Story: The Nobel Laureate
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Previously: Jed and Liz had a long talk about John; Jed, Abbey, and the girls had some fun learning Lizzie's dance steps; Jed and Abbey were shocked by an early morning call from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences telling Jed he'd be receiving a telegram from the Nobel Prize Committee; Abbey was put on the spot by her supervisor during clinical rotations (started in chapter four of "Back Home Again")
Summary: Abbey has a run-in with the resident who made her med school rotations hell; Jed has some good news!
Author's Note: Thank you to Sharon for her help with the medical language in this chapter and to Daphy for her help in creating the character of Kyle Nelson last year!
There were few things in this world that could intimidate a strong woman like Abbey Bartlet. Intelligent, accomplished, and confident, she was poised to face any battle, to knock down any barricade that threatened her success. Even when she occasionally took the path of least resistance, it was always for the greater good.
When she discounted the idea of challenging Jed for his seat in the state legislature to secure a victory for legalization of medicinal marijuana, it was because she hated the idea of hurting her husband. She knew the better way to appeal to him was by adopting a method that would allow him to hear constituent opinion about her cause without jeopardizing his position.
When she decided to approve of a plea bargain that kept the man who attacked her out of a court trial three years earlier, it was because she feared the jury might not have enough evidence to convict him. Guaranteeing he would serve a five-year prison sentence by way of his plea was enough to ensure her acceptance.
And when she disregarded Jed's advice that she file a formal complaint against Dr. Kyle Nelson for confronting her physically once when she was a med student, it was because she knew Dr. Nelson's evaluation would then be tainted by the accusation and may have eventually jeopardized her budding career in medicine.
Living with her decisions was easy. The only one she actually regretted was the last. She hoped she would never see Kyle Nelson ever again, that she would never be burdened by the doubts that plagued her for those months as a third-year student, and later, by the thought that he had been just as abrasive with students who came after her.
But she would see him again. And this time, would be worse than the last.
The hospital rumor mill had been clogged with gossip. Abbey had heard grumblings that Dr. Nelson left Boston and had relocated to Hanover. As soon as that was confirmed and she realized he was hired by her hospital, she did her best to avoid him. It worked for a while, but eventually, avoiding him wasn't so easy.
Sitting behind her desk, her eyes glazed over the patient's chart as Kyle hovered above her, waiting for her opinion.
"Well?" he pressured her.
"I'm not finished reading."
"What do you think?"
"I think you were right to consult Dr. Nolan."
"Yes and he sent me to you, so tell me, what do you think?"
Abbey looked up at him, her eyes peering over the rim of her glasses. She leaned back in her leather chair and clasped her hands in her lap. "The coronary artery bypass graft does seem to be the most promising procedure for his case. Have you talked to him about it?"
"We've only scraped the surface. He's pretty much in denial about what's going on, so his wife Arlene has been helping him through it." Kyle took a seat in front of Abbey. "When can we do it?"
"We?" Kyle wasn't a surgeon, she silently pointed out with her expression.
"You know what I mean, Doctor."
She did know, but she enjoyed reminding him that the hapless student he ridiculed and taunted in front of her classmates for months had entered a specialty he initially wanted, but couldn't hack. She sighed, then answered. "I can schedule it right away."
"Good. I'll tell Mr. Niederlander."
"Why don't you let me? He and his wife will probably have some questions. The answers might be better coming from me."
"He's been my patient for years, Dr. Bartlet. He trusts me. I think I'm perfectly capable of explaining the situation and the procedure to him."
"I wasn't implying otherwise. I just think he might appreciate hearing from the person who will be performing the operation."
"Believe me, I can handle it. I may not be in that O.R. every day, but I do remember a little something from med school, probably even more than you."
"This isn't about you or me, Doctor. It's about the patient. Remember him?"
"If the patient has any questions I can't answer, I'll be sure to give him your contact information," he returned smugly before he spun around to walk out.
Abbey ripped her glasses from her face and set them down on her desk. Nine years had passed and Kyle's contempt for her hadn't changed a bit. He was still every bit as condescending as he was back then. She could see it in the way he looked at her, his brown eyes narrowing into thin slits when he disagreed. She could hear it in his voice, the harsh, cutting tone that escaped his lips with every syllable.
No, Kyle hadn't changed. And despite the fact that he was now a full-fledged doctor instead of a resident in charge of her clinical rotation, and that she was now a surgical fellow instead of a third year medical student, working with him again still made her feel remarkably inferior.
She left her office, but even the busy hospital corridor that usually inspired such fortitude, did little to suppress the twinge of anxiety Kyle had left her with. When she saw Robert Nolan walking in the distance, she sped up to catch him.
"Whoa, slow down," he told her as she practically raced him into the elevator.
"I was worried I'd miss you."
"Perfect timing, actually. I was hoping for a consult on some labs. Walk with me."
The door closed after Abbey pushed the button. "Dr. Nelson came to see me about a patient of his."
"The one with coronary artery disease?"
"Yeah. Why did you suggest he come to me?"
"You've done a few CABGs before and you're a top-notch surgeon, which is just what he wanted."
"Yeah, it's just..."
Concerned, Robert turned to face her. "Is it too soon? Are you not comfortable doing this kind of procedure so soon after your father-in-law's heart trouble?"
"No, no, it's not that. It's just that Dr. Nelson seems close to this patient. Don't you think?"
"I don't know. He didn't say anything. What's the matter? Are you having doubts?"
"I just want to be sure that CABG is the way to go."
"I think it is."
"Do you want to scrub in?" she mumbled, hesitant to suggest she wanted his help.
He leaned against the elevator, surprised. "No, not unless there's some reason I should."
Reluctantly, she shook her head. "No."
"Okay, then. You'll have a team of residents assisting. You'll do fine."
As the door slid open, Abbey's train of thought was instantly derailed by the sight in front of them. It had been five hours since the early morning phone call that rendered the Bartlets speechless. Abbey did her best to concentrate on her work since she left home, but until Kyle showed up to see her, it had been a futile effort.
But now, Kyle was a distant memory. Jed took priority. "Jed?"
It was like he hadn't even noticed her. So excited and lost in his path towards the cardio-pulmonary wing, he was oblivious to his surroundings. "Hey, there you are! I was going to wait for you in the lounge."
"What's going on? Is something wrong?" She reached for his arm.
"No, no. Nothing." He smiled to ease her suspicions, then placed his shaky hands over her calm ones. "It's true."
"What?"
"It's true. The phone call this morning. It was the real thing."
"How do you know? You got another phone call? The telegram?"
"Not exactly. But I know now that it's for real."
She realized what he was saying, but she needed him to say it. The smallest hint of happiness bubbled from Abbey's lips as she bent her knees and gripped both of Jed's forearms to ask, once again, "How do you know?"
"The press. They've been calling all day." Every breath was breathier, every word a little less pronounced than the last. "And as if I needed more confirmation, Dr. Housley came to my office this morning. He told me..."
"Told you what?" Her nails dug into the fabric of his shirt. A few tears pooled in her eyes, but she continued to search his baby blues for confirmation.
"The work I did on political freedom and advancement of Asian economic policy. He submitted my research last year...my articles, everything."
It was like an unbelievable dream come true. Abbey prodded for more details before she abandoned her inhibitions and allowed the stream of emotions that would ambush the tranquil poise she fought to maintain. "To who, Jed? Whom did he submit it to?"
Jed had now pulled her hands off his arms. Their palms touching, he curled his fingers around hers. "Well, it's a process, see. He was invited by the Prize Committee. They invite people who've already gained international recognition for academic research to submit nominations. And he did."
"The Prize Committee?"
"That's right. And then the committee screens the candidates and narrows it down then turns over the list of Economics Prize finalists to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, who then picks a winner."
"A winner for..." Jed nodded the last bit of confirmation Abbey needed.
"Yeah." His voice caught in his throat.
Suddenly, a violent eruption shook Abbey. She always knew of Jed's bottomless capacity for achievement. She recognized the strength and motivation that would one day propel him beyond any measurable marker he had set for himself. She just never imagined he would have reached the pinnacle of academic success this early in his career.
But it wasn't just the fact that he had that pushed her over the edge. It was that unforgettable look that seemed to hypnotize her, body and soul. A mixture of bewilderment, humility, joy, and utter disbelief fused together to shine in the most amazing twinkle she had ever seen sparkling in his sapphire eyes.
Her arms flew into the air, landing in a tight lock around his neck. She leapt into his arms with such energy that her feet left the floor. Her legs wrapped themselves around his waist as she plastered his face with kisses while muttering repeatedly, "I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you."
Robert had no idea what they were talking about, but he couldn't help but grin as Abbey smothered her husband. Jed, who had been tearfully laughing at his wife's reaction as he held her tight, drew back slightly, pulling Abbey back to reality. She lowered her legs to the ground, urging Jed to help her down.
"Your back. Did I hurt your back?" she asked quietly, wiping the stains of lipsticks from his cheeks and forehead and running her fingers through the strands of hair that had fallen forward during the outburst.
"No, it's fine. I never give a damn about my back when you do that." Jed looked around to see all the doctors and nurses staring at them. "Sorry."
"It's perfectly fine," Robert answered. "I am confused about what's going on though."
Abbey exchanged a glance with Jed, then looked at her boss and proudly declared, "You're looking at a newly chosen Nobel Prize winner."
"Seriously?" Robert extended his hand to Jed. "Congratulations! I guess Abbey wasn't just making empty small-talk all those times she bragged about her genius husband."
Jed's arm was planted firmly around Abbey's waist. He squeezed her gently as he winked at her. "How about an early lunch?"
Abbey looked to Robert who replied without hesitation. "Go. The labs can wait and we'll discuss the Niederlander case later."
Husband and wife walked together, still delightfully stunned by the news. This wasn't something on the horizon. Only in his most guarded fantasies had Jed ever dreamed of winning the Nobel Prize. The political arena had launched his most treasured accomplishments and though the academic world was his home at the moment, his research wasn't consciously groomed for such a prestigious award.
But that was his most endearing quality, Abbey always said. He was a man who did the right thing for the right reasons. His endeavors were never steered by the possibility of accolades or mere recognition. Ever since their courtship, she believed that the inherent desire to contribute to his community, his state, his country, and the world was the driving force that motivated Jed to overstep the boundaries traditionally in place.
Now, everyone would come to know the sweet, caring humanitarian she had loved for all these years. If not through virtue of the press, then certainly through word of mouth. Of that, she would make sure.
A rosy blush colored Jed's cheeks that afternoon when Abbey shocked their waiter with the news. "He's a Nobel Prize winner, you know," she said to the young man once Jed introduced him as one of his students.
"DUDE!" the 18-year-old freshman shouted out as he slapped Jed's palm in a handshake. "That's totally awesome!"
"Thanks, Kevin. That means a lot." Jed sat down, visibly amused. He could honestly say that even in all his years as a college professor, he had never been 'duded' before.
Abbey chuckled when Kevin left to put in their order. "That was something."
"Is this how it's going to be from now on? Everywhere we go, 'meet my husband, the Nobel Prize winner.'?" He smiled at her adoringly.
"Yes, that's exactly how it's going to be. You might as well get used to it."
He knew she wasn't kidding.
Throughout the day, Jed was overwhelmed by the warm reception of everyone he knew. Every time he thought he had reached the height of emotional gratification, he was hit with yet another surprise. First, it was the impromptu staff celebration staged in the faculty lounge without his knowledge. Nearly every professor who taught at Dartmouth showed up wearing a goofy party hat and carrying a couple of balloons.
Then, it was the two dozen roses that arrived at his office a couple of hours after lunch. Abbey had put in a rush order to have them delivered immediately. Six of them were red, an indication of her deep and undying love. Six were white for security and happiness. Six were yellow, a color recognized for its vibrant representation of joy and contentment. And the last six, they were a very light pink. The card attached defined them as the greatest symbol of admiration and respect.
Circling the sweet-smelling flowers was a personal note, expressing, in detail, her pride in him as a man, and her devotion to him as a partner.
He assumed that special gift was the true test of his teetering composure. But he was wrong.
That evening, when he opened the front door to the farmhouse, he was greeted with another round of balloons and party whistles.
"Congratulations, Daddy!" the girls shouted as Abbey stood behind them, furiously flashing a camera.
He glanced at each of their faces. Elizabeth clapped in excitement. Ellie jumped up and down, begging him to cut the cake. And poor Zoey, confused by the hoopla. The only thing she knew for sure was what Abbey told her after Ellie's birthday a week earlier - that hers was next.
She looked up at her father and stated with confidence, "I'm three now, Daddy."
Laughing, Jed picked her up and whirled her around. He swiped the tears that dampened his lashes, then pulled out a knife to cut the cake as he joined his family at the table.
TBC