Josh and Sam came shortly after the group got settled in one of the private waiting rooms the charge nurse had found for them. On their heels came Charlie with Zoey. "We were together when Josh called me," Charlie explained to Leo. "And since it was the President, I brought Zoey with me. I hope it was okay, Mr. McGarry."

"Yeah, it was fine. Zoey, we don't know anything yet. Your father is still being examined." He could tell how frightened Zoey was after hearing the circumstances of how Jed had been found by the Secret Service, but there was nothing Leo could do until he himself knew more.

An hour passed until Dr. Hackett appeared with a very familiar face. The group stood and gathered around the two doctors.

Dr. Hackett spoke first. "Mr. McGarry, you remember Dr. Keller? He's the doctor that was on call the night the President was brought here from Rosslyn."

"Yes, sorry we had to meet like this again. How is he doing?"

"I apologize for the delay in getting back to you, but we had to run some tests to know what exactly we were dealing with. We stabilized his vital signs, gave him a unit of blood, and then did a CAT scan to see if there was any injury to the brain. We noted a hematoma, or in layman's term a blood clot, on the left side of his brain, and we've scheduled him for emergency surgery. Dr. Wilson, our Chief of Neurosurgery, has been called in to do it. That should take a few hours when it gets started."

Leo paused, trying to grasp what Dr. Keller was saying. "Has he regained consciousness at all?"

"No, sir. He has not."

"Do you have any idea when he will?"

Both doctors looked at the other one to answer that question. Finally, Dr. Keller responded. "No, Mr. McGarry, we do not. The neurosurgeon, after surgery, should be better able to give you an idea about that."

"Have you ruled out a stroke?"

"We do not think he's had one. We're almost sure all his symptoms are related to his fall, but we are going to let the neurosurgeon make the final decision on that diagnosis."

"What's his prognosis?"

"Guarded right now. Once Dr. Wilson gets in there and evacuates the clot, we'll just have to wait and let the brain heal itself. With the blood we have just given him, he will have a fighting chance to survive the surgery. It's dangerous surgery for a healthy person, but with his preexisting medical condition it's going to be tough." Dr. Keller looked around the , and then continued. "I don't see Dr. Bartlet. Is she on her way?"

Leo shook his head. "No. She is out of the country right now, but I'm sure she will be here as soon as she can." What else could he say given the circumstances of the First Lady's absence. Leo's head was spinning with so many questions, but he ended the conversation with only one more request. "Is there any way his daughter and I could see him before you take him to surgery?"

Dr. Keller and Dr. Hackett exchanged glances. Dr. Keller shrugged his shoulders and Dr Hackett replied "Okay. Just for a minute."

Leo turned to Zoey, "Come on kid. Let's go see your old man."

Leo, with his arm around Zoey, pushed open the doors to the treatment room. The President was lying on the stretcher, dressed in a hospital gown, hooked to various equipment giving lifesaving fluids. His face was as pale as the sheet that was up to his chin. His eyes shut, an oxygen mask covering his mouth and nose, and a bandage on the left side of his head. Leo felt Zoey hesitate a minute, so he paused while she gathered her strength to move forward.

Leo stepped back and let her go first.

"Daddy, can you hear me? I love you. You're going to be fine. And when you wake up, Mom and Liz and Ellie will be here and they are going to very mad at you for this. You know that, don't you?" Leo could see the quiet tears running down her face. "Now, you do what the doctors tell you to do. Don't give them a hard time." She leaned down, kissed him on his forehead and quickly left the room.

Leo watched her leave, his heart breaking for her. Then it was his turn. He walked over to the stretcher and touched his brother's arm. He flinched when he realized just how cool Jed's skin was. He tried not to think about what was happening. "Jed, how come you always do this when Abbey is out of town? You just couldn't wait to get into trouble, could you? Fight Jed. Fight with all you have. I'm going to get Abbey back here as soon as possible. So, don't give up. Fight like hell until she gets back. I know you need her. I need her too. I love you, Jed. I love you so much. We have so much left to do. Don't leave me you son of a b***h. Do you hear me?" He turned quickly and left as well. He knew if he said much more the tears that were just at the edge would flow but he had too many things to do for that to happen. He had a country to run with a substitute President. He only hoped it would be for a short period of time.