Title: Driven to destruction Part Three Leo was woken suddenly by a voice at his side. A young nurse said brightly: 'Time for a wash, Mr McGarry. Make you feel all fresh and clean.' Leo looked at the girl, younger than Mallory and shook his head. 'No way.' The nurse pulled the curtains round the bed then started pulling Leo's bedclothes down. 'Hey, stop that.' 'Now, now...' Alex walked in through the half-open door and called through the curtains. 'Leo?' Leo's voice was desperate. 'Alex, get in here. Now!' Alex pulled the curtain open, took in the scene, and guessed the problem in a few seconds. Relieved she was still wearing her white coat and ID badge, Alex asked: 'Would it be all right if I gave Mr McGarry his wash?' The nurse said crossly: 'Sure. I was only trying to help.' Alex smiled. 'I know. But he's very shy.' The nurse handed her Leo's washbag. 'You're telling me.' As the door closed, Alex began to laugh. 'It's not funny Alex. Did you see how old she was?' 'Believe me, Leo, you haven't got anything she hasn't seen before.' 'That's not the point.' Alex reached across and laid her hand on Leo's forehead. 'You must be ill. A beautiful young woman offers to give you a blanket bath, and you turn her down.' 'How can I need a wash? I haven't been anywhere.' 'Leo! I can smell you as I walk onto the ward.' 'Thanks. Your father was just here. He says we can go to his house on Long Island when I get out of here.' 'You can. I have to work.' 'Can't you take a holiday?' 'Not a this short notice.' 'You could ask.' 'I could. Now, can you sit up?' 'No way!' 'Very well. We'll do it the slow way.' Leo smiled. 'Sounds like fun.' Alex turned and stared at him, eyebrows raised. 'This isn't a game, Leo. This is my lunch hour. Are you sure you can't sit up?' 'It hurts.' 'Of course it does. I think you could try. I'll help you.' Leo sighed. 'Okay. But gently, huh?' **************** 'Dr J. Call for you at the desk.' 'Thank you.' Alex walked across to the desk and picked up the telephone. 'Alex Jamieson.' 'I take it this copy of your working week is intended to allow us to avoid each other?' Alex had to force herself not to react to Jen's sarcastic tone. 'If you wish to visit Leo, and would prefer not to bump into me, I thought you might find it helpful. I will be visiting Leo before and after my shifts, as well as during my lunch-hours. The remainder of the time I will be working or sleeping.' 'How is he?' 'Better. If you're definitely planning to visit today, I'll tell him to expect you.' 'Please don't put yourself to any bother.' 'As you wish.' Alex replaced the receiver and walked towards the lifts. ***************** Leo looked disinterestedly at the food on his plate. Alex picked up the fork, speared a piece of fish, and handed it to him. 'The president is looking forward to you moving into the residence. Just until you're better, of course. If you ask me, I think he's missed you.' Leo put the fork down and played with the rapidly-cooling food. 'I just wanna get outta here.' Alex's bleep went then. She read the scrolling text and frowned. 'My boss. I have to go. I'll pop back later. Finish your lunch. You'll need to keep up your strength in case that nurse comes back. Or your ex-wife.' Leo didn't even ask how Alex knew Jen had visited him. ****************** Alex was nervous. The Chief of the ER wasted no time. 'The President has asked you be given some time off. I have agreed. You will leave with Mr McGarry when he is discharged. You will return when Mr McGarry resumes work.' 'Sir, I'm grateful, but there is really no need...' 'The subject is not up for discussion. How is Mr McGarry?' 'Much better, thank you sir.' 'Okay, now get back to work.' 'Yes sir.' As Alex got up to leave, the Chief said suddenly: 'You are lucky to have the President as a friend.' 'Sir?' 'If anyone other than Jed Bartlet had asked me to give you time off, the answer would have been no. I do not see your relationship with the Chief of Staff as being sufficient reason for a long absence from this hospital. However, with his condition, stress is something the President can do without.' Alex said cautiously: 'You know?' 'I was one of the people treated him when he was shot. His wife had to tell me because he needed surgery.' 'He's going to try for a second term.' 'Probably a good thing. Keeps him busy. Keeps his mind off the future. Give him my best when you next see him.' 'I will sir.' ***************** Alex walked down the corridor and looked into Leo's room. She frowned and walked across to the nurses station. A couple of the women behind the desk gave her odd looks but she ignored them and asked: 'Has Mr McGarry been moved?' One of the older nurses nodded. 'I'll say. After what he did, he deserves to be locked in the basement.' 'What happened?' 'Alex, can we have a word?' The nurse seemed relieved that the doctor had arrived, and turned back to her colleagues. Alex tried not to panic. 'Where is he? What happened?' 'He got a little upset. He hit a nurse. We've sedated him and moved him to a quieter room.' 'You didn't think to call me?' 'I was too busy restraining Mr McGarry to think of that. Sorry.' Alex ignored the sarcasm. 'Where is he?' 'Follow me.' Leo lay on a trolley in the side room, his wrists enclosed in leather restraints. He was moving slightly as the sedative he had been given began to wear off. Alex pushed the door open, walking quickly to Leo's side. 'How long has he been like this?' 'A while. He should be waking up pretty soon.' Alex began to unbuckle the leather straps. Walker covered her hand with his own. 'You can't do that.' Alex ignored him and moved to the other side of the trolley, releasing Leo's other wrist. She lifted his arm towards Walker. His eyes widened at the deep bloody gashes marking the edges of the restraints. She kept her voice deliberately unemotional. 'These things are supposed to be checked for adequate padding. I don't think these could have been. I'll need to clean and dress these wounds then Leo will be moved back to his room.' 'Perhaps you weren't listening when I said he attacked a nurse.' Alex's voice was angry now. 'Leo can barely move. Exactly how did he 'attack' this nurse?' 'He hit her.' 'Why?' 'He was having some sort of panic attack. She tried to restrain him...' Walker stopped himself as he realised what he had said. Too late. He saw Alex's face. 'Leo had a panic attack. And a single nurse tried to restrain him? In the ER we train our nurses to wait until they have help before restraining anything older than a baby. It seems a shame that such training isn't hospital-wide, don't you agree? Or is it that she was trained, but decided to ignore the rules? Either way I'd say your reaction was a little extreme, wouldn't you?' Walker returned a couple of minutes later with a metal trolley. 'I think there's everything you need. Come get me when you're done and we'll get him back into his room.' Despite the remains of the sedative still in his system, Leo's face reflected the pain he could obviously feel as Alex cleaned and dressed the deep scratches circling his wrists. She was just finishing taping the last bandage in place when Walker came back. 'I spoke to the nurse. I think it would be best for everyone if we let the matter rest here. Do we agree?' 'You mean, she won't sue Leo if we don't sue you?' 'Something like that.' 'Deal. Let's take Leo back to his room. And prepare his discharge papers please. He'll be leaving in the morning.' 'He's not due to be discharged until Friday.' Alex said sharply: 'Somehow I don't think that's terribly important in view of what happened here today, do you?' Walker didn't reply. **************** Leo began to wake more fully a few minutes after he was lifted back onto his bed. As she watched him, Alex heard Mallory's voice in the corridor outside and got up quickly. 'Hello, Mallory.' She steered Leo's daughter into an open doorway. 'Your father has had a bit of a tough day. Something happened, I don't know what as I was working. He hit a nurse. He was sedated and restrained when I got here. He's fine now, but still a little sleepy. And his wrists are very sore.' Mallory fought tears. 'He wouldn't hurt anyone.' Alex hugged Mallory to her. 'I know. He was apparently quite upset. But he's fine now. Or he will be in a few hours. I have to make a phone call. Why don't you go and sit with your father?' ****************** 'Charlie? It's Alex. Can I speak to the President please?' 'Hi, Dr Jamieson. Sure.' Alex waited a few seconds, then she heard Bartlet's concerned voice. 'Alex?' 'Sir. Would it be a terrible imposition if Leo moved in a day early?' 'Not at all. Is he OK?' 'He will be when he's out of here.' 'Sure. You coming now?' 'No, Sir. Leo's had a tiring day. I think we'll let him get a good nights' sleep and come over mid-morning tomorrow.' 'Okay. Hey, is everything all right?' 'It is now, Sir. We'll see you tomorrow.' Bartlet wondered what Alex was hiding, but said: 'Okay. Bye.' **************** Alex walked back into Leo's room rubbing her eyes. Mallory frowned. 'How long have you been here?' Alex looked at her watch and did a quick calculation. 'Sixteen hours.' 'You need to get some sleep.' Only half-joking, Alex said: 'I'm frightened of what they'll do to your father if I close my eyes.' 'I'll get some coffee.' Alex smiled tiredly. 'Thank you Mallory.' Leo stirred, his body suddenly moving jerkily as he struggled against something only he could see. Alex reached across, her hands on his shoulders. 'It's okay, Leo. You're safe now. It's all right. Lay back. Shh. That's it.' After a few seconds, Leo relaxed, his breathing slowed and he lay still until Alex pulled his bedclothes up, tucking them around his chest. He gasped in pain as she pressed gently on his ribcage. She pulled the sheet and blanket off, dragging the thin cotton gown up until she saw the dark bruising across his chest. Alex got up and walked to the door. She shouted across to the nurses station. 'I need a portable x-ray in here. I think some damage may have been done to Mr McGarry's ribs in the earlier...excitement.' Alex watched as a nurse reluctantly walked to the phone and called Radiology. Mallory looked at the x-ray on the lightbox in front of them. 'What are we looking at?' Alex pointed at Leo's ribcage. 'There. Those two ribs were practically healed when I saw his x-rays the day before yesterday. Now look at them.' Mallory did, then gave up trying to work out exactly what she should be seeing. 'What's gonna happen now?' 'They will have to be strapped and your father will have to put up with yet more pain until they heal. Again.' Leo was almost fully awake, still confused as to what had happened earlier, and in more pain than he had been for several days. Alex and Mallory walked back in to find him trying to reach his call button. Alex took the large metal box from him. 'I wouldn't do that if I were you.' Still a little disoriented, Leo said: 'It hurts.' 'It would do. You have two broken ribs.' 'I thought it was four?' 'Two are almost mended. Two were broken this afternoon.' Leo tried to concentrate, but he was feeling light-headed. 'What?' 'We'll explain in the morning. We're going to strap your ribs, and then you must get some rest. I'll get you something for the pain before we start.' In spite of the pain, Leo managed: 'Alex, I don't want...' Alex put her hand on Leo's arm. 'Don't worry, it'll just be enough that you don't wake the entire hospital.' Mallory looked across at Alex as a nurse came in and injected something into Leo's IV line. 'Dad's not the only one could do with getting some rest.' Mallory fought tears as her father endured the pain of having his ribs strapped a second time, and leaned across as he lay gasping for breath as Alex held him while the nurse taped the last bandage in place. Hoping he couldn't feel her shaking, Mallory took her father's hand. 'Try not to move too much now.' Leo would have smiled if he hadn't been in so much pain. 'Okay.' Alex said firmly: 'I'm taking you to the Residence in the morning.' Too tired to argue, Leo lay back against the pillows and was asleep in a couple of minutes. ************** Alex woke suddenly as Leo's hand moved under hers. She sat forward in her chair, her muscles complaining at the sudden movement. 'Has Mallory been here the whole time?' Alex forced herself to concentrate. 'She arrived shortly after I did.' Leo frowned. 'Did she see me...you know...' Alex smiled reassuringly. 'No. You were in here by then. But she knows what happened.' 'Did you tell the President?' 'Only that you're leaving in the morning.' Relieved that everything appeared under control, Leo began to relax. He looked across to where his daughter slept in a chair. 'Okay. You and Mallory going home?' Alex looked at her watch. Four-thirty. 'No. We're staying here.' Click here to go to Part Four Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the X-Files Fic Index Return to the West Wing Fic Index