CHAPTER 8

So sorry this took so long to get out. I didn't realize it had been 8 weeks since I last updated. Thank you to Nic for getting me started again.
Dr. Austin took a seat across from the three while they waited with bated breaths. Dr. Austin took a deep breath and plowed in.

"Sam, had a lot of damage as I told you before. We fixed what we thought was the main problem and afterwards we explored a little to see if we got everything-we didn't. We went higher up the back to make sure everything was in order and we were surprised to see that there was quite a bit of damage there as well. We fixed it and closed. I think we got all of it."

"So everything's okay? Sam can go back to his physical therapy and wheelchair." Josh asked.

Dr. Austin paused. "We have to wait and see."

"See what?" Mallory asked with an edge creeping into her voice.

"With all the damage done, we have to wait and see if the paralysis is permanent or maybe he'll only get feeling back from his chest and up. Maybe he'll be in a wheelchair the rest of his life, we don't know." She gave it to them straight.

"But you told me that the first time he woke he had to decide if he wanted the first surgery and with it he would have a good chance of walking and leaving this all behind, but now we're on the third surgery and your saying it's even worse. What happened?" Josh asked exasperated.

"I don't know what to tell you Josh, things happen. It was supposed to help, but everything was worse ten-fold then what we expected. Now we can only hope for the best." Dr. Austin said frankly.

"When is he going to wake? Can we see him?" Ellen asked quietly, trying to dispel the uneasiness in the room.

"He's in ICU, family only-never mind, one at a time, though. Keep it calm when he wakes, go easy on him." Dr. Austin said, she knew if she told them family only they would get in some way, so she decided not to even try to stop them.

"Keep him calm? What did he do?" Mallory asked, Dr. Austin made it sound as if they were mad at him for all this.

Dr. Austin narrowed her eyes. "He didn't tell you?.He was having severe back pains before the surgery-before you brought him for a few days. It could of made the situation worse."

Ellen watched as Mallory and Josh's faces hardened at this news. Ellen knew that he was having pains but not that bad, now she felt like an idiot.

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It had been over 24 hours and Sam still had not woke. Dr. Austin didn't seem too worried about it but everyone else did. Since they could only be in one at a time, Mallory, Josh and Ellen switched every hour to give each other breaks and time with Sam.

When dawn came the next day, Leo arrived to sit with Sam a few hours, then pulled Josh into work with him. Mallory went to school for a half day to help out but planned to return as soon as she could. Ellen was left alone for a while until CJ and Donna came to check in, then came Ginger and Cathy along with Charlie. They all stayed for a few minutes to meet Ellen and convey their sympathies, but mostly to see for themselves that Sam was still with them no matter how he looked or what was going to happen.

Around twelve everyone was gone and it was just Ellen and sleeping Sam again. Mallory and Josh had both called repeatedly, until Sam's cell phone battery died. So now the nurses had to field all the calls that came from the two. They both were stuck at work but were determined to make it out as soon as possible. Ellen reassured them there was nothing happening, Sam was taking the time he could, to sleep. Ellen hadn't seen so much as a twitch happen since the surgery and that worried her, what if he was paralyzed? Would she stay? Ellen felt horrible after she thought that, but deep down she knew it had to be asked, but she didn't know how to answer it.

Ellen felt a presence behind her and jumped when she looked up and saw the same agent that had checked the house out before the president had arrived.

"So no one ever really knows when you are there, huh?" She asked to the earlier reference that Sam would never know he had been in the bedroom when he slept.

The agent smiled and nodded and it finally dawned on Ellen that this agent was not just making a social call. The president was nearby somewhere.

"When?" She asked and it was all it took for the agent to know what she was asking.

"Two minutes." He replied. He took up a stance behind her near the window.

Ellen went to get up. "Well, I'll just grab some coffee and come back when he's gone," but the agent put his hand on her shoulder and shook his head.

"No stay, the president has requested your presence." He said.

Requested her presence? What did that mean? Ellen nodded and made herself comfortable again, unconsciously straightening her hair and Sam's sweatshirt. The agent smiled from behind and muttered something into his sleeve that Ellen couldn't distinguish. A few minutes later she could hear commotion in the hallway and knew that he had arrived. She stood and made her way over to the wall as to be out of the way.

The president and his detail swept in seconds later. Bartlet took in the room with a single glance and made his way over to Ellen first. He opened his arms and she stepped into them without hesitation. He immediately felt her tears soaking his suit coat.

"I'm sorry, sir." She started, but he waved her off and lowered her head back onto his shoulder.

A few minutes later she got herself back under control and headed to the hall to give the president peace with Sam. She missed the president nod to the first agent to follow her out.

Bartlet eyed Ron Butterfield, asking him if he could have the room. Ron shook his head no. Bartlet smiled and nodded yes, they had a short stare down until Ron caved and spoke into his sleeve. The other agents swept the room one more time then left shutting the door behind leaving the president and Sam alone again.

"Were back where we started again, Sam. Last time this didn't go so well, so let's hope for the best. I don't know what to say at a time like this. This is when I need your words and compassion. So I think I'm just going to sit here in silence with you and try not to mess anything else up with you or anyone else." And that's what he did, he sat quietly by Sam's side for a quarter of an hour until he saw Sam's eyes open once again.

The president looked at Sam in shock surprised that once again Sam had woke while he was there. The president reached over to hit the button to alert the doctors. Sam smiled softly and nodded. The president slid his hand over Sam's cheek to his forehead to brush the lock of hair that had fallen over his eyes. Sam closed his eyes and smiled as the president did it, Bartlet wasn't sure why but he didn't ask and smiled back.

The President stared into Sam's eyes to try to see, to try to feel what it was like to be going through all this. He shuddered involuntarily as he realized this could be him someday, bedridden. At least, Sam still had his mind and that would never leave him like it would to Jed one day in the future.

"Hey Sam, Why am I always the lucky one you wake up to? Josh, Ellen and Mallory are here all day and night and I come for five minutes and you wake up." Jed drifted off as he thought of something to say. "When your better we're going to talk for now I just to apologize for what I said to you when to first woke. Why don't we just take it back? I never said it. It was entirely inappropriate. I'm sorry."

Sam's eyes widened but the President said no more and left, without looking back to see tears come out of Sam's eyes.

Ellen saw the President leave and looked in on Sam was surprised to see the tears, she stayed in the hall for a few minutes then followed the doctor in when he arrived.

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Jed stayed away from Sam for a week. During that time, Sam had had no feeling below his neck. Dr. Austin was losing hope by the day, but Josh kept up everyone's spirits. Sam was scheduled to be released sometime in the coming week whether he regained feeling or not. They had started therapy again to keep his muscles from atrophying.

So Jed decided to return to have the talk with Sam that so needed to be had.

Upon entering Sam's room, Jed was surprised to see Sam up in a wheelchair. He was next to the window sitting in a regular wheelchair with a yellow blanket tucked over his legs. He had lost a lot of weight to the point he looked gaunt, dark circles around his eyes made the paleness of his skin even more noticeable. This was not the Sam Jed knew. This one didn't even notice the President's arrival. Jed made his way over to a vacant chair next to Sam, a book was sitting opened on it, Jed picked it up to move it to the table. He was surprised by the author, Descartes, that was some heavy philosophy, he never knew Sam liked philosophy, but there was a lot of things he didn't know about his staff. Then again maybe Sam wasn't even reading it, he couldn't exactly hold up a book. Someone would have to hold it for him or read it too him. That thought made the president even more depressed about Sam's situation.

"I think, therefore I am." He quoted to get Sam's attention

"Cogito." Sam replied as his head swiveled around but the president was dismayed to see that the rest of his body did not follow.

Jed smiled at the comment, but was also sadden by it. He moved onto another subject, "yellow is really your color." Jed teased, in his mind he could see Sam picking at the blanket while making a face, but neither of them happened.

"My mother thought so too, sir."

"Well, it's beautiful Sam. My compliments to the knitter."

Sam nodded and inclined his head to the chair next to him.

"I'm glad you came, Sir. I want-"

"Sam, I'm sorry for anything I said, for anything and everything." Jed said, not quite sure why he was apologizing but he knew Sam had been avoiding him ever since he woke up-the first time- and it was eating Jed up inside not knowing.

"Sir, its my fault. I heard everything you said when you were here the first time. It sort of scared me. I didn't know how to respond to that. With everything that has happened in my family recently and everything going on at work, I didn't know what to think when you said I was like a.like a.son to you." Sam stopped and looked down.

The president was dumbfounded, he hadn't know Sam had heard him when he expressed what he feeling that night, it was still a big blur to him. Now everything made sense.

"Sam, I am so very sorry. I had no right to tell you that. If you want we can forget it was ever said." The president said, again, this as he gazed out the window; he could see Josh and Ellen getting out of a car. They would be in the room soon.

He felt Sam's hand cover his own. The president covered it with his over hand and squeezed it absentmindedly not understanding the meaning for a few seconds until he looked down.

"Sam!" He cried squeezing Sam's hand tighter. Sam smiled back with his sparkling like they used to a long time ago.

"Sir, when you're done with that" he motioned to his hand on the presidents lap, "could you put it back?" He asked smiling.

The president smiled back. "What did that tire you out?" He teased.

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Mallory was just getting out of car at Sam's apartment when Josh pulled into the spot next to her. Calling out she moved to the back of her Saturn.

"Prefect timing, Josh, I have loads of groceries that need to go up to Sam's."

Josh got out of his car and shook his head no. Sorry, Mal, I gotta carry my." he searched around his car until he found Sam's laptop, "this."

He was close enough for Mallory to reach over and smack, which he did. "Since when did you become a wimp? Never mind don't answer that question, I don't want you to have to think that far back, you might hurt yourself." She teased.

Josh looked wounded and started to pick up some of the grocery bags from Mallory's car. She smirked and grabbed the leftovers.

"So, what do you think we should do for Christmas? Happy Hanukah by the way."

"Thanks, so you know I really don't care about the whole Christmas stuff."

"But for Sam, we should do something special."

"Yeah, what do you have in mind. Did you talk to the president about the other thing?"

"Yeah, he really liked the idea and is getting it all set up. I think for the 23rd. I was thinking you could take him out for a few hours, Ellen and I could decorate his apartment all Christmas-y like and then we can invite CJ, Toby, Donna, and some others to spend the 25th at his place. Ellen and I could cook."

"Hmmm.home-cooked meal always sounds good. And when and where do you want me to whisk Sam away to, for a few hours?"

"Take him to work, you know how happy he is there. Its like a kid in a candy store."

Josh agreed as the two of them stepped out of the elevator onto Sam's floor. They opened the door without knocking and went immediately to the kitchen. They could hear Christmas carols coming from Sam's system and Sam and Ellen talking, but they also heard a third voice. They glanced at each other to see that they both had no clue whom the voice was from.

Upon entering, they both stopped as their jaws dropped open when they saw Sam in his wheelchair dressed in an off-white turtleneck sweater and dress pants with Christmas lights looped around his neck. He was laughing as Ellen unwound a strand from him to wind it around the tree, which towered over her head and the head of a tall, blonde big guy, who neither Josh nor Mallory recognized.

"Hey Josh, hey Mal, come meet Ellen's brother Brent. He's staying here for the holidays before he goes to Michigan State this January."

Josh and Mallory said hi and returned to the kitchen to pour everyone some eggnog. Mal passed the cups to Ellen and Brent then gave Sam a sip of hers since he was tied down by lights. Ellen decided to start dinner while Josh and Brent sat down to talk football and Mal and Sam got bundled up to go for a walk.

"You know Josh and I were devising a plan to get you out of the apartment so we could decorate it. I guess we can throw that out." Mallory told Sam as she wheeled him down the sidewalk. She planned to just take him around the block to talk.

"The temperature really dropped, didn't it? I miss spring-I miss California! Warm all year round." Sam joked as he threw his hands up.

"Yeah, yeah, Josh always complained you couldn't take the cold." Mal stopped to wrap her arms around Sam; she worked her way around until she was sitting on his lap, cuddling in his warmth.

"I talked to the president today, he invited us to come see a movie tomorrow at the House. I think he wants to see you before the Holidays and whatnot."

Sam smiled and stroked her cheek. "And what are we seeing? Please not 'Murder by Numbers' again."

"No, I made sure it was not that one. It's a new one, he wouldn't even tell me, so it will be a big surprise to all."

"All?" Sam asked devilishly.

"Yes, I believe all staff members have been issued a executive order to attend. Dinner is also provided.Abby is overseeing the cooking not the president." Mallory said before Sam could question her.

Sam nodded then tensed, Mal could tell he was listening intently to something. She stopped to listen also but the sound came clear through the streets.

Sam grabbed Mallory and hugged her hard as they both heard a car's brakes screech hard, but they were not effective and a sudden, loud crash was heard. Mallory gripped Sam hard as she could feel him begin to shake.

"Hey, hey it's okay. It's not you, you are okay. Shhhh shhhh. I love you so much, you have taught me more then I ever thought I could learn. You have proven to everyone that you can go on, we all love you so much Samuel." Mallory kept saying whatever came to her head. Sam was slowly releasing his grip on her, but she maintained hers until Sam pushed her away, just far enough so he could give her a proper kiss.

A few minutes later, Mallory climbed off his lap and began pushing him back to the apartment. She picked up speed when she saw him begin to shiver from the cold.

Upon reaching the apartment, Mallory helped Sam take off his coat and followed him into the living room where they could hear Josh, Ellen and Brent laughing about something. They all stopped when Mal and Sam entered and sobered when they saw that Sam was shaking and paler then usual.

"Hey.?" Josh started.

Mallory waved him off. "Sam and I are going to lay down for a while. Call us when dinner is ready, it smells delicious."

The three nodded and watched Sam and Mallory enter the bedroom and close the door behind them.
I think one more chapter coming. What movie is the President showing? And more. I plan on making a sequel, if school goes according to plan! College sucks! Anyway hopefully you all enjoyed and more soon (hopefully!)