Overtaken by Second Life...
Apr. 14th, 2007 11:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyofavalon77Well I spent another Saturday at home and it was quite relaxing. My love for Second Life has no bounds! I mean I keep going to yard sale after yard sale and finding all these old Dazzle outfits. My inventory is bursting! And my bank account is hurting L Darn you online game with such great custom content. I need to find some friends to shop with! I’ve started to hang out with some friends from Sims Online but they’re really not into fashion that much. Mostly they have a family they’re all involved with but I’m not looking for that. I want a hip, chic set to hang with and we can go shopping and hang out at jazz clubs. Something I can’t do in real life.
No shows to watch tonight and I was so involved in Second Life that I didn’t have time to really watch anything. That didn’t stop me from catching up on some good old Alias episodes (1.10 “Spirit” and 1.11 “The Confession”). I really liked seeing Sydney and Vaughn come together after her horrific time at the hands of SD6. He bought her a present J However it’s the Sydney/Jack relationship that really shines. The way he explains what he did to save her life to Vaughn…it’s so touching and reminds me all over again why I love this show. Then when she’s captured in Havana looking for him and he has to shoot her, there is so much left unsaid when they see each other and need to form a plan without speaking a word. All the emotions that play across his face…I love it!
For “The Confession”, Sydney and Jack show just how good a team they are as they take down the arms dealer together. Working perfectly in tandem…knowing each other’s thoughts…each other’s motivations. It was great! I really liked it when she fixed his wound…and then he spoke, telling her so much that she wanted to hear that she didn’t’ know what to do. Then her admiration of him to Vaughn who must reveal that Jack was sending secret codes to the KGB in the books he gave her mother. I also liked how Vaughn taped Sydney’s conversation and was ready to turn that in rather than wait for her to come with him. However, when he actually appears at their meeting with Devlin, it was the coup de tat. “It wasn’t me…it was your mother.” *dead silence*
There was a movie I sort of heard while it was playing in the same room where I was with the computer. It starred Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon. It’s called The Good Shepherd. And it REALLY is the godfather of CIA movies. I mean the twists and turns…the betrayals…and the corruption of all you used to hold dear was amazing to watch. However, the real hook is if you’re a history buff. There are multiple references that are made and some crazy but rational explanations that were entertaining to consider. The saddest part…Matt Damon’s son falls in love with a KGB agent and plans on marrying her when she gets thrown out a plane halfway to her final destination. It was so sad to see her body fall to earth as her wedding dress fluttered slowly down. Creepy!
Well…it’s official! I’ve run out of chapters once I post this. I will have to start writing new material next weekend. I can’t believe I’ve already posted this many chapters. Hopefully it will finally get done! If Second Life doesn’t snag me. Speaking of fan fiction writing, I’ve really gotten into the Karen/Noah dynamic. Bill is definitely best for her but the dynamic of Karen/Noah has a number of dramatic possibilities. He’s evil like Logan and she’s good like Martha. However, they’re both strong people with no real personal flaws where both Martha and Charles had some weaknesses. Then there is Tom/Karen and whenidream wrote a GREAT piece where Karen is talking to Tom in the closet, someone walks in and she kisses him. Got to love those random displays of affection even if it’s just a matter of convenience. *Giggle* On to the story!
CHAPTER 15
Well, that was easy. I thought I might have to stay overnight but fortunately Mike was able to take over from there. The man is astoundingly good at his job and I don‘t know if that means I should be pleased or worried. At any rate, this means I can devote my full attention to Martha. Lord knows she needs it after everything she’s been through today. I wonder if she’s still awake…
Quickening his pace to reach her room a little earlier than planned, Charles Logan rounded the corner of the hallway where his wife was staying and was surprised to find it empty. Where was the Secret Service detail assigned to protect her? Surely they wouldn’t have left her alone and unprotected like this? Not after what had happened that day. A combination of fear for her safety and anger at whoever had left her alone overcame him as he neared her door, unsure what he would find when he entered her room. However, before he was less than five feet away, all his fears were allayed by the reassuring sound of Aaron Pierce’s low Texas drawl. Of course, he would be there. If there was one person you could depend on, it was Agent Pierce and he chided himself for worrying about Martha’s safety in the first place.
So you’re leaving me?
Just for an hour. I have a meeting with Wayne Palmer.
Wayne? Why does he want to meet with you?
I’m not sure. He wouldn’t say over the phone.
Realizing that the two of them were in a middle of a conversation, he decided it would be best not to intrude. The mention of David’s younger brother alone persuaded him that he should wait and see what this was about. After all, he found it puzzling that the younger Palmer would want to meet with Aaron. Unless…
Well, I should be fine by myself for a few hours. I don’t need you to baby sit me every minute, Aaron.
I would respectfully disagree, ma’am.
You don’t trust me?
No…I just don’t trust anyone else to be quite as concerned for your well being as I am right now.
Well, you can’t always be by my side…sometimes you just need to forget the rules and let go…
And sometimes you need to understand that the rules are there for your protection.
Are you arguing with me, Aaron?
Of course not…just presenting another point of view for you to consider.
And I thank you for that bit of enlightenment but are you always this focused…this professional?
Only with you.
And as the silence between them continued uninterrupted, Logan could feel his frown deepening and his brows drawing closer together. It wasn’t so much the words they were saying as the way they said them. There was a familiarity, a comfortable tone to their exchange that reminded him of an old married couple…a tone that should not have existed between a Secret Service agent and the First Lady. One that should have only been reserved for himself and Martha but had been sadly lacking in their own conversations of late. He could feel the seeds of jealousy begin to form as his hand tightened around the door handle, fueled all the more by the length of the silence that followed with no sign of Aaron’s departure. He needed to stop this and he needed to stop this now.
Taking a moment to regain his composure, he entered the room without warning, slightly pleased at the guilty expressions that immediately appeared on both faces. Aaron had the dignity to excuse himself and Charles allowed him to pass without a word, more upset with his wife for allowing things to get this far. Agent Pierce was a professional and surely wouldn’t have crossed this line if he hadn’t had some enticement from Martha herself. The woman was incorrigible and needed to understand that there were protocols that must be observed at all times. Even if she didn’t care for him or their marriage, she at least could have had the dignity to wait until after he was out of office. An affair with a Secret Service agent…how could she?
“You returned from your meeting early,” she remarked dryly, rearranging the blankets around her waist as she refused to look him in the eye.
“And it’s a good thing I did, Martha. Who knows what I might have found if I had waited till tomorrow morning? I know you might not care what I think but at least you could care about the public would think if this ever got out? The First Lady and a Secret Service Agent? You have no discretion, Martha…you never have.”
To which, she would only snort and look away from him. “Discretion, Charles? No inquiries into my welfare? No questions about how I’m feeling? This is not about me and Aaron. If you knew anything about him, you’d realize that infidelity is not even in his character. No, this is about you, Charles…and your image…and your legacy. I’m sorry if I messed up your public image but I needed someone to be with me…and you weren’t here.”
“I told you…there were matters that required my attention. For god’s sake, you saw Mike come here and tell me it couldn’t wait. What do you want from me, Martha?”
“What do I want, Charles? You think you can just push this off on me?” she shot back, tears coming to her eyes as she bit her lip. “No, Charles, if you were thinking about our marriage instead of your presidency for one moment, you would have realized that what I needed was you by my side. I mean did you not realize what I had just been through? I could have died today and, as soon as Mike enters the room, you’re at his beck and call.”
“Beck and call??? Excuse me, Martha, but there’s a country to run if you haven’t noticed. The assassination of the Russian President, the release of the nerve gas, these are decisions Mike couldn’t have made without me. I’m sorry, Martha, but you’re just going to have to understand that this is what comes with the territory.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing all these years? Powdering my nose to look pretty for the press? You seem to have forgotten the sacrifices I’ve made for you, Charles. Do you think I wanted to be in the spotlight like this? Never a moment alone with you? Always fighting with your advisors to get your attention? When you sent me to Vermont after the breakdown, I suddenly realized how little I actually meant to you. However, I lied to myself, saying this was only one incident so maybe you just couldn’t handle it but if anything really happened to me, you’d be there. You wouldn’t let me down. And then today happened…”
“Marty, I am here for you…why do you think I came back?”
“No, Charles, you haven’t been here…Aaron has. All of these years, it’s been him and not you. When I was on the verge of a mental breakdown, you left me in his care so you could take a phone call from the prime minister. When I was captured by the terrorists, you appointed him to rescue me. And now when the country came calling, you left me alone again so, just like he always has, he stepped in for you, knowing that I needed someone after everything that had happened today. And you know what’s ironic?”
“What, Martha?” he whispered gently, her words finally penetrating all the defenses he had put up.
“I didn’t want him, Charles. I wanted you. You’re my husband…you’re the one I fell in love with. But you weren’t here, Charles…and he was. What did you expect me to do?” she asked, her voice trembling but still strong as she reached for his hand. “When I was alone at that warehouse, I did a lot of thinking and one of the things I realized is that our relationship needs to change. I can’t go on like this. I thought I could wait until your term was up but I discovered today that I just can’t…I need you, Charles. I need to know that you’ll make time for me, that you’ll put me first, that when I need you…I can count on you. I’m sorry I’m not strong enough to continue being the First Lady you want…but if you can’t promise me that there will be some changes…if you can’t promise me that you’re ready to fight for this marriage…then I can’t be with you anymore.”
“Marty…” he finally spoke gently, reaching up to wipe away the tears that had started to fall down her cheek.
“No, Charles!” she fought back, pushing away his hand as she moved out of reach. “This is not something you can brush aside with a kiss and a few sweet words. I’ve put up with that for long enough. I need you to make a decision…your career or me…there is no middle ground.”
Sighing at how stubborn his wife could be, he decided it would be best to allow her some time alone to cool her temper and think things over. Martha always tended to overreact when she was emotional and a good rest should return things back to normal. He silently agreed with her that some changes needed to be done to save their marriage but refused to be held hostage by her emotional outbursts. However, this logical approach began to crumble when he saw her face, her normally warm bright eyes filled with such pain and sorrow. He couldn’t leave her like this…she needed him.
“I’m sorry, Marty…I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes and I know you’ve born the brunt of it during these last few years…and I shouldn’t have let you. You were always so strong and supportive that I told myself we could just finish this term in office and repair any damage that was done when it was all over. I guess I was mistaken…”
“You weren’t mistaken, Charles. Part of the reason we’re at this point now is my fault. I should never have let it get this far. I allowed you to think everything was fine and that I didn’t mind when you always chose to leave me alone in favor of your political ambitions. I too thought I could handle it…I was wrong,” she confessed quietly before turning his way and tentatively reaching out to touch his arm. “But we have a chance to make this right. After emerging unscathed from today’s horrific events, I’ve learned something…that there is truly no time like the present. We’ve been putting our marital problems on hold for so long that we don’t even know how to communicate anymore without it devolving into some mindless, painful argument. I want more than that, Charles…I want to discover what we loved about each other in the first place. But I won’t do this alone…I need to know that you’re willing to give this…to give us… a chance.”
Slowly entwining his fingers around her trembling hand, he closed his eyes and thought about what she said. She was right…everything she said was true. This wasn’t one of her crazy attempts at getting his attention…she was really concerned about their marriage. However, what could he do? The presidency demanded most of his time and he couldn’t drop those duties just because he felt like it or even because his marriage demanded it. This was just a no win situation. If he continued on his current path, he would lose Martha…and if he made the changes she wanted, he would have to give up the presidency. What was more important? His duty to his wife or his duty to his country?
“Martha…I know you want us to make these changes in our relationship now and I believe you’re right. However…” he began and took a deep breath. “You can’t ask this of me right now. No matter what you think, the country does need me and I can’t do what you ask until this crisis is over. At least give me that much and we can work this out when everything returns to some semblance of normal.”
Yanking her hand out of his grasp, Martha just shook her head as he again tried to appease her. “I knew this would happen. Again I had held out hope that you would really want to make this change but I guess that was too much to ask for. Why oh why do I do this to myself?”
“Marty…I do want to work this out…just not now. There are too many things on my plate at the moment.”
“There always are, Charles,“ she murmured bitterly before lashing out once more, “Don’t you get it!! There is always going to be something demanding your attention…but this was your one chance to finally say ‘No…my marriage is more important.’ You had the chance to turn everything around…and now you‘ve lost it.”
“Martha…”
“No!! Just leave, Charles. I don’t want to see you…I don’t want to hear from you. Just go!!”
Stung by the harshness of her rebuke, he carefully backed up and headed for the door, turning briefly to make one last attempt at reaching her but stopping short at her icy stare. No, it was best to leave now and allow her time to calm down. Something he should have done before but had felt too guilty to follow through with as her unexpected accusations had hit him close to home. He should never have let his defenses down…he should never have opened up to her. It had just added more fuel to the flames.
As he continued his walk down the empty hospital hallway, the abrupt vibration of his cell phone in his jacket pocket interrupted the troubling thoughts clouding his mind. With a sigh of resignation, he retrieved the phone and answered the call, pretty sure he knew who would be contacting him on his private line. He was not wrong.
“I see you were able to handle the situation,” Graham’s cool and collected voice reached his ears, setting him slightly on edge.
“I told you I would take care of it,” he almost snapped back but brought his tone under control in time…at least he hoped he had.
“Is something wrong, Mr. President? You seem…upset,” Graham immediately brought up, not missing anything despite Logan’s attempts to hide his frustrations.
“No, I just had a heated conversation with my wife. Nothing to concern you,” he replied, brushing the matter aside as the President massaged the bridge of his nose to prevent the onset of a headache he knew would arrive any moment. “Were your people able to take care of Henderson?”
“Yes, there were no problems. It appears that we were able to successfully dispose of him as well as any evidence connecting us to the terrorist attack this morning.”
“CTU did manage to retrieve the nerve gas canisters.”
“Yes…but we already had a plan in place to explain how the terrorists were able to retrieve them so easily. You do not need to worry about that, Mr. President.”
“That’s a relief…I guess our agreement is now complete.”
“Not exactly. There is one last loose end I’m afraid you will have to handle.”
“What do you mean?” Logan demanded, a slight hysterical edge entering his voice as he realized this nightmare might be far from over.
“We were able to intercept a conversation between Wayne Palmer and Aaron Pierce that has reason to cause some concern.”
“Wayne and Aaron? I‘m sure it‘s nothing…Agent Pierce was close to David Palmer so his younger brother might have just wanted to deliver a personal memento to Aaron.”
“I would agree, Mr. President…except the tenor of the conversation was both cautious and urgent. Seeing as Wayne is David’s brother, there could also be a connection to today‘s events…a connection we would not want brought to light.”
“I will look into it.”
“I knew you would. And good work, Mr. President. The day is almost over.”
Snapping the phone close, Logan took a minute to assess the potential threat from this meeting with Wayne Palmer. It could be just a reason to catch up with an old friend…but it could also be an attempt to exchange crucial information on who was behind what had happened today. Aaron Pierce was Wayne’s only connection with the White House and a man to be trusted. All very good reasons to meet with him to relay sensitive information. No, he would need to follow Agent Pierce and discover just what Wayne knew before it could get out in the open. And he knew just the person to do it. Walking back to his wife’s room, he found a Secret Service agent posted at her door keeping watch. In fact, just the man he needed to see. This wouldn’t take long.
“Agent Adams, could I see you for a moment? There’s something I need you to do for me…”
This is the end of what has already been written…time to start on some new stuff *rubs hands in anticipation*
I don't know...I think Greg is kind of cute...with his earring and his spiked hair...
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no subject
Date: 2007-04-21 03:10 am (UTC)"You have no discretion, Martha…you never have.”
To which, she would only snort and look away from him. “Discretion, Charles? No inquiries into my welfare? No questions about how I’m feeling?"
I LOVED that! Perfectly executed dialogue. Great job!
Awwwwww
Date: 2007-04-21 08:42 pm (UTC)Re: Awwwwww
Date: 2007-04-21 08:43 pm (UTC)Re: Awwwwww
Date: 2007-04-21 09:06 pm (UTC)