And I just won't sleep at night...(Prompt: Tired from 100_situations)

[ladyofavalon77]

Title: And I just won't sleep at night...
Author: ladyofavalon77 
Rating: PG
Pairing: Charles and Martha Logan
Warnings: Martha/Aaron fans won't like it!
Summary: Tired of work...tired of politics...Charles and Martha after a long day.
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Fox and the TV Show 24

 

It had been a very long day. In fact, his watch told him that the sun had set hours ago. The negotiations with the union representatives had been more difficult than he had realized and he had spent a great deal of his time getting both sides to the table to work out a tentative agreement. Fortunately no one wanted this strike to last any longer than it had to but both sides needed some concessions first before they could bring everything to a close. There were still some details to be worked out over the next few weeks but Charles Logan was confident that he had averted a major shutdown at the energy plants in California.

I don’t remember when I felt so tired…eight hours of straight negotiations would exhaust even the strongest of men…yet alone someone of my age…

Being careful to slowly open the front door so as not to wake Martha, he quietly hung up his jacket and put away his briefcase before making his way upstairs. Their son was away at college and the large house seemed so empty without him. He knew how much Martha missed him and wished his job as lieutenant governor didn’t call him away so often so he could fill the void their child had left behind. However, every time he raised this issue, she would just smile and reach for his hand before asking if he was happy. As long as he felt that the work he was doing was worthwhile, she didn’t mind waiting until he finished his term in office. They would have more than enough time for each other after his retirement.

I don’t know what I did to deserve her but I thank God every day for sending me a woman as understanding and caring as Martha.

As he headed for the guestroom, he couldn’t help but pause at the door to their bedroom, wanting to see her before turning in for the night. Reaching for the handle of the door, he carefully pushed it open and saw she had fallen asleep with the TV still on, her cheek resting against the pillows of their king size bed while her hand still grasped the remote and the covers remained untouched. Smiling at her attempt to stay up until he arrived home, Charles entered their bedroom to turn off the TV and make her more comfortable, gently taking the remote from her hand before pulling the covers over her sleeping form. As he reached out to turn off the light, he heard a familiar voice ask him softly, “Charles? Is that you?”

“I was trying not to wake you,” he told her, taking a seat on the bed beside her as he watched her beautiful blue eyes adjust to the light and she ran a hand through her tousled blonde locks. “You shouldn’t be up this late.”

“I couldn‘t sleep,” she replied, reaching out to draw him into a welcome home kiss. “But it doesn’t matter…I think I just need to get used to having an empty house. When Matthew left for college… ”

“He left quite a vacuum behind,” he finished for her, returning the kiss with warmth. “I’m sorry, Martha…I’ll try to get home earlier from now on. I know how much you hate eating alone.”

“What I really hate is if you make a promise you can‘t keep,” she teased him lightly, starting to take off his tie and unbutton his shirt. “But you’re here now and that’s all that matters. Let’s just put the day behind us and start over tomorrow.”

“I think I can do that,” he whispered back, capturing her hand in his and kissing it before rising from the bed to finish getting undressed. “I don’t remember the last time I was this tired. The union workers demanded so many concessions that it took awhile to talk them down to just a few and then getting the plant owners to agree to those concessions restarted the whole process all over again. It seemed like it would never end.”

“But you were able to stop the strike?” she queried as he moved around in their walk in closet, crossing her arms as she waited for him to return to bed.

“I believe so…there are a few more details to work out but I believe both sides are tired of fighting and just want to have things return to normal while making some changes along the way.”

“Charles…” she started after a period of silence had descended on the room, something on her mind that she wanted to ask him.

“Hmm?” he replied, emerging from their closet ready for bed and a long rest over the upcoming weekend.

“Do you ever get tired of the long hours your job demands? I mean I rarely get to see you unless we’re at a campaign event or fundraiser. Matthew will only be with us a few more years before he graduates from college and your job in politics is preventing us from enjoying that time with him,” she asked as he got into bed beside her and she could see he was considering what she was asking of him.

“Well, I DO miss eating dinner with you, Marty,” he began, trying to prepare an answer that would both satisfy her and reveal his true feelings. “However, I cannot deny that I like being able to serve the people in public office. There are so many more opportunities to help people when I’m in this position than if I retired from politics altogether. I just wish there was a way to shorten my hours.”

“I don’t think shorter hours and political campaigns go hand in hand, Charles,” Martha informed him gently, reaching out to squeeze his hand. “And I know you want to make a difference. I can see it when your eyes light up each time you come home, telling me what happened with your day. I just don’t know if I can be with you every step of the way…”

“I thought you…”

“I know…I said I could do this,” she replied, turning away before whispering. “I thought I could do this…”

“Martha…” he addressed her gently, taking hold of her arms and turning her back towards him. “Do you want me to resign? Do you want me to leave? I will right now if you just tell me that’s what you want.”

And for a moment, time stood still. She knew in her heart of hearts that she wanted him to give up all of his political ambitions, to leave government office behind, and find a nice house in the country where they could spend the rest of their days focused on simple matters like what was on the menu for dinner and when was Matthew coming over for a visit. However, she also saw in his eyes that he would never be happy if she said yes. Politics was as much in his blood as her love for Matthew was in hers. She couldn’t do that to him. And no matter how tired she was of the press and the spotlight and the long nights alone she would press on…because she loved him…and she really believed he could make a difference in the world.

“No, Charles,” she finally confessed. “It’s ok…I was just tired. That’s all.”

“We’re both tired,” he agreed, enfolding his arms around her. “I’ll tell Sharon to forward all my calls to voicemail over the weekend. I think after tonight’s success with the union negotiations I can take off a few days. How about I call Matthew and we’ll see if we can make a family event of it?”

“That would be wonderful,” she replied back, smiling against his shoulder. “I’m sure he’d enjoy a break from school.”

“Then it’s solved…first thing in the morning we’ll call him…together” he told her, emphasizing the last part for her benefit.

He really is trying…I just need to give him a chance…he’ll do the right thing…

And as she fell asleep next to him, Martha took comfort in the fact that he was right beside her. No matter what hour he came home, he always came home to her and that’s all she really could ask for. The question then became…why did she want something more?

I need to get past this…Like Charles said…I’m just too tired to think straight right now…