Tuesday, the staff at the White House seem to settle into a new routine. Leo and the President went through the normal meetings and conferences as both got used to each other's working style. Russell didn't like a whole lot of discussion, and Leo had to get used to only having a few conversations before learning of requests to be carried out by himself or Senior Staff Members. In the same way, Russell had to be patient with them learning a new way to interact with him. Debbie and Charlie bore the brunt of this change and at times, Leo saw the frustration on their faces but they never voiced it out loud. Leo was proud of their professionalism.
About midday, Leo walked in the Oval Office during a rare slack period to make a request of the President. "Sir, I have a request."
Russell looked up from the stack of papers he was reading. "Yes, Leo?"
"Mrs. Bartlet is arriving later this afternoon. I would like to meet her at Andrews and escort her to GW to see her husband. I'll probably be gone a few hours. I can come back here afterwards, if you would like. Josh will be here if you need anything."
"Leo, is your presence required?"
Leo was kind of shocked at Russell's response. It was common knowledge how close he was with the Bartlets. "No, Sir. I thought that it would help her if I was with her the first time she saw him. I have seen a him a couple of times and I know it will be a shock for her." He almost said 'the President' but caught himself at the last minute.
"Leo, I really don't want you too far away if this China situation gets out of hand. Josh is good, but you do have the background knowledge that Josh doesn't."
"Well, Sir, I appreciate that but I won't be that far away and can get here in a matter of minutes if you need me."
Russell paused for minute, and Leo actually thought that he might actually refuse the request. Finally, Russell provided a response. "Okay, Leo. I guess it will be okay. Just know if I call you get back here right away."
"Thank you, Mr. President."
Leo walked out and closed the door. This was not going to be easy. Not at all.
It was two-thirty and 28000 was making its final approach to land at Andrews. Leo had just talked to Liz and she had told him the good news that her father had been taken off the ventilator a couple of hours ago and was breathing on his own. However, he had yet to regain consciousness and the doctors were concerned that if this coma went on much longer, there was going be more brain damage than they anticipated. Standing next to the black SUV, he was glad Abbey was coming home and knew her daughters were glad as well. Many of the families of the First Lady's traveling party were there as well to welcome their loved ones home, so happy that they were coming home safe and sound. For all but one, it was going to be a celebration.
Leo waited patiently for the big plane to taxi to his location and come to a halt. The front door opened and the stairs were rolled into place. As protocol required, the First Lady was the first person to deplane. Abbey came down the stairs, looking for Leo. Finally, a familiar face after all that had happened.
"Leo. You're a sight for sore eyes."
He gave her a quick peck on her cheek and opened the door for her to slide in ahead of him. Sliding in bedside her, he waited to speak before the door was shut by her agent. "Glad to see you too."
"Have you talked to the girls recently? I talked to them several hours ago but there had been no changes."
"Liz called and said Jed had been taken off the ventilator and was breathing on his own."
"That's great."
"Abbey, the doctors are concerned though. He doesn't show any signs yet of regaining consciousness."
"I know. I finally talked to Dr. Wilson early this morning. Well, I think it was early this morning. I really don't know what time it was, but anyway, I talked to him some time ago and he mentioned that as his main concern. But he was hopeful. And I have to keep that hope. You know just how stubborn Jed can be and I have to believe that he won't give up. That the incredible brain of his will heal and he will regain consciousness sooner rather later."
Leo squeezed her hand, not knowing exactly how to reply.
"Abbey, you look tired. I thought you would get some rest on the plane."
She sighed. "I thought so, too. But every thought was about Jed. How was he doing? Was he having any more episodes? Was he still alive?" She paused trying to keep her voice steady. "I just couldn't turn my brain off. If I did close my eyes, I would only have dreams of him and me in happier and healthier times. So I would either stare up at the ceiling or walk around the cabin for hours. I didn't want to talk with anyone. I needed to be by myself and try and deal with what was going on back here."
They both were silent for a few minutes, each just digesting her fears for her husband and his problems.
Abbey broke the silence with another topic. "Leo, I just want to say thanks for fixing the problem with the Children's Insurance Program funding."
Leo turned and looked at her. "The what?"
"The ChIP program. The problem I told Jed about."
"I haven't talked to him about any such thing."
"Oh. Okay. Well, never mind. I must have misunderstood something he said."
Abbey realized then that Jed had not kept his promise. The one that he had made before she boarded the plane in South Africa. But this was certainly not the time to bring it up. She would just have to save it for later. If there was a later.
Changing the subject once again to a topic she thought was safer, she continued, "How's Russell doing, Leo? Is he driving everyone crazy?"
Leo laughed. "Abbey, I'm so glad I'm Jed's Chief of Staff. I just hope he gets better soon because otherwise, there might be criminal charges brought against me or a member of the Senior Staff for battery against a President. And I feel sorriest for Debbie and Charlie. They're really on the front lines. It's just that Russell operates so differently from Jed. He's so closemouthed and doesn't take advice very well. He hates discussion or talking out choices before making a decision. That's so different from the way Jed operates."
Abbey patted his arm. "Jed will return. We both know that, don't we, Leo?"
"Yeah."