Chapter 8
"Abbey!"
Jed panicked. He released his seat belt even as Toby and CJ both said, "NO!"
Ignoring his staff and his own safety, he got up. This was a personal mission. A mission to see how badly his wife had been hurt in the fall.
The plane continued its unexpected rolling and dipping so Jed's body was never stationery, even when he was standing. This awkwardness caused his body to be thrown forward and then sideways. As he fell, he felt the pain as his head fell against the sharp edge of the desk. He lost consciousness as he joined Abbey in a pile of bodies on the floor.
As the lights came back on, CJ and Toby decided on their next course of action. They released their seatbelts, and pushed themselves downward, their only goal to reach the President and First Lady, lying unconscious on the floor before them.
"Toby, check the President. I'll try to reach Abbey."
In spite of the rolls and dips, they finally reached the First Couple.
Almost simultaneously, each checked their respective charge's neck and was relieved to find a pulse.
"Alive. And Abbey?"
"Yeah."
Toby pulled the President's unconscious body off to the side and tried to stop the stream of blood coming from the side of Jed's head. His white handkerchief turned crimson red as he pressed down on the scalp wound, trying to at least slow down the bleeding.
CJ straightened Abbey's limbs out and rolled her over even as moans were heard coming from her throat.
"Abbey, its okay. Wake up. You fell, but I don't see any injuries." The First Lady continued to moan, but made an effort to open her eyes. Gradually, her green eyes opened to CJ's face, bending over her with a worried expression.
"CJ? What happened?" Abbey tried to sit up, but CJ gently pushed her back down. Until she could be checked by someone with more training, Abbey needed to be kept still.
"I think you got the wind knocked out of you during one of the most exciting rides I've ever been on."
Abbey gave a small smile. The she realized she hadn't heard from her ever protective husband. "Jed? Where is he? Is he okay?"
"He hit his head, Mrs. Bartlet. Toby is seeing to him now."
"What!" as she tried to sit up again.
CJ instantly pushed her back to the floor. "No ma'am. Please stay down. You may have some internal injuries and you need to be seen by someone with more training than first aid skills courtesy of the Girl Scouts."
As much as Abbey wanted to see about Jed, she knew CJ was telling the truth. If she moved with internal injuries, it would not help the situation at all.
Surely help would arrive soon.