Chapter 10
"Wipe this blood off. What's his blood pressure?" Although short of trained help, the Flight Surgeon demanded immediate assistance from the one available aide.
"Mr. President? Can you hear me?"
Jed could hear quite well. In fact, too well for his current state.
"Hell, yeah. Quit shouting. My head hurts." He opened his eyes for the first time since his fall.
Dr. Bishop smiled for the first time in ten minutes. If the patient could shout obscenities, then he had to be okay.
"Mr. President, you have a nasty cut on your temple. I can't find any other injuries. Please stay still while I sew it up."
"What's going on?" If the President was awake, then he was in charge.
Dr. Bishop looked at Toby and shrugged. It was certainly not his place to answer that question.
"Mr. President." Toby had the courage to speak to the dominant force in the room, even while he was lying injured. He continued. "You were hurt in our roller coaster ride. It's just a nasty wound which Dr. Bishop is going to sew up."
"Abbey. Where's Abbey?" Toby heard the edge of fear in his voice.
"She's fine, Mr. President."
"Where is she?" Toby's answer did nothing to lessen Jed's worry about his wife.
"Mr. President, I can't sew up a moving target. Can you at least hold your head still?" Dr. Bishop was a little frustrated.
"I want to see my wife."
"Once I finish this, I'll go get her. Would you please hold still?" Dr. Bishop's voice carried a sternness that the President finally heard.
Jed tried to relax. But it was hard when he wanted to make sure that Abbey was okay and a doctor was practicing his stitches on the Presidential head.
Finally, Dr. Bishop finished and gathered up his materials.
"Do you want some help to stand?"
"No. But do you have something for this headache? It's killing me."
"Yes, sir. Take two of these." Dr. Bishop held out two Advil and a glass of water. Jed gratefully took both of them without his usual squabble.
Jed stood up somewhat wobbly, but refused assistance to walk out of the room. As he left, he saw Abbey being brought in on a back board. She had the collar on her neck, but seemed to be okay.
"Hon, are you okay?"
Abbey smiled. "Yeah. I think I just got the wind knocked out of me. But the doc still wants to check me over before he lets me up. Are you okay?"
Jed touched the dressing taped to his head. "Yeah. Except for this headache, everything is working like it should."
"Go lie down and I'll be there shortly."
Jed, for once, followed her directions without argument.
Twenty minutes later Abbey joined Jed in the bedroom. Ron came in right behind her.
"Mr. President, we're two hours away from landing in Hawaii."
"Well, I'll certainly be glad to get on the ground. In fact, I might even kiss it."
"Yes, sir." Ron's lips upturned at that statement. And he left before he could break into a smile.