Dirty Dealings
Part 9
It felt good to be home again. She was grateful that no one had been around when she had been dismissed from the hospital. No reporters to ask her intrusive questions she did not feel like answering. That was bound to change when people learned that Lane was alive. After having been over to Leo and Jenny's to see her girls, she now enjoyed some alone time in her own home. When she heard the knock on the door she hoped it wasn't Lane. She had been lucky enough to have missed him when she saw her girls and she did not feel like seeing him now either. As she walked over to the door she wanted it to be Jed behind it, but knew there was a slim chance of that. Therefore, she was happily surprised to see him on the other side.
"Hi."As Abbey immediately greeted him with a hug, he responded. Holding her in his arms he knew he had to talk to her about what he had learned, but he wanted to put it off as long as possible, enjoying the few months of happiness they could grab. "Sorry I haven't called all day. I tried to get away earlier, but just kept getting caught up in stuff that needed my attention."
Abbey drew back. "That's OK. I didn't expect to see you at all today. Want to come in?"
He followed her inside still holding one of her hands in his. "I need to talk to you about something."
Abbey took off his coat. "OK."
He walked into the living room and was soon joined by Abbey. "I know." He said as they both got seated.
Abbey was lost. "You know what?"
"I talked to Leo earlier today." He did not want to have to spell it out for her.
"Oh." She paused for a moment. "At least now you know why he started drinking."
Jed was perplexed, but that only lasted for a second. "No, no. Yes, I know that, too, and if Lane were here, I'd...." He stopped himself as he took Abbey's hands in his. "But what I meant was that Leo told me about Lane and what he did to you in the bedroom."
Abbey drew back her hands in reaction to what he had just said. "Damn it, Leo promised!" She got up and turned away from him. This was the one thing she did not want him to know.
Jed got up after her. "Abbey, please don't shut me out." He put his arms around her waist from behind and felt her shaking a little. "Leo told me because he thought I already knew so do not blame him. I told Leo we had had a serious talk and he misunderstood." He paused as he tightened his grip a little. "I wish you had told me. You know you can trust me, don't you?"
She turned to face him as his arms stayed around her waist. "I do trust you. It's just it's so humiliating and the things he did."
"Wait, the 'things'?" Jed suddenly felt shivers throughout his own body.
Abbey was puzzled. "What exactly did Leo tell you?"
"He told me that sometimes Lane would force himself inside you when you...." Jed stopped, knowing she would understand what he meant.
"Oh."
"Abbey, what did he do to you?" After everything he had heard about Lane he was not sure he could take anymore, but for Abbey's sake he had to. She had to know he would always be there for her.
She freed herself from Jed and sat back down on the couch, seeing that Jed did the same. "Sometimes he would surprise me, coming up from behind with a rope or cord to tie my hands...." Abbey started, knowing it was now or never.
Jed swallowed. This was starting to sound more awful than he could have ever imagined. He covered one of Abbey's hands with one of his and lightly patted it for support.
"He would sit me on the bed, then he would blindfold and gag me. It turned him on to know I was helpless." She looked down, not daring to look into Jed's eyes. "Sometimes he would bring out a knife........
Jed could not believe this. It really was more terrible than anything he had ever conjured up in his mind. He inched closer to her, put an arm around her and drew her closer to him.
"..and he would make sure I felt it. He would lightly touch my breasts with it or my stomach or wherever he felt like it. Sometimes I really thought he would..." She buried her face in Jed's chest, not able to handle the memories. She could still feel the blade of the knife against her skin as she talked about it.
Jed wrapped his arms around her as he felt her shaking as she cried. He fought not to cry as well since he wanted to be strong for Abbey. He kissed her head as he rocked her slightly while getting his rage against Lane under control.
Abbey drew back and looked away from him.
"Hey....." With one hand he guided her face back so she looked at him.
She could barely look at him but forced herself to do so. "You must think I'm so pathetic."
Jed's heart sank at her words. "What, no! Why would I think that?"
"I didn't leave. I stayed with him. Even after all he did, I stayed."
Jed drew her back into his arms. "No, no, I would never think that. You're one of the strongest people I know."
"I am?" She did not hide the surprise at hearing him say that.
"Yes, only a very strong person could live with what he did and to then proceed to raise two wonderful children and still be this incredible woman I fell in love with."
Abbey leaned her head so she saw his face. "You really think that?" She shouldn't have doubted it since she saw it in his features. All the love and admiration was still there.
He stroked her tearstained cheek. "Yes." The small smile that she gave him warmed him like nothing else could.
------
Jed walked upstairs to check on Abbey. It had been two hours since they talked and for the last fifteen minutes she had been in her bedroom. It was getting late, but he had talked to his agents about staying and he hoped Abbey would be OK with that. As he entered her bedroom he saw why she had not come back downstairs, as she had fallen asleep on the bed. He walked over and was simply enchanted by how peaceful she looked. Not wanting to disturb her, he decided to go downstairs again, but was stopped when he suddenly heard something.
"No.."
He turned back to Abbey and saw her shift a little. He wondered if she was awake. "Don't.. please.."
He still wasn't sure if she was awake since he couldn't see her face.
"Lane, please...."
Jed cringed at her words. It was with that name he realized she was still sleeping and having a nightmare. Carefully he lay down beside her on the bed and wrapped his arms around her. When she struggled against him he leaned closer and whispered in her ear. "It's Jed, Abbey, it's Jed. It's OK, baby, I've got you." He felt her relax but just a little so he kept talking. "I'm here, I'm here. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you." He felt her relax even more as he kissed her cheek. "You're safe now. You're safe." He settled in comfortably and decided to stay with her just like that for the rest of the night.
------
Jed balanced the tray as he quietly made his way over to the bed. Soon he was just a few inches from her. "Abbey..." He whispered. When he received no response he tried again slightly louder. "Abbey.."
Abbey stirred, responding to his voice. She opened her eyes and saw Jed smiling down at her.
"Morning, beautiful."
Noticing the tray in his hands she slowly sat up. "What's this?"
"Coffee, juice and sandwiches. It's all I can do I'm afraid." He put the tray on the small table beside the bed.
"It's all I need." She took one of the sandwiches as Jed sat down beside her. "Aren't you needed back at The White House?"
"I have about an hour. I talked to Leo and he's taking care of some things for me." He poured some coffee for her and himself. "You're OK?"
"Yeah, why?" She took a sip of coffee when Jed had handed her a cup.
"You had nightmares last night...about Lane." He gazed at her over the coffee cup he brought to his lips.
"Oh, I haven't had nightmares about that for a long time." She took a bite of her sandwich.
He sighed as he lowered his cup. "Not until I brought it up."
"It's OK; besides you made up for it." When she saw the confused look on his face, she continued. "I awoke last night and found a certain someone had fallen asleep with his arms around me. I have to say it was very nice."
Jed grinned as he took another sip of coffee. "I do try."
Abbey put her cup down along with the rest of her sandwich. "Listen, I don't want you to think that you have to make up for the terrible things that Lane did to me."
He glanced back at her. "I'm not thinking that."
His response came a bit too quickly. "Maybe not now but you have thought of it."
He sighed. "Yeah, yes I have. I just wish I could erase all the memories of what Lane ever did to you." He covered one of her hands with his free hand. "I want you to be happy."
"I am happy." She covered his hand with her other hand. "You make me happy." She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on his lips. "So, can I ask you a personal question?" She drew back and leaned against the headboard of her bed.
"You can ask me anything you want."
"How come you don't have any children? I can see you love kids and so I wondered..." She stopped when she was the smile vanish from his face. "I'm sorry, shouldn't have asked."
"No, it's fine. It's one of the few things the public doesn't know about me." He put his cup back on the tray. "There is a simple reason why I don't have children. That is because I can't have any. Low sperm count I was told."
Abbey did not say anything. She straightened and took his hands in hers. "I'm sorry."
He shrugged. "It's alright. It used to be harder when I was young but now, I've resigned to the fact that I'm never going to be a father and that's OK. I have my niece and nephew and Leo's daughter, Mallory, has always seemed like my own."
Even though he tried to brush it off, Abbey could see it still pained him a great deal. "And you have Laurie and Leah. They adore you." She so wanted to make him feel better and when his lips formed a smile, she felt she had succeeded with that even if just a little.
"And I adore them." In truth those two girls and Abbey had become the family he never had but he did not feel like saying that, especially not now. Not when their father was back. Thinking of Lane made his stomach turn. "Abbey, about what Lane did to you? You do believe me when I say it doesn't change my opinion of you, right?"
If Abbey had any doubt before then looking into his warm blue eyes made all those worries disappear. "I believe you." She leaned closer and wrapped her arms around him. "You said you have an hour, right? And I'm sure Leo's very capable if say you were a little longer." She started kissing his neck, but for some reason he would not respond.
He enjoyed the touch of her lips to his neck, but it was not quite right.
She drew back and started to get up from the bed. "I knew it!"
"Abbey, wait." He stopped her from being able to leave.
"It does matter, doesn't it? You just lied when you said it didn't." She wanted to leave, but he had a firm although gentle grip on her arms.
"No, I did not lie. Nothing could ever change my opinion of you. I just want to make sure you're OK with this...." He gestured at the bed.
"It did not happen yesterday." She shot back.
"No, but you just relived it yesterday and last night." He reached out and stroked one of her cheeks.
Abbey was touched by his concern and understanding replaced her anger she had felt only moments ago. "I'm fine. Really, I am." She moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around him again, as she felt his arms around her. Instead of kissing his neck this time she went for his lips, kissing him passionately.
He returned her kisses and soon he was undressing her as she was undressing him. As the last fabric left her body he took in her features. "God, you're beautiful."
She drew him over her. His face was now almost touching hers. "And you, Mr. President, are incredibly handsome."
------
About an hour later Jed finished getting dressed. "I have to go now. I don't want to, but I have to." He bent down and gave her one last kiss before departing.
"Yeah, I should get ready. The kids should be home in an hour or two." She sat up as he started for the door. "Jed?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
He smiled at her as he opened the bedroom door. "And I love you." He took in the image of her before moving through the door.
The phone rang as she saw Jed disappear and she reached out to take the receiver. "Hello...oh, Lane."
Still close enough to hear, Jed stopped in his tracks and quietly took a few steps back to the door, not wanting to eavesdrop, but wanting to be close if Abbey should need him.
Abbey rose and tightened her grip on the receiver. "What exactly are you telling me?"
Jed could hear her tone harden. He pushed open the door a little and saw her naked back but could not see her face.
Abbey felt like screaming, but composed herself. "No way in hell am I going to let you do that!"
Jed did not like the tone of her voice and wondered just what Lane was up to now. Had he not done enough damage?
"I don't give....!" Abbey fought to keep herself calm, but was beginning to lose control. "NO! That will never happen!"
Jed stepped inside. He could tell whatever it was it was beyond bad and he wanted to be there for Abbey.
Abbey was losing it. "You had this planned all along, didn't you? Lane? Lane?...." She slammed down the receiver and could not stop the tears when they came.
Jed couldn't bear the sight of her crying uncontrollably and hurried over to her. As he reached her she tried jerking away from him, but he drew her into his arms. "It's me." As soon as she heard his voice she settled into his arms and continued to cry.
TBC......