"Of course. I am here because you have a stick up your ass and need to pick at something that is actually none of your business to keep your mind off it."

"Excuse me?!? You will not speak to me or anyone else involved in these proceedings with such disrespect, Senator. We have rules and processes that we follow and respect is key to that."

"Bullshit!" Brianna snapped with a vengeance, causing every person in the room to flinch. "You think because you were elected to office to SERVE," her emphasis on the word so strong, those listening could hear the capital letters in her voice, "that you're ENTITLED. Let me tell you something, Senator," sneering, "you're not *entitled* to anything. And you certainly haven't earned MY respect. You want me to excuse you?? There's no excuse for any of you, and trust me... I've looked."

"Senator Walker...."

"Nono... you don't get to talk now," holding up a hand and standing, walking around the table so she could lean against it to regard her accusers. Suddenly, the committee was thankful for two things - that they had decided to keep these actions closed and away from the press and that they had never faced Brianna Walker in court. It already felt as though she had eviscerated them thoroughly, and it was obvious from her stance that she hadn't even gotten started yet.

"You asked me a question - I'm quite willing to give you an answer. You brought me here with the intention of putting me in my place - making sure I towed a moral line *you* determined. You really think you can do that, Senator Gilbert? Rhetorical question," she instructed when the Chairman opened her lips to respond. "You don't want to answer yet. Because if you choose the wrong answer, there will be consequences."

"Are you threatening us, Senator Walker?"

"Not at all, Senator Gilbert. I'm simply explaining the truth to you. Surely you're acquainted with Newton's law - for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. I think you should be aware of what that reaction will be if you decide to pursue this course of action."

Gilbert held Brianna's eyes for a long moment, searching them for any hint of falsehood. When she found none, she leaned back in her chair as nonchalantly as she could manage and reached for the glass of water. When she noticed her shaking hand, she simply motioned for Brianna to continue instead.

"Thank you, Senator Gilbert," Brianna nodded graciously, her tone quite civil. "Before you start flinging spears and arrows at either me or Senator Tagherty for some sort of perceived moral shortcoming, let me suggest that you worry about your own business. You see, Charisma Tagherty is one in a lifetime - she's the real deal. Honest, forthright, stands by her convictions. Can the rest of you say the same? Don't answer - I already know. Every single one of you sold out a long time ago, and you're just *dying* to bring Senator Tagherty down to your level - it justifies your own actions.

But you can't - she's worked hard for the people of our state and it shows in the latest polls. Most of her constituents aren't concerned with us being a couple now - she was faithful to her husband for the duration of their marriage. In fact, despite the fact that she discovered her feelings for me, neither of us acted on that while she and Kent were married nor would we have. Because unlike you, Senator Danvers," pinning the woman with an intense stare, "I'm not a home wrecker. I was fully prepared to walk out of her life again. And unlike you, Senator York," watching the man flinch, "Charisma Tagherty believed that fidelity was part of the marriage vows she took."

Brianna smirked as she watched the faces that had entered the room with so much righteous indignation and accusation on their features, pale and turn ashen with each casually revealed secret.

"Should we talk about the dominatrix sessions you attend every Wednesday night, Senator Gilbert? With a woman who looks nothing like the husband you claim to have been faithful to for thirty-five years? Would you like to discuss Senator Morris' son's drug problems and the illegal strings he's pulled to keep him out of jail?"

She glanced around the room. "Would you like me to continue?" looking at the three committee members she hadn't yet called out and watching them shake their heads frantically in the negative. Brianna smirked again, and dropped her eyes to the floor in an effort to contain her laughter. If she'd been them, she wouldn't have wanted those particular bits of dirty laundry aired either. "I have files upon files filled with items like these - and not just for the people in this room." Brianna locked eyes with each of them one at a time, smiling in such a way that they were reminded of any number of Disney villains. Only this time, it was readily apparent that the villain was going to win any encounter they instigated. "It's amazing what you can find out about people when you know the right people."

"You have no proof."

"Are you sure? Are you willing to bet your career... risk jail time on that possibility? I assure you, Senator Thomas, I have proof that would destroy each and every one of you, and it would certainly be my pleasure to do so," the fire in her eyes lending credence to the truth of her words.

"What do you want, Senator Walker?" Gilbert finally asked resignedly.

"Aside from each of you becoming the leaders you were elected to be?" Brianna snorted. "You leave us alone. I don't care if you support Charisma or not, but you don't get to question her ethics or her morals anymore. Not one of you is in a position to do so - none of you has a moral leg to stand on, and if you think I'm going to stand by and let you persecute and obliterate her...."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah," Brianna replied. "If you try to isolate or undermine her or make things personal, I will ruin you - each and every one of you... one at a time. And I promise - you won't see it coming and each blow will be worse than the last. Not a threat - just a statement of fact. I don't like most of you - you are lower than the dirt on my shoes... wheeling and dealing and forgetting why you're really supposed to be here. Does that make me naпve?? Probably, but at least I sleep nights. Can you say the same?" Everyone reacted to that, no matter how minutely, and Brianna knew she'd made her point.

"I won't let you ruin what could be one of the brightest promises for the future of this great country with your petty bigotry and hatred. So drop your agendas against Senator Tagherty. I won't let you try to damage her further - she deserves better. She's actually earned the respect you demand."

The Chairman looked to her left, then her right before turning her attention back to Brianna. "We accept your terms, Senator Walker. Can we trust that you'll do nothing with the information you have?"

"Lady, I haven't given you a single reason *not* to trust me."

"Perhaps," Gilbert conceded, "but trust is something that is earned as well. Can you see why we might have a bit of difficulty doing so? Despite what you call it, you have threatened us all."

Brianna shrugged. "I suppose you could see it that way. But the fact remains that I have had this information in my possession since shortly after I arrived here and I haven't made it public - that should count for something." A pause as they absorbed the evidence she had just given them. "As long as you behave, so will I. I play to win, but I play fair... relatively speaking, of course," sneering at their disbelieving stares. Brianna gathered her papers together and slipped them back into her briefcase, then turned her attention back to the committee members that were watching her every move.

"A word of caution, ladies and gentlemen - do not test me, and don't think you can destroy the evidence I have on you. There are numerous copies of the charges I have laid before you today, and any sort of retaliatory action against me or Senator Tagherty will trigger the accusations to go public. Are we perfectly clear?" Every head bobbed slowly in acknowledgment. "Very well. If we're done here, I have a lunch date. Have a pleasant day."

Then Brianna turned and made her way out the door without pause. Only when she was gone and the portal closed completely behind her did the committee exhale and look at one another.

"Now what?" Senator Lopez asked. "Do we...?"

"We do nothing," Senator Gilbert announced as she straightened the papers in front of her.

"But...." from Senator Zimmerman.

"No buts," Gilbert bit out. "Can any of you afford to have your constituents know those kinds of things about you? Because I certainly can't. I'm just barely holding onto my seat as it is. And somehow, I believe Walker when she says there's evidence. We all know what kind of shadows lurk in her past, and even though we can't use it against her because she's maintained her distance from those connections, there is still every possibility that those connections work well for her when the need arises." Gilbert's pointed glances garnered her reluctant agreement from the rest. "Very well. This meeting is adjourned. I need a drink."

"Me too," piped up several of the others. Then they rose from their seats and headed out of the room.

************

The sky was clear and the air was hot as they walked hand in hand down the narrow, cobbled streets of the Old City towards Trevi Fountain. The first part of their holiday had gone so smoothly, and they had filled up several memory cards with pictures of the many places that they had already visited on their trip thus far. And of course, there were those instances that weren't captured by anything more than their memories - things too private to share with anyone beside one another.