Disclaimer: Nothing here is mine ... except the idea behind the story & the
story itself...


The helicopter ride from New York seems endless. The Secret Service still
refuses to give me any details, they live up to their name quite well.

We finally land at the hospital and I am swarmed by dark suits. They lead me
into the building and through the quiet halls. One suit pushes open a door
and directs me inside. The moment I step inside I feel a body fly into my own.

"Mommy!" my daughter exclaims as she clutches me.

I hold her tightly as I survey the rest of the room. Sam, Charlie, Toby, CJ,
that redheaded reporter Danny, and Leo...

I turn to Leo, "Where's Josh?"

"He's in surgery Abbey. A bullet caught him in the arm, but the doctors say
he's going to be just fine." Leo answers.

I nod, "Where's Jed? Did he go back to the White House?"

Leo waits a fraction of a second, "No Abbey, he's not at the White House."

I look around the room again, "Then where-" I stop short... Jed's not here.
He's not at the White House. He's not here... Jed's not in this room... Oh
God, please no... "Leo?"

Leo gently pulls Zoey out of my arms. He takes my arm and leads me away from
the rest of the group.

"The President was hit in the chest one time. He's in surgery right now."

I keep my breathing normal and my face neutral, my daughter is watching me,
"What are the doctors saying?"

Leo sighs, "They're not saying anything yet... It looks bad Abbey."

"How long has he been in surgery?"

"A couple of hours."

"Okay," I glance back at Zoey. "What have you told Zoey?"

"Not much, just that the President was hit. She doesn't know how bad... I
couldn't-"

I put my hand on his arm, "It's all right Leo, that's my job."

"Abbey, there's one more thing ... the men who did the shooting ... they were
skinheads... They were unhappy about Zoey and Charlie dating." Leo tells me.

I stare at him, "You mean, they were trying to kill people because they
didn't like who my daughter was dating?"

Before Leo can answer, the door to the room opens and two doctors enter.

"Mrs. Bartlet?" one of the doctors says.

I walk over to him with Leo by my side, "Yes?"

"Mrs. Bartlet, the President has come through the surgery with no
complications. He is resting in his room."

I can hear the sighs of relief behind me. I nod my head, "Thank you, Doctor.
When may I see him?" I stare at the doctor intently and he immediately
understands what I am trying to say.

I want to talk to him away from the others-away from my daughter.

"Right now," he says, opening the door. "If you'll follow me, Mrs. Bartlet."

I nod and turn to Zoey, "Baby, stay here with Leo. I'm going to go see Daddy."

"I want to go with you."

I shake my head, "No, stay here Zoey."

"But Mom-"

"No, Zoey," I raise my hand to silence her. "I need to you to stay here."

I know she's unhappy, but she nods her head anyway. I run my hand down her
head and kiss her forehead before following the doctor out of the room.

I've been a doctor for a long, long time. One of the things I've learned to
do is let the detached, clinical persona take over when the threat of panic
starts to overwhelm me... Tonight is no different.

"What, exactly, are his injuries?" I ask.

"The President suffered one shot in the chest." The doctor tells me. "When he
was thrown into the limousine, he hit his head. The President's head was
split open, we're looking at a seventy-five percent chance of a serious
concussion."

"What's your opinion of a full recovery?" Damn... I can't keep the emotion
out of that question... Easy girl, keep it together for a while longer...

"I'm optimistic," the doctor says. "The surgery was the first obstacle and
the President came through it very well ... much better than I had expected.
I believe that, with some rest, he'll recover fully."

Thank you God. "Would you mind if I sat with him?"

"No ma'am," the doctor says, guiding me to Jed's room. "Stay as long as you
like. When you're ready for your daughter, use the intercom and someone will
send her down."

"Thank you." I say, with a voice full of gratitude.

"You're welcome, Mrs. Bartlet," he says, as he walks away.

I stand at the door a moment, then push it open, and walk in...


TBC...