As the flight attendant put their bags into the overhead compartment, David dropped into the seat beside Kate's. They had arrived at the gate with seconds to spare, and if it had not been for the White House calling the airline, he was certain they would not have made it at all. The doors had closed an instant after they had boarded, and the plane was already pulling away from the gate.
Fastening his seatbelt, he took Kate's hand and tried to rub some warmth into it. "We made it. We're on the way," he said, and a smile flickered across her face.
Only two other passengers sat in the first-class cabin. Not surprising for a midday flight on Saturday. A young woman wearing sunglasses sat two rows ahead of them, her attention pointedly fixed on the book in her lap. Across the aisle from her, an older man typed on his laptop, occasionally referring to a folder lying open on the empty seat beside him. He had looked up when Kate and David boarded, nodding to them both before returning to his work.
"Welcome aboard American Airlines Flight 154, Los Angeles to Washington..."
David looked at his watch; trying to gauge how much time had passed since Leo's call. They had hurried upstairs, hoping for a phone call saying the Coast Guard had found Sam and he was fine. From his closet, David had taken the suitcase he kept packed, ready to fly out to any building site with problems that required an architect to solve. He double-checked its contents and added his shaving kit before zipping it closed. Grabbing his shoes, he sat down on the end of the bed to put them on, watching Kate as she rapidly folded clothes and placed them in her overnight bag. Her eyes were bright with tears and her lips trembled, but she did not make a sound as she grabbed the things she thought she might need.
"Do you have room for the sweater Sam left?" she asked. "I was going to send it, but I didn't get around to it."
"Where is it? His room?" David stood up, but she had already gone to get it.
She reappeared a few seconds later, handing it to him. "He loves that sweater. He'll be happy to get it back."
David folded it and tucked it into his bag. "Especially now with fall coming on."
"Especially now." She wiped her eyes. "I need to fix my make-up. It will only take a second."
As she hurried into the bathroom, David put on his watch and looked around the room for anything they might have forgotten. He took the books from their nightstands and tucked them into the front pocket of his suitcase. Picking up the remote, he switched on the television.
The picture of Sam over the reporter's shoulder startled him. A still taken from one of the Sunday shows, he was obviously mid-point, his expression determined as he pointed at something out of the camera shot. Probably his opponent, David mused.
"...The Coast Guard continues searching this hour for Sam Seaborn, senior advisor to the President. Seaborn was reported missing after a squall..."
Kate appeared in the doorway, her make-up done and her hair neat. She sank down next to him, her focus on the screen as she reached for his hand. "I didn't know they would announce it."
"It gives them control over the story."
She shook her head. "Poor CJ. What an awful responsibility."
When the phone on his nightstand rang, David lowered the TV's sound, unable to look away from the picture of his son. "Hello?"
"David, it's Liam. Barb and I were just watching the news. My god, man, why didn't you call? What can we do to help?"
"Who is it?" Kate whispered.
When he mouthed Liam's name, she nodded and returned to her packing.
"I was about to call you," David assured his partner. "We're going to Washington. I'll be out of the office for a few days."
"I'll drive you to the airport."
"You don't —"
"David, for God's sake, let me do this! We're in the car, and I'll be in your driveway in five minutes. Hold on, Barb is saying something." There was a brief conversation before he came back on the line. "She wants a list of things you need done, and she'll take care of them."
The Callahans and the Seaborns had been close friends since David and Liam had started working for the same architectural firm almost thirty years before. Childless themselves, Liam and Barbara had watched Sam grow up with the pride and affection of an uncle and aunt.
"Thank you," David breathed. "Thank you both."
"Five minutes, laddy," Liam repeated before he disconnected the call.
"They're on their way over," David told Kate as he set the phone in its cradle. "Liam's taking us to the airport, and Barb will handle everything else if we give her a list."
"I'll —"
The ring of David's cell phone stopped them both. David pulled it from his pocket and checked the caller ID. The White House.
"Answer it," Kate commanded softly as she came to stand beside him.
Clearing his throat, he hit the button and said, "David Seaborn."
"Mr. Seaborn, this is Margaret in Leo McGarry's office. I have your flight information."
Meeting Kate's anxious eyes, David shook his head. "Go ahead, Margaret..."
As they finished packing, they heard the front door open. Turning off the television, David picked up their suitcases. Kate hesitated and then took her prayer book from the drawer of her nightstand. They walked downstairs together, meeting Barbara in the hall. She hugged them fiercely.
"The mad Irishman is waiting in the car. Just tell me who I should call."
Kate went into the kitchen and pulled a pad and pencil from the drawer. Scribbling a couple of names, she handed it to Barbara. "I think that's all of them."
"If there are any more, just call."
The phone began ringing, and David took a step toward it. As he reached for the receiver, he read the caller ID: KCAL NEWS.
"It's started," he muttered.
"Go!" Barbara ordered. "There's no reason to answer that." She pushed them toward the front door. "It's been a couple of years since I was a receptionist, but now seems like a great time to brush up my skills."
Liam waited beside the car, the trunk and the passenger doors open. As Barbara hugged them good-bye, he took the bags and stowed them in the trunk.
"You tell that son of yours that he's not doing my heart any good with these antics," Barbara instructed David, her voice rough with worry.
"I will."
She waved as they backed down the driveway, striding purposefully toward the house as they drove away. A news van passed them before they reached the corner. It slowed to a stop in front of their house.
"Should we call the police?" Kate asked from the back seat.
"Barb'll have that well in hand," Liam assured her as a second van drove by. "And if she doesn't, I'm sure your neighbors will."
David doubted he would ever forget the trip to LAX. Sam had once charitably (in his father's opinion, at least) described Liam as a 'mercurial' driver, but this was, hands down, the most harrowing ride David had ever endured. They shot up the 405 at thirty miles an hour over the speed limit. The Saturday traffic was light, but Liam switched lanes constantly, buying them precious minutes.
They had stopped in front of the terminal with a screech of brakes, no doubt leaving some tire tread on the pavement. David had unlatched his seat belt as Liam threw the car into park and jumped from the driver's seat. Before he and Kate were out of the car, Liam had their bags on the sidewalk.
"You'll call the minute you hear something, right?" he had asked, hugging Kate tightly. "No matter what the time."
"The minute."
He had hugged David as well — a brief, hard farewell. "God go with you, laddy. Give our love to that boy of yours."
"Excuse me, Mr. Seaborn. Would you or Mrs. Seaborn like something to drink?"
David blinked before registering the young man who had taken care of their bags. "Yes, I think we would." He turned to Kate. "Coffee, sweetheart?"
She turned from the window. "Scotch."
"Yes, ma'am."
David nodded. "I'll have the same. It's been a hell of a day."
"Yes, sir." The attendant started to turn away, but then stopped. "On behalf of the crew, may I just say that our prayers are with you and your son? If there's anything we can do to make your flight easier, please let me know."
"Fly faster," Kate whispered. "Just fly faster."
A wave slapped Sam across the face, and he choked as he inhaled part of it. The water had grown rough and wild, and the sky darker as another storm rolled in. The wind had strengthened, catching the edges of the dark waves and turning them yellowish white.
Sam bobbed from the bottom of one deep trough to the top of another, unable to control where the water took him. His arms and legs were stiff with cold, and he had lost all feeling in his feet. He looked down at his fists, tucked tight against his chest. In the dim light, they were an unearthly white — almost blue.
"...not good," he mumbled.
Hang on, Sam.
"...been..." He choked on another wave, coughing so hard that he saw stars in front of his eyes. "...hours."
Not much longer now, son.
Lightning flashed nearby, and pain shot through his head. He closed his eyes, trying to distance himself from agony.
Sam! His father's voice bristled with annoyance. Don't give up.
"Not..."
Keep talking. It will help you stay awake.
Sam struggled, his thoughts foggy and the headache growing worse. "'bout what?"
His father's laugh was gentle. I've never heard you say that.
"Cold... Can't think."
The rain pounded down, hitting him with such force that he wondered if it was hail. The lightning flashed again, closer this time. The wind and rain combined, obliterating any sound of thunder. Battered by the waves, Sam fought for whatever air he could drag in. He had lost sight of everything except the will to survive. The lightning was almost on top of him, and he squeezed his eyes closed against it. There was no up or down any more, there were simply walls of water beating against him.
He heard his father's voice amidst the maelstrom, shouting encouragement, exhorting him to fight.
They're coming, son, they're coming.
He gasped for air, his lungs fighting to empty themselves of water.
Hang on, Sam!
The waves pulled him under and held him there. His chest hurt, and he struggled not to inhale. An instant later, he popped through the surface, gasping and choking. The lightning was all around him, the flashes blinding him. The roar of wind and rain deafened him.
He had only enough strength left to fight for air. He battled for just one more breath before the waves pushed him down again.
Sa...m, stay with us!"