Chapter 7
On Air Force One, Jed was trying to keep Gus entertained. But it was hard because his heart was breaking and his mind was already out in Utah.
All he had told Gus was that they were going to see his mom, his sister, and his grandmother.
Gus got very excited. He had seen Grandpa on the news flying in this big airplane, but had never been on it himself. He wanted to explore every inch so Leo had been pressed into tour guide duties.
"Leo, take him, will you? My mind just can't focus at the moment."
Leo understood. "Come on Gus. Let Uncle Leo show you this big plane." Gus eagerly followed, allowing Jed some time to think.
He phoned the local hospital in Park City and was told that his daughters and granddaughter were still unconscious, but none had life threatening injuries.
He then called Doug and was relieved to tell him some good news. Doug promised to take the first available flight out of London, but it would be tomorrow before he could make it to Salt Lake City.
But he kept coming back to one thought. 'Why no news about Abbey? Why can't they find her?'
He was lost in his thoughts when Ron came up to him.
"Mr. President? Mrs. Bartlet has been found."
Ron's pause was only a millisecond, but it seemed like an eternity to Jed.
"She's alive, but seriously injured. She's being transported to the valley where Life Flight will take her directly to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake."
Jed thought he would be relived with the news that she had been found alive, but instantly realized that his worries had just started.
"How bad is it, Ron?" Jed could tell it was very bad just by looking at his usually stoic head of Security.
"Sir, initial reports are that she has severe hypothermia, a skull fracture, a punctured lung due to debris in her chest, and a broken leg."
"Debris in her chest?"
"Yes, sir. Apparently when the house collapsed, some of the wood splintered and entered her chest, right below her heart. Her left lung had collapsed but has since been reinflated. They will take her to surgery shortly after her arrival in Salt Lake."
"Thanks, Ron. I'll go to the Medical Center first. You can start to make those arrangements."
"Yes, sir."
Jed shuddered at the image of debris in his wife's chest. Even if the doctors were able to remove it completely, the list of potential complications would be enormous.
But right now, all Jed wanted was for Abbey to live. They would deal with the complications later.