Well that was then and this is now
And I want you back
How many times do I have to say I'm sorry?*

The room was dark. Toby squinted as he leaned in the doorframe. It had
been nearly eight hours of sitting in the waiting room, listening to nurses
call to each other, hearing alarms go off in the ICU, fearing each moment
might be the one that a doctor emerged covered in blood-soaked scrubs, a
mournful look on his or her face.

To Toby's right, Danny Canconnon sat in a chair, staring into space with
a dazed expression. To the reporter's side, a blood-soaked jacket rested on
the chair. He'd never seen blood flow like that before. It hurt him so much
more than he'd ever thought he'd be hurt. He'd never seen anyone he'd loved
so dearly bleed that much before.

Behind Toby, David paced an aisle slowly, thinking. He couldn't help but
wonder if he'd only tried harder, maybe he could have met her expectations.
He shouldn't have gone to his appointment that morning. If he didn't he might
have been there with her, and no one would have been shot. If anyone had been
shot, he would have, and that would have been better. There was no one to
worry about him if he died. Only the people at the White House cared about
him anymore. David sighed and sat down in a chair. If only he could have done
better, made her happier, moved beyond acceptance on the star system.

Toby looked up as a thin doctor moved out of the doorway and straight to
the nurse's desk. He talked to a nurse there for several moments and then
looked out around the room. Toby watched the doctor carefully as the man's
eyes drifted about the room and finally locked with his own. Toby nodded and
stood up as the doctor moved forward.

"Mr. Ziegler?" The doctor asked. Toby nodded again. Danny was quick on
his feet and so was David. The three men stood and waited for the news.

"We've done the best we can do. There was a lot of internal bleeding, and the
bullet came very close to nicking her lung. We have her on a respirator and
she's being moved to ICU as we speak." The doctor exclaimed.

"What are her odds, doc?" Danny asked quietly. The doctor looked at him
and sighed.

"I don't normally like to give odds unless asked, but I'd say it's about
70-30." He replied.

"70-30 which way?" David asked. The doctor sighed again and looked at his
feet. A silence pervaded the small group as the three men realized that the
doctor couldn't bear to tell them that KD had a 30% of pulling through this
ordeal. Toby bit his lip, glanced at his feet, then back at the doctor.

"Can we see her?" He asked softly. Danny and David were impressed by his
usage of the word 'we' and waited for an answer.

"I'd say in about an hour. We need to get her stabilized in ICU. I want
the nurses and machinery to be in standard rotation." The doctor replied
honestly. Toby nodded and looked away.

"Thank you, doctor. You'll have someone let us know when we can go in?"
He asked. The doctor nodded and then moved away. Toby looked at the other two
men and sighed. "I have to go back to the office. I have a feeling I'm going
to be here for awhile." He said.

"Okay. I've got to do some writing." Danny replied. "I hate it, but I
do."

"I don't have anywhere to go really." David said honestly. "So I'll just wait
here for you guys to come back, I guess. I'll keep you updated." He added
quietly as he sat down. Toby and Danny glanced at each other and then at the
younger man.

"Okay, then." Toby exclaimed and walked out of the waiting room, Danny
right behind him.

To Be Continued . . . .

*(Lyrics from Something Happened On the Way To Heaven by Phil Collins)