Series: Snapshots of the Past
Story: Endings and Beginnings
Chapter 12
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Previously: A distraught Abbey was relieved that Jed's injuries weren't too serious
Summary: Suffering from minor cabin fever, Jed is frustrated
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Lizzie sat on the bed, menacingly staring at her father then back down at the Candyland board. He had drawn his card and there was only one place for him to go -- the Lollipop Woods, where fictional chaos and mystery abound to keep him glued to his spot.
Jed didn't move. He examined the board studiously, tilting his head to either side to get a better picture. It was usual routine just before he lost another game. And as always, it drew frustration from Lizzie.
"Daddy!"
"Hang on a second. I'm thinking."
"But you've been thinking forever."
"You know, you could be a little more patient instead of constantly nagging me. You've been doing it all day."
Something in his tone made it clear this wasn't the teasing banter she was used to. "Sorry."
Her apology filled him with remorse. She had been her normal playful self. He was the one who was cranky. "No, Sweetheart, I'm sorry. Daddy's just being a jerk."
Since his release from the hospital, Abbey left him strict instructions to remain in bed. The first few days were the roughest, just as she knew they would be. When a man like Jed Bartlet is silenced, the physical injuries take a backseat to the emotional misery that comes with abandoning the usual form of expression.
Once his vocal chords started to heal, he began speaking, but even then, the nicotine withdrawal he was experiencing made him a less than ideal patient.
Now, he had hit new levels of frustration. Lizzie had never been on the receiving end of his snippiness. "It's okay, Daddy."
"No, it really isn't. Do me a favor, okay? Don't ever start smoking."
"Okay," she laughed.
By the time Abbey returned from work, father and daughter had finished their game and Jed had tucked Lizzie in to her own bed for an afternoon nap. He didn't count on falling asleep on the floor beside her.
Reluctant to wake him, Abbey lowered herself to the ground and brushed the stray strands of hair off his forehead. "Hey you," she greeted him when he opened one eye.
"Hey. What time is it?"
"Well, I'm out of work, I picked Ellie up from the sitter's, I stopped for groceries, and now I'm home. What does that tell you?"
"That I must have had a tiring morning," he replied as she helped him to his feet and grabbed the children's book out of his hand.
"When I told you to stay in bed, this isn't what I had in mind."
"Lizzie wanted me to read her The Velveteen Rabbit." And of course, Jed could never refuse his little girl.
"Well, come on back to bed."
He took her hand, but reluctantly dragged himself along. "I've been in bed for three days. The last place I want to go is back to bed."
He detoured into the bedroom to stare down at Ellie asleep in her crib. With the finger he had just pressed to his lips, he gently touched the top of her head.
"Fine. Then I'll make up the sofa and you can talk to me while I cook dinner."
It was about as fair a compromise as he was going to get. He surrendered as he reclined against the cushions and allowed her to cover him with a throw blanket. "My voice sounds better today, don't you think?"
"I do. It's still not 100 though." He may have thought she didn't catch him rolling his eyes in response, but she did. She always did.
"Today's the first day you're actually letting me talk. There's a lot I want to say. A lot of stuff I've kept inside for the past three days."
"Oh?" She wasn't really surprised. The indignation was apparent before he even opened his mouth. Abbey prepared herself for the barrage of annoyances he was about to throw at her.
"You made Lizzie's doctor's appointment without me. I want to go with you when she gets the bandage taken off her face tomorrow."
"Absolutely not."
"Abbey..."
"It's not up for discussion, Jed. You need to stay home and take care of yourself, that is if you want to be well enough to go to the city council meeting in a few days. Lizzie will be fine."
"What if there's a scar?"
"There is a scar. I see it when I change the dressing. But it might fade over the next few months." Her optimism overshadowed by the furrowed brows and worried lines when she crinkled her forehead, she turned her face away from him and unloaded a handful of groceries into the refrigerator. "The good news is her nose is healing perfectly."
Jed adjusted his robe as he stood up and approached the counter from the other side. "She needs me there."
"She needs you here, getting better..." Her eyes connected to his before she continued. "...and so do I."
"What about what I need?"
"What do you need?"
"My cigarettes."
Abbey dropped her hands onto the counter in frustration. "Jed."
"You asked me what I need. That's what I need. And I'm quite upset that you threw them away."
"Tough." Nonchalant answers never went over well, but her dismissive attitude was especially irritating today.
"I'm serious, Abbey. This isn't funny."
"Am I laughing?"
"You think you can control every move I make. You can't. I'm still an adult. I get to decide what's good for me."
A change of subject seemed like the most productive move to avoid an argument. "Did you call the guy from Dartmouth?" He looked at her inquisitively. "I have my spies."
"No, I didn't."
"You really should. Maybe they want to offer you a job or something," she joked.
"Doubtful. Anyway, don't go off on another tangent here just to get yourself out of trouble."
"I'm in trouble am I?"
"Damn right."
"Well then." She stuck her arm into the grocery bag and pulled out a small package, tossing it to him carefully.
"What's this?"
"A compromise."
He fumbled with the wrapper then pulled out a white sugary stick with a red tip. "It's candy."
"Well, yeah. Candy cigarettes. They have the look and feel of regular cigarettes and aside from the sugar, none of the health risks. So knock yourself out, Sweetie. You can still look cool around your friends and you won't be killing yourself at the same time."
"I used to think it was cute, what you just did there."
"What did I do?"
"The way you patronize me when I'm upset with you."
"Ah."
"It's not so cute anymore," he said with a smile that contradicted his words. "And another thing -- why are you working such long hours? Don't you have residency interviews in a couple of weeks?"
"Yes, I do and the only reason I'm working slightly longer hours is because I'm going to be taking so much time off," she replied as she tried to smooth out his hair when he walked past her to grab an apple. "Anything else?"
"Yeah. My father sent me some flowers."
"Where are they?"
"In our bedroom. Out of sight, out of mind. It bugs me that he's reaching out."
"You thought it was nice when he sent them for Lizzie."
"Yeah, well, now it's creeping me out." In an effort to calm his mood swings, she simply nodded. "Why? You don't think I should be creeped out? Do you think I should call him?"
"No, I don't think you should call him."
"Why shouldn't I call him? The man did send me flowers."
Applying a bit of pressure with her hand to her eye to metaphorically rub out the frustration, she caught her breath before answering. "Do I have to remind you what happened the last time you decided to let your father back into your life?"
"No, my memory is still intact, not that that's ever stopped you before."
"Are you going to be this much fun all night?"
"What's the matter, Sweet Knees? Not up for it?" She flashed him sarcastic glare while soaking a pot in the sink. He turned from her, but only took a few steps before turning back. "There's one other thing."
"What?" she asked with an exasperated sigh.
"It occurred to me today that I never said thank you."
"You don't have to thank me for this, Jed."
"Not for this. For saving my life in that alley. Seriously, Abbey. Leo told me what happened. I mean, I remember some of it, but he filled in the blanks."
"He did?"
He approached her in a much different way than he had earlier. Exuding love and affection, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into an embrace. Her hand rested on his good shoulder and she was careful not to press her weight into him, instead allowing him to conform to her rigid frame.
"Thank you," he whispered.
TBC
