Chapter Text
She should have turned this down. She didn’t need to go to Iowa in the middle of the winter for a caucus. In fact, she shouldn’t even need to be doing interviews like this. She had always left this abhorrent line of work to Maggie. But, here she sat in her car on the way to laguardia to board the UBA plane to the prairies to do a story on one Bradley Jackson.
The reporter was a mess, the kind of mess the public loved and editors despised. She had done her background; hours on hours of local news reports covering random stories around the country. The incident that left the nickname “Two-Fucks Jackson” and the meltdown over coal that was the previous faux-paw before Bradley Jackson started the morning show. Laura could not deny the pure shock that a relative no-named hot head was crowned to the monarchy of morning news. Laura wanted that story. Even if it never hit the page.
The vibration of her phone against her briefcase pulled Laura out of her thoughts as she glanced away from the window. Maggie. Speak of the she-devil.
“Yes?” Laura answered with a disinterested tone, “What could you possibly want this early in the morning” as she leaned back into the soft leather of the SUV.
“You’re going to spend 48 hours with conservative barbie; do you forget how well and for how long I've known you, Laura?” The other journalist chuckled into Laura’s ear. The woman in the car rolled her eyes at what her longtime friend was insinuating. “I'm calling to say do not look so deeply into those big blue eyes and forget she’s not really a blonde and that you are not 25 years old anymore.”
“Really Maggie?” Laura deadpans, “This is why you’re calling me? To remind me to not bed straight talent? You’re right, I'm not 25. I'm a grown woman who really didn't need this today after the night I had yesterday interviewing the Ice Queen of the Upper West Side.”
“Oh yes, you’re Alex interview. I’ll assume that I went swimmingly.” Maggie questioned.
“As well as a swimmer during the summer of Jaws.” Laura sighed, “She is the precise reason I do not do these things anymore,” She looked over seeing them pulling into the hanger for the plane, “Yet, as you called to remind me. I’m off to Iowa to interview the other part of the stepford wives of “The Morning Show”.”
“At least Bradley has some fire and depth,” The other woman offered, “Just pull your normal ‘Laura the Enigma’ and make her too flustered not to screw up.”
“Thought you said to not sleep with her.”
“I said don't catch feelings; but you’re the best because you're unsettling and far too calm. you’ll catch her off guard.”
Laura slipped out of the backdoor that was opened for her with a tight smile before rolling her neck and looking at the airplane. “I’m not looking to ruin anyone’s career or sleep with them.” and with that Laura ended the call and took a deep breath and headed onto the plane.
–
“Just ask!” she closed her joke with a smile as she joked with her old friends and some new faces of the production team. She was comforted to have familiar, trustworthy, peers on this trip. She liked to know she had a supportive and intelligent team that she could trust; especially when she was out of town. She saw her most trusted friend point to whomever came on the plane behind her with a knowing smirk she turned around. She had specifically worn her uniform of severely slicked back hair, black and leather. She didn’t opt for colour often, the grayscale was what she felt the most comfort and protection in. She had learned when she was young that she needed a uniform to protect herself; and sharp corners, leather and black seemed to do just the job.
“Ah! Well, if it isn't Bradley Jackson.” Laura smiled pointedly as she sauntered a few steps towards the Show Host. The woman already looked slightly flustered and nervous. Good, Laura thought.
“Well that's me,” Bradley beamed, nervous energy radiating off her. “I've heard so much about you!”
“Only Good things I hope,” Laura retorted, enjoying Bradley squirming slightly.
“Oh oh yeah!” The blonde muttered as she shifted further into the plane. Laura ushered her in further and moved to settle into her chair as Bradley settled down with the segment producer and started chatting with some of the guys on the plane. Laura just watched how the other woman engaged with her colleagues. The difference was night and day from how Alex worked and how Bradley engaged. Genuinely asking about kids birthday parties and how someone's dog was after a surgery.
The flight was long enough to get some work done for both women. Laura mostly went over some of the questions the brass had urged her to introduce as well as some more of the questions she had developed herself. She had been looking down awhile now and tilted her head up to take a sip from the coffee one of the flight staff had laid on her table. With a soft thank you, Laura lifted the cup to her dark lips and went to take a sip. Just then, she caught the glance of another. Bradley. Her lips nibbled on the end of a blue pen as their eyeline crossed paths. Her cheeks suddenly looked rosey after being caught.
Laura kept eye contact as she finished her sip of coffee. She looked downward with a smirk, unable to stop herself from doing a quick peek to see Bradley taking a long flustered drink from her water.
Iowa might be fun after all, Laura mused to herself.
—
“How do you take your coffee?” Bradley chirped as she went about pouring two cups from the cafaffe that she was standing in front of. “I mean I’m sure it’s nothing like you prefer…” the blonde rambled on awkwardly realizing she was offering war room coffee to someone who probably drank expensive Italian espresso.
“Just cream,” Laura responded as she ran a hand over her sleep ponytail. “Nothing fancy unless I’m at home making coffee after an eventful night.” She casually tossed out. She watched Bradley swallow and fix both cups. One with cream and one with too many artificial sugars and oat milk. Her slim fingers curled around the paper cup as she uttered a thank you and headed towards the quad of the Caucasus area.
“Is this your first caucus?” Laura asked, breaking the ice with a simple statement. She already, in theory, knew the answer; but she might as well start the conversation somewhere.
“The West Virginia primary was, you know, the only one one I’ve ever been to.” Bradley admitted with a nervous chuckle as they walked slowly down the premade, “Never a Caucus.”
“This was suddenly a big leap for you, Right?” Laura started ensuring she engaged in movement of her hands as the steady cam walked backwards in front of them. She sometimes hated that the West Wing’s cinematic universe had everyone thinking she had to walk around with cameras in front of her and her subject; but she did know movement helps break tension of an interview and she was always happy to be out of a stuffy studio. She saw Bradley pull a face when she glanced over after asking the question. “Well, going from West Virginia to covering a national election for the most storied morning news show in TV history.”
With grace Bradley played the question off with ease, “Yeah, I know it seems like a big leap… But, I've been working towards this for a really long time.”
Laura noticed a hesitancy in the reporter's voice as she spun her story; of course she had been working for years in journalism, but they both knew there was a deeper story here. “A lot has been made about that leap.” They kept walking, Bradley watched her as she kept her pace. “About how exactly it happened with no one seeing it coming.'' Now the blonde was looking nervous and murmuring agreement in polite conversation ways. “There's something that fascinating to me that no one has ever touched upon in full.” with a few perfectly placed pauses and a grin Laura launched into the question she knew Bradley was not expecting. “What does it feel like?” Bradley blinked several times at that and a soft smile of relief played across her face. “You know, to be at this stage in your career at this point in your life.” The interviewer asked, her voice almost seeming excited to be able to highlight the trajectory of this underdog. “I mean, by your own admission, you were toiling in small stations around the country. And to suddenly be given this opportunity that must have seemed like it would never come. How does that feel?”
They had walked toward a less crowded pace in the quad allowing Laura to pivot her body towards her subject and watch her face light up with the question. She gestured with her paper cup when she asked how it felt to emphasize to the audience the human aspect of this woman, but she had found herself actually wanting to hear the answer.
Bradley looked up to the sky slightly when she started speaking, “You know… I grew up thinking,” she said as they slowed to a stop, “That there weren't necessarily gonna be a lot of possibilities for me. There just were gonna be certain doors that would never be open.” Her hands had moved excitedly with each breath of her response, her smile brightening as she spoke her truth to the reporter, “But then I found these things that I'm good at. And it seemed like I could have these big dreams, you know” Her big blue eyes sparkling with genuine excitement as she spoke, “and then life happens, you know. Stuff happens and then I got to this point where I thought this level of success was just not possible for me. I just wasn't going to achieve it.” The shine got duller as she spoke of the hardships she had faced in a nonchalant manner,” And I convinced myself, actually, I guess I convinced myself that I didn't really want it.” Bradleys eyes found a way back to Laura’s as she wound down her answer. Laura didn’t interrupt, she nodded assuringly to the other woman as she spoke.”And that was a handful of pretty tough years for me, and I did that a long time and really up until everything happened about a month ago…”
They had started to walk again, most likely from Bradleys uncomfortability to stand still in her declaration, Laura popped up with a follow up, “And how did this month change things for you?”
With a breath in, Bradley continued, “This month? Um, you know I was in a place where I felt like I had control over my life, control over my destiny. And then like,” with a snap of her finger and a stop to her footsteps, “and then, like that, I realized – I feared…I just thought, I don’t have any control at all.” She explained, “And then I did something rash, and I acted out and every day that passed, I thought to myself what if I lose this? It took me so long to get here. What if I never get back? And then I realized, like, once I realized how I felt,” A grin plastered across her face, “and that’s when I realized what this job means to me.” She was vulnerable, how Laura wanted her to be in this interview. Bradleys eyes lingered on the interviewer's face a second too long, and lost her grip on her coffee cup, breaking the moment and sending over sweetened milky coffee splashing onto Laura’s leather boots. “Oh Shit!”
“How do you throw your coffee out now? Just drop it wherever you stand!?” Laura teased as she watched the blonde crouch down after the offending beverage, her hands trying in haste to brush off the liquid.
“No! No! I swear – I’m picking it up!” Laura could tell Bradley was flustered, her drawl presented itself more prominently when she was nervous. “I’m sorry. I’m such an idiot!”
“Yeah, because I called you on it,” Laura replied in her normal tone of voice, hinted with a playful mouth. She moved to grab the cup out of the other woman's hand as she bantered about new shoes on the way to the next location they were being ushered to.
“Was that okay?” Bradley whispered, a tinge of nervousness peppering her voice as they headed to the location the crew had gathered for the next stand up. Laura had sit downs with Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to film for the evening news and Bradley was off to talk to the volunteers and poll workers about the importance of their work. “I just… I’m not great with these types of things.”
“You did very well, genuine, honest,” Laura answered truthfully, taking the papers that her editor handed her to review, “We will have more time to speak later, but so far I'm interested in Bradley Jackson.” She said simply, letting her hand squeeze the Blondes forearm before slinking off to her next interview leaving the Bradley to wonder after her retreating form.
–
“So, was the caucus everything you thought it would be and more?” Laura teased as their crew walked into the hotel, leaving them truly alone for the first time since meeting. They slowly headed toward the same destination, but it seemed neither of them were in a rush.
“Well, in terms of there were no results, I don't know.” the blonde replied with an annoyed drawl.
“I know, what the fuck happened?” The taller woman chuckled, noting a smirk with her curse. She was off the clock and was more than happy to shed a layer of professionalism.
“I dont know!”
“Well,” Laura continued, “on the brightside there are like 49 more of these things.”
“So cory, but he asked me to look after you,”
“Mentor me?
“I mean it came from a good place, but after watching you all day I don't think you need it.”
They headed into the bar and settled into seats at the dark corner of the bar to be left alone in a hotel crawling with political hopefuls and fanboys.
“What can I get for you, Ms. Jackson?” the bartender asked as he rounded to their table. The blonde smiled up at the server.
“Double bourbon on the rocks?” She asked sincerely, “It's been a very long day.” He nodded and turned to the other woman, “Oh! Let me guess!” Bradley asked excitedly as she tried to guess the classy woman's drink order, “Red wine?”
“This skin tone? Red wine would flush me out for days,” Laura laughed before turning to the young man, “Gin martini, dirty. Like obscenely dirty,” the reporter purred as she touched his arm with a smile. The man retreated with a smile back behind the bar to make the drinks. “What?” she smirked as she looked back to Bradely who had a pleased look on her face.
“You're a flirt, I wouldn't have guessed it.” Bradley replied aghast by her realization. Laura just rolled her eyes at the accusation. “You are! When I got on the plane you were charming the guys and I saw your interviews with the candidates. You are like a sneaky flirt to get the answers you want.”
Laura shrugged a shoulder slightly at the accusation, “Lazy flirting is easy. Most people are easily flattered.” She leaned back and crossed her legs. “You did good today.” She offhandedly tossed the compliment to the other woman as their drinks arrived.
“You sound surprised,” Bradley questioned as she watched Laura take a sip of her martini. “I’m quite well equipped to do my job.”
“I wasn’t saying you’re not.” Laura leaned forward watching the other woman. “I’m saying you impressed me and I’m not easily impressed.”
Bradley smiled, from ear to ear. A genuine, full faced smile that Laura had forgotten one of those Was possible. She watched the anchor for a moment, her nervous energy and absolutely drained body played at odds against each other.
“Well cheers to that I suppose.” Bradley smiled as they clinked their glasses. “I’m so slammed all day tomorrow.” She groaned rolling her neck as she thought about the wake up call in the morning.
“As am I, I’m speaking with Biden and Kamala.” Laura replied, “she will be more interesting for sure. Have had interviews with him before.” With a shrug as she popped an olive in her mouth. “You’re here tomorrow night, yeah? Then catching the early flight?”
“Yes,” Bradley yawned slightly and tried to hide it, not wanting to stop talking to the seasoned reporter. “Though it is a nice change, but id rather be in my room back at the grey.”
“You still live in a hotel?!” Laura asked, shocked at that, “you haven’t found an apartment yet?”
“No time, and I can’t cook.” Bradley joked, “made more sense. Maybe someday. Not all of us can own a ranch and a brownstone in Brooklyn.” She slipped out allowing Laura to realize she had looked her up.
“I can cook. I’ll have you for dinner sometime.” Laura offered, sipping the end of her drink and motioning for the bill. “We should turn in. Tomorrow night the crew will get wild, we will come and stay for awhile” she saw Bradley raise her eyebrow. “For human interaction and showing people you're not above them.” She reminded the new celebrity. Laura brushed off Bradley’s attempts to grab the bill. “UBS treat,” she winked, “let’s head to bed.”
“Laura…” Bradley stumbled, once she realized she misunderstood she flushed, “oh yes sleep for the interviews tomorrow!” She masked, “you’re right.” She sputtered down her last sip.
“Goodnight.” The blonde smiled and bounded to the elevator. Laura shook her head and saw the comforting grin of her producer walking outside for his nighttime cigarette. The seasoned reporter followed him out plucking the lit smoke from his fingers and took a pull.
“Don’t.” He warned her, watching his friend.
“I’m just doing my job,” Laura said as she exhaled, turning her head to look at him. “Just reporting and shit on over privileged elites.” He replied with a disvelufeded agreement. “Stop it.”
“She’s your type.”
“Oh don’t have a type.” Laura scoffed, “I’ll see you for triage in the morning.” With that Laura retired to her room, leaving her to mull over her notes for the morning with Biden.
—
They had shared a car back to the hotel, Laura pulled down her tight ponytail as soon as she entered the sedan and ran a hair through her black hair. She missed as Bradley watched the process of the stoic reporter breaking out of her facade. Strong hands dance on the straightened locks massaging out the hairspray and professional costume she wore until her hair hung loose around her shoulder with a she let out a satisfied groan.
“So I'm, do you think you got everything for the interview?” Bradley asked timidly.
“Oh yeah I got plenty that could have left after we went inside yesterday but I was having too much fun.” Laura turned to face the other woman, “not but hey, after I’ve seen how truly awesome you really are do you mind if I ask a personal follow up question? Just between us?”
“ Sure you can ask me anything” Bradley braced for herself for what was assured to be a horrible question.
“Did you actually get vetted? For this job?”
There was a pause. Bradley had an unreadable look across her face as if she was deciding on her answer. Then she leaned in, a hand cupping a pale cheek and pressed her lips to Laura’s. She pulled back, muttering apologies and tried to pull away when against her better judgement the seasoned journalist leaned back, sliding her own hand against Bradley’s cheek, pulling her back into the kiss she hadn’t meant to end in the first place. Timid kisses gave way to hungry ones. No one was trying to lead, but both were just relishing in the moment before the car pulled to a stop and both women pulled away trying to contain themselves.
They watched each other. Saying no words. Just trying to figure out what just happened as they both got pulled back into the real world.
—
After meetings, the crew ended up in the hotel bar. They would all be leaving at 2:45am; which in theory should allow everyone a good nap prior to boarding the plane but they’re journalists after a caucus. Of course they’re at the bar expending the last of their energy. Bradley was a few deep into her favoured bourbon and Laura and the rest of the team followed as well with their preferred beverages. The women sat close to each other on a loveseat surrounded by their team. Sharing antics and watching the interns flirting at the bar with remembrance of their own youth.
Bradley could barely focus on the conversation at hand with Laura’s leg so close to hers. Since the car she had felt on fire. But, followed along with the other woman playing cool.
Laura had her eyes fixated on the camera man telling his story, as she reached down into her leather briefcase and let her finger hover over the spare key that the desk had given her. She wondered if this was a good idea. She knew it wasn’t. But, she couldn’t slow her gin soaked brain as she slid it into her palm and stretched her arm out sliding it behind Bradley on the back of the seat. Her fingers deftly slipped the key card into the back of the blonde's trousers letting her fingers glide across the small of the other woman’s back before bringing them back to grasp her drink.
After a moment Laura looked up to catch a questioning glance from Bradley and just smiled into her martini as others started stating they’re off to turn in. After finishing off her drink, Laura popped up with her editor feigning exhaustion and excusing herself to walk with him. Hoping with everything she had that she didn’t embarrass herself with her gesture.
“Set your alarm, or I'm sending an intern to collect you at 2am.” Her editor warned, as he examined her face. “and they’ll send one to her room as well. Don’t forget how well I know you, Lar.”
“Oh fuck off,” Laura threatened, in a halfhearted manor, “im never late.” He just muttered under his breath as he got off the elevator at his floor. Laura got into her room, kicked off her shoes and after a while just gave into going to bed alone when she heard a faint knock at her door followed by the latch opening. Laura turned the corner, entering the main area as she rubbed lotion on her hands seeing a very nervous Bradley standing with her back to the door.
“Hey,” Laura offered lightly, keeping her distance. “You came”
“I don’t know why I’m here,” the other woman breathed out hurriedly, “I don’t know why I kissed you.”
“Because you wanted to,” Laura said lightly, as she walked closer, “and I kissed you back, which I also wanted to do.”
“You make it sound easy.” Bradley stated as Laura entered her space and the blonde reached down to interlink their fingers. “This is the impediment of a terrible idea, Laura.” Blue eyes looked up into brown, their faces inches away from each other. “I shouldn’t be here.”
“If that’s your decision, okay. But, Why?” Laura asked as she watched the blonde lean into her until their bodies touched.
“So many reasons.” Bradley admitted, “I’m not…. I shouldn’t.” With that Bradley leaned up and captured the taller woman’s lips. It was different from the car. They were alone. Laura had literally laid her card down and Bradley followed. “Lar…”the other woman whimpered into her mouth.
“Nothing has to happen,” Laura explained, her hands cupping the blondes cheeks. “I just wanted to see you, I suppose, before everything goes back to work and you know New York fuckery.” She shrugged softly, pulling away. “We have to go in a few hours… and I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be alone after what happened today.”
“Laura it’s so….” Bradley groaned. Scary? Risky? Fast? No none of those explained how she had felt when she met Laura, or their fingers touched when Laura took the coffee she had spilled away.
“I know,” the seasoned reporter sighed, “complex” Bradley nodded with agreement, before making a decision and kicking off her heels. Laura raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Just walked closer to her bedroom and the tightly made bed. She pulled down the cover and let her hands move to drift to her slacks before swiftly unbuttoning them and letting them Slide down her long toned legs. Once kicked off, she shrugged out of her sweater tossing it onto her nearly packed bag and moved to slide into the sheets the colour of her pale skin.
Bradley watched with wrapped attention, slowly following suit. Folding her clothes into a neat pile before walking to the other side of the king bed. She slipped in. It didn’t take long for the women to cross the divide and find each other. Hands tentatively exploring exposed skin. Lips desperately seeking eachother out. They had found each other in a complex situation where they both knew it would be complicated no matter what happened. But, now, in the dusk of the night. They basked in each other's embrace with little care for what the daylight and reality of New York Would Bring.
—
Laura heard a knock on her door before she even registered it was time to get up. She tossed a white robe over her bare body before paddling to the door and finding a tray with two coffee to go cups. She looked at the paper that came along with them. One, a simple flat white; and the other some complicated espresso and syrup combination that could have only been meant for Bradley. She cursed her producer but was thankful for the beverage at this ungodly hour. She made her way back to the bed with cups in hand and sat close to where Bradley was sleeping. She gently blew the sweet smell of coffee under the anchor's nose and watched her face slowly awaken.
It wasn’t graceful. It was marred with curses of protest and grunts before blue eyes blinked open to the till dark room. “This is torture,” the blonde grumbled as she rubbed her eyes. “I don’t get up this early on a work day.”
“Welcome to campaigns,” Laura softly laughed, handing the cup to her bedmate. “Drink then go quickly back and I’ll see you in the car. You can nap on the plane.” She assured her, knowing neither of them got more than an hour's sleep.
“Someone kept me up all night,” Bradley accused as she rolled closer to Laura, wrapping her still nude body around the other woman. “Or at least til dawn.”
“We must ride at dawn, our chariot awaits,” Laura deadpanned, “got to get back to reality,” she stated with a tinge of sadness.
“Laura… this wasn’t nothing.” Bradley whispered, taking the lithe woman’s hand and kissing her palm.
“I know. But you have some thinking to do… when we get back you know how to find me.” Laura explained, as she slipped away and started pulling on formal but casual clothing to fly In. “But, love, you need to get up and move to make the fight. You don’t want to hold it up and rumours start that you’re a diva.” Laura chuckled, “I mean one minute past and it’s in my article.” Bradley jumped up, swiftly pulling on her clothes from the night before. She was nearly out the door before turning back and capturing Laura's lips against hers.
“See you on the plane,” Bradley called over her shoulder as she rushed to her own hotel room. Not long later Laura had already finished her coffee and headed with the first car to the plane. Once settled in her preferred seat she closed her eyes in the quiet. It wasn’t until she heard a morose chuckle near her ear and her producer say something about Waffle House Barbie enjoying her coffee she had the confirmation on who had sent the coffees up earlier that morning. “I hate you,” Laura hissed through her exhausted haze, but with a little bite in her voice causing her old friend to laugh more self satisfied.