A/N: The following chapter features a crucial and long-planned event that is part of the Fizzyverse canon. We are in no way scientists or medical experts, just writers. So take the science as a piece of fiction, though it is inspired by modern advances in medicine.

Enjoy!

Sunday

The doctor walked briskly toward the hospital room in the ICU. He had spent two days watching as his patient deteriorated rapidly. Now, he had to go to tell the family the worst news imaginable.

He pushed open the hospital room door, where the only sound was the beeping and whooshing of a ventilator.

The two people next to the bed in the center of the room stood up.

The doctor's eyes were downcast. "There's no response to the antibiotics or any of our conventional treatments. I'm afraid there's little more we can do."

Abbey gasped, her hand flying to her mouth and her eyes filled with tears. Jed was visibly crushed.

And Felicity Bartlet was in the crib to their left, connected to so many tubes and wires that it was hard to believe that just 48 hours earlier, she had been on the road to recovery.

"Felicity's body is trying its very best to fight off the infection," He continued. "Her fever has continued to rise, and her body has paralyzed itself in an attempt to maintain stasis. But if there continues to be no response to treatment, we are going to have to discuss the merits of life-sustaining care," The doctor continued.

Outside the room, Ellie rushed down the hallway with another doctor beside her. She opened the door and entered the hospital room. Ellie's eyes locked on her baby sister's tiny, fragile body covered in so many tubes and wires, surrounded by machines.

"Mom, Dad," She said after a moment. "This is Dr. Keller, my supervising physician from Hopkins. He may know how to save Fizzy."

Friday

Josh was getting stronger and stronger as the days went by. He was shuffling slowly down the hallway, aided by the physical therapist.

As he walked into his room, his face lit up to see Donna seated by the window, typing on her laptop.

"Hey!" He greeted as he walked over to her.

Donna's face melted into a grin when she saw him. "Hey, you! How'd PT go?"

"He's doing very well." The therapist answered. "They might look to discharge Josh next week."

"That's amazing!" Donna replied, coming up to kiss Josh and help him back to bed.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Josh." The therapist told him.

"See you tomorrow," Josh called after him. He leaned back on the bed. "Man, I am beat."

"I can imagine. You've been working really hard."

"I want to get out of here. The food is terrible."

Donna laughed, "Well, that is one thing Children's has going for it. The food is very good."

"Yeah, but has Felicity tried it yet? That's the real test."

"I suppose it is. The doctors haven't cleared her for solids yet. But when I left there this morning, Fizzy indicated she wanted her mom."

Josh smiled to himself, "Well, that's progress. I've been meaning to ask you something. My discharge planner wants to know who my support network is at home. I was hoping I could say it's you."

Donna stopped in her tracks. "Me?"

"Yeah," Josh replied slowly. "I mean, my mom will probably want to stay for at least a couple of days once I'm discharged, but after that…she has her own life, you know? You're the one who's gonna be with me all the time."

"But…are we there yet?" Donna asked.

"Yeah," Josh said. "I mean, only if you want to be there." He reached for her hand. "All I know is that I want to spend as much time with you as I can."

Donna offered it to him and squeezed his hand, "I want to spend as much time as possible with you, too."

"So does that mean you'll move in with me?"

"Yes, Josh, I'll move in with you."

"This is the best news I've heard all day," He grinned.

Donna smiled, before sitting down at his bedside with her laptop as he dozed off. She looked at her hand, then his, her mind beginning to imagine what it would be like to see wedding bands on their fingers.

Meanwhile, the nurses were lifting Felicity into Abbey's arms. It was time for Felicity's first nursing experience since the surgery. Her medical team agreed to take her off CPAP temporarily and test how she responded to oxygen through a nasal cannula at their highest settings instead. Abbey held Felicity in her arms carefully and sent up a silent prayer for this to go well, even though she could tell the baby needed more support. All Felicity wanted from the moment she woke up from surgery was to nurse and be held.

Abbey couldn't refuse her that. She made sure the baby was comfortable on the pillow on her lap before pulling a blanket up around her back. Then Abbey pulled down her top, and Felicity smiled happily.

"Bobbie," She whispered.

Hearing the happiness in her daughter's voice, no matter how faint, warmed her heart. Abbey put her hand gently under Felicity's head to help minimize the pain of movement and guided her to her breast. She braced for discomfort, but true to form, her lovebug latched without issue and began to nurse. Within a couple of minutes, her nostrils flared as she desperately tried to exhale enough air through her nose. Felicity's chest ached and she pulled away, taking little gulps of air through her mouth.

"It's okay," Abbey soothed. "Just breathe and try again."

Felicity tried again and managed to go for a few minutes longer, but then she had to pull away again because of the pain.

"Mama," She whined in miserable frustration.

"I know, baby. It's too slow. But you'll get better."

"Bobbie," Felicity whimpered before trying again.

After 40 minutes, exhaustion claimed Felicity and she fell asleep with one of her hands resting on Abbey's breast. She lifted it and kissed it tenderly. The nurses returned soon after and helped put Felicity back into her crib while she pulled her top up. Jed came in a minute later.

"Hey Sweet Knees, what did I miss?"

"Felicity nursed for the first time," She smiled. "It took 40 minutes because she's learning to get the hang of breathing again."

"How was that 40 minutes for you?" Jed asked cautiously.

"Like torture," Abbey answered, looking up at him. "I don't even know if she managed to eat as much as she needs to."

"It'll get better with time," Jed reassured her. "For both of you."

"I hope so," Abbey replied with a weak smile.

Just then, a monitor began to beep. Abbey's eyes snapped up. Her oxygen levels were beginning to drop into the 80s. Abbey, panicked, hit the nurse button. Just then, the levels crept up as suddenly as they had dropped.

The nurse ran in. "Yes, Dr. Bartlet?"

"Her oxygen-it dropped into the 80s. I even saw it drop to 78."

The nurse walked to the monitor and flicked a few switches. "Well, she seems fine now. It's probably just a delayed reaction to her nursing struggles."

Abbey nodded, "Good."

The nurse left. Jed looked over at Felicity and then at his wife.

"You don't believe it."

"No, I don't," Abbey confirmed. "Something is wrong, Jed. Felicity was set on nursing today. She wouldn't accept anything else, and it's not just because she missed me or wanted comfort. I swear she has an infection."

Jed raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. I know what I saw, Jed. There are symptomatic changes in her vitals. There is something wrong with our baby, and no one believes me because I was the only one to see it!"

Jed pulled her to her feet and into a hug. "Hey. It's going to be all right."

Abbey wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder, "I want to believe you. Seeing Felicity struggle like that was awful. She's never wanted anything so badly."

"I know she does," He said, rubbing her back. "But lovebug isn't going to give up, sweetheart. She'll keep trying as long as you let her, and I will do whatever I can to help. Even if it's just to hold Felicity's hand."

"She might just take you up on that," Abbey sighed.

"I hope she will," He said and meant it.

They stood there for a long moment, listening to the beeping of the machines. Somehow, even the smallest of intimacies had been shattered by one bullet.

At the White House, Sam walked into Toby's office and dropped a thick stack of papers on his desk. "I did it, Toby. I just drafted a watertight complaint against West Virginia White Pride, and I think the President should use it for a civil suit."

Toby looked up. "What?"

"I think the President should sue West Virginia White Pride," Sam repeated. "On Felicity's behalf."

"Sam, the President can't sue the biggest hate group on the Eastern Seaboard like-like, I-I don't know, he slipped on their driveway?!"

"It's a class-action suit." Sam insisted. "His daughter was hurt, Toby. And his other daughter was dating the guy meant to take the bullet. This has everything to do with him."

"Ok. But what is he supposed to get out of it? Money? Their Confederate flags? It's not going to stop the next person from being shot."

"It sends a message," Sam contended. "That we need better regulations around guns."

"You and I both know the NRA runs the conversation. There will be no legislation, Sam."

"Maybe there should be. Congress can try, but they won't be able to ignore Felicity Bartlet."

"Watch them." Toby sighed. He tossed his pen on his desk. "Look, Sam. I appreciate what you're trying to do. And I'm sure the President will, too. But this is too big for a lawsuit. We need wide-sweeping, monumental changes that we just can't get right now. Even with this."

Sam's shoulders slumped. He knew his boss was right.

"I guess you're right, Toby. But it's not going to stop me from looking for justice. For the First Family. For Josh. For Felicity."

"I know. Have you seen her yet?"

Sam shook his head.

"Dr. Bartlet said we could go visit her now."

"If we do go see her, don't mention this to the President. He's got enough to worry about without this."

"I understand that. It's why I drafted the lawsuit. The President and the First Lady have a right to go after the people who hurt their child—who could have hurt Zoey too, in court. They can do it once Felicity is better."

"Except they weren't the targets, Sam."

"Charlie was," Sam answered. "I could draft a civil complaint for him too."

"He doesn't have the resources to fight a legal battle."

"I'll bet there are many lawyers who would take on the case pro bono."

"You really think Charlie wants to go through that?"

"Why not?"

"Well, for one, his sister. His boss, his friends. He doesn't want to put the people in his life through that."

"Charlie lost his mother to gun violence. There was no justice for her."

"It doesn't mean he'll do it for himself."

"He still could, Toby. He still could."

Toby sighed. "Fine. Talk to Charlie. But promise me that if he says no, you'll drop it."

Sam sighed. "I promise. You want to go see Felicity?"

Toby nodded. He had been putting this off, both respecting the First Family's wishes, but also dreading seeing Felicity the way she was. But it was time to face his fears.

"Yeah. I'll come with you." Toby replied. He closed his laptop, and off they went.

As they entered the floor, however, they could tell something wasn't right. Doctors and nurses were running back and forth into one room in particular.

Felicity's room.

Monitors beeped loudly as Sam and Toby approached the room. Through the window, they saw an entire medical team clustered around Felicity. Abbey stood stock still with Jed in one corner of the room watching everything they did. On the bed, Felicity was in convulsions and her heart and oxygen monitors beeped wildly. A ventilator was pushed back into the room. Medications were pushed into Felicity's IV to stop the convulsions. Within a few minutes, her body stilled.

"Get me an intubation tray," A doctor called. They watched through the crowd of people as a tube was put down Felicity's throat again.

"I've got the NG kit," A nurse said, and that too was put down through her nose.

Blood was drawn from Felicity's tiny body. The gown so lovingly sewn by Alex had been tossed aside, leaving Felicity in only her diaper. Tubes, wires, and bandages seemed to cover her entire chest and torso. Finally, someone draped a soft white sheet over her body to keep her warm.

"Sam! Toby!" They heard. They looked up to see Donna racing down the hall. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," Sam answered truthfully. "We just got here ourselves."

Donna gasped at the sight before her. "Oh, my God."

As they heard the monitor begin to beep normally, Abbey saw the three and slipped out of the room.

"Ma'am?" Donna said. "What happened?"

"Felicity is running a high fever," Abbey managed to say in a very doctor-like tone. "The medical team suspects she has an infection."

"Dr. Bartlet—I'm so sorry," Sam said.

"Thank you, Sam. I assume you came for a visit?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Toby said.

"Felicity is asleep now. But she was asking about the two of you and Josh earlier," Abbey said and swallowed hard. "She'll be sad she missed you."

"Can we see her?" Sam asked quietly.

"Of course. The President is with her. I need to speak with Felicity's medical team," Abbey said. "Excuse me."

Abbey walked down the hall and out of the unit with Secret Service trailing after her.

Sam, Toby, and Donna walked into the room slowly, putting on yellow hospital aprons designed to keep the infection from getting worse.

Jed looked up. "Hey, guys." He leaned in to whisper to Felicity. "Look who came to see you, lovebug."

Felicity's eyes remained closed as the three approached.

"Hey, Felicity," Donna began softly. "You just keep fighting, all right? We'll be right here when you wake up." She stroked the baby's foot.

Toby was next. He placed a stuffed bear wearing a Shakespeare shirt at the edge of the crib. "When you wake up, I'll read you one of these great plays. There's no reason you can't enjoy Shakespeare any less than Dr. Seuss."

Sam swallowed, then smiled at Felicity. "Get well soon, okay, pretty girl?"

"Thank you for coming," Jed managed to say. "Leo tells me you've done a wonderful job keeping all the plates in the air."

"We're honored to do it, sir," Sam said.

"Anything you need, Mr. President," Toby said. "We'll be glad to help."

"Thank you both," he said. "You'll be the first to know I've asked the Vice President to take on some issues temporarily. I've been told to rest and I need to be here."

"I think that's more than fair, Mr. President," Sam replied. "Felicity and the First Lady need you."

"What, um…what sort of statement do you want us to write?" Toby asked.

"Nothing." Donna immediately said. "We say nothing to the press. This stays on a need-to-know basis."

"Thank you, Donna," Jed said. "This stays under the radar until it needs to be made public. Toby, Sam, is that understood?"

"Yes, Mr. President," Both said automatically.

All three looked at each other uneasily. There was trouble on the horizon.

Elsewhere in the hospital, Emily entered the hospital searching for her younger daughter. She got onto the elevator on the way to the unit. It stopped two floors below and Abbey stepped on. One look at her face told Emily something was terribly wrong.

"Abbey, what happened?" She asked, concerned.

"I was right," Abbey replied, barely able to speak.

"Right?" Emily asked, genuinely confused.

"Felicity has an infection. Her temperature spiked, and she started having seizures. The seizures have stopped, but…" Abbey choked back a sob.

"How on earth did she get an infection?" Emily asked, pulling her little sister into a hug.

"It can be common in post-op," Abbey explained. "Her immune system isn't strong enough to fight even the tiniest of bugs."

"Will she be alright?"

"I don't know," Abbey admitted. She pulled away from the older sister. "I don't think I asked, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see you and Jed and Felicity before we go back to Hartford for the graduation. We'll be back tomorrow night. But apparently, I have to find my daughter. Richard has no idea where she is."

"I think I can help with that," Abbey replied, collecting herself.

They stepped off the elevator on Felicity's floor and went in the opposite direction of her unit. Sure enough, Secret Service was posted at a unit just around the corner. Abbey and Emily went inside and heard the voices of children laughing and shouting excitedly over the tell-tale sound of a sewing machine. The sisters followed the noise and stood just outside a playroom where Alex was making dress-up costumes for a group of children. There were superheroes, fairies, and a unicorn surrounding Alex who sat at a table answering questions as she sewed.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with that girl," Emily said. But she was smiling. "She's been camped here practically since Felicity came out of surgery."

"Well, Alex has always been close to us. You know that. And I think… I think that Alex has finally found her true calling in life."

"What do you mean?" Emily asked, perplexed.

"Has Alex talked to you about what she wants to do after college?"

"Business school. You know that."

"Hmm. From what I can see, Alex could fit in very nicely in an environment like this."

"Are you still trying to convince her to go to medical school?" Emily asked. "Because I doubt that will happen. But I could see her spending more time here as a volunteer. You know, I did see scrubs on a dress form recently. I wouldn't be surprised if you end up getting them soon."

Abbey smiled, "Leave it to Alex to make them fashionable and functional," She said and paused. "If we make it through this, I'll host a graduation party for Alex when she moves. I wish Jed and I could go tomorrow."

"You're needed here, Abbey. But don't fear, I'll record the whole thing. Including Alex's speech."

"Alex is speaking at graduation?"

"She's the valedictorian," Emily said proudly. "It's one reason I'm making her go."

"Good for her!" Abbey praised. "Maybe I'll send Zoey in our place."

"Are you sure she'll want to leave Felicity like this?"

"We'll manage," Abbey said finally. "We don't all need to be camped out here."

"Alex! Alex!" One of the kids said. "Who fixed your heart?" Alex looked at her and smiled. Seeing motion out of the corner of her eye, she looked over and saw Emily and Abbey standing there. "A very special guardian angel."

Sunday

Ellie walked into her former lab at Johns Hopkins. She hoped that her former professor would be able to help Felicity.

Over the previous 36 hours, Felicity's vitals had gone from bad to worse. She was not responding to the antibiotics, and there were now secondary treatments the doctors were exhausting. All signs indicated that her baby sister was on a dangerous downward slope.

But there was one treatment that no one, not even the doctors, knew about.

Dr. Jacob Keller sat in his lab, checking over samples started on Friday. No one was in the lab with him, not even the lab assistants. He liked to come in early on Sunday mornings to get a jump on the week ahead. He looked up when Ellie entered.

"Ms. Bartlet!" He said. "To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing one of my favorite lab assistants on a Sunday?"

Ellie placed her purse on the table. "Dr. Keller, I need your help."

Dr. Keller nodded, gesturing to the chair across from him. "And what can I do for you?"

"Well," Ellie started as she sat down. "I'm not quite sure where to begin."

"I heard about your sister," He offered. "I'm very sorry. What is her prognosis?"

"Not good, I'm afraid," she replied. "Felicity was doing really well until Friday. She was actually able to nurse for the first time that morning. But later that day, she spiked a fever and went into convulsions because of it. It was all caused by an infection. My mom suspected she had one since the night before. The medical team didn't listen, and now the infection won't respond to any treatment. Felicity's temperature keeps rising and she's running out of time."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I assume these are Felicity's medical records?" He asked, indicating the folder in her hands. Ellie handed it to him and he perused the paperwork inside. "There's lab work in here from two weeks ago. Does your sister have some kind of underlying condition?"

"No. She's never been diagnosed with anything. But her pediatricians keep a close eye on her because she was born smaller than normal. She still is."

"Well, from what I can see, that lab work and the visit note indicate she's healthy with a strong immune system for a nearly nine-month-old," He said and flipped the pages back to her most recent medical lab report. "But it looks like that immune system is tapped out now."

"Yeah." Ellie sighed. "But I think I know of something that can help her. And that's where you come in."

Dr. Keller leaned forward. "I'm listening."

Ellie took out a sheaf of papers. "A while back, I was doing some research on different genetic abnormalities, and I noticed something unusual about Felicity's bloodwork."

Dr. Keller took them and glanced over them. It was a combination of bloodwork and journal articles on the immune system in infants, "But you can't put your finger on it."

"No. As you said, Felicity has a strong immune system, stronger than other children her age might have. Until now. Considering your area of research, I want to know if you think this could work. What if…" Ellie wrote some figures down on the paper, showing them to Dr. Keller.

Dr. Keller took a few minutes to read over it. He nodded. "It could work."

Ellie walked briskly off the elevator and onto her sister's unit. She was followed in short order by Dr. Keller.

She had no way of knowing that as she walked down the hall, her parents were being given the most distressing news of their lives. Ellie pushed open the door and met her parents' eyes.

"Mom, Dad, this is Dr. Keller, my supervising physician from Hopkins. He may know how to save Fizzy."

Abbey looked up and then stood, trying to compose herself even in the midst of being told the worst news possible, "Hello Dr. Keller," She said, shaking the man's hand. "Thank you for coming."

"Ellie came to me and told me what happened," He said, shaking her hand. "I think we've come up with a treatment to help your daughter. I've only tried it in the experimental phase. But given Felicity's historical medical records, it has a shot of working. I think Felicity would benefit from an immune cell transfusion."

"Immune cell transfusion?" Abbey repeated. "From who?"

"From you and your husband. Felicity's immune system is still very immature. Until now, you've provided the support for it through breastfeeding. But this infection is opportunistic and Felicity isn't strong enough to receive the nutrition she needs, which means she needs help. By giving her the immune cells found in your blood, the hope is that they would help her immune system fight off this infection."

"And you think this will work?" Jed asked skeptically.

"If I may speak candidly?" Dr. Keller asked.

Both parents nodded.

"I think this may be Felicity's last chance."