Apologies for the delay, I've been away on holiday and on a course with work! Hope you enjoy this chapter, please review and let me know what you think

CHAPTER 7

'ELIZABETH' a loud voice was calling in her ear, blackness still enveloping her vision, 'open your eyes for me' she understood what they were asking but physically she couldn't. Her body didn't feel connected to her mind, 'operation is all over, time to wake up, Henry's waiting to see you.' Her eyes opened, blurred brightness swimming in her vision. She tried to lift a hand, realising someone was holding it gently as she felt herself gag.

'gag reflex is back, cuff down and prepare to extubate,' the order was clear and concise as she felt the obstruction lift, the expert team swiftly replacing the tube with a mask. 'take some big breaths Elizabeth, it'll help clear your lungs.' Trying to take a deep breath only resulted in a cough that lead to her almost gagging again, she felt a small area of back nip and tug causing her to wince, a tear rolling down her face.

'You've got some pain relief on board, we'll get you more in recovery, kay' She felt herself moving, or rather the bed accompanied by a multitude of tubes and wires move out of the OR, her arms moving as she figured out her surroundings.

'Room 1' she heard someone yell as they reversed her into the private area. A handover detailed what had happened, how the six-hour surgery had gone well and aside a small blood pressure dip she was doing well, technical jargon followed explaining what lines she had and what medication pumps were being used. She clumsily removed the oxygen mask from her face, 'Henry' she sighed, drifting back off to sleep with the mask on her forehead.

'He knows you're out, but we'll wait till your more awake, let us get you settled in' the nurse replaced her mask as she lifted a thumb in agreement. 'Good, is it sore anywhere?' the nurse was lifting various machines off the bed attaching them behind her bed onto a pole.

'a bit...tummy' she was still pretty out of it, 'not bad...if I cou..' she felt intoxicated, her mind was still bathing in a quart of pain killers and she felt numb otherwise. The room lights dimmed as she drifted off to sleep again, the recovery nurse doing some documentation as she waited for Henry to be shown through. She recognised him immediately, noting the worry on his face as he approached his wife's bed.

Taking her hand gently he kissed her forehead, 'hey sweetheart,' she opened her eyes wearily, her mouth dry from the procedure. 'You did so great, the kids are waiting upstairs.'

'Henry,' he smiled, she was either high on pain killers or still coming out of the anaesthetic, probably both.

'I'm right here babe, the surgeon said it went really well, the tumour is gone.' His own tears of relief falling.

'Gone' she repeated sluggishly. He nodded as she tried to focus on his face. 'Good'

'Yeah, everyone's been keeping me company today, Will phoned and your team stopped in to make sure I had eaten.' She squeezed his hand, trying to settle into a comfier position on the bed without success.

'Take it easy sweetheart,' Henry looked to the nurse with some degree of panic. 'Let's not mess up the fine surgeon's handiwork.'

'Why don't you give us five minutes, we need to check the wounds and make sure her skins okay. I'll come get you once we're done.' Henry nodded, relieved that albeit gobbledegook he spoken to her.

'Sure, I'll go let our kids know' Henry left the PACU and headed to the waiting room now filled with the McCord's, some of her team and some folk from the white house sent to keep Conrad up to date. 'She's doing great, groggy, but great' smiles went around much like they had with the surgeon's news. The room was littered with coffee cups and half eaten sandwiches, they'd set up quite a camp waiting on news.

It was less than an hour later that she found herself in the step-down unit, Henry back at her side as they rechecked all the monitors and pumps, 'Henry,' she was more intelligible but still exhausted, 'I wanna see the kids.' He nodded and left the room briefly as she fell back asleep again.

'Mom' the kids piled into the small room stirring her from sleep. 'Mom, you did so great.'

She smiled, her mask having been switched to nasal oxygen. 'Hey,' she smiled, forcing her weary eyes open again… 'did dad do okay?' her mind was still hazy.

'He did great,' Henry was hanging back at the sliding door, 'everyone was rooting for you.' Stevie exclaimed, waiting till her siblings lent in to give their momma a kiss. 'How you feeling?'

'A bit groggy, or high,' she smiled, her eye fluttering shut intermittently. 'Happy to see you guys'

'Lets let mom get some sleep for a while, go get some of your homework done and I'll come get you when sleeping beauty is up to company again.' Henry watched the kids file out, relieved they'd got over the first big hurdle. 'You sure you're okay.'

'Sleepy' she was more coherent by the minute but the toll was evident.

'Still cute though,' Henry smiled, pulling a chair up beside her bed, 'I'll be right here if you need me.' She smiled and closed her eyes again, her breathing evening out and her monitors settling down as her sleep deepened. She barely rose for the rest of the afternoon as nurses popped in and out of the room, tapping buttons and occasionally readjusting monitors. Henry too intermittently napped, the news quietly telling their story in the background.

'Madam secretary successfully underwent an unknown procedure this morning. It is understood she is doing well and is out of surgery. Undersecretary Cushings is taking over her duties until she makes a full recovery.'

It was long since dark outside when she next awoke, her room subtly lit, 'hey', she turned to Henry who was softly reading, she'd heard him for the last twenty minutes, content in the half asleep half-awake stupor. 'No wonder our kids slept so well, I'd forgotten how good a reader you are' he leaned forward to kiss her arm, finding some skin without a machine taped to it.

'Hey sleepyhead,' he smiled, 'how you feeling?' he noticed her mouth was dry as she greatfully took the water he offered. 'They've got you a pain button, once you're awake enough to work it?'

'Mmm,' she tried to wiggle around and adjust her position, but pain stabbed in her back causing her to grimace. A nurse quickly came over and explained how the pump worked and a few clicks later she was feeling more comfortable.

'Conrad's threatening to drop by tonight to visit,' Henry mused, watching her become more-drowsy with the pain killers. 'He doesn't believe that you're okay.'

'No point in stopping him,' she sighed, her eyes slowly closing as she drifted off to sleep again. 'Not much to see though.' They were interrupted as her surgeon stopped by, having finished in the OR for the day. He had a brief look at the wound and even Henry was impressed at the tiny size.

'I told Henry earlier, but it went like a dream, we got the sucker out and it's being processed at the lab as we speak. It didn't look malignant, but we won't know until it's tested. I must warn you things may get worse before they get better. There's a honeymoon period after surgery for a day or two where people feel okay and manage and then feel worse on day 2 or 3.' Henry squeezed her hand, it wasn't the news he wanted but he had been impressed how well she was looking. 'I'll stop by in the morning, lay low tonight and listen to the nurses?' The surgeon gave her a caring smile and left.

'Can I get you anything?' Henry rearranged her bedside cabinet, moving her phone out of reach as they started settling for the night.

'Ice chips? If I'm allowed? My mouth feels like the Sahara desert' her voice sounded dry as she tried to wriggle up the bed again, wires pulling at her skin. 'Urgh, I know how the back of computer feels.' Henry stifled a snort turning to help move the cables up her bed.

'It won't be long, your body's gone 10 rounds today,' he reminded her, grateful she'd found a comfy spot. He sat down and took her hand, rubbing circles on her arm as she fought sleep again, 'just rest Elizabeth,' he whispered, kissing her forehead as she drifted off. 'We've got you' he dimmed the lights as the bustle of shift change happened outside.