A week and a half after he had been admitted the hospital, the hospital staff was looking forward to the departure of the President. The press had been camped out there all this time while wild rumors plagued the nation. The President was a vegetable, the President couldn't walk, the President had brain damage, all of those headlines had been on the covers of the various tabloids. The President's staff was in and out disregarding all hospital visiting rules and now that he was regaining his strength, Jed Bartlet was a horrible patient. He was always trying to do more than was advised and was snapping at everyone about his restrictions, the food, the rules, oh just about everything. Jed wanted to go home.

"I am not entirely comfortable with you going home, Mr. President," his doctor stated. "I would like to monitor you for a couple more days."

"Look," Jed said, interrupting him irritatedly, "I am the President. I have a country to run. I have my own personal physician and my wife is a doctor. I think I've got it covered."

"Which is precisely why we are going to let you go home. The First Lady has also interviewed physical therapists and has hired Dr. Kent to work with you at the White House."

"So you’re telling me you’re letting me go home?"

"Yes. We trust the First Lady to monitor your recovery."

"Well, it's about time," Jed grinned.

***

The next morning all Abbey was monitoring was her husband trying to dress.

"I can't believe you didn't bring my Notre Dame sweatshirt," he sulked.

"Jed, you cannot wear your Notre Dame sweatshirt out of the hospital," she said, while pulling clothes out of the bag she had brought.

"Why not? It's comfortable."

"Because the entire world knows you are going home to the White House today. There are hundreds of people and reporters outside."

"And I need to look Presidential."

"Yup," She was squinting at a blue tie in one hand, a red in the other. "The red I think," she tossed the tie at him. She turned to see him struggling to button his shirt over his still heavily bandaged torso and moved forward to help him. She was tying his tie when his breakfast was brought in. The smell filled Abbey with nausea. She took a deep breath and swallowed trying to quell her rebelling stomach. Jed noticed her face pale, saw her eyes close.

"Abbey, are you all right?" He frowned.

"Yes I...just don't talk to me right now...I...Oh God!!" She turned and raced for the bathroom. Jed grabbed his crutches and slowly made his way over finding his wife retching horribly over the toilet. Abbey heard him enter the bathroom but was too miserable to look up. She was fighting a losing battle with the waves of nausea. She felt Jed take her hair and pull it back into his fist away from her face. Her stomach contracted and she heaved again. Jed groaned in pain as he got down on his knees and began to rub her back.

"Jed...please go away," she moaned. He knew she hated him to see her this way.

"No way, sweet knees. You've been taking care of me. It's my turn. We're quite a pair aren't we?" He grinned ruefully.

"We're getting too old for this shit, Jed," she said, flushing the toilet and wearily rising to her feet.

"I'll second that.” He wet a washcloth to wipe her brow and the corners of her mouth. "OK now?"

"Yeah," she said, rinsing her mouth with mouthwash. "I'm just going to go sit down for a few minutes."

"We really haven't had much of a chance to talk about this. “ Jed limped out after her. Damn, his back made it hurt like hell to walk.

"You can't even say it can you, Jed? It is not a THIS, it is a BABY...I know what you're scared of," she touched his arm.

"Do you, Abbey?" He whirled around. "Do you really?"

"Yes Jed," she said softly now. "Believe me, I remember what we went through with Zoey and Peter."

"I know what it did to ME, Abbey, and it scares the hell out of me because of what it did to YOU. The weeks after Peter's death were some of the darkest days of our marriage. I was afraid I had lost my son AND my wife. I really can't go through that again, Abbey. THAT is what I am scared of."

"I know," she said through tears, "Jed, I'm having surgery next week." Jed just stood there in shock. He never would have believed it. Never would have believed that Abbey would be so cavalier about a decision like this. That she would make the decision without him. He understood her reasons, but dammit it was his baby too. Abbey saw the tears in his eyes, looked at him puzzled.

"Jed, what's wrong? Are you hurting?"

"Hell yes, I'm hurting. I understand if an abortion is best for your health, Abbey, but you just said it like you didn't give a damn. Like you didn't care. That’s our CHILD inside you."

"An abortion! When did I say...oh…the surgery. Jed, God, how could you think I meant that. I could never abort our child. You should KNOW that!" She turned away so he wouldn't see her tears. "I WANT this baby Jed...I just wish you did," she said sadly.

"If there weren't any risks, I would be thrilled".

"There are always risks, Jed. But we'll get through them together. Like we always do."

"Let's get back to the surgery. What kind of surgery are you having?" He looked worried now.

"It's nothing major. It's a day surgery. Dr. Brant thinks the reason I was early with Zoey and lost Peter was because there was a weakening in my cervix after Ellie. They’re going to sew my cervix closed. She says doing this has proven to be very successful."

"And by doing this procedure you should be able to carry the baby safely?"

"Hopefully. The goal is to keep the baby inside me for 32 weeks. There is a catch though, depending on the severity of the weakening as the baby gets heavier in my uterus and puts pressure on my cervix, I may have to go on bed rest again."

"Well, as much as you hate that, it will be nice to have you around all the time," he smiled.

"Jed," she took his hand. "I’m going to do everything right. I'm going to do everything in my power to keep from losing this baby."

"I know you will. And I'll do what I can to take care of you two.” He placed his hand over the slight swell of her belly. "I want it too Abbey.” He looked right into her soul with those intense blue eyes that showed her just how much he wanted this baby. She knew he was afraid of the same thing she was, to want it too much and then to lose it.

"Thank you, Jed," she covered his hand with hers.

Leo cleared his throat interrupting the intimate little scene. "Sir, the Secret Service is ready. Are you?"

"Damn straight I'm ready. Ready Abbey?"

"Ready," she smiled, helping him into the wheelchair. "You know, Leo," she said as they walked down the hall wheeling Jed, "it was kind of nice being Jed and Abbey again for a little while."

"Yes ma'am," Leo gave her a wink and Abbey knew it was back to the world of sir and ma'am, back to being the President and First Lady.

TBC...