The Heart Brings You Back
Chapter 7
Previously: Jed accepted Abbey's offer to spend the night in the same room and keep an eye on him. Leo backed out of telling Jed about Abbey's pill popping.
Summary: Jed's health gives him more trouble
For the first time in a year, Jed and Abbey spent the night in the same room. When Jed woke up the next morning, he felt a sense of closeness to his wife. It was a feeling that had gone away even before she moved out last year. The bond they shared was shattered the night Abbey learned that one of Jed's Presidential orders could have led to the abduction of their daughter.
Jed leaned over Abbey's sleeping body and gave her a gentle kiss on the top of her nose. She began to move, but he pulled the blanket over her and she settled back into sleep. He got out of bed and headed for the shower. Today, he was going back to his office.
By the time Jed was out of the shower, Abbey had woken up and had breakfast brought up to the room. She knew Jed was going back to work, but she was comfortable with that decision, knowing that she would stay at the Residence in case he needed her. For Abbey, the previous night was a godsend. So many nights she spent alone in New Hampshire, longing for his touch. She was furious with him, but if he only knew how many times she picked up the phone to call him, only to lose her nerve and hang up. And now, here she was, back in his arms.
Husband and wife sat down to breakfast together before Jed left for his office. There was no arguing, no blaming, just talking. It wasn't even about anything in particular, just simple discussions that seemed reminiscent of happier, less worrisome times. It was a great start to what Jed thought would be a great day. He didn't realize that by nighttime, his health would be cause for concern once again.
Within minutes of arriving in the Oval Office, Jed summoned CJ. He apologized to her for taking his feelings towards Abbey out on her. To say that CJ was surprised would be an understatement. For a solid year, Jed had been a jerk to his entire staff and the only person who ever heard an apology, on a rare occasion, was Leo. But now that Abbey was back, his attitude had changed. His entire demeanor had changed. He had his wife and it was as if that's all he ever needed.
In that moment, CJ felt they had their old President back -- the man they all worked so hard to get elected, the man she admired more than any other, next to her father. But even though Jed's emotional state was starting to return to normal, he was about to find out his health couldn't have been worse.
As he stood there talking to CJ, he felt a slight tingle in his legs. He had felt this before, but never with such intensity. Jed pulled up his chair and sat down.
"Are you okay, Sir?" CJ asked.
"Yeah, my legs are just tired," he said. But right away Jed knew this wasn't just him feeling tired. His legs were hurting badly. The tingling was now a burning sensation and only moments later, he couldn't feel his right leg. "Get Abbey!" he blurted out.
CJ ran out of the office and a few short minutes later, Abbey came running in. She asked CJ to excuse them as she tended to her husband.
"Can you feel it?" she asked, referring to his leg.
"Yeah, the feeling's back."
"Jed? Look at me."
He looked right in her eyes.
"Don't you lie to me. Can you feel both your legs?"
"Yes. I swear. I just got a little scared. I'm fine now."
"No, you're not," she answered, reminding him that his eyes are still red and puffy and that his fatigue really hadn't gotten much better, despite the fact that he spent a couple of days in bed. She insisted she take him back to the Residence and despite his argument, she won this battle. Abbey instructed Charlie to tell Leo that Jed still wasn't feeling well and that he needed another day or two, then escorted him back to the bedroom.
Jed's legs were still shaky, so he leaned on Abbey's shoulders all the way to the bedroom. She took out his pajamas and helped him get undressed, then tucked him back into bed before grabbing a chair to sit next to him.
"I'm sorry," he said to her as she raised the blanket to cover him.
"For what?"
"I don't mean to be this much trouble."
"What? Jed, you're my husband. I'm here to take care of you, always. Don't you forget that," she told him as she ran her hand through his hair. "Go to sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up."
He closed his eyes and she drifted off into thought.
Flashback
Abbey was laying in bed, staring off into space. It had been four weeks since Zoey's death and this was how she spent most of her days. She wanted to be alone, completely alone. She wouldn't even take calls from Liz and Ellie. She had shut everyone out, not just Jed. But Jed was the one who was taking it the hardest.
He came into the bedroom, hoping to help her, just as he had done most mornings. But once again, she didn't want his help. She told him to leave, but he didn't listen and because of that, they had one of the worst fights of their lives.
"I hate watching you like this, Abbey. You haven't eaten, you haven't slept. You haven't done anything but stare at that wall for a month now!" he told her, trying to only sound loving, and failing miserably.
"Just go away."
"Not until you talk to me." Jed sat on the bed next to her. "You blame me. I know you do. You blame my decision for what happened to Zoey." She stared at him as he attempted to reason with her. "Abbey, if I would have known, if I ever would have suspected that..." he stopped to take a breath, "...she was my daughter too! I loved her. I would have sacrificed my life for hers."
"Who are you trying to convince -- me or yourself?" she asked him coldly.
Jed grabbed her arm and gently tried to pull her out of bed. His tugs were met with restraint, so he let go, not wanting to hurt her. Abbey got out of the bed and pulled away to avoid him.
"You won't talk to me, fine. At least talk to Elizabeth and Ellie. They're worried sick about you."
"They know I'm fine."
"No, they don't, because you're anything but fine. You lay around here like a zombie."
"Oh gee, I guess I've been necglecting my chores. Wouldn't want the 'little woman' to just lay around, now would we?" she said sarcastically.
No matter what Jed said, it was met with cold, harsh sarcasm. She was angry and it wasn't just a subtle anger. She felt rage inside her that she had never really felt before. It was rage primarily directed at those who killed her daughter, but since the killers died in the explosion, the rage could easily be misdirected at another target. The closest one to her at the moment was Jed.
"Knock it off, Abbey. You know damn well what I meant." Jed approached her and softened his tone. "I know you're still grieving and that's fine. I want you to take your time, but you also have two other daughters who love and need you."
How dare he throw Ellie and Liz in her face, Abbey thought. They were adults. It isn't like she had abandoned them. And after his part in Zoey's death, how dare he question her skills as a mother. The anger continued to build inside her and she hoped Jed would just shut up and leave the room before she did or said something she'd regret forever. But it was clear he wasn't going to give up. It was up to her to end the conversation, and that's what she tried to do. She turned her back to him, but even that didn't work. He grabbed her arm, turning her to face him.
"Don't do this. You always run away," he said.
"Let go of my arm," she told him bitterly.
He loosened his hold before continuing, "Stay here and talk this out with me."
"No."
"Abbey, I can't do this alone. I need you. We need to face our daughter's death together."
"You know, I don't remember you asking me for help when you planned an execution."
Jed paused for a beat. "Do you feel better now? Does it make you feel superior to throw that in my face?"
Abbey knew she was hurting him and despite her anger, that isn't what she wanted to do. Right now, all she wanted was to get out of that situation before it turned uglier.
"I'm leaving," she said, walking towards the door.
"Go ahead and run. Hell, if Zoey actually were here, you'd run from her too."
That was the line and he just crossed it. She couldn't bear to hear him say something like that, knowing that she would give anything to hold Zoey once more. His words stopped Abbey dead in her tracks. She turned back around to face him and slapped him across his left cheek with such force that her hand was still burning an hour later. His head jerked to the right as he lifted his hand to cover his face.
Jed and Abbey stared at one another for what seemed like several minutes. He knew he pushed her to it, but he still couldn't believe she lost control like that, and neither could she. She had never struck him before and her actions had never hurt him like they had this time. Emotionally, it may have hurt her more than it hurt him.
Jed glared at her. She was no longer the only one who was angry. He left, slamming the door behind him. Abbey covered her mouth with her hand and remained staring in the direction in which he had been standing.
Abbey leaned forward and traced her finger across his face, kissing him gently on his left cheek. She continued to watch him sleep until she was disturbed by Charlie, announcing Admiral Hackett's arrival. He walked in and immediately sat down next to the bed, making sure not to wake Jed just yet.
"You know what I'm thinking?" Abbey asked.
"Yeah, but we won't know until we run some tests. Even then, we may just have to wait and see."
"If it is..." she broke off, not able to finish the sentence. "...please, don't tell him."
"I'm going to have to, Ma'am. I can't keep it from him."
"Of course, I know. But please, let me be the one. He'll take it better coming from me."
Hackett nodded, then turned to Jed.
TBC
Chapter 7
Previously: Jed accepted Abbey's offer to spend the night in the same room and keep an eye on him. Leo backed out of telling Jed about Abbey's pill popping.
Summary: Jed's health gives him more trouble
For the first time in a year, Jed and Abbey spent the night in the same room. When Jed woke up the next morning, he felt a sense of closeness to his wife. It was a feeling that had gone away even before she moved out last year. The bond they shared was shattered the night Abbey learned that one of Jed's Presidential orders could have led to the abduction of their daughter.
Jed leaned over Abbey's sleeping body and gave her a gentle kiss on the top of her nose. She began to move, but he pulled the blanket over her and she settled back into sleep. He got out of bed and headed for the shower. Today, he was going back to his office.
By the time Jed was out of the shower, Abbey had woken up and had breakfast brought up to the room. She knew Jed was going back to work, but she was comfortable with that decision, knowing that she would stay at the Residence in case he needed her. For Abbey, the previous night was a godsend. So many nights she spent alone in New Hampshire, longing for his touch. She was furious with him, but if he only knew how many times she picked up the phone to call him, only to lose her nerve and hang up. And now, here she was, back in his arms.
Husband and wife sat down to breakfast together before Jed left for his office. There was no arguing, no blaming, just talking. It wasn't even about anything in particular, just simple discussions that seemed reminiscent of happier, less worrisome times. It was a great start to what Jed thought would be a great day. He didn't realize that by nighttime, his health would be cause for concern once again.
Within minutes of arriving in the Oval Office, Jed summoned CJ. He apologized to her for taking his feelings towards Abbey out on her. To say that CJ was surprised would be an understatement. For a solid year, Jed had been a jerk to his entire staff and the only person who ever heard an apology, on a rare occasion, was Leo. But now that Abbey was back, his attitude had changed. His entire demeanor had changed. He had his wife and it was as if that's all he ever needed.
In that moment, CJ felt they had their old President back -- the man they all worked so hard to get elected, the man she admired more than any other, next to her father. But even though Jed's emotional state was starting to return to normal, he was about to find out his health couldn't have been worse.
As he stood there talking to CJ, he felt a slight tingle in his legs. He had felt this before, but never with such intensity. Jed pulled up his chair and sat down.
"Are you okay, Sir?" CJ asked.
"Yeah, my legs are just tired," he said. But right away Jed knew this wasn't just him feeling tired. His legs were hurting badly. The tingling was now a burning sensation and only moments later, he couldn't feel his right leg. "Get Abbey!" he blurted out.
CJ ran out of the office and a few short minutes later, Abbey came running in. She asked CJ to excuse them as she tended to her husband.
"Can you feel it?" she asked, referring to his leg.
"Yeah, the feeling's back."
"Jed? Look at me."
He looked right in her eyes.
"Don't you lie to me. Can you feel both your legs?"
"Yes. I swear. I just got a little scared. I'm fine now."
"No, you're not," she answered, reminding him that his eyes are still red and puffy and that his fatigue really hadn't gotten much better, despite the fact that he spent a couple of days in bed. She insisted she take him back to the Residence and despite his argument, she won this battle. Abbey instructed Charlie to tell Leo that Jed still wasn't feeling well and that he needed another day or two, then escorted him back to the bedroom.
Jed's legs were still shaky, so he leaned on Abbey's shoulders all the way to the bedroom. She took out his pajamas and helped him get undressed, then tucked him back into bed before grabbing a chair to sit next to him.
"I'm sorry," he said to her as she raised the blanket to cover him.
"For what?"
"I don't mean to be this much trouble."
"What? Jed, you're my husband. I'm here to take care of you, always. Don't you forget that," she told him as she ran her hand through his hair. "Go to sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up."
He closed his eyes and she drifted off into thought.
Flashback
Abbey was laying in bed, staring off into space. It had been four weeks since Zoey's death and this was how she spent most of her days. She wanted to be alone, completely alone. She wouldn't even take calls from Liz and Ellie. She had shut everyone out, not just Jed. But Jed was the one who was taking it the hardest.
He came into the bedroom, hoping to help her, just as he had done most mornings. But once again, she didn't want his help. She told him to leave, but he didn't listen and because of that, they had one of the worst fights of their lives.
"I hate watching you like this, Abbey. You haven't eaten, you haven't slept. You haven't done anything but stare at that wall for a month now!" he told her, trying to only sound loving, and failing miserably.
"Just go away."
"Not until you talk to me." Jed sat on the bed next to her. "You blame me. I know you do. You blame my decision for what happened to Zoey." She stared at him as he attempted to reason with her. "Abbey, if I would have known, if I ever would have suspected that..." he stopped to take a breath, "...she was my daughter too! I loved her. I would have sacrificed my life for hers."
"Who are you trying to convince -- me or yourself?" she asked him coldly.
Jed grabbed her arm and gently tried to pull her out of bed. His tugs were met with restraint, so he let go, not wanting to hurt her. Abbey got out of the bed and pulled away to avoid him.
"You won't talk to me, fine. At least talk to Elizabeth and Ellie. They're worried sick about you."
"They know I'm fine."
"No, they don't, because you're anything but fine. You lay around here like a zombie."
"Oh gee, I guess I've been necglecting my chores. Wouldn't want the 'little woman' to just lay around, now would we?" she said sarcastically.
No matter what Jed said, it was met with cold, harsh sarcasm. She was angry and it wasn't just a subtle anger. She felt rage inside her that she had never really felt before. It was rage primarily directed at those who killed her daughter, but since the killers died in the explosion, the rage could easily be misdirected at another target. The closest one to her at the moment was Jed.
"Knock it off, Abbey. You know damn well what I meant." Jed approached her and softened his tone. "I know you're still grieving and that's fine. I want you to take your time, but you also have two other daughters who love and need you."
How dare he throw Ellie and Liz in her face, Abbey thought. They were adults. It isn't like she had abandoned them. And after his part in Zoey's death, how dare he question her skills as a mother. The anger continued to build inside her and she hoped Jed would just shut up and leave the room before she did or said something she'd regret forever. But it was clear he wasn't going to give up. It was up to her to end the conversation, and that's what she tried to do. She turned her back to him, but even that didn't work. He grabbed her arm, turning her to face him.
"Don't do this. You always run away," he said.
"Let go of my arm," she told him bitterly.
He loosened his hold before continuing, "Stay here and talk this out with me."
"No."
"Abbey, I can't do this alone. I need you. We need to face our daughter's death together."
"You know, I don't remember you asking me for help when you planned an execution."
Jed paused for a beat. "Do you feel better now? Does it make you feel superior to throw that in my face?"
Abbey knew she was hurting him and despite her anger, that isn't what she wanted to do. Right now, all she wanted was to get out of that situation before it turned uglier.
"I'm leaving," she said, walking towards the door.
"Go ahead and run. Hell, if Zoey actually were here, you'd run from her too."
That was the line and he just crossed it. She couldn't bear to hear him say something like that, knowing that she would give anything to hold Zoey once more. His words stopped Abbey dead in her tracks. She turned back around to face him and slapped him across his left cheek with such force that her hand was still burning an hour later. His head jerked to the right as he lifted his hand to cover his face.
Jed and Abbey stared at one another for what seemed like several minutes. He knew he pushed her to it, but he still couldn't believe she lost control like that, and neither could she. She had never struck him before and her actions had never hurt him like they had this time. Emotionally, it may have hurt her more than it hurt him.
Jed glared at her. She was no longer the only one who was angry. He left, slamming the door behind him. Abbey covered her mouth with her hand and remained staring in the direction in which he had been standing.
Abbey leaned forward and traced her finger across his face, kissing him gently on his left cheek. She continued to watch him sleep until she was disturbed by Charlie, announcing Admiral Hackett's arrival. He walked in and immediately sat down next to the bed, making sure not to wake Jed just yet.
"You know what I'm thinking?" Abbey asked.
"Yeah, but we won't know until we run some tests. Even then, we may just have to wait and see."
"If it is..." she broke off, not able to finish the sentence. "...please, don't tell him."
"I'm going to have to, Ma'am. I can't keep it from him."
"Of course, I know. But please, let me be the one. He'll take it better coming from me."
Hackett nodded, then turned to Jed.
TBC