8:30 in the morning. White House's pressroom.
Kelly was doing another briefing. She had done eight briefings since the shooting, which had been 12 hours ago. She didn't look so lost anymore; she just looked worried and very tired.
Kelly- We're confirming now that a suspect is in custody, and is being questioned by federal law enforcement. The Secret Service is sure that this person was working with the shooters and gave them the signal but, at this time, we are not releasing any other information whatsoever about the suspect.
Reporters started calling her name frenetically. She pointed at Charlie, who asked a question…
Charlie- Can you tell us anything, Kelly? His name, where he's from, his ethnicity, if you guys suspect a motive?
Kelly rolled her eyes, and then she said sarcastically…
Kelly- Yes, Charlie, I can tell you all those things, because when I said that we weren't releasing any other information whatsoever, I meant except than his name, his address, his ethnicity, and what we think his motives were.
The reporters clamored for Kelly. This time she pointed at Jill, who asked very concerned…
Jill- what can you tell us about the President's current condition?
Kelly became very serious all the sudden. She looked at the cameras and said…
Kelly- President Mackenzie Allen is on her twelfth hour of surgery. Doctor Kovach is still performing an operation to repair her collapsed lung, and remove a bullet that remains lodged in her thoracic region. We will know more about that in a couple of hours.
Meanwhile. George Washington Hospital.
Rod, Kate and the twins were in the private waiting room. Amy had been taken back to the White House, against her will. Rod was holding Becca, who had fallen in a restless sleep when the entire night she spent without sleeping finally kicked her. Kate was just staring blankly at the space, lost in her own thoughts. Horace was nervously taking his cup of coffee number ten and he was struggling to stay awake. Tim was there too, showing his support and trying to comfort the others the best he could. Suddenly, they noticed Special Agent Daniel Carter walking towards them. Rod stood up immediately, knowing that Carter had probably important news and Becca woke up.
Agent Carter- Mr. Calloway, we have the guy who gave the signal…
Rod looked at the Agent with a poker face and simply asked…
Rod- Alive?
Is the guy was dead that would be just as good to Rod, but he knew that there would be more use in having the signal guy alive.
Agent Carter- He is alive, sir. He surrendered peacefully when the agents found him and arrested him. His name is Julian Vassier, he is 25 years old… and according to our investigation, he and the two shooters were cousins. The three of them had been planning the attack since Horace's sexual orientation became public.
They all took a few seconds to absorb that information. Horace was outraged and confused.
Horace- are you saying that three guys tried to kill the President of the United States because her son is gay?
Horace was shocked and Tim couldn't believe it either. A horrible sense of guilt overtook the two young boys. Agent Carter looked at Horace suddenly feeling sorry for him, because the First son was about to take another punch. The agent shook his head and explained as gently as he could…
Agent Carter- No. Horace, according to the guy's statement, President Allen wasn't the target.
A horrible realization hit everybody, including Horace, but he couldn't accept it…Horace- I don't understand… what do you mean? Who was the target?
Agent Carter- The two gunmen and Julian Vassier were the ones who sent you the death threats. They wanted to kill you.
Horace's eyes filled with tears. Agent Carter simply apologized and left, knowing that the family surely wanted to be alone. Horace looked at everybody in shock…
Horace- oh my God… this is all my fault….
That broke Kate's heart. She went quickly to hug her grandson like Mac would.
Kate- don't say that!
Horace- is the truth… because of me mom got shot… it doesn't matter what you say grandma, if she dies it will be my fault…
Rod couldn't stand it anymore. Surprising everybody, he yelled…
Rod- Stop it! It was my fault… MINE… I should have been there instead of staying in the house … I should've been in the shooting… I should have been there to protect her… I failed her….
Becca exploded in tears while she heard her father saying that. Kate tried to stay strong even when she was also falling apart. She held Horace while he cried and then she tried to find the right words to comfort him and his father…
Kate- you both should stop it. Nobody blames any of you for this. It wasn't your fault, and when Mac wakes up I'm sure she will tell you the same thing. She will probably tell you that this was probably meant to happen for a reason… that God works in mysterious ways…
Horace pushed his grandma away feeling very angry.
Horace- well… God sucks!
They all looked at him shocked. Horace started defending himself from the glares.
Horace- Seriously, He sucks! What have we ever done to him? Mom did nothing to deserve this, and I will never forgive Him if she dies…
Saying that, he ran away followed by a worried Tim. Rod stated to follow them as well but Kate stopped him gently.
Kate- don't go… he needs some time alone…
Rod looked at his mother in law amazed, that woman was really wonderful. Rod could totally tell where Mac's strength and greatness came from. Kate was devastated but she had managed to keep calm and to be helpful for others. Rod, on the other hand, was a total mess and had failed completely while handling the situation. He looked at everybody desperately, feeling completely defeated and hopeless, not knowing what to do. He felt tears coming to his eyes so he decided to leave that room before anyone could see him cry.
Rod walked numbly around the hospital. Without realizing it, he ended up in the door of the hospital's little chapel. When he noticed where he was, he decided to do what Mac would… He opened the door and entered to say a prayer.
Rod wasn't really comfortable when he took a sit in the chapel's bench and put his hands together to pray. Usually, Mac was the more religious one. However, he had something really important to ask God…
Rod- If you don't mind Lord, I need to ask you something. I know you are bottomless and infinite and the problems of individual souls are quite beyond your purview but...try to see it from my side. When I pray to you, I am fair. I don't ask for personal favors or intervention. I only ask you the strength to do the right thing on my own, or the wisdom to make good choices. I never ask you for anything for myself. Well, I will do it today. I'll ask you: don't take Mac with you. What I want is my wife back. What I'm asking you, God, is: FIX THIS. Make her better. I offer you no promises or trades in return. I'm just asking you to cure Mac. Go ahead, cast stones at me for my insolence... But fix this.
Tears where now running freely through Rod's cheeks. Then, a Secret Service Agent entered shyly in the chapel and called Rod's attention by touching his shoulder. Rod looked at him, wondering what the agent wanted…
Rod- yes?
Agent- sir, The President is now out of surgery…
A few minutes later. In the White House, at the West Wing.
Kelly entered shyly in Jim Gardner's office. Jim and Dickie were simply working.
Kelly- I'm sorry Jim… I was wondering… is there any news?
Jim nodded. His expression was unreadable.
Jim- Yes. The President is out of surgery. They removed the bullet and repaired the lung… however, she is still unconscious and she is not breathing on her own yet…
Kelly nodded sympathetically. Then Jim gave her more medical details that Kelly wrote down to inform the Press in the next briefing. After talking about that, Kelly was about to leave, but when she was at the door of Jim's office, she turned around and said…
Kelly- By the way, they're still asking about the tent.
Jim nodded. He had guessed that.
Jim- Yeah.
Kelly- I'd be more comfortable with the "no comment" coming from the Secret Service, though...
Dickie looked at both of them confused.
Dickie- what are you talking about?
Kelly- The Press wants to know why the President exited the building in the open air.
Jim- just keep telling that we can't comment on that… which is the truth… they'll let it go…
Kelly- ok…
Dickie looked at Jim with a questioning look.
Dickie- and why did she exited the building without…?
Jim cut him off.
Jim- she just refused to use a tent… she considered it excessive…
Dickie- we can't tell the press that… It will make her look arrogant…
Kelly- we can't comment on Secret Service procedures anyway…
With that, the meeting was over. Kelly and Dickie exited Jim's office and they started walking together towards Dickie's office. Dickie gave Kelly a questioning look…
Dickie- Are you ok? How is your head?
Kelly, instinctively, put her hand in the part of his head that was hit on the ground and just said…
Kelly- it's fine. Look, Dickie, I wanted to ask you something…Dickie gave her a questioning look.
Dickie- ok, tell me….
Kelly- you didn't happen to notice, when the shooting started, you didn't see who pulled me to the ground, did you?
Dickie was really uncomfortable. Apparently, Kelly had been so shocked during the shooting that she didn't even noticed who pulled her down and he didn't want to say that it had been him. He shook his head and lied.
Dickie- No. I didn't see anything…
Kelly- they pulled me down behind the police car, my necklace came off and then the window of the police car shattered
Dickie- I'm sorry… I didn't see that.
Kelly- ok… Thanks anyway….
Kelly didn't notice how uncomfortable Dickie was. She simply started to walk away, but then she turned around and said….
Kelly- Dickie, were you scared?
Dickie froze for a moment. Then he nodded solemnly.
Dickie- yes.
Kelly- me too…
At that moment, Kelly's secretary, Laurie, interrupted them…
Laurie- excuse me… Kelly.
Kelly- yes?
Laurie- You need to call back James Robinson.
Kelly- Why?
Laurie- We said you might let him interview you in his show this afternoon.
Kelly was very upset now…
Kelly- but Laurie, that's not true… I'm not doing any interviews. I don't want to.
Laurie was very uncomfortable now. She started explaining her self…
Laurie- oh… I'm sorry. Jim Gardner said it was a good idea for the White House to start climbing out from behind the bushes. He said that you will probably be ok with it…
Kelly- well… I'm not. I think it's inappropriate while The President is still unconscious…
Dickie stepped up, saying shyly.
Dickie- I agree with Jim. It doesn't look good that the White House keeps on hiding… it doesn't help to control the crisis… THIS White House has to face the public other than in your briefings.
Kelly- I can't do it Dickie…
He saw how worried and scared Kelly was… so he simply said…
Dickie- I'll do it for you.
Meanwhile. George Washington's hospital.
Rod entered with fear in Mac's bedroom hospital. He wasn't sure what to expect. He walked in and saw Mac that was still unconscious in the bed with a tube helping her to breathe. She looked terribly pale. Kate was in a chair next to the bed holding her daughter hand. Rod took a sit in a chair next to his mother in law. She was talking to Mac, without getting an answer…
Kate- Can you hear me Mac? I guess you can't… Well, I'll talk to you anyway. Please honey; you have to wake up soon… we are all worried sick about you. Please Mac, wake up, everybody needs you. You are strong; you already survived the surgery, please… just wake up now…
Then Kate noticed Rod's presence. For the first time since she found out about the shooting, Kate really looked at Rod paying carefully attention to him…. He was pale, his eyes were red, his hair was messed up and he had shadows and bags under his eyes. She looked at Mac again and said...
Kate- did you know that Mac was born two months before my due date?
Rod understood that Kate was looking at Mac, but was talking to him…
Rod- oh… really? She never told me…
Kate- I guess she doesn't like talking about it… but it's true… it was August the 14th. It the end of the seventh month of my pregnancy… I felt a contraction and went to the doctor. At first they told me it was false alarm. I remember the doctor telling me: "Don't worry ma'am… this baby won't be born until October". But you know Mackenzie; she wasn't going to let anyone tell her when to be born, so… as soon as the doctor finished saying that, my water broke and they had to take me to the delivery room. She was SO small and fragile, and the birth was really complicated… the doctor said she wouldn't live a week… but she fought and she lived. Thanks God she lived. That baby girl who had no chance became this amazing woman we both know and love….
Kate's eyes filled with tears… Rod held Kate and said…
Rod- She is fighting again Kate, and she will win again. She already survived the worst part. Pretty soon she will wake up and we will have her back at home again. She will go back home and, like at the end of a really bad and long day, she will eat your cookies and she will be able to put this horrible nightmare behind her…
Kate smiled weakly, hoping with all her heart that Rod was right.
Very late that night. In Dickie's Office.
Kelly knocked the door and then entered in Dickie's Office. Then she simply requested…
Kelly- May I have a word with you, Richard?
Dickie panicked. He had not idea what was it about, but it had to be bad if Kelly called him Richard.
Dickie- Oh, God, what did I do now?
Kelly giggled, clearly enjoying scaring Dickie, she didn't get to do that often.
Kelly – Nothing. I just wanted to say that you did well this afternoon in that show.
Dickie smiled. Glad that Kelly had watched that interview they did to him.
Dickie- Thanks.
It was obvious that Kelly wanted to say something else. She hesitated for a second before adding...
Kelly- Dickie… I said that the reason I didn't want to do the interview was that it didn't feel right with The President still unconscious.
Dickie- Yeah. I remember.
Kelly- You know what the real reason was?
Dickie looked Kelly very confused.
Dickie- The real reason?
Kelly- Yeah.
Dickie- No. I don't know.
Kelly gave a look that indicated clearly that she didn't believe him.
Kelly- I think you do.
Dickie knew where the conversation was heading.
Dickie- Listen, Kelly...
Kelly didn't let him finish. She started explaining herself.
Kelly- The real reason I couldn't go to that show and give a first-hand account of what happened is that I couldn't remember what happened. I remember walking out of the building, I remember somebody knocked me down, I know my necklace came off, and I know a police car window exploded over my head. But that's it. I've been doing my press briefings using notes from other people's accounts. But after listening to you in that show, I know exactly what happened
Dickie was a bit uncomfortable… he began his own explanation…
Dickie- look. Kelly...
Kelly cut him off, and said very seriously…
Kelly- Dickie, I think you have my necklace.
He searched in his pockets for the necklace and handed it to her. Then they smiled sweetly at each other. Kelly finally asked…
Kelly- why didn't you tell me that you were the one who pushed me down?
Dickie- I didn't want you to feel beholden to me.
Kelly- what do you mean?
Dickie said teasingly…
Dickie- you know… I didn't want it to be like an episode of "I Dream of Jeannie" where now you have to save my life and follow me around with coconut oil and hot towels.
Kelly laughed at that saying…
Kelly- Coconut oil?
Dickie raised his arms defensibly…
Dickie- I'm just saying.
Kelly got serious and said…
Kelly- I don't feel beholden to you.
Dickie pretended to be very offended.
Dickie- why not? I saved your life.
Kelly smiled and looked at him in the eyes, then he got closer to her to give her a hug…
Kelly- thank you…
Right before Dickie could hug her… Kelly really surprised him and kissed him passionately on the mouth. Dickie kissed her back and things started to get really hot, and they were about to make love right there in Dickie's office, but then he pulled away confused…
Dickie- Kelly…. Wait… I didn't save your life because I wanted to have sex with you…
Kelly looked at his eyes, and said very frankly…
Kelly- and I don't want to have sex with you because you saved my life…
They melted again in a very passionate kiss.
Meanwhile. George Washington Hospital. Mac's hospital room.
Very long hours passed, Mac was still unconscious and she still couldn't breath of her own. Now, Becca was in the room. She was sit in a chair next to Mac's bed and had requested a few minutes alone with her mother. She stared worriedly at Mac, who looked like she was deeply sleeping, only that she was completely still. Becca took gently, and carefully, her mother's hand. All the medical equipment, and the fact that her mother's skin looked almost white, terrified Becca.
Becca- mom… it's me, Becca. I don't know if you can hear me, but I needed to tell you how much we all need you to wake up. Please…. wake up and get well. Dad and Horace are a real mess right now. I guess men are actually very weak. Horace doesn't even dare to come here, he blames himself… he thinks that you will hate him when he wakes up, but I know that you could never hate him. You were actually the one who supported him the most. I suspected that Horace was gay a long time before he came out, and I knew that you would support him completely… because that's what you do. You always support up. You always say that we can be whatever we want to be… what you didn't know is that all I've ever wanted to be it's you.
At that moment Becca started crying again. Rod entered in the room and comforted his daughter.
Becca- daddy… Why isn't she awake yet? they said the operation went fine… Is she really going to wake up?
Rod- of course, Honey. It just takes time… but she will come back to us. Soon… I promise you… pretty soon things will be normal again… she will be fine and we will all be able to relax like at the end of a long day.
Becca smiled imagining how it will be like when her mother comes back to them.
Becca- when things go back to normal, grandma will make cookies, mom will eat them, then she will read Amy a bedtime story, and the next morning we will all have breakfast together and chat like we usually do in the mornings…
Rod smiled remembering how things were in his family once things went back to normal after a bad situation. He wanted more than anything to reach the "cookie moment" soon. Becca noticed even when Mac was the one who received the shot, Rod was in a terrible state too. It really hurt her mother like that, but looking at his father now was just as painful. Taking pity of him, Becca said…
Becca- dad… you haven't slept at all in 24 hours…
Rod- I'm ok, Becca…
Becca shook her head, not believing that at all.
Becca- let me, at least, get you another cup of coffee…
Rod- that will actually help me a lot, thanks…
Becca stood up and left. Rod looked at his wife again. It hurt so much seeing her like that… so pale, so still… with all those machines connected to her body. Rod thought about those nights when he couldn't stop staring at Mac while she was sleeping, He could spend all night watching her sleep. That thought made him wonder if Mac was dreaming right now, he wondered if she was seeing him or the kids in her sleep. He also couldn't help thinking that she still looked more beautiful than any other woman in the planet. She was beautiful… and she knew it. Right?. Had he said that enough to her? Had he said: "I love you" enough?
Rod- Mac, I love you… I really do… and I know that you had your doubts about that recently… oh, honey, the time we were apart was horrible to me. I know that I was the one who left, and that I was very angry with you for reasons that now seem so trivial, but I learned a very important lesson: I suck when I'm not with you. I'm just a pathetic mess if you are not with me… and I was so unbelievable glad when we got back together after your birthday party… honey, I know all the doubts you had, but you have to believe me: I treasure every moment you gave me in the past 20 years… I never, ever, regretted marrying you. You are the best choice I've ever made…
Rod's eyes started filling with tears again. After wiping them, he put his chair even closer to Mac's bed. He leaned towards her and kissed her forehead. Then he saw something really strange: Mac wrinkled her eyes. It looked like she was trying to open them, but couldn't. Rod couldn't believe it… was it true? Was she really waking up? Or were the hours in vigil making him see just what he wanted to see? Mac suddenly stopped the wrinkling. She was still again. Rod yelled at the Secret Service agent who was guarding the door…
Rod- Go get Doctor Kovach now!
In a matter of seconds, Doctor Kovach, Rod, Kate, Becca and Horace were surrounding Mac's bed.
Rod- I swear she moved her eyes! Please Mac… it's ok… we are here… just open your eyes baby.
Mac wrinkled her eyes again. Doctor Kovach checked her while the rest looked expectantly. Then, the Doctor announced happily…
Doctor- yes, it looks like the President is finally trying to join us…
Suddenly, Mac opened her eyes completely. Everybody was overjoyed.
Doctor- welcome back. Ma'am President! now relax, I'm going to remove the tube of your mouth…
The Doctor removed the tube that helped Mac to breath. She coughed and tried to speak… she muttered something but she didn't have her voice completely back yet… Rod leaned towards her and said…
Rod- honey… we didn't hear you… what did you said?
Rod put his ear close to Mac's mouth and she said something again. Rod nodded and then looked at Kate smiling really widely… The rest of them looked at him with curiosity…
Kate- so… what did she said?
Rod was still smiling amazed, and explained…
Rod- she said: "I want the cookies now"
To be continued…Author's note: Thanks for all the great reviews! They made my day! I'm sorry if I disappoint anybody… next chapter will be the last…. I have to kiss this story goodbye to focus in my other ones… I really going to miss this story…
Anyway… In the last chapter you will found out who will be Mac's new VP and if he wins the elections… (But I don't think that will surprise anybody).
The more your review the fastest I'll update the last chapter!
Lara