Disclaimer: The West Wing is the property of Aaron Sorkin and the other head honches at NBC or whatever. Anyway they're not mine.
The young woman stepped off the plane into the corridor, a little nervous about returning home after a year and a half away. As she walked through the door into the airport terminal, her eyes scanned the crowd for her godfather. Her original plan had been to just show up on the doorstep and surprise everyone but she realized that she was going to need help getting home. Actually getting into her family's home. She finally found the gentleman meeting her and smiled as she realized that he hadn't seen her yet. Recognized her is more like it. Caitlin had definitely grown up in the year and a half that she was in England. She didn't think she looked all that different, but apparently she did. She just hoped that it was a good thing. She slowly made her way through the crowd, and stopped right next to him.
"Waiting for someone special or just browsing?"
Leo McGarry jumped as he realized that his goddaughter had managed to get by without him seeing her. He stared at her for a moment, finding it hard to believe that this was the little girl he had watched grow up. Granted she wasn't so little anymore. She was a 24 year old woman, who looked everyday of those years, if not more. The 22 year old who left for England to be a Rhodes Scholar, barely looking like she was out of college, returned a beautiful, sophisticated looking woman. His girls were growing up too fast. His own daughter Mallory was a grown adult, and now his goddaughter looked as if she had left childhood far behind in England. Leo felt old.
"Uncle Leo?" Caitlin asked starting to get a little worried.
The simple endearment shook Leo out of his daze. "Caitlin! It's so good to have you home." He pulled her into a loving embrace. "You look wonderful. Who gave you permission to grow up?"
Caitlin laughed as she returned his hug. It was then that she noticed the two serious looking men in dark suits a few feet behind him. She knew they were there because of her, and she realized her life was not going to be the same anymore.
TBC