Mistakes -- Part 11
Characters: Jed/Leo
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but I love to play with them a little! Thank you to Aaron Sorkin, Warner Bros, and NBC!
Feedback is always welcomed!
Summary: The divorce papers are signed by both Jed and Abbey, but Jed has second thoughts.
Jed sat at his desk and looked at the papers for hours before picking up his pen and signing them. Abbey was right, he thought. He didn't know if they could ever recover from this, no matter how much he wanted to. He put the papers away and headed to Leo's office. It was late, but he knew Leo would still be there. The two hadn't talked much since Abbey was released from the hospital.
Jed knocked on his door before coming in. Leo was surprised to see him. Jed explained that Abbey was served with divorce papers and told him about the fight that ensued. Once Leo got over the shock of Jed discussing anything Abbey-related with him, he felt he needed to be there for his friend.
"You have every right to have doubts," Leo told him, "but in fairness to Abbey, today's blow-up had nothing to do with your doubts. It was about hers."
"What doubts?"
"You made her believe that you were willing to give her another chance. She fell for it, then you let her down."
"This was our deal from the day she told me she was pregnant. Have the baby, then we'll see what happens," he insisted.
"And something DID happen along the way," Leo began. "You fell in love with her all over again, and she knew it."
"How the hell am I the villain here?"
"You told me..."
"Leo..." Jed interrupted.
"At the hospital..." Leo spoke over him, "...you told me that if you lost her you wouldn't be able to go on. Now you've lost her, not because of cancer, but because you're an idiot. She trusted you and you knew that. You knew she was starting to feel that things would work out. You let her believe it, then you hit her with divorce papers."
"She slept with you! She turned her back on me, on our vows!"
"You got over the fact that she betrayed the vows a long time ago! What you can't get over is that she hurt you and you're afraid she's going to do it again. You're afraid to trust her."
"Maybe I am," Jed admitted after a pause. "I never knew it could hurt that badly. How can I trust anything she's telling me? How will I ever know if it's the truth?"
"Because you know how sorry she is. You know that she'd rather die than do this to you again. And you'd rather die than give her a chance to. So now, you have to decide if your fears are going to keep you from going back to the Residence and asking her to stay."
Jed opened his eyes and slowly came out of his daydream. He realized the conversation he had with Leo had only played out in his mind. He needed his friend back and though it would be too uncomfortable for him to turn to Leo about this, his mind took over and helped him sort it out anyway. In reality, he was still sitting at his desk, staring at the divorce papers he had just signed, sealed, and addressed.
He knew it was now or never between him and Abbey. If he went through with the divorce, he'd lose her for good and despite her indiscretion, he couldn't face that. Miranda's conception was a miracle in many ways. Not only was he blessed with another daughter to care for, but because of Abbey's pregnancy, coupled with his Presidency, he was forced to give her another chance and in doing that, he found the love that had somehow drifted away since they moved into the White House.
He hadn't thought about their earlier years in ages. Watching Abbey in mommy-mode brought it all back and suddenly, everything made sense. The Jed she married wouldn't have announced his reelction campaign without her, he wouldn't have shut her out when he was struggling with a moral dilemma. He understood why Abbey felt so alone. She was alone. And now, she made a mistake. Why couldn't he forgive her one mistake after all the years of joy she brought to his life, he wondered.
Jed believed Miranda was his daughter. He allowed himself to have doubts because it made his other doubts easier to handle. Birthmark or not, she was a Bartlet and Abbey would have never lied about something like paternity. Originally, their deal included a DNA test once the baby was born, but over the months, Jed realized how unnecessary that was. Even now, when confronted, Abbey voluntarily offered one, for Miranda's sake. Still, it was unnecessary. Part of him still did trust Abbey. All of him knew he didn't want to lose her.
He got up to leave his office, making a stop along the way. He knocked on Leo's door and let himself in, this time for real.
"Mr. President?" Leo began, concerned that something was wrong.
"I just wanted to say...good night, Leo," Jed said.
"Good night, sir," Leo replied.
Jed left and headed back for the Residence. By the time he got there, Abbey was already asleep. Beside her bed, she had bags and suitcases already packed. Jed realized he had to act fast if he wanted to stop her from leaving.
TBC
Characters: Jed/Leo
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but I love to play with them a little! Thank you to Aaron Sorkin, Warner Bros, and NBC!
Feedback is always welcomed!
Summary: The divorce papers are signed by both Jed and Abbey, but Jed has second thoughts.
Jed sat at his desk and looked at the papers for hours before picking up his pen and signing them. Abbey was right, he thought. He didn't know if they could ever recover from this, no matter how much he wanted to. He put the papers away and headed to Leo's office. It was late, but he knew Leo would still be there. The two hadn't talked much since Abbey was released from the hospital.
Jed knocked on his door before coming in. Leo was surprised to see him. Jed explained that Abbey was served with divorce papers and told him about the fight that ensued. Once Leo got over the shock of Jed discussing anything Abbey-related with him, he felt he needed to be there for his friend.
"You have every right to have doubts," Leo told him, "but in fairness to Abbey, today's blow-up had nothing to do with your doubts. It was about hers."
"What doubts?"
"You made her believe that you were willing to give her another chance. She fell for it, then you let her down."
"This was our deal from the day she told me she was pregnant. Have the baby, then we'll see what happens," he insisted.
"And something DID happen along the way," Leo began. "You fell in love with her all over again, and she knew it."
"How the hell am I the villain here?"
"You told me..."
"Leo..." Jed interrupted.
"At the hospital..." Leo spoke over him, "...you told me that if you lost her you wouldn't be able to go on. Now you've lost her, not because of cancer, but because you're an idiot. She trusted you and you knew that. You knew she was starting to feel that things would work out. You let her believe it, then you hit her with divorce papers."
"She slept with you! She turned her back on me, on our vows!"
"You got over the fact that she betrayed the vows a long time ago! What you can't get over is that she hurt you and you're afraid she's going to do it again. You're afraid to trust her."
"Maybe I am," Jed admitted after a pause. "I never knew it could hurt that badly. How can I trust anything she's telling me? How will I ever know if it's the truth?"
"Because you know how sorry she is. You know that she'd rather die than do this to you again. And you'd rather die than give her a chance to. So now, you have to decide if your fears are going to keep you from going back to the Residence and asking her to stay."
Jed opened his eyes and slowly came out of his daydream. He realized the conversation he had with Leo had only played out in his mind. He needed his friend back and though it would be too uncomfortable for him to turn to Leo about this, his mind took over and helped him sort it out anyway. In reality, he was still sitting at his desk, staring at the divorce papers he had just signed, sealed, and addressed.
He knew it was now or never between him and Abbey. If he went through with the divorce, he'd lose her for good and despite her indiscretion, he couldn't face that. Miranda's conception was a miracle in many ways. Not only was he blessed with another daughter to care for, but because of Abbey's pregnancy, coupled with his Presidency, he was forced to give her another chance and in doing that, he found the love that had somehow drifted away since they moved into the White House.
He hadn't thought about their earlier years in ages. Watching Abbey in mommy-mode brought it all back and suddenly, everything made sense. The Jed she married wouldn't have announced his reelction campaign without her, he wouldn't have shut her out when he was struggling with a moral dilemma. He understood why Abbey felt so alone. She was alone. And now, she made a mistake. Why couldn't he forgive her one mistake after all the years of joy she brought to his life, he wondered.
Jed believed Miranda was his daughter. He allowed himself to have doubts because it made his other doubts easier to handle. Birthmark or not, she was a Bartlet and Abbey would have never lied about something like paternity. Originally, their deal included a DNA test once the baby was born, but over the months, Jed realized how unnecessary that was. Even now, when confronted, Abbey voluntarily offered one, for Miranda's sake. Still, it was unnecessary. Part of him still did trust Abbey. All of him knew he didn't want to lose her.
He got up to leave his office, making a stop along the way. He knocked on Leo's door and let himself in, this time for real.
"Mr. President?" Leo began, concerned that something was wrong.
"I just wanted to say...good night, Leo," Jed said.
"Good night, sir," Leo replied.
Jed left and headed back for the Residence. By the time he got there, Abbey was already asleep. Beside her bed, she had bags and suitcases already packed. Jed realized he had to act fast if he wanted to stop her from leaving.
TBC