Clearing Clouds
Part 9
Jed tightened his embrace as Abbey snuggled into his arms. He couldn't remember when he had felt so fulfilled or happy. "You comfortable?"
Abbey looked up at him. "Mmm. To bad you have to go back to the Office"
"Well, I could always"
"...and I have to go back to work."
"Right."
Abbey reluctantly drew away from him as she propped herself up on one arm. "So, was it what you expected?"
Jed mimicked her movements. "More so."
The giant smile on his face told Abbey he wasn't lying. "Good." Naked as God made her, she got up from the bed.
Seeing her that way had a profound effect on him. "Abbeyyyy."
She turned and saw him fall back on the bed and cover his face with a pillow. She smirked as she hurried to grab her clothes. "OK, it's safe now," she called once inside the bathroom.
He threw the pillow aside. He got out of bed and put his robe on. He looked towards the bathroom door that was half open. "Marry me?"
Abbey froze inside the bathroom. Had she just heard him right? She quickly put on her underwear and her clothes before hurrying out. "What did you say?"
He walked over to her and took her hands in his. "Marry me, Abbey?"
It may have sounded like a command, but the way he said it, it was clear it was a question. "You're just happy you got some nookie."
Jed burst into laughter. "No...I mean yes I am, but that's not it. I've loved you for so long and I want everyone to know."
Abbey withdrew her hands from his and walked over to her purse. "I'm not ready yet." She didn't want to look at his face for she must have crushed him. To her surprise she felt his arms around her waist and a small kiss planted on her neck.
"Then take all the time you need. I told you once before. You're worth waiting for."
He said it with such tenderness. She turned and saw him looking lovingly at her. "Jed Bartlet?"
Now Jed was surprised. "Yes?"
Abbey smiled tenderly at him as one of her hands started caressing his face. "I've had strong feelings for you that went beyond friendship longer than I ever realized myself. I can honestly say that I want to marry you, but not yet. I'm not ready and my girls need to adjust to this first."
It was more then Jed could have ever hoped for. "You want to talk about it?"
Abbey was a little confused. "About what?"
"Well, no matter how much I'd like to be, I'm not a normal man with an ordinary job. Once it gets out about us, well, things will be different." He carefully studied her face.
"I know, but as long as my girls are safe and can deal with it, so can I. That's all that matters."
She picked up her purse as they walked to the door. Before opening it, she turned to face him once more. "I love you."
Jed felt like his heart was going to explode. He was speechless. He had not expected those words from her so soon.
Abbey smiled at him. She had not planned to say it. It just came out like the most natural thing in the world. "It's true."
Jed swallowed hard. "I know."
A brief smile graced her face again and before he knew it, she had walked out the door.
Exhausted from a full day, Jenny came into the bedroom, hoping to relax awhile before bed. "I have to remember to fix an extra peanut butter sandwich for Laurie since she has play practice tomorrow after school. All the kids bring a snack." Jenny popped a vitamin into her mouth and took a sip of water. "During the day, Leah and I are going to go shopping for a birthday gift for Mallory. I know she wants this red dress she saw at Sax. I figure she'll use it to attract Sam Seaborn." Jenny removed her tennis shoes and socks and tossed them outside the closet door. "Is there anything you want me to pick up at the store? I might get there tomorrow." Jenny looked expectantly at her husband who was lying on his side, his _expression a million miles away. "HONEY, are you hearing me?"
"Hmm..." Leo shifted and looked at her.
"Never mind," Jenny said, coming to the bed and sitting next to him.
She brushed her fingers up and down his arm. "You hungry yet? I could make you some macaroni and cheese."
Leo shook his head. "Just come to bed, you're tired."
"You did a good job with Laurie tonight. She was struggling with math and it was making her not like school. I was listening to you explain it. You're creative there." Jenny smiled down at him and caressed his cheek.
Leo took her hand in his own and kissed the palm. "She just needed to hear division in a way that she could understand."
Jenny stretched out on the bed next to Leo, his arm wrapping around her and pulling her head to his shoulder. Her hand rested on his chest. "I love you so much." She rose up and leaned closer, depositing a soft kiss on his lips.
"I love you," Leo whispered, initiating another kiss that lasted longer.
"How much do you love me, baby?" Jenny asked softly, her lips brushing over his eyelid.
"I want to show you how much." Leo tried to manoeuvre around where they could remove their clothes, his eyes glittering with anticipation.
"Honey, you'll hurt your hand," Jenny scolded, rising and pulling him to a standing position. She unbuttoned Leo's shirt and gently slid the sleeve over the bandage.
"You'll do what I say! You have no choice!" The words boomed in Leo's ears as he felt the fingers dig into his neck, his breath fighting to escape. Leo shifted, wrapping his arms around Jenny. He tried to clear his mind, concentrating on pleasing his wife. Leo felt a quiet blackness growing in front of his eyes, complicated by the pain that made the muscles in his neck burn as if they were on fire. "Do you understand me?" Leo felt his knees touching the floor as he sank. You're going to do what I say!"
Jenny pulled Leo closer, each kiss becoming more passionate.
"NO!" Leo's voice choked from his throat. His hands struck out at Jenny, his body determined to get free from her.
"LEO?" Jenny's voice, high pitched with shock, called out to him, her hands reaching to calm his frantic movements.
Leo's voice had a begging quality and it sent a chill through Jenny that tied her stomach in knots. She rose up and watched Leo who had upon extracting himself from her swung his legs over the edge of the bed to where he was now sitting, hunched with his arms crossed on his knees.
Approaching carefully, Jenny knelt behind him. "Baby?" When she got no answer, she let one of her hands rest on his back. Leo sucked in an audible breath, but made no movement to get away from her. "Come lay back down with me." Leo made no movement. What could be wrong with him? Jenny began to rub circles on Leo's back. "Baby, what is it?"
Leo shook his head.
Jenny thought back over how little Leo had eaten that day. "Are you sick?"
Leo shook his head, gradually relaxing back against her as she ran her fingernails lightly over his stomach. "I'm sorry, Jenny."
"Oh, I just want to help you." Jenny kissed his shoulder again. She brushed through his hair, leaving her hand cradling the side of his face.
Leo's hand covered Jenny's. "I'm sorry."
Jenny cuddled him closer. "It'll make you feel so much better if you tell me." Jenny tried to be insistent without upsetting him.
"I can't." Leo pulled away from her, slid off the bed and took off for the bathroom.
In a moment, Jenny heard the shower running. She lay back on the bed, a tear running down her face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jenny rolled over in the bed and forced her eyes open to look at the clock. She squinted in the darkness to read the tiny numbers. 3:32 a.m.! She still had approximately 4 hours to sleep before she had to get the girls where they needed to be. Smiling at her luck, Jenny reached out her arm to wrap around Leo's stomach to cuddle him close to her. Her arm reached as far as it could and fell onto an empty bed.
She slipped on her house shoes and robe and switched on the bedside lamp. Making her way quietly, she looked down the hall for lights under any of the doors. Maybe the girls had needed something and Leo had gone to get it without waking her. It was not unusual for the girls to want a drink in the middle of the night.
When everything was dark, Jenny made her way down the stairs. It was possible Leo was working. It was not unusual, especially when he couldn't sleep, for Leo to read reports or make notes on some bill or speech. Reaching the kitchen, Jenny could see a dim light over the table. The adjustable light had been turned down to its lowest, giving the room an eerie green cast.
Stepping through the doorway, Jenny stood watching Leo who was staring at a picture in a book. His back was to her, but she could tell how hard he was concentrating. He was going to ruin his eyes, looking at something without the proper lighting. Jenny moved behind him and lovingly wrapped her arms around his shoulders. If he was having trouble sleeping, she had ways to relax him.
Jenny was not prepared for what she caused. Leo let out a screech, a sound she had never in all their years together heard him make. He bolted out of the chair, sending her so off balance that she went to her knees, gripping the chair next to his. The next thing she knew, a heavy ceramic coffee cup whizzed by her head, sending coffee splashing over her robe and shattering into millions of tiny pieces when it struck the shelf behind her.
Simultaneously, Leo moved awkwardly backward, stumbling over the next chair. With a yelp, he, too, hit the ground, his already injured hand thudding against the table as he fell.
Even in the near darkness, Jenny could see him still scooting away. "IT'S ME. IT'S JENNY!" Pulling herself up with the chair, Jenny fumbled for the receiver and turned the light to its full brightness. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, LEO? IF THAT WOULD HAVE HIT ME..."
Leo was still on the floor, his bandaged hand cradled against his chest, his eyes looking wildly at Jenny.
Slightly alarmed, Jenny knelt next to him. "Honey?"
Leo didn't answer, his eyes darting between Jenny and the coffee cup, its tiny pieces poking into the rug, its contents sprayed in an ugly brown pattern. "Jenny..." Leo wobbled up on his knees and reached for her. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you... Jenny..." His arms pulled her tightly
against him, his face buried against her neck.
"Baby..." Jenny hugged him reassuringly. "Leo, I'm okay...you didn't hurt me...but, honey, please tell me what's wrong...you can't go on like this..."
"Aunt Jenny!" She heard two sets of running feet.
Jenny pulled back from Leo, glad to see that he had regained some of his composure. "Girls, we're in the kitchen. There's nothing to worry about. We just tripped over the chairs."
Leah and Laurie burst into the room. "We heard a big noise and yelling," exclaimed Laurie.
"It's nothing to worry about. Just a silly accident..." Jenny smiled at the girls. "Let's get you guys back upstairs to bed. School is in just a few hours." She ushered the girls out of the kitchen. Leaning her head back around the door, she glanced at Leo and at the mess on the rug. "Don't you be trying to clean that up; come back upstairs."
After they were gone, Leo slowly stood, collecting the chairs from the floor. Fishing the book he had been looking at out from under the table, Leo opened the cabinet containing Jenny's cookbooks and rooted through them, stuffing his book under a large book about desserts. Shakily, he hobbled to the sink and drank down too glasses of water, almost without breathing. Pausing to shudder as he passed the broken coffee cup, he made his way back upstairs.
TBC..
Part 9
Jed tightened his embrace as Abbey snuggled into his arms. He couldn't remember when he had felt so fulfilled or happy. "You comfortable?"
Abbey looked up at him. "Mmm. To bad you have to go back to the Office"
"Well, I could always"
"...and I have to go back to work."
"Right."
Abbey reluctantly drew away from him as she propped herself up on one arm. "So, was it what you expected?"
Jed mimicked her movements. "More so."
The giant smile on his face told Abbey he wasn't lying. "Good." Naked as God made her, she got up from the bed.
Seeing her that way had a profound effect on him. "Abbeyyyy."
She turned and saw him fall back on the bed and cover his face with a pillow. She smirked as she hurried to grab her clothes. "OK, it's safe now," she called once inside the bathroom.
He threw the pillow aside. He got out of bed and put his robe on. He looked towards the bathroom door that was half open. "Marry me?"
Abbey froze inside the bathroom. Had she just heard him right? She quickly put on her underwear and her clothes before hurrying out. "What did you say?"
He walked over to her and took her hands in his. "Marry me, Abbey?"
It may have sounded like a command, but the way he said it, it was clear it was a question. "You're just happy you got some nookie."
Jed burst into laughter. "No...I mean yes I am, but that's not it. I've loved you for so long and I want everyone to know."
Abbey withdrew her hands from his and walked over to her purse. "I'm not ready yet." She didn't want to look at his face for she must have crushed him. To her surprise she felt his arms around her waist and a small kiss planted on her neck.
"Then take all the time you need. I told you once before. You're worth waiting for."
He said it with such tenderness. She turned and saw him looking lovingly at her. "Jed Bartlet?"
Now Jed was surprised. "Yes?"
Abbey smiled tenderly at him as one of her hands started caressing his face. "I've had strong feelings for you that went beyond friendship longer than I ever realized myself. I can honestly say that I want to marry you, but not yet. I'm not ready and my girls need to adjust to this first."
It was more then Jed could have ever hoped for. "You want to talk about it?"
Abbey was a little confused. "About what?"
"Well, no matter how much I'd like to be, I'm not a normal man with an ordinary job. Once it gets out about us, well, things will be different." He carefully studied her face.
"I know, but as long as my girls are safe and can deal with it, so can I. That's all that matters."
She picked up her purse as they walked to the door. Before opening it, she turned to face him once more. "I love you."
Jed felt like his heart was going to explode. He was speechless. He had not expected those words from her so soon.
Abbey smiled at him. She had not planned to say it. It just came out like the most natural thing in the world. "It's true."
Jed swallowed hard. "I know."
A brief smile graced her face again and before he knew it, she had walked out the door.
Exhausted from a full day, Jenny came into the bedroom, hoping to relax awhile before bed. "I have to remember to fix an extra peanut butter sandwich for Laurie since she has play practice tomorrow after school. All the kids bring a snack." Jenny popped a vitamin into her mouth and took a sip of water. "During the day, Leah and I are going to go shopping for a birthday gift for Mallory. I know she wants this red dress she saw at Sax. I figure she'll use it to attract Sam Seaborn." Jenny removed her tennis shoes and socks and tossed them outside the closet door. "Is there anything you want me to pick up at the store? I might get there tomorrow." Jenny looked expectantly at her husband who was lying on his side, his _expression a million miles away. "HONEY, are you hearing me?"
"Hmm..." Leo shifted and looked at her.
"Never mind," Jenny said, coming to the bed and sitting next to him.
She brushed her fingers up and down his arm. "You hungry yet? I could make you some macaroni and cheese."
Leo shook his head. "Just come to bed, you're tired."
"You did a good job with Laurie tonight. She was struggling with math and it was making her not like school. I was listening to you explain it. You're creative there." Jenny smiled down at him and caressed his cheek.
Leo took her hand in his own and kissed the palm. "She just needed to hear division in a way that she could understand."
Jenny stretched out on the bed next to Leo, his arm wrapping around her and pulling her head to his shoulder. Her hand rested on his chest. "I love you so much." She rose up and leaned closer, depositing a soft kiss on his lips.
"I love you," Leo whispered, initiating another kiss that lasted longer.
"How much do you love me, baby?" Jenny asked softly, her lips brushing over his eyelid.
"I want to show you how much." Leo tried to manoeuvre around where they could remove their clothes, his eyes glittering with anticipation.
"Honey, you'll hurt your hand," Jenny scolded, rising and pulling him to a standing position. She unbuttoned Leo's shirt and gently slid the sleeve over the bandage.
"You'll do what I say! You have no choice!" The words boomed in Leo's ears as he felt the fingers dig into his neck, his breath fighting to escape. Leo shifted, wrapping his arms around Jenny. He tried to clear his mind, concentrating on pleasing his wife. Leo felt a quiet blackness growing in front of his eyes, complicated by the pain that made the muscles in his neck burn as if they were on fire. "Do you understand me?" Leo felt his knees touching the floor as he sank. You're going to do what I say!"
Jenny pulled Leo closer, each kiss becoming more passionate.
"NO!" Leo's voice choked from his throat. His hands struck out at Jenny, his body determined to get free from her.
"LEO?" Jenny's voice, high pitched with shock, called out to him, her hands reaching to calm his frantic movements.
Leo's voice had a begging quality and it sent a chill through Jenny that tied her stomach in knots. She rose up and watched Leo who had upon extracting himself from her swung his legs over the edge of the bed to where he was now sitting, hunched with his arms crossed on his knees.
Approaching carefully, Jenny knelt behind him. "Baby?" When she got no answer, she let one of her hands rest on his back. Leo sucked in an audible breath, but made no movement to get away from her. "Come lay back down with me." Leo made no movement. What could be wrong with him? Jenny began to rub circles on Leo's back. "Baby, what is it?"
Leo shook his head.
Jenny thought back over how little Leo had eaten that day. "Are you sick?"
Leo shook his head, gradually relaxing back against her as she ran her fingernails lightly over his stomach. "I'm sorry, Jenny."
"Oh, I just want to help you." Jenny kissed his shoulder again. She brushed through his hair, leaving her hand cradling the side of his face.
Leo's hand covered Jenny's. "I'm sorry."
Jenny cuddled him closer. "It'll make you feel so much better if you tell me." Jenny tried to be insistent without upsetting him.
"I can't." Leo pulled away from her, slid off the bed and took off for the bathroom.
In a moment, Jenny heard the shower running. She lay back on the bed, a tear running down her face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jenny rolled over in the bed and forced her eyes open to look at the clock. She squinted in the darkness to read the tiny numbers. 3:32 a.m.! She still had approximately 4 hours to sleep before she had to get the girls where they needed to be. Smiling at her luck, Jenny reached out her arm to wrap around Leo's stomach to cuddle him close to her. Her arm reached as far as it could and fell onto an empty bed.
She slipped on her house shoes and robe and switched on the bedside lamp. Making her way quietly, she looked down the hall for lights under any of the doors. Maybe the girls had needed something and Leo had gone to get it without waking her. It was not unusual for the girls to want a drink in the middle of the night.
When everything was dark, Jenny made her way down the stairs. It was possible Leo was working. It was not unusual, especially when he couldn't sleep, for Leo to read reports or make notes on some bill or speech. Reaching the kitchen, Jenny could see a dim light over the table. The adjustable light had been turned down to its lowest, giving the room an eerie green cast.
Stepping through the doorway, Jenny stood watching Leo who was staring at a picture in a book. His back was to her, but she could tell how hard he was concentrating. He was going to ruin his eyes, looking at something without the proper lighting. Jenny moved behind him and lovingly wrapped her arms around his shoulders. If he was having trouble sleeping, she had ways to relax him.
Jenny was not prepared for what she caused. Leo let out a screech, a sound she had never in all their years together heard him make. He bolted out of the chair, sending her so off balance that she went to her knees, gripping the chair next to his. The next thing she knew, a heavy ceramic coffee cup whizzed by her head, sending coffee splashing over her robe and shattering into millions of tiny pieces when it struck the shelf behind her.
Simultaneously, Leo moved awkwardly backward, stumbling over the next chair. With a yelp, he, too, hit the ground, his already injured hand thudding against the table as he fell.
Even in the near darkness, Jenny could see him still scooting away. "IT'S ME. IT'S JENNY!" Pulling herself up with the chair, Jenny fumbled for the receiver and turned the light to its full brightness. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, LEO? IF THAT WOULD HAVE HIT ME..."
Leo was still on the floor, his bandaged hand cradled against his chest, his eyes looking wildly at Jenny.
Slightly alarmed, Jenny knelt next to him. "Honey?"
Leo didn't answer, his eyes darting between Jenny and the coffee cup, its tiny pieces poking into the rug, its contents sprayed in an ugly brown pattern. "Jenny..." Leo wobbled up on his knees and reached for her. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you... Jenny..." His arms pulled her tightly
against him, his face buried against her neck.
"Baby..." Jenny hugged him reassuringly. "Leo, I'm okay...you didn't hurt me...but, honey, please tell me what's wrong...you can't go on like this..."
"Aunt Jenny!" She heard two sets of running feet.
Jenny pulled back from Leo, glad to see that he had regained some of his composure. "Girls, we're in the kitchen. There's nothing to worry about. We just tripped over the chairs."
Leah and Laurie burst into the room. "We heard a big noise and yelling," exclaimed Laurie.
"It's nothing to worry about. Just a silly accident..." Jenny smiled at the girls. "Let's get you guys back upstairs to bed. School is in just a few hours." She ushered the girls out of the kitchen. Leaning her head back around the door, she glanced at Leo and at the mess on the rug. "Don't you be trying to clean that up; come back upstairs."
After they were gone, Leo slowly stood, collecting the chairs from the floor. Fishing the book he had been looking at out from under the table, Leo opened the cabinet containing Jenny's cookbooks and rooted through them, stuffing his book under a large book about desserts. Shakily, he hobbled to the sink and drank down too glasses of water, almost without breathing. Pausing to shudder as he passed the broken coffee cup, he made his way back upstairs.
TBC..