She had decided that since she was technically off-duty, she was going to spend the President's last few minutes with him. When she went into his room at 11:45, though, he was asleep. So taking a seat, she settled in to wait with him.
After a few minutes, she thought she heard him say something. "Mr. President?" she asked.
Then he spoke a little more clearly. "Pater noster qui es in caelis..."
Cameron had never been a particularly religious person, but she immediately recognized the words "Pater noster" to mean "Our Father," and realized that Bartlet was praying. She quickly bowed her head, though she wasn't quite sure why - it just seemed like the right thing to do.
"Sanctificetur Nomen Tuum... adveniat Regnum Tuum, fiat voluntas Tua, sicut in caelo, et in terra."
Bartlet paused. He was having trouble breathing, but he seemed determined to continue. "Panem nost-"
A coughing fit interrupted him. When he settled down, he tried again, but it just came out as a wheeze. A look of frustration grew on his face as Cameron looked up and met his eyes.
Where the words came from, she wasn't sure, but it was as though a long-dormant memory had come to life. "Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Bartlet smiled weakly. "Amen," he gasped.
He collected his breath and his composure. "Dr. Cameron," he whispered.
"Yes, Mr. President."
"Thank you for spending so much time with me. Thank you for letting an old man tell some of his life's story. And thank Dr. House for me. If I had to go, I'm glad that it was among people who care as much as all of you."
Cameron felt her cheeks grow wet. She took hold of the President's hand. "Thank you for sharing your story with me," she said. "It was an honor to spend your last few hours with you, sir."
Jed Bartlet smiled. "It's a pity... it's a pity I didn't get to tell you more about the national parks."
Then, the smile still on his face, his eyes closed, and his breathing began to slow.
But Jed was still aware of what was going on. He heard the rhythmic beeping of the cardiac monitor. The rhythm grew slower and slower, and then, finally, it became one steady tone. And then the door opened.
Jed opened his eyes to see an old familiar face looking at him. "Now that's not fair," he said to Leo McGarry. "You haven't been aging for the last fifteen years, so it isn't fair that you get to look better than I do."
"Hey, what can I say," Leo replied. "The afterlife's been good to me." Looking around the room, his eyes fell on Dr. Cameron. "Little young for you, don't you think?"
"She's my doctor, you dirty old man," Jed replied. "And she's older than Annabeth Schott was, so don't even try getting all high and mighty with me."
"Touché, touché," Leo replied, holding his hands up in mock defeat. "I should've known better than to try to argue with you."
Jed fell silent. "Well," he said, "I take it it's time?"
"Indeed it is," Leo said. "There's a car waiting downstairs for us. Abby insisted on coming with me, and given the nature of the occasion, Fitz insisted on driving."
"How can I resist?" Jed asked drily. He swung his legs out of the bed, stood, and headed for the door. "So, Leo, tell me... what's next?" he asked, opening the door.
Cameron watched the cardiac monitor slowly wind down. The rhythmic beep got slower and slower, and finally became one steady tone. When it did, the door opened behind her.
Gregory House walked in. "I won't make you call it," he said softly.
Looking at the wall clock, he said, "Time of death: 11:52 PM."
He made the notation on the chart, then left the room, letting the door shut behind him.
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