Title: Wine and roses Part Two From Part One: ‘Margaret, get in here!’ Leo’s shout carried through into his assistant’s office. She rushed in, notebook and pen in hand. ‘Leo?’ ‘Siddown.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Cos I said so.’ ‘Okay.’ Nervously dropping into the chair in front of Leo’s desk, Margaret fiddled with her pen and notebook while Leo decided how to phrase what he had to say. ‘Margaret, there’s gonna be a meeting. In the Oval…’ He sighed. ‘The Senator’s gonna be there.’ He saw the colour drain from Margaret’s face. ‘Oh okay.’ ‘If you wanna stay home tomorrow, that’d be okay.’ ‘No Leo. I won’t hide from him.’ ‘You sure?’ ‘Yes. Now, was there anything else?’ ‘No.’ ‘Okay.’ Leo watched Margaret walk back to her office. Then, shaking his head slowly, he turned his attention back to the folder he was working on. ***************** Leo chose his seat deliberately. He sat facing the connecting door between the Oval office and his own. If Margaret did need him, she didn’t have to come into the room. He would see her from the doorway. As the room filled, Jed watched him, followed his line of sight, then groaned inwardly as he recalled who was going to be present at the meeting. He walked out, giving CJ firm instructions that there were to be no press in the room during the meeting. He didn’t want to take any chances. He really needed the Senators’ support for the Bill he was trying to get through. If one of their number got hit, again, it would end any chance he had. The meeting passed without incident, Leo even managing to stand only a few feet away from the Senator while mid-morning coffee was served. Jed watched him carefully, relaxing as the morning dragged on. Eventually, everyone got up. ‘Thank you Mr President.’ Leo walked out, leaving the Senators to have their few minutes with their boss. ‘How you doing?’ Margaret looked up from her keyboard. ‘Is he still here?’ ‘Yeah, he’s just leaving.’ Margaret got up and Leo watched, unable to move quickly enough, as Margaret walked into the Oval Office. Only the Senator and Jed paid her any attention. Jed looked across to Leo who stood, helplessly in the doorway. To make any comment now would be to arouse interest, and he wanted to forget the incident. Evidently, Margaret didn’t share his feelings. ‘Senator?’ The man turned, trying and failing to hide his shock at the sound of the voice behind him. ‘Mr McGarry would like a word before you go.’ ‘Sure.’ ‘Leo?’ ‘Senator?’ ‘Margaret said you wanted to see me.’ Margaret’s voice was calm. ‘Actually, I did.’ ‘Margaret, if this is about what happened…’ ‘Yes, it is. I want you to apologise.’ The Senator swallowed hard, then looked from Leo to the President. Leo looked at Jed, who stood just inside the Oval Office, watching the three people in front of him. Jed shook his head very slightly, and Leo stood silently, waiting for the Senator’s response. ‘Margaret, I was drunk…’ ‘Yes, you were. That’s a fact, not an excuse. Or an apology.’ Leo stared, amazed, at the change in his assistant’s demeanour. This was not a side of Margaret he had ever seen before. Assertive, determined, slightly scary. ‘Margaret, I’m really sorry for what happened.’ ‘And?’ The Senator frowned. ‘And what?’ Margaret stared at him until, desperately uncomfortable, he managed: ‘I’m sorry I hit you. But you must have known when I said coffee, I meant…’ Jed and Leo looked at each other, both sharing the same thought. Had the Senator done more than hit Margaret? Margaret’s tone was sharp. ‘I thought that you wanted me to have coffee with you. I didn’t imagine on our first date that you’d think I’d do anything more.’ ‘I guess I read you wrong.’ Margaret sighed, turning her back on the man as she spoke. ‘Yes, you did.’ She walked out of Leo’s office and into her own. The Senator glanced briefly at the President, not meeting Leo’s eyes as he walked past him and out of the Oval Office. Jed followed him, leaving Leo and Margaret alone in her office. ‘Margaret, he didn’t…hurt you, did he?’ Margaret turned, her eyes shining. ‘No. Not like that. Just my heart. And my face.’ Leo walked across and folded his arms round her, waiting until she stopped sobbing before pushing her away, his arms on her shoulders. ‘You deserve better than a man like that. And you’ll find him.’ Margaret sniffed. ‘I haven’t yet.’ Leo smiled. ‘You will. You will. Now get outta here. Go have a nice lunch.’ Margaret looked at her watch. ‘It’s early.’ ‘Yeah. But Jolene and Lynette are on their way over. Go fix your face.’ ‘How did they..?’ Leo bent to the floor and picked up Margaret’s purse, handing it to her. ‘I called them. Now go. And, hey, you were great back there.’ ************** Margaret sat with her two friends in the open-air restaurant. They were discussing her date, Leo’s reaction, and the Senator’s pathetic apology. Eventually, after a second glass of wine, conversation began to centre on Leo. The two friends deliberately goaded Margaret into a blushing, stammering admission: ‘I like it when he takes care of me.’ The two women laughed. ‘Ask him out.’ Margaret’s eyes widened. ‘No! He’s just got divorced.’ Lynette scoffed. ‘Yeah, like a year and a half ago.’ ‘Sixteen months.’ It was Jolene’s turn to look surprised. ‘What?’ Falling straight into the obvious trap, Margaret corrected her friend. ‘Leo’s divorce papers came a little over sixteen months ago.’ Lynette smiled. ‘Not that you’re keeping count, or anything Mags.’ Realising she’d been caught out, Margaret stared at her plate, fiddling with the now-cold chicken. Jolene had to point out the obvious. ‘He hurt a man who hurt you. He bought you roses. And he set up our lunch today. These are not boss things. These are boyfriend things.’ Margaret got to her feet as quickly as she could, regretting the second glass of wine. ‘I have to get back. Leo’s got…’ Lynette and Jolene exchanged a look. Lynette smiled as she saw her friend’s flushed cheeks. ‘The hots for you.’ ************** ‘Thanks.’ Leo took the mug of coffee from Jed and leaned back in the armchair. They were alone in the Residence sitting room. Leo sipped the hot coffee slowly, wondering what was on Jed’s mind. He didn’t have long to wait. ‘How’s Margaret?’ ‘Okay. She had lunch with some friends. I wanted to take her mind off…you know.’ ‘You set up a lunch for her?’ Leo frowned. ‘Yeah. Why not?’ Jed shook his head, smiling. ‘Just doesn’t sound like something you’d do.’ Leo was cross. ‘She’s had a tough few days. I thought it would be nice for her.’ ‘And was it?’ ‘She didn’t say.’ Jed raised his eyebrows. ‘Really?’ ‘Yeah. Why?’ ‘Cos you know what that means they talked about?’ Leo frowned, not understanding. ‘No.’ ‘You.’ Leo laughed. ‘Me? Why would Margaret spend her lunch-hour talking about me?’ Jed sighed. Was Leo really that stupid? Surely not. ‘Leo, you defended her. You offered to let her take the day off so she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable, and you set up lunch for her with her two best friends. This is not the Leo McGarry she’s used to. You’re different.’ ‘Am not!’ ‘Are too. Leo, is there something going on between you two?’ Leo stared at Jed, anger barely controlled. ‘No! She’s my assistant!’ Jed shrugged, smiling slightly. ‘Okay.’ Leo stared at Jed. ‘Jed, there is nothing going on between us, okay?’ Jed continued to smile. ‘Okay.’ Leo snapped angrily. ‘You want me to hit you too?’ ‘What did I do to upset Margaret?’ Banging his mug on the table, Leo got up. ‘Goodnight Sir.’ Jed stared at the door long after Leo had slammed it closed. *************** Startled by the sudden noise, Abbey got up from the table in the other room where she had been sitting, letter-writing. ‘Jed, stop teasing him.’ ‘I’m right about this. Maybe not just now, but I will be.’ Abbey leaned down and kissed the top of her husband’s head. ‘Jed, leave them alone, okay?’ Reluctantly, Jed said: ‘Okay.’ Abbey came and sat on his knee. ‘Jed, promise?’ Jed sighed, reaching his arms around his wife. ‘I promise. But what if they..?’ Abbey put a finger across her husband’s lips, silencing him. ‘Then they will.’ On to Part Three Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the West Wing Fic Index

To be continued…