Jed stood on the small knoll overlooking the creek bed searching for his family. It didn't take long for him to find them; they were nearly directly below him. Abbey was walking along behind the children clearly dressed for the hot evening in khaki low rise Capri's and a thin strapped pink cotton camisole top. Her hair fell loose to her shoulders and a doll dangled from one of her hands. Ahead of her, Nicholas and Aislinn dropped to their knees to look at a small cactus that sprouted from the ground. Evidently looking was not all that they did because Jed heard the sharp cry of distress from Nicholas and he watched the boy run back to his mother to show her his boo-boo.

Jed smiled as he watched Abbey cuddle their son to her breasts while Aislinn pressed up against her to make sure her brother was okay. The setting sun danced over his family turning Abbey's coppery hair into a fiery mass and his children's into pure molten gold. They were so beautiful, his wife and his children that it actually made his heart ache. The power of his love for them never ceased to amaze him.

He undid his tie and began to unbutton his shirt and roll up his sleeves as he watched Abbey kiss Nicky's boo-boo then send him back off to play with Aislinn.

That was the moment that he was spotted.

"Daddy!" Nicky called up to him. He immediately began climbing the small incline with Aislinn not far behind.

Abbey closed her eyes saying a quick prayer of thanks for her husband's safe return. By the time she got to the three, the children were chattering Jed's ear off about all of their great discoveries.

"Daddy, we fine hon tod." Aislinn told him importantly.

Jed looked to Abbey for clarification. "We found a horned toad," she told him.

"Oh." He nodded, then bent down in front of his daughter. "Did you kiss him, Ash?" He asked.

"No, yucky!" Aislinn giggled at her father's stupidity.

"I'm serious, Ash. You're supposed to kiss a toad to see if it turns out to be a prince."

"Noooo…." Aislinn drew out the word clearly not impressed with the idea of kissing a toad.

"It's not really a toad, Jed." Abbey informed him. "It's a lizard."

"Well, then, sunshine." He turned back to his daughter tugging on one of her curls. "You forget everything I just said. If you kiss a lizard there's no telling WHAT you might get."

"Daddy silly," Aislinn giggled

"Daddy's very silly," Abbey agreed with a smile. She loved watching Jed with children. He'd always had a way with them. It was probably because he was not afraid to make himself the butt of the joke. He'd always loved the groans of "Oh DAD" as the girls were growing up, he'd loved teasing them and getting teased back and he was never too adult to be "silly".

Abbey stood aside letting her children take their fill of Jed's attention. It was only when they had toddled off to go find rocks for him that she stepped forward throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face into his chest with just a little more force than usual. Jed felt the slight tremor that ran through her slender body as she pressed into him.

"Hey, baby, what is all this?" He asked into her hair.

"You came back to me." The words were said with such relief that it took Jed's breath away for a moment. He stepped back out of her embrace with a puzzled look and lifted her chin to gaze into lovely hazel eyes shining with pain.

"Of course I came back to you, Abs. I always come back to you and I always will."

"If you can." There was a slight hitch to her voice and suddenly Jed knew exactly what all this was about. Dallas.

"You were afraid something was going to happen to me in Dallas today." It was a statement, not a question.

"I can't help it, Jed. I hate it when you go there. I know it's irrational," she shrugged. "But, I can't help how I feel." She took his hand to lead him to the bottom of the incline where she sat to watch the children play, drawing her knees up under her chin.

Jed sat down next to her. He wanted desperately to reassure her but he wasn't exactly sure how to do that. He knew the specter of Rosslyn haunted her and he knew that the scars of that shooting ran deep, maybe even deeper than he could possibly know. Yet, he'd learned the hard way that promises of safety were not the way to go with her. Instead he silently ran a finger up and down under the thin strap of her camisole top until he felt the tension leave her body and she finally sat back leaning against him.

"Okay?" He asked, kissing the top of her head.

"Yeah, I'm okay." She snuggled in closer enjoying the feel of his fingers running up and down her arm. "So, tell me, how did it go with John today?"

"Uncomfortable, just as I expected. But I didn't deck him so that's a bit of progress for me."

"Honestly, I really don't know what got into him. He's never played games like that with me before. "

"I don't know, all I do know is that he won't EVER be playing those games with you again."

"Jed," she shoved at his shoulder lightly. "You do know that I can fight my own battles, don't you?"

"Of course. I've seen you in action. But why should you have too? That's one of the best parts of marriage. You never have to fight your battles alone. I've got your back, and I love knowing that you've got mine."

Abbey grinned running her hand up and down his spine. "And a fine back it is."

"It just makes me wonder though."

"Wonder what?"

"If all those rumors that we heard about John and other women when he first started running for President were actually true."

"I'm sorry to say but as a woman I can tell you that the answer is probably yes. John definitely gives off a predatory vibe."

"A predatory vibe?"

"A woman can tell when a man is on the make and I've definitely seen John on the make. Besides, a man who is content in his marriage does not play sexual power games with another woman. I really got the feeling this morning that if I'd shown any interest at all, John would have physically made a move on me."

Jed's face tightened at the thought. "Even knowing that it would probably cost him his job?"

"I doubt he would be thinking about that until after it happened. John thinks with his dick, Jed, and that is so not a smart way to run your life."

Jed nodded. "I guess Leo knew all about that when he came to me to ask me to run. He must have told Josh and Toby too because they were all over me questioning me about any bimbo eruptions that might occur if I were nominated."

"Mmm…Me too."

"They questioned YOU?" Jed hadn't heard that before.

"Yup. They wanted to make sure there hadn't been any little fling at a medical convention that might leak it's way to the press."

"What did you tell them?"

"To check out the Marriott in Boston because that was where I liked to keep my Fabio wannabe gigolo's so they'd be ready to service the ache my loins whenever the need might arise."

Jed stared at her for a long moment and then he burst into laughter. His distinctive laugh was infectious because within seconds Abbey was laughing with him.

"Well, what did YOU tell them?" She asked when their laughter had subsided.

"Nothing quite so colorful as you. I believe I asked Toby if he was out of his fucking mind."

"Well, not very eloquent but direct and to the point. He must have…" Abbey broke off and jumped to her feet. She had been watching Aislinn chase a firefly and seeing the small rock in her daughter's path before Aislinn did she was picturing the fall before it actually happened. She had barely made it a step when Aislinn tripped over the rock and fell forward onto her face, the pebbles she had been collecting for her father scattering forth from her hands.

Abbey reached Aislinn's side just as the little girl caught her breath and released a shrieking howl of pain. "Ash, Ash, it's okay sweetie, mommy's right here."

Abbey lifted Aislinn from the dusty ground where she was laying face first. A sharp intake of breath was the only reaction she gave as she tried to stay calm when she saw all the blood mixed with dirt on her daughter's face. She tried to wipe at the mess with her fingers to determine just where Aislinn was hurt. However, when Aislinn saw the blood on her mother's fingers, then saw it dripping down her chin on to her shirt she began to wail even harder with the fear that seeing her blood brought on.

Jed had been a step or two slower than Abbey so by the time he reached their side Aislinn was uncontrollably sobbing, the blood from her chin dripping down Abbey's shoulder. Jed paled at the sight of his daughter's face and he swallowed convulsively to keep the fear and bile down.

"Daddy!" Aislinn shrieked upon seeing him and began to squirm even more in Abbey's arms. "Daaaddy…!"

"It's okay, Ash…" Jed tried to pat her back but Aislinn only screamed louder.

Abbey was glancing frantically around for something to clean her daughter's face with when her eyes fell on her husband and the tie that dangled untied around his neck. "Jed, your tie. Give me your tie."

Jed handed her the tie and they made their way to the creek where Abbey transferred their wailing, kicking daughter into Jed's arms so she could wipe at her face with the wet tie. When she had most of the blood cleaned Abbey was relieved to see just a couple of tiny cuts in Aislinn's lower lip where her teeth had broken the skin. No stitches would be necessary.

"Sir, ma'am, is Aislinn all right?" Mike approached them with concern for his young charge.

"She'll be fine," Abbey assured him. "She just cut her lip." Already Aislinn was starting to calm, her sobbing turning to soft hiccups. Abbey turned back to her daughter who was now cuddled tightly to Jed's chest her little fists clutching his shirt as if she'd never let go. She reached a hand out and began to stroke Aislinn's hair, her voice soothing. "You were just trying to catch a firefly when that mean old rock got in your way, weren't you?"

Aislinn nodded sniffling at the indignity of it all.

"You want daddy to kiss it and make it better?" Jed asked.

Aislinn nodded tipping her chin up for the gentle buss Jed gave her on the lip.

"Does that feel better."

Aislinn nodded slowly.

"Well, that's not very enthusiastic. Is there anything else daddy can do to make you feel better?"

"Fifly"

"You want a firefly?"

Aislinn nodded again her lip quivering tremulously.

"Well then, I guess I'll have to catch you a firefly. You want to help me Nicholas?" Jed turned to where his young son was warily keeping his distance from all the blood.

"Yes!" Nicky rushed up to him with excitement.

"Well, we have to go back up to the cabin and see if we can find a jar, so let's go."

"Jed, could you grab some ice and another shirt too?" Abbey gestured to the bloodied pale yellow tank top Aislinn was wearing.

Jed nodded and he and Nicky made their way up to the cabin.

By the time they returned with emptied out jars of jelly and olives that they had cleaned and poked holes in the top of, Aislinn was snuggled in Abbey's arms, her baby doll held tightly to her chest. Her face was still pink and puffy from crying and her lip was swollen. She looked so woebegone Jed knew he would do damn near anything to make her smile. He handed Abbey the ice pack, which she applied right away to Aislinn's lip and he and Nicholas set off to catch a firefly.

Abbey and Aislinn watched them alternately shouting out words of warning, and laughing when their words weren't spoken soon enough. Aislinn's first giggle had come when Jed had tripped over the same rock that she had, and after telling the rock off for both of them, he had Nicholas throw it into the creek.

Abbey's biggest laugh had come when Jed was squatting near a mesquite bush trying to catch one of the blinking insects and had lost his balance falling back with a howl of protest as his posterior landed on a small cactus. Jed had taken offence to her laughter and approached her with a menacing look on his face.

"Uh Oh" Aislinn knew they were in trouble. That look on her father's face usually meant she was about to get tickled.

"You're not going to think that was so funny when you have to spend the rest of the night picking cactus thorns out of my a…butt."

"I can think of worse ways to spend the night"

"Ooh you saucy little wench. Why don't you get up off YOUR butt and help us catch one."

"What do you say, Ash?" Abbey removed the ice from her lip. "You want to help daddy try to catch a firefly?"

Aislinn nodded climbing out of Abbey's lap and reaching for her father's hand, her doll still clutched under one arm.

For the next 15 minutes the agents on the hill watched with amused smiles as the Bartlet family chased fireflies by the creek.

Finally after much laughter, sweat and hard work, not to mention a few scrapes and bruises Jed slammed the lid on his jar thrilled to see the blinking firefly inside.

"GOTCHA, you little sucker." He immediately made his way over to his daughter with the jar held out in front of him as if in offering. Abbey grinned broadly at the sight of him. His hair was hanging down over his forehead, his face sweaty and smudged with dirt. His shirt was torn and little beads of blood popped up on his forearms from fighting losing battles with cacti, but there was a smile on his face and his eyes were dancing with the joy of getting to be his daughter's hero.

Aislinn gasped with delight and clapped her pudgy little hands when Jed bent in front of her with the jar.

"Tank you, dadda" she exclaimed, as she pressed her little nose into the glass to get a closer look at the flashing bug, then urged Nicholas over to see it.

"You love this," Abbey said, coming up from behind to wrap her arms around his waist.

"Love what?"

"Getting to be the big conquering hero for your children."

Jed just turned and gave her a big grin. He couldn't deny it; her allegation was absolutely true. There were few things on earth greater than the adoring hero-worshipping looks that he received from his children. They were looks that told him he was the greatest, most amazing person they knew. Looks that said they knew he was capable of moving mountains, turning the tides, walking on water. Looks that made him want to do all of that for them and more, for he knew that those looks were fleeting.

"I'll take it while I can. We both know how fast hero worship turns into adolescent eye rolls and tormented sighs."

Indeed, Aislinn's enchantment with her father took a huge nosedive when Jed told her she could not keep the firefly, that they needed to release it. When talk of how wrong it was to keep a wild animal imprisoned fell on deaf ears Jed turned to the heartstrings.

"I'm sure this little firefly has a mommy and daddy out there just like you and Nicky and they're probably very sad because they can't find him."

Abbey could see that Aislinn was wavering. "You wouldn't want someone to keep you away from me or daddy, would you?" She asked.

"No" Aislinn vehemently shook her curls and handed the jar over to Jed who released the firefly. For a little while, Jed, Abbey, Aislinn, and Nicholas stood watching the flashing little light, the children waving bye bye to it until it joined other's and they could no longer tell which one had been theirs.

"Well, the firefly has gone home to go night-night with his mommy and daddy," Abbey said lifting Aislinn up on to her hip. "So, I think it's time we get you two back to the cabin for bath time and night-night."

"No seepy" Nicholas told her.

"Well you will be sleepy in a little while."

"No night-night."

"Tell you what, partner," Jed bartered with the boy. " If you don't give mommy and me a hard time about going to bed I'll give you a shoulder ride back to the cabin."

Nicholas didn't have to think long about his decision.

"Up, up" he lifted his arms and Jed swung him up on to his shoulders before turning to Abbey who still held a yawning Aislinn on her hip.

"Ready to go ladies?" He asked.

Abbey nodded and Jed slid an arm around her waist, the four of them one tight unit as they made their way back to the cabin.

"So," Jed said as they approached the cabin. "Do you think you're going to be able to make it to debate camp next weekend."

"I think it's possible I might put in an appearance. Why?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe I have a few old fantasies from my camp days that involve sneaking a girl into my cabin." He squeezed her hip suggestively.

"I thought you were going to this camp for an intellectual workout."

"I am. My mind functions much better when I'm completely relaxed and you know more than anyone that the ONE thing that relaxes me more than anything else is…"

"Jed" Abbey slapped a hand over his mouth to keep whatever lascivious term was about to slip out from between his lips from airing. "Did you forget who we have with us? They're like little parrots now repeating everything that we say."

"I was simply going to say that the ONE thing that relaxes me more than anything else is cuddling with mommy." Abbey flashed him a pleased smile and he leaned in closer to whisper in her ear. "And we both know what THAT leads to." He gave her a quick pinch on the rear stepping quickly away to avoid the retaliatory measures.

"You're going to pay for that, mister," she called out.

"Make me pay, baby," he taunted. "Make me pay."

TBC...