Ruth
Synopsis: It had been three hours since the shooting and the press wanted to know where Josh was.
Characters: Leo, CJ, Danny & Steve
Rating: PG
Notes: Because when I watched ITSOTG I couldn't help wonder where Josh's mother was.
"Leo," CJ called as the Chief Of Staff walked past her office. When Leo turned towards her, CJ thought he looked like hell. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just great," Leo snapped, immediately regretting his tone, CJ didn't look too good herself. "Sorry," he managed a half smile. "What's the problem?"
"I'm getting questions about Josh."
"Asking what?"
"Where he is."
Leo sighed. He'd been expecting someone to notice Josh's absence, he'd just hoped he could contact his mother first. "Who's asking?"
"Danny and Steve so far. They're not going to be put off much longer, they know that Josh would normally be here in the thick of things."
"I can't get a hold of his mother. She can't hear about this on the news."
"I understand that, Leo. But the only way to make Danny and Steve understand is to tell them what's happened." CJ saw that Leo about to argue and hastily added, "They won't leak it until I say they can."
"They're reporters, CJ."
"Yes," CJ agreed. "And if I don't tell them, they're going to start asking the others what they think of Josh's absence."
Leo knew CJ was right. "Okay, but if anything gets leaked before I speak to ......"
"Nothing will," CJ promised.
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CJ found Danny filing a report in the press office. "Can I see you in my office in five minutes?" she asked quietly, "bring Steve."
"What's going on?" Danny asked.
"In my office."
Danny gave CJ a concerned look. "Has something happened?"
"Has something...?" CJ asked incredulously. "No it's been a quiet night, I just wondered if the two of you had any gossip you wanted to share."
"Okay, calm down. We'll be there."
Five minutes later Danny and Steve were both sat in CJ's office when she walked in and closed the door.
Danny had now had time to think and immediately asked, "Is this about Josh?"
CJ sat behind her desk but didn't reply.
"CJ?" Steve prompted.
"I know you're both wondering where Josh is. I don't know if any of the others have been asking?"
"Some have been wondering, yes," Danny told her.
"Great," CJ muttered. She stared at the TV screens next to her desk, at the footage of the shooting, at the reporters outside GW. In her mind all she could hear were gunshots and breaking glass, all she could see was Josh and blood.
"Is Josh okay?" Steve sounded concerned.
CJ looked back at the two reporters. "He was shot in the chest."
"Oh God." Danny stared at her, "Is he, I mean....?"
"He's in surgery. He has a collapsed lung and a ruptured pulmonary artery." It amazed CJ that she could say those words so calmly, like she wasn't talking about one of her closest friends. "I can't announce it out there yet because we can't contact his mother."
"Yeah," Danny still looked stunned.
"We'll keep it quiet," Steve assured her. "And we'll distract the others somehow."
"Thank you. As soon as Leo's contacted Mrs Lyman, I'll tell you. You know I'm grateful, if you need anything......."
"We don't want anything, CJ," Danny told her. "Josh is a friend. I just want to know how he is, just keep me updated on his condition, okay?"
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Twenty minutes later, Leo looked up as Margaret entered the office. "Mrs Lyman on line two," she told him.
"Thank God for that," Leo muttered. "Put her through." He picked up the phone and hesitated before pressing two, what was he going to say to her? He pressed the button. "Ruth."
"Leo. I've just seen the news. Where's Josh? He's not answering his phone and when I called his office they put me through to you." Ruth sounded calm, but Leo could hear the fear just under the surface.
"He's at George Washington University Hospital, he's in surgery."
After a second's silence, Ruth asked, "How serious is it?"
"It's pretty serious." Leo wished he could give her a different answer, he wondered whether he should have lied, until she got here at least. But she'd never have forgiven him, she was very much like her son in that she needed to face the truth head on. "He was shot in the chest. He's been in surgery for two hours, the operation will be another ten or twelve hours though. He's in good hands, Ruth." Leo was well aware that he was talking too much. "Where are you?"
"I'm at a friend's, we put the TV on when we came in," Ruth sat down. "I'll get a flight."
"I've already arranged you one. It can't leave yet though, the airports are closed, the city's locked down, no one's leaving or coming in."
"I can't just sit here, Leo."
"There's nothing else you can do. He's got one of the best surgical teams in the country. He's young and fit. His chances are good." In truth the doctors had given Josh only a 25% chance of making it through the operation.
Ruth couldn't tell whether he was telling the truth, but she desperately wanted to believe him. "What time's the flight?"
"6.20 from Bradley. It's the earliest I could arrange."
"What about the ticket?"
"You don't need one, it's a private plane. Just go to the information booth and they'll take you through. Someone'll meet you at Dulles."
"Okay. Thanks, Leo. My cell phone's switched on now, call me with any news."
"I will. Take care and try not to worry too much," which Leo knew was unlikely.
"How's the President?"
"He's going to be fine."
"Good."
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CJ entered the press room and stood at the podium. She'd being doing this for eightenn months now and she enjoyed it, or at least she had until tonight. She faced the reporters and began her briefing. She confirmed that the President was going to be fine and she deflected a question from Nick about the 25th Amendment. She told them that the manhunt for the signalman was still underway and that the airports and stations remained closed. Just as she was about to take questions, Carol gave her a note from Leo. After reading it she glanced to the back of the room and saw Leo stood at the window, he nodded and she looked back at the reporters.
"Hang on a minute." She waited for the reporters to be quiet. "Also shot tonight was Deputy Chief Of Staff, Joshua Lyman. He was shot in the chest and is currently undergoing surgery at George Washington Memorial Hospital for a ruptured pulmonary artery and a collapsed lung. The surgeons also have to locate and remove the bullet which is still in his thoracic region."
After a stunned silence from the press, the questions began. "CJ,"
"Katie."
"Can you tell us how long the operation will take?"
"The surgeons say it could take up to 14 hours. He's been in surgery for almost three hours now. Ed?"
"What's his condition?"
CJ hesitated, this was harder than she imagined it would be. "His condition is critical. Nick?"
"What are his chances?"
"I'm not a doctor, Nick. Steve?"
"Does the President know about Josh?"
"Yes he does. Danny?"
"When will you have more information for on Josh's condition?"
CJ gave Danny a grateful look. "I won't be able to give you anymore information until the procedure's over. I'll be briefing again in two hours." With that she left the podium and headed back to her office, determined that she wouldn't give in to the tears until she was alone.
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Danny and Steve were leaving the briefing room when Leo called them over. "Thanks."
"Not all reporters a pond scum you know," Steve told him.
"I know."
"How's his mother?" Danny asked, once Steve had left them alone.
"In shock."
"I'd imagine," Danny agreed. "How she going to get here? The city's locked down."
Leo gave Danny a probing look. "Don't worry about it."
Danny smiled a little ironically, "Not too sure about that pond scum then, Leo. I've known Josh a long time, I was just asking."
"Yeah, I'm sorry. It's been a long night," Leo apologized. "She's on a flight in a few hours."
"He's a fighter, Leo," Danny offered, but Leo didn't look convinced and Danny felt a sudden pang of fear. "His chances are good aren't they? I mean CJ said...."
"It's a long procedure and he's lost a lot of blood. He stopped breathing twice on his way to the OR."
"God. You'll let me know if anything happens?" Danny asked.
"I will. But you're right, he's a fighter," Leo replied and said a silent prayer that it would be enough this time.
END