Title: Love's Concoction
By: adoreleo
Rating: Mature - Contains some language and sexual situations.
Characters: Leo and Margaret
Spoilers: None really.
Disclaimer: The characters are from the NBC, WB, TV show The West Wing; they do
not belong to me.
Author's Notes: I have always thought of Margaret's age as being older than the actual age of the wonder actress who plays her. To me she seems ten years older.
Feedback: Is greatly appreciated.
Summary: A fun little White House Valentine's Day fluff story.
Part one
"Leo McGarry's office," Margaret answers the phone on Monday evening. "Hello, is anybody there?" She asks, after no response. She listens for a couple more seconds and then hangs up the phone. "Must have been a wrong number," she mutters as she turns back to her computer and continues to work on the final revision of the memo that Leo wants ready for his signature, first thing in the morning.
After several more minutes of corrections, Margaret finally saves the document. She sits back looking at the memo and decides to make herself some flavored coffee, before proof reading it one last time. She learned this little trick from Mrs. Landingham. She said it was best to back away from something for a few minutes and then proof read it one last time.
Margaret makes her coffee and then starts to proof read the document one last time. Finally satisfied that it's exactly as Leo wants, she sends it to the printer. She looks at her watch as she waits for the printer to discharge the final draft of the Walker Memo that she has revised at least ten times today. She rolls her eyes in disbelief when she discovers that it's already past seven-thirty. Her stomach growls reminding her that both Leo and her missed dinner trying to get this done before his meeting with the Vice President over at the OEOB.
"Crap," Margaret cusses when the printer makes that annoying beeping sound telling you that the paper has jammed. "Why would I think that getting the final copy of this thing would be any easier than getting Leo to stop revising the damn thing?" She huffs as she opens up all the panels on the printer, searching for the crumbled up pieces of paper. She removes all the pieces of paper she finds, resets the printer and then walks over to her desk to resend the document. She smiles when the printer starts to hum they way it should when it's working properly. She walks over to the printer, grabs the pages as soon as they land in the printer tray and quickly heads for Leo's office.
Margaret walks over to Leo's desk and shakes her head in disapproval at the chaotic mess on his desk. She's already straightened the top of it at least three times today, but Leo seems to be hell bent on keeping it in chaos. She stands there humming to herself as she arranging things into neat organized piles. When she is finally pleased that his desk is once again restored to order, she smiles and places the Walker Memo, which requires his signature, in the middle of his desk blotter and then leaves his office.
Content that she has completed all of her assigned tasks for the day, Margaret walks over to her desk, opens the bottom drawer, pulls out a box of ginger snaps and sits down. She sighs as she leans back in her chair, enjoying her first real break of the day. She has been running around like crazy trying to stay two steps ahead of Leo. A task that is getting harder and harder each passing day.
After a few minutes rest, Margaret finally starts to relax as she sips some French Vienna coffee that she made before she printed the memo. She smiles when she hears Leo's voice inside her head tease her about her love of International Coffees and ginger snaps. She grabs a ginger snap, pops in her mouth and starts to read through her email. She smiles when she notices that she's received something from her Aunt Tillie.
"Wonder what words of wisdom she's sent me this time," Margaret slightly laughs as she clicks on the email. Her old maiden aunt, who's real name is Matilda Marie Hooper, is the last living relative she has. Margaret went to live with her aunt after her parents were killed in an auto accident when she was only twelve.
"Oh my," Margaret half way frowns, as she reads her aunt email. "She has out done herself this time."
"Who's out done themselves this time," Donna asks, walking up behind Margaret and looking over her shoulder.
"Donna," she squeals as she jumps in her chair. "You scared the daylights out of me."
"Sorry," Donna smiles, as she reads Margaret's email. "Is this from your Aunt Tillie?"
"Donna, it's not polite to read over people's shoulders." Margaret turns around to give her friend an annoyed look.
"Never stopped you from trying to do it to Leo," Donna smirks.
"This is personal," she informs Donna, as she quickly closes the message.
"A love potion?" Donna asks, having caught the bold letters in the message. "She sent you a love potion and just in time for Valentine's Day. Hmmm…. I wonder who she thought you might want to use it on," She says, trying to keep a knowing smile from her face.
"It's for no one. She must have seen this somewhere and thought I would get a kick out of it," Margaret quickly lies. Her aunt is the only person she has confessed to that she loves Leo, although Donna suspects and has teased her about it before on numerous occasions.
"You wouldn't be planning to be using it on a certain Chief of Staff that we all know and you love," Donna teases.
"Donna, I don't know where you get such crazy ideas from." She quickly stands, grabs a file folder from her desk and walks over to her filing cabinets. She quickly files it and then grabs another folder.
"Oh, I don't know." Donna taps a finger on her chin and acts like she's in deep thought. "Could it be the way you moon over him."
"I do not moon over Leo," Margaret adamantly denies in a high voice. "And besides… for your information, Leo doesn't even drink hot chocolate," slips from her mouth before she can stop it.
"Or… the fact you know so much about what he likes or dislikes." Donna continues with a smile.
"The only reason I know what Leo likes or doesn't like is because I've worked for him for years." Margaret reasons.
"Oh, is that why," Donna rolls her eyes in disbelief.
"Donna, don't you have something better to do than to stand here and make delusional statements?"
"No, not really." Donna shrugs her shoulders.
"I wish I could say the same. Leo has been working twice as hard since…" Margaret frowns.
"Since what?"
"Donna, never mind. Please forget I even said anything," Margaret pleads in a soft voice. Margaret isn't about to divulge any of Leo's secrets.
"Sure," Donna says, as she moves over, closer to her friend. "Margaret, is Leo okay?"
"As far as I know." Margaret exhales a heavy breath.
"Maybe he's lonely?" Donna suggests.
"Donna." Margaret warns.
"I'm sure you telling him how you feel would cheer him up." Donna tries to get Margaret's mind off Leo's well being.
"Yeah, I'm sure that would make him happy. Telling him that his quirky assistant in love with him," Margaret turns red as soon as she inadvertently confesses her feelings.
"I knew it. I knew you loved him," Donna shrieks.
"Donna, that's not what I meant. I was just saying that… I mean... oh the hell with it." Margaret throws her arms up in frustration. "It doesn't matter anyway. He doesn't feel that way about me."
"Margaret, you don't know that. He might feel the same way."
"Yeah right and I'm the Queen of England," she says sarcastically.
"You are?" Donna laughs.
"You are impossible." Margaret finally smiles.
"Seriously, I think you should tell him. You might be surprised at the outcome," Donna suggests.
"Right now… I'd just settle for him to be happy with anyone. He deserves some happiness."
"You do too," Donna places a hand on her friends arm and gives it a gentle squeeze.
"Thanks, Donna."
"What are friends for? And… I still say you should try the Love Potion on him. It just might work."
"Maybe..." She hesitantly replies.
"Come on, it'll be fun."
"Donna, what are you… twelve?"
"Margaret, sometimes we just need to blow off a little steam." Donna suggests. "What could it hurt?"
"Well… I could lose my job."
"Yeah, right." Donna shakes her head. "Leo would never fire you. He'd be lost without you."
"That's for sure. He can't even keep his desk clean."
"Do you have all of the ingredients?" Donna asks.
"I don't think so. It calls for Chocolate, star anise, vanilla, cinnamon and a dash of clove. I'm pretty sure I don't have star anise."
"Is there any special way you're supposed to prepare it?"
"I wouldn't know since I didn't get a chance to finish reading it before I was so rudely interrupted."
"Okay, I can take a hint." Donna turns to leave. "I'll go and let you get back to your important email." She tosses over her shoulder.
"Okay," Margaret stands there pondering what she should do as she watches her friend leave. 'I need to be more careful here at work,' she thinks to herself as she puts the folder back down on her desk. 'Thank goodness Leo is over at the OEOB and didn't hear any of that.' She concludes as she sits back down at her desk and pulls up the email from her aunt, again.
"Oh, Mr. McGarry," Janeane quickly hangs up the phone as she jumps to her feet. "I was just dialing your office. The Vice President had to leave… unexpectedly and won't be able to meet with you," she says nervously. She hates having to cover for her boss. She knows that he's just trying to piss Leo off by canceling the meeting at such late notice.
"Okay…" Leo takes a deep breath to calm himself. He knows there's no reason to take this out on the Vice President's assistant and besides, he really wasn't looking forward to the meeting.
"I'm sorry you had to walk all the way over here," she offers him a small smile.
"Don't worry about it," Leo says, looking at his watch. "Besides, I'm sure Margaret was glad to get me out of the office," Leo slightly smirks. He knows he's not been the nicest person to work for lately.
"I'll call her to reschedule." Janeane reaches for her phone.
"Nah, it can wait until tomorrow morning. I'm sure the Vice President told you to go home after you rescheduled the meeting."
"Yes, he did, but I don't mind staying a little longer. Besides, it'll still an early evening compared to most."
"Yeah, I bet." Leo looks down at his watch. "Janeane, I'd really appreciate it if you waited until tomorrow to call Margaret to reschedule. You see… I told her to go home too… after she finished printing out something for me and if you call now… well she won't want to leave," Leo shyly explains as heshoves his hands in his pant's pockets.
"Okay," she kindly smiles.
"And please don't tell her that I had you wait until tomorrow to call," he quickly adds.
"I won't."
"Thanks."
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" She asks, after a few moments of awkward silence pasts between them.
"No, not really," Leo quickly looks at his watch again. "Umm… do you mind if I sit here while you close up the office? I want to make sure Margaret's gone… before I go back."
"No, have a seat. I have just a couple of things to do, and then I'll be ready to leave." She tries hard not to smile at the way that Leo is acting.
"Thanks," Leo says, as he sits down grabbing the New York Times off of the coffee table. He pulls out a pen from his double breasted suite coat and starts to work the crossword puzzle. He's only solved half of the across ones, when Janeane re-enters the sitting area.
"I'm ready to leave now, Mr. McGarry." Janeane stands next to him with her coat hung over her arm.
"Okay," Leo looks up at her over his glasses. He closes his pen, puts it back in his pocket and stands.
"Do you think Margaret has left by now?" Janeane starts to put her coat on.
"Yeah, I hope so." Leo reaches for her coat. "Here, let me help ya with that," he offers.
"Thanks," she smiles and her heart beats a little faster as she gets a whiff of his expensive cologne. Most of the assistants in the White House and the OEOB talk about his cologne and how sexy they think he is. It's funny but she has never heard Margaret ever mention either, but she supposes that's because Margaret has worked for Leo for years and is immune to his charm. She also knows that Leo can be a handful to work for, but she thinks to herself that she wouldn't mind. It would be a nice change from working for the jerk she works for.
"Ready?" Leo asks.
"Yes," she mentally shakes her thoughts about Leo from her head as she walks out of the office.
"Did you drive to work?"
"No, I ride the Metro."
"Margaret does too," Leo adds. "But, I force her to take a cab home on late nights or have my driver drop her off, since we don't normally leave at a decent hour."
"Well, it's early tonight, so I still have plenty of time to catch a train."
"Yeah, I suppose Margaret did the same." He wishes he had made arrangements for his driver to take her home. He doesn't like for her to be out walking the streets at night.
"Probably," she stops in the junction of two hallways. "Well, I need to go out the front, since it's closest to McPherson Station."
"Goodnight and thanks again for letting me loiter."
"No problem," she mentally adds 'anytime' in her head. "Bye." She throws over her shoulder as she walks away from him.
Leo looks at his watch and decides it's probably safe for him to return to his office and heads for the East exit of the OEOB.
"Damit," Leo cusses as the sharp February wind cuts through him as he leaves the OEOB. Margaret had reminded him to take his coat, but he ignored her and as usual he was now paying the consequences. "How the hell did she know the temperature was going to drop this drastically?" He wonders aloud as he shoves his hands further into his pockets and picks up his pace, trying hard not to limp.
Leo heads for the South Lawn entrance on the Portico of the West Wing, but at the last second decides to cut through the Oval Office instead, since the President is away at Camp David. The young Military guard opens the door without hesitation. "Thanks," Leo says, quickly stepping inside, and immediately feeling relief from the cold.
Leo walks into his office and is surprised to see light coming from Margaret's area. He quietly walks over to the partially closed door and listens. He hears Donna teasing his assistant about something and is about to open the door when the conversation turns towards him. He knows he should make his presence known or at least leave, but he can't seem to force himself to move. His breathe hitches in his chest when he hears Margaret's confession of love for him. His thoughts start to race. Did he really hear what he thought he heard? Could Margaret possibly love him? He takes a step back and quickly decides to leave the area before they discover he's in his office. He quietly walks over to the doorway that leads to the Oval office and safely escapes unseen.
Leo walks over to where the President hides his cigarettes, grabs the pack and walks out onto to the portico and lights up. His hand is shaking as he takes a deep drawl on the cigarette. He still can't believe what he just heard. He walks over to the bench and sits down. He can't let himself love again and he sure doesn't want to hurt Margaret like he did Jenny. He's always liked Margaret and yes, since his divorce he's had a more than a couple of passionate thoughts towards her but he never imagined she could feel the same way.
Leo's not sure how long he's been there when someone behind him softly clears their throat. "Donna, what are you doing out here?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing. Leo it's freezing out here. Where's your coat?" She asks, as she reaches into her coat pockets and pulls out her gloves and puts them on.
Leo takes another drag on his cigarette, "In my office." The smoke bellows out of his mouth.
"Margaret said you were over at the OEOB, meeting with the Vice President." She walks over and sits down next to him.
"I was."
"Have you been back long?" She nervously asks.
"A while," Leo looks at the cigarette in his hand and flips off some ashes and then takes another drag.
"Have you been to your office?"
Leo looks at her and then back at his cigarette.
"Leo, you've been to you office haven't you?"
Leo slowly nods his head.
"Did you… umm… hear. I mean I was just there and…"
"Yeah, I overheard you and Margaret talking."
"Leo, don't be mad at her, It was my fault I was teasing her and…"
"Donna, I'm not mad." He raises his eyes to hers.
"You're not going to fire her, are you?"
"Why the hell would I fire her?"
"Cause… well…"
"Donna, I'm not going to fire her. That thought… never even entered my mind. Trust me."
"What thoughts have entered your mind?"
"Ah…" Leo looks down at his shoes.
"Do you have feelings for her too?"
"I…"
"Leo," Donna moves closer and puts a hand on his arm. "It's okay if you do."
"Is it?" Leo raises his eyebrows. "What right do I have to love someone, especially someone like Margaret?"
"You have every right."
"She works for me." He points out quickly as he stands and starts to pace.
"So."
"She's so young."
"She's forty."
"That's still sixteen years younger than me."
"Age doesn't matter."
"I've got so much baggage."
"She knows about all of it."
"I'm no good at relationships."
"Leo, you still haven't answered my question. Do you love her?" Donna slightly demands.
"I… don't want to hurt her like I did Jenny." Leo stops pacing and looks down at Donna.
"Then don't." Donna stands and moves to his side and places a caring hand on his arm. "Leo?"
Leo looks down at her hand and then back up at her. "Yeah, I love her. I've tried not to, but I can't help myself."
"That's the only reason I've heard from you that matters." Donna squeezes his arm. "Leo, you need to tell her how you feel."
"I… don't know how to tell her. I don't know how to be anything other than… her boss."
"Give it a couple of days to sink in and I bet you'll figure it all out."
"Maybe."
"You will," Donna turns to walk away. "Hey, I just remembered that it's Valentine's Day this Saturday."
"It is?"
"Men," Donna shakes her head. "It's a wonder how…" she pauses thinking about all the men in the White House she works with and how clueless they all are. "Leo, why don't you invite her out for Valentine's Day? I know she has no plans."
"I'll think about it."
"Don't think too long. One of these days, someone's going to realize just what a catch Margaret is and come in and sweep her off her feet."
"Donna," Leo walks over to her. "Thanks," he whispers as he brushes an innocent kiss against her cheek.
"You're welcome," she blushes.
"I may need some more advice from you." Leo admits.
"You know where I work," she smiles, as she starts to walk away.
"Yeah."
"Oh and Leo… if I were you… I wouldn't let Margaret catch you out here smoking."
"Right," Leo agrees, as he puts out his cigarette and throws it in the receptacle.
"Night."
"Night," he returns as he watches her disappear back into the White House. Leo stands there thinking for a few minutes about how he's going to approach the subject with Margaret and then finally heads back for his office. He's sure that Margaret must be gone by now. When he reaches his office, Margaret's light is off and he breathes a sigh of relief. He isn't ready to talk with her tonight. He reaches for the phone, calls for his driver and then grabs his briefcase as he heads for the Southwest access door.