xxxxx

"Do they have any idea how much longer it will be?" Max asked the nurse nervously.

"Sir, Governor Lyman's procedure is very delicate and intricate. The doctor's are taking their time to make sure that they've got all that they can get," the nurse explained patiently.

"When he was shot," Donna murmured to herself, "his surgery was almost 14 hours long."

"I know," CJ said with a wry grin, "I remember."

"He's been in there for almost that long this time," Max said.

CJ abruptly stood and announced, "I'm hungry. Who wants what?"

Max looked at his hands as he replied, "There's no way I could eat right now."

"Get him coffee and a bagel," Donna smiled knowingly at her husband. "And I'll have the same, but I'm coming with you."

xxxxx

"Sir?" The doctor addressed Max a little while later.

"Yes?"

"Governor Lyman is out of surgery. He should wake up in about an hour," the doctor replied while untying his facemask.

"Did everything go ok?" Max asked nervously.

"Well," the doctor sighed, "we couldn't get all of it. But he knew that going in. The tumor has kind of wrapped itself around the stem of his brain and in order to get the entire tumor, we would have had to sever his brain stem. So he still has cancer and it's still terminal, but we removed everything that would cause him the most pain."

Max nodded, trying to absorb all of this. "So, nothing was really accomplished today?"

"Oh no!" The doctor disagreed, "Much was accomplished. The tumor was becoming so heavy that over time it probably would have snapped his brain stem. The governor said that he's been having some fairly massive headaches lately, and those were from the pressure of the tumor pressing against the brain cavity and the stem. So his most immediate danger and intense pain were alleviated."

Max nodded, "Ok, thank you, doctor."

"His recovery room is the first door on the left down that hallway if you'd like to wait there," the doctor offered.

"Thanks, I think I will," Max smiled as he collected his belongings and made his way to Josh's room.

If you had told me he was dead, I probably would have believed you. He certainly looked dead.

All those tubes and IV lines running in and out of him, I wondered how much of that was helping and how much was hurting and if Josh was really even in there anymore.

The great Josh Lyman – dying of brain cancer from a tumor that even the greatest brain surgeons in the world couldn't fix.

Inconceivable.

I just stood at the doorway for a few moments trying to absorb all of this and I just couldn't. So I sat in a chair in the corner and waited.

Two days passed before Josh regained total consciousness. He awoke several times, but it was apparent to all those surrounding him that he was in no way coherent.

But when he did regain mental clarity, it was only appropriate that the last person on his mind when he went under was the person in the room with him when he awoke.

Max.

During the entire time he was going through pre-op, all Josh could think about was Donna and Max, but especially Max. He had so much to apologize for and no guarantee of an opportunity.

So the moment that Josh opened his eyes and heard Max's voice, he knew what he had to say.

"Max," Josh groaned.

Max was startled to hear the sound of his friend's voice. "Josh?"

"Yeah," he whispered weakly.

"How are ya buddy?"

"I have tubes in me, Max. How do you think I feel?"

Max chuckled, "He's awake." He began to reach for the nurse call button, when Josh stopped him.

"No, Max. I need to talk to you," Josh's voice began to gain strength.

"Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait for the nurses to come and take care of you," Max replied.

"No, it can't. Sit down," Josh commanded.

Raising an eyebrow, Max scooted the chair closer to the bed and said, "Yes, Mr. President."

"I'm sorry."

"For?"

"For wanting to screw your wife."

Max sat back in the chair and let out a deep breath of air. "Wow."

"Yeah."

There was a short pause before Max said softly, "Apology accepted."

"What?" Josh's eyes went wide.

"You're forgiven, Josh. I'm not mad at you anymore."

"But…"

"What you did was totally wrong and I should probably rip you limb from limb for kissing Donna, but I forgave you and Donna when I made the decision a few days ago to stay married and I'd be missing out on a great friendship with the President of the United States if I stayed mad at you, so, you're forgiven."

They sat in silence for a few moments while Josh's head reeled at the simplicity of it all until Max finally said, "If I don't call Donna and CJ in soon, they're gonna kill me."

Josh mustered a bit of a laugh as Max went ahead and pushed the call button.