Title Clubbing Part Fifteen – The conclusion Margaret was used to the diary entries which just said ‘Meeting 3 hrs Cell urgent’. In the years of working for him, Margaret had never had something so urgent that she’d needed to call his cell phone during the time he was away. She’d been tempted, just to try and find out where he was. But she’d never done so. A quiet word from Margaret – Josh and Leo were in a private meeting and she wouldn’t get any more detail but should check with Margaret before interrupting Josh – left Donna still inquisitive, but silent. She knew he had a girlfriend – she’d made dinner reservations for them several times – but he still flirted, sometimes outrageously, with her, and she enjoyed her job too much to make too big a fuss about the monthly meetings Josh and Leo left the building for. ‘Dep, sit here.’ Leo indicated the chair next to his. Nervously, Josh sat down, not looking at the other people round the table. ‘John is back in.’ Anticipating the reaction, Leo put his hand up. ‘Catherine and I have made it clear that we’re watching him closely.’ Edward sat back in his chair. ‘I hope you know what you’re doing.’ ‘We do.’ Leo said sharply. ‘Now, moving on. The ceiling needs replacing. I’ve got a couple of contractors in to quote. It’s gonna be around five thousand. I need everyone’s signatures to withdraw the money from our account.’ He passed a sheet of paper around and Catherine and Edward signed it. ‘Dep, you too.’ Leo pushed the sheet across the table. ‘Anything else?’ Edward leaned forward. ‘I’ve been approached. My business partner. He wants to meet you.’ Leo nodded. ‘Okay. What is he?’ ‘Flexible. He can top. He’s happy to sub.’ Leo nodded. ‘Makes a change. We’ve lost several members in the past year. Mark and Peter moved to…’ ‘San Diego.’ Catherine supplied. ‘And Shaun and Melissa…’ ‘Yeah. I had a letter from them a couple of months back. Triplets.’ Catherine smiled. ‘It’s what they wanted.’ ‘So, to keep up our reserves, especially with the ceiling being repaired, a new member would be good. And convenient.’ Edward frowned. ‘Convenient Leo?’ ‘Yeah. We need someone for John.’ ‘No way!’ Ignoring Edward’s obvious anger, Leo said calmly: ‘I’ll introduce them.’ ‘Look, he might be your boss, but I’m not at all happy…’ ‘One, he’s not my boss and two, I’m not interested in whether or not you’re happy.’ Edward got up. ‘You’re different Leo. Since he came into your life.’ He nodded at Josh. ‘I gotta go. I have meeting.’ Leo let out a long breath as the door closed, none too quietly. ‘Catherine?’ She put a hand on Leo’s arm. ‘He’s right. You are different. But it’s a good different. He’ll get used to it.’ Leo got up. ‘Come on, let’s go.’ ‘Bye Catherine.’ ‘Bye Josh.’ ************* ‘Josh Lyman.’ ‘Josh, it’s Edward. I was wondering if you were free for lunch.’ Josh looked into Leo’s office, then realised he was in a meeting over OEOB and wouldn’t be back until mid-afternoon. ‘Er, yeah, sure.’ ‘One o’clock?’ Looking at his watch, Josh asked: ‘Where?’ ‘Johnsons?’ ‘Okay. See you then.’ *********** Edward stood up as he saw Josh walking into the restaurant. ‘Josh, good of you to spare the time.’ ‘No problem.’ ‘The salmon is particularly good.’ ‘Yeah. I know.’ ‘So how are you and Leo getting on?’ Uncomfortable, Josh said tightly: ‘Fine.’ ‘You’re in a very…unique…situation.’ ‘I know.’ ‘Well, until Leo tires of you, anyway.’ ‘What?’ ‘He used words like ‘mine’ and ‘forever’, right? He did with me.’ ‘So?’ ‘Then he dumped me.’ ‘Leo told me you chose to leave when he went into rehab.’ Edward laughed. ‘Really? Wanna know the truth?’ Josh got to his feet. ‘No. And I’ve lost my appetite.’ ************* ‘Josh!’ Leo stood in his office doorway and shouted across the office. ‘Leo?’ ‘Siddown.’ ‘Leo, I’m in the middle of…’ ‘How was your lunch?’ Josh looked away. ‘I shouldn’t have gone.’ ‘Josh, you can have lunch with whoever you want. Just don’t listen to gossip.’ ‘Is that what it is?’ ‘Maybe. We’ll talk about this later.’ ‘Why not now?’ ‘Cos you’re in the middle of something, right?’ ‘Er, yeah.’ ‘Go.’ *************** Edward looked from his secretary to his visitor. ‘It’s alright Susie. Leo, what can I do for you?’ Leo closed Edward’s office door and walked across to the desk Edward had moved to stand behind. ‘If you’re tired of David, find someone else. Do not, ever again, come anywhere near Josh unless I’m ten feet away.’ ‘I just thought he should know the truth.’ ‘That you were so stoned most of the time we were together you did as you were told so you wouldn’t have to think for yourself?’ ‘So I was a little high. You weren’t exactly sober.’ Forcing himself to calm down, Leo said quietly: ‘But I got sober. You’re still using.’ Edward laughed hollowly. ‘You’d use too, if you had my life.’ ‘You always were a self-pitying bastard Edward.’ ‘Whereas you now have little Josh to make you forget how close you came to oblivion.’ ‘Jealousy won’t help you Edward. This might.’ Leo tossed a leaflet for a rehab center onto the desk. ‘Fuck you McGarry!’ ‘Never Edward.’ Leo snarled. ‘At least I know what I am.’ ‘Self-knowledge is over-rated.’ ‘So is denial. Didn’t anyone tell you Leo? Never, ever, fall in love with your slave. If you do, you either have to dump them, or sleep with them. Either way, you’re heading for trouble. You wanted to avoid headlines when you were in the Cabinet. Imagine how much more fun the Post would have now.’ Leo looked up, fear and anger flashing in his face. ‘You so much as…’ ‘You forget, Leo. I have more to lose than you do.’ ‘How the Hell do you figure that out?’ ‘The President will always take care of you. If any of this gets out, I’m finished. You think David would stay with me if we were living in a shelter and queuing at a soup kitchen?’ Leo stabbed a finger at the leaflet on the desk. ‘Do it, Edward. Catherine and I will take care of David while you’re away.’ Edward dropped into the leather chair behind him. ‘Yeah.’ ‘I booked you in from Monday. Gives you a couple of days to get things organised. Bring David by on Sunday.’ ‘Why?’ Leo shrugged. ‘I like David.’ ‘He’s mine Leo.’ Walking to the door, Leo nodded. ‘I know. And Josh is mine. Forever.’ ************** Leo woke to the unmistakable sound of Josh throwing up in the bathroom. Tiredly, he pulled himself out of bed, stopping in his own bathroom to soak a washcloth under the cold tap. ‘Dep?’ Miserably, Josh tried to stand up, but wobbled. Leo caught his arm. ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘I’m dying.’ Leo managed not to smile. Just. ‘We ate the same dinner. I feel fine.’ ‘I was still hungry.’ ‘What did you eat?’ ‘Ice cream.’ ‘A bowl of ice cream? And that made you sick?’ ‘I was really hungry Leo.’ ‘You ate a whole tub of Rocky Road ice cream at midnight and you’re surprised when you throw up an hour later?’ ‘I feel horrible.’ ‘You deserve to. Go back to bed.’ ‘I still feel sick.’ ‘Then stay here.’ Leo handed Josh the damp washcloth. ‘Here.’ Leo released Josh’s arm and turned to leave. Tearfully, Josh wailed: ‘Don’t leave me Leo!’ ‘Josh you’re not five years old! Now sit on the edge of the bathtub until you feel better.’ ‘I might fall and hit my head.’ Leo closed his eyes for a long moment. Reaching behind Josh for a towel off the shelf, he rested his hand on Josh’s shoulder. Which was trembling. Realising he was likely to be kept awake either way, Leo decided to stay with Josh until he felt better. After a few more minutes, Josh started to fidget. ‘No more ice cream except with your dinner, huh?’ Pathetically, Josh stared at the tiled floor. ‘No Leo.’ ‘You feeling a bit better now?’ ‘A bit.’ Josh admitted. ‘Okay, go back to bed.’ ‘If I slept in your bed, I’d be nearer the bathroom.’ Annoyed both that Josh was right, and that he was obviously feeling well enough to have worked that out, Leo scowled. ‘Okay. But just for tonight. And if you end up with all the bedclothes, I’ll make you sleep on the balcony tomorrow night.’ Josh followed Leo back to bed, falling asleep almost immediately. Leo took longer to settle. ************ Leo woke instantly, startled by the proximity of a warm, sleeping body. He lay still for a few seconds until, more slowly, Josh woke too. And realised that, in sleep, he’d curled up against Leo. Whose arm had somehow reached round Josh’s waist, pulling him closer. They separated quickly, an awkwardness suddenly between them. ‘Sorry.’ Not sure what to say, Leo managed: ‘What?’ Josh pulled himself into a sitting position, equally unsure what to say. ‘Sorry.’ Leo shrugged. ‘Don’t apologise. You were sick.’ Josh shuddered. ‘Don’t remind me.’ ‘If you’re hungry, you can have more dinner. No more midnight snacks, okay?’ ‘Yes Leo.’ ‘Now, get in the shower.’ As he walked to the bathroom, Josh sighed. ‘Your bed is way more comfortable than mine.’ ‘Shower!’ ********** ‘Leo, you sounded so upset on the phone. What on earth happened?’ ‘Josh and I…’ Aware that Leo had called Josh by his name, Catherine panicked even more. ‘Leo! What happened?’ Leo scowled. ‘Nothing happened. Josh was sick, and he…we…’ Catherine sat down on the couch. ‘I take it you didn’t spend another night on the couch?’ ‘No.’ ‘You were just being nice.’ ‘Catherine, I didn’t…I’m can’t...’ ‘I’ll talk to Josh. Relax. I’m sure he’s fine about it.’ She fished in her purse as her cell phone rang. ‘Hello…Josh? Slow down honey…okay…yeah. I’ll see you in a little while.’ ‘I’ll stay until Josh gets here. Then you two need to talk.’ ‘What am I supposed to say? Hey kid, I know you woke up with my arm around you but it didn’t mean anything.’ Getting up as she heard Josh’s key in the door, Catherine turned back to Leo. ‘Only if it’s true Leo.’ ************ Catherine hugged Josh, who looked nervously at Leo, then back to Catherine, who smiled reassuringly. ‘I’ll stay I think. You two need to talk. But if I leave you, you’ll just ignore the obvious and skate around it.’ Leo scowled, but Josh shrugged. ‘Okay. I’ll go first. We share everything else. Why is it so unbelievable that I would want to share a bed with you?’ ‘Apart from the obvious?’ ‘It’s stupid. We’re both straight. You have Catherine. I have Maria. We’re not gonna do anything. And your bed is so much more comfortable than mine.’ ‘We’ll get you a new mattress.’ Leo offered weakly. ‘I don’t want a new mattress. I want to sleep in your bed.’ ‘No!’ Catherine sat on the arm of the couch. ‘Leo, what are you afraid of?’ Leo scowled. ‘Nothing!’ ‘Then why the fuss?’ Mindful of Edwards’ threat, Leo shook his head. ‘Can you imagine what would happen if someone found out?’ Catherine put a hand on Leo’s arm. ‘That you’re living together in a master/slave relationship and Josh, who owns a share in an alternative lifestyle night club and wears a ring both of which you gave him, has his slave name tattooed on his butt and shares your bed? Somehow I think people will have stopped reading after the ‘master/slave’ revelation.’ ‘It’s not funny Catherine.’ ‘I know Leo. Come here.’ Leo stood in front of Catherine. She unhooked his tie. Looking over her shoulder, she jerked her head at the door. ‘Josh, go for a walk. Come back in an hour.’ ‘Okay.’ ‘Catherine?’ Josh walked slowly into the darkened apartment. ‘Shh. Go on.’ Catherine pointed at the bedroom. Through the half-open door, Josh saw Leo in bed, obviously asleep. ‘Thank you.’ ‘Anytime Josh.’ ‘He loves you.’ Smiling, reaching for her jacket and purse, Catherine nodded. ‘He loves both of us.’ Leo stirred as Josh climbed under the covers, pulling the blankets towards him. Within a few seconds, they were lying spooned together, Leo’s arm reaching around Josh’s waist. Sleepily, Leo murmured: ‘Forever Dep.’ Smiling, snuggling closer to Leo, Josh sighed. ‘Yes Leo.’ End Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the X-Files Fic Index Return to the West Wing Fic Index

The End