3 days later
6:54am
Elizabeth was home from the hospital. She now laid in her bed reading a book as she couldn't sleep. Her phone began to ring and Henry rolled over to hand it to her.
"You can't go back to work yet. Doctor's orders."
"I know. Just give it to me please." The doctor had begrudgingly let Bess go home with Henry early with a promise that she would not go back to work or do too much until she was cleared by her family doctor.
"Hello?"
"Sorry to disturb you madam secretary but we have a situation." Elizabeth could sense the worry in her chief of staff's voice.
"What is it?"
"Deputy Secretary Cushing had a heart attack. He is on the way to the hospital now."
"Oh my god." Elizabeth tried to sit up in the bed but fell back. Henry pushed her to a sitting position. "What's his condition?"
"Unknown at this point. You may have to come in."
Henry quickly took the phone from Elizabeth's hand. "No. She can't come in."
"Henry, give me the hone back." Bess took the phone back from him.
"You cannot go in. I won't let you." She knew he wasn't going to budge.
"Fine. Bring the work to me Nadine. We can do a mobile State Department day." Henry isn't going to be happy, but at least everything will get done.
"Yes, ma'am"
"Thank you." She hung up the phone and turned to face Henry. He was fuming.
"Only a couple of hours, then everyone leaves."
"Got it babe."
7:35am
"I got it." Henry opened the door and people flooded into the house. Her staff set up around the house, letting the senior staff take over the kitchen.
"Good morning guys." Elizabeth was standing at the counter drinking her 3rd cup of coffee. She took a sip, then stopped to cough.
"Good morning Madam Secretary." Blake walked over and took the cup from her hand. "I'll bring you another ma'am"
"Okay catch me up. How's Cushing?"
"In surgery ma'am." Nadine stepped forward.
"Who is running the office?"
"Right now, you."
"Okay, then let's get to work. What's first on the agenda?"
"You have a meeting with the prime minister of Yugoslavia. We have arranged for him to meet you here." As Nadine spoke, she grew uncertain of the secretary's status. Is she able to handle all of this? "Next, Greece is having financial troubles and is reaching out in the hopes for aide. Then, POTUS wants an update on the situation with President Shiraz and Senator Botham."
Elizabeth coughed, cleared her throat, then began. "Okay. Blake, I need you to get everyone out of my office so I can meet with the Yugoslavian prime minister in there. Daisy and Matt, put out a statement that the State Department will not be taking a side in the Keystone Pipeline Bill and we do not condone President Shiraz's actions. Jay, I need Greece's prime minister on the phone in one hour." Elizabeth began to feel lightheaded as she spoke.
"Why don't you come get ready for the meeting in your office." Nadine hoped to get the secretary to sit most of the day. It was obvious she was still unwell and healing from the explosion in Iran. She had tried to keep Elizabeth's day as light as possible but there were pressing matters that needed to be taken care of with Cushing out of commission.
Bess followed Nadine into her office to find the Yugoslavian prime minister waiting for her. Nadine closed the doors and walked back into the kitchen to check on the progress of the others.
9:15am
Bess had just gotten off the phone with Greece when Russel opened the door to her house. I guess he just walks in no matter where we are. He looked around, locked eyes with Bess, then came into her office and began to yell.
"What are you doing? You aren't supposed to be up and moving around let alone working. Is Henry alright with this? POTUS is on his way here now."
"What?" Elizabeth was ready to respond to all of his questions until the last statement registered in her mind.
"He is on his way here. Answer my other questions."
"I am fine. With Cushing in the hospital, my staff brought the matters of importance to my concern"
"You are supposed to be on bed rest and not working. Where is Henry?"
"He went to the store but he already knows that everyone is here."
Blake walked into her office. "Madam Secretary, the president is here."
"Okay let him in. Thank you."
"Bess." Conrad walked in and Elizabeth stood to give him a hug. She pulled back as he began to speak. "What are you doing? You are not supposed to be back to work for another week."
"I know but my staff informed me of Cushing's situation so I took over the things that needed to be done."
"I don't care. I am shutting this down."
"But sir, I am fine and there is no one else to get this done."
"You are on bed rest. We will get what we need to done. It will be more difficult but we will deal with it. It is none of your concern. Don't make me send the secret service in here to haul your ass into bed."
"Sir, it's not that big of a deal. I will sit the whole time if that makes you feel better."
"It doesn't but if stay seated the whole time, I'll let this go. Only for a few hours though. Just until the necessary tasks are completed and I find someone to fill in for you. I am going to leave two of my detail so that two of yours can come in here and make sure you are following orders."
"Yes sir." This is ridiculous. If I want to work there is no reason why I can't. Conrad and Russel both walked out the door, leaving everyone with shocked expressions.
Matt and Frank, two of her DS agents walked through the open front door. Conrad was serious.
10:35am
"Ma'am you should really sit down." Matt and Frank had followed her around all morning, constantly telling her to sit down, it was starting to get on Elizabeth's nerves.
"I will, just got to get this to Daisy."
"I'll take it. Just have a seat." Matt took the file from Bess' hand, then walked out of the room. Frank motioned toward the couch. Elizabeth sighed, walking toward the couch but Jay called her name from the kitchen, causing her to change directions. This shift made her off balance and she started to fall but Frank pushed her back to her feet. She walked into the kitchen to find her senior staff gathered around the kitchen table staring intently at the computer screen.
"What is it?"
"North Korea just fired a missile that came dangerously close to the California coast." Jay looked up only for a second.
"Anyone hurt?"
"No, they claim it was an accident during testing."
"Matt and Daisy put together a statement before this gets too big."
Blake walked into the room, handing Elizabeth another cup of coffee. "Ma'am, the president has texted you four times"
All of her senior staff looked up as the secretary took the phone from Blake. She opened her phone to see 4 angry texts from the president.
I know you are walking around. All of your agents report to me too.
You better sit down. I just informed Henry of the order.
I will issue an executive order confining you to a wheel chair if you don't.
Bess, I'm serious. Don't make me come over there and throw the state department out of your house.
Elizabeth walked back into the living room. "Who told the president?" no one answered. She looked directly at Matt and Frank and repeated the question. "Who told the president?"
"I did." Henry said as he walked down the stairs. She hadn't realized he was home.