Chapter Ten - History is known for Repetition
Eight months ago
Henry stepped out of the shower and sighed heavily as he rubbed his temples. He took a seat on the bed and checked his bedside drawer for some painkillers but the packet was empty. He slammed the draw shut and groaned inwardly as his headache became increasingly worse.
'That's bad?' Elizabeth asked as she stood in the doorway of their bedroom looking over to him. Henry rolled his eyes as the pressure in his head mounted.
'What's wrong?' Came the more stern approach from her as she entered the room and walked into their ensuite. Before he answered she had a pretty good idea as to what was wrong with him and went looking for some pain relief.
'There isn't anything I checked' he grunted. Elizabeth turned on her heels and walked back over to him, she tried not to rise to his levels of irritation especially as it hadn't been long since they started talking properly again following Stevie believing he was cheating.
'Okkkk well, why don't you try and get an early night? Maybe you're lacking in sleep, you've been working non stop just recently an-'
'I'm fine' he snapped and stood up heading towards the wardrobe.
'You're clearly not Henry' she bit back but he ignored her. 'Henry I know we've had our issues recently but there is no need to take this out on me' she huffed and began to get undressed from her work clothes herself.
'I'm not!' A silence fell upon the room as his words echoed off the walls. Henry sighed apologetically and looked over to her 'Sorry' he mumbled and dipped his head. Elizabeth climbed onto the bed whilst once dressed in her loungewear and patted the empty space next to her,
'Come, sit' she offered softly and he joined her. Henry instantly rested a hand on her leg and smiled softly.
'Sorry, I didn't mean to snap' he began to apologise and Elizabeth shook her head raising her hand and gently rubbing his cheekbone.
'It's ok but, Henry what's wrong? You've been like this since last night?' She tilted her head and kept her gaze on him, her eyes soft and gentle as they encouraged him to open up.
'I've just got a terrible headache and there is no pain relief in the house' came the flat reply but Elizabeth wasn't buying it, she remained silent and kept a calm hold of his face as she waited for him to elaborate. 'Its Dimitri' he paused and Elizabeth regrettably sighed heavily in frustration,
'Not this again Henry'
'I've been thinking about him, I need to know he is ok. Elizabeth is just a kid and wrote on the back of a piece of paper he wants out. I need to go to Russia and make sure he is safe' he explained irrationally
'Have you heard yourself? What do you think you can do? Just jump on a plane and say 'Hi Russia we have a spy in your military and I need to make sure he Is ok, could you just give me a moment' she shrieked as she climbed off the bed.
'Elizabeth I have to do something'
'You've done everything you can Henry, Dimitri said he wanted out and you have to respect that. You cannot get involved anymore it's making you physically unwell'
'I can't just leave him!'
'This isn't even about Dimitri is it? This is about Ivan or Tommy isn't it. Henry just because you couldn't save him from killing himself or drowning doesn't mean you can save every young man who enters your life' she snapped, she knew she was being incredibly insensitive but she was sick of Henry moping over Dimitri.
'Would you say that to Will?' He snapped, his mouth fell open as soon as the words escaped him. She glared at him and his nostrils flared.
'I have told Will the same, neither of you can save everyone, just like Will couldn't save my parents. What you have both experienced is awful, and it's going to weigh on you but it doesn't mean you have to play the hero in every situation Henry' she stressed, trying to dismiss the low blow from him.
'You just don't like him because he dated Stevie' it was a childish comeback, he knew that but he was running out of excuses.
'No Henry I don't have a liking nor a disliking to the boy as I don't know him, but what I do know is that since you've become his handler you have been awful to live with, you're secretive, your rude, and you constantly hit below the belt' she snarled
'This isn't helping my headache' he mumbled, wanting to end the conversation entirely. The message was received loud and clear in Elizabeth's mind so she grabbed her long length cardigan in a huff and began to walk out.
'Do you want me to go and get some painkillers?' She asked as she stood back at the doorway. Henry decided to get up himself and grab his coat and keys, slipping his shoes on,
'No thanks I'll go myself' he stormed past her and out into the hallway, Elizabeth hot on his trail,
'Please tell me you're not going to go and see Jane Fellows' she let out a slow breath trying to compose herself.
'I am going to get pain killers, don't wait up' he gritted through his teeth and left her standing in the hallway alone, leaving her wondering what had changed between them recently and why communication was becoming increasingly difficult for them. She ran her hand through her hair and glanced down at her watch. Seeing it was close to ten in the evening and none of the kids were downstairs she decided to call It a night before her own headache formed.
- - - - MS - - - -
Elizabeth was abruptly woken by the sound of her phone ringing, she jumped and sat upright in bed, unaware she had even fallen asleep. She fumbled around to the side of her attempting to lift the phone and strained her eyes to look at her watch for the time; it was just gone midnight.
'Hello?' She croaked and looked over to Henry's side of the bed, her heart sinking as she realised he hadn't come to bed that evening.
'Madam Secretary?' Nadine called from the other end of the phone
'Sorry, yes, I am here' Elizabeth rubbed her eyes and listened intently, her heart falling as she heard her chief of staff speak to her. Her eyes instantly filled with tears, hands shaking as she struggled to catch her breath.
'I..Im on my way' she choked on her sorrow as it lay thick in her throat, making all attempts to suffocate her as she climbed out of bed and quickly changed her clothes. The winds outside howled and caused the trees to rustle, creating an unbearable level of noise which added to her internal torment. She raced out the door and into her motorcade, her head spinning as Nadine's words danced around in her head, seeping into every corner of her mind, filling her with an infinite number of scenarios and possibilities, leaving her sat in the back of her motorcade nauseous and scared as she tapped out a message to Stevie.
'Hello?' She croaked
'Madam Secretary?' Nadine called from the other end of the phone
'Sorry, yes, I am here'
'Madam Secretary, There has been a terrible accident, Dr McCord was involved in a car crash, a drunk driver collided into him and he is being rushed to hospital as we speak…'
AN: Based this chapter off a LilacMermaid prompt - Madam Secretary Prompt: There are no painkillers in the house, and Elizabeth (or Henry) needed them hours ago.