Title: Leo's Dilemma part 9B/9B Private Times 5 /?
Written By: chipmunk Daylight Series
Pairing: Leo/Margaret
Rating: R
Spoilers: None really
This is AU, doesn't matter the year or the situation.
Plot Development By: Lynn lhjessome@yahoo.com
Beta and Mentor By: Lee pigletnpooh@comcast.net
Disclaimer:
The characters are from the NBC, WB, Bravo, A John Wells Prod.,
TV show, 'The West Wing'.
They own them; therefore, they do not belong to me.
They are the creation and property of Aaron Sorkin. I only borrowed them.
No copyright infringement is intended.
No monetary benefit is received or anticipated.
A 'grateful' and 'enormous' thanks, to the actors and actresses,
who portray the characters 'brilliantly' and bring them to life in my head.
May I never embarrass them or me. This is a learning process for me.
Any mistakes found in this fic, are totally my own fault and ignorance.
Feedback: I'd love it hear your opinion! PLEASE! It helps to improve my writing!
Archived at:
Summary: Leo is attacked. Margaret is a target.
Note: CURSE WARNING: Leo's hurting and not too careful with his words.
It gets a little warm in some sections.
****
Arriving at the apartment building, the agent gets out first and sweeps the area with his eyes and signals for the driver to open the door.
Josh steps out and stays in the car doorway, with his back to the car, as if he too is looking for any trouble. Leo actually has to grab the back of Josh's belt to get him self pulled up out of the car, even with Margaret pushing from behind. Hopefully, all of this is not observed, by onlookers, be them friend or foe. They all move away from the car, with the agent in front and the driver following till they are safely out of the lobby and past the security door. The driver then returns to the car, to wait for when Josh is ready to return to the White House.
After the elevator doors close, the agent positions him self in front of the doors, so that he's the first person exposed when the doors open. Leo's leaning back against Josh, who is again holding him under the arms to hold him up and to give Leo some reprieve, while the elevator takes them to the fifth floor. As the doors open and the agent precedes them out, Josh asks, "Leo, do you want to do this alone or do you want help?"
"Walk me to the door, Josh. I don't think anyone will notice here." Leo's more tired than he anticipated. Margaret has already popped out after the agent signaled it was safe to step off the elevator and she has the door open to the apartment, so Josh can walk him straight in.
"Take him to his room, Josh." Margaret directs as she closes the door behind them, leaving the agent outside. "He'll need to get out of those suit pants and into his soft clothes."
Leo immediately perks up and firmly states, "No shirt, not in the apartment. Abby wound me up tighter than a mummy."
Margaret follows the guys into the spare room, where Josh helps Leo to sit on the side of the day bed, which is thankfully higher off the ground.
Margaret is ready with a plan, "Leo, as soon as we get you changed, I'll go get you an ice pack for your ribs." Margaret's in charge again, "Josh get his shoes and socks off and I'll get his suspenders, tie and shirt off him."
Leo remarks to Josh, as he sets the shoes under the edge of the bed. "See, I was just telling Toby this morning. Every time Margaret and Abby get around me, I start losing clothes." Margaret hands Josh Leo's tie and cuff links to set over on the chest of drawers.
"And this is a bad thing, Leo," Josh asks with a huge grin, as he turns back to Leo on the side of the bed.
Leo sincerely defends his point, "It is when you're hurting too much to care or they're just going to torture you with another get-well treatment."
"Man, Leo, you are being abused," Josh teases him, trying not to laugh.
Leo grins back at Josh," I told her that payback would be hell, but she's not worried at all." Leo watches Margaret as she drapes his shirt over the computer chair in his room.
She turns back to him and gives him a pointed look, "Leo, I'm right here and since you're in my care tonight, I'd watch what I say about the care you're receiving." She smirks and has the last dig, "Don't make me call Abby."
Leo immediately sounds sorry and humble, "Yes, dear. Anything you say, dear."
"Uh Oh," Josh sounds the warning. "He's starting on the DEAR kick again." Josh looks seriously at Margaret, "Maybe we better hurry and get him ready for his ice pack."
Margaret agrees as Leo's leaning toward his left side. She can tell he's in pain. "Ok, Josh, stand him up again, just for a moment." Josh can tell that Margaret's ready to get Leo's pants off. She has his satin pants out of the drawer and lying beside Leo on the bed.
Leo's agreeable and getting playful again with the pain, "OK, but this is how you guys kept me hidden in the Residence. Dressed in just satin pants and barefoot. I couldn't have left, if I wanted to."
Margaret has laughter in her voice as she confirms, "That's just the way we plan on keeping you hidden here, Leo."
"All right, Leo!" Josh cheerfully exclaims, "What a great way to be held captive. Sounds like every males fantasy come true, to me."
"Yeah, but it does get drafty at times," he says this with his teeth clenched while Josh holds him up, as Margaret drops his suit pants to the floor and crouches down to help him step out of them and into the legs of the satin lounge pants. Leo grins at Josh and takes a good, but painful breath and goes for the blush. "Margaret, you know, you should really try to restrain yourself and not strip me down in front of other people. What we do for fun should be 'our' private business." Josh snickers at the shocked look on Margaret's face. He's hoping there's no angry fallout coming his way, since he's still holding Leo up.
She leans her head slightly against the side of Leo's thigh in mortification. She naturally steals a quick kiss from his bare skin before breaking the contact with his thigh. She stands and looks at Leo's grinning and bruised face, which keeps her from doing more damage to him. Margaret sputters at the thought of what Leo just said. "'Leo', if you'd had said that in front of anyone else, I'd have just died. At least Josh knows you're just trying to make me blush." She's still sputtering, "Which I can tell is progressing very nicely from the heat on my face." She turns the tables on him, "Believe me, if I wanted to strip you down in front of someone, you'd both be blushing, right along with me." She pulls the pants up over his boxers.
"Yes, Dear," he answers sweetly, still grinning. He likes that thought. "Ow!"
"Sorry, Dear." She had snapped the pant band onto his stomach, after she had pulled it out a ways, to get a substantial sting to it. "No more, DEAR, got it?" She looks sternly at him now that Josh has set him back down and Leo is rubbing the sting mark on his middle, with his fingertips. She relents seeing the chastised look on his face and leans in to give him a kiss, brushing her breast deliberately on his arm, where Josh can't see. Leo swallows at her bold action and draws in a shaky breath at her meaning. She sees Leo swallow hard and understands what he's thinking. She locks eyes with him briefly and gives him a knowing smile. He can feel the familiar warm sensation starting in his lower region, as he looks at her and wondering if she's hinting at her readiness for them to get physically closer. At her next words he's reminded to save these thoughts for later when they are alone. "Josh can move you to the couch, while I get you an ice pack." She directs them with a breathless quality to her voice. Josh is oblivious to the undercurrent running between the couple.
"I really am sorry, Baby." Leo looks at her earnestly from his place on the bed.
"I'd better hear 'Baby' from you." She smiles, at winning that round.
"Lost that one." He nods his head to the side in acceptance and looks at Josh for understanding. "I'm not doing so good this weekend. I'm off my game."
Josh, who had been quiet while Margaret was living up to her red hair, agrees with Leo, "We all go through a slump now and then, Leo. Might as well go with the flow. Win some and lose some. At least you won the argument with Ron this weekend and look at the great way it's turned out." Josh has Leo on his feet and moving into the living room, as he was reflecting on Leo's weekend.
Leo is pleased, "Yeah, this is a nice way to end up." They were at the couch by now. "Grab the other throw pillow from Margaret's end and put it here at my end. I could camp on this couch for the whole week. I love this couch."
Josh know what Leo means, "Yeah, I'm about to start combing the city for one for my place. It has Donna and I ruined from using a regular size couch."
Leo's glad to get settled into the comfortable couch and Josh helps him to swing his feet up. Leo lies back with a sigh.
Leo warns him, "Just as long as you two don't have any designs on this one." Now that he's safely planted on the couch, his mind returns to his never ending passion, "Hey, grab the remote and turn the news on before Margaret gets back in here."
A voice drifts in from the other room, "I heard that Leo, the pass thru window is not sound proof."
"Damn and she hears just fine," Leo says to Josh in a mock whisper, he knows that his news watching time is going to be limited. "I hear you, Baby. " He answers her in a normal voice.
Margaret comes out with a snort as her reply. She has kicked off her shoes while she was gone. "Leo, you rest a moment while I go and get changed into some soft clothes." She hands him the ice pack.
Josh speaks up, "Guys, if he's ok on his own. I need to pop back to the White House and I'll check back in about and hour or so, with Donna. Anything you need?"
Margaret look at him like a light bulb went off, "Yeah, Josh. We'll need some perishables. It would help if Donna would dash into the carryout for bread and milk. I was going to go shopping yesterday, on Sunday."
"Sure, I'll let her know and she can call you before she goes." Josh volunteers her, but he knows she's more than willing to help where she can.
"No rush, I'm going to get us some ice cream, for now and fix something to eat later." Margaret reassures him that there's no big hurry, "We're not used to eating at this time of the evening and it's still daylight out. Leo will be busy for a little while, as he wants to check in with Mallory and let her know how his day went."
Josh grins and heads to the door, "OK, tell Mallory, I said hi and I'll call her soon. Catch you guys later. The driver is waiting downstairs to take me back to the White House."
"Thanks, Josh. See you later," Leo calls to him as he leaves the apartment. Josh shuts the door behind him on the way out.
****
Leo and Margaret sit at each end of the couch with their ice cream. Leo has his sitting on his stomach and is working at getting some on the spoon. Margaret had mashed his with the spoon to get it mushy and he's determined to do this for himself. Margaret sits at her end and she's facing him propped on the arm of the couch, the same as Leo. She has her knees pulled up and her feet resting between his knees on the couch. She's glad and hopeful at the same time that Leo's trying to get back to doing normal activities. Margaret sees the determination on his face and teases him, "Doing pretty good there, Leo?"
"Yeah, but I usually like a bigger challenge than just trying to fed myself." He takes another bite of his ice cream and watches Margaret's mouth as she slowly eats another bite of hers. She knows he has stopped to watch her and she licks the spoon completely clean. She's unconsciously wiggling her right toes to caress the inside of his left knee. He playfully asks, "What flavor of ice cream are you eating?"
"I'm having chocolate, with chocolate chunks and pecans, and you're having the cherry cordial," she makes it sound like she has the superior flavor.
"Can I taste yours?" Leo asks with his gravely voice and a grin on his face.
"Sure, Leo." She can tell he's in a playful mood, "Here's a bite." She holds out her spoon for him to taste, just out of his reach, tempting him with it.
"No, you bring it here," he invites her in the same gravely and teasing voice.
She schooshes around on the couch and feeds the spoonful to him. His eyes twinkle with delight as he closes his lips over the bite from her spoon, and with her so close he grins and says, "I wanted to taste it after 'you' take the bite." She grins and scoops a bite into her mouth. Margaret then hovers over him, bracing herself on either side of him up on her arms and her knees are between his. She is keeping a space between their bodies to keep from touching his ribs. Margaret slowly lowers her mouth to his and lets him savor the ice cream taste, from inside her mouth. His tongue hungrily sweeps around and searches for the flavor combination of Margaret and the ice cream.
She pulls back and is still kneeling between his knees. She grins and admits, "I usually don't share my ice cream, Leo, but that's definitely a great way of trying new flavors."
"Want to try a taste of my cherry cordial," he invites and pops a bite into his mouth.
She places her bowl of ice cream on the coffee table and he extends his arm to do the same with his.
"Definitely," she accepts his offer and she crawls back up to suspend her self over him again and leisurely tastes the ice cream from inside his mouth.
She has a gleam in her eyes as she lifts her face from his and looks mischievously at him. "Oh, Leo, how messy of you, you dropped some of your ice cream on your chest, let me help you," she licks and sucks up the melting bit of chocolate off his chest.
"Margaret, you can't be crawling all over me. I can't join in with my hands not functioning well," he growls with disappointment and frustration.
She giggles and teases, "I'll help you cool down, Leo," and she takes another quick bite of her ice cream, then hovers over him again and latches onto his mouth to share the cold treat. They both are enjoying this playful time together, totally oblivious to the outside world.
Leo has his arms against her sides to steady her, with her balanced dangerously over his injured ribs. " Margaret, …we better take a break."
She grins down at his face, "Why, you afraid that I'll fall on your ribs?"
"No, but I do have another reason that is making itself known," Leo answers in a soft rumble.
She gives him a look of not understanding.
"Margaret, there are parts of me that are working just fine and having you balanced overtop of me is just too much of a temptation." He continues and gives her a hint. "I may need a cold shower soon."
Her face lights up as his meaning dawns on her. "Oh," she bends her head and looks down between their bodies. Neither one of them is embarrassed at the naturally responding bulge she can see covered in satin that is between them. She can't help but giggle, "Yes, I'd say that some parts of you are definitely in fine working order." She looks back at his sad face. "Oh, Leo, I'm sorry. This is obviously 'not' the time for us to explore this possibility." She rolls to the side and tucks her self in beside of him, avoiding contact with the front of him. "We can slow down and just cuddle for a while, till you calm down." She's blushing slightly at the compliment that Leo's body is giving her. She lays her head gently on his shoulder and as she spreads her hand across his chest she can feel his heart beating faster.
"Thanks, Margaret." He pulls her close with his arm and places his other hand over hers. He's also slightly red faced at his body's obvious response to Margaret's sexual playfulness, but he doesn't regret it, nor is he embarrassed that she's aware of it. "We both know that the 'right' time will present itself. When we can express our feelings in a more meaningful way. For now, I just want you to consider that this is a natural response my body has to my feelings for you, it's just the way my body reacts to you. I love you." He kisses her brow. "This is going to happen more often and we'll deal with it each time, as we feel comfortable with it at that moment."
"I love you, Leo." She turns her face to his and kisses him in return, "Your response to our necking is just the preamble to our future lovemaking and we agreed that we want to savor each step of your journey." She is glad to be able to define this new reaction that they have to each other and with their changing relationship, which is bringing them closer together. She looks at their joined hands, "Leo, this is a natural occurring step in that process. Lets just enjoy this part of our relationship, like we have all the previous ones." She intertwines her fingers with his, "Physical discovery and exploration sounds like a nice place to start, if we can just get you well enough to fully participate."
He sighs with contentment and again gives her a kiss he can't resist doing before he reveals to her, "Margaret, life doesn't get any better than this."
"I know, Leo," her sigh is an echo of his.
****
Josh and Donna arrive back at the apartment with the groceries at about 7:30. Both are tired, but pleased with the day and what they were able to get accomplished for Leo and Margaret in the office.
"Hey, guys, I hope you didn't need any of the groceries, before we got here." Josh announces as he enters the living room.
Donna adds, "I bought more ice cream." She sets her purse down and picks up the bag of groceries, to take them to the kitchen, "Josh said that you were having ice cream this evening and I didn't want Margaret to go into withdrawal if she runs out." She looks at the guys, "That's not allowed in the Sisterhood."
Leo cheerfully answers, "Thanks Donna, we'll try out the new flavors maybe tomorrow." Leo adds for Margaret's benefit, "We've already had our ice cream for today." Leo and Margaret grin at each other at his remark. He adjusts the second ice pack on his ribs; it helps to keep him cool under the wrap.
"No, Josh." Margaret breaks eye contact with Leo, to concentrate on answering Josh, "I haven't gone into the kitchen, to look at what we have here to fix for dinner. So, we haven't decided what to have for dinner." She makes a decision while looking at Leo's displeased face at the mention of his kitchen, "How about you guys stay and we can order pizza. I know Josh would eat pizza daily, if he thinks he can get away with it, plus it's easier for Leo to eat pizza, with his hands injured."
"Sounds good to me." Josh automatically agrees to pizza. Margaret knows his craving for it too well. With a hopeful look he blatantly asks, "How about it, Donna, are you OK with us staying for pizza?"
Leo encourages her, "Donna, you two could sneak down to the hot tub for a quick soak, while we wait for the pizza to arrive."
Donna looks at Josh's eager face and gives in, "OK, you twisted my arm, we'll stay long enough to have pizza with you guys and Josh can have his soak in the hot tub."
Josh sounds jubilant, "All right. That hot tub is spoiling me. I may never live without one in my life again."
Leo quickly interrupts Josh's hug of Donna, "OK, great then. Josh, can help me up. I'll take a trip to my bathroom, while your here. You can change in the spare room and then when your done changing. You can park me on the couch again."
Josh is immediately at the couch. He's in a rush now that his time is limited at the hot tub. "Sure thing, I'm glad to help you and that's the men's bathroom, Leo. I keep my stuff in there, also."
Leo grins as Josh, "Good, then you can clean it the next time."
"Talked myself right into that one didn't I." Josh grins back at Leo, glad that Leo will be in the apartment now.
Josh gets Leo into the men's bathroom with just a little help from him, even if it is slow going. Leo is doing better with the ice pack back on this evening. "Leo, just let me in long enough to grab my swimwear, and then when I'm done changing, I'll knock on the door."
A short time later, Leo is again settled onto the couch and Josh is waiting for Donna to emerge from Margaret's room. Josh is getting impatient, "Come on, Donna. Are you ready yet? The hot tub is calling out to me."
"Keep your pants on, Josh. I'm ready." Donna answers him in an exasperated tone.
"Donna, I do have my pants on. At least for now," he steals a quick kiss from her when she emerges, while she's tying the sash to her cover-up.
"Josh, you keep that going and you'll be keeping them on for a long time and you know what I mean." She looks at Margaret, "Men can be a pain to deal with, when they start to get frisky."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." She shares a grin with Donna, "Mine is just starting to get that way. He just has had a set back this week, but he likes a challenge," she ends with a playful tone. She grins at Leo, now, "We're pacing ourselves for the long run."
Josh places a hand on his chest and in asks in a mock whisper, "Are they talking about our sexual advances, Leo? In front of us? I'm shocked!" Josh is grinning at Leo and glances at the women as he makes these teasing remarks.
"Yeah, I think your right, Josh." Leo's grinning proudly at Margaret, "We may need to change tactics. I think they've got us all figured out."
"That's OK, guys, we know how to control your sexual advances just fine," Donna informs them with no doubt to any of them.
Josh and Donna quickly leave, both grinning at Donna's threat. They love to be playful with each other away from work.
Margaret follows them to the door and places the order for the pizza, since it will take 30 minutes to arrive. She instructs them to buzz for her, when they are in the lobby.
While Leo is alone in the living room, he reflects that he's surprisingly impressed that Margaret is so natural and open about talking in front of close mixed friends, about the advancement of their relationship. He knows that Josh and Donna are honest about how far along they are in their relationship, but they're still young and frisky. Intimacy is as natural for them as breathing. Where as Margaret and he have agreed to savor each step of their time together. They believe the journey is so much more meaningful than the final destination. He hopes that when they do get there that being intimate will be a journey of discovery for them to continue expanding their relationship.
Margaret joins him in the living room and clicks on her Kenny G CD for some low soft music. She sits on the floor beside him, with her back leaning against the couch. He gently strokes her hair with his stiff fingers. They both enjoy just relaxing together for a few minutes. Leo decides to reveal his thoughts, "Margaret, I'm glad that you're OK with letting our friends know we have a serious and mature relationship." He tucks her hair behind her ear and continues to stroke the edge of it with a fingertip. "I don't want to hide what we have either. I'm just glad to see that you don't feel we're expected to progress at a rate gauged by the other couples that we're around, like we were this weekend."
She leans her head back to touch the side of him, "Yeah, Leo. I'll admit that your attack has driven home the fact that we never know what the future holds for us. I know that most people would be afraid for their time together and jump into something that would blow up on them later on." She pauses and listens to the soothing music. She continues her thoughts, "I like the rate we are moving at and I hope we advance normally. We're getting more comfortable with each other and more secure in our relationship. Our hearts and our bodies are becoming one as we enter into an enduring relationship."
Leo strokes the back of his fingers down her cheek. "I love the way you said that, Margaret. I'm glad that we are in agreement on this. The attack could have hurt us more than just me physically."
Margaret wants to tell him another revelation that has reveled itself to her, "Leo, I just want say that it's only been a few hours with you here today, but I can sense that your living here, with me at the apartment, is the right thing for us. It just seems a natural progression. The attack did make it happen this weekend and it probably moved up our agenda, but I could sense it coming. It's just that lately, felt like something was missing when you weren't here. I couldn't really place what was missing, but now I know, it was 'you' that was missing here. This was meant to be, Leo."
"I think so too, Margaret." He tries to explain how it's been for him. "Driving to the hotel was starting to feel like I was going the wrong way. Staying at the hotel lately was like a long campaign trip and I was getting antsy for it to be over. It was just something beneath of my conscious thoughts."
"Exactly, Leo," she sighs in contentment. She's happy that they are so in tune with each other. She turns onto her knees to kiss him and it's as a natural as breathing. He slides his hand down her side in search of her breast, to heighten their passion for each other.
They come up for air just in time to hear the intercom buzzer. Leo chuckles in his gravely voice. "That's one way to cool us down. Must be fate."
"Yeah, we need a cooling down time. We are enjoying each other way too much." She sensuously kisses an exposed nipple, which is peeking out above his wrap, as she gets up, just to tease him.
Leo growls in annoyance. "Margaret, you did that on purpose, since I can't follow you. You like to remind me that our 'waist and up rule' was your idea."
"Well, Leo, you've liked my ideas so far," she responds with brassiness.
"Got any new ones," he asks hopefully.
"We'll see, Leo," she flips back at him, as she grabs her security card and the pizza money, on the way out the door.
****
When Margaret reaches the main floor she goes to the hot tub room first to get Josh and Donna, for them to go with her when she opens the security door to the lobby. She knows better than to be alone outside the security doors. Not even to get a pizza from the deliveryman. You just never know who might be in the lobby.
"I'm here now, Margaret," Josh calls to her, as he emerges from the hot tub room. "Let me go out and pay for it and you can stay behind the security door with Donna."
"Good idea, Josh." Margaret gladly hands him the money and her security card to him, "I don't want to take any chances and Leo will be happier, when we return up at the apartment, to know that you went out in the lobby to get the pizza."
Donna walks over to the elevator to wait with Margaret and she can see through the glass that Josh will be right back, so to save time, she's already pushed the elevator button. Margaret looks at her questionably, "Are you in a hurry, Donna?"
"Not really, but we don't need to have you standing here, any longer than necessary instead of waiting extra time for the elevator to arrive." Donna smiles almost apologetically at her, "I guess we're a little overprotective of you and Leo, right now."
"That's so nice of you two." Margaret gives her quick hug with shining eyes, "With everything the last 48 hours, I'm a little disoriented. I'm glad you guys are watching my back." She fidgets with Donna's towel around her neck, "I also wanted to thank you for helping out at the office today. It was a big help to have you to help cover my desk. You ran errands, brought us lunch and groceries. Your one of the best friends I've ever had." Margaret honestly means this and it shows on her face.
"Margaret, I was happy to help. I wanted to help in anyway I could, we're White House family and best friends." She takes Margaret hands in hers, "I'll always be here to help you and I know you wouldn't hesitate to do the same for me or for Josh."
"Your right," Margaret smiles brightly at Donna. "We 'are' best friends and as close as any family can be, White House or not."
Josh looks around behind him and then slides Margaret's security card through the scanner to open the door and joins the two women at the elevator, as the doors open. "Talk about timing," he jokes good-naturally as he smells the pizza box with a grin.
****
Arriving back at the apartment, they see that Leo's sitting up on the couch. He's holding his side with the ice pack. Margaret pins him with a pointed look, "Leo, you did something stupid while I was gone, didn't you?"
"Yeah," he admits with a grunt. He takes a deeper breath, "I thought that I could at least sit myself up. He nods his head to the side in resignation, "It took me three tries." He now looks at her, honestly sorry and wants to reassure her, "It'll get better in a few minutes. I do have the ice pack back on it." He's panting at the end of this defensive speech.
She looks at him with sympathy and gives him a logical response. "Leo, you don't have to defend your actions to me. You're the only one that you hurt, when you do dumb stunts." She rubs on his shoulder in compassion and adds helpfully, "It's time for your medications, Leo. If you take them before you eat, they should be working by the time we're done eating."
"Thanks, Margaret." He softly admits, "I just hate not being able to do regular activities."
"I know, Leo. 'Stubborn to the end' is your motto," she teases him out of the dumps. .
He smiles at her, "Yeah, you know me 'so' well."
Josh and Donna had parted ways when then entered the apartment to change back into dry clothes. They soon return to help Margaret with the pizza. The guys are sitting on the couch and the women are sitting on the floor, eating off the coffee table. Everyone is really hungry by this time. Josh is staking out his share of the pizza. Leo manages to eat two slices and gladly offered his leftover share to Josh. The guy has to be a bottomless pit. Leo takes delight every time he sees Josh eat. He just loves to watch someone eat, who really enjoys his food. ~At least he has table manners. You don't go to that many political dinners and not pick up some good etiquette. Lord knows, his Mom tried to teach him manners.~ They have the early news on for the benefit of the guys, Leo is going into withdrawal. Donna is practically asleep leaning on Josh's leg, patiently waiting for the news to end.
Margaret announces as the news goes off at 10:30, "OK, Leo, bedtime for you. We've all had a long day. 'Hopefully' tomorrow will be better."
"That's right, Leo." Josh stands and moves over to stand in front of Leo," Each day should be easier. Let me help you up." He grins and winks to Leo. "Where do you want him, Margaret?" Josh asks her, knowing that it's a dumb question. Leo grins back at him and Margaret gives Josh a pointed look. Donna just takes a mock swipe at his head.
"Ok, OK, I was just joking." He ducks Donna's swipe and grin cheekily at Margaret. "I know you want him in your room. You're not going to let him out of your sight, anytime soon."
"You got that right, Josh." Margaret chuckles as she reminds them all, "I left him for 15 minutes tonight and you saw him when we got back up here. He can't be trusted to be alone."
"You've got a point, Margaret," Donna grins at Leo like he was a bad boy and got caught.
Margaret seriously directs, "Josh, take him into my bathroom, first. I'll manage to get him up during the night, just like I rolled him out last night. It'll hurt again, but he can't lie still all night. We'd never get him up in the morning."
"OK, Margaret. I'll be here, really early, in the morning, if you have trouble getting him on his feet." Josh promises her as he's helping Leo into Margaret's room.
"That might not be a bad idea." A thought occurs to Margaret "Just announce yourself when you get here. I don't think you'll be here before I'm up. But that depends on how his night goes."
'You can call me if you need me in the night." Josh volunteers from inside her bathroom where he's keeping an eye on a tired Leo, so he doesn't hit the floor, "I know you had Abby at the White House, but if you need help, just call."
"I'll keep that in mind, but only in an emergency." Margaret calls back in to Josh, "I know you need to sleep tonight, this is going to be a hard week for you. With taking all of Leo's meetings, since his face is a rainbow of colors and not wanting it to get around the city how bad his attack was."
"I'll come, if you call me," Josh again promises her, while he guides Leo to the bed. "Now, Leo, we need to get you tucked into bed."
"OK, Dad," Leo jokes, as Josh helps to swing his feet up on the bed. "Do I get a story too?"
"I'll let Margaret tell you a bedtime story." Josh has a gleam in his eyes as he suggests this to Leo. "I'm sure she can tell you a wonderful story."
"Yeah, I just bet she could," Leo gets brave with Margaret listening in on them.
She raises her voice, so they can hear her well and gives them a tactful warning,
"All right, guys. That's enough 'boy' talk."
Josh happily point out, "You're in trouble again, Leo. You must be feeling better."
"The meds are working again," Leo agrees. "Now, I'm torn between hoping to get some sleep and not wanting to go to sleep anytime soon, if you know what I mean."
Again, Margaret warns with a serious tone from the living room. "Leo, keep it up and you'll be banned to the spare room." She had to reel him in once today, already.
"Yes, Baby, I'll be good," Leo promises. He now passes the blame, "Behave yourself, Josh. I don't want to get thrown out of her bed, tonight."
"Gotcha, Leo." Josh remembers Margaret in action from this afternoon. She might be serious.
Shortly, Josh comes back out to the living room. "I've got him all tucked into bed, but he's in there 'damning' about the covers."
"Well, I guess I'll have to turn temperature down on the A/C and freeze tonight. With an agent outside, I'm not letting him sleep in his boxers. So, I know he'll have us down to just a thin sheet." She looks at Donna for understanding, "Sleeping with him is like sleeping with a furnace. It's wonderful sleeping against him in cool weather, but this summer it's been a battle. Tonight, I just may have to sleep, in my baggy blue flannel pajamas. He really loves them." She ends on a sarcastic note.
Josh cracks up laughing, "Right, I'm sure he'll love sleeping with you, in flannel, on a warm summer night."
"We'll leave you work it out." Donna grabs Josh by the arm and calls into Margaret's room, "Leo, we're leaving now."
Leo is feeling left out of the fun teasing, "You guys 'do' know that I'm just in the next room and I can hear you 'taking my name in vain'. Now, you two are leaving me to suffer all night and no good-bye kiss for your 'kid'."
Donna immediately gives a cheeky reply, "No problem, Leo. If that's all you need to make you happy."
Josh adds in his playful statement, "We wouldn't want to be bad parents." They both quickly pop in to give Leo a kiss on the brow.
Leo's sitting propped up in bed, chuckling, with his hand holding his sore side. He should have known better than to issue a challenge, of any kind, to Josh and Donna. I'll see you two crazy parents, tomorrow morning." He grins at his good fortune of having friends like them, " I'll be right here, being held captive by Margaret."
"Yeah, Leo, you look like you're really suffering." Josh is now the one to give him a cheeky reply.
Leo just grins at Josh from his place in Margaret's bed. Happily tucked in there.
Josh and Donna give Margaret a hug and a peck on the cheek to wish her good luck for the coming night.
"Thanks, guys you have been 'the best' today." She tells them sincerely and honestly as she walks them to the door.
They grin and call back to Leo, "Good night," as they leave past the agent outside the door. Margaret shuts the door. She's not to lock it, so the agent can get to Leo quickly if he needs too. That's fine with her as long as he's outside the door.
****
Margaret comes in to see Leo trying to uncover himself. "Leo, I turned the temperature down on the A/C, so stop fighting with the covers, already."
"Thanks, Margaret, it's just this wrap is so warm." He gives her his best sad look.
"Yeah, and you generate enough heat all by yourself even without the wrap." She flatly states a given fact.
He perks up at being reminded of how she knows that about him, "I'm always happy to keep you warm, Baby. I haven't heard any complaints from you, yet."
'You probably never will either, Leo," she means that as a positive answer to both of his meanings.
"Leo, let me get changed and I'll be right in to bed." She predicts, "You can keep me from freezing tonight, with the A/C up, to keep you cooled to your standards." She talks to him as she gets changed for bed. "You need to start lying on your left side more. Abby said you could develop pneumonia from not changing your positions. That's another reason you're getting so stiff, you just lie on one side." Margaret's trying not to lecturing Leo, on some of the things he needs to do to avoid complications, but he needs to know them to recover faster.
"Ow! Damn! Shit, that hurts," Leo swears from the bed.
"What's wrong, Leo?" Margaret panics and quickly steps into the doorway of the bathroom to see what's the problem that has him cussing again.
Leo looks at her and his tirade, that's ready to spill out, is halted immediately in mid-word. His face has a surprised and pleased look. Margaret is standing in the doorway wearing just her panties and only what else god gave her. He remembers to breath and grins at her. "Margaret, you're beautiful. Just astonishing." His words just flow from him, "This is the first time I've seen your beautiful skin in the light and I don't think I'll ever get my fill of seeing such beauty."
"Thank you, Leo." She blushes at his compliments. "Are you OK? I thought you were in pain."
Leo answers her with honesty, "I'm OK. I'm in real pain, now, because I can't hold your perfect body in my arms."
She replies with at smile, "I can fix that, Leo." She moves to the bed and snuggles her nearly bare body to his.
"Damn," he utters his appreciation as he pulls her close. "Margaret, you're so wonderful and I'm not able to show you how much I appreciate, what you're willing to share with me." He softly chuckles in her ear, " I feel that I have too many clothes on, but there's nothing I can do about it. That's what I was trying to remove before, when I was cussing." He rubs his still slightly swollen and bruised hands over her body, trying to memorize all her wonderful pale curves. She's dropping small kisses to his neck and upper chest. He's doing the same to her. His hands come up to lovingly caress her breasts. His mouth hungrily finds hers and they revel in the wonder of new discovery. Leo moans finally and gasps for air. His eyes blink in the light still illuminating the room. He admires how it reflects softly on the curve of her back. He softly traces the curve with a fingertip as his view travels down the length of her body. He sadly feels the stirring of his earlier problem making it's self, known again. "Margaret, time for a break again. I think you'd better go get your sleepwear on." He tries to joke at his disappointment in ceasing their activity, " I really don't want the agent coming in and seeing what a wonderful body you have. I'm all for honesty, but I'm selfish and I do 'not' want to share you with anyone. Not even a peek."
"That's sweet, Leo." She drops one last kiss on his barely healed lips, "I'll go get some clothes on and you can calm down."
"Ok, Margaret," he blows out a held breath.
Margaret lifts herself away from his body and he moans at the loss of contact. She sashays happily back into the bathroom and his eyes never leave the sight of her, till she rounds the doorway out of his view.
"Damn, the bad luck!" He covers his face, as best as he can with his hands, to rub either the memories in or the frustration off.
Just about the time that he as a handle on his disobedient body, the phone rings. He reaches for the phone, his emotions fighting to decide if he's mad at the interruption or glad for the distraction.
"Hello. McGarry here."
"Leo, you really should learn how to answer a residential phone again," Abby, scolds him first thing.
"Hello, Abby. Nice to hear from your friendly voice," he answers her in a short tone.
"A little grumpy this evening, aren't we, Leo?" Abby pauses for a moment, "Come to think of it, you sound a like your having a little trouble breathing tonight. Are you having real problems? Do you need me to come over and see you?" Abby is getting into her doctor mode really fast.
Leo immediately commands, "No, don't come over. I'm fine."
"OH, working on the endorphins again, are we?" Abby is snickering over the phone, now that she understands his breathing trouble.
Leo gets sarcastic at her, for the fun she's having at his expense, "Thanks a lot, Abby, but we're 'not', right at the moment. He sounds a little pissed now, "You know, Abby. You must have a six sense for when to ask me the most awkward questions and I just bet Jed is right at your elbow."
She's delighted at Leo's annoyed tone of voice, "You're right, Leo. On all points and if your really OK, I'll hand 'him' the phone, before he wrestles it from me. She sincerely reminds him, "You take care and call if you need me. The agents can just deal with the fact that I 'will' visit the apartment, if need be."
"Thank you, Abby." Leo knows she means that from the bottom of her heart, where she keeps all the important people in her life, "I promise. If I need you, I'll call. Now, put 'him' on, before he orders to have me delivered back to the White House."
Abby's satisfied with Leo's answer, "OK, here he is. Night. Leo." She gets in one last dig at him, "I'll leave you in Margaret's capable hands and I mean that literately," she chuckles and she knows he gets her 'real' meaning.
Jed gets eagerly on the phone, "Hey, Leo. Did we catch you fooling around? We don't allow that with injured staff members," Jed chuckles at him as well. He knows that Leo hates to talk about his romantic activities.
"Tough, Jed." Leo snaps his answer to his best friend, "That's our business."
"You OK? Really? You sure don't need Abby?" Jed fires off all his questions at once, he's impatient concern wants to hear a positive answer to the first two.
Leo hears the care and some fear in Jed's voice, "I'm OK, Jed. Really, I am. He chuckles as he give Jed a small tidbit to humor him, "Josh tucked me in. Plus, Donna and he even kissed my brow good night." Leo now lists all the ways that he's being taken care and kept safe, to reassure his friend, "Josh is on call tonight if I need him. I'll be fine and you can see me tomorrow at work. The agent is right outside the apartment door." Leo again finds fault with his added security, "I might add, that he makes a great incentive for Margaret to wear lots of sleepwear to bed. She just knows that they're going to bust in here and grab me out of bed."
Jed softly chuckles sadly, "Yeah, I have that same problem with Abby wearing too many clothes to bed. Damn, the bad luck."
They both chuckle at the old expression, which they share.
Leo is pleased now, "Jed, I'll see you in the morning, if Abby doesn't kill you when you get off the phone, for your last comment. Just tell her it's payback for the endorphin comment to me."
"Ok, will do, Leo." Jed's happier that Leo's watching his back again, "Hope it's enough to save me." Jed knows it's time to get off the phone and let Leo get to sleep, "See you tomorrow. Take care. Love you, Leo."
"Love you back, Jed. Night." Leo hangs up the phone with a smile at the call he received from two people that love him.
Margaret has turned out the lamp on the nightstand and left just a small light on, in the bathroom, so she can see Leo in the night if he needs her. She is curled up against him, on her side of the bed, when Leo hangs up the phone. "I guess that the First Couple had to check in to make sure you were OK tonight?"
"Yeah, they must have needed to hear me personally tell them, that I'm ok." Leo softly confirms.
'They just love you and worry about you." Margaret wraps her arm around his waist, "It'll take all of us awhile to settle down to our normal lives"
"Yeah, I worry about you now, but we won't let it rule our lives. We'll just trust the agents." He resigns himself again to what fate has dealt them.
"Now, are you comfortable, Leo?" She asks as she notices that he has no coverings for them. He managed to get them all shoved to the foot of the bed.
'Yeah, but I do have one question, Margaret." Leo has a sly smile on his face.
She fails to notice his smile and innocently asks, "What is it, Leo?"
"Purple panties, Margaret? You must have a bold side, that I need to discover?" He watches her face to read her reaction to his daring questions.
"I sure do, Leo," she gives him a brassy answer. "That's when the real fun starts."
He snuggles into her neck and he rolls carefully onto his side to face her, "Promises again, Margaret?" His hand is starting to unbutton her pajama top. Leo notices that she didn't keep the threat about the flannel pajamas. But, is wearing a satin set of pajamas. He loves satin.
"Sure, Leo. Promises, just for you." she rolls more toward him and she places small kisses on the lines around hi mouth, enjoying the texture of the slight stubble under her lips. She loves the smell of his lingering cologne at the end of the day.
Leo suggests softly to her, "Margaret, I'm not the only one here that can be exploring."
"I like your ideas too, Leo." She slides her hand around to the dip in his back and gently slips her hand under the bands of both his satin pants and boxers. Margaret strokes the area where she knows the tattoo of his jet is. She loves that jet, it's so sexy to her.
Leo groans. He should have known she would go for the jet first.
At the sound of his gravely voicing of his pleasure, she gets bolder and gives in to her fantasy. She strokes downward and caresses the curve of his firm backside. Touching but not seeing, just drives her imagination crazy.
He then responds to her caresses, with a soft moan of approval. He's exploring too. Kissing her shoulder and trailing light sensual kisses down to her cleavage. His fingers are caressing her breast. He rolls her nipple between his finger and thumb, to tighten it to a hard nub.
She moans with agreement, at his touch of discovery. She strokes the roundness of his backside, delighting in the soft feel of the peach fuss against the palm of her hand.
He demonstrates his approval by lowering his mouth to suckle on her breast.
She continues to memorize the feel of his warm skin and discovers the dip on the side of his muscular cheek. She just can't get enough of sliding her hand over it. Enjoying the downward curve, before running her hand up and over his tailbone, to again slide her hand across the dip in his spine. To then repeat the search for the jet, which is invisible to her touch, but is imprinted in her mind, as a token of Leo's passions that are hidden from the world.
He gives a hungry tug on her nipple, before searching for her mouth to explore it's warm moist secrets, which he has already discovered before and cannot get enough of.
She draws in a ragged breath at the tug and instinctively pulls his hips closer to hers. She softly whispers, "Damn," when she feels his arousal against her pelvis and she shifts slightly back.
Leo hears the soft spoken word and his passion is hesitated, to respond softly to her, "God, Margaret, I could die happy now. You do wonderful things to me with just a touch." He chuckles softly, "We don't ever have to worry about my libido, again." He reminds her, "I do suggest you keep your exploring, to the backside of me tonight. This is just too wonderful to cut short."
She asks him how long can she explore and not be torturing him.
He whispers his wish to her, "Just a little longer, Baby. I'm OK for the moment. I just want to show you how much I love you tonight and hold you close to my heart. The vision of you tonight, just makes me want to caress you all over." He just can't act on all the loving feelings he has for her tonight.
"Oh, Leo, I hope I never have to leave your arms." She covers his mouth with her lips and shifts closer to him, wanting to touch more of him with her body. Feeling his hardness against her soft abdomen, she considers it a declaration of Leo's love for her.
They continue to caress and taste the warm skin of each other, till they're both content to give in to the comfortable relaxation, of being in each other's arms for the night.
"Mmmm, you smell good," he mummers as he snuggles into the curve of her neck.
"That's my lavender and chamomile Johnson's baby powder," she informs him of a part of her nightly bedtime preparations.
"Oh, Baby," he whispers a happy approval to her, in a low and sleep enhanced voice.
"It's my favorite scent, now. I could lie here every night and sleep with your wonderful scent engulfing me."
"You're 'home' now, Leo," she sighs to him and holds him gently to her breast.
"''Finally', Margaret," he softly whispers to her as they drift to sleep in each other's arms.
The end
p.s. Do you want a sequel???
blessings
chipmunk
Betty Lou Riley
Riley2@bright.net
Lynn
lhjessome@yahoo.com
August 5, 2003