Phrike- Ancient Greek- is the spirit of horror in Greek Mythology
The hospital mentioned is North Memorial Health Hospital in Minnesota. I randomly picked a state and the nearest hospital with critical care facilities. Apologies if the hospital is not correct, blame google.
She looks stunning up there. He smiles proudly as she continues speaking, each word full of power, confidence and honesty. He is proud she is his Commander in Chief. His mind flashes back to a certain evening a few weeks ago when he called her that while making her come undone. His favourite version of his President, naked, uninhibited and all his. He looks around the room as applause breaks out before returning his gaze to the stage and briefly catches her eye. He smiles warmly and sees the twinkle reflected back at him. Suddenly he is blinded by white light and feels his feet move. It takes a moment before his brain kicks back in and he realises he is on the floor. His ears are ringing, and his vision is blurry. He coughs tasting blood and bile. He forces himself up but is pushed back down by an agent. "Elizabeth…"
"Sir you need to stay down."
"I need to ….is she…"
"Agents are with her now; we need to get you out of here." He is hauled upright and away from the stage, surrounded by secret service agents. He manages to catch one glimpse of the stage and all he sees is rubble and destruction.
Once they are outside, he throws up in a bush before being ushered into one of the cars in her motorcade. He argues and rages, but they are firm as the car speeds away. He sees the agent talking on his radio, but he can't hear much of anything through the ringing and buzzing in his head. It was a bomb; he knows that much, and he clenches his jaw. One of the agents, Ryan he thinks, turns and says loudly, "We are going to North Memorial."
"Elizabeth?"
"We will meet them there."
That doesn't answer his question but he's not sure he actually wants to know. He fears the worst and his mind just builds on that. He flashes back to the gulf, and he forces himself into the present. It won't do her any good to freak out right now.
He is ushered through the main doors and along a corridor to a waiting room. He turns demanding to see her, pushing past agents until a nurse steps in front of him "Sir, you need to let the Doctors work."
"I need to see her…my wife…" His throat closes and he gasps, she leads him gently back into the room. "The best Doctors in the State are working on her right now. You need to let them do their job."
He nods, burying his head in his hands. She rests a hand on his shoulder "I will keep you updated; I promise." And then he is alone with his thoughts and his fears.
It is hours before she returns, a Doctor in tow and at their grave faces, his world starts to fall apart and he exhales harshly "Is she dead?"
The nurse tries to lead him back to the chair, but he brushes her off, "Tell me!"
"Sir, the President…"
"Elizabeth, her name is Elizabeth."
The Doctor nods "Elizabeth has sustained traumatic injuries to her head, abdomen and lungs. She is currently on a ventilator. We have repaired the damage to her abdomen and diaphragm. She will need more surgery if…." He pauses here and Henry feels nauseous "She is in a critical condition. We are doing all we can but… You may need to start making some difficult decisions." He blinks at the Doctor. "She is a fighter."
"Yes, sir she is, however…."
"No! We are not having this discussion. I want to see my wife." The Doctor nods regarding him sympathetically and he feels the urge to punch him. Instead, he turns to the nurse "Can you show me where she is?"
The nurse leads him to a private room in the ICU and he pauses in shock in the doorway. There are so many tubes and wires but it's the ventilator that dominates it all. She looks so small under it, and he gasps. Tears threaten to fall as he strides to her side, picking up her hand and kissing it. She is clammy and too still. He falls heavily into the chair next to her bed and just weeps.