Disclaimer: See Chapter One
"Ginger."
"Mrs. Bartlet."
"Would you please join me in the Oval
Office and tell Bonnie, Toby, Sam
and Kathy to join us?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Ginger replied puzzled as the First Lady left the bullpen.
--
"Leo, you don't have to do this."
"Yes, I do. It's was a promise remember."
"Leo, that was made when you…"
"Whatever Margaret. I love you and I won't let you fall."
--
Everyone gathered in the
Oval Office and Mrs. Bartlet filled everyone in
as to why they had
been asked to come. "Okay, Thank you for coming. Leo
called
me earlier and asked me to do a favor for him. He found Margaret
this
morning…"
"Why are we here?" Sam asked.
"Leo needs our help with Margaret. He wants us to push her a bit."
"What for?"
"To get her the help that she needs."
"She's an alcoholic." Josh said.
"What!" CJ blurted out in disbelief
"CJ…"
"Shut up, Toby."
"I didn't say anything."
"Josh." The President spoke up.
"Yes, Sir."
"How do you know?"
"Leo called me the other night to let
me know he found her. We were all
worried. He told me then that
she reminded him of someone he used to
know."
"Who?" CJ asked.
"Himself." Abbey answered.
--
"Do
you want me to pack right away?" Margaret asked when they got to
the
office.
"No. " Leo replied, taking her
coat for her. "I want you to follow me."
He walked
through the connecting door and Margaret followed him.
"What
is this?" Margaret asked defensively looking around the room
at
everyone.
"Margaret, the group has elected me to
speak." Donna said, not answering
her question. We are here
and we are doing this because we love you. We
know about your
problem. Leo thought it might help you if we talked to
you and
showed support for you. We care about you and we've all
noticed
changes in you over the passed few months. Leo noticed and
with a little
help figured it out."
"Get to the point?" Margaret asked coldly.
"That's the point?
What you just did way the point? We care and we want
you to get
help you have to get help."
"Well, here's a news
bulletin for you. I
DON'T NEED ANY HELP!"
Margaret
screamed and ran back into Leo's office. He was right
behind her.
--
"DON'T
MOVE!"
"Leo, WHY DID YOU AMBUSH ME LIKE THAT?"
" I didn't ambush you. Sit down and stop screaming at me."
She did what she was told. "You can't help me Leo, I am beyond help."