Bridges looked relieved. He stood up and held his hand out. “Monday it is. Have a good weekend ladies.” He got up himself and ushered them out, holding the door open for them and gesturing to the guard. “Please walk these folks out, Dustan. They're friendlies.”
The guard smiled at them, and opened the outer door. “Yes, sir, I will take good care of them.” He held the door for them and followed them out, as the sound of the halls started to echo around them.
Dar and Kerry exchanged glances. Then Kerry reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose, giving her head a tiny shake. “Dar, I need a drink.”
“Me too.”
“Well, hey.” Dustan the guards ears pricked .”I know a good sports bar round the corner, wanna go there?”
“No thanks.” Dar sighed. “We've got to go to the Pentagon.” She put her hand on Kerry's back as they maneuvered through the crowd. “But with any luck, Gerry'll have scotch in his desk drawer.”
They didn't get far after leaving the White House. Dar found the first little grill and pulled into the parking lot, turning off the rental cars engine and leaning her hands on the wheel. “My brain hurts.”
Kerry had her arms folded across her chest, and she regarded the windy and overcast weather outside with a pensive expression. “Are you really going to think about this?”
Dar's eyebrows twitched and hiked. “Hell no.” She said. “What I am going to think about is how to say kiss my ass in some politically acceptable way that won't mean I get the last twenty years of my tax returns audited by members of the Westboro Baptist church.”
'That guy really wants you. I was joking before, but sheesh.” Kerry exhaled. “What do you think about his idea?”
“His idea to spy on everyone?” Her partner said. “I think I”m going to find another country.”
“Really?”
Dar half turned. “Kerry, if he'd asked me to coordinate the intelligence services, or evaluate new technology, or find a way to integrate the multitude of data systems... maybe I would have thought about it for a few minutes. The country needs that.”
Kerry nodded
“But figure out a way to snoop on my neighbors? Not my gig.” Her partner released her seat belt. “Let's get a cup of coffee or something.”
Kerry got out and zipped her jacket closed, as they walked across the parking lot towards the grill. She paused in mid step when Dar did, and stopped when her partner turned to face her. “What?”
“Listen.” Dar's face was unusually somber. “I'm really sorry that guy was such a jackass to you.”
Kerry smiled. “Thank you sweetheart, but I felt nothing but happiness that he didn't want any part of me. Honest.” She patted Dar on the chest. “C'mon. It's cold out here.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Kerry towed her towards the door. “If I'd wanted a political career, don'cha think I could have managed one from my family?”
“No, I know.” Dar opened the door and followed her inside. It was early for lunch, and there were only a few patrons inside, mostly at the bar. They were given the once over as they walked by, and settled gratefully out of sight in a small booth against the wall.
They looked at each other, then started laughing. “How in the hell do we get into crap like this, Dar?” Kerry asked, after a moment of chuckling. “That's crazy, you know?”
“I know.” Dar glanced at the waitress as she arrived. “Coffee for me.” She eyed Kerry. “Want to share some sliders?”
“Sure.” Kerry agreed. “Ice tea for me and one of the six slider plates.”
The waitress studied her briefly, then nodded agreement and took the menus back, disappearing behind the service counter without any comment. “I think we were just pegged as not being from around here, Dar.” Kerry mused. “We should have ordered a salad to share.”
“Yuk.” Dar was busy with her little gizmo. “I'm going to text the pilot and see if Gerry's available now. Maybe we can get out of here early.”
“Music to my ears.” Kerry leaned against the seat back, folding her hands over her stomach. “How about some handball at the gym tonight?”
“You feeling brave?” Dar laughed, as she finished texting, then pressed one of the dialing buttons. “You know, I sorta like this thing.” She put it to her ear. “Yes, this is Dar Roberts. Is General Easton there? I'd like to talk to him for a minute.”
Kerry smiled, considering the sense of relief she felt. Part of her, she knew had been a little afraid the government was going to ask Dar to do what Dar had mentioned – a logical, and needed request she knew would have tugged hard at her partner's innate sense of honor and likely resulted in some real soul searching on her part.
This? Write a program to spy on citizens? Aside from outraging Dar, it shunted aside any other consideration of the request and selfishly, she was glad.
Glad. Absolutely happy that that took one piece of complication out of her life, and left only Gerald Easton and his systems refresh.
“Okay, Gerry, we'll be there in about forty five minutes.” Dar was speaking into the phone. “See ya.” She closed the phone and put it on the table. “I think I”m going to end up being a jackass to him.” She remarked. “After that last meeting, the less I have to do with the people in this town the happier I'll be.”
Kerry picked up her tea and sipped it. “You don't expect me to disagree, do you?” She'd been prepared to. She'd had all her arguments marshaled and her objections ready, absolutely intent that nothing was going to get their hooks into her beloved without her having a chance to stop it.
Kind of skanky, in an over possessive, really, honestly selfish kind of way, but Kerry was in a place where she cared more about their future together than that.
“No.” Dar mixed as much sugar and cream into her coffee as was possible given the level in the cup. “I know you're here to keep me from doing something stupid.” She glanced up, her eyes twinkling a little. “I don't think you have anything to worry about though.” She added, as a blush became evident on Kerry's face.
“Sorry I'm that transparent.” Kerry muttered.
“Shouldn't you be, to me?”
Kerry took a breath to protest, then paused, regarding the look of mild affection on Dar's face.
“Remember you once made me promise I'd think of both of us before I made decisions, even about myself?” Dar asked. “When I quit that time?”
Kerry nodded.
“Trust me.”
Kerry blushed again, this time more intensely, as she moved her cup to let the waitress put the sliders she now had no interest in eating in front of them. “Wow.” She said, as the woman left. “Now I feel like a complete creep.”
“C'mon, Ker.” Dar picked up a mini burger and took a bite of it. “Ease up. We've got a twenty minute scope inspection and then we're outta here. I want to go back to planning our trip.”
Kerry studied the angular face across from her. “Why the hell am I being such a jerk?” She sighed, shaking her head a little and picking up a burger. “Maybe I need to go get my head examined.”
Dar munched in silence, regarding her.
“You think Doctor Steve knows someone I can talk to?” Kerry nibbled at the bacon sticking out of the slider.
“Probably.” Her partner swallowed and took a sip of coffee. “Yeah, I think he does. He suggested someone he knew for me to talk to after they told us about Dad.”
“Did you?”
Dar's lips twitched “What do you think?”
Kerry felt the angst ease a little. “Let me guess, that would be no.”
“Correct. But doesn't mean you shouldn't, if it would make you feel better.” Dar said. “There's a lot of people that were part of that whole situation that say they've been socked with PTSD.”