Not wanting to hang around and have everyone come over to me I grab my cane and walk outside. Abbey starts to follow me but I send her back in to field more questions from the reporters and I am sure from the staff too. I hear Leo emphasizing that I do not want to be fussed over. I walk over and lean on one of the columns. I should have worn a jacket. I have one right in the office but I am too stubborn to go back in and get it. Too stubborn and too afraid to look anyone in the eye, especially Abbey and Leo. I glance over my shoulder and it looks like the office has emptied out. I just see Abbey and Josh talking inside. I kind of remember Abbey saying that she ran in to Josh last night in the Rose Garden. She said he was very concerned about me. He's really a great guy.

I hear the door behind me open. I really don't want to talk to anyone. Maybe if I stand perfectly still they won't notice me. Guess that wasn't really going to work. Abbey comes over and holds out my jacket for me to slip on. She's wearing that old sweater of mine she found in the closet. God she looks cute.

"How about a little walk, sweetie. You look like you need it"

I nod my head in agreement and take her hand. We walk in complete silence. It's scary how well Abbey knows me. She totally understands that right now I need to be with her but I don't need to talk. We don't get very far before I need to stop and rest. I lean with my shoulder against another column. Abbey stands behind me, one arm wrapped around my waist, her chin on my shoulder. I can hear her breathing. I start to relax a bit.

"You were great Jed. The girls will be so proud of their Dad."

"Thank you, for being here today, for last night. I know I was a pain in the ass."

"Really, you weren't that bad. You were just scared, so was I. Let's head back. I think you should take it easy today. Go back and take a nap."

"I'll be up in a little while. I want to talk to Leo about a few things."

I give Abbey a kiss and a hug and limp back to my office. It is surprisingly and thankfully empty. I take off my coat, toss it on the couch, sit in the chair and put my feet on the desk.

"Leo, are you in there"

Leo pokes his head in the room.

"You yelled, sir?"

"Come in here and grab me something to drink while you're at it" I bellow at him.

Being the smart-ass that he is he asks, "Would you like me to toss you one of Mrs. Landingham’s cookies too"

I groan at the "tossing cookie" comment.

"We don't need to discuss cookie tossing ever again. Seriously, have a seat" Leo sits on one end of the couch and I limp over to join him at the other end. "I want to thank you for last night. That was most certainly not in the job description of Chief of Staff"

"Jed, what I did last night was in the job description of friend."

OK, now Leo's going to make me cry.

"I saw the note you left. Thanks. It make Abbey cry. I liked it too. Well, I guess, what I mean is, oh you know what I mean."

"Yes Mr. President I know what you mean.

Then we engage in the manly tradition of slugging each other in the shoulder when what we really need to do is share a big hug.

"Well, I think I have had enough sharing for the moment. I'm going to go back to the residence and take a nap"

"Good idea, sir. Feel better. Call if you need anything"

"Leo"

"Sir"

"You know I love you too"

"Yes, I do"

We throw out all formality and hug before I limp back for a nap.