Sacrifice

Chapter 2: Edith Wilson

The first thing he noticed when Mike neared his building was the secret service man standing at the front entrance. He recognized the agent immediately. The S.S. man, Carl Somthin, was assigned to a specific detail and the only reason he would be at Leo's door is if she were there. 'Oh God, what is she doing here?' Leo wondered. Some part of him knew she would come, but part of him thought after Roslyn she would never come to him again.

He climbed up the stairs to the entrance of his building, a renovated Georgetown building converted into condominiums. It was nice, spacious and close to the White House so Leo decided it was as good a place as anywhere else to live. He liked it but he never could consider it home. He had no home and never would because, as cliché as it sounds, home is where the heart is. And his heart was lost to him, opting instead to follow around a certain woman doctor with a highly valued title. So wherever she went his heart followed in hopeless pursuit.

Opening the door, Leo surveyed the darken living room to his right for signs of life. He sat his keys down next to the paper bag in his arms on an end table next to the door. It took him a few moments to adjust his eyes to the darkness. He made out the outlines of the sofas, bookshelves, television stand and coffee table. Then his gaze settled on a lone figure sitting so still on the sofa that Leo thought she may be sleep.

Leo wanted to move in closer, to go to her but he was paralyzed. Dreaming of this scenario more than he cared to admit, he just wanted to savor it. 'My Abigail is home, right where she should be. My heart is home.' In his dreams she would look him straight into his eyes and he would open his arms to her in invitation. Abbey would run into his arms and they would embrace. Through her tears she would raise her hand to display the missing wedding band. Without saying a word Leo would kiss her, pick her up, and carry her to their bedroom so they could consummate the beginning of the rest of their lives together. But, a last, it was only a dream and the present reality was definitely not his idea of a perfect scenario.

Leo knew she would still have her wedding ring on. He also knew why she was here and it angered him. Pity, she was here out of pity. Abigail saw the hearing on television today, and not being a stupid person, could clearly put two and two together which equaled the end of his political career. 'Yeah, this is definitely a pity visit. Well, she can just go back home to Jed with her pity because I, Leo McGarry, do not want nor need it,' Leo said to himself.

All of a sudden Abbey rose up from the sofa and looked at him. At first, Leo would not make eye contact but when he felt those big pools of green boring into him Leo had no choice but to look. In that moment when their eyes locked he could see in her very soul. Yes there was pity but also love, longing, respect and something he wasn't quite sure he could name.

Shifting under his gaze, Abbey turned her head down to look away. Leo's stare was too intense. That look too much to bear, for it conveyed everything he was feeling. When, Leo, who had arguably the greatest poker face in politics, let his guard down he could say everything with just a simple look. Right know he was saying, "I love you. I need you. How did you know? Why are you here? Save me. I'm yours."

The last thing his eyes said made her look away. Knowing that she was partly to blame for the current mess they were all in made her feel totally unworthy. Abbey knew she should have told Leo the moment he started talking to Jed about running for president, but she felt a need to comply with Jed's wish of no one knowing about his MS. After all, Leo may have been her lover but Jed was her husband. Having already broken her vow of fidelity she was determined to at least honor her promise of secrecy to Jed. That's how she justified lying to Leo, but standing there after the lie had been disclosed made her realize just how wrong she was. Know all she could do was be there for the inevitable destruction of Leo's life as well as her own. The comparison between Edith Wilson and herself was an indication of more things to come. Once they finished with Leo and the other staff she would be next in line. No matter who was to blame for the current mess they were all firmly planted in, one thing was for certain, they were all in it together.

Leo watched her as Abbey got lost in her thoughts. Her head was still tilted down, her face masked by her auburn colored hair. Thoughts of running his fingers through her hair and smelling for a new shampoo rushed through his mind. After clearing his throat, Leo whispered "Abbey?" She looked up and saw the question in his eyes. She smiled and walked toward him. Taking his hand in hers she kissed it, turned, and silently guided him towards the staircase, up the stairs, and down the hall towards his bedroom.

tbc