krazykitkat | (no subject)

Surfacing 3/?
By Katrina McDonnell

Leo set Carol down gently on his couch, before turning to see a concerned Margaret behind him.

"Margaret, could you please get Carol a cup of tea and I need the phone number of CJ's parents."

She nodded and left for her tasks.

"I need to get back to work, need to prepare the next briefing. Who will be giving it?" Carol protested, attempting to get up.

Leo put his hand on her shoulder, forcing her to stay where she was. "You don't have to do anything, but sit there and calm down. Chief of Staff's orders. The briefing can be pushed back." He watched as she sank back into the cushions, the fight leaving her. He wished he could join her, but he needed to remain in control; there was too much to be done. The country wouldn't stop just because a vital part of the machinery was missing. He was expecting a number of other vital parts to arrive at his door any second, he needed to keep them going...and here they were.

Josh, Sam, Toby and Donna each had the same haunted look on their face, deep concern and worry for a member of their family.

"What's wrong with Claudia Jean?" Josh's words tripped over each other in their rush to be answered.

"We don't know..."

Sam cut in. "You must know something."

Leo held up his hands to try and calm them. "All we know for sure is that she's in shock. Let me finish." He cut Toby off before he could interrupt. "There is no point in speculating beyond that right now. The First Lady will call as soon as she knows anything. Then I'll tell you."

He nodded as Margaret entered, put a slip of paper on his desk, and gave Carol her tea. She sat beside CJ's assistant, offering the woman physical support.

Turning back, he continued. "You've got work to do. It's all we can do at the moment," he finished in a softer tone.

"Why has Concannon gone with her?" Toby wasn't exactly known for his tact.

"Because he's a friend, he was there and he's not needed to keep the cogs of government well oiled." Leo knew they'd find out soon enough, they probably already had strong suspicions, but he felt a need to protect CJ for as long as possible. Hell, he even felt he should be protecting Danny. As much as he was angry they'd disobeyed him by getting involved, as much as this would cause problems for everyone involved and the administration, he couldn't help but feel privileged to have witnessed them together in an intimate moment. He recognised the expression on Danny's face, he'd once possessed the same look and he saw it every time Jed gazed at Abbey. Absolute unconditional love and devotion. Leo the man was shouting down Leo the politician at this moment.

"Look, I know it's hard, but there's nothing we can do right now. I will call you in as soon as I know what's happening. I need to inform the President and call her family." He shepherded them out of the room, closing the door after them.

"What do you want me to do?" Margaret's voice broke into his thoughts.

"Can you check to see whether the President is in his office? If he is, let them know I'll be there in about five minutes. Then, just sit with Carol. How are you doing, Carol?"

"I don't know," Carol's voice cracked.

"You sit there for as long as you need. Margaret will be back in a minute. I'm just going to call CJ's parents." He walked to his desk and picked up the phone. After dialing he waited, holding his breath, almost hoping no one would answer. But someone did.

"Mrs. Cregg? This is Leo McGarry, White House Chief of Staff."

A few minutes later he put the handset down and rubbed his hands over his face. Definitely one of the most difficult phone calls he'd ever made.

"The President is in the Oval Office."

Leo looked up at the sound of Margaret's voice. "Thank you, Margaret. Mrs. Cregg will be ringing back shortly with flight details. I've told her if she has any trouble, we'll help. When you know the time their flight will arrive, please arrange for a car to pick them up and take them straight to the hospital." He stood and walked towards the door. "Carol can stay here at the moment, until we hear from the First Lady. Don't argue with me, Carol. I'll be in with the President. Come and get me if I'm needed."

Leaving his office in Margaret's capable hands, he walked to the door of the Oval Office. He paused for a second to collect himself, then knocked on the door. He opened it and entered, to be greeted by a worried President.

"What's happened to CJ? All anyone can tell me is that she collapsed and has been taken to hospital."

Leo sat down on the couch and waited for President Bartlet to also sit.

"Abbey's gone with her. CJ wasn't looking well when she came into work this morning. I asked Carol to keep an eye on her. After the last briefing, Carol came and told me she was getting worse, so I called Abbey. CJ wasn't too thrilled." They both smiled slightly. "Abbey was about to examine her, when she grabbed her side and screamed. Jed, I've never heard anything like that scream."

Even though they were very old friends, Leo had rarely called him by his first name since the election. But here, right now, they were two parents deeply worried about one of their children.

"Appendicitis?" Jed asked.

Leo shook his head. "No, that's what I asked. She passed out, she was in shock. Abbey thinks there's internal bleeding."

Jed interrupted. "From what?"

"Abbey's pretty sure it's a ruptured ectopic pregnancy."

"Oh, God, no. Did she know?" Jed's shoulders visibly slumped.

"We don't think so. Abbey will call as soon as she knows anything definite."

They sat in silence for a minute, each processing the events.

Jed broke the quiet, asking the question on everyone's mind. "Is she going to make it?"

Leo leaned forward, his body stiffening. "Abbey didn't actually say anything, but she's not confident. A few prayers wouldn't go astray. All we can do is wait."

"Who else knows?"

"Carol was there; she's in my office at the moment. I'm not telling the rest of the senior staff until we know for sure. The next briefing isn't for another few hours, I'll decide closer to that time what we're doing." Leo looked down at his clenched hands. He heard Jed shift in his seat.

Jed quietly queried, "Danny's the father?"

"Yeah." Leo rose to his feet and started pacing, his voice gaining an edge. "I so want to yell at both of them. We warned CJ against pursuing a relationship and the problems it would cause. I really feel like I'm dealing with a bunch of preschoolers sometimes. They've been monumentally stupid and we're going to have to deal with the fallout. I expect this kind of stunt from Josh and Sam, but not CJ." The wall was at the receiving end of his frustration and deep worry.

"Leo." He felt Jed's hand on his shoulder and turned to face him.

"I know."

Jed directed him to sit back down. "I think we can do with some tea."

Leo watched as Jed walked to the door and called for Charlie.

"Yes, Mr. President?"

"Could you please get us some tea and, if she'll allow, some of Mrs. Landingham's cookies."

"Yes, Sir."

Jed clasped Charlie's shoulder. "Thank you, Charlie." He watched him leave before walking back to sit with Leo. "Where's Danny now?"

"He's gone to the hospital with Abbey's agents."

"He was there when she collapsed?" Jed's voice started to break.

Leo nodded, breathing deeply before answering. "Yeah. She fainted in his arms. I thought he was going to pass out too, he went so white. Abbey had some trouble getting him to answer questions." He paused, before deciding what to say next. "He's in love with her, Jed. I saw it in his eyes. CJ even let him hold her while I was there. I'm worried what he'll do, if she doesn't..."

Charlie's knocking on the door cut off the rest of that sentence. He placed the pot of tea and plate of cookies on the table in front of them.

"Thank you, Charlie."

"Do you need anything else, Mr. President?"

Jed shook his head. "No, thank you."

Charlie remained still, before asking, "Is CJ going to be okay?"

"We don't know," Leo replied.

Jed looked at both of them. "All we can do is wait."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The bustle of the ER was usually distracting to someone, even a doctor, who didn't experience it everyday. But Abbey's attention was firmly fixed on one patient.

CJ's condition had deteriorated rapidly during the ambulance ride and she was slipping into hypovolemic shock. The emergency room doctors immediately started a blood transfusion and drew blood for a serum HCG test to confirm a pregnancy. They also continued treatment for shock. The attending OB/GYN, Dr. Murphy, arrived and after receiving a condition update, started questioning Abbey.

"When was her last period?"

"According to her partner, a week ago. But the last two have been heavier and more painful than normal," Abbey replied. "I started treatment for shock as soon as she fainted. Her appendix has been removed and symptoms indicated a ruptured ectopic pregnancy."

Dr. Murphy nodded. "I think you're right. We haven't got time to wait for the HCG, she's losing too much blood. I'll do an endovaginal ultrasound now." As they waited for the machine, Dr. Murphy took a better look at Abbey. "What did you say your name was again?"

"Dr. Abigail Bartlet." She smiled as he tried to cover his double take and resulting embarrassment.

"Welcome, Dr. Bartlet. I'm glad you were available. Your quick response may well save her life." Without missing a beat, Dr. Murphy received the machine and began the ultrasound.

A nurse entered with the results of the blood test. "Serum HCG is positive, hematocrit decreased, white blood count elevated." (?)

"Right. And the uterus is empty." Abbey watched as Dr. Murphy further explored the abdomen. "There's what's left of the right fallopian tube and the fetal tissue. That's a mess. Looks like it was probably close to ten weeks. I'm amazed she got this far. Call for an OR and Dr. Keating to assist. Tell them we have an acute surgical abdomen, a laparotomy for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. We'll need at least ? units of typed(?) blood. Prep her for surgery."

Dr. Murphy turned to Abbey. "Is a relative or partner here?"

"Her partner should be here by now. What are her chances?" She tried to keep her voice under control, but a waver sneaked past the barricades.

"Not good. The hemorrhage is extensive, there's probably been some bleeding in the tube for the last few days. Going on the ultrasound I'll probably have to perform a salpingectomy, I don't think I can save the tube. The ovary and uterus may also be damaged. She's going to be at great risk of infection if she makes it through surgery, along with the complications from the shock. Additionally, her age puts her in the high risk category. We'll do our best." Dr. Murphy put his hand on her arm to offer comfort.

Abbey nodded. "Thank you for being honest."

"I've got a minute to see her partner. He'll have to sign some consent forms."

Dr. Murphy led her to the waiting room, where her agents were trying to blend inconspicuously into the background. Her eyes sought and found the flailing man, cast adrift in the middle of a white linoleum sea. His shoulders were hunched, hands clasped, eyes downcast.

"Danny."

Her voice, his name, was a lifeline he seized hold of, pulling him to the shore. She sat down beside him, taking his hand in hers, leading him back onto terra firma.

"Danny, this is Dr. Murphy. He's going to operate on CJ."

He turned towards Dr. Murphy and in a shaking voice, asked, "Is she going to be all right?"

"We'll do our best. She's being prepared for surgery right now. It is a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. The first step is to stop the bleeding and then we'll repair the damage. Based on my examination, the fallopian tube will probably have to be removed. She'll be in surgery for at least a couple of hours. I need you to sign some consent forms that the nurse will bring in shortly." Dr. Murphy had explained only as much as Danny could process in his present state, knowing she could elaborate later. "I need to go to surgery now."

Danny reached out with his free hand to shake Dr. Murphy's. "Please save her."

Dr. Murphy just nodded, not wanting to promise anything, before leaving. A nurse entered with the forms, which Danny filled out with help from Abbey.

"Mrs. Bartlet..."

"Call me Abbey, Danny."

"Is she going to make it?" His eyes begged her to tell him good news, but she couldn't give him false hope.

"I don't know, Danny. All we can do is wait." She clasped his shoulder. "I need to call Leo to let him know. Is it all right with you if the senior staff are told what's happened? Nobody else has to know the details."

Danny was now staring straight ahead. "Okay. Carol should know too. And Donna. She can take care of Josh."

Abbey couldn't help a grim smile, Danny knew Josh all too well. She watched sadly as he withdrew into himself. Standing, she kissed him on the top of the head. "I'll be back soon." He didn't acknowledge her.

As she left the room, she looked back. There was no one there to keep him afloat. She prayed he'd still be treading water when she returned.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*