So the man has his reasons for doing what he did, he doesn't excuse it. Mac was put into a very bad position of having to deal with it around too many people. she's kept herself together, now she starts falling apart.

Enjoy,

S.K.

Deal With It

Kate watched the maids take Rod's things out of the Residence. Her daughter had walked out of the residence with Amy not too long before. What is going on? She thought as she walked over to the living room. Just as she sat down Becca walked out of her room. She had been on locked down for a week and was finally given the go that morning at breakfast to come out. "Hey Grandma," she said sitting with Kate on the couch.

"Rebecca," Kate stated looking at her grand daughter, whom has gone back to wearing her preppy girl clothes to appease her mother, but died her hair an inky black in protest.

Becca looked around at the box-toting maids, "What's going on?"

"I have no idea" Kate answered.

"Wait, they're coming out of mom and dad's room," Becca said standing up and looking into a box one of the maids was toting. "This is dad's. Where are you taking this?"

"The president ordered that they be taken to the other side of the east wing," the steward answered and continued on her way.

Becca stood shocked then looked at her grandmother. "She kicked him out of the Residence. She can't do that can she?"

"She can do whatever she feels is right." Kate answered.

"But she's not right," Becca insisted, "She is never right when it comes to us. She can save the world, but... she can't even keep her family happy."

"That may be... but she's only human, Becca." Kate answered, "I am certain that your mother has her reasons and until you know what they are, I wouldn't be so quick to judge."

Becca stood up, "I'm going to go find her."

"Good luck with that," Kate said softly. Nora had found her earlier that day and told her that the president had had a big upset, she didn't say what it had been and Kate figured that she would find out later. She also figured that this was the reason why Nora was now her chief of staff.

With a sigh Kate stood and headed towards the kitchen. Just then Rod came into the residence looking for Mac. "She's not here." Kate said.

"Did she come up here at all? Vince said she was done for the day." Rod asked.

"She was here long enough for her to change and then leave to some other part of the house." Kate said, "She had them move your things to the guest quarters on the other side of the wing."

Rod nodded and headed to the bedroom. He looked at the closet it looked virtually unchanged, as more of Mac's clothing took over where his had been. He looked at the dresser; their wedding picture was missing. He sighed and headed out of the Residence. He had absolutely nothing to say for himself.

Kate watched as her dejected son-in-law exited the residence. Kate had to find out what had everyone tied-up in knots. Mac had not looked too upset when she left, but she knew her daughter. She hadn't given herself time to think twice about what she had done. She was with Amy, so she really didn't want to be upset with her around. Kate could see that.

Kate waited for a while, to see if Mac and Amy would return soon. She started on the Cookies, she knew she would get her with the cookies. As the Cookies came out of the oven, she heard, "Mmm I smell Cookies." Kate smiled and handed Amy one of the nice warm gooey chocolate chip cookies.

"Where's mom?" Kate asked her youngest grandchild.

"She went to her bedroom to shower," Amy said around a mouthful. "I think she's sad 'cause I beat her, she almost cried."

"Gracious," Kate said really starting to worry for Mac now, "I'll go talk to her,"

"Can I have another one Grandma?" Amy asked as Kate took a couple and placed them on a saucer.

"Just one more Amy, or mom would never forgive me for spoiling your dinner." Kate said taking the plate with cookies and heading towards the presidential bedroom. She knocked on the door lightly before opening the door knowing that Mac would probably not respond. "Mac?"

Mac had been sitting on the bed her head in her hands a sob stuck in her throat. "Hey Mom," She whispered as she listened for her mother to close her door.

"Oh Honey, What happened?" Kate asked hearing the tears in her daughter's voice. When she didn't answer she sat next to her saying, "Brought you some cookies. Chocolate chip."

"I don't want anything right now," Mac said standing and heading to her closet. She looked at the empty drawers in her dresser and got angry because she was now alone. She slammed the drawer shut and broke. She cried silently.

Kate could sense more than hear her daughter crying. She set the cookies down on the bedside table and went to her. "What happened?" Kate asked pulling her daughter into a hug.

"He's cheating," Mac said, "right under my nose."

"Oh dear god," Kate said, her heart breaking for Mac.

"She's so young," Mac said letting go of her mother and turning back to her drawers looking for a sweat suit. "Beautiful in fact, I can't blame him." Her voice was bitter as her anger built up.

"It really doesn't matter what she can give him." Kate said backing off of Mac a little, "He shouldn't have taken it, and you are not to justify that in your mind."

"Mom, I don't want to talk to anyone right now okay, I need... space." Mac said, as her mother's voice was beginning to grate on her nerves.

"Well, I must warn you Rebecca is searching for you to confront you about Rod moving out."

"Thanks for the warning." Mac said deciding to just go back to the gym to work through her emotions. "I'll be back late don't hold dinner on my account." Mac said sliding on her sweat pants and shirt over her tennis shirt and bloomers, discarding the skirt in the hamper.

"Okay," Kate answered watching as her daughter practically ran out of her bedroom and through the residence.

Mac ran. She ran for miles along the Potomac near the cherry trees and the Lincoln memorial. Then she ran through Constitution Avenue and The Mall al the way to the capitol and was about to run back home. She stopped long enough to catch her breath and let her Secret service men switch off.

She didn't want to think. She wanted total exhaustion, and she didn't want anyone to be awake when she got home. "Ready?" She said to the new set of service members that were to cluster around her as she ran.

"Yes Ma'am," They said handing her a new bottle of water.

She chugged it, "Let's go." She said as she began again. She had run over twenty miles on an empty stomach, running on nothing but adrenaline and her mind kept catching up to her. This time her body protested, and after just a few steps in the direction of The Mall, she blacked out. She felt strong arms catch her and carry her into the waiting sedan. "Take me home not a word to anyone," She mumbled as she took deep breath trying to regain her vision.

"Ma'am, May I?" James Wyatt, her trainer said a bit miffed that she was out this late.

Mac looked at him as his face came into focus, "I thought I told you to go home."

"And I'm glad I didn't," He said taking her leg without her permission and working the leg muscles, "You've overdone it on the running and are in danger of parts of you locking up on you."

Mac rolled her eyes, though she already could feel her upper thigh muscle tightening into a knot. And bit her lip loving that the pain in her leg was taking her mind off of the heartache she felt.

James quickly moved to the other leg and felt the offending muscle. "We need to get you into the Jacuzzi STAT. I'll see if I can get Terry the masseuse to come tonight, You are going to need a deep tissue" He said and turned to the secret service agent to his right, "and the doc should come too... she might need a script."

The agent said something into his mouthpiece at his wrist and the sedan sped up towards the White House. Mac hissed as her entire leg hardened and it was doubtful that she would be able to walk into the building.

"What did you do just before coming out here Ma'am?" The trainer asked.

"Tennis," She mumbled.

"Did you eat?" He asked panicked. Seeing her face go ashen. He didn't need an answer. "No, that would be too much to ask."

"You're fired," Mac said gritting her teeth.

"That won't save you from my bitching tonight Ma'am" James said knowing that she was only lashing out at him for whatever reason had made her want to run. "I'm not leaving until I'm sure you're better."

"Fantastic," she said as the car stopped at the house. James lifted her into his arms and carried her down to the Gym and into the dressing room. She sat her down on the bench and handed her blue swimsuit with the presidential seal on it and walked behind a row of lockers.

"I'll be right over here if you need my help," He said.

Mac looked at her suit then at her clothes; "Can't I just wear my tennis bloomers?"

"Does that mean you need my help?" James asked peeking around a locker.

"I can't move." Mac answered. James helped her out of the sweatshirt, and T-shirt leaving her with the sports bra. He was amazed to see a woman her age so perfectly built. He helped her remove her shoes and sweatpants leaving her in her tennis bloomers. Her legs were perfectly sculpted; just a little bristly and guessed that she was probably due for a wax that morning which she missed because of work. She had also missed her workout. "Yes I missed my wax this morning," Mac said effectively reading his mind.

James smiled and lifted her again. "You're only human, You had to have a flaw somewhere."

Mac almost smiled, but just nodded and waited to get deposited in the Jacuzzi. James left her there and went to get the White House doctor. As soon as she touched the water her body began to relax. The jets were positioned just right hitting all of the right places, and then her whole world came crashing back down on her. She cried. The ache in her heart had come back along with that her whole body began to hurt so she cried as she sat in the hot water.

When the White House doctor came into the gym, he rushed to her in a panic. "Ma'am? What hurts? Should I get the first gentleman?"

"Everything hurts," Mac answered.

"We'll get you some scripts," the doctor said to her then turned to an agent. "Could you call the first Gentleman?"

"No," Mac said trying not to cry anymore, "Don't call him."

The agent was aware that the president didn't want the first gentleman anywhere near her, and hadn't even attempted to call for him. All the agents knew what was wrong with the president, and they didn't dare betray her trust.

When he became aware that the agents were not going to call Rod he looked at Mac concerned. "Is there anything I can do Ma'am?"

"No, I'll be fine just give me some Motrin." Mac answered as she lifted herself out of the Jacuzzi.

Just then James walked in carrying a steaming hot pizza from the kitchens. "Soup's on." He said bringing it to Mac. She gave him a grateful smile and she nibbled on a slice. "So are you gonna dish?" James asked after the doctor left.

Mac shook two Motrin out on her palm and popped them. "I thought I fired you." Mac said. James had been her Trainer for years, and was the only one out side of her family that was not afraid to tell her exactly what he thought. He was a friend.

"You can't fire a friend." James stated giving her another slice.

"Crap." Mac said eyeing the slice, she wasn't hungry. "He cheated."

"I'll kill him," James said.

"He's not worth it." Mac said, "I'm just not ready to deal with it so publicly."

"How long do you think you can keep it from the press?" James asked.

Mac looked at her watch, it was eleven p.m. "Time is up, they will be up in arms tomorrow, though they might give me a brake till Monday."

"That quick?" James asked incredulously.

"She was a press aide..." Mac said, "She was caught by me and fired by me. She has no income now, she's gonna need the money."

"She certainly has the connections." James said looking at his friend, "So how are you feeling?"

"Like shit James, how else." Mac stated starting to feel the effects of the Motrin.

"Well maybe you should just go to residence, have a lie down and just forget that you are the leader of the free world for one day. Take tomorrow to lick your wounds because you are going to need your sanity come Monday."

Mac smiled and hugged her friend, "Thanks James," Mac said getting up she was feeling looser. She put on a robe that was on a hook near the door, "Can we get the masseuse for tomorrow? I know I'll need it."

"You got it babe," James said walking her towards the residence, "I gotta go, or Terry will have your head tomorrow for keeping me out so late."

"Don't blame this on me J, I told you to go home hours ago." Mac stated with a laugh, "Thank you for saving me today"

"Anything for you Mackenzie," James said kissing her hand then heading out of the house.

She sighed and made her way up the stairs. The residence was dark and she was grateful. She didn't realize someone was watching her walk back into her room.

Rod sipped on his brandy quietly, as he watched his wife walk to her room. She looked defeated. That was the last thing he wanted to do to her. With a sigh Rod stood up and went to his room. He would talk to her some other time.