Conrad and Bess

Note: I don't own any Madam Secretary content. Just like to keep the story going.

Chapter 1

It was a cool, crisp late October day. The sun on the leaves seem to cast a yellow and orange glow to the campus. Elizabeth McCord walked out of Kerchof Hall with her messenger bag over her shoulder and pulled her sunglasses off her head to shield her crystal blue eyes from the sun. Her long, blonde hair fell down beside her face and glowed in the sunshine. She was chatting away with a friend as he watched her every move. She was just about to pass by him when he called out her name, "Elizabeth?" She stopped and turned to look to see who called her and to see if the person was looking for her, Elizabeth was a popular name.

It was then that she saw the gentleman stand up off the bench and put his hand out. He was tall with long legs and broad shoulders. Not a hair on his head was out of place. Dressed in a navy suit and he didn't take his sunglasses off.

"You are Elizabeth McCord, correct?"

She turned to her friend and asked if she could catch up with her later. She reached her hand out and immediately asked, "Is my husband okay?" She and Henry had only been married a year but he was currently training on a new F-18 Hornet in California and she hadn't spoken to him yet that day.

"I believe Sergeant McCord is fine," he replied confidently.

"Well, if you are not from the Marines, who are you?" she asked tilting her head a bit to the side.

"Where are my manners? I'm Conrad Dalton. I was hoping you and I could grab a cup of coffee."

"As I said, I already have a husband," she almost began to turn away.

He laughed, "That's great because I already have a wife. I am here to talk to you about your career."

She crossed her arms in a defensive kind of mode. She waved one hand and said, "Well, you are looking at it. I will probably just stay here and teach."

He again made the suggestion of coffee and a more private place to talk. As they made their way to the nearest coffee shop, he explained who he was and how an old professor friend had told him about her.

They eventually found a bench outside and he proceeded to try and convince her why becoming a CIA Analyst would be a good career for her.

She looked at him incredulously. "You want me to come and work for the CIA?"

He dipped his head down and smiled at her. "Bess, your debating skills and ability to analyze others are in line with what we look for in our analysts. Nevermind the fact that you have complete command of five languages including Arabic and Farsi. You graduated at the top of your class. We need smart people like yourself. You would work directly under me."

"Bess?! Nobody calls me that." She rolled her eyes and looked the other way watching the leaves blow down the path.

"Sorry, I had an aunt named Elizabeth. Bess was her nickname. Graduated from Wellesley and went on to be a doctor," he explained.

She looked back at him for a moment and took a sip of her coffee before speaking. "Well, maybe I should take it as a compliment then. Look, thank you for the opportunity. I am not sure what to say. I guess I would need a few days to think about it."

He handed her his card. "I will give you a few days to talk to Henry." She thought he said her husband's name as if he knew him. He watched her expression change and her eyes stare him down trying to figure him out. He simply stood and shook her hand, "It was nice to mee you. You should know, I don't often take 'no' for an answer."

With that he left her, sitting on the bench. She stared at his card and then looked back up to watch him walk away.

Later that evening, she laid on the brown leather couch in their apartment, twirling the telephone cord in her hand as she spoke, "I'm serious, Henry. This guy showed up out of nowhere and offered me a job at the CIA."

Henry was in his barracks room, laying in bed with just his boxers on. It was still pretty hot in southern California. "Well, we definitely didn't see this coming."

"Who does?" she answered and they both laughed.

"I guess nobody. What are you thinking?" His voice was soft, but had the sexy roughness to it. She wished he was there beside her on the couch.

"It's definitely a curveball. I mean we would have to move to maybe Alexandria to be closer to Langley. I can't commute two hours each day from here."

"So, you are considering it?" he asked, sounding hopeful.

"I think so," she answered, but he could hear the anxiety in her voice.

"Babe, this is an amazing opportunity for you. You will be great at that. Besides, do you really want to sit around UVA waiting for me to finish my military service? I think you should take it." He smiled when he finished knowing exactly what she was thinking.

"Okay, I guess I will call him tomorrow. Oh God, Henry, this guy is so cocky, if I don't call him, he will probably show up at our door." They laughed and said good night to each other.

She stared at the ceiling thinking about where this career change was going to lead.