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Disclaimers/warnings in Part One! |
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Title: A good heart is hard to find – Part Two Finally, Dan walked back upstairs. ‘I’ll stay with him if you want to have a break?’ Abbey stroked Sam’s face. ‘He’s my favourite. He’s really nice.’ Dan walked over to the bed. ‘How long have Josh and Sam been together?’ Abbey shrugged. ‘A while, I guess. I think they kept it pretty private.’ ‘That’s understandable. The Press will print anything. Even gossip.’ Dan lifted Sam’s wrist, feeling for his pulse. ‘He’s better than he was. But he’s lost a lot of blood. I don’t suppose there’s an IV kit and some O-Neg in your bag?’ Abbey shook her head. ‘No, but I have a bag of saline.’ Dan smiled. ‘That will do nicely. Remind me to be with you if I’m ever in an accident.’ Despite the circumstances, the two women laughed quietly. Abbey decided to ask: ‘How long have you and Leo been…’ Dan thought as she unpacked the IV kit. ‘Just a few weeks. I came here to meet my father. He invited me to a reception, and the security guard wanted to see my driving licence. I couldn’t find it quickly, and he was getting concerned. I tried explaining who I was, but he didn’t believe me. Finally, I asked him to get my father to come out and vouch for me. Leo was walking past, and when he heard who I was, he took me in with him.’ Abbey frowned. ‘And who are you?’ Dan laughed. ‘Sorry, I should have said. I’m Dan Evans. I did Leo’s medical.’ ‘My husband was surprised he passed. After he explained that his usual doctor had retired.’ Dan laughed. ‘Yes. Leo couldn’t believe it either. I still don’t think he has got over the shock.’ Dan leaned across the bed. ‘Sam, you need some fluids. We’re going to put an IV in your hand. Just keep nice and still, okay?’ If Sam heard or understood, there was no reaction and Dan stood up. ‘Can you hold him, just in case?’ Abbey sat on the edge of the bed. ‘Sure.’
As they were taping the IV line to Sam’s hand, there was a second knock on the door. Dan called: ‘Come in.’ Bartlet looked in. ‘Can I come in?’ ‘Of course, Mr President.’ ‘How’s he doing?’ ‘Better, Sir. Are you wearing a watch, Sir?’ Bartlet nodded. ‘Does it have a second hand?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘I need to time the drip. May I borrow it?’ Bartlet unbuttoned his sleeve and unbuckled his watch. ‘Sure.’ Abbey was impressed. ‘You can do that?’ Dan laughed. ‘I used to work in a small hospital. There often weren’t enough IV pumps. I was just never very good at the maths.’ Abbey turned to her husband. ‘Jed is good at sums.’ Between them, they worked out the drip rate for Sam’s IV, and Dan fished in her handbag for a pen. Sticking a piece of tape across the base of the bag of saline, she looked round. ‘I need a pen.’ Bartlet looked bemused. ‘Is this another thing you learned?’ ‘Yes. If we write the time the bag should be empty on it, we can see if it’s going in at the right rate.’ The President and his wife exchanged a look. Whoever this woman was, they were grateful Leo had been with her. He walked to the door. ‘I’ll get a pen.’ ******************** Sam drifted back to the meal. A quiet evening, just the two of them. It had been several weeks since they had managed dinner together outside the White House or the apartment they shared. He was happier than he had been in a long time. Finally happy with who and what he was. And Josh was great. Mad, but less intense than he was. They balanced each other out. At the end of the meal, they had been walking back to the car and Sam hadn’t even noticed that Josh had slipped his hand in Sam’s. But the group of men walking behind them had. One of them called out: ‘Hey, fag.’ They ignored him, continuing to walk. Then the voice again: ‘Hey, you, I’m talking to you.’ This time, Josh had begun to turn, until Sam’s grip tightened on his hand. ‘Josh, don’t.’ As they reached the end of the road, they waited for a gap in the traffic. Seconds later, Josh was grabbed, pulled into the alleyway between two buildings. Sam was pulled to the ground, a hand over his mouth, arms holding him down on the damp path. ‘No!’ *********************** Abbey and Dan were startled by Sam’s sudden scream. Abbey took his hand, stroking his damp forehead. Dan turned. ‘I think you should wait downstairs, Sir. Mrs Bartlet, I think Josh will probably need to stay here tonight. Can you organise a room next door for him? And ask Leo to come in here as soon as he gets back please.’ Bartlet put an arm around his wife. ‘C’mon Abbey.’ After a last look at Sam, Abbey and Jed left her to it, pausing for only a moment in the doorway. Jed guessed this was particularly hard on his wife. He knew Abbey had a soft spot for the youngest member of his Senior Staff. He did too, and it upset him to know someone had hurt Sam. """"""""""""""""""""""" ‘Dan?’ Dan turned at the sound of Leo’s voice from the doorway. ‘Why would someone do this to another person?’ Leo shook his head. ‘Dunno. Is he gonna be okay?’ Dan sighed. ‘I really don’t know. Someone should tell his parents.’ ‘They’re kinda old-fashioned.’ ‘Their son has been hurt. I don’t think they’ll worry too much about who he was with when it happened, Leo.’ But Leo had heard Sam talk about his parents. Particularly his father. And he knew their relationship was poor. He doubted whether Sam would be happy to see them. Particularly with the injuries he had. ‘I’ll call them.’ ‘You’re very good.’ Leo frowned. ‘What?’ Dan shook her head slowly. ‘If I didn’t know you as well as I do, I would never have known you were lying just then.’ Leo decided not to continue the conversation. ‘Josh’s back. Abbey’s put him in the next room.’ ‘How is he?’ ‘Sleeping.’ Dan smiled. ‘Good.’ She looked across to the far end of the room. ‘Does that door open?’ Leo walked across and tried the handle. The door between the two rooms opened and he pushed it against the wall. Dan could see Josh lying in the bed, his bandaged chest exposed as he turned restlessly. She moved to stand directly behind Sam. She looked across and smiled. Leo suddenly worked out what she was doing. Sam and Josh could see each other from where they lay. ‘Perfect. Now, I need some coffee. Stay here until I come back. If either of them wakes up, shout down the stairs.’ Leo settled into a chair at Sam’s side, moving so he too could see Josh without moving. """""""""""""""""""" Sam began to stir, his chest heaving as his nightmare continued. Suddenly Leo was jerked awake by Sam’s terrified scream. He leaned over him, his hands on Sam’s arms. This seemed to increase Sam’s distress, and Leo stood up, uncertain of what to do. Then he heard Josh’s voice. ‘Lit, it’s okay. Go back to sleep.’ Apparently soothed, Sam’s breathing slowed and by the time Abbey and Dan had reached his room, Sam was sleeping again. Dan walked into Josh’s room, leaving Abbey sitting with Sam. She put her hand on Leo’s shoulder. ‘The President says Toby and CJ are here. You need to come downstairs. Abbey will stay with Sam.’ Reluctantly, Leo got up. ‘No, its okay. I’ll stay with Sam.’ Dan frowned at the sight of Josh framed in the doorway. ‘Josh, you need to rest.’ Josh nodded. ‘I’m okay.’ Click here to go to Part Three Return to the X-Files Fic Index Return to the West Wing Fic Index
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