By this time, they had reached GW . The SUV pulled up to the front of the hospital and Leo got out and came around to help the First Lady out of her side. Some press was outside and cameras started flashing and questions were being yelled at the two of them as they made their way toward the entrance.

Leo leaned in and asked Abbey. "Do you want to make a statement? You don't have to if you don't want to."

Abbey thought about it for a second and decided that she did want to say something, but very brief. She nodded yes and they turned around to face the reporters.

Leo held his hands up and yelled, "QUIET! Mrs. Bartlet would like to make a statement."

Abbey waited while the reporters got quiet, waiting on a statement from the former First Lady.

"Our family has been through a lot in the past week or so. I'm glad to be back in the United States and in a short period of time, to be reunited with my husband and my family. I want to express my deepest thanks to the government of Australia for their assistance in the rescue of me and my traveling party. We owe them our lives. I urge the American People to support our current President, President Russell, and to pray for my husband as he fights to recover from this horrible accident. Thank you."

She turned, and with Leo by her side, disappeared into the hospital with only one goal. To be reunited with her daughters and her husband.

Abbey was impatient as the elevator moved to the third floor. She knew the girls had wanted to come to Andrews but she had told them to stay at the hospital. Both for privacy and security. As the door opened, they were all standing in front, waiting by themselves to be reunited. As she stepped off, she grabbed them into a single hug, thanking God that she was once more with them. At some points in her ordeal there had been doubts that this reunion would indeed occur.

Finally, the group hug broke up and they moved into the waiting room. The girls were all speaking at once and Abbey couldn't understand any of them. "Hey slow down. One at a time."

Zoey spoke up first. "Mom, I'm so glad you're back. I missed you so much."

"Me too sweety."

Ellie spoke next. "Mom, are you ok? I heard some really bad stuff."

"Yes, honey. I'm fine. Once I got rehydrated and my sunburn treated, I was fine. And I slept really good on board that ship. The captain gave me his cabin."

Liz completed the trio. "It was so hard to explain things to the kids until we knew you were ok. Dad called us, but he didn't know much himself most of the time."

"Wait a minute. She told me he didn't call you until he knew I was okay. That he didn't want to worry you."

She looked at the faces of their daughters and realized that Jed hadn't told her the truth.

Liz continued, "Mom, he called us every time he knew something, good or bad. He said he needed our support to get through the waiting."

Well, she would have to talk with him about this. After this was over. That is, if she had the chance.

"Well, okay. I want to see your father now. I'll be back in a few minutes. Leo is going to take me down there. You all stay here."

"Mom, we'll be glad to take you," Ellie offered.

"I know, but I need to go myself. Do you understand?"

The three girls nodded. They had already adjusted to how their father looked. Their mother needed privacy to handle what she was about to see. And they were willing to give her that.