A/N: A longish chapter, to make up for not posting in months. Only a few more chapters to go; thanks for hanging in there.


"I really appreciate the lift," Jamie said. She looked out the car window and then glanced at Ainsley. "I know it's out of your way."

"It's no problem." Ainsley smiled. "I hope your car is fixed soon."

"Me too. Stupid fan belt."

Ainsley chuckled. "How are your classes going?"

"It's school." Jamie scrunched up her face. "It's getting to the point where I just want to be done already. And then I think of how scary the real world is, and I'm glad I'm still studying."

"Oh, the real world's not so bad."

"It's different for you. You're Ainsley Hayes. I mean, Seaborn. I'm just . . . well, me."

Ainsley's chuckle turned into a full laugh. "It's not so different for me."

"Yes, it is. You're smart, and pretty, and brave. I mean, you worked in the White House!"

"Jamie, when I was studying, I was just as scared as you."

"Really?"

"Really. Have you started looking for a job yet?"

Jamie shook her head. "There are still, like, eight months until I graduate."

The traffic light turned green. Ainsley released the brake, and slowly pulled off. A car skipped the red light, barreling right into the passenger side of Ainsley's car. Ainsley's car spun three times before slamming into the traffic light. The other car wrapped itself around a tree.

No one in either vehicle moved.


Louisa Cartwright had been a nurse at GW Memorial for almost ten years. She had been on duty the night of the Rosslyn shooting, and knew she would never forget the sight of most of President Bartlet's senior staff struggling to keep it together while they waited for news of their boss and their friend. She remembered the slim blonde woman, sitting quietly in the corner of the room, physically there, but mentally far away. She remembered the President's daughter, clinging to her boyfriend's hand. The President's wife, fooling almost everyone into thinking she was coping. The same blonde woman, watching Josh Lyman's surgery.

For the first time, Louisa had seen them as real people, and she liked what she saw. Though they were politicians, they were human, and they were caring, and afraid.

She voted for Bartlet in the next election.

When the victims of the car accident were brought in, Louisa was again on duty. It seemed like an ordinary day - people were always either hurting themselves or each other. Then Sam Seaborn arrived, with Josh Lyman and the slim blonde woman. Louisa frowned slightly as they walked towards her, trying to recall the woman's name. Dana? Dinah?

Josh Lyman was looking well, Louisa thought. She was glad.

"Nurse Cartwright?" The woman glanced at her companions, then at Louisa. "Uh, there were two women brought in here earlier. The car accident-"

"Ah, yes. Friends of yours?" Louisa smiled sympathetically.

"My wife." Sam paled, and grabbed hold of Josh's arm.

"Ainsley Hayes Seaborn," said the woman - Donna, Louisa suddenly remembered.

Louisa turned to the computer and tapped at the keyboard. "Okay, your wife's in exam room three. I'll show you where that is in a second." She typed again. "And Miss Myers is still in surgery."

"In surgery? How bad is it?"

Louisa shrugged. "I'm sorry, I don't know. Mr. Seaborn, you can come with me."

She led Sam to exam room three, leaving Josh and Donna in the waiting room. Ainsley was lying on the gurney, her eyes closed as an intern sutured the gash on her head.

"Ainsley?"

Ainsley's eyes flew open and she tried to sit. "Sam!"

The intern gently pushed her back down. Sam was at her side in an instant. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, Sam!" She burst into tears. The intern finished up the last stitch then left the room. Louisa stayed where she was.

"Ains, I was so scared I'd lost you." Sam took her hands and kissed each one, then kissed her forehead.

"Jamie?"

"She's in surgery." Sam kissed her again. "What happened?"

Ainsley closed her eyes again. "I don't know. The light was green. This car came out of nowhere. I'm sorry, Sam."

"It's not your fault, love."

Louisa felt that she was intruding on a moment she had no right to witness. She quietly slipped out of the room.


"It's not your fault, love." Sam couldn't take his eyes off Ainsley, as if she might disappear while he wasn't looking. He couldn't bring himself to stop touching her either, gently brushing his hand over hair, her cheek, tracing her lips with his thumb. He dabbed her tears away, and kissed her. "Are you in any pain?"

"I'm fine." Ainsley's mouth twisted as fresh tears welled in her eyes. "Jamie—"

"Jamie's going to be just fine." Sam hoped he sounded more certain than he felt. "She'll be fine."

"The light was green."

"I know."

"I didn't see the other car."

"I know, honey."

Ainsley's closed her eyes. "I wasn't driving that fast. I don't think. I was talking and I didn't see . . . I shouldn't talk so much, maybe I would have seen, maybe there was something I could have done . . ."

Sam couldn't bear seeing Ainsley like this. He held her close to him, gently, as if she would break if he treated her too roughly. She laid her head on his shoulder, hiding her face in his neck.

The door flew open and Nate burst into the room. "Ainsley?"

"She's okay," Sam said as Ainsley nestled closer to him. He lowered his voice. "We're not sure about Jamie yet."

Nate crossed the room to stand next to them. "I was so scared when I got Donna's call. Is there anything I can do for you guys?"

Sam glanced down at Ainsley, then back at Nate. "Could you check on Jamie?"


Jamie woke to see a very pale Ainsley sitting next to her bed. She gave a weak moan and tried to sit up.

"Jamie?"

"What . . ."

"We had an accident. I'm so sorry."

Jamie vaguely remembered a car slamming into them, but nothing after that. She blinked, realizing this wasn't her bedroom, and noticed the bandage on Ainsley's temple. "But we're okay?"

Sam stepped into Jamie's view and put his hand on Ainsley's shoulder. "The other car hit your side. You'll be fine, but it'll be a while before you can get out of here."

"I don't understand."

"You have a fractured pelvis."

Jamie closed her eyes but couldn't stop tears from escaping.

"I'm so sorry," Ainsley said again.

"School?"

"We'll speak to your lecturers," Sam said. "I'm sure we can work something out. And we'll take care of your medical bills, so you don't have to worry about that either."

Fresh tears threatened to fall. "The other guy?"

"He died. The police say he wasn't wearing his seat belt." Sam paused, then sighed. "He'd been drinking."

"We called your parents," Ainsley said, her voice still slightly shaky. "They're flying in."

"This sucks," Jamie announced.

A nurse entered to change the IV. As the painkillers began taking effect, Jamie felt herself drifting off.

"We'll come by later." Sam kissed her forehead.


The next time Sam and Ainsley visited Jamie, she was half-sitting in the bed, and more alert than before. Ainsley held up a bag and gave a crooked smile.

"You said you liked to read, so . . ."

"And this is from the Bartlets." Sam held up a gift bag. "They're sorry they couldn't come in person."

"The President got me a gift?" Jamie blinked, staring in wonder at the bag in Sam's hand.

Ainsley chuckled and sat in the visitor's chair. "If you're going to work in the White House one day, you're going to have to get over being so star struck."

Jamie laughed, then frowned and put her hand to her ribs. "Don't make me laugh. It hurts."

Sam gingerly sat on the edge of the bed. "Are you feeling okay? I mean, are you in a lot of pain?"

"You know, I'm on so many painkillers, I feel like I'm flying."

Ainsley took Jamie's hand. "I'm really sorry."

"It wasn't your fault." Jamie looked at Sam. "Please tell your wife I don't blame her."

Sam gave a mock-sigh. "You know how stubborn she can be. It's that whole Rep—"

"Samuel Norman Seaborn! Don't even think it."

"Your middle name is Norman?" Jamie laughed again, holding her hand to her side.

Nurse Cartwright entered to change Jamie's IV. Regretfully, she said, "I'm afraid visiting hours are over."

Sam and Ainsley stood. "I'd better get back to the office. Running the country and all, you know."

His comment earned a smile from Jamie, who replied, "I thought that was Josh's job."

Sam laughed, then led his reluctant wife from the room. "We'll see you tomorrow."