With Determination and Honor

by: Ginny

Pairing(s):Jed/Abbey
Category(s):General
Rating: YTEEN
Disclaimer: The usual.
Summary: Something is wrong with Gov. Jed Bartlet.
Feedback: Feedback is greatly appreciated.
Author's Note:Thanks to Becky who boosted my self esteem more than once and to Janie, our medical advisor.

Part 3

Abbey returned from the bathroom with 2 pills and a glass of water. Jed swallowed the pills and drank the water, slowly. Trying to stall the inevitable. He finally handed the cup back to Abbey and curled back up on the bed.

"So, exactly what did happen this afternoon?" asked Abbey as she settled down
next to him.

"Nothing, I just tripped going into the study. I fell and hit my cheek and eye on the table as I went down. It was no big deal, just one of my normal clumsy moments."

"Honey, I watched you as you got up from the counter to go into the study. You seemed to be walking very deliberately, like you were trying to keep your balance. Were you dizzy, is that why you fell?"

"I was dizzy but that wasn't what made me fall." Jed took a deep breath and decided to come clean, 100%. "When I went to step into the study my left leg just wouldn't cooperate. I couldn't lift it up over the threshold. I tried again and I thought I had lifted my foot up enough but apparently I was mistaken and down I went."

"Has that happened before, where you couldn't navigate a step or a curb?"

Jed could only nod and Abbey immediately put on her "doctor face"

"Abigail, you're scaring me. What do you think is wrong?"

"I'm really not sure but I want to make an appointment for you to see Dr. Tom Stephenson. He's a neurologist. He practices at Mass General. I'll call him in the morning."

"OK, please tell me what you suspect?"

"Nothing in particular, I just think a consult with a neurologist is the first step in making sense of what is happening. Don't worry about it tonight."

"I'll try" said Jed as he yawned and curled back up under the quilt. "Stay with me until I fall asleep, please?" he asked trying not to show the panic that was starting to rise up within him.

"Sure"

Jed rolled over on his stomach again and Abbey rubbed his back until he fell asleep. When she was sure he was asleep she let the tears that she had been holding back start to fall. When sleep didn't come to her own body she sat in the chair and opened up one of the books. She scanned the table of contents until she found what she was looking for..

Multiple Sclerosis.

She read the section quickly, fear growing in her as the symptoms listed mirrored those Jed had been having for over a year. She made a few notes and then wearily climbed back into bed and held Jed tightly.

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

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