"Hey."
"Whatcha doing?"
"Just cleaning out my locker. What are YOU up to?" Mallory asked.
"I have big news."
"Bigger than being sixteen and pregnant?"
"Possibly."
"Oooh, do tell."
"My mother, Dr. Abigail Anne Bartlet, M.D., gave someone an abortion last night," Liz announced.
"Oh my God, Liz. You're kidding!"
"Nope. She was a rape victim."
"Your mother!"
"No! The girl she performed the abortion on," Liz replied.
"Oh, wow. That's big. I can't belive she told you about it though."
"She didn't. Ellie told me."
"She told Ellie!"
"No, Ellie overheard her telling my dad."
"Well, how's she doing?" Mallory questioned.
"Not good. At all. She didn't go to work today. And Dad stayed home with her."
"They both stayed home? That's serious, Liz. They never stay home from work."
"I know. But I don't really know what to do. I mean, she doesn't even think I know about it. What can I do?" Elizabeth said.
"Just be there for her, I guess. How do you feel about this? Are you ok?"
"I don't like it, Mal. Period. But like…I kind of admire her, like why she did it. It took a lot of courage. I mean, even you know how my mom feels about abortions."
"Yeah."
"She's pro-other people having them, but she'd never have one. And, up until now, she'd never perform them. I just…I don't know, I'm worried about her. She gets freaked out about stuff. I don't know how it's gonna be," Liz admitted.
"Well, she's got your dad. You know he'll do anything for her. She'll be ok."
"Yeah. So anyway…three hours till freedom!"
By the time Liz got home, Jed had managed to get himself dressed and out of bed. He wanted to take the girls out for ice cream or dinner when they got home, to celebrate the end of the school year. Liz found him in the kitchen rummaging through the cabinets.
"Hey, Dad," she greeted him, throwing her backpack down on a chair.
He whipped around.
"Hey, Lizzie. How was it?"
She hopped up and sat down on the counter top.
"It was good! I'm just so glad it's over. For a few months anyway."
"Did you cry?" Jed asked, facetiously.
"Only a little."
"Ha!"
"Mallory cried too!"
"Girls will be girls."
"Shut up," she laughed.
He tossed her a juice box.
"Where's Mom?" Liz questioned.
"Upstairs."
"Is she asleep or something?"
"Doubt it."
"I'm gonna go say hi," she said.
"Ok. Liz?"
"Yeah."
"Be nice."
She looked at him suspiciously, then nodded and left the room.
"Mom?" Elizabeth called as she opened the door to her parents' bedroom.
"Hi, darlin," Abbey said, sitting up and propping a pillow up behind her.
Liz went over and sat beside her on the bed. She was shocked to see bags of chips and other snacks, cans of soda, and various candy wrappers strewn around the bed area. No wonder her father had escaped the mess.
"What the hell is going on!" Liz exclaimed.
"Elizabeth Adele Bartlet, don't you dare swear at me!" Abbey snapped back.
"Candy? Soda? Mom, there is more junk food here on this bed than in Dad's secret stash!"
"I just had a moment of weakness is all."
"A moment? Looks like you've had an entire day of weakness."
"I'm pregnant. They're called cravings. I can't control it," Abbey argued.
"That is not what this is, Mother."
"Why do you care so much, Elizabeth!"
"Because I care about you and this isn't right!" Liz cried, storming out of the room.
She continued on walking till she got to her own room.
"That's it," she whispered to herself.
And she decided that her only option now was to call for back up. After all, desperate times call for desperate measures.
The phone rang loud and clear in the McGarry residence. Mallory raced to the phone and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Mal, it's me."
"Hey, Liz. School's been over two hours and already you can't live without me," Mallory said, laughing.
"You got me. Hey, is your mother around?"
"Uh, yeah, actually. She came home early today. Why?"
"Can you put her on the phone?" Liz asked.
"Why?"
"I have a proposition for her."