The closer they got to the White House, he could feel her getting worried & nervous. Once they were in the lot, he turned to her and took her hands in his. "Don't be scared, precious. They're going to direct everything at me. This isn't about you; it's about controlling the image of the White House. I'll be right next to you and I'll do my best to protect you, but it might be a little hard for me if the President is there." She nodded slowly and he kissed her softly with the same intense feeling as the night before. "Come on, let's get this over with."

There were a moderate number of staffers in that day, all of whom gave the pair a variety of looks ranging from abject shock to withering distain as they walked, hand in hand, towards Leo's office. Margaret gasped as she looked up from her computer.

"Katie, is that you?"

"Yeah Meggie, it's me."

Margaret came around the desk and hugged her tight. "I've really missed you. You have no idea how difficult he's become over the last few years." Noticing Sam, she said, "Oh, sorry, Sam. It's just that we haven't seen each other in years."

He just waved her off. "It's OK, Margaret, really. Don't worry about it. Besides, you and I see each other at least once a day, right?"

"At least," she said with a laugh. Suddenly, they heard Leo's muffled "Margaret!" come through the door.

"They're all in the Oval, Sam. Katie, you staying with me so I can catch you up on everything?"

"Sorry, Megs, but no. I've been summoned to this meeting, too. I'll see you later."

As they walked into the outer office, they could hear the chatter of the other staffers, the President and Leo. Walking up to the partially closed door, he squeezed her hand and kissed her forehead. "It's going to be fine," he said quietly, "they only want me for this." Sighing heavily, he raised his hand to knock. "Let's go."

The President called for them to come in. As soon as Sam pushed open the door, all conversation ceased.

"Good morning, Mr. President," they said together.

"Morning, Sam. Katie, sweetheart, where have you been? Abbey and I have missed you around here."

She walked over and hugged him, "I'm fine. Is it safe for me to call you Uncle Jed here?"

"Sure, sweetie. I heard about what happened last night. I'm sorry that you and Sam had to be called in this morning. Are you feeling better?"

"Much better, thanks."

Leo cleared his throat, "Excuse me, Mr. President..."

"Leo, aren't you even going to say hello to your own niece?"

"Hey there, Katie."

"Uncle Leo," her voice was like ice and she only gave a quick nod in his direction.

"Why don't we get this started?" The President jumped in, recognizing where a conversation between her and Leo would go if it got started. "CJ, what've you got?"

"Thank you, sir. Here are copies of the article that was published in the London Daily Mirror. It quotes 2 unnamed sources that the other person in the photo is someone with whom Sam's been having an ongoing relationship with, and that the relationship started while she was a minor." Sam and Kate looked at each other with the shock obvious on both their faces. Someone found out about Minneapolis. Kate spoke first.

"CJ, I'm the one in the picture with Sam, so you may as well use my name while we're discussing this."

"I need to know the details of your relationship, Katie, so that I can clear up these accusations before they make their way into the US press, and the sooner I can get them, the better."

"Well, A: Don't call me Katie, and B: you're not getting them right now."

"Excuse me?" Toby said in an irritated voice.

She turned and looked Toby square in the face with her eyes narrowed.

"You heard me. You're not getting them now. The press has no need to know what either of us does in our off-time. It's ridiculous that they think they can have at this."

Sam put his hand on her arm. "Kate, we need to do this. I don't like it either, but it's what has to be done."

She turned to face him. "What about..."

"The press doesn't believe that Senior Staffers have the right to privacy and that belief can and often does extend to those in their immediate personal lives. I've told you what happened to me."

"Can we discuss this before we give them anything?" She cast a hopeful look at the President, who nodded slightly. Sam was the only one to notice the slight catch in her voice.

CJ and Toby noticed the President's reaction. "Fine," Toby huffed. "The two of you talk it over and get me a statement when you've decided what to say. CJ'll need it by the end of today."

They nodded, and the President spoke up. "Wonderful. What's next?"

The meeting moved forward from there. Once it was over, Leo said the phrase Sam had been dreading all morning. "Sam, my office."

Once the doors to Leo's office were closed, he turned on him.

"What the hell are you thinking? What happened between you and Mallory was bad enough, but now you're trying to date my niece, who is much younger than you, by the way. What are you trying to do, kill me?"

"Leo, we're both adults. I didn't even know she was your niece until she mentioned it. We met outside the Wing and found that we have a lot in common. She's a wonderful woman, Leo, but we've been dating for a few months now and plan to continue. I'm sorry if this bothers you, but that's what we're going to do." Sam tried to conceal his anger while he spoke, but the ice in his voice betrayed him.

The door between Leo's office and the Oval opened suddenly, and both men looked toward it.

"Leo, lay off the poor guy, would you? You're just upset that you don't get to have a little fun with this one the way you did when it was Sam and Mal."

"Be that as it may, sir, Katie was entrusted to my care by my sister in Ireland. I don't take things like that lightly."

Sam couldn't help but think, 'Yeah, she was shipped over because her parents were ashamed of something that happened to her that wasn't her fault. When she got here, your wife and daughter did little to help her acclimate, and you weren't much better.'

"Leo, that was 14 years ago. She's a grown woman now. I think your sister would forgive you if you loosened up on her a little."

"All due respect, sir, you've never met this sister."

The President looked around the room and noticed Sam still standing quietly in front of Leo's desk. "Go ahead back to your office, Sam. Find Katie and discuss the statement you'll give to CJ. Once you've handed it to her, I don't want you anywhere near the building until Monday."

He smiled. "Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. President, Leo." He left the room as fast as he could and made his way to his office.