"Charlie, do you have my final schedule for next week's trip to South America?"

"Not yet, Mr. President. Only the draft."

"What's the hold up?"

"Mr. McGarry says that the Brazilians haven't signed off on your meeting with the President yet and since that's on your first day of the five-day trip, it's holding up everything else."

"Well, get Leo on the phone and let me talk to him. Where is he today anyway?"

"I think Margaret said he had some personal business he had to take care of."

"Oh, okay. Now I remember. Get him on the phone anyway, if you can."

"Yes, Sir."

Charlie left and went back to his desk. He dialed Leo's personal phone and only got a recording. He left a message for him to call the President and hung up.

Meanwhile, Leo was talking with his cardiologist. And the news was not what he wanted to hear.

"Leo, I told you six months ago to take better care of yourself. To decrease your stress and get more rest. Your test results show you haven't done that. When are you going to take my advice and slow down? Sooner or later your body will do that for you."

"Doc, I hear what you are saying, but I work for the President of the United States and rest is a four-letter word around there."

"Leo, if you want to live past the length of President Bartlet's term of office, you will have to listen to me. Your past history doesn't help at all. Most people in their late fifties have some cushion to fall back on when it comes to their vascular system. But you have used up most of your nine lives. I am not making a joke here. Are you going to take me seriously?"

"Doc, I take you seriously every time you talk to me. But stuff happens and I have a responsibility to the President to give my all to his and the country's needs."

"Leo, look at me. You will be giving your all, your final all if you don't take better care of yourself. Are you listening to me?"

Leo knew there was no satisfactory response to the doctor's statement so he kept silent for a few seconds. Finally, he responded. "I hear you. I'll try and do better. I'm going with the President next week to South America, and I'll try and do the right things."

"By the way, does he know about your health issues?"

"He knows I'm here, but he doesn't know the details."

"If he's as a good friend to you as I read about in the papers, don't you think he would want to know about the seriousness of your health problems? So he could support you?"

"I guess so, but all he would do is mother hen me and I don't want that."

"Maybe you need that. Maybe someone needs to mother hen you right now because you won't mother hen yourself."

"Yeah."

Leo left his doctor's office at Bethesda and waited for his driver to come. In the meantime, he checked his phone for messages. Noting that one was from Charlie, he dialed the number.

"Charlie, he needed something?"

"Yeah, Mr. McGarry. Let me connect you."

A second later, Jed picked up the phone. "Leo, hi. What did the doctor say?"

"Mr. President, nothing different. You needed me?"

"Yeah. You on your way back?"

"Yes, Sir. I should be there in about 20 minutes."

"Well, we'll talk when you get back. It's about the South America trip."

"Yes, Sir. I'll come talk to you about it. Thank you, Mr. President."

The line was disconnected. Another opportunity to tell his best friend about his health was passed up.

Leo was not in the mood to share any of his personal business yet. Besides, he was an adult and had taken care of himself for years. He didn't need any help now. He would do what his doctor told him to do, and that would take care of all of his problems.