AN: Hey All, So glad you're still enjoying this. I have finally gotten over my 3 month writers block and I have also switched jobs recently so I have a lot more flexibility within my life now. I am aiming to update once a week! Enjoy, and as always, please review.
Chapter Sixteen - Months are lost
'Babe, the attack in Iran was Six months ago. We're in Geneva' he smiled sadly. She had no recollection of the last six months, part of him was thankful as it meant she didn't recall the last three months of constant fighting and arguing between them, but it also put him in a difficult position, did he tell her? Or did he forget and just play happy families.
Henry moved back and pulled up a chair to her bed, he sat silently as he recaptured her hand in his. He looked across to her; a shell of the woman he knew, she looked pale, fragile and terrifyingly confused. He squeezed her hand softly and dipped his head, allowing himself to take a moment to breathe.
'Babe' he started, pausing instantly unsure of how to even begin to explain any of this too her, or even how much to explain, he knew something needed to be said as his internal anger was still bubbling beneath the surface. He looked up and her momentarily and a sad smile broke across his face.
'Tell me' a pleading whisper as she desperately sought out the truth.
'I really should get the doctors first-'
'Tell me' she gritted through the pain. He nodded slowly, and took a steady inhale of breathe through his nose.
'You and Conrad had a meeting with Russia, President Maria Ostrov-'
'Maria?' She quizzed confused
'She claimed the presidency when Pavel Ostrov died a few weeks ago. There has been an on-going cyber war with Russia since' he paused rubbing his hands through his hair as he realised so many details would be missing from her memory. 'You don't need to hear all of that now. There was an incident outside of the hotel here in Geneva, a sniper on the roof. He shot at Maria's motorcade, I don't know the full details other than for some reason you and Conrad were close by and got injured' he sighed, the emotions thick within his voice as he tried to keep his feelings as neutral as possible.
'Conard?' She asked, her eyes closing as she digest the information, struggling internally as she battled physical pain and mental pain trying to recall these events.
'He's, He isn't in a good way Elizabeth. I'm sorry babe' he sighed heavily, as he watched her face transition from confusion to panic. Henry caught himself of guard babe he hadn't called he babe in such a long time, it wasn't something that had come naturally over the recent weeks. 'I think they're looking at putting him into a medical coma for a while, I don't know the details I just know they think that will be his best chance of survival'
'Maria?' She pressed further trying to piece everything together. Henry sadly shook his head and opened his mouth, shorting closing it again with no words falling.
'All of the US team that went to Geneva are accounted for, with Conrad, Fred and you injured.'
'Fred, Iran, He's ok?'
'He's fine, he was fine after Iran, he suffered a bullet wound but he made a recovery. As for now, he has some open wounds which caused some blood loss, that mixed with the shock of everything caused him to collapse on scene but he's been checked over and treated. He's doing ok, I've not long checked on him.'
She slowly nodded, her head hurting as she squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to remember. Henry knew what she was doing, he placed a loving hand on the Side of her cheek and watched as her eyes opened. Something was different, he could see her brain working, Turning it over and over, something wasn't right. He felt it, he knew she would feel it, the spark between them wasn't there.
'What are you not telling me?' She whispered almost scared for the answer.
'You have significant injuries Elizabeth, I don't know why but you were not in the motorcade with Conrad-' Lie number one. 'You were walking by Maria's when the explosion happened, you've had to undergo some invasive surgery over the last fifteen hours. You had some metal in your thigh which they've removed-' he paused pulling her hand back away from her leg 'Don't look now, just rest. You have a fair few internal injuries which I'll let the doctors explain to you, but Elizabeth, they think you have amnesia, a certain type, I can't remember the name' he shook his head, all fo the previous information with the medical professionals was a blur to him, he just wanted to see her, and now he had he suddenly didn't know what to do anymore. 'It's only temporary, you will remember eventually' he smiled, and it hit him again. She will remember eventually. He had to tell her, and tell her everything otherwise when she found out, everything could be worse.
'And you? You're ok?' She sniffed
'Im fine babe, I wasn't there when it happened, I got the next flight over as soon as I heard, the kids are here too' he smiled, a surge of love running through his system for her as she continued to think of others.
'You didn't come to Geneva?' She asked, something about his recall of events wasn't adding up.
'No, no I wasn't there' Lie number two. 'The kids are here, they're waiting to see you' he repeated hoping to steer her away from the details, Elizabeth was smart, she hadn't lost her ability to read Henry and she knew all too well that when he repeated himself it was often a course of distraction. She sighed and shifted against her bed slightly. A groan emerged from her as a pulse of pain ran through her. Henry instantly stood to support her.
'Steady' he smiled and helped realign her pillows. 'Better?' He looked to her slowly lowering himself into the chair as she nodded, the pain subsiding allowing her to somewhat relax. Her tired eyes looked over at him, the feeling that something wasn't right remained deep within her, but she pushed it down to the fact she couldn't remember anything. She watched him intently, her mind swarming with the information he had just foretold and trying to piece together every possible scenario that she might have missed over the last six months.
'Henry' it was more of a question than a call of his name, he reminded silent looking at her fragile state before him. He leant in closer, willing to hear what she had to say. 'Are we ok?' And there it was, the question he knew he couldn't answer, how did he answer it. He hesitated to answer, a simple pause and a swallow of his words giving her all the confirmation she needed.
The tears formed in an instant, her mind plagued with worry as she looked to her husband with so much fear and uncertainty. Shaken breaths fell from her parted lips as she pulled her hand to her mouth in an attempt to contain her sobs. She had no idea about the enormity of their recent relationship struggled, but she didn't need too, she could read him, that was all she needed.
'Yes, yes we are' Lie number three. 'I'm just so scared, I was so scared i'd lost you' He once again squeezed her hand in an attempt to reassure her, or himself. Elizabeth shook her head as she looked at him, something in the pit of her stomach screamed against his words, it repelled his reassurance like two negative magnets.
'So why haven't you hugged me yet?' Her voice cracked, her throat felt swollen as her emotions rose and the tears drown her. Her body ached as it gently shook from the emotional trauma. She bowed her head and pinched her nose trying to stop the tears. Henry stood, his arms wrapping around her and holding her close, carefully enveloping her and nuzzling his head into hers, repeated kisses placed upon her head as she continued to cry in his arms. 'Shhh' he soothed, 'Im so sorry Elizabeth, Im sorry' his voice was gently, almost a silent whisper as he apologised to her for the lack of affection, lack of understanding of her needs, and for events that had taken place which she didn't even know about. It was an apology that should have happened many months ago.