It was a warm day and Abbey breezed into Jed's hospital room, bringing with her the scent of spring. Jed was sitting up in bed with his glasses on reading from a file.

"Josiah Bartlet. What are you doing?" she asked exasperated.

"Nothing," Jed said innocently and put the file down. "Come give me a kiss, gorgeous."

"Don't nothing me, Jed," she said moving forward to lightly kiss his lips. While she did so, she grabbed the file.

"Hey, that wasn't fair," he protested. "You took advantage of the fact that I am injured and weak."

"Jed," she glared at him, slamming the folder down. "THIS is WORK. Didn't your doctor say NO stress?"

"It's nothing stressful, I swear."

"And I swear I don't know what I am going to do with you. You were shot twice a few days ago and you've had two major surgeries to repair the damage. You are supposed to be taking it EASY. Do you understand what easy means? God, you can be such a jackass sometimes."

"But a lovable one," he gave her a boyish grin. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. He made it so hard to stay mad at him."Hey, don't you notice anything different about me?" Abbey looked at him up and down.

"Well..." she said, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

"I'm free," he said. "No more tubes except for this stupid IV. I can even pee on my own now."

"Well, THAT is exciting," Abbey teased him. But, she could see how much this first step back to independence meant to him and she wanted to mark the occasion. "Since you are no longer attached to this bed by tubes, how about if I see if I can spring you for a ride?"

"You mean get out of this room," he said anxiously.

"Let me talk to your doctor and to Ron."

"You can convince them Abbey. They'll listen to you."

"IF I do this, you need to promise me no more work today."

"Scout's honor," he lifted two fingers, "just break me free, babe." Abbey shook her head with a smile and left the room.

She was back fifteen minutes later with a wheelchair.

"We're all set for go," she said but stopped short when she saw the nurse peeling back the bandage on Jed's torso.

"I just have to have my bandages changed first," Jed said anxiously. "You can stay, can't you?"

"Jed, I have nothing else planned for the day," she assured him and moved closer to the bed to take his hand. It hurt to see him so worried about missing a simple trip outside his room for fear that she might too busy.

Abbey had yet to see the damage the bullets had done to her husband's body and she winced when she saw the angry red scars criss crossed with black stitches just under his breast bone and on his lower right rib cage. Jed saw the tears filling her eyes and squeezed her hand.

"It's OK, babe," he said.

"Do you know how lucky you are?" She said touching the damaged flesh with light fingertips. "Do you know how lucky you are to be alive?"

"Yes, I do," he said solemnly. Abbey stepped back to allow the nurse to cleanse the wound with antiseptic. She knew how important it was to keep the wounds free from infection, not only because of the danger that it posed, but also because of the danger of fever with Jed's M.S.

"Oh...shit that hurts," Jed groaned. "Abbey...Abbey," Abbey moved forward and took his hand again. His face had gone ashen gray with the pain and beads of perspiration dotted his forehead.

"It's OK, Jed," Abbey said, running a cool cloth over his brow. "I'm right here."

"Don't leave," he begged.

"I'm not going anywhere." She continued to soothe and talk to him while the nurse cleansed the wounds on his back.

"Oh...oh shit Abbey," he groaned. "I'm gonna puke." Abbey quickly grabbed a bedpan and held it while her husband threw up. Abbey stroked his back telling him everything was OK, then wiped his mouth with the edge of a wet towel.

"Better now, pumpkin?" She asked.

"MmmmmHmmmm...sorry about that," he said sheepishly. "The pain just makes me sick sometimes."

"I know it does honey," she said sympathetically.

After the bandages were replaced, Jed was exhausted from the pain. Abbey sat with him while his pain medication took effect and he fell asleep. She sat in a chair reading until he woke up a couple hours later. He was feeling better and his color was back. He hated the fact that he was so weak a simple thing like changing his bandages could wipe him out like that. But, at least Abbey was still there.

"I'm ready to go for my ride," he said, "thanks for staying."

So Abbey and an orderly helped him from the bed to the wheelchair. Jed held his IV pole as Abbey pushed him down the corridor, past where she had learned that he'd been flatlining when he came in, past the recovery room where she had spent that awful first night in abject terror, past the private waiting room she had spent so many hours in, and out the sliding doors into the sunshine. They were in a small secluded courtyard that had been cleared by the service. Jed lifted his face toward the sun, feeling it's healing rays.

"God, it feels good to feel the sun again," he said. "Abbey..thank you."

"You're very welcome," she said and kissed his forehead while spreading a blanket over his legs.

When Leo arrived an hour later he found them still in the courtyard. Jed was in his wheelchair while Abbey sat on the grass beside him her head resting against his knee. They were doing the New York Times crossword puzzle.

"Well, it's nice to see you out in the real world again," Leo grinned.

"Leo," Jed said brightly and Abbey turned to see the files in Leo's hands.

"Leo McGarry," she said, eyes narrowing, "is that work for Jed in those files?"

"What?...uh...no...what files do you mean?" He put the files behind his back. Abbey stared at him with a raised brow.

"Oh, you are so busted, Leo," Jed laughed.

"This is not a laughing matter you two idiots. Leo, Jed needs his REST. He needs to recover. If you bring him anymore work you will leave me no choice but to break your fingertips."

"Yes ma'am," Leo said chastised.

"Now, would you help me wheel Jed back to his room? I'll need some help getting him back into bed. I think he's had enough fun in the sun for one day."

"I'm right behind you ma'am," Leo said dutifully.

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen," Jed said, shaking his head.

TBC...