Title: Leo's Dilemma                                        Private Times   5 /?

By: chipmunk                                               Daylight Series

Pairing: Leo/Margaret

Rating: MATURE  - V&SC

Spoilers: None really

This is not strictly cannon by the show.

Doesn't matter the year or the situation.

Plot Development By: Lynn    [email protected]

Beta and Mentor By:  Lee      [email protected]

Disclaimer:

Without Prejudice, the names of all characters* contained here-in are the

property of NBC, WB, Bravo, A John Wells Prod., from TV show, The West Wing.

They are the creation of Aaron Sorkin.

No infringement of these or any copyrights is intended, and are used here without permission.        

No monetary benefit is received or anticipated.

They own them; therefore, they do not belong to me.

I only borrowed them, with my humble thanks to them.

*Any Original Characters developed by me and found in this or any of my fics, belongs solely to me.

Acknowledgement: A 'grateful' and 'enormous' thanks, to the actors and actresses,

who portray these characters 'brilliantly' and bring them to life in my head.

Feedback: I'd love it hear your opinion!  PLEASE! 

It helps to improve my writing!    

Archived at:  http://www.geocities.com/chipmunkswhimseys/TwilightMain.html 

Summary: Leo is attacked.  Margaret is a target as well.

Note: CURSE WARNING: Leo's hurting and not too careful with his words.  It gets a little warn in some sections.

 

~ For his wonderful gift to us of Leo, I humbly dedicate this fic to John Spencer.  ~

 

*****    

 

It's a Saturday evening, around 7pm and Leo is slow to get out of his car, in the parking garage at his hotel.  He's glad  that tomorrow is Sunday and a day off for once.  He's going to change clothes, grab his new cookbook and run over to Margaret's.  He plans to treat her to their favorite home cooked dinner, while they review the new recipes in the book.  Still sitting in the car, he removes his tie, which he has hanging loose around his neck and stuffs it into his jacket pocket.  It's been a long week, but today was not too bad.  The President is at his farm in Manchester for the weekend and everyone is enjoying a quite weekend, to rest and catch-up. 

 

With it being the weekend, Leo has had to park his car at the far end of the garage.  He gets out and starts his long walk to the small elevator that goes up to the hotel's main lobby.

 

About half way across, Leo hears the command of "NOW."  Two guys jump Leo, one from each side of the car aisle.  They grab at him, but Leo has had enough time to crouch down and make a stance, so that he's not easily knocked down.  Leo immediately realizes that he needs to keep his feet under him.  He grabs one guy and tries to block the other attacker, with the body of the one that he has a hold of, to buy him some time.  Leo is yelling for them to "LET GO" and to "STOP," maybe someone else in the garage will hear them fighting.  No reason for this to be 'their little secret'. 

 

A good amount of loud cussing is going on, as well, from all three men, as they fight for control of the situation.  Leo knows not to let them get him between the cars, where the security cameras will not see what's going on and then a greater chance of him being totally subdued by the attackers. 

 

The attackers are not doing well in their efforts to grab and get control Leo.  The fact is, they're greatly surprised that Leo is defending himself so well.  Along with grabbing and shoving, fists are flying from both sides.  Underneath the sounds of their voices, the repeated thud sound of a fist on a face or body is distinct, among the sounds of grunts, heavy breathing and the scuffling of feet. 

 

Leo is taking a beating from the two, but the attackers don't look too good either, plus they quickly realize, fighting Leo hurts! 

 

Leo knows he needs to try and keep them at arms length, so as he works to hold them off with his fists, he's also shoving the attackers away from him, hoping to unbalance them into falling and possibly giving him an slight chance to escape. 

 

One attacker finally gets a firm hold on Leo's arm and jerks him around, to slam Leo hard onto a car hood.  Trying to stun Leo into being a more passive captive. 

 

Leo struggles to shove himself up from the car hood, to standing, after having the wind knocked out of him, hopefully before they can restrain him and drag him away to God knows where!

 

Each attacker grabs one of Leo's arms and yanks him to his feet.  They need to quickly get Leo into their vehicle and out of sight.  They keep Leo wedged between them, as they half drag him into moving.

 

At the inside wall of the garage, the door of the elevator slides open and two of the hotel security men charge out, yelling for the two men to stop their attack on Leo. 

 

Leo decides to be a burden to his captors and lifts his legs to fall, as a dead weight, to the concrete floor.  This makes it harder for the attackers to move, carry, or even bodily drag Leo to the get-away vehicle. 

 

The attackers take one last look at the security team and realize that the officers have their weapons drawn and are closing the distance to them rapidly.  They quickly decide to let go of Leo and take off running to escape capture. 

 

As soon as Leo is free, he rolls away, taking cover under the front of the nearest car.  To avoid the possibility of being run over, out in the middle of the aisle, by the disappointed attackers. 

 

When the attackers reach their van, one guy jumps in and starts the engine, while the other one yells back, "We'll get you next time, McGarry, and Bartlett will answer to us." 

 

They next threaten back to Leo, as they slam the doors closed on a dark van, "Maybe we'll just pay a call at your red-haired girlfriend's apartment building and see if she's as lucky as you, in getting away from us."  The tires squeal, as they make a break for the far entrance of the garage. 

 

The security team reaches Leo and helps him from under the bumper of the car and to his feet, after they assess he's able to stand.

 

Leo leans on the front end of the nearest car, shaking with the adrenalin that's still coursing through his system.  His feet are placed wide on the concrete floor to brace himself to remain standing.  Leo takes a couple gulps of air, as his mind races to decide what he needs to do first.

 

Leo struggles with his somewhat numb hands, as he digs into his pants pocket and is relieved that his cell phone was not broken when he was slammed onto the car.  He shakily punches in the number for the Secret Service at the White House.  Leo hopes that the Secret Service agent that answers can understand him.  He's winded and is still trying to catch his breath, "It's McGarry.  Code Red.  I've been attacked in the garage of my hotel.  Get me Agent Cooper," Leo demands immediately.  ~ Hurry, Coop. Hurry ~

 

Leo tries to take a deeper breath and has a hard time of it, "Coop, I've just had a kidnapping attempt.  I'm still in the hotel garage.  The hotel security stopped it.  No, they didn't get the attackers."  He's getting impatient, "Coop, they threatened to go after Margaret, at her building.  ~Oh, God, they could have gone straight there.  Please, God, let her be safe and in the apartment.~  ……"Don't send the agents to 'me'," Leo sounds like he's talking to an idiot and not a federal agent.  "I need you to secure Margaret, now.  ……I don't care."  ~Damn, he doesn't get it.  She's alone. ~  "You 'will' secure her immediately or I swear to God, I'm climbing back into my car and I'll secure her.  ……OK, fine.  You can send agents here to me, if you immediately send some to pick Margaret up, as well."  ~Thank God.   Margaret, please stay safe!~

 

Leo sighs into his cell phone, but it turns into a soft moan, since his side is starting to hurt some.  "Yeah, like I 'really' have a say in whether the agents are coming here for me or not," he logically admits.

 

……~Hail Mary, mother of God… ~  Leo works to catch his breath.  ~Stay put, Margaret. ~ "Coop, can you call Margaret and warn her?"  He's being sarcastic now,  I'm assuming that the agents left for me, about the time I got the words out of where I was," Weariness now sets in, as the adrenalin leaves his system.  "All right, I'll wait here with the hotel security.  I'm not moving.  I don't know if I can get one foot in front of the other, right now, anyway.  ……I'll live.  I'm beat, battered and bruised pretty good.  I'm sure I'll look real pretty tomorrow." ~Where are the agents? Have they made it to Margaret, yet,? ~  "Yes, I'll stay on the line." 

 

Leo tries to chuckle softly, "Yeah, well, you should see the other guys.  Too damn many years, since I've done hand to hand."  Leo looks at his free hand, seeing the damaged skin, but not registering much pain.  "No, they were unarmed.  The two 'Shits' fled when they saw that security had weapons.  Dark van is all I saw."  He gets snappy, "You'd have to talk to hotel security for details.  I was a little busy taking cover, after they let go of me."  ~Damn, I'm gonna hurt tomorrow.  I know the attack happened in just a few short minutes, but it seemed like forever at the time.  Margaret better be safely on her way. ~ 

 

Leo pulls himself up off the car, but only manages to turn around and he sits back down after only a moment, as his legs are shaking with the after effects.  He rubs a hand over his face and he can tell that bruising, bleeding and swelling are going on.  Now, that that attack is over, Leo jokes to cover the fear, "When Margaret sees what I look like, 'she's' going to have a fit." ~She'll kill me and she won't need anyone to help. ~ "I may need your agents to save me."  Leo hears Coop give a small sound of agreement.

 

"Well, Coop, your agents are, 'Johnny on the spot'.  Guess who's government car is flying into the garage now."  Leo knows they're going to pile out, as soon as it slows down.  "Coop.  If they bodily slam me into the car, I swear, I'm kicking ass and taking names. ……I'll be seeing you shortly."  Leo closes the phone.

 

Four Secret Service agents jump out of the car and the nearer two approaches Leo, "Sir, we're here to secure your person.  Will you please get into the car?"  The agents take Leo by each of his arms and hurriedly escort him to the car.  Another government car arrives and three more agents pile out to approach the hotel security team, as the car with Leo inside, speeds out of the garage on it's way to the safety of the White House.  

 

Leo's first question inside the car is, "Do you have, Margaret?" 

 

The agent talks into his mic and then listens to the reply from Secret Service dispatch.  "**Affirmative, subject secure and to be transported shortly**."

 

The agent confirms to Leo, "Sir, they have her.  We're expecting to arrive at the White House before her."  Within the next two minutes, the car they are riding in pulls up behind the White House, at the Secret Service entrance.

 

*****    

 

Agent Cooper is outside the door waiting for the C.O.S. to disembark from the car.  "Sir, Miss Ryan is secure, and the agents are securing the exit route of her building, before transport." 

 

"Thanks Coop!  Just get me to my office and bring Margaret straight to me, when she arrives," Leo demands, before he's even completely out of the car. 

 

Leo then looks directly at Coop and sees just the slightest break in composure cross his face, when Coop looks directly at Leo's face, seeing the damage from the attack.  Leo tries to give a cocky grin, "Thanks for bringing me in the back door, guys.  The press would have a field day." 

 

Agent Cooper helpfully grabs Leo's elbow, when Leo missteps going through the doorway.  Another S.S. agent takes up a position on Leo's other side, just in case he's needed, as they escort Leo by the shortest route to his office. 

 

Leo keeps his head down from any observers, not wanting them to see his battered condition.  Luckily, at this time on a Saturday evening, they don't pass too close to anyone. 

 

They enter Leo's office by the hall door and Leo gratefully slumps onto his couch.  Agent Cooper stays in the office with Leo and the second agent takes up a position just outside the office door.

 

Leo grunts out, as he slides a hand in under his jacket, "Where is she, Coop?  Get me a location!  Now!"  Leo is not real good at waiting on any given day and right now, he's absolutely frantic inside, to lay his eyes on Margaret.  While Agent Cooper is checking on it with his mic, Leo again leans his head back, now with his eyes closed.  ~The attackers know she's important to me, now!  Why can't people leave us alone?  Now, she's a target, same as I am!  I'm a target to get to my best friend and now Margaret's a target to get to me! Next time they might go for her first!  God, what are we going to do?~  

 

****    

 

Margaret hurries through her apartment to answer a rapid knock at her door.  She can hear immediately following the rapping, a demand for the door to be opened.  Margaret is shocked, as she takes a quick glance through the peephole that a Secret Service agent is at her door. 

 

The agent is brisk, as she opens the door "Miss Ryan, there's been a situation and we need to escort you immediately to the White House.  I can give you two minutes to grab what you need, while we secure a route to exit you from the building."

 

Margaret just stares at the agent, as he steps into her apartment and closes the door behind him.  She briefly spots, as the door closes, another agent in the hall.  Looking now at the agent with his back to the door, she rapidly asks, "Is it Leo?  Can you tell me if he's safe?"  Margaret's first thoughts are naturally of Leo.

 

The agent can only reply, "I'm sorry, Ma'am.  I can't disclose anything at this time.  Most likely, you'll be informed of the situation, when you arrive at the White House.  We'll be leaving shortly.  Do you need to take anything with you?" 

 

Margaret turns quickly to race through the apartment, turning off the stereo and the lamps in her room.  All the while, her mind is in a whirl.  ~He must be in danger for them to retrieve me from the apartment.  Oh God, not a shooting.  Then, why would they be securing my person?  It has to be Leo.  I need to know if he's safe.  Hail Mary, full of grace…~ 

 

Back at the front door, Margaret sits on the desk chair in the foyer to pull on her sneakers.  She's watching the agent closely, hoping to pick up any information, as he talks onto his mic.

 

"Miss Ryan, we're ready to exit you from the building, now," is the only information he gives directly to her.  He places a hand around her upper arm to secure contact with her, as the protectee and to escort her out. 

 

She hurries to grab up her purse and office tote bag, off the desk.

 

Margaret notes that another agent is guarding the elevator, as they enter it, and he follows them inside.  At the main floor, a third agent is in the lobby and they all exit the building by way of the front door, not her usual one to the parking area.  A forth agent is waiting outside, by the driver's door of the government car.  ~There must be a threat again me, for them to send this many agents.  I'm smart enough to figure this much out.  God, what is going on with Leo, right now?~ 

 

The car speeds toward the White House, as soon as she's inside, with an agent on either side of her.  She fidgets her hands in worry.  Looking from one agent to the other, anxious for any clues to the situation.  ~Oh God, Please let Leo be all right.  Give us a break one more time.  How much more must we go through? ~

 

The agent seeing her intent scrutiny tries to reassure her, "We'll be arriving shortly, Ma'am, and we're to escort you straight to Mr. McGarry's office."

 

****  

 

"Sir, they've arrived with Miss Ryan.  They're escorting her here, now."  Agent Cooper's relieved to inform Leo, after watching the anxiety on his face, as he rests with eyes closed.

 

Leo raises himself to his feet with some difficulty.  He's starting to feel the pain creep into his body.  It's hard to believe that it's just been about 30 minutes, since he was attacked.  He hears footsteps approaching and Leo turns to the door, looking for Margaret. 

 

"OH, GOD, LEO," Margaret exclaims in a strangle cry, when she see his beaten face and the damage to his clothes.  She flies straight to him and wraps her arms around him, to assure herself that he's alive and breathing in her arms.

 

Leo grunts, as she hugs him close and he returns the hug, ignoring the pain.  He just needs to hold her and know she's safe.  ~Thank you, God.~

 

Margaret's better sense returns, as she listens to his heartbeat.  She pulls away, as she recalls him grunting when he caught her in his arms, just moments ago.  "Leo, you're hurt.  Where?  How bad?  What happened," she fires off questions too fast to be answered, as she looks at his battered face.  Her hands are still clutching at his shirtfront, but not touching him.  She's now afraid of hurting him further.

 

Leo raises his hand to his face, trying to down play the damage, "I just need to clean up a bit, Margaret."  He's forgetting that his hand is no better than his face.

 

"Leo, that's not an answer to what happened and it's going to take more than soap and water to fix how you look," she scolds him, with fear creeping into her voice.

 

"What?  You just liked me for my dashing good looks," he asks, trying to tease her enough to alleviate the fear in her eyes.

 

"Oh, Leo," she sadly sighs, so sorry that her hero is hurting.

 

"Sir, we need to inform the President of the situation."  Agent Cooper looks pointedly at them.  "Maybe, Miss Ryan needs to wait in her office?"

 

"No, Coop, she's staying here.  This involves her now, as much as me."  Leo moves to sit at his desk, pulling Margaret with him. 

 

Agent Cooper is checking and closing the doors to insure privacy. 

 

Leo sits and pulls Margaret to sit on the arm of the desk chair, not willing to loose contact with her just yet, but not sure his body is able to support her on his lap right now.

 

Agent Cooper walks over to the desk, "Sir, maybe I should place the call.  Agent Butterfield will need to be appraised of the situation as well.  He can then connect you to the President."

 

"Fine," Leo agrees.  " Might as well talk to both of them at the same time.  We can use the speakerphone feature.  That way everyone is appraised at the same time.  No sense repeating it three times."  He says this, as he looks at Margaret's face. 

 

She has questions written all over it.  While Agent Cooper places the call and gives a brief review of the attack to Agent Ron Butterfield, Margaret is trying to brush his hair smooth and sadly studying the injuries on his face and hands. 

 

*****     

 

The agent relays Leo's request to Agent Ron Butterfield for the President to join him with the call.  A speakerphone is engaged at the farm's end, as well, for the conference call.

 

"This is the President.  What's going on, Coop?"  The President is concerned at this unusual setup for a security call.

 

"Sir, we have had a situation here.  Mr. McGarry was attacked this evening.  In what was an apparent kidnapping attempt."  Agent Cooper efficiently states the nature of the situation, knowing that this is not going to proceed well, after that statement.

 

"Where is he?  Is Leo all right?  Answer!"  The President shouts, all semblance of protocol gone.

 

Leo speaks up, cheered by the true concern he hears, "Mr. President, I'm right here.  It was an attempt.  An 'unsuccessful' attempt.  Calm down," Leo answers his friend in a patient voice to reassure him. 

 

"Coop, tell me what happened," The President is 'not' reassured just by hearing Leo's voice and wants some real answers.

 

Agent Cooper is not used to briefing the President, "Sir, the details that we know, at the moment, are that Mr. McGarry was attacked in the garage of his hotel, by two assailants.  He was able to hold them off long enough for the hotel security to rescue him.  Unfortunately, Sir, they were unable to apprehend the attackers.  Mr. President, Mr. McGarry informed us, when he reported the attack, that a threat was made toward Miss Ryan.  That she could be the next target.  Sir, Mr. McGarry does have some injuries, but we were able to transport him to the security of the White House." 

 

"How bad are Leo's injuries and is Margaret secure?"  The President half answers himself.  "She must be or Leo wouldn't be here talking to me now."

 

Leo assures him, "You are correct, Sir.  I am here and Margaret is also."  Leo smiles, at his friend knowing him so well.  Leo firmly states, "Before you start in, Sir, I'm 'not' going to GW to get checked out.  The Press would have a field day."

 

The President quickly switches concerns, ignoring Leo's statement, "Margaret, are you OK?"  He quietly asks, knowing that she'll be a wreck with Leo hurt.

 

"I'm fine, Sir," Margaret is touched that in the middle of this, the President would ask about her.

 

The President tries a different tactic for the extent of Leo's injuries, "Margaret, I know you'll answer me truthfully about Leo.  Since he's not given me any details of how badly he's injured."  The President is not hesitant to quickly recruit her help. 

 

Nodding her head, as if the President can see her, "Yes, Sir.  As best I can," she quickly assures the President that she'll comply with any information that she can. 

 

Leo interrupts her, before she can reveal what he looks like.  "Sir, if you must know?  I look like the next motivational poster boy for the Republicans reelection headquarters."  Leo pauses, as the President gives just one chuckle at that visual. 

 

Leo adds, "Do I get any points for it being 'two against one' and they were younger than me," Leo wants to get in a macho boast to his best friend, who razzes him that he's soft and out of shape.  Just because he won't play basketball with him anymore…  He cheats.

 

The President then softly growls at his friend, "Leo, that's still not an answer,"

 

Leo sighs deeply, "Sir, I got the crap beat out of me, by two thugs that the Republicans would cheerfully 'thank' tonight."  He nods his head to the side, "For doing to me, what the Hill would love to do."  Leo tries to chuckle, but it ends in a groan. 

 

Ron Butterfield now asks, "Agent Cooper, is it believed that these are the same two men that tried to grab Mr. McGarry a few months ago?"

 

Agent Cooper confirms, "It seems so, Sir.  They mentioned the same line to Mr. McGarry, which they did last time.  That the President would answer to them, after they had possession of Mr. McGarry."

 

He pauses to review if there's anything more to add.  "Sir, that and the fact that it wasn't well planned and no weapons were involved.  It seems to be the same two guys in the dark van.  Sir, a team of agents is reviewing the security tapes from the hotel garage, as we speak."

 

Margaret eyes get wide and then narrow to a glare at Leo.  This is news to her that Leo was a target before and has since been in possible danger.

 

"Margaret," the President addresses her again.  " How bad is he?"

 

She takes a calming breath, "Sir, with me looking at him, I see on his face that he's quickly bruising and also has some small bleeding," Margaret looks at Leo pointedly, now with some anger showing in her eyes, still shadowed with fear, but maybe not so much sympathy.  Not until she cools off a little.  " His hands are badly scraped, bleeding and bruising as well.  Mr. President, the one thing that Leo doesn't think I've noticed is that he's favoring his left side.  I'm assuming his ribs are hurting, Sir."  

 

"Margaret, I'm trusting you to make sure someone checks him out," the President practically gives her an order.  "Since, he refuses to go get checked at GW," the President growls.

 

"Yes, Sir.  I guarantee that he'll be checked."  She looks Leo in the eyes, "If I have to strip him down myself."  Margaret nods her head once, in a promise-like gesture to Leo and definitely sounding like Abbey in full 'pissed' mode. 

 

She'll also, at some near date, be having a little chat with Leo, about the prior attempt.  ~It might be best to wait till after I've had a good cry first.~

 

The President and Ron Butterfield both make undignified snorts at her remark.  They know Leo is going to be practically bare sometime soon.  She's not to be messed with tonight. 

 

Leo just moans.  He can see that Margaret can be as formidable as Abbey, when it's a good reason and a hurt Leo is definitely her reason.

 

Ron Butterfield recovers and addresses Agent Cooper, "Cooper, I want you to keep Mr. McGarry at the White House this weekend.  He is 'not' to leave.  That's an order.  We'll find other accommodations for him on Monday, when the President returns."  This is not debatable, from a security standpoint. 

 

The President cuts in, "Good idea, Butterfield."  The President utilizes the speakerphone again, "Leo, that's an order from me, as well.  The President switches back to Agent Butterfield,  "He can stay in the private guest room, off the Master bedroom,  at the Residence.  Leo's like family and no one will walk into the Residence and see him, if that's what Leo wants," he pauses and continues, " Why can't he just permanently move into the Residence, if he's going to be a target to get to me?"

 

"Sir, we can't allow that.  Its' too many prime targets in one location, 24/7."  Agent Butterfield gives an example, "That's why the V.P. has a separate Residence."

 

"Well, he 'will' stay till Monday," The President is positive, due to his order. 

 

Leo tells them of 'his' decision, "Sir, I'm not staying."  Leo quickly tells why, before his friend can explode, "Sir, Margaret is not a candidate for an agent and it's not acceptable to me, for her to leave here without protection."  He growls out, "Till the idiots are apprehended this time." 

 

He directs his remarks now to Butterfield, "Ron, I'm assuming you 'are' going to nail them, this time.  I hate feeling like the only deer outside a redneck hunting camp.  It's not 'open season'."  Leo's anger at the situation is clear.

 

The President sucks in his breath at Leo remark.  He realizes that Leo is really shaken and probably scared, to even make a joke about being hunted, after his ordeal in Nam. 

 

Leo addresses Butterfield again with sarcasm, "Do I need to check with the Dept. of Fish, Game and Wildlife to verify that?"

 

"No, Sir, Mr. McGarry."  Ron Butterfield calmly assures, "The tapes will hopefully give us a license plate number and then it's just a matter of finding them."

 

Leo adds a snide remake, "Just asking, Ron, since they went underground pretty fast the last time."  He gets angrier with the attackers, the more he thinks of how they're, even now, controlling his life.

 

"Yes, Sir, I understand your concern."  He again reiterates, "Agent Cooper will stay on top of this." 

 

The President has an idea to help with Margaret, "Leo, I don't see a problem.  Margaret can stay in the Residence this weekend, as well." 

 

He now pointedly commands, "Margaret, don't force me to make that an order to you."  He softens his voice, "We take care of friends."  He even sounds cheery now that a plan is in place, "Call Abbey, when you get Leo upstairs.  She can advise you on Leo's first-aid needs.  Just make yourself at home."  To reassure Margaret he turns the tables on her, "I know you would have us do the same, at your place, if the situation was reversed."

 

"Yes, Sir," Margaret meekly agrees, ~ Sure, make myself at home, in the Residence of the White House, where several of the Presidents have lived.~

 

Leo smiles at the panicked look on Margaret's face, but she did agree, "OK, Sir.  We'll be your guests, till Monday."  Leo needs to wind up the phone call.  He has more things to do yet tonight and he's starting to really hurt.  "Sir, I need to call Mallory, in case the press gets wind of this.  I also need to advise Josh and CJ, as well.  I'll just make a call to them.  No need to call them in.  I really need to clean up.  I don't want to scare them."  Leo's going for a lighter tone, "By Monday, I should look better." 

 

The President knows that Leo needs to rest after his ordeal and he won't, till all the details are covered.  "Sounds good, Leo.  Call us, when you're in the Residence.  Oh, and order you and Margaret something to eat.  Now that 'is' an order.  You probably haven't eaten today.  Living on coffee," the President scolds Leo.  Trying to take care of his friend, even if from a distance.

 

"Thank you, Sir," Leo's soft tone, reveals the love the two men share.  Leo accepts the care that his friend is extending to him. "Goodnight, Sir."  The President sighs and replies, "I'm sorry about tonight, my friend.  Thank God you're safe, Leo.  Goodnight."  The call is disconnected.

 

Agent Cooper excuses himself from Leo's office now, "Sir, I'll just go and check with the team about the video tapes.  The agent outside the door will remain."

 

Leo looks at Agent Cooper to convey he's serious, "Ok, Coop,  'do' let me know A.S.A.P., what you find out."

 

*****    

 

Leo makes an uneasy call to his daughter.  They both know that his place in the government is at times, a dangerous one, with enemies.  The sound of his voice is the only thing she'll want to hear, the reason he personally places the call. 

 

"Mal, it's Dad.  I wanted to call you a let you know that something happened this evening and that I'm OK.  ……I wanted to tell you in case it ends up on the news. 

……Yes, really, I'm OK."  He sighs.  He knows he has to tell her.  " Mal.  Baby.  There was a kidnapping attempt on me tonight, but I fought them off, till help arrived.  ……I'm banged up a little, but I'm not going to GW. ……I'm at the White House.  Margaret is here with me. ……Yes, she's safe, as well.  That's another problem.  The attackers know we're a couple and threatened her for the next attack. ……I don't know what we're going to do.  She's unable to have an agent.  Your Uncle Jed insisted we stay in the Residence this weekend."  Leo adds a light note, "Agent Butterfield has me 'grounded' to the White House, till arrangements can be made for me to live somewhere, besides the hotel."  He nods his head to the side, "So, you get your wish, to get me out of the hotel," he chuckles at her affirmative comment.  "I'm OK and they assure me that they 'will' get these idiots. ……I need to call Josh.  I don't want him to worry. ……Yes, I called you first.  You're my first-born and get to be 'always' first."  He listens to Mallory's laughter.  "You two are sounding more like siblings all the time.  You always wanted a brother, when you were little.  ……You two aren't planning to gang up on me in my old age are you?"  He teases her just to get her flustered.  He loves to do that to the ones he loves.  "I need to get off and call CJ.  She going to kill me and I'm the victim here.  ……She just likes to stay in practice."  He gives a soft chuckle, trying not to groan where Mallory can hear.  "You can call Margaret tomorrow and she'll give you all details on my injuries.  ……She has plans to scrub them personally, to insure no germ goes undefeated.  This may hurt, but she certainly takes care of me.  ……I'll call you tomorrow and again on Monday to let you know what we decide, after I talk to the President. ……Yes, I know his name is Jed.  Not you too!  Now you're teasing me.  ……Gotta go, Baby.  I love you!  Do me a favor?  Stay low and safe this weekend.  ……OK, I need to know your being careful.  ……Do it for your 'old man'.  ……Thanks, Mal.  Luv ya……Bye."

 

He puts his arm around Margaret and pushes on her back, to bring her face down to his for a kiss, now that they're alone.  She's a little upset at him, but they just want to comfort each other.  "Margaret, I just want to say I'm sorry and let's leave it for another day." 

 

"OK, Leo.  I'm just a little scared right now," Margaret's willing to admit. 

 

Leo tells her the plan.  He knows she can handle any crisis with a plan, "I'll get my calls done quickly and we can go to the Residence, where it's quiet."  He thinks of something to keep her from worrying, while he's busy, "Do me a favor?  Could you get me a soda?  I'm spitting cotton here."

 

She was happy to be doing something besides taking inventory of his injuries and reviewing worst-case scenarios.  "Sure, Leo, anything."  She starts to kiss him on his forehead.  Momentarily pausing to make sure she's not placing it on an injury and then drops the kiss on an undamaged area. 

 

"Margaret, be sure to tell the agent not to let anyone else in, besides you.  I don't need someone barging in to see if I'm all right.  I'm a mess," he grumbles out the last part.  He does not want everyone to come look at the damage.

 

"OK, Leo.  I don't want you to loose your 'Dapper Leo' reputation," she teases Leo to cheer him, he seems a little embarrassed for anyone to see him like this.

 

He picks up the phone to make his next call.  "Josh, it's Leo.  I need to let you know that I was attacked this evening. ……I'm OK.  The agents brought me to my office.  Josh?  Josh?  Damn, he must still be in the building."

 

He places his last call to CJ.  "It's me, Leo.  We have a small problem.  No, there are no pictures of Margaret and me with a baby carrier again.  This is serious CJ.  I was attacked tonight in an attempted kidnapping. ……I'm OK.  I fought them off. ……Yeah.  Two against one.  I look the worse for wear.  The hotel security rescued me. ……I don't know if the press has wind of it. ……I'm in my office and no, 'do not' come here.  Margaret's here with me.  We're staying in the Residence, till Monday. ……That's not a story for the press. ……She 'has' to, CJ.  The attackers threatened that she may be the next target and I'm keeping her with me.  ……Coop has the report, check with him. ……I'll let him know it's OK.  ……I need to get cleaned up and Margaret has plans for my first-aid via Abbey.  It sounds like it's going to get worse for me, before it gets better.  ……Yes, I called Josh, but he's probably just about outside my door.  I think he dropped his phone and took of running, after I mentioned I was attacked and where I was."  He hears CJ laughing at Josh dropping his phone, at the 'bomb' Leo dropped on him.  "I'll check with you tomorrow.  Let me know if any thing breaks. ……I hope the press doesn't have art. ……Thanks.   Good night, CJ." 

 

Leo hears an argument in the hall.  About that time Margaret slips in her office door and with it open, he can hear Josh in a heated debate with the agent outside. 

 

Leo relents at the scared tone in Josh's voice, "Agent, Let him in." 

 

He remarks knowingly to Margaret, "He's not going to go away, till he lays eyes on me." 

 

Leo watches the door from behind his desk, "Hi, Josh."  Leo acts cheerful, as Josh flings himself in the door, "I believe, I was talking to you on the phone and suddenly, all I got was silence."  Leo cocks his head to the side, "Funny how that happened."

 

Josh is in a panic state, "Leo, are you OK?  Let me see."  He strides over across the room, as Leo is getting up with a groan.  Josh grabs his arm to steady him.  "DAMN, Leo.  You look like you've been beaten all over.  How can I help?  You need to see a doctor."

 

"No, Josh.  I've been through that with the President and Mallory."  He looks across the room, " Margaret has promised the President to have me checked out.  Personally.  Abbey is going to supervise her, via the phone."  He looks woefully at Josh,  "Want to rescue me from the females?"  He break into a lopsided grin, "I'm getting used to being rescued tonight."  Leo jokes with Josh, as a family member to calm him down. 

 

Josh just wraps his arms around Leo for a gentle hug.  "Anytime you need rescuing, I'll be first to volunteer, Leo" He slouches a little in front of Leo to, look him directly in the eyes and holding onto his shoulders, "You have got to quit scaring the President and me like this."

 

He looks over to Margaret and at her determined look.  She is going to take care of Leo, whether Josh and Leo like it or not.  "On second thought, Leo.  I think that I want to live a little longer.  Margaret looks dangerous tonight."  He jokes to Leo, "Someone messed with her Leo." 

 

"Yeah, Josh.  Margaret takes good care of me."  He looks softly at her and then continues to inform Josh of the plans.  "We're staying in the Residence, as the Presidents guests, till Monday. ……Oh, I called CJ, after you dropped my call," he adds, as a slight scold to Josh.

 

Josh is not sorry about the dropped call, "You're sure that you're going to be Ok?"

 

Leo confesses, "I know that tomorrow I'm going to feel like hell.  I'm getting too old to take on younger men."  

 

Josh gives his shoulder a rub in comfort.  "I better go and tell Donna, she going to freak."  He warns, "I can guarantee that she'll insist on seeing you, but I'll hold her off, till tomorrow."  He grins knowing her, "She'll never wait, till Monday."

 

Margaret's getting impatient to check how badly Leo is really hurt, "Josh, it's time for you to leave and let Leo get to the Residence for a shower.  He needs to get rid of the garage floor that's still attached to most of him."  She makes light of Leo needing to get cleaned up, but with a message-conveying look.

 

Josh knows her real meaning.  "Night, Leo.  Take good care of him, Margaret, and I'll see you both tomorrow."  Josh goes over and gives Margaret a quick hug of support.  He then gets in one last tease to Leo, since he's feeling better, after seeing him, "I think Leo is going to be real patriotic tomorrow." 

 

"How?"  Leo knows he's falling for a stupid answer.

 

"You know, Leo."  Josh finally lets his dimples show in happiness, " Red, white and blue.  All over!" 

 

"Not funny, Josh."  Leo order in mock anger, "OUT!  OUT!  Go do a thing."

 

"OK."  Josh gives him one last look from the doorway, "Leo, I'm sorry this happened to you."

 

"Yeah.  Thanks, Josh."  Leo quietly acknowledges.

 

Josh leaves and Leo extends his hand to Margaret.  "Let's go find some peace and quiet."

 

"Sure thing, Leo."  She smiles at him, "I have plans for you!"

 

Leo whines, "Why doesn't that sound better, than it should this evening?"

 

She laughs and places a hand on his chest.  "I'll be gentle, Leo.  I promise."

 

"That's a line I'd like to hear another night," he softly comments in her ear.

 

****   

 

Riding in the secure elevator up to the second floor, of the Residence, Margaret gets more nervous, the closer they get.  She hesitates as she steps into the hallway.  An agent is stationed just outside the elevator.  She notices that there are agents at both ends of the hall. 

 

"Good Evening, Sir."  The agent greets without blinking at Leo condition.  Leo slips his hand to the small of Margaret's back to escort her to the First Couple's Residence.  He can see her wide-eyed panic starting to grow and figures he needs to get her inside the door and then she'll be better.  

 

As he opens the door, she breathes a soft unsure, "Leo?"  She has never been inside the private suite and is not sure she should.  Margaret is in real awe now that she's about to step inside.  Leo looks at her to reassure her.  As she looks at his battered face, she willingly steps in.  Leo needs to be safe and she needs to care for him.  The panic is gone, but the awe remains.

 

The agent takes up a station outside the door.

 

Once the door closes, Leo pulls Margaret into a passionate kiss.  They're both just want to find the peace they had before the attack, but their desperation in the kiss reveals they both know that'll never be again, in this administration. 

 

"Leo," Margaret has tears in her voice, when they pull back to look in each other eyes.  She's trying to regain some control over the madness around her, but she sees a small trickle of blood from Leo's lip that the kiss caused to happen again.  She starts to sob, "Leo, they hurt you!"

 

He folds her into his weary arms and holds her.  After a couple of minutes, he speaks softly into her hair.  "Margaret.  Baby.  You know I just love to hold you, but I think I need to sit down."  He reminds her, "I've been running on adrenaline and it's gone now."  He jokes to her to lighten the seriousness of his statement, "I'd hate to hit the floor again.  My butt hurts enough as it is."

 

She tearfully chuckles at his chest, "Leo, it's not funny."

 

"No, landing on my ass was not, but it worked."  He slightly boasts, " They had to let go and run for it!"  He jokes again, since she sounds better, "You can now boast that, to use my brains, I had to use my ass."

 

"Leo, lets sit you down.  We're supposed to call the First Couple back, when we got up here, for instructions with your first-aid care."  She scolds him, before he starts complaining,  "You're the one that won't go to GW."

 

"Can't it wait, Margaret," he whines, as a little weariness sets in.

 

"No, Margaret is firm. "  When I get an order from the President and the First Lady, I don't debate it like you do."  She reminds him gently, "They're your friends and you can get away with that." 

 

"They're your friends now, too, Margaret" Leo softly assures her.

 

"I'm not approaching that, Leo," Margaret remarks a little too loudly and is a little awed to go there, "He's still the President of the United States and I'm standing in their Residence. ……God help me!"  She softly asks, "Just give me time to deal with that, Leo."

 

"OK, get me the hand-set for the phone."  Leo requests reluctantly, but willing to comply.  He punches in the number and turns on the speakerphone button and lays the handset down, so he won't have to hold it in his painful hands.  They feel like he beat them on the concrete floor, instead of on the attackers' faces and bodies.

 

****   

"Mr. President, it's Leo," he tries to sound cheerful.

 

"Hey, Leo.  Everything good with Mallory?"  The President knows that was not an easy call to make.

 

"Yes, Sir."  Leo pauses and then continues, "Thanks for recruiting Margaret!  You're a big help!  We just got into the Residence and I'm lucky that she let me sit down, before calling you back."  He looks at Margaret scrutinizing him.  "She's still debating whether I should be allowed to sit on the furniture with my scruffy clothes."

 

Abbey cuts in on the speakerphone, "You two can trade insults later.  Leo, I need to talk with Margaret."

 

"OK, Abbey."  Leo dreads her plans for him next.  "I'm so looking forward to you two ladies enjoying my misery."

 

"I'm sure you are, Leo."  Abbey knows he hates to be fussed over, "Now, be quiet, please."

 

"Hello, Dr. Bartlet.  This is Margaret," she sounds like she's still in the office.

 

"It's Abbey and I don't want to ever hear you call any other name, again.  We agreed to be friends and my real friends call me Abbey," the First Lady is adamant with her, after the talk they had when Margaret was home with her bad back.

 

"Yes, Abbey.  I just won't call you by any name, at the White House, then."  Margaret compromises back. 

 

"You think, girlfriend."  Abbey is delighted that Margaret has a loophole already.  "If you pull that little trick," Abbey warns.  "I'll get my name out of you, every chance I get, till you just want to strangle me.  It'll be such fun," truthfully boasts the First Lady.

 

"Thanks, Abbey.  I look forward to it," Margaret answers with a touch of friendly sarcasm that women love.

 

"Good, Margaret."  Abbey gets down to business, "Now, where are you in the Residence?"

 

"We're in the main sitting room," Margaret answers.

 

"So, have you gotten him to reveal his injuries yet," Abbey knows the answers to that, as she asks it.

 

"Just what I told you I could see before, when we were in his office," Margaret sadly states.

 

Abbey starts at the beginning then, "I know that you're going to need some first aid supplies that are in Jed's bathroom." 

 

Margaret has a slight panic in her voice, "Abbey, I can't go in there." 

 

The President pipes up, "Margaret, you have my permission to use anything you need for Leo.  He's family to me.  What's mine is his."

 

"Thanks you, Sir."  Margaret then softly confesses, "I forgot you were on the line too, Sir."

 

The President asks happily, "Leo, is she blushing?"

 

"Yes, Sir.  You definitely bring out the best in her."  Leo can't help but chuckle at his friend's delight, " I think she's getting too used to my teasing."

 

"Good!  Leo, let me know tomorrow, how she does when she has to get out some of my soft clothes, for you to wear," the President forecasts the fun for Leo.  

 

Margaret just sucks in air, looks at Leo and then shakes her head no!

 

"Sir, from the look on her face, it's going to be priceless."  Leo knows Margaret is making a list to kill him with, when this weekend is over.

 

Abbey's losing patience, "Would you two shut-up and leave Margaret alone.  She's not used to you two yet and you're going to scare her off." 

 

The President just laughs.

 

Abbey growls a warning, "Jed, you're going to get sacred of me, in a minute, if you don't let me talk to Margaret." 

 

The President appeals to his friend and fellow male, "Leo, she just threatened the President."

 

"Yes, Sir."  Leo agrees and tactfully retreats, "And you're on your own with her.  Keep me out of it!"  He knows he has his own problems tonight, "I don't think Margaret's 'that' afraid of us."

 

Abbey cuts the guys off again and she knows that Leo's sitting right there.  "Margaret, the problem is that there is only a shower in the guest room and he's going to need Jed's whirlpool tub, plus, as I said before, the first-aid supplies are in there.  Jec always needs them.  The pain relievers are in the medicine cabinet.  Don't worry.  None of Jed's narcotic pain relievers are in there.  Just use either the Advil or the Naproxen.  They're over the counter and just read the directions.  They'll help with pain and inflammation."

 

"Margaret," Abbey uses her best Doctor tone, "I going to give Leo an order from me, as a doctor and don't let him out of it!"

 

"Yes ma….Abbey,"  Margaret acknowledges, "What's the order to Leo?"

 

"Leo, you listening," Abbey wants his attention.

 

"Yes, Dr. Bartlett," Leo answers her sarcastically.

 

"You're to march your butt into Jed's bathroom and strip."  She leaves no doubt what her order is, "We need Margaret to see the total extent of your injuries." 

 

"Abbey," both Leo and Margaret answer in a shocked tone.

 

"OK, so that how it is, is it?"  Abbey compromises, "OK, then strip down to your boxers, which should give us a pretty good idea of the damage."  Abbey threatens now, "Either that or you're on your way to GW, and they'll strip you to your Birthday suit."

 

Leo growls in a bad humor, "How do you know I'm in boxers?"

 

"You two guys have 'always' been in boxers."  She adds logically, "Plus, I've doctored you before here at the farm."

 

The President just can't keep from joking on that remark, "That's a nice thing for my wife to know about my best friend."

 

 

Abbey shuts him down, "Shut up, Jed."

 

Abbey wants to get things in motion, "You two hang up and get Leo out of his suit and call me back after he's more exposed."  She has a cheerful tone with the order. 

 

"Yes ma….Abbey,"  Margaret complains to her new friend, "This would be a lot easier, if I could call you Doctor."

 

"Margaret, just get him in the bathroom and strip him down." 

 

Leo groans at the payback he's getting for when Margaret's back was out. 

 

Abbey continues in a voice just for Margaret, "You have my permission.  Enjoy!"  Abbey laughs softly.

 

"Thank you, Abbey."  Leo ends the call and the ladies enjoyment, "We're hanging up now!"

 

****   

 

"Damn, that whirlpool tub better be worth it!"  Leo remarks to the phone on the table, as he uses a tender fingertip to disconnect the call.

 

Margaret hesitantly asks and twists her hands together, "Leo, you OK with this?"

 

"Of course, Margaret," he smiles and takes her hand to stop her nervous habit, "But, if you have a problem with it, you can always leave the room." 

 

"Not a chance of that, if you need me," she loyally confirms.  "I'm just going to be seeing more sides of Leo McGarry," she cracks back to him, to cover her nervousness.

 

"Yeah, front and back, if I don't watch out.  Abbey and you are conspiring against me," he teases her again.

 

Margaret smirks back at his teasing, "At least we don't do it behind your back."

 

"You may be doing some things behind my back, before the nights over," he warns with a grin.

 

"Get me up," Leo finally admits to needing some help.  "I'm stiffening up sitting here."

 

****  

Leo leads the way into the First Couple's bedroom and they get Leo into the President's bathroom.  

 

Margaret helps him to remove his jacket, which will probably need to be trashed.  Then she removes his cuffs links and starts on the buttons down the front of his dress shirt.  "Leo, don't look at me with those eyes," she has a slight blush at undressing him and is acutely aware of being alone with him.

 

He knows she's feeling this is a little personal between them.  "What eyes?  They're half blackened and swollen, from what I can see behind you in the mirror," he sounds mock offended and on the defense. 

 

He looks at her face, "I really do look like hell.  No wonder you were shocked at first." 

 

He thinks of the ramifications, "Good thing, that just you and Josh saw me.  CJ and Donna would be having nightmares." 

 

He informs her of a realistic fact, " Did I tell you that Coop had them take pictures of my face, while we waited for you to arrive?  They'll need them for prosecuting the attackers."  He jokes to ease the sad look on her face, "Maybe, I'll have a copy of them framed." 

 

Margaret can't hold her tongue on that dumb joke, "That's just what you need to represent your stint in the White House." 

 

Leo tries to chuckle, but he forgets to hold his side, with Margaret undressing him and he groans again.

 

"Leo, I'm really curious to see those ribs you keep moaning about."  She states, as a warning that his secret is about to be revealed.

 

Leo is tuning out the reason that they're there for and focusing on what she's doing to him, "You know, Margaret.  I didn't envision that the first time you'd undress me, would be to check for injuries."  He sadly admits, "I hurt too bad to enjoy it.  This should be more fun."  Then he pouts, "I feel like I'm being cheated here." 

 

"Poor, Leo."  Margaret is sympathetic, as she feels the same, "You never get the breaks, do you?  You'll just have to dream on."

 

Leo smiles at her and softly promises her, "I'll just try to remember the highlights from this."

 

"Leo, you're so bad," she states with quiet happiness.

 

"Can't blame a guy for dreaming," he says flippantly wanting to remind her that he thinks she's desirable.

 

Margaret flushes and feels her heart speeding up, "Leo, you're not making this any easier."

 

He chuckles quietly as she reaches to unfasten his belt.  His injured hands keep him from helping and he's not inclined to anyway.  He holds his breath, when she tucks her fingers inside the waistband of his pants, to unfasten the button at the top of the zipper.  He unconsciously pulls in his abdomen, which reminds him that his ribs are injured.  He watches her and remembers that this is one of 'his' daydreams.

 

"Leo, quit grinning.  It'll make your lip bleed, again," she covers her heightened awareness of him, by scolding him.

 

"Yes, Margaret," he sounds chastised, but the grin doesn't fade at all.  The grin is battered, but still has its crooked appeal.

 

She half unzips his pants, pulling the bottom of his shirt up from inside the pants and finishes taking his dress shirt off, leaving the pants for later.  The shirt is in pretty good shape and will just need to be laundered. 

 

"Leo, what's next?  The t-shirt off or the pants," she gives him the choice, as she can't seem to make any decisions at this point.  He looks sexy as hell with his belt buckle hanging loose, pants unfastened and just the glimpse of dark satin beneath.

 

He's aware that she's having some trouble breathing, like himself at this point, and gives her a small break.  He calmly decides, "Lets drop the pants, so I can sit down and you can then easily remove my shoes and then the pants."  He carefully backs over to a small stool.

 

Margaret quickly agrees, to get the actual 'moment' over with, "Ok, drop em, Leo."

 

"No, Margaret," he holds his sore hands up and smirks at her.  "You have to finish unzipping them first." 

 

Margaret's blushing again at his reminder, "You're enjoying this way too much, Leo."

 

His happy comment is, "Well, life's short, Margaret."  He smiles crookedly again at her.

 

"Yeah?  Well, two can play your game, Leo," Margaret decides to throw caution to the wind and enjoy this herself.

 

She steps up to Leo and looks him directly in the eyes, as she slowly unzips the pants.  Then Margaret squats down and purposely slides them slowly down, rubbing her hands down the outsides of his legs. 

 

She now adds to his discomfort, "I've always liked your satin boxers, Leo.  But this is the first time I've seen your black ones and the lights 'are' on this time."

 

Leo does a slow growl, "You 'would' decide to play around, when I can't participate."

 

"Paybacks are hell, Leo."  Margaret then orders, "Sit."

 

She removes his shoes and socks, setting them to the side.  She can see one knee is scraped like a rug burn from his pant's material.

 

"OK, Leo."  She states, booking no argument, "You 'now' have to give up the t-shirt."

 

Leo admits to some pain, "I hope I can, Margaret.  I may not be able to raise my arms up over my head.  You may have to stretch it, to get it off."

 

"Your ribs 'are' hurt aren't they?"  She can see the truth, by the way he sags his shoulders.

 

"Yeah!"  He admits to her, "You're right, they do."  He tries to give a reason why, "I must have hit the hood ornament, when they slammed me on top of that car." 

 

"Oh, Leo," she immediately has tears in her voice.

 

"I didn't want to give you details and scare you, Margaret," he apologizes and looks down at his damaged hands.

 

She cups his chin and lifts his face to look at her, "I 'do' want and need to know, Leo.  It would be better than my imagination," she truthfully admits.

 

"OK, Margaret, maybe I can fill in the gaps, when I tell Jed and Abbey," he wants there to be no secrets in their relationship, at least when it's not work related.

 

"Deal, Leo."  She gently pulls the T-shirt out of the band of his boxers and then reaches around him to lift the back bottom edge of his t-shirt.  To peel it up, then off his right arm, over his head and down the left arm, is her plan.  "It's OK, I'll be gentle, Leo," she promises.

 

"That last line," he grins at her, "just gets to me, Margaret."

 

"Good to know," she answers with a grin.

 

"OH, LEO."  She sees the left side of his ribs and her tears start again.  "You should have said something, when I was hugging you."

 

"The hugging was a good kind of pain, Margaret," he wipes away her tears with a battered hand.

 

She sweetly and softly cups his face in her hands, "You're still my hero, Leo."  She kisses his swollen lips.   

 

"Thank you, Margaret.  That's nice to hear, once in a while," he lets show some of his insecurity about what happened tonight.

 

Margaret straightens and knows she needs to get his injuries treated, "I'm going to call Abbey back, now.  I need to know what to do for you."

 

Leo sounds condemned, "OK, get her on the phone.  She'll be pleased that I'm sitting here in my boxers."  He complains, as Margaret gets the phone, "Even my butt hurts."

 

****   

 

He again dials the farm on the regular phone, in the bathroom, "Hi, Abbey, I'll let you talk to Margaret about what to do for me." 

 

He adds sarcastically to her, "You'll have to wait, till you see Margaret next time, to get the juicy details on stripping me down.  Yes, she has me down to my boxers. ……Don't laugh, she likes my boxers.  ……I'm not giving you any details.  You can just suffer with curiosity."

 

He hands the phone to Margaret with a sigh, "Hi, Abbey.  Yes, I managed to wrestle his clothes off. ……He wasn't too happy.  I don't think it was as much fun as he thought it would be."  Margaret smirks at Leo, as Abbey laughs over the phone.  Too bad the bathroom phone is not a speakerphone.

 

Margaret gets serious, "Abbey, his ribs look awful and there's a good amount of bruising. ……I'll try.  Hang on."

 

She lays the phone down, right behind Leo, on the counter, "Leo, she wants me to lay the palm of my hand around your ribs and push gently to see if it makes a sharp pain for you, to see if it's serious.  Abbey said for me to work my way down your ribs." 

 

Margaret starts high and pushes gently on each rib.  Leo moans more and more the farther she goes down and sucks in air a time or two, but never lets out a sharp sound.

 

Margaret picks up the phone, hoping she did it right, "Abbey, you might have been able to tell, but he didn't yell with pain and I tried each rib in the damaged area." 

 

"Good, Margaret," Abbey reassures her from a distance.  "He's probably looking at bruised ribs, maybe a hairline fracture both are painful, but treated the same way. 

 

You'll need to wrap them pretty tight with ace bandage, after his bath.  There's some Aleve in the medicine cabinet for pain and inflammation.  The directions are on the bottle, but I want you to give him 3 caplets for his first dose, even though the bottle says 2 the first time and then after that 1 every 12 hours, with a full glass of water. Tomorrow, if he seems in real pain, you can do the 2 caplets in the morning.  He can take that high of dosage.  With the Aleve, he'll not have to wake up tonight, after he's asleep, for more meds."

 

"I will, Abbey," Margaret answers.  "Whatever you say I need to do."

 

Abbey continues, "You'll need to get him into the whirlpool tub, soon.  If he's like Jed, he'll be stiffing up soon."

 

"He's already having trouble moving around, even his butt hurts."  Margaret tells Abbey about his last complaint.  "I guess he landed on it?"

 

Abbey giggles, "Well, better than landing on his head."  She then feels sorry for giggling at Leo's pain, "Margaret, here are the bath instructions.  You might want to grab the pad of paper on the phone table.  I'll wait."

 

"I've got the paper.  Go ahead, Abbey," Margaret feels in control with paper and pen.

 

"There's some sea salts in the closet, to put in the tub.  Use a whole two-pound box.  It'll help soothe his sore muscles.  I keep lots on hand to use for Jed.  Warn Leo that it'll sting at first on any cuts, but that will pass. 

 

You'll also need to get some ice, to make ice water, from the room service.  You need to alternate warm and cold towel compresses to his face, to reduce the swelling.  He's not going to like it, but you can do that while he's in the tub. 

 

He should do that for his hands, as well, in bowls about a minute at a time, for 6 times each.  Do more than one session, if he will tollerate it tonight.  It'll hurt, but it'll help in the long run.  I know his mild arthritis in his hands is really going to flare up after this. 

 

After you have him settled, you can put an ice pack on his ribs, on top of the bandage.  It will help with pain and swelling.  There's an ice bag in Jed's closet, with the first-aid supplies.  Watch his breathing for trouble."

 

"He really can't take a deep breath," Margaret injects with a little panic.

 

"That's to be expected, just both of you watch, if he has 'labored' breathing.  He might be more comfortable sitting up a little to sleep," Abbey advises.

 

"Anything else, Abbey?"  Margaret adds, "I'm at the bathroom closet.  I found the sea salt and the first-aid supplies."

 

"No.  If I think of anything, I'll ring back."  Abbey reminds Margaret, "You don't hesitate to call me.  I want to know if there's any change and you can call with questions.  The switchboard will connect you, if Leo is asleep."

 

"I will, Abbey.  I promise."  Margaret reassures her, "Don't worry."

 

Abbey now addresses another concern she has, "Margaret, after Leo's settled, you take yourself a hot shower and help yourself to some of my soft clothes.  There's new toothbrushes and new toiletries in the bathrooms of all the guestrooms, so help yourself to whatever you need."

 

"Abbey," Margaret tries to convey that she's just about come to the end of her ability to ignore who Abbey is and where she and Leo are.

 

"You've had a rough evening, also, Margaret, and its not over for you," Abbey sounds like one of the Sisterhood.  "I mean it, Margaret.  You know I'll ask, when I get there.  You'll hear it, if you were rude and turned down our offer of clothing for the both of you."  She suggestively mentions, "Pick out something nice." 

 

"Jed says, don't forget to get dinner."  Abbey knows to end the call, so Margaret can follow out her orders, "I hear you running his water.  I'll call you in the morning.  Take care of both of you.  Give Leo a kiss from us and let him know, we're so sorry this happened to him and that we're not there to help you take care of him."

 

"I will, Abbey.  He knows you can't drop everything and come to help.  You've done so much already tonight. ……Thanks Abbey and tell the President thanks, too.  Bye."

 

****  

Margaret gets the Aleve caplets and a glass of water.  She hands them to Leo.  "Take this first, so it can start working on the pain and stiffness." 

 

He looks at the full glass of water and grumbles, but holding it between both hands, he drinks all of it, with Margaret watching.

 

"Leo, it's time to get you into the tub."  Margaret knows they really need to start.  "Abbey wants me to do some compresses for your face, while you're in the tub.  She said that most of this is going to hurt, but will really help in the long run.  She knows you want to rebound fast from your injuries."

 

Leo looks at the tub of water and suggests, "Margaret, since you need to work on me, maybe I should just wear my boxers into the tub.  I can wear something of Jed's, after I get out."

 

Margaret agrees, her blushing has had a workout tonight already, "Ok, Leo, stand up and I'll help you get in.  Getting up and down is 'not' going to be fun." 

 

After some moaning and a few damns thrown in for good measure, Leo's finally resting in the tub.

 

"Turn on the jets, please, Margaret," Leo instructs.  "I need all the help I can get."

 

"Sure, Leo."  She bends and turns on the switch, as he gently lowers his hands into the salty water.  He sucks in air with the stinging.  "Leo, I need to go order some ice for the compresses," Margaret lets him know what she has next on his schedule.

 

"Sounds good to me."  He's quiet and resting now that the jets are starting to work their magic.

 

Margaret smiles, when she remembers a warning he once gave to her, "Don't you fall asleep and drown, Leo.  I know CPR also, but there are better ways to tongue tango with you."

 

Leo commands, without opening his eyes as he lounges backing the tub, "Give me a kiss and prove it."

 

Margaret knows he never misses a move, "Leo, you're incorrigible."  She's still standing at the doorway.

 

He agrees and works on her sympathy, "I know.  Now, kiss me.  I'm a hurting man here."

 

"Yes, Leo, and I'm here to take care of you."  She returns to the tub and bends down to deliver the kiss he demands.  He reaches a wet hand to the side of her face.

 

He slowly pulls away.  "Margaret, you always know what to do for me."

 

She smiles a little wickedly, " I know, Leo, and tonight you're going to regret it, according to Abbey's instructions."  She turns and bravely heads to the phone, "I'm going to go call for the ice.  Just relax and let the jets work."

 

****   

After 20 minutes of the jets and compresses, plus his hands in the alternating bowls, Leo is relaxed and worn out.  They tried to get as much of the painful treatments done at the same time.  Margaret even managed to get his hair washed and not drown him.  He did better with the baby, Rachel, but Margaret did try his rinseing technique.

 

"Leo, "Let's try to get you out.  I have the floor padded with a couple of towels to catch the water from your boxers."  Margaret feels it's time to get him out and get him bandaged, as the next part of his treatment. 

 

She looks at his damaged hands and wonders if he'll be able to help pull himself up.  "I may have to get an agent to help?  I don't want you to fall, Leo."

 

"Wait, Margaret."  Leo sits up in the water and pulls his knees up.  " Let's give it a try.  I feel a little better after the jets and the pain meds."  He looks at her with determination, "I should be OK."  Margaret steadies him and he successfully climbs out with the help of the safety rail on the wall of the tub.

 

Margaret wraps a towel around his shoulders and starts to dry the top half of him.  When she gets the top part of him done, Leo is grinning at the next step.  "Don't get your hopes up there, lover boy."  Margaret douses his fun.  "I've got this figured out."  Margaret has a plan. 

 

Leo has laughter in his teasing tone, "Nice choice of words there, Margaret."

 

"Leo, now is not the time to make me blush," she warns him.  He might find himself alone in the room.

 

Margaret puts her plan in motion.  Standing behind him, at arms length, she holds a fresh exlarge towel up to his backside and orders.  "OK, Leo, hook your thumbs into your boxers and drop them."

 

"I thought you'd never ask, Margaret," he answers in his dreamy gravel-tone voice, just to shake her. 

 

She orders, "Just, do it, Leo."  She gets weak in the knees, when she hears him use his lovers voice and he knows it.

 

He slides the boxers off his hips and she wraps the towel around his waist, slick as a whistle. 

 

"That was no fun, Margaret," he really sounds disappointed.

 

She sounds pleased, "Yeah, but it worked.  Sit on the stool and let me dry your legs.  She picks up his dripping boxers and hangs them on the nozzle of the tub to drip dry.  She then kneels and dries his legs and feet with another towel. 

 

When she's done, Leo is still grinning.  She smiles up at him from where she's kneeling to dry him, "It's just the return of a favor, remember?"

 

"That's what I was thinking about, Margaret."  He smiles softly, while he also remembers their first full weekend together, when he took care of her.  He breaks into a wider grin.

 

"What, Leo, do I look like a harem girl to you?"  She gets the feeling that he likes the vision of her helping him to dry off.

 

"That's a great thought, Margaret."  He drops a kiss to her forehead that's by his towel covered knee and makes plans for their future, "I'll have to remind you of that some day."

 

"Oh, Lord.  You must be feeling better," she exclaims in mock horror.  "Quit teasing and let me know where I can find you some clothes."

 

Leo points to a door just outside the bath, "Jed's dressing room/closet is thru that door over there." 

 

Margaret enters the walk-in area and pulls open the top chest drawer.  She lets out a shocked, "OH!" 

 

"What is it, Margaret," he asks with some concern, since he can't see her from where he's sitting on the stool. 

 

Margaret's small shocked voice answers him, "I just opened the President's unmentionable drawer."  She sounds like she just committed a federal offence.

 

 Leo hears a sharp slam.  He's delighted, "How's the blush now, Margaret?"  He chuckles at the vision of her face.

 

"Shut-up, Leo."  She doesn't find it amusing.  She pulls open some of the bottom drawers.  "How about a t-shirt and sweat pants?"

 

"That's fine and I'll do with out the President's boxers," he agrees and gets a dig in at the same time.  He then tries to really push her button, "He's got a big ass anyway."

 

"Leo," she's shocked again and peeks out to see if anyone from outside heard him.  When she determines that no one's going to burst in and haul them off in handcuffs, she whips around to glare at Leo's grinning face in the bathroom, "That's not funny, Leo."

 

"It's true, any of his clothes would fall off me," he defends himself honestly.  "Just get me some sweats, they have an elastic waistband."

 

"Ahh, Leo, there's 'one' small problem with the t-shirts."  Margaret comes out with one in her hand.

 

"What's wrong?"  He just sees a gray athletic looking t-shirt.

 

She sweetly holds it up by the shoulder seams, "They're all say Notre Dame on them."

 

"Damn," Leo can't get the volume he wants, due to his ribs.  "Jed knew that, when he offered me his 'soft' clothes."

 

"You'll live, Leo," Margaret tries to not grin, as she consoles Leo.

 

"I guess," Leo growls and grumbles, "But he's probably at the farm laughing his ass off right now."  Margaret's smiling in agreement, but doesn't risk voicing it.

 

She tries to distract him, "Lets just get you dressed and out to a couch.  You need to eat some dinner."  Before Leo can say he'd not hungry, she gives him a very good reason, to eat.  "You can't take pain meds on an empty stomach or you 'will' be sick."  She's giving him that 'you know I'm right' look. 

 

"Now, Leo, to get the pants on you.  Let me get the legs started."  She stands up, after his feet are in the leg openings.  "OK, Leo, with the towel still around you, stand and carefully turn your back to me," she orders, helping to balance him by his elbow.

 

"No fun again, Margaret," he complains, as he complies with her plan.

 

She gives him a little room for hope, "This might get interesting, Leo."

 

He cheers up at that news, "Good.  Finally!"

 

"Not that much fun, Leo," she warns him in a mock whisper.

 

She slides the pants up to the bottom of the towel and suddenly he drops the towel and pulls up the front of the pants with his thumbs.  Margaret is given full view of his backside, as he runs his thumbs around to pull up the back of the pants.

 

Margaret decides to treat his action as normal and to save the memory for future daydreaming, "You know, Leo, that's a nice ass, but you do have a bruise on the left side."  She smiles at his grinning face, as he turns around to face her and she continues with a logical point.  "At least, it's the same side, as the bruised ribs and you can sleep on your right side."

 

"Thanks, Margaret."  He just can't resist saying, "Nice to know you appreciate my ass-ets."  He places a light kiss on her lips.

 

"Ha!  Ha!  Very funny, Leo," she remarks dryly.  She smirks, as she points out what she did notice, "but I do think the tiny jet tattoo on your upper hip is the best." 

 

He kisses her quickly again, "And you thought I was conservative."  He then steals another small kiss, "That's my memento from the Air Force."

 

"Well, Fly boy," she gently wraps her arms around his neck, "Your secret is safe with me." 

 

"Thanks, Margaret."  He nuzzles into her neck and whispers, "We need a few secrets to ourselves."

 

"Before this necking gets out of control," she advises, "Leo, lets go order dinner."

 

****    

From the phone in the sitting area of the Master bedroom, where Leo has sat down outside the President's bathroom, Leo calls down to the kitchen to order them some dinner.  He remembers to ask for more ice for his ice pack and ice water to take his meds with.  Margaret is in the bathroom straighten up after Leo's bath.

 

While they wait for dinner to arrive, Margaret wraps his ribs as snugly as Leo can stand it.  "Leo, if you need me to later, I can loosen it a little, but Abbey said snug to support the ribs."

 

Leo rubs his right hand around his ribs testing the wrapping, " OK, it might get easier after I wear the wrap awhile." 

 

"Leo, do you really want to wear a shirt tonight?"  Margaret knows that if they were at the apartment he wouldn't bother with one, especially in this situation.

 

"Yeah, there'll be the food service in and out yet tonight."  Leo jokes and give her a reason, "I just don't want to give anyone a free show of my dashing body."

 

"Sure, Leo, we'd have to beat them off with clubs for weeks, after seeing your bare chest," Margaret teases, while she gently helps him to get the t-shirt stretched on.  ~Good thing the President is larger than Leo, it makes getting the shirt on him easier.~

 

Margaret brings the ointment out to put on his torn knuckles, before she wraps them.  "Leo, I found some ointment called Polysporin that looks like just what you need.  My next curious question is: does the President really need all these first-aid supplies?  I mean, he had everything you needed, for after getting beaten up or is it the fact that Abbey is a doctor?"

 

Leo chuckles and explains, "A little of both.  Remember, Margaret, he rode my bike into a tree and he likes to play basketball with the younger staff members."  Leo leans closer to her to reveal a secret.  "Afterwards, he comes up here and Abbey has to put him back together again."

 

"Leo, that's not a nice way to talk about your best friend," Margaret scolds Leo for implying that the President is accident-prone.

 

"Why?  It's the truth.  He's a klutz," Leo states an obvious fact. 

 

She rolls her eyes at his remarks, while she wraps his knuckles with white gauze to keep the ointment in place.  "Leo, now you look the total package."

 

"How's that, Margaret," he grins knowing she's going to tease him again.

 

"With your bruises and the wrapped hands, you look like at prizefighter, after a bad fight.  All you need is Josh's baggy silk shorts and we 'would' need to take pictures for framing.  Like at the end of the 'Rocky' movie."

 

She can see he's getting a kick out of that visual.  "Oh, no, Leo.  I'm not looking in their stuff to find you a camera.  You don't need a picture that bad and if you do, you can get Coop to take it."  His eyes light up at that suggestion.  She rolls her eyes again.  Sorry she'd mentioned it.  "It must be a guy thing, Leo.  You act like it would be a trophy." 

 

"Well, Margaret, there were two of them," Leo boasts.

 

"And that's suppose to be the bright side, Leo?"  Margaret gives up trying to figure out the good part of that statement.  "Men!"

 

Margaret just gives him a disapproving look. 

 

She decides to leave him to his own devises, till dinner arrives.  "Abbey offered me the use of her clothes and after I find them."  She injected, "You need a map for this bedroom alone."  She continues with her plans, "I'm going to go take a shower in the guest room."

 

"You could use the President's bathroom, not everyone has the opportunity or can say they did," Leo tries to tempt her.

 

"Not in this lifetime, Leo."  She feels she has pushed her luck far enough tonight.

 

"I'll be using the guest room shower."  She walks over beside him and makes sure his ice pack is OK.  "Think you can stay out of trouble for a little while?"

 

He decides to cause a little trouble, "Ah, Margaret, if you're worried about me, you could take me in with you.  I could sit in there and wait and you can see if I'm still OK.  There's a glass shower door."  He tries to make it sound like it would be logical. 

 

She pulls his shirt back down over the ice pack, "Leo, I'm not stupid.  You just 'conveniently' remembered the glass shower door.  So I can keep an 'eye' on you."  She sits on the edge of the couch looking into his face, "More like, so you can keep an 'eye' on me."  She drops a kiss on his forehead.  She then smirks," Nice try!"

 

Leo chuckles at getting caught "Thought I'd give it a try.  I might have gotten lucky." 

 

He changes tactics, " Hey, I'm injured here."  He can tell the sympathy ploy is not working, so he tries sounding disappointed, "I guess I did have my hopes up."

 

She lays a hand on his thigh to tease him and speaks in a soft voice, "Leo, if I were to take you in there with me.  I know something else that would be up and you're in no condition to follow through."  She smiles brightly at him and continues in a hushed voice, "And you're absolutely not going to be able to  for a while, with those ribs, Leo."  She shuts him down sweetly.

 

"Margaret, you're killing me now," he growls loudly in frustration.

 

"I told you to be good," she reminds him that he started it.  "Think you can stay out of trouble for a little while," she re-asks her previous question.  She stands to go search for the clothes.

 

"Sure, just help me find where Jed hid the remote.  He can't operate it and he always loses it," he grumbles still frustrated with her teasing.

 

"Leo, you two are always picking on each other," she slightly scolds him for taking it out on his friend.

 

"That's what we do, Margaret.  It's us!"  Leo says this like it explains the whole Jed and Leo relationship.

 

"I'm really am 'so' glad you two have each other, to care about and to inflict yourselves on each other."  She says this last part with sarcasm, as she hands him the remote she found on the nightstand.  She can imagine that Abbey agrees with her, since she's been dealing with them longer.

 

"Leo, if I'm not out of Abbey's closet in ten minutes, you send in a search party," she's half serious. 

 

"Yes, Dear.  Good thing Butterfield is at the farm.  You'd probably request his 'personal' help," Leo just has to get in a dig. 

 

"Leo, you're 'my' hero."  She can get some real mileage out of reminding him.  From inside the closet she calls out to him, "I don't need an Secret Service agent.  I just need you."

 

She returns in just a few minutes, holding some clothing.  She's happy to find that Abbey has satin lounge pants.  They are alittle high water in the leg lenght, but comfortable for a summer night.  She decides on a baggy tank top that is long waisted. 

 

Margaret notices that Leo is now lounging on the couch, just like at the apartment.  Right at home, in the Presidential bedroom's sitting area and surfing for news programs. 

 

~I know the First Couple told us to make ourselves at home and I'm still half terrified to be in here, but Leo is taking his friends invitation at their word.  Oh, Lord, if the Republicans ever got a picture of Leo right now, we'd never hear the end of it.  The headlines of the press would be, 'Now we know 'who' the real President, really is', with a picture of Leo, as he is now.  I have got to quit borrowing trouble.  We find enough on our own.~  

 

She walks over to check his ice pack on his ribs.  "Leo, I'm going to be in the shower for a few minutes.  Are you going to be, OK?  Can you handle the food service, if they show up before I'm back," she asks with real concern.  She can see he's fading fast, now that everything is over and he has been cleaned up and patched up. 

 

"Yeah, they'll just put it on the table over there.  I'll wait here and you can help me to get up off the couch.  I think that's going to be the hard part, for the next few days."

 

She smoothes back his damp hair, "More like a week, Leo.  You're going to have to get used to someone helping you up and down."

 

Leo rolls his eyes, "Oh, Lord, the 'kids' are going to love that.  I can hear the 'old man' jokes now."

 

"They can joke all they want."  She slides her hand tenderly down his bruised face, "I'm just glad you're not more seriously hurt and you just remind them it was 'two against one'." 

 

Leo grins at her reminder of his macho boast, "I'll try to graciously let them help!  I've carried them a time or two."  He gently snuggles his swollen face into her cupped hand and unconsciously rubs his undamaged finger tips softly down the outside of her leg.  

 

"Good, Leo, promote team effort."  She gently raises his chin in her hand, "As long as you don't hurt your ribs any more, by being contrary and doing everything yourself," she scolds in advance.

 

Leo grumbles in agreement, "I'll try, but if Josh smothers me, I'll tear into him."

 

"Leo, he cares about you like family.  Family takes care of family," Margaret gently reminds him. 

 

She adds with confidence, "Expect to see him and Donna tomorrow."

 

"Yeah, the next week might get interesting, with my hands and my ribs hurting," he jokes.

 

"Yeah," she readily agrees with him.  "You'll probably are going to need a keeper, more than usual."

 

"Margaret," he growls a warning at her dig.

 

 

"I'm going, now," she sweetly informs him.  "Watch your news programs."

 

He pouts, "I get insulted and then I don't get to do any of the fun things tonight, because of my hands.  This sucks."

 

"Glad to see your feeling better, Leo," she teases him.  "Behave.  I'll be right back."

 

"OK, you just like to order me around," he states.  He then grumbles to himself, "I need to keep you away from Abbey.  She's a bad influence on you.  You two are too much alike."

 

"Yeah, we are," is Margaret's parting shot, with a big grin.

 

****     

 Margaret returns to the sitting area in the Master bedroom and finds that dinner and the ice did arrive, while she was in the shower.

 

"Leo, we need to move you to the table to eat.  Even though it is just 10:30, you look like you're half asleep." 

 

"Yeah, you're right."  Leo acknowledges, "It must be from the trauma and the adrenaline from tonight."  He chuckles and he adds, "I feel like, 'I was rode rough and put away wet'." 

 

Margaret chuckles, also, at his feeling like an abused horse.  "Poor, Leo, you 'do' need to eat and rest."

 

Agent Cooper calls to report in, while they're at the table eating and Margaret carefully hands him the phone, "Mr. McGarry, we've run through the security video tapes several times and we've only got a partial plate number.  We were hoping for more this time."

 

"Tell me the grim details, Coop" Leo's not happy, but it's not Agent Coopers fault.

 

They didn't have a front plate on the vehicle, which would have given use the best look of it on video, while they were parked.  The camera just got a glimpse at the rear plate, as they were speeding out of the garage.  We were only able to read that, after we slowed the video down and then checked it frame by frame.  We did get a made of the van this time.  Sorry, I can't give you any better details at this time, Sir.  We'll keep on it, Sir."

 

"Thanks, Coop.  Leo knows this is the kind of thing that just eats at the agents, " I know you are."

 

Leo still holding it with both hands, gives the phone back to Margaret and just shakes his head to indicate 'no news' to Margaret.  She lays her hand on his arm and neither speaks, in their joint disappointment.

 

****   

 

After they have eaten, Leo is back on the couch drowzily watching the TV and Margaret wonders about moving him again,  "Leo, do you think you should go to bed in the guest room, now?"

 

"I'm OK for now," Leo assures her.  "I just want to lie here a little while.'  He gently touches the ice pack under his shirt, "The meds seem to be helping and it's easier to be sitting propped up."

 

Margaret watches his face for signs of pain, as he adjusts the ice pack, "OK.  Can I do anything to help?"

 

Leo gives her a small, sore smile, "Yeah, you can slip in here behind my back and let me lean back against you."  He sadly adds, "That's about the best we can do for cuddling and I 'really' need to cuddle some tonight." 

 

She moves over to the couch and stops to stand beside it Considering how to get behind Leo.  

 

He hooks a bandaged hand around her legs, just to touch her, "I guess it's starting to sink in, how close we came to having our lives changed tonight."

 

She seriously acknowledges he's right, "I know, Leo, and I always love to cuddle with you.  I was just afraid of hurting you some more." 

 

Leo invites her to join him by slowly rolling toward the edge, onto his right side, holding his ribs.  She gently eases her leg over Leo's body, careful of his ribs and lies down behind him.  She straights the cushions behind her and signals to Leo she's ready for him to roll back.  "Easy, Leo.  I'll ease you back against me.  Don't use your stomach muscles any more than you have to."  

 

"I promise you, I won't, Margaret.  It hurts too much, when I move," Leo moans, as he settles back against Margaret.  "If you need to get out later, you'll just have to wiggle out the bottom."  He's panting a little, till the pain in his ribs settles back down. 

 

"That would please you, I'm sure," she teases him to get him to relax. Margaret pulls his arm back to rest on her leg, instead of the weight of it resting on his sore ribs. 

 

He softly rubs her leg with his forearm, so he won't hurt his hand, "I'll suffer through it somehow, Margaret," he chuckles low in his chest.

 

After Leo is comfortable, Margaret makes an observation.  She looks around and reflects on the fact that they're in the Presidential bedroom, cuddling on the couch, just like at home.  "Leo, it's a good thing that Abbey and the President aren't due back, till Monday.  They'd throw us bums out."  She's making light of the overwhelming situation that she has found herself in that most people they know would be appalled at, if they even dreamed it.

 

Leo gives her a tired chuckle, "No, they wouldn't.  They'd just tease us unmercifully."

 

"He would, I know that," Margaret confirms.  "You have him helping you, to make me blush."

 

Margaret remembers all the kindness they received tonight, "She would want to help."

 

"Right," Leo remarks sarcastically,  "She'd help me and torment me at the same time."

 

Leo pauses a short while and then gets serious, "Margaret, I was so scared tonight.  It's been along time, since I had to defend myself physically." 

 

Margaret drops a kiss on his head, "It's OK, Leo, to be scared when you're attacked.  It turns on the adrenaline to help you," she gives him logic, to ease his mind.  

 

"Margaret, I was more scared afterwards."  He tries to explain, "They said they were going to get you and I didn't have any way to protect you.  I was terrified that they would jump you in the parking lot, like they did me."  He quietly states, "You couldn't get away." 

 

He closes his eyes, remembering the mere minutes that seemed like an hour, till he knew she was safe.  "I get shaky just thinking about it."

 

Margaret carefully tightens her arms just a little snugger around him, " Leo, I'm right here and you're in my arms.  We're both safe and protected here.  There are lots of people looking out for our safety."

 

Leo complains, "But I had to call the Secret Service to get you safe.  I couldn't do it myself."

 

She consoles him, "That was the best thing you could have done, Leo.  You used the best resources you had available to you, to get me safe."  

 

He knows she's right, but it doesn't sit right with him yet.  "I just wanted to hold you safe in my arms," he admits very quietly.

 

She whispers in his ear, "Leo, I'll say it again.  You're my hero, everyday." 

 

Moving alittle, he brings his free arm back in front of him and hugs her arm that is wrapped around him, with his forearm, since much to his dismay, his hands are getting to stiff to use.

 

He requests in a voice near tears, "Margaret, hold me, hold me tight.  I just need you to hold us together tonight.  I'm not very strong right now."

 

She contently sighs and snuggles as close to him, as she can, "Leo, I'll hold us together for all time, if that's what we need.  We are the best thing that has happened to each other and nothing is going to break that apart."  She confidently adds, "Not even fear."

 

Leo reflects on what he has and quietly like a prayer he tells her, "Margaret, I don't know what star shined down on me, when you walked into my life, but I can never begin to be thankful enough that you did.  You have given my life back to me, so many times over the years and now you 'are' my life." Turning his face upward, he kisses her bare shoulder.

 

"Oh, Leo."  She happily sighs, "That star shined on me also.  We had to go down that road to get where we are.  The world sees us as a package.  I'm your Margaret and you're my Leo.  We're one life, not two different lives."

 

Margaret places a tender kiss on his head that's resting back upon her breast and slightly tightens her arms to give him a gentle squeeze to reassure him. 

 

Her tears slide silently down her cheeks, as she feels a tear from Leo wet her arm, as he snuggles against her bottom shoulder.

 

"I love you, Leo," she whispers in his ear.

 

"I love you, Margaret, more than you know" he responds back with a soft rough whisper.

 

They lay quiet and content, cuddled together and are soon asleep on the couch.

 

****    

 

Earlier at the Manchester Farm.

 

Abbey hangs up the phone after giving Margaret instructions.  Jed is looking at her with concern.  "Abbey, that was quite a lot of instructions for just some bruises and cuts.  You mentioned a possible hairline fracture.  You sure he doesn't need to go to GW?  I could order him to go get checked.  The agents will see it is done," Jed is speaking rapidly and he wants to help Leo, even if he has to pull his Presidential clout into play. 

 

"I know, Jed."  Abbey agrees with a thoughtful look on her face, "Margaret should be able to carry them out.  She's very efficient and this is 'her' Leo she's treating."

 

Abbey tries to sound confident to reassure Jed.  "I'm sure she'll carry out my instructions, even if Leo protests."  

 

"If you say so."  Jed still gives her a worried look.  "You're the doctor in this, then."

 

She's thinking a few moments and then comments out loud, "I do wish I'd been there to check him out myself.  Margaret said it was quite a lot of bruising."

 

Jed is still worrying about Leo hurting, " Abbey, won't he be in some 'real' pain in the morning?  Won't Margaret have to decide when to call you for what he needs to control the pain and stiffness?  Leo can't take narcotics to control it and the day after is always the worst."

 

 

"That can be true," Abbey has to admit.  "Jed, we know Leo is not going to go and be admitted for 24 hours for observation." 

 

She throws her arms up in

defeat, "There's not much we can do from here."

 

"Abbey, lets go back to the White House," Jed has wanted to say that, since he first heard the news of Leo's attack.

 

"OK, Jed.  I agree."  Abbey is as eager as he is, to get back and check on Leo.  "Jed, let the agents know we need to leave first thing in the morning."  She's all ready setting her traveling case on the ottoman, to start packing for the departure in the morning.

 

Jed places his hands on her shoulders, to get her to hold still, "No, Abbey.  I mean now."  He gets into his full planning mode, "They can bring around the Limo and we hit the road now, to take us to the Air Force base and hop on Marine 1.  We could be at the White House in a coupe of hours."  He grins at heading home and seeing Leo. 

 

Abbey happily looks at him likes he's a really smart man, "You might be right, Jed.  I know we both aren't going to get much sleep, till we see him."

 

"Get your shoes on, Abbey, we're outta here, as soon as they can bring the car around," Jed orders her, as he leaves the room and this time she's happy to comply.

 

 

The President strides from the room in search of Agent Butterfield, who is not going to be happy.  ~That's tough.  I'm the President.  Plus, Ron can handle the investigation in person.  I have got to see, Leo.  He sounds cocky on the phone, but I know he's hurt and was scared.  I want to be there with him.  I need to see he's going to be OK.  I want Abbey to see him and tell me, he's going to be OK.  ~

 

He enters the kitchen and finds Agent Butterfield sipping coffee.  The agent becomes alert when the President enters the room. 

 

"Sir, do you need something," Agent Butterfield asks when he see the determination on the President's face.

 

"Ron, we're returning to the White House," The President states as fact.

 

"Yes, Sir, we can have everything ready to leave, as soon as you're ready in the morning."  He then adds to let the President know that some preparation has been made, "I already anticipated that you'd want to return to the White House in the morning."

 

The President clarifies the time table, "No, Ron.  Now!"

 

Agent Butterfield doesn't give away any concern he feel on his composed face, "Sir, that's going to be a little hard to implement, immediately."

 

The President does concede that some security procedures have to be completed before he can be transported, "OK, you have 30 minutes.  Call the Air Force base and have them get Marine 1 ready.  Abbey is packing as we speak."

 

"Sir," Agent Butterfield tries to stall the President, but he can tell that this is one time; he'd be wasting his breath.

 

"Let's move."  The President orders, as he leaves to inform Abbey that they 'are' leaving tonight.

 

****   

 

4am at the White House

 

The President and Abbey disembark from the Limo.  They enter the quiet lobby and head straight for the Residence.  "Abbey, I bet Leo's had a real time of it, calming Margaret down, when she finally got here to Leo's office and saw he was injured."  Jed reveals some of his thoughts, "She can be a nervous person on good days, but with Leo hurt."  The President gives his wife a look of compassion for Leo. 

 

Abbey has some experience to draw her opinions from, "I don't think she was that bad, after she saw he was going to be all right.  The bad part would have been waiting to find out." 

 

She glances sideways at her husband with a knowing look.  He acknowledges her truth, by looking at the floor with his hands in his pockets. 

 

Abbey reveals her idea of when there might have been some problems, "Leo might have had to reassure Margaret, after it was all over and she was out of things to do for him.  That would be the time that Margaret might fall apart. 

 

Leo probably had a heck of a time consoling her and getting her to sleep tonight.  He's probably upstairs with her clinging to him for comfort." 

 

Jed agrees and adds to that scenario, "That's if he got her to enter a bedroom to sleep."  He remembers her nervousness on the phone that evening, "She seemed to be pretty in awe of the fact she was inside the Residence.  She may have been too intimidated to sleep anywhere, but in a chair."  Jed smiles, "That might have been a battle also."

 

Abbey suggests, "Let's be quiet when we enter and just let them sleep.  There are just a few hours till they'll be up anyway." 

 

She then conveys to Jed what she expects to do, if they are asleep, " I just want to observe Leo's breathing and to see if he's restless and in pain." 

 

She knows Jed's impatience nature, "Don't you wake him.  I want him to sleep as long as he will.  He's going to be in real pain, when he gets up in the morning."

 

Jed admits, "Yeah, Leo will be stubborn and try to cover it up, if we don't make him tell us.  We'll have to watch for signs for how bad he's hurting and also not to let him do too much for himself."

 

"Today's Sunday and I want him on total rest," Abbey lets Jed in on her plans for Leo's day.  Abbey now threatens, "He 'will' if I have to tie him to the couch.  He's not going to his office."

 

"The agents won't let him out of the Residence, if I say so," Jed proclaims.

 

"You say so, Jed," Abbey orders him.

 

They exit the secure elevator to the Residence area and Jed tells the agents Abbey's order for Leo tomorrow. 

 

Abbey waits at the door for him, before she enters the Residence.  Since they're not sure which bedroom Leo and Margaret may be in and they don't want to inadvertently wake them. 

 

They scan the main sitting room and they don't see them on any of the couches.  They really didn't expect them out there in the main room.  No TV for Leo, it's his lifeline. 

 

They next split up and each take a side of the room and check the guest rooms, which flank the sitting room.  Both come up empty.  Abbey whispers, "Jed, looks like Margaret used the shower in this last guest room, but the bed is still made."

 

Jed grins, "Well, Dear, that leaves only one room: ours."  He cheerily whispers to Abbey, "We did insist they use my bathroom for Leo and our room does have a TV."  He then adds like it's a great joke on them, "We may be the ones sleeping in a guest room tonight."

 

"No, Jed.  I agree with your prior opinion about Margaret and there's no way she'd sleep in the President's 'actual' bed."  Abbey adds with certainty about Margaret, "She'd sleep on the floor first.  Especially, since she knows us personally."

 

The President grins and suggests, "Let's find out what they're up to, my Dear."  He quietly turns the handle to one of the doors to the master suite and slowly swings the door open to see the TV playing, with the volume down low. 

 

They can see that their bed is still made and empty.  They softly creep over to the couch facing the TV and find Leo being protectively held in Margaret's arms.  He's resting spooned back against her, with them propped up in the corner of the couch.  The President raises his eyebrows at the reverse of what they expected.  Margaret's holding Leo in comfort.

 

He looks at Abbey in askance for what to do next.  She's looking at Leo in the dim light of the TV, trying to inspect what damage she can see and to observe his breathing.  It looks like Margaret has a good handle on his care for now. 

 

Abbey looks at Jed and places an index finger to her lips, for him to not make a sound and then points to his dressing room/closet.  They slip into the small room and quietly close the door. 

 

In a soft whisper Jed asks, "Now what?  Do we wake them and let them know we're here, since they're on the couch?  Wouldn't Leo be more comfortable in a bed?  He looks pretty bad to me, Abbey, and we didn't even see his ribs."  Jed is full of questions, now that he's seen part of Leo's injuries.

 

She tries to calm and reassure him, "Jed, actually he's probably more comfortable leaning up on Margaret and that's probably why he's actually sleeping.  I think we should just leave them there." 

 

She lets him know that she feels better now about Leo, "All I want is to be close enough, to hear if his breathing changes or if he's in real pain.  This is probably the best arrangement I could hope for.  They wouldn't have agreed to sleep where I could personally keep an eye on him all night, if we'd been here earlier."  She sounds pleased, "Now, they don't have a choice."

 

"I agree. That's the best," Jed accepts her opinion.  "Then I guess we should change and get some sleep our selves."

 

"I'm just going to wear some of your soft clothes and not risk crossing the bedroom to my closet."  She starts to dig into his Notre Dame t-shirts, "We can slip into bed for a couple of hours sleep." 

 

Jed softly makes a prediction, "You know, Margaret's just going to die, when she realizes she's sleeping in the same room as the First Couple."  He happily anticipates, "That might be fun.  Leo won't mind us here, but I might get a dig into him later about it."

 

Abbey scolds him in a hushed whisper and she pulls on some of his sweatpants, "Jed, quit planning your fun and get changed."  She watches him step out of his jeans and she warns him again, "Be quiet."

 

Once they are both changed, they then slip into the bedroom and while they're turning down the bedspread, they freeze as they hear Leo stir in his sleep.  He mumbles the words, "Stop, Margaret, hurry, and get safe."

 

They immediately hear Margaret's sleepy words of comfort, "Leo, It's OK now.  We're safe.  I'm here.  I have you, Leo."  They see her drop a kiss on his head, in her sleep.

 

Leo softly replies, " OK."  The two on the couch get quiet again.

 

The First Couple smile at each other in the dim light and quietly slip into bed, to cuddle like their friends on the couch. 

 

****   

Sunday morning comes early to the White House

 

Leo is waking slightly and is agitated in his sleep.  He's murmuring, "Margaret.  Get to Margaret.  Now.  Margaret, Margaret?" 

 

The First Couple wakes up and Abbey quietly signals Jed to not move, as they listen.  This is probably the only way that they'll truthfully know, if Leo is in pain or needing help.  They know that once Leo realizes they're awake, he'll put on a brave front. 

 

Plus the fact that Margaret will have an instant heart attack, when she sees them.

 

"Shush, Leo," Margaret soothes Leo's sleeping worries.  " I'm right here.  It's OK now.  You're just dreaming.  It's over.  We're both safe now."  She kisses the side of his forehead in comfort.

 

"Oh.  ……Margaret."  Leo becomes aware that he's woken her, "I'm sorry, I was dreaming.  I didn't mean to wake you."  He moves his face to return her kiss, "Morning, Luv you."

 

"Love you, Leo."  She drops another kiss to his head and reaches her hand up to smooth his hair lovingly.  "I guess you were having a nightmare about last evening."

 

 "Yeah, I guess I was," Leo admits.  "I must have been dreaming about it, because I'm hurting all over." 

 

"I know, Leo," Margaret sadly agrees.  "Today will be hell for you.  I'll get you the Aleve that Abbey said you could have, as soon as we get up."  She stretches her body carefully, behind Leo, to wake up.

 

 

"Yeah, I guess."  Leo lifts a bandaged hand, out in front of his eyes and thoughtfully inspects it.  "Margaret, I think you need to help me get up and into the bathroom.  Nature is calling and I need to use it."

 

Abbey gently slides and lays a hand on Jed's arm to keep him from getting up to help Leo, also for him to close his eyes and pretend to still be asleep.  Which would make it easier for the couple on the couch, if they should notice them in the bed.

 

"Sure, Leo, let me get out from behind you first," Margaret scooshes to the bottom of the couch and sits up at Leo's feet to stand.

 

Leo slightly leans forward to give Margaret room to get out and moans, "Damn, my side is killing me.  I feel like they took a baseball bat to my ribs."  Leo moans out softly trying not to move his ribs, as he releases the sound, "Mmmm."

 

Margaret has her back to the Master bed and is facing Leo on the couch, "Don't move, Leo!  Let me help you lower your feet to the floor and roll you to sit up.  Let me do all the work."  She always has a plan for her Leo. 

 

"Aaahhhhh, I'm up."  Leo is tucking his elbow in close against his sore side.  "Damn it," Leo quietly swears.  "I hope the first time up is the worst."  Leo rubs his side, "Really, that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, with you helping."  He raises his eyes to hers, "I'm warning you now, Margaret.  Don't you pull your back out helping me, or we're both going to be 'up shit's creek with out a paddle'.  I'm going to hurt anyway, so you just be careful."

 

"I know, Leo.  We'd make a real pair, with both of us hurt." 

 

She can see that he's in a little hurry to get into the bathroom, "Up you go, Leo."  Margaret slides her arm under his good arm to help him stand up and to steady him, not taking her eyes off him as he rises. 

 

He's unable to straighten all the way up, so he just turns to start to the bathroom.  It might be a long trip in his painful condition.  He slightly straightens, as he walks to try and get some of the stiffness worked out.  He grins, as he sees the bed and its occupants, but quickly looks down, so Margaret won't notice. 

 

Almost to the bathroom, Margaret looks around to see how close they are to the door and spots the occupants in the Master bed.  She sucks in a quick breath, freezes and looks back at Leo with wide, shocked and questioning eyes. 

 

He just softly chuckles and quietly calms her, "It's alright, Margaret.  They're friends and they must have needed to see me for themselves."  He nods his head to the side.  "I should have guessed they'd come home early." 

 

He gets her attention back to his urgent need for the bathroom.  "Margaret, first things first."  He starts painfully moving again toward the bathroom and Margaret is more than willing to get inside the door. 

 

She closes the door behind them.  "Leo, now what do we do," she asks in a mock whisper.

 

"Well, Margaret," he answers her softly, "I would assume that first: I need to move over to the toilet.  And you then, need to decide whether to stay or go back out to get me some ice water to take the Aleve with, while I take care of business."  He's being sarcastic to help her regroup.

 

"LEO.  You know what I mean," she desperately complains in a whisper, while she helps to maneuver him and make sure he's steady by the toilet.  She sees him brace himself on the wall with his forearm, "Leo, do you need me to stay and help?" 

 

He chuckles and cheerfully whispers, "I think I can do this by myself, but volunteers 'are' always welcome."  He's a little playful from dealing with the pain.

 

"LEO!"  She's fighting to keep her voice down, "You keep being sarcastic and you'll need Abbey in here to treat more than your ribs.  I might just have a heart attack right here on the spot," she hisses in panic.

 

"Margaret, believe me, it's all right."  Leo is not do doing so well, standing, "Now, are you staying, because I'm not able to stand here or wait much longer?"

 

"Damn!  I'll go get you some water, Leo."  Her hand on the doorknob, she adds, "Just take note, Leo.  I'll kill you later, when you can feel the new pain," she threatens as a parting shot.

 

He chuckles to himself, knowing she means it!!  He's going to kill Jed first.

 

****   

Margaret slips quietly out of the bathroom and moves over to the side table where the ice bucket and pitcher of ice water are sitting.  She's trying not to disturb the presumably sleeping couple in the bed.  She has her back to the room, when she hears a flush coming from the bathroom.

 

Jed and Abbey decide that now is the opportune time to wake-up. 

 

Margaret turns and debates whether to calmly and quickly return to Leo or try to make some kind of a morning greeting to the First Couple in their bedroom.  She just wants to melt into the carpet and not have to make the decision.

 

The decision is taken from her, as the President sits up on the side of the bed and Abbey stands from her side.  "Morning, Margaret," the President cheerfully greets her, as if they were in the halls of the West Wing and not across a bedroom. 

 

She's turning a nice shade of mortified red at the view of the President in his pajamas. 

 

The President rubs his face with both hands and wipes his hair back.  "I think I'll go check on Leo and see if he needs any help!"

 

"Yes, Sir.  That would be a good idea."  Margaret is just glad he's leaving her vicinity and she hasn't dropped dead yet.

 

Abbey has moved around the bed and is crossing the expanse to reach Margaret.  She can tell that Margare is in over her head, with the discovery of their presence and the events of the night before.

 

Margaret's totally at a loss as to how to react to the First Couple, but she is, on the other hand, so glad that Abbey is here to see to Leo's medical needs.

 

"Come here, Margaret."  Abbey's holds her arms out wide to envelope Margaret in a much needed hug of womanly compassion.  Her voice is full of sympathy and total understanding for Margaret's feelings of fear and anger at the attack on Leo.  She's the one person in the whole country who understands the ramifications that Margaret now faces.

 

Margaret can't stop the tears that slide down her face, as Abbey moves them both over to the couch for a few minutes of being wrapped in each other's arms.  Two brave women that love, where few others have dared to risk.  The price just might be too high.

 

Abbey then gently cups, Margaret's tear stained face in her hands and sincerely tells her, "Margaret, I'm here for Leo and for you.  Don't you forget that?  We need each other to able to help them.  I mean that.  I need you, as much as you need me.  Abbey lays her cheek to Margaret's, in mutual support. 

 

"I'll keep that in mind, Abbey."  Margaret gives her a watery smile.  Abbey also smiles at Margaret's ease in using her name.  Margaret warns her, "I just might need your support a little more often right now.  I know things are going to be hard for me, for a while.  You know how much I worry over my Leo."

 

"I know, Margaret."  Abbey gives her a squeeze of understanding.  "It's the same way I worry over, Jed.  It's universal for wives, but it seems to be escalated to greater heights with the White House."  They smile in unison and in agreement.

 

Abbey hands Margaret some tissues to dry her face and uses a few herself.  "When Jed comes back out, we'll go in and see how Leo is doing this morning." 

 

"He's really complaining about the pain this morning."  Margaret explains, " I was just getting him some water to take his next dose of Aleve."

 

"God, help us all."  Abbey rolls her eyes in mock surrender, "Leo will reach new heights in the expertise of complaining, grumbling and moaning today." 

 

'She smiles at Margaret, "Although, Jed did a lot of that, after he ran into the tree.  Now, you know why I have so many first aid supplies in his closet."  Abbey finally gets a chuckle out of Margaret.  The comparison of the two men is so much alike.

 

Abbey stands and holds out a hand to Margaret, "Let's get his water and knock on the door to see if the guys are presentable.  They're never decent," Abbey reveals.  "You'll find that out, as you watch them interact.  It can be really fascinating."  She now warns Margaret, "You just have to know how and when to reel them in."  Abbey smiles and she adds, "And now I have you to help me.  Two against two is better odds and the good Lord knows, they need two keepers." 

 

"Oh no, don't look at me," Margaret instructs in warning,  "I'm not reeling in the President.  He can be your department." 

 

She smiles a knowing smile.  "I have no problem at all of reeling in Leo.  I already promised to kill him, at a later date, this morning."

 

"See, you're right on schedule with Leo."  Abbey waves a hand over her shoulder to Margaret, standing behind her, "They tend to run amuck, if we didn't keep them grounded."

 

"Abbey."  Margaret sounds slightly shocked at the thought that they are responsible for keeping the President and his Chief of Staff on the 'straight and narrow'.  Then again, that's what she's been doing for years, whether Leo was aware of it of not.

 

The thought of caring for Leo gets Margaret to worrying again, "I'll just grab the water."  She directs Abbey, "I think you really need to see Leo's ribs."

 

"Agreed," Abbey replies and moves over to tap on the bathroom door.

 

She asks sarcastically, "You guys decent?  Not that you ever have been before, but is it all right for us to enter now?"

 

****  

 

While Abbey and Margaret had been having their female commiseration time, Jed was checking on Leo.  He found Leo, sitting on the stool in the bathroom, rubbing the wrapping on his left side.  He's having a little trouble breathing with the pain, after his trip to the bathroom and for even the short while that he had been standing.

 

"Oh, GOD, Leo.  Look at what they did to you."  Jed is taken back with the condition of Leo's face. 

 

"I'm going to be OK, Sir," Leo tries to reassure his friend.

 

Jed tears into him now, "Don't you dare, Sir, me.  Not now, not with you sitting in my bathroom, beaten and wearing my Notre Dame shirt."  Jed says in mock anger and pleased to have Leo in his shirt.  He just has to break out into a smile.

 

"You're really getting a kick out of that, aren't you, Jed?"  Leo flips back at him.

 

The President gets misty eyed, as he looks at Leo's damaged face, as Leo says his first name. 

 

He cups Leo's beaten and bruised face.  "I am so sorry, Leo.  If I weren't here in the White House, they wouldn't have tried to grab you to get to me."  He's gazing at his best friends face as he apologizes for the pain of Leo's suffering, because of his connection, to him.  He leans forward and places a tender kiss on Leo's forehead.  His way of asking for forgiveness and to show he wishes it was better for Leo. 

 

Leo scolds and lectures, "Jed, this is not your fault.  It just goes with the territory and we staked us out a great piece of territory in this country, for the next few years."  Jed stands silent, letting Leo have his say.  "Remember, Jed, I'm the one that started you on the road to the White House.  It was my idea.  You just agreed that it was what we needed to do.  We got in this together."

 

"Yeah."  Jed grins at his partner in adventure, since they were young.  " We always have gotten into trouble together."  Jed spreads his arms out, "We just keep getting into bigger types of problems, each time."

 

"Don't you say it!"  Leo knows just what his friend will ask and has said a thousand times to him.

 

"What's next?"  The President couldn't resist saying it for his best friend.  They both grin at the comment. 

 

Leo gives a little moan and raises the back of his bandaged hand to his sore mouth. 

 

They hear Abbey at the door and Leo moans again.  Jed just looks at Leo with compassion and leans his body sideways toward Leo, to say in warning, "You know, we have to let her in.  She's not going to go away, till she gives you the once over or maybe twice over, knowing Abbey."

 

"Thanks, Jed, for the pep talk," Leo lets him know he's no help.  "Let them in.  Like I've not suffered enough."  Leo states for the record, "Those two are going to kill me with kindness, before this is all over."

 

"Yeah," Jed agrees, "but, what a way to go!"

 

The women arrive and Abbey has eyes only for Leo, as he sits on the stool.

 

"Hey, Abbey," Leo greets and teases her, trying to get on her good side.  "Couldn't resist seeing me in person.  Torturing me by long distance wasn't enough, I bet." 

 

"No, Leo," Abbey honestly answers.  "I see from the Notre Dame shirt that you're wearing that Jed is tormenting you as well."

 

"Yeah," Leo answers with mock anger and a grin, " he's just delighted." 

 

Before Abbey gets started, Margaret hands Leo the glass of ice water to hold between his hands and drops the two Aleve into his mouth for him to take.  After the caplets are swallowed, she takes the glass back from him.

 

Abbey starts her exam and takes Leo's face in her hands.  She examines it by turning him into the light.  "Well, the face is as I expected: bruising and a few small cuts.  Some swelling, but I hope the compresses kept some of that down.  We have no way of telling if there is any hairline fractures, without an x-ray."  Leo growls.  She smiles and jokes to Leo, "You're going to look like a rainbow in a few days." 

 

She glances between the two men, "You two guys are going to be hard pressed to keep anyone from asking questions, especially the Press."  She steps back and instructs, "Jed, I need your help to get this shirt off him." 

 

"That's not going to be as easy this morning, guys."  Leo sounds a little afraid in his warning, "I really hurt and I don't think I can raise that arm at all."

 

Margaret steps forward, "The easiest way is to pull the bottom up and slip out his right arm first.  Next, you stretch the shirt over the side of his head and then slide it down the left arm, without him lifting it."

 

Jed chuckles, "Leave to Margaret to have a system worked out." 

 

Leo agrees, "That's one of the many things I love about her.  That's my Margaret."  Jed is working on removing the shirt.  "Damn, Jed, take it easy.  My face hurts.  In fact, I hurt all over."  Leo's final remark, as he emerges from the shirt, "I'm getting too old for this."  

 

Jed confesses, "I said that about running into trees, after the last time."

 

Abbey is looking at the wrapping on his ribs, "Leo, I need you to stand up, so I can unwrap you and get a good look at your ribs." 

 

"Jed, what 'is it' about these two females?"  Leo explains his complaint, "Every chance they get, they have us half stripped." 

 

"I don't know."  Jed grins and he adds, "But, I'm not complaining."

 

"Yeah, me neither," Leo admits, as he watches the exam in the mirror.  "Damn, Abbey, you take it easy."

 

"I'm the Doctor here, Leo," Abbey explains in small words, to the man who won't go to GW.  "I need to look for fractures.  So far, it seems to be as we suspected: bruised ribs and some of the ribs may have hairline fractures, but I can't know for sure without an x-ray." 

 

She gives her next remarks to Margaret, "The ice packs and the wrapping seem to be helping." 

 

"Abbey," Leo hates to interrupt and get scolded during her exam, "I need to sit back down soon."  He looks down and back up, "These pants of Jed's are big on me and are riding really low.  I'm going to get real embarrassed here, soon"

 

"Yeah, your tattoo is showing."  Abbey smirks and teases, "Maybe you should have gotten it lower?  It's practically at your waistline."  She gets in a good dig, "Were you shy with the guy making it?"

 

"That's something else that sounds like my wife shouldn't know, about my best friend."  Jed points out, like he's offended and smiles at his family.

 

"There are no secrets between us friends, Jed."  Abbey comments, as she grabs the waistband of the pants Leo is wearing and pulls them up, before Leo sits down.

 

Abbey then lifts Leo's hands, one at a time, and unwraps them to check the damage to the knuckles.  "Well the Polysporin ointment seems to be doing the trick.  While we have you half stripped, Leo," Abbey does a slow smile for Leo's benefit, to embarrass him.  "I think you should have another soak in the whirlpool tub, while we wait for Jed to make his morning calls and then we'll order breakfast." 

 

She reaches over for her husband's hand.  "Jed and I will leave Margaret to get you into the tub."  She makes an observation to stop any embarrassment, especially for Margaret, " I see, from your boxers drying on the tub nozzle, that you wore them in the tub last night."

 

'Yeah, I did."  Leo then clarifies why, "Since Margaret needed to treat the bruising with the compresses." 

 

"Well, she can get you back into them and I'll go order more ice," Abbey smiles, as she gives orders on her way to the door.

 

Abbey and Jed file out of the bathroom past Margaret and the President can't help himself, as he passes and winks at her, "Be gentle with him, Margaret." 

 

Margaret blushes and he chuckles.  She then gives Leo a glare, as the door closes behind the First Couple.

 

"Leo, one of these days, I'm going to get escorted off the White House grounds permanently and it's going to be all your fault."  Margaret seriously predicts. 

 

Leo is grinning at her blush.  He gets just as much enjoyment out of the President making her blush, as when he does it.  "Why will it be my fault?"

 

"You, Mr. McGarry, got him started on making me blush and now there's no stopping him."  She warns him, "One of these days, I'm going to shut him down, before I can stop the words from coming out of my mouth and that's going to be the day you learn to run your office by yourself."

 

"Man, I 'am' in trouble."  He doesn't really sound scared, "Mr. McGarry, is it now?"  He decides to take advantage of them being alone for the first time that morning, "Margaret, please come here and give Mr. McGarry another good morning kiss."  He sounds cheated, "The one on the couch wasn't much."

 

"Leo, you're going to drive me crazy one of these days," she predicts, as she gently wraps her arms around his neck and leans in to kiss him, as much as his damaged lips will allow.  Just to make him suffer for his cockiness, she slides her hands firmly down his bare back, before she pulls away.  He moans at the loss of contact, as she turns to start his water.  She stands and has his boxers in her hands.  "Now, Leo, this is going to get interesting."

 

"Promises, promises, Margaret."  He has a prediction of his own.  He looks at her and at his boxers.  "I know from that look in your eye that you have a plan."

 

"Not much of a plan at this point, Leo.  But I can guess that I'm going to be seeing more of your tattoo today."  She smirks, "I could get really partial to seeing it."  She gets back to business, "Leo, we need to get you standing and for you to turn your back toward me."

 

Leo heads off her next order, "I know the next thing that your going to say, Margaret, is 'drop em'."

 

"You're right, Flyboy!"  She smirks, "Time to show off your jet."

 

He chuckles and complies.  She wraps a towel around his waist to cover him, till the shorts are almost up, like last night.  He leans an elbow onto the half wall for balance.

 

 Margaret has figured out how she can do this, from behind him, "Leo, lift a foot backwards a little and I'll guide it though the leg opening.  That's right.  Now, we'll do the other foot."

 

"Margaret," Leo calmly informs her, "I know you see this as a challenge to your planning skills, but I wouldn't have really minded if you didn't wrap the towel around me.  You are behind me," he points out.

 

Margaret's breathing gets shallow and rapid, like there's not enough air in the room, just like last night.  Her heart speeds up at the intimate thought.  She softly informs him, as her voice is not really cooperating right now.  "Leo, when I decide to enjoy the 'head to toe' view of your backside or any side of you for that matter, for the first time, it's not going to be in the President's bathroom, taking care of you after a beating."

 

"Yes, Margaret, I agree."  He promises, "Our time will come."

 

"Leo, I'm having enough trouble right now, with just seeing glimpses of your bare backside."  She almost pleads, "Just don't work on a blush right now.  I won't be able to explain my hastily departure from here to the couple in the next room." 

 

"OK, Margaret."  He reassures her with love in his voice, "I just want you to know, that I 'do' plan on us having a more personal relationship, but only when you're ready." 

 

She smiles and decides its time for a little pay back again, for making her blush all the time and she slide his boxers slowly up his legs, enjoying the feel of the soft leg hair. 

 

He growls, "Margaret, that's not fair."

 

"All's fair in love, Leo."  She reminds him, "Grab the front of the waist band and you know what to do with the towel," she instructs in a deep soft voice. 

 

"Margaret," he sounds slightly surprised, like he can't believe she's willingly telling him to expose his bare behind to her.

 

"Love you, Leo," she bends to kiss his tattoo, just below his waistline.  It looks like it's in the right spot to her, as she flips the back of the waistband up over it.

 

"Margaret?"  He slowly turns, a little shocked and a little happily impressed.  His eyebrows are raised.  "Now, how am I suppose to get that out of my head?"

 

"You're not, Leo."  She smiles sweetly, "That's just a little preview.  I merely kissed your tattoo," she explains herself.  "I like your jet, it's cute"

 

"She calls it cute."  He looks at her insulted and then disappointed, "First, she kisses on my body and then she enjoys torturing me."  He glares at her like that's not funny.  "Your timing is really bad, Margaret."

 

"Works for me, Leo."  She defends her actions, as she returns from the closet with more sea salts.

 

"Let's get you in the tub.  We don't want to keep them from their breakfast too long."  She grins at finally surprising Leo.  Leo sulks slightly in the tub.

 

Abbey knocks on the door and enters with Margaret's consent.  She brings in the ice and ice water, putting both on the counter and grabbing some hand towels to start Leo's compresses.  "Well, he doesn't look like you maimed him to bad after we left." 

 

"That's the one benefit of the bruising, Abbey."  Margaret jokes with her new friend, "It doesn't leave any new marks showing."

 

Leo decides to remind them that he's still there "Ah, you ladies do remember, I'm right here."  He adds a harmless threat, "I may need Jed in here to help defend me."  He's checking out his hands, while they are soaking in the sea salt.  It still stings a little.  He knows the sea salt will help to prevent infection.

 

"Like that's going to help you," Abbey states back, at his attempt to threaten them.  "He's checking with his security briefing by phone."

 

Abbey bends to apply the cold compress and Margaret's running the hot water to prepare the warm compress.

 

Between towels, Leo spots Jed at the doorway, "Get in here and do something with these women.  They're either trying to torture me or to drown me." 

 

"Better you, than me, Leo.  They won't even let me in the door."  Jed honestly admits looking at his wife.  Jed has a clean set of clothes for Leo to put on, when he gets out of the tub.  "In fact, I like the view from the doorway," Jed makes this comment, as he views the two female rear ends bent out, as they administer to Leo.  One covered in his sweats and another one in satin. 

 

Margaret and Leo exchange a knowing look about their previous conversation about her shutting down the President, making her laugh. 

 

Abbey throws a wet towel at Jed, who gets a wet splotch on his pajama top for his comment.

 

"Jed, behave," Abbey warns him with a pointed look.

 

"Sorry, I just couldn't resist, Dear."  Jed complains like a neglected child, "Plus, Leo is getting all the attention."

 

"You want to trade places and let them poke your bruises," Leo offers, when Margaret removes the warm towel.

 

"You know, I would, Leo."  His friend quickly replies, as he moves closer to the tub.

 

"Yeah and you know I'm happy it's not you."  Leo honestly reveals.

 

"Leo," Abbey calls for an end to the compresses, "It's time for Jed and I to leave you to Margaret.  She needs to get you dried off."

 

Leo stops her from leaving the room, "Abbey, can you help me to stand up?  Jed and Margaret could both hurt their backs helping me."  He confesses the other option they considered, "Margaret was going to get an agent last night, but I wasn't as sore then and got myself out with her steadying me."

 

"Sure, Leo, we don't need both of them laid up in pain right now."  Abbey jokes, but she's a little serious, "I'm not in the mood to have a whole ward full of people to take care of.  Not when it's the ones I love."  She kissed his forehead, just like Jed did previously and grabs under his good arm to steady him, as he stands in the tub.  He steps out into the towel that Margaret is holding up to wrap around the top of him.

 

Leo now warns them that 'time' is a factor, when he's standing, "You two need to leave or there's 'not' going to be any secrets about me that you two won't know, while Margaret gets me dry." 

 

Jed takes Abbey by the arm, "Come on, Dear, there are some things I don't want you to know about my best friend, even if it's to treat him." 

 

"Yes, Dear."  She calls back over her shoulder, while she's escorted out of the room.  "We'll order breakfast now and it should arrive by the time you're done."  Abbey calls back in, one cheerful note, "Enjoy yourself, Margaret."

 

"Thanks, Abbey, I plan to," she answers her friend.  She dries Leo in the same pattern as last night.  He still chuckles at her, when he drops the towel to finish pulling up the clean sweatpants.

 

She snaps up the back waistband and coos to the back of his ear.  "Once a flyboy, always a flyboy."  She kisses the back of his ear and he shivers slightly in anticipation of proving to her, just how high they could fly. 

 

"I'll prove that theory to you someday, Margaret," he promises.

 

****  

 

 Leo finally emerges and has his shirt on, but he's ribs are not wrapped. 

 

"Leo, why didn't you let Margaret wrap your ribs up?"  Margaret is behind him holding up the elastic bandage.

 

"It's too warm with it on, Abbey," he has a defensive whine to his voice, tired after the whirlpool and treatments.  "Right now, with the pain meds and the bath, it feels well enough for me to go a little while without it."  He firmly declares. 

 

"OK, Leo.  I know you hate to be warm.  You wear a jacket most of the time at work, but you roast in it and don't tell anyone."  Abbey concedes a little ground, "You can sit up and have breakfast and then it goes back on.  You'll be hurting again in a few hours and will hate yourself."

 

Margaret is finally realizing that the First Couple really does know Leo as a family member.  She has known about his 'roasting' for years, but she's amazed that they know all the other little things about him that she's just discovering.

 

 

"All right, at least it's off for a little while."  He's not looking forward to Abbey snuggly wrapping him back up.  "I can't help it if I'm just a warm blooded male."

 

Margaret confirms that innocently, "I can vouch for that."  She's remembering all the discussions they have had about him being too warm at the apartment.  Of course some of that might have been due to their necking, as much as the temperature setting of the furnace.

 

"Well, that's too much information for me," Jed teases Margaret.  Abbey just rolls her eyes that Margaret walked right into that one. 

 

Margaret immediately turns bright red, when she reviews what she said in that light.

 

"Not like that!"  Leo rolls his head slightly in despair, "Your getting to be a dirty old man, early, aren't you my friend?" 

 

"I just couldn't resist, Leo."  Jed is grinning at the two of them.  "It was too good to pass up."

 

"Well, you try being around someone that's cold nine months of the year," Leo honestly challenges.  Knowing both of them are warm bodies, like he is.

 

"Must be fun, keeping her warm," Jed teases and insinuates more.

 

"Yeah, it is," Leo admits.  He then looks at Margaret and seeing the blush on her face.  "Hey, stop, Jed.  Now, you're going to get me in trouble all over again," he protests to his friend.

 

"I'm keeping a list on both of you," Margaret reminds them; she's just hoping her face is returning to normal.

 

****   

After breakfast, Leo is left resting on the couch, while the other three go to shower and dress.  Margaret wears her jeans from yesterday and Abbey loans her a tank top to wear. 

 

Even with the A/C on, it still can get warm in the second floor Residence.  Washington in summer is hot and humid.  The land was once swampland and it still retains humidity well. 

 

Jed returns in jeans and Notre Dame T-shirt.  Abbey has opted for some soft cotton knit pants and a tank top.  It's Sunday and they're not scheduled to go to Mass, as they should still be at the farm.  Security would not be in place.

 

It's 9am and all of them are settled in watching 'George and Gracie' on the TV Land Channel.  Leo's not reminding Abbey about the rib wrap. 

 

The phone rings and Jed answers, "Hello, Josh.  Yes, we came in during the night.   ……  Yeah, I had to see him for myself and Abbey had to check him out.  We were just worrying too much, not knowing.  ……OK, Sure.  Come on up and bring her with you.  It's fine, I'll tell the agent to let you in the elevator.  See you in a bit."  Jed hangs up the phone and calls down to the first floor of the Residence and informs the agent to admit Josh and Donna up to the private second floor. 

 

He then returns to the sitting area and sits on the end of the couch.  Leo is sitting sideways on the couch with his legs stretched out, to relieve the pull on his ribs.

 

"Hey Leo, you're going to have visitors in a few minutes."  Jed, being a smartass, asks, "Guess who just called?"  He loves having Leo with him for some casual time.  He really misses that the most since coming to the White House.

 

Leo sighs, but smiles softly,  "I know, Josh and Donna."  Leo suddenly becomes alert and growls out a warning, "Jed, don't you touch my feet.  I can't jerk away." 

 

"OK, I promise, but your bare feet are awfully tempting.  It's a real challenge not to make you beg," Jed just grins at the fact that Leo remembers that he likes to tickle any bare feet he sees.  The girls would hide their bare feet in the summer, when he entered a room and little Mallory wasn't excluded from this tickling either.  Bare feet are bare feet.

 

Leo still sees a gleam in his eyes, "Jed, we're not teenagers any more.  You just promised me."

 

"Jethro, leave him alone!  You two are worse than the girls, when they were little and watching TV."  Abbey scolds him in a no nonsense tone. 

 

"Yes, Abbey, and don't call me that.  I was just looking at his feet.  I didn't touch him, Mom," he grins at Abbey and back to Leo, to share the joke.

 

"I just wanted to see you smile, Leo."  Jed gently rubs Leo shin in sympathy.  "Are you OK, with Donna coming up and seeing you on the couch and not in a suit?"  Jed tries to sound serious to get a dig at Leo.

 

Margaret snorts unladylike at that question and grins at Leo. 

 

The First Couple both look at her, with amusement, for her to enlighten them.  Jed's curiosity can't wait and his eyes have a happy shine, hoping for gossip, "Margaret, you know something that I don't.  Care to share it or will Leo kill you?"  Jed hooks a thumb over at Leo and leans forward to get her to reveal the amusement between the other couple.

 

Margaret brightens up, "It's just that Josh and Donna have been coming over to spend time with us and to enjoy some 'movie nights'.  They also stayed over when helping me to pack and move.  Donna has seen Leo, in less than he has on now.  I mean, Leo is a private person, but he's not shy around those he lets into his family circle.  With Josh being sorta like a son and them both at the apartment so much, plus, we all like to go the hot tub."  Margaret rattles some, happy to have something that she can share and converse about with the First Couple.

 

"I know that Josh and Donna are a couple, like you two guys," Jed confirms and his curiosity is peaked, "but I didn't know that they stayed over.  Sounds like a slumber party.  You say you have movie night?"  Jed's really interested in this casual off-hour arrangement.  "I bet, Josh 'is' fun to have around like a family member and making himself at home."

 

"Yeah, he really is."  Leo smiles at the wonderful times they've had with the other couple.  "We enjoy having them around on the weekends.  It's a challenge for me to keep him fed."  Leo reveals the ongoing teasing, "He's like baby.  You feed him every two hours, all weekend.  Then he starves himself all week at work," Leo grins remembering the mountain of food that he's carried in to feed Josh.

 

Jed's really captivated now, "So, tell me how you have this movie night."  Jed's interested in details,  "You guys go out and see the movies?  I don't see Leo doing that.  I didn't think he went out in the public, since we started at the White House.  You have to drag him away from his office, as it is."

 

Leo doesn't even try to refute Jed, "No, they come over to the apartment and I fix us dinner.  Then we go down to the hot tub and when everyone's hands are wrinkled." 

 

Margaret interrupts Leo and gives a little tidbit.  "That's Josh's rule.  We practically have to drag him out." 

 

Leo smiles at the truth in that and nods his head to the side before he continues, "Then we go back upstairs and everyone changes into soft clothes.  We stick in a video or catch a movie on TV and lounge around the living room."  He shares a smile with Margaret, "We stake out the couch to cuddle.  Josh and Donna pack themselves into the recliner." 

 

Since Leo's comfortable with the other couple knowing they cuddle, Margaret decides it's all right to indirectly give Jed and Abbey more info on Leo and her, at the apartment.  "They stay up later than we do and that's when they take over my huge couch.  Josh 'loves' old horror movies.  You know, the Bela Lugosi ones that come on late at night."

 

They heard a knock on the door.  Jed looks over the back of the couch and calls, "Enter."

 

"Hello, Mr. President," Josh crosses to the sitting area, with Donna in tow by the hand.  She's a little intimidated by the private quarters and worried about seeing Leo.  "How are you feeling today, Leo?"

 

"I'm sore as hell and those two females over there, have done their best to torture me into recovery."  Leo smiles, as he looks at Margaret and Abbey on the other couch, looking at magazines together.  Abbey is helping Margaret to decide on a new décor for the apartment. 

 

"I agree with, Leo," Jed backs up Leo's statement, while he's fighting the remote, to turn the sound down.  "You'll either recover fast or you just say you did, to keep from being killed by their kindness."

 

"Jed, you know, we can hear you," Abbey smiles at the guys on the couch.

 

"I'm in trouble again and it's just 10am on a Sunday."  Jed declares, looking at the clock on the VCR.  "Must be Leo's fault."

 

Leo cuts in from his end of the couch, "You always blame me"

 

"Boys," Abbey cuts off the friendly banter.

 

Josh just grins, he understands how guys can fall into trouble, just sitting and doing nothing.

 

Donna moves around to crouch down, beside the couch, facing Leo.  "Oh, Leo."  She has tears in her eyes, as she sadly looks at Leo's bruised face,  "Josh told me you would be really colorful, but I think he underestimated."  She gives him a small hug with one arm and rests her head in sympathy on his shoulder.  She's afraid where to touch him and he can tell that she is. 

 

"It just looks really bad, today, Donna.  I'll be fine."  Leo leans down the side of his head, to rest in on hers.  "Abbey and Margaret are trying to hurry up the healing process for me." 

 

She gently lifts her head, with his, and gives him a quick, tiny kiss on the corner of his forehead, as she rises and sits on the arm of the couch by his shoulder.  

 

Jed would be a little amazed at the casualness between Leo and Donna, if it wasn't for the conversation they had before she arrived.  The foursome is surprisingly close and Jed is happy that Leo is learning to let others into his life.  He's also happy to include them into his, as an extension of Leo's.

 

"So, Dr. Bartlett, what 'are' the extent of Leo's injuries?"  Josh looks between her and Leo, "I know he won't tell me."

 

"Josh, it's Abbey, in my home.  We have a rule about that here.  First names only used, unless its business.  We still can't get Charlie broken of it during off-hours.  It's probably because he's so formal all day in the Oval office."  Her face softens at the arguments they've had with Charlie, but he doesn't back down.  The young man is a saint with Jed.

 

"As for the damage to Leo," she looks at Leo for permission.

 

"Go ahead and tell them, Abbey," he agrees. 

 

Donna's eyes get big with fear, as she looks down at his battered face and bandaged hands, thinking that he's hiding something awful.

 

"The only other damage Leo has, that's not in full view, is his questionable bruised and or cracked ribs, since he refused x-rays." This earns her a pointed glance from Leo, which she ignors.

 

Josh raises his eyebrows in question at her, as he at the same time realizes that, when Abbey said questionable, she's letting them know that it's not being voiced, but it's understood by all there that Leo's ribs are most likely the latter or worse and not just brused.

 

At Abbey's slight nod of confirment, Josh understands that Leo's Irish luck has failed him again and he did not get off easy.

 

Abbey adds a final item to her list of Leo's injuries, "And I'm told a nice bruise on his rear end."

 

She glances a smile at Margaret.  "He's really colorful under that shirt." 

 

Abbey looks at the man in question, "Leo," she addresses him in a 'you know what time it is' tone.  "You need to be wrapped again, or the pain is going to get to be more than you can handle and it's a long time till your meds tonight."

 

Leo growls and looks at Jed, since he's not helping.  "OK, but I'm not walking all the way to the bathroom."  He looks over at her hopefully, "You can wrap me here, can't you, if I stand up?"  

 

"Sure, Leo, Josh is here to help you up."  Abbey agrees, "The wrapping will go faster if you stand."

 

Leo looks up at Josh, "I seem to recall, you mentioning to me last night, that you would rescue me anytime." 

 

"I did, Leo," Josh admits as he seriously answers with a twinkle in his eye, knowing where Leo is going with this question.

 

"Then get me some clothes and get me away from the 'Florence Nightingales' around here."

 

"Sorry, Leo.  I'm on their side, in this."  With the new knowledge about Leo's injuries, Josh lays a hand down on Leo's shoulder, "You're hurt and you need help this weekend." 

 

He pauses debating how to convince Leo, "Tomorrow, you're going to be fighting to get to the office and I think your doctor here has some limits for you."  Josh knows Abbey is a 'terror' when she's in full doctor mode.

 

Jed turns sideways to directly face Leo and reinforces Josh's prediction, "Leo, you know Abbey's not going to let you just resume your regular crazy schedule." 

 

He now points out some important considerations, "Josh is taking your meetings.  You can do staff meetings here and work out of your office, in the middle of the day."  Jed gives one more logical point.  "That way you'll not have to walk around a great deal." 

 

Josh is planning for tomorrow and looks at Leo and is thinking out loud, "I still haven't figured out how to get you into your office, without the press or junior staff seeing you." 

 

"We can sneak him in from the portico and then through the Oval Office," Jed suggests.

 

Donna hesitantly points out, not wanting to interrupt the President, "At least holed up in his office, he can sit like he is now, on his office couch."

 

Margaret joins them, since Abbey went to get the wrapping, which she had returned to Jed's bathroom.  "I hate to be indelicate here, but has any of you guys addressed Leo's problem of needing the restroom at work?  As in, where and who gets to help him?" 

 

She's looking at three blank faces from the guys and not a peep from any of them.  "He can't use the staff restroom, with his face looking like that.  Besides being helped to walk through the halls." 

 

All three men still look at her with startled faces.  Obviously they had not considered this.  "Well, you better think of something. Keep in mind, he can't really use his hands much and it's not like he's going to wear elastic waist pants to work, like he has on now." 

 

Margaret lists her final bit of information, "Abbey has said it might be the middle of the week before he can use his hands, and that's if he doesn't develop any infection in the cuts."  She finishes outlining the problem to them.

 

Leaving them to consider the dilemma, Margaret moves to join Donna and Abbey, outside the bathroom door, where Abbey is rolling the elastic wrap to make it easier to control. 

 

Abbey was filling Donna in on the treatments that they have used to speed up his healing.

 

Jed looks at the guys and comes up with another suggestion.  He's on a roll now and he loves planning, as much as Margaret "OK, he can use my private restroom, outside my office and we can take turns helping him, or whoever is available at the time can go with him." 

 

"You make it sound like you're taking care of a two year old," Leo grumbles, but knows he doesn't have any choice.  "OK, it'll have to do.  I'm not staying here all day again tomorrow." 

 

Leo is running this scenario in his head.  He makes a non-debatable decision,  "Josh will have to take me, because the President of the United States is 'not' going to leave the Oval Office to take me to the rest room." 

 

"Sure, Leo, I can help you," Josh volunteers.  "Just have Margaret call, if you need me.  I'll also be stopping by your office a few times during the day, about the meetings."  Josh understands Leo's thinking, " I'm sure you want to keep this whole incident isolated to a few people.  No press."

 

"Leo, you know Charlie's going to need to know and he is my body man."  Jed points out, "We may need to call on him for assistance with you.  He'll be here at the crack of dawn tomorrow and obviously will see you."

 

"OK," Leo agrees.  "We'll add Charlie to the group.  That's it, outside senior staff and Donna.  The rest of the White House can just wonder and speculate."  Leo grumbles at the mere thought of Toby taking him to the men's room.

 

Abbey and the other females return with the wrap.  Abbey organizes the team, "Josh, you need to get in front, but mostly on his right side and just gently lift and steady him.  Move him out a little.  Ladies, can you get on each of him and hold the shirt up?"  Margaret takes the left side with the bruising and Donna lifts the other side.  She draws in a sharp breath, when she sees his left side.

 

"WOW, Leo that 'is' some bruise you have there."  Josh is amazed, "No wonder you can't move around."  He steadies Leo and holds up the weight of his arms for him.

 

"How'd you get 'that much' bruising, Leo?  Did they kick you?"  Donna's hands are a little shaky at the sight of his ribs.

 

"No, Donna."  He softly reveals to her, "That's from when they slammed me on the car."  He knows Donna and knows that she's like Margaret.  She needs to know the details or she'd worry all the more. 

 

He jokes to calm her, "I'd still like to point out, it was two against one and they were younger."

 

"Oh, Leo.  You were so brave.  I'm just so sorry it happened to you at all."  She pauses reflecting, "Now we get to take care of you for a change," Donna brightens at the last part.

 

"Hey, you don't ever tell me that I'm brave," Josh is disappointed.

 

"I don't ever want to, if you have to look like this first," Donna honestly admits.

 

Josh leans over and gives her a kiss in understanding.

 

"Josh," she quietly scolds and gently pushes Josh away, not wanting to get Leo off balance, but kissing in front of the First Couple is a little hard to get used to, even in the Residence.

 

Jed points at Josh and Donna, "I saw that, you two are sneaking kisses."  He decides to break her in right, "Donna that's grounds for inappropriate behavior, in front of governmental officials." 

 

Donna's eyes get as round as saucers. 

 

Jed bursts out laughing and Josh and Leo join in, but Leo's quickly comes out as a broken moan. 

 

"Jed, you're killing my ribs," Leo complains sadly.  "I can't laugh and you caught her flat cold on that one."  

 

Donna looks questionably at the men and then at the women.

 

"Get used to it, Donna," Margaret advises.  "They do it all the time, to close friends and family."  She smiles sarcastically, "The President holds the record on making me blush and looks like he's going to see how often he can make you jump." 

 

"Just keep yourself a list, Donna," Abbey now advises her.  "They have to get out of office sometime and then we can take turns killing them." 

 

"That sounds like good advise, Abbey."  Donna glares at Josh, since he kissed her.  "I can add a few things to Josh's list right off the bat." 

 

Donna looks thoughtfully at the President and he just grins at her with a 'gotcha' kind of smile. 

 

Donna addresses her comment to Margaret, "It was tough for me to at get used to Leo's teasing," She points to Jed with her free hand.  "But the President's going to be a lot harder."

 

Leo now complains, "Abbey, do you have to wrap it so damn tight?  I might go numb around the middle."  He's watching her fasten the end.  "Any tighter and I'll look like I have breasts hanging over.  That would be embarrassing."

 

"Leo, stop complaining."  She adjusts the edges of the bandage.  "It has to be tight to support the ribs."

 

Jed smiles and teases him, "Don't worry, Leo.  You're to skinny, to have any breasts to hang over."

 

Leo smirks back and shuts him down, "Anyone can tell you wouldn't have any problem hanging over, if you were being wrapped, Sweetie."

 

Leo looks up at Josh, "I told you the women were torturing me and you come in here towing another one.  You missed all the fun they had this morning.  After Abbey stripped me to the waist and poked the ribs real good.  Margaret gets me into Jed's whirlpool tub and they proceed to put hot and cold compress to my face and they have sea salt in the water for achy muscles that still stings my hands." 

 

Jed is trying not to laugh at Leo's description of torture. 

 

Leo continues, "Josh, I wasn't kidding, when I wanted clothes to escape here."  Leo nods at Jed, "He even makes me wear Notre Dame shirts.  They're all really 'enjoying' taking care of me, but I may have to recover from the treatments."

 

Josh redirects Leo main complaint.  "I did notice the shirt there, Leo.  Did he pick it out just for you?"

 

"He did, this morning."  Leo admits and complains, glaring at and plucking at the logo. "Margaret says that's all she found in his closet last night." 

 

He looks right into Josh's eyes and seriously asks, "What am I to do?"

 

Before Josh can construct an answer, Jed jumps in the conversation, "So, Margaret went rummaging through my clothes last night?"  Jed sounds like the start of an investigation and gives her a stern look.

 

Leo confirms it, since Margaret can't harm him in front of witnesses, "Yeah, I could hear the slam of your top drawer all the way into the bathroom."

 

"Margaret?" Jed is wearing a shocked look and places his hand on his chest, "Were you messing with my boxers last night?"  Jed is challenging her, to get a good blush. 

 

"No," she quickly exclaims, "I slammed the drawer closed immediately.  Just like Leo said," she wants to fade away into nothing. 

 

"Yeah, Jed.  You missed her best blush, yet," Leo gets a dig at his disappointed friend.

 

"You mean the agents didn't burst in and protect my personal belongings?"  He's testing to see how far he can push Margaret on this. 

 

Margaret eyes got as big as Donna's did before and blushed all over again.

 

The guys just laugh at her blush.  Leo did better with the wrap, this time, but he still just managed a soft chuckle.  He needs to sit back down afterwards. 

 

Josh helps Leo back down, after Margaret yanks Leo's baggy pants back up, before Donna can see his tattoo. 

 

Leo looks around at her and grins.  He knows what she trying to hide.

 

Once down he turns back to serious business.  "Jed, we need to check in with Ron and Coop.  To see if they have any news on the two men that attacked me," Leo wants to move things along.  He hates just sitting.

 

"Yeah, we can call them up here."  Jed is also anxious to find out how close they are to nailing the attackers, as well.

 

Leo suggests, "Just call them on the speakerphone, no sense dragging anyone else up here.  I'm sure Ron has seen my pictures by now."

 

"OK, Leo."  He moves toward the phone.  "Josh, you want to stay."  Jed looks over at the fidgeting young man, "You don't have anything pressing on a Sunday morning, do you?"  Jed lifts the phone to make the call.

 

"No, nothing pressing and yeah, I'd like to stay, Josh answers, as he looks over at Donna and the other women.  They are happily discussing wall decorations.

 

"Sit down, Josh," Jed invites since he's staying.

 

"Yeah, Josh.  You always look like a cat on a hot tin roof," Leo literally states the truth.  "Josh, it'll take Jed awhile to figure out that the only time you possibly hold still is when you're asleep."

 

Before he can dial the number for Ron's Secret Service office, Abbey pipes in from where the ladies are looking at the catalogs again.  "Jed, we women are leaving now anyway, I'm going to my office for a little while.  Margaret wants to check in at Leo's office and Donna's going out to buy us some more decorating magazines." 

 

She stands and walks over the couch, "You think, you guys can stay out of trouble?"  She looks at Leo's mared face and runs the tips of her fingers though his hair to straighten it.  "I 'd like for Leo to try and get some sleep today, if he can.  It helps with the healing process."  

 

"Yes, Abbey, we'll manage for a little while."  Jed mockingly assures her as he looks at his COS and his DCOS.  "We just run a country.  We surly can take care of Leo and keep him out of trouble."

 

"There you go again, Jed.  Making me sound like a two year old, again," Leo grumbles, aware that he does need help, but he doesn't have to be happy about it. 

 

Margaret stops and leans over the couch to reassure Leo, "I think you must have been adorable at two, Leo.  With trouble in your eyes and a dimple on your face."  She gently cups his face with one hand, to lift it to hers and gives him a kiss in sympathy. 

 

"Abbey, I want to complain," Jed, booms out.  "Everyone's getting kisses this morning, but me."

 

"Maybe your just shy, Jed," she grabs his face with both hands and kisses him passionately.  He almost drops the handset to the phone, as he wraps his arms around her.

 

"Abbey, that's even worse, than no kisses," Jed's still not happy.  His breathing is a little shaky after that.  She just chuckles and uses her thumb to wipe off the lipstick from his lips.  A motion she has done for years as a politician's wife.  He wouldn't want to appear in front of a camera wearing lipstick.

 

Donna slips over to Josh and gives him a quick kiss good-bye and he flashes his dimples just for her, knowing she's really being brave to kiss him in front of the First Couple.  All of the couples are feeling closer today, after Leo's attack last night.

 

****  

 

They finish checking in with the Secret Service office and there's no news.  Ron confirms that they'll update everyone tomorrow morning, at the meeting they have scheduled for relocating Leo to a permanent residence.  If anything develops during the meantime, they'll contact the President and Leo immediately.

 

"They're going to screw it up again, Jed."  Leo closes his eyes in dread, "I'll have to deal with Margaret knowing about it now and in keeping her safe."  Leo opens his eyes and seriously informs Jed.  "I'll hire my own security team for her, if I have to, but she won't be speaking to me if I do.  Josh knows how she is about me using my money, for her needs." 

 

Leo continues to point out another irritating hardship that he has to deal with until the attackers are caught.  "Plus, I'll have to deal with my own the extra security.  You know how having agents just drives me nuts."

 

"Leo, you have to have protection now," Jed firmly states.  "If they make another attempt, they could accidentally beat you to death." 

 

Leo is still not agreeing to Jed's argument.  So, Jed continues, "I'm sure they're not happy you defended yourself all over their faces and left them empty handed.  Next time, they'll be even more ready to succeed in taking you."

 

 "I guess, Jed," Leo reluctantly concurs and drops his head back onto the couch and closes his eyes, tired of the whole situation.

 

"OK, that's it.  You, my friend, are going to rest now," Jed's getting bossy with Leo, but he's concerned that Leo will over extend himself today.  Plus, the fact that Abbey will kill him if she comes back to find an exhausted Leo.

 

"Now is a good time for me to check back at my office, since Donna was drafted to go get decorating magazines," Josh is being mock sarcastic at her being drafted, he knows she went willingly.  But he's not going to be upset with her, because he knows that today, she's the only one of the three women, who can leave the safety of the White House.

 

"Hang on, Josh.  You need to stand Leo up, for me."  Jed explains to Josh another problem that they may need him for, in the coming days.  "Abbey has forbidden Margaret or me from doing it, with our bad backs.  If you get him up, I can steady him to the bathroom and get him down on the side of the bed."

 

"Hi, Josh.  We've really got to quit meeting this way," Leo jokes with him, as Josh holds out his hands, towards Leo to help.

 

"Sure, Leo.  We'll not tell the girls about us," Josh can't resist teasing back, in a mock whisper.  Leo is looking at him, with a smile on his bruised face.  He had really asked for that dig.

 

Teasing is just in the nature of the three men in the room.  Jed's face is red from suppressing his chuckling at the amusement he's enjoying from the other two.

 

"Easy, Josh.  Just lift me from under the arms, when I lean forward."  Leo instructs, as he swings his legs off the couch with Jed's help.  Josh bends at the knees and gently lifts.  Leo tries to do most of the standing.  "Oh, Damn.  That's just gotta get easier by tomorrow."  He's still having trouble straightening completely up.  "It's going to be a long week."

 

****   

 

Jed has him in the spare bedroom, off the master bedroom.  Leo tries to sway his friend's decision, "Jed, I could have used the guest room, off the main sitting room.  Margaret used it to shower in last night."

 

"Oh, no.  You're staying where Abbey and I can keep an eye on you."  Jed tells Leo about arriving back last night.  "That's why Abbey didn't want you moved in here last night.  She was very pleased, that you two fell asleep on the couch.  She wanted to be able to hear you if you needed her and to listen to your breathing.  She's very protective that way.  Someone hurt our Leo."

 

"I know and I do appreciate it.  I guess that I am tired," Leo finally admits, between all the walking and the treatments.

 

"Wait, don't lie back, till I get all the pillows behind you.  Abbey said you might do better more upright."  Jed is in full caregiver mode.  A position he rarely is in and is, as usual, giving it 110% effort.

 

"Thanks, Jed."  Leo is finally lying back on the pillows and holding his side, from using the muscles.  "I grumble, but I am glad I'm here today.  I don't think Margaret could have or should have tried to take care of me, all by herself, this weekend." 

 

Leo pauses and then admits, "She would have hurt herself trying."  Leo is more tired than he thought after his busy morning. 

 

"Leo, you need to sleep."  Jed advises, "Yell, if you need anything.  I'll be right outside the door." 

 

"Yeah.  Thanks."  Leo's eyes are closed and he's quickly drifting to sleep, as his best friend watches in the doorway.  Jed knows that this situation could have turned out so much worse. 

 

He's going to have a little talk with Ron, outside in the hallway, where he won't wake or be overheard by Leo.  This was just too close to home for him.

 

****   

 

It's 4pm and Leo moans and tries to curl onto his side in the bed, but it's too painful and, too much effort to sit up.  Margaret appears at the doorway at the sound of his moans and when she hears a soft "Damn" coming from the bed, she moves in to help Leo.

 

"Hang on, Leo," Margaret cautions him.  "You've stiffened up again, from lying down for so long.  Let me get Abbey to help you up."  She wipes his hair back off his forehead.  "Don't hurt yourself more, by trying to do it yourself.  It'll just make your recovery time that much longer."

 

"OK, get Abbey.  I do need help to get up."  He asks, as she's leaving the room, "Is it warm or just me and this wrap?" 

 

"It's warm, Leo."  Margaret double checks to see if he's going to lie there, till she gets back with Abbey, " I'll be right back."

 

"Hey, Leo."  Abbey enters the room in full command.  " I'm glad you followed my advice and rested.  You must have needed it."  She helps him to swing his legs over the edge of the bed and makes him wait a moment before standing him up, incase he's a bit lightheaded. 

 

"It's 4pm.  You slept all afternoon."  She looks at his face to see if the swelling is getting better.  "Margaret said you're feeling warm."  Abbey places a hand on his forehead. 

 

"Abbey," Leo has some laughter in his voice.

 

"Yes, Leo", she's grins, at the amusement in his voice. 

 

He teasingly compliments her methods.  "That's a very professional way of testing for a fever." 

 

He then teases her again at the smirk on her face, "My mother always used to kiss my forehead, to see if I had a fever."

 

"OK, Leo," Abbey smiles and kisses his forehead, as he suggests.  "That's not very professional either.  I think you're just collecting kisses," she teases him back and winks at Margaret and Jed in the doorway.

 

"Now, he's stealing kisses from my wife."  Jed acts angry, "I may just have to throw the bum out."

 

"How are you going to do that?"  Leo challenges, "With me wearing your clothes and the ones I wore back here, to the White House, are probably trashed by now?" 

 

Leo changes the questioning, "Speaking of clothes, am I going to get mine from the hotel, any time soon?  I'm roasting in these big ass sweatpants of yours." 

 

Leo points out a few major facts, about getting them, "I'm not able to go get them and I don't want Margaret any where near the hotel.  The attackers might be watching the place, for a chance to grab one of us."

 

Jed concedes and gives up some of the plan he had to keep Leo with him, "I'll get Ron to send someone over to your room.  They can get you some of your things to last you over night and a suit for tomorrow.  They can bring the rest of it tomorrow, when we make a decision as to your new address."

 

"Good, just tell them to grab my satin pants.  I need something cooler to wear."  Leo's thinking of any other instructions that they might need, "Better tell them to get a suit that uses my suspenders."

 

"Satin pants, Leo," Jed asks with some surprise.  "That sounds rich and sexy at the same time."

 

"Well, that leaves you out, Jed," Leo knows a good dig when he sees it coming.  "You're just not 'classy' enough for satin," Leo teases him for some payback.  "Notre Dame soft clothes are just not up to the same standard."

 

"Abbey, I didn't know you could get them in men's sizes," Jed complains in disappointment.  "I want satin sleep wear like Leo's," Jed demands and whines at the same time.

 

"They never stop competing, do they?"  Margaret makes this observation to Abbey.

 

Abbey has been checking under Leo's shirt at the current condition of the elastic wrap.  "No, they don't," Abbey, agrees with her.  "It's just a habit with them, after all these years.  I'm sure tomorrow he'll have Charlie go purchase him some." 

 

She now addresses Leo, "The good news is: I think the swelling is going down on your face, so no more compresses.  You now, just resemble all the colors of the rainbow." 

 

She informs all of them of the next part.  "The bad news is: they're having trouble with the A/C again today and it might get warmer if it gives out all together.  Being Sunday, the maintenance crew is a short staff and they're working on it."

 

Leo suggests with a hopeful look at Abbey, "Can I at least take off my shirt and just wear the wrap.  There's no one around the Residence that would be offended.  Everyone here has seen most of me, during the last 24 hours and I'm hot with this wrap on and with the sweatpants."  He ends his case and looks at the two at the door for support.   

 

"Sure, Leo."  Abbey looks at the doorway also for any protests.  "Jed, help me get his shirt off." 

 

Abbey makes a suggestion, "Margaret, it might help to cool him off, if you get some cool water and wipe it on his bare skin.  There should be a small plastic dish under the sink, in the attached bathroom." 

 

Jed teases Leo with a question, while he removes the shirt, "You just wanted a reason to get this fine Notre Dame shirt off, right?"  He doesn't hear Leo snide retort with his head covered, while he's removing the shirt. 

 

"Josh and Donna are coming back up to join us for dinner."  Jed keeps talking, as he tries not to hurt Leo.  "I thought it would be nice to spend some casual time with them this evening and Josh refuses to go home anyway.  He wants to be here, if he needs to handle any problems for you."

 

Leo is shallow breathing, after the job of Jed trying to take his head off, again.  "That's fine with me.  Donna won't be 'shocked and appalled'."  Leo revels why, "Josh and I, tend to shed our shirts at the apartment, in this heat." 

 

Margaret returns with the cool water and a cloth.  She hears the last of Leo comment.  She adds to clarify and tease, "Yeah, Donna and I are way beyond that stage with the two of them.  In the heat we've had this summer, Leo runs around in his satin pants and bare feet.  Josh wears these big, baggy, silk basketball pants." 

 

She gives Abbey a knowing look, since she's smiling at Margaret's comments, "Neither one of them are what you would call shy around family.  You obviously haven't had Leo stay over, when its just adults and none of them are your kids." 

 

She tells more in a hushed tone, "There are times I'm impressed that Josh has on that much.  He would wear less, if he thought Leo and I would let him get away with it."

 

Abbey pipes in with a smirk, "No, we've always had at least one of the girls at home with us.  Being alone in the Residence, by ourselves, is new to us, with Zoey in college.  This just might be a new side of Leo for us."

 

"Well, I'm here to warn you, Abbey."  Margaret has that Sisterhood look, "There's not just Leo and his friend here, which are alike.  I can tell you that Josh, makes it three of a kind," Margaret is not worried about the guys being in the room to hear the conversation.  It's not anything she wouldn't say in front of them.  She's really honest that way.

 

"Jed and I will come back, when you need us."  Abbey lets her know that they're going to leave them alone for a while.  "You can cool Leo off first and Jed can track him down some of his own clothes."

 

"Remember, Margaret, that's cool him down, not warm him up."  Jed gets a dig at her in payback for her remarks just now against the guys.

 

"Thanks, Jed.  You just nipped that in the bud," Leo complains to his friend, who's closing door.  "Paybacks are hell, Jed.  I'll just insist in sleeping with the door open tonight and see if that curtails your nocturnal activates."

 

"Damn, I hadn't thought of that."  Jed slams the door.

 

"Leo, hold still.  I don't want to bump your bandaged hands," Margaret scolds him, as she trying to reach around him to wipe his upper back with the cool cloth.

 

He's wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning into her abdomen with a sign.  "Margaret, that's feels wonderful and you smell nice."  

 

"Leo, you're going to hurt you face and your hands," she warns him again.

 

"Margaret, I don't care.  I just want to be close to you.  Just for a moment," Leo sounds content to stay were he is, his arms giving her a squeeze.

 

She leans back and drops him a quick kiss.  "Me too, Leo.  Me too.  We'll get this all worked out." 

 

She continues to lovingly wipe him cool.  She's just glad she's able to give him this little comfort.  She tries not to think of what she would be doing right now, if the attackers had gotten him into their van.  She hugs him close with one arm and wipes down the back of his arm with the other, just wanting to hold him pressed close to her. 

 

****   

 

At 6pm, Josh and Donna arrive back at the Residence for dinner and some down time.  They're grateful that Abbey and the President are allowing them the opportunity to spend time with Leo right now.  They want to be close to him, just like the First Couple does.  Jed is on a couch waiting for the food service to arrive with the meal.  "Hey, Josh.  Donna.  Any word on the progress of the A/C?"

 

Josh jumps right in, "Yes, there is and it's bad news, though.  They may have to take it totally off line this evening to repair it."

 

"That's all they do this summer is repair that thing."  Jed grumbles at the memory of the number of times.  "It must be held together with spit and twine." 

 

"Just about, Sir.  They're trying to time the shut down between dusk and your bedtime."  Josh to put a positive light on it, "They want to have it running again, so you can get some sleep tonight.  They know you can't run a country with no sleep.  They're very serious about this.  This is personal to them." 

 

Josh is impressed that the maintenance crews are so dedicated to the comfort of the First Couple, but he knows no job is too small, when you work in the White House. 

 

Josh looks over at his convalescing friend, "Hey, Leo.  You feeling better after getting some sleep this afternoon?"

 

"I'd say I got some sleep.  I slept through lunch."  Leo considers why he slept so well in the middle on the day, "The whirlpool must have relaxed the muscles and then the pain meds kicked in and I was out like a light."  

 

Donna crosses to where Abbey is huddled with Margaret again.  Abbey looks up with a smile, as she joins them on the couch. 

 

Abbey looks over and informs Leo, "After dinner, Leo, Margaret's going to supervise your bath again.  At least you won't have the compresses this time."

 

 "Thank god for that," Leo is truly pleased.  The wrap will be off and no hot and cold towels.

 

"So, Margaret helps you with your bath, Leo?"  Josh can't resist the chance to tease, "This little arrangement is sounding better for you, all the time." 

 

"You can get your mind out of the gutter, Josh."  Leo is on the defensive when it comes to Margaret and teasing about her taking care of him.  "I got enough ribbing from him this morning," he nods his head at Jed and hesitates for the snicker he knows is coming from him.  "For you information Josh, I wear my boxers in the tub, just like swimwear.  Just ask that couple, they came in this morning, one to torture me and one to heckle me in the tub."

 

"Sounds like a fun filled evening, Leo," Josh gives a quick comeback. 

 

"Not funny, Josh."  Leo warns.  Josh just grins that Leo feels well enough to complain.

 

Dinner arrives and Josh helps Leo to the table.  Dinner is an enjoyable experience with the men teasing the women and each other.

 

Abbey hates to breakup the table party, but it's time for Leo's treatment in the tub.  "Leo you're sitting there hunched over the table."  She waves a hand at Leo, "Margaret, he's all yours."

 

"He has been mine, for quite for awhile," she grins at her own joke.  "Come on, Leo.  I'll be gentle.  You get to just soak tonight."

 

"Well, this part's usually interesting," Leo gets macho for the guys benefit.

 

"My man, Leo," Josh cheers him on.

 

"Too bad he hurts too much to enjoy it," Margaret shots down, the both of them.

 

"Damn, I knew I forgot the drawback to this," Leo grumbles, as he enters Jed's bathroom.

 

"Can you let us know if his clothes arrive, while he's in the tub?  He'll want to wear his satin pants," Margaret asks over her shoulder, as she steadies Leo through the bathroom door.  "Donna, you know what they look like.  Can you send them in with Josh, if they arrive?" 

 

Jed still looks at Donna with some surprise that she's so casual with Leo. 

 

"Sure, Margaret, I'll let you know," Donna promises.  She and the other three are clearing the table and decide on a card game of 500, while Leo's in the whirlpool.  They know Margaret won't leave him alone in the tub, she's afraid he might drown.

 

****   

Once inside the bathroom, the first thing Leo wants is his arms full of Margaret and a passionate kiss.  Good thing his damaged lips are healing fast. 

 

When they come up for air, Leo is holding on to her for more than just passion.  He's not able to stand for long periods. 

 

Margaret guides Leo to the stool and turns on the water adding the sea salts.  She returns to Leo and proceeds to unwrap him.  "You're just smiling, because I have my arms around you, to unwrap you."

 

"I'm just happy anytime I'm in your arms."  He gives her a questioning look and asks her, while they have some privacy, "You going to be OK, with us sharing a bed here tonight?"  He waits to give her time to answer.  He doesn't want to rush her or to pressure her, on her answer.

 

"Yeah, Leo.  I'm OK with that.  I guess after last night of sleeping just a few feet away from them in the Master bed," she rolls her eyes at the mere reminder of it and of her panic, "a room of our own will seem like plenty of privacy." 

 

She has been unwrapping his bandaged hands.  She places a kiss on an undamaged area of each hand, as she holds them out to look at the healing.

 

"Thanks, Margaret, I really want and need to hold you tonight and for you to hold me too," Leo admits, he's not looking forward to the nightmares.  He didn't have them today, maybe because in the back of his mind, he knew it was daylight out.

 

''I agree, Leo.  I guess I'm going to be really clingy with you for awhile," she honestly admits her anxiety about him.

 

She orders, after she stands him up, "OK, Leo.  You know the drill."

 

"Drop em," they both say, at the same time and chuckle together.  Leo moans afterward, as his ribs are unwrapped.  He just can't remember that it hurts to laugh and he's so happy to be with Margaret and his friends. 

 

She wraps the towel around him, when he drops the sweats behind it and turns to grab his boxers from the tub nozzle.  His boxers sure are getting a workout this weekend.

 

Leo soaks in the Whirlpool about 20 minutes and is starting to wrinkle.  He tells her that the sea salts don't really bother his hands this time and that the cuts must be starting to heal.

   

Margaret hears a tap on the door and Josh sticks his head in, with a pair of satin pants in his hand.  "Donna said you'll need these, after he gets out." 

 

"Actually, Josh, Leo needs 'you' now, to steady him out of the tub."  Margaret was just going to get him and ask about clothing for Leo.  "This is where I would be in real danger of throwing my back out.  I just barely got him out the first time and Abbey got him out this morning."

 

"Sure, I can help," Josh bounces in the room willing and able to help.  After he has Leo out and steady on dry land.  Margaret throws him out to get Leo dry and dressed.

 

Margaret sits him down on the stool and he's grinning about the quick kiss to his jet again.  He just loves it, when she does that, now.  That kiss just might be a private little thing that she does from now on to show affection to him.  He can live with that and by the smirk on her face, she's agreeable to that. 

 

"Sit here a minute, Leo."  Margaret tells her hopeful plans to him.  "I'm going to go get Abbey to look at your hands.  The bruising is getting more colorful, but the swelling and cuts look better.  She can help with the bandaging and wrapping.  She does it better than I do."  Margaret always wants the best for her Leo.

 

Abbey and the rest of the crew, arrive to check out Leo's hands and to get a better look at the bruising on his ribs. 

 

"You know, I should sell tickets.  We might be able to balance the budget with the proceeds," Leo growls, but he has a grin on his face, as he sees the concern and caring in his friends' faces. 

 

Abbey wraps his ribs and then bandages his hands for the night.

 

****   

Back out in the sitting area they have Leo again lying on one couch and Margaret is sitting at the end this time and his legs are over her lap.  The other couples each grab a couch, in the horseshoe of couches. 

 

"It's going to be movie night in the Residence."  Jed announces like he's ordering it in the Oval Office.  "First we need to get into comfortable clothes, you said earlier.  I, for one, am starting to roast without the A/C."

 

"OK, I agree with you, Jed."  Abbey rises from her place on the couch, "I'm changing too.  Josh and Leo can be shocked if they want, but I'm getting my jammies on," Abbey warns with a tease in her voice.

 

"Uh Oh, now I'm worried guys."  Jed shakes a finger at her, "Abbey, you be nice.  You don't want to give Leo a heart attack, by wearing something sexy." 

 

"Jed, you're the one killing Leo with all the teasing."  Abbey scolds, "Look at him, he's practically in tears, his ribs are hurting from trying not to laugh out loud."  She gives Jed a look, which speaks volumes to him. 

 

He throws his hands up in defense.  "I'll quit.  I wouldn't hurt Leo for the world, but I just couldn't resist and he understands that." 

 

Leo is making little panting moans, as he softly laughs and is shaking his head yes at Jed.  He'll kill him next week.

 

"So, let's get changed and meet back here shortly."  Jed is delighted to get the show on the road.

 

"Margaret, come with me and I'll get you something to sleep in."  Abbey invites, with a smirk at the guys.

 

"OK, Abbey.  That sounds great to me.  " Margaret agrees, even she's getting warm, after being in long jeans all day.

 

"Donna, how about you?  For something to watch the movie in?"  Abbey offers with a smile.

 

"Thanks, but I'm fine in my sundress."  Donna is pleased to be asked.

 

Josh pipes up.  "Abbey, do you have a problem with me taking off my shirt.  I'm roasting."

 

"No, Josh, it's fine.  We were warned ahead of time that they have trouble keeping clothes on you at the apartment."  Abbey teases him and agrees, smiling at his happy grin.

 

With laughter in his voice Josh responds quickly, "I'm not that bad.  I just like to be comfortable and besides Leo is not wearing a shirt," Josh just has to point that out, in his defense.

 

"Yeah, we heard that both of you are 'not too shy'."  Jed likes to get in a double dig and score more points.  "Well, I'm wearing a shirt.  The Secret Service prefer I sleep in a shirt and pants of some kind.  Just goes with the job." 

 

The three of them leave and return shortly.  Margaret, being the cold blooded one of the three, has on her favorite of satin pants and a tight tank top.  Abbey has opted for a long satin button up shirt with matching shorts, that show off her nice legs and Jed is more than pleased. 

 

Jed is naturally in a Notre Dame t-shirt and a pair of gray workout cotton shorts.  He's in bare feet like Leo.  "Josh you'd better ditch your shoes and socks now.  We know your going to shed them as soon as the movie starts."  Jed adds with a backhanded dig.  Josh grins and complies. 

 

"Nice shorts, Jed," Leo teases in front of the other women.

 

"At least I have better legs than you do." 

 

"Yeah, you do, but I may want a new vote on that.  When I'm able to reach down and pull up my pants leg.  I may have better voters this time."  Leo has his politician mind at work.

 

"OK, let's be diplomatic on the movie for the evening."  The President is in full democracy mode.  "We have playing on AMC, 'The Quiet Man' or on TMC, we have 'African Queen'.  I'd like a show of hands, now.  How many for 'The Quiet Man' and how many for 'African Queen'?"  Jed officially gives the results, "A tie of course, guys against gals."  He decides as the host, "I'll flip a coin that Josh is going to loan me and that will break the tie."

 

"Here you go, glad to be of service."  Josh is grinning, at being at the service of the President in any little matter.

 

"Thank you, Josh."  Jed is treating it like a substantial loan.  "Here we go, heads it's 'The Quiet Man' and tails it's 'African Queen'."

 

He flips it onto the coffee table and it lands on heads for 'The Quiet Man', the movie the females wanted.  The women 'so' love John Wayne and the guys will like it also, they just won't admit it.

 

"Can we do two out of three tosses?"  He's grinning at the ladies, hoping they'll let him try again.

 

"No," all three women answer him.  

 

"Guess they get their way again, guys."  Jed resigns to his fate, along with the other two guys.

 

"Did you ever doubt it?  I've had first hand experience with the Sisterhood and it's not pretty."  Leo smiles at the memory, "Well, they probably thought it was at the time."  He sees Jed's head swing around in question," I'll tell you at a later date, Jed.  Josh can back up my story."

 

Jed, for once, lets it ride and turns on the channel and lays the remote back down.  He gives Abbey a kiss, as he pulls her close to his side.

 

"None of that, you two.  We have rules about movie night," Leo scolds with Margaret grinning from where she's sitting on the edge of the couch.

 

The First Couple laugh, not in the least upset with getting into trouble about the rules.  "OK, tell us the rules."  Jed sounds like this is going to take the fun right out of movie watching.

 

Donna pipes up, getting in probably her only dig at the President.  She's also feeling brave snuggled up to Josh.  "Since the women actually 'want' to watch the movie, necking, which is Leo's phrase, is reserved to only during the commercials." 

 

Margaret now jumps in with another rule, "The lights have to be down low, like in the theatre."

 

"OK, Josh, you turn off that one beside you and I'll get this one behind me.  Is the lamp by the door too much light?"  Jed is getting into the whole mood of movie night.

 

"No, that's fine," Margaret answers, since she wants just a little light, so she can keep an eye on Leo.

 

"Any other rules we need to know?"  Jed asks before he gets into trouble again. 

 

"Yeah, you have to cuddle up close.  Cuddling is the most important part," Leo adds his favorite part.

 

"Well, that part sounds good to me."  Jed stretches out and Abbey spoons in against him on the center couch. 

 

Leo and Margaret are on the left couch, so he can lay on his good right side and see the TV.  Margaret takes a little longer to get behind a sore Leo.  His meds will be due soon and right now the morning ones are about gone. 

 

Josh and Donna are on the right side of the horseshoe of couches, doing their pretzel impression, with josh propped in the corner.  His arm is around behind her.  She's sitting beside him and her legs are thrown over his, toward the back of the couch.  She rests her head on his bare chest and turns her face toward the TV.  Josh rests his chin on the top of her head and puts his other arm across them both, to hold Donna securely.

 

"Leo, are you sure that we can untangle Josh and Donna when the movie is over?"

 

"Yeah, that's the way they curl up, every time, to watch movies."  Leo reveals a more amazing fact.  "They even manage that in a recliner."  He states as a given, "They just like to be 'really' close." 

 

"God, that makes my back ache just to look at them," Jed admits with a tease.  Josh and Donna are giggling at this point.  They're just happy to be young and be able to get tangled together.

 

****

With the opening credits, Jed is inspired to reveal some neat trivia that he possesses about the movie and related matters.  "Hey, guys, did you know that director John Ford was of Irish decent?"

 

Margaret pipes up, since John Wayne is her favorite old movie actor, "Yeah, but did you also know that John Wayne is of Irish decent.  His 'real' last name is Morrison and his immigrant ancestor was Robert Morrison from Antrim, Ireland.  He was an Associate Judge in southern Ohio.  He was a military man also."

 

Jed took up the trivia challenge, "OK, I'll give you that bit of facts.  In this movie, did you know that the little matchmaker guy and the protestant minister were really brothers, with different last names?"

 

"No, but now that I think about it, they do look similar."  Margaret concedes that one, but challenges Jed again, "Did you know that when Maureen O'Hara went to slap John Wayne in the first kissing scene, he blocked the slap with his arm and it resulted in a broken bone in her hand?"

 

He now pulls out first hand knowledge, "It is a fact that the filming in Ireland was only two weeks long, because they didn't have any hotels big enough to accommodate the film crews.  They have lovely small hotels in Ireland.  Abbey and I stayed in one, when we went over for our first anniversary.  That was during the time I was in London at the London School of Economics.  We really loved Ireland!"

 

The first set of commercials comes on the TV and Abbey turns over to pull Jed into a passionate kiss, putting an end to the trivia contest.  Leo has the same idea and gently pulls Margaret down for some much needed necking.  Josh and Donna are very much involved in their own little world, as this is the first time this weekend that they have had any quality time together. 

 

Jed comes up for air, as the movie starts up again and is thankful for the semi-dark lighting.  Abbey definitely knows what to do in the dim movie lighting.  He needs to cool down, but he, for once, wishes for more commercial breaks on the TV. 

 

Jed glances over at Josh and Donna and they're breaking their own movie rule.  They are still hot at it.  They're so tuned to each other that they don't even notice when the commercials end.  Jed can't resist and he needs something to take his mind off his wife lying in his arms.  "Hey, you two.  Get a room," he teases, knowing Donna will just die. 

 

Josh is more game and teases back, "You two need to get a room, yourselves."  Both of the other couples chuckle at the brave retort.  They also hear Donna take a sharp breath in and then a sharp slap on bare skin is heard and the responding, "Ouch."  Leo and Margaret Laugh at that exchange and Leo ends in a moan.  They both recognized the sound of Donna slapping Josh on the bare chest.

 

Jed and Abbey smile at each other in the near darkness, recognizing themselves in the young couple.

 

****  

The second block of commercials come on and the couples only make little rustling sounds, as they snuggle close and get lost in each other.  The kissing of lips is the background sound to the commercials. 

 

Time flies and time rolls back, to a time when necking was a journey of discovery.  For one couple, it's a time to rediscover their own, wonderful old memories.  To one couple, a discovery of new memories to cherish and for the third couple, a time of discovery for new memories, that replaces the fading ones of the past.

 

Much to the regret of the three couples in the dim light, the commercials do not last long enough or maybe in the case of some, they end just in time. 

 

Leo is heard to say to Margaret, as the movie starts back up, "I feel so much better after a good session of necking with you."  He snuggles in closer to her, very relaxed.

 

"Is it her magical kisses, Leo?"  Jed asks in a teasing voice, from his comfortable place stretched out behind Abbey on their couch.

 

"Yeah, I do think you're right, Jed.  It must be her magical kisses?"  Leo agrees, while lying in Margaret's arms.

 

"Sorry guys, you can quit teasing Margaret," Abbey decides to drop in bit of trivia of her own, "It's just Leo's endorphins starting to work, which are hormonal pain killers that help to relieve his pain.  His body produces them when he exercises, like with the attack."  She points out a good example, "Remember, he didn't hurt as bad, as you'd have imagined Saturday night." 

 

She pauses to let that sink in.  Then she gets in a tease of her own at Leo, "They're also produced when he gets excited, like when he's necking.  So his pain level is down naturally from the endorphins."

 

Leo cheerfully takes the dig at him, "Oh boy, now I have a legitimate reason to neck at every opportunity."  He raises his right arm and cups Margaret's head down for a passionate kiss. 

 

"Hey, Leo, you know the rules!  The movie is on."  Josh scolds him, since he has to refrain from kissing while it's on.

 

"OK, everyone.  I'll be good and obey the rules, but it 'was' for medicinal purposes," he tries to chuckle and just ends up softly groaning at his own joke. 

 

"Leo, just cuddle with me and behave."  Margaret rubs his hair back to calm him.  He just loves that.

 

"Yes, Margaret.  I will, till the next set of commercials," Leo promises with a lilt in his voice. 

 

****       

By the third set of commercials Leo is asleep in Margaret's arms.  "Margaret, is he asleep?" Jed asks.

 

Margaret just nods her head yes, as she peers over at Leo's face, but she can tell by his slow even breathing that he's sound asleep. 

 

"He never sleeps in front of people."  In the dim light, he gazes over at a peaceful Leo, "I'm so glad he feels comfortable enough to sleep now," Jed voices an opinion that they all share and are feeling blessed by.

 

Thirty minutes later, when two lead males on the TV are loudly arguing, Leo starts to get restless, just like the previous night.  He mumbles and then he calls out for Margaret in a sleep held panic.  She caresses his face and arm.  Margaret whispers to him that he's safe and that she's safe with him.  She knows at this moment, not to hug him tightly, as he would just struggle more. 

 

Leo is still caught in the demons of his dream and thrashes about more, moving too much for the condition of his ribs.  The pain is adding to his sleeping confusion.  Margaret continues to whisper soothing words into his ear, stroking where she can touch and yet not hurt him, and giving him tender kisses on his head. 

 

Finally, she gets him awake enough to realize that he's dreaming and that they are both safe.  He rolls slowly toward her, to lie flat on the couch.  She rubs gently across the top of his chest and continues to reassure him. 

 

Leo whispers to her with a gruff and frighten voice, "Margaret, they had you and I couldn't get you away from them.  I was so scared.  They just kept hitting on me."  Leo has a hitch in his voice and tears are shining in his eyes, ready to spill over.  "Then the attacking men laugh and crowd around you.  I could see their arms moving, like they were hitting you and you were crying.  I couldn't help you.  I couldn't move."

 

Leo voice has gotten softer, so the others wouldn't overhear him.  The tears are now flowing quietly down his cheeks.  Margaret tenderly kisses the tears on his cheek next to her, and then reaches up and gently wipes the tears from his other cheek.  She's aware of only his need to be comforted. 

 

The other couples notice Leo's struggle to fight the terror that remains of his nightmare and are quiet, while Margaret comforts him.  Jed really is having a hard time, watching his friend suffer.  He wants to go and console Leo.  When he starts to rise, Margaret silently holds up a hand to halt him, not even considering that she's firmly telling the President no.  She understands that Jed is hurting, right along with Leo. 

 

Abbey pulls Jed back down, before Leo notices his action and might be embarrassed that others had witnessed his tears, even if it's his best friend.  Jed eyes are moist, as he hugs Abbey in sympathy. 

 

The couple on the other couch is quietly just holding each other tight and Donna is wiping a tear, of her own, away.  They both are feeling sad and helpless.  Wishing that their friend's suffering was not more than physical. 

 

Leo relaxes in Margaret's arms, with her calming touch and voice he slips back to sleep.  His body's physical need to recuperate in sleep is overruling the fears in his dreams.

 

****   

The movie is over at 11 pm and to the amazement of the First Couple, Josh and Donna unwind easily and sit-up.  Josh pulls his shirt back on, in preparation for leaving.  Donna and he need to be back at the White House in about 8 hours. 

 

They walk over to where Leo is sleeping in Margaret's arms.  Josh is relieved that Leo has been asleep for the rest of the movie.  Margaret has been gently stroking back the side of his hair to keep him asleep and to hopefully hold off the nightmares. 

 

Donna leans gently over the end of the couch and kisses Leo on the forehead.  Then she does the same to Margaret, knowing that she needs one, almost as much as Leo. 

 

Josh, not knowing how to make it easier for his friends, places small kisses on both of them, to match Donna's.  He quietly suggests, "Margaret, we probably need to wake him, if you need me to stand him up."

 

"Yeah, Josh, your right.  His meds are due and he's going to have trouble moving after lying down so long."  She gently says Leo's name beside his ear, and rubs on his outside arm, "Leo, Leo, we need to help you up and move into the bedroom, now." 

 

He wakes slowly, "Yeah, OK.  Damn, I can hardly move."  Leo is struggling to sit-up, as he slowly tries to slide his feet to the floor.

 

"It's OK, Josh is still here to get you up," Margaret tries to stop him from automatically attempting to stand.

 

"Always knew we'd find him useful, if we let him hang around long enough."  Leo jokes to cover the pain.

 

Josh cups Leo's far calf in his hand and cups his other hand on Leo's opposite shoulder, to swing Leo around to a sitting position.  They wait a moment for Leo to get his bearings and to rub the dry tears from his face.  Neither man is uncomfortable by their presence. 

 

Josh just moves on, with helping Leo, "OK, Leo.  Just let me do the work."  Josh squats and lifts Leo up to his feet.  He's being especially easy, he knows that Leo's pain meds are completely worn off. 

 

Leo quietly sucks in air between clenched teeth. 

 

"Leo, do you want to wait a second, before we move?  How are you doing with standing?"  He notices that Leo is a little shaky, "I think we need to get you in the other room.  You look like you're not going to be on your feet for long." 

 

Josh is doing all the talking, to cover any discomfort Leo might be having, especially with him being so dependent on Josh for support. 

 

Leo is in bad shape.  The pain meds are due and he's not been moving for several hours.  He thought he would be much better this evening. "I haven't had this much trouble standing, since before rehab."  He jokes again, a remark he would only make to the closest of friends.

 

Josh walks Leo to the spare room, "You want to rest on the side of the bed, or do you think you need to use the restroom, before you sit down."

 

"Rest room first.  If I sit, I'm done."  Leo can guarantee that.

 

Margaret has gone to get his meds from Abbey and some ice water to swallow them with.

 

Josh maneuvers Leo to the bed, after the quick trip to the restroom.  "You OK now?"

 

"Yeah, it's the getting up and down that really kills me."  Leo says it like it's a big secret.  "Thanks, Josh.  I really mean that." 

 

"That's what sons do for old friends of their father's, Leo."  Josh softly adds, "There's just you and me left now, Leo."  Josh very naturally gives Leo a quick kiss on the brow like he would to any family member.  Last night really scared Josh, more than he is letting on to the others.  Josh sees the sad, but pleased look on Leo's face and he exits the room in search of Margaret and Donna.

 

"Hey, Margaret, I have him on the side of the bed now."  He adds, "Donna and I are going to cut out now." 

 

Josh turns to address the First couple, "Thanks for having us up here for movie night.  It was great!"  He calls from the door, "See ya, tomorrow!"

 

"See you, tomorrow, Josh."  Jed calls back and advises, "Get some sleep.  You're going to need it for the coming week."

 

"Thanks for being here."  Abbey lets him know, "I'll get Leo up in the morning.  Sleep in an extra half hour in the morning.  I just know, you were planning to get here early to help."

 

"Yeah, I was."  Josh admits, "I'll be in my office at 7am, if you need me and I'll help to get him to his office in the morning.  Just call me when he's ready." 

 

He turns to the President with a smile.  "Be nice.  Let him wear something beside a Notre Dame t-shirt to staff meeting tomorrow," Josh can't resist getting a friendly dig at the President, before he leaves.

 

"Yeah, sure.  He's suffering enough.  I got enough delight in seeing wear it here," the President admits.

 

Abbey checks on the A/C situation, as it has been cutting on and off all evening. 

 

Jed calls in for his final security briefing.  After his call, Jed goes over to the open door of the spare bedroom and he sees Margaret getting Leo to lie back on a mountain of pillows, which Abbey had delivered just minutes ago.  "Just wanted to check in one last time to see if he needed anything."  He raises his voice, "Good night, Leo.  Anything you need?"

 

"I'm fine.  I've got Margaret."  Is Leo's happy reply.

 

Jed seriously advises, "Margaret, you hold him tight tonight.  He'll be fighting 'demons in the dark' tonight and for a while longer.  I know."

 

"I will, Jed.  We fight the demons together, his and mine."  She leans against the side of the bed gently holding one of Leo's bandaged hands.

 

"Yeah, Leo got lucky.  You two are the real thing."  Jed is happy to point out, "Margaret, that's the first time you've called me, Jed.  Are we friends now?"  He moves farther into the room.

 

"Yeah, I've realized that we both love Leo and that alone makes us feel close.  You trust the relationship that Leo and I have, and support us.  That's what friends do."

 

"So, you'll call me, Jed, now?" he wants a promise.

 

She's still a little uncertain with him, "I'm going to follow Leo's lead, as to when.  Just like him, I'll call you Jed, in your home and at the farm, unless it deals with the White House business."  She confesses to him, "I'm glad that Abbey and you are considering me a friend.  I know in the world that Leo, Abbey and you live in, that's not a gift given lightly."

 

"Thanks, Margaret.  It's not everyday I get a 'new' close friend," Jed softly replies.  He leans over and kisses her forehead and does the same with Leo,  "Night, Leo."

 

Leo answers from the bed, "You're right, Jed.  It 'is' the real thing."  He bends his arm and brings her hand to his lips and places a kiss on it.  "Night, Jed."

 

Jed closes the door with a smile. 

 

****     

 

The next morning, Leo is again eating breakfast, a novelty for him on a workday.  Abbey insists that he needs to eat, to have the energy for his body to heal itself.  She even forced one of Jed's multi-vitamins on him and Margaret was in total agreement. 

 

After breakfast Leo's ready to get to back to some semblance of 'business as usual'.  They'll have the Secret Service meeting and the staff meeting here at the Residence.  Leo feels better this morning, but he still can't get up and down by himself, that's going to be a while longer in happening.  He can only walk short distances alone.  Hanging onto the furniture with his fingertips helps.  He'll just have to see how he holds up during the day. 

 

"Come on, Margaret, let's go have some fun.  I hope you've figured out how to get me in and out of the shower."  He looks at her with a gleam in his eye, "Then you can have a turn." 

 

Abbey lays her napkin down and smiles.  She can see the planning process going on in Margaret's head already.  "Come on, Leo.  Let me get you up and Margaret can walk you to your room." 

 

She looks at Margaret, who's moving over to pick up the garment bag, which Leo's suit is in.  "Margaret, I'll bring you a wrap skirt and tunic shirt for you to wear.  Leo doesn't want you going to the apartment alone."  She can see the protest starting, by the look on Margaret's face.  "We'll see what Ron has decided and make some decisions after that." 

 

"OK, Thanks, Abbey."  Margaret gracefully accepts Abbey's offer.

 

Before Abbey can rise to move around the table to stand him up, Leo informs the women, "I expect you two ladies to be present at the meeting with Ron this morning.  We're going to do that here, before the staff meeting."  He looks between them seriously, "I know you both, want to be included in any decisions that are made about a new place for me to live."  

 

"OK, Leo.  I'll be here," Abbey promises and stands.  She turns to her husband, "Jed, go get your shower.  Time to cover up those sexy legs of yours."  She moves to Leo's side of the table.

 

"Abbey, I think Margaret likes viewing my sexy legs and not those toothpicks that Leo uses to keep his ass off the ground," He wags his eyebrows at Margaret. 

 

"That's it, Jed."  Margaret verbally slams him down.  She's blushing a bright red.  "You can do your damnedest to make be blush, but you'll not insult 'my Leo', to get it." 

 

She immediately slaps her hand over her mouth in mortification.  Her eyes are as big as dinner plates.  She just looks at the President's shocked face and in a panic she runs into the spare room that she shares with Leo.  She slams the door in hiding.

 

Jed is stunned for a moment, while he realizes that he's finally found Margaret's boiling point.  He pushed her and he found it.  He looks at Abbey and Leo, they both just look at him, sadly disappointed.

 

Abbey has a hand on Leo's shoulder, to keep him sitting,  as they wait for Jed's next move.  Abbey finally speaks, when Jed is still silent, "Jed, you've done it now.  You not only kept prodding at her, till she broke and yelled.  You probably have her terrified and feeling ashamed, like it was her fault."  Abbey lets that sink in for a moment, "You just don't get it, Jed, that your friends can be in awe of you and still be casual with you.  She's not like me, yet.  She doesn't know were all the lines are.  She scared to push them.  You 'just' got her to accept you as 'Jed' and then you blew it.  Now, you go and fix it!"  Abbey pulls Jed back into line, with surgical precision.

 

"Yeah, I did blow it."  Jed admits humbly.  "Sorry, Leo, I'll go fix this with her."  Jed tries joking to ease the tension.  "Leo, does she throw things, when she's angry.  I'm trying to remember what loose objects are in that room that she can heave at me.  I think once she realizes that she doesn't need to be afraid of me.  I may need the agents to save me."

 

Leo looks at him with a glare, "No.  She doesn't throw things that I know of, but I've never been a big enough dumbass, to make her angry enough to find out."  This is not easy for Leo, since he can't run after her and now he orders Jed, "Now, get in there and calm her down.  It'll be better coming from you anyway and the sooner the better."  Leo reveals his fear, "I'm sure she's in there thinking of the worst ramifications."

 

"Yeah," Jed hurries over to the door and taps, "Margaret, it's me, Jed.  I want to come in."  He tries the doorknob and cracks the door open, to see Margaret sitting on the side of the bed, with both hands over her face, sobbing.  He quickly crosses the floor, to kneel down in front of her, face to face. 

 

She hiccups and get out a broken speech that sounds something like, "I'm sorry and I'll resign and I shouldn't have and please don't have the agents throw me out."  It all comes out in a jumble, among the sobs.

 

He reaches gently to lower her hands, so she can see how sincere he is, "Margaret, I'm 'so' sorry that I pushed you too far.  I was wrong.  You're not to blame for yelling at me.  I caused you to do it.  You're not in trouble, I am."

 

She looks at her hands clenched in her lap.  She's still trying to catch her breath and not knowing what to say. 

 

Jed continues, "I forgot that we're 'new' friends and that you didn't know that I was seeing how for I could push you.  I do that with the people I'm close to.  I do it with Abbey and the girls.  Leo and I have done it for so long, that it's as normal as breathing to us."  He wipes away the tears on her cheek.  "I'm so sorry I made you cry.  I never meant to." 

 

Margaret looks up at him.  "So……I don't have to leave?"  She's almost afraid to ask it out loud. 

 

"I hope you never leave us, Margaret.  True friends are so hard to find, nowadays."  He pulls her forward and into a hug.  "Am I forgiven, or do you need to throw something at me first?"  He's always teasing her, that she must have a temper hidden somewhere, to go along with her red hair.  

 

She smiles a watery smile, "Yes and no."

 

"What do you mean, yes and no?"  Jed has a mock panic in his voice now and places a hand on his chest in mock fear, "Leo said, he didn't think that you'd throw things at me."  He tries to sound serious, "Are you trying to get me killed by Abbey and Leo, by letting them think, that I messed up my apology?  Did I mess it up," he asks anxiously, but a grin is braking through his act.

 

She hiccups again and giggles at his desperate look.  She knows he's trying to cheer her up.  She grabs some tissues from the nightstand to wipe the tears from her face.

 

"Yes, Jed.  I forgive you and no, I won't throw anything at you," she explains quietly, but she has a gleam in her eye.

 

He kisses her forehead in happiness, that it's going to be fine, "Good.  Then, are we friends again?"

 

"Yeah, we are."  She leans in and kisses his cheek to prove it.  "Just you remember, Jed.  I'm making a list on you, for after the administration."

 

"Oh, Lord.  Now, I have two of you to pummel my ass, the day after my successor is sworn in."  Jed gives her, his own dire prediction.

 

"No, I get the second day after.  Abbey gets the same day and Leo gets the day after, so I have to wait, till the second day after," she gives it to him logically, about the hierarchy involved. 

 

"And Leo gets off, free and clear," he questions in mock anger. 

 

"No, I pummeling his ass the first day after.  I'm more patient than Abbey and we can trade you two, on the second day after.  That's when she can pummel Leo, for the list she has on him.  It's a nice plan."  She smiles at him in happy anticipation.  ~maybe he'll need to keep his security detail awhile longer.~

 

"Thanks, Margaret, that makes me feel safe.  Better than all the bodyguards," he sarcastically retorts. 

 

She just shakes her head in amazement.  It really is like breathing to them, but it emphasizes how much she means to him.

 

"Let's go show Abbey and Leo that you have forgiven me, and that I have no bleeding wounds for her to treat."  Jed takes her by the hand and leads her back out to the others.  They are both smiling.

 

Leo's delighted at the happy smiles on the faces of Jed and Margaret.  He just can't resist jumping back into the comfortable teasing, "Hey, Jed.  What were you doing, alone, in there with 'my Margaret', to put that kind of smile on both of your faces?"

 

"Leo, I 'just' got her to be friends again and you're going to undo all my hard work of pleading and begging.  She may kill me, still." 

 

He explains how serious it is, "She has a list on me and plans to get in line, after the two of you, to pummel my ass when my administration is over.  That's no joking matter."  He tries to sound serious, but the laughter, in his voice, gives him away.

 

Margaret just grins at the two of them and exchanges a smile with Abbey.  Abbey is standing Leo up and Margaret takes him by his right arm and escorts him to the spare room and to another adventure in bathing Leo.

 

****   

Leo firmly announces after she shuts the bedroom door, "Margaret, I've 'got' to try using the shower.  The getting up and down in the tub is killing my ribs." 

 

"OK," Margaret agrees especially since she can't help him up out of the tub.  "I have it worked out how I can watch you step in and out."  She reveals some of the groundwork she has done.  "I made sure we had a stool in this bathroom.  It's a smaller bathroom than Jed's so it's going to be cozy, to say the least."

 

"Sounds nice to me."  He starts his slow walk in and sits on the stool to catch his breath before they attempt to get him into the shower.  He tries to holds his bent arms up to shoulder height, but the left arm is not able to rise more than half that.

 

"I guess that means you want unwrapped."  He grins at her in agreement.  She teases him, to help distract her mind from the coming shower, "Here, I was thinking you missed holding me and wanted a hug." 

 

"I've wanted to hug you all morning."  He tells her softly, "I really wanted to hug you after you left the room, but I couldn't go to you.  I couldn't get up fast enough."  She steps into his arms for the hug, now.  He sadly continues, "Margaret, it was like the dream.  I couldn't move.  I wasn't able to get to you!"

 

"It's OK, Leo."  She reassures him, that she didn't expect him to run after her, "I'm the one that panicked.  I'm sorry that I left the room and put you in the position, of not being able to get to me. 

 

She quietly confesses, as she wraps her arms around him and holds the side of his head against her and drops a kiss to the top of his head.  "I never thought of that.  I shouldn't have said anything."

 

"No," Leo makes a very soft chuckle, "Jed asked for it and you gave it to him.  I loved that part." 

 

He pauses and seriously adds, "I just wanted to hold you.  I just hate it when you're upset.  It's not your fault that I'm hurt and I'll be better soon." 

 

He tries to sound cheery, "A week to ten days, I'll be good as new."  He smiles suggestively and kisses her breast that's closest to his lips, through her tight tank top. 

 

She smiles at his antics to cheer her up, "Still being hopeful, aren't you, Flyboy."

 

"Want to see my tattoo," he eagerly offers.

 

She rolls her eyes at his corny question. "That sounds like a bad pick up line, Leo." 

 

He nods his head to the side, "I might get lucky!"

 

"Just keep trying, Flyboy.  Maybe someday you will."  She kisses him to appease his wishful thinking.  She steps away to catch her breath and turns on the shower to warm it up and returns to remove his chest wrapping. 

 

"Oh, that feels wonderful."  He rubs his ribs, like he's trying to return the circulation to the skin.  He hesitantly tries to breathe deeper, but doesn't really want Margaret to see him try.  Good thing, as he still can't do more than shallow breathing. 

 

He next tries to pick at the tape holding the bandage on his hand, using just the tips of his thumb and index finger, like a claw.  He's not doing very well, as the fingers just will not cooperate for him.  "Here, Margaret, I tried."  He holds out his hands to her. 

 

"You are stubborn and you will try to do, what you can't do yet."  She shakes her head in despair of ever getting him to change.  "Sometimes, Leo, you're, your own worst enemy."

 

"I know and I have you there to either help me or tell me I'm an idiot."  He states as fact, with a happy smile.

 

"Happy to be of service, Leo."  Margaret can't resist, "It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it."

 

"Yeah, it is, Margaret, but that's a bad line too," he teases her with her same retort.

 

"Leo, we're down to the pants again, lets get you up and I'll wrap the towel around you, as you drop em."  She tries to sound casual about it.

 

"There you go again, with the 'drop em.'"  Leo teases, while she helps him to stand.

 

She can tell that he's really enjoys this part of his day, "Leo, focus here.  You can wear the towel in and you can throw the towel back out, after you get in.  I'll give it back, when you want out."  She really hopes that plan will work, but has her doubts.

 

"Margaret!"  He's really shocked, as he looks between the clear shower door and her serious face.  He strongly complains "You wouldn't let me in here yesterday, for you to keep an eye on me.  But when it's my turn in the shower, it's OK for you to stay.  That's some convenient change in the rules, you got there, Margaret."  He grins as wide as his damaged face will allow, "Now, who's going to enjoy the peep show?"

 

"Leo!"  She's now shocked and her face shows it.  ~Damn his suggestions, I'll save that mental visual till later.~ 

 

"Well, I guess I'll just stick around for payback, during your shower."  He makes the threat with bravado and waits for her to shoot him down.  He knows she'd kick his ass out, before that happens.

 

"Forget it, Leo," She explains how it's 'not' going to be a peep show, so no payback is due.  "I'm hanging a towel over the handrail on the outside and I won't be able to see the bottom half of you."  She adds just in case there's a flaw in this plan, "You can turn your back, when I hand you the dry towel." 

 

Leo goes for the blush, big time and he loves it, "Never miss an opportunity to view the tattoo, do you!"  He really teases her suggestively, "If I'd known, you would like it so well.  I'd have found a reason to drop my pants, before now."

 

"Leo, somehow that just doesn't sound right," she hisses at him.

 

Leo tries to chuckle, but the wrap is off and he has to hold his side. 

 

"That's it Leo, your meds should be working by now.  You're going to get too tired, to stand long enough, for a quick shower."  She give him some last minute unneeded instructions, "I want you to just wash off, best as you can and get out.  Just run water through your hair.  We'll get it shampooed again tomorrow."

 

"I agree.  Help me up and I'll drop my pants," he says the last part in a deep rumbling tone.  He knows that just gets to her. 

 

"Leo, you said that, in your sexy voice on purpose."  She reveals that she has him figured out, "Not too shy are you, Leo?" 

 

"Margaret, I'm yours body and soul."  He honestly agrees.  "Both are yours for the asking, whenever you're ready."

 

"Leo," she warns him.  "Don't get frisky now, your hands don't work well, yet."

 

She's waiting with a towel draped over her arm.

 

"Well, you better practice standing first.  Up, Leo.  No cute remarks either," she warns Leo, as she helps him to rise to his feet.

 

"Just keeping in practice, Margaret."  He holds a curled left hand against his ribs, as he balances himself with the right forearm against her shoulder. 

 

She orders, to keep them moving right along, "Turn your back to me, Leo."  '

 

He complies, feet firmly planted to balance himself.  He goes to slide his satin pants down, with his thumbs at the sides. 

 

She catches herself hesitating, to hold the towel up, till the jet tattoo appears and she immediately snaps the towel open to cover the appearing pink skin below it.

 

"A little slow there with the towel, weren't you, Margaret?"  He so loves the fact that she was tempted to see his tattoo.  If he's lucky she'll drop a kiss on it, when she dries him off.  It's a good reason to get in and out of the shower quickly.

 

"Leo, get into the shower," she orders and hopes he doesn't notice her nice blush at getting caught staring at his backside.  From what she can tell it's a nice backside.  "Let me balance you, as you step in."  The shower is on and the towel around his waist is getting wet.

 

"I'm in, Margaret, maybe I just better drop my towel to the back corner.  It's getting soaked."  His voice rumbles a low suggestive warning, "This wet towel is getting heavier and will drop any second.  You better shut the door or the peep show 'will' become a reality."

 

"Oh, Leo."  She has a cry in her voice.  She doesn't want to be accused of peeping, but he sounds like he's having trouble, " Don't you fall or hurt your self.  Just hurry and we'll get you out.  "She slides the door shut.  Worry and temptation are warring inside her head.  She sits on the stool to wait and can only see the top half of him.  Imagination is a wonderful thing, if she wasn't so afraid for him.

 

"I'm fine, Margaret," he reassures her from inside the shower and she hears a wet plop, as he drops the wet towel behind him.  He quickly soaps, with a bar of soap in his cupped hand, what he can easily reach and he figures, what he can't wash will just have to make do with the water and the suds rinsing down his body.  He smirks to himself and decides to point out to Margaret "Too bad that you're too shy to wash my back."

 

"Leo," she growls from outside.  He's teasing and she's worrying.  "Hurry up!"  She pauses momentarily and asks, "Are you ready yet?  I have a dry towel."

 

"Yeah, that's about all I can do with my hands hurt and I can't bend over to do my legs.  All of me got rinsed though.  Give me the dry towel, please."  He holds clumsily onto the door handle inside the shower.  

 

She hops up and looks at his face through the glass.  Looking, to judge his state of tiredness, "I'm holding the towel open against the door, Leo.  You just open the door and step into it.  I'll wrap it around you, backwards." 

 

"You gonna close your eyes just in case," he asks like he really might care. 

 

"No, but I'm gonna look you in the eye," Margaret promises.  "You go to fall.  I'll want to know it.  Bare body or no bare body," she states firmly.

 

"I trust you, Margaret."  He states, as he opens the door with a grin on his face.

"Hi, Margaret, nice seeing you here."  He flippantly remarks to her.  

 

"Leo, quit joking and hold still."  She wraps her arms around him to secure the towel.

 

Leo is standing with water dripping off his wet body, since he can't use his hands to even wipe his face. 

 

Margaret straightens and just stares, for a pause in time.  He looks so sexy standing there all wet and with a two day growth stubble on his face. 

 

He looks into her eyes and then wraps his wet arms around her and presses his wet lips to hers.  He pulls slightly away from her lips and with his breath, warm on her moist face, he reveals to her.  "God, I've wanted us wet together, but this isn't exactly what I had in mind," he remarks in disappointment.  ~I guess I'll just add that to my growing wish list.  I'll now have another lover's moment stuck in my head.~ "You're doing crazy things to me, Margaret." 

 

He indulges in another kiss.  They separate slightly and he looks down at her wet, transparent tank top.  The peaks of her breasts are showing her desire. 

 

She looks down at his line of sight and looks up to meet his eyes, with a bright blush on most of her. 

 

He can't resist, he lowers his face to gently nibble a taunt nipple and she softly moans.  The sound washes over him, to soothe his soul.  Their emotions are so raw and fragile at this time.  He feels the stirrings of his desire, starting under the towel and he knows that he has to cool both of them back down. 

 

He raises his eyes to hers and with a grin he points out, "I like this new inventive way you have, of drying me off, but if you don't get me dry soon.  I'm going to need to get back in for a 'cold' shower," his breathing is not only shallow, but it's shaky at the moment with desire. 

 

"Leo, sit down, before you fall."  She tries to distance her mind from what just happened and what he just implied.  If he 'was' healthy, they'd both be needing dry towels right now.

 

He complies and his ribs 'are' hurting, from the stress of the ragged breathing he's experiencing right now. 

 

She dries him from the top down.  She tries to be impersonal and not let her mind wander to things that she best leave alone for today.  There's no way she's going to take her time now, they almost stepped over the line this time.

 

"Leo, here's your boxers, let's get them on as usual."  She slides them onto his legs and stands him up.  Margaret steps behind him and slides them as high as possible, under the towel and onto his hips.  As he removes the towel and the jet winks at her, she gives into temptation and drops a quick kiss on it.  Margaret knows that Leo is holding his breath to see if she'll kiss it.  She doesn't disappoint him, but she quickly flips the band of his boxers over it and steps back to keep from responding to the vibes between them. 

 

"Leo, lets move you to the bedroom, to finish getting you dressed."  She figures this is a smart move, to get them away from the area of temptation and memories.

 

"Sure, Margaret.  I need to get done, so you can shower."  He knows that the day and the world are now waiting to intrude on their time together.   

 

They dress him in his suit pants and suspenders, which he can hook up with his thumbs.  They decide to just have him in a dress shirt, over his elastic band wrapping.  ''

 

Margaret doesn't get it as tight as Abbey, but if needed, Abbey will rewrap him later.  If he has too much trouble later today, she'll call her.  She uses his small electric razor on him and he's not pleased that he can't hold onto the shaver, well enough, to do it himself.  Margaret combs his hair, noticing the graying that's starting at his sideburns.  She thinks it looks distinguished. Margaret easily covinces him that his suit coat is just too much pain and struggling to be worth it.  It's summer and he'll be in his office, all the time.

 

"Leo, let me go get one of the others, to take you into the sitting area, while I shower.  Josh will be here early for staff and you can catch up on what he's has been covering for you."  Margaret needs to get herself ready for the day. 

 

The two meetings will start soon.  She plans to go to the office after Ron's meeting and get the messages organized for Leo, while his doing the morning staff meeting.

 

"OK, party-pooper."  Leo smiles at her from the side of the bed, "I was going to hold the towel for you, to return the favor."

 

"Not today, Leo."  Margaret is already in White House mode.

 

"OK, I'll take a rain check."  He grins and steals a kiss as a deposit on the rain check, as she walks past on her way to the door. 

 

Margaret backs away after the kiss and opens the bedroom door.  He keeps distracting her.  She looks out and Abbey is by the phone stand, setting the handset back into the cradle.  "Abbey, can you walk Leo to a couch?" 

 

"Sure, Margaret, here are the clothes I mentioned loaning you."  Abbey's happy to help, since she's dressed and knows that Margaret will worry, till she ready for the day as well. 

 

Abbey retrieves the clothes, from the back of the couch, where she'd laid them and enters the spare room.  Abbey can see that the two of them look a bit strained at the moment and she guesses that more than the mirror got steamed up in the bathroom.  Poor Leo.

 

****    

Charlie is just leaving, after checking with the President and being made aware of Leo's attack.  Charlie had been happy to offer any assistance that Leo might need in the week to come.

   

Agent Ron Butterfield and Agent Cooper enter the main Sitting room of the Residence at the expected time.  "Good Morning, Ron, Coop."  The President welcomes the agents in, as the outside agent closes the door behind them. 

 

"Mr. President.  Mr. McGarry," Ron acknowledges the two men that the meeting involves and nods to the other three people in attendance, consisting of Abbey, Margaret and Josh. 

 

"What do you have on the attackers?"  The President is not beating around the bush this morning.

 

"Sir, we have two small points of interest to report this morning.  Ron sounds professional and hopeful.

 

"Continue, Ron."  The President gives his permission to speak in front of all those present.

 

Ron starts his brief, "We think that the van has been seen cruising in the area of the hotel, but no one has able to get us a better reading on the plate number. 

 

The other point, is a note dropped on the sideway outside the main gate, here at the White House.  It was address to Mr. McGarry.  The security camera tapes were checked, but the person dropping the note, probably made sure to be in a crowd of by-passers, so they would go undetected.  No prints were found on the note.  It was intentional."

 

Leo asks first, "What did the note say?"

 

"I have the note right here, Mr. McGarry," Agent Cooper steps forward and hands a folder piece of notepaper to Leo. 

 

With two finger tips, Leo slips on his glasses and reads the note, ~McGarry   We are still watching you and the next time, we won't leave without you or possibly your girlfriend.  She might be the easy way to get to you and you will, be our way to the President.  We are not going away and we can wait for our time and place.  We'll catch you alone sometime.  Third times a charm.  ~  

 

"That's just great.  They're still having open hunting season on me and now Margaret."  Leo hands the note to Jed, who mimics Leo and slips his glasses on to read it.  Leo simmers, as the President reads.

 

Josh is glancing from Leo and the President.  He addresses a question to Ron, "Have the DC police been notified and are they able to help with Margaret's security, as a DC citizen?"  There's nothing else he can think to add that will help the situation.

 

Ron is quick to verify, "Yes, they were notified and she's on the list to be contacted, when they can get to her.  They're swamped and there's not enough manpower," was Ron disappointing information.

 

The President finishes the note and hands it sideways to Josh, but questions Ron,  "What does the note tell you, Ron?"  What can you get from it?" 

 

"Sir, the note leaves us to believe several points.  That it 'is' from the attackers.  It tells us that they are still in the DC area and they do plan to try again to kidnap Mr. McGarry.  It leads us to believe that it's still just the two individuals.  They still need to get him alone to succeed with their plan.  They do not imply that they have other outside help, nor do they threaten with weapons"

 

Ron stops momentarily, before he relays the opinion of the service.  "They last two points that I mentioned are reasons to believe that we can control the situation.  We can do that mainly by assigning security to Mr. McGarry, with a round-the-clock agent and the use of the White House driving service.  Both his and Miss Ryan's cars have been swept for dangers or clues.  Mr. McGarry's car has been brought to the White House parking lot for safe keeping, but not in his assigned slot."  The assembled group listens to Ron's report in silent contemplation. 

 

"So, Ron.  Where do you suggest he now live, since you won't let him stay here at the Residence and he can't return to the hotel?"  The President brings up the second matter of the meeting.

 

"Sir, We have only a few options available for long term security.  We could use a safe house location, but they're usually not set up for long term.  The coming and going, would soon easily compromise the location. 

 

The other is to just install Mr. McGarry in an apartment, in a secure building.  We then depend on the agent and driver to provide the security needed.  We feel that as long as he's accompanied in any public area, he'll be fine."  Ron tries to cover all aspects of the situation, in proper order.

 

Leo feels he should voice his main concern, since the Secret Service has restrictions on what they will allow for him to adjust, in his security.  "You know that I'm still worried about Margaret being threatened and not being a candidate for White House security.  He points out bluntly, "She has now been threatened twice by the attackers."  

 

"Leo, I'll be careful," Margaret tries not to intrude into the conversation, but she still feels the need to reassure Leo.

 

"Yeah, and I'll just hire you a few bodyguards from a private service," Leo pulls out his trump card. 

 

"No, Leo, you won't.  You know how I feel."  She doesn't need to finish the sentence. 

 

Leo's afraid that if he pushes her on the bodyguards that she'll distance herself from him, to keep both of them safe.  Her feelings for him would be shelved to keep him from harm.  He knows this absolutely. 

 

While this is running through his mind, his head pops up and he face brightens.  "Ron, I think I may have a solution to all the problems, but it has to meet with Margaret's approval.  Why can't I move into Margaret's apartment at Latrobe? 

 

We have the spare room already set up for me, to use occasionally.  It has a great security system in place and the manager said that you have already dealt with them, in previous situations." 

 

There's silence in the room, as the all parties involved, analyze this scenario.  Leo looks at Margaret for her opinion, as hers is the one he most wants to know. 

 

She nods once to him, it's more than she hoped for, to have him safe and close.  A dream come true for her and she's holding her breathe to see whether the President and Ron approve.

 

The President does a sweeping glace at the others, to read their faces and it settles on Ron's for the agents opinion and asks, 'Well, Ron will her apartment work?  You wanted to get him into a secure apartment.  From what I have heard bout it, from Abbey and the staff grapevine, Margaret's apartment is already set up." 

 

Ron makes a quick decision, "That would be the best solution.  It 'is' a secure building and we 'are' familiar with its setup."  He agrees, "The management has been co-operative in the past.  It's close to the White House, so there is no long commutes involved.  Which cuts down on the possibility of car jacking attempts.  Not that I think the attackers are of that caliber, but they just might be stupid enough to attempt it."

 

"Stupid is their calling card," Leo sarcastically remarks.

 

"Yes and the hardest to anticipate, Sir," Ron whole-heartedly agrees.

 

"Anyone else have any opinions," the President addresses the question to them all.

 

Josh pipes up, to spin on another aspect that'll have to be handled.  "Since we're keeping the attack from the press, to lessen the spotlight being given to the attackers and giving them some satisfaction. 

 

I do think that the press will have some small wrinkle with his moving in with Margaret, but I think they can ride that out.  The press have been pretty flexible, so far, on their relationship.  This is DC after all and not the bible belt of the Midwest." 

 

He looks carefully at Leo and Margaret, then at the First Couple.  " CJ can spin it, if it comes up in the Press room."

 

The President and Leo exchange looks and nod to each other.  "Everyone in agreement, that this is the best answer?"  The President asks the room at large.  

 

Abbey agrees and details why, "I was going to insist that Leo stay here for the rest of the week.  He needs someone to help him with personal care, but if he's going to Margaret's, she will be able to handle what he needs.  I can check on him, when he's in his office."

 

"Yeah, that's best for his care." Josh volunteers automatically.  

"Donna and I can assist her with what he needs."

 

Leo agrees completely, "This way, as long as I keep Margaret with me, she benefits from the agent and driver, as well as myself.  All the bases are covered."

 

Margaret moves up and places a hand on his shoulder. The most contact she'll allow herself, with the agents in the room.

 

The President gives the final decision, "OK, Ron, that's what we'll agree to."

 

Ron informs them of the final details to initiate the arrangement, "Agent Cooper, will handle the transfer of his belongings and set up the security needed." 

 

Agent Cooper outlines what will transpire today, "Mr. McGarry, you will be assigned a team of four revolving agents, on 8 hours shifts, that will accompany you at all times. 

 

It may seem extreme, inside the White House and inside the Apartment building, but with the note being left outside the gate, the attackers may be stupid enough to try to get close to you, though a tour group or impersonating service personnel. 

 

The agent will be posted outside your office door and outside the apartment door.  This will allow you some freedom inside these areas.  He will ride with the driver in the car, to and from any locations. 

 

We will have a detail go to the hotel and retrieve all your belongings and deliver them to Miss Ryan's and now, your apartment.  Is this agreeable to you and do you have and questions or comments?"

 

"No, I can live with the security measures that I normally 'do not' like, since it means that Margaret will get the same security coverage, " Leo concurs to the arrangements.

 

"Leo, you better have them check with the cleaning service at you hotel and pickup any mail that might have been delivered there."  Margaret adds in her efficient manner.

 

"Thank you, Miss Ryan."  Agent Cooper now adds, "I failed to mention that we'll handle the change of address for him.  His mail needs to be run though our security check, since the attackers might try to threaten him by letter.  An agent will check your mail, as well, each day for possible threats, along with Mr. McGarry's mail at the Latrobe." 

 

"Anything else?"  The President winds up the meeting.

 

"No, Sir.  Thank you, Sir," Ron replies in way of excusing himself and Agent Cooper.

 

"Keep us informed, Ron," is the President's final request?

 

"Yes, Sir," he replies at the door.

 

Agent Cooper addresses Leo, "Sir, I'll be in contact with your office, as we complete the transfer and make arrangements.  I'm sure that later today, you'll want to be introduced to your team of agents." 

 

Leo nods in agreement.

 

The agents turn and leave the Residence in silence.  One is glad it went so well and the other full of assigning priority, to the needed activities in setting up the new detail. 

 

Margaret throws her arms around Leo's neck, when the door closes, to give him a hug.  She's so happy with being able to have Leo with her and to be able to care for him.  It was the best outcome she could have hoped for.

 

He gives her a quick kiss of reassurance and whispers, "Thanks, Margaret."  She understands the volumes of things he's saying in those two words.

 

She straightens and Leo turns to Josh, " Bet you didn't think that your first kid was going to be an old man.  Donna will feel like the parent, left out." 

 

Josh laughs out loud at the mere thought of Leo as his kid.  "It's not going to be that bad, but I'll remember that, in case I need to ground you to keep you in one place."  They grin at each other.

 

Josh thinks of something that might be helpful.  "You think that one of you could let me have your security card to the building and the apartment key.  If you two are always going to be together, you can use your other set."  Josh has it worked out. 

 

He was going to borrow one set for today, but this will work just as well.  "Margaret, can you let the management know that Donna and I have permission to use them, due to the situation."

 

"Sure, Josh," Margaret agrees to his logic.  "Sounds like a practical idea."

 

"Great, now he'll have free range of the place."  Leo sadly shakes his head in mock despair, "There goes the rights to the stereo and we'll never get him out of the hot tub." 

 

He thinks ahead to the drawbacks in this, "Donna better keep his stuff cleaned up in my bathroom.  We know he never will." 

 

The First Couple are delighted to overhear the family teasing being carried over to a new generation.  Jed can't resist, "You mean you have your own bathroom at the apartment, Leo?  Sounds like a nice setup already." 

 

"Yeah, it is nice."  Leo smiles happily at him, "That's why Margaret likes it.  She has the females established in her bathroom and Josh shares mine, after we use the hot tub." 

 

He glances at Margaret, "She forbids us in hers, says we wreck the place." 

 

He grins at Josh who's being very quiet and not refuting any of this.  "I told you that Josh runs amuck at the apartment.  He even has some clothes in my closet, like I did at Margaret's old apartment and Donna has some, over in Margaret's. 

 

He nods his head to the side.  "Just makes it easier after work, with it only being a four-minute drive from the White House." 

 

Jed is amazed at the wonderful way they have the whole situation set up.

 

Margaret is anxious to get started in the office.  She happy with the way things has turned out.  "Leo, I need to get down to the office, now.  I'll just go get our things out of the spare room and take them to the office with me." 

 

She turns to Jed and Abbey, "Thanks, for taking us in this weekend.  I really appreciate being able to stay with Leo and for all your help in taking care of him."

 

"Any time, Margaret."  Abbey looks at her with honest sincerity, "We really mean that."  Abbey gives her a hug in friendship and support.

 

"Yeah and we're going to do movie night again," Jed promises.  "I'm going to watch the TV guide and pick a movie that I can trump you on with its trivia," he warns her with victory in mind. 

 

Maybe we could use the theater and act like a real date at the movies?  You know, popcorn and candy.  Necking in the dark.  Invite a few more of the senior staff to bring a date. 

 

"I'd like that, ……Jed," Margaret happily agrees and accepts his challenge.

 

"I'll be in and out of Leo's office the next few days to check on him" the President assures her.

 

"Yes, Sir.  Mr. President."  Margaret's words remind him of their deal.

 

He chuckles at her answer.  Abbey looks at Leo, "I'll be dropping in a couple times a day, also."  She shifts her eyes up, "Margaret, if you need me in between, just call my office. 

 

Speaking of office, I better get downstairs and frighten Lilly, when I walk in early.  We weren't due home till 11am."  She smiles at the surprise appearance she's planning on giving.  

 

The ladies both kiss their guys and Margaret returns to the spare room to retrieve their laundry and Leo's suit bag.  Abbey waits at the door to accompany her down to the main floor. 

 

As they leave, the senior staff is assembling outside the door of the Residence.

 

****   

Josh steps to the door and asks them to enter for the staff meeting.  The anxious look on their faces is evidence that CJ has informed Toby and Sam, about Leo's attack.

 

"Come on in gang and meet our new prize fighter, for the light weight class, at the White House," the President jokes, to brake the nervousness between the staff and Leo. 

 

Josh just snickers to himself.  Hoping that the others don't think he's making fun of Leo's condition. 

 

Leo gives Jed a glare for his trouble.

 

"Oh.  My.  God.  Leo."  CJ exclaims, "When I talked to you on the phone Saturday night, you gave me the impression that you were roughed up and you just needed to get cleaned up.  That's why you forbid me from coming to your office.  You lied to me.  You had the 'crap' beat out of you."  She almost gets angry with him, but she looks at the damage on his face and agrees to herself, that he was probably right in keeping her away.

 

Toby finally speaks, "Yeah, CJ.  I think you labeled his condition correctly.  The President made a good comparison to his outward appearance, to that of a prizefighter."  He pauses and looks Leo in the eye, before pointing out, "If this is two days later?  Good, God, what did you look like after it happened?  No wonder you didn't let CJ see you."  

 

Sam has been quite in the background.  He looks at Josh, "You said he was attacked and just staying here for protection." 

 

"This is how it was decided to be handled, guys."  Leo informs them from his place sitting in a chair.  "I'll give you a quick rundown of my injuries and what has been decided." 

 

He pauses, "As you probably know, I was attacked in the garage of my hotel and the Secret Service brought me here, after they assessed I didn't need emergency care.  I refused to go anyway." 

 

He continues, "Margaret, took care of my first aid with instructions from Abbey by phone.  The President and Abbey returned during the night, to see for themselves my condition.  Abbey was able to check me out and continue with my treatment, to speed the recovery process." 

 

He pauses to catch his breath with the long speech.  "I have bruised ribs under here, possible hairline fractures and my hands are in pretty bad shape, from defending myself."  He looks around at them, "I will for the record, state that it was two against one and they were younger."

 

Toby chuckles softly at Leo's bravado. 

 

"Leo," Sam says, "We're just glad you weren't seriously hurt." 

 

"I 'feel' seriously hurt," he confirms to Sam.

 

The President now decides to fill them in on the fun parts that Leo's not divulging. "Just to let you know, what he's not telling, is that he's in some serious pain. 

 

He has to be helped to stand and to sit down, due to his ribs.  He can't really do anything with his hands.  His injured ribs, also keeps him from walking long distances, unassisted.  His ribs are wrapped with an elastic band, which he complains about. 

 

Oh, also, Margaret and Donna refer to him as, very colorful all over."  Jed gets in a slight tease at his friend.  "This is the most clothes he has had on in 36 hours."

 

"We won't speak of my attire, for the last day and a half, Sir."  Leo has a slight warning tone in his voice.

 

Josh snickers and Toby takes the bait, "And why would that be, Leo?  Did they deny you clothing, to keep you captive here?" 

 

Leo, snorts and answers, "Almost. He really tortured me with loaning me his clothing."  Leo points to the President.

 

CJ jumps in, a bit confused, "That sounds like he was being generous, Leo."

 

Josh finally gives away the joke.  "The problem for Leo was that the only t-shirts the President owns, all have Notre Dame on them.  Leo was suffering enough and he had to wear them anyway." 

 

The staff tries not to laugh, but the snickers and chuckling escapes them.  

 

"Glad, I could brighten your day," Leo sarcastically retorts to the amusement he hears from them. 

 

The President clarifies some of the obstacles that are involved with Leo's care, "As you may have noticed.  Leo is not standing in the presence of the President.  I'm waving that rule for him, during his recovery. 

 

Due to the fact that I'd have to stand him up myself and Abbey won't let me do that, with my bad back.  Abbey has also forbidden Margaret from helping him to stand, either.  So gentlemen, you will be called upon to assist Leo, from time to time, this next week.

 

Abbey has also limited his time in the office to 6 hours a day, maybe 8 by the end of the week."

 

"Yes, I'll be holed up in my office, where no one will see me."  Leo informs them of his plans for the week, "I 'do not' want this to get out and give the attackers the satisfaction that they did any damage." 

 

"Sure, Leo," CJ promises, to be able to help in a small way, since she has the best opportunity to help, "I'll keep a ear out for any leaks."

 

"CJ, the next big item that you are going to have to deal with, is the fact that I now have a security agent following me around.  The Secret Service has forbidden me to return to the hotel and that I need to reside in a more secure location." 

 

He informs then all, by way of telling CJ, "You probably don't know, but the attackers have now threatened to go for Margaret, if they can't get me next time.  She's not a candidate for security. 

 

To cover all bases, I'm moving into her apartment.  It'll look like we're living together, to the press, but it's a secure building and Margaret will be kept safe, as long as she's with me."  Leo is almost panting after this speech. 

 

"CJ could not find fault with the plan, but realizes that the press will make note of the move.  She includes them all by looking around and asks Leo, "The press will probably note that you have security now and may comment on it.  Can I spin, that a threat was made, but not mention the attack?  That the Secret Service is forcing you out of the public hotel, and that you two have decided at this time, to live together." 

 

Toby and Sam mull this over and decide between them, that it's probably the best way to deal with it, if it arises in the Pressroom. 

 

Sam suggests a comment to use, "It's more of an advancement in the relationship, than the threat." 

 

Toby agrees, "Yeah, just keep it low key and wish them well and happiness.  It should spin alright that way."

 

"I agree," Sam again adds his input to the spin, "They haven't been breathing down their necks so far and the short hours Leo is going to be working, can be dismissed as 'new lovebirds syndrome'.  Since he's leaving early, they may not see the damage to his face and hands.  I think they'll lose interest soon."

 

The President, seeing that Leo is having trouble with talking for any length of time this morning, gives them the details that they had worked out, "To keep him out of the public eye, we're going to slip him into the West Wing, from the portico and through the Oval Office.  He's going to use my restroom, off the Oval Office, so he's not seen in the staff restroom." 

 

The President smiles and adds some humor, "He's going to try to walk everywhere, as we would have to tie him into a wheelchair and he would just be spotted that way." 

 

The President gets back on tract.  "Josh has volunteered to help, as much as possible and Charlie too. 

I want to first stress a warning! When you help Leo, remember to watch your own back and bend your knees, as you help him up and back down. 

 

He also can't really use his hands, but he still can do a lot with some assistance, like phoning, reading, dictating reports and giving advise. 

 

Josh is taking his meetings, but you guys may have to help with that and with Leo's care. 

 

We want to keep this among ourselves.  I think this will work everyone. We're able to care for Leo here.  He should recover in about 10 days from the outward signs, but the ribs will be tender for a while."

.

Leo now calls for the end of the meeting, "Well, if we're done now.  Let's get back to the country's business. 

 

Josh has volunteered to be my main nursemaid."  They smile at him and he lets the humor sink in a moment.  "Josh, get me up.  They might as well get used to seeing me being treated like your kid. 

 

I always refer to you guys as my kids of the West Wing and it has come bad to bite me in the ass."

 

He challenges Josh, "Lets see how long it takes, to get me down to my office?"

 

"We've got this all worked out," Josh cheerfully replies.  Josh, as usual, swats down in front of Leo, to save his own back.  "Let me do the lifting, Leo," he advises, as Leo tries to lift his arms to help. 

 

Josh gets a good grip under his arms and Leo leans his head forward, into Josh's chest, to help stand himself up.  Leo sucks in air with the pain, as they stand.  He has been sitting in one place for too long and his muscles are protesting. 

 

CJ covers her mouth to stifle the breath she gasped in sympathy with Leo's. 

 

Sam looks on sadly, at seeing one of his heroes hurting. 

 

Toby glances at his shoes to keep for voicing his opinion, of what should be done to the attackers when caught.  For the crime they committed.  To cause this amount of pain, to a man like Leo McGarry.  He's someone that never accepts help from others.  Toby knows what this costs Leo and admires him, that he has the strength to accept help, when he really needs it.

 

"Take a second to get steady, Leo," Josh warns him.

 

"OK, I'm better now."  Leo assures Josh, " Lets get moving.  I'll probably need to make some pit stops on the way."

 

He looks at the others, who have schooled their faces from their concerns.  "You guys go on.  I might take awhile."  Leo excuses them from the room. 

 

After the door closes, Jed walks over to Leo and leans in to kiss his forehead, that has a light sheen on it from his effort.  "You did well with the kids, Leo."  He adds, "You behave today, or Abbey will kill all three of us."  

 

He jokes, but has a serious meaning underneath, "No, marathon leg races today with him, Josh."  He pats Josh on the back in appreciation.  "I'll be in my office."  The President leaves ahead of them. 

 

****  

 

"OK, Josh, let's move."  Leo turns and walks with measured steps to the door.  Josh is holding his right elbow, to steady him, if he gets shaky.  Leo is not standing exactly upright, but he might look, to the passerby, as if bent in thought, as he's walking.  Not too noticeable. 

 

After the short ride down in the elevator to the main floor, Josh follows him out still holding his elbow. "Leo, you better take a pit stop here in the first floor's main living room, before we step out onto the portico." 

 

Josh reminds him, "Out there, you might be observed from one of the other windows of the White House or other staff."

 

Leo agrees to his suggestion, "Just let me rest of the arm on the couch, I don't want to sit all the way down, till I get to my office."  Leo is already panting slightly, with the effort to walk across the room.  This is the longest distance he has gone, since the pain and stiffness set in.  He is so glad, now, that the adrenaline got him up to the Residence.  

 

Josh agrees, as he lowers him the small distance.  "OK, good idea, Leo."  Josh is planning a strategy, something he excels at.  "I think I have another idea.  It might be harder to pull off, without your suit coat."  He thinks some more, fine-tuning his plan, "Lets see." 

 

Josh finally has the answer he's looking for, "Can you get your hands down into your pants pockets?  If you can, then the public will not be able to see your hands.  To keep them from noticing your face, you can hang your head down, like your concentrating and listening to what I'm saying, as we walk to the Oval Office."  

 

"I agree."  Leo has been busy resting and trying to slow down his breathing, "Good thing you went to college.  It's coming in handy."  Leo jokes at Josh's ability to strategize on his feet.

 

"Nah," Josh calmly acknowledges, "that's just my naturally devious mind at work."

 

"Speaking of plotting and planning, I thought that the President was going to order me to stay at the Residence, till I was well.  Even if he had to order the agents to keep me from leaving the White House."  Leo voices his amazement at his friend letting him leave the White House this evening.

 

 After spending time with all of them this weekend, Josh knows how protective the President is of him.  "Yeah, he would Leo.  Hey, just think, you can be tucked away at Margaret's now.  Not too bad luck there, Leo."

 

"Yeah, it does sound good doesn't it?"  Leo grins at the thought of spending more time with Margaret.

 

"Right and I have her keys now."  Josh cheerfully adds.

 

"That's gonna cost us in food," Leo continues the constant family joke of Josh's appetite.   

 

Josh just laughs, "You know that you just love to feed me."

 

Leo grins his crooked smile at Josh.  "You're right.  You are a challenge to fill up." 

 

Leo sighs, "Let's go again.  I want to get there, before I give out completely and Abbey gets to tear my ass for even trying to go to the office.  The President would 'have' his excuse to keep me tucked away in the Residence and in Notre Dame clothing." 

 

Leo holds out his right arm for Josh to get him on his feet and it's not too bad this time.  Leo works at getting his hands into his pockets.  He can get the left one in on his own, but Josh has to help him with the right one, it's more swollen from the fight. 

 

"See, Leo, no one that sees you from a distance will think anything is different."  Josh is pleased with his plan.  "Just look at the ground.  I'll hold your elbow from a distance and look like I'm getting your attention.  Just let me lead." 

 

"That's the plan, we're going with."  Leo tries to sound confident, "I'm to look preoccupied and do my best to look normal." 

 

"Yeah, you can do it.  Once in the Oval Office, you can take another pit stop," Josh promises Leo with a goal. 

 

"Get me moving, Josh," Leo knows he can stand only so long and the portico is a long walk. 

 

"OK, lets get you up to speed and out the door," He takes Leo firmly under the elbow to give support and balance. 

 

They do make great progress on the Portico.  Leo falters once, but Josh steps in front of him and holds both arms and chats away like he's the one stopping Leo's stroll on the Portico.  Both seriously know that Leo would not be able to catch his fall, with his hands stuck in his pockets.

 

They make it to the Oval Office door and the President is hurrying over to meet them, when he sees them approach.  The President and Sam are in the office, discussing the wording of a speech. 

 

As they get Leo in the door, the President is guiding them by holding Leo's right elbow.  Sam has moved to Leo's left side to keep him for listing to that side.

 

Standing behind Leo, Josh has slipped his hands under Leo's arms, in case he buckles on them.  "I've got him, now that we're inside," Josh reassures all of them.  Leo is just trying to catch his breath, which has a hitch in it from the pain of walking so far. 

 

They stop Leo in front of a chair by the side of the door.  Josh instructs, "We need to get his hands out of his pockets, before he can sit down.  I had to help him with getting the right hand in."  

 

The President recruits help, "Sam, get his hand out over there, while I get this one."  He then calls out, "Charlie."

 

"Yes, Sir," is Charlie's automatic response, as he swing open the door to the outer offices.

 

"Could you get Leo a glass of water from the sideboard over there?"  The President requests, since Leo breathing sounds a little ragged.

 

"Sure thing, Mr. President."  He quickly brings a glass over to them. 

 

The President is carefully working out the right hand from Leo's pocket and Sam is gently removing the left. 

 

Leo is shaky from the exertion of the walk and he's concentrating on his breathing, more than what his friends are doing to help him. 

 

Josh is now carefully holding Leo around his upper chest, so he can lean back on him, till it's safe to set him down. 

 

The President has finally gotten the swollen right hand free of the pocket.  "OK, Josh get him in the chair." 

 

"Sam, steady him on your side and we'll lower him down," Josh instructs, as he steps out from behind Leo to the right.

 

Leo clamps his teeth down and stifles a loud moan.  He will 'not' curse in the Oval Office.  Mrs. Landingham made sure he knew that rule.

 

"Charlie, please inform Margaret that Leo has arrived and is resting here first," the President requests. 

 

"Certainly, Sir."  Charlie immediately leaves to deliver the message. 

 

Sam is waiting with the water for Leo.  The President holds out his hand for the glass and then helps Leo to awkwardly clutch the glass for a few sips.  " You just sit, till your ready to go to your office, Leo.  That was the longest walk you'll have to do this week."

 

"Ok, I'll sit a minute," Leo pants just now able to speak, "It was a long walk from the Residence," he agrees and grins at his friend like he just ran a marathon.   

 

Sam puts a positive spin on Leo's valiant effort to walk to his office, "If it makes you feel any better, Leo.  Your walk on the portico will alleviate any rumors that CJ might have to deal with in the Pressroom, that you're incapacitated from your attack.  Most likely you were observed walking here and I'm sure your ploy worked, since no one could get close enough to take note of your face."

 

"Thanks, Sam.  It does help."  Leo is breathing better, as the pain recedes, "I'll also be placing some calls from my office today. To stop any rumors on the hill."

 

"Sam, are you in a hurry to get back to your office?"  Josh asks, now that Leo seems to be recuperating.

 

"No, I'm not done with the President, yet," Sam quickly answers helpfully.

 

"Can you help get Leo back up, when he's ready?  If you would, I can go check in at my office."  Josh doesn't want to sound like he's abandoning Leo.  "He really needs to rest few minutes and he will just push himself, if he thinks he's holding me up." 

 

"Thanks, Dad."  Leo sarcastically chimes in, since he can hear what Josh is saying.

 

The other men chuckle at the cute remark. 

 

"Sure, Josh, I can help him."  Sam's happy to help, "Glad to."

 

"Thanks, Sam."  Leo answers for Josh, "You two just continue with your meeting and I'll sit here and try to remember how breathe again."

 

"Sure, Leo."  Sam knows that Leo's joking is to cover his pain.

 

The President tried to assure Leo that he shouldn't push himself, "There's no pressure for you to move.  We can just finish up our meeting and then Sam will help you to your office." 

 

After 15 minutes, the President and Sam finish up their meeting. 

 

"Leo, how you doing?"  The President and Sam are gathering up their notes and are still at the President's desk.

 

"I'm fine, now.  Mr. President," Leo nods his head, "I'm ready to move to my office, if Sam is willing to stand me up."

 

"Whenever you're ready to try it, Leo?"  Is Sam's attempt to put a positive attitude to the task at hand.  

 

Charlie enters the Oval Office with a file for the President's next meeting.  After the President thanks him, Charlie holds out his hand, offering to take Sam's notes with him to the outer office. 

 

Sam smiles at him, acknowledging that Charlie always seems to be where he's needed and knows all the small things to do to help.

 

Leo can tell that Sam is talking false courage and he encourages him, "Come, get a hold of me and stand me on my feet, then."

 

Sam is a little cautious.  He's afraid of hurting Leo, so Leo gives him instructions on how to go about getting him out of the chair.  "Sam, bend your knees and grab me under the arms," Leo orders softly. 

 

Sam tentatively places his flat hands under Leo's arms.  "I won't break and yes, it will hurt.  We just go ahead and do it anyway."

 

Sam takes a steadying breath, "OK, Leo, here we go." After the hesitant start, Sam successfully gets Leo on his feet.  They move slowly, shoulder to shoulder, across the room and enter Leo's office. 

 

Margaret is there and waiting for them.  Charlie had called and let her know they were in route.  She points to the couch and Leo gives her a glare.  She can guess that he was intending to sit at his desk.  "We agreed that you would work from the couch." 

 

Margaret knows that Leo sees it as a sign of weakness in his office.  "Just the President, the senior staff and three assistants, including myself, will be allowed in here. I promise, Leo!" 

 

He's glaring back at her in a stalemate.  "Leo, on the couch, or I call in Abbey and we take you home, right now."  She has the last word and he knows it.

 

"All right.  Sam, help me down and bend your knees.  We don't need any one else to have a bad back."  Sam smiles at Leo's gruff attitude, he knows that it's Leo's way of surrendering. 

 

Leo moans again, as his painful ribs and bruised muscles protest at the strain of being used.  "I'm on the couch, Margaret, happy?"  He gives one last protest and then resigns to his fate. 

 

He looks at the grinning young man, "Thanks, Sam." 

 

"No Problem, Leo.  I'll leave you to Margaret's care, now."  Sam sounds relieved to have completed his task and happy to be turning Leo over to someone else.

 

 

"Yes, I am happy now, Leo.  I'll get you some coffee and a list of what is pressing and your messages."  Margaret helps to get his feet up on the couch, so he can stretch out.

 

"Leo, call me if you need help!"  Sam calls from the door, enjoying the sight of Margaret fussing over her Leo.

 

Leo tears his eyes away from Margaret and what she's doing for him, to answer Sam.  "Sure, thanks again, Sam, it's going to be a long week." 

 

The smile is back on his face, as Margaret drops a kiss on his forehead, before crossing into her office.  He's still panting from his walk and holding his side, till the pain subsides.  Leo closes his eyes for a moment.

 

Margaret returns and places the coffee on the table, "Leo, this would be a good week to cut down on your coffee consumption.  It's a long way to the restroom."

 

He looks at the coffee cup, "Damn, you're right about that, Margaret." 

 

"I always am, Leo."  She hands him an ice pack wrapped in a towel.  He knows where to place it and does so, with a sigh. 

 

****   

 

Leo's first call is to Mallory to reassure her that he's well enough to be in his office and that Margaret is bossing him today.

 

Mallory laughs, as she teases her dad that she's also aware of Abbey keeping an eye on him.  She went behind his back and called her earlier this morning, to get the real explanation of his injuries. 

 

She gets him to promise to check back with her this evening to tell her how his day at the office went. 

 

He's honest with her about how he looks, since she 'has' talked to Abbey and he's not encouraging her to come and see him.  He doesn't want her to be upset, if he can avoid it.  It would just scare her and her tears would hurt him all the more.  He again makes her promise to stay in groups and keep an eye out for trouble.

 

Leo is kept busy most of the morning with phone calls and Margaret is taking notes and letter dictation.  She especially has to be there to dial the phone for him. 

 

He tries to use a fingertip to do it, but he keeps hitting the wrong numbers.  He also has to pace himself on the calls, with his breathing. 

 

Margaret's already teases him about how he doesn't want to do any heavy breathing on the phone. 

 

Donna is trying to cover more of Margaret's work, so she can be Leo's hands today.  An agent is outside the door and knows who 'is' allowed into Leo's and even Margaret's office, so no one bypasses the main door. 

 

Margaret is going crazy trying to hear Leo and to also keep the connecting door closed.  It's a little scary to realize that it's quieter around the office.  Leo has trouble bellowing for Margaret with his breathing restricted and has not yelled at anyone today.  He really is hurting.  

 

At 11:30, Toby drops by to run the spin by Leo that CJ's going to use at the 1pm briefing regarding his attack. 

 

Leo keeps rubbing at his ribs and Margaret has watched it about as long as she's going to.  She hopes Abbey drops in soon.  He's having a little trouble breathing, but he has been talking more today than yesterday.

 

Abbey shows up, while Toby is still there, "How's it going, Leo?"  She moves over to see how he's doing and to check him out. 

 

She observes that he's slightly slouched on the couch.  "Leo, you need to keep your back straighter.  You'll breathe better and your ribs will not be so crowded.  I'll send over some extra throw pillows from my office." 

 

She turns and asks the one person who'll give her an honest answer "Margaret, how is he really?"

 

"His ribs are bothering him."  Margaret then confesses her worry, "I'm afraid that I didn't get the wrap on tight enough." 

 

She quickly adds, "He's getting short of breath, but he's never off the phone long enough to catch his breath and breathe normally."  

 

"OK, lock the doors and lets check it out."  Abbey orders Margaret, now in her doctor mode.

 

Toby is inching toward the door.  Abbey stops him in his tracks, "Toby, can you stay, in case I need help with Leo?"

 

"Sure, Dr. Bartlett, I'd be happy to help."  Toby really is willing.  He just didn't want to invade anyone's privacy, if he wasn't needed.

 

"Margaret, lets get his shirt unbuttoned."  Abbey helps Leo to swing his feet to the floor and assigns the other tasks, to make it a faster process for Leo.  "Toby, can you help me to stand him up?  I can rewrap him quicker if he's standing."

 

"Sure, whatever you need me to do."  He steps past Abbey, to squat in front of Leo, his knees braced on each side of Leo's, against the edge of the couch for leverage.

 

Toby is not as afraid of handling Leo, as Sam was.  He realizes that it's going to hurt and that Leo knows this also.  He's careful, but he doesn't drag it out. 

 

Leo sucks in air again, as he's lifted. 

 

Toby is stronger than he looks and Leo leans on him a moment, when he gets to his feet.  Toby firmly and confidently holds him. 

 

"Turn him to the side, Toby, so we can all get to him."  Abbey instructs.  She slips Leo's suspenders off his shoulders and Margaret unhooks the top of his pants, to get his shirt out of the band. 

 

Leo looks up at Toby's face and cracks to him, "See, they're at it again.  They gang up on me, and then I start losing clothing." 

 

Toby smiles and cracks back at Leo.  "You know, Leo.  Most of the male staff would 'not' have a problem with two women undressing them at every opportunity."

 

 Leo chuckles, "Yeah, but these two women, are painful when they do it."  He feels a definite draft, as Abbey unwinds the wrap from his ribs and Margaret is holding his shirt tail up out of her way.  "Ladies, leave the pants."  Leo warns, as they seem to be drifting south, while they are unbuttoned and without the suspenders to help hold them up.

 

Toby can't resist a chuckle at the serious tone in Leo's voice, indicating Leo defiantly knows there's a risk of losing them.

 

"Leo, whatever gave you the idea that you have a say in your treatments?"  Abbey asks next to his ear, as she's wrapping his ribs from behind, with Toby supporting him in front.

 

"I don't know, Abbey.  It was just a whimsy I had."  Leo answers sarcastically.  "Toby, this is a warning.  Don't get injured, while we're in office.  They'll kill you with their kindness."

 

"I'll keep that in mind, Leo."  Toby is in total agreement and voices this in front of two female witnesses, "The women of the White House are a force to be reckoned with. 

 

"Damn, Abbey.  You're doing it again."  Leo's not in the least ashamed of cussing at her in front of Toby and looks down at his now wrapped ribs.  "If I smother, it'll be because I'm wrapped too tight to inhale." 

 

She's not the least bit daunted by his sarcastic gratitude.

 

Leo's getting shaky at standing so long and Toby can feel the trembling.  No way, is Leo going to hit the floor, with him holding him.  A 'brother in arms' is always a 'brother in arms', figuratively and factually.

 

"OK, I hear you, Leo, but it has to be that way."  Abbey reminds him.  "Leo, we can get you dressed now."

 

Up close to him, she really can notice more fatigue lines and 'that's' not usually this easy to do on his face.  "Leo, you do look tired.  You need to eat and then nap on the couch." 

 

"Abbey, I have work to do."  He grumbles at more orders and is tired of being handled.

 

"You rest, Mister, or you're out of here."  She looks unflinching at him, "Doctor's orders."

 

"Yes, Abbey," Leo agrees.  He's too tried to argue, but won't admit it.  He knows she means well and gives her a grin to show he's not upset with her.

 

Margaret has been getting his shirt back on and sliding her hand around inside his pants to tuck his shirt back in. 

 

Leo notices that Toby is avoiding any indication that he's aware of it.  Leo softly mentions, as if the women can't hear him, "See what I mean, Toby.  I don't even get to enjoy the good parts of this either." 

 

Toby grins slightly and snickers against his own restraint.  '

 

Margaret gives Leo a glare that Toby can't see, as she ties his tie and he grins at her face. 

 

Abbey is more direct and snaps his suspenders back onto his shoulders.  "Ow, Abbey.  Thanks a lot."  

 

"That was for the macho remark," she assumes if he can make remarks like that, he's fair game for payback.  She reasons to herself that it'll make him feel that he's not being coddled too much.

 

Leo tries to atone, "OK, Abbey, but it was said with all due respect."  He's voice is muffled, since he has his forehead resting on Toby's chest at this point, after balancing there, while Toby moved each of his hands away, when Abbey slipped his suspenders up his arms. 

 

"Right," she sounds unconvinced.  "Leo, remember you're to rest this afternoon."

 

"Yeah, I hear you," he quietly answers, as he tries to hang onto Toby arms with his wrists, while sitting back down.  He's worn out.  But his ribs are feeling better.

 

After he's completely down and indulges in a sigh of relief, he looks at the man still standing in front of him, "Thanks, Toby.  I'm glad you were here to hold me up.  I couldn't have stood that long, alone." 

 

"Anytime, Leo."  Toby tilts his head to the side an gives a slight grin, "I'd hate to see Abbey and Margaret wrestle you around, with you so defenseless and all."

 

Leo grins at Toby, showing that he hears the teasing in his voice, which few people are blessed by.  Leo keeps it going by responding with, "Toby, I'd appeal to Josh, but he's on their side."

 

Toby sidesteps the teasing, "Yeah, you give him too much power and he runs with it."  He pauses before going out the office door.  "Call me if you need me, Leo," Toby seriously offers, as he leaves.

 

Abbey's conferring with Margaret, "You might remind him to practice taking some deep breaths."  Abbey warns.  "We don't want him to develop pneumonia from not breathing deep or moving around enough."  At Margaret's panic look over at Leo, Abbey reassures her with a suggestion, "I think we'll get a therapist in tomorrow who can recommend some exercises that you can help him with."

 

"Sounds good to me, Abbey."  Margaret feels better with the idea of professional help.  "We'll see you later or tomorrow."  She walks Abbey to the door and promises, "I'll call if I have questions."

 

"Please, do that, Margaret."  Abbey looks over at Leo, "All he can do now is heal." 

 

She's feeling a little like Jed in the fact that she wishes Leo would have stayed at the Residence awhile longer.  But Jed and Leo would probably kill each other after more than 48 hours.  So, she leaves him in Margaret's capable hands.

 

 "Leo, it's nearly time to think about lunch."  Margaret knows that eating is the last thing he thinks of in his office.  He's true to form in giving her a dirty look. 

 

Margaret tries another tactic with him, "Donna has volunteered to bring us up something from the mess." 

 

He knows that Donna wants to feel that she's helping with him, like Margaret and Josh.  "Sounds good." 

 

His eyes are scanning the files for the one he was reading before Toby arrived, with CJ 's news release.

 

Margaret informs him of what's next on his schedule, as she looks it over.  "After lunch, you're going to have a nap." 

 

He looks over his glasses at her from where he had just started reading the found file.  He makes it a dare, with his look. 

 

So she tells him in advance her plan, "I plan on confiscating your glasses and the files.  So you might as well resign yourself to it." 

 

He growls and he rubs his side.

Leo gives up on fighting to get some work done, it's an upstream struggle.  "You're right, I am tired. 

 

I need Josh again soon, for the restroom, if he's available.  If not, maybe Charlie is available?"  He can control some things in his schedule today and he needs to walk some, before taking a nap.  If he sits too long he just gets worse. 

 

He reminds Margaret about the other guys, "Toby already helped today and Sam is over eager and is nervous he's going to hurt me, at the same time." 

 

"Let me go call and check who's available."  She hurries out to her office to get him some assistance.  "You should rest, till one of them gets here," she throws the advise over her shoulder to him, but it still sounds like an order to him. 

 

"I'm not going anywhere," he sarcastically reminds her, as a tease.  "Let me know, when ya get one of the guys that's free."  ~This had better 'get the hell easier', by tomorrow.~

 

****  

"Hey, Leo," Charlie greets him, as he enters from the Oval Office.  "Margaret called that you need an escort across the Oval Office to the little boys room."  Charlie stops to stand in front of Leo, looking helpful.  

 

"The what?"  Leo can stop himself from asking such a dumb question.  Charlie grins at him that he got Leo to take the bait, since the President just reminded him to use the reference.

 

"The President refers to it, as the 'Little Boys Room'.  He takes delight in that title for some reason and I'm not asking," Charlie tries to look innocent.

 

Leo looks at him, still debating if he should pursue this any further.  He resists asking anything else about it, since the President is involved somewhere in the answer.  "Smart thinking, Charlie. 

 

Frist, I need you to get me standing up."  He gives the basic instructions to Charlie, as he steps closer to the couch.

 

"Sure thing."  Charlie is never ruffled at the tasks he performs for the White House, "Piece of cake, Leo."  It is easier than expected, as Charlie is now a sturdy adult, no longer the lanky young man that started there, not so long ago.

 

They're soon standing up with just a little wobble and Leo waits for the pain to recede a moment, before they take off through the door into the Oval Office.  

 

"Going for a stroll, Leo?" the President looks up from his paper work on his desk. 

 

Leo can't resist a smart comeback to his friend, "Yeah, I now know how a dog feels being taken for a walk every few hours, to water the trees and the fire hydrants." 

 

He pauses a moment to touch his finger tips to the top of a couch to catch his breath.  Leo was hoping to make it all the way to the restroom and start back, before sitting for a pit stop. 

 

Charlie never lets go of his right arm and stays about a half a step behind Leo, in case he would start to buckle.  Just the way he observed Josh walking him through earlier. 

 

The President, chuckles at that visual.  "Well, at least we walk you inside," he flips back, resisting the urge to go and help.  Leo would just growl at him.  "See you on your return pass."

 

They arrive at the small personal restroom.  "Leo, do you need me to stay with you?"  Charlie asks with genuine concern, he can tell Leo is a little shaky already. 

 

"Charlie, that's not being a bad idea.  Not, what I had hoped for, but at this point, niceties are gone with the wind."  He warns and predicts, "If I fall, Abbey will never let me out of the Residence again.  Just stand behind me, at the door and catch me, if I start to go down." 

 

"No problem, Leo."  Charlie has a serious tone to his voice, "I do 'not' want to explain how you hit the floor on my watch, to Dr. Bartlett or the President."  

 

Leo leans one forearm on the sidewall and manages to take care of matters without incidence.  Except.  "Charlie, I am going to need your help.  I can't get the zipper back up without both hands and right now neither one want to cooperate."

 

"Turn around, Leo.  I can help!"  Charlie can't resist, after hearing Leo remark about being Josh's kid this week, "I do this all the time for the little boys at church." 

 

"Great, now the staff is referring  to me as two year old."  Leo tries to sound depressed, but the laughter in his voice gives it away, " First the President, then Josh and now you." 

 

"Well, at least I'm in good company."  Charlie cracks back and grins, as he finishes.  He takes Leo by the right arm, which he was using to lean on the wall, "We better get you to a chair, before you 'do' hit the floor."

 

Leo agrees with a casual reply, "Now, sounds like a good time for me to check in on the President," the sheen of sweat on his forehead shows that Charlie is right. 

 

"Sound like a plan to me, Leo," Charlie gets him moving, as he wasn't kidding, when he said he did not want to explain Leo hitting the floor.

 

They get Leo to the chair at the end of the couches and after getting him down, Charlie steps out of the office for a moment. 

 

"How's it going, Mr. President," Leo asks flippantly, as if he 'just hangs around' the Oval Office all the time.  

 

'Fine, Leo, I see your pacing yourself."  The President takes a small break in his reading, "What's on Margaret and Abbey's schedule for you this afternoon?" 

 

"When I finally manage to return to my office."  Leo looks away and admits, "I'm lined up for lunch and a nap." 

 

The President really smiles at his kindergarten schedule. 

 

Leo tries to defend his acceptance of the unusual behavior.  "I try to avoid either of those in my office, but Abbey threatened to throw me out." 

 

The President still looks pleased at Leo being handled by the women. 

 

Leo now informs him of what he has put up with already today.  "They both managed to strip me to the waist already in my office.  Toby was drafted to hold me up for the torture.  Told him I keep losing clothes every time those two women get me in a closed room." 

 

Leo admits that Toby was not sympathetic at that part, " He had trouble finding fault with that, till I reminded him that they usually manage to make it painful for me."  He ends with an indignant look on his face.

 

The President laughs at the shock Toby must have had to overcome, to see Leo being undressed in his office, by the two women.  He must have thought the sky was falling.  "How did Toby take this revelation in your stature, of being in total control of the West Wing," the President just had to ask.

 

"He was very supportive of the ministrations that I've had to endure."  Leo admits that Toby was a firm supporter, "He seemed to consider it an act of bravery on my part and tried to get me to see the lighter side." 

 

Leo feels that some merit should be told in Toby's behalf.  "I appreciated his support both physically and morally.  I was pleasantly surprised." 

 

Leo admits more quietly, "I guess he's more upset that this happened to me, than I would have guessed."  This was a long speech for Leo today, but he really wanted to tell his friend, the President, while it was fresh.

 

"Toby is unique, Leo," The President remarks, as if it's a given fact, as he takes off his glasses and lays then on the desk.  "That's why we have him here.  He has a definite sense of what he feels is right and wrong.  He's not a coward to express publicly, when he feels something is wrong, but what he expresses quietly, speaks volumes more."

 

"You're right, Sir," Leo agrees, he knows that there are deep waters in Toby and that they surface with brilliance.

 

Charlie enters and informs the President that Admiral Fitzwallace is outside and wants just a moment of his time. 

 

The President looks at Leo, since he knows Leo can't leave in a hurry.  Leo nods to the side in agreement, to the President.  "Let him in, Charlie," the President stands to walk part way to the door.

 

"Good afternoon, Mr. President," Fitz greets cheerfully.  "I just wanted to stop and thank you for the approval that you sent for the new deep water surveillance robot construction proposal.  I do like a new toy to play with," he adds teasingly like they're all boys at heart.  

 

"I knew you were eager to start," President Bartlett smiles at the big kid in front of him.

 

Fitz scans the room and spots Leo in the chair.  "Sorry, Leo, I didn't see you sitting there.  I can see that the scuttlebutt was correct.  That you were attacked, but I was left the impression it was a mild confrontation.  Your face tells me different."

 

"That is what we wanted to get out there, Fitz," Leo admits to the understated rumors.

 

Fitz has a puzzled look on his face, "Gentlemen, something is strange here.  It'll take me a moment to figure it out." 

 

The Admerial looks at a smiling Leo and at a smiling President. They love to let people figure out this type of mystery. 

 

"Mr. President, Leo is being disrespectful to you and to this office.  He's not standing when you are."

 

The President just chuckles, "The truth is, Fitz, that you're right.  But He's 'not standing' on purpose."

 

"Sir?" Fitz asks in disbelief, he knows Leo is a veteran and is strict with protocol.

 

"Fitz, if I want Leo to stand, I'd have to go over and stand him up myself." The President is tickled at the blank look on Fitz's face.

 

"Sir?" Fitz again asks in misunderstanding.

 

"You're right, Fitz."  The President finally lets Fitz know the whole story.  "Leo 'was' attacked Saturday evening, in a kidnapping attempt.  He has bruised, or even hairline cracked ribs and he has to have assistance to stand or walk." 

 

President Bartlett enjoys sharing the lowdown with Fitz, "The senior staff is really 'enjoying' helping him.  We're keeping him under wraps this week in his office."  He now gets to the serious information, "We're keeping it from the press and not giving the attackers the satisfaction of knowing how badly Leo was injured."

 

Leo pipes in with his own comment, as he has kept quiet as long as he can, "Sir, may I add, in my defense, that it was two against one and they were younger than me." 

 

Fitz grins at this information, "Way to go, Leo!"

 

"Thank you, Fitz.  At least, 'you' appreciate my accomplishment." 

 

He addresses the President, "Sir, maybe you should get Charlie in here, to get me back to my office.  My keeper will be wondering if I made a clean getaway."

 

The President and Fitz both laugh at Leo's scenario.  "Yeah, Leo.  You've littered up my office long enough.  Charlie!" 

 

"Sir, I'd better leave you to throw Leo out."  Fitz sounds like it might get to nasty for him to watch.

 

"Hang in there, Leo." Fitz notices Leo's hands, when Leo teasingly waves off the Admiral's good wishes, as he's leaving. 

 

Fitz stops at the sight and looks Leo seriously in the eye, "You did well."

 

"Thanks, Fitz."  Leo is touched.  He knows that Fitz sincerely means it.

 

****   

Charlie deposits Leo on the couch and Margaret is there waiting with his lunch.  She has his sandwich cut into fourths for him to manage with his injured hand. 

 

Donna has picked out finger foods for his lunch, after Margaret let her know that Leo still has trouble with using eating utensils. 

 

After he's done, Margaret gives him a no-nonsense look, holding an ice pack in her hand.

 

"I know, help me get my feet up on the couch.  I'll be good and nap for a while."  He's feeling the long morning that he has had and is not really resisting Margaret. 

 

"Lock the doors, while I'm sleeping and let Charlie know, so he can inform the President."

 

"Good idea, Leo."  Margaret smiles at a thought, as she removes his shoes and covers him with his Air Force throw blanket, "We wouldn't want the President to break his nose on the locked door, when tries to walk on in."

 

Leo is still trying to run the show in some small way, "I'm to meet my security team later this afternoon."

 

Margaret totally ignores the reference to work, "Leo, rest.  Here's an ice pack for your ribs."  She tucks it in beside him to rest on his ribs. 

 

"Are you resting with me," he invites with a gleam in his eyes.

 

"Leo, we can't share that little couch with your sore ribs," she points out the practical reasons, "plus, I have things to catch up on, while you're sleeping and you don't need me in here with you."

 

"I always need you, Margaret."  Leo looks at her with hooded eyes, "Give me some kisses to go to sleep with.  I need to get my endorphins working.  We were told it helps with my pain." 

 

She rolls her eyes at him  "Leo, you use any excuse."

 

"Whatever works, as long as I get kissed," he smiles at her expectantly, his bruised hands laying at the edge of the throw across his chest.

 

She sits gently on the side of the couch facing him and cups his multi-colored face in her hands.  Glad that she's able to do so today, in his office and not at a hospital. 

 

They exchange some passionate kisses, which soon escalate to include some warm caressing, that leaves her as breathless as he is. 

 

"Leo, we have got to quit doing this during the day.  It messes with my mind," she admits and sounds as winded as Leo.  

                         

"It messes with my mind, too, and now I can go to sleep happy," he says in a way of thanks. 

 

Leo settles in more comfortable on the mound of throw pillows that are behind his back for support.  He closes his eyes with a sigh of contentment, as he drifts off to sleep.

 

****    

 

Margaret later hears Leo wake, just before 3pm.  She has been listening to his office with the intercom for him to call for her, since he can't bellow as he normally does.

 

"Leo, you have the meeting with your new security team at 3:30,"  she reminds him, as she opens the window blinds to let the daylight back into the office.

 

She looks at him, as he rubs the sleep from his eyes.  "Do you need me to get Josh for you?  To make a run to the restroom or do you think you'll wait, till we leave for the apartment at 4pm?"

 

"I'm 'not' leaving at 4pm in the afternoon," Leo firmly declares. 

 

"That's Abbey's orders," Margaret calmly reminds him.

 

Leo frowns, as he thinks of a strategy, "Tell her, I just woke from a nap and I'll compromise and leave at 5pm." 

 

He next comes up with valid reasons, "I need to check with the President and I still have a few calls to make."  He convinces himself that it's reason enough. 

 

"Since, I'm staying till 5pm, go ahead and get me Josh.  We can both check in with the President on the way back." 

 

He happily adjusts his schedule to his liking.  "We can then have the meeting with the security team at 4pm, so you'll need to call them about the delay." 

 

"Well, your feeling better after your nap.  You're just full of orders.  Let's hope your steam holds out," Margaret is smiling with Leo acting more like his old self. 

 

It makes her hopeful for the week to come,  "Leo, practice your deep breaths and here's you a bottle of cold water to sip." 

 

He takes a sip of the water and hands her the bottle back. 

 

"Let me get your feet down off the couch and you can get your bearings, while I get Josh," Margaret plans her own list of things to accomplish. 

 

She's just a flurry of activity now that he's awake.  "Just a minute and I'll be back to dial your phone and you can make one business call, while you're waiting."

 

Margaret returns after making the two calls.  Leo looks a little better than he did when she set him up, a just few minutes ago, now that he's fully awake. 

 

She worries that his pain meds are now past the halfway mark and will start to fade from now on.  It may be a long evening. 

 

"Here, Leo, the Senator is on the line."  She places the phone in his right hand, as it's the arm he can hold up for any length of time. She lays out the corresponding file, on the coffee table in from of him.

 

Tomorrow she's bringing her headphone jack for him to use, since his desk phone is the only one he can use the speakerphone on and he's not sitting at his desk all day.  Cordless phones are not secure and the cell phone is too small for him to hang onto.

 

Josh arrives and Leo is just finishing with his call and they both know the routine for getting him to his feet. 

 

They make an uneventful restroom run and Leo again makes a stop in the Oval Office on his return pass.

 

"Mr. President," Leo addresses him to indicate at he has now caught his breath and is able to begin their end of the day briefing. 

 

"Hey, Leo.  I see that Josh is taking good care of you today."  The President's in good spirits this afternoon, " First, I'll let you two get me up to speed on what you've been up to today." 

 

Josh details the meetings that he covered for Leo and them Leo informs them of the progress he made with his phone calls. 

 

"Well, looks like the three of us managed to keep the day as normal as possible." 

 

He smiles at Leo and teases; "I expect to see you shortly passing through here, again on your way out." 

 

"I managed a compromise with Abbey and I'm leaving at 5 instead of 4, as a reward for my 2-hour nap this afternoon," Leo's not ashamed of his strategy.  It worked! 

 

"I meet with my new security team at 4 and I need to make a few more calls, now that we've combined our information for the day." 

 

He lets his friend in on the threat given to him, "Margaret has orders to drag me out by my heels, if I refuse at 5.  So, one way or the other I'll be seeing you on my way out."

 

Josh joins in on the teasing, "Don't worry, Leo.  I won't let Margaret drag you out by your heels."  He grins, with his dimples showing, and looks at Leo and the President, before he finishes with, "I'll just get Toby to help me, to bodily carry you to the car." 

 

Leo challenges back, "I'm going to have an agent by then and he won't let you man handle me out."

 

"OK, then he can help them," The President cheerfully adds his permission, like it's a favor he's giving.

 

Leo sighs and gives up in defeat, "Guess, I'm outta here then at 5."

 

"Yes, you will be."  His friend states and then reminds him, "Remember, I answer to Abbey, after you leave."

 

"Yes, Sir."  Leo concedes, "See you at 5."

 

"I'll have him here, Sir."  Josh promises, as he helps Leo up for the journey back to his office.

 

"Thanks, Josh," the President watches them leave the room.  Impressed by the fact that bouncing Josh is so helpful and careful with Leo.  He's equally impressed with Leo accepting Josh as a caregiver.  Those two can run the country for him and still care for each other. 

 

How did he get so lucky with a senior staff that fits so well together, like an extended family?  Great things should come from this administration with this kind of bonding.

 

****   

They make it back to

Leo's office with better speed, and Margaret is coming in through her office door to inform him that the security detail is waiting out in the hall.

 

"Send them in, Margaret, and could you get Donna over here,"  Leo asks, before Josh helps to lowers him to the couch. 

 

After he's down, Leo continues, "Then I'd like you both to pop into the meeting long enough to meet the team." 

 

He looks up at the eager young man in front of him, "Josh, you can stay for the introductions, can't you?"

 

"Sure, Leo."  Josh looks relieved to be invited, "With me popping in and out at the apartment, I'd like them to recognize me." 

 

Leo nods his head in agreement and gently rubs the top of his right hand with the side of his other hand.  The healing process is itching a bit.  "That's why I want the Margaret and Donna to meet them as well."

 

The five members of his new security detail enter, including the head of his detail, "Good afternoon, Mr. McGarry, I'm Agent Mike Collins. I'm here to head your personal detail, to inform you of the member rotation and how we'll be escorting you."  

 

"Hi, Mike.  Go ahead, it's your meeting," Leo agrees, as he's anxious to know how they're going to run his life. 

 

Agent Collins sees the look of mild despair in Mr. McGarry face and starts his professional briefing, "Thank you, Sir.  I need to introduce you to the detail members.  There will be three main agents, on an 8-hour rotation and two additional members to relieve us.  With each shift, the new agent will do a sweep of the area, prior to relieving the agent on duty and the agent leaving will have an area to sweep as well.

 

Small concessions will be made, when you are in safe areas, due to the low technical techniques of the attackers.  Their pattern is to catch you outside and alone. 

 

We won't take any risks, but will try to give you some personal freedoms. 

 

The President has requested that Ron Butterfield oversee Agent Cooper's investigation into your attack and to also oversee your protection detail, therefore I will be reporting directly to him and he will step in when needed.  Making him the one constant is this matter. 

 

If there are any questions, please feel free to ask me or ask any of the other detail agents." 

 

"That sounds fine to me," Leo nods approval to Agent Collins, as he thinks he can live with this arrangement, so far. 

 

"I just want to introduce all parties, that will be involved in my daily life, to each other.  That way no awkward situations will arise." 

 

Agent Collins nods his approval now, so Leo continues, as he points with his right hand.  "Josh Lyman, here, is my Deputy COS and is a constant visitor at the apartment, as is his assistant and girlfriend Donna Moss. 

 

I know Margaret wants to meet the agents that will be escorting us and camped outside the apartment." 

 

He looks directly at Agent Collins and then states, "I 'do' want you to realize that the only reason I agreed to security at all, is due to the fact that if I keep Margaret with me, then she is secure also." 

 

He blows out a labored breath, "She was threatened and 'is not' a candidate for your services and she will 'not' let me privately supply her with her own protection." 

 

He pauses to catch his breath, again, "So, Gentlemen, you have her to thank that I'm taking this as well as I am.  I just wanted you to realize, before the women get here, that I'm choosing the lesser of two evils." 

 

He gets sarcastic, as he reflects on how much he hates having security, "You can grin now.  My life has been taken over by those around me, who care about me and I hope I'll fully recover from them."

 

He explains this, due to the fact that the whole White House knows that Leo McGarry never takes orders, except from the President, he gives them.

 

"Yes, Sir" Agent Collins confirms, "We are aware that Miss Ryan will be with you and we will extend our protection to her, as well.  So long as you both realize that you are our number one priority."  

 

"Fine!" That's exactly what Leo wants to hear, but he warns Agent Collins, "I just want to remind you of my promise to Coop last Saturday night.  If Margaret needs protection and you do 'not' provide it, I 'personally' will protect her myself and you can follow along, if you feel so inclined." 

 

Agent Collins almost smiles, but he knows Leo McGarry is serious, "We'll keep that in mind, Sir."

 

Leo looks at all five men assembled, till they all nod in understanding. 

 

Margaret sticks her head in the connecting office door.  "Leo, Donna is here with me.  Is it all right for us to come in now?"

 

"Yeah, Margaret," Leo signals them to come into the office. The women stop just inside the door with this being an official meeting that they're normally not invited to attend.  "This is Agent Collins and he's the head of my security detail. The ladies are

 Miss Ryan and Miss Moss." Agent Collins acknowledges the introductions with a nod to each. 

 

He then starts the team introductions to those in the room, "Mr. McGarry, the other detail members are Agent Warren Lewis, Agent Buck Rideout, Agent John Young, and Agent Richard Moore." 

 

"Hello, Gentleman."  She returns the introductions, "I'm Margaret Ryan and this is Donna Moss.  It's nice to meet you.  We really hope this is an uneventful detail for you." 

 

Donna asks, while she has Agent Collins' attention, "Did Leo tell you that Josh and I have a pass card to the building and a key to the apartment?" 

 

She continues right on when the agent doesn't interrupt her, "Margaret has talked to the management at the building and they are aware of this."  She lastly adds, "The manager was agreeable that we can use Leo's parking space, while his car is here."

 

Agent Collins has a pleasant look on his face, as he answers Donna.  "Actually, I'm glad you brought that up, Miss Moss.  We'll have another space assigned for you to park in and we're also moving Miss Ryan's car to the White House parking lot, after it as been swept again." 

 

He explains why to the foursome, "We want both of the original parking spots to be left vacant, so if the attackers are prowling the parking lot, they will see both spaces empty. 

 

The management is informing the other residents of this arrangement, when they inform them of our presence there, as well."

 

Agent Collins now directs his comments to Leo, "Sir, we did make all the arrangements with the building managers today and delivered your belongings to the apartment, as promised.  I just want to remind you, that your mail will be returned to both of you here at the White house, after we cleared it."

 

"I finally need to remind you, Mr. McGarry."  The head agent gets serious and he's really talking to the foursome, "That we'll only visually check for your presence in the apartment, if it's absolutely necessary. 

 

We will announce ourselves on our way in.  No need to panic.  We may just need to be in close proximity to you, for emergency reasons.  Do you understand what I am saying?"

 

"Yeah, if I'm shy, I'm to sleep with clothes on," Leo deadpans a reply.  "Anything else, Mike?"

 

"No, Sir, that just about covers it."  Agent Collins ends the meeting with, "We'll keep you informed of any changes."

 

The agents file out with at nod to all in exiting. 

 

Leo is still sitting up on the couch.  He couldn't stand up for the meeting, but he does at least look somewhat capable with his feet on the floor.

 

Josh and Donna return to his office.

 

Leaving Leo and Margaret looking at each other, with sweet sadness and resignation, at the way their lives are about to change.  There's just a touch of a silver lining, to the dark cloud over them.  Leo holds his arms slightly wide, inviting Margaret into the hug they both need.  Cuddling will have to wait till later.

 

****  

Margaret is sitting next to Leo on the couch, leaning on his shoulder, as he can't put his arm around her right now, "Leo, it's after 4:30 and you need to ice your ribs again, before you head for the car." 

 

Margaret reminds him of the bad part, "It's going to be a long walk and getting in and out of the car will be painful."

 

"Yeah, I know."  He's caressing her hand with his thumb, as it is the only finger working at the moment. 

 

"Damn, I just had a bad thought.  I have to make it look good, when I'm getting in and out of the car, in case we're being watched here or at the apartment, by the attackers."

 

"Well, Leo.  If I get in first, I can help to catch you, as you get in and shove you back out," she bluntly suggests.  "The windows are tinted.  No one will see me doing it."

 

Leo just stops cold and stares at her.  You can just see the thought processes going on in his head, "That just sounds like something I should say is a really dumb notion and totally unnecessary, but I'm starting to think you might be right." 

 

Leo's agitated in his brain storming, trying to work out the best plan of action.  "I 'do' have to twist my body to get in, no matter how I work it.  Short of looking like I'm being put into the back of a police cruiser and 'that way' would obviously draw attention." 

 

He pauses thinking out loud and looks at her questioning face, "Margaret, I'll just trust you again with this, 'you're the lady with the plan' in all of this."

 

Her face brightens into a smile, "Thank you, Leo.  I promise, I'll be gentle with you, in the car."

 

"Damn, Margaret."  He looks at her in exasperation, "You said that on purpose and you know I'll be in pain in the car.  That line just does something to me and you teased me with it, at every chance this weekend." 

 

He blows out a breath and he cocks his head to the side, "You think you're safe, do you?"  He threatens her with a gleam in his eye.  "Payback can be hell, you know."

 

"Promises, promises, Leo."  She teases him on her way out, to get the ice for his ice pack. 

 

Leo leans his head back on the couch and blows out another exasperated breath that ends with a growl.  ~She's just playing with my mind and I'm happy she is.  Just wait till my body heals and I can turn her loose on the rest of me.  ~ He sighs in content anticipation, as he waits for her return with the ice. 

 

****    

 

Josh pops into the office, with a smile on his face.  "Hey, Leo.  Ready to race me to the car?"

 

"Shut up, Josh," is Leo's automatic response to Josh's happy attitude.

 

"Just kidding, Leo."  Josh doesn't look the least bit chastised.

 

"I know.  I'm ready.  'Margaret'," he does a poor imitation of his former bellow. 

 

Leo removes the ice pack from his ribs and Josh helps him to get his feet back on the floor.

 

"Yes, Leo?"  Margaret sticks her head into the office.

 

"Josh is here to get me to the car.  Can you call and have it brought around to the portico, in about five minutes?"

 

He gets a happy grin on his face, "Shut down the office and grab your things, Margaret.  They're throwing us out for the night."

 

"Being a little optimistic, Leo."  Josh questions with mock disbelief, "Five minutes to the portico.  I said I was joking on the racing." 

 

"Funny, Josh."  Leo's being realistic, "I may have to move fast, before my ribs warm up, after the ice pack." 

 

Leo puts his glasses into his shirt pocket.  "Josh, step out and let the agent know that we're getting ready to leave.  Margaret had informed them earlier that we intended to go at 5pm."

 

"Sure," was the only remark Josh gives, with his hand already on the doorknob to the hall door.

 

While they are waiting for everyone to get ready for the departure, Leo discusses the plan, "Josh, I was thinking earlier that I need to look like I'm getting in and out, as normal as possible, at the car." 

 

Leo explains his strategy to Josh this time.  "Margaret is getting in first to help me from the inside.  You can't help me with your hands, it'll be seen, but you can look like you're crowding me in and block the view of me, as I'm entering the car." 

 

"Yeah, I'll do that, Leo."  Josh is looking at the floor, running the plan through his head.  "You're right. There will be people watching here, namely the press.  At the apartment, we have no idea who will be watching, if anyone."

 

Leo grins and reminds Josh, "Just remember to catch me in the elevator."

 

"That's the plan, Leo."  He grins back at him, glad that Leo is not exhausted this evening, to the point that it would've been impossible to get him discreetly out of the White House. 

 

Josh reminds Leo of the foursome's motto, "We always have a plan."

 

Margaret and the agent enter, "Leo, the car should be there by the time you get across the Oval Office.  I'll just peek in and see if the President is alone."

 

"OK, Margaret," Leo agrees and hold his arms up for Josh to get him up.  "You go first and we'll meet you at the car." 

 

The agent makes a mention into his wrist mike, to the effect that they're leaving the office now.

 

Josh has Leo up and into the Oval Office, in no time at all. 

 

The President gets up from his desk and meets them at Leo's door to walk across with him. 

 

Leo is panting and he pauses at the outside door.  He knows he has to do the next part on his own, even with Josh beside him.

 

The President looks over and personally orders, "Josh, you take good care of getting him into the apartment." 

 

The look he gives Josh is full of meaning, he's trusting Josh to do what he, himself, can't do outside the White House. 

 

He looks at the agent.  "You take good care of him, also."

 

"Yes, Sir."  The agent quickly answers without a doubt.  He's already scanning, while he waits for Mr. McGarry to move out the door.

 

"Good," he turns back to Josh and Leo.  "Leo, I know Margaret will take excellent care of you, so behave and don't give her a hard time."

 

Leo tries to chuckle, "You sound like your sending me to camp for the summer.  I'll be good, Dad.  I promise." 

 

"Come here, you kook," the President steps to Leo and cups him behind the neck and kisses him on the cheek.  He pulls back slightly and softy tells him, "It's hard letting you out of my care, this time, Leo." 

 

He looks at Leo's healing face.  "Love you, man."  He steps away. 

 

With laughter now in his voice, he teases, "Leo, get going, before I change my mind and send a Notre Dame t-shirt home with you to wear tonight." 

 

"I'm going."  Leo acts like that is motivation enough to get him out the door, "No t-shirt!"  Leo steps out of Josh's hold and through the door to the car. 

 

The security driver has the door open and waiting. 

 

Margaret slips in first, as Leo waves her into the car, in a gentlemanly fashion for the onlookers. 

 

Leo holds his breath and grits his teeth.  He sits in one swift motion, as Josh blocks the view at the car door and follows Leo into the car. 

 

The agent speaks into his mic, "'Pilot' is loaded and leaving." 

 

Leo and Margaret look at each other and grin at his codename, while Leo pants for breath and holds his side. 

 

****    

 

Arriving at the apartment building, the agent gets out first and sweeps the area with his eyes and signals for the driver to open the door. 

 

Josh steps out and stays in the car doorway, with his back to the car, as if he too is looking for any trouble. 

 

Leo actually has to grab the back of Josh's belt to get himself pulled up out of the car, even with Margaret pushing from behind.  Hopefully, all of this is not observed, by onlookers, be them friend or foe. 

 

They all move away from the car, with the agent in front and the driver following, till they are safely out of the lobby and past the security door.  The driver then returns to the car, to wait for when Josh is ready to return to the White House. 

 

After the elevator doors close, the agent positions himself in front of the doors, so that he's the first person exposed when the doors open. 

 

Leo is leaning back against Josh, who is again holding him under the arms to hold him up and to give Leo some reprieve, while the elevator takes them to the fifth floor. 

 

As the doors open and the agent precedes them out, Josh asks, "Leo, do you want to do this alone or do you want help?"  

 

"Walk me to the door, Josh.  I don't think anyone will notice here."  Leo is more tired than he anticipated. 

 

Margaret has already popped out after the agent signaled it was safe to step off the elevator and she has the door open to the apartment, so Josh can walk him straight in.

 

"Take him to his room, Josh."  Margaret directs, as she closes the door behind them, leaving the agent outside.  "He'll need to get out of those suit pants and into his soft clothes." 

 

Leo immediately perks up and firmly states, "No shirt, not in the apartment.  Abbey wound me up tighter than a mummy."

 

Margaret follows the guys into the spare room, where Josh helps Leo to sit on the side of the day bed, which is thankfully higher off the ground.

 

Margaret is ready with a plan, "Leo, as soon as we get you changed, I'll go get you an ice pack for your ribs."  Margaret's in charge again, "Josh get his shoes and socks off and I'll get his suspenders, tie and shirt off him." 

 

Leo remarks to Josh, as he sets the shoes under the edge of the bed.  "See, I was just telling Toby this morning.  Every time Margaret and Abbey get around me, I start losing clothes." 

 

Margaret hands Josh Leo's tie and cuff links to set over on the chest of drawers. 

 

"And this is a bad thing, Leo," Josh asks with a huge grin, as he turns back to Leo on the side of the bed.

 

Leo sincerely defends his point, "It is when you're hurting too much to care or they're just going to torture you with another get-well treatment." 

 

"Man, Leo, you are being abused," Josh teases him, trying not to laugh.

 

Leo grins back at Josh," I told her that payback would be hell, but she's not worried at all."  Leo watches Margaret, as she drapes his shirt over the computer chair in his room.

 

She turns back to him and gives him a pointed look, "Leo, I'm right here and since you're in my care tonight, I'd watch what I say about the care you're receiving."  She smirks and has the last dig, "Don't make me call Abbey."

 

Leo immediately sounds sorry and humble, "Yes, Dear.  Anything you say, Dear." 

 

"Uh Oh," Josh sounds the warning.  "He's starting on the DEAR kick again."  Josh looks seriously at Margaret, "Maybe we better hurry and get him ready for his ice pack."

 

Margaret agrees, as Leo is leaning toward his left side.  She can tell he's in pain.  "Ok, Josh, stand him up again, just for a moment." 

 

Josh can tell that Margaret is ready to get Leo's dress pants off.  She has his satin pants out of the drawer and lying beside Leo on the bed.

 

Leo is agreeable and getting playful again with the pain, "OK, but this is how you guys kept me hidden in the Residence.  Dressed in just satin pants and barefoot.  I couldn't have left, if I wanted to."

 

Margaret has laughter in her voice, as she confirms, "That's just the way we plan on keeping you hidden here, Leo."

 

"All right, Leo!"  Josh cheerfully exclaims, "What a great way to be held captive.  Sounds like every male's fantasy come true, to me."

 

"Yeah, but it does get drafty at times," he says this with his teeth clenched, while Josh holds him up, as Margaret drops his suit pants to the floor and crouches down to help him step out of them and into the legs of the satin lounge pants. 

 

Leo grins at Josh and takes a good, but painful breath and goes for the blush.  "Margaret, you know, you should really try to restrain yourself and not strip me down in front of other people.  What we do for fun should be 'our' private business." 

 

Josh snickers at the shocked look on Margaret's face.  He's hoping there's no angry fallout coming his way, since he's still holding Leo up.

 

She leans her head slightly against the side of Leo's thigh in mortification.   

 

She stands and looks at Leo's grinning and bruised face, which keeps her from doing more damage to him.  Margaret sputters at the thought of what Leo just said.  "'Leo', if you'd had said that in front of anyone else, I'd have just died. 

 

At least Josh knows you're just trying to make me blush."  She's still sputtering, "Which I can tell is progressing very nicely from the heat on my face." 

 

She turns the tables on him, "Believe me, if I wanted to strip you down in front of someone, you'd both be blushing, right along with me."  She pulls the pants up over his boxers.

 

"Yes, Dear," he answers sweetly, still grinning.  He likes that thought.  "Ow!"

 

"Sorry, Dear."  She had snapped the pant band onto his stomach, after she had pulled it out a ways, to get a substantial sting to it.  "No more, DEAR, got it?"  She looks sternly at him now that Josh has set him back down and Leo is rubbing the sting mark on his middle, with his fingertips. 

 

She relents seeing the chastised look on his face and leans in to give him a kiss, brushing her breast deliberately on his arm, where Josh can't see. 

 

Leo swallows at her bold action and draws in a shaky breath at her meaning. 

 

She sees Leo swallow hard and understands what he's thinking.  She locks eyes with him briefly and gives him a knowing smile. 

 

He can feel the familiar warm sensation starting in his lower region, as he looks at her and wonders if she's hinting at her readiness for them to get physically closer.  At her next words he's reminded to save these thoughts for later when they are alone. 

 

"Leo, Josh can move you to the couch, while I get you an ice pack."  She directs them with a breathless quality to her voice. 

 

Josh is oblivious to the undercurrent running between the couple.

 

"I really am sorry, Baby."  Leo looks at her earnestly from his place on the bed.

 

"I'd better hear 'Baby' from you."  She smiles, at winning that round.

 

"Lost that one."  He nods his head to the side in acceptance and looks at Josh for understanding.  "I'm not doing so good this weekend.  I'm off my game."

 

Josh, who had been quiet, while Margaret was living up to her red hair, agrees with Leo, "We all go through a slump now and then, Leo.  Might as well go with the flow.  Win some and lose some.  At least you won the argument with Ron this weekend and look at the great way it's turned out." 

 

Josh has Leo on his feet and moving into the living room, as he was reflecting on Leo's weekend.

 

Leo is pleased, "Yeah, this is a nice way to end up."  They were at the couch by now.  "Grab the other throw pillow from Margaret's end and put it here at my end.  I could camp on this couch for the whole week.  I love this couch."  

 

Josh know what Leo means, "Yeah, I'm about to start combing the city for one for my place.  It has Donna and I ruined from using a regular size couch."

 

Leo is glad to get settled into the comfortable couch and Josh helps him to swing his feet up.  Leo lies back with a sigh.

 

Leo warns him, "Just as long as you two don't have any designs on this one."  Now that he's safely planted on the couch, his mind returns to his never ending passion, "Hey, grab the remote and turn the news on, before Margaret gets back in here." 

 

A voice drifts in from the other room, "I heard that Leo, the pass thru window is not sound proof."

 

"Damn and she hears just fine," Leo says to Josh in a mock whisper, he knows that his news watching time is going to be limited.  "I hear you, Baby. "  He answers her in a normal voice.

 

Margaret comes out with a snort as her reply.  She has kicked off her shoes, while she was gone. 

 

"Leo, you rest a moment, while I go and get changed into some soft clothes."  She hands him the ice pack.

 

Josh speaks up, "Guys, if he's ok on his own.  I need to pop back to the White House and I'll check back in here in about an hour or so, with Donna.  Anything you need?" 

 

Margaret look at him like a light bulb went off, "Yeah, Josh.  We'll need some perishables.  It would help if Donna would dash into the carryout for bread and milk.  I was going to go shopping yesterday, on Sunday." 

 

"Sure, I'll let her know and she can call you, before she goes."  Josh volunteers Donna, but he knows she's more than willing to help where she can. 

 

"No rush, I'm going to get us some ice cream, for now and fix something to eat later." 

 

Margaret reassures him that there's no big hurry, "We're not used to eating at this time of the evening and it's still daylight out.  Leo will be busy for a little while, as he wants to check in with Mallory and let her know how his day went." 

 

Josh grins and heads to the door, "OK, tell Mallory, I said hi and I'll call her soon.  Catch you guys later.  The driver is waiting downstairs to take me back to the White House."

 

"Thanks, Josh.  See you later," Leo calls to him, as he leaves the apartment.  Josh shuts the door behind him on the way out.

 

****  

 Leo and Margaret sit at each end of the couch with their ice cream. 

 

Leo has his sitting on his stomach and is working at getting some on the spoon.  Margaret had mashed his with the spoon to get it mushy and he's determined to do this for himself. 

 

Margaret sits at her end and she's facing him propped on the arm of the couch, the same as Leo is facing her, stretched out on the couch.  She has her knees pulled up and her feet resting between his knees on the couch. 

 

She's glad and hopeful at the same time that Leo is trying to get back to doing normal activities.  Margaret sees the determination on his face and teases him, "Doing pretty good there, Leo?"

 

"Yeah, but I usually like a bigger challenge than just trying to fed myself."  He takes another bite of his ice cream and watches Margaret's mouth, as she slowly eats another bite of hers. 

 

She knows he has stopped to watch her and she licks the spoon completely clean.  She's unconsciously wiggling her right toes to caress the inside of his left knee.

 

He playfully asks, "What flavor of ice cream are you eating?"

 

"I'm having chocolate, with chocolate chunks and pecans, and you're having the cherry cordial," she makes it sound like she has the superior flavor.

 

"Can I taste yours?"  Leo asks with his gravely voice and a grin on his face.

 

"Sure, Leo."  She can tell he's in a playful mood, "Here's a bite."  She holds out her spoon for him to taste, just out of his reach, tempting him with it.

 

"No, you bring it here," he invites her in the same gravely and teasing voice.

 

She schooshes around on the couch and feeds the spoonful to him.

 

His eyes twinkle with delight, as he closes his lips over the bite from her spoon, and with her so close he grins and says, "I wanted to taste it after 'you' take the bite." 

 

She grins and scoops a bite into her mouth. 

 

Margaret then hovers over him, bracing herself on either side of him up on her arms and her knees are between his. 

 

She is keeping a space between their bodies to keep from touching his ribs. 

 

Margaret slowly lowers her mouth to his and lets him savor the ice cream taste, from inside her mouth. 

 

His tongue hungrily sweeps around and searches for the flavor combination of Margaret and the ice cream. 

 

She pulls back and is still kneeling between his knees.  She grins and admits, "I usually don't share my ice cream, Leo, but that's definitely a great way of trying new flavors." 

 

"Want to try a taste of my cherry cordial," he invites and pops a bite into his mouth.

 

She places her bowl of ice cream on the coffee table and he extends his arm to do the same with his.

 

"Definitely," she accepts his offer and she crawls back up to suspend herself over him again and leisurely tastes the ice cream from inside his mouth.

 

She has a gleam in her eyes, as she lifts her face from his and looks mischievously at him.  "Oh, Leo, how messy of you, you dropped some of your ice cream on your chest, let me help you," she licks and sucks up the melting bit of chocolate off his chest. 

 

"Margaret, you can't be crawling all over me.  I can't join in with my hands not functioning well," he growls with disappointment and frustration. 

 

She giggles and teases, "I'll help you cool down, Leo," and she takes another quick bite of her ice cream, then hovers over him again and latches onto his mouth to share the cold treat. 

 

They both are enjoying this playful time together, totally oblivious to the outside world. 

 

Leo has his arms against her sides to steady her, with her balanced dangerously over his injured ribs.  " Margaret, …we better take a break." 

 

She grins down at his face, "Why, you afraid that I'll fall on your ribs?"

 

"No, but I do have another reason that is making itself known," Leo answers in a soft rumble.

 

She gives him a look of not understanding.

 

"Margaret, there are parts of me that are working just fine and having you balanced overtop of me is just too much of a temptation."  He continues and gives her a hint.  "I may need a cold shower soon."

 

Her face lights up, as his meaning dawns on her.  "Oh," she bends her head and looks down between their bodies.  Neither one of them is embarrassed at the naturally responding bulge she can see covered in satin that is between them. 

 

She can't help but giggle, "Yes, I'd say that some parts of you are definitely in fine working order." 

 

She looks back at his sad face.  "Oh, Leo, I'm sorry.  This is obviously 'not' the time for us to explore this possibility." 

 

She rolls to the side and tucks herself in beside of him, avoiding contact with the front of him.  "We can slow down and just cuddle for a while, till you calm down." 

 

She's blushing slightly at the compliment that Leo's body is giving her.  She lays her head gently on his shoulder and as she spreads her hand across his chest she can feel his heart beating faster.

 

"Thanks, Margaret."  He pulls her close with his arm and places his other bandaged hand over hers. 

 

He's also slightly red faced at his body's obvious response to Margaret's sexual playfulness, but he doesn't regret it, nor is he embarrassed that she's aware of it. "We both know that the 'right' time will present itself.  When we can express our feelings in a more meaningful way.  For now, I just want you to consider that this is a natural response my body has to my feelings for you.  It's just the way my body reacts to you.  I love you." 

 

He kisses her brow.  "This is going to happen more often and we'll deal with it each time, as we feel comfortable with it, at that moment."  

 

"I love you, Leo."  She turns her face to his and kisses him in return, "Your response to our necking is just the preamble to our future lovemaking and we agreed that we want to savor each step of your journey." 

 

She is glad to be able to define this new reaction that they have to each other and with their changing relationship, which is bringing them closer together. 

 

She looks at their joined hands, "Leo, this is a natural occurring step in that process.  Lets just enjoy this part of our relationship, like we have all the previous ones."

 

She intertwines her fingers with his fingertips, "Physical discovery and exploration sounds like a nice place to start, if we can just get you well enough to fully participate."

 

He sighs with contentment and again gives her a kiss he can't resist doing, before he reveals to her, "Margaret, life doesn't get any better than this." 

 

"I know, Leo," her sigh is an echo of his.

 

****   

 

Josh and Donna arrive back at the apartment with the groceries at about 7:30.  Both are tired, but pleased with the day and what they were able to get accomplished for Leo and Margaret in the office.

 

"Hey, guys, I hope you didn't need any of the groceries, before we got here."  Josh announces, as he enters the living room.  

 

Donna adds, "I bought more ice cream."  She sets her purse down and picks up the bag of groceries, to take them to the kitchen. "Josh said that you were having ice cream this evening and I didn't want Margaret to go into withdrawal, if she runs out."  She looks at the guys, "That's not allowed in the Sisterhood."

 

Leo cheerfully answers, "Thanks Donna, we'll try out the new flavors maybe tomorrow." 

 

Leo adds for Margaret's benefit, "We've already had our ice cream for today."  Leo and Margaret grin at each other at his remark. 

 

He adjusts the second ice pack on his ribs; it helps to keep him cool under the wrap.

 

"No, Josh. Your timing with the groceries is fine."  Margaret breaks eye contact with Leo, to concentrate on answering Josh, "I haven't gone into the kitchen, to look at what we have here to fix for dinner.  So, we haven't decided what to have for dinner." 

 

She makes a decision, while looking at Leo's displeased face at the mention of his kitchen, "How about you guys stay and we can order pizza.  I know Josh would eat pizza daily, if he thinks he can get away with it, plus it's easier for Leo to eat pizza, with his hands injured."

 

"Sounds good to me."  Josh automatically agrees to pizza.  Margaret knows his craving for it too well. 

 

With a hopeful look he blatantly asks, "How about it, Donna, are you OK with us staying for pizza?" 

 

Leo encourages her, "Donna, you two could sneak down to the hot tub for a quick soak, while we wait for the pizza to arrive."

 

Donna looks at Josh's eager face and gives in, "OK, you twisted my arm, we'll stay long enough to have pizza with you guys and Josh can have his soak in the hot tub." 

 

Josh sounds jubilant, "All right.  That hot tub is spoiling me.  I may never live without one in my life again."  

 

Leo quickly interrupts Josh's hug of Donna, "OK, great then.  Josh, can help me up.  I'll take a trip to my bathroom, while your here.  You can change in the spare room and then when your done changing.  You can park me on the couch again."  

 

Josh is immediately at the couch.  He's in a rush now that his time is limited at the hot tub.  "Sure thing, I'm glad to help you and that's the men's bathroom, Leo.  I keep my stuff in there, also."

 

Leo grins at Josh, "Good, then you can clean it the next time." 

 

"Talked myself right into that one didn't I?"  Josh grins back at Leo, glad that Leo will be in the apartment now.

 

Josh gets Leo into the men's bathroom with just a little help from him, even if it is slow going.  Leo is doing better with the ice pack back on this evening. 

 

"Leo, just let me in long enough to grab my swimwear, and then when I'm done changing, I'll knock on the door."

 

A short time later, Leo is again settled onto the couch and Josh is waiting for Donna to emerge from Margaret's room.  Josh is getting impatient, "Come on, Donna.  Are you ready yet?  The hot tub is calling out to me."

 

"Keep your pants on, Josh.  I'm ready."  Donna answers him in an exasperated tone. 

 

"Donna, I do have my pants on.  At least for now," he steals a quick kiss from her, when she emerges, while she's tying the sash to her cover-up. 

 

"Josh, you keep that going and you'll be keeping them on for a long time and you know what I mean." 

 

She looks at Margaret, "Men can be a pain to deal with, when they start to get frisky." 

 

"Yeah, I know what you mean."  She shares a grin with Donna, "Mine is just starting to get that way.  He just has had a set back this week, but he likes a challenge," she ends with a playful tone. 

 

She grins at Leo, now, "We're pacing ourselves for the long run."

 

Josh places a hand on his chest and asks in a mock whisper, "Are they talking about our sexual advances, Leo?  In front of us?  I'm shocked!"  Josh is grinning at Leo and glances at the women, as he makes these teasing remarks. 

 

"Yeah, I think you're right, Josh."  Leo is grinning proudly at Margaret, "We may need to change tactics.  I think they've got us all figured out." 

 

"That's OK, guys, we know how to control your sexual advances just fine," Donna informs them with no doubt to any of them.

 

Josh and Donna quickly leave, both grinning at Donna's threat.  They love to be playful with each other away from work.

 

Margaret follows them to the door and goes ahead and phones in the order for the pizza from the foyer, since it will take 30 minutes to arrive.  She instructs them to buzz for her, when they are in the lobby.

 

While Leo is alone in the living room, he reflects that he's surprisingly impressed that Margaret is so natural and open, with talking in front of close mixed friends, about the advancement of their relationship. 

 

He knows that Josh and Donna are honest about how far along they are in their relationship, but they're still young and frisky.  Intimacy is as natural for them as breathing. 

 

Where as Margaret and he have agreed to savor each step of their time together.  They believe the journey is so much more meaningful than the final destination.  He hopes that when they do get there that being intimate will be a journey of discovery for them to continue expanding their relationship.

 

Margaret joins him in the living room and clicks on her Kenny G CD for some low soft music.  She sits on the floor beside him, with her back leaning against the couch.  He gently strokes her hair with his stiff fingers.  They both enjoy just relaxing together for a few minutes. 

 

Leo decides to reveal his thoughts, "Margaret, I'm glad that you're OK with letting our friends know we have a serious and mature relationship."  He tucks her hair behind her ear and continues to stroke the edge of it with a fingertip.  "I don't want to hide what we have either.  I'm just glad to see that you don't feel we're expected to progress at a rate gauged by the other couples that we're around, like we were this weekend." 

 

She leans her head back to touch the side of him, "Yeah, Leo.  I'll admit that your attack has driven home the fact that we never know what the future holds for us.  I know that most people would be afraid for their time together and jump into something that would blow up on them later on." 

 

She pauses and listens to the soothing music.  She continues her thoughts, "I like the rate we are moving at and I hope we advance normally.  We're getting more comfortable with each other and more secure in our relationship.  Our hearts and our bodies are becoming one, as we enter into an enduring relationship."

 

Leo strokes the back of his fingers down her cheek.  "I love the way you said that, Margaret.  I'm glad that we are in agreement on this.  The attack could have hurt us more than just me physically." 

 

Margaret wants to tell him another revelation that has reveled itself to her, "Leo, I just want say that it's only been a few hours with you here today, but I can sense that your living here, with me at the apartment, is the right thing for us.  It just seems a natural progression. 

 

The attack did make it happen this weekend and it probably moved up our agenda, but I could sense it coming.  It's just that lately, it felt like something was missing, when you weren't here.  I couldn't really place what was missing, but now I know, it was 'you' that was missing here.  This was meant to be, Leo."

 

"I think so too, Margaret."  He tries to explain how it's been for him.  "Driving to the hotel was starting to feel like I was going the wrong way.  Staying at the hotel lately was like a long campaign trip and I was getting antsy for it to be over.  It was just something beneath of my conscious thoughts."

 

"Exactly, Leo," she sighs in contentment.  She's happy that they are so in tune with each other.  She turns onto her knees to kiss him and it's as a natural as breathing. 

 

He gently slides his sore hand down her side, in search of her breast, to heighten their passion for each other. 

 

They come up for air just in time to hear the intercom buzzer.  Leo chuckles in his gravely voice.  "That's one way to cool us down.  Must be fate."

 

"Yeah, we need a cooling down time.  We are enjoying each other way too much."  She sensuously kisses an exposed nipple, which is peeking out above his wrap, as she gets up, just to tease him. 

 

Leo growls in annoyance.  "Margaret, you did that on purpose, since I can't follow you.  You like to remind me that our 'waist and up rule' was your idea."

 

"Well, Leo, you've liked my ideas so far," she responds with brassiness.

 

"Got any new ones," he asks hopefully.

 

"We'll see, Leo," she flips back at him, as she grabs her security card and the pizza money, on the way out the door. 

 

****   

 

When Margaret reaches the main floor, she goes to the hot tub room first to get Josh and Donna, for them to go with her, when she opens the security door to the lobby. 

 

She knows better than to be alone outside the security doors.  Not even to get a pizza from the deliveryman.  You just never know who might be in the lobby. 

 

"I'm here now, Margaret," Josh calls to her, as he emerges from the hot tub room.  "Let me go out and pay for it and you can stay behind the security door with Donna."

 

"Good idea, Josh."  Margaret gladly hands him the money and her security card to him, "I don't want to take any chances and Leo will be happier, when we return at the apartment, to know that you went out in the lobby to get the pizza."  

 

Donna walks over to the elevator to wait with Margaret and she can see through the glass that Josh will be right back, so to save time, she's already pushed the elevator button.

 

Margaret looks at her questionably, "Are you in a hurry, Donna?" 

 

"Not really, but we don't need to have you standing here, any longer than necessary, instead of waiting extra time for the elevator to arrive."  Donna smiles almost apologetically at her, "I guess we're a little overprotective of you and Leo, right now." 

 

"That's so nice of you two."  Margaret gives her quick hug with shining eyes, "With everything the last 48 hours, I'm a little disoriented.  I'm glad you guys are watching my back." 

 

She fidgets with Donna's towel around her neck, "I also wanted to thank you for helping out at the office today.  It was a big help to have you to help cover my desk.  You ran errands, brought us lunch and groceries.  Your one of the best friends I've ever had."  Margaret honestly means this and it shows on her face.

 

"Margaret, I was happy to help.  I wanted to help in anyway I could, we're White House family and best friends."  She takes Margaret hands in hers, "I'll always be here to help you and I know you wouldn't hesitate to do the same for me or for Josh." 

 

"Your right," Margaret smiles brightly at Donna.  "We 'are' best friends and as close as any family can be, White House or not." 

 

Josh looks around behind him and then slides Margaret's security card through the scanner to open the door and joins the two women at the elevator, as the doors open.  "Talk about timing," he jokes good-naturally, as he smells the pizza box with a grin.

 

****   

 

Arriving back at the apartment, they see that Leo is sitting up on the couch.  He's holding his side with the ice pack.

 

Margaret pins him with a pointed look, "Leo, you did something stupid, while I was gone, didn't you?" 

 

"Yeah," he admits with a grunt.  He takes a deeper breath, "I thought that I could at least sit myself up.  He nods his head to the side in resignation, "It took me three tries." 

 

He now looks at her, honestly sorry and wants to reassure her, "It'll get better in a few minutes.  I do have the ice pack back on it."  He's panting at the end of this defensive speech.

 

She looks at him with sympathy and gives him a logical response.  "Leo, you don't have to defend your actions to me.  You're the only one that you hurt, when you do dumb stunts." 

 

She rubs on his shoulder in compassion and adds helpfully, "It's time for your medications, Leo.  If you take them before you eat, they should be working by the time we're done eating."

 

"Thanks, Margaret."  He softly admits, "I just hate not being able to do regular activities."

 

"I know, Leo. 'Stubborn to the end' is your motto," she teases him out of the dumps. 

 

He smiles at her, "Yeah, you know me 'so' well."

 

Josh and Donna had parted ways when then entered the apartment to change back into dry clothes.  They soon return to help Margaret with the pizza. 

 

The guys are sitting on the couch and the women are sitting on the floor, eating off the coffee table.  Everyone is really hungry by this time.  Josh is staking out his share of the pizza. 

 

Leo manages to eat two slices and gladly offered his leftover share to Josh.  The guy has to be a bottomless pit.  Leo takes delight every time he sees Josh eat.  He just loves to watch someone eat, who really enjoys his food.  ~At least he has table manners.  You don't go to that many political dinners and not pick up some good etiquette.  Lord knows, his Mom tried to teach him manners.~ 

 

They have the early news on for the benefit of the guys.  Leo is going into withdrawal.  Donna is practically asleep leaning on Josh's leg, patiently waiting for the news to end. 

 

Margaret announces as the news goes off at 10:30, "OK, Leo, bedtime for you.  We've all had a long day.  'Hopefully' tomorrow will be better." 

 

"That's right, Leo."  Josh stands and moves over to stand in front of Leo," Each day should be easier.  Let me help you up."  He grins and winks to Leo.  "Where do you want him, Margaret?"  Josh asks her, knowing that it's a dumb question.  Leo grins back at him and Margaret gives Josh a pointed look.  Donna just takes a mock swipe at his head.

 

"Ok, OK, I was just joking."  He ducks Donna's swipe and grin cheekily at Margaret.  "I know you want him in your room.  You're not going to let him out of your sight, anytime soon."

 

"You got that right, Josh."  Margaret chuckles as she reminds them all, "I left him for 15 minutes tonight and you saw him when we got back up here.  He can't be trusted to be alone." 

 

"You've got a point, Margaret," Donna grins at Leo like he was a bad boy and got caught.

 

Margaret seriously directs, "Josh, take him into my bathroom, first.  I'll manage to get him up during the night, just like I rolled him out last night.  It'll hurt again, but he can't lie still all night.  We'd never get him up in the morning." 

 

"OK, Margaret.  I'll be here, really early, in the morning, if you have trouble getting him on his feet."  Josh promises her, as he's helping Leo into Margaret's room.

 

"That might not be a bad idea."  A thought occurs to Margaret "Just announce yourself when you get here.  I don't think you'll be here before I'm up.  But that depends on how his night goes." 

 

'You can call me, if you need me in the night."  Josh volunteers from inside her bathroom where he's keeping an eye on a tired Leo, so he doesn't hit the floor. "I know you had Abbey at the White House, but if you need help, just call."

 

"I'll keep that in mind, but only in an emergency."  Margaret calls back in to Josh, "I know you need to sleep tonight. This is going to be a hard week for you.  With you taking all of Leo's meetings, since his face is a rainbow of colors and not wanting it to get around the city how bad his attack was."

 

"I'll come, if you call me," Josh again promises her, while he guides Leo to the bed.  "Now, Leo, we need to get you tucked into bed."

 

"OK, Dad," Leo jokes, as Josh helps to swing his feet up on the bed.  "Do I get a story too?"

 

"I'll let Margaret tell you a bedtime story."  Josh has a gleam in his eyes, as he suggests this to Leo.  "I'm sure she can tell you a wonderful story."

 

"Yeah, I just bet she could," Leo gets brave with Margaret listening in on them.

 

She raises her voice, so they can hear her well and gives them a tactful warning, "All right, guys.  That's enough 'boy' talk."

 

Josh happily point out, "You're in trouble again, Leo.  You must be feeling better."

 

"The meds are working again," Leo agrees.  "Now, I'm torn between hoping to get some sleep and not wanting to go to sleep anytime soon, if you know what I mean."

 

Again, Margaret warns with a serious tone from the living room.  "Leo, keep it up and you'll be banned to the spare room."  She had to reel him in once today, already.

 

"Yes, Baby, I'll be good," Leo promises.  He now passes the blame, "Just cool it, Josh.  I don't want to get thrown out of her bed, tonight."

 

"Gotcha, Leo."  Josh remembers Margaret in action from this afternoon.  She might be serious.

 

Shortly, Josh comes back out to the living room.  "I've got him all tucked into bed, but he's in there 'damning' about the covers." 

 

"Well, I guess I'll have to turn the temperature down on the A/C and freeze tonight.  With an agent outside, I'm not letting him sleep in his boxers.  So, I know he'll have us down to just a thin sheet." 

 

She looks at Donna for understanding, "Sleeping with him is like sleeping with a furnace.  It's wonderful sleeping against him in cool weather, but this summer it's been a battle. 

 

Tonight, I just may have to sleep, in my baggy blue flannel pajamas.  He really loves them."  She ends on a sarcastic note. 

 

Josh cracks up laughing, "Right, I'm sure he'll love sleeping with you, in flannel, on a warm summer night."

 

"We'll leave you work it out."  Donna grabs Josh by the arm and calls into Margaret's room, "Leo, we're leaving now."  

 

Leo is feeling left out of the fun teasing, "You guys 'do' know that I'm just in the next room and I can hear you 'taking my name in vain'.  Now, you two are leaving me to suffer all night and no good-bye kiss for your 'kid'."

 

Donna immediately gives a cheeky reply, "No problem, Leo.  If that's all you need to make you happy." 

 

Josh adds in his playful statement, "We wouldn't want to be bad parents."  They both quickly pop in to give Leo a kiss on the brow. 

 

Leo is sitting propped up in bed, chuckling, with his cupped hand holding his sore side.  He should have known better than to issue a challenge, of any kind, to Josh and Donna.  "I'll see you two crazy parents, tomorrow morning." 

 

He grins at his good fortune of having friends like them, " I'll be right here, being held captive by Margaret." 

 

"Yeah, Leo, you look like you're really suffering."  Josh is now the one to give him a cheeky reply.

 

Leo just grins at Josh from his place in Margaret's bed.  Happily tucked in there.

 

Josh and Donna give Margaret a hug and a peck on the cheek to wish her good luck for the coming night.

 

"Thanks, guys you have been 'the best' today."  She tells them sincerely and honestly, as she walks them to the door.

 

They grin and call back to Leo, "Good night," as they leave past the agent outside the door. 

 

Margaret shuts the door after them.  She's not to lock it, so the agent can get to Leo quickly, if he needs too.  That's fine with her, as long as he's outside the door.

 

****  

 

Margaret comes in to see Leo trying to uncover himself.  "Leo, I turned the temperature down on the A/C, so stop fighting with the covers, already." 

 

"Thanks, Margaret, it's just this wrap is so warm."  He gives her his best sad look.

 

"Yeah, and you generate enough heat all by yourself, even without the wrap."  She flatly states a given fact.

 

He perks up at being reminded of how she knows that about him, "I'm always happy to keep you warm, Baby.  I haven't heard any complaints from you, yet."

 

'You probably never will either, Leo," she means that as a positive answer to both of his meanings.

 

"Leo, let me get changed and I'll be right in to bed."  She predicts, "You can keep me from freezing tonight, with the A/C down, to keep you cooled to your standards." 

 

She talks to him, as she gets changed for bed.  "You need to start lying on your left side more.  Abbey said you could develop pneumonia from not changing your positions.  That's another reason you're getting so stiff, you just lie on one side." 

 

Margaret's trying not to lecturing Leo, on some of the things he needs to do to avoid complications, but he needs to know them to recover faster.

 

"Ow!  Damn!  Shit, that hurts," Leo swears from the bed.

 

"What's wrong, Leo?"  Margaret panics and quickly steps into the doorway of the bathroom to see what's the problem that has him cussing again.

 

Leo looks at her and his tirade, that's ready to spill out, is halted immediately in mid-word.  His face has a surprised and pleased look.  Margaret is standing in the doorway wearing just her panties and only what else god gave her.  He remembers to breath and grins at her.  "Margaret, you're beautiful.  Just astonishing."  His words just flow from him, "This is the first time I've seen your beautiful skin in the light and I don't think I'll ever get my fill of seeing such beauty."

 

"Thank you, Leo."  She blushes at his compliments.  "Are you OK?  I thought you were in pain." 

 

Leo answers her with honesty, "I'm OK.  I'm in real pain, now, because I can't hold your perfect body in my arms."

 

She replies with at smile, "I can fix that, Leo."  She moves to the bed and snuggles her nearly bare body to his. 

 

"Damn," he utters his appreciation, as he pulls her close.  "Margaret, you're so wonderful and I'm not able to show you how much I appreciate, what you're willing to share with me." 

 

He softly chuckles in her ear, " I feel that I have too many clothes on, but there's nothing I can do about it.  That's what I was trying to remove before, when I was cussing."

 

He rubs his still slightly swollen and bruised hands over her body, trying to memorize all her wonderful pale curves.  She's dropping small kisses to his neck and upper chest.  He's doing the same to her.  His hand come up to lovingly caress her breasts.  His mouth hungrily finds hers and they revel in the wonder of new discovery. 

 

Leo moans finally and gasps for air.  His eyes blink in the light still illuminating the room.  He admires how it reflects softly on the curve of her back.  He softly traces the curve with a fingertip, as his view travels down the length of her body. 

 

He sadly feels the stirring of his earlier problem making it's self, known again.  "Margaret, time for a break again.  I think you'd better go get your sleepwear on."  He tries to joke at his disappointment in ceasing their activity, " I really don't want the agent coming in and seeing what a wonderful body you have.  I'm all for honesty, but I'm selfish and I do 'not' want to share you with anyone.  Not even a peek." 

 

"That's sweet, Leo."  She drops one last kiss on his barely healed lips, "I'll go get some clothes on and you can calm down." 

 

"Ok, Margaret," he blows out a held breath.

 

Margaret lifts herself away from his body and he moans at the loss of contact.  She sashays happily back into the bathroom and his eyes never leave the sight of her, till she rounds the doorway out of his view.

 

"Damn, the bad luck!"  He covers his face, as best as he can with his hands, to rub either the memories in or the frustration off. 

 

Just about the time that he has a handle on his disobedient body, the phone rings.  He reaches for the phone, his emotions fighting to decide if he's mad at the interruption or glad for the distraction.  

 

"Hello.  McGarry here."

 

"Leo, you really should learn how to answer a residential phone again," Abbey, scolds him first thing.

 

"Hello, Abbey.  Nice to hear from your friendly voice," he answers her in a short tone.  

 

"A little grumpy this evening, aren't we, Leo?"  Abbey pauses for a moment, "Come to think of it, you sound a like your having a little trouble breathing tonight.  Are you having real problems?  Do you need me to come over and see you?"  Abbey is getting into her doctor mode really fast.

 

Leo immediately commands, "No, don't come over.  I'm fine." 

 

"OH, working on the endorphins again, are we?"  Abbey is snickering over the phone, now that she understands his breathing trouble.

 

Leo gets sarcastic at her, for the fun she's having at his expense, "Thanks a lot, Abbey, but we're 'not', right at the moment.  He sounds a little pissed now, "You know, Abbey.  You must have a six sense for when to ask me the most awkward questions and I just bet Jed is right at your elbow."

 

She's delighted at Leo's annoyed tone of voice, "You're right, Leo.  On all points and if your really OK, I'll hand 'him' the phone, before he wrestles it from me.  She sincerely reminds him, "You take care and call if you need me.  The agents can just deal with the fact that I 'will' visit the apartment, if need be."

 

"Thank you, Abbey."  Leo knows she means that from the bottom of her heart, where she keeps all the important people in her life, "I promise.  If I need you, I'll call.  Now, put 'him' on, before he orders to have me delivered back to the White House." 

 

Abbey is satisfied with Leo's answer, "OK, here he is.  Night.  Leo."  She gets in one last dig at him, "I'll leave you in Margaret's capable hands and I mean that literately," she chuckles and she knows he gets her 'real' meaning. 

 

Jed gets eagerly on the phone, "Hey, Leo.  Did we catch you fooling around?  We don't allow that with injured staff members," Jed chuckles at him as well.  He knows that Leo hates to talk about his romantic activities.

 

"Tough, Jed."  Leo snaps his answer to his best friend, "That's our business." 

 

"You OK?  Really?  You sure you don't need Abbey?"  Jed fires off all his questions at once, he's impatient concern wants to hear a positive answer to the first two.

 

Leo hears the care and some fear in Jed's voice, "I'm OK, Jed.  Really, I am.  He chuckles, as he give Jed a small tidbit to humor him, "Josh tucked me in.  Plus, Donna and he even kissed my brow good night." 

 

Leo now lists all the ways that he's being taken care of and kept safe, to reassure his friend, "Josh is on call tonight, if I need him.  I'll be fine and you can see me tomorrow at work.  The agent is right outside the apartment door." 

 

Leo again finds fault with his added security, "I might add, that he makes a great incentive for Margaret to wear lots of sleepwear to bed.  She just knows that they're going to bust in here and grab me out of bed." 

 

Jed softly chuckles sadly, "Yeah, I have that same problem, with Abbey wearing too many clothes to bed.  Damn, the bad luck." 

 

They both chuckle at the old expression, which they share.

 

Leo is pleased now, "Jed, I'll see you in the morning, if Abbey doesn't kill you, when you get off the phone, for your last comment.  Just tell her it's payback for the endorphin comment to me." 

 

"Ok, will do, Leo."  Jed is happier that Leo is watching his back again, "Hope it's enough to save me." 

 

Jed knows it's time to get off the phone and let Leo get to sleep, "See you tomorrow.  Take care.  Love you, Leo."

 

"Love you back, Jed.  Night."  Leo hangs up the phone with a smile at the call he received from two people that love him.

 

Margaret has turned out the lamp on the nightstand and left just a small light on, in the bathroom, so she can see Leo in the night, if he needs her. 

 

She is curled up against him, on her side of the bed, when Leo hangs up the phone.  "I guess that the First Couple had to check in to make sure you were OK tonight?"

 

"Yeah, they must have needed to hear me personally tell them, that I'm ok."  Leo softly confirms.

 

'They just love you and worry about you."  Margaret wraps her arm around his waist, "It'll take all of us awhile to settle down to our normal lives" 

 

"Yeah, I worry about you now, but we won't let it rule our lives.  We'll just trust the agents."  He resigns himself again to what fate has dealt them.

 

"Now, are you comfortable, Leo?"  She asks, as she notices that he has no coverings for them.  He managed to get them all shoved to the foot of the bed.

 

'Yeah, but I do have one question, Margaret."  Leo has a sly smile on his face.

 

She fails to notice his smile and innocently asks, "What is it, Leo?"

 

"Purple panties, Margaret?  You must have a bold side, that I need to discover?"  He watches her face, to read her reaction to his daring questions.

 

"I sure do, Leo," she gives him a brassy answer.  "That's when the real fun starts."

 

He rolls carefully onto his side to face her and snuggles into her neck, "Promises again, Margaret?"  His hand is working to unbutton her pajama top, with the tips of his fingers.  Leo notices that she didn't keep the threat about the flannel pajamas.  But, is wearing a satin set of pajamas.  He loves satin.

 

"Sure, Leo.  Promises, just for you." she rolls more toward him and she places small kisses on the lines around hi mouth, enjoying the texture of the slight stubble under her lips.  She loves the smell of his lingering cologne at the end of the day.

 

Leo suggests softly to her, "Margaret, I'm not the only one here that can be exploring."

 

"I like your ideas too, Leo."  She slides her hand around to the dip in his back and gently slips her hand just under the bands of both his satin pants and boxers.  Margaret strokes the area where she knows the tattoo of his jet is.  She loves that jet, it's so sexy to her. 

 

Leo groans.  He should have known she would go for the jet first. 

 

At the sound of his gravely voicing of his pleasure, she gets bolder and gives in to her fantasy.  She strokes downward and caresses the curve of his firm backside.  Touching, but not seeing, just drives her imagination crazy. 

 

He then responds to her caresses, with a soft moan of approval.  He's exploring too.  Kissing her shoulder and trailing light sensual kisses down to her cleavage.  His fingers are caressing her breast.  He teases it to a peak. 

 

She moans with agreement, at his touch of discovery.  She strokes the roundness of his backside, delighting in the soft feel of the peach fuss against the palm of her hand.

 

 He demonstrates his approval by lowering his mouth to suckle on her breast. 

 

She continues to memorize the feel of his warm skin and discovers the dip on the side of his muscular cheek.  She just can't get enough of sliding her hand over it.  Enjoying the downward curve, before running her hand up and over his tailbone, to again slide her hand across the dip in his spine. 

 

To then repeat the search for the jet, which is invisible to her touch, but is imprinted in her mind, as a token of Leo's passions that are hidden from the world. 

 

He gives a hungry tug on her brest, before searching for her mouth to explore it's warm moist secrets, which he has already discovered before and cannot get enough of. 

 

She draws in a ragged breath at the tug and instinctively pulls his hips closer to hers.  She softly whispers, "Damn," when she feels his arousal against her pelvis and she shifts slightly back, knowing that they have reached their limit for exploring.

 

Leo hears the soft spoken word and his passion is hesitated, to respond softly to her, "God, Margaret, I could die happy now.  You do wonderful things to me with just a touch."  He chuckles softly, "We don't ever have to worry about my libido, again." 

 

He reminds her, "I do suggest you keep your exploring, to the backside of me tonight.  This is just too wonderful to cut short."

 

She asks him how long can she explore and not be torturing him.

 

He whispers his wish to her, "Just a little longer, Baby.  I'm OK for the moment.  I just want to show you how much I love you tonight and hold you close to my heart.  The vision of you tonight, just makes me want to caress you all over."  He just can't act on all the loving feelings he has for her tonight.

 

"Oh, Leo, I hope I never have to leave your arms."  She covers his mouth with her lips and shifts closer to him, wanting to touch more of him with her body. 

 

Feeling his hardness against her soft abdomen, she considers it a declaration of Leo's love for her. 

 

They continue to caress and taste the warm skin of each other, till they're both content to give in to the comfortable relaxation, of being in each other's arms for the night.

 

"Mmmm, you smell good," he mummers, as he snuggles into the curve of her neck again.

 

"That's my lavender and chamomile Johnson's baby powder," she informs him of a part of her nightly bedtime preparations.

 

"Oh, Baby," he whispers a happy approval to her, in a low and sleep enhanced voice.

 

"It's my favorite scent, now.  I could lie here every night and sleep with your wonderful scent engulfing me."

 

"You're 'home' now, Leo," she sighs to him and holds him gently to her breast.

 

"''Finally', Margaret," he softly whispers to her, as they drift to sleep in each other's arms.

 

 

The end

 

p.s. you want a sequel???

 

~ In memory of John Spencer ~

~ Thanks for the hugs, John! ~

 

blessings

chipmunk

 

Betty Lou Riley

[email protected]

 

Lynn

[email protected]

 

August 5, 2003

 

Rating System!

CHILD - suitable for all ages

YTEEN (younger teens) - some content may not be suitable for children

TEEN - suitable for teens and above

MATURE - suitable for mature readers

ADULT - adults only

P - Profanity

SC - Sexual Content

V - Violence

GV - Graphic Violence

GS - Graphic Sexual Content