Clearing Clouds
Part 4
Peeking his head into the waiting room, Jed found Abbey sitting on the couch, holding Leah who was sleeping.
"Abbey?" He spoke softly as he went toward the couch.
Abbey didn't even look up. As he got closer, he could see the quiet tears running down her face.
"Abbey?" Jed spoke with more urgency and alarm. "What is it? Is it Laurie?
Abbey turned away from him, as she had not wanted anyone to see her cry.
"Abbey, please tell me," he pleaded with her, sitting down the two cups of coffee that he carried and sitting on the couch next to her. "Should I get Jenny?"
Abbey shook her head and cleared her throat. "No, she's resting with Leo." Abbey wiped at her tears and sniffled. "Laurie is fine. She's asleep, too. Oh, did you get a hold of Mallory?"
"Yes. She's on her way." Jed briefly looked down not knowing if Abbey would welcome anything he had to say. "I know how hard tonight has been," he started. "I can understand."
"I don't think so," snapped Abbey, turning to glare at him. "How could you understand? This is not your fault."
Jed remained calm. "Abbey, it was an accident. It was no one's fault."
"I could have prevented it," Abbey told him. "I knew the lamp cord was frayed. I unplugged the lamp and if I had just taken it to the basement or the garage, none of this would have happened."
"Abbey.you didn't." He looked for words of comfort.
"You didn't see them, sir." Abbey's voice was trembling now. "My baby and Leo lying on the floor.unconscious..having received an electric shock.I thought they were."
"They're fine, Abbey. They're both tough. In a few days, Laurie will be back at school and Leo will be back keeping me in line and you won't be able to tell it happened," Jed tried reassuring her as best as he could.
"That's typical, Mr. President, never admit fault. Is that what they teach you in political school, to dodge responsibility.well I admit things when they are my fault." Abbey stopped speaking, staring at him. Her voice lowered an octave. "I'm sorry, you don't deserve this.I know you are only trying to make me feel better."
Jed sighed again. "I'm here because I care about you.you and the girls.sure when I heard Leo was hurt, my heart dropped into my stomach.but you know, Abbey, it stayed there when Jenny told me that Laurie was hurt, too. I was bound and determined to get here and do anything I could."
Abbey looked at the worry on his face and the sincerity in his eyes. She swallowed hard, but she couldn't stop the tears that spilled down her cheeks. "I was so scared.my baby.what would I do if I lost her."
The President leaned over and took Abbey and Leah in his arms and rocked them gently.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Early the next morning, Abbey came into Leo's room and finding him still asleep, just stood there watching him. She smiled and spoke quietly so as not to wake him or Jenny who was leaned back in a chair next to the bed. "Oh, Leo.you came through for me again.you saved my little girl.how can I thank you for that." Abbey bent down and placed a gentle kiss on Leo's forehead. Then Abbey moved beside Jenny and placed her hand on the woman's shoulder.
Jenny jumped slightly as she woke up. "Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he's still sound asleep," Abbey told her.
Jenny looked at her watch. "8:00 a.m., a new sleep in record for Leo."
Abbey smiled. "Laurie is awake already and ate some breakfast. They think she'll be released later today."
"Me, too?" Leo asked sleepily, looking up at them.
"You eat some breakfast and you, too" Abbey said. "I asked them to bring you some pancakes."
"Good, I need to get to the office," Leo sat up.
Abbey frowned. "I don't think so, pumpkin."
"The only place you're going is home to bed," Jenny leaned over to kiss Leo.
"That could be fun," Leo slid his arm around Jenny.
"To sleep, honey," Jenny careful laid his bandaged hand back on a pillow. "You need more rest. Your body has had quite a shock.and don't anyone laugh.you need time to heal. The President said if he even sees you in The West Wing in the next couple of days, he will personally see to it that you get back to bed."
"And I mean that, Leo," Jed said as he had opened the door. "You take off as much time as you need to fully recover."
"Good morning, sir," Leo greeted him.
"Morning," Jed handed Leo a wrapped package.
"Presents," Leo tore it open and smiled. "A big book of crossword puzzles."
"That should keep you entertained," Jed said amused. Then still holding another present in his hand, he turned to Abbey. "Can I see Laurie?"
Abbey smiled. "She'll be delighted to see you, sir. She's in Room 214. I'll be down in a moment."
"Call me later, Leo, when you feel up to talking," Jed called out as he headed out the door.
Abbey watched the President go and then turned back to Jenny and Leo's expectant faces. "What?" Abbey was self-conscious and it showed in her voice and on her face.
"You talked to him. You guys are much more friendly," Leo said. "Something going on?"
"Leo.," warned Abbey.
"You did, you did.and you know it," said Jenny.
"All right, I admit it," Abbey said to them. "I think I'm ready to give Jed Bartlet a chance." This time her heart meant it.
"You go, girl," said Leo.
Abbey shook her head at their enthusiasm, smiled and left for Laurie's room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trying to wipe the smile off her face, Abbey pushed open the door to Laurie's room. The smile returned to her face when she saw the President sitting on the bed with Laurie, helping her to open the present he had brought.
As the final wrapping tore away to reveal a delicate crystal angel, Laurie gasped at its beauty. "She's so beautiful," Laurie ran her finger down the wing of the angel.
"Just like you," Jed planted a soft kiss on Laurie's head.
Laurie smiled up at him. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome, my dear," Jed said with a touch of a tear in his voice.
Laurie set the doll down carefully next to her breakfast tray. "Do you know I get to go home today?"
"That's wonderful," Jed responded.
"Mom said I can talk to Uncle Leo then. He'll be with us, too. We're going in Aunt Jenny's car," said Laurie. She looked up at the President. "Would you like to come home with us? You could read to me and Leah."
"I don't know, Laurie, I think your Mom might want you to rest. I told your Uncle Leo I better not catch him out of bed," Jed answered although he wouldn't mind going with them.
"The President's right, Laurie, you're going straight to bed when we get home. Maybe when you and Uncle Leo are both feeling better, we'll have a little party and invite the President," Abbey said as she approached.
"Would you come?" Laurie asked as she held the President's hand.
"A party with my favourite people, how could I refuse?" Jed said with a smile. He looked up and caught eyes with Abbey. He hoped she didn't mind anything he had said or done.
Abbey smiled at him. "Sir, can I have a word with you outside?"
"Of course." He turned to Laurie. "See you soon." He squeezed her hand as he got up and followed Abbey out the door.
Abbey closed the door behind him and turned to face him. She couldn't do it like this. "Let's find some privacy. I can't talk with the Secret Service so close."
Jed simply nodded. He wondered what she was up to. It didn't take them long to find an empty room and once inside, he decided to speak. "What's on your mind?"
"You've really been supportive through this. Thank you." She saw he was about to speak, but cut him off. "Wait, let me finish or I'll never get this out."
Jed nodded again, wondering just what she was going to tell him.
She locked eyes with him and took his hands in hers. "Your wait is over."
He blinked. Did she mean? Was she talking about? "You mean..." He didn't dare finish, thinking maybe he was dreaming.
"Yes, I'm ready to give you a chance President Bartlet."
"Abbey, I...I don't know what to say." He felt absolutely overjoyed. This was the best news he had gotten in a very long time.
"You don't have to. Your face says it all." Abbey leaned in to kiss him.
Jed responded happily to her kiss and wrapped his arms around her.
For a second time, their tongues meet and the electricity was still there.
Abbey drew back. "That was nice, but I have to go. I need to get things ready for the girls. Call you later?"
Jed could barely say anything. "Yes." He watched as she opened the door and left him. "Yes. Yes. YES!" He contained himself when he came outside, but noticed a look on one of the agents. "What?" He saw them shake their heads. He smiled as he walked through the corridor. Life was good.
Soon, Jed entered Leo's room at the hospital. "Guess what?"
"Abbey has agreed to try a relationship with you." Leo kept his eyes on the paper he was reading.
Jed's smiled vanished but only for a second. "You're no fun. She told you?"
"She told me." Leo turned the page and kept reading.
Jed seated himself next to Leo. "She told you."
"She told me." Leo repeated not giving anything away how happy he was for Abbey and his best friend. "Don't screw this up."
TBC....
Part 4
Peeking his head into the waiting room, Jed found Abbey sitting on the couch, holding Leah who was sleeping.
"Abbey?" He spoke softly as he went toward the couch.
Abbey didn't even look up. As he got closer, he could see the quiet tears running down her face.
"Abbey?" Jed spoke with more urgency and alarm. "What is it? Is it Laurie?
Abbey turned away from him, as she had not wanted anyone to see her cry.
"Abbey, please tell me," he pleaded with her, sitting down the two cups of coffee that he carried and sitting on the couch next to her. "Should I get Jenny?"
Abbey shook her head and cleared her throat. "No, she's resting with Leo." Abbey wiped at her tears and sniffled. "Laurie is fine. She's asleep, too. Oh, did you get a hold of Mallory?"
"Yes. She's on her way." Jed briefly looked down not knowing if Abbey would welcome anything he had to say. "I know how hard tonight has been," he started. "I can understand."
"I don't think so," snapped Abbey, turning to glare at him. "How could you understand? This is not your fault."
Jed remained calm. "Abbey, it was an accident. It was no one's fault."
"I could have prevented it," Abbey told him. "I knew the lamp cord was frayed. I unplugged the lamp and if I had just taken it to the basement or the garage, none of this would have happened."
"Abbey.you didn't." He looked for words of comfort.
"You didn't see them, sir." Abbey's voice was trembling now. "My baby and Leo lying on the floor.unconscious..having received an electric shock.I thought they were."
"They're fine, Abbey. They're both tough. In a few days, Laurie will be back at school and Leo will be back keeping me in line and you won't be able to tell it happened," Jed tried reassuring her as best as he could.
"That's typical, Mr. President, never admit fault. Is that what they teach you in political school, to dodge responsibility.well I admit things when they are my fault." Abbey stopped speaking, staring at him. Her voice lowered an octave. "I'm sorry, you don't deserve this.I know you are only trying to make me feel better."
Jed sighed again. "I'm here because I care about you.you and the girls.sure when I heard Leo was hurt, my heart dropped into my stomach.but you know, Abbey, it stayed there when Jenny told me that Laurie was hurt, too. I was bound and determined to get here and do anything I could."
Abbey looked at the worry on his face and the sincerity in his eyes. She swallowed hard, but she couldn't stop the tears that spilled down her cheeks. "I was so scared.my baby.what would I do if I lost her."
The President leaned over and took Abbey and Leah in his arms and rocked them gently.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Early the next morning, Abbey came into Leo's room and finding him still asleep, just stood there watching him. She smiled and spoke quietly so as not to wake him or Jenny who was leaned back in a chair next to the bed. "Oh, Leo.you came through for me again.you saved my little girl.how can I thank you for that." Abbey bent down and placed a gentle kiss on Leo's forehead. Then Abbey moved beside Jenny and placed her hand on the woman's shoulder.
Jenny jumped slightly as she woke up. "Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he's still sound asleep," Abbey told her.
Jenny looked at her watch. "8:00 a.m., a new sleep in record for Leo."
Abbey smiled. "Laurie is awake already and ate some breakfast. They think she'll be released later today."
"Me, too?" Leo asked sleepily, looking up at them.
"You eat some breakfast and you, too" Abbey said. "I asked them to bring you some pancakes."
"Good, I need to get to the office," Leo sat up.
Abbey frowned. "I don't think so, pumpkin."
"The only place you're going is home to bed," Jenny leaned over to kiss Leo.
"That could be fun," Leo slid his arm around Jenny.
"To sleep, honey," Jenny careful laid his bandaged hand back on a pillow. "You need more rest. Your body has had quite a shock.and don't anyone laugh.you need time to heal. The President said if he even sees you in The West Wing in the next couple of days, he will personally see to it that you get back to bed."
"And I mean that, Leo," Jed said as he had opened the door. "You take off as much time as you need to fully recover."
"Good morning, sir," Leo greeted him.
"Morning," Jed handed Leo a wrapped package.
"Presents," Leo tore it open and smiled. "A big book of crossword puzzles."
"That should keep you entertained," Jed said amused. Then still holding another present in his hand, he turned to Abbey. "Can I see Laurie?"
Abbey smiled. "She'll be delighted to see you, sir. She's in Room 214. I'll be down in a moment."
"Call me later, Leo, when you feel up to talking," Jed called out as he headed out the door.
Abbey watched the President go and then turned back to Jenny and Leo's expectant faces. "What?" Abbey was self-conscious and it showed in her voice and on her face.
"You talked to him. You guys are much more friendly," Leo said. "Something going on?"
"Leo.," warned Abbey.
"You did, you did.and you know it," said Jenny.
"All right, I admit it," Abbey said to them. "I think I'm ready to give Jed Bartlet a chance." This time her heart meant it.
"You go, girl," said Leo.
Abbey shook her head at their enthusiasm, smiled and left for Laurie's room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trying to wipe the smile off her face, Abbey pushed open the door to Laurie's room. The smile returned to her face when she saw the President sitting on the bed with Laurie, helping her to open the present he had brought.
As the final wrapping tore away to reveal a delicate crystal angel, Laurie gasped at its beauty. "She's so beautiful," Laurie ran her finger down the wing of the angel.
"Just like you," Jed planted a soft kiss on Laurie's head.
Laurie smiled up at him. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome, my dear," Jed said with a touch of a tear in his voice.
Laurie set the doll down carefully next to her breakfast tray. "Do you know I get to go home today?"
"That's wonderful," Jed responded.
"Mom said I can talk to Uncle Leo then. He'll be with us, too. We're going in Aunt Jenny's car," said Laurie. She looked up at the President. "Would you like to come home with us? You could read to me and Leah."
"I don't know, Laurie, I think your Mom might want you to rest. I told your Uncle Leo I better not catch him out of bed," Jed answered although he wouldn't mind going with them.
"The President's right, Laurie, you're going straight to bed when we get home. Maybe when you and Uncle Leo are both feeling better, we'll have a little party and invite the President," Abbey said as she approached.
"Would you come?" Laurie asked as she held the President's hand.
"A party with my favourite people, how could I refuse?" Jed said with a smile. He looked up and caught eyes with Abbey. He hoped she didn't mind anything he had said or done.
Abbey smiled at him. "Sir, can I have a word with you outside?"
"Of course." He turned to Laurie. "See you soon." He squeezed her hand as he got up and followed Abbey out the door.
Abbey closed the door behind him and turned to face him. She couldn't do it like this. "Let's find some privacy. I can't talk with the Secret Service so close."
Jed simply nodded. He wondered what she was up to. It didn't take them long to find an empty room and once inside, he decided to speak. "What's on your mind?"
"You've really been supportive through this. Thank you." She saw he was about to speak, but cut him off. "Wait, let me finish or I'll never get this out."
Jed nodded again, wondering just what she was going to tell him.
She locked eyes with him and took his hands in hers. "Your wait is over."
He blinked. Did she mean? Was she talking about? "You mean..." He didn't dare finish, thinking maybe he was dreaming.
"Yes, I'm ready to give you a chance President Bartlet."
"Abbey, I...I don't know what to say." He felt absolutely overjoyed. This was the best news he had gotten in a very long time.
"You don't have to. Your face says it all." Abbey leaned in to kiss him.
Jed responded happily to her kiss and wrapped his arms around her.
For a second time, their tongues meet and the electricity was still there.
Abbey drew back. "That was nice, but I have to go. I need to get things ready for the girls. Call you later?"
Jed could barely say anything. "Yes." He watched as she opened the door and left him. "Yes. Yes. YES!" He contained himself when he came outside, but noticed a look on one of the agents. "What?" He saw them shake their heads. He smiled as he walked through the corridor. Life was good.
Soon, Jed entered Leo's room at the hospital. "Guess what?"
"Abbey has agreed to try a relationship with you." Leo kept his eyes on the paper he was reading.
Jed's smiled vanished but only for a second. "You're no fun. She told you?"
"She told me." Leo turned the page and kept reading.
Jed seated himself next to Leo. "She told you."
"She told me." Leo repeated not giving anything away how happy he was for Abbey and his best friend. "Don't screw this up."
TBC....