"I'll slay whoever put you in that Toby mood." Sam teased.
"The sun is shining, there is a light frost on the ground and the sky is nearly as beautifully blue, as your eyes. Oh, God forgave me too."
"God forgave you? Mara what on earth did you do this time?" Sam chuckled.
"Nothing, I went to confession since I skipped Mass last Sunday to help get you settled in. Fr. Francis absolved me and told me I had a good reason. Then I figured while we were still in the seal of the confessional I'd tell him we were getting married and asked him if he'd mind being the co-celebrant."
"And?"
"He told me I'd been in politics too long if I thought I needed to discuss wedding plans under the seal. So he kicked my butt out and told me to make an appointment like any other bride"
"Geez, it's a good thing he likes you."
"Yeah, I'm hungry. How does Swedish pancakes with warm applesauce sound?"
"Pretty darn good."
"Kay, I'll be back shortly."
After lunch they had assumed their normal couch positions while they were working. Sam was reclined listening to briefings while Mara gingerly slide her legs up and down around his good leg. Sam often wondered how she could work with her legs bent so closely to her chest, but she claimed she was perfectly comfortable using her knee caps as a desk.
Carol's melodic voice was grating on his last nerve as she read a series of briefs that Sam would have out sorced five pages ago. He felt the sudden urge for a good stiff drink but knew it was out of the question with the pain medication he was on. He didn't even want to think about how much pain full blown rehab would bring once his cast was off. Dani refused to quantify the intensity of the pain which only lead to Sam imagining it to be off the scale.
"For God's sake Carol, shut up." Sam muttered.
"Someone is grumpy this afternoon." Mara remarked. Her eyes never leaving the security brief she was reading.
"I use to think Carol liked me, but obviously she's trying to put me in a catatonic state."
"I'm almost done here, we can get back to Harry, Ron and Harriet."
"You know Mar, I don't think J. K Rowling would appreciate you calling Hermione, Harriet."
"Oh Sam, bite me! I'll call her what ever I damn well please."
"You just can't pronounce it, Oh bitter one."
"Samuel, calculate how long it's been since you got some and multiply it by infinity." Mara replied tersely.
"That settles it, I'm calling you Professor Snape from now on."
"Mara, how many times have I told you not to use the withholding card so frivolously?" Abbey asked from the door.
"Hey Mom."
"Hi Abbey."
"How are you feeling today Sam?"
"I'm making progress, I made it in here without smacking the hell out of my knee on the coffee table for the first time. Killer has taken to meowing whenever he sees me, so I don't kick him again."
"I think you stepped on his tail Sam, It was all puffed up when he ran to Jed for comfort."
"Speaking of Killer, have you seen him Abbey?"
"Yes, he's sharing Jed's chocolate pudding. I'm going to have to get him a cat once you are settled back at home."
"Mara wanted to get him one for Christmas but I talked her out of it."
"Thank you for that Sam, but I'm afraid it's become unavoidable. Killer spends more time in the Oval than Leo."
"Did you want anything Abbey?"
"Just thought I'd stop by and say hello to Sam. We are having filet minion with mushrooms and baby carrots if you'd like to join us."
"What's for dessert?" Sam asked with a grin.
"Brownie sundaes."
"I'm in, even if Professor Snape here isn't.."
"Well someone has to torture Sam so I'm in too."
Abbey chuckled, "You know Mara half the time, I'd never guess you were madly in love with Sam."
"I wonder myself sometimes." Mara chuckled, nudging Sam's good knee with her foot.
"She's pure evil Abbey, never doubt that for a moment." Sam shot back.
"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone. Dinner is at six in the private dinning room."
"Thanks again." Sam replied.
"So you think I'm evil to the core Samuel?"
"No, I know you are evil to the core woman! God help me but I still love you."
"Flattery will get you...everywhere." Mara replied seductively.
Sam felt movement on the couch and before he could react, Mara's lips were pressed gently against his. Carol's voice long forgotten as Mara made him heady with kisses alone. Her leg finally started to protest the angle it was forced in to and she had to pull away.
"You're a pain in the ass Mar, but damn can you kiss."
"I'll have you know I'm also damn good at running countries. Now, if I could only abolish the elected role of Prime Minister and turn it in to a Dictatorship. Then I could really do great things."
"You know Mara, I don't know what is scarier, the fact that I know you're serious or the fact that you'd actually do it if you ever found the way."
Mara gave Sam her best maniacal laugh, "Maybe you should call me 'He who can not be named.' Or if you're really brave....."
"I am not calling you Lord Voldemort."
"So do you want to continue with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets or make out some more?"
"I pick Harry." Sam deadpanned.
"Sam!!!!"
"Gottcha!"
"Watch it Samuel or I'll put one hell of a hex on you."
"You did that the moment our eyes first meet Madame Ambassador."
"Aww! You are getting too good at rapidly getting yourself out of the dog house."
"You give me lots of practice, I'd be pretty stupid if I didn't learn a few things."
Mara just shoot Sam a look and ignored his comment. For his part Sam, was pretty sure he was getting one of three looks and figured her "Why do I even bother look" was the most likely candidate. He heard her flipping a few more pages and then the gentle swoosh of a file folder closing.
"Bed or chair?"
"Actually, I was giving that some thought and I didn't take a shower today so I thought....."
"Sam, you manage to hurt me in the shower when you can see what you're doing."
"I haven't broken anything and I only drew blood twice, you big whimp."
"I repeat your choices: bed or chair?"
"Bed, spoil sport. So what were you working on?"
Mara slid her arm around Sam's back and helped guide him back to thier room, explaining the security brief she was woking on. She was sorry she had, when Sam kept interrupting thier make out session to ask her follow up questions. Mara had noticed over the time they'd been together her love for foreign policy had started to rub off on Sam. Mara finally gave up and held a security breifing with Sam. She was impressed that he noticed and recommended everything that she would be putting into her report later. Sam had dozed off and Mara carefully got out of the bed filed her report and went to find Jed.
She heard Bach coming from the study and knew she'd found her man. She stopped at the door watching Jed conduct a pencil symphony with Killer trying to catch the pencil. A stick waving in the air had to be a game in Killer's mind.
"You can't conduct with Killer around."
Jed looked up and grinned, "I've discovered that. Did you come to claim your cat ?"
Mara could tell Jed was hoping she'd say no."I came to see you actually, but I'm glad you remember who actually owns Killer."
"I think Abbey will finally let me get a cat now."
"Yeah, she's resigned herself to the fact that it's unavoidable."
"So what can I do for you Mara?"
"This conversation never happened OK?"
"OK, what's on your mind?"
Mara sat down opposite Jed's desk, taking a deep breath. "It's about Sam and I think he'd kill me if he knew I was meddling."
"I'd say that would depend on what you are meddling in."
"His career."
"Yeah, Sam would be pissed at you."
"Jed, is there any way you could start occasionally including Sam in foreign policy matters? He's really developing an interest in it and he's pretty good at it. He's not a natural like I am. I see the entire picture in front of me without having to think about it. It's like I can instantly conjure up a war game board. I have to keep reminding Sam to see the whole picture and sometimes he just can't see it. If he's encouraged he could maybe get there some day."
Jed smiled warmly at Mara. He'd always considered her highly perceptive and had often wondered if she'd noticed it yet. "Mara, you see it in him too don't you?"
Mara should have known Jed would see it. She suddenly remembered the first time she'd invited Sam along to Sunday brunch without asking permission. Abbey had gently wondered how she felt about Sam while Jed outright warned Sam to run before it was too late. When Sam informed him, it already was, Jed remarked that they reminded Abbey and himself of each other in their youth. Of course Jed had to add that Mara was a blonder, wilder version of Abbey with an even hotter temper. She shook her head, a grin on her face causing Jed to wonder what she was thinking of.
"You mean that he's the next 'real thing?' Yeah, I noticed it. I think I must have known on some sub- consciences level it was there all along. It's probably one of the things I just couldn't vocalize that attracted me so deeply to him. You should have heard Toby laugh at me when I told him I loved the essence of Sam. It's funny, but Josh never did."
"It's rare, but Josh can occasionally say just the right thing, then shut up and just listen." Jed said, his obvious affection for Josh clearly evident.
"Yeah I call it, a pod Josh moment. It hit me like a ton of bricks when I was watching him from the wings during the Disney Teacher's Awards.. Oh Jed, I wish you all could have seen him live. The passion he spoke with... it was just the most amazing speech I'd ever heard in my life. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house and if Sam, had asked, I think we would have all followed him in to the lagoon. I knew at that moment that I'd fallen for the future POTUS."
"You know Mara, it won't be easy, especially given Sam's nature and your own. The smart money would be bet against you."
"I seem to remember another candidate that not many people would have put their money on."
Jed chuckled. "Yes, some days I wish I'd joined them."
"Sam has no idea, I don't think the thought has even crossed his mind."
"No, I think it's crossed his mind. I think he just quickly dismisses it. He sees every aspect that sucks about being President and lets it go at that. He's not ready Mara. Hell I wasn't ready until the night I won the Illinois primary."
Mara laughed. "Fake it, till ya make it. I think if Sam, could hear us now he'd be beyond petrified."
"I think so too. I'll know when the time's right, when Sam is ready to have the seed planted in his mind. I'll tell you when I've said something because Sam, being Sam, won't mention it. It will probably take months of him bouncing the idea around in his head for him to even say anything to you. Have you really thought about this Mara? Have you thought about what it would mean to you?"
"Enough to know that Ceeg would never agree to be Sam's press secretary. She's too smart to be anywhere near my fallout. She'd volunteer to be my official muzzle maybe."
They both started laughing until Killer got fed up with being ignored, meowed loudly and jumped off Jed's desk to go find someone who would make him the center of attention.
"He hates to be ignored." Mara added as she watched her cat slink out the door.
"Just like his Mistress. You know Mara, I never got the chance to sit down with you on Christmas day and tell you what I good job you've done so far. You managed to keep your temper in check for an entire month. I'm impressed."
"Thanks Jed, but it was a pretty easy month to start in. I'm good at parties with lots of space and a drink in my hand. There was no way I was giving any ground on the softwood lumber. To be honest, I knew you'd never back it, all they had was paranoid manufactured interpretations of the truth."
"Still, I was expecting one eruption from Mount Whitford."
"Patience Jed, you just need to be a little patient. So far Lord lost his Marbles has stayed far away from me. I'd never get tired of beating the crap out of that man!"
"Just don't let me hear that Leo, Josh and you have formed a club O K?"
"Jed, I consider you a pretty smart man, how can you suffer that fool?"
"I'll admit he seemed to skip the classes on decorum but he really does know what he's talking about."
"Sorry, the man opens his mouth and all I hear is I'm a buffoon."
"Dinner has been served. Do tell, are Sam and I the only ones who are hungry? You should both know we've already claimed each of your desserts." Abbey said from the door then left.
Jed closed the file he'd been pretending to look at before Mara walked in the door. "I think we've been summoned."
"I know we've been summoned and they have taken ownership of dessert.."
"I guess we better go before they cast lots for our dinner."
Jed slid his arm over Mara's shoulder and gave her a fatherly hug as they made their way down to dinner.
*******************
Sam and Mara were spending their last night in the residence. While Mara was happy to be heading home, she'd miss the proximity of the West Wing. She'd grown to love, being able to pop downstairs to bring misery upon Josh's day before heading over to the Embassy. She'd laughingly told Sam, " A day without annoying Josh was like a day without sunshine." Mara was definitely having more fun than Sam.
Sam's cast had been off for two days and as hard as he was working to suck it up and deal with the pain Mara knew he was in hell. She was forced to leave the solarium earlier that day because she couldn't watch Sam go through his rehab. She couldn't encourage him because she was sitting on the couch sobbing at the amount of pain he was in. Sam was upset that she was upset and it had turned in to a disaster that led to Melissa, the therapist, banning her from rehab.
Mara was suppose to be going over security briefings but Sam hadn't heard a page flipped in a good hour. He knew she was worried about him and probably mad at herself for getting kicked out of rehab. He'd been in too much pain and was too tired earlier but he knew he had to say something to her.
"Mar?"
"Sam, I'm so sorry I failed you. "
"Mara, wipe thought out of your mind right now. How can you even think you failed me?
You've dropped everything to be by my side, you don't let me give in to the despair and I know you'd do the rehab for me if you could. You can't though and actually I'm very touched that you feel my pain so profoundly that you can't function. You do your job and I'll do mine and we'll muddle though this together."
"Can't you people come up with a better a word than muddle?"
"Mara, I know you like words like defeat or banish better but hell I'll happily take muddle rather than being six feet under."
"Sam, you're right, I just hate that word. Do you remember anything from the coma?"
"I knew you were there, I could feel your presence and it felt very comforting. I think I knew when you had been forced out because I still felt safe but it wasn't the same. Honestly, it was more of a feeling than a certainty. I couldn't swear on the bible that it was real."
"It makes sense to me."
There was a knock on the door and Mara noticed that old habits died hard as Sam's eyes shot to the direction of the door to their room.
"Sorry to interrupt but..."
"Come on in Abbey." Sam replied.
Mara slid her legs up, wrapping her arms around her knees to give Abbey room to sit down. Abbey noticed her discarded files and smiled. It seemed that no one in the residence felt like doing any work that evening. Jed left his work in the study and was watching a Discovery Channel special on the Pyramids.
"Sam, I've been thinking about this all day and night long. I don't think you are ready to go home yet. You've ventured downstairs a dozen times using the elevator. I was pretty surprised you weren't put in a walking cast Sam. I don't think your ankle is healed enough to take the normal stress of walking down the hall, let alone up and down that staircase in the mansion. My specialty isn't Orthopedics Sam, but I'd really like you to get a second opinion and stay here for another week or two."
"Breaking out the old text books were we?" Mara asked with a gentle smile.
"Yes and they were old which made me wonder if the treatment had changed that much. I'm not sure so...."
"That's why you want me to get a second opinion. I'll go Abbey, if you'll come with me to explain it in real English."
"Sam, the stairs were the entire reason we came here in the first place and we haven't given them a thought since. I was happy to be heading home too but can you even get down and up the Grand Staircase? It's easier than ours."
"I won't know until I do it, but I'm not thrilled with the prospect of giving it the college try."
"Sam, I don't even want you to give it a try. Will you stay?"
Sam smiled warmly. If anyone would have told him that he'd actually get use to calling The First Lady, Abbey, let alone thinking of her as a second mother, he would have thought them crazy. He probably would have reminded said person that he was actually sort of scared of her. Mara had completely managed to change every aspect of his life, for the better. (Well except for this bloody blindness. I don't want to cope. I want my sight back )
Mara and Abbey looked over at Sam when he failed to respond. What ever he was thinking had brought an adorable smile to his entire face but it changed to a look Mara knew all to well because hers nearly mirrored his when she went there. She looked at Abbey who had come to the same conclusion. Mara looked over at Sam again, trying to decided if she should bring him out of it or let him give in for awhile. Her eye caught a fuzzy tawny ear that seemed to be growing from Sam's side. Mara had her answered this time.
She gently pushed at Sam, "Sweetie, sit up a bit you're smothering Tedzy, all that remains is an ear."
Mara's push brought Sam's thoughts back to the present and he sat up. Mara rescued Tedzy and plopped him down in Sam's lap.
"I think you owe Ted an apology Samuel and a few real good hugs to say you're sorry."
Sam apologized and hugged the bear tightly, knowing fully what Mara was doing and he was grateful that it worked.
"That wasn't a muddle." Sam and Abbey both said simultaneously causing them all to break out in laughter.
When Abbey, finally managed to right herself, she wiped at the tears of laughter that had fallen from her eyes and accepted a Kleenex from Mara who was dabbing at her own eyes.
"Mara, how long have you had Tedzy? As long as I've known you, he's been in your bed."
"He's older than me. My Grandma gave him to me on the day I was born. He was twice my size. I have a picture she took of him in my crib and everyone saw him first because he was the biggest item in the crib. I left my pillow once at my Uncle's house in Victoria but I've never forgotten Ted."
"He's a little big even for you to forget." Sam teased.
Sam, realized the bear meant the world to her the moment he first laid eyes upon it. There was just something so striking about seeing a bear almost as long as his arm perched protectively over her own pillow. He'd never said a word to her, but it was with that realization that he knew she was more than a big kid at heart, that the protective perch was hiding a great deal of personal baggage. It started an inner dialogue in his head that lead him to thinking about how Josh would have bolted instead of being intrigued and actually coming to care for this total stranger even more
It had taken a few weeks for it to dawn on him. He'd gone in to wake Mara up after making dinner for her in Ottawa and it hit him, as soon as he saw the bear in her arms. Josh and Mara were more alike than either of them would ever guess. He thought of Webster. The old fuzzy Donkey was still in exceptional condition, so it was rarely cuddled but Josh always had the donkey sitting on a chair in his room. At first Sam, had just thought it was childhood remembrance and that he was a big kid. As their friendship grew and Josh, slowly let Sam, into his protective shell, Webster took on a whole new meaning when he'd finally learned about Joannie and a childhood cut short. The similarities he'd noticed then between Josh and Mara started to become almost eerie. They really were cut from the same cloth which was why they were naturally oil and vinegar. Sam, knew then, that eventually they'd become friends because their ego's couldn't help adoring someone so similarly strange. He just never dreamed it would be their mutual fear of losing him that would bring them together.
"Abbey, I never answered you earlier. I'll stay and thank you so much for your hospitality and care. Mara, give Josh a break and let Donna, gently break it to him that you're staying. He was counting the minutes down till he could and I quote 'Maintain the sanctity of his office in the morning.' Of course, Donna assures me that he usually gets a kick out of your hi-jinx but he really wanted to murder you on Friday."
"Yeah, I realized too late that he was in a Toby mood and man he let me have it. He was very mean actually but I let it go. I ordered a floral bouquet as soon as I got to work for Donna and signed Josh's name on it."
"Actually you signed it: Sorry I'm being an ass today, blame Bu. She's totally to blame for all the ills of the world anyway. Josh."
"He must have loved that." Mara laughed.
"Probably, actually Donna told me and Josh was quick enough not to say what flowers and just take the credit."
"I guess I owe One Fry, that much. He can take the credit and I'll stay away until the evening."
"That's very mature of you Mara." Abbey said trying not to start laughing again.
"I have my moments."
"Yeah, they are just few and far between." Sam muttered.
"Can we comprehend beyond infinity?" Mara muttered back.
Sam grinned and leaned over, finding Mara's neck and ear fairly easily. "Keep saying it Mara, maybe I'll believe you one of these eons. I know you want me as much as I want you."
Abbey looked at the annoyed grin on Mara's face and silently waved bye leaving Sam to his feast on Mara's neck.
*****************************
Mara heard Abbey's laughter as she was approaching the private kitchen and ducked her head in. She saw Sam munching on a rice krispy square with a large mug of coffee beside his other hand.
"Samuel Norman Seaborn! Since when does a rice krispy treat qualify as breakfast?"
"One most certainly does not, but Abbey assures me the six I've already eaten qualify together."
"Abbey!"
"Oh Mara, we saved you some and they are not any worse than those Sugar Corn Pops you love so much."
"As a medical professional Abbey you should be setting a better example.' Mara chastised as she looked around the room for the squares.
"Oh bite me Mara! "Abbey replied with a wicked grin. "They are beside the sink."
"This much sugar and Jed can't be a good thing." Mara remarked before putting half a square in her mouth.
"He is in the Oval and doesn't know they exist and Mara dear, I'd go put on a scarf if I were you. It seems young Samuel has marked you."
Mara slid her hand across her neck and felt a raised tender spot. "See Sam, I didn't yell ouch for nothing, You've marked me you beast!"
"Sorry Hon, but I'm sure you'll live."
"Abbey, are you and Jed free for dinner tonight?" Mara asked totally ignoring Sam.
"I believe tonight is the only free night all week long why?"
"I'm going to make you my Lobster Ravioli with a creamy roasted red pepper and sun dried tomato sauce."
"Yum sounds amazing Mara."
"It is Sam, but since you maimed me you'll be foraging for food with Josh."
"You're mean."
"Tell me something I don't know. So Seven Abbey?"
"Let's say 7:30 to give Jed time to get up here."
"Kay, I'll see you then. I'm off to get my Josh abuse in and to invite Ceeg to join us. This is her absolute favourite meal of mine."
"What no good bye?" Sam asked.
Mara pretended to think about it for a few seconds before leaning over and giving Sam a quick kiss.
"I love you Sam, but man can you be a jackass sometimes. Stop teething on me!"
Mara heard Abbey chuckling as she left the residence and made her way down to the West Wing to inflict some misery on Josh. She decided she'd go on and on about how thoughtful it was of Josh to send Donna flowers and suggest he kept up the practice.
*************************
Sam's morning had been long. Toby sent Ginger up to read Sam what he had for the State of the Union so far and Sam had Ginger slash through most of it leaving Toby with three solid pages out of the original fifteen. He tried not to let his utter frustration show but Ginger could read Sam better than almost everyone else and knew the pace was killing him.
"Sam, I think we both deserve a break and I'm starving. Believe me, Toby will be thrilled that you salvaged a fifth of the work. The man really needs some pie and if he doesn't watch it I'm going to give him a mud one right in his sour puss! He was screaming at Larry and Ed that they were so no where that they couldn't' get themselves out of a wet paper bag."
"It's my fault, he normally blows up at me and I'm not there to take it and ignore him. I'm sorry Ginger. Tell Bonnie, I'm sorry she must be drowning since you had to spend all morning up here. Lunch for both of you is on me."
"Sam wipe that sad puppy dog face off now cause I find it too hard to kick you in the ass when you do that!" Ginger ordered.
Sam had this perplexed look on his face and Ginger wondered if he really had been dropped on his head as an infant as her boss claimed.
"Samuel Norman Seaborn, there are days when I'd cheerfully choke you, when I've suggested to Kathy that we nail you and Toby into your offices and cut the phone cords. You are never satisfied Sam, you rewrite more than Shakespeare did. Wonder why you are still alive? It's because I forget about killing you when I hear what you and Toby have come up with. The light at the end of the tunnel is always hearing your words Sam. I think Toby is brilliant, but I swear if you ever tell him that I'm going to rip your heart out and feed it to Gail!"
Sam had to laugh at that one but he was still feeling pretty useless. Fifteen pages had taken him nearly four hours to fix and he was sure at this rate he'd barely qualify as a member of the communications staff, let alone as Deputy.
"Can I finish what I was saying? Toby is brilliant, he can get a message across more effectively than Zorro slashing his "Z" into fabric but his writing doesn't make your heart soar. Toby has made me cry Sam, but only your words have brought me to tears. Sam, your words resonate through your audiences soul. Your stump speeches, your inaugural... made my Republican best friend from High School wish she'd voted Bartlet. Sam, on December 23rd you could have done this in an hour and a half tops. Today it took us both four hours but it got done. If you think for one second that we don't still need you Sam, I will kick your ass from here to Sacramento. I hope this blindness is temporary Sam, but if it isn't, then things are going to take longer, we're all going have to put in more time, do a little more work but we'll do our share without a second thought. The question I leave you with is: will you be able to stop feeling sorry for yourself and do your part?"
"Ginger I......"
"Sam it was a rhetorical question. I just want you to think about it. Now give me $30."
"You're charging me for advice now?"
"No stupid, you said you'd buy us lunch. I want Kincaids."
"Well you can either wait ten minutes for me to go find it on the dresser or you can go get my wallet for me, take what you need and give it back to me. I'll need it, Mara won't feed me tonight."
"Sam, I saw the hickey, you're lucky food is the only thing she's with holding. I'll be back."
"Is that sass Ginger Ale?" Sam chuckled.
"You bet your ass it is." Ginger shouted back from the hallway.
"You shouldn't let her show you such little respect my friend." Josh said from the door.
"Hey, Mara is ticked at me."
"Yeah, we know. She told me I was responsible for feeding you tonight. She didn't think it was funny when I told her you simply just answered one of her many "Bite Me!" Requests."
"Josh, she'd said that earlier in the day, if I'm not getting fed tomorrow too, you're dead."
"Sorry buddy. I..."
"Sam, you didn't have a ten so I'm taking forty, I'll bring you back the change."
"Sam, how many times have I warned you never to let Ginger near your wallet. She'll spend it on shoes." Josh teased.
Ginger rolled her eyes, picked up the pages they'd worked on and gave Sam's shoulder a gentle squeeze before placing his wallet in his hand.
"Sam, think about what I said and you better hide this. You know Josh, he'll just spend it all on bad porn."
"Thanks Ginger. I'll see you later."
"What was that all about?" Josh asked?
"Ginger told me I had to stop feeling sorry for myself. I know she's right but sometimes the frustration is just so damn unbearable."
"Well hey, your cast is off, that's progress."
"Josh, I'm popping pills every few hours and I'm still in agony. Abbey is making me get a second opinion and I'm sure it will mean another cast."
"Oh."
"Mara's pissed at me for leaving a mark, like I could see I was doing it. It took me four bloody hours to do something that should have taken me an hour and Ginger had to help me. I can't even go downstairs to my office without calling someone to meet me at the elevator door. I'm sick and tired of having to rely on other people Josh."
"Sam, this is just a temporary thing."
"What if it isn't Josh? When I went to see the doctor last week, he couldn't tell me anything other than the swelling is gone and my sight isn't back. Do you know what its like having a specialist basically shrug at you? Sorry don't have a clue Sam, how are those Braille Institute classes going?"
"Sam....."
"It takes so long to listen to a brief that I lose my train of thought ten times. I think NFL Linebackers knees are in better shape than mine. I'm sure my knees are black and blue and they'll be arthritic when I'm 36. Then there's Mara. I love her Josh, but I think she was soaking up extra sarcasm when God was handing out compassion. Her answer to everything is 'Then just tell them you can't handle it Sam.' She's reading to me but she's renaming half the characters. I heard...."
Josh couldn't listen to another word. He didn't know how to help Sam. He was never good at emotional support. That's what he had Donna for. He told Sam, it was just a temporary thing, that should have been enough. He didn't want to think that things would change. Josh didn't like change. All this was a temporary diversion. Sam would get his sight back and everything would go back to the way it was before the accident. So they wouldn't joke about Sam being blind anymore just like C.J. stopped asking someone for a gun to shut Josh up after Rossyln. He noticed Sam had stopped talking and frantically wondered what to say.
"Josh, it was a rhetorical question but thanks for trying to come up with an answer. Sorry, I just needed to vent. I feel a bit better. How about we have chicken wings for dinner?"
"Yeah, sounds good to me. Sam I've got to go I just remembered a meeting I put on the calendar and didn't tell Donna about. She's going to kill me in about ten minutes when I'm double booked."
"Josh it's a miracle she hasn't killed you yet. You know she's forbidden you from touching your schedule."
"I know, that's why I have to avert this crisis. Don't be surprised to see Donna with lunch, I need to get her away from the office. Later buddy."
"See ya."
Sam shook his head imaging the verbal beating Josh would be in for when Donna found out what he did. An idea for the State of the Union came to Sam and he fumbled around trying to find something to write with. All he managed to do was give himself a paper cut on a magazine. The idea was gone and Sam just headed back to bed. He'd had enough for one day.
Donna was reclined in Josh's chair, her feet propped up on his desk while she talked to Mara on the speaker phone.
"Donna I feel like I'm talking to a cave, get me off speaker phone!"
"Sorry, no can do, I'm very comfy at the moment and I'm not giving up this rare no Josh around to bug me time. Hey, did I tell you that the Valentine's Ball invitations all arrived today?. It was a stroke of genius to print them on glassine envelopes filled with candies. I'm eating Josh's cinnamon hearts now."
"I'm glad you are enjoying them. Did you RSVP to Leslie?"
"Umm no, I figured you knew I wouldn't miss a chance to wear your dress."
"Donna if I didn't own a collection of vintage Valentino dresses would you still be my friend?"
"Probably, but just to be on the safe side I plead the fifth." Donna laughed.
"Just for that, you get to do the head count and RSVP everyone to Leslie."
"You're mean."
"You bet your ass I am. Hold on a sec, one of my other lines are ringing."
Donna rotated her ankle, dropped a few hearts on the floor and came to the conclusion that Sam's chair was more comfortable than Josh's. She was debating a manicure when Josh rushed in to the office.
"Hey!"
"S'up?" Donna asked innocently.
"Donna, get out of my chair!"
"You just couldn't give me a half an hour break could you?" Donna sighed as she slowly got out of his chair.
"Donna, the Sate of the Union is in 2 weeks how do you have time to do nothing for half an hour?"
"I make the time. Where did you disappear to?"
"I went up to check on Sam and I'm sorry I did."
"Why?"
"He hasn't resorted to feeling sorry for himself as Ginger claimed but he's dwelling on how his life has changed and he started to think the blindness was going to be permanent."
"Well, it has been almost a month, I sort of thought his sight would be back by now. Mara said the doctor told them he didn't know why his sight wasn't back yet. I wouldn't exactly be feeling confident with sorry can't tell you anything diagnosis."
"Sam, is not going to be permanently blind and that's all there is to it. I couldn't handle listening to him so I made a hasty retreat and told him I'd send you up with some lunch. Do what ever it is you do to comfort him Donna cause he was even complaining about Bu."
Mara had heard Josh when she came back to the line and didn't like what she heard. Josh's refusal to think it could be permanent worried her and she certainly didn't like to hear that Sam was complaining about her.
"Umm Josh...." Donna started, remembering she had Mara on speaker phone.
"Exactly what is Samuel's complaint against me?"
Josh whipped his head around expecting Mara to be standing at the door then looked at Donna to confirm that he wasn't going insane. Donna pointed at the speaker.
"Bu?"
"Well Josh, spill it and for God's sake get me off speaker phone!"
Josh picked up the phone, "He didn't say anything specific just that he loved you but you skipped compassion and went for extra sarcasm instead, that you can't read names very well and that if he was able to see, you wouldn't be yelling at him for that hickey."
"I see, can I talk to Donna."
Josh handed Donna the phone. "Yes, Mara?"
"Could you please go grab Sam something from the mess and send it up to him. I'm going to do a juggling act and head over as soon as I can. Don't forget my head count tomorrow."
"I'll go now, see ya."
"Yeah, bye."
"Josh, today only, I'm glad I don't work for Mara."
"Yeah, Bu in a detached voice mode, is not a pretty sight. Go do whatever she asked you to then I need you to go over to the OEOB and pull some files for me."
"Whatever." Donna sighed worrying about Sam and Mara.
****************************************
It took Mara two hours to get out of the office and she found Sam's lunch sitting on the table in the Solarium. She checked the bedroom and found the door closed. She carefully opened it and found Sam asleep. Mara took naps in the afternoon, not Sam, which worried her slightly. She kicked off her shoes and slid in to bed with Sam, wrapping her arms around him. It took about fifteen minutes but Sam eventually responded to the lazy circles Mara was making on his chest and woke up.
A sleepy smile graced his lips but when his eyes fluttered open, the brilliant blue was gone. It was replaced by a cold, murky gaze that brought the word desolate to mind. Mara had managed to have her worst day since becoming Ambassador and momentarily toyed with the idea of quitting on the way back to the residence. The last thing on earth, she wanted to do was deal with a depressed Sam, yet she was going to have it out with him anyway, until she saw the look in his eyes. A lecture, a pep talk, hugs to Tedzy or a comedy routine were just not going to work this time. She opened her mouth to say go back to sleep but all that came out was "Oh Sam..." before she dissolved in to tears. Sam clung to her and let the tears flow freely for the first time until they both feel in to a deep, exhausted sleep.
Josh went upstairs to collect Sam, just after seven and was told that Sam and Mara had retired for the evening. Josh was sure there was a mistake and pressed his ear to the door. The last thing he wanted to see was Sam and Mara making love.
Josh gently pushed the door open, letting just enough light in to the darkened room. He discovered that Sam was indeed fast asleep and Mara looked very groggy, as if she'd just woken up moments earlier. Truth be told she looked like hell, Josh though. Her eyes were blurry, while her cheeks and eyes were red and raw. He knew she'd been crying very hard. Her hair was everywhere and then he noticed something that took his breath away. Something so pure and genuine that Josh got goose bumps. He knew as long as he lived, he'd never forget the way Mara was looking at Sam at that moment. He'd never scoff or role his eyes again when Mara proclaimed that she loved Sam more than she wanted her next breath, because he could see that she loved Sam with every fiber of her being and it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever witnessed.
"Could Donna ever love me like that?' He whispered to himself as he tried to close the door unnoticed.
Mara looked up just before the door closed and slipped out of bed. She opened the door and found Josh leaning against the wall, a lone tear falling down his cheek.
"Josh? What's wrong?" She asked barely above a whisper while twisting a lock of hair around her finger.
"Actually nothing, for once I can say all is right in the world. I'm sorry I didn't mean to disturb you. "
"Ah, don't worry about it. If nothings wrong, what's with the tear?"
"Tease me and you die, but I guess seeing true love makes me misty. You really would slay any dragon, climb any mountain for him."
"Josh, I'd give my life to spare his. I'd give up everything I love and hold dear on this earth, if I could take the pain he's feeling away." Mara stared crying again.
Josh wrapped her in his arms and let her cry. When she finally seemed to be regaining her composure Josh decided to bring a smile to her face.
"You owe me two shirts now. I'm thinking Armani."
"Huh?"
"You've ruined two of my shirts with tears. I was just thinking about replacements."
Mara laughed and swatted him lightly. "Josh, you are such a goof ball."
"It takes one to know one. He's lucky to have you Bu."
"Nah, I'm lucky to have him. Oy, I'm serving dinner in fifteen minutes and nothing is prepared."
"Don't worry about it, I'll cover dinner for you. Go back to sleep, cause you look like hell."
"Thanks, whoa wait a second you cook Josh?"
"Your lobster whatever is going to look exactly like Kraft Dinner."
Mara grinned wildly at Josh and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I guess I'm some what lucky to have you too One Fry."
"Ditto Bu. Night."
"Night."
Mara turned and went back to the bedroom while Josh headed down to the private kitchen wondering how he was going to explain the change in dinner menu to The President and First Lady.
-Fin-
Coming soon to a computer near you, Stand on Guard for The. (AKA Sam and Mara Part Deux!)