Chapter Two

August 19, 2029
T minus 18 hours

The paper in front of him awaited his signature. He could almost laugh at the absurdity of it. How many times had he signed his name in his sixty-seven years? At least now, he signed the legal version of it.

A tentative knock on the door made him look up, but he was expecting her. “Come in, Kryptonite,” he called softly. He smiled when her face appeared through the barely opened door. Gabriella Prince had been with him for five years now, since his inauguration. She’d been hand picked for his security team and quickly worked her way up the ranks. Now, she was the Special Agent in Charge of, well, him.

She looked so professional in her dark slacks and buttoned up suit jacket. Her dark shoes had very little heel to them, and he knew that was so that she could move quickly. He always got a secret little smile seeing her all buttoned down like this, because he knew what she was really like. They’d had many conversations over the years that she’d been with him. At first, he’d been surprised to find out that under that business suit and tidy little bun beat the heart of a rebel. She’d only shown him that side when they were alone. There was a certain amount of familiarity about their relationship that he knew wouldn’t be acceptable to her superiors. And, honestly, he didn’t care.

When he’d met her, there had been something familiar about her. He’d had no trouble trusting her. At first, he’d thought it was just that she reminded him so much of his daughter. They were the same age, but he soon learned that Gabriella wasn’t anything like Stephanie. He had actually been the one to give her the code name Kryptonite. He was pretty sure that she didn’t get the joke behind it, but the first time Davey had heard him call her that, his old friend had burst into laughter. Yeah, he was more than attracted to her, but he was an old man now. And, she was young enough to be his daughter.

He realized that he’d never seen her wear her hair down. It was always up in a serviceable ponytail or tidy bun. He didn’t even know how long it really was. For just an instant, he felt a pang of jealousy toward his past self. That man would get to see her hair down at some point. He was sure of it. That younger version of himself that was far too arrogant for his own good, and so sure of his sexual prowess. That younger version of himself wouldn’t have the guilt of chasing after a woman young enough to be his daughter or worries of ruining her career to stop him from doing his damnedest to seduce her. And, even at his age he still had enough arrogance in him to believe that the younger Jon would get the job done.

Gabriella smiled at him. At 67, he was still a handsome man. His light blue eyes still twinkled with merriment, and his smile could rival the sun. He still had a commanding presence, and seemed to take up all the space in a room, even at only 5' 10" with a small but muscular frame. His hair was no longer brown, but a beautiful silver and kept in a well trimmed but windswept style. “You wanted to see me, Sir?”

“Have a seat, Gabbs,” he told her, motioning toward the chair on the other side of his desk. He waited while she got comfortable, shifting slightly in the chair and crossing her legs. “I wanted to talk to you about this mission.”

“I kinda figured,” she nodded.

He smiled at her soft Texas drawl. “Since we have no way of knowing the exact day that you will be arriving in the past, I wanted to give you some important dates and other information that will help you get his attention.” She nodded, and he went on to list several key events and when they happened so that she could use them as needed. He watched her intently as she committed every word he said to memory. She never needed to take notes. The guys under her command teased her about being a walking computer chip. In fact, her nickname with them was ‘Chip’.

Finally, he stared silently at her for several long seconds before saying softly, “There’s also a few things you should know about him.”

“Sir?”

“He’s arrogant, a big flirt, and honestly believes that given enough time and a big enough smile he can charm any woman into his bed, if he wants. And, you are just the type he’s attracted too.”

“Sir?” she began again. “You talk about ‘him’ like he’s another person.”

“In many ways, Gabbs, he is. Richie’s death changed a lot of things about him, uh, me. I had no desire to get into politics, would’ve been completely happy to continue singing to the masses and writing songs that the critics condemned. That is until I lost my writing partner and best friend. It just didn’t have the same appeal after that.”

“I understand, Sir.” She was surprised; he’d never talked to her about the loss of his best friend. In fact, any time someone mentioned the man’s name, he would smile sadly then change the subject. She wished that she could save his friend for him as well. That had been something that he had wanted to accomplish with this mission, but after a lengthy explanation about altering their current time line and how one small thing could change everything, he’d nodded and let the subject go.

If she had known him in his younger days, she would’ve recognized the stubborn tilt of his chin that indicated he’d get what he wanted whether it was the ‘right’ thing for him or not., and would’ve been suspect of some of the events and facts that he had given her.

Now, he reached up and unclasped the chain around his neck. He hadn’t taken the necklace off in years. Not since a young girl had given it to him with tears in her eyes saying, ‘You should have this, Uncle Jon.’

He stood up from his chair and walked around the large, impressive desk. “I’m going to trust you with one of my most cherished possessions, Gabbs,” he told her softly, just as he reached her chair.

“You don’t have to do that, Sir.” She looked up at him with questioning eyes.

“You’ll need it to prove to him who you are.” He reached out with his right hand, and when her small hand was open under his, he gently dropped the necklace into her palm. “Once he sees that, he’ll believe you. Trust me.”

Gabriella looked down at the necklace in her hand. The pendant was diamond shaped with a double S logo. Silver, or perhaps platinum, it was warm in her hand. There didn’t seem to be anything really special about the piece of jewelry in her hand, but his tone and manner spoke volumes about the importance of this small piece of metal. She flipped the pendant over in her hand and silently read the inscription.

“He’ll recognize this?” she asked, doubt filling her eyes.

“Oh yeah, he’d know it anywhere.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

He frowned at her. She sat holding the necklace in her hand, staring at it like he’d just handed her a bomb, and she was watching the timer tick down. “What’s wrong, Gabbs?”

Looking up at him, she smiled sadly. “It’s already been established that this is a one way trip for me, Sir. I hate to take something that means so much to you with me.”

The previous owner had meant more to him than the cold piece of metal. And, if all went as he’d planned, the necklace wouldn’t ever come into his possession anyway. A life cut short before its time had put that piece of jewelry around his neck, and he was determined to correct that wrong. “It’ll be all right,” he assured her, patting her shoulder gently. “For your mission to be successful, he needs to believe and trust you. That will accomplish those two things better than anything else. Here, let me help you put it on.”

He moved to stand behind her chair, taking each end of the chain into his hands as she held her long ponytail up out of the way. When the tips of his fingers brushed the back of her neck, Gabriella couldn’t stop the delicate shiver that raced down her spine. Mentally, she chastised herself. He was old enough to be her father.

But, she couldn’t deny the wanton sex appeal that still oozed from his every pore.

Gabriella believed in being fully informed about any mission, and this one wasn’t any different. She’d done her research and knew all about the man she was going back to save. She had watched old footage of him on stage and had been in awe of the way he held an audience in the palm of his hand. She’d looked at old photos of him and knew just how handsome he’d been in his prime. Gabby had been unable to resist digging up pictures of him in his twenties too, even though they were from way before she would actually meet him.

He’d been hotter than her grandma’s homemade salsa. And probably tasted better too.

“You should probably try and get some sleep, Gabbs,” he told her in gentle dismissal. “We don’t know what you’ll actually encounter in,” he glanced at his watch, “a little more than 17 hours.”

Gabriella stood up slowly, sweeping her hands down her thighs to smooth the wrinkles out of her khakis. “Yes, sir.”


August 20, 2003

Most Americans aren’t even aware of the intricate details of their National Security forces. Gabby thought it was probably for the best. She’d arrived in this time several hours ago feeling woozy and slightly nauseous. In her time, they had moved the confiscated time machine to a secure facility just outside the beltway. What had appeared to be just an average looking barn beside an unsuspecting farm house in 2029, was in this time, a big field with several tall oak trees doting it here and there. She’d ‘landed’ on wobbly legs next to one of those large trees and been able to lean against it while she’d taken several deep breaths and soon could stand on her own again.

She’d walked for about a mile before she’d been picked up by a passing UPS driver. She had told him some cock and bull story about her car breaking down and gotten him to give her a lift to the nearest service station, that just happened to be a hell of a lot closer to her destination.


Her first priority had been to get some computer time and thus acquire money and a weapon. It had been decided that it would not be wise to bring a weapon from her time here. It would be very hard for her to explain if she was questioned by authorities. Besides, obtaining ammo would've been impossible. She’d had to wait until the closest library opened but then she’d been able to slip in and use a computer. For decades, there had been an emergency ‘backdoor’ in the government computer system. Gabriella used it to get in and make sure her credentials made her legit for this time. Then she accessed the special bank account used by undercover government agents, whether they were FBI, CIA, NCIS or Secret Service, transferring money to an account she set up for her personally.

Now, her identification naming her as Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Gabriella Prince would get her in any where she needed to be to protect her charge, The Future President of the United States. She also had money for food and shelter while she observed said charge. With $10,000 in the bank, she was able to go to the closest branch and withdraw enough to get her transportation to New York City. She had two days to kill before she could make first contact with him. Two days before the first of the intel he had given her could be used.