Disclaimer: I do not own West Wing. Sadly.
Toby stood there. Staring. This couldn't be happening. This. Could. Not. Be. Happening.
"I need…" he started to yell but lost the air in his lungs and had to start again. "We need a doctor over here!"
He was suddenly aware that Josh was falling. Without a second thought, he bent and reached for him, just catching him as he almost hit the ground, just looking up in time to see the realization dawning in the faces of Sam and C.J. who had heard him call for help.
They had expressions he'd hoped he'd never have to see on their faces. The paramedics rushed over before either of them could say anything, and Toby gratefully surrendered Josh to their capable hands, but the three of them followed the stretcher to the ambulance.
"We need to come with you," Toby finally said to one of them when he realized that his friends were still speechless. Well, somewhat speechless. C.J. kept mumbling about someone knocking her down, and Sam kept making strange sounds that Toby knew were attempts to not cry. He just hoped he'd be successful. That was not something he could handle right now.
"Two of you will need to follow us in one of your own cars," one of the EMT's said to Toby. "One of you can come with us."
There was no question that Toby would be the one to go in the ambulance. He was the only one of the three of them semi-keeping it together, and the last thing Josh needed to be subjected to now was either C.J. or Sam's borderline hysterical panic. Toby needed to go in the ambulance. He also needed that time away from C.J. and Sam so he could try to regain some of his own composure.
Neither C.J. nor Sam argued. As Toby jumped into the ambulance, they rushed over to one of the Secret Service agents. C.J. looked to Sam, waiting for him to explain the situation, but then she saw his face. She knew he couldn't have said another word to another person at that moment, so she requested the ride to the hospital herself. Once she had explained that Josh had been the one who was hit, they jumped into the car and were whisked away.
Once they were following the ambulance, C.J. settled back into the car and let out the first deep breath she'd allowed herself in hours. She closed her eyes and rubbed her neck unconsciously. Opening her eyes again, she turned to Sam and was about to ask him if he'd noticed her necklace when the words froze in her throat.
Sam was leaning his head against the cushion, and his eyes were closed, but tears were slipping down his face. He wasn't making a sound, and C.J. glanced up to see if the partition were up to separate them from the driver. It wasn't, so she pressed the button to raise it. Once they were cocooned in silence, she reached out to touch his arm.
"Sam?" she asked hoarsely, and he finally opened his eyes. The first thing he checked was the partition. Then he looked at C.J. His lower lip started to quiver uncontrollably.
"He's the reason I'm here," he choked out. "He came and got me."
"I know," C.J. said softly, her own eyes filling with tears. "But we're taking him to GW. He's going to be ok."
Sam shook his head and closed his eyes again. "He doesn't have to be, C.J."