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


It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion... You can see it coming, you
know what's going to happen ... but you can't do a damn thing to stop it.

For the past two days, I've been watching the approaching crash... There was
something that young doctor neglected to tell me... I guess I can't blame
him, he was concerned about me. I guess he figured he'd save the worst news
for later.

Jed's been kept on heavy painkillers in the two days since the accident. He
hasn't noticed yet, but it's only a matter of time... I knew there was
something wrong when that young doctor came into the room and requested to
talk with me outside.

~~

"What it is?" I ask.

"I have the x-rays you wished to see," he says, holding them out to me.

"Thank you." I take them from him. Slipping on my glasses, I begin to glance
over them. I'm about to hand them back to him when something catches my eye.
I spot something on the x-ray that shouldn't be there. "What's this?"

He sighs, "That's something I need to discuss with you, Dr. Bartlet."

~~

I sit in Jed's room, watching as he talks on the phone with Hoynes. I don't
really like John Hoynes and I know Jed doesn't like him, but I have to admit
that Hoynes has been a great relief through all of this. He stepped into
Jed's position quietly and has kept Jed updated and informed, calling several
times a day, leaving messages when Jed wasn't awake... My opinion of John
Hoynes has gone up a great deal.

Jed's getting tired again... I can see it in his eyes. I catch those eyes and
make a motion to my watch. He nods and wraps up the conversation.

"When am I getting out of here?" Jed asks.

"When the doctor and I think you're ready." I smooth back some hair that has
fallen out of place. "And you're not, by the way."

He makes a face, "Fine, then when are you going to let me out of this bed?
I'm tired of being laid up."

I pause for a brief moment and then shake my head, "Don't complain, you're
getting some much needed rest."

Sometimes I love the fact that my husband can just about read my mind. Other
times, it's a curse. This is one of those times. He caught the hesitancy in
my actions.

"Abbey?"

"Listen, I'm going to go back to the White House and see about Zoey-"

"Abbey."

"Mrs. Landingham wants to see me and-"

"Abigail," he uses a tone with me that I seldom hear. He wants to know what
has been bothering me for the past two days. He sensed something was wrong
before and know he knows it has to do with him.

But I'm not ready... I can't tell him. Not when I can't come to terms with
it, yet.

I lean over and kiss him, "Go to sleep. I'll be back in a little while."

He catches my hand, "Abigail-"

I remove my hand from his, "I'll be back."

And I hurry out of the room, leaving my other half behind me.


TBC...