I wake up cold. It takes me a second to register that the bed is wet. I sit up and the t-shirt I've been sleeping in sticks gummily to my back. I worry that I'm going to wake Leo and then remember that he's not there anyway. My feet hit the cold wood floor and I make my way into the bathroom. Peeling off the sweaty t-shirt makes me shiver and I think about getting in the shower. Am I awake enough already that a shower won't matter or is there a chance I'll go back to sleep? I opt for bed and head back into the dark bedroom, grope for a clean shirt from the drawer, and climb back into the other side of the bed. I pull the covers around me and wrap my icy feet in the sheets. How many times is this? Did I wake up in a cold sweat yesterday? The day before? Maybe I could count the nights, a twisted version of counting sheep.

Leo and Annabeth are in the Residence for Pres. Bartlet's birthday.

Annabeth is sitting on the couch talking to C.J. and Josh. Abbey, Jed and Leo are standing in the doorway.

Abbey looks over at Annabeth. "It's so good to see Annabeth here. She looks like she's doing incredibly well."

Leo nods. "Yeah. She's remarkable. She's back to work, won't hear about taking it easy." He smiles into his glass. "She won't let the bastards get her down."

Jed looks at him. "You think she's safe?"

Leo shakes his head. "No. But what if Charlie stopped showing up here after what happened to us."

"Yeah."

"And I have to let her."

Abbey snorts. "Let her?"

Leo turns to her. "I just meant…"

"Oh, I know what you meant. I'm just reminding you that if Annabeth heard you talking about 'letting' her do anything, you'd be spending the night on our couch."

Leo is standing in Annabeth's kitchen on a Saturday morning. He's on the phone.

"They don't have the votes to override…says who? Says me, Josh, the office of the Political Liaison, Legislative Liaison, and the Minority Whip. Yeah. Okay. I'm gonna be there in half an hour."

Annabeth walks in as Leo hangs up.

"You're supposed to be taking it easy."

"I'm actually supposed to be taking short walks. This is one of them."

"You need anything?"

Annabeth walks to him and puts her arms around his neck. "Yes." She kisses him and runs her hands down the front of his shirt.

Leo shifts out of her embrace, but takes her hands in his. "You talked to the police again?"

"Yeah. That's who called earlier."

"And?"

"And there's not much to say. The guy is dead."

"Annabeth. This is the second time someone has tried to…"

"It was a continuation of the first."

"What?"

"The second time was a continuation of the first. This guy and the Italian guy. It was a continuation of Italy."

"What? How do you know that?

"Because the police confirmed it."

"They were part of the same group?"

"Yes."

"Which means there are more of them."

Annabeth sighs. "There are always more of them, Leo."

"Okay. I'm going to talk to some people. We'll find out more information on…"

"Leo. You have to stop."

"Stop what?"

"I love you for wanting to protect me and to fix this and possibly to kill some people on my behalf, but I have other people for that. What I don't have is another you. I need you to just be Leo with me."

"Annabeth, I nearly lost you. I can't stop wanting to protect you."

"I need you to get over that."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that I don't want to be protected. Not by you.

"Who do you want to be protected by, Annabeth? Because it seems to me like you don't want to be protected at all."

"Leo, there are armed guards standing outside my house right now."

"And when you go to work? When you walk around D.C.? And when you start traveling again?"

"My building has security and as for everything else, what do you want, Leo? Maybe a tank for trips to the grocery store?"

"I want you to be careful!"

"You want me to be scared!"

"No. I don't. And you know that's not what I'm asking."

Annabeth sits down. "I don't want to fight with you."

"Yeah." Leo looks at his watch. "I've got to go." He kisses the top of her head. "I love you."