ÒPresident Bartlet!Ó ÒOver here, President Bartlet!Ó ÒDr. Bartlet!Ó After all the years, his eyes were used to the flashbulbs. The smiles and the waves came without thought. Granted, this event wasnÕt as exciting as an Inauguration or a State of the Union and the cameras were close. Too close for comfort but the space was rather confined to being with. Hospital waiting rooms were by their nature uncomfortable.
He leaned on his cane and let his wife make a short speech, thanking George Washington Hospital for dedicating a wing in her name. It took her two tries with the scissors to cut the ribbon. He couldnÕt resist a small chuckle, which he knew heÕd be punished for later. The throng of reporters and photographers applauded. Back to waving and smiling for a few more moments.
They went to the private wine and cheese affair after, a small gathering. Hospitals were AbbeyÕs domain; she thrived on talk of new surgical clamps. The smell irritated him after awhile and, naturally, hospitals reminded him of things, other events, that he needed no reminding of. His own disease and mortality, naturally, but others as well. He faintly remembered being wheeled in to this hospital eight long years ago. He was a much stronger man then. He hadnÕt even realized he had been shot. Nobody knew Josh had been shot, not yet. The former President shook off those thoughts. He knew it was natural to think them. The very halls of the place oozed memory of young faces torn with pain. Of LeoÕs face covered with the oxygen mask and his daughterÕs face, bruised and disoriented. Jed hated remembering any of it.
He slipped away from the party. Well, not exactly, since he never slipped away from anything. Stealth was impossible with the men in suits as your shadow. The cane tapped gently on the linoleum as he parted the halls. Patients tried to stand; he quickly motioned them to stay seated. God, they hadnÕt changed any of the paintings on the walls. The beeps and the smells, all the same. The people either bargaining for life or awaiting the inevitable were all still sitting where they were eight, four, two years ago.
He came to an impasse and began to study the map on the wall. Maybe they had a snack bar where he could get some coffee. The secret service might be with him to the end, but no longer holding office had its advantages. He was never pressed for time anymore. He found he could enjoy a slow cup of coffee.
Time would tell whether he actually hated or loved the slower pace, but for now it suited him. Parts of leaving the Presidency were difficult, but none of it was as difficult as he had worried it would be. Idleness had never suited him before and it wouldnÕt suit him forever, but he wasnÕt worried.
ÒCoop, where do you think the coffee joint is in this place?Ó Coop said nothing and pointed to a spot on the map clearly labeled Òdining hall.Ó ÒI just didnÕt see it.Ó Coop didnÕt reply.
The President pivoted and went down another hall towards his beloved slow brew. His legs were being good to him today. He was grateful, although if he were to take a tumble, he at least would be in the right place. Vision was good, hands were fully functional... he would rate this day a seven out of ten. Ten would be good riddance to the goddamn cane.
The group turned a corner and Jed Bartlet broke out into a smile. ÒAh, Coop, we get to see the babies!Ó Coop didnÕt say anything, but his lips twisted into a faint smile.
They walked by, the President grinning down at the squirming infants and the secret service pretending not to. Coop didnÕt do a very good job being nonchalant about the Asian baby with the spiky hair, but the President wasnÕt about to report him to Ron or anything. They were almost to the end of the hall. Jed had been looking at the faces, not reading the names, but something jumped out at him. He spun quickly and almost ran back, shocking the agents, who were rating this day about a five. Noah Josiah Lyman.
He and Abbey had been waiting for the call. He remembered how close DonnaÕs due date was when he agreed to accompany Abbey to the ceremony. It would be nice, he had thought, to be in town for the birth. Abbey had retorted that Jed probably wanted to be in the delivery room for it. Jed had snorted at the suggestion, but privately thought it might not be the worst idea. An honorary grandfather/ ex-president should be let into any delivery room he pleased, just to greet the newest member of the Democratic party.
There he was.
Hard to tell with newborns who theyÕll take after, but little Noah already looked to be a good mix. His hair was wild under his cap, but it was definitely blond. Those were Josh LymanÕs eyes, in shape and color. His nose was definitely from Donna, as was the shape of his face. The mouth was JoshÕs and Jed guessed that this little boy would probably inherit more then just shape and lips from his father. HeÕd probably inherit the verbal skills that made Josh famous. NoahÕs mother was no slouch in that department, either.
ÒCoop, talk to your wrist and tell AbbeyÕs agents who weÕve discovered.Ó A nurse came over and scooped Noah up. The baby flailed his arms a bit, but seemed to settle quickly. She walked away.
ÒTheyÕre taking him away, Coop. Quick, weÕve got to find them.Ó If it were only a ten day... Jed would be able to move much faster. Fortunately Coop was on the scent; who knew after all these years he had a soft spot for babies? Coop led them to a private room and then took up post outside the door.
Jed Bartlet knocked softly on the open door and took in the beatific scene inside. Donna Lyman was out cold in the bed, bunny slippers peaking out from under the covers. She was smiling lightly. Josh Lyman was sitting by the window, Noah in his arms, wearing a much bigger smile and wrinkled scrubs. Josh looked up at the knock and the look of surprise was priceless. Still keeping his arms around the tiny bundle, he tried to stand up. ÒMr. Pres-sident?Ó ÒFor ChristÕs sake, sit Josh.Ó He quickly sat back down, his eyes wide.
ÒI just called you an hour ago. HowÕd...Ó ÒI was here anyway...Ó JoshÕs eyes, if possible, got wider and sadness and worry crept into them. Quickly, the former President set out to calm his fears.
ÒThey dedicated a wing to Abbey today. And you know how patient I get sitting around listening to doctor-speak. I was actually looking for a cup of coffee and we wondered by the newborns and...Ó The worry flew out of JoshÕs eyes. He riveted them back to the tiny person gurgling in his arms. ÒYeah...Ó ÒSo, when did the newest member of the now-defunct Bartlet administration make his appearance?ÕÓ Jed looked down at the baby and smiled.
ÒEight-nineteen this morning.Ó ÒWhen did her water break?Ó As if to punctuate what he was about to say, Josh yawned. ÒAbout ten last night.Ó ÒTen hours... thatÕs not too bad. You know, Ellie took eighteen.Ó ÒEighteen?Ó JoshÕs eyebrows raised, as if he were shocked at the idea. ÒJesus. After five hours, Donna was begging me to hit her over the head with a blunt object.Ó ÒAbbey told me I was never touching her again. They all say that, though. They never mean it.Ó ÒDonna actually didnÕt say that. She did, however, threaten to castrate me several times. I guess that amounts to the same thing.Ó Jed noted that JoshÕs eyes had yet to leave his son. ÒHeÕs beautiful, Josh.Ó ÒYeah... he looks like his mother.Ó ÒHe has your eyes. And mouth.Ó Josh looked up for a moment and gave the former President a wry grin. ÒThat mouthÕll probably get him into trouble someday.Ó Jed smiled back. ÒHeÕll probably one day tell Mary Marsh Jr. that the God she prays to is too busy being indicted for tax fraud.Ó The new father looked back to his son. ÒAh, IÕll be proud of him.Ó ÒI will be, too.Ó There wasnÕt a simple emotion Jed could pin down at this moment. It was all encompassing and more warming than a cup of coffee. He regretted that he never had this moment with Toby, but he would never feel guilty about it. The timing then couldnÕt have been worse. This timing couldnÕt have been better. Thinking of Toby and the twins reminded him. He cleared his throat. ÒIÕm going to ask you what I asked Toby back when Huck and Molly were born. What do you know now that you didnÕt know before?Ó Josh thought only for a second. ÒI know why you stepped down. I know why you invoked the 25th.Ó ÒYou didnÕt understand at the time.Ó ÒI tried to. At the time, I tried to think about what IÕd do if it had been Donna. I mean, when it was Donna, I was certainly not able to do my job. But I never really understood.Ó ÒYou do now.Ó ÒYeah.Ó Josh sighed quietly and held the bundle closer to him. ÒYeah, I do.Ó Jed noticed JoshÕs eyes fogging over. Memories, he guessed, were coming to the surface. Kidnappings, shootings, explosions, speeches, forgotten bills that were never passed, parents who died on primary night and a sister who never lived to see what her brother became. Jed looked at the ground for a moment and then focused back on Josh. Josh, who was a father now. The thought still boggled the mind.
ÒDonÕt think about the past, Josh. Think about the future. You know a lot more then how youÕd react in the worst case scenario because your holding the best case scenario in your arms right now. Everything it took for you and Donna to get here now... thatÕs all behind you. HeÕs whatÕs ahead of you.Ó Josh smiled. He didnÕt smirk or grin but genuinely smiled deeply. ÒI just... hope he has an easier time than I did. Then again, right now, I think my life is pretty perfect.Ó He said the last part in a whisper, as if daring the gods to prove him untrue.
Jed sat down in the chair by the window. His leg had begun to bother him a bit. ÒLife doesnÕt get any better than the day theyÕre born. Although, being president was pretty nice, too.Ó ÒBetter than having children?Ó Josh looked up at the former leader of the free world.
ÒNo.Ó Abbey Bartlet had been standing at the door for a few moments, but it was just then that Jed saw his wife. His wife, who was looking at Donna, probably remembering those three perfect days, all more then twenty years ago now. Dr. Bartlet walked in softly. ÒLet me see him, Josh.Ó Josh looked like he definitely did not want to give the baby up. Ah, Jed thought, the pain heÕd go through in about eighteen years. Actually, throughout the next eighteen years and beyond. He wanted to reassure the younger man that it was a good kind of pain, but he refrained. He knew Josh could only take so much ex-president advice in one sitting, especially after no sleep.
Abbey held her hands up. ÒIÕll just look, Josh. I donÕt need to hold him... yet.Ó She peered over JoshÕs shoulder. ÒHe is adorable, Josh. Absolutely adorable.Ó From the bed behind Abbey, someone moaned. ÒIÕll have the budget report in ten minutes, Josh.Ó Josh grinned. ÒThey gave her the good drugs.Ó ÒIt sounds like sheÕs having a dream about being your assistant again. I donÕt think those drugs were that good,Ó Abbey replied.
ÒDr. B, I didnÕt know you were sitting in on the budget negotiations.Ó Jed stood himself up and walked over to the foot of DonnaÕs bed. He gently shook one bunny slipper. ÒDonnatella.Ó ÒMr. President, I didnÕt know you were in this movie.Ó ÒDonnatella,Ó Jed tried again.
She snapped her eyes open and, much like Josh before, gulped in surprise. ÒMr. President!Ó She tried to maneuver herself to stand, but the pain quickly stopped her and she winced. ÒStay in bed, Donna.Ó Jed chuckled. ÒYou just gave birth.Ó ÒOw,Ó Donna winced again. Her husband quickly was at her side, holding their son. Jed turned to his own wife. ÒAbigail, letÕs give this new family some privacy and give Donna time to wake up a bit.Ó ÒLeo should be showing up soon,Ó Josh was handing the baby over to Donna, laying himself down next to her. ÒC.J.Õll be by in the afternoon.Ó He yawned again. ÒMy mom and DonnaÕs parents should be here tomorrow.Ó Donna was too engrossed in the baby to notice the former first couple.
ÒWeÕll just go down to the dining hall for a cup of coffee,Ó Abbey stated. She knew her husband well. ÒMaybe when Leo gets here, he and Jethro can fight over who gets to be honorary grandfather.Ó ÒThey both are,Ó Donna said quietly, smiling broadly at her son.
ÒCan we get the two of you anything? Water? Coffee? More drugs?Ó Jed asked.
Josh smiled, but his eyes were closed. The man had never been more at peace, Jed noted. ÒSir, if you could get me a cup of coffee, that would be great. I donÕt want to sleep through this day.Ó ÒAbsolutely, Josh.Ó Jed and Abbey left the room.
