"Elizabeth hadn't slept well. Henry had gone and done just what he said he was going to do and had talked to President Dalton. She felt badly for Conrad being on the receiving end of her husband's frustrations on the injustice of what had happened. Deep down she knew it had been necessary. It had been for the greater good. Her head told her it was the only logical play to make the deal work. But her heart was aching over the fate they had condemned Dimitri to. The look on Henry's disappointed and upset face wouldn't leave her mind. She had rarely seen him look so…angry…so disgusted with her. She had spent the night tossing and turning. When she heard Henry return to their room later, she pretended to be asleep and he didn't bother to even crawl into bed with her. She had heard him walk to the sitting area and lay on the couch after hearing his shoes flung dismissively on the floor. Realizing that he didn't even want to lay beside her, she silently cried into her pillow. What if he could never forgive her for the part she had played? It hadn't been her decision to make of course, but she had been there. She had conceded to it. Elizabeth knew how personally invested Henry had become with his asset. She didn't blame him for it. As his wife, she knew perfectly well the kind of man he was. He didn't do anything half-heartedly. He cared a great deal about things, which was why she loved him. In this instance it only caused him more harm than good. She desperately wished things had not happened the way they had. All the sudden there was a terrible rifted between them and she had no idea how to fix it. She had disappointed him. She had failed him. Once again, the job had cost her family.
Now, she stood next to the President as he asked how Henry was doing. She bit her lip and sighed as she told him that he had taken a flight home. She tried not to get lost in the memory of Henry informing her earlier that morning that he was leaving without her. He hadn't really even looked her in the eye. They hadn't even hugged. He had simply bent down, kissed her swiftly on the cheek and walked out, saying he'd see her later. Before fresh tears could threaten her, she focused on Conrad's remark as he explained he never would have believed he'd make a move like this. Elizabeth could hear the regret and sadness in his voice. Maria Ostrov and a few of her detail walked by them without even a hint of recognition. "Some partners in peace," Conrad scoffed. This whole thing was a mess. Elizabeth can't stand to get in the car without trying to call Henry one more time. Excusing herself, she walks back a few paces, finding a spot between her limo and Ostrov's car. The members of each detail are busy doing various things and none of them are close enough to hear the quiet message she speaks into her phone. Henry didn't answer. She would have been surprised if he had, still it stings. The words, "I love you," feel more like a plea for understanding than a declaration of affection, but she can't help it. The space between her and the man she loves more than anything, is making her chest tight.
Elizabeth ended the call and looked up to find Conrad climbing into the limo, a detail member motioned for her to follow suit as he held the door. She glanced at the car behind her. Maria Ostrov sat motionless in the back seat, staring straight ahead as if she was some untouchable queen. It made her stomach churn unpleasantly. It also occurred to her that she was always in this position; the middle ground. Most of her time was spent standing between two nations, two people, two ideas, two sides of an issue. It was her job to bring the sides together in agreement, reciliation, or at the very least, an acceptable compromise. All in the name of peace. This was one of those times the cost felt too great; the space between still too far apart. Now there was a space in her personal life too. All at once she felt entirely alone. Suppressing a sigh, she turned to begin making her way to the waiting limo. She hadn't taken more than two steps when she unexpectedly felt her feet leave the ground for a moment as she was propelled forward, heat seeming to engulf her, ears ringing with the sound of an explosion. Elizabeth was unprepared for her impact back to earth, so fast had been her sudden flight. Lying on the ground, her lips chocking on dust, she heard the blood thrumming noisily through her body, pain ripping across her, unsure where the source of it was. She was aware of noise around her but couldn't decipher any of it. She slowly opened her eyes, the pain in her head pulsing with more intensity as if in protest. She was disoriented as her vision took in dust, debris, and the movement of scrambling feet. Her chest was tight as she tried to regain her breath. Without warning, hands were pulling and pushing on her. She wanted to cry out for them to stop as the pain intensified. All that escaped her lips was a small groan as she was rolled onto her back. A familiar voice penetrated her brain. "We've got you Ma'am. We need to move you to a more secure location. A medic is on the way." Elizabeth gave a cry of pain as Matt quickly and unexpectedly lifted her into his arms. The baritone of his worried, "Sorry Ma'am. Hold on," was the last thing she heard as the pain sent her into blissful darkness.