Henry looked down surprised, his beautiful wife was sleeping peacefully in his arms. He didn't remember hearing her come into their room, he needed to get up but didn't want to disturb her. He couldn't remember that last time since her return she had slept more than two hours at a time. Laying there his mind went back to their conversation the night before. He sent up a silent pray that maybe she was finally beginning to heal. He gave her a few moments of peaceful bliss before planting a soft kiss on her temple.

"Good morning beautiful," He whispered in her ear.

Elizabeth rolled over deeper into the side of her husband, she could hear his voice in her ear. She didn't want to get up, and face the nation or anyone else for that matter. She was content staying right where she was, finally gave in she opened her eyes.

"Morning handsome," She smiled up at her husband.

"Time to rise and shine," He kissed her nose.

Getting up Elizabeth headed to the bathroom and Henry went to make sure the kids were up - before heading to the kitchen. Starting the coffee pot he grabbed two cups out of the cabinet and got busy making breakfast. He knew just what his wife needed this morning.

Coming out of the bathroom Elizabeth couldn't help but smile, her sweet husband had done it again. Sitting on the bed was a tray containing a pieces of toast, some eggs and a cup of coffee - a single red rose laying off to the side. She so loved this man and didn't know what she would do with out him. It also contained a sweet note.

Good Morning beautiful thought you could use a good cup of coffee and something for stomach. Take your time getting ready. I will make sure the kids are taken care of.

Love you,

Henry

Turning the television on in their room she hoped that they had found something else to talk about. But no once again it was about her, the trip to Iran, and to the ER yesterday. She was getting really tired of being the center of the news cycle.

Eating most of her eggs and toast she finished getting dressed. Grabbing the tray and her coffee cup she headed downstairs. Wanting to see the kids before they left she hurried down the stairs.

"Good morning family!" She called out as she got to the bottom of the stairs. Standing there she watched her three beautiful children move around the kitchen. Walking over she put the tray on the island in the middle of the kitchen. It could have been so much different had Fred Cole not jumped on top of her and saved her life. Her kids wouldn't be going about their daily lives instead they would be picking out her casket and planning her funeral. Although she still felt guilty for Fred and the other secret service detail member's who died she was grateful she was alive.

"Good morning, Mom!" They all called out back to her.

"You look beautiful mom," Allison walked up to her putting her arms around her mother's waist.

"Thanks Noodle," Elizabeth smiled at her middle child.

"Stevie let's go. I'm going to be late for school," Alison called to her older sister letting go of her mother's waist.

"Jason you ready to go?" Stevie called to her brother.

After saying good bye to the kids, Henry walked over putting his arms around her he pulled her close.

"Are you ready for today?" He asked her.

Although she shook her head yes, he could tell by her body language she wasn't so sure.

"Hey, I cleared my afternoon, so I can be there this afternoon." He told her.

"Henry, I will be okay It really helped talking to you last night. I'm fine promise." She wasn't sure who she was trying to convince.

"Humor me. It's at one, right?" He place a kiss on her forehead before letting go of her. He had already sent a text to Nadine to confirm the time.

Although she said she was better he knew, this was not going away over night. He didn't want her to feel like he didn't trust her to know her own feelings but just wanted to protect her from herself and anything that might be a trigger for her again."

Grabbing her travel mug full of coffee she gave Henry on last kiss before heading out the door. After getting into the waiting car she let out a breath she had been holding.

The first half of her morning had gone rather quickly, she spent most of it in her office. Blake had done a good job keeping the staff out of her hair, especially Daisy.

Russell Jackson had already called her three times to make she was ready for Face the Nation. She was trying to get the Prime Minster of Canada to release the hold on the pipeline. Daisy and Matt where still waiting to meet with her one last time before her interview. She really just wanted to stay sequestered in her office and ignore the world outside.

Looking up from the pipeline report she was trying to read she looked right into the eyes of her husband who had already grabbed her coat and was waiting to help her put it on.

"Time for an early lunch beautiful?" He couldn't help himself.

"But I need to finish this report, and still need to meet with Daisy and Matt for one last time before Bob gets here."

"Lets go." He grabbed her hand pulling her from the couch.

"Okay, taking his hand. She actually could use some fresh air.

They walked for a while before stopping at their favorite bench, Henry got inside the basket he had packed and handed her a sandwich. Roast beef and a bottle of water for her, and ham and cheese with a sweet tea for him.

"So are you ready for this?" He asked already knowing what her answer would be."

"As ready as I will ever be. I'm just ready to get it over and get out of this never ending news cycle. Ready for them to move on to someone or something else." Her stomach was in knots. She picked at her sandwich taking a bite here and there just to keep him off her back. I'm glad your going to be there."

"There is no where else I would be. It's going to be tough talking about this again but to do it on national TV is going to be even harder. But you can do this just tell him what happened and then it will be over." He encouraged her.

Henry knew his wife and could see by her body language this was beginning to weigh on her. He really wanted to pull Bob aside and ask him to go easy on her only ask the need to know questions. But he also knew that Elizabeth would be pissed at him for handling her. He just wanted to protect her but he knew this was something she had to do alone.

They walked hand and hand back toward the waiting car, her detail giving them space but always close by if she or they needed them.

They held hands walking back to the building but let go once they got to security. Ready or not she had a job to do and she knew it.

Henry and Elizabeth were in her office talking when Blake came in and told them that Bob Schieffer and his staff had arrived. Taking a moment to collect herself she and Henry walked out to meet Bob, and his producers.

"Good Afternoon Mr. Schieffer," She shook hands with the ?

"Madam Secretary, it is an honor to meet you," Bob patted her hand. "We will set up in your office if that is okay with you?" He asked her.

"Right this way," she showed him into her office. "This is my husband Henry," She introduced the two men.

While the CBS people set up for the interview make up and hair got busy on her.

She had gone back and fourth most of the morning on rather or not if her staff would be allowed in the room during the interview. Getting Henry's opinion on the matter helped her make her decision. He encouraged her to allow Blake, Nadine, Jay, Daisy and Matt into the room, feeling it would be best for them to hear what happened directly from her. Even though it was going to be hard it needed to be done.

Henry stood close to his wife as she prepared for her interview about one of the hardest days of her life. Putting his hand on the small of her back they walked her over to the set of chairs that had been set up. He gave her arm a squeeze before walking out of the view of the camera but where she could still see him.

"Madam Secretary, are you ready?" Bob walked over to her and sat down in his chair directly beside her.

Shaking her head she bit her lower lip, looking over at Henry. Giving her a smile she took a deep breath and let the questions begin.

The first few question's had been about the President, Robert Munsey and working up to the coup. But then the question she had been dreading came up. Taking a deep breath she waited for it to be asked.

"Madam Secretary you made a unprecedented trip to Iran to stop a coup, can you tell me what happened that day." Bob Schaffer was trying to tread lightly as he began asking her questions.

Taking a few deep breaths she told the tale of that horrible night in Iran. How one moment she was standing in Minster Javani's living room talking about a coup that was about to happen. Next she was thrown to the ground by the force of a blast and her body man Fred Cole. She told him about Abdol Javani being behind a chair in the same room that his father was being murdered, screaming for his father.

Looking over at Henry, he gave her an encouraging look and swallowing back her tears she finished the story.

She explained that as a mother she would have given anything to protect that boy, but she could not get to him - that Fred Cole's body was still over hers protecting her. He didn't deserve to see the bad in the world he deserve to keep his innocence.

She wasn't sure if she could get through the story. She was so afraid of falling apart right there on national TV but she knew she had to dig deep and get through it. She couldn't let the President down he needed her to show the nation and world a strong presence. She could see her husband and staff off to the left of her view, she was grateful they were she could see them. Or at least one of them in particular. She could also see they were holding their breath hoping and praying she could get thru this without any dead space or meltdowns.

Bob listened to her tell her story with a look of understanding. He knew all to well how volatile that part of the world could be. Being a correspondent for CBS he had seen his fair share of the middle east and the damage it could do both physically and emotionally. When she finished he didn't pry more he just gave her a simple.

"Thank you Madam Secretary", Bob gave her a sincere smile.

"Thank you Bob," She shook his hands hoping he didn't notice that her hands were shaking fiercely.

She wanted to make sure the red light on the camera had gone off before she would even attempt to stand, her legs felt like jelly. Elizabeth remained seated waiting and hoping her office would clear out so she could have a few minutes to steady herself before she met with her staff. Henry who had kept his eyes on her the whole time could see that she was feeling overwhelmed and needing a few moments to her self.

Blake scanning the room also noticed the look on his boss's face, looking over at Nadine, he got her attention giving her the signal they had worked out. Nadine quickly cleared the room asking the CBS people if they would give them a few minutes before gathering their belongs. She then asked the staff to assemble in the conference room so they could go over the numbers. Henry remained in the room waiting for the others to leave, keeping a close watch on his wife.

Walking over to her, helped her out of the chair and over to the couch.

"You did good, babe," he gave her a kiss.

"Really? I felt like I was falling apart inside," she give him a small smile."

Pulling her into a hug he encouraged her to let go praying that her staff would give them some privacy for just a few minutes.

What he didn't know was that Blake was standing guard outside the door and nobody was going to get past him - not even Russell Jackson who was standing at the door giving him dirty looks.

"Is she busy?" He tried to push his way into her office not waiting for an answer.

Blake didn't want to lie but he knew she needed a few minutes and he would make sure she got it.

"I'm sorry. She is in a meeting and can't be disturbed. I will have her call you as soon she is free" He tried to walk Russell out to the outer office."

"Really too busy for me?"

"Right now she is busy but I will make sure she calls you as soon as she if free." Blake said with a little more force than he planned."

"Ok fine have her call me," Russell Jackson turned to leave the office.

"I will pass it on to her when she is free. Good-bye Mr. Jackson."

Once the crying subsided, Henry pulled back from her a little bit not losing his connection to her , holding her face in his hands. He knew that this could be the beginning of healing for her. He handed her a tissue and a glass of water giving her the time she needed to pull herself together.

"Thank you."

"Let's go home," He stood up taking her hand helping her off the couch.

"I can't! We have so much to do," she tried to protest.

"Don't worry about anything I have already cleared it with Nadine that when you were done with the interview there was to be nothing else pressing today." He rubbed her arms.

As much as she wanted to protest she knew he was right. She needed to go home and spend some quality time with her family.

She gathered her purse and brief case she they headed for the door hand in hand.

Blake and Nadine stood in the outer office talking when the door to her office opened.

"I'm going home for the day," she told them.

"Good Night Madam Secretary" Nadine and Blake called out as she and Henry walked out hand in hand.