They had heard his most intimate secrets, his admissions, his fears, and his faults. Why did they end up in the chapel with me tonight? Just one more in a long line of jokes God seemed to be intent on playing on Leo these days. If he ever made it to Heaven, he figured to spend his five minutes talking to God about His serious lack of timing. As he stared out the window into the dark night, he sensed someone had joined him in the waiting room.
"Hey, Weo. How 'bout a biggyback ride?" a voice behind him said.
Leo caught the reflection in the window and smiled in spite of himself. "Don't you think you're a little old to be asking for a ride? And it's still 'piggyback.'"
"Piggyback," he corrected. "Well you can't blame a kid for trying."
He turned and faced his little brother. "What the hell are you doing here? You go AWOL or somethin'?"
Scotty grabbed his chest with his right hand and put on his best mock indignant look. "I'll have you know, I was summoned by our Commander in Chief."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Besides, I was in the neighborhood," he kidded.
"Really? And just how long did it take you to get into the neighborhood?"
"Fourteen hours . . . two jets, one shuttle, and a secret service escorted Presidential limo."
"How'd you find out, and how'd you get here from wherever it was you were stationed?"
"The Air Force still has a pretty good communications system, Leo, even in Iceland. And, it appears as though your best friend's voice carries a little weight with my immediate supervisors."
"Yeah, I guess he does have some pull."
"Yeah. I guess. So how ya doing?"
"I'm fine," Leo lied.
"Really? 'Cause you look like crap."
Leo chuckled, "Yeah, well, it's a set. I feel like crap."
"All right then." Scotty made his way across the room. "Leo," he whispered as he gathered his brother in his arms. They stood holding each other for a long time, each taking comfort in the warm embrace. Scotty finally pulled away. "Any word on Mal?"
Leo sniffed, swiping at tear in his eye, "They've been updating us every hour, but they said it was probably going to take a while. Abbey guessed that it would be at least ten hours, maybe more. Guess it depends on what they found when they got in there."
"What are her injuries?"
"She has two wounds. She was shot in the leg, mostly muscle damage, no bone. They said there wasn't any arterial damage, but they didn't really say what they'd do with it. Said therapy would be the only thing she'd have to do. The other is a shoulder wound."
"Where? How high?" Scotty questioned.
"Back, right side, kind of in line with her collarbone. No exit. They said it hit her shoulder blade."
"Mmm. Well could be a couple of different things going on then. If it did hit her shoulder blade or any bone for that matter, the probability that the bone as well as the bullet shattered is extremely high. In that case . . . "
"There could be pieces everywhere," Leo finished the thought.
"Yeah."
"Like?" He was scared of finding out, but was terrified of not knowing.
Scotty didn't hold back. "Like lungs, heart, arteries, spine. Depending on how close the shooter was and the angle of entry, could have gone so far as the spleen, liver, and kidneys." He knew better than to sugar-coat this. Leo wouldn't have asked if he didn't want to know, and lying to him would only make matters worse if something did happen. Better to give the whole picture than look through rose colored glasses. "Hey," he raised his hand to cup the back of his brother's head, "she's tough Leo. Just like her Old Man."
"I don't feel very tough right now," Leo admitted.
"You kiddin' me?" The look in Leo's eyes said he was one step away from losing whatever control he had. Scotty considered him for a moment. "Yeah well, I gotta tell you, not to add to that over-inflated ego of yours or anything, but after twenty-five years in the Air Force, traveling all over the world, meeting people from all walks of life and getting into fights with a great many of them, you are still the toughest man I've ever met."
"Why were you getting into fights? You're a doctor, Scotty. You're not supposed to hit people."
"A euphemism, Leo," he pulled his hand away. "I didn't necessarily fight with my fists. Someone taught me a long time ago to stick up for myself but only use force when other options are no longer available."
"So, you wussied out," he looked down his nose. "Turned the other cheek."
"Sometimes both cheeks!" Scotty chuckled, "No, I hold my own when it's necessary. You'd be proud."
"I've always been proud of you Scotty. Lieutenant Colonel."
"I know. Captain."
"You like that you outrank me, don't you?"
"There are so few things in life that I've done better than you."
"Hey, you may have done it longer, but that doesn't mean that you've done it better!" he laughed. "And besides, I may only have been a Captain in the Air Force, but I still outrank you, in more ways than one. Please keep in mind, Lieutenant Colonel, that I can get you busted back to Major so fast you won't know what hit you." Pausing he added, "And I don't have an over-inflated ego. I have an over-inflated super-ego."
"Okay, okay, point taken. You have to admit though, I have done a pretty good job at being an Airman."
"Like I said, I've always been proud of you, Scott."
Changing his tack, Leo's brother asked, "Have you had anything to eat lately?"
"I'm not really hungry."
"So, that's a no."
"No," he sighed.
"How 'bout I find someone to go to the mess and get us supper, or is it breakfast?"
"Nah, that's okay."
"Listen, I haven't eaten in almost twenty-four hours, and 6 to 5 and pick 'em, you haven't eaten in at least that long. You don't eat something soon, and we're both going to be in trouble, 'cause you'll be down and I'll have to explain to the President of the United States why his Chief of Staff collapsed while in the company of his brother, the doctor."
"Wouldn't want to put you out or anything."
"Mighty gracious of you. Sir."
"Heavy on the 'Sir,' there, Airman."
"Mmm hmm. Leo, you've always taken care of everyone else. I owe you for all those lessons you taught us when we were kids. The pop quizzes at the dinner table, just being there for all of us." Scotty got a little kid grin on his face, "You know, I'll never forget how it made me feel when I was right about the candles."
"Candles?"
"Yeah, don't you remember?"
"Guess not."
"Your fifteenth birthday? When you made Mo and Liz try to figure out the math problem? You know, how many candles each of us had to put on the cake?"
"Oh yeah, you shocked all of us by coming up with the right answer. I do remember that."
"Well, I have to thank you and tell you that the math thing has come in very handy. I'm currently working on a joint project with the Army Corps of Engineers."
"Why in the world are you . . ."
". . . Working with the Army Corps of Engineers?" Leo nodded. "It's a long story," Scotty explained, "but suffice it to say, my education that included Quantum Physics and Theoretical Mathematics has come into play. Apparently, they needed a doctor who 'got it,' and I guess I was their man. Consequently, I've been spending some quality time in Iceland listening to the Reykjavik Symphony Orchestra," he joked.
"Well, that's certainly something to put on a resume," Leo smiled. "It's always a source of pride when a member of the McGarry Clan can do a job and be well entertained in the process."
He knew his brother was kidding, but Scotty looked him straight in the eye and said, "It's always been important to me to make you proud."
Leo understood, nodding, serious once again, "Like I said I've always been proud of you, Scott."
After a moment of quiet contemplation, Scotty decided to take matters into his own hands. "Hey listen. I'm going to step outside now. If it's okay with you, I'll try to find out what's going on with Mal, then maybe scare up some food for us."
"Yeah, I'd appreciate that," Leo said as he sat heavily in a well-worn chair.
"Leo?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm praying for her."
"Me too."
Scotty recognized the weariness in Leo and laid a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Be right back," he said softly. Scotty stepped into the hall and leaned against the wall. Leo was devastated, and he was hiding it. He had gotten so good at concealing his emotions, at denying what was really going on in that mind of his. Leo had their father to thank for that one.
"Scotty!"
At the sound of his name, Scotty turned to see the Commander in Chief headed toward him at a brisk pace. Little Scotty McGarry immediately became Lieutenant Colonel Scott Allen McGarry, United States Air Force. He stood ramrod straight and presented a salute so crisp, the President was slightly taken aback. He rarely saluted in passing, but knowing that Scott was so sincere in his obligation to come to attention, Jed stopped and returned the salute.
"At ease, Scotty. I wish the circumstances were different, but it is good to see you again. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Mr. President, thank you," as he shook the proffered hand.
"Scotty!" Abbey greeted him with a hug.
"Dr. Bartlet. It's nice to see you again, Ma'am."
She looked into his eyes as she held him at arm's length, "Dr. McGarry, it's Abbey, remember?"
"You're the First Lady, Ma'am. It's Dr. Bartlet."
"Okay, okay," she laughed. "Do I still get to call you Scotty?"
"Yes, Ma'am," he smiled as Abbey released him..
Scott McGarry glanced over Abbey's shoulder into the eyes of his former sister-in-law. "Hey, Jenny. How are you holding up?" he asked quietly.
"Oh, Scotty," she whispered as she took him into a warm embrace. "This has not been our finest hour."
"Yeah. I was just in with Leo. He's not looking so great."
"Leo's had a difficult time, Scotty," she paused and stepped back, "and I didn't help matters by accusing him of getting his daughter shot."
"Yeah, well. I'm sure he was well ahead of you on that one anyway." Scotty knew how hard Leo could be on himself, how hard he could be on others. But he learned a long time ago that Leo was only hard because he wanted everyone around him to reach their full potential, to not waste what they'd been given, whatever their talents. "I hope you don't mind, but a few months back, Mallory called me and filled me in on some of what happened with you and Leo. She said you were getting remarried and although Leo was putting on a brave front, the whole thing was really working on him." He stopped as Jenny looked out the window and sighed. Scotty put a supporting arm around her shoulder. "You know Jenny, I won't pretend to understand everything that's gone on with you two, but I do know one thing, and that is that he will always love you. And there's absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind how he feels about his daughter."
"I know. She's her father's daughter, there's no denying that." Jenny shyly admitted, "And I still love Leo too, Scotty, I just couldn't live with him anymore."
"Understood," Scotty agreed as he glanced away. "I just hate to see him like . . ." He took Jenny's hands in his, "I just thought the two of you would be married forever, that's all."
"Me too," she whispered.
After a moment, Jed stepped up, "So Scotty, you said you've seen Leo?"
"Yes, Mr. President."
"Well, what do you think?"
"About Leo, Sir?" The President nodded. "I think he's completely and utterly exhausted," Scott answered. "I think he's trying to hide it, to be strong for everyone else, but not for himself. I think that if anything happens to Mallory, he'll go over the edge. I think there won't be enough booze in the world to numb his pain, Sir."
"Yeah. How long did it take you to figure that one out?"
"About as long as it took for him to turn around and face me. About ten seconds, Sir."
"Scotty, what can we do?"
"Sir, I stepped out to see if there was someone who could go to the mess and bring some food back up for him. That would be a start. I know he hasn't eaten recently, which for Leo could be anywhere between four and forty hours. After I get some food in him, I'm going to see if I can find out what's happening with Mallory."
The President glanced to his left. "Josh, Donna, would you come here please?" He turned back to Scotty, "The doctor's been updating us on the hour, but it has been a little longer this time. Maybe they're getting close." Josh and Donna appeared at the President's side. "Donna, Josh, this is Leo's brother, Lieutenant Colonel Scott McGarry, United States Air Force."
"Josh Lyman," he offered a hand.
"Noah Lyman's son, right?" Josh nodded. "Sir, Leo's told me a lot about you over the years. Nice to finally meet you."
"Donna Moss," she said as she followed suit. "You look a lot like Leo," she observed.
"Ma'am, I wouldn't let Leo hear you say that," he smiled.
"Call me Donna, please."
"Yes, Ma'am."
The President chuckled, "Scotty's been in the Air Force too long, Donnatella. You'll never get him to use your first name. Listen, he needs someone to bring some food up from the mess. Would you two mind doing that?"
"Of course not, Sir," Josh answered.
"Scotty, what do you think he'll eat?"
"Well Sir, let's get a variety, let him choose. He needs some sort of quick energy. Let's do some potato salad, baked potato, scalloped, something like that. Pasta, macaroni salad would be good. Roast beef sandwich, chicken salad sandwich, turkey . . . he really likes turkey . . . a vegetable of some sort, broccoli, green beans, whatever is available. Soup maybe. And tomato juice, he loves tomato juice. Or orange juice, apple juice, whatever they've got. Ask if they'll give you a pitcher of water and three glasses of ice. I suspect that if he hasn't been eating, he hasn't been drinking much either. He may be getting dehydrated." He paused for a moment. "Let's stay away from caffeine. Once we know more about Mallory, one way or the other, he'll need to get some rest. Oh, and bring some fruit . . . bananas, apples, pears, grapes if they have them. I think that should be a good start."
"What should we bring for you, Colonel?"
He smiled at the comment, "I'll just eat whatever he doesn't. Thank you."
"We'll be right back. Sir, can we take Charlie? I think this is more food than the two of us can handle."
"Sure, Josh. Charlie, would you help these fine young people find the mess, and bring them back with food?"
"Yes, Sir. Can I get you or the ladies anything?"
"Coffee please," Abbey responded. "Jenny, would you like the gang to bring you anything else?"
"Maybe I can share with Leo and Scotty. I'm afraid that I have some fence mending to do," she admitted as she held Scotty's arm.
He nodded sideways at her with that trademark McGarry grin. "Leo's pretty tough, but a little hand holding will go a long way."
"You're right about that," she laughed despite herself.
The President smiled, "Okay, go on, Charlie."
"Yes, Sir."
Scotty broke in, "Since they're taking care of that little project, I'm going to go see if I can find something out about Mallory."
"Let me go with you," the First Lady offered. "Maybe I can expedite the information."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"That's Doctor Ma'am to you, Airman."
"Yes, Dr. Bartlet, Ma'am," he grinned.
