Title: Leo Cooking –Bad Back Part 1 Daylight series 6/?
By: chipmunk
Pairing: Leo/Margaret
Rating: PG
Spoilers: None
Beta By: Lee pigletnpooh@comcast.net
Disclaimer: The characters are from the NBC, WB, A John Wells Prod., TV show The West Wing; they do not belong to me. They are the creation and property of Aaron Sorkin. I only borrowed them. No monetary benefit is received or anticipated.
A grateful thanks, to the actors and actresses, who portray the characters brilliantly and bring them to life in my head.
Any mistakes found in this fic, are totally my own fault. This is a learning process for me. Additions and Corrections are encouraged.
Feedback: I would love it hear your opinion! PLEASE! It helps to improve my writing!
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Summary Margaret pulls her back out and Leo goes to take care of her and cook. They get an unexpected visitor.
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Margaret is at it again. She's sorting Leo's files and storing the inactive ones in the basement of the building. She has a system. She numbers and labels each box; the labels on them show the topic the files are related to. She would take each box down as it was completed. She has a master list of individual files on her computer, Leo's computer, a printout in her file cabinet and printout in Leo's desk. She's not having the confusion Donna had, when she lost the master list to the subpoenaed MS files. It's Friday morning; she has been working on the files for two days, she's determined to get them finished by the weekend. It's just after lunch and she's taking a box, which she had finished before breaking for lunch.
~ I wish I had a dollar for every trip I've made to this basement with a box. I'd get myself a full hour of back massage, or at least half an hour.~ Her back didn't like a third day of packing boxes.
She sets the box down, opens the door to the storage room and, in her haste, she just reaches back around sideways to grab the box and starts to lift it. In the right side of her back, she gets a sharp pain,. She immediately drops the box back down and very nearly spills it. ~Oh, no, not my back again. Why'd I do something this stupid? Leo is going to kill me. He tore me royal, for months after I did this the last time. He said I don't take time to think first about caring for myself. Before, it took me three days in bed to get it to quit hurting. If this doesn't quit soon, I'll be in bed all weekend. If it will just ease enough, so I can just make it till we leave tonight. Last time, it was just a box of campaign material I moved. I missed the first town meeting at the beginning of the campaign and had to stay home. I know better than reach sideways. Oh, it really hurts. It feels like a knife in my back muscle. It must be a knot the size of a baseball. I need someone to rub it now, before my whole back tightens up and is hurting.~ She carefully slides the box through the door, with her foot, just to get it inside and locks the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Getting back upstairs to her office, she looks through the door into Leo's office. She finds Leo alone and reading at his desk. "Leo, I need you to help me," she requests with tears in her voice.
His head immediately pops up to look at Margaret and he is already rising. The sound in her voice, has him asking with concern, "Margaret, what is wrong, are you hurt?" He can tell she's unable to straighten up and can see tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Leo, I did it again. I pulled my back out moving the boxes of files. Can you rub the knot in my back before it gets any worse? I can't take a full breath, it hurts too bad," she explains with short breaths.
"Here, sit sideways on the chair and while you lean over the desk, I'll rub it," he pulls out one of the visitor chairs for her.
"Leo, please, shut the doors first, someone will see and we'll never get them to understand."
He gives her a look thinking, ~Who cares? That should be the least of your problems, Margaret.~
"Just hurry up, Leo. Please," she urgently begs.
He starts rubbing and she has tears quietly running down her face. "Margaret, your back muscle is clichéd up really tight this time. Is this as bad as last time? Am I rubbing too hard,"' he asks with real concern. "Should I stop?"
"No, it hurts, but it'll be worse if you stop. It'll get better in a minute, if you just keep rubbing. While you are at it take the knife out of my back. Oh, it hurts!"
The President enters Leo's office, by way of the connecting doors. He starts talking before he is even in the room, "Hey Leo, Abby wants to know…. Well, to heck with what Abby wants. Ouch!" Abby is right behind him and has poked him for his remark about her. She is unable to see in the room yet, as Jed has stopped in the doorway, because of what he found going on. "What's wrong with Margaret?" The president demands with curiosity.
"Leo, what did you do to make her cry," Abby accuses him, as she gets passed the President.
Margaret tries to rise in the presence of the first couple, but Leo will not let her up with a hand on her shoulder and continues to rub on her knotted up back muscle.
As the first couple move farther into the room, Leo gives them a pointed look and answers his best friends,. "I didn't do anything to make her cry. She pulled her back out again and I'm rubbing on the knot. I've been at this for five minutes."
Abby has moves over to beside Margaret and has crouches down to see her face, she strokes Margaret's hair back, "Oh, Margaret, not again. Is it as bad as last time?" Abby is going into doctor mode.
"Yes, Dr. Bartlet, I afraid it is. I was hoping that having it rubbed, as soon as possible, it might quit," Margaret tries to sound hopeful.
"It's Abby," she states. "Well, that sometimes works, but we know with your history that you're not that lucky," she gently reminds them all. "Leo, she needs you to keep rubbing for about another 10 minutes and then its home for Margaret. She knows the routine. She needs her prescription meds, a hot tub or in the shower for about 30 minutes, repeated more than once today. Margaret, dear, do you still have your meds for this, or do you need to get a refill from your doctor? I could give her a call for you," Abby offers.
"I don't have any meds left and I would need fresh ones anyway. It's been a while, since I last needed them," she sounded so sad about needing them now.
"The one thing that I am concerned with is her taking her meds and getting in the tub. With no one in the apartment with her, she might get drowsy and we wouldn't want her to drown. Someone needs to be there and at least be talking to her," Abby tried to sound realistic.
With a gleam in his eye, the President has an idea, "Leo, what is your afternoon schedule like?"
"Mr. President, don't get any ideas. I have a 4pm appointment that I can't reschedule. They are leaving this evening, after the meeting. You know! I briefed you on that." Leo tries to head off what the President is planning.
"That's OK, Leo," the President is sounding generous; I think that Josh and I can handle it, together. You are being ordered out of the building, you go with Margaret and the both of you 'do not' come back until Monday, unless we have an emergency. Before you start to protest, Leo, I 'do' know your cell phone number. You can have your driver take Margaret home. You can pick up her medications in your car and then drive to Margaret's. Abby is more that willing to call and have the meds all arranged," he gives the details for the plan of action with a smile.
"Sure, I'll call her doctor and the Pharmacy. I can have them add some back rub cream in with the meds. Margaret, I don't want you to get burned in the tub, but do get it as hot as you can stand. You know how, you've done this before."
"How about Donna going with her," Leo suggests, as he continues to rub.
"Donna is busy with Josh on the hill till later this afternoon, but he will be here in time to be at the meeting with me." The President continues to reassure Leo. "They'll be more impressed to meet with me, anyway." The President continues, "So, that's settled. I'm now going to call for Leo's car to meet you both at the door," he states, as he picks up Leo's phone. "Bring Leo's car to the south entrance now, please. Thank you." He hangs up after the short call and turns to Leo and points a finger, "After you two leave," he then points to Abby, "Abby will call for the meds, so they will be ready and waiting. OK. Good." The President plans out loud, "Leo, next you get what you need to take with you." The President, hooking his thumb back over his shoulder to the door, "I'll have Charlie walk over and get Bonnie to come back here and shut down Margaret's office." He looks down at Margaret's tear stained face. "Let's get started! Margaret needs to get home." He straightens, "Leo, I'm sorry to tell you this, but your back rubbing is not going to make it go away this time. "He points out, like Leo can't tell this. The President picks up Leo's phone again and calls for Charlie to come to Leo's office. Trying to cheer Margaret up, she looks like she is just about as miserable, as she can get. "Margaret, don't worry about this happening again. We've been through this, with you, a couple of times now and we feel bad for 'you'. You're the one in pain here. You know I feel for you." He's remembering his last session with his back. "I know all about back pain. It 'is' a heck of a way to get three days off. This time, as punishment, you can take Leo with you. He has the best hands for rubbing." He tries to get a smile from her.
Margaret tries to smile through the tears, but she is still in pain and just leaves her head laying on Leo's desk.
Abby is now rubbing her hand up and down Margaret's back, as Leo is packing his things. "Jed, come over here and rub, while I'll go get her things from her office," Abby ordered him, still in her doctor mode.
"That's OK, Mr. President, I'll be fine," she protests, she doesn't want to bother him; he might have important matters to attend to. She tries to rise again and this time Abby keeps her in the chair.
"Margaret, when you will learn that while he is Mr. President to the rest of the world, to me, he is Jed. He learned a long time ago, when I ask for him to do something, he might as well comply willingly." She gives Jed a kiss on the cheek, to thank him, as he takes over the back rubbing from her.
"Yes, dear, anything you say, dear," he sweetly agrees with his wife. The President is being sarcastic now, in an attempt to raise Margaret's spirits.
Leo is smiling at this exchange. "I can tell, that it might be safer to take Margaret home, than to stay here with you two, when you are both in this 'happy' of a mood," Leo jokes back to his old friends.
Margaret smiles softly and thinks, through the pain, ~This is a side of Leo and the first couple that I've not been witness to very often and it's nice to be included.~ The President is now rubbing on her back. ~ I wonder if they can sense that Leo and I are growing more comfortable or casual with each other and are responding likewise. Leo hasn't said anything to me about it. I know, he'll have to tell them soon that we spend off-hours together. It's inevitable that he will and that's OK with me.~
Charlie arrives and does a double blink. He takes in all the activity in the room and the fact that the President is rubbing Margaret's back. He can tell she has been crying. "Yes, Sir, you needed me," he says as soon as he steps in the door.
"Yea Charlie, I'm ordering Margaret and Leo to leave now and not to come back till Monday, it's a punishment," he proclaims with a straight face, getting a dig in at Leo again and he's pleased with his plan. "I need you to get Bonnie, or one of the senior assistants from the communications office, to come and shut down Margaret's office," the President gives his request to Charlie, like a command.
"Sure thing, Mr. President." Charlie gives a second look at Margaret, while he turns to leave. No one has taken the time to give him a reason for her crying or why they are being ordered to leave in a hurry.
~~~~~~~~~~
Charlie arrives at the communications bullpen and heads straight to Bonnie's desk. He takes in the fact that Toby is in his office and the assistances are hard at work. They are trying to keep the peace, since he's in his frantic writing mode. "Hey Bonnie, the President needs you to go over and shut down Margaret's office, right now," Charlie quickly relays the request he was sent to deliver.
Ginger has by this time stopped her work and is looking at Charlie, waiting to hear if he's going to give a reason for Margaret's not shutting down her own office. ~It's the middle of the afternoon and Margaret is always in the White house late,~ is the first thing to come to her mind.
Bonnie is in the same confusion as Ginger and standing up immediately to comply with a Presidential request, but she can't resist asking the question. "Charlie is anything the matter with Margaret or Leo. Did the President say why I'm needed to close and secure her office," Bonnie seriously asks, to clarify the unusual request.
"They didn't tell me what the problem was, but the President did tell me that he's banned them from the White House for the weekend and I did notice Margaret crying,." he adds to impress how serious it was.
"Margaret was crying? In front of the President? Something big must has happened, to have her crying," Ginger questions Charlie like he must have been mistaken.
"Well, the President was trying to comfort her, he was showing real sympathy by rubbing her back," Charlie states what he assumed.
"The President was rubbing on her," Bonnie asks and stops walking in disbelief, as she is rounding her desk.
"Yea, she had her head down on Leo's desk and he was just standing behind her rubbing. The first Lady was in Margaret's office looking for something and Leo was stuffing files in his briefcase, in a hurry. I didn't see his face, to see if he was upset," Charlie describes what he observed.
"Wow! Was the President angry? He must be, if he ordered them out of the building. I wonder, which one of them screwed up, royal," Ginger lowers her voice as she speculates, she has joined Bonnie and Charlie walking across the bullpen.
"It might have been Leo, as the president said it was a punishment and he usually saves that for the senior staff and myself. He likes you females. CJ is the only female he punishes," Charlie gives his opinion to her suggestion.
"I wonder what Leo did? Must have been something terrible. He never gets thrown out of the White House, he's always here," Bonnie is thinking out loud, as the three of them move toward the door.
"Just for my own information. Do you two always pass a conversation back and forth? You two are scary, like you are identical twins or something," Charlie can't resist commenting on the verbal ball passing, of the two assistants.
"We 'do' work in the Communication's office," Ginger answers and they both grin at Charlie. She continues, "Bonnie, go now, maybe you can find out what is going on. I'll hold down the fort here with Toby."
~~~~~~
At Margaret's apartment, Leo helps her in and to stand in front of the couch. He helps her get her coat off and asks, "What do you need to do first? I know coming up the stairs was the hardest part. Are you able to sit down or what?" He can tell she is having a hard time deciding.
Margaret worries to herself, ~If I can make it down that far, but then I'd need to get back up. What 'am' I going to do? It hurts so bad. I can't just stand up all night.~ "I'm fine Leo, I just need to rest and I'll be just 'peachy' by daylight, the pain is making her sound little short. She immediately feels remorse, with a sad face, she tries to sound hopeful, "Tomorrow, we can get some work done here or at your hotel. The whole weekend will not be a waste. I know you brought files with you from work," she tries to cover, how serious her back spasms are.
"You are standing at a 10 degree tilt, Margaret, I know you are in real pain, don't try to tell me it's not hurting." Margaret tries to straighten up and look like she is standing normal, but fails to keep the grimace of pain from showing. He adds, "See, I knew it and you can't tell me that 'face' you just made was your attempt to convince me to leave you here alone. What do you usually do first, to relieve the muscle pain? Leo questions her. ~She must know the routine, the First Lady implied it earlier.~
"To be honest, Leo, the first thing I do is get in the shower and use the massage head on my back, as hot as I can stand it," she confesses.
"OK, then you need to be in the bathroom. So, get moving. It's not going to get any better standing here in the living room," he commands, to get her in motion.
"Leo, I don't know why the First Couple think you can be a help here, you're not going to be able to help me in the shower," she grouches back at Leo. She is moodily bouncing between the need for help and not wanting to be dependant on Leo for help. ~I help Leo, he doesn't help me. This is not the way it goes with us.~
"Keep moving, remember, I'm here to keep you from drowning, or do anything else that you might do to get injured further. The First Couple, as you call them, cares a great deal about you. They are so happy about the great way you have taken care of me over the years. I'm sure that they know I care a great deal for you and that I would 'want' to take care of you. You are MY Margaret," he finally states, like that explains everything.
She just looks at him, ~How can I protest that truth?~
Margaret makes it to the bathroom and sits gently on a stool, in front of the sink vanity. ~I'm so glad I'm done with the long walk from the living room to the bathroom. Even in my tiny apartment, it seems longer when I'm in pain. I just need a minute to recover, before I start the water running. I don't want to waste any of the hot water. I'm going to need it all for this back.~
Trying to stall for time, she hesitantly ask, "Leo, what if someone saw us leaving together today and didn't know why we were leaving? Especially since we're not going to make an appearance at the White House this weekend, which is unusual for us," she tries to convey her concern to him.
"So," he casually answers, "I don't see what the problem is or how it relates to your back being out and me being here to help." He tries to comprehend where she is going with this line of thought as he leans on the doorframe.
"Leo, someone might ask questions, if we keep leaving together," she expresses her worry.
He responds softly, "Margaret, we leave together all the time. If they ask, it's fine with me. I know I want, for our own sakes, to be able to keep this time together private, if we can. We enjoy this time to ourselves. We aren't doing anything we'd be ashamed of. Even if we 'had' a serious relationship, I wouldn't hide it. It would be small potatoes, compared to what has been news worthy in my life." ~Man, all the negative things in my life and the news people just love to dig it up, from my time before the White House.~ He continues, "No one at the White House would say anything against us and they are the ones that matter to us. I really, really like this time we have together and I'm not willing to give it up, because of someone's opinion of what we should or should not do," states firmly. He wants to let her know, how much this means to him and to reassure her. "Now, let me get some towels out for you," he says as he comes in and opens the bathroom closet. I'll get my jeans out of here at the same time."
Margaret is still worried about how this would hurt Leo, "But, Leo, I work for you and some people might think it strange for us to spend time together after work. Now, we have been banned for the weekend. You have been practically ordered to stay here and care for my back and me. This is not going to go unnoticed. The office rumor mill works better than that. Believe me, the secret service has nothing on the coffee machine gossip," she still is unconvinced.
Leo grins, he knows Margaret loves to gleam info from the rumor mill. He knows she doesn't like to spread rumors; she just inflicts them on him, to drive him crazy. "Baby, Let them think it. If they have no life and all that they have to do is 'try' and run ours, I pity them."
She looks at him, with her pointed look. ~Don't Baby me, you don't know how much it could blow up in our faces.~ He sees the look she is giving him and he continues.
"Margaret, if you hear someone has a problem with it, you just direct him or her to me. I also think I should go ahead and mention to the President about our cooking adventures. He'll not tell any of the senior staff, he knows it's hard for us to get any time away from the White house." He reminds her, "Baby, we put in plenty more hours than 'the kids' do. The president knows that in my situation, going to bars and nightclubs is out as a place to unwind. He'll be pleased that we have some down time here at your apartment. He's been worrying about my stress level and even Abby has gotten into bugging me about it."
She smiles as she concedes to his way of thinking, ~There's that 'Baby' again". I could get used to it.~
He sees her smile and knows he won his point, "OK, enough of this chit chat, you need to get in that shower and let the hot water do its trick on your back. What do you need me to do?" He smiles at her like he really is going to enjoy helping.
"Leo, I get the feeling that it is 'not' going to be a terrible task for you," she sarcastically remarks to his prodding. "Just keep reminding me how you were ordered here. You don't seem, to me, as a person being punished right now."
Trying to keep a straight face he explains to her, "Well, Margaret, this may 'not' be in my COS job description, but someone has to do the dirty work at the White House and the Presidents depends on me. I serve at the pleasure of the President," he assures her, still trying not to grin.
"Yah, Leo, I get the play on the 'pleasure' part of your helping, so quit grinning. I'm in pain here," she snaps back at him, but still trying not to smile at his use of words.
Leo makes a note to himself, ~I need to thank Jed about this nice 'perk', when I get back to work on Monday.~
Leo leans over the tub and start the hot water, to get her in gear, "Can you get undressed or do you need help?" He is still grinning.
"I don't need that much help, but you could help get my shoes and socks off. I can slide out of the slacks, after you vacate the room." she gives into his offer a little.
"OK, Margaret, I was going to be nice this evening and not make you blush, since you're in pain, but I think I need to help you with something else whether you want me to or not," he sounds like he's conveying sad news.
"What Leo? I think I can handle the rest of my clothing," she assures him.
"Margaret," he says in a low voice, as he leans in close to her, she can hear the laughter in his voice, "how do you plan on unhooking your bra, with your back in pain?"
She gives him a startled look, as she realizes he is correct, she's going to need help with that function. "Well, I guess you are going to get to enjoy yourself after all."
"Margaret, I'm not some teenager. I have no problem with helping you to loosen your clothes. I don't want to embarrass you or make you uncomfortable. I just want to help," he is sounding sincere.
"Sure, Leo, and you want me to believe you are a proper 'gentleman'. For that to happen, you have to first get rid of that silly grin," she can see that this must be the 'pleasure' part he was referring to earlier.
"I'm just happy to be of service," he is still grinning.
"I'll keep that in mind when I need something from the kitchen. You might make a good errand boy after all, it's just payback for all the errands I run for you," she warns him.
Leo stands outside the bathroom door till he hears the shower start to run and figures Margaret is safely in the tub, without falling. ~I better get my clothes changed before she gets done with her 30 minute hot shower, getting her out, may be as much fun as getting her in was. Well, I better hurry to her bedroom to change. She might as well get used to me changing in there. Abby said she's going to be in and out of the bathroom, a couple times this evening, so I hope she is not too shy or I could have a real battle on my hands. When Margaret digs in her heels, she can give the Joint Chiefs a run for their money in the Situation Room. The President has threatened to take Margaret down with him, to the Situation Room, if I am absent from the building, till I get there. I explained; it's not like a card game where someone can sit in for you. The President just laughed at me and asked if I was afraid of Margaret taking my place or taking over. He was real funny that day.~
He can't get to the bathroom closet where he has a suit hanger, so he did the next best thing; he drapes his suit clothes over her vanity chair. ~Margaret won't yell me this way, I'm not getting them wrinkled. She insists they need to be hanging somewhere. I like them here in her room.~
After he gets changed into his favorite casual clothes of jeans, t-shirt and no shoes, he heads to kitchen, to see what's available to prepare for dinner. He checks the frig and the pantry. He notes that he may have to be creative, as all he finds are items that really don't go together. He hears the shower turn off and figures that Margaret will make an appearance soon. ~I better get Margaret a glass of cold water and her meds, so she can take them and I hope they start working before her hot shower wears off.~
Margaret gingerly gets out of the tub and dries the top half of her body, when she finds a new dilemma, ~Now I have a problem, I can't get the my legs and feet dry. I can't bend down far enough to reach them, with my back hurting. Now, Leo, will really have some fun, at my expense.~ Wrapping the bath sheet around her body to cover as much of herself as possible, she yells for Leo, "I need some help in here, if you are still going to help!"
Leo stops at the bathroom door, "Margaret is it safe to come in? I don't want to be shocked and amazed, if you are not decent." He knows this will get her anger up and will help cover any embarrassment she might feel, if she is not comfortable with him helping.
"Leo, are you trying to get yourself hurt? In my state of pain, I might just throw something at you, but I'd just pull my back some more. Just remember, I'm keeping a list for when I'm better. Now, will you get in here? I'm starting to get cold and if I start to shiver, I will be in real pain." ~I am just about at the end of my rope and I need the meds for the pain. I'm not that far out of it and I really know, he said that to get me off guard. He can be sweet, but this is a punishment and I'll just let him worry.~
"OK, obliviously you did not wash away your grouchiness, in the shower," he teases. "Margaret, and did the shower help any? I have your meds ready for when you are done here. I thought you should wait till after your shower, in case they make you woozy," he asked in all seriousness.
"'Yes, the shower helped some, it still hurts, but it is not as tight. Yes, it was a good idea to wait till I was out of the shower for my meds. I don't want to fall and break something or end up in traction. What I really need is help drying." She tried to casually, get to the point she needed help with. ~I am hoping the redness to my skin from the hot water, will cover any redness from embarrassment. He is grinning again.~ "Leo, I can't get my legs and feet dry, I can't reach them and you better not laugh," she warns him and gives him one of her best glares.
"Well, this really sounds like punishment to me, maybe I need to get in trouble with the President more often. I guess I'll keep this punishment info to myself, because if the senior staff hears exactly what my punishment is consisting of, they'll be driving the President nuts to get punished," he just could not resist.
"Leo, just grab the extra towel and help," she is losing patience.
"Now, be nice Margaret, I'm down on one knee here. Isn't this what all women want? A man at their feet."
She sighs and speculates, ~Any other time, I would be giddy to have you on one knee at my feet. Maybe I can dream of it tonight, if I get any sleep. The meds better work.~
"Margaret, I'm guessing here, but is the next stop, for you, the bedroom to get into your pajamas and then, after your meds, try to get some rest."
"Yes, Leo, you are enjoying bossing me around here in the apartment? Just admit it. Help me to stand slowly and head me in the right direction." She holds out her hands to him.
"Oh, no, I'm walking you to your bedroom and see you safely sitting on the bed, before I leave the room. Abby would kill me, if you got hurt, with me here. She is going to call and check on you later and I'd better be able to give her a good progress report," he informs her.
"She has the President and you both toeing the line. She scares the two of you," Margaret guesses and smiles that knowing look women have when a man is cornered.
"You just try and be the one to explain that something went wrong to Abby. If I have to tell her that, she'll hurt me. Now that we're here, what do you need," he asks as he helps to slowly lower her to the bed.
Margaret is making sure the towel doesn't slip, as she is sitting down. "Well," she pauses as she remembers and her smile fades, ~Oh, no, my clothes are put away in the chest of drawers, on the other side of the room. He'll have to get them, now that I'm setting down.~ "Leo, you'll have to get me something to wear. They're in the top drawer over there," she points to the chest of drawers.
"Oh, Good, more punishment! I get to search through your 'unmentionables' and select what I think would look good," Leo is now grinning ear to ear.
"Leo, don't get your hopes up. I have sensible taste in clothing," she tries to squash his fun.
"I can still search for something nice. Now, do I choose comfy cotton or shiny silk?" He looks seriously at the selection in her drawer.
Margaret speaks softly with a threat in her voice to Leo. "Just give me some panties and my baggy, soft blue pajamas," she scolds him.
"You 'really' know how to take the fun out of my punishment," he sounds like he is really disappointed. "I can still choose the panties and I think these light blue silk ones will match your pajamas wonderfully," he holds them out on the end of one finger to her. "See, I do have good taste in women's unmentionables."
"Leo, OUT!" She has had it with him. Her face is bright red and it's not from the hot shower anymore.
"Why is it almost every time I'm here, I hear you yell 'Leo, out', it makes me feel unwanted," he tries to sound like he's pouting, it might have worked on Margaret, if it wasn't for the deep chuckle he lets slip, as he grabs for the doorknob.
"Leo!!" She has that threatening tone to her voice.
"I'm 'out' already," he states as he closes the door behind him. "Nice towel Margaret," he loudly says through the door, having to get in a last tease.
She hides her face in the pajamas she is holding. ~He's going to be the death of me yet. If not at work, then here. I'm just going to 'die' of embarrassment. The worst part is he knows it. Some 'punishment' for him.~
Margaret cautiously walks to the door to her room, after getting dressed very slowly. ~I hope the meds kick in soon. Now my back is hurting again, but there was no way I was letting Leo help me to dress. I'm not to the 'bare skin' stage with him yet or if ever, but if I do, I certainly don't want to be handicapped with a bad back. That would take out all the fun for me. That would be punishment for me.~
An hour later, Leo hears the opening of the bedroom door and Margaret comes shuffling into the living room, where he's reading reports. "Margaret, I thought you were going to rest for awhile, your meds should have started working," he asks with some concern in his voice.
"Well, after getting dressed and laying for awhile I'm hurting again," she has to admit. "It's making me restless and I didn't want to just lie in the bedroom."
"You could've called for me. I would've at least helped you to stand up from the bed," he gently reminds her. "You want me to rub on your back again?"
"Could you please, it really helps," she readily agrees.
"Sure, gladly, that's what I'm here for, is to help!" He leads her over to the couch. "Sit here in the middle, I'll sit beside you." He sits down and moves both the throw pillows to rest against the other side of his legs.
~What is he doing? How is he going to rub my back with the pillows on the other side of him?~ "Leo, is there a plan to this back rubbing, because my back is not waiting patiently," she wants to understand.
"Of course, Margaret, we always have a plan. Here lie stomach down, across my lap and stretch your legs out on the couch. Go slowly," he cautions.
She very carefully does as he instructs. "Leo, this better be worth the effort. If not, I may not be able to get back up," she informs him. After some adjusting with the pillows, she is fairly comfortable.
Leo is grinning at the view he has of her backside. "See, now I can rub on your back and read at the same time."
"Rub, Leo, Rub," she agrees impatiently as she knows he is pleased with his plan. How did you know this would work for me to be draped across you," she gives up wondering and asks.
"I used to do this with Mallory, when she was little and could not sleep late at night. She would sneak down, to where I would be reading in the family room. It was our special time together. We didn't say much, I would just read and rub," he reminisced with a soft voice.
"Those must have been wonderful times for you and Mallory, you must miss that now she's all grown up?" Margaret sighs as the rubbing is working,
"While Leo is reading, he moves his hand up under her pajama top, to rub on her bare back. 'Leo, are you have great hands, but don't enjoy yourself to much here," she warns, with very little threat in her voice, as the constant motion of his hand is lulling her half asleep.
" Now, Margaret, I've a presidential order that this is my punishment. You're just the person what gets to benefit from that punishment," he reminds her with a chuckle.
"Well then, Leo, since it's a presidential order, I'll just have to suffer with the responsibility of you fulfilling your punishment," she quietly teases back to him.
"Margaret, I really am sorry your back is hurting, but I could do with this punishment more often. You could let me come here and rub your back, after you get mad at me at work, as punishment," he tries to sound serious as he checks the view of her lying across him and he can feel the warmth between their bodies. ~It does not get any better than this. I wish I could just slow the clock down and make this time last longer.~
~~~~~~~~~~~
It is late afternoon in the White House and Josh has just gone to a meeting with the President, which Leo was scheduled for. Donna wanting the scoop as to why Leo is missing, discovers that Margaret is missing also. She heads to the Communication bullpen to see if the other assistants have any info on their disappearance.
"Hey, Bonnie, Ginger, do either of you know where Margaret and Leo are. We just got back to Josh's office and Josh had to run right over to the Oval office. He was needed to staff the President at a meeting, which Leo was going to handle. What's going on?"
"Hey, Donna, slow down! All I know is that Charlie came in earlier and said that the President wanted me to shut down Margaret's office," Bonnie answered her first question.
"Wow, this may be serious. Margaret doesn't let anyone mess with her office. She has it just like she wants it," Donna replies with at a shocked voice.
"I thought it was a little strange, too. I asked Charlie what he knew about it and he told us that he was just called to Leo's office, The President told him to hurry and get me. He also mentioned that the President was rubbing Margaret's back and she looked like she had been crying. He noticed that Leo was hurrying to shove files into his briefcase. He also said the First lady was doing something in Margaret's office," Bonnie continued.
"Oh my," Donna eyes getting larger, "it must be something really bad. Margaret was crying? In front of the President and he was rubbing her back? The world, as we know it, is going to end. Margaret would lie down and die, before she would cry in front of the President, let alone, let him casually touch her by rubbing her back. Wonder if Leo did something wrong," Donna asks, thinking out loud, as if she is trying to right a world that has gone crazy, while she was on the hill with Josh.
"Josh is not supposed to be very long at this meeting. When he gets out, I'm informing him that I'm going to Margaret's and find out what is wrong," Donna schedules a plan. "I'll come back and tell you what I find out. Josh has already warned me that it'll be a late evening. You say they both have been banned from the White House, for the weekend? That's really strange. It's going to be pretty eerie and empty around here, without them," she drops her voice. "Like your parents have gone out and you've been left at home alone." Donna is still trying to understand the situation and the ramifications. "Josh is going to blow a fuse. He'll have to cover for Leo and staff the President. I hope it is a light weekend."
~~~~~~~~~~~
He continues to lightly rub and read, as Margaret is finally drifting into a light sleep. After about an hour of solitude together, there is a knock on the door.
"Margaret, were you expecting anyone this afternoon? Someone is at the door," he asks her; he can tell that she is wake now.
"No, wait, don't move to get up, Leo." She raises her head. "Who's there," she calls to the door.
"It's me, Donna, Margaret, are you OK? Can I come in," Donna requests from the other side of the door.
"Oh, no, Leo, there goes our privacy," she says with at sad voice.
'It's OK Margaret, I'm fine with the senior staff knowing I'm here, if you are. Really it's OK," he reassures her with a smile.
"I guess now is as good as anytime to let the cat out of the bag, at least to Donna. Maybe we can limit this. This is going to be embarrassing, I better move."
"No you don't, your back just starting to get better, "he puts his hand firmly on her back to keep her still. "Donna, come on in," Leo calls to the door. "It's not locked."
"Leo?" Donna asks softly, with surprise in her voice, as she opens the door. What she sees next leaves her speechless. Her boss's boss is sitting on the couch with Margaret stretched across him in her pajamas. She doesn't know whether to come in or go out.
"Come on in, Donna, it's OK," Leo reassures hers with a smile and laughter in his voice.
"Yes, Donna, it's OK really," Margaret, adds her approval to Leo's.
Donna was looking straight at Margaret, trying to avoid looking at Leo. "Margaret, I came over to see if you were OK. Charlie said you were crying in Leo's office and the President banned you two for the weekend." She eyed Leo then and continued. "I wondered if Leo was being a Josh and had hurt your feeling and you had quit," she waited for one of them to give her the bad news.
Leo and Margaret both broke out laughing and the look on Donna's face was priceless, which added to Leo merriment.
"Leo, I'm going to have to sit up now, or my back is going to start again," she requests his help.
"OK, wait, let me help you, I don't want you to undo all the good my back rubbing has done. Might have to redo it then," he cheerfully warns her.
"Margaret, what's wrong. Are you hurting?" Donna asks watching Leo help Margaret to sit up beside him. "Oh no, I know that look on your face. Your back is out again," Donna says with an understanding voice and look on her face. "I'm so sorry you did it again. How did you do it this time," Donna sits on the edge of the wing chair.
"Wait, ladies," Leo gives Margaret a quick kiss on the temple and he then rises slowly from the couch, so he doesn't bounce Margaret. "If you two are going to discuss all the details, I'll make a run to the store. Donna is here to stay with you, so Abby will not kill me, for leaving you alone. You have any requests from the store, Margaret?"
"Definitely, I want ice cream," she makes a snap decision. ~I like to console myself with ice cream when I feel bad. It cures all ills.~
"What flavor this time," he asks with an innocent look on his face.
~This time! He hasn't bought me ice cream before, he's just trying to get Donna worked up, so I've a hell of a time with her, when he leaves. Her eyes are just about to pop.~
"Hagan Daas, double chocolate, chocolate chip. Better make it 2 pints, my back might get worse tonight," she is rationalizing the need for the ice cream.
"Going to be one of those nights, I can tell. No sleep and double AMC movies."
"That's right, it's your punishment," she pronounces, bossing him.
He drops a kiss on the top of her head before he moves away from the couch. "Let me get my tennis shoes out of the closet and I'll go. I'm sure you girls have a lot to catch up on," he teases as he leaves the room.
"Margaret, when he gets out the door, you're spilling your guts. I'm not leaving till you fill me in," Donna forewarns her.
Leo comes back into the room. "Good thing that I remembered my wallet, it was in my other pants pocket." He goes to the door and starts searching through the coats, on the coat tree. "Margaret, where is my brown leather jacket, I left it here," he asks her, because she knows where everything is here and at work.
"It's on the coat tree, somewhere. I don't wear it," was her flip answer, not being very helpful.
"I found it! It was on the back hook. How does my coat always end up on the back hook," he asks, not really expecting an answer.
"I have more coats than you do," Margaret cheerfully answers him.
"More clothes here, too," he remarks softly to himself, but he knows that Donna is hanging on every word. "I'll be right back, baby," he promises as he leaves.
To be continued in part 2
Betty Lou Riley
30th April 2003