Chapter Seventy - Right in the Center Part I of III

'I'll keep calling the kids, ' He confirmed and she nodded silently. Elizabeth scrolled through her phone and pressed the dial; Henry. I need Henry. Her eyes watched the screen, waiting for the call to connect, every second that passed her fear growing. She shook her legs to try and control her emotions, muttering under her breath, willing Henry to answer his phone. Why isn't he answering, he always answers.

She glanced at Blake as she ended the call on her end, a sorrow filled shaking of the head from him knocked the wind out of her. Their bodies were being thrown from side to side, her shaking hand gripping at the handle above her head as they rushed her to the white house. She tried to keep focus as she pressed the green button once again, dialing Henry.

'Hey, I am with your mom, two seconds' Blake spoke with a sigh of relief. Elizabeth immediately cut the call and took the phone from Blake, not breathing until she heard the voice on the other end of the phone.

'Hey Mom' Jason greeted her

'Oh baby, Hey. You're ok?' She asked, her chest easing, the gate within her airway open and she was able to breathe once again

'Yes Mom, we're all fine, we've just been checked over now, they're saying something about radiation'

'Are you ok? Are you feeling sick? Are your sisters ok?' Her emotions lingering in panic

'We're all fine mom, we all tested negative, Dad got us out before the bomb' He smiled down the receiver thinking of his dads actions.

'Dad?' She questioned, turning to face Blake with a confused look

'Yeah his friend canceled so he came to the conference with us, good thing really because he kept us calm, helped us and loads of others get out' Jason continued to explain. Elizabeth closed her eyes in relief, she had never been more thankful for having Henry in their life than she was within that moment.

'Oh that's good' her breaths shallow as she tried to calm the storm within her, an entire cocktail of anxiety, pain, confusion, relief and love. 'Put dad on please' she requested

'Urm, Mom, Dad's not here' Jason stuttered

'What do you mean? Where is he?' Her rasped tone captured the attention of Blake who had now leant forward in his seat, trying to see her face for visual aids of the conversation.

'Mom, he put us in the motorcade and he went back inside, he want to try and help more people escape, he was right in the centre when the bomb went off. I haven't seen him since.' Jason tried to keep calm as he stood still glancing around him. 'There is so much blood' he sighed down the receiver.

'I know baby, I urm, Just hold tight ok, I'll get, I'll…-' She paused as she sucked in hard, struggling to capture any air at all He went back inside '-I've got to go to the white House baby, I'll be with you as soon as I can' she cleared her throat

'Ok, love you mom'

'Love you, and your sisters' she surpassed her pants as she ended the call, her phone falling to her lap as her body rocked with the weight of the news. She tensed her jaw and clenched her fists as she felt panic like never before. Her mind hazed and her vision blurred as she forced herself to focus.

'Ma'am?' Blake reached out, placing his warm hand over her clenched fists, trying to ease some of the tension.

'He went back inside' she whispered, turning to look at Blake. He swallowed hard at the sight of her, her pupils withdrawn as her eyes watered, her face drained of all colour and her lips dry. 'Henry was inside when the bomb went off' She froze, her body rigid with shock, her eyes refusing to blink as she held Blakes silent gaze, her lungs barely breathing.

MS -

Unsure of where the last few minutes had gone Elizabeth was stunned to find herself in the Situation room, she looked down at herself, her coat still on her back, she clearly hadn't been here long had she? She glanced at her watch but she didn't know why, she had no recollection of time, her mind was fogged by images of the explosion on TV, haunted by the fact Henry was there.

Her eyes scanned the room, drinking in every single detail, watching every person rush around as she stood still, the chatter within the room suddenly becoming louder, her senses coming back to her as she started to hear what was being said, her eyes blinking and registering her environment more, saliva running in her mouth allowing her to swallow her despair.

'Elizabeth' she felt a hand on her shoulder, her head turned and was surprised to see Russell stood smiling apologetically at her, his thumb gently rubbing her almost as if he wanted to provide her comfort. She pressed her lips together and gave her head a shake trying to rid her of her shock as she looked back at him, this time more responsive.

'Elizabeth can we step outside?, it's about Henry' he lowered his tone but she placed her hand on his arm, stopping him from walking towards the door.

'I know he was there, Jason, He urm, Jason told me before I-' she paused, pointing from the door to where she was standing trying to convey her message as words continued to escape her, the thick fog within her mind continuing to distort everything.

'Russell, Let's take her out' Conrad offered sincerely as he watched Elizabeth struggle before him. 'Everyone continue, I'll be back in a minute' He ordered, following his chief of staff and Secretary of State outside.

'Sorry Sir I urm, I just need some water and I'll urm, I can think, think better' she struggled to speak, this time air evading her as she felt her chest tighten once again.

'Elizabeth you can't be here, you're in no fit state to be in that room' Conrad reasoned but she shook her head in disagreement

'I'm not saying it as a criticism' he continued, holding his Hands up to stop her protesting. She slipped her hand to her chest, forcing her chest wall down physically, hoping it would ease the frantic rising and falling.

'Sir, I think we need a medic' Russell watched on

'No' she panted 'No I'm fine I just need, I need to sit' she struggled, pushing her body against the wall and lowering her legs slightly, bending her back and opening up her chest.

'Russel, go and make sure everyone in there is doing what I asked would you?' Conrad asked and he nodded.

'Of course Sir, I'll catch you late Bess' Russell offered, nodding softly before leaving them outside the situation room alone.

'Bess, go, go and be with your kids and Henry' he spoke gently, she looked up at him, her eyes brimmed with tears and her bottom lip quivering, like a little girl looking to her father for advice, her mind swarming with thoughts, flashbacks and questions, all of which she was unable to process.

'What if he dies?' She murmured

'Let's hope it doesn't come to that-'

'But what if he does? What would I-' she cut herself off, her mind snapping shut as she reminded herself she was no longer married to him.

'It's ok' he reassured her

'What is?'

'It's ok that you still love Henry'

'I-'

'Don't try and argue it Bess, I know you and have done for a very long time, now go, you've already lost enough by being here, including your marriage, go and be with him, whilst he is still here to be with at the very least' He leant forward and softly placed a reassuring hand on her should, gently guiding her off the wall and down the corridor.

'Thank you' she whispered as her feet began to pick up pace as she raced for the motorcade, determined to let it take her to the one place she so desperately wanted to be.