18 Months Later
Every night, it was the same thing they would put the girls to bed, Jennifer would make sure the baby monitor never left her hand and then they would retire to their bedroom, she would double lock the bedroom doors despite the three agents and sleep with her tennis sneakers on.
Gone were the sexy pajamas or sleeping in the nude, she wore her heaviest jeans under her longest nightgown with a sweater, her entire body covered up
She did it because she was scared and it covered up her scars, she no longer felt attractive or desirable which Jonathan understood.
Anyone who'd been through the type of attack she'd gone through would understand.
She would lean in for a goodnight kiss and roll over on her stomach, the only way she allowed him to touch her now was if he lay across her back with his arm over her spine.
As soon she fell into a deep sleep, Jennifer would start talking in her sleep, it helped Jonathan get clues into what had happened because she'd completely closed down on him, a few details here and there but it seemed like she was much freer when she was asleep. Except after she'd start talking then she would start screaming and thrashing, a few times he would have to pin her down to the bed until she would wake up and realize it was just him.
The first few times it happened, the Agents would burst in with their guns drawn, unsure of what was going on but after a while, they would just knock and ask if everything was alright.
Between Jonathan physically having to restrain her and the constant crying, no one was sleeping and a few times he had to slip a valium into a warm milk so she would finally relax except he would sit up and wonder how things got so out of hand so fast.
And if they would ever be happy again
10 MONTHS EARLIER
Jonathan's determination and stubbornness paid off, he was able to transition from the hospital back to the White House easily, the doctors were sure that he would be able to walk with a cane but he was still under tremendous physical therapy and told not to exert himself.
The question they both wanted to ask was how long before they could make love again but it would have to wait.
Instead like everything in their marriage, they worked together, they co-ran the country, when he was able to, He would sit in and offer his opinions but Jennifer, Leo Cyrus and the rest of the staff handled all the major crisis's. Although He did enjoy being back in the White House, he had to admit to himself that he wasn't sure he was ready to take back the responsibility of the Administration, besides Jennifer seemed to enjoy the job so much, he didn't want to yank it away from her.
They even managed to figure out how to deal with the August situation; he blended in so well with their family, it was as if they'd known him his entire life and the babies seemed to adore him but it was Hannah who took a special liking to him. Jennifer could see the relationship forming the more August spent in the residence then
The only friction they had was over the girls, as much progress as Jonathan had made, Jennifer still wasn't comfortable leaving him alone with the girls without Hannah.
Tess and Sophie had taken to crawling and pulling themselves without help and had learned to pull things off of tables and counters so someone had to be with them at all times.
They had learned early on to divide and conquer, one baby would go one direction and the other would go in another causing destruction and chaos
And because Jonathan was still unsteady his feet, it wasn't safe for all three of them even with a house full of agents.
The night before Jennifer was supposed to leave a for peace summit, she'd brought the girls to their bedroom for some quality time before She would be forced to leave them with Hannah, Jonathan and Charlie. Sitting on the floor, she was playing with one in her lap while the other baby crawled around while Jonathan was in the bathroom
"Darling, are you sure you don't want to come along, it'll be great for you to get out of Washington for a bit"
He wasn't answering ,he must have had the water running
"Darling," She put the baby down and walked into the bathroom to see Jonathan standing up "What the hell are you doing?!"
"I'm brushing my teeth" He said sticking the toothbrush in his mouth
"You shouldn't be standing up, you'll hurt yourself" She tried to push the wheelchair forward and ended up knocking Jonathan over "Oh my god, are you alright"
He lurched forward and nearly cracked his face on the bathtub and landed hard on his side
"MIKE!" Jennifer screamed "MIKE I need you!"
Both Mike and the night agent, James came running to help and saw Jennifer struggling to lift Jonathan up
"Ma'am, what happened?" James called
Jonathan was resisting everyone's help "Get out! That's an order!"
"Are you sure, Sir" Mike had gotten Jonathan up enough to sit on the edge of the tub
"Yah, Thanks Guys" Jonathan waved them off, when they left, Jonathan had a surge of fury "What am I doing here? How did I get so useless so fast?"
"Apparently you have a desire to see what kind of tile that has been survived 200 years of history. You are not useless" She kneeled in front of him
"I can't do anything for myself, I need an agent do the most task I could do myself, the new kid, James let's just say there's a chance I may dump you for him if this lasts any longer."
"Well, you'd make a beautiful couple, this is just a bump in the road, and we'll get through this."
"Don't make promises you can't keep, I want to go home I think it's time,"
"We're doing such good work, how could you walk away now?" She knew he was becoming unhappy but she figured it was a natural progression of his recovery
"Because I'm sitting here doing nothing while my wife takes over my job, I can't even watch my own daughters without three agents, a nanny and Charlie, "I want to be useful again, I want to be able to do something besides sit here and rust like the Tin Man…"
She'd always had the ability to read him like a book and in those pages of that book; she knew exactly what he was talking about "This isn't about the girls or being President, It's about making love isn't it? Because we haven't made love in weeks"
"Well yeah, we used to make love for hours, we hardly slept and when we did it was just energize ourselves for the next round"
She didn't say anything, she stood up, picked the girls up and left the residence, he figured she was angry at him and Jonathan wondered if she was coming back otherwise he'd be stuck sitting on the tub unless he called for the agents.
She came back a few minutes later and closed the door behind her, without a world she slipped off her skirt and shirt, standing in there in her bra and panties, she was sure he'd somehow get up and make love to her against the wall, but when he didn't budge she stood there waiting
"What are you doing" Jonathan broke the silence
"It's been so long, I think it's time.."
"I don't even think I can"
"We'll figure it out," She walked behind him but instead of climbing into his lap, she reached behind him and turned on the water in the tub
"I don't know if the tub's big enough for both us" He was practically foaming at the mouth to touch her but he didn't want to disappoint her. Their sex life had been extraordinary and after the shooting, he was afraid that his ability to satisfy her would be lost.
"Well, I think we can figure something out" She began pulling off his suit jacket and tie, he pulled her forward to kiss her but somehow lost his balance and they went landed in the tub.
Laughing they began kissing and suddenly the laughter stopped and passion took over, it was as if they couldn't get enough of each other, It didn't matter that the tub was filling up with water quickly or that he was completely dressed, if she could freeze time in this moment so it would never stop, she would
"Are you alright?" His blue eyes full of concern
"I'm fine, don't stop" She whispered "I love you so much"
"I love you too!"
She was so caught up in the moment but when she pulled her arms to kiss his lips, he held her arms behind her and took even more control of her body, it was dominating and made her scream louder.
Luckily the sound of the tub drowned them out.
He moved with such ease, if she hadn't known he was slightly paralyzed she could have sworn had full function of his entire body, it was familiar and comfortable.
Although it wasn't as electrifying as before, he still managed to make her feel like she was going to explode and it was a start.
They managed to get out of the tub and were lying on the floor, enjoying a moment together when Charlie's voice rang out "Ma'am, Sir?"
"Oh no "Jennifer whispered, "Charlie, what's the matter?"
"Leo says there's a development and you need to come down to the situation room"
"Tell Leo I'll be there in five minutes"
"Yes Ma'am"
"I thought you closed the bedroom door" Jonathan smiled
She smiled, and helped him into the bedroom, the room felt cold because she was completely soaked through; she picked up a pair of sweatpants and a shirt knowing that he would want to do it himself; he'd gained enough mobility to do it
She quickly got dressed and pulled her hair back, when she turned back, she saw he'd fallen asleep with one leg hanging out of his pants like a little kid.
She finished dressing him, kissed his face and left to meet with Leo
A FEW WEEKS LATER
As President, Jennifer had to attend all sorts' of events, teas fundraisers, parades and ribbon cuttings, things she would normally hate to do but this time was exciting, she would be starting off the NBA championships and throwing out the first ball.
Annabeth had arranged it, It would be the first major outing for Jennifer and Annabeth had hoped that Jonathan would be able to go but at the last minute, Tess had gotten sick, He couldn't leave knowing his baby sick so he sent along Sophie and Hannah with August, who'd started dating their nanny just before Congress went into recess.
Jennifer had stumbled across that revelation accidentally when she'd gone to the residence to pick up some files and found them making love in on the hallway floor just outside the nursery. Jennifer supposed she should have been furious but she couldn't, in fact she was a bit jealous because the passionate that August and Hanna were having at that moment was something that she and Jonathan had, she would never admit it but she couldn't help but watch for a second before sneaking out of the residence and back downstairs to the oval office where Jonathan was meeting with both Cyrus and Leo, going over the state emergency budget. She couldn't help but smile when she got back down to the Oval Office and when Leo and Cyrus left for a meeting on Capitol Hill, Jonathan noticed and asked her what was so amusing
She couldn't help it, "Let's just say…Your son is more like you than you thought" when he pressed her for more details, She just smiled and left the office
Just before they left for the game, Annabeth came by to explain what Jennifer would have to do; she walked into the Residence to find the President wearing a dress and high heels
"Ma'am, it's almost time to go, is that what you're wearing?!" Annabeth stopped short
"No good? ", The last time she'd been to a basketball game was as a civilian , She'd worn shorts and a tank top, Jennifer wasn't sure what protocol was for the Presidential wardrobe
"May I?" Annabeth asked
"Go ahead" Jennifer took off her dress clothes and put on the clothes Annabeth handed her, black jeans, a ball cap and an oversized Lakers tank top plus Jonathan's pilot's jacket
When she looked in the mirror, she suddenly looked like a teenager instead of President of the Free world and she couldn't wait to show off to Jonathan
She was disappointed he wasn't coming but understood, he wasn't ready to be in the public eye just yet
"Oh Ma'am, we have to go!" Annabeth checked her watch and rushed her out the door.
There was no time for a Goodbye kiss to either her husband or her child; she was instead rushed into the car with Sophie, Hanna and August
"Did you speak to your Dad before you left" She said leaning over and kissing Sophie
"No Dad was in a meeting and Margaret didn't want to interrupt him, It seems like he's getting more and more back into being President"
She nodded and adjusted the baby's seat
"Are you nervous about the game, Mama J" August had taken to calling her soon after his arrival and she had to admit, she enjoyed that he was so comfortable with that, but she didn't want to interfere with the memories of his real mother, she knew what it was like to have someone act like they give a damn just to please the new person in their life
"It's been a long time since your Dad and I have played basketball and I'm afraid I'm a bit rusty"
"Ma'am, we'll do a few practice shots and you'll do great" Hanna spoke up
"I hope your right"
Back in the White House
Leo had just hung up with the President of Spain when Margaret ran in, panic stricken
"What's the matter?" Leo jumped up
"There was a bombing at the basketball game, and the President, August, Hanna and Sophie are missing"
"That's not funny" Leo began to sit down when Margaret turned on the television and he saw the new broadcast, the reporter explaining that a bomb had gone off just after the President had sank the ball into the hoop, they weren't sure why or how but the President had gone missing and the search for her was underway but it didn't look promising "Oh God, has he seen this yet?"
"I don't know" Margaret shrugged
Leo started walking fast to the residence and began running; soon three agents were following unsure of what was going on, he managed to cut across the south lawn through the Private staircase and up to the residence where Jonathan was attempting to calm a shrieking Tess
"It's alright, Mommy will be home soon," He was desperate, she'd been screaming for hours and when he heard the door to the residence being opened, he sent up thanks up to the heavens Jennifer had returned "Hello Darling?"
"Mr. President," Leo panted, he was sure his heart was going to burst out of his chest "There's a situation"