The First Couple slept the sleep of lovers. But within a couple of hours of falling asleep, Jed woke up thinking again about his father and the upcoming session with the shrink. He gently rolled out of Abbey's embrace, put some pajamas on, slipped on a robe and slippers and exited out the bedroom door. Going past the slightly startled agents, he walked down the hall to his private study and switched on a light. Looking at a clock on the desk, he saw it was one forty-five am. He had slept almost three hours. Well, that was longer than he had in almost three nights combined. He poured himself a drink and sat down in his leather chair. On the table by the chair he noticed the framed picture of his father. This particular picture had been taken for the school brochure promoting the school to potential students and their families.
"Well, Dad, you really were good at the lies, weren't you? At promoting yourself as the good, wholesome human being that could trusted with their son in their formative years. If their parents only knew you as I knew you, they wouldn't have let their sons within a hundred miles of the school. Did you scam them like you scammed your own wife?"
Jed stared at the picture as he remembered his mother always thinking his father was perfect. That he never laid a hand on his oldest son, in spite of the marks on Jed's face. His father always had an excuse that his mother believed. Her son had walked into a door. Had fallen down. Had done this. Had done that. And no one had ever confronted him. Dr, Bartlet was the bully of the school and he was never confronted about his behavior. In today's environment he wouldn't be allowed to teach. He couldn't hold a position of authority. He would lose his teaching license. But not back then. He was held in a high and esteemed position in the entire town. And even if his son had said something on one would have believed him.
What was that statement that Mrs. Landingham's ghost had said about his father that night in the Oval Office? Jed struggled to remember. So much had happened since then. Then he remembered.
"I've got a secret for you, Mr. President, your father was a prick who could never get over the fact that he wasn't as smart as his brothers."
'Yes, Mrs. Landingham. My father was a prick and so much more.' He continued to stare at the picture. He heard the whisper before he felt the hands. "Jed, what are you doing up?"
Turning his head, seeing Abbey by his side now dressed in some silk pajamas and matching robe. "What are you doing up?"
"I turned over and realized you were gone. I looked over to the sitting area and didn't see you there. So, I figured you might be down here. But I had to put some clothes on before I could leave. Just as you did." She smiled as she looked at his outfit.
"Yeah."
"Jed, how long have you been down here? You really need the sleep."
"What time is it?"
"Two forty-five."
"About an hour. I woke up and my brain started buzzing. I didn't want to wake you so I came down here."
She sat down on the edge of the chair and placed her hand on his arm. "Thinking about your father again?"
"Yeah. And my meeting tomorrow with the shrink."
"The proper term is psychiatrist."
"He's still a shrink."
"Well, whatever. I think Stanley sounds like just what you need right now. He is an outsider. Has no pieces in this game. Can have a perspective that Leo and I cannot give you. Apparently, he really helped Josh get past, or least start to get past Rosslyn. We will do our best to keep this closed off. And between me and you, even the family doesn't have to know unless you decide to tell them. Honey, you have to do something. I love you so much and I hate to see you hurting. And Jed, whether you believe it or not, you are hurting."
Jed looked up at her, only seeing love in her face and in her eyes. "Have I lately told you how much I love you?"
Abbey nodded. "A few times."
He reached up and brought her head closer to him. He leaned up and kissed her deeply. Breaking the contact, he smiled. "Go back to bed. I'll be there soon."
"Okay. Please don't stay long."
"I promise."
Abbey stood up and left the room. But Jed didn't move until almost five am. It took him that long to make sure that the path he had agreed to was the path he really needed to take. Once his brain agreed with his heart, he knew he could go into the counseling process with his whole heart and get resolution with the demon that was his father and the impact he had had in Jed's life.
Back in the bedroom, he took off his robe and kicked off his slippers. He slid into the bed and cuddled next to his wife. He spooned next to her and felt loved when she unconsciously threw her arm over his body. Within minutes, his breathing matched hers and they both slept, probably dreaming of each other.
THE END