Title: Some things, money can’t buy. The staff file out and I turn to pick up a file. As I look up, Jed’s standing in the doorway, watching me. He smiles a little, nods and I smile back. We’re okay. We weren’t for a few minutes back there, but we are now. Sometimes, I know, I shout a little too loudly. And, usually, he takes it. Not tonight. We rowed. Something we don’t do publicly. This wasn’t just the President and his Chief of Staff arguing. This was Jed and Leo shouting at each other until, again unusually, Jed gave in. I’m usually the one who makes up first. In a year and a half of being I the White House, this is our first public row. We shouted at each other for ages, Charlie only feet away, until we were both all yelled out. I was right. But that didn’t matter. Air was most definitely cleared tonight. ‘Night Leo.’ It’s like the Waltons as the senior staff and their assistants leave for the day. I half-expect someone to actually say ‘Goodnight John Boy’. Most times, I don’t even look up, but there’s one voice which snaps my attention from the FEC briefing folder I’m reading. I’m not sure everyone’s left, and I stick to a safe: ‘Goodnight Mr President.’ ‘About earlier…’ He’s in my office now. His white shirt is almost as creased as my blue one. It’s been a long day. And I’m sure I look as tired as he does. Probably more tired. And I’ve still got hours of work to do before I can leave. ‘Forget it, Sir.’ ‘Leo…’ ‘Sir, it’s okay. It’s done. Go to bed.’ I look up again as he takes the folder from me, laying it carefully on the desk next to where I’m leaning. ‘Don’t you mean ‘come to bed’?’ I smile. ‘Abbey out of town?’ ‘Yup. Back tomorrow afternoon. We’re having lunch. Wanna join us?’ ‘Sir, I’ve got a ton of work…’ ‘Delegate, Leo.’ ‘Sir…’ ‘Leo, a couple of hours now and a couple of hours tomorrow. What harm can it do?’ ‘Do you want John Bacon and Pattie Calhoun on the FEC?’ ‘Let Josh do it.’ He’s standing as close to me as he can get without actually touching any part of me now and I can feel my resolve weakening as other parts of me do the opposite. ‘I’ll be up in a few minutes Sir.’ Out of sight of anyone else, his hand drops to my fly. ‘Seems to me you’re up right now Leo.’ ‘Sir!’ Scowling, he walks out quickly, his Secret Service detail following him, no doubt wondering why his mood changed so quickly. ******************* I can hear his voice in the corridor, talking to the Agents outside the door. I often wonder what he finds to talk to each of them about, but he always seems to spend just a couple of minutes chatting every time he comes up here. Maybe I’ll ask him. The door opens and I hear him locking it as he comes in. ‘Jed?’ ‘In here.’ He’s already left his jacket in the sitting room, along with his tie. But he waits until he’s standing in the bedroom doorway to lose his shirt and pants. ‘Like ‘em?’ I pull my glasses back on, and look closely at his silk boxers. Black, probably silk, with little pictures of the White House dotted all over them. ‘Where the Hell did you get those?’ ‘They’re a best-seller in the gift shop.’ ‘They sell those?’ ‘Oh yeah. Twenty dollars and you too can have the most powerful building in the world right next to your skin.’ I peel off my glasses. ‘How much d’you think they’d pay to have the most powerful man in the world next to their skin?’ Leo shakes his head. ‘I’ve had offers. None of them high enough.’ ‘People want to sleep with me?’ ‘With me!’ That’s it. ‘Get over here.’ A few strides and he’s climbing onto the bed. ‘Anything you say, Mr President.’ ‘And get those damn boxers off. I’m gonna have to talk to someone about those.’ ‘The socks are nice too.’ ‘Socks?’ ‘Yeah, and the ties.’ ‘Leo.’ ‘Yeah?’ ‘Shut up kiss me.’ ‘Jed.’ ‘Yeah?’ ‘They do the boxers in your size too.’ End Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the X-Files Fic Index Return to the West Wing Fic Index