With Determination and Honor

by: Ginny

Pairing(s):Jed/Abbey
Category(s):General
Rating: YTEEN
Disclaimer: The usual.
Summary: Something is wrong with Gov. Jed Bartlet.
Feedback: Feedback is greatly appreciated.
Author's Note:Thanks to Becky who boosted my self esteem more than once and to Janie, our medical advisor.

Part 9

Jed woke up sometime around 3:00 in the morning with a headache. Abbey was still asleep with her head on the bed, holding his hand. She stirred when he pulled his hand away to rub his eyes.

"Jed, what's wrong? Headache?" asked Abbey trying to fully wake up herself.

"Yeah"

Abbey reached over to press the call button. Abbey expected a nurse but Tom appeared within a minute.

"How are you feeling, Jed?" asked Tom.

"Not so great, my head is killing me" complained Jed in a weak voice.

"OK, I can give you something. Are you nauseous too?"

"Yeah, a little" admitted Jed.

"OK" he turned his attention over to Abbey. "I'm going to give him some ibuprofen. If that doesn't help or if he starts vomiting I can do a blood patch"

"OK, I'm still in the room here, what in the world is a blood patch?" asked Jed.

"Sorry honey, if your headache doesn't go away with ibuprofen or if you starting vomiting that could mean that the hole didn't seal itself up and some spinal fluid is leaking. If that turns out to be the case Tom can draw some blood from your arm and inject it over the site of the tap. That will seal off the leak and stop the headache."

"Oh, another needle, sorry I asked. Let's just try a pill for now." remarked Jed dryly.

Tom went down the hall and came back with the pills. Jed took them and drank some water.

"Jed, Abbey, I have some results back. Let's go over them together" said Tom as he pulled up a chair and motioned for Abbey to sit. Abbey took Jed's hand and waited for Tom to start.

"I got the results of the MRI and some of the results from the spinal tap. I won't beat around the bush. The results do indicate what Abbey thought. I am ready to make a preliminary diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. I'm very sorry."

Abbey gasped, her hand flying up to her mouth. Jed just turned his head away from them.

"Go on." croaked Jed.

"Sure, the MRI showed some areas of plaque or scarring in the brain consistent with MS. The results from the tap showed increased immunoglobulins and white blood cells, also consistent with the diagnosis of MS. These results, in addition to the symptoms you've been experiencing and Abbey observations, lead me to believe you have what is called relapsing/remitting MS. That means you still have a normal life expectancy. The symptoms will come and go. You should recover from each relapse or exacerbation fully. Sometimes it may only last a day or two and no medical intervention will be needed. On the other hand, a relapse could be severe enough to warrant a brief hospital stay for IV steroids. You will be able to handle some relapses at home with oral medication. It's a very unpredictable disease. For now, I would like to start you on a drug called Betaseron. It's an injection you get every other day. It has been proven useful in increasing the time between relapses and decreasing the severity of them when they do occur. We will start that before you leave here. I know this is a lot to comprehend so I'm going to leave now so you have some time to talk. Here is some information you may find helpful. Feel free to write down any questions you may have. I'm going to go home for a few hours, I'll be back around 8:00. Jed, if the headache doesn't get better let us know. I know you have a lot on your mind right now but you do need to get some sleep."

"Yeah, I'll try, thanks for everything" said Jed

Tom patted Jed's shoulder and handed the information to Abbey. Tom squeezed her hand and left them alone to come to terms with the hand they had just been dealt.

For a long time neither Jed nor Abbey spoke. They just held hands, crying and praying. It was Jed who finally broke the silence.

"We have to make a plan Abigail. I want you to call the girls in a few hours and have them meet us back at the farm. Call my press secretary and have him issue a statement. Nothing specific, I spent a day in the hospital for tests and expect to be back in Concord at my desk by Tuesday morning, something nice and vague"

"Do you want me to tell him the truth?" asked Abbey

"No, nobody finds out, nobody. I want to keep this in the family" insisted Jed.

"OK, but for how long?"

"I don't know. I can't think now, my head hurts and...I just can't think."

Abbey reached over to smooth back his hair and caress his cheek.

"Shhh, it's OK, you don't have to decide anything now. Here, take a drink of water and try to go back to sleep. Do you want me to have the nurse give you something to help you relax?" whispered Abbey.

"No, I'll be fine"

Abbey leaned over kissed his forehead. She turned off the light and pulled the blanket up. When she was sure he was sleeping she crept out of the room to get a cup of coffee and to read the information Tom had left. She nodded to the security team as she headed to the cafeteria.

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

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