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junior agents. Of course we get the shit details. One day, we’ll be senior agents, and two other young agents will be where we’re at and bitching about it.”

    “Yeah, I know. Listen, when we get back to DC, wanna spend the night at my place?” Kurt asked with a smile.

    Phil smiled back, and no further answer was needed.

    The President’s meetings were concluded and preparations were made to depart. The SEAL team was relieved of duty, and everyone stood by waiting for the POTUS and the First Gentleman to come out to the motorcade.

    No further intelligence was received on the terrorist cell’s threat against the President, and the matter was turned over to the FBI with a Secret Service liaison assigned to the case. Apparently, the quick relocation of the President had foiled any plans that had been put into motion. The terrorists knew there was no way to get to the President inside a military base.

    The door opened, and the President walked out with his husband by his side. Neither Kurt nor Phil had known Agent Thompson—now the First Gentleman—as Thompson had left the service for his new role by the time they came along.

    When the Presidential party climbed into the car, everyone loaded up, and the motorcade moved out past an honor guard. They headed down the long sea wall and out the gate, where civilian police picked up the escort, front, side, and back. Once more, the speed picked up to well past seventy to preclude the chance of any further incidents.

    When they arrived at the airport, they swiftly boarded Air Force One with no departure speeches, and the Presidential limo was driven onto the transport plane along with all their gear. Wheels up took place exactly four minutes after the President sat down. The Service had done its job once more and brought the President safely out of harm’s way and back on a heading for Washington.

    Once they were airborne, everyone settled down in their seats, with only two agents on duty at the door to the Presidential cabin. Everyone declined food service and decided to get caught up on missed sleep.

    When the announcement was made that they were getting ready to land at Andrews Air Force Base, everyone began to come alive. Trips to the bathrooms were made to brush teeth and shave. Some light refreshments were served by the Air Force galley, and everyone seemed ready to go into the heightened state of alertness that they all observed whenever the President was in transit. No one had seen either Condor or Falcon the entire flight, and everyone assumed they were sleeping.

    They touched down at Andrews, and minutes later, they were deplaning. The First Couple boarded Marine One and took off for the White House. The President did not seem to be in a good mood.

    “Okay, Jackson, you and Phil drive the Beast back to the nest. Once you’ve got it parked, you’re off duty.” Looking at his watch, Morgan continued, “Report back tomorrow morning.”

    “Yes, sir,” Phil said with a smile. Since it was only four o’clock in the afternoon in Washington, he and Kurt had the rest of the day and night off. Neither man said anything as they got into the front seat of the Beast, and with two other limos and two war wagons behind them, they left the Air Force base and headed back to the White House.

    “ Damn , I’m glad we’re off. I need some serious relaxation,” Kurt said with a smile.

    “I’m going home first to dump clothes off and get stuff for today… and tonight too?”

    “Yep, tonight too. Tell you what, bring one of your suits, and we’ll go into work tomorrow morning together. Okay?”

    “Yeah, sounds good to me,” Phil said with a twinkle in his eyes.

    As Phil walked to the employee parking area, Kurt couldn’t help but check out the way his partner walked and held himself… so masculine, just the way he liked his men.

    Kurt jumped into his car and drove to Capitol Hill, where he had a small but very nice first-floor apartment with a little courtyard behind it that was all his to use. He threw his dirty clothes into the hamper, jumped into the shower, got out, pulled on shorts, and changed the sheets on the bed. He checked his refrigerator and put in a bottle of his favorite Riesling. Food was low, and he decided to order Chinese delivery for dinner if that was okay with Phil.

    Across town, Phil went through a similar routine when he entered his apartment. Thirty minutes after packing a few things and grabbing a fresh suit, tie,