Chapter Twelve

I don't own West Wing. Seriously If I did, It would have lasted longer than 7 Seasons, And there would be more than like 4 Republicans who weren't evil. and Bingo Bob wouldn't have happened the replacement Vice President would have been some one very different someone with a personality that it isn't better suited for a Certified Public Accountant in Colorado Springs.

It was two weeks before thanksgiving and three weeks before Dorothy Loren Harris' trial was to begin. The Week of the 16th, On Friday 20th, Lexie was having her Tonsils removed. And she was terrified not of the surgery but of being put under and was not at all being cooperative, she only agreed to do it if her mother could scrub in. which wasn't easy but they managed to arrange.

In the West Wing, Supreme Court Justice Joseph Crouch was retiring, and they were looking for a replacement, their first choice looked good at first glance and great on paper, until they looked closer into their background, and found some ideological issues with the constitution, they obviously can't put him on the supreme court if he sees freedom the way he does, So they look at Judge Roberto Mendoza who's history is a lot harder to sell but is brilliant and shares most of their Ideology. Meanwhile Peter Lillienfield a headline seeking congressman on the House Government Oversight committee accuses 1 in 3 White House Staffers of doing drugs, Which a ridiculous figure but the White House can't just flat our deny. They have to do an investigation which Josh doesn't take seriously. Of course she should have because it's going to bite the entire white house in the butt later when he doesn't.

Friday comes, and Abbey is scrubbing in at Bethesda Naval Hospital with Lt. Commander Rebecca Brewster, and Erin Hunnicutt. She was quickly moved to recovery. And given her chocolate Vanilla Swirl Low fat Ice Cream. She spent a lot and did homework, and went home that afternoon. She recovered quickly. By that Monday she's more or less recovered. And begins to help make preparations for thanksgiving with her Mother, and sisters. Doug isn't coming this year Even though he's invited. None of them are that petty. Annie is devastated and so is Liz who is very, Very pregnant, and will most likely have her second child in February.

For the first time in Years, Alexandra Katherine Bartlett had a lot to be Thankful for, and people to share her holiday with and she wasn't going to waste it. President Bartlett is in the West Wing, and Josh and Sam are pardoning a Turkey since CJ is out sick. Their Thanksgiving dinner, consists of the Bartlett family, Leo, and Mallory, Delores Landingham, Millie Griffith, husband Dave, and their son, and their son Michael Josiah Griffith, or Mickey Who was the same age as Ellie and like Ellie studying to be a doctor. Although his specialty was going to be Pediatric Surgery at Johns Hopkins. He had a way with kids, always had. And in innovative way of looking at everything. He also advocated for his patients not their parents. And was Jed and Abbey's Godson.

The meal was delicious Lexie insisted on everyone saying what they were thankful for, it turns out quite a few of them said Lexie, while Lexes said her family. Liz said her children. Mallory said her family, Leo said his daughter, and Delores Landingham said her Sons and I felt bad for her. Everyone had something to be thankful for, and soon the stories of Thanksgiving past began, and by the end of dinner which had been stretched several hours everyone was full, satisfied and full of the spirit of the season. The family prepared in a few days, On Sunday they flew out. The Federal Prosecutor told us that they reached a plea agreement Dorothy Loren Harris pleads guilty to all of it, gets 25 years in Prison, instead life with the possibly of parole in 25 years, she has 25 years with the possibility of parole in 10 years, Kidnapping is a Class a Felony in New Hampshire, she's getting off light. But Lexie doesn't have testify, neither does Abbey, it's better this way Sir, it's over Quicker….." the family was there as the charges and the Plea deal was read, she had to adjudicate exactly what she did, but otherwise it was over quickly. And they were back, in the White house. Her Coffee table Book came out. The Standish Knowledge Bowl Team does not win the DC Area championship, and will not continue after December 11th.

Lexie had begun to shop, and in some cases make Christmas gifts when she met her family, School was wrapping up for the semester, Elle Jackson was helped her study for finals Which she was pretty sure she was going to ace. When finals was over she was hanging around the west Wing, and got to the Bookstore with her dad. In the West Wing. Toby uses the President's name to arrange a Military funeral for a Korean War Veteran who died on the Washington Mall of exposure wearing a Coat Toby gave to the good will, Josh and Toby do something stupid but Lexie doesn't know what no matter what she tries to find out, although she know that something is up with Leo. And it's not going to end well. And she sees CJ dancing around Danny Concanon. Josh is very sweet to Donna another two people who are dancing around each other. She got presents for the Senior Staff, not t-shirts. Coffee Mugs. She got CJ one that said. I'm not saying I'm Wonder Woman But I'm just saying People have never seen me and wonder woman in the same room together. She got Sam, a One with a Gandhi Quote, be the Change you wish to see in the World, Josh and Toby Mets and Yankees mugs respectively, and Donna a Packers mug. She got Mrs. Landingham a world's best Executive Secretary Mug. It was very large, and very nice.

Christmas Comes and She gives out the Presents she got for everyone. She got her Mom and Ellie T-shirts that said. Hot enough to stop a Heart, Skilled restart it, and if that doesn't work put in a pacemaker. She got her Dad a T-Shirt that said, Real Men marry Doctors, and which he liked even better than his Intellectual Badass Shirt. And Liz's said I'm a Mom what's your Super Power, Zoey. Who was going to be an incoming freshman at Georgetown said it's in the Syllabus T-Shirt. Which made her glad she got that over the I is in College T-Shirt. She called her friends and she called her boyfriend. New Year's Eve there's a ball and she gets to go with Drew. She was so happy.

School started up again for Lexie, and her sister moved into her door. India and Pakistan was having some trouble with Kashmir, and the President is Lord John Marbury an Old friend from London as an expert in the field. Josh is subpoenaed about his investigation into the drug use at the White use, Mandy pissed every one off when she wants to represent a liberal Republican except of course for Lexie who doesn't seem to grasp what the problem is no matter how many times they explain it her. Charlie wants to date a willing Zoey and asks her father, for if he has his blessing.

The White House Staff is in full crisis mode over India Pakistan especially since a panicky Pakistan has given its field commanders control of its nuclear arsenal Lord Marbury is around making everyone uncomfortable except Lexie who finds him a kick, her words, Leo's secrets will be coming out soon disclosed by his political rivals, the President isn't well, and collapses right before the State of the Union while forcing the first lady to disclose that he has MS not only to the Chief of Staff, but to her youngest daughter. After telling Leo, Abbey, then has to go tell a panicky, 15 year old the truth.

"Alexandra he's not dying…."

"But he's sick….." Cuddling, Spots for the first time in a long time.

"Seven years ago, he was diagnosed with a relapsing Remitting course of Multiple Sclerosis, the fever isn't the best thing for him, but he will get better." Abbey said convincingly although part of her didn't believe it.

"But he's okay, he's as healthy as he can be."

"He is, he's fine….."

"Okay…..'

She drew her dad a picture, Which he loved by the way, and she was happy. The next day, President Josiah Bartlett gave his State of the Union Address, and Lexie Bartlett watched it live and in person. She wasn't planning on going but she had to see for herself how her father was.

The following Week, Toby tries to save Public broadcasting from people who don't understand it's impact, Josh and Sam have trouble cooperating with the people trying to rail road Leo, the White House Staff debate the appropriate response to a controversial sex education Bill study which is partially Bartlett's fault, thanks to his going off about Maisy all those Months ago. There are fears a Murdered gay teens father are embarrassed he's gay, and they're not sure they want him around when they sign Hate Crime Bill legislation when in fact he's just pissed that this administration is not doing enough to ensure his son's rights as a gay man like his right to serve in the military and get married. It's Lexie that calms them down.

"You're Lowell Lydell's parents, it's pleased to meet you.'

"Lexie what are you doing here?"

"I'm paying My respects, CJ. You know My best friend is Gay, and before he moved in with his grandfather we pretended to be girlfriend and boyfriend so his Homophobic father didn't murder him."

Mr. Lydell nodded. "He's lucky to have a friend like you. The World is not always ready for People like my son it is."

"No, it's not, My father absolutely wants Gays to serve openly in the Military, and all the other rights deserve, but that isn't the world we live in yet, and the saying you need to pick your battles is absolutely true, if he tried to pass that through congress he would lose the support he needs to get anything done in the white house, and his ability to get reelected and then they could put someone in, who would try to push Gay rights back pre-stonewall Inn. Do you understand Mr. Lydell?"

He smiled sadly. "I Do, Miss Bartlett."

"I'm Very Sorry for your loss. I don't know if this helps, but I met a priest in Philadelphia Father John Patrick Francis Mulcahy who was a Korean War Chaplain, and he told me. That God doesn't make mistakes, and we're all made in God's perfect image, Which means your Son, his Homosexuality and all was made in God's image as well, he'll be in heaven waiting for you when you get there…"

"Thank you." Mrs. Lydell said. Afterward. CJ Looked at her.

"That had the potential to go tremendously wrong, I suppose you want me to thank you."

'No, I suspect you're going to tell my Mom, and she's going to punish me."

"Yes, you had no business doing what you did, just because it worked out, doesn't mean it will next time, and doesn't mean it won't bite us in the ass." She had to wear pink for weeks. The Press ate it up. They asked why the first daughter was once again clad in pink.

Over the course of a weekend, the President must decide whether to commute the sentence of murdering drug kingpin, meanwhile a hearing impaired political operator comes to talk to Josh about the funding of her candidate being cut off, and Lexie who must write a paper on the Three branches of the American Government and the checks and balances, gets her father to help her with her homework for once.

During a week in February, The HUD Secretary calls a Congressman a racist, the president asks her to apologize, CJ gets emergency root canal, Josh briefs and says some things she shouldn't, Roberto Mendoza says the president was wrong to tell Secretary O'Leary to Apologize, and Mendoza who doesn't drink because of liver condition is arrested for Drunk driving or Driving while Hispanic, meanwhile in Lexie's corner of the world, she has tests to take and people to know, and School is going very well with her tutors hell she's getting A+s in everything, except Gym which she is getting a B in. She hangs out with Drew and Tori most days, both she and Drew know they are just High school girlfriend and Boyfriend aren't going to last past graduation romantically, but plan to remain friends. They really are just friends who make out. It doesn't go further than that, and unlikely to. He knows she's not really ready for anything deeper than that, and he can respect that.