Everyone Notices Part 7
See part 1 for details.
Part 7
Leo taps on the doorway, "Hey, there," Leo calls out, as he enters Margaret's hospital room.
"Hey, Leo."
"Are ya ready to leave this place?"
"Yes and I'm glad you're here a little early, I'd like to take a quick shower. I think I still have time, 'cause it's only two-thirty and you know how doctors can never stay on schedule."
"Well, most doctors don't have you running around making sure they stay on schedule," he smiles.
"Thanks, I think," she says, as she starts to rush around gathering stuff to take into the bathroom with her.
"It was meant to be a compliment," he smiles.
"Leo, I need to hurry, so… can we do this banter thing that we do so well, later."
"Yeah," he laughs.
"Good. Will you watch Tommy for me?" She asks.
"Sure, go shower," Leo motions to the bathroom and then walks over to the basinet and peeks down at the sleeping baby.
"He's been asleep for almost an hour, so he'll probably be awake soon," she informs him.
"So, he's a good little sleeper."
"Yeah, during the day… but not so much at night," she struggles to cover her mouth as a yawn overtakes her.
"Oh, he's a little night owl like his Uncle Leo," he gives her a crooked grin.
"Regrettably so. I'll have to break him of that bad habit," Margaret teases with a smile, as she reaches for the doorknob.
"Hey," Leo feigns a growl.
"I shouldn't be too long," Margaret says just before she disappears into the bathroom.
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Leo hears Margaret turn the shower water off, just as Tommy starts to stir. Leo walks over to the basinet and watches him wake up. "My that's a big yawn you have."
Tommy stretches a little bit and starts to fuss.
"Hey there, let's not make a federal case outta it," Leo tells his namesake, as he picks him up, walks over to the chair and sits down. Tommy still is not happy. "Did your Mama try to feed ya? I bet she did. You need to cooperate with her, little man." Leo reaches for the pacifier and gives it to him. Without delay, Tommy starts to suck on it. "Why don't ya do that with your Mama?"
"Yeah, I wish he would," Margaret comments, standing in the bathroom doorway with a towel wrapped around her head. She's been watching the tender scene between Leo and Tommy.
"Hey… that was quick."
"Yeah," Margaret walks over and appears to be on the verge of tears.
"Margaret," Leo reaches up, takes a hold of one of her hands and rubs his thumb over the back of her hand. "He will."
"So, everyone says, but…"
"Margaret, it's going to be fine. The nurses and the doctor aren't worried, right?"
"Right," she sighs, still not convinced.
"So Margaret, are you and Thomas ready to go home?" The doctor asks, as he walks into the room.
"Yes we are," Margaret says, as she takes the towel off her head. "I just wish I could get him to nurse better."
"He will as soon as your milk comes in," the doctor informs her.
"But, what if it never does?"
"Margaret, more than likely it will, but it doesn't mean you're a bad mother if you have to bottle feed him," the doctor echoes what the nurses have already told her several times.
"I'm not ready to give up yet," she rubs her forehead.
"Okay, well let's do a quick exam and if everything's okay, you're out of here," the doctor motions towards the bed.
"Umm… we're gonna… umm… step out into the hallway," Leo, who's trying desperately to stop thinking about Margaret's breasts, starts to get up out of the chair.
"Leo, stay. You won't be able to see anything from where you're sitting. Besides, you've seen just about all of me naked, anyway, just not all at one time," she teases, trying to get Leo to blush in front of the doctor.
Leo's face quickly turns red, "Tommy, your Mama's evil," he says out the side of his mouth.
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About an hour later, Leo holds the door open for Margaret and Tommy as the nurse wheels them out of the hospital.
"Where's Eddie?" Margaret asks, looking for Leo's service car.
"I drove myself," he announces.
"You drove?" Margaret turns and looks up at Leo.
"Yeah, I still remember how," he lightly growls as he helps Margaret out of the wheelchair after the nurse takes Tommy.
"Do you still have a valid driver's license?"
"Margaret," he grumbles.
"Do you need help getting him into the cat seat?" The nurse asks, as she smiles at the exchange between them.
"Car seat?" Margaret suddenly panics. "Leo, I forgot to tell you to buy a car seat. We can't take Tommy home without one. Now what are we going to do?"
"Margaret, calm down," Leo opens the back door, revealing an infant car seat. "It only took me three attempts to get it in," he proudly announces. "And, it's facing the correct way."
"Leo, I can't believe you, but thank you," Margaret says.
"Here, I've got him," Leo smiles, as he takes Tommy from the nurse, gets into the back seat on his knees and expertly places him into the car seat.
"Leo, how did…" Margaret is amazed that Leo knows how to work the straps.
"I read the instruction manual," Leo says, as he crawls out of the back seat. He's not about to admit to her that he practiced with a stuffed animal that he bought for Tommy. Leo takes Margaret's hand and helps her into the back seat. Leo walks around the car and climbs in behind the wheel.
"Ready?" He looks back over his shoulder.
"Yeah."
"Anything you need to pick up on your way home?" Leo asks.
"Probably, but right now, I just want to go home." Margaret is nervous about Tommy's first ride in a car seat. She's not sure what she's going to do if he starts crying. She has his pacifier to soothe him, just in case he gets hungry or just wants it.
"Okay, I can go back out later and get anything that you need." Leo offers, as he puts the car in drive and carefully pulls away from the curb.
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Margaret inserts her key into the lock, turns it, and then opens the door to her apartment. Leo follows her inside, carrying Tommy in his infant car seat. Margaret immediately notices the change as she walks into the living room area, "Leo, what have you done?" She exclaims, as she sets down her bag by the couch.
"Whatdaya mean?" Leo laughs, who follows her into the room and sets the car seat, with Tommy still in it, on the couch.
Margaret continues to walk though the living area and into her bedroom, "Leo Thomas McGarry," she bellows.
"Margaret, are you trying to wake Tommy?" He asks, as he hurries into her bedroom.
Margaret is standing by the crib and looking around the room at all the new baby items. "Leo… how did you know that this was the… one I… ?"
"The saleslady was very helpful," Leo interjects with a smile. "She helped me pick out everything he needs."
"But, Leo… this is way… way too much. You can't buy all this stuff for me," she tears up.
"Margaret, please. I wanted to and… besides… it's not too much for you and Tommy," he says softly as he walks to her side. "It's not like I set up a college fund for him… yet." He smirks.
Margaret turns to him and engulfs him in a big hug, "Oh Leo, I can never repay you for all your kindness and generosity."
Leo returns the hug and whispers in her ear, "There's nothing to repay, Margaret. 'Cause it's me… who owes you… so much more."
"Leo," Margaret says, as she pulls back a little in his arms and a tear slides down her face.
Leo reaches up and gently wipes the tear with his the pad of his thumb and stares into her bright blue eyes, "Margaret, I…" But before he can continue, Tommy's shrill cry interrupts him.
"I'd better see if I can get him to nurse," Margaret slowly pulls from his comforting arms.
"Yeah," Leo agrees, as he follows her and tries to collect himself. He can't believe how close he was to telling her that he loves her.
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"Leo, what's wrong with me? Why can't I get Tommy to nurse?" Margaret is leaning against her bedroom doorway, arms crossed and crying. She has tried several times since they got home to feed him, but he's not getting enough milk. He'll nurse for a little while, but then gets frustrated and stops.
"Margaret, why don't ya try to get some sleep? I'm sure things will go better tomorrow," he says, trying to soothe her.
"It won't if my milk doesn't come in," she pouts, pointing at her breasts. "They're huge right now, you'd think they have some damn milk in them. Why did God give me these, if the don't work?"
"Umm… I…" Leo stutters. He thinks they're perfect, but he's not about to tell her that.
"Damnit Leo," she walks over to the couch and plops down in the corner, opposite of Leo and curls her legs up.
"Sweetie, please don't cry," slips from his mouth, but Margaret doesn't seem realize what he just called her.
Leo slides over and pulls Margaret into his arms. She turns in his arms and cries on his shoulder for several minutes, as he whispers soothing things into her ear, while rubbing comforting circles on her back. Eventually, her sobs quiet and she falls asleep in Leo's arms. He sits there for almost an hour holding her, not wanting to move, just enjoying the feel of her in his arms and pretending that she's his.
Later, when Tommy starts to fuss, Leo gently lays Margaret down on the couch and heads for her bedroom. He picks Tommy up from his crib, "I don't have what ya need, little man," Leo soothes, as he places a kiss on the baby's head. "How about we try some water?"
Leo picks up a sealed baby water bottle that the hospital sent home with them. He walks over to the bed, lays Tommy down, so that he can open the bottle and attach the nipple. Tommy immediately starts to protest, being put down.
"He's probably hungry," Margaret says, standing in the doorway, rubbing her tired eyes.
"Yeah," Leo frowns. "I was gonna try to give him some water and let ya sleep."
"I'm up now, so I might as well try to nurse him," she sighs.
"Okay."
Margaret walks over to the bed, arranges the pillow against the headboard, gets into bed, and starts to get herself ready.
Leo picks up Tommy, "Okay, it's time to eat big guy," he whispers in his little ear before he hands him to Margaret and then turns to leave.
"Leo."
"Yeah," turning around.
"Please stay," she pleads.
"Okay," he whispers, as he sits down on the edge of the bed next to Margaret and lowers his eyes to give Margaret some privacy, while she tries to get Tommy to nurse.
Eventually, Tommy latches on and sucks for a while, but soon get frustrated and starts to cry. "I'm going to try the other side," Margaret informs Leo and then waits for him to look away, before she moves Tommy to her other breast. He seems to be more satisfied.
"Okay, he's switched," Margaret breathes a small sigh of relief as she looks at Leo. "I guess he prefers the left side more," she smiles.
"Ah… Margaret," Leo points to her chest. "You're… umm… not quite covered up there," Leo stutters, as he averts his eyes.
"Oh," Margaret quickly covers up. "Sorry."
"Not that I minded, but…" Leo softly laughs, trying to make light of his embarrassment.
"Leo," Margaret laughs and playfully swats his leg.
"What?" Leo tries to look innocent, as he shrugs his shoulders.
"And you say, I'm evil," she shakes her head and smiles.
"You are," he returns, as he lays a hand on her arm.
"Probably, but you like it." She surmises.
"I must."
They sit there for several seconds, staring at each other, both afraid to say what they really feel.
"So, I guess I'll go try to get some sleep," Leo stands.
"I'll make up the sofa for you," Margaret says, as she starts to get up.
"Margaret, I can make up my own bed. Just tell me where things are and I can do it myself."
"Okay," she says, even though she's not happy about it. She's used to being the one who waits on him not vice versa. "There's some sheets, a blanket and an extra pillow in the hallway closet."
"Why don't ya put Tommy down in the port-a-crib out in the living room and I'll get up with him, next time," Leo offers.
"Leo…" she starts to protest.
"Look," he raises an eyebrow and folds his arms over his chest. "I'm here to help. You need your rest."
"You do too." She throws back at him at an even tone.
"Margaret, I'm fine and I can catch up on my sleep. You, on the other hand, won't be able to for a few months." He explains.
"I guess, but you won't be able to feed him."
"You could umm… try to umm… well… express some milk," Leo blushes.
"I don't have a pump," she shakes her head and frowns. "I wasn't ready for him to come this early."
"I can go shopping for ya tomorrow. Make me a list and I can get whatever you need."
"Okay."
"Good," Leo carefully leans over trying to avoid brushing up against Margaret's breast places a kiss on Tommy's head. He slowly stands, "Night," she says as he drops a kiss on Margaret's head, and walks out of her bedroom.
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In the middle of the night, Margaret carries Tommy out into the living room and finds Leo sound asleep on the couch. She walks over to the couch and smiles at how boyish he looks, curled up with his hair tussled. The age lines on his forehead seem less noticeable. He moans a little in his sleep and then turns over on his side. Margaret hovers over Leo for a few seconds and then bends down to kiss his cheek. "I love you," she softly whispers.
"Hmm…" Leo mutters in his sleep, causing Margaret to jump a little.
Margaret walks over to the rocker, sits down and starts to rock Tommy, while she watches Leo sleep. She hasn't watched him sleep since he was in the hospital, well that's not actually true. She did peek in on him a few times, when he first came back to work, during his afternoon naps that the First Lady imposed. She shudders at the memory of Leo lying in the hospital bed, hooked up to all those wires, tubes and blasted noisy machines. She shakes her head, trying to clear that image and then glances down at her son and once wishes again that he was Leo's.
Leo moans out again in his sleep, drawing Margaret's attention back to him. She can't help but think that things are changing between them. She has loved him for a long time and now thinks that he may feel the same way about her, too. He's been different with her since his heart attack and even more so since Thursday night. He's dropped several kisses on her, been attentive, caring, and very open with her. There's even been a couple of times that she thought for sure that he was going to kiss her on the lips or tell her that he loves her. She closes her eyes, drifts off to sleep and dreams of them as a couple.
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"Good morning," Leo peeks his head in Margaret's bedroom and finds her sitting on her bed, holding her head in both of her hands.
"Morning," she yawns.
"I thought you were going to let me help last night." Leo steps into the room and walks over to the crib.
"Well, it didn't matter any how," she snaps.
"Margaret," Leo raises a concerned eyebrow.
"Leo, I'm a failure," she starts to cry.
"Sweetie, don't cry," Leo walks over and sits down close to her.
"It's true."
"Look… not being able to breast feed doesn't make you a failure."
"It does," she sobs.
"You've got to stop doing this to yourself. It's not good for you or… for Tommy. He can sense your stress." He puts a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"I know," she weeps. "I just…"
"Shh…" he pulls her close, wrapping an arm around her. "Tommy loves you and I…" Leo stops himself. "And you are a good mother." He strokes her hair.
"Leo," she pauses, trying to stop crying. "Will you please go out and buy some formula and bottles?"
"Whatever you want, Sweetie," he kisses her hair.
"Leo?" She pulls back a little from him.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks," she starts to kiss him. She meant to kiss his cheek, but he turns to look at her, causing her to kiss his lips.
"You've welcome," Leo smiles and resists the urge to pull her in for a passionate kiss. Margaret is still a mass of raging hormones, and he doesn't want to cloud her judgment about him right now. He does take her hand and squeezes it. "So, do ya have a list for me?"
"Yeah," she gets up and walks out to the kitchen. "I made it up last night."
Leo follows, "I'm gonna stop by my hotel first so I can shower, change and shave." Leo rubs the whiskers on his chin.
Margaret walks over to him, hands him the list and then runs her fingertips down the side of his face. "I kind of like this new unshaven look on you," she says and then boldly kisses his cheek. "Nope, doesn't bother me," she smiles.
"It might in a couple of days."
"Well…we could always test that theory," she teases.
"Yeah, I can just hear what the President would have to say, if I showed up at the White House with a few days worth of beard." He smiles.
"Well, I hope you aren't planning to try and kiss him," she taunts, as she turns to walk away.
"Margaret," Leo growls as he takes a hold of her hand and pulls her against him. He can't hold himself back any longer. "He's NOT the one I want to kiss," he breathes against her lips just before he captures them in a searing kiss.
"Wow," Margaret whispers, as they finally break from the kiss.
"Yeah," he says in a throaty voice.
"That was… nice," she smiles, as she runs her hand down his arm.
"Yeah."
"Want to do it again?" Her eyes dance.
"Yeah," he whispers.
This time Margaret initiates the kiss, and it goes further than the first one. Leo pulls her tight against him as she invites him to deepen the kiss. They are both breathless when they break from this kiss.
"Margaret, are you okay?" Leo asks, as he leans his forehead against hers.
"Oh, I'm more than okay," she moans, loving the feel of his body pressed against hers. His kisses are beyond belief.
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Good…" He pulls back in her arms and looks at her.
"I'm just glad you finally noticed me at last." She smiles.
"Margaret, I along with everybody else that works in the White House, noticed you," he whispers. "You were always the bright spot of my office and… my day."
"Really," she seems surprised. "I always thought that I just blended in with the walls."
"Never," Leo says, as he pulls her close and kisses her again. "I probably should get going," he sighs, after he breaks the kiss.
"Yeah."
"I'll be back soon, and then we can… talk?"
"Okay," she bobs her head and gives him a sweet smile.
"Great."
"Leo."
"Yeah," he answers, as he brushes gentle kisses down her jaw line.
"I want you to know that this isn't just my hormones. I've wanted you to kiss me for some time, now," she assures him.
"Okay," he pulls back and grins, showing his one dimple. "I have, too." He whispers, and then kisses her again. Neither one of them seems to be able to get enough of their kisses.
"Good," she mumbles, as he continues the kiss. "This isn't something that I'm taking lightly."
"Me either," he agrees as he regrettably pulls away from the kiss. "Margaret, I really should be going."
"I know," she almost pouts.
"I'll be right back," he tells her, as he starts to head for the door, holding her hand and pulling her with him. "We can't have a fussy little man, now can we?"
"No, we can't," she barely gets out before he pulls her in for another long sensuous kiss.
"Bye," Leo says, after pulling from her mouth.
"Bye," she manages to replay, as she watches him leave her apartment. She stands there for a few seconds, rubbing her fingers over her mouth, reliving all the kisses they've just shared. After Tommy cries out, she turns and heads for her bedroom, with a bounce in her step.
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Leo arrives at his hotel, with a huge smile still plastered on his face. He feels a good ten years younger and definitely has a spring in his rolling gait. He stands in front of his vanity and rubs his chin, trying to decide whether to shave or not. All of a sudden, he sees a flash of gold reflecting back to him from the mirror. He extends his hand out away from him and stares at the band on his finger that has been there for over thirty years.
For the first time since he left Margaret's apartment, his smile fades. The ring reminds him of one of his biggest failures in his life. Guilt tugs at him, trying to get him to think twice about entering into a relationship with Margaret. He never wants to hurt Margaret like he did Jenny. He debates his next step, but finally decides to pull the ring off his finger and wraps his hand around it. He tries to concentrate on what Mallory said about second chances.
Leo walks into his bedroom, opens his fist and stares down at the ring that's tarnished with good and bad memories. He goes over to his dresser, opens the small wooden box that Mallory made him at summer camp one year and places the ring inside. He slowly closes the lid on the box and his past.
Leo takes a deep breath, and slowly walks back into the bathroom and gets ready for his shower. The water quickly washes away his depressed mood. By the time he gets out of the shower and looks at himself in the mirror, the smile is back and he quickly decides not to shave again.
TBC in Part 8