Title: Hearts Alone (3/?)
By: adoreleo
Rating: Part 3 is PG-13. Contains some very strong language.
Characters: Leo, Margaret, Mallory, CJ, Abbey and Jed
Spoilers: Anything up to and including Liftoff.
Disclaimer: The characters are from the NBC, WB, TV show The West Wing; they do not belong to me.
Beta, Brainstorming & Additional Ideas By: Lynn, who always goes beyond the call. THANKS!!!!
Feedback: Is greatly appreciated and motivates me to write more!
Author's Notes: I messed with the timeline and have Leo's heart attack occurring about two months before Thanksgiving. In addition, obviously the nurse in this story is not the same one that is on the show.
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Part 3
Wednesday
A stressed out Margaret wakes up at the sound of her squawking alarm and immediately smacks the snooze button for just a few more minutes of restless sleep. She was up late last night fretting about and packing for her impending stay with Leo. When the alarm buzzes again, she drags herself out of bed and heads for the shower. She tries to relax under the hot spray of the showerhead's spray, but her back is so tense from the nervous tension she has been feeling ever since she agreed to go stay with him.
Margaret steps out of the shower and exhales deeply, trying to calm herself, "Damnit, it's not like I've never stayed all night with Leo before," she frustratingly says aloud to herself. There were more than a few times on the campaign trail that she fell asleep in his room after working into the wee hours of the morning and of course it's occurred several times since they have been in the White House. However, this is different and Margaret is worried she will not be able to control her emotions or hide her feelings from Leo. It kills her to see him like this. She knows better than anyone does how he hates to be dependant on others.
During the first couple of days that Leo was in the hospital, she only left to go home, shower and change clothes. Even though she spent all of her time at the hospital, she was never able to force herself stay in Leo's room for any lengthy visits. Most of the time when she was in his room, he was sleeping. She would sit there in his darkened room and just watch him sleep. Watching his chest raise and fall with each labored breath. But, as soon as he started to wake up, she would quickly leave the room. He only caught her in his room, a few times and she's sure that with all the morphine he was on that he thankfully does not even remember most of what happened those first couple of days after surgery.
Margaret heads for her kitchen, makes some decaf, heats up a bowl of oatmeal in the microwave and sits down at her table. She leafs though the morning paper and tries to distract herself as she eats her breakfast. She softly smiles when she comes to the page with the crossword puzzle on it. She grabs a pen from the center of the table and starts to work the puzzle. After a few minutes of trying to solve the crossword, she looks at the clock in her kitchen and realizes it's time to leave for work. She walks out to the hallway, grabs her coat from the coat tree, picks up her bags and leaves her apartment.
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Leo wakes up without the aid of an alarm clock. Even though there is no reason for him to set one, he has never been one who could sleep late. Besides, he has slept more in the past few weeks, than he probably has in the past year. He lies in bed, on his back, for a few minutes, slowly moving his muscles, trying to work out the stiffness from his incisions on his chest and legs. Mornings are the hardest for him, after lying in bed all night, it takes awhile to be able to get up and move around without a lot of pain.
Leo finally makes his way slowly to the bathroom. He gets in the shower and enjoys the warm spray against his body. He smiles as he thinks about the day planned ahead of him. First, the President is stopping over to visit with him, much to the chagrin of the Secret Service, he bets. Secondly, his unfriendly full-time nurse will be permanently leaving. Thirdly, and probably the important thing occurring is that Margaret is going to come stay though the weekend with him.
Leo's still slightly concerned about being in close quarters with Margaret and not letting his feelings show, but he's very excited about seeing her. He has really missed her these past few weeks. He has missed her inane jokes, her constant hovering, her knowing smile, and most of all he's missed her penetrating eyes that seem to look into his soul and find the best in him.
Leo gets out of the shower, shaves, dresses and then heads to the dining table to eat his breakfast. He sits down and starts to work the crossword puzzle while he waits for his meal from room service. Leo has to catch himself from yelling for Margaret when he discovers that six across is wrong. He knows this always drives her crazy, but he thinks she secretly enjoys it whenever he finds a mistake.
Leo looks up at the door, when room service knocks on the door. He smiles when he sees his nurse's bags sitting by it. Leo watches his nurse answer the door and bring him his food, "Thank you."
"Mr. McGarry, if that's all. I think I will be going. My flight leaves in a couple of hours." She says, looking at her wristwatch.
"Okay and thanks for your help these past few weeks," Leo puts on his best smile.
"You're welcome Mr. McGarry, goodbye." She says, without any emotion, as she walks to the door, grabs her bags and leaves.
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"Abbey," Jed calls, as he walks into the bathroom.
"Yes," Abbey returns, as she applies the last of her makeup.
"I need you to do me a favor today, Sweet Knees," Jed says with a smile.
"And what's that Pumpkin?" She smirks.
"CJ came to see me late last night. She's worried about Margaret." Jed walks over and stands next to his wife.
Abbey turns and looks at her husband, "Margaret?"
"Yeah, she doesn't seem herself lately. It seems that Mallory talked CJ and she told CJ that Margaret hasn't been by to visit Leo since he left the hospital." Jed explains.
"That's doesn't sound like Margaret. She was at the hospital everyday, wasn't she?" Abbey asks and then thinks about it for a couple of seconds. "You know… come to think about it, she wasn't around much after Leo's first couple of days there."
"Yeah and I think she's avoiding me too. I wonder if she overheard us when… you know…"
"Jed, if Margaret overheard our conversation about you firing Leo, I think that you'd know it. I imagine she would have chewed you up one side and down the other."
"Yeah, that's what I figure, too." Jed knows that he would be in real trouble if Margaret finds out why Leo walked off into the woods in the first place.
"So, what's the favor you needed?"
"I'd like you to talk to Margaret. Find out what is going on. We owe it to Leo to take care of her."
"Okay, I'll stop by this morning. Aren't you going over to Leo's today?"
"Yeah, first thing this afternoon," Jed comments with a smile.
"It's been almost two weeks since you've seen him, hasn't it?"
"Yeah, Ron really doesn't like me schlepping over there all the time and we've also been a little busy around here." Jed hates that he has not gotten to visit him as often as he would like, but he knows there is not much that he can do about it.
"Jed, Leo understands," Abbey says softly. She knows how much her husband misses his best friend. "When I saw him yesterday, he looked much better."
"You went and saw him yesterday? Why didn't you tell me?" Jed jumps at her words.
"Jethro, calm down. I detoured on my way home yesterday evening and stopped by for a quick visit, and I would have told you, but you were in that marathon meeting and when you finally came to the Residence, I was asleep."
"You detoured. Now why can you go on a whim and I can barely schedule a weekly visit? Who's your lead agent? I need to get him to talk with Ron," Jed shakes his head in disgust.
"Will you get over it?"
"Maybe… So how was he?"
"He looks good," Abbey says as she reaches for a tissue to blot her lipstick.
"And?" Jed asks, noticing his wife's resistance in offering any more information.
"And nothing, he looks better than he did last time I saw him," Abbey says, as she walks out of the bathroom.
"Abbey, what aren't you telling me?"
"Jed… it's just… he seems… so …alone… more than I have ever noticed before," she softly says, looking at her husband with deep sadness in her eyes.
"I thought Mallory was there everyday."
"She is, but it's… I mean he's …alone…" Abbey adds trying to get Jed to understand.
"Oh," Jed softly says, as it finally sinks in. "Yeah, I… see your point. So, you're going to talk with Margaret?" He double checks with her.
"Yeah."
"Okay, anything you want me to tell Leo for you?" Jed asks.
"No, we had a very nice chat yesterday," she adds with a small smile.
"Okay, I'll see you later this afternoon. Oh, one thing I did forget to tell you. Margaret is going to be staying with Leo this weekend, while Mallory goes to her mother's house in Boston."
"I already knew that. Leo actually told me about it. As a matter a fact," Abbey turns her head sideways a little, "it's the only time Leo seemed to be… Hey you don't suppose that…"
"Abbey, don't go there." Jed warns.
"Okay, but you never know," Abbey says, as the wheels start to turn in that romantic head of hers.
"Yeah," Jed says, as he starts to think about some things that Leo has said in the past. "Bye." He tells his wife as he kisses her cheek.
"Bye," she returns his kiss, and then heads off to her office. She has a few things to take care of before she goes to visit Margaret.
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It has been a very hectic morning for Margaret at the White House. Everyone is trying to get things accomplished early so that they can get a head start on the holiday weekend. She finally gets two seconds to herself and hurries off to the break room to grab a cup of well-deserved coffee.
Margaret arrives back at her office, sits down and starts to sip her coffee. She is just starting to relax when she hears some footsteps approaching. She looks up to find the First Lady standing in front of her desk. "Mrs. Bartlet," Margaret squeaks out as she hurriedly jumps to her feet.
"Morning Margaret."
"Morning Ma'am," Margaret says, as she looks quickly at CJ's office and then back over to the First Lady. "CJ's at a meeting in the Roosevelt Room, Ma'am and won't be available until after ten."
"Margaret, please sit down," Abbey motions as she walks over to the visitor's chair beside Margaret's desk and takes a seat.
Margaret bobs her head and sits down. She's not used to Mrs. Bartlet stopping by and chatting with her, at least not for the past couple of years. There was a time when she would stop and visit a bit, before going on in to see Leo. However, with all that has happened, the First Lady rarely comes over to Leo's office anymore. Margaret also knows that they have seemed to make amends a few weeks before Leo's heart attack.
"Actually, I'm here to see you," Abbey professes with a smile.
"Me?" Margaret retorts with a surprised look.
"Yes Margaret, you. I haven't' seen much of you lately, and I thought I'd stop by and see how you're doing."
"I'm fine, Ma'am."
"Now, where have I heard that before?" Abbey softly laughs. "And you're no better than him at hiding the truth, I might add."
A shocked Margaret gives the First Lady a tight-lipped smile. 'How could she know,' she thinks to herself as her hands begin to fidget in her lap.
"Margaret," Abbey raises an eyebrow, "is everything all right? I mean, no of course it's not, but are you okay?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Margaret unpersuasively responds as she bobs her head and then stares at her hands in her lap. She desperately tries to hold back her emotions. She does not want to break down in front of Mrs. Bartlet.
"Well… I'm not convinced," Abbey purses her lips as she shakes her head. "I think you've spent way too much time with 'Mr. I'm fine'. Margaret, what's wrong?" Abbey benevolently asks, leaning closer towards her.
The kindness of the First Lady's voice gets to Margaret. She hesitates and then looks up, though watery eyes, at the First Lady. "Nothing's wrong," she tries her best to deny.
"Margaret, is it Leo?" Abbey guesses.
Margaret bobs her head, before she can stop herself.
"He's going to be fine."
"I know," Margaret sighs, "it's…"
"It's what?"
"Nothing, really. I'm just being silly."
"It's not silly to be worried about him. We all are." Abbey points out.
"Yeah," Margaret sighs.
"Well at least for the next few days, you won't have to be so worried about him." Abbey smiles.
"What do you mean?" Margaret's eyes widen.
"Margaret, I know you're going to stay with Leo for the next few days…" Abbey informs her.
"How do you know?" Margaret quickly interjects.
"CJ told Jed last night and then he told me. Also, something else was mentioned too." Abbey decides not to tell her that Leo was the one who actually told her.
"What?" Margaret cannot help but ask.
"That you haven't been yourself lately, and that you seem distracted, so Jed wanted me to check on you. He and I both know that Leo won't be happy if you're not being well looked after."
"Leo?"
"Yes, Leo. Margaret, do you want to talk with me about what's really wrong or is there someone else you'd rather talk to?"
"There's really… no one. I'm not even sure how to start or what to…" Margaret pauses, unsure if she should say anything about what she has been feeling.
"Margaret, it's understandable that you've been distracted and upset, but I think… that something else is going on too."
Margaret hesitates for a few seconds, and then it all comes spewing out, "It's all my fault. I suspected something was wrong with Leo, and I did not pursue it hard enough. I mean… I should have taken better care of him." Margaret can no longer hold back her tears, and they start to flow freely down her face. "I saw him eating antacids all the time and I even caught him holding his stomach a couple of times. I let him brush me off… I thought it was well… maybe an ulcer. I never even thought about it being his… heart."
"Margaret, I completely understand your guilt. There is a lot of that going around, but you and Jed are not to blame unlike… me… I am a doctor. I should have seen what was going on. I knew that Jed and Leo were…" Abbey quickly catches herself. She's sure that Margaret was aware that Leo and Jed weren't seeing eye to eye about the situation in Gaza, but she' not going to open up the topic.
"Leo's very good at hiding things," Margaret quickly says.
"I should have known something was seriously wrong when I caught him sleeping in his office, in the middle of the afternoon, one day. He looked so tired, so… I just didn't even think…" Abbey says as she gently shakes her head.
"When was that?" Margaret almost snaps. "I'm always here."
"The day Jed threw out the first pitch."
"Oh, I had a dentist appointment that afternoon and Leo made me go home after it. He said they would be at the game and there was no reason for me to come back to work afterwards. He'd have never let his guard down like that if I'd been around."
"No, probably not. He was quick to change the subject when I said something to him about it."
"Ma'am, Leo hid it from all of us I guess… but I still can't help but feel…"
"Margaret, I guess feeling guilty about it means that we care about him."
"Ma'am, why does the President feel guilty about Leo's heart attack?"
Abbey stares at Margaret and tries to figure out how best to respond. She finally tells her, "That's between Jed and Leo."
"Okay," Margaret responds with an uneasy feeling in her stomach.
"Margaret, why haven't you been visiting Leo?"
"Mallory and CJ have big mouths."
"They're just concerned about you. Jed and I are too"
"You all should be worrying about Leo, not me. Besides, I haven't had time."
"Somehow, I don't think that's true. The woman I know would move heaven and hell to visit Leo McGarry in the hospital or any other place. So, tell me. What's changed?"
"Nothing's changed."
"Margaret?"
"No really. I still feel the same way I did then," Margaret quickly says.
"Oh and how do you feel?" Abbey says as the light of understanding goes off in her head.
"I… care about him," Margaret softly says.
"We all do, but I suspect that you care differently about him."
"I don't know what you mean?"
"I think you do. I think that you… maybe… that you love him," Abbey's smile widens as she watches Margaret's face grow red.
"I… I…" Margaret stutters.
"Margaret, it's okay. I think it is wonderful. Do you think he feels the same way?"
"Why would he? What would he want with me? I'm a nobody."
"Margaret, don't sell yourself short."
"He couldn't possibly…"
"You know, a couple of years ago, Leo told Jed that he was fine, because he had you."
"Really?"
"Yes, he did. The more I think about it; the clearer it seems to me. I think you should say something to him."
"What? I couldn't."
"Well, you're going to spend the next few days with him. Maybe…"
"Don't remind me," Margaret breathes out.
"I really think you should consider telling him."
"When hell freezes over," Margaret quickly points out.
"Well… it just might this weekend," Abbey softly laughs.
"I…" Margaret blushes even more.
"You never know Margaret" Abbey says as she looks at the clock on the wall. "Well, I need to get back to my office. I have several things to do before we leave for Camp David."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Think about what we've talked about," Abbey says, as she gets up.
"I'll give it all the attention it deserves."
Abbey walks over to the door, turns around, "Oh, and give Leo a kiss from me," she says with a smirk as she turns and quickly leaves.
"Right," Margaret mutters aloud, as she sits back down, stares at her computer and wonders what she's going to do.
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Wednesday Afternoon
Leo smiles at the thundering footsteps he hears in the hallway outside his hotel room. He gets up from the couch and walks over to the door. He reaches it just as the agent knocks, Leo opens the door and two Secret Service agents flood the room and begin the ritual. Once the room is secure, one agent goes out onto the balcony and the other one returns to the hallway to join his fellow agents.
"Leo," the President warmly says, as he steps though the door.
"Mr. President," Leo smiles in return.
"It's really good to see you, especially upright," Jed walks over to Leo, opens his arms and gently embraces his best friend. They hug each other for a few seconds.
Leo slowly pulls from his friend's arms; it's still a little uncomfortable holding his arms up that high for too long. "You too, Sir."
"Leo, what do I have to do to get you to call me Jed?"
"Sir, I will after you leave office," Leo informs him as his mind races back to the last time he called him by his name. Jed had not heard him that day in the tunnel. A day that Leo knew that he would probably always regret. He did not mean to say what he did, but there was no going back now.
"Okay," Jed nods. "You look better than you did last time I saw you," Jed tells him as he heads for the couch and takes a seat. He knows that Leo will not sit until he does.
"Well I should hope so, Sir. It's been a couple of weeks," Leo comments as he joins the President on the couch. The last time Jed had been to visit; he was having a painful day.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine, Sir."
"Leo… seriously, how are you feeling?" Jed asks with deep concern.
"I'm still a little sore, Sir. But, it's getting better everyday."
"And your strength?"
"It's… improving too, Sir."
"You're not lying to me?"
"No, Sir," Leo shakes his head.
"And your appetite?"
Leo gives him the 'how do you know that look,' "It appears that I've found it."
"CJ told me after her visit over here that you weren't eating much," Jed explains, after noticing Leo's expression.
"How's CJ doing?" Leo asks, trying to get the subject switched from him.
"She's doing good, but I would think you'd have already gotten the low down on how she's doing from Margaret. She can tell you probably better than me if CJ's doing okay."
"Yeah, I was just wondering what your opinion is, Sir." Leo lies.
"Oh… well, could it be that you haven't talked with Margaret lately?" Jed probes Leo slightly.
"What makes you think that?" Leo quickly shoots back at him.
"A little bird told me," Jed smiles at him.
"What little bird?"
"Well actually I heard it from two sources," Jed boasts.
"Did Margaret say something to you?" Leo's asks with great concern.
"No, Margaret makes herself pretty scarce around me. I think she blames me for your heart attack."
"Sir," Leo's says quietly. "I told no one about what happened before my heart attack and besides, it wasn't your fault. I…"
"Leo, you can say whatever you want," Jed's voice softens. "But I'll always wonder if I hadn't fired you…"
"Look… you firing me didn't cause my heart attack." Leo argues.
"Maybe, but it did make you wander out into the woods and…"
"Mr. President, I'm the one who walked out into those damn woods. I'm the one who chose to ignore the symptoms I was having for weeks. I'm the one who told you that my council was no longer of value to you. It's not your fault. It's…" Leo has to stop. He's breathing heavily from exerting himself too much. He takes some slow deep breaths trying to get his breathing and heart rate to drop back to normal.
"Leo?" Jed moves over towards Leo, reaches out and lays a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm... fine, I just got… too excited," he finally manages to breath out, as sweat beads up on his brow.
"Are you sure? Should I get call someone?" Jed asks with deep concern.
"Yes, I'm fine and no you don't need to call anyone," Leo says, his breathing almost back to normal.
"Okay then… but… I'm still sorry," Jed softly says, though sad eyes.
"Me too," Leo replies, dropping his eyes and then looking back up at his best friend.
"So, who's the little bird?" Leo asks, trying to get onto a different subject.
"Excuse me?" Jed gives his friend a puzzled look, as he moves back to where he was sitting before Leo's little episode.
"Your source, Sir."
"Oh that," Jed laughs.
"Yeah."
"Well, if you must know. I had a talk with Mallory, yesterday."
"She called you?" Leo asks with surprise in his voice.
"No, I called her late last night, after CJ told me that Margaret was coming over to stay with you, because Mallory was going to go visit her mother and spend a few days with her over the holiday weekend."
"I wish people would stop worrying about me, I'm fine," he quickly points out. "Mallory needs to get on with her life and stop mothering…"
"Leo, lots people are concerned and worried about you. Therefore, you need to let those who care about you… help you. It won't be forever," Jed conveys to his best friend.
"I… know… it's just… well I don't want to be dependent on… others." Leo counters as he shakes his head.
"Leo, whether you know it or not, you have been dependant on someone for years," Jed reminds him.
"Who?" Leo looks at Jed with a puzzled face.
"Margaret," Jed says with a warm smile.
A flushed Leo lowers his eyes and then looks back towards Jed. "Yeah… you're right. I'd be lost without her," Leo sincerely smiles.
"Leo, do you have something you'd like to share?" Jed asks, after noticing the change in Leo's face and demeanor.
"About what, Sir?"
"I think you know what," Jed lightly demands.
"Sir?"
"Is there something going on between you and a certain red haired assistant of yours?" Jed gently questions him with a big smile on his face.
"Sir, there is nothing… going on between Margaret, and myself," Leo says indignantly.
"Oh, but I think you're wrong. I think you're sweet on her," Jed teases.
"She's not candy, Sir."
"Leo, when are you going to learn you can't hide things from me? You like her, don't you?"
"Well of course, I like her. She's a very likable person," Leo quips.
"That's not what I meant and you know it," Jed whines, as he gets a little frustrated with him. "You're in love with her." He slowly points out.
"Sir," Leo looks around, as if he's checking to see if anyone heard what the President just implied.
"We're the only ones here, Leo. My agents are out in the hall and on the balcony," Jed motions with his hand. "Now, do you?"
"Do I what, Sir?" Leo breathes out, suddenly feeling very tired.
"Love her?"
"Yeah," Leo softly says, too tired to deny it any longer.
"Really?" Jed smiles, knowing he was right.
Leo nods his head.
"For how long?" Jed asks, surprised that Leo has actually admitted it.
"I really don't know exactly when, Sir," he sighs. "I've tried to ignore the way I feel for some time now, but out there in the… woods and afterwards, I've had time to do a lot of thinking…"
"Are you going to do something about it?"
"Sir… what the hell would Margaret want with an old man like me, especially now," Leo motions to his chest.
"I think… you might be surprised," Jed informs him.
"Sir…"
"So, Leo, do you really think she's stayed with you all these years because of the high civil servant pay?" Jed sarcastically says.
"Maybe she's like me and just wants to serve her country," Leo offers as he wearily rubs his forehead.
"Well, I'm sure that's part of it, but she doesn't have the nice hefty reserves to back her up, either." Jed quickly counters with a smile. He has always enjoyed teasing his friend about his wealth.
"Sir." Leo gives him that look. The one he always gives his friend when Jed brings up his prosperity.
"I would also like to point out that she's been distracted and sad at work and before you say anything else, that's also CJ's and Abbey's opinions, too."
"Abbey?"
"Yes, Abbey," he nods his head. "I had her talk with Margaret, this morning, before I came over here. I thought that maybe she would be more open with Abbey than myself."
"Is… she okay?" Leo's voice cracks, as he sits up a little straighter.
"Well, Abbey thinks that it's nothing that can't be cured by spending some time with you."
"With me?" Leo starches the spot just behind his ear.
"Yes, you. Margaret misses you."
"Then why hasn't she been by to visit?" He wonders aloud.
"That's something you need to talk with her about," Jed stands looking at his watch. "Leo, I'm sorry, but I need to go."
"I know, Sir." Leo carefully stands.
"I wish I could come by more often, but..."
"Mr. President, I completely understand," Leo reassures him.
"Well, I guess I'll call you after we get back from Camp David. Happy Thanksgiving," Jed reaches over and shakes Leo's hand.
"You too Sir, and say hi to Abbey and the girls for me," Leo squeezes his hand in return.
"I will," Jed says, heading for the door. "Oh, and give Margaret I kiss from me, for taking care of my best friend this weekend, and all the times in the past," Jed smirks as he scoots quickly through the door leaving Leo alone once again.
"I wish," Leo softly mutters to himself, as he slowly walks into his bedroom. He is a little worn out from the President's visit, plus he knows he needs to get some sleep, if he's going to wait up for Margaret tonight. He lies down on his bed and thinks about his recent conversation with his best friend. Leo closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep with a smile on his face from thoughts of him kissing Margaret.
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It's a little before nine o'clock on Wednesday evening, when CJ walks back into the outer office and finds a procrastinating Margaret moving things around on her desk. "Margaret, what are you still doing here?"
"Umm…" a startled Margaret stammers. "I was just…"
"You were just what?"
"Waiting for you to get back to see if you needed anything else before I leave for the weekend."
"Margaret, I told you to leave before I went down to the Situation Room. I told you I didn't need you to stay. It wasn't even serious enough to delay the President from leaving for Camp David."
"I always stayed until Leo…" Margaret abruptly stops and lowers her eyes. She feels guilty for constantly comparing Leo with CJ.
"Margaret, it's okay. You should leave now. Leo is probably waiting up for you and wondering why you're not there, yet," CJ gently prods her to leave.
"He better not be. I told him not to wait up for me," she says, as she gets up and walks over to her coat tree.
"Knowing him, I bet he is," CJ smiles.
"He shouldn't. He needs his rest," Margaret comments, as she grabs her purse and heads for the door.
"Night, Margaret and have a nice Thanksgiving," CJ calls after her.
"Night, you too," she says over her shoulder. Margaret quickens her pace to the exit. 'That man better not be waiting up for me,' she thinks to herself as she leaves the White House and heads for her car.
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CJ gathers her things and heads for the door. The ringing phone on her desk causes her to stop. She stares at it for a couple of seconds, willing it to stop ringing, but it doesn't work. She throws her stuff down on her desk and picks up the phone, "CJ Cregg," she slightly huffs into the phone.
"CJ, I'm sorry to bother you."
"Leo, you're never any bother," CJ's mood instantly changes for the better. She, like everyone else, really misses Leo. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I was looking for Margaret. Is she still there?" Leo starts to pace.
"You just missed her. She left not more than five minutes ago," CJ informs him.
"Okay," Leo sighs in relief.
"Leo, is everything all right?"
"Yeah, I was just… making sure… well I guess I thought she would get off work sooner tonight," Leo walks over to his window, pulls back the drapes and looks down to the street, several floors below.
"I'm sorry Leo," she feels guilty about not making sure that Margaret left earlier tonight. "I was called down to the Situation Room, and I told her it wasn't necessary for her to stay. She said she was going to leave, so I was really surprised to still find her here when I got back."
"Yeah, she can be stubborn," Leo assures her. He has heard her 'I go when you go' sermon several times over the years.
"Well… I think the last person she worked for was a bad influence on her," CJ teases him.
"Yeah, you're probably right about that," Leo smiles, as he turns from the window and walks out into the living room area of his hotel suite.
"Leo, I hate to rush, but I was on my way out and it's been a long day today," CJ says regretfully.
"Sorry."
"No reason to be sorry. You know better than me how it is."
"Yeah. Okay, goodnight CJ," Leo says, as he sits down on the couch.
"Night, have a nice Thanksgiving," CJ says, relieved that he will not be alone for the holiday.
"You too," he says then hangs up the phone, as he lays his head back on the couch and continues to wait for his Margaret.
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Leo keeps looking at his watch. It has been over forty-five minutes since he talked with CJ. Margaret should have been thirty minutes ago. She is never late. All kinds of discouraging thoughts start rushing though his head. She's avoiding me. She only thinks of me as her boss. She really does not want to come over and spend time with an old man. She only agreed to stay out of pity.
"Damnit!! Where is she?" Leo mutters aloud as he gets up from the couch and starts to pace back and forth between the couch, and the window in his bedroom that overlooks the street next to the hotel garage entrance.
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Margaret parks her car in the parking garage of Leo's hotel and breathes a heavy sigh as she turns off the motor. She continues to sit there for a few minutes collecting her thoughts and waiting for her face to loose its puffiness. She has spent the last forty-five minutes or so, just driving around the streets of DC. Sometimes having a hard time seeing though the tears in her eyes. She still can't help but feel sad about Leo and his no longer being Chief of Staff, although she knows it's the best thing for him. But, the main reason for her tears is her unrequited love.
Margaret finally gets out of her car, grabs her bags from the trunk and makes her way to the elevator. She gets inside, rides it up to the top floor and then heads for Leo's door. She pulls the card key from her purse, inserts it and opens the door. She's surprised to see Leo sitting on the couch. "Leo, what are you still doing up?"
Leo looks up at from the couch and grouses, "Good evening, Margaret. Nice to see ya. Glad you could finally make it. I'm fine, how about you?"
"I'm okay," Margaret replies, overlooking his sarcastic comments. "Should you be up this late?" She asks, moving over to the couch.
"Margaret," Leo growls.
"Sorry," Margaret lowers her eyes.
"Margaret, where have you been?" Leo demands in a gruff voice.
"I was at… work. I told you I would be late." She moves over to the chair next to the couch and drops her coat and purse in it.
"Margaret, I called the White House and talked with CJ, and she told me she tried to get you to leave almost three hours ago."
"You were checking up on me? I told you I'd be late." Margaret forcefully informs him.
"I was… worried," Leo admits and then quickly asks, "Where were you for the past hour?"
"I forgot my bags and had to run home to get them," she quickly lies, not looking at him.
"Margaret, why I don't believe you? You never forget anything," he points out as he voice raises in volume.
"Well, you told me you weren't going to wait up and yet, here you are," her voice matches his in tone and level.
"What's that got to do with you being late?" Leo demands.
"Nothing, except you're supposed to be taking better care of yourself," she counters.
"I am," Leo huffs.
"I don't think staying up late and worrying about me is what you should be doing. Do you want to have another heart attack?" She retorts back.
"This is not going to cause me to have another heart attack," he angrily tells her. He has just about had it with everyone's concern and fretting.
"Leo, I failed you the first time. I knew something was wrong, but I let you convince me otherwise and damnit, that's not going to happen again!" Margaret yells back at him.
"I wish everyone would stop blaming themselves for my fucking heart attack," he crossly yells, as he jumps up from the couch. His movement is excessively fast for him, and he immediately pays for it. The pain from his incisions on his legs and chest make him sit right back down. Pain flashes across his face, and a grunt of pain slips unwillingly from his tightly pursed lips before he can stop it.
"Leo?" Margaret quickly moves to his side.
"I'm… fine. I'm not having another heart attack," Leo manages to get out between clenched teeth, holding a hand to his chest. "I just got… up too quickly."
"Are you sure?" Margaret's soft voice is full of concern.
"Yeah," Leo nods and relaxes a little as the pain starts subside a little. "I'm just stiff from sitting here."
"Leo I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you upset," Margaret's voice is full of choked back tears. "I…"
"No, Margaret, I'm the one who's sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at ya," he says in a throaty voice. "It's just… I'm so dam… frustrated…"
"It's okay, Leo," she says, as she surprises herself by laying a hand on his knee.
Leo looks at Margaret's hand resting on his leg and then looks up at her though watery eyes, "I feel so… useless…"
"Leo, you're not useless."
"The smallest task tires me out."
"But, that will improve with time. Mallory said that you have been rapidly improving these past two weeks. Why else do you think the doctor okayed it for you to be on your own now?"
"I know, it's just not…"
"Fast enough for you," Margaret completes the sentence for him. "Well, Leo McGarry, it's time to learn that you're not superman, you have limits, but you're still the same brilliant man you were before and from what I hear, you're still going to be a vital part of the administration. It can't function as well without you. So many people need you there. I need you there," slips from her mouth before she can stop it.
"Why have you been… avoiding me, then?" Leo asks sadly, looking down at his hands.
"I've not been avoiding you, I've just… been busy. You know how demanding it can be at the White House."
"Yeah, well I used to," he says in a sad voice.
"And you will again one of these days."
"Yeah… maybe," he breathes out slowly, "but not as..."
"You're right, not as Chief of Staff. But, Leo… it's time to let someone else carry that heavy burden. You have done more than your fair share. It's time to concentrate on other areas of the administration and your quality of life outside the hallowed halls of the White House."
"You know I've had several job offers from some major companies to serve on their boards," Leo informs her.
"Are you thinking about taking one of them, overcoming back to the White House?" She asks with a heavy heart. She's already made up her mind to stay working for CJ, because she realizes that it's the best thing for the administration. It had been a hard choice for her to make, and she hasn't told Leo yet. But, she made the decision thinking that Leo would be returning to the White House sometime soon and at least she would get to see him whenever he is there.
"I was… at first, but I think my place is still in the White House," Leo doesn't tell her that he also thinks his place is with her.
"I think so too," Margaret softly returns. She wants to tell him that she can't imagine going this amount of time again without seeing him, but she's too afraid to tell him that.
They sit in silence, on the couch, for the next couple of minutes, both thinking about what has just happened tonight, and what it all might mean. Finally, Margaret decides to try to get Leo to go to bed. "Leo, I'm really tired. It's been a long few weeks for me, and I think that we should probably get to bed."
"I see you're trying to use child psychology on me, now. Well… I should tell ya that, Mallory tries that too, and it doesn't work very well on me," he smirks and then gives her a boyish grin.
"I'll keep that in mind," she smiles as she stands and offers a hand to Leo to help him up from the couch.
Leo looks at her hand and fights back a yawn, "I guess I'm a little more tired than I thought. But, I did take a long nap this afternoon, so that I could wait up for ya," he informs her, as he takes her hand and slowly stands.
"You napped?" Margaret raises her eyebrows.
"Yeah, I have found that I really enjoy napping in the afternoons," he shyly admits.
"I wish I could take naps in the afternoon, too."
"Well, maybe you'd like to join me tomorrow for an afternoon nap."
"Leo?"
"God Margaret," he says, shaking his head. "I didn't mean join me that way, I meant we both could nap at the same time, of course in separate rooms."
"Oh," Margaret tries to hide the disappointment in her voice. She thought there for a second he was inviting her into his bed, something that she has dreamed about for a long time. "I knew that, I was just…"
"Margaret," Leo interrupts her after he notices the disappointment in her face. At least he thinks he sees it. He inwardly smiles when he thinks that maybe Jed was right. He will have to keep testing the waters this weekend.
"Yes, Leo," She says, failing to let go of his hand after he stands.
"Nothing…" He finally says, after staring into her eyes for a few seconds.
"Are you okay," she involuntarily squeezes his hand.
"Yeah, I'm fine… but I should probably get to bed now," he regrettably divulges to her.
"Okay," she keeps a hold of his hand and they slowly walk to his bedroom.
Leo stops, once they get to the doorway, "Margaret, it's fine. I can take it from here, really."
"Are you sure? I don't mind helping," she offers with a smile.
"Yeah, I'll be okay. Why don't you go get ready for bed? I bet you can't wait to take those clothes off," he says without thinking and then feels his face get a little warm.
Margaret blushes, "Yeah... umm. I'll come back in and check on you in a few minutes. Make sure you're all right."
"I'll probably already be asleep."
"That's okay, I'll feel better if I check on you," she admits.
"Margaret you don't have to check on me every hour, I'm not on a feeding schedule," he smirks.
"Well... you should be... you're much too thin," she laughs, happy to be sharing some light moments with him after their confrontation a few minutes ago.
"Not you too with the eating," he softly grumbles. He will probably never tell her, but he has missed her taking care of him.
"Leo," she shakes her head back and forth, "did you really think I wouldn't bug you about your eating habits?"
"No, Margaret I guess I should have known better. You've been on me for years to eat more often, and to eat healthier," he says as he starts walking towards his bed, He stops and starts to take off his robe.
Margaret follows him into his room and without a word helps him take his off his robe. She folds it neatly and lays it on the wing-backed chair next to his bed. She steps around him, pulls back the comforter and blankets on his bed, "There you go."
"Thanks, Margaret," Leo says, as he carefully gets in bed. He is sore from the pacing and jumping up from the couch earlier tonight.
Margaret pulls the covers up over him, and then slightly hesitates next to his bed. She wants to touch him and let him know it's going to be all right, but she's afraid to show him any more emotion than she already has tonight. She still feels guilty about getting him so upset earlier, "Night, Leo."
"Night, Margaret," he whispers as he watches her walk away from his bed. He still feels guilty about yelling at her. "Margaret," he calls after her.
Margaret stops when she hears him call her name, "Yeah," she says as she turns around and finds his honeyed eyes intently staring at her.
Leo sits up a little in bed. "Margaret, about earlier. I really am sorry that I took out my frustrations on you…"
Margaret quickly interrupts him. "Leo, I'm the one who's sorry, I started on you as soon as I walked in the door."
"Look… you're the one person who's taken care of me for years, and you definitely didn't deserve my outburst. Thanks… for always being there for me," he softly says as he continues to stare at her.
"You're welcome, Leo," Margaret stands there for a few seconds, returning his gaze and then walks over to his bedside and gently lays a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Leo, I'm so glad you're okay," she then quickly turns to leave, but Leo softly grabs her hand.
"Margaret, I'm glad you were able to come stay with me," he lightly rubs his thumb over her hand. He is really enjoying the uncharacteristic intimacy that they are sharing.
"Yeah. Me, too," she whispers back, as she reluctantly pulls her hand from his and heads for the door. She turns off the lights and crosses the living area to her bedroom. The tears are falling long before she makes it to the sanctuary of her room. She closes the door and starts to sob.
Leo hears Margaret crying and wants to get up and go after her, but he decides against it. He does not want to upset her anymore tonight. He decides that maybe she just needs some time alone to gather herself. He lies down in his bed and thinks about what has transpired here tonight. He decides to wait for her to come check on him and fights to keep his eyes open. However, it is a battle he cannot win tonight and he unwilling succumbs to sleep.
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Margaret finally pulls herself together after her little meltdown and goes back out into the living room area, picks up her bags and drags them back to her bedroom. She throws them on her bed and starts to unpack. When she is done, she changes into her pajamas, grabs her toothbrush and toothpaste and heads for the bathroom beside the living room.
After Margaret is ready for bed, she quietly walks into Leo's bedroom and finds him soundly asleep. She walks over to his bedside and stares down at the man she has loved for years. Without hesitation, she bends over and places a tender kiss on his forehead. She smiles when she hears Leo breath out a contented sigh.
Margaret sits down in the chair next to his bed and watches him. It reminds her of the evenings she would watch him sleep in the hospital, but this time, he seems so peaceful. She lays her head against the back of the chair and gets a whiff of Leo's wonderful cologne from his robe. She presses her face against its softness and sighs. She continues to watch Leo sleep and quickly drifts off to sleep enjoying watching the soft raise and fall of his chest.
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Leo wakes up, lies in bed, fighting the urge to get up and go to the bathroom. He normally takes his water pill early enough so that this does not happen anymore, but he had been distracted by waiting for Margaret and did not take it as early as he normally would. He knows it's pointless, from past experience to try to ignore it, and so he slowly starts his ritual of moving around in bed, trying to loosen up his body, before he tries to get up. After a few moments, he slowly sits up and puts his feet on the floor. An 'umph' escapes his lips as he first stands and then he quickly shuffles off to the bathroom, not noticing the sleeping figure in the chair next to his bed.
Leo is a lot more awake when he walks back to his bed and jumps little when he discovers Margaret sleeping in his wing-backed chair. He smiles down at the sight of her, snuggled in his chair with her face resting on his robe. He hesitates, not sure whether he should wake her or not. He stands there and studies her face. She looks so peaceful and comfortable, so he decides to leave her there. He carefully pulls his robe from under her face and drapes it over her lanky body.
Leo smiles when Margaret sighs and snuggles further under his robe. Without really thinking about it, he rests his hand on the arm of the chair, slowly bends over and delicately kisses her cheek. He straightens up, walks over to his bed, and slowly crawls back in. He covers himself up and rolls on his side so he can watch Margaret sleep. He quickly drifts off with a huge smile on his face and happy thoughts about Margaret running though his head. 'Maybe she wants to be here after all,' he thinks happily to himself.
TBC in Part 4
Sincere thanks to those who have provided feedback. Hopefully, part 4 will find its way out of my head soon.