Title: Leo and the Sisterhood Evening Daylight Series Leo Cooking 10/?
By: chipmunk
Pairing: Leo/Margaret
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: None
This is AU, doesn't matter the year or the situation.
Beta and Mentor By: Lee pigletnpooh@comcast.net
Disclaimer:
The characters are from the NBC, WB, A John Wells Prod., TV show, 'The West Wing'.
They own them; therefore, they do not belong to me.
They are the creation and property of Aaron Sorkin. I only borrowed them.
No copyright infringement is intended. No monetary benefit is received or anticipated.
Please keep in mind, 'Imitation is the highest form of flattery'.
A 'grateful' and 'enormous' thanks, to the actors and actresses,
who portray the characters 'brilliantly' and brings them to life in my head.
Any mistakes found in this fic, are totally my own fault and ignorance.
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!
Archived at:
Summary: Margaret has the Sisterhood over to her new apartment for a visit to the hot tub. Then it's gossip and a chick flic. Leo ends up being the entertainment.
Note: At this point in the series, it is assumed that Leo/Margaret and Josh/Donna are couples. They are casually touching, trading endearments and swapping spit.
***********
Donna's leaning on the edge of Margaret's desk, waiting for Josh to finish talking to Leo. The assistants have high hopes that they might get to leave at a decent hour this Friday night. For some strange reason, there's no world event or situation that's demanding to be resolved tonight.
"We have a chance, Margaret, cross your fingers and your toes if you can." Donna demonstrates by crossing her fingers in the air, "CJ has just called a lid for the night. Josh is in there reviewing his last meeting to Leo. The First couple went to Manchester for the weekend and the rest of the senior staff is clearing out rapidly. Everything looks promising." Donna finishes her list of events pointing to an early evening out of the office.
"I'd cross my eyes if it would help," Margaret exclaims. "I need to hit the hot tub, tonight. It's been a long, rough week."
CJ sticks her head in the door of Margaret's office, "What's this I hear about a hot tub and where is it hiding?" She has a serious and desperate sound to her voice as she steps fully in the office.
Margaret smiles and revels its location, "At my new apartment building."
"Oh, do tell! Are you allowed guests?" CJ is looking more hopeful now.
Donna answers CJ's question, "She sure is and I was just about to invite myself," she was getting her foot in the door, or hot tub that is, first.
"Is there room for one more, is the vital question here," CJ is in full journalist mode now. She leaned on the desk beside Donna, not budging till she got a positive answer.
"Of course, CJ, you should see this tub." Margaret happily agrees and reassures CJ "It's huge and in a room all of it's own. She lowers her voice, like she's telling good gossip, "You could have a senior staff meeting in it and bring along the assistants." Margaret brightens up with an idea. "Hey, speaking of assistants, lets call the other girls and have a sisterhood evening at my new apartment. It'd be a great way to break it in." She looks expectantly back and forth between two ladies that are lounging on her desk.
"Sound wonderful to me," CJ agrees at once. Standing up from the desk.
"I'll call Bonnie and Ginger," Donna volunteers just as rapidly with a cheery smile.
"I'll tell Carol and also get a hold of Nancy to see if she can join us." CJ looks at her watch, "All right ladies, here's the plan." They huddle their heads closer together, "It's 6:30 now. How about we meet at your lobby, Margaret, at 7:30 with swimwear in hand?"
"Sounds like a plan to me." Donna's agreeable and adds, "We pop up to Margaret's apartment to change and then descend on the hot tub." She says this with a dreamy tone to her voice.
Margaret adds her thoughts to the plan, "Hey, lets make a night of it!" She watches the others for their reaction to her suggestion. "I'll grab some salad makings at the grocery store. We can each make a giant salad and watch chick flicks. I've been in the mood to watch "Ghost" again for the longest time."
"That sounds even better," CJ answers with a rare lilt in her voice. "I'll bring some soft clothes with me. We can munch salads and sigh over Patrick Swayze."
"Best offer I've had in a while," Donna admits. "Now to see if the guys are done with us, for the night."
Josh walks out of Leo's office as if on cue. Leo's looking at the expectant faces of the three females.
"What, you look like I'm going to yell at you or something." Leo gets no answer to his accusation. He jams his hands in his pants pockets, waiting. "Did something happen that I don't know about or is it crap I don't 'want' to know about," he growls at them. He wants to get out of the office early tonight, since the President is gone for the weekend.
"Nothing's wrong, Leo," Margaret jumps in to reassure him before he looses patience. "We just want to know if we're done for the night." She looks at the floor and then at the other females, "We had hopes of having a 'girls night' at my apartment, starting with the hot tub." He gives them a pointed glare and studies their faces as if he's debating.
He leans closer to Margaret to indicate he's putting her on the spot, "Just out of curiosity, what's a 'girls night'?"
"Well Leo, we usually have food, gossip and a movie." She quickly revises the normal agenda,, "Now, first we're adding a trip to the hot tub." She smiles at him since he knows how much she loves that hot tub.
Leo looks pointedly over at Josh, who's watching the exchange with great interest. Josh adds his input in answer to Leo's look, "Leo it 'sounds dangerous to me', maybe we should find them something to keep them busy here tonight."
Donna looks daggers at Josh for that comment. She 'will' make him pay, if he just messed up their evening off.
Leo replies to Josh as if the women are not standing there, but he's next to his office door for an escape route, "We really should, Josh." He tries to sound serious and keep a straight face, "The gossip part is more likely man bashing at it's finest." Then to see if he can get any more mileage out of this situation, "What have we got left to work on, before the President returns Monday?"
Josh snaps right back, in the opening Leo's for left for him, "Well, I'm sure he'd be impressed if we had the economics forum pounded out for him."
By this time the women's faces change from expectant to ones showing they are getting impatient with the guys and the fun they are having with them.
"Leo?" Margaret is just letting him know that they are waiting for his decision.
He looks at her with a stern look at her interruption, but the twinkle in his eyes gives him away. "Margaret," he growls and pauses like he's making a point. She gives him the look right back, letting him know she's on to his game. He breaks into a small smile at her, to keep from getting hurt as she takes a step toward him. "Go, get outta here." He's really grinning and takes a step backward toward his office.
" You better run for cover, Leo. Trying to jerk my rope like that," she teases him back. Still advancing on him with her hands reaching for him.
CJ has her mouth hanging open at Margaret's threat to Leo. She almost looks over her shoulder, expecting the agents to haul Margaret off.
"Remember, we're at the White House, Margaret. I'm the boss here," he states as a warning.
"Yes, I remember, Leo," she sweetly replies. "You yell here, I yell at the apartment."
He steps forward to her and steals a quick kiss from her lips. "We always find better thing to do than yell at the apartment." He teases her in front of CJ. Donna just rolls her eyes at Leo.
"Leo!" Margaret scolds him and blushes.
CJ and Donna are, by now, grinning at this exchange. Josh is leaning on the doorframe enjoying the way Leo's working Margaret into blushing.
"You sure you don't need us, Leo?" Margaret sounds worried and a little guilty.
"We need you, but we'll survive somehow without you this evening." He steals another quick kiss, "I just need to finish a few things that shouldn't take long and then check with the President before I leave." He turns her around and moves her is the direction of her desk, "You ladies go on and enjoy your evening."
"You'll call me if you need me?" Margaret still wants to be there for him.
He rolls his eyes and does a quick sweep of the ceiling with his eyes and throws his hands out to the side. "Yes, Margaret. I call you when I leave. All right?"
CJ grabs the chance to get while the getting is good, "Lets go before fate sees we're getting out early."
Donna voices her worry, now that they can leave early, "I hope can rescue Bonnie and Ginger from Toby tonight!"
Josh smiles and happily gives a solution that benefits him also, "I'll take care of Toby for you. We need some bonding time down at O' Malleys."
"Thanks, Josh." Donna gives him a peck on the dimple for his help! "Just behave and don't try to keep up with Toby drinking or you'll hate yourself in the morning," she looks him in the eyes and warns him.
Margaret immediately starts turning off her computer and gathering up the files on her desk. "See you girls at 7:00, at my place." CJ and Donna vanish down the hall, before anything can ruin their plans.
"Thanks, Leo," can be heard trailing back from the hallway.
Margaret gives Leo a quick kiss. "Call Me," she reminds him.
"Jeez, I give you girls an early night and all I get is a 'hurried kiss' and a 'see ya'," he sounds disappointed at his reward for being the nice guy.
"Bye, Josh. Shut the door behind you," Margaret orders. They listen for the door to click and then Leo gets his proper kiss and a 'see ya'. Margaret's soon flies out that same door, with a happy smile. Anticipating her entertaining of the Sisterhood at her new apartment. First stop, the grocery store for food and sodas. The girls all understand her 'no alcohol' rule in her apartment, now that Leo's coming around there. It just doesn't have the same appeal, it once did for her, plus she wouldn't want anyone to drown in the hot tub.
Margaret's humming in the kitchen when she gets a call on the intercom that the girls have arrived and are ready to come up to the apartment. Margaret buzzes them through the security door. She's waiting at her doorway when they to get off the elevator. Donna's in the lead, as the six women start up the hallway.
CJ sincerely comments as she sees Margaret. "If I didn't hate moving so much, I'd be checking for a apartment here myself. This is a really nice place and close to work. You really lucked out!"
"Thanks, that's why I rented it as soon as I saw it." She smile wide, "Now, I can have you girls over more often. So keep you suits in your cars," she recommends with a sly grin.
When they enter the living room they are impressed with the layout and the space. Ginger asks, "How can your frugal heart stand the rent you must pay here?"
Margaret just laughs at that with the rest of the girls, as her penny pinching ways are legendary at work. "It's really not too extreme. Granted more than I paid before, but with our work and with the little time I get to enjoy being home. I figured it was worth it and the extras really sold me." She lists the best ones, "Hot tub, security and an extra bathroom."
"You have two baths," Carol asks in amazement.
"Yes, they came with the two bedrooms apartments." She points right and left. "One on each side of the apartment."
Donna smirks to the other women, "Yeah, his and hers!"
Nancy points to the spare room side, "So, that's where you put Leo?"
"That's right," Margaret admits, "I'm not letting Josh or him into my bathroom to trash it. Donna and I established that rule the first day." She points left, "They get that side and we have this side." She motions to the master bedroom. She steps into the spare room. "Come on and I'll show you around, it's not that big of a place."
"I see Leo has had Ron deliver him a government secure computer. Like I have at home." Nancy makes note to the women of how well Leo has made the room his own.
"Well," Margaret is serious here, "I wasn't letting him mess up my lap top. Leo does enough damage to his at the office." She grins at the group, "He was allowed to furnish the room and maybe I'll tell you that adventure later tonight. Lets just say he's learning to shop correctly." She smiles that knowing smile that the others understand so well. "My way!"
They all laugh at the image of Leo shopping. He must have been at a total loss.
Bonnie is checking the bathroom from its doorway, "This is a nice size bath here for a spare bedroom."
"Thankfully, yes. It helps with Leo and Josh both leaving their swimwear here for the hot tub." She teases now, "Donna decided it would be easier for him to leave them here, than for 'her' to retrieve them every time they wanted to come over." Donna can't deny that statement. Margaret gloats, "Since I 'am' just a four minute drive from work. Donna can get him out of the office some evenings with the promise of visiting me in the hot tub." Margaret decides to finish the tour quickly, "Ok, girls, lets take a fast check of Leo's kitchen that he 'lets' me use in his absence. It's on our way over to my side of the apartment to change and then off to the hot tub."
****
A really short time later they're all draped around one side of the hot tub. The other side has two other couples there that are just relaxing and are not minding the women joining them.
The ladies recognize and say hello to Margaret. One guy asks, "You ladies work with Margaret?"
The other male remarks, "This is early for Margaret to be here." He continues with another question, "What did you do, Margaret, tie Leo up and stuff him in a closet to get away so early?"
She jokes back with them, "Almost, but I think we intimidated him by our shear numbers tonight."
The first guy promises, "I'll be sure to tell him you said so!" The guys chuckle at the image of Leo McGarry being intimidated by anyone.
The female with the first guys scolds, "That's enough you two. Leo can be nice. You two can take lessons from him."
Nancy looks at the others in the group and asks in a serious tone, "Are they talking about the Leo McGarry that we know at the White House?"
"Yeah, they are. He's different away from the responsibilities of the White House," Donna confirms for them about the Leo she's observed lately.
CJ pipes in, "Margaret, this is heaven! We have 'got' to do this more often now. "
Margaret sarcastically agrees, "You just get Leo to go home at a decent hour and I'm more than willing to share the hot tub."
They all laugh at that!
The other two couples decide they have soaked long enough, "Come on guys, lets go get pizza and maybe find a floor to dance on!"
The males whine and question, "We just got relaxed and you want to go out?"
They look around at nine pair of female eyes, "Maybe we should go quietly, I think were out numbers here! Bye, ladies. Enjoy the tub."
"Good night!" The Sisterhood answers in chorus.
The Sisterhood spread out around the tub now with everyone getting a nice set of spa jets for each of them.
"I could just stay here all night," Ginger confesses.
"Well, I can tell you this, I'm not moving," Nancy McNally firmly states. Then adds in teasingly, "The middle east can blow each other up tonight. I'm not budging." She sighs, "This is wonderful."
CJ decides to get into the conversation and razz some, "So, Margaret, how often do you and Leo get to enjoy this tub?"
She doesn't take the bait from CJ, "Not enough, but it does help his attitude after a bad day. That man is wound tight as a rip cord and this seems to be a way for him to really relax." She lean forward and lowers her voice, "The best part is that he's nicer at work the next morning. I've been observing him for it." She leans back again, "That makes it worth it for me."
Ginger concurs then, "That makes it better for all of us. We may have to send him over on bad days for an attitude adjustment." She hopefully adds, "Can we send the other guys over, also?" They all laugh lazily at that concept.
Bonnie adds to the hot tub theory, "If it would help. I'd dig one myself in the basement of the White House, but I just can't see Toby using it." She can't resist adding why, "No way for him to use his laptop."
That last comment breaks them all up. They love laughing together.
Donna tells about her boss, "When Josh gets in here, he actually is quiet for a change, if you can believe that." She looks at the disbelief on some of the faces. "We have to practically drag him out."
"I agree with him." CJ is again heard from, "I'd want to be the last one out."
Carol gets brave. "Me too, on sending my boss over here," she smile at CJ. "She's nice most days". CJ splutters a short laugh. Carol continues, "But her dealing with the press is murder!" Thinking out loud now, "Maybe we need to get them a hot tub. Think that would help, CJ?"
"Not in this lifetime," CJ states with no room to question. "They would really act like sharks if we allowed them near water." She manages to get this out with a straight face, but not for long.
That cracks up the women again. Margaret looks at her wrinkles finger tips, "We better get our before one of us drowns. I'm getting hungry and Patrick's movie is just waiting for us."
They reluctantly agree.
****
After changing into soft movie watching clothes of tank tops and shorts due to the summer season, they congregate in the kitchen.
"So, this is Leo's domain, Margaret. Does he know were using it this evening," CJ teases.
"Yeah, I told him we planned on food, gossip and a movie," she admits. "He lets me use it during the week, but you should see him when he first gets here. He looks around like he's greeting old friends or that I'm hiding his pans and skillets from him. It's comical to watch." Margaret lets them in on a small glimpse of the time Leo and she spend together.
"Hey, I'll defend him. He can really cook. When he's cooking, I'm eating." Donna vows. "They've learned not to tell Josh and me every time he's here to cook," she admits.
Margaret razzes, "Just because Josh eats like an Army on the weekends, to make up for not eating all week." She admits also, "Leo does like to try and fill him up. I think he takes it as a challenge." She smiles and remembers the moving weekend. "The sandwich making was fun to watch. It looked like a card game, with Josh dealing bread and Leo the meat slices," she finishes with at chuckle. Then adds knowingly, "Mine you, those two are incorrigible together."
Soon, they all move to the living room, each with a bowl of salad and a soda. Margaret clicks on the VCR with the remote.
Donna continues the conversation from the kitchen, "You're right, Margaret. Get our two out of their environment and they need keepers. Not like we aren't their keepers at work." Donna rolls her eyes.
"That's not the way I hear it, I hear it gets pretty steamy here," Bonnie taunts them.
"I don't kiss and tell. But, I can tell you he loves to cuddle," Margaret softly admits.
"Ohhhhh, Margaret, that sounds interesting." Several of them encourage her.
"About as interesting as Donna draped across Josh in the recliner." Margaret gives them another tidbit.
"That sounds good, too," the ladies are all ears at this point.
"Yeah, you two have got to toss a clue or two. The rest of us need to get at life, so we want to live vicariously through yours," Carol demands details.
Carol, do we need to mention a tall handsome SS agent with the initials of R.B., Donna teases back at her.
"OHHHH, Carol. Likes her man tall, wears dark and handsome. A real hero type. You to girl," Bonnie encourages her.
"That's OK, I haven't given up all hope yet," is Carol's boastful reply.
"Don't get your hopes up that much about Leo and me," Margaret dampens their interest. "We're taking it nice and slow. Just enjoying the romance. We want to savor our time together."
"Oh, that sounds so wonderful, Margaret," CJ comments wistfully. "Are you sure your talking about Leo?"
"Yes, my Leo," Margaret has a soft starry look.
"Well, I don't have to tell you about Josh," Donna replies now. "He's not shy. He tells anyone who'll listen that he's 'da man'. So, there are not a lot of secrets about us. He's still trying to get us to move in together, but I'm not ready for 24 hours of Josh, if you know what I mean. Maybe, someday we'll get there, but now yet." She lets them in on a part of her handling of him, "It also tends to keep him in line and continues the dance we have going." She smiles at the picture in her head of them.
It's time now, for the movie. The ladies are spread around the room, watching 'Ghost'. Margaret and Donna are on the couch, Nancy is in the recliner, CJ is stretched out on the floor, with a throw pillow. Ginger and Bonnie are sitting on the floor, up against the couch. The tissue box is making the rounds, as the movie gets near the end. The ladies sigh and sniff together after the movie is over.
"Well, now that we're all sad and crying. Its still early for us, how about we pop in an additional movie of Patrick's," CJ suggests from the floor. "'Roadhouse' or 'Dirty Dancing'?"
"We have to choose?" The ladies wail.
CJ sits up as the Sisterhood leader, "OK, let's be democratic and vote. How many for 'Roadhouse'?" Two hands pop up, but some of the others grumbling. "OK, then how many for 'Dirty Dancing'," CJ knew that the other four would win the vote. "Then 'Dirty Dancing' it is," she proclaims the winner.
"Intermission time, then." Being nearest to the VCR, CJ pops out 'Ghost' when it's done rewinding and slides the next tape in.
"Let me know when to start it and someone grab me another soda." CJ calls into the kitchen at the others. CJ adds a few minutes later, "It's ready!" The women flock back in and grab their prior seats ready for a hot 'Patrick' movie.
The phone rings just as CJ starts the movie. "Don't panic," Margaret reassures them, "I'm sure its just Leo calling before he leaves the office." She checks the time. "It's just after 10 PM, so this is an early evening for him, too."
*** "Hello."
"Hey, Baby."
"Hey, Leo, everything all right at work?"
"Yeah."
"Good," she gives the OK sign to the ladies and moves to the foyer to talk to Leo while the movie is on.
"I was just leaving. I guess I'll head over to the hotel. Mallory is out of town on vacation, now that school's out on summer break. I'll come over tomorrow."
"Yeah. Well, we're just starting the second Patrick Swayze movie now." She draws an L and M in the carpeting of the foyer with her big toe. "Leo, can I ask you to do us a favor."
"Depends." He chuckles over the phone line. "The Sisterhood's a scary thing for me to mess with," he sounds like he's serious.
Margaret chuckles at his false fear. "Well, with this favor you'd be pretty safe." She finally lets him in on the favor, "Do you think you could swing by the grocery store and bring 7 pints of ice cream over in chocolate varieties."
All she can hear is Leo laughing on his end of the phone. He recovers and replies, "Now, I know why you said I'd be safe. You ladies will let me in, if I bring the ice cream."
Margaret gets sassy with him, "I said pretty safe and I didn't make any grantees, Leo."
"Makes me feel safe." He teases her back, "I'll even be brave enough to leave the agents here and risk it on my own."
"Thanks, Leo." She softly adds, " You know I have to have my ice cream with a movie."
"I know, Margaret," he answers softly back. "I'll be there soon. Luv ya!"
"Love you, Leo" *****
Margaret takes her place back on the couch. "It's about time you got off the phone with your boyfriend." CJ playfully scolds her. "You just saw him a few hours ago." Margaret just grins and can't deny her happiness.
The Sisterhood laughed at Margaret's blush. They're teasing her like they're all teenage sisters. She loves this group.
Leo arrives and knocks on the door. He's 'not' going to walk in on the Sisterhood. He's not that brave, to just enter without being invited and even then he'd have reservations. Margaret knows Leo will be at the doors and pops up. "Wonder who could be at the door, to make her move that fast ladies," Nancy asks the others, watching Margaret's fleeing body. The all chorus "Leo" and make kissing sounds at Margaret as she starts to answer the door.
She turns and puts her finger to her lips to hush them; knowing Leo's going to see the blush she's wearing. "Hi, Leo. Step in." She glances over her shoulder, "they won't attack yet."
Leo kisses her and says, "Hey, Baby". He stops just inside the foyer. "It's not safe for me to enter further," he states seriously to Margaret and loud enough for the females in living room to hear him.
"What's a matter, Leo, afraid for your life or your virtue?" CJ teases him, now that they're out of the White House. "We're just us having fun with some man bashing gossip and a few chick flicks."
"That 'really' makes me feel safe, CJ." Leo can't let her taunt go unreturned. "My answer to your question is both, after you hear what I brought for you ladies."
CJ and Donna both stand and start to move closer to him, at the mention that he's brought them something. He steps closer to Margaret like he's really afraid, but his grin tells a different story.
"What did you bring us, Leo," CJ asks with interest and a challenge.
"Ice cream. Chocolate, ice cream." They females, all laugh and rush him to relieve him of his gift. That was a scary sight for him.
"I'll confess," Leo remarks to the ladies in his kitchen. "Margaret wanted the ice cream." He places a hand on his chest with sincerity, "I just agreed to be the delivery boy."
"Boy, she's got you trained," CJ can't resist giving Margaret kudos from the Sisterhood.
Margaret blushes and plays with the lapels of Leo's suit jacket and asks him, "you going to get something to eat at the hotel?"
"Yeah." He looks into the kitchen again, "since, I'm banned from my kitchen tonight," he replies loud enough for the women to hear him. Looking at Margaret again. He nods his head to the side and gives a half grin, "I can grab something at a drive thru and probably read some reports tonight." He looks at her sad face, when he reveals how his evening will probably go. "I'll come over in the morning and fix breakfast, if you like. We can go in later tomorrow and make a quick check the office."
Margaret complains to him, "Leo, you're either holed up in your office reading or in your hotel room reading, every night." She runs her hand down the side of his face noting the beginning of stubble under her fingers. "What am I going to do with you? You need to get out of that routine," she knows that's a hopeless pipedream.
He just looks at her and shrugs in agreement. With a 'that's the way his life is' look on his face.
CJ's in the doorway to the kitchen and sees the looks on Margaret and Leo faces, which shows that they know he has little other options for relaxing. She has an idea. "Margaret, if Leo wants live dangerous tonight." She smirks in Leo's direction as a challenge. "He can hole up in the spare room and read or whatever. Till we get done with the movie and later clear out. We have lots of salad left." She turns to look in the living room, at the other women who are now content with their ice cream. "Anyone got a problem with Leo staying in the spare room, while we finish the movie?"
"No, not if he's brave enough." They tease back at him, with a few variations on that theme. "We'll be nice and let him live. He can turn on some music and not overhear us drooling over the movie!" They all laugh at the prospect of Leo being in danger from them.
Donna pipes up from prior knowledge, "You better put a time limit on his trips to kitchen or you'll never get him out of there."
"OK, Leo. You can stay with the condition of one trip to the kitchen for your salad," CJ offers as huge favor from the Sisterhood. "Agreed?"
"OK, agreed." Leo smiles at CJ and then at Margaret. "I'll go down and get my briefcase and be right back."
Leo is back in ten minutes. He wants to get into the spare room before they change their minds. When arriving back at the apartment, Leo slips into the bathroom that connects from the foyer to the spare room. He can hear the cat calls that ladies are tormenting him with. He grins as he changes into his favorite comfortable clothes, of a t-shirt and soft faded jeans, while the ladies are loudly making loving remakes about the movie for his benefit.
Donna and Margaret are smiling to each other, as they 'know' what Leo's first priority is. He's doing his quick-change act before coming out to the kitchen.
The other ladies just stare at the man, who at work can make them tremble with fear and runs the White House with an iron fist. When he emerges out the spare room, right into the middle of the assembled women. Just to boldly show he's not afraid to brave their movie area. They 'really' like his snug jeans. Carol hisses to the others, "I told you they fit him like a glove."
Margaret smiles, knowing Leo's doing it for effect and loving it. She doesn't let him off Scot-free. "Leo, 10 minutes in kitchen and then they'll do bodily harm," she warns him.
"Promises, promises, Margaret," he boldly teases her back.
"Leo, get smart and we'll help hold you down, while she hurts you," CJ threatens while enjoying her ice cream.
He comes out of the kitchen with a bowl and a soda, " I'm going. I'm going. Wouldn't want to spoil the fun for you ladies or give you an excuse to extract revenge on a defenseless male." He gets to spare room door. "Hey, CJ, Promises, promises. It might even be fun," he laughs and shuts door on CJ's shocked look. He quickly flips the lock on the door; the sound is heard in the shocked quiet room.
At the sound, CJ retorts back in mock anger to him, "You better lock the door, Chicken. Margaret won't save you now." They can hear him laughing in the other room.
They laugh at his bravado. Bonnie remarks to the women at large, "Leo in jeans and barefoot, now I've seen everything. Next week, it's going to be 'so' hard to keep a straight face and I'll definitely will not be able to look at his shoes." The others roll with laughter at the same predicament they all have coming on Monday.
Donna chuckle and remarks, " Leo and Josh 'so' like to go barefoot, now that summer time is here." She then makes an unladylike snort, "In the evenings, with Josh." She looks at Margaret, "We're lucky if he's wearing clothes. He acts like he's forced to wear his baggy silk shorts."
CJ being the journalist of the group she teasingly asks the question on everyone's mind, "What does Leo wear in the evenings, Margaret?" She raises her eyebrows at her and looks at the other women to include them all.
The ladies giggle at Margaret blushing with discomfort and she confesses, "He wears long satin lounge pants, period." There's a pause as the group reflects on this image. Donna confirms this with an affirmative nod and raises her right hand as in an oath. She knows Leo will not see or hear that she's doing it.
Nancy slaps a hand on the coffee table and loudly complains, "Now, I really 'will' have trouble in Sit. Room!" She seriously looks at the other females, they know she has to brave working in there as the only female. "First, the President wearing jeans in the White House and now Leo's in jeans and barefoot here. The world is coming to an end ladies and I'm here to tell it to you." She points to Margaret, "I doesn't want to hear the name Leo and satin pants in the same sentence." She looks around the room at the ladies and grins, " Now satin on Fitz is another matter. OHHHH!" she places a hand over her heart and looks to the ceiling. The room full of women explodes with laughter and cat calls at Nancy. Nancy, with her hand still on her heart, good naturally banters back, "From my mouth to God's ears. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a man with a chest that can fill out a uniform and he has that dimple going. Mmmmmm."
By now, the females are wiping the tears of laughter away! Donna agrees with that weakness, placing her on her own heart and a fainting look on her face, "Nancy, tell me about dimples."
Margaret now confirms back to Nancy, "OK, you don't want to hear about the satin, since it's too much of a visual picture. Then I guess you don't want to hear about what the guys wear in the hot tub?"
"OHHH, do tell," Ginger takes the bait.
Margaret and Donna fall together laughing. Donna spills the info about Josh first. "Lets just say that Josh's choice of swimwear matches his personality. His are a baggy and big, brightly flowered tropical print that reaches just below his knees. They're definitely a bold statement." The girls laugh at the thought of Josh in bold colors and make sarcastic remarks about, maybe Donna should help him get over his shyness.
Margaret cranes her head to make sure the spare room door is tightly shut, as Leo would probably pound her for telling, "Leo's swimwear suits his personality also. His are a strong, conservative black." The ladies make faces and sounds of a boring nature. Margaret looks at the door again and continues, "They just barely reach mid-thigh length," She marks a length across her thighs with her hands, to show how short they are. Then she adds in a mock whisper, "and they definitely are not baggy, if you know what I mean." That breaks up the ladies again, knowing Leo's in the other room.
All the while this gossip session has been progressing, the women have been passing around nail polish and doing their toenails in bright colors for the summer season.
Leo, hearing the volume level return to normal, decides to risk sticking his head out, checking to see if it's safe to retrieve another soda. "I see you ladies are peacefully busy doing your nails. Would I get murdered or molested if I sneak to the kitchen again for soda?"
Some of the women look at him like a deer in the headlights at his appearance after just gossiping about him. CJ, who's sitting on the floor with her back to him, now turns toward him and is ready to poke fun at him. Which is something she can't do to him at work. So, not missing a golden opportunity she threatens, " You've had your 10 minutes, mister. You steps one bare foot out that door and you'll be wearing nail polish like the rest of us."
"Is that so, CJ," he challenges back. "You and who's army," he demands and glances teasingly at Nancy with that remark.
"That's not a problem, Leo," she calmly answers, knowing she has the Sisterhood to back her up. "Right, ladies?"
"Right, CJ," they chorus.
Smiling, he glances at Margaret to gauge the look on her face and she's not giving him any clue, but a smile. He quickly checks Donna and she smiling and trying to convey a look to CJ, that they'll definitely be carrying out her threat, since Donna knows that Leo loves a challenge. Leo's smile gets wider and he makes a break for the kitchen. CJ drives after him and snags his ankle and down he tumbles. Before he even reaches the floor, Margaret and Donna happily join in and work to pin down his arms and the other ladies are right behind them to help.
CJ moves up Leo and grabs the arm that Margaret is holding and orders, "Margaret, you sit on him." CJ looks back down to Leo's feet. "Bonnie and Ginger, each of you can hold a leg. Nancy, you grab the polish and you get to do the honors, since he badmouthed your army. Carol, you help hold his foot still for Nancy." CJ looks back to top of Leo, where Margaret's sitting on his abdomen. "Margaret, if he gets too loud, you know how to silence him."
"No problem, CJ," and she promptly lowers her mouth to kiss his laughing protests quiet.
Nancy makes a quick dab at each nail, just to add color, knowing that Leo will rebel at any moment. "Done, CJ." She informs them, like it a timed event. "He's a real pretty boy now!" The females all pile off Leo and laugh at the sight of his toes. Leo raises his head just enough to see his feet, flops back down and trying not to laugh at his own expense when he bellows out, "Margaret." The laughing tone in his voice doesn't have the bossing quality, which it does at the White House.
"Sorry, Leo, you were warned." She calmly points out looking down at him on the floor.
CJ ends the evening, "Well, ladies, it looks like our night is complete. One man down and all of DC left to clean up. It's a hard job to do, but someone has to do it and the Sisterhood 'rules'."
The ladies grab their things to leave. Leo remains on the floor recovering from the wrestling match he lost. The women just step over him on the way out the door. Laughing at his look of defeat. ;-D All wishing him, "Good Night, Leo!"
CJ adds as she steps over him, "It's been real fun having you for the entertainment tonight, Leo." He makes a grab for her ankle and she's too fast for him, all he gets is air.
Just as the ladies exit to the hallway, Josh sticks his head in the door and since he has been out with Toby he's feeling no pain. "Damn, Leo! What'd they do to you? Josh slurs a little, "I told you the Sisterhood was dangerous." He looks, with a little trouble focusing, at CJ, who's in the hall snickering at Josh's reaction to finding Leo on the floor. "Did you women hurt him? If he's permanently hurt the President's going to kill us!" He glances at Leo, the White House COS and then looks back to CJ, with fear. "Or maybe I should ask, what did he do to end up stretched out on the floor?" Leo's weak from laughing at Josh's concern that he still can't get up yet.
Looking at Josh seriously in the face, she points to Leo, "That's just a reminder, that when the Sisterhood makes a promise, we keep it! No one badmouths any of the sisters, without regretting it!"
"Damn!" Josh goes in to help Leo up! "I just came over to see Donna home, Leo. Good thing I didn't get here any earlier or both of us might be on the floor." He looks Leo up and down, once Leo's standing and he notices Leo toenails. He starts laughing and has to sit down on a chair, since his legs will not hold him. He's laughing so hard he can't catch is breath.
Leo looks at his feet and smiles, "Well, this is certainly at first for me. Never say I wasn't willing to try something new at least once. Margaret," he bellows.
She returns from the bedroom with the polish remover in hand, "Yes, Sweetie. Would you like me to add a second coat of polish on for you," she asks in her most helpful voice.
"Very funny, Margaret," he still has laughter in his voice. "I 'would' like some help getting it off, if you don't mind. Josh here is going to need oxygen soon if he doesn't quit laughing." He seriously looks at Josh, "That or he's going to puke."
"Donna!" Margaret calls over her shoulder for her, at Leo last remark. " Could you come back in here and take care of laughing boy? Maybe you should stretch him out on the day bed, before he gets sick from drinking and laughing."
Donna shakes her head at him and grabs him by an arm, "Come on Josh, I think you need to catch your breath, before we try to get you home." She warns him in her best Donna voice, "You keep on laughing till your sick, Josh and I'll paint your toenails for you." She threatens with a smile. She knows this is one of those moments that Josh can't help but laugh and one they'll all happily remember for a long time.
Josh is really trying to stop laughing, "I can't help it, every time I look at his feet, I just loose it." He honestly answers while whipping tears away from his eyes.
Leo's grinning at his feet also and defends himself in a macho manner, "There were seven of them and one of me. You try taking on those odds," he challenges Josh.
Josh looks up at him, "I'd head for the hills, Leo." Josh leans toward Leo and adds, "I'm not 'that' brave!" He's looking at him with awe that Leo even tried it.
Donna gets Josh to his feet and Margaret takes Leo by the hand. "Come on, Leo. I'll help you get it off." She moves Leo to the couch and she sits on the coffee table where he can prop his feet between her knees, for her to reach them. She smiles up at him and softly confesses, "This has been the most memorable Sisterhood gathering ever, thanks to you!" A thought dawns on her as she remember the fun they had at his expense and suggests, "If Donna can get Josh sobered up, we'll all go down and let the jets in the hot tub work on your muscles." She grins wickedly, "You're gonna hate yourself in the morning."
"OH, HELL," Leo loudly wails and rolls his head. He looks sadly at her then, "I never thought about hurting all over tomorrow. Will you rub my back for me?" He wags his eyebrows at Margaret.
"If you rub mine," she agrees, smiling brazenly at him.
"With pleasure." He smiles smugly back at her, "I might even sit on 'you' this time!!"
The End
blessings
chipmunk
aka: Betty Lou Riley
Riley2@bright.net
July 1, 2003