Part 8
She moved slowly as she got out of bed, her brain screaming at her to stay put. Her head was pounding and she staggered a bit as she moved in the direction of the bathroom. She had to get out of there. She clearly remembered everything that had happened the previous night and she couldn't stand seeing anyone after the stunt she pulled.
He halted outside the bedroom. Noon. She should be up. He knocked on the door, but got no answer. He knocked again louder, but still nothing. Slowly opening the door, he saw the empty bed and his heart fell as he thought she somehow might already be gone. He was relieved when he heard the water running as he wanted a chance to talk to her. He walked inside and closed the door behind him. Worried how she might react to him being in her bedroom, he remained by the door and called out loudly, "Abbey?"
Abbey stopped splashing water on her face. She couldn't make out the voice. Please let it only be Leo, please let it only be Leo, she almost repeated this out loud in spite of herself. As she heard her name being repeated, she grimaced when she realized it was The President. Straightening her shirt, she walked to the door and opened it, bracing herself at the same time. "Did you and Leo flip a coin as to who was going to check up on me?"
Jed let her pass. "No, Leo offered, but I talked him into letting me be the one. I hope you don't think I used him again."
Abbey closed her eyes briefly as she remembered her tirade. She started to give a response when her woozy head once again got the best of her and she grabbed the bed post to steady herself.
Jed was immediately at her side, tentatively placing his hand on her arm.
"I'm fine." She jerked away and sat down on the bed. She looked up at him and sighed heavily. "I should apologize for, you know, last night."
Jed shook his head as he sat down on the bed, making sure he wasn't too close. "No need for that."
Abbey took another breath. "I...thank you. Thank you for not taking advantage of me. I mean, I haven't made things easy for you."
Jed relaxed just a little, at least she sounded like they had a chance at salvaging their friendship. "I went too far and I should apologize for that." He clasped his hands together, now knowing what to do with them. "I would never take advantage of you, I hope you know that."
"I know." Abbey looked away, not having any idea what to say.
"I sent CJ up to check on you. She is the one who put the blanket on you." Jed was looking at the floor. He didn't want to do what he had decided last night, but it was the only way.
"Oh." She had been curious about that, but had decided not to make a big deal about it. She had assumed it was Leo, always looking out for her.
Jed got up and walked over to the window. It was a beautiful day out. The sun was shining. "Leo also spent the night here. I don't think either of us got any sleep. The girls are with Jenny."
Abbey simply nodded even though she knew he could not see her from where he was standing. She owed him. She owed him an explanation for her strange behavior. He probably wondered why the idea of a 'simple date' could push her to such extremes and she knew he must be equally confused by Leo's leeriness of him, his best friend. It was something that couldn't be changed, but at least she could tell him what had left her and Leo emotionally spent. She got up and walked over to the phone. "Is Leo in his office?"
"Yeah." He continued staring out the window.
The phone ringing caught Leo off guard. "Hello?"
"Leo." Her voice was steady.
His not so much. "Abbey, are you OK?"
"I'm fine. Leo, it's time. I think we owe The President that much to tell him the truth."
"I'm on my way." He hung up the phone. He had wanted to tell Jed. Best friends shared things, but he had not said anything. Now it was time. As he quickened his pace toward the Residence, he tried to fight the butterflies in his stomach, wondering how The President would react. Would he still love Abbey? Would he still consider Leo his best friend?
Jed turned to look at her. Tell him the truth? Just what had the two of them been hiding? Did he even want to know? He loved Abbey and he loved Leo. Whatever it was, it didn't matter. He would never turn his back on them.
There was a knock on the door followed by it opening to reveal Leo. "Hi."
Jed simply nodded to him. He watched as Abbey looked at Leo and Leo nodded back to her. "Go ahead."
Abbey turned back to face The President. There was no turning back now. "I killed my husband."
Jed couldn't believe what he was hearing. He stared at her, not knowing what to say. Did she just say she killed her husband? Abbey couldn't kill anyone. She saved people. She didn't take their lives.
"I killed my husband and Leo helped cover it up. I really didn't give him much of a choice." She blinked and could feel the tears in her eyes.
Leo walked over to her and seated himself next to her. He took one of her hands in one of his.
Jed didn't know what to say. This was not something he had expected to hear. "What happened?" His voice was a whisper.
Abbey cleared her throat. "We had a fight. It was getting out of hand. I talked about leaving him and he threatened to take the kids from me.to ruin my live." She looked down and felt her body start shaking at the memory.
Leo let go of her hand and put his arm around her instead.
Jed was still. He didn't move. Couldn't move. He could clearly see the pain on both of their faces.
"He took out a knife and started waving it around. I tried getting it away from him but... he was so strong." The tears were streaming down her cheeks. "Before I knew it, he was on the floor and the knife...it was...." She couldn't even finish the sentence as she started sobbing violently.
Leo embraced her tightly as much for himself as for her. All the images he had tried to forget resurfaced. His brother on the floor in a pool of blood. Abbey, beside Lane, working feverishly to save him. His own tears were stinging in his eyes as he looked over to Jed who he could see was also crying. "No one knows about this except Jenny. When the police came, we told them we found him like that and that the blood on our clothes was because we had tried to revive him."
He had never imagined something like this. All he wanted to do was to take Abbey in his arms and tell her it wasn't her fault, that it didn't change his feelings towards her. And to tell Leo it wasn't his fault, to let Leo know he would always be there for him no matter what. He wiped some of his tears away and walked over to them. He knelt in front of Abbey. "It's not your fault."
She looked up at him and saw the gentleness in his face. There was no sign of hate or repulsion at what she had done. "The father of my children is dead because of me."
Jed shook his head. "No. You are not to blame." He turned to Leo. "And neither are you."
Leo wished he could believe Jed, but he did not. Deep down he blamed himself. Why had he not confronted his brother about his affairs sooner? Told him to leave Abbey alone? Done something. Anything.
Jed took one of Abbey's hands and one of Leo's in each of his. "What happened was an accident. There is no doubt in my mind of that. You are not a killer, Abbey. No one who knows you would disagree with me." He sighed as he squeezed both their hands. "Knowing you two, you probably did all you could to save him. You protected each other because you care and love each other. What happened is not your fault and someday I hope both of you will believe that."
Abbey wiped some tears away with her free hand. "I shouldn't have called Leo."
"No, you did what you had to do. Jed is right. This isn't your fault. Lane was a very destructive person. Sooner or later...." Leo couldn't finish, but knew they understood what he was trying to say.
"I do wish you would have told me..." Jed didn't get a chance to finish as Leo spoke up.
"Sir, this was hardly..." This time it was Leo who was interrupted by Jed.
Jed looked at Leo. "Leo, you are my best friend and there is nothing that can change that or change how I feel about you. You can come to me with anything and I will never turn my back on you." He smiled at Leo and was rewarded by a hint of a smile. He couldn't ask for much more at a time like this.
"I know and I feel the same way about you." Leo was touched by Jed's words and grateful that this revelation hadn't made Jed want to keep his distance from him.
Jed smiled at Leo before he tilted his head in Abbey's direction. "And you. Nothing could change the way I feel about you."
Surprised by the words and the soft way in which they were spoken, Abbey couldn't help but be touched.
"No matter what happens I want you to know, nothing will ever change my feelings for you. I love you and always will." Jed took a deep breath as he let go of Leo's hand and took both of Abbey's in both of his.
Leo knew what he was about to do. Jed had told him and that was it. He hadn't given Leo a chance to change his mind. Getting up shakily, Leo headed for the door. "I'll be right outside."
Abbey was confused. Just what was going on?
"When I realized just how difficult this all was for you, I made a decision. You don't have to go on a date with me. The bet is off." He rubbed her hands so she would know it had nothing to do with what she had just told him.
Abbey didn't know what to say. She was not sure why he was doing this. He still loved her and her secret hadn't changed his mind.
"I love you, Abbey, but I don't want to make you unhappy and that seems to have been all I've been doing lately. I'm sorry. I hope we can still be friends, but from now on, I promise to leave you alone. I tried breaking your barriers, but failed." He got up, released her hands and kissed her forehead, placing a hand on each side of her face.
Abbey was stunned. She turned as he walked passed her.
Once Jed reached the door, he turned back to her. "If you, for whatever reason, should change your mind and decide to give me a chance, I'll be here. I'll wait for you."
"Wait for me?" She croaked out. Her throat felt thick.
"You're worth waiting for." He smiled at her as he opened the door.
She watched him hurry out and leave her alone. Her legs were still shaky as she got up from the bed. A part of her wanted to stop him, but for some reason she didn't take one step.
Leo met Jed's eyes as he came out the door and put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "You OK?"
Jed leaned against the door. "That was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do." His eyes were starting to tear up again. He wanted more than anything to go back in there and take her in his arms and never let go. "I just need a few minutes alone."
Leo nodded. "I."
"Leo, go home if you need to," said the President, giving him a sincere look. "Or if you need to talk, I'll find you when.when I."
Leo nodded again and gave a soft "OK".
Jed hurried to his bedroom. Once inside he couldn't stop himself from crying. Was this the end? Would he ever see Abbey again or would she disappear from his life completely? He had said that he wanted them to be friends, but did she? Could he be just a friend to her?
Abbey just stood and stared at the door that had changed her life when he had come walking through it. She had trusted him enough to tell her secret. She didn't feel that pounding in her head anymore. Instead it was her heart that was pounding heavily. What would happen now? Would she ever tell him? Ever tell him that he did break her barriers.
The End.
She moved slowly as she got out of bed, her brain screaming at her to stay put. Her head was pounding and she staggered a bit as she moved in the direction of the bathroom. She had to get out of there. She clearly remembered everything that had happened the previous night and she couldn't stand seeing anyone after the stunt she pulled.
He halted outside the bedroom. Noon. She should be up. He knocked on the door, but got no answer. He knocked again louder, but still nothing. Slowly opening the door, he saw the empty bed and his heart fell as he thought she somehow might already be gone. He was relieved when he heard the water running as he wanted a chance to talk to her. He walked inside and closed the door behind him. Worried how she might react to him being in her bedroom, he remained by the door and called out loudly, "Abbey?"
Abbey stopped splashing water on her face. She couldn't make out the voice. Please let it only be Leo, please let it only be Leo, she almost repeated this out loud in spite of herself. As she heard her name being repeated, she grimaced when she realized it was The President. Straightening her shirt, she walked to the door and opened it, bracing herself at the same time. "Did you and Leo flip a coin as to who was going to check up on me?"
Jed let her pass. "No, Leo offered, but I talked him into letting me be the one. I hope you don't think I used him again."
Abbey closed her eyes briefly as she remembered her tirade. She started to give a response when her woozy head once again got the best of her and she grabbed the bed post to steady herself.
Jed was immediately at her side, tentatively placing his hand on her arm.
"I'm fine." She jerked away and sat down on the bed. She looked up at him and sighed heavily. "I should apologize for, you know, last night."
Jed shook his head as he sat down on the bed, making sure he wasn't too close. "No need for that."
Abbey took another breath. "I...thank you. Thank you for not taking advantage of me. I mean, I haven't made things easy for you."
Jed relaxed just a little, at least she sounded like they had a chance at salvaging their friendship. "I went too far and I should apologize for that." He clasped his hands together, now knowing what to do with them. "I would never take advantage of you, I hope you know that."
"I know." Abbey looked away, not having any idea what to say.
"I sent CJ up to check on you. She is the one who put the blanket on you." Jed was looking at the floor. He didn't want to do what he had decided last night, but it was the only way.
"Oh." She had been curious about that, but had decided not to make a big deal about it. She had assumed it was Leo, always looking out for her.
Jed got up and walked over to the window. It was a beautiful day out. The sun was shining. "Leo also spent the night here. I don't think either of us got any sleep. The girls are with Jenny."
Abbey simply nodded even though she knew he could not see her from where he was standing. She owed him. She owed him an explanation for her strange behavior. He probably wondered why the idea of a 'simple date' could push her to such extremes and she knew he must be equally confused by Leo's leeriness of him, his best friend. It was something that couldn't be changed, but at least she could tell him what had left her and Leo emotionally spent. She got up and walked over to the phone. "Is Leo in his office?"
"Yeah." He continued staring out the window.
The phone ringing caught Leo off guard. "Hello?"
"Leo." Her voice was steady.
His not so much. "Abbey, are you OK?"
"I'm fine. Leo, it's time. I think we owe The President that much to tell him the truth."
"I'm on my way." He hung up the phone. He had wanted to tell Jed. Best friends shared things, but he had not said anything. Now it was time. As he quickened his pace toward the Residence, he tried to fight the butterflies in his stomach, wondering how The President would react. Would he still love Abbey? Would he still consider Leo his best friend?
Jed turned to look at her. Tell him the truth? Just what had the two of them been hiding? Did he even want to know? He loved Abbey and he loved Leo. Whatever it was, it didn't matter. He would never turn his back on them.
There was a knock on the door followed by it opening to reveal Leo. "Hi."
Jed simply nodded to him. He watched as Abbey looked at Leo and Leo nodded back to her. "Go ahead."
Abbey turned back to face The President. There was no turning back now. "I killed my husband."
Jed couldn't believe what he was hearing. He stared at her, not knowing what to say. Did she just say she killed her husband? Abbey couldn't kill anyone. She saved people. She didn't take their lives.
"I killed my husband and Leo helped cover it up. I really didn't give him much of a choice." She blinked and could feel the tears in her eyes.
Leo walked over to her and seated himself next to her. He took one of her hands in one of his.
Jed didn't know what to say. This was not something he had expected to hear. "What happened?" His voice was a whisper.
Abbey cleared her throat. "We had a fight. It was getting out of hand. I talked about leaving him and he threatened to take the kids from me.to ruin my live." She looked down and felt her body start shaking at the memory.
Leo let go of her hand and put his arm around her instead.
Jed was still. He didn't move. Couldn't move. He could clearly see the pain on both of their faces.
"He took out a knife and started waving it around. I tried getting it away from him but... he was so strong." The tears were streaming down her cheeks. "Before I knew it, he was on the floor and the knife...it was...." She couldn't even finish the sentence as she started sobbing violently.
Leo embraced her tightly as much for himself as for her. All the images he had tried to forget resurfaced. His brother on the floor in a pool of blood. Abbey, beside Lane, working feverishly to save him. His own tears were stinging in his eyes as he looked over to Jed who he could see was also crying. "No one knows about this except Jenny. When the police came, we told them we found him like that and that the blood on our clothes was because we had tried to revive him."
He had never imagined something like this. All he wanted to do was to take Abbey in his arms and tell her it wasn't her fault, that it didn't change his feelings towards her. And to tell Leo it wasn't his fault, to let Leo know he would always be there for him no matter what. He wiped some of his tears away and walked over to them. He knelt in front of Abbey. "It's not your fault."
She looked up at him and saw the gentleness in his face. There was no sign of hate or repulsion at what she had done. "The father of my children is dead because of me."
Jed shook his head. "No. You are not to blame." He turned to Leo. "And neither are you."
Leo wished he could believe Jed, but he did not. Deep down he blamed himself. Why had he not confronted his brother about his affairs sooner? Told him to leave Abbey alone? Done something. Anything.
Jed took one of Abbey's hands and one of Leo's in each of his. "What happened was an accident. There is no doubt in my mind of that. You are not a killer, Abbey. No one who knows you would disagree with me." He sighed as he squeezed both their hands. "Knowing you two, you probably did all you could to save him. You protected each other because you care and love each other. What happened is not your fault and someday I hope both of you will believe that."
Abbey wiped some tears away with her free hand. "I shouldn't have called Leo."
"No, you did what you had to do. Jed is right. This isn't your fault. Lane was a very destructive person. Sooner or later...." Leo couldn't finish, but knew they understood what he was trying to say.
"I do wish you would have told me..." Jed didn't get a chance to finish as Leo spoke up.
"Sir, this was hardly..." This time it was Leo who was interrupted by Jed.
Jed looked at Leo. "Leo, you are my best friend and there is nothing that can change that or change how I feel about you. You can come to me with anything and I will never turn my back on you." He smiled at Leo and was rewarded by a hint of a smile. He couldn't ask for much more at a time like this.
"I know and I feel the same way about you." Leo was touched by Jed's words and grateful that this revelation hadn't made Jed want to keep his distance from him.
Jed smiled at Leo before he tilted his head in Abbey's direction. "And you. Nothing could change the way I feel about you."
Surprised by the words and the soft way in which they were spoken, Abbey couldn't help but be touched.
"No matter what happens I want you to know, nothing will ever change my feelings for you. I love you and always will." Jed took a deep breath as he let go of Leo's hand and took both of Abbey's in both of his.
Leo knew what he was about to do. Jed had told him and that was it. He hadn't given Leo a chance to change his mind. Getting up shakily, Leo headed for the door. "I'll be right outside."
Abbey was confused. Just what was going on?
"When I realized just how difficult this all was for you, I made a decision. You don't have to go on a date with me. The bet is off." He rubbed her hands so she would know it had nothing to do with what she had just told him.
Abbey didn't know what to say. She was not sure why he was doing this. He still loved her and her secret hadn't changed his mind.
"I love you, Abbey, but I don't want to make you unhappy and that seems to have been all I've been doing lately. I'm sorry. I hope we can still be friends, but from now on, I promise to leave you alone. I tried breaking your barriers, but failed." He got up, released her hands and kissed her forehead, placing a hand on each side of her face.
Abbey was stunned. She turned as he walked passed her.
Once Jed reached the door, he turned back to her. "If you, for whatever reason, should change your mind and decide to give me a chance, I'll be here. I'll wait for you."
"Wait for me?" She croaked out. Her throat felt thick.
"You're worth waiting for." He smiled at her as he opened the door.
She watched him hurry out and leave her alone. Her legs were still shaky as she got up from the bed. A part of her wanted to stop him, but for some reason she didn't take one step.
Leo met Jed's eyes as he came out the door and put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "You OK?"
Jed leaned against the door. "That was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do." His eyes were starting to tear up again. He wanted more than anything to go back in there and take her in his arms and never let go. "I just need a few minutes alone."
Leo nodded. "I."
"Leo, go home if you need to," said the President, giving him a sincere look. "Or if you need to talk, I'll find you when.when I."
Leo nodded again and gave a soft "OK".
Jed hurried to his bedroom. Once inside he couldn't stop himself from crying. Was this the end? Would he ever see Abbey again or would she disappear from his life completely? He had said that he wanted them to be friends, but did she? Could he be just a friend to her?
Abbey just stood and stared at the door that had changed her life when he had come walking through it. She had trusted him enough to tell her secret. She didn't feel that pounding in her head anymore. Instead it was her heart that was pounding heavily. What would happen now? Would she ever tell him? Ever tell him that he did break her barriers.
The End.