DISCLAIMER: See chapter 1

A/N: I'm sorry this chapter took so long and is so short. It was VERY difficult for me to write. I must admit I was crying while doing so (not just because of the story, but I also had an experience very similar happen to me recently). I would also like some input. Are you sick of everybody's initial reactions? If so, then I will skip CJ and Toby's initial reactions (I figure I'm just going to do the POVs of Donna, Charlie, Josh, Sam, Leo, Toby, and CJ) and have the plot progress a little. If not, then I'll write them. So just let me know. The next chapter could take a while. I have a slight case of writer's block. Thank you very much to nattieb and Airam4u for the reviews.


I have absolutely no idea where I am. I've been walking for what seems like hours. My legs hurt, and my nose feels like it's going to fall off from this subzero weather. I never understood how Jed put up with, and actually enjoyed, this frozen hell they call New Hampshire.

Jed. He's really gone. I never thought it would happen like this. I always assumed that I would be the first to go, especially after my heart attack. This isn't how it was supposed to happen. How can I go on when my best friend and confidant has left me alone? It's almost too much to bare.

I don't think my legs can hold me much longer. I look around and notice that I'm in a park of some sort. I think I've been here before, but I can't remember. I'm so disoriented. There's a bench just ahead. I walk to it and sit. Dear God is that cold! Seriously, how can people put up with weather like this for such a long time?

If Jed were here right now, I'm sure he'd be calling me a wimp or a sissy. He'd be sitting on this bench without a winter coat on and perfectly comfortable. The more I think about him, the more painful the ache in my heart gets. I keep remembering things: our conversations, our dinners, everything from our pasts. I remember seeing his last breath leave his body. It all seemed so peaceful. I remember seeing his girls begin to cry. I have never, in all of my life, seen Abbey cry until that moment. Despite all of their bickering, they truly loved each other. They were soul mates, and now he's gone. It was killing Abbey. The only thing that I could do for her was hug her and try not to cry myself.

"God damn it Jed!," I yell to the night air. "Why did you do this to us?! You weren't supposed to die! Didn't you realize that we all need you?! Didn't you realize that I need you?!" We'll never talk again, never taunt each other again, never fight again. I feel like the world is crashing in on my head. There's no stopping the tears now. My eyes grow wet and my cheeks follow. I can't hold it back any longer, and I begin to sob.


"Leo, they need you in the Situation Room," Margaret said as she poked her head into Leo's office. He nodded and walked away from his paperwork.

As Leo walked into the Situation Room, he was surprised to see that the President was already there. Usually he was called down before the President. Everyone's faces were solemn, and, if possible, they seemed to drop even more as he entered the room. He quickly took his seat. "What's going on?," he asked in a very worried tone. Something wasn't right.

The high-ranking government officials glanced around to one another nervously. Their behavior was very odd, and it was scaring the hell out of Leo. "Seriously, you guys, what is it?"

Jed sighed and turned to Leo. "Leo...," he paused. "There's been a suicide bombing in Tanzania... at a school."

Leo looked around the room, bewildered. "Mallory?" It was the first thought in his head.

"It was her school Leo. We don't know what's happened to her though. There hasn't been enough information yet."

The world disappeared before Leo's eyes. He tried to breathe, but couldn't feel any air in his lungs. His whole body was shaking. He didn't want to believe that Mallory was there. "Who was responsible?," he managed to whisper.

"We don't know."

His temper began to flare. "I said... who was responsible?!"

"Leo... there hasn't been enough intelligence yet."

"I don't give a damn! I want to know what happened to my daughter!"

"We all do, Leo, but we can't—"

"I don't think you do, Mr. President. Or else we would know by now. We have the best intelligence in the world!"

General Alexander spoke up. "These things take time, Mr. McGarry—"

"I need to know what happened to her! Don't bother calling me back here until you do!" There was so much more than that on Leo's mind that he wanted to say, but couldn't. He had to get out of there. Leo stormed out of the Situation Room, something he had never done before. He practically sprinted back his office where Margaret said something to him about a meeting, but he just ignored her.

Leo slammed the door to his office and began to pace the room. He was having trouble breathing still and could only take short, shallow breaths that weren't helping. His mind was heavy with the thought that his daughter was probably dead. It was unbearable.

Suddenly, Leo's chest cramped up. His breathing became labored. Slowly, pains began to shoot through his left arm. He thought he knew what was happening. The First Lady had warned him about it. It couldn't be...

He clutched his chest and leaned over, trying his best to suck in air. It wasn't working. Just then, the President walked into the room from the Oval Office. He saw Leo's stance and ran over to support his friend. "Leo, what's wrong?" Leo didn't answer. His eyes were beginning to dim. Jed's worry intensified. "Leo...?"

"I... think I'm... having... heart attack," Leo managed to gasp.

"Oh God!" Jed began to panic a little bit. He helped Leo into a chair while he yelled, "Margaret! Call 9-1-1!" Leo began to drift in and out, only catching tidbits of the ensuing conversation. In later years, he remembered Margaret rushing to his side before calling an ambulance, and he could have sworn that Josh's voice was in there somewhere. He did remember Jed kneeling in front of him and looking him in the eyes. His voice seemed distant. "Leo, I need you to stay with me. Josh went to get you some aspirin. Stay with me. Everything will be fine..." He kept talking, but it became inaudible as everything around Leo faded.


I feel alone. I feel like I'm suffocating. I lost my best friend. Will I ever recover?


A/N again: Did Mallory go to Tanzania at all? Or was it a different country? I don't remember. For my purposes it was Tanzania. Oh, and I didn't mean to leave you hanging. You'll find out what happened to Mallory and Leo in a later chapter.