By: chipmunk and leosimpishgrin
Pairing: Leo/Margaret - Romance
Rating: PG
Spoilers: None really
Timeline is near the end of year one, to start with and then it goes off to Never, never land.
This is not strictly cannon by the show. Doesn't matter the year or the situation.
Plot Development and Beta By: Imp leosimpishgrinyahoo.ca
Disclaimer: in part 1
Summary: It's Leo and Margaret's first anniversary and nothing is going right! Friends help make it right!
part 4A
The day has been long in the East Wing for the First Lady, with the late start in seeing their men off to their meeting in London. When evening finally arrives, Abbey calls over to Leo's office and is a little surprised to find that she's having a hard time getting Margaret out of the office. "Margaret, tuck away your work and lets go to the Residence and collapse for the night. It's time to call it a day."
"Ma'am, if it's all right, I'd like to work a little longer." Margaret tries to stall starting her evening up in the Residence. She worries with a pencil, but snaps it quickly to the desktop when she realizes this, as if the First Lady can see her.
"It's Abbey now, Margaret. The work day is over," Abbey coaches her softly.
"OK, Abbey. Sure." Margaret leans her head on her hand a split second, before she looks up enough to wave her hand to the side in emphasis, as she gives her reasons, "Abbey, it's just that I can use this time to catch up on the backlog here." Margaret tries to rationalize that she's responsible to keep Josh up to speed with Leo's schedule. "I have reports I should pull in case Josh needs them for the meetings that have been moved to his schedule this week. I should also review some of the summaries that are flowing in and tag any that will possibly need updates this week. Leo will want to see them as soon as he returns." Her rapid explanation ends almost abruptly, but she really doesn't want any free time to think about Leo, while he's is away from her.
Abbey can see right through Margaret. Abbey knows Margaret will work at things that can wait till tomorrow or later in the week. They both know that Leo's office will be slow till he returns. Abbey is sadly aware that Margaret is only making excuses, just like she used to do, to keep her mind busy.
Margaret doesn't really want Abbey to pry or to guess as to why she's so miserable.
She really likes Abbey, but she wants to stay busy, to keep herself from missing Leo any more than she already does. As if that's going to happen! She just doesn't want to think about the situation that has them both upset. She worries about Leo, about the fact he's probably not eating or sleeping well. It's what happens whenever he's like this, and he's been doing 'so' much better with them living together these past few months.
Abbey regretfully enlightens, "Margaret, it won't work, you know. Your mind will defeat you. You will miss him and that's that. You might as well take it easy for the rest of this week and use this time to recuperate from your ear infection. We both know you need to get well, as Leo's and your offices will be back to breakneck pace as soon as he enters the White House."
Margaret sighs into the phone and her shoulders slump, "Yeah, Abbey, you're right, I miss him in my heart. You know how it goes, better than I do and I really do need to kick this infection, before Leo returns or he's going to feel that it's his fault in the first place, for us working so hard all the time. He knows I missed my appointment to start my allergy shots this spring." Margaret surrenders and asks, "Want me to met you at the elevator in five?"
"Yeah, that works for me, Margaret." Abbey give a sigh of her own, "I'm so ready to end this day. I'm a little edgy today myself. I'll be there in five."
Once up in the Residence for the evening the women agree to take a breather, before they order up dinner. They collapse at opposite ends of the couch.
Margaret is a little gloomy, but she quietly sniffles a little, hugging a corner cushion in her lap, as she leans her head back on the couch and closes her eyes to rest a moment. The day has been tiring for her emotionally.
Abbey shifts through some pictures that Elizabeth had sent of the grandkids. She finally stirs from the couch where she has kicked off her shoes and suggests, "Margaret, how about we go change into our nightwear, as we're not going anywhere else tonight. I think we are both 'done' with this day and need to get comfortable."
Margaret straightens back up when Abbey stirs on the couch. She smiles softly at Abbey in understanding, "That sounds wonderful to me, Abbey." Margaret rises to move to her room and stops at the doorway to ask Abbey, "It's getting really late in London. Do you think the guys will still call us? Leo said he would try after the 'Meet and Greet' tonight, but it might have run long."
"Don't you worry, Girlfriend." Abbey give a small chuckle to calm Margaret's fretting, "Jed calls me every single night that he's away, even if it's for just a few minutes. Rest assured, they'll be calling soon. Jed doesn't want to explain if he forgets, as he knows payback will be hell the next time I'm out of town." Abbey gets a sarcastically pleased look on her face, "I will either wait until the middle of the night before calling him or to really make him crazy, I'll call every hour to just say hello." She sees the small smile on Margaret's face at her small boast.
Margaret smiles with admiration and continues into the room to get changed. The smile remains on her face for a few more moments, as she admits that the Sisterhood could certainly take more lessons from Abbey. Unfortunately, the smile fades, as she lays out her sleepwear on the bed, the bed that will seem so empty tonight without Leo there to hold her.
After dinner, the women are looking at the new pictures that arrived from the National Museum, for display in the living room area of the Residence. Abbey takes a call and it's the switchboard operator letting her know that there are two incoming calls from London. She smiles, as she's informed that they'll complete the Presidents call now. Abbey glances over and tells Margaret, "Leo is going to call on the other private line. I told them that you would take it in the bedroom. I thought that way we'd both have some private time with our guys."
"Great idea. Thanks, Abbey." Margaret quickly moves through the large double doors to the master bedroom and perches expectantly on the wingback chair by the phone. She glances to the other phone over on the nightstand, but there's no way she's going to sit over on the bed waiting. Hopefully the call will come through on the phone next to her. She continues to glance back and forth, willing one of them to ring with Leo's voice on the other end.
Out in the living room, Abbey is lounged across a padded chair to talk like a teenager with her boyfriend. Twisting the cord around a finger, as she talks and swinging a free foot. Once Abbey and Jed finish greeting each other and getting the low down on each other's day, the topic switches to the plan they're working on to get to the bottom of their friends' problem. Jed is honestly still in the dark and he admits that Leo has been on edge and at times down right grouchy, since they left DC. Only Leo can do crabby and still maintain Presidential protocol. "Man, Abbey, he has it down to a fine art. He can get his meaning to me with just a look and we know what he can do with just a 'yes, Mr. President' or 'thank you, Sir'. He may make me crazy with his politeness. Let me tell you, Abbey, it's been a long day for me with Miss Mary Sunshine here." Jed chuckles ironically, "I just know that when I get out of the White House, he's going to give me such a free cussing. I just can't figure out why he's so upset this time, with this trip."
Abbey tries not to laugh at Jed's dilemma, "I know you're so right, Jed. He'd try the patience of the saints with that polite steely look that he does. You just want to strangle him, to get him to snap, curse and just to get it all out." She then reveals what little she's gleamed from Margaret, "I haven't done much better with Margaret at my end, so far, but I still have some hope for tonight, as it's still just evening here." She continues on to give him a major example. "Margaret was really reluctant to leave the office. Like she's either waiting for Leo to return or she's afraid to come up here to the Residence to relax. She can clam up just as well as Leo can. Let me tell you. We may have our work cut out for us this week, Jed, to get to the bottom of what's wrong with them about this trip to London. They're both realistic enough to know that away trips are part of the job." At Jed's grunt of agreement, she tries to rally them, "We're not defeated yet. You just keep trying to get Leo to confide in you. If he doesn't pummel your ass first, but then again, maybe while he's at it he'll tell you why."
Loving the sound of Abbey's voice telling him of her similar dilemma, Jed chuckles at the vision of Leo finally snapping, "Very funny, Sweetknees, but if he does 'pummel my ass', I'll tell him you predicted it tonight."
At Jed calling her Sweetknees, Abbey purrs over the phone, "You miss me, as much as I miss you, Sugar?"
Jed's answer is soft and affirmative and they spend the rest of the call exchanging words that have been said many times over the years, as easily as breathing to them. They need this time to reconnect when they're away from each other.
Margaret gives a little jump, when the phone beside her finally rings just a few moments later.
Leo hears her voice as she answers hello and she gives her name, even though she knows it has to be him. He immediately sounds contrite with more than a little sympathy for her. "Oh, Margaret. You sound worse than yesterday. I'm so sorry, Baby."
"Leo, I'm fine. I…" Leo cuts her off from further explanations.
"I didn't mean or want you to get a set back over this. What are you doing for yourself? I wish I could do something to make you feel better, Honey." Leo can't stop himself from taking responsibility for her present condition.
Margaret tries reassuring Leo again that she's fine, "Leo, really, it's just the sniffles. It's not anyone's fault. I just sound like I'm worse, I actually feel better. I'm just a little stuffy." She feels terrible that Leo is worrying over her, just because she let herself get too emotional this morning.
He can hear that she's not much better than when he left her earlier today. "But, Baby, you still sound stuffed up and you sorta sounds like your talking into a damn barrel." He just hopes her inner ear is not plugging up again, "I'm sorry, Baby. I'm not finding fault with you. I'm just afraid that your infection will return, after you had it almost gone. I know it was really painful for you. I'm just worried you'll be sick again and won't be feeling well, if by some miracle I do happen to get home by Sunday." He's upset and feeling guilty at leaving her and also how she got that way. Remembering how she cried this morning doesn't ease his mind or his heart. She might cry more during the night, sick and lonely, and he won't be there to comfort and hold her in his arms. No doubt, Leo is in the mood to worry.
Margaret has her own worry. She just knows that when Leo is upset about something important that he won't be eating or sleeping well, if at all. She suspects that nightmares were a part of more than a few of his nights, before they joined their lives together at the new apartment. Trying to find out what he's been doing today in London and to possibly get his focus off her sounding sick again, she asks, "How was the dinner tonight, anything good on the menu?"
Leo sighs, knowing she's redirecting the topic, "Oh, it was just beef and something. There were several choices, to accommodate all the like and dislikes of the delegates. Not counting those that had religious guidelines to their diet."
"Well the beef, probably cost them an arm and a leg over there." Margaret is serious, knowing the problems over in England with the beef herds.
Leo actually gives a small grin at her frugal comment. "The beef was OK. Well, the President really liked it, especially without Abbey here to growl at him for eating it."
"Other words, you didn't eat much of it yourself." She admonishes him, with her well-known pointed look on her face, even if he can't see it. Damn it, I could have bet my paycheck that he won't eat while he's over there, because he is fretting about me.
Leo softly growls, "Margaret, don't start. I'm not really hungry." Leo sounds like he's not happy at getting caught, at not eating, but he just couldn't put his mind to it.
She sighs at his contrite tone, "Oh, Leo." She pauses before adding, "Please, try to eat something tonight and don't let Jed keep you up all night talking. Remind him of the time zone change, or you'll never get him up in the morning and then you'll both be acting like bears."
Leo knows that she's right about his friend and time zone changes. He doesn't really want to roll him out onto the floor in the morning, to get him awake, like they're a couple of frat brothers. The agents might frown on that, but he knows he'd certainly feel better. He also knows that it's time to end the overseas call, hoping that Margaret doesn't remember that he's paying for the personal call from England. "I'll try to do better. Maybe I'll eat a piece of fruit in a little bit." He pauses and reluctantly starts again, "Baby, I'd better get off the line now." He drops his voice to the soft rumbling whisper he knows she loves, "I just wanted to hear your voice, before I went to bed. I miss you so much already and I'll miss you in my arms tonight."
Margaret tries not to sniff, as her eyes get watery when he admits he's missing her, "I miss you too, Sweetie. I love you."
Leo's heart feels the sadness in her voice, "I love you, Baby, all the way across the ocean. Please take care of yourself and don't be hesitant to ask Abbey for help if it gets worse. She cares about you too." He clears his throat a little, "Baby, I really gotta run. I hear Jed out in the kitchen area of our suite and it sounds like he's hunting for a midnight snack. I'll be good and go see if he finds something to share with me. I love you. Sleep well. Sweet dreams till I'm home."
She knows he has to hang up, "I'll try, Sweetie. I love you all the way back across that damn ocean." She whispers to him, "Sweet dreams to you too, my love."
Leo ends with, "Luv ya, bye for now."
Margaret smiles at the pat way he always ends a call with her and answers him one last time tonight, "Luv ya back. Now go eat something with Jed. Bye." She sits a few moments more and fights her weepiness, if only to make Leo happy, even if he's not here with her to see it.
When Margaret rejoins Abbey in the sitting area of the master bedroom, she's sniffling a little, from saying goodbye to Leo on the phone.
Abbey knows that Margaret was nearly symptom free before today. She's sure that the congestion and sniffing is just from Margaret crying. Abbey decides since she'll have first hand observation of Margaret at the Residence this week. She can personally oversee her treatment. "Margaret, with the way you're sounding this evening, like your heads blocked up, what do you think of us adding a cold and sinus medication along with your antibiotic? Hopefully, your head will clear up by tomorrow. Once you are over this ear infection, if you want, we can arrange for me to give you your allergy shots here at the White House. If your time is so tight and you can't fit in your doctor's visits?"
"Yeah. You're the doctor, Abbey. Both sound like good ideas to me. Leo will have a fit if I get any worse while he's away. He's worried that I already have." Margaret reaches for a fresh tissue, as she agrees.
The President's London suite is large, but not so much as to make the job of the agents too hard. It is a secure section located on the top floor of the hotel, with the agents inside and out. The common rooms consist of a living room area, a study with a small library, a cozy den for TV viewing, and finally a dining area with a small kitchen, near to the hallway leading to where Jed and Leo are occupying two of the many spacious bedrooms. The support staff is on lodged comfortably on the floor below, allowing them more freedom away from the President's tight security and agents.
At two in the morning, an agent who is showing some urgency in his manner awakens Jed. "Sir, sorry to wake you, but I wanted to inform you that there might be a problem with Mr. McGarry."
The President is instantly awake and interrupts the agent. "What? What's wrong with him? Is he sick?" The President is already swinging his legs out of bed and his feet are automatically searching for his slippers on the floor, but he's not taking his eyes off the agent's face.
The agent in answering, again tries to quickly brief the President, as time may be a factor, "Sir, after hearing loud talking in his room, we glanced in to assure he was alone and not dealing with an unwanted person in his room."
"Leo was yelling at someone in his room?" The President glances at the bedside clock. "It's the middle of the night." The President in his hurry and having little success with his slippers has to finally lean down and use a finger to get his slippers on. He stands and takes a step toward the end of the bed where his robe is lying across the bottom.
"No, Sir, Mr. McGarry was alone and still lying in bed. Sir, we believe that he's having a nightmare or perhaps a flashback from the war. In his sleep, he mentioned something about him being tortured and was very agitated, thrashing around in the bed."
"Damn that war!" The President immediately abandons his robe and sweeps past the agent in just his pajama pants and t-shirt. He's rushing to Leo's room, across the hall, to hopefully help, suspecting that it is a nightmare. This may not be pretty, but his friend has already suffered enough the torments of the damned in the war. There is no way will he let him be alone and scared, while he relives them in his dreams. Not alone, if he can help him.
Quickly but quietly Jed opens the door to Leo's room. The agents halt at the doorway from following him. Jed waves them out, when he realizes that Leo is indeed having a flashback nightmare and the agents close the door softly. Leaving the President to deal with his friend. The agents understand all to well, now, what's wrong with Mr. McGarry, as some of them are themselves vets and relive the terrors of war in the darkness of night, from time to time.
Leo is now sitting up in the middle of the bed, eyes wide open, staring and yelling, "Stop. No, you bastards! No!"
Jed carefully sits on the side of the bed, knowing from experience not to startle Leo, as he can tell that Leo is still asleep and caught up in the nightmare. He gently slides an arm around Leo shoulders to support him, as Leo is shaking with fear, and he makes soothing shushing sounds to try to gently calm him.
Leo continues in the nightmare, seemingly aware that he's no longer alone. He has tears sliding down the lines of his aged face. Without looking at Jed, he talks to him like he's another P.O.W., "It will kill her! She can't take that kind of torture!" His voice drops to a scared soft tone, "Oh God, tough men have not survived it. I barely survived it." He again yells to the demons in his dream, "Not her you God damned monsters! Take me, not her! Margaret! Margaret." His last powerful yells seem to finally break him from the terror in his mind, as he takes a deep shuttering breath and drops his head. His body is still somewhat stiff and tight from the fear in his dream.
Jed realizing that Leo is waking from the nightmare, twists his position on the side of the bed, softly pulling Leo into the sanctuary of his arms and hugs him in compassion and comfort, "It's all right now, my friend. It's me, Jed. It's fine now." He coaxes Leo back to the present, away from the memory of the dream, "Remember, we're in London tonight."
When Leo finally fully awakes and realizes its Jed there where with him. He is finally able to relax some and he rests his head on Jed's chest trying to recover and get away from the nightmare. Leo is breathing hard from the nightmare. His fists are clutching onto the sides of Jed's shirt trying to get physical hold onto something real. He's shaking from the adrenaline in his bloodstream and not from a chill due to the fact that his own t-shirt and satin pants are damp from his nocturnal battle. Leo speaks between them with a shaky voice, "I was back in the P.O.W. camp again, but it was Margaret that they were going to torture for information." Leo fights to relax.
"It's OK, man. It's over, thank God." Jed makes a suggestion, as a question, "Do you want to call Margaret and hear her voice?"
Leo sadly replies, "No, it would only worry and scare her. It's bad enough that you and I have had to deal with it. I'll be fine. I'm fine." He gives his standard answer, but it's not easy to decide if he's saying it to convince Jed or himself.
"OK then," Jed encourages him to lie back down, as he can tell Leo is still shaking from the aftermath of the dream.
Leo lies back wearily onto his pillow with a long sad sigh, as exhaustion is really setting in. Jed pushes on his shoulder to roll him onto his side away from him and he rubs his back, to calm him. Leo is a little disappointed in himself that Jed found him in a mixed up flashback, but he knows that Jed understands, as usual. It's not the first time he's been there for him.
Jed promises, "Leo, relax. Just relax and try to breath as normal as you can. I'll stay till you're asleep again and rest assured I'll be close by in my room, if you need me." Jed continues rubbing and trying to extend some peace and comfort to his old friend. Jed's thinks himself, Leo's dreams are a result of him being haunted by his captivity and torture, now add Leo's worry over Margaret that he hinted at during our snack, both together must be what triggered the nightmare tonight.
Jed remembers back to last August after Leo was attacked. While they all were watching a movie, Leo had a nightmare after falling asleep and that Leo had shed tears of fear then as well, while Margaret calmed him. He and Abbey are some of the few people that know Leo has suffered with nightmares from the war all these years. They are really night terrors, as nightmare is too mild a term for what Leo experiences. Jed knows that nothing will be mentioned in the morning about them. What can be said about something that can't be physically or mentally controlled?
Jed is afraid to leave him alone again and decides to stay awhile, just rubbing lightly to help him sleep. Like he did for the girls to give them comfort after a nightmare. Jed knows that Leo is a furnace most times at night, but he can tell Leo is not too warm right now with him rubbing on Leo back and he feels a small shiver now and then. Leo is most likely cold now, from the aftermath of the nightmare and Jed is afraid that Leo might get a chill in his damp clothes. He gently, as to not startle Leo, covers him up with a light blanket, as he continues to rub.
He can nap leaning up on the headboard if he needs to, but he wants to stay till he feels secure that Leo will not have a repeat occurrence tonight. It's what you do for a loved one, when they're scared in the night.
When Leo breathing slows and his muscles finally relax, Jed senses that Leo is returning to a restful sleep with his exhaustion. Jed starts to notice that he is a little cool himself lounging on the top of the bedclothes in just his nightwear. He could get up and turn on the small gas fireplace in the room, as he needs to keep warm too, but he hates to stop rubbing. He knows that as long as Leo is not deeply asleep, he is drawing security from Jed's touch.
Shortly, there is a light knock on the door.
Afraid to speak in a normal voice and wake Leo, Jed quietly says to the closed door, "Enter."
Ron Butterfield having been notified that there was a problem at the suite and being concerned for Leo, especially since he's been so exposed to Leo's personal life after the attempted kidnapping, wants to personally check on the situation. He only halfway steps into the room when quietly granted permission, trying to be discreet and speaks softly when he sees that the President obviously has Mr. McGarry calmed down after the nightmare, "Sir, It had been noted that it has gotten quiet in here and I thought I might see if you needed anything?" He pauses and honestly admits in an unofficial manner, "We were concerned for him."
The President noting with a small smile that Ron, obviously awaken and apprised of the situation is showing his haste and concern by not wearing his official black suit, but is dressed in his black nylon tracksuit. Indicating with a nod to the small fireplace, the President quietly asks, "Could you?" indicating that he wanted him to turn on the fireplace. Ron slips in as quiet as a shadow and turns it on. He pauses as he straightens back up and looks to the President for any other way he might help, not wanting to speak in the room for fear of waking Leo.
When the President shakes his head that there's nothing further that he needs at the moment, Ron slips silently out of the room.
Jed relaxes and can already feel the warmth of the little fire from across the room. His hand is still making small circles on Leo's back. He starts to get warm from the heat of the small fireplace and dozes off for a catnap. Waking a short time later and again continues his rubbing on Leo's back. Getting no response from his sleeping friend, he sighs with relief that maybe the nightmares are banished for the night.
Jed finally decides to leave Leo shortly before dawn, but first turns off the extra heat of the fireplace, since he could tell when he just now touched Leo's back that Leo was back to being a furnace.
Jed gets himself a drink of water in the kitchen, before returning to his room. He passes the bar area and is struck with a thought. He knows Leo has been upset the last few days and after tonight's nightmare, plus knowing that the war caused Leo to turn to drinking to ease the nightmares, he makes a decision. Knowing that the agents are discreet, he mentions to them to keep an eye on it. He doesn't want Leo to think he doesn't trust him, but he also doesn't want it to tempt him. Jed doesn't want to be sorry about it when it's too late and he's not taking any chances this time.
The agents know it was a flashback related nightmare that the President just had to deal with and from what little they did hear they're glad it's not in their heads. No wonder Leo McGarry had problems with alcoholism.
Margaret is fidgeting and popping up and down to the bathroom all during the TV drama that the two women have been watching before bed. Actually, she's fretting that she's afraid to go to sleep tonight and is also trying not to worry about if Leo will be back by Sunday. Margaret is frankly afraid she can no longer even sleep alone, without someone else in the bed. She finally admits, honestly, to herself that she can't sleep anymore without her Leo. She is 'so' not looking forward to the empty bed tonight.
Abbey suspects that Margaret is worried about sleeping alone tonight, as Margaret keeps pacing in and out of her room. First, she is looking for a magazine to read and then shortly thereafter for another. Then Margaret decides on trying a book and asks Abbey if she has one to recommend. Abbey, laying aside the book she was attempting to read between the many trips that Margaret has made, finally tells her, "Margaret, you're as jumpy as a cat on a hot tin roof tonight. How about you crawl in with me for a good girl time chat?" She hopes some talking will comfort Margaret. Abbey knows she seems more like a big sister to Margaret and definitely not the mother role to her.
After Margaret looks at Abbey and then the bed, she states the obvious reason for her hesitation, "That the President's bed, Abbey. I can't get in there."
Abbey grins at her friends nervous reason, "Well I did know that, Margaret. To the outside world that is it's title. It's strange to me too, to be sleeping in a bed that has a title. Believe me, it may be the Presidential bed, but Jed knows it's actually my bed and I share it with him if he's really good." She grins with a smirk, "And let me tell you…"
Margaret halts her with a palm out, "Stop right there, Abbey. Don't you dare finish that thought out loud. It's definitely too much info for me. He is the President after all."
Abbey leans back laughing at Margaret knowing just what line she was going to say next, about just how good Jed can be. It's common knowledge among their family and close friends that they are not exactly shy about being frisky in front of them. Which can give them a small gleam of satisfaction to see the others blush at them demonstrating the passion they have for each other. "Margaret, there's no President in this bed right now, just me. Now, Sister, get your butt in this bed and tell me the latest gossip. You can tell your grandchildren some day that you were actually in the 'Presidential bed'."
Margaret giggles slightly at Abbey's teasing and climbs in beside her. Once she's settled to her satisfaction, she nods her head in approval. She quickly looks at Abbey and points out, "I'm just staying till we get gossiped out and then I'm back to my own bed."
Abbey teases her some more, knowing how Margaret is about protocol, just like Leo, and how nervous she gets over the simplest things. "What's a matter, Margaret? Afraid the ghosts of Presidents past will haunt you, if you sleep in their official bed or that the agents will drag you out of here if you snore?"
Margaret looks at her with a serious face, "That's not funny, 'Girlfriend'. You know how I am about ghosts and the agents."
Abbey pats her on the arm, "I'm sorry Margaret. I just couldn't resist. I'll stop teasing you. Now, what have I been missing with all the White House gossip?"
After they run the gamut of gossip, Abbey asks about the one subject that Margaret has been avoiding all evening. "What has you so worried tonight, Margaret, and don't tell me that you are fine…, 'Leo'?"
Margaret instinctively knows Leo is having some sort of problem tonight and confides to her, "Well… To be honest… I'm worried and I suspect that Leo's is probably having a nightmare tonight. He hasn't had one for a long time, but in my gut and heart, I know he is tonight."
Abbey reassures her, "I've known about his reoccurring nightmares for years, Margaret. When he stayed with us at the farm, he had them from time to time."
Margaret sighs with some relief and tells Abbey, "Leo doesn't have the nightmares every night. It seems like he just has them when he's really stressed out or upset, but he rarely does anymore, now that some time has passed since his attack and he's more secure that I'm safe."
Abbey smiles softly at the good news, "Thank goodness he's is getting some relief from them. I know that Jed could always deal with them better than I could at the farm anyway. He's in good hands if he is having one. You know Jed loves Leo like a brother. He'll take care of him and stay with him until he resettles. Those two men are so bonded and tuned to each other."
Margaret admits, "I've been trying not to panic and put in a return call to him tonight. He hopefully is sleeping by now, as it is the middle of the night in London."
She pulls Margaret to lean again her side and strokes her hair to comfort her, "Yeah, it is, Margaret, and yes, hopefully, Leo is peacefully asleep."
Margaret snuggles against Abbey for the offered comfort and the day's events catch up with her and she instantly falls asleep in the President's bed.
Abbey smiles to herself that in the morning Margaret will have a fit and will be so worried that she didn't return to her guest room, but actually did fall asleep where she was. Abbey she can just hear Margaret in her panic. 'This 'is' the Official Presidential Bed, of the White House, of the United States. It's where several Presidents have slept over the years'. She's just gonna die in the morning.
To be continued in Part 4B of 4C of 10 (hopefully)
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chipmunk aka: Betty Lou Riley
Imp aka: Lynn Jessome leosimpishgrinyahoo.ca
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Posted 08-05-04