Chapter 17
It took over an hour before a doctor came out to speak with Jed.
Zoey had arrived in tears by this time and Ellie and Liz had called, alerted first by their agents, but reinforced by the urgent bulletins all over the news.
Jed was consoling his youngest as the Emergency Room doctor walked up to them.
"Mr. President, I'm Dr. Collins. My team and I think your wife will make it."
Jed's heart skipped a short beat and hope returned.
"We have pumped her stomach and the respirator we put her on when she arrived should be taken off within the next hour. She is fighting the machine so that's a very good sign. The First Lady is still unconscious, but we feel that should resolve in the next six to eight hours. We want to keep her in ICU for the next twenty-four hours, just watching her and making sure there are no complications. I'll be happy to answer any questions."
Jed looked at his youngest, but decided to ask this question anyway. "What was the blood level of the drug in her system?"
"It was three times the normal dose for that drug."
"Doctor, I have to ask a tough question. Do you think my wife tried to kill herself?" Jed shuddered as Zoey jerked away from her father.
"No, Dad! No way! Mom wouldn't do that. She just wouldn't."
Turning his attention to Zoey, Jed answered calmly. "Zoey, honey, I agree. I don't want to believe it either. But the facts say different." Turning back to the doctor, he asked again. "Is the level of drug in her system sufficient to commit suicide if one chose that method?"
Dr. Collins looked from the President of the United States to his daughter's horrified face, then back again to the President. "In my professional opinion, yes."
Jed trembled at that statement. It was not the one he was hoping against hope that the doctor would give.
"Thank you very much, Dr. Collins. When will my wife be awake enough to talk?"
"Like I said, enough of the drug should be out of her system in the next six to eight hours. So I would think sometime later in that time period she will be awake enough to talk."
"Thank you, sir, for all you've done. My family appreciates that."
After shaking hands, Dr. Collins excused himself to go see after his patient. Jed completely understood. He would prefer the experts to be looking after Abbey.
And he knew the expert he needed to call for the next phase. If she had tried to kill herself, then Abbey needed psychiatric help.