Beside her, Max gave a deep growl that pulled Abbey out of her thoughts.

"What is it Max?" Abbey asked. She felt a shiver of apprehension as she looked toward the edge of the woods and placed her hand on the dog's head. Max gave another deep warning growl this time with his teeth bared and the hackles on his back at full attention. Abbey turned toward where the dog was looking.

"What do you see Max?" her eyes scanned the darkness at the edge of the woods trying to see what the dog saw. She took a step back, not blinking, and suddenly her heart gave a jerk as she saw something move in the shadows. They were not alone

"Abbey!" At the shout of her name Abbey jumped and turned in the opposite direction to see Jed standing by the house, his hands cupped around his mouth like a megaphone. Black SUV's and police cars lined the drive and she knew that he must have arrived while she was lost in thought. She turned back toward the woods where she had seen the shadow but nothing moved. Instead of growling, Max was whining now with the anticipation of Abbey releasing him to go to Jed. She smiled down at the dog.

"OK, go" she said. Max jumped to his feet and raced up the hill. By the time Abbey got there the dog was jumping and dancing around Jed while he laughed and tried to pet him. She had convinced herself that what she had seen in the woods had been a deer or a play of light, and that Max's reaction had been caused by the motorcade's arrival. Still, deep down, in that spot she called women's intuition, was a niggling fear that what she and Max had seen in the woods was not a deer at all, but something more sinister; more predatory than any animal could be.

Jed scratched behind Max's ears and smiled at his wife's approach. Her hair was windblown, her cheeks rosy from the wind, and she was engulfed in one of his old barn jackets. She looked utterly adorable.

"It's nice to see color back in these cheeks," he told her and pinched one lightly.

"Jed," she slapped his hand away. "I'm not a child".

"No, " he agreed. "You're not. Is this better?" he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a much more adult greeting. There was acceptance and response until the kiss began to deepen and he felt her body tense up. He reluctantly eased the pressure on her lips, but couldn't resist a quick peck on the tip of her nose.

"You did make sure that I have all the ingredients for my chili, didn't you?" he asked as he linked her arm in his to lead her into the house.

"Of course, you only reminded me fifty times in the last two days".

"Well, it wouldn't be the Superbowl without my five alarm chili".

"You sure you aren't going to be too nervous to eat?" she smiled. He may have been preoccupied lately but she knew just how important this game was to Jed. Hell, it was important to her too.

"Even if I am we have a lot of guests who WON'T be and they are looking forward to my chili".

"They said that?"

"Not in so many words. But I know they're thinking it. What about you? Don't tell me you don't have any butterflies in your stomach".

"Not me. I have complete and utter faith in my boys".

* * * *

Later that afternoon, with the cooking done and the TV droning on showing highlights from every past Superbowl, Abbey reclined on the couch reading a book while Jed played with the kids on the floor. She glanced up at the ringing of the doorbell and smiled as she watched her husband. Wearing old jeans, a Patriots sweatshirt, and his socks he was helping Aislinn learn to walk by allowing her to hold on to his fingers as she toddled unsteadily across the carpet.

"I'll go see them in," she said placing her book down and sliding her glasses off.

"It's your guests ma'am," said the agent who had opened the door.

"Yes, I can see that Paul, "Abbey swallowed a smile. The agent nodded feeling a slight thrill that the First Lady remembered his name. While the President rarely remembered anyone but Ron, the First Lady had a razor sharp memory for names. While she chafed at times about having protection, she always treated her agents with warmth and humanity, often asking how they were and about their families. Paul remembered one time when she had asked about his family, he had told her that his daughter had the flu. Two days later when he was back on her detail she actually remembered that and asked how she was doing. Things like that had caused the men on Abbey's detail to view her as more than just a “job” and all were personally as well as professionally committed to keeping her safe.

"Vinatieri eh?" Josh said as they all eyed the First Lady in her jeans and oversized ,authentic blue football jersey with the big number 4 on her chest. "Not too many kickers have fans wearing their shirts".

"Hey, Adam's the man," Abbey said leading them toward the living room.

"And he's a cutie," Amy grinned.

"Didn't I see you in a Bledsoe jersey one Sunday earlier this year?" Leo asked. He frequently joined the Bartlets for football Sunday's.

"Bledsoe's old news," Abbey stated. "Right now it's all about Brady and Brown and most of all Adam Vinatieri. Without him we wouldn't be in the Superbowl".

Josh and Sam were eyeing the First Lady with awe. They had assumed that she, CJ and Amy would go sit in the kitchen and talk girly stuff, and yet, here she was spouting off vast knowledge of her football team. Jed watched them with amusement. He had seen many men taken aback by his wife's knowledge of the game.

"Abbey's cutthroat guys so you better watch out. If you don't perform, you don't play". Jed almost bit his tongue realizing the sexual connotations of that statement and how his wife would have a field day with it. Abbey acknowledged the statement with a raised brow and a half smile sent his way to let him know that she had caught the double entendre but was letting it slide.

"That's not entirely true Jed. You know I feel sorry for Drew, but hell, you can't continually choke in the big games. Tommy's not going to choke. He's young and brash and doesn't have anything to lose. OK, who wants a beer?"

"You can close your mouths guys," Jed grinned.

"I'll have a Heineken, " Toby said, He was well aware of the President's penchant for that German beer.

"Not today boys, "Jed boomed. "Today is the day of the Patriots and we are taking that theme all the way. The fridge is loaded with AMERICAN beer only".

"Now that was his rule, not mine," Abbey said as she took a pull from a bottle of Michelob light.

A few minutes later Abbey came out to pass around Mich lights for the women and Michs for the men who said they wouldn't be caught dead drinking a light beer. Light beers were for chicks.

Before long everyone was at the buffet filling plates with chips and taco dip, barbecued wings, buffalo strips, pizza, and of course bowls of spicy chili. Also, it being a Bartlet feast, there were vegetable and fruit dips as well, "in case anyone decides to eat healthy" as Abbey had said.

"You know," CJ said putting her plate on the coffee table so she could pull Aislinn up into her lap. "I don't watch much football".

"Just sit by me," Abbey assured her. "I'll talk you through it".

* * * *

"SON OF A BITCH!" Abbey exploded. With less than two minutes left to the game the St. Louis Rams had just tied the game at 17 and it looked like things would be going into overtime.

"I can NOT believe they just blew a fucking 14 point lead, " Jed fumed.

With the language that had been flying this last quarter CJ thought it was a darn good thing that the Bartlet babies were sleeping away in their cribs upstairs."Well didn't you guys say there is some kind of curse on your team?" she asked.

"That's the RED SOX" both Jed and Abbey burst out at the same time.

The mood the room lightened after a long pass play got the Patriots to within field goal range with just seconds left to the game. It would be a long field goal but certainly not out of Vinatieris's range.

"Oh Jesus, I can't watch, " Jed groaned.

"You have to," Abbey urged him. "He's going to make history. I'm telling you there is no way Adam is going to miss this".

The room was dead silent as the field goal kicker took his place and everyone held their breath. In the next moment those breaths were expelled in whoops of joy, at least from Jed and Abbey who were on their feet hugging each other in disbelief and excitement.

"Mr. President, “ Leo said walking forward with a phone. I believe that you are going to have a phone call to make. Jed grinned broadly.

"This is going to be the BEST Presidential phone call I've ever made," The boyish giddiness in his tone caused all in the room to smile. They knew just how happy he was to be calling Bill Belichek to congratulate the Pats on their victory. They had been with him a couple years back when he had been forced to swallow his disgust and call the New York Yankees to congratulate them on their World Series victory and knew how happy he was to have called the Diamondbacks this year instead. But this, well this phone call would be the absolute best.

* * * *

After Jed made his phone call and their guests prepared to leave Abbey took Max out for a quick walk. The dog seemed fine now and totally relaxed, but her eyes immediately went to where she had seen the shadow move. The floodlights the service used now lightened the woods and she didn't see any movement at all. She knew that she was being paranoid, but she still felt a funny sort of apprehension about the whole situation.

Once Max had done his business, she turned to go back inside. It was too cold to dawdle for long. She stood in the small mudroom and slipped her boots off, then stood to pull her sweatshirt off. Leo had opened the door to get his coat and stood transfixed in the doorway. As Abbey pulled the sweatshirt up over her head it lifted the shirt she wore underneath up as well. Up it went, first exposing the subtle curves of her hips encased in jeans, then higher to reveal the soft skin of her flat belly and that sexy little belly button. Still it went higher, up over her ribs until it caught on the swells of her full breasts. The quick flash of her lacy red bra nearly caused him to groan out loud, but instead he stood quietly gazing at the naked expanse of her torso.

CJ saw a strange look on Leo's face as he stood in the doorway to the mudroom. It reminded her of the one she had seen on his face the previous summer. Some type of incredible, almost painful longing. Then Toby called his name and the look was gone so quickly CJ wondered if she had imagined it. It was something he was obviously adept at hiding. She watched Leo leave and moved forward to see what he had been looking at. She saw Abbey pushing her shirt down over her bare midriff as she moved to hang her sweatshirt. She could tell that the First Lady had no idea that she had been watched. CJ could clearly see impending disaster up ahead for them all if what had seen was a true indication as to how Leo felt. She shuddered to think what would have happened if the President had caught Leo eyeing his wife that way.

"Oh God Leo" she muttered under her breath. "What are you thinking?"

* * * *

Jed awoke the next morning in state of arousal after an incredibly vivid erotic dream. Abbey was snuggled up to him her breath feather light over his nipple. Her hand was low on his belly. VERY low, and so damn close to that part of him that ached to be touched. He shut his eyes tightly willing his body to stop this pulsing and throbbing. Abbey shifted slightly in her sleep and he groaned as her hand instinctively cupped him and her knee came up to drape her inner thigh over his hips. He quickly opened his eyes hoping that she was awake and knew exactly what she was doing. But, she wasn't. These moves had been made with pure instinct. In sleep her body knew what it wanted and needed, it was only when she was awake that the wariness crept. Jed fought back the urge to press his hips up against her hand. He didn't like the feeling he had of taking advantage of her while she slept. In the past that wouldn't have bothered him. He would lifted that nightgown higher over her hips and rubbed himself against her softness until she awakened with soft sleepy moans and began to stroke him to even higher arousal. Oh Christ, thinking about it wasn't helping matters. He felt like a teenager again filled with desire and nowhere to release it, but he would be damned if he would resort to a teenager's means of relief. He gently lifted Abbey's thigh from his hips and rolled away from her to slide out of bed and hit the shower.

Half asleep, Abbey reached a hand out to touch Jed and instead touched empty mattress. She blinked her eyes and looked at the clock. Jed didn't have to be back in DC for a while and she was surprised he was up so early. Then again, they had hardly lain in bed cuddling recently. She heard the shower running and moved to the bathroom. Inside, she slipped her hand behind the curtain to let Jed know she was up and gasped at the cold water that touched her skin.

"Jed are you nuts?" she called out. He wanted to shout back “No I'm horny," but didn't want her to feel guilty about that.

"No, I just needed a brisk shower to wake up".

Abbey's eyes narrowed as she gazed at the shower curtain. She knew he was lying. Like most men, Jed often awoke aroused and she couldn't recall how many times in their marriage that he had awakened her with sex. She had often teased him that an early morning tumble was a hell of a lot better way to wake up than an alarm clock. The fact that he was even afraid to tell her that he was horny showed a widening gulf in that intimate part of their lives.

She moved to the sink and began her morning ablutions still half-asleep. She brushed her teeth and then, while she rinsed with mouthwash, reached into the medicine cabinet for her pills. She frowned when she didn't feel the round package by Jed's shaving cream where it always was. She began to move things around certain that they must have just gotten moved, but she couldn't find them anywhere in the cabinet.

"Jed," she turned as he stepped out of the shower. "Did you do something with my birth control pills?"

Jed looked at her as if she had two heads.

"Abigail what the hell would I do with your birth control pills? Last I heard they controlled ovulation not sperm mobility".

"Do you see me laughing?" she eyed him.

"Well, what did you think I would do with them?"

"I don't know," she said exasperated. "Moved them or something".

"No dear. I have not touched your birth control pills. Are you sure you brought them?"

"I know we haven't had sex for a while Jed, but after what happened the last time, I can assure that I brought them. I know I had them here. I took one yesterday morning".

"I'm sure they'll turn up. If not can't you just get the prescription refilled?"

"Yes. It's just weird. I mean where would they have gone?"

As Abbey began to dress she started to get the strange feeling that somebody had been in her things. There was nothing obvious; just the cover not being twisted on her talcum powder and the feeling that things had been moved on her vanity. She might not have noticed if she wasn't such a neat freak but she always kept her perfumes on one side and make up on the other and she had found two lipsticks on the perfume side. Then, as she moved to dress and opened her lingerie drawer, she was sure somebody had been in there. While she liked to keep her bra and panty sets folded together blue with blue, black with black, everything was now a jumbled mess. She turned to look at Jed who was seated on the bed wearing just his shirt and boxers as he put his socks on.

"Jed, have you been in my lingerie drawer?"

Jed gave her a long steady look.

"I'm not sure where you are going with this or what you think I have been up to Miss. Mata Hari, but I am not into cross dressing or wearing women's underwear all of the sudden and I am not taking birth control pills".

"JED, this isn't funny!" she exclaimed and Jed could see she was on the verge of tears.

"Abbey, why are you getting so worked up?" he moved toward her.

"Because I feel like the three bears. I know someone's been going through my stuff. I want to know who the HELL Goldilocks is.

* * * *

Ron sat in front of the President and First Lady in the living room at Harmony Point while the First Lady tried to convince him that someone had been in her room.

"What do you think was taken?" Ron asked.

"As far as I could tell my birth control pills, a bottle of Chanel perfume and a leopard print bra and panty set". To his credit Ron didn't show any emotion at the mention of the First Lady's underwear.

"You're sure that you had these items here and didn't just leave them at the White House?"

Abbey looked at them with incredulity. She had forgotten her pills ONCE in her life and that had resulted in the babies Izzy was feeding breakfast to in the next room. Did they honestly think she would forget again?

"No. I know they were here. I took one of the pills here yesterday morning, and, contrary to what you might hear about me, I only have one leopard print set of lingerie, so yes I know it is missing. And the perfume was a Christmas gift from Annie so I wear it a lot. I'm telling you that someone went through my stuff and took things".

"Well, you did have guests here yesterday. Do you think any of them might have gone in and taken anything?"

"I don't think Amy or CJ would have need for MY prescription birth control pills and I don't think we have any cross dressers on staff," Abbey said sarcastically.

"What about your new housekeeper?"

"Mrs. Anderson," Abbey laughed. She's 65 years old, I don't think she needs to be on the Pill anymore and I think leopard print is a little risqué for her".

"Just because she wouldn't use it doesn't mean she didn't take it. Do you know what a prescription made out to you could bring someone on ebay. Even articles of clothing or perfume could bring big money".

"You think someone stole my stuff to sell on EBAY?" Abbey asked with astonishment.

"That has to be illegal," Jed added.

"It is. We'll keep our eye open and see if anything pops up".

"Then you don't think it's HIM?"

"No," Ron said. "He couldn't have gotten in here. As I said before I am really leaning toward believing it is somebody on the domestic staff who is helping him".

"Ron. I'd like to take self-defense classes ". The words came rushing out as if Abbey was afraid she wouldn't be able to get them out if she didn't do it quickly.

"What do you mean?"

"Could you get one of the agents to give me some self defense classes. Teach me some moves".

"Mrs. Bartlet that really isn't necessary. You aren't going to need to defend yourself”.

"Maybe not, but I'd feel better if I COULD. Look, I know I'm small and I know I don't have a chance against this guy. That was painfully obvious when he attacked me. I need a fighting chance Ron, that's all I'm asking for".

Jed felt a pang grip his chest at her request and he looked at her with surprise. He hadn't known that she had been worried about any of this or was contemplating asking Ron about self-defense.

Ron stared at her for a long moment seeing the emotions playing out in her eyes. He didn't like the idea that she didn't think the service could protect her, but he could also see that she needed to become proactive to regain some control of the situation.

"Well, like I said, you aren't going to need it, but if it will make you feel better I will give you some self defense classes myself and teach you some moves to protect yourself".

"Thank you Ron".

* * * *

Marcus Hughes sat at the counter of "Lucy's" a small diner in Port Harmony. He wore a baseball cap down low over his forehead in case any members of the secret service were hanging around. He sat at the counter and listened to the chatter around him. It was obvious that the town was filled with excitement over the fact that the President and First Lady had a home there now and were in town for the weekend. It was all anyone seemed to be talking about.

"That Abigail Bartlet is so nice", one woman said. "She likes to sneak into town to shop wearing baseball caps and sunglasses, but when she came in the General Store I knew who it was right away. I saw those serious looking agents milling around behind her".

"Oh June," said another woman, "You've got to tell me. What did she buy?"

"She bought a package of sugarfree gum and some teething biscuits. Then she saw my fresh baked blueberry muffins and said that the President has a sweet tooth and a soft spot for blueberries so she bought a half dozen. She was so nice. I told her she didn't have to pay. I was thrilled just to have her in the store, but she insisted. She said she hates being shut away from the world and wants to continue to sneak into town. She was just like a regular person".

"Hey, you're new in town aren't you?" the other woman turned to Marcus who was sulking a bit with all the talk of the President.

"Yes"

"Just passing through or staying a while?"

"Oh I'll be here a little while. At least until Valentines Day".

He took his coffee and moved to a booth where he could think in peace, then ordered a piece of apple pie and vanilla ice cream. Couldn't get any more American than that. Soon he would be the envy of every man in America that had ever dreamed of putting it to the First Lady. He smiled at the thought. Yes, it was his patriotic duty as an American male to give Abigail Bartlet a bang for all the poor schmucks out there who watched her with a hard on while she swayed her ass in those short tight skirts and flashed those sexy legs on the news. Or those pathetic losers who used her Cosmo photo layout in the bathroom like a Playboy centerfold. Yes he would be their hero. His power over her would be complete.

He felt the surge of excitement that a predator has when getting close to his prey. Soon he would be the victor and to the victor goes the spoils. He stuck his hand in his pocket and fingered the silky bra he had stuffed in there feeling an almost orgasmic thrill. He was closing in on the perfect day that he had chosen to take his love. Soon Abigail, he thought, soon the hunt will be over and you will be mine.

TBC...