Leo allowed Amy to pump up the pillows for him and then settled back against them.

Amy sat back down in the visitor’s chair and picked up her magazine.

“Did I mention you look terrible?” Josh asked, grinning.

“J!”

“Well he does. Three broken ribs, a sprained wrist and a lovely black eye to finish off the ensemble.”

“You forgot the kidney infection,” Leo grumbled from his place on the pillows.

“Donna said to say, you have no sympathy from her,” Josh teased.

Amy groaned. “She really didn’t. Her comment was that the baby was pressing on her bladder and she could fully comprehend what you were going through, having to pee all the time,” Amy stated. “Which again, is why if we’re ever going to have children Josh will be carrying them.” She stuck her tongue out at Josh and returned to her magazine.

Leo chuckled at the two of them and then moaned as his rib vibrated. “Don’t make me laugh, it hurts.” He cleared his throat and focused his attention on Josh. “And how exactly does Donna know what’s going on?”

Josh turned pink and stared at his feet.

“Josh phoned everyone,” Amy offered helpfully, her eyes never lifting from the page. “Donna, CJ, Abbey, Sam and Toby.”

“OH Josh,” Leo exclaimed.

He shrugged and shot Amy a sideways glance. “Can you imagine what would have happened if I hadn’t let them know that you were in hospital?”

“They would have punished you.” Leo offered, grinning. “Slow and painfully.”

“Before they berated you for being an idiot. Which by the way you were.”

“It was worth it,” Leo stated. “He’s behind bars and he can no longer hurt Margaret.”

Josh still hadn’t plucked up the courage to tell Leo that Bill had evaded police and was, as such, still on the run. Amy, it seemed, wasn’t going to mention it either.

“Abbey’s on her way,” Josh added, stuffing his face with the grapes Amy had bought for the patient.

“Oh dear god,” Leo muttered. “And what was the likelihood that was gonna happen? How long do I have?” He knew the routine, she would barge in, grab his notes and subject him to a humiliating medical exam.

“We’re picking her up from the airport when we leave here,” Amy said, helpfully.

Leo groaned.

“And god knows what Margaret’s going to say when she finds out,” Josh commented, pushing the grapes to one side and opening the chocolates.

“No, don’t even think about it,” Leo instructed, his eyes darkening with the fierceness of his words.

“We’re not going through this again. I’m calling her.”

“Josh!” Leo reached to the table with his good hand and snatched the chocolates. “How the hell did you track her down?”

“I made. . . “

“. . . a few calls,” Leo finished for him. “Is there ever a chance you will ever do what I tell you?” he groaned.

“No evidence of it so far,” Amy mumbled, looking up and giving Josh her sweetest smile.

“You know you could help me,” Josh whined.

“Yeah, I could.” Amy rose to her feet and leaned in to kiss Leo’s forehead. “Or I could drag you home and give Leo some peace.” She brushed Leo’s hair off his forehead and smiled at him. “We’ll drop Abbey off later and see you tomorrow.”

“Thank you kiddo.”

Amy rolled her eyes at him, as she always did. Leo was probably the only person in the world she would ever allow to call her kiddo or girl for that matter. Hell, if he hadn’t been so in love with Margaret, when she met him she would have snagged him for herself.

“Yes Dad,” she said, her voice singsongy. “I’ll wait in the hall.”

After she had left Josh grabbed one last chocolate. “I’m going to phone Margaret, Leo. It’s been two months.”

“Sixty seven days actually.”

Josh grinned. “Well, long enough. And if you’re going to be laid up for a while, I’m going to need help taking care of you.”

Leo sighed, part in frustration and part in relief. The idea of Josh “taking care” of anyone was scary enough, but the thought of lying in bed while Josh fussed was just too much. That and spending a night in the same house as Josh, Amy and the beagle from hell.

“Don’t force her, Josh,” Leo said softly. “If she doesn’t want to come back, I’ll understand.”

It didn’t really seem appropriate after promising to give her space to expect her to rush back and be lumbered with an invalid. Of course there were also all the unresolved issues. Her feelings for him. Her divorce. And Emma.

“I’d better go before Mrs. B starts throwing her weight around.” He took two steps towards the door. “Take care.”

Margaret’s own family had consisted of her, her parents and a brother. Her father had died shortly after Bartlet first took office and her mother two years later. After her mother’s sudden demise, the brother had practically taken the money and ran, leaving Margaret alone.

It was then she had discovered she had a large family, a huge extended family who she could depend on no matter what.

After Bill had hit her and raped her, Margaret had once again turned to her adopted family and they had rallied around her as if it had been a matter of days, not years, since she had been in touch. Which is how she found herself in Florida.

Within a matter of days of leaving Bill, she had been surprised to find herself with a new bank account and credit card. She had challenged Leo as to the origins of the funds, but he had denied it all, claiming he was respecting her need to do it alone. She hadn’t believed him then and now she knew he had been lying to her. She had found out recently, her friends had each sent a check, wanting to make sure she could disappear and not have to worry about how she was going to manage for money.

Of course to move on with her life, Margaret needed her divorce which was why she kept in touch with Toby. He was the only person who knew where she was, and for now that was enough.

Margaret sat on the edge of the pool, her feet dangling in the water. The first thing she had done when she reached Florida was to cut her hair, and it now curled softly around her face.

She now looked, and felt, very much like the old Margaret.

Emma splashed her and Margaret looked up from her musings.

“Hey.”

Her daughter grinned and belly flopped into the water, splashing her once again.

Margaret shook her head. “Want some ice cream?”

“I scream.” Emma paddled her way across the pool and climbed onto her mother’s lap.

“Now I’m all wet,” Margaret mock grumbled.

Emma shrugged as if to say “So what.”

“Mrs. Landingham,” a voice called and it took Margaret a few seconds to realize the desk clerk was calling her. The name had been the first thing that came to mind. Delores had been a good friend and dead long before Bill arrived, there was no reason therefore for him to search for her under that name.

“Yes?”

“There’s a call for you. A Mr. Lyman. He said to say. . .” The girl looked down at her scribbled note. “Uh, . . .it’s an old friend from home.”

Margaret swallowed and was already on her feet, tugging Emma behind her. “In reception?”

The girl nodded, perplexed by what was going on.

Settling Emma on the floor where she could keep an eye on her, Margaret snatched up the receiver. “Josh?”

“Margaret. Are you okay?” Josh asked, at the sound of her panting.

“Yeah. What’s happened?” Her voice carried a panicky tone, the likes of which she hadn’t experienced since Rosslyn.

“I need you to calm down,” Josh tried gently.

“Josh?” Margaret yelled, understanding why Leo wanted to kill his Deputy on a daily basis. “If you don’t. . .”

“Margaret, it’s Amy,” said a new voice. “Look, Leo’s in the hospital. He was assaulted. He’s alive and stable. A few broken ribs, a kidney infection and he has a nice purple tinge to him.” She waited for the news to sink in. “But he’s going to be fine.”

Margaret stared across the room, not really sure if her legs would hold her up much longer. “I. . . Did he. . .?”

Amy smiled. “He didn’t ask us to call, this is all J’s idea. When he’s released, he’ll be staying with us, god help him. So if you want to call him then, our number is. . .”

“I’ll be on the next flight,” Margaret said, no other decision in the least satisfactory.

“I thought you would. Take our number and call when you know when you’re arriving,” Amy stressed, imagining herself in the same position if it was Josh.

“I have it.” Margaret said her goodbyes and turned back to the desk clerk. “I need to be on the next available flight to DC. And we’ll need a taxi to the airport.” Margaret took Emma’s hand.

“I scream?” Emma asked, gazing up hopefully.

Margaret shook her head. “Not right now. Mommy needs you to be a good girl.”

“Why?” Emma quizzed, as little girls like to do.

“Uncle Leo is ill and we need to get back to him,” Margaret said, pushing the elevator button frantically, least she fall apart in the middle of reception.

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” Margaret looked down at her daughter. “But we’re going to get on a plane and find out.”

As she flung clothes into her suitcase and waited for the desk clerk to phone with a flight, Margaret replayed Amy’s words in her head. Leo had been assaulted. A deep foreboding developed in the pit of Margaret’s stomach. There was something Amy hadn’t told her and Margaret could only guess what it was. Bill, unable to find his wife had gone after Leo. She closed her eyes and stifled the tears that were about to fall.

The ringing of the phone broke her reverie and she was pleased to hear that there was a flight in a little over two hours. Having something to do gave her something else to concentrate on, and she felt more secure in the knowledge she was going back to Leo.

The first place Margaret went to when she arrived in DC was the hospital.

Josh had insisted on taking her home with him, but she refused. The look of determination in her eyes told him, that maybe, just maybe, she was at least half in love with Leo.

Josh dropped her off and drove away, promising to come back and pick her up in a little while after he had taken Emma home.

Margaret rode the elevator up to the fifth floor. She didn’t know what to expect, other than Leo in a hospital bed. She hovered outside the door as nurses bustled past her. Quietly, she rapped on the door and waited. When there was no answer, she pushed open the door and slipped into the room.

The blinds were open and she could make out Leo’s sleeping form, his bandaged arm on top of the white cotton sheets, his face looking drawn against the stark white pillow cases.

Slowly, she edged her way closer to him until she was looking down into his face. Her fingers lightly traced the outline of the bruise. Her eyes flew to his wrist and the sudden hatred that ran through her body shocked her. It was so intense that she had to pull her hand back.

The feeling subsided as she continued to watch Leo sleep, hatred for her husband was replaced with the plethora of feelings she held for the man before her.

He would never know the endless days while he was in rehab, that she had lied for him, nor the long nights she had lain awake when he was drinking.

There were so many things she had never told him. How she valued his friendship and how working for him was her lifeline. Nor, could she ever voice just how much his gift all those years ago had made her question her love for her husband.

Margaret had never been one to live through her dreams, despite what everyone thought. It had been a running joke through the White House about assistants being in love with their bosses. Of course, they meant Josh and Donna, but there were those who questioned her devotion to Leo. And, she was devoted to him, in love with him, but he was married, and he had never looked at her that way.

Bill had swept her off her feet and she had put her unrequited feelings to one side in order to build the life she really wanted.

Now Bill was gone, a part of her past. And, Leo was here before her, in pain, because of her. Margaret ran her fingers over his good hand and sighed. In a rush it all came to her. She was still very much in love with him, and wherever she went, she always would be.

Leo stirred and opened his eyes. He blinked up at her and said her name.

“It’s really me,” she whispered, smiling.

“That’s good,” he mumbled. “Because I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.” He grinned.

“Leo, that’s dreadful,” she chided.

“Are you back to stay?” he asked hopefully, shifting his position so he could see her face better.

“I have things to sort out,” Margaret offered noncommittally as his fingers entwined with hers. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

Leo closed his eyes and sighed. She wasn’t going to let it drop and he didn’t want to end up fighting with her.

“Not now,” he whispered, his thumb stroking her knuckles.

“Was it Bill?”

Yeah, your screw up of a husband jumped me outside my apartment and beat the crap out of me because I wouldn’t tell him where you were. That sounded really great in his head. Should he mention that he lay there unconscious until his neighbor came home from work. Or, just laugh off the fact he was probably never going to father a child again.

“I love you,” he simply said, closing his eyes. “I’m glad you’re here.

Margaret shook her head. He obviously wasn’t going to be forthcoming, which meant she would have to torture Josh instead, and probably get a much more satisfying result.

“You sleep now,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss his forehead, before walking out into the corridor.

Josh was waiting for her, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed.

Margaret approached him stealthily and stopped. “Right now, Josh, I want to know what happened, and that means everything.”

*******

It was after eight when Emma awoke and found herself in a strange bed. Climbing over the side, she padded through the house until she found herself in the kitchen.

Amy looked around from the coffee maker and smiled. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Want some breakfast?” Amy asked, flipping the on switch.

Emma looked at her in confusion. “I scream?”

“Sounds good to me,” Josh mumbled, walking into the kitchen in his boxers and a t-shirt. Opening the fridge, he lifted out what Amy called real food and located the ice cream.

“You can’t feed her ice cream for breakfast,” Amy groaned, folding her arms across her body.

“Sure I can. It’s protein.” Josh dolloped a spoonful into a bowl and held it up.

“More,” Emma giggled, climbing onto a chair and balancing precariously.

Josh dropped another spoonful into the bowl. Moving to the table, he sat Emma down and handed her a teaspoon. Taking the seat beside her, he began to eat.

Margaret entered the kitchen and glanced over his shoulder. “Care to tell me why my daughter is eating. . . “ Margaret stuck her finger into the melting mixture. “Rum and raisin ice cream at eight thirty in the morning?”

Amy shook her head and muttered something about Josh having the parenting skills of a polar bear.

“She was hungry,” he said with a lopsided grin.

Margaret tutted and shook her head.

“Mommy, I scream,” Emma grinned and Margaret saw Leo in her face, the wide grin and twinkling eyes.

“Yeah, baby. We need to get you ready,” she announced, taking the bowl away and handing her a banana. “Wanna go and see Uncle Leo?”

Emma jumped down from the chair and was running across the room.

“I take that as a yes,” Margaret said, following her.

******

Leo’s door was open when she arrived this time and Margaret peaked inside to see him sat in bed reading the Washington Post.

Leaning down she whispered into Emma’s ear before gently pushing her daughter forward.

Emma didn’t take much convincing. Her little legs moved as fast as they could and she was climbing up into the visitor’s chair before Leo heard her.

His face lit up and tossed the paper on the bed. “Emma?” he cried, trying to reach her.

“Here, let me,” Margaret offered, entering the room and lifting Emma up onto the bed.

Emma’s tiny hands went around his neck, squeezing so hard he thought he’d never be able to breathe again. He didn’t care. She was here, back in his life. Emma pulled back and looked with concern into his face.

“It’s not as bad as it looks kiddo,” he said softly, kissing her on the nose.

Emma giggled and scrunched her face up.

“Okay, while you two get reacquainted I’m going to find a nurse and find out what’s going on,” Margaret announced.

She stopped at the door and turned to find Emma had crawled under the covers with Leo. He was talking quietly and Emma was grinning back at him. Margaret sighed and closed the door quietly behind her.

It had been a strange three days for Leo. His former staff had been phoning at regular intervals, along with the present and former Presidents. Abbey came every afternoon to check his vitals and Margaret arrived first thing in the mornings to spend the day.

The doctor had told him yesterday that he would need to stay a while longer so they could monitor his kidney infection. He had always suspected his liver would fail him, not his kidney, but they seemed concerned the blow to his lower abdomen would have a permanent effect.

Leo was desperate to get out and go home, but at least while he was in hospital Margaret was staying. They still hadn’t discussed the future and the idea of her leaving him again, scared the life out of him.

Leo opened his eyes, expecting to find Margaret in his room. Instead he found a police captain. Leo tried to shift up the bed, but the man waved him down.

“I’m Captain Romano, and I’ll try and keep this brief.” The man hovered by the side of the bed. “I understand you refused police protection.”

Leo looked at him blankly “I did?”

“Yes, that’s what I have. Mr. Lyman requested we stand down the police guard. It states here you have secret service protection.”

Leo continued to stare at him. He didn’t remember protection being mentioned, not that he remembered much about that first night after the pain killer. His brain tried to work through the information. Bill was in jail so why would he need protection.

“I’m sorry, has Mr. Woodford been released on bail?” Leo asked, his thoughts instantly going to Margaret’s safety.

The Captain cleared his throat. “I assumed your friend had explained the situation to you. Mr. Woodford has evaded capture. We have a warrant for his arrest. We know he’s in the District as his credit card was used yesterday.”

Leo’s jaw dropped.

Margaret knocked on the door and walked in. She stopped at the sight of someone new in the middle of the floor. “I’m sorry. I can come back.”

“Where’s Emma?” Leo asked, his voice masking his panic.

“With Josh, he’s showing her the Capitol. He’ll bring her in later.”

“You need to go back to Florida,” Leo stated as he focused on the Captain. “I’d like to be kept updated. As for protection, I’ll speak to the Senator.”

The Captain, sensing his presence was no longer wanted, left.

“Leo, what’s going on?” Margaret asked, moving to his side.

Leo swallowed and took her hand in his. “I’ve put you in danger.”

“You would never do that.”

“I let Josh bring you here because I was under the impression Bill was behind bars. He isn’t, he’s out there somewhere.” Leo paused, hoping his scare tactics were working. He needed her to do as he wanted, before she or Emma got hurt.

“They haven’t caught him?”

“Margaret, I want you to phone Josh and get on a plane,” Leo said softly.

She watched his face carefully, noting the sheer panic in his eyes and his earnest expression. Margaret wasn’t sure how to tell him that she only felt safe with him, that she didn’t want to run anymore.

“I’m staying put.”

“Margaret, this isn’t the time to be stubborn and difficult,” Leo sighed.

“Unfortunately when it comes to you, it’s always the right time,” she grinned. Her face turned serious as she leaned in. “I’m not leaving you. Emma is with Josh and I’m with you. He can’t get to us.”

“Margaret!”

She leaned in and brushed her lips against his. “I can’t keep running. This is my home. My family are here. You’re here,” she added softly. “It’s me, he wants. So let him come and they can catch him.”

“You’re not bait,” Leo grumbled, his hand tugging her head back down towards him.

“I learnt stubbornness from the best, Leo.” Her eyes darted to his lips as she wondered if he was finally going to kiss her after all this time.

“I can’t protect you, not like this.”

“Leo, do you think we could postpone this conversation?” Margaret asked, as her fingers moved to the nape of his neck.

He didn’t have time to respond as her mouth covered his and her tongue forced it’s way between his teeth.

Leo moaned as he deepened the kiss, savoring the taste of her on his lips.

Finally, he broke away for air and gazed up at her. He was pretty sure now that he was dead and this was heaven.

Amy glanced around the cafeteria desperately. There were a few people still mingling around, but the majority seemed to have left. Emma was nowhere to be seen.

She walked out into the corridor and glanced up and down. Panicking now, she grabbed the next doctor she saw and had him call security.

The agent that appeared was at least fifty and a good number of pounds over weight. He also seemed to think Amy was a single mother with no control over her child, if his glances at her left hand were anything to go by.

“Can you describe her, Ma’am?” he asked for the fourth time.

“She’s three. Red hair and brown eyes, wearing pink shorts and a Barbie T-shirt.” Amy ran everything through her mind. She had only turned her back for a second, to order ice cream, strawberry of course, and when she turned back Emma was gone. That should pretty much tell Josh that she wasn’t maternal enough to have his children. And Margaret, how the hell was she going to explain she misplaced her child?

“Look, I need to go back to the fifth floor, room 506.”

“And, we can find you there?”

Amy nodded and practically ran up the three flights of stairs. She reached the nurses’ station as Josh and Margaret appeared.

Josh grinned when he saw her.

Margaret looked around her for Emma and her face dropped. “Where’s Emma?”

Amy glanced at Josh and her heart thundered in her stomach. “I don’t know.”

Those three words were enough for Margaret to collapse against Josh.

“Jesus, Amy. How could you be so stupid,” Josh snapped, trying to straighten Margaret.

“I looked away Josh, for like a minute and she had gone. I didn’t do it on purpose.” Amy let out a rush of breath. “Security is searching the building and doing whatever they do.”

Margaret suddenly composed herself as realization struck her. “I need to speak to security. Josh, stay with Leo.”

“I should come with you,” he whined.

“I need you to keep Leo occupied. And you can’t tell him, you understand,” Margaret said quietly. “We’ll tell him once we get her back.” She hoped she sounded confident, because that space in the pit of her stomach was starting to hurt again. She knew, it was second sight or something, but Bill had Emma.

“Fine,” Josh huffed, glaring at Amy and re-entering the hospital room.

“It’s not your fault, Amy. He was probably following us,” Margaret acknowledged, heading down the corridor.

*******

Josh slid into the chair next to the bed and began to flip through a magazine.

Leo looked up from his crossword and glanced at Josh. Two seconds later he repeated the process. “Where’s Margaret?”

Josh pretended to study the horoscopes. “Gone to search for the girls.”

Leo lowered his paper to the bed. “Josh, what aren’t you telling me?”

Josh swallowed.

“I’ve known you since you were three. You never were a very good liar. And an even worse poker player.” Okay, so Leo wasn’t completely sure Josh was holding back this time but what were the odds.

“Leo,” Josh squeaked.

“Josh?” Leo pushed.

“While Amy was looking after Emma, she lost her.” Always start with blaming someone else had always been Josh’s motto. “And, Margaret’s gone to help security search and Amy’s probably outside somewhere.” He stopped and glanced up at Leo.

Leo’s jaw was set. His deep honey colored eyes were filled with something Josh hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Leo, we’ll find her,” Josh said, trying to wipe away the look of complete loss on Leo’s face.

Leo pushed the covers off the bed, knocking the paper flying. “I’m getting out of here.”

“You can’t,” Josh cried, wondering what was worse, having Margaret eat him alive or the expression on Leo’s face.

“I can and I am. Get a nurse and sign the damn papers,” Leo growled, opening the small wardrobe and pulling out his trousers and a shirt. He managed to step into the trousers, but stood before Josh, with his pants around his knees. “Josh, please.”

Josh rose to his feet and moved across to Leo. “I’m not sure.”

“Josh,” Leo began, staring him in the eye. “Emma’s my daughter.”

If the situation hadn’t been quite so grave, Leo would have split his sides laughing at the look of complete shock on Josh’s face. It slipped away seconds later to be replaced with a totally horrified one.

“Emma?”

Leo nodded. “If you help me get dressed, I’ll tell you everything.”

Josh pulled Leo’s pants to his waist and fastened the fly.

“Margaret and Bill couldn’t conceive so they tried IVF. Each time it failed, she ended up in my office, crying. She looked so desolate, and I hated the fact I couldn’t help. Eventually, they became short of money. I offered to help, but Margaret turned me down,” Leo explained as Josh removed his pyjama top and buttoned his shirt.

“The next month it failed again and I made Margaret a different offer.” He looked at Josh and waited for him to join the dots. “Naturally, she refused but the following cycle, she accepted. Bill was out of town, I paid for the IVF, and the doctor used donor sperm for the procedure.”

Josh scrunched his face up as he realized they were discussing Leo’s sperm.

“Anyway, Margaret got pregnant first time, and the rest is history,” Leo finished, handing Josh his shoes and socks. “I wanted to help her, god, I loved her so much, and then the first time I saw Emma, I knew I’d done the right thing.”

“Who knows?” Josh asked quietly, wondering how the hell it had never leaked out and the implications if it did now.

“Mallory, Margaret, the technician and now you.” He watched as realization hit Josh. “Yeah, he still doesn’t know he’s been raising my child.”

Leo took long strides down the corridor towards the nurses’ station. He was intimidating enough for them to hand him the forms immediately without argument. He was signing the final one when Margaret appeared, Amy on her heels.

She caught sight of Leo, dressed and obviously checking himself out. Throwing her hands in the air, she groaned, “Joshua!”

“I told him,” Leo said quietly, searching her face for the news that it was going to be okay.

Margaret looked between the two men and shook her head. “They have him on tape leading her out of the building.” She didn’t need to specify who, they all knew.

Leo stepped towards her and she slunk back.

“Don’t.”

His face dropped and he lowered his hands to his sides.

“Amy and I are going to make some calls, widen the search,” Josh announced, heading down the corridor. As he passed Margaret, he squeezed her arm. “We’re going to find her.”

Margaret glanced back at Leo and tears pricked in her eyes as he looked back at her, his fear open bare for all to see. “Don’t you dare blame yourself. Don’t you dare.”

“If you hadn’t come back. . .” Leo mumbled, looking at a mark on the wall.

“Then when I eventually did, he would have come after us,” Margaret offered softly.

“But I should have been able to protect you both,” Leo said, shaking his head. “And I can’t like this.”

“It’s because of me, he did this to you,” Margaret said, her voice cracking. “No,” she cried as he took a step closer. “If you come any closer, I’m going to lose it.”

Leo’s sigh was audible as conceded to her request. He lowered his gaze to the floor and said his first prayer in almost ten years. His mouth moved, but no words came out.

Margaret watched him and she took a step closer, her arms instinctively wrapping around his shoulders. “He won’t hurt her. It’s just his way of getting back at me.”

Leo swallowed, remembering the conversation in the park, and Bill’s bitterness towards his daughter. Leo couldn’t look at her as he covered one of her hands with his free hand.

After a few seconds, he felt damp drops hit his shoulder. Margaret was sobbing deeply, her cries intermingled with hiccups.

As Leo shifted position until his arm was wrapped around her, holding her against his chest, he didn’t care what anyone thought.

Amy approached them quietly, trying to get Leo’s attention over Margaret’s shoulder.

He motioned with his finger for her to give them a second. Gently, he pulled back and tipped Margaret’s chin so he could look at her. “I want you to go home with Amy for me.”

Margaret started to shake her head, but Leo stopped her. “It’s the number everyone’s going to use as a contact point.”

“And you?”

“I’m going with Josh. I’ll keep in touch.” Leo turned to look at Amy. “How’s it going?”

“Sam is on his way to FBI headquarters, Josh is heading to Treasury. He said something about Secret Service having jurisdiction. Toby is on the road, but he should be here in an hour.” Amy pulled her hair back into a ponytail. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” Leo said softly. “Now I want you to take care of Margaret for me. She gives you hassle, call Abbey.”

Amy grinned and Leo shook his head.

“Okay, so she already knows.”

He guided both of them to the ground floor and despatched them, then went to look for Josh.

“How we doing?”

“I have police, troopers, FBI, Secret Service, just about everyone I can think of,” Josh said, running his hands through his hair. “I’ve called in just about every favor I’m owed.”

“And, I appreciate it, son,” Leo said, resting an arm on his shoulder.

Twenty minutes later, Leo and Josh were sitting in the office of the head of the Secret Service, reviewing tapes from hospital security. Over the last three days Bill had made at least six visits to the hospital and his car was spotted several times in the parking lot. No one had bothered to check there, thinking he’d be in hiding so he had gone undetected but now the authorities had enough evidence to at least prove Bill’s actions were pre-meditated.

Leo couldn’t stop pacing, his glasses perched on the end of his nose as he used his good hand to massage his ribs. “I still don’t understand why you’re involved.”

“Josh called me when you were attacked. Because of who you are, I asked the police to keep me informed,” Ron explained. “And considering how close you are to Emma, it seemed appropriate that we get involved.” He didn’t add that a good few agents involved in the search were off duty, doing it because of their high regard for him.

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Leo mumbled. “I want to get out there.”

The phone rang and everyone stopped and stared at it.

Ron picked the phone up calmly and held the receiver to his ear. “Yeah. Right. When.” He scribbled notes. “I’ll meet you there.” Dropping the phone back into its cradle, he looked back up at the two men. “There’s been a sighting at Rock Creek Park.”

“Let’s go,” Josh shouted, moving towards the door.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Ron stated. “You should stay here.”

Leo swallowed the scream that threatened to escape. “Ron, please. If you say no, we’ll only follow.”

Ron contemplated the practicalities of it all. In the end it seemed easier to let them accompany him. and therefore ensure Leo was protected and not running off half cocked on his own. He nodded silently and followed them through the door.

When they reached Rock Creek Park, they followed the numerous cars and people milling about. FBI agents and park police were everywhere. As it turned out the sighting was a case of mistaken identity.

Leo sat in the back of Josh’s car with his head in his hands. He didn’t know what to do next. His anger was bubbling up inside him, and he couldn’t for the life of him, phone Margaret and hear the fear in her voice.

Josh climbed back in the driver’s seat and turned around in his chair. “I’ve spoken to Amy and told her there’s no news.” He forced a smile. “We’ll find her, Leo. Even if it takes all night.”

Leo looked up briefly and away again before Josh could catch just how little he believed those words.

“I thought we could go and look for ourselves. Sam’s with the FBI, Toby’s searching the toy shops and kiddy places. I thought we could try the other parks.”

For the first time in his life Leo was willing to go along with one of Josh’s crazy ass schemes. It didn’t matter that he was disobeying Ron or that he would probably do something stupid if he found Bill first, just that he would be doing something useful.

“Let’s go.”

An hour and a half later Emma was still missing and Leo had exhausted their list of possible locations. They were heading back to the apartment when Josh’s cell rang.

“Josh Lyman.” The color drained from his face as he heard Ron’s voice and he glanced at Leo. “Yeah, we’re on our way.” Josh pulled over to the side of the road, fearful that he would crash otherwise. He swallowed. “They’ve found a body.” The words came out abnormally quiet as he stared at Leo.

“Is it Emma?” Leo choked. His head was spinning and he was sure he was going to faint. If his little girl was dead it was all his fault and his conversation with Jed years earlier came back to him. Jed had said, “It’s just wrong. It’s absolutely wrong,” and he had replied, “I know. But you have to do it anyway.” That was how he felt now. If Bill had killed her, he was going to kill him.

“They want us to. . .” Josh couldn’t finish the sentence.

“The morgue?” Leo said, placing his hand on Josh’s arm.

Josh nodded and started the car.

Ron was waiting for them in reception when they arrived and silently led them down the corridor toward the morgue. He didn’t bother asking who wanted to identify the body, he took it as red that they would both be there.

They stood in silence in the viewing room as they waited for the curtain to be pulled back. The usually composed service agent was looking on in trepidation, dreading the moment of truth. Josh was just standing, wide eyed, with his hands clenched tightly in front of him. Leo was staring straight ahead, his feelings masked.

Slowly the curtain went back and the three men found themselves looking at the face of a tiny child, peeking out above a white sheet.

Leo let out the breath he had been holding and gripped Josh’s arm tightly.

Josh glanced at Leo and pulled away. He ran as fast as he could out of the building, not stopping until he reached the sidewalk. Once there, he threw up until he dry heaved.

“It’s not her,” Leo said calmly.

Ron nodded and followed Leo to look for Josh. His face crumpled in relief at the news that this time it wasn’t Leo’s daughter.

Leo found Josh hunched over and rubbed his back, hoping he could impart how thankful he was for his presence. “You should phone Amy,” Leo whispered. “Let her know you love her.”

Josh looked up at him and nodded. His stomach lurched again at the thought that maybe next time it would be the little girl, who had wormed her way into his heart and made him long to be a father.

It had been four hours, but it might as well have been twenty four. No one had said anything in over an hour and the tension in the room could be cut with a knife.

Margaret was sitting on Amy’s couch, nervously nibbling on her bottom lip and staring at the phone.

Abbey couldn’t stop pacing, that, and trying to calm Jed down in New Hampshire was wearing her out. He had been phoning her every fifteen minutes on her cell and she was increasingly losing her temper with him.

Amy sat perched on the window seat, staring down at the two agents parked in front of her apartment building. She knew there was also another, just outside the door and the reality of it all was becoming all too apparent. She couldn’t help but blame herself, and Josh was being so sweet to her.

Sam was still with the FBI. He had phoned some hours ago to say Bill’s car had been abandoned in the hospital parking lot, but they were sure he had another vehicle.

Leo and Josh had left Treasury and were out scouring DC. They had started with the house and then moved on to all the places it wouldn’t look out of place for a father and child to hang out. Josh was doing his best to keep his friend and mentor calm. It wasn’t really working.

******

The call they had been waiting for came in at seven o’ clock. Amy snatched up the phone and sighed in relief. Holding the receiver away from her ear, she turned to the other two women in the room.

“They’ve found her.”

“Where?” Margaret cried, jumping up and moving towards the door.

“The FBI picked him up at the airport and arrested him, he was trying to buy a ticket to Oklahoma City,” Amy offered.

“Which airport?”

Amy shook her head. “I don’t know but Leo and Josh are on their way back here now.”

Margaret started to cry, then suddenly, her soft sobs turned into uncontrolled blubbering as she fell back into the couch. She wasn’t sure if she reached the couch or whether someone had caught her but she knew from the familiar perfume, Abbey was the one embracing her tightly.

She continued to lose it, despite the soothing tones of Abbey’s voice. So much so that she didn’t hear the door open and the sound of tiny footsteps across the carpet.

It wasn’t until Emma tried to climb up on her lap, that Margaret opened her eyes and the tears started a fresh. “Baby.”

“Mommy crying,” Emma said, wrapping her arms around her mother’s neck.

Leo hovered in the doorway, not sure what to do next. He wanted to be over there and he didn’t like the feeling of not having Emma in his arms. She had rushed at him when the FBI agent had dropped her hand and he hadn’t released her since. Now he was feeling out of place.

“What happened?” Amy asked, perching on the arm of a chair.

“Bill turned up at the airport trying to purchase tickets for the two of them. The FBI were there, recognized the picture and arrested him,” Josh said, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend. “He claimed he had every right to take his daughter on vacation but. . .” Josh stopped as he realized what he was going to say.

“But what?”

Margaret looked up. “They knew about the assault?”

Leo turned to walk towards the window. “Josh?”

Josh groaned and held Amy in front of him. He squeezed her tightly. “He’s been arrested on kidnapping charges.”

“I don’t understand,” Abbey stated. “Parental rights?”

Josh glanced quickly between Leo and Margaret, waiting for one or other of them to speak. Leo was gazing out of the window, trying to control his emotions while Margaret didn’t seem to know what to do.

Finally Margaret sighed. “Bill doesn’t have parental rights or legal custody.”

Two people looked at her blankly.

“I’m guessing the FBI were made aware of certain information prior to the arrest. You must have pulled some bloody big strings, Josh,” Margaret commented, glancing at Josh before she turned to Leo. “Are you sure you want them to know?”

For the first time since entering the room, Leo turned to look in her eyes. “Are you sure you want her to know?”

Margaret smiled and repositioned Emma on her knee. “The simple fact is. . .Bill isn’t Emma’s biological father.”

“Who is?” Abbey asked, already suspecting the answer.

“I am.” He wasn’t sure how he could be so calm about it. Or, why he was standing on the other side of the room.

Margaret solved the problem by lifting Emma on to her hip and crossing the room until she stood before him.

“You know, we should probably leave them be,” Abbey suggested. “How about we make everyone something to eat?”

Alone again, Leo continued to stare at Margaret. He wanted to reach out with his good hand and touch her, to really know they were both there. But he couldn’t because there was too much unsaid and he was still reeling from the seven kinds of hell he’d been experiencing.

“It’s over,” Margaret said simply, clinging to her daughter as if her life depended on it.

Leo nodded, not trusting himself to speak. For as long as he lived he would never tell her exactly what he’d been through that day.

“There’ll be a trial, and you’ll have to testify,” she continued, trying to decipher what he was thinking. “But I should get my divorce and sole custody of Emma.”

Leo glanced down at the top of his daughter’s head and reached out to stroke her cheek. “You’ll be free to go anywhere you want then,” he swallowed.

Margaret’s lips upturned at his unspoken question. “You mean I could finally get to go to LA, visit the Great Wall, go to the Mardi Gras?”

Leo lifted his gaze to her face. “If that’s what you want.”

“And what if I want to stay in DC?”

“Well that’s okay too,” he replied softly.

“And, what if I fall in love and want to get married again, give Emma a proper family?” Margaret watched the sadness fill Leo’s eyes.

“Then you can. Emma deserves to be with people who love her.” Leo took a step and faced the window.

“So, is this apartment of yours large?” Margaret asked, suppressing the urge to kiss him.

“Er? Yeah. It takes over two floors and I have a garden.” He turned back to look at her, his brain not fully comprehending.

“Emma’ll want a swing and I’d like a herb garden.”

“Okay.”

They stood in silence as Margaret waited for him to cotton on. Finally she gave up. “Look you. I’m asking if we can move in with you.” She grinned and moved Emma to her other hip. “You see I’m possibly half way in love with you and I’d like to find out whether I could be totally in love with you.”

“You’re in love with me.” His face broke out into a grin. His free hand moved up to cup her cheek. “And you, both of you, want to move in.”

“I know when you offered to help you didn’t expect to have to take responsibility for her but. . .” Her words were muffled as Leo covered her mouth with his own.

His lips brushed hers gently at first, as he gauged with it if his actions was okay. At her response, he deepened the kiss, his tongue diving between her teeth to explore her mouth. He knew this was what he wanted. Losing her three times had made him realize that. And he loved Emma, more than he ever thought possible.

Leo broke away and tried to pull them both into a hug. “I love you,” he whispered. “And I love our daughter.” He leaned in to kiss her again.

Emma wriggled in her mother’s arms and watched them. Suddenly she pulled a face. “Urgh. Gross.”

Margaret broke the kiss and stared down at her daughter. She started laughing and soon Leo joined in. Right now, right here, he had his piece of heaven.

 The End

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