"I thought you said you checked the guest list."

"I did Jed. How the hell did I miss him? I checked that list," Abbey's voice was sounding a little frantic now.

"Abbey," Jed said sternly, "calm down. Just relax. Look, just stay out of this guy's range. We'll try to keep him away from you. He certainly isn't going to try to pull anything here at the White House."

"You're right, Jed. I know you're right," she said, taking a deep breath.

"You all right now?"

"Yes, I'm fine," she tried to smile. "Go do your job, you have to mingle."

As Jed turned to leave, Abbey immediately sought CJ out.

"Did you change the guest list after I looked at it?" She asked.

"No, ma'am. Why? Is something wrong?"

"How did the General get in?"

"What General? There weren't any Generals on the list."

Abbey turned and pointed to the man she was talking about.

"That's Farid Hassan, the new Defence Minister of Pakistan."

"Well," Abbey breathed, "I guess he's moved up in the world."

***

Meanwhile, Jed approached Leo and Toby.

"I need your help tonight guys. I need you to keep an eye out for Abbey. That guy over there..."

"The new Defence Minister?" Leo asked.

"THAT'S the new Defence Minister?"

"Yes. He just got appointed last month"

"Well, evidently he gave Abbey a hard time in Pakistan. Just keep an eye out. Don't let her get trapped."

"What do you mean by a hard time?" Leo's eyes narrowed.

"Just all that women were put on the earth to serve men and should be barefoot and pregnant crap. You know Abbey. She'd like to go for the guy's jugular for that one, but she won't because of the negotiations. I don't want her in that position."

"We'll keep our eye out," they promised.

***

Abbey was getting a glass of wine when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Mrs. Bartlet, we meet again."

Abbey stiffened but turned to face Hassan with a gracious smile.

"Hello," she said, extending a hand, "it's nice to see you again. I hear congratulations are in order for your promotion."

"Yes. And I must extend mine to you on the birth of your babies."

"Thank you."

"You have a son now?"

"Yes, his name is Nicholas."

"That is good, a man needs a son. The President must be relieved that you have finally given him one."

"Actually, it is the male who determines the sex of a child so my husband actually gave him to me," Abbey smiled, enjoying the way his face closed up at having been shown up by a woman.

"Your other daughters, they are in college?"

"Ellie and Zoey are. They are both studying to be doctors, although I am not sure if Zoey has completely made up her mind on that yet."

"Such a waste for girls," he shook his head and absently ran his finger over her collarbone.

"What do you mean by that?" Abbey asked defensively, while stepping back from his hands.

"You are no longer Dr. Bartlet, are you? You are, as you should be, a wife and a mother." He stepped forward so she had to step back against the wall. Abbey knew he was trying to intimidate her and she would be damned if she would let him see that he was succeeding.

"I am still Dr. Bartlet," she bristled. "I can be a wife, a mother, and a doctor but I cannot be a doctor and fulfill my role as First Lady. I will go back to being a surgeon when we leave the White House."

"And your husband? He won't have anything to say about that?"

"My husband has always supported my career."

"American men do not know how to handle their women."

"I don't think we require any special handling."

"Yes you do, because if you were my wife, things would be very different. First of all, I would not allow you to bare this much flesh."

"My husband does not ALLOW me to do anything. I dress as I want and he generally doesn't have any complaints."

"I'm sure he doesn't," he smiled lasciviously. "I usually don't approve of the way Western women flaunt their bodies but it does have its advantages," he ran his finger up her arm to her shoulder and back down in what he thought was a seductive manner, but actually only made Abbey's skin crawl. It was an instant reflex. Her hand came up as if to slap him away but Hassan never noticed as Josh moved in swiftly and took her arm.

"Excuse me," he said, "but I need to steal the First Lady for a moment."

Josh nudged Abbey into an empty room and turned to her with an incredulous voice.

"Tell me I didn't just see you about to slap the Defence Minister of Pakistan."

"He was making incredibly sexist statements, Josh, and he just kept TOUCHING me. He makes my skin crawl."

"Look, I know this stinks but that is just the way it is. We've been through this before on the campaign. You just have to smile and let these comments slide. We can't afford to alienate these people now. We NEED their cooperation to root out terrorists. Is it really too much to ask for you just to let these things go for something that is bigger than this guy behaving like a prick?"

"Don't talk to me like I am a child, Josh. I have been involved in politics as long as you. But OK, I have understood what you said about how important these negotiations are so, yes, I will let things slide."

"Good, and Mrs. Bartlet, I don't think you should tell the President about this. You know he would start World War III over it."

"Don't worry, Josh. I won't say a word. I will keep my mouth shut and be a good little girl," she said sarcastically.

"Are you ready to go?" Josh asked her.

"I'll be out in a few minutes. You go ahead."

Abbey sat down thinking about what a mess she was in now. But, she had been dealing with this kind of sexism all her life. First, it was her own relatives telling her to give up the idea of being a doctor and become a nurse. Then it was the medical school professors who were twice as hard on her because she was a woman, who questioned her continuously about why she wanted to be a doctor. It was a question rarely asked of her male counterparts. She had also had to work twice as hard to gain the respect of her male colleagues. But, she had done it. She had become their equal and surpassed many. So, it had surprised and shocked her when she had been thrust back into that one dimensional role of wife and mother when Jed had begun campaigning for President. In fact, it had been Josh who had made her aware of her role in the first place. Her mind wandered back to a day during the summer that they were campaigning for President. She and Jed were attending a fundraiser barbecue at the home of Reece Stevens. Reece was a neighbor of John Hoynes whom Jed had just picked as his running mate. She had just returned to the campaign trail after taking a few days off with the girls in New Hampshire. It was a sweltering hot Texas day and she had chosen to wear a knee length sundress with bare legs and strappy high heeled sandals.

Jed was asking her how the girls were doing while sharing his beer with her when Reece approached.

"Hey Guv'na. Is this the little woman?" He asked, putting an arm around her waist and squeezing her to his side.

"Yes," Jed said, "Reece Stevens, my wife Dr. Abigail Bartlet, Abbey, Reece Stevens."

"How come I've never had any doctors lookin' like you? Where have you been hidin' this pretty little filly, Jed?"

"Oh, I've been so busy teaching medicine at Harvard and being on call at several Boston hospitals, I just haven't had the time to campaign," she smiled innocently.

"Well, ol' Jed here is going to have to put you on a tighter rein darlin' if he is going to be President. He's letting you take that bit between your teeth and he needs to regain some control."

Jed inhaled deeply watching the storm clouds cross his wife's face but, before she could say a word, CJ 'accidentally' bumped her elbow giving Abbey the opportunity to spill her beer on the front of Reece's pants. He sputtered angrily.

"Oh I AM sorry," Abbey exclaimed, all saccharine sweetness, "look at that, I spilled it all over you."

"Yes, you did," Reece huffed and walked away to go clean up.

Abbey, Jed, and CJ could no longer hold their mirth.

"Thank you CJ," Abbey grinned.

"That's just one for the sisterhood," CJ said, giving her a high five. Jed walked away shaking his head and smiling, and Josh quickly approached the women.

"That was quite a show you two just put on," he said.

"Oh Josh, lighten up," Abbey said, "that guy was asking for it. He was a walking caricature."

"I can't lighten up. He was a walking MILLIONAIRE caricature. He and his friends might have donated a considerable amount of money to our campaign. I've watched you Abbey. You can turn it on and be the perfect diplomatic politician's wife. But at other times you do not suffer fools well."

"No, I don't. Jesus Josh, that guy stood there comparing me to a horse."

"I don't care if he compared you to the whore of Babylon. This is no longer an election in a tiny state where everyone knows and loves Jed Bartlet and he can afford to alienate people. He cannot, in a Presidential election, afford to alienate anyone. He is the challenger. He is distrusted down here as a liberal, northeastern, intellectual with a wife who is just too everything...too smart, too opinionated, too wealthy, too attractive and you dress too damn well, too..."

"Too what, Josh?"Abbey asked defiantly.

"Well look at you...too sexy, OK, not like a politician's wife."

"Well, is there anything else you'd like to throw at me while you're at it? How do you expect me to respond to that Josh, because those opinions sound right on to me? Jed is a SEMI liberal, northeastern intellectual and I am exactly as you said and I'll be damned if I'll apologize for it."

"I'm not saying you have to apologize. What I am saying is that if that is all the American public sees, the Governor won't have a snowballs chance in hell of winning."

"So, how do you plan on changing that perception?"

"We play up the small state farmer angle for the Governor. Teacher, not Nobel Prize winner. For you, we drop the doctor, don't mention Harvard, and talk about your children. A lot of Americans don't even know you are a mother."

"And that will make Jed more electable? Should I also start wearing granny dresses, put my hair in a bun, and wear my glasses?"

"I wouldn't presume to tell you how to dress."

"Good. Because I'll only go so far, Josh, you can only push me so far. I'll call myself Mrs. Bartlet, I'll smile through the insults, and try to be as diplomatic as possible. BUT, I will not change who I am."

"That sounds fair enough," he said and shook her hand on it.

***

Abbey snapped back to the present and glanced across the room at her husband. She wasn't the only one who had had to close the door to some great achievements. While it had angered her when Josh asked her not be called Dr. Bartlet, it had physically hurt her with the force of a punch to the stomach when they had told Jed that, unless he was on Wall Street, he should not bring up the fact that he had won a Nobel Prize. It had been such a great moment in their life, a crowning achievement in his career. And just like that, with surgical precision, they had cut that part of his life out. So, in the end, they had both been stripped of the things they had worked so hard for. The things that had set them apart from others, all in an effort to appear more AVERAGE. It had always floored her that people would want somebody average to be their President. It was such an important job it should belong to somebody who stood head and shoulders above those who were merely average. Thankfully the American people had somebody like that now. Despite campaigning as an average guy, her husband was the most brilliant, caring man she had ever known and they were damn lucky to have him in the White House.

Abbey took a deep breath and re-entered the room smiling and shaking hands. Nobody but those who knew her well could see the tenseness in her form, the way her eyes scanned the crowd, her skittishness when touched. Jed noticed it and he didn't like it one bit. He approached her from behind, placing his hand on her bare shoulder. Abbey almost jumped out of her skin.

"Jesus Abbey, it's just me."

"Don't sneak up on me, Jed," she snapped.

"I didn't sneak up on you. I can't believe you are this nerved up."

"Well Jed, tell me what happens if these negotiations fall through?"

"We're screwed."

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

"Abbey, forget about him. Dance with me." He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. He was surprised when she didn't resist him pulling her close. When they danced in public she liked to keep some air between them. Tonight, however, he felt her fingers digging into his arms, her head tucked into the groove of his neck, and her hips pressed against his. It was as if she were clutching on to him for dear life. Normally he wouldn't have complained about this situation but it was hard not to become aroused after months of enforced celibacy and they were in a room full of people.

"Abbey," he murmured into her ear and Abbey knew exactly what that tone meant. Jed was turned on.

"I'm sorry," she said, taking a step back and looking up into his eyes.

"Don't be sorry. I wish I had more control," he said a bit sheepishly. "Are you all right? You really seem to be letting this guy under your skin."

"I"m Ok Jed," she said, when what she really wanted to say was 'take me back in your arms and keep me safe. Don't let me commit some horrible gaffe that will ruin the military negotiations. Don't let that man near me.'

Before she could voice any of her fears, Jed was taken away from her again to meet with another group of people. She was alone and when her eyes caught those of Farid Hassan he raised his glass to her and moved to approach. Abbey tried to get lost in the crowd. She made her way to the French doors and stepped outside.

***

Jed was speaking with a group of people when he saw his wife's Chief of Staff approach.

"Hi Lilly," he smiled kissing her cheek. "You just getting here?"

"Yes. Do you know where the First Lady is?"

Jed scanned the room and realized that despite having just left her, he had lost her. But, Hassan was still present, so he didn't let it bother him.

"Not at the moment."

"Well I heard that General Hassan is here, only now he is the Defence Minister."

"She knows, Lilly."

"How is she taking it?"

"She's nervous."

"I'll bet," Lilly said grimly. "I can't believe they promoted that creep. AND that he had the nerve to show his face after what he did to her."

"Just what did he do, Lilly?" Jed asked, his eyes narrowing as he realized he evidently did not know the whole story.

"She didn't tell you?"

"She told me the guy made some rude comments about her career and American women in general."

"Well, yes...that's what I meant."

"No, it wasn't Lilly. You tell me the whole truth, NOW." It was his Presidential voice, the voice that did not accept objections.

"Well, this guy was making those comments and goosing us all night. You could tell he got off on pissing us off, especially when we couldn't say anything. He wanted Abbey to dance with him. She didn't want to, but she did for diplomacy's sake. This guy's hands were all over her, very blatant. I don't know what he was thinking but, when he tried to kiss her, Abbey began to struggle and Anita broke it up. He was pretty angry. I heard him mutter something about 'American bitches'. Abbey was pretty shaken up. Especially because...well, you know why," she said uncomfortably.

"Yeah," Jed said, his eyes steely, "she would be. She never told me."

"She probably knew you'd be upset."

"Damn straight I'm upset. Now I think I will go and find my wife and have a little talk."

Jed began to search the room for his wife but nobody had seen her. He kept reminding himself that she had her agent with her and things would not be allowed to get out of hand. Still, he didn't want Abbey scared like that. He remembered how long that fear had lasted in her and she had finally overcome it. Still, in times like this, it couldn't help but come back to her. Finally Donna told him she had seen Abbey go outside. Jed's heart began to race, for he had seen Hassan going out the French doors a little while before.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Leo asked.

"Abbey's outside alone with Farid Hassan." Jed didn't have to say another word, Leo followed.

***

Abbey stood alone in the shadows. At least she thought she was alone.

"I'm starting to think you are avoiding me, Mrs. Bartlet," Hassan said, closing the distance between them.

"No, of course not," Abbey said hating the sound of the fear that laced her voice, "I just came out for some air."

"You look beautiful in the moonlight," he said reaching out to touch a soft tendril of her hair. Abbey backed up instinctively. Her stomach clenched as all those old fears about being overpowered overwhelmed her. She tried to rationalize that Anita was within shouting distance but her fears about this were not rational. She HATED being touched without her permission. God, how stupid she was to have come out here alone. Where the hell was Jed? He had promised to look out for her. "You haven't asked me how the negotiations are going. You know this is very important for your husband, for your country, and we hold most of the cards."

Abbey knew that statement was for her benefit. To let her know what damage he could if he didn't like her reactions.

"H..how are they going?" She swallowed, looking past his shoulders to the door, willing anyone to appear.

"They were going fine until your HUSBAND put that woman in the mix."

"Nancy is an excellent military advisor."

"Women know nothing about the military, NOTHING."

Jed and Leo had stepped outside and heard the last comment Hassan made and waited to hear how Abbey would slap him down. She was usually able to do it with one quick comment. But Abbey didn't say a word.

"Women were made to please men. You Western women are notorious for being sexually free. How many lovers have you had, Abigail?" he began to stroke her cheek. Jed started to move forward but remembered Abbey's anger at him for interfering when Ron made the pass at her. Had he seen his wife's face, he would not have waited a moment longer. Abbey was terrified and at an absolute loss at how to handle the situation. The stakes were so much higher than a campaign or donations. This was her COUNTRY. But when Hassan's hand moved to Abbey's rear pulling her to him intimately and he bent to kiss her, Jed burst forward yanking him off her and punching him in the nose hard.

"Jed!" Abbey gasped with surprise and relief. The agents all came forward to make sure there wasn't an altercation with the President.

"Why didn't you stop that?" Jed bellowed at Anita.

"The First Lady did not ask for help and she was not struggling," Anita said simply.

"Dammit, I think you broke my nose," Hassan groaned.

"You're lucky I didn't break your fucking neck," Jed said furiously.

"Mr. President," Leo warned.

"You're going to pay for this," Hassan threatened. "You will never be allowed to use my country for military purposes."

"Get him out of here," Jed said disgusted. While the service removed him, Jed turned to Abbey angrily.

"What the hell were you thinking? I heard what he was saying to you. Why did you just stand there and take it?"

"You heard," she said, "my God Jed, why didn't you stop him sooner?"

"Because the last time I interfered, you told me you could handle things like this on your own."

"Ron, Jed, I said I could handle RON. I couldn't handle this. I didn't know what to do."

Jed looked into her eyes, saw the unshed tears and his anger melted. He pulled her into his arms.

"Why couldn't you handle him, Abbey?" he asked into her hair.

"I wanted to stop him but I was scared."

"Abbey, Anita was right here."

"Not that kind of scared. I was scared I would mess everything up for you...for the country.He came on to me earlier and Josh told me to suck it up, to let him say what he wanted."

"What!" Jed exploded pulling back from her. "Josh Lyman told you to let that guy paw at you?"

"He made me realize how important it was that I not rock the boat."

"Son of a bitch," Jed seethed, "will you be all right now?"

"Yes," Abbey nodded.

"Then I am going to find Josh and fire his sorry ass."

***

Leo tried to calm Jed on the way to find Josh.

"You want me to calm down when one of my senior staff told my wife to take a screw for the country?"

"Oh come on, Mr. President. He didn't say that."

"Might as well have."

Josh was sitting at his desk when Jed and Leo entered his office.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Jed said coldly.

"I don't understand. What's wrong?"

"You told my wife to let things slide with Farid Hassan."

"Yes I did. I know she was getting angry because he was making some sexist comments, and I told her sometimes you have to let those things go. She knows that."

"So you told the First Lady of the United States of America that it was her duty to her country to let this guy grab her ass and kiss her?"

"N...no sir," Josh said shocked. "I didn't realize it was like that...I mean."

"You know my wife was raped, Josh. Do you have any idea what that did to her tonight? What fear that put in her?"

"Honestly, sir, had I known it was more than just comments, I certainly never would have suggested that she allow..,you know."

Jed saw the genuine apologetic look on Josh's face and his anger faded.

"Just don't ever suggest anything like that to my wife or any of the women on staff again. Why should they have to take that shit from anyone?"

"Mr. President, we need to get to work on some damage control," Leo said. "We need to see if we can salvage these negotiations. I have a feeling you broke Hassan's nose."

"Have President Ahmad come to the Oval Office and I will meet with him personally and privately."

****

After his meeting with Ahmad, Jed found Abbey in the residence. She had changed into her silk pajamas and was seated on the couch reading.

"Is everything going to proceed?" She asked nervously.

"Yes," he smiled sitting beside her and pulling her into his arms, her head resting on his chest. "President Ahmad was very upset and asked me to extend his apologies to you. Hassan will be apologizing to you in person tomorrow. He understands I was protecting my wife's virtue."

"My hero," Abbey rolled her eyes. "Seriously though, sometimes it is nice to be rescued."

"I guess I just have to learn when to push in for the rescue or let you take it on your own."

"I don't make it easy on you, do I?"

"Nope," he ran his thumb over her lips, "high maintenance all the way." Abbey bit his thumb in retaliation, then smiled and kissed him lightly on lips.

"Two more weeks?" He asked with a sigh.

"At least," she said softly.

"Damn."

TBC...