Chapter 12
Meanwhile on the Arc Abby is in surgery trying to save Jaha.
Abby has her hand inside of Jaha's chest trying to repair the damage caused by the bullet she has mostly now removed, she has already hung two bags of blood and is struggling against time to try and save Jaha.
"Can someone send a message to the council room urgently; Jaha is nearly at his quota for resources. Ask them to vote on whether I proceed or if I carry on without additional resources-go now!" Abby is continuing to work but Jaha's blood pressure is beginning to bottom out from blood loss, and his heart is beginning to struggle with the additional burden.
"Come on, come on I just need to get this last fragment of the bullet and we should be nearly there" she mutters to herself. Eric Jackson who is assisting her provides more suction around the area and lap pads.
"Abby he's getting very close now unless the council comes back soon, we are going to lose him"
"I know Eric but he's the chancellor I can't let him just die!"
"What do you want to do Abby I will support you either way?"
Abby contemplates this question whilst continuing her work before she can decide on what to do, Jaha flat lines.
"Start compressions now!" Abby shouts, and Jackson does as he is asked.
"Abby he's maxed out on all allocated drugs if we can't get him back without them he will die."
"I know just keep compressions while I try and find this bleeder." They continue to work with Jackson manually pumping Jaha's heart to move what little blood he has left around his body. Abby tries everything she can to save him whilst staying within the resource limit, not wanting to break her promise to Clarke. She finally gets all the bullet fragments out and all the bleeders sutured up or cauterized as necessary. Jackson is still pumping his heart.
"Ok that should do it, we give him one last shock and see what happens, charging...Clear"
"No pulse, resume compressions" A nurse comes back into the room.
"Abby, they said no more... I am sorry." Abby takes a deep breath.
"Stop compressions..." Jaha flatlines. Abby removes her mask and her gloves.
"Time of death 7:13 pm" everyone stands in shock for a moment until Abby walks over turning off the monitors and equipment, she leaves the nurses to close him up and take care of the body and goes to scrub out. As she is scrubbing out Jackson walks over to do the same.
"It's not your fault Abby you did everything you could."
"I know...I just...hate that I could not save him...I took an oath the day I became a doctor but with these restrictions, I feel like I'm constantly breaking it. I know why we have it our resources are limited...I just hope things will be different one day.." Jackson nods feeling the same way as Abby, he hates seeing his mentor whom he respects so much look so defeated. As they finish up Kane walks in.
"Abby when you're done here you are required in an urgent council meeting to elect the internment chancellor."
"Thank you, Kane, I will be there in a moment. Do you know what the update is on the kids?"
"Yes, I'll brief you as we walk over, I'll meet you outside." Abbey nods finishing up, taking off her scrub cap and putting back on her doctor's coat. she takes a deep steady breath, looking over at Jaha's covered body being removed from the room, and whispers,
"May we meet again, I'm sorry" There's no time for Abby to mourn the loss of her friend, she may not have agreed with Jaha most of the time she may have been angry with him for Jake but he was still her friend. Right now, she had other things to worry about so she smoothed her features, straightened her back, and left the OR to meet Kane.
As she walks over to Kane she immediately asks,
"what's the latest on the kids." He hands her a tablet so she can see the stats for herself.
"One fatality coinciding with the expected arrival time, something must have occurred during landing, maybe not the smoothest ride." Abby nods,
"they're experiencing adrenal spikes...that is hopefully just excitement..." Kane nods back
"Yes, that's what ops have reported." Abby looks at everyone, especially Clarke.
"Clarke looks to be exhibiting a pain response followed by an adrenal spike and higher heart rate. Hopefully nothing serious but she will need to be monitored" inside Abby's heart is racing she's scared for Clarke but on the surface, she shows nothing but a calm clinical exterior. She hands the tablet back to Kane as they enter the council chambers.
Abby takes her seat at the table; she and Kane are the last to arrive. Kane as second in command clears his throat.
"it is with a very sad heart that I report the death of chancellor Jaha at 7:13 pm this evening, Council Griffin worked tirelessly to save him using all the resources provided. This council unanimously decided not to allocate any additional resources to our late chancellor, that being said there is no way of knowing if that would have made a difference. So, it falls to us as the remaining member of the council to vote for someone to oversee the exodus mission and our return to earth until we can arrange for a proper election to be held. Is there anyone here who would like to be considered" Everyone looks around at one another, they know Kane wants the job and as head of the military it would be hard for any one of them to go against them, Abby knows that it would be better for the people to have someone they respected but also who cares about them as Chancellor. Remembering the wise words of her daughter Abby takes a deep breath and raises her hand.
"I would like to be considered councillor Kane." A few murmurs break out amongst the other councillors, Kane's brows furrow slightly having not expected Abby to want the role having never expressed the desire to lead before.
"Thank you, Councillor Griffin, does anyone second Councillor Griffin?" there is a bit of a pause long enough for a light smirk to appear on Kane's mouth before one by one, every other Councillor in the room raise their hands and the smirk falls off as quickly as it appeared.