Chapter 2
Jed's staff tried to come as much as possible but they had such diverse jobs now, it made it almost impossible to have frequent contact.
Santos had won the general election, and he and Leo had been sworn in. However, within months, Leo had died due to a massive heart attack. The doctors had warned him not to take on the stressful job, but he had not listened. Jed had been unable to attend his service, but Abbey had gone and read Jed's eulogy to this best friend of over forty years.
Josh and Donna had finally gotten married. And Donna was expecting a baby any day now. Josh called Jed about once a month and kept him up to date on what was going on with Donna and with his job as Chief of Staff for Santos. Leo's death had hit him particularly hard and he told Jed that the baby, if a boy, would be named after his mentor. Jed had thought it was an excellent idea.
Sam had been reelected to Congress and was thinking about an open Senate seat in California. He had talked to Jed about it a couple of times, but he had yet to make up his mind. Jed encouraged him to think carefully about the responsibilities, but Jed had confidence that whatever Sam chose to do, he would be successful.
Toby and CJ had started their own public relations firm in New York and were immediately successful. Toby had been helping Jed write his memoirs and had come up about once a month to retrieve the tapes that Jed diligently made when he felt like it. The President's memoirs, entitled "What's Next: The Presidency of Josiah Bartlet" was due out in a couple of months. But Toby doubted the President would live long enough to see it.
The staff hated to see their active, vibrant friend in bed, being unable to do the simplest tasks. It was so shocking that the MS progression had gone so fast. Then came the diagnosis of lung cancer about four months ago. The doctors had told Jed and Abbey that it was inoperable and that it was so advanced they gave the President only six months. It had progressed rapidly since then and had spread to his bones and his liver.
The pain had been controlled the first few months, but now nothing seemed to help. Jed refused to have a morphine drip because it made him so fuzzy and he was determined to be alert as long as he could. He wanted to participate in his limited world as long as possible.
"Jed, let me give you a shot."
"No, Abbey. I'll just deal with it. I don't want to sleep. I want to be awake as long as I can."
"Taking a shot is not giving up. It's recognizing that you need some help."
"Maybe later."