"Hey, Handsome..."
Abbey's voice roused him, and Leo found himself looking up into her beautiful brown eyes. A smile came easily as he gingerly turned over onto his back.
Still groggy, he gently took her hand and kissed it. "Mmmm... Hi … Sleep well?"
"I did, honey. But, we need to get your meds into you. You're warm and it's past time."
There were much better conversations he could be having with Abbey than his medication schedule. God, it made him feel old, and he hadn't felt that way in some time.
The last year was physically active for Leo, combining the Barlet library work with farm projects. He loved watching the sun come up, walking the farm in all kinds of weather. Sometimes Abbey joined him, but always, Scout, the farm golden retriever kept him company. He'd grown to love this place - the peacefulness of it, the memories of Jed and most of all, the time and space to be with Abbey.
He sighed.
"Okay, but only if I get to hit on my doctor." Leo's eyes twinkled as he attempted to lighten the mood.
Abbey helped him get his feet on the floor. Right now, she was all business, and Leo gave up his quest to distract her from her single minded objective - to reverse the direction of the persistent low grade fever dogging him since they'd left Germany.
And, more than he probably knew himself, Leo knew Abbey Barlet. She would not be deterred from looking after him and in that pursuit, he felt he'd somehow failed to protect her.
They agreed to live an unpretentious life here in New Hampshire, the Barlet Presidential Library project being their only tie to politics. Both were more than ready to leave politics behind, but political relationships were a by-product of any effort to honor Jed. Thus, Abbey and Leo tolerated minute elements of their old life for the greater satisfaction of building a conduit through which Jed's presidency could inspire future leaders. When Josh had shown up at their doorstep a month ago talking about Qumar, Leo should have done more to head him off - to keep him from trusting the wrong people and jumping into the fray.
Leo took the pills and glass of water she offered and washed it all down, trying to shake off his frustration. The next step was to get up and take a shower. Abbey gave him a few sponge baths in the hospital, but after two weeks, he looked forward to getting thoroughly clean in the privacy of their own home. He couldn't wash off the regret, but he could wash off the hospital - figuratively and literally.
Moving toward the en-suite bathroom, he squeezed Abbey's hand in appreciation.
"Do you need some help?" she asked nervously.
Jeez, now she's afraid I'm gonna fall.
Leo turned around and met her eyes. Okay, this is enough. He needed to find a way to assure her. She was a survivor - the strongest woman he knew. And, somehow she'd helped him find more strength within himself, even when he wasn't sure he had anything left.
"Abbey, I'm fine."
"Well, not quite." she countered.
"C'mere," Leo pulled her into a gentle hug. "This isn't the first time I've been a little beat up."
Abbey scoffed, laying her head against his chest. "I wouldn't call this a little beat up, Leo."
Clearly, initial relief at a successful recovery out of Qumar had given way to anger at the shape he was left in. She had been fiercely protective of Jed and this wasn't the first time Leo had found himself the subject of her intense vigilance. Plus, he didn't know what conversations Abbey may have had in the last few weeks, stoking her frustration. Maybe when she was certain he was feeling up to hearing it all, she'd tell him. Obviously, she'd need to unload at some point.
Leo kissed the top of her head. "Well, whatever this is, we were able to walk away from it and that's what we're gonna do now. Okay?"
"Yeah, Flyboy?" She looked up into his eyes. "Like landing a plane… if you can walk away from it, it's a good landing?"
"Yeah," Leo confirmed as he hugged her again, hoping they could both leave the chaos behind them quickly. She didn't deserve this, and he wanted to put her at ease.
As he rubbed her back, Leo's eyes settled on the picture on Abbey's dresser. A young Jed Bartlet had his arm wrapped around his prep school buddy - the teenager who would grow up to become his best friend and chief of staff.
When he first came to the farm, Leo sometimes had a hard time recognizing himself in the picture - those boys were both so full of humor, excitement and dreams for the future. But, as time had gone on, being here with Abbey, Leo began to feel like he could see himself again in that young man.
And, even then, it had all started with turmoil Leo found a way to walk away from…
Fall 1962 - Phillips Exeter Academy
"Hey, kid!"
Young Leo McGarry looked up from the leaves he was raking. Classes had ended only ten minutes ago, but he was hoping to finish this walkway on his way back to the library. He wanted to get started on his American History essay.
Usually, he took time to change into his jeans and sweatshirt before completing the job the Phillips Exeter grounds foreman gave him each day. It was a condition of his scholarship to earn his spending money by helping out. Apparently, kids like him had come to Phillips before on scholarship but had to leave because they lacked money for basic necessities. Leo could relate. It was only a few weeks into the fall term, and he didn't have a paycheck yet.
Halfway through his last class, he got caught up in the story of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. A war of letters and newspaper publications resulting in these two guys facing each other down with pistols? And, they'd just stand there and shoot at each other? Rules of engagement and a deadly exchange over a point of view and political ambitions were intriguing.
Back in South Boston, kids would get jumped and find themselves duking it out in someone's backyard. Principle equated to someone stealing your bike or your girlfriend and making sure it didn't happen again. He supposed the adult version involved cars and wives. No one cared about dying for an idea in South Boston. Not in Chicago either, where his mother had settled the family after his father's death. People went to war, sure, to fight for the country, but not over their personal ideology.
Anyway, Leo resolved he'd save time and leave his school uniform on this one time. He could finish his assigned job on his way to the library. He couldn't wait to learn more about these two guys - Hamilton and Burr.
"Kid, what the hell are you doing?"
Three upperclassmen stood across the lawn. The biggest of the three, walking toward him.
Leo looked over his shoulder, just to be sure the comments were directed at him.
"Yeah, you moron, I'm talking to you."
Leo raised his eyebrows. Well, this is interesting, he thought, as he sized the kid and his friends up. The kid was bigger than him, but he lumbered in his movements. Leo wondered if he'd ever actually been in a fight or had just used his size to intimidate others.
Of course, if Leo got caught in a fight, especially as a scholarship student, he'd be packing his bags. The kid could get away with approaching him this way because they were off the quad - more isolated. Otherwise, he might be called on the student code of conduct. Leo wasn't surprised - there were bullies everywhere. At Phillips, they just needed to be smarter about getting caught.
Without breaking contact with the bully's eyes, Leo laid the rake down knowing it could be used as a weapon. If this went badly, it might be the difference between getting kicked out of school and landing in jail. He wanted it out of reach.
"Don't you know we got people to clean this up?" The bully drew closer.
"He's here for free - he's one of the poor kids, RIck," One of the others taunted.
"Yeah, his mother is probably doing tricks to pay for his books," the third jeered.
Leo tried not to chuckle. These kids were amateurs, thinking he was going to lose it over a "your mother" jab. They'd get their asses kicked back in the neighborhood. He just had to be careful not to completely underestimate the situation - there were three of them.
There were some other students walking around in the distance, but they may not notice a three-on-one situation any more than they'd notice a fight between Leo and one other kid. Plus, the kid's friends would accuse him of starting it anyway.
Still, Leo calmly stood his ground peering intently at 'Rick'. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Okay, you're going to have to throw the first punch."
"Oooooh… Ricky, he says you're gonna have to fight him… Kid, he'll send you back to whatever Irish slum you came outta'" One boy jeered.
"He's a puny son of a bitch … Lay him out!" The second friend encouraged, "No one will see."
Leo never broke his gaze at 'Rick', knowing the bigger kid would telegraph with his eyes if he was going to hit him. The other young man was starting to look a bit less sure of himself. Leo wasn't going to back away and let him continue to try to bully and intimidate him for the rest of the school year. That wasn't going to work. He'd end up thrown out of school anyway. This had to be settled here and now.
Peer pressure won out and the bigger kid took a swing.
Leo easily stepped out of the way, and Rick was tossed off his feet by the momentum of his attempted assault, landing on his butt.
The other two companions were struck silent. Apparently, they'd never seen 'Rick' actually try to prove his mettle. They hadn't expected such a poor showing and were now obviously feeling a little embarrassed. "Rick" wasn't physically dominant or a fighter, as he'd apparently passed himself off to be - he was just fat and clumsy.
The other two kids started to slink off, not wanting to be part of this frame-up anymore. But, just as Leo's attention was diverted tracking their retreat, a hand reached up and grabbed his collar and threw him to the ground. As he felt himself knocked off his feet, Leo chastised himself - should have seen that one coming. But, as he landed, he rolled so he came back up on his feet intact. Well, he looked down, not quite so intact. The asshole had torn his only uniform shirt. The left front of it had pulled away from the collar, the buttons popped off and part of the material was now hanging around his ribs.
"Damn," Leo quietly cursed as he put distance between himself and the bully. The kid would have to lunge at him again and he doubted he'd do so without an audience.
"Well, that's it," 'Rick' said as he got up and dusted himself off. "I'm reporting you for fighting, Kid. Hope you have money for a bus ticket."
"Your word against mine," Leo countered. "Your friends are gone."
Truth be told, Leo was really much more upset about his shirt. What was he going to wear to class tomorrow? He'd been washing the same one out every night. His threadbare blazer, which he'd bought second-hand at the bookstore downtown, wouldn't cover the ripped material.
Leo was startled out of his frustration when a third voice joined the fray. He didn't think he recognized the young man.
"I saw the whole thing, Rick," the stranger said. "I'd suggest you leave it alone."
When the defeated bully was silent and just walked away, Leo was a bit surprised. It wasn't like this other guy was that big. So, he wasn't physically intimidating. This 'Rick' just really had no idea how to fight. Or, maybe it was something else. As Leo looked closer, he realized he did recognize the young man. He was the headmaster's son - someone had pointed him out a week or so ago.
"Thanks, man," Leo said simply, his attention turned back to his ruined shirt.
"No problem," the other kid replied. "How'd you learn to do that? Do you box?"
"A little bit," Leo didn't want to get into the particulars of South Boston street fighting. He doubted this kid ever had to consider defending himself walking home from the grocery store. A little teasing was still in order though, "You could've jumped in, y'know."
The other kid's eyes sparkled with humor, taking the ribbing with good nature. "You seemed to have it under control."
And, with that, he held out his hand, "My name's Jed Barlet."
Leo smiled and grasped the offered hand, "Leo McGarry."
It was true he hadn't had much of a chance to get to know anyone yet. Coming in as a junior, it was a bit awkward. Most of the guys already had made their friends in earlier years. Leo appreciated the way this guy stood up, not only to do the right thing but to display some friendship. Although he loved his classes, this place hadn't felt very welcoming.
Now that he wasn't getting tossed out of school and had possibly made an acquaintance, the next problem was to figure out what to do about his shirt. Leo would have to come up with a solution quickly.
"Hey, he really made a mess of that," Jed pointed at Leo's front - pieces of the shirt hanging in tatters
"Yeah, I'll find some needle and thread somewhere." Leo still didn't want to tell his new acquaintance this was his only uniform shift.
The fall wind was making Leo cold, now that the sun was lower in the sky and he'd stopped working. He hadn't bought t-shirts, so he didn't have another layer. Leo quickly put on his blazer to warm up, as much as cover himself.
In spite of Leo's attempts at downplaying the issue, the headmaster's kid could obviously quickly see through him. The groundskeeping job, the threadbare blazer, the scuffed shoes, trying to figure out how to mend his own shirt all tagged him as an outsider - some called him a freeloader. Maybe his new acquaintance would also think he didn't belong.
"Hey, so you got your shirt ripped while you were working. Let's go see Mrs. Landingham. She helps people with things like that," Jed offered up, breaking Leo's ruminations.
"Mrs. Who?" Leo asked, falling in behind Jed as he walked toward the administration building.
Within minutes, they were in front of a diminutive, but formidable woman, who was looking at them quizzically. Leo pulled his blazer tight, feeling embarrassment creep up his neck. Couldn't he just go back to his dorm room and figure out what to do? Maybe he could piece it together with some duct tape?
"Mr. McGarry, let me see," Mrs. Landingham took control of the situation and Leo slowly opened his blazer. The older woman shook her head. "Well, that just won't do."
"It happened while he was working, Mrs. Landingham," Jed seemed to feel it was important to reinforce the circumstances. What was he trying to tell her?
Mrs. Landingham went over to her desk drawer and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. "Well, since I can't fix your shirt, Mr. McGarry, and you damaged it while you were working, the school owes you another one. And, because of the inconvenience, we will also reimburse you for a second shirt."
Leo was not sure he should take the money, but the older woman put it into his hand and backed away. It was a done deal.
"Now, if you go to the bookstore downtown - Jed, you can drive Mr. McGarry before supper, correct?" With Jed's acknowledgment, she continued," You should have enough left over to buy yourself some t-shirts. We ask all of our grounds crew workers to wear t-shirts, Mr. McGarry. And, remember, a gentleman always wears a t-shirt."
Jed smiled and clapped Leo on the shoulder, "Okay then, let's go, Leo. The bookstore will be closing soon."
Leo made to follow Jed out of the office, but just before they got beyond Mrs. Landingham's door, he turned around.
"Ummm… thank you, Mrs. Landingham," Leo hoped he said her name correctly.
"Don't mention it, Mr. McGarry. The school thanks you for your hard work and it's the least we can do."
With that, Jed and Leo were on their way.
It would be many years later when Leo realized the money came from Mrs. Landingham's own purse she kept in that desk drawer. She had given him the $20 dollar bill out of her own pocket and it had all been done in such a way that Leo wasn't made to feel even more embarrassed. In fact, he'd counted himself lucky from that day forward. He would never visit Mrs. Landingham with a torn shirt again, but from time to time, after trimming the school rose bushes, he would make sure she was the first to have some on her desk.
And, most importantly, he'd met Jed Bartlet. Leo was sure this would be the start of a great friendship.