crack_van | A Glass of Water by Priya (PG)

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: Leo/Jenny, Leo/Margaret (sort of)
Author on LJ:

priya
Author Website: crossroads fanfic
Why this must be read:

The world needs more good Margaret and Leo fic, dealing with the deep and abiding (and mostly non-sexual) love between them, and this story is a great example of the genre. It deals with Leo and Margaret before the show begins, back when Leo was Labor Secretary, and he was doing his job high most of the time, and Margaret was looking out for him, and how he finally stepped over the line.

This story is sharp, dry and rings true, from the way work gets in the way of Margaret's social life to the way she deals (sympathy and guilt entwined) with Jenny when Leo shows up drunk at her apartment. And while I'm not a huge fan of first person narration, this seems like it could totally be Margaret's very quirky thought process.

This is a good exploration of why Leo and Margaret put up with each other -- because they've been through too much together not to.

A quote:
Look, it's not my place to ask questions, right? So I don't. I mean, he usually gets the job done, and well, at that. Everyone's got their demons, their skeletons in the closet. I've got 'em. The girl I replaced had 'em. My boss, the Secretary of Labor, he's got 'em. I don't make judgment calls, usually.

I got him the glass of water. It doesn't make a difference. He would've dry swallowed the pill if I hadn't gotten him the water. He wouldn't have taken it with scotch, though. I mean, he's not stupid. Sharp like a fox, him.

That was a mixed metaphor, wasn't it?

A Glass of Water by Priya