"Abbey" Jed poked his head in her door, Aislinn on his hip. "I have a couple of young ladies here who would like to see you."

Abbey smiled broadly, a lump immediately forming in her throat. "Bring them in."

Zoey, wearing a pretty green bathrobe her sisters had brought her rushed past her father into the room, halting when she saw her mother's pale bruised and bandaged face and the IV tube that still dripped fluid into her arm.

"Mom!" She choked, her face crumpling.

"Come here, baby" Abbey opened her arms.

Zoey rushed forward into her mother's embrace. Not knowing about Abbey's burned breasts she burrowed her face into her chest. Abbey didn't care about the pain; all that she cared about was the living, breathing proof that she had gotten her daughters out of that mess alive.

"I'm so sorry, Mom" Zoey was sobbing now. " I didn't want to leave you�I didn't want to leave you�I didn't want to leave you."

Abbey was crying too. "Ssh�ssh�it's all right, sweetheart. I'm so proud of you�so proud."

"But I left you! They were calling for me out in the woods and they were so mad, but I hid from them. I knew they were going to hurt you for helping us escape, and I never said a word. I just sat there�I just sat there and I knew they were going to hurt you."

"Zoey." Abbey pulled Zoey's head back from her chest wiping at her daughter's tears with her thumbs. "You did the right thing. You did exactly what I told you to do. You saved your life and your sister's life and my life."

"H�How?"

"The FBI didn't know where we were. The terrorists were going to kill Toby and me the night that we were found. YOU gave them the directions to find us. Thanks to your detailed descriptions they were able to find us before we were killed."

"But they HURT you."

"Yes, yes they did. But you know what? I'd rather be hurt than dead. You did all that I asked of you, Zoey. You're a hero in my book, and I'm sure in someone else's book as well." Abbey looked over Zoey's shoulder to see her youngest daughter in the arms of her father. Aislinn was wiping Jed's tears at the mother/daughter reunion with her good fingers, a look of puzzlement on her face as her gaze moved from her father to her mother and back again. She'd never seen her father cry before. Her lips moved and Abbey could see that she was saying "Mama" but no sound came forth.

"Come here, sweet thing."

Jed gently set Aislinn in Abbey's arms. Abbey tucked the little girl's head up under her chin, inhaling the sweet fragrance of her hair, tears flowing freely all over again. She held her tightly her mind flashing with images of Aislinn terrified and reaching out for her, of her falling in that sickening thud to floor and of her shrieking screams of pain.

Aislinn pushed against her mother struggling in her embrace.

"Sorry, angel. Is mommy holding you too tight?

Aislinn nodded, but cuddled back up against her again once Abbey's grip loosened.

Jed was smiling tenderly at the reunion when the door burst open and an indignant Nicholas entered the room in front of Isabelle.

"Mumma, Azlin�Where you GO?"

Abbey couldn't help it; the look of outrage on her son's face was so much like Jed in an indignant huff that she burst into laughter. Her laughter caused everyone else in the room to laugh through their tears. Nicholas gave them all bewildered looks. He didn't know what he'd said to make everyone laugh but he did like being the center of attention. He grinned at them all and moved to climb up on the bed.

"Mumma. I misted you."

"Well, I misted you too, handsome." Abbey reached a hand out to run over her beloved little boy's cheek. Nicholas looked from his mother to his sister, a frown forming as he took in the cast on her arm.

"Wass dat" he pointed.

"Aislinn got a boo boo while we were away." Abbey explained.

Nicholas looked into his sister's face and saw something in her eyes that moved him. He leaned forward and gave her a big hug, then pressed a kiss on her cast. "All betta?" He asked, just as his mother and father always asked him.

Aislinn nodded her big eyes solemn. "I misted you, Azlinn." He told her, then looked back at his father unsure if he should divulge such a big secret. "Daddy cwied."

Abbey's gaze moved over her children's fair heads to find her husband. She hadn't had the time to really think of what exactly Jed had been through for the past few days.

Aislinn nodded again. Nicholas didn't think it was strange that she wasn't speaking, he just accepted it and gave her another hug. By the time the siblings were done hugging each other, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. But, despite the emotions from the adults in the room, the youngsters were much more matter of fact about things.

"Mumma." Nicholas crawled up her side until he was face to face with her. "I hungwy."

"You are?" Abbey smiled. Leave it to a child to get down to the basics.

"We were just getting ready for supper when we got the call to come." Izzy explained. "He had a few "Teddy Grahams" on the way over."

"What about you, sunshine? Are you hungry?" Jed asked.

Aislinn nodded.

"Well, I think this calls for a little celebration. Charlie I believe on the way into the hospital I noticed some golden arches."

"Jed," Abbey groaned. "Not McDonalds."

"Our kids are two and a half and have never had McDonalds."

"And you're thinking that's a bad thing?"

"I'm thinking it's downright un-American and I can't have my kids being un-American. Charlie get a pen and paper and take down some orders for my family."

"Yes, sir." Charlie grinned.

"I haven't been to a McDonalds since I became President. They still have those Big Macs?"

"I believe they do, sir." Charlies tongue was firmly stuck in his cheek.

"I'll have one of those with fries and a coke. Happy meals for the kids. Nicky, do you want a cheeseburger or chicken nuggets?"

"Cheesebooger."

"Well, a cheesebooger it is for Nicholas," Jed laughed. "Now what about you, missy? Cheeseburger or chicken nuggets?"

If he'd thought to force his daughter to speak, he had sadly underestimated her will. She simply stared at him.

"Don't you want to tell daddy what you want for supper?" Abbey asked her, hoping to coax a response.

Aislinn shook her head sadly, her lip trembling with the idea that she might not get what she wanted for supper.

"It's okay, sweets." Jed squatted in front of her. "Was it a cheeseburger that you wanted?"

Aislinn shook her head no.

"Chicken nuggets?"

That drew a nod and a watery smile.

"Chicken nuggets for Miss. Aislinn."

"And milk," Abbey interjected before he could place their soda orders.

"Party pooper." Jed shook his head. "Now, give the man your order, doc."

"They have salads now, don't they?"

"Abbey, you haven't eaten in days. You aren't just having a salad."

"Oh, fine. I'll have a grilled chicken sandwich and a DIET coke."

"Yes ma'am."

Charlie finished getting the orders from the rest of the Bartlet family and was off to McDonalds. While he was gone Aislinn was the center of attention as her whole family and the doctors and nurses signed her cast.

"You haven't told her yet, have you?" Jed had stepped back to the doorway to allow everyone access to his daughter and Leo had come up beside him.

"What?" Jed frowned.

"Abbey, you haven't told her what we did."

"She's still speaking to me, isn't she?"

"That's what I thought. You have to tell her."

"I know, I'm going to. It's just�She needs me right now."

"She's still going to need you."

"But, once I tell her she won't want me." The sweet smile on his face as he watched Aislinn belied the heavy sadness of his tone.

"She's going to find out sooner or later."

"I know. I'll tell her when we get back to the White House."

Leo nodded and the two men watched CJ sign Aislinn's cast and move to sit at Abbey's bedside.

"How are you feeling?" CJ asked her.

"I'm still a little woozy at times, but I'm not throwing up anymore so that's a good sign."

CJ looked to check out where the nearest basin was. "Yeah, I guess it is."

Abbey grinned. "How are you holding up. These past few days must have been rough."

CJ's eyes fell back to where Aislinn was seated on her grandfather's lap a shy smile crossing her lips while Annie added her signature to all the names hearts, and smiley faces on her cast. CJ had often experienced the closeness of the Bartlet family. They might bicker, they might argue, they might sulk, but when push came to shove they were a unit. Hurt one and you hurt them all. It was a privilege to be considered part of that unit.

"Standing up in front of the press and telling them that you and the girls had been kidnapped was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Well, other than the night that the President was shot. But, I imagine what I went through was nothing compared to what you were going through."

This time her eyes moved pointedly to Abbey's bandaged wrists and finger then up to her forehead and the bruises that discolored her jaw.

"I am a bit of a mess, aren't I?" Her wounded eyes met CJ's. " I can't talk to the press about this right now. It's too soon."

"Abbey, don't even think about the press just yet. You just concentrate on getting well. We'll deal with the press when we have to. I just wanted to tell you that�Well, I heard about the feed to the White House and about how you put your life on the line to help the girls escape and I just can't tell you how much I admire you. I mean that took real courage, real bravery."

"Believe it or not bravery had very little to do with it. Most of it was sheer instinct. There's nothing that I wouldn't do for my children. If you are ever a mother you'll understand that. I mean I always knew on a visceral level that I would die for my children." Her eyes moved to where Zoey was helping Nicholas sign Aislinn's cast a maternal flash of fierceness lighting them. "But now I know that I would kill for them."

CJ had no doubt that if push came to shove Abigail Bartlet would do just that.

****

A half-hour later, with special permission from the nurses the entire Bartlet and O'Neill clans were picnicking on McDonald's food all over Abbey's room.

Abbey watched Nicholas and Aislinn digging into their bags for the toys that came with their meals. She smiled as Nicholas fed Aislinn one of his French fries smearing ketchup across her chin and Aislinn offered him one of her nuggets. As always, Jed knew best how to make her feel better. Having her family surrounding her filled her with a feeling of warmth and safety.

"You okay?" Jed asked her, noting her shiny eyes as he placed a French fry between her lips.

"Just happy. Just happy to be back with all of you."

Jed nodded feeling just as strongly about her being back with them all. In fact he hated to leave her for the night, even if he was staying at a hotel right across the street.

"You have to go, Jed. Zoey is being released into your care tonight, and you have Nicky too. They need you. I'll be fine. I'm exhausted. I'll just sleep."

"Okay, but if you need me I'm just across the street, call me."

"I will. But, you know there's something that we haven't talked about. When do you become the President again? You didn't permanently resign, did you?"

"No, I didn't permanently resign. I'll be here to take you and Aislinn home in the morning, then tomorrow afternoon I'll re-take the oath."

"I'd like to be there."

"You don't have to be."

"Yeah. I do. I've been there for every oath of office that you've taken. You stepped down because of me. I want to be there when you retake it."

"Okay."

****

Abbey woke fairly early the next morning happy to find that her IV drip was gone. Tentatively she got to her feet and when she realized that she was no longer wobbly she put on her slippers and a bathrobe and made her way to the bathroom. Standing at the basin she splashed cold water on her face to wake herself up. As she looked up to reach for a towel she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror for the first time. Her eyes widened with dismay and tears stung them as her fingers reached up to touch the jagged edges of her hair. Where it once had fallen to her shoulders in soft curls, it now barely made it to her collarbone. It looked like a child had hacked at her with scissors, like the time 6-year-old Ellie had cut Zoey's hair. It looked absolutely, positively, HORRIBLE. She braced her hands on the sink, her shoulders shaking

"Abbey, don't." Jed placed his hands on her shoulders. He had seen her self-examination from the doorway, his heart breaking at the look of horror in her eyes.

"I look AWFUL, Jed!" She whirled on him. "How can I leave here looking like THIS!"

"You won't have to. I had Amy call your hairstylist, that Henri guy that you rave about. He's coming here this morning to fix your hair before we leave."

It took a moment for Abbey to register what Jed was telling her but finally she nodded and he felt the tenseness leave her shoulders as she calmed. She turned back to the mirror, her eyes now merely sad. "You hate my hair short."

"Hate's an awfully strong word. I don't think I've ever said that."

"Well, you prefer it long." Truth be told Abbey didn't like the way she looked with short hair either. Despite the easier upkeep she had always preferred how sexy longer hair made her feel especially when Jed would drape the strands over his torso and grab fistfuls of it when they made love.

"It's only hair, Abbey. It'll grow back. I'd have been happy even if you'd come back to me bald as long as you came back."

Abbey gave him a tremulous smile, then looked longingly at the shower. "I'd like to take a shower before Henri and Aislinn's psychologist come in but I can't with the stitches in my head and my bad hand.

"I can help you clean up. I'll wash your hair with the shower nozzle if you want."

He felt her tense again that haunted look shadowing her eyes.

"Unless you'd prefer a nurse." It pained him to make the offer.

Abbey thought about the ugly burns on her breasts, wondered at her husband's reaction to them. "No, " she sighed. "I guess I'd prefer you." She slipped her bathrobe off and turned so he could untie her hospital gown. Every instinct she had screamed at her to hold the gown over her chest and hide from him, but she forced herself to let it go. He was her husband. He had to see the wounds sometime. She turned around to face him, chin held high.

Jed knew his reaction might dictate how Abbey felt about herself. About them. As he peeled the gauze pads back off her breasts he forced himself to be matter of fact; to treat the burns as if they were any normal wounds but it was not easy to keep the rage at bay.

"When did they do this to you?" His voice was pained, not angry."

"After�after they found out that Zoey and Aislinn were gone and they couldn't find them. It was part of my punishment."

Part of�Jed couldn't bring himself to ask what the rest of her punishment had been. Instead he focused on the blistered wounds before him. "They must hurt like a bitch."

"Yes." Abbey's voice was barely a whisper. "They do."

When he had peeled the last one off and stood, he saw the pain and uncertainty in her eyes, the effort it had taken her to allow him to do what he had done. He reached out a finger to trace tenderly over her bruised jaw his own eyes shining with a gentle love that filled her with warmth.

"Thank you, Jed."

"You're welcome, pretty lady. Now let's clean you up."

****

Back in her bathrobe with her body cleansed and her hair washed, Abbey was feeling a bit more human when Dr. Moira Whitney entered the room. Dr. Whitney was a child psychologist who had been treating Aislinn since her arrival. She was supposed to be telling them what to expect from their toddler daughter.

Jed cut right to the chase with the woman. "Why isn't my daughter talking? It's been two days now, is there something wrong with her voice?"

"There is nothing physically wrong with your daughter's voice box or her speech mechanisms. We have heard her mumble in her sleep, it's only when she's awake that she's silent which leads us to believe that she's in control of when she does or doesn't speak."

"Then why?" Jed asked. "Is she angry with us? With me?"

"Until Aislinn speaks we won't know for sure just why she is refusing to do so. But let me just make sure that you are very aware of the fact that the wounds to your daughter were not merely physical. Her problems are more than just that broken arm; there was a lot of psychological damage done to her as well. She was taken away from all that she knows by those men, she was terrorized by them, hurt by them, and even worse for a child she watched those men hurt her mother."

Abbey's gaze fell to the floor her fingers covering her mouth as she fought to control her emotions. "We just want to help her Dr. Whitney. Tell us what to do to help her."

"Don't push her. Aislinn will speak when she's ready to speak. If you push her you're only going to make things worse. She might think that you're angry with her or displeased and retreat even further. Go along with the silence; treat her as if it's normal. It's very important that you treat her normally."

"We shouldn't try to get her to talk at all?" This went against all that Jed felt in his heart.

"Oh you can still ask her questions, try to draw her out. Just don't let her see that you're disappointed if she doesn't answer. It's very important that you shower her with love and with praise. Since you're going to be taking her home today there are a few things that you should be aware of. She may revert back to babyhood behavior that she has outgrown. If she was toilet trained you may be back in diapers for a while. If she used to suck her thumb or want a pacifier she may want to comfort herself with those now. If she no longer has a bottle she may only want to have a bottle now. While she might have been striving for more independence she may be more needy now wanting to snuggle on your lap or follow you around. There will most certainly be nightmares. Do what you can to make the nights easier for her. If she wants the lights on then by all means let her have the lights on. If she wants all her stuffed animals, let her sleep with them all. If she wants to curl up in bed with you let her curl up in bed with you. There will be time to wean her off this behavior later, right now your main focus is in comforting her through these terrors."

"I didn't realize�" Jed trailed off stunned by the damage that had been done to his little girl. "I thought we could just love her through this."

"Don't look down your nose at love, sir." Dr. Whitney smiled at the President. "Love will go a long way in helping your daughter. But, it isn't all she's going to need. My suggestion is to get her a good child psychologist fairly quickly. In fact I think it might help you to all get some counseling."

"I'll find she and Zoey good psychologists," Abbey assured her. Jed noted right away that she hadn't mentioned help for herself.

"Well, then. It was nice to meet you both." Dr. Whitney stood to shake their hands. "You have a very lovely little girl, children are very resilient. With your help and with counseling I'm sure Aislinn will make a full recovery."

"Thank you doctor."

"Sir?" A nurse poked her head in as the doctor left. "We were able to find a vase for your flowers."

"Oh, good. Thank you." Jed turned to take the small vase from her. Abbey turned expecting to see a large fancy bouquet of roses or wildflowers; instead she was faced with four wilting daisies in skinny glass vase. She lifted her brow at the unusual choice.

"Running low on cash today, Mr. President?"

Jed gave her a wide grin. "These are from your son. When I mentioned to Charlie that I wanted to order you flowers Nicholas said that he had seen some flowers and that he would pick them for you. He picked them out of the hotel flowerbeds. I don't think they were meant to be picked, we were getting the evil eye from one of the valet's so I limited him to the four."

Abbey laughed with delight. " I wish he were here so I could give him a big sloppy kiss."

"You'll see him soon enough, provided he hasn't convinced Izzy to take him outside and picked over the rest of the flowerbeds and gotten himself kicked out.

"I'd love to see the day a hotel would kick out the President's kid."

"I guess there are a few perks to the job. Oh, here comes your hair man."

"Stylist, Jed. He's a hair stylist, not my hair man."

"Well, whatever he's called, it's my cue to leave. I'm going to see if Aislinn's up and ready to dress."

"So, what do you say, Henri?" Abbey flashed the tall thin man a rueful smile as she pulled at a strand of her hair. "Think there is anything you can do with this?"

"But of course, ma'am. I am, after all, Henri."

"Yes, you are the best."

"And that is why I am your hair man."

"You heard that, did you?"

Henri grinned his eyes growing dreamy. "One of these days I'm going to get my hands in that mans hair." He turned to watch Jed's departing form. "Such nice thick hair and�"

"Henri, for goddsake that's my HUSBAND you're drooling over."

"A guy can dream, can't he? Besides," he sighed dramatically. " I always seem to go for the straight ones."

****

When Henri was finished with Abbey she felt much better about her appearance. She didn't like the short bob she now had, but at least the jagged edges were even, even if the more matronly cut did make her look like every other First Lady that had come along. If there was one thing that Abbey never wanted to be it was boring. She missed her sexier long hair, missed the feel of it against her shoulders, but what was done was done. As Jed had said. It would grow back.

Abbey shut the door to her room and changed the channel from VH1, which Henri had been listening to while he cut her hair, to CNN in order to prepare herself for the coverage of she and Aislinn's departure this morning.

"We're now going live to the White House where President Walken will take questions regarding the administrations assassination of Qumari defense minister Abdul Shareef."

Abbey stared at the television in shock. The words had hit her like a kick to the stomach and literally knocked the wind out of her. She heard the ensuing questions and answers about the event muffled, as if she were at the end of a tunnel. The logistics didn't matter because she was still trying to wrap her mind around what she still found unbelievable. Jed; her husband, her lover, her best friend, the father of her children had ordered the death of another human being. He had used his power to order an assassination. An assassination that had led to his own family being abducted in revenge. Azim Shareef's words came back to haunt her.

"And you, Mrs. Bartlet. What do you think of your husband hiring assassins to do his dirty work?"

"My husband doesn't hire assassins."

"I beg to differ. Your husband hired an assassin to kill my brother, Abdul Shareef."

"You're lying."

Oh, God, Abbey despaired. He hadn't been lying.

"I just have to sign a couple of papers and then I can spring you from this place." Jed came bounding into the room and stopped abruptly at the look on his wife's face. She looked like she had seen a ghost.

"Was there something you wanted to tell me?" Her voice was cold. So very, very cold."

Jed looked up at the TV and saw Abdul Shareefs face. His heart sank to his stomach and his pulse began to race. This was the moment he'd been dreading for over a year.

"Abbey�"

TBC...