Title: Weekend Bonus   Saturday                 Twilight Series 3 /?

By: chipmunk            and leosimpishgrin                                                

Pairing: Leo/Margaret - Romance

Rating: R

Spoilers: None really

This is not strictly cannon by the show.

Doesn't matter the year or the situation.

Plot Development By: Imp     [email protected]

Beta and Mentor By:  Lee      [email protected]

Disclaimer:

The characters are from the NBC, WB, Bravo, A John Wells Prod., 

TV show, 'The West Wing'. 

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

They are the creation of Aaron Sorkin. We only borrowed them.

No copyright infringement is intended. 

No monetary benefit is received or anticipated.

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

who portray the characters 'brilliantly'

and bring them to life in our heads.  

Feedback: We’d love it hear your opinion!  PLEASE!  

It helps to improve our writing!

Archived only at: http://www.geocities.com/chipmunkswhimseys/TwilightMain.html or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChipmunksWhimseysWWFF/files/Twilight%20Series%20fics/

Summary: Sequel to Recovery – Bonus Weekend.

Note: This fic is even hotter.  Really!!

In this fic is named a ‘fictional’ town and with a ‘fictional’ problem!

 Warning: Descriptive Sexual content and cursing (f word)!

In this fic is named ‘fictional’ town and with ‘fictional’ problems!

 

*****    

 

In the middle of the night, Leo returns from a trip to the bathroom and upon lifting the covers he sees Margaret’s bare hips, remembering that she didn’t redress after their necking last night or after the ice cream, leaving her with just her nightshirt on, which he forgot to re-button before they fell asleep holding each other. ~Damn the bad luck.~  He smiles softly at her.  She’s just letting him know that she’s not as shy with him any more.  He drops his boxers to the floor, making himself nude.  He just wants to be closer to her, skin to skin.  ~ No Secret Service agents better come in here tonight.~  Just in case, their robes will be near by, but he doesn't care about the agents seeing him.  Leo crawls back into bed and she immediately backs up him, to cuddle in her sleep.  He enjoys her warm skin touching his.  He quickly falls back to sleep with her in his arms feeling whole, as if they are one.

 

Near dawn finds them still spooned together, but Leo has rolled back a bit, with Margaret still leaning back against him.  He stirs in his sleep and his hand reaches out to find her.  In Leo’s mind, he’s reliving last night and his wanting to express his love for Margaret and his wanting to give her pleasure.  In his dreamlike state, he strokes her breast and rubs his thumb across her nipple.  The satin of her shirt is caressing the back of his hand.  Her hand, instinctively in her sleep, reaches up to lie on his, as if welcoming his touch in her sleep.  Leo’s mind takes him for a journey where they’re exchanging touches.  His hips gently move against her soft skin.   Leo is pleasuring Margaret to express his love to her in the dream and her sleeping responses are encouraging and welcoming his physical touches.  His hand slides down and caresses her curls that are free of their normal silk covering. 

 

Margaret’s hips stir at the attention his hand is giving her, causing him to respond to her movements. 

 

His manhood is rising in response to the encouragement that her soft hips are giving it.  His dream is progressing to a deeper need to bring her pleasure, trying to fulfill what in reality was impossible for her last night.  Leo fingers reach further down, searching for the warmth of her womanhood. 

 

She shifts her hips more and bends a knee out to the side, as if her subconscious mind wants her body to invite his intimate touches. 

 

He drops gentle half formed kisses to her neck and shoulder, in his dream they are more fervent and passionate, with her lips meeting his.  His body is still making a slight rocking motion against hers.   His fingers are successful in finding the tender, smooth, moist folds near her center, with the easier access obtained from her bent leg. 

 

She lifts her hips in her sleep at his stoking over her pleasure point.  One finger continues in a circular pattern passing over it with each circuit.  Her hips are moving slightly upward in time with each tingle of joy she feels.  Her dreaming mind is now indulging in and enjoying, what she might be apprehensive of, were she fully awake.  

 

Leo’s finding it easier going as her center starts to dampen with moisture.   He’s dreaming of her being able to really enjoy what he’s doing and she is responding better when she isn't so nervous.  His mouth is increasing its attention to her upper spine using his tongue tip.  Were he awake, he would have caressed her with more tongue, tasting her skin. 

 

Margaret’s body is caught up enjoying his attention and she’s acting less inhibited in her semi-sleep.  She has dreamed of this before and now it's coming true.  Her happiness has her responding to his actions and she’s starting to wake with her desire to feel more.  She instinctively can tell she’s a little wetter where Leo’s circling her center and she relaxes into the sensations he’s creating.  She’s only partly awake and is savoring the sensations that her core is feeling and doesn’t want to relinquish her dreamlike state.  Margaret can sense that Leo is still in a similar dreaming condition, from the undistinguishable murmurs, heavier breathing and soft moans she hears from his lips near her face.  She wants this wonderful feeling to last, moving her hips more each time he hits her bundle of nerves. 

 

Soon his hips are moving more in time with hers and his fingertip is now dipping partially into her center as his circuits get smaller and swirl around just inside her opening.  Margaret is more awake now and is getting more focused on the growing need in her center.   Leo is now getting close to his own level of pleasure from rubbing against her bare skin and her hips moving back against him.  He pulls her closer against him as he starts to wake, from the intensity of their actions and the encouragement his mind is noting.  His murmurs now turn to words of love to her.   Leo eyes open as he awakens fully and realizes that they both are nearing the edge.  He stops his hand’s movements and starts to remove his hand, now that he’s awake enough to know what he's doing to her, not knowing if she’s awake and willing. 

 

When his hand stills its attention to her, she urgently speaks his name softly. “ Leo, please.”  She stops him from pulling his hand away and she moves it back to where it was.  She doesn’t open her eyes.  She’s trying to hold onto the bliss he was just giving her.  Margaret moves her hips inviting him to continue, he has her excitement level to high too stop now. 

 

Leo tries to apologize to her at first, he just hopes she doesn’t think that he was taking advantage of her, in her sleep, but she knows he wasn’t aware that he was doing it. 

 

Now, afraid that he’ll fully stop, she purposely moves back against his firm manhood, trying to give him pleasure and to still keep herself being touched by his long fingers  “Damn, …don’t stop Leo!  Don’t apologize …… please… keep going.” 

 

Leo answers her with a soft shaky voice, “Margaret, I’m near the edge myself, with our bare skin touching.”

 

Margaret manages to gasp out, “Then what are you waiting for, Leo?  Lets both push the edge.”

 

Leo’s been rubbing her pleasure point in the same rhythm as he’s gently rubbing himself to her, but he feels himself climbing too fast to his peak.  He now pulls his hips away to keep from rubbing himself against her back; the absence of touch may help him to last longer.  He directs her, “Margaret, don’t to push back.  I’m trying to hold off as long as I can for you.”

 

She responds to his voice and shifts forward, and inadvertently gives herself more pressure against his fingers.  Her breathing speeds up and she moans out, “Whatever works, Sweetie.   …Please…go on.”

 

But, he can’t resist the joy of touching his body to hers. Trying another tactic to slow down from peaking before her.  He pushes up her shirttail to touch more of her skin to his and he holds her bare back tight against his body, wanting to ride the wave with her.  They can both feel that she’s definitely ready for his touches.  In amazement he whispers to her, “Baby, you’re not as dry this morning.”  He just hopes it’s enough for her.  He knows this will be tricky for him to pleasure her successfully.  “Baby, let me know what you want,” he wants her to reach fulfillment.

 

She hesitates to tell him, but he wants and needs to know how to help her.  Margaret sighs, “Faster, Leo, especially with your thumb over my button.”

 

He decides that he more wants to help pleasure her, more than achieve his own release.  His pleasure can wait and he shifts his body the rest of the way out from under her, pushing her fully onto her back.  Leo leans over to half lay on her and kisses her passionately.  He’s now able to use two fingers to circle partly inside her center, using his thumb over her nerve bundle.  He’s determined that his hand and fingers will work this morning, even if they are clumsy in responding to his mental commands.  It’s almost a struggle for Leo.  He can barely keep up, with his hand.  It’s getting tired and the threat of a hand cramp is getting to be a real possibility, it is so stiff in the mornings.  The struggle for him is whether to go on or to stop, but he would rather have his hand fall off than to disappoint her.

 

Margaret moans in appreciation.  Leo lifts his lips from hers and reminds her, “Talk to me, Baby.  Tell me.  Is this working for you?” 

 

“Mmmm… It’s wonderful, just no deeper.  I’m fine with this.  It’s better at the opening.” She manages to whisper to him, trusting him not to push her.  She can tell he’s now focusing on her pleasure alone and she’s also praying his hand will endure long enough for her.

 

 Leo smiles happily for her and lowers his mouth to suckle a nipple.  His fingers can feel the wetness finally coating the inside of her and his fingertips.  Leo can feel her muscles tighten around his fingers as she starts to climax.  She lifts her hips in rhythm to the contractions, forcing his fingers a little deeper inside, allowing him to fully feel her climax.  He scoops her tightly against him and he listens to her quietly murmur his name on her lips, as she shivers with her release.  He kisses her as she rides her way down.  His side is protesting and finally he has to give into it, just a little, especially after his adventure yesterday.  He rolls them so they’re side by side, mixing her panting breath to his. 

 

He’s, oh so gently, rubbing his still firm manhood against her smooth skin.  His breathing is shaky with joy at her release and his own desire as yet unfulfilled. 

 

She smiles at him as she feels him move against her.  Wanting to share her afterglow with him, she uses her hands to shift his hips fully toward her and slips a leg over his hip. 

 

Leo’s appreciative of the gesture, but a little surprised, “Margaret, we’re not going there now.  I’m OK with not entering you.  I know you’re not ready for that yet.”  He gently pushes her leg back off his hip, into a less inviting position.

 

“But, Leo, you need some relief too,” in her joy, she tries to reason with him.

 

Leo hesitates, not really knowing if he’s about to ask too much of her, “Margaret, would it then be all right if I just rub myself across your womanhood, only on the outside?  I’d love to feel the wetness from your warm center on me, if only for a few times.”

 

“Sure, Leo, do you think you… can stay outside and not let it hurt,” she asks, trusting him totally.

 

Leo gives her a kiss in thanks, “Baby, I think with us lying on our sides, I’ll be less likely to enter you accidentally.”  Leo takes a settling breath as he tries to control his urges, “Just keep your legs together, Baby, and it’ll be fine.”  He moves himself to find her wetness again, savoring the feel of her womanhood against his firmness, trying to memorize every moment.  Before long, he’s riding on the edge again.  His breathing is getting more ragged and he knows it’s time.  He lifts his hips to pull back and to then rub outside on her curls, as he shudders with release. 

 

She kisses his face as she feels he’s finally joining her in the joyful afterglow.   Her face is damp with tears of happiness, from sharing this with him, her love. 

 

Leo has a few tears of his own.  It makes him feel wonderful that he can do this for her and she returns his love, wanting him to experience the joy with her.  Leo tucks her head under his chin, holding her to his heart.  His eyes are shining damp as he soon pulls back to look at her face lying against his chest, “Baby, you all right now?” He gives a soft deep chuckle, “I guess we found another new and wonderful way to wake up.”

 

Margaret chuckles with him at his teasing, “Well, Sweetie, it really worked for me.  I wasn’t sure I could do that, but you love me enough to make me feel comfortable enough to let it happen.”

 

Leo hesitates, but needs to ask, “This far, it’s OK for you?  We did push the limits of our physical relationship here, especially after what we talked about last night.” He pauses and sees a small smile starting on her face.  “ I guess our subconscious minds just took over, while we were sleeping.” 

 

Margaret gives a soft laugh against his chest, “Yeah, we’re both a little guilty, we’ve been doing that a lot lately, Leo.” She brings her face up to study his and rubs her hand down his arm, then leans to kiss his bare shoulder. “ I guess I was able to, because there was no time for me to get nervous.  That probably won’t happen for me as often as we want it to, with my problems.  It may always be a long shot for me, but at least we now know that I can and that alone makes me very happy.”

 

Leo smiles and agrees dropping a kiss to her forehead, “Baby, what ever makes you happy.  It might get easier in time, you may be less nervous when we get to know each other's bodies better and are just more comfortable with each other sexually.”

 

Margaret sighs with regret, “Well, Sweetie, it’s a good thing we were able to enjoy it today, because my period is soon.  So, you may not be able to be as touchy feely with me after the coming week or so.” 

 

Leo chuckles at her implied warning, “I remember, Baby, cooling down time is coming soon, but we’ll be fine.  I told you last night that sex is just one part of our relationship.  We can take a breather for a while.  We’ve been moving along pretty rapidly this week and these next couple of weeks will give us the opportunity to regroup and get to know each other in other ways.  It will just make the next time special also.”

 

Margaret yawns and looks at Leo, “Sweetie, we need to get cleaned up a little bit, before we fall asleep again,”

 

Leo murmurs his agreement with his nude body snuggled up to hers.  He then raises his head and offers, “I can go get us a wet washcloth and a towel.”

 

Margaret hates to move as much as he does.  She wants to hold onto this wonderful feeling for as long as possible and she doesn’t want Leo to leave her side just yet, “Wait, Leo, we can use the towel on lotion bottle for quick cleanup, at least until we get up later to shower.”

 

“Great idea, Baby.”  He knows that she doesn’t want to move from his arms, anymore than he does. “I kinda think you may need it first.” He sounds apologetic and hopes she can’t tell in the dim light that he may be blushing slightly.

 

“Ok, Leo, I’ll share it with you.  Then we can cuddle up and go back to sleep,” she smiles as he take the small towel from her hand and he cleans her first and then himself, before tossing it to the floor by her side of the bed.  He then settles back down beside her to resume cuddling, waiting in the quiet for sleep to overtake them again.  They both are wishing for the dreams to be as sweet as the ones they had before.  

 

*****    

 

It’s 8am and Margaret begins to stir in her sleep.  They haven’t slept in this late in forever.   She stretches, then slides from the bed and quietly enters the bathroom.  Her body can’t wait any longer.  It’s the price she pays for all the water she drinks to stay healthy, that and the ever-flowing office coffee.   Exiting the bedroom she makes a side trip to get the coffee maker started.  Leo will be awake soon and they both will need their coffee first thing.  Returning to bed, she slides back under the covers to join a still nude Leo.  She was right yesterday, he is happy as a lark when he’s without clothes.  Leo’s now stretched out on his stomach, with his arms around his head and is hugging the pillow.  It’s the first time, since his attack that he’s had both arms up that far.  It gives her hope for his recovery and that brings a smile to her face.  Reaching to pull the covers up higher on him, she sees his wonderful jet tattoo, her tattoo, just above his hip.  She gives in and kisses it softly, careful not to wake him, as she settles back in with him.  Moving close to his side, she softly lays a leg over his thigh, pulling her knee up against his bare hip and wraps her arm across his broad back as she snuggles up.  Margaret closes her eyes as she waits for the coffee to brew, before she wakes Leo to join her for a leisurely mug as they read the paper together in ‘their’ apartment.  Margaret rubs her hand across his shoulder blade, she’s happy as a lark herself.

 

***   

Outside and unknown to the cuddling couple or Leo’s agents, a conversation is taking place in an older model dark and dirty Ford pick-up truck.

                       

“It a Saturday. Earl.   No wunder they’s didn’t a come out fur work.” The bigger man sputtered to the other man, who was almost a big as he was.  Both filling the tattered van seats amply.

 

“So’s, Zeke, now what’d you suggest we do now.  If’n you’s so smart,” the littler man jeers at the first man.

 

The big guy now boasts, as his face brightens, “Then I’s got a us a better idea, Earl.  We jest pull the fire alarm to get em out.  Every’n clears out for that and we’s grabs one of them’s in the confusion.  Those pretty boys in black preacher coats will be a crazy tryin to watch um with every’n runnin around scar’d.”

 

“OK’d, Zeke,  sound goods.  You jest go a do that.  I’ll a watch from here’s.  When they’s a haulin yours ass out in purdy cuffs.” He scoffs the bigger man. 

 

 

The big guy pulls himself up higher with the steering wheel. “Nah, Earl, I cans slips in with’s some others to a the little room just a inside and looks a likes I’s just belong. Then yanks it and piles out with’n the rest.”  He grins at his great plan.  “Yous a jest stand beside this here van and keeps yours a eyeballs peeled for em.  I’ll a looks for them’s after I’s outside again.”

 

“Right, Zeke.  I’ll jest stay here. Leave me a the keys.  Jest so’s we’re ready to jumps un runs,” he agrees to the hair brain idea, but still covers his ass for getting away.  As the smaller man watches his partner walk over to the entrance, behind a family entering the building, he grabs a crumpled piece of paper off the truck floor and writes a short note.  He can think of good ideas also.  He tosses it to the ground beside his feet. Leaving it to be found later.  He grins, looking down at his helpful contribution.

 

***** 

  

In the bedroom, Leo is awaking up with their favorite pastime.  They’re both soon getting a little out of breathe and flushed from the necking.

 

Inside the building, suddenly the sound of the fire alarm blares out in the quiet weekend morning.   Up at the apartment the front door slams open and the agents come running in. 

 

Margaret suddenly sits straight up in surprise at the loud noises in the apartment and quickly grabs the sheet to her chin, while clutching her shirt together.  Leo lifts himself on an elbow, rolling to a hip to face toward her and his eyes follow hers to the door.  He wraps an arm protectively around her waist.  The curse that explodes from him, as the agents pile in the door, is one that even Margaret hasn’t heard from him, not even in his drinking days.  He is from a military background and it’s not that she hasn’t heard it in the West Wing, just never from him.

 

 Leo is livid, “Just one fucking day.  Damn it all to hell.  Just one fucking day without agents in my bedroom.” Now that Leo has a handle on the word, he intends to wear it out.  “Do you guys have orders to fucking check on me every time I’m in bed.”   Leo finally realizes it’s the building’s main fire alarm that he’s hearing, “What the fuck is going on this time?” He gets no response from the agent since they’re busy talking in their mics.

 

Margaret is flustered, embarrassed and buttoning furiously.  She’s torn from staring at the back of the agent guarding the door and at Leo’s red face.  She’s amazed at his anger, but she wholeheartedly understands it.  She would be just as furious if she was not so scared at what was happening and at the possibility of Leo actually exploding in front of her eyes.  She reaches out a hand to lay it on his heaving chest and he immediately calms at her touch.  He first drops his head to collect himself and then quickly glances sideways to her, with regret on his face.  He breathes a whisper, “Sorry, Baby.” He forgot himself and used words he never wants to say near her and that makes him more than a little angry, but angry at himself for letting himself to slip like that. 

 

Only seconds have passed, but he wants answers.  He straighten to sit up-right, their bare skin is touching under the sheet, hip to hip with Margaret and he uses a calmer tone, “Lewis, talk to me.  I need to know, what’s happening, right now.”

 

The agent glances toward Leo from the window that he’s guarding.   Agent Lewis sees Leo’s boxers on the floor and his eyes sweep the rest of the room, “Mr. McGarry, we need you to get your robe on.  Now, Sir.”

 

Leo glares back at the agent and points out, “To begin with, I know that you’re not going to drag me out of this room, till you’re positive that I’m in mortal danger. Since we’re still here, I’ll assume that there’s a question as to whether this is a real fire or a false alarm, possibly for alternative reasons.” 

 

Agent Lewis glances to his fellow agent, listening to the conversation that he hears over his earpiece.  “Sir, there is some question about the alarm going off.   No smoke has been detected.   We have backup agents in route and they’ll arrive here within minutes, due to the close location to the White House.  The fire department is also in route, to rule out undetected fire and to verify the accuracy of the alarm system. Their ETA is five minutes.”

 

Leo glances at Margaret’s pale face and then back to Agent Lewis face, “So, we’re sitting tight, till everything is cleared?”  Leo has the sheet bunched around his waist as he waits for an answer, he’s bent forward slightly with one hand holding his ribs and the other hand lying protectively on the sheet over Margaret’s leg.  She’s leaning onto his shoulder from slightly behind him, one arm behind him supporting her.  Her other hand is resting at the top edge of sheet, at the side of his waist.  She needs to touch him, not only to draw comfort, but also to give it.

 

Agent Stout that’s guarding the door turns to address Leo, “Yes, Sir, those are the orders we have just received.  Stand firm, till redirected.  If there is an attempt against you, the agency feels that here in the apartment is a better location to prevent that from occurring, rather than outside the building at this moment.”

 

Leo decides to take charge of at least his and Margaret needs, for the moment.  “Well, Gentlemen, I need to dress, before I’m leaving this room and I need my robe just to get out of this bed.” Leo hints broadly that he’s nude, knowing that the agents can now see above the sheet that Margaret is wearing a nightshirt.  They don’t need to know that’s all she has on. “If you two will resume your surveillance of the window and door, we’ll get up and find clothes.”

 

Agent Lewis suggests, “Mr. McGarry, then it might be helpful for you to go straight into the bathroom and to remain in there.  It has already been designated as one of two secure locations in the apartment.” The agent reading Leo’s face continues, “The other is the closet in this room. They both have only one entrance and no windows.  The bathroom is actually the most secure, as it doesn’t have an outside wall.”

 

Leo sighs and turns to Margaret, but still questions the agent, “Do you have any approximate length of time needed to secure the area and clear this up?  My coffee is waiting.” Leo unhappily growls being practical as he smells the coffee aroma coming from the kitchen.

 

Agent Stout looks at Leo with a hard look, “Sir, it will be at least thirty minutes, for the building and surrounding area to be swept and the fire department to verify what triggered the alarm.”

 

“Then I’m taking Margaret with me to the bathroom, since it is the safest location.  I think I can squeeze in a quick shower, before dressing.  You know where I am if you need me.”  Leo gestures for the agents to turn their backs and to again guard the room’s openings. 

 

“Sir, do you needs help getting to your feet, before I turn around?”  Agent Lewis asks, when he notes Leo’s bruised ribs above the sheet.

 

Leo shakes his head no and waits as Lewis turns to the window.  He then flips back the sheet, standing gingerly and puts his robe on quickly.  He sees Margaret looking at him questioningly, “Baby, grab what you need from your closet and lets move. They won’t turn back to us now.” He assures her as he nods toward the agents.

 

With Leo’s reassurance, Margaret dashes to her closet to quickly grab her clothes, while Leo makes his way quickly but stiffly around the bed, to wait for her at the doorway to the bathroom.  He closes the door firmly behind them, after she moves swiftly past him.

 

*****       

Leo pulls her into a hug to calm her and she’s still clutching her clothes between them.  He kisses her passionately to distract her.  It works, but not as well as he hopes.

 

Margaret comes up for air and immediately starts talking, “Oh, Leo, I am ‘so’ embarrassed.  The Secret Service agents think that we’ll be showering together in here.”  Margaret’s on a roll and hardly pauses for a breath, before she loudly whispers. “They assume that we already have sex, with them finding you nude in our bed.” She’s not really comfortable with the agent’s rule of total confidentiality.

 

He’s again being the strong one with her.  He’s counting on it being a false alarm, but he’s still concerned about what the current situation is.  His adrenaline that was triggered by the alarm and the agents rushing in has dulled some of Leo’s pain and it allowed him to hurry Margaret into the bathroom.  He’s hoping that Margaret doesn’t catch on that his hands are a little shaky from the adrenaline.  He wants to appear brave for her.  Leo tries to calm her. “You heard them agree that they aren't going to take us out of the apartment unless it’s absolutely necessary.  They have planned out this scenario about twenty different ways.  We’re fine for now. They just need to do their thing to make sure that we’re safe.”  He grins, “At least we weren’t actually caught in the act.  So, it could’ve been worse.” He points out logically to tease her into a smile.

 

Margaret pipes in quickly,” Don’t to get your hopes up now, Flyboy, not with them around.” This is now invading her life.  After she calms down, she then gets a little angry. This is worse than how the press was when they found out about them.  She feels they have aright to live and love as they see fit.

 

Leo has to explain some facts to her, “Baby, this is how Jed and Abby have to live everyday and it’s twenty times worse for them.  They have learned to ignore what they can and deal, yes sometimes grudgingly with the secret service, as well as they can.  That’s why it is called secret.  Ask Abby about it sometime.” Leo then tilts his head at her and give her a questioning grin, but decides it’s safer to let her statement about his hopes to slide past.  She turns to start the warm water running. 

 

Margaret moves around behind him to the mirror, to pull her hair up into her scrunchie to keep it from getting wet.  She’s not going to risk using a noisy blow-dryer in case the agents call out that they’re entering the room, when she’s half dressed after the shower.  It’s time to get into the shower.  I don’t want to leave the shower running for too long or they’ll get the wrong idea.  It's bad enough they know we’re showering in here together,” Margaret again worries about the agents standing in her bedroom, just a few feet away and what they’ll think or hear. 

 

He’ll give them something to hear.  Leo reaches over to the toilet handle, smiling at the door, he flushes to be sarcastic to the agents for wanting to know what he’s doing every minute, he would flush it whether he went or not.

 

Margaret gives him such a pointed look for pulling that stunt, but she wants to smile on the inside, knowing that Leo doesn’t take being controlled lying down.

He smiles at her with satisfaction, not in the least sorry and he nonchalantly turns to untie his robe, sliding it off his shoulders and hanging it on the knob of the towel rack since he still has trouble reaching high enough to hang it on the back of the door.  Margaret admires Leo’s nude backside and reflects. ~My, how things have really changed in seven days.  It’s just been a week, since Abby asked Leo to strip for her to check his injuries and they both almost panicked, because they hadn’t gone that far in their relationship yet.  This natural freedom that they now have with each other, is one of the two good things that has come from this event.  The best being, Leo is now living with her in the apartment.~ 

 

He turns back to Margaret, “We can do a quick shower, Margaret.  I can shower almost as fast as I can change clothes.  Men can always get in and out faster than women,” Leo boasts as a small challenge.

 

He’s not as worried as she is, about the agents being in the other room and knowing how long they’ve been in here.  He tries some necking, when she drops her nightshirt and he goes for a breast kiss to, you know, calm her and he gets rewarded with a blush.

 

They step into the tub, with Margaret helping to steady him.  After they are both safely under the warm spray, she gives him a pointed look, “Leo, we’re not screwing around in here today.”

 

He just grins at her, “Nice choice of words, Margaret.  Anyway, we already did that this morning.”  He then bends down for a quick suck of her wet breast.  He’s not taking the alarm seriously.  His mind is elsewhere when she’s in front of him wet and covered with bubbles.  Besides, the agents have it under control.  He keeps washing his body to get done before Margaret. 

 

“Leo,” she exclaims at his bold attempt to tempt her with his favorite pastime. She not mad at him, she knows he’s a boob man.  She is worried that if it's not a fire, she just knows it was the attackers.  Suddenly she has an enlightened thought and her eyebrows pull down, “Leo,” she says his name drawn out in an accusing way, “Are you getting a little satisfaction knowing that the agents are in the next room and you’re in here showering with me?  Is this a macho thing,” she scolds at him.  She resumes washing, when she notices he’s already getting ready to wash his hair.

 

He looks at her and grins innocently, “Well, now that you mention it.  It is kinda a dig at them, for busting in on us all the time.”

 

“Guys,” she huffs in disbelief. “You just want them to have to write it in a report that Leo McGarry is getting some.  She rolls her eyes at him, “In the shower no less.  They’re going to think you’re as randy as a twenty year old.”  She watches him rinse the shampoo from his hair.  He did pretty well by himself, even if he did mostly use his good right arm.

 

“And the bad part of that is,” he questions to tease her, when he emerges from under the spray of the water. 

 

“Leo, you are ‘so’ bad.  Now, hurry up and finish, we need to get out, before they ‘do’ think we’ve been in here long enough to get frisky.” She orders him in a no-nonsense tone. 

 

“Sure, Baby.   No problem, but first, if you’ll wash my back, I’ll wash yours?  He grins with anticipation, “I want you to be as comfortable with my body, as you are with your own,” Leo honestly tells her.  He’s getting to know more about her, her body and her cycles like all people in a new relationship do.

 

“OK, Leo, we’ll scrub each other’s back and then enough with us hanging out in the shower.”  She grins at him, “Did I forget to mention that you scrub mine first.” She grins and hands him the soapy puff and turns around.  He enjoys himself with the task, but still quickly soaps her back and hips, just to do a good job of it.  As the bubbles are swept down her body by the spray, he follows them with a trail of kisses all the way down her spine.  Good thing the water is warm on her skin to counteract the shiver that Leo’s kisses cause to her body.  She turns to face a grinning Leo who just nods his head to the side. His way of telling her he just couldn’t stop his lips.  She holds out her hand for the puff and Leo eagerly hands it over and she applies more body soap to it, while Leo carefully turns around and braces his hands on the far wall, to steady himself.  He nearly moans at the firm swirling motion that Margaret uses on his back not missing the opportunity to wash her jet tattoo with an extra swirl or two that brings a soft chuckle from Leo.  She tilts the showerhead to rinse the soap from his body and naturally has to drop a kiss hello to the tiny jet as it reappears from beneath the bubbles. 

 

With her kiss to his body as a signal that the shower is over, he shifts off the wall and turns to face her with a grin, “Baby, can we do that every morning?  What a way to start the day!”

 

“Sure, Sweetie, but now we’re done.  I’ll get out first and help you to step over the tub edge,” Margaret then reaches past him to hang up her body puff. 

 

Leo loves the fact that her wet body is touching his and he steadies himself with his hands on her waist.  He has never touched her body in the shower before, not wanting her to make feel like he was making advances or that she would feel cornered or maybe obligated to respond to him. 

 

She leans back and grins at his smiling face and she knows that Leo has been dreaming of them being frisky in the shower.  She gives him a taste, by wrapping her arms around him and giving him a passionate kiss that he happily returns.  Her emotions have been a little high this morning and her nerves are almost totally shot, because of the agents in the next room, so this is her logical reason for throwing caution to the wind. 

 

This has ruined any chance of a quick shower.  They both are breathless and shiny eyed, as they break apart.  The warm water is still cascading down their bodies, as they rest with their foreheads touching.  Margaret finally whispers to Leo, “Sorry, Sweetie, but we really need to get out now.”

 

“Yeah, Baby, I know, so much for our morning fun lasting any longer.  You get out first and I’ll work at getting the water off,” Leo sighs at the loss of contact with Margaret, as she steps out and he turns to work at the knobs.

 

Margaret quickly wraps a towel around her body and reaches for Leo.  She knows that he’ll shortly need to sit down, even though his standing time has been getting better.  Using his body muscles to balance is still hard for him over long periods of time, they’re still stiff and sore from the bruising, even with it being a week today since the attack.

 

Leo moves to sit on the towel that’s draped over the stool and takes another towel that she’s handing him.  “Thanks, Baby.” 

 

“You’re really into calling me ‘Baby’ this morning,” she teases as she dries off in front of him.  She notes with satisfaction that he always seems to be so slow getting himself dry after a shower, wearing a grin the whole time, his eyes locked on her.

 

“Yeah, it’s Saturday and we’re at home, so I’m indulging myself.  Not that you look like a baby to me right now,” he gives a low appreciative growl and his grin now changes to a suggestive one.

 

“Well, Sweetie,” she can indulge herself also, “we need to get dressed in case we have to leave the building or at least this room.”

 

Leo nods in reluctant agreement.  He’s getting really fond of their time together in the bathroom.   Margaret moves to rub his back dry with her own drying towel, to speed him along.  Leo dries on the front of himself, reaching down farther on his legs today.

 

 Margaret starts to rub his hair dry and she’s pleased that they’re that comfortable around each other now.  It has been a rapidly progressive week for them physically in more ways than one.  She smiles softly and reviews the week in her mind.  Leo has surprised her and probably himself, in his acceptance of help from his West Wing family.  All of them have willingly jumped in without a moment of hesitation, all were wondering if he would be reluctant to let them help, knowing that Leo has had to be the strong one among them in the past.  Margaret stops herself from letting her mind wandering so much and hands Leo his clean boxers from the drawer.  She hurries to get herself dressed in record time, still uneasy with the agents outside.

 

Leo sits back down after getting his boxers pulled up. “What’s your hurry? I’m not rushing, I’m not shy.”

 

“Don’t I know it.”  She says to Leo’s back, listening to Leo softly chuckle at her truthful assessment of his behavior around her.

 

She takes his jeans from the hook on the back of the bathroom door where they were hung up at last night, since he only wore them for a few hours and she hands them to Leo.

 

 He grunts as he bends his legs enough to get them in the jeans. “Guess they’re going to have to put up with me shirtless and barefoot, till they get done with the sweep,” Leo states as a fact while he stands and works at getting the heavy jean zipper to slide up. 

 

Margaret watches him work at it, knowing that he likes to do things for himself.  “You want me to button the top for you, Leo?”

 

“Nah, I’d just have to unbutton it again, to either put on a shirt or use the restroom again.  If I ever get some coffee in me,” he growls a little at having to wait.

 

“You?  I crawled back in bed with you, while it brewed.  I’m getting as desperate as you are.” Margaret almost wishes he hadn’t reminded her that the coffee is done and waiting in the kitchen.

 

“Let’s go check with the agents and see what’s up,” Leo is not going to wait like he’s caged in the bathroom.  Margaret nods in total agreement.

 

*****     

 

Leo opens the door and both agents swing to look at them as Leo steps out and stuffs his fingertips into his jeans pockets, since they’re too snug for him to get his healing hands all the way down in yet, “So, what’s the situation now, Gentlemen? It’s been 30 minutes.”

 

“Sir, Agent Butterfield is downstairs and will be here momentarily to update you,” Agent Lewis calmly and professionally answers Leo.  He covers well the double take he almost does, at Mr. McGarry standing in front of him with just a pair of faded jeans on.  Best disguise he’s ever seen.  He wouldn’t recognize him if it wasn’t for the steely eyed look he was at that moment receiving from the CoS.

 

“So, we just cool our heels, till he gets here?” Leo surmises as he balances up and down once on his bare toes, showing a little of his impatience. 

 

“I’m afraid so, Sir,” Agent Stout replies to confirm Leo’s assumption.

 

Margaret moves around to Leo’s side of the bed and starts to straighten out and make up the bed.  She’s not at all comfortable with the bed still looking like they just got out of it. 

 

Leo steps to the near side of the bed to help her. The agents don’t let even a flicker of surprise show on their faces at the CoS being domestic, as they watch out of the corner of their eyes. 

 

Margaret finishes the far side first and as she looks down at the floor, her face turns slightly red at the site of Leo’s boxers on the floor beside of the bed.  She bends to snatch them up as she moves around the bed. 

 

Leo’s just finishing the side of the bed that he’s working on, when he notices the flush on Margaret’s face and his boxers are hiding as a small tight bundle in her hand.  He can’t resist.  He pulls his hand out from under the cover and her panties are dangling from his fingertips.  He knows the agents are now pointedly ‘not’ looking at them.  He gives her a huge grin as she grabs the silk material from him.  She swiftly snags the small towel off the floor between his foot and her nightstand, while taking her blushing face to the closet under the pretense of adding the clothes to the laundry hamper.  She just may kill Leo herself.

 

Ron knocks on the bedroom door and announces himself, before opening it even though he knows that two of his agents are expecting him on the inside.  Ron immediately looks to find Leo leaning against the end of the bed waiting with his arms crossed across his bare chest.  Ron notes his damp hair, indicating that he has showered during his lock down.  A quick view of the room has him wondering where Margaret is.  He doesn’t hear the shower running and he knows he didn’t pass her anywhere else in the apartment. 

 

Ron gives himself away with a slight stiffening of his back at Leo’s next comment, “We’ve had our shower and she’s in the closet with our laundry.  It ‘is’ our day off.”  Leo leans forward and stands up fully on his feet.  He places his hands on either side of his waist.  He’s just as sure of himself as if he was wearing his suit and tie.  Even though his soft old jeans are parting where unbuttoned and the edge of his dark boxers are peeking above his low slung jeans, he still looks like a candidate for a mature GQ cover or at least inside somewhere, pictured standing on a beach.

 

Ron gets a hard look on his face, trying to be all business, hoping his ear tips are not getting red at his slightly obvious interest in Margaret’s whereabouts and he’s forcing himself not to let his mind dwell on the term ‘we’ve’ that Leo used.  “Mr. McGarry, we did find that someone intentionally pulled the alarm to clear the building and probably hoping to get you or Margaret out in the open.”

 

Leo gets a dark look on his face at this nasty bit of news.  He was holding out for the slight chance that one of the other residents had just burnt their breakfast. “And”, Leo asks the obvious and leaves the end open on the question.

 

Ron picks up on Leo’s impatient growl, “The bad news is that a note was found outside.  It was left for us to find.  It simple states, ‘Mr. President, we will get one of yours today.’  Which also leads us to believe that you two were first on the list today.”

 

Leo straightens up at the implication that others of his staff might be in jeopardy, “Who do you think may be serious targets and what are you doing about this new threat to the others?”

 

Ron knows that what he can convey is of little use, “First, we’re contacting all the senior staff and informing them that a real threat has been left, stating that others might be targets today and they in turn are to take extra precautions.”

 

In the silence that follows Ron waits and he looks Leo over.  He notes, now that Leo is in front of him with just jeans on, that his bruised ribs are turning ghastly colors as they appear to be healing.  Neither he, nor any of the other agents have had a good look at his side, since he was brought to the White House a week ago.  The agency knew how Leo was badly beaten from the photos that they took that night.  The department had heard later that his ribs really looked like hell.  They also knew that at the first of the week Leo could hardly walk and that the senior staff was helping him.  Ron can see Leo is getting stronger and he is glad that Leo is moving better.  They'd hate to have to manhandle him with cracked ribs, especially if they have to move him out in a hurry.

 

Leo nods his head as he studies the carpet at his feet, his mind is running possibilities, “I warned them yesterday to be extra careful this weekend, but it was best to let them know that an actual note was left this morning.” Leo’s head pops up and he seriously looks Ron in the face, “Has the President been informed?”

 

“That’s why I’m again, standing here in Margaret’s bedroom, Sir.” Ron gives Leo as near an exasperated look that he’d allow slip over his features while on duty.

 

Leo sighs, “Yeah, he’s getting into the bad habit of sending you and the agents into our bedroom.  Its driving Margaret nuts and it’s not making my life, in here, any easier either.”  Leo now loses what little constraint he has on his temper, “Just so I feel better saying so, find these assholes soon, so I can get you guys the hell out of my bedroom.  It’s starting to creep us out, like they’re a sick Peeping Tom outside the window.”  Leo drops his arm that he was pointing with and ends his tirade on a loud harsh note.  He blows out a loud breath at seeing Ron’s unwavering, stony face.  Leo lowers his voice so Margaret can’t overhear him in the walk-in closet, “Sorry, I just had to blow, but between you and me, find these fucking idiots.  They’re making fools of all of us. You, for not being able to find them and the rest of us for constantly looking over our shoulders and needing to be on our guard.”  Leo growls as he glances at his two keepers dressed in black, which are also standing in his and Margaret’s private bedroom.

 

Ron hurriedly agrees, “Mr. McGarry, let me assure you we are as adamant in apprehending the attackers as you are.” Ron’s not showing it, but he’s just as pissed as Leo at the agency’s inability to catch the attackers and he’s definitely uncomfortable standing in Margaret’s,  …no, their bedroom, shoe to toe with Leo.

 

‘Yeah, I bet you are.  I’m willing to bet, you’d love to have a special interrogation room just for them that would almost qualify as the dungeon that the President insists is somewhere in the basement of the White House.” 

 

“I wish,” slips out of Ron lips involuntarily.

 

Leo grins in agreement, “So, can I go get coffee yet?”  Leo pauses, but quickly adds, “If you think I’m getting testy this morning, you haven’t seen anything till you mess with Margaret before her coffee.  I think this morning is definitely not a good one for her, so consider your self warned.  Even Josh will not mess with her before coffee.”  Leo tilts his head and sarcastically adds. “You see this smile on my face?  That’s my way of preserving my well being around her, while her coffee in the kitchen and us ‘locked down’ in here.”  Leo is just giving him an honest warning about Margaret.  “I’ve just been trying to keep her happy,” adding a knowing smirk to his grin.

 

Ron gives Leo a long sharp look at this information and decides that maybe he should relent a little, “Sir, I do feel it would be safe for you to go into the rest of the apartment, now that we’ve swept the building.  I do have to keep you restricted to the apartment, till we are certain that the attackers are out of the area and will not be able to slip back in the building.”

 

Leo jumps and turns at the news that they can reach the coffee now, “Margaret, coffee time.”

 

Ron immediately adds in before Margaret joins Leo to leave the bedroom, “Sir, I do want to inform you that Mr. Lyman did accompany me up here to the apartment, but I insisted that he remain out in the apartment, while I briefed you.” 

 

“Margaret, you better hurry.  You may need to kill Josh.  I just found out that he’s been left unguarded near your coffee maker for the last 10 minutes.”  Leo knows just what buttons to push to get a reaction out of Margaret and that someone is in her coffee before her, is definitely one of them.

 

Margaret comes hurling out of the closet and bellows before she even gets the bedroom door more than slightly cracked, “Joshua, you better not have drank all my coffee or your going to need medical assistance.”  The door bangs open on the bedroom wall as Margaret rushes out to the kitchen.

 

Ron notes the damp edges of Margaret’s hair, confirming to him that she indeed has had her shower this morning.  Then, he’s a detail man after all, but he had missed the best detail of all, Margaret herself, right in front of him at the White House.  Red toenail polish?

 

Leo looks at Ron with a smirk, “See what I mean about people who get between her and her first mug of coffee, after that she’s safe to be around.”

 

From the kitchen they hear, “Leo, I think you may need to rescue me.  Like now! Margaret’s threatening me with bodily harm,” Josh may be serious from the tone of his voice.

 

Leo holds up his index finger to Ron and points toward the kitchen, “Josh, I’m coming.  Margaret, don’t hurt him.  I need him in one piece for therapy,” Leo tries to hurry to the kitchen and Ron is not waiting, but right on his heels.  There’s no way he’s going to miss what’s going on in the kitchen.

 

*****    

 

They arrive to find Josh cornered and his hands held up in front of himself, as if to ward off Margaret.  “Leo, honest, I only took one mug of coffee.   I didn’t have time to pour her one, in the split second between her warning and her arriving.”

 

Leo glances at Margaret.  She has a mug in her hand and is innocently sipping from it, “She looks content and harmless to me right now.”

 

“Sure, she is now, but that was ‘my’ mug of coffee.  She barreled in here and grabbed it from my hand.  I mean, I’ve seen hungry sharks with less aggression.” Josh still has a serious look on his face as he notes Leo’s smirk.

 

“Well, you know better than to get between her and her coffee in the morning.  That’s not safe for man or beast.”  Leo states it like its common knowledge. 

 

Josh slides safely past Margaret, now that Leo’s there to prevent any bloodshed.   He stops on the other side of the coffee maker and pours Leo a mug.  Handing it to Leo, Josh makes sure Leo can hold it this morning, before he gets himself a second mug. 

 

Leo savors the hot mug warming his stiff hands a moment before sipping.

 

 This whole time Margaret has been quietly and casually sipping the coffee, while leaning against the counter edge.  She holds out her mug for Josh to refill.   Ron clears his throat to interrupt the coffee drinkers, while keeping an observant eye on Margaret.  Leo glances at him, “Yeah, she has us pretty well trained.  It’s either that or do without coffee.” Leo nods his head to the side, “At least she does share the rest of the pot, because believe me, it is ‘her’ coffee.” 

 

Josh grins over the rim of his coffee mug at Ron, “You think she’s dangerous, you should see the rest of the Sisterhood in action and more so when they’re together.  They are an awesome force to be reckoned with.  Scary!” Josh states for the record, not a bit embarrassed at his admittance.

 

Leo nods his head, over his own mug of coffee, in total agreement especially after being on the receiving end of the Sisterhood’s wrath, “They took me down in record time.” At Ron’s questioning look, Leo points out, “Let’s see how one of you guys like being pinned to the carpet.  They just love revenge!”

 

Ron lets slip a slightly disbelieving look at the two powerful men in the room and then glances back at Margaret, who gives him a small smile of satisfaction.   There is definitely more to Margaret than Ron ever suspected before.  He might even call it intriguing.  He’s not sure whether to be worried by the ‘Sisterhood’, as the other two men refer to them or to feel left out, almost wishing he were in the loop on a more personal level.

 

Margaret pushes her hips off the edge of the counter where she’s leaning and tops off all three mugs again, “Come on guys, let’s move to the table.”  She hands Josh three bananas to carry and tucks a box of cereal bars under her elbow.  “Leo needs to conserve his strength some today, that is, if you still manage to get in two therapies.”  Ron takes a step back out of the way into the foyer.  Margaret naturally slips her hand around Leo’s waist to guide him toward the doorway in front of her.  Right before they pass Ron at the doorway, Margaret takes small swallow of coffee and drops a kiss to back of Leo bare shoulder.

 

Leo remarks automatically, “Hot Lips, Mmmm”

 

Margaret softly smiles as she keeps her eyes and her smile on her coffee mug.  Leo might have gotten his macho satisfaction earlier, but the women of the Sisterhood have their own small ways to get the same satisfaction.  Men are so easy.

 

*****    

 

Ron watches Margaret retain her hand on Leo’s bare skin as the group moves to sit at the table.  He notes that Josh empties his hands at the table and turns to take Leo’s coffee mug from him, so he can sit down in the chair that Josh pulls out with his other hand.  Ron switches his observations back to Margaret as he listens to a few uninformative check-ins over his earpiece.  He watches her get Leo a peeled and sectioned banana along with an unwrapped cereal bar.  Ron sees Leo rub his free hand on her arm as she reaches in front of him and Leo gives her a peck on the temple in thanks.  Margaret gives Leo a small smile and showing that she knows they’re being watched, she glances a pointed look at the agents.  Each is standing sideways, one in front of the living room windows, the other in the doorway to the bedroom and Ron is facing them while standing against the wall between the foyer and the guest room door.  To him, she’s not overly nervous, even for Margaret.  A bit miffed you might say and he indulges to wonder what was interrupted this morning by the alarm.  Ron has been apprised of their general location since the alarm.  He’s reading the clues, a habit he does like breathing.  It’s obvious that kissing was probably going on in the bathroom, with their puffy lips and flushed skin.  He notices that they’re definitely doing more personal touching here at the apartment, not only in front of him, but also with the other agents.  Together, they seem to have settled right into a sense of natural comfort here at the apartment. 

 

Josh has turned the TV on softly.  They might as well catch some of the news.  Josh looks around at the agents stationed around the room.  “You know, Leo, I think that you must be more important than we thought, with three agents in the room. They’re starting to block out the sunlight.”  Josh knows that Leo is barely tolerating the agents and hopes to lighten the mood of his friends.

 

Leo growls in response, but it’s Margaret that replies, “At least we were able to leave the bedroom for coffee and breakfast.  You may be right though, we may need to turn a lamp on.”  Margaret’s sarcasm is evident, but she grins at Josh taking his remark as it was intended.  Josh returns her grin, pleased to make her smile.

 

Leo turns his head to Ron, “It just occurred to me, Ron, that you usually would run this from at least outside the apartment, where you would be able to communicate face to face with the other agents.  My team of agents are already in here with me.”

 

Ron focuses on Leo face as he has been listening to updates again, “Sir, we both know by whose order I am required to stay here in the apartment, with you in my sight till the all clear.  That part was added after ‘he’ was informed of the note.”  Ron holds Leo with a knowing look.  Both men are in agreement that this is a little overboard even for him.  Now they’re all grounded in lock down.  Leo deep down knows that he is just worried and thinks that today they are the big targets.

 

Josh returns to teasing Leo at this bit of news, “So, Leo, you plan on being dragged to the car in just a pair of jeans? Then again, you’re just lucky that this lock down isn’t during the evening or you might just be taken out in your satin lounge pants.” Josh is wearing a huge smile. 

 

Leo is aware that Josh is poking fun at him in front of Ron and the agents, “You know that Margaret is absolutely fine with me wearing very little clothing here at home. The whole bunch of you, have had me near stripped most of the week.  I’m just getting used to Abby and Margaret half undressing me at the White House. The President and you have been putting me to bed.  Toby, Charlie and Sam switch between either holding me up or taking me for walks to the restroom and CJ has been babysitting me while I sleep.  So, I gave up and to save you all some time, I’m down to just my jeans.” Leo makes it sound like he loses his clothes all the time.

 

When they’re finished eating Margaret stands to take their breakfast garbage to the trash. 

 

Leo slowly rises also, “Let’s move over to the TV, since we’re finished here.  I can at least watch some of the Saturday morning Capital News.” 

 

Margaret joins Leo at the couch, bringing her small cross-stitch project with her. She’s not about to sit and stare at a debating politician on her day off.  She can see that any day at work. 

 

Josh is once again draped over his recliner, as it has now been declared his.  He and Leo are settled in to heckle and boo the TV, like it’s a sporting event. 

 

Leo’s sitting back in the couch corner with his arm up on the back of the couch and one leg knee bent up onto the couch, Margaret moves his knee back off just enough that she can get cuddle in beside him and lean again his good side.  Leo pauses in his scrutiny of the politician to glance down at the thread and other items she has with her. 

 

She’s sorting her threads, cutting and dividing them, laying them out across his jean-covered leg also, when hers are full.  He better not move.  Margaret nests around him in complete comfort. 

 

Leo shortly loses interest in her needlework when it looks like he’s safe and there won’t be any bloodletting, especially his.  His fingers are unconsciously toying with the ends of her hair and occasionally his thumb caresses her neck. 

 

Ron can be heard talking softly in the foyer on his mic, they know he still has Leo in his line of vision, as that was the Presidential order. 

 

Leo and Josh continue to point out and debate the views of the shows participants.  Before any heated political disagreements can arise, the show ends and Margaret starts to gather up her needlework.  Leo leans up quickly and gives her a quick peck on the temple, just to distract and tease her as she organizes and packs away her threads.  He drops just as quickly back with a small moan. That’s one of the moves that he can’t do yet, without being reminded of his sore ribs.  Margaret darts a glance at the agent near them and gives him a quick smile knowing that he got his own payback for stealing a kiss.  His eyes twinkle to hers and he nods his head to the side slightly as a silent signal of ‘oh well caught again’, while watching the TV display as Josh surfs the channels for more political news.  He just gently rubs her back unconsciously, while she now sits in front of his reclining body and repacks her supply bag at the coffee table.  When she’s satisfied that it’s to her liking, she turns to face Leo and lays her hand on his leg, rubbing slightly as she asks softly, “Leo, if they don’t get the lock down lifted soon, you guys won’t be able to get in a therapy this morning.” She’s acutely aware that the agents are still there and she doesn’t want every word overheard.

 

“So, do you want to neck on the couch awhile, to fill in the time,” Leo whispers back to her.  He has his impish grin on his face, like he’s trying to convince her.

 

She whispers right back, “Dream on, Sweetie, not with the men in black around taking notes.” Leo can easily see that she’s serious, but he still grins at her.  She can’t blame him for trying, though.   

 

Leo looks at Josh, “Hey, Kid, It’s getting late for us to get in a session, before you go to the office to check in for today.  What do you think?”

 

Josh grins at the couple.  He has been slightly aware of the two of them touching and caressing each other while on the couch, as usual.  Both either forgetting the agents are in the room and pointedly ignoring them, as he suspects is the case with Leo, but probably not with Margaret.  Josh has noticed this week that she touches Leo like he’ll vanish if she doesn’t keep checking that he’s really right beside her.  He glances over their heads at Ron and can tell that he’s not missing anything that the couple is doing either, while he gives the impression he’s listening to his ear piece, but he’s looking at the couch and not the floor like he does when a report comes in on his earpiece.  Josh finally replies, when Leo catches him checking on Ron first, “I think, Leo, that you two are getting as bad as the First Couple at not being able to keep your hands off each other.  Not that it’s a bad thing.  It’s just like you’re an old couple, but still new, if that makes sense. You two just seem connected like they are.” Margaret and Leo exchange a happy look as Josh continues, “To answer your question, I’ll ask one.  If the building is clear, why can’t we go to the hot tub room?  Can’t they guard you there?”

 

Leo glances at Josh and then to Ron.  Leo leans forward to stand and Josh scrambles out of his recliner, not wanting to miss the exchange between Leo and Ron, to see if it gets good and turns into a pissing contest. He has his suspicions.

 

Margaret knows that she might as well follow, as they might need Josh to referee and her to mop up the bloodshed.  Leo has that look on his face.

 

Leo stops directly in front of the agent, with his hands resting on his hips, “Ron, you know, lately Josh has been leaving more and more extra soft clothes here, due to him being so ‘at home’ with Margaret and me, but if this lock down lasts much longer or the President keeps sending you at all hours, you’ll need to start keeping extra soft clothes here as well.  You’ve been spending so much time here lately, you know.  We just keep adding more and more staff to our big happy family.” Leo states really sarcastic.

 

Ron gives him the same professional stare, doing his best not to look at Margaret and satisfying his curiosity about her response to Leo’s mention of his time in her, …no, their apartment.

 

Leo is now blunt, “Ron, is the building clear?”

 

“Yes, Sir, it is.” Ron answers him shortly, but professionally. 

 

“Then why can’t I go to the hot tub room and start my therapy?  I’m sure you can guard me securely in a small room with only one door.”  Leo makes it sound like a challenge or a slur, if you take it that way.  Leo just looks at Ron calmly waiting for an answer.

 

Ron gives Leo a stony glare, but answers, “The President instructed me to personally keep you secure.”

 

“Then you can do it downstairs. The President did not specify where it had to be,” Leo points out, putting the ball in Ron’s court.

 

“Sir, most of the agents at this time are spread out over a few blocks area, sweeping for the attackers or clues.”  Ron blows out his breath, knowing Leo is not being convinced, “I allowed that to happen knowing you were safely in the apartment.”

 

“So, get help,” Leo demands.

 

“Sir, I point out that it will take us some effort to get back up in place here at the building,” Ron protests.

 

“OK, then you better get started on it.” Leo is not giving in on this, he has a recovery planned and he needs to get on with it.

 

Ron sighs and looks at Leo like he has to be kidding on a Saturday.

 

Margaret is right behind Leo and since he didn’t hike his jeans up when the got off the couch, they’re riding extremely low and his/her jet tattoo is about to make a full appearance.  So, she naturally slides her fingers into the back belt loops, caresses the tiny jet with the pad of her thumb, which she knows makes Leo’s eyes widen happily with her unexpectedly touching it secretly in public and she then quickly yanks his jeans back up.  Leo automatically holds his hands out from his sides and looks down in surprise, as the front of his pants suddenly feels really tight. Since there’s no real pain, he looks at her and grins, “Margaret, don’t play with my pants when I’m trying to be the boss here.”

 

At the sight of Margaret yanking up so rapidly on Leo’s jeans in a no-nonsense manner, Ron’s eyes connect with the surprised look on Leo’s face.  There’s a moment of complete male understanding.  Ron pulls at his collar a little, since it suddenly seems to be getting very warm for him and he clears his throat as he feels a sympathy tightening in his lower region.

 

At the same time, a gasp is heard from Josh at Margaret’s painful looking yank, but he immediately smothers a chuckle at Leo’s remark.

 

Margaret leans in close to Leo’s ear and whispers, “My jet was starting to make a take off.” She knows he’s grinning, but shoots him down, “Keep up the pissing contest and you could end up with a wedgie.”

 

Her breathing in his ears sends a slight, but delightful shiver down Leo’s spine.

 

Margaret smirks and can’t resist pointing out in front of the others, “With your slim snake-like hips, I’d better or you really will be showing more than you planned to the agents.  You can be sure that Josh and I’ll not be impressed with you mooning everyone in the room.”

 

Standing slightly behind and to the right of Leo, Josh chuckles at Margaret description of Leo’s backside and mentions, “It might help, Margaret, if you’d button his pants, like I do for Leo and he wouldn't have that problem.”

 

Leo backs up against Margaret and turns a smile to Josh and replies to this banter about dressing him, “That's OK, she likes me fine with my pants half off and you’re family anyway.”  He leans closer to Josh even with Margaret now hiding her face against his shoulder, “Besides, I really don’t mind.  Margaret can play with my pants anytime.” 

 

Margaret slides her arms around his waist, but she can’t give him the quick, tight squeeze that he’s earned as punishment, with his bad side, it’ll have to wait.  She knows that there’s no way to save face now and so she joins in with a dig of her own, “Yeah, Leo just likes to tempt me.”

 

Leo gives her a kiss to her cheek as that’s all he can reach with her holding his waist “Well, we better get changed, while Ron calls for back up.  Margaret, you too please, I’d like you with Josh and me.”  He tilts his head toward Ron, “Just to be on the safe side.”

 

“Sure, Leo, lets get you changed,” Margaret quickly agrees, not realizing what she said in front of Ron and the agents.  She knows that they are aware of Leo and her being physically close, but she doesn’t want to flaunt it.

 

Josh did realize what she said and teases, “I’ll just be waiting in the guest room if Leo needs help, but I doubt he’d call for me.” Josh is almost snickering as he quickly gets out of arms reach from Margaret.

 

Margaret rolls her eyes at a retreating Josh and Leo grins.  Leo moves out of Margaret’s hold and takes her by the hand to lead her back to the bedroom.  They walk past the agent and straight into the bathroom.  Their swimsuits are still hanging on the towel rod from last night.  Leo shuts the door with a smirk on his face, as the door clicks closed, leaving the agent alone in bedroom.

 

 *****    

 

Soon, Leo’s cutting across the living room to the guest room in only his swim pants, his wiry body evident to Ron, who is still amazed, alone, Leo was able to hold off the attackers.  Leo needs his flip-flops and a shirt from the guest room. 

 

Josh calls for Leo to enter at his knock.  He’s just finished changing and is laying his jeans out flat along the end of the bed.  He’ll still need them in good shape for his visit to the office later.

 

 While Leo is in the bath grabbing a spare towel, the phone rings.

 

Josh is beside the computer stand and the phone.  He calls out, “Leo, I’ll get it. Margaret’s not out yet.” He picks up the phone at Leo’s natural agreement.

 

Leo walks out into the guest room and rolls his eyes at the cheerful conversation that Josh is having. “Yes, Sir, we had an enjoyable morning watching Capital Beat, after the nutritious breakfast that Margaret always insists we have.  Yes, Sir, she takes good care of us, weak and pathetic men in her life.  She was displeased that I got into her coffee before they released them from the secure bedroom.  I can tell you, Sir, I was scared.  Leo came and rescued me.  Sir, one moment please.  I think Leo wants a word with you.  I may need to cover my ears if ‘Dad’ is going to use bad words.” Josh chuckles along with the President as Leo wrenches the phone handle from him.

 

Margaret is now ready and goes to the living room in search of Leo.  Ron watches her move gracefully across the room, dressed in a bright blue tank swimsuit, which sets off her creamy skin and red hair beautifully.  She’s still modestly covered as she is wearing her white terry robe over the suit, which is loosely tied.   When she reaches the open guest room doorway, she can hear Leo talking sternly to Jed.  Josh is leaning against the footboard of the bed, listening with delight as Leo tears into his best friend.  She shuts the door, even though the agents have already heard the gist of Leo’s rant. 

 

Ron’s still watching her in front of him, but his face never shows his thoughts.  His eyes are noting every detail, from her slender body, to the long creamy legs below.  She slips on her sandals that she’s going to wear to the hot tub.  Ron never drops his chin a fraction to indicate that he’s observing her slip her toes around the dividing strap of leather, but the sight of her red nails almost make him catch his breath, so bright against the contrast of her feet.  He’s still kicking himself.  ~How did Leo get so lucky?  Why did he not see her?  He’s a details man and she’s around him so often at the White House.  Will he ever find himself a Margaret?~

 

Margaret looks at Ron face and smiles.  She can tell that he’s as uncomfortable at being here as Leo is at having him here.  She decides to fill in the time waiting with a question for Ron.  “Ron, are the stairway doors, security doors.  You know, when they’re made to just open from the inside, in case of fire to let people out, but no one can sneak in from the outside.  They work with a key lock on the outside of all the floor doors.  I was just asking as this building has such great other security features.  I thought it sounded like a good idea, but maybe there are flaws to that system.”  Margaret looks at him expectantly, with a soft smile on her face as she asks him as a friend as well as a security expert. 

 

Ron lets a matching smile appear on his face a Margaret legitimate question and her rapid way of explaining it, “Margaret,” he says softly to her and not strictly as a professional.  “That’s a good idea, one that some of the high risk buildings here in DC have had to resort to.”  At her happy smile, due to the fact that he’s honestly considering her question and not treating her as stupid or quirky, he explains, “The one drawback that some buildings don’t like about it, is that even with key locks on the outside, there are still several people that have to have access to the keys.  Not only the building owner and the managers, but also the fire department requires that they have a master key, for fire fighting purposes.”  She’s listening to him with undivided attention.  It’s almost heady to him, now that he realizes what a unique person she is and he memorizes the shades of green that make her eyes so alive, with them so close to his.  He continues, before he gets himself into trouble and he would never want to cause her a moment of grief, “In the case of the Secret Service, if we have a protectee in residence here, then we’d need keys also.  So it gets to be too much of a hassle for the building and if a key turns up missing, then the lock tumblers all have to be replaced and everyone given a new key. 

 

Margaret looks at the floor and absently tightens the tie on her robe, as she considers what he said.  Ron’s eyes flick down involuntarily, just for a split moment at her movements.  Margaret smiles up at him at a thought, “I hope the agents locked my door after they came in this morning.  We wouldn’t want the bad guys to follow them in.” Her eyes convey that she’s playfully teasing him.  She has been around Jed, Josh and Leo too much this week.

 

*****    

 

Outside the hot tub room, Ron is switching between watching Leo through the window of the door and watching the hall, glancing to the agents at either end of the short hallway.  Ron is thinking about Leo.  He knows what Leo was like before he became CoS.  He was around him in the past while working security detail at the White House, when Leo was SoL and was present at dinners and other gatherings. He saw how Leo worked and conducted himself at these functions. Leo was high up in the Democratic Party and one that they knew would someday possibly be the agency’s responsibility.  Ron remembers seeing Leo attending with his then wife and he was known to be faithful, even when drunk.  His ex-wife was another red head, he remembers.  Leo never flirted around, it was not a question with him, even though the agents had to watch others from starting trouble that way, at the White House functions.

 

Once Jed Bartlet was elected, Ron did try and keep Leo's rehab info sealed up, before it got out.  Besides, that is what the President would expect from him.  The President wanted and needed Leo as CoS.  Something that Ron is still undecided about.  Yes, at times it made his job easier with the President, but other times Leo and he locked horns.  Ron honestly admits that neither of them gives an inch when they feel that they’re right.  The President has had to step verbally between them at times.

 

Ron turns back to the agents in the hall and motions Agent Lewis to his side. “Lewis, I’d like to hear your report on this morning’s observations during your response to the alarm.”

 

The Agent quickly composes a response to his supervisor.  Wanting to help bring this assignment to a speedy conclusion.   It’s getting to be an embarrassment to them all. “Sir, we announced our presence upon entering the apartment and did a standard visual survey of the of the outer rooms and guest room.   I announced our presence again and moments after that we were entering the bedroom.  At our entrance Mr. McGarry and Miss Ryan were in the bed as if the alarm and our entrance to the apartment had awakened them.  We took up our positions between Mr. McGarry and the openings to the room and contacted you for instructions.” The agent waited for Ron to process his report and possible need clarification.

 

Ron sighs, “Lewis, this might seem like I’m asking for elaborate details, but I want you to tell me the color of the paint on the wall, if you think it might remotely help us.  Close your eyes and run the events again in your head and telling me all the details that your mind sees.”

 

The agent doesn’t even blink.  He knows that time is a factor in most events and that talking the events out as your mind sees them, is the best way to recall even the smallest detail, just as they were trained. “Sir, when we entered the apartment all was quiet and in my side of the sweep I recall that the coffee maker was operating.  In the living room the drapes were still drawn as required in standard procedure.  I visually scanned the open area of the main room. Agent Stout teamed up with me and we announced our presence and entered the bedroom. 

 

“Continue,” was Ron’s only instruction.

 

The agent did so, trying to see the whole picture, “As I mentioned, they were in the bed.  Miss Ryan was pretty well covered by the sheet and it could be observed that she was arranging her clothes and seemed somewhat scared.” 

 

“Continue,” Ron again instructed.

 

“Mr. McGarry though bare chested, was covered to the waist and was quickly in the process of giving us a free cussing.  Miss Ryan brought a hand to his chest and calmed him.” 

 

 As the agent in front of him pauses to gather his thoughts, Ron notes to himself that Leo may still owe her an apology for the cussing.  He knows she frowns on it’s usage if it gets too raunchy, since he overheard her take an intern to task for using vulgar language. 

 

“After Mr. McGarry calmed down, he immediately demanded to know the situation.  Facing him, I noted that he probably wasn’t wearing any clothes, so I instructed him to don his robe.  Mr. McGarry informed me that we wouldn’t move him, short of mortal danger.  He was holding his side, indicating pain when sitting next to Miss Ryan.  I confirmed that we were to stay firm.  Mr. McGarry then informed me he needed to dress and he needed his robe to leave the bed.  He asked the expected time of his lock down.  After being informed that the bathroom was the safest room for us to protect, he took Margaret with him there.  We noted the shower was turned on and they emerged shortly before you arrived. They did straighten up the room in the few minutes they were waiting.” 

 

“Mr. McGarry, cleaned the room,” Ron questions before he can stop himself.  

 

“Yes, Sir, helped to make the bed, actually,” the agent kept the grin off his face.

 

Ron just has trouble envisioning the CoS being domestic.  Yet, he hopes someday to be domestic, with the right woman, himself.

 

“OK, Lewis, I think that we don’t need that much detail in your report, if you get my drift.  We’re very secure in the agency, but there’s always the slight chance that it might get in the wrong hands and leaked to the press.  Too much personal detail just might make Miss Ryan look loose or that she’s trying to trap Leo. This administration and this couple, have had enough to deal with this week and none of us need anymore bad press.” Ron is really thinking of all the ramifications that could happen if the private details got out about Leo and Margaret.  Even though the press has let their relationship slide so far, but after his press outburst yesterday, some of the cheap ‘rag mags’ might try to drag Margaret through the mud.  That is not happening on his watch. 

 

“Lewis, put in the details that you first told me and if the President asks for more, I’ll decide what’s relevant for him to know.”  Ron doesn’t feel anyone needs to know of how close they were found, after all, they have only been living together for just five days. He’s not sure even he’s comfortable with knowing. But, he does need to remind Leo about wearing more clothing when he’s a protectee.

 

“Yes, Sir.  Sounds good to me.  I wasn’t looking forward to giving an extremely detailed report on Mr. McGarry.   Thank you, Sir.  I’ll return to my post now.”

The agent is just thankful that they didn't find them in the act, now that they know how close the couple is becoming.  He breathes a sigh of relief that his job was safe from the CoS’s wrath at his report. Sometimes his job is not all the glamour that the outside world thinks it is.

 

On Ron’s next check of Leo through the window, he ponders that he just didn’t realize how close Margaret and Leo had grown over the years.  That must be why it didn’t take much time to speed along their relationship.

 

*****    

 

Later, as the three are finished with Leo’s therapy, Leo mentions to Ron on the walk back to the apartment, “Ron, just to keep you in the loop.  I’m escorting Margaret to her GYN appointment.  It’s Wednesday morning with the same doctor that Abby sees and so he should be cleared with your department already.  I’ll be seeing the doctor with her, so you can tell the agents to be prepared to keep me safe, from a distance, especially while I’m in with her.” Leo smiles with some satisfaction as Ron blinks his eyes and does let a slip a small throat clearing, at the prospect of Leo actually attending Margaret’s exam.  Leo continues to add some helpful suggestions, “The agents can wait outside the exam area, but not too close to the door.  They can look in the room first and after that, they clear out down the hall within site of the door.  I’m just mentioning this to you up front to save her some embarrassment.  From what I have heard, it’s hard enough for a woman to go through an exam like this.  As guys, we can only imagine.”  Considering what they’ll be talking about, Leo in no way wants the agents to be close enough to hear any of that conversation.

 

Ron inwardly groans.  Leo is going to give him a heart attack yet.  No, a headache, he’s definitely giving him a headache just keeping an eye on him but he draws the line at being at Leo’s elbow during the exam, no matter what the President orders.

 

*****    

 

In the apartment, Margaret heads in to the bathroom to change and Ron stops Leo for a moment.  “Mr. McGarry, I need to speak to you about a small matter.  I would just like to remind you that as a protectee, we require you to wear some kind of clothing at all times, unless you’re actually in the shower.  If we do need to remove you, you know it will be swift and immediate.   Just like we do for the President or for any protectee.”

 

“You are telling me what I have to wear, while I’m inside the privacy of my apartment?  This is not the White House,” Leo snaps at Ron.  

 

“Sir, it doesn’t matter where a protectee is guarded.  If they need to be removed to a secure location, it will be immediate and their feet will likely not even touch the floor.  To be clear, Sir, we need you at the very least to be in boxers for sleeping.” 

 

Leo practically snarls back at the invasion of his privacy, “Maybe I sleep bare ass all the time, here and when I was at the hotel.”  Ron still gives Leo a professional and unbending look, “So, now I would have to change my sleeping habits to meet with your departments requirements for a protectee, even in my own home.” 

 

“Yes, Sir, I’m sorry, Sir, but the department bases it regulations on prior experience data,” Ron tries to calmly use logic with Leo, pointing out obvious information that Leo would already know.  “Mr. McGarry, you might feel that the possibility of being removed nude is slight and worth the risk.”  Ron pauses and knows he needs to use his last resort tactic, when he sees a ‘damn right’ look on Leo’s face, “But, I also know you wouldn’t want to cause Miss Ryan any undue embarrassment on your behalf, should this come to pass.” 

 

Leo growls low in his chest, as he surrenders to Ron’s tactic.  Glancing his angry consent to Ron eyes, he turns with a huff and heads to the bathroom to change.  Leo stops at the doorway to the bedroom and throws back over his shoulder a last remark to the battle he just lost, “Besides showering, there is one other reason that I might be bare ass and I assume that your department has regulations for that situation as well, but you can stick them where the sun don’t shine.”  Leo’s not caring what images his remarks conjure up for Ron and the other agents. He glances into the face of Agent Stout, who has stepped back into the bedroom, as he passes him and continues to the bathroom.  Leo’s glad that the bathroom door is closed and Margaret didn’t hear the latest pissing contest between Ron and him. She wouldn’t be happy and she might yet give him that wedgie. 

 

*****    

 

While Leo, Margaret and Josh are at his therapy, unbeknownst to them and the sweeping Secret Service agents; at a location several blocks away in a dirty truck parked near the White House, sit two very pissed men.  Both men are venting their frustration at once again not being able to grab Leo McGarry or his pretty red haired girlfriend.  They firmly believe that the only way to make the government listen to them, is to grab someone that the President will want back bad enough to see their side of the problem.  Luckily, the regulars down at the feed store agreed that someone should make the government listen to the little guy.  One of the smarter ones, (schooling was considered frivolous after age sixteen, when you was big enough to work) was even able to point out in the newspaper’s group photo that the guy next to the President, was his best friend and even worked with him. 

 

 “We’re ain’t gonna get anywhere’s with a grabbing that McGarry man or his girly with a him’s protection, Zeke.  There has ta be sumthin else we’s can do ta get that there president ta a listen ta us’ins.   Ain’t nah away’s that they’s a gonna pay us’ns what ours lands a worth, if’ns they’s takes it fur that there’s damn dam.”

 

“Yah, Earl, we’s needs ta makes them’s listens to us’ns small farmers. Jest cause they’s big and we’s small is nah reas’n fur them’s ta comes in a takes ours farm ands gives us’ns next ta nothin fur it.” 

 

“Rights, Zeke, even if’ns its a been a bad years.  Its a ours land.  Pap leaves it ta us’ns.”

 

“Nah, Earl, here we’s agains this Saturday, wastin a day out a the fields and a gonna hungry.”

 

From their viewpoint they two men could see the corner crosswalk, on the block where the White House is situated and while watching the few walkers up and out this morning, they see CJ cross the street for heading for her morning Starbuck’s coffee.

 

“There’s that tall gal from the picture, Earl.  She’s close ta that President.  Lets a get her.  He’ll a listens ta us’ns ifs we’s has her.   Drives ups alongs sides her.

 

I’lls jumps and gets hers in here and yous guns it out a here’s, Zeke.”

 

Yah, Earl, gets her.  Now’a!

 

*****    

 

CJ is walking slowly and reading the front page of the news as she sips her favorite Starbuck’s latte.  She pays no attention to the truck slowly following her down the street.  Suddenly out of the corner of her eye a dusty old truck pulls beside her and flings open the passenger door. 

 

Luckily, the truck’s driver was too anxious and overshot where to stop.  The passenger then bumps CJ with the door as he bails out in his attempt get a hold of CJ before she’s aware he’s behind her.  He hopes to stuff her in the truck before she can put up any resistance.  He’s also hoping to avoid a repeat of last week’s pounding that they received from one small man.  This is a tall woman.

 

CJ drops her latte when she’s hit suddenly in the butt from a swinging truck door.  Damn that hurts.  She yells out in surprise and pain.  She’s barely able to keep her footing, when she is grabbed by her upper arms from behind and shoved toward the open door of the truck before she can reason out that the hands are trying to shove her inside and not trying to help her to catch her balance.  The newspaper is still gripped tightly in her hand.  She looks up into the truck’s interior, where a hand it’s trying to grab onto her as well.  CJ twists to face back to the open sidewalk and the man who’s trying to retain his hold on her.  She realizes that the warning from the Secret Service was not just an exaggeration.  CJ now knows that she’s the next victim that the attackers are trying for.  She shoves away at the man at the curb, scratching at his face and yelling her head off for help, immediately starts beating him with the paper in her hand, for once the news being useful to save her.  She glances frantically around and can see that no one is close enough to, in time, give her the help that she needs.  She makes one last gallant effort to save herself.  She quickly raises her knee in the universal defense of women everywhere and drops the attacker to the sidewalk, like a rock.  She takes off using the god-given advantage of her long legs and sprints for the safety of the White House gate and grounds.

 

*****    

 

While in the bathroom changing, Leo and Margaret realize that they’ll probably be spending more time in there, now that it’s their only private place to get really passionate.  Leo and Margaret both know that anything more than cuddling or small touches of affection, while the agents are actually in the apartment, is out of the question.  So, Leo knowing there’s no hurry to get out of the bathroom, since Josh is going right over to the office as soon as he’s changed.  Leo takes advantage of that fact and that it’s a prime chance to pin Margaret’s willing body to the wall and catch up and store up, some much postponed necking. Starting with a passionate lip-lock that they don’t break till the need for air finally pulls them apart. 

 

They hold each other and pant till Leo’s lips begin traveling a path down the edge of her bra, with tiny kisses and he takes a few extra moments at her cleavage to leave extra kisses, before continuing up the other side, to finish with a nibble on her collarbone. 

 

Margaret’s kissing on his shoulder during his little adventure, just to drive him, as crazy as he’s doing to her, she’s also rubbing his nipples with her thumbs. 

 

They both can tell that what they’re doing is working, with the heavy breathing that can be heard between their bodies.  Leo moves to taste her lips again with almost a desperate need.  Both knowing they’ll eventually need to go back out with the agents, but not just yet.

 

About this time Agent Stout, being stationed in the bedroom to guard the bathroom door, is starting to wonder how long it takes two adults to change clothes.  A small smile appears on his face, that no one can see in the empty bedroom, when he realizes what’s probably happening on the other side of the door.  No one can say that Leo McGarry is slow off the mark.

 

Back inside the couple breaks apart, when a loud knock on the door startles them.  A call from Ron that he has some news pulls them further apart.  Margaret quickly jerks her shirt on as Leo grabs the doorknob.  “What?”  Leo’s pissed at the interruption, till he hears why.  Ron’s standing right at the edge of the door and his face is definitely struggling to maintain it’s professional demeanor.  Leo can tell immediately that something has happened.  His eyes meet Ron’s, demanding to be told. 

 

Ron is also trying to split seconds.  He wants to be two places at once and to be the one asking the questions. He snaps out, “Miss Cregg was attacked by two men in a pickup truck, when she went outside the White House for a coffee run.”

 

Leo eyes widen and he hears Margaret behind him choke back a startled sob and he demands. “Is CJ alright?”

 

Ron immediately answers, “Yes, Sir.  She’s back in her office now and Toby Ziegler is with her.  Luckily, she was near the White House gate and we were alerted immediately.”

 

Leo takes a moment to glance at Margaret and back to Ron set face, “Do we know anything new?”

 

“A female agent is with her now and getting the details.  Assuming you’re agreeable, I’m calling the President and informing him of the latest development.  At the same time, I’m requesting permission from him to return to the White House to talk to her personally.  The attackers are missing again,” Ron almost growls out the last line.

 

Leo quickly agrees, “Go, tell him I agree.  I’m calling CJ right now.  We need to hear from her that she’s all right.”  Leo strides to the bedroom phone as Ron steps into the living room to use his department cell phone to call the President.

 

Leo calls directly to CJ office and Toby answers the phone.  “Hey, Leo.” Toby’s boiling mad and not sure at exactly who. “Yeah, she’s here now and thanks to her ability to run like hell, she’s back safely inside.” Toby just has to rant at someone or anyone and is doing a good job of it, to everyone.  “Yeah, I’ll let you talk to her and when you get done, then I’ll take go back to bouncing between yelling at her and hugging her.”

 

He holds the phone out to CJ, who’s on the couch leaning forward with her head held in her hands.  She’s been telling the agent all the details that she can remember.  Her hand shakes as she looks at Toby and takes the phone from him. Their eyes lock, exchanging a moment of sorrow. 

 

“It’s Leo,” Toby says softly to her.  Her shaking hand is almost more than he can endure.  He really wants to cheerfully choke the attackers, with his bare hands for touching his CJ.

 

CJ puts the phone to her ear, “Hey, Leo.  Yeah, really, I’m fine.  Yeah, the agent is here.  They were able to bring me straight to my office from the gate.  Toby is here and Sam went to get me some ice water.”

 

In the bedroom, Margaret is sitting beside Leo on the edge of the bed, since he can no longer stand up, any more than she can.  She has her arm wrapped around Leo, hugging him in and for comfort.  He’s holding her hand and pressing their clasped hands to his chest. They’re both are feeling sympathy shock for CJ, from having the deal with the aftermath of an attempt.  Margaret has her ear pressed up against the phone handle at Leo’s ear, as she listens in as well. There’s no way she can wait for Leo to relay what CJ’s saying and Leo’s more than willing to share the phone conversation with her.  Margaret just has to ask, “CJ, I’m here too. Were you hurt? Are you sure your OK?  They didn’t get a hold of you, did they?”

 

CJ actually smiles at Margaret’s battery of questions of concern, “Really, Margaret, I’ll be fine.”

 

Leo breaks in, “What do you mean, you’ll be fine?”

 

CJ holds up a hand to stop Toby, when he drops to one knee in front of her, his hand on her knees with concern, at his hearing her remark to Margaret.  “Well the did manage to nearly knock me down when they idiots hit me in the ass with the truck door and one guy grabbed my arms, trying to get me into the cab of the truck.” 

 

Toby is now gently pushing up at the sleeve of her shirt, checking for any injury.  He growls in anger, when he sees some red areas on her arm that is already starting to turn dark underneath.  

 

Margaret gasps and asks, “What did you do to get away, CJ?”

 

CJ gives a sad chuckle, “Just what we were trained to do in defense class, Margaret.  I turned, faced him and started hitting, scratching and yelling.   When that didn’t get me free.  I kneed him in the nuts and he dropped like a rock.”  She hears both Leo and Toby on each end of the phone conversation making unsympathetic sounds at the news, in agreement that he deserved it. “Then, I ran like hell as Toby told you.  The guard at the gate was surprised when I bolted into him and hung onto him like a lifeline.  I think I made his day.”  CJ ends with a small chuckle at her own bad joke.

 

Leo softly tells her, “Ron’s coming over to talk to you.  Afterwards do you want to go get checked at GW or will you at least let the White House medics check you there in your office?”

 

“I’m fine, Leo.  Really, I’ll probably end up with some mild bruising and have to sit on a soft cushion for the rest of the weekend,” CJ tries to reassure her friends, while she’s looking into the concerned eyes in front of her.  “I’m sure from the look on Toby’s face that I’m going to be on a short leash for at least that long.” 

 

Leo and Margaret both finally breathe a sigh relief and CJ words.  “All right then, if Toby is there for you, then we’re sure you’ll be fine for the rest of weekend.  Ron will be there shortly and we’ll see you on Monday. Thank God you got away!  We’re so sorry you were attacked, but we’re so glad you’re safe.”

 

“I know, Leo, it could have been worse.  I shouldn’t have gone out for coffee on my own, after the warnings, but I just didn’t think it was a problem in the sunny open area so close to the White House.  I’m sorry too.” CJ is beating herself up as usual, especially when she does something she knows afterwards was dumb. 

 

Toby rubs her arm knowing that any ass tearing he does, is going to be small compared to what CJ is internally doing to herself.  They both saw the results of Leo’s struggle with the attackers. She could be so much worse off right now and that scares all of them involved.

 

CJ feels the need to end the conversation, as they all know hindsight is 20/20. She looks toward her doorway, “Leo, I’m going to get off now. Sam’s here with my ice water and he also has a piece of chocolate cake that I have no idea where he stole it from, but I may kiss him for finding it, because I really need it as female comfort food.”   The female agent next to her grins at CJ’s statement and Margaret nods her head in agreement next to Leo. 

 

Leo gives a soft chuckle, “OK, I’ll let you go, since the spin boys seem to have you well taken care of.  We’ll call you later.   If you want stop over today or tomorrow, I’m sure Margaret will be happy to spend some time with you in the hot tub.  It really helps with my bruises and aches.”

 

CJ brightens at his suggestion, “I might just do that, but first I’m going to eat my cake before Ron gets here.  Talk to you later.  Thanks you two.  Bye.” CJ hands the phone back to Toby and reaches to a smiling Sam, who’s pleased that he was able to make CJ smile again. 

 

Back in the bedroom, Leo and Margaret hug, laying their heads on each other’s shoulders, both wondering when the madness will stop.  

 

*****    

 

Leo and Margaret are sitting at the table listening to the stereo and nibbling at some sandwiches for lunch.  Leo is trying to concentrate on his cross word puzzle and Margaret is reading the sale adds for the local grocery and other stores that came tucked into the weekend newspaper.  Ron calls to update Leo on the latest development.  “Mr. McGarry, I’m calling to update you after talking to Miss Cregg.  I talked to CJ and she helped come up to get a pretty accurate description of the truck. After she looked at the computer composites that we got from when Miss Ryan was attacked, she confirmed our suspicions that they we are still dealing with the same two men.”

 

Leo growls out, “Assholes, you mean,” and he earns himself a glare from Margaret, till he mouths to her that it was the same guys and she mouths back to him, Assholes.  He brings his attention back to Ron, “What are you not telling me?”

 

Ron sighs softly, not knowing how Leo will take this, “She gave a description of a dark burgundy old Ford pickup truck, with light interior and a cracked windshield.  She also mentioned that is was very dusty like it had been driving on dirt roads or in fields.  Using the description we were able to put out an APB for the truck in the greater DC area.  One other bit of info to report, Sir, is that one of my agents securing the area around your building after the false alarm is sure that he spotted the same truck there.  That makes them the prime candidates for pulling the alarm.  Sir, we will find them.”

 

Leo grunts in disgust, “A dirty old Ford truck! There's like a billion of them out there, Ron.”

 

Ron knew that was coming, “ There’s good news and bad news, Sir.   A report came in that the truck was seen.   It seems they used Rt. 50 onto Rt. 66, traveling toward Rosslyn.  The bad news is that they’re most likely leaving the state and are probably still going.” Ron waited for Leo to explode.

 

Leo did not disappoint him, “What?  Start talking.  Why are they still merrily going on their way?”  Leo is sarcastic by now with frustration.

 

“Ron gives him the unfortunate details, “Sir, It seems they spotted an east bound law vehicle and dropped off the interstate, before they officers could turn around and pick them up again going west.  The only bright point is that for the short term they’re out of the district.”  Ron is a little more comfortable ending on a positive note.

 

Leo blows out his breath at the fact that his people are safe for a little while.  “Thanks, Ron.  There’s nothing either of us can say that we haven’t already said.  Keep me posted.”  Leo hangs up and looking at her expectant face, tells Margaret the latest. 

 

Leo knows that the agent that has been stationed inside the apartment, as a compromise by the President so that Ron could return to the White House, will be just as interested in knowing the latest info and doesn’t lower his voice.  The agents are taking it personally at this point that the attackers seem to keep out maneuvering the agency.   The inside agent decides to get busy and make one of his routine sweeps of the apartment, quickly checking all the rooms, with a visual scan and pulling aside the closed curtains in both bedrooms.  Both directives, of the inside agent and the sweeps have been ordered as a result of the attackers entrance into the, thought to be, secure building this morning. 

 

Leo gives Margaret all the details hoping to put some of her fears at rest, at least for the moment.  He watches as she runs her hand over the tabletop.  He catches her hand with his and grins, “How, about I keep my promise and we go check out my stored furniture?  The coast is clear for the time being and we better take advantage of it, while we can.” 

 

Margaret face lights up and she stands to give Leo a hug, “How soon can we leave, Leo?  She grabs up the lunch dishes and flashes the agent a smile, as she practically bounces to get ready to leave.  The fresh air is going to be marvelous.

 

He easily catches her enthusiasm, “Soon, Baby, I’ll call Ron and tell him to round up the troops, we’re outta here.”

 

*****    

 

Within thirty minutes, Leo will have been practically dressed at the table by Margaret. She flew past him to get herself ready to go, by quickly brushing her hair and donning some soft casual shoes.  She emerges to find Leo still sitting at the table, smiling and wondering if she remembers that he’s a necessity for the trip, since he has the key to the storage unit.  She shakes her head at the smug smile on his face and hurries to the guest room for a shirt and soft shoes for him.  She gives the agent an impatient glare, letting him know with the look that she’s not going to put up with any male foolishness that keeps her from the treat of seeing the furniture that she’ll use as her inspiration for remodeling Leo and her new home.  Leo eyes have been following her around the apartment this whole time and after she disappears into the guest room, he shrugs his shoulders at the agent, letting the other helpless male know that he has lost control of his life for the time being and Margaret is most definitely in charge at this point. 

 

 Ron has the good size assemblage of agents to bundle them into the middle car of the security caravan.  He was unable to even get the President to see his side of the security issue.  The President was of the same opinion as Leo. Ron could just use more agents, all of them if necessary.  The President has the Army to protect him if it comes to that, he pointed out. 

 

The caravan heads north of the city to an area near where Leo used to live. When they arrive at the storage property, they pull up to the security gate and Leo gives them the entrance code.  They pull up to his block of storage spaces.  The forward and follow cars pull to either side and let the car with Leo, Margaret and his agents, pull into the middle of the horseshoe section of storage units.  The other cars and the exiting agents block off the area.  Luckily no one else that rents in Leo’s section is there to be cleared out.  Still, three government cars with agents spilling out, especially draws the attention the manager in his little office, but as he peers out the window, he wisely decides to mind his own business and stay where he is.  It still draws the attention of some of the other renters in the storage area, but the sight of a line of sunglass wearing men in black, keeps any of them from wandering over for a closer look.

 

Leo walks over to a small but heavy security overhead garage door and puts a key in a large padlock.  Margaret is right at his elbow and breathing down his neck in her anticipation.  He turns his head to the side and grins at her as he removes the lock and flips the latch open.  Leo casually moves over to the door, to add to Margaret’s impatience, “Agent Lewis, could you lift the door open for me?  There’s no way my ribs are going to let me do it and I really think it’s more than Margaret should attempt. She might hurt her back again. We don’t need two of us hurting.”

 

When the agent pulls the door up, Margaret gasps in awe.  Leo flips on the overhead light.  There before her, is not only Leo’s antique furniture lined up along the wall protected by cover sheets, but right in front of her is a beautifully restored classic car.   The first thing to register with her is that it’s in her favorite colors of baby blue on top and a deep navy blue on the bottom half.  She’s in love, but Leo’s not jealous, he loves the car too.  “Leo, I’m speechless.  It’s beautiful and when do we get to ride in it.”

 

 Leo moves in to lovingly rub his hand over the hood, as a caress.  “Sorry, Baby, but I guess we have to postpone your ride to another day as we’d drive the Secret Service nuts trying to do it today.   As for you being speechless and no questions being fired at me ‘that’ is a little unnerving.”

 

Margaret straightens up from looking in the side window. “Just start talking, Leo and I might actually agree to go home tonight and not sleep right here in this car.  If I ever run away from home, you’ll know where to find me.”

 

Leo chuckles at her falling in love right in front of his eyes, “Well, to begin with ‘Beauty’ is a 1957 Buick Special.  Just like the first car I ever owned and no, you know I’m not that old, but my first Buick was like twelve years old and was white and red.  I feel in love with my Special right from the start.  Everyone else was fighting over the 57 Chevy, but I discovered what a grand lady the 57 Buick was.  I was in the military, before I could afford a car of my own.  I used to send payments home, along with spending money for the girls and Mom kept my Special safe in the garage.  I drove it everywhere in college.  I sold ‘Beauty’ after I got out.  Mom had moved into an apartment with the girls in college, she didn’t have a place to store it for me.” 

 

“I like the name, ‘Beauty’.”  She rubs her hand on the car like an introduction.  “Leo, that was so nice that you sent money home to your sisters.  You’ve said your mom was doing her best to support them, even after you left home.”  Margaret’s a little misty eyed when she thinks of Leo being in the Air Force and still thinking of ways to help his mom with his sisters’ needs. “So, when did you find this blue beauty?”

 

Leo smiles at the memory, “About ten years ago.  Remember the spring break that I took Jenny and Mallory down to the Florida Keys.  Well, that’s when I found her.  I found her down there rusting away.  I saved her and sent her up here to DC.  It took three years to get her restored.  I had to find a special mechanic that knew about restoring classic cars.” Leo’s been walking around the car even though there’s little room to spare in the small room.  He squeezes past Margaret holding onto her waist as he slides past.  “So, you still want to check out the furniture that I want to use at the apartment?”  Leo whispers in her ear as he turns to remove a sheet from the chest behind her. 

 

“Oh, Leo, that chest of drawers is wonderful.”  Margaret looks like she might hug the piece as she spreads her arms wide.  Leo’s happy that she wraps them around him instead.   “OK, Leo, spoil me and show me the rest.” Leo pulls the sheet off the bookcase with the curved glass side panels that she has already has seen.  He then moves to the back corner and pulls the sheet off a low rectangle piece.  Margaret moves back to join Leo and to get a better view of the pedestal and the claw feet of the drop leaf table. 

 

Leo’s grinning as he enjoys her marveling at his family heirloom table.  “Remember that we’ll need to find some suitable chairs to go with it.” The happy smile tells him that she definitely remembers.  “You think that you could tear yourself away from the table long enough to move over to the other side and see the headboard that matches the chest of drawers?  It’s the last piece that you haven’t seen.”

 

Margaret’s watching over his shoulder, as he tilts the flat piece away from the wall as he lifts the sheet off with his other hand.  “Right behind you, Leo.  If it’s as nice as the dresser, it might just be the focus piece of our bedroom.”   They move around the car and up the narrow walkway beside the car.

 

“Works for me,” Leo answers her in a sexy tone of voice that the agents can’t hear and he gets a hidden pinch on his ass for his trouble.  “Ow, damn that hurt, Margaret.  You may have damaged me.”

 

“As long as I didn’t hurt the jet. You’ll survive,” Margaret smirks back at him and not in the least sorry.  He asked for it, with his hint at the bed being ‘his’ focus in the bedroom.

 

“You could kiss it better tonight?”  Leo hints, being brave and hoping she won’t do it again and draw the attention of the agents.  He turns sideways to her and leans back again the car just to keep his ass safe.

 

Margaret chooses to ignore his last hint and asks, “What do you know about this headboard?”  She’s caressing the carved wood with her fingertips and studying the piece.  She’s trying to get a good idea of the size, to decide if it could be attached to a queen size bed frame or should they just use it like the full size bed that they have now. They do love to cuddle.

 

Leo lets the teasing slide as well. “All I know is that the headboard and dresser came from my Mom’s parents and that it originally belongs to their parents from Ireland.  I may never know which family side that they meant.  Mom inherited it about 25 years ago now.  She had it set up in the guest room at her apartment.  Mallory used to love to spend the night there, because she got to sleep in there.” 

 

“Leo, I’d like to get the camera and measuring tape out of my purse.  I want to have some measurements to work with when remodeling and the girls will love to see the photos.”  Margaret’s almost giddy with the thought of using the pieces in the apartment.

 

“Sure, Baby, whatever makes you happy.” Leo patiently helps, when needed, for her to get all the measurements and photos that she wants of the furniture.

 

While she’s working on measurements and photos, Leo decides to check the Buick’s battery or at least that’s going to be his excuse anyway.  He reaches in and not needing a key, clicks on the radio that he always has set to an oldies station, which surprises Margaret and she grins at his impulsive decision. The lyrics to an old Beatles song drift around them. 

 

“…When I say that something, I wanna hold your hand.

 

“Oh, please say to me, you'll let me be your man.

  And please say to me, you'll let me hold your hand.

 

And when I touch you I feel happy, inside,

it’s such a feeling, with my love, I can’t hide”

 

 You’ve got that something, I think you’ll understand.

When I feel that something, I wanna hold your hand. …”

 

He reaches for her hand and pulls her into the passenger side of the car. She gets into the fun of the moment.  They’ll have few options this weekend to enjoy discovering and doing new things together.  He slides over behind the steering wheel pulling her along to lean against him.  Margaret admits to him that she was always into the Supremes, when one of her favorites songs starts playing.  After it’s done, she grins at Leo leaning back, relaxing with one hand practically caressing the huge steering wheel, “So, when are you going to let me sit behind the wheel of your first love?”

 

“Someday, Baby, just remember that you’re my last love,” Leo kisses her tenderly. This is a perfect moment for him.  “You could slip into the roomy back seat with me and we could indulge in some back seat fun?”

 

Margaret gently slaps his chest, “Leo, you know that’s not happening. Even with the agents turned around.”

 

Leo gives her a sad smile, “Well, I guess not, but we can keep it in mind for some future fun, maybe on a moon light drive.  We can park somewhere and discover if the backseat is as cozy as the couch at home.” 

 

Margaret sighs at the romantic picture in her head and snuggles in closer to Leo. 

Leo knows they both are wishing for a minute or two to cuddle.  He looks out the windshield to catch the eye of Agent Lewis.  He gives Lewis and Stout a staring glare to convey his command for privacy.  Leo wants the agents to turn their backs. They can guard with their backs to him.  Leo finally uses his finger to make a circling motion in the air to get them to turn around, when they don't get the first hint, just like he did that morning in bedroom.  They get the message and flip around.

 

Leo and Margaret just sit back and cuddle, listening.  Another old love song plays and they use the time to neck for a few minutes. The kisses are soft and gentle. Like a new couple discovering the sweetness of each other’s lips.  They take a break to just savor holding each other.  The Beatles are again on with a classic that has new meaning to them, as they let the words wash over their hearts.

 

“… The way she looked, was way beyond compare.

How could I dance with another, when I saw her standing there.

 

She wouldn't dance with another. …

 

We danced through the night and we held each other tight and before to long, I fell in love with her, now I’ll never dance with another since, I saw her standing there. …”

 

They reflect during the song, each understanding that dance refers to their love.  They first danced on her birthday, he stepped softly into love that night and he didn't even know it.  They haven't danced lately and sadly it’s not happening soon, not with his side, but he plans to remedy that in the near future.  “Margaret, I just realize when my heart left me to join yours.  The night I really fell in love with you, was the night of your birthday, dancing with you in my arms.”

 

She is so touched that she has trouble responding to this, she gets teary, her shinning eyes telling him better than words as she looks at his rugged face, which is etched on her heart.  She has been in love with him for much longer than that, but how can she tell him that.  Her birthday was a turning point for them or at least for him it was.  Now, she knows that their souls finally touched that night; it wasn’t just her dreaming in his arms.

 

Then the perfect song comes on.  Their hearts reach out to echo Jim Croce’s ‘Time in a Bottle’.  If only he could make it true.  It’s his hearts desire.

 

“… If I could make days last forever.  If words could make wishes come true.

I’d save every day like a treasure and then, again, I would spend them with you.

But there never seems to be enough time, to do the things you want to do, once you find them.  Looked around, enough to know, you’re the one I want to go though time with.  …”

 

The song means a lot to him and it fits just how he feels, “Baby, if only that were possible for us.” They exchange whispers of how much they love each other.  Both wishing this danger was over.  Wanting nothing more than that they could just start the engine and drive away.  For now, they have to make do with holding each other close for a few more moments. Sitting in a car from the past, their minds jump back to when times were simpler.  Again, the kisses are soft and gentle, both treasuring the love that they share in the here and now.

 

Reluctantly, they turn off the radio and slide back out of the beautiful old car. They cover the furniture pieces back up with the protective sheets.

 

Before Leo turns off the light, Margaret makes one request.  “Leo, I want a photo of you and your car.  Can you just lean against the fender for me?” 

 

“Sure, Baby, I’d like that.  I don’t think Josh has seen it yet.  Then again, I may not want him to know that I own it, he’ll be bugging me to let him and Donna take it out for a cruise.”  Leo grins and knows that he’ll let Josh have a turn with the car.   He knows it’s great for a romantic drives and he has plans for Margaret and him to be taking a few of them.  Leo leans his hip against the side of the car and rest one hand on the fender and puts the other in his jeans pocket.  He crosses his ankles to be comfortable while he waits with a soft crooked grin on his face as Margaret gets just the right angle that she wants for the photo.  He knows she is trying to get as much of the side of the car in the photo as she can in the enclosed area, so she is taking shots from both side of the car.  Leo is also grinning at the agents as they have been quietly and discreetly trading places so that more of them could get a glimpse of his car. 

 

Margaret finally is satisfied with the pictures that she’s taken and Leo turns off the light.  While Agent Lewis again does him a favor and pulls down the door, Margaret goes back to the car to put the camera and tape measure away.  Leo glances quickly between Agent Lewis, the caravan and then to his watch. Leo makes a decision.  “Lewis, check in with Butterfield and see if any sign of the attackers has been seen, since they were spotted heading for the state line.  I think I’d like to make a pit stop on the way back to the apartment.”

 

“Where would that be at, Sir,” Agent Lewis just knew that Leo would find some way to give him a headache before they got him safely back to the apartment.  He was asking because there’s no sense even calling him supervisor, till he knows the destination, as that would be his first question. 

 

“I’d think that Margaret and I should take advantage of the break we have right now and stop at the supermarket and stock up on food and items that we need.  It’s going to be a long weekend at the apartment and we have to keep not only ourselves fed, but Josh and some others as well.  It’s been over a week since Margaret has been shopping and as a woman, she’s probably about ready to go into withdrawal. Especially, since I just gave her a new credit card.” Leo grins at the agent with a knowing look.

 

Lewis knows he’s defeated, with the news of a fresh credit card in a female’s hand.  They know just what to do to break one in. 

 

Leo also points out to Lewis, as he looks at all the agents at the entrance to the parking area of his storage unit.  “How can I resist not making good use of all this help with getting her purchases from the car to the apartment.  You’re not about to let me make several trips to and from the outside, to pack them in all by myself.”  Leo grins at again getting the agents to earn their paychecks in a safe manner.

 

Agent Lewis sighs and pulls out his cell phone to call his boss with the cheerful news that they’re about to invade a super market on a late Saturday afternoon.  He’s going to be so pleased. 

 

*****    

 

They pull up to Margaret’s area store, into an empty corner of the parking lot.  They are informed that they need to wait in the car, till the lot and the store have been swept.  The agents are checking for both of the vehicles used by attackers and for any unsavory characters inside.  Agents will be posted at the door and will be visually scanning anyone that enters the store after Leo is escorted inside.   The procedure that the agents will implement is to clear a section of the store at a time around Leo, to the range of thirty to fifty feet.  They have enough agents to surround an area at a time.  Some of the President’s own agents were sent on this outing, since the President is staying at the Residence.   Lewis frowns as he reviews his options with his protectee.  He’s not the President, so the agents are not able to go with a simpler plan and just close the whole store.  The press would love to get wind of them doing that. 

 

In the car Margaret starts making a basic list on the notepad that she has in her purse.  She talks to Leo as she writes, “Leo, we’re low on supplies and we better make this a bigger shopping trip.  We need to assume that this might drag out for a while and if it ends soon, we just won’t need to shop again soon for a while.  Donna has been an angel to shop for us this week, but this will take a bit of the pressure off her.  Some of the items we really should decide on for ourselves.”

 

Leo grins and agrees, “Yeah, like vegetables.”  He’s almost ready to start cooking again.  He’s thinks he’s ready now, if he sits on a stool at his little chopping cart.

He’s going through withdrawal.   Just like the first time she took him into this store.

 

Margaret asks as they pass through the door to the store, “Leo, you think you’re up to this much walking?”  He gives her a look that tells her not to worry, but she does, because that’s just her nature.  “We can hurry as much as possible but you tell me if you need to quit or sit down to rest for a few minutes.  Promise me?”

 

“Yeah, Baby, I promise.  I learned my lesson yesterday about giving myself a setback.  I’ll let you know if it’s too much,” he gives her a peck on the cheek to seal his promise to her.

 

She agrees that he can get the fresh vegetables first, “Leo, I know you want to pick them out, so just I’ll check out the fruits on the other side of produce, while you’re enjoying selecting the best for us.”  She gives him a cheeky smile and moves a few feet away to make her selections.

 

After they have added to the cart all the fresh produce that they can reasonably use before spoilage, they move to the next area, which frees up the produce section for the other shoppers.  A quickly cleared clerk is pushing a cart for them, to free the couple to shop faster and the agents to be able to surround them easier.  They hold hands as they walk in the store between purchases.  Just naturally holding hands. The agents see that they’re more in love than the agency informed them.  The agency thought that Leo staying with Margaret was for convenience.  Now, one by one, the agents see differently, as they watch the couple smile softly and exchange casual loving touches.  Ron and a couple of the other agents found out this week, but this is a bigger group and now more agents are becoming aware that their job will be harder. Leo’s statement after his attack to Coop was made common knowledge to all agents involved.  If Leo is attacked again and Margaret is with him, the agents know Leo will personally protect her, before himself.  This is a scary thought to all the agents and it makes their work more difficult because Leo’s reactions are unpredictable at best.

 

Margaret checks her list, after they make a quick stop in the pasta and rice aisle. Moving on to the next aisle, with agents moving into place at each end, Leo’s eyes light up and he zeros in on the coffee, one agent always at his back.  One at a time, he picks up two large cans of French roast and hands them to the clerk to place in the cart.  He moves to study the section of small bags of whole coffee beans for fresh grounding.  Leo grins at having a treat for their coffee tomorrow morning.   He selects a bag and the clerk handles getting it ground.  Leo leans on the edge is a shelf with his right arm to rest, while he watches.  Margaret’s busy getting her orange spice tea and as she walks back to the cart, she spies a timer to use in the outlet where you plug in the coffee maker, hanging there as an impulse item in the coffee aisle.  She show him what she found, “Leo, this should help with our hectic mornings.  I just prepare the coffee maker the night before and we can set the timer to turn on right before the alarm rings and it will be ready and waiting in the kitchen.” 

 

Leo grins at her idea, “Sounds wonderful to me, one of us won’t have to abandon the other, just to get the coffee going.  Since, we were going to take turns with the chores, I assumed that we were going to alternate days of who gets to make the coffee.”

 

Margaret grins at him, “You assumed right Flyboy.  You know how to make coffee just as well as I do.”

 

Leo growls in fun, “We’re getting the damn timer for sure now.” He helpfully takes it from her hand and places it in the cart.

 

They move to the next aisle and grab laundry supplies, cleaning products and paper goods.  Just the everyday things that any one needs and they find out more about each other as the choices are made.  They easily finish off filling the cart and the clerk leaves to bring them a second cart.  Two agents escort him, one to keep an eye on him and one to watch the first cart. 

 

Making their way to the back wall of the store to the meat department, they divide up again.  Hoping to stock up on a variety, since meats they can freeze. 

 

 Margaret is being trusted to select the chicken and fish, but Leo wants beef.  He is interested in getting some nice pieces that he can slice for the wok or to make shish-ka-bobs.  Leo rationalizes to himself. A few steaks wouldn’t hurt a guy either, even if Margaret and Abby do lecture him and Jed against red meat.  He makes his selections and the clerk just keeps packing them in the bottom of the cart for him.  When Margaret sees how many packages of beef he has added, she gives him a look while she hands over several packages of chicken and fish that she selected.   He just grins and acts innocent.  “Margaret, I need red meat to keep up my strength,” he gives as a valid reason, almost cracking up the near by agents, as his remark catches them by surprise and they know damn good and well what Leo’s implying. 

 

Margaret blushes as she sees the struggle on the agent’s faces.   She remarks back to his cheerful face with its adorable crooked smile, “Oh, you must mean to help with your healing, right?” She shoots him down fast.  The clerk almost chocked on overhearing that one, even with him being somewhat intimidated by the agents around him.

 

Margaret decides to rub it in to Leo that his nocturnal adventures are soon to be curtailed.  “Remember, Flyboy I need to get lots of chocolate and ice cream while we’re here.” She smirks as she sweetly reminds him as payback for his crack about needing beef.  She looks at the sight of his guilty, but not truly contrite face.  As he passes her he whispers a soft “sorry” to her and gives her a quick peck on the cheek as apology.  She better remember to get in lots of chocolate, with Leo there 24/7 and her having PMS soon.  That reminds her that if they are going to be grounded for a while she absolutely has to get supplies for her period, as she’s knows she is running low.  Just the bonding they need, Leo in the feminine hygiene aisle.  She stops at the end of the aisle that has her supplies, “Leo, can the clerk stay here at the end?  I really don’t want him or the agent at our elbows.” 

 

Leo looks down the aisle in question and immediately understands Margaret’s reluctance to be followed down this one.  Margaret proceeds down the aisle as he turns and halts the clerk with the cart with his best CoS look, “You stay here.”  He looks to the face of the agent. “You can watch me from here, as well.  If you follow at my back, you’ll soon need to be protecting me from her, if you know what I mean.”  Leo turns to join Margaret half way down the aisle.  He likes leaving the agent with the impression that he’s being brave to venture down among the female products.  Actually he doesn’t mind at all, he wants to know all the parts of Margaret’s life and she did give him the impression she was welcoming him, to share this with her.  He appreciates how she trusts him.  They want an open and honest relationship and this is one part of that relationship. 

 

Leo’s looking around, while Margaret’s deciding what she needs and he sees the KY products on the shelf, with some other items and he studies them trying to get educated on what’s on the market, now that he’s going to accompany her to her GYN appointment.  He knows that they’ll have questions and he wants to be able to at least know what’s available over the counter.  “Margaret, could you step over here?”  She joins him and he speaks to her is a lowered voice, “I was reading the shelves and they have several items here that might benefit you.  One is a moisture liquid and one is a warming liquid.” 

 

“Leo, they might hear us,” Margaret practically hisses at him under her breath.  

 

Leo gives a quiet chuckle, “I really don’t think they can, Baby.”

 

She sighs as she glances to the aisle ends and relaxes. “You’re right, Sweetie, we do need to know what we can discreetly purchase.  We might ask the doctor about some of these items.”  She looks at the ones he mentioned and glances at him with wonder on her face. She leans into him and softly reminds him, “The KY warming liquid sounds similar to the SEC that we overheard Josh and Donna mention in the hot tub.”

 

“It probably is.  We can ask the doctor if he thinks it will help,” Leo lets her know that he has considered what kind of talk they need to have at her appointment.

 

She looks at Leo’s face and honestly admits, “Good thing I’m not shy with him.  He’s a very down to earth and practical kind of doctor.” 

 

“Well, I’m going to bet at the very least he’s going to recommend that we try the regular KY lubricant.”  Leo looks at the various selection of lube displayed.  “Margaret, even that is a debatable decision. They have it in liquid, gel and ultra gel.  He looks at her in bewilderment, “Margaret, you’ll have to make the decision on that, I’ve been out of the loop too long to know what might work best.” 

 

She smiles knowingly at him, “Guess that’ll be one of those things that we’ll have to try and see for ourselves.” She makes a note to herself.  Maybe the doctor will have some samples that we can try out?

 

He growls softly in her ear, “Margaret, that’s not fair.  To make a statement like that when we’re in public and I can’t get even for you enticing me.” 

 

She grins at him, “Don’t get your hopes up, Flyboy.  We’re not purchasing any of them today, not with fourteen men around to observe what we buy.” She glances at the agents at the nearest end, “I’m going to be educating them enough with the supplies that I need.”  She giggles softly and moves back to where she’s deciding what she needs to restock her period supplies. 

 

Leo moves to her elbow.  He's been around enough women in his family to be curious about what she uses.  Leo is aware that most sexually active women use tampons, but he wonders with some worry, if she might not be able to wear tampons with her being small and dry.  He sees she’s been reading boxes and bags both in deciding.  He tries to be helpful and picks up a box of tampons that has several sizes in one, thinking that it’s what she might use.  “Baby, is this the one you’re looking for?” He’s gets a really good blush from her.

 

Margaret takes the box from his hand and sets it back on the self.  “Leo, that one has supers-sized ones in it.  What do you want the agents to think?  That you can drive your car in also.” 

 

Her dry wit remark catches him off guard and he can’t stop the laughter that explodes from him, even as his own ears turn red at his mistake.  Margaret’s eye catches the agents as they glance at them and then they relax after noting the happiness in Leo’s laughter.

 

He curls her into his chest with a hug and she listens to the delight in his laughter and she starts to chuckle with him.  She did kind of overdo that statement.  “God, Leo, we have so much still to learn about each other.  I hope we have as much fun with the other things as we are now.”  She steps from his arms and looks up at his happy face.  “Maybe I better select what I need.  I don’t think that I’ll ever be desperate enough to send you for the supplies.  I’ll just ask Donna or one of the other girls.”

 

“Hey, you could ask Donna to purchase us the warming liquid,” Leo wiggles his eyebrows at her suggestively. 

 

In hushed tones still she informs him, “OK, Mister, you asked for it.  Just for that you’re going to get an education in what I do use.” Margaret pulls a bag off the shelf.  “I use an ultra thin pad, so that they’re not detectable if I’m wearing slacks at work.  Since I went on the pill, I thankfully don’t have to wear maxi pads any longer.”

 

 Leo tries to look as if she’s giving him vital information and not have her hurt him in the process, especially if she feels he’s not appreciating her effort on his behalf, but the smile he has plastered on his face may be his downfall. 

 

She gives him a look, but she smiles knowing he’s making an effort.  “If I do have a heavy flow, I sometimes still need to resort to a slim tampon in addition to the pad.”  She continues on as if he really needs more info, just for payback, “From my previous remark you can assume that I find the super tampons very uncomfortable to use for any length of time, so it gets tricky to adjust what I need.” Since he was so eager to be helpful before, she hands him the large bag of ultra pads to take to the cart and she carries the small box of hard to find slim tampons.

 

Margaret checks her list after she notes Leo putting the bag in the cart with a smirk at the men around them again.  She smiles with satisfaction and asks Leo, “What type of deodorant do you what to get and we better get some shampoo for you that’s not flowery like mine is.” 

 

Leo glances at her under hooded eyes and a flashes her a small grin at her getting even with him in front of the other men.  “Yes, Baby, lead the way.” He moves to wrap his arm around her waist as she moves to the next aisle. 

 

After getting the personal items they need, the frozen section is next.  Leo leans back against the cool door of a freeze compartment resting, he’s starting to get a little tired, as Margaret takes just a little time deciding on how many different pints of chocolate ice cream she needs to hold her for a while and Leo quickly grabs some of his cherry cordial that he prefers.   He reflects that they may need to install a freezer drawer in the kitchen if they are going to keep this much meat and ice cream at the apartment. 

 

They head toward the check out much to the relief of the agents and the few other shoppers found, late Saturday afternoon, in the store.  They pass a display of movies for sale as DVD’s. “Hey, Leo they have two Kennedy movies,” Margaret points out as she picks one up.

 

Leo moves beside her to look at the thick DVD in her hand.  “That looks like a set of movies.”

 

“It is, Leo.  It’s called “Kennedy”.  It’s a mini-series actually.  Actor Martin Sheen plays the lead of Kennedy.  I like him as President Kennedy.  He looks like him in the movie.  He was cute as the CoS in “American President”. 

 

“If you think he’s so cute, maybe President Bartlet can get him to come to dinner at the White House.  The first couple can introduce you while he’s there and you can get an autograph.” Leo teases her about her fan remarks about him.  

 

Margaret flashes him a huge smile not in the least deterred by his teasing. She actually thinks it would be great to meet Mr. Sheen in person.  She continues with her train of thought on the Kennedy movies. “We could use a Kennedy movie for the next movie night with Jed and Abby.  I know lots of trivia on President Kennedy and I’m sure that Jed does a well.”

 

“Yeah,’ Leo agrees with her, “but “Kennedy” is about four and a half hours long.  We could get one of the other made about him.  What about this one, “JFK”?”

 

Margaret’s face lights up at his suggestion, “That would be great, Leo.   She trades him DVD by handing him “Kennedy”.   This says that Martin Sheen does the voice of President Kennedy on this one.”

 

Leo doesn’t look up from his reading the back of “Kennedy” as he remarks, “Margaret, you really have a thing for Martin Sheen.  It might not be safe for him at the White House after all.”  Leo glances to see if he scored a point with his tease.  He did.  She takes the DVD out of his hand that he was interested in.  “Hey, I might want to buy that one.” Leo sounds disappointed at her taking it back. 

 

She grins at him,  “You said it’s a mini series and I’m sure you don’t want me drooling over Martin Sheen that long.  You’ll just have to be a good boy and hope that Santa brings it to you for Christmas.”  She absolute loves the mock pouting look on his face.  “We can get a regular movie to watch tonight.  Look and see what they have you might like.” She relents and lets him choose.

 

“OK, Margaret, I will.”  He scans the rack of DVD’s.  “Hey they have “Once Upon a Time in the West” that was released back in 1968.  It’s on DVD now. It has several great actors in it.” 

 

 “OK, Leo you get it and I’m getting “Chicago”. You might like it.  I think I will.  Margaret adds as a logical fact, “and we have no idea how long we are going to be under protection.”  She’s flipping the DVD case over in her hand to check the back.

 

Leo smiles down at his new DVD and then looks at the agents around them.  He puts a hand to the small of her back to guide her toward the checkout.  “We need to get moving, before your ice cream melts.  It is still August you know.”

 

Margaret checks her list one last time as they walk.  She looks at the two carts for just two people, but she keeps in mind that they’re still feeding Josh regularly.  The agents have secured a checkout lane at the end with one cashier to check them out and the cleared clerk to help bag and put them on a delivery cart.  The agents keep a sharp eye on the area around them, fearing that with them near the door, an attempt could be made. The attackers might be hoping for an easy and fast getaway.  Margaret gets out the new credit card and hands it over as Leo smiles at her for not having a problem using it.  She blushes and signs her name.  This has been a day of firsts with them.

 

Leo’s rather pleased with himself, when they get to the apartment and he’s safely deposited inside while the extra agents carry the groceries up to the apartment, before they are dismissed to return to the White House.

 

*****  

 

After they get the groceries put away, which took a great deal of Margaret’s organizational skills to get it all in the fridge and freezer.  She’s of the same opinion as Leo.  With two of them in the apartment and add in feeding Josh, they may have to add the freezer drawer.  That might be an item added to the remodel.  She plans on soon asking the manager if they’re allowed to add one.

 

Needless to say Josh shows backup just in time to grab a sandwich before going to Leo’s evening therapy.  He exits the kitchen with a sandwich on a plate and a can of soda.  “Hey, Leo, what’s going on?  You have tons of food in the kitchen, now.  What did you do call the store and tell them to send a large assortment of foodstuff?  It would have taken three delivery boys several trips to get all that up here.”  Josh munches down on his sandwich as he waits for Leo to clue him in, from the couch. 

 

From the couch where Margaret parked him earlier to rest, Leo grins at Josh sitting at the table.  He knew that Josh wouldn’t be able to make it past the kitchen, with it being located so conveniently to the front door, which is going to cause their grocery bill to increase with Josh now having free reign of the place, but it makes Leo happy.   “Glad to see you finally made it to the main part of the apartment, you know, with that sandwich attacking you, as you came past the kitchen.” Leo teases Josh who’s not in the least intimidated.  Josh knows he’s welcome to any food he doesn’t have to wrestle to the ground.  Josh just grins at Leo and continues to finish his sandwich and soda, while watching the news that Leo has on the TV.  Both men are in no hurry on a Saturday evening and especially since both are banned from the White House.

 

Mallory arrives just as the guys are getting ready to change.  Leo grins at her as she sets a box on the living room floor.  “Hi, Mal, I see you brought me another box, to sort through.  Margaret will be pleased.  Hope you brought your swimsuit, you’re just in time for the hot tub.” 

 

Mal walks over to the couch to give her dad a kiss hello and answers his question. “Yes, Daddy, I brought my swimsuit.  Margaret was nice enough to invite me to use the hot tub with her anytime.   I think I’ll just leave an extra suit here, like Josh does and then you can have both your brats underfoot.  From the looks of the empty plate in front of Josh, I can tell he’s well on his way to eating you out of house and home.”

 

Josh passes her on the way to the guest room to be the first to get changed and he knows she’ll have to wait on him then for her turn in the guest room.  He gives her hair a soft tug as he passes her, “That’s eating Dad out of apartment and home, Sis.” Josh bounces out of her reach, as she takes a swing at him for his teasing, but they’re both grinning at their on-going mock sibling rivalry that they’ve been working at for years.  Now, it’s finally getting a real workout and they both love it. 

 

Leo grins at the two grown-up kids playing. “Do I need to separate you two already?”

 

They both answer him at the same time, “No, Dad.”  Josh quickly shuts the door behind him as Mallory sticks her tongue out at him in fun, knowing that her back is to her dad.  He might tear into her for acting like one of her students.  She smiles sweetly at him as she turns back around to him.  He’s grinning at the fun his kids were having and holds his hand out for her to help him up.  He’s had a busy day and is ready to again accept a little help.  She walks over to the bedroom with him, “Hi, Margaret. Just wanted to let you know that I delivered another one of Daddy’s boxes and I’m happy to join you guys in the hot tub.  That’s if Josh ever lets me into the guest room to change.”  Mallory turns her Dad over to Margaret and returns to the living room to shut off the TV.  She takes Josh’s plate and soda can to the kitchen, while she waits for Josh to reappear.  She feels more comfortable keeping busy with the agent standing in open doorway to the bedroom, now that Margaret and her dad are changing in the bathroom.  It’s no wonder her Dad and Margaret aren’t happy with protection, no matter how much it’s needed.  It would still creep you out to have someone follow you around your apartment, but on the other hand, she’s been a little uncomfortable herself looking over her shoulder all week, especially after Ron Butterfield called her today about the attack on CJ.  At least here she can feel safe.  Like any girl, no matter what her age, when there’s danger, the little girl in her just feels safer near her Dad.

                       

*****    

 

Down at the hot tub the agents are both outside watching the hall and another one is still stationed outside the building.  Inside, relaxing in the bubbling water, the family like group is again teasing Josh about his love of the hot tub.  Josh defends himself, “Mallory, you have to admit that this wonderful water working it’s magic is the best invention of the human race.” 

 

Mallory gives a small flip of water toward Josh for his bold statement, but grinning at him she admits, “Joshua, this is hardly the best human invention, but I have to admit it’s one of the nicest.”

 

Josh is so pleased to be right and flips water back at her, but he’s not dumb enough to get a woman’s hair wet, “See, I knew I was right.  No one can resist the wonderful feeling of being in here.” 

 

Leo breaks in before the younger two get into a real water battle, “Hey, I warned you two that I’d have to separate you.” Leo’s trying to sound firm, but he can’t resist grinning at the two who are trying to look innocent.  

 

Josh reaches out to the side and can just reach Mallory’s shoulder to give her a little push, “We ‘are’ separated.”

 

Mallory just has to payback and reaches to push Josh on the shoulder right back, “He touched me, Dad.”

 

Josh grabs his shoulder, “Ow, Dad, she jabbed me with her nails. Tell her not to touch me.” With his grinning face looking at Leo, Josh quickly pokes Mallory again.

“There he goes again, Dad,” Mallory looks for sympathy. “You better tell him, not to touch me.” 

 

“What’s the matter?  You touchy?” Josh taunts back at her with laughter in his voice.

 

 “Don’t make me come over there,” Leo can’t resist threatening them.

 

“Yes, Daddy,” they both answer sweetly.

 

Mallory slides over next to Leo, “I’m the good one, Dad.   He started it.”

 

Josh is cracking up at Mallory’s tactics, “That’s right run to Daddy for protection.”

 

“There, Joshua,” Mallory splashes him again, in hopeful safety next to Leo. 

 

Josh wipes water from his face and grins at Leo, “You’re just going to let her pick on me?” 

 

“Yeah.   I am.  You’re big enough to defend yourself.” Leo grins at Josh’s shocked and grinning face.   Leo looks down beside him at the smirk on Mallory’s face, “As for you young lady.   You’re big enough to defend yourself also.  Now, get back over there and you two get along.”

 

Mallory tries to look like she’s pouting, as she slides back around to her previous seat.  She grins at Josh in sibling bonding, “Guess we got told by Dad.”

 

Josh grins back and leans close to her, “Yeah, but we’ll think of other things to drive him nuts.”

 

Mallory leans back to him and whispers, “The only flaw in that is, I think he likes us horsing around.”

 

Josh whispers back, “You may be right by the grin on his face.”

 

On the other side of Leo, Margaret has been smiling and enjoying the two trying to get Leo to fall for their childish pranks, like a couple of unruly kids.  Leo’s happily watching the two across from him and he tilts his head closer to Margaret’s, “Now that’s a scary sight.  Those two are not only doing what I say, but whispering and plotting together.”  Leo’s smile is firmly fixed on his face and his eyes are twinkling with joy.  He knows that these moments are wonderful, but fleeting in life.  He hopes for many more in his life with his family around him.  Margaret nods her head softly and reaches to lay a hand on Leo’s arm, in total agreement.  Life might get more interesting with Mallory and Josh working together.

 

They all resume back to relaxing and enjoying the tub.  Leo continues to flex and stretch his hands and fingers with his therapy exercises.  Margaret decides to satisfy a question she has about Mallory, “I hope I’m not stepping on any toes, Mallory by asking you this, but I have always been curious as to why you use the last name of O’Brien, instead of McGarry?”

 

Mallory grins at Margaret, but Leo gets quiet, with a dark look on his face.  Mallory also notices her Dad’s face and knows the reason, but she’s not upset with Margaret’s question.  She knows Margaret and how she is with a question, once it’s stuck in her head. “ It’s fine, Margaret, in fact I always assumed you knew.  It was something that my parents and I agreed to for my security, when Daddy was in the Department of Labor.  During that time, there was a kidnapping attempt at my private grade school and it was politically motivated.  Dad was climbing up the ladder in the DNC, and as you probably remember, his job sometimes meant that he would make a few enemies.”  Margaret nods her head in agreement, as she remembers the time well.  “The next year when I was transferring to a more academic school, I agreed to be enrolled using mom’s maiden of O’Brien.  Dad was cool with my name change to keep me more secure and he could be as ruthless as he needed to be at the DoL.  As a teenager, I used to tease him that I would be taking a different last name when I married and then he’d tease me back that he didn’t have to claim me and all my clothing bills.”

 

At that memory, Leo’s wearing his small little smile that Margaret thinks is cute. She can’t resist and quickly steals a kiss at raised corner of his smile.  She flashes a grin at the other two not in the least sorry. 

 

He relaxes deeper in the tub and slides an arm around behind Margaret to pull her closer and drops a kiss to her temple.

 

It’s interesting for Mallory to see the flirty side of her Dad and Margaret, but from what she has heard, they tone it down considerably when she is around. She’ll find a way to let them know that she is comfortable with her dad being affectionate with Margaret in front of her.  That she doesn’t see it as some miss directed disloyalty to her. 

 

She smiles at them and continues, “My senior year, when I applied to colleges I used O’Brien, not only for security, but now all my academic credit and awards were in O’Brien.” Mallory leans her head to the side at Margaret.

 

Margaret then continues the snowball effect for Mallory, “So, your college degrees were also in O’Brien.” 

 

Mallory add the final step, “Yeah, so I teach as Miss O’Brien.” 

 

Leo teases, “See, what really happened was she was a brat and I put her up for adoption and she so bad with her red hair temper that they returned her, but by then she was stuck with O’Brien.  It was just coincidental that it was the same as her mom’s maiden name.”

 

“Dad!” Mallory looks with mock offence at her dad, “You promised not to tell anyone.” She joins in laughter of the others.  

 

Leo leans forward to kiss Mallory’s cheek, “Sorry, Sweetheart.  I’ll try to remember not to let it slip again.”

 

Mallory grins at his tease and forgives him, “Oh, Daddy.”

 

Leo finishes straightening up, “Well, Josh, it’s time to get over to the pool.  I might as well get it over with.”  He turns to Margaret, “You two coming with us or do you want the agents to lock you in.  They can leave a panic button with you.”

 

Margaret grins at Mallory’s rapidly nodding head.  More time in the hot tub is a good idea to her.  She’s sure that her Dad would be agreeable for her to watch his therapy, but she’s also sure, he’d be more comfortable struggling with the exercises without an audience.  “OK, Leo, tell the agents we’d like to stay here.  Thanks for the suggestion.”  Still sitting in the water, she holds her lips up for a kiss before he leaves the water.

 

Josh agrees, “Yeah, time to torture you some more, Leo.  I’d enjoy it more if it wasn’t a shock to go from the warm hot tub to the cooler water of the pool.” Josh moans before following Leo from the tub and they both grab their towels. “I know you’re not going to believe I’m saying this, but maybe next week we can do the pool first and the hot tub after.  If your hands are well enough to skip using the hot tub first, we can spend more time in the pool that way.”

 

Leo answers him knowing the sacrifice that Josh is making for him, because their time is limited on the best of days. “Sounds like a plan to me, Josh.” 

 

Josh holds the door for Leo to pass through as he takes one last look at the warm bubbling water, “Enjoy ladies, we’ll be back shortly.”

 

He follows Leo and the agent steps quickly in to hand a panic button to Margaret.  She lays it close at hand as the agents lock the door from the outside to keep them safe, since they are duty bond to stay with Leo.

 

Margaret smiles at Mallory, “It’s so nice that you can come and visit Leo at the apartment now.”

 

“Margaret, I come to visit both of you.  Really, I’m being greedy and just want to share in some of the happiness that you two have going on.   It just feels like family with the two of you and Josh popping in all the time, let alone the others now.   It’s a comfortable feeling.  I’d say it’s because Dad is so comfortable being here.”

 

Margaret eyes sheen with tears, “Mallory, that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said about your Dad and I.  I’m glad you’re comfortable visiting us. That’s exactly what Leo and I want for all of you.  Like one large extended family.”

 

Mallory get tickled at the vision of the family and agrees, “We make a unique family at that.”

 

Margaret decides to get in some girl talk, “So, how is Sam shaping up?”

 

“He seems to be doing quite well.  Honestly, I think we’re doing great actually.   After we cleared up the little mix-up that Dad started just for his own entertainment.” Mallory grins at the how she growled at Sam and then to find out he really agreed with her.

 

Margaret grins with her at how it actually backfired on Leo.  He had to confess and tell Mallory that Sam was actually the good guy.  “Well, the best part is that Leo is really comfortable with you seriously seeing Sam.  I think he just wants everyone to be as happy as we are.”

 

“I think you’re right, Margaret.”  Mallory reflects, “Dad has mellowed, his defensive wall that he uses to keep the world at bay has been lowered a bit.  Since he’s been with you, I can tell he has learned to let the people he cares about in, to see the real him.  The one I grew up loving.”

 

Margaret wants to reassure Mallory, “I do know one thing.  He wasn’t joking when he said he hopes you come over often and feel at home with us.  You and Sam are as welcome as Josh and Donna.  Drop in anytime and definitely show up to join us in the hot tub.” Margaret leans closer like someone will hear them conspiring, “Just call at the office and I can let you know when we’re going home for therapy.”

 

Mallory admits, “After some of the days I have at school with the little darlings, I need this hot tub.  I think I’ll take you up on your suggestion and leave a swimsuit at the apartment.  This is heaven.  Don’t you let Josh know how much I love it in here.”

 

Both women grin and sink down into the bubbles as low as they dare and still keep their hair dry.  They relax quietly, enjoying the peace only broken by the sound of the bubbles, until the guys return cold and tired and sink into the tub to warm up again.

 

After they all finally decide that their hands are suitably wrinkled from the final hot tub session, even by Josh’s standards. Leo’s grateful for the strong hand that Josh gives him, to help stand and climb out of the tub.  Leo’s body is really drained from the final workout in the pool.  They return to the apartment with the agents fore and aft.   The evening is just going to be Leo and Margaret home alone with three agents for company.  Mallory has a date with Sam.  They are going to out to dinner, then to the theater to see a play.  She promises that Sam and she will keep an eye out for safety and stay in public areas. 

 

Josh explains that Donna went home after going to the White House with him earlier in the day. She has to catch up on stuff at her apartment after this crazy week.  Laundry being a big need, just like Margaret did today.  Josh happily informs them that he’s going to Donna’s this evening, so they can have a quiet dinner together and relax together watching some old movies.  A habit they have learned to enjoy from a certain couple they know.

 

Leo is taking a pit stop on the couch, while the kids get ready to take their leave and Margaret is in the kitchen getting out the items that they’ll need to prepare their dinner.  They have a nice selection to choose from tonight.  Margaret calls good-bye to the two leaving. After the door closes behind them, she goes to help Leo to his feet.  He really has had a work out today, but she knows he wants to get into his kitchen and sit at his cart and help with dinner.  His smile of happiness says it all to Margaret.

 

*****   

 

After dinner, Leo is again parked on the couch to rest, while Margaret moves around the kitchen putting things away and sets the new coffee timer.  Margaret has a happy look on her face as she sets the box Mallory brought, on the coffee table in front of Leo.  They hope to quickly sort through the box before starting the movie.  They instinctively talk in low voices so the agent can't hear everything they say.  Leo just wants tonight to be a peaceful and relaxing time for them to regenerate from the hectic past week.  Leo doesn’t hold Margaret in suspense and opens the box, “This is full of Mom’s keepsakes.  I wondered what happened to it.” 

 

Margaret peers over, resting her hand on Leo’s arm, “ What kind of keepsakes, corsages and baby teeth?” 

 

“Sorta, it’s not real expensive things.  We didn’t have that kind of money. Mostly just things of mine that she saved, stuff that all moms keep.” 

 

 “Here’s something that my sisters might want to steal.  I guess I could get copies made for them.” Leo’s opening up a small book.  

 

“What’s that, Leo?” She watches as he flips though a few pages in the book.

 

Leo grins at Margaret, “Her diary during her and Dad’s courtship.”

 

Margaret smiles softly back at Leo, thinking that’s so romantic, “Oh, I’m sure they’d definitely like copies of that, Leo.”

 

Leo lifts out a few things from the box for Margaret to get a better look at.   First out, was a flat, round, clay cast of Leo’s hand in kindergarten.  His long fingers, even then, were evident on his childish hand.  She runs her fingers over the outline of his little fingers as he watches her.  Then, next, are some school award ribbons, even a small trophy for track and field.  On a piece of cloth, his pin for the debate team in high school.

 

Leo opens one of the small boxes, inside is a pewter ornament on a cord.  It’s an Irish Claddagh symbol.  “We hung this on the tree every year, right in front.  It belonged to her family.  It was Mom’s way of keeping us connected to our Irish roots.” 

 

Margaret looks at it in her hand.  ~It will go on our tree this year.~

 

Another medium sized book is lifted out by Leo and he rubs his hand over the cover and smiles softly.  Then he opens it to one of the early pages, reading it quietly with his fingers almost caressing the words.

 

Margaret observes his reaction to this book and is thinking maybe she should wait for Leo to tell her what’s in the book that he seems to feel so deeply about.

 

Leo can feel Margaret’s eyes on him and he raises his face to hers, “This is one of my most treasured possessions.  It’s Mom’s family journal that she started when she was pregnant with me.  It tells the early years of my family, of me as baby and continues with the girls as they came along.  She wrote in it almost every night, mostly just a line or two.” Leo sees the soft melting look on Margaret face that she thinks the journal is wonderful.  He holds the journal closer to her on his thigh, “Here, read this page.  It’s one of the few full page entries.”

 

Margaret reads the page, as Leo holds one side of the journal for her.  After she finishes the page, her eyes shine with tears. “Leo, that is just beautiful.  It’s your mom’s thoughts the day after you were born.  She talks to you, her newborn son, of how much she loves you and her hopes and dreams for you.  “Oh, Leo if she only knew you would some day run the White House for the President of the United States.”

 

Leo swallows the lump in his throat, admitting that his mom probably would be.  She saw him at his worst and he just wishes she knew him now.  Not for him to boast of the powerful job he has, but of the wonderful life he has now.  For the smile on her face, it would make the struggle all worth it.

 

Margaret looks at him seriously, “Your sisters really need a copy of this too.  They should have it to pass on to their children for them to be able to read how their grandmother felt about her new and growing family.” ~ Copies of the diaries and this would make a nice Christmas present for his sisters and Mallory, perhaps nice leather bindings. I’ll check into it for him.~

 

Leo nods his head in agreement, “Mallory already has already read it and really enjoyed getting a glimpse of her ole dad growing up and she did feel close to her grandmother again.  They were close.” Leo pauses a moment to reflect.  “Margaret, someday we need take the time to curl up and read this together.  I’d like you to get to know my Mom through this journal.”

 

“Thank you, Leo.  I spoke to her a few times on the phone when she would call for you at the DoL.  She seemed really nice.”  Margaret stokes the journal fondly. “I’d love to read this with you.  To discover the boy you once were and to get to know your mom.”  She lays the journal in her lap, feeling like she needs to hold it for a while longer, as if she were holding the little boy Leo.

 

Leo sighs having mixed feelings with the next item he lifts out.  He lifts out his dog tags from Nam, holding them up in front of his face by the tarnished chain.  Margaret’s silently watches for his reaction with her hands gripping his mom’s journal on her lap.  Leo’s looking at the tags spin on the chain.  He quietly studies them and he notes darkened edges where they had rubbed against his chest.  The sweating from adrenaline, fear and determination, he remembers well from his time in the compact cockpit of his jet fighter.  Leo softly offers Margaret a small insight to his thoughts, “I handed these to Mom when I came home for good, telling her not to worry anymore, I wouldn’t be going back to war ever again.”  He gives her a tiny smile remembering his mother’s soft tears of thankfulness.  He lowers his hand down slowly to let the tags fold together and rest on the coffee table, letting the chain pile up on top of them, before releasing his hold on the chain.  Next, he lifts out a bundle of letters he wrote home from Nam.  He sighs sadly as he remembers sitting in his small bunk on the air craft carrier, writing to his mom and sisters so far away, trying to reassure them that he was alright and he was thinking of them often and missing them greatly.  He just couldn’t let them know the horrendous sights he had witnessed and heard of, in that far off land of war.  Leo glances at Margaret’s soft sad look, knowing she’s commiserating with him and his demons.  He can tell she understands without needing to understand.  Her face tells him that she knows he needs a moment to reflect on the hurt, like he’s worrying about a sore tooth.  Leo knows there’ll come a time when he needs to share some of these memories with her.  He weighs the packet in his hand, “Margaret, Id like to just put these away. They’re not too bad to read, they ‘were’ for Mom and my younger sisters, but it’s just that they bring back too many memories.  I promise to let you read them someday, just not right now, with everything that’s going on.”

 

Margaret replies softly, keeping this conversation just between the two of them, “That’s fine, Leo.  Some day there’ll be a time that’s right.” She reaches over to rub his jean-covered thigh in comfort.

 

Leo knows she’ll ask questions and he’s not ready for them yet.  “It’s not the letters themselves, Baby.  It’s recalling the memories, so I can answer you honestly, because when the time comes I’ll be honest with answering you.”  He’s open about most things with her, but these memories are too raw, too painful and may always be for him.  Terrible things he never would have told his Mom, like how his leg was really hurt.  “Margaret, my painful memories may always be tucked away, like these letters.”  He nods his head to the side, “That may be for the best for us.  It’s not that I don't trust you to know, Margaret.  If someday you feel you can read them and not ask me to impart all the dirty details, then that might be the time.”  He just doesn’t want to read them and recall.   He has put that part of his life behind him, very much like his drinking.  Leo knows that when he reads them he’ll be emotional and tonight he doesn't need the Secret Service seeing that side of him.  The nods toward the agent, “I'd rather them see me physically naked, than emotionally naked.” 

 

Margaret’s mildly shocked at his statement, but sees the set look on his face and can tell he’s very serious.  She leans over to kiss his cheek in understanding. She would never want to cause him that kind of pain.  They’re happy with their life.  If not knowing preserves that for now, she’s very agreeable.

 

 

Leo takes another separate box out and inside it is his mother’s rosary and prayer book. Leo wants to save them for Mallory’s future kids, so someday they’ll have something personal of his Mom’s.  He hands them over to Margaret to hold. 

 

Lastly, Leo pulls out an old scruffy looking, leather bound bible that is the last item of his mothers, in the box.  It was her mother’s before her and a real treasure for his genealogy research, as the center pages contain the family history written down for three generations prior to her and written by the owner at the time.  Giving him a sample of handwriting of each of his three ancestors in succession.  He flips to the middle pages and points this out to Margaret. “See here, Margaret, how Grandmother Melissa makes a lower case p, with a high top loop, for her double s.  That is the way they were written in her day.”

 

Margaret has a suggestion, “You know, Leo, we should really soon get you a nice plastic storage box for these heirlooms from your mom. We could put in some silicone packets in with them to keep out any moisture that does get inside.  They told me at the museum that moisture and light are the two deadly factors in destroying old paper.”

 

“Thank you, Margaret, that’s a wonderful idea.  I really want to hand these down someday or for Mallory to pass them to someone in the family that will really appreciate them.” Leo lets her know that a plan has already been considered for his family treasures. 

 

 “Then, Leo, we’ll try to get one the next time we get out to Target or Wal-Mart and we can store it right on the shelf of your closet, so it will be handy to your research on the computer.”  Margaret knows in his heart that he wants them close at hand. She can see they mean a great deal to him and this is his home now.  He should have and needs to have his things about him. 

 

*****      

 

Sitting at their late Pa’s farm the two attackers, Zeke and Earl, has to rethink their tactics.  Earl sighs and drops his leg down off the corner of the kitchen table and leans forward to lean his elbows on his knees and clasps his hands together in front of him. With a serious look on his face he speaks to his little brother who is amply filling the wooden chair at the end of the table with his mountain size bulk.  “Earl, listun ta me.  I knows we a had big a plans ta gets that thar President to listen to our’s problem, by a nabbin one a his folks and a tell a thems, theys a ain’t a take our’s land fur pennys.  Jest a for that thar a fancy new a damn, even a it’s a just ta hilly farm and a rocky fields ta work.  With a the a baccy a need a cuttin and a gettin wood in, a fur winter a snowin us’ in, we better just wait till the time between the snow melt and when we’s can a get into them fields ta a plow.  We a needs ta do a some a mur plans this a winter and a haves us’n a butter new a plan fur getten that thur President to listen. Them’s precher boys is a keeping us back a to’s fur ta gets one.  

 

The little brother tips his chair back forward with a bang at the end of his big brother’s talk. “Damn it all to hell, Zeke.  I a been beat on by that scrawy assed old man, I’ve and watched buildin’s till a my a eyes a crossed and then ta days, I’s a gets plowed in the balls by a beanstalks of a gal.  Damn, Zeke, I  a no’d they’s don’t a feed them thar city folk much ta feed a scrawny rooster, but damn, she a had a one bony knee on a her.” 

 

Zeke dares to poke fun at his burly brother, now that he’s walking straight again, Baby Bro, if’n she’d a gots away wif out a droppin you likes a shot bull.  You’d a nevers catched her.  That damn skinny gal ran like a spooked deer with slug in it’s ass. She was a backa insides that thar high a fence fur you’d  a blinked, lets alone grabs her agains.”  Zeke laughs in his booming voice, the one that always draws his brother in. 

 

Earl thinks about what his brother just said and his face splits into a smile at the sight he missed of her streaking to the gate.  He just bet she was moving like lighting and joins in the laughter, in the small old kitchen. 

 

They final catch their breath and Earl wipes the water from his eyes, like his brother is doing.  “You a knows, Zeke, you might a beens right about them thar things you’s says abouts our’s a needin a butter plans.  Winter’s a hard ta gets into thur big city.” Earl pauses and nods his head as he thinks some more, “I’s agrees we’ll a trys agains in the spring a before that thur government boys comes around.”

 

Earl has one more plan for Monday. When Zeke goes to the general store, he’s going to run into the city and drop another note.  Just to warn them preacher boys that they aren’t quitting, just waiting till spring. 

 

*****        

 

“Margaret, I’d like us to change into our sleepwear, cuddle up together and watch a movie.  We have two new ones from the store.” Leo looks at her hopefully.

 

She gives him a slightly surprised look, “Leo, you really want us to change before the movie, with the agent in the room?”

 

“Sure, it’s fine.  Butterfield now wants me to wear some kind of clothing at all times, but I still get to choose what I’m wearing.  I want us to be comfortable, Baby.”  At the skeptical look on Margaret’s face he points out, “Jed and Abby wear their sleepwear in front of the agents all the time, in the private area of the Residence where we were.  I’m sure Abby and you have similar nightclothes.  It’ll be fine, Baby, as long as you don’t wear something that’ll shock the agent and give me a heart attack.  He grins at her, “Even if it would be a nice way to go.”

 

Margaret can’t resist and give Leo a catlike grin.  “You never know, Leo.”  She stands, turning to reach for his hand to help him off the couch, happy that he seems better after resting after dinner.  His recuperative abilities seem to be getting faster.  She knows this is a great sign he’s well on its way to a full recovery.  Leo stands fully and gives her a quick kiss before placing his hand at the small of her back and following her for a quick trip to the bathroom to change.

 

The agent, overhearing the plans for the couple to spend a quiet evening, movie watching, is relieved that they were not scheduled to attend an event.   As required by procedure he stations himself at the open doorway to the bedroom.  Periodically he can hear here soft talking through the bathroom door, recognizing one voice, as Mr. McGarry’s is all he is professionally interested in.  After a time, the agent checks his watch and with a slight smile, notes that they’re taking a long time in the bathroom just to change clothes.

 

 Leo emerges first wearing his new black satin pants and a satisfied smile as he passes the agent on his way to the DVD player to get the movie installed. The agent moves back his prior station at the end of the living room beside the dinning table to guard Leo from a proper distance. 

 

A short while later, Margaret enters the living room humming and she’s wearing her button front satin sleep shirt.  The first sound of her in the room has Leo looking around.  Then the sight, below the shimmering raspberry material, of her long creamy legs is drawing Leo’s eyes from them to her face, in a surprised questioning look.  He remembers to breathe, he was just teasing about her giving him a heart attack.  He darts a quick glance at the agent who has his eyes riveted on Leo.  Margaret slides up close to Leo at the entertainment center and innocently asks, “You have a funny look on your face, Sweetie.”  She lays a hand on his bare chest over his heart as if to feel the beat of his heart. 

 

Leo trades places with her, so his body is between her and the line of sight of the agent.  He grins at the smirk that Margaret is now wearing.  He places a soft kiss on her lips and when he leans away, he reaches between them and with a quick flip at the bottom of the opening on her shirt, his eyes flick down for a peak.  He finds out her secret.  She’s being brave in front of the agent, because she’s wearing matching shorts under the shirt.  Leo can’t hold back his deep laugher, at the trick she pulled on him.  She knew he was unaware of the shorts, not having worn them around him. She giggles at the delight Leo’s taking with her calling him, on being discreet with the agent watching the room. 

 

She holds up the lotion bottle wrapped again in a small towel.  He takes it away for her with a smirk and leads her to the couch and they both settle down facing each other.  Margaret discreetly takes the end of the couch with her back to the agent, as she has one leg bent to the back of the couch and the other has her foot still on the floor, to sit close enough to hold Leo’s hand to massage it. “So, Leo, how’s the heart doing now,” she can’t resist rubbing in the good joke she got on him.  First glancing over her shoulder at the agent, he leans forward to whisper, “My heart is doing just fine now, but you should know that, since it belongs to you.”  She may be creating wonder sensations massaging on his hand, but while whispering to her, with his crooked little smile on his face, he’s slipping his other hand up the inside of her leg to investigate the shorts.  He leans back with another deep laugh, as Margaret jerks with a start when she becomes aware of Leo’s finger tugging at the leg edge of her panties.  She knows the agent can’t see what Leo just did, but she still turns a bright red and leans her head against his chest in mortification.  She should have known that Leo would get revenge for her prank.   Leo strokes down the back of her hair using his free hand, since she has never let go of the one she was working on.  She raises her head and asks, “You just had to see, if you could give me a heart attack as payback?”

 

“Was there any doubt, Baby.”  He kisses her again, unconcerned with the observation of the agent.

 

The agent has decided now would be a good time to make his required routine check of the apartments parameters.  At regular 30 minutes intervals, he checks the bedrooms for window security, even though they’re 5th floor.  Making his circuit out of the guest room, he passes the couple to pull back the curtains in the bay window to check behind them and even looks outside the window.  He continues back past the couple to check the master bedroom.  This may be a long evening for him. 

 

Margaret has a gentle look to her face as she massages Leo’s right hand. She’s wondering to herself if his hand may be tired from this morning and his double workout in the hot tub.  With a secret smile to herself as she works harder on that hand, she wants that hand ready again in the future. 

 

Once done with his hand massage, Margaret sets the lotion bottle on the coffee table and starts to move back against the cushion in her corner of the couch the way they used to when they first started watching movies together.  Leo, switches off the lamp beside the couch, but he knows that the agent will insist on a small light, so he resists asking for the small lamp on the bookcase, by the guest room, to be turned off as well.  The agent will just inform him that he has to have visual of Leo and the TV is not sufficient lighting.  Leo does tells the agent that him he can watch from the foyer unless making his rounds and that the agent will not be distracted by the movie that way, is Leo’s other point.

 

Leo has plans that are they going to cuddle on the sofa tonight like usual for the movie, even with the one agent in the room and one outside.  The low light will give them some comfort of privacy, but he is sure that by now it’s no secret that they are physically closer, especially after they found them in bed this morning.

 

 Leo sees Margaret sitting in the middle of the couch, arranging the cushion for her at the other end.  That is not in his plan for the evening and he can tell she might need a little coaxing, at first, for some cuddling.  “No,” He talks softly to her, “Margaret, you can lay with me over here or I’m coming over to you.”  He playfully pulls her down in front of him, even if he does moan for hurting himself, while doing it.

 

Margaret teases him for moaning with his actions, “Serves you right for manhandling me.”

 

Leo grins as he tries to relax the muscles in his side, “I’d like to manhandle you, but there is an agent in the apartment.  It’s dark enough so that we can cuddle and neck.  It’s similar to when Jed and Abby were in the room at the Residence for movie night last Sunday.” Leo gets his way when Margaret agrees and Leo then starts the movie with the volume not too low.  It is not in his plan to be overheard by the agent. 

 

As the movie progresses, so does the cuddling. They are always sneaking kisses and touching in the dark, but no wandering hands.  They are in the line of vision for the agent, but they aren't going to stop their loving. Leo hopes she will get more used to it like Abby has, over time.

 

Halfway through the movie, Margaret decides that they need a break in more ways than one, “Leo, I feel the need for some ice cream.  Let me up to get some and you can get yourself set up higher on your cushion.”

 

Leo blows out a sigh, realizing that Margaret is right and ice cream might be just the thing to cool them off.  

 

Margaret returns with two pints, each with spoons sticking out the open tops.   Leo smiles and takes his in both hands till he can get it settled in his lap, yep, that’ll definitely cool him off. “Thanks, Baby.”  Little is said as the start eating the ice cream and the movie is playing on beside them, but they prefer to just watch each other.  Soon they start to discuss the plans for tomorrow as it is again another day off.   They both hope CJ, probably with Toby escorting her, may drop over for a visit to assure them by the sight of her that she is fine.  They know Josh will be over twice and Margaret hopes that Donna will come with him to check out the photos that she took today and Leo promises to get them downloaded from the camera to the computer for her in the morning.  Leo does ask her if she got her new timer for the coffee maker set.  She assures him she definitely did. 

Leo decides that he has cooled off enough with half of his ice cream finished.  “Want to try my cherry ice cream?” he holds out his spoon to tempt her.

 

“Sure, Sweetie,” Margaret leans toward him and he pops the spoonful quickly into his own mouth.  She stops her reflex to glance back at the agent and Leo has such a smug look on his face, to hell with the agent.  She slowly moves toward him, carefully sets her pint on the table, she continues to move overtop of his legs to bring her face to his.  She places her hands on either side of his head on the arm rest behind him and lowers her lips down to his, by bending her elbows and pressing her forearms against his shoulders, to pin him down.  Her body is again suspended over him and not touching him anywhere else.  The one thing that might possibly distract him from her lips on his and her tongue exploring his cherry flavored mouth, is the sensual tickle of her satin shirt draping against him and just brushing lightly against his chest curls.  All the sensations stimulating him almost making him shiver in overload.   How can she know just how to tease him and yet, still just hardly touch him?   Leo rumbles softly in his best sexy voice, “Time to move this to the other room!”

 

She grins her agreement, grabbing both of the half finished ice cream pints and jumps up heading for the freezer? Leo turns off the DVD player and TV with the remotes.  They can put some music on, in the bedroom, to drown out their cuddling and talking. Leo meets her at the end of the table as she comes out of the kitchen.

 

*****     

         

Even though the agent has to keep an eye on him with the bedroom door open, Leo just wants to stretch out his body against hers.  On the way to the bedroom, they wander past the thermostat to turn down the AC.  They know they’ll be getting even warmer with more cuddling.  Leo’s like a furnace and he ‘has’ to wear his satins tonight. They just smile at each other and he pulls her closer for a preview kiss.  His eyes get that sexy look she loves, "Let's go to bed, Baby." and he takes her hand to lead her into the bedroom, wearing his impish grin.  What a dilemma!

 

The End

 

P.S. How many of you want to go with Leo and visit his blue Buick, Beauty?

 

 

Thanks again for reading Leo’s Dilemma trilogy!

You’re the best!!

Blessings

 

We would love it hear your opinion!  PLEASE! 

 

chipmunk  aka: Betty Lou Riley            [email protected]

Imp           aka: Lynn Jessome         [email protected]

 

Home web page

http://www.geocities.com/chipmunkswhimseys/

 

Items that inspired us!

http://www.geocities.com/chipmunkswhimseys/RecoveryProps.html

 

 

To visit Leo and Jed’s early years.  Read pung’s ‘Sins of the Father’ series.

 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WholeHouses/files/Jed%20FF/

 

 

Just a note:  This fic is a bonus for those loyal readers that are signed up for Chipmunk’s Whimseys West Wing Fan Fiction update mailing list and also for those loyal readers who check out our web page regularly for new postings!   We will ‘not’ be posting it to the normal mailing lists.  See what feedback will get you! 

 

We have more fics lined up for the coming year, but first we want to squeeze in a Holiday fic!

 

Update web page

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