Category: Jed n Leo slashfic Rating: NC-17/R Characters: Jed n Leo (!) Series: No Spoilers: None Summary: Back to basics is sometimes the only way. Archive: Just tell me where it's going Additional `stuff': WARNING: If the idea of Jed n Leo as a couple squicks you, don't read this. This was the challenge for September on the Jed n Leo site. Write a story any length, any rating, dealing with this idea of a hands off policy between the boys. Is there one? Who instigated it? Maybe Jed's got pissed off and decided he's got something to say about not getting make out time with Leo anymore...This particular story covers the latter scenario in that list. No food was harmed in the writing of this fic. But a lot got eaten. And some got spilled. The cushion's bruises have faded. Title: Hot under the collar(bone) Jed ticked off the items on his mental list. Abbey – at the theatre. Secret Service – told they were planning a surprise for Abbey's birthday, and were not to be disturbed. Senior Staff – told the same thing. Mess – told the dinner had to be exactly as instructed. Leo – not told anything. As he heard Leo's voice in the corridor outside, Jed smiled as he waited. Under his breath, despite being alone in the room, he heard himself say: `Gotta be careful? Yeah, sure.' `You wanted to see me Sir?' `Yeah, Leo. Come on in.' Leo looked in horror at the pile of papers and files on the coffee table. `Sir…' `I'm a little backed up, Leo. I thought we could maybe get through some of this before tomorrow?' Leo sighed. Nine o'clock. And that was what it had been when he got the call. It must be ten after nine now, and he was tired. `Sure, Sir. What do you need?' There was a knock at the door then, and the door opened after a brief pause. A marine carried a tray of covered dishes into the sitting room. `Where would you like the food, Sir?' `Over here.' `Sure thing.' The young man unloaded the dishes and then looked round for a space for the plates and silverware. `Oh, we won't need any of that. Just leave us plenty of napkins.' `Sure thing Mr President. Anything else?' `No thanks.' Leo had been silent while all this had been going on, quietly flicking through the folders, trying to organise the huge mound of paperwork into some kind of order. He hadn't noticed that, after locking the door, Jed had removed his tie and undone several of his shirt buttons. `What do you want to start on first, Sir?' Bartlet looked across. `The food Leo. While it's hot.' Leo turned round and got his first look at the food Jed was uncovering. `Abbey wouldn't approve.' Bartlet's eyes sparkled mischievously. `She's not here.' They were like two kids. The hot dogs and white bread rolls with the tomato and mustard relishes disappeared within a few minutes. Concerned that he would spill relish on his silk tie, Leo pulled it off, and enjoying the feeling of freedom, undid a couple of the buttons on his shirt. `Good?' Leo nodded. `Great.' Smiling, Jed said: `I thought you deserved something for helping me with all this. `How come you got so behind?' Uncharacteristically, Jed's workload did seem to have got on top of him. Jed shrugged. `Dunno.' Leo didn't ask anything else as the two men concentrated on the food. As Leo wiped his fingers, Jed lifted the lid on the remaining dish. Nestled in the ice cubes was a large tub of ice cream. Jed picked up one of the two spoons on the side of the silver dish. The two men shared the rapidly-melting vanilla ice-cream. Eventually, the inevitable happened. Jed's spoonful dropped off the spoon and onto his shirt. Without thinking, Leo reached for a napkin and began to mop at the shiny lump. With Leo kneeling close to him, Jed noticed that there was a tiny spot of relish on Leo's cheek. He reached up and wiped it away with his thumb. Leo turned his head and took Jed's thumb into his mouth, gently licking clean the smear of sweet stickiness. Leo leaned back against the couch. `That was great. I'm gonna need a few minutes before we start on this stuff.' `What stuff?' Leo's arm swept across the couch. Quickly, Jed remembered. `Oh, yeah.' Leo frowned as he flicked through one of the folders. `Why is this here. It's old stuff.' Jed tried and failed to look wholly innocent. Slowly, realisation dawned and Leo's smile faded. `This was a set-up.' Jed's smile did the opposite. `Yup.' `And I fell for it.' `Yup.' Leo lifted himself up and began to pummel Jed with a cushion. Fending off the blows half-heartedly, Jed lay still, looking at Leo, his smile widening as Leo realised he was the one who had been beaten. `I'm gonna make you regret this.' Jed looked up at Leo who was now kneeling over him, his legs straddling Jed's hips. `Just remember, Leo. It was your idea to be careful.' His laugh was cut short as Leo's fingers pulled urgently at the few remaining buttons still fastened on his shirt. He gasped as Leo's mouth closed on his collarbone, the teeth grazing the flesh. Leo lifted his head to admire his work. The reddened skin would be marked for a day or so. And sore. He smiled at Jed's discomfort. `Regretting it yet?' Jed wasn't ready to give in yet. `No.' Leo's mouth moved to the other side and the teeth grazed just a little more firmly. He sat up again, his eyes taking in the second red mark, almost identical to the first. `Now?' Jed's reluctance to capitulate was overcome by practicality. `Yes, Dammit. If I'm hospitalised tomorrow, what are they gonna think?' Leo lifted himself to his knees, reached down for Jed. `I'm sure you'll think of something, Preppie.' Jed's eyes flashed. He hated the nickname. And he knew Leo was only too well aware of his dislike. `Maybe I'll tell `em the truth. That my Chief of Staff took advantage of me.' `Maybe I'll tell `em the truth Mister President. That you can't keep your hands off me and the thought of four years of it made you so mad that you seduced me with junk food and sex.' Almost laughing now, Jed mused: `Wonder who they'd believe?' `Me. You'd be sick, remember?' Jed took Leo's outstretched hand and allowed himself to be lead to the bedroom. Well, he'd done most of the work. Only fair that Leo should do his share. As he bent down to untie his shoelaces, Leo thought he heard Jed say something. `What?' `Nothing. Check the nightstand would you? After all, remember what you said: we gotta be careful.' As he climbed under the bedclothes, Leo said: `That wasn't exactly what I meant.' Jed smiled as he followed Leo. `Oh well, if you're not clear, how am I expected to know what you're…' Whatever else he had been about to say was cut off by Leo's mouth on his.