Because I'm Your Friend

There was a knock at Mac's door just after Amy had arrived to have a snack with her on Monday afternoon. "Excuse me Madame." Mac said and headed for the door.

When she opened it, it was Kelly back from her four o'clock briefings early. "Hey listen, I was wondering if I could talk to you after your four o'clock?" Kelly asked.

"Sure, would you like a snack? We have got some fig cookies and tea today like they do in England." Mac offers.

"Yeah!" Amy agrees glad to have a new person at her little tea party.

"Oh sure," Kelly agreed and came inside the room. She listened as the little girl went into detail about a boy that likes to torture the little girls in class.

Kelly hadn't exactly figured out how to broach the Rod subject with Mac. The president looked as if she was having a pleasant afternoon for a change, and she was about to break the news of her husband's betrayal.

"I've got a tennis lesson in five minutes mom, I have got to go get dressed." Amy said standing up; "Will you play me next weekend?"

"Absolutely," Mac stated opening the door for her daughter, "bye honey." Then Mac turned her attention to her Press Secretary. She knew something was bothering her friend so she was glad that Amy had to meet her coach early. "So, what's up? It can't be that bad."

"No, it's worse," Kelly started, "I don't really know how to say this," She opened her mouth and closed it a few times then she cleared her throat. "Mac, we've known each other for a while now, and I need to talk to you right now as a friend."

"Okay," Mac said sitting on the couch across of her friend. Her insides were churning. Kelly had never had to make the distinction between her position and their friendship clear before.

"On Friday night, during the state dinner," Kelly continued licking her lips, wishing she had some water with her. "I ah… kind of saw Rod... With someone."

"What do you mean? With someone." Mac asked her heart pounding hard in her chest.

"I mean... With... Someone." Kelly said clapping her hands together then mashing them together.

Mac looked at her for a few moments considering what she just heard. Slowly she leaned back in the couch her face not showing her dejection even if her body did, "you mean, during it?"

Kelly nodded her head, "In my office," She added.

"Eww," Mac said beginning to get a little punchy, "Who?"

"Mac, I have no proof; they didn't see me; I can't fire her just like that." Kelly said.

"That's not what I asked." Mac insisted.

"One of my aides." Kelly said.

"The red head," Mac said standing up and heading for the safety of the large oak desk inside the oval. "He's got a thing for Red heads."

"Mac," Kelly began

"Thank you Kelly, but I need to be alone right now." Mac said turning her chair towards the window.

"Yes Ma'am." Kelly said putting on her professional mask and headed out of the oval.

Mac was too shocked to cry. Did she believe her friend who was brave enough to tell her something like this? Or completely cast that aside? It involved her staff; it had to be embarrassing for Kelly.

She sat in her chair staring into space when Laura finally poked her head into the Oval. "Ma'am, Secretary Francis is on the line."

Mac looked at her watch, he was supposed to be there with the new contracts for the British military. "Where are you?" She snapped. He was the very last meeting she was having today, and she didn't much feel like being held up today.

"Ma'am, I am en route to George Washington University Hospital." Secretary Francis said. Mac could hear the siren blearing over head, and the ding of the IV pumps.

"What happened?" Mac asked concern pouring into the phone. Her own personal misfortune was completely eluding her at the moment.

"My car was hit by a MetroBus. The bus driver had a grand-mal seizure while driving and the bus lurched forward to the middle of the intersection."

Mac turned on the television, "How badly are you injured?" She asked as she saw the Secretary's mangled vehicle on the set.

"I'll survive." He said.

"Of that I am sure, " Mac said as she heard the paramedic ask the secretary to keep talking.

"Tell my wife I love her," He mumbled, and Mac panicked.

"Mr. Secretary, I want you to tell her, please stay with me." Mac said beginning to pace. Just then she heard the phone clatter to the floor and a lot of Beeping in the background. She stayed on the line as Rod walked into the office to show her what was happening. She raised a hand to quiet him as she listened intently.

"Ma'am," an unfamiliar voice said over the line, "I'm Mike the driver of the ambulance. The Secretary has been badly injured and is in a very critical condition. We have just taken him into the ER"

"Has his family been notified?" Mac asked. She could tell the paramedic had either been or was still in the military, by the way the talked to her.

"No Ma'am," He said, "The Hospital staff will make sure they do so."

"Right," Mac said, "Thank you very much sir, Have a good day."

"It's been a pleasure Ma'am," He stated then the line went dead.

With a sigh she hung up and pushed the intercom button, "Laura, get me Secretary Francis' wife on the line."

"Yes ma'am," Answered the disembodied voice, as Mac turned her attention back to the traffic jam on screen.

"That was Francis on the line, Mac explained to rod, "he called to let me know he wasn't going to make it in."

"Is he okay?" Rod asked.

"No Rod, he's not okay." Mac answered a tad annoyed. "Look at his car!" Just then her telephone rang and she answered. "Mrs. Francis?" She asked.

"Yes this is she." Marie Francis stated sounding harried.

"Mrs. Francis this is Mackenzie Allen," Mac continued.

"Hello Ma'am," Marie answered her voice faltering a bit.

Mac hesitated for a bit, She didn't know quite how to break the news, and decided that maybe the direct approach would be best. "Secretary Francis has been in a terrible accident, and has been taken by ambulance to George Washington University Hospital."

"Is he all right?" Marie asked her voice quavering.

"I don't know Ma'am, I may be the president, but they won't tell me all of that. I just wanted to notify you personally as I had been speaking to him when he arrived at the hospital."

"Oh god," Marie said on the other end.

"They did tell me that he is in critical condition so you might want to get there as soon as possible." Mac said as Rod placed a hand on her lower back in a show of support.

"I'm leaving right now." Marie said as Mac moved herself from the touch.

"Drive carefully." Mac said and hung up the phone.

"So, are you going to the hospital?" Rod asked.

"Not till they admit him. I will be of no use to anyone in an emergency room." Mac said heading out of the oval. "Vince take off we're done for the day."

"Good night ma'am" Vince said as she passed him.

"Good night," she stated as she left Rod standing there. He was confused, she was being so cold; something had changed her demeanor from morning till night.

Mac had decided on the moment she calmed down, that she would watch Rod for a few days before confronting him. She wanted legitimate proof that didn't implicate Kelly as the informant. "Bastard." She muttered to herself as she walked away.