After the call to the President, Leo was ready to see Josh. He asked one of the staff which room Mr. Lyman was in, and she pointed to Room 2. He thanked her and walked slowly toward it, now unsure if he really wanted to see Josh in the condition he was in. But he had to.

Leo pushed open the door, silently standing to side, watching the medical personnel do their assigned jobs. No one noticed him at first. Finally a nurse, who had just entered the room, walked over to him and asked him, "Sir, can I help you? We don't allow visitors back here."

"I'm family."

"Oh, that's fine. Here, come closer. Do you have any questions?" as she gently guided him closer to the head of the stretcher.

Leo gasped when he saw how bruised and swollen Josh's face was, especially around his eyes. The tube in his throat did nothing to allay any fears Leo might have had. He looked down and noted the white pads on his chest, the ones monitoring his heart rate, the IVs in his arms, and the tube draining blood coming out from under the sheet. Leo knew from many hospital encounters that was one of the two chest tubes. He couldn't see anything else, but knew that given the fact Josh was considered critical there had to be many other tubes placed in the man's body for lifesaving functions.

Leo just stared, not wanting to believe that once again Josh would be placed in a dangerous predicament just because he was serving the President of the United States. It was so unfair. No one, who gave up their private lives to serve their country, should be at risk for losing their lives. Yet, once again, the Senior Staff found themselves in such a position. Leo vowed, if it took his last breath, he would find out who was behind this and bring him or them to justice. By God, it was his responsibility to keep his people safe and he had failed them.

"GOD DAMNIT!"

"Sir, Please."

Leo didn't realize he had said it out loud. "I'm sorry." He turned and exited, afraid of what else might happen if he stayed.

He heard the commotion before he saw them. The President and the First Lady had entered the Emergency Room and were making their way toward him.

"Mr. President, Abbey. So glad to see you both. Let's go over here and I'll bring you up to date."

Leo gave them the latest information. He had yet to see Sam who was still in Trauma 3, but he knew that Abbey was anxious to see both men first.

"Mr. President, why don't you and Abbey take a quick look at Josh in Room 2 before they take him to ICU, and then go and check on Sam. If Sam's awake, tell him I'll be in shortly."

They nodded and disappeared into Room 2. Leo waited for them to reappear. It only took Jed five minutes to come back out.

"Leo, I swear, if this was caused on purpose, I will not stop until they are caught and prosecuted. No one should have to go through what Josh is going through, that is if he survives long enough to get to surgery."

"I totally agree, Mr. President."

They waited silently for another ten minutes until Abbey reappeared, obviously shakened by what she had seen.

"They're going to move him now. Let's go see Sam, Jed."

The First Couple moved on to Room 3 and disappeared inside.

Leo stood aside for Josh's bed stretcher to be moved out the door and down the hall to the elevator. He said a little prayer as he watched the elevator doors close. He prayed that, somehow, Josh would survive this horrible ordeal.

After fifteen minutes, Jed and Abbey returned. "Sam's not awake, Leo. With that skull fracture, I didn't expect it. They're moving him to Neuro ICU to monitor him. Right now, they don't know if he'll have to have surgery or not."

"Thanks for the update, Abbey. Now, as I said, Toby is upstairs in ICU and on a ventilator, and CJ is being prepped for surgery. In fact, she may be in surgery now. Let me get Dr. Sanford for an update."

Leo walked over to Nurse's station and asked them to call Dr. Stanford. He was there within two minutes. After introductions, he updated everyone on CJ's and Toby's status.

"Ms. Cregg is in surgery. As you know, Mrs. Bartlet, it will take some time. And Mr. Ziegler has shown no change. I don't know of anything any of you can do right now. I will make sure you are kept informed if you want to go back to the White House. Mr. McGarry, I've listed the surgeons and physicians who are on your employees' cases with their contact information so you can keep in touch." He handed Leo a piece of paper.

"Thank you." He looked at his watch. "It's 4:30. I need to go to the office and start making plans. Mr. President, I'll have some plans by 6. Do you want me to tell the assistants, or do you want to tell them jointly?"

Jed looked at his wife. "I, for one, can't even think about going back to sleep. Why don't we all go back, have some coffee in the Residence, and make some plans, and then we all will talk with them. Having Abbey there might help when the tears start flowing, and she might be able to answer any medical questions."

Abbey nodded in agreement. "Sounds good to me. Leo?"

"Let's go. Thank you so much, Dr. Sanford. You and your staff have been so helpful tonight."

"You are very welcome. I just wish it had been under different circumstances."

"Me, too."