Chapter 9

The trip from Andrews seemed to take forever.

'What signs did I miss?'

'A heart attack has signs. I should have picked up on them. I'm a thoracic surgeon for God's sake.'

'Why didn't I see this coming?'

'Why didn't he tell me he wasn't feeling good?'

'Was it the fight we had that brought it on?'

'Oh, God, Jed. Please live. Please.'

Tears tried to escape from her eyes but her resolve held them back. She had to be in control right now. She couldn't let go.

'I need him. Oh please God, please let him live.'

Finally the Suburban pulled up the side of the hospital. Although it had only taken thirty minutes, to Abbey it seemed like forever. She had received a brief call from Leo telling her that Jed had been taken to the cardiac cath lab, but since then there had been no news. However, she knew that anytime a person had to be shocked back into rhythm it wasn't good.

The press had already started to arrive. The cameras clicked as she got out of the car but she had only one focus—to get to her husband.

Her agents held the door open as she entered the Emergency Room. A woman in a white lab coat approached her. Abbey stopped her progress, holding her breath while the other person approached.

"My husband…how is he? Is he…"

"Dr. Bartlett, I am Dr. Susan Jones. I took care of the President during his short stay down here. Dr. Martin has him in the cath lab at the moment and he remains stable. I should be getting another update shortly. Arrangements have been made for you to wait in a suite on the seventh floor. If you'll follow me, I'll be glad to show you to your room."

Abbey knew she had gotten about all the information she could, so she walked with Dr. Jones toward the elevator and the inevitable wait. The procedure would normally take about 2 hours, especially if stents were inserted to open any blockage. This was the part that Abbey hated. Being on the waiting end rather that the action she was so used to. But she was family now, not the doctor in charge. She knew what was going on and all she could do was pray that there would be no problems.

The two women entered the suite that had been set aside for the First Lady's use. The suite consisted of two small sofas, some chairs, a small table, and a bathroom off the side. Some ice and bottles of water had been set on table along with some fruit. But Abbey didn't want anything to eat or drink right now. She just wanted to know about Jed.

In a few minutes, Dr. Jones's beeper went off. Susan looked at the number and walked over to the telephone. "Yes?"

Abbey tried to listen to the conversation, but she was talking so softly she couldn't quite make out what was being said.

Dr. Jones hung up and turned to face Abbey. "That was Dr. Martin. The President's vessels are too occluded for any type of stent. There are at least five bypasses that have to be done. The President is being prepped for immediate open heart surgery. We have an operating room already prepared."

Abbey sat down abruptly. "I want to see him before he goes into surgery."

"I'll page Dr. Martin with your request."

"No. You don't understand. It's not a request."

"Yes, ma'am. Let me check downstairs."

In less than a minute, Abbey was on her way down a flight of stairs to see her husband.

Pushing the door open to the pre-op area, the first thing she noticed was Ron dressed in scrubs, standing next to an isolated stretcher.

He nodded as she quickly walked over. Taking one quick look at his charge, Ron then stepped away to allow for some privacy.

Jed was still groggy from the morphine, so there wasn't much of a conversation. Still, Abbey had to touch him for at least a minute and say words of encouragement.

She leaned over the stretcher and kissed him gently on the forehead. Touching his hand, she told him, "You'll be fine, pumpkin. I'll be waiting for you. I love you, Jed Bartlet. You come back to me, okay?"

Abbey barely saw a nod of Jed's head but knew he had at least heard her.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. We have to go." The nurse unlocked the wheels and pushed Jed away from Abbey. She noted that Ron followed him and was jealous that she couldn't do so as well.

As the doors closed between them, Abbey felt the hollow place in her heart that could only be filled by the return of a healthy husband.

She turned and went back to the family room.

Tears would have to wait until later.

She had things to do.