Twilight Series

by chipmunk2

In the first fic, Leo gets Attacked

12. Recovery Wednesday 24

Title: Recovery Wednesday - Day 2 /4 Days Twilight Series 2 /?By: chipmunk and Lynn

Pairing: Leo/Margaret

Rating: R

Note: This fic is even hotter.

Warning: Sexual content and cursing!

*****

Wednesday morning finds that Leo and Margaret's internal clocks are still waking them up at the same time they have since starting in the White House, sometimes earlier. As they both approach wakefulness, Margaret's cuddled spooned against the front of Leo. In her sleep, she pushes back tighter against Leo, snuggling to him to touch as much of him as possible. He moans as she presses and moves against his morning condition. In his sleep he reaches under her top to rub on the warm skin of her middle, rubbing over her navel, softly caressing back and forth over the dip in the skin. His middle finger falling into it, the tip fitting in nicely before it pulls away as his hand glides to her side before repeating the stroke. His hand naturally starts to slide down and burrows under her waistband. The resistance and pull of the band on his injured hand brings Leo more awake and he realizes how close he came to crossing Margaret's line, awake or not. She's still asleep and he rolls away from her before she does wake and realizes what she's doing to him. He can only resist so much when he's still asleep with her warm and cozy in his arms.

Margaret in her light sleep misses the contact with Leo and rolls to her other side to be facing toward him. She reaches for him and her hand finds his body. Her hand starts rubbing back and forth across his middle this time, in a comforting motion. Her subconscious knows something is bothering him and even in her sleep she offers comfort to him.

Leo now flickers his eyes open to look at her sleeping face. "Margaret, Baby, you need to quit rubbing me."

Margaret lifts her head to open her eyes and looks at Leo's face to let his words sink in.

He nods to his lower body and her eyes follow his and she notices his bulge, she giggles and with surprise offers, "OH! Sorry, Sweetie."

He growls with frustration and grins at her, " Thanks for the wonderful wake up." ~Maybe another day, Baby.~ He kisses her sleep-lined face, "Morning, Baby. Love you."

"Morning, Leo, I love you," she signs with contentment and lays her head gently on his shoulder and closes her eyes for a few more minutes to savor the quiet morning time in his arms. She just loves to listen to him breath and the beat of his heart. This is her favorite time of the day.

Leo finally feels under control and slides his hips away from her to roll toward her to kiss her awake. He knows she loves to get a few more minutes of sleep in his arms in the morning. "Margaret," he kisses her eyes. "Let me see those beautiful eyes of yours. I need to start my day gazing into in your amazing eyes."

She smiles happily and stretches before opening her eyes to look into his," Leo, you know how to get me awake. You cheat."

"Yeah, and you always stretch like a cat when I wake you by saying your beautiful. It drives me crazy to watch you, but I can't resist." He kisses her lips softly and she smiles under his lips. "If I have to be addicted to something, you're the greatest thing that I've found to fill that need. You fill my life."

"Oh, Leo, you are definitively spoiling me." She wraps her arms around him. "Now kiss me senseless before the day finds us," she commands.

He obeys willingly and he rolls slightly over her face to kiss them both to full wakefulness. He runs his clumsy hand down her side and stops at the waistband remembering his hand had a mind of its own earlier.

She smiles when he stops at her waistline, knowing that he's respecting her boundaries. She shifts and slips her hand to the back edge of his satin pants. She slides her fingers to the side till they are in line with his tattoo. "Leo, I feel like exploring the jet this morning."

"Anytime, Margaret, explore any part of me you feel comfortable with," Leo agrees and unbuttons her top to caress her breasts and indulge in a little exploring of his own.

Margaret deepens her lock on his lips as her hand slides below the bands of his pants and boxers. She repeats the caressing motion that she perfected on Monday night. The soft feel of his hips is wonderful on the palm of her hand, she takes a fingernail and gently runs it around his hip at the top of his leg outlining the curve till she follows the side up to the waist and across to spine where she spreads her hand wide and cups his hip in her hand to feel the firmness of the muscles underneath.

Leo moans at her playing with his sensitive cheek, he releases her lips to lower his mouth to her breast and takes solace in administering to her the same loving motion to her peaked nipple. He runs his tongue around it and then latches his lips to it and sucks gently till she moans in response. He pulls back and grins. He loves to hear her enjoying his loving her. He resumes using his mouth to give her the caresses she enjoys from his attention. He now dares to mimic Margaret's exploring and he raises his head and kisses her red lips. "Margaret, we both can dip below the line you know," he states as a request for permission to touch her warm skin beyond her waistband.

"I always thought you liked discovering new and unknown areas. Let's discover them together," she answers, with permission for him to follow her lead.

He kisses her deeply and slips his hand around to the back band to her pajama pants, not noticing the temporary pain as he passes under it. He has to travel his hand a short distance to the top of her panties. His mind is happily wondering what the color is. He traces the edge with a tender fingertip. Margaret wiggles at the seductive touch. Leo grins against her mouth and slips his hand under the tiny band of her silk panties, loving the feel of them on the back of his sore hand. He caresses her cheek, enjoying the smoothness and the silky softness and the outward curve of her womanly hips. She moans as he cups one cheek and pulls her slightly toward him. Margaret isn't as sensitive to feeling his condition pressed lightly against her. She wants to continue with both of them exploring the hips of each other. His thumb rubs up and down the side of her hipbone memorizing the shape of it in his mind. Sliding his hand across the top again he makes a full circuit, he then shifts his direction to rub up and down the center from the firm tailbone over the soft fullness of her to the sharp crease at the top of her thighs. He's been watching her leave his office for years, now. He'll never be able to look at her again without thinking of this moment, enjoying even more what he sees, the way her hips move under her clothing will drives him crazy.

Margaret is enjoying his rubbing on her. She lowers her head and kisses her way down his chest pausing to taste his nipple and she kisses her way down the side of his body past the dip at his waist. Leo rumbles in his sexy and gravely tone when he realizes where Margaret is heading with her trail of kisses. She pauses to flash him a grin and lowers his waistband to reveal her favorite view of him. She leans over his hip to view the tiny jet and kisses it three times in rapid sequence and then tries to drive Leo crazy, by running the tip of her tongue around it before closing her mouth over it again to suck gently on the jet. Leo shifts with pleasure as she licks around it again. She softly nips the jet when he moves, as a tiny punishment for his moving. "Oh, God, Margaret. I may be insane by the time you're done playing with the jet. Show some mercy here."

She chuckles softly and blows gently across the damp tattoo. It makes Leo shiver and he tightens his hip muscles and she nips again at his moving. Leo moans again and it changes to almost sound as close to a whimper that she's ever heard from him. His hips thrust involuntary toward her. He's close to losing it completely. His imagination is taking over his actions. "Margaret, I need to break for a moment or I'll lose control physically and mentally." He blows out a shaky breath and rolls slightly away. Margaret smiles and loosens her hold on him, lying her head down on the pillow to watch his face next to hers in the bed, as he fights to control his body's passions. She'll never tire of seeing him here beside her.

Leo, after a moment, recovers some from her practically devouring his tattoo and he decides to match her boldness. He rolls to his side and presses her flat to the bed, "Margaret, I never had any doubt that you are a natural redhead, but yesterday morning, when I instinctively peeked, it drove me totally crazy to see that I was right." He rubs her across her navel area. ~I know I was punished for my impulsiveness at peeking, with such a wave of intense desire and I had no way of acting on it. Man, was I punished immediately in my own way, for breaking the borders.~ He looks at the love in her eyes as she reaches up and stokes his bruised face. His desire to know her is almost overpowering and that is stating a lot for Leo McGarry. He dares to run his hand lower on the satin front of her pajamas. She smiles softly at his admitting his weakness and at him sliding his hand lower. She's comfortable with his exploring. Leo smiles softly back and asks in his best sexy voice, "Are those curls as soft as they look?" He then boldly rubs her mound that's under the smooth satin, enjoying the feeling of the give of the curls, as he presses and rubs in a circular motion, across the satin.

She's the one to now squirm and softly give a moan, under his curious but passionate attentions. "Mmmmmm."

He smiles and lowers his lips to capture hers in a deep and loving kiss. He lifts his head, "Thank you, Margaret, for trusting me enough to accept my loving touches." He drops some soft kisses to her face, unwilling to let go of their private time together.

*****

They both know its time to get on with the day. Both knowing that they have a full day, not including the extra time Leo needs for them to help him get ready for the day. "Leo, let me help you get ready for your shower before we call for Josh." She's wearing her wicked grin again and he's so happy to see the return of it.

"Sure, Margaret. I'm yours to do as you will." He knows he's putty in her hands and he loves those hands, especially on him.

As soon as she hears his agreement she gets up on her knees and straddles his thighs. Margaret kisses him quickly as she can't resist him when looking into his twinkling eyes. She grabs the waistband of his satin pants and he helps her by holding onto his boxers. He loves how she undresses him. She proceeds to pull down first one side and then the other making it last as long as possible as she crawls backward down his legs. He growls softly under his breath, this playful side of Margaret is a discovery that both surprises and fascinates him. At his feet she smiles and again tosses his pants over her shoulder. With Leo's eyes starting to get that sexy bedroom look, she steps back off the bed and drops her own pants to join his on the floor before she crawls back up his legs. They are both enjoying the feel of their legs sliding against each other. She gently rolls to the side when she reaches his chest. Leo rolls to her and decides to steal a few more minutes to enjoy Margaret's beautiful body. He reaches down and strokes his hand down her thigh when she sighs with pleasure he moves across her knee and runs his hand up the inside of her thigh, slowing to change sides of his hand to rub up and down on her mound. She reaches out and cups her hand behind his head and draws him to her for a passionate kiss. When they come up for air. They look longingly at each other. They touch foreheads and sigh. Leo pulls away and calls for Josh. Margaret gets up and steps into the bathroom before Josh arrives, so she can slip her satin robe on. The day begins.

*****

Josh again helps Leo out of bed and into the bathroom. He is half awake after the long night Leo and he put in. He leans his back against the doorframe and closes his eyes till he is needed to make sure Leo can get safely to the stool. After sitting himself gingerly on the stool by himself, Leo can't resist, like any parent, of getting a little sweet revenge. He wakes Josh with a loud, "Hey," just to see him jump. Leo chuckles at Josh popping up straight. Leo might have done him a favor and kept him from falling over asleep. That guy can sleep anywhere, at a moments notice. Maybe it's how he has come so far in so short a time in politics, with power naps. He must keep his edge that way.

Josh grins and looks at Leo. "Thanks for letting me know that you're OK there, Leo," he states with sarcasum.

"You're welcome," Leo smiles back at Josh. "You can go call Margaret and get your shower to jump start your brain. She'll call you in a little while to come back and get me for dressing again."

"OK, sure, Leo. I'd better get awake or you might not survive me shaving you again today," Josh hints as a small threat, in payback to Leo startling him awake just now. He goes in search of Margaret to help Leo with his shower, and for Donna to help him with his. He wouldn't want to fall asleep and drown would he? ~It's shower time.~

Margaret comes into the bathroom with two mugs of steaming coffee and hands one to Leo. She then drops a kiss on his brow on her way to start them shower to warm the water. Leo smiles over the top of his mug to and lowers it and teases, "Maybe I need to start calling you Hot Lips, instead of Baby, but that might get some raised eyebrows in public."

"Leo, you're getting bad again," she scolds him mockingly. ~I do love him good or bad.~ She smiles secretly to herself as she takes a sip of her coffee.

She moves over to Leo and he sees her reaching for his mug and he twists slightly away and steals a last sip before surrendering the mug. He knows that it is worth giving it up. Margaret is removing her top in front of him to distract his mind from the remaining coffee in the mug. "Oh my, Margaret, does this mean you're being frugal and joining me this morning to save water and time?"

"Yes, Leo. Damn the bad luck, but we need to get in and out today. Someone just wouldn't let me out of the bed this morning." They grin at each other in agreement.

"Ok, don't let me hold up the works." He reaches for the sink edge to help him self up. She just helps to steady him on his sore side.

"Well, that was better this morning, Leo. You do seem to be making progress, just slowly," she helps him to step into the shower, wearing his boxers and then follows him in.

Leo turns to her with his cat smile and declares, "Margaret, my body is yours to do with as you wish."

She gives him a pointed look at the brassy statement. "You just couldn't resist, could you, Leo?"

He takes the 5th and remains silent, but is smiling as he sees her reach for the bath puff and the body wash. He's getting to love that puff, as long as she uses it on him. After getting his body soaped and rinsed, with Leo dropping kisses on her wet breasts. Margaret admits to herself, ~He is so predictable when it comes to my breasts and he has admitted he loves them best wet.~ She next applies shampoo to her hands and he closes his eyes to allow her to massage his scalp. He has such a terrible time deciding which part he likes best about her giving him a shower. But he plans on doing lots of research on the subject before someday, in the far future, making a final decision.

Margaret is impressed that Leo has been so cooperative in hurrying with his shower this morning. "Leo, it's time for you to wash your private parts." She looks at him with uncertainty when he kisses her and sees him smile softly as he pulls away.

"Margaret, if this bothers you just say so and I'll understand, but we're at the point that we have nothing to hide from each other." He hooks his thumbs under the band of his wet boxers and slides them down and lets them drop to the floor of the tub. He never loses eye contact with her and leaning forward again to just touch his lips to hers. She smiles shyly back and she reaches for her hips and slides her wet panties to join his on the tub floor. His eyes smolder as they drink in her form, hers eyes are just as curious as she peeks at him shyly. He sees her glance down. "Margaret, it's alright to look. I'm enjoying the view of your beautiful body." He leans over and kisses her lightly his hands cupping her face and he makes sure that their bodies are not touching. He wants her to get used to seeing him nude first. He knows she needs to take things one step at a time. He pulls back and holds out his hand for the puff. She hands it to him, accepting the next step that he just initiated. He turns around, to keep from embarrassing her, as he finishes his shower. When he hands the puff back, she steps out to lightly towel off and don her robe. She then helps him out and dries him and gets him into his clean, dry boxers. He's still smiling. He may not stop all day as he remembers the trust that Margaret has shown him this morning. He watches her every move as she goes to the door to call Josh. ~Yup, definitely a natural red head.~

*****

Donna enters Margaret's bathroom with her makeup bag and blow dryer in hand. "Hi, Margaret. Time for my switch in bathrooms." She smiles at Margaret, who's dressed in her floral satin robe, while she bends down into the tub. Margaret's picking up and wringing out something in the tub before she turns around. She's holding both wet panties and wet boxers. Margaret decides to have a little fun with Donna and not explain. She proceeds to hang them on the knobs of the towel bar to dry. Donna notes Margaret's wet hair from her unfinished shower. The girls' eyes meet, Donna has raised eyebrows and Margaret returns a smile. Then she drops her robe and enters the shower to wash her hair. Donna did notice the nice flush to Margaret's skin. Donna gets back at Margaret for withholding information. "So……I take it that Leo knows you're a natural red head now?" Margaret gives a soft chuckle from inside the shower. Donna smiles at herself in the mirror. She's happy that things are progressing nicely for Margaret.

******

Leo emerges from the guest room with Josh following closely behind, to help if needed. Leo is moving faster this morning although he still can't get up and down yet on his own. He 'is' bound and determined to walk better on his own today.

Leo notices Margaret and Donna at the dining table playing with a new gadget that is about the size of a small toaster. "What's that, Baby?"

"It's our new wax machine, Leo. It's really going to help your hands to work better." Margaret assures him as she picks up the instructions. Leo sits on the chair for Josh to slip his shoes on him and fix his tie. Leo scowls at the machine and glances up at Margaret with a look that says he's not pleased. Margaret tries to reason with Leo. "It will help you use your hands better at work, Leo. Then you can hold a pen and sign your name, even if you sign it badly. You know that the papers that need your signature are backing up."

"When did you turn this thing on and how hot it that wax?" Leo is on the defense. This is one idea he's not too happy about.

"It's a low heat, Leo. It's not hot enough to burn you. I turned it on when I made coffee, but it is such a low heat that we jump started it in the microwave and then added the plastic tray back into the machine." Leo growls in his displeasure. She rolls her eyes at him. She knows that Leo would growl sometime during her trying to convince him, he's Leo. Margaret now gives him a look to convey that she has had enough of his protesting. Leo does one more humph sound in his throat and backs down. He looks in to the machine and notices that it is about six inches deep. He looks skeptically at the others.

Josh is grinning. "Don't look at me, Leo. You know my opinion without asking. It looks girly to me, too."

"Leo, I even have the disposable gloves for you to wear. That makes it easy to peel off and get back into the machine, to reuse the wax." She smiles and teases, "You might get your manly hairs in it without the glove."

Josh snickers and Leo shoots a glare at him.

Donna gloats, "Yeah, guys, we ladies do not have to use gloves and it feels wonderful. You dip your hand several times and layer it. The more layers, the better the warming effect."

Leo takes Donna up on her boast, "OK, then you stick your hand in there."

"Oh, gladly, Leo. We were being nice and letting you go first since you bought it to help heal your hands." Donna shifts the machine to a better angle on the table and slowly dips her hand in the wax and pulls it out. The wax is thicker than school glue, but it drips slightly, back into the machine till it quickly sets on her hand. "Oh, Margaret that is wonderful. Just like at the spa. If only it was the scented wax." Donna has a wishful look on her face.

Margaret smiles at her friend and regrets to tell her, "Yeah, but it was for Leo and I knew he wouldn't stand for the scented wax". She shoots him another look and he meets her look that says he's the victim here. ~I knew it was going to be hard enough to get him to use it at all. If he'd just try it once, he might like it.~

"I'll buy one for you ladies, if you want the scented wax. I'd be happy to, since you ladies are so taken with it." Leo scowls at the machine, "And I know Margaret's not going to let me out of using this one."

Donna doesn't even look at Margaret, when she quickly agrees, for Margaret, to the additional purchase. She and Leo exchange a knowing look. The both know that Margaret would turn him down automatically on him buying her something so frivolous.

Donna has let the wax cool on her hand to get the most out of the warmth, even if it is just one layer. She starts to peel off the wax and add it back into the machine.

"Oh, wow, Donna. That looks so cool to peel off." Josh's attention is now captured, "Like peeling a sunburn."

"EEEuuuu, Josh. That sounds gross," Donna scolds and scrunches up her face.

Josh dips in a finger and gets a surprise look on his face, "Hey, Leo it's not that bad." He looks at the cooling wax on his finger. He blows on it to get it to harden faster. Josh peels his finger and puts the wax back into the machine. "Let me have a glove. I want to see if it peels off of that just as well as my skin."

"I'm going to go get our breakfast while you take turns." Donna watches Josh choose a larger glove and put it on. "Margaret, you better stay here and keep an eye on them. We'd hate for them to break it, now that Josh likes it."

Leo rolls his eyes, "Now, you've got Josh playing with it."

"I'll be careful," Josh looks wounded at her implying he might break it. Josh then slowly dips his gloved hand into the wax and back out. He holds it over the machine till he's sure it will not drip. "Leo, they're right. The warmth does feel great."

"Ok, Josh, I'll try it." He looks at Margaret and gives in. "Can you help me get a glove on, please?"

"Sure, Leo. I'd be happy to help. I ordered the ex-large size gloves for you, to make it easier to get it on your hand." She holds the opening wide for him, to get his hand in a far as he can and then she helps to adjust the fingers the rest of the way.

Donna returns with a tray. She has coffee and warm muffins. She had also added glasses of OJ and some banana halves still in the peels. They can munch on breakfast while they take turns.

Leo now tentatively dips his hand into the wax and pulls it back out. He looks at Margaret with the same look of surprise that Josh had, "That does feels good. It's not as hot as I thought it would be."

Margaret smiles at his acceptance of the wax, "Dip your hand in again for another layer." She's peeling the skin off a banana, while she watches Leo hold his hand over the machine. She breaks off a chunk of banana and feds it to Leo to chew on, while he waits for the wax to do its work and cool off. While he's chewing, he watches Josh peel off the wax from his glove.

Donna has the paper off of both of their muffins and has broken them into fourths. She pops a quarter into her mouth and Josh notices.

"Hey, how about feeding me, too." She picks up a piece and Josh just gets his mouth open in time for Donna to cram it in.

Margaret and Leo both snicker at Josh getting just what he asked for.

Josh mumbles around his mouth full of muffin, "Thanks, Donna, I appreciate that."

"Any time, Josh." Donna now warns, "Open you mouth again and I'll feed you a banana."

He keeps his lips closed till he's able to swallow. He watches Donna peel a banana and take a bite. He then safely takes a drink of his OJ.

Leo can tell that the wax is cool and he tries to peel it off, but it too much for his hands. "Margaret, help me here." He holds out his hand toward her. She pops her banana chunk into her mouth and reaches for his hand to help get the wax and glove off.

"We need to do your other hand, now, Leo." Margaret doesn't let him off the hook.

Leo tries and moves his fingers. He sees that they are a little easier to move, after the warmth of the wax. It may actually work. He grins. He now likes the warm wax. Donna has now dipped her other hand into the wax to get the warm effect on it. While Margaret gets the glove onto Leo's other hand.

Josh has taken his glove off, so he can eat, as Donna has been doing more eating than feeding. He'll just help her to peel off the wax, from her hand. She's still eating with her unwaxed hand or Josh would be more getting most of the muffins and bananas.

While Leo dips his other hand into the wax, Margaret decides to inform him of some of the other points of interest about the machine. "Leo, a person can do feet too, to make them soft in the winter."

Leo looks at her with discussed shock, "I'm not putting my hand in, after someone has had their foot in there."

Margaret give him a pointed look, "Leo, we can do it when we're ready to replace the older wax."

"You can get replacement wax for this thing," Leo questions.

"Sure, Leo," She nods in agreement. "I got a great deal for the replacement wax, when I ordered the machine. It saved on future shipping costs, to have them ship it with the machine."

Donna asks while Margaret eats some muffin, "Leo, how's your leg muscle this morning. Josh said the cramp was pretty intense last night."

"It's lots better this morning, Donna. We figured that it must have been from the pool exercises." Leo's trying to peel off the cooled wax again, but he gives up and holds his hand out to Margaret. She smiles and pops some muffin into his mouth and helps him to remove the glove.

Josh grins at Leo, "Hey, Donna. Sniff and see if anyone smells like raspberries?"

Leo ignores Donna mystified look at Josh and himself. She knows these guys well enough to know that Josh is teasing Leo for some reason. "Very funny, Dad! As you recall, I've had my shower this morning and I no longer smell like sweet raspberries."

Donna can't resist. She giggles and asks Margaret sounding innocent, "How did Leo end up smelling like raspberries?"

Margaret scolds her slightly and glares at Josh, "Not like that, Donna, and I wasn't the only one rubbing raspberry lotion on Leo last night."

Donna give Josh a questioning look, to make him give her a shocked look back. He answers her with his injured macho attitude, "Not like that, Donna. I had to rub the leg cramp last night. We were nice to Margaret and told her to go back to sleep. I know how to rub out a cramp. I learned how while playing baseball in high school." Josh defends his ability to take care of Leo.

Leo chuckles at Josh defending his maleness to Donna. Josh gives in and chuckles with him. Secure in the fact that his manly reputation is still in tact. The ladies just shake their heads at the guys doing the male bonding thing over something so trivial. It's getting to be fun to provoke them into it.

Margaret places the wax from Leo's glove back into the machine and places the lid back on top of it.

"Margaret, is that thing safe to leave here unattended today," Leo frowns at her and it.

"Leo, you just unplug it and let it cool right here." She explains better, "The machine just has a low temperature heater in the bottom of it."

Leo just growls slightly and has to take her word for it, since he can't pick up the machine to test the bottom.

"Trust me, Leo," Margaret scolds him for being so skeptical.

"I do, Margaret," Leo assures her and he gives up worrying about the warm machine.

"Good, we need to get going now," Margaret helps Donna to put the dishes on the tray to return to the kitchen.

Josh hands Leo his meds for the morning and Leo finishes his OJ when he's taking them. He's still trying to hang onto his coffee mug and Margaret is trying to swipe it, while he's distracted.

"Josh, would you tell the agent that we're getting ready to leave, so he can notify the driver," Margaret's organizing a plan to get Leo to the car, with as little waiting time as possible.

"I can do that," Josh answers as he strides for the door. This is the first day that Leo's going to the office near his regular time, since the attack. He returns and helps Leo to his feet. Leo clicks off the TV and they meet the girls at the door.

The agent speaks into his mic, "Pilot is on his way."

*****

Leo did much better today arriving at the White House and the President was smiling at his progress in the Oval Office. Josh helped Leo down onto the couch, but Leo keeps his feet on the floor. Staff meeting will be early this morning, since they have a lot to prepare for an additional staff meeting at lunchtime with the President. Today seems to be scheduled heavy in the morning, but he can rest and catch up this afternoon.

*****

The President has decided to have the security meeting with Ron Butterfield right, before the lunch staff meeting. The President decides to go to Leo's office and see if Leo is agreeable and how he's doing this morning. He knows it's been a little hectic this morning and he doesn't want Leo to overtire himself.

Leo is agreeable and he hopes to have a few words for both the President and Ron about last nights visit to the apartment.

Leo looks at his friend and clears his throat with a rumble. He might as well start now, with Jed in his office.

The President looks at Leo. He recognizes that sound, it's the one that Leo makes when he's not pleased and is going to say something he might regret. "Is there a problem, Leo?"

"Mr. President." Leo tries painfully hard to be tactful, in his own personal way, since They're in the West Wing and not in the Residence, "May I note that you seem to enjoy the perks that come with your station, but I'd like to remind you that the Secret Service is 'not' your private little Mafia. To send on covert assignments in the night and to invade people bedrooms in the middle of the night." Leo ends with an exasperated sigh. He'd really like to strangle his friend, but he knows how he panics about family.

The President's face lights up at the thought of his Mafia and midnight raids to Leo's bedroom. His face registers why Leo is upset, when he remembers that Margaret had been sleeping with Leo at the Residence over the weekend. "Leo, are you telling me that Ron was in your bedroom, with you and Margaret in bed?"

Leo scowls at him, "Yeah," he growls out, "you know that I'm a little uneasy about Margaret around Ron. It was just a joke from her, but she's never joked about anyone else like that."

The President laughs in delight at Leo's dilemma, "Leo, we agreed, when I was teasing you at the time that it was you just being insecure about your new relationship with Margaret."

"I know," Leo agrees, "it's totally out in left field, but you know how one little thing will stick with you, even though you 'totally' know it's just in you head and 'totally' harmless. Well, this is mine." He shoots a glare at his best friend, Jed. "Thanks a lot for making my worst little fear a reality." Leo growls, "Ron was standing there and Margaret in her nightwear. She didn't even care."

The President is pleased now that he panicked and sent Ron over. He can get some good mileage with both Leo and Ron with this. Leo is still sitting with a dark look on his face. Both men put on their office faces when the door opens.

Margaret enters and immediately stops in her tracks, when she sees that the President is in Leo's office. She's a little cool sounding with her, "Good Morning, Mr. President."

"Good Morning, Margaret. I could catch a cold from that greeting, Margaret," he teases her as he can tell she's not pleased with him either this morning. She gives him a look that no President should ever receive. Leo hopes to block a comment from her to the President that she will regret later and holds out his hand for the papers she wants him to initial. He has trouble holding the pen and the President leans over the front edge of the desk to place his hand on the paper to hold it in place, while Margaret is showing Leo where to sign. Margaret can't restrain herself and very quietly drops a comment, "You just had to send in the agent, Jed."

Jed's face lights up at Margaret's annoyance with him and the fact that she called him by his first name.

"Problem, Margaret? Are you taking me to task? Scolding the President of the United States and in the White House, just feet from the Oval Office, with security agents all around," he really lays it on thick, remembering her panic in the Residence just last weekend.

She can tell that he's really 'not' trying to intimidate her and she gives him the same pointed look that Abby has helped her to perfect. She lets him know that she onto his game with, "Jed, I'm just letting you know that I'm adding to my list on you."

Jed laughs at her comment, feeling fairly safe standing in the White House. He can always duck into the Oval Office if needed.

"You'll see, Mr. President." She says with slight sarcasm. "Just remember, it would help if Abby and you would call 'earlier' in the evenings, or we might just start calling you two, in the middle of the night, to see if you're all right."

Leo decides he'd better separate the two as neither backs down when challenged, and he hands Margaret back the papers, as a message to dismiss her. He tries to usher his friend back to the Oval Office without resorting to, 'I hear Charlie calling for you,' like a kid you want to get rid of. "Sir, I'll see you later at the security briefing."

"Yeah, Leo, I'm leaving. You're no fun today." The President gets in a slight dig, "It might be from all the interruptions you had last night."

"Good bye, Mr. President," Leo growls at him while the President returns to his office with a smile.

*****

Ron Butterfield is early for the security meeting with the President and is waiting in the outer office to the Oval office. During this time, Ron reviews the phone call he made to the President, after his visit to Margaret's apartment.

**

"Mr. President, Agent Butterfield," Ron speaks crisply into his secure cell phone outside the Latrobe apartment building.

"Go ahead, Ron. Is Leo all right? Is Margaret all right?" The President doesn't really give the agent time to answer any questions.

"Sir, they're fine," Ron reassures the President when he stops for a breath. "The agent outside assured me that the apartment was secure. All the occupants were still inside. I spoke to Margaret, first, she explained that she had turned down the phone ringer to keep it from waking Mr. McGarry. She had been sleeping and didn't hear the softer ring." Ron continues to quickly brief the President of the details. "I then proceeded to the bedroom and Mr. McGarry confirmed his identity to me. I was able to discern that he was in no danger."

"Fine. Thanks, Ron." The President exhales the breath he was holding till he heard all the facts, "Sorry to have ordered you stop and check on them, but I was afraid there was a problem. I'm just overprotective, I guess. Ron, thanks again. Night."

"Good night, Sir." Ron snaps his cell phone lid closed with too much force and jams it back into his pants pocket. He glances back up to the bay window on the fifth floor and sighs. He turns to climb into his car and make his weary way home to his silent apartment, till morning, when he will again return to the job he loves more than his own life.

**

Ron comes to the conclusion of his review and decides that he did not let slip any personal info on the couple or rearranged sleeping arrangements from what was mentioned at the security meeting in the Residence yesterday morning. Agents do not reveal other people secrets and he doesn't know how much the President knows about the Leo and Margaret's relationship.

*****

Charlie opens the door to the Oval Office, "Mr. President, Agent Butterfield is here."

"Send him in, Charlie," the President has a slight smile on his face and his hands in his pockets. This might get interesting.

"Sir, Mr. McGarry," he addresses both men, who are sitting at the President's desk with Leo at the side.

"Ron, any news on Leo's attackers?" The President looks hopeful and Leo has a scowl on his face, either for the mention of the attackers, or for Ron and his late night visit.

"Sir, we're still combing the city for any sign of a similar van, but no real leads yet," Ron regretfully informs the President. Ron really hates when he has to report that no progress is being made. They expect him to have results and he expects his people to have results.

The President grins slightly and Ron is now on edge, because his report should not warrant that kind of response. "Ron, I'd like you to give me a more detailed review of your visit last night to check on Leo. From your tone last night on the phone and Leo's remarks this morning, I get the impression that something was not quite right about the whole thing." The President now begins to really grill him in rapid session, "Ron, who answered the door at the apartment?"

"Margaret did, Sir."

Leo silently lets Ron know that he isn't happy about him calling her Margaret.

"Did she look like she had been sleeping?"

"Yes, Sir."

"What was she wearing?"

"Sleep clothes"

"No robe?" The President is really trying hard to see if Ron has the ability to blush.

"No, Sir"

"In her nightgown?" The President raises an eyebrow at Ron.

"No, Sir. Pajamas."

"You mean like men's pajamas?"

"No, women's satin ones," Ron can feel the unchecked redness creeping up his neck.

Ron tries to head off the President, "Sir, let me assure you that they were in no danger, while anywhere in the apartment."

The President, to keep Ron focused on answering him, so that he can gleam a tidbit to tease Leo with, uses a pert of his office. Leo and Ron will kill him, if they find him out. The President acts serious and reprimands Ron for interrupting, "Ron, need I remind you that I am the President and it's your job and duty to answer any questions I have concerning the order I gave you last night."

Leo is holding his head in his hands by this time. He thought he was in pain before, but this is worse.

"Was Leo in the room?"

"No, Sir."

"Well, where was he when you were in the living room with Margaret?"

"Marg… Miss Ryan said she would take me to him." Ron stops himself from using her first name, because he saw Leo flinch with agitation when he called her Margaret the first time.

"Oh, to the guest room?"

"No, Sir. Her bedroom."

"How do you know it was her bedroom?"

Ron sighs, "Because, Sir, while I was explaining my reason to Mr. McGarry for being there, she crawled back into the bed."

"And Leo was in the room?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Where in the room, Ron?"

Leo growls in annoyance and frustration. The President is pushing the line.

"In the bed, also, Sir. He was unable to get up and come out to the door and talk to me, due to his ribs."

"She just laid down on her pillow and went right back to sleep?"

"Not exactly, Sir."

"What do you mean not exactly, Ron? You said that she got back into bed."

"Sir, she… um… curled up against Mr. McGarry." Ron's blush was now evident to the President and he loved it.

He now wants to see if Ron is capable of a Margaret level blush, with his red hair.

"Was she hugging him or he hugging her, after she curled against him? They're usually one way or the other."

Leo warns with steel in his voice, "Mr. President."

"OK, Leo. Ron, was she asleep then? She did know you were still in the room, right?"

"Yes, Sir, she knew I was still there."

"How do you know for certain, she was aware of you still standing in her bedroom?"

"Sir, she politely told me to close the door on my way out."

The President loves this once in a lifetime opportunity, to make Ron Butterfield blush. "But, I thought that Leo was to use the guestroom?"

"He couldn't, Sir."

"Why was that, Ron?"

"Mr. Lyman and Miss Moss were using the guest room."

Leo has let this go on far enough, he now points out, with his face still in his hands, "Mr. President, you're just jerking Ron around. You knew exactly where I could be located last night. The same place I was in the Residence. In bed with Margaret, sleeping not twenty feet from Abby and you. At least the second night we had a room to ourselves." That might not sound 'quite right' to most people, but Leo doesn't really care, after all Jed is trying to get juicy details out of Ron.

Ron's not happy and he's had enough of being roasted by the President. "Sir, the job of keeping Mr. McGarry safe is hard enough, without being kept in the dark as to the status of their relationship and the location of his sleeping arrangements, in case of an emergency. The agents believed that Leo would be in the guest room and would have gone straight there to protect him. Then they would have had to search the apartment for him. That is 'not' acceptable. I also realized last night that this was the reason that Mr. McGarry has been so adamant to have protection for his girlfriend. I now realize it's that they're more than just dating. I now know that he's a bigger risk, to protect, due to the fact that he's made it clear, he'll risk himself and the agent's life to protect her. If he has been uncomfortable with an agent up to now, well too bad, because after my fact finding visit last night, I'm doubling his detail."

"NO," Leo's head pops up in protest.

"Yes! It's my call! He 'will' have two agents at all times, plus the driver. They 'will' stay alive and hopefully not at the cost of any agents lives. Using just one agent at a time is not going to cover his safety. I don't need someone to end up dead, to prove my point."

Ron is hot and the other two occupants of the room, just found out that you 'do not' play games with his job.

Leo lifts his head and looks at Ron. Ron just looks him right back, never blinking, the man was serious. Leo conveys his agreement to Ron with a look and he then feels he should apologize for his lack of omission. "Ron, you're right. Our not telling you, we were more seriously involved, hindered your ability to do the job of protecting me. I apologize."

"Thank you, Mr. McGarry," Ron accepts the apology with professionalism. He knows that in Leo's position, the lack of privacy is the norm for him, especially with the press and the White House gossip at his back all the time.

Ron excuses himself and heads back to his office to meet with Coop to pick more agents for team members on Leo's detail. He plans to keep a closer contact with Coop on this assignment. Things can get serious, real fast, at this level.

*****

It's their lunch break and both bosses are having different back-to-back meetings. The ladies go shopping for their lunch hour. Margaret and Donna are returning to Donna's car at the mall, they do feel safe traveling as a pair in the broad daylight. They needed to pick-up some items for Leo. Margaret wanted to get him some more satin pants, with the agent outside the apartment. Also, at the leisurewear specialty shop, she managed to get herself a new satin sleep shirt. Abby had recommended some vitamins for him, to help in the healing, the ones she has at the apartment are for women. She got him some vitamins for men. They also picked up some king size sheets for the day bed, when it is used with the trundle bed. She found a strip that you out under the sheet to smooth out the crack between the two twin mattresses. Using his credit card was fine with her, for his items. Donna was carrying the items from the bed and bath shop. Margaret had the bags with the clothing and the vitamins.

Two men are following them from a distance in the parking lot. The women are being careful and looking around as they are walking. Margaret glances behind them and notices the men following and they way that they are not taking their eyes off them. "Oh my God, Donna. I think those men are following us. Walk faster to the car." Margaret and Donna quicken their pace and so do the men. The girls take off running for the car and at the same time Donna pulls out her key fob and turns on her car alarm. She also unlocks the doors so that they can jump quickly in the car. The men are pounding behind them. One man is chasing after each female. Donna and Margaret make it to the car neck and neck. Both women yank their car doors open. Donna jumps in quickly to safety. Margaret has a problem getting in, folding up and into the seat as quickly. Both of the men are on her side of the car, now, trying to keep her from shutting her car door. Donna blasts the horn with one hand and her other hand has a grip on Margaret's arm to keep her from being pulled out, with the door being yanked back open by the men. Margaret uses both hands on the door handle and with Donna pulling on her arm. She finally gets the door closed. Donna hits the lock button and fumbles with the key to start the engine. She's getting them out of there, if she has to run over them. One man yells in pain as his fingertips were caught in the edge of Margaret's door. He cusses at Margaret as he jerks his fingers loose. The attacker then slams the side of his arm against the side window in anger, as if to bust it out and get to her. He yells to Margaret that they 'will' keep trying. They'll get McGarry or her, soon, he promises.

The men take off as they see the mall security car circling and starting toward them. They jump into a dark van that is parked not far away. The only luck holding for them today is that they will be able to escape capture, but once again without their primary target.

Donna wastes no time getting them back to the White House and both women are surprised that they made it there in one piece. They're both pale and shaking. They just want to get to the guys and be safe. The guard at the gate can tell that they're upset and he immediately demands to know what has upset them. He sees them on a daily basis and recognizes that they are really scared. His first concern is that Margaret has been off the White House grounds and has had some kind of trouble. He's unfortunately right. They give him a shaky, but brief explanation. He's already reaching for his phone, to report that the ladies have had trouble. After he hangs up he directs them to park in back and that they'll be met at the door by the Secret Service. He returns Donna's small smile, seeing her tears that she's keeping in check and assures them that they are safe here on the White House grounds.

Pulling into a space by the Secret Service entrance, Donna, by habit, puts the car in park and turns off the engine. She looks at Margaret and they are both shaking and near tears, now that they both realize how close that they came to being in Leo's present condition or worse, captive. They both instinctively reach out and clasp each others shaking hands. The Secret Service agents hurry out to the car and they first have to remind Donna to unlock the doors, before they help them out of the car and assess if they are injured. Margaret is holding her arm stiffly from fighting to get her door closed, but she doesn't mention it. She's still in a state of mild shock, like Donna.

*****

Ron enters his office and moves to stand behind his desk, glancing at some folders lying there. He is running through his head is a short list of additional agents he can assign to Mr. McGarry's detail.

The phone rings with the news that Margaret and Donna are now at the entrance to their department, after an apparent attempt to kidnap Margaret at the mall.

Ron slams down the phone, "Damn, Damn, DAMN." He throws the nearest thing he can find at the wall. He puts his whole effect and arm strength into the throw, making a satisfying crack sound as the heavy book smacks flat on the wall. His anger and frustration are only matched, by his fear that Margaret was in danger and the fear that if Leo McGarry found out about his own undefined need to know she's safe, his life as he knows it now would be over. Ron barely glances at the book on the floor as he takes off at a run to get to the entrance and see for him self if Margaret, he means the ladies, are injured in any way.

*****

Ron meets up with the ladies as the agents get them in the entrance door.

"Margaret, Donna, are you all right? Do you need medical attention?" He looks both ladies in the eye for their answer.

"We're OK, Ron. Just shaken up a bit." Margaret answers him with a shaky breath and a few tears trickling down. Donna nods in agreement with her eyes round with belated fear.

"Good to hear, ladies." Ron looks at them encouragingly, "Can you talk to us now? It would help to do a quick statement, while it's fresh."

*****

The senior staff is in the Oval Office for a meeting with the President after lunch. They are seated and reviewing some files spread out on the table in the middle of the room. Charlie opens the door, "Mr. President. Ron Butterfield is here and urgently needs to see Leo and Josh."

"Send him in," the President immediately gives permission. Josh is immediately on his feet, from his seat in the middle of the couch with Leo to his right. He looks at the door and then turns to see Leo sliding himself forward on the couch seat, holding his side, and trying to stand. The President stands and grabs at Leo's right arm to help him up. The rest of the senior staff have risen when the President had. All look expectantly at Agent Butterfield as he entered the Oval Office with a near scowl on his face. He addresses the President, "Sir, I need to have Mr. McGarry and Mr. Lyman to come with me to Mr. McGarry's office."

"Ron, what's wrong. I can tell that something is, by the look on your face," the President demands before Leo and Josh can beat him to the question.

Ron quickly scans to check the occupants of the room, "Sir, Miss Ryan and Miss Moss went to the mall on their lunch break and were chased by, who we believe to be, the same men who tried to kidnap Mr. McGarry. They are shaken and upset and are waiting in his office."

"What," was roared from both Leo and Josh. Leo nearly doubles over from the pain that his bellow causes to his side.

Josh recovers first as he looks at the President over Leo's bent head. Leo is trying to catch his breath, willing the pain to stop so he can move. "Sir, your permission to leave."

"Go, I'll get Leo there," the President waves him in the direction of Leo's office door.

"Sir, I've got Leo. You go on ahead," Toby cuts in on the hold the President has on Leo's arm.

Bending to look at him in the face, "Leo, I'll go be with Margaret, till Toby gets you there," Jed, the friend, now reassures Leo, who's struggling to breathe and walk at the same time. Toby is now behind him and has Leo under the arms and is propelling him toward the door. Agent Butterfield is at the President's back and follows him into Leo's office. CJ and Sam are on each side of Leo, to give any assistance that Toby might need with him. In all the hurry, CJ still notes that Toby is definitely in full control and capable of getting Leo, practically bodily, to his office. She's mildly surprised, this is a side she seldom sees in Toby, where he gets physically involved, like this is a mission of honor. His way to help right a wrong. With the look she sees on Toby's face, she may try later, to get him to explain his feelings about Leo's attack.

When Leo gets to the doorway of his office he immediately takes a deeper breath and trusts Toby to not drop him as he grabs his side tighter and calls out, "Margaret." Toby keeps him moving to the couch, but Leo stops him and leans back on Toby for support, like he does to Josh. His arms are wrapped around to support his ribs.

Margaret rushes over to Leo's side. Leaving the hug the President is giving her. She's still shaking a little and the site of Leo being in a panic for her, she slips her arm in between the two men, to give Leo a hug as Toby hangs onto him. She quickly pulls back and looks in Leo's pain filled face, "Leo, I'm here and I'm fine, now. I was just scared, but I'll be all right." His eyes never waver from hers. He has so many emotions on his face and his eyes are talking to her, since he doesn't have the breath to say the words. Margaret tries to calm him, "See, Donna's fine, too." She glances over her shoulder and takes a half step back for him to see Donna in Josh's arms and she's whipping tears away. "Leo, let Toby set you on the couch. I'm right here beside you."

"Ok, good. I'll kill you from the couch, soon as I stop holding you to my heart," Leo lets her know he's better after seeing her. She steps back for Toby to help Leo down on the couch. Sam supports Leo with a hand on his back, as he's lowered to the couch.

"OH, GOD. Ok, guys. I'm down. Here, Margaret," he pats his hand beside him on the couch and she picks up his right hand where he left it lying. His left arm is clamped to his side pushing on the pain.

Margaret looks over at CJ, "CJ, could you get someone to bring him an ice pack out of the freeze in the kitchenette?"

"Sure thing, Margaret," CJ answers and looks at the President in a silent request to leave the room. He nods in approval. She steps out in the hall to grab an intern to fulfill the request. She steps back in moments later to find Margaret wrapped in Leo arm and he's dropping a kiss on her head as she indulges in a few quiet tears on his shirt front. "It will be here momentarily," she tells the room.

Ron allows himself to just a glance at Margaret tucked up against Leo's side once again. He can now imagine why he might fear the famous Leo McGarry's temper. Ron sees an angry, afraid and loving Leo with Margaret. ~I really wonder why I never saw it before. It's so obvious and I call myself one of the best Secret Service agents. ~

"All right, Ron. Give us the details that you know," the President is impatient, now that he can see that the assistants are safely here in the office.

"Sir, as I mentioned before, the women made a quick run to the mall. Which, in their defense, would not normally be deemed a risk, given the history of the attackers." He explains the differences, "It was broad daylight, in a crowded mall, they were in an open area and they were together for safety." Ron now continues to brief on the attackers. "This was totally a change in their pattern. We now can assume that they're getting desperate or that for some reason they're under some kind of time pressure, for them to so boldly try and grab them in this situation. Before, they always tried to be in hiding and make a surprise attempt. They have the luck of using so simple a plan that they leave no evidence behind. Just jump and grab." Agent Butterfield runs out of details to relay, to help the ones involved understand how little they're able to gleam at each attempt.

The intern returns to the doorway and is afraid to enter with the President in the room. The President sees him hovering at the door and waves him in with the ice pack. The intern just steps in part way. The others standing in the room, block his view of Leo. He hands it to CJ, as she was the one to request it.

"Thanks, Jerry," CJ says as she smiles and accepts the cold towel wrapped ice pack.

"Yes. Thanks, Jerry. I appreciate your help," the President smiles at the nervous intern.

"Your welcome, Sir. Anytime, Sir. Excuse me, Sir," the intern back-peddles to the door.

"Yeah," the President signals its OK for him to leave. He turns to look at Ron again.

"We still have no idea what they want? That they are now getting desperate to achieve their goal, of a hostage to hold over me," the President sounds irritated and desperate as he asks for information from Agent Butterfield.

"No, Sir, they never say." Agent Butterfield reviews, "Today, they just told the women that they would keep trying, till they get either Mr. McGarry or Miss Ryan. Sir, I do think the reason that Miss Moss was chased by one of the men, was to get Miss Ryan confused and then they could get to her."

Josh looks like thunder at that information. He squeezes Donna tighter to his side and she returns the squeeze. She holds onto him with both arms around his waist. Not even looking at his face, her imagination of his look is enough. She heard his quick inhale and him then blowing it out, at the news.

Josh now demands, "What did you get on them this time?"

"The ladies were able to recall a few details, since they came straight here and the event was fresh in their minds." He relays then a general review, "They gave us a few more detail on the descriptions of the attackers and the van that they were using to get away in."

"What details?" Josh looks pointedly at the agent. He's in no mood to play twenty questions.

Agent Butterfield relinquishes the new details, "They were able to give us a better idea of size and coloring of the men, since they were viewing them through the glass of the car." Ron looks at Margaret with pride at her ability to help with the details and his face nearly gives it away, with the slightest hint of a smile, just a softening of his face, "Miss Ryan was able to ID the type and model of van as they left, since Miss Moss was driving. We know it is definitely a black van. A Plymouth Voyager that is about 8 years old. It has tinted back windows, but not the front ones, where the attackers were sitting and it has chrome striping at the bottom of the sides. They were not at a good angle to see the plate. We 'do' hope to get some fingerprints or if we are lucky, a scrap of DNA. Depending on how much skin the attacker left behind, when his fingers were caught in the doorframe. If we get the former, it will help us to possible put a name to the faces. If we get the DNA, it will definitely nail the case shut on them when we get to court."

"How long did you debrief them, before you let us know about the attempt on them," Leo's worried that they were pressured and kept scared too long downstairs.

Agent Butterfield quickly defends his department's handling of the women, "They were real troopers, Sir. We only needed to keep them about 15 minutes and they were with some of our female agents for moral support. They were treated with care and concern. They were the ones that insisted in talking to us right then. They realized that it was best to do so, with it just having happened. The same way we did with you the other night, after we got you in here. Luckily, Miss Ryan seems to have a photographic memory and Miss Moss helped with the description of the attackers themselves."

"Good. Now what," Leo asks, not really wanting to hear the answer.

Agent Butterfield confirms Leo suspicions, "Since Miss Ryan expressed her disagreement to private security, I recommend that she 'not' leave the building without you and your agent. The attackers seem to have an aversion to anyone in security and who are armed. Miss Moss is probably not going to be a target, but I recommend that she is extra careful and travel with a male escort for a while." He defines why she is not now a considered a target, "She 'is' loosely connected to you and Miss Ryan, but doesn't carry the clout that they need with the President."

"That makes me feel better," Josh is now slightly calming down.

"OK, the girls will stay on the White House grounds, unless they have an escort," the President gives the females a pointed, but caring look.

"Yes, Sir," the women answer, to his hinted at order.

"Good. We don't need any more scares like this," he sighs with relief as he also thinks of the ramifications to today's attempt.

Margaret rises from the couch beside Leo, to get him to put his feet up.

The President gets everyone moving, "Ok, everyone lets get back to work. CJ, you keep this under wraps."

"Yes, Sir," CJ agrees. Toby gives Leo a touch on the shoulder as he moves to follow CJ and Sam out the door.

"Ron, keep us informed as always," the President orders as a dismissal to the agent.

"Yes, Sir, you'll know as soon as we know," he promises and nods to the others. He leaves with long rapid strides, with plans to tear into his department. He's getting tired of not having answers for the President.

*****

When the President and the two couples are the only ones left in the room, Jed turns to pick up Leo's phone and punches a few buttons. "Hi, Abby, could you pop over to Leo's office now for a few minutes. Thanks, Dear," he hangs up and just calmly looks at the others, while waiting for Abby to arrive from her office.

Abby arrives in just minutes. She immediately questions, when she enters Leo's office, "What does Leo need?" Her eyes are already running over Leo to assess any possible problem.

Jed informs her of her mistake, "Abby, it's not Leo that you need to look at. It's Margaret. She and Donna had to make a run for it, to get away from the attackers at the mall."

"God, Jed, not again," Abby has a shocked look on her face and rolls her eyes in disbelief.

"Yeah," Jed answers her letting her know with his face that he's as upset as she is. He knows this is has been going on too long.

"Margaret got hurt," he tells Abby and the others in the room look at the couch. Margaret's not looking at anyone, especially at Leo. He's rounding a shocked look of his own at her.

"She's not telling, but she favoring her arm, for some reason." The President reveals Margaret's secret that he noticed when he was hugging her before Leo got into his office. She only hugged him back with one arm.

"Margaret," Leo's now in a panic again finds his voice. "Are you hurt? Ron didn't mention that you were grabbed by them."

"They didn't touch me, Leo". Margaret quickly reassures him and tried to downplay any danger. She can tell that Leo is just about at his limit and may explode if he doesn't get his panic under control soon. She can see it coming like a train wreck. "It's nothing really, Leo My shoulder is just is a little sore, from fighting to get the door closed."

"Let Abby see it, Baby, and what do you mean get the door closed?" His concern for her possible injury slightly sidetracks his anger.

"I had trouble getting in the car, as fast as Donna and one of the guys tried to keep me from getting the door closed." She boasts a little to downplay the danger she was so close to "He paid for it, too. I got his fingers trapped in the doorframe."

"God, Margaret. He was that close to you?" Leo's panting now after he bellows, at the thought of her in real danger.

Josh doesn't look much happier, knowing the girls were that close to the attackers. He glances down at the top of Donna's head and drops a quick kiss on it. He won't release her far enough away from his heart to see her face.

Abby walks over to the couch and signals for Margaret to standup, so she can examine the shoulder for injury. Abby's then lifts and rotates Margaret's arm at the shoulder. Margaret winches, but isn't in great pain. Abby instructs her, just like she did with her for Leo. "Just keep some ice on it for now. I think it's just strained a little." Abby looks her in the eye to make sure Margaret knows she means for her to do it, "Tonight you can put some heat on it and you should take one of Leo's Aleve now and again tonight. You may not need any tomorrow, but you can decide."

"Thanks, Abby. I didn't think it was very bad. I am glad you checked it," Margaret gives a small smile to her new friend and then sits back down beside Leo.

Leo looks sideways at her and gives her a pointed look, which tells her that he's very disappointed in her for not telling him that she was hurt. He then hands her the ice pack. "Your turn, dear." He books no argument from her with Abby just saying for her to hold ice on it. Margaret takes the ice pack and drapes it over her shoulder and leans back again the couch and Leo's side, being very quiet. She just looks down at her hands folded tightly in her lap. He turns his face to her and kisses her temple. He's upset and he just needs to cool off. This may take awhile. No talking may be the smart thing right now between them.

*****

Another agent knocks at the door and Jed calls, "Enter."

"Sir, I'm the sketch artist and I'm here to see if Miss Ryan and Miss Moss could take a look the basic composites that I have of the attackers, from their earlier descriptions in Special Agent Butterfield's office."

The President looks at the agent and feels that they have been through enough for one day and that they may be pushing Donna and Margaret too much, "You want to do it now?"

"Yes, sir. Time is a factor. The longer that they get from the incident, the more the details fade from their recall." The agent assures the President that time is the enemy here.

"Ladies, are you willing and able to help now?" The President softly asks while looking at both Margaret and Donna.

"Yes, sir." Margaret agrees immediately, but takes a deep breath to fortify her self. "Anything to help to catch the attackers."

"Sir, may I use the desk, for the laptop?" He holds up the laptop in question, for the President to see the size of it, "The ladies can get a good view of what I have then."

"Leo, you OK with this," the President asks, knowing that Leo is funny about someone sitting at his desk.

"Yeah, use my desk." Leo grumbles, "Let's get this over with, for the ladies." He doesn't like the fact that Margaret is involved in this. He has tried for months to keep her out of it.

After setting up the laptop and pulling up a split screen to show both attackers sketches, he has the ladies take a moment to get a good mental image of the attackers and then look at the screen.

"Oh, My. I didn't know you would have them in 3-D. That looks a lot like them, but they do need some changes." Margaret is looking intently at the screen, but she has her hand on her chest as if the image has taken her breath away.

"Yeah, they're not quite right." Donna agrees with Margaret as she bends closer to get a better look over the computer agent's shoulder, where she was safely standing at first.

Josh moves up behind Donna with a hand on her shoulder, so she can feel him touching her to calm her. The President glances at Leo on the couch and Leo nods back to him. The President moves behind Margaret to lend her some support and his curiosity is getting the better of him. Leo knows this, too.

These thoughts are running rapidly through his head as he watches Margaret working with the agent. ~I feel so useless right now. I can't even get up to comfort her. I can only watch from this damn perch on the couch. Damn this frustration. I don't do this well. How could I live with myself if something happens to her? I can't protect her if she won't let me. How could she have been so stupid? She's so smart, but this time she obviously wasn't. This really scares me, even more than the nightmares. It's real. What would I do without her? How could I even live without her? How did she get into my heart so deeply and quickly? She is everything.~

Abby can tell that Leo is still in some real pain from the effort and anxiety that he has had the last hour. He really needs to rest, but she knows that is not going to happen. She steps to the door of the office and sends an aid to get another ice pack. She waits at the door for the aid to return, so he doesn't get a view of Leo on the couch. Abby sits beside Leo on the couch, "Here, Leo, you know where this goes. I can see the pain written all over your face."

"If you look hard enough, Abby, you can read between the lines." He smiles at his own bad joke. He gladly accepts the ice pack. She's looking at him as he places the pack against his side and holds it there. "You can just get that wishful look off your face, Abby. You're not getting my shirt off me today. You've seen more of my skin in the last week than you've seen since we had kids at the pool. I'm keeping my shirt today, so just look disappointed all you want." Abby makes a 'humph' sound in her throat at Leo figuring out what she was going to suggest.

"What are you two over there debating about?" The President takes his eyes off the computer screen and the changes to see what the trouble is across the room.

"Abby is trying to get my shirt off again." He makes a grumbling statement, "The women around here, have nothing better to do, than to try and get my clothes off me everyday."

The President looks at him pretending to be shocked, "Leo, don't you think you might want to rephrase that remark. It doesn't put the ladies in a good light, if you know what I mean. They don't go around the White House in a wanton manner and strip the clothes off unsuspecting males."

Leo defends his statement, "Sir, on Monday, they stripped me to the waist to redo my wrap. I had to remind them to leave the pants on. Then on Tuesday the therapist was here and guess what?" He looks seriously at The President and he sees the hint of a smile on his face, "Yeah, they had me bare-chested to the waist again." He glares quickly at Abby, who is now smiling at Leo's list of complaints and back to his best friend that is not helping to defend him. "So, I thought that I would head her off, before she calls in the Sisterhood to get me down, in my defenseless state, and strip off my shirt again. Those Sisterhood ladies are dangerous to me. They tackled me. They're not in the least intimidated by me after hours. I'm not so sure, now, about during work hours. They just do as the wish to me, regardless that I'm their boss here in the West Wing."

Jed is trying his hardest not to laugh at Leo's dilemma. Leo looks insulted that Jed's not considering his protest seriously. Leo looks over at Josh and sees a smile on his face. He's not saying too much. He helped to redress Leo yesterday. Even the agent is slightly grinning at the screen of the computer and hoping he's not seen behind it, till he can school his face. He will never repeat what he hears in the White House, but that doesn't mean he can't personally enjoy what he hears. The ladies, of course, are totally on Abby's side. She 'is' a doctor after all and may need to check his healing process daily.

The agent sits back in Leo's chair after the ladies are satisfied with the composites, "Thank you ladies that was most helpful. We can now transfer this to all the agencies and the Police. Everyone will have a better idea who to watch for, now." We'll soon have the DNA and finger print analysis from the exterior of Miss Moss's car."

Josh is skeptical, "I'd like to point out that DNA and fingerprints will not help to find them, only help to convict them, after you have them in custody." The agent looks at Josh in agreement.

He looks at Leo on the couch, "Mr. McGarry, may I have you take a look at the composites? I can bring the laptop to you on the coffee table."

"Sure, I like to see how close that they are to mine. The ladies saw them in full daylight, so they should have a better idea." He looks down at his hands and softly mentions, "I was rather busy when I was in close contact with them."

The agent moves the computer to where Leo and Abby can get a good look. "Yeah, that looks better than what I came up with. It does looks like the same guys to me," Leo agrees. "Remember, that the girls said they looked almost as bad as I do." He leans back on the couch. His hand is tucked up beside his mouth and looks at Margaret. He has a black look brewing on his face. He is not happy today at all.

Abby sees the look and figures now is a good time for them to clear out of his office and let things cool down. Abby addresses the room, "I'm heading back to my office. Call me if anyone needs me. I can pop back over anytime." She looks at Leo's lowered brow, "I may come up with a good reason yet, to get Leo undressed." She smiles and he glances up to acknowledge her attempt to made him feel better. He grabs her hand and squeezes it. She drops a kiss on his lined brow and gets up to follow the agent from the room.

Josh takes the hint, "Mr. President, we should probably get back to my office, as well. I have a few meetings this afternoon."

"Sure, Josh. We'll talk later," the President approves. He knows Josh is working at top speed to cover all the bases this week, for both offices.

Josh nods at the others, and with his hand at the small of Donna's back he escorts her out the door.

*****

The President is standing near the door to the Oval Office, still trying to read Leo's mood. He can sense that Leo is too quiet for this situation.

Margaret picks up some files from the coffee table, lying there from earlier that morning, "See, Leo, that wasn't so bad. They have a good composite of the men, now," she hopes that she can calm Leo down, with some small talk. The President 'is' still standing here, after all.

Leo growls and he can't hold it in any longer. He holds his side and bellows, in his old form, "Damn it, Margaret. What possessed you to go to the mall? Isn't one of us getting the crap beat out of um, enough for now? You just had to leave the White House grounds without protection?" Leo's ready to blow and to hell with White House protocol.

Margaret's so angry at Leo's questions and especially with the President standing there, that her whole face is getting red and it's not a blush this time. The President is right. She has red hair for a reason.

The President, as a friend, interrupts a moment, " You two need to clear the air between you. I'll just go and clear the hall and Charlie can cover the phones." He doesn't wait for approval from the couple in the room. "Don't mind me, I'll just go sit and read in my office. I may turn on some music." The President makes a hasty retreat, at the look of anger he receives from Leo, for jumping into the fight.

The door shuts behind the President and in the Oval Office he yells for Charlie as he detours out the hall doorway, to instruct the agents to seal off the hall and 'no one' is to enter it, till he' personally' clears the area. He's making sure that the fight, which is about to happen in the COS office, is 'not' over heard or interrupted. This has been building up since Leo's attack and it's not going to get any better by waiting. He knows from experience.

Back in Leo's office Margaret has spun around to squarely face Leo on the couch. "Leo, to start with, I'm not a child to be yelled at like I was sneaking off without permission. You heard what Ron said that I took the necessary precautions." She returns Leo's glare.

~There she goes calling him, Ron.~ He so mad he can't think straight. "Margaret, you'd think that dealing with my injuries all weekend that you'd be able to draw the conclusion that these guys are not playing by 'nice' rules. They want to get to the President through me and now through you." He looks at the floor trying to suppress the fear he has for her. ~God, they came so close.~ "You 'knew' you were a target. It was 'stupid' to go out where they could get a hold of you and they 'damn' near did."

Margaret bellows right back. She learned from the best, "Leo, you felt it was safe for 'you' to be going out, in public for months, with these guys trying to grab you." She pauses to make a point, "Not that 'I' was told about it." She glares at him, "No, I'm just a defenseless little female." ~He was in his own hotel garage.~ "Well, it doesn't look like you avoided them forever either, Leo."

They look at each other and the anger crackles between their eyes.

Leo has never seen her this mad before. Her red hair is apparently in full force. How can she not 'see' his side?

Margaret knows the famous Leo McGarry temper, but this is the first time it's ever been directed at her. She's not about to back down. How can he not 'see' her side?

"Margaret, that's just it." ~If I could get off this couch right now, I'd hold her safe and kiss her till she 'sees' reason.~ "You know there's a danger out there, now and you went anyway. You got hurt escaping them. They could've dragged you off to, God knows where and I couldn't help you." ~I know that they would hurt her, all the more, to get back at me.~ He tries to get up, the frustration and anger make him forget about the pain. When he tries to stand up, he can tell immediately that he's hurting himself more and he gives up and fall back down onto the couch. He bellows again, "You won't even let me hire a bodyguard for you. You don't want me to use my precious money to help you. It's only money, Margaret. We're 'not' going to go hungry by any means." ~This is insane, to fight over keeping her safe.~

"That's right, Leo. Money is always your answer." She pauses as her mind flashes back. "I remember when you were just making that money. You had a family to support and I was working to pay my rent." Margaret is on a roll. Leo is just fuming with anger and nowhere to vent it. Margaret looks at him holding his side. "Money didn't help you Saturday night." She stops, knowing that her remark was not fair. "I don't let you use your money for me, because we're not about 'having money', Leo. It won't cure you of alcoholism and it won't bring back my parents. It certainly won't add any more hours to the day. We live with what we are dealt, Leo."

"So, let's not bring money into this fight," Leo couldn't care less about his or her money. ~They almost got my Margaret.~

"You're just pissed that I didn't ask your permission," Margaret points out the bottom line. ~I live in DC and I have taken care of myself so far.~

"No, Margaret. I'm damn well 'pissed' at the attackers, for even trying to get their slimy hands on you." ~ They'd better not try again, either, or I'll kill them with a smile.~ "You're connected to me, now. I have the ear of the President of the United States and he's like a brother to me. That puts us all at risk and we have to stay safe, while we run this country."

Margaret loudly counterpoints, "Leo, no one could keep you safe, so what makes you think that someone could keep me safe." ~I'm not living on a leash for the rest of the administration, his or a bodyguards.~

He roars like he does when he can't fix things, "Margaret, we don't 'know' what is making it so urgent that they're taking so many chances. We 'do' know that they think it's hunting season on me."

"That's my fear, Leo." She has tears of anger and tears of fear, starting to flow down her cheeks. "We have something so wonderful now and you might get hurt again or worse. I could lose you."

He lashes out without thinking, with the pain and fear of the events of the day and the relief that she is OK. He's afraid to let go with his emotions because they have been building for so long. Leo bellows, "Margaret, I'm terrified that they might grab you and kill you, accidentally or on purpose." He sees her tears and lowers his voice, "What would I do without you?" She starts to cry in earnest at his words. Leo softly adds, "I'd just quit breathing." He now has tears to match hers. "I'm so scared for you, Margaret. When you're not with me now, I can't keep the fear out of my mind."

"Leo, I breath, when you breath." She crosses over, to be closer to him, "I'm so scared that they'll get to you, to beat you again and that you might not survive." She sits down and he holds his arm out, to hug her to his heart. She slips into his hold and rests her head on his shoulder and sobs. Her tears are marking his heart as easily as his shirt. The fatigue of the past few days is catching up on them.

He has never had someone he loves in danger. It was always just himself at risk. Leo is crying as much as she is, now. His tears following the lines of time on his face, "Margaret, my other fear, is that you'll step back and out of my life over this and I can't live my life, without you in it. God, I love you so much, Margaret."

""I'm not going anywhere. Leo, you 'are' my life, past, present and for always. I love you," she pulls him down with her on the couch to hold him. To comfort him and hold him to her heart now, placing gentle kisses on his forehead and temple, caressing his back. To give security to him and to hold tight to what they have.

They continue to hold each other and indulge in short shallow kisses between the crying and more declarations of love, until they nod off from exhaustion.

*****

Jed has been sitting in the Oval Office hurting for the emotional pain that his friends have to deal with, on top of all the physical pain. He has left just one of the connecting doors open. Not to eavesdrop on the other couple, but allowing him to know that they were fighting, but not really able to make out all the words. They know that he's next door. He's glad he cleared the hall, with the volume of the voices, with both of them being of Irish decent. Jed knows there are other issues that Leo and Margaret still have to deal with in their relationship. He had heard just enough of Margaret's rant about money. He now knows that she has no real idea how much money Leo has and she doesn't want anything to do with it. Not that he ever thought that she did, but it's nice to know that she loves him in despite of the money.

When it seems to get quiet in the next office, he gets up and stands outside the closed door to Leo's office. He hears male sobbing, along with hers. Jed can't help but hear it and it almost surprises him how raw Leo's emotions are. He knows that Leo can let himself cry. It's just a matter of Leo letting someone into his heart. He knows Leo well, and he knows his fears. He quietly sits back down, knowing that they need this time also to make peace with each other, to firmly ground their relationship. He feels some guilt over this situation, rational or not, but his eyes begin to well up with tears as he hears the crying next door, quietly hurting and lost in thought, then he feels a hand on his arm and knows that the woman he loves is there listening too and he needs to feel her comfort. They go over to the couch and sit and wait, no words are needed, she understands the weight of the guilt he's feeling. When they hear the crying stop, they wait.

Fifteen minutes later the President checks the door again and hears no sound from beyond. Jed cautiously opens the door to see if they're all right. They find them asleep cuddled on the couch. Their faces flushed and the tears still fresh, but finally too exhausted by the days events and the events of the past several days to stay awake. Abbey signals to Jed to get a blanket to cover them and to let them wake on their own. He crosses to the closet and returns to place the blanket over them. He knew this was coming and smiles that it obviously ended well. He will leave the door open to Oval Office so he can keep an eye on them. They need to rest and recover from the first big hurdle of their relationship. When they awake he wants them out of the White House for the day. He takes Abby's hand and they return to his office and he informs Charlie to continue to take Leo's calls and then steps out, to open the hall, but orders agents to guard Leo and Margaret's doors. No one is to enter or disturb them in anyway.

*****

Leo awakes with the smell of Margaret's perfume, so close to his face, wonderfully wrapping him in comfort. "Baby, you asleep, still?" He sighs in contentment and snuggles against her. He's not used to being the one being held and comforted. It's different and nice.

"Not, anymore." She drops a kiss on his brow and looks around at the room and the ceiling. Things just look different. Not just due the fact that they're sleeping on his office couch, in the middle of the day, but different in that they're again happy with each other. The President was right, they did need to clear the air on the attacks. He knows Leo so well and he can obviously read her moods, too.

Leo throws back the blanket from over them and tries to sit back up and is unable to do it on his own. He chuckles and lies back down with her, "Margaret, this could get interesting, but I'm not sure how we're going to get me up.

Margaret giggles and suggests, "Well, Leo we could just lie here and hope someone notices that we never left your office or in the morning the others will find us here, when they come in for staff."

Leo looks at the blanket that had been covering them, "Margaret, I imagine that in a few minutes the President will be walking in here, when he hears us talking. Someone covered us up and he was the only one in the area."

"He can be so sweet, but he's getting into the habit of catching us asleep," she's not really complaining, but it just still seems weird to her that the President of the United States keeps finding her asleep with Leo and now he's taking care of them and covering them up.

"Come here and let me show you what I'd rather he catch us doing," Leo pulls himself up to bring his face to hers and indulges in a passionate kiss with her.

Right on cue, the door to the Oval Office swings open, "See, I leave you alone for too long and I have to pry you two part."

Leo swings his head around with a grin, "If you want to be helpful, you could give me a helping hand to sit up. I'm just filling in some time, since I have Margaret trapped here on the couch."

The President smiles and gives Leo an ultimatum, "I'll be happy to help, but you two have one half hour to vacate the White House or I'm ordering the agents to bodily put your ass in the car."

Leo squints one eye at his friend to judge if this is debatable, seeing the determination on the President's face, he looks at Margaret and he places his forehead to hers and sighs, "I guess we're going home early, Baby. Banned again."

The President is pleased that he's getting his way and helps Margaret to get Leo into a sitting position. He then helps Margaret to straighten up as well.

Leo looks at his friend, "Thanks, Jed. We needed that." Jed understands that Leo means his clearing the area, so that they could fight and for him being there to take care of them.

Margaret stands and steps to the President. She gives him a quick kiss on the cheek and softly tells him, "Thanks from me, too, Jed."

The President smiles and then can't resist, "Margaret, you are breaking your own rule. You called me Jed in the office."

Margaret doesn't disappoint him at him calling her on it. "You just have to get a blush out of me every day and you just had to remember that rule. Any other time you'd be happy that I used your first name."

The President is pleased on both counts, "That's right, Margaret." He looks at Leo, "You now have twenty-five minutes to get out."

Leo grumbles but is not serious, "We're going, but I'd like to call Mallory and catch her before she leaves the school, about the attempt on Margaret. I want her to be extra careful."

"Yeah, Leo that would be a good idea at that," he wholeheartedly agrees and hands Leo the cordless phone. "Do it now."

When Mallory arrives on the other end of the phone line, Leo still has to take a clearing breath before he tells her the bad news again, "Hey Baby, it Dad. …I'm all right." He swallows and sorta clears his throat, "No, no she's alright too, now that is… I'm trying to tell you, it just that ahh… Margaret and Donna went to the mall at lunch and the attackers tried to grab Margaret. They chased them to the car. …Mallory slow down, I'm telling you the details."

Jed pulls Margaret to his side as they hear one of the hardest calls a parent has to make.

Leo softens his voice, "They almost got her, Mallory. ……They had the door and she almost didn't get it closed." His voice gets shaky, "God, Mallory, if they had gotten to her any faster. ……She's OK. Her arm's a little sore from pulling the door closed with the other two pulling it open. ……Donna helped her." He smiles now, "They're a team at that. ……The jackasses got their fingers caught in the door for their trouble and Ron Butterfield is looking at it for DNA. I'll tell her. …Yes, she right here with the President. ……You know how he worries about family. Thanks, Baby, I'll tell them." Leo gets serious again and in Dad mode again, "I just wanted you to know. I need to know you'll be extra careful now. Stay in a group. I'm sure the other teachers will walk you to your car. The guard at you apartment building is to walk you in. I'm strict about that now, since they attacked the girls together in broad daylight. Thanks, Baby. I love you. Be careful. Bye, Baby." Leo slowly lays the phone down and looks up at the two other people he loves most in the world.

The President sees the love shinning in Leo's eyes and smiles back at him acknowledging it. He turns to Margaret, "Go get what you need and I'll find someone to help Leo to the car. Josh may be in a meeting." Margaret heads to her office and Jed gives into his instinct, he leans over and kisses Leo on the brow. "There will be better days, my friend. I promise."

*****

At the apartment it's time for Leo to wake up from his nap. Margaret has him parked on the couch, again. She realizes that Leo got himself worked up during the fight this afternoon and he strained his ribs again. "Leo, honey, you need to change ice packs now and start to wake up. Josh and Donna will be here soon."

Leo rubs his face to get awake. He looks at his hands, still unable to flex his fingers and dealing with cupped hands. He's amazed at how much sleep he seems to need lately. It just seems that his body takes over and demands that he sleep. He just hopes it speeds the recovery. "Thanks, Margaret." He reaches a hand for hers and pulls her down for a quick kiss. As she straightens back up, he smiles shyly at her, "Ya know, now that I reflect back to my behavior this afternoon, I've decided that my fear and anger overruled my good sense." She gives him a questioning look. "I feel like 'hell' again and I have no one to blame but myself. Guess it should teach me a lesson on anger management, but I have no control when I fear for you." He pulls her back down beside him on the couch, "Margaret, I'm so sorry I fought with you today. I never thought that I would get angry with you. I'll try never to get angry with you like that again. I'll talk to you and not let it build, till I blow-up. Say you forgive me." He eyes search her face earnestly for forgiveness.

She smiles softly, "Leo, it's just your nature. Of course, I forgive you!" She kisses him softly. "I know you feel strongly about those you love and right now you feel vulnerable. I really need to apologize to you, too. I was hurt and angry that you didn't tell me about your first attack. I look at you and see how close they came to taking you from me. Then, I get angry at the whole thing. I have let that anger go, our relationship is too important to worry about the past."

No more words are needed between them. Too many words have been said today and they have always talked better with their eyes. It lets them see the honesty in their hearts. Margaret stretches out beside Leo on the couch for some much needed cuddling, just till the other couple arrives. They will still need to talk a little more, later when they're alone again tonight.

*****

Josh and Donna arrive and they both are quieter around the apartment. Josh is not his usual bouncy self, but all four are happy to finally be away from work for the day. Josh holds his hand out to Leo on the couch, "Come on, Son. I'm in dire need of the hot tub. Time for you to go and get changed." Josh doesn't give Leo the option of declining his therapy workout tonight. He knows Leo will feel better physically and mentally. Leo would not be pleased with himself tomorrow, if he passes on the therapy tonight.

"Yeah, you're right, Josh. We need to get going." Leo hands his ice pack to Margaret. It's time for me to let Margaret have her way with me. I think Abby and she were disappointed that they didn't get to undress me at work today," Leo teases Margaret, hoping for a blush.

In the bedroom, Margaret closes the door and smiles at Leo, "Leo, just keep in mind you're not well enough for me to have my way, but I'll meet you half way." She grins seductively, "I'll be kind." She helps to get his t-shirt and the wrap off. He was just sort of leaning his weight on the mattress and she helped him to stand full and he dropped his soft pants that she had helped him to put on when they arrived home. She quickly stepped into the bathroom to get his swim pants and he grinned at her when she returned. "What has you smiling like that in your boxers?"

"You forgot something from the bathroom," Leo mentions softly.

"Like what Leo," she asks sweetly, knowing full well that he noticed correctly.

"You didn't bring a towel with you, for covering me when I change," he states with a grin.

"Gee, I'm getting so forget full. We'll just have to manage without it." She answers breezily in a teasing manner.

"No Problem, Margaret. I'm game." He quickly replies. He realizes she is not joking and he hooks his thumbs into the waistband of his boxers and drops them to the floor, steps out of them and kicks them aside. He has no problem standing there nude. He grins at her and tilts his head to the side. "Ain't no way you can look me in the eye the whole time and get my feet into the shorts."

Margaret looks him in the eye and deadpans her explanation, "Leo, I'm not that shy or naive. I know you need help getting them on. I trust you."

"I know you do or I wouldn't have dropped my boxers. I'm glad you not uncomfortable with me undressed." Leo looks at her face, to make sure she's all right with this.

"No, we crossed the visual barrier this morning. You know, Leo, I feel that I've known you forever. Each step we take just seems a natural part of that. We'll get more comfortable with it in time." She leans in and quickly kisses him, but doesn't touch his body. "One step at a time is all I need."

"Thanks, Margaret. We can do that." He places his hands on her shoulders as she bends to help him step into the shorts. He doesn't want to rush Margaret more than she's comfortable in doing for him.

She comments as she pulls the shorts up his legs and her head is to his side, "My jet looks as good as ever."

"That's my jet, Margaret. You just like the view of my backside," he chuckles softly at her obsession with the tattoo.

She straightens to finish pulling up the sides of the shorts and smiles into his eyes, " Yeah, I do at that."

He's wearing a satisfied smirk and he pulls the shorts up over the front of himself.

Margaret looks Leo in the face to judge his answer. He's sitting on the bed now resting after getting changed. "Would you guys mind if Donna and I stay here and fix dinner?" Margaret points out honestly, "You'll probably not be able to workout long and with two agents now, one of them could possibly help Josh to get you in and out of the water."

Leo nods his head to the side, "Yeah, Josh can ask the agents, if one of them is willing to help." He smiles at her, "You just want to mess up my kitchen without me seeing you do it."

She smiles at him catching her motive, "Yeah, girls sometimes like to be domestic and do the cooking. I better take the opportunity and do it now. I'm sure you'll take the kitchen back over pretty soon."

"I better get going and get this over with, before I chicken out and Josh drags me out the door." Leo smiles his impish grin at her, "He'll do anything to get to the hot tub."

Margaret is winding up his wrap to reuse on him before bedtime. She smiles at his irresistible grin, "Leo, you're doing that grin again that I love." He continues to grin at her and reaches out a hand for her. She mildly scolds, "Leo, no necking now." She smirks over her shoulder and when she's safely at the door in a soft voice she teases him, to insure that she is not overheard in the next room, "Did I mention that you are so wonderfully hot looking in those swim shorts."

Leo growls at her with a lusty look in his eyes. She chuckles softly as at his growl, on her way to let Josh know that Leo's ready and for him to stand him up from the side of the bed. She knows that he will go to his therapy with a lighter heart now.

After the guys are gone the girls go to start dinner, something that will hold over till the guys are back and changed again. Margaret also decides that tonight is definitely a chocolate night and pulls out a box of brownie mix. Donna, in full agreement, heads for the eggs in the fridge and Margaret gets out the oil. No short cuts tonight for healthiness. Margaret digs in the cabinet again and hands Donna a tub of milk chocolate icing, to put out for later. Margaret likes to leave the brownies plain on the plate and let everyone smear on all the icing they want, just before eating them.

While they wait on the brownies, Margaret quietly mentions, "Donna, I didn't get to say it earlier, with all the things going on this afternoon, but I want to say thank you for everything. For going with me, so I wasn't alone at the mall, and for helping me get the door closed. I was scared that they would pull it open."

"Margaret, I was scared, too, but I'm still glad I was there with you. You might have gotten kidnapped, if you were alone. We're best friends and I would have been devastated, if any thing happened to you." They girls exchange a moment of mutual sympathy as they hug to console each other. Donna looks at Margaret and they both have tears shinning in their eyes, "We've said enough on the matter and it's behind us now. Let's just concentrate on the guys and us. Having a good life is the best revenge."

Margaret wipes at her eyes to catch the tears, "I agree, Donna. The guys have a tough life and so do we. When away from work we can just concentrate on relaxing and enjoying our time together. Leo and I really like having you and Josh around and staying here this week has made a bad time for us a lot better."

The guys arrive back early, as Margaret predicted. Margaret takes one look at Leo, as Josh gets him through the front door, and points to the bedroom. She's not letting him have any layover of him stopping to sit on a chair. She directs her question to Josh, as Leo is panting at the long hike up from the hot tub. "How did it go, Josh?"

Josh looks at Leo as he responds, "Well, he did very little in the pool, he was just too sore. But, he did spend more time on his rib and finger exercises in the hot tub. It really wiped him out tonight."

Margaret gives them both a sad smile in return, "Yeah, he's already had a bit of a workout today and he's admitted to me that it's come back to bite him in the ass," she adds with a sassy wink as he looks up at her.

Leo wearily agrees, "Yeah, and my ass can tell it too. I'm making three tracks here, with my ass dragging on the floor."

Josh can't help but laugh at the honesty of his friends. They're so cool together. Just like Donna and him with their own language. That's a true sign of soul mates.

"I'm going to go get changed. Donna said she's finishing up dinner. I'll see you, Leo, when you need to go to the table."

"Well, Leo, it's time for us to get you stripped out of those damp swim shorts." Margaret smiles and holds up his dry boxers in one hand and his satin pants in the other.

"I though you'd never ask. So, are you game to go without the towel routine again," he asks like it's a challenge.

"Sure, if I get to view 'my' jet again," she cheekily replies.

"You just love that jet," he teases.

"Yeah and the body it's attached to," she boldly states and Leo quickly steels a kiss. He leans back from her and starts to slide the shorts off his hips.

*****

Shortly Margaret returns to the living room and Josh passes her already on his way to retrieve Leo. The timing was great, like a well known routine. Dinner was quiet, after the day they all had, but it was a comfortable quiet. Everyone was relaxing, while they enjoyed the food and the company. Josh had put in a soft music CD, to play during dinner. They were not really in the mood for the news tonight. The world can take care of itself for one night. The brownies are the perfect ending to the meal. Josh, of course, approves of the icing your own option.

*****

After dinner and the girls are clearing the table, the phone rings and Josh pops up to answer it. "Good Evening, Sir. …Yes, Sir. Leo has been down to his therapy. He didn't do too much, but he says that he had enough of a workout today, with all the events. ……Margaret said he admitted that it's come back to bite him in the ass now. ……Yeah, they seem really OK this evening. …We're doing fine, too. I'll tell the girls you asked about them. ……We're just having a quiet evening. Everyone is kinda drained. ……Leo's really wiped. ……Yeah, I'm happy to stay, even if Leo says it's just for the hot tub. ……You really do need one at the Residence. They're wonderful. ……Might be something you can add as your donation to the master bedroom. Yes, Sir. Thanks for calling. One moment, please."

Margaret takes the phone from Josh. "Mr. President. Hi, it's Margaret. You know, the one with the list. Just wanted to say good night, we're fine and to remind you, we don't need any assistance from the agents tonight. ……You're laughing at me. Jed, I mean it. ……It's nice of you to call. I know you worry about us. ……We'd better not hear from you again tonight. ……He's still laughing at me. Thanks a lot, friend. ……Do I need to put Leo on the phone? ……I'm being nice compared to what he'll have to say, if he sees another 'man in black' in our bedroom tonight. ……He's laughing again. Thank you, Sir. I'll tell him. Good night, Sir." She pokes the off button with great satisfaction. "You know, Leo. I'm getting really good at handling Jed. It's the face to face with the President that still gives me trouble." She smiles at Leo and he's delighted and chuckling at her. Josh and Donna are impressed. Margaret is happy at the reactions of the others, "He says to tell everyone good night." She pulls her face into a stern look, "He also promises not to send in the agents tonight unless Canada invades."

Leo holds out at hand to her and she stands next to his chair at the table, "Margaret, you've come a long way, Baby."

*****

"We'll everyone," Margaret announces. "I'm cutting this evening short and I'm going to indulge myself in a long, warm bubble bath."

Donna eyes light up at the mention of a bubble bath, "Sounds wonderful to me, too, and this place does have two tubs."

"Great, Donna." Margaret next happily suggests, "Follow me into my bathroom and I'll loan you some bubble bath soap and some wonderful candles. We might at well do it up right."

"That does sound wonderful," Donna agrees wholeheartedly.

The ladies link arms and adjourn to the bathroom for the needed supplies for some serious bubble time. The ladies of the Sisterhood know how to take care of its own. Chocolate and candles work every time.

Leo and Josh watch them leave the room and Donna returns shortly to cross into the guestroom, her arms full of bottles and candles.

Leo smiles and looks at Josh, "Give me a hand up. I'm helping Margaret with her bath."

Josh grins in agreement and replies, "To hell with helping. I'm 'joining' Donna in the bubble bath."

Leo grins back at Josh and at his spontaneity of youth. He teases him, "You better not flood the floor!"

"Yeah, Leo, those 'are' damn small tubs," Josh knows Leo might not be kidding him.

Leo smiles as he gains his feet, "What's wrong, Josh? It'll be a tight fit?" ~Just like the recliner, so I guess it's time for their pretzel routine again.~

The guys part ways, with Leo making the short walk into the bedroom by hanging on to the chairs and the doorframe. He seems to have gotten a second wind with a goal in mind.

*****

Leo stops at the door to the bathroom and watches Margaret light some fragrant candles in the back corner of the counter top and he see she's already running the water in the tub. He can already smell the raspberry scent in the air that is her favorite. Her back is to him and he announces his presence, "Margaret, do you mind if I come in while you soak? I want to be near you tonight."

"Sure, Leo, I'd like you to be here. We can just relax quietly and enjoy being together." Margaret smiles softly at him to encourage him to enter into the bathroom.

"Only if you're comfortable with me being in here. I can rest on the bed, if you want me to wait in the bedroom." He wants her to know it's OK, if she wants to soak alone. He knows she sometimes needs to step away from the world they have to deal with.

"I'm sure, Leo. I want you in here." She looks around the small room, "I'm just not sure were to put you. What about the stool you sit on?"

"It's too tall for what I have in mind." Leo looks around the area near him, in the bedroom, and spies a small wooden footstool that Margaret has cross-stitched a pattern of roses on. "Margaret, is this stool, with the roses on it, study enough to hold me?"

"It better be. I paid good money for it. I wanted real wood construction. I put a lot of time into making that piece." She informs him as she stops to look toward the door, to the stool in question that Leo has picked up for her to see.

"Good, then, I'm going to use it to sit by the tub and help you bathe. If you're agreeable?" He may be pushing his luck, but today they've been very lucky and he really wants to lavish some special attention on her.

"I'll let you scrub my back and we do have the waist and up rule. You 'are' bare-chested yourself," she smiles suggestively to him as she reaches over to turn off the lights in the bathroom.

"Hang on a moment, Margaret. I'll be right there. I'm slow, but determined." He then steps carefully to the nightstand and turns on his Bose for some soft music to play, while she soaks, before making his way to the bathroom.

Margaret watches him enter the bathroom as he hangs onto the doorway and then the counter. She'll give him this, he is persistent after the day they both had. "Leo, just one question. Assuming that you successfully make it down to that stool and it holds your weight. How are we going to get you back up?"

"We'll manage, Margaret. Even if I have to crawl to the bed and drag myself into it by the bed posts." He seriously answers, "I'm tired of not being able to share in special moments with you, this week."

"Determined, aren't you?" she grins as she rubs her hands across his springy chest hair.

"Yeah, for you, nothing is too much," he leans back onto the counter and pulls her into a passionate kiss. When they break for air, he takes a deep calming breath and suggests, "Margaret, you better get into the tub or your water will start to cool down."

"What about you, Leo?" She means his getting situated down on the stool.

He means something totally different as he replies, "I think, 'I' better be the one to cool down!" He finds that watching her undress, with a smile on her face is not helping to control his libido. She slides her clothes off onto the floor and he feels a tingling from the slight sweat that is breaking out on his skin, while he watches her in the glow of the candlelight. "Margaret, you're absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you, Leo," she sweetly blushes and not just on her face, her whole body takes on a rosy hue and he loves it. She puts up her hair in a scrunchie to keep it from getting wet in the tub. She steps into the tub and slips her body beneath the bubbles.

Leo needs a few moments to get himself together and to control the slight tremor that he has after watching her so willingly gift him, by allowing him to be in there, after just this morning being nude with him for the first time. He realizes that they both know that they have to deal with quality time, not quantity time, in their lives.

When he feels he's safe to attempt sitting on the stool, he turns and hangs onto the sink and lowers himself to sit on the stool. She watches him with a smile as he works out the easiest way down. She winces as he lets a 'damn' slip out just as he makes it down. He grins at her, not in apology for the cursing, but in achievement. He knew he could make it to the stool without ending up on the floor. He swings around to lean his forearms on the side of the tub and looks at her, with eyes shining his love for her. Margaret softly suggests, "Leo, I bet the warm water would feel wonderful on your hands." He smiles and gladly extends his hands into the warm raspberry bubble bath and goes on a new discovery adventure.

*****

Josh is leaning back in the warm scented bubble bath with Donna leaning back on his chest and they both are just enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. Music is coming from the CD-rom on the computer in the guest room. The lights are off and the scented candles are giving off a soft glow. They both look asleep with their eyes closed, except for the soft contented grins that they both are wearing.

Donna doesn't move when she mentions, "Josh, Margaret and I finally found a quiet moment for us to talk about today, while you guys were at the hot tub. She thanked me for being there for her today. She was scared that if she had gone alone, she would probably have been taken." Josh hugs her tighter and drops a kiss on her head when he hears the tremble in her voice. "Josh, the thing that really is remarkable is that, despite everything, I'm really glad I was there for her today. Even being as scared as I was. I'd willingly be there for her again. It could have ended up so terribly. We couldn't do much separately, but together we did just fine."

"You girls both did great." Josh recalls the moment in the Oval Office when he heard Ron Butterfield tell the staff what happened. "Donna, my heart just dropped when I heard what happened. The very thought of you being attacked, just made my mind go blank. My mind just could not process the facts. I had to see you for myself that you were OK. Even with all that, I'm glad, too, that you were able to be there for Margaret. I'm terrified for you both, now, but I'm proud of you, too."

Donna asks out of concern, "Did Leo tell you anything about what happened in his office after we left? Margaret didn't mention it and the time did not seem right to ask. Not long afterwards you guys were back."

Josh sighs, "I asked if they were Ok and he said yeah, there were fine. He really didn't want to talk about it today." Josh lays the side of his face on the top of her head. "Leo said that enough had been said for one day. He assured me that they were better now and he smiled, so I'll take his word for it."

Donna reminds him, "I'm glad the President called you and gave us a heads up that they had a big fight and that they had made up, after everyone had left. You said that the President had known that they needed to clear the air."

"Yeah, the President said that they really did. He was impressed at two red heads going at it. One very light red and one dark red, but explosive all the same. He said that to fight that earnestly, they have to love that earnestly. The President was really pleased." Josh and Donna both chuckle softly at the vision of the two stubborn friends butting heads together. Josh remembers, "Abby told him that it should relieve some of the stress that they have been under since last Saturday. I guess the first couple knows them pretty well, since they knew that they were going to blow sooner or later."

Donna sighs now in sympathy for the their friends, "I'm just happy that they weathered the fight so well. So much has happened to them in such a short time. It must be hard to adjust, with working and trying to have a life, too. We have to work at having our private time. I can't imagine how hard of a time they must have."

They settle in to soak a little longer. They plan to spend the rest of the evening getting good and wrinkled. After that, they are going to cuddle and possibly test out the new trundle bed. A very quite and relaxing evening is planned.

*****

Margaret smiles at Leo, who is resting the side of his face on the top of his arms, to gaze at her face in the soft candle light, while she soaks. She figures that she's getting wrinkled enough and sits up. Leo straightens up as she does and looks at her expectantly. She strokes a wet finger down his cheek and he kisses the tip as it gets near his lips. She touches the fingertip to her lips then, as if to transfer the kiss.

She reaches over for her shave gel and forms a ball of foam on her palm and gently spreads it between her hands. Leo's grin widens, when she raises a leg up out of the bubbles. He instinctively reaches over and lightly holds behind her heel, to help hold her leg up as she shaves. She looks up and sends him a smile and her look questions his ability to help her and not hurt himself. He finds it's not too much, if he braces his arm on the side of the tub. Leo is fascinated. He has never before watched a woman shave her legs up close. No words are needed as they enjoy this quiet time together.

After she finishes her legs she starts to reach for her puff in the corner of the tub. He holds out his hand for it. His fingers may not work, but he can cup the puff in the palm of his hand. She pulls her knees up and places her folded arms on them, before resting her cheek down on top, to watch Leo dribble the body soap on the puff, since he can't squeeze the bottle. He leans forward just enough to rest the top of his chest on his arm, which he braces against the tub. Leo starts to swirl the puff in overlapping circles from side to side, slowly making his way lower and lower, till he reaches the water line and then he reverses and swirls his way back up to her shoulders. Margaret is gently rocking with the swirling motion her eyes are closed in absolute pleasure. Leo repeats this pattern three times and when her skin is a beautiful rosy color, he dips the puff into the water to drizzle water on Margaret, so that it cascades down her back to rinse it. She moans in total bliss. When he finishes rinsing her she opens her eyes and looks into his. Her eyes are dark with passion as he leans in for a kiss.

As their lips part he grins softly and reaches for the body soap again and this time he rubs the puff over the shoulder nearest to him. She smiles at his attention to her. She slides her legs out and lifts her chin for him to continue across the top of her chest. He reaches in with his other hand and strokes up the far side of her wet body, till he touches her breast. The puff is still just gently captured in his hand, slowly leaving trail of bubbles across her breasts, as he caresses and strokes her warm, wet body. His love for her is revealed in his eyes as he gauges her reaction. She lays back more and allows him to continue to move his hands over her breasts and a little lower to her navel. That's as far as he goes, he doesn't want to go lower than the limits she has set, and after all she did say something about the waist and above rule.

He knows where the line is. Margaret feels him start to withdraw his hand and she gently grabs for it and slowly and purposefully directs his hand below the water level. Guiding him to show him how far he can go, just by touch. She smiles to reassure him. They both know he can't see anything below the bubbles. He's just sliding his fingers against her skin searching for what's hidden below the surface of the water. The mystery is very seductive and while Leo strokes his fingertips down as far as touching her springy curls, he's just brushing the front of her mound, on the top, nothing deeper or threatening to the limits that she has set. He wants her to set the pace and be comfortable with him touching her. They look passionately into each other's eyes. He leans in and she lifts her face to meet his. They speak their love to each other with a heartfelt kiss. He then helps to rinse her off by cupping warm water over the front of her, with his hand. She smiles at his playfully way of removing the bubbles. Flipping the drain lever with her toe, she sits up, gives him a quick kiss in appreciation and then stands up in the tub. The bubbles cling and slide down her fragrant body. Leo's eyes shine with his appreciation. She steps out past him, placing a hand on his shoulder to help her balance. He smiles and decides pay back was due. He fluffs out the towel he has been holding in his lap and drops a kiss on her wet hipbone. He pulls away with a satisfied smile on his face. She returns his smile, what can she say, she's guiltier than he is of stealing kisses on a wet body. Leo doesn't hand her the towel but starts to dry her legs, he has trouble stretching out his left arm, but he manages to do a nice job of it with his right hand. Clutching the towel in his hands, he gently rubs the towel over her body. He places his hands on her waist and turns her back to him and he continues to dry the back of her and up her body as far as he can reach. She turns on her own and rests the tips of her fingers on his shoulders as he dries the front of her. They both enjoy him using the terry towel to dry her breasts. Her nipples are peaked and rosy from his attention. He lastly dries her longs arms, using long strokes on the top, as well as under her arms. Leo enjoys the view of her breasts from below as they pull up firmly, when he raises her arm. He hands the towel to her and she causally drapes it across her damp shoulders, not uncomfortable at all at remaining nude in front of Leo. She has unquestionable trust in him. She reaches her hands down to him. He grins at her challenge. They clasps wrists and he takes a deep breath, tucks his feet a little to each side, preparing to push himself up. Margaret tightens her tummy muscles and braces her bare feet, then leans back to help him rise. They only have one shot at this. He grits his teeth and grunts, while pulling himself up. He's mostly using his right arm, as she leans back to pulls him up at the same time. Leo muscles are protesting, but it's worth it. He makes it standing and then some, as he ends up in her arms, with both of them leaning against the wall to catch their balance. He's grinning at their ability to get him to his feet again, "Thanks, Baby."

She kisses him softly, "No. Thank you, Leo."

He looks in admiration at the beautiful nude woman in his arms. The woman he loves with all his heart and soul. ~This is thanks, enough! ~

*****

Margaret breaks from the passionate kiss they're enjoying and pulls them away from the wall, "Leo, go turn down the bed. I'll be there in a few minutes." She strokes the hair on his chest, loving the texture of it rubbing against her palm. "I need to get dressed or there won't be anymore waiting." She gives him a shy knowing look. She can feel his adoration growing under his satin pants.

"Yeah, I better leave now." Leo lovingly strokes the side of her face and she leans into it. "This is not the right night for us to express our love totally. The time will arrive when we're both ready and not have it initiated by an event other than our loving each other." He sadly smiles and tilts his head to the side, giving her his look that she absolutely adores, his one dimple showing.

Leo, walks gingerly out to the bedroom, he is so happy that he can walk by himself now, if he goes slowly and as long as he hangs on to things to steady himself along the way. He's just not well enough yet for getting up and down without assistance. Tonight took a monumental effort to get on his feet, which he hopes he won't regret it after his pain meds start to wear off. Josh will tear into him royally if he has set back, not considering what Jed will have to say.

Margaret pulls on a long satin button-up nightshirt, in emerald green, a color that compliments her fair skin and shiny red hair. She brushes her hair, floats the bottle of hand lotion in hot water and then blows out the candles. She plans to save them for another night and smiles at the anticipation of a repeat night. Margaret leaves on the nightlight, to shine a soft glow into the bedroom during the night. She brings both of their robes with her to place on the vanity chair. Just in case Canada does invade tonight.

Leaving the bathroom, she finds the bed turned down and Leo leaning on the edge of the bed waiting for her. "Margaret, just give me a minute in the bathroom and I'll be right to bed."

She kisses him on the cheek at the side of the bed, "Good, that's exactly where I plan on waiting for you. On your way back, could you bring the hand lotion that's floating in the sink?"

Leo grins at the expectation of Margaret massaging his hands again tonight. He wants his hands well, for several great reasons, but he hates to think of the massages ending. "Sure, I'll remember to bring it, Margaret."

Leo emerges from the bathroom with the bottle of lotion, wrapped in a small hand towel, to dry it. He's wearing a grin and has a twinkle in his eye. He's being exposed to more liberal methods of touching the one you love. Margaret is sitting in the middle of the bed waiting for him. She already has his pillow propped up and waiting for him. She grins back at him, "Leo, up against the headboard."

"You made that sound like payback, for when I had you up against the wall in the bathroom." He's closer to her now and whispers seductively, "I just hope it's as much fun."

"Leo, you're bad, you know that," she teases him as she reaches for the lotion and she watches him drop his satin long pants and sit on the bed in his silk boxers.

"Are you warm tonight, Leo?" Margaret asks him, with laughter in her voice.

"Yeah, especially when you're near me I am, but I'm always too warm and Jed promised not to send in an agent tonight, so I'm not wearing the long pants tonight." Leo's happy to finally sleep in cooler attire. With his body heat, he prefers to sleep in as little as possible. He scoots back against the pillows, while she moves around to sit cross-legged beside his bare thigh. The difference in the texture of the bare legs touching is wonderfully noted by both of them, especially when Leo lifts his leg slightly, a few times, to rub his against hers, with his impish grin on his face. Leo watches as she again dribbles some warm lotion on the back his hand. She sets his cupped hand on her smooth knee to hold it, while she closes the bottle. He's enticed as she places the warm bottle between her legs, to lean against her thigh and he sees that the satin tail of her sleep shirt is draped down in front of her, blocking his view of her satin panties, which he thinks would be interesting to see. ~Damn the bad luck! ~

Margaret decides that maybe now would be a good time for her to let Leo know what she went to them mall to purchase. "Leo, I want to try and let you know the logic and reasoning behind why I went to the mall today to go shopping. I want you to understand that it was not just a whimsical shopping trip for Donna and me. I went with specific items in mind to purchase. Items that Donna really couldn't get for us or even items that we could have delivered from a phone call or the internet." She wants him to see that she really felt the need to go herself, as she lovingly caresses the lotion into his injured hand.

"Margaret, it's OK. Really it is. I realize now that you felt a real need to go and you were careful in taking Donna with you." Leo confesses to her, "I just went a little crazy when I heard about the attackers. My Irish was up, you might say."

"Yeah, me too, Leo." ~I like to drive you a little crazy, but the sexy good kind of crazy.~ She smiles softly at her bold reminder of the times he has admitted to her that, she did drive her crazy. She is now stroking the lotion into each finger, in the twisting pattern that he loved her doing last night.

"Yeah, you definitely do that," Leo agrees with this sexy gravely voice and leans forward to steal a kiss. Like the dutiful male he asks the expected question. "So, Baby. What did find at the mall to buy?" He makes sure to not remark that it almost cost them so much more, beyond the monetary amount. She might be afraid that he will comment and they fought enough this afternoon to last them a good long time. He doesn't care if she felt the need was to go and buy a pack of pencils, he's not about to make her cry again. He tilts his head to the side waiting for her to expound on her purchases, the happy way that women like to do. His face brighten up at something he remembers, "Come to think of it, you had a fresh credit card with you," he rolls his eyes in mock horror and she giggles at his antics to put her at ease.

She knows him all too well. She can tell he has no desire to repeat the events from this afternoon. She doesn't either. It's over and done with. She has been rubbing the lotion more firmly into the palm of his hand. She kisses it when she is finished and again curls the hand to hold the kiss in. She wishfully thinks, ~If only a kiss would help to make his hand well. ~

"Well, Leo. I'll confess what I went for, as a practice run for confession on Saturday." He tries to look stern at her, but the corner of his mouth pulling up reassures her. She decides to start with the part he will appreciate best, "Well, I'm sure you'd be interested to hear that on the way out, we did happen to pass by the satin and silk sleep shop."

"What did you find that you liked in there, because I know you just had to go in and look around," he teases her with his question.

"I did happen to find this nice sleep shirt with lots of buttons for you, to use for therapy." She hears him voice a rumble of approval deep in his throat. "I managed to find you some matching lounge pants and of course, I did buy myself some new brightly colored panties that I'm sure you'll appreciate." He leans his head forward a bit, as if he's trying to peek under the tail of her sleep shirt. She bends her head down also to catch his eye, "You did purchase some King size sheets for the daybed, just so you know, Leo, and a thing to go between the mattresses." She smiles knowing he's not going to like the next item he purchased. "The main reason I went was that I wanted to get you some vitamins, which Abby recommended to help your body heal faster."

Leo makes a face at the mention of the vitamins that Josh has been forcing on him this week.

"That's right, Leo. There's something else I need to confess." She doesn't look him in the eye. "The only vitamins that I have in the apartment are my women's vitamins."

"You mean that the two of you, have been giving me girly vitamins the last two days." Leo looks at her in shock, "I might lose the use of my manhood or something. I'll get even with Josh, don't think I won't."

"He doesn't know they're 'girly' vitamins, since I use a generic brand. The bottle doesn't really say," she tries to reassure him.

"Thank you, God," Leo looks at the ceiling in sincere thankfulness. ~That is something that Josh and the others would beat into the ground for a long time. I can just hear Toby now.~

****CRASH*****

"What the HELL is that?" Leo's body jerks at the loud sound, expecting the worst, with the recent events in his life.

Margaret rolls sideways, over onto the mattress and bursts out laughing at the sound from the guestroom. Her panties are now definitely showing, bright pink high cuts, this time he notes smiling.

Leo looks at her like she finally cracked. "What's so funny?"

"Leo, they broke the daybed," Margaret gets out during a breath, between the laughter.

"No! They didn't! Oh shit! Donna will kill him!" Leo looks at the door, as he hears another sound, "Damn, the agents! Margaret, quick, you'd better get under the covers." Leo's taking his own advice and is pulling the sheet over his legs.

They scramble under sheet and are covered just five seconds before the door to the bedroom pops open and the agent finds them laughing, near tears. Leo gets out, that they're fine. Leo stops laughing long enough to get out that the noise came from the guest room. He nods and closes the door. Leo and Margaret know that he is stationed outside the door till the all clear and they listen to the voices from the other side of the apartment. Soon, they hear the front door close and quiet descends on the apartment once again.

Margaret looks at Leo with a smile. "Guess they'd let us know if there is a real problem." She flips the sheet back to uncover them again and goes searching for the lost bottle of lotion. She finds it and decides that it's still warm enough.

Leo's still grinning at her look of triumph in locating it, "Isn't it cold now?"

"I can warm it a little, hang on," she stands straight up in the bed and Leo leans his head sideways a bit to try for a peek under the nightshirt.

Margaret smiles at catching him and pulls the tail of the shirt tight against her thighs in a mock attempt to keep him from seeing.

Leo, shrugs his shoulders, with an impish grin, "It was just a natural, red blooded, male impulse, Margaret. So, shoot me!"

She giggles and walks across the bed and steps off the other side to go into the bathroom and float the lotion again.

"Careful, Margaret!" He was worried that she would fall stepping down from the mattress.

She has a whole other idea for his caution, "I'll try not to break the bed down, Leo." Margaret laughs as she disappears into the bathroom. Leo slowly slides down into the bed as he echoes her laughter.

Leo hears a tap on the door while Margaret is in the bathroom. He glances at the door and softly calls, "Enter."

Josh sticks his head in with the huge grin and scans the room for Margaret's presence.

Leo grins back and quietly assures Josh, "She's in the bathroom."

"Good, I just wanted to let you know that we're OK." Josh says with a huge grin, "Yes, we did break the bed in and down." Josh sounds like he's boasting at the men's club.

Leo smiles back and teases him, "I'm just impressed that Donna didn't kill you for breaking the bed."

"Yeah, damn good thing the agent saved me!" Josh makes it sound like a good thing. "Donna had to duck under the covers. She was half on the bed and half on the floor. She was mortified when the agent came in." Josh grins as he sees the humor in the whole thing. "I'll give him one thing, Leo. He didn't even crack a smile. He was very professional and immediately left the room."

"Bet he enjoys making out his report for Butterfield in the morning," Leo teases Josh with at chuckle, knowing that he may have to request that report.

"Oh, God. Donna will kill me, if the President hears about this at the security briefing." Josh's face does have a truly terrified look on it now.

"Well, I won't tell him and I can send down a suggestion that Ron not bring it up to the President or we can and will grill him again in return." Leo has a satisfied look on his face and he rubs his hands over his ribs. Margaret has not insisted he put the wrap back on yet. He hopes she forgets for one night.

Josh raises his eyebrows at that bit of news, but since his luck has run out for one night, he had better leave well enough alone. "Well, I better get back over to Donna and see if she's speaking to me. I did lock the trundle bed in now, but we're putting a chair under it just in case, but I think the romance is over for tonight. It kind of ruined the mood, if you know what I mean? I imagine that Donna will insist we squeeze onto the daybed together and leave the trundle alone." Josh winks and shuts the door when he hears Margaret approaching from the bathroom.

"OK, Leo, what did he have to say?" Margaret glances at the bedroom door. "I could hear Josh talking in here.

"Oh, just guy talk. They're fine and they have the bed propped up." Leo grins at her. The Sisterhood is not the only group of staffers at the White House that can keep a secret. Leo tries to divert her line of thought, "Now, where were we before the crash and the agent burst into the room again tonight? Oh, just a note. We're going to try to keep this to ourselves and not let the President get wind of it. I'll let Butterfield know."

"OK, Leo. I'll not mention to the President that we had agents in our bedroom two nights in a row. I'm sure Donna doesn't want it spread around either." She smiles a little at the antics that their friends tend to get into. She pops her head up at attention. They listen and can hear laughter from across the apartment. They look happily at each other, knowing that their friends have no hard feelings and they are seeing the fun side of the bed breaking.

Margaret has the warm lotion in her hand, "I need to get your other hand done."

"You're the best, you know that, Margaret." He tells her honestly and holds out his hand at her request.

She blushes a little, "Leo, I'm glad we could put everything behind us today and that we should make a point to never go to bed angry. I need to have you hold me at night to make up for our hard days at work. I don't know what I'd do if we were mad and you didn't hold me."

Leo leans toward her and cups her face with his hand and kisses her softly. "I never want to sleep without you in my arms, either. I love you too much to be angry with you for long. It scares me too much."

She's rubbing the lotion in swirling circles on the back of his hand. Watching the fine hairs make ridges in the wet lotion. "Leo, you never have to be scared of me doing or not doing something. I'll be right here for you every night." She seals her promise with a kiss to his lips.

Leo growls out, "Massage over. I need to get in some serious necking tonight and the night is 'not' getting any younger." He pulls her up to him, which she goes willingly into his arms.

He starts with a passionate kiss and when the need for oxygen is greater than their desire to explore each other's mouths, Leo changes tactics. He then places small kisses to her face and neck. She lifts her chin to allow him better access and moans as he finds a spot, which she finds 'oh so sensitive', as he continues to lick and nibble and to love her. He instinctively rubs his condition against her, sliding satin on satin. He becomes aware of his actions, when he feels her hand slide down between them and she begins stroking the inside of his thigh, enjoying the feel of the hair, while trailing her fingers as she draws her hand up. He can't help but to tense up as she gets near his hip area with each stroke. He can't stop his own hand from gliding down to her silky smooth leg, to caress the inside of her thigh as well. They're both pushing the limits of what they can endure and yet still stay inside the limits that they have agreed to. Leo draws in a cleansing breath and pulls his hand back up to catch her hand and brings them both up to hold between them in front of their rapidly beating hearts. "I love you."

"I love you." They snuggle closer into each other, content and happy to hold each other safe tonight.

*****

TBC with Thursday

We would love it hear your opinion! PLEASE!

chipmunk riley2@bright.net

Lynn lhjessome@yahoo.com