Fragile Truth and Tragic Freedom 15/?
Title: Fragile Truth and Tragic Freedom 15/?
Series: TDS, TCR, Countdown w/ KO.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Language, Violence
Disclaimer: I do not own Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, or any known political figures who appear in this story.
Summary: Keith-centric AU- Ages and backgrounds have been totally messed with. With the rise of a dictatorship regime in America, comes the rise of rebels. This is the story of the rebel group in New York City, fighting to bring the truth to the people and return their freedom.
Author's Note: Please comment. Feedback is good.
One / Two / Three / Four / Five / Six / Seven / Eight / Nine / Ten / Eleven
/ Twelve / Thirteen / Fourteen
Chapter 15
Keith kissed Jon’s forehead after Sanjay had completely finished treating Jon’s thigh and had diagnosed Jon’s head injury as a concussion. The doctor went to get something and left the two friends alone for a few minutes.
Keith’s cell phone rang and he answered it this time. “Hey, Rachel.” He was surprised by the dog howl that greeted him. “Hello, Sky,” he amended. “When did you learn how to use a phone?”
There was a rustling sound before Rachel’s voice greeted him. “I didn’t realize how smart Sky is,” she said.
“Quick question: Did you or Stephen try to call me almost two hours ago?” Keith asked.
“No. Ah, don’t tell me our girl did it.”
“Put me on speaker, Rachel. I’ve got to tell you and Stephen something.”
“Stephen!” Rachel called. “Keith, are you alright? You sound… you sound like something bad just happened.”
“Hey, Keith,” said Stephen. “Where are you guys?”
“First of all, I want to thank Sky for calling me earlier,” Keith said. He received a bark of acknowledgment in response. Keith sat down on the carpet in front of the sofa. He absent-mindedly started stroking Jon’s hair.
Keith said, “We didn’t even get into AIG before we found out that the entire security system had been revamped.”
“Seems like Boehner hasn’t just been sitting on his ass like we thought,” Stephen said.
“Right. Anyway, we ended up being chased by police, and Jon… Jon was shot.” Keith quickly added, “But he’ll be fine. Don’t worry about him too much.”
“Keith, you’ve just told me that the man I love has been shot, and you’re telling me not to worry,” Stephen said.
“He was shot in the thigh, and he’s in the hands of a capable doctor. We-“
“Whoa, Keith. A doctor?” said Rachel.
“Look, I didn’t take him to a hospital. I’m not stupid. We’re at Doctor Sanjay Gupta’s apartment. I’m just going to tell you that, according to Sanjay, Jon will be fine. When we get home, I’ll tell you everything. We’re fine, we’re safe. Don’t worry too much. I’ll call you guys tomorrow.”
Stephen had started to say something, but was cut off by Rachel. “Just come back home when you can,” she said. “We love you guys.”
“Back at you. Goodbye.” Keith sighed and hung up the phone. The conversation had gone surprisingly well.
Sanjay came back with a robe and a towel draped over his arm. “You’ll want to get out of those ruined clothes. The shower is the first door on the right.” He handed the towel and robe to Keith.
Keith glanced down at his bloodstained clothes. “I don’t expect you’ll have anything that fits me.”
“I will tomorrow. Now get in the shower,” said Sanjay with a smile.
Keith nodded and went to the bathroom. While the warm shower water streamed over his body, he thought about what had become of those people he had known in school.
Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski had gotten a national morning news show together. Sanjay Gupta had become a talented doctor. Keith didn’t know what had happened to Monica Novotny after she had been transferred to that school in Nevada, but he did wonder if she still remembered him. Keith recalled a girl named Erica Hill, who was friends with Sanjay and the boy with bright blue eyes.
Keith couldn’t remember the name of that blue-eyed boy. He knew it started with an “A.”
When Keith stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in the robe Sanjay had given him, he found the doctor using a wet cloth to get the blood out of Jon’s hair.
Keith went to the mantle over the large flat screen television and looked at the photos of Sanjay and a blonde-haired woman. “Is this your wife?” he asked.
“Her name is Rebecca,” Sanjay answered.
“Will she be home later?”
“She’s in Chicago on a business trip.” The doctor finished with Jon and joined Keith. He pointed to a photo with him, Rebecca, and the older versions of two people Keith recognized as Erica Hill and that blue-eyed boy, who now had half a head of silver hair. “Erica and Andy got married as well, the week after Rebecca and I did.”
Now Keith had a name to the face. He wanted to ask a sort of controversial question, but didn’t know how to phrase it.
“I know what you want to ask,” deduced Sanjay. “I can guess that you’re part of the local ‘terrorist’ group. And I’m assuming you don’t know much about the specifics of dating and marriage under the Regime.”
“You’d be right about that.”
“Well, I won’t go into all the details. We’d be here all night. I’ll start with a quick thing about ‘illegitimate’ children. If a woman is pregnant, and not married, she and her boyfriend are sent to re-education until the child is born.” Sanjay took a deep breath before continuing.
“Anyway, about two weeks after Rebecca and I were married, we were taken for a… briefing. We were told that we were required to have two children within five years. Then we were told other stipulations about marriage and signed a paper saying that if we told any unmarried person what they had told us, we’d be sent to re-education for five months.” Sanjay inhaled a shuddering breath.
“Rebecca and I… we had a daughter seven months ago. We got to keep and hold her just long enough to name her. Then a government official came into the hospital room and took her away from us. We knew it was going to happen. But that knowledge didn’t relieve the crippling heartbreak at all. And… we’ve got to do it again.”
“What did you name her?”
“Sage.”
“That’s a nice name. I’m sure she’ll live up to it.”
Sanjay snorted. “I’m sorry for getting all mushy with you.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s things like that that remind me what I’m fighting for.”
Sanjay took a quick moment to collect himself before saying, “I’m going to make dinner. Do you have a preference?”
“Not really. As long as it’s edible.”
“I can do edible,” Sanjay grinned before going into the kitchen.
Keith spent a few more minutes looking at the photos. With a sigh, he went back to Jon. He took his friend’s hand and stroked the knuckles with his thumb.
Keith smiled at the smell of sizzling steak. And was grateful when Sanjay came in some minutes later with a plate of steak and mixed vegetables for him. Sanjay joined him on the floor with his own plate.
“I didn’t forget you,” Sanjay suddenly said in the middle of the quiet dinner.
“What?”
“I didn’t forget you, Keith,” repeated Sanjay. I sometimes wondered what happened to you after we graduated.”
“I wish I could say the same about you.”
“Don’t worry about it. I understand. Just like I understand why you pushed everyone away after Monica Novotny left. Keith, I had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before you became a rebel. I had feared you’d be alone, or gotten yourself arrested or killed by now.”
“Have I put those fears away for you?”
“For the most part, yes.”
When they finished eating, Keith asked, “Since when were the police allowed to use guns on open streets? I thought they were worried about hitting innocent people.”
“I don’t know, I haven’t treated anyone for bullet wounds at the hospital lately.”
“It was a hell of a surprise for us,” Keith commented. “They usually try to get us with tranquilizer darts or brute force.”
“Perhaps it was because the streets were mostly empty because everyone was at work,” proposed Sanjay. He took the dishes and said, “I’ll be getting work done in the study. Call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you for everything, Sanjay.”
“You’re welcome.”
***************
“Keith, wake up,” Keith made out Sanjay’s voice saying.
Keith opened his eyes to find himself on the floor with a pillow under his head, a blanket over his body, and holding Jon’s hand that dangled over the side of the couch.
“Keith, I’m about to go to work. I need you to be awake.”
“I’m up,” Keith said as he sat up.
“I left you a list of instructions. If anything goes wrong, or if Jon doesn’t wake up by noon, I also left you my office number. If you call, use the name Anderson. Got it?”
Keith nodded.
“Good. I’ll be back around five. You can use whatever you want, just don’t go out. See you later.”
“See you later, Sanjay,” Keith echoed. As soon as the doctor left, Keith said to Jon, “You better wake up before noon. I’m already worried enough, and don’t get me started on how Stephen probably feels.”
Keith ruffled Jon’s hair and glanced around for that list Sanjay had mentioned. It was a piece of lined paper taped to the television. Keith peeled it off and quickly read through it. It told him what to do when Jon woke up, and had Sanjay’s office number.
The last line on the paper was the most intriguing. It read, ‘You and Jon were lucky. Some of your compatriots weren’t as fortunate as you. Check the laptop in the kitchen for more info.’
Keith got the laptop from the small kitchen table, settled himself on the floor in front of the sofa, and started reading the webpage news article Sanjay had left on the screen.
Within a week, there has been tangible proof that Secretary of Internal Security John Boehner’s new security measures are working…
Keith quickly read through all the boring things that suggested to Boehner that he needed to revamp security systems. The next section was the part that Sanjay had referred to. Beside each name was a profile photo.
Several terrorists have been captured by Boehner’s security upgrades. Christopher Matthews from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wyatt Cenac and Aasif Mandvi from Houston, Texas. Ana Marie Cox and Rahm Emanuel from Washington DC. Ed Helms and Rob Corddry from Atlanta, Georgia…
The list went on for another ten people. Really? All seventeen caught in one week of having this new security system?
Keith sighed, “We were lucky.” He felt Jon’s dangling arm loosely wrap around his neck.
“What are you reading?” asked the half-sleepy voice.
“Just about how fortunate the two of us are,” answered Keith.
Jon groaned as he completely woke up. “I don’t feel so fortunate. Why do my head and leg really hurt? Oh, and where the hell are we?”
Keith explained what had happened and where they were.
“Stephen is going to be upset,” was Jon’s response.
“He was. But you want to know the cool thing?”
“What could possibly be cooler then being shot in the leg and concussed?” Jon rolled his eyes.
Keith ignored the sarcasm. “Sky was the one who called me as Sanjay was walking by.”
Jon let out a low whistle. “I knew she was smart, but wow, you and Rachel really did hit the jackpot with her.” He slowly maneuvered himself onto his back with his legs bent to be more comfortable. “Hey, did Sanjay leave painkillers?”
“Yeah. Just a minute.” Keith put the laptop aside, got up, and went to the kitchen. He came back with a stack of crackers, a cup of water, and a bottle of pills. “He says you have to eat something before you take them.”
Jon huffed and took the crackers. He quickly ate them and looked at the pill bottle in Keith’s hand expectantly. Keith shook one painkiller out and handed it and the cup of water to Jon.
Jon swallowed the pill and water, then fell back against the pillow under his head. “Keith, come here.”
Keith stayed on his knees and leaned over to look down at Jon’s face. “Yes?” He was a bit surprised when Jon’s hand reached around the back of his head and guided him down.
Jon’s lips captured Keith’s in a kiss that was tender and long. One of his hands snaked up into Keith’s hair and deepened the kiss.
Keith slightly pulled away when they had to stop to breathe. “What was that for?” his slightly breathless tone wondered.
“For not leaving me behind.”
“Do you really think I’d purposely leave any of you guys behind?”
“Well, I’m sure it helps that you can pick me up with no problem.” Jon giggled. “Probably the only advantage of being little.”
“You are nearly a foot shorter than me,” Keith teased.
“Shut up,” Jon grinned and pulled Keith into another kiss to make him be quiet.
“Are you trying to make Stephen jealous? He’s already upset that you got hurt,” Keith whispered against Jon’s mouth.
“Are you done with the ‘shorty’ stuff?”
“If you’re going to kiss me every time I make a short joke, then no.” That response got Keith shoved back onto his butt.
Jon ran a hand through his hair and blinked a few times. “Wow, I am tired. I’m going to go back to sleep.”
“Oh no. Sanjay said that you have to stay awake for the rest of the day.”
“Are you serious?”
“Doctor’s orders. Going to sleep with a concussion is dangerous.”
Jon groaned. “Then you better work hard to keep me awake.”
“Can we start kissing again?”
“No more kissing.”
“Why not? You’re a damn good kisser.”
“You can start with keeping me awake by telling me what’s on that laptop.”
Keith mock-pouted. “Fine.”
Series: TDS, TCR, Countdown w/ KO.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Language, Violence
Disclaimer: I do not own Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, or any known political figures who appear in this story.
Summary: Keith-centric AU- Ages and backgrounds have been totally messed with. With the rise of a dictatorship regime in America, comes the rise of rebels. This is the story of the rebel group in New York City, fighting to bring the truth to the people and return their freedom.
Author's Note: Please comment. Feedback is good.
One / Two / Three / Four / Five / Six / Seven / Eight / Nine / Ten / Eleven
/ Twelve / Thirteen / Fourteen
Chapter 15
Keith kissed Jon’s forehead after Sanjay had completely finished treating Jon’s thigh and had diagnosed Jon’s head injury as a concussion. The doctor went to get something and left the two friends alone for a few minutes.
Keith’s cell phone rang and he answered it this time. “Hey, Rachel.” He was surprised by the dog howl that greeted him. “Hello, Sky,” he amended. “When did you learn how to use a phone?”
There was a rustling sound before Rachel’s voice greeted him. “I didn’t realize how smart Sky is,” she said.
“Quick question: Did you or Stephen try to call me almost two hours ago?” Keith asked.
“No. Ah, don’t tell me our girl did it.”
“Put me on speaker, Rachel. I’ve got to tell you and Stephen something.”
“Stephen!” Rachel called. “Keith, are you alright? You sound… you sound like something bad just happened.”
“Hey, Keith,” said Stephen. “Where are you guys?”
“First of all, I want to thank Sky for calling me earlier,” Keith said. He received a bark of acknowledgment in response. Keith sat down on the carpet in front of the sofa. He absent-mindedly started stroking Jon’s hair.
Keith said, “We didn’t even get into AIG before we found out that the entire security system had been revamped.”
“Seems like Boehner hasn’t just been sitting on his ass like we thought,” Stephen said.
“Right. Anyway, we ended up being chased by police, and Jon… Jon was shot.” Keith quickly added, “But he’ll be fine. Don’t worry about him too much.”
“Keith, you’ve just told me that the man I love has been shot, and you’re telling me not to worry,” Stephen said.
“He was shot in the thigh, and he’s in the hands of a capable doctor. We-“
“Whoa, Keith. A doctor?” said Rachel.
“Look, I didn’t take him to a hospital. I’m not stupid. We’re at Doctor Sanjay Gupta’s apartment. I’m just going to tell you that, according to Sanjay, Jon will be fine. When we get home, I’ll tell you everything. We’re fine, we’re safe. Don’t worry too much. I’ll call you guys tomorrow.”
Stephen had started to say something, but was cut off by Rachel. “Just come back home when you can,” she said. “We love you guys.”
“Back at you. Goodbye.” Keith sighed and hung up the phone. The conversation had gone surprisingly well.
Sanjay came back with a robe and a towel draped over his arm. “You’ll want to get out of those ruined clothes. The shower is the first door on the right.” He handed the towel and robe to Keith.
Keith glanced down at his bloodstained clothes. “I don’t expect you’ll have anything that fits me.”
“I will tomorrow. Now get in the shower,” said Sanjay with a smile.
Keith nodded and went to the bathroom. While the warm shower water streamed over his body, he thought about what had become of those people he had known in school.
Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski had gotten a national morning news show together. Sanjay Gupta had become a talented doctor. Keith didn’t know what had happened to Monica Novotny after she had been transferred to that school in Nevada, but he did wonder if she still remembered him. Keith recalled a girl named Erica Hill, who was friends with Sanjay and the boy with bright blue eyes.
Keith couldn’t remember the name of that blue-eyed boy. He knew it started with an “A.”
When Keith stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in the robe Sanjay had given him, he found the doctor using a wet cloth to get the blood out of Jon’s hair.
Keith went to the mantle over the large flat screen television and looked at the photos of Sanjay and a blonde-haired woman. “Is this your wife?” he asked.
“Her name is Rebecca,” Sanjay answered.
“Will she be home later?”
“She’s in Chicago on a business trip.” The doctor finished with Jon and joined Keith. He pointed to a photo with him, Rebecca, and the older versions of two people Keith recognized as Erica Hill and that blue-eyed boy, who now had half a head of silver hair. “Erica and Andy got married as well, the week after Rebecca and I did.”
Now Keith had a name to the face. He wanted to ask a sort of controversial question, but didn’t know how to phrase it.
“I know what you want to ask,” deduced Sanjay. “I can guess that you’re part of the local ‘terrorist’ group. And I’m assuming you don’t know much about the specifics of dating and marriage under the Regime.”
“You’d be right about that.”
“Well, I won’t go into all the details. We’d be here all night. I’ll start with a quick thing about ‘illegitimate’ children. If a woman is pregnant, and not married, she and her boyfriend are sent to re-education until the child is born.” Sanjay took a deep breath before continuing.
“Anyway, about two weeks after Rebecca and I were married, we were taken for a… briefing. We were told that we were required to have two children within five years. Then we were told other stipulations about marriage and signed a paper saying that if we told any unmarried person what they had told us, we’d be sent to re-education for five months.” Sanjay inhaled a shuddering breath.
“Rebecca and I… we had a daughter seven months ago. We got to keep and hold her just long enough to name her. Then a government official came into the hospital room and took her away from us. We knew it was going to happen. But that knowledge didn’t relieve the crippling heartbreak at all. And… we’ve got to do it again.”
“What did you name her?”
“Sage.”
“That’s a nice name. I’m sure she’ll live up to it.”
Sanjay snorted. “I’m sorry for getting all mushy with you.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s things like that that remind me what I’m fighting for.”
Sanjay took a quick moment to collect himself before saying, “I’m going to make dinner. Do you have a preference?”
“Not really. As long as it’s edible.”
“I can do edible,” Sanjay grinned before going into the kitchen.
Keith spent a few more minutes looking at the photos. With a sigh, he went back to Jon. He took his friend’s hand and stroked the knuckles with his thumb.
Keith smiled at the smell of sizzling steak. And was grateful when Sanjay came in some minutes later with a plate of steak and mixed vegetables for him. Sanjay joined him on the floor with his own plate.
“I didn’t forget you,” Sanjay suddenly said in the middle of the quiet dinner.
“What?”
“I didn’t forget you, Keith,” repeated Sanjay. I sometimes wondered what happened to you after we graduated.”
“I wish I could say the same about you.”
“Don’t worry about it. I understand. Just like I understand why you pushed everyone away after Monica Novotny left. Keith, I had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before you became a rebel. I had feared you’d be alone, or gotten yourself arrested or killed by now.”
“Have I put those fears away for you?”
“For the most part, yes.”
When they finished eating, Keith asked, “Since when were the police allowed to use guns on open streets? I thought they were worried about hitting innocent people.”
“I don’t know, I haven’t treated anyone for bullet wounds at the hospital lately.”
“It was a hell of a surprise for us,” Keith commented. “They usually try to get us with tranquilizer darts or brute force.”
“Perhaps it was because the streets were mostly empty because everyone was at work,” proposed Sanjay. He took the dishes and said, “I’ll be getting work done in the study. Call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you for everything, Sanjay.”
“You’re welcome.”
***************
“Keith, wake up,” Keith made out Sanjay’s voice saying.
Keith opened his eyes to find himself on the floor with a pillow under his head, a blanket over his body, and holding Jon’s hand that dangled over the side of the couch.
“Keith, I’m about to go to work. I need you to be awake.”
“I’m up,” Keith said as he sat up.
“I left you a list of instructions. If anything goes wrong, or if Jon doesn’t wake up by noon, I also left you my office number. If you call, use the name Anderson. Got it?”
Keith nodded.
“Good. I’ll be back around five. You can use whatever you want, just don’t go out. See you later.”
“See you later, Sanjay,” Keith echoed. As soon as the doctor left, Keith said to Jon, “You better wake up before noon. I’m already worried enough, and don’t get me started on how Stephen probably feels.”
Keith ruffled Jon’s hair and glanced around for that list Sanjay had mentioned. It was a piece of lined paper taped to the television. Keith peeled it off and quickly read through it. It told him what to do when Jon woke up, and had Sanjay’s office number.
The last line on the paper was the most intriguing. It read, ‘You and Jon were lucky. Some of your compatriots weren’t as fortunate as you. Check the laptop in the kitchen for more info.’
Keith got the laptop from the small kitchen table, settled himself on the floor in front of the sofa, and started reading the webpage news article Sanjay had left on the screen.
Within a week, there has been tangible proof that Secretary of Internal Security John Boehner’s new security measures are working…
Keith quickly read through all the boring things that suggested to Boehner that he needed to revamp security systems. The next section was the part that Sanjay had referred to. Beside each name was a profile photo.
Several terrorists have been captured by Boehner’s security upgrades. Christopher Matthews from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wyatt Cenac and Aasif Mandvi from Houston, Texas. Ana Marie Cox and Rahm Emanuel from Washington DC. Ed Helms and Rob Corddry from Atlanta, Georgia…
The list went on for another ten people. Really? All seventeen caught in one week of having this new security system?
Keith sighed, “We were lucky.” He felt Jon’s dangling arm loosely wrap around his neck.
“What are you reading?” asked the half-sleepy voice.
“Just about how fortunate the two of us are,” answered Keith.
Jon groaned as he completely woke up. “I don’t feel so fortunate. Why do my head and leg really hurt? Oh, and where the hell are we?”
Keith explained what had happened and where they were.
“Stephen is going to be upset,” was Jon’s response.
“He was. But you want to know the cool thing?”
“What could possibly be cooler then being shot in the leg and concussed?” Jon rolled his eyes.
Keith ignored the sarcasm. “Sky was the one who called me as Sanjay was walking by.”
Jon let out a low whistle. “I knew she was smart, but wow, you and Rachel really did hit the jackpot with her.” He slowly maneuvered himself onto his back with his legs bent to be more comfortable. “Hey, did Sanjay leave painkillers?”
“Yeah. Just a minute.” Keith put the laptop aside, got up, and went to the kitchen. He came back with a stack of crackers, a cup of water, and a bottle of pills. “He says you have to eat something before you take them.”
Jon huffed and took the crackers. He quickly ate them and looked at the pill bottle in Keith’s hand expectantly. Keith shook one painkiller out and handed it and the cup of water to Jon.
Jon swallowed the pill and water, then fell back against the pillow under his head. “Keith, come here.”
Keith stayed on his knees and leaned over to look down at Jon’s face. “Yes?” He was a bit surprised when Jon’s hand reached around the back of his head and guided him down.
Jon’s lips captured Keith’s in a kiss that was tender and long. One of his hands snaked up into Keith’s hair and deepened the kiss.
Keith slightly pulled away when they had to stop to breathe. “What was that for?” his slightly breathless tone wondered.
“For not leaving me behind.”
“Do you really think I’d purposely leave any of you guys behind?”
“Well, I’m sure it helps that you can pick me up with no problem.” Jon giggled. “Probably the only advantage of being little.”
“You are nearly a foot shorter than me,” Keith teased.
“Shut up,” Jon grinned and pulled Keith into another kiss to make him be quiet.
“Are you trying to make Stephen jealous? He’s already upset that you got hurt,” Keith whispered against Jon’s mouth.
“Are you done with the ‘shorty’ stuff?”
“If you’re going to kiss me every time I make a short joke, then no.” That response got Keith shoved back onto his butt.
Jon ran a hand through his hair and blinked a few times. “Wow, I am tired. I’m going to go back to sleep.”
“Oh no. Sanjay said that you have to stay awake for the rest of the day.”
“Are you serious?”
“Doctor’s orders. Going to sleep with a concussion is dangerous.”
Jon groaned. “Then you better work hard to keep me awake.”
“Can we start kissing again?”
“No more kissing.”
“Why not? You’re a damn good kisser.”
“You can start with keeping me awake by telling me what’s on that laptop.”
Keith mock-pouted. “Fine.”