CHAPTER 7

Thanks for all the reviews, it was great getting feedback. Helps to get my ass in gear to write more!



Josh and Ellen were sent to the waiting room with minimal information on Sam. For a few moments they just sat staring at the wall trying to comprehend everything that had just happened. Then on cue they pulled out their cell phones, well Ellen had Sam's. She quickly went through his names to the one she least wanted to call. Mallory. Josh glanced over at the number she was looking at and nodded, he showed her his phone and she could see Leo's name clearly displayed. They both took deep breaths and put the phones to their ears simultaneously. It looked comical but at a time like this they gave it no thought.

Mallory answered after 4 rings. "Hello?"

Ellen was quiet for a few seconds until Mallory repeated her hello.

"Mallory, its Ellen." Ellen let that sink in. Then continued, "Sam, was having back pain.we had to bring him into the hospital. We're at GW."

"Umm okay.let me get dressed. Who's with you?" Mallory asked as she stumbled around looking for clothes.

"I called Josh, he's here calling everyone else." Ellen looked over at Josh, he had already called Leo and was now in the process of talking to CJ, next was Toby.

"Okay, I'll be there in twenty minutes. Call me if anything changes. Do you have my cell phone number?" She asked, sounding like she had when she first called the president and told him about the accident, months ago.

"Does Sam have it on his cell? That's what I'm on now."

"I think he does, if not my father will have it. Thanks Ellen, I'll be there soon." Mallory completed and ended the call. She was already out the door by the time the phone hit the ground.

~~~~~~~~~~

It had been three hours since Josh and Ellen had brought in Sam. Everyone was there and the president had called four times for information with no avail. So far they had been told nothing. It was after five and Leo was getting ready to go to the House. He got up to hug Mallory, just as a doctor walked in. It was the same doctor as before, she smiled and motioned them to sit even before they attempted to get up.

"The pressure on Sam's back has been building, that's why I pushed for the surgery for today, but it still wasn't early enough. We did minor surgery just now, to relieve some of the pressure, but not all of it. We are going to go back in a few hours. It's good you brought him in, anymore pressure and he could have been completely paralyzed." Dr. Austin stopped and let that news sink in before she brought up the rest. "Like now."

Everyone gave her a confused look, so she elaborated, though she didn't want to.

"As of now Sam is completely paralyzed. We wanted to make sure he is comfortable. We were going to have to do it anyway with the surgery today, so we just did it now, this way he is feeling no pain and won't risk injuring himself further. We put a tube down his nose to help with any stomach problems and we are already medicating him for any problems that might arise during the surgery. We plan on going in, in about an hour. We expect him to wake before that if someone wants to go in and visit."

Before anyone could ask any questions from Dr. Austin, she got up and left, pointing to the direction of Sam's room.

Josh stood wordlessly and walked out. Mallory followed, but the rest stayed behind, letting the news sink in that Sam almost died a few months ago and was now paralyzed. They all rose quietly and followed Josh and Mallory, when they reached Sam's room, Josh and Mallory had already stationed themselves next to Sam.

Josh stood on Sam's right, he grabbed his hand and squeezed careful of the IV. It took a moment to realize that even if Sam was awake he couldn't feel Josh squeezing his hand.

Mallory lifted Sam's left hand and sat down on the side of the bed. She gently caressed his cheek and swept his hair back from his face. She sniffed a few times and smiled gently when Josh reached over to squeeze her shoulder. She started to murmur thanks, but Josh silenced her with another squeeze. Together the turned to watch Sam sleep, unaware of the audience right outside the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two hours later, Sam lifted his eyelids. They felt like bricks and he kept trying to bring his hand up to help but nothing was responding, for the moment he wasn't to concerned about it, though he didn't know why. He slowly turned his head and saw CJ watching him. His eyes narrowed while he tried to figure out what was going on.

"Ceej.?" Sam asked slowly, his throat hurt and he was exhausted, but very confused. CJ smiled weakly and nodded.

"Hey Sam, how do you feel?"

Sam pondered this for a moment and came up with "weird."

CJ snorted. "That's what the president's speeches having been missing lately, 'weird.' Well Sam you have worried a lot of us with this stunt you pulled. You couldn't wait until later today for the surgery? You just had to come in with a bang, huh?"

What are you talking about?" Sam asked quietly, he still couldn't figure out what was going on. CJ taunting him was helping either.

CJ immediately sobered. "You started having major back pains after we left your place. Ellen panicked and called Josh, good thing too. They said you were delirious on the ride over here, you're at GW, in case your wondering. You were rushed into surgery as soon as you got here and they did some minor repair, they were supposed to go back an hour ago, but you weren't waking up and then Dr. Austin was pulled away. So as soon as she gets back you are going back under. Does that clear it up?"

Sam nodded and looked away, this was a big mess. He should have told someone about those back pains earlier, this was not what he wanted.

"Is Ellen okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine. She is down with Josh and Mallory getting coffee. Those two wouldn't leave your side, but we convinced them to go to the café. Leo went back to the office and dragged Toby with him, I'm due to return within the hour. I'm glad you woke up. I wanted to talk to you before I had to go."

"Have you taken a shower?" Sam asked out of the blue. CJ looked down at her clothes, she did look ridiculous but they all did. She was wearing her pj pants and a large hooded sweatshirt that had 'The Washington Post' written across it. She was wearing her old glasses and had yet to brush her hair.

"What are you saying, Spanky?" She asked smiling and squeezing his hand.

Sam smiled back, but it faded as he followed her arm down to his hand, which she was holding.

"How come I can't feel you holding my hand?" He asked calmly and in control.

CJ was silent for a moment, trying to think of the best way to say it, but at that moment Dr. Austin choose to walk in. CJ blew a sigh of relief.

"Sam, good to see you up. I was beginning to get worried and so were your friends. You ready to get this operation over with? It shouldn't take more then 3 hours. Austin said sounding very chipper.

"Dr. Austin, why can't I feel CJ holding my hand? Why can't I feel anything?" Sam asked quietly, CJ was amazed at his control.

"When you were brought in Sam, there was a lot of pressure on your spinal cord and we relieved some of it, but not all of it and that's why were taking you under again. To make sure we didn't do anymore damage or you didn't do anymore damage we paralyzed you from the neck down."

"Isn't not permanent, is it?"

Dr. Austin hesitated before answering and CJ narrowed her eyes, no one had asked this question before and she didn't like how long it was taking the doctor to answer.

"Were gonna have to wait and see, Sam. There was a lot more damage then we had earlier suspected. We won't know until after. The chances are low but were not completely sure. Have you been having pain? Dr. Ellis said you haven't complained of any, but Sam have you?"

Sam was quiet and did not answer until CJ nudged him in confusion. He turned his blue eyes to CJ and she knew.

"Sam, why didn't you tell anyone?" CJ asked with an edge to her voice.

Sam didn't answer but Dr. Austin did.

"Sam, you not telling anyone could have made this problem worse. Your not telling us, doesn't help lower the chances of paralysis, it made have even made it worse."

Sam took slow, controlled breaths, trying not to panic. He closed his eyes to block everything out. He felt CJ brush her hand over his forehead, then a quick kiss. He opened his eyes and smiled in appreciation.

"We'll come get you in a half hour to start. Rest and try to not think about it Sam. You'll be walking before you know it." Dr. Austin said as she made her way out. Josh, Mallory and Ellen were coming back from the cafeteria when they met her. The three rushed in to see CJ leaning over Sam talking to him quietly.

Sam quietly conveyed to CJ too not let the others know what they had learned, she nodded then stepped back to Mallory could come over.

"Hey Sweetie, you okay?" Mallory asked as she planted a kiss on his forehead.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I only have 30 minutes until I go back under. Ellen?" Upon seeing her in the corner behind Josh, he continued. "You okay? I didn't mean to scare you like that. I'm sure this is not what you wanted when you asked for a roommate."

Ellen edged up to his side directly behind Josh. "Hey, its fine. I'm glad I was there. And I used your cell phone a lot tonight so it all equals out." Ellen teased. She was glad to see a smile come over Sam's tired features.

Sam nodded and turned to Josh. "Good to see ya, buddy. How did you not get dragged back to the White House with Toby?"

"I called the president and told him I was taking a personal day, surprisingly even after my days in the hospital and at home, I still have some left. I guess being a workaholic does help. Also I grabbed onto a metal door and Toby only grabbed a wooden one. Needless to say, metal won over wood and Leo could only drag Toby. He's got splinters everywhere." Sam laughed hard at that, but stopped as pain coursed up from somewhere.

They stood quietly around Sam until Josh asked to speak to Sam alone. CJ kissed Sam good-bye and promised to return as soon as she could, Sam told her not to worry and she nodded and left before he could see her tears.

CJ left in a hurry, she had a press briefing within the hour and still had to change and if she was lucky get in the shower.

Ellen went out behind her, with instructions to get to Josh and Mallory's house to get clean clothes and other supplies. She also went to her and Sam's place to get cleaned up and put on her clothes, but she kept on Sam's sweatshirt. Even though they had just met the previous day she felt like he was one of her best friends. She didn't know how it had happened, but it felt like she had been acquired into a whole new family.

While Ellen was gone and after Mallory had left to call Leo, Josh pulled up a chair near Sam.

"Sam, I am so sorry. I never knew how hard this all was for you guys. Just waiting for two hours, seemed like eternity.I.I'm just so sorry." Josh stopped, as he couldn't think of what else to say.

Sam by all means was beyond confused. "Josh? What are YOU talking about?" He asked incredulously.

"I.don't mean I have a big head or anything." At Sam's snort, he stopped and hit Sam in the arm. "Okay, so I do have a big head, but if you guys felt half the way I did as I waited to hear from the doctors about you today and when you had the accident, I just want to apologize. It is the worst thing to have to do. To have to sit and wait to hear if your friend is okay.to." Again Josh finished stuttering, not sure what else to say.

Sam stared at Josh, dumbfounded. "Josh, hell yes, waiting almost 20 hours to hear if you were going to make it was horrible. This is not as serious as what you had. It was horrible time, but it was not your fault, you couldn't help it that you got shot. You lived and that made that horrible time fade quickly. Josh if I ever hear you try to apologize for that I'm going to kick your ass!"

Josh smiled and was speechless until he quietly uttered, "you promise."

Sam nodded just as two orderly's came into wheel Sam upstairs. Mallory came in to kiss Sam good-bye and Josh leaned down to say thank you.

Wrapping an arm around Mallory, Josh watched Sam until he was rolled around a corner and could not be seen any more.

Ellen was back at the hospital in an hour. Josh went first to change his clothes and shave the best he could in the small bathroom near the waiting room. Mallory and Ellen watched CJ on TV, then Josh joined Ellen and Mallory went to the bathroom.

Ellen turned to Josh and asked a question she had been thinking of ever since Sam had passed out.

"Josh, what did Sam mean when he asked you about New Hampshire and the 'real thing?'"

It was the first time she had seen Josh smile in a while. He was silent for a few moments, then proceeded to tell Ellen about Governor Josiah Barlet and the campaign. Mallory joined them a few minutes later and listened to Josh tell any story he could think of with Sam in it. The three of them were in stitches when in the doctor walked in, two hours later. Her face unreadable. They instantly sobered.





Okay, how long should I draw this out? I could end it in another chapter or two. I think definitely thinking of doing some sequels. I just need to keep writing and finish it soon! I hope you enjoyed and thank you immensely for the feedback.