The day after the "State of the Union" was hectic and chaotic. All morning Jed, Abbey and members of the senior staff had done their time on the morning shows and sat for interview after interview to promote the agenda the President had laid out the previous night. None of the television correspondents or the print journalists noticed the strain and tension in either the President or the First Lady. Nobody on staff, not even Leo, knew the inner turmoil of the First Couple as they both waited for the proverbial shoe to drop. Nobody but Ron knew about the ignored demands and the threat to the children. However, just because they didn't know what was going on didn't make them blind. They knew the First Couple more intimately than any reporter. They knew their body language and the way they communicated and reacted to one another. It didn't take CJ long to notice that something was off with them today. There was tenseness and a certain skittishness in both of them as they sat in the limo after visiting a local hospital for a photo-op to promote the President's ideas for health care reform. There was none of the teasing; witty repartee that usually took place after an event and both had balked at a rope line. Her first reaction might have been that the couple had argued but their body language seemed to rule that out. They sat thigh to thigh not on opposite sides of the seat and the President's hand rested on the First Lady's nylon clad knee. The gentle looks they gave each other were filled with nervousness and compassion not the fiery or icy glares they gave each other when in the midst of an argument.

Then, as the motorcade turned the corner on it's way back to the White House one of the cars backfired with a loud bang. The President blanched and, without a sound, turned his body to shield his wife from what he must have thought was a gunshot.

"Jed," Abbey said pushing against his chest. He had her pinned her slight form back to the seat with his body. "It was just a car backfiring". Her tone was calm but CJ was surprised and perplexed to see that her eyes were glittering with tears as the President settled back against the seat. She saw beads of sweat pop up on the President's forehead and his skin had turned an ashy gray as his wife grasped his hand tightly. She gave quick frown of confusion to Leo who could only shrug back his own bewilderment. Neither knew exactly why the couple was behaving this way but both assumed that it must have something to do with one Mr. Marcus Hughes.

* * * *

Once back at the White House CJ had her chance to confront the First Lady about what had she and the President so on edge. The President had gone to a situation room briefing and CJ happened to catch Abbey leaning against a desk in the office area outside the oval office awaiting his return.

"Ma'am?" she touched her shoulder softly.

"JESUS!" Abbey jumped and whipped around ready to do battle.

"I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't mean to scare you.

"It's OK". Abbey took a deep breath with a hand still over her chest as if to calm her racing heart.

"Abbey what's going on? It may be none of my business but you and the President seem about ready to jump out of your skins today."

"We're that obvious?" she asked ruefully.

"Afraid so".

Abbey led her into Jed's study for privacy and unburdened herself to the other woman. She explained about the threatening note and the conscious decision she and Jed had made to ignore the perverted demand. CJ Looked at Abbey with stunned disbelief.

"I can't believe the NERVE of that guy. I can't believe he actually thought you'd WEAR that blouse for him.

"I actually thought about doing it," Abbey said softly.

"How could you even think about wearing it" CJ was taken aback at the very idea. " I mean it was like he wanted to brand you or something."

"I thought about wearing it because he threatened to get to my babies. That scared the hell out of me. I'd do anything to keep them safe CJ. But, Jed wasn't going to allow that".

"The President must have had a fit".

"A fit is putting it mildly. He went absolutely ballistic. There was no way he was going to let me wear that blouse. I think he…Oh never mind," Abbey shook her head as if to clear it.

"It's OK Abbey. I have a few minutes if you want to talk.

"It's just that…CJ, Jed's the only man I've ever been with. I was only 19 when I met him and he was it for me. I fell head over heels in love. Marcus Hughes took that away when he penetrated my body.

"Oh Abbey, no he didn't. The President is still the only man you've GIVEN yourself to. Marcus Hughes took your body but he didn't take YOU".

"I've tried to tell myself that and Jed's told me that about a hundred times over the years. But you should have heard how adamant he was against me wearing the blouse. You're NOT wearing that blouse. I'm not going to let you sit there letting him think you are HIS!"

"You can't think the President is jealous."

"No…not jealous. Just possessive. As if Hughes took something that belonged only to him".

"The President can be a bit possessive when it comes to you, " CJ smiled. "But it's a cute possessive not psycho possessive. He's never acted like he owns you. He's just not that kind of guy".

"No, you're right. He's not. I guess I'm not explaining this very well. I don't understand it myself. I just know that if I had been mugged that day this would all be different. Jed's reaction would be different and mine would be different. Rape is so much more personal. It takes what is intimate and loving and special and twists it into something that is violent and degrading and ugly. It's so damn UGLY CJ"

CJ took Abbey's hand and looked into her eyes. No matter how understanding a man was about this type of attack he could never truly know the helplessness of being the so-called weaker sex. Of having to worry about being seen as prey because of what you wear or how you act or for simply smiling at the wrong person. CJ understood very well the fears that inhabited Abbey Bartlet because what had happened to her was a fear every woman lived with at some time in their life.

"But you survived Abbey and that's what matters. You SURVIVED".

* * * *

Abbey waited all day and all night for something, a phone call, a note, something that would show her just how badly she had pissed Marcus Hughes off. When nothing had happened by the time she went to bed she was almost angry. He certainly was a sadistic monster. She knew for sure that he was doing this on purpose. He wanted their nerves to be frayed so he was deliberately prolonging his response. He enjoyed keeping them on pins and needles, jumping at every sound and phone call. He probably got off on dangling them over this precipice. Now she would have to go through all of this again tomorrow. Tomorrow when she was spending the day with Diane Sawyer for her special "A Day with the Bartlet Twins" to commemorate their first birthday. Except for a brief photo layout before the party, no press was going to be allowed at the birthday over the weekend Jed had promised, through CJ, to supply the corps with a couple of family shots of the significant moments like blowing out their candles. It was a balancing act that they were constantly struggling with. How to deal with the publics insatiable curiosity, while still maintaining their children's privacy.

* * * *

Marcus Hughes sat back in a recliner in front of the television. Lori was on duty at the White House so he was alone to watch "A Day with the Bartlet Twins". He was absolutely furious with Abigail for snubbing her nose at him and not wearing the blouse he had sent her. While he had watched her applaud her husband he could actually feel what it would be like to squeeze that slender neck of hers. She wouldn't be able to IGNORE him then. He would be the last thing she saw before she died. But, as much as the idea appealed to him, he knew that he had to wait. He had to make her suffer as she made him suffer. Part of her punishment would be in not knowing when or what was going to happen next. To spend day after day looking over her shoulder until he was finally prepared for that final moment when he would take what should be his.

That was his plan anyway, a plan that began to dissolve with the start of the special. It opened with the strains of "What a Wonderful World" along with a montage of video and pictures of the twins from just hours after they were born until today. It started with the President and First Lady each holding an infant while they greeted the cheering throngs as they left the hospital, then quickly moved on to scenes from the babies first year of life. The President asleep with two newborns on his chest, the big formal Christening, the First Lady peering down with a smile over the edge of their crib, the President lifting a giggling Aislinn high over his head, the First Lady nose to nose with Nicholas, the President and the First Lady smiling and watching both their son and daughter crawl on a sandy beach in Maine. The video ended with family scenes from Christmas in New Hampshire with the babies learning to open their gifts and crawling through the mounds of wrapping paper that littered the floor.

When the music and montage stopped, the day started. The twins were seated in their high chairs while Abigail fed them breakfast. HE left for his office before breakfast was over leaving the ladies to chat.

"Now, you have a nanny" Diane stated, "do you always feed the children breakfast yourself?"

"I try to. It gives Jed a chance to see them before going off to the office and it's the kind of normalcy that we want to give them. If Jed isn't able to be home for supper I try to get them down to his office for a visit or he tries to pop in for some quality one on one time. That's one of the benefits in working over the shop".

Such a sweet family moment Marcus thought with a sneer as the show moved into a commercial break. He was beginning to believe more and more that he was not going to be able to allow those kids to live. They were HIS children. HIS blood ran in their veins. They were a link Abigail would always have to HIM if he didn't do something about that.

From breakfast they moved on to the twins swimming lesson in the White House pool, and a bundled up stroll through the Rose Garden. But, it was the visit to the Oval Office that caused Marcus' blood pressure to soar sky high. As the kids were set down on the carpet of the President's office, it was obvious that his children were frequent visitors. Both kids crawled quickly behind their father's desk and pulled themselves up to tug on a drawer. Ms.Sawyer was interested in seeing what they were after.

"Could you please ask my wife to turn the other way?" Jed asked.

Diane looked at the First Lady with a half smile and Abigail reluctantly turned away. Only then did he reach into the drawer for the little baggy of cereal marshmallows he kept hidden there for these little visits. Both babies grinned and popped the hard little marshmallows into their mouths.

"He's not giving them chocolate is he?" Abigail asked her back still to the desk.

"Not chocolate" Diane grinned.

"Abbey's a health food nut," Jed explained. "She doesn't like the kids to have sweets between meals".

"And he likes to spoil them" Abbey smiled wryly as she turned back around.

Nicholas began to pull himself up using the President's pant leg and he leaned down to lift the little boy into his arms. He held Nicholas to his chest and the two Bartlet males turned their blue eyes to Diane and Abbey.

"It's incredible how much he looks like you, sir" Diane commented.

"Oh he's a little replica all right," Abbey grinned. "Right down to his stubborn temperament".

Marcus rose to his feet and kicked his foot through the screen of the TV shattering the glass with his furor. Watching Abigail with HIM and HIS babies had created a reality to their family life. Those kids weren't just pictures in a magazine. They were real. Seeing HIM holding that little blond baby boy who shared his eyes and facial features was a stark reminder that his beautiful Abigail was a slut who had continued to open her legs for HIM long after she had been warned not to. Suddenly it wasn't so easy to wait. Suddenly he needed to hear the fear in her voice, for her to know that she was going to pay for her betrayal.

* * * *

"I'll get it". Abbey was seated on the couch with Jed's arm around her shoulders as they watched the special on TV. Michael O' Neill sat in a chair to their left. He and Beth had arrived a couple days early to visit before the twin's birthday party and at the moment Beth was in her glory rocking her granddaughter to sleep in the nursery.

Smiling and with her eyes still on the television screen, Abbey picked up the cell phone. "Hello"

"You BITCH! How dare you DEFY me? Do you know how badly you are going to PAY for all of this".

Jed watched Abbey's smile fade and her skin pale. He knew in an instant who it was and without even setting down his brandy snifter he was at her side in about three strides to yank the phone from her hand.

"Listen to me you SICK son of a bitch. You get off on scaring women? You're nothing but a pathetic fucking pervert? Don't you EVER call my wife again". Jed's face was red with indignation.

"It won't be long now" Marcus ignored the irate man's temper and gave an eerie, evil laugh. "I am going to have her… AGAIN…And when I do, I'll spread her legs and drive myself into her and she'll scream for you to save her. Did she tell you that she did that? Yes, she screamed for you to come and save her but you never showed, not until I was coming inside her, filling her with MY seed…"

Jed's clutch tightened around the glass he held and an instant later it shattered in his fist.

"Jed!" Abbey shrieked running toward him.

Jed ignored the pain from the shards of glass slicing into his palm and the burning alcohol that ran over the open cuts.

"You try to get near her and I'll fucking KILL you…" Before he could continue on, Abbey ripped the phone from his hand and flung it down on the floor. The anger was still churning so violently within Jed it took him a few moments to realize Abbey held his bleeding hand cupped in her own and was examining the cuts for slivers of glass.

Completely stunned by everything that had just happened, Michael made his way over to help his daughter. He had never seen anyone so enraged that they would break a glass in their own bare hand. He had never heard his son in law talk to anyone the way he'd just heard Jed talk on the phone. There was obviously something going on that he didn't know about and that something had to do with his daughter.

"Am I going to need stitches?" Jed winced as Abbey picked a piece of glass from his palm.

"No, I don't think so. There are a lot of cuts but they're mostly superficial". She stopped what she was doing and gazed up at him from where she kneeled at his feet. Her lashes were wet and he saw a single tear streak down her cheek. "What were you thinking Jed?"

"I wasn't thinking," he said running his hand over her cheek.

"What did he say to you?"

"Nothing"

"It certainly wasn't nothing. If you're going to lie to me Josiah you have to do better than that. WHAT did he say to you that was so bad that you did this to yourself?"

"Abbey, don't make me tell you".

"No secrets Jed. Remember?"

Jed sighed, sometimes this total honesty thing really sucked. "He told me that while he was raping you, you were screaming for me to save you but I wasn't there for you, not until he was already…filling you with HIS seed" The bitterness in Jed's voice caught on the last two words.

Abbey stood and cupped Jed's jaw in her hands so she could look into his tormented eyes. "Jed, baby he's just trying to get at you. Don't let him do it"

"But it's the truth Abbey. You were lying there screaming for me to help you and I was too late. I won't be too late this time honey. He's got another thing coming if he thinks he is going to get near you again".

"I trust you Jed. I know you won't let him hurt me." She wanted to tuck her head under his chin and feel his strong arms around her but his hand came first. "I have to get my bag so I can bandage your hand. Hold this napkin tightly to your palm. I'll be right back".

Michael had been watching and listening to his daughter and son in law for the past few minutes with puzzlement and a growing sense of horror. A fear that what had happened to his daughter years ago was somehow coming back to haunt her. He looked down at Jed. "Just what the hell is going on here?"

* * * *

Michael was standing while Jed explained to him everything that had been going on. It was only when he was finished with his explanation that the older man sank down onto the couch next to him burying his face in his hands. He had been plummeted back in time to that night Jed had called him choking back his tears to say that Abbey had been raped. His daughter. His little girl. The adorable little girl with her long coppery braids and her impish little smile who begged him to tuck her in at night. The sweet little girl who had learned how to dance by standing on his feet. The vulnerable little girl who had come to him with tears and skinned knees for a band-aid and a kiss to make it better. The precious little girl he had promised to protect had been brutally violated and there was nothing that he was ever going to be able to do as a father or a doctor to make that better.

As he sat next to him on the couch Jed couldn't help but notice that suddenly his father in law looked every one of his 75 years.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"Abbey didn't want you to worry, especially with what Beth has been through this year. The girls don't know either."

"You think he's going to come after her again." It wasn't a question.

"Yeah, I think he's going to try."

"I think I should stay down here for a little while with you. You know, just until they catch him."

"You don't need to do that Dad. Abbey has the Secret Service and she has me."

Michael gave his son in law a long look and Jed was surprised to see the older man's eyes water. Michael was not an emotional man. Jed could count the times he'd seen him tear up or cry. Moved by his father in law's distress, he placed a comforting hand on his arm

"I know she's your wife, son, " Michael swallowed. "And I know you'd protect her with your own life. But, she's also my baby girl. When I think of what he did to her..." he looked down at the floor shaking his head.

"I know Dad." Jed patted him on the back. He did know exactly how Michael was feeling. If this were his Elizabeth he would be right there fighting Jay for protection rights. It was how he felt now when it came to the threat against Nicholas and Aislinn. Your children were always your children no matter how old they were and no matter how many children of their own they had.

Abbey came around the corner with her medical bag and the conversation stalled. She could tell from the stricken look on her father's face that he knew all and she felt her willpower almost crumble She felt an inexorable need to be held in her Daddy's arms. To be a little girl again, back to a time when he could make it all better. But she knew better now. She was a grown woman and there were monsters out there, real monsters that even her father couldn't make go away.

She knelt by Jed and took his hand. While she administered to him she felt her father tenderly stroke her hair. Jed watched her swallow convulsively to keep control of her emotions. Had she turned around she would have seen the tear that trickled down her father's cheek.

TBC...