"Abbey, tell me," Jed repeated urgently.

"It's OK, Jed," she said, sounding slightly astonished. "The babies are both fine."

"Really?" Jed asked, cupping Abbey's face in his palms, "You're sure? They are both fine?" Abbey nodded, the emotions clear in her eyes as she fought to keep her composure.

"99% sure," she said, her voice breaking.

Jed pulled her tightly into his arms pressing her head into his chest. They stood that way for what seemed an eternity, both overcome with relief and emotion. Finally Abbey pulled back and led Jed to the couch where she cuddled up to his side.

"All day long I've just been thinking the worse," Jed said stroking her hair. "How we would get through that."

"I know. I'm just so relieved. I had this knot in my stomach all day. I still can't believe they are really both OK."

"And we are really going to do this again." Jed placed a hand on her belly. "Back to bassinets and nights of colic."

"Breast feeding and baby monitors," she covered his hand with hers.

"Diapers and teething..."

"Binkies and bubbas..."

"Sippie cups and toilet training. My God Abbey, are we nuts?"

"Certifiable," she smiled and watched as Jed moved his hand from her belly to rub over his chest.

"Do your sutures hurt?"

"They don't hurt. They itch like hell. How much longer do I have to keep them in?"

"When Dr. Stevenson sees you Thursday, I'm sure he'll take them out. You're healing very well. But, take off your shirt and I'll put on some salve." Jed removed his shirt and Abbey came back with the salve. As always, she felt her stomach clench at the sight of her husband's wounds.

"Abbey?" Jed asked knowing how his injuries bothered her.

"Yes," she said, shaking herself from wife mode to doctor. She moved forward and began to apply the salve with gentle fingertips. "CJ said you're giving a speech in Maryland." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yeah," he said, watching her face for reaction, "on Friday."

"Any reason you didn't tell me about it?" She asked, trying to sound nonchalant while wrapping the gauze around his chest.

"Look it's no big deal, Abbey."

"No big deal," she said sarcastically. "It's only the first time you are going out in front of the public since someone tried to KILL you."

"Abbey, I didn't want to worry you."

"Too late. I'm already worried. Jed, I still have nightmares about that night. Do you know how close one of those bullets came to piercing your heart? Just a few millimeters closer and you would have been dead on the spot. And the other bullet? Well, that one only damn near severed your spinal cord."

"I KNOW I was damn lucky. But Abbey, everything will be fine."

"Want to promise me that, Jed?" She snapped. He looked at her as if she had slapped him. Abbey saw the pain she had inflicted with those words and wished she could take them back.

"I can't promise you, Abbey. I should never have promised you that in the first place."

"I know Jed. I'm sorry. That was a bitchy thing to say."

"Just remember you said it, not me," he grinned. "But, seriously Abbey, I am the President. I can't stay hidden here in the White House forever."

"Intellectually, I know that, but try telling that to my heart. My heart just wants to keep you safe."

****

Thursday evening Jed returned to the White House after having his stitches removed. It felt strange not to have the itching tightness that drove him crazy. Abbey had gone out to supper with Zoey who had called very upset because Charlie had told her about her father's speech. Abbey was going to try to calm Zoey's fear over his safety. Would any of them every really feel safe again, Jed wondered. With Abbey gone, he chose to have a quick sandwich at his desk for supper.

"How are you doing?" Leo asked him.

"I'm OK," Jed said biting into his sandwich.

"Abbey not around?" He asked, knowing the First Lady liked her husband to dine with her when they were both at the White House.

"She's out with Zoey. Girls night out."

"How is Abbey doing?"

"Better now that she isn't puking morning, noon, and night. She still feels nauseous sometimes but it isn't as bad."

"Good. Are you all set for tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"You know nobody would blame you if you were nervous."

"I am NOT nervous, Leo."

"Yes, sir."

An hour later Jed made his way to the residence and stepped into a nice hot shower. Oh, the sheer freedom of not worrying about getting his stitches wet. Feeling refreshed he got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. He caught sight of his scarred torso in the mirror. He moved closer looking at the very pink scar just to the side of his heart by his right nipple, and the one over his rib cage. He touched a finger to the scar. Abbey was right, that damn bullet had nearly gone right through his heart. He moved into the bedroom and began to go through his drawers for sweats.

Abbey entered the bedroom to see her towel clad husband looking boyish and sexy, his thick sandy brown hair wet and tousled, and she felt a pang of repressed sexual longing made all the more intense by the fact that she knew nothing could come of it.

"Hi babe," she said, and as she got closer, her eyes were riveted to the scars marring her husband's flesh.

"Attractive, aren't I?" He said ruefully, hoping not to see revulsion in his wife's eyes.

"Yes," she said softly. "You are." She was standing in front of him now and reaching out her fingers to run over each scar as she had with the salve. Then, to Jed's surprise, she leaned forward and began to run her lips lovingly over each scar, wanting only to take away the pain he'd endured and was still enduring. Unfortunately, her healing kisses became too erotic for Jed to bear.

"Uh, Abbey. I know a kiss is supposed to make it better. But you're starting something neither of us can finish."

"Sorry," she smiled and moved away from him to go and take her own shower. While the water ran over her body she tried to calm her fears over Jed's speech the next day. She had convinced Zoey everything would be fine but she wasn't really convinced of that at all. He was finally almost recovered, he was off the crutches, his stitches were gone, and it felt like they were tempting fate by sending him out again. She knew it had to happen at some point but it just seemed so soon.

The nightmare came back to her deep into the wee hours of the night. That time when dreams clouded reality. Mrs. Bartlet, your husband is dead..dead...dead..NO!! She woke up heart pounding and pressed herself into Jed's back. Oh please God, she prayed, keep him safe tomorrow.

***

Despite his assurances to Leo and to Abbey, Jed couldn't help but be nervous while sitting in the limo. Would shots ring out as he stepped out? No dammit, he wasn't going to let that man affect his life this way. He wouldn't live his life in fear. Still, as he stepped out of the limo, he couldn't help but take a deep breath and a long scan of the crowd. The people were roped off. He always walked the rope line. That was where he had been shot. He could just go inside. Nobody would think badly of him. No...He was Jed Bartlet and Jed Bartlet always talked to the people who had given him his position. He began to head toward the rope and felt Ron move in close.

CJ had released the statement that the President and First Lady were expecting twins in February and that the First Lady would continue on in her role in a more limited capacity. Now that was all the crowd wanted to question Jed about. They were handing him stuffed animals left and right.

"Do you know if they are boys or girls?"

"Are they identical?"

"How is Mrs. Bartlet?"

"Are you happy?"

"Were you surprised?"

"Was it in India?"

That question came about because the press had been speculating like crazy as to where conception had occurred. They had counted back from Abbey's due date and figured they had been in India and Japan. Everyone remembered the romantic pictures from the Taj Mahal and assumed that was when it happened. Jed politely answered their questions.

"We asked not to be told the sex."

"No, they are not identical."

"She is doing very well. She's working at the White House."

"Yes, we are very happy."

"Definitely, surprised and shocked."

"No comment."

He may be a public person but he wasn't going to comment on his and Abbey's sex life. Not to mention he wouldn't give the press the satisfaction of finding out they were right. Jed was surprised at the frenzy of excitement people had about this pregnancy. Yet while he answered their questions, accepted gifts, and shook hands his body was tense waiting for the pain of bullets slamming into him. His eyes were constantly scanning the crowd warily, and sweat broke out on his brow.

***

While Jed was gone, Abbey spent some time at her office but her mind was not on her work. Any minute now she could picture her agent coming in to tell her there had been another shooting. While her mind wandered, Abbey felt it. Deep inside her belly. That movement that felt like butterfly wings fluttering. She held her breath wondering if she had really felt it, knowing that she had. Then, there it was again. Her babies were moving. She placed her hand over her belly knowing she wouldn't be able to feel it with her hand yet but still trying.

"Well, little ones," she said. “So you make your presence known."

Jed poked his head into Abbey's office and saw her leaning back in her chair, her hand on her belly, a soft secret smile on her face.

"Abbey," he said quietly. "I'm back."

"What? Oh Jed, you're back."

"That's what I said," he grinned and entered the office. "What are you smiling about? You look like the cat that just got the canary"

"I just felt it. I felt the babies moving."

Jed moved quickly to her side pressing his hand against the small swell, wanting to feel it, anxious this sign of life.

"It was just the quickening, Jed," she said patting his hand. "You can't feel it yet."

"Oh," he said, a little disappointed.

"So, everything went alright?"

"Without a hitch," he said.

"And you were ok," she said suspiciously.

"Absolutely fine," he lied. "I told you. Piece of cake."

"Yeah right," she said, her eyes narrowed and she reached a hand out to touch his cheek. He wasn't telling her the truth but she loved him for trying not to worry her. Jed always tried to protect her. It was her little secret that she could usually see right through him.

TBC...