THE L WING  - Chapter Three

"Helena thought it would be cool to date a CNN producer - but when she worked out that Tina was about 30 IQ points smarter than her she changed her tune. I have to say that Tina deserves better than my self obsessed daughter " her tone changes ' you really like her don't you Madam President ? "

I note the change in what she calls me - I look across at her.

Peggy raises her eyebrows at me.

"I'm not surprised Bette - she is a very hot date in Washington and she is very selective "

"If she is so selective - how did she get her heartbroken by your daughter ?"

"I just told you - my daughter  did not know how brilliant Ms Kennard us. What are you going to do about it Madam President ?"

"Nothing - there is nothing that I can do about it - she's my employee - how many Presidents have been tainted by sex scandals ?"

"A lot I agree - but none were single women "

"Two gay women "

"Your point is ?"

"I'm a role model - we all are "

Peggy shakes her head " My daughter is gay - my boss is gay but I will never understand any of you. Frankly the American people will accept you falling in love with a colleague better than you acting the role of ice maiden for the rest of this Presidency and the next - you need to get laid"

"Peggy ! "

"Well you do darling - you "

"That's enough Peggy - we've both said too much - I've had enough"

One of the best things about being the President is that there are so many conversations I don't have to have - its like being spoilt teenager.

I walk away and soon Shane is beside me.

"Yes Madam President - we are working the room well. Carmen is confident that we can secure enough Spanish votes  on the agriculture deal next month and Al is doing whatever she does"

"And what about our newest recruit ?"

Shane grins "Charming everyone that she talks to - we have a major player on the team with Tina Kennard "

"I know she has been in Washington for a few years but I've never encountered her before - maybe that's why she looked so fresh "

"I know almost everyone in Washington politics - I first met her a couple of years at a Press function - she was getting an award for her work in Afghanistan - she has more than seen the full horrors of war " Shane explains.

"And she takes a firm stance against your non intervention policy Shane - that should tell you something "

"Yes Madam President " I know when Shane is barely listening to me - I move on in my questioning.

"Did you give her the speech ?"

Shane does a very dramatic look of mock puzzlement.

"What speech ?"

"Don't BS me Shane - the speech you give everyone about falling on their sword or whatever tired old metaphor you are using these days. Have you told her that we are making history ?"

"I may well have "

I chuckle and place my hand on her back.

"You are unique Shane - just do not scare her off. She's vital to us"

I pause " Is it true she dated Senator Peabrain ?"

"Everyone's favourite snake in the grass ?  - yeah Alice told me"

"Alice knows them ?"  I hope I sound only mildly interested.

"Not really -  she met them as a couple - she says it was obvious that Tina was slumming it "

"Anyone would think that you disliked the VP's daughter "

"Well anyone would get the first prize in accuracy  - you know I don't trust her"

"Shane - I know you've heard the phrase - keep your friends close and your enemies closer  - I like Helena where I can watch her. She could become a threat - Peggy has a loyal following and if she doesn't run as VP again I don't want the sympathy vote to go to her daughter . Hell I don't even think Peggy would want to see her daughter as VP"

"Just be careful Chief "

"I always am - and I've got you on my side "

"I am beginning to think that maybe having her ex on our side might be a handy weapon "

I watch as Shane move away and I turn to find my seat - I want to spend a few minutes just watching the room . I do not get the time very often but I am a people watcher.

As hard as I try I cannot stop looking at Tina. She is stunning - she is by far the most beautiful and natural woman in the room. She is actually turning heads. I watch her walk down the room and people stop their conversations to look at her. Oh wow - I never thought I would see a woman attractive enough to do that .

I realize that she is coming across to our table  -- her name plate is three places from mine - a quick sleight of hand and hey - I'm sitting beside my Press Secretary - what a stroke of luck.

"I thought I should try and find our table "

"Well - here we are - look you're next to me "

Oh God Bette - could you sound any more like a teenager trying to get the Prom Queen to notice the class geek.

She moves round and sits beside me - we don't speak for a few seconds.

"These events can be a bit much - big bun fights half the time - tell me about your time in Afghanistan "

I pour us both a glass of wine and hand a glass to her  - she is so cute .

"I lead a team of two other women into one of the last Taliban controlled areas. We were in constant danger not only because we were females but because we were American. "

"How much danger were you personally in ?"

"A lot - a few weeks before we crossed the border from Pakistan they captured and tortured a French journalist. We only moved at night and slept in people's homes. Anyone of us could have been betrayed and murdered at any time "

I feel sick at the thought that this woman was ever in danger. I am in sheer admiration at her story - and I want to hear more.

"So why did you come back to America ?"

She looks away from me - I sense the hurt in her movement.

"Tina ?"

"I had my reasons "

"A person ?"

"Yes  -- I would rather not say "

"Its okay Tina - I should not have asked you "

"No - its okay - I just don't want to talk about her "

I want to touch her but I know this is too public . I am fighting my own feelings - and I do not want any photograph to give me away. Plus I do not want to scare her off.

We do not speak for a few minutes - I like just sitting in silence with her - anything to be close to Tina.

"Would you mind if we change the subject Madam President "

"Not at all Tina - how do you relax in the minimum amount of time you will get from this job "

"Sport - anything that lets me burn off steam "

"Do you run ?'

"Yes - and I know you do "

'You should come out with me - the rest of the Senior Staff are couch potatoes - Alice swims a bit - Shane and Carmen are a dead loss. Dana tries to play tennis but she is too weedy - what sports do you play ?"

"Mainly stuff like tennis and squash - bit of basketball "

"Oh - squash "

"Do you play ?'

"I do - I play with one of my agents but she's way too good. I just like the exercise -what about you ?"

"I'm not bad "

"we've got a couple of courts in the White House, did you

 know that ?"

"No - no I didn't " Tina smiles at me.

"You can never find everything in that building - at night I sometimes just wander around - see what I can stumble on "

"Do you find much ?"

"No - but I usually scare the odd intern working late "

"Is the building ever empty - or feel empty ?"

"No - the residence is very peaceful though "

"It would un nerve me - all that history  - I feel it - do you ?"

I nod  "Yes I feel the sense of history - how can you say the White House scares you - you've probably slept in the teeth of enemy fire and you've seen sights that I never will "

"Maybe its because its new "

"Do I scare you Tina ?"

"You are the President "

God she is amazing - such an mixture of experience and innocence. Every conversation with her just reels me in more.

"Its just a title "

"But its history - its having the same job as Lincoln and Washington and Wilson and Kennedy - and what with you being ."

I grin at her sudden silence  "You could go for me being a woman, or African American or being a lesbian "

"I was thinking about all three "

"Don't worry - I get this all the time - its hard being all three  -- it's a weight of responsibility that I am fully aware of all the  time "

"How do you relax ?"

"I like sport and I like lying on the sofa with my feet up watching movies and drinking beer "

"Sounds good to me "

I am so close to asking her if one night she would like to watch a movie with me - hey I've got my own cinema - I could get her any film she wants and we could sit together - and eat popcorn and hot dogs.

STOP IT ! I have to stop these flights of fantasy. She doesn't find me attractive and even if she did she would never tell me. And even if she did and told me , I would never have the nerve to tell her how wild my passions for her are spinning.

"Would you like to play squash with me ?"

She smiles at me "Are you sure ?"

"I would love someone to play  - I am more enthusiastic than good but that's only because I do not play enough "

"I would like that - we could see how we went for a couple of games"

"Does this mean that if I'm not good enough I'll get the brush off ?"

I laugh -she grins and pushes her hair back - she keeps doing that and it's a sexy gesture - a very sexy gesture.

"Depends if I get sent to the American equivalent of Siberia if I beat the President "

"Oh  -- well Ms Kennard - aren't you the confident one ?"

She seems to suddenly remember that I am the President - I touch her hand but pull it away after the briefest of seconds.

"Its okay Tina - I like an informal atmosphere with my Senior Staff -as long as you respect the office I hold "

"I respect you so much Madam President "

The moment has gone - she is too conscious of the job - I try again.

"So will you play squash with me ?"

She grins "Yes - yes - I would love to Madam President "

"Its okay Tina -we are here to rescue you - Madam President you promised to be gentle with her " Alice comes up and sits down facing us. Dana sits down next to Alice. If there is one person I work with every day who often doesn't notice my  job or care about the reverence of it is Alice.

"Are you okay Tina ? - can you talk to us ?"  Dana joins in the double act.

"I'm fine - we were just talking " Tina is laughing.

"No no - the President doesn't do just talking - what was she telling you about --- Mount Rushmore, the History of the Presidential Seal or the lesser known assassination attempts on Presidents ? Alice is touching Tina's face and checking for a pulse.

"We were talking about playing squash " Tina explains.