Invisible String

C.2: one single thread of gold tied me to you

"I could have been tased?" Madison asked, walking over to wash her hands. "Cool."

"More than likely."

"I could start a new war." Madison threw the comment over her shoulder.

"Not possible."

"My father and the President don't get along. At all. Long history of feuding there. So I think I would. Even though, my father and I don't get along that well. It'd be on principal more than anything." She explained as she dried off her hands, "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm telling you this. We've not even met properly."

The other woman took this as her cue to introduce herself.

"Donna Moss," the blond stuck her hand out for Madison to shake.

"Madison Montgomery," she introduced herself, taking Donna's hand to shake, "I prefer Maddie, truthfully."

Donna lead Madison back into the room, feeling as if leaving Madison on her own would have ended badly. Not just for Madison but for everyone, Donna included.

"It'd be so cool to be tased by Secret Service." Madison freely commented.

Donna just looked at her, backing away slightly, Donna was used to the crazy, but not the particular brand of crazy that Madison brought with her. She quickly left.

"Madison Montgomery," a voice boomed over the idle chatter.

Madison sighed, waving back before being beckoned over by the President.

Donna shoved a drink into Madison's hand as she walked over to the President and his senior advisors. Madison nodded to say thanks to Donna, as she reluctantly walked over to the group of people.

But now that the President was aware that she was not only in the capital but in the White House, Madison would never hear the end of it from Connie, if she bailed now. Despite the possible consequences and the wrath of her mother, Madison still debated about bailing out, making up some last minute half-baked excuse. Especially now that she saw that Josh was standing next to the President, in deep conversation with Leo. Madison didn't even mind if this excuse lead her to being stitched up by her younger brother, although she'd never be able to live that down.

"Madison," the President broke her out of the internal debates that she was having about disappearing completely. Changing her name once more, and moving to one of the few remaining truly untouched areas of remote Alaska, despite having next to no skills needed to survive out in the wilderness. At least not on her own. But with him, she could have. Her thoughts lingered on the man who broke her head and ultimately gave her the final push to where she was currently standing.

"Sir," Madison smiled as she reached the group. Giving an awkward half wave to the members of senior staff that she'd been introduced to just moments ago. The few that she hadn't yet met also introduced themselves.

Madison kept her gaze fixed on the rim of her glass, unable to make any eye contact with anyone. Barely listening as the senior staff rapidly ran through a range of conversation topics, some political and others not. The speed of conversation was changing was overwhelming for Madison. In order to make some sort of effort, she nodded occasionally and made generic comments when appropriate. She didn't really pay much attention to what was being said around her and the only person to pick up on this was President Bartlet.

Realising the true extent of her discomfort, it didn't take much longer for the President to dismiss his senior staff, a group of people that he hoped that Madison would be a part of by the end of the week. Leaving them the only two people in the general area.