Work Text:
The Secret
The emergency room was hectic. Nurses and doctors running around, a chaotic symphony of noise and energy. The front doors opened up, and three EMTs pushed inside a gurney, one of them sitting on top of it, pushing rhythmically down on the unconscious woman lying there. The three people that followed all in varying displays of dishevelled panic.
“A head-on collision, female middle to late thirties, severe trauma to the head, BP’s–”
“You have to save her,” a disoriented Toby Ziegler yelled.
“Sir, please, you have to move out of the way,” a nurse said as she walked towards him, her hands outstretched in a clear indication to stop.
“You don’t understand… You have to save… She can´t-”
“We are doing everything we can to save your…?” She looked expectantly at him. The question of their connection hung in the air, and Toby hesitated, choosing his words carefully. He was about to speak when Josh Lyman lept forward.
“She’s our colleague. She’s the Press… We work at the White House.” There was an annoying, although predictable, look of disbelief.
“Sure…” the nurse looked between them, deciding not to comment further.
Later, they had been moved to a large and quiet waiting room. Someone must have recognised them. Toby and Donna sat in the row of seats, coffee cups littering the seats between them. After hovering around the room for this past hour, Donna had only just settled down, repeatedly offering to get them coffee simply to have something to do. Josh had been on the phone almost non-stop since they arrived at the hospital. Shortly after they were moved to the waiting room, Carol arrived. She paced around the room, barely holding back her tears, annoying the hell out of Toby, but he kept his annoyance limited to dead stares and heavy sighs.
No one spoke out loud; there seemed to be a silent agreement between them to only mutter silently between them. But their reverie came to a screeching halt when the door to the waiting room flung open, and a breathless figure stumbled inside.
“Where is she?” The voice seemed to scream, a jarring contrast to the sombre atmosphere.
“Danny?” Josh turned his head, holding his phone to his chest, observing the newest addition. Danny Concannon didn’t seem to see him; his focus was fixed around the room – searching.
“What are you doing here?” He hurried towards him, looking around the room nervously.
“Hey, I’ll call you back,” Josh muttered into the phone, not waiting for a reply before he hung up.
“Danny, I’m not kidding; you can’t be here.”
“Where is she?” Danny repeated.
“Concannon!” Toby had risen from his seat and was charging towards them.
“Hey, Toby, I’m dealing with this,” Josh protested but backed away instinctively as Toby pushed him aside to get closer to the reporter.
“Back off,” Danny warned.
“You’ve got some nerve coming here. Get the hell away.”
Danny ignored him and tried to step away from him, but Toby blocked him, pushing a finger into his chest.
“I mean it, Danny. Get the fuck away from here.”
“Woah, woah, let’s all calm down,” Josh said. “Danny, let’s talk out there.” He gestured to the hallway, but Danny shook his head, harshly pushing Toby away.
“Danny, so fucking help me God. If you don’t leave this instant-”
“I’m not leaving.”
“This is not your choice; there’s no Press allowed here.
“I’m not leaving,” Danny said, turning away from Toby. At that, Toby grabbed his shoulder, causing him to stumble backwards. “What the hell is wrong with you!”
“You!” Toby shrieked, and to everyone’s surprise, he leapt forward and punched Danny, who grunted in pain. Standing straight, he grabbed Toby’s still outstretched fist and forced his arm down. Josh jumped between the two men just as a door opened, and two people wearing scrubs walked inside the room. The older of the two observed the scene before her, eyebrows raised in disapproval. Danny and Toby hurriedly stepped away from each other. Toby fixed his jacket but winced as he moved his hand.
“My name is Dr Wilkins. Are you Ms Cregg’s family?”
“We’re her colleagues,” Donna Moss said suddenly. “How’s she doing.”
“She’s stable,” Dr Wilkins replied. “At the moment, she’s still unconscious, but we will need to operate on her leg very soon. Has Ms Cregg’s next of kin arrived?”
“Can we see her?” Carol asked quietly.
“I’m afraid only family’s allowed at the moment.”
“Her family’s in Ohio,” Toby said. “Her father is-” He stopped speaking abruptly when Danny stepped towards Dr Wilkins. The red-haired reporter spoke softly to the Doctor, who nodded and gestured to him to follow her.
“What are you doing?” Toby yelled. “This man is a reporter.” Dr Wilkins was about to reply, but Toby wouldn’t allow her to speak. “C.J. Cregg is a Senior White House Adviser to the President of the United States. If you allow a reporter to see her while incapacitated, then I will personally see to it that you-”
“Toby,” Danny interrupted, but Toby bulldozed onwards.
“Lose your medical licence, and that this hospital will never-”
“I’m her husband, Toby. We’re married,” Danny bellowed. Toby choked on his words, and the room was completely still. “Yell all you want, but I’m going to go see my wife.”
Dr Wilkins stared at Danny briefly before turning around, indicating that he should follow. There was an uncomfortable silence in the room, finally broken by Josh's astounded tone.
“Married?”
“This is bullshit. I’m calling the police,” Toby said, grabbing his phone from his jacket pocket. “I’ll make sure he’s arrested. He can’t get away with this.”
“Wait!” Donna spoke suddenly. “Carol?”
They all turned towards Carol, who refused to look at any of them. She stared at the floor and wrung her hands in nervously.
“Wait,” Josh sputtered. “You don’t think? He’s not telling the truth?”
Carol looked up and gave a tiny nod of agreement.
“WHAT?”
“Be quiet, Josh,” Donna admonished.
“They’re married?”