Chapter 14

Jed sat for a minute, watching her chest rise and fall with each vital breath. At least she was alive. With evasive answers to his multiple requests to see her, he was almost ready to believe she had died and no one had the guts to tell him.

Sliding his bandaged hands through the bed rails, he placed them on her chest, again trying to assure himself that she was indeed alive. Watching her breathe, her pink lips, gave him hope that she would be okay.

"Abbey," Jed whispered, not wanting to be overheard by those he knew were behind the pulled curtain. "Hon, I'm so sorry I let you talk me into bringing you. I should have stood my ground and insisted that you stay at home. Ron was right. But I listened to my heart, the heart that would miss you if you were not with me. Forgive me for being so selfish." Fighting the tears that had already formed and were threatening to fall, Jed lowered his head onto her arm, trying to feel her warmth, to touch her very spirit.

"Oh, Abbey, can you ever forgive me? I knew something like this could happen but yet I let you come. And it only got you into trouble. I'm so sorry." The tears that had threatened now fell.

Still sitting with his head on her arm, he heard her catch her breath. Jerking up, he looked toward the face that for him had launched many of his ships over the years. Pale green eyes looked back at him.

"Abbey, you're awake?" Jed eked out softly.

A weak smile gave him the answer to his question.

"Hi, babe. You'll be fine."

Another weak smile. This time she tried to speak. A rough, quiet voice was able to say, "Hi, yourself."

"I'm so glad to see you."

"What happened?"

"An explosion at the Embassy. You're at the American Hospital in Moscow. You've had surgery."

Looking at his bandaged hands and the multiple cuts on his face, she knew she had not been the only one hurt. "You?"

Raising his hands, he shrugged. "Oh this? Just a few burns and a few cuts. Nothing to worry about."

Another weak smile and Jed knew what she was thinking. 'Jackass'.

"Oh yeah. You're much better. Now rest. You're going to be fine. It'll take some time. You lost a lot of blood and you have a mild concussion, but those things will heal. The only thing that matters is that you're awake." Jed stood, wobbly at first, but soon was grasping the bedrails with his wrists, leaning down to place a light kiss on Abbey's forehead. "I love you, Abbey. I love you so very much."

Another smile was his reward.

"Okay, just rest now. I'll go back and get some rest myself. I'll see you when you get to a room." He placed his mitts on her forehead and brushed them down across her face. Her lids closed in response and soon her breathing was again slow and even.

Jed quietly said a prayer. A prayer of thanks that his one true love had made it through safely and would soon be back in his arms. Suddenly, he realized just how tired he was. He sat back down and with a loud voice called for Leo. "Leo! I'm ready to go back."

The curtain was pulled back. Leo instantly knew things would be fine. The broad smile on the President's face told him everything he needed to know. And he also offered a silent prayer of thanks. Thanks for having both his friends alive and that they would soon be well.