The Valley of the Shadow
by: Rhiannon & AJ
disclaimer: Just two kids playing with another kid's toys...
Jed stood there, staring at the doctor for the better half of a minute. He
was frozen in thought. Then, Abbey repeated her words, "I'm blind."
"Abbey. . .?"
"I'm blind, Jed. I can't see anything."
"Wow! Okay, well, you are right. That does exclude chlorine from the list.
Probably what happened is that someone put the wrong mix of chemicals into
the pool, and when you opened your eyes in the water. . .well you get the
picture." The doctor said as he rearranged Abbey's head once again for yet
another test.
"Yeah, we get the picture. Whether we want it or not, we get the picture."
Jed said as he laid his hands on Abbey's shoulders, careful enough not to
distract her from the tests that were being done.
"Okay, well that wraps up all the tests that I have to do. If you are still
in pain, I can give you a shot. . ."
"Yeah, I'd like that."
"Okay. I'll go get it while I have a nurse take you to your room."
"Is it really necessary that I stay overnight?" Abbey asked.
"Yes, it is. We are going to need to begin to do treatment on your eyes,
among other things. And it would just be easier. . ."
"I'd actually like to take her back to Washington. I think it would all be
easier if we were in a familiar place."
"She is going to need treatment, no matter what the results of these tests
are."
"I'll get her the best damn eye doctor in the world, but I am going to do it
from Washington D.C." Jed's voice infliction began to rise.
"Yes, sir." The doctor answered a little intimidated. "Is there anything I
can do to help set that up? Perhaps recommend an optometrist?"
"I'd appreciate that. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go get a chopper
ready to take us back to the White House. You give her whatever it is you
said you were gonna give her."
"Yes, sir."
"Jed. . ."
"Don't worry, Abbey. I'm gonna take care of it." Abbey picked up on the
uneasiness in which Jed spoke his words, but she elected not to say anything.
She knew if she did, she'd burst out crying.
Jed disappeared from the room after he lightly kissed the top of his wife's
head. He went over to one of his agents and ordered them to order that
Marine One was readied for flight, and sent over to the roof of the hospital
at once. He then was directed to the temporary room that was set up for his
wife, for what was destined to be no more than a very short hour that seemed
to last forever. Every second of this very excruciating, very painful day
was lasting forever. Now if it were just possible to get though it. . .
When Jed entered Abbey's room, he found her sleeping on the bed. Whatever it
was that the doctor gave her for the pain sure did work. At first, Jed
stayed back, at the door. He was frozen there in his thoughts, as he
lovingly gazed at his wife. He then proceeded to climb into bed with her.
He needed to hold her as much as he knew she needed to be held. Even if she
wasn't awake, she needed it.
The hour came and went, and Jed strolled Abbey's sleeping body on a
wheelchair up to the roof, where there was a helicopter waiting for them. As
they got closer to the chopper, Jed carefully picked Abbey up from the chair
and placed her in the chopper. He then climbed up in the thing as well, as
did the secret service agents.
The ride back to the White House was spent in silence. None of the agents
ever talked, so they had no reason to do so this time. And Abbey was still
sleeping, which just left Jed.
When Marine One landed on the helipad at the White House, there was a
wheelchair there waiting for them, to make it easy to transport Abbey's
sleeping body, for she was still knocked out cold on the pain killers the
doctor had given her.
Jed took his wife up to the presidential bedroom, and transported her to the
bed, where she continued to sleep.
TBC....