Washington, D.C.
CJ Cregg had been the closest. She was on her way to Amy Gardner's office to discuss a few things about the First Lady, related to her next press briefing. Walking through the hallways, she watched with shock as numerous agents plowed past her, followed by the President's doctor on duty. The crowd ran into Amy's office and CJ instinctively followed them. The President was lying on the floor, barely conscious. CJ's hand involuntarily moved to cover her open mouth, as she quickly moved to stand beside Amy, who had formed quite the same position.
"What happened?" CJ whispered.
"I don't know. He just…collapsed."
"Well, what brought it on?"
"We were…arguing about the First Lady," Amy explained.
CJ nodded, knowingly.
"That'll do it. Has anyone called Leo yet?"
"I called him a moment ago. He's on his way."
"Okay."
CJ gazed down at her president sympathetically, fighting back tears. She hated seeing him this way. So helpless and delicate. Hardly the force of nature she was used to. His eyes fluttered open and roamed around aimlessly, clearly disoriented. After a moment, his gaze fell on her and stayed there.
"CJ," Jed whispered.
"Mr. President, you shouldn't talk," his doctor advised him.
CJ kneeled down beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"CJ…get…Abbey."
"Sir?"
"Abbey," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
CJ looked up just as Leo ran into the office frantically.
"What happened?"
"He fainted, but he's conscious now, Mr. McGarry. We do need to get him up to bed though."
"Leo…" Jed said.
"Don't talk, sir. Just rest."
"Abbey…need Abbey."
"Shh."
When Leo proved to be no help, Jed turned back to CJ.
"CJ, please."
"I'm so sorry, Mr. President," CJ whispered, helplessly.
Her heart was breaking. She wondered if the President had momentarily forgotten about the separation. One thing was clear- he was a man desperate for his wife, not only physically, but emotionally.
London, England
Millicent Griffith and Zoey Bartlet sat still on the couch in Abbey's hotel room. Neither of them had spoken a word in several minutes. They exchanged apprehensive glances, and then turned back to the angry woman who was pacing the floor in front of them.
"I don't believe this!"
"Now, Abbey…" Millie said.
"You'd think he would know by now."
"Mom…" Zoey said.
"Forty years I've known this man! And in forty years, he hasn't changed," Abbey said.
"You can't blame him, Abbey."
"The hell I can't!"
"Mom, really, you can't blame him for wanting to help," Zoey said.
"Yes, I can. I most certainly can," Abbey replied. "Leo knows EXACTLY how I feel about meddling and matchmaking, or whatever the hell you want to call it. And yet he's gone and done it anyway."
"If you want to blame someone, blame me," Millie said.
"Oh, I do. I just blame him more."
"Abbey, come on."
"Why are you sticking up for him, Millie?"
"Because I know how he feels! I'm in the exact same position," Millie answered.
"You're sleeping with him, aren't you?"
"Mom!" Zoey scolded her.
"Jesus, Abbey. What is wrong with you!"
Abbey placed a hand to her forehad and became massaging her temples in a circular motion.
"I don't know," she replied, softly. "I'm sorry."
She sat down in the chair across from Millie and Zoey and dropped her head into her hands.
"Mom…you're making a much bigger deal out of this than it is. Leo was just trying to help. Maybe he didn't go about it in the best of ways, but you can't blame him for trying."
"And I didn't come here just because Leo suggested it," Millie said. "I came here because I'm your best friend. Obviously you're going through a tough time. And what kind of friend would I be if I just ignored the whole situation?"
"That's what Jenny's doing," Abbey said.
"Well, Jenny's just got her head up her ass right now. Her and her damn wedding. She's lost sight of what it means to be a good friend. And she'll regret it later, just you wait. When you and I ditch her wedding, she'll regret it."
Abbey narrowed her eyes in the direction of her friend.
"Do I detect a note of hosility toward a certain Jennifer McGarry, Millie?"
"No!" Millie answered, quickly. "No, I was just…"
"You've got a thing for Leo," Abbey said, a smile playing on her lips.
"Mom, that's sick," Zoey complained.
"Thank you for that, Zoey," Millie said.
Zoey shrugged in response.
"I do not have a thing for Leo."
"Yes, you do," Abbey insisted. "Leo and Millie sitting in a tree…"
"In the name of all that is holy, please do not finish that song," Millie begged.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Zoey exclaimed.
"Oh, God."
"You know what I'm gonna do?" Abbey said.
"I have a feeling I'm going to regret asking this, but…what?" Millie said.
"I'm gonna call him."
"Who?"
"Leo."
Baltimore, Maryland
Shortly after the President's collapse, Amy Gardner had phoned Ellie Bartlet to inform her of the father's present condition. Since that moment, Ellie had debated about calling him. She hadn't spoken to him since the separation, and she wasn't sure what she would say to him when it came up. This was the first time in a long time that Ellie was on her father's side about something, as opposed to her mother's. For once, the tables were turned. Ellie and Elizabeth were normally the ones siding with their mother, and Zoey would usually side with their father. Now it seemed that Ellie and Liz were sympathizing with Jed, and Zoey with Abbey. The sudden reversal made Ellie uneasy.
Not only that, but she had something else she needed to tell him. And she wasn't sure it was the right time. But she couldn't keep it from him any longer.
"Hi, Debbie. It's Ellie. I need to speak to my father, is he busy?"
"Hi there, Ellie. He's in the Residence lying down. Would you like me to connect you?"
"Yes, please."
"Allrighty, one second then."
"Thank you."
Ellie waited a few moments before the phone began ringing again, and she waited for her father to pick up.
"Yeah?"
"Hi, Dad," she said, softly.
"Eleanor. How are you?"
"Not me, Dad. How are YOU doing?"
"I'm fine, sweetheart," Jed said.
"When Amy called me, I was so worried. I thought maybe…"
"It was nothing huge, El. I should be up and about by tomorrow."
Ellie laughed.
"Wreaking havoc as usual."
"That's right. Ellie…listen, I'm sorry I haven't called you about the…thing. I assume your mother told you about it," Jed said.
"Yeah. She told me."
"Are you all right?"
"I'm okay. It's a little weird, but I'm okay. What about you?" Ellie questioned, with concern.
"I'll be fine," Jed replied, tersely.
"Dad, it's me. You don't have to put up a front."
"I'm not putting up a front, Eleanor. In fact, I'm very confident."
"Confident?"
"Yes."
"Why confident?"
"Because I know I'll get her back."
"Dad…"
"Don't fight me on this, Ellie. I'll get her back."
"Whatever you say," Ellie replied. "But, um, there's…something else I need to talk to you about."
"Yeah? What?"
"I'm not sure this is the right time, but…"
"What is it?"
"Well. You remember Mark Schaefer, don't you?"
"I certainly do. Tall fellow, dark hair. Psychologist?"
"Psychiatrist," Ellie corrected him.
"Yes, that's right. What of him?"
"Well, he…proposed last week."
"Really!"
"Yeah. And…I said yes."
"This is great news," Jed said.
"You really think so? I was afraid you'd be upset."
"Why would I be upset?"
"No offense, Dad, but you get upset if a guy even looks at us."
"Well, this Mark is an upstanding citizen, is he not?" Jed questioned.
"He is."
"He's got a stable career, does he not?"
"He does."
"And he loves you, does he not?"
Ellie smiled.
"He does."
"Then congratulations, Mrs. Schaefer. You have my blessing."
Washington, D.C.
"I'm fine, Leo."
"Mr. President, you are not fine. I want you to stay in bed."
Jed rolled his eyes and threw off the covers.
"You heard what the doctor said. It was just minor."
"That is not what the doctor said and you know it. Now get back into bed unless you want me to the call the Surgeon General."
"She'd put me in my place," Jed said.
"Yes, sir, I believe she would."
"I should probably talk to Millie at some point though, right?"
"Well, yeah. That'd probably be helpful seeing as, ya know, she's the chief medical practicioner of the United States," Leo answered.
"You know, I'm thinking I should fire Millie and appoint Ellie to the position," Jed said, laughing.
"Nothing like good ole nepotism."
"Yeah, that's what I always say."
"Excuse me, Leo?"
Margaret opened the door a crack and poked her head into the President's bedroom.
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry, but you have a phone call on line two."
"Is it important?" Leo asked.
"I think you'll want to take this, yeah."
"Thank you. I'll take it in the next room."
Leo relocated himself into the next room and sat down by the phone. He braced himself before answering it. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like this call.
"This is Leo."
"Hi, Leo," Abbey said, with fake cheeriness in her voice.
"Abbey. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"You're damn right you are."
"Abbey…"
"Who the hell do you think you are, Leo?"
"Now, wait one…"
"Where do you get off meddling in other peoples' lives?" Abbey questioned, angrily.
"It's my job to…"
"It is NOT your job to involve yourself in the President's personal affairs!"
"It's MY job to make sure the President can focus on doing HIS job!" Leo retorted.
"This has nothing to do with his job!"
"The hell it doesn't! The man can't even see clearly, let alone do his job!"
Abbey paused, trying to comprehend Leo's words.
"What?"
Leo immediately regretted saying anything at all.
"Nothing."
"Leo," Abbey said, sternly.
"It's nothing, Abbey."
"Is he having an episode?"
"No."
"God damnit, Leo, tell me the truth."
With his back to the door, it was no wonder Leo did not notice when the President entered the room.
"He's fine, Abbey. He just collapsed earlier, but he's going to be fine."
Jed cleared his throat, causing Leo to jump and nearly drop the phone. Jed gestured for Leo to hand him the phone. Acknowledging his hesitance to do so, Jed nodded resassuringly. Leo slowly leaned over and wordlessly handed the phone to his boss. Leo sat back in the chair and observed nervously as Jed placed the phone to his ear. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, relishing in the sound of Abbey's breathing at the end of the line.
"Abbey."
She gasped softly, startled at hearing his voice.
"Jed?"