Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Donna
walked into the communications bullpen and went over to Ginger
and
Bonnie. "Hey Guys."
"Hey," Ginger replied.
"You two got a sec?"
Ginger looked
over to Bonnie. She quickly checked on Toby. "What's up?"
Bonnie
asked, rejoining the group.
"Not here and we have to find carol."
The walked out of the bullpen and down to CJ's office.
--
"No, I'm sorry CJ isn't available at the
moment. May I take a message?
Okay, I'll tell her. Thank you,
bye-bye." Carol put the phone down.
"Hey, Ladies, what's
up?"
"Donna needs to talk to us?" Ginger said leaning up against the desk.
"Okay, what about?"
"Margaret." Donna replied lowering her
voice. "Has she seemed, I don't
know, different to
you?"
"Yeah," Ginger replied.
"Come to
think of it, yes." Bonnie said looking to carol
for
comformation.
"Yeah, she seems loopy. Is that a word?"
"Yeah it's a word and you're right." Ginger said.
"I tried to talk to her." Donna said softly.
"And she didn't think there was anything wrong.
Am I right?" Bonnie
asked.
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"We tried to talk to her last week. She
wouldn't hear us out." Ginger
said looking toward
Bonnie.
"That doesn't sound like Margaret to me." Carol put in.
"No." They all agreed.
"We should talk to Leo or something." Bonnie suggested.
"That would betray her trust." Carol said.
"I don't know.
She needs help. She's my friend and I don't want to betray
her. We
have to find out what's wrong so we can help her. I'll mention
it
to Josh. At least that way we can voice our concerns and she
doesn't
find it odd if he talks to Leo. If any of us went she
would think
something was up."
"That's good." They all agreed and broke up and went back to work.
--
Margaret
returned to the office after making copies upon returning she
saw
Donna standing by her desk. "Hey, Donna."
The young blonde woman turned around. "No, it's Ainsley."
"Oh, sorry. Margaret sat down and Ainsley continued.
"Is Leo in?"
"Yeah."
"Does he have time to fit me in?"
"Sure, go on in."
Ainsley stepped over and knocked on the door.
"Come in." Leo shouted.
She opened the door and stepped into the office. "Oh,
I'm sorry. I
didn't know…" She started to step out.
"No,
it's okay. We're almost done. Leo said looking up at Lionel.
Ainsley
stayed in the office until they finished.
"Did you need something from me?" Tribbey asked as he walked out.
"No, I just need to talk to Leo about the House budget testimony."
"I need it by the end of the day."
"It'll be there."
Tribbey acknowledged Leo and Ainsley before
walking out of the office.
Leo put his reading glasses down and
looked at Ainsley. "What can I do
for you?"
"I… I…"
"Ainsley."
"I didn't come to talk about budget."
"Okay." Leo sounded confused.
"I came here because I overheard some people
talking about Margaret. Leo
this could get you guys in to all
kinds of trouble. I'm not saying we
couldn't fix it."
"What are you talking about?"
"You haven't noticed the way she's acting?"
"Yeah, I have." He admitted.
"Leo, if she's… Well, you should know better
then anyone in this
building."
"She's not!" Leo answered a little bit faster than he should have.
"Is
that what you believe or what you want to believe? She thought I
was
Donna when she came into the office."
"She what?"
"Thought I was Donna. Ainsley repeated. "You
have know reason to trust
me. I wrote the op-ed a year ago, I'm
the other side but I like you. I
like all of you. You gave me a
chance when others wouldn't. I've gotten
to know you and she and
I'm concerned about her. I know you two are
close and getting
closer. I'm just concerned that's all." She finished
as she
headed for the side door.
"Ainsley."
"Yes."
"Thank you. I'll talk to her."
"You know where I am if you need me."
Leo watched as Ainsley left. That was two
people plus himself that had
come to him about Margaret. He really
did need to speak with her.