A Matter Of Trust

<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>An 'Evil Amy' story, in which Donna's life gets turned upside down, and inside- out.  </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>   |   <A HREF="id107.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadblock"><U>Roadblock</U></A>   |   <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>   |   <B>A Matter Of Trust</B>   |   <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> A Matter Of Trust</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0d0b0690.gif" border=0 width="432" height="105" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0d1b0690.gif" border=0 width="432" height="105" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "How in the world could something like this happen?" Josh thundered </div> <div> as he stood behind his desk, glaring angrily.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," Donna said as she stared disbelievingly at the pages </div> <div> of the report in her hand. "I updated all of the information and </div> <div> plugged in the latest figures."</div> <bR> <div> "Well these aren't the latest figures," Josh shouted.</div> <bR> <div> "I know. I don't...." Donna began defensively.</div> <bR> <div> "Save it," Josh snapped. "This isn't the first mistake like this </div> <div> you've made in the last month. I don't know what's wrong with you </div> <div> lately; but whatever it is you better find a way to fix it."</div> <bR> <div> Donna blinked rapidly, desperately trying to hold back her tears. She </div> <div> was determined not to cry in front of Josh. Things had been strained </div> <div> between them for several months, but in the last few weeks they had </div> <div> begun to go from bad to worse.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm telling you, Josh, I plugged in all of the latest data...."</div> <bR> <div> "Right. Just like you definitely put the Williams file in my backpack </div> <div> the other day, except you didn't because it wasn't there when I got </div> <div> home." Josh's voice continued to rise until he was shouting. "And </div> <div> just like you definitely sent Toby a copy of the appropriations </div> <div> numbers he needed except he never got them."</div> <bR> <div> Donna hung her head. Josh obviously had no intention of listening to </div> <div> anything she had to say. There was so much anger and venom in his </div> <div> voice that she knew nothing she could say would make any difference. </div> <div> He was right. There had been a large number of screw-ups lately. But </div> <div> Donna was at a loss to explain them. It was as if papers were </div> <div> magically disappearing and work she had completed was magically </div> <div> coming undone.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll redo it right away," she said softly.</div> <bR> <div> "That's right," Josh said, "You will. And you might as well scrap </div> <div> whatever plans you had for the weekend because I want this corrected </div> <div> and on my desk by first thing Monday morning."</div> <bR> <div> "Fine," Donna retorted, trying to keep her temper under control, "Is </div> <div> there anything else?"</div> <bR> <div> "No," Josh said dismissively.</div> <bR> <div> Donna wheeled around angrily and left the office without another </div> <div> word, as Josh moved around from behind his desk and slammed his </div> <div> office door. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Amy had been sitting quietly at Donna's desk enjoying the sounds of </div> <div> the argument coming from inside Josh's office. She spun around and </div> <div> smiled sweetly as Donna approached her.</div> <bR> <div> "Can I help you, Amy?" Donna asked peevishly. </div> <bR> <div> "No," Amy answered sweetly, "I was just waiting for you to finish. I </div> <div> need to talk to Josh about our weekend plans."</div> <bR> <div> "Well you can go right in," Donna said, tapping her foot impatiently, </div> <div> waiting for Amy to get out of her chair. In fact, she would really </div> <div> rather Amy got out of her sight altogether. But Donna didn't have </div> <div> time to think about that now. She had work to do.</div> <bR> <div> "Is everything ok with you, Donna? You look upset," Amy inquired.</div> <bR> <div> "Everything's just peachy," Donna answered.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, no one knows better than me how difficult Josh can be </div> <div> sometimes. If you ever need someone to talk to just give me a call."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Donna said, smiling through gritted teeth, "I'll keep that </div> <div> in mind."</div> <bR> <div> "So it's ok for me to go in?" Amy asked, finally getting up.</div> <bR> <div> "Yep," Donna said as she slid into her chair and turned towards her </div> <div> computer. "He's all yours."</div> <bR> <div> 'Not yet,' Amy thought as she walked towards Josh's door, 'But soon.'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh spent the bulk of the day in meetings on the Hill. He glanced at </div> <div> his watch as entered the bullpen and saw that it was already after </div> <div> 7:00. Donna was sitting at her desk surrounded by manila folders and </div> <div> reams of computer printouts. Josh felt a momentary pang of guilt. </div> <bR> <div> Maybe it had all been some silly mistake. It wasn't like Donna to be </div> <div> sloppy with data. He knew that she had carefully researched all of </div> <div> the new numbers. Yet when she handed him the final draft of the </div> <div> report-all of the figures had been out of date. He shouldn't have </div> <div> yelled without giving her a chance to explain. In retrospect, he </div> <div> realized that he had reacted badly.  </div> <bR> <div> After four years together, he should be willing to give Donna the </div> <div> benefit of the doubt. If they both stayed and worked together on </div> <div> making the corrections, they could salvage half of the weekend.</div> <bR> <div> "How's it going?" Josh asked as he approached Donna's desk, trying to </div> <div> keep his tone as light as possible.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine," Donna answered without looking up.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, I was thinking...." Josh began.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey, there you are!" Amy said as she emerged from Josh's office, "I </div> <div> thought you were never going to get back. Are you ready to go?"</div> <bR> <div> "Go?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, go. We're having dinner with the Ortegas. Don't tell me you </div> <div> forgot already," Amy scolded.</div> <bR> <div> Josh scanned his memory for any mention Amy might have made about </div> <div> dinner plans but came up dry. Either she forgot to mention it, or he </div> <div> hadn't been listening when she did, which was entirely possible since </div> <div> he found that he tuned her out quite often.</div> <bR> <div> "Well I was going to..." Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "No!" Amy said sternly. "We're not canceling this dinner. It's too </div> <div> late for that. And we better get going if you want to change clothes </div> <div> because we have 8:30 reservations."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh acquiesced, not wanting to make a scene in the middle of </div> <div> the bullpen. He glanced at Donna who still hadn't looked up once from </div> <div> what she was working on. "Call me if you need anything, Donna."</div> <bR> <div> 'Not likely,' Donna thought as Josh and Amy turned and headed for the </div> <div> door. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh climbed out of bed late on Saturday morning feeling even more </div> <div> guilty knowing that Donna was at work. Leo had ordered the entire </div> <div> senior staff to take the weekend off and recharge their batteries. </div> <div> Josh didn't feel right knowing that Donna would be working all day </div> <div> while he had plans to spend the day watching basketball with Sam, </div> <div> Toby and CJ. He felt like he should be there helping, but Leo had </div> <div> banned them all from the office, teasingly saying that the Secret </div> <div> Service had orders to shoot them on sight if they came within 500 </div> <div> yards of the White House.</div> <bR> <div> But maybe he could call Donna and tell her to bring the work over to </div> <div> his place and they could finish it there. He could probably help </div> <div> Donna finish up and still get in half a day of basketball watching. </div> <div> He knew that Donna was privy to Leo's 'no work' edict for the </div> <div> weekend, but considering how angry she was at him maybe she would be </div> <div> willing to skirt the rules. And maybe if they could spend a little </div> <div> time together away from the office, he could find out what had been </div> <div> bothering her.      </div> <bR> <div> He was broken out of his reverie by the sound of the ringing phone.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh Lyman." </div> <bR> <div> "Hey, J. I was just calling to make sure you were up."</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, I'm up."</div> <bR> <div> "Good. Sam will be by to pick you up in an hour so you better jump in </div> <div> the shower. And don't forget you promised we'd go over some of the </div> <div> provisions in the new appropriations bill tonight."</div> <bR> <div> "Right," Josh sighed.</div> <bR> <div> "And one other thing. The painters are painting my apartment today so </div> <div> I'm gonna work at your place. I'll never get any work done here with </div> <div> all the fumes and I don't feel like going in to the office. I'll just </div> <div> work there and then when you get back from Toby's we can order some </div> <div> takeout and go over the numbers."</div> <bR> <div> "Sounds good," Josh said wearily. He really wasn't in the mood to go </div> <div> over appropriations numbers tonight but he knew from experience that </div> <div> arguing with Amy was an exercise in futility. "I'll see you later."</div> <bR> <div> 'So much for asking Donna to come over here and work', he thought </div> <div> disappointedly.</div> <bR> <div> All he could think of as he headed for the shower was how much more </div> <div> he enjoyed hearing Donna give him his schedule than Amy.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo had been right. Two days away from the west wing had really </div> <div> rejuvenated Josh's spirit. He felt refreshed and ready to face </div> <div> whatever came his way. </div> <bR> <div> "Good morning, Donna," he said as he passed her desk on his way to </div> <div> his office.</div> <bR> <div> "Good morning," she muttered.</div> <bR> <div> Two minutes later she appeared in his doorway carrying the report she </div> <div> had spent all weekend on, and his schedule for the day. When Josh </div> <div> looked up and saw her, his good mood slipped a little.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" he asked, his voice full of concern. It was obvious </div> <div> that she had gotten very little, if any, sleep since Friday.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Donna answered. </div> <bR> <div> Josh wasn't quite convinced. Especially since Donna was looking at </div> <div> the floor, the desk, the wall behind his head-anywhere but into his </div> <div> eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?" he asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm positive," she answered hastily. "It's going to be a busy day so </div> <div> there's a lot to cover. Here are two copies of the corrected report. </div> <div> The first one is done with all of the updated numbers and using the </div> <div> projected figures from the OMB. The OMB released a few revised </div> <div> numbers Saturday afternoon and I wasn't sure if you wanted them </div> <div> included so I wrote a second copy of the memo which includes them </div> <div> just in case," she said as she handed him both folders.</div> <bR> <div> "I appreciate all the extra work," Josh said sincerely. "Why didn't </div> <div> you just call me and ask about the new numbers?"</div> <bR> <div> "I called you Saturday night. I left a message on both your cell and </div> <div> your home phone. When I didn't hear back I decided better safe than </div> <div> sorry."</div> <bR> <div> "I was home all night Saturday," Josh said. "Amy and I were going </div> <div> over appropriations numbers. The phone never rang." Josh pulled his </div> <div> cell phone from his pocket and quickly checked for messages. "There </div> <div> are no missed messages here either. Are you sure..."</div> <bR> <div> Donna couldn't take anymore. She had to get away and take a few </div> <div> minutes to compose herself before she exploded </div> <div> completely. "Apparently among all of my other shortcomings, I </div> <div> suddenly have either forgotten your phone numbers or don't know how </div> <div> to use a telephone correctly," she sputtered as she placed Josh's </div> <div> schedule on his desk. "You have staff in 10 minutes. We can go over </div> <div> the rest of your schedule after that."</div> <bR> <div> Josh could do nothing but stare as Donna turned on her heels and left </div> <div> his office. She grabbed her purse as she hurried off to the restroom, </div> <div> trying desperately to forestall the tears until she got there.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Throughout the rest of the week things continued to deteriorate. On </div> <div> Tuesday Josh had decided to spend the afternoon working from home. He </div> <div> stopped by Amy's office for a quick takeout lunch and when he got </div> <div> home and settled down to work, he found that several of the files he </div> <div> needed weren't in his backpack. To make matters worse, Donna couldn't </div> <div> find the files anywhere. She continued to insist that she had placed </div> <div> them in Josh's backpack but they were nowhere to be found. Josh lost </div> <div> most of the day trying to replace all of the missing information. </div> <bR> <div> Then on Thursday, Josh's entire stack of pink phone message slips </div> <div> disappeared. He had intended to devote a good portion of the morning </div> <div> to returning phone calls-but when he looked for the slips they were </div> <div> gone. He had yelled at Donna for nearly half an hour about her </div> <div> apparent newfound tendency towards carelessness. </div> <bR> <div> Donna had stood there while he screamed, her mortification made even </div> <div> more intense by the fact that they weren't the only two people in the </div> <div> office. Amy had been waiting for Josh in his office when he returned </div> <div> from a meeting, and he hadn't even bothered to ask her to step </div> <div> outside while he berated Donna.</div> <bR> <div> By Friday afternoon, things were ready to explode.</div> <bR> <div> "Things have gotta change around here, Donna," Josh said </div> <div> solemnly. "We can't go on like this."</div> <bR> <div> "I know, Josh, but..."</div> <bR> <div> "No buts. I want you to take tomorrow off and get whatever has been </div> <div> wrong with you straightened out. No more excuses. Whatever this is is </div> <div> beginning to affect my work and I won't allow that. Just fix this or </div> <div> we're gonna have to make some drastic changes. Do you understand me? "</div> <bR> <div> "Perfectly," Donna spat back.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine. Then I'll see you Monday," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine," Donna answered. As she walked to her a car a few minutes </div> <div> later there was a sudden clutching in her stomach as she wondered </div> <div> what Josh meant by "drastic changes".</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh had a mostly unproductive Saturday at work without Donna there </div> <div> to help him. By the time he gave up in the late afternoon and headed </div> <div> home-he was more confused than ever. He needed Donna in order to do </div> <div> his job to the best of his ability; his inefficiency in her absence </div> <div> had proven that. But how could she be making such huge, glaring </div> <div> mistakes? It was so unlike Donna.</div> <bR> <div> Amy had pointed out that all of the problems seemed to have started </div> <div> after Donna's "relationship" with Cliff Calley. Josh wasn't even sure </div> <div> how Amy knew about Donna and Cliff. HE certainly had never talked to </div> <div> her about it. He guessed she must have heard it through the </div> <div> grapevine. But despite Amy's insinuations, Josh couldn't believe that </div> <div> this had anything to do with Cliff. Whatever else happened, he had </div> <div> never questioned Donna's loyalty. He silently cursed Amy for even </div> <div> putting the thought in his head.</div> <bR> <div> By Sunday night, things weren't really any clearer in his mind. As he </div> <div> emerged from the bathroom towel drying his hair after his shower, he </div> <div> saw Amy already in bed. She was holding his portable phone in her </div> <div> hand; his cell phone was laying on the nightstand.</div> <bR> <div> "Who was on the phone?" he asked irritably. He didn't like Amy </div> <div> answering his phone.</div> <bR> <div> "No one," Amy said, "I was just checking my messages."</div> <bR> <div> "What's wrong with your phone?" </div> <bR> <div> "My battery is dead. I was gonna switch batteries with you but then I </div> <div> just decided to go ahead and use your other phone," Amy said as Josh </div> <div> held out his hand for his cell. She tossed it to him and he laid it </div> <div> on his desk next to his car keys. Then he turned out the light and </div> <div> slipped into bed, lying on his side with his back turned to Amy.</div> <bR> <div> "Geez, Josh," she sighed as she leaned over him and kissed him on the </div> <div> cheek. "I was only checking my messages. I'm sorry I touched your </div> <div> phone."</div> <bR> <div> "That's not it," Josh said without opening his eyes. "I've just got a </div> <div> lot on my mind and I'm really tired tonight."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Amy said as she cuddled up against his back. "Night."</div> <bR> <div> "Night."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Two hours later Josh was still awake. There was something bothering </div> <div> him but he just couldn't put his finger on what it was. Finally he </div> <div> couldn't take it anymore. He sent up silent thanks that Amy was a </div> <div> very sound sleeper as he eased out of bed, grabbed his cell phone off </div> <div> the desk, and headed out to the living room.</div> <bR> <div> Once he was there, he hit *69 on his cell and was shocked to hear </div> <div> that the last number that had called his line was his own home phone </div> <div> number. He then picked up his living room extension and hit *69. </div> <div> Again he was surprised to find out that the last number to call his </div> <div> home phone had been his cell. It was almost as if someone was trying </div> <div> to hide the last call that had really been received. </div> <bR> <div> It had to have been Amy. The time stamps on the calls had been at the </div> <div> precise time Josh knew that he had been in the shower. But why would </div> <div> she have done that? What was she hoping to gain?  And whose message </div> <div> was she trying to hide?</div> <bR> <div> Josh thought back to the previous Saturday night and Donna's claim </div> <div> that she had left messages on both Josh's home phone and his cell. </div> <div> Amy had been in the apartment with him that night too. Could she be </div> <div> erasing Donna's messages before he heard them? And if she was, then </div> <div> why?</div> <bR> <div> Josh had no idea what was going on-but he intended to find out.</div> <bR> <div> He glanced at the clock and saw that it was 4:08 AM. He felt bad </div> <div> about calling Donna in the middle of the night but it had to be done. </div> <div> He felt even worse when she answered the phone quickly and he knew </div> <div> she hadn't been asleep. Her voice was thick and she sounded as though </div> <div> she had been crying for days.</div> <bR> <div> "Hello," she said.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna, did I wake you?" Josh asked, even though he already knew the </div> <div> answer.</div> <bR> <div> "It's ok. What do you need?" Donna said flatly.</div> <bR> <div> "Did you call and leave me a message earlier on my home phone or my </div> <div> cell?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Both," Donna said.</div> <bR> <div> Any hopes Josh had harbored that this was all some sort of </div> <div> misunderstanding immediately disappeared. But he wasn't ready to tell </div> <div> Donna what he suspected had been going on. He didn't have enough </div> <div> information yet. So he scrambled for some sort of excuse.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm having a few problems with my phones," he said, "Could you </div> <div> repeat the message for me?" </div> <bR> <div> "Sure. Leo has set up a conference call in the morning with the </div> <div> delegation on the ground in the Middle East and he needs you to be in </div> <div> on it. He said it's vital."</div> <bR> <div> "What time?"</div> <bR> <div> "5:45."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok. I'm gonna get dressed now and head in. I'll be there on time."</div> <bR> <div> "Good. Leo said this was very important, Josh."</div> <bR> <div> "It is. We've been trying to set this up for two weeks. I'm sorry I </div> <div> called so late but I'm glad we could get this straightened out."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm glad too, Josh. If you hadn't gotten the message this could have </div> <div> been a disaster."</div> <bR> <div> "Yes it could have. You try to get a little rest and I'll see you in </div> <div> the office later."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be there.</div> <bR> <div> Josh slipped into the bedroom, grabbed some clothes from his closet, </div> <div> and headed to the guest room to get dressed so he wouldn't wake Amy. </div> <div> He couldn't deal with her right now. He needed to get to the bottom </div> <div> of what was going on.</div> <bR> <div> This wasn't just about Donna anymore. This was about matters of </div> <div> national importance, about his ability to effectively do his job. And </div> <div> if Amy had been behind everything that had gone on, he wanted to know </div> <div> why. He also wanted to make sure that she got what was coming to her. </div> <div> He needed to talk to someone who could help him find out the truth. </div> <bR> <div> 20 minutes later, he headed out the door, determined to find out </div> <div> EXACTLY what had been going on, and to fix things with Donna. He just </div> <div> hoped it wasn't too late.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh glanced at his watch as he crossed the bullpen. He had less than </div> <div> five minutes to grab the files he needed and make it to Leo's office </div> <div> for the conference call on the situation in the Middle East. Peace </div> <div> negotiations hadn't been going well, and it had taken nearly two </div> <div> weeks to get all parties involved to agree to participate. His mind </div> <div> was still whirling as he tried to figure out what Amy had hoped to </div> <div> gain by making him miss out on this call. This wasn't something as </div> <div> small as a missing message slip; it was a matter of national </div> <div> importance. If he had been late it would have reflected directly on </div> <div> him more so than Donna. </div> <bR> <div> Josh startled at the sound of another voice in the quiet bullpen. He </div> <div> looked up and saw CJ standing in the doorway of his office with an </div> <div> amused look on her face.</div> <bR> <div> "What?" he asked distractedly.</div> <bR> <div> "What's up with you this morning?" CJ answered. "I called your name </div> <div> three times but you looked like you were a million miles away. </div> <div> Something on your mind?"</div> <div>       </div> <div> "Yeah, you could say that," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "Anything I can help with?" CJ asked, concern beginning to edge into </div> <div> her voice.</div> <bR> <div> "As a matter of fact, yes," Josh said, as a plan began to form in his </div> <div> mind. "I have this conference call to take care of now, but do you </div> <div> have a few minutes for me after staff?"</div> <bR> <div> "I think so," CJ replied, "I'll see if Carol can move a few things </div> <div> around. Is everything ok?"</div> <bR> <div> "I sure hope so," Josh said as he gathered up his things and headed </div> <div> down the hallway.</div> <bR> <div> CJ stared after him with a look that was a mix of puzzlement and </div> <div> concern.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The conference call was very productive and more importantly, it went </div> <div> off without a hitch. Leo had no idea how close Josh had come to </div> <div> missing it, and Josh had no intention of telling him. At least not </div> <div> yet. He needed to understand what was going on himself before he </div> <div> could take his concerns to Leo.</div> <bR> <div> He tried to put everything that was going on out of his mind and </div> <div> concentrate through what turned out to be a blessedly short staff </div> <div> meeting. As they all left Leo's office, he caught up to CJ.</div> <bR> <div> "Did Carol manage to make time?" he asked her.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah. I have about 20 minutes," CJ answered. "My office or yours?"</div> <bR> <div> "Neither. Lets grab a cup of coffee in the Mess," Josh suggested.</div> <bR> <div> Josh and CJ settled at a table in the corner with their coffee. Josh </div> <div> seemed reluctant to start the conversation, even though it had been </div> <div> his idea, so CJ decided to take the bull by the horns.</div> <bR> <div> "What's wrong, Josh? You've been acting strange all morning?"</div> <bR> <div> "It's Donna," Josh said slowly.</div> <bR> <div> "What about Donna?" CJ asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.</div> <bR> <div> "Well...." Josh began, "She and I have been having a </div> <div> few...problems...lately."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm well aware of that. Do you forget that my office is right next </div> <div> to yours? You and Donna tend to have "problems" at the top of your </div> <div> lungs. Although lately I've noticed the yelling seems to be mostly </div> <div> one-sided."</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Josh said guiltily, lapsing into silence again.</div> <bR> <div> "What's the problem with Donna?" CJ prodded.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, CJ, things have been a bit...let's say tense...between Donna </div> <div> and I for a while now."</div> <bR> <div> "I know that," CJ said, placing her hand on Josh's arm. "Things have </div> <div> been tough on all of us, what with the investigation and the </div> <div> President's illness. But that's all behind us now and we can get back </div> <div> to normal."</div> <bR> <div> "That's what I thought too, but lately a lot of things have been </div> <div> going wrong. Files have been missing, reports are done incorrectly, </div> <div> messages are lost-things like that."</div> <bR> <div> "That doesn't sound like Donna," CJ said skeptically.</div> <bR> <div> "No it doesn't," Josh agreed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I </div> <div> mean I should have known better......."</div> <bR> <div> "But......"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know what happened. I don't really have an excuse. Well, I </div> <div> might....I mean Amy......</div> <bR> <div> Josh raked his hands through his hair while he tried to come up with </div> <div> the right words to tell CJ what he thought was going on. </div> <bR> <div> "Josh, you're not making any sense. What does Amy have to do with </div> <div> what's going on between you and Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "I never gave Donna a chance to explain anything. Every time </div> <div> something went wrong I just yelled. And every time I yelled she </div> <div> became more and more withdrawn. Last weekend she told me that she </div> <div> left me messages asking about a report she was working on and I </div> <div> practically called her a liar."</div> <bR> <div> "OK. But I still don't understand what Amy has to do with this."</div> <bR> <div> "Last night, while I was in the shower, Amy erased messages from </div> <div> Donna, on both my home phone and my cell. Donna was calling to tell </div> <div> me that Leo had set up a conference call for 5:45 this morning."</div> <bR> <div> "And you're sure Amy erased them?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh quickly recounted for CJ how he used the *69 function on his </div> <div> phones to figure out what time the messages had been erased.</div> <bR> <div> "Luckily I realized something was going on. I called Donna and she </div> <div> gave me the message so I made it in on time. But if I hadn't..."</div> <bR> <div> "Leo would have been furious."</div> <bR> <div> "To say the least."</div> <bR> <div> "And you're sure Amy has something to do with this?"</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I'm sure that she erased Donna's messages last night," Josh </div> <div> said confidently. "As far as the other things go, I don't know, I've </div> <div> been wracking my brains. It just seems like Amy has been in the </div> <div> vicinity every time. But I never made the connection."</div> <bR> <div> "So what's your next step?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know. I thought maybe you could help me there. I have to </div> <div> figure out what Amy is up to..and why?"</div> <bR> <div> "You think this is more than personal?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know, CJ. I mean...I don't think I've ever given Amy any </div> <div> reason to be jealous of Donna. And even I'm not egomaniacal enough to </div> <div> think this is all about Amy wanting me to herself."</div> <bR> <div> CJ smiled. "Then what do you think her angle is?"</div> <bR> <div> "I have no idea."</div> <bR> <div> "Well we better find out soon before things get any worse. What can I </div> <div> do to help?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know exactly. Keep your eyes and ears open. You might see or </div> <div> hear something I miss. Maybe try to help me figure out what Amy's up </div> <div> to?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'll do what I can," CJ said glancing at her watch. "I have a </div> <div> meeting in two minutes so I gotta run. We'll talk about this later </div> <div> though ok?"</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh said dejectedly as they stood up and headed back to work.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm serious," CJ said sympathetically. "We'll fix this. Everything </div> <div> will be alright."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh returned to the bullpen and found Donna hunched over one of the </div> <div> large file cabinets, thumbing through each file individually, her </div> <div> brow furrowed in concentration.</div> <bR> <div> "Lose something?" he asked teasingly.</div> <bR> <div> He was immediately sorry for his choice of words when he saw the look </div> <div> in Donna's eyes. It was a mix of fear and guilt.</div> <bR> <div> "No," she said quietly, "I was just looking for the files from last </div> <div> week. The ones I thought I put in your backpack."</div> <bR> <div> Josh's heart dropped. He wanted to tell Donna the truth---that he </div> <div> suspected she hadn't lost the files at all. That Amy had actually </div> <div> been behind their disappearance. The look of insecurity that he saw </div> <div> in Donna's eyes made his heart break. But he couldn't tell her yet. </div> <div> Not until he had a better idea of what was going on. He decided that </div> <div> she was safer not knowing, at least for the time being.</div> <bR> <div> "Any messages?" he asked, trying for a change of subject.</div> <bR> <div> Donna reached into her pocket and pulled out the pink message </div> <div> slips. "Hollings called to confirm your lunch meeting. You'll go </div> <div> straight from there to the meetings on the Hill, which should take up </div> <div> most of your afternoon. Oh, and Amy called, she wants you to call her </div> <div> back ASAP."</div> <bR> <div> "Did she say anything else?" Josh asked, wondering if she had asked </div> <div> about the meeting.</div> <bR> <div> "Nope, just that you should call her."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh said. "Could you get the stuff together that I need for </div> <div> this afternoon?"</div> <bR> <div> "It's right here," Donna said, indicating the files she had tucked </div> <div> under her arm.</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," he said sincerely, as Donna went back to searching intently </div> <div> through the file drawers.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh sat down in his chair and took a deep breath as he dialed Amy's </div> <div> direct line. It was important that he not tip his hand. He couldn't </div> <div> let her know that he was suspicious.</div> <bR> <div> "What happened to you this morning, J? I woke up and you were gone," </div> <div> Amy said, not even bothering with hello.</div> <bR> <div> "I was restless. I didn't want to wake you so I decided to come in </div> <div> and get some work done."</div> <bR> <div> "Anything interesting going on?" Amy asked nonchalantly.</div> <bR> <div> She was digging for information, Josh was certain of it. He decided </div> <div> to play along and see what happened.</div> <bR> <div> "As a matter of fact, yes. Leo arranged a very important conference </div> <div> call this morning. I almost missed it. Donna said she called and left </div> <div> me a message again--but there weren't any on my phone."</div> <bR> <div> "Was Leo angry?" Amy asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No, he doesn't know anything about it. I made it on time, that's all </div> <div> that matters in the end."</div> <bR> <div> "Things with Donna are getting out of hand, Josh. She's becoming a </div> <div> real liability. This could have been a disaster."</div> <bR> <div> Josh's jaw clenched as he started to seethe. "I know."</div> <bR> <div> "You're going to have to do something about her. I know you feel </div> <div> responsible for her but this is going to far. It's time to cut her </div> <div> loose."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm dealing with it," Josh said noncommittally.</div> <bR> <div> "Well you better. Before something really bad happens. She could hurt </div> <div> your career, J."</div> <bR> <div> "I said I'll take care of it. Look I gotta go. I've gotta get ready </div> <div> for an afternoon on the Hill."</div> <bR> <div> "Am I gonna see you tonight?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know what time I'll be back. I'll call you later."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok. Have a good day," she said sweetly.</div> <bR> <div> "You too," Josh said as he quickly hung up the phone. He wasn't sure </div> <div> he could keep his feelings hidden for even a second longer. There was </div> <div> no doubt in his mind now that Amy was up to something; it was just a </div> <div> matter of finding out what.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Amy sat quietly in her office gathering her thoughts. 'He's never </div> <div> gonna be able to do it,' she thought. 'For some reason he just can't </div> <div> bring himself to fire the little witch.' After a few more minutes of </div> <div> contemplation, she made a decision.</div> <bR> <div> She unlocked the bottom drawer of her desk and pulled out a large </div> <div> manila envelope containing all of Josh's missing files and message </div> <div> slips, along with a computer diskette containing all of the revised </div> <div> figures for the report Donna had been working on last weekend. </div> <bR> <div> She pulled a piece of plain white paper out of her printer tray and </div> <div> carefully wrote in very nondescript block letters:</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Mr. McGarry,</div> <div>         I found these items in a trashcan outside of an apartment </div> <div> building on 3rd Street. I recognized them immediately as White House </div> <div> documents. I'm not sure how they got there but I was certain you </div> <div> would want them back. Rest assured, I didn't read them. As soon as I </div> <div> realized what they were I put them in an envelope to send to you </div> <div> immediately.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She slipped the note in on top of the files, addressed the envelope </div> <div> to Leo and grabbed her coat. </div> <bR> <div> "I have an errand to run. I'll be back in a little while," Amy said </div> <div> as she breezed past her secretary, a determined smile on her face.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "MARGARET!" Leo screamed from the depths of his office.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," she asked, immediately appearing in his doorway. She could </div> <div> tell that Leo was livid. In all the years they had been together, she </div> <div> had only seen him like this on a few occasions.</div> <bR> <div> "I want to see Josh and Donna immediately," he said with barely </div> <div> contained fury.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll take care of it," Margaret said, frightened by the look in </div> <div> Leo's eyes.</div> <bR> <div> A minute later she reappeared in the doorway. "Josh is on the Hill </div> <div> all afternoon but Donna is on her way here. Should I page Josh and </div> <div> get him back?"</div> <bR> <div> "No! But I want to see him the second he steps foot in the building."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll see to it," Margaret said before retreating to her desk.</div> <bR> <div> A minute later Donna arrived in Leo's outer office. She became </div> <div> immediately uneasy from the look on Margaret's face. "Is something </div> <div> wrong?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," Margaret said solemnly, waving Donna into the office.</div> <bR> <div> As soon as she was in, Margaret closed the door. Donna was suddenly </div> <div> terrified. Leo was sitting in his chair with his back turned to her. </div> <div> The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.</div> <bR> <div> "Is something wrong, Leo?" Donna asked timidly.</div> <bR> <div> "Something is very wrong," Leo said angrily as he turned to face </div> <div> Donna. </div> <bR> <div> "Wh..wh..what?" Donna asked, sure she didn't really want to know.</div> <bR> <div> "Can you explain these?" Leo spat as he thrust the contents of the </div> <div> manila envelope towards Donna.</div> <bR> <div> Donna recognized them immediately. "These are Josh's files and </div> <div> message slips. And this is one of my work disks."</div> <bR> <div> Leo continued to glare at her. "Would you care to explain why they </div> <div> were sent to me by messenger?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know. I mean...."</div> <bR> <div> "They were found in a trashcan outside of an apartment on 3rd Street."</div> <bR> <div> All of the blood drained from Donna's face. "I live on 3rd Street."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm well aware of that, Donna," Leo said accusingly. "Would you care </div> <div> to explain to me how these files ended up in a trash can outside your </div> <div> apartment," he said, his voice rising to a full-blown shout.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," Donna said, her voice shaky and her knees growing </div> <div> weaker.</div> <bR> <div> "You shouldn't even have this kind of material outside of the White </div> <div> House, Donna," he screamed. "I thought you knew better."</div> <bR> <div> "I do.." Donna started desperately trying to defend herself.</div> <bR> <div> "Apparently not," Leo thundered on. "What were you thinking? How </div> <div> could you have been so careless? How did these this happen?"</div> <bR> <div> "I...I...I"</div> <bR> <div> "Go home, Donna!"</div> <bR> <div> "What?" </div> <bR> <div> "I said, go home."</div> <bR> <div> "Am I fired?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know yet. There will have to be a full investigation. Just </div> <div> go home and wait until you hear from me again."</div> <bR> <div> Donna turned towards the door sobbing, unable to hold back the hurt </div> <div> and confusion. Her hand was on the knob when Leo spoke again.</div> <bR> <div> "Is there any other missing material I should know about?" he asked </div> <div> angrily.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Donna said quietly, before fleeing his office, grabbing her </div> <div> coat and purse, and running for her car.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh returned from the Hill two hours later to find the White House </div> <div> abuzz. He wondered immediately what had happened while he was gone. </div> <div> He looked for Donna to tell him what was up but she was nowhere to be </div> <div> found.  What he did find was a note on his desk saying that Leo </div> <div> wanted to see him immediately.</div> <bR> <div> He wandered the hall still trying to pick up on what might be going </div> <div> on. When he reached Leo's office, Margaret couldn't look him in the </div> <div> eye.</div> <bR> <div> "What happened, Margaret? Why is the place in such an uproar?"</div> <bR> <div> Margaret was saved from having to answer as Leo's office door flew </div> <div> open and he said, "Inside, Josh. Now!"</div> <bR> <div> "What's the matter, Leo?" Josh asked as he entered the office and </div> <div> closed the door behind him.</div> <bR> <div> "This is the matter," Leo said, practically throwing the envelope he </div> <div> had received by messenger at his deputy. </div> <bR> <div> Josh removed the contents and knew exactly what he was looking </div> <div> at. "Where did you get this?" he asked.</div> <bR> <div> "It arrived by messenger this afternoon," Leo said through gritted </div> <div> teeth. His anger had subsided a little since he talked to Donna but </div> <div> not much.</div> <bR> <div> Josh took a deep breath and ran his hand nervously through his hair. </div> <div> He was gonna have to tell Leo what was going on, even though he </div> <div> didn't think he had enough facts yet. "Listen, Leo...."</div> <bR> <div> "No you listen, Josh. These things were found in a trash can outside </div> <div> of Donna's apartment building."</div> <bR> <div> "What?"</div> <bR> <div> "You heard me. What was she doing taking this kind of stuff home. </div> <div> Granted it's not top secret, but it's also not something I want </div> <div> spread all over town."</div> <bR> <div> "Leo, Donna didn't....." Josh began. He stopped in mid sentence as he </div> <div> realized something. "Where's Donna?"</div> <bR> <div> "I sent her home," Leo said.</div> <bR> <div> "You fired her?!?"</div> <bR> <div> "No, I didn't fire her, although I had good reason. I wanted to wait </div> <div> and talk to you first. I sent her home until we can launch an </div> <div> investigation into how this happened."</div> <bR> <div> "Leo you don't understand what's going on here. This isn't Donna's </div> <div> fault," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "Then whose fault is it?" Leo asked sarcastically.</div> <bR> <div> "Actually...Amy's," Josh answered.</div> <bR> <div> "I think you better sit down and tell me what the hell you're talking </div> <div> about," Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna stood in her kitchen, tears running down her face, looking </div> <div> confusedly into her refrigerator. Every cupboard door was open also. </div> <div> She remembered going grocery shopping last night, but she didn't </div> <div> remember buying any of the food she saw in front of her. She reached </div> <div> under the sink where she kept the paper grocery bags neatly folded. </div> <div> She opened each one until she found the receipt in the bottom of one. </div> <div> She looked over the items that had been rung up.</div> <bR> <div> Beef jerky, pork and beans, lentil soup. These weren't things that </div> <div> Donna even liked so why were her cupboards full of them. She could </div> <div> have sworn she bought fruit and vegetables and peanut butter. How </div> <div> could she have made such mistakes?</div> <bR> <div> "Am I going crazy?" she asked out loud to her empty apartment. "Did I </div> <div> really bring those files home and throw them in the garbage?"</div> <bR> <div> Donna's hands were shaking as she reached into the refrigerator and </div> <div> pulled out the one food that looked familiar, yogurt. She grabbed a </div> <div> spoon and headed for the living room, where she curled up on the </div> <div> couch, covered herself with a blanket, and sobbed. </div> <bR> <div> Josh heaved a heavy sigh as he sat down across from Leo and tried to </div> <div> explain everything he had found out in the last eighteen hours. He </div> <div> recounted finding Amy holding his phones, and then finding out later </div> <div> that messages had been erased. He went back over all of the missed </div> <div> messages, missed meetings and missing files that had occurred in the </div> <div> last month. </div> <bR> <div> "And you think Amy has something to do with all this?" Leo asked </div> <div> incredulously.</div> <bR> <div> "Believe me," Josh replied, "I know how crazy it sounds. But I also </div> <div> know what I saw. Amy was doing something with my phones when I got </div> <div> out of the shower, and then Donna's messages magically disappeared. </div> <div> It makes me wonder what else Amy has been up to."</div> <bR> <div> "Josh, listen. I'm trying to be sympathetic here, but if your love </div> <div> life has somehow turned into Peyton Place, I can't let that get in </div> <div> the way of business."</div> <bR> <div> "Don't you think I know that, Leo?" Josh asked angrily. Immediately </div> <div> sorry for snapping at his boss, he took a deep breath and </div> <div> continued. "I'm not sure that this is all about my love life. I can't </div> <div> believe that Amy would go to this much trouble just to get rid of </div> <div> Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "Have you looked at Donna lately?" Leo asked dryly.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Josh snapped. "I've looked at Donna virtually every day for </div> <div> the last four years. But I've never asked her out. I asked Amy out. </div> <div> So what does Amy have to be jealous of?"</div> <bR> <div> There was so much that Leo wanted to say, but now just wasn't the </div> <div> time. Emotions were running too high. If this was just some drama </div> <div> having to do with Josh's love life, he wanted it ended immediately. </div> <div> But if Josh was right, and this was about more than that, he had to </div> <div> know. Like the old adage said, 'Hold your friends close and your </div> <div> enemies closer.'</div> <bR> <div> "So what do you plan to do?" Leo asked, deciding to move the </div> <div> conversation in a different direction, at least temporarily. He knew </div> <div> that the day when he would have to talk to Josh about Donna was </div> <div> drawing closer, but right now he had a more pressing problem to deal </div> <div> with.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I think it's important that Amy not find out we suspect </div> <div> anything."</div> <bR> <div> "I agree."</div> <bR> <div> "I've asked a few friends to do some checking."</div> <bR> <div> "Do I want to know who these 'friends' are?"</div> <bR> <div> "Probably not," Josh said a bit sheepishly. "Other than that, we just </div> <div> need to keep a close watch on Amy whenever she's in the White House. </div> <div> She was kind of flying under the radar before, no one really noticed </div> <div> her. Maybe that's how she managed to cause all of these problems."</div> <bR> <div> "And Donna?"</div> <bR> <div> "That's the thing, Leo," Josh said earnestly. "Right now Amy seems </div> <div> focused on getting Donna out of the way. So we know where to </div> <div> concentrate our energy. But if we take Donna out of the picture, </div> <div> there's no telling where Amy might strike next."</div> <bR> <div> "So we set Donna up as a target?"</div> <bR> <div> "Not a target!" Josh said defensively. "I don't think Amy wants to </div> <div> hurt Donna, she just wants her out of the way. So if we keep Donna in </div> <div> place, we know where to expect Amy to strike next."</div> <bR> <div> "Have you talked to Donna about this?"</div> <bR> <div> "Not yet."</div> <bR> <div> "Anyone else know?"</div> <bR> <div> "Just CJ. I talked to her this morning after staff."</div> <bR> <div> Leo sighed a heavy sigh, pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "You better give Sam and Toby a heads up too. But I'm not gonna play </div> <div> this game forever, Josh. Find out what's going on and do it fast."</div> <bR> <div> "I will, Leo. I promise."</div> <bR> <div> "And if there are any more incidents like the one that happened </div> <div> today, I'm gonna have no choice but to fire Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "I understand. I'll take care of it. Nothing like that will happen </div> <div> again."</div> <bR> <div> "OK. Get out of here so I can get some work done."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks, Leo."</div> <bR> <div> "You're welcome. Now go," Leo said gruffly, but he couldn't hide the </div> <div> genuine affection in his voice. And he couldn't help but smile at the </div> <div> look in his deputy's eyes. Josh was primed for battle. Ready to do </div> <div> whatever it took to find out the truth, and protect someone he cared </div> <div> for.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>       </div> <bR> <div> Josh made a few quick calls and arranged to meet Sam, CJ, and Toby in </div> <div> Toby's office right away. As he was headed in that direction, his </div> <div> cell rang.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh Lyman," he said.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey, J. Are you still on the Hill?"</div> <bR> <div> It was all Josh could do to not hurl the phone across the room. The </div> <div> very sound of Amy's voice made his blood pressure rise. But he meant </div> <div> what he had said to Leo. It would be easier to find out what was </div> <div> going on if Amy was oblivious to the fact that they were on to her. </div> <div> So he took a deep breath, softened his voice, and said,</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry. I got hit with a crisis as soon as I walked in the door. </div> <div> I was just getting ready to call you."</div> <bR> <div> "Anything serious?" Amy asked, trying but failing to sound </div> <div> uninterested.</div> <bR> <div> "Kind of."</div> <bR> <div> "So you'll be all night?" Amy asked seductively.</div> <bR> <div> "Um...I don't think so. Just give me a couple more hours."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok. Maybe I'll just go over and wait at your place," Amy purred.</div> <bR> <div> "No!" Josh said quickly. He knew that if Amy went to his place she </div> <div> would plan on spending the night, and there was no way he could face </div> <div> the prospect of that. "I just mean...umm....I need a little change of </div> <div> scenery. We always stay at my place. How about if I come by your </div> <div> apartment for a change?"</div> <bR> <div> "Ok. If that's what you want."</div> <bR> <div> "It is. I'll be there as soon as I can."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be waiting."</div> <bR> <div> "Bye."</div> <bR> <div> Josh shoved his phone in his pocket as he headed for Toby's office, </div> <div> and made a mental note to ask someone to page him later.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> By the time Josh arrived, CJ had filled Sam and Toby in on everything </div> <div> Josh had told her that morning. On top of that, they had all heard </div> <div> the buzz about the missing files found in the trashcan outside of </div> <div> Donna's apartment. It was all anyone had been talking about all </div> <div> afternoon.</div> <bR> <div> "They're up to speed," CJ said as Josh flopped down on the end of </div> <div> Toby's couch, looking carefully at the faces of his friends. CJ </div> <div> looked worried, Sam looked like he was deep in thought, and Toby </div> <div> looked a bit confused by the whole situation.</div> <bR> <div> "What's going on here, Josh?" Toby asked, breaking the silence.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know exactly," Josh answered determinedly. "I just know that </div> <div> Amy is up to something and I'm gonna find out exactly what it is."</div> <bR> <div> "You really think Amy has been sabotaging Donna's work? And that she </div> <div> put those files in the trashcan outside of Donna's apartment?" Sam </div> <div> asked skeptically.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't think those files were ever in the trashcan," Josh answered </div> <div> quickly. "They arrived by messenger; they were certainly no worse for </div> <div> the wear. They weren't stained or torn. And I know for certain that </div> <div> Amy was screwing with my phone messages. So if she was doing that, it </div> <div> only makes sense she was involved with the other stuff."</div> <bR> <div> "Good point," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "I have a friend checking the messenger service to see if he can come </div> <div> up with anything on who sent the package," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "What else can we do?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <div> Toby rubbed his hand over his bald head. Amy Gardner wasn't one of </div> <div> his favorite people, but he would never have thought her the type to </div> <div> do something like this. But then again, in the four years Toby had </div> <div> known Donna he couldn't ever remember her being so careless or </div> <div> incompetent. There was at least enough circumstantial evidence to </div> <div> believe Amy was up to something, so he decided he owed it to Donna to </div> <div> get to the bottom of things. </div> <bR> <div> "I'll ask around discreetly and see if I can come up with any </div> <div> information on Ms. Gardner," Toby said, beginning to jot down notes </div> <div> on his legal pad.</div> <bR> <div> "What about Donna? Is she fired?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Josh answered. "Leo agrees that keeping Donna close is the best </div> <div> way to find out exactly what Amy is up to. We know where Amy's </div> <div> attention is fixated right now, so we know where to watch for her </div> <div> next move."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you gonna tell Donna what's going on?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Josh said at the exact same time Toby said "No!"      </div> <bR> <div> "Why wouldn't I tell her?" Josh asked incredulously.</div> <bR> <div> "Think about it," Toby answered, "As soon as Donna hears what's going </div> <div> on she's going to go into attack mode. She isn't going to be </div> <div> protecting herself, Josh; she's going to be protecting you. There's </div> <div> absolutely no way she's going to let Amy do anything that might hurt </div> <div> you or damage your career."</div> <bR> <div> "That's true," CJ agreed, "You know how Donna is when it comes to </div> <div> you, Josh."</div> <bR> <div> "So we don't tell her?" Josh asked, trying to wrap his mind around </div> <div> the idea.</div> <bR> <div> "We keep her close," Toby said. "We do everything in our power to </div> <div> protect her. But I think letting her in on it is too much of a risk. </div> <div> She's too likely to go after Amy and tip our hand."</div> <bR> <div> "I have to agree," Sam said. "When it comes to protecting you, Donna </div> <div> has a 'take no prisoners' strategy. If she feels that Amy might be </div> <div> doing something to make you look bad, there's no telling what she </div> <div> might do."</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," Josh sighed, "this whole situation is taking a heavy </div> <div> toll on Donna. If I could just tell her, I think it might make her </div> <div> feel better."</div> <bR> <div> "She'll feel better once we get this whole mess straightened out," </div> <div> Toby insisted. "Until then, I think the less she knows the better."</div> <bR> <div> "You're probably right," Josh agreed. "I just hate...."</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Toby said softly. "I don't like seeing Donna miserable any </div> <div> more than you do. But in this case, it's really for her own good. The </div> <div> less she knows the better it will be for her."</div> <bR> <div> "I guess so. Let's just get this over with as soon as possible," Josh </div> <div> said.</div> <bR> <div> Everyone in the room nodded in agreement.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok then," Josh continued. "I'm gonna head over to Donna's place and </div> <div> tell her that she isn't fired..."</div> <bR> <div> "Josh..." Toby said warningly.</div> <bR> <div> "That's all I'm gonna tell her," Josh assured him. "Then I have to </div> <div> head over to Amy's apartment."</div> <bR> <div> "Really?" Sam asked. "You're still going to....you know.."</div> <bR> <div> "We all agreed," Josh sighed, "We have to make it look like nothing </div> <div> has changed. But I have no intention of...you know. I need someone to </div> <div> page me over there in about 90 minutes and say there's some sort of </div> <div> emergency."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll do it," Toby said. "I'll still be here anyway."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh said as he stood up. When he reached the door he </div> <div> turned around and looked sincerely at his friends. "And I mean thanks </div> <div> for everything. I realize that this is my mess and I appreciate you </div> <div> guys helping me clean it up."</div> <bR> <div> "All for one," Toby said with a wry smile.</div> <bR> <div> "And one for all," Sam and CJ said in unison.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the insistent </div> <div> knocking on her apartment door. She glanced at the clock on the VCR. </div> <div> 10:18. She had been sitting on her couch, wrapped in a blanket and </div> <div> sobbing for hours. She wiped her tears and called, "Who is it?"</div> <bR> <div> "It's me, Josh," came the answer from the other side of the door.</div> <bR> <div> Donna's heart began to pound. She didn't think she was ready to see </div> <div> Josh. Surely he had heard about the files by now. Was he here to </div> <div> scream at her? To berate her some more? Maybe he was here to fire </div> <div> her. Her hands began to shake.</div> <bR> <div> "What do you want?" she asked tremulously.</div> <bR> <div> "Let me in, Donna. We need to talk."</div> <bR> <div> Donna pulled the blanket tighter around her body and walked slowly </div> <div> across the apartment. She unlatched all of the locks and opened the </div> <div> door.</div> <bR> <div> "Come in," she said, preparing for the worst.</div> <bR> <div> When Josh finally got a look at Donna, he was shocked by the way she </div> <div> looked. She had obviously been crying for hours. Her eyes were puffy </div> <div> and her face was beet red. But that wasn't the worst of it. The worst </div> <div> was the look in Donna's eyes. Fear, confusion, anger, sadness. Josh </div> <div> had never seen Donna look like that before. The emotions were so </div> <div> thick he could actually feel them in the air.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" he asked, taking a step towards her. He cringed when </div> <div> she took a step back.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine. What do you need?" she asked, pulling the blanket even </div> <div> tighter.</div> <bR> <div> "I wanted to talk to you about what happened today."</div> <bR> <div> "I guess you talked to Leo," Donna said in a small, shaky voice.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Josh sighed.</div> <bR> <div> "Am I fired?"</div> <bR> <div> "No, no no, no. You're not fired."</div> <bR> <div> "I have no idea how those files ended up in the trashcan outside. I </div> <div> tried to tell Leo but he wouldn't listen. And he was so angry. He </div> <div> told me to go home until I heard from him."</div> <bR> <div> "I straightened everything out."</div> <bR> <div> "How?"</div> <bR> <div> "I just did, Donna. Don't worry about how."</div> <bR> <div> "But the files and messages..." Donna said as she swiped furiously at </div> <div> the tears that had begun to fall.</div> <bR> <div> At that moment, Josh knew what it felt like to have your heart break. </div> <div> He wanted desperately to take Donna in his arms and comfort her. To </div> <div> tell her that everything would be ok. To tell her that none of this </div> <div> was her fault, that it had all been Amy's doing. But then he reminded </div> <div> himself that Toby had a point. It was better for Donna not to know </div> <div> what was going on, at least for the time being. Amy seemed fixated on </div> <div> Donna, and so she was bound to notice any change in Donna's behavior. </div> <div> If she caught on to the fact that she was being watched, she might </div> <div> retreat completely and then they would never find out what was going </div> <div> on. Or worse yet, she might lash out and put Donna in physical danger.</div> <bR> <div> As much as he hated the look in Donna's eyes, and what she was going </div> <div> through right now, he knew that it was the only way to keep her safe.</div> <bR> <div> "Do you trust me, Donna?" Josh asked softly.</div> <bR> <div> "What?" Donna asked, confused by the quick change of subject.</div> <bR> <div> "I asked you if you trust me," Josh said, easing closer to her </div> <div> trembling form.</div> <bR> <div> Donna knew the answer to that question immediately. Despite </div> <div> everything they had been through, despite all the angry words, </div> <div> despite all the tears there was no doubt. "Yes," she said resolutely.</div> <bR> <div> Josh breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I'm gonna have to ask you to </div> <div> trust me on this one. I'll take care of everything. We'll get this </div> <div> whole mess straightened out. I just need you to come back to work."</div> <bR> <div> "Leo said it was ok?" Donna asked tearfully.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes. He wants you back."      </div> <bR> <div> "But...."</div> <bR> <div> "Just trust me, Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "I do," Donna answered in a voice barely above a whisper.</div> <bR> <div> Josh stepped forward, and this time Donna didn't retreat. He pulled </div> <div> her into a gentle hug and placed a kiss on top of her head. He wished </div> <div> that he could stay there all night holding her but he knew he </div> <div> couldn't. He pulled back and placed his hand underneath Donna's chin, </div> <div> tipping her head up till she was looking directly into his eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll see you tomorrow at work," he said with a small smile.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be there," Donna said.</div> <bR> <div> As Josh descended the steps outside of Donna's building, he looked </div> <div> back over his shoulder and saw her standing in the window. He waved </div> <div> and smiled. Donna waved back, but the look on her face was still </div> <div> heartbreaking. Josh vowed at that very moment to get to the bottom of </div> <div> this as soon as possible, and to make Amy pay for every teardrop </div> <div> Donna shed.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "I thought you were never gonna get here," Amy said as she flung open </div> <div> her apartment door.</div> <bR> <div> "I came as soon as I could," Josh said evenly, trying not to let his </div> <div> true feelings show.</div> <bR> <div> "Did you get everything straightened out?" </div> <bR> <div> Without waiting for an answer Amy grabbed Josh's arm and pulled him </div> <div> into the living room. She sat down on the couch and pulled Josh down </div> <div> beside her.</div> <bR> <div> "Not really," Josh said, extricating his arm from Amy's grasp and </div> <div> scrubbing his hand over his face.</div> <div>       </div> <div> "Wanna talk about it?"</div> <bR> <div> On the way over, Josh had put a lot of thought into exactly what he </div> <div> would say. He needed to give Amy just enough information to keep her </div> <div> satisfied. He decided that if he worked it right, he could get her to </div> <div> play right into their hands.</div> <bR> <div> "It's Donna," he said, carefully watching Amy's face for any reaction.</div> <bR> <div> "Again?" Amy asked disgustedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah. Except it's getting worse," Josh confessed.</div> <bR> <div> "How so?" </div> <bR> <div> Josh could tell that Amy was trying to sound nonchalant, but it </div> <div> wasn't working. He could hear the curiosity in every word.</div> <bR> <div> "Apparently she took all of those missing files and message slips </div> <div> home with her. Someone found them in the trashcan outside her </div> <div> apartment and messengered them to Leo."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you serious?" Amy asked. "Why would she throw files in the </div> <div> trashcan?"</div> <bR> <div> "I have no idea," Josh said solemnly.</div> <bR> <div> "So I'm assuming Leo fired her," Amy said matter-of-factly.</div> <bR> <div> Josh knew that this was where he had to be very careful. "Not yet," </div> <div> he sighed.</div> <bR> <div> "Why not?!?" Amy practically screamed.</div> <bR> <div> "It's a very delicate situation," Josh said, turning to face her so </div> <div> that he could gauge her full reaction. "We're just coming out of the </div> <div> hearings. The President agreed to a censure. We can't afford another </div> <div> scandal."</div> <bR> <div> "How is firing your secretary for gross incompetence going to turn </div> <div> into a scandal?" Amy scoffed.</div> <bR> <div> "Leo thinks we need more to go on. We need iron clad proof that Donna </div> <div> has been screwing up. If not, she could launch a wrongful termination </div> <div> suit and we'd be right in the middle of another scandal. We just </div> <div> can't afford that this close to the election."</div> <bR> <div> "So what's he gonna do?" Amy asked, wrapping her arms around Josh's </div> <div> neck and sliding over until she was practically sitting in his lap.</div> <bR> <div> "He's gonna check into things. He's gonna try to come up with some </div> <div> concrete proof that Donna did something wrong. Then we can fire her </div> <div> without worrying about a lawsuit or a scandal."</div> <bR> <div> Josh smiled inwardly. He could tell that Amy was buying the story </div> <div> hook, line and sinker.</div> <bR> <div> "So what are you gonna do until then?" Amy asked softly, leaning </div> <div> forward and planting a kiss on Josh's lips.</div> <bR> <div> "Just wait and see what happens I guess." </div> <bR> <div> "Well maybe I can help you fill the time while you wait," Amy said, </div> <div> turning to face Josh, straddling his thighs and grinding against him. </div> <div> As she moved to deepen the kiss, Josh's pager sounded.</div> <bR> <div> 'Thank God,' he thought.</div> <bR> <div> "Ignore it," Amy pleaded as she continued to press against Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "I can't do that," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out </div> <div> his pager. He glanced at the display, the carefully lifted Amy off of </div> <div> his lap.</div> <bR> <div> "It's Toby," he said. "He needs me. Some sort of emergency."</div> <bR> <div> "Can't he handle it alone?"</div> <bR> <div> "I told you before, Amy, when my phone rings late at night it's </div> <div> important. I have to go." </div> <bR> <div> "Should I wait up?" Amy asked disappointedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Probably not. This may take a while. I'll just crash at the office."</div> <bR> <div> "You'll call in the morning?" Amy pouted.</div> <bR> <div> "First chance I get," Josh assured her, then he grabbed his backpack </div> <div> and headed for his car.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Amy stared angrily at the door for several minutes after Josh left. </div> <div> She couldn't believe that Leo hadn't fired Donna. An uneducated </div> <div> little witch like her wouldn't have the nerve to file a lawsuit </div> <div> against the administration. Not unless some lowlife ambulance chaser </div> <div> who wanted to make a name for himself got a hold of her. And Amy </div> <div> supposed that was always a possibility.</div> <bR> <div> After taking a few minutes to formulate a plan, she reached in the </div> <div> end table drawer for a phone book.</div> <bR> <div> "If it's concrete proof Leo wants," she said to an empty </div> <div> apartment, "Then it's concrete proof he shall get."</div> <bR> <div> Donna reached over sleepily and slapped at the alarm. She'd had a </div> <div> restless night and couldn't believe it was time to get up already. </div> <div> She stood up and sluggishly began to move towards the shower, trying </div> <div> to ignore the knot in her stomach. </div> <bR> <div> Yesterday in Leo's office, she had been terrified that she was going </div> <div> to be fired. She couldn't imagine what her life would be like if she </div> <div> didn't go to work in the White House everyday. But now, facing the </div> <div> reality of heading back there, after everything that had happened, </div> <div> she was scared. Scared of what people would think, and of how they </div> <div> would treat her. But mostly scared of making another huge mistake. </div> <div> Because she knew that if she did, there would be nothing Josh could </div> <div> do to save her job.</div> <bR> <div> She rushed through her shower, deciding that being late, today of all </div> <div> days, wasn't really a good idea. After pulling her hair back in a </div> <div> ponytail and applying makeup to cover her puffy eyes as much as </div> <div> possible, she went to the closet to grab her red suit. She always </div> <div> felt better, more confident, when she was wearing her red suit.</div> <bR> <div> 'Thank God I picked up my dry cleaning', she thought as she opened </div> <div> her closet door. She reached in and began rifling through her </div> <div> clothes. Her red suit wasn't there. She looked again. None of her dry </div> <div> cleaning was there. She spun around and looked at the hook on the </div> <div> back of her bedroom door. It was empty. She went out into the living </div> <div> room, thinking that maybe she had simply forgotten to put it away. </div> <div> Nothing. But she was sure she had picked it up.</div> <bR> <div> She went back to her bedroom and looked around, her mind full of </div> <div> confusion. She specifically remembered stopping on her way home two </div> <div> days ago to pick up her dry cleaning. She had let it go longer than </div> <div> normal, so she was down to no good suits for work. As her eyes began </div> <div> to fill with tears, she caught sight of something lying on the corner </div> <div> of her dresser.</div> <bR> <div> It was her dry cleaning claim tag. </div> <bR> <div> Her hands were shaking as she picked up the tag and turned it over. </div> <div> She checked the date; it was current. What in the world was happening </div> <div> to her? She was sure that she had picked up her cleaning? Donna sat </div> <div> down on the bed and tried to collect her thoughts. Something very </div> <div> strange was going on, but she couldn't seem to make her mind focus </div> <div> long enough to figure out what it was.</div> <bR> <div> As she was trying desperately to concentrate, she caught sight of the </div> <div> clock on her bedside table. She was going to be late if she didn't </div> <div> hurry. She'd have to figure out the dry cleaning mystery later. She </div> <div> dressed quickly in black pants and a white sweater that she only wore </div> <div> when all of her other clothes were dirty. Then she grabbed a cup of </div> <div> yogurt and headed out the door.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> She had managed to pull herself together, as much as possible, by the </div> <div> time she arrived at the White House and began to walk determinedly </div> <div> towards the bullpen. She kept her head down, but even so she could </div> <div> hear people murmuring all around her, and feel the eyes of her co-</div> <div> workers boring into her back.</div> <bR> <div> She took a deep breath, steeled her resolve, and made it to her desk, </div> <div> where she quickly sat down and went about getting ready for the day. </div> <div> She stowed her purse in the bottom right drawer as usual, turned on </div> <div> her computer, and began sifting through the things that had landed in </div> <div> her inbox since she left yesterday. She was startled when she saw </div> <div> Josh walk out of his office and approach her desk.</div> <bR> <div> "Morning, Donnatella," he said brightly.</div> <bR> <div> "Morning," Donna said, trying to match his cheery tone, "What are you </div> <div> doing here so early?"</div> <bR> <div> "Leo moved staff up till 6 AM because he had some other commitments," </div> <div> Josh said matter-of-factly. </div> <bR> <div> "Oh, Josh, I'm sorry," Donna stammered, "I should have known."</div> <bR> <div> "Not a problem," Josh assured her. "I had a few things I needed to </div> <div> take care of early this morning anyway. But you should be very proud </div> <div> of me. I managed to make it here, on time and prepared, and I did it </div> <div> all by myself."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm very proud of you," Donna said with a twinge of sadness in her </div> <div> voice. Maybe Josh really didn't need her anymore.</div> <bR> <div> "Okay...well...don't be too proud," Josh admitted sheepishly. "I fell </div> <div> asleep on Toby's couch and he woke me up when he came in this </div> <div> morning. Otherwise, I'd probably still be home in bed."</div> <bR> <div> Donna laughed, probably her first genuine laugh in days. "If you can </div> <div> give me just a second to get organized, we can go over your schedule."</div> <bR> <div> "Sounds good," Josh replied, placing his hand on Donna's shoulder and </div> <div> giving it a quick squeeze. "I'll be in my office whenever you're </div> <div> ready."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Donna said with a soft smile. Looking in his eyes she could </div> <div> almost believe that everything was going to be ok.</div> <bR> <div> "Bring me some coffee when you come in?" Josh asked teasingly.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't hold your breath," Donna said as she turned her attention back </div> <div> to the pile of work that had accumulated on her desk overnight.</div> <bR> <div> 'Well, that's good,' Josh thought to himself, 'As long as Donna is </div> <div> refusing to bring me coffee, I know things aren't completely off </div> <div> track.'</div> <bR> <div> Five minutes later Donna breezed into Josh's office carrying his </div> <div> schedule and a list of phone calls that needed returned.</div> <bR> <div> "You have a 7:30 meeting in the Mural Room about the transportation </div> <div> thing, that should go all morning, then lunch with Sam and Toby to go </div> <div> over the President's speech for the Teamsters, then you're on the </div> <div> Hill with Wilkins at 2:00, then back here to catch up on phone calls </div> <div> and paperwork."</div> <bR> <div> "Sounds like a very productive day," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> He watched Donna as she began to sort through some of the mess on his </div> <div> desk, looking for the reports he needed for his meeting in the Mural </div> <div> Room. She looked better than she had last night, but only marginally. </div> <div> She still seemed nervous and unsure of herself, mentally questioning </div> <div> every move before she made it. That was so totally opposite from the </div> <div> Donna he knew that it scared him.</div> <bR> <div> His Donna never doubted her ability as an assistant. She was good at </div> <div> her job and she knew it. She had known it from the first day in the </div> <div> Nashua office. Josh wanted to get this whole situation with Amy </div> <div> straightened out as soon as possible so that he could have his Donna </div> <div> back. </div> <bR> <div> Josh's mind was just beginning to process the fact that he had </div> <div> mentally referred to Donna as 'his Donna' twice in the span of less </div> <div> than a minute when a voice from the doorway interrupted his train of </div> <div> thought.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey, J. I was lonely waking up without you this morning so I thought </div> <div> I'd drop by on my way to work."</div> <bR> <div> Josh saw how Donna's spine stiffened at the sound of Amy's voice.</div> <bR> <div> "Morning, Amy," Donna said politely.</div> <bR> <div> "Morning, Donna," Amy replied icily.</div> <bR> <div> "Well this is a surprise," Josh said, rising and moving to stand </div> <div> between Donna and Amy. It wasn't like he thought a fistfight was </div> <div> imminent, he just had an overwhelming desire to protect Donna. He </div> <div> didn't want Amy anywhere near her.</div> <bR> <div> "A good surprise I hope," Amy purred, leaning in and kissing Josh on </div> <div> the cheek.</div> <bR> <div> Josh grunted noncommittally and turned to Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "Can you please check the faxes that came in overnight? I was waiting </div> <div> for new figures from Simmons over at OMB. I want to take them with me </div> <div> to the meeting this morning if they're here."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll check," Donna said as she practically ran out of the office, </div> <div> eager to get as far away from Amy as possible.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm surprised you still trust her with things that are really </div> <div> important," Amy said derisively. "Couldn't you stash her away </div> <div> somewhere, alphabetizing obsolete files, while you gather the proof </div> <div> you need to fire her?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh clenched his jaw and fought hard to control his temper.</div> <bR> <div> "Leo's calling the shots on this one," he said. "I'm just following </div> <div> his rules. And his rules say that everything remains status quo until </div> <div> he gets some solid proof."</div> <bR> <div> "Whatever," Amy said dismissively. "I have some free time around </div> <div> lunch today. Wanna grab a bite?"</div> <bR> <div> "Sorry, I can't. I have a lunch meeting with Sam and Toby."</div> <bR> <div> "Dinner?" Amy asked with a touch of annoyance.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll have to let you know," Josh said, glancing at his watch. "But </div> <div> if I don't get going right now I'm gonna be late for my meeting."</div> <bR> <div> "So you'll call me?" Amy asked snidely.</div> <bR> <div> "First chance I get," Josh answered distractedly.</div> <bR> <div> As they left his office, he glanced quickly between Amy and Donna. He </div> <div> needed to get going, but he didn't want to leave the two of them </div> <div> alone together. He didn't trust Amy at all. Who knew what she might </div> <div> say to Donna?</div> <bR> <div> "Here's the fax," Donna said quietly, handing it to him without </div> <div> lifting her eyes from the carpet.</div> <bR> <div> "Great. Thanks," Josh said. "Walk with me to Mural Room so we can go </div> <div> over this. You can show yourself out right, Amy?"</div> <bR> <div> "Sure," Amy said. "I'll talk to you later."</div> <bR> <div> Josh and Donna headed off down the hall towards the Mural Room. As </div> <div> soon as they were out of sight, Amy walked slowly to Donna's desk. </div> <div> She looked around furtively, then picked up a message pad and quickly </div> <div> jotted something down. She opened up Donna's drawer and found an </div> <div> envelope. She sealed the message in the envelope and placed it in </div> <div> Donna's inbox. With a satisfied smirk, she headed out.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As soon as Amy was out of sight, CJ moved quickly from her vantage </div> <div> point just inside her own office door, towards Donna's desk. She </div> <div> quickly scooped the envelope out of Donna's inbox. She tore it open, </div> <div> and her jaw dropped at what she saw. She turned and marched </div> <div> resolutely into her office.</div> <bR> <div> "Carol," she said in a very measured tone, "I need you to clear an </div> <div> hour for me around noon today. I also need a reservation for two at </div> <div> the most discreet restaurant in town."</div> <bR> <div> "Do you want me to set up the meeting?" Carol asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No," CJ said determinedly, "I'll take care of that myself."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> By the time Josh's meeting finally let out, he only had ten minutes </div> <div> to make it to his lunch with Sam and Toby. As he headed for his </div> <div> office to drop off his notes, he saw Donna sitting at her desk, </div> <div> eating a container of yogurt and leafing through a magazine.</div> <bR> <div> He hurried towards her and said, "I have to get out of here right now </div> <div> or Toby will grumble for the entire meal about how he has better </div> <div> things to do than sit around waiting for me. Why don't you call </div> <div> Margaret and grab some lunch?"</div> <bR> <div> "Margaret and the other assistants went to Mancini's for lunch," </div> <div> Donna said flatly.</div> <bR> <div> Josh couldn't miss the small hitch in her voice. "You didn't wanna </div> <div> go?"</div> <bR> <div> "I wasn't invited," Donna confessed.</div> <bR> <div> "What do you mean?" Josh asked irritably.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, Josh, it's no big deal," Donna said, trying to hold back </div> <div> tears. She knew that if she got upset it would just send Josh off on </div> <div> a tirade, and that was the last thing any of them needed right now.</div> <bR> <div> "It is a big deal, Donna. Where do they get off..."</div> <bR> <div> "Listen, Josh. I can see their point. Everyone knows about what </div> <div> happened in Leo's office yesterday. They all think that I took those </div> <div> files home and then threw them in the trash. They don't want to hang </div> <div> out with me for fear that they might get drawn into this whole mess."</div> <bR> <div> Josh could see that Donna was near tears, but he could also see that </div> <div> she didn't want him to make a big deal of this. </div> <bR> <div> "Do you want me to talk to them?" he asked softly.</div> <bR> <div> "No, hopefully it'll all blow over," Donna said with a confidence she </div> <div> really didn't feel.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll tell you what," Josh said, "I'll bring you back a salad from </div> <div> Houlihan's. How's that sound?"</div> <bR> <div> "By the time you're done with Sam and Toby you'll probably have to </div> <div> head straight for the Hill. I'll be fine. I'm really not all that </div> <div> hungry."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Positive. Now go before Toby gets any crankier."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, I'll see you later," Josh said as he headed down the hallway, </div> <div> adding one more topic to the list for his lunch meeting with Sam and </div> <div> Toby. He wanted to talk to them about asking the other assistants to </div> <div> lighten up on Donna.</div> <bR> <div> CJ sat alone at a dark table in the back of the restaurant waiting </div> <div> for her lunch appointment. Josh, Sam and Toby had been busy in </div> <div> meetings all morning so she had decided to handle this situation </div> <div> herself. She glanced at her watch, then glanced at the door just in </div> <div> time to see the person she was meeting approach the table.</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks for coming," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "Well from our conversation this morning, I didn't really think I had </div> <div> an option."</div> <bR> <div> CJ smirked. "This is a very important matter and I'm working on a </div> <div> tight deadline. I really didn't have time to negotiate."</div> <bR> <div> "So tell me what it is you need from me, Ms. Cregg."</div> <bR> <div> "Sit down, Mr. Calley, and I'll tell you all about it."</div> <bR> <div> As soon as the waiter took their order and left the table, CJ turned </div> <div> to Cliff with a somber look.</div> <bR> <div> "Have you heard from Donna lately?" she asked.</div> <bR> <div> The hesitation in Cliff's voice, and the look in his eyes, gave him </div> <div> away. "Why do you ask?"</div> <bR> <div> "Oh I don't know. I'm just thinking maybe you might have gotten a </div> <div> message from her asking you to meet her tonight at 7:00 at the </div> <div> Washington Monument."</div> <bR> <div> "How did you know?" Cliff asked, trying to keep his voice as even as </div> <div> possible.</div> <bR> <div> "Did you talk to Donna personally?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No, but..."</div> <bR> <div> "That's because the message wasn't from Donna. It was a fake."</div> <bR> <div> "What in the hell are you talking about?" Cliff asked. He had been </div> <div> confused enough when CJ had called and virtually demanded he meet her </div> <div> for lunch-but now that he was here she was making no sense at all.</div> <bR> <div> "It wasn't Donna that called you. Someone is trying to set her up."</div> <bR> <div> Cliff stared at CJ intensely, trying to decide if she was serious, or </div> <div> if this was just some kind of put-on.</div> <bR> <div> "Look," CJ continued, "I'm gonna take a major leap of faith here and </div> <div> trust you, because I think you're a basically decent guy. You did a </div> <div> few things that definitely qualify as slimy, but I think that in </div> <div> retrospect you realize they were wrong. So I'm gonna be honest with </div> <div> you. And if you know what's good for you-you won't make me regret </div> <div> doing it."</div> <bR> <div> Something in CJ's demeanor told Cliff just how serious she was. "Tell </div> <div> me what's going on, CJ."</div> <bR> <div> "I can't tell you everything, because the truth is I don't know. But </div> <div> what I do know is that someone is trying to set Donna up to take a </div> <div> fall."</div> <bR> <div> "Who would want to do that to Donna?"</div> <bR> <div> "I can't tell you that yet. You're just gonna have to trust me. </div> <div> They've tried other methods that haven't worked. Now they're gonna </div> <div> try to use you."</div> <bR> <div> "Use me for what?"</div> <bR> <div> "To destroy Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "I would never help anyone destroy Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "You don't know what's been going on. You may do it unknowingly."</div> <bR> <div> "How could I...."</div> <bR> <div> "Trust me, you could. The person we're up against is very smart, and </div> <div> very determined."</div> <bR> <div> Cliff considered everything CJ had said. He knew that she had details </div> <div> she wasn't telling, but he also knew that she wasn't about to show </div> <div> all of her cards. In retrospect, he felt good about the way he had </div> <div> behaved throughout the hearings. Everything except the night he read </div> <div> Donna's diary. That he regretted. Because there were things in there </div> <div> that were never meant to be read by another person. So maybe he owed </div> <div> her this. Maybe this would help ease his guilt a little.</div> <bR> <div> "What do you want me to do?"</div> <bR> <div> CJ outlined as much of the plan as she felt Cliff needed to know </div> <div> while they finished their lunch.</div> <bR> <div> "Can I count on you?" she asked when she was finished.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Cliff said firmly.</div> <bR> <div> "You realize that if you cross me on this, I'll have no choice but to </div> <div> make an example of you in front of the entire city, right?"</div> <bR> <div> "Understood."</div> <bR> <div> CJ stood up, dropped some money on the table, took one last look at </div> <div> Cliff and walked away, hoping he behaved and didn't force her to </div> <div> annihilate him.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ barely made it back to the White House in time to prepare for her </div> <div> afternoon briefing. As she was gathering her notes, she asked Carol </div> <div> to arrange a meeting with Toby, Sam and Josh the second they were all </div> <div> free. After calls to Donna and Ginger, Carol reported that all three </div> <div> men should be in the building around five, and CJ had been penciled </div> <div> in on all three calendars.</div> <bR> <div> "That's gonna be cutting it pretty close but it'll have to do," CJ </div> <div> said as they headed for the pressroom. "I need another free hour </div> <div> after the briefing. I'm gonna have to take care of a few things </div> <div> myself."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you gonna tell me what's going on?" Carol asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Not yet," CJ said as she headed for the podium, "But soon."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> It was almost 5:30 by the time everyone assembled in CJ's office. </div> <div> Josh was the last to arrive.</div> <bR> <div> "Does anyone know where Donna is?" he asked as he entered.</div> <bR> <div> "She's downstairs pulling some files for me," CJ answered.</div> <bR> <div> "Um...why?" Josh asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice.</div> <bR> <div> "Because I needed her to be out of sight for a few hours," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "Why?" Sam and Toby asked in unison.</div> <bR> <div> "Because of this," CJ said as she pulled a note from her pocket.</div> <bR> <div> "What's that?" Josh asked, holding out his hand.</div> <bR> <div> "This morning after you and Donna left, I saw Amy scribble down a </div> <div> message and put it in Donna's inbox."</div> <bR> <div> Josh took the message from her and read it out loud. "Meet me tonight </div> <div> at the Washington Monument. 7:00 PM. Come alone. Josh's career </div> <div> depends on it. Cliff"</div> <bR> <div> "What the hell...." Josh practically screamed.</div> <bR> <div> "That was my reaction exactly," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "What is Amy trying to pull?" Sam asked, taking the message from Josh </div> <div> and reading it for himself.</div> <bR> <div> "She's trying to make it look like Donna is in cahoots with Cliff </div> <div> Calley," Toby growled.</div> <bR> <div> "It sure looks that way," CJ agreed.</div> <bR> <div> "But why a meeting at the monument? What's that gonna prove?" Josh </div> <div> asked angrily.</div> <bR> <div> "Didn't you say that you told Amy last night that Leo needed concrete </div> <div> proof?" Toby said.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh my God," Josh replied, suddenly realizing what was going on, "She </div> <div> was gonna sandbag Donna. I'll bet any amount of money there was going </div> <div> to be a photographer there, ready to take pictures that would then </div> <div> conveniently show up on Leo's desk."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, she's going to get her pictures alright," CJ said </div> <div> enigmatically.</div> <bR> <div> "What did you do?" Toby asked.</div> <bR> <div> CJ hesitated, wondering exactly how to explain her plan. It seemed </div> <div> far-fetched, and a bit like something out of a B movie, but it was </div> <div> the only chance they had at the moment.</div> <bR> <div> "CJ, what did you do?" Josh asked impatiently.</div> <bR> <div> "I had lunch today with Cliff Calley," CJ answered.</div> <bR> <div> "What? Why? You should have waited till I could go with you," Josh </div> <div> thundered. "What did you tell him?"</div> <bR> <div> "I only told him as much as he needed to know," CJ said with a </div> <div> warning tone.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure we can trust him?" Sam asked. </div> <bR> <div> "I explained very clearly to him what the penalties would be for </div> <div> crossing me," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "And he agreed to help?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes."</div> <bR> <div> "But what's the plan?" Josh asked. "Donna is downstairs pulling </div> <div> files. It's almost 6 now. We can't send her over there...."</div> <bR> <div> "It's taken care of," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "What did you do?" Toby repeated.</div> <bR> <div> "Let's just say that I threw out the rope," CJ smiled, "Now we just </div> <div> need to let Ms. Gardner tie her own noose." </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Cliff stood in the exact spot CJ had instructed. She had been very </div> <div> specific. His back was to a retaining wall and there was a large row </div> <div> of shrubs to his left. To his right was a busy pedestrian walkway. </div> <div> That left only one real vantage point for someone to take </div> <div> photographs, and that was straight ahead. He had been scanning the </div> <div> crowd since he arrived. It only took a few minutes to pick out the </div> <div> guy that seemed to be the most likely candidate. He was watching the </div> <div> man out of the corner of his eye, but his gaze strayed when he saw a </div> <div> blonde woman approaching him.</div> <bR> <div> She moved carefully, keeping her head down so her long blonde hair </div> <div> covered her face. As soon as she neared Cliff, she turned her back to </div> <div> the camera, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a long </div> <div> hug.</div> <bR> <div> "You're really playing this up for the camera, aren't you?" Cliff </div> <div> joked.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I wanna give them something to talk about," the woman smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "How are you, Ainsley?" Cliff asked. "I haven't seen you in a while."</div> <bR> <div> "I'd be better if Donna was a few inches shorter and I didn't have to </div> <div> pretend to be tall. These heels are killing me."</div> <bR> <div> Cliff laughed as he leaned forward and placed his forehead against </div> <div> Ainsley's.</div> <bR> <div> "Now who's playing for the camera?" she teased.</div> <bR> <div> "Well you never know who might end up seeing these pictures. And </div> <div> having my arms around a beautiful blonde will do wonders for my </div> <div> image."</div> <bR> <div> "I don't think your image needs any help," Ainsley said. "That was a </div> <div> really nice thing you did for Leo McGarry."</div> <bR> <div> "It was the right thing to do. But still, me helping the Democrats, </div> <div> who would've ever thought?"</div> <bR> <div> "Don't worry," Ainsley laughed, "You get used to it."</div> <bR> <div> After talking for a few more minutes to make sure that there was </div> <div> ample picture-taking opportunity, Cliff and Ainsley strolled off </div> <div> towards Pennsylvania Avenue together, her hair hanging over her </div> <div> profile, his body between her and the photographer.</div> <bR> <div> They checked discreetly to see if they were being followed. They </div> <div> weren't. The man must have felt he had gotten all he needed at the </div> <div> monument. They walked till they reached the White House.</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks for doing this," Ainsley said as they paused at the front </div> <div> gate.</div> <bR> <div> "I hope it works," Cliff said truthfully.</div> <bR> <div> "Me too," Ainsley agreed. "I'll let you know.</div> <bR> <div> She watched for a minute as Cliff walked off, then headed in to fill </div> <div> CJ and the others in on the details.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The group assembled in CJ's office was waiting nervously to hear from </div> <div> Ainsley when there was a knock on the door.</div> <bR> <div> "The First Lady is here. She's looking for Josh," Carol said, poking </div> <div> her head in.</div> <bR> <div> "Well for heavens sake, don't make her stand outside the door, send </div> <div> her in," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "Good evening, Ma'am," they all chorused as she entered.</div> <bR> <div> "Good evening," Abbey answered, "I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting."</div> <bR> <div> "You're not interrupting at all, Ma'am," Josh said, "Did you need me </div> <div> for something?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, Josh, I need to borrow Donna day after tomorrow."</div> <bR> <div> "Borrow Donna?" </div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Abbey smiled, "But don't worry, I'll return her. My </div> <div> granddaughter is going to be in town for a few days. And you know how </div> <div> fond Annie is of Donna. So I thought that maybe Donna could come </div> <div> along with us. We're going on an outing. Kind of a girl's day out."</div> <bR> <div> "That sounds like fun," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "It'll just be for one day," Abbey assured Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "And it might be good for Donna to get away for a day, have a little </div> <div> fun," CJ said to Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, it sounds like a great idea," Josh agreed. "I'll tell Donna as </div> <div> soon as she comes up from the file room."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, it's a voluntary thing," Abbey said, "She's under no </div> <div> obligation."</div> <bR> <div> "Donna thinks the world of Annie," Josh said. "I'm sure she'll be </div> <div> excited to go."</div> <bR> <div> "Excellent. Tell her to call my office for details," Abbey said "And </div> <div> now I'm off to have dinner with...I'm not sure....one group or </div> <div> another. Most assuredly another night of dull dinner conversation."</div> <bR> <div> "Good evening, Ma'am," they all laughed as she left.</div> <bR> <div> They had just settled back into their seats when Carol announced that </div> <div> Ainsley had arrived.</div> <bR> <div> Josh barely let her get through the door before he was peppering her </div> <div> with questions.</div> <bR> <div> "How did it go? Did you follow the plan? Did you see a photographer?"</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I can tell y'all one thing," Ainsley said as she sank into </div> <div> CJ's couch. "I always say I wouldn't mind being a little taller, but </div> <div> I would rather go through life short than put myself through the </div> <div> torture of three inch heels every day."</div> <bR> <div> She removed her shoes, winced as she rubbed her ankles, then turned </div> <div> sideways and plopped her feet in Sam's lap.</div> <bR> <div> "What did you do that for?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> "You owe me a foot rub. It's the least you can do," Ainsley said.</div> <bR> <div> "I hate to interrupt this fascinating chapter of Podiatry Weekly-but </div> <div> can we get back to discussing what happened at the monument?" Josh </div> <div> said testily.</div> <bR> <div> "It went off like clockwork," Ainsley said confidently. "By the time </div> <div> I got there Cliff had already spotted the guy."</div> <bR> <div> "So there was definitely a photographer?" Toby asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Yep. And we put on a little show for him, just for giggles," Ainsley </div> <div> said.</div> <bR> <div> "A show?" Sam asked snippily, ceasing the foot rub.</div> <bR> <div> "It was all for the cameras," Ainsley smiled, "Now keep rubbing."</div> <bR> <div> "So what do we do now?" Sam asked, turning his attention back to </div> <div> Ainsley's feet.</div> <bR> <div> "We hope Amy took the bait, and the pictures show up on Leo's desk," </div> <div> Toby answered. </div> <bR> <div> "And as soon as that happens," Josh said stonily, "Amy Gardner is </div> <div> going down."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Across town the phone rang at Amy's apartment. After checking the </div> <div> caller ID she picked up and said,</div> <bR> <div> "Did you get the pictures?"</div> <bR> <div> "Sure did," the voice on the other end of the phone gloated.</div> <bR> <div> "Get them developed tomorrow and have them messengered over to me."</div> <bR> <div> "Will do. You're sure I'm not gonna get in any trouble for this?" the </div> <div> voice asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No way," Amy said confidently, "We're in the clear. They don't </div> <div> suspect a thing."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The next day was mostly spent waiting for the other shoe to drop. </div> <div> Donna had been excited at the prospect of a day out with Annie and </div> <div> Dr. Bartlet, and spent quite a bit of time on the phone with the </div> <div> First Lady's office planning activities. By 5PM, no pressing matters </div> <div> had arisen, and Josh told Donna to go ahead home. He wanted her to </div> <div> relax and get a good night's sleep before her trip out with the </div> <div> Bartlet women.</div> <bR> <div> Fifteen minutes later, the call he had been waiting for came in.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh Lyman," he said, picking up the phone on Donna's desk. He had </div> <div> been searching through the file cabinets, looking for some </div> <div> information he needed, when the phone rang.</div> <bR> <div> "Why are you answering your own phone, J?" Amy asked curiously.</div> <bR> <div> Josh looked around and managed to make eye contact with CJ and Toby </div> <div> who were standing in the doorway of CJ's office, debating the merits </div> <div> of leaking information about the latest funding initiative to the </div> <div> press. He pointed to the phone to alert them to what was going on.</div> <bR> <div> "I sent Donna home."</div> <bR> <div> "Permanently?"</div> <bR> <div> "I told you, Amy," Josh said, desperately trying to control the </div> <div> irritation in his voice, "that isn't my call to make. It's Leo's."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I have something here in my hand that might make Leo's </div> <div> decision a little easier."</div> <bR> <div> "What are you talking about?" Josh asked as CJ and Toby moved closer, </div> <div> trying to glean whatever information they could from Josh's end of </div> <div> the conversation.</div> <bR> <div> Look, J,...I don't know how to tell you this...."</div> <bR> <div> "Just spit it out, Amy."</div> <bR> <div> "I have a friend who works at the Post. He knows about you and I, so </div> <div> he came to me to give me a heads up about a story he's working on."</div> <bR> <div> "What kind of story?" Josh asked, casting a look at CJ and Toby.</div> <bR> <div> "It's an investigative piece."</div> <bR> <div> "About who?"</div> <bR> <div> "That isn't really important," Amy sighed. </div> <bR> <div> "Well then what was the heads up for?" Josh asked leadingly. </div> <bR> <div> He realized he was walking a fine line here. He couldn't push Amy too </div> <div> far, or question her too much, or the whole plan would be ruined. </div> <div> They were so close to the finish line now-he had to make sure he </div> <div> didn't scare her off.</div> <bR> <div> "He brought me some pictures. Some pictures that might very well be </div> <div> exactly what Leo has been looking for. I think they prove that Donna </div> <div> has been up to no good."</div> <bR> <div> "What kind of pictures? Who are they of?" Josh demanded, trying hard </div> <div> to sound both shocked and intrigued, as Toby and CJ fought against </div> <div> laughing out loud.</div> <bR> <div> "I think it would be better if you see the pictures yourself."</div> <bR> <div> Josh made a quick mental calculation about the best way to handle the </div> <div> situation.</div> <bR> <div> "Leo is out of the office for the rest of the evening. Can you come </div> <div> by staff in the morning? If these pictures are as explosive as you </div> <div> say, then I think it's something everyone should see, so we can be </div> <div> prepared."</div> <bR> <div> "What time?"</div> <bR> <div> "7:30."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be there," Amy said triumphantly. "Are you coming over tonight?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't think so," Josh answered, "I'll probably be tied up here </div> <div> most of the night. I'll just flop on Toby's couch. But I'll see you </div> <div> first thing in the morning."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok. Do you need me to bring you anything?"</div> <bR> <div> "No, I'm good."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll see you in the morning then. And, J? I'm really sorry about all </div> <div> of this."</div> <bR> <div> "You have nothing to be sorry for," Josh said, nearly choking on the </div> <div> words. "I appreciate all of your help. And I know Leo will to. I'll </div> <div> see you in the morning."</div> <bR> <div> "Night," Amy said sweetly.</div> <bR> <div> "Night," Josh said, hanging up the phone quickly.</div> <bR> <div> "It's on?" Toby asked, his voice tinged with excitement.</div> <bR> <div> "Staff tomorrow morning," Josh said. "I'll let Sam and Leo know."</div> <bR> <div> 'Not much longer now,' Josh thought with a smile as he headed down </div> <div> the hallway to let his boss know that the trap had been set.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna bustled into Josh's office at a few minutes past seven the next </div> <div> morning carrying Josh's schedule and an assortment of files and </div> <div> messages. Josh glanced at the clock. He wanted to make sure that </div> <div> Donna was nowhere in the vicinity by the time the staff meeting </div> <div> started.</div> <bR> <div> "Aren't you supposed to be meeting the First Lady and Annie?" he </div> <div> asked, moving around to the front of his desk and taking the files </div> <div> from her.</div> <bR> <div> "I just wanted to make sure you have everything you need before I </div> <div> go," Donna said, continuing to sift through the mess on the top of </div> <div> his desk.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be fine, Donna. Go. You don't want to keep the Bartlet women </div> <div> waiting."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?" Donna asked, looking in Josh's eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "Positive," Josh answered resolutely. After everything that had </div> <div> happened lately, Josh believed that a nice relaxing day out was </div> <div> exactly what Donna needed. And if everything went as planned, he </div> <div> would have good news for her by the time she returned. He had hated </div> <div> keeping her in the dark when it came to his suspicions about Amy. He </div> <div> couldn't wait for the moment when he could tell her everything. How </div> <div> none of the so-called "mistakes" were her fault. He knew he had a lot </div> <div> of making up to do for the way he had behaved lately, and he intended </div> <div> to start tonight. He decided to make a reservation at a nice </div> <div> restaurant, somewhere he knew Donna really liked, and start the </div> <div> process of putting their "relationship", whatever that was, back </div> <div> together.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, then. I guess I'll head over to the Residence."</div> <bR> <div> "Have a good time," Josh said, squeezing her arm.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll see you later?" Donna asked tentatively.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be here. Come find me as soon as you get back."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Donna smiled as she walked out the door. </div> <bR> <div> Josh sighed as he realized just how much he had missed Donna's smile. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> By 7:25 all of the Senior Staff was assembled in Leo's office, </div> <div> waiting for Amy's arrival. Josh paced nervously, running his finger </div> <div> along Leo's bookshelves.</div> <bR> <div> "Please stop that," Leo said gruffly.</div> <bR> <div> "Stop what?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "The pacing, the finger thing....it's annoying," Leo growled.</div> <bR> <div> "What finger thing?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "For crying out loud, Josh we're all a little on edge. Just sit down </div> <div> and relax," Toby said.</div> <bR> <div> Before the bickering could continue, Margaret knocked on the door and </div> <div> announced Amy's arrival. All of the occupants of the room shared a </div> <div> quick look, and then Leo said,</div> <bR> <div> "Send her in."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donnnnna!" Annie exclaimed excitedly as she crossed the room and </div> <div> threw herself into Donna's arms.</div> <bR> <div> "How are you?" Donna asked, enthusiastically returning the hug.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine. How are you?" Annie asked sincerely.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine," Donna said, trying to conceal the fact that she really hadn't </div> <div> been 'fine' for quite a while. She had gotten to know Annie during </div> <div> the campaign when she had been pressed into babysitting duty a couple </div> <div> of times at various campaign stop and was genuinely fond of her. She </div> <div> decided not to think about any of the negative things that had been </div> <div> going on lately and just concentrate on having fun.</div> <bR> <div> "My grandma's gonna be late," Annie said, gathering up her coat and </div> <div> backpack.</div> <bR> <div> "Really?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Something came up that she had to attend to," one of the Secret </div> <div> Service agents in the room said as he stepped forward. "She's going </div> <div> to meet us later for lunch."</div> <bR> <div> "This is Eric," Annie said gesturing towards the agent. </div> <bR> <div> "Nice to meet you Eric," Donna said, shaking his hand.</div> <bR> <div> "And this is my friend, Donna," Annie said, completing the </div> <div> introduction.</div> <bR> <div> "Nice to meet you too," Eric said.</div> <bR> <div> As they made their way towards the car, Donna leaned over and </div> <div> whispered conspiratorially in Annie's ear,</div> <bR> <div> "I knew a turkey named Eric once."</div> <bR> <div> Eric looked at them quizzically as they both collapsed in peals of </div> <div> laughter.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Please have a seat," Leo said as Amy was ushered in to his office. " </div> <div> Josh filled us in on your phone conversation from last night. I </div> <div> understand that you have some information you think I might want to </div> <div> see."</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Amy answered as she nodded a silent hello to the others in the </div> <div> room. She was glad to see that Leo apparently wanted to get right </div> <div> down to business. She stepped around Toby and took a seat next to </div> <div> Josh on the couch. "Josh has filled me in on some of the things that </div> <div> have been going on with Donna. The missing files, the missing </div> <div> messages."</div> <bR> <div> "Uh-huh," Leo said as he sat down in the chair across from her.</div> <bR> <div> Amy steeled her resolve. She had come this far; she wasn't about to </div> <div> blow it now.</div> <bR> <div> "He mentioned that you needed some concrete proof before you could </div> <div> make a move," Amy continued.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure you understand that this is a very delicate situation," Leo </div> <div> said in his best fatherly tone. "We need to proceed with caution. We </div> <div> can't leave ourselves open to any kind of scandal."</div> <bR> <div> "A scandal is precisely what I'm trying to help you avoid," Amy said, </div> <div> dropping her hand to Josh's knee.</div> <bR> <div> "How so?" Josh asked, fighting the urge to reach down and push Amy's </div> <div> hand off his leg. "You said something about a reporter from the Post?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'd really appreciate a heads up if I'm gonna get ambushed in the </div> <div> pressroom," CJ said.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't think you are," Amy said. "I think I managed to talk my </div> <div> friend into holding off on the article."</div> <bR> <div> "Why would he agree to that?" Toby asked.</div> <bR> <div> Amy was starting to get flustered. She really hadn't planned on being </div> <div> interrogated. She just wanted to show Leo the pictures, get Donna </div> <div> fired, and be done with it.</div> <bR> <div> "Well...he wasn't really out to write a story about Donna...or the </div> <div> administration for that matter," Amy stammered.</div> <bR> <div> "Then who was the story about?" Sam asked pointedly.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not really at liberty to say," Amy snapped.</div> <bR> <div> "But your friend came across something in his investigation that I </div> <div> might find useful?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Amy huffed, glad that the conversation was getting back to the </div> <div> pictures.</div> <bR> <div> "He was at the monuments yesterday taking pictures when he saw </div> <div> something that struck him as odd, so he snapped a few shots. He knows </div> <div> about my relationship with Josh and so he came to me first, to give </div> <div> me a heads up."</div> <bR> <div> "A heads up about what?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <div> Amy reached into her bag and pulled out a large manila folder.</div> <bR> <div> "A heads up about this," she said victoriously, handing the folder to </div> <div> Leo.</div> <bR> <div> Leo opened the folder and studied the pictures it contained intently. </div> <div> It was all he could do not to burst out laughing. When Josh had first </div> <div> filled him in on the details of CJ's plan, he had been positive it </div> <div> wouldn't work. And yet here they sat.</div> <bR> <div> "What am I supposed to see here?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <div> "What do you mean?" Amy asked incredulously. "It's obvious that Donna </div> <div> is still having a relationship with Cliff Calley. Doesn't the fact </div> <div> that she is sneaking around behind everyone's back, dating an up and </div> <div> comer in the Republican party, make all of the missing files and </div> <div> disks seem a little suspicious?"</div> <bR> <div> "It might," Leo said matter-of-factly as he passed the folder to </div> <div> Josh, "but that's not Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "Of course it is," Amy insisted.</div> <bR> <div> "No, it's definitely not Donna," Josh agreed as he passed the folder </div> <div> to Toby.</div> <bR> <div> "What are you talking about?!" Amy practically screamed. "Of course </div> <div> it's Donna!"</div> <bR> <div> "Nope. It's Ainsley Hayes," Sam said as he peered over Toby's </div> <div> shoulders at the pictures. "I'd know those calves anywhere."</div> <bR> <div> "I believe that Cliff and Ainsley went to college together," Josh </div> <div> said, his tone measured, "So I don't think these pictures will create </div> <div> the scandal you were hoping for."</div> <bR> <div> "You people are crazy!" Amy thundered. "Donna made arrangements to </div> <div> meet Cliff at the Washington Monument night before last. My friend </div> <div> just happened to snap these pictures."</div> <bR> <div> "And how would you know what arrangements Donna might have made?" </div> <div> Josh asked, his eyes flashing with anger. He had held his emotions at </div> <div> bay as long as he possibly could.</div> <bR> <div> Amy wheeled around to face him, her own anger starting to rise. "I </div> <div> saw a note on Donna's desk the other morning when I stopped by."</div> <bR> <div> "This note?" CJ asked, holding up the envelope that she had taken </div> <div> from Donna's inbox. "You're right, this note was definitely on </div> <div> Donna's desk. But Donna never saw it. I took it just a minute or so </div> <div> after I saw you write it."</div> <bR> <div> "Wh...what..." Amy sputtered.</div> <bR> <div> "CJ saw you write that note," Josh said furiously. "And I know you </div> <div> erased Donna's messages off of my phones last week."</div> <bR> <div> "I never...you can't prove..." </div> <bR> <div> "Give it up, Amy. You're busted," Josh said angrily. "I'm not </div> <div> interested in hearing your denials. I just want to know what in the </div> <div> hell you think you're up to. Why have you been doing all of this?"</div> <bR> <div> "I haven't been doing anything," Amy insisted, gathering up her coat </div> <div> and purse and heading for the door, "And I'm leaving. I came here to </div> <div> do you people a favor, not to be accused of things."</div> <bR> <div> "One way or the other, we're going to find out what's going on," Leo </div> <div> assured Amy. "It would be better if you just come clean now."</div> <bR> <div> Suddenly Amy's eyes flashed with white-hot fury. This was supposed to </div> <div> have been her crowning moment. When she finally got rid of Donna. </div> <div> Instead, all of her plans had fallen apart.</div> <bR> <div> "In no time flat, Josh was across the office standing face-to-face </div> <div> with Amy. " You stay away from Donna, do you understand me?" he </div> <div> growled.</div> <bR> <div> "You haven't heard the last of me," she spat, "And neither has </div> <div> Donna." She turned and practically ran out of Leo's office. As she </div> <div> entered the lobby she pulled her cell phone from her purse. By the </div> <div> time she hit the sidewalk the call had connected.</div> <bR> <div> "It's me," she said angrily, "We need to meet. We have a problem."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do you think she's serious?" Sam asked as the occupants of Leo's </div> <div> office tried to process what had just happened..</div> <bR> <div> "No," Toby smiled, "She's just pissed. She came in here thinking she </div> <div> was queen of the world and she got blindsided. She was just looking </div> <div> for a good exit line."</div> <bR> <div> "She knows she's lost the element of surprise," Leo said, moving back </div> <div> to sit behind his desk. "Now that she knows we're on to her, I doubt </div> <div> she'll try anything else."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll keep my ears open just in case," CJ said, as everyone in the </div> <div> room nodded in agreement. Amy had proven herself to be quite </div> <div> unpredictable so there was no telling what she might try. But this </div> <div> time they would be ready for her.</div> <bR> <div> "So I guess I owe Donna an apology," Leo said. "Could you send her up </div> <div> to see me, Josh?"</div> <bR> <div> "She's out with Annie and Mrs. Bartlet today," Josh reminded </div> <div> him. "I'll let her know you want to talk to her. But in this case, </div> <div> Leo, I'm gonna have to ask you to get in line behind me. I have a lot </div> <div> more to apologize for than you do."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Leo chuckled; knowing that the talk he had planned to have with </div> <div> Josh about Donna couldn't be put off any longer. "Have her stop by </div> <div> and see me first thing in the morning. And I need about a half an </div> <div> hour with you right after."</div> <bR> <div> CJ, Sam and Toby shared a smile. They all knew what Leo wanted to </div> <div> talk to Josh about. And they all agreed it was about damn time.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Big plans for tonight?" CJ asked as they left Leo's office.</div> <bR> <div> "Yep," Josh said with a smile. "I'm gonna sit down Donna down and </div> <div> explain everything that's been going on. I'm gonna apologize </div> <div> profusely for the fact that I've been a jackass. Then I'm gonna </div> <div> grovel for forgiveness. Then dinner."</div> <bR> <div> "Sounds like a full night," CJ laughed. "Donna will love it. </div> <div> Especially the groveling part."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's almost time to meet your grandma," Donna said as she, Annie and </div> <div> Eric exited the store loaded down with bags.</div> <bR> <div> "Where should we go for lunch?" Annie asked excitedly.</div> <bR> <div> Donna knew that arrangements had probably already been made. It was </div> <div> fairly easy for her and Annie to slip out for a day at the mall with </div> <div> only one agent; that was standard procedure. But once the First Lady </div> <div> got involved, security tightened up considerably.</div> <bR> <div> "You grandma has probably already made plans," Donna said as Eric </div> <div> lifted the trunk lid. Donna placed her packages in carefully as she </div> <div> watched Annie climb into the back seat. She moved around to the other </div> <div> side of the car as Eric continued to load the trunk.</div> <bR> <div> A glint of metal in the sunlight caught Donna's eye. She screamed in </div> <div> horror as she saw the barrel of the gun, heard the shot, saw the side </div> <div> of Eric's head explode in blaze of red, then saw him fall.</div> <bR> <div> She stood in shock as the young man wielding the gun grabbed the keys </div> <div> from the trunk, slammed the lid, and moved towards the driver's seat.</div> <bR> <div> "Get outta here, lady!" he screamed.</div> <bR> <div> Donna eyes flew to Annie. She was sitting in her seatbelt, looking </div> <div> around, her eyes full of confusion. She had obviously heard the shot, </div> <div> but the trunk lid had blocked her view of what exactly had happened.</div> <bR> <div> "Annie get out of the car!" Donna screamed.</div> <bR> <div> Annie began fumbling with her seatbelt as the engine roared to life.</div> <bR> <div> "Wait you have to let her out!!!" Donna screamed at the driver.</div> <bR> <div> Donna saw him throw the car into drive, then looked back at Annie who </div> <div> was nearly hysterical in the back seat. Donna couldn't leave her like </div> <div> this, at the mercy of this madman who had shot Eric in cold blood. As </div> <div> the car began to move, she tore open the back door and jumped in.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> 45 minutes later. Josh was sitting at his desk reading briefing memos </div> <div> with a smile on his face. He felt better than he had in weeks. He </div> <div> couldn't wait to see the look on Donna's face when he explained what </div> <div> had been going on. </div> <bR> <div> He was broken out of his reverie by CJ's voice in his doorway.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh," she said numbly.</div> <bR> <div> "What do you need, Claudia Jean?" Josh asked without looking up.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh," she repeated.</div> <bR> <div> Something in her voice made Josh raise his head, and he knew </div> <div> immediately that something was very wrong. CJ's hands were shaking </div> <div> and all of the blood had drained from her face.</div> <bR> <div> "What is it, CJ? What happened? Is it the President?"</div> <bR> <div> "About an hour ago DC Police responded to a reported carjacking at </div> <div> the mall," CJ said, trying desperately to keep the tears at </div> <div> bay. "When they arrived they found one man dead of a gunshot wound to </div> <div> the head. The man was identified as Secret Service agent Eric Wright. </div> <div> Annie's protection."</div> <bR> <div> "CJ..." Josh began desperately, not sure which question to ask first.</div> <bR> <div> "There's no sign of Donna, Annie or the car."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh my God."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The only way to describe the atmosphere in the Oval Office was </div> <div> chaotic. Jed and Abbey Bartlet were deep in discussion with the DC </div> <div> Police Chief and assorted members of the Secret Service. Toby was </div> <div> talking on two phones at once, a landline and his cell, trying to get </div> <div> the latest information about what was going on. Josh and Leo paced </div> <div> silently on opposite sides of the office, while Sam and CJ worked </div> <div> frantically on a statement to try to satisfy the clambering press </div> <div> corps.</div> <bR> <div> There was no way what had happened could be kept quiet for very long. </div> <div> A carjacking involving the President's granddaughter was just too </div> <div> big. The press was onto the story in no time flat. Every major </div> <div> network had gone to live, continuous coverage. Reporters were trying </div> <div> desperately to snag interviews with witnesses from the parking lot </div> <div> where the incident had occurred.</div> <bR> <div> CJ wanted to try to stay ahead of the story, although she knew that </div> <div> there was no way to control a situation this volatile. The best she </div> <div> could hope to do was to get accurate information out as quickly as </div> <div> possible to keep things from spiraling too far out of control.</div> <bR> <div> Suddenly, the tense quiet of the room was broken by the rising voice </div> <div> of the President.</div> <bR> <div> "There has to be something we can do! We can't just sit here," </div> <div> Bartlet yelled.</div> <bR> <div> "We've got every officer in DC looking for them," the police chief </div> <div> assured him. "We're doing everything we can."</div> <bR> <div> "There has to be something more," Jed shouted helplessly.</div> <bR> <div> Abbey moved over beside her husband and wrapped him in her arms. As </div> <div> she fought back her own tears, she whispered in his ear, "We have to </div> <div> have faith."</div> <bR> <div> As Jed Bartlet held his trembling wife, trying to comfort her in any </div> <div> way possible, Ron Butterfield entered the office.</div> <bR> <div> "What do we know, Ron?" Jed asked, not removing his arms from around </div> <div> Abbey.</div> <bR> <div> Everyone in the office moved closer to hear what the agent had to </div> <div> say. Josh was hoping against hope that there had been some news, that </div> <div> maybe the carjacker had dropped Donna and Annie off along the road </div> <div> somewhere.</div> <bR> <div> "I personally interviewed all of the witnesses from the mall parking </div> <div> lot," Ron said.</div> <bR> <div> "And?" Leo asked impatiently.</div> <bR> <div> CJ grabbed her pad and began to take notes. She wanted to make sure </div> <div> that she got every detail correct. The last thing they needed right </div> <div> now was any misinformation floating around. Toby and Sam were jotting </div> <div> down notes also, trying to determine what to release to the press, </div> <div> and what to keep secret. </div> <bR> <div> They wanted to make sure to release any information that might help </div> <div> them locate Annie and Donna, such as a full description of the car; </div> <div> but at the same time, they wanted to withhold a few key points so </div> <div> that they would be able to quickly identify legitimate leads. They </div> <div> listened carefully as Ron continued.</div> <bR> <div> "Everyone agreed that both Annie and Ms. Moss were unharmed when they </div> <div> left the parking lot. Piecing together things the best we can, it </div> <div> seems as though the perpetrator approached the car from behind while </div> <div> Agent Wright was placing packages in the trunk. He pulled a gun from </div> <div> his jacket and fired one slug into the agent's head, killing him </div> <div> instantly."</div> <bR> <div> Ron paused to let the information sink in. Secret Service agents knew </div> <div> that danger was part of their job every minute they were on duty, but </div> <div> it still didn't make losing one in such a violent manner any easier. </div> <div> After giving everyone time to digest the information, Ron continued,</div> <bR> <div> "The perpetrator then rounded the car and jumped into the driver's </div> <div> seat. Ms. Moss was standing outside of the car and yelled at Annie to </div> <div> get out. She pleaded with the driver to allow Annie to escape."</div> <bR> <div> "This is all my fault," Abbey said guiltily, "I should never have </div> <div> taken the morning meeting and said I'd catch up with them later. If I </div> <div> had been there, there would have been more security, more agents. </div> <div> This never would have happened."</div> <bR> <div> "Don't say that," Jed comforted her, "You couldn't have known. </div> <div> Blaming yourself doesn't help anything. What we have to concentrate </div> <div> on now is getting Annie back safely."</div> <bR> <div> "That's right," Ron agreed, "All that matters now is getting out of </div> <div> this without anyone else getting hurt."</div> <bR> <div> "You're right," Abbey nodded towards Ron, "Please continue."</div> <bR> <div> "The perpetrator fired up the engine of the car, and for some reason </div> <div> Annie was having trouble getting out. Almost immediately the car </div> <div> began to move. As it did, Ms. Moss ripped open the back door and </div> <div> jumped in."</div> <bR> <div> "She jumped in?" Leo asked incredulously. </div> <bR> <div> "All of the eyewitness accounts agreed that Ms. Moss definitely </div> <div> reentered the car as it was pulling away," Ron said.</div> <bR> <div> Josh closed his eyes for a second as he fought off thoughts of how </div> <div> panicked Donna must have been in those moments. Jumping back into the </div> <div> car had taken guts, and yet Josh knew that it had probably been an </div> <div> easy decision in Donna's mind. There was no way she would have left </div> <div> Annie alone with that madman. So she willingly put herself in harm's </div> <div> way. </div> <bR> <div> But there wasn't time to think about that now. They had to </div> <div> concentrate on finding Donna and Annie. "So what's our next move?" </div> <div> Josh asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <div> "We've got a description of the car out to every law enforcement </div> <div> officer within 100 miles. Every tollbooth and rest stop has been </div> <div> notified. We're scouring the area with both ground forces and </div> <div> helicopters. We'll find them. He won't be able to hide forever," Ron </div> <div> said resolutely.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, let's do it before anyone else gets hurt," Jed said angrily.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, sir," Ron said, as he turned and headed out of the Oval Office.</div> <bR> <div> Josh stopped him before he made it to the door and pulled him aside.</div> <bR> <div> "What's up?" Ron asked.</div> <bR> <div> "There's something I think maybe you should know," Josh said </div> <div> nervously. "Donna has been having problems for the last few weeks </div> <div> with someone sabotaging her work, and trying to plant false evidence </div> <div> against her. We think we know who the person is, but we don't know </div> <div> how deep it goes, or how many people might be involved. This could be </div> <div> totally unrelated but....."</div> <bR> <div> Ron placed a comforting hand on Josh's shoulder. "Thanks for the </div> <div> information, Josh. We'll look into it. But right now this looks like </div> <div> a completely random act. Judging from the witness descriptions, this </div> <div> may be the same guy responsible for a series of carjackings in the </div> <div> area over the last two months."</div> <bR> <div> "So you know who the guy is?" Josh asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> "Not yet. But we're working on it."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, thanks," Josh said gloomily.</div> <bR> <div> Ron wished that there was something he could say to comfort Josh, but </div> <div> he couldn't lie to make things seem better than they were. "I'm gonna </div> <div> do everything I can to get them back safely," he said.</div> <bR> <div> As Ron's hand grabbed the doorknob to leave, Toby had a thought that </div> <div> sent a chill up his spine. He called Ron's name, and the agent turned </div> <div> back towards the people in the room.</div> <bR> <div> "Do you think this guy knows he has the President's granddaughter?" </div> <div> Toby asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I hope not," Ron answered solemnly.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna was trying to remain as calm as she possibly could, hoping that </div> <div> her demeanor would rub off on both Annie and the man in the front </div> <div> seat. Annie had calmed down considerably since the car left the mall </div> <div> parking lot. She had initially been screaming uncontrollably, and </div> <div> that was having a detrimental effect on the driver. Donna wrapped </div> <div> Annie in her arms and managed to quiet the screams. Annie was now </div> <div> staring straight ahead, whimpering, and Donna was pretty sure she was </div> <div> going into shock.</div> <bR> <div> As she calmly stroked Annie's hair in an effort to keep her calm, </div> <div> Donna tried to initiate a dialogue with the man in the front seat.</div> <bR> <div> "What are you planning on...."</div> <bR> <div> "Shut up!" the man answered sharply.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm just trying to...."</div> <bR> <div> "I said shut up!" </div> <bR> <div> "Listen to me," Donna said a little more forcefully. "We've been </div> <div> driving around for over an hour now. We can't do this all day. Why </div> <div> don't you just let us out and you can take the car and drive away."</div> <bR> <div> "And you won't tell anyone right?" the driver snorted. "You sound </div> <div> like someone on one of those TV cop shows. Except those people always </div> <div> run straight to the cops as soon as they get away."</div> <bR> <div> "Just take the car," Donna continued. "Leave us along the side of the </div> <div> road. By the time anyone finds us, you'll be long gone."</div> <bR> <div> "I need some time to think," the man said, raking his hands through </div> <div> his hair.</div> <bR> <div> Donna's heart skipped a beat as the driver's movement reminded her of </div> <div> Josh. How many times had she watched him run his hands through his </div> <div> hair over and over as he tried to make a decision.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't you think things would be a lot easier for you if you didn't </div> <div> have us to deal with?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Maybe I should just shoot the two of you," the man said as he </div> <div> pointed his gun towards the backseat, "Then I won't have to worry </div> <div> about you anymore."</div> <bR> <div> Donna took a deep breath and tried to remain calm as Annie's </div> <div> whimpering intensified.</div> <bR> <div> "You don't want to do that," she said evenly, "Then you'd just be on </div> <div> the hook for two murders."</div> <bR> <div> "Two more murders, you mean," the man sneered. "I'm sure the guy back </div> <div> at the mall is dead. So you see, one dead body or three doesn't </div> <div> really matter to me. I'm headed to jail anyway if they catch me."</div> <bR> <div> As he spoke, the man became far more irritated, and Donna feared he </div> <div> would also become more irrational. She struggled to find the right </div> <div> words to diffuse some of the anger so that she might be able to </div> <div> persuade him to release them.</div> <bR> <div> "Listen, maybe..." she began.</div> <bR> <div> "Just SHUT UP so I can concentrate," he screamed. "I need to think."</div> <bR> <div> The man leaned forward to turn on the radio as Donna sank back in the </div> <div> seat and pulled Annie closer. She contemplated trying to grab the </div> <div> driver from behind, but he had his gun pointed over his shoulder into </div> <div> the back seat. Donna was afraid that either the gun would go off, or </div> <div> the car would swerve out of control. She decided that it was best to </div> <div> let the situation play out a little further and wait for her </div> <div> opportunity to make a move. As she continued to try to formulate a </div> <div> plan in her head, she heard the voice of the announcer on the radio.</div> <bR> <div> "Repeating our top story, the granddaughter of the President Josiah </div> <div> Bartlet has apparently been the victim of a carjacking. Annie Bartlet-</div> <div> Jenkins, age 13 was last seen in the parking lot of the Galleria Mall </div> <div> downtown. She was accompanied by White House staffer Donna Moss and </div> <div> Secret Service agent Eric Wright. A man approached the car just after </div> <div> the three had exited the mall; he shot Agent Wright, killing him </div> <div> instantly, and drove off in a black Lincoln Town Car, license plate </div> <div> CRV 674, with Miss Bartlet-Jenkins and Ms. Moss inside. Law </div> <div> enforcement officials ask that you contact the DC Police immediately </div> <div> if you have any information about the whereabouts of either the car </div> <div> or the President's granddaughter. We'll keep you updated as further </div> <div> information becomes available."</div> <bR> <div> As Donna looked up into the rearview mirror, she saw the driver </div> <div> looking back at her with a look that was a mixture of fear, </div> <div> amazement, and evil. She didn't say a word as they stared at each </div> <div> other. But Donna knew one thing for sure; the task of getting the man </div> <div> to release them had just become a whole lot more complicated.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh had been looking for Leo for over 30 minutes when he finally </div> <div> found him sitting alone in the Sculpture Garden. As he approached his </div> <div> mentor, he could tell that Leo wasn't aware of his presence. He spoke </div> <div> quietly to avoid startling the man he thought of as a second father.</div> <bR> <div> "Leo? Are you alright?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Leo said, jumping slightly at the sound of Josh's voice, "I </div> <div> just needed to be alone for a while."</div> <bR> <div> "Ron just called," Josh said as he sat down on the bench across from </div> <div> Leo. "He said that they checked out things at Donna's apartment, and </div> <div> looked into everything that's been going on lately with the missing </div> <div> files, etc.. He turned the case over to the DC Police for further </div> <div> investigation."</div> <bR> <div> "Did he find anything other than what we already knew?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Not yet. He said that they had a few leads but nothing concrete. But </div> <div> he also said that it appears that the carjacking was completely </div> <div> unrelated. It was just a piece of incredibly bad luck. They were in </div> <div> the wrong place at the wrong time."</div> <bR> <div> Leo dropped his head to his hands. "I just can't believe this is </div> <div> happening."</div> <bR> <div> "Tell me about it," Josh said, trying to control his own growing </div> <div> sense of dread.</div> <bR> <div> "Why would she do it?" Leo asked, looking questioningly at </div> <div> Josh. "After everything we've put her through in the last month, why </div> <div> would she get back in the car? She was safe. But she jumped back in."</div> <bR> <div> "She would never have left Annie in that car alone, Leo. That's not </div> <div> the kind of person Donna is."</div> <bR> <div> "Don't get me wrong," Leo said earnestly, "I'm thanking God right now </div> <div> that she did it, because I can't stand to think of Annie alone with </div> <div> that psycho. And if she were by herself, Jed and Abbey would be even </div> <div> more frantic than they already are. But I just can't figure out what </div> <div> we did to earn this kind of loyalty and devotion from Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "That's just the kind of person Donna is," Josh smiled. "She is </div> <div> devoted to the people she cares about whether they deserve it or not. </div> <div> That's just one of the things that makes her so special."</div> <bR> <div> "Well, trust me. When this is over, if both she and Annie make it </div> <div> back safely..."</div> <bR> <div> "They will," Josh interrupted.</div> <bR> <div> "You really believe that?" Leo asked, abandoning his previous train </div> <div> of thought.</div> <bR> <div> "I do," Josh said, "Donna isn't just devoted and brave; she's smart. </div> <div> She'll figure out a way to keep herself, and Annie, safe until we </div> <div> find them."</div> <bR> <div> "So," Leo smiled, "when Donna gets back, I think maybe you two should </div> <div> sit down and have a long talk."</div> <bR> <div> "About?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> Leo was ready to launch into a discussion with Josh about his </div> <div> feelings for Donna when Toby entered the Sculpture Garden.</div> <bR> <div> "I wondered where you two were hiding," he said.</div> <bR> <div> "Anything new?" Josh asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> "Not yet, but we need the two of you in the Oval Office before the </div> <div> President does something that may very well land him, and the rest of </div> <div> us, in hot water."</div> <bR> <div> "What's he planning?" Leo asked exasperatedly as he stood and walked </div> <div> back towards the door.</div> <bR> <div> "A door-to-door search," Toby said.</div> <bR> <div> "Of the entire DC Metro area?" Josh smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "No. Of the entire country," Toby said, a slight hint of amusement in </div> <div> his voice.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure we have the manpower for that," Leo replied dryly.</div> <bR> <div> "Not to mention the fact that it violates at least a dozen laws, the </div> <div> Civil Rights Act, at least two amendments..." Josh said as they went </div> <div> through the door and headed towards the Oval Office. </div> <bR> <div> Charlie waved them right in and they entered to find POTUS huddled </div> <div> with Abbey on the sofa, talking to Ron Butterfield, who was sitting </div> <div> across from them. CJ and Sam had already headed for the pressroom to </div> <div> brief reporters. </div> <bR> <div> "Anything new?" Leo asked as they entered.</div> <bR> <div> "Nothing," Jed answered dejectedly. "We're still trying to get a hold </div> <div> of Annie's parents, but they are incommunicado on the side of some </div> <div> mountain in South America. There has been no communication at all </div> <div> from the carjacker. No phone calls. No ransom demands. Nothing."</div> <bR> <div> Josh dropped his head and took a deep breath. He would not allow </div> <div> himself to lose hope. He needed to stay strong and focused if they </div> <div> were going to get Donna and Annie back safely. There would be time to </div> <div> deal with everything else when everyone was safe.</div> <bR> <div> "I've never felt this helpless in my entire life," Jed railed.</div> <bR> <div> "Everything is going to be ok," Josh said, surprised at the </div> <div> conviction in his own voice. "They're going to get out of this. We </div> <div> just need to stay alert and be ready when the break occurs."</div> <bR> <div> "I hope you're right," Jed and Abbey said in unison.</div> <bR> <div> "I am," Josh said, sending up a silent prayer that Donna could find </div> <div> some way to help them find her and Annie.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As the car turned into the driveway of a rundown trailer, Donna's </div> <div> mind began to race. If it were just her life at stake things would be </div> <div> different. She might try to make a run for it and just take her </div> <div> chances. But she also had Annie to consider, and that changed </div> <div> everything. </div> <bR> <div> The car lurched to a stop, and the man turned around and leveled the </div> <div> gun at the back seat.</div> <bR> <div> "Get out," he ordered Donna as he pointed the gun at Annie's </div> <div> head, "And don't try anything funny or she's dead."</div> <bR> <div> "No problem," Donna said, raising her hands in front of her. She </div> <div> didn't want to do anything that might cause him to overreact. She </div> <div> exited the car slowly and stood off to the side, waiting for further </div> <div> instructions.</div> <bR> <div> The man, who Donna had mentally taken to calling Clyde, as in Bonnie </div> <div> and Clyde, then slid out of the driver's seat and pressed the gun to </div> <div> Donna's side. He ordered Annie to get out, and she complied, still </div> <div> whimpering softly.</div> <bR> <div> Clyde led them into the dirty, dilapidated trailer and began to look </div> <div> around frantically. He moved into the living room and began searching </div> <div> for something, keeping one eye on Donna and Annie, and the gun </div> <div> pointed directly at them. Finally he found what he was looking for.</div> <bR> <div> 'Great,' Donna thought to herself as she saw the ménage a trios cuffs </div> <div> in his hand, 'I have to get stuck with a kinky psycho.'</div> <bR> <div> Clyde quickly attached one of the cuffs to a pipe running down the </div> <div> wall, then clipped the second cuff around Donna's wrist and the third </div> <div> around Annie's. After moving everything he could see out of their </div> <div> reach, he went to the kitchen cupboard and extracted a bottle of </div> <div> tequila.</div> <bR> <div> He began to pace nervously around the trailer, muttering to himself. </div> <div> Donna couldn't make out everything he was saying, but he appeared to </div> <div> be cursing his own bad luck at grabbing such a high profile hostage. </div> <bR> <div> After a few minutes, he went to the phone, picked it up, listened for </div> <div> a dial tone, then tossed the phone across the room when he didn't </div> <div> hear one. Donna sighed dejectedly as her only obvious means of </div> <div> communicating with the outside world disappeared.</div> <bR> <div> She had been frightened enough of Clyde's emotional volatility when </div> <div> they were in the car, but now things were deteriorating fast. He was </div> <div> drinking tequila straight from the bottle as though it was iced tea, </div> <div> and Donna feared that this was going to make him completely </div> <div> unmanageable.</div> <bR> <div> She looked at the frightened teenager next to her and made a quick </div> <div> decision.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok, Annie?" she asked softly as they sat side by side, their </div> <div> backs against the wall.</div> <bR> <div> "I think so," Annie sniffled.</div> <bR> <div> "Good," Donna said, trying to keep her voice as light as possible. </div> <div> She glanced across the room and saw that Clyde was now lying on the </div> <div> couch, his arm flung over his face, occasionally taking a deep draw </div> <div> from the bottle in his hand.</div> <bR> <div> "I want you to listen to me," Donna continued in a hushed tone. "You </div> <div> know that you're grandfather has everyone he can possibly find out </div> <div> looking for us, right?"</div> <bR> <div> "Right," Annie answered in a shaky voice.</div> <bR> <div> "Between him and your Uncle Leo, I wouldn't be surprised if they've </div> <div> called out the National Guard."</div> <bR> <div> Annie managed a small smile.</div> <bR> <div> "And I know that Josh is looking for me because...well frankly, he's </div> <div> useless without me to keep him organized," Donna continued, trying to </div> <div> forget all of the things that had happened lately.</div> <bR> <div> "Besides, my grandma says he likes you," Annie said, smiling more </div> <div> widely.</div> <bR> <div> "Of course he likes me. We're friends," Donna said.</div> <bR> <div> "No, I mean likes you likes you," Annie explained. "Like boyfriend </div> <div> likes you."</div> <bR> <div> "Your grandmother said that?" Donna asked, momentarily distracted </div> <div> from her plan.</div> <bR> <div> "Yep, I heard her tell my Mom that his girlfriend is a cold fish, and </div> <div> that he'll wise up soon and figure out it's really you he likes."</div> <bR> <div> "Really?" Donna asked, blushing furiously.</div> <bR> <div> She was momentarily lost in her own thoughts when a grunt from the </div> <div> couch pulled her back to reality. She glanced at Clyde, then turned </div> <div> back to Annie.</div> <bR> <div> "My point is, Annie, that I'm sure there are a lot of people out </div> <div> there right now trying to save us. And your grandpa, and Leo, and </div> <div> Josh are trying harder than anyone. And if we wait long enough, I'm </div> <div> sure they'll find us. But I'm just not sure we have that kind of </div> <div> time."</div> <bR> <div> "So, what do we do?" Annie asked, her voice full of fear.</div> <bR> <div> "You've got the blood of the Bartlet women running through your </div> <div> veins," Donna said, "Which means you've got generations of strength </div> <div> behind you. And if your mom or your grandma or your aunts were here </div> <div> right now, I'm sure they would agree with what I'm about to say."</div> <bR> <div> "What's that?"</div> <bR> <div> "Sometimes, Annie, a woman can't wait around. She just has to save </div> <div> herself."</div> <bR> <div> "How do we do that?" Annie asked, her eyes as big around as saucers.</div> <bR> <div> "I have a plan," Donna said confidently.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna looked urgently around the trailer, trying to find some </div> <div> alternative to the only plan she had been able to come up with. There </div> <div> was none. As difficult as she knew her idea would be to implement, </div> <div> there were no other options. She needed to take advantage of the fact </div> <div> that she and Annie had been left essentially unguarded. She didn't </div> <div> know how long that particular situation would last.</div> <bR> <div> She looked nervously at Clyde, who was partially passed out on the </div> <div> couch, a half-empty bottle of tequila at his side. Occasionally he </div> <div> would rouse himself, take another drink, and then flop back down, </div> <div> muttering about how he hadn't planned this, and how he had to find a </div> <div> way out. </div> <bR> <div> Donna remembered the look in his eyes right before he killed Agent </div> <div> Wright. It was cold and vacant. He felt no remorse for what he had </div> <div> done. She had to wonder if he would have any compunction about </div> <div> killing her and Annie. They were a complication that he hadn't </div> <div> counted on. A serious complication at that. </div> <bR> <div> It was one thing to inadvertently end up with hostages-but when one </div> <div> of them was the granddaughter of the President, that was another </div> <div> matter altogether. Donna was afraid that the enormity of the </div> <div> situation would overwhelm him, and he would kill them just to be rid </div> <div> of them. </div> <bR> <div> She glanced beside her and saw Annie trying to smile bravely, while </div> <div> her bottom lip trembled. Her decision was made. It was time to </div> <div> implement the plan.  </div> <bR> <div> She took a deep breath and turned to Annie. "Ready?" she asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Ready," Annie answered resolutely. "What should I do?"</div> <bR> <div> "Help me pull that chair over here," Donna answered, indicating a </div> <div> worn Lazy Boy recliner off to their left. The chair was almost out of </div> <div> reach, but after a great deal of effort they managed to pull it over </div> <div> next to them. Donna was relieved to see that, just as she had </div> <div> suspected, it was one of the old, heavy models.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Donna began, peering over her shoulder to make sure Clyde was </div> <div> still passed out, "We need to get out of these handcuffs before we </div> <div> can do anything else."</div> <bR> <div> "How are we gonna do that?" Annie asked, tugging against the chain.</div> <bR> <div> Donna eyed the chair, then Annie, then her own wrist, before </div> <div> continuing. "Well, I have an idea. But I'm gonna need your help."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll do anything you need," Annie said bravely, trying as hard to </div> <div> convince herself as she was to convince Donna.</div> <bR> <div> Donna hoped that that bravery held up for a little while longer. She </div> <div> gathered her courage and used her legs to help lift one side of the </div> <div> chair off of the ground, using her feet to keep it elevated. She then </div> <div> placed her hand underneath, her pinky down and her thumb up, karate </div> <div> chop style. Annie gasped as she began to get an idea of what Donna </div> <div> was planning.</div> <bR> <div> "No," she said, the panic from earlier in the car beginning to return </div> <div> to her voice.</div> <bR> <div> "Listen to me," Donna insisted calmly, "It's the only way. We have to </div> <div> get out of these cuffs before he wakes up. You need to help me here, </div> <div> and then I'll be able to find the key and we can get you out."</div> <bR> <div> "No," Annie repeated, tears flowing down her cheeks.</div> <bR> <div> "It's ok," Donna said soothingly. "I'll be fine."</div> <bR> <div> "There has to be some other way," Annie said, looking around urgently </div> <div> for something to use to help set them free.</div> <bR> <div> "There isn't," Donna said. "So I need you to just buckle down so we </div> <div> can get this done."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Annie said despairingly, "What do you want me to do?"</div> <bR> <div> "When I count to three," Donna said, "I need you to jump into the </div> <div> chair as hard as you can, ok?"</div> <bR> <div> "But..."</div> <bR> <div> "No buts." Donna grabbed a pillow off of the chair and handed it to </div> <div> Annie. "Hold this over your face if you need to so that you don't </div> <div> scream out loud."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure there's no other way?" Annie pleaded.</div> <bR> <div> "Positive," Donna assured her.</div> <bR> <div> "But I don't want to..."</div> <bR> <div> "On the count of three," Donna said, in a tone that left no room for </div> <div> argument. She needed to get this over with quickly before she lost </div> <div> her nerve. She gave Annie a little push and the teenager slowly stood </div> <div> up. The chains on the handcuffs were just long enough to make Donna's </div> <div> plan workable. </div> <bR> <div> She braced herself, and began to count. "One....two....." she took a </div> <div> deep breath and buried her own head in the arm of the chair as a </div> <div> preemptive strike, "..Three!"</div> <bR> <div> Annie buried her face in the pillow as she leaped into the chair with </div> <div> as much force as she could muster. The air was filled with the sound </div> <div> of muffled screams and breaking bones. Annie pulled the pillow away </div> <div> from her face and jumped out of the chair immediately. She knelt at </div> <div> Donna's side and helped lift the chair off her hand. Donna looked </div> <div> quickly back at Clyde, who was mumbling louder, but still seemed to </div> <div> be basically unconscious.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" Annie sobbed quietly.</div> <bR> <div> "I will be," Donna said through her own tears, "As soon as we get out </div> <div> of here."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Anything new?" Jed asked anxiously as Ron Butterfield reentered the </div> <div> Oval Office to give his hourly update.</div> <bR> <div> "Not yet," Ron said, frustration clear in his voice, "But we have </div> <div> every avenue out of area blocked off. There's no way he can escape."</div> <div>       </div> <div> "I find surprisingly little comfort in that," Jed snapped, "We have </div> <div> no idea what the man is capable of doing if he feels cornered."</div> <bR> <div> Everyone in the room fell silent. The fact was that they all knew </div> <div> exactly what the man was capable of doing; Agent Wright's death was </div> <div> proof of that.</div> <bR> <div> "We're putting out as much information as we can," Toby </div> <div> interceded. "A full description of the car, pictures of both Annie </div> <div> and Donna, a composite sketch of the carjacker. Someone is bound to </div> <div> see something."</div> <bR> <div> "I hope you're right," Jed sighed as he sat down on the couch next to </div> <div> Abbey. He took one look at his wife's closed eyes and folded hands, </div> <div> and then he silently joined her in prayer.</div> <bR> <div> In the corner of the room, Josh wrapped up a call on his cell phone </div> <div> and slipped it back into his pocket.</div> <bR> <div> "How're you holding up?" Leo asked quietly as he walked up next to </div> <div> Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "Pretty good," Josh answered with just a slight hesitation.</div> <bR> <div> "Anything new on the missing files?" Leo inquired.</div> <bR> <div> "That was the DC Police on the phone. They can't really get into it </div> <div> too much right now because they have all of their officers focused on </div> <div> trying to find Annie and Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "Well I think that's a far better use of the manpower right now. </div> <div> Don't you agree?"</div> <bR> <div> "Definitely," Josh sighed. "The other can wait till Donna and Annie </div> <div> are back safely. But I'm not gonna let this slide, Leo. I won't just </div> <div> forget about it. Amy is gonna pay for all of the havoc she wreaked."</div> <bR> <div> "Don't worry," Leo assured him, "She will."</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, she will," Toby reiterated as he joined the two men, "Ms. </div> <div> Gardner has a lot to answer for."</div> <bR> <div> Josh and Leo nodded in agreement.</div> <bR> <div> "The police are certain there's no connection between what's been </div> <div> going on and the carjacking though, right?" Toby asked. He knew that </div> <div> Josh had talked to Ron about the missing files, but he hadn't managed </div> <div> to find any time to follow up on what Ron had found out.</div> <bR> <div> "They're completely unrelated," Josh said. "It was just a coincidence </div> <div> that the carjacking happened when it did. A piece of incredibly bad </div> <div> luck."</div> <bR> <div> "We'll deal with one thing at a time," Leo said, "First the </div> <div> carjacking, then the rest of it."</div> <bR> <div> "How could I have been so blind?" Josh asked angrily. "How could I </div> <div> not have seen what Amy was like?"</div> <bR> <div> "It isn't that simple," Toby said consolingly. "The crazy people in </div> <div> this world aren't always easy to spot."</div> <bR> <div> "But I should have noticed something," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "Now isn't the time to play the blame game," Leo interjected. "We </div> <div> have to concentrate on the task at hand."</div> <bR> <div> "I really hope we hear something soon," Josh said, this time unable </div> <div> to keep the worry and fear out of his voice, or off his </div> <div> face. "Because the longer we wait...the more chance of...well...I </div> <div> don't even want to think about it."</div> <bR> <div> The three men fell silent, not wanting to contemplate the worst that </div> <div> could happen. After a few minutes, they realized that Jed and Abbey </div> <div> were still sitting on the couch, now with their hands clasped </div> <div> together, deep in prayer. Slowly they all bowed their heads and </div> <div> joined them.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Across town, Amy Gardner glanced at the display on her ringing cell </div> <div> phone.</div> <bR> <div> "What did you find out?" she snapped as she flipped it open.</div> <bR> <div> "I couldn't get near the place," the voice on the other end </div> <div> answered. "There were cops and Secret Service agents everywhere."</div> <bR> <div> "Just my luck she goes and gets herself carjacked with the </div> <div> President's granddaughter," Amy hissed.</div> <bR> <div> "Look," the voice said rationally, "We just need to back off for a </div> <div> little while until all of this settles down. Give things a chance to </div> <div> get back to normal."</div> <bR> <div> "I don't want things back to normal," Amy shouted. "I want Donna </div> <div> gone."</div> <bR> <div> "We're just gonna need to step back...."</div> <bR> <div> "There will be no stepping back, do you hear me?" Amy said </div> <div> angrily. "I want you to find a way to get into that apartment and get </div> <div> rid of anything that might lead back to us."</div> <bR> <div> "And how do you expect me to do that when the place is crawling with </div> <div> cops?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't really care. Be inventive. Just keep in my mind that you're </div> <div> in this as deep as I am. If something goes wrong, I'm not going down </div> <div> alone."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll do my best," the voice said snippily. "And while I'm sticking </div> <div> my neck out over here, what are you going to be doing?"</div> <bR> <div> "Planning our next move," Amy said in a calculating tone. "Josh and </div> <div> the others may think that they scared me off with their veiled </div> <div> threats in Leo's office, but they didn't."</div> <bR> <div> "Maybe it would be better if we just lay low for a while..."</div> <bR> <div> "No!!" Amy shouted, "I am not going to let that bitch beat me."</div> <bR> <div> "We both have our reasons...."</div> <bR> <div> "You're right," Amy said snidely, "Except there is one difference </div> <div> between you and I. I finish what I start. Having Josh find out about </div> <div> me put a little glitch in my plan, but all it really means is that </div> <div> I'll have to find another way to achieve our objective."</div> <bR> <div> "Another way?"</div> <bR> <div> "It's called a contingency plan. There's more than one way to get the </div> <div> job done."</div> <bR> <div> "But how..."</div> <bR> <div> "You let me worry about how. You just make sure nothing in that </div> <div> apartment comes back to bite us in the ass."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll try."</div> <bR> <div> "Don't try. Do it!"</div> <bR> <div> Amy rolled her eyes disdainfully as she disconnected the phone. 'Now </div> <div> is the perfect time to put plan B into action,' she thought, 'Now </div> <div> when everyone's attention is focused elsewhere.' </div> <bR> <div> She smiled evilly and began humming 'Happy Days Are Here Again' as </div> <div> she grabbed her things and headed out the door of her apartment.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna examined her hand. It was already turning purple in spots and </div> <div> starting to puff up. Swelling was the last thing she needed, so she </div> <div> knew she had to work fast. She quickly, and with a great deal of </div> <div> pain, began to maneuver her hand out of the cuff. By rearranging the </div> <div> broken bones, she managed to extract her hand fairly easily. </div> <bR> <div> Once she was free, she stood up and began to move towards the living </div> <div> room. She hoped that she would find the key in the drawer where Clyde </div> <div> had found the cuffs. She didn't want to contemplate having to get </div> <div> Annie's hand out of the cuff the same way they had freed hers. Just </div> <div> as she reached for the handle, she saw Clyde stir. His eyes popped </div> <div> open and he suddenly seemed very much awake. They stared at each </div> <div> other, momentarily frozen, and then Clyde began to rise from the </div> <div> couch. </div> <bR> <div> Donna instinctively reached out for the first thing she could get her </div> <div> hands on, which just happened to be the lamp on the end table. She </div> <div> raised it up with her good hand, and brought it crashing down on top </div> <div> of Clyde's head. He staggered backwards onto the couch, and then rose </div> <div> again with fire in his eyes.</div> <bR> <div> 'Damn,' Donna thought to herself, 'When that happens on television, </div> <div> the person never gets back up.'</div> <bR> <div> It only took a second for Clyde to gather his wits and launch himself </div> <div> off the couch towards Donna. He tackled her roughly and they both </div> <div> tumbled backwards. Donna grimaced in pain as her sore hand made </div> <div> contact with the floor. </div> <bR> <div> Clyde was flailing about angrily, his motor skills quite impaired by </div> <div> his intake of 100 proof tequila. But even drunk, or maybe even </div> <div> especially drunk, he had a huge strength advantage over Donna. </div> <bR> <div> She felt his fist make contact with her cheek, and then before she </div> <div> knew it, strong hands were around her neck. Donna remembered </div> <div> something she had learned in a self-defense class in college; that </div> <div> most of a woman's strength was in her legs as opposed to her arms. </div> <div> She positioned her feet as best she could against his body and </div> <div> pushed. Clyde was thrown backwards four or five feet, just enough to </div> <div> give Donna a chance to regroup.</div> <bR> <div> As he lunged for her again, Donna's hand fell back over her head and </div> <div> landed on something metal. Without being completely sure what it was, </div> <div> she swung it towards his head as hard as she could. Just as another </div> <div> hard slap landed on her face, the fireplace poker made contact with </div> <div> the side of Clyde's head. He fell backward, groaning in pain, as </div> <div> Donna scrambled to her feet. When he tried to get up, she clenched </div> <div> her jaw and swung the poker again, then again. </div> <bR> <div> Donna's stomach threatened to revolt at the sight of the blood </div> <div> pouring from the side of Clyde's head. She slammed down her feelings </div> <div> as she saw that his chest was still rising and falling. She needed to </div> <div> get herself and Annie out of there immediately.</div> <bR> <div> She looked across the room and saw Annie huddled in the corner, </div> <div> shaking violently. She went straight for the drawer where Clyde had </div> <div> found the cuffs. Ignoring her own pain, she began to paw through the </div> <div> contents frantically. Eventually she found the key, and she ran back </div> <div> to Annie.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" Donna asked quietly, kneeling down beside her.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes. Are you?" Annie asked worriedly, taking note of the blood on </div> <div> Donna's cheek and lip.</div> <bR> <div> "I will be. Lets get out of here."</div> <bR> <div> They were almost to the door when Donna remembered the car keys. She </div> <div> looked around anxiously, and then finally saw them on the counter in </div> <div> the kitchen. She grabbed them, took one last look at Clyde, then they </div> <div> bolted out the door and towards the car.</div> <bR> <div> They jumped into the front seat and Donna roared out of the driveway, </div> <div> pausing only momentarily to memorize the address on the mailbox so </div> <div> she could give it to the police. Within minutes, they were out of </div> <div> sight of the trailer. Donna relaxed a little and took some deep </div> <div> breaths, trying to decide what to do next. Annie was sitting in the </div> <div> passenger's seat, staring at her with a look of anticipation.</div> <bR> <div> "What do we do now?" Annie asked excitedly.</div> <bR> <div> "I think we better call your grandparents," Donna answered. "My tote </div> <div> bag is in the back seat. My cell phone should be in it."</div> <bR> <div> Annie's face broke into a huge smile as she reached back between the </div> <div> seats and grabbed Donna's bag. Within seconds she had located the </div> <div> phone and was dialing the White House.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Charlie burst into the Oval Office. "Annie's on line one," he said </div> <div> breathlessly.</div> <bR> <div> His words brought the office to life immediately. Both Jed and Abbey </div> <div> went for the phone. Jed pushed line one and the speakerphone button </div> <div> simultaneously.</div> <bR> <div> "Annie?" he asked frantically.</div> <bR> <div> "It's me, Grandpa," she shouted joyously.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh thank God," Abbey sobbed, leaning closer to the phone, "Are you </div> <div> ok, sweetheart?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine, Grandma."</div> <bR> <div> "Where are you?" Jed asked, looking up as Ron Butterfield entered the </div> <div> office hurriedly, talking to someone on his cell phone.</div> <bR> <div> "We're in the car. We're on our way back there," Annie looked out the </div> <div> window at the scenery whizzing by. "I'm not exactly sure where we </div> <div> are."</div> <bR> <div> "Is Donna with you?" Abbey asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Annie answered, "Donna saved us. She fought with man who </div> <div> killed Eric. She got us out of there."</div> <bR> <div> Josh couldn't wait any longer. "Annie, is Donna alright?" he asked </div> <div> anxiously.</div> <bR> <div> "I think so," Annie replied. "She hurt her hand, and her cheek is </div> <div> bleeding, but she said she was ok."</div> <bR> <div> Ron mouthed for Jed to get their exact location so he could send a </div> <div> car out to intercept them.</div> <bR> <div> "Let me speak to Donna for a second, honey," Jed said calmly.</div> <bR> <div> The sound of muffled conversation between Donna and Annie came </div> <div> through the phone. Then Annie was back on the line.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna can't talk to you right now. She can't hold the phone."</div> <bR> <div> "Why not?" Josh asked apprehensively.</div> <bR> <div> "She hurt her hand," Annie said a bit guiltily, "And she can't hold </div> <div> the phone and drive at the same time."</div> <bR> <div> "Can you hold the phone up to Donna's ear for a minute?" Ron asked.</div> <bR> <div> Annie did as Ron asked and Donna managed to convey their current </div> <div> position as closely as possible. She also gave them the address where </div> <div> they would be able to find Clyde. Ron assured her that he would send </div> <div> cars out to meet them and escort them back to the White House. He </div> <div> asked Donna if she was ok to drive the whole way back and she assured </div> <div> him that she was. She didn't want to take time to stop and get into a </div> <div> car with the agents, she wanted to get back to the safety of the </div> <div> White House as soon as possible. </div> <bR> <div> By the time she finished talking to Ron, Donna could see the flashing </div> <div> lights of several DC Police cars. </div> <bR> <div> "The police are here. They found us!" Annie exalted jubilantly as the </div> <div> police cars fell in in front of and behind the car.</div> <bR> <div> "You're safe now, sweetheart," Jed said, wrapping his arms around </div> <div> Abbey and wondering how he would survive the minutes until they made </div> <div> it back. "You'll be back here soon."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The President and First Lady hugged each other, in celebration of </div> <div> their granddaughter's safety, as the Oval Office exploded with </div> <div> activity. Ron Butterfield was barking into his phone, attempting to </div> <div> simultaneously coordinate two separate operations; the interception </div> <div> of the car Donna was driving-and it's escort back to the White House, </div> <div> and the apprehension of the man who had committed the carjacking.</div> <bR> <div> CJ and Sam had returned from the pressroom as soon as the news of </div> <div> Annie's call had reached them. The call had been cut short when the </div> <div> sound of screaming sirens, combined with interference from all of the </div> <div> police radios, had made it impossible to continue the conversation. </div> <div> Jed and Abbey had been reluctant to hang up, not wanting to lose </div> <div> contact, but Annie finally told both of her grandparents that she </div> <div> loved them, assured them she would be back soon, and disconnected.</div> <bR> <div> Josh and Leo were immediately on their cells, talking to their own </div> <div> contacts within the police department in an attempt to get as much </div> <div> information as possible about the carjacker. Now that they had an </div> <div> address, they hoped they could get some positive identification. Even </div> <div> though Ron had been sure that the carjacking was unrelated to </div> <div> everything else that had been going on, Josh wanted some concrete </div> <div> proof. The sooner he found out for sure, the better he would feel.</div> <bR> <div> CJ, Sam and Toby were huddled together crafting a release announcing </div> <div> Donna and Annie's safe return. They had decided to brief the press </div> <div> immediately on that issue, and then follow up later when more </div> <div> information about the carjacker became available. Suddenly, over the </div> <div> din of activity, they heard the sound of approaching sirens. Jed and </div> <div> Abbey made a move towards the door, but Ron stepped in front of them.</div> <bR> <div> "What in the hell are you doing?" Jed asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm having Annie and Donna brought in through the underground </div> <div> garage," Ron said in his most official tone, hoping desperately that </div> <div> the President wouldn't fight him on this one. "They'll be escorted </div> <div> here the second they arrive. It's really best if you just wait where </div> <div> you are."</div> <bR> <div> Jed began to argue, but Abbey's hand on his arm stopped him. "Let Ron </div> <div> do his job," she said softly.</div> <bR> <div> Jed shot Ron a look that said that he didn't agree, but that he would </div> <div> go along this time to avoid upsetting his wife any further. Ron </div> <div> heaved a sigh of relief, then began listening intently to voice in </div> <div> his earpiece. "They're on the way," he smiled.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Everyone in the room was ready to burst by the time Donna and Annie </div> <div> finally arrived. Donna's right arm was wrapped protectively around </div> <div> Annie's shoulder, and they were surrounded by Secret Service agents. </div> <div> As soon as Annie saw her grandparents, she pushed past the agents, </div> <div> and flew into their arms. The three of them stood wrapped in one </div> <div> large hug, sobbing. It didn't matter at that moment that they were </div> <div> members of the First Family; they were simply three people who loved </div> <div> each other, celebrating a joyous reunion.</div> <bR> <div> The unrestrained emotion of the moment mesmerized everyone in the </div> <div> office, but it only took a second for Josh's attention to refocus on </div> <div> Donna. As he moved towards her, he noticed a large bruise on the side </div> <div> of her face, a cut on her cheek, and her split lip. She finally </div> <div> turned and made eye contact with him when he was about four steps </div> <div> away. Immediately, her strong veneer began to slip. Josh saw her </div> <div> bottom lip start to tremble, and tears begin to form in her eyes. She </div> <div> had been strong throughout the crisis, but now that they had reached </div> <div> safety, she couldn't hold back her emotions.</div> <bR> <div> Wordlessly, Josh wrapped her in his arms, and began to stroke her </div> <div> hair. "It's ok," he repeated over and over as she buried her head in </div> <div> his chest.</div> <bR> <div> The agents in the room disappeared to their posts outside the doors. </div> <div> Ron excused himself to personally handle Clyde's apprehension. He </div> <div> intended to head out to the house where Donna and Annie had been </div> <div> held, to make sure that there no slip-ups.</div> <bR> <div> Donna felt a hand on her back and turned to see CJ fighting back her </div> <div> own tears. She momentarily left the security of Josh's arms to </div> <div> receive a warm hug from CJ, followed in quick succession by hugs from </div> <div> the rest of the senior staff. </div> <bR> <div> As Leo wrapped his arms tightly around Donna, she let out a small </div> <div> yelp of pain. Leo jumped back, while Josh's face flooded with alarm.</div> <bR> <div> "What did I do?" Leo asked in a panicked tone.</div> <bR> <div> "Nothing. I'm sorry. It's fine," Donna insisted. "I just...you bumped </div> <div> my hand." </div> <bR> <div> Josh moved immediately back to her side. For the first time, he </div> <div> noticed that she was holding her left hand against her body. He </div> <div> wrapped his arm around her shoulders to steady her, and placed his </div> <div> hand gently on her left forearm.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" he asked, his voice full of concern.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," she answered quietly, leaning against him for support, "I </div> <div> just hurt my hand."</div> <bR> <div> "Let me see," Abbey said, crossing the room purposefully, followed </div> <div> closely by Jed and Annie.</div> <bR> <div> Donna held her hand gingerly out in front of her. It was apparent to </div> <div> everyone in the room that it was badly broken.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh my God," Josh gasped, "What happened?"</div> <bR> <div> Before Donna could answer, Abbey slipped seamlessly into doctor mode. </div> <div> She moved to the door and instructed one of the agents to bring her a </div> <div> bag of ice immediately, and to prepare for one of the cars to take </div> <div> Donna to the hospital. Then she motioned for Donna to take a seat on </div> <div> the sofa. Josh sat down beside her, rubbing slow, gentle circles on </div> <div> her back.</div> <bR> <div> "Now how did this happen?" Abbey asked as an agent rushed in and </div> <div> handed her a bag of ice, which she immediately applied to Donna's </div> <div> hand.</div> <bR> <div> "The car is ready whenever you are," the agent said.</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Abbey answered, before turning her attention back to </div> <div> Donna.</div> <bR> <div> As Donna was trying to find the right words to describe what had </div> <div> happened, Annie spoke up, "We were handcuffed to this pipe, and we </div> <div> couldn't get away. So Donna put her hand under this chair and she </div> <div> asked me to jump in it as hard as I could..."</div> <bR> <div> Annie's words became harder to understand as they tumbled out faster </div> <div> and faster, and she lost her battle to hold back her tears. </div> <bR> <div> "Shhhhh, it's ok," Donna reassured her, reaching out with her </div> <div> uninjured hand to stroke the side of Annie's face.</div> <bR> <div> "But as soon as I jumped in the chair I heard the bones snapping," </div> <div> Annie sobbed, as though she needed to get it all off her chest.</div> <bR> <div> "It's ok, honey," Jed said, sitting down in a large armchair and </div> <div> pulling Annie into his lap. As she buried her head in the crook of </div> <div> his neck, Jed turned to Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "What exactly happened?" he asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <div> Donna took a deep breath and intertwined the fingers on her uninjured </div> <div> right hand with Josh's. She turned to look at him, and saw something </div> <div> in his eyes that she had never seen before. She couldn't quite define </div> <div> it, but in that moment she felt safer than she ever had before. She </div> <div> turned back towards Jed and Abbey, who sat patiently waiting for an </div> <div> explanation.</div> <bR> <div> "Clyde took us to an old run down trailer in Northern Virginia..." </div> <div> she began.</div> <bR> <div> "His name was Clyde?" Leo interjected.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I don't really know what his name was. I just called him </div> <div> Clyde," Donna said sheepishly.</div> <bR> <div> "Like in Bonnie and Clyde," Annie supplied helpfully, her sobs </div> <div> subsiding to a sniffle.</div> <bR> <div> "Right," Donna smiled, "Well, as soon as we got to the trailer, he </div> <div> cuffed us to this pipe using a set of three-way handcuffs. Then he </div> <div> started pacing around, mumbling something about never meaning to have </div> <div> taken hostages, and how he should have killed us on the spot."</div> <bR> <div> Josh shuddered, and tightened his grip on Donna's hand. She smiled </div> <div> softly at him, then she took a deep breath and continued.</div> <bR> <div> "So, he grabbed a bottle of Cuervo and started drinking while he </div> <div> paced. Next thing I knew, he was half passed out on the couch. I </div> <div> figured that I had to do something quick. I was afraid that when he </div> <div> woke up, especially with a hangover, he might decide to kill us."</div> <bR> <div> "That still doesn't explain what happened to your hand," Toby pointed </div> <div> out.</div> <bR> <div> "I figured that our only hope was to get out of those cuffs," Donna </div> <div> continued, "And the only way to make that happen was to break my hand </div> <div> so that I could slip it out. So Annie helped me to pull an old </div> <div> recliner over close to us. I put my hand under it, and she jumped </div> <div> into it. As soon as the bones broke, I was able to slip my hand out."</div> <bR> <div> The room fell silent as everyone stared at Donna with a mixture of </div> <div> amazement and awe.  </div> <bR> <div> "You..you..broke your own hand to get out of the cuffs?" Josh </div> <div> stammered.</div> <bR> <div> "It was the only way," Donna said quietly, focusing solely on Josh's </div> <div> face, forgetting momentarily that anyone else was in the room. The </div> <div> myriad of deep emotions that she saw in his eyes made her heart soar, </div> <div> and she let herself relax into the arm that was around her shoulders. </div> <div> She was broken out of her reverie by the sound of the Annie's soft </div> <div> whimpering.</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't want to do it. But then Donna explained to me that it was </div> <div> the only way, and that we had to be strong," she said bravely.</div> <bR> <div> "It was the only way," Donna said resolutely. </div> <bR> <div> "So you broke your own hand?" Leo asked again, echoing the earlier </div> <div> question. CJ and Sam both cringed at the very thought.</div> <bR> <div> "It really was the only alternative," Donna insisted.</div> <bR> <div> Abbey was having a great deal of trouble wrapping her mind around the </div> <div> concept of what Donna had done, and she quickly realized the others </div> <div> in the room were having the same problem. She decided that it was </div> <div> best to deal with medical needs first, then handle everything else as </div> <div> it came along.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," she said in her best take-charge voice, "There'll be plenty of </div> <div> time to discuss details later. Right now Donna needs to get to a </div> <div> hospital and get this hand taken care of."</div> <bR> <div> "I agree," Josh said, standing and pulling Donna up with him, "Let's </div> <div> go."</div> <bR> <div> He cast a sideways glance at Leo, hoping that his boss wouldn't try </div> <div> to make him stay behind. In the light of recent events, there was </div> <div> plenty of work that needed done, but Josh had absolutely no intention </div> <div> of being anywhere but by Donna's side for the immediate future.</div> <bR> <div> Leo smiled paternally at his deputy then looked back at Abbey.</div> <bR> <div> "Does Annie need to go to the hospital to be checked over?" he asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No, I'm fine," Annie said definitively. "I don't need a doctor."</div> <bR> <div> Abbey assessed the situation quickly. She decided that rather than </div> <div> create any more stress for Annie, she would check her over </div> <div> personally, and they could head to the hospital later if it was </div> <div> necessary. But she didn't think it would be. Outwardly, Annie seemed </div> <div> unharmed. The real test would be how she handled the situation </div> <div> emotionally.</div> <bR> <div> "I think she'll be fine," Abbey agreed.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Leo said. "Josh, I want you to go with Donna to the hospital </div> <div> and get that hand taken care of. We can handle everything here till </div> <div> you get back.</div> <bR> <div> Josh and Donna both shot Leo a grateful look as they headed for the </div> <div> door. Behind them, Jed, Abbey and Annie headed upstairs, while the </div> <div> rest of the staff threw themselves into dealing with the myriad of </div> <div> issues currently facing them.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The First Lady had called ahead, so Josh and Donna were ushered into </div> <div> a small examining room immediately upon arrival. The nurse informed </div> <div> them that Dr. Bartlet had requested a specific orthopedic specialist, </div> <div> who was in route, so there would be a short wait. She gave Donna a </div> <div> pill to help dull the pain, and then left her and Josh alone, telling </div> <div> them to ring if they needed anything.</div> <bR> <div> Josh moved from his position, standing in the corner of the room, to </div> <div> sit beside Donna on the exam table. He wrapped her in his arms and </div> <div> cradled her head against his chest.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure you're ok?" he asked gently.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," she sighed, "I'm fine."</div> <bR> <div> "I was so worried," Josh confided, pulling back slightly so that he </div> <div> could look into her eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh, Josh," Donna said, as tears began to flow down her cheeks. She </div> <div> opened her mouth to speak but no words would come out. </div> <bR> <div> Josh knew that they needed talk about many things, but he also knew </div> <div> that this was neither the time nor the place. He just wanted to get </div> <div> Donna patched up so that he could take her home. Then he could tell </div> <div> her all of the things he had been feeling over the last day, the last </div> <div> week, the last month. He wiped her tears away with his thumbs.</div> <bR> <div> "It's ok, Donna. Everything's gonna be fine. We're gonna get you </div> <div> fixed up, then get you home. There'll be time to talk later."</div> <bR> <div> "Good," Donna said as relief flooded her face, "Because I definitely </div> <div> think we need to talk."</div> <bR> <div> "I agree," Josh said. "This just isn't the place."</div> <bR> <div> They lapsed into silence as they both stared at Donna's hand, her </div> <div> purple fingers visible from underneath the icepack.</div> <bR> <div> "You broke your own hand," Josh said, shaking his head in disbelief.</div> <bR> <div> "It was the only way," Donna repeated, "And why does everyone keep </div> <div> mentioning that?"</div> <bR> <div> "Well, it's amazing. I mean...you broke your own hand."</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, I broke a bone. I didn't chew off my own arm."</div> <bR> <div> "Now that would have just been gross," Josh teased.</div> <bR> <div> Donna smiled and rolled her eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "Seriously, Donna, I'm in awe. I'm not sure I could have done it."</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, you could have," Donna said without a trace of a doubt in her </div> <div> voice.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," he sighed. "Maybe a finger."</div> <bR> <div> "You mean if you were ever being held captive with finger cuffs?" </div> <div> Donna snorted.</div> <bR> <div> "I'd have to start small. Maybe break a finger, then work my way up."</div> <bR> <div> Donna laughed, both at Josh's serious consideration of what body </div> <div> parts he would and wouldn't be able to break, and the absurdity of </div> <div> the conversation. She was sitting in an exam room in the ER with a </div> <div> broken hand, after having spent the day at the mercy of a murderer, </div> <div> and yet she hadn't felt this happy in months. She could feel that she </div> <div> and Josh were regaining the closeness they had shared before </div> <div> everything started to go wrong.</div> <bR> <div> "Seriously, Donna..." Josh began, but before he could go any further, </div> <div> he was interrupted by the arrival of Abbey's hand picked specialist.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Jed sat on a sofa in the Residence with his arms wrapped around </div> <div> Abbey, who was leaning back against his chest.  Annie was sound </div> <div> asleep with her head in her grandmother's lap.</div> <bR> <div> "Thank God it's over," the President sighed.</div> <bR> <div> "Thank God is right," Abbey said, "So don't forget a little extra </div> <div> gratitude in your prayers tonight."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be sure to say a special thanks for Donna Moss. And for the </div> <div> fact that she was willing to break her own hand to help bring Annie </div> <div> home safely. I still can't quite believe that"</div> <bR> <div> "She's an amazing young woman," Abbey said. "We need to have her over </div> <div> once she's feeling better so we can properly express our gratitude."</div> <bR> <div> "How can we ever really say thank you?" Jed questioned. "I mean, what </div> <div> is enough of a thanks for saving Annie's life?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," Abbey said softly as she stroked Annie's hair and </div> <div> watched her sleep peacefully, apparently unbothered by nightmares, at </div> <div> least for now. "Words seem so inadequate."</div> <bR> <div> "We'll think of something," Jed said confidently as he leaned over </div> <div> and planted a soft kiss on Abbey's cheek. </div> <bR> <div> "Maybe I'll start by calling Josh at the hospital and asking him to </div> <div> bring Donna back here after she gets her hand set," Abbey said, </div> <div> reaching past Jed for the phone on the end table, "I think Annie </div> <div> would like to see her first thing in the morning. And as soon as the </div> <div> details of what happened hit the press, the reporters will be </div> <div> crawling all over her apartment."</div> <bR> <div> "Excellent idea," Jed agreed, easing himself off the couch, trying </div> <div> not to disturb Annie's sleep. "I'll go have the stewards get a guest </div> <div> room ready."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh sat fidgeting in one of the chairs in the ER waiting room. Dr. </div> <div> Warren, the orthopedic specialist, had taken one look at Donna's hand </div> <div> and sent her immediately to have an x-ray taken. Not long after, he </div> <div> had come out and reported to Josh that he thought he could fix </div> <div> Donna's hand with a closed reduction. He was going to set it, cast </div> <div> it, then wait 48 hours and reexamine it. He had promised Josh that </div> <div> the casting wouldn't take long.</div> <bR> <div> Josh glanced restlessly at his watch for the hundredth time, but this </div> <div> time, as he looked up, he saw Sam, Ginger, and Bonnie coming through </div> <div> the automatic doors. At first, he thought that they had come to check </div> <div> on Donna, and then he saw the look of pain on Ginger's face.</div> <bR> <div> "What's wrong?" he asked as he rushed towards them.</div> <bR> <div> "We're not sure. She has bad stomach pains," Sam said, lowering </div> <div> Ginger into a chair as Bonnie went to the admissions desk. </div> <bR> <div> Within a few minutes, an orderly had arrived with a wheelchair to </div> <div> take Ginger back to be examined. Bonnie had been allowed to accompany </div> <div> her, but Sam was forced to remain with Josh.</div> <bR> <div> The two men waited restlessly for news, passing the time by watching </div> <div> reports of the carjacking on the small TV in the corner of the room. </div> <bR> <div> "Donna's a hero," Sam smiled, as the news reports repeated the story </div> <div> of Donna breaking her hand to escape the cuffs. CJ and Toby had </div> <div> considered not releasing that detail immediately, to give Donna time </div> <div> to prepare for the media onslaught, but as soon as they got wind that </div> <div> a few reporters had somehow learned about Donna's injury, they had no </div> <div> choice.</div> <bR> <div> "No doubt about it," Josh smiled. "The press is gonna have a field </div> <div> day with this one."</div> <bR> <div> "Did you get a chance to talk to her about Amy?" Sam asked hesitantly.</div> <bR> <div> "Not yet. I figured I'd let her get a good night's sleep and tell her </div> <div> everything in the morning."</div> <bR> <div> "That's probably best," Sam agreed, as the sound of a beeper filled </div> <div> the air.</div> <bR> <div> "It's me," Josh said, looking down. "It's the First Lady."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As Josh returned from talking to Abbey on the phone in the lobby, he </div> <div> saw Donna approaching Sam. He noticed that her cuts had been cleaned </div> <div> up, and she was wearing a set of hospital scrubs. He smiled broadly </div> <div> at the sight of a neon pink cast on her left hand.</div> <bR> <div> "That's certainly pink," he laughed as he approached and slipped his </div> <div> arm around her waist.</div> <bR> <div> "I thought Annie would get a kick out of it," Donna smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "Speaking of Annie," Josh said, "The First Lady would like you to </div> <div> stay at the Residence for a few days, just till this blows over a </div> <div> little. Your place is probably crawling with reporters by now, and </div> <div> besides, she said she thought Annie would like to have you close by. </div> <div> It might do you both some good."</div> <bR> <div> "But I don't have any clothes. And I don't want to impose on them," </div> <div> Donna protested.</div> <bR> <div> "She said that they would get you whatever you need. And if you want </div> <div> something specific from your apartment, they'll send an agent over </div> <div> after it. Its no use arguing; her mind is made up."</div> <bR> <div> "I guess it'll be ok," Donna acquiesced. Just then she noticed Sam </div> <div> staring intently at the door, and she realized that something was </div> <div> wrong. She had mistakenly assumed that he was here to keep Josh </div> <div> company. "What's wrong, Sam?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh and Sam quickly filled her in on the details of Ginger's illness.</div> <bR> <div> "I think it had to have been something she ate," Sam said, as Josh </div> <div> and Donna settled into the seats beside him to await news. </div> <bR> <div> Before long, Bonnie came through the doors that separated the exam </div> <div> area from the waiting room. Her face was a mask of confusion.</div> <bR> <div> "How is she?" Sam, Josh and Donna asked simultaneously.</div> <bR> <div> "She's gonna be ok," Bonnie said happily. "They pumped her stomach </div> <div> and she's feeling much better."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank God," Donna said with a huge sigh of relief.</div> <bR> <div> "How are you feeling?" Bonnie asked awkwardly. She was embarrassed by </div> <div> the way she and the others had treated Donna prior to the carjacking. </div> <div> During the ordeal, Toby had filled all of the senior assistants in on </div> <div> what had been happening with Amy Gardner. Since the senior staff's </div> <div> attentions were tied up elsewhere, he needed them to keep an eye out </div> <div> for anything suspicious.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Donna said, smiling to try to ease Bonnie's obvious </div> <div> discomfort. "Let's concentrate on Ginger right now."</div> <bR> <div> "Well," Bonnie said hesitantly, "the doctors found something strange."</div> <bR> <div> "What is it?" Sam asked worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "The preliminary toxicology tests indicated high levels of an as yet </div> <div> unidentified anti-psychotic medication in Ginger's bloodstream. It </div> <div> isn't normally the kind of thing that would cause cramps, just </div> <div> confusion and hallucinations, but Ginger has a lot of drug allergies. </div> <div> That's why she had such a violent reaction."</div> <bR> <div> "An anti-psychotic medication? I don't understand," Sam said.</div> <bR> <div> "The doctors said they need to do more tests, but they think someone </div> <div> spiked her food. Most likely her yogurt."</div> <bR> <div> "Who would spike Ginger's yogurt?" Donna asked angrily.</div> <bR> <div> "That's the thing," Bonnie said, looking nervously at Donna. "We </div> <div> we're trying to get a report done for Toby, and then we were going to </div> <div> go out and grab a bite to eat afterwards. Ginger needed a little </div> <div> something to hold her over, but we couldn't find anything, and the </div> <div> Mess was closed. She knew that you always keep yogurt in Josh's </div> <div> fridge, so she grabbed one. She was just gonna replace it in the </div> <div> morning."</div> <bR> <div> "What are you saying?" Donna asked fearfully.</div> <bR> <div> "It was your yogurt," Bonnie answered quietly.</div> <bR> <div> "But why.." Donna began as she turned and looked at Josh, who looked </div> <div> both angry and shocked, "Who would drug my yogurt?" she asked as she </div> <div> began to tremble.</div> <bR> <div> Josh wrapped his arms around Donna's shaking frame and turned back to </div> <div> Bonnie. "Ginger's gonna be ok, right?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah. They're keeping her overnight just to be sure. I'm gonna stay </div> <div> with her till morning."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm gonna take Donna back to the White House. If there's anything at </div> <div> all you need, let me know," Josh said sincerely. He pulled a card </div> <div> from his jacket pocket and handed it to Bonnie. "This is the name of </div> <div> a detective with the DC Police. Have the doctor call him and fill him </div> <div> in on all the details. Use my name, he'll know what it's about."</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked at Josh, her eyes pleading for an explanation of what </div> <div> was happening.</div> <bR> <div> "Do you want me to stay?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Bonnie assured him, "We'll be fine. You go ahead back. I'm sure </div> <div> there's a lot to do."</div> <bR> <div> "Lets go then," Josh said softly to Donna, "There are some things you </div> <div> need to know about. I thought this was just a simple case of missing </div> <div> files, but apparently the stakes just got a lot higher.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As soon as they returned from the hospital, Sam went to track down CJ </div> <div> and Toby and fill them in on the details of Ginger's condition. Donna </div> <div> had been silent for the entire ride back to the White House, and Josh </div> <div> could tell by the look in her eyes that she was trying to process </div> <div> everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. As if </div> <div> being carjacked, witnessing the cold-blooded murder of a Secret </div> <div> Service agent, and breaking her own hand weren't enough, Donna now </div> <div> had to deal with the reality that someone had drugged her food.</div> <bR> <div> Josh could tell that she was developing a mild case of shock. He </div> <div> hoped that sharing all of the information he knew with her might be </div> <div> some small comfort. It was always better to know what, and who, you </div> <div> were up against. What he needed was a quiet place where they could </div> <div> talk without being interrupted.</div> <bR> <div> Josh nodded silently to the agent at the doorway as they exited the </div> <div> building. He led Donna over to a secluded bench at the far end of the </div> <div> Rose Garden. He took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around her, </div> <div> then gently pushed against her shoulder. She took the non-verbal cue </div> <div> and sat down. Josh settled in beside her and took her hand.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you warm enough?" he asked awkwardly. Now that he finally had </div> <div> her alone, he didn't know where to start. There was so much he wanted </div> <div> to tell her, so much she needed to hear.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," she answered, squeezing his hand. </div> <bR> <div> After a few minutes of silence, which Josh thought felt more like </div> <div> hours, Donna turned and looked at him. The fear and confusion he saw </div> <div> in her crystal blue eyes broke his heart. As she fought back tears, </div> <div> she asked him in a quivering voice, "What's happening? Why would </div> <div> someone drug my yogurt?"</div> <bR> <div> Josh turned so that his legs were straddling the bench, and slid as </div> <div> close to Donna as possible. He wiped away the tears that had begun to </div> <div> slide down her face. He laid his palm against her cheek and she </div> <div> sighed softly and leaned into his hand. He wanted to wrap her in his </div> <div> arms and tell her that she didn't have to do anything, that he would </div> <div> take care of everything, but he knew that wasn't realistic. There </div> <div> were things Donna needed to know and he had to be the one to tell </div> <div> her. He vowed to be there every step of the way to help her deal with </div> <div> whatever came along.</div> <bR> <div> "We think we know who was behind the files in your trash can," Josh </div> <div> began slowly.</div> <bR> <div> "Who?" Donna asked impatiently. "Who could have gotten a hold of </div> <div> them? And why would they have dumped them in my trash?"</div> <bR> <div> "We think it was....well actually we're sure it was....Amy Gardner," </div> <div> Josh blurted out, watching closely for Donna's reaction.</div> <bR> <div> "What?!" Donna asked, a look of complete disbelief settling on her </div> <div> face. "Why would Amy do something like that? Are you sure?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'm positive," Josh interjected confidently.</div> <bR> <div> "But why? I mean..what makes you think...." Donna stammered as her </div> <div> hand fluttered up to her mouth.</div> <bR> <div> Josh reached for her hand and replaced it gently in her lap, stroking </div> <div> her knuckles with his fingers in an effort to keep her calm.</div> <bR> <div> "It all started the night that you called and left me a message about </div> <div> the conference call Leo had set up. Do you remember that?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna said cautiously, "You called me back in the middle of </div> <div> the night because you needed me to repeat the message. You were </div> <div> having problems with your answering machines."</div> <bR> <div> "Right," Josh nodded, "Except I really wasn't. Well, not mechanical </div> <div> problems anyway. When I came out of the shower that night, I saw Amy </div> <div> sitting in bed with both of my phones in her hands."</div> <bR> <div> Josh saw a shadow cross Donna's face at the mention of Amy in his </div> <div> bed. He wondered why he had never been smart enough to see it </div> <div> earlier. Donna had been mildly bemused by Amy in the beginning, but </div> <div> as the relationship continued, Donna's attitude had become far more </div> <div> disapproving. Josh hadn't allowed himself to wonder why at the time, </div> <div> now he wished he had. There were so many things he wished he had done </div> <div> differently.</div> <bR> <div> "And?" Donna asked, snapping him back to reality.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh, right. Sorry," Josh said. "Well something just didn't seem </div> <div> right. She said that she was checking her messages, but why would she </div> <div> have needed both phones? So later on, I checked the voicemail on </div> <div> each. They were both empty. But then when I used *69 to check for the </div> <div> last number that had called, my cell had called my home phone, and </div> <div> vice versa."</div> <bR> <div> "But why would Amy do something like that?" Donna asked skeptically.</div> <bR> <div> "All I could figure out was that she had erased my voicemail, and </div> <div> then wanted to erase the number of whoever had been trying to get a </div> <div> hold of me. That's when I called you, and you said that you had left </div> <div> me messages on both phones. So I knew that Amy had erased them."</div> <bR> <div> "But what did she think she was doing?" Donna asked angrily, "That </div> <div> was an important message. If you had missed that call Leo would have </div> <div> been very angry."</div> <bR> <div> "I know. I couldn't figure it out either. I talked to CJ about it, </div> <div> but before we could figure out was going on-Leo got the envelope with </div> <div> the files that had supposedly been found in your trash can."</div> <bR> <div> "I remember," Donna said tearily, recalling the confrontation in </div> <div> Leo's office.</div> <bR> <div> "Once I explained everything to him he felt bad," Josh assured her. </div> <div> He remembered how torn up his boss had been when Donna was missing. </div> <div> He knew that Leo was eager to make up to her for all of the things he </div> <div> had said that day in his office.</div> <bR> <div> Donna nodded, almost imperceptibly, and Josh continued. </div> <bR> <div> "I know I should have told you then about my suspicions," he said </div> <div> guiltily, "But we had no idea what Amy's angle was. Whether she was </div> <div> after you, or me, or the administration. But we knew that she seemed </div> <div> to be focused on you right at that moment, and we were afraid that if </div> <div> we told you, she might sense a subtle shift in your behavior, and </div> <div> then we would lose her."</div> <bR> <div> "I understand," Donna nodded wearily, "Besides everyone thought that </div> <div> I had dumped those files in the garbage."</div> <bR> <div> "Nobody thought that," Josh insisted. "Leo reacted badly at first </div> <div> because it was a serious security breech. But it didn't take him long </div> <div> to realize you would never do something like that."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Donna said, managing a soft smile, which Josh gladly </div> <div> returned.</div> <bR> <div> "Besides," he continued, "it didn't take long for Amy to make her </div> <div> next move. CJ saw her leave a note on your desk the morning you </div> <div> walked me to my meeting with the transportation people. She snagged </div> <div> it before you got back."</div> <bR> <div> "What did it say?"</div> <bR> <div> "It asked you to meet someone that evening at the Washington </div> <div> Monument," Josh said haltingly.</div> <bR> <div> "Who?"</div> <bR> <div> "Cliff Calley?"</div> <bR> <div> "Cliff? Why Cliff? I haven't seen him in months."</div> <bR> <div> "I know. But Amy had been subtly insinuating to me that all of your </div> <div> inefficiency coincided with your relationship with Cliff. Like </div> <div> possibly you were intentionally sabotaging things..."</div> <bR> <div> "How dare she!" Donna yelled as she stood up and began pacing back </div> <div> and forth in front of the bench. "I would never....no matter....even </div> <div> after the few times I saw Cliff...."</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Josh said, grabbing her right hand and pulling her back </div> <div> down to the bench.</div> <bR> <div> "I would never be disloyal to you," Donna insisted.</div> <bR> <div> "I know that," Josh repeated, "Amy was trying to plant the seed of </div> <div> doubt. But it didn't work. CJ had lunch with Calley and convinced him </div> <div> to go along with the plan."</div> <bR> <div> "What plan?"</div> <bR> <div> "CJ sent you down to the file room to pull some files. That kept you </div> <div> out of sight for a few hours. Then we sent Ainsley Hayes to the </div> <div> meeting with Calley wearing your coat."</div> <bR> <div> "But we don't even look that much alike," Donna protested.</div> <bR> <div> "CJ figured there would be someone in the background taking pictures. </div> <div> We hoped we were dealing with a photographer who didn't know you that </div> <div> well. And apparently we were right. Two days later Amy showed up at </div> <div> the staff meeting with her "incriminating" pictures. Except it turns </div> <div> out they were pictures of Ainsley and Cliff, not you and Cliff."</div> <bR> <div> "What did she say when she found out?" Donna asked, stifling a small </div> <div> laugh.</div> <bR> <div> "She made some threats about how this wasn't over. And how we hadn't </div> <div> heard the last of her," Josh smiled, remembering the look on Amy's </div> <div> face as she realized she'd been had. Suddenly the smile faded and he </div> <div> became more serious. "Considering what happened to Ginger, I guess I </div> <div> should have taken her more seriously."</div> <bR> <div> "I guess so," Donna agreed.</div> <bR> <div> "The police are gonna do everything they can, Donna. I also want the </div> <div> Secret Service to tell me how she managed to slip drugs into your </div> <div> yogurt, in the White House, without being detected," Josh said </div> <div> angrily.</div> <bR> <div> "It may not have happened in the White House," Donna said </div> <div> distractedly, as all of the pieces began to fall into place.</div> <bR> <div> "What makes you say that?" </div> <bR> <div> "I couldn't figure out what was happening," Donna began, "One night </div> <div> after work I went to make myself something to eat, and I didn't </div> <div> recognize any of the food in my cupboards."</div> <bR> <div> "What do you mean?"</div> <bR> <div> "My cupboards were filled with food that I knew I hadn't bought. But </div> <div> when I went through the grocery bags under my sink, I found the </div> <div> receipt. I thought maybe I was going crazy. The only food there I </div> <div> recognized was my yogurt."</div> <bR> <div> Josh was trying his best to process all of this new information. "She </div> <div> must have been in your apartment," he seethed.</div> <bR> <div> "And also, I know that I had picked up my dry cleaning, but when I </div> <div> went to get it out of the closet, it wasn't there. And the ticket was </div> <div> on my dresser."</div> <bR> <div> "Why didn't you tell me any of this?" Josh asked firmly.</div> <bR> <div> "We weren't exactly communicating very well at that point," Donna </div> <div> sighed sadly. "And besides, how was I supposed to tell you that I </div> <div> thought maybe I was losing my mind?"</div> <bR> <div> "Oh, Donna," Josh sighed as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled </div> <div> her against his chest. "I am so sorry. This is all my fault."</div> <bR> <div> "How do you figure that?" Donna asked, pulling back to look in his </div> <div> eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "If I had never gone out with Amy in the first place," Josh sighed.</div> <bR> <div> Don't blame yourself," Donna said tenderly. "You cared about her. You </div> <div> couldn't have known what she would do."</div> <bR> <div> "That's just the thing," Josh said, wondering if now was really the </div> <div> best time for him to confess his feelings, "I didn't really care </div> <div> about her. Not in the way you should care about someone you date."</div> <bR> <div> "I don't understand," Donna said, "I thought you were ensorcelled."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure what exactly I was," Josh said sincerely. "I mean she's </div> <div> attractive, and smart, but she never seemed to really like me much. </div> <div> And I have to say I felt pretty much the same way."</div> <bR> <div> "Then why did you keep seeing her?" Donna asked confusedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Because...well, I think I wanted to care about her."</div> <bR> <div> "Why?"</div> <bR> <div> "Because I was too much of a coward to admit my feelings to the </div> <div> person I really care about. I was too afraid of being rejected. I </div> <div> didn't care if Amy rejected me-because I didn't have any kind of </div> <div> emotional investment with her. So she kept dating me-and I didn't </div> <div> resist. But after the first few weeks, I'm not sure how much of an </div> <div> active participant I was."</div> <bR> <div> Donna stared at Josh uncertainly. She was still focused on what he </div> <div> had said about the person he really cared about. "Who?" she asked </div> <div> timidly.</div> <bR> <div> "Who?" Josh repeated, unsure of what Donna was asking.</div> <bR> <div> "Who is the person you really care about?"</div> <bR> <div> "Um...well...see...I've been doing a lot of thinking for the last few </div> <div> days. Even before the carjacking. And I've realized that....see the </div> <div> thing is....I mean this could be totally one-sided and maybe I'm an </div> <div> idiot..."</div> <bR> <div> "You are," Donna interrupted teasingly.</div> <bR> <div> "What makes you say that?" Josh answered defensively.</div> <bR> <div> "Because if you weren't, you'd stop tripping over your words and just </div> <div> do this," Donna whispered as her lips moved towards his.</div> <bR> <div> The shock of feeling Donna's lips on his only lasted a few seconds </div> <div> before Josh became an enthusiastic participant in the kiss. He ran </div> <div> his tongue along her bottom lip and Donna opened her mouth, inviting </div> <div> him to deepen the kiss. A few minutes later, when they came up for </div> <div> air, Josh asked breathlessly, "Donna, are you sure?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," she said, leaning her forehead against his. "I'm positive. I </div> <div> don't know exactly what it is that we share, but I know it's special. </div> <div> And I want to explore it. I'm tired of pretending it doesn't exist."</div> <bR> <div> "Me too," Josh said as he planted a line of kisses from one of her </div> <div> cheeks to the other.</div> <bR> <div> "So we'll just start slow, and see where we end up," Donna suggested </div> <div> happily.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine with me," Josh said, "As long as we end up there together."</div> <bR> <div> Donna rewarded him with a full wattage smile, then after placing a </div> <div> few more kisses on his lips, laid her head on his shoulder and </div> <div> snuggled into his chest. Josh tightened his grip on her as they sat </div> <div> silently enjoying the beautiful evening, and just being together.</div> <bR> <div> They were so lost in each other that they didn't hear Charlie </div> <div> approaching until he was almost right next to them. "The President </div> <div> would like to see you in the Residence," he said, "They have some </div> <div> news."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Across town, Amy was tapping her fingers on her coffee table in </div> <div> annoyance as she listened to the voice on the other end of the phone. </div> <div> Finally, she couldn't stand it anymore.</div> <bR> <div> "Look, I don't need to hear every little detail. Just tell me that </div> <div> you got anything that might lead back to either of us out of her </div> <div> apartment."</div> <bR> <div> "I did," the voice snapped back. "But it cost me a pretty penny to </div> <div> get those false police credentials made. I'm not absorbing the cost </div> <div> of that alone."</div> <bR> <div> "You'll be reimbursed as long as you handled things," Amy said </div> <div> derisively. "I don't want any of this leading back to me."</div> <bR> <div> "Stop treating me like an imbecile," the voice exploded in </div> <div> anger. "I'm not some lackey you hired off the street. You need me. No </div> <div> one knows Donna Moss better than I do."</div> <bR> <div> "That remains to be seen," Amy answered haughtily.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," the voice sneered, "But if you would have told me what you </div> <div> were planning with the pictures I would have been able to make sure </div> <div> it didn't blow up in your face. I know what Donna looks like from </div> <div> every angle. If you had consulted me every step of the way, like we </div> <div> agreed, this wouldn't have happened."</div> <bR> <div> "So you've said. Repeatedly," Amy hissed.</div> <bR> <div> "I just wanna make sure there are no more slip-ups. I have just as </div> <div> much to lose as you do. Maybe more. Remember I'm the one who got the </div> <div> drugs..and put them in the yogurt."</div> <bR> <div> "And see how well that worked out," Amy said mockingly.</div> <bR> <div> "It was working fine till she had to go and get herself carjacked."</div> <bR> <div> "And now she's a media darling and a national hero," Amy sneered.</div> <bR> <div> "So we back off and give things time to cool down?"</div> <bR> <div> "Exactly the opposite. We strike now, before she has a chance to get </div> <div> her head together."</div> <bR> <div> "What do you have in mind?"</div> <bR> <div> "Come over to my apartment in an hour. Use the back entrance. I'll </div> <div> fill you in then."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be there," the voice said snippily before disconnecting.</div> <bR> <div> Amy tossed the phone on the couch and took another sip of wine. She'd </div> <div> been working on a surefire way to get back at both Josh and Donna </div> <div> since the day she was humiliated in Leo's office. </div> <bR> <div> 'And now,' she thought vengefully, 'It's time to put Plan B into </div> <div> action.'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh and Donna arrived in the Residence to find the President, the </div> <div> First Lady, and Leo waiting for them. None of them failed to notice </div> <div> Josh and Donna's clasped hands as they crossed the room and took a </div> <div> seat on the couch.</div> <bR> <div> "What is it? Is something wrong?" Donna asked nervously.</div> <bR> <div> "Not at all," Jed said soothingly. "We've got a few new details about </div> <div> the carjacking and I wanted you to hear them from me. But first, I </div> <div> wanted to let you know that Leo has filled Abbey and me in on </div> <div> everything that's been going on with Amy Gardner."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm really sorry, Sir," Donna said apologetically.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't you dare apologize," Jed said vehemently. "You've done nothing </div> <div> wrong."</div> <bR> <div> "But she took the files to make me look bad. And that could have made </div> <div> the administration look bad if anyone had found out."</div> <bR> <div> "No one found out," Leo said soothingly.</div> <bR> <div> Josh pulled her closer to his side and began rubbing her back </div> <div> rhythmically. Donna settled back against his hand and gave him a </div> <div> grateful smile. Then she turned and looked at the Chief of </div> <div> Staff. "But if Josh had missed that conference call.."</div> <bR> <div> "But he didn't," Leo said, cutting her off. "And now that we know who </div> <div> was behind all of this, we can keep our eyes open, and make sure </div> <div> nothing else happens. I doubt she'd be dumb enough to try anything </div> <div> now that she knows we're on to her."</div> <bR> <div> "Do you really think she'll just give up?" Donna asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> "Amy Gardner isn't nearly as tough and well-connected as she thinks </div> <div> she is," Abbey said confidently. "If she's stupid enough to try </div> <div> something, we'll be ready."</div> <bR> <div> "I appreciate that Ma'am," Donna said, "But it's really my problem. I </div> <div> shouldn't be bothering you with it."</div> <bR> <div> "Listen to me," Abbey said, as she moved over to sit on Donna's </div> <div> unoccupied side, "I want you to be very clear on this. There is </div> <div> nothing that you can't come to Jed and I with. Nothing at all. You </div> <div> saved Annie's life, there is nothing you could ask of us that we </div> <div> wouldn't give you."</div> <bR> <div> "I appreciate that, Ma'am, but..."</div> <bR> <div> "When we're alone like this, I want you to call me Abbey," the First </div> <div> Lady insisted.</div> <bR> <div> "But Ma'am.."</div> <bR> <div> "Uh uh."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, Abbey. I didn't do anything special."</div> <bR> <div> "You broke your own hand to escape. To help Annie escape," Abbey </div> <div> argued. "I think that's very special."</div> <bR> <div> "Anyone would have done the same thing in my position."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure of that," Jed interjected, as everyone except Donna </div> <div> shook their head in agreement.</div> <bR> <div> "But regardless," Donna continued, "You certainly don't owe me </div> <div> anything."</div> <bR> <div> "We owe you our granddaughters life," Jed stepped in, "We owe your </div> <div> our sanity, and probably the sanity of Annie's parents as well. </div> <div> Because we all would surely have gone crazy if anything had happened </div> <div> to her. And there is no material thing that could ever compensate you </div> <div> for that. And we're not trying to. But you put your life on the line </div> <div> to save Annie's. You could have sat back and waited for the Secret </div> <div> Service to track you down, but you didn't. You took an active role in </div> <div> bringing our granddaughter home safely. And because of that, you'll </div> <div> always have an extra special place with Abbey and I. And we want you </div> <div> to feel like you can come to us with anything, and for anything."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Donna said as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I'm </div> <div> honored."</div> <bR> <div> "We're the ones who are honored," Abbey said as she pulled Donna into </div> <div> a hug. "We're honored to have you as a member of our family."</div> <bR> <div> Donna smiled through her tears as she tried to pull herself together. </div> <div> Suddenly she remembered what Charlie had said in the Rose </div> <div> Garden. "Charlie said you had some news?" she asked timidly.</div> <bR> <div> Immediately, the mood in the room shifted. Donna could feel Jed, </div> <div> Abbey and Leo all tense up. She glanced at Josh and she could tell by </div> <div> the look on his face that he sensed it too.</div> <bR> <div> "What is it?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "They identified the carjacker," Leo said solemnly. "His name was </div> <div> Frank Winters. He had a rap sheet as long as your arm, longer maybe."</div> <bR> <div> "So they got him, right? And he's in jail?" Donna said, a tinge of </div> <div> panic in her voice.</div> <bR> <div> Jed moved over to sit on the coffee table directly in front of Josh </div> <div> and Donna. Josh instinctively tightened his hold on Donna's hand, </div> <div> preparing for what he feared was going to be bad news.</div> <bR> <div> "When the police and the Secret Service got to the trailer they found </div> <div> him on the floor," Jed said softly. "He was unconscious and bleeding. </div> <div> He died enroute to the hospital."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh my God," Donna said with a trembling voice as her entire body </div> <div> began to shake. "I killed him?"</div> <bR> <div> "You had no choice," Josh protested. "You did what you had to do. You </div> <div> were only protecting yourself and Annie."</div> <bR> <div> "But he's dead. And I did it with my own hands," Donna said, her </div> <div> voice full of something Josh couldn't identify.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna," Leo said paternally, "There is nothing you could have done. </div> <div> Just try to focus on the fact that he killed Agent Wright in cold </div> <div> blood, and he probably wouldn't have hesitated to do the same thing </div> <div> to you and Annie."</div> <bR> <div> "I know...you're right...it's just," Donna trailed off, not sure how </div> <div> to express what she was feeling. She fought back the bile rising in </div> <div> her throat. She wasn't sure how to react to the news that she had </div> <div> taken a life, no matter how vile a person he was. </div> <bR> <div> Abbey sensed Donna's discomfort and realized that she needed some </div> <div> time alone with Josh. "It's a lot to deal with," she said </div> <div> soothingly, "You take all the time you need. We'll be right here to </div> <div> help however we can. We've fixed up one of the guest rooms. I had the </div> <div> staff stock it with everything I could think of you might need, but </div> <div> if I missed anything, let me know. Right now I think you need a good </div> <div> night's sleep. We'll start dealing with these other issues one at a </div> <div> time in the morning."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Donna said. Suddenly the thought of burrowing under the covers </div> <div> and hiding from the world was very appealing.</div> <bR> <div> Abbey stood up and motioned for Donna to follow, "I'll show you to </div> <div> the room," she said. She saw the look of panic and indecision on </div> <div> Josh's face and added, "Josh, why don't you come along. I'm sure </div> <div> Donna wouldn't mind you tucking her in and telling her a bedtime </div> <div> story."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you, Mrs. Bartlet," Josh said, heaving a sigh of relief.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh," Abbey said teasingly, "When we're alone like this, you can </div> <div> call me Ma'am."</div> <bR> <div> Josh smiled as he heard Donna giggle. He was glad that Abbey always </div> <div> seemed to know exactly when and how to lighten the mood. As they </div> <div> headed back the hallway, they heard Leo and Jed laughing behind them.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As soon as Donna had slipped into the bathroom to put on the pajamas </div> <div> the stewards had left across the bottom of the bed, Abbey turned to </div> <div> Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "How are you holding up?" she asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine. Don't worry about me. It's Donna we need to worry about."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm worried about you too, Josh. Because Donna is gonna need you. So </div> <div> I need to make sure you're up to the task."</div> <bR> <div> "I am. I swear."</div> <bR> <div> "Good, but if you need anything...."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be sure to let you know, Ma'am," Josh smiled, stressing the </div> <div> last word.</div> <bR> <div> Donna emerged from the bathroom, looking every bit like she was about </div> <div> to drop over from exhaustion. Abbey said a quick goodnight, told </div> <div> Donna to ring if she needed anything, and then slipped out to check </div> <div> on Annie.</div> <bR> <div> Josh immediately pulled back the covers on the bed, and Donna slipped </div> <div> in gratefully, feeling her eyes growing heavy as soon as her head hit </div> <div> the pillow.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you leaving?" she asked groggily as Josh leaned over and planted </div> <div> a soft kiss on her forehead.</div> <bR> <div> "No," he whispered, "I'll be right here if you need anything."</div> <bR> <div> "There's so much I need to talk to you about. I mean all of this </div> <div> stuff with Amy. And I killed a man.." Donna choked out as her sobs </div> <div> returned.</div> <bR> <div> Josh went around to the other side of the bed, lifted the covers, </div> <div> slipped off his shoes and crawled in. He reached out his arms and </div> <div> Donna immediately moved to him, curling up against his chest.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't worry," he cooed softly, "There'll be plenty of time to talk </div> <div> in the morning. Right now you just need to sleep."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, but tomorrow.." Donna said, her voice trailing off as her body </div> <div> succumbed to it's own fatigue in mid sentence.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh awoke early the next morning with Donna still sleeping soundly </div> <div> against his chest. He kissed her forehead, and spent several minutes </div> <div> just enjoying the warmth and closeness of her body. Even though he </div> <div> didn't want to think about the world beyond the bedroom door, he </div> <div> turned and checked out the alarm clock. He needed to get up. He sent </div> <div> up a quick thank you that Donna made him keep an extra suit at the </div> <div> office. He figured that he just had time to grab a quick shower, </div> <div> change, then check in with the police for any new information before </div> <div> staff.</div> <bR> <div> He carefully rolled out from under Donna's sleeping form, amazed that </div> <div> he managed to do so without waking her. As he slipped on his shoes, </div> <div> he noticed a notepad and pen laying on the end table. He quickly </div> <div> wrote a note and left it lying on the pillow beside Donna's head as </div> <div> he slipped out.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> At a few minutes after seven, Annie peaked her head in to see if </div> <div> Donna was awake.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna?" she said in a loud whisper.</div> <bR> <div> "Hmmm," Donna said, opening her eyes and trying to acclimate herself </div> <div> to her surroundings.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you awake?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yes I am. And I'm very glad to see you." Donna said, sitting up in </div> <div> bed and holding out her arms.</div> <bR> <div> Annie bolted across the room and wrapped Donna in a hug. After a </div> <div> second, Annie pointed to the pillow next to Donna's and said, "Hey, </div> <div> what's that?"</div> <bR> <div> Donna reached over, picked up the paper and read aloud, "Donna, Sorry </div> <div> I had to leave early but I had a few things to do before staff. Call </div> <div> me as soon as you wake up. Josh."</div> <bR> <div> "And look," Annie said delightedly, "He put a little heart beside his </div> <div> name. I told you he 'boyfriend liked' you."</div> <bR> <div> Donna couldn't help but laugh at Annie's exuberance. And she couldn't </div> <div> help but be amazed at the natural resiliency of children.</div> <bR> <div> "So how do you feel this morning?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Good. Grandma sent me to see if you wanted to join us for breakfast."</div> <bR> <div> "I sure do. Just let me get dressed and I'll be right out."</div> <bR> <div> "Great," Annie said, jumping off the bed and heading towards the </div> <div> door. When she was almost there, she turned back and reached in her </div> <div> pocket. "I almost forgot," she said, "I have your cell phone. I must </div> <div> have slipped it in my pocket after I talked to Grandpa in the car </div> <div> yesterday."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Donna said, reaching out to catch the phone as Annie tossed </div> <div> it to her.</div> <bR> <div> "It was ringing a few minutes ago," Annie said as she skipped out the </div> <div> door. "I'll tell Grandma you're on your way."</div> <bR> <div> After taking a quick shower and brushing her teeth and hair, Donna </div> <div> opened the closet and found some casual clothes. She slipped into a </div> <div> pair of tan pants and a comfortable sweater and headed out for </div> <div> breakfast. As she walked, she punched the buttons on her cell phone </div> <div> to see if she had any messages. </div> <bR> <div> As she entered the dining room of the Residence, her face fell and a </div> <div> shiver ran up her spine.</div> <bR> <div> "What is it?" Abbey asked.</div> <bR> <div> Donna glanced at Annie, cutting happily into a grapefruit, and knew </div> <div> that another drama was the last thing she needed.</div> <bR> <div> "It's nothing," Donna said, plastering on a fake smile. She looked at </div> <div> her watch and made a few mental calculations. "I just need to talk to </div> <div> Josh for a minute. He should be in staff about now."</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked from Abbey to Annie then back, hoping Abbey would get </div> <div> the message. She then punched the buttons to repeat the message and </div> <div> handed the phone to Abbey. The First Lady listened intently for a few </div> <div> minutes, then nodded towards Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "Go," she said firmly, "But come back as soon as you can."</div> <bR> <div> Donna exited the Residence and hurried to Leo's office. She was </div> <div> shocked to see that Margaret wasn't at her desk. She knocked softly </div> <div> on the door and waited for permission to enter.</div> <bR> <div> "What?" Leo's voice called gruffly from the other side of the door.</div> <bR> <div> "It's me," Donna said, poking her head in, "I needed to talk to you </div> <div> for just a minute."</div> <bR> <div> "Come in, Donna," Leo said warmly, his tone changing when he realized </div> <div> it was her. "What can I do for you?"</div> <bR> <div> The other members of staff said their good mornings as Josh crossed </div> <div> the room and kissed Donna lightly, not caring at all who saw. Leo </div> <div> smiled, until he noticed the uncertain look on Donna's face. Josh </div> <div> noticed it at exactly the same time.</div> <bR> <div> "What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "There was a message on my cell phone this morning," Donna said </div> <div> slowly, "It was from Amy."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Amy sat on the couch in her apartment gazing condescendingly at the </div> <div> man sitting across from her. She silently cursed the fact that she </div> <div> had allowed him to become involved in her plan at all. She didn't </div> <div> know him well enough to trust him implicitly, and she wasn't sure </div> <div> that she could count on him when the chips were down.</div> <bR> <div> The first time she met him, in a hotel bar in Atlanta, she had been </div> <div> after nothing more than a good time and some casual sex. She had been </div> <div> surprised when, in the course of making small talk, they had realized </div> <div> that they knew some of the same people. And, in fact, hated some of </div> <div> the same people. </div> <bR> <div> She'd gone ahead with the casual sex anyway, it was a convention </div> <div> after all, but then in the afterglow, she had started to talk. To </div> <div> this day she didn't know why, but she had needed to share her plan </div> <div> with someone who would understand the people involved, and understand </div> <div> her overriding need for revenge. When he had started making </div> <div> suggestions, expanding the plan to include the person he hated most </div> <div> in the world, she had gotten caught up, and agreed that they should </div> <div> work together.</div> <bR> <div> As she looked at him now, knowing she was so close to getting what </div> <div> she wanted, she wondered if he would come through for her in the end. </div> <div> Or if he was just another problem that was going to need to be </div> <div> eliminated.</div> <bR> <div> "What?" he asked irritably, beginning to feel uncomfortable under her </div> <div> stare.</div> <bR> <div> "Nothing. I'm just thinking about how I'm going to make you pay if </div> <div> you screw this up," Amy sneered.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not going to screw it up," he snapped. "I've been waiting for </div> <div> this day every bit as long as you have."</div> <bR> <div> "Not quite, Junior."</div> <bR> <div> "I've had just about enough of you," the man growled. "I'm tired of </div> <div> being treated like your little errand boy."</div> <bR> <div> "Well after today, we'll never have to see each other again."</div> <bR> <div> "Thank God."</div> <bR> <div> "Just don't blow this. I've set the wheels in motion. If you play </div> <div> your part, it'll all be over by tonight."</div> <bR> <div> "Don't worry about me," the man said with an evil gleam in his </div> <div> eye. "I know my what to do. And I plan to execute my end of things </div> <div> flawlessly."</div> <bR> <div> "Excellent," Amy said, realizing by the look in his eyes that he </div> <div> really did want this as badly as she did, "Today is the day I've been </div> <div> waiting for for a long time."</div> <bR> <div> "So what do we do now?"</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I threw out the line," Amy said with a broad smile, "Now we </div> <div> just have to wait for them to take the bait." She checked her watch </div> <div> and realized they had quite a bit of time to kill. She eyed the man </div> <div> across from her hungrily and thought, 'What the heck'. She stood up, </div> <div> tossed him a seductive look, and headed back towards her bedroom.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "What did the message say?" Josh asked through clenched teeth as he </div> <div> led Donna over to the sofa. She glanced around the room nervously as </div> <div> she took a seat.  Josh sat beside her, and Leo came out from behind </div> <div> his desk and took the seat on her other side. Sam, CJ, and Toby all </div> <div> moved closer, eager to hear what Amy had said.</div> <bR> <div> "She didn't say much," Donna said, rubbing Josh's leg in an effort to </div> <div> calm him down. "She said she wanted to talk to me. Alone. And that if </div> <div> I didn't meet her, she would make things look very bad for the </div> <div> administration."</div> <bR> <div> "What's she up to?" CJ asked quizzically.</div> <bR> <div> "I have no idea," Leo answered, "But we're certainly going to find </div> <div> out."</div> <bR> <div> "She said that she wants to see me alone. And that I shouldn't tell </div> <div> anyone about our meeting," Donna added.</div> <bR> <div> "You can't do that," Josh said in a voice that left no room for </div> <div> negotiation. "You have to let me know the second she contacts you </div> <div> again."</div> <bR> <div> "I will," Donna assured him. "I appreciate everything you guys have </div> <div> already done for me. I'm not gonna run off and try to handle this </div> <div> alone."</div> <bR> <div> "We'll get her, Donna," Toby said confidently. "Contacting you again </div> <div> was a mistake on her part. This time we'll be ready for her."</div> <bR> <div> "Did she say anything else?" Sam asked, making notes on a legal pad.</div> <bR> <div> "She said that she would contact me first thing tomorrow morning on </div> <div> my cell. She told me to be alone between seven and eight and she'd </div> <div> call me then."</div> <bR> <div> "We'll be ready for her," Leo said, as the wheels in his head began </div> <div> to turn, "She'll probably ask for a quick meeting, so we don't have </div> <div> time to prepare. I'll talk to Ron this afternoon and we'll have a </div> <div> strategy in place before the call comes in."</div> <bR> <div> "The police were trying to track down the photographer who took the </div> <div> pictures of Cliff and Ainsley," Toby said, "I'll touch base with them </div> <div> and see if they have anything new."</div> <bR> <div> "I have a friend who knows practically every photographer working in </div> <div> DC," Sam interjected, "Maybe he can help figure out who the guy was."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll call Cliff Calley and see if he can give us a description," CJ </div> <div> said, reaching for her cell phone.</div> <bR> <div> Donna glanced around the room and saw all of the members of the </div> <div> President's senior staff in strategizing mode, and it brought a tear </div> <div> to her eye. If she had ever doubted that she was part of the family, </div> <div> she believed it now. She shuddered to think how close she had come to </div> <div> losing all of this, first at the hands of Amy Gardner, then as a </div> <div> result of a random act of violence. </div> <bR> <div> "I'm gonna check in with the doctors and see what they found out </div> <div> about what was in Donna's yogurt," Josh said, "Then call the </div> <div> detectives and see if they have any leads on where it might have come </div> <div> from."</div> <bR> <div> "I really appreciate everything you're all doing for me," Donna said </div> <div> tearily but firmly. </div> <bR> <div> Josh tightened his arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek, as </div> <div> everyone else in the room muttered that it was no problem. Their </div> <div> pleasure.</div> <bR> <div> "I told Mrs. Bartlet I'd come right back and have breakfast with her </div> <div> and Annie," Donna said, standing up.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll walk you up," Josh said. "Are we done here, Leo?"</div> <bR> <div> "For now," Leo answered. "There are a lot of things brewing so lets </div> <div> try to keep all the balls in the air. Lets do our best to make it </div> <div> look like business as usual so we don't raise any suspicion. We want </div> <div> the element of surprise on our side this time."</div> <bR> <div> They all nodded their agreement and headed out.</div> <bR> <div> Josh walked Donna back to the stairway leading up to the Residence.</div> <bR> <div> "Can you come up and join us?" Donna asked hopefully. "I'm sure all </div> <div> you had this morning was some coffee and a donut. You know that's not </div> <div> a proper breakfast."</div> <bR> <div> "I wish I could, but I've got too much to do," Josh answered. "Maybe </div> <div> I can take a rain check for dinner?"</div> <bR> <div> "Definitely," Donna smiled brightly. "I'll be down later to get some </div> <div> work done anyway."</div> <bR> <div> "No, you won't," Josh said firmly. "You're taking the entire day off. </div> <div> I don't want to hear anymore about it."</div> <bR> <div> "Joooooosh."</div> <bR> <div> "Don't whine, Donnatella. It's unbecoming."</div> <bR> <div> "You never think that when you're the one who's whining," Donna </div> <div> teased.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't whine," Josh said, his voice full of mock indignation.</div> <bR> <div> "Right," Donna laughed "You'd never do anything like that."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm glad you agree," Josh smiled as he leaned over and placed a kiss </div> <div> on the tip of her nose. "I'll try to get up and check on you this </div> <div> afternoon."</div> <bR> <div> "Or I could just come down..." Donna said leadingly.</div> <bR> <div> "Give it up. You are officially on vacation all day," Josh said as he </div> <div> turned and started back down the hall.</div> <bR> <div> "But I don't want a vacation day," Donna protested, slapping her hand </div> <div> over her mouth when she realized what she had said.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm gonna remember you said that," Josh called as he turned the </div> <div> corner. Donna could hear him laughing all the way to the top of the </div> <div> stairs.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> When Donna returned to the dining room in the Residence, Abbey had </div> <div> her breakfast warming on the sideboard. Donna picked up the plate, </div> <div> and took the seat across the table from the First Lady.</div> <bR> <div> "We finally managed to track down Elizabeth and Robert," Abbey </div> <div> said, "Annie is talking to them now. She's filling them in on </div> <div> everything that happened. I told them about all you did for Annie </div> <div> and, needless to say, they're very grateful."</div> <bR> <div> "As I've said before, Ma'am.." Donna began.</div> <bR> <div> "Uh-uh."</div> <bR> <div> "As I've said before, Abbey," Donna corrected herself, "I didn't do </div> <div> anything special."</div> <bR> <div> "Well I disagree," Abbey said adamantly, "And so does everyone else </div> <div> in my family. Now Annie's parents are headed back here, and I'm </div> <div> arranging a little get together tonight to celebrate."</div> <bR> <div> "A party?"</div> <bR> <div> "Sort of. I thought that we could all have dinner here, and then </div> <div> maybe see a movie in the screening room. I'm inviting the entire </div> <div> staff."</div> <bR> <div> "Really?" Donna asked excitedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, how does that sound?"</div> <bR> <div> "It sounds like fun."</div> <bR> <div> "That's what I thought," Abbey said cheerily. </div> <bR> <div> They could hear the sound of Annie coming back down the hall. Just </div> <div> before she reached them, Abbey leaned towards Donna and said, "You </div> <div> and Josh can sit in the back row and make out, and the rest of us </div> <div> will pretend not to notice."</div> <bR> <div> Donna was stunned by Abbey's words. She opened her mouth but nothing </div> <div> would come out.</div> <bR> <div> "My parents are already on a flight. They'll be here by tonight," </div> <div> Annie said happily as she burst into the room.</div> <bR> <div> "Excellent, honey. They'll be just in time for all the fun," Abbey </div> <div> chirped, as she winked at Donna, who was blushing seven shades of red.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo poked his head into Josh's office and saw his deputy searching </div> <div> desperately through the mess on his desk for a specific file.</div> <bR> <div> "Lose something?" he asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I can't find anything without Donna here," Josh sighed exasperatedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Well you better figure something out, because now that you two are </div> <div> an item, I'm gonna have to move her to another department," Leo said </div> <div> seriously.</div> <bR> <div> "WHAT?!" Josh screamed, surprising himself with the tone in his </div> <div> voice. "You can't do that, Leo. You have no reason..."</div> <bR> <div> Just as Josh was getting wound up to full volume, he noticed a </div> <div> twinkle in Leo's eyes. He stopped in mid sentence, and looked at his </div> <div> boss.</div> <bR> <div> Leo couldn't hold back his amusement any longer and he began to laugh </div> <div> uproariously. "Man you should have seen the look on your face."</div> <bR> <div> "You mean you're not moving Donna?" Josh asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> "Not unless you two give me a reason," Leo assured him.</div> <bR> <div> "We won't," Josh promised.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm glad to hear that," Leo said as the looked affectionately at </div> <div> Josh. "I was planning on knocking a little sense into you pretty </div> <div> soon, and making you admit your feelings before Donna got tired of </div> <div> waiting, but I see you actually came to that realization on your own."</div> <bR> <div> "I almost lost her," Josh said softly, unable to keep the fear out of </div> <div> his voice. </div> <bR> <div> "I know."</div> <bR> <div> "And if I had....."</div> <bR> <div> "But you didn't," Leo interrupted, "And now you've got a second </div> <div> chance. Don't blow it. That's an order."</div> <bR> <div> "I won't," Josh vowed.</div> <bR> <div> "Abbey called," Leo said, lightening the moment, "Annie's parents are </div> <div> arriving tonight, and she's having a celebration dinner in the </div> <div> Residence. Everyone's invited. She's screening a movie afterward."</div> <bR> <div> "Which movie?"</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know. But maybe it'll be something romantic and you and </div> <div> Donna can sit in the back row and make out," Leo teased, as he headed </div> <div> out to tell the other staffers about the party.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Half an hour later Donna appeared in Josh's doorway. </div> <bR> <div> "I'm running home to get a few things," she told him.</div> <bR> <div> "By yourself?" Josh asked hesitantly.</div> <bR> <div> Donna rolled her eyes. She had had a similar conversation with the </div> <div> First Lady thirty minutes earlier. "Mrs. Bartlet called the police </div> <div> station, and someone is going to meet me at my place just to make </div> <div> sure everything is ok. Honestly, I think you're all getting carried </div> <div> away over nothing. We don't have to worry about Amy till morning."</div> <bR> <div> "Better safe than sorry. And as long as someone is meeting you </div> <div> there," Josh said, momentarily placated, "I think I need to go home </div> <div> and change too. I'll walk out with you."</div> <bR> <div> When they reached the parking lot, Josh helped Donna behind the wheel </div> <div> of her car, kissed her gently, and then said,</div> <bR> <div> "No stops along the way. Go straight home. And don't go into your </div> <div> apartment without the officer."</div> <bR> <div> "I won't," Donna assured him with a smile. "I'll see you in an hour."</div> <bR> <div> "See you then." He smiled as he watched her drive away. As soon as </div> <div> she was out of sight, he jumped in his own car and headed home.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh whistled as he stuck his key in the lock, and let himself into </div> <div> his apartment. He was looking forward to a chance to relax tonight </div> <div> with Donna and his friends. With everything they'd been through in </div> <div> the past few weeks, they deserved to have a little fun.</div> <bR> <div> When he first saw the glint of silver, he thought it was a reflection </div> <div> off of his refrigerator. Then he recognized the unmistakable outline </div> <div> of the barrel of a gun. His eyes followed the arm that was holding </div> <div> the gun all the way up, until Amy's sneering face came into view.</div> <bR> <div> "What the hell are you doing?" Josh demanded.</div> <bR> <div> "Evening old scores," Amy scoffed derisively.</div> <bR> <div> "What the hell are you talking about?!" Josh said as he took a step </div> <div> towards her.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't you move!" Amy said icily. "Don't you dare move a muscle or </div> <div> I'll shoot you right now. It would ruin all my fun, but I'll do it."</div> <bR> <div> "Ruin your fun? What are you talking about?" Josh asked again, trying </div> <div> to assess the situation as quickly as possible.</div> <bR> <div> "I want to see you suffer, J."</div> <bR> <div> "Why? What have I ever done to you, Amy?" he asked, determined to </div> <div> keep her talking while he formulated a plan.</div> <bR> <div> "You don't even remember, do you?" Amy asked venomously.</div> <bR> <div> "Remember what?"</div> <bR> <div> "When we were in school. All of those nights I spent helping you </div> <div> study for your exams."</div> <bR> <div> "You were never helping me study," Josh said as calmly as </div> <div> possible. "You were helping Chris study. I was just there because </div> <div> Chris and I had some of the same classes."</div> <bR> <div> "I quizzed you both. I spent hours making sure you knew the material </div> <div> cold."</div> <bR> <div> "So what does that have to do with anything?" Josh was valiantly </div> <div> trying to follow Amy's thought process.</div> <bR> <div> "After we graduated, you and Chris were too wrapped up in studying </div> <div> for the bar to worry about me."</div> <bR> <div> "Amy, you were my roommate's girlfriend, not mine," Josh pointed </div> <div> out, "After we graduated, I went back to Connecticut."</div> <bR> <div> "That's right. And it was sayonara Amy."</div> <bR> <div> "Listen....."</div> <bR> <div> "No you listen. After you guys passed the bar, you all started to </div> <div> gravitate towards politics. You became your own little support system </div> <div> and network of contacts. You all moved up in the DC power structure. </div> <div> But did you ever once wonder what happened to me?"</div> <bR> <div> "You should have called..."</div> <bR> <div> "I shouldn't have had to call," Amy screamed, "You owed it to me."</div> <bR> <div> "Owed it to you?" Josh asked incredulously.</div> <bR> <div> "Did you think I helped you study because I was in love with Chris? </div> <div> You're an idiot. You and Chris were the up and comers. I knew you two </div> <div> were going places. I tried to get a date with you but you didn't </div> <div> notice me, so I settled for Chris. You two were going places and you </div> <div> were supposed to take me with you."</div> <bR> <div> "I would have helped you if you had just let me know," Josh said, </div> <div> trying to appease her.</div> <bR> <div> "Do you think I wanted this position with the WLC? People write us </div> <div> off as just another women's organization. I don't have the power I </div> <div> should have. The power you could have given me. So as soon as I knew </div> <div> Bartlet was gonna be elected, I made sure I was in a position to have </div> <div> access to the First Lady."</div> <bR> <div> "You've been planning this that long?"</div> <bR> <div> "Longer. But it took me three years to cultivate a workable </div> <div> friendship with Abbey Bartlet. I always approached her on issues I </div> <div> knew she had a special interest in. I dropped a million hints about </div> <div> how she should arrange a meeting between you and I, but she didn't </div> <div> take me up on it till the treaty issue came along."</div> <bR> <div> "So this was all a setup?" Josh asked, shaking his head, amazed at </div> <div> the lengths Amy had gone to.</div> <bR> <div> "All of it," she smiled sweetly.</div> <bR> <div> "Then why go after Donna? If you wanted me, you should have just come </div> <div> after me."</div> <bR> <div> "Ah yes. Your precious Donna. Well the truth is I couldn't care less </div> <div> one way or another what happens to Donna. I just needed the brainless </div> <div> little witch out of the way so I could have unrestricted access to </div> <div> you."</div> <bR> <div> "Your access has been pretty much unrestricted for a while now," Josh </div> <div> huffed.</div> <bR> <div> "I know. And I was enjoying it. I wanted you to want me. And then I </div> <div> wanted you to know what it feels like to have what you want yanked </div> <div> away. It wasn't my idea to take Donna out. That was Jack."</div> <bR> <div> "Jack who? What are you talking about?" Josh asked, panic rising in </div> <div> his voice.</div> <bR> <div> "Jack something or other. A doctor. A nice enough guy, but a bit </div> <div> Midwestern for my taste."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh God," Josh gasped. Donna only knew one doctor named Jack. Dr. </div> <div> Freeride.</div> <bR> <div> "I met him at a convention on women's health issues or some such </div> <div> nonsense. He wasn't bad in a bed. A bit predictable maybe."</div> <bR> <div> "Where is he?" Josh demanded urgently.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know, but I know he wants Donna Moss dead in the worst way," </div> <div> Amy said in a singsong voice. </div> <bR> <div> "Where is he now?" Josh asked again, angrily.</div> <bR> <div> Amy glanced at her watch. "Well probably...."</div> <bR> <div> She was interrupted by the sound of a ringing cell phone.</div> <bR> <div> "What?" Amy said as she answered. She listened for a second, then </div> <div> turned back to Josh and smiled.  "As a matter of fact, he's at </div> <div> Donna's apartment. And she just arrived."</div> <bR> <div> Josh's head was spinning. He had to get to Donna. He couldn't let </div> <div> anything happen to her. In a split second he made his decision, and </div> <div> lunged for the gun.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna looked around as, she got out of her car, for the officer that </div> <div> was supposed to be meeting her. All she saw was her landlord, Mr. </div> <div> Rossini.</div> <bR> <div> "How are you, Donna?" he asked as he wrapped her in a hug.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?" he asked worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Positive," she said, smiling sweetly to ease the old man's concerns.</div> <bR> <div> "If there's anything Mrs. Rossini and I can do for you, you let us </div> <div> know."</div> <bR> <div> "I will," Donna said as she looked down the street again. "Someone </div> <div> was supposed to meet me here.."</div> <bR> <div> "A police officer?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yes."</div> <bR> <div> "I let him into your apartment. I checked his ID first. You can't be </div> <div> too careful these days."</div> <bR> <div> "Thanks, Mr. Rossini. I appreciate it. Tell Mrs. Rossini I'll come by </div> <div> to see her before I leave," Donna said as she headed up the stairs.</div> <bR> <div> As soon as she opened her apartment door, an arm went around her </div> <div> neck, and a hand covered her mouth. She struggled as hard as she </div> <div> could but it was no use. She couldn't escape. Before she could get </div> <div> her bearings, she was thrown into a kitchen chair, a rag stuffed in </div> <div> her mouth so she couldn't scream. As she continued to try to break </div> <div> free, she felt a belt being fastened around her waist to hold her in </div> <div> place. A few seconds later, she heard the sound of ripping duct tape. </div> <div> Her arms were pulled roughly behind her and bound together. She tried </div> <div> to scream at the pain shooting through her injured left hand, but it </div> <div> was no use. Finally, her assailant moved around in front of her to </div> <div> bind her feet, and she got a look at his face.</div> <bR> <div> Her stomach dropped when she saw the man she thought she would never </div> <div> see again. Jack Bergstrom. Dr. Freeride.</div> <bR> <div> "Surprised to see me cupcake?" He purred menacingly. Donna tried to </div> <div> pull away but he leaned in even closer. "What's wrong? Did I surprise </div> <div> you?"</div> <bR> <div> Donna tugged desperately at the tape holding her arms, as Jack </div> <div> continued to speak.</div> <bR> <div> "It was the strangest thing. It had almost gotten to the point where </div> <div> I thought I could forget you. I was ready to move on with my life. In </div> <div> fact, I started working with this charity that provides free health </div> <div> care to low-income women. I figured maybe I'd meet a few cute women's </div> <div> rights crusaders."</div> <bR> <div> Jack kneeled in front of her and took her chin roughly in his hand.</div> <bR> <div> "And that's exactly what happened. I met this chick in a bar in </div> <div> Atlanta. She was wild in bed. Completely uninhibited. Imagine my </div> <div> surprise when I found out we knew some of the same people. Turns out </div> <div> she went to college with your boss. And she's been carrying some mean </div> <div> ass grudge for quite a while. So we struck up a little agreement to </div> <div> help each other get rid of someone we hated."</div> <bR> <div> Donna's mind was reeling. Jack had to be talking about Amy Gardner. </div> <div> Donna should have known this wasn't just about her. Amy had been </div> <div> after Josh all along. She tried to scream, but her voice was muffled </div> <div> by the gag. She had to alert someone. Had to help Josh.</div> <bR> <div> "I can see why your boss keeps her around. She's a bitch-but the </div> <div> things she can do to a man in bed would make you blush," Jack sneered.</div> <bR> <div> Donna closed her eyes and pulled at the tape.</div> <bR> <div> "But I'm not like her. I don't need anything slow and tortuous. In </div> <div> fact, I have to catch a plane back to Madison in two hours. When they </div> <div> find your body, I'll be a thousand miles away, and no one will ever </div> <div> even know I was here."</div> <bR> <div> Jack walked over towards the stove. "Do you remember the note you </div> <div> wrote when you left? I do. Dear Jack, I'm sorry. I thought this was </div> <div> worth a second try but I was wrong. I'm obviously not very important </div> <div> to you. You proved that the other night. I'm going back to DC. I feel </div> <div> suffocated in Madison, like I can't breathe. Please don't contact me </div> <div> again. Donna."</div> <bR> <div> Donna's eyes grew wide in terror as Jack leaned over and blew out the </div> <div> pilot light on her gas stove. Then he opened all four burners wide.</div> <bR> <div> "You wanna know what it suffocating really feels like?" he said </div> <div> evilly. </div> <bR> <div> He could feel the panic rising off of Donna, and it made him smile. </div> <div> He gathered up his things and moved towards the door. At the last </div> <div> minute he turned around and said, "Breathe deep, Donna. It'll be </div> <div> easier that way."  </div> <bR> <div> The President had a few minutes between meetings so he wandered into </div> <div> Leo's office for a chat. Normally, under these circumstances, he </div> <div> would go up to the Residence and steal a few minutes with his wife, </div> <div> but not today. Today Abbey was in party planning mode. A last minute </div> <div> party at that, which meant the Residence was in an uproar. Abbey was </div> <div> planning menus, and choosing possible movies to screen, with Annie </div> <div> right by her side. When Jed had gone up to check on his wife and </div> <div> granddaughter earlier, they had been in the middle of heavy </div> <div> negotiations.</div> <bR> <div> "How's it going, Sir?" Leo asked as Jed entered his office.</div> <bR> <div> "Abbey ordered me to leave the Residence. She kicked me out of my own </div> <div> house," the President huffed.</div> <bR> <div> "What did you do?" Leo asked with a smile.</div> <bR> <div> "I was merely offering a few suggestions for the party tonight, but </div> <div> she and Annie said they have everything under control."</div> <bR> <div> "And do they?"</div> <bR> <div> "Well from what I understand, Abbey had to agree to put spaghetti and </div> <div> meatballs on the menu to get Annie to agree to a movie that starred </div> <div> someone over the age of 25."</div> <bR> <div> "That Annie's a tough negotiator," Leo smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "She gets it from her grandmother," Jed growled affectionately. </div> <bR> <div> Just as the President was about to launch into the history of </div> <div> parties, or some equally obscure topic, Margaret knocked rapidly, </div> <div> then opened the door without waiting for Leo to give her the okay.</div> <bR> <div> "Excuse me, Mr. President," she said apologetically. "Toby, Sam, and </div> <div> CJ are here and they need to see Leo right away."</div> <bR> <div> "Send them in," Leo said uneasily, wondering what events could have </div> <div> conspired to bring them all three to him at the same time.</div> <bR> <div> "I think we may have a problem," Toby said without preamble as he </div> <div> entered Leo's inner sanctum with Sam and CJ close behind. "Oh, I'm </div> <div> sorry, Sir," he added when he noticed the President standing near the </div> <div> doorway that connected Leo's office with the Oval Office.</div> <bR> <div> "No, go right ahead, Toby. What seems to be the problem?" The </div> <div> President inquired.</div> <bR> <div> "The police managed to track down the photographer who took the </div> <div> pictures of Cliff and Ainsley at the monument," Toby said.</div> <bR> <div> "That's a step in the right direction," Leo said, encouraged that the </div> <div> police were making progress in the investigation.</div> <bR> <div> "He got the film developed at a small photo shop in town," Sam </div> <div> interjected, "He's a regular customer there, so the police were able </div> <div> to track him down fairly quickly."</div> <bR> <div> "And..." Leo said leadingly.</div> <bR> <div> "He's a small time freelancer named Paul Blair," CJ said, perusing </div> <div> the information the police had faxed over. "He's sold a few pictures </div> <div> to the Post, one or two to national magazines, but not much else."</div> <bR> <div> "Did he have information that might shed some light on what's going </div> <div> on?" Jed asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> "He claims he was only hired to take pictures," Toby scoffed. "He was </div> <div> waiting on a second assignment when Amy called, out of the blue, and </div> <div> said that plans had changed.</div> <bR> <div> "What do you mean?" Leo asked curiously.</div> <bR> <div> "He claims she called him last night and told him that he had to get </div> <div> out of a town for a few weeks, and that he wasn't to answer any </div> <div> questions about the photos," Toby said, recounting what the </div> <div> detectives had told him. "When he told her that he had to stay in </div> <div> town because he had jobs to complete, she offered him cash to leave."</div> <bR> <div> "Why was she so anxious to get rid of him?" Leo asked curiously, "We </div> <div> already knew she hired someone to take the pictures. It was a slimy </div> <div> thing to do but no crime was committed so we can't charge her with </div> <div> anything. It would be embarrassing for her if people found out, but </div> <div> nothing more."</div> <bR> <div> "That's what's strange," Toby said worriedly. "Apparently she told </div> <div> him that a man would be coming to his apartment with an envelope full </div> <div> of money, and that he was to take the money and leave town right </div> <div> away."</div> <bR> <div> "What man?" the President asked, as an uneasy feeling began to settle </div> <div> over the room.</div> <bR> <div> "We're not sure," Sam said, continuing the story. "When this guy </div> <div> showed up with the money, Blair started asking questions. The guy </div> <div> told him that there had been a change in plans, and that something </div> <div> big was going to happen today."</div> <bR> <div> Today?" Leo asked. "Is he sure that's what the guy said?"</div> <bR> <div> "He's positive," Toby replied. "The guy gave him the money, and told </div> <div> him that Amy would call him on his cell in a week or so with further </div> <div> instructions."</div> <bR> <div> "But if Amy is planning on meeting with Donna tomorrow </div> <div> morning......." Leo started. </div> <bR> <div> Every stomach in the room knotted with the realization that they had </div> <div> been had by Amy Gardner. She had set them up, and they had fallen for </div> <div> it. They let their guard down, and she was going to try her best to </div> <div> make them pay.</div> <bR> <div> "Where are Josh and Donna now?" Jed asked urgently.</div> <bR> <div> "They left a little while ago to go home and get ready for the </div> <div> party," CJ answered, trying to remain as calm as possible.</div> <bR> <div> Leo picked up the phone on his desk and began to dial as he </div> <div> yelled, "MARGARET!" </div> <bR> <div> In a flash, the redhead appeared in the doorway. </div> <bR> <div> "Try Donna's apartment and see if she's there," he said, indicating </div> <div> the phone on the table beside the sofa.</div> <bR> <div> "No answer at Josh's," Leo said angrily as he slammed down the </div> <div> receiver.</div> <bR> <div> "No answer at Donna's either," Margaret said, her voice reflecting </div> <div> the worry radiating off of everyone in the room. Within minutes, she </div> <div> had dialed both Josh's and Donna's cell phones and again received no </div> <div> answer.</div> <bR> <div> "Margaret, call the police," Leo ordered. "I'm heading over to Josh's </div> <div> apartment."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll go with you," Sam said worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know where Donna lives," Toby said as they headed for the </div> <div> door.</div> <bR> <div> "I do," CJ said, "Let's go."</div> <bR> <div> "Keep us informed," Jed called after them.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll let you know as soon as we have any information," Leo called </div> <div> over his shoulder as he disappeared down the hallway.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh's mind was focused on only one thing as he lunged towards Amy. </div> <div> He needed to help Donna. She was walking into a trap and she didn't </div> <div> know it. She had been through so much in the last few weeks; he </div> <div> didn't know how much more she could take. How much more he could </div> <div> take. He had only recently allowed himself to admit what Donna really </div> <div> meant to him. He loved her completely. She had become part of his </div> <div> heart and soul and he couldn't even conceive of the thought of going </div> <div> on without her.</div> <bR> <div> He was the one who had brought Amy Gardner into their lives. He could </div> <div> have let it drop after the first meeting, but he didn't. He chased </div> <div> her like some sort of lovesick schoolboy. He realized now that that </div> <div> had been Amy's plan all along. She was determined to win him over in </div> <div> order to carry out her plan. But Josh had pursued her willingly. He </div> <div> had no one to blame but himself.</div> <bR> <div> In the last few days, he had come to understand some of the reasons </div> <div> he had gone after Amy with such dogged determination. He had been </div> <div> thrown for a loop when he found out about Donna's relationship with </div> <div> Cliff Calley. He feared that she had grown weary of their mutual </div> <div> flirtation, and decided to move on with her life. And if she was </div> <div> going to, then he would too. If he could just have a successful </div> <div> relationship with another woman, he could convince himself that what </div> <div> he felt for Donna wasn't real. So he set forth to build a </div> <div> relationship with Amy, at any cost.</div> <bR> <div> But it hadn't worked. Over the course of their relationship, he had </div> <div> realized that, no matter how hard he tried, he was never going to </div> <div> love her. He didn't even really like her all that much. At one point, </div> <div> he simply began waiting for her to break up with him, the way women </div> <div> always did. But Amy was different. She stuck it out. </div> <bR> <div> Josh hadn't immediately made the connection between his pursuit of </div> <div> Amy and the deterioration of his relationship with Donna. All of this </div> <div> could have been avoided if only he would have taken control of the </div> <div> situation sooner. He cursed himself for not realizing that Amy was up </div> <div> to something. The phone call had been so obvious, and yet he had </div> <div> missed it. He had thought that they didn't have to worry about Amy </div> <div> until tomorrow. And because of his oversight, Donna was in danger.</div> <bR> <div> His heart pounded in his chest as he grabbed the barrel of the pistol </div> <div> Amy was holding. The feel of cold steel against his hand jarred his </div> <div> thoughts back to the present. If he wanted to help Donna, he needed </div> <div> to deal with Amy first. She struggled with all of her might, twisting </div> <div> her arms and attempting to point the gun towards Josh. She had a </div> <div> crazed look in her eyes, and Josh had no doubt that, given the </div> <div> chance, she would kill him. </div> <bR> <div> As he kept a tight grip on the barrel of the gun with his left hand, </div> <div> Josh grabbed her forearm with his right hand and attempted to wrench </div> <div> the gun free. He tried to keep the end of the gun pointed towards the </div> <div> floor as Amy fought him with everything she had. </div> <bR> <div> She was biting, and kicking and clawing with her free hand, trying </div> <div> desperately to break away. She raked her nails down the side of </div> <div> Josh's face repeatedly, trying her best to get at his eyes. At the </div> <div> same time, she was trying as hard as she possibly could to knee him </div> <div> in the groin. When Josh turned sideways to avoid her leg, Amy bit </div> <div> down hard on his shoulder. During the struggle, Amy somehow managed </div> <div> to place her finger on the trigger and squeeze. </div> <bR> <div> At the sound of a gunshot, Josh froze.</div> <bR> <div> Suddenly, he was back on the sidewalk in Rosslyn. The pain. The </div> <div> blood. The sirens. His mind whirled. He was on a gurney being wheeled </div> <div> into the hospital and he could hear the doctors and the paramedics </div> <div> shouting. He felt the anesthetic taking affect. And then it was dark. </div> <div> But the pain was still there. And he opened his eyes, and he saw the </div> <div> sight that would sustain him through the entire ordeal of the </div> <div> shooting and his recovery. Donna's face.</div> <bR> <div> Josh's mind immediately snapped back to the present. </div> <bR> <div> With a white-hot fury he had never experienced before, Josh used his </div> <div> leverage, and his grasp on Amy's arm, to spin her around and throw </div> <div> her against the wall. Her spine made a thud as she careened backward </div> <div> into the plaster. The impact knocked the gun from her hand and it </div> <div> clattered noisily to the floor. Amy stooped to retrieve it but Josh </div> <div> deftly kicked it away.</div> <bR> <div> Amy gathered herself and lunged at him again. Before he actually </div> <div> realized what was happening, his hands were around her throat. He </div> <div> found himself squeezing as hard as he could as he slammed her body </div> <div> against the wall over and over. Gradually Amy's struggling lessened. </div> <div> She gasped for breath as her lips began to turn blue. </div> <bR> <div> Josh raged on, blinded by an intensity of emotion he had never felt </div> <div> before. As much as he hated Amy at that moment, and as much as he </div> <div> wanted her punished, he had more important things to do. He had to </div> <div> get to Donna. Had to help her. He pulled his hands away from Amy's </div> <div> neck, and she slid down the wall taking large gulping breaths. Josh </div> <div> looked at her and felt nothing but hate. He leaned over and picked </div> <div> the gun up off the floor, then ran out of the apartment at full speed.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna continued to pull at the tape that was binding her in a </div> <div> desperate attempt to get free. She was startled when the door to her </div> <div> apartment opened. She prayed that the Rossini's had heard the noise </div> <div> and come to check on her. Or maybe the police had arrived, after all </div> <div> Mrs. Bartlet had arranged for an officer to meet her. </div> <bR> <div> Her heart fell when she saw a familiar face staring back at her with </div> <div> a smug grin. Jack.</div> <bR> <div> "I almost forgot something," he said, smacking his palm against his </div> <div> forehead.</div> <bR> <div> He reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it a </div> <div> few times, staring lovingly at the flame, then he leaned over and lit </div> <div> the vanilla scented candle on the foyer table.</div> <bR> <div> "The way your apartment is laid out, it'll take a while for the fumes </div> <div> to get over here," he smiled, pointing at the candle, "But once they </div> <div> do-BOOM!!"</div> <bR> <div> Donna cursed furiously at him, though her words were muffled by the </div> <div> gag that was still firmly lodged in her mouth.</div> <bR> <div> "If I was you I'd breathe deep," he taunted her, "It sure beats </div> <div> burning to death."</div> <bR> <div> With an evil laugh he turned around and exited the apartment again, </div> <div> closing the door behind him. As he descended the stairs, he ran into </div> <div> Mr. Rossini, who was moving in the opposite direction.</div> <bR> <div> "Is everything ok?" the landlord asked worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Jack replied urgently. Luckily the older man had been </div> <div> completely fooled by Jack's false police credentials. He had just </div> <div> flashed the badge, and a confident smile, and the man had ushered him </div> <div> right in to Donna's small apartment. "Someone just called in a bomb </div> <div> threat on this building. We need to get everyone out." Jack's tone </div> <div> was official and left no room for discussion.</div> <bR> <div> "But what about Donna?" Mr. Rossini asked with panic in his voice.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna's fine," Jack assured him. "We got her out the rear door. But </div> <div> you need to clear the building, and probably the buildings on either </div> <div> side."</div> <bR> <div> "There's no one else here but my wife," the old man said as he began </div> <div> to panic. "All of our other tenants are at work."</div> <bR> <div> "Then take your wife and go warn the people in the neighboring </div> <div> buildings. The bomb squad is on the way," Jack said as he grabbed the </div> <div> landlord's arm and propelled him down the stairs towards his own </div> <div> apartment.</div> <bR> <div> "But..." the old man stammered, his voice full of fright.</div> <bR> <div> "No buts. Just do it!" </div> <bR> <div> As Mr. Rossini went to get his wife and lead her to safety, Jack </div> <div> hurried out the front door of the building, jogged down the steps and </div> <div> climbed into his rental car. As he started it up, he was pleased to </div> <div> see the Rossini's exiting the building, headed off to warn the </div> <div> neighbors. </div> <bR> <div> He drove partway down the block and then stopped abruptly. He glanced </div> <div> at his watch, trying to mentally calculate how long it would take for </div> <div> the gas fumes to reach the candle. He had waited four long years for </div> <div> this moment; it seemed a shame to leave before the final curtain. He </div> <div> pulled his car into an alley, locked the doors, and doubled back. He </div> <div> found a perfect vantage point across the street where he could watch </div> <div> the festivities unobserved.</div> <bR> <div> Josh rushed recklessly out of his building and collided head on with </div> <div> his boss and his best friend, who were on their way in. Sam and Leo </div> <div> looked anxiously at Josh, taking in his disheveled clothing and the </div> <div> bloody scratches on the side of his face. </div> <bR> <div> "What's going on?" Sam gasped, noticing the gun in Josh's hand.</div> <bR> <div> "I have to get to Donna's," Josh said breathlessly, "They laid a trap </div> <div> for her and she's gonna walk right into it. I have to get to her!"</div> <bR> <div> "Who laid a trap?" Leo asked, his voice full of confusion, "Who </div> <div> is 'they'?"</div> <bR> <div> "Amy, and Donna's old boyfriend. It's a long story. I'll explain it </div> <div> later. Right now I just need to get to Donna," Josh said, pushing </div> <div> past them and heading for his car.</div> <bR> <div> "We've already called the police. Plus CJ and Toby are on their way </div> <div> over there," Leo said, motioning towards his own vehicle that was </div> <div> double-parked at the bottom of the stairs. "Lets take my car."</div> <bR> <div> Josh tore open the front passenger side door as Leo rounded the car </div> <div> and jumped behind the wheel. Sam slid into the back seat never taking </div> <div> his eyes off of the gun in Josh's hand.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh, what happened up there?" he asked again nervously.</div> <bR> <div> Through the haze that was clouding his mind, Josh realized that Sam </div> <div> was fixated on the gun in his hand.</div> <bR> <div> "Relax, Sam. I didn't shoot her. Although I was tempted," Josh </div> <div> growled. "And if anything bad happens to Donna, she's gonna wish she </div> <div> WAS dead."</div> <bR> <div> With that, Leo gunned the engine and they sped off towards Donna's </div> <div> apartment.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Mr. And Mrs. Rossini were pacing frantically on the sidewalk in front </div> <div> of the building when the first police car arrived. Mr. Rossini was </div> <div> doing his best to calm his trembling wife and assure her that </div> <div> everything would be alright. They both breathed a huge sigh of relief </div> <div> when help finally arrived.</div> <bR> <div> The young officer got out of the car and approached the couple. "I'm </div> <div> Officer Ford," he said. "Does someone here need assistance?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'm Marco Rossini and this is my wife Carla. Where's the bomb </div> <div> squad?" the landlord asked, looking around anxiously.</div> <bR> <div> "The bomb squad?" Officer Ford asked confusedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Mr. Rossini insisted, "The other officer, the one that was </div> <div> here with Ms. Moss, he said that there was a bomb threat and that the </div> <div> men would be here to diffuse it. He told us to get everyone out of </div> <div> the neighboring buildings."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> From across the street, Jack chuckled as he watched the Rossini's </div> <div> talking to the policeman. He knew that the officer had no idea what </div> <div> the older man was talking about. And with every second they spent </div> <div> discussing it, the gas fumes moved closer and closer to the candle in </div> <div> Donna's apartment.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "I don't know anything about a bomb threat," Officer Ford said, </div> <div> attempting to calm the old couple. "We got a call from the White </div> <div> House to report here. We weren't told anything about a bomb threat."</div> <bR> <div> As they continued to talk, three more police cars arrived on the </div> <div> scene with their lights flashing and their sirens blaring. Mr. </div> <div> Rossini had to raise his voice to be heard over the din.</div> <bR> <div> "There was another officer here!" he insisted loudly. "He showed me </div> <div> his badge."</div> <bR> <div> "Was he in uniform?" Ford asked, still trying to get a handle on </div> <div> exactly what was going on.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Mr. Rossini answered, "But he had a badge. I checked."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll call back to the station and get a clarification. Meanwhile, is </div> <div> there anyone in the building?"</div> <bR> <div> "No. All of my tenants are at work, and the other officer took Ms. </div> <div> Moss out the back door. We knocked on all in the doors in the </div> <div> buildings next door and got everyone out," the landlord said, </div> <div> gesturing to the people milling about on the sidewalk looking </div> <div> anxiously at his building.</div> <bR> <div> The other officers, the ones who had just arrived, stepped onto the </div> <div> sidewalk and began to try to get control of the crowd that seemed to </div> <div> be growing by the minute. Officer Ford called headquarters in an </div> <div> attempt to find out exactly what was going on. While he was trying to </div> <div> straighten things out, Toby and CJ arrived.</div> <bR> <div> Because of the growing number of police cars, they were forced to </div> <div> park halfway up the block. They abandoned the car in the middle of </div> <div> the street and rushed towards the officers. </div> <bR> <div> "What's going on?" Toby barked, holding up his White House ID.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack watched happily from across the street. He had recognized Toby </div> <div> and CJ the minute they pulled up. He realized that his and Amy's plan </div> <div> must have been discovered. He wondered briefly if Amy was alright, </div> <div> then admitted to himself that he really didn't care. He was actually </div> <div> glad that some of Donna's high and mighty White House friends were </div> <div> going to be around to witness her death. It just made things that </div> <div> much sweeter for him. After all, they were the reason he had lost her </div> <div> for good. </div> <bR> <div> When she ran off the first time to join the campaign, Jack was sure </div> <div> that she'd be back within a few days. She was just throwing a temper </div> <div> tantrum. She found out that he had been using some of the money she </div> <div> had squirreled away without her permission. So she was trying to get </div> <div> his attention. But he knew she'd come home. She couldn't survive </div> <div> without him. </div> <bR> <div> Then she had stumbled into the Bartlet for America headquarters and </div> <div> everything changed. The few times she took his calls in those first </div> <div> weeks she was away, all she talked about was how many smart people </div> <div> she was working with, and how they were going to improve the country. </div> <div> When he realized that she was actually considering staying there, he </div> <div> had been forced to turn up the heat. He had reminded her that she was </div> <div> only an unpaid volunteer. That she lacked the education to fit in in </div> <div> an environment like that one. That he was the only man who would ever </div> <div> be able to put up with her.</div> <bR> <div> Eventually it worked and she returned to Wisconsin, and to him. But </div> <div> things weren't the same. She was different. Restless. Then she had </div> <div> that stupid car accident. He knew it wasn't serious; it was only a </div> <div> sprain. So he stopped off at the bar on the way to pick her up. It </div> <div> wasn't like he left her waiting on the side of the road. But you </div> <div> couldn't tell her that. She was pissed.</div> <bR> <div> And three days later she was gone. And that was the day Jack </div> <div> Bergstrom started planning his revenge. He was the one who was </div> <div> supposed to decide when relationships were over. Women didn't leave </div> <div> him-he didn't allow it. And so she had to pay the price.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm not exactly sure, Mr. Ziegler. I'm trying to figure that out </div> <div> right now," Officer Ford said a bit impatiently.</div> <bR> <div> "Where's Donna?" CJ asked, looking around desperately, scanning the </div> <div> faces in the crowd.</div> <bR> <div> "The officer said that he took her out the back door," Mr. Rossini </div> <div> answered.</div> <bR> <div> "What officer?" Toby demanded angrily.</div> <bR> <div> "The officer that was here earlier," Mrs. Rossini said. "He was </div> <div> waiting for Donna when she got home. He said that there was a bomb </div> <div> threat and we should get everyone out."</div> <bR> <div> "Have you searched the building?" Toby yelled at the assembled </div> <div> officers.</div> <bR> <div> "Not yet. If there was a bomb threat, we need to wait for the </div> <div> explosives squad," Officer Ford answered.</div> <bR> <div> "We can't wait," CJ snapped. "Our friend may be in there. We need to </div> <div> go in and check her apartment."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry," Ford said, "We need to follow procedure. The bomb squad </div> <div> is coming to check the entire building."</div> <bR> <div> "How long will that take?" CJ asked furiously.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know. But as soon as they give us the all clear we can go in </div> <div> and search."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not waiting for that," Toby said as he moved around one of the </div> <div> officers on the sidewalk.</div> <bR> <div> Officer Ford reached out and grabbed his arm, "I can't let anyone in </div> <div> the building, Sir."</div> <bR> <div> "Look, I need to find out about Donna Moss," Toby said, leveling the </div> <div> officer with an icy glare.</div> <bR> <div> "We'll get to her as soon as possible," Ford said in an authoritative </div> <div> tone. </div> <bR> <div> "Perhaps you recognize her name," Toby said snidely, "Donna Moss. The </div> <div> woman who saved the President's granddaughter?"</div> <bR> <div> Officer Ford cleared his throat. "That Donna Moss?" he asked weakly.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Toby snapped. "And how do you suppose he's going to feel when </div> <div> I tell him you wouldn't let us in the building?"</div> <bR> <div> "I just need permission from the chief," the officer conceded, </div> <div> grabbing his radio.</div> <bR> <div> While the standoff between Toby and Officer Ford dragged on, Leo's </div> <div> car squealed to a stop at the end of the block. Josh charged towards </div> <div> the front door of the building, but was immediately stopped by </div> <div> several burly officers.</div> <bR> <div> Leo and Sam immediately joined Toby in talking to Officer Ford. Josh </div> <div> eyed the front door again, then turned towards his friends.</div> <bR> <div> "Where's Donna?" he screamed at Toby. </div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure," Toby answered helplessly. "They have the building </div> <div> blocked off because of a supposed bomb threat."</div> <bR> <div> "We're getting clarification on what's happening," Officer Ford </div> <div> assured him.</div> <bR> <div> "Well you do that!" Josh screamed, "But in the meantime......"</div> <bR> <div> Before the stunned officers could react, Josh shoved one of them out </div> <div> of the way and darted through the front door. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As soon as he saw Josh Lyman arrive, Jack knew that Amy had failed to </div> <div> carry out her part of the plan. And she had been worried he would be </div> <div> the one to fail. He celebrated the thought of rubbing her face in the </div> <div> fact that he had succeeded, while she had come up short.</div> <bR> <div> When he saw Josh enter Donna's building, he laughed out loud. He </div> <div> couldn't believe how well this was turning out. Not only was he going </div> <div> kill Donna, he was going to take care of her precious boss at the </div> <div> same time. He was so glad he had decided to stay and watch.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna continued to struggle against her bindings, to no avail. No </div> <div> matter how hard she tugged, the tape just wouldn't give. The smell of </div> <div> gas was already beginning to invade her nostrils. </div> <bR> <div> In a strange flash, she remembered her best friend Susan Watson's </div> <div> eighth birthday party. Susan had fallen off her bike and broken her </div> <div> arm two weeks before. After the cake, all the kids had headed to the </div> <div> basement to play games. As soon as Mrs. Watkins turned her back, </div> <div> Susan showed them all a trick she learned. To great fanfare, and the </div> <div> amazement of a room full of eight year olds, she scrunched up her </div> <div> face, and pulled her arm out of the cast. When Susan's mother </div> <div> returned five minutes later she was not pleased.</div> <bR> <div> If Susan Watson could do it for a party trick, surely Donna could do </div> <div> it in her hour of need.</div> <bR> <div> She began to twist her arm as much as possible, and sent up a prayer </div> <div> of thanks for fiberglass casts. They had way more give than plaster. </div> <div> She scrunched up her face, much like Susan had done twenty years </div> <div> earlier, and concentrated on extracting her arm from its neon pink </div> <div> confines. </div> <bR> <div> She closed her mind to the pain shooting through her injured hand. </div> <div> The duct tape bindings were actually helping her by holding the cast </div> <div> stationary, as Donna continued to pull. It took a few minutes before </div> <div> she began to feel movement. She pulled harder, using every ounce of </div> <div> strength she had, ignoring the pain, and suddenly her arm came free.</div> <bR> <div> She reached up immediately, pulled the gag from her mouth and tossed </div> <div> it on the floor. With her good hand, still swathed in tape and </div> <div> attached to her now empty cast, she reached down and undid the belt </div> <div> that was holding her to her kitchen chair. She stood up quickly and </div> <div> was momentarily lightheaded from the fumes. She took a second to </div> <div> steady herself, and then hopped across the kitchen and pulled the </div> <div> scissors from the drawer beside the sink. She quickly cut the </div> <div> bindings from her feet; just enough to regain movement, then dropped </div> <div> the scissors and ran.</div> <bR> <div> In her frantic state, she didn't think to blow out the candle on the </div> <div> foyer table. She yanked open the door and started running down the </div> <div> hallway. The draft created when the door was opened caused the gas </div> <div> fumes to travel more quickly in the direction of the candle. Within </div> <div> seconds, a huge explosion rocked the building.</div> <bR> <div> Everyone on the street looked up in horror as CJ screamed, "Oh God. </div> <div> That's Donna's apartment."</div> <bR> <div> Toby grasped her shoulders to hold her up as they watched flames </div> <div> shoot out of the window, while glass showered down on the street </div> <div> below. Leo looked desperately towards the front door, praying to see </div> <div> Josh and Donna emerge unhurt.</div> <bR> <div> Across the street, Jack Bergstrom smiled a satisfied smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The force of the blast threw Josh to the ground. He was briefly </div> <div> stunned, but then rose to his feet and began to assess the situation. </div> <div> The blast had come from one of the upper floors, right in the area of </div> <div> Donna's apartment. Josh looked up helplessly and his heart began to </div> <div> race. As thick, black smoke started to pour through the building, he </div> <div> groped his way to the stairs.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna!" he screamed as he felt his way along the railing. "Donna!"</div> <bR> <div> Josh listened closely as he thought he heard someone </div> <div> coughing. "Donna!" he screamed again as his lungs filled with acrid </div> <div> smoke.</div> <bR> <div> When he made it to the top of the stairway, the smoke was thicker and </div> <div> heavier. He could hear the crackle of burning wood and the sound of </div> <div> breaking glass as windows all over the building blew out. </div> <bR> <div> He groped for the railing to the third floor that would lead him to </div> <div> Donna's apartment. In the blinding smoke, his hand landed on </div> <div> something that felt like an arm.</div> <bR> <div> "Donna?" he choked out.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh?" he heard a scratchy voice say back. "Is that you?"</div> <bR> <div> "Oh God Donna!" he said finding her shoulders and pulling her towards </div> <div> him. He wrapped her in a tight embrace and thanked every deity he </div> <div> could think of that she was alive.</div> <bR> <div> "Jack was here..." Donna rasped.</div> <bR> <div> "I know," he said as he began to lead her down the stairs to the </div> <div> lobby. "Lets not worry about that now. Lets just get out of here"</div> <bR> <div>   </div> <bR> <div> Fire engines raced down the street towards Donna's apartment </div> <div> building, weaving their way through pedestrians and parked cars. </div> <div> Before they even came to a full stop, men jumped off and began </div> <div> unrolling hoses, while glass rained down on the sidewalk as the </div> <div> windows along the front of the building exploded. Within minutes, the </div> <div> bomb squad arrived to survey the damage, try to determine just what </div> <div> had caused the explosion, and determine whether it was safe for the </div> <div> firemen to enter. </div> <bR> <div> The sound of blaring sirens, combined with the screams of terrified </div> <div> onlookers, created a deafening cacophony. While police scrambled to </div> <div> push back the crowd, the firemen began hooking their lines to </div> <div> hydrants.</div> <bR> <div> Toby had thrown his body over CJ's at the sound of the initial </div> <div> explosion, to protect her from falling debris. In the process, he had </div> <div> toppled them both to the sidewalk. As he stood, he reached down to </div> <div> pull her up with him, checking her over for any sign of injury.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" he asked her breathlessly.</div> <bR> <div> CJ stared over his shoulder at Donna's apartment building, her face a </div> <div> mask of fear and misery. "Josh.....Donna..." she said in a voice </div> <div> barely above a whisper.</div> <bR> <div> Beside them, Leo stared at the burning building, repeating, "Oh no. </div> <div> Please God no," over and over like a mantra. He focused all of his </div> <div> energy on the front door, as though he could make Josh and Donna </div> <div> appear through the sheer force of his will. </div> <bR> <div> Sam clenched his fists in anger as he gaped at the building, tears </div> <div> forming in his eyes. "No," he said determinedly, "I'm not going to </div> <div> let it end like this." Moving away from the others, he started for </div> <div> the building's front door.</div> <bR> <div> "Where do you think you're going!?" Leo barked, as he grabbed Sam's </div> <div> arm.</div> <bR> <div> "Let me go. I have to find them," Sam insisted, as he struggled to </div> <div> get free.</div> <bR> <div> Toby reached forward and grasped Sam's shoulder, pulling him out of </div> <div> the path of the firemen who were hurriedly moving towards the </div> <div> building. "There's nothing you can do, Sam," he said somberly.</div> <bR> <div> "Someone has to help them!" Sam screamed, frustration and fear </div> <div> written all over his face.</div> <bR> <div> "Let the firemen do their job," Leo said sternly. "If you go in </div> <div> there, they're going to have to look for you too, and that will take </div> <div> them away from looking for Josh and Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "But...they could be....." Sam said helplessly.</div> <bR> <div> "We have to let the professionals do their job," Toby said, placing </div> <div> his arms supportively across Sam's shoulders.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack watched, from his vantage point across the street, with a </div> <div> satisfied smile. The chaos of the situation, and the utter despair </div> <div> and helplessness on the faces of Donna's friends, were more than he </div> <div> could have ever hoped for. He had never dared to dream that he would </div> <div> get his revenge in such a public way. He had always envisioned his </div> <div> retribution against Donna as a more private thing. He had fantasized </div> <div> that he would surprise her on one of her visits home to Wisconsin. </div> <div> Make it look like one of those senseless acts of random violence that </div> <div> seems even more tragic when it happens around the holidays. But once </div> <div> again, Donna had foiled his plans by staying in DC for the holidays </div> <div> the last two years. </div> <bR> <div> There had been times over the last few months, when Jack questioned </div> <div> his decision to get involved with Amy Gardner, and her plan. In the </div> <div> end though, he realized that Amy would be very helpful, vital even, </div> <div> since he was going to be forced to make his move in DC.</div> <bR> <div> She was close enough to be able to provide him with information on </div> <div> Donna's movements, and her habits. She knew the layout of the city </div> <div> like the back of her hand, not to mention she seemed to know where to </div> <div> get anything at the drop of a hat. When he needed false police </div> <div> credentials, it had been one of Amy's contacts that had helped him </div> <div> get them. </div> <bR> <div> Amy was also familiar with Donna's friends, and especially her boss. </div> <div> She knew just how to play them to get exactly what she wanted. She </div> <div> was the one who had lulled them into the false sense of security that </div> <div> had led to Donna letting her guard down, and returning to her </div> <div> apartment alone. </div> <bR> <div> Jack smiled as he glanced at his watch. He could afford to stay for a </div> <div> few more minutes, and then he would have to head for the airport.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh kept one arm wrapped firmly around Donna's waist as he groped </div> <div> his way down the staircase towards the lobby. With each breath, he </div> <div> felt her struggling harder against the smoke that was filling her </div> <div> lungs. He leaned over, trying to stay as low to the ground as </div> <div> possible while still being able to move rapidly. </div> <bR> <div> Donna clung tightly to his side, matching him step for step. He </div> <div> marveled once again at her strength. He was more determined than ever </div> <div> to get them both out of the building safely. And once he did, he was </div> <div> going to do everything in his considerable power to see that Dr. </div> <div> Freeride was punished for what he had done.</div> <bR> <div> As Donna continued to cough and choke, Josh reached over and gently </div> <div> pulled her shirt over her mouth and nose to try to block some of the </div> <div> smoke. She smiled gratefully, even though she knew he couldn't see </div> <div> her face, and squeezed his hand. As they continued downward, Josh </div> <div> began feeling the effects of the thick black smoke himself. He tried </div> <div> to take the shallowest breaths possible. When she felt him </div> <div> struggling, Donna groped blindly in his pocket, searching frantically </div> <div> until she finally extracted his handkerchief. As they continued to </div> <div> fight their way towards the lobby, Donna reached over and held the </div> <div> cloth over Josh's mouth and nose. He placed a kiss on her palm </div> <div> through the fabric, and Donna could feel the corners of his mouth </div> <div> turning up in a small smile. Together they continued their journey </div> <div> towards safety.</div> <bR> <div> Donna fought hard against the smoke, the fear, and the heat. Every </div> <div> bone in her body wanted to give up, and yet she pressed forward. She </div> <div> wasn't going to let it end like this; she refused to let Jack win. He </div> <div> wasn't going to destroy her, and he certainly wasn't going to destroy </div> <div> Josh. And as soon as they were safe, she intended to scold Josh </div> <div> harshly for risking his own life by entering the building, then she </div> <div> intended to kiss him senseless to show him how much she appreciated </div> <div> it.</div> <bR> <div> As they reached the bottom of the stairs, they saw a shaft of light </div> <div> coming through the smoke. Their hearts raced excitedly as they moved </div> <div> towards it. Suddenly, they felt a spray of water from the hoses the </div> <div> firemen were using in an attempt to beat back the fire. Josh reached </div> <div> out and felt for a wall as they moved forward, making their way </div> <div> towards the cool air they could feel in front of them.</div> <bR> <div> As they reached the foyer, they stumbled across a fireman who was </div> <div> just entering the building. He radioed to his fellow firefighters </div> <div> that Josh and Donna had been found, while he steered the two of them </div> <div> towards the front door. </div> <bR> <div> They managed to make it down the steps and across the sidewalk before </div> <div> collapsing on the curb, in each other's arms.</div> <bR> <div> "I love you," Josh said as he hugged Donna as tightly as he could. "I </div> <div> couldn't wait another second to tell you."</div> <bR> <div> "I love you too," Donna sobbed, as buried her face in his neck, "I </div> <div> really do. I'm so sorry I dragged you into this. I almost got you </div> <div> killed."</div> <bR> <div> "It wasn't your fault," he cooed in her ear as he stroked her hair.</div> <bR> <div> "But Jack...." Donna began.</div> <bR> <div> "Lets not talk about it right now," Josh said soothingly. "There's </div> <div> time to straighten it all out later. And I assure you Dr. Freeride is </div> <div> gonna get everything he has coming to him.</div> <bR> <div> Sam, CJ, Leo and Toby rushed joyously towards Josh and Donna as they </div> <div> clung to each other.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you guys ok?" Sam asked, kneeling beside them as they gulped in </div> <div> as much fresh air as they could get.</div> <bR> <div> "We're fine," Josh coughed, pulling back and looking in Donna's eyes </div> <div> for confirmation.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine," she agreed.</div> <bR> <div> "I can't let you two out of my sight for a minute can I?" Leo growled </div> <div> affectionately.</div> <bR> <div> Josh smiled, "I guess not."</div> <bR> <div> "I think this was a pretty extreme way to get out of hearing the </div> <div> President give a trivia lecture on whatever movie the First Lady </div> <div> chose for screening tonight," CJ teased, as several paramedics </div> <div> approached carrying portable oxygen tanks.</div> <bR> <div> "The party!" Donna said as she pushed aside the oxygen mask one of </div> <div> the paramedics was offering her. </div> <bR> <div> "What about it?" Toby asked.</div> <bR> <div> "My clothes..." Donna said as she glanced up and caught sight of the </div> <div> burned out shell that used to be her apartment. "My apartment..." she </div> <div> said quietly.</div> <bR> <div> Josh pulled her to his chest, took the mask from the paramedics, and </div> <div> held it over her face while he gently rubbed her back.</div> <bR> <div> "We'll figure something out," he said as he kissed her soot-smudged </div> <div> forehead. "All that really matters is that you're ok."</div> <bR> <div> CJ looked at the horde of reporters that was beginning to assemble </div> <div> and decided she had better give them some information quick, before </div> <div> rumors began to circulate. "Looks like it's time for me to do my </div> <div> job," she sighed. She reached out and grabbed Sam and Toby each by </div> <div> the arm. "Care to help?" she asked rhetorically.</div> <bR> <div> "I have to call the President and let him know you're both ok," Leo </div> <div> said as he pulled out his cell phone.</div> <bR> <div> Josh and Donna watched silently as their friends headed off to do </div> <div> what needed to be done, then wrapped themselves back in each other's </div> <div> arms, oblivious to the chaos that continued to swirl around them.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> 'This can't be happening!' Jack Bergstrom thought furiously as he </div> <div> watched the scene unfolding in front of him. He couldn't believe that </div> <div> not only had Josh Lyman made it out of the building alive, he had </div> <div> somehow managed to get Donna out safely too. </div> <bR> <div> 'What the hell am I gonna do now?' he thought as his panic level </div> <div> began to rise. He realized that since Donna had escaped the building </div> <div> alive, she would be able to tell the police everything that had </div> <div> happened. He would be finished. His medical career would be </div> <div> destroyed. He would be a wanted man.</div> <bR> <div> 'THAT BITCH!!' he thought as he watched Josh and Donna cling to each </div> <div> other. She was periodically pulling the oxygen mask away from her </div> <div> face and talking softly in his ear. He was smiling softly, and </div> <div> stroking her hair, answering her in equally hushed tones.</div> <bR> <div> Jack wanted nothing more than to tear across the street and kill them </div> <div> both with his bare hands, he knew he couldn't. He had to get away as </div> <div> quickly as possible. He needed time to come up with a new plan.</div> <bR> <div> He headed back towards his car, determined to find a quiet place to </div> <div> think. As he arrived at the alley where he had parked, he saw that he </div> <div> was hopelessly blocked in by fire trucks and emergency vehicles. His </div> <div> heart raced, as he pounded his fists in frustration on the hood of </div> <div> the rental car. Suddenly, he remembered the Metro station at the </div> <div> other end of the block. He had discovered it during one of the many </div> <div> dry runs he had made while scoping out Donna's apartment. He quickly </div> <div> removed his belongings from the nondescript silver Toyota and headed </div> <div> off in the opposite direction, towards the Metro station.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo's jaw clenched in anger as he caught sight of a familiar head of </div> <div> brunette hair moving towards him as he stood next to Josh and Donna, </div> <div> who were giving the police names and descriptions of their </div> <div> assailants, as well as addresses and any other pertinent information </div> <div> they could think of. </div> <bR> <div> Officer Ford had immediately alerted the airports, and train and bus </div> <div> terminals. He was fairly sure that Jack Bergstrom would make a run </div> <div> for it, and he wanted to stop the good doctor before he got out of </div> <div> the DC area. </div> <bR> <div> Leo watched for a second as Amy methodically made her way down the </div> <div> block towards them. Then he spoke in calm, quiet tones, hoping not to </div> <div> tip her off to the fact that she had been spotted. "There she is </div> <div> now," he said, nodding his head ever so slightly in Amy's direction. </div> <div> He wanted her to be apprehended without anyone else getting hurt, and </div> <div> hoped that the police could catch her unaware.</div> <bR> <div> "Where?" Josh asked, craning his neck and placing his body </div> <div> protectively in front of Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, where?" Donna asked as she tried to look around Josh. "I've </div> <div> had just about enough of her. If she wants me, let her come and get </div> <div> me."</div> <bR> <div> Josh and Leo looked incredulously at Donna, and realized she was </div> <div> perfectly serious. Her face was set with a look of defiance.</div> <bR> <div> "I think we should let the police handle it," Leo smiled, as the </div> <div> officers began to encircle Amy.</div> <bR> <div> "I broke my own hand," Donna said seriously, maintaining her position </div> <div> behind Josh but looking over his shoulder in Amy's direction. "If she </div> <div> thinks I'd hesitate to break hers, she is sadly mistaken."</div> <bR> <div> "Slow down there, Ali," Josh said as he pulled her towards him. He </div> <div> wanted nothing more than to charge up the block and take care of Amy </div> <div> before the police reached her. As he looked at the anger and hatred </div> <div> in her eyes, he couldn't believe that he had ever been attracted to </div> <div> her, or tried to make himself believe that he was. He knew that he </div> <div> should pity her, but when he thought about everything she had put </div> <div> Donna through, he felt nothing but hatred.</div> <bR> <div> CJ, Sam, and Toby moved over to stand beside the others as they </div> <div> watched the police close in on Amy. Just as they were about to place </div> <div> her under arrest, Amy glanced into Leo's car and saw the gun Josh had </div> <div> left lying on the front seat. In a flash, she tore open the door, </div> <div> pulled it out, and pointed it at the approaching officers.</div> <bR> <div> "Drop the gun, Ms. Gardner, and no one else has to get hurt," Officer </div> <div> Ford called as the police froze in position, but kept their weapons </div> <div> trained on Amy.</div> <bR> <div> Amy looked around desperately for an escape route. Her mind whirled </div> <div> as she frantically tried to think of a way out. In the midst of her </div> <div> panic, her eyes settled on a familiar figure making his way slowly </div> <div> and stealthily up the street.</div> <bR> <div> "It was him!" she screamed as she turned and pointed the gun at Jack </div> <div> Bergstrom. "He made me do it. I didn't want to do any of it!"</div> <bR> <div> "You lying bitch," Jack spat as he stood frozen in place, terrified </div> <div> that Amy might actually shoot him.</div> <bR> <div> Donna felt a chill up her spine as she spotted Jack. She shivered as </div> <div> she remembered the look on his face when he had left her in her </div> <div> apartment to die. She couldn't believe that he hated her that much. </div> <div> She had managed to come to terms with their relationship, and put it </div> <div> behind her; obviously he hadn't been able to do the same. As she </div> <div> looked at him now, she wondered how she could ever have had feelings </div> <div> for him. She turned and smiled at Josh as he squeezed her shoulder </div> <div> protectively. </div> <bR> <div> "I didn't want to hurt anyone," Amy sobbed, as crocodile tears </div> <div> streamed down her face. A new plan began to quickly form in her head. </div> <div> She would say that the whole thing had been Jack's idea, and that she </div> <div> had been nothing more than his unwitting pawn. She was sure that she </div> <div> could sell it. She had friends in DC who would go to bat for her. If </div> <div> she played her cards right, she could walk away clean. There was no </div> <div> direct evidence tying her to anything.</div> <bR> <div> "You liar!" Jack accused. "You were the one who stole the files and </div> <div> messages so that Josh would think Donna was incompetent and fire her. </div> <div> You were the one who hired the photographer to take the pictures."</div> <bR> <div> "He's making this up!" Amy screamed, as her hands began to tremble. </div> <div> She needed to convince the police that she had only pointed the gun </div> <div> because she was afraid.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not going down for this alone," Jack said, looking towards </div> <div> Officer Ford. "I'll tell you everything. Every detail. I even have </div> <div> tapes of Amy laying out the plan, and telling me what to do next."</div> <bR> <div> "You sniveling little coward," Amy hissed. Her entire demeanor </div> <div> changed as she realized that Jack had double-crossed her. There was </div> <div> no way for her to get out of it now. And if she was going down, she </div> <div> decided that she might as well go down in a blaze of glory. She took </div> <div> a few steps towards Jack and cocked the gun. "I might as well just </div> <div> kill you right now."</div> <bR> <div> "No..don't...please," Jack begged like a frightened child. His heart </div> <div> filled with terror at the cold, empty look in Amy's eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "Why shouldn't I?" Amy sneered.</div> <bR> <div> "Please...don't. I don't want to die," Jack pleaded as he began to </div> <div> shake. "I'll tell them it was all my fault. Please don't shoot me."</div> <bR> <div> "You forgot to say the magic word," Amy taunted him.</div> <bR> <div> "Please," Jack sobbed as tears began to run down his face. "Please </div> <div> don't kill me."</div> <bR> <div> "You wanna know the most amusing thing about this whole scene?" Josh </div> <div> asked, as the others gaped at him in shock.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't think there's anything amusing about it," CJ said sternly.</div> <bR> <div> "Even if I tell you that I took the bullets out of the gun back at my </div> <div> apartment building?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> Taking advantage of her redirected focus, one of the officers grabbed </div> <div> Amy's wrist and snapped it in an effort to get her to drop the gun. </div> <div> As the pistol clattered to the pavement, Donna said, "Ouch, I know </div> <div> how that hurts."</div> <bR> <div> Amy kicked and screamed as several officers wrestled her to the </div> <div> ground. She continued to struggle as two of them held her down, while </div> <div> another applied the handcuffs. Television cameras whirred while </div> <div> breathless commentators described the entire event; as it was </div> <div> broadcast live throughout the city. </div> <bR> <div> Meanwhile, Jack Bergstrom remained frozen in place as the officers </div> <div> approached him. He whimpered docilely as they cuffed him and led him </div> <div> to a waiting police car. In stark contrast, Amy was lying on her </div> <div> back, kicking the rear window as the police cruiser she had been </div> <div> placed in pulled away.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you folks ready to head to the hospital?" one of the paramedics </div> <div> asked, approaching Josh and Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Donna insisted. "I don't need a hospital. I just need a </div> <div> shower."</div> <bR> <div> Josh pointed to the neon pink cast nestled amidst the pile of duct </div> <div> tape that the paramedics had removed from Donna's arms and legs.</div> <bR> <div> "I can just put that back on," Donna offered, picking it up and </div> <div> attempting to slide her hand back in. That was, after all, what Susan </div> <div> Watson had done at her eighth birthday party.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't think so," Josh admonished as he pulled the cast away and </div> <div> handed it back to the paramedic. "You're going to get checked out by </div> <div> a doctor."</div> <bR> <div> "Then you are too," Donna said stubbornly.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine," Josh acquiesced. "I will if you will."</div> <bR> <div> "But I don't wanna miss the party," Donna whined.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't worry," Leo assured them as Josh and Donna climbed into the </div> <div> back of a waiting ambulance. "I won't let it start without you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh sat fidgeting impatiently in an uncomfortable plastic chair. He </div> <div> glanced anxiously at the swinging doors that separated the exam area </div> <div> of the emergency room from the waiting area. Every time the doors </div> <div> opened, he looked up, hoping to see Donna.</div> <bR> <div> They had been separated soon after they arrived at the hospital, and </div> <div> that had been almost two hours ago. The doctors had checked him over, </div> <div> given him some oxygen to help clear his lungs, and then given him the </div> <div> okay to go home. One of the nurses had provided him with a clean pair </div> <div> of scrubs and directed him towards a shower. Before she left the </div> <div> room, he had asked if she could try and find out what was going on </div> <div> with Donna.</div> <bR> <div> Josh felt much better after washing away the soot and the smell of </div> <div> the fire. He returned to the ER, where the nurse he had spoken to </div> <div> earlier assured him that Donna was fine. She was heading up to have </div> <div> her hand x-rayed, then re-cast. Josh thanked her for the information </div> <div> and went to sit in the waiting room.</div> <bR> <div> He knew that the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach was </div> <div> unwarranted. Donna was fine. They had walked into the hospital </div> <div> together, and now she was getting the cast put back on her arm. She </div> <div> was perfectly safe. Amy Gardner was in jail. Jack Bergstrom, the </div> <div> sniveling little weasel, was in jail too. Even though Josh knew all </div> <div> of that intellectually, he still wanted to see Donna. He wouldn't </div> <div> feel completely at ease until she was by his side.</div> <bR> <div> He looked up wearily as he heard the doors open again. His face broke </div> <div> out in a full-dimpled smile when he saw Donna walking towards him, </div> <div> with Dr. Warren right beside her. She was dressed in a set of </div> <div> hospital scrubs and her hair was damp on the ends.</div> <bR> <div> "I see you picked neon green this time," he chuckled as he pointed to </div> <div> Donna's cast. "What happened to the pink?"</div> <bR> <div> Donna beamed as she stopped directly in front of him. He stepped </div> <div> beside her and slipped his arm around her waist. Immediately the knot </div> <div> in his stomach began to disappear.</div> <bR> <div> "Variety is the spice of life. I'm trying to see how many different </div> <div> colors of casts I can get."</div> <bR> <div> "You won't be getting anymore," Josh said seriously. "I'll personally </div> <div> make sure of that."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm glad to hear that, Mr. Lyman," Doctor Warren said, "Because I </div> <div> informed Ms. Moss that if I have to recast this again, I'm going to </div> <div> use plaster. It won't come off as easily."</div> <bR> <div> "You two are no fun," Donna pouted.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll see to it that this one stays on," Josh smiled, then leaned </div> <div> over and placed a kiss on Donna's cheek. "Are you ready to get out of </div> <div> here?"</div> <bR> <div> "I'll see you in a week at my office, Donna," Dr. Warren said as he </div> <div> turned to head back towards the exam area, "Try and stay out of </div> <div> trouble until then."</div> <bR> <div> "I will," she assured him.</div> <bR> <div> Josh tightened his arm around Donna's waist and steered her out of </div> <div> the ER.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll call us a cab," he said, pulling out his cell phone, which he </div> <div> had amazingly remembered to grab out of his pants pocket before he </div> <div> gave his clothes to the nurse to be thrown away. The cab company </div> <div> assured him they could have someone there in a matter of minutes. </div> <div> Almost as soon as Josh disconnected, his phone rang.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh Lyman," he answered.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh, it's Leo."</div> <bR> <div> "Hey, Leo. I was just going to call you. We're leaving the hospital </div> <div> now."</div> <bR> <div> "Everything ok?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah."</div> <bR> <div> "Donna's ok?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah. We're good. We just want to get out of here."</div> <bR> <div> "Totally understandable," Leo said, "Do you want me to send a car?"</div> <bR> <div> "No, I just called a cab. In fact, it's pulling up now."</div> <bR> <div> "Great. I'll tell everyone you're on the way."</div> <bR> <div> "See you soon," Josh said as he disconnected.</div> <bR> <div> He opened the back door of the cab and Donna climbed in. He slid in </div> <div> beside her and told the cabbie that they were heading to the White </div> <div> House. He settled into the seat and wrapped his arm around Donna. She </div> <div> laid her head on his shoulder and tried to relax, but she couldn't </div> <div> clear her mind of all the guilt she was feeling. </div> <bR> <div> After a few minutes, she pulled back and looked in Josh's eyes. "I'm </div> <div> so sorry about all of this," she said, battling to hold back her </div> <div> tears.</div> <bR> <div> "None of this is your fault," he said soothingly as he laid his palm </div> <div> against her cheek. "Amy and Jack are the ones to blame. You didn't do </div> <div> anything wrong."</div> <bR> <div> "But you came into the building to save me," Donna argued, "And you </div> <div> could have been killed."</div> <bR> <div> "But I wasn't," Josh said softly.</div> <bR> <div> "But you could have been," Donna sobbed.</div> <bR> <div> "Let's not talk about this now," Josh said as he pulled her to his </div> <div> chest and began to rub her back gently. "You're tired. It's been a </div> <div> bad few weeks. Lets just relax and we'll talk about all of this </div> <div> later."</div> <bR> <div> "I almost forgot," Donna exclaimed, as she abruptly pulled away.</div> <bR> <div> "What?" Josh asked worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "There was something I promised myself I was gonna do if we made it </div> <div> out of that building safely."</div> <bR> <div> "What's that?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Well," Donna whispered, as she moved her lips towards Josh's, "I </div> <div> promised myself I would scold you for doing something as foolish as </div> <div> coming in after me...."</div> <bR> <div> "Donna......"</div> <bR> <div> "Then I promised myself I would kiss you senseless."</div> <bR> <div> "Really?" Josh asked as his heart began to pound.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes, really," Donna said as she placed her lips softly against his </div> <div> cheek.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I know how important it is to you to keep your promises," he </div> <div> said breathlessly.</div> <bR> <div> "Definitely," Donna sighed, as she pressed her lips against his. </div> <bR> <div> Everything around them faded into the background as they were caught </div> <div> up in the electricity and magic of their kiss. Josh thought that he </div> <div> had never felt anything as soft as Donna's lips in his entire life. </div> <div> She ran her tongue along his lower lip and he eagerly opened his </div> <div> mouth, as they simultaneously deepened the kiss. </div> <bR> <div> As their tongues danced together, Donna plunged her right hand into </div> <div> Josh's hair, still damp from his shower.  She pushed against him, </div> <div> trying to get even closer. Her senses were on overload. She was </div> <div> overwhelmed by the feel of him, and the taste of him. She moaned </div> <div> softly as Josh's hand slipped under her shirt and moved up to cup her </div> <div> breast.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh God," she said, as she shifted to give him better access.</div> <bR> <div> The sudden blaring of a car horn brought them crashing back to </div> <div> reality. Josh removed his hand from under her shirt and wrapped it </div> <div> back around her waist. He pulled back and rested his forehead against </div> <div> hers as they both struggled to catch their breath.</div> <bR> <div> "I love you," Josh whispered as he stole one more kiss.</div> <bR> <div> "I love you too," Donna sighed.</div> <bR> <div> "And very soon I'm gonna find a more appropriate place and show you </div> <div> just how much I love you," Josh said as he waggled his eyebrows.</div> <bR> <div> "I can't wait," Donna said, resting her head against his shoulder as </div> <div> she watched the DC scenery go by.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo had called ahead to the guard station, and once the officers </div> <div> confirmed that Josh and Donna were the ones in the cab, they waved it </div> <div> through immediately and allowed it to proceed to the front door of </div> <div> the White House. </div> <bR> <div> Josh paid the driver, then opened the door and exited the cab. He </div> <div> reached back and helped Donna out behind him. They both nodded to the </div> <div> Marine officer on duty as he held open the front door for them. As </div> <div> they entered the building, Josh turned and headed towards the </div> <div> Residence.</div> <bR> <div> "Wait!" Donna said as she stopped dead in her tracks.</div> <bR> <div> "What?" Josh asked nervously.</div> <bR> <div> "I can't go to the Residence looking like this," Donna said, a hint </div> <div> of panic in her voice.</div> <bR> <div> "You look fine," Josh assured her.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh," Donna said exasperatedly, "I can't go to a party with the </div> <div> President and First Lady looking like I...well.....like.....this."</div> <bR> <div> "Why not? I think you look beautiful," a voice said from behind them.</div> <bR> <div> Donna wheeled around. "Mr. President, I didn't see you there," she </div> <div> said as she blushed furiously.</div> <bR> <div> "Good evening, Mr. President," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "The front gate called up and told me that you had arrived.  I wanted </div> <div> to come down to greet you myself," Jed said cheerily.</div> <bR> <div> "I appreciate that, Sir," Donna smiled. "I think I have some extra </div> <div> clothes in Josh's office. I could go and change."</div> <bR> <div> "Nonsense," Jed insisted. "You look fine. We better get upstairs </div> <div> before Abbey sends the Secret Service to retrieve us."</div> <bR> <div> "Okay," Donna agreed reticently, knowing there was no point in </div> <div> arguing with the President.  </div> <bR> <div> Jed glanced back and smiled as he and saw Josh and Donna walking </div> <div> behind him, their eyes glued to each other, smiling softly and </div> <div> communicating volumes of emotions without saying a word.</div> <bR> <div> 'Maybe something good came out of this whole mess after all,' he </div> <div> thought to himself with a smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> When Josh and Donna entered the party, they were immediately </div> <div> surrounded by friends and coworkers wanting to make sure that they </div> <div> were ok. They assured everyone that they had received a clean bill of </div> <div> health from the doctors, and Donna proudly displayed her new green </div> <div> cast. After letting the others fuss for a few minutes, Abbey stepped </div> <div> in.</div> <bR> <div> "You two certainly like to keep life interesting," the First Lady </div> <div> said as she hugged first Josh, then Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm gonna do my best to make sure that things are considerably more </div> <div> dull from this point on," Josh teased.</div> <bR> <div> "See that you do," Mrs. Bartlett said with a wink. "Now I'm gonna </div> <div> steal Donna away from you for a few minutes. I promise I won't keep </div> <div> her long."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh smiled as he gave Donna's hand a squeeze, "I guess I can </div> <div> let her go for a few minutes."</div> <bR> <div> Mrs. Bartlet smiled knowingly as she led Donna across the room to </div> <div> where Annie was standing talking to her parents. "Donna, I don't </div> <div> think you've ever met my daughter Liz and her husband, Frank."</div> <bR> <div> "Nice to meet you," Donna said, extending her right hand.</div> <bR> <div> "Frank, Liz, this is Donna Moss," Abbey said, completing the </div> <div> introduction.</div> <bR> <div> Liz reached out and shook Donna's hand momentarily, before pulling </div> <div> her into a warm embrace.</div> <bR> <div> "Thank you for saving my daughter's life," Liz said, his voice </div> <div> overflowing with emotion.</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't do anything special," Donna said, "Annie was a real </div> <div> trooper. I couldn't have done it without her."</div> <bR> <div> "We'll never be able to find a way to thank you enough," Frank said </div> <div> sincerely as he gave Donna a quick hug.</div> <bR> <div> "No thanks are necessary," Donna said humbly.</div> <bR> <div> "We disagree," Liz said. "We're going to stay here in DC for a week </div> <div> or so and we'd like to take you out to dinner so we can get a chance </div> <div> to talk. We understand you've had a hard day today but we'd like to </div> <div> spend some time with you, after you've had a chance to rest."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm gonna come too," Annie added, "And Mom said we could go </div> <div> someplace really fancy."</div> <bR> <div> "That sounds great," Donna smiled. "I'd like that."</div> <bR> <div> "Good then," Liz said excitedly, "We'll touch base in a few days and </div> <div> make final arrangements."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Because of the events of the day, and all of the frayed nerves among </div> <div> the senior staffers, Abbey had decided to make dinner a much more </div> <div> casual affair. As opposed to a formal sit down in the main dining </div> <div> room, she served dinner buffet style. Guests gathered in small </div> <div> groups, eating, talking, laughing and enjoying each other's company.</div> <bR> <div> Leo pulled Josh and Donna aside as soon as he had a chance. "How are </div> <div> you two feeling?" he asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Fine," Josh and Donna assured him in unison.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?"</div> <bR> <div> "Positive," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't want you overdoing it. You've had a pretty intense couple of </div> <div> days and I want you both to take it easy for a while," Leo said </div> <div> paternally.</div> <bR> <div> "Does that mean we can take next week off and go to the beach?" Josh </div> <div> asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <div> "Not that easy," Leo growled affectionately. "I just don't want you </div> <div> overdoing it at work. Try to get out of here early for the next few </div> <div> days and get some sleep."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ looked at Toby and saw him watching Josh and Donna wistfully as </div> <div> they stood talking to Leo. Josh's hand was resting comfortably on </div> <div> Donna's left hip and her uninjured right hand was rubbing gentle </div> <div> circles on his back. Their conversation was dotted with squeezes and </div> <div> soft smiles.</div> <bR> <div> "They're sweet aren't they?" CJ said as she stepped up beside Toby.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," he agreed. "But if you ever tell anyone I said that, I'll </div> <div> deny it."</div> <bR> <div> "Don't worry. I won't do anything to ruin your grumpy image," CJ </div> <div> laughed.</div> <bR> <div> "It kind of restores my faith in love," Toby said.</div> <bR> <div> CJ opened her mouth to make a mocking comment and then stopped. There </div> <div> was something in Toby's face that told her that he was </div> <div> serious. "Yeah, it does," she agreed.</div> <bR> <div> "I have an idea," he said, turning to her with a gleam in his </div> <div> eye, "Wanna help?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "I have some bad news," Sam said as he approached Josh and Donna </div> <div> carrying a plate of brownies. "But I brought chocolate so I hope that </div> <div> evens things out."</div> <bR> <div> "What's the bad news?" Donna asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <div> "Please, Sam. I don't know how much more I can take," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "It's not all that bad," Sam assured him. "It's just that your </div> <div> apartment is still considered a crime scene, Josh, so you aren't </div> <div> gonna be able to get back in for a few days."</div> <bR> <div> "At least you still have an apartment," Donna said sadly.</div> <bR> <div> Josh and Sam glanced at each other, then back at Donna. They knew </div> <div> that she hadn't even begun to be able to process all of the things </div> <div> that had happened in the last few days. And now, on top of </div> <div> everything, her apartment and all of her belongings were gone too.</div> <bR> <div> "We'll get on the phone first thing in the morning, Donna, and talk </div> <div> to your insurance company. Then we'll find you a temporary place to </div> <div> stay," Josh said as he placed a soft kiss on her cheek. He knew that </div> <div> replacing the material things would easy compared to everything else </div> <div> Donna had to face.</div> <bR> <div> "I just can't believe Jack....and now he's in jail...and Clyde...he's </div> <div> dead," Donna said as her bottom lip began to quiver.</div> <bR> <div> "Listen to me," Josh said as he placed his hands on her shoulders and </div> <div> turned her to face him. "None of this is your fault. I know it's a </div> <div> lot to deal with but I want you to try to put it out of your mind, </div> <div> just for one night. You need to relax. We can deal with all of this </div> <div> other stuff tomorrow."</div> <bR> <div> "That's right," Sam agreed. "The police took Annie's statement this </div> <div> afternoon in the carjacking case. They just need yours as a </div> <div> formality. Remember that Frank Winters was a cold-blooded killer who </div> <div> gunned down a man in a parking lot. If you hadn't done what you did, </div> <div> you and Annie may very well have been next."</div> <bR> <div> "I know. But still, just knowing I killed a man. And that a man I </div> <div> thought I loved tried to kill me. It's a lot to take in," Donna said </div> <div> in a trembling voice.</div> <bR> <div> "I know," Josh said softly. "But we'll get through this together.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ and Toby slipped back in to the party and saw Josh and Donna </div> <div> talking to Sam. They smiled at each other and headed off to find the </div> <div> First Lady, and put their plan into action. They finally found her </div> <div> talking to Margaret and Leo, and quickly filled her in on what they </div> <div> had in mind. She happily agreed to help them out.</div> <bR> <div> Clanging a spoon against her glass she said, "Can I have everyone's </div> <div> attention please?"</div> <bR> <div> The room quieted down and the First Lady continued.</div> <bR> <div> "As you know, we've arranged for a movie tonight in the screening </div> <div> room. Usually my husband seizes the opportunity to make these </div> <div> mandatory, and to follow them up with a pop quiz on the film in </div> <div> question. So for those of you who have been looking forward to </div> <div> that...."</div> <bR> <div> The room was filled with a mixture of chuckles and groans as Abbey </div> <div> laughed.</div> <bR> <div> ".... we will be starting the movie in about fifteen minutes. But I </div> <div> know that many of you have had a long couple of days, so I am making </div> <div> attendance at this screening optional."</div> <bR> <div> "But..." Jed started to interrupt.</div> <bR> <div> "Optional!" Abbey said definitively. "And as a doctor, I am ordering </div> <div> our guest of honor, Donna, and her impossibly demanding boss, Josh, </div> <div> to skip the movie and get some rest. Neither one of you needs a </div> <div> trivia marathon tonight."</div> <bR> <div> Josh and Donna smiled, as the President looked a bit insulted.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't worry, Jed," Abbey soothed. "You can quiz Liz later if you </div> <div> want. She hasn't had the pleasure in quite a while."</div> <bR> <div> Jed smiled, as Liz looked startled, wondering how she had gotten </div> <div> dragged into the whole matter.</div> <bR> <div> As Abbey finished speaking, Toby and CJ approached Sam, Josh and </div> <div> Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "So it looks like you guys luck out and get to get out of here </div> <div> early," Toby said.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure if I'm still staying here in Residence or not," Donna </div> <div> said uncertainly. "I mean, now that Liz and Frank are here, plus </div> <div> Annie, I don't want to be in the way."</div> <bR> <div> "And I can't get into my apartment tonight," Josh sighed. "Are those </div> <div> couches and blankets still in the room downstairs?"</div> <bR> <div> "You can stay at my place," Toby said matter-of-factly, "And Donna </div> <div> you can bunk with CJ. That'll give us an excuse to get out of here </div> <div> too."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure it isn't too much trouble?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <div> "Positive," CJ answered. "Why don't you two run down to Josh's office </div> <div> and grab the extra clothes you keep there. We'll meet you out front </div> <div> in ten minutes."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh said a bit dejectedly. He wasn't sure how he felt about </div> <div> letting Donna out of his sight, even for one night. But he wasn't </div> <div> exactly long on options.</div> <bR> <div> Josh and Donna said their goodbyes to the other partygoers and headed </div> <div> for his office. As they entered, Josh noticed a candle burning on his </div> <div> desk, and a note lying beside it. He looked at Donna and realized she </div> <div> was just as confused as he was.</div> <bR> <div> He walked over to his desk, picked up the paper and began to read.</div> <bR> <div> Josh and Donna,</div> <div>        We won't be meeting you out front in 10 minutes, but a driver </div> <div> will. He's going to take you over to the Hay-Adams where we've booked </div> <div> you a suite for the next few days. Yes we know it's a short walk, but </div> <div> we're not taking any chances, let the driver take you. Enjoy </div> <div> yourselves. Follow the First Lady's orders. You can thank us later.</div> <bR> <div>                                                               CJ and </div> <div> Toby</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Wow," Donna said excitedly. "The Hay-Adams."</div> <bR> <div> "They certainly do things in style don't they?" Josh smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "They sure do."</div> <bR> <div> Josh leaned over and captured Donna's lips in a scorching kiss. "Do </div> <div> you think we can find something to keep us busy in a fancy hotel </div> <div> room?" he teased as he pulled away.</div> <bR> <div> "I definitely think we can," Donna said seductively.</div> <bR> <div> Their lips met again as if drawn together by magnets. Before long, </div> <div> Josh had lifted Donna up onto his desk and was standing between her </div> <div> knees. As he began to tug at the hem of her shirt, she grabbed his </div> <div> hands.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't think we should be doing this here," Donna panted.</div> <bR> <div> "Not when there's a perfectly good hotel room with our names on it," </div> <div> Josh agreed.</div> <bR> <div> "Then what are we waiting for?" Donna said as she turned her head and </div> <div> blew out the candle. "Lets go."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna stared dejectedly at the large pile of work that had </div> <div> accumulated on her desk in the few days she had been away. With a </div> <div> heavy sigh, she began sifting through the contents of her inbox, </div> <div> dividing things into piles, in terms of their urgency. She wanted to </div> <div> get as many things finished as possible, so that she and Josh could </div> <div> get out of the office early. They still had two more nights at the </div> <div> Presidential Suite at the Hay-Adams, and Donna intended to take full </div> <div> advantage of every minute.</div> <bR> <div> She had hoped to get a jump on things by coming in to work early, but </div> <div> her plan had been derailed when neither she nor Josh wanted to leave </div> <div> the warmth of comfort of the bed where they had spent their first </div> <div> full night together. They had actually spent many nights together </div> <div> after Rosslyn, but this was their first full night together naked. </div> <div> They had lingered in bed, and in the shower, on the bathroom counter </div> <div> after the shower, then in their second shower of the morning, and had </div> <div> made it to the west wing with only three minutes to spare before Josh </div> <div> had to be in Leo's office for the staff meeting.</div> <bR> <div> Donna took advantage of his absence to begin to return order to both </div> <div> her desk and his. She was finding it much easier to complete tasks </div> <div> without Josh there to distract her, or to demand her attention. Even </div> <div> without him in the immediate vicinity, she found herself daydreaming </div> <div> about the feel of his hands on her body, and the taste of his kiss. </div> <div> She knew that she was going to have to find a way to put such </div> <div> thoughts out of her mind if she ever intended to get any work done. </div> <div> Or maybe not. Maybe she would just have to learn to work through </div> <div> them. Because what she and Josh felt for each other wasn't something </div> <div> she ever wanted to try to push out of her mind.</div> <bR> <div> Ninety minutes later, she stood back and smiled. She hadn't finished </div> <div> everything that needed done, not by any stretch of the imagination, </div> <div> but she had managed to handle all of the urgent matters, and organize </div> <div> everything else into manageable segments. She had delegated some of </div> <div> the less important matters to junior staffers, made a dozen phone </div> <div> calls, and put together everything Josh would need for his morning </div> <div> meetings.</div> <bR> <div> She was just putting the finishing touches on his schedule for the </div> <div> day when she heard him coming down the hall. He was whistling </div> <div> happily, and when she looked up she saw that he was bouncing more </div> <div> than usual. She crossed the bullpen, smiling brightly, schedule in </div> <div> hand.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey," he said with a broad, full-dimpled smile.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey yourself," Donna laughed. "How did staff go?"</div> <bR> <div> "Very well. I have a few things I need you to look up for me, but </div> <div> nothing pressing."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok. Ready for your schedule?"</div> <bR> <div> "Only if you tell me we're going to blow off the rest of the day and </div> <div> head back to the hotel," Josh said huskily, waggling his eyebrows.</div> <bR> <div> "Not exactly," Donna giggled, "But if you play your cards right, </div> <div> we'll definitely get out of here early."</div> <bR> <div> "Really?" Josh asked enthusiastically, "What do I need to do?"</div> <bR> <div> "You have a meeting with Senator Cartwright on the Hill in 45 </div> <div> minutes."</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Josh sighed disgustedly. "He was all set to vote with us on </div> <div> the new budget, but all of the sudden his support is wavering. And </div> <div> he's threatening to try to take a few others with him."</div> <bR> <div> "So you're going there to show him the err of his ways?"</div> <bR> <div> "Exactly."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll order the fruit basket," Donna said, scribbling something on </div> <div> her notepad.</div> <bR> <div> "What fruit basket?"</div> <bR> <div> "The one I always send when you piss off a senator or congressman."</div> <bR> <div> "Who said I was going to piss him off?"</div> <bR> <div> Donna gave Josh her best 'What are you, an idiot?' look.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll just go ahead and order it."</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, you probably better."</div> <bR> <div> "After you wrangle the senator back to our side, you're having a </div> <div> quick lunch with Matt Skinner to talk about the welfare reform bill."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh said, "I can handle that."</div> <bR> <div> Donna took a deep breath and continued. She knew the next thing she </div> <div> had penciled in on his schedule wasn't going to be something he was </div> <div> going to enjoy.</div> <bR> <div> "Detective Jackson called, and I told him we could give our </div> <div> statements this afternoon. I cleared a block of time. He said it </div> <div> shouldn't take very long."</div> <bR> <div> "Can't we put it off a few more days?"</div> <bR> <div> "He said they need our statements so that they can decide what </div> <div> charges they're going to file against Amy and Jack."</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know. Are you sure you're up to it?" Josh asked worriedly.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Donna sighed. "I just want to get it over with. The sooner we </div> <div> do it, the sooner we can start putting this all behind us."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok, but if it gets to be too much, you have to promise to let me </div> <div> know."</div> <bR> <div> "I will," Donna smiled softly. "And I thought that while you're over </div> <div> on the Hill, I might run out and buy myself a few things to get me </div> <div> through the next week."</div> <bR> <div> She and Josh were both currently wearing the extra set of clothes </div> <div> that they kept in the office for emergencies, but after that, Donna </div> <div> had nothing else to wear except for a set of hospital scrubs or a Hay-</div> <div> Adams robe. She was going to need a few things to tide her over till </div> <div> she could replace what had been lost in the fire. She had already </div> <div> contacted her insurance agent, who had recommended that she begin </div> <div> compiling an inventory of everything that had been in her apartment </div> <div> at the time of the explosion.</div> <bR> <div> Donna had started the list, but put it aside when the emotion had </div> <div> threatened to overwhelm her. She couldn't bear to think of all of the </div> <div> mementos of her life in Washington that had been lost. She sent up a </div> <div> quick prayer of thanks that the skiing book Josh had given her for </div> <div> Christmas several years ago was safe in her locked bottom drawer. She </div> <div> didn't think she would have been able to take it if that had been </div> <div> destroyed. </div> <bR> <div> "You want time to go shopping in the middle of the day?" Josh asked </div> <div> with mock incredulity, snapping her back to the present.</div> <bR> <div> "If I don't go," Donna answered patiently, "I wont have any clothes </div> <div> to wear."</div> <bR> <div> "And the bad news there is...?"</div> <bR> <div> "Josh," Donna warned.</div> <bR> <div> "I know. I was just teasing you. Take as much time as you need."</div> <bR> <div> "I was thinking I'd grab some lunch while I'm out and just meet you </div> <div> at the police station at two o'clock."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure you don't want to ride over with me?"</div> <bR> <div> "If I just go straight there, it'll give me more time to shop."</div> <bR> <div> "Ok. If you're sure."</div> <bR> <div> "I am," Donna said as she handed him a stack of files. "This is the </div> <div> info you'll need for your meetings. Promise me that you won't be </div> <div> late."</div> <bR> <div> "I promise," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "Maybe I better ask Carol to remind you."</div> <bR> <div> "That might be best," Josh smiled.</div> <bR> <div> "I'll see you at two," Donna laughed, shaking her head in amusement. </div> <div> She glanced quickly at the door of the office, to see if anyone was </div> <div> watching. When she saw that the coast was clear, she planted a quick </div> <div> kiss on Josh's lips before heading out across the bullpen.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna entered the White House parking garage and headed for </div> <div> Margaret's red Mustang. Her own car was still parked at her apartment </div> <div> building where she had left it yesterday. Donna wasn't sure whether </div> <div> it had been damaged by the explosion or not, but her insurance agent </div> <div> had promised to check into it. Her first instinct was to head for the </div> <div> closest mall, but as she pulled out of the White House and headed in </div> <div> that direction, her stomach lurched.</div> <bR> <div> Was it only two days ago that she had stood in the parking lot of </div> <div> that same mall and watched as Eric Wright was senselessly gunned </div> <div> down? Images of that moment came flashing back. Donna's heart began </div> <div> to race as she recalled the terror of the ensuing hours in the hands </div> <div> of a madman. She glanced down at the neon green cast on her hand and </div> <div> recalled the sounds of her own bones breaking. She pulled the car </div> <div> into a parking lot and took a few deep breaths to collect herself. </div> <div> She wouldn't let them win. Amy, Jack, Clyde-she wouldn't let them </div> <div> destroy her life. Resolutely, she put the car in gear and pulled back </div> <div> on to the road.</div> <bR> <div> She parked on the opposite side of the mall from where Eric's killing </div> <div> had occurred, and hurried skittishly across the parking lot. She </div> <div> entered the mall and headed straight for her favorite department </div> <div> store. Normally she enjoyed shopping, but this seemed more like work. </div> <div> She didn't have the time to browse leisurely through the racks, </div> <div> taking her time to choose exactly the right pieces. She just needed </div> <div> to pick up enough to get her through the next week or so until she </div> <div> could settle things with her insurance company. </div> <bR> <div> She decided that as soon as things calmed down a bit, she would plan </div> <div> a 'girls day out' shopping trip with the other assistants. Maybe they </div> <div> would even be able to convince CJ to come along. It had been a long </div> <div> time since they had all enjoyed a day out together, and Donna thought </div> <div> it was something they could all use. She made a mental note to talk </div> <div> to the others as soon as she got back to the White House. </div> <bR> <div> In the meantime, she quickly chose three skirts, two pair of slacks, </div> <div> an assortment of blouses, a blazer and two belts. She then picked up </div> <div> two new bras, and some underwear and pantyhose. A quick trip to the </div> <div> shoe department netted two pair of pumps that could be mixed and </div> <div> matched with everything she had bought, and a pair of comfortable </div> <div> tennis shoes. She stopped in the sportswear department and grabbed a </div> <div> pair of jeans, some sweats and a few comfortable, casual tops. By the </div> <div> time she was through trying everything on, it was nearly 1:15.</div> <bR> <div> She was about to exit the mall, juggling all of her packages, when </div> <div> her eye caught a red teddy in the front window of Victoria's Secret. </div> <div> She glanced at her watch. She would be pushing it time-wise, but she </div> <div> was sure it would be worth it. She wanted to give Josh something more </div> <div> interesting than hospital scrubs to peel off of her. Not that she </div> <div> hadn't enjoyed him removing the blue scrubs in both the limo and the </div> <div> hotel room, but she wanted to buy something that would take his </div> <div> breath away. And she thought that the red teddy might be exactly the </div> <div> thing.</div> <bR> <div> Twenty minutes later, she left the mall with her new Victoria's </div> <div> Secret package nestled under her arm, and a smile on her face. She </div> <div> stuck her key in the trunk and was about to open it when visions of </div> <div> Eric appeared in her mind. She shuddered involuntarily as her eyes </div> <div> darted around the lot. She swallowed around the lump in her throat </div> <div> and moved to the rear door of the car. After depositing her packages </div> <div> on the back seat, she climbed behind the wheel, locked the doors, and </div> <div> headed for the police station.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna arrived at the station to find Josh pacing nervously outside. </div> <div> She glanced at her watch as she approached him. As soon as he saw </div> <div> her, his whole body visibly relaxed and he smiled broadly.</div> <bR> <div> "Hey," he said cheerily, "I was starting to worry."</div> <bR> <div> "I had my cell," Donna reminded him as she intertwined their hands </div> <div> and brushed her lips against his, "You could have called."</div> <bR> <div> "I was just about to," Josh admitted sheepishly. "How was your </div> <div> shopping trip?"</div> <bR> <div> "Good," Donna said with a twinkle in her eye, "I'll do a fashion show </div> <div> for you later."</div> <bR> <div> "Goody," Josh exclaimed excitedly as his smile broadened even further.</div> <bR> <div> As they headed for the front door, Josh's demeanor changed. He </div> <div> suddenly seemed tense and worried. "Are you sure you're ready for </div> <div> this?" he asked.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sure," Donna said bravely.</div> <bR> <div> "We're in this together," Josh reminded her. "If it gets to be too </div> <div> much, you let me know."</div> <bR> <div> "I will," Donna promised, as they entered the police station hand in </div> <div> hand to give their statements.</div> <bR> <div> Ten minutes later, as they were ushered into Detective Jackson's </div> <div> office, they saw him stuff a pink message slip hastily under his desk </div> <div> blotter. He stood, thanked them both sincerely for coming, and </div> <div> motioned for them to have a seat on the couch at the far end of the </div> <div> room. He took the chair across from them and they were soon joined by </div> <div> a stenographer, who sat unobtrusively off to the side. Both Josh and </div> <div> Donna declined the detective's offer of coffee, and set about giving </div> <div> their statements.</div> <bR> <div> Two emotional hours later, the statements were done. As painful as </div> <div> reliving everything had been, Josh felt a better for having gotten it </div> <div> all out, and he could tell by the look on Donna's face that it had </div> <div> helped her too.</div> <bR> <div> She had gasped loudly when Josh recounted the details of the </div> <div> confrontation with Amy in his apartment. She squeezed his hand </div> <div> tightly when he described seeing the barrel of the gun pointed </div> <div> directly at him. </div> <bR> <div> Donna might have been able to forget everything that Amy had done to </div> <div> her--the stolen files and messages, trying to get Leo to fire her-- </div> <div> but she would never be able to forget the description of what had </div> <div> happened in Josh's apartment. How could Amy have pointed a gun at </div> <div> Josh after everything he had been through? Donna's eyes flashed with </div> <div> anger. She was determined to see that Amy paid dearly for making that </div> <div> choice.</div> <bR> <div> A little later, all of the color drained from Josh's face as he </div> <div> listened to Donna describe the way Jack had grabbed her, tied her up, </div> <div> and turned on the gas. His jaw clenched when she described the way </div> <div> she had desperately fought to get free, to get out of the apartment </div> <div> before the explosion. He wrapped his arm tightly around her shoulder </div> <div> as she described her fear, and her struggle for breath as gas began </div> <div> to fill the apartment.</div> <bR> <div> They clung to each other tightly as they related the details of what </div> <div> had happened after the explosion. How they had found each other </div> <div> despite the heat and the smoke, and how they made their way out of </div> <div> the burning building.</div> <bR> <div> After a few more questions about what had happened on the street, the </div> <div> detective assured them that he had enough information. He told them </div> <div> that they would undoubtedly be needed to testify sometime in the </div> <div> future, but that they were done for now. </div> <bR> <div> As they got up to leave the office, Detective Jackson nervously </div> <div> headed back to his desk and picked up the pink message slip he had </div> <div> hidden under his desk blotter.</div> <bR> <div> "Um.." he said hesitantly. "We received a request from Ms. Gardner." </div> <div> The detective paused to gauge Josh and Donna's reaction. "She would </div> <div> like a chance to talk to you, Ms. Moss."</div> <bR> <div> "Me?" Donna asked disbelievingly.</div> <bR> <div> Detective Jackson nodded.</div> <bR> <div> "Absolutely not!" Josh insisted.</div> <bR> <div> "What does she want?" Donna asked curiously.</div> <bR> <div> "I don't know," Jackson answered honestly.</div> <bR> <div> "It doesn't matter," Josh said sternly, "You're not going to see her."</div> <bR> <div> "Maybe I should," Donna replied</div> <bR> <div> "Why?" Josh asked incredulously.</div> <bR> <div> "There are a few things I want to ask her," Donna said, warming up to </div> <div> the idea of a one-on-one meeting with her nemesis, "And a few things </div> <div> I want to say to her."</div> <bR> <div> "Donna, there's nothing to be gained..." Josh began.</div> <bR> <div> "This is something I need to do for me," Donna said as she looked </div> <div> deeply into Josh's eyes, willing him to understand.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?" he asked uncertainly.</div> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna answered softly but resolutely, before turning to </div> <div> Detective Jackson. "When can I see her?"</div> <bR> <div> "She's downstairs in one of the holding cells," the detective </div> <div> said, "I can have her brought up right away."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm gonna be with you when you talk to her," Josh said.</div> <bR> <div> "No," Donna answered, "This is something I have to do by myself."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not taking any chances that she'll try to pull something," Josh </div> <div> argued.</div> <bR> <div> "It'll be ok. We're in a police station. Nothing's going to happen," </div> <div> Donna said soothingly.</div> <bR> <div> "There will be an officer in the room at all times," Detective </div> <div> Jackson assured Josh.</div> <bR> <div> Josh looked pleadingly at Donna. He didn't want her to see Amy. He </div> <div> remembered all of the hate and venom that he had seen in Amy's eyes </div> <div> the last time they met, and he didn't want Donna to have to deal with </div> <div> that. After everything she had been through he wanted to keep her </div> <div> safe. But the look in her eyes said that this was something she </div> <div> wasn't going to back down from. Something she needed to do. And even </div> <div> if Josh didn't completely understand it, he was determined to support </div> <div> her.</div> <bR> <div> "Ok," he said as he nodded resignedly, "Lets do it."</div> <bR> <div> Donna walked into the visitation room with her head held high. She </div> <div> wanted to show very clearly that the events of the previous weeks had </div> <div> not destroyed her. Amy sat docilely at the table, her hands cuffed </div> <div> together, glaring intently at Donna as she entered. Donna moved </div> <div> slowly across the room and took the seat opposite Amy. A uniformed </div> <div> officer stood guard behind a clear privacy partition in the corner, </div> <div> ready to step in at the first sign of trouble.</div> <bR> <div> "You wanted to see me?" Donna asked, maintaining eye contact with Amy.</div> <bR> <div> Yes, Donna. I was worried about you. I wanted to make sure that you </div> <div> were alright."</div> <bR> <div> The condescending tone in Amy's voice was enough to make Donna's </div> <div> blood boil. She wanted to slap the smug smile right off of Amy's </div> <div> face, but she knew that kind of reaction was exactly what Amy wanted. </div> <div> And so even though she was screaming internally, her exterior </div> <div> countenance remained placid.</div> <bR> <div> "Oh please, Amy," Donna said, rolling her eyes, "If you got me in </div> <div> here just to play some more of your tiresome games, I'm leaving. I </div> <div> have better things to do."</div> <bR> <div> "I am not playing games!" Amy hissed. " I asked you here so I could </div> <div> tell you that this isn't over. Not by a long shot."</div> <bR> <div> "Really? It looks pretty much over from where I'm sitting," Donna </div> <div> replied with a cool smile.</div> <bR> <div> "I still have friends in DC," Amy spat, "They're going to help me </div> <div> prove that this wasn't my fault. I was just an innocent dupe of Jack </div> <div> Bergstrom."</div> <bR> <div> "You tried that line yesterday and it didn't work," Donna said. "No </div> <div> one is gonna believe that this was all Jack's idea."</div> <bR> <div> "You have no idea the ridiculous things people will believe."</div> <bR> <div> "That may be true. But the fact is that Jack claims to have proof </div> <div> that you were the mastermind of the whole plan," Donna pointed out </div> <div> calmly.</div> <bR> <div> "Whether or not he does remains to be seen," Amy sneered, her face </div> <div> twisted in a mask of hatred. She couldn't stand the fact that Donna </div> <div> seemed so calm. She felt that she was losing the upper hand and </div> <div> wanted desperately to get it back. "Besides you can't just go around </div> <div> taping people without their knowledge. The tape, if there is one, </div> <div> will never make it into court."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not a lawyer, Amy. I have no idea how these things work. And </div> <div> frankly I don't care. All that matters to me is that you're both </div> <div> locked up now, and you can't do any more damage."</div> <bR> <div> "Are you jealous?" Amy asked, obviously attempting to bait Donna. </div> <bR> <div> "Hardly," Donna snorted.</div> <bR> <div> "I think you are. I think you can't stand the fact that Jack came to </div> <div> me. He wanted me." Amy eyed the officer in the corner to make sure </div> <div> that she was still out of hearing range, and then leaned over and </div> <div> whispered, "He was willing to do anything I asked him to."</div> <bR> <div> "What was between you and Jack is of no interest to me," Donna said </div> <div> honestly.</div> <bR> <div> "He couldn't get enough of me. He wanted me all the time. He told me </div> <div> over and over that I was the best lover he ever had," Amy taunted.</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked at her with a mix of hatred and pity. "And?"</div> <bR> <div> "And I think it drives you crazy to know that he wants me. That I </div> <div> have what it takes to keep him coming back for more."</div> <bR> <div> Donna narrowed her eyes and looked straight at Amy. "All you need to </div> <div> keep Jack interested is a bank account," she smirked. "I found that </div> <div> out a long time ago."</div> <bR> <div> "Don't be so smug!" Amy snarled angrily as her voice rose, "You're </div> <div> the one who lived with him. Who gave up everything for him. Who </div> <div> dropped out of college for him."</div> <bR> <div> "I was 22 years old," Donna said. "What's your excuse?"</div> <bR> <div> Amy's eyes narrowed. She wasn't about to let Donna get the better of </div> <div> her.</div> <bR> <div> "You're not going to win this one, Donna. I'm going to get back at </div> <div> you, and I'm going to get back at Josh too."</div> <bR> <div> The mention of Josh's name made something inside Donna's head snap. </div> <div> She stood up and leaned over the table, placing her face right in </div> <div> front of Amy's.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't you ever mention Josh's name again. Do you hear me?" she said, </div> <div> her voice full of barely contained fury, "Because if you do, I'll </div> <div> personally make sure that you never see the outside of a prison </div> <div> again."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh, did I strike a nerve?"</div> <bR> <div> "How dare you!! After everything he has been through, after Rosslyn, </div> <div> how dare you point a gun at him! What were you thinking?"</div> <bR> <div> "I was thinking about the way he used me in college."</div> <bR> <div> "Josh never used you. He doesn't use people. You use people."</div> <bR> <div> "You have a very naïve view of things Donna. But you'll see. Once he </div> <div> gets what he wants from you, it'll all be different."</div> <bR> <div> "No, Amy, it won't. Because what Josh and I share is special."</div> <bR> <div> "His feelings for you didn't seem that special night after night when </div> <div> he had his head buried between my legs," Amy hissed.</div> <bR> <div> "You're not going to shock me if that's what you think, Amy. I know </div> <div> that you and Josh slept together."</div> <bR> <div> Amy stared angrily across the table as Donna continued.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh has a much more trusting nature than most people think. And you </div> <div> know that, because you've known him since college. So when you acted </div> <div> interested in him, he took your interest at face value. He never </div> <div> stopped to think you might have an ulterior motive."</div> <bR> <div> "You don't know what you're talking about," Amy growled.</div> <bR> <div> "I think I do," Donna retorted. "You set out to manipulate Josh and </div> <div> you succeeded. He trusted you because he thought you were his friend, </div> <div> and you exploited that. You manipulated him right into your bed, Amy. </div> <div> But it was never love."</div> <bR> <div> "Shut up!" Amy yelled as Donna's words hit close to home.</div> <bR> <div> "But why did you care? You were only using him. As long as he was </div> <div> dating you, you had what you wanted."</div> <bR> <div> Amy's face contorted in fury. She was about to lose control and Donna </div> <div> could see it.</div> <bR> <div> "Go to hell," Amy growled viciously.</div> <bR> <div> "Why did you care?" Donna asked again, more insistently.</div> <bR> <div> "Because I wanted him to love me," Amy yelled, "I wanted him to know how it felt to love someone who didn't love him back."</div> <bR> <div> "Oh my God," Donna said slowly, as the true meaning of Amy's words </div> <div> hit her. "You didn't want Chris in college, you wanted Josh. This </div> <div> wasn't about you feeling like your college friends had left you </div> <div> behind, this was about you getting revenge on a man who didn't notice </div> <div> you twenty years ago."</div> <bR> <div> "You have no idea what you're talking about," Amy spat angrily. "They </div> <div> owed me. All of them. They graduated law school and went on to their </div> <div> big, fancy careers and they forgot I even existed."</div> <bR> <div> "I don't think that's it at all," Donna said. "I think you had a </div> <div> thing for Josh in college, but he didn't return your feelings. So you </div> <div> decided to try for a relationship with him one more time."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm a lot of things, but I'm not pathetic," Amy growled, "I set out </div> <div> to show Josh, and Chris, and all of them, that I could succeed </div> <div> without them. And I did. I had the ear of the First Lady. I was </div> <div> important. I even managed to get the great Joshua Lyman to finally </div> <div> recognize me."</div> <bR> <div> "Then what was the problem?" Donna asked pointedly.</div> <bR> <div> "The problem," Amy said venomously, "was that nothing has really </div> <div> changed. He's still the same egotistical, arrogant, son of a bitch he </div> <div> was twenty years ago."</div> <bR> <div> Donna watched as Amy tried desperately to regroup and hide her </div> <div> feelings. But it was too late. Donna had seen the truth in her eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "You never loved Josh. You never even cared about him. It was all </div> <div> about winning. You wanted him simply because he didn't want you. You </div> <div> needed to prove to yourself that you could win. This wasn't about </div> <div> love, it was about competition. But even after all of these years you </div> <div> couldn't win. Because he didn't love you."</div> <bR> <div> "Drop dead," Amy screamed as she rose to her feet, eliciting an </div> <div> immediate response from the guard who crossed the room and grabbed </div> <div> her by the shoulders. </div> <bR> <div> Donna stood up and headed slowly for the door. When she almost there </div> <div> she turned back and saw Amy being led away. She tried to feel some </div> <div> compassion for the other woman, but all she could think of was what </div> <div> had almost happened to Josh. "You were wrong, Amy," she said with a </div> <div> pitying tone in her voice, "You are pathetic." </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna found Josh waiting outside of Detective Jackson's office, </div> <div> pacing nervously in a small circle. He was only a matter of minutes </div> <div> away from busting into the visitation room to make sure everything </div> <div> was alright.</div> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" he asked anxiously, hurrying towards her as she walked </div> <div> down the hall. He looked her up and down as though checking for </div> <div> signs of an altercation.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Donna assured him, wrapping her arm around his waist.</div> <bR> <div> "What did she say?" Josh asked, preparing to hear the worst.</div> <bR> <div> "Nothing important," Donna said calmly. "Can we just get out of here?"</div> <bR> <div> "Whatever you want."</div> <bR> <div> Josh placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her towards </div> <div> the exit. </div> <bR> <div> As they walked across the parking lot, Donna asked, "How did you get </div> <div> here?"</div> <bR> <div> "I took a cab," Josh answered.</div> <bR> <div> "Then we can ride back together," Donna said as she pulled Margaret's </div> <div> keys from her pocket and handed them to him.</div> <bR> <div> As they approached the car, Josh glanced in the back seat, and saw </div> <div> the Victoria's Secret bag resting on the top of Donna's other </div> <div> purchases. He raised his eyebrows suggestively as he unlocked the </div> <div> passenger side door and opened it for Donna.</div> <bR> <div> "What'd you buy at Victoria's Secret?"</div> <bR> <div> "You'll see later during the fashion show," Donna teased.</div> <bR> <div> "I vote we start the fashion show with what's in that bag."</div> <bR> <div> Donna laughed at the excited look on his face.</div> <bR> <div> "I love you," she said, as she placed a soft kiss on his lips. </div> <bR> <div> "I love you too," Josh said, "And I always will."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Epilogue</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna stood staring out the window of the Presidential Suite at the </div> <div> Hay-Adams Hotel. The view of the White House at night, illuminated by </div> <div> so many cleverly hidden spotlights, was something she never got tired </div> <div> of looking at. She smiled to herself, thinking how much her life had </div> <div> changed since the first time she had entered that building.</div> <bR> <div> She pulled her robe more tightly around her, hiding the red </div> <div> Victoria's Secret teddy she wore underneath. No point in giving the </div> <div> pedestrians on the street below a free show. Behind her, she could </div> <div> hear the sound of Josh finishing up in the shower. It was actually </div> <div> the second shower he had taken that evening.</div> <bR> <div> The first shower of the night they had taken together, relaxing and </div> <div> working out the tension of what had been a very wonderful, but </div> <div> stressful day. Their kisses and caresses had grown more urgent and </div> <div> before Donna realized what was happening, they were lying on the </div> <div> luxurious bathmat in front of the tub. Their lovemaking was fierce </div> <div> and passionate, leaving them both sweaty and sticky and in need of a </div> <div> second shower.</div> <bR> <div> Donna had made Josh sit on the side of the tub while she cleaned up </div> <div> under the warm spray of water, wanting to avoid a repeat performance. </div> <div> There were only so many showers a girl could take in one night before </div> <div> her skin started to shrivel unattractively. </div> <bR> <div> As she counted windows, trying to pick out familiar offices, she </div> <div> heard the water turn off and knew that Josh would be joining her </div> <div> soon. She smiled in anticipation. A few minutes later, she felt his </div> <div> arms slip around her waist from behind, as he planted a trail of hot, </div> <div> open-mouthed kisses on her neck.</div> <bR> <div> "How was your shower?" Donna asked as she reached back and plunged </div> <div> her fingers into Josh's damp hair.</div> <bR> <div> "Lonely," he pouted, as his hands began to work on the ties of her </div> <div> robe.</div> <bR> <div> "Josh," Donna warned as she stilled the motion of his hands. "The </div> <div> curtains are open. I don't think we want to give anyone a peep show."</div> <bR> <div> Josh lifted his head, letting his chin rest on Donna's shoulder, as </div> <div> he looked at the same view she had been admiring early.</div> <bR> <div> "You don't get to see enough of the White House?" he teased.</div> <bR> <div> "I was just thinking," she answered dreamily.</div> <bR> <div> "About what?"</div> <bR> <div> "About how much my life has changed since I left Wisconsin."</div> <bR> <div> "Mmmmmm," Josh said as he went back to nibbling her neck, "I thank </div> <div> God every day that you walked into my office in New Hampshire."</div> <bR> <div> Donna laced her hands with his and leaned back into his kisses.</div> <bR> <div> "I think we should close the curtains, Josh."</div> <bR> <div> "I think so too," he answered as Donna took a few steps towards the </div> <div> window. He followed behind her, never taking his lips off of her neck.</div> <bR> <div> "It's beautiful at night though, isn't it?" Donna sighed.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, it is. This room has a great view."</div> <bR> <div> "I can't believe Toby and CJ rented it for us," Donna said as she </div> <div> yanked the curtains closed. "I mean, it was such a perfect idea the </div> <div> first time they did it. And it's just as perfect this time. I can't </div> <div> believe it's been over a year since that first night."</div> <bR> <div> "It's hard to believe," Josh agreed. "Toby said that they felt bad </div> <div> that we weren't going to be able to get any time for a honeymoon, and </div> <div> they wanted our wedding night to be special."</div> <bR> <div> "Tonight would be special no matter where we spent it," Donna said as </div> <div> she turned in Josh's arms so that they were facing each other. She </div> <div> placed her hands on his shoulder and stared at the wedding band that </div> <div> he had placed on her finger only a matter of hours before. She lifted </div> <div> her face to his and their lips met in a soul-stirring kiss.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry that we couldn't manage to get a few days away from DC," </div> <div> Josh said guiltily. "I wasn't expecting the gun-control thing to </div> <div> flare up again, and there's tobacco, and the new budget."</div> <bR> <div> "It's ok," Donna reassured him for what seemed like the hundredth </div> <div> time since he had told her that Leo couldn't spare him for even a few </div> <div> days, "I understand."</div> <bR> <div> "As soon as things slow down a little, I promise, we'll get away </div> <div> somewhere special," Josh said earnestly.</div> <bR> <div> Donna smiled and placed her hands against Josh's cheeks. He smiled </div> <div> back, both from the warmth of her touch, and the feel of her wedding </div> <div> band against his skin. " This room is special, Josh. It's where we </div> <div> spent our first night together."</div> <bR> <div> "Then you mean I never have to take you to Hawaii? I can just rent </div> <div> out this suite?" Josh teased.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, I didn't say that," Donna said as she rubbed seductively </div> <div> against him, " Like you said. Someday...when things calm down."</div> <bR> <div> Josh walked her slowly backwards towards the couch, as his hands made </div> <div> quick work of the tie at her waist. He placed his hands underneath </div> <div> the terrycloth and pushed the robe off her shoulders. As he eased her </div> <div> down onto the cushions, he noticed what she was wearing.</div> <bR> <div> "This is my favorite," he growled as he knelt in front of her and </div> <div> fingered the silky straps.</div> <bR> <div> "I know it is," Donna purred. "I was going to buy something new for </div> <div> our first night together as husband and wife, but I decided I'd </div> <div> rather wear something with some sentimental value."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm glad you did," Josh said breathlessly, as he leaned in and </div> <div> placed a kiss above her left breast.</div> <bR> <div> "But seriously, Josh, you're going to have to be more careful </div> <div> tonight," Donna said softly as she pulled him up beside her, then </div> <div> crawled into his lap. "I've mended this thing as many times as is </div> <div> humanly possible. If you tear it again, I'm going to have to throw it </div> <div> away."</div> <bR> <div> "I'll be careful. I promise," Josh swore, trying to look repentant </div> <div> but failing miserably.</div> <bR> <div> "That's what you said the first night I wore this," Donna </div> <div> laughed. "And I ended up having to sew both of the straps."</div> <bR> <div> Josh smiled as memories of that night over a year ago flooded back. </div> <div> Donna had appeared before him wearing the red teddy, and she had </div> <div> taken his breath away. Even the neon green cast on her hand hadn't </div> <div> been able to ruin the look. Josh had never seen anyone or anything so </div> <div> beautiful in his entire life. In his haste to be near her, he hadn't </div> <div> taken the time to figure out the best way to peel the teddy off, so </div> <div> he just yanked until the delicate straps gave way.</div> <bR> <div> Josh's thoughts were brought back to the present by the feel of Donna </div> <div> efficiently divesting him of his own robe. He turned and lay back on </div> <div> the couch, pulling Donna down on top of him.</div> <bR> <div> "We sure have come a long way since that night, haven't we?" he </div> <div> sighed, as his hands slid down to cup her silk covered bottom.</div> <bR> <div> "We sure have," Donna agreed as she snuggled against his chest. "I </div> <div> couldn't have made it this far without you."</div> <bR> <div> "That's not true, Donna, and you know it," Josh said, leaving one </div> <div> hand where it was and bringing the other up to run through her </div> <div> hair. "You've been amazingly strong through everything. The whole Amy </div> <div> fiasco, Dr. Freeride trying to kill you, the carjacking, the trials. </div> <div> You've been a rock through the whole thing."</div> <bR> <div> "Only because I had you beside me, Josh," Donna said, raising her </div> <div> head off of his chest and looking directly into his eyes. "You gave </div> <div> me the strength."</div> <bR> <div> "Not at the beginning," Josh said with an edge of anger and guilt in </div> <div> his voice. "I was part of the problem at first. I should have seen </div> <div> that Amy was up to something, but I didn't. And I almost lost you </div> <div> because of it."</div> <bR> <div> Donna placed her fingers gently against Josh's lips to silence </div> <div> him. "Do you remember the night you came to my apartment after Leo </div> <div> got the files in the mail and sent me home?"</div> <bR> <div> "Kind of."</div> <bR> <div> "I was so sure I was going to get fired. I was terrified. Everything </div> <div> around me was falling apart."</div> <bR> <div> Josh tightened his hold on Donna. "But none of it was your fault. </div> <div> Jack was drugging your yogurt. And Amy was responsible for the </div> <div> missing files."</div> <bR> <div> "But I didn't know that then. Part of me was afraid I was going </div> <div> crazy. I was sure that I was about to lose everything. My friends. My </div> <div> job. You."</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry," Josh said sincerely.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't be," Donna smiled. "Because right in the middle of all of </div> <div> that, you came to my apartment and you asked me a question. Do you </div> <div> remember what it was?"</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Josh smiled softly. "I asked you if you trusted me."</div> <bR> <div> "That's right," Donna said as her fingers softly traced his </div> <div> lips, "And I told you that I did. And it was the truth. You told me </div> <div> that you were gonna fix things. That everything would be alright. And </div> <div> I knew in my heart that you were telling me the truth. No matter what </div> <div> else was happening....I knew you wouldn't lie to me. And from that </div> <div> second on I knew we were in it together."</div> <bR> <div> "And we can face anything when we face it together," Josh said </div> <div> resolutely.</div> <bR> <div> "Psycho girlfriends, obsessive ex-boyfriends, carjackers, explosions. </div> <div> You name it, we can handle it," Donna said triumphantly.</div> <bR> <div> "Well, we don't have to worry about Jack and Amy anymore, they're </div> <div> locked up for a long time. And if they ever get out, I promise you I </div> <div> won't let them get near us."</div> <bR> <div> "I know you won't," Donna said sincerely, placing a soft kiss on his </div> <div> lips.</div> <bR> <div> "It was good to talk to Annie again at the reception," Josh said, </div> <div> attempting to redirect the conversation. He didn't want to spend his </div> <div> wedding night talking about Jack and Amy.</div> <bR> <div> "Yeah, it was," Donna said. "Liz was telling me that Stanley worked </div> <div> with her for a few months to help her get over her fear after the </div> <div> carjacking."</div> <bR> <div> "That Stanley is a miracle worker," Josh replied.</div> <bR> <div> "He sure is," Donna agreed. She had attended sessions with Stanley </div> <div> for almost six months after the carjacking. He had helped her come to </div> <div> terms with what had happened to Clyde, and had also helped her deal </div> <div> with the anxiety that had arisen from the entire situation.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm thinking maybe we should get a volume discount," Josh joked.</div> <bR> <div> Donna looked down at his dimples and smiled. Even in her most vivid </div> <div> fantasies, she had never imagined loving someone as much as she loved </div> <div> Josh. And she had never imagined she would ever feel completely </div> <div> secure that any man felt that way about her. But she knew that Josh </div> <div> did. He went out of his way to both tell her and show her in every </div> <div> way possible.</div> <bR> <div> "You know what I think, Mr. Lyman?" she said, sitting up and pulling </div> <div> Josh up with her.</div> <bR> <div> Josh readjusted his position and pulled her into his lap. He could </div> <div> never get enough of the feel of her in his arms, never manage to get </div> <div> her close enough. The depth of love he felt for her was unlike </div> <div> anything he had ever experienced. She was the other half of his heart </div> <div> that he had searched for for so long. And looking in her soulful blue </div> <div> eyes, he could see she felt the same way.</div> <bR> <div> "What do you think, Mrs. Lyman?" he asked, as he pressed his forehead </div> <div> against hers.</div> <bR> <div> "I think we should move this to the bedroom. This couch is pretty </div> <div> cramped and there's a great big king-size bed just waiting for us in </div> <div> there."</div> <bR> <div> "I remember," Josh said as he waggled his eyebrows.</div> <bR> <div> Donna stood up looked at Josh seductively. "Shall we?" she asked as </div> <div> she began to back across the room.</div> <bR> <div> "Definitely," Josh growled as he bounced after her.</div> <bR> <div> By the time they reached the side of the bed, Donna was tugging </div> <div> frantically at Josh's boxers as he tried in vain to remove her teddy. </div> <div> As his boxers hit the ground around his ankles, Donna heard the </div> <div> distinctive sound of silk tearing. A second later, her teddy was a </div> <div> puddle of fabric on the floor.</div> <bR> <div> "Sorry," Josh said hastily, but the way he was sucking on her breast </div> <div> made Donna doubt that he felt bad at all.</div> <bR> <div> "That's ok," she laughed as the back of her knees hit the bed and </div> <div> they both tumbled onto the soft mattress.</div> <bR> <div> Donna scooted up until her head was on the pillows and Josh came </div> <div> right with her. He paused for a moment, just staring down into her </div> <div> eyes.</div> <bR> <div> "What is it, Josh?" she asked with just a tinge of uncertainty.</div> <bR> <div> "Nothing," he answered in a hoarse voice, barely above a whisper. "I </div> <div> was just giving thanks for having you in my life. I love you, Donna."</div> <bR> <div> "And I love you, Josh. Forever," Donna whispered huskily as she </div> <div> placed her hands behind his head and pulled him down into a </div> <div> passionate kiss.</div> <bR> <div> The End</div> </td> </tr></table></body>