Title: Sleep Tight

By: adoreleo

Rating: PG

Characters: Jed/Leo Friendship

Spoilers: None.

Disclaimer: The characters are from the NBC, WB, TV show The West Wing; they do not belong to me.

Beta By: Lynn, who always goes beyond the call. THANKS!!!!

Feedback: Is greatly appreciated.

Author's Notes: This was started a while ago answering a 500 word challenge that was posted somewhere. I ran across it on my computer today, so I decided to finish it and post it. Hope you enjoy it.

Sleep Tight

It had been a beautiful spring day. We were leaving an early evening event, security was tight, but somehow a man with a gun got close. The gunman opened fire. The next thing I knew I was on the ground, after he had shoved me down and covered me with his body. There was a burning pain in my thigh. Hands grabbed me and shoved me into a limo.

Agents had to restrain me to keep me from getting out of the limo to find him. No one would tell me what happened. Soon, the limo was off to the hospital. It wasn't until we got there that I was told. He had been shot as he saved me. He died on the way to the hospital. I screamed his name. This can't be happening. I tried to go to him, but they held me down. Soon, a needle pricked my arm and I woke up hours later.

Josh was just here. He looked tired, pale and lost. He briefed me on what happened, who else was injured and gone. The gunman and a Secret Service agent dead. An innocent bystander was injured, but was expected to survive. I too will survive, but have been told that I will always have a limp to remind me. Like I could forget. I will never forget the look on his face as he shoved me down.

It's been four days now, and the pain has not lessened. The pain in my heart, that is. How can you forget over forty years of friendship? He was closer to me than a brother. He had been there for me so many times, but this last time, was too high a price to pay. It should have been me.

I slowly hobble, fumbling with my crutches. I had to really fight them to be able to come, but there was no way I wouldn't be here for him. I don't know what the hell he was thinking. It should be me lying there instead of him. He had no right to shove me out of the way when bullets starting flying. It wasn't his job.

I stand there looking down at him, tears flowing freely, knowing that my life will never be the same. I stumble, but four strong hands grab me and help back to my seat. After I sit, I realize it was Josh and Toby who helped me. They know both know what the country and I have lost. They have witnessed our friendship for the past few years.

I look to my right and see Margaret looking more afraid than she has in years. I want to reach for her and comfort her, but I cannot. I look to my left, and he catches my glare. I can't help but shudder. Jed should be sitting there, not President Bob Russell.

As his flag draped coffin passes by us on the way out of National Cathedral, I whisper, "Sleep tight, my brother."

The End