Collision

"Ah hell," Leo muttered as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.  He thought he was okay, but there was blood on his jacket and shirt, and he couldn't work out where it was coming from. Josh was lying against him and Leo realized it was Josh's blood, not his own. People were starting to gather now. Why did people do that? Leo wondered. Why did they stand and watch a car wreck, but didn't actually do anything to help? 

"Can you hear me in there?" a man asked and Leo remembered that no one can get in to them. The car has bullet proof windows and the doors were all locked. He gently moved Josh away, opened his door and started to get out. "Stay where you are," the man told him.

Leo was suddenly hit by another realization; this could be an attack. He was the White House Chief Of Staff, there was a reason he was being driven by the Secret Service, and they have just been hit by something at a normally quiet intersection. He tried to get out of the car again.

"Seriously, Mr McGarry, you should stay still until the ambulance gets here."

The man knew his name, how did he know his name? Ambulance, he'd called an ambulance. Surely that was a good thing, if he was attacking them he wouldn't have done that. Leo sat back in his seat and closed his eyes.

"No, Leo, stay awake."

Leo studied the young man and tried to remember where he knew him from, but his head was spinning and all he wanted to do was close his eyes. He sat back and let his rescuer check on Josh.  

Ryan leant over to Josh, saw the blood on Josh face and shirt and frantically searched for a pulse.

"The medics are here," Leo told him.

Ryan climbed back out of the vehicle, "I'll call Donna," he told Leo as the medics moved him away.

"CJ," Carol nodded at the TV.

"Whose car is that?" CJ asked, studying the TV pictures of a black sedan, a pick up, medics and firefighters.

"It looks like a White House car," Carol commented.

"Find out who's using that number." CJ watched, trying to see who was there, but the camera had been moved away and she couldn't make out the faces. Her fear that it was one of their people was confirmed when the Secret Service arrived on the scene. She picked up the phone and dialed, "Toby."

"Yeah I'm watching, who is it?"

"I dunno." CJ looked away from the TV to see a secret service agent arrive at her door. "But I think they've just crashed the building."

"Yeah," Toby agreed, as agents entered the bullpen.

"Oh shit," CJ stared at the picture on the screen.

"CJ," Donna pushed past the secret service agent. "It's Leo and Josh," she told CJ. "Ryan just phoned me."

CJ turned her attention back to the TV. She watched as a gurney was wheeled to the car and someone was taken from the vehicle. 

"What's going on?" Jed asked Ron.

"There's been a car accident, Sir. We don't know whether it was an attack or not, until we do we're crashing the building."

"Who's car?" Jed saw Ron glance at the others in room. "Can you wait outside," he told his economic advisors. "Ron?"

"It was Leo's car, Sir. He's on his way to GW for a check up, but the medics say he's fine. Josh Lyman was also in the car. The agent at the scene said he was unconscious, but I don't have any further details."

Jed had just been cursing Josh for not being here, he was suppose to be staffing the meeting Ron just interrupted. "You think it was an attack?"

"We don't know. But a pick-up comes out of nowhere and smashes into the White House Chief Of Staff's car, I have to assume...."

"Yeah," Jed nodded, he knew better than to ask to go to GW though, knew he'd have to be content to wait for news.

Leo glared at Adam, the senior agent at the hospital. "I know it could have been an attack, at the moment I'm more worried about Josh."

"Mr McGarry, we need to get you back to the White House," Adam started to protest. 

"So the White House is secure?"

"Yes, Sir."

"The president's secure?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Is the hospital secure?"

"As we can make it, yes."

"Then I'm waiting to see Josh." Leo picked up his jacket and tie, climbed off the bed and walked into the corridor. He had a concussion and minor cuts and bruises; the doctor said he was free to go home. Adam wanted him back at the White House where he was easy to protect, he knew though that wasn't going to happen.

Adam spoke into his wrist and then turned back to Leo. "We can use this room," he lead Leo inside. "There's a Ryan Pierce refusing to leave, says he interned at the White House last summer and you'll know him."

"Yeah, he was at the crash scene, let him through."

"No, I can't do that. If he was at the crash scene....."

"Oh for the love of God! He got clearance to work in White House Operations, he's the great grandson of a former president, I think I'll be safe with him."

Adam spoke into his wrist again. Ron Butterfield had warned him that Leo and the president were, at times, difficult to protect.

"Mr McGarry," Ryan entered the room, "you're okay?"

"I'm fine. Josh is with the doctors."

"Right. I thought they were going to arrest me," he admitted as he sat down.

"They think we were attacked."

"God, really?" Ryan digested that piece of information. 

"The driver of the pick-up is dead, Sir. Until we find out more about him I can't lift the crash," Ron told Jed.

"Charlie, will you let Donna know about Josh so she can phone his mother, I'll call Mallory."

Charlie left the Oval Office and was slightly perturbed to find he had an escort to Josh's bullpen. "Have you seen Donna?" he asked.

"She's in CJ's office, are Josh and Leo alright?"

"They're both fine," Charlie confirmed before walking away.

CJ turned toward Charlie when he entered her office. "Charlie, any news?"

"Yeah, they're both going to be alright. Leo has a slight concussion, cuts and bruises. Josh dislocated his shoulder, he's got broken and bruised ribs and a severe concussion, the doctor's keeping him in GW tonight. The president wants you to phone Josh's mom," Charlie told Donna.

"Yeah I will. When can I go and see him?"

"Miss Moss can go to the hospital now," Charlie's shadow informed them, "everyone else has to stay here until the crash is lifted." 

Josh opened his eyes and looked up at Leo, trying to work out where he was. "Leo?"

"Hey, kid, how you feeling?"

"Sore. What happened?" Josh whispered.

"We were in a crash."

"Yeah," Josh remembered. "You okay?"

Leo nodded and Josh closed his eyes again.

"He'll be drifting in and out for a while yet, it's nothing to worry about," the doctor assured Leo.

"Is it alright if I sit with him?"

"Yes, I'll come back and check in half an hour."

Once the doctor had gone, Leo sat watching Josh, regretting the last few months. What had possessed him to put such distance between them?

"Donna's on her way," he told Josh. He wondered what the rest of the staff thought of Donna being able to escape the lock down, deciding they probably thought it was completely normal -- Josh was in the hospital, who else would be here with him? Leo was pretty sure letting Donna out of the building was Jed's idea, it was a good job Margaret was on holiday or she'd be sent to drag him back to the White House.

"..... currently in a lock down situation until the identity of the attacker is known."

"Oh what?" CJ sighed, she picked up the phone and called the news editor.

"Anything for some drama," Carol commented.

"Why's the crash so long?" Toby asked the agent on the door.

"I couldn't say, Mr Ziegler," came the unsurprising reply.

"..... Harry, you have to stop saying it was an attack," CJ said into the phone. "Well, stop your reporter from saying it...... No, it was a car smash..... It's standard procedure to crash the building.... Harry, you know what my answer to that is.... that's right, we don't comment on Secret Service procedure.... As soon as the crash has been lifted.... Thank you." CJ hung up the phone. "What is wrong with these people?"

"What?"

"He wanted to know, seeing as we've been crashed for so long, is Leo hurt and who else was in the car, they've heard someone's been killed."

"How do they know Leo was in the car?" Ginger asked.

"He was on the TV pictures," Carol told her.

"Has someone called Margaret?" 

"Why have I got an armed guard?" Josh asked.

"They think we may have been attacked, the driver of the other car was a Muslim."

"You know, I'm glad Israel is an ally."

"I don't....?" Leo began.

"I'm Jewish; I'd hate to have my every move questioned."

Leo didn't have an answer to that. He sighed and studied Josh, "I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"For making you come with me this afternoon."

Josh smiled slightly, "Well this'll teach me not to argue with you."

Leo returned the smile, though it soon faded. "I need you arguing with me if you don't agree, that's your job."

"Just not in front of the president?" Josh asked, only half in jest.

"Even in front of the president, not that he needs encouragement where Millar's concerned," Leo replied. 

"Mr McGarry," Adam opened the door and beckoned to Leo.

"Back in a minute." Leo followed Adam to where Donna's waiting.

"How is he?"

"He's a bit groggy, he'll be fine."

"Thank God," she smiled. "How are you?"

"A lot better than the news is making out."

"Yeah I saw that. The president had already called Mallory and Ginger spoke to Margaret."

"I've spoken to them both." He'd also called Jordan when the news started reporting that there was a fatality at the scene, the White House was still locked down and had issued no news on the car's passengers. "Come and see him."

"So was he a terrorist?"

"No, he was a guy with a heart condition who collapsed at the wheel."

"Then I think we owe his family an apology, Ron."

"Yes, Sir, we do."

"I don't know what's wrong with us that we assume he must have been a terrorist because he was a Muslim and was unfortunate enough to crash his car into Leo's."

"We have to take precautions, Sir."

"Yeah," Jed sighed. He followed Ron out of the office, "Debbie, will you try and contact the truck driver's family, see if I can speak to any of them."

"Yes, Mr President."

"...... driver of the pick-up was 58 year old Shakeel Mustaf," CJ briefed the press. "Mr Mustaf was a mechanic from Washington; he leaves a wife and 3 teenage children. Leo McGarry has been discharged from hospital with a mild concussion and cuts and bruises. Josh Lyman dislocated his shoulder and is being kept in GW tonight with a severe concussion; he's expected to be discharged tomorrow. Mark Paterson, the Secret Service driver of Mr McGarry's car, sustained a broken leg but is expected make a full recovery." CJ waited for questions, "Chris?"

"Do we know what caused the accident?"

"Mr Mustaf died of a heart attack at the wheel of his vehicle. Garry?"

"Why was the White House locked down for so long?"

"I have no idea, Garry. Mark?"

"Is it because Mr Mustaf was Muslim?"

"As I say over and over, I can't comment on Secret Service procedure."

"But it seems likely?" Mark asked.

"I don't work for Treasury, Mark, but I'd say that until they knew the cause of the accident they had to take precautions. I wouldn't have thought Mr Mustaf's religion came into it. As far as they were aware the Chief Of Staff's car was involved in a serious accident. Katie?"

"Where was Leo going?"

"Leo and Josh were returning from a meeting with Congressman Millar. Max?"

"Why was....?"

"You should be at home."

Leo looks up to find Jed stood in the adjoining doorway. "Just making sure the building's still here."

"You're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, probably be a bit sore in the morning."

"Take the day off."

"And leave you to run things alone again?" Leo smiled.

"I'm quite capable. How's Josh?"

"Complaining that he wants to go home."

"That doesn't mean anything; he did that after Rosslyn as soon as they let him out of ICU."

"He's gonna be pretty sore for a while, he should come out tomorrow if his head's okay."

"How will they be able to tell?" Jed smiled. "You have two choices now, Leo. You can come to the Residence or go home, if you try staying there I'm calling security and Margaret."

"I'll come to the Residence," Leo sighed.

"Abbey'll be back in an hour or so," Jed said as they rode up in the elevator, "and don't think she'll let you escape before she's made sure you're OK."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Leo commented.

Jed gave him a curious look. "She doesn't blame you."

"Yes she does; for Zoey, for Rosslyn, for you running in the first place."

"Joshua."

Josh looked away from the TV, "Mrs Bartlet."

"Amy told me you were addicted to the news channels, but you're supposed to be resting."

"I can rest and watch TV," Josh protested.

"I came to check you were okay." Abbey picked up the notes on the end of Josh's bed, "Do you mind?"

"No."

Abbey read through the notes, checked the stats, the results of Josh's x-rays and hung the file back up. "How you feeling?"

"Sore," Josh admitted.

"Your head?"

"My shoulder. What do the notes say about my head?"

"You may have a head ache for a day or so, but your x-rays were clear. I'm surprised Donna's not still here."

"She went to get some dinner with Toby."

Abbey smiled at that; who'd have thought five years ago that Donna and Toby would end up as friends? "Have you spoken to your mother?"

"Yes," Josh grinned, everyone who had been to see him had asked that. "Was that something else Amy told you?"

"She did mention that you don't call your mother as often as you should. You know Amy talked about you a lot, it could get quite annoying," Abbey smiled. "I'm going to let you get some rest, and that means turn the TV off. Don't let me see you in the west wing this week," she instructed.

"Leo."

"Abbey," Leo replied. "The president's just gone to take a phone call. Good trip?"

"Yes it was fine," Abbey replied dismissively. "Why are you here?" she asked, "What is it with you people? Josh is sat up watching the news, you're sat here watching, let me guess, ah yes, the news. You know there are other channels right?"

"Well yeah, there's sport."

Abbey studied Leo, he looked pale and tired. "You should be home in bed."

"It's 9.30, I'm usually still working."

"You've been in a car crash. What did the doctor say?"

"Cuts and bruises, nothing bad."

"And a concussion."

"Minor concussion."

"You can stay here tonight."

"I don't......"

"Don't argue, you shouldn't be alone with a concussion, it's not like we don't have the room."

Leo was actually quite glad, he hadn't relished the thought of going home. The trouble was, now he was going to have a fight on his hands to get to work tomorrow. "How was Josh?"

"Insisting he's fine."

"He always insists he's fine."

"I know. He is alright though. He'll be sore for a few days but there's no lasting damage. Are you and him getting along better?"

"We're fine."

"Really?" Abbey asked, giving Leo a look he knew well, one that said 'don't bullshit me'.

"Getting better," Leo amended.

"Good." Abbey turned her attention to her husband as he entered the room. "Leo's staying here tonight."

Jed tried to hide his surprise at that. "Good, there's a documentary...."

"No," Abbey told him.

"No?" he replied.

"No. He's here to sleep and get some rest, not watch a documentary on the formation of the Grand Canyon."

"Thank God for that," Leo smiled.

"Hey, it's a good documentary," Jed complained. "You went to see Josh?"

"Yeah, he'll be fine, so will Mark."

"Well you'd better go to bed," Jed told Leo, "'cos my program starts in 10 minutes."

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END
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