Chapter 12

Tony Jones looked up from the file he was reviewing as a knock sounded on the door of his office seconds before it opened to Jax and an older man. "Sorry to interrupt," Jax said as he shut the door behind them. "But. . ."

"I know, you want information, but until we get the medical power of attorney. . ." Tony shrugged, his voice trailing off.

"It was faxed here close to an hour ago," Leo replied tensely as he crossed his arms over his chest and tried to get a read on the doctor.

Tony raised an eyebrow in Jax's direction as he let out a sigh. "Tony, this is Leo McGarry. He's a friend of Donna's."

"And the alternate on the power of attorney," Leo added.

"Well, I didn't hear about a fax coming in. But if you have a copy. . ."

"I would if someone had told me I needed it last night," Leo groused looking pointedly at Jax.

"Maybe it was routed to Ramsey or Lambert?" Jax tried to intercede.

Tony shook his head slightly then added at an indication from Jax that it wasn't a proper answer: "Chris Ramsey is in surgery. Eve Lambert isn't due in for another half hour. Maybe. . ."

Leo rolled his eyes at the exchange, "Dr. Jones, do you have a direct fax line?" he asked as he pulled his glasses out of his pocket and put them on.

"Yes. Why?"

"What's the number?" Leo asked as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small leather phone book while reaching for the phone on Tony's desk. Tony shot a questioning look at Jax, who shrugged, and then recited the number, which Leo wrote automatically as he waited for his call to go through. "Oliver, Leo. . . Well, it seems the hospital can't find. . .That's what I thought. . . Can you resend it directly to one of her doctors? I have the fax number right here. . .Here it is-----" Leo quickly read off the number he had just written down and waited while Oliver repeated it and then asked a question. "No, they're due in later this afternoon. . . Well, you know Abbey. . .Oh, and Oliver, thanks for getting it done so quickly," Leo added as hung up and looked directly at Tony, "it will be here within the next five minutes."

"So what happened? His secretary forget to fax it?" Tony asked as Leo put the phone book back into his pocket. He was willing to grasp onto any excuse that the lost paperwork wasn't intentional.

"Actually, he had faxed it himself," Leo countered as he removed his glasses, a frown marring his features as he saw something he didn't like cross Tony's face. So Ms. Spencer was right.

"Probably just put in the wrong number," Tony said with a shrug, trying to displace the thoughts of subterfuge that were running rampantly around his mind.

"I wonder," Leo muttered before shaking his head. "So, exactly what can you tell me about Donna's condition?" he asked as he commandeered a legal pad and pen from Tony's desk.

"Until we run some tests there's not a lot I can tell you."

"Well, start with what little you can, then tell me about the tests that you want to run and what you think you'll find."

"I don't like to hypothesis."

"And I'm not in the mood to tell the doctor coming in to consult on Donna's case that I haven't been able to get any more information since the last time I spoke to her. Believe me, you're better off hypothesizing and being wrong than pissing her off."

"Bringing in another doctor isn't going to be necessary," Jax jumped in, his mind running with the possibilities an unknown doctor could bring.

"I don't care if it is or if it isn't," Leo shot back at him, then realizing how his announcement might have been perceived by Tony Jones and clarified his statement: "the doctor consulting is a close friend. She insisted on taking an active part on the case as soon as she heard that something had happened to Donna. I learned a long time ago that one doesn't say no to Abbey. Besides you do and she'll just steam roll over you."

Tony smiled at the slight bit of humor he heard in Leo's voice. "I'm sure she can help explain what's going on to you, and who ever else might join you. But unless she's allotted privileges here. . ."

"Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem," Leo smirked. "Now, how about that information?"

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Mac Scorpio cursed as he hung up the phone. "Problems?" Taggart asked as he placed a file on the other man's desk.

"Not necessarily," Mac sighed as he ran a tired hand down his face. "That was just a courtesy call from a friendly member of the Secret Service," he explained sarcastically.

"What did they want?"

"The former first couple are going to be flying in this afternoon for an undetermined length of time."

"Crap. How much of a headache are we looking at?"

"They claim not a lot, although they want as much information as we can give them on PCGH's security, and if need be, a lending of support."

"Why?"

"How the hell would I know?" Mac snapped and then took in a deep breathe. "Sorry."

"Hey, it's been a long haul for all of us," Taggart shrugged as he took a seat. "You don't think it's because of his thing, do you?"

"You mean the MS?" Mac asked. "Doubt it. It's not like PCGH is widely known for anything connected to MS."

"You're probably right," Taggart replied tapping a finger against his thigh. "Still makes you wonder."

"Wonder about what?" V. Ardanowski asked as she walked into the office.

"V. when did you get back?" Mac asked with a slight smile.

"About half an hour ago," she smiled. "The convention was interesting. Groomed some new connections for us," she added as she took a seat. "So, Dara leave for her convention on time?"

"No. About half an hour ago," Taggart replied.

"Something going down?"

"Nothing more than usual," Mac shrugged.

"Oh. So what was it you were wondering about?"

"Visiting dignitaries."

"Huh?"

"The former First Couple are flying in."

"Our involvement in their security detail?"

"Limited. The Secret Service feels they'll be able to handle it. They wanted to give us a heads up and get some information on the hospital's security."

"We were speculating on why they needed that information," Taggart added.

"Dr. Bartlett's probably consulting on a case," V. shrugged.

"Huh?"

V. rolled her eyes, "you two are hopeless. The former First Lady is one of the top throastic surgeons in the country."

"How do you know that?"

"Aside from a paying attention to the political arena?" V. asked sarcastically.

"Come on, we're not that bad,"? Mac protested, earning a laugh from V. "What?"

"Name one person--- other than a member of the First Family--- who testified during the Congressional Hearings," she challenged.

"Which hearings?" Taggart asked.

"And on that note. . ." V. replied on a laugh as she rose. "I'm going to go see my fiance. Let me know if I have to go to the press on this or anything else."

"I doubt it will cause that big of a news stir," Mac sighed. "And nothing really comes to mind as a potential PR problem right now."

"Good, that means I can concentrate on getting together the ads and commercials for recruitment. Unless something breaks, I won't be back to tomorrow morning," she beamed before walking out.

As the door shut behind her Taggart turned to Mac, a slight frown on his face. "Don't you think we should've given her a heads up on the Moss thing?"

"It would look like one of us leaked it."

"One of us did," Taggart shot back. "Besides, isn't she friends with her."

"Damn, you're right," Mac said with a shake of his head. "I don't know. Maybe it'll be better coming from Jax. He doesn't have to pretend to be impartial on this."

"And what if someone asks her before then?"

"One good thing about the Quartermains being involved is that they've gotten to press to sit on this. And if the story I leaked on this is aired, I doubt that they'll be going to the PR person for a Police Department that looks like it's a willing participant in a cover up."

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Charlie Young walked into the apartment he shared with his long time girlfriend, Zoey Bartlett, and frowned when he saw her staring out the window. The frown turned to worry as he got closer and saw the tracks of tears on her cheeks. "Zoey, what's wrong?"

Zoey jumped at the sound of his voice and swiped at her tears as she turned towards him, "Charlie, I didn't hear you come in."

"I kinda figured," Charlie said as he came up beside her. "So you wanna tell me why you're staring into space and crying?"

"My dad called. . ."

"Homesick?" he asked, earning only a shake of her head before her eyes darted back to the window. "Something happened?"

"It's not Mom, or Dad. Or Liz or Annie. Or Ellie. . ." Zoey spit out, still not looking at him.

"OK. So who?"

"Donna."

"Josh's Donna?"

"A huh."

"Whoa. . . So what happened?"

"Dad wasn't really sure," Uncle Leo got a call early this morning and called my parents. They're flying into Port Charles later today. Uncle Leo was already on his way when I spoke to Dad," she babbled. "Dad said they didn't know much, only that she'd taken a really bad fall down a flight of stairs and was in critical condition."

Charlie nodded as he took in the information. "You want to go?"

"DUH!"

"They won't let you."

"Exams.
Damnit, Charlie, if it were any other time, but Dad said Donna would be furious with us if we ditched. Besides. I doubt our professors would allow us to reschedule because a former staff member of my father's in the hospital!"

"Donna would be furious if we rescheduled because of her," Charlie said softly. "When's your last exam?"

"Last period of the last day!"

"They're going to keep in touch."

"But it's not the same."

"Yeah, I know," Charlie sighed as he pulled her in for a hug and kissed her forehead. "Hey, any of your professors offer alternative times?" he asked as he stepped back.

"No. Remember I'm the one who took all the weird classes this semester. One section only."

"Well, I can take most of mine with other sections to get done sooner. It may kill me but. . ." he shrugged. "I mean, if you want me to wait till you're done to go. . ."

"I don't. I mean I do, but. . .I want one of us there for her. I know it's crazy. I mean Dad said the whole of the Senior Staff will be there and Mom was going to take over her case, but. . ."

"Yeah, I know. I'd probably wouldn't be happy waiting longer than necessary," he admitted. "I mean. . ."

"I know what you mean," Zoey said with a watery smile. "Besides, you're one of them."

"Not really."

"Yes, really," she said as she stood on tiptoe and kissed him. "You better go study."

"Yeah, she'll skin me alive if I let my GPA fall because of this," Charlie quipped as she stepped back, causing Zoey to laugh at the image.

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Bobbie frowned as she closed the door to the supply closet and sunk onto a near by trash can. She couldn't believe she'd done it. That she'd accidentally on purpose lost the paper work on Donna Moss.

Sighing, she buried her head in her hands and let tears flow freely. She hadn't had a choice, she reminded herself. Monica hadn't given her one. Intercept the papers and shred them or lose everything she held dear.

Besides how much damage could it cause in the long run? The lawyer had sent the papers once, he could again. Their lost was only a slight delay.

And yet, the nurse in her knew that a slight delay could result in death.

She prayed that it wouldn't be the case this time.