
Henry pulled her into his side. "He said that to you?"
She put her head onto his shoulder. "Yeah."
"I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to deal with threats like that."
"It happens more than you think. Normally I brush it off, but with everything else that has happened this week…"
He kissed her cheek. "Completely understandable. But I still hate that you deal with it at all."
General Smith jogged back to the car and opened the door to the backseat, startling Elizabeth. "Here's a satellite phone, Madam Secretary. President Dalton is already on the line."
"Thank you," she replied, taking the phone from him and putting it up to her ear. "Hello?"
"Bess. Are you okay?" President Dalton asked.
"Mostly. We're just a little shocked by everything that transpired after leaving the hospital. I have to say, Sir, I was worried that you wouldn't remember the code from our old CIA days."
Henry kept his arm around her shoulder as she spoke to President Dalton.
"I suspected you used the code at first, but I what really tipped me off that something was amiss was when you said that I would see you at the White House when you landed. We had agreed that you would take some time off. I'm pretty sure Henry would have me drawn and quartered if I had suggested you come to the White House any time soon," President Dalton explained.
She smiled at Henry. "Yes, he's been very protective lately."
I will always protect you.
Henry kissed the top of her head and she closed her eyes at the contact.
"Mr. President, how did you know we would be meeting with the Foreign Minister upon landing in Iran?"
"We had the FBI director look at the phone records for Agents Valdez and Rogers. They had communication with the Iranian Foreign Minister's assistant, who happens to be Farhad Azimi's uncle. The agents had scheduled you for a meeting with the Foreign Minister at his residence, which of course is not protocol. I contacted troops that we had stationed in Iran as soon as I saw that information."
Elizabeth sighed and Henry rubbed her shoulder.
This is all such a mess.
"I'm sorry about Agents Valdez and Rogers by the way. They duped Russell. The background check did come back clear because they had a completely clean record. We had no idea they were working with Farhad and Iran or Teresa Hurst for that matter. We're going to change the vetting process now. This won't happen again, Bess."
Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears.
She's overwhelmed.
Henry took the phone from her momentarily. "Mr. President?" Henry said. "I mean no disrespect, but how is she supposed to trust these troops or any other Diplomatic Security agents ever again? I have to say, I'm having a hard time with that right now myself."
Conrad sighed deeply on the phone. "I understand. But I can assure you that the troops we have stationed in Iran are there to represent the United States. Those men are patriots through and through. General Smith is one of the best and he will personally see to it that your pilot gets you back to the United States."
"Forgive me for still being worried, Sir," Henry replied. "Elizabeth has been through a lot the last few days and I just want her to get home safe."
Elizabeth leaned her head on his shoulder, seeking his comfort.
"How about this, Henry? General Smith will escort you and Elizabeth to the airport back to her plane where only the two of you will fly back to Andrews. I'll send my motorcade with Russell Jackson to pick you up at Andrews and then drive you home."
"How can we trust the pilot?" Henry asked. "The one we thought we could trust earlier flew us to Iran."
"He is being arrested right now since he was working with Agents Valdez and Rogers. We have someone else that will fly you and Elizabeth home. The plane will be tracked by Ephraim Ware and the FBI director. We will know the second he veers off course should he not fly you back to D.C.," President Dalton said.
"You should ask Elizabeth, Mr. President. Ultimately, she's the one that has to be comfortable with the plan."
Henry handed her the phone and she listened to Conrad explain how they would be getting back to the states. "Meeting Russell at Andrews sounds fine. Yeah, I'll talk to you soon." She finished the call and handed the satellite phone back to General Smith.
"Give us a minute," Henry told the General.
He nodded and waited by the front of the car, leaving them alone in the backseat again.
"You okay with what President Dalton suggested?" Henry asked her. "I can call him back if you aren't one-hundred percent on board."
Elizabeth contemplated the other options available. Nothing came to mind that wouldn't take days. "I'm tired, Henry. I want to go home."
"I know, Babe. But I want to make sure you feel safe." He cupped her cheek and wiped away a stray tear.
"Just you and me on a plane? The only other place I would feel safer is at home in our bed."
Henry smiled and then leaned in and kissed her.
"I love you," he said, pulling out of the kiss.
"I love you, too."
Henry linked hands with Elizabeth. "You ready?"
She nodded and he opened the door. "General Smith?" Henry said, getting his attention. The General walked toward the backseat of the car. "We're ready to head back to the airport and get on the plane."
"Good. We're taking the van," General Smith replied.
Elizabeth's hand tensed in Henry's. "Will the agents be in the van with us? We're not on board with that," Henry said matter-of-factly.
General Smith scoffed. "Of course not! What kind of operation do you think we're running? They'll be in a separate car."
If you'd lived what Elizabeth's been through the last few days, you would question everything run by the people in charge.
General Smith looked down at his watch. "In fact, their ride should be here in about five minutes." He gestured for them to follow him to the van.
Henry helped Elizabeth out of the backseat. She leaned heavily on him as they walked slowly behind General Smith to the van. When they finally reached the van, Elizabeth attempted to open the sliding door to the back, but Henry stopped her.
She gave him a questioning look.
"Hang on, Babe. I need to talk to Agent Valdez. I'll be right back." Henry said, kissing her forehead, and letting go of her hand.
He walked over to Agent Valdez who was standing around the front of the van and stood eye to eye with him. "I'd like my phone back."
Agent Valdez scoffed. "Well I'd like a foot rub and a hot model by my side. We don't always get what we want."
Agent Rogers overheard Henry's request to Agent Valdez and rolled his eyes. "Kyle, just give Dr. McCord his phone. It's over."
"You are so weak!" Agent Valdez shouted. "This is why they got the drop on us!"
"Oh, come on! There's no way this is all my fault," Agent Rogers replied.
One of the soldiers raised his gun at the agents. "Both of you, shut up. And give Dr. McCord his phone back now or I'll reach into your pocket and get it for him."
"I'm handcuffed, you moron!" Agent Valdez shouted.
The soldier laughed. "Oh, right." He reached into the front pocket of Agent Valdez's pants and found the phone. He gave it to Henry. "Here you go," he said.
"Thanks," Henry replied, taking his phone. He turned to face Agents Valdez and Rogers. "I hope this was all worth it. This should teach you to never underestimate my wife."
She's amazing. And smart. And strong. And resilient.
He walked back around to the side of the van and rejoined Elizabeth. She smiled at him and he helped her into the backseat. She sat down and pulled the sliding door closed. Henry wrapped his arm around her and she sank into his side, sighing contentedly.
"Want to call the kids?" he asked, wiggling his phone in front of her.
"Yes!"
He looked down to unlock his phone and saw that it was completely dead.
Of course it's dead now.
"Well. Looks like that phone call is going to have to wait until we get on the plane. I can charge it then."
Elizabeth nodded and leaned back against Henry. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his middle. "I want to be happy that we're finally on our way home, but I also don't want to jinx it. So much has gone wrong lately…"
Henry hugged her closer to him. "I know the feeling, Babe."
Through the window, Henry saw another van pull up and park beside them. General Smith and the other soldiers sprang into action to make sure Agents Valdez and Rogers and the driver made it into that van in record time.
Good riddance.
General Smith walked back over to the van that Henry and Elizabeth were in and got into the driver's seat. He started the car. "You both ready to head to the airport?"
"You have no idea," Elizabeth said.
"Sit back and enjoy the ride. I'll get you there in one piece. You'll be home in no time," General Smith reassured.
The motion of the van made Elizabeth sleepy and she rested her head against his chest. Henry stroked her hair.
"Thank you for being here," she said.
"No need to thank me. I told you I wasn't leaving Iran without you."
"I should listen to you more often."
"Can I get that in writing?" Henry teased.
Elizabeth chuckled. "Nope. The moment passed."
"Damn. I can't catch a break."
Elizabeth moved her head deeper into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her more fully. As he watched the passing scenery of Iran through the window, Henry couldn't help but think how lucky he was to be loved by Elizabeth McCord.