"Leo. Leo, wake up." He heard a soft voice and felt someone shaking his arm. It took a minute for his fuzzy brain to awaken from the deep sleep that he had been in.

"Huh?"

"Leo, it's Margaret. Time to get up."

'Margaret. What was she doing in his sleep?' Then he remembered he was in his suite. "Margaret! What the he…!" He was really awake at that point and turned over to see his red-haired secretary standing over him.

"Margaret! What time is it?"

"1:15 Leo."

"What are you doing here?" He sat up and looked around the room, noting his shoes and crumpled jacket on the floor.

"Well, when you said you were going to be back by noon and then you didn't answer your phone, everyone got worried so they sent me to check on you. We all know you've been running yourself ragged these past few days, and we were worried that something had happened."

"Well, as you can see, I'm alive and breathing and…"

"Yes, Leo. I can see that now. But when you don't answer your phone, it is a bit unusual. Now get up, get a shower and I'll have lunch here by the time you get out. Josh and Sam are doing fine with Russell and Liz called from GW and President Bartlet is stable. No changes there. Now go."

Leo wasn't used to be bossing around by Margaret, but right now he would allow someone else to be in charge. But only for a brief time. "Okay. And Margaret, Thanks."

While Leo was in the shower, Margaret let Josh know that Leo was okay and that he would be in around two. Josh was relieved and said he would let the Senior Staff know that things were fine.

Leo felt refreshed when he made his way back to the White House. Checking in with Josh, he thanked him for staffing the President and told him he could continue with that the rest of the day so Leo could start making plans on the next steps Russell needed to take. As he finished the conversation, Margaret stuck her head in the door and said "Sit room, Leo."

Rapidly walking into the Oval, he repeated those words to the new President, "Mr. President, we're needed in the Situation Room."

"Let's go."

Three hours later, the two of them made their way back to the Oval office where they discussed what had just happened. "Leo, the Chinese are responsible for that attack. It has their fingerprints all over it."

"Mr. President, I think you're jumping to conclusions. I don't think we have enough intelligence to say that with any certainty and we should wait on any action until we do."

"I disagree, Leo. And the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff agrees with me. The Secretary of Defense I think is fence sitting but the CIA Director, who should know, also agrees with me. So, I think we should start planning some sort of military response."

"So, you are going to put American lives in harm's way over something that may not be true or at least may not be directed at the right country."

"Leo, you obviously disagree with me. If I tell you to carry out my wishes, will you do it?"

"Of course, sir. I am your Chief of Staff and I will implement your direct order. But I also try and serve as sounding board of opposite points so you can hear both sides before a decision is made that affects so many people. Your decision affects so many people in so many ways that I just want you to realize all the ramifications of such a decision."

Russell raised his voice. "Leo, I'm not Jed Bartlet. If you can't adjust to my way of handling matters, then I need to find another Chief of Staff. What is it going to be?"

"I serve at your pleasure, sir."

"Always remember that, Leo. Always remember that. That's all. You may leave."

"Yes, Mr. President." Leo stood up and left the Oval Office. This was going to be a very different Presidency. And he hoped he would survive.

He worked until seven and then had his driver go to GW so he could check on the other President. Not finding anyone downstairs, he made his way to the third floor and the Neuro ICU. Getting off the elevator, he immediately saw the girls in the waiting room off to the left. Pushing open the door, he noted the sad expressions on their faces. "What's going on? Liz? Ellie? Zoey? Is something wrong with your father?" Just the look on their faces gave him his answer.

Finally, Charlie answered the question. "Yes, Leo. They just took him back to surgery. Not ten minutes ago."

Leo's heart sank. "What happened?"

"His brain was swelling too much. Dr. Wilson said they had to go and relieve the pressure immediately or else…"

Charlie didn't have to finish the sentence. Leo knew what Charlie was going to say but couldn't. Or else the President would die.