The wind blew through the trees as Leo arrived at the park. He pulled his overcoat tighter around him and kept walking at a brisk pace. He still couldn’t believe he had opted to meet her in Chicago in Winter.

Leo reached the spot he had agreed to meet her and found her pacing up and down, trying to keep warm.

“Dr. McNally.”

“Mr. Labor Secretary.”

He grinned and took her hand in both of his. “It’s just plain Leo McGarry these days.”

“Oh?” Her face betrayed her surprise.

“Yeah. I’ve decided to put my money where my mouth is.”

She motioned to the bench and sat down. “Are you going to run? I mean, for Senator or something?”

Leo shook his head and turned to face her. “I’m going to put someone in the White House.”

“Who?”

“You remember Jed?”

Nancy tapped her fingers against her knee. “Your friend Jed, Nobel Laureate, Governor of New England?”

“He only thinks he runs New England,” Leo laughed. “This way he gets to run the whole country.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but . . .?”

“Am I stoned or drunk?” Leo finished for her, not in the least upset. “I’ve been dry for six years. Time flies when you’re having fun.”

“Lecturing is not what I call fun. It’s like having your teeth pulled without anaesthesia.”

“Which brings me to why I called.”

“I did wonder. It’s not as if you’re the best letter writer in the world,” Nancy mumbled.

“You got my Christmas card?”

She smiled and shifted herself back on the bench. “Be sure to thank Margaret. How is she these days?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose as he considered Margaret. “She’s fine. Last time I saw her she said something about walking through fire, so I guess she’s coming along for the ride.”

“Leo, you’re stalling.”

“Y’think? Maybe I’m just enjoying your company,” he said.

“In which case couldn’t you be doing that in a restaurant somewhere over lobster thermidor,” she grumbled. “Instead of on a park bench in the middle of Chicago.”

“I’m kinda working under the radar,” he admitted sheepishly. “We’re trying to recruit quietly.”

“You’re here to offer me a job?” she yelped, waving her hand between them. “I’m a little too old to be waving placards for…”

“Bartlet for America.”

“Yeah, and in case you haven’t noticed, I’m African American.”

“With great legs, and those are really stylish shoes.” He leaned down and lifted her trouser leg. “Very tasteful.”

“Leo?”

“My daughter told me it was polite to comment on a woman’s shoes,” he offered, shrugging.

“Only if you’re trying to bed her,” Nancy said dryly. “You aren’t, are you?”

“Jesus no, Nancy!”

“That’s good, because you had your chance, and you blew it.”

His hands slid up to cover his eyes and he groaned.

“I was joking, Leo. So offer me a job?” She pulled his hands from his eyes and looked at him, her head firmly tipped to one side.

“Jed’s a little weak on foreign policy and national security. You have a degree in International Relations, a masters, a doctorate. We’d like you to come along and advise him,” Leo said quietly. “Maybe even campaign a little.”

“Court the black vote?” she asked, a little surprised by his offer.

He muttered under his breath before he looked at her. “I’m not promoting Affirmative Action here. It has nothing to do with ethnicity or the fact you’re a woman. Nancy, you’re well written, well educated and more than a little outspoken.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve had time to read a little in the last few years,” he shrugged. “If we win. . .” He wanted to say when but that seemed a little peremptory. “. . . Jed’ll need a hard hitter in the National Security Agency.”

“The boy’s club? You want me to work for them?”

“No, I want them to work for you. When you’ve heard him speak, you’ll understand. Jed Bartlet is going to turn this country around. There’ll be no more of the old boy’s network. I’m hiring the right people for the right jobs, kids with vision. We already have our eye on a female Press Secretary, and a Deputy for me.”

“And what does our boy say about this?” she asked, still in a state of shock.

Leo smiled, knowing full well she was going to accept. “He’ll warm to the idea.”

“Leo, this isn’t going to be easy to sell. He’s not a major player in the Democratic party, in fact I’m guessing you’re the only player on the team.”

“I’ve climbed higher mountains,” Leo stated. “Can’t promise a financial salary to rival Enron but you’d get a say in how we do things in this country.”

“I need to think about this,” Nancy announced, turning to stare into the distance. “I have the lecture tour. Then there’s my advisory position.”

“First primary’s in nine weeks,” Leo said, standing and waiting for her to join him. “Can you let me know before then?”

“You don’t seem too bothered one way or another,” Nancy grumbled, standing and falling into step with him.

Leo shrugged and concentrated on the path in front of him. “That’s because I know you’ll say yes.”

“Did your charm work this well on the candidate’s wife?”

“Actually,” he admitted feebly. “I left Jed to handle Abbey.”

“And Abbey likes to be handled?” Nancy asked, knowing that she was going to accept his offer eventually.

“Not on your life,” Leo grinned. He leaned up and kissed her cheek. “So, I’ll hear from you?”

Nancy nodded. “No promises, Leo.”

“Yeah.” He turned away and headed down the street.

Nancy crossed over the street and entered the lecture theater. The first female NSA had a nice ring to it, she thought as she stepped up to the podium for what she knew would be the last time.

The End