Part 6
Margaret comes back about an hour later and finds Leo working on a crossword puzzle. "Did you two have a nice visit?"
"Yeah," he smiles softly, and looks up at her over the top of his glasses.
"Good," Margaret moves over to the chair next to his bed and sets her purse down and then walks over to his bedside. "Do you need anything?"
"Yeah," Leo says as he thinks that must be the tenth time today she's asked him that same question. He puts down his puzzle and tells her, "I need for you to go home," he says in a very even tone.
Margaret stares at him, once again, like he's just grown another head, "Leo, I don't mind staying."
"I know you don't mind, and I really do appreciate it and I'm very grateful for everything that you've done for me, but… you need your rest, too. Besides, I need you to go to work tomorrow and make sure that Josh doesn't do anything stupid." He grins.
"Leo, I really don't mind staying and…"
"Margaret," Leo growls. "Go home, please."
Margaret looks at her watch, "It's still early. I could stay and keep you company for a while."
"Margaret, don't you have a life?" He smirks as he shakes his head.
"No… not really," she softly laughs, "I work for Leo McGarry and I kinda like it that way."
"Yeah," Leo breathes out in a hushed voice.
"Yeah. So… do you want me to try to get Mallory on the phone again for you? She's probably back at the hotel by now," she comments after she looks at her watch.
"Okay, but as soon as you dial, hand me the phone this time, okay?" He doesn't want Margaret to have to put up with Jenny again today or really any other time, too.
"Okay." Margaret picks up the phone, dials the number, and hands the phone to Leo and then steps out of the room to give him some privacy.
"Hey Baby," Leo smiles into the phone, after his daughter answers it.
"Daddy, it's so good to hear your voice. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, there's no reason to worry."
"Well, I doubt that," she wonders out loud, as she sits down on her bed, thankful that her mom is out.
"Mallory," he father grumbles.
"Are you behaving yourself, Daddy?"
"Yeah. Margaret is watching me like a hawk."
"I just bet she is," Mallory softly laughs.
"Do you know she's been here since I was admitted? I've been trying to get her to go home, but…"
"Yeah, well… good luck with that," Mallory says, knowing that Margaret isn't going anywhere while her father is in the hospital.
"Yeah, she can be very stubborn."
"Well, I'm sure it comes from working for you all those years," Mallory softly laughs.
"Ya know, I had an opportunity to give you up for adoption," Leo smiles as he teases her.
"Yeah yeah, I think you've mentioned that before," Mallory giggles. "You know, you two are so alike."
"Yeah," Leo exhales, as he then thinks about his Margaret. "I guess so.
"Daddy," Mallory says, after a couple of seconds of silence.
"Yeah?"
"I love you," she whispers.
"I love you too, Baby," Leo's voice is full of emotion.
"Daddy, are you going to slow down and take care of yourself, now?"
"Well between you, the President, Abbey and Margaret, I don't seem to have a choice," Leo shakes his head. "You're not going to believe what the President is making me do."
"What?"
"He's forcing me to take a vacation."
"Really… as in you're not at work for several days in a row?" Mallory snickers into the phone.
"He's even making me go somewhere, too. Which, by the way, I'm not sure that he can legally do," Leo huffs.
"Well… he is the President, Daddy," Mallory points out.
"Yeah. Thank you for reminding me of that, but you're a little late cause he's already pointed that out to me at least once tonight," Leo sighs.
"So, where are you going on your vacation?"
"I don't know, he's going to put Margaret in charge of that, plus he's going to have her go along with me and make sure that I relax," Leo tries his best to sound unhappy about this.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'm sure she's going to hate it."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that. You two deserve a break, and I know that…" Mallory stops. She decides that it's probably best if she stays out of her father's personal life. She wants to tell him that Margaret loves him, but decides against it at the last second.
"You know what?" Leo asks.
"Oh nothing, Daddy."
"Okay."
"So when are you leaving?"
"I have no idea. I still have to get out of this place first," he grumbles.
"Daddy, listen to the doctors and Margaret, please," she pleads with her father.
"I will, Baby."
"Promise?"
"Yeah, I promise. So, are ya having a nice trip?"
"Yes, but I can't wait to get home and see you."
"Baby, is everything okay?"
"Yes, just the normal stuff," Mallory says, knowing that her father will know what she's talking about.
"Okay, well. I'll talk to ya tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'll call you. Margaret called earlier and gave me the number."
"What would I do without her," Leo smiles.
"I hope you never have to find out."
"Me either. Bye, Baby," Leo softly says.
"Bye, Daddy."
Leo stares at the phone for a few seconds and then reaches over and lays it back on the table next to his bed. He picks up his crossword puzzle and tries to work on it, but he just winds up staring at it. He can't get his mind off Margaret.
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"How's Mal?" Margaret asks, after she enters his room.
"She's good."
"Is she having a good time on her trip?"
"Yeah," Leo looks up at his assistant.
"Good."
"Yeah."
"Do you want to watch some TV?"
"Nah," he shakes his head.
"Okay," Margaret walks over to the chair next to his bed and sits down.
"Margaret?" Leo asks in a soft voice.
"Yeah?" Margaret scoots to the edge of her chair ready to jump up and get him whatever he needs.
"Nothing…" Leo sighs, deciding that he's still too afraid to confess his love to her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Okay."
They spend the rest of the evening talking quietly and sometimes just enjoying the comfortable silence between them. Leo drifts off to sleep right after the evening news. Margaret turns off the light over his bed and then grabs the blanket off the back of the recliner, snuggles under it and is soon fast asleep in the recliner, too.
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Leo wakes and sighs when he sees Margaret curled up asleep in the reclining chair. "Margaret," Leo waits a little bit. "Margaret." He says a little louder.
"Yeah," she yawns and stretches, while looking at her watch to see what time it is.
"I thought you were supposed to go home last night."
"Well…" she tries to think of a good reason why she stayed.
"Well?"
"I guess I better get going if I'm going to keep Josh from running the country into the ground," she says, as she gets up. She needs to hurry if she wants to get home and have a quick shower before going to the office.
"Why don't you go home and sleep some and then go into work this afternoon," Leo offers.
"Nah, I'm fine. I'm used to long hours."
"Sorry, bout that."
"Leo, I like my job."
"But still…"
"Well… I'll see you tonight."
"Margaret you don't have to spend all your free time here."
"I know I don't need to, but I want to, besides, I can fill you in about what's happening at the White House," she smiles.
"Okay," Leo grins.
"See you later."
"Yeah, see ya," Leo says, as he watches her leave his room. He relaxes in bed and drifts off to sleep again dreaming about his Margaret.
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Leo spends most of the day sleeping, watching CNN and working the crossword puzzle book that Margaret picked up for him in the hospital gift shop. He's now allowed to get out of bed on his own and has even taken a couple of walks around the floor. He's sitting in a chair, working on a puzzle when Margaret shows up after dinner.
"Hey there," she says, after standing unnoticed in the doorway for a while watching him. Even with some of his head shaved and the swelling and bruising, he's still a very attractive man. "It's good to see you out of bed."
"Yeah. I've even been for a couple of walks," he proudly announces, as he stands and walks over to his bed, giving Margaret his chair.
"Good. So, how are you feeling?"
"My headache is finally gone."
"You look much better too. You have some color back in your face." She informs him, as she walks over and sits down next to him.
"Yeah, black and blue with a tinge of yellow," he laughs.
"That's not what I meant," she smiles. She's glad to see him in a good mood.
"I know," he gives her a dimpled grin. "The doctor says that I'll probably get to go home tomorrow."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Well… he did mention one little condition, though," he admits.
"And what was that?"
"That I have someone stay with me for a couple of days. He gave me a list of some companies that provide those types of services, but I was wondering… well if…"
"Where are the numbers, Leo? I can give them a call and set something up for you," she sighs.
"Ah… well thanks, but I was kinda hoping that well… I really don't want just anybody staying with me. So I was thinking that… maybe you'd be able to ah… come stay with me. But, if you'd rather not, that's fine too."
"No," Margaret says quickly and with some force. "I can stay with you. I just assumed that you'd want me to call one of those places since you mentioned them."
"I'd rather it be you," Leo almost whispers.
"Okay," she says, as she bobs her head.
"Good," he flashes her a lighthearted grin. "So, how was your day? Did Josh drive you crazy?"
Margaret nervously laughs, "No, he was fine, but…"
"But what?"
"The President called me into his office today."
"He did, did he?" Leo raises an eyebrow and inwardly smiles because he knows what's coming next.
"Yeah, he had me… well he made me clear your schedule for the next two weeks," Margaret cringes waiting for his infamous temper to show.
"What?" Leo growls, in mock anger.
Margaret decides to tell him the rest of it, "And… you're to take a vacation, too."
"A vacation, whose stupid ass idea was that?"
"The President's," Margaret replies.
"He can't make me take a vacation."
"I think he can, and he is adamant that you're going on a two week vacation, so get over it," she says forcibly, getting tired of his attitude.
"Get over it?" Leo growls.
"Yes, now where do you want me to book your vacation to?" She says very matter of factly.
"Vacation?"
"Yes, Leo, you might as well get used to the idea, because you're going on vacation even if I have to personally put your butt on the plane."
"Margaret?"
"Yes."
"I heard you," he softly informs her.
"Well, I hope so, Leo. Because I'm sitting right here next to you," she points out.
"No, I mean… earlier… before… I heard ya."
Margaret heart skips a beat, because she has a sinking feeling she knows what he's referring to. Abbey had said that sometimes patients wake up and they can tell you everything that been said in their room while they were unconscious. "You mean about you taking a vacation?" She tries to distract him as she pulls on the hem of her skirt.
"No, I heard you when I was… out. I know that you… love me," he whispers as he watches her carefully.
"Oh… I umm… I'll understand if you umm… well I think the best thing for me to do is quit." She finally manages to get out, as her eyes go misty with tears.
"Quit? What are you talking about?" Leo huffs.
"Yes, I don't want to make you uncomfortable because of..."
"Margaret, I'm not uncomfortable and I don't want you to quit."
"Are you sure?"
Leo shakes his head; he's not making himself clear. "Margaret, I don't want you to quit as a matter of fact, I… want ya to go on vacation with me," he smiles.
"With you?"
"Yes, you see I think… that is well I know that… you see I…think… oh holly hell Margaret. I'm trying to tell ya that I love ya too, and I want to ah…"
"Date?"
"God, I hate that word." He grumbles.
"Go out? Court? Woo?"
"Margaret," Leo growls. "I want us to be… together. I want you in my future. I want you by my side… always… forever."
"You mean get married?" She whispers.
"Yes… eventually, if that's what we both want," he looks into her eyes imploring her to want it too.
"I'd like that too," she smiles in agreement, seeing that he wants her.
"Then come here, you," Leo's voice goes low, as he reaches out a hand to her.
Margaret moves over to Leo's bedside. He pats the bed next to him and she sits down, but not close enough for his liking. Leo takes a hold of her hand and gently squeezes.
"Come closer, please," he whispers.
Margaret scoots closer to him, and then leans over towards Leo who gently traces her jaw line with his fingertips and then runs his hand behind her head, gently pulling her closer to him. Their lips are almost touching, "Margaret, I love you."
"I love you, too Leo," her thoughts are only of him and his comfort even in this moment she has waited years for. "Are you comfortable? Does this position hurt your head? Are you…"
"Margaret," Leo groans, "Shuddup and kiss me," he mumbles as he lightly presses his lips to hers and they share their first kiss.
"Leo, I've wanted this for years," Margaret sighs, as she pulls away a little from his lips.
"Me too," Leo agrees as he pulls her in for another kiss. This one quickly turns more passionate as they kiss and lovingly explore each other's mouths for several moments until they finally come up for air.
"So, where do you want to go," Margaret coos into his ear.
Leo gives her a puzzled look, "Margaret we can't… I mean… I want to… but we're in a hospital and…"
"No, silly," She softly laughs, as she runs her fingers down his chest. "I meant where do you want to go on vacation?" She starts kissing his neck.
"Anywhere ya want to," he murmurs as she continues to assault his neck.
"A vacation. Like as in a real vacation. Where we get on a plane, stay at a hotel and don't any work… kind of vacation," she whispers.
"Yeah Margaret, a real vacation," he softly laughs, as he pulls her close to him and they slide down in the bed.
"I don't know where to go. I haven't been on a vacation in years," she says as she snuggles against him.
"Me either," he kisses her forehead and then makes his way down to her lips, applying light delicate kisses as he goes.
"I definitely want to go somewhere warm with a secluded beach far, far away from here," she informs him, just before his lips capture hers for another long passionate kiss.
"Whatever you decide, Margaret, is fine with me," he mumbles as he slowly pulls his lips from hers. "But, I'm paying for everything," he quickly informs her with an impish smirk.
"We'll see about that," she seductively whispers, as she plays with the buttons on his pajama top.
"Margaret," Leo growls in a low voice. "The matter's not up for debate. We are doing this by Presidential order and you will be my guest," he says, as he brings a hand up and caresses her cheek.
"Leo, if I've learned one thing from working with you all these years is that everything is up for debate," she breathes against his neck before delivering a series of light kisses.
"We'll see," he replies with a small laugh from both her kisses and her standing up to him, as he continues to trace her neckline with the tips of his fingers.
"Yes, we'll see," she returns, walking her fingers down his chest.
"Margaret Elaine McGuire," he moans, as her hand continues to travel further south.
"What?" She softly laughs, as she stops and toys with the elastic waist of his pajamas, trying to distract him from the who's paying for the vacation topic.
"I love you," he whispers, as he takes her hand, pulls it up to his mouth, kisses it and then lays it on his chest. "But, I'm still paying for everything," he softly laughs as he pulls in for another kiss.
The End.
Thanks to all of you who provided feedback. I had several people commenting about looking forward to reading about what happens on their vacation. But, I had always planned to end this story in the hospital. However, if I get enough requests, I would consider writing a sequel.