Mind Games 5
Jed hated seeing her this way and that he was the cause of it he hated even more. "Of course we are a team. We're always a team. I just thought this would be for the best." He gestured with his arms but as he looked at his wrists he saw the red stained bandage closer then before. It made it all much more real.
Abbey noticed the change in him, as he seemed to stare at his bandage. She sat down next to him again but he didn't notice.
His own blood was on the bandages. He heard his name said out loud and turned to Abbey. He then noticed something he had not seen before. Her shirt was stained with blood. His blood. He squinted his eyes at the sight. "I tried to kill myself." He whispered like he had discovered what he had done for the first time.
Abbey started stroking one of his arms. "Yes." She whispered just as low.
"I...thought it was the best way to protect you." As in response Abbey nodded sadly to him and he knew she had had a hard time believing what he had done. It was not who he was and it was against everything he believed in.
Abbey did not want to go down this path. "Tonight we are going to Bethesda. We need to take some tests on you."
Jed snapped out of his sombre mood. "I was just at the Doctor. You don't think people are going to find that suspicious?"
"So let them, who cares. All that...." Abbey halted realizing what he had just said "...wait, when were you at the Doctor?"
Jed, realizing he had just been caught, sighed. "About two weeks ago. I was feeling bad so I had a doctor check me out."
"You never told me. Darn it Jed, I need you to tell me these things." She saw the sorry look he had on his face and she calmed down. "I guess you kept that quiet since I did not know." He nodded at her. "So maybe this can be kept quiet too." She ran a hand through her hair. "Well if people didn't know you went to the Doctor two weeks ago then why you think they will find it suspicious if you go now?"
"Well, some knew. CJ, Toby...." He stopped as Abbey raised a hand at him.
"And I did not know. Where you ever going to tell me?"
"It was just a check up..." Receiving a glare form his wife he conceded. "Yes."
"Is that why Leo asked for the name of a Doctor from me?" Again, a nod in response. "For Toby he said." She sighed as she got up. "So, what did Richard say?"
"I was fine. Just should get some sleep." Jed snickered a little. "Which I'm sure he said after I fell asleep on him."
Abbey turned back to him. "You never fall asleep. You hate them and are always on edge every time."
"I know and it was surprising to me too. I felt awfull afterwards."
"For falling asleep?"
"No, well, yes that too but I was dizzy a bit so one of the agents had to help me to the car. Felt a little sick too." Jed stopped as he watched Abbey's face grew serious.
She had listened to what he had said and it told one only one thing. It did not make any sense thought. "It doesn't sound like you fell asleep. It sounds like you were drugged."
Jed was taken aback. "Drugged?" When he thought back to how he had felt after that appointment it did make sense. He remembered feeling the same way a couple of times when he had been given sedatives in the past.
"Yes, it sounds like it. To knock you out probably but why? Anything else you felt afterwards?"
He thought for a moment. "No." He had barely said it when Abbey threw the covers side and started to unbutton his pyjama top. "Abbey, you know I'd love to but I don't think I'm strong enough." Although his lust for his wife betrayed the words he spoke.
Abbey simply continued taking off his clothes. "I need to check you over."
He understood when she was being the Doctor and this was one of those times. "Ok." He started helping her.
Soon he was almost naked in bed next to her and that was a dangerous combination.
She threw the clothes on a chair and then proceeded to take of his underwear.
"Eh Abbey..." He laid back knowing ho he usually reacted to his wife's touches.
"I'm examining you. Don't get any ideas." She said as she started looking and feeling all over. She deliberately was rough with him not to cause him too much pleasure.
'Think unsexy thoughts, think unsexy thoughts..' Jed repeated in his head over and over.
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"You should have told me sooner." Ron repeated.
"I know but I've told you know so where do we go from here?" Leo leaned closer to his desk.
Ron thought for a moment. "There is one way to keep The First Lady safe from The President until we know what we are dealing with."
"What is it?"
Ron knew the reaction he would get from Leo McGarry but proceeded to tell him his idea. "If he attacks her again then we can make The President believe that The first Lady died. That way she will be kept safe."
Leo could not believe what he had just heard. "Are you out of your mind?"
Ron did not say anything. He just waited.
"If you are suggesting that we make him believe his wife is dead and he was the cause of it..." Leo stopped to take a deep breath. "And what about Liz, Ellie and Zoey? Do you have any idea how it would affect them? And The President, it would kill him."
"We would of course keep a close eye on The President."
"Oh, I doubt that would help." Leo got up and walked over to Ron. "Ron, I finally think you have lost your mind."
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"Nothing." Abbey stepped back from the bed as Jed rolled back onto his back. "And you don't seem to need that cold shower after all."
He opened his eyes. "Believe me, it was a close call." He sat up slowly and Abbey handed him his pyjamas and underwear. "So, nothing eh?"
"No and I don't think a drug could be the only cause. There have to be something else." She sat back next to him. "You need a haircut." She ruffled his hair a bit when something caught her eyes. "Hold still."
It was said with such urgency that made Jed freeze. He felt Abbey's fingers on the back of his neck. He could tell she had discovered something. "Abbey, what is it?" When she did not respond he became worried. "Abbey?"
Just a second." Abbey traced the tiny mark with her finger. "You have a scar here."
He frowned. "I don't have a scar back there."
"Precisely."
The meaning of that made Jed tremble slightly. "What does that mean?"
"I'm not sure but we'll have to have an X-ray done." She moved to give him some needed space to put his clothes on but instead he struggled and was soon out of bed.
"I hope you are not planning to go anywhere?" She joked, gesturing to his naked form.
"I couldn't even if I wanted to. I have to try to go to the bathroom though." He took the garments with him.
"Need any help?" Abbey called after him.
"No thanks." He answered just before closing the door. He stood in front of the mirror and studied himself. Looking down to his wrist's he winched at the sight of the blood stained bandages. He tried feeling at the back of his neck but couldn't find anything. He picked up a small mirror and turning away from the bathroom mirror tried to locate it. No such luck. He tried feeling it again but nothing.
Abbey opened the door to answer the knock when she saw Leo.
She still wore the shirt from the night before but Leo said nothing. "How is he?"
"Better but still weak. He's in the bathroom. Why don't you come in and talk to him? I need to make a call." She gestured him to come in and as he did she left. She didn't need to go far.
Jed put the sweater over his head with effort. What Abbey had found was deep in his thoughts. Why was there a scar on the back of his neck? Deciding there was no point in thinking about it since soon he would most likely know anyway he opened the door and was surprised but glad to see.. "Leo."
He spun around as Jed approached him. "How are you feeling?" He did not look at Jed's wrists.
"I've been better. Take a seat." Jed walked over to the bed to lay down. "How's things downstairs?"
"Good, good. Told people you had a cold and no one is questioning it." Leo wringed his hands. Stared at the floor not knowing what to say.
Jed could tell Leo was uncomfortable. This was the first time they had seen each other since the suicide attempt. "I did a stupid thing."
"Yeah."
"I thought it would protect Abbey."
"Yeah."
"Leo, look at me." He waited as Leo raised his head and looked at him. "I'm going to be alright and I'll never do something like this again." He gestured with his hands showing his wrists.
"That's good because if you had seen Abbey..." Leo stopped knowing he was not helping matters any.
"Yeah." Jed dropped his hands back to his side. "She's been so wonderful. After everything she's... she still stands by me." He paused for a moment. "Abbey found a scar on the back of my neck."
"A scar?" Now Leo's attention rose a notch.
"Yeah and since I know I don't have one there Abbey suggested an X-ray to be done. It might have something to do with..." Jed let the sentence hang in the air.
Leo simply nodded.
The door opened and Abbey walked inside. "Hey." She closed it as she walked over to the two men. "Well, I just talked to Richard."
"Richard?" Leo inquired.
"Yes, the Doctor you said was for Toby." She glared at him knowing it was not happy with being kept out of the loop.
Leo felt like he had been caught with the cookie jar. "Oh. Why?"
"Jed told me he fell asleep there and after he felt unsteady and a bit sick. Symptoms he usually get when he's been give a sedative. That lead me to think he might have been drugged. Did he tell you about the scar I found?"
Leo pondered all the information he was given. "Yes, so you think Richard is involved?"
"Yes, when I talked to him I simply asked if Jed had been acting strange when he was there. He asked me why and I told him he had been acting strange for the last few days. It didn't take much more to hear that he became very nervous. "
"I've told Ron everything and will tell him this. He does want to talk to you." Leo said as he made his way over to the door. He was glad Ron had abandoned his plan earlier.
"I'll just change my shirt and be right there." Abbey walked over to the closet.
As Leo left Jed studied Abbey as she took out some clothes. "Why Richard? Why us?"
Abbey stopped and turned to him. "I don't know but maybe we'll find out soon."
"Ron!" Leo hurried up to him as he saw him walking through the hallway. "I have some information for you about what we discussed earlier."
Ron nodded. "Let's talk in your office."
Throwing the bloodstained shirt in a hamper in the bathroom she proceeded to put on a new one. "Jed, I'll just leave for a few minutes ok?" When she received no answer she stepped closer to the door and had barely done so before it was thrown open. Jed stood right in front of her. Before she could react she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. It caught her off guard. Soon there was another wave of pain. With all the strength she had she pushed him away from her and as he fell back to the floor she staggered back with uneasy steps. She looked down and saw the blood on he shirt. She raised a hand to put some pressure on it. She tried controlling her breathing. She raised her head and saw Jed shake his own head a bit. She saw the letter opener in his right hand. There was blood all over it. Watching in horror as he got up albeit slowly she did the only thing she could think of. "Jed. Help me."
TBC..........