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Double 'O' Lyman |
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Double ‘O’ Lyman Author: Maeve Disclaimer: TWW belongs to AS, JW, WB, and NBC. Spoilers: None. AN: This kinda goes with my story Hit List, but you don’t have to read that to understand anything here. ******************************************************************************************************* He was the dashing man he’d always loved to hate. Leo blinked, angrily watching the television screen, a fire simmering in his glance. He drew a breath, using the remote to turn up the set. His gaze stayed rooted on the man on the screen, watching the Congressional candidate schmooze the crowd like a pro. “Leo you have a meeting with Josh in - ” He felt her breath snap through the air more than heard it. Knew her eyes were studying the same man he was. Leo flickered a glance to the redhead at his side, watching her face flush in embarrassment. He shook it away softly, turning away her regretful eyes with a wave of his hand.
In other news - Neil Barrister announced his open candidacy for Congress today, he seeks to fill the opening seat for New York. ************************************************************************ “I’m just saying that we should support our candidates.” Leo groaned softly, leaning his head slightly to the side. He tapped his fingers across the folder that he’d splayed his lap and watched Toby snort derisively. “We’re all saying we need to support them Mr. President,” Ziegler coughed out an apathetic laugh, “But you’re saying you wanna do it with the funding that should go to little Annie the epileptic, one legged…dairy farmer…girl.” Bartlet arched a brow, fingers poised on his desk, a slow smile tugged at the man’s mouth, “One legged epileptics Toby? Now not only am I a danger to Congress - but I also manipulate handicapped farmer’s daughters?” “There’s a difference between regular campaign support and soft money, but frankly sir - you don’t get to touch either one.” Josh flashed Toby a glare, dropping his voice to a non-committal tone. The tension that had been minutely hinted at diffused by Lyman’s diversion. “I’m just talking about a phone call or two.” Bartlet waved towards the phone. “Not like I’m going to chat up the Majority Leader at three am.” “No but all the conservative Democrats are gonna get pissed because you’re not rallying for them and go pounding towards the Republican pavement,” Leo stood, easing towards his own office door, signaling the end of the staff meeting, “You can’t do it Mr. President - that’s all there is to it.” “You can.” Leo blinked back, “Excuse me?” Bartlet shrugged, “Why not? Call a couple of them out of the support and courtesy of the Bartlet administration.” CJ waved a tired hand, “It’s the same thing when the press gets it - whether it was Leo, or you ,or the First Lady on the phone. Sir- it all comes back to you.” “We may be able to call one or two in on supposed…campaign finance and reform stuff, as political consultants.” They all glanced slowly to the new guy. “Give them support in person as a thanks for their imparting political advice.” Bartlet smirked good naturedly at Will, waving a thankful hand. “Leo?” “No.” McGarry shook his head, “Because I know who you want me to meet with.” “McCahill.” Bartlet shrugged. “And Sam.” Toby shifted in his seat, a proud smirk tugging his smile wider. CJ tossed him a supportive glance and flashed a grin with Josh. They all seemed to swell a little at the mention of the California native. “And Leahy - and Barrister.” CJ pointed out, tapping her pen on Ziegler’s knee unknowingly. Leo turned quickly on his heel, flashing a dark glance against them all. He shook his head in a no, shoulders tight. McGarry flickered a glance to Bartlet, face honest. “You really think that’s the message you wanna send the country?” Leo shrugged, “We’re sneaking them in so the satellites don’t see us handing over the checks.” “Leo - ” “You might as well just send the conservative Democrats their resignations so they can sign them and toss ‘em back.” “Leo, c’mon.” Josh stood, hands open. “No.” McGarry tossed an angry glance his way. He realized fast that they were looking less on him as their boss and more on him as their friend. He shook off the look and glanced towards Bartlet with a heavy sigh. He blinked at the glance of confusion on his friend’s face. “Two…if we see more than two - the press will kill it.” Leo waved it off, “Josh sees one and Toby sees one.” “Sam.” Toby called early, standing from one of the couches and passing Lyman a winning grin. Josh pouted lightly until CJ glared them both down and shook her head. Still, there was a smile in her eyes. “Then I want Barrister.” Josh waved a hand slightly, “He’s the closest to New England.” CJ snorted, “You’re choosing according to geography? What are you - Cortez? ” Lyman ignored her comment, shouldering it off and grabbing his folders. He headed towards the exit, step light at the end of the meeting. Leo tried to move into his own office, tried to make it into his office, but he couldn’t move. “Josh.” Lyman turned fast, “Yeah?” “C’mere.” he motioned to his office, “Toby call Sam.” He finally made the steps into his office, feeling the burning glance of Jed Bartlet on his shoulders as Josh followed him into his office. Leo refused his friend’s glance as he shut the door between offices. Josh stared at him in expectant confusion, eyes blank and brow arched. “It’s gonna be fine Leo - the press is just - ” “Choose someone else.” Leo mumbled low, dropping his eyes to his paperwork. Josh stopped short, “What?” “You’re not meeting with Barrister, choose someone else.” “Why?” Leo offered a thick glare, “Just choose someone else.” *********************************************************************** “Wanna be a secret agent?” “No.” she dropped his paperwork on the desk, flickering a glance over the senior staff minutes. Donna watched him shove things to the side, fingers tapping nervously against his desktop. He tossed her up a wondering glance. “Sure ya do.” She sighed softly, humor flickering in her blue eyes, “Do I have to wear the black lycra again? It itches Josh.” He arched a brow, “Relax Emma Peel.” She just offered half a smile, “What do you need?” “Find out why Leo’s iffy on Neil Barrister.” he waved her towards the hall. Donna grinned, grabbing her paperwork and heading towards the doorway, “Is iffy even a word?” “I’m not listening Miss Galore.” ************************************************************************ “We’re out by eight.” he settled the paperwork on her desk, trailing a hand past her shoulder as he moved back into his office. Margaret turned quickly in her seat, watching him ease back into his office. She stood and followed him easily, arms tucked across her chest. “Are you okay?” she asked quietly. “Fine.” She knew by the drop of his tone that he most definitely wasn’t fine. “Leo stop.” He blinked up, “It doesn’t bother me.” She sighed, “Yes it does.” Leo drew a long breath through his nose, “What bothers me is that he’s gonna be at the banquet this weekend.” Margaret smirked softly, watching a smile creep along his face, “I’m not invited to the banquet Leo, it really won’t be a problem.” “You’re going to the banquet.” he dropped the news softly, a smirk on his lips, “Unless you don’t deem the French ambassador’s birthday a worthy event for us to be seen in public together.” She arched a brow, smirking softly, “We went to the fundraiser together last month.” Leo shrugged amusedly, “This is different.” “How?” He drew a breath, “Neil Barrister.” ************************************************************************ “Why do you care?” she just tossed a knowing glance to the other aide, eyes skimming for the paperwork she needed. Donna just shrugged and pulled out two folders, handing them to Margaret with a knowing smile. “Josh was just wondering what the issue with Barrister was.” Donna shrugged her shoulders again, grinning when Margaret flipped through the folders she’d handed over, knowing they were exactly what she needed. Margaret slammed the drawer shut a little less than elegantly. “It’s a little personal.” Donna arched a brow, smiling softly, “C’mon Mags…is it really that personal that you can’t tell me?” “You’ll tell Josh.” the redhead pointed in soft accusation. The other woman crossed her fingers in an X over her chest and shook her head, the smile on her lips giving away the silent promise. Donna put her right hand in the air and grinned. “I’ll never tell.” Margaret just laughed softly, “Yes you will…Neil is Leo’s old law partner, one of four.” “And?” Donna cocked her head amusedly, following the other aide deftly to her desk. “I slept with him.” “Maggie?” “Twice.” Donna grinned, “In one night, or two separate nights?” “Donna!” there was a blush to match the red of her hair. “I’m leaving, I’m leaving.” ************************************************************************ “Well ,” she eased onto the side of his desk, “I got it.” “Got what?” Josh cocked back his head, kicking his feet up as he trailed back in the chair. Donna watched him with a knowing smirk a moment, then flicked at his shoes. His feet hit the floor with a thump. “John Steed you’re not,” she murmured carelessly, “I got Neil Barrister.” “Really?” he crossed his arms over his chest easily, eyes lit. “Mmmm,” Donna grinned, leaning in conspiratorially, “He’s a Republican.” There was a brief flicker of fear in his glance and then understanding when he caught the soft giggle off her lips. Josh tossed her a well known glare and shook his head softly. His eyes narrowed in a half amused, half annoyed glance. “Funny.” “No seriously,” she waved it off, standing and heading towards the door, “Maggie slept with the guy a couple of times.” “So?” Donna grinned, easing out the doorway, “He was Leo’s partner.” Josh dropped back in his chair, “Ah hell.” Suddenly she was back in his office, amusement dancing in her blues. Donna leaned onto his desk, palms flat on the wood. She turned her head slightly in questioning. “Don’t you find it funny that his last name is Barrister and he’s a lawyer…you know after the whole lawyer in England , barrister and solicitor thing?” her hair fell lightly from her shoulder, catching his eyes as she spoke. Josh stared at her with a small smile, “No.” “But it’s funny when someone’s a shyster.” He just chuckled softly, “Well yeah.” ************************************************************************ He took a moment to realize that one of them had not left his office. Leo glanced up, breath drawn hard. His eyes flickered to meet with Josh’s, face passive and expectant. Both men seemed to watch each other for a brief second, confusion in glances. “Having a moment?” Leo asked tiredly. Josh sighed softly, standing and pulling together his stuff. He’d caught the tired glance on the older man’s face. The slow passing of a headache in the man’s movements. Somewhere in his heavy breathing and tired gestures, Josh had caught a dreaded hurt in the other man. It was something he couldn’t bare, not after months of fear and hurt. Not after years of worry and wonder. He needed to see Leo on top of his game, if only because it made him feel like he was on top of the world. “Yeah, see it started this one night when I got shot.” Josh waved it off, eyes just as sad as the other man’s. “Excuse me?” Lyman just dropped his stuff to the table, arms crossing his chest, “What’s wrong Leo? Seriously, is this the Barrister thing, because…it’s not like you to act like this over a guy that Maggie slept with a couple times.” McGarry dropped his face against a hand, letting his fingers rub against the suddenly reborn headache. Leo just sighed harder, finally moving up a glance. “Yeah I guess it is Josh.” he admitted softly, “It’s just…he was my partner.” “He’s not anymore.” the younger man waved off gently. Leo nodded, “I know.” “And Margaret is.” Leo blinked up a heavy glance, honesty in his eyes. Josh watched slow realization dip into the other man’s glance. A slow smile crept between them and he felt the worry in his chest lighten. Josh pushed his stuff back together, tugging his folders up against his chest. McGarry just watched in a softened breath. “Thanks Josh.” “So yeah,” Josh started out the door, tossing his voice as he left, “There’s a guy in a hole.” Leo just laughed softly, feeling the headache start to dissolve all over again. ************************************************************************ “Let’s skip it,” he tugged his fingers across the waist of her skirt, “I’ll take you out dancing or something.” Margaret just grinned knowingly, shaking her head, “You can’t just skip it.” He shrugged, “President already said I could.” Margaret smirked softly, letting him pull her back into his hold, her head falling lightly against his shoulder. The office was dark and she just barely caught the flicker of light in the Oval Office. It was Charlie, shutting off the lamps and rounding the room one last time she was sure. Margaret tagged her fingers against his, stroking softly on his hand. “This is because of Neil.” His sigh shuddered heat across her ear, making her spine tingle as he spoke, “A little yeah, but I’m over that. Josh and I…well, yes but no.” “That was cryptic.” she giggled softly, the sound turning to full laughter when his fingers dug tickles into her waist. Margaret slapped at his hands, sighing softly when he moved kisses into her hair and neck, his hands flattening against her stomach. “It’s all figured out Margaret. True I don’t wanna go because of Neil, but I also want to spend the evening with you - because you’re more important than he is.” She blinked her eyes closed, leaning back into his warmth, “Dancing?” “And dinner.” he teased lightly on her ear. Margaret sighed softly, “And a movie.” “At home.” “Which home?” she questioned carefully, hugging into his chest. He just smiled, “It doesn’t matter.” Her hands seemed to fidget against his for a moment, “I’m sorry…about Neil.” He just whispered again, “It’s doesn’t matter.” She believed him. Click Leo and Margaret to send feedback:
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