Sam hit his travel alarm clock as it went off at 7:45 am. He turned around and left a kiss on his wife's cheek.
"Sam, I just got to bed an hour ago, death to anyone who wakes me up."
"Did you drink?"
"I drank enough to put an entire sorority to shame."
"I mean did you have a bottle or two of water and some Tylenol?"
"Yeah, now let me go back to sleep."
"Lush."
"Shut up."
Sam warned everyone that Mara had turned into her evil grizzly persona, had breakfast and left for another round of meetings, this time with three provincial premiers.
A little after nine Matty decided to see if his Mom was really asleep. He laughed when he saw she was still wearing her pink dress from the night before. He gently pried Tedzy out of her arms and leaned in to give her a hug. Mara instinctively held him closer. Matty only intended to stay for a few minutes but her magical hug struck again and put him in a deep sleep.
Samantha went looking for Matty twenty minutes later and found him fast asleep in his Mom's arms holding Tedzy. She carefully laid down beside him, pulled Tedzy away from him and started daydreaming what it would be like to wake up next to him every morning once they were married. Sam's day dreams turned into real dreams as she too succumbed to the comfortable bed and silence.
Noah was perfectly happy sitting in the living room with his Mom watching cartoons until she suggested he do some homework. That sent him off to find Matty and Sam. He didn't care what they were doing, as it had to be better than doing homework. He found Chris and asked him if he knew where Matty was. Chris told him that he and Sam had gone into Mara's room. Noah hesitated for a few minutes. He loved his Aunty Mara but she really was rather temperamental when she was tired. He waited for a few minutes and figured since he didn't hear yelling that he'd brave entering the room. He laughed when he saw that Matty and Sam were both asleep. He called out to them but they didn't answer. He went over and plucked Tedzy out of Sam's arms. She didn't move so Noah figured if you can't beat them, you might as well join them. He didn't want to be near Sam because he heard she kicked so he settled down on the other side of Mara. He turned so that his back was against hers. It only took about fifteen minutes before he too fell asleep.
Donna went looking for Noah after an hour. He was entirely too quite which worried her. She checked the kitchen and the three kids rooms. Chris noticed her walking up the hall and called her over.
"Can I help you Donna?"
"I'm looking for Noah."
"The three of them are in with Mara."
"What? She has probably smothered them to death! I told them to stay away from her room. I swear these kids will be the death of me!"
"Sorry, can't help you there."
"Why didn't you stop them?"
"I'm bored, I figured watching them run out of the room screaming would be funny, but as each went in they never came back out."
"Chris, Mara's yours. You heard Sam this morning. Didn't the fact that you didn't hear any screaming or see them making a hasty retreat clue you in that..."
Chris rolled his eyes, "Donna, I've never witnessed anyone with a temper as wicked as Mara's but I know she'd never hurt them. They may be in there writing out, I will never disturb Mara again a million times while she sleeps but they are still breathing."
Donna huffed, "You know darn well what I mean!" She gave Chris a look and walked down to the door.
She opened the door to the room, ready to blast the kids for disturbing Mara. She was shocked to see the scene before her. In a quiet voice she called each child's name but there was no response. She left the room, retrieved her camera and crept back into the room to take a few pictures. Chris was very intrigued and figured he'd give Donna ten minutes before he stuck his head in to see what was happening.
Noah had turned with Tedzy in his arms so the bear's nose was now pressed against the zipper on Mara's dress. Matty had also turned in his mother's arms and was currently using her right breast as his pillow. Sam hadn't changed positions but she was hugging a pillow, that Donna assumed had been Matty's at one point. She took one last picture and went to see if Cheryl was awake yet.
She'd been included in the private after party, but had the good sense to realize she was on the brink of getting drunk and decided at 1 a.m,. that sleep was more productive than continuing talking and drinking.
With both Sam and Josh out of the White House and Charlie shoulder deep in the first bill they were going to bring to the floor: a new federal minimum wage, Toby was in charge and enjoying the temporary boost of power. Everything had gone relatively smooth and though Toby would never admit it to Josh, he was glad that Sam had never asked him to be COS. He looked at the window separating his office and Jenna's and smirked. It had only been in the last two weeks that he stopped calling it Sam's office. Jenna never corrected him which made it harder to stop making the mistake. He found his deputy as utterly frustrating as her adoptive father but for different reasons. He had no problem telling Sam that she was more intelligent than him and Sam always agreed much to Toby's chagrin. Unlike Sam, she refused to respond to a pink rubber ball summons. She completely ignored it or put in her MP3 player and drowned him out. Since she was shorter than Sam, he had to get up to see if she was in the office. He looked through the window and didn't like what he saw.
Jenna was sitting in her chair staring out the window into the sun. Toby knew why Jenna really avoided Ottawa like the plague. He knew that the anniversary of her parents death was not even two months ago, just before the inauguration. He had to consult his Blackberry for the exact year and realized that Jenna had been with Sam and Mara several years longer than her real parents. Toby figured that not having as much work to do gave her too much time to think. He called Jacob and let him know that he was going to try to send her home.
He bellowed for her and Jenna bellowed back. He told her to come into his office, she told him to come into hers. Charlie happened to be walking by and sighed.
"Jenna. Toby is old, get your butt in there before I make you my Bitch."
"I am not old, I..."
"Toby zip it or I'll make you my Bitch too!"
They both shut up since being Charlie's Bitch was worse than being on CJ's List and almost as uncomfortable as being under Mara's persona non grata treatment.
"There, my work is done." Charlie stated and went on his way.
"What is so bloody urgent?"
"I was going to tell you that you should knock off now. We aren't busy and instead of staring at the sun and damaging your eyes, you could be outside damaging your skin too."
"Hardy har har." Jenna replied drolly.
"I'm serious get out of here. Mandy is unavailable or I'd be going myself instead."
"Go anyway and then I'd be in charge of the joint."
"Sure and I'd come back tomorrow to find that you've sold us to Canada for a hundred bucks and the world's supply of Dr. Pepper."
"To do that, I'd have to forge more than Sam's signature."
"I have no doubt that you'd find a way."
"Of course, I'm energetic and resourceful."
"I've heard that before, it's part of a song."
"It is it's from..."
"Wait give me a minute to think of it. I'm serious get out of here. Go look at the Cherry Blossoms, go get a manicure, go do something."
"Tobias, do you really think I'm daft enough to leave when you obviously want me out of the building? Should I check to see if all press passes have been cancelled?"
Toby stroked his chin, rolled his eyes and wished that he had approached this as a suggestion instead of an order. One of the reasons he loved Jenna as a deputy was that she was as suspicious of gestures in Washington as he was. They both were always looking past the offer to see what it would cost.
"Jenna you have a choice. You can leave or you can go fill my coffee mug, come back here and tell me why you are trying to wreck your corneas when the rest of your family is in Ottawa."
"Toby..." Jenna tried to protest.
"Fine I'll get my own coffee." Toby replied with a smirk.
"You know darn well why I'm not in Ottawa."
Toby got out of his chair and sat on the edge of his desk. "Yes I do Sweetie and I understand why you avoid it like the plague. I believe it's the same reason why you are staring at the sun which is why I think you should leave. You don't have work to do so you can't distract yourself that way. If you feel like wallowing there are much more comfortable places to do it."
"I didn't believe Sam when he told me I'd always miss them but in time I'd laugh more than I cried. I thought that in time I'd stop missing them too." She replied softly, not even trying to stop the tears that were rolling down her cheeks.
"Squirt, it's understandable, you're getting married in seven months and your parents won't be there physically. Your Daddy is suppose to walk you down the aisle, not your Dad. Your Mom is suppose to be driving you nuts and crying when she sees you, not Mar."
"I know and I also realize that if my parents weren't dead I would not be getting married in six months and 22 days. I wouldn't have broken my wrist, I wouldn't have been Mara's obstetric nurse, Matty's sister or have been hanging around orthopaedics to say hi to Lucy. Hell I stole Jacob's heart that very first day with a move from an old movie I use to watch with my Mom."
"Really what was the move?" Toby asked with a grin.
"I gingerly picked up Jacob's injured arm and pressed one of his fingers against my bottom lip. I looked him straight in eye and smiled. I told him to call me that night around nine. He said sure, traced the outline of my lips with his finger and smiled."
"Yowza, no wonder the boy put up with you all these years and still wants to marry you. I would have been mere putty in your hands too."
Jenna let her evil laugh slip out, "Jenna sees, Jenna likes, Jenna gets."
Toby chuckled, "I think every man in Washington, including Sam and I would like to murder Mara for that line."
"It's one of my personal favourites."
"So are you going to leave or do I need to go get coffee?"
"How about we walk on over to Timmy's and I'll buy you a coffee and a piece of pie."
"Pie? Since when did they start serving pie?"
"OK so they are tarts but it's the same if you have two."
"Do you really think we can leave Charlie alone in here? He might sell the White House for twenty four hours of sleep."
"Charlie has his head so far down in his work, he'll never even notice we've left. We could announce it and he still wouldn't care."
"Fine, how about we get it to go and enjoy it looking at the Cherry Blossoms."
"Cherry Blossoms? Only if I can take a picture, no one will believe me that you went."
"Hey I've taken you to see them a number of times!"
"Yeah when I was a kid, not your equal."
"Jenna, you are not my equal."
"I know, I'm better than you." She replied with a wicked grin.
Toby rolled his eyes, grabbed his jacket and yanked on her arm. "Move it squirt before I change my mind."
Jenna caught the small smile that lasted a mili second before he gave her his impatient look.
"So after our snack what are you doing? Toby asked as they left the area.
"I'm going to go to the mansion, steal some of Mara's clothes back and take them to my place. Then I'll call Jacob, have a nap and wait for him to show up and wake me up. Then I don't know."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"Thanks Uncle Toby and the song is from Fiorello: Marie's Law."
"You're welcome Jenna Benna and I would have had it by the end of the day."
They stood at the exit door while Frank organized her protection and reminded her that spur of the moment trips gave him ulcers.
Donna was catching up on her e-mails when Josh called her to find out what time Noah was joining them. She told Josh that it was highly likely that the tea would be cancelled because Mara was still fast asleep as were all the children. She e-mailed him one of the pictures she had taken and asked him to show it to Sam. Sam asked for a copy and then got on the phone.
"Donna, tea was at three right?"
"Yes."
"Well she has been sleeping since 6:30, except for the two minutes I woke her up. Seven hours of sleep is enough for her to function on. Wake her up in fifteen minutes and you can still make tea."
"Easy for you to say, It will be me she murders."
"Not with all the kids in there as witnesses. Tell her I made you, she hasn't been mad at me for a few weeks, I'm due."
"That's it, I'm not going to feel sorry for you anymore when Mara kicks you out. You deserve it!"
Sam chuckled, "Hey I need the silent treatment every so often. You go to the spa, I piss her off."
"You are as daft as my husband. Tell him I'm risking my life to wake Mara up and I'll be taking Noah with me to tea."
"We'll see you later, you better go wake up Cheryl too."
"That's an idea, I'll wake her and then force her to wake Mara up."
"Evil plan from an evil woman."
"Damn straight Skippy." Donna chuckled then hung up.
Sam had just started his break between meetings when his private cell phone started to vibrate. He glanced at it and knew that the call had been bounced from Mara's phone, which meant it had to be Jenna.
"Hi Sweetie, what's up? "
"Sorry, I thought I dialled Mara."
"You did, her phone must be off so it bounced to me. After the incident with Matty we fixed it so that our phones bounce to each other."
"Ah, but what good is that if Mara is sick again? Matty getting her is going to help how?"
"My phone is never off so it isn't mine that bounces."
"Oh."
"Jenna what's wrong?"
"I'm having one of those days. I'm missing Mom."
"You were thinking about the wedding?"
"Yeah."
"I guess you wanted Mara to tell you some stories."
"Yes."
"I'm afraid I can't help you out much there. Where are you?"
"My place, Toby sent me home so I raided Mara's closet and brought the booty back here."
"Did you take all her Burberry skirts again?"
"I already had them. I took a few of the matching shoes and purses though."
"I hope you had the good sense to leave the pink and grey."
"Yes, she goes nuts when I take her favourite skirt. So how was the big dinner last night?"
"Not bad, Cheryl flew in a few days early to surprise Mar. They stayed up until six this morning talking and drinking. Donna was suppose to send me a picture she took of all the kids sleeping in bed with her. If I find it I'll forward it to you."
"Cool, how did they all end up there?"
"I'm not sure but I think it was the domino effect. Matty went in, Sam followed, then Noah went looking for them."
"They are strange kids and you guys thought I was weird."
"So why did Toby send you home?"
"I was staring out the window at the sun and it freaked him out. He told me to go burn my whole body not just my eyes. After a little verbal warfare, I had no choice but to tell him why I was staring off in outer space. We got some pie and ate it at the Cherry Blossoms."
"Wow, Toby hasn't taken you there for eons."
"I know, I asked for a picture because I didn't think anyone would believe me."
"Did Mar ever tell you about our lunches there when we were free to move about?"
"Yes, she told me that Andi busted you there before your wedding."
"Yes she scared the daylights out of us. Why don't you pull out our wedding video when you go back to the mansion to feed the cats? You'll cry some, but you'll also laugh and I'm sure Jacob would love to see you at that age."
"That's not a bad idea, I haven't seen it in some time. I guess I better let you go. I'm sure you have something to do."
"I can't think of a single thing more important than talking to you right now Sweetie. I can't wrap my arms around you, but this is the next best thing. I love you Jenna."
"I love you too Dad, I just..."
"Jenna, there is nothing wrong with wishing that your father could walk you down the aisle. Don't for a second feel guilty or wonder if you are hurting my feelings. I only wish I could bring them back for you. Knowing that they are there in spirit just isn't the same."
"Now I'm crying again."
"That's OK, I'm crying a little bit too. I always wished I'd have a little girl just like you but I never wanted you because I knew that it would mean a tragedy. When I found out that you would be mine, my heart broke for you because your entire world disappeared in an instant and it was so unfair."
"It sucked all right but you and Mar did a pretty good job, they'd be proud of you. I also never would have had a little brother or met Jacob."
"You could have done better than Jacob." Sam teased.
Jenna laughed and wiped her tears away before launching into an hour long conversation with Sam. When Josh came to collect his friend and overheard the conversation, he went back to tell the ministers that Sam was on a very important family call and that it was impossible to draw him away from one of his kids when they needed him. The ministers all understood and agreed to continue talking to Josh who was on his best behaviour.
When Sam finally hung up and realized the time, he went rushing back to the conference room just in time to witness Josh wrapping up the meeting.
"I'm sorry but my daughter was having one of those days and she needed me."
"Josh explained that you were talking to one of your children. Is she OK?"
"Yes, she was in a happier mood when we said good bye. Thank you for your understanding."
"Mr. President, if we can neglect our children it doesn't bode very well for us since they are the only people who care about us regardless of our careers. I know Mara loves Halifax, I hope you have a chance to visit us."
"Mara promised me years ago that she'd take me to Cape Breton, I think I should call her on it. As you know Monsieur Dajanais, I've seen Montreal and Quebec City and I'm no stranger to Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia but I think your fair Ambassador needs to work a little harder to give me the full Canadian experience."
The three ministers all laughed and said their good byes. Josh filled Sam in on what they were talking about on their way to yet another press conference, this time for the American press.
Zoé's Lounge, Hotel Chateau Laurier
"Mommy if we switched places would you take your sunglasses off? You look ridiculous."
Mara agreed to move and slid her sunglasses to the top of her head. She was still feeling the effects of her hangover but was trying her best not to be grumpy. The fact that Cheryl wasn't suffering irked her to no end . The party of six ordered four traditional teas and two Canadian teas and then picked what ever they wanted from each of the three, triple tiered tea plates. Samantha asked if she could keep a menu as a souvenir so she could show Ginger everything that she tried. When Matty took the menu and autographed it for her she felt like hitting him until Donna leaned over and told her that she'd pick up an untainted menu as they left for her. She knew that Matty was waiting for a reaction so she asked Cheryl if she'd sign it too and then had everyone sign the menu. She laughed when she noticed that Mara wrote: My evil God daughter, ate the last cucumber sandwich on me.
Traditional Afternoon Tea
Seasonal Fresh Fruit Cup
Afternoon Tea Cake
Fruit Tartelettes
Victorian Scones
Devonshire Cream and Strawberry Jam
Dainty Finger Sandwiches
English Cucumber and Onion Sprouts
Turkey Salad, Mayonnaise and Green Onions
Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese
Choice of Fairmont Tea
Canadian High Tea
Port Marinated Fresh Peaches, Whipped Cream
Maple Mousse, Maple Twirl and Nanaimo Bar
Victorian Scones
Devonshire Cream and Strawberry Jam
Open Faced Sandwiches
Nova Scotia Lox and Bagel
Ontario Goat Cheese and Figs
Canadian Beef Tenderloin, Horseradish Cream
and Sour Cornichons
Canadian Cheese Board
Sir Laurier d'Arthabasca, Aged Balderson
Cheddar, Ontario Borgonzola
Choice of Fairmont Tea
"Mommy, Aunty Cheryl told me that she'd be my new teacher. How cool is that?"
"You aunt was three sheets to the wind when she offered to replace Leslie for the year. I'm not holding her to her drunken ravings."
"Mar, I was serious last night and I'm serious now. You need an assistant and who's better qualified than me?"
"Cheryl you are over qualified and I have a COS in Donna."
"Mara, I'm tired of running the foundation and you always promised you'd let me work for you again. You not only need an assistant crazy enough to work with you but a part time teacher for your son. Trust me I'm the only person who wants this job."
"Mara, I hate to say this but Cheryl has a very valid point. You aren't the easiest person to work for. Ginger almost had a nervous breakdown trying to find a social secretary because no one wanted to deal with you."
"What pray tell are you going to do when Leslie comes back?"
"Well if Leslie comes back, I'll either create a job for myself or I'll blackmail you and live the high life."
"Mommy, hire Aunty Cherry! " Matty laughed
"I'll consider her application which hasn't even been submitted yet."
"Actually Cheryl, you will need to submit a resume just to make it official. I had to do one just so the White House's HR department could keep it on file. With the sixth floor security you'll need one for the Embassy for certain."
"Cheryl exactly what is going to happen to the Education Foundation when you leave?"
"Well I'll leave it in Marcy's capable hands and I'll have time to groom her and Snow."
"Jenna's, Snow?" Matty asked.
"Yes Matty, she's been working for us for a number of years. She started off like Jacob did and her degree was in administration so we promote her in admin. jobs while Jacob wants to stay working on the school side. Mark my words, she'll be running the Foundation in the near future."
"Sam, put down the last turkey sandwich before I poke you with my fork." Mara warned.
Samantha sighed, before handing over the tea sandwich to her God mother. "How about we split it?"
Mara popped the sandwich in her mouth. "What was that?"
"Never mind."
"Mommy, where are we having Easter this year?"
"Same as always, at the Bay House."
"But what about the Easter egg roll?"
"What about it?"
"Umm, Mara you and Sam are hosting it for the next four years." Donna replied giving her a duh look.
"Oh , well that won't effect us Matty. We can come down a little earlier on Monday."
"Mara, I'm up to my neck in Easter and it's scheduled from 8 am to 2 p.m.."
"There is no way I'm getting up that early for an egg roll. It's our White House and I'll set the schedule. I think noon to four is much better. It gives people more time to get there without waking up at the crack of dawn."
"I have people scheduled to read on the Ellipse stage."
"So change the times."
Donna gave Cheryl a look that said are you sure you want to work for her again. Cheryl gave Mara a look and then asked Donna to show her where the bathrooms were. Samantha caught the look and knew that Donna wished she could punch Mara.
"Aunty Mara, something tells me it is a whole lot more complicated than adjusting some times."
"Probably, but I know Donna can figure everything out. Matty stop hogging the cherry preserves."
"Is she always like that?" Cheryl asked Donna as they reapplied lipstick.
"Yes, she wants nothing to do with the White House unless it involves the Sit. Room. She doesn't want to listen to any details and then when I finally tell her where and when to show up, she always puts a wrench in the plans. I'm not moving the Easter Egg Roll so she can sleep in. It traditionally includes a light breakfast not lunch. If I have to welcome everyone on behalf of the President I will."
"Donna you are letting your friendship with her cloud your professional judgement. Remember me telling you that I never gave her more than an hour extra work? She is my best friend and I still would walk out the door and let her worry about it. You've got to lay down the law, in front of Sam, if necessary and tell her either she gets involved or she shuts up and does what you tell her to, when you tell her to with a smile on her face."
"Easier said than done."
"Yes it is but what other choice do you have? I promise this will get easier on you when I take over for Leslie. I have no qualms about bullying her skinny ass into submission. I have never had trouble being the bad cop."
"I can do that to Josh but Mara is a whole different kettle of fish."
"Just stick to your guns and if worse comes to worse, tell her that if she isn't willing to do it your way she can take over as First Lady because you quit. That will scare her into obedience."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that. I'll tell Sam that they simply have to come back late Sunday night."
"Bulldoze right over her to get things done. I guess we better get back."
"So when is Leslie leaving?"
"She's due some time in early August. I'll talk to her and I think starting August first is the best idea."
"Well if I don't murder Mara before our first 100 days are over, I'll have a date to look forward to."
"When is day 101?"
"May first."
"That's not so bad, Mar will be taking off to the beach house for a few weeks."
"I hope so." Donna replied as she left the bathroom and headed back to the table.
Carol settled into the plush seat during take off, pleased with how the first official State Trip went. The press was very positive in Canada and generally positive back home. The press were still talking about the final tour of Parliament Hill that Mara conducted herself Friday afternoon. Skating on the Rideau Canal proved to be a perfect photo- op and she actually enjoyed the entire two hours spent on the ice skating and eating Beaver Tails.
"It was smooth sailing, let's hope all trips are like this." Larry commented once Air Force One had reached cruising altitude.
"You just jinxed us you dolt!" Carol muttered and wondered what would happen.
She had her answer twenty minutes later when Sam came tearing down the plane with Mara in hot pursuit screaming that he was a dead man. Just after the press section Mara leapt at Sam and brought him down face first to the floor. She flipped him over and pinned his body underneath hers.
Carol cringed when a reporter got up and pulled open the curtain.
"Say it you idiot!" Mara demanded.
"You are taking a silly game way out of proportion Dear."
"You got me hooked on the bloody thing and then ruined my first successful attempt. I wanted to see the cards dance!"
"You did it once, I'm sure you'll be able to do it again."
"It's not the same thing!! Now apologize!"
Carol stormed up the aisle, forcing all the members of the press to sit back down. She wanted to kill them both and looked to see where the Secret Service was wondering how far she'd get before they pulled her away.
"Will you two act your age instead of your shoe size!" She growled.
"I'm not moving until he apologizes fore deliberately ruining my first winning game of solitaire."
"All of this is over a stupid game?" Carol roared. "Mara you have three seconds to get off him before I yank you up by the hair. Samuel Norman Seaborn, I am calling your mother in five seconds to inform her how you behave and blame her for not doing enough."
Mara got up but swore this wasn't over and stalked away. Sam stood up and was smart enough to look properly scolded. Carol wasn't half way up the aisle when the questions started and she spent the rest of the flight cursing them both.
Mara was a few steps from the tarmac when she turned to answer a question from Matty and missed her footing. She tried to correct it in mid air but only succeeded in falling backwards instead of face first. The small of her back connected with the last step as she sort of slid down on top of her left ankle. Sam helped her up and as she tried to put weight on her left foot it hurt too much.
"GW" They all said in unison to Chris who had rushed over to them.
"I think it would be best if Matty went home so we don't have to worry about protecting him at the hospital."
"We'll look after him until you get back Mara." Josh offered.
"Thanks."
As soon as they got into the limo, Dave, opened the mini fridge and took out an ice pack. He leaned over just enough to pull down the zipper on her boot and placed the ice pack around her ankle. By the time they arrived at GW an orthopeadic surgeon was waiting for them and the waiting room had been cleared. Sam recognized the doctor immediately as he had been the one who did Jenna's wrist surgery but he couldn't recall his name.
"Mr. President, Ambassador Whitford, what happened?"
"I fell down a few stairs getting off Air Force One." Mara replied.
Dr. Kaye examined her left ankle and found that she hadn't really done much damage and the immediate application of ice had prevented any swelling. He looked at her back and found a red welt that would turn into a nasty bruise but her mobility told him that she hadn't pulled any muscles. He helped her off the table and noticed her wince.
"What hurts?"
"My right knee."
Dr. Kaye had her back on the table and lying on her back. "Ambassador I want you to totally relax. Let me manipulate your leg, don't try to help me."
He bent her leg with little resistance but when he rotated it to the left she cried out in pain. When he rotated it towards the right she hissed, he straightened her leg once more and she winced. The pants Mara had on happened to have a wide bootleg so he was able to easily lift the material up to see her entire right knee. He noticed swelling on the inside of her right knee and applied an ice pack.
"It looks like you pulled or tore a ligament in your knee, the lateral collateral ligament. The fact that straightening your knee also hurts may mean a meniscus tear too. I want to do a CAT scan so we can get a series of clear cross-sectional images of the knee tissues on a computer screen. CAT scan images show soft tissues more clearly than normal x rays. I may want to order a MRI too but let's start with the CAT scan.
"Doctor Kaye I'll priority one order the scan for you." One of the nurses stated.
"That's it." Sam said a little too loudly.
"What was that Mr. President?"
"Sorry Dr. Kaye, I was trying to remember what CAT stands for and I just got it. It's computerized axial tomography."
"Yes that is correct Sir. Ambassador, are you allergic to any painkillers?"
"No, thankfully."
"Good, I'm going to give you a painkiller to take the edge off when we move your leg for the tests."
"Oh joy, oh bliss." Mara muttered.
Forty minutes later Mara was back in a private exam room waiting for Dr. Kaye to come back after reading the results of the CAT scan. When he returned he told Mara that she did tear both ligaments and they were both borderline which meant they could do arthroscopic surgery on them or try to give them rest and time to heal . Without surgery she'd be looking at strengthening excersise and a temporay knee brace to help prevent the knee from moving the wrong way and making the tears worse.
"Dr. Kaye, I do not like pain even though a have a rather high pain threshold. If my knee is still going to be aching in six weeks I'd rather have the surgery."
"I understand but I don't like doing surgery when it isn't absolutely necessary. Why don't we keep you off your leg for a week and I'll give you a prescription for a combination pain killer, anti inflammatory drug. I'll take a look at it again then and see what is going on. I'll fit you for a brace to help you not move it the wrong way."
"I can live with that."
"I have office hours Friday from three to six. I'll give you my card and you can make an appointment."
"Thank you."
"How's Jenna's wrist doing?"
"Great memory Doctor, that was thirteen years ago. It still aches from time to time."
"In cool damp weather? How's your ankle Mr. President?"
"It's completely back to normal but yes it still does ache every so often in cool damp weather. If my ankle starts hurting I look at Jenna to see if she's sore too."
"Tell her I say hello."
"Maybe I'll bring her with me on Friday." Mara replied.
The limo was on it's way back to the mansion when Sam gave Mara his 'we are stupid look'. "Once again we forgot about the bloody stairs. Looks like we will reopen the Seaborn Suite."
"Crap, you are right. If you and Chris help me I can settle in the living room and have Donna pack for me while you and Matty collect some things."
Jenna offered to stay longer and cat sit but Matty insisted on bringing the cats so after packing the dishes, litter boxes and food up, Jenna kissed them all and went back home with Jacob. Mara wasn't happy about leaving home but she knew better than to complain since it was because of her that they had to stay in the residence. After the car was packed and Donna, Noah and Josh left, Mara was helped back into the limo and they left for the White House.