2

She settled down in the chair next to the bed, reaching out as usual, to place her hand on her husband's arm. That had become her position over the last few days. To her that would be an early warning sign if for any reason he was trying to regain consciousness. Zoey was on the sofa on the far side of the room, looking at the television on some reality show she was trying to keep abreast of. Abbey laid her head back and let her thoughts take over.

'Jed, you're a jackass. Here you are with the best medical care a country can provide and still you won't respond. Your family loves you with all their heart and you won't listen. Your friends love you and you just continue to lay there like a log. Who the hell do you think you are? Do you think you're that special? Well, let me tell you Jethro, you're not that special.'

Her fingers sensed something and her eyes flew open. "Do it again."

"Mom, who are you talking to?"

"Zoey, come over here. I think your father is trying to respond to us."

Zoey flew to the opposite side of the bed and stared at her mother's hand over her father's arm.

"Jed, I said do it again." This time Abbey was sure she felt his arm muscles tense slightly.

"Zoey, go get a nurse."

"Yes, ma'am."

Abbey stood up, grabbed her husband's hand, and rubbed her other hand across his forehead. She lowered her voice, "Jed, if you can hear me, squeeze my hand or open your eyes. Either one, sweetheart." She waited seemingly forever until a little pressure was felt in her hand that she had inserted into his.

"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Tears fell onto her cheeks, not stopping until the nurse asked her to step away for her to do her assessment.

She did as she was asked to do, holding on to Zoey, hoping that this nightmare was finally ending.

As the nurse finished, Abbey asked the question that she just had to know. "Is he coming out of the coma?"

"Yes, Ma'am. I think it will be a slow process, but I do think we are on the way. I'm going to call the doctor and he'll be here to do his own assessment. Excuse me."

It only took a few minutes for Dr. Wilson to make it to the room. Abbey looked at him expectantly, hoping for the best news possible.

"Let me examine him, Dr. Bartlet. I'll be able to tell you more in minute."

But even Abbey could tell Jed's coma was getting lighter when he responded to Dr. Wilson's stab on the bottom of his foot with an "Ow". Up to now there had been no response to pain. Both physicians had big smiles across their faces when they faced each other after Dr. Wilson finished his exam.

"Yes Ma'am. His coma is definitely lighter. I expect it to get lighter and eventually go away over the next couple of hours or days. As you can see his speech is intact, even though the response you saw was involuntary. I want you and your daughter to talk to him. To encourage him to think and remember things. To open his eyes and concentrate. I wouldn't overwhelm him yet with other family or friends, but I do believe by tomorrow or Sunday, he should be fully awake and aware of his surroundings. We'll have to see what effect the injury had on his short-term and long-term memory, but given his determination, I would doubt any effect would be permanent. We'll just have to wait and see."

"Do you think he will ever be able to take over the Presidency again?"

Looking over at his patient, Dr. Wilson paused. "I have no idea. That is a total unknown."

Abbey sighed. The Presidency was an essential part of Jed's self. Up to now, it was who he was. It was how he identified himself. But only time would tell. She agreed it was way too early to make such a decision. And then only Jed himself could make it.

Sequel: The Decision