Washington, D.C.
"I'm not gonna give it to her," Jed announced, pacing the floor of the Oval Office.
"Sir?" Leo replied from his place in the chair nearby.
"The separation. I'm just not gonna give it to her."
"Mr. President, how do you…"
"I'll just ignore it," Jed said.
"I don't think you can do that, sir."
"Why the hell not? I'm the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces. I can do whatever I damn well please!"
"Call her," Leo advised.
"No."
"Call her."
"No, damnit!" Jed exclaimed.
"Then lose her."
Jed stood still for a moment, as the idea slowly registered in his mind. He walked over, talking his time, and sat in his chair across from Leo.
"Where the hell have you been?" Jed remarked, though his tone was hardly challenging. "I've already lost her."
"I don't believe that, sir."
"Abbey does."
"Abbey's hurt. She's disillusioned."
Jed shook his head.
"I don't think so, Leo. Abbey doesn't take her vows lightly. She…wants this. And once she sets her sights on something, you know there'll be hell to pay until she gets it."
Baltimore, Maryland
Dr. Eleanor E. Bartlet stood outside Johns Hopkins research lab, complete with white lab coat, with her cell phone glued to her ear. It was a relatively warm July afternoon and Ellie was dying to go back into the air conditioning, but was now having trouble moving in general.
"You're kidding. You're not kidding? Oh, my God, Mom! A separation? A separation. No, I'm not okay! What do you think! I can't believe you would do this! No. No, Mom! Tell her yourself. You thought I would understandd! Of all people? What is that supposed to mean? I'm supposed to understand that you want to be separated from my father, your husband? Is there someone else? Mom. Is there someone else? I…whatever. Just…whatever. Do what you want. I gotta go."
Ellie flipped her phone shut, dropped it into her coat pocket and stalked off into the building.
Washington, D.C.
"Margaret!" Leo shouted from his office.
Margaret appeared in the doorway a few seconds later.
"Do I have a lunch meeting today?"
"Yeah. You're meeting with Senator Leigh this afternoon."
"Cancel it. Set me up a meeting with the Surgeon General," Leo said.
"Dr. Griffith?"
"That would be her name, yes."
"Can I ask why?"
"No."
"Okay."
London, England
On his way to Zoey's hotel room to pick her up, Oliver Prescott decided to make a stop in front of the next door over. He greeted the agents who stood guard, then cautiously knocked upon it. He waited but a moment before it opened and the First Lady of the United States materialized before his very eyes.
"Oliver," Abbey said, with surprise.
"Good evening, Mrs. Bartlet."
"Zoey's in the next room, you know."
"I know. I came by to see you," Oliver stated.
"Oh. Well…come on in."
Abbey held the door wide open, allowing Oliver to step into the hotel room. She lead the way to the couch and invited him to have a seat, then positioned herself across from him.
"What's on your mind, Oliver?"
"I heard about your…your…"
"Separation," Abbey said.
"Yes. Zoey told me. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am. If there's anything I can do…"
"You can be good to Zoey."
"I fully intend to, ma'am."
"Are you serious about her, Oliver?"
"I like her very, very much."
"She's been through a helluva lot, you know," Abbey said.
"I realize that, Mrs. Bartlet. And I understand."
"Good."
"Mrs. Bartlet, I hope you don't mind me asking this, and you're welcome to take the sixth."
Abbey chuckled.
"The fifth."
"Hmm?"
"The expression. It's take the fifth. The fifth amendement," Abbey explained.
"Ah, right. I suppose that year I spent as an exchange student in Philadelphia didn't do me much good."
"No, I think not." Abbey smiled warmly at the young man. "What did you want to ask me?"
"I…I was just wondering…what made you decide to…have the separation papers drawn up now? That is, opposed to waiting until you return to the States."
"Honestly?"
"Er…yes, ma'am."
"Your father."
Oliver frowned, clearly disappointed.
"Really?"
"Mmm-hmm. He wants…to have a relationship, as I'm sure you know. I'm going to be very frank with you, Oliver. Are you all right with that?" Abbey asked.
"Of course."
"Well, the truth is, I refuse to let your father touch me until my husband signs the papers."
"Why?"
"Because I will not cheat on my husband."
"Well, I think that's very honorable of you, Mrs. Bartlet. But it's still…"
Abbey cleared her throat.
"Don't burst my bubble, Oliver."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Go see Zoey."
"Mrs. Bartlet…"
"I truly do appreciate your concern, Oliver, but…go see Zoey."
"Yes, ma'am."
Washington, D.C.
When Leo McGarry arrived at the Surgeon General's office, he found it bustling with people. In short, it was much busier than anticipated.
"Mr. McGarry"
Dr. Griffith's assistant stood immediately to greet him.
"Hi. Is this a bad time?"
"No, no. Dr. Griffith is just running a bit behind schedule. She should be with you in just a moment."
"Okay. That's no problem."
Leo only had to wait a few momemts before Dr. Millicent Griffith appeared and lead him into her office.
"To what do I owe the distinct pleasure of your company, Leo?"
"I just thought, 'Hey, haven't seen Millie in awhile,' and…"
"Cut the crap, Leo."
"Why, Dr. Griffith, your indifference offends me," Leo said.
"You want me to harness Abbey, don't you?"
"Why don't we sit down?"
"Don't play hostess in my office, Leo McGarry. We'll sit down when I say."
"Millie, we play for the same team, so quit playing defense here, all right?"
Millie sighed, relenting, and sat down.
"It is Abbey though, isn't it?"
Leo sat down beside her.
"When was the last time you spoke to her?" He asked.
Millie shrugged, absently.
"Awhile. Only a few times since she left for Europe. I called her after the picture seen 'round the world, but she didn't answer and hasn't called me back. What'd she do now?"
"I don't know how to say this."
"Oh, come on. It can't be that bad, whatever it is. Abbey's harmless."
"Millie…she's asking the President to sign separation papers."
Millie's jaw dropped in astonishment.
"What?"
"Well, 'asking' being the inoperative word, as they haven't spoken in several weeks."
"I…I assumed that picture was just a misunderstanding. I don't follow. Did something else happen?" Millie said.
"I don't know. The President's just as in the dark as we are about this"
"So you want me to interrogate Abbey?"
"Not so much interrogate as…investigate," Leo said.
"I don't know, Leo," Millie replied, skeptically.
"Look, I'm the President's best friend and you're the First Lady's. We have to do our part."
"Yeah? Well, why is it that being their best friends is a full-time job?"
"Literally," Leo said, with a smirk.
London, England
"Abigail Bartlet, are you out of your mind!"
"Nice to see you too, Millicent."
Abbey barely glanced up as the Surgeon General boisterously invaded her hotel room. Millie dropped her suitcases by the door and approached her best f riend, who was comfortably seated on the couch. Millie stood in front of her until Abbey finally looked up and acknowledged her presence.
"A separation," Millie stated, in disbelief. "A separation!"
Abbey sighed.
"Who told you?"
Millie pursed her lips and looked in the other direction.
"Zoey called you, didn't she?"
"She was just trying to help, Abbey."
"Yeah, but help who? That's the million dollar question."
Millie's expression turned sympathetic as she moved to sit beside Abbey on the couch.
"What happened?" Millie asked.
"What didn't happen?"
"You tell me."
"I'm angry at him, Millie. I am so…angry at him!" Abbey exclaimed.
"About the Shareef thing still?"
"Yes! No. Yes…no, I don't know. It's all gotten so out of hand. I have no idea why I'm angry at him, I just know I'm angry."
"And that's what was going through your head when you met with the lawyer?"
Abbey shrugged.
"That must have been it."
"Abbey…it wasn't Zoey who called me," Millie admitted.
"What?"
"It was Leo."