TITLE: Nadie es Leal AUTHOR: Kasey POST-EP: Ways and Means RATING: PG, ESF SUMMARY: Loyalty, by any other name, is just as dead… There is no loyalty anymore.  Everyone just…goes with the front-runner, and good luck to the rest of ya. They act as though we’re so completely screwed and have already lost – even though we know what we’re doing, having nothing to hide, and are showing people that.  CJ’s out there, playing hardball (and back in top form since Haiti), using Ainsely to help fix the press and Congress is our favour (good to know a leggy blonde Republican sex kitten is good for something). Meanwhile, it’s back to the same old crap only with a new guy. Used to be Toby demeaning my ability and him and Leo arguing over whether or not to have someone else to go my meeting with me like I’ll destroy us if not under proper supervision. Toby’s gotten better about not doing that.  Doesn’t matter ‘cause now Bruno’s here and Connie has become last year’s Ainsley – boasting of her brain while tagging along. At least she doesn’t steal my food. I woulda liked to have seen her alone in that meeting, ‘cause I doubt she learned Spanish in England the way one learns it in Southern California. And y’know why letting Victor get what he wanted was a bad move? ‘Cause it’s not gonna pass AND it sends the signal that we can be pushed around right now ‘cause we’re too busy worrying about other things. Like the definition of “Subpoena”. Or how to spell it, for that matter. We’ve lost most of our people (not most, but far too many) on the Death Tax, Donna’s dating a Republican, I’m back on the bottom of the totem pole, and everyone who can is trying to jump ship – they don’t’ dare wanna be associated with US; We are, after all, criminal masterminds. Loyalty, by any other name, is just as dead. According to my thesaurus, the following are synonyms.  More or less. Fidelity (“The last full measure of devotion, of fidelity…” Gee, thanks, Dad.  ‘Cause we all know how not-important a marriage of 30-odd years is when compared to some lover.) Allegiance (“I pledge allegiance to the flag…” Just don’t tread on me…I can take my own meetings.) Patriotism (Destroying a true patriot because of a ‘health issue’ that shouldn’t be an issue to anyone but him.) Dedication (“…to the proposition that all men are created equal…endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among with are the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…” This document we have built EVERYTHING upon, this thing we have WORSHIPPED, these ideals…they mean nothing.  Why? Because no one’s loyal to anything anyway.) Nadie es leal. Personne n’est fidele.  No one is loyal.