Everyone Notices Part 11
Rating: Mature for language.
See part 1 for details.
Part 11
Leo looks at his ringing cell phone and smiles as he shakes his head, "He's fine, Margaret," he answers, after opening his phone.
"Leo, where are you? I called your office, but you didn't answer." Margaret's voice is on the verge of panic.
"That's because… I'm not in my office right now," he softly smirks. He can just picture Margaret standing there, biting her upper lip, and worrying about where her infant son is.
"Well then, where are you?" She slightly huffs. She's not very happy with Leo's caviler attitude.
"Margaret, calm down. I'm in the Residence." Leo smiles at the President who is holding Tommy. "The President wanted to see Tommy and well… I couldn't deny him, now could I?"
"Oh, umm… sorry. I was just worried."
"I know you are, but he's fine."
"It's just, it's hard to leave him," she whispers.
"So… is CJ making ya work hard?" He teases.
"You know very well it was a ruse." Margaret walks over to the corner of the room, for some privacy. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have done a better job with my hair." She pushes her bangs out of her face. She hasn't gotten her hair cut since she discovered she was pregnant.
Leo, turns away from The President, and cups the phone, "I thought it looked nice the way you did it," he whispers, hoping that his busybody best friend, doesn't overhear him.
"Thanks." She smiles.
"So, are ya having fun?"
"We haven't really started the party, yet. We're still waiting for the First Lady to arrive."
"She'll be down soon, she just left a couple of minutes ago," Leo says, sounding relieved.
"Leo, you sound like you were happy she's gone. Was you giving you trouble about taking better care of yourself, again?"
"No, not this time," Leo takes a deep breath. "Margaret, just a second." Leo covers the phone with his hand and turns to the President, "Jed, could you watch Tommy for just a minute?"
Jed gives Leo a mystified look. "Yeah," he finally manages to say and then stares at his friend's back, as Leo walks out the door. "Well there Thomas, I wonder what's going on with Leo? He just called me Jed, and doesn't even seem to realize he did it."
Leo takes a few steps away from the door, stops, and then leans against the hallway wall. "Sorry, but I wanted to step out into the hallway."
"Yeah, I think I will too," she opens the side door to the Roosevelt Room and quickly walks into the hallway.
"Abbey has a new favorite thing to bug me about, it appears," he grumbles slightly having realized it's going to be harder and harder to keep their relationship to themselves.
"Oh," Margaret says in a hushed tone. "How did she find out?"
"She's very observant."
"Yeah and I bet you were being too cute with Tommy, too," she softly laughs, knowing the Leo probably gave himself away.
"Maybe," Leo grins. "Yeah… so, expect to be drilled for information by her. She'll want details, I'm sure." Leo advises with a smirk.
"How much does she know?"
"She knows that… I love you and Tommy."
"Is she upset?" Margaret panics as she starts to pace the hallway. She's been dreading the time that the First Lady and President finds out about them. She's worried that they might think she's not good enough for him.
"For Heaven's sakes no, she's absolutely thrilled."
"Good, I guess."
Leo shakes his head and smiles. "Margaret, when are you going to get it though your head that they think the world of you?"
"I will, someday. I'm glad that Mrs. Bartlet is happy."
"Yeah, well… you're not the one she's going to tease unmercifully about it, either." He softly laughs.
"No, I'm not," Margaret smiles, but it quickly fades. "Leo, do you think there's going to be trouble when the press finds out about us?"
"I'm sure there'll be some talk, but I don't think it's not going to be a major problem."
"Leo, you and I both know the press and I just know they're going try to make this seem torrid and…"
"Oh boy, I hope it becomes torrid," Leo grins, as he pulls his shirt collar away from his neck,
"Leo, you're terrible."
"What, can't a guy dream?" He laughs.
"Yes, and hopefully in a couple of weeks we'll see if we can make some your dreams come true," she says in a provocative voice. "I know some things I'd like to do to you. Would you like me to tell you?"
"Margaret," Leo whines. "I have to go back in there and talk to the President. I can't do that, if… if you get me…"
"Get you what, Leo?" She whispers in a sexy voice.
"Margaret," he lightly moans as the sound of her voice causes the hair on the back of his neck to stand up straight.
"Are you having a 'hard' time there, Leo? Are you 'up' to something?" She softly whispers.
"You're positively evil," he snarls into the phone as he fights the images that are in his head.
"And probably just as excited as you are, but lucky for me, no one can tell," she laughs.
"No one can tell what Margaret?" Abbey asks.
"Oh, Mrs. Bartlet, I… ah… didn't see you," a flustered Margaret stutters. "I need to go, Bye"
"Okay, have fun," he laughs, knowing that Abbey is going to figure out what was just going on.
"Margaret are you okay, you seem a little flushed? Is it too hot in here for you?" Abbey smiles.
"Yes, I umm… it was hot in the Roosevelt Room… so I umm… just stepped out for some fresh air."
"Was that Leo you were talking to?" She asks, pointing to the cell phone in Margaret's hand.
"Yeah, I was just checking on Tommy."
"Well, I think Tommy's in good hands with Leo. He's very good with him. You can clearly see that he loves him."
"Yes, he does." Margaret bobs her head.
"And he loves you, too."
"Yes, he does." Margaret continues to bob her head.
"Margaret, I just want to tell you that I'm so happy for you two," she smiles.
"Thank you, Ma'am."
"So, lets go to your baby shower, there's plenty of time for us to talk about the two of you, later."
----------
Leo waits for a couple of minutes in the hallway, trying to regain some control over his body, before he walks back into the living area of the Residence. Jed is busy playing with Tommy and at first doesn't realize that he's back, until Leo joins him on the couch.
"Checking up on you already, was she?"
"Yeah sort of, but mostly she wants me to bring Tommy down later, for everyone to see."
"You're totally whipped, my friend." Jed smirks.
"What?"
"You heard me. The old Leo McGarry would have never taken time from work to watch a baby. As a matter of fact, he would have never stood for his assistant getting pregnant and taking time off."
"Well… the old Leo McGarry almost died," he frowns.
"Yeah," the President echoes.
"And Margaret's no longer my assistant."
"True, so… what is she to you nowadays?" The President asks, with growing interest.
"Whatdaya mean, Sir?"
"Well, you seem more like a… couple than boss and his former assistant and earlier you called me Jed, something I don't mind, but you haven't called me that since you were pissed at me when you found out I had MS."
"There was another time," Leo softly says, recalling when he called for his best friend at Camden Yards.
"When?"
"It doesn't matter, Sir." Leo says softly, shaking his head, wishing that he hadn't said those words to Jed that day in the tunnel.
"Okay," Jed drops it, when he sees the pain in Leo's eyes. "But Leo, I assume that this time you have something personal that you want to talk about to your best friend and not the President of the United States."
"Yeah, I do."
"So…"
"I love Margaret, and I hope someday to marry her and make that little guy my son," Leo points to Tommy.
"You mean he's not your son already?" Jed smiles, and then looks down at Tommy, who is almost asleep.
"Sir?"
"Are you sure, 'cause I bet Charlie that he was and…"
"You made a bet?"
"Well, yeah," The President softly laughs. "I thought for sure he was yours."
"Jed," Leo rumbles. "Why would you think…?"
"See, now that was your I'm pissed at you Jed tone that you just used." He smiles trying not to laugh and wake up Tommy.
"Yes, Sir it was," Leo smirks.
"Now we're back to Sir?"
"Nah, I was just pulling your chain." Leo smiles.
"So, does Margaret know how you feel?"
"Yeah, I told her."
"And?"
"She loves me, too."
"So, what's stopping you from getting married?"
"It's… complicated."
"Okay," Jed decides to let it drop. "So, how does it feel be a father again?"
"Jed, I know I'm really not his father, but what I do have with him is beyond words."
"Does Mallory know about any of this?"
"Yeah, we've both talked to her and she's thrilled that we're together and she thinks the world of Tommy."
"Well, he's something else, that's for sure." Jed glances down at the sleeping baby in his arms.
"Yes he is. So, how much did ya lose to Charlie?"
"A hundred dollars."
"Good," Leo laughs. "It was a sucker bet. Charlie knows Margaret better than you do."
"Yeah, but I know you. I remember how you used to be able to charm any girl you met in college."
"That was a long time ago."
"Yeah, well it appears you still have it."
"I'm not sure if that was a compliment or not."
"Leo, you're a lucky man to have this second chance with Margaret and Tommy."
"You're right, and I know it. I never thought I would get a second chance like this."
"You deserve it Leo."
"Well, that's what I keep hearing, but…"
"But nothing, just sit back and enjoy this."
"I'm trying," Leo smiles. "Do ya want me to take him?"
"Not really."
"I could put down a blanket and lay him on the couch," Leo points to the other end of the sofa.
"Nah, he's fine right where he's at."
"Okay, but how are we going to play chess?"
"You can move both sides." The President points out.
"Okay, but I thought you said it was bad luck for me to touch your men."
"Well, normally it is, but I'm just going to have to make an exception this time. I haven't gotten to hold a baby in a long time."
"Okay." Leo rolls his eyes.
"But, if I lose, we'll know the reason why."
"Yeah, cause I've always been better than you at chess. I just let you win sometimes, so I don't have to listen to you whine all the time."
"Oh, someone's very cocky tonight." Jed laughs.
Leo grins, "Nah, just stating the truth."
"Okay, well lets get this game under way and see who has the last laugh."
Leo moves the chess set closer to him and makes his first move. Jed calls out his move, and Leo moves his chess piece for him. Not quite an hour later, "Checkmate," Leo smiles. "I believe that means that I win, Sir."
"Yeah, well… I was thrown off my game."
"How so?"
"I was having trouble concentrating on the game with Tommy here in my arms."
"You're going to blame this on a defenseless baby?" Leo asks, as Tommy starts to wake up.
"Yeah, he's too darn cute, and I couldn't stop watching him."
"Yeah, I know what ya mean."
"So, want to play again?"
"Nah, I think I've proven my point this afternoon. Besides, I need to feed Tommy, change his diaper and then take him downstairs, so that Margaret can show him off to that gaggle of women."
"You'd better not let them hear you call them a gaggle."
"What do you call a room full of women?" Leo asks.
"I'm not sure what the politically correct term would be, but… I'm sure it's not gaggle."
"We could play another game of chess, so ya wouldn't have to go down there."
"Nah, Margaret wants to show him off," Leo says, as he motions towards Tommy.
"Chicken."
"Whatever, I don't see you wandering into baby shower…" Leo smiles. "Here, I'll take him."
"Okay, he is your son, after all."
"Jed…" Leo purses his lips and shakes his head.
"I know, I know, but he really is yours."
"Well, I like to think of him that way, that's for sure." Leo admits.
"And you should. It's all going to be fine Leo."
"Yeah, I hope so, 'cause… I want to take care of both of them and for them to be my family, so badly that… it hurts."
"And they will be," Jed smiles as he hands over Tommy to his best friend.
"Yeah, I just wish it would happen soon."
"Patience, my friend, patience." Jed pats his friend's shoulder.
----------
Leo is sitting behind his desk, trying to finish up his work, so that he can go to Margaret's apartment and enjoy the rest of the evening. Margaret was so excited about the party and wants to show him everything that Tommy got. When Leo put them in the car, he told Margaret that he'd stop by someplace on the way home and pick up some dinner.
"Hey, Leo," CJ announces her presence as she walks into his office and then closes the door behind her. "Sorry to bother you, but… we need to talk." Her hands fidget in front of her.
"Okay, whatdaya need?" Leo gives her a puzzled look after noting the seriousness of her voice. He hopes there's no world crisis that might keep him late at the White House.
"Leo… something's happened," CJ hastily states, as she moves to the front of his desk.
"Is the President okay?" Leo eyes go wide. Ever since the President's MS relapse, Leo has really been worried about his friend.
"Yes, he's fine," CJ hesitates. "It's about Margaret and…"
"Did something happen? Is Margaret alright? Did something happen to Tommy?" Leo jumps up and puts a hand to his chest. He just put them both in the car a while ago and sent them home with Eddie.
"Leo, calm down, they're fine."
"My Gawd CJ, you scared the Hell out of me," Leo yells, as he comes from behind his desk and starts to pace.
"Leo, please, sit down," she points over to the couch. "Margaret will kill me if you have another heart attack."
"What's going on," he begrudgingly walks over and sits down.
"Leo, there's going to be an article in the Post, either this weekend, but more likely early next week," CJ imparts as she sits down in the chair facing Leo.
"An article? What's it about?"
"It's about Margaret having a baby."
"So?" Leo asks, even though he already suspects where this is heading. He was hoping it wouldn't be a big deal, but he knew deep down inside that that wouldn't be the case.
"It doesn't come right out and say it… but it strongly implies that you're the father of Tommy."
"Implies?" Leo raises an eyebrow.
"It mentions a few things and when you add them all up, it makes it…"
"What kinda things?" Leo interrupts.
"It states that you were seen arm in arm, leaving the White House, the night Tommy was born."
"Oh Holy Hell, she was in labor. I was helping her to the car." He says with slight disgust.
"Then it goes on to say that you were in the delivery room when Tommy was born."
"She needed me. Her labor coach was working. She didn't have anyone else. What was I suppose to do, just leave her there by herself?"
"Leo, calm down."
"I'm perfectly calm," he growls. "What else does this article say?"
"That Margaret named the baby Thomas and then they point out that's your middle name."
"Yeah, she did name him after me," Leo smiles.
"Somehow, they found out you did some shopping at a baby superstore," CJ continues to list details from the article.
"Margaret asked me to pick up the crib," he says innocently.
"How about all the other stuff you bought?" She smiles, remembering all the items that he had purchased for them.
"Tommy needed those things and…"
"Leo, you don't have to convince me. I'm on your side."
"What else does it say?"
"Well it goes on to talk about your heart attack, and Margaret coming and going from your hotel at all hours of the day and night. They make a statement about your relationship with your assistant was probably the real reason that Jenny divorced you," CJ quickly raises up a hand at Leo to stop him from interrupting her.
"But… the most incriminating item in the article says that you are currently staying at Margaret's apartment. Is that true, Leo?"
"Yeah, I'm staying at her apartment, but it's not what you think. And, this has nothing to do with why Jenny and I got divorced. Next thing you know they'll discover I went to a jewelry store."
"Leo, did you?"
"Yeah, I bought Margaret a necklace with Tommy's birthstone in it," Leo explains, as he rubs his weary face.
"Well, since it's not in the article, they obviously haven't found out about it, and maybe they won't find out at all."
"Right. Let us hope."
CJ studies Leo closely. He suddenly looks very tired. "Leo, The article ends with, and I quote, 'So, who do you think the father of Margaret McGuire's baby is?'"
"Well, it's certainly not me," Leo says in a sad voice.
"Leo, they're even doing a poll. They have a one eight hundred number to call and vote. They're going to publish the results in a couple of days."
"I'm so tired of this shit," Leo jumps up. "Why is it so important to everyone who the father is? It's nobody's fucking business. If it doesn't matter to me, then it shouldn't matter to anyone else?"
"Leo, are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"CJ, after my… heart attack, I had a lot of time on my hands and well… I did a lot of thinking."
"Yeah, I remember," CJ smiles, recalling the trick with the toothpicks that Leo showed her during one of his lunches with her at the White House. She now wonders if those lunches, weren't just a ruse to see more of Margaret.
"I realized that there were a few things missing in my life, and I finally let myself feel something that I had buried deep inside myself. I hadn't let myself have any of those types of feelings since… Jenny. I thought after she left me, I would never be able to love anyone else, so I buried myself in my work and I buried my heart, too. And it… almost killed me," Leo takes a heavy breath. "By the time I figured out that I loved Margaret, I realized that she was pregnant with someone else's child."
"Have you told Margaret how you feel?"
"Yes…" Leo pauses. This is not what he wanted. He was hoping to keep their relationship quiet for a little while longer, so that he and Margaret could have this time, early in their relationship, to themselves. Moreover, he wanted to protect Margaret and Tommy from the press for a while longer.
"Leo?"
"The day after I brought them home from the hospital, I told Margaret how I felt," Leo softly explains. "We're taking things slowly." He adds.
"Okay, but you are… still staying there," she points out as her past role of Press Secretary takes over.
"Yeah, but I'm sleeping on the couch," he quickly explains. "Not that the damn newspaper would believe it, but it's the truth."
"Leo," CJ really doesn't want to pry, but they need to be ready in case there's an issue. "Is the father in the picture?"
"No and from what little information Donna shared with me, he never will be," Leo says with distaste.
"Well, Leopold," she smiles. "I think you're a very lucky man."
"Thanks," Leo smiles, but it quickly fades. "CJ," Leo looks at her with expressive eyes, "is there anything that I can do, short of buying the damn Washington Post Newspaper Company and killing the story? Margaret doesn't deserve all of this. She's been afraid all along that something like this would happen."
"No she doesn't," CJ shakes her head. "I'm so sorry, Leo. There's nothing we can do to stop it."
"Yeah, I'm sorry, too," Leo lowers his eyes.
"I'll have Annabeth go with the standard… the White House doesn't comment on the personal lives of the staff," CJ offers.
"Yeah, cause that's always worked so well for us in the past," Leo smirks, as an idea pops into his head.
"Right," CJ sarcastically agrees.
"I need to go talk with Margaret and call Mallory to give her a heads up too," Leo announces, as he stands. He has some details to work out on the drive home. He looks at his watch and wonders if Eddie is back from taking Margaret and Tommy home.
"Leo," CJ stands, and lays a comforting hand on his arm. "I'm very happy for you and Margaret."
"Thanks," he smiles, pats her hand, and then turns to leave.
"I always thought that she might have loved you," she calls after him.
"Yeah, I just wish I had done something about it sooner," Leo slightly frowns, because he can't help but wonder that if he had come to his senses before his heart attack, that Tommy would be his. He pulls his cell phone from his pocket, calls Eddie, and tells him that he's ready to go. He quickly walks to the Southwest exit to wait for Eddie who is only a couple of minutes away from the White House. Just as he reaches the doors, Eddie pulls up. Leo smiles at the guards and hurries out to his service. He can't wait to get home and have a talk with Margaret.
TBC in Part 12