Dirty Dealings
Part 4
Ron Butterfield stood before the President, having reported to him after he talked with Leo and Jenny. "A lot of my training as an agent dealt with learning how to question people, sir. I learned how to tell who was telling the truth. I know when people are playing me. I know when their lying to me to advance their own agenda or to protect themselves. I know how to look for a threat. I know the red flags to look for and I didn't find any here. I believe every word Leo McGarry told me." Ron gave a nod.
"Why would he do that, Ron? Why wouldn't he tell us Lane was alive? His brother is dangerous. Look what he did to Abbey." Jed was looking for answers to satisfy himself.
Ron spoke with confidence. "His brother told him that if he talked he would kill you and Ms. McGarry. Mr. McGarry truly believed that staying quiet was the only way you both could be protected. No matter how misguided he was, he did it out of fear for your safety."
"Surely Leo had to remember that I have secret service protection and that it could be extended to Abbey and him for that matter. I mean YOU are the most highly trained security agents in the world and you have guns. He had to know that you could protect better if you were informed." His voice showed his disbelief.
"Sir, when Mr. McGarry talked about what his brother told him, he used very specific language. He said, 'If I disobeyed Lane, I knew there would be consequences.' He didn't say 'if I didn't do what Lane told me to do' or 'if I didn't do what Lane asked me to do,' he said 'if I disobeyed Lane.' That tells me he views Lane as an authority figure. There's no question in his mind that he'll be punished if he doesn't do exactly what Lane says. He's afraid of his brother and I feel it's probably with good reason." Ron paused to let what he was saying sink in to the President.
"I want a team of agents assigned to Abbey and to the girls," Jed instructed. "And I want protection for Leo and Jenny."
"It's not that simple, sir," replied Ron. "Mr. McGarry has already refused protection for himself."
"I'll talk to Leo, Ron. Just pick up that maniac for what he did to Abbey." Jed started to leave.
"Sir, we can question him, but we have no proof of what he did to Ms. McGarry unless she can tell us something." Ron waited for the President's anger.
"We KNOW he did it. Leo told you, right?" Jed asked.
"Mr. McGarry told me his brother asked him to get an ambulance, but that's it. He said his brother denied that he did anything. We have a team searching the crime scene. We'll see what turns up." Ron grimaced as the the President snorted fire and continued on his way. He spoke into his wrist mike. "I need six more agents here immediately."
Leo sat listlessly on the couch, elbows on his knees, staring at his coffee cup which he was gripping tightly with both hands. Jenny hovered protectively nearby, sipping from her own coffee and watching her husband.
"I could sure use some coffee." Jenny and Leo both looked up to find Jed Bartlet standing in front of them.
"I'll get you some." Jenny moved passed Jed, placing her hand on his arm for just a moment.
Jed took a seat opposite Leo. "How could you let this happen, Leo?"
"I'm sorry, sir." Leo looked up.
Jed blew out a breath. "I don't want you to ever be sorry for protecting, Leo, but you have to think. You can't keep anything bad from ever touching me. And you can't keep it from touching Abbey or the girls or Jenny."
"He said he'd kill Abbey and you." Leo looked helpless.
"He played on your need to protect us, Leo. He knew just what to say to scare you to death and to lead you into doing what he wanted." Jed sighed. "You have to be smarter than him. No matter how much you bargain with him and no matter what promises he makes you, he can't be trusted. You have to trust me, Leo. Trust that I can take care of myself and Abbey at least a little bit. Can you do that for me? Will you promise me that you won't keep things from me ever again even if you think it is for my own good?"
Leo stood up and turned to the window.
"You're not going to promise me, are you? Because you know in your heart that if the same thing happened tomorrow, that you'd make a deal with the devil to keep us safe." Jed was awed by this staggering realization. "Didn't what happened to Abbey prove anything to you?"
"I'll try," Leo said, turning to face Jed. "Sir, do you...are you..." Leo trailed off.
"Do I hate you? Am I still angry with you?" Jed asked. "Yes, I'm still angry with you. You could have prevented this from happening to Abbey by just telling me what was going on. And although I'm beginning to understand why you did what you did, I can't just forget it, Leo. But do I hate you?" Jed shook his head. "No...I could never hate my brother."
Leo looked very emotional. "Why not? I hate mine."
Jed didn't know how to respond to that as he crossed the space between them and hugged him tightly. "You can't do this alone anymore. We have to work together. That's another reason you have to trust me. I know a little of what you've seen at the hands of your brother, but I want you to know he won't hurt you again; I'll see to that."
"No one can be protected from Lane," Leo disagreed. "You don't know what he's capable of."
Jed pulled back to see Leo's face. "You listen to me. I will protect you. You DON'T have to do what he says to protect the people you love. I WILL NOT let him hurt you or anyone else. Do you hear me?"
"I know you want to believe that," Leo said with a hint of anger. "But you can't stop him. After all he's done to Abbey and to me..."
The statement scared Jed. "All he's done to Abbey?" He grabbed his arm when Leo started to turn away. "I want to hear every detail of what he's done to both of you."
Leo avoided the President's question. "I have to tell Abbey he's alive."
Seeing that he would have to work to get the past out of Leo, Jed focused on the next step. "You're right. You have to tell Abbey and Leo, I can't be there for you. I have to be there for her. She might be angry and I have to let her know it's okay for her to be angry. Do you understand me?"
Leo nodded. "I know. Abbey needs your support. She needs someone she can trust right now."
"She can trust you, too." Jed nodded his head. "Abbey once told me that no matter how Leo screwed up, she always knew he had her in his heart. I believe that, too, Leo. That's why I know I can trust you."
"I would never do anything to hurt you or Abbey."
"I know you wouldn't, not intentionally." Jed looked him in the eye. "Please, Leo, tell me everything you know."
Jed and Leo moved to sit on the couch.
"Lane called me and told me Abbey had been hurt and that I needed to call an ambulance."
"You are sure Lane hit Abbey?" Jed asked.
"He didn't say that, but that had to have been what happened," Leo answered.
"We need proof. He can't be charged without it." Jed thought for a moment. "Did he say anything to you that could help us prove he hurt Abbey?"
Leo shook his head. "I'm sorry."
"Why would he come back, Leo? What does he want?" He paused, hating to ask his next question. "Does he still love Abbey? Does he want her back?"
"No!" Leo emphatically assured Jed that Lane was not out to win Abbey back.
"Then what, Leo? Does he just want to hurt us?" Jed was trying to understand it all. "Has he given you any indication as to what his plans are?"
Leo hesitated. "He wants..."
Jed's eyes narrowed and he gasped. "He wants the girls? Laurie and Leah?"
Leo whispered. "He said they were his children and he wouldn't have them raised by a murderer and an adulteress and a..."
Jed became furious and he got up and started pacing. "He's never getting his hands on Abbey's children. I'll kill him first..."
Returning, Jenny handed the President his coffee. "Jed, we're a family. No one is taking the girls anywhere." She became quiet as she caught sight of the doctor approaching.
Abbey struggled to sit up and after a few failed attempts finally managed to sit straight with a pillow behind her back. Her head made the worst hang over she had ever had seem like a breeze. She tried focusing on what had happened. It was fuzzy, but she had to remember. She thought she had heard noises and then, then... Lane? No, her mind was playing tricks on her.
Jed opened the door in haste, expecting her to be upset, but he saw Abbey smiling at him. She was still a little pale, but at least it wouldn't last for long. "Hi"
She was glad to see him. "Hey."
He approached her and kissed her cheek, taking one of her hands in his. "You scared me." Still holding her hand, he sat down on the chair next to the bed.
"It wasn't fun for me either." She saw Jenny and Leo still standing in the doorway. "Come on in, guys."
Jenny had to give Leo a small nudge to make him move. "How are you feeling?"
Abbey gently touched the bandage on her head. "Oh, head hurts, but I'm going to be fine the doctors say."
"Thank God for that." Jed took the hand he was holding and kissed it.
"Leah and Laurie are being taken care of so don't worry about them." Jenny offered as she touched Abbey's arm lightly.
Abbey smiled up at Jenny, but had noted Leo's somber face and the fact he had not said one word to her. "Leo? Is something wrong?" At that she noticed Jed's face hardening a bit and Jenny looking over to Leo. "What's going on?"
"Jenny?" Leo didn't want Jenny to have to be here for this. She had been such a stellar of support for him and he knew things would get ugly, so it was his way of asking his wife to leave.
"I'll talk to you later." Jenny patted Abbey's arm lightly and turned to leave.
Abbey didn't know what to make of this behaviour. "OK, what's going on?"
"Abbey, who did this to you?" Leo needed something to start with and that was as good as anything.
Jed eyed her carefully.
"I don't know." Abbey tried to remember. "I didn't see who hit me, but......
"But what?" Jed inched closer to her, still holding her hand while his other hand moved to her arm.
"I.. I don't know. When I was on the kitchen floor I regained consciousness for a few seconds and I thought, this is going to sound ridiculous, but I thought I saw Lane." Abbey shook her head and looked down. She didn't see the look of anger Jed gave Leo or the look of guilt that passed over Leo's features. Abbey raised her head back up. "I didn't see who hit me, I really didn't."
Leo took a deep breath. If he didn't tell her now Jed would make sure he did. "Abbey, there is something you need to know and I pray to God you will not hate me for keeping this from you."
Abbey felt Jed starting to stroke her arm. "What is it?"
He took another deep breath. "I do believe you when you say you saw Lane."
Abbey let out a small laugh. "How could you? He's dead."
Jed bit back a reply.
"No, Abbey, Lane is not dead." He saw the expression on her face. He saw how she tried to understand what he was saying. "Lane bribed and threatened the right people and they concealed from you, me and everyone that he did not, in fact, die that night."
Jed had not taken his eyes off Abbey and didn't let go of her hand as she took this new information all in. If it was possible, she looked even more white now than she had when he came in. "Abbey?" When she didn't respond or even flinch, he got worried.
"Abbey?" Leo approached, but didn't dare get too close. Her reaction worried him. He figured she would get angry and demand answers. This was not the way he had anticipated her reaction at all. He looked over and saw that Jed was as alarmed as he was.
Jed squeezed Abbey's hand. "Abbey?" Now he was beyond worried. "Leo, get a nurse."
Leo nodded and quickly headed for the door.
"NO!"
TBC..................
Part 4
Ron Butterfield stood before the President, having reported to him after he talked with Leo and Jenny. "A lot of my training as an agent dealt with learning how to question people, sir. I learned how to tell who was telling the truth. I know when people are playing me. I know when their lying to me to advance their own agenda or to protect themselves. I know how to look for a threat. I know the red flags to look for and I didn't find any here. I believe every word Leo McGarry told me." Ron gave a nod.
"Why would he do that, Ron? Why wouldn't he tell us Lane was alive? His brother is dangerous. Look what he did to Abbey." Jed was looking for answers to satisfy himself.
Ron spoke with confidence. "His brother told him that if he talked he would kill you and Ms. McGarry. Mr. McGarry truly believed that staying quiet was the only way you both could be protected. No matter how misguided he was, he did it out of fear for your safety."
"Surely Leo had to remember that I have secret service protection and that it could be extended to Abbey and him for that matter. I mean YOU are the most highly trained security agents in the world and you have guns. He had to know that you could protect better if you were informed." His voice showed his disbelief.
"Sir, when Mr. McGarry talked about what his brother told him, he used very specific language. He said, 'If I disobeyed Lane, I knew there would be consequences.' He didn't say 'if I didn't do what Lane told me to do' or 'if I didn't do what Lane asked me to do,' he said 'if I disobeyed Lane.' That tells me he views Lane as an authority figure. There's no question in his mind that he'll be punished if he doesn't do exactly what Lane says. He's afraid of his brother and I feel it's probably with good reason." Ron paused to let what he was saying sink in to the President.
"I want a team of agents assigned to Abbey and to the girls," Jed instructed. "And I want protection for Leo and Jenny."
"It's not that simple, sir," replied Ron. "Mr. McGarry has already refused protection for himself."
"I'll talk to Leo, Ron. Just pick up that maniac for what he did to Abbey." Jed started to leave.
"Sir, we can question him, but we have no proof of what he did to Ms. McGarry unless she can tell us something." Ron waited for the President's anger.
"We KNOW he did it. Leo told you, right?" Jed asked.
"Mr. McGarry told me his brother asked him to get an ambulance, but that's it. He said his brother denied that he did anything. We have a team searching the crime scene. We'll see what turns up." Ron grimaced as the the President snorted fire and continued on his way. He spoke into his wrist mike. "I need six more agents here immediately."
Leo sat listlessly on the couch, elbows on his knees, staring at his coffee cup which he was gripping tightly with both hands. Jenny hovered protectively nearby, sipping from her own coffee and watching her husband.
"I could sure use some coffee." Jenny and Leo both looked up to find Jed Bartlet standing in front of them.
"I'll get you some." Jenny moved passed Jed, placing her hand on his arm for just a moment.
Jed took a seat opposite Leo. "How could you let this happen, Leo?"
"I'm sorry, sir." Leo looked up.
Jed blew out a breath. "I don't want you to ever be sorry for protecting, Leo, but you have to think. You can't keep anything bad from ever touching me. And you can't keep it from touching Abbey or the girls or Jenny."
"He said he'd kill Abbey and you." Leo looked helpless.
"He played on your need to protect us, Leo. He knew just what to say to scare you to death and to lead you into doing what he wanted." Jed sighed. "You have to be smarter than him. No matter how much you bargain with him and no matter what promises he makes you, he can't be trusted. You have to trust me, Leo. Trust that I can take care of myself and Abbey at least a little bit. Can you do that for me? Will you promise me that you won't keep things from me ever again even if you think it is for my own good?"
Leo stood up and turned to the window.
"You're not going to promise me, are you? Because you know in your heart that if the same thing happened tomorrow, that you'd make a deal with the devil to keep us safe." Jed was awed by this staggering realization. "Didn't what happened to Abbey prove anything to you?"
"I'll try," Leo said, turning to face Jed. "Sir, do you...are you..." Leo trailed off.
"Do I hate you? Am I still angry with you?" Jed asked. "Yes, I'm still angry with you. You could have prevented this from happening to Abbey by just telling me what was going on. And although I'm beginning to understand why you did what you did, I can't just forget it, Leo. But do I hate you?" Jed shook his head. "No...I could never hate my brother."
Leo looked very emotional. "Why not? I hate mine."
Jed didn't know how to respond to that as he crossed the space between them and hugged him tightly. "You can't do this alone anymore. We have to work together. That's another reason you have to trust me. I know a little of what you've seen at the hands of your brother, but I want you to know he won't hurt you again; I'll see to that."
"No one can be protected from Lane," Leo disagreed. "You don't know what he's capable of."
Jed pulled back to see Leo's face. "You listen to me. I will protect you. You DON'T have to do what he says to protect the people you love. I WILL NOT let him hurt you or anyone else. Do you hear me?"
"I know you want to believe that," Leo said with a hint of anger. "But you can't stop him. After all he's done to Abbey and to me..."
The statement scared Jed. "All he's done to Abbey?" He grabbed his arm when Leo started to turn away. "I want to hear every detail of what he's done to both of you."
Leo avoided the President's question. "I have to tell Abbey he's alive."
Seeing that he would have to work to get the past out of Leo, Jed focused on the next step. "You're right. You have to tell Abbey and Leo, I can't be there for you. I have to be there for her. She might be angry and I have to let her know it's okay for her to be angry. Do you understand me?"
Leo nodded. "I know. Abbey needs your support. She needs someone she can trust right now."
"She can trust you, too." Jed nodded his head. "Abbey once told me that no matter how Leo screwed up, she always knew he had her in his heart. I believe that, too, Leo. That's why I know I can trust you."
"I would never do anything to hurt you or Abbey."
"I know you wouldn't, not intentionally." Jed looked him in the eye. "Please, Leo, tell me everything you know."
Jed and Leo moved to sit on the couch.
"Lane called me and told me Abbey had been hurt and that I needed to call an ambulance."
"You are sure Lane hit Abbey?" Jed asked.
"He didn't say that, but that had to have been what happened," Leo answered.
"We need proof. He can't be charged without it." Jed thought for a moment. "Did he say anything to you that could help us prove he hurt Abbey?"
Leo shook his head. "I'm sorry."
"Why would he come back, Leo? What does he want?" He paused, hating to ask his next question. "Does he still love Abbey? Does he want her back?"
"No!" Leo emphatically assured Jed that Lane was not out to win Abbey back.
"Then what, Leo? Does he just want to hurt us?" Jed was trying to understand it all. "Has he given you any indication as to what his plans are?"
Leo hesitated. "He wants..."
Jed's eyes narrowed and he gasped. "He wants the girls? Laurie and Leah?"
Leo whispered. "He said they were his children and he wouldn't have them raised by a murderer and an adulteress and a..."
Jed became furious and he got up and started pacing. "He's never getting his hands on Abbey's children. I'll kill him first..."
Returning, Jenny handed the President his coffee. "Jed, we're a family. No one is taking the girls anywhere." She became quiet as she caught sight of the doctor approaching.
Abbey struggled to sit up and after a few failed attempts finally managed to sit straight with a pillow behind her back. Her head made the worst hang over she had ever had seem like a breeze. She tried focusing on what had happened. It was fuzzy, but she had to remember. She thought she had heard noises and then, then... Lane? No, her mind was playing tricks on her.
Jed opened the door in haste, expecting her to be upset, but he saw Abbey smiling at him. She was still a little pale, but at least it wouldn't last for long. "Hi"
She was glad to see him. "Hey."
He approached her and kissed her cheek, taking one of her hands in his. "You scared me." Still holding her hand, he sat down on the chair next to the bed.
"It wasn't fun for me either." She saw Jenny and Leo still standing in the doorway. "Come on in, guys."
Jenny had to give Leo a small nudge to make him move. "How are you feeling?"
Abbey gently touched the bandage on her head. "Oh, head hurts, but I'm going to be fine the doctors say."
"Thank God for that." Jed took the hand he was holding and kissed it.
"Leah and Laurie are being taken care of so don't worry about them." Jenny offered as she touched Abbey's arm lightly.
Abbey smiled up at Jenny, but had noted Leo's somber face and the fact he had not said one word to her. "Leo? Is something wrong?" At that she noticed Jed's face hardening a bit and Jenny looking over to Leo. "What's going on?"
"Jenny?" Leo didn't want Jenny to have to be here for this. She had been such a stellar of support for him and he knew things would get ugly, so it was his way of asking his wife to leave.
"I'll talk to you later." Jenny patted Abbey's arm lightly and turned to leave.
Abbey didn't know what to make of this behaviour. "OK, what's going on?"
"Abbey, who did this to you?" Leo needed something to start with and that was as good as anything.
Jed eyed her carefully.
"I don't know." Abbey tried to remember. "I didn't see who hit me, but......
"But what?" Jed inched closer to her, still holding her hand while his other hand moved to her arm.
"I.. I don't know. When I was on the kitchen floor I regained consciousness for a few seconds and I thought, this is going to sound ridiculous, but I thought I saw Lane." Abbey shook her head and looked down. She didn't see the look of anger Jed gave Leo or the look of guilt that passed over Leo's features. Abbey raised her head back up. "I didn't see who hit me, I really didn't."
Leo took a deep breath. If he didn't tell her now Jed would make sure he did. "Abbey, there is something you need to know and I pray to God you will not hate me for keeping this from you."
Abbey felt Jed starting to stroke her arm. "What is it?"
He took another deep breath. "I do believe you when you say you saw Lane."
Abbey let out a small laugh. "How could you? He's dead."
Jed bit back a reply.
"No, Abbey, Lane is not dead." He saw the expression on her face. He saw how she tried to understand what he was saying. "Lane bribed and threatened the right people and they concealed from you, me and everyone that he did not, in fact, die that night."
Jed had not taken his eyes off Abbey and didn't let go of her hand as she took this new information all in. If it was possible, she looked even more white now than she had when he came in. "Abbey?" When she didn't respond or even flinch, he got worried.
"Abbey?" Leo approached, but didn't dare get too close. Her reaction worried him. He figured she would get angry and demand answers. This was not the way he had anticipated her reaction at all. He looked over and saw that Jed was as alarmed as he was.
Jed squeezed Abbey's hand. "Abbey?" Now he was beyond worried. "Leo, get a nurse."
Leo nodded and quickly headed for the door.
"NO!"
TBC..................