Chapter fourteen
WASHINGTON, FRIDAY 7:59
"Where's Henry?" Leo asked, looking around the room at Toby slumped in the corner with Josh slumped in a chair to his right. Margaret walked into the room and handed Leo a note and then tried to offer Toby and Josh a muffin or Danish, for she knew they weren't eating. They each passed up the offer.
"Gaggle." Toby said rubbing his hand over his forehead.
"Oh yeah." Leo said looking at the note. "Margaret, stay and take notes." He stopped her before she had exited. She responded by taking a small notebook and pen from her pocket.
"I can tell' um." Josh said in the middle of a yawn.
"Well, since you can't even stay awake I'll have Margaret take notes."
"Don't worry, Josh I can write fifty words a minute."
"Margaret." Leo gave a scolding toward Margaret.
"Sorry." Margaret knew what that meant.
Leo looked over at Josh who was now asleep in his chair.
"Josh, wake up!" Leo yelled.
"Josh." Toby pushed his arm to rouse him. Josh jumped up in his chair, realizing he had been asleep. He rubbed his face and took a large breath in from his nose. Leo gave Josh one of his disapproving looks. Margaret looked at Toby and Toby looked at Leo as Toby rested on his hand.
"I guess you didn't get sleep like I told you?" Leo scolded Josh.
"Huh?" Josh was still not fully awake.
"Never mind." Leo got up and walked around.
"What's going on?" Josh asked. "Hey, Margaret---? Did I miss something?"
"Did you miss something?" Leo's lack of sleep as well was wearing on his nerves, doubling his sarcasm.
"Margaret's taking notes." Toby said dryly still leaning on his face.
"What did I miss?" Josh said groggily.
"Well... Leo said, "Wake up Josh! And then you said something inaudible—"
"Margaret, I don't think we need the recap." Leo demanded putting his hand on his forehead.
"OK." Margaret paused. "Just here if you need me." Leo closed his mouth and looked at Margaret.
"Thanks." Leo gave her a fake grin. If it weren't for the fact that she was so amazing at her job, she would have been gone years ago. No one was as great an assistant as Margaret.
"Josh, how's it going with the computer program?" Leo circled his desk. "Oh for crying out—."Leo turned to see Josh asleep again. "Wake him up!"
"JOSH!" Toby yelled.
"I'm here, I'm here!" Josh straightened up in his chair.
"Ok, this has got to stop." Leo demanded.
"I think maybe we've all been under a lot of stress—" Toby stood.
"Yes, we have." Leo felt it had to be handled.
"And since we do have a break from what I'm sure is much more important—"Toby interjected sarcastically.
"No, Toby---"Leo had had it with Toby.
"Why aren't we talking about this!?" Toby yelled. "We've stopped talkin'—"
"Because we need to talk about computers and getting enough votes for the farm lands bill, not to mention figuring who the hell leaked the name of the CIA agent in Brussels—"
"Things need to be done!" Toby was in full force.
"And things need to be done here! Toby, don't push me! You've been pushing me all week."
"Well, you should be pushing them." Toby paused to collect his thoughts.
"You don't think I have!? You don't think?"
"I—" Toby lowered his voice and turned around before facing Leo again.
"You can't know me well and not think I'm not doin' my best here, Toby!" Leo yelled back.
"I know you have---"Toby spoke quickly.
"And we have to run this country, Toby!"
"I know." Toby fell into the chair behind him looking as exhausted as Josh.
Leo looked at Josh, as he rubbed his eyes, and at Toby as he leaned back in his chair and tried to keep his eyes open. "You know this thing could take a long time. It could take days, it could take months—it could take—I'm not even gonna say that—We have to continue running this country which means someone's got to get some sleep around here and someone's got to eat a damn bagel. And as much as I'd love it if you all could take the 25th on this one—" Toby tried to speak, but Leo was one step in front of him. "I'm warning you Toby---you want me to make you a dissident of the state because I will if I have---it'll take a lot paperwork—but you know, right now I'd wait in line at the DMV if it meant getting you off my back."
"Why don't you just do that?" Margaret spoke up.
"Wait in line at the DMV?" Leo snapped at her. Josh opened his eyes.
"No, make these guys--- who know where CJ is---dissidents of the state? Then you can send out the National Guard--the whole enchilada—find them—find CJ and Danny."
Leo's eyes widen and the room looked like gold had been found in them there hills. Josh even woke up fully.
"Margaret, I could kiss you!" Leo said with glee.
"I'm sorry?" Margaret was scared.
"Kiss you, Margaret I could kiss you." Leo smiled from ear to ear.
"As tempting as that is Leo, I really think we need to keep our relationship on a professional level." She said with dryly.
"Yeah." Josh left the office, followed by Toby, Leo and Margaret close in tow.
"You're saying I'm funny? You never say I'm funny? You don't laugh at my jokes?" Margaret turned to Toby. "He never laughs at my jokes—"
"Not only are you funny, you're intelligent and great at your job." Leo took a happy breath.
"Oh now, you're scaring the crap out of me—" Margaret had that look.
"He's saying you're right!" Toby yelled at her as they passed into her office.
"I am?"
"Yes!" Toby yelled.
"Be back here when you're done!" Leo yelled at Josh as he and Toby ran off.
Margaret smiled. Leo walked back into his office.
"Margaret!" Leo yelled and she followed him back in.