Part 13

The President took a deep breath. He had started something he had not meant to. Why had he made such an offhanded remark? "Leo, listen to me."

"There's the door." Leo nodded to it with his head.

Jed took a step forward. "Leo, stop it. I want us to talk about this."

"Talk about it? You think I need reminding of how to take care of Leah and Laurie?"

"You know that's not what I meant and I'm not leaving here until we talk about this." The President advanced another step, thinking that close contact might calm Leo down. He opened his mouth to try and salvage what he could of this situation, but before he could get out one word, he was interrupted.

"What's going on here?" A voice of steel spoke from the door. Both men turned to see Lane who came parading into the room. "Don't speak at once." Lane took a good look at Leo and then focused on Jed. "What did you do to my little brother?"

"I'm fine, Lane. Stay out of this. What are you doing back here anyway?"

"I recognize that look, Leo, when you're feeling backed into a corner." His eyes narrowed. "I think the question is what he is doing here." Then he aimed a question directly at Jed. "Could it be that you're trying to move in on my family while Abbey is missing?"

"Lane, just go." Leo sounded extremely tense.

"Fine, I just need to get my forgotten briefcase. I have no problem leaving, Leo, because I trust you completely with my girls." With that Lane picked up his briefcase. "See you later, Mr. President." He passed close to Jed and out the door.

"Will you listen to me?" The President tried to appeal to the closeness he shared with Leo, closeness that gave them great leeway with how they could treat each other.

"You just won't leave it alone." Leo spoke wearily. "And it's getting more frequent. Yesterday you acted like I was trying to keep Lane's location a secret from you and today you act like I might allow Lane to take the girls."

"You did keep Lane a secret from us. Abbey got hurt because of it."

"And you're never going to let me forget that, are you?"

"I just want to make sure you never forget what your brother is capable of. He threatened to kill Abbey and me and kept you quiet once before."

"Well, I'm not quiet now! I'll tell you anything you want to know. Go ahead, ask me!"

"Leo." Jed spoke like he knew the conversation was getting out of hand. That was the last thing he wanted. It was just so easy to lash out; it felt so good to be able to channel his anger.

"No, why do you try to make me out to be the enemy?"

"That's not my intention, Leo."

"I love those girls like they were my own daughters. I would jump in front of a speeding train for them. I do everything in my power to..."

The President sighed. "I know, Leo."

"Then why?"

"I don't mean to. I'm just scared I'm never going to see Abbey again. I love her, Leo, and those girls, I promised them their mother. What if I can't deliver? What if I can't bring their mother home? What if we don't find Abbey?" Jed leaned forward to hug Leo, but Leo resisted, so he didn't push it.

Holding onto his own anger, Leo wanted answers. "What did you come here for?"

Jed sighed. "I wanted to talk to you and Jenny about something. The Secret Service wants to talk to the girls. It doesn't look like Lane has Abbey and we have to start looking at other suspects. The girls might know something."

"No." Leo went back across the room to continue cleaning up the flowers. "That'll scare them. What are they going to ask them? Do you know who took your Mommy?"

"Leo, I know you and I are not on the best of terms right now. And I accept most of the responsibility for that. I've alienated my best friend. But don't let your anger at me keep us from finding Abbey. You can lash out at me like I've been lashing out at you, but don't cut us off from any source that might give us information about Abbey."

"No, the girls aren't going to be put through that. Abbey would not want it."

"Leo, why don't we get Jenny in here and talk about this."

"There's nothing to talk about. Jenny agrees with me."

"What do I agree with you on?" Jenny had come back from the kitchen to ensure things were going all right.

"The Secret Service want to talk with Laurie and Leah about what they know about Abbey. They might be able to help us find out what happened. They may know something that means nothing to them, but would mean everything to a trained investigator." The President looked to Jenny for help.

Before Jenny could speak, Leo repeated himself. "No, they've been through enough."

Jenny moved to Leo's side and slipped her arm around him. "Jed, why don't you give us a few minutes. Leah could use some help with the milk."

------

"Hey, did you guys save some cookies for me?" Jenny questioned playfully as she returned to the kitchen and sat down next to Leah who was putting the last of a peanut butter cookie in her mouth.

"There's some oatmeal raisin left. Only Uncle Leo likes those." Leah smiled. "I guess we'll have to make some more peanut butter and chocolate chip."

"You think so, huh?" Jenny teased, glancing up to find Jed's eyes on her. "Girls...why don't you go play with the dogs a few minutes. Uncle Leo has them in the backyard."

"Is this about our Mom?" Laurie stayed fixed in her chair.

"Honey, I just want to talk to Jed for a few minutes. We've told you everything we know about your Mom."

Laurie looked from Jenny to Jed and back. "Then why can't we stay?"

"Because I asked you to play outside for a few minutes."

Laurie accepted the tone in Jenny's voice and followed Leah who had grabbed the dogs' favourite ball.

"Did you get through to him?" Jed spoke as soon as the door closed.

"Give Ron a call. Tell him to come here. Leo's telling the girls about it now."

"Thanks, Jen."

"Don't thank me. Leo's right; it will be very scary for them. I only cajoled Leo into allowing this because I'm afraid time is running out for Abbey."

Jed hoped to God Jenny was wrong.

------

"Hi, Leah, Laurie. I'm Ron Butterfield. I'm in charge of protecting the President."

"Hi." Laurie shook hands with Ron as Leah shifted on Leo's lap but said nothing.

"I was wondering if it would be okay if I asked you a few questions."

Laurie looked to Leo who nodded. "It's okay to tell him anything you know."

Jed, who was seated on the couch next to Jenny, spoke up. "Honey, it's so important that you tell us everything you can remember."

Ron asked a series of questions that led the girls through what had happened in the days leading up to Abbey's disappearance. Laurie did most of the talking with Leah only giving a soft 'yes' several times. Finally Ron got to one of the questions he considered to be most important. "Girls, do you know anyone who doesn't like your Mom, someone who might be mad at her?"

Jenny saw Leo tense at the question, but resisted the urge to move beside him. She feared that if the question upset the girls in any way that Leo would end the interview.

"Have you talked to our father? He gets mad at Mom a lot." Laurie froze every adult in the room.

"You think Daddy took Mommy away?" Leah's voice caused everyone to jump. She sat up straight on Leo's lap. "Daddy loves us. He wouldn't hurt Mommy." Then she turned on Leo. "Uncle Leo, tell them! Daddy didn't do it!"

Leo swallowed hard and looked at Ron, barely nodding his head, hoping that this would stop.

Leah wasn't buying it. She got angrier, her voice rising at Leo. "Daddy wouldn't hurt anyone. Tell them that!"

"Lane didn't do it." Leo forced out the words, stood up still holding Leah and disappeared down the hall.

Jed moved forward like he might be going to follow, but he felt Jenny's hand on his arm. "Just let them have a minute."

Ron finished up his last few questions to Laurie, thanked everyone and left to process the information he had received.

"Laurie, why don't you go see if Leah wants to play a game or something. You know she likes to draw. I put Pictionary Jr. on the dresser in your bedroom."

"I'll take care of her, Aunt Jenny," Laurie said, moving off to look for Leah and Leo.

"Should I find him?" Jed wanted to know what Jenny thought best. The last thing he wanted was more tension between him and Leo.

"I'd just let him have some time." Jenny walked the President to the door. "I'm going to get them all some lunch and then I'll scoot Leo off to The White House."

"Thanks, Jen..." The President met her eyes. "For everything."

------

Jed closed the door behind him as he entered the Oval Office. He wasn't sure what Ron thought, but he didn't think the girls had given them anything that they didn't already know. He had never felt so helpless in his life. They were not any closer to finding Abbey and as he had been told, she could be anywhere. He took off his jacket and threw it on the sofa. Taking out his anger on Leo was the worst thing he could have done, but he had done it anyway. Jed felt like an idiot. His thoughts were interrupted, as he heard the telephone. Now what? He picked it up, hoping whoever was on the other line would make it quick. "Bartlet."

"Jed!"

His head snapped up, as he heard her voice. "Abbey?" He held the receiver as if that would bring him closer to her. "Abbey, where are you?"

"I don't know. It all happened so fast. I thought about calling Leo, but then what if one of the girls answered and I just..."

He could hear how scared she was and wished he was right there next to her. He covered the mouthpiece with one hand and yelled like he had never yelled in his life. "CHARLIE!" Then he focused all his attention on Abbey. "I'm right here, babe. I'm right here. We are going to find you. Just hold on." As Charlie entered Jed covered the mouthpiece once again. "It's Abbey. I want a trace on this call. NOW!" As Charlie left, Jed could hear Abbey starting to talk to him again.

"She's crazy, Jed."

Jed tried to calm down himself. "Who?"

"Andrea. She found out about us and now she thinks getting rid of me will help her get to you. You have to be careful."

"Get to me?"

"She's obsessed with you."

Jed tried to focus. "Where is she now?"

"I...I don't know. I knocked her out, I think. I should have called the police, but I just dialled this number..... Help me."

Jed felt lost. There was nothing more he wanted than to find where she was and bring her back safely, even if he had to do it all by himself. "I'm doing everything I can. I'm having this call traced as we speak. Just hold on, Abbey, and we will get to you."

"She might find me. I have to tell you something..."

"No baby, wait. You tell me when we find you, OK?" He didn't want it like this. It meant that she was scared enough to think she might not ever see them again.

"No, listen...I can't say enough about what you have done for me. You've turned my life around. I love you so much, I can't even begin to tell you..."

Jed was starting to feel the tears burning behind his eyelids. He heard the door open and saw Ron coming into view.

"Tell the girls that...."

Suddenly he heard a noise in the background. Who else was there? "Abbey?"

Then a woman's voice he did not recognize.

"OH NO YOU DON'T..."

"Abbey?" Fear started creeping back up on him. He heard a thud and then everything went silent. "ABBEY?" He paced around, desperately hoping she was still on the phone even though he knew she was not. Nothing but silence was his reply as he stared at the receiver. He all but slammed it down. "CHARLIE!" He ran to Leo's office and seeing no one came running back. "Ron, the phone call.."

"Being traced, sir."

"Sir." Charlie was once again in place in seconds.

"I need you to find Leo for me right now."

"Yes, sir." Charlie hurried through the outer office once again.

As Charlie left Jed turned to Ron. "Do we have a location?" As Ron talked into his wrist mike, Jed stood waiting, growing more impatient as each second passed. "Well?"

"We don't have the exact location, but do know the area it came from."

Jed grabbed his coat. "Then let's go."

"Sir" Ron began to protest.

"Damn it, Ron, don't do this to me! I need to be there. Abbey said it was a woman and that's it. One woman..."

Ron cut The President off mid sentence. "What was her name?"

Jed tried to think. "Anna...An...Andrea. Yes, Andrea. She didn't say her last name."

"Did she give any reason why this woman would kidnap her?"

Jed lowered his hands and knew when the next sentence was out there was no way he would be allowed to go look for Abbey. "No." He hated lying.

At that moment Leo came bursting in. "Abbey called? Is she OK?"

"I don't know. It sounded like there was a struggle and we were cut off."

Ron turned to Leo. "Is there anyone you know named Andrea?"

"Abbey said the woman who took her was named Andrea." Jed filled in.

Leo thought for a moment. "I know of a Darryl Jensen who has a sister named Andrea."

"You have an address?"

"Jenny probably does." Leo headed over to the desk.

"Ron, you have to let me go." Jed pleaded with him.

"Sir, that is not an option."

Leo could hear them arguing as he dialled his home number. "You know where Abbey is?"

"We have located the area, but not the precise location." Ron answered.

"I'll go with them."

Jed felt like he was ganged up on. "DOES NOT DO ME ANY GOOD." He focused on Ron as Leo started talking to Jenny. "I'll be in the car. I'll do whatever you say, but you have to let me go with you."

"I'm sorry, sir, but I cannot allow that."

"Damn it!" Jed threw his jacket back on the sofa.

Leo put the receiver down and yanked off the piece of paper. "Here is Darryl's address." He thrust it into Ron's hands before looking at Jed. "I'll go with them and as soon as we know anything, I'll call you." When Jed did not answer Leo continued. I am not going to call Lane."

Jed sighed. "I didn't say that or even think it."

Leo nodded. "We'll find her."

Jed nodded and turned defeated to Ron. "Abbey said the woman was obsessed with me and she, somehow, found out about Abbey and me."

"Thank you, sir." Ron started to talk into his wrist mike as he moved toward the door.

"We'll find her and bring her back." Leo said right before he followed Ron.

"Call me." Jed yelled out as they left and received a wave from Leo as an answer. Jed did not move. He kept thinking of the call from Abbey and how it ended. All he wanted was to have her back safely and in his arms. Back with her children. He did not know why, but he had this eerie feeling something was going to happen. Or that something had already happened. He sat down and clasped his hands together. "Be safe, Abbey. Oh God, please let her be safe."

TBC...