It was very early in the morning in Belfast when Ron and Nancy were satisfied enough with their facts to make the call to Leo with the best possible news.

It was evening in Washington. Margaret, of course, was still at work and answering Leo's phones as he was in the Oval deep in a chess match with the President. Ever since the memorial service, Jed had been hesitant to go to the Residence early as it was so silent. The girls had gone back to their lives and he was lonely so he stayed in the Oval, usually reading or working. But tonight, Leo had corralled him into a match, mainly to get his mind on a different topic than the nation's business or any other worries he might have had.

Jed took another sip of his scotch and studied the board. "Let's see. What move can I make that will beat you?"

Leo laughed. "Sir, is that all you think about?"

"It makes me happy, Leo, so why not?"

Jed continued to study the board. There was a knock on the door from the Chief of Staff's Office. Jed answered "Come in, Margaret. Queen takes your Pawn. Checkmate."

Both men looked up at Leo's red-haired assistant.

"Leo, you have an important phone call."

Jed sat back and laughed. "Leo, you're having a lot of those. Why are you so more important than me?"

Leo smiled at his friend. "Maybe I'm more popular than you," as he stood.

"Go. Go." Jed waved him away.

Leo closed the door between the two offices and sat down at his desk.

"Leo McGarry."

"Leo, it's Ron. We have found Mrs. Bartlet. She's alive."

Leo sat in his chair stunned. "What did you say? Say again."

"I said, we have Abbey Bartlet. She's in the hospital and alive. She's in tough shape, but nothing a few days of fluids and food won't help. In fact, I think she should be able to fly home in Lord John's plane in a couple of days. I would want a nurse to come along to just be safe, but I think she'll be well enough."

"Ron, how, when, where, who, I mean…"

"I know, Leo. I have lots of questions too, but I think she's been unconscious for a few days and she doesn't remember much. She only woke up about an hour ago and is still kind of foggy on details. But it is Abigail Bartlet. I've proven it with blood type, dental records and birth mark. And since I've spoken with her, I'm very sure."

"Can the President talk to her right now?"

"Like I said, she's still foggy, but I think it will do her good to hear his voice. I'm damn sure it will do him some good. I know this is a shock. I had all but given up and then, all of a sudden, there she was." Ron told Leo as much as he knew about the circumstances surrounding her being found. "But Leo, it is her. That's what's important."

"I agree. Okay, I'm going into the Oval and break the news. Expect a call soon so stand by. Ron, you and Nancy have done a fantastic job. And tell Lord John, he's more than welcome to come back with everyone. I'm sure the President will want to thank him personally."

"I'll tell him that."

"Okay. Let me go. For once, I get to tell him good news. And really the best news he could possibly hear. Stand by, okay?"

"I'll be here. Bye."

Leo sat for a minute, trying to decide the words to use, but there were no best ones. He just had to come out and say it.

He opened the door to the Oval and the President raised his head and smiled. However, when he saw Leo's face, the smile faded.

"Leo, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

He didn't answer, just walked back to his seat and sat down.

He looked at Jed and took a deep breath. "Jed, I have something to tell you. Now, you may have trouble believing it, but it's true and it's been verified."

"Leo, what the hell are you talking about?"

"I lied to you about where Ron and Nancy are. I sent them to England on a task that, if they failed, then I would take complete responsibility for it and I would offer my resignation. And up to last night, it looked like they had failed."

"Leo…"

"Sir, let me finish. That phone call just now was from Ron. It was to tell me that through some miracle that he could not explain, and I have to believe that a Higher Power had to be involved in this, your wife has been found alive in Northern Ireland and is currently a patient in Belfast Medical Center."

"Abbey, alive, she's alive…" Jed was stunned. He had given up all hope of finding her alive. All he had prayed for was finding a body to bury. "What condition is she in? Is she conscious? Is she hurt badly?"

"Sir, Ron didn't have a lot of details. She's in stable condition, He said she's lost a lot of weight and seems really foggy about what went on. She was unconscious when the police found her in a suburban Belfast park this morning Belfast time and only regained consciousness about an hour ago. He has talked to her and through talking with her, dental records, blood type and a certain birthmark, has confirmed it is Abbey."

"She's talking? Can I speak with her? Now?"

"Yes, Sir. Ron is standing by. He wants to remind you that she is still kind of foggy, but has no problem with remembering anything about her family or anything like that. Just her experiences since her abduction. And he thinks that maybe she can home in a few days on Lord John's private plane, if the doctor agrees."

"Home? Oh my God! Abbey can actually come home?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Leo, one more thing. I have to ask, was she… was she sexually…"

"I didn't ask Ron, Sir. And he didn't say."

"Okay. That's something we can find out later. Now I just want to talk with her."

"Sir, here is the number. I'll leave you alone. I'll be in my office when you're finished."

Leo stood and started toward his door but stopped when he heard Jed's voice.

"Leo?"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, Sir."