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 11

Elizabeth and Eleanor burst into tears first and Zoe followed along, although she didn't really have any idea what Multiple Sclerosis was. Only Annie kept on singing and laughing. Elizabeth tried to take her off the couch but Jed waved her away again and pulled Annie into a fierce hug. Zoe buried her head in Jed's chest and the other girls knelt down in front of the couch too. Abbey left the 5 of them alone while she went to grab some tissues. She grabbed a box from the kitchen and stood in the archway looking at her family. Jed was surrounded by his daughters and grand-daughter, even Annie was crying by now. She figured if everyone else was crying she was supposed to be crying too.

Abbey crossed the room to join them. When everyone had settled down a bit she told them some more details about MS and about what to expect. Jed told them he wanted to keep his illness private and asked them not to repeat what they had just heard. They all nodded in agreement. The girls had more questions than Abbey could answer so she got out the information Tom had send home and the book on neurological disorders she had brought home from her office. By that time Jed was yawning and his head was starting to bother him again. Abbey knelt down on the floor next to the couch.

"Honey, take something for your head and go lie down in the guest room. I don't want you climbing the stairs" said Abbey. Jed was too tired to argue. He got up slowly and headed down the hall. Annie ran after him and took his hand.

"Pop-Pop, I'll keep you company, OK?" offered Annie.

"Sure, honey... Elizabeth, Annie's coming with me." yelled Jed down the hall as they walked hand in hand to the guest room.

Abbey and the 2 older girls read the informational sheets and the textbook while Zoe made them all some sandwiches. She wanted to know more about MS but the book was a little too confusing for her to understand. Abbey told her she would explain some more things to her later.

About an hour later Abbey crept down the hall to check on Jed and Annie. She peeked in the door and stifled a laugh. The two of them were on the bed fast asleep, Jed on one side, flat on his back, Annie laying at a 90 degree angle to him with her head on his chest and one little arm thrown over his face, her other arm stretched out over her red curls. Abbey snuck in and removed Annie's arm from Jed's face, kissed them both and covered them up. She went back into the kitchen, giggling.

"Mom what could possibly be so funny at a time like this?" inquired Eleanor who was finishing the last of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"Go down the hall and check out your niece and your father" chuckled Abbey.

Elizabeth, Eleanor and Zoe did just that and came back laughing hysterically until more tears started to fall. All too soon the tears of laughter changed into tears of sorrow. Abbey hugged the three of them and said "We will get through this the same way we've always gotten through things, with God's grace, with each other..."

"and with the determination and honor that comes along with being a Bartlet" declared Jed from the doorway of the kitchen. Abbey and the girls smiled at him as he walked over to embrace them all.

THE END

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

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