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Disclaimers and Warnings in part One |
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Title: A good heart is hard to find Part Four
Ellie Cunningham was a 30-year veteran of nursing. She thought she’d seen everything. And she had seen the White House. But only from the outside. She had never even been on a tour. Unless you counted the one when she was a schoolchild. And she had only the vaguest memories of the trip. She arrived at the front gate after walking from the bus stop. ‘Good morning young man. I’m here to see Dr Dan Jamieson.’ ‘Do you have your drivers’ licence, ma’am?’ ‘No. I don’t have one.’ The security guard decided to check what to do. He was new and didn’t want to be responsible for a bloodbath if he let a terrorist into the West Wing. He picked up the telephone. ‘Dr Jamieson? There’s a Mrs Ellie Cunningham here to see you. She doesn’t have any ID. Do you want me to ask her to wait?’ ‘Please do. And tell her I’ll be down in a couple of minutes.’ Dan walked quickly out of the West Wing and down the path to the security guard’s booth. Ellie Cunningham saw her and smiled. ‘Dr Jamieson, I’m sorry to put you to this trouble. I didn’t know they needed ID.’ Dan hugged the older woman. ‘It’s no trouble. Thank you for coming.’ ‘Are you unwell?’ Dan shook her head. ‘If only I were. No, it’s a little more complicated than that. Let’s go upstairs, and I’ll explain.’ Dan handed Ellie a coffee cup and sat down opposite her. ‘On Friday night, the Deputy Chief of Staff and the Deputy Communications Director were mugged outside a restaurant. Well, that’s the story the Press will be getting. In reality, Josh was beaten and Sam was…’ Dan felt tears in her eyes. ‘Sam was sexually assaulted. He was badly hurt and he needs a nurse. I want that nurse to be you.’ ‘Oh, poor boy. Is he here?’ Dan nodded. ‘I’ll take you in. Follow me.’ They both got up, and Dan turned at the sound of Leo and Bartlet coming up the stairs. ‘Hold on. Before you decide whether or not to help out, you should probably meet these two.’ Bartlet smiled as he saw Dan. She walked across. ‘Mr President, this is Ellie Cunningham.’ Bartlet shook Ellie’s hand. ‘You’re gonna be taking care of Sam?’ Making an instant decision, Ellie said: ‘Yes, Sir. I am.’ Leo smiled. ‘Leo McGarry.’ Ellie looked from Dan to Leo. ‘You didn’t tell me how handsome he is.’ Leo basked in the praise. Dan said sharply: ‘Oh, don’t encourage him. They’ll be arguing all evening now over who is the better looking. Remember, you two, keep the noise down. Sam’s only a couple of doors away. He doesn’t want to spend all night listening to you two arguing.’ Chastened, Bartlet and Leo went quietly into the far corner of the room. Ellie’s jaw dropped. ‘He is the President, right? And he’s the Chief of Staff.’ Dan nodded. ‘Yes, and don’t worry about telling them off if they disturb Sam.’ Ellie looked stunned. ‘You’re not serious?’ Dan frowned. ‘Ellie, you’re here to look after Sam. Not the noisy boys over there.’ Ellie had had enough. Informality was okay. In its place. But that place wasn’t the White House. Well, not as far as she was concerned. ‘Perhaps I could meet Sam?’ ‘Of course. Mr President, don’t get too involved. I‘m going to dinner at the Embassy shortly. Leo, you said you’d drop me?’ Leo nodded. ‘Okay, I’ll just put my chauffeurs’ uniform on. Give me a minute.’ Scowling, Dan shook her head and steered Ellie out of the room. As they walked out, Dan saw Ron Butterfield. ‘Hello Ron.’ ‘Hi Dr J.’ ‘Ron, this is Ellie Cunningham. She’s going to be taking care of Sam.’ ‘Hi.’ ‘And what do you do, young man?’ ‘I’m the Head of the President’s Secret Service detail, ma’am.’ Ellie smiled. ‘That’s nice.’ Sam was half-awake, moving slowly in the bed. ‘Sam, this is Mrs Cunningham. She’s going to be looking after you until you’re feeling better.’ Sam smiled weakly. ‘Hi.’ ‘Hello Sam. Now, you get off to your dinner, Dr Jamieson, while Sam and I get to know each other.’ ‘Right. If you need anything, there’s always someone outside the Residence door. They’ll get you whatever you need.’ ‘I’m sure I won’t need anything. Now, off you go. Have a lovely time.’ ‘Thank you. Oh, and if you see Abbey, just introduce yourself.’ ‘Abbey?’ ‘Abbey Bartlet. The First Lady.’ Ellie smiled. ‘Yesterday I was pruning roses. Today I’m working in the White House.’ Dan nodded. ‘A few weeks ago I was just an ER doctor. This morning I was in the Oval Office, shouting at the President and his Chief of Staff. Funny how things turn out, isn’t it?’ She smiled, hugged Ellie then walked quickly to Leo’s office to pick up the dress Margaret had collected from the dry cleaners for her earlier. ************************* Closing the door, locking it, just in case, Dan then closed the blinds. Frowning at the time, she pulled off her jeans and t-shirt. She turned as the door opened. ‘Need a hand with the zip?’ Dan smiled. ‘Leo, I thought I locked the door.’ ‘You did. It’s my office. I have a key.’ ‘Lock it again please. I don’t want anyone coming in.’ Leo turned the key in the lock. ‘Okay.’ After almost two months of waiting, part of Dan really wanted Leo. But following the revelation that Leo and the President’s relationship was a little more intimate than she had guessed, part of her didn’t want him anywhere near her unless they were both fully dressed. She knew she had only seconds to make a decision. Leo kissed her gently, forcing himself to wait, sensing something was wrong. ‘I love you.’ That was enough. Dan reached up and pulled Leo’s jacket off his shoulders. ‘Just promise me you’ll think of Cindy Crawford while we’re together.’ Leo stopped, suddenly confused. ‘Why the Hell would I think of another woman when I’m with you?’ Dan didn’t want to spoil the mood, but her feelings were completely confused. ‘I just don’t want you thinking of another man.’ Suddenly Leo understood. ‘Hey, it’s not like that.’ Dan looked directly at Leo. Her voice had an edge Leo didn’t miss. ‘I don’t want to know.’ Unsure what was happening, but wanting to find out, Leo kissed Dan again. ‘Okay.’ Pushing her against the wall of his office, Leo began to undo his tie. Squirming out of his grip, Dan reached into her bag. Fishing out a small box, she pulled a condom out and handed it to Leo. His eyes widened. He was used to taking care of that kind of thing. His hand went to his shirt pocket. ‘I came prepared.’ Dan smiled. ‘Boy scout?’ Leo nodded. ‘Yeah.’ Feeling the plastic wrap against her bare shoulders as Leo pushed her backwards, Dan cautioned: ‘Mind my dress, Leo.’ ‘F___ the dress.’ Dan’s eyes widened at Leo’s response. ‘You can do that later when I’m gone. Hurry up. I’ve got to leave soon.’ Leo groaned at the bad joke. And the deadline. ‘Dan.’ She took his tie from him and laid it on the chair at her side. ‘Yes?’ ‘Shut up.’ Dan didn’t make another intelligible sound until they were pulling their clothes back on. ‘Leo, can you help me with the zip please?’ Leo grinned. ‘I knew I came in here for a reason.’ ‘It would have been weird if you had come somewhere else.’ Shocked at her coarse response, Leo said: ‘Be nice to me or I’ll tell your father what you just said.’ Dan shook her head. ‘I win this one. Be nice to me or I’ll tell my father about you and the President.’ Leo shrugged. ‘Yup. You win. You ready to go?’ Dan contemplated the evening ahead. ‘I’d rather stay here.’ ‘Yeah, me too. Tell him you’re not feeling well.’ ‘Good idea, Leo. He’ll come rushing over to find out what’s wrong with me and find us going at it like rabbits in your office. That will make him like you even less than he does now.’ ‘Is that possible?’ ‘The rabbit thing or the liking thing?’ Leo checked his car keys were in his pocket and unlocked the door. ‘Both.’
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