Title: Apartment 5/8 Daylight Series 9/?
By: chipmunk
See disclaimers in Part one
Archived at:
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Leo goes past the living room on his way to the kitchen to make coffee; he knows Margaret will be right behind him looking for it.
He peers over to the couch and finds Josh on his back with one of his arms lying curled up over his head and Donna is curled on her side against him facing out and he can see Josh's arm extending out from under her neck with his hand hanging out in mid air. Leo smiles and tells himself, ~Well his arm's going to really hurt when the blood returns to it. I can hear him complaining now.~ "Josh, its 8am and I'm going in to fix coffee now. You two can jump start you brains now, it's daylight." Leo then points out to Josh, who's wiping his face with his free hand to wake up. "Oh, Josh, if for some reason you feel like you've lost an arm, just wait till it wakes up for you." Leo loves to taunt him.
"Thanks, Leo, it's real nice of you to mention that. Now, I don't know if I want to wake Donna up or not." Josh continues with a mumble, "When she sits up, it's got to hurt like hell."
"Well, Josh," Leo smirks with no sympathy, "that's the price you pay to have a female to hold all last night."
"Yeah, but that kinda makes it worth it anyway." Josh admits and is smiling to himself.
"I'll be in the kitchen." Leo adds over his shoulder to Josh, but he knows someone will be able to hear him in her room. "You don't want to see the wrath of Margaret, if she gets there and its not at least dripping," Leo warns Josh of Margaret's need for coffee upon rising. Today Margaret might be better, since they did talk and wake up first. Leo's not going to risk it and hurries to get the maker working. ~Hope Josh is getting Donna up soon. I'm going to cut through the living room for my paper in the hall, whether they're awake or not, after I get the coffee going. I want my puzzle.~
With the coffee maker working, he heads back to the living room and Donna's now sitting on the side of the couch, looking like she's still asleep sitting there. Donna hair looks like a high wind came through there during the night, since she's wiping it out of her face with both hands looking for the opening before opening her eyes "Morning, Donna!" Leo greets her with a cheerful tone. "Coffee is on. You look like Josh was a restless sleeper last night," he grins at her disheveled state. He continues to open the door and retrieve the paper.
"Good morning, Leo," she then answers, "No, he was dead to the world," she admits," but he fell asleep with the TV on, so I slept with my head under the blanket to get away from the light." She gives Josh a look like 'say something cute now'. She explains to Leo the trying night she had, "I finally found the remote under him at about 4am this morning. He seemed to like me looking for it, then I almost killed him, since I wanted to go back to sleep." She might not have really given this info to Leo, if she had been more awake.
Leo was smiling, noticing Josh was totally quite, but smiling with half open eyes during Donna's explanation. He's just trying to get the feeling back into his arm. He's not awake either just sitting half up and half still lying down. "So, how long did you two stay up watching 'movies'?" He wants to get a little payback to Josh for the 'get a room' remark the night before.
"We're not telling that, we don't kiss and tell any more than you do," Josh replies with a smirk. He quits really quickly when Donna makes a threatening gesture at his painful arm. Josh pulls away from her; he knows that she means her threats in the morning.
Leo chuckles at that and lets him know that dig didn't work, "I'm not being a dirty old man, Josh. But it 'is' 8am, usually you both are at work at 7am and you two are still half asleep," he counters since he can out-think Josh this morning.
"You have 'always' been a disgusting morning person, Leo," Josh growls, this debate is just too much without coffee. "Alright, it was probably after 2am when the horror movie went off."
"I didn't make it that long," Donna pipes up, "but just the sleeping was short lived."
"Yeah, she was sawing logs way before me," Josh is foolishly teasing her.
Donna now flat out warns him with a loaded question "Josh, do you want to get hurt this early?"
"I think she needs coffee more than I do and that's saying something," Josh knows that now is a good time to retreat. He pulls his bare feet up to his chest, to swing out and get up with out disturbing Donna in the middle of the couch. He leans over to her face and gives her a peck on the forehead through the tousled blonde hair. "I would bring you some coffee, but I only have one working arm this morning." He laughs as Donna playfully punches his good arm, but then she leans her head on it, while rubbing the spot she punched. Leo is enjoying watching the younger couple trading digs, while they're still practically asleep. Neither one ever, ever gives an inch.
"Did someone say coffee?" Margaret has joined the others in the living room and she loops her arms around Leo's waist and glances at the headlines he's scanning. He has opened the paper, now that the fun is over with Josh and Donna.
Josh notices the newspaper and puts in his bid, "I want the sports section first!" He grins and adds, "Since we all know Leo goes for the crossword puzzle, after the headlines."
"Good," Margaret tries to swipe the back half of the papers from Leo hands, with a sneak attack from underneath of what Leo's reading. "Donna and I will scan the rent ads. Just save me the Grocery flyer that came with the paper, for later." As the middle sections fall to the floor, she makes her getaway.
"Woman," Leo roars in mock anger, "I haven't checked that part of the paper." He warns that this could get serious, "It better not have my puzzle in it!" He lunges for her and the paper that Margaret's hurrying to the kitchen with.
Josh pops off the couch to digs in the mess on the floor for the sports section. "We better get in there, Donna. We may need to referee." Josh remarks to Donna with glee, "You know it might just be a fair fight between the two of them. Leo is wiry, but Margaret has determination. This could get good and we don't want to miss it," he bounces off the couch to catch up with the other couple. He hears Margaret lets out a small shriek and then silence.
When they get to the kitchen, they find Margaret cornered at the far end by the pantry and Leo is cheating with a passionate kiss. Margaret, by this time, is losing her hold on the paper. Her mind is totally on enjoying his tactics. Leo may be busy kissing her, but he never forgets the main task at hand. Getting the paper back. He breaks the kiss to grab her paper and turns his back to Margaret, keeping her from snatching it back. "Ah ha," he boasts as the victor. He's still pressing her into the corner with his hips. She's now trying to reach around him and at the same time shoving at him, to move his hips over, so she can get around him. They are both laughing, almost too hard for either to achieve any logical purpose to this activity. Neither is really trying very hard at it either, enjoying the early morning fun.
"Told you, Donna, that this was going to be good," Josh's look at Donna is jubilant, dimples showing since he 'is' right. "I know Leo well enough to know he won't stop till he wins and it seems neither will Margaret." Josh throws the paper he's carrying on the counter and crosses his arms to lean on the counter to watch the action. He announces out loud, "Heck with the sports section, they look like two basketball players now. Margaret has some reach!"
Donna's waits to enter the kitchen right now, it's a small area and she doesn't want to be caught in the fiasco going on. She never dreamed that Leo and Margaret would actually wrestle in play. This just doesn't seem possible for someone as serious and powerful as Leo to be so normal here at the apartment. This is something that Josh would pull with her and as she looks at him, he's not a bit surprised at the horseplay. She knows that Leo and Josh have a close history; not quite father and son, but a close bond. Josh had a wonderful Dad, but they're almost that close. They have been acting like 'just guys' hanging out together here. She also knows that Josh respects and strives to never disappoint Leo at work. She's amazed they can turn it on and off at the entrance to the White House. This overnight stay has been a learning experience for her, not only with Leo and Margaret. A fact, she knows, which has been an honor granted to her, that was not given lightly. It was also a discovery to watch Josh with an "almost" family members in a homelike setting. He's even known Margaret, practically since she first started working for Leo, through his Dad. This is how Josh interacts with family, a side she has never experienced with him. It's something even closer than the family unit of the senior staff. Sam's the only other person in the DC area that's near family to Josh. They're practically brothers. Josh seems to carefully pick who he lets into his life, but once he does, it's with his whole, trusting heart. She smiles, since she's now aware of how special his 'caring for her' really is. Donna's thinking all this, while she watches the enjoyment of the others. Distanced, but belonging at the same time. It almost brings tears to her eyes, the importance of her revelation of how much these friends and Josh now mean to her. She's definitely going to find some quite time for her and Josh today, to let him know that she 'gets it'. She feels that she really belongs now and wants to share this happiness with him. She slips into the kitchen passed the paper fight. She notes that Margaret's weakening as the aroma of the coffee finishing is starting to call her. At Josh's side, she gently clasps her hands around his upper arm, just to be able to touch him and she rests her head against him.
"All right here, Margaret. I have my puzzle now," Leo surrenders most of the newspaper back to her, but it's in sad shape. Margaret gives it a skeptical look, wondering if there's enough of the classifieds left or will she need a new paper.
"All that just for your puzzle, Leo," Donna can't resist asking with a smile. She's getting more comfortable with teasing him. She glad that in the apartment, he never reminds them that he's the COS of the White House. Realistically, she knows that Leo and Josh both have cell phones turned on and that Leo checked with the President late last night.
"Nah, that was because she stole my paper." He grins at Margaret and then looks back at Donna. "That was a clear challenge and she knows I love a challenge.
"Your paper? It was outside my door," Margaret defends her ownership rights.
"Margaret, what 'is' the title of that paper?" Leo asks like he's making a cross examination of her, with his hands resting on his waist, one still holding his puzzle section.
"The New York Times, Leo." Margaret calmly answers over her mug of coffee.
"That makes it my paper by domain rights." Leo challenges, "If it's anywhere near where I am, it's mine." He straightens out his puzzles' wrinkled page.
"That's some theory there, Leo. Getting kinda territorial with the newspaper aren't you?" Josh points out, just to join in as he sneaks a mug of coffee, before Donna.
"Sure!" He pauses to point to Margaret. "That's why she stole it." He smiles, "But I got it back." He smirks just like Josh, "I won. "
"Wait till next week, Leo," Margaret cheerfully warns, not intimidated at all by Leo's accusations. "I'm going to work on my strategy between now and then. You cheated!"
"Tactics, Margaret. Just superior tactics," Leo boasts and safely tucks his paper under his arm.
"OK, what's everyone hungry for this morning," Leo asks, while he pours a mug of coffee for Donna and one for himself. Since Donna's stealing sips from Josh's mug and Josh keeps checking the level of coffee in his mug, after every time she does it.
"Please, don't make Mexican omelets, I don't think you two guys should have hot sauce, two meals in a row," is Margaret logical opinion.
"How about ham and cheese omelets, then?" He's already heading for the frig., checking the contents. "We can have toast or bagels with them to help fill Josh up." He turns to look at the others, looking especially at Josh, as if he's judging how much food it'll take to fill him up. "I did remember to get half a gallon of orange juice yesterday at the grocery store." Everyone's agreeable. Margaret just snickers at Leo's judging look at Josh. She remembers Leo's remark about feeding Josh. Josh looks mock offended, but smiles as Donna pats his stomach, reminding him that she knows Leo's right.
"Then lets get started. I'll chop the ham and cheese." Leo's not the COS for nothing; he assigns everyone a task, efficiently. "Margaret, your in charge of getting the eggs ready for the skillet. Donna, you and Josh can set the table and by that time you'll need to make more coffee and pour juice. Josh, you're in charge of the toaster." Leo looks at them to see if that's also agreeable with everyone. "Good." They all move to get breakfast going.
"I can keep an eye on Josh, so he doesn't don't burn anything, including the apartment," Donna can't resist teasing Josh about his cooking.
"Donna," was Josh's exasperated remark, as the follows Donna to set the table. Leo and Margaret share a knowing smile, pausing in their tasks.
Breakfast is soon on the table and Josh is enjoying the huge steaming omelet on his plate and comments, "Leo, I'll admit in front of witnesses that you 'do' know how to cook. This is wonderful."
"Thanks, Josh." He looks at him with a smile. "I may need you to verify that some day to Jed. He thinks he can still out cook me. What?" He notes the surprised looks he's getting from Josh and Donna.
"You just called the President, Jed." Donna answered for both of them, "I've never heard you call him anything but Governor or Mr. President." She's a little nervous admitting this.
Margaret's smiling, since she was surprised the first few times Leo used the President's first name to her. She still has trouble realizing that she's now in that same circle of family and friends that can. Just not at work.
Leo laughs at her observation. "Well, I do like to annoy Jed in his company and always call him Mr. President. It's really getting to him." Leo's showing his enjoyment in this dig to his best friend, "Here at the apartment, I call him Jed. We're still working on Margaret calling him Jed in private company, but she dodges it, by not calling him by any name. She's warming to calling Abby by her name when they are out of the public."
Donna has eyes as big as saucers when she looks at Margaret's face to confirm this reality, "I never thought of how many adjustments this means for you, Margaret." She continues, "I just couldn't do to myself. He's the President."
Josh chuckles and remarks, "Donna, the first couple are old friends of Leo's and Margaret's privy to that now."
She looks at Josh, "It's enough for me to adjust to Leo teasing and being playful, in private, but to be at ease with the first couple would be beyond me." She now looks at Margaret in awe and sympathy at the same time. Realizing the monumental scope of adjustment she's making to be with Leo. He deals with the world daily. She looks at the other couple and is amazed at her friends and that they care about her. Her blessings are countless at times.
Leo reaches out and places his hand on her hand, "I guess we need all need this talk. Donna, I can read you face. Josh and I know that sometimes the world of politics that 'all' of us deal with can be overwhelming. Just remember that friends are friends, no matter what the job they have, be it powerful or supportive. Just the fact that Margaret and I asked for you help, should tell you how much we enjoy your friendship. Enough to want you as a close friend and that we feel we can ask." Addressing Josh with her, "All of us are going through a transition time that redefines our perspectives of each other and yes, which includes the first couple. As you and Josh are more in my personal life, you'll both be making adjustments the same as Margaret. All of us will be in situations where we're privately in the company of powerful people, both from the nation and the world, while we're in office. They'll be just regular people at the time and I'm confident that we'll be comfortable with them. Adjustment will be easier than you think among friends. Even with or without that big lug you have with you. He's getting better at it." He flashes a grin at Josh. Margaret has reached over to Leo's arm and is stroking it to reaffirm what he's saying about the friendship the four of them have developed.
Donna's smiling at Leo, now more at ease. "I appreciate that you explained it up front with me, Leo." She covers his hand with her other hand. "I guess I needed to hear it. You're right; friends are friends and should be enjoyed and cared about. That must be how you're able to have a best friend as President."
"Exactly. In here he's still Jed, the same best friend I've had for years," he points to his heart.
"Yeah," Josh addresses them all, with the sparkle of happiness in his eyes, "years from now, we'll look back at the White House years and be amazed at what we were able to do and the people we met and knew on a personal level. The best will be the ones we call friends." He leans over and gives Donna kiss on the temple. He's happy that he's closest with her.
Margaret now takes charge and stands, "Time we get the ball rolling with getting me a new apartment." She lists first, "Everyone needs to shower and get dressed. Josh, you go first." Looking at Leo with a knowing and accepting look, "Leo can be next, after he checks in at the White House and at he same time, I'll call the rental offices of Latrobe and Potomac Place." She then finishes with, "To save time Donna and I can use the bathroom together."
"Good, cause I was afraid you'd demand that I share with Josh." Leo jokes, "I'm not that close to him."
"Funny, Leo." She gives him a squinted eye look and then turns to speaks to all of them, "After everyone's done, we need to go hunt down some boxes this morning and while in the car we can make a plan of action, to get this place packed up." She explains her hurry, "I want to get started this week and I can live out of boxes till the move." She looks at the ceiling as if in prayer and then back at them, "If we find a place soon, I need to be able to move in as fast as possible."
"OK, I'm going first," Josh states as he heads to the bath. "I know, don't use all the hot water."
"I'll clean the table, while you and Leo make your calls," Donna volunteers.
"Thanks, Donna," Margaret agrees to the help and heads for the phone.