Staring blankly at the ceiling, Meredith was sleeping soundly in Eli's arms. She looked so peaceful like this – and tired after all the wild sex they'd had. He didn't think he'd ever been so content after fucking a woman in his entire life, until now.

He'd been surprised at how insatiable she'd been.

It was her first time, after all. 

But she'd been more active and daring during rounds two and three. They'd came together three times in just under five hours.

He sighed, wondering what would happen next. The election prevented him from dating her openly, and his hands were tied.

Would she be able to settle for being friends with benefits for now?

He didn’t have a chance, did he?

Is this what you want? he asked himself, tilting his head to look at Meredith’s beautiful face.

But Eli knew more than anyone that he didn’t want her to just be a fling, or to only be friends with benefits. He wanted more than sex from her. 

He wanted her, it was as simple as that.

He wanted her as a person.

As a woman.

His attention was caught by the loud ringing of his phone, making him jump off the bed, not wanting to disturb Meredith’s sleep. Who was calling him at three in the morning?

Frowning, he picked up his phone to check the caller ID. He broke out into a cold sweat when he saw the name on the display.

It was Vincent Johnson, an old friend from his time in the military. They'd been friends since high school though, and enlisted together after 9/11. 

They hadn't been in contact for a long time.

And based on Vincent’s attitude, he wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important – or urgent.Eli locked himself in the bathroom and answered the call as quietly as he could. He knew it would be classified information, too. 

“Vincent, what made you call?” he asked the moment he answered.

“Damn, Elijah! You should have picked up sooner,” the man hissed over the line. 

He grimaced.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, feeling worried. Something told him this wasn't about good news. Vincent never gave him good news.

“Ryan, your brother –“

“What happened to my brother?” he cut him off.

“Nothing happened,” Vincent answered. “Yet.”

“What do you mean?”

“His SEAL unit is due to be deployed on a dangerous mission,” his friend informed.

Feeling like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, Eli froze. Had he heard him right?

“What mission?” he questioned.

“I’m sorry, bro. It’s classified,” Vince replied apologetically, followed by a heavy sigh.

He closed his eyes, trying to think. Classified meant the expected survival rate for the mission would be less than forty percent, and that was probably generous. His younger brother could not go on that mission.

He couldn’t let that happen – not to his family.

“Can you do something about it?” he asked hopefully. 

He knew Vincent would try his best to help. They'd been buddies for a long time. And Eli had saved his life on more than one occasion back when he was still active duty.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Vincent replied hesitantly.  “But I’m only doing this because I owe my life to you.”

“Give the mission to another team,” Eli said after a moment of silence. 

He knew it was a selfish thing to ask. But he couldn't afford to lose a family member. Everything he was doing now was for his family's sake.

Whatever happened, he would never let his family perish.

“I will,” Vincent responded.

“Thanks, dude. Thank you.”

“No problem. I’ll call you again.”

Turning, he opened the bathroom door, only to find Meredith pressed against it. She was shocked, and it was obvious she'd been eavesdropping. He was certain she'd heard everything.

Anger surged through him. 

But it quickly vanished when he got a good look at her. She had nothing but the blanket wrapped around her body. She looked like a child who'd just gotten up from bed.

“Please keep this a secret,” he mumbled while picking up his clothes.

Everything was getting more and more complicated.

Why in the world was this happening to him?She nodded her head, unable to speak a word. She was clearly shaken up by what she had heard. Welcome to the dark side of politics, he thought as he watched her wrap the blanket tighter around herself, reminding him for all the world of a shroud.