This takes place after the episode in Season 3 where Henry drives the bomb truck out of the city and watches it blow up. He was so close to it. What if he had been closer?

Elizabeth had always found numbers comforting. Numbers made sense when life didn't. Numbers made her feel sane after her parents died. Numbers made sense, they didn't lie. But in this moment she wished they could. When the numbers on the monitor started dropping informing her of her husband's heart was stopping. She wished numbers lied as a team of doctors pushed her out of the room.

It was her fault. Her fault he was shot; her fault he had driven a truck with a bomb in it that had put him in this predicament. She had moved their family back to DC knowing what Henrys sense of duty had done to him in the NSA the last time they lived in DC. She should have told the president no. They could still be living on a horse farm in Virginia, Henry would be teaching a class on mid-evil religion, not dying in the hospital at the hand of a religious cult.

She had watched his heart stop right in front of her. He was the love of her life, her everything. What would she tell the kids? If he died? If he lived? One more cover story. If he died, she wouldn't be able to tell them the truth. She had always prided herself on honestly with her kids. But here they were liying to them constantly.

Washington had changed them both. It had changed their relationship, her moral compass, and even his. And now it might be to ate for Henry. What would happen to the kids if they stated in Washington. If Henry was dead and she had to raise them alone. Would they suffer the same fate as their parents? Washington was filled with lies, with so much pain. She had tired playing by her own rules, but it didn't work like that here. She had made sacrifices. What if Henry was one of them?

She had no idea how long she sat there. Her brain spiraling out of control. But at some point a doctor appeared before her. "Mrs. McCord?" He paused, "I'm sorry, Secretary McCord." He corrected.

Elizabeth looked up panicked. She missed the simplicity that Mrs. McCord provide her. Madam Secretary was too much right now, she was supposed to be responsible and strong, diplomatic. "Elizabeth. Please call me Elizabeth." She stood up searching the doctors eyes for news.

"Your husband sustained two traumas in a very short time. When his heart stopped we worked very hard to revive it and thanks to the diligence of our Cardio team we were successful."

Elizabeth's knees nearly buckled and tears filled her eyes. "He's alive? He's going to be OK?"

The doctor paused, "He is alive. However, he sustained significant injuries. We would expect that there will be some significant hurdles for him to overcome. His spine is bruised from impact. That along with the injuries from being shot will likely leave him in a wheelchair for up to a year or more. He might have to learn to walk again. But what concerns me most his brain. It was swelling badly when he arrived here and when his heart stopped his brain lost oxygen. I would expect temporary long-term memory loss and some longer lasting short term memory loss. Your husband faces a very long and difficult recovery."

An hour later Elizabeth was shown to Henrys room in the ICU. Not prepared to tell the kids what had happened just yet and unsure of where her cell even was she sat down near the bed. Henry looked bad. Worse than she had ever seen him. Elizabeth rarely cried but in that moment she did.

28 years of marriage 30 years together, 3 kids 2 deployments. She was lucky. She looked up at the monitor the numbers that had terrified her a few hours had disappeared, replaced with consistent numbers. Comforting numbers. He was alive, thank god numbers lied sometimes.

I haven't decided if I am going to continue this or leave it as a one shot. Thanks for reading. Reviews are always appreciated.