"Ryan, tell Ginger I hope she has never been so wrong in her life. I'm going to see what I can find out, and then I'll go straight to Mara's."
"Would you let us know what you find out Ma'am?"
"Sure Ryan, thank you for calling."
"Bye Ma'am."
"Bye Ryan, give Ginger a hug for me."
Abbey hung up and dialed Ron, asking him to find out everything he could and report back to her in half an hour. Jed had just finished taking a call about the crash in his study when Abbey informed him that one of their own could be on the flight. Jed's face fell instantly and she watched him age twenty years right before her eyes. She was on her way out the door when an agent informed her that they were able to confirm Sam had a reservation on the flight but it would be another hour before the actual flight manifest would be accessible. Abbey turned around again and gave him a long hug and a kiss before she left.
The distant hum of thunder could be heard in the distance as the car made its way towards Georgetown and Mara's mansion. Abbey called Mara when she was five minutes away under the guise of coming back from dinner. Mara happened to look out the window when the car pulled up and she opened the door as a crack of thunder disturbed the silence and set off a few car alarms.
"I hope Sam has his umbrella with him." Mara said as she kissed Abbey on the cheek and ushered her inside.
"I'm impressed you didn't just jump two feet in the air." Abbey commented knowing thunder and lightening once terrified Mara.
"I'm fine now when I'm inside, I wouldn't want to be outside when it happened. It still freaks the hell out of me."
"Ah, you have any cookies?"
"Not made, I have some in the freezer I could bake. You want chocolate chip or double chocolate caramel?"
"Both." Abbey replied hoping to keep Mara in the kitchen and way from the news until she heard from Ron."
"Skipped dessert tonight did we?"
"Yes I did. So how's the interview been going?"
"Pretty good, Lisa has only asked two questions I refuse to answer. I almost fell off my chair when she told me she'd send me her final copy to be submitted. I can't change anything but at least I'll know what she wrote and if Vanity Fair tries to do some shady edit work."
"So what's Lisa like?'
"She's nice enough and is average looking. No raving beauty, but she's certainly not ugly. She tilts her head to the side a lot which sort of annoys me. She's done her homework..."
"Mara tell me what I really want to know!" Abbey demanded..
"No I can't see how Sam ever had any chemistry with her. I just don't get it, I guess that will always be a mystery to me. I'm going to invite her over to dinner tomorrow night, since Sam will be back. Maybe I'll pick up some clues."
Mara noticed a momentary change in Abbey's face when she mentioned Sam being back. She dismissed it as concern for Sam having dinner with his ex- fiancee. About ten minutes later Mara mentioned that Sam should be home in half an hour and he'd be thrilled to have freshly baked cookies. Abbey bit down on her lip and smiled uneasily. Mara knew something was wrong and stopped herself from panicking. She excused herself to go to the bathroom. Mara stared at her reflection in the mirror and took a few deep breaths while concentrating her thoughts on Sam. An involuntarily sigh of relief escaped her lips when she didn't feel anything. She would know if something was horribly wrong because she'd feel it in the pit of her stomach. She figured Sam was called back and Abbey knew about it.
"The timer went off, so I took the cookies out."
"Thanks Abbey, Sam hates burnt cookies."
Abbey didn't say anything in return, she blew on a cookie and pinched a corner off and ate it instead.
"Abbey, Sam got called back on his way to the airport didn't he? You don't have to worry about being the messenger. I know these things can't be helped sometime."
"Have you heard from Sam?" Abbey asked a little too curiously.
"He called me on his cell en route to the airport to grab the last flight out to DCA. He should be home in twenty-forty minutes unless the storm prevents them from landing."
"So you haven't heard from him since?"
"No, Abbey, what the hell..." The phone rang. "That's probably him now, hold on a sec."
Mara reached over the counter and grabbed the phone. "Hello?"
"Aunty Mara, Sam's still in Philly right?" Jenna asked quickly.
"He's supposed to be on his way home from Philly Jenna."
Mara heard Jenna gasp and it freaked her out. "Jenna? Why do you want to know?"
"What flight was he taking?"
"The last flight out, I never remember the flight number."
"Is it USAir?"
"Yeah"
"Fuck, no..."
"Jenna!" Mara growled into the phone, "Watch your language!"
"Aunty Mara is it flight 319?" Jenna asked barely above a whisper.
"Could be, Jenna what on earth is going on?"
"I turned my laptop on to print a article and when My Yahoo came up there was a banner flash that US Air 319 had crashed half an hour after taking off from Philadelphia on it's way to DCA."
"Oh shit...Abbey!!!"
"Mara I'm trying to get a hold of Ron, I didn't want to tell you anything until we knew more."
"WE? WE? Who is we and didn't any of you think I might want to know about this?"
"Ryan called, Ginger saw the flash update during ER, made the connection and burst into tears. She had Ryan call me because she didn't want you to be alone when you found out."
"Sam isn't dead Abbey! He's not dead, he can't be. I'd know if he was. Jenna do you hear me? Everything is all right!"
"He's not answering his cell phone Mara. It's saying he's out of calling area. That's never happened before. I beeped him ten minutes ago and got nothing."
"Jenna when you heard about your parents did you know it was true in your heart.? I mean I'm sure you thought it was a mistake, but did you still get that sick feeling...."
"Yeah I did but...."
"Well, do you have that feeling now?"
"No, but I sort of feel numb all over."
"I'm telling you Jenna, Sam is fine I just know it." Mara noticed Abbey put her cell phone on the counter. "What did Ron say?"
"Sam was assigned seat 1A.."
"Just because they gave him a seat doesn't mean he was sitting in it!"
"Mara, let me finish, they don't have a boarding pass for him..."
"See....."
MARA! They also don't have a boarding pass for one of the flight attendants best friends who did board the flight. They can't rule anything out yet."
"Tell Ron to stop wasting his time, Sam is fine."
Jenna was listening over the line and wanted to believe with her entire heart that Sam was fine. While she didn't have that sick feeling, she didn't know everything was all right.
" Mara can I talk to Abbey?"
Mara handed the phone to Abbey and headed over to the oven to put another batch of cookies in.
"Jenna, Ron just..."
"I heard, what's Mar doing?"
"Putting cookies in the oven."
"What? She's living in her own little reality right now, nothing you can say will register with her. I don't have the feeling of doom, but I do have that nervous feeling I get when I'm anxious about something. Do you have anything just in case the world caves in?"
"Yes I do Jenna, I came prepared."
"Good, could you call me the second you hear anything?"
"Jenna is your teacher there?"
"No Grandma is with me tonight."
"Go tell her what's going on, I don't want you to be alone just in case."
"K. Aunty Abbey, God would be that cruel would he? He'd never take my parents and Sam away in less than 3 months."
Abbey's heart broke for Jenna, "I don't think so Sweetie, but sometimes God does things that seem so horrible and unfair and you can never rationalize them."
"I'm going to go make some chocolate icing."
"Ok, I'll call you the second I hear anything."
"I luv ya Aunty Abbey."
"I love you too Jenna." Abbey hung up the phone and said a silent prayer.
Mara was no longer in the kitchen and when the timer went off again, so Abbey pulled the cookies out and went to look for her. She checked upstairs first then down in the wine cellar. She called out to her and got no response. She checked the bathroom and laundry room before opening the front door to ask her detail if Mara left. She didn't need to ask as she found Mara sitting on the stoop getting drenched .
"MARA! You're soaking! Get in here!"
"I'm waiting for Sam."
"You can wait for him inside, now come in."
"No, I want to be able to see him as he arrives."
"Mara do you really think Sam wants to hug a wet dish rag?" Abbey tried a different tactic.
"Sam won't care."
"Mara, I'm not in the mood to deal with a petulant child."
"Abbey, I'm not in the mood to give a damn about your mood." Mara replied tersely looking out to the street once more.
Abbey gave up and closed the door. Five minutes turned into ten minutes, which turned into thirty. She was just about to get the Secret Service to haul Mara in when she noticed a car pulling up. She held her breath and finally exhaled when it was Josh.
The sound of water splashing beneath tires sent Mara's head flying up. A big smile spread across her face and her spirit soared until she looked closer and recognized the car. Josh's heart sank the second he noticed Mara sitting on the stoop as rain poured off her creating a large pool of water below her feet. He hopped out the car, nodded at the guard who unlocked the gate for him. Josh recognized the look on her face and sighed deeply.
"Sorry, Bu. I dashed your hopes again didn't I?"
"Sort of, but it's your specialty. You burst my balloon and Abbey gives horrible pep talks. I've accepted it."
"Have you heard anything?" Josh asked plopping down beside Mara."
Mara smiled softly for a moment, touched by Josh's willingness to get drenched with her.
"Not since he called on the way to the airport."
"I tried his cell five minutes ago, it's still saying the caller you are trying to reach...."
"Is still out of the service area." Mara finished.
"Yeah, you know I've lost track of how many times I've gotten wet helping you in a crisis. But don't worry, you still have 3 Armani shirts left." Josh replied pulling her into his arms.
Mara chuckled softly and leaned down to leave a kiss on Josh's forearm. "I think I owe you jeans for this one. It's not just tears on your shoulder, it's a full body shower."
"Yeah but it's the rain not you, so don't worry about it."
"You know, if I thought it would help, I'd lock Sam in the house and never let him out again."
"Yeah, but you know Sam, he'd fall down the stairs or manage to nick an artery cutting a bagel." Josh responded wryly
Josh could tell Mara was smiling. "Why does he insist on scaring the crap out of me at least once a year?"
"Cause he's a disaster waiting to happen? He's the King of the Klutz?"
"Thank God I don't get ulcers or I wouldn't have a stomach left."
"He's not dead Mara. I know it." Josh said softly.
"I know, but no one else believes me. Not even Jenna."
"I do. I remember what it felt like that first Christmas and then I was scared to death he'd slip away from us. I was strong and brave for you, but I didn't have the same faith you did that he'd recover. I don't feel like he's slipping away now."
"I feel it Josh. In the pit of my stomach, I can feel it. I know something is wrong and usually I can think about people and tell if it's them or not. Hell, that night at Rosslyn, I knew something bad happened in Washington before I even turned on the TV. That's why I flicked on CNN. I woke up from a deep sleep the exact moment my Grandma died and I knew she'd passed on. I felt it strongly the day before Sue and Steve died. I dismissed it as part of the wicked cramps I was having, even though it was different. The miscarriages have screwed up my...."
"Spidey senses?"
Mara laughed out loud and elbowed Josh in the stomach. "I'm telling you something deep and personal and you are thinking of comics?" Mara teased.
"Hey, Sam told me about how candy derails many a conversation he has with you, so deal with it."
"Where the hell can he be, Josh? Is he lying in some field hoping someone will find the sole survivor of flight 319? Did he miss the flight and get on one to Baltimore?"
"319 is the last flight out to the Capitol Mara. Did you think to see if your jet was called into action?"
"No, I don't think Sam knows how to do it. In an emergency he goes to Leslie, otherwise I do all the ordering."
"Sam is a pretty smart guy. It's worth a shot." Josh fished his cell phone out of his pocket and handed it to her.
Mara dialed Leslie first to see if Sam asked her to help him out. Leslie had just heard the news and regretfully told Mara he hadn't called her. Mara checked with her pilot and was informed that the plane was still in the hangar.
"He could have rented a car and his cell phone battery died." Josh offered.
"He'd have the radio on and when he heard the news he'd find a phone and call collect if he had to, so I wouldn't jump to conclusions like everyone else."
"Mara, everyone else has jumped to some pretty natural conclusions. He has been listening to a lot of books on tapes lately, so he wouldn't have the radio on."
"I guess that's possible. I made some chocolate chip cookies if you want to go inside and get some."
"Mara, why don't we both go inside and dry off. Then, if you still insist on going out again,we can find you a raincoat. I'm starting to get chilled to the bone and Sam would kill me if I let you stay out in a rainstorm by yourself."
"I'm fine Josh."
"No, Mara, you're not. I promise once you dry off and have a cup of hot chocolate we'll come back out in rain gear." Josh stood up and pulled Mara with him.
Abbey had no idea what Josh said or why it took him so long to say it, but she was grateful when Josh walked in the door with Mara by his side. She tossed them both a towel. Mara sent Josh up to take a warm shower. She changed into dry clothes, pulled her rain coat out and went back downstairs to make hot chocolate.
Three hours earlier.
Sam tossed a fifty at the cab driver and sprinted into the terminal. He zigged and zagged around slow moving passengers, slowing only to go through security. He was nearly out of breath by the time he presented his boarding pass at Gate 12.
"I'm sorry, sir, but the flight has boarded already."
"It's not leaving for another nine and a half minutes."
"I'm sorry sir, but the cutoff time is fifteen minutes prior to scheduled departure. I can rebook you for the first flight in the morning."
"It will take me a minute to get on the flight."
"I know sir and if I were you I'd still be asking but I'm afraid the only thing I can do is rebook you for the morning."
Sam was about to pull the 'White House' card when he heard Mara's voice in his head. 'If you don't make the flight Sam, don't worry about it. Just take the first flight home in the morning.' He walked away from the gate and decided to have a quick drink before calling Mara. He was almost finished his JD on the rocks when he heard his name being called. He followed the direction of the voice and acknowledged Senator Carrick.
"Hello Senator Carrick, if you are on your way to flight 319, you're too late."
"You missed your flight?"
"Yeah, they wouldn't let me board. I figured I'd have a drink before I call to tell my wife I lied and won't make it tonight."
"Sam, I'm about to catch a private jet back to Dulles. If Josh was in your place, I'd let him walk home. I like your wife and I tolerate you. You've got a ride if you want one."
"Geez sir, I guess it's a good thing I tolerate you too." Sam replied with a smirk.
Chris chuckled, "You know for a donkey, you aren't half bad."
Sam was about to take an exception to being called an ass when his brain kicked in. "I'm a little tired to come up with an elephant response but when I do Senator...."
"Sam, call me Chris and leave your tip so we can get going. I hear a storm is heading our way."
Half an hour after the flight should have landed, Sam asked Chris, if the pilot navigated by the stars. Chris assured Sam, that the pilot wasn't following the Delta shuttle. He buried his face in his hands wondering if the entire world knew about that incident. Thirty minutes later, Chris went up to talk to the pilot and came back with bad news.
"The pilot has been forced to circle and his request to divert to Baltimore has been denied."
"Great, exactly how much fuel do we have?"
"We're fine, which the tower knows, so they don't care that we just want to get home."
Two hours later Sam, tried Mara on his cell and it wouldn't work. Another hour later Sam had finally had enough.
"Chris ask the pilot to contact the tower at Andrew's and ask for permission to land there."
The pilot gave it a shot and was denied. Sam got on the radio after that.
"Andrews, this is Sam Seaborn with Senator Carrick, I don't care anymore if you have to wake my boss up. Get us the authorization to land now."
A few minutes passed before the radio crackled back to life. "This is Andrew's tower, Charlie Delta four seven niner cleared for landing. Acknowledge."
Sam smiled at the Pilot and went back to his seat to pass the good news on.
"Andrews is going to let us land there, finally. I think I had them drag the President out of bed to do it, but we'll be home in less than an hour."
"Way to name-drop, Sam, but how on earth did you get Andrews to clear it?"
"I've had NSC card clearance for about a year now, but I'm sure it's because they know me. Mara's Gulfstream has special permission to be in a hangar there. Andrew's is it's home base. Before you start wondering about the US wasting tax dollars on the Canadian Ambassador, Mara pays for all the cost related to being here."
"Never would have crossed my mind Sam, I'm too grateful to be going home to care. Sam, I know you guys are having a tough time with 482. Strange as it may seem, I only have a minor problem with it. If you want to set a meeting up during the week, I'm sure we could hammer something out that will pass."
"Thanks Chris, for the ride and the offer on 482. I'll be holding you to it."
"I know you will."
Five and a half hours had elapsed from the time of the crash of Flight 319. Sam should have been home five hours ago and there was still no sign of, or word of, him. Mara was starting to go stir crazy and was back out on the stoop in her raincoat, sitting under a large umbrella with Josh. Abbey was waiting for another call from Ron to confirm if Sam was on the plane according to the manifest. Ron has requested FAA officials to ask about Sam to the check in staff during the recording of their official statements. Abbey flipped open her cell phone when it rang.
"Well Ron?"
"Sweet knees it's me."
"I knew you wouldn't be able to sleep,,, Oh God Jed tell me you are just calling to see how Mara is holding up."
"I wish I could say that , but I have news Abbey."
"Spit it Jed! I can't take this waiting."
"Sam should be walking in the front door in about fifteen minutes. He's been stuck in a private plane chartered by Senator Carrick for the last five hours, Sam talked Andrews into letting them land. This is anotherone of those time I don't mind my staff using my name for personal gain."
"I'm so relieved I'm speechless. I'm going to tell Mara and Josh then head home. Thanks for calling, sweetie."
"I'll see you in twenty. Tell Mara, Sam is not expected in tomorrow. I don't think Mara would let him out of her arms anyway. Josh is there?"
"Yeah, its a long story but I'm telling Josh to take the day off too."
"You know best Dr. Bartlet."
"Don't you ever forget that Bubba." Abbey laughed, "Warm the bed up for me."
"Yes ma'am." Jed chuckled before hanging up.
The phone rang again and Abbey checked the display. It was Ron this time..
"Hi Ron, Jed just called me, Sam is fine and just landed at Andrews about twenty minutes or so ago.'
"Yes, ma'am. I got the news while the FAA was confirming that Sam was denied boarding because he arrived five minutes before the flight left."
"Thank you, Ron, for all your help. Now get home and get some sleep."
"Yes ma'am, please tell Mara that I'm very happy she was right."
"I will Ron, night."
When the door opened, both Josh and Mara whipped their heads around. Abbey had her purse over her shoulder.
"Jed just called, Sam should be here in fifteen minutes. He was on a private plane with Chris Carrick and Andrew's wouldn't let them land until Sam convinced them."
"Poor Sam, stuck with that arrogant jackass for five hours. I'm amazed he didn't perform a frontal lobotomy on himself."
"Josh, he's not that bad. I've never had a problem with him. Obviously, Sam missed the flight and he was kind enough to offer him a lift."
"Yeah, well he'd have let me rot in the airport."
"Hell Josh, I might do that myself." Mara teased before giving Josh a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm going home kids. Josh both you and Sam are under orders to take the day off. Ron wants you to know he's very glad Mara was right. For the record Mara, I didn't think Sam was gone. I just anted you to be prepared just in case."
Mara rose and wrapped her arms around Abbey, giving her a long hug. "I know Mom, but I didn't want to hear it. I couldn't hear it. Thank you so much for coming over. Will you call Ginger on your way home?"
"Sure."
"Donna too please and ask her to tell Toby and CJ."
"I will Josh, now come here and give me a hug."
"Thank you Josh, you reached her when I couldn't." Abbey whispered.
"She only has two shirts left to use before I need new ones." Josh replied with a smirk.
"I heard that." Mara said with a grin. She snatched Josh's cell phone out of his coat pocket and called Jenna to let her know everything was all right.
"Now will you go inside?" Josh asked in vain.
"No way! I came out here to fly into his arms the second I saw him and now that we have a real ETA you expect me to go inside? What are you, nuts?!"
"Hey just thought I'd give it a try."
"Thank you for being you Josh." Mara said with a sweet smile before giving him a long hug.
"Sweetie, how can I be anywhere but here at a time like this."
"Can you imagine what the Josh Lyman and Mara Whitford of your first visit would say if someone told them...."
"Are you out of your freaking mind? Love that bitch? You'd slap them hard and literally call the men in the white coats on them."
Mara cracked up and Josh soon followed. They were still wiping away tears of laughter when she noticed a set of headlights in the distance. The rain had finally stopped and Mara listened as the wheels went over puddle after puddle. The black sedan came to a halt in front of the house and Mara was down at the gate before the door even opened. Sam had just stepped up on the sidewalk when Mara threw herself against him with such force that she slammed him back against the car door. Sam wanted to scream, since the small of his back was protesting loudlywildly and Sam wanted to scream but Mara had engaged in such a soul-searing kiss that he was only able to whimper in his mind.