Chapter 13

"Can I see him?"

Abbey just had to touch him, to connect with him, to let him know that he had to fight.

At first, Dr. Martin was going to say no. Families rarely got to go to ICU right after surgery. But this was a special case. He knew that the First Lady was a thoracic surgeon herself and knew what to expect. He also knew that she was a person who loved her husband deeply and would be of help in his fight for life.

"Okay. Just give us a few more minutes and I'll let you see him. ICU is just down the hall from here and I'll come and get you."

"Thanks." Abbey appreciated all that he was doing.

Abbey took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she would find. As a surgeon, she knew the routine equipment required after this type of surgery. But the thought of it being on her husband, of it working to keep him alive, hit her hard.

As she saw Jed for the first time, her knees began to buckle. But she grabbed the bedrails to steady herself, and then moved on.

She walked to the side of the bed and reached for his hand.

Then, the physician took over and she began to assess his condition. He was on a ventilator, monitor leads snaked from his chest, a long white bandage covered his sternum, and a small catheter snaked from the side of his neck to a monitor above. She knew that this was monitoring the strength of his heart muscle contractions. Glancing up to read it, she interpreted the readings as weak. That was to be expected, given the circumstances. His hand was cool and his skin pale.

She brought his hand up to her lips and gave it a gentle kiss. "Okay, Jed. Your surgery is over and now you have to fight. You have to want to live. We want you back. Do you hear me? I love you so much, Pumpkin."

Of course, he didn't hear her. But she hoped at some level those words would register. Abbey wanted to apologize for fighting with him the last few days, but right now all she wanted him to know was that she loved him and wanted him back.

"Everybody is pulling for you. Ellie, Zoey, and Leo are here. Liz will be down later today. They all send their love."

Tears were forming in her eyes. But she was fighting not to let them fall.

"Jed, you have to fight. You can be very stubborn and this is one of those times I need for you to be that way. Please, Jed. Please act like the jackass that I love."

"I need you Jed. I need you so much."

Another kiss on his hand and she left. Before she got to the main set of doors, the tears she had forcefully held back when by his bedside finally came.