Fighter

It was dark. She couldn't see. Were her eyes open? It was quiet. Actually, not quiet. There was this ringing… a buzzing in her ears. She wanted to move but her body felt heavy… numb. And then she heard the first scream. It was faint due to the hissing sound she was experiencing, but the cry for help was still heard. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, but she had no idea what she was seeing. Her chest was pressed flat against the ground; her limbs were spread out in every direction. Elizabeth groaned as she slowly pushed up on her hands and knees. Her muscles were so sore. 'What the hell had happened?' She thought as she finally stood up on her shaking legs.

She glanced from left to right, surveying the room… or what was once a room. And not just any room, The Oval Office. Walls were gone. Windows smashed. The entire room was coated in a thick layer of black ash.

Her eyes burned. She blinked rapidly attempting to clear the dust from her vision. She squinted trying to see through the still hovering smoke. She inhaled deeply, followed by an immediate fit of coughing. Her chest heaved, she took short and shallow breaths after seeing numerous people lying on the ground.

The moments before the explosion flashed through her head. She was thrown to the ground from the force of the blast. She'd been standing, back towards the windows… God hadn't she learned from the last time never to stand near the windows… The last time. Iran. Her mind sent her spiraling back. It was nearly five years ago but the memories seemed fresh.

She took small steps backwards on quivering legs until her back came into contact with a wall. This all felt too familiar. She slid down the paneling into a heap on the floor. Her heart pounded against her chest as she gasped for air. Elizabeth pulled her knees to her chest, protecting herself. Her body shook with fear as she unknowingly started to cry. An alarm began blaring from somewhere. The loud insistent noise startled her causing her hands to instantly cover her ears.

Elizabeth stared downwards at the floor feeling helpless and alone. A choked cry sounded from somewhere nearby, but she didn't dare look up. When a wheezy 'mom' was murmured her eyes darted upwards landing on the unmoving form in front of her. One glance. All it took was one glace and her heart rate went skyrocketing again. Blue eyes connected with blue eyes. Stevie. Oh god. Her baby.

Elizabeth was thrown into yet another panic, but she pushed down her fear. The only thing that mattered in that moment was the well-being of her eldest. She leapt into action, crawling over broken glass, fragments of wood, and other debris to get to her daughter.

Elizabeth kneeled down next to her first born, ignoring the pain from the pieces of glass cutting into her skin. The sharp pieces were littered all about. "Mama." Stevie whispered staring up at her mother. Elizabeth looked down into her daughter's fear filled eyes. She looked so young… so innocent in that moment.

"Oh baby." Elizabeth said placing a hand on Stevie's pale cheek. She nearly recoiled at how cold her daughter's skin felt. "Mama's here." She declared as she ran her eyes over Stevie's body. The twenty five year old laid on her side slightly, but more so on her stomach. Her face was scraped and already bruising. But that wasn't what concerned Elizabeth.

She swallowed hard seeing the large piece of glass sticking out near Stevie's right shoulder blade. The once pink blazer was now soaked an alarming bright red. Elizabeth immediately pressed her hands near the wound and pushed down, applying pressure to help stop the bleeding.

Stevie whimpered at the action. "Hurt." She breathed, only having the energy to mumble that one word.

"I know it hurts, but baby you're gonna be okay. Okay?" She cried, tears streaming down her face once again. This time not for herself, but for the sake of her daughter. The young girl gave as much of a nod as she could muster. Elizabeth glared down at the wound before her gaze flashed back to her eldest's face to find her eyes closed.

"Stevie!" She nearly screamed. "Baby you have to stay awake!" She said loudly as she removed one of her hands from her daughter's back to firmly pat her cheek, encouraging her to open her eyes. "Cold." Stevie muttered. She was visibly shaking.

"I know sweetheart." Elizabeth barely got the words out before she was being yanked up from the ground.

"Madam Secretary come with me." A large man commanded, putting a hand on the small of her back, beginning to guide her towards the door, but The Secretary stayed rooted to the spot. "Fred?" She questioned, still in a foggy haze. Her eyes were playing tricks on her. She was seeing things. Remembering things. Things that happened that doomful day five years ago.

"It's me ma'am, Matt… We need to move you now." He declared, pushing her forwards, but she fought against him. Her bare feet ached from the tiny pieces of glass on the floor. Where had her shoes gone?

"My daughter!" She yelled, protesting against the agent, but her anger didn't persuade him. His job was to protect her and only her. She was his priority. He led her from the room into the hallway quickly.

Elizabeth's chest was heaving. Her eyes wandered frantically down the corridor for anything, anyone to help. "I… I can't. I need…" She struggled to breathe. She looked back over her shoulder, wanting, needing to be back in that room.

"Ma'am we need to move you to a secure location." Frank told her hovering over The Secretary as Matt was holding her bicep firmly, urging her to walk forward.

"No! I need… my daughter." She yelled, struggling to get the words out. Elizabeth tried to break away from their hold, but her body was weak. She was powerless. They restrained her easily. "Ma'am someone is with her. The medics are seeing to each individual." Frank informed her, but his words didn't settle her one bit.

"No you don't understand I… I…" She mumbled incoherently as her vision began to blur. She felt as if she would pass out. She shook her head back and forth.

"Elizabeth!" Matt yelled, grabbing her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. It felt odd using her first name, but he needed to do something. He caught her gaze, but her eyes were wild. All reasoning gone. She was in a panic. "We need you away from The White House in case of a secondary attack. I promise you someone is tending to your daughter." He told her, hoping to get through to her.

"Stevie." She muttered, doubling over. Her head swam. White spots dotted across her eyes. "I… I can't breathe." She said clutching at her chest, gasping for air. The two agents took firm hold on her small limp body, catching her before she fell.