by Lisa Durkin
Chapter Twenty-Eight
They ran side by side past the Georgetown University Library to the park on the next block. They didn’t speak, both inside their own heads, dealing with their individual thoughts. Jackson was worried about her, and she was trying to deal with her fears.
Rory had eaten the piece of toast he made her after he refused to let her leave the house on an empty stomach. He didn’t want her running, as she had barely slept and hadn’t been eating right. The vomiting hadn’t helped either. But she needed the run as badly as she needed fuel. She couldn’t get out of her head. Her dream of the prior night mingled with the details of what she faced now. It wasn’t exactly panic she felt, more like fear mixed with resignation.
Jackson was cursing himself over what he was feeling. Here they were, Homeland Security following them on a morning run, and he was feeling neglected because she wasn’t sharing all her thoughts and feelings with him. What an asshole he was. She was trying to survive her very serious panic attacks, a lunatic out to murder her, and he was pouting. He was a possessive idiot, wanting everything of her to himself. He needed to get over it.
They ran across the open field and rounded onto the north path of the park. As a park bench came into view, Rory asked if they could sit. Jackson braced himself, not knowing why she seemed so distant. They sat for a moment, their hard breaths curling in the cold air. They both kicked the snow from their sneakers.
She turned to him, placing her feet on the bench, hugging her knees. He smiled and placed his legs on the outside of hers, elbows on his knees. “Jackson, I want you to know that it’s okay if you want to back away from me.”
His mouth dropped open. “What the fuck are you talking about? I’m not going anywhere.”
“Jackson, this isn’t a game. He wants to kill me and it only makes it more fun if you’re in the way. That box last night was a message that he’s serious as hell. He wants me to know he can get to me and you, no matter who’s covering our asses. You don’t know how awful it can be.”
“Yes I do, I’ve seen the pictures.” She blanched at the reminder. “I looked at the photos of you and your dad, read the medical reports, and looked at the evidence.” He was matter-of-fact. “I know exactly how awful it can be. That’s why I’m staying right beside you.”
She looked at him for a long moment, then looked away.
“Hey, baby, look at me. Come on.” Jackson gently turned her chin back to him. “I’m in love with you. I’m not leaving you. That’s just the way it is. I don’t have a choice. It’s the same as being a father to my son or a son to my mother. I want to be your husband. My heart already took the job, and it’s made me happier than I knew possible. It’s like I’m home when I didn’t even know I was abroad.”
Tears streaked down her cheeks. “That’s exactly what this feels like for me too.”
“Then can you cut the shit please? I don’t want anyone talking about leaving again. I like being behind your walls with you.” He kissed her deeply then leaned his forehead on hers. “They’re announcing the engagement this morning. The release will be sent to all the major news outlets. Wanna play hooky and stay in bed?”
She snorted. “No, we’re not playing hooky. We have the meeting about the legislation and I want that over with.”
He wedged his head in the crook of her neck and inhaled her sweet scent.
She nibbled his ear. “Tell you what. Let’s get that meeting done and we’ll come back home. We can spend the rest of the day in bed.”
“Deal,” he said quickly, rising and holding his hand out to her. “Let’s get going. It’s freezing out here and I haven’t read your email yet. I better find out how badly the gentlewoman from Ohio is going to spank our asses today.”
“Don’t worry, baby. After I finish nailing your ass, we can come home and I might let you nail mine.”
Rory and her staff walked into the meeting room on the second floor. The invitees were already in attendance and looking determined around the large conference table. Her lips quirked into a half smile.
“Good morning, gentlemen.” She took a seat at the head of the table, Nicole to her right. Jill, Michael and Liam took seats along the wall followed by her annoying shadows, the Secret Service.
“I can tell from the looks on your faces that we can dispense with the pleasantries, so let’s get down to it, shall we?”
Nobody looked particularly happy, except Jackson, who was trying to hide his smile behind his steepled hands. Across from him, Larry Page was red and sweaty. Roy Charles looked no better on the opposite end of the table. Congressmen Howard and Tackler, the chair and vice chair of the Homeland Committee, looked as if somebody had kicked them. Congressman Duncan, her own party compatriot, looked at her with open hostility.
Only Congressman Koepler and his aide Jake Schnyder looked happy. Entertained was probably a better word for it. Jake winked and smiled at her.
Rory finished her perusal of the table and made a show of shrugging at Nicole. Nicole shook her head quizzically, as if she couldn’t imagine the issue.
“Gentlemen, I have presented you with the re-draft of the proposed legislation. What say you of the edits?”
Larry Page spoke. “Congresswoman, this is not the legislation presented. This is not acceptable. These changes are not acceptable at all.” Rory could see the sweat on his upper lip from her position six feet away.
“Mr. Page, could you be more specific? What amendments do you find unacceptable, as you say?”
His voice rose. “I find your entire rewrite unacceptable, Ms. Morgan. This is not the legislation we delivered to you.”
“I see,” she began. “Well, Mr. Page, I found most of your legislation unacceptable. And now you have the legislation I’m willing to sponsor for this committee.”
Congressman Howard spoke up. “This legislation completely vacates most of our requests. Specifically, that dealing with search warrants, arrests and technology. We’re not getting anything. This is much needed legislation, Ms. Morgan. The protection of the American people is at stake.”
“I agree, Congressman. And you shall address me as Congresswoman Morgan as I have been fully sworn to represent the People in their House. You would do well to remember that. The protection of the American people and their rights is exactly what I considered when I re-drafted your proposal.”
“And you’ve made further requests for funding that were not included in the original. Violence Against Women Act, mental health, alcohol and drug addiction services. Just how do you think this germane, Congresswoman?” Howard continued.
Page interjected. “We had a deal. You were to sponsor legislation in exchange for your votes on Appropriations. That can still be undone.”
Threats angered Rory, but she kept her cool. “I beg your pardon, sir. That was not our deal.”
“Excuse me?” he said, splaying his hands out on the table incredulously.
Rory folded her hands in front of her. “Our deal was that I sit on Homeland in exchange for the votes on Appropriations. I am fulfilling my end of the bargain. Any sponsorship of legislation is extracurricular of that agreement and thus, is at my discretion. You have forwarded me legislation and I am showing you exactly what I am willing to do for the committee, on behalf of the American people. If it is not to your liking, you need not accept my sponsorship.”
“That budget measure has not yet been passed by the full House. It could still be changed,” Page threatened.
Rory leaned forward in her seat. “Who will withhold their votes?”
“Dorn and Duncan can change their record.”
She trained her gaze on Jackson. “Would you change your vote, Jackson? On the day we announce our intention to be married?” Gasps and guffaws raced around the room. Everybody looked from her to Jackson and back.
He smiled at her, eager to show his support. “Of course not, my love.” She smiled back, looking him in the eye.
“I can withdraw my vote,” Duncan’s slimy voi
ce chimed in. She turned her full attention to the congressman from North Carolina.
She smiled sarcastically. “Yes, Congressman Duncan, you certainly could. But then you might have a problem with that Department of Education grant you need for the capital projects in your state.” She looked down at her notes, her index finger sliding across the page. “Oh yes, here it is. You were exempted from matching funds from the Department of Education for the construction of eleven new schools across your state. That’s a lot of schools, Congressman.” She looked him in the eye. “Mary Jo Jansen and I agreed last week that the money you require might be better spent in my own district if your loyalties are further split.”
“That’s preposterous!” Duncan argued, turning as red as Page. “Roy, she’s totally out of control.”
Now that pissed her off. “Yes, I am totally out of control.” She turned to Nicole and shook her head, clucking her tongue. “Imagine having my own little ideas of how to serve our constituents.” She continued to shake her head, looking around the table. “I’m sorry to tell you, boys, but you’ve let one get past you putting me on this committee. What you have in front of you is the only legislation that I will be sponsoring on these topics, no matter who you can get to change their vote on Appropriations. Included here is enough money to get your increased number of agents in both the CIA and Homeland and I’ve even thrown in a provision on burden of proof for attainment of subpoenas, with two or more exigent circumstances. The rest of it was garbage and you know it.” She looked around in challenge. “If any of you think I’d sell out constitutional rights of American citizens, then you have sorely misjudged me.
“And you’re right, Congressman Howard. I have added a great many monies to Violence Against Women and drug and alcohol services, and I’ll do more on other legislation I intend to sponsor as a member of Homeland and HHS.” She leaned farther forward. “And any eighth grader or member of the House worth their salt could summarize the germaneness, sir.”
He actually argued. “This won’t be considered under suspension of rules, Congresswoman. You’ll get no supermajority on this.”
“Well.” She smiled and looked at Larry Page. “You good folks head up the Rules Committee. Get the Special Rules on this and make it so no amendments can be placed on the floor. Hell, have them waive germaneness altogether if it makes you feel better. I’ll place it in the hopper myself.” She looked at Jackson. “It’s like I always say, dear; it must be nice to be the majority.”
He beamed at her. “You do always say that, sweetheart.”
Larry Page turned to Roy Charles. “Isn’t there something that can be done here, Roy?”
Now that infuriated her, especially coming from the two party heads, artificial authority who at times seemed answerable to no one. Her voice became louder.
“Do I need to break it down further, gentlemen?” She looked around the room. “You can continue to jack each other off about this, but it won’t change a thing for me. Enough is enough. You won’t use me or my story to gain illegal search and seizure by any means in this country. Go with this legislation and you have my full support. Hell, I’ll even do press on it. Although it does mean I’ll be the poster girl for Big Brother—who, by the way, hopefully won’t fail me this time. In case you haven’t heard, my former brother-in-law is back to finish what my dead husband couldn’t get done.”
Pins dropping would have sounded like nuclear explosions.
She stood. “So you see, I don’t really give a good goddamn if you don’t like it. Threaten me with whatever you can. I’m better off getting ridden out of here on a rail. And believe me, the whole country will know about it. Or, if you have half a brain, let’s ease into this and actually accomplish something together. Those are your choices, gentlemen.”
Rory and her entourage were all quiet until they got back to her office. As soon as they stepped inside and shut the door, it was pandemonium.
“Oh my God, that was awesome!” Nicole gasped. The staff laughed and high-fived.
Jackson was smiling at Rory, who was feeling the aftereffects. He put his arms around her. “That was the best spanking I ever got.”
“You don’t think they’ll try to hurt me now, do you?”
“No, baby. Believe me, they’re not going to touch you after that.”
“I was disrespectful to elder statesmen,” she gasped. “I was just so angry.”
“Rory, they got what they had coming. Don’t worry about it. It was a pleasure to watch you put them in their place.”
Jill walked over to the phone and took it off voicemail. It immediately began ringing off the hook.
Jackson followed her back to her office. “Quit worrying, what you did was a perfect response to what you were presented with.”
“Well, the people pay me to worry,” she mumbled dryly, thumbing through the paperwork on her desk.
Jackson spun her around and leaned her across the desk as he took her lips hard. He rubbed his hips against her.
“You were perfect in there. You stymied them on every avenue and you got what you wanted. They can’t make another move. I was so proud you’re mine. Do you know how fucking hot you are? I was so proud you told them we were getting married.” He plunged his tongue into her mouth again.
Rory moaned. He was always what she needed, her worries dissolving under his touch. Her arms went around his neck, her hands in his hair. She pulled him down harder.
“Um, excuse me.” Nicole cleared her throat from the doorway. They both looked over to find her smiling at them. They laughed as Jackson pulled her up.
“The phone is ringing off the hook. Word is out that you two are engaged and we have media calling. Do you want to make another statement or talk to any of them?”
Rory looked at Jackson and crinkled her nose in distaste.
A smile spread across his face. “You promised me we’d go home after the meeting and stay in bed until tomorrow.”
“Oh yeah, I did.” She moved to grab her bag. “Sorry, Prego, I have to go home. A promise is a promise.”
Rory was splayed across Jackson’s chest. Her muscles were tired and they were both sated. They had made love all afternoon, eaten dinner in bed, and now were back at it.
“You have incredible energy today, baby,” he murmured happily.
She snorted into the crook of his neck. “I’m working my frustrations out on you.”
“Happy to be your jungle gym.”
“Jungle Jackson,” she breathed. They lay together, eyes closed, still joined.
“You’re the best sex I’ve ever had.”
She snorted again. “I find that hard to believe. I’ve seen the competition.”
“Oh there’s no competition. It’s only you. You give me the best I’ve ever had. In everything.”
She leaned back and looked at him. “You say the sweetest things.”
“It’s true. That’s why we’re getting married.”
She looked at his beautiful features. “Jackson Patrick Dorn,” she admonished, smiling.
“What? It’s so obvious that we belong together. I know we will be.”
She turned this over in her head. “You’re right; it does feel like I belong with you.” She smiled shyly as he looked at her. She wasn’t used to being candid but had pledged to herself that she would be for Jackson’s sake.
He kissed her nose. “Then what’s the problem?”
“There’s no problem. I mean, I know I love you. I don’t want to be without you. I’ve never felt this kind of connection before.”
“So where’s the ‘but’?” he said, grasping her ass.
She laughed. “There’s really not a ‘but’… It’s more like… I don’t know… It’s not you. I guess it’s marriage, or the idea of it.”
“I understand. Neither of us has had a good experience.”
“That’s one hell of an understatement,” Rory murmured.
They were quiet and contemplative for a while.
Jackson f
inally broke the silence. “What was your ideal? What did you want when you got married?”
She closed her eyes. This was hard for her to talk about. She didn’t let herself go there often, even still.
“I know it’s hard for you to share, but I want to be in there with you.” He knocked gently on her head before kissing her temple. “I’ll start. When I married Lauren I wanted love, partnership, caring and monogamy. And I wanted kids. I wanted the picture book life I guess. And I learned it didn’t come naturally or easily.”
Rory breathed out hard.
“Quid pro quo. Tell me what you pictured.”
“The same as you. I wanted all that. I guess I thought I’d have it all, love, marriage, kids and the wonderful career. Missed the fucking mark by a mile on that, didn’t I?”
He squeezed her for reassurance. “Since you have it to do over with me, what would you do differently?”
She thought about it. “I’m not sure. I mean, I didn’t have a marriage experience really. He was fake. You’re not. Or I mean the marriage was fake, and what you want with me isn’t. Right?” She raised her head to look at him.
“That’s right.” He kissed her lips gently. “We can have what you want. We can have love. We have that now in spades. I physically feel how much I love you.”
She moaned and kissed his lips at that romantic, honest comment. She laid her head back on his chest.
“I wanted a lot,” she whispered.
“Me too. I wanted happily ever after. But my wife got bored and wanted to play games. I didn’t want that,” he said. “She was just never happy. No matter what I did or how I tried, it wasn’t enough for her.”
Rory realized again that she wasn’t the only one who needed to heal some emotional cracks. She caressed his chest. “You make me happy. And what you pictured sounds so beautiful.”
“Why don’t we try?” he suggested, taking her hand and caressing her ring finger. “We could make a pact to build what we want together. Start with the fact that we know we’re in love with each other and want to be together, and really try to give each other what we dreamed about?”