See chapter one for disclaimer and other information

The trip to California had gone well, but Margaret is glad to be back in the office. It gives her a chance to be away from Leo in the evenings in order to keep her sanity and contemplate what his mother shared. Leo, however, is actually trying to be nice to her. She suspects that he has realized she had written the California speech and is attempting to make up for it. His sense of honor heartens her, but today it has taken a leave of absence.

Leo has come in this morning in a mood that has a distinct alcoholic smell. Margaret cringes at his appearance and watches him tripped over his own two feet. After safely depositing him in his office, she cancels all of his appointments for the day. I can't let anyone see him like this!

Margaret tries to continue with her regular schedule: sort the mail, update the appointment book, redesign her filing system, etc.

"Margaret!"

She places the file back in the cabinet and collects herself. She doesn't like the tone of his voice, but he has pulled her in too deep for her to just walk away. Margaret gathers that determined will that had allowed her to "hang" with her older brothers' friends, deciding that Leo would once again get no sympathy from her. The sight that greets her through the door isn't one she wants to find, though. Leo had always been careful to hide his drinking in the office from her, but the pile of books on the floor tells her today is an exception.

"You can go home now." Leo sounds depressed and angry all in the same sentence.

"I go home when you go home," she states flatly, "Do you need anything?" What the hell are you doing? You know he can't be alone right now. How is this your responsibility?

Leo's fist on his desk brings Margaret out of her inner argument. His mood has quickly shifted to the angry side and Margaret is the nearest target. "I don't need you right now!"

"I know, but I still have stuff that needs doing." She responds, keeping her cool.

"I could fire you!" Leo screams almost loosing his voice in the process.

"But you won't. I should finish editing the contract for Mr. Parkins," Margaret responds, trying to still sound calm.

"Damn blasted woman would you just go!" His fists are clenched at his sides and the tension radiating from him can be felt miles away.

Margaret is beginning to wonder if she has bit off more than she can chew. She has no idea what a large amount of alcohol does to Mr. McGarry and his quick anger is starting to frighten her.

"Why won't you just go like everyone else?"

Margaret's mind quickly grabs a hold of that. This is more than an alcoholic's urge to drink. Something is bothering Leo…

She has just enough time to duck as the decanter comes flying her way. It crashes against the door, raining glass and bourbon all over her back.

Margaret tries desperately to get her breathing to return to normal and not to cry. She hadn't expected that.

Leo has fallen back into his chair and is just staring out into space. This is the first time that his drinking problem has lead to him almost physically hurting someone close to him. He always thought that he would be better than that: better than his father.

Margaret has no idea what to do. She takes her suit jacket off and listens to the tinkling of the glass. The idea of finding a broom crosses her mind, but then she notices the tears silently falling down Leo's face.

She walks over and sits on the edge of his desk, "Leo would you please just tell me what's wrong."

"He thought that life was too hard. That too much was expected out of him: a perfect job, a perfect house, a perfect family…" Leo trails off for a moment; the melancholy of the moment causing more tears to fall, " He didn't know how his buddies did it. He told me how tough life was and that getting out of it was easier. He told me that he hoped I figured that out early in life because he didn't have the courage to hurt his son. I didn't understand what he was talking about until it was all over. That the father that was never there was never going to be there." His words seem to stop the universe for a moment. The shear sadness of the moment breaking the heart of time itself.

Leo's hands start to fidget and Margaret can tell he wants a drink. Margaret places one of her hands over his, trying to give him support. Leo looks down at them and a faint smile appears on his lips. However, it isn't nearly enough to erase his pain.

"Could I please be alone now," he asks quietly.

Margaret looks unsure about the idea.

"I don't have anymore alcohol; you can stop worrying."

"Okay," Margaret bobs her head and gives his hand a quick squeeze before exiting the room.

Margaret barely makes it through the door before breaking down. She had never been on the receiving end of such a violent temper before and the adrenaline is no longer gushing through her veins to keep her up. She then rushes to the bathroom to empty her stomach.

She doesn't know how to put this into perspective. Her faith in Leo has been shaken, but she can't bring herself to be angry. She understands the pain of losing one's parents.

Margaret brushes her teeth and gets in the shower, rinsing the last of the glass out of her hair. The tears begin to flow down her cheeks again. She slowly collapses to the bottom of the shower and contemplates being frightened by someone she… the bizarre realization hits her that she would forgive Leo McGarry of anything. She doesn't know what that means.

TBC

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