Trying not to get emotional, Abbey started to say. "I love…" but was distracted by noise outside her cabin. Her door flew open.
Nia screamed "Mrs. Bartlet…now! Seat Belt!"
She dropped the phone and quickly fastened her seat belt. She waited a minute, anxious for whatever was to come, and then the plane jerked and bounced. Remaining in her seat took all of her strength. She looked on in horror as Nia was thrown on the floor and bounced around as the plane bounced up and down, on, as she was to find out later, the surface of the ocean. Finally, the plane settled into a rolling motion as the impact generated rolling waves which gradually died down.
Nia moaned as she tried to remain conscious. Abbey knew she had been hurt, and was determined to get to her to assess her injuries. But as she unbuckled her seatbelt, Jackson flew into the room. "Mrs. Bartlet, you must go now. Grab your life jacket and proceed to the forward door. There will be an agent there to help you get in a raft. Go now!"
"Sam, I can't leave her," pointing to Nia. "My bag's in the closet over there. Behind you."
"Mrs. Bartlet, we will get Nia. This is not up for discussion. You will get off this plane, right now. We don't know how long we have. Now move! Please!" Sam was not the begging kind, but if he had to beg the First Lady to move, then he would use anything to get her going.
Abbey looked at Nia and back at the Senior Agent.
"Go, Mrs. Bartlet. They will get me to a raft. They won't leave me behind. I promise." Nia was also begging her to leave.
"Well, ok. But I state now I leave under protest." Abbey grabbed her life jacket and made her way out of the cabin into the hallway. She was surprised that there was already a thin layer of seawater covering the carpet of the hallway. 'That's not a good sign' she thought as she made her way forward.
Her East Wing staff, as well as the State Department assignees, had already evacuated the plane and were situated in the raft. As she came to the door, an agent helped her put on her life jacket and adjusted it tight. He helped her step into the raft and she sat down next to Deborah. Two agents and a crew member completed the contingent. Someone on the plane cut the raft loose and pushed it away from the plane. Another raft was quickly brought to the open door and the process was repeated. The second raft included the remainder of the Secret Service Agents, including an injured Nia, and several crew members. After that raft was pushed away, only crew members and the two pilots were left. But the plane was taking on water quickly and sinking from the tail forward. The third raft was only half full when the plane's door starting filling with water. The three remaining crew members and pilots jumped in the water, trying not to caught in the suction created by the sinking plane. Only by extreme effort did they avoid getting sucked under. The third raft was able to come back and pull each one out of the water into the raft. By the Grace of God there were no fatalities. Now, all they could do was wait.