Alex woke up, shivering and coughing as she struggled to get out of bed. She fell to her knees as she was overcome by dizziness and tears streamed down her face. She startled to crawl towards the bathroom on her hands and knees. She made it to the bathroom, but clung to the toilet, dry heaving. She hadn't eaten anything and there was nothing in her to throw up. She heard the door to her room open and within seconds, her mother was at her side.
The heaving finally subsided and she leaned back against Abbey, who helped her rinse her mouth out and wipe the sweat of her face. "Let's get you back to bed," Abbey said, helping her stand up. Two secret service agents had come in and helped the woman get Alex into bed.
Alex lay down against the pillows and pulled the covers tight around her. Abbey reached for the thermometer and took Alex's temperature. It had reached 104.
"Alex, I want to call Dr. Hackett," Abbey said, brushing the sweaty hair from Alex's face.
"I don't like doctors," Alex moaned.
"Alexandria, I know you don't," Abbey replied, in a soft but stern voice, "You're dehydrated and you can't keep down liquids. You need to have an I.V. It's the only way you'll get better quicker." Alex closed her eyes and shook her head. Abbey sighed and closed her eyes. She knew Alex hated doctors because the doctors that had treated her at the shelter weren't the kindest.
"Honey, I will be here with you while he administers the I.V.," Abbey said. "Your temperatures 104. We need to get your body temperature down." She looked to Alex, who had stilled in her bed. "Alex? Alexandria?" She shook her, but the girl wouldn't respond. "Alex, c'me on, Honey. Wake up." Tears filled her eyes and her heart pounded in her chest as she screamed for Secret Service.
"Call Dr. Hackett. Now," she bellowed, running for the kitchen for ice. She stuffed some in a towel and ran straight for the bedroom, putting it on Alex's forehead.
"C'me on baby, wake up," Abbey said, tears running down her face. She heard commotion and looked to see Jed burst into the room. He looked from his wife to his daughter who lay still in her bed. Abbey pressed her fingers to Alex's throat and felt her heart stop as she detected a faint pulse. Jed walked over and took Alex's hand in his own, wincing at how hot it was.
Within minutes, Dr. Hackett arrived and Jed took Abbey's hand, moving her out of the way. The watched as he took her temperature, then prepared an I.V. Within minutes, she was hooked up to a monitor that showed her temperature, blood pressure and heart beat. Abbey was somewhat relived to see the girl's slow, but steady heart beat on the monitor.
She clutched Jed's hand as Dr. Hackett pulled off his stethoscope and walk over to them. "Abbey, you know how bad this is," he said, "She has the flu, probably contracted overseas, compacted with a severe lung infection. How long has she been like this?"
"Two days," Abbey replied, "Her temperature was 101, until we got back this morning, then it spiked up to 104." Her voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes still focused on the girl laying in the bed. She knew that the shallow breathing Alex had been having wasn't a good sign.
"She's breathing on her own, which is a good sign. I want to keep her on I.V's to help keep her temperature down," Hackett continued.
"What exactly has happened," Jed asked. Like Abbey, his eyes were glued on their daughter. But, unlike Abbey, he didn't know what was happening to her.
"She's in a light coma," Hackett said, "Her body shut down in order to help fight the disease."
"Will she wake up?"
"Yes," he said, "I'm not sure how long it will take, but she will wake up. Abbey, I've got my pager. I'll be in the building, so page me the minute you need something. I left extra saline bags for you to change her I.V. with."
Abbey nodded her thanks, then moved to sit next to Alex's bed.
The night passed slowly, with Abbey beside Alex every minute. Zoey had arrived around midnight and sat while Abbey went to check on Jed. She found him in the kitchen, eating a sandwich and his eyes intent on the television screen. She could see an intense debate between Sam and some conservative lawyers going on. "You eaten," he asked, looking over to her.
"No," Abbey said, sinking down onto a bar stool. Jed pushed the other sandwich he had made towards her. She picked it up and picked at it, eating little. "Any change?"
"No," Abbey said, finally taking a bite. "Zoey's sitting with her right now."
"Zoey came," Jed asked. Abbey nodded, taking a sip of his milk. "Does Charlie know?"
"I'm sure he does," Abbey said, "What do you have against those two anyways?"
"He's a member of male gender," Jed replied, "And he's dating my daughter."
"Our oldest daughter's already married and Ellie's dating," Abbey said.
"Don't remind me," he said, leaning forward. "Abbey…about what Hackett said. She'll wake up, won't she? This can't be MS, can it?" He looked up to his wife, who's eyes were focused at some point behind him. "Abbey?"
"Hmm? Yeah. She'll wake up," she said, snapping her eyes back to him.
"Could it be MS?" His eyes met hers and for a moment he knew they shared the same thought.
"No," Abbey said, "MS isn't hereditary. I already asked Hackett that. It's just the flu. I'm going to go relieve Zoey." She kissed his temple gently, then went to go visit Alex.
Leo walked into the large room and saw Abbey sitting by Alex's side, reading a book. "What're you reading," he asked, breaking the silence of the room.
"Something for the Women's Caucus," she replied, glancing up. "How's it going down there?"
"Not bad," he said, "How's Alex?"
"About the same," Abbey said, sliding the glasses off her face. "Zoey went back to Georgetown. She'll be back this afternoon, after her classes."
"Is it the flu," he asked, sitting down.
"Yeah," Abbey said, meeting his eyes. She said it with conviction to show him that it really was just the flu. "Her body had to shut down in order to fight it."
"How long will she be out," Leo asked.
"I don't know," Abbey replied.
"I remember when Zoey was sick our first year here," Leo said, "You were up with her all night."
"I've always done it for the girls," she said.
"Abbey…it's not…," his voice trailed off and his eyes met hers.
"MS isn't hereditary," Abbey said, "It's just the flu. Dr. Hackett thinks she contracted it in Paris." Leo nodded and sat down in the other chair.
"I'll sit with her. You look like you could use some sleep." Abbey nodded and stood up, kissing Alex's forehead gently.
Movement from the bed caught Leo's attention and he looked up to see Alex blinking her eyes slowly. "Hey kiddo," he said, "How you feel?"
She moaned and shifted in her bed. "What happened," she asked, her voice cracking.
"I'll let your mom explain that," he said, helping spoon some ice into her mouth. She sucked on it, and looked over to see her mother enter the room.
"Hey," Abbey said softly. "How you feel?"
"Like death warmed over," Alex croaked out.
"Yeah, well I wouldn't joke about it to much," Abbey said, "You've been out for a few days now."
"I see you called the doctor." She motioned to the IV still hooked up to her wrist.
"You didn't leave me an option," Abbey said. Alex groaned again and closed her eyes. "Go to sleep." She didn't argue, but closed her eyes and fell asleep.
A couple of days later, Alex was awake and sitting up in bed. Her fever had broken, but she remained weak. Zoey sat with her, watching t.v. when her mother walked in, carrying an envelope. "What's that," Alex asked, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"A letter from Yale," Abbey said, handing it to her. She was fighting to hide the smile on her face.
Alex froze, looking at her and handed it to Zoey. "I can't open it," Alex said, "You open it." Zoey rolled her eyes and took it, sliding her finger along the top. Alex chewed on her lip, watching her face for any reaction.
"Well," she asked, when Zoey didn't say anything.
"You're the one that didn't want to read it," Zoey said, handing it back to her. Like her mother, she could barely hide her smile.
Alex took it with a groan and ran her eyes over it. "I got in," she said, looking up, "I got it!" She laughed and fell back against the pillows with a huge smile.
"Congratulations, honey," Abbey said, hugging Alex tightly. Jed watched from the hallway as his wife hugged their daughter, then Zoey hugged her twin. Charlie had told him about the letter arriving.
"What'cha got there," he asked, walking into her bedroom, his hands stuffed in his pockets.
"My admissions letter from Yale," Alex said, smiling brightly, "I got in!"
"I guess that means I can give you this." He held out a box that was blue with a yellow ribbon. Alex looked him, then took the box, tearing it open. Her grin grew larger as she pulled out a navy blue hooded sweatshirt with Yale embroidered across the front. "Thank you," she said, reaching out to hug him.
Jed hugged his daughter tightly, then watched as she tugged the sweatshirt on, lifting her brown hair as she adjusted it. "Now, you just have to get better to go there," he admonished. Alex rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Which means, taking your medicine," Abbey said, holding a small cup of pills, along with a bottle of cough syrup. Alex groaned and took the pillows, then downed it with some cough syrup. "Get some rest. You're still running a fever." She kissed Alex's forehead gently, then stood back as Jed kissed her.
"Are you heading back to school," Abbey asked as she and Zoey stepped into the hall.
"Yeah," Zoey said, "Big test tomorrow."
"Okay," Abbey said, hugging her. "Call me when you get there."
"I will," Zoey said. "Mom, what Zoey had…It was just the flu, wasn't it?"
"Yeah," Abbey said, cupping her daughter's cheek. "It was just flu."
"But, she doesn't know, does she," Zoey asked.
"No, she doesn't," Abbey said, "But we'll tell her soon. Take care of yourself. One sick kid's enough."
"I will," Zoey said, smiling. "Love you."
"I love you too," Abbey said, kissing her cheek. Zoey smiled and left just as Jed walked out of Alex's bedroom. "She asleep?"
"Yeah," Jed said, "That cold medicine must be some strong stuff."
"Has codeine in it," Abbey said, "Helps her sleep and keeps down the soreness of coughing."
"Ah…drugging our daughter. What a fine doctor you've become," he said, slipping his arm around her. "I've gotta get back downstairs. The President of Timbuktu's supposed to call."
"Alright," Abbey said, "You going to be up late?"
"Yeah," he said, "I'll check in on Alex, then come on up for bed."
"Okay," Abbey said, "Time for a quick dinner?"
"Yeah," he said, "I'll call you." She smiled and kissed him gently before sliding out of his grip.
"Jed," Abbey said, before she walked away, "We need to tell her."
Jed met his wife's eyes and knew without asking what she was talking about. "Yeah, I know," he said, putting his hands back in his pockets. He saw her nod slightly, the turn away, heading to their bedroom.