Part 3
Margaret jerks awake at the sound of Leo moaning softly. She rushes to his side, almost falling, because her right leg has fallen asleep from the awkward position she was sleeping in, in the chair.
"Leo," Margaret coaxes as she takes a hold of his hand and squeezes it, "you're okay. I'm here, Leo."
Leo moves his head a little, as his eyes begin to flutter. He starts thrashing his legs, like he trying to escape something.
"Leo, calm down. It's okay," she implores. "Please just open your eyes, Leo." She begs, as she cups his chin and squeezes his hand even harder.
Leo finally calms down a little and lightly returns her squeeze, "Marg…aret," he dryly whispers as his eyes sputter open and then close again.
"Yes, Leo it's me," she softly cries. "Can I see your eyes again?" She says, tracing his jaw line with her fingertips. "Leo, please open your eyes again."
Leo's eyes flicker open again. His face shows signs of pain. He slowly closes his eyes again.
"Leo," she slightly panics.
Leo slowly opens his eyes and slightly turns his head towards the sound of her voice as he tries to concentrate. Finally, after a few seconds, his eyes focus and he sees his assistant hovering over him, looking very worried. "Margaret."
"Hi there," she softly says with a relieved smile, as she pulls her hand away from his face.
Leo's eyes close again for a moment. He reopens them as a ripple of pain washes across his face. "Wh…ere am I?" He hoarsely asks.
"It's going to be okay, Leo. You're at GW," she calmly tells him.
"How long?"
"Since… early this yesterday afternoon," she supplies.
"Why?" His face contorts in pain.
"Why what?" Margaret gives Leo a puzzled look.
"Why am I here?" He finally manages to get out.
"Leo, don't you remember?"
Leo shakes his head slightly and quickly discovers that's a huge mistake. His head is throbbing. He raises a hand to his head.
"Leo, do you remember me forcing you to take a nap in your office?" Margaret asks, worrying that he doesn't remember anything. Her mind quickly goes into overdrive. What if he has amnesia?
Leo lightly touches the bandage on his head, "Oh, yeah," he breathes out as he winches.
"Leo, you probably should leave that alone," she advises him as she gently takes his hand and pulls it away, stopping him from continuing to probe the band-aid that is covering his wound. "Do you remember waking up from your nap?"
"No," he replies, deciding not to shake his head again any time soon. He feels like he has a terrible hangover.
"Well… when I woke you up, you were mumbling something I couldn't understand and then you stood up and collapsed," Margaret pauses as she replays that horrible scene in her mind again. "I tried to get to you but... I was too late. You hit your head on the coffee table."
"Collapsed?" Leo closes his eyes and then reopens them.
"Yes, the doctor says you collapsed from exhaustion," she explains, as Leo squeezes her hand tighter. "Leo, are you in pain?"
"Yeah…" he exhales, "a little."
Margaret is shocked that Leo admitted that he's in pain, because his standard answer to that question is always 'I'm fine', even if he's in pain or upset. "Leo… I should call the nurse to get the doctor in here to examine you now that you are awake."
"In a minute," he pauses, trying to keep his mind on track. He's having a hard time concentrating.
"No, now," she counters as she reaches over and presses the call button for the nurse's station.
Within a few seconds, a voice comes over the intercom, "Yes?"
"Mr. McGarry's awake," Margaret thankfully announces.
"Okay, I'll notify his doctor and I'll be there in just a minute."
"Thank you," she tells the nurse and then she looks back down at a frowning Leo, "What?"
"What time is it?"
Margaret looks at her watch, "A little after three."
"In the afternoon?"
"No, in the morning. Remember, I told you, you fell yesterday afternoon," she says, trying not to get too concerned about him forgetting.
"Oh, yeah. I just…" Leo pauses.
"Leo, it's okay. You're bound to be a little confused at first," she reassures him. Even though she not sure herself.
"Wh… why are you still here?" His brow scrunches up.
"I was… waiting for you to wake up," she softly explains, as her hands start to fidget.
"Why?" Leo asks, giving her a puzzled look and closing his eyes, unable to wait for her answer.
"Leo?"
Leo's eyes reopen, "Yeah, I'm still waiting."
"For what?"
"An answer," he breathes out.
"Oh… I was waiting for you to wake up…" she stalls, as she starts to blush "to a… well I just wanted to a… tell you…"
"Mr. McGarry," the voice says from the doorway. "I heard you're awake. I'm Doctor Vincent. I was asked to be assigned to you."
"Please, call me Leo," he says as he glances at the doctor and then back at his red headed assistant.
Margaret turns to see Leo's doctor enter the room, "Yes, he is but he's still having trouble keeping his eyes open," she sighs, happy to have been interrupted. She grabs her purse and heads for the door. She knows the doctor needs some time and privacy to examine him.
"Margaret," Leo's raspy voice calls.
"Yes, Leo," she turns.
"You coming back?" He asks, suddenly looking a little afraid.
"Yes. I'm just going to call Mallory and let her know you're finally awake," she gives him a reassuring smile, letting him know that she'll be back.
"You called her?" He frowns.
"Leo, she had a right to know."
"Okay. You're right," he relents.
"I'll be right back," she assures him.
"Okay," his face showing relief.
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"Hello."
"Hey Mallory, it's me," Margaret says into the pay phone.
"How's Daddy? Is he awake?" Mallory quickly asks, as she jumps up off the couch and starts to pace.
"He just woke up. The doctor's in with him now."
"Is he going to be…" She's afraid to finish the sentence.
"Mal, he seems… fine, but I'll know more after I talk with his doctor."
"Oh thank God," Mallory closes her eyes and the looks up. "Is he in pain?"
"His head hurts, and I'm sure he's going to be stiff and sore all over from the fall."
"Margaret, you wouldn't lie to me about this, would you?"
"No Mal, I wouldn't."
"Okay, I just…"
"Mallory, don't worry about it."
"You sounded just like Daddy then," Mallory laughs.
"Yeah, I guess I did," she shakes her head a little as she smiles. "Mal, I hate to rush off, but I have to call the White House and then I want to make sure I get to talk with your father's doctor after he finishes examining him."
"Okay, Margaret, take care of Daddy for me, please."
"I will Sweetie." 'I've been doing that for years and don't plan to stop now,' she thinks to herself.
"So are you going to tell him?" Mallory wonder out loud, with a hint of laughter in her voice.
"Mallory." Margaret growls.
"I think you should," she suggests, as she brushes some hair out of her face.
"So, you've said." Margaret responds.
"Well?" Mallory asks.
"Mal, I need to go. Next time I call, I'll hopefully be able to call from your father's room, so you can talk with him."
"Okay, thanks Margaret. Tell Daddy I love him."
"I will, bye Mal."
"Bye."
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Margaret walks back down the hallway, after calling the White House. She spoke with the evening Secret Service agent and told him to inform the First Lady and President, after they wake up, that Mr. McGarry has regained consciousness, and he seems fine and that she'll call them in the morning with more details. She hovers outside Leo's room, waiting for the doctor.
"Doctor Vincent, how is he?" Margaret quickly inquires, as soon as the doctor enters the hallway.
"He's going to be fine. Right now he's a little confused, but that's to be expected after the trauma to his head. He's got a nice headache, but he doesn't feel dizzy and he's got the start of some real nice bruises on the rest his body. I want to keep him here, in ICU, and continue to monitor him closely for the next few hours. He should be out of ICU and into another private room this afternoon. If you can get your husband to start eating, he'll probably be out of here in just a couple of days."
"Umm… Leo… I mean Mr. McGarry isn't my husband. I'm Margaret McGuire… his assistant." She blushes.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I just assumed… you had his health proxy and Abbey insisted you be allowed to sit with him in ICU," the doctor uncomfortably explains, as he turns slightly red.
"That's okay… he's no longer married, and his daughter is out of the country and… well… I've worked for him for several years and… I'm the closet thing he has to family… here right now."
"No, I'm sorry. It was my mistake, Miss McGuire," the doctor apologies again, as he offers her his hand.
"Please, call me Margaret," she says, while shaking his hand.
"Okay, Margaret," he warmly smiles at her. "I think that Mr. McGarry is very lucky to have you for his assistant, most won't have bothered to sit up all night with their boss," The doctor points out, as she studies her closely.
"Thank you," she replies, as she tries to glance around the doctor, so that she can get a peek at Leo.
"Margaret, he was almost asleep when I finished his exam. I imagine he'll sleep though the rest of the night. If you'd like to go home, someone here can call you if there are any problems," he offers, noting the tiredness in her face. He also notices something else; he thinks that she cares a lot more for Mr. McGarry, than as just a boss. Maybe even loves him, he wonders to himself.
"No, I have to stay… umm… that is… I promised his daughter that I would… stay," she explains quickly.
"Okay then, I'll see you in the morning, when I make my rounds, in about three hours," the doctor says as he looks at his watch and quickly walks away.
Margaret walks back into Leo's room, finds him asleep so she sits down in the chair next to his bed. She starts to reach for his hand, but stops, remembering that he's no longer unconscious. She knows that it would be awkward if he woke up and found her sitting there holding his hand. She takes heavy breath, closes her eyes and soon falls asleep.
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Leo slowly wakes to a throbbing pain in his head. He panics, thinking that the throbbing is from a hangover, but after a few seconds, it all comes rushing back to him. He's at GW because he fell in his office. He looks around his room and discovers that Margaret is still here, asleep in a chair next to his bed. He lightly smiles at the sight of her. He slowly moves his legs and arms a little, testing them for pain. He's stiff and sore all over from the fall. 'Man, I must have gone down hard to be this sore,' he thinks to himself. He remembers Margaret tucking him in for a nap, but he doesn't remember her waking him up or falling.
Leo continues to lie there for a few moments, just watching Margaret sleep. She doesn't look very comfortable in the hard chair, so Leo finally decides to wake her up, "Margaret."
"Hmm…" Margaret mumbles in her sleep.
"Margaret," Leo's voice a little louder this time.
Margaret suddenly wakes and quickly jumps up, "Leo, are you okay? Do you need something?" She asks in a panic.
"Margaret, calm down. I'm fine," he slightly frowns. "But, I do need for ya to do something for me," he slightly smiles.
"Anything," she promptly answers with conviction.
Leo grins at his assistant's unwavering willingness to help him. She never ceases to amaze him. "I want ya to go home."
Margaret promptly shakes her head, "No, I'm fine. I'll stay. You might need something," she offers as an explanation.
"And just what would that be? It's not like I'm gonna dictate a letter or need you to answer my phone," Leo calmly points out.
"No… I guess not," Margaret says with a hurt look on her face. She looks sadly down at her hands that are resting on the bed rail. 'He doesn't want me here,' she thinks to herself.
Leo immediately realizes that he's hurt her feelings, "Look… I didn't mean it the way it came out… it's just… well…" he sighs, as he closes his eyes and then looks up at Margaret. He slowly places a hand on top of hers, "Margaret, I really do appreciate you looking after me and staying here but… you need your rest too," he tries to convey his concern with his voice and his eyes.
Margaret bobs her head, "I was sleeping… until you woke me," she logically points out.
"I meant your own bed," Leo softly smirks.
"Oh, but…"
Leo realizes that she's not going to leave for her own good, but she might if she thinks he needs something. "Margaret, I'll make ya a deal. Why don't you go home to your apartment and do whatever you need to do, maybe even nap..."
"But, I'm fine," Margaret quickly interjects.
"Margaret, let me finish," he slightly grumbles.
"Okay, sorry."
"Like I was saying, go to your place and then run over to my hotel room and pick me up a few things for my stay here."
Margaret thinks about what Leo has just said., and decides he probably could use some stuff and she sure could use a shower and a change of clothes. "Okay, but I'm not leaving until the doctor makes his rounds this morning."
"Fair enough," Leo responds as he squeezes her hand and then lets go of it. He brings his hand back up to his bandage on the side of his head.
"Leo, you probably shouldn't mess with that," Margaret advises again.
"I know," he says as he feels the stubble around his wound. "Man, they must have shaved half my head," he complains.
"Leo, they didn't shave that much and besides it'll grow back," she evenly affirms with a small smile.
"I hope so. There's not much up there to begin with," he frowns, as he pulls his hand away.
"You still have plenty of sandy blond hair left," she politely tells him, as she studies his head.
"Mostly gray, now," he grouses, as he looks up into her eyes.
"Leo, you are still, if not even more handsome than the day I started working for you," Margaret announces without thinking and then quickly blushes.
Leo smiles at her forwardness, "Thanks. Ya know… you're a very beautiful woman, I can't believe someone hasn't swept you off your feet, yet."
"Leo," she blushes even more. He's never said anything like that to her before. He's always been very standoffish when it comes to things like that with her. She's overheard him complement others at social events about their outfits or how nice they look, but he's never once commented about her clothes or the way she looks.
"It's true," he impishly grins. He always shied away from making comments about Margaret, he's been afraid that his true feelings would shine through.
"Thank you, although I don't think most would agree with you," she awkwardly says, as she stares down at her hands again.
Leo is about to say more, when the doctor walks into the room. "Well, how's my favorite White House patient feeling today?" The doctor beams, as he makes his way towards the bed.
"I'm fine. I'm feeling much better now than I was the last time you were here. I think I could probably go home today," Leo suggests.
"Nice try, Leo, but that's just not going to happen today," he smiles as he looks at Margaret, "Now, is it Margaret?" and then studies Leo's chart that is in his hand.
"No Sir, it's not," she smiles.
The doctor peers over the chart, "We might move you to a regular room today, if you continue to stay stabilized and eat and drink something for us."
"Great, now you're on her side," Leo smirks as he nods his head towards his tall assistant.
"Leo, you really do need to start taking better care of yourself. Which means more sleep and better eating habits. If you eat and drink today and try drink some Ensure we'll take that feeding tube out."
Margaret bobs her head in total agreement, "Don't worry, he will Doctor."
"I have no doubt that you will make sure he does," the doctor grins as he continues to go over Leo's chart.
Leo's hand moves up to his nose, and he feels for the feeding tube. He was so distracted by his headache and Margaret's presence that he didn't even notice the tube before now. "What is this for?"
"Leo you are malnourished and you needed some calories so you have been on continuous feeds of Ensure to help with your healing process. We can stop the feeds but leave the tube in, and if you don't drink or eat we have the option of feeding you again overnight. One way or another you will get some nutrition. It's entirely up to you," the doctor explains to Leo.
Leo gives Margaret a glare, "What?" She commands with a pointed stare.
"Nothing," He sighs, realizing that he's lost this battle. "I'll eat."
"You bet your ass you will," Margaret quips without thinking and then quickly blushes, "Sorry," she says to the doctor.
"Don't worry about it, Margaret. I like how you think," the doctor smiles. "Well, I can see your in good hands," the doctor comments, as he gives his patient a warm smile. "We'll see about getting you moved, later today, if you behave," he comments as he heads for the door.
"He acts like I'm in kindergarten," Leo snidely tosses out, after the doctor leaves the room.
"Well, stop acting like it," Margaret retorts with a smirk, "and maybe you'll get out of here sooner."
"Margaret," Leo growls.
"Oh," Margaret quickly remarks, as something pops into her head. "I never got a chance to tell you about my call to Mallory last night."
Leo's disposition quickly changes for the better at the mention of his daughter's name, "No, you didn't."
"She told me to tell you she loves you," Margaret smiles and wishes that she could tell him the same thing. "I told her that you were awake and were going to be okay that is if you start taking better care of yourself."
"Margaret," he grumbles. "There was no reason to tell her that."
"And I told her that I'll call her from your room today so that you could talk with her."
"Yeah, I'd like that, but I still say you shouldn't…"
"Leo, she's your only daughter, she had the right to know," Margaret quickly argues.
Leo's quiet for a while, "I know it's just… I didn't want her to worry… I imagine you've been worrying enough for the both of you," he smiles.
"Maybe," she quips.
"Yeah, I just bet you've been," Leo lowers his eyes. "Sorry bout that," his voice drops to almost a whisper.
"Leo, it's not like you did this on purpose, but… you'd better never let it happen again," she informs him.
"I'll try not to," he smiles, looking back up at her. "So… ya gonna go to my hotel and bring me back some stuff?"
"Yeah, I guess I could probably use a change of clothes, too," she agrees, wanting a shower, too. In addition, she knows that Leo will be a lot more comfortable with his own pajamas. He should be able to wear them once they move him into another room.
"Do you still have the extra key to my suite?"
Margaret looks at Leo like he's grown another head, "Yes, Leo. I was thinking about selling it on Ebay, but…"
"Okay, okay," he quickly interrupts, "I was just checking, no reason to get lippy," Leo smirks.
"Anything in particular that you want from your hotel?" She asks.
"Nah, just the usual stuff ya normally pack for me," he informs her.
"Except the double breasted suits," she quips.
"Well, I guess I could use something to wear out of this place that is if they ever let me go home," he sighs.
"I don't think you'll need a suit for your trip home, how about some Dockers and a button down shirt," Margaret suggests.
"And a sport coat. I do have a certain image to maintain," he softly laughs.
"Okay and a sport coat," Margaret moves over, picks up her purse and heads for the door, "See you in a little while."
"Take your time. You should nap at your place," he calls after her.
"We'll see," she softly comments, as he leaves his room. She has no plans to sleep. She wants to get back to Leo as soon as she can.
TBC