AN: addi1201, puppiesinpink, jessi323, easybreezyfreezy - you guys are the best! Thanks for always reviewing my stories :) I hope you (and everyone else) likes this chapter! I have ch. 3 mostly written too, will post it soon!

Part 2

Jason McCord didn't see much of his mother over the past 48 hours. She and his father had to attend several funerals for her DS agents and each day they'd come home exhausted and sad. He could tell his father was having a hard time remaining the strong husband his mother needed. She barley ate or slept. All she did was cry in her bedroom or stare into space. She was becoming inconsolable and it was exhausting his father.

His sisters had taken on all the household chores; cleaning, cooking, laundry. Anything they could do to help and just stayed out of the way.

Meanwhile, he had tried his best to stay off the internet to read what lies and twisted truths the media had spun about her trip to Iran. He wanted to hear what happened from his father, from his sisters, from his mother. Really anyone but a reporter. But no one told him anything.

The next day her crying bouts simply turned to anger. The morning of his last day before starting public school, he noticed the fists she had in the TV reflection as he played his video game, attempting to act normal on her first day back to work. His sisters scolded him when he said the word 'shot' while his mother filled her coffee mug.

It was another red flag. They were all expecting him to be considerate and sensitive about something no one would tell him about. His mother tried to brush it off, but he saw her jump slightly when he said it.

He started to get angry too, his mother and father argued about his security. He'd never seen them argue like that. He'd never seen her walk out of the house without a kiss to her father.

Despite his own argumentative nature, he took a cue from his sisters and agreed to let Kevin take him to school. Anything he could do to help, he didn't want to upset his mother or father any more than they already were.

It was getting to be too much for everyone in the McCord household to bear.

***Hyper Aware***

Henry had already questioned Kevin about PTSD. He'd spent the afternoon researching ways to help her. But all the articles were the same. They won't talk until they are ready. Try not to pressure them.

He wanted Elizabeth to tell him what happened. He had an understanding of what went down, he'd talked to Russell & Frank. He knew Fred died protecting her. He knew there was smoke, from her sore throat comment. He knew someone was on her back, because she wouldn't let him hold her from behind. But he needed more details.

But he wanted to know what her perspectives was. What did she see? How exactly did she get those wounds on her back and arms. Was she attacked? Pushed? Held against her will at gunpoint?

He fingered the folder with the official report. He was sure it would provide all the horrific details. He didn't want to read it. But he had to. He had to help her.

Taking a deep breath he opened the folder and his eyes scanned the first page.

"At approximately 8pm local time, the residence of Zahed Javani came under attack by Iranian opposition forces believed to be part of a deliberate military coup organized in part by US officials…..explosion….bullets…mass chaos….Minister Javani killed instantly…Secretary McCord found trapped under DS Agent Fred Cole's body…..agents Kendall and Williams secured Secretary McCord….rushed to an underground bunker...medics noted slowed reflexes….seemed disorientated"

He had to close his eyes and look away after the first page. He couldn't imagine what it must have felt like for her to be there. Even though he fought combat in the Marines, and his unit had come under surprise attack, he'd always been armed and prepared to protect himself. She was not anticipating a direct attack. Nor was she armed or trained to handle one. He wished he would have gone with her. He would have known how to act. He would have told her never to stand with your back to a window; to hug the walls. Always.

He wiped his face, flipped the page and read on.

"Given pain killers in the bunker and wound bandaged….undetermined blood loss…..still disorientated…..when all clear was given, Secretary McCord in the custody of Frank Williams was helicoptered to Landsthaul, Germany…..wounds sterilized…..33 stitches on lower left back….IV fluids, pain medication, sleep aid and antibiotics administered…slight fever recorded, potential infection…..patient complained of ears still ringing….examination revealed minor concussion….headache, unable to focus eyes…"

Henry angrily closed the folder and swallowed back his tears. He knew what happened from there. He'd talked with her briefly before she arrived home on the plane. Frank had tried to have her talk from the hospital, but her ears were ringing, she had a hard time hearing him.

***Hyper Aware***

His first day at public school was not how he imagined. He'd argued with his parents before he left. He felt a little guilty about it, knowing full well her mother wasn't herself. Even Kevin had said to him in the car. "I know the first day will be hard enough without Kevin the beanstalk following you around, but try and give your mom a break. She just is looking out for you."

"Yea." He'd agreed. But it still sucked. He was already going to be a spectacle, the new kid always was. And at this public school the kids probably weren't used to famous kids. All those kids usually went to private school. And he did have Kevin, who was taller than everyone. What a great first impression.

Despite all that, the day wasn't as bad as he thought. Most of the kids were friendly and the teachers seemed okay enough. He was glad he didn't have to spend lunch eating alone, with Kevin there. Normally that was by far the worst part about a new school.

"Hey buddy, how was your day?" his father asked him as he threw his backpack on the floor

"Fine." He shrugged. He noticed his father had the infamous file folder out and looked distraught. He approached the office slowly. "The teachers are just as un-imaginative as at Wessmore."

"Good. Glad you won't have to work too hard discount everything they say." Henry joked.

He paused and walked closer to the desk. "Dad, can I ask you something?" he sounded serious.

"Sure, Jase." His father replied

"What's going on with Mom? I know something happened but no one will tell me."

His father let out a long breath and took off his glasses. "I'm not 100% sure buddy."

He scoffed "You're lying."

"Jason." His father warned.

"It's right there in that folder! I saw Mom could barley walk up the stairs, I saw the bandages, I saw the pills, and I saw you lock up that file. What happened?!" he demanded to know.

Henry didn't realize his son hadn't been as oblivious as he believed. At times Henry forgot he was 13. Even though he was the youngest, he wasn't 5. "Okay look." He began slowly. "Your Mom went to Iran to stop the coup. She and I had been secretly investigating it for months, we learned of it when we determined that Secretary Marsh's plan crash wasn't an accident."

"What?" he said in disbelief, collapsing into the blue chair.

"She stopped it. But there was an attempt to overthrow the government while she was there, and she got hurt. All I know is there was an explosion and Fred died and she has 33 stitches in her back."

"33 stitch…..is she okay?"

"No buddy, she's not. But she will be."

"Why wouldn't she tell us….why…"

"It's hard. She's…. she hasn't even told me about it. We just have to be patient with her. Can you do that for her?"

"Of course!" he agreed tearfully. He hadn't realized it was so serious. If his mother wouldn't even tell his father it had to be bad. They shared everything.

"Mom's going to be okay. I promise." His father said firmly, pulling him into a hug. "She just needs some time to settle back in okay?"

"K." he said, not totally convinced. But if anyone could help his mother, it was his father. He had to have faith in that it would be okay eventually.

"Alright, now go do your homework." His father said, squeezing his shoulder.