| The Splendor Falls He sighed. It felt like the day was never going to end. The entire White House was preparing for the President’s speech at the Newseum that night. After getting the schedule cleared, he had spent half an hour explaining to Donna why a canopy was not necessary. He was about to sneak away to the Mess for lunch when he ran into Sam. “I got through. We talked.” Sam gave him a huge grin. “I won’t see you after the speech.” “So that means you’re going over there tonight?” He was glad Mallory had called him back. He had been leaving messages every twenty minutes. “Yeah. She agreed to meet with me. I know it’s going to be fine, Josh. After tonight, everything will be perfect again.” He gave Sam a pat on the back. “Thank god. I can’t wait to get you out of my house.” 3 Hours Later They exited the Newseum, and he looked around behind his back for Josh. He wished there was someone else he could talk to about this. Half an hour, and he would be with Mallory, and this time he would be certain never to screw up again. He couldn’t wait. CJ stood beside him and they had light conversation, but he was too fixated on his plans to engage in a serious discussion. They were practically at the car when everything changed. He heard someone scream ‘Gun!‘. Shots rang out, and he glanced at CJ, who seemed frozen in her spot. She’d be an open target for someone, and he couldn’t let that happen. He ran over and pushed her down, landing heavily on top of her. He stayed down until they ceased fire, wondering whether he had hurt her or not. He tried to push himself up, but felt an odd burning sensation in his chest and stomach. He wondered what it could be. CJ began to shift underneath him, and gently pushed him aside. “Sam? Sam, are you alright?” “I...I‘m okay, CJ. I think I fell too hard.” She didn’t reply to him. She just stared, moving her lips and not making a sound. Then she dropped to her knees beside him and began to press down hard on his chest with her hands. “That hurts. Don’t do that, CJ. That hurts.” She ignored him. “Somebody!! I need some help over here!!” Her voice broke as a Secret Service agent ran over. The man sat beside her and began to press on his stomach. “I really wish you guys wouldn’t do that, it makes me feel funny. I don’t like it.” “Sam, just calm down and look at me. Look at me, alright?” He gave her a small nod, hoping it would appease her and that she would stop pressing down on his chest. “Princeton is down. I repeat, Princeton is down. Get an ambulance over here ASAP......I don’t care, get them here fast. It looks pretty bad.” Princeton. He knew that was someone’s secret service name, but he couldn’t remember whose. He hoped it wasn’t Leo: Mallory would be really upset. Mallory.... “You guys should let me up. I have to be somewhere in half an hour.” “You’ll be fine, Sam. Stay still. You have to trust me, ok? Just stay still and look at me.” “I’m just a little cold. I have to go.” “What’s going on? Oh Jesus. Sam?” He heard a familiar voice above him. Josh. It had to be Josh. And he knew about Mallory. He could tell her that he was going to be late, since CJ and the agent wouldn’t let him up. “Josh. I have to talk to you.” Josh knelt beside Sam. “CJ, you can’t be here, cause I have to talk to Josh.” “I can’t leave, Sam. I have to......” “I’ll do it, CJ. You need a break.” He didn’t care what they were talking about. She couldn’t hear what he was about to say. She reluctantly moved away to let Josh apply pressure. He was stronger than she was, and he felt worse than before. He wanted to take a nap, go to sleep. But he had to make sure Mallory was taken care of first. “I need you to tell her that I’ll be late tonight. Give her the ring, so she knows it’s ok and that I’ll be there, ok? You have to tell her I’ll be late.” He reached into his pocket, which took more effort than it normally did, and extracted the ring. Josh accepted it and put it in his own pocket. “You can do that later, alright Buddy?” He was too busy staring at his hand. He didn’t remember it being red. He didn’t know why it was. “My hand is red. Why is my hand red? Is it cold? I’m cold, Josh.” “You’re hurt, Sam. But you’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” “I’m tired and I feel funny. I want to see her. But I’m cold.” He tried to take a deep breath, but couldn’t. It hurt, and he began short gasps. “No, Sam. You have to stay awake. Keep looking at me, ok?” “You’ll tell her where I am, alright?...... Tell her it’s ....it’s just a little nap.” He figured she would understand. Mallory knew he never slept, she might even be happy. He was cold, and tired, and his chest felt tight. “Hey Josh...do you have cough syrup. My chest hurts.” “I don’t have any right now. There are people coming to help you. They’ll give you some if you stay awake, alright Sam?” “Yeah.” He tried to adjust his postition, but Josh wouldn’t budge. He decided that he’d just go to sleep. The pain would go away then. “Sam? Sam, stay with me. Do not fall asleep. The paramedics are here, ok? Just stay awake.” “Mr. Seaborn? Mr. Seaborn, can you hear me? “....sorry...” he mumbled. Then his world went dark. |