Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:37:40 -1000
From: S turner <scotty.13411@hotmail.com>
Subject: Fork in the Road, Chapter 1

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.