Leo hung up the phone with Dr. Nolan and his head was spinning. There was so much to get done and so little time. He knew the minute he told the President he would want to get to Manchester immediately.
His first call was to Ron Butterfield. "Ron, Sorry for waking you, but there's a problem." He explained what was going on and discussed their options. They decided the quickest means to get him to New Hampshire was to fly him there. But because it would take some time to get the big plane ready, Ron volunteered to call Andrews to see if a smaller plane could be made ready to leave in a couple of hours. It would take the President, Leo and CJ as well as Ron and three additional Secret Service agents. He would call in additional agents from Boston and then wait and see what else was needed depending on the circumstances.
Leo's next call was to CJ. She was wide awake immediately after the word Manchester. She said she would pack a bag and meet him at the Residence in an hour. She would also call Toby, who would call Josh, Charlie and Margaret. If needed, they would fly commercial to Boston or Manchester later in the day.
Leo quickly packed a small bag, went downstairs, grabbed a cab and pulled up beside the Residence. It was almost four am. He dreaded his next job, but it had to be done.
Getting off the elevator on the second floor, he went to the sitting area outside the bedroom and picked up the telephone. Dialing the bedroom number, he waited through several rings until a groggy voice answered. "Yeah?"
"Mr. President, this is Leo. May I come in?"
"Sure. What's wrong?"
"I'll be right in."
Leo opened the doors and closed them behind him. By this time Jed had turned on the bedside lamp.
He looked at his Chief of Staff through squinty eyes, trying to get used to the light in the room.
"Leo, what's wrong? Do you need me in the Situation room?"
"No, Mr. President. It's Abbey."
Jed sat straight up. "Abbey? Did something happen? I talked to her earlier."
"Yes, Sir. Something happened after that." Leo swallowed hard and told his best friend everything that Bob had told him. Every ugly detail. "I've talked with Ron and he's calling Andrews. I'm waiting for a call back."
Jed jumped out of bed. "I need to change clothes and pack a bag. I need to talk with the doctors. I need to talk with my daughters. I need to…"
Leo put his hand on Jed's arm. "Jed, let me pack your bag. Change into some casual clothes and then call whomever you want to speak to. CJ is on her way over and she'll go with us to handle the press."
Jed stopped and looked into Leo's eyes. "Thank you, Leo. For everything."
Leo packed a bag while Jed called his daughters. He reassured them that he would there in a few hours and to keep their hopes up. He then called Dr. Scott. "Has there been any change in my wife's condition?"
"No, Sir. Still the same. And I really hope it remains the same. And Sir, before the procedure started, she gave me a message for you."
"What was it?"
"Tell my husband I love him."
The tears that he had not had time to release flowed down his cheeks. "Thank you, Dr. Scott. That means a great deal. See you soon."
"Yes, Sir."