A/N: Bess and Henry make a cameo in this story as our favorite characters struggle to come to terms with the shooting.
Over the next few hours. Liz, Ellie, and Zoey came in to see their sister one by one. Each of them fought to control tears and frustration at seeing her this way. Emily, Richard, and Sandra also saw Felicity, followed by Donna and then Charlie. Just after they left the room to go set up the temporary offices down the hall, Felicity frowned in her sleep and whimpered softly.
The sounds of the surrounding machines covered it completely. She whimpered again and tried to open her eyes, but they were so heavy. The little fingers of her free hand balled into a weak fist. Her entire body hurt. It hurt very badly, and she didn't know why. But she did want it to go away. Felicity's heart rate increased, causing the alarms on the monitor to sound.
"It's all right, baby," Abbey replied, attempting to soothe her daughter with her voice. "I know it hurts."
Felicity turned her head toward Abbey's voice and finally managed to open her eyes. She twitched and whimpered, unable to cry but making her discomfort very evident. Abbey was worried about every fast beep of the heart monitor. She hit the call button, and the nurse came immediately.
"Yes, Dr. Bartlet?" The nurse asked.
"Can we increase her pain medication?"
"I'll check Dr. Forrest's orders."
The nurse increased her pain medication. As they waited for it to kick in, Abbey and Jed tried their best to soothe Felicity. Her heart rate slowed but remained elevated. Tears started to roll slowly down her cheeks, not understanding why she couldn't move or why a tube was down her throat. Felicity watched her parents and felt very confused about why they didn't pick her up. Her little world had been turned around and spun upside down, and that made her sad.
"Baby, it's okay. You're gonna feel better in a minute," Abbey said, stroking her hair. "I promise."
"Abbey, I don't think it's just pain medication she needs," Jed said, watching Felicity's eyes. "Felicity wants us, and we can't pick her up."
Abbey closed her eyes and sighed. She knew Jed was absolutely right. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes as she stared down at her daughter.
"Oh, Jed." She cried. "It's just so hard to accept."
"I know, honey," Jed said, coming over to kiss Abbey's forehead. "We just have to be there for her as best we can."
Felicity was finally beginning to relax and drift off to sleep once more. Abbey stroked her hair and hummed softly under her breath, comforting her the only way she could at the moment. A little while later, one of Felicity's nurses returned with one of several bottles of pumped milk that Abbey gave to the nurses for storage since Felicity went into surgery.
She embraced being her daughter's soother in-chief with Jed's unwavering support, even as family members and others had their own opinions. Until last night, she hadn't intended to give up nursing until Felicity did. Never in a million years did Abbey think she would cede her role to a tube that could not comfort her baby. But it would help nourish and offer some measure of protection Felicity needed more than ever now.
Her mind flashed back to the last nursing session they had in the lobby while she talked with Donna. She still felt the way Felicity's body rested against hers as she prepared to nurse, how gentle she was every time she latched, the feeling of her little hand resting on her breast. Abbey hoped that they would get that time back for both their sakes.
"We're going to give Felicity some food to see how she does," the nurse said, cutting into her thoughts. She proceeded to show them how to administer the feeding, though Abbey was already somewhat familiar with her medical training.
Felicity opened her eyes again for a few minutes and sleepily watched the proceedings. She made a face when the nurse pushed the fluid through the tube. The face she made was nearly identical to her father's expression when he didn't like something. Felicity tried to lift her free hand in an attempt to knock the ventilator tube out, but it got no further than just above her side.
Despite his worry, sadness, and fear for his daughter, he smiled a little, "Not your bobbie, is it lovebug? I know you don't like it. But it won't be this way for long. Just for a little while."
Felicity looked at her father, distress in her eyes, as the nurse put the rest of the milk through the NG tube.
"Now it's time to change her bandages." The nurse explained. "We'll be teaching you how to do this when she's discharged home."
Abbey and Jed both nodded. The nurse put the bandages and cleaning supplies down. But as she pulled off the bandages, Abbey felt the bile rise in her throat as she laid eyes on Felicity's incision for the first time. She raced out of the room.
"Abbey?" Jed called gently. He walked out of the room and put his good hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry." Abbey's voice broke. "I-I just-"
"Shh." Jed pulled her to him. "I know exactly how you feel."
They stood in the hallway, holding on to one another and praying for the strength to get through the next several weeks.
That afternoon, Zoey was asleep at the Residence. Ellie and Liz were fixing lunch. Just then, Doug entered with Gus in his car seat, followed by 9-year-old Annie.
"Mom!" Annie said, running towards her mother's waiting arms. "How's Felicity?"
"She's okay for now," Liz answered her daughter, making eye contact with Doug.
"Can I see her?"
"You're not quite old enough, sweetie," Liz explained. "But maybe in a few-"
A hoarse scream came from the back bedroom.
Ellie put the food she was preparing down and sprinted out of the room. She went to Zoey's room and found her little sister in tears. Ellie went over to Zoey immediately and wrapped her arms around her.
"It's okay, Zoey. It's okay. You just had a bad dream. Everything will be alright."
"I dreamt that I saw Felicity die," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "A bullet went through her heart."
"Oh, Zo," she whispered, tears in her eyes. "Felicity is alive. None of that happened."
"Why would anyone hurt her?"
"I don't know. I don't know why anyone would open fire like that. But Felicity is going to prove them all wrong. She's tougher than anyone I've ever met."
"She's a baby." Zoey cried simply. "You know, I overheard Mom at the hospital say that Felicity'll be in the ICU for weeks. Weeks, Ellie. She didn't deserve that."
"Of course not," Ellie reassured her before wrapping her up in another hug.
Liz came into the room, "Are you two having a party without me?"
She joined Ellie and Zoey on the bed and hugged her younger sister.
"Zo had a dream about Fizzy."
Liz sighed, "I know it's hard, Zoey. If I could, I would take peanut's place in a heartbeat. No kid deserves this. But the good thing is that she's in the best place she could possibly be for care. And mom will be watching everyone like a hawk to make sure of that."
Zoey smiled, sniffling a little. "Thanks, guys. You're the best sisters a girl could have."
Liz put a hand over Zoey and Ellie's. "And between the three of us, we're the best big sisters Fizzy could have."
"Amen to that," Ellie replied a smile on her face for the first time since the shooting.
"And speaking of Fizzy," Zoey said, "why don't we go back to the hospital and see if Mom needs anything?"
Meanwhile, Donna was entering the regular post-surgical floor where Josh was. She had finally gone back to her apartment for a quick nap, a shower, and a decent meal. After being up all night, Abbey had insisted that at least one of them get some rest.
Donna walked slowly down the hall, reflecting on the last 24 hours. How things had gone so far upside down, she had no idea. Felicity had looked so weak when she had seen her after the surgery. So small.
And Josh…Josh was going to be fine, but it had shaken her more than she realized. What if it had been him that had been shot in the chest instead of Felicity? Just thinking about it made her shiver.
But she pushed those thoughts out of her head as she approached Josh's room, where she heard a familiar voice squawking.
"Ma, come on! I'm 40 years old, not 10!"
"You wouldn't know it the way you act, Joshua."
Donna rounded the doorway to see Rachel Lyman, Josh's mother, adjusting Josh's pillows.
"Knock, knock," Donna said, lightly knocking on the doorframe.
Rachel looked up. "Donna! How lovely to see you!"
"It's good to see you too, Mrs. Lyman. I just came to see Josh, if you're up for a visit?"
Josh brightened, "Yeah. Of course, I am," he said before turning to his mother. "Hey Ma, do you mind giving us a minute?"
Rachel looked at her son and then at Donna. A smile appeared on her face.
"I'm going to nip down to the cafeteria and get something for you, Josh," she concluded. "I'll be right back."
Rachel left the room and Josh looked over at Donna.
"Thanks for coming. Did Sam give you my message?"
"He did," Donna said. A smile played on her face. "It was just what I needed to hear last night."
"Really?" Josh said with a grin of his own. His grin faded slightly. "So, how's Felicity doing?"
"She's…" Donna trailed off, taking a shaky breath. "She's so small, Josh. And she-she doesn't look like herself." She began to softly cry.
Josh sat up further and patted the bed beside him. "Come here."
Donna looked at him. "Josh, are you sure? I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't be." He said simply.
Donna crossed the room, and sat on the bed, gingerly laying her head on his shoulder.
Josh wrapped an arm around her, "See? You're not hurting me," he said softly. "If there's anything I know about Felicity, it's that she really is what her sisters say about her. She's the best parts of the President and the First Lady put together. Which means, Felicity is smart, kind, sometimes stubborn, and fierier than hell. You'll see. The next time you go back to the hospital, she'll be running that hospital room."
Donna gave him a watery smile, "I guess the President shouldn't have joked about Felicity being the real commander-in-chief. She really is."
It has become a running joke at the White House that the staff served at the pleasure of Felicity rather than the President. Not that Felicity necessarily dictated the President's schedule when she was home with Abbey. But Felicity had a knack for letting her father know exactly when she missed him and needed to see him. It usually came with a few tears for good measure.
"Got that right," Josh replied. "Remember when Felicity started crying for him during the poker game?"
"Oh, God." Donna laughed. "I brought her over, and she settled right in. And then promptly spit up all over Toby."
"He's still trying to get the stain out of his suit." Josh mused.
"But then, he took her from the President and told her the names of all 14 punctuation marks."
"She's really made Toby a bit of a softie, hasn't she?"
"Yeah, she has," Donna replied. "She's always had that effect on people."
"She still will," Josh told her. Without even thinking, he pressed a kiss to her temple.
Then, Donna changed the subject. "So, did you tell your mom about us yet?"
Josh smiled, "She hasn't given me the chance yet. I was going to before you came in. I'm glad I didn't because I want you to be here when I do."
Donna smiled, "I'd like that very much."
"Just be prepared that she might ask some invasive questions."
"Well, Dr. Bartlet told me what she imagines our future children look like…."
CJ walked with a purpose toward the briefing room. It had been a whirlwind 20 hours, but things were starting to look up.
She took a breath, willing herself to put out of her mind, at least for the moment, the look of anguish on the First Lady's face as her baby faced a fight for her life. And Josh and the President had been hurt too. It had easily been the scariest night of her life, but now, at least, she would have some good news.
She pushed open the door into the blinding lights of the cameras and shouts of her name. She held up her hand as she approached the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to report that Felicity Bartlet has regained consciousness and is slowly beginning to recover. The doctors expect that Felicity will spend at least 2-3 weeks in the Intensive Care Unit as she recovers from her injuries. President Bartlet and Josh Lyman are also on the mend and are expected to be released from the hospital later this week. Are there any questions?"
"CJ! CJ!" Reporters shouted at her.
"Tim?"
"CJ, how was Felicity shot, to begin with? Was this a failure of her Secret Service detail?"
"No, Tim, it was not. The shooting lasted all of 10 seconds. Felicity Bartlet was shot because people opened fire from a building across the street as she was leaving the venue. The Secret Service did exactly as they were trained to, and people were still shot because bullets are difficult to stop. Danny?"
"Is there any motive for the shooting yet?"
"No, the Secret Service and the FBI are still investigating. I'll report more as I know more. Chris?"
"What is Felicity's prognosis? Is she expected to recover fully?"
"I will refer any specific questions to the medical staff at Children's National, but I will say that the fact that she is still alive and fighting is a very good sign. That's all for now, there will be another briefing tonight."
"Thank you, CJ." Everyone chimed as she exited the podium and the briefing room.
Sam fell into step with CJ. "You handled that well."
"Thanks," CJ said. "Have you seen her yet?"
Sam shook his hand. "The First Lady said they're only letting family in right now."
"What about Donna and Charlie?"
"They were able to see Felicity briefly while they set up the office. Donna told me Felicity is really agitated, and it's been hard on the President and First Lady because they can't hold her."
"Poor thing. I hope they get to hold her soon. She's not used to being in a bed by herself. I can't imagine what she must think."
"Neither can I. If we find out who did this, I'll draft a civil lawsuit myself. They deserve to pay criminally and civilly."
"Can you do that?" CJ asked, dumbfounded.
"I hope so," Sam said determinedly.
CJ saw the look of determination in his eyes. She, too, wanted someone to pay for what had happened to the sweetest baby she had ever met.
But right then, the sweetest baby she had ever met was quite unhappy. Abbey stood by the crib, attempting to do another tube feeding the way the nurse had shown her. But Felicity was whimpering to be held, with involuntary grunts of pain interjected in.
"Come on, sweet girl. Just a little more and we'll be done." Abbey soothed.
Felicity tried to reach up and knock and attempted to knock her ventilator tube out again. She didn't get very far because Jed took her free hand in his own. She gave him the most miserable look, her eyes begging him to hold her.
"I know, baby," He said quietly, swallowing a lump in his throat. "There has to be a better way than this."
Abbey injected the rest of the milk through the tube, "I agree. But there's not. Lovebug needs the ventilator for now. The minute she can cope with being oxygenated through her nose, the ventilator is going to come out."
"How are we doing in here?" The nurse asked, coming into the room.
"Felicity needs to be held," Abbey said, looking over at her. "She doesn't understand why we're not picking her up."
"I understand, Dr. Bartlet. But it's very risky with all the lines she has in."
"I know it's risky. But Felicity is miserable, and I think doing skin-to-skin care will help her. We've both done it since the day that she was born. It calms her down. Felicity is already maxed out on the pain medication she can have. Please."
The nurse looked at Felicity and then at her parents, "It's worth a try. Let me bring in some assistance."
Abbey went over to the bag Alex brought her and took out one of her favorite blankets for Felicity. Then removed her top and her bra before pulling on a button-down shirt to help keep her warm while leaving the front open. Jed took the blanket as Abbey sat down in a chair by her crib. Another nurse came in and, together, they carefully transferred Felicity from the bed to Abbey's chest. Jed laid the blanket over Felicity and Abbey.
Felicity stopped whimpering and closed her eyes. Her little body sagged in relief as it made contact with her mother for the first time in 18 hours. She was still hurt for reasons she couldn't understand. But Felicity finally felt safe and loved again, the way she was used to.
To everyone's amazement, the monitors stopped beeping erratically. Her heart rate slowed and her pulse ox rose. Abbey felt tears well in her eyes as she pressed a gentle kiss to Felicity's hair. It was clear that this was working its magic. She felt Felicity's little nose nuzzle her skin as it breathed in her scent.
"My sweet girl," Abbey murmured. "My brave girl." She began to sing softly under her breath. Jed recognized the song immediately, it was an old standard, "The Way You Look Tonight".
Jed knelt down by her side, and the song became a duet.
"Lovely, never, ever change.
Keep that breathless charm.
Won't you please arrange it?
Cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight."
They stared lovingly at their daughter as she fell into a deep sleep for the first time since her ordeal began.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Jed called.
"Hey," Elizabeth McCord said, poking her head in. "Are you up for a visit?"
"Hi," Jed said, rising from his position. He smiled for the first time in what felt like forever. "You came at the perfect time."
Bess walked through the door, followed by her husband, Henry. She went over and hugged her Uncle a little more tightly than normal.
"I'm okay, honey," Jed said quietly, hugging her back. When they parted, he shook Henry's hand.
"Thank you for coming," Abbey said, taking kisses from them both.
"Of course," Henry said. "Hi, Felicity…how are you feeling?"
Felicity opened her eyes and looked at her cousins sleepily before closing them again. She snuggled into Abbey.
"She's finally being held, so all's right with the world," Abbey said, smiling up at them.
"How are you holding up?" Bess asked.
"Felicity is alive, and we're taking everything else one step at a time."
Bess leaned down and kissed Felicity's head, suppressing her emotions. "I'm so sorry you have to go through this, love."
Jed looked at Bess and then at Henry, "So what have you heard?" He asked, knowing they must have heard chatter from their intelligence colleagues about the shooting.
"FBI investigators are tracking down hate groups in Virginia," Bess began, stating what they all already knew. "There's been a lot of chatter talking about Zoey and your aide Charlie Young."
"Oh, God," Abbey muttered immediately. "Because Charlie's black."
"Bingo," Bess replied.
At the same time, Zoey, Charlie, Liz, Doug, Annie, and Ellie were eating dinner that Liz had prepared. The girls intended to go back to the hospital that evening while Doug watched the kids.
Ron entered the kitchen. "I'm sorry to disturb you all."
"It's OK, Ron," Liz said as she got up to pour more juice for Annie. "What can we do for you?"
"Actually," Ron replied, "we have some information we need to share with you, Charlie."
Charlie froze. "With me?"
"Yes, Charlie. Do you mind?"
Ron indicated stepping out in the hall and leaving the room. Charlie joined him.
"What does this have to do with me?"
"We have reason to believe that a group called West Virginia White Pride is responsible for the shooting, and they were trying to target you, Charlie. Not the President."
Charlie felt himself stop breathing for a second. It was him. They had been aiming for him because of the woman he loved.
"How-how can you be sure?" Charlie asked.
"We arrested the signaler, Carl LeRoy. When we interviewed him, he told us the name of his organization. We've been tracking death threats sent to both you and Zoey by their members. We believe that they finally chose to act someplace where there would be a crowd."
Charlie nodded blankly. "Thank you."
"Charlie?" Zoey asked from behind him. "Is everything all right?"
Ron left and Charlie turned to her, "They found out who was behind the shootings. A group called West Virginia White Pride opened fire on the crowd. They were trying to shoot me."
Zoey's eyes widened, "What? They targeted you because we're dating?"
"Yeah," Charlie said quietly. "Felicity took a bullet meant for me."
"Oh, Charlie…"
Zoey moved to touch him, but Charlie pushed her away. Not physically, but put up a hand to stop her.
"I can't-I can't deal with this right now," Charlie said. It was all too much. He walked down the hall and out of the Residence, leaving Zoey standing stock-still in the middle of the hallway.