Fork in the Road

FORK IN THE ROAD By Scott Turner Chapter One

"If you come to a fork in the road, take it." -Yogi Berra

Disclaimer: This work is a sequel to my first effort at writing gay erotic fiction. As such, it may help if you've read "Strange Bedfellows," (available in its entirety on Nifty, with a cleaned up and re-edited version now partially posted at the Rainbow Community Writers' Project). The story is fiction, but it occasional depicts scenes of sexual activity between consenting adults. If it's illegal for you to view such material, then please move on. The work is the sole property of the author, and my not be reposted, reproduced or published elsewhere without my expressed consent. Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy it.

CHAPTER ONE

As Scott Turner, Jr. strode up State Street, he looked ahead at the magnificent dome and majestic facade of Wisconsin's State Capitol building. It was still an inspiring sight, even though he'd seen it every day for the past year, and had been going to work there all summer long. He knew that, for him at least, the image would always inspire a bit of awe. He recalled the first time he'd driven into Madison. It was dusk, and as he drove off of the interstate onto East Washington Avenue, he saw the dome in the distance, all lit up. A cocky, eighteen-year-old freshman at the University of Wisconsin, he thought to himself, "some day I'm gonna own that place." Still, there was a good deal of reverence in his bluster.

Truth be told, he did plan to create for himself a successful political career, but he wanted it for all the right reasons. Yes, he wanted the attention, the adulation and the power that political triumph brought with it. But, he also wanted to make a difference, a positive one, for the "average Joe" in his state. He heard his dad's voice, "just do the right thing, for Christ's sake. Don't worry about the piddly shit. And above all, you gotta remember that if you're gonna make a difference, you're gonna piss some people off along the way. The only folks who get through life without rattling someone's cage are those who are content to not leave their mark."

To his parents' chagrin, but also their pride and admiration, Scott Turner, Jr. was determined to do this by himself, from beginning to end. "Scotty," to family and friends, had lived a fairly privileged childhood. His dad, `Big Scott,' was a successful attorney, and his mother, Suzanne, owned her own thriving interior design company a few miles outside of LaCrosse. It was a fairly small shop, but enjoyed a rich reputation, and a richer clientele, all over the upper Midwest. But Scott was adamant about putting himself through school. He figured that he'd saved enough money, and had qualified for enough scholarship and financial aid support to get him through the first couple of years. In the meantime, he'd look for the right job and work his way through the rest.

By the time he'd arrived in Madison that first year, Scott had been looking forward to mixing it up with any number of the hot girls and guys he saw around campus. He just wasn't sure where to go to find the action he felt he needed from time to time. He felt confident in his physical appearance, though not arrogant or cocky. He wasn't a towering figure, standing a little over five feet, ten inches tall, and his weight consistently hovered between 155 and 160. With a 31-inch waste and 40-inch chest, he'd be described as fit and trim. No gym body, but very easy to look at and admire, and he was looked at on several occasions. One would think he was a swimmer, but he was largely the beneficiary of good genes and a pretty disciplined running schedule. He had a moderately hairy body, and packed a nice six and a half inches under his belt, up to seven when given all the right attention. "No donkey dick," he'd sometimes joke, "but I certainly know how to put it all to good use."

While he'd participated in sports throughout high school, mostly baseball, he didn't fit the stereotypical jock image. He gave off the air of an intellectual rather than an athlete, though he could throw the ball around with confidence any time he was so inclined. And, while he didn't read the box scores on a daily basis, he could hold his own in any conversation of either college or professional sports. A rabid Badger fan since just a little boy, one of the first things he did when he got to campus was head to the athletic office to pick up season tickets for the football season.

Now, a year later, as he was gearing up for his second year, he was looking forward to the job at the State Capitol going to part-time. Not many staff members were hired on less than a full time basis, but Scott had earned it by working there full time throughout the summer after his freshman year. Plus, he had some very nice connections.

Senator Maureen McCarthy was an old friend of the family, and had even dated Big Scott when the two of them had attended high school together back home. Their adolescent romance continued into their college days at the UW. Then, as they both began to feel the romance fizzling, Maureen had introduced Scott's dad to her roommate, Suzanne. It was love at first sight. They had all remained close friends, but Scotty always sensed a certain tension between Maureen and his mom. Nevertheless, both of his parents had volunteered on all four of Maureen's successful campaigns for the legislature, and he had joined the fray in the last two. So, when he landed in Madison as a freshman, he already had a strong ally under the impressive dome.

Scott hadn't landed the job solely through Maureen's intervention. His brief academic career in the Political Science department was impeccable, and he had more than one faculty member attesting to his intellectual acuity and work ethic. He had quickly shown his office colleagues and the members of the majority party that he deserved the job and their trust. Some of the other staffers were a bit jealous of his close ties to Senator McCarthy, but none could honestly dispute his talents. Soon to turn only twenty, he was quickly making a name for himself among some of the most powerful people in the state. He was smart, articulate and a hard worker. His political instincts were impressive, and he was widely known to be very perceptive to the needs of others. He knew that he didn't know it all, but he always knew how to find out what he needed to, when he needed it. As long as he remained interested in serving the people of Wisconsin, it seemed that his political future was a very bright one. Most who knew him, or who knew of him, figured he'd likely have an official title in front of his own name some day.

In fact, he'd already made something of a name for himself and earned a couple of titles as well. He'd won a seat in the Student Senate of the Wisconsin Student Association and finagled his way to the body's presidency in his freshman year. No small accomplishment that, even though he'd had some help from his old friend, Marty Anderson. Then, with a boost from Maureen, he'd been appointed by Governor Ted Hackett to the one seat that was reserved for a student on the UW's Board of Regents, the governing `school board' for the entire states' university system. Not a bad year for a freshman. It hadn't been without it's trials and tribulations, but he'd survived and come away from those experiences wiser and still, mostly, fairly humble. Confident in himself, but still fairly humble.

Among his most notable attributes, besides his brains, his great looks and a pretty impressive physique, was his ability to exercise very careful discretion. He had learned the necessity of this gift through some very personal experiences. He'd come to accept his occasional sexual escapades with other men as part of who he was. He still had it in his mind that he'd one day settle down with a fitting wife and raise a family, but in the meantime he figured he'd continue to enjoy the best of both worlds. During his first year in Madison, he'd gotten past the shame he used to feel following an orgasm at the hands or mouth of another guy. Still, discretion in that part of his private life was a high priority.

For his upcoming second year, he had managed to put together a class schedule that would allow him to continue working part time in the office of the party's caucus in the State Senate. Their mission was to supply the members of the party with all sorts of information, and to make sure that the senators' political and legislative needs were taken care of. Scott answered the call of all the majority members, but particularly enjoyed it when Maureen's staff needed the services of the caucus staff. It was "Senator," while on the job, but just "Maureen" when they had lunch together or he visited her local apartment for the occasional dinner.

On this sunny day, Scott ambled through the Capitol rotunda and decided to take the stairs rather than the elevator. He'd not kept up with his running routine very well this summer, and was feeling guilty about that. Not that the trek to the second floor was much exercise, but it was better than nothing. He resolved to take the stairs every day.

He burst through the large mahogany doors of the Senate chamber and walked along the outer ring of desks toward the caucus offices. He exchanged "good mornings" and pleasantries with every colleague he passed on the way to his cube, slipped out of his sport coat and draped it on the back of his chair and then booted up his computer.

"Isn't Turner in yet? He's always in early." It was quarter to eight, and the chief was already planning Scott's day.

Wilson "Will" Maxson was the Caucus Director. A career bureaucrat and a party loyalist of some forty years, Will was nearing sixty and could taste retirement. He was short, fat, mostly bald and seemed to be in a perpetual state of perspiration. His forehead always gleamed and his shirts always had pit stains. As Director, he supervised the staff that supported the party members in the State Senate. He was the perfect yes man who only wanted to please the caucus chair and Assistant Majority Leader, Senator Jeremy Frick. Of course, Maureen McCarthy was his ultimate boss, but she spent most of her energies talking policy and not politics. Not that the two were easily separated much of the time, but she preferred to leave most of the political stuff to Frick and to Will. Maxson wasn't the sharpest blade in the drawer, Scott had long thought, but he was a loveable guy and a good boss and very capable manager. He'd cut Scott some slack when he'd needed some extra time off to go to his friend Marty's wedding that summer, even though Scott hadn't been there long enough to earn the vacation time. And that had been one hell of a weekend.

"Yeah chief just got in!" Scott shouted over the wall of his cube toward Maxson's office door. "Just heating up the computer. Let me grab a cup of coffee and I'll be right there."

Scott grabbed his heavy ceramic mug and turned to head for the small break room. He walked right into the short, squat man blocking the exit to his cube. Will looked worried and stressed. As he handed three manila folders to Scott, he grabbed his handkerchief from his back pocket and dabbed his forehead. "Here. We have three competing versions of that teacher licensing bill from our members. I need you to go through them and find where they're the same, where they depart, and how they do or don't meet that fucking federal law those mopes in Washington have strapped us with. Senator Frick and Senator McCarthy want to get this done. She suggested I give it to you."

Scott nodded. "Well, I have about five press releases in my in-box right now that need review. Want me to do this first?"

Will shook his head. "Hell no! Need to get those out today. Can't ignore the Fourth Estate and the senators' egos at the same time. Mark them up and give them to Marcie to get out today. Copy me on them. Then get all over this stuff. We need an analysis for the education committee by the end of the week."

Scott nodded and grinned. "Can I get some coffee first?"

Will handed him an empty mug. "Only if you bring me some." He tapped Scott's shoulder. "Atta boy."

Scott mulled it over as he made his way to the break room. Maybe, just maybe, he could get it all done today, and then press Will to take Friday off. He had tentatively agreed to work the Wisconsin Student Association table during the new student welcoming and orientation session at the Student Union on Friday, if he could get the day off. As the WSA President, he felt an obligation to be there. It's not like they'd done much over the summer, and the Student Senate's clerk was frantically looking for help. There was practically nobody else in the organization on campus yet.

Coming out of the break room with two coffee mugs in his hands he abruptly put on the brakes to avoid running right into his boss's boss, Senator Jeremy Frick.

Frick grinned. "Scooter! G'morning! How the heck are you today?"

Frick was the only person who'd ever called him that, and he hated it. The nickname rubbed him the wrong way and the voice and person using it rubbed him even harder. Frick was just...plain...slimy. He was only thirty-five and his build mirrored Scott's. Five-foot-ten and about 160 pounds, he was in pretty decent shape. His flaxen hair was straight and rather wispy, and he parted it down the middle. Scott thought it looked kind of goofy. He had high cheekbones and a sharp chin, and piercing blue eyes that bore into others when he wanted them to, but could twinkle when he tried.

Scott forced a smile anyway out of deference. "Good morning, Senator. Just getting the boss some coffee."

The senator smiled and nodded. "Atta boy. Maureen tells me the education bill stuff landed on your desk, is that right?"

He nodded. "Yes sir. Mr. Maxson just handed it off to me. I need to handle some press releases first, and then work late if I have to in order to get the education stuff to him by tomorrow morning."

Frick gave him a thumbs up. "That'd be great, Scooter. Then we can get it to the education committee by week's end and we'll have a slam dunk before we break for the Labor Day recess. It'll give us a `we raised the bar in education' position coming into the new school year and something to tout in the November elections." There was a smirk on his face and a glint in his eye. Scott was mildly surprised that Frick had used the pronoun "we" for a change instead of "I". That was a rarity. The man was an asshole, pure and simple.

Scott just nodded. "Well, I'd better get at it then, Senator. I'll have it for Mr. Maxson's review tomorrow, and you should see it in another day or so."

"Atta boy, Scooter." Scott winced. "Hey, have you meet Maureen's new Chief of Staff yet?"

Scott frowned a bit and shook his head. He knew that Maureen's first chief since she became the party's leader in the Senate had resigned and headed to Washington. But he didn't know she'd already replaced him. But then, he hadn't had much time to spend with his mentor and the Senate Majority Leader all summer long. The summertime lull in legislative activity after the budget was finally passed had allowed her to stay up north in the district, and every weekend she was committed to one local parade or another. "No, sir. I knew she was looking for a new chief, but hadn't heard she'd found one."

The senator nodded. "Sounds like a pretty sharp guy, and he's from her district, so I'm sure he'll be a real asset. You might want to get over and meet him. I know how much your job overlaps with her office's concerns. I think he just came on board today."

"I'll do that Senator. I haven't been to lunch with Senator McCarthy in ages. Maybe I'll give her a call and see if she's free."

Scott dropped off the coffee mug on Will's desk and got an appreciative nod, the telephone receiver glued to his boss's ear. Then he returned to his cube, picked up his own phone and dialed a four-digit extension. "Hi Doris. It's Scott Turner. Is the boss available?"

"For you, young man, I'm sure she is. Let me check."

He held for thirty seconds or so and then heard the familiar voice. "Well, good lord! You're working full-time one floor below, and I never see you any more. Where the hell have you been?"

Scott blushed a little. "Well, I'm going to part-time in a couple of weeks, once classes begin, and you haven't actually been a permanent fixture around here through this past summer, ya' know."

She sighed. "Summer recess and political events back home go hand in hand, Scotty. But we're going to knock out a couple weeks work before Labor Day, so I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other."

He knew she wouldn't be running for re-election a year from November, as she was planning on vying for the Attorney General's office, but he admired her continuing attention to the folks back home. "So, what're doing for lunch today? I'll let you buy."

Maureen snickered. "You little shit."

"Hey. I haven't seen old Bradley Manning over at the Inn on the Park in months. How is the old queen anyway?"

"Scott Turner, Jr.! How can you say such a thing?" She rolled her eyes and stifled a giggle. Bradley was the host at the hotel's restaurant across the street, and although he was a doting sycophant, he was also a sweetheart. But Scott had a point, and she admitted the same to herself.

"Oh, Maureen, you know I love the guy. Let's go surprise him."

"Well, now that I have a new chief in place, it is easier to get away for a little while. Why don't you come over a little before noon and meet my new staff head and then we'll sneak out for lunch? We'll drag him along too. You should get to know him better, since you'll be working on the same stuff a lot."

Scott sighed. He'd hoped for some time alone with his old friend, but it made sense. "That sounds great. Senator Frick said you'd hired a winner."

There was a pause. "I think you'll be, er, pleasantly surprised by the new guy. He's going to be a good addition to my staff. Knows politics, knows policy and knows the district very well. I just got lucky in that he was available and willing."

Scott checked the clock. "Well, I'll be by in about three hours or so, and we can maybe beat the noon crowd by leaving a little early. Mr. Maxson won't mind. I'm going to work late tonight anyway on that education stuff you told him to dump on my desk."

"Okay, dear. I'll see you at about 11:30 then. I'll have Doris call Bradley and have a table saved for us."

An hour later, Scott was fact-checking the content of the second press release when his phone buzzed. It was Will. "Turner, you haven't started on that education stuff yet, have you?"

"Uhm, no. I'm still giving the fine-toothed comb treatment to release number two. Probably won't get to the teacher stuff until this afternoon."

"Good. The governor's office wants to weigh in on it. They're sending somebody over with some notes that Governor Hackett wants considered in the legislation that finally comes out. Better to get it up front and avoid the old `two steps forward and one step back' once we get something passed."

Scott nodded. "No problem. But, uhm, Will, I have to ask you something. If I can get this to you by tomorrow morning, ya' think I can take at least part of Friday off? The WSA has a table down at new student orientation, and I feel like I should help out. I'll work late tonight."

Will chuckled. He liked, even admired Scott and was glad that he would be staying on part time after the new school year started. He wanted to keep the talented young upstart happy. "Scott, if you have that in my inbox when I get in tomorrow morning, you can take all day Friday if you need it. We'll call it comp time with the Chief Clerk's office. I'll sign off on it."

Scott smiled. "Thanks, boss. You'll have it first thing in the morning." There was a short hesitation. "Uhm, Will? Any idea who the gov's office is sending?"

"Hell if I know. One of their interns or go-fers or whatever they call them these days."

Scott winced slightly. "Okay. I'm cutting out at about 11:30 for lunch with Senator McCarthy, and going to meet her new staff chief, but then will stay late and get the teacher stuff boiled down." He hung up the phone and sighed.

Another hour flew by and he was on release number four when he heard the familiar voice over his shoulder. "Good morning, Mr. Turner."

He grinned and swiveled around in his chair, but didn't get up. "Good morning to you, Ms. Abbott." Kelly Abbott was Maureen McCarthy's niece and now interning in the governor's office for the summer. She had also burned up the sheets with Scott a number of times during his freshman year in Madison. It had been a great relationship, but Kelly had pressed Scott for more of a monogamous commitment than he was willing to give her, so they'd amicably ended it, for the most part. There was one notable lapse in that severance.

Scott pulled a second chair into the cubicle and invited her to sit. "It's good to see you Kelly." God, she looked good. Her striking auburn hair was perfect, her emerald eyes still dazzled him and she smelled wonderful. Scott felt a stir in his boxers as he thought back on a number of erotic images of the two of them together, especially the most recent dalliance a little over a month earlier.

She was not unfriendly, but rather overly business-like, almost curt, Scott thought. "Marsha Hawley wanted me to brief you on what the governor hopes to see come out on this teacher licensing revision."

Scott sat back down. "Yeah, Will said they'd be sending somebody over." He tried to warm up the atmosphere with a smile. "I'm glad they sent you. Haven't seen you since..."

Kelly couldn't help but smile shyly. "Yeah. It's been a while. Are you doing okay over here?"

"Doing great, thanks. Having lunch with Maureen in a little while."

Suddenly Kelly's face lit up and she reached over Scott's shoulder toward his desk. "Oh my god! This is a great picture." She grabbed a five-by-seven framed photo off of the desk and smiled.

The photo had been taken at the wedding of Scott's best friend and one-time sexual play pal, Marty Anderson. Scott had also burned up the sheets the previous year quite a bit with Marty too. In fact, most of what Scott knew about man-to-man sexual escapades, he'd learned from his buddy Marty. He'd finally come around to admit that he genuinely loved the guy. But, Marty had met Jill and they'd made a baby, one that was due within the month. Scott admired Marty for doing the "right thing" and making a commitment to become the kind of father that Marty had never known.

In the framed photo, from left to right, arms over each other's shoulders were Scott's roommates Craig and Brett, then Scott, Kelly, Marty and Jill, obvious in her maternal glow. Jill was the only sober one in the group, and her daughter Ashley had taken the picture. Although just shy of four years old, the youngster had done a perfect job with the camera.

Scott blushed remembering that weekend and nodded. "You want a copy? I'll e-mail Marty and Jill and ask them to send you one."

She gazed at the picture another moment. "I'd love one. And send me their address, will you? I'd love to get in touch with them again." She handed the picture back to him with a wistful expression. "Was that a mistake, Scott?"

"Their marriage? No! Well, the pregnancy wasn't planned, but they'll be great. Plus, they found out the baby's going to be a boy. Know what they're naming him?"

"Jill told me. Scott Martin. She said Marty didn't want a `junior' running around the house, that he'd rather shout and scold and get all over the case of a Scott." They both laughed. "But that's not what I meant, you dope, and you know it. Don't be coy. I mean that weekend. Was that a mistake?" You and me?"

The night the picture had been taken, after the wedding reception had broken up and the newlyweds had gone back to Jill's house, Scott had found his way back to Kelly's hotel room. He had planned stay the entire weekend with Marty's mom, Michelle, Shelly to her friends. When he hadn't returned that night, Shelly figured where he was and chuckled as she shut of the light on her nightstand.

The previous spring, Kelly had moved on into relationship with Jayson, another intern in the governor's office, but it was very green. He'd had a long-standing plan to join his brother's and father on a Canadian fishing trip the weekend of the wedding and couldn't accompany his new girlfriend to the celebration in Rockford. And, following the wedding reception and dance, the two of them spent the next eight hours or so getting reacquainted with every square inch of each other's bodies.

Scott smirked and whispered. "Kelly, the only mistake about that night was us rolling off the bed and the rug burns on my knees the next few days." She giggled and rolled her eyes. "And we talked about that in bed the next morning. I thought we both understood and agreed what it did and didn't mean. It was what it was, Kelly, a detour on your budding romance with your boyfriend." He paused and inhaled before asking, "Did you tell him?"

Her eyes widened. "About us that weekend? No." She shrugged. "Why would I? He and I were kind of new at the time, and he couldn't find his way clear to join me at the wedding, so..." she paused.

"Okay, Kelly. I get it." He paused and smiled gently, "But no. I don't think it was a mistake."

He suddenly felt the urge to change the subject and glanced down at the folder on her lap. "So, what does the governor and HRH want from our teachers?" HRH was shorthand under the dome for `Her Royal Highness,' the governor's chief of staff. Marsha Hawley. Ms. Hawley had once been described by Maureen McCarthy as "a pit bull in a skirt." She was a Chicago-tough-and-trained professional politico with a brutal reputation for kicking ass and taking names. Inside the caucus offices, they'd often joked about the size of her testicles. Inside state politics, it was a classic good cop/bad cop arrangement. Governor Hackett was the friendly-faced glad handler. Marsha was the executioner if you crossed her boss, or her. Even though the governor and the majority in the Senate were all in the same family, party-wise, it was a love-hate relationship between the two branches of state government.

Kelly handed him the folder. "Well, it's all in the notes from this morning's meeting. The way Marsha explains it, it's the bare minimum in licensing expectations to get us in line with the new fed mandates. With Ted's final election..."

"Ted?" Scott grinned and raised his eyebrows as he took the folder.

Kelly smirked and cleared her throat. "With...the governor's...final re-election campaign just over a year away, and with our majority in the Senate at only a two-vote advantage, we can't afford to piss off the teacher's union. We might be able to take over the lower house too if we keep the legislative momentum rolling. Wisconsin already has some of the highest educational standards and results in the nation. No sense in antagonizing one of our biggest sources of support if there's no clear need. The governor is concerned that one or more of the legislators' versions might end up asking too much from our teachers and our wanna-be teachers."

Scott smiled and nodded and put the folder with the other three that Will had given him earlier. "Well, we have three other members weighing in on this. My job is just to analyze it all and summarize where they come together and where they don't for my boss. The good news is that I'm only the messenger, and don't have to stick out my neck and make an actual recommendation. But you can tell HRH that Mr. Maxson will have this soon and the committee will have it officially by week's end." He thought about it for a second. "My guess is that they'll be ready to send something to the legal gang early next week for the exact statutory language. When it comes from a committee, rather than battling out a single member's proposal in committee, it's easier. Doesn't happen often, but everybody knows that if we don't dance to Congress's tune, there'll be hell to pay."

Kelly nodded. "Bad press for the party and the state, and big loss in federal funding if this doesn't get done."

Scott faced down toward his shoes, but raised his brows and his eyes upward to meet hers. "So you and Jayson are doing good, huh?"

"He's a sweetheart, Scott. He cares a lot about me. He dotes on me. It's kind of hard working in the same office sometimes, but we have so much in common." She nodded. "It's all good. You should get to know him better."

Scott smiled a wry smile. "Our paths have crossed a couple times, and I'm sure they will again. He seems like a good guy. I'm happy for you."

He meant it, but there was a certain sadness in his well wishes. The two of them had something special going six months earlier, something really special. But he remembered the feeling that she wanted a commitment from him for social reasons, to placate the fraternity and sorority crowd. He didn't like that. She was intelligent, sweet, and incredibly attractive. And she was amazing in the sack. Still he wasn't going to be her window dressing for the sake of appearances on Langdon Street, the stretch of Greek houses on campus.

But it wasn't all her fault. He had recognized his deep confusion about his own sexuality too. Marty had touched him in so many ways, making him question who he really was in that regard. He had no regrets, and he still missed his old friend. And, truth be told, he'd willingly and boldly strode into man-sex with more than just his dear friend Marty.

And since Marty's departure he'd gotten nothing, except the weekend of the wedding, and the avid attention of his right hand.

But that didn't bother him all that much. He'd been so busy at the Capitol since the first week in June that he hadn't had much time to scope out the landscape, let alone find someone to get down and dirty with. He enjoyed the time alone at the new apartment, and the occasional weekend visits from his roommates, Craig and Brett. He and Marty and Jill still e-mailed each other regularly, but his old friend had been so busy honeymooning, and now was nesting for the coming newborn, so they hadn't seen one another since parting ways after the wedding.

It suddenly occurred to Scott that he was gazing at Kelly and missing Marty.

She snapped her fingers. "You there?"

Scott subtly shook his head. "Yeah, Kelly. Sorry. Just thinking about the ins and outs of this teacher thing. I told Mr. Maxson he'd have it in the morning, `cuz I think I can finagle Friday off if I get it done by then. Got some WSA stuff to tend to on Friday."

Kelly stood up and Scott followed. "Always politicking yourself, aren't you? You're going to burn the midnight oil tonight so that you can go down to meet and greet the new students at orientation."

"Hey, Walter needs the help." Walter, `Radar' Jameison was the WSA Clerk and Scott's right hand in the university's student government. In all honesty, he was Scott's right arm and sometimes, half of his brain.

She slapped his arm. "And if Scott Turner can shake a few hands and get his name out there to the newbies, all the better. You are going to run again this fall, aren't you?"

Scott looked at his shoes again sheepishly. "Yeah, I think I am. Haven't decided for sure yet, but I like the job." His face became instantly earnest. "But Radar really does need the help down there on Friday, so I want to be there."

Kelly gave him a knowing look. "And Martin Anderson won't be on hand this time to get you through a re-election campaign."

Scott laughed. Marty's outrageous antics had attracted a lot of attention during Scott's first run for UW student government. "Not sure if that's a curse or a blessing."

Kelly leaned forward and kissed his cheek. Scott's eyes nervously scanned the half-walls that made up his cubicle. She caught his apprehension and laughed. "I have to run. Send me that picture from the wedding and the email address for Marty and Jill, will you? And tell Mo' that I'll call her tonight or tomorrow. Gotta get back to the East Wing before HRH sends out the dogs."

Unlike the TV show, the Wisconsin State Capitol's executive branch was located in the East and not the West Wing. The Wisconsin Capitol building was a huge dome, second in height only to the nation's domed icon. In fact, they'd had to shave a few feet off the pedestal that foisted the golden statue on top, `Forward,' when the structure was originally built. Congress had enacted a law to solidify the nation's capitol building as the highest in the land. Only Texas was higher, but they weren't yet a state when it was built. But Madison's was different, with four wings protruding in an X beneath the immense dome. On the south there was the Senate. On the West was the lower house, the Assembly. In the East Wing was the Executive Branch and Ted Hackett's domain. And on the North Side was the Supreme Court.

He sat down and adjusted his plumped up member. She still made him hard. "Dammit!" he thought as he peeked over his shoulder and watched her perfectly apple shaped ass bobble its way down the hall toward the door.

Or, was it the recollection of Marty's fine form and his expertise that had him feeling more than a little randy all of a sudden? Maybe it was just the fact that he hadn't had any real sex in over two months. It didn't matter.

Forty-five minutes later he leaned back in his chair and stretched, and then hit "save" on the last of five cleaned up press releases. He opened an email to his boss attached all five of them with a quick note that they were factually sound, or at least defensible. Of course each of the members' offices had conveniently overlooked some pertinent facts that might be used to counter the claims of senators who were blowing their own horns, but such was life under the dome in Madison. Such was political life from sea to shining sea, as Scott well knew. It wasn't his job to unearth the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth; at least not in this venue. He rationalized that he'd always held himself to a higher standard while performing his duties within the Wisconsin Student Association, and when he functioned as the student member of the University's Board of Regents. At the Capitol, he was a paid flunky. He didn't always like it, but he didn't lose any sleep either.

He checked his watch. Right on time. He grabbed his sport coat and slid into it. Then, remembering that the morning weather maven had predicted temps in the eighties and high humidity for this August day, he plucked his shades from the breast pocket and removed the coat, draping it back over the chair. Before taking the stairs up to the third floor, he stopped in the public restroom to relieve himself of much of the coffee he'd consumed over the past three hours.

As he was washing his hands, the door to the men's room opened. Scott looked in the mirror. There was Senator Frick. Jeez,' he thought to himself. The guy is everywhere.'

"Scooter." Scott winced again. "Breaking for lunch, are you?" He stepped to a urinal and looked over his shoulder as he fiddled with his zipper. "Will tells me the governor's office weighed in on the teacher licensing thing."

Scott unrolled nearly a foot of tan paper towel and wiped his hands. "Yes sir. One of Governor Hackett's interns came over and briefed me on what they're hoping for."

Frick paused as he enjoyed the relief, and then shook his ample member. "Well, with all due respect to the governor and his chief, we're still operating under some separation of powers here. I know we're all in the family, party-wise, but we still write the laws outside of the East wing. His Department of Public Instruction carries them out. I doubt there's anything too controversial in what he wants, but if Ms. Marsha Hawley wants to start writing legislation, she should run for office like I did."

Scott was surprised by the man's candor. Frick zipped up and turned around. He smiled. "Well, Senator Frick, I'm no expert, but Ms. Abbott didn't seem to think there were any bombshells on their wish list. I'll summarize it all and Mr. Maxson ought to see it in his inbox by tomorrow morning."

Frick washed and dried his hands and took a comb out of his back pocket. "I'm sure it'll be fine. We'll keep the feds happy and beat the hell out of the `Dark Side' with a good pro-kid issue this fall and again next year." He took a comb out of his back pocket and ran it across the left and right sides of his head. Once properly coiffed, he checked his teeth and his complexion in the mirror. Satisfied, he turned and smiled again. "Lunch with Maureen, huh?"

"Yes sir. You know she's an old friend of the family, and we haven't had much chance to get together this summer. I'm going to get caught up with her and meet her new chief of staff." He opened the door and held it.

Frick walked past Scott, nodding his thanks for the courtesy the youngster was showing. "Good idea. Enjoy." He patted Scott's shoulder again and hurried down the hall.

Scott walked slowly up the stairs. He always felt like he needed a shower after encountering that man. Frick was too ambitious by about half, not that Scott wasn't ambitious himself. But Frick was an elected member of the State Senate. He was, at only the start of his second term, the assistant majority leader and chairman of the caucus. Yet, here he was more or less kissing up to a lowly hourly employee on the caucus staff. It was weird. Scott understood glad-handling, but this guy was over the top.

He kept calling him Scooter,' and Scott didn't have the cajones to tell him that he hated it. Frick was an up and comer' no doubt, but he was grossly superficial. Recently re-elected to a second term, he had another year to plan his ascendancy to the post of majority leader. Of course, that assumed that the party would keep the majority in next year's legislative races, and that Maureen would win the Attorney General's office. Frick wouldn't have to run either this November or next, as senators enjoyed four-year terms. So, he was free to micromanage the caucus staff for the advantage of the party. And what was good for the party was good for Jeremy Frick. Scott pitied Will's need to constantly tolerate the senator's scrutiny and judgment. In his gut, Scott just didn't trust the guy. Scott mulled over the proper adjective. `Slimy,' he thought as he reached the doorway to Maureen's office suite.

Doris was shuffling through a file cabinet drawer when he walked in. `She's put on a few' he mused as he surveyed her wide behind. Doris was about Maureen's age, mid-fifties, but certainly hadn't kept the same girlish figure that the senator had. But she was loyal to the bone, and those were some pretty big bones, and she was incredibly efficient. And, she made the best ginger snap cookies he'd ever tasted.

"Hey, stranger."

She stood, startled. Not a single sprayed graying hair on her head moved. It was like a hair helmut above and around her over-sized spectacles. "My god, you scared the living daylights out of me Scott." She took a few steps and took both of his hands in hers. "Where have you been hiding? Is Mr. Maxson working you too hard?" Doris always addressed and referred to everybody under the dome with the proper formality.

"Not really. Sorry for the scare." He felt a pang of guilt for wondering where she got her bras. The woman had enormous knockers that, it seemed to him, were beautifully displayed for a woman of her age. The old gal had a hell of a rack, and she displayed them with pride.

She waved a hand. "Oh, not to worry. We've just been trying to get the new chief of staff settled in, and all it's done is create more work for me."

Scott leaned on a chair. "I suppose. You've been basically doing that job since Christopher left for Washington, in addition to all your other stuff." She rolled her eyes with a `tell me about it' glance.

Maureen's office door was closed, and Doris glanced at her phone. Seeing the light to Maureen's line still lit, she clued him in. "They're still on a telephone conference call with some mucky-mucks in D.C. right now. But it shouldn't be long. She's been expecting you."

Scott sat down. "No problem. Don't let me interrupt what you were doing. I'll just cool my heels for a bit."

A minute later Doris checked her phone bank again. "Ah. Looks like they're done with Washington. I'll let her know you're here." She rapped twice on the office door's glazed glass and slowly opened it.

Scott glanced up and started to stand. Then he stopped. Leaning over Maureen's desk was a strong, v-shaped back leading down to the perfect bubble but of a gymnast.

"Senator? Mr. Turner is here to see you."

Maureen stood up just as Randy Oakes looked over his shoulder and turned around. Randy smiled broadly and Maureen waved him into the office. "Get in here, you little shit! A couple of old friends have been waiting for you."

Scott walked into her welcoming arms and returned the hug and kissed her cheek. "Good to see you. It's been too long."

"I believe you know my new Chief of Staff."

Scott grinned. "Sure I do. What a surprise! How are you doing, Randy?"

Author's Note: For those of you who have read my first effort, "Strange Bedfellows," and for you newcomers too, I have an appeal. I'm currently volunteering on behalf of the Ronald McDonald House. I lost my baby brother to cancer six years ago, and the organization is near and dear to me. And "Tis the Season" as they say. As you finish your shopping this season, pick up an extra bottle of dish soap or laundry detergent or washcloths or something else. Just look around your own home and take stock of what it takes to make a normal life. That's what we need. If pillowcases are on sale, grab a pack. A three-pack of Zest would work too. Those green scrubby things for doing dishes are very cool. These folks are trying to live there without having to worry about anything other than the life of their child or their brother or their sister. Whatever. Toss something extra in the cart and give it to the good folks at Ronald McDonald's place.

All my best to you and yours in whatever holiday you might be celebrating.