Author's note: Thank you all for the reviews! They mean so much! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

"Hey Russell," Henry said into the phone, trying to keep his voice casual.

"Henry. How's Elizabeth?" Russell Jackson asked.

He looked over at his wife and gave her a slight smile. She scooted closer to him and gestured for him to put the phone on speaker for her to hear.

He nodded and pressed the button. "She's fine, Russell and she's actually here with me right now. What did you find out about who was working with Farhad Azimi?"

Henry and Elizabeth could hear Russell sigh on the other end of the phone.

"You sure you want to hear this, Elizabeth?" Russell asked.

"Yes. I deserve to know who was involved and why this happened to me."

Henry grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

I'm here for you, Babe.

"Ok, well this is still being investigated, but we have it on good authority that Vice President Hurst paid off Farhad Azimi's uncle and set this whole thing into motion."

"I knew it. I'm going to kill her," Henry stated. He clenched his fists and felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

"But….why?" Elizabeth asked, blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay.

Russell let out a deep breath on the other end of the phone. "She was planning to run for president and wanted to make sure that you wouldn't run."

"I don't want to be president," Elizabeth replied.

"Wait a second," Henry interjected. "I thought Farhad demanded that both President Dalton and Vice President Hurst resign in order to release Elizabeth?"

"He did," replied Russell. "But that was a ploy to make it look like Teresa Hurst wasn't involved."

Henry ran his free hand through his hair. "This is unbelievable. You're telling me that Elizabeth was shot and beaten by this monster all because Teresa Hurst didn't want her to run for president?"

"It looks that way, yes," Russell replied.

Elizabeth remained quiet against Henry's side.

"Babe?" he asked, studying her, trying to get a feel for her reaction to all of this.

She said nothing and continued staring into space.

Talk to me, Babe.

"Russell?" Henry asked. "Can I call you back later?"

"Of course. Take care of her, will you?"

"I will," Henry said and then hung up, putting his phone back into his pocket.

He turned his attention back to his wife and rubbed her back. "Baby? Are you okay? What can I do?"

Elizabeth seemed to deflate right there in the bed. "I knew we disagreed on policies, but I didn't think she would try to have me killed…"

"I know. You did nothing to deserve this. You have to know that, Babe."

She sniffled. "But Blake and other DS agents are dead because they were with me."

"And Teresa Hurst will be charged with their murder. It's not on you," Henry reassured.

A knock on the door had Henry and Elizabeth both freeze.

"Ma'am I brought your dinner," a nurse said while stepping into the room with a tray. Henry made note that it was a different nurse from before.

"I'm not hungry," Elizabeth said.

"Babe, you have to eat. I promised Dr. Green that I would make sure you ate dinner. Don't make a liar out of me," he replied with a smirk.

The nurse set the tray down and checked Elizabeth's chart again. She narrowed her eyes at Henry. "Does Dr. Green know you're here past visiting hours?"

He nodded. "Yeah, he made an exception."

What is with these people and not wanting me to stay?

The nurse looked at Henry like she didn't trust him. "Can you step outside for a minute? I need to change her catheter."

"What? Why?" he asked.

"I want him to stay," Elizabeth pleaded.

"Ma'am it's protocol when changing a catheter. Go get yourself something to drink, Mr. McCord. There's a vending machine down the hall. I should be done by then," the nurse said.

Henry was about to argue with the nurse again when Elizabeth spoke up. "Go get a drink. I'll be okay for a few minutes."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

She nodded and he kissed her on the forehead before leaving the room.

Making his way down the hall, he found the vending machine and reached into his pocket to grab his wallet. He selected a Coke and waited for it to dispense. Opening the Coke, he let his mind wander as he waited to be let back into Elizabeth's room.

How on earth did we get here? How is Teresa Hurst still breathing when Blake is dead and my wife is traumatized?

Deep down, Henry knew that Farhad was the one that did Teresa's bidding and hurt Elizabeth physically. He was a sick monster who agreed to kidnap her and carry out whatever plan his uncle and the Vice President had cooked up. But he couldn't ignore the fact that a high ranking member of the United States government had tried to harm and kill the Secretary of State to stop her from running for President.

How was Elizabeth supposed to go back to work like nothing happened? Who can we really trust?

Henry knew that Elizabeth had no current aspirations to run, but he also knew that she was damn good at her job and that she was capable of changing the world. He wouldn't be shocked if one day she did announce that she wanted to run. And if that's what she decided, he would support her every step of the way.

The man beside the woman. That hasn't changed.

Taking a sip of his drink, Henry peeked inside Elizabeth's room. The nurse was talking to her, but seemed to be finishing up.

He waited by the door until the nurse came out and gave him the go ahead to go back in.

"Have a nice evening," the nurse said, allowing him to slip past her and into Elizabeth's room again.

Elizabeth sat in bed and attempted to discreetly wipe away her tears.

"What's wrong Babe? Are you in pain?" Henry asked, setting down his Coke on the side table by the chair.

She shook her head.

He sat down next to her on the bed and she melted into his side, wrapping her arm around his middle. "Something is wrong. What did the nurse say to you?"

She sniffled. "She asked if I was safe at home."

Henry tensed. "What?"

"Yeah," Elizabeth said. "She assumed you were abusive and she wanted to make sure I knew that she could help me get away from you if I needed it."

"She thought I did this to you?" he asked, gesturing to her face and arms covered in bruises. One bruise in particular was upsetting to him because it was clearly a handprint around her throat.

Elizabeth nodded against his shoulder. "Yeah."

Henry's eyes threatened to betray him as they filled up with tears. "I could never…even think of…doing something to hurt you. I hope you know that."

I love you too much to hurt you.

She squeezed Henry's hand. "I know. And I love you because I trust that you would never do that to me. Or any woman for that matter."

"I love you too. But something upset you. You can tell me, Babe," he said, rubbing her shoulder.

Elizabeth looked up at Henry. He leaned down and kissed her on the lips softly and then cupped her cheek.

How did I get so lucky?

When they pulled apart, Elizabeth fiddled with her wedding ring, while avoiding Henry's gaze.

She's anxious about something.

He watched as Elizabeth took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she was about to say. "The nurse made me tell her how I got most of my injuries, and it was like reliving it all over again. She didn't believe me when I said you didn't do this and it made me feel…"

He squeezed her arm, encouraging her to continue.

"...feel crazy. And weak. I shouldn't have to prove that my husband loves me and doesn't physically abuse me on a regular basis. Or at all."

I'm so sorry, Babe.

"You shouldn't have to explain that to anyone. It should be the expectation that your husband protects you and loves you and makes you feel safe. I hate that it's not true for so many women," he replied. "And you aren't weak. You're the strongest woman I know."

Elizabeth smiled, clinging to his side again. "You're so good to me, Henry."

"I knew I had it good when I met you, Babe. I thank God every day." He kissed her cheek. "Now, let's open this tray and see what's for dinner, okay?"

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. "I'm not hungry."

"Can you just try for me? I want you to get better so I can take you home. Please?" Henry asked. He opened the tray and revealed a chicken breast, mashed potatoes, carrots, and some juice. "Any of this look good?"

She glanced at the food with disinterest.

It's unlike her to refuse food. I know she hasn't eaten recently.

"It's my throat," she said softly, pointing to the handprint Farhad left while choking her. "It hurts to swallow."

I'm going to kill him.

"I'm so sorry, Babe. Do you want me to ask the doctor for some pain medicine?"

Elizabeth shook her head.

"You sure? It might help," he suggested.

Henry's phone buzzed, and he reached into his pocket to see who was calling. Stevie's name flashed on the screen.

"You up for talking to the kids?" he asked her.

"Yes!" Elizabeth replied.

He answered the phone and put it on speaker. "Hey Stevie. I'm here with your mom."

"Mom?!" Stevie asked. "Are you okay?"

"I'm doing alright, Baby. It's good to hear your voice. Where are Jason and Ali?"

"I'll go get them, hang on," Stevie replied.

There was a shuffling sound as Stevie presumably walked around the house to find her brother and sister. A few minutes later, Alison and Jason both spoke into Stevie's phone.

"Mom! How are you? We've been so worried!"

"I'm okay, guys. Just happy that your dad is here with me." Elizabeth smiled at Henry and linked her hand in his. He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, comforting her with his touch again.

"How are things at home?" she asked the three of them.

"Things are good," Stevie replied.

"We miss you. When are you coming back?" Ali asked.

"Soon. The doctors are still making sure everything is healed before I get back on a plane. Your dad is taking good care of me," Elizabeth said.

"Mom?" Jason asked.

"Yeah, Baby?"

"Did they catch the guy?"

Elizabeth went silent.

Oh, Jason. You remind me so much of myself when I was a teenage boy. Fiercely protective of my family.

"Yeah, they did, Jase," Henry replied, giving his wife some time to think.

She must not be ready to talk about it yet.

"Good. I'm going to play Call of Duty," he replied.

I need to talk to him when we get home. He's still on edge about something.

"We love you guys," Ali and Stevie said into the phone.

"Love you too," Elizabeth and Henry replied together. "We'll talk tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, Henry looked over at the tray of food again. "You sure you don't want to try some mashed potatoes? Or some juice?"

"I guess I'll have some juice," she replied.

Better than nothing.

Henry reached over and took the plastic lid off the cup of juice and handed it to her. "Here you go, Babe."

"Thanks." She took a small sip and he watched as she braced herself to swallow.

She must really be in a lot of pain.

"I hate seeing you in pain. Please let me ask the doctor for some medicine," Henry said.

"I don't want to be a bother."

"Baby, I want to help you. It's no trouble at all. And Dr. Green said you need to eat."

Elizabeth conceded. "Okay."

"You'll feel better in no time," Henry said, pushing the button that was on the side of her bed to call for a doctor.

She took another sip of juice as he grabbed her hand and kissed it.

Maybe I should warn her about the investigators that are coming to talk to her tomorrow about what happened. I don't want her to be caught off guard.

"There's something I've been meaning to tell you."

"Hmm?" she asked, setting the juice back down on the tray.

"When I first got here, I talked to Dr. Green and he mentioned that he reported your injuries to the police. They are coming by tomorrow to ask some questions."

He felt her tense against him.

"If you aren't ready for that, I'll turn them away. I just wanted to give you a heads up."

"I'm going to have to talk to them eventually though, right?" Elizabeth asked. She was squeezing his hand hard.

"Not alone," Henry said, holding her gaze.

The door opened, and his attention was pulled away from Elizabeth. "Did you need something?" Dr. Green asked, entering the room. "Your call button was pressed."

"It hurts to swallow," she replied.

"Is that why you haven't touched your dinner?" Dr. Green asked, seeing the full tray of food.

She nodded.

"Well that's an easy fix. I'll be right back." He turned around and wrote something down on her chart and then left the room.

Henry turned to look back at Elizabeth to finish their conversation before Dr. Green came in. "If you don't want me in the room when you talk to the police, that's okay. It's whatever you're comfortable with, Babe."

"Of course I want you in the room!" she said, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. "I'm just afraid that…"

She was fully crying now, and he wrapped her in a hug. "It's okay, I'm right here."

She buried her face in the crook of his neck as she continued to cry. "I'm afraid that you'll think less of me."

My God, Babe. How could you think that?

His arms tightened around her. "That's not possible. Nothing would ever make me see you as less. You're better than me fifty times over. Nothing will change that."

Elizabeth shook her head. "Don't say that, Henry. Not when you don't know the whole story."

"I don't need to know any of the story, Babe. I know YOU. That's enough for me." He rubbed her back as she settled against him more fully. She clearly needed the comfort and reassurance right now and he would do this for the next one hundred years if it made her believe him.

The door opened again and Dr. Green paused halfway into the room when he saw Elizabeth's face buried in Henry's neck. She made no attempt to move from her position.

Dr. Green gave Henry a look that said 'everything okay?' and he nodded.

"It's been an emotional day, Doctor," Henry said.

"Understandable. Well I'm going to leave these with you," Dr. Green said, handing Henry two pills. "They should help with her sore throat and they have a sleep aid built in. I think she could use it. Have a good night." He turned to leave the room.

Elizabeth continued to cling to Henry while her tears soaked his shirt. Truthfully, he didn't care. He was content to let her feel safe and loved for as long as she needed.

Eventually, she rubbed her nose in his shirt and sat up. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it, Babe. You want the pain pills now?" he asked.

She nodded and he handed them to her. She popped them in her mouth and swallowed them with the juice from the tray.

"Dr. Green said the pills should also help you sleep."

She laid back down against Henry's side. "Promise you'll be here when I wake up?"

"No place else I would rather be," he replied.

Elizabeth moved around until she was using his chest as pillow. She sighed, feeling content.

"Let's see what's on TV," he suggested. Henry found the remote on the bedside table and turned it on.

I don't want to upset her with anything in the news.

He continued to channel surf until he came across The Great British Baking Show.

"Here we go," he said, leaving it on that channel.

"A man after my own heart," Elizabeth replied, smiling.

I love being the one to make her smile.

"Get some rest, Babe."

As the time between her blinks got longer and longer, and her breathing got deeper, Henry couldn't help but think about tomorrow when the police would be here to ask about Elizabeth's horrible experience with Farhad.

Something tells me there is more to the story and I'm not going to like it.

Henry held his wife close and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

But I'll be here every step of the way.