Roadblock

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003399" TEXT="#080000" background="03fc8c00erkjxk.jpg"> <div> <B>A little collaboration in angst from Shelley and Cindy</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#99CCFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Smiles, Tears, & Happy Endings</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>  |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Smiles, Tears, Happy Endings"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shelleys Stories"><U>Shelley's Stories</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Boomerang"><U>Boomerang</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="238 Days"><U>238 Days</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Proposal in Paradise"><U>A Proposal in Paradise</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blood Ties"><U>Blood Ties</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Party Tricks"><U>Party Tricks</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Does Anyone Really Miss Her?"><U>Does Anyone Really Miss Her?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="No Time To Be Shocked"><U>No Time To Be Shocked</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love Always"><U>Love Always</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Desperate Times"><U>Desperate Times</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Finding Our Way Back"><U>Finding Our Way Back</U></A>   |   <B>Roadblock</B>   |   <A HREF="id108.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Finding The Treasure"><U>Finding The Treasure</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hey Baby, Lets Go To Vegas"><U>Hey Baby, Let's Go To Vegas</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id186.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Matter Of Trust"><U>A Matter Of Trust</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id209.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Pleasure Sure"><U>A Pleasure Sure</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id226.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Excellent Rookie Season"><U>An Excellent Rookie Season</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id227.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Even Steel Magnolias Cry"><U>Even Steel Magnolias Cry</U></A></div> <div> Roadblock</div> <bR> <div> by Shelley (kuebsr@yahoo.com) and Cindy (cindybre74@aol.com)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ Cregg was catching up on paperwork between the morning briefing and the one scheduled at three o'clock. Or at least she was trying to. Between constant phone calls, and keeping one ear to CNN, CJ discovered that in an hour, she had only gotten three things, out of the twenty that she needed, done.</div> <bR> <div> With a sigh, she tossed her pen down and gave her full attention to the small TV perched on one of the shelves a few feet from her desk. A male reporter was doing a story from somewhere in the Middle East. </div> <bR> <div> "CJ?" her assistant Carol asked as she poked her head into the office. "We're ordering in for lunch, want anything?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, chicken salad and a cola," CJ replied absently. She was just about to return her attention to the pile of paperwork when something on the TV caught her attention.</div> <bR> <div> "Carol!"</div> <bR> <div> The dark haired woman instantly stepped back into the room. "Yes?"</div> <bR> <div> "Is there anything going on that I don't know about?" CJ asked, frowning at the TV screen, which now showed the 'Breaking News' logo.</div> <bR> <div> "Not that I know of, why?" Carol asked as she walked further into the room.</div> <bR> <div> CJ gestured toward the TV screen. "Whatever it is, we're about to find out."</div> <bR> <div> "This is Kara Wilson, reporting live from outside the White House. We have just received an anonymous tip that Donna Moss, the personal assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman, has been kidnapped....."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh God," Carol whispered, her face paling.</div> <bR> <div> "Get Leo," CJ ordered, her gaze fixated on the screen. Why the hell didn't they know about this? Why would CNN go on the air before they notified the White House?</div> <bR> <div> Carol nodded, and quickly left the room.</div> <bR> <div> "According to our sources, the group holding Ms. Moss is the same group that opened fire on the President and his staff last year at Rosslyn, Virginia. As far as we know, West Virginia White Pride has yet to make any demands for the safe return of Ms. Moss. If they have, the White House isn't commenting. We'll keep you updated as we get any new information...."</div> <bR> <div> CJ reached over and snapped off the TV. She turned quickly and opened the adjoining door to Josh's office, taking a deep breath. She didn't want him to be blindsided by this. It could be just a scary rumor......but CJ had a gut feeling that wasn't true....this was real....another nightmare in the making.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh?" CJ asked cautiously as she stepped into the Deputy Chief of Staff's office. She was relieved to find it dark and empty. At least Josh hadn't overhead the news broadcast. </div> <bR> <div> Straightening her shoulders, she walked through the office and out into the bullpen. As she walked past Ginger's desk, she came face to face with Josh. </div> <bR> <div> 'Dammit,' she thought. She had hoped to touch base with Leo first.</div> <bR> <div> Josh took one look at CJ's face and instantly knew something was wrong. "Claudia Jean?" he prompted quietly.</div> <bR> <div> CJ placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Let's go to Leo's office."</div> <bR> <div> Josh froze; something was definitely wrong. "What's going on?"</div> <bR> <div> CJ took a deep breath. "Josh, where's Donna?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh felt icy fear creep up his spine. "She went to grab us some lunch, and run a few errands, why?"</div> <bR> <div> "When did she leave?" CJ asked, glancing at the clock and seeing that it was nearly two o’clock.</div> <bR> <div> Josh shook his head. "I don't know, eleven thirty, noon maybe. CJ, what's going on?"</div> <bR> <div> Before CJ could reply, Leo appeared at her right shoulder. "How the hell did CNN get it before we knew anything about it?" he demanded.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," CJ replied softly.</div> <bR> <div> Josh looked nervously from one friend to the other, and back again. "Get what?"</div> <bR> <div> Leo exchanged a concerned glance with CJ before placing a supportive hand on Josh's shoulder. "Let's go to my office, Josh."</div> <bR> <div> Josh's fear intensified. "Just tell me.....has something happened to Donna?"</div> <bR> <div> "We think she's been kidnapped," Leo said solemnly.</div> <bR> <div> "What? By who?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh's heartbeat accelerated and his breathing became shallow.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh we can talk....."</div> <bR> <div> "By who, Leo?" Josh demanded, his voice catching.</div> <bR> <div> Leo shifted from one foot to the other before replying quietly, "West Virginia White Pride."</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Donna Moss was afraid.</div> <bR> <div> No she was terrified.</div> <bR> <div> She was bound hand and foot.</div> <bR> <div> Blindfolded.</div> <bR> <div> She had no idea where she was or what was going on. </div> <bR> <div> But there was one thing Donna was very sure of.</div> <bR> <div> The gun pressed against her temple.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> President Bartlet and the senior staff had regrouped in the Mural Room. In a corner, by the back of the room, Zoey Bartlet stood in Charlie's arms. They had been having lunch when the news broke about Donna. Zoey could feel Charlie's arms trembling as they tightened around her waist. She leaned back against his chest and squeezed his hand tightly.</div> <bR> <div> Jed Bartlet glanced at his daughter and Charlie, and then back at his staff.</div> <bR> <div> "Where the hell are Meyers and Zorton?" Jed demanded, referring to the FBI and CIA directors, as he turned to face Leo. </div> <bR> <div> "They're on their way," Leo replied steadily as he placed one hand on the conference table.</div> <bR> <div> Josh sat at the end of the table, his face buried in his hands. </div> <bR> <div> Sam exchanged a worried glance with Toby. Josh had barely spoken since he had learned of Donna's kidnapping. It was as if all the fight had drained out of him. That scared Sam more than anything.</div> <bR> <div> Everyone knew that Donna had been a major part of Josh's recovery since Rosslyn. Sam didn't want to imagine what would happen to his best friend if they didn't get Donna back.</div> <bR> <div> "How do we get her back?" Sam asked as he sat down next to CJ.</div> <bR> <div> "We should be asking CAN we get her back," Toby interjected, hating playing the devil's advocate, but seeing no other choice.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't say it!" Josh shouted as he sprang to his feet and rounded the table, eyes blazing.</div> <bR> <div> Everyone jumped at Josh's sudden outburst.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh...." Jed began, but Josh didn't seem to hear him.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't give me the 'We don't negotiate with terrorists' party line!" Josh exclaimed as he continued to advance on Toby.</div> <bR> <div> CJ stood, prepared to intervene.</div> <bR> <div> "We did it for the DEA agents in Colombia," Josh continued, his voice starting to catch and tremble, "We can do it for Donna."</div> <bR> <div> Toby winced, but held his ground. "This group....we have to think differently."</div> <bR> <div> "Why?!" Josh snapped, "Because they decided to open fire on us?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Toby replied, his voice barely audible. "We have to be conscious of how it looks. These people....shot at us because they didn't like something. Now they've taken Donna because they believe they have power over us."</div> <bR> <div> "They do," Josh stated softly as he slumped into the nearest chair, suddenly feeling exhausted. "They have Donna."</div> <bR> <div> *********</div> <bR> <div> "My apologies for being late, Mr. President...." FBI Director Owen Myers stated as he strode into the room. "There was...."</div> <bR> <div> "What are you doing about Donna?" Josh demanded, interrupting the man's excuse, and heedlessly cutting off whatever reply the President was going to make.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh..." Leo warned as he took a step forward.</div> <bR> <div> Josh ignored his boss as he walked toward the FBI director, just as the CIA director arrived. "Since you were late, I'm assuming it was because you have a solid lead on Donna's whereabouts."</div> <bR> <div> Meyers exchanged a glance with Zorton before replying. "Mr. Lyman, we understand your feelings regarding this group but...."</div> <bR> <div> "Sam," Leo began as he gestured with his head toward the door. "Why don't you and Josh go for a walk?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'm staying, Leo," Josh replied angrily.</div> <bR> <div> "That wasn't a suggestion, Josh," Leo stated as he approached the younger man. "Go with Sam, let us work this out."</div> <bR> <div> "Leo...." Josh pleaded. Donna needed him. He couldn't be of any help to her if he wasn't part of the decision making.</div> <bR> <div> However, Leo's tone left no room for negotiation. "Sam, take him out of here, now."</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> As soon as the two friends were out in the familiar bullpen, Josh angrily shook off Sam's grasp. He felt the walls closing in on him....he had to leave...he had to get some air.</div> <bR> <div> "I have to get out of here," Josh whispered as he ducked past Sam and headed along the hallway past CJ's office.</div> <bR> <div> Sam quickly caught up with him, concern and worry clearly written on his face. "Josh, I don't think…"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't care what you think right now, Sam," Josh snapped as he plunged ahead, nearly toppling two staffers.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine, but I'm coming with you," Sam retorted, as he matched Josh's stride.</div> <bR> <div> "Suit yourself."</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> They walked in silence, Sam occasionally casting nervous glances at the surrounding area and then back at Josh. Being out here, away from the Secret Service, was not a good idea. The people who kidnapped Donna might still come after Josh. </div> <bR> <div> Several minutes later, Josh stopped at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial and sank down onto the steps, dropping his head into his hands. </div> <bR> <div> Sam sat down next to his friend and placed a supportive hand on Josh's right shoulder. </div> <bR> <div> "We have to get her back, Sam," Josh stated quietly, breaking the silence.</div> <bR> <div> "We will," Sam promised, hoping his voice sounded more confident than he felt. If these people would shoot into a crowd, what would they do to a helpless woman if they didn't get their way?</div> <bR> <div> Josh stared out at the reflecting pool, praying that Sam was right. He couldn't lose his Donnatella....not now...not after everything. There were so many things that he had to tell her. </div> <bR> <div> "I can't lose her, Sam," Josh stated, his voice starting to tremble and break. "I haven't told her..."</div> <bR> <div> "She knows, Josh," Sam assured him, "She knows."</div> <bR> <div> ******</div> <bR> <div> “Get in there,” the voice growled roughly as Donna was propelled backwards. She landed with a thud against a wall, and slid down to the floor. A few seconds later, she felt a hand tightly grab her chin.</div> <bR> <div> “What do you want from me?” she asked shakily.</div> <bR> <div> “You are going to help me finish the job my brave comrades started in Rosslyn,” the voice of her captor hissed.</div> <bR> <div> “Oh my God,” Donna cried with a strangled sob. “You’re…..”</div> <bR> <div> “Yes, we are,” he said, leaning in very closely and whispering in Donna’s ear, “and you are going to help us finish what we started. You are going to help us clean the filth out of the government.”</div> <bR> <div> She felt his hot breath against her neck as he laughed derisively. </div> <bR> <div> Donna’s blood ran cold.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> “What the hell did you think you were doing?” Toby thundered as Kara Wilson stood in his office, trying her best to appear unflappable.</div> <bR> <div> “My job,” she said in a voice that didn’t come out as strongly as she had hoped it would.</div> <bR> <div> “Your job?” Toby asked incredulously.</div> <bR> <div> “Yes, my job!” Kara snapped, finally finding her strength in the face of Toby’s anger. “I got a call, that call gave me a lead on a story, and I reported it. That’s my job!”</div> <bR> <div> “And where exactly does the life of Donna Moss fit into story? Did you think about her at all? Did it ever cross your mind that you could be making it much harder to save her life?” Toby accused.</div> <bR> <div> “No!” Kara seethed, her own anger level rising to meet Toby’s, “I actually thought that I might be making it easier to save her life. If I can open up a line of communication with these people….”</div> <bR> <div> “Communication!!” Toby screamed. “You think these people are after dialogue? These people don’t understand dialogue-they understand violence. That’s all.”</div> <bR> <div> “Ok, let’s step back for a minute and try to calm down,” CJ said, attempting to restore order.</div> <bR> <div> “West Virginia White Pride has kidnapped Donna, CJ,” Toby said irately. For all we know, she is already dead. And this…this…woman, wants to open a line of communication with them.”</div> <bR> <div> “I understand the situation very well,” CJ snapped back, barely managing to keep her own anger under control, “I’m just saying that this bickering isn’t getting us any closer to finding Donna. We need to find a way to work together.”</div> <bR> <div> “Has she shown any sign that she is willing to work with us? She seems more concerned with how many minutes an hour her face graces the airwaves,” Toby argued.</div> <bR> <div> “Believe me,” Kara assured them, “I want to do anything I possibly can to help bring Ms. Moss home safely. But you have to understand that I also have a job to do.”</div> <bR> <div> “Well I hope that line of crap helps you sleep at night if this whole thing blows up in your face,” Toby countered.</div> <bR> <div> “I think what Toby is saying,” CJ intervened, “is that it would be best if we could find a way to work together in this. We need to know what’s going on before we hear it on CNN.”</div> <bR> <div> “And if I agree to help? To share whatever information I might get?” Kara asked.</div> <bR> <div> “You get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped save the life of an innocent woman who has been through hell,” Toby said dryly.</div> <bR> <div> “I feel certain that I could guarantee you exclusive access to certain elements of the story…” CJ said leadingly.</div> <bR> <div> “An interview with Josh Lyman?” Kara asked.</div> <bR> <div> Toby snorted, and mumbled something about Kara only being interested in her own career. CJ, however, jumped at the chance to reach a détente so that they could get down to the business of getting Donna back.</div> <bR> <div> “After Donna is home safely,” CJ offered, “I’ll arrange for the interview. He is off limits until she is back. Deal?”</div> <bR> <div> “Deal,” Kara said.</div> <bR> <div> “Fine,” Toby sneered, “now that we’ve taken care of your career goals, can we get down to work?”</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <div> Sam sat alone in his office, lights out, telephone off the hook. Josh had disappeared to find Leo for an update on the situation as soon as they had returned to the west wing. Sam had begged off and headed for the security of his office.</div> <bR> <div> Ever since he had heard the news that West Virginia White Pride was involved in Donna’s kidnapping, memories of that night in Rosslyn had been making their way into Sam’s consciousness.</div> <bR> <div> He squeezed his eyes closed tightly as images from that night flashed through his mind. He remembered the sound of the shots. He remembered the chaos and panic. He could see CJ on the ground. </div> <bR> <div> Sam pounded his palms to his forehead, willing the images to disappear. He rubbed his eyes, then forced them open. He turned on his desk lamp, hoping that the images would be scared away by the light. They weren’t. No matter what he tried, he still saw the faces of his friends. And he saw Josh. Covered in blood.</div> <bR> <div> He tried desperately to push down his own feelings of helplessness and inadequacy. Suddenly, the picture changed. It was Donna covered in blood. Sam was trying desperately to save her but he couldn’t get to her.</div> <bR> <div> He had been unable to help Josh, and now the same thing was happening with Donna.</div> <bR> <div> Sam was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn’t hear Ginger open the door and call his name.</div> <bR> <div> “Sam!” she repeated more forcefully, breaking him out of his reverie.</div> <bR> <div> “What?” Sam asked distractedly.</div> <bR> <div> “They need you in the Oval right away. They have some news.”</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Sam was waved into the Oval Office immediately upon his arrival. The President was sitting at his desk, tapping his fingers nervously. Leo was standing directly behind him, eyeing Josh with concern as the younger man paced frantically around the office. CJ and Toby were perched on the edge of the couch, and Directors Meyers and Zorton were sitting across from them in armchairs. Zoey and Charlie stood at the back of the office wrapped in each other’s arms.</div> <bR> <div> “We have news?” Sam asked hopefully as he entered.</div> <bR> <div> “Kara Wilson called and said that she was contacted again with a list of demands,” Leo answered.</div> <bR> <div> “Why are they contacting her?” Sam asked. “Wouldn’t you think they would want to negotiate directly with the White House? Especially after….well….you know….considering the way they feel about things?”</div> <bR> <div> “They think that they are safer using a third party,” Zorton explained, “Especially a member of the press. My guess is, they think it is going to afford them a certain level of anonymity.”</div> <bR> <div> “They want publicity for their cause, but they also want to save their own asses,” Meyers chimed in. “ For all of their bluster, they are nothing but a bunch of cowards.”</div> <bR> <div> “They may be cowards,” Josh said in measured tones, “but they are ruthless and well-armed. They certainly demonstrated their disregard for human life by firing into a crowd. I can’t even imagine what they will do to Donna if they don’t get their way. We have to find a way to get her back.”</div> <bR> <div> “We will, Josh,” Leo said sympathetically. “We just need to get some idea what they want, then we can go from there.”</div> <bR> <div> As if on cue, the door opened and Kara Wilson entered, carrying a sheet of fax paper in her left hand. She took in her surroundings, momentarily awed by the fact that she was standing in the Oval Office. Then she remembered exactly why she was there.</div> <bR> <div> CJ stood and quickly took care of introducing Kara Wilson to everyone else in the room.</div> <bR> <div> “What have you heard?” Josh asked impatiently as soon as CJ was finished.</div> <bR> <div> “I received a list of demands on my office fax,” Kara said.</div> <bR> <div> “Are we sure it’s reliable?” Sam asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <div> “Yes,” Kara said. “When I got the tip about the kidnapping, the caller identified himself by the name Patriot. That information was never released to the public. In fact, there were only a few people who knew about it at all. This fax is signed Patriot. It has to be the same person.”</div> <bR> <div> The President held out his hand wordlessly, and Kara handed him the fax.</div> <bR> <div> “Do we know where this was sent from?” he asked.</div> <bR> <div> “As far as we can tell, sir,” Kara answered nervously, “it was faxed from a public fax machine at a copy center here in the city.”</div> <bR> <div> “Which one?” Meyers asked.</div> <bR> <div> Kara pulled her fax machine’s transmission report from her pocket and handed it to the FBI Director.</div> <bR> <div> “I’ll get some agents down there immediately,” he said as he took out his cell phone and stepped towards the back of the office to make a call.</div> <bR> <div> “What do they want?” Josh asked anxiously as every eye in the room watched the President scan the list of demands.</div> <bR> <div> After a few moments, he spoke. “They want five million dollars in small, unmarked bills. They give a list of seven people they consider freedom fighters that they want released from jail immediately. They want immunity from any charges stemming from what happened in Rosslyn, as well as Donna’s kidnapping, and they want their political party, The Freedom Movement, to be recognized as a legitimate party and to be included on every ballot in the next election.”</div> <bR> <div> “What’s their deadline?” Josh asked desperately.</div> <bR> <div> “We have 72 hours,” Kara answered.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Donna was sitting on the floor, back against the wall, arms and legs still bound, blindfold still in place. As she heard someone enter, she sunk further into the corner, dreading what might be coming next.</div> <bR> <div> Suddenly she felt herself being pulled up into a standing position. An arm clamped around her waist , dragged her across the room, and deposited her into a hard wooden chair.</div> <bR> <div> “I need some information from you,” her captor growled. “If you give it to me, we will get along fine, if not, you will have to pay the price.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna shuddered involuntarily.</div> <bR> <div> “I need you to give me all of the personal information you have on Charlie Young, Toby Ziegler, and Joshua Lyman.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna remained silent. She knew why these animals wanted information on Charlie, Toby, and Josh, and she had no intention of giving it to them. She could feel the frustration and anger beginning to pulse off of her captor as he spoke again.</div> <bR> <div> “I need to know about their families, their friends, their hangouts. I need home addresses, and addresses of close family members. I know that you have this information, Ms. Moss, and I want you to give it to me.”</div> <bR> <div> “Never,” Donna said defiantly.</div> <bR> <div> “Never is a long time,” her captor hissed as he grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled tightly. “Why are you defending them? Can’t you see that they are trying to take over and force us out? We are becoming second-class citizens in our own country! We need to get rid of them now, before it’s too late.”</div> <bR> <div> “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Donna insisted.</div> <bR> <div> “Why are you defending them?” he captor asked incredulously. “You’re not one of them. You’re one of us. You’re pure. You can join us and help us restore this country to greatness once again.”</div> <bR> <div> “Go to Hell,” Donna spat back.</div> <bR> <div> Because of the blindfold, she never saw the punch coming. Her head jerked back as her captor's fist made contact with her jaw, knocking the chair over backwards in the process. Before she could catch her breath, she felt a boot connect sharply with her back. Donna felt herself beginning to lose consciousness as the beating continued unabated.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> CJ found Toby waiting for her when she returned to her office after the Press briefing. It had, by far, not been one of her favorites. Most of the members of the press corp that had been at Rosslyn were respectful enough not to ask questions about how the staff was feeling. The others, however, who hadn't been there, weren't so polite.</div> <bR> <div> "You handled them well," Toby complimented, after CJ sat down wearily  behind her desk. It was 8:00 PM, but both of them felt like they had gone days without sleep.</div> <bR> <div> CJ shook her head as she took off her glasses and tossed them on her desk. "No, I didn't. Every question brought it back....it was all I could do...."</div> <bR> <div> Toby moved from the sofa to the chair in front of her desk, "You did well, CJ," he assured her softly, knowing this was going to be toughest on her. CJ had been the one who held everything together during the shooting.</div> <bR> <div> They sat in silence for several minutes before Toby spoke again, "We should bring Joey in."</div> <bR> <div> CJ glanced at her boss with surprise. "Why?"</div> <bR> <div> "We're going to need to gauge public reaction."</div> <bR> <div> CJ shook her head. "Nobody cares about numbers right now, Toby."</div> <bR> <div> Toby ran a weary hand over his face. "We need to."</div> <bR> <div> CJ stood. "We're not going to do this negotiation for Donna's life based on public opinion! We're never going to be able to please everybody!"</div> <bR> <div> Toby met her gaze. "It's not about pleasing people, CJ. It's about winning reelection."</div> <bR> <div> CJ blinked. "Reelection? Toby this is Donna we're talking about!"</div> <bR> <div> Toby shot to his feet. "Don't you think I know that, CJ?! Do you think I want to be the only one looking at this from the numbers angle instead of the emotional one?"</div> <bR> <div> CJ walked around her desk and placed a comforting hand on Toby's left shoulder. At her touch, Toby closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them he turned to face her.</div> <bR> <div> "I know somebody needs to step outside the box on this one," CJ stated solemnly before Toby could speak. "But we can't do that. We're too close."</div> <bR> <div> Toby nodded grimly. "I have to try, CJ. If we do this emotionally they'll win, and not only will we lose Donna, but we'll lose Josh too."</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Leo's office had been turned into a base of operations. Josh sat on the right side of the sofa, staring off into space, oblivious to the flurry of activity around him.</div> <bR> <div> Sam and Leo huddled together, pouring over the kidnapper’s list of demands. In the three hours since they had received the fax, they had made very little progress.</div> <bR> <div> Sam sank down onto the corner of the desk, tossing his pad of paper down onto the floor. "We're not going to be able to fake them out, Leo."</div> <bR> <div> McGarry nodded as he cast a worried glance at Josh's still form. "I know, but they left no room for negotiation. We have to work with the hand they dealt us."</div> <bR> <div> Margaret sat down next to Josh. She had made a silent promise to Donna that she would make sure that Josh took care of himself. Margaret knew that Josh hadn't eaten, so she had grabbed a ham and cheese sandwich and a soda from the Mess. Now it was a matter of getting Josh to eat it.</div> <bR> <div> As Toby and CJ  entered the room, they could tell immediately that there hadn’t been much progress on meeting the kidnapper’s demands.</div> <bR> <div> The FBI had delivered the files on the seven prisoners that WVWP wanted freed. They were all hard-core, violent offenders.</div> <bR> <div> “There’s no way we can release these guys,” Sam sighed. “Each and every one of them is a menace to society. The public will be screaming for our heads if we consider putting even one of them back on the street.”</div> <bR> <div> “I don’t care what the public thinks,” Josh said, pushing aside the half eaten ham sandwich that Margaret was trying determinedly to get him to eat.</div> <bR> <div> “Funny you should mention public opinion,” Toby said.</div> <bR> <div> “What are you talking about?” Leo asked.</div> <bR> <div> “I called Joey Lucas and asked her to come in and help us gauge public reaction to the way we are handling this whole matter,” Toby said. “As a matter of fact, it turns out she was attending a conference in New York. She agreed to be on the first plane out. She should be here within the hour.”</div> <bR> <div> “You did what?” Josh yelled, jumping up off the couch and advancing on Toby. Sam quickly crossed the room and grabbed his best friend’s arm. </div> <bR> <div> “Why did you do that, Toby? Why do you think we need public relations help on this?” Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> “Because we need to be very aware of the way this looks. If we look as though we are caving in to these idiot’s demands, we will leave ourselves open to every nutcase in the country. No member of the staff will be safe leaving this building. Every psycho in the country will think that grabbing a White House employee is your ticket to getting what you want,” Toby argued.</div> <bR> <div> “He makes a good point,” Leo agreed.</div> <bR> <div> “Like hell he does,” Josh said, turning to face his boss. “Are you telling me that we are going to negotiate for Donna’s life based on the answers 1000 people give to a phone poll?”</div> <bR> <div> “That’s not what I’m saying, Josh,” Toby said. “I’m not suggesting that Joey have any say at all in what methods we use to try to bring Donna home. I’m just saying that we need to make sure that we don’t give off the wrong signals. We can’t allow people to think that this kind of behavior gets results. We just need to make sure that our message is getting out.”</div> <bR> <div> “I just can’t think in those terms,” Josh said desperately.</div> <bR> <div> “I know you can’t,” Toby said softly as he stepped forward and placed his hand on Josh’s shoulder, “That’s why I’m doing it.”</div> <bR> <div> “But…” Josh began, but Toby cut him off.</div> <bR> <div> “But nothing, Josh. I’ll be the one to keep my eye on more practical matters here. I’ll make sure that we come out of this on the other side; we won’t have lost any ground. I’ll worry about public opinion, and polls, and reelection. I’ll do it so that you don’t have to.”</div> <bR> <div> “Thanks,” Josh said sincerely.</div> <bR> <div> “You’re welcome,” Toby answered. “But please understand that none of this means I don’t want to get Donna back just as badly as the rest of you.”</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <div>  </div> <div> When Donna awoke, she had no idea what time it was. She couldn't even tell whether it was day or night. Her bindings were still firmly in place, as was her blindfold. She tried to sit up but the pain in every part of her body wouldn't allow her. Her jaw was throbbing and she could feel dried blood on her lips. As she was trying to get her bearings, she heard movement from the other side of the room.</div> <bR> <div> “I’m glad you’ve decided to rejoin us,” one of her captors hissed.</div> <bR> <div> Donna remained silent, but soon heard footsteps moving in her direction. She could feel the man’s hot breath on her neck as he spoke directly into her ear.</div> <bR> <div> “You will help me eventually,” he whispered. “I really wish that you would just make this easy on both of us.”</div> <bR> <div> “I’ll never tell you anything!” Donna said defiantly.</div> <bR> <div> “Oh. You’ll tell me,” the man sneered, running his hands through Donna’s hair. “I have my ways of making people talk.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna shuddered involuntarily as an icy chill ran the length of her body.</div> <bR> <div> “Leave me alone,” she said coldly.</div> <bR> <div> “That’s not going to happen, sweetheart,” the man chuckled. “You see, I want information, and you have it. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what I want to know.”</div> <bR> <div> “Then you might as well just go ahead and kill me,” Donna said with more bravado than she actually felt, “Because I would die before I would tell you anything.”</div> <bR> <div> The man’s grip on Donna’s hair tightened. “These men you're protecting aren’t worth dying for. You are one of us. You are only protecting them because they have convinced you of their lies. If you would only open your eyes and look around you…”</div> <bR> <div> Donna tried desperately to block out his words. The only thing she could think of was that this man belonged to the group that had tried to kill the President, and that had almost succeeded in killing Josh. These men had caused immeasurable pain to so many people, and now they wanted her to help them cause more. </div> <bR> <div> With sudden clarity she realized that she had indeed meant what she said. She would rather die than give them any information they could use to hurt Charlie, or Toby, or Josh. Especially Josh.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Toby met Joey and Kenny in the foyer and walked them back towards the west wing.</div> <bR> <div> “The President is meeting with Kara Wilson, the reporter from CNN, along with Leo and the rest of the senior staff. They are trying to decide what the next step should be,” Toby explained.</div> <bR> <div> Joey looked at Kenny as he finished signing, then turned to Toby and nodded. </div> <bR> <div> “What do want me to do?” she asked in her own voice.</div> <bR> <div> “I want you to sit in on the meeting, see where the strategy is going. Then I want you to put a poll in the field and get a feeling for the public reaction to the way we are handling this, and to any potential moves we might make to get Donna back.”</div> <bR> <div> Joey nodded her head in agreement as they arrived outside the Oval Office. Charlie waved them right in, but as they reached the door, Toby turned and looked directly at Joey so she could read his lips.</div> <bR> <div> “Listen, Joey, I need you to understand something. Emotions are running very high, and not everyone is thrilled with idea of looking at this in terms of public opinion. So try to keep a low profile, ok?”</div> <bR> <div> “Ok,” Joey said. Toby smiled reassuringly and they all entered the Oval Office. Joey and Kenny knew everyone in the room except for Kara Wilson, so it only took a brief moment to handle the introductions.</div> <bR> <div> Joey watched Kenny closely as he signed furiously, attempting to keep up with all of the different voices in the room. In her mind, she was already planning out the kind of questions that she would be writing for the poll.</div> <bR> <div> She understood why Toby was concerned about the administration’s image on this one. She knew that it was important that they not look as though they were giving in to WVWP because of their past experience with the group. Before she left New York, she had gathered together everything she could find on the group, and she also downloaded some literature from their website.</div> <bR> <div> She noticed that the group had an almost fanatical devotion to their ideals, but that they also desperately wanted a chance to reach a larger audience with their message. They wanted acceptance from the public at large, and they were too blinded by their own over-zealousness to see that most of the American people viewed them as a repulsive bunch of violent racists.</div> <bR> <div> Still, Joey wondered whether there might be a chance to use their desire for publicity against them. She knew that every contact with the kidnappers was another chance to find out where they were, and therefore another chance to bring Donna home safely.</div> <bR> <div> “Tell them I have an idea,” Joey signed to Kenny, who looked at her with a confused expression. “Tell them,” Joey signed again, more forcefully.</div> <bR> <div> “Excuse me,” Kenny said haltingly, as everyone in the room turned to look at him. Joey began signing rapidly and Kenny watched her for a few seconds. Then he turned and faced the others.</div> <bR> <div> “Joey thinks that you should play on their desire for publicity. She thinks if you give them enough rope they will hang themselves,” he said.</div> <bR> <div> “And what exactly does she recommend?” the President asked pointedly.</div> <bR> <div> Kenny watched Joey sign and then said, “She says that you should offer them the chance to make some sort of statement, contingent on them proving that Donna is still alive.”</div> <bR> <div> Sam shook his head. "These people aren't exactly the reasonable, negotiating type."</div> <bR> <div> Leo nodded. "We can't meet any of their demands. If we do this we'd have to give them something."</div> <bR> <div> "So give them something," Josh stated angrily as he snatched a copy of the list of demands off of Leo's desk. "There has to be something on this list that we can give them....anything to give Donna a chance."</div> <bR> <div> "We've gone over that list six ways from Sunday, Josh," Leo replied. "There's just no way that we can...."</div> <bR> <div> Josh slammed the piece of paper down onto the desk's surface causing Kara Wilson to jump slightly. "Damn it, Leo.....we work through 'back alleys' of the State Department and CIA and NSA to get hostages freed from countries that we can't show political face in. And now you're expecting me to accept the fact that in our own country we can't do the same to get one person back?"</div> <bR> <div> Leo met the younger man's gaze. "It's not that simple, Josh, and you know it. Joey's idea has merit, we just have to figure out a way to pull it off."</div> <bR> <div> Just then Charlie poked his head into the room and got the President's attention. "Sorry to interrupt....Sir, the Ambassador from South Africa is on the phone, he said you were expecting his call."</div> <bR> <div> "Damn," Bartlet swore as he stood. "Is it that late already?"</div> <bR> <div> Charlie nodded. "Yes, Sir."</div> <bR> <div> "Tell him I'll be right with him," the President replied as he moved over towards Josh.</div> <bR> <div> Charlie nodded and closed the door.</div> <bR> <div> Bartlet placed a reassuring hand on Josh's right shoulder. "I promise you, Josh, we will get her back, no matter what."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you, Sir," Josh replied struggling to keep his voice under control.</div> <bR> <div> The President turned to face the rest of the room. "Whatever you need to end this quickly and without incident, just tell Leo and it'll be taken care of. This.....group.....took enough away from us last year. I don't want them taking anything more."</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> It was nearly midnight before Zoey finally found Charlie sitting on one of the benches in the Sculpture garden. It had been a long day for everyone involved. Not much progress had been made since Joey Lucas's arrival that afternoon.</div> <bR> <div> "I've been looking all over for you," Zoey stated quietly as she approached the bench.</div> <bR> <div> Charlie stood guiltily. "Does the President need me?"</div> <bR> <div> Zoey shook her head as she slipped an arm around her boyfriend's shoulders and eased him back down onto the bench. "No, I was just worried about you."</div> <bR> <div> Charlie turned so he was facing her. Zoey was the best thing that had happened to him in the last two years....he didn't want to lose her.</div> <bR> <div> "I've been thinking...." Charlie began softly as Zoey reached across and took his right hand in hers, " Maybe I should resign....my being here has caused nothing but trouble."</div> <bR> <div> Zoey gripped his hand forcefully. "No, Charlie.....none of this is your fault."</div> <bR> <div> Charlie pulled away from her and jumped  to his feet. "Isn't it? Your father was shot, Josh was shot and nearly died, and all because some people didn't like us dating....now they have Donna, and God knows what she's going through, or even if she's still alive!"</div> <bR> <div> “Don’t talk like that,” Zoey snapped. “The only way we are going to get through this is if we all stick together. If we let them break us apart, then we’ve let them win.”</div> <bR> <div> Tears began to flow down Zoey’s cheeks as she dropped her head into her hands, sobbing.</div> <bR> <div> “I’m sorry, honey,” Charlie said, pulling her into his arms and rocking her gently. “I’m so sorry.”</div> <bR> <div> They sat in silence, clinging desperately to each other, for a long time. Both of them completely overcome by emotion. Rosslyn had taken so much out of them, it had taken so much just to make it through that in one piece. And now, just when everything was starting to get back to normal, this had to happen.</div> <bR> <div> Neither of them was aware of how long they had been sitting there when they heard the door open. They looked up and saw Josh entering the garden.</div> <bR> <div> “Oh, sorry,” he said tiredly, “I didn’t know anybody was out here.”</div> <bR> <div> “That’s ok,” Zoey assured him, jumping up and giving him a quick hug, “Are you alright?”</div> <bR> <div> “I’m hanging in there,” Josh sighed. “What are you two doing out here so late?”</div> <bR> <div> “I’m trying to convince Charlie that he shouldn’t resign,” Zoey said, as Charlie hung his head ashamedly.</div> <bR> <div> “What are you talking about?” Josh asked loudly, his voice echoing off of the garden’s stone walls. “Why in the world would you resign?”</div> <bR> <div> “None of this would have happened if it hadn’t been for me,” Charlie argued. “Those psychos never would have shot at us in Rosslyn if I wasn’t dating Zoey. The President never would have been shot, you never would have been shot, and Donna wouldn’t be where she is right now.”</div> <bR> <div> “You really believe that?” Josh asked angrily. “You really believe that they wouldn’t have found some other reason. That they wouldn’t have done it because Toby and I are Jewish, or because the President supports gay rights. You don’t think there would have been some other excuse?”</div> <bR> <div> “I don’t know,” Charlie said, as Zoey sat back down and placed her arm around his shoulders.</div> <bR> <div> “Well, I do,” Josh said confidently. “Hate will always find an outlet. And unfortunately, working in the White House makes us an easy target for that hate.”</div> <bR> <div> “But what about Donna?” Charlie asked desperately.</div> <bR> <div> “We’re going to have to find a way to beat them at their own game,” Josh said determinedly. “And when we get Donna back, she’s going to need all of us to be here for her. All of us, Charlie. And we will, because that’s what families do.”</div> <bR> <div> “I guess you’re right,” Charlie said, meeting Josh’s eyes for the first time since he entered the Sculpture Garden.</div> <bR> <div> “I know I’m right,” Josh said. “Now we need to get down to the business of getting Donna back.”</div> <bR> <div> “Lets go,” Charlie said.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Josh rubbed his eyes and looked at his watch. 4:00 AM. It had been 10 hours since they received the kidnappers demands. There were only 62 hours to go before the deadline. </div> <bR> <div> Two and a half days.</div> <bR> <div> He picked up the list of demands and looked at it again. The money was doable. There were a lot of people that owed him a favor, and he would call in each and every one to get the five million dollar ransom.</div> <bR> <div> The other demands were more problematic. Releasing violent prisoners wasn’t an option. Maybe they could negotiate that one, or maybe there was a way to fool WVWP into believing they had been released.</div> <bR> <div> Immunity for any charges stemming from either Rosslyn or the kidnapping would be difficult to arrange, but it was a tradeoff Josh was more than willing to make. As much as he wanted to see these men punished for what they had done to him, and what they were doing to Donna, he was willing to give that up to ensure her safety.</div> <bR> <div> These idiots were not the type to stay out of trouble for long. Even if they received immunity for these two crimes, they would surely commit others. And Josh would dedicate his life to making sure they were punished.</div> <bR> <div> But first he had to get Donna back safely. Because he wasn’t sure what kind of life he would have without her. He had been so stupid, pushing down his feelings for Donna, denying that he loved her, believing that he had plenty of time.</div> <bR> <div> He should have learned his lesson at Rosslyn. He should have learned that life is precious, and can be taken away in the blink of an eye. Time is something that none of us are guaranteed. He made up his mind then and there that he was going to talk to Donna as soon as she got back. He wasn’t going to waste another minute. All he had to do was figure out a way to get her home.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Donna lay on a hard wooden floor, trying to gather her thoughts. Her captors had finally ceased their relentless questioning for the night, leaving Donna alone for the first time in hours.</div> <bR> <div> She tried to ignore the pain throbbing throughout her entire body, as her thoughts drifted back to the White House…and Josh. She knew that the mention of WVWP was going to bring all the memories of Rosslyn flooding back. She sent up a prayer that everyone would keep an eye on him, would make sure that he was taking care of himself. She knew she could count on Margaret, she just hoped that the others would be there to help Josh too. </div> <bR> <div> They had been through so much in the last few months, and they had all dealt with things in their own way. Donna hoped that they would pull together now and share the things they had learned. </div> <div>  </div> <div> She knew that they would be doing everything they possibly could to get her back, and she made up her mind to stay strong, to make it through whatever might happen to her and get back home as soon as possible.</div> <bR> <div> Because as soon as she got home, she was going to talk to Josh. She was going to tell him what she had learned while she was sitting in the waiting room during his surgery. During those hours, praying for his survival, she had finally admitted to herself that she was in love with him.</div> <bR> <div> She hadn’t told him about her feelings during his recovery because she didn’t want to add any more stress to his life. He was dealing with so many things, she didn’t think that he needed to deal with her emotions on top of everything else. She told herself that she had time. She should have learned her lesson at Rosslyn. Time is something that none of us are guaranteed.</div> <bR> <div> So she made a decision. Even if he didn’t feel the same way, she was going to tell him that she loved him. He deserved to know.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> “It’s noon,” Leo said, “We have 54 hours left. It’s time to make a move. We need to do something to try to find out where they’re holding Donna.”</div> <bR> <div> “So we send them a message,” Josh said impatiently, “We demand proof that Donna is ok. We shouldn’t be willing to give in to any of their demands until we know Donna is ok.”</div> <bR> <div> “I agree,” Toby said. “We force them to give us proof. Every contact we have with them is another chance to catch a break. They might slip up and give us a clue.”</div> <bR> <div> “How do we get a message to them?” CJ asked.</div> <bR> <div> “I’ll do it,” Kara Wilson said from her seat on the couch in Leo’s office. “I’ll go on the air and send them a message.”</div> <bR> <div> “Are you sure?” Sam asked. </div> <bR> <div> “Look,” Kara said defensively, “I know you all think that this is just a story to me, just a chance to get famous. But after watching all of you for the last eighteen hours, I’ve come to realize that Donna Moss must be someone very special. She doesn’t deserve to be used as a pawn by these animals. I’ll do whatever I can to help get her back.”</div> <bR> <div> “Thank you,” Josh said sincerely.</div> <bR> <div> “Not a problem,” Kara said as she gathered up her things and moved towards the door to prepare for her broadcast.</div> <bR> <div> “Maybe I was wrong about you,” Toby said as he stepped over and opened the door for her.</div> <bR> <div> “You were,” she said as she started down the hall.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Sam, Toby, CJ, Leo and Josh sat in the Chief of Staff’s office waiting nervously for word. Zoey and Charlie huddled together on the couch near exhaustion. It had been over two hours since Kara Wilson had gone on national TV and asked WVWP to provide some proof that Donna was still alive. So far there was no word.</div> <bR> <div> Margaret knocked lightly. “Joey and Kenny are here,” she said.</div> <bR> <div> “Send them in,” Leo said distractedly.</div> <bR> <div> Joey was carrying several sheets of computer printout as she entered the office with Kenny following closely behind. She handed the papers to Toby and began to sign.</div> <bR> <div> “We have the preliminary results from the first poll,” Kenny said as he watched her hands.</div> <bR> <div> “And?” CJ asked.</div> <bR> <div> “You…and by that I mean the White House, definitely have the sympathy of the American people. 87% of them feel that something definitely needs to be done about these hate groups. 75% of them believe that your dealings with WVWP WILL be influenced by your past history with them, but they think that that is understandable.”</div> <bR> <div> “That sounds good,” Sam said hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> “Yes, that’s the good news,” Kenny said as Joey’s hands continued to sign furiously. “The problem comes in when we talk about specific remedies. There is almost unanimous agreement that no prisoners should be released.”</div> <bR> <div> “We expected that,” Leo said.</div> <bR> <div> “80% of the people polled would also be strongly opposed to giving the WVWP members immunity.” Kenny interpreted.</div> <bR> <div> “Well, that’s not their call,” Josh snapped as he pounded his fist on Leo’s desk. “I’m not going to lose Donna over that. We’ll do what we have to do.”</div> <bR> <div> “I’m just saying…” Joey said in her own voice.</div> <bR> <div> “I know what you’re saying,” Josh said as he wheeled around to face her. “And I understand that you’re only doing what you were brought here to do. But this is NOT a political problem.”</div> <bR> <div> “I know that,” Joey signed, “I’m just trying to help you understand…”</div> <bR> <div> “I understand perfectly,” Josh said, interrupting Kenny as he was giving words to Joey’s signs. </div> <bR> <div> “OK, back up you two,” Leo said, stepping in between them. “It isn’t going to do any good for us to start fighting each other.”</div> <bR> <div> As Josh and Joey retreated to their separate corners, Kara Wilson charged through the door.</div> <bR> <div> “We got a response,” she said breathlessly, holding up a cassette tape.</div> <bR> <div> “What did they say?” Josh asked urgently.</div> <bR> <div> “I haven’t listened to it yet,” Kara said. “I headed over here as soon as I got it.”</div> <bR> <div> “How was it delivered?” Toby asked.</div> <bR> <div> “By courier,” Kara answered. “He’s being questioned by the FBI now.”</div> <bR> <div> “Good,” Leo said as he took the tape and popped it into the tape deck. He pressed the play button and the room went silent as they waited.</div> <bR> <div> “Your friends want proof that you’re alive,” a male voice growled. “Give it to them.”</div> <bR> <div> There were a few soft sobs and then Donna’s voice came through the speakers. She was speaking softly, and obviously trying to hold back tears, but it was definitely her.</div> <bR> <div> “Hi,” she said. “I’m ok. Please don’t worry about me. Please take care of yourselves.”</div> <bR> <div> Donna wanted desperately to send some sort of personal message to Josh, but she was afraid that if she let her captors know that she had special feelings for him, she might put both of them in danger.</div> <bR> <div> “They said that I should tell you that if you give them what they want, I’ll be released,” Donna continued.</div> <bR> <div> On the one hand, Josh was relieved to hear Donna’s voice, but on the other hand, the fear he heard in her words tore his heart to pieces.</div> <bR> <div> “That’s enough,” the male voice said gruffly. Then after a few seconds he spoke again. “There’s the proof you wanted. Now you have until 6:00 PM Friday to meet our demands.” Suddenly the man’s voice took on an evil sneer as he said, “And here’s a little preview of what will happen if you don’t.”</div> <bR> <div> “No!” Josh yelled as the sound of Donna’s scream filled the air. Then the tape clicked off. No one in the room moved, or even breathed, as they tried to deal with what they had just heard.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Sam was the first to move, reaching over to grasp Josh’s left shoulder. But Josh shook him off and spun away from the tape recorder.</div> <bR> <div> “Josh,” Sam began, his blue eyes filled with worry.</div> <bR> <div> Josh didn’t hear Sam. It took all of his energy just to remember to breathe. In...out...in...out. Every thought was pain. They came in flashes; either he was lying on the concrete outside of the Newseum, or he was hearing Donna’s scream, or her terrified voice.</div> <bR> <div> CJ reached toward her friend, calling his name, but Josh didn’t hear her either.</div> <bR> <div> To Josh it was like he was suddenly deaf, blind and mute...and he was falling fast down an empty elevator shaft with no hope of being caught.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josiah Bartlet stared out the window of his bedroom, trying to absorb what his old friend had told him only moments before.</div> <bR> <div> “She’s dead isn’t she?” Jed asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.</div> <bR> <div> Leo shook his head. “It’s not in their interest to kill her. The tape was a scare tactic.”</div> <bR> <div> Jed whirled around. “Well it worked, didn’t it? They’ve got us right where they want us...again! Dammit, Leo, how in the hell did they gain control over us again?”</div> <bR> <div> “They don’t have control,” Leo replied grimly. “We still have Joey’s plan.”</div> <bR> <div> “And less than forty eight hours to pull that off,” Jed said with a shake of his head as he moved to sit down on the corner of the bed. “It’s not going to work, Leo. We have to come up with something else.”</div> <bR> <div> “There’s no other way, Jed,” Leo replied just as Abbey entered the room. “We’ve looked over their demands twenty thousand times and there’s just no place for us to give an inch.”</div> <bR> <div> Jed nodded wearily as he turned and met his wife’s gaze. “How’s Josh?” he asked.</div> <bR> <div> Abbey took as seat beside her husband on the bed. “I gave him a sedative. He’s resting in one of the guest rooms. His blood pressure’s elevated...and despite Margaret’s best efforts he hasn’t been eating. I was tempted to start an IV line, but I'll make sure he eats something when he wakes up.”</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> CJ found Sam, at quarter to four, pacing one of the hallways of the Residence. It wasn’t the hall outside Josh’s room, but it was close enough that Sam would be within earshot if Josh needed anything.</div> <bR> <div> Sam met CJ’s gaze as she approached, but he didn’t stop pacing. Sam was afraid that if he stopped pacing, he would hit or break something. And on his paycheck he couldn’t afford to replace anything in this hallway. Not that money mattered at this point. All that mattered was getting Donna back safely, and he had no way of doing that. And since he had no way of doing that, Sam had no way of helping his best friend.</div> <bR> <div> “Any news?” Sam asked just to break the silence.</div> <bR> <div> CJ shook her head sadly. “No...God, Sam why is this happening to us? Wasn’t Rosslyn enough? Wasn’t nearly losing Josh enough?”</div> <bR> <div> Sam stopped pacing and quickly drew CJ into an embrace as her voice broke on the last word.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> The room was dark when Josh woke up. He glanced at the clock on the bedside table. 8:06 PM. He sat bolt upright. He couldn't believe that he had slept for five hours. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head, trying to clear out the remnants of Dr. Bartlet's sedative. He stood up on wobbly legs and moved towards the door.</div> <bR> <div> As he started down the hall, he heard voices coming from the sitting room in the Residence. As he entered, he saw the President and the First Lady sitting on a couch surrounded by Leo, Toby, Sam, CJ, Zoey and Charlie. Joey and Kenny were standing quietly in the back of the room observing.</div> <bR> <div> As Josh entered, Abbey stood up and crossed the room to stand next to him.</div> <bR> <div> "How are you feeling?" she asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine, Ma'am. I didn't expect to sleep for that long though," he answered.</div> <bR> <div> "You needed it, Josh. It won't do anyone any good for you to run yourself into the ground," the First Lady scolded.</div> <bR> <div> "Has there been anything new?" Josh asked hopefully, glancing at the faces at the other members of the staff.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Toby answered solemnly. "There hasn’t been any word since the tape."</div> <bR> <div> "So what are we doing?" Josh snapped. "We have to do something."</div> <bR> <div> "There's nothing we can do…but wait," Leo said solemnly.</div> <bR> <div> "There has to be something we can do," Josh implored. "Time is running short."</div> <bR> <div> Everyone in the room knew that Josh was right; they were running out of time. They had examined the kidnapper's demands from every possible angle. There was just no wiggle room. </div> <bR> <div> There was no way to give WVWP what they wanted without leaving the administration open not only to criticism, but to the danger of further kidnappings. If they gave in and released the prisoners, every White House employee would become a potential target for any psycho who wanted someone released from prison. It was just too great a risk.</div> <bR> <div> The anxiety level in the room soared as each person dealt with their own feelings of helplessness.</div> <bR> <div> "I want you to eat something, Josh," Abbey insisted, breaking through the silence that permeated the room.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not hungry, Ma'am," Josh grumbled as he dropped into an overstuffed chair.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh, you have two choices," the First Lady said in a no-nonsense tone, "either I can call down to the kitchen and have them fix a meal which you WILL eat, or I can hook you up to an IV. Now which is it?"</div> <bR> <div> "Fine, I'll eat," Josh mumbled.</div> <bR> <div> "Good," Abbey said.</div> <bR> <div> "Kara Wilson has put an offer on the table," CJ said, addressing Josh, trying to give him some hope. "She is trying to draw them out by promising them a chance at unlimited publicity. So far, no luck."</div> <bR> <div> Josh scrubbed his face with his hand and let out a loud sigh.</div> <bR> <div> "They are playing this very close to the vest," Toby said. "Under normal circumstances, they would jump at the chance to spew their hatred across the airwaves."</div> <bR> <div> "So what's different now?" Josh snapped.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure," Toby answered, "but we're going to keep trying."</div> <bR> <div> "Maybe they're trying to formulate exactly what they want to say," CJ said, trying to remain upbeat. "There's still hope they could decide to do the interview. Plus, as long as we keep this story in the media, there's a chance someone will come forward with information."</div> <bR> <div> Josh opened his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. He closed his mouth and dropped his head to his hands. The other staff members looked at each other helplessly as a feeling of dread enveloped the room.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Donna lay awake on the cold floor of the room where she had been kept since her kidnapping. Her hands and feet were bound. Her head was throbbing. Her stomach ached from the fist-sized bruise that she had received when one of her captors decided to make her scream for the benefit of those who would be listening to the tape at the White House.</div> <bR> <div> The men who were holding her had repeatedly assured her that she would not be hurt any further if she would simply give them the information they wanted. They wanted personal information about Charlie, Toby, and Josh. Information about their families and friends, their schedules, their activities etc…</div> <bR> <div> There was absolutely no way Donna could ever give them what they wanted; she would die first. She knew that her captors wanted to use the information to hurt not only Toby, Charlie and Josh, but also their families and loved ones. Donna was determined to do anything she possibly could to make sure that didn't happen. Even if it cost her her own life.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> It was almost midnight when CJ tapped on the door of Toby's office.</div> <bR> <div> "Come in," Toby called.</div> <bR> <div> CJ opened the door and saw Toby sitting at his desk while Sam was sprawled on his couch.</div> <bR> <div> "Have we heard anything?" Sam asked, looking up at her.</div> <bR> <div> "No," CJ answered dejectedly. "I'm sending out for sandwiches and I wondered if you guys had eaten yet."</div> <bR> <div> "I haven't," Toby said.</div> <bR> <div> "Me either," Sam chimed in.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," CJ said. "I'll order you something."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Toby said. "Where's Josh?"</div> <bR> <div> "He's in the Rose Garden. He wanted to be alone for awhile," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "Just let him be," Sam said. "He has a lot to work through right now. Let's leave him alone for a while, then I'll go out and talk to him."</div> <bR> <div> "We need to keep an eye on him," Toby said, the concern clearly evident in his voice. "This situation is a nightmare for all of us, but it's worse for Josh. We need to give him as much help as possible. We can't let him backslide."</div> <bR> <div> "I just don't know what he'll do if Donna doesn’t come back," CJ said, choking back tears.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't say that," Sam demanded. "Don't even think that. We have to get her back."</div> <bR> <div> "But we have to consider all the possibilities…" CJ began.</div> <bR> <div> "No! We don't," Sam said. "Not yet. Right now we just need to concentrate all of our energy on getting her back. And we need to keep a positive attitude."</div> <bR> <div> "CJ is only trying to…." Toby interjected.</div> <bR> <div> "I know what she's trying to do," Sam interrupted. "I'm just not ready to think about that yet. So lets roll up our sleeves and get back to work finding a way to get Donna back. Then all of the other possibilities won't matter."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," CJ said, "I'll go order the sandwiches."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Sam and Toby said in unison.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> By the time the senior staff assembled in Leo's office at 10:00 AM Thursday morning, the frustration they were all feeling was beginning to show. Tempers were beginning to grow short.</div> <bR> <div> This is ridiculous," Josh railed. "I can't stand just sitting around here doing nothing. These animals are holding Donna. God knows what they've already done to her. I can't just sit here any longer doing nothing."</div> <bR> <div> "Do you think the rest of us like this?" Leo snapped. "Don't you think we all want Donna back. Our hands are tied. There is no way we can give in to their demands."</div> <bR> <div> "Why not?" Josh said, pounding his fist on the desk.</div> <bR> <div> "I know you're upset right now, Josh," Toby said sternly, "But you know full well why we can't give in to them. We can't release prisoners. We can't give them immunity. We don't have the power to get them on every ballot in the country."</div> <bR> <div> "So we're just writing Donna off. Is that it?" Josh thundered.</div> <bR> <div> "No, Josh," CJ said calmly, trying desperately to lessen the tension in the room. "We just have to find another way to get her back."</div> <bR> <div> "We have to get her back, CJ," Josh choked out.</div> <bR> <div> "We're doing everything we can," Sam said reassuringly.</div> <bR> <div> "They just don't seem to be taking the bait for the publicity," Kara Wilson chimed in. "I was so sure they would jump at the chance to get their message out."</div> <bR> <div> "I was too," Leo said. "They're playing a cat and mouse game. Trying to force us to make the next move."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not going to stop trying," Kara assured Josh. "I'll send another message. I'll do whatever I can to bring them out in the open."</div> <bR> <div> "I appreciate that," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm heading back to the station. I'll let you know if I hear anything."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh said quietly.</div> <bR> <div> As the meeting broke up and the staff members headed back to their own offices, Joey and Kenny caught up with Toby.</div> <bR> <div> "What can I do for you?" Toby asked as Kenny signed.</div> <bR> <div> "It's time for us to go," Kenny said as he watched Joey's hands move quickly. "There's nothing else for us to do here."</div> <bR> <div> "Look, Joey," Toby said, "I know it's been tough for you here. It's not easy being the one who has to think about the political angles on this thing…."</div> <bR> <div> Joey shook her head decisively as she began signing again. "It's not that," Kenny said, giving words to Joey's signs. "I've given you the numbers. They aren’t going to change. This is a terrible situation, and I don't envy you having to make the decisions you're going to have to make."</div> <bR> <div> "So what are you saying?" Toby asked, his voice dropping to just above a whisper.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm saying," Joey signed, "that the American people understand your desire to get Donna back. They don't even mind if you give a little to achieve that. They could understand, and even forgive, your negotiating with terrorists. But the release of convicted felons, and immunity for the attempted assassination of a President, they just won't tolerate that. They'll accept, and even applaud, you going to extreme measures to get Donna back, but they draw the line at letting the criminals make up their own rules. I'm sorry. I wish I could have found a way to help."</div> <bR> <div> "It's ok," Toby said. "I appreciate your input."</div> <bR> <div> "We're catching a flight out in a few hours. Call me if there is anything else I can do."</div> <bR> <div> "I will," Toby said, reaching out and shaking hands with first Joey, then Kenny.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll keep my fingers crossed," Joey said in her own voice.</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Toby smiled. "We'll need it." </div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Josh spent the day trying, but failing, to focus on work. No matter what he attempted, he couldn't keep his mind from wandering back to Donna. He prayed that she was ok, but he couldn't get the sound of her scream out of his mind. Even the comforting words of his friends and co-workers couldn't help.</div> <bR> <div> There still hadn't been any further communication with the kidnappers. Any hope for negotiations was fading quickly. Josh knew realistically that even if they found a way to give WVWP what they wanted, that would in no way guarantee Donna's safety.</div> <bR> <div> He kept the TV tuned to CNN all day and watched each of Kara Wilson's reports with interest. He had to hand it to her-she was doing and saying everything she could think of to elicit some kind of response from WVWP.</div> <bR> <div> In her reports she appealed to their pride, the vanity, their ideology, and their hatred. She tried to tempt them, to dare them, to cajole them, and to bait them. Nothing she did seemed to get any response. </div> <bR> <div> Stanley called twice during the day to check on him and see how he was holding up. Josh assured him that he was not having another PTSD episode, but that he was suffering almost unbearable fear for Donna's safety and her health.</div> <bR> <div> Just at the moment Josh felt like he was going to suffocate from his own feelings of helplessness, Toby charged into his office.</div> <bR> <div> "Kara called," he said somewhat breathlessly, "She has something new."</div> <bR> <div> "What is it?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure. She said that she would explain it once she gets here. She has a few things to check out, but she'll be here as soon as she can."</div> <bR> <div> "I hope she hurries," Josh said, glancing at his watch.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <bR> <div> It was 8:00 PM when Kara Wilson finally arrived in the west wing. She was accompanied by a tall, gangly man who looked to be in his early fifties. They entered Leo's office to find the members of the senior staff waiting for them.</div> <bR> <div> Kara sensed the feelings of urgency in the room and quickly introduced the man with her as Tom Fredericks.</div> <bR> <div> "What have you got?" Josh asked impatiently. "We're running out of time."</div> <bR> <div> "Tom has some very interesting news," Kara said. "I'll let him explain it to you."</div> <bR> <div> "Do you know something about Donna, Mr. Fredericks?" Josh asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <div> "I may," Tom answered.</div> <bR> <div> "You may?" Toby queried.</div> <bR> <div> "I work with a group called The Center For American Justice. We have been tracking some of the more virulent hate groups in the country. We have been trying to infiltrate them, and then use the information we get to destroy them," Tom explained.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you saying you have people inside West Virginia White Pride?" Leo asked incredulously.</div> <bR> <div> "On the periphery," Tom answered. "We began trying to get inside their organization after the assassination attempt. We have been moving slowly so as not to arouse any suspicions. As soon as we heard about the kidnapping, we knew we had to turn up the heat. We couldn't let them perpetrate another atrocity of this magnitude. Our people began making an attempt to move in closer. They are trying to get as much information as they possibly can."</div> <bR> <div> "Do they know where Donna is?" Josh asked, his hopes soaring.</div> <bR> <div> "They made contact with me a few hours ago," Tom said. "They feel that there is a possibility they have a way in. They are going to let me know as soon as possible."</div> <bR> <div> "Do they realize that we are running out of time?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "They are aware of the clock," Tom assured him. "They need to be very careful. If they give themselves away, it won't help anyone."</div> <bR> <div> "You're right," Josh said. </div> <bR> <div> "They'll get in touch with me as soon as they know anything," Tom repeated.</div> <bR> <div> "These men, are they…well I was just wondering…you know…" Josh sputtered.</div> <bR> <div> "They are very reliable," Tom said resolutely. "If there is any way at all that they can help your friend, they will."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Josh said, finally able to feel a glimmer of hope.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> At 10:00 PM, the First Lady found Josh sitting in the Rose Garden, staring off into space.</div> <bR> <div> "How are you holding up, Josh?" she asked softly as she sat down beside him.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know, Ma'am," Josh answered honestly. "I'm trying to stay positive, but it's getting harder with every passing hour. I just wish Fredericks' men would call so we would have a better idea of what's going on."</div> <bR> <div> Abbey studied Josh's face as a myriad of emotions ran across it.</div> <bR> <div> "You love her, don't you?" Abbey asked pointedly.</div> <bR> <div> Josh looked at the First Lady with amazement. "What do you mean?" he sputtered.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not blind," Abbey said with a soft smile. "I was there at the hospital during your surgery. And afterwards, I saw how you flourished under her care."</div> <bR> <div> Josh smiled softly. Abbey Bartlet was a very perceptive woman. There was no use in trying to pull the wool over her eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "I think I do," Josh admitted. Suddenly his face dropped. "I should have told her. I shouldn’t have been such a coward. She's out there, alone and scared. If I had told her, it might have been something for her to hold on to."</div> <bR> <div> "You had no way of knowing this was going to happen," Abbey said soothingly.</div> <bR> <div> "I should have learned my lesson after Rosslyn. I should have learned how important it is to say things today, because we have no idea what will happen tomorrow."</div> <bR> <div> "Then as soon as Donna gets back, you'll tell her how you feel."</div> <bR> <div> "You really believe we're going to get her back?" Josh asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, I do," Abbey said confidently. "Now tomorrow is going to be a big day. I want you to get some rest. You can either do it voluntarily or I can…"</div> <bR> <div> "I know. I know," Josh said lightly. "You're big on those threats aren’t you?"</div> <bR> <div> "I find them very effective when I'm dealing with stubborn patients," Abbey smiled. "Lets go."</div> <bR> <div> As they walked back towards the Residence, Abbey slipped her arm through Josh's.</div> <bR> <div> "She feels the same way about you," she said quietly.</div> <bR> <div> "I hope you're right," Josh sighed.</div> <bR> <div> "Aren't I always," Abbey said with a smile.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> At 8:00AM, Tom Fredericks called and said that he had heard from his men. Josh paced frantically in Leo's office awaiting his arrival. By the time he finally came through the door, Josh was ready to jump out of his skin.</div> <bR> <div> "We have contact," Tom said without preamble. "Our men are in."</div> <bR> <div> "Have they seen Donna?" Josh asked desperately.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Tom answered. "Only for a quick moment, but they have seen her."</div> <bR> <div> "Is she ok?" Josh asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <div> "They didn't have a lot of details. But she is alive."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank God," Josh said. After a moment of relief at the realization that she was alive, his mind went into overdrive. "What's the next move? How are they going to get her out?"</div> <bR> <div> "They're working on that right now. They need to get a feel for the situation. But they are there, and that's the most important part. They will do anything and everything they can to save her. They will contact us as soon as possible."</div> <bR> <div> "Did they give you any details? Where they are holding her? What they are planning?"</div> <bR> <div> "No. Apparently they were taken to the location in the back of a box truck. They aren't sure exactly where they are. But they said that there are probably only 10 other men there, so they are hoping that, with the element of surprise on their side, the two of them can affect a rescue."</div> <bR> <div> "How will we know?" Josh asked. "How are they going to contact us?"</div> <bR> <div> "I was able to give them the number to Mr. McGarry's office. They'll call here as soon as they know anything."</div> <bR> <div> Josh exhaled loudly. There was nothing to do now but wait. And waiting was something he wasn't very good at.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Kara Wilson continued her reports as normal throughout the day. They didn't want to do anything that might give any indication that anything had changed. The two men on the inside were their best hope, probably their only hope at this point, to get Donna out safely.</div> <bR> <div> By 4:00 PM, everyone had given up any pretense of working and had gathered in Leo's office waiting for news. In addition to all the members of the senior staff, there was Zoey, Charlie, Kara Wilson (who was broadcasting hourly reports from the White House lawn), and Tom Fredericks.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh God, why don't they call?" Josh asked as he paced the room frantically.</div> <bR> <div> "They will," CJ said encouragingly.</div> <bR> <div> "I wish I could be as sure as you sound," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "These are two of my best men," Tom said confidently. "If it was a member of my own family in there, these are the men I would want in charge of rescuing her."</div> <bR> <div> Josh saw the sincerity in Tom's eyes and it helped to calm down the tiniest bit. He was sure that Tom's men were very good, he just wished that he could be there himself.</div> <bR> <div> He found some solace, however, in the fact that Donna wasn't alone. He just hoped that Tom's men found a way to let her know that they were there to help her. Josh knew that she must be terrified, and knowing that they were there might help to comfort her in some small way.</div> <bR> <div> With less than two hours left before the deadline, Josh's stomach was tied in knots. There was a palpable feeling of fear settling over the room. </div> <bR> <div> All they could do now was wait.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Jack Sinclair looked around the small house where WVWP was keeping Donna, trying to assess the situation as quickly as possible. He and his partner, Chuck Simmons, had worked together for several years infiltrating and exposing various hate groups.</div> <bR> <div> They had spent the last several months trying to ascend the ranks of West Virginia White Pride. This was a group they wanted to destroy. They weren’t content with taking out just the low level foot soldiers; they wanted the men in charge. The men who had planned and ordered the assassination attempt on the President that had done so much damage to the national psyche.</div> <bR> <div> But before the people from The Center For American Justice could carry out their plans, WVWP had struck against the Bartlet administration again. This time they had kidnapped a helpless young woman and were threatening to execute her if their impossible demands weren't met.</div> <bR> <div> As soon as he heard about the latest event, Jack knew he had to accelerate his plans. Suddenly, saving this young woman's life became his most important mission. He just wished that he had more time to come up with a plan. The members of WVWP, especially their leader, a young man who called himself Patriot, seemed determined to stick with the 6:00 PM deadline.</div> <bR> <div> Jack realized that this was simply a case of bloodlust. WVWP knew there was absolutely no way that their demands would ever be met. Jack believed that it was all a ruse, an excuse to kill someone from the White House in retaliation for the members who had been killed in Rosslyn. Patriot really wasn't looking for a reason to save Donna's life, he obviously wanted her dead. And from what he could see, Jack ascertained that he wanted to do it in a very grisly way.</div> <bR> <div> There was a large tree in the front yard of the cabin, and two members of WVWP were stringing up a noose. Jack's blood ran cold. His hatred for this group grew tenfold, as did his determination to save Donna.  </div> <bR> <div> As he started across the yard, his partner Chuck approached him. </div> <bR> <div> "What's the plan?" Chuck asked.</div> <bR> <div> "We're going to have to go with the old reliable stuff," Jack answered, "And hope it works one more time."</div> <bR> <div> "How do you want to handle this?" Chuck asked.</div> <bR> <div> "You take care of the vehicles," Jack answered. "Completely disable all of them but one. Make sure you have the keys to that one in your pocket. I'll try to do something about that," he said, indicating the noose.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Chuck answered. "Let's do it."</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> At ten minutes of six, the kidnappers dragged Donna out into the front yard. He eyes were huge and filled with absolute horror. She was shaking and her knees looked as though they could barely hold her up.</div> <bR> <div> Patriot unceremoniously dragged her roughly up the ladder and draped the noose around her neck. Donna was sobbing loudly and her entire body began shaking even more. Jack shared a quick glance with Chuck, then sent up a quick prayer that their hastily designed plan was going to work.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll tell you this one more time, Ms. Moss. You can save yourself. It's totally up to you. All you need to do is tell me what I want to know," Patriot hissed.</div> <bR> <div> "Go to Hell," Donna sobbed.</div> <bR> <div> "You don't sound very much like a person who wants to save her own life," Patriot sneered as he grabbed her hair and pulled hard.</div> <bR> <div> "I won't tell you," Donna said defiantly. "I won't help you hurt people I care about."</div> <bR> <div> "It's your choice," Patriot said. "I'm giving you one more chance."</div> <bR> <div> "I'd rather die than betray my friends," Donna said.</div> <bR> <div> "Have it your way," Patriot said as he stepped backward and, with lightning speed, pulled the ladder out from under Donna. Her body dropped downward and jerked as the noose pulled tight.</div> <bR> <div> Jack's heart stopped as he watched the scene unfold in front of him. 'Please, God,' he prayed silently, hoping his sabotage job worked. In an instant his prayers were answered as the rope broke and Donna fell to the ground.</div> <bR> <div> That was their cue. Both men pulled smoke bombs from their pockets and detonated them. In addition, Chuck lit and set off several noisy fireworks. As chaos ensued, Jack Sinclair moved forward, picked Donna up and moved towards the one car that had not been disabled. </div> <bR> <div> Chuck Simmons was already there. He had started the engine and was holding the rear door open. As he rushed across the courtyard, Jack loosened the rope around Donna's neck. When he reached the car, he shoved her into the back seat and jumped in behind her.</div> <bR> <div> Chuck slammed the door, then jumped into the front seat, put the car in gear, and peeled out. The WVWP members recovered quickly and headed for the other vehicles. When they realized that they had been rendered inoperable, they began shooting at the escaping car.</div> <bR> <div> Chuck Simmons never looked back, but rather drove as quickly as possible out of the compound. Since he didn't know where he was, he had no idea what direction he should drive in. He wanted to put as much distance as possible between the car they were in and the compound where the WVWP members were holed up. He was afraid that Patriot would make a call and get other local members on their trail.</div> <bR> <div> While Chuck concentrated on driving, Jack Sinclair pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number he had committed to memory when he talked to Tom Fredericks earlier.</div> <div> When the phone on Leo's desk rang, everyone in the room jumped. Leo punched the button and hit speakerphone at the same time.</div> <bR> <div> "Leo McGarry," he said gruffly.</div> <bR> <div> "Mr. McGarry, it's Jack Sinclair."</div> <bR> <div> "What's happening, Jack?" Tom Fredericks asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <div> "We're out," Jack said excitedly. "We're in a car, we're not sure exactly where we are but we are looking for a highway."</div> <bR> <div> "Is Donna with you?" Josh demanded.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, we have her," Jack said.</div> <bR> <div> "Is she ok?" Josh asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <div> Jack brushed back the hair from Donna's face as she lay across his lap. "She's unconscious, but she's alive," he said, not wanting to relay the details of Donna's injuries over the phone.</div> <bR> <div> Suddenly there was an excited whoop from the front seat as Chuck saw a sign for a familiar highway. "I know where we are," he said elatedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Tell us where," Leo said authoritatively, "We'll send out a police escort."</div> <bR> <div> "We're about 20 minutes outside of Baltimore," Chuck yelled as Jack held out the phone so they could hear him.</div> <bR> <div> Chuck reached behind him, grabbed the phone, and began relaying their exact position to the people in Leo's office. Toby picked up the other phone and gave their location to the police, who immediately dispatched cars to intercept them.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm heading straight for Baltimore Regional Hospital. I'll be there in about 25 minutes," Chuck said.</div> <bR> <div> Almost before the sentence was out of his mouth, Josh was headed for the door, most of the rest of the senior staff following closely behind with Zoey, Charlie, Kara Wilson and Tom Fredericks. </div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Josh was the first one through the doors of the ER at Baltimore Regional Hospital. He ran up to the desk and said, "Donna Moss! I need information on her condition."</div> <bR> <div> The nurse looked up, recognizing the faces of the people standing before her from the news. "The doctors are with her now, Mr. Lyman. Please take a seat. They'll be out to talk to you as soon as they have a clearer picture of what is going on."</div> <bR> <div> Josh turned quickly as he heard Tom Fredericks greeting two men in the waiting room. He realized that these must be the men who had saved Donna. They had also seen Donna and would know about her condition.</div> <bR> <div> Not bothering with introductions, Josh said, "How was Donna when you brought her in?"</div> <bR> <div> "Like I told you on the phone, she was unconscious but she was breathing on her own," Jack answered.</div> <bR> <div> "What happened to her? How was she injured?" Josh demanded.</div> <bR> <div> Jack swallowed hard and said, "Why don't we sit down."</div> <bR> <div> "What happened?" Josh asked warily, as he allowed himself to be led to a chair in the waiting room. CJ sat down beside him and grabbed his hand tightly. Sam and Toby stood behind them next to Charlie who had his arms wrapped tightly around Zoey, who was shaking. Kara Wilson stood back. This may have started out as just a great story for her but she had come to care deeply about these people over the last three days. Suddenly, getting a story was the farthest thing from her mind.</div> <bR> <div> Tom Fredericks sat down beside his two colleagues as Jack began to speak.</div> <bR> <div> "Apparently they had been using force to try to get the information they wanted," he said, choosing his words carefully. "As the deadline approached, they brought Donna outside to the front yard where…" Jack hesitated,"…where they had thrown a noose over a tree."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh God," Josh said as CJ gasped loudly. Everyone in the room steeled themselves for the information that was forthcoming.</div> <bR> <div> "I had a gotten a chance to get close to the noose about 15 minutes earlier so I cut the rope as best I could. Anyway, they brought Donna out, forced her up a ladder, and placed the noose around her neck."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh God," Josh said again.</div> <bR> <div> "Once that was done, Patriot told her again that she could save herself by giving him the information he wanted," Jack continued.</div> <bR> <div> "What information?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Apparently, Patriot wanted personal information on some of Donna's fellow White House employees. He told her that he would let her live if she would give him what he wanted."</div> <bR> <div> "What kind of information?" Josh asked. "What fellow employees?"</div> <bR> <div> "He wanted personal information. The names and addresses of family members and close friends. Regular hangouts. Places they frequent. That kind of thing," Jack said, deliberately ignoring the second half of the question. He didn't think that any of the people involved needed the added stress of hearing that detail right now.</div> <bR> <div> "Who?" Toby asked, a look of recognition dawning in his eyes. "Who did they want the information on?"</div> <bR> <div> Jack dropped his eyes to the floor and took a deep breath. Then he looked up and said, "You, Mr. Ziegler. Also Mr. Lyman and Mr. Young. But Ms. Moss told him that she would rather die than give them anything they could use to hurt you or someone you loved."</div> <bR> <div> Everyone in the room was stunned. Toby, Charlie and Josh more so than the rest. They could barely comprehend the fact that Donna had been willing to give up her own life to help save theirs.</div> <bR> <div> "What happened next?" CJ asked, when she could finally find the words.</div> <bR> <div> "Patriot got angry and pulled the ladder out from under her. The rope held for maybe 30 seconds then let go. We created as much of a diversion as possible, got Ms. Moss to the car, and got the heck out of there."</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> It was an hour and twenty minutes before two doctors entered the crowded waiting room. One was a woman in her early thirties with short red hair. The other was an Asian man in his late forties. Both were wearing light yellow scrubs.</div> <bR> <div> "How is Donna?" Josh asked anxiously before either of the doctors could speak.</div> <bR> <div> The woman stopped a few feet from the sofa. "I'm Doctor Jacqueline Wyman and this is my colleague Doctor Nathan Chen. I know you're all anxious for news so if you'll please have a seat we can get through this as quickly as possible."</div> <bR> <div> Everyone sat down, all eyes glued to the two doctors.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm afraid Ms. Moss's condition is quite serious," Doctor Wyman continued, acutely aware of who the group was.</div> <bR> <div> Sam leaned forward, blue eyes filled with worry. "How serious? I thought she was only unconscious."</div> <bR> <div> "Ms. Moss is in a coma," Dr. Chen replied quietly as he moved to stand next to Dr. Wyman. "The loss of oxygen and head trauma, combined with the stress of the other injuries, was just more than her body could handle."</div> <bR> <div> "What are her chances?" Leo asked quietly, keeping a watchful eye on Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "We don't give odds on a patient's prognosis," Dr. Wyman replied, wishing she had better news to tell them.</div> <bR> <div> "Give them to us anyway," Toby snapped, gaining a warning glare from Leo.</div> <bR> <div> "The next twenty four hours are critical," Dr. Wyman replied. </div> <bR> <div> "If she doesn't improve in the next twenty four hours?" CJ prompted, tightening her hold on Josh's hand. She hated asking such a pessimistic question, but they had to know what they were facing.</div> <bR> <div> "Her odds of survival diminish to under fifty percent," Dr. Chen replied, meeting the press secretary's gaze.</div> <bR> <div> Josh leapt to his feet eyes blazing with unshed tears. "Donnatella is a fighter! No one is giving up on her.....not any of you!"</div> <bR> <div> Before anybody could reply, Josh turned and ran from the room.</div> <bR> <div> Sam immediately stood to go after his best friend but CJ shook her head, "I'll talk to him, Sam."</div> <bR> <div> Sam looked like he wanted to protest but sat back down. CJ stood and quickly left the room.</div> <bR> <div> Leo approached the doctors and shook their hands. "Thank you for taking good care of Donna. She means a lot to us."</div> <bR> <div> Dr. Wyman smiled as she looked at the group. "We can see that, Mr. McGarry. I'll add your names to her contact list."</div> <bR> <div> Leo nodded. "I'm going to call the President and update him."</div> <bR> <div> Toby stood and walked over to Leo. "I'll head back to the office."</div> <bR> <div> Leo shook his head, "Stay. Josh is going to need all of his friends tonight."</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> CJ stopped in front of Donna's room and was surprised not to see Josh sitting by her bedside. She quietly stepped into the room and paused at the foot of Donna's bed. CJ was shocked to see how pale Donna's face was. The bruises were a stark contrast to the younger woman's pale skin and a clear indication of the beatings she had endured.</div> <bR> <div> CJ walked around the bed and gently took Donna's hand in hers. "I'll take care of Josh, Donna," she promised quietly before she turned and left the room.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Josh stood on the roof of the hospital, staring out at the skyline of Baltimore, but not really seeing any of it. All he saw was Donna's battered and bruised form.....the doctor's words ringing endlessly in his ears.....' She's in a coma.....the next twenty four hours are </div> <div> critical.....her condition is serious......'</div> <bR> <div> How could this happen? This was the twenty first century. The human race was supposed to be traveling around in flying cars, have colonies on the moon.....they were supposed to be a united planet.....a united people. Maybe he was a little naïve, but Josh just couldn't </div> <div> wrap his brain around the fact that there were still some people who hated others just </div> <div> because of the color of their skin, their religion, their government. And not just hated.....wanted to kill.</div> <bR> <div> Donna was innocent, and she was fighting for her life just because she worked for a man who happened to be Jewish. Because she worked in the White House.</div> <bR> <div> Josh heard footfalls behind him but he didn't turn. He didn't care if it was a hospital employee sneaking a smoke. All he cared about was Donna and there was nothing he could do to help her....absolutely nothing.</div> <bR> <div> "I almost didn't come up here," CJ commented quietly as she came to stand next to Josh. "I forgot what a beautiful city this is."</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't come up here for the view, Claudia Jean," Josh snapped, not looking at her.</div> <bR> <div> "I know," CJ replied, turning to face her friend. "You should be downstairs."</div> <bR> <div> Josh shook his head as he struggled to swallow the lump of tears that had suddenly formed in his throat. "I can't...."</div> <bR> <div> "Damn it, Joshua, she needs you."</div> <bR> <div> Josh whirled to face her. "She's dying because of me, Claudia Jean! I can't sit there and watch her slip away....knowing that I...."</div> <bR> <div> "Knowing that you what?" CJ snapped. "Please explain to me what is keeping you from being at her side the way she was there for you. Please explain that to me, Joshua, because I must say I don't understand it."</div> <bR> <div> Josh ran his had through his hair as his anger dissipated into sadness. "This is different, CJ. It's my fault she's lying in that bed. She was grabbed because of the fact that she works for me."</div> <bR> <div> "And you were shot because you work for the President. What's the difference?" CJ asked, unable to keep the edge out of her voice.</div> <bR> <div> A look of sudden realization entered Josh's eyes, and CJ softened her voice before she spoke again.</div> <bR> <div> "Neither one of you deserved what happened, but unfortunately that's the way life goes sometimes. It doesn't matter why Donna was targeted; the fact is that she was. And now she's lying there in that bed, and she needs to hear your voice."</div> <bR> <div> "You really believe that?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't just believe it; I know it. She never left your side when you were in the hospital after the shooting. She refused to lose hope. She talked and talked until she was able to reach through and find you, wherever it was that you were. And then she pulled you back. Now you need to do the same for her."</div> <bR> <div> "She could have saved herself all of this pain," Josh said, as he could no longer keep the tears from his eyes. "All she had to do was give them the information they wanted. She is where she is because she was protecting me….protecting all of us---Toby and Charlie too."</div> <bR> <div> "Does that surprise you?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh looked at CJ with a bit of a stunned expression. "Doesn't it surprise you? Have you seen her, CJ? Have you seen the bruises and the cuts? They tortured her!! They tortured her and she still refused to give them the information they wanted."</div> <bR> <div> "Josh," CJ said softly, reaching out and placing her hand on her friend's shoulder, "I have a feeling that Donna would do anything necessary, go to any lengths, to protect you and keep you safe. There's no way she would have ever given them anything they could use against you."</div> <bR> <div> "What did I ever do to deserve that kind of loyalty from her?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "It's not about doing anything to deserve it," CJ answered with a smile. "It comes with the territory when you're in love with someone."</div> <bR> <div> Josh stood for a second, allowing the words that CJ had said to filter into his brain. "What are you talking about?" he asked in a voice barely above a whisper.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not blind," CJ chuckled. "And even if I was, I could probably still see what's going on between the two of you. She's in love with you, and you feel the same way about her. I see it, everyone sees it, with the possible exception of you and Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "Things have just been so unsettled since the shooting. Donna did so much for me and I was afraid that I might be misinterpreting things. That I might be reading more into the way she took care of me than was really there. I didn't want to scare her away. I didn't want to put any undue pressure on her."</div> <bR> <div> "I know that, Josh," CJ said. "These last few months have been tough."</div> <bR> <div> "I was being a coward," Josh said. "I was afraid to tell her how I felt for fear that she didn't feel the same way. I shouldn't have let that stop me. I should have told her. Now it might be too late."</div> <bR> <div> CJ took a deep breath and realized that this was a situation that called for a little finesse. She had to say just the right thing to help Josh find a way to get past his guilt and concentrate on getting Donna well again. "It's never too late, Josh."</div> <bR> <div> "Have you seen her, CJ?"</div> <bR> <div> CJ nodded her head, remembering the way Donna looked laying in her hospital bed.</div> <bR> <div> "I can't help but think what she must have gone through, what she must have been feeling. She had to have been terrified," Josh choked out.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure she was," CJ agreed. "And yet she hung in there, she didn't lose faith. She believed that you would come through for her. That you'd find a way to get her back."</div> <bR> <div> "Do you really believe that?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," CJ smiled, "I do. Now I think you need to go downstairs and show her that her faith wasn't misplaced. You need to find her and bring her back, the same way she did for you. And after you do, you need to tell her the truth about how you feel."</div> <bR> <div> Josh knew that CJ was right. He knew his place was beside Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "You're a good friend, CJ." Josh said as he headed towards the stairs.</div> <bR> <div> "I know," CJ teased as she followed behind him, happy to see that he was headed for the one place her really belonged. "Some day they're going to induct me into the Friends Hall of Fame."</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Toby entered Donna's room quietly, and was shocked by the sight of her. She looked so pale and helpless. There were large, purple, puffy bruises around both of her eyes. Her bottom lip was split open and oozing. Even the parts of her arms that were exposed were covered with purple marks that resembled handprints.</div> <bR> <div> He swallowed hard and approached the bed. He stopped about three feet away, and searched for the right words. He had come in to talk to her, and now he was having trouble articulating his thoughts.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna," he began, struggling to keep his composure, "I don't know exactly what to say to you right now. I heard what you did---how you refused to give them any information on Josh, Charlie and me. I guess I should say thank you, but somehow that seems so inadequate.</div> <bR> <div> You're much stronger than I ever gave you credit for, Donna. I think I've actually underestimated you in a lot of ways, and I apologize for that. I'm sorry if I've ever made you feel like you didn't belong. You're an integral part of the team, and we need you back. We all need you back, but especially Josh."</div> <bR> <div> "Especially Josh what?" Josh asked as he entered the room and moved immediately to Donna's bedside.</div> <bR> <div> Toby smiled. "I was just telling Donna here how absolutely useless you would be without her," he said.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I guess she's gonna have to get well soon and save my ass then," Josh smiled as he ran his fingers gently across Donna's cheek, being careful to avoid the bruises.</div> <bR> <div> "It seems to me like that's what needs to be done," Toby agreed.</div> <bR> <div> Josh pulled a chair over next to the bed and sat down, taking Donna's hand firmly in his. He kissed her palm and stared intently at her face. He concentrated on sending her every bit of strength he had.</div> <bR> <div> Toby suddenly felt as though he was interrupting a very intimate moment. "I think I'll go find CJ," he said. "The press will be all over this and we need to decide what we're going to say."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks, Toby," Josh said without looking up.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't mention it," Toby said. When he was almost to the door, Josh spoke again.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't care what they say about me," Josh said quietly, "but I want the press to stay as far away from Donna as possible. I want her to be able to concentrate on getting well, nothing else. I guess what I'm trying to say is….."</div> <bR> <div> "I know what you mean," Toby said reassuringly. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep the press as far away from Donna and her life as possible. I'll personally make sure that the press is NOT a problem here."</div> <bR> <div> "I appreciate that….I know Donna will too," Josh said quietly.</div> <bR> <div> "It's my pleasure," Toby said. Then he turned and left the room in search of the press secretary.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div>   Six hours had passed with no noticeable change in Donna's condition. Josh hadn't moved from her bedside, determined to be there as soon as there was any change at all.</div> <bR> <div> "I remember when I was in the same place you are right now," Josh said, stroking her hair gently. "I didn't know where I was, or exactly what was happening to me, but I knew that you were right there with me, and that made me feel better. Safer. And I want you to feel that way too. I'm right here with you, Donna. And I'm gonna be with you every step of the way until you're completely recovered.</div> <bR> <div> I'll do whatever you need me to do. I'll be whatever you need me to be. All I'm asking is that you come back to me as soon as possible. Come back and let me take care of you. Show me that I didn't wait too long. That I haven't missed my chance to tell you how much I need you…how much I care about you….how much I…..</div> <bR> <div> No. I'm not gonna be a coward and say it to you while you're sleeping. I've been a coward for too long. I'm gonna wait until I can look right into those blue eyes of yours and say the words. So I guess you're just gonna have to wake up if you want to hear how I was intending on finishing that sentence.</div> <bR> <div> But I can tell you one thing, Donna. Those animals will pay for what they did to you. I'll see to it personally. They are going to pay for every bump and bruise on your body. For every tear you cried. For every second of terror you suffered through. For every step in your recovery. They'll pay for all of it. I promise you.</div> <bR> <div> And I'll protect you. I won't let anything like this ever happen again. I should have seen this coming. I should have done something to protect you. I'll never make a mistake like this again."</div> <bR> <div> Josh stared at Donna's face and didn't see even a flicker of consciousness.</div> <bR> <div> 'Please, God,' he thought, 'give me a chance to make this all up to her.'</div> <bR> <div> *************</div> <bR> <div>  Leo and Sam walked into the waiting room to find Zoey and Charlie alone, talking quietly on the couch at the far end of the room. Charlie looked distraught, and Zoey wasn't looking much better.</div> <bR> <div> "Did everyone else leave?" Leo asked tentatively.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Zoey answered. "Kara went back to the station, she wanted to get on the air and make sure that the real story of what happened gets out there before any misinformation or rumors take hold. Mr. Fredericks, Mr. Sinclair, and Mr. Simmons, are giving their statements to the FBI. They asked us to call as soon as we have any news about Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be sure to do that," Leo answered. </div> <bR> <div> "How are you two holding up?" Sam asked, noticing that Charlie had said nothing since they entered the room.</div> <bR> <div> "Well," Zoey said, casting a sideways glance at Charlie, and then taking a deep breath and continuing, "Charlie here seems determined to take all of the blame for everything on himself. Apparently, the shooting was all HIS fault; it had nothing to do with me or any of the rest of us. And what happened to Donna…..well that's all his fault too." Zoey's voice began to rise as she continued. "No one in either of these stories exercised any free will. And the members of WVWP aren't vicious animals who would have found some other reason for the attacks if it hadn't been for Charlie. They aren't racist bigots who would use any excuse to try to get a little publicity for themselves. It seems that if Charlie wasn't working at the White House, everything would be all sunshine and roses."</div> <bR> <div> The three men in the room all stared at Zoey, unwilling to step in until they were sure the first daughter was finished.</div> <bR> <div> "I think she was being sarcastic," Sam offered helpfully.</div> <bR> <div> "I think so," Leo agreed. "But she makes a good point."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Zoey said triumphantly. "And by the way, my Psychology professor says that sarcasm is the sign of a quick mind."</div> <bR> <div> Charlie couldn't help but smile at that.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not wading into that argument," Leo said, " But I do think you should take her words to heart, Charlie. None of this is your fault. You were just the convenient excuse they used. It wasn't just you that they wanted Donna to give them information on, it was Toby and Josh too. If they hadn't been able to use the racial angle as an excuse, they would have used the religious one. This wasn't about you personally, it was about an ideology of hate."</div> <bR> <div> "Maybe you're right," Charlie sighed.</div> <bR> <div> "We are," Zoey said as she laid her head on his shoulder.</div> <bR> <div> "I just hope Donna sees it that way," Charlie replied.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div>  As Josh entered the waiting room, all heads turned to look at him.</div> <bR> <div> CJ and Toby were conferencing in the corner of the room. They had been triumphant in their first round with the press, now they just wanted to be sure that they stayed ahead of the story. Zoey and Charlie were still sitting quietly on the couch, wrapped in each other's arms. Leo and Sam were sitting in the chairs closest to the door, reviewing the initial FBI reports of the incident. They were in constant contact with both local and federal authorities, getting up to the minute information on how the search for the suspects was progressing.</div> <bR> <div> "Any news?" Leo asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Josh answered dejectedly. "They're running some more tests. They're trying to see why she isn't waking up."</div> <bR> <div> CJ got up and moved across the room to put her arm around Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "She's gonna make it, Josh. She just needs a little more time. She's strong. She isn't gonna let these lunatics get the best of her."</div> <bR> <div> "I hope you're right," Josh said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.</div> <bR> <div> "Aren't I always?" CJ asked, trying to coax a smile from her friend.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Josh agreed. "I just wish she'd wake up. I know everything would be ok if she would just wake up."</div> <bR> <div> ************ </div> <bR> <div>  Several hours later, the tests had been completed and all of Donna's friends had gathered in her room. The doctors had been reluctant to allow so many people in at once, but Leo had been very persuasive. It didn't hurt that they had also received a personal request from the First Lady. She reminded them that there are many unknowns in the field of medicine, and that many patients have had very positive responses to the close proximity of friends and loved ones.</div> <bR> <div> Finally, the doctors relented and allowed a group visit. They made it quite clear, however, that the time would be strictly limited. They would return to the one visitor at a time rule very soon.</div> <bR> <div> CJ decided to make the most of the time they had available. She talked to Donna about what was going on in the west wing, and about how eager everyone to have her back. She encouraged the others in the room to do the same and soon they were all talking and telling stories, trying desperately to find the magic words that would bring Donna back.</div> <bR> <div> Josh sat quietly by the bed, holding Donna's hand. His was looking more and more distressed as each minute passed by.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh, are you ok?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> Josh glanced at his watch. "It's been 24 hours. The doctors said that the first 24 hours were critical. She hasn't woken up yet," he said helplessly.</div> <bR> <div> "I think they were just using 24 hours as a point of reference," Toby said, trying to sound comforting. "I don't think they necessarily meant precisely 24 hours."</div> <bR> <div> Josh dropped his head down onto the mattress, obviously unconvinced.</div> <bR> <div> Besides," CJ said helpfully, "it's only been 23 hours according to my watch."</div> <bR> <div> "What are you talking about?" Josh asked, raising his head up and looking at his watch again. "It's 9 o'clock."</div> <bR> <div> "It's actually 8:11," CJ argued.</div> <bR> <div> "It's 9 o'clock," Josh said, pointing at the face of his watch.</div> <bR> <div> "Listen to CJ, Josh. Your watch sucks," Donna's small, soft voice scratched out from the bed.</div> <bR> <div> The room was plunged into stunned silence for a moment, and then everyone erupted in laughter.</div> <bR> <div> Josh squeezed Donna's hand as he leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead. "I promise I'll buy a new one."</div> <bR> <div> Donna smiled weakly, "You've said that before."</div> <bR> <div> Abbey smiled and gestured toward the friends gathered, "I think we should leave them alone for a minute."</div> <bR> <div> Donna blushed as she realized she hadn't acknowledged the First Lady's presence yet. "Ma'am, I'm sorry I didn't...."</div> <bR> <div> "This is not a time to stand on formality, Donna. I'm glad you're feeling better," Abbey replied as she walked toward the door, "We all missed you."</div> <bR> <div> "Especially a certain someone," CJ interjected with a sly smile as she followed the First Lady out of the room, Sam close at her heels.</div> <bR> <div> "How did you find me?" Donna asked as soon as it was just she and Josh in the room. "I was so afraid that nobody would ever find me....I was so afraid that you would be hurt...."</div> <bR> <div> "Ssshhhh," Josh soothed as he left the chair and gently got into bed next to her, pulling Donna into his arms, being very careful of the IV tubes. "Ssshhhh, Donnatella, you're safe now. I'll explain everything when you're stronger. I'm just so grateful that you're awake."</div> <bR> <div> Donna was surprised by Josh's embrace but immediately relaxed into it. Her strength was rapidly fading but she had to convince Josh.....she had heard something in his voice....</div> <bR> <div> "Josh?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah?" he replied, struggling to keep the tears at bay. He knew that Donna needed his strength now.</div> <bR> <div> "It wasn't your fault," Donna whispered as her eyes drifted closed.</div> <bR> <div> Josh shook his head, the tears he fought so hard against threatening to flow. "You were grabbed because you worked for me. That makes it my fault no matter how you cut it. And I can't tell you how sorry I am that you got hurt.....never in a million years did I ever want you to get hurt....not because of me."</div> <bR> <div> With an effort, Donna forced her eyes open and turned in Josh's arms so she was looking at him. With her free hand, she reached up and touched Josh's face. "Josh, please listen to me. What happened.....was awful and terrifying… but I never once blamed you. I blamed the narrow-minded people who took me."</div> <bR> <div> Josh swallowed hard as he caught her hand in his. "Donna.....you were beaten and tortured for information on me......why didn't you just give it to them and save yourself?"</div> <bR> <div> Donna's eyes widened. "I would never do anything to hurt you, Josh. Don't you know that by now? I couldn't......"</div> <bR> <div> "Ah, I see our patient is awake," Dr. Chen stated as he entered the room, causing both Josh and Donna to look up sheepishly. "You gave us all quite a scare, Ms. Moss. How are you feeling?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'm tired," Donna replied through a yawn.</div> <bR> <div> Dr. Chen smiled. "Considering all your body has been through that's not surprising." He turned his attention to Josh, whose arms were still wrapped tightly around Donna. "Mr. Lyman, could you leave for a few minutes so I can examine Ms. Moss?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh nodded as he disentangled himself from Donna and stood. "I'll be right outside," he assured Donna as he leaned down and kissed her softly, before he turning and leaving the room.</div> <div>  </div> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Josh barely made it down the hall before collapsing into one of the waiting room chairs, his head buried in his hands.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" CJ asked worriedly, placing her hand softly on his shoulder.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Josh answered, scrubbing his face with his hands and then looking up into the concerned faces of his friends.</div> <bR> <div> "She's gonna make it," Sam said confidently. "She's gonna be ok."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank God," Josh said softly. "It's just that she looks so frail, and I know she's in an unbelievable amount of pain. And she went through all of this because she wouldn't give up any information on Toby, Charlie and I. But she doesn't think she did anything special."</div> <bR> <div> Toby and Charlie both looked at the ground, lost in their own thoughts. They were simultaneously trying to figure out how they would ever be able to thank Donna for the loyalty she had shown them.</div> <bR> <div> "She's gonna be ok," CJ said. "We'll all get through this."</div> <bR> <div> "I know. I just want to help her any way I possibly can," Josh said earnestly.</div> <bR> <div> Abbey stepped forward and knelt in front of Josh. "Donna waking up is a very good sign, Josh," she said. "I think she's turned a corner here, and we can feel confident in saying she'll make a full recovery. But neither her physical recovery nor her emotional one are going to be quick and painless."</div> <bR> <div> Josh nodded. "I know that."</div> <bR> <div> "We don't know what Donna went through while she was being held captive, but from the looks of her condition it was horrific. And on top of that, she was being told that she could save herself by ratting out people she cares about. It's going to take a while for her to process everything that happened to her."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll do whatever it takes to help her, Ma'am."</div> <bR> <div> "I know you will, Josh. I think you just need to prepare yourself for the fact that it isn't gonna happen overnight," Abbey said soothingly.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm ready," Josh said. "I'll do whatever it takes to help her."</div> <bR> <div> "We all will," Toby said, as everyone else in the room nodded in agreement.</div> <bR> <div> ************</div> <bR> <div> Donna was having trouble keeping her eyes open by the time the doctors finished checking her over and allowed Josh back into the room.</div> <bR> <div> "How are you feeling?" he asked, brushing her hair back from her face and placing a soft kiss on the tip of her nose.</div> <bR> <div> "About the same," she said, fighting a yawn.</div> <bR> <div> "Close your eyes then," Josh said softly. "You need your rest."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you going home?" Donna asked sleepily.</div> <bR> <div> "Not a chance," Josh replied, pulling a chair beside the bed and taking her hand in his. He planted a soft kiss on her palm and said, "I'll be right here."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure you don't mind staying?" Donna asked. She wanted him to. She wanted to never have to spend a minute away from him again. But she didn't want him to stay out of guilt or fear. She wanted him to be there because that was what he wanted.</div> <bR> <div> Josh saw the fear and insecurity in her eyes and chose his next words very carefully.</div> <bR> <div> "There is no place else in this world that I would rather than be. I'll always be here, Donna. You'll always have me."</div> <bR> <div> Donna lifted her free hand up and wiped away the tears that had begun to run down her face. "Will you lay with me like you did before? Just until I fall asleep," she asked shyly.</div> <bR> <div> "Absolutely," Josh answered with a smile as he carefully maneuvered around the wires and IV tubes, finally taking Donna into his arms.</div> <bR> <div> "Night, Josh," Donna said, letting the sound of his heartbeat and the smell of his aftershave help her drift gently to sleep.</div> <bR> <div> "Night, Donna," Josh said, brushing a kiss across her forehead.</div> <bR> <div> He knew that there were many tough days ahead, but he also knew that, together, the two of them could handle anything.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>