Madam President ✓

56. Somebody To Talk To

Tanya
Monday

"What the hell am I supposed to do?"

I pace back and forth. Regardless of what happened yesterday, it is these moments- when I'm alone with him, that make me feel the most relaxed. Which is ironic- I should be the one comforting him and not the other way around, though he says friendships aren't a "who's more stressed out" competition.

"I dunno-" he shrugs. "I've never been through something like this. Not even close. I mean- my transportation Secretary tried to get other cabinet members on board for an impeachment but none of them agreed and I fired him."

"What about the false sexual assault allegation and the state senate's probe into...that?"

"It was just that- something like a mix between a probe and a hearing. The real hearing would have come later if the accusation was proven true but... when they found out that she was at work- with other people when she claimed it happened, the probe didn't go any further. Tanya these are two different situations-"

"I know that it's just... I was hoping maybe you'd have some advice." I force myself to sit and make eye contact. I grab his hand. "What was that first hearing for the probe like?"

"Well.." he sits up. "They had their own team of investigators going to the people closest to me and her- a few of which said she was at work. Then they went to her coworkers and confirmed it through the security cameras. They didn't tell the state ethics committee about their findings until their opening statement- where she was in the room and I got to watch the look on her face fall as she knew she'd been caught. It was fucking hilarious but Tanya...."

"Jesus. They really didn't hold back then?"

"No." He quickly shakes his head, takes another sip of the expensive wine that was a gift from the company, and goes into deep thought. "If you think that was bad... the ethics committee for the house is a completely different ballgame. Even... while I was still president....when it was a whole different set of people...."

I see the pain and flashbacks pass through his eyes at the same time. It looks like he may cry again, before a shiver runs through his whole body and he takes a deep breath.

"They were fucking brutal. If they even thought something fishy was going on with a representative or cabinet official- sometimes a senator, they would do everything in their power to prove that person was guilty of something; especially in the second half of my term when the committee was controlled by a Republican majority. They liked to pretend they were bipartisan but...." He sarcastically chuckles. "Almost everybody they called in for supposed violations of their oaths of office were Progressives."

"Fucking assholes-"

"See I feel like it's a one way ticket to hell- calling a dead person that."

"Oh my spot's already reserved. Might as well have fun with it."

After a few minutes of silence, just enjoying each other's company- he speaks again.

"Tanya I know this probably isn't what you wanted to hear but...." He purses his lips together. "You did violate your oath of office. The chairwoman was right about.... how threatening someone with access to enough nukes to kill us all isn't exactly.... protecting us against our enemies."

"Maybe not-" I say. "Christ. What have I done-"

"If I'm being honest? Nothing I wouldn't have. Besides, we'll be able to blow them off the map before they even touch us."