Bartlet Farm - Next Day

"Dad! I can't believe I finally got you… you've been busy!" Mallory's welcome voice came from the cell phone.

"Hey Baby," he replied, listening to an excited, soon-to-be-wed Mal. He'd fully planned to call her first thing this morning. Only, she'd beat him to it.

Leo smiled, as he threw a ball for Scout. It was still quiet outside with the farm crew just beginning their activities. Somehow, morning became one of his favorite times of the day here, watching the sun bathe the fields as it emerged.

He knew Mallory wanted to connect with him about the wedding yesterday. But, he'd been highly focused on Abbey, getting all areas of their life together back to normal. God, he'd missed Abbey that way. Leo had even blown off a follow up call with Marion Coatsworth Haye, deciding an afternoon of post-amorous cuddling with Abbey well worth a few million out of his own pocket to cover for the lost library donation.

Not surprising, his daughter was a bit hyper about the details. So was Jenny. No doubt, the two women were spirited red-heads, but he'd have it no other way. Both seemed to want to be in constant communication with him as the wedding approached. Abbey even teased him that maybe he'd still be married to Jenny, if Mallory got married earlier. He'd answered that statement with a kiss that would leave Abbey with no doubt where she fit in his life. However, Abbey followed up on her teasing with serious speculation that Mallory and Jenny were just happy he was home and on the mend.

He listened once again as Mallory went through her to-do list for him. Leo owned more than a few tuxes, and they should coordinate on the exact white tie ensemble, so he matched Scott and the rest of the groomsmen appropriately. And, then, there was the matter of the song they would dance to...

Leo thought all he'd have to do was write the checks.

Hard to believe he was getting ready to have a father-daughter dance with Mallory at her wedding. Where had the last thirty years gone? It only seemed a moment ago, he was trying to figure out if he would even be ready to dance at his own…

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center - 1969

Leo maneuvered his wheelchair down the hallway to the hospital solarium. Anything to get away from his thoughts and counting ceiling tiles.

It had only been a few days since they'd let him up and out of the bed, teaching him to transfer to a wheelchair. They didn't trust him with crutches yet… said he was too weak from fighting the massive infection that almost took his leg. Kenny had got him out of the Vietnamese jungle, helping him to survive a critical injury and avoid capture after they were shot down. But, part of his mind was still back there, what little he could remember of it. Three men had died during the helicopter extraction. Two others were seriously wounded. Leo couldn't wrap his head around it.

A hospital chaplain told Leo the best way to honor them was to live his life in a way that was worthy of their sacrifice. But, as Leo looked at his mangled leg, tried to quiet his mind and block out the screams, the bloodshed, and the collateral damage of a vicious war, he wasn't sure what his future might hold. Jenny was coming in later in the week. She probably wouldn't even recognize him - the young man she'd said "yes" to. He was an entirely different person. How could she want to marry the monster he'd become. He'd taken lives and lives had been given for him. It would have been better for everyone if he hadn't survived ejecting from the plane.

He couldn't let anyone know… Everyone sounded so happy to welcome him home, even with a bum leg. His mother and sisters were so relieved. They were driving out with Jenny. He should be thrilled to see them. It had been so long. But, when he reached within himself for anything he recognized, it just wasn't there. There was apathy, hopelessness and then, there were the nightmares…

Leo didn't want to hurt them. Maybe he could fake it for a while. Maybe they wouldn't see that he wasn't the son, brother or fiance' they remembered. Maybe over time, Jenny would realize and leave him. She really should. She deserved better than a crippled husk of a dream she'd had - of who she thought he'd be to build a home and family with.

Maybe eventually he'd take the coward's way out, like Pop…

God, what the hell was he thinking…

Leo didn't know... He didn't know what to think anymore. How to feel. He just wanted relief from a crushing sense of shame. What he did… what had been done to save his sorry ass. He wasn't the hero everyone was making him out to be. If anyone knew how he felt right now, what he was thinking, they'd be disgusted at his lack of gratitude.

The sweat built up between his shoulder blades as it trickled from his forehead down his neck. There were other guys and families in the Solarium. It was an open, sunny place with lots of plants - he could do without the plants… He wondered if any of the other guys were just as fucked up as he was inside. And, if they were, they probably had a better reason to be. Lots of guys had it worse than him…

"Hey…"

The voice came from behind him and seemed to come from another life entirely.

In a daze, he fumbled with his wheelchair, trying to turn it around so he could see the source of the greeting. It couldn't be…

Before he could complete the move, strong hands grabbed the back of the chair and helped him. And, Leo wondered if he was hallucinating.

Jed Barlet should be in London right now, hunkered down with his doctoral classes, getting ready to be a father. There was no way his old friend could be standing in front of him.

"Leo, man… God, it's good to see you…" The "Jed" mirage kneeled down to look at him eye-level. Leo felt arms go around him, holding him close, rubbing his back. And, it was almost too much to take in. It had to be the morphine. He couldn't be real. Jed couldn't want to hug him, now that he saw what a mess he was.

But, the warmth from the embrace was real. The growing moisture on his shoulder felt real. A mirage wouldn't hold him and cry on him. It probably wouldn't say, "I was so afraid, Leo. We weren't sure you'd make it. I can't believe you're here…"

Slowly, Leo's hands seemed to be able to move, and he felt himself reach out, feeling his friend was real. And, before he knew it, he was holding onto Jed for dear life. And, he felt the sting of tears rolling down his cheeks as he buried his face into his friend's shoulder. If he'd had a moment to think about it, maybe he would have tried to put on a facade… to be the brave wounded warrior they expected to see. But, Jed was the first non-military friend or family member he'd seen in two years. And, it was Jed… Leo couldn't put anything into words, and Jed didn't expect him to.

"You're going to be okay, Leo," Jed murmured into his ear. "It's going to be okay."

"I.. um…" Leo was trying to find the words to warn his friend off. He wasn't the Leo McGarry anyone remembered. Jed probably wouldn't want to know him now…

"You're home, Leo. You survived and everything else is crap. Do you understand?"

Using one of Leo's typical expressions, Jed then pulled away and looked him in the eyes, willing him with the force of his personality to see things his way. Typical Jed. God, he'd missed him. It seemed so long ago since he'd felt Jed's certitude, his uncanny way of anticipating Leo's feelings, so he didn't need to voice them. Jed knew he wasn't the same and didn't care. The weight of that potential discovery, of being found out, began to lesson on Leo's shoulders.

They sat in silent commiseration for what seemed hours but was probably only minutes. Leo felt his friend rub his shoulder, pat his arm, anchoring him with just his physical presence. So much could be said between them in a few words, when it came down to it.

Finally, Leo trusted his voice. "I dunno how I'm gonna do this…"

Jed pulled him close again. "You'll do it with your friends and family."

"You guys… you don't know… you might not want to…"

"Never want to hear that again. We'll understand, okay?"

More than Leo could believe those words from anyone else, he could almost believe them from Jed. He felt an unfamiliar small glimmer of hope - hope, lost to him for the last month while recovering in a foreign hospital so far from home.

"You look like you need to eat something, Leo," Jed continued. "Let's get food, huh?"

Leo couldn't remember the last time he really thought about food or even really been hungry. But, maybe he could eat something… Maybe that would be the first step. A meal with a friend. He could probably get through it - if it was Jed.

Present Day

Back at Walter Reed all those years ago, Jed had cajoled, encouraged, and assured Leo there was a way forward. Jed reminded him to eat, building Leo's strength. The next day, Jed helped him try the crutches, so he could be upright when Jenny, his mother, and sisters arrived later in the week. His friend helped him build small, even minuscule, victories - meeting him where he was. It wasn't everything… but, it was enough. It was enough to get through the next day, to greet his family with more confidence, and to eventually, give Jenny a chance to love him for who he was now. Jenny always had that capacity. He needed to give her credit for it. Without Jed's visit, there would be no Jenny and without Jenny, there would be no Mallory.

"So, Dad, are you going to finally tell me about the song you picked out for us?"

Leo chuckled.

Mallory wanted to know every single detail - just like her Mom. He liked the element of a sweet surprise. Truth be told, he'd picked out the song on the day she was born. There could be only one song - My Girl by The Temptations. It said everything about how he felt when he thought about her.

"You know, good things come to those who wait, Mallory." Leo teased.

"But, you have picked a song, Dad…"

"Yes, Mallory, I have picked a song." He confirmed, giving her a break.

"Okay, I need to go, Dad. I love you."

"Oh… I love you too, Baby."

Leo signed off and hung his arms upon the paddock fence, looking out over the field. Jed and Abbey had built a beautiful home, a beautiful farm. He now was welcomed into it and found a home here as well. He may not have made it without Jed's unconditional support all those years ago. He'd lived to not only dance at his own wedding but would be there for his daughter's. There was no question what he owed Jed Barlet.

Now, as Leo made his way back up the porch steps to Abbey and a day of library planning, he said a silent prayer for his friend, whom he knew would always be there in his heart.