Chapter 15

Leo felt no better after Abbey explained to him what was going on. "What do you think?"

Abbey shook her head as she reentered the room. "I don't know. It looked pretty bad. I know they have thinned his blood and hopefully it's actually less than how it looks. I just don't know."

"Do you want me to call the girls to come back?"

"Yes. And call Liz. Tell her to get down here right now. I'm going to the chapel. Call me if there's any news."

"Sure."

Abbey finished with her prayers and got up to leave. She saw Zoey and Ellie kneeling behind her. She waited until they were finished and then went toward them. Comfort in numbers. Maybe that would help.

"Mom, what do you think? Will Dad be okay?"

Abbey looked into her youngest eyes. Eyes that pleaded with her to give her the news that her father would be okay.

"I don't know, Zoey. It's not good that they had to take him back to surgery. But you know your Dad. He's a fighter. He doesn't take no for an answer. We just have to wait for the doctors to tell us about him."

Abbey looked at Ellie, knowing full well that she could see through her mother's smokescreen. They both knew that this was not a good sign and that he could very well die on the table. But to Abbey's relief, Ellie didn't say anything. She also wanted to hope that things would work out and didn't want to upset Zoey with her thoughts. It was better if Zoey didn't know the worst case scenario.

As they made their way back to the room, Abbey saw Dr. Martin coming down the hall. She looked at her watch and realized it had only been two hours since Jed had left for his second surgery.

Too soon for good news. It must be bad.

Abbey prayed silently for strength to handle whatever the outcome. It was not in her hands.

Leo had just come out of the family room and walked over to stand by Abbey. He knew the next words from the surgeon could shatter her universe or make it whole again.

"Mrs. Bartlet, girls, I've just come from the operating room. The President is…"

Abbey couldn't hear his next words. She just knew they were words that she didn't want to hear.

"…stable. The source of the bleeding turned out to be the suture line on his chest. We have fixed that and the bleeding appears to have stopped. Of course, we'll continue to monitor him very closely."

'Stable? Did the doctor say stable?' Abbey thought her ears were playing tricks on a very tired brain.

"Excuse me, Dr. Martin, did you say stable? I thought, I thought with all that blood…" Abbey left the other words unspoken.

"Yes, ma'am. It looked worse than it actually was. We've decreased the amount of blood thinner and that should also help. Would you like to see him? In fact, I think everybody, one at a time, can take a quick glance. Just don't stay too long."

Abbey motioned for Zoey and Ellie to go first and then she would follow. First, though, she had to put herself back together.

She and Leo went back inside and sat down. "Leo, I just knew Jed was dying. I just knew it. I dreamed that he was talking to me but I couldn't see him. No matter how hard I would try, I just couldn't see him."

"I understand, Abbey. Now, it's time for you to let go. You know you don't have to be strong with me."

Permission to cry was all that Abbey needed. Tears poured from her eyes. Sobs racked her body as Leo pulled her in and hugged until the sorrow and relief had passed.

Shortly, she pulled back and wiped her face. "I need to see him. Go with me?"

"Of course, Abbey. Of course. I'm here for both of you."