Interlude: First Noel (The Executive Office #1.5)

by Tal Bauer

“I’m sorry I did it without you.” Jack’s expression twisted, frustration and guilt at war with each other. “When you did come back… I’d changed your entire world. You didn’t even get a choice about it.” He plucked at the bear again. “I feel bad about that.” His eyes opened and caught on their Christmas tree. On their matching stockings. Wandered back to their ornament and the picture within the small frame. Would they have had any of this if they hadn’t been outed? If they had to stay in hiding? He reached for Jack’s hand. “I told you before. I wouldn’t change anything. This, all of this, is exactly what I want.” Jack smiled, squeezing Ethan’s hand. “There’s more.” He pointed back to the book. Ethan turned to the next page. One photo, blown up to cover both pages. Him kissing Jack in the back of the ambulance on the White House North Lawn after everything had gone down. After Black Fox, and Jeff, and Ethan helping Jack out of the destroyed White House. “‘The kiss that shook the world’.” Jack shook his head, but he smiled. The rest of the pages were a mix of pictures from Jack’s phone and the media. The two of them together in the White House, walking with Ethan’s arm around Jack’s waist, Jack’s arm in a sling. Jack presenting Daniels, Welby, Inada, and Scott with medals, and Ethan hanging back, clapping for his friends. Jack taking a selfie of them both, their matching black eyes fading away. A selfie taken while they were kissing, and another one where Jack’s gaze had wan...