Title: Christmas Without You Part (4g/4)
Series: Through the Years
Rating: R - Contains some sexual content and language.
By: adoreleo
Pairing: Leo/Margaret
Spoilers: Anything up to and including Abu El Banat.
Disclaimer: The characters are from the NBC, WB, TV show The West Wing; they do
not belong to me.
Beta and Additional Ideas By: Lynn, who went above and beyond the call... THANKS!!!!
Feedback: I would love it hear your opinion!
Summary: It's Christmas time at the White House and once again something is not
right.
Dec 25, 2003
The President's Private Study: 7:30 pm
Leo follows the President into his private study. Jed motions for Leo to sit down, in one of the wing back chairs, while he sits down in the other. "So, you're getting married."
"Yes Sir."
"So when did you arrive at this decision?"
"Today Sir," Leo says, as he waits for the next question.
"When today?" Jed's not going to give up.
"This morning, Sir," Leo decides that short answers are the best way to go when dealing with Jed on this subject, for that matter, on most subjects.
"When this morning?"
"After we woke up, Sir."
"Ok, let me get this straight. You went to Margaret's last night, slept there, woke up there and then just out of the blue decided to ask her to marry you?" Jed asks.
"Yeah," Leo answers.
"And when was this again?"
"Um. I don't know exactly when, but we had just.." Leo stops. He's starting to get a little flustered and he almost let their activities from the past night and day slip out.
"Just had what, Leo?" Jed wants all the details he can get, plus it's fun to watching Leo squirm.
"Um. Sir I don't think I'll say." Leo's grin grows uncontrollably, just like his urges for Margaret.
"Ok, so you just decided to ask her?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. We had just spent a beautiful night and morning together and I realized I never wanted to be out of her arms again," Leo sheepishly admits.
"Really!" The President of the free world whines.
"Yeah, really, Sir." Leo mood turns serious. "Jed, no one has ever made me feel the way she does. All she has to do is touch me, look at me or whisper to me and I'm long gone! I love her so much. My heart starts beating fast and all I can think about is her. Nothing else matters, not even work. That's when I knew, I had to ask her."
Jed's surprised that Leo called him by name, not that he minds. As a matter of fact, Jed would like it if Leo called him by his name more often. "Not even work!" His best friend raises an eyebrow at that statement. 'Boy, his friend has it bad'. "Leo you're putty in her hands."
"Yeah. But what a way to go, Sir," Leo smirks.
"Yeah," Jed agrees.
"Sir, I was wondering. if you would like to be my best man?" Leo asks.
"Leo, I would love to," Jed replies. Then he decides to get back to prying details from his friend. "You plan on moving in with her, before you get married?"
"Yes, Sir, I do." Leo debates whether to tell the President about what had happened to Margaret. He's not sure if she wants anyone to know what happened. "I don't want to waste anymore time. Plus, Margaret doesn't um. live in the best of neighborhoods, Sir, and I want her safe."
"Leo, what are you trying so hard not to tell me?" The President demands.
Leo decides he should tell Jed what happened. "Sir, Margaret was mugged a couple of years ago." Leo lowers his head as he continues. "It was all my fault, I kept her late at work and when she went home late that night. She was. attacked."
"Leo, what do you mean attacked?"
"She was knocked out. Sir, if it wasn't for someone happening by, who knows what that bastard would have done to her!" Leo's outrage comes quickly to the surface at the thought of some animal touching his Margaret.
"Leo, calm down. Was she hurt?" Jed asks in a concerned voice.
"Yes." Leo whispers.
"Leo, How bad? I don't remember her being injured. Was I out of the country? Why didn't you tell me?" Jed fires off the questions. He's prided himself on caring about his staff and if he had overlooked Margaret's' injury, he isn't going to be very happy.
"She was hit on the head. She received fifteen stitches, Sir. You didn't notice because of the same reason I didn't either." Leo offers.
"And why was that?"
"She hid it from me. She called in the morning after the attack and said she had a family emergency and needed the rest of the week off."
"I vaguely remember Margaret being gone." Jed pauses trying to remember. "You weren't in the best of moods."
"No, Sir, I wasn't," Leo replies. "I don't seem to function well without her." Leo barely smiles.
"Yes, that's true, but there was something else was going on, wasn't there?" Jed is searching his mind for the reason behind Leo's dark mood during that time.
"Yes, Sir," Leo answers. "But."
"Leo, why did she hide this from you?" The President asked, but he already suspects that he knows the answer.
"She was. protecting me, Sir," Leo softly admits.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because she didn't want me to feel guilty. She knew that I would blame myself and she said that I was in no condition to take on any more guilt," Leo admits.
"What was going on then?" There had been several things go wrong for Leo, since they had taken office that Jed wasn't sure which event Leo was talking about.
"The day before her mugging, I had that meeting with General Adamley." Just even saying his name is hard for Leo to do, the mention of it brings back something that he wished he never found out.
"Oh." Was all that Jed could manage to say. What else could he say? It had been a bad time for Leo. Jed thinks back to that tragic Sunday.
Jed had just finished a marathon meeting with the Vice-President, when he thought he heard a faint knock on the Oval Office door. He called for the person to enter as he got up and went to behind his desk to pack up for the evening. When he looked up from his briefcase, he was surprised to see Margaret standing there. She was only just inside the door and hesitated before entering any further. She never comes into the Oval, unless she knew Leo's here and she needs him for something.
"Margaret, come in. If you're looking for Leo, he left hours ago, after an early meeting this afternoon." Jed is very surprised that she doesn't know this. Margaret knows where Leo is every second of the day and Jed wouldn't put it past her to have spies at Leo's hotel to keep track of him there, too.
"No, Sir, he didn't leave," Margaret says, very quietly. She's obviously, very nervous. She's wringing her hands the whole time that she walks towards the President's desk.
"He told me he was leaving after his meeting with Adamley." Jed explains. "Do you need me to go shoo him out the door, Margaret?" Jed asks with an uneven smile. He's starting to think that something's wrong with Leo, because Margaret's face is drawl pretty tight.
"Sir, he'd kill me if he knew I was doing this," Margaret tries to regain some composer. "He never left. after his meeting with the General."
"Margaret, is Leo ok?" Jed voice full of concern.
"I. don't think so, Sir," She gasps though tight lips. She feels like she's betraying Leo, but she has to do something, especially when she knows that Leo's in trouble. "When the General left, Leo never came out. I waited for a while expecting him to come out and tell me to go home, but he didn't. So after a while, Sir, I went to his door and knocked. He didn't answer at first and then I heard him through the door, telling me, to go home. Sir, I could tell by the sound of his voice that something wasn't right, so I decided to go in anyway. I found him, sitting in his chair, in front of the window. I really couldn't make out his face because the room was so dark. I started for the light and he stopped me from turning it on. He told me that he was done and that I was to go home. Sir, when he said he was done, he made it seem so final and his voice sounded." Margaret pauses, as she tries to hold back her own tears of worry.
"Margaret, what's going on? What are you trying so hard not to tell me?" Jed wants to know what's going on that has Margaret so rattled.
"Sir, when he told me to go home, his voice was. Sir, it was. husky with tears." Margaret lowers her head at this statement
"Are you sure, Margaret?"
Margaret bobs her head up and down. "Sir, he was. I know he was crying and he seems very despondent. I know Leo, I may not have been able to see his face clearly, but I know he's upset. I didn't know what to do, I. I'm afraid to leave him like this, Sir. I'm afraid he might um. you know." Her hands are very fidgety now.
"Drink?" Jed asked.
Margaret bobbed her head while biting her bottom lip.
"Don't worry, Margaret, I'll go see him." Jed walks over to her and puts a comforting hand on her arm. "Margaret, you did the right thing by telling me. Why don't you go on home now? Ok?"
"Ok, Sir," She barely whispers.
"Don't worry, Margaret. I won't tell him we talked. Ok?"
"Ok, Sir." She now has tears running down her face as she turns to leave.
"Oh, Margaret, you're a good friend to him. Thanks for looking out for him," Jed smiles as he says this. He thinks that Margaret's one of a kind and that Leo's so fortunate to have her, as his assistant and his friend.
"You're welcome, Sir. Taking care of Leo is second nature to me now, Sir." She gives him a small smile and heads out the door.
Jed enters Leo's office, the lights are lower than normal and Leo doesn't even notice that the President is there. Leo's sitting in his wing back chair in front of the window and he isn't moving. At first, Jed thinks he's asleep, and then he hears the soft sounds of Leo crying. The last time this happened, Jed let his best friend have some privacy, but this time Jed knows that there is something really wrong.
"Leo, what's wrong?"
Leo didn't realize that the President is in his office and he jumps up out of his chair and tries to wipe the tears, from his eyes. "Sir?"
"Leo, sit down." Even though Jed knows that Leo has just talked to Adamley and that Leo's problem probably has something to do with that meeting. Jed still couldn't help but think that there is only one thing that could make Leo this upset. "Leo, has something happened to Mallory?"
Leo sits back down in his chair, across from his friend. Of course Jed would assume that something's happened to Mallory to have him this upset. How does he tell his friend that it's because he could've have killed someone else's child in that ill-fated mission. That supposed military target. The bombing mission where he killed eleven innocent civilians. "No, Mallory's fine," he answered in a dead voice, refusing to look his friend in the eye. At least, he thought Mal was ok. He hadn't seen or talked to her in a while.
Jed's really is starting to get concerned about his friend. He's afraid that he's on the edge and it wouldn't take much more than a spoken word to send him over it. "Leo, talk to me, you're scaring me."
At that phrase, Leo looks at his friend and sees the look of fear on his face. "Mr. President. I'm fine."
"Leo, cut the shit, you're not fine! Tell me what the hell happened!"
Leo's so tired and emotionally drained from his ordeal that he starts telling Jed without even fully realizing it. Leo tells him the whole story about Adamley' s visit and what the General had to tell him. He ends the recounting, by telling Jed about the mission.
"Oh Leo, I'm so sorry. but this is not your fault!"
"Tell that to the families of the people I murdered."
"Leo, you didn't murder everyone. It was War! You were deceived!"
"Yeah, all wars are crimes, that's what Adamley said."
God, Jed wishes Adamley were here right now. He'd love to kick the General's ass for doing this to his friend. "Leo, why did he tell you this?"
"Funny, I asked him the same thing," Leo sneers. "He wanted to make sure he got in to speak with you about the War Crimes Tribunal."
"Well, he can forget about that now. I never want to see that son of a bitch again. He's not to step foot in this White House again!" Jed roars.
"Yeah, because we can't have people being mean to his Chief of Staff," Leo smirks. He remembers when Toby wanted someone arrested for saying something bad about the President. "I told him I'd set something up with you, later this week."
"Well you can forget it, I won't see him."
"Sir."
"Don't Sir me, Leo. Nobody does this to you and then gets a free pass."
For the first time since this afternoon, Leo almost smiles at his friend's protectiveness. "Sir, he's one of your Generals, you have to meet with him."
"We'll see, besides I don't care about that, right now. All I'm concerned about is you."
"That's very kind of you Sir, but I'm only one person, and this issue could adversely affect several thousands of people, Sir."
"Yes, I know, Leo. But right now, I'm concerned about my best friend."
Leo looks at Jed, the man who has stood beside him and been his friend for years. The man that, Leo had called from that motel parking lot. No one could ask for a better friend than Jed. How many more times can Jed's Presidency withstand a blow that is 'his' fault? "Sir, I don't deserve your concern."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Jed questions.
"You should have let me resign after my addictions came to surface. Now, this. It's sure to come out, right before the hearings. You need to cut your losses now, Sir."
"Leo, I don't want to hear anymore about cutting my losses. You are here for the duration. You got me into this mess and you're going to be here until the end. Do I make myself clear?"
"Sir."
"Don't Sir me. You're not going to leave me here alone with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, Mr. 'The glass is half empty' and Miss 'I'm good in bed'. But, more importantly, if you leave, I'm sure that your wonderful assistant will follow you and the White House can't afford to lose it's best assistant!"
An actual smile comes to Leo's face at the mention of his assistant. She's followed from the Labor Department, to the Lecture Circuit, to the campaign and finally to the White House. He couldn't ask for anyone more skilled, loyal and dedicated than Margaret. Leo looks at his friend. "Yeah, Margaret is the best. She's always seems to be a step ahead of me. I know if I were to leave, that she'd follow. She wouldn't like leaving, but I know she'd follow me just the same and I wouldn't be able to stop her." In his mind he finishes with 'and I wouldn't want to stop her either.'
"Sounds like to me, then, you have to stay. You wouldn't want to get Margaret on your bad side."
"No, Sir. I wouldn't." Leo can't deny that Margaret is a force to be reckoned with.
"Leo, that's enough shop talk, let's head to the Residence and catch the last half of the football game."
"Sir, I'm tired, I think I'd really rather just go home."
"Leo, do I need to order you to come watch TV with your Commander and Chief?"
"Sir."
"Leo."
"Ok, just for awhile." Leo gets up and wearily makes his way to the door and opens it for his President.
"Ok. Leo, you'll see, we'll have fun."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
They head off to the Residence moving very slowly, since Leo's favoring his bad leg more than usual. Jed hasn't noticed Leo's limp being this pronounced in a long time. 'How much more does this man have to go through' Jed can't help but wonder, as they make their way down the portico and off to the Residence to watch some football.
"Sir." Leo waits a couple of seconds. "Mr. President!"
"Umm. yeah." Jed's mind slowly returns to the present.
"You seemed to have drifted, Sir."
"Yeah, I was just remembering." Admits to his best friend.
"Yeah, me too, Sir." Leo acknowledges.
"So, the only reason you're moving in with Margaret is because you're only thinking about her safety." Jed's ready to start the teasing again.
"Yes, Sir," Leo answers through his widespread grin.
"Very commendable of you, and not in the least bit, selfish on your part, either," Jed smirks.
"That's what I think too, Sir."
"You know, I couldn't help noticing, when you arrived today, that you seemed pretty. tired and worn out."
"Yeah?" Leo's not sure where his friend's going with this new line of questioning.
"I'm not sure that I can afford to have my Chief of Staff in such a condition all the time."
"What do you mean, Sir?"
"I mean. You've haven't even been with Margaret for a whole day yet and you are already worn out." Jed smiles.
"I'm not worn out." Leo bemuses. Well, at least not in a way Jed could notice.
"You sure do appear that way. Remember, you're an old man Leo. You don't want to over do yourself."
"Old man, I like to see you try and keep." Leo stops, he gives Jed a smirk. Leo almost fell into that one. He's not about to tell his friend that Margaret has turned him into a walking erection.
"Keep what, Leo?" Jed's eyes are dancing.
"Nothing, Sir. Maybe we should go back and check up on Abbey and Margaret." Leo heads for the door. Then turns back to his friend. "Oh, I sure hope that Coop knows how to keep his mouth shut, I wouldn't want it to get around that I like bay window seats." Leo grins as he turns and heads out the door.
"Leo." Jed whines as he tries to catch up with his friend.
"What, can't you keep up old man?" Leo asks back over his shoulder, as he continues down the hall. Maybe he should tell Jed that tonight, if his luck held out, would be the sixth time in a little over twenty-four hours that he made love to Margaret. Leo shakes his head at that thought and says to himself, 'Nah, Jed probably wouldn't even believe it, I'm not so sure that I believe it myself'.
"Who you calling old? I can still put you in your place." Jed catches up to his friend's side.
"Ok, whatever you say, Mr. President." Leo slows down his rolling gait.
"Don't you Mr. President me, I'll have you know that I have plans for rendezvous number two with Abbey later tonight," He proudly boasts.
"That's very admirable of you, Sir," Leo informs his best friend.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Leo agrees.
"Ok."
"Now, if you would just multiply 'that' by three, you would be where Margaret and I will be up to at the end of the evening." Man, Leo really loves messing with Jed. The look on Jed's face is priceless. Leo hopes that this never gets back to Margaret. She'd die from the embarrassment and then kick his ass!
Jed does the math in his head, two time three is six and take away tonight's time. "Five times, you want me to believe that you've. five times!" Jed shrieks. "You're out of your mind if you think I'm going to believe that whopper. You're just teasing me, aren't you?"
Leo stops and turns to his friend, Leo has a panicked look on his face. "God Jed, will you stop yelling it down the hall. If Margaret finds out I told you, she'd kick my ass!"
Judging by the look on Leo's face, Jed can tell that his friend is, in fact, telling the truth. Jed is speechless. He just nods his head and finally manages to say, "Sorry."
"Come on, let's go join the women and you'd better wipe that look off your face," Leo tells, his best friend.
"Yeah, and I think you need to rest up for." Abbey and Margaret's abrupt appearance in the hallway interrupt Jed.
Sitting Room: 7:30pm
Abbey and Margaret are sitting at opposite ends of the same couch in the sitting room. Margaret's hands are folded in her lap, she's trying her hardest not to let them fidget. "Mrs. Bartlet, I just want to say, again, that I'm so sorry for yelling at you tonight. It's just that I was ."
Abbey raises a hand to stop her. "First of all, I thought we decided that it was Abbey, and secondly, Margaret, you don't owe me an apology, I own you one, for my behavior towards Leo. I know it hurt you too, and for that I am very sorry. So why don't we just start over? OK?"
"Oh, I'd like that very much Ma'am um. I mean. Abbey." Margaret wonders if she'll ever feel comfortable calling the First Lady by her first name.
"Great. Now lets get down to the real important matters at hand. I want to discuss Leo's health with you."
"Ok."
"I'm worried about his general health and the panic attacks. The attacks could be the result of something more serious. When was the last time that Leo had a physical?"
"I don't think he's had one since. Jenny left him. They use to go and get theirs at the same time each year."
"Ok, well the first thing we need to do is get him in for one."
"Yeah right," Margaret snorts. "I'm sorry, it's just not something that I think he's going to be very receptive to.
"Yeah, I'm sure you're right about that. I may have to get Jed to order Leo to get one for the good of his country," Abbey smirks.
"Abbey, I feel like. I'm ratting him out, but. he's smoking again. It started up about the same time you left for the farm. I think he's only smoking at work, because I haven't." Margaret suddenly stops and lowers her head in embarrassment.
"Haven't what Margaret?" Abbey asks.
Without raising her head, Margaret confesses. "I haven't smelled smoke inside his hotel room while . I've been sneaking into his room and checking it for. signs that he has been. drinking." The last word, barely above a whisper, fell slowly from her mouth.
'Margaret, it's ok. Jed and I have been wondering, if he has been drinking too. Leo will never hear it from me that you were checking up on him." Abbey scoots down to Margaret's end of the couch and places a concerned hand on Margaret's hand. "It just shows that you love him."
"I don't want him to think that I don't trust him, but before yesterday, I really didn't know what was going on in his life," Margaret divulges.
"Leo's a lucky man to have you, Margaret. You're the best thing that has happened to him in a long time, if not ever."
"Thank you, Mrs. I mean, Abbey."
"Now here's the plan. First, we get Leo in for a physical. Second, I think I'm going to call Dr. Keyworth and confer with him about Leo's panic attacks and see what he suggests. Thirdly, Leo needs to start working on reducing his stress level.
"I think he's already found a new favorite way to reduce his stress level." Margaret blushes.
"Oh, do tell."
"I um. I," Margaret stutters.
"Would it have anything to do with your bay window in your apartment?"
"Oh my God, how did you know about that?" Margaret's face is totally red now.
"Jed was so worried about what Leo might do last night, when you resigned that he had Leo followed to your apartment. Jed had the agent report in every hour with an update."
"No."
"Yes. Agents never usually divulge information of a personal nature, but I think that the agent was just trying stop Jed from worrying. All the agents are aware of Leo and Jed's strong friendship."
"Do you think Leo knows?"
"Not much gets past Leo, but who knows, Leo really wasn't himself last night."
"I'll say!" Margaret announces.
"Ya know, I'll always suspected that Leo was very. how can I phrase this?"
Before Abbey can finish her thought, Margaret finishes it for her. "Leo's a very talented and enthusiastic lover!"
"For a man his age?" Abbey asks.
"For a man, any age!" Margaret declares proudly.
"Oh my!" Abbey affirms.
"Yeah. He can't control himself." Margaret hadn't intended for that last part to slip out. But, she's definitely not going to mention the fact that he's quite well endowed, too.
"Margaret, you're a very fortunate woman." Abbey isn't really surprised to find this out about Leo. She has always suspected that he was full of passion and that the right person would be all he needed, to bring out.
"I know, I've never seen anyone with that large a ." Margaret abruptly stops. She can't believe what she almost just said.
"You've never seen that large a what?" Abbey asks, with a smile on her face.
"That large a. um. could we just forget I said that?" Margaret pleads.
"Ok, I won't torment you any more about it, I'll just say you're very lucky and leave it at that." Abbey knew exactly what Margaret had been referring to. She's noticed that her husband's friend appeared to be well endowed. Not that she was looking, but she couldn't help but notice. When she once had to examine his bad hip and he was in his boxers, she could see that he could probably please most women.
"Yes I am, five times lucky so." Margaret's hand flies to her mouth. She can't believe she just said that. Why can't she keep her big mouth shut? Her face has turned a very pretty color of crimson. She hadn't planned on telling Abbey that Leo, these past few hours, has been a walking erection. Even as embarrassed as she is, Margaret still can't help but smile at the recent and very enjoyable activities that Leo and her have shared.
Abbey notices the all too revealing smile on Margaret's face, and is about to comment on it, when they both hear a ruckus in the hallway. Abbey leads the way to the doorway with Margaret close behind.
Living Room: 7:30 pm
Zoey and Charlie are sitting on opposite ends of the couch and have been watching TV for a while now. Zoey's curiosity finally gets the best of her. "Charlie, I'm going to my bedroom and check on something."
"Ok," Charlie acknowledges.
"Ya want to come with me?" Zoey asks, as she gets up from the couch.
"Do you think that's wise?"
"Charlie, grow up. Your virtue is safe tonight. I just want to go look for something that Leo told me about tonight." Zoey heads for the door.
"Ok, I'll go with you." Charlie gets up from the couch and follows her out the door. "Speaking of Leo, how long has this thing been going between Margaret and him, been going on? I used to tease Margaret all the time about her being in love with him, but I stopped when Jordon appeared on the scene."
"It just started last night. You know he went over to her apartment last night."
"Yeah, I got Margaret's address for his driver." Charlie replies.
"Well, that's when it started. I don't know what happened, but something must have happened, because they're getting married now."
"Yeah, I can't wait to start prying details out of Margaret." Charlie has a small smile on his face.
"Oh, and you will pass those onto me, right?" Zoey asks.
"Sure, and you need to find out what you can from your parents, too," Charlie suggests.
They enter Zoey's bedroom and she heads straight for her dresser. There sitting on top is the pen, still in the box, that Leo had given her for her graduation. Zoey picks up the box and opens it. She removes the pen and removes it's holder. There is an official looking piece of paper folded neatly underneath the holder. Zoey pulls out the paper and unfolds it. It's from a lawyer. It notifies her that she's the owner of a condo at Dumbarton Court in Georgetown, a gift from Leo McGarry. She's to call for an appointment to come in and sign the deed. "So that's what Leo meant by finding a use for this pen. Charlie, Leo gave me a condo, in Georgetown, for my graduation!"
Charlie is about to comment, when they hear the President yelling out in the hallway. They both leave her bedroom to find out what is going on. They arrive just in time to find Zoey's mom questioning Zoey's father about all the yelling.
"Jed, did I hear you yelling 'five times' in the hallway? Why in the world were you yelling that?" Abbey knows what that number refers to, because she had just gotten Margaret to spill the beans, but Abbey can't help having some fun with Leo too.
Both Leo and Margaret's faces have a nice warm red glow to them. Margaret's giving Leo a very pointed look. Leo just shrugs his shoulders and gives her his best impish grin. Margaret reaches out and playfully swats him on the arm. She leans in close to his ear, "You'll pay for that later tonight."
"I can only hope," Leo growls back to her.
"Hey what's going on out here?" Zoey asks.
The four adults turn towards Zoey and Charlie who have come out into the hall to find out what all the noise is about.
"Nothing," Jed speaks up first, looking like he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, using the oldest and lamest childish answer in the world.
"Well, nothing sure did make a lot of noise," Zoey fires back.
"I didn't hear anything," Jed looks at the other adults standing next to him. "Did you guys?"
Leo, Margaret and Abbey are standing there rolling their eyes and shaking their heads, in disbelief, at Jed. It's hard to believe that he's considered to be one of the smartest men in the world. No wonder he can never get by with lying to Abbey.
"Honey, your Dad was just excited to find out some news about Leo and Margaret's. wedding." Abbey tries to rescue the situation.
"Sounded like he was yelling five times. What does that have to do with a wedding?" Zoey could tell that the four individuals, standing in front of her, were covering up something and whatever it is had to be pretty embarrassing considering the appearance and coloring of Margaret and Leo's faces.
"No Sweetie, your Dad was surprised to find out that Leo and Margaret want five kinds of." Abbey is stumped at what to say.
"Nuts," Jed provides. This statement, of course, just makes matters worse. Abbey reaches out and slaps her husband, not very playfully, on the arm.
"Ouch, that hurt," Jed whines.
"Ok." Zoey slowly and deliberate responds to her Father.
"Hey, who's ready for dessert?" Abbey quickly comes up with.
"I'm always up for dessert," Leo answers, in a low tone that is only audible to the three adults next to him, with a small grin on his lips. He just can't resist getting in one last comment that would drive Jed crazy. His comment is rewarded with a slap on his arm from Margaret. "Hey," Leo starts rubbing the spot of the attack, "that hurt." He whines.
Zoey reaches out and playfully slaps Charlie on the arm.
"Hey, what did I do?" Charlie asks.
"Nothing, I just didn't want you to feel like you were being left out," Zoey replies with a smile.
The two couples down at the other end of the hall watch the younger couple. They all have smiles on their faces at the site of Zoey being playful. It's nice to see her having some fun again.
"Ok, come on guys, lets go see what the chef has come up with for dessert," Abbey says, without really thinking.
"Abbey!" Jed and Leo whine in unison.
"What?" Abbey wonders. Then it hits her and she starts to laugh. "Will you guys get your heads out of the gutter?" Which, of course, just makes matters worse. After getting themselves under control, they head back for the living room.
Zoey and Charlie wait for the others to get in front of them and then follow. Just as they are entering the living room, Zoey speaks up. "Leo, can I see you for a minute?" She motions for Charlie to go on into the room.
Leo walks over the where Zoey is waiting. "What ya need, Kid?"
"I just wanted to do this." Zoey throws her arms around her honorary uncle and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"What's this for?" Leo asks.
"Thank you for my graduation present."
"You're welcome. Sorry it didn't turn out the way I had planned." Leo lowers his head.
"Will you stop it? How many times will I have to tell you to stop blaming yourself?" Zoey pointedly instructs Leo.
"I'll try."
"Ok."
"I had planned on dropping by the next day and seeing how you liked the pen. I figured that since, you have your Mom's mouth, you'd have some smart comment about it. Then I'd surprise you by having you look under the flap." Leo has a lopsided grin on his face.
"Thanks, Uncle Leo." She gives him another hug and then pulls away.
"You know, I caught a lot of hell from Margaret, over your present," Leo comments.
"Really?" Zoey gives Leo a puzzled look.
"Yeah. I had her wrap it. She didn't know about the real gift under the pen and she was on me about only giving you a pen. It was all I could do, not to smile, each time she brought the matter up." Leo's face is covered with his best grin.
"You are so bad. Did you ever tell her?"
"No. But, I probably will now."
"Leo," Zoey says seriously, "I'm so glad that you two are getting married. Margaret's such a sweet person who deserves to have someone love her and take care of her. I'm glad that you are finally learning that there are other things besides work, too."
"Yeah, thanks. She's wonderful. I'm very lucky." Leo boasts. "Hey, we better get in there and get some dessert."
"Dessert sounds good. Plus, I'd better go rescue Charlie from Dad. I'm sure that he's in there interrogating Charlie about what's gong on between us."
"Just what is going on between you two?" Leo teases.
"Nothing," Zoey quickly follows that statement with a, "yet. Oh and by the way, five times, that pretty impressive for a man of any age!" Zoey walks away; leaving a very red faced Leo standing alone in the hallway.
Residence: 8:30
Leo and Margaret are sitting side by side on the love seat holding hands and Jed and Abbey are directly across from them, on the couch. Dessert is finished and Zoey and Charlie have gone off on a walk through the White House hallways.
"Where do you plan on getting married at?" Abbey says, breaking the silence of the food coma.
"We haven't had a chance to really discuss any of the details. Whatever Margaret wants is fine with me." Leo says, with a smile. "Do you have anything in mind, Baby?"
"Not that I have 'ever' given this any thought, but I always thought that a White House wedding, would be nice," Margaret answers.
"Really?" Leo asks.
"Yeah. I assume that you will want the President for your best man," Margaret states.
"Already asked him," Leo points out.
"Well, I've always thought that a Rose Garden wedding would be nice, but that would mean waiting until spring and I don't think Leo wants to wait that long."
"Baby, if you want it in the Rose Garden, I can wait," Leo tells his fiancée.
"I really don't want to wait that long either," Margaret shyly admits.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"How long do you plan on waiting?" Jed asks.
"Well next month's out because of the State of the Union," Leo answers.
Margaret bobs her head up and down in agreement.
"How about February? Do you think we can plan a wedding by then?" Leo looks at Margaret and waits for her answer. His eyes are almost pleading for her to say that they can.
"Honey, I think we can," Margaret answers.
"I'll help and I'm sure that CJ and Donna will help too," Abbey speaks up.
"Oh, Leo, how about Valentines Day?" Margaret asks.
"That sound great, Baby. I think that's the perfect day for us to get married," Leo announces.
"A White House wedding on Valentines Day, that sounds perfect," Jed agrees.
"Abbey, do you think we can get in to see your friend's condo this weekend?" Leo asks.
"I'll call her tomorrow. I'm sure it won't be a problem. They've already moved out and want to sell it as soon as possible," Abbey explains.
"Leo, don't you think that's a lot of money to spend on a place that we're just going to sleep at?" Margaret wonders.
"Baby, I don't know about you, but I'm planning on doing a lot more than just sleeping there," Leo says, with an impish grin on his face.
"Leo!" Margaret squeaks as she slaps his leg.
"Hey, what'd I do?" Leo feigns.
"Will you two stop." Jed teases.
"Ok," they say in unison.
"Mr. President, It's getting late and Margaret and I have a lot to discuss tonight, so I think we're going to leave now."
"Yes, I'm sure you do. Abbey and I have things to discuss, too." Jed smirks.
"Leo, I'll call you tomorrow and let you know about when you two can go see the condo."
Leo gives Abbey a strange look. "Ok, or you can just drop by the office an tell us tomorrow."
"Jed, didn't you tell Leo?" Abbey stares at her husband.
"Tell him what?" Jed is clueless.
"About tomorrow." Abbey reaches over and gives his hand a firm squeeze.
"Oh, yeah, right. Um . about tomorrow, Leo. You are not to come into work. As a matter of fact, I don't want to see you for." Jed looks at Abbey for some help. She holds up two fingers. Jed continues. "Two weeks, I know you have a ton of leave saved up and I'm ordering you and Margaret to take two weeks off."
Leo jumps up off the love seat. "Mr. President, I can't take time off now, we have the State of the Union coming up soon."
"Leo, Toby can take care of that. Besides you'll be back the week before that."
"But, Sir."
"Leo, we're done talking about this subject. You will take two weeks off. Use this time to move and plan your wedding and try and relax. You are way too stressed."
"I can't," Leo starts to say.
"Yes, you can and you will," Jed says, in his very Presidential voice. "We all know that you want what's best for the administration."
"You know I do, Sir. But."
The President interrupts his Chief of Staff. "Leo, you covered for me, these past few months, during the worst time in my life, now it's my turn to return the favor, I need you and want you around for the rest of this administration and you won't be, unless you take better care of yourself," Jed pleads with his oldest friend.
"I'm fine," Leo claims.
"Leo, take a good at yourself in the mirror. You have lost a lot of weight and your hand tailored suit just hangs on you. Those are some mighty dark circles under your eyes. I know you're overworked and overstressed. Your panic attacks back me up there and just look at how you walk. I know you hate for me to ever mention this, but your limp has been unremitting these days." Jed knows that he's really pushing it by referring to his limp.
Leo raises an eyebrow at the President. He's about to inform Jed that he has crossed over the line. He starts to speak, but before he can say a word, Margaret beats him to it.
"Honey, its true. I know you don't like to talk about it and I've never asked, but you appear to be in a lot of discomfort lately from your. um. leg. It always seems to flare up when you are overtired or overstressed, but lately it's been a permanent fixture. Are you ok? Does Abbey need to make an appointment for you and have it checked out?"
Leo lets out a sigh. He knows that they mean well, but his old leg injury is not something he likes to discuss. It just reminds him of a time that he would rather forget. "It's ok. There's nothing that can be done about it. I really don't want to talk about it any more." Leo looks pleadingly into Margaret's eyes.
"Leo, you know, there's been a lot of medical advances in the past twenty- five years, they might be able." Abbey stops talking when she notices Leo shaking his head side to side.
"They can't," Leo says, as he lowers his head.
"Sorry. I didn't realize that you'd checked into it," Abbey says softly.
Margaret has a puzzled look on her face. She can't believe that there's another thing that he has successfully hidden from her. She wonders when he ever had the time to go to the doctors. She usually made all his appointments for him, including the doctor ones. She tries to bring some levity into the situation. "Leo, do I need to explain the rules on making appointments again? Are you confused?"
"Yeah," Leo catches on quick to what she is doing. "Would you jot those down for me again?" Leo says, with a small grin.
"Gladly" she responds.
"Ok, you two. Let's stop the Abbott and Costello routine. I don't want to see your face for two weeks," Jed announces.
"Leo, I think he means it. You really could use a rest. I can hold down the office while you're gone." Margaret stands up next to Leo and takes his hand.
"Oh no, Margaret. The same goes for you too," the President informs Margaret.
"Sir, I'm fine. I don't." Margaret tries to say.
The President interrupts his Chief of Staff's assistant. " Margaret, I know you took care of Leo during these last several months, so it's the kettle calling the teapot black. You are in need of as much rest and recovery as Leo is. You stayed here in the White House as long as he did, taking care of him. You need to take care of him as well as yourself. Both of you, this is your Christmas present from Abbey and me, get out of here and get to know each other better, away from here."
"We want both of you around for a long, long time to come, so go get your much needed rest," Abbey adds.
Leo shakes his head in defeat. He doesn't have time for this. They have the State of the Union coming up and. and. But, then he remembers what's really important now, Margaret. He turns to her and says. "Well, I guess we're been thrown out of here for the next two weeks. Let's go home and start planning our future."
"I'll have Toby call if there's a problem." Jed offers.
"Oh and Sir. Not a word about Margaret and me to the staff just yet. We'll tell them later. I do plan on telling CJ though."
"Ok, mum's the word. They won't hear it from me," Jed tells them.
"Right, you're the biggest gossip in the West Wing," Leo implies.
"I am not!" Jed denies.
"Are too," Leo proclaims.
"Not."
"Too."
"Boys! Play nice." Abbey interrupts.
"Yes, Mom," they answer in unison.
"Margaret, are you sure you know what you're getting yourself into?" Abbey questions.
"Well, I'm starting to wonder," she replies, with a smile on her face.
"Goodnight, you two," Abbey tells them.
"Ok, I'll be at Margaret's. Goodnight, Sir, Abbey," Leo says, as he hugs his two closest friends.
"Goodnight, Mr. President and Mrs. Bartlet." Margaret adds.
"Goodnight you two and Merry Christmas." Jed returns.
"Merry Christmas," they reply.
"I'll call my friend, first thing tomorrow and set something up. Anytime's ok?" Abbey asks them, before they head out.
"Yeah, since I can't come to work, it appears that I'm free all day tomorrow," Leo replies.
Leaving Residence and on the Way to Leo's Office: 9:00 pm
Leo takes Margaret's hand and pulls her out into the hallway and down to the elevator. The doors open and they walk inside. As soon as the doors shut, Margaret smiles seductively and pushes Leo against the elevator wall and starts to assault him with kisses. She works her way up his neck and to his lips where she pushes her tongue into his mouth. Her hand starts to wonder to his backside and she pulls him into her. Leo just about loses it when Margaret brings her knee up between his legs and brushes against him. He moans into her mouth. Margaret brings around a hand and starts to massage the front of his pants.
"Margaret," Leo whines.
"What?" She whispers back into his ear.
"Um. nothing." He's not about to tell her about the hidden camera in the elevator. He's enjoying what she's doing to him far too much to have her stop.
The elevator starts to slow down and Margaret pulls herself away from Leo.
"Margaret, look at me." He points down to the front of his pants. "How am I suppose to walk back to the office and get our coats, looking like this?"
Margaret lets out a giggle. "Very carefully, I guess."
"You're no help. Walk in front of me, Ok?"
"Ok. But there's almost certainly no one around anyway. Probably just some Secret Service agents and they already know about you and me."
"How do you find out about that?" Leo asks, in a surprised voice.
"Abbey told me that the President had you followed and that an agent witnessed our bay window activities." Margaret looks at Leo's face and realizes that he already knew this. "You mean to tell me you already knew?"
"I um. sorta noticed um. when we were at the window in the middle of." Leo sheepishly admits.
"And you didn't tell me? We could've stopped and moved to the bed," Margaret declares.
"I was enjoying it far too much at the time to stop and besides, I'm sure that the agent couldn't see anything really important," Leo states.
"Yeah, well. I owe you one for that and don't you forget it."
"I think you just got me back," He says, as he looks down at the swelling in the front of his pants.
Margaret grabs his hand as the doors open and pulls him out of the elevator. They head off down the hall with Leo following close behind Margaret. They reach his office without running into anyone. Leo breathes a sigh of relief when they enter his office. He's too busy getting his coat on and grabbing Margaret's present to notice that Margaret has gone around to all of the doors in his office, and shut and locked them. She walks over to Leo and takes the present from his hand and lays it on his desk. She wraps her arms around Leo and continues to assault him like she had been earlier in the elevator. Leo starts to moan as she rubs herself against him. She slides Leo's overcoat off and throws it aside. Next, she removes his suit jacket and tosses it on top of his overcoat. Then, Margaret reaches over and playfully snaps Leo's suspenders.
"Hey, watch it," Leo growls.
"Oh, Leo," she kisses him, "you have no idea. I've wanted to do that for years!" Margaret hands drift down the front of his body.
She presses Leo back against his desk as she starts to undo his pants.
"Margaret, what are you doing?"
"I just thought I'd help you out with your problem here," She says, as she rubs her fingers along his zipper.
Leo moans as she unzips his pants. He starts to pull her dress up, but Margaret stops him. He has a confused look on his face as she continues on with her quest. She slowly pulls his suspenders off his shoulders and then pushes his pants and boxers down his legs, as she falls to her knees. Leo can't believe what she's doing to him in his office. But, he's enjoying it far too much to worry about getting caught here at work. He's never had anyone do this to him before and he can't believe the sensations that it's causing. Jenny had never offered to perform this act and he had never forced the issue. He runs his hands through Margaret's hair as he pulls her closer to him and leans back further over top the desk. Leo has no restraint and it's all over in a matter of a couple of minutes. He helps Margaret back up and kisses her. He is overwhelmed by what she has just done for him.
"Thanks, Baby, I really needed that after what you did to me in the elevator," Leo says, as a big grin grows on his face. Leo decides to return the favor and turns Margaret around so that her backside is now against his desk. He slides her dress up over her hips and drops to his knees, as he works her pantyhose and panties down her long sexy legs, kissing them as he goes. When he gets her undergarments off, she kicks them aside. Leo pushes her back onto the desk and starts working his way back up her thighs. When he reaches his destination, Margaret lets out a loud moan. Leo stops for a second and looks at her face. He can't help but smile at the pleasure he's giving her. He's not exactly sure if he's doing this right, but he follows her moans and continues on until she can't take anymore and she lets go. Leo gives her a couple of seconds to recover as he stands up and then pulls her off the desk and into his arms.
"Oh, Leo, now you deserve a big thank you, too," Margaret says.
Leo's face starts to turn red. He's slightly embarrassed by her comments. "We should probably get going," Leo says, as turns to walk over and pick up Margaret's undergarments. But, he's forgotten that his pants are down around his ankles and he loses his balance and hits the floor hard.
Margaret rushes to Leo's side. "Honey, are you alright?"
"Yeah." He reaches under him and pulls out one of Margaret's high heel shoes. "But I almost impaled myself on your shoe," Leo says, as he starts to laugh. He reaches up to where Margaret is kneeling next to him and pulls her down onto the floor with him. She, too, starts to laugh. Leo rolls them over until he is on top of her and starts kissing her neck. They are interrupted by a knock on the hallway door. They both jump at the sound.
"Hey, is anyone in there?"
Leo looks at Margaret. "Its Josh." They whisper, in unison. Both of them lay there frozen, with Leo still on top of her, trying very hard not to make a sound. They remain very still until they hear Josh's footsteps walk down the hall. Leo rolls off of Margaret and they both breathe a sign of relief.
"That was close," Leo says.
"Yeah."
"I don't think we'll being doing this in here again, anytime soon," Leo whispers into Margaret's ear.
Margaret loves it when Leo whispers in her ear. It drives her wild. She gets that look in her eye and starts to kiss Leo. "I don't know about that," She sexily whispers into Leo's ear, as she starts rubbing herself against his leg.
"Baby, I think I'm going to need some more time before I can. um," Leo starts to say.
Margaret interrupts him by thrusting her tongue into his mouth, Leo responds to her kiss and starts fondling her breasts. She reaches up and takes Leo by his hand and guides it down her body.
Leo catches on quickly and pulls Margaret dress up over her hips and then he works at getting the straps of her dress down in order to gain access to her breasts. Margaret willingly helps slide down the top of her dress, until she is exposed. Leo's hand travels back down her body and when he reaches her core he is surprised to find her so ready. "Oh, Baby, so warm, so nice. Tell me, what do you like?" He says, as he sucks a nipple into his mouth.
Margaret takes his hand and shows him the best way to bring her delight. She lets out a loud moan as he starts to manipulate her. Leo's taking his time and enjoying what he's doing to her. After a few minutes he dips into her, and a few moments later he adds another and at the sounds of her pleasure building he adds a third. She's going crazy now, moving against his hand and moaning. "Yes, Leo. that's.."
These distorted sounds softly float out into Leo's outer office, where Josh has gone to look for the file that brought him to Leo's office in the first place. He stops dead in his tracks and stares at the door. A smile covers his face and he shakes his head a little. He really can't make out, exactly what's going on in there, but he knows one thing for sure, it's Leo and Margaret. Apparently, CJ was right. Josh had given the matter a lot of thought after CJ had mentioned the other day how she thought that Leo and Margaret had feelings for each other. Josh had pretty much come to the conclusion that CJ was correct and now he knows for sure. Josh and Leo really haven't been very close for a few months now, and he figures that's why he missed it before. Josh really misses the closeness that Leo and he once shared. Things have started to get better between them lately and he hopes it continues to improve. If two people ever deserved to find some happiness, it was Leo and Margaret. He's really happy that they have finally decided to act on their feelings. Josh decides he'd better leave the area, before they discover he's out here. He quietly heads back to his office.
Margaret is arching her back as Leo nips down a little harder on her nipple. That does it and she goes flying over the edge with a cry of pleasure. Leo wraps his arms around her and enjoys holding her as she comes back down to earth.
"Oh, Leo, That was. wonderful. I love you." There are tears of joy in her eyes.
"Baby, I love giving you pleasure anytime and anywhere," Leo tells her as he kisses her on her nose. They lay there for a while, just enjoying holding on to one another.
After a while, Margaret starts to get up. She pulls her dress back up and fixes the straps. She reaches down and helps Leo up off the floor. He moans in pain as she pulls him up.
"Honey, are you ok?" Margaret asks, with a worried look on her face.
"Yeah, I'm just getting too old to lay on the floor anymore." Leo admits, as he starts rubbing his hip. "I think I bruised my hip when you pushed me down," Leo says with a lopsided grin, as he tries to derail any comments from Margaret, about his bad leg.
"I didn't push you down. You tripped over your own pants. You're a klutz," she smirks back at him.
"I am not, I was pushed. You just wanted to get me on the floor, so that I would ravish you." Leo grabs a hold of her and pulls her into his arms.
"And you, are just trying to keep me from asking about your leg," she kisses his brow, the one that droops when he's tired.
"Are my tactical maneuvers working?" Leo asks her.
"Not so much, but I won't bother you about it, right now," she kisses his sagging brow again.
"Yeah?" He sighs.
"Yeah," She echoes.
"Ok."
"You better pull your pants back up, before you go sprawling all over the floor again," Margaret tells Leo as she backs away from him a little and casts her eyes on his manhood. "Plus, if you stand around like that much longer, I may not be able to control myself," she leers.
"Margaret," Leo whines, as he quickly pulls his shirttail down to cover himself up.
"Honey, 'come' on. Let's go home and see what else we can come 'up' with tonight," Margaret says, as she finishes rearranging her dress. Margaret's really is enjoying tormenting Leo. She figures, that if he won't be truthful with her when his leg is bothering him, he's gonna have to pay for it.
Leo groans at the use of her words. "Margaret, I said it before and I'll say it again. You're going to be the death of me!" Leo's trying to pull his boxers and pants back up and then tuck his shirt back into his pants. But, he's having a little difficulty performing this normal everyday task, because Margaret's innuendos have gotten him a little excited, again.
Leo gazes over at Margaret and flashes her his best impish grin, as he struggles with his pants. She's standing there with her hand on her hip and is shaking her head in wonderment. She still finds it astonishing that it was only just a few short hours ago that they began this journey, as a couple.
Leo finally gets his pants zipped and heads for his over coat and suit jacket that somehow found themselves, on the floor in a pile, behind his chair. He bends down to pick them up, trying his best not to let out a pained sigh. He really did hurt himself when he fell and he knows that he's going to be real stiff and sore in the morning. He puts both of his coats back on and grabs Margaret's present from his desk and escorts Margaret out into her area and helps her on with her over coat. They leave the office, this time, hand and hand, not caring if anyone sees them.
Series: Through the Years
Rating: R - Contains some sexual content and language.
By: adoreleo
Pairing: Leo/Margaret
Spoilers: Anything up to and including Abu El Banat.
Disclaimer: The characters are from the NBC, WB, TV show The West Wing; they do
not belong to me.
Beta and Additional Ideas By: Lynn, who went above and beyond the call... THANKS!!!!
Feedback: I would love it hear your opinion!
Summary: It's Christmas time at the White House and once again something is not
right.
Dec 25, 2003
The President's Private Study: 7:30 pm
Leo follows the President into his private study. Jed motions for Leo to sit down, in one of the wing back chairs, while he sits down in the other. "So, you're getting married."
"Yes Sir."
"So when did you arrive at this decision?"
"Today Sir," Leo says, as he waits for the next question.
"When today?" Jed's not going to give up.
"This morning, Sir," Leo decides that short answers are the best way to go when dealing with Jed on this subject, for that matter, on most subjects.
"When this morning?"
"After we woke up, Sir."
"Ok, let me get this straight. You went to Margaret's last night, slept there, woke up there and then just out of the blue decided to ask her to marry you?" Jed asks.
"Yeah," Leo answers.
"And when was this again?"
"Um. I don't know exactly when, but we had just.." Leo stops. He's starting to get a little flustered and he almost let their activities from the past night and day slip out.
"Just had what, Leo?" Jed wants all the details he can get, plus it's fun to watching Leo squirm.
"Um. Sir I don't think I'll say." Leo's grin grows uncontrollably, just like his urges for Margaret.
"Ok, so you just decided to ask her?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. We had just spent a beautiful night and morning together and I realized I never wanted to be out of her arms again," Leo sheepishly admits.
"Really!" The President of the free world whines.
"Yeah, really, Sir." Leo mood turns serious. "Jed, no one has ever made me feel the way she does. All she has to do is touch me, look at me or whisper to me and I'm long gone! I love her so much. My heart starts beating fast and all I can think about is her. Nothing else matters, not even work. That's when I knew, I had to ask her."
Jed's surprised that Leo called him by name, not that he minds. As a matter of fact, Jed would like it if Leo called him by his name more often. "Not even work!" His best friend raises an eyebrow at that statement. 'Boy, his friend has it bad'. "Leo you're putty in her hands."
"Yeah. But what a way to go, Sir," Leo smirks.
"Yeah," Jed agrees.
"Sir, I was wondering. if you would like to be my best man?" Leo asks.
"Leo, I would love to," Jed replies. Then he decides to get back to prying details from his friend. "You plan on moving in with her, before you get married?"
"Yes, Sir, I do." Leo debates whether to tell the President about what had happened to Margaret. He's not sure if she wants anyone to know what happened. "I don't want to waste anymore time. Plus, Margaret doesn't um. live in the best of neighborhoods, Sir, and I want her safe."
"Leo, what are you trying so hard not to tell me?" The President demands.
Leo decides he should tell Jed what happened. "Sir, Margaret was mugged a couple of years ago." Leo lowers his head as he continues. "It was all my fault, I kept her late at work and when she went home late that night. She was. attacked."
"Leo, what do you mean attacked?"
"She was knocked out. Sir, if it wasn't for someone happening by, who knows what that bastard would have done to her!" Leo's outrage comes quickly to the surface at the thought of some animal touching his Margaret.
"Leo, calm down. Was she hurt?" Jed asks in a concerned voice.
"Yes." Leo whispers.
"Leo, How bad? I don't remember her being injured. Was I out of the country? Why didn't you tell me?" Jed fires off the questions. He's prided himself on caring about his staff and if he had overlooked Margaret's' injury, he isn't going to be very happy.
"She was hit on the head. She received fifteen stitches, Sir. You didn't notice because of the same reason I didn't either." Leo offers.
"And why was that?"
"She hid it from me. She called in the morning after the attack and said she had a family emergency and needed the rest of the week off."
"I vaguely remember Margaret being gone." Jed pauses trying to remember. "You weren't in the best of moods."
"No, Sir, I wasn't," Leo replies. "I don't seem to function well without her." Leo barely smiles.
"Yes, that's true, but there was something else was going on, wasn't there?" Jed is searching his mind for the reason behind Leo's dark mood during that time.
"Yes, Sir," Leo answers. "But."
"Leo, why did she hide this from you?" The President asked, but he already suspects that he knows the answer.
"She was. protecting me, Sir," Leo softly admits.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because she didn't want me to feel guilty. She knew that I would blame myself and she said that I was in no condition to take on any more guilt," Leo admits.
"What was going on then?" There had been several things go wrong for Leo, since they had taken office that Jed wasn't sure which event Leo was talking about.
"The day before her mugging, I had that meeting with General Adamley." Just even saying his name is hard for Leo to do, the mention of it brings back something that he wished he never found out.
"Oh." Was all that Jed could manage to say. What else could he say? It had been a bad time for Leo. Jed thinks back to that tragic Sunday.
Jed had just finished a marathon meeting with the Vice-President, when he thought he heard a faint knock on the Oval Office door. He called for the person to enter as he got up and went to behind his desk to pack up for the evening. When he looked up from his briefcase, he was surprised to see Margaret standing there. She was only just inside the door and hesitated before entering any further. She never comes into the Oval, unless she knew Leo's here and she needs him for something.
"Margaret, come in. If you're looking for Leo, he left hours ago, after an early meeting this afternoon." Jed is very surprised that she doesn't know this. Margaret knows where Leo is every second of the day and Jed wouldn't put it past her to have spies at Leo's hotel to keep track of him there, too.
"No, Sir, he didn't leave," Margaret says, very quietly. She's obviously, very nervous. She's wringing her hands the whole time that she walks towards the President's desk.
"He told me he was leaving after his meeting with Adamley." Jed explains. "Do you need me to go shoo him out the door, Margaret?" Jed asks with an uneven smile. He's starting to think that something's wrong with Leo, because Margaret's face is drawl pretty tight.
"Sir, he'd kill me if he knew I was doing this," Margaret tries to regain some composer. "He never left. after his meeting with the General."
"Margaret, is Leo ok?" Jed voice full of concern.
"I. don't think so, Sir," She gasps though tight lips. She feels like she's betraying Leo, but she has to do something, especially when she knows that Leo's in trouble. "When the General left, Leo never came out. I waited for a while expecting him to come out and tell me to go home, but he didn't. So after a while, Sir, I went to his door and knocked. He didn't answer at first and then I heard him through the door, telling me, to go home. Sir, I could tell by the sound of his voice that something wasn't right, so I decided to go in anyway. I found him, sitting in his chair, in front of the window. I really couldn't make out his face because the room was so dark. I started for the light and he stopped me from turning it on. He told me that he was done and that I was to go home. Sir, when he said he was done, he made it seem so final and his voice sounded." Margaret pauses, as she tries to hold back her own tears of worry.
"Margaret, what's going on? What are you trying so hard not to tell me?" Jed wants to know what's going on that has Margaret so rattled.
"Sir, when he told me to go home, his voice was. Sir, it was. husky with tears." Margaret lowers her head at this statement
"Are you sure, Margaret?"
Margaret bobs her head up and down. "Sir, he was. I know he was crying and he seems very despondent. I know Leo, I may not have been able to see his face clearly, but I know he's upset. I didn't know what to do, I. I'm afraid to leave him like this, Sir. I'm afraid he might um. you know." Her hands are very fidgety now.
"Drink?" Jed asked.
Margaret bobbed her head while biting her bottom lip.
"Don't worry, Margaret, I'll go see him." Jed walks over to her and puts a comforting hand on her arm. "Margaret, you did the right thing by telling me. Why don't you go on home now? Ok?"
"Ok, Sir," She barely whispers.
"Don't worry, Margaret. I won't tell him we talked. Ok?"
"Ok, Sir." She now has tears running down her face as she turns to leave.
"Oh, Margaret, you're a good friend to him. Thanks for looking out for him," Jed smiles as he says this. He thinks that Margaret's one of a kind and that Leo's so fortunate to have her, as his assistant and his friend.
"You're welcome, Sir. Taking care of Leo is second nature to me now, Sir." She gives him a small smile and heads out the door.
Jed enters Leo's office, the lights are lower than normal and Leo doesn't even notice that the President is there. Leo's sitting in his wing back chair in front of the window and he isn't moving. At first, Jed thinks he's asleep, and then he hears the soft sounds of Leo crying. The last time this happened, Jed let his best friend have some privacy, but this time Jed knows that there is something really wrong.
"Leo, what's wrong?"
Leo didn't realize that the President is in his office and he jumps up out of his chair and tries to wipe the tears, from his eyes. "Sir?"
"Leo, sit down." Even though Jed knows that Leo has just talked to Adamley and that Leo's problem probably has something to do with that meeting. Jed still couldn't help but think that there is only one thing that could make Leo this upset. "Leo, has something happened to Mallory?"
Leo sits back down in his chair, across from his friend. Of course Jed would assume that something's happened to Mallory to have him this upset. How does he tell his friend that it's because he could've have killed someone else's child in that ill-fated mission. That supposed military target. The bombing mission where he killed eleven innocent civilians. "No, Mallory's fine," he answered in a dead voice, refusing to look his friend in the eye. At least, he thought Mal was ok. He hadn't seen or talked to her in a while.
Jed's really is starting to get concerned about his friend. He's afraid that he's on the edge and it wouldn't take much more than a spoken word to send him over it. "Leo, talk to me, you're scaring me."
At that phrase, Leo looks at his friend and sees the look of fear on his face. "Mr. President. I'm fine."
"Leo, cut the shit, you're not fine! Tell me what the hell happened!"
Leo's so tired and emotionally drained from his ordeal that he starts telling Jed without even fully realizing it. Leo tells him the whole story about Adamley' s visit and what the General had to tell him. He ends the recounting, by telling Jed about the mission.
"Oh Leo, I'm so sorry. but this is not your fault!"
"Tell that to the families of the people I murdered."
"Leo, you didn't murder everyone. It was War! You were deceived!"
"Yeah, all wars are crimes, that's what Adamley said."
God, Jed wishes Adamley were here right now. He'd love to kick the General's ass for doing this to his friend. "Leo, why did he tell you this?"
"Funny, I asked him the same thing," Leo sneers. "He wanted to make sure he got in to speak with you about the War Crimes Tribunal."
"Well, he can forget about that now. I never want to see that son of a bitch again. He's not to step foot in this White House again!" Jed roars.
"Yeah, because we can't have people being mean to his Chief of Staff," Leo smirks. He remembers when Toby wanted someone arrested for saying something bad about the President. "I told him I'd set something up with you, later this week."
"Well you can forget it, I won't see him."
"Sir."
"Don't Sir me, Leo. Nobody does this to you and then gets a free pass."
For the first time since this afternoon, Leo almost smiles at his friend's protectiveness. "Sir, he's one of your Generals, you have to meet with him."
"We'll see, besides I don't care about that, right now. All I'm concerned about is you."
"That's very kind of you Sir, but I'm only one person, and this issue could adversely affect several thousands of people, Sir."
"Yes, I know, Leo. But right now, I'm concerned about my best friend."
Leo looks at Jed, the man who has stood beside him and been his friend for years. The man that, Leo had called from that motel parking lot. No one could ask for a better friend than Jed. How many more times can Jed's Presidency withstand a blow that is 'his' fault? "Sir, I don't deserve your concern."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Jed questions.
"You should have let me resign after my addictions came to surface. Now, this. It's sure to come out, right before the hearings. You need to cut your losses now, Sir."
"Leo, I don't want to hear anymore about cutting my losses. You are here for the duration. You got me into this mess and you're going to be here until the end. Do I make myself clear?"
"Sir."
"Don't Sir me. You're not going to leave me here alone with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, Mr. 'The glass is half empty' and Miss 'I'm good in bed'. But, more importantly, if you leave, I'm sure that your wonderful assistant will follow you and the White House can't afford to lose it's best assistant!"
An actual smile comes to Leo's face at the mention of his assistant. She's followed from the Labor Department, to the Lecture Circuit, to the campaign and finally to the White House. He couldn't ask for anyone more skilled, loyal and dedicated than Margaret. Leo looks at his friend. "Yeah, Margaret is the best. She's always seems to be a step ahead of me. I know if I were to leave, that she'd follow. She wouldn't like leaving, but I know she'd follow me just the same and I wouldn't be able to stop her." In his mind he finishes with 'and I wouldn't want to stop her either.'
"Sounds like to me, then, you have to stay. You wouldn't want to get Margaret on your bad side."
"No, Sir. I wouldn't." Leo can't deny that Margaret is a force to be reckoned with.
"Leo, that's enough shop talk, let's head to the Residence and catch the last half of the football game."
"Sir, I'm tired, I think I'd really rather just go home."
"Leo, do I need to order you to come watch TV with your Commander and Chief?"
"Sir."
"Leo."
"Ok, just for awhile." Leo gets up and wearily makes his way to the door and opens it for his President.
"Ok. Leo, you'll see, we'll have fun."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
They head off to the Residence moving very slowly, since Leo's favoring his bad leg more than usual. Jed hasn't noticed Leo's limp being this pronounced in a long time. 'How much more does this man have to go through' Jed can't help but wonder, as they make their way down the portico and off to the Residence to watch some football.
"Sir." Leo waits a couple of seconds. "Mr. President!"
"Umm. yeah." Jed's mind slowly returns to the present.
"You seemed to have drifted, Sir."
"Yeah, I was just remembering." Admits to his best friend.
"Yeah, me too, Sir." Leo acknowledges.
"So, the only reason you're moving in with Margaret is because you're only thinking about her safety." Jed's ready to start the teasing again.
"Yes, Sir," Leo answers through his widespread grin.
"Very commendable of you, and not in the least bit, selfish on your part, either," Jed smirks.
"That's what I think too, Sir."
"You know, I couldn't help noticing, when you arrived today, that you seemed pretty. tired and worn out."
"Yeah?" Leo's not sure where his friend's going with this new line of questioning.
"I'm not sure that I can afford to have my Chief of Staff in such a condition all the time."
"What do you mean, Sir?"
"I mean. You've haven't even been with Margaret for a whole day yet and you are already worn out." Jed smiles.
"I'm not worn out." Leo bemuses. Well, at least not in a way Jed could notice.
"You sure do appear that way. Remember, you're an old man Leo. You don't want to over do yourself."
"Old man, I like to see you try and keep." Leo stops, he gives Jed a smirk. Leo almost fell into that one. He's not about to tell his friend that Margaret has turned him into a walking erection.
"Keep what, Leo?" Jed's eyes are dancing.
"Nothing, Sir. Maybe we should go back and check up on Abbey and Margaret." Leo heads for the door. Then turns back to his friend. "Oh, I sure hope that Coop knows how to keep his mouth shut, I wouldn't want it to get around that I like bay window seats." Leo grins as he turns and heads out the door.
"Leo." Jed whines as he tries to catch up with his friend.
"What, can't you keep up old man?" Leo asks back over his shoulder, as he continues down the hall. Maybe he should tell Jed that tonight, if his luck held out, would be the sixth time in a little over twenty-four hours that he made love to Margaret. Leo shakes his head at that thought and says to himself, 'Nah, Jed probably wouldn't even believe it, I'm not so sure that I believe it myself'.
"Who you calling old? I can still put you in your place." Jed catches up to his friend's side.
"Ok, whatever you say, Mr. President." Leo slows down his rolling gait.
"Don't you Mr. President me, I'll have you know that I have plans for rendezvous number two with Abbey later tonight," He proudly boasts.
"That's very admirable of you, Sir," Leo informs his best friend.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Leo agrees.
"Ok."
"Now, if you would just multiply 'that' by three, you would be where Margaret and I will be up to at the end of the evening." Man, Leo really loves messing with Jed. The look on Jed's face is priceless. Leo hopes that this never gets back to Margaret. She'd die from the embarrassment and then kick his ass!
Jed does the math in his head, two time three is six and take away tonight's time. "Five times, you want me to believe that you've. five times!" Jed shrieks. "You're out of your mind if you think I'm going to believe that whopper. You're just teasing me, aren't you?"
Leo stops and turns to his friend, Leo has a panicked look on his face. "God Jed, will you stop yelling it down the hall. If Margaret finds out I told you, she'd kick my ass!"
Judging by the look on Leo's face, Jed can tell that his friend is, in fact, telling the truth. Jed is speechless. He just nods his head and finally manages to say, "Sorry."
"Come on, let's go join the women and you'd better wipe that look off your face," Leo tells, his best friend.
"Yeah, and I think you need to rest up for." Abbey and Margaret's abrupt appearance in the hallway interrupt Jed.
Sitting Room: 7:30pm
Abbey and Margaret are sitting at opposite ends of the same couch in the sitting room. Margaret's hands are folded in her lap, she's trying her hardest not to let them fidget. "Mrs. Bartlet, I just want to say, again, that I'm so sorry for yelling at you tonight. It's just that I was ."
Abbey raises a hand to stop her. "First of all, I thought we decided that it was Abbey, and secondly, Margaret, you don't owe me an apology, I own you one, for my behavior towards Leo. I know it hurt you too, and for that I am very sorry. So why don't we just start over? OK?"
"Oh, I'd like that very much Ma'am um. I mean. Abbey." Margaret wonders if she'll ever feel comfortable calling the First Lady by her first name.
"Great. Now lets get down to the real important matters at hand. I want to discuss Leo's health with you."
"Ok."
"I'm worried about his general health and the panic attacks. The attacks could be the result of something more serious. When was the last time that Leo had a physical?"
"I don't think he's had one since. Jenny left him. They use to go and get theirs at the same time each year."
"Ok, well the first thing we need to do is get him in for one."
"Yeah right," Margaret snorts. "I'm sorry, it's just not something that I think he's going to be very receptive to.
"Yeah, I'm sure you're right about that. I may have to get Jed to order Leo to get one for the good of his country," Abbey smirks.
"Abbey, I feel like. I'm ratting him out, but. he's smoking again. It started up about the same time you left for the farm. I think he's only smoking at work, because I haven't." Margaret suddenly stops and lowers her head in embarrassment.
"Haven't what Margaret?" Abbey asks.
Without raising her head, Margaret confesses. "I haven't smelled smoke inside his hotel room while . I've been sneaking into his room and checking it for. signs that he has been. drinking." The last word, barely above a whisper, fell slowly from her mouth.
'Margaret, it's ok. Jed and I have been wondering, if he has been drinking too. Leo will never hear it from me that you were checking up on him." Abbey scoots down to Margaret's end of the couch and places a concerned hand on Margaret's hand. "It just shows that you love him."
"I don't want him to think that I don't trust him, but before yesterday, I really didn't know what was going on in his life," Margaret divulges.
"Leo's a lucky man to have you, Margaret. You're the best thing that has happened to him in a long time, if not ever."
"Thank you, Mrs. I mean, Abbey."
"Now here's the plan. First, we get Leo in for a physical. Second, I think I'm going to call Dr. Keyworth and confer with him about Leo's panic attacks and see what he suggests. Thirdly, Leo needs to start working on reducing his stress level.
"I think he's already found a new favorite way to reduce his stress level." Margaret blushes.
"Oh, do tell."
"I um. I," Margaret stutters.
"Would it have anything to do with your bay window in your apartment?"
"Oh my God, how did you know about that?" Margaret's face is totally red now.
"Jed was so worried about what Leo might do last night, when you resigned that he had Leo followed to your apartment. Jed had the agent report in every hour with an update."
"No."
"Yes. Agents never usually divulge information of a personal nature, but I think that the agent was just trying stop Jed from worrying. All the agents are aware of Leo and Jed's strong friendship."
"Do you think Leo knows?"
"Not much gets past Leo, but who knows, Leo really wasn't himself last night."
"I'll say!" Margaret announces.
"Ya know, I'll always suspected that Leo was very. how can I phrase this?"
Before Abbey can finish her thought, Margaret finishes it for her. "Leo's a very talented and enthusiastic lover!"
"For a man his age?" Abbey asks.
"For a man, any age!" Margaret declares proudly.
"Oh my!" Abbey affirms.
"Yeah. He can't control himself." Margaret hadn't intended for that last part to slip out. But, she's definitely not going to mention the fact that he's quite well endowed, too.
"Margaret, you're a very fortunate woman." Abbey isn't really surprised to find this out about Leo. She has always suspected that he was full of passion and that the right person would be all he needed, to bring out.
"I know, I've never seen anyone with that large a ." Margaret abruptly stops. She can't believe what she almost just said.
"You've never seen that large a what?" Abbey asks, with a smile on her face.
"That large a. um. could we just forget I said that?" Margaret pleads.
"Ok, I won't torment you any more about it, I'll just say you're very lucky and leave it at that." Abbey knew exactly what Margaret had been referring to. She's noticed that her husband's friend appeared to be well endowed. Not that she was looking, but she couldn't help but notice. When she once had to examine his bad hip and he was in his boxers, she could see that he could probably please most women.
"Yes I am, five times lucky so." Margaret's hand flies to her mouth. She can't believe she just said that. Why can't she keep her big mouth shut? Her face has turned a very pretty color of crimson. She hadn't planned on telling Abbey that Leo, these past few hours, has been a walking erection. Even as embarrassed as she is, Margaret still can't help but smile at the recent and very enjoyable activities that Leo and her have shared.
Abbey notices the all too revealing smile on Margaret's face, and is about to comment on it, when they both hear a ruckus in the hallway. Abbey leads the way to the doorway with Margaret close behind.
Living Room: 7:30 pm
Zoey and Charlie are sitting on opposite ends of the couch and have been watching TV for a while now. Zoey's curiosity finally gets the best of her. "Charlie, I'm going to my bedroom and check on something."
"Ok," Charlie acknowledges.
"Ya want to come with me?" Zoey asks, as she gets up from the couch.
"Do you think that's wise?"
"Charlie, grow up. Your virtue is safe tonight. I just want to go look for something that Leo told me about tonight." Zoey heads for the door.
"Ok, I'll go with you." Charlie gets up from the couch and follows her out the door. "Speaking of Leo, how long has this thing been going between Margaret and him, been going on? I used to tease Margaret all the time about her being in love with him, but I stopped when Jordon appeared on the scene."
"It just started last night. You know he went over to her apartment last night."
"Yeah, I got Margaret's address for his driver." Charlie replies.
"Well, that's when it started. I don't know what happened, but something must have happened, because they're getting married now."
"Yeah, I can't wait to start prying details out of Margaret." Charlie has a small smile on his face.
"Oh, and you will pass those onto me, right?" Zoey asks.
"Sure, and you need to find out what you can from your parents, too," Charlie suggests.
They enter Zoey's bedroom and she heads straight for her dresser. There sitting on top is the pen, still in the box, that Leo had given her for her graduation. Zoey picks up the box and opens it. She removes the pen and removes it's holder. There is an official looking piece of paper folded neatly underneath the holder. Zoey pulls out the paper and unfolds it. It's from a lawyer. It notifies her that she's the owner of a condo at Dumbarton Court in Georgetown, a gift from Leo McGarry. She's to call for an appointment to come in and sign the deed. "So that's what Leo meant by finding a use for this pen. Charlie, Leo gave me a condo, in Georgetown, for my graduation!"
Charlie is about to comment, when they hear the President yelling out in the hallway. They both leave her bedroom to find out what is going on. They arrive just in time to find Zoey's mom questioning Zoey's father about all the yelling.
"Jed, did I hear you yelling 'five times' in the hallway? Why in the world were you yelling that?" Abbey knows what that number refers to, because she had just gotten Margaret to spill the beans, but Abbey can't help having some fun with Leo too.
Both Leo and Margaret's faces have a nice warm red glow to them. Margaret's giving Leo a very pointed look. Leo just shrugs his shoulders and gives her his best impish grin. Margaret reaches out and playfully swats him on the arm. She leans in close to his ear, "You'll pay for that later tonight."
"I can only hope," Leo growls back to her.
"Hey what's going on out here?" Zoey asks.
The four adults turn towards Zoey and Charlie who have come out into the hall to find out what all the noise is about.
"Nothing," Jed speaks up first, looking like he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, using the oldest and lamest childish answer in the world.
"Well, nothing sure did make a lot of noise," Zoey fires back.
"I didn't hear anything," Jed looks at the other adults standing next to him. "Did you guys?"
Leo, Margaret and Abbey are standing there rolling their eyes and shaking their heads, in disbelief, at Jed. It's hard to believe that he's considered to be one of the smartest men in the world. No wonder he can never get by with lying to Abbey.
"Honey, your Dad was just excited to find out some news about Leo and Margaret's. wedding." Abbey tries to rescue the situation.
"Sounded like he was yelling five times. What does that have to do with a wedding?" Zoey could tell that the four individuals, standing in front of her, were covering up something and whatever it is had to be pretty embarrassing considering the appearance and coloring of Margaret and Leo's faces.
"No Sweetie, your Dad was surprised to find out that Leo and Margaret want five kinds of." Abbey is stumped at what to say.
"Nuts," Jed provides. This statement, of course, just makes matters worse. Abbey reaches out and slaps her husband, not very playfully, on the arm.
"Ouch, that hurt," Jed whines.
"Ok." Zoey slowly and deliberate responds to her Father.
"Hey, who's ready for dessert?" Abbey quickly comes up with.
"I'm always up for dessert," Leo answers, in a low tone that is only audible to the three adults next to him, with a small grin on his lips. He just can't resist getting in one last comment that would drive Jed crazy. His comment is rewarded with a slap on his arm from Margaret. "Hey," Leo starts rubbing the spot of the attack, "that hurt." He whines.
Zoey reaches out and playfully slaps Charlie on the arm.
"Hey, what did I do?" Charlie asks.
"Nothing, I just didn't want you to feel like you were being left out," Zoey replies with a smile.
The two couples down at the other end of the hall watch the younger couple. They all have smiles on their faces at the site of Zoey being playful. It's nice to see her having some fun again.
"Ok, come on guys, lets go see what the chef has come up with for dessert," Abbey says, without really thinking.
"Abbey!" Jed and Leo whine in unison.
"What?" Abbey wonders. Then it hits her and she starts to laugh. "Will you guys get your heads out of the gutter?" Which, of course, just makes matters worse. After getting themselves under control, they head back for the living room.
Zoey and Charlie wait for the others to get in front of them and then follow. Just as they are entering the living room, Zoey speaks up. "Leo, can I see you for a minute?" She motions for Charlie to go on into the room.
Leo walks over the where Zoey is waiting. "What ya need, Kid?"
"I just wanted to do this." Zoey throws her arms around her honorary uncle and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"What's this for?" Leo asks.
"Thank you for my graduation present."
"You're welcome. Sorry it didn't turn out the way I had planned." Leo lowers his head.
"Will you stop it? How many times will I have to tell you to stop blaming yourself?" Zoey pointedly instructs Leo.
"I'll try."
"Ok."
"I had planned on dropping by the next day and seeing how you liked the pen. I figured that since, you have your Mom's mouth, you'd have some smart comment about it. Then I'd surprise you by having you look under the flap." Leo has a lopsided grin on his face.
"Thanks, Uncle Leo." She gives him another hug and then pulls away.
"You know, I caught a lot of hell from Margaret, over your present," Leo comments.
"Really?" Zoey gives Leo a puzzled look.
"Yeah. I had her wrap it. She didn't know about the real gift under the pen and she was on me about only giving you a pen. It was all I could do, not to smile, each time she brought the matter up." Leo's face is covered with his best grin.
"You are so bad. Did you ever tell her?"
"No. But, I probably will now."
"Leo," Zoey says seriously, "I'm so glad that you two are getting married. Margaret's such a sweet person who deserves to have someone love her and take care of her. I'm glad that you are finally learning that there are other things besides work, too."
"Yeah, thanks. She's wonderful. I'm very lucky." Leo boasts. "Hey, we better get in there and get some dessert."
"Dessert sounds good. Plus, I'd better go rescue Charlie from Dad. I'm sure that he's in there interrogating Charlie about what's gong on between us."
"Just what is going on between you two?" Leo teases.
"Nothing," Zoey quickly follows that statement with a, "yet. Oh and by the way, five times, that pretty impressive for a man of any age!" Zoey walks away; leaving a very red faced Leo standing alone in the hallway.
Residence: 8:30
Leo and Margaret are sitting side by side on the love seat holding hands and Jed and Abbey are directly across from them, on the couch. Dessert is finished and Zoey and Charlie have gone off on a walk through the White House hallways.
"Where do you plan on getting married at?" Abbey says, breaking the silence of the food coma.
"We haven't had a chance to really discuss any of the details. Whatever Margaret wants is fine with me." Leo says, with a smile. "Do you have anything in mind, Baby?"
"Not that I have 'ever' given this any thought, but I always thought that a White House wedding, would be nice," Margaret answers.
"Really?" Leo asks.
"Yeah. I assume that you will want the President for your best man," Margaret states.
"Already asked him," Leo points out.
"Well, I've always thought that a Rose Garden wedding would be nice, but that would mean waiting until spring and I don't think Leo wants to wait that long."
"Baby, if you want it in the Rose Garden, I can wait," Leo tells his fiancée.
"I really don't want to wait that long either," Margaret shyly admits.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"How long do you plan on waiting?" Jed asks.
"Well next month's out because of the State of the Union," Leo answers.
Margaret bobs her head up and down in agreement.
"How about February? Do you think we can plan a wedding by then?" Leo looks at Margaret and waits for her answer. His eyes are almost pleading for her to say that they can.
"Honey, I think we can," Margaret answers.
"I'll help and I'm sure that CJ and Donna will help too," Abbey speaks up.
"Oh, Leo, how about Valentines Day?" Margaret asks.
"That sound great, Baby. I think that's the perfect day for us to get married," Leo announces.
"A White House wedding on Valentines Day, that sounds perfect," Jed agrees.
"Abbey, do you think we can get in to see your friend's condo this weekend?" Leo asks.
"I'll call her tomorrow. I'm sure it won't be a problem. They've already moved out and want to sell it as soon as possible," Abbey explains.
"Leo, don't you think that's a lot of money to spend on a place that we're just going to sleep at?" Margaret wonders.
"Baby, I don't know about you, but I'm planning on doing a lot more than just sleeping there," Leo says, with an impish grin on his face.
"Leo!" Margaret squeaks as she slaps his leg.
"Hey, what'd I do?" Leo feigns.
"Will you two stop." Jed teases.
"Ok," they say in unison.
"Mr. President, It's getting late and Margaret and I have a lot to discuss tonight, so I think we're going to leave now."
"Yes, I'm sure you do. Abbey and I have things to discuss, too." Jed smirks.
"Leo, I'll call you tomorrow and let you know about when you two can go see the condo."
Leo gives Abbey a strange look. "Ok, or you can just drop by the office an tell us tomorrow."
"Jed, didn't you tell Leo?" Abbey stares at her husband.
"Tell him what?" Jed is clueless.
"About tomorrow." Abbey reaches over and gives his hand a firm squeeze.
"Oh, yeah, right. Um . about tomorrow, Leo. You are not to come into work. As a matter of fact, I don't want to see you for." Jed looks at Abbey for some help. She holds up two fingers. Jed continues. "Two weeks, I know you have a ton of leave saved up and I'm ordering you and Margaret to take two weeks off."
Leo jumps up off the love seat. "Mr. President, I can't take time off now, we have the State of the Union coming up soon."
"Leo, Toby can take care of that. Besides you'll be back the week before that."
"But, Sir."
"Leo, we're done talking about this subject. You will take two weeks off. Use this time to move and plan your wedding and try and relax. You are way too stressed."
"I can't," Leo starts to say.
"Yes, you can and you will," Jed says, in his very Presidential voice. "We all know that you want what's best for the administration."
"You know I do, Sir. But."
The President interrupts his Chief of Staff. "Leo, you covered for me, these past few months, during the worst time in my life, now it's my turn to return the favor, I need you and want you around for the rest of this administration and you won't be, unless you take better care of yourself," Jed pleads with his oldest friend.
"I'm fine," Leo claims.
"Leo, take a good at yourself in the mirror. You have lost a lot of weight and your hand tailored suit just hangs on you. Those are some mighty dark circles under your eyes. I know you're overworked and overstressed. Your panic attacks back me up there and just look at how you walk. I know you hate for me to ever mention this, but your limp has been unremitting these days." Jed knows that he's really pushing it by referring to his limp.
Leo raises an eyebrow at the President. He's about to inform Jed that he has crossed over the line. He starts to speak, but before he can say a word, Margaret beats him to it.
"Honey, its true. I know you don't like to talk about it and I've never asked, but you appear to be in a lot of discomfort lately from your. um. leg. It always seems to flare up when you are overtired or overstressed, but lately it's been a permanent fixture. Are you ok? Does Abbey need to make an appointment for you and have it checked out?"
Leo lets out a sigh. He knows that they mean well, but his old leg injury is not something he likes to discuss. It just reminds him of a time that he would rather forget. "It's ok. There's nothing that can be done about it. I really don't want to talk about it any more." Leo looks pleadingly into Margaret's eyes.
"Leo, you know, there's been a lot of medical advances in the past twenty- five years, they might be able." Abbey stops talking when she notices Leo shaking his head side to side.
"They can't," Leo says, as he lowers his head.
"Sorry. I didn't realize that you'd checked into it," Abbey says softly.
Margaret has a puzzled look on her face. She can't believe that there's another thing that he has successfully hidden from her. She wonders when he ever had the time to go to the doctors. She usually made all his appointments for him, including the doctor ones. She tries to bring some levity into the situation. "Leo, do I need to explain the rules on making appointments again? Are you confused?"
"Yeah," Leo catches on quick to what she is doing. "Would you jot those down for me again?" Leo says, with a small grin.
"Gladly" she responds.
"Ok, you two. Let's stop the Abbott and Costello routine. I don't want to see your face for two weeks," Jed announces.
"Leo, I think he means it. You really could use a rest. I can hold down the office while you're gone." Margaret stands up next to Leo and takes his hand.
"Oh no, Margaret. The same goes for you too," the President informs Margaret.
"Sir, I'm fine. I don't." Margaret tries to say.
The President interrupts his Chief of Staff's assistant. " Margaret, I know you took care of Leo during these last several months, so it's the kettle calling the teapot black. You are in need of as much rest and recovery as Leo is. You stayed here in the White House as long as he did, taking care of him. You need to take care of him as well as yourself. Both of you, this is your Christmas present from Abbey and me, get out of here and get to know each other better, away from here."
"We want both of you around for a long, long time to come, so go get your much needed rest," Abbey adds.
Leo shakes his head in defeat. He doesn't have time for this. They have the State of the Union coming up and. and. But, then he remembers what's really important now, Margaret. He turns to her and says. "Well, I guess we're been thrown out of here for the next two weeks. Let's go home and start planning our future."
"I'll have Toby call if there's a problem." Jed offers.
"Oh and Sir. Not a word about Margaret and me to the staff just yet. We'll tell them later. I do plan on telling CJ though."
"Ok, mum's the word. They won't hear it from me," Jed tells them.
"Right, you're the biggest gossip in the West Wing," Leo implies.
"I am not!" Jed denies.
"Are too," Leo proclaims.
"Not."
"Too."
"Boys! Play nice." Abbey interrupts.
"Yes, Mom," they answer in unison.
"Margaret, are you sure you know what you're getting yourself into?" Abbey questions.
"Well, I'm starting to wonder," she replies, with a smile on her face.
"Goodnight, you two," Abbey tells them.
"Ok, I'll be at Margaret's. Goodnight, Sir, Abbey," Leo says, as he hugs his two closest friends.
"Goodnight, Mr. President and Mrs. Bartlet." Margaret adds.
"Goodnight you two and Merry Christmas." Jed returns.
"Merry Christmas," they reply.
"I'll call my friend, first thing tomorrow and set something up. Anytime's ok?" Abbey asks them, before they head out.
"Yeah, since I can't come to work, it appears that I'm free all day tomorrow," Leo replies.
Leaving Residence and on the Way to Leo's Office: 9:00 pm
Leo takes Margaret's hand and pulls her out into the hallway and down to the elevator. The doors open and they walk inside. As soon as the doors shut, Margaret smiles seductively and pushes Leo against the elevator wall and starts to assault him with kisses. She works her way up his neck and to his lips where she pushes her tongue into his mouth. Her hand starts to wonder to his backside and she pulls him into her. Leo just about loses it when Margaret brings her knee up between his legs and brushes against him. He moans into her mouth. Margaret brings around a hand and starts to massage the front of his pants.
"Margaret," Leo whines.
"What?" She whispers back into his ear.
"Um. nothing." He's not about to tell her about the hidden camera in the elevator. He's enjoying what she's doing to him far too much to have her stop.
The elevator starts to slow down and Margaret pulls herself away from Leo.
"Margaret, look at me." He points down to the front of his pants. "How am I suppose to walk back to the office and get our coats, looking like this?"
Margaret lets out a giggle. "Very carefully, I guess."
"You're no help. Walk in front of me, Ok?"
"Ok. But there's almost certainly no one around anyway. Probably just some Secret Service agents and they already know about you and me."
"How do you find out about that?" Leo asks, in a surprised voice.
"Abbey told me that the President had you followed and that an agent witnessed our bay window activities." Margaret looks at Leo's face and realizes that he already knew this. "You mean to tell me you already knew?"
"I um. sorta noticed um. when we were at the window in the middle of." Leo sheepishly admits.
"And you didn't tell me? We could've stopped and moved to the bed," Margaret declares.
"I was enjoying it far too much at the time to stop and besides, I'm sure that the agent couldn't see anything really important," Leo states.
"Yeah, well. I owe you one for that and don't you forget it."
"I think you just got me back," He says, as he looks down at the swelling in the front of his pants.
Margaret grabs his hand as the doors open and pulls him out of the elevator. They head off down the hall with Leo following close behind Margaret. They reach his office without running into anyone. Leo breathes a sigh of relief when they enter his office. He's too busy getting his coat on and grabbing Margaret's present to notice that Margaret has gone around to all of the doors in his office, and shut and locked them. She walks over to Leo and takes the present from his hand and lays it on his desk. She wraps her arms around Leo and continues to assault him like she had been earlier in the elevator. Leo starts to moan as she rubs herself against him. She slides Leo's overcoat off and throws it aside. Next, she removes his suit jacket and tosses it on top of his overcoat. Then, Margaret reaches over and playfully snaps Leo's suspenders.
"Hey, watch it," Leo growls.
"Oh, Leo," she kisses him, "you have no idea. I've wanted to do that for years!" Margaret hands drift down the front of his body.
She presses Leo back against his desk as she starts to undo his pants.
"Margaret, what are you doing?"
"I just thought I'd help you out with your problem here," She says, as she rubs her fingers along his zipper.
Leo moans as she unzips his pants. He starts to pull her dress up, but Margaret stops him. He has a confused look on his face as she continues on with her quest. She slowly pulls his suspenders off his shoulders and then pushes his pants and boxers down his legs, as she falls to her knees. Leo can't believe what she's doing to him in his office. But, he's enjoying it far too much to worry about getting caught here at work. He's never had anyone do this to him before and he can't believe the sensations that it's causing. Jenny had never offered to perform this act and he had never forced the issue. He runs his hands through Margaret's hair as he pulls her closer to him and leans back further over top the desk. Leo has no restraint and it's all over in a matter of a couple of minutes. He helps Margaret back up and kisses her. He is overwhelmed by what she has just done for him.
"Thanks, Baby, I really needed that after what you did to me in the elevator," Leo says, as a big grin grows on his face. Leo decides to return the favor and turns Margaret around so that her backside is now against his desk. He slides her dress up over her hips and drops to his knees, as he works her pantyhose and panties down her long sexy legs, kissing them as he goes. When he gets her undergarments off, she kicks them aside. Leo pushes her back onto the desk and starts working his way back up her thighs. When he reaches his destination, Margaret lets out a loud moan. Leo stops for a second and looks at her face. He can't help but smile at the pleasure he's giving her. He's not exactly sure if he's doing this right, but he follows her moans and continues on until she can't take anymore and she lets go. Leo gives her a couple of seconds to recover as he stands up and then pulls her off the desk and into his arms.
"Oh, Leo, now you deserve a big thank you, too," Margaret says.
Leo's face starts to turn red. He's slightly embarrassed by her comments. "We should probably get going," Leo says, as turns to walk over and pick up Margaret's undergarments. But, he's forgotten that his pants are down around his ankles and he loses his balance and hits the floor hard.
Margaret rushes to Leo's side. "Honey, are you alright?"
"Yeah." He reaches under him and pulls out one of Margaret's high heel shoes. "But I almost impaled myself on your shoe," Leo says, as he starts to laugh. He reaches up to where Margaret is kneeling next to him and pulls her down onto the floor with him. She, too, starts to laugh. Leo rolls them over until he is on top of her and starts kissing her neck. They are interrupted by a knock on the hallway door. They both jump at the sound.
"Hey, is anyone in there?"
Leo looks at Margaret. "Its Josh." They whisper, in unison. Both of them lay there frozen, with Leo still on top of her, trying very hard not to make a sound. They remain very still until they hear Josh's footsteps walk down the hall. Leo rolls off of Margaret and they both breathe a sign of relief.
"That was close," Leo says.
"Yeah."
"I don't think we'll being doing this in here again, anytime soon," Leo whispers into Margaret's ear.
Margaret loves it when Leo whispers in her ear. It drives her wild. She gets that look in her eye and starts to kiss Leo. "I don't know about that," She sexily whispers into Leo's ear, as she starts rubbing herself against his leg.
"Baby, I think I'm going to need some more time before I can. um," Leo starts to say.
Margaret interrupts him by thrusting her tongue into his mouth, Leo responds to her kiss and starts fondling her breasts. She reaches up and takes Leo by his hand and guides it down her body.
Leo catches on quickly and pulls Margaret dress up over her hips and then he works at getting the straps of her dress down in order to gain access to her breasts. Margaret willingly helps slide down the top of her dress, until she is exposed. Leo's hand travels back down her body and when he reaches her core he is surprised to find her so ready. "Oh, Baby, so warm, so nice. Tell me, what do you like?" He says, as he sucks a nipple into his mouth.
Margaret takes his hand and shows him the best way to bring her delight. She lets out a loud moan as he starts to manipulate her. Leo's taking his time and enjoying what he's doing to her. After a few minutes he dips into her, and a few moments later he adds another and at the sounds of her pleasure building he adds a third. She's going crazy now, moving against his hand and moaning. "Yes, Leo. that's.."
These distorted sounds softly float out into Leo's outer office, where Josh has gone to look for the file that brought him to Leo's office in the first place. He stops dead in his tracks and stares at the door. A smile covers his face and he shakes his head a little. He really can't make out, exactly what's going on in there, but he knows one thing for sure, it's Leo and Margaret. Apparently, CJ was right. Josh had given the matter a lot of thought after CJ had mentioned the other day how she thought that Leo and Margaret had feelings for each other. Josh had pretty much come to the conclusion that CJ was correct and now he knows for sure. Josh and Leo really haven't been very close for a few months now, and he figures that's why he missed it before. Josh really misses the closeness that Leo and he once shared. Things have started to get better between them lately and he hopes it continues to improve. If two people ever deserved to find some happiness, it was Leo and Margaret. He's really happy that they have finally decided to act on their feelings. Josh decides he'd better leave the area, before they discover he's out here. He quietly heads back to his office.
Margaret is arching her back as Leo nips down a little harder on her nipple. That does it and she goes flying over the edge with a cry of pleasure. Leo wraps his arms around her and enjoys holding her as she comes back down to earth.
"Oh, Leo, That was. wonderful. I love you." There are tears of joy in her eyes.
"Baby, I love giving you pleasure anytime and anywhere," Leo tells her as he kisses her on her nose. They lay there for a while, just enjoying holding on to one another.
After a while, Margaret starts to get up. She pulls her dress back up and fixes the straps. She reaches down and helps Leo up off the floor. He moans in pain as she pulls him up.
"Honey, are you ok?" Margaret asks, with a worried look on her face.
"Yeah, I'm just getting too old to lay on the floor anymore." Leo admits, as he starts rubbing his hip. "I think I bruised my hip when you pushed me down," Leo says with a lopsided grin, as he tries to derail any comments from Margaret, about his bad leg.
"I didn't push you down. You tripped over your own pants. You're a klutz," she smirks back at him.
"I am not, I was pushed. You just wanted to get me on the floor, so that I would ravish you." Leo grabs a hold of her and pulls her into his arms.
"And you, are just trying to keep me from asking about your leg," she kisses his brow, the one that droops when he's tired.
"Are my tactical maneuvers working?" Leo asks her.
"Not so much, but I won't bother you about it, right now," she kisses his sagging brow again.
"Yeah?" He sighs.
"Yeah," She echoes.
"Ok."
"You better pull your pants back up, before you go sprawling all over the floor again," Margaret tells Leo as she backs away from him a little and casts her eyes on his manhood. "Plus, if you stand around like that much longer, I may not be able to control myself," she leers.
"Margaret," Leo whines, as he quickly pulls his shirttail down to cover himself up.
"Honey, 'come' on. Let's go home and see what else we can come 'up' with tonight," Margaret says, as she finishes rearranging her dress. Margaret's really is enjoying tormenting Leo. She figures, that if he won't be truthful with her when his leg is bothering him, he's gonna have to pay for it.
Leo groans at the use of her words. "Margaret, I said it before and I'll say it again. You're going to be the death of me!" Leo's trying to pull his boxers and pants back up and then tuck his shirt back into his pants. But, he's having a little difficulty performing this normal everyday task, because Margaret's innuendos have gotten him a little excited, again.
Leo gazes over at Margaret and flashes her his best impish grin, as he struggles with his pants. She's standing there with her hand on her hip and is shaking her head in wonderment. She still finds it astonishing that it was only just a few short hours ago that they began this journey, as a couple.
Leo finally gets his pants zipped and heads for his over coat and suit jacket that somehow found themselves, on the floor in a pile, behind his chair. He bends down to pick them up, trying his best not to let out a pained sigh. He really did hurt himself when he fell and he knows that he's going to be real stiff and sore in the morning. He puts both of his coats back on and grabs Margaret's present from his desk and escorts Margaret out into her area and helps her on with her over coat. They leave the office, this time, hand and hand, not caring if anyone sees them.
