Chapter Text
BODYGUARD
EP 3
45:15
David opens the heavy wooden door, his heart racing just the slightest bit. No matter how badly he didn’t want to admit it- Julia Montague made his heart flutter.
When he walks into the earth toned room, he spots Julia sitting cross legged and tense on the white couch. “Ready when you are, ma’am” he doesn’t expect a response. He made a vow to himself to not be emotionally distracted. To stay professional when on duty. No matter how he can gaslight himself into thinking he isn’t attracted to Julia- it get harder everyday to put on the act. David starts to walk out of the room but his principle stops him.
“Wait.” Julia says breathlessly.
David turns back, his earpiece stretching against his neck.
Julia sighs, and all David can do is stare at her, not knowing how to proceed. Not knowing what to say. “I knew the name of your kids school because it was on a list of possible targets. I didn’t forewarn you, or anyone else for that matterr…” that catches David’s attention. He turns back around facing Julia as she stands up, taking a few steps closer as she talks. Nothing gets in the way of my job. Who is David fooling? His paranoia over everyone’s prying eyes makes him skiddish. “Due to the fact the threat was non-specific,” the Home Secretary straightens out her skirt. “We’re still not clear as to why Heath Bank was singled out… I ordered ARV’s to deploy near all schools identified as being at risk… and thanks to that measure, no school children came to any harm.”
David didn’t know what to say. Part of him questions why the sudden honesty. Then again his brain goes back to just the other night when Julia said he was the only one she could trust. David swallows past the lump in his throat and didn’t realize how tense his body was. He shakes his head remaining eye contact with the woman in front of him. The room is full of tension and unspoken words.
Julia is the first to break the silence. “You being my PPO makes this difficult anyway. It’s for the best that changes.” He could hear the sadness and desperation in her voice. The uncertainty.
It hurt but it’s what is best for everyone.
Even so, David couldn’t stop the setting of his jaw or the shock that went through his body. Not even the despair he feels.
David doesn’t trust himself to say anything. He doesn’t trust what he could say. All he does is nod. He starts to walk away when Julia reaches for his hand and grabs tight. He’s sure she can feel the tension in his body-but when is he not tense?
“I-” David looks down, and sees Julia’s thumb rub over the back of his hand. Goosebumps threaten to rise on his arms. David looks back up, looking at Julia’s uncertain yet beautiful face. Her gaze is still on his hands, though. The irony of it all- the powerful politician and the bodyguard. “I want you right beside me…” Julia finally looks back up at David’s resigned face. “Not because it’s your job… but because it’s our choice.”
What does David say to that? It could never happen. Those few nights of pleasure were simply that. But he couldn’t ignore this tug that pulls at his heart. Was it eagerness? It couldn’t be. He had to think about Vicky and the kids. About his job. David blows out a puff of air through his nose. Even if he wasn’t Julia Montague PPO anymore what would the media- or worst of all politicians think of the scandal.
PPO gets transferred but still sticks around as the Home Secretaries lover? Talk about suspicious.
David can’t help the confliction in his heart when he looks at Julia’s tight smile as she squeezes his hand. She closes her eyes for a moment and let’s go of his calloused hand. She straightens her pantsuit and grabs her folder that is resting on the couch. All David can do is swallow past his anger and walk away into the hallway. Leaving Julia alone in her room.
As he closes the door he pauses, his hand resting on the cool doorknob, knowing both of them had just shut out a possibility of what could have been.