See previous chapter for disclaimers
Title: A Daughters Love Rating: PG-13 Summary: Jed, Abbey and Mallory cope with a sudden loss A/N: Ok, part two. Next instalment should be posted pretty soon. Please let me know what you think of it so far. Thank-you.xxx
"Mal, why don't you lie down, it might be a while before we can get to the hospital" he spoke quietly.
" He was exhausted. He worked so hard all day..every day. I kept telling him that he needed to slow down, take it easy, take a day off, but he wouldn't listen. Do you know who he would have listened too Mr President?"
Jed drove his hands into his pockets and stepped a little closer.
" Mal, Abbey will be back any minute and your mom will be here in a little while, just try to lie down."
" Do you know who he would have listened too Sir?" her voice was steadily rising, her hands gripping the comforter on the First couples bed.
"Mal, he wouldn't have listened to me"
" He would have walked on fire if you asked him too Mr President. His whole world revolved around you." He could see she was becoming hysterical and kept glancing at the double doors, hoping to god that Abbey would walk through them at any minute.
" He was exhausted! How could you not see that! Why didn't you do something about it!" Mal was on her feet now, albeit unsteadily, and slowly advancing on the President. Jed stood motionless, her words like talons, his heart breaking on each ugly word of truth.
Neither heard the doors silently open, nor seen the figure that stepped inside.
" Why didn't you do something!! He would have listened to you!! He loved you!"
" Mal, please, just try and calm down honey"
" Calm down! Calm down!! My father is lying on a cold slab right now."
Mallory's face shifted as she processed what she herself had just said. When she spoke again her voice began cracking under the strain of denial.
" He's lying.he was tired.we spoke."
Both Jed and Abbey stood witness as the devastating truth came crashing down around her. They watched as she stumbled slightly, her hands drawn to her mouth as the first tears made their way down her ashen cheeks.
"No." she whispered, her heart constricting and her stomach lurching.
Abbey quickly moved forward and stood at her side; ready to do whatever she could to ease her pain.
"No." she cried, turning to the President and shaking her head.
" Mal."
Mallory suddenly flew forward and began to slap the Presidents chest, her body shaking with painful sobs, her legs already beginning to give way.
"No, no, no, no. You should have told him! You should have."
Jed grabbed both wrists and pulled her tightly to his chest, held her tighter when she began to struggle, whispering in her ear to let it out, and that it would be ok.
Mallory stopped struggling and grabbed him for dear life, pulling tight enough to bruise, burying her face in the crook of his neck; her powerful sobs vibrating through his own body. Both sunk to the floor as her legs eventually gave out.
" Jed, make him come back.please." she sobbed brokenly
Jed looked to his wife helplessly, tears once more streaking his face, his hands gripping the shaking figure in his lap, pulling her close enough to leave marks.
Abbey sunk to the floor beside them, reaching out a hand and gently smoothing her hair as she cried, her other hand tightly gripping her husband's trouser leg as she tried to convey her support and loss to two of the most important people in her life. Abbey's gaze fell onto the grandfather clock that sat in the corner, and she watched as the seconds turned to minutes, minutes shifted to hours with each swing of the pendulum. It was about an hour later when she felt Jed shift, and she quickly looked to her left to see her Husband.
" She's asleep" he whispered, his voice harsh and broken from crying.
Abbey nodded her head and stood, pulling back the bedcovers and smoothing down the sheets.
" Do you want me to get some help?" she whispered, knowing what the answer would be, but letting the doctor slip in for just a second as she considered his back.
" No, just help me get up."
Abbey moved to his side and pulled till eventually he was standing with Mallory in his arms. He moved stiffly to the bed, awkwardly laying her down, and watched as Abbey tucked her in, in a way only mother's know how to do.
Both moved stiffly and slowly to the dining room, closing the door behind them and dismissing the service agents. It was Jed who spoke first, dragging a hand through his hair.
" The rest of the staff?"
Abbey pulled out a chair and sat heavily, unbuttoning her jacket.
" Some are in the study, others wanted to go home, I think Toby, Sam and CJ are in the west wing, doing what they do, keeping themselves busy."
Jed nodded his head, his face serious and sombre.
"And Josh?" he frowned as he thought of the Deputy chief of staff
"Oh Josh." Abbey whispered as she had the same thoughts.
Jed walked swiftly to the double doors that separated the dining room from the living area and opened one of them, signalling to one of the agents to come over.
" I need to know where Joshua Lyman is."
The agent nodded his head and spoke into his wrist, nodding his head as he began to receive the reports.
" He's in Mr McGarry's office sir."
Jed nodded and after a moment closed the door, leaning his weight against it and releasing a ragged sigh.
"I need to go see him. Josh and Leo were.."
"I know.."
"Will you be ok?"
Abbey smiled softly at her husband.
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"Let me know if Mal wakes up, the service are ready to go or Jenny gets here ok?"
"Of course"
Jed walked around the table and softly kissed his wife, standing for long moments simply holding her.
Josh stood just inside the door, leaning back against the wall, his hands tucked into his pockets. His face was pale, expressionless, and his head was leaning back against the dark wood of the antique doorframe. He didn't know why he was here, didn't know how he got there or what he was going to do, he only knew that he needed to be in this room, needed to be with Leo.
The knock at the door startled him and he opened his mouth to acknowledge it, but stopped short, not wanting to break the peaceful silence that had settled over the room. He heard the opposite door open, knew who it would probably be but didn't twist his gaze from the window to see. He saw the man enter his peripheral view, moving further into the room and standing before the wide desk, hands stuffed into his pockets. He could hear the Presidents breath catch periodically, saw a few shivers run through his strong frame, watched as he surveyed the room. It was a few minutes later that the silence was shattered, and Josh felt it like a slap to the face.
" The service tells me were about ready to go to the hospital. Toby, Sam and CJ have started things off, which leaves you free to ride in the limo with us."
Josh thought the Presidents voice sounded detached, strange, and he briefly wondered if it was maybe just him. He ran his tongue over his parched lips and silently swallowed hard, past the constantly wedged lump in his throat.
" Mal." He croaked, watching as the President slowly turned to face him, noticing immediately the redness in his eyes and the expression that probably mirrored his own.
"She's sleeping. Abbey's sitting with her, and Jenny's meeting us at the hospital."
Josh nodded his head and tried to think of something else to say. The minutes past serenely, in a haze of half formed memories and echoes of meetings past.
" He was so very proud of you Josh"
That was all that was needed. Jed Bartlet watched as the man he thought of as a son sank slowly to the floor, tears beginning their slow path down his paler than usual face. He watched him struggle with it, fight it, and he empathised with every last emotion he knew the young man would be feeling. Dragging his feet from where they were rooted, he walked the slow distance to his side and sunk slowly to sit beside him, pressing his back to the door, bringing his arm up and pulling at Josh's head, bringing it down to his chest and rubbing his shoulder comfortingly. Josh immediately turned into the embrace, his sobs heavy and choking, all thoughts of propriety and rank forgotten in the room that held so many memories for both men. One had lost a brother, one had lost a father, and both knew that the man who had departed would want nothing more than for them to be there for one another. And so they sat there, in the chamber that still echoed the character of a man both would remember till they themselves departed the land of the living, two men, one grief, no barriers.
Two weeks later
"Mom, I'll be fine, honestly, I just want to stay a little bit longer. I'll call you when I'm ready to leave. I love you."
Mallory replaced the receiver in its cradle and sighed heavily. It had only been a week since the funeral and she wasn't ready to leave yet. She could understand her mothers want or rather need to get away from the White House. She needed the reprieve from Leo McGarry whereas she herself craved it. It was only in the last few days that things had settled down a little, and she wanted to be in the place her Father had worked all his life to be.
" Watcha doing?"
Mallory twisted to see Zoey Bartlet leaning on the doorframe of her bedroom door.
" Was just reassuring my mother for the tenth time today that I wanted to stay here for a bit, and I was fine. What you doing here? Don't you have class?"
Mallory stood from the bed and walked over to where Zoey was standing.
"Nope, no class, hallelujah, I was just on my way down to see President grumpy."
Mallory laughed and picked up her cardigan, throwing it over her shoulders and running a hand through her hair.
" I'll tag along."
Both girls walked arm and arm, talking about this and that on the way, stopping briefly to speak to a few staffers who crossed their paths, until they stood in the outer office. Mallory giggled as Zoey left her side to schmooze with Charlie, a schmooze that was cut short by the opening of the oval office door. Both jumped several feet apart and stood guiltily when they heard the end of the conversation drifting from the men standing in the doorway. As the men filed out of the room, several in uniform, they politely tipped their heads as they passed her, some stopping to convey their personnel condolences.
" And what are you two doing loitering in my outer office? Distracting my personnel aide I may add."
Three pairs of eyes swivelled to the President, and Charlie quickly stood from his seat as he stepped out.
"Hello to you too dad." Zoey walked over and briefly hugged him, before skipping past him into the oval office.
Mallory laughed and shook her head as she too walked past him and into the oval.
" So what do I owe this pleasure?" he asked as he closed the door after a significant look directed at Charlie.
" We were bored and decided to come bug you." Zoeys voice drifted from the couch, where she was laying.
Mallory walked over to one of the windows and looked out, leaning slightly against the frame.
" Well I'm all yours for the next half hour or so, then I have a meeting with the French Ambassador."
" Need me to translate for you?"
" Zoey."
" Hey I'm just saying, your French sucks."
" My French does not suck Zoey"
" Dad..!"
" Zoey.!"
Mallory watched the playful banter and couldn't stop the slight twinge of jealousy that skirted her thoughts. Couldn't stop her gaze from going to the door on the other side of the room, couldn't stop the cruel fantasy of her dad walking through it again, making the last weeks nothing but a bad dream. She must have been staring for a while because she jumped when a warm hand touched the small of her back. Breaking the gaze quickly she turned to see the concerned face of Jed Bartlet.
" I must have zoned out, I'm sorry did you say something sir?" she asked a little shakily.
" I just asked what your plans for the afternoon where" he repeated gently
" Oh. I hadn't really thought about it to be honest. Abbey said something about a meeting I could sit in on later this afternoon."
The President stared a little longer, his eyes trained on her expression before nodding his head and taking a step back.
" I knew it wouldn't take her long. You know I could pull rank and get you in my office instead right?" he said with a wisp of a smile.
Mallory shook her head as she leaned on the back of his chair.
" Please don't. I sleep in the room next to yours and I want to get some sleep tonight"
"Good point"
Both turned their heads as the heavy door swung open revealing a very frazzled looking Josh.
" Oh, excuse me Mr President I didn't realise you had company."
" Josh is that you?"
Zoey Bartlet's head appeared above the back of the couch she was lying on, and her face was filled with a warm smile as she stared at her surrogate big brother.
" Jeez Josh you look like hell."
" Jeez Zoey you know how to make a man feel better." He said sarcastically as he met her halfway for a warm hug.
" Hey, I speak only the truth, so what's up? I haven't seen you in a few days.."
" Mind your own business.."
" Eh, excuse me."
Both turned to look at the man leaning against the desk, one looking guilty, and the other looking amused.
" I'm sorry Mr President, this can wait till another time.."
" Your conversation or the reason you're here?"
" Both actually."
" It's ok Josh, out with it."
" Sir."
The slight hesitation was noted by all, more so by Jed, who also noted the way he was avoiding Mal's eyes at all costs.
" Yeah ok Josh, I'll catch up with you later."
An uneasy silence ascended on the room, as everyone thought of something to say.
" Hey Josh, you wanna walk me out?"
Everyone's eyes swivelled to the youngest in the room, relief etched on all the tired faces, especially Josh.
" And what is this pleasure going to cost me?" Josh said sarcastically, a small smile tugging at his lips.
" Oh I don't know.how about a mocha and cookies?" Zoey's eyes held the same mischievous glint that was a common occurrence from another person in the room.
Looking over her shoulder to where the President stood, Josh raised an eyebrow.
" Yeah sure on you go. I'll speak to you when you get back. Bye sweetie!"
He wasn't sure if she had heard his farewell as they had both practically ran from the room like school kids that had just been dismissed from class for the day. Shaking his head in amusement he turned to look at Mallory. She was standing behind his chair; eyes glazed and tired looking, with her arms crossed defensively across her chest.
" How you doing?" he asked quietly, not wanting to startle her. Her eyes slid slowly to meet his, and a slight shrug of both shoulders was all the answer he got.
" I know the feeling," he whispered, his head suddenly hanging a little lower.
Mal walked slowly around the desk and stood to his side, her head eventually finding his shoulder somewhat nervously, but the need for comfort too strong to ignore.
Jed felt the easy weight rest on his shoulder and he smiled sadly, glad that she was following her instincts and not ignoring them because of the build up of protocol and position over the past few years.
" Josh can't look at me anymore." She whispered, and he felt rather than heard the slight hitch in the sentence.
" Yeah." he sighed, not turning for fear of disturbing the moment.
" You think he ever will."
Jed sighed again, turning this time causing her to lift her head and placing a warm hand on her shoulder.
" Josh is hurting Mal.I don't need to tell you that. He thinks he's betraying your father by stepping into the position he's supposed to fill, and by doing that he's somehow disrespecting you. It's crazy I know, but it's understandable. Its just.Josh. Give him some time."
Mallory stilled for a moment and then nodded her head, her eyes falling to look at the seal in the carpet. The silence that fell around them wasn't as tense as it had been and they both seemed to relax a little. It was Mallory who felt the need to break it this time.
" My mom called me again." She laughed, glad when the President did too.
" She worries. It's what mom's do."
" Yeah I know." She smiled, walking over to one of the chairs and slumping down in it.
" It's what godfather's do too," he added quietly, smiling lightly.
Mallory rolled her eyes.
" I'm fine! Really. Ok, I may be a little bored today but it's not a reason for you to start hiring shrinks or anything. Or send me to Syria for that matter. I'm fine, I'll go to this meeting and then I'll, I don't know, kick your ass at scrabble again maybe."
" Ha! Times and dates young lady, times and dates of when you have supposedly kicked my ass at anything and I may consider arguing about it."
"C'mon! Ok, when I was 17. We were at the farm and it was snowing out. You cracked open the board games and I royally kicked your ass. Don't try to deny it Mr, Abbey will back me up."
" There's a perfectly good explanation to that particular incident."
Mallory raised both eyebrows in expectation.
" I let you win! You were only 17 and I felt it would have done your confidence wonders to have won that night."
"No! No way sir, I totally kicked your ass! I can't believe you!.."
" Mallory.."
"..You egotistical.."
"Mal."
".Small minded."
"Mallory O'Brian!"
Mallory paused mid rant and glared at the man who stood amused in front of her.
" You know there can only be one solution to this problem don't you?"
Mallory frowned for a moment and then smiled darkly as comprehension dawned.
" Just name the place and I'll be there"
"Tonight, after dinner, in the study."
" You've got yourself a date sir."
" I look forward to it," he said politely and with a small bow.
Just as they were about to continue with their verbal banter the door to the oval office opened once more.
" Excuse me Mr President, the French Ambassador is here."
" Thanks Charlie, gimme a minute then send him in"
" Yes, sir."
Mallory stood from the seat and ran a hand through her unruly hair, smiling fondly at the man who stood a few feet from her.
" You better scoot" he said motioning to the opposite door.
" You sure? I could stay and help with translation if you."
" You're spending far too much time with Zoey"
" I'm just saying! You may end up agreeing to sell your wife, or our army or something equally."
" Get out of here"
" Vous voir plus tard M President, essayez de ne pas vendre le pays!"
Mallory smiled sweetly at the look of panic that swept across his features before closing the door behind her.
Title: A Daughters Love Rating: PG-13 Summary: Jed, Abbey and Mallory cope with a sudden loss A/N: Ok, part two. Next instalment should be posted pretty soon. Please let me know what you think of it so far. Thank-you.xxx
"Mal, why don't you lie down, it might be a while before we can get to the hospital" he spoke quietly.
" He was exhausted. He worked so hard all day..every day. I kept telling him that he needed to slow down, take it easy, take a day off, but he wouldn't listen. Do you know who he would have listened too Mr President?"
Jed drove his hands into his pockets and stepped a little closer.
" Mal, Abbey will be back any minute and your mom will be here in a little while, just try to lie down."
" Do you know who he would have listened too Sir?" her voice was steadily rising, her hands gripping the comforter on the First couples bed.
"Mal, he wouldn't have listened to me"
" He would have walked on fire if you asked him too Mr President. His whole world revolved around you." He could see she was becoming hysterical and kept glancing at the double doors, hoping to god that Abbey would walk through them at any minute.
" He was exhausted! How could you not see that! Why didn't you do something about it!" Mal was on her feet now, albeit unsteadily, and slowly advancing on the President. Jed stood motionless, her words like talons, his heart breaking on each ugly word of truth.
Neither heard the doors silently open, nor seen the figure that stepped inside.
" Why didn't you do something!! He would have listened to you!! He loved you!"
" Mal, please, just try and calm down honey"
" Calm down! Calm down!! My father is lying on a cold slab right now."
Mallory's face shifted as she processed what she herself had just said. When she spoke again her voice began cracking under the strain of denial.
" He's lying.he was tired.we spoke."
Both Jed and Abbey stood witness as the devastating truth came crashing down around her. They watched as she stumbled slightly, her hands drawn to her mouth as the first tears made their way down her ashen cheeks.
"No." she whispered, her heart constricting and her stomach lurching.
Abbey quickly moved forward and stood at her side; ready to do whatever she could to ease her pain.
"No." she cried, turning to the President and shaking her head.
" Mal."
Mallory suddenly flew forward and began to slap the Presidents chest, her body shaking with painful sobs, her legs already beginning to give way.
"No, no, no, no. You should have told him! You should have."
Jed grabbed both wrists and pulled her tightly to his chest, held her tighter when she began to struggle, whispering in her ear to let it out, and that it would be ok.
Mallory stopped struggling and grabbed him for dear life, pulling tight enough to bruise, burying her face in the crook of his neck; her powerful sobs vibrating through his own body. Both sunk to the floor as her legs eventually gave out.
" Jed, make him come back.please." she sobbed brokenly
Jed looked to his wife helplessly, tears once more streaking his face, his hands gripping the shaking figure in his lap, pulling her close enough to leave marks.
Abbey sunk to the floor beside them, reaching out a hand and gently smoothing her hair as she cried, her other hand tightly gripping her husband's trouser leg as she tried to convey her support and loss to two of the most important people in her life. Abbey's gaze fell onto the grandfather clock that sat in the corner, and she watched as the seconds turned to minutes, minutes shifted to hours with each swing of the pendulum. It was about an hour later when she felt Jed shift, and she quickly looked to her left to see her Husband.
" She's asleep" he whispered, his voice harsh and broken from crying.
Abbey nodded her head and stood, pulling back the bedcovers and smoothing down the sheets.
" Do you want me to get some help?" she whispered, knowing what the answer would be, but letting the doctor slip in for just a second as she considered his back.
" No, just help me get up."
Abbey moved to his side and pulled till eventually he was standing with Mallory in his arms. He moved stiffly to the bed, awkwardly laying her down, and watched as Abbey tucked her in, in a way only mother's know how to do.
Both moved stiffly and slowly to the dining room, closing the door behind them and dismissing the service agents. It was Jed who spoke first, dragging a hand through his hair.
" The rest of the staff?"
Abbey pulled out a chair and sat heavily, unbuttoning her jacket.
" Some are in the study, others wanted to go home, I think Toby, Sam and CJ are in the west wing, doing what they do, keeping themselves busy."
Jed nodded his head, his face serious and sombre.
"And Josh?" he frowned as he thought of the Deputy chief of staff
"Oh Josh." Abbey whispered as she had the same thoughts.
Jed walked swiftly to the double doors that separated the dining room from the living area and opened one of them, signalling to one of the agents to come over.
" I need to know where Joshua Lyman is."
The agent nodded his head and spoke into his wrist, nodding his head as he began to receive the reports.
" He's in Mr McGarry's office sir."
Jed nodded and after a moment closed the door, leaning his weight against it and releasing a ragged sigh.
"I need to go see him. Josh and Leo were.."
"I know.."
"Will you be ok?"
Abbey smiled softly at her husband.
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"Let me know if Mal wakes up, the service are ready to go or Jenny gets here ok?"
"Of course"
Jed walked around the table and softly kissed his wife, standing for long moments simply holding her.
Josh stood just inside the door, leaning back against the wall, his hands tucked into his pockets. His face was pale, expressionless, and his head was leaning back against the dark wood of the antique doorframe. He didn't know why he was here, didn't know how he got there or what he was going to do, he only knew that he needed to be in this room, needed to be with Leo.
The knock at the door startled him and he opened his mouth to acknowledge it, but stopped short, not wanting to break the peaceful silence that had settled over the room. He heard the opposite door open, knew who it would probably be but didn't twist his gaze from the window to see. He saw the man enter his peripheral view, moving further into the room and standing before the wide desk, hands stuffed into his pockets. He could hear the Presidents breath catch periodically, saw a few shivers run through his strong frame, watched as he surveyed the room. It was a few minutes later that the silence was shattered, and Josh felt it like a slap to the face.
" The service tells me were about ready to go to the hospital. Toby, Sam and CJ have started things off, which leaves you free to ride in the limo with us."
Josh thought the Presidents voice sounded detached, strange, and he briefly wondered if it was maybe just him. He ran his tongue over his parched lips and silently swallowed hard, past the constantly wedged lump in his throat.
" Mal." He croaked, watching as the President slowly turned to face him, noticing immediately the redness in his eyes and the expression that probably mirrored his own.
"She's sleeping. Abbey's sitting with her, and Jenny's meeting us at the hospital."
Josh nodded his head and tried to think of something else to say. The minutes past serenely, in a haze of half formed memories and echoes of meetings past.
" He was so very proud of you Josh"
That was all that was needed. Jed Bartlet watched as the man he thought of as a son sank slowly to the floor, tears beginning their slow path down his paler than usual face. He watched him struggle with it, fight it, and he empathised with every last emotion he knew the young man would be feeling. Dragging his feet from where they were rooted, he walked the slow distance to his side and sunk slowly to sit beside him, pressing his back to the door, bringing his arm up and pulling at Josh's head, bringing it down to his chest and rubbing his shoulder comfortingly. Josh immediately turned into the embrace, his sobs heavy and choking, all thoughts of propriety and rank forgotten in the room that held so many memories for both men. One had lost a brother, one had lost a father, and both knew that the man who had departed would want nothing more than for them to be there for one another. And so they sat there, in the chamber that still echoed the character of a man both would remember till they themselves departed the land of the living, two men, one grief, no barriers.
Two weeks later
"Mom, I'll be fine, honestly, I just want to stay a little bit longer. I'll call you when I'm ready to leave. I love you."
Mallory replaced the receiver in its cradle and sighed heavily. It had only been a week since the funeral and she wasn't ready to leave yet. She could understand her mothers want or rather need to get away from the White House. She needed the reprieve from Leo McGarry whereas she herself craved it. It was only in the last few days that things had settled down a little, and she wanted to be in the place her Father had worked all his life to be.
" Watcha doing?"
Mallory twisted to see Zoey Bartlet leaning on the doorframe of her bedroom door.
" Was just reassuring my mother for the tenth time today that I wanted to stay here for a bit, and I was fine. What you doing here? Don't you have class?"
Mallory stood from the bed and walked over to where Zoey was standing.
"Nope, no class, hallelujah, I was just on my way down to see President grumpy."
Mallory laughed and picked up her cardigan, throwing it over her shoulders and running a hand through her hair.
" I'll tag along."
Both girls walked arm and arm, talking about this and that on the way, stopping briefly to speak to a few staffers who crossed their paths, until they stood in the outer office. Mallory giggled as Zoey left her side to schmooze with Charlie, a schmooze that was cut short by the opening of the oval office door. Both jumped several feet apart and stood guiltily when they heard the end of the conversation drifting from the men standing in the doorway. As the men filed out of the room, several in uniform, they politely tipped their heads as they passed her, some stopping to convey their personnel condolences.
" And what are you two doing loitering in my outer office? Distracting my personnel aide I may add."
Three pairs of eyes swivelled to the President, and Charlie quickly stood from his seat as he stepped out.
"Hello to you too dad." Zoey walked over and briefly hugged him, before skipping past him into the oval office.
Mallory laughed and shook her head as she too walked past him and into the oval.
" So what do I owe this pleasure?" he asked as he closed the door after a significant look directed at Charlie.
" We were bored and decided to come bug you." Zoeys voice drifted from the couch, where she was laying.
Mallory walked over to one of the windows and looked out, leaning slightly against the frame.
" Well I'm all yours for the next half hour or so, then I have a meeting with the French Ambassador."
" Need me to translate for you?"
" Zoey."
" Hey I'm just saying, your French sucks."
" My French does not suck Zoey"
" Dad..!"
" Zoey.!"
Mallory watched the playful banter and couldn't stop the slight twinge of jealousy that skirted her thoughts. Couldn't stop her gaze from going to the door on the other side of the room, couldn't stop the cruel fantasy of her dad walking through it again, making the last weeks nothing but a bad dream. She must have been staring for a while because she jumped when a warm hand touched the small of her back. Breaking the gaze quickly she turned to see the concerned face of Jed Bartlet.
" I must have zoned out, I'm sorry did you say something sir?" she asked a little shakily.
" I just asked what your plans for the afternoon where" he repeated gently
" Oh. I hadn't really thought about it to be honest. Abbey said something about a meeting I could sit in on later this afternoon."
The President stared a little longer, his eyes trained on her expression before nodding his head and taking a step back.
" I knew it wouldn't take her long. You know I could pull rank and get you in my office instead right?" he said with a wisp of a smile.
Mallory shook her head as she leaned on the back of his chair.
" Please don't. I sleep in the room next to yours and I want to get some sleep tonight"
"Good point"
Both turned their heads as the heavy door swung open revealing a very frazzled looking Josh.
" Oh, excuse me Mr President I didn't realise you had company."
" Josh is that you?"
Zoey Bartlet's head appeared above the back of the couch she was lying on, and her face was filled with a warm smile as she stared at her surrogate big brother.
" Jeez Josh you look like hell."
" Jeez Zoey you know how to make a man feel better." He said sarcastically as he met her halfway for a warm hug.
" Hey, I speak only the truth, so what's up? I haven't seen you in a few days.."
" Mind your own business.."
" Eh, excuse me."
Both turned to look at the man leaning against the desk, one looking guilty, and the other looking amused.
" I'm sorry Mr President, this can wait till another time.."
" Your conversation or the reason you're here?"
" Both actually."
" It's ok Josh, out with it."
" Sir."
The slight hesitation was noted by all, more so by Jed, who also noted the way he was avoiding Mal's eyes at all costs.
" Yeah ok Josh, I'll catch up with you later."
An uneasy silence ascended on the room, as everyone thought of something to say.
" Hey Josh, you wanna walk me out?"
Everyone's eyes swivelled to the youngest in the room, relief etched on all the tired faces, especially Josh.
" And what is this pleasure going to cost me?" Josh said sarcastically, a small smile tugging at his lips.
" Oh I don't know.how about a mocha and cookies?" Zoey's eyes held the same mischievous glint that was a common occurrence from another person in the room.
Looking over her shoulder to where the President stood, Josh raised an eyebrow.
" Yeah sure on you go. I'll speak to you when you get back. Bye sweetie!"
He wasn't sure if she had heard his farewell as they had both practically ran from the room like school kids that had just been dismissed from class for the day. Shaking his head in amusement he turned to look at Mallory. She was standing behind his chair; eyes glazed and tired looking, with her arms crossed defensively across her chest.
" How you doing?" he asked quietly, not wanting to startle her. Her eyes slid slowly to meet his, and a slight shrug of both shoulders was all the answer he got.
" I know the feeling," he whispered, his head suddenly hanging a little lower.
Mal walked slowly around the desk and stood to his side, her head eventually finding his shoulder somewhat nervously, but the need for comfort too strong to ignore.
Jed felt the easy weight rest on his shoulder and he smiled sadly, glad that she was following her instincts and not ignoring them because of the build up of protocol and position over the past few years.
" Josh can't look at me anymore." She whispered, and he felt rather than heard the slight hitch in the sentence.
" Yeah." he sighed, not turning for fear of disturbing the moment.
" You think he ever will."
Jed sighed again, turning this time causing her to lift her head and placing a warm hand on her shoulder.
" Josh is hurting Mal.I don't need to tell you that. He thinks he's betraying your father by stepping into the position he's supposed to fill, and by doing that he's somehow disrespecting you. It's crazy I know, but it's understandable. Its just.Josh. Give him some time."
Mallory stilled for a moment and then nodded her head, her eyes falling to look at the seal in the carpet. The silence that fell around them wasn't as tense as it had been and they both seemed to relax a little. It was Mallory who felt the need to break it this time.
" My mom called me again." She laughed, glad when the President did too.
" She worries. It's what mom's do."
" Yeah I know." She smiled, walking over to one of the chairs and slumping down in it.
" It's what godfather's do too," he added quietly, smiling lightly.
Mallory rolled her eyes.
" I'm fine! Really. Ok, I may be a little bored today but it's not a reason for you to start hiring shrinks or anything. Or send me to Syria for that matter. I'm fine, I'll go to this meeting and then I'll, I don't know, kick your ass at scrabble again maybe."
" Ha! Times and dates young lady, times and dates of when you have supposedly kicked my ass at anything and I may consider arguing about it."
"C'mon! Ok, when I was 17. We were at the farm and it was snowing out. You cracked open the board games and I royally kicked your ass. Don't try to deny it Mr, Abbey will back me up."
" There's a perfectly good explanation to that particular incident."
Mallory raised both eyebrows in expectation.
" I let you win! You were only 17 and I felt it would have done your confidence wonders to have won that night."
"No! No way sir, I totally kicked your ass! I can't believe you!.."
" Mallory.."
"..You egotistical.."
"Mal."
".Small minded."
"Mallory O'Brian!"
Mallory paused mid rant and glared at the man who stood amused in front of her.
" You know there can only be one solution to this problem don't you?"
Mallory frowned for a moment and then smiled darkly as comprehension dawned.
" Just name the place and I'll be there"
"Tonight, after dinner, in the study."
" You've got yourself a date sir."
" I look forward to it," he said politely and with a small bow.
Just as they were about to continue with their verbal banter the door to the oval office opened once more.
" Excuse me Mr President, the French Ambassador is here."
" Thanks Charlie, gimme a minute then send him in"
" Yes, sir."
Mallory stood from the seat and ran a hand through her unruly hair, smiling fondly at the man who stood a few feet from her.
" You better scoot" he said motioning to the opposite door.
" You sure? I could stay and help with translation if you."
" You're spending far too much time with Zoey"
" I'm just saying! You may end up agreeing to sell your wife, or our army or something equally."
" Get out of here"
" Vous voir plus tard M President, essayez de ne pas vendre le pays!"
Mallory smiled sweetly at the look of panic that swept across his features before closing the door behind her.
