Title: Not Everything's Black and White (7/7)
Notes: Finally, it's done! Thanks to everyone who encouraged, cajoled
and/or threatened me to get this finished! The feedback was very kind.
Thanks to my wonderful beta readers, Rey, Anne and Kathleen. Any mistakes in here
are strictly my own.
Part VII
Mark leaned forward in his chair as Steve stirred restlessly. "Steve?"
He touched his son's cheek. Steve turned his face toward his father.
His face tightened in pain, but his eyes didn't open.
"Dad?"
Mark let out a breath. "I'm right here, son."
Steve's eyes opened slowly. He struggled to focus. "What's going
on?"
"You were shot. You're in the ICU."
He lay there a moment, staring at nothing. He took a deep breath and grimaced before
nodding. "The President?"
"He'll be okay. He's recovering."
"CJ?" He frowned. "I heard... something from upstairs
... "
"She's fine." Mark smiled. He thought it would be best to tell him
what happened with his truck later. "She's worried about you. We'll
move you out of the ICU in the morning if you keep improving. She'll be in to see
you then."
"Good." Steve closed his eyes.
Mark placed his hand on his arm. "You get some rest, you're exhausted.
I'll be right here."
Steve nodded sleepily. "Thanks, Dad," he whispered.
Mark swallowed hard. It had been so close. Again. His heart clenched
painfully at the thought. He thanked God his son was still with him. And
prayed nothing like this would happen again.
"Dad?"
Mark started. He though Steve had been asleep. "I'm right here," he
said softly.
"I love you."
His voice was so quiet Mark barely heard him. But he did, and tears sprang to his
eyes. "I love you too, son." He leaned forward and brushed Steve's
hair back, kissed his forehead. "I love you, too."
***
Jed looked away from the television program he hadn't been watching. "Charlie!
Come in!"
Charlie entered slowly and closed the door behind him. He glanced around and shoved
his hands into his pockets. "Can I get you anything, sir?"
"No, no. Come on, sit down." He waved a hand toward a chair.
"I've been hoping you'd stop by."
"Dr. Bartlet said you wanted to see me, sir." He sat. "How are
you feeling?"
"Better, thanks." Jed stared at the young man for a long moment, trying,
unsucessfully, to get Charlie to meet his eyes. "Are you okay?"
"Yes sir."
"Charlie."
He looked up. Jed gazed back at him, his eyes soft. "It wasn't your
fault, Charlie."
"Sir, I heard what they said. I know it was because I'm dating Zoey."
"Charlie, they did it because they hate. They hate anyone not like them.
That's not your fault. If you heard that, you heard all of the other
justifications they made. It didn't happen because of you."
Charlie just shook his head and stared at his hands.
Jed reached out and laid his hand over Charlie's and squeezed gently. The young man
looked back up, his eyes filled with tears. "I thought I was going to lose you,
too. I couldn't stand that. I never really knew my dad. Mom's gone, Mrs.
Landingham... " He blinked several times. "I just...
I was so scared when I saw... "
Jed squeezed his hand again. "I know."
Charlie ducked his head, looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't
mean to... "
"It's okay, Charlie. I just wish to God none of you had to see that."
He shifted uncomfortably and slipped his hand out of Charlie's. "I don't
know how to make it better."
"You don't have to, sir. We'll be okay. We just want you to be okay,
too."
Jed tried to smile reassuringly, but knew it was anything but. He didn't know if any
of them would ever be okay again.
***
CJ smiled as Steve's eyes fluttered open. She placed her hand on his shoulder and
rubbed gently. "Hey gorgeous."
Steve turned his head toward her, wincing as he did so. He looked at her, trying to
focus. He blinked several times.
"CJ…" His voice was rough.
"How're you feeling?"
He gave a breath of a laugh.
She winced in sympathy. "I'm sorry. That was a stupid question."
Then she scowled at him. "Not that what you did was smart."
His eyes widened. He was clearly struggling to keep up. "What?
What'd I do?"
"Leo told me what you did. He told me that guy Tom was going to shoot the
President. He said you put yourself between them. That that's how you got
shot."
"Oh."
"Oh? That's all you have to say?"
"What was I supposed to do?"
CJ sighed. "I know. I just-- I thought you were going to die,
Steve."
"Nah. Not me."
"I hate your job."
"I noticed that." He raised his hand weakly. She grasped it and held
tight. Their eyes met and he smiled a little uncertainly.
CJ rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand. Careful not to hurt him, she leaned
over him and brushed her lips over his.
"Hey, you two. This is a public place."
CJ pulled back and looked over her shoulder. "Mr. President!" She
jumped to her feet.
Jed waved her back down as the nurse wheeled his chair into the room. "Sit.
I just came to say hello." He pointed a finger at Steve. "And
you, don't even think of moving an inch."
"Yes sir." Steve slowly rested his head back on the pillow. He
glanced at CJ a little uncertainly.
CJ cleared her throat. "It's good to see you up, Mr. President."
"It's good to be up." He touched her arm. "Thanks for your
help. What you did took a lot of guts."
She shook her head. "I was scared to death."
He smiled. "Me too." He looked at Steve. "You, on the
other hand…"
"--was terrified." Steve finished. "Mr. President, I'm so sorry I
didn't get there sooner. I wish-"
"Lieutenant Sloan-- Steve. Listen to me. You saved our lives.
Leo and I would be dead if it weren't for you and CJ. And you lying there in
that bed…" His eyes darkened. "God. You were shot
because of me. I've had Secret Service agents surrounding me 24 hours a day for the
past three years and I'll never get used to having people willing to risk their lives for
me. And I have no words to express the depths of my feelings. There are no
words." He leaned forward carefully and grasped the younger man's hand.
"It's not enough, but thank you." He squeezed his hand.
"Thank you."
Steve nodded, at a loss for words.
Jed must have noticed his discomfort because he grinned. "So. I suppose
I'll be getting a bill for your truck." He leaned back in the wheelchair and
folded his hands. "That's okay, though. I'll just take it out of CJ's
pay."
Steve blinked. "My truck?" He looked at CJ.
CJ looked at Jed. He grinned and looked back at Steve. "I've got to go
back to my room now. I'm sure we'll see each other again. I expect you to come
visit us at the White House." He waved a hand at the nurse who turned his chair
to wheel him out of the room before Steve could absorb the unexpected invitation.
"You kids behave," he called behind him.
Steve, still a little groggy and more than a little confused, watched him go. He
looked back at CJ, his tired mind reeling. But when he opened his mouth, the first
question that came out was, "What happened to my truck?"
***
"Get in here, would you? Quit lurking in my doorway."
Leo smiled, mildly chagrined. "I was afraid you were sleeping."
Jed's answering smile faded. "No. I wasn't." He was still
tired from his visit with the police detective, but sleep wouldn't come.
Leo nodded. "I know what you mean." He sighed and sat next to the
bed. "Are you getting any sleep?"
"Some." Jed looked down at his hands. "Not so much now that
they stopped the sedatives. The dreams started after that."
"Yeah."
He looked back up. "You too?"
"Yeah."
Jed drew in a shaky breath. "When's it going to end?"
Leo just shook his head. "Have you told anyone?"
"No." Jed's voice was quiet. "They'd just want to give me more
sleeping pills. I need to get past this."
"When we get back, you could talk to Stanley."
Jed rolled his eyes. "Oh, god."
"Mr. President, this is the kind of thing he specializes in. This is what he
does. What happened to us... "
"I know. He's a trauma specialist. Leo, I don't want to talk to a
psychiatrist about this. I don't want to talk to anyone about it!"
Leo's hand slipped inside Jed's. "You're going to have to. You know
that."
Jed's intense blue eyes met Leo's. "Will you? Did you, when... "
"When I got home from 'Nam? Yes. I was a wreck. I slept too little, drank
too much, and was no good to anyone."
"I remember you wouldn't talk to me."
"Yeah. The Air Force finally sent me to a doctor. It helped. It
really did."
Jed's eyes narrowed. "Really? Or are you just trying to convince me to
see Keyworth?"
The corner of Leo's mouth quirked up in a small smile. "Maybe. But it did
help a little."
"Okay." Jed sighed. "And you're going to talk to him too."
"Yes, sir."
Jed snorted. "Okay."
The silence stretched out between them, both finding comfort in the mere presence of the
other.
"What's wrong with your eyes?" Leo finally spoke.
Jed looked at him, a surprised and innocent expression crossing his features.
"What?"
"You keep blinking hard. And squinting."
"Am I?"
"Mr. President…"
"It's nothing."
"Are you having trouble seeing?" Leo's voice was almost steady.
"No."
"Why don't I believe you?"
Jed ignored the question. "I can go today, right? That's what Dr. Sloan
said."
"He said you could go if you're under the supervision of Admiral Hackett and Abbey.
And if he feels you're well enough to travel."
Jed slid to the edge of the bed and carefully swung his legs over the side.
"It's Air Force One, Leo. It's not like I'm flying the plane."
"What are you doing?"
"What's it look like?" He placed his feet on the floor and pulled his robe
tighter around him.
"It looks like you're about to do something really stupid. Stay in bed."
Jed pushed himself to his feet. "Too late."
Leo stood quickly and stepped closer. He reached out, but stopped just short of
touching his friend. "Sir…"
Jed stood still for a moment. He looked up a Leo with a triumphant smile.
"See? No problem."
Leo nodded uncertainly. "You okay?"
"Sure. I just want to walk around a little. Get used to being up."
"I wish you wouldn't do this. At least wait for Dr. Sloan or a nurse or
something."
"To do what? Come on, Leo." He stepped forward, trying not to wince.
Another step. He swayed and a tremor ran through his body. "Leo…"
Leo wrapped his arms around Jed's chest just as the President fell sideways, his arms
flailing in an effort to catch himself. Leo staggered and barely kept his footing.
Jed grunted in pain at the pressure on his chest.
The door opened. Mark hurried in, Abbey directly behind him.
"What happened?" Abbey asked. Mark moved to Jed's other side and grasped
his upper arm gently.
Jed shook his head. He couldn't answer. He focused on trying to breathe.
"He got dizzy, I think," Leo answered. He and Mark carefully maneuvered
Jed over to the bed.
"You think? What the hell was he doing out of bed?" Her voice
raised. Jed recoiled from her tone and ducked his head involuntarily. Abbey
blanched when he pulled away from her.
Leo let go of Jed when he was sure he was stable, but kept his hand on his shoulder.
"Hey," he said softly.
Jed nodded and took a slow breath. "It's okay."
Mark stepped back and looked into the President's eyes. "You could have fallen,
Mr. President. You should have called for a nurse."
"I just wanted to walk around the room. I wasn't planning on running a
marathon."
Mark nodded. "You're going to need a cane until you get your equilibrium back.
I've asked for one to be sent down for you before you leave."
"I don't want a cane."
"Jed," Abbey admonished, but kept her voice low and soothing. She rubbed
her hand lightly over his back, then brought it up to rest on his shoulder.
"It's better than a wheelchair."
He sighed. "I know." He placed his left hand over hers.
Mark cleared his throat. "I'd rather not let you leave right now, Mr.
President," he shook his head and held up a hand at the sharp look Jed gave him.
"-But, I understand the circumstances. You're going to have to take it
easy for a few weeks, keep to a restricted work schedule. You're going to have to
have daily checkups." He glanced at Abbey, who nodded. "Admiral
Hackett will be continuing your Solumedrol infusions." He picked up the chart
he'd dropped when he'd entered the room. "The brace on your wrist is going to
need daily care. We've got it wrapped now, but two of the traction pins holding the
bones in place are attached to this bar here." He touched a metal bar outside
the bandages. "The entry sites where the pins go in will have to be cleaned
twice a day."
Jed grumbled and resisted the urge to scratch at the offensive device. "How
long does it have to stay in?"
"A few weeks. I know it's irritating now, but when it's healed straight and you
have full use of that hand, you'll be glad you had it." He waited a moment
until the President nodded, however grudgingly. "Now, about getting around on
your own…" Jed glared at him. "I know. Mr. President,
your body has been through an incredible trauma, even if you had been in perfect health
before this. We've got you on a blood thinner-"
"Why?" Jed interrupted.
"The severity of the bruising creates a serious concern that blood clots could
form."
"Oh."
"So you see how a fall could be a problem."
"Only if I cut myself, right?"
Mark shook his head. "No. If internal bleeding occurred, it could be
fatal all on it's own."
"Oh." Jed felt, rather than saw, Leo flinch. He didn't, couldn't
quite look at him. He glanced at Abbey. "I'll behave."
She smiled faintly. "You'd better."
"So I can go?"
Mark glance down at the chart again, then back at his patient. He shook his head.
"If you were anyone else, I'd say no. But under the circumstances of
your situation and the care you'll be receiving on your way home, I'll agree to it."
Jed nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Doctor."
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. President. I only wish it had been under
better circumstances."
"Me too." He let out a breath and looked at Mark with sorrow.
"I'm so sorry your son was hurt. I talked to him earlier.
He's a good man. You should be very proud."
Mark smiled. "I am. I wish he'd learn to duck a little better, but…"
Jed laughed and a genuine smile lit his eyes.
"It was kind of you to visit him. I know it meant a lot to him."
"It was absolutely the least I could do, Doctor. That young man saved both our
lives. Please remind him that he's supposed to come visit us sometime. You're
included in that invitation, of course."
Mark raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Thank you, Mr. President."
Jed gave him a conspiratorial look. "We need to get him and CJ hooked up."
Mark laughed. "I always hoped they'd make it permanent, but you know
kids."
Jed sighed. "Do I." He looked up as the door opened and Charlie
stepped in.
"Excuse me, Mr. President. You asked me to let you know when the car was here.
Everything is ready when you are." He had an aluminum cane hooked over
his forearm and was pushing a wheelchair.
Jed sighed. "Thanks, Charlie." He looked at Mark. "I
guess it's time to let you get things back to normal around here." He smiled.
"Bring Steve to the White House. Between the two of us, he and CJ won't have a
chance."
Mark returned the smile. "I'll do that." He held out his left hand
and Jed shook it firmly, despite his weakness. "It was good to meet you, Mr.
President. I hope next time it will be under much better circumstances."
"Thank you again, Doctor. I'm in your debt."
Mark waved his thanks away and stepped out the door.
"We'll be right out, Charlie. Could you wait outside for a minute?"
Charlie nodded. "Yes sir." He placed the cane across the arms of the
wheelchair and followed the doctor out the door.
Jed looked up, his gaze finding Leo and Abbey. "This isn't going to be
easy."
Abbey stepped closer to him and carded her fingers through the hair at his temple.
"It'll be okay, Jed. Just remember that you're not alone. We're
here for you."
He nodded and unconsciously leaned into her touch. Leo's hand settled back on his
shoulder, it's heavy warmth offering as much comfort and security as Abbey's loving
caress. He closed his eyes with a deep sigh. "I don't know what I do
without you two."
Leo squeezed his shoulder. "Let's just make sure none of us ever have to find
out." His eyes met Abbey's over Jed's head and she nodded.
Jed nodded, unknowingly echoing Abbey's gesture. He opened his eyes and sat up
straighter, ready to be the President again.
"Let's go home."
END
Author: Sam Singing Wolf
Email: SngngWolf@aol.com
Rated: PG-13 (violence, language)
Warnings: Heavy Angst
Characters: Mostly Jed, Leo and CJ from TWW, Steve Sloan from Diagnosis Murder…
the others from both shows are involved and present.
Spoilers: West Wing: In The Shadow of Two Gunmen, possibly a few minor ones
for third season. Diagnosis Murder: none
Archive: I'd be honored. Please just drop me a line so I can visit your site.
Summary: When President Bartlet and his staff visit Los Angeles during the
reelection campaign, terror strikes. Crossover of The West Wing and Diagnosis
Murder.
Disclaimer: I can only wish they were mine. No infringement is intended.
Feedback: Is really very nice. I respond to all notes and letters.
Constructive criticism is also appreciated.
"Steve?"
"Mr. President?"