Saturday, August 17

Alanna strode down the White House corridors adjusting the pass looped around her neck. When she finally had it clipped right, she looked up to see what was ahead of her. Lots of people, lots of doors and lots of movement. Let's see, now. Which way is Leo's office? she wondered to herself. I think the guard said it was around this next corner.

She walked quickly around the corner and ran directly into someone and stumbled backwards momentarily. ``I'm sorry. I'm sorry,'' she gasped and looked up at her victim. It was a man, a bit taller than her, with a beard and mustache. His hair - what was left of it - was almost black and wavy. He had piercing brown eyes. He looked vaguely familiar. Maybe I met him during the campaign. But she couldn't remember his name. ``Are you okay?'' she asked him.

``Don't worry, I'll recover,'' he said dryly. ``Can I help you find something? someone?''

``Oh. Well, I'm looking for Leo McGarry's office.''

``Do you have an appointment?'' the man asked. He seemed almost suspicious of her.

Alanna felt an unexpected spark of anger. Who was this stranger to question her? ``I don't need one,'' she answered haughtily, her eyes blazing. ``I have a pass as you can see. And I'm going to find Leo's office whether you help me or not.''

His expression changed then. Alanna saw him relax. ``Well, you're

heading in the right direction. It's straight down this hall. Two doors on your right,'' he said.

``Thank you,'' Alanna said, a bit of sarcasm in her tone.

``Yeah,'' he whispered inaudibly and walked back toward his office.

Alanna could hear Leo before she saw him.

``Margaret! I told you to get Roberts on the phone ten minutes ago!''

``I know that, Leo. I'm still on hold,'' Margaret called to him.

Alanna waved at Margaret and followed the direction of her brother's voice to find him. When she walked into his office, his was reading something and didn't look up. White House security had spoken to Margaret when Alanna arrived. Alanna had asked Margaret to keep her arrival a secret.

``You didn't have to come in here, Margaret. What line is he on?''

``I wouldn't know, Leo,'' Alanna said, smiling.

Leo looked up abruptly and smiled. ``Alanna!'' he exclaimed and got up to give her a hug. ``I didn't expect you until after 4 p.m.''

Alanna gave him a hug and a kiss. ``Leo, it is after 4.''

``Really?'' he asked and looked at his watch. ``Boy, this day sure has flown. Come on in. Sit down.''

``Leo! Roberts is on one.''

``Excuse me just for a minute, Alanna? This won't take but a couple of minutes.''

She nodded as he picked up the phone and began schmoozing with someone. Alanna let his voice fade into the background as she walked around his office looking at the various plaques and certificates on his wall. Then she began rummaging his bookshelves, which were covered with various reports and papers. What a mess, she thought. How does he get anything done?

Several minutes later, Leo hung up the phone and stood up again. ``So, baby sister, it's good to see you again. How long are you here for?''

``Leo, do you have to call me that?''

``Sorry, it's a reflex.''

``I know. I already told you that I am visiting for a week. My vacation, remember? Boy, did I need one.''

``Yeah? They working you hard at that newspaper?''

``Well, I can't really complain but I did need a break. It's my first vacation in two years. So I thought, go to Washington, see your brother; see the sights.''

``I'm glad you did,'' Leo said, smiling. ``Of course, I don't know how much time I'll be able to spend with you.''

``I know. I know, Mr. Chief of Staff. Busy. Busy. Just promise to take me to dinner one evening while I'm here and I'll let you off the hook for the rest.''

``Done. Hey, you staying at the house with Jenny?''

``If you she wants me to.''

``You better,'' he said, smiling.

``You're sure?''

``Absolutely. She'd never forgive you - or me - if you didn't.''

``Well, my luggage is still sitting out with the security guards so I'll bring it by your place- uh, Jenny's - later,'' Alanna said.

Just then a voice interrupted their reunion.

``Leo? Gotta minute?'' a man said. Alanna looked up to see the same man she had almost knocked over.

``Toby! Come in here. I want you to meet someone.''

Toby entered the office and stood in front of Alanna, his eyes cast down slightly. Then he looked up at her and Alanna felt her heart skip a beat.

``Toby, have you ever met my baby sister Alanna?''

``Well, kind of...''

``She's in town from New York for a visit. She writes for New York Newsday,'' he said and then turned to Alanna. ``Toby Zeigler here is our communications director.''

``We...uh...kind of bumped into each other already,'' Toby told Leo and then put out his hand. ``It's nice to meet you, Alanna.''

Alanna saw the question on Leo's face and laughed. ``I almost knocked poor Toby down as I was searching for your office,'' she said and then took Toby's hand and shook it. She felt a small tingle when they touched. She saw that he was now openly studying her face. ``Nice to meet you, too, Toby. Actually, I think we may have met once when Bartlet was campaigning in New York.''

Toby nodded and then turned to Leo. ``I need to talk to you about the Carson bill.''

``Right,'' Leo said, nodding. ``Alanna, can you give us a minute. Margaret can get you anything you need.''

Alanna nodded and walked out the door. She could still his brown eyes, looking at her so intently. Was he flirting with her? Or was it her imagination?

``She looks too young to be your sister, Leo,'' Toby remarked when the door was closed.

``Oh, yeah, well, she's the baby of the family.''

``And that would make her how old?''

Leo paused for a moment, thinking. ``Let's see. She just turned 39 in May. Why?''

``No reason,'' Toby said and then turned the discussion towards the Carson bill.