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Chapter 30 - Howie

It was evening. The private hospital waiting room seemed to completely full with White House aides, Senators, CIA, Secret Servicemen, and a whole host of people in suits.

The Doctor walked in with Lance and Legate to each side of him. They were all dressed in suits. As he got into the doorway, they all looked around. Legate spotted him. "There he is. Just over there."

They walked over to where Pete sat with his head propped on the wall, asleep. Jackie Tyler was using a tablet and didn't notice they had walked in. Shakes stood up and greeted them. "6:45 pm. You made good time!"

They all shook hands.

The Doctor looked at Shakes' legs. "I was told you were injured."

"Neh. It was but a scratch. I'm fine." Shakes assured them.

Jackie looked up to see who Shakes was talking to. She gasped and stood up quickly to embrace him. Legate and Lance laughed at his reaction. He threw his arms out to the side. "Ah! Jackie! Ah! Geez!"

Jackie fussed at him. "Oh please. Have you eaten all of that jam?"

He smiled at her. "No. I have four more jars. Thank you."

Jackie smiled at him and shook her head.

His voice woke up Pete. He smiled and stood up. He shook his hand and put his arm around his shoulder. "Welcome back, son. How is he?"

"He was riding a horse when I left. Jackie, Legate will take you up to see him. I'm sure you're anxious to make sure he's alright. I still don't want him to walk on it for a bit, but he'll be fine."

Jackie nodded her head. "Rose is with him?"

"He's got about ten people with him at the moment. Rose will introduce you to whomever you don't know. Genie is excited for Gran to see their new play system. I might have gotten a bit out of control picking out something for them."

Lance chuckled. "Oh, but it's great!"

Legate held out his arm for Jackie to take. "Ma'am. May I escort you?"

Jackie smiled and gathered her things together. After she put everything back in her purse, she and kissed the Doctor on the cheek. "Pete told me what happened. Thank you."

He smiled, "He's fine, Jackie. Go see him."

Jackie took Legate's arm and they walked out of the room. No doubt to find a place more private to transport back up to the ship.

The Doctor turned to Pete. "So, how are things here? Dr. Smith has been keeping me informed. Last I heard they were thinking about doing a surgery?"

Pete nodded his head. "Yes. They've had him on some medicine and have been watching how he responds."

The Doctor shook his head and grumbled. "Stupid medicine in his time period."

Pete smiled, "I knew you would say something like that. Caroline is back with him now. They only are allowing two at a time, so I'll take you back in a bit. I'll warn you, he's loopy as hell."

The Doctor smiled, "Oh, I bet he makes very little sense then. I'll need you to translate for me for sure."

Pete laughed, "I'll do the best I can, son. But, he is even putting me to the test here. Jesus."

A man walked over to them. He wore a suit, and had grey hair that he combed back. He looked exhausted. "Excuse me. You're Doctor Johnathon Smith, right?"

The Doctor nodded at him. "I am."

The man shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Miles Richfield, the President's Chief of Staff. I've heard a lot about Howie's 'Wheel Horse'. He thinks a lot of you. He rarely mentions Pete without speaking about you, too."

"Oh, I wouldn't believe half of what Howie says about me." The Doctor laughed.

Miles laughed. "Oh, I've known Howie a long time. Not as long as Pete, but for a long time. I know what you are saying."

They all laughed as Caroline walked back into the room with another man in a suit who looked very official. Her face lit up as she walked over to the Doctor very quickly and embraced him. "I'm so glad you came. How is Jacob?"

He smiled at her as he held her hands. "Don't worry about Jacob. He's safe. He's having a great time. I'll keep up with him for you for as long as you need."

Caroline smiled, "I know he is safer with you than anyone. Thank you. Howie has been asking about you. He's awake if you and Pete want to go see him."

The Doctor nodded as he leaned in and kissed Caroline on the cheek.

Lance and Summus walked with them down the hall to the hospital room. They stood outside as Pete and The Doctor walked in. Howie smiled as he saw them. "Hell! He did make it! You really came across the lots. How is my pie eater?"

The Doctor walked over to the side of the bed and smiled, "Jacob is just fine. Don't worry about him."

"Ah, hell. I never worry about him when he's with the Space Desperado. They all thought I was ready to turn in my chips last night when Pete called 'cha. Even swore in my Vice. He's sitting in high cotton I'm sure today. He's a good man, though. Not like some of others in the necktie party. But, I'm peskily sorry we called you back so soon. Pete just can't play a lone hand on stuff."

The Doctor chuckled as he shook his head. "They must have you on some good stuff, Howie. How are you feeling?"

"All played out. I'd pitch a fit if I thought it would help my predicament any. But, it's not all bad. Some of these nurses are pretty easy on the eyes."

Pete laughed, "Howie. They're already talking about reelections. You'll have to behave yourself."

The Doctor crossed his arms. "See, I was reading about that. Elections here are different. You are elected every seven years? Howie? Do you want to do this another seven years?"

Howie waved his hand, "Ah. Caroline says I'm plumb crazy. But, my work here isn't finished yet."

"How can a President serve for seven years, then want to do it for another seven?" The Doctor asked.

Howie spoke, "Others have done it. You can always resign if you don't want to do it anymore. Then your Vice takes over and they have a special election to elect another Vice."

Pete nodded his head. "Yeah, Howie ran on the platform that he wouldn't resign. He isn't a quitter. So many have resigned before their first seven years are even up."

The Doctor was confused, "But, why seven years? Has it always been this way?"

Howie rolled his eyes. "Of course it has. President Washington won the first election and John Adams came in second. So, they made him the Vice President. That's what happened first."

The Doctor nodded his head. "Well, yeah. That's the same. But, didn't the Twelfth Amendment start the elections and the Electoral College?"

Howie shook his head. "You have been reading from the wrong history book. The Twelfth Amendment states that the President will be selected by the popular vote, and Vice President selected by the runner up. We serve seven years because it's a Holy number or some shit like that. I can't remember why. You can serve as many terms as you like, but it's a gentleman's agreement that we only serve two."

"How can you make sure everyone votes? This is just strange to me."

Pete smiled at him. "Same as in Britain now. You check the box when you file your taxes. One vote per citizen."

The Doctor nodded his head and smiled. "Now that is clever. Wow. That explains why there have been different Presidents through the years."

Pete laughed. "Didn't know I was going to get a history lesson today."

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "I knew if I asked him about something to do with law, he would clear up. I needed to know how clear headed he was. It was part of my evil plan, Howie."

Howie looked at him. "Oh, well. At least he ponies up his pot shot."

Pete crossed his arms and laughed. "And just like that, he's gone cowboy again. Howie, you nutter."

The Doctor looked questionability at Pete.

Pete looked back at him and shook his head. "I don't know. I think it was a good thing."

Howie lay back and sighed. "Oh, I'm tired. So, pray tell. Pop your corn already. Can you do anything? Or do they need to whittle on me?"

The Doctor laughed at Howie. "I think I understood that." He walked over to the chart and flipped the pages quickly. He nodded his head.

"Right. Well, I do have one thing that defiantly help. You are sick because you have a few clots that they know about, but what's scary is they have only looked in a few places. There is probably more in other places throughout your body."

Howie shook his head. "So, you're going to give me the long face?"

"No. I'm going to give you an injection. It will dissolve the clots. I'll need to give you another one tomorrow afternoon, but you should be alright. Provided you start flossing, twice a day. That's what causes this."

Pete looked surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah. Spoilers. They don't figure that out for about fifty more years." He told them as he pulled a box out of his pocket. He held it up to Howie's neck and pressed the button. The familiar hiss from it seemed to make Howie and Pete both relax.

Pete held his friend's hand and smiled.

The Doctor told him. "You are going to be alright, Howie. Dr. Smith and I have already chatted about this and he knows what I've done. That's the reason he's been holding off on doing any sort of surgery."

Pete chuckled, "Brilliant, son! How did you manage that?"

"I told him it was an experimental thing I was working on. I assured him that Caroline had approved it."

Howie relaxed in the bed. "Oh, she'll help you keep your nose clean. Or I will. I'm not completely out of the door over at the House, yet. No matter what those blood suckers think."

The Doctor smiled at him. "Sounds like what a friend of mine calls the press."

Howie pointed at him. "Them too! Never have cared for a damn, nothing to nobody, babble mouths telling these whoppers. They are all full of piss and vinegar. Well, they can just kiss my-"

"Okay, Howie. We get the picture." Pete laughed at him. "I think he's fine."

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