238 Days

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003399" TEXT="#080000" background="03fc8c00erkjxk.jpg"> <div> <B>A trip to Colombia takes a frightening turn</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#99CCFF" FACE="Edwardian Script ITC" ><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>   |   <B>238 Days</B>   |   <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>   |   <A HREF="id186.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Matter Of Trust"><U>A Matter Of Trust</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id209.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Pleasure Sure"><U>A Pleasure Sure</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id226.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Excellent Rookie Season"><U>An Excellent Rookie Season</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id227.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Even Steel Magnolias Cry"><U>Even Steel Magnolias Cry</U></A></div> <div> 238 Days</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0ceb0690.gif" border=0 width="432" height="105" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Prologue: This story is homage to a dear friend. A woman who suffered </div> <div> through a terrible </div> <div> ordeal in a foreign country only to come back better and stronger </div> <div> from the experience. </div> <div> Strong enough to return to that country on several occasions, </div> <div> determined to carry out her </div> <div> mission. Sadly, she lost a battle with cancer a year ago. Her memory </div> <div> reminds me </div> <div> everyday that while there are wonderful and heroic characters on </div> <div> television that we chose </div> <div> to play with here in our writing, we should also remember that there </div> <div> are remarkable, </div> <div> heroic people living all around us every day. She is greatly missed </div> <div> by her loving husband, </div> <div> her wonderful children and many, many friends. Her courage, </div> <div> confidence and faith </div> <div> continue to inspire me even though she left this world far too soon.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> 238 Days </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh sat at his desk, impatiently drumming his fingers, waiting for </div> <div> the temp to </div> <div> retrieve the file he had requested. It had been 20 minutes and she </div> <div> was still rifling through </div> <div> the cabinets, apparently no closer to finding what she was looking </div> <div> for. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> This was his third temp in 10 days and Leo had warned him not to </div> <div> alienate her, so </div> <div> he was trying hard not to yell.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 'Donna will be back in 4 days’; he thought to himself, 'I just have </div> <div> to hold out for </div> <div> a while longer.'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna exited the cabana and squinted into the morning sun. She </div> <div> marveled at the </div> <div> lush scenery all around her. It made her sad that a country this </div> <div> beautiful could be in such </div> <div> turmoil. She sat down against a rock and began writing in her </div> <div> notebook. She wanted to </div> <div> make sure that she wrote down every detail. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She had been so proud that Leo had thought enough of her to give her </div> <div> this </div> <div> assignment; she was determined to do a good a good job. True, she was </div> <div> only here as an </div> <div> unofficial representative of the administration. And this was, after </div> <div> all, only a fact-finding </div> <div> mission, but still, Donna felt like this was her chance to make a </div> <div> real contribution. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She had been excited for a chance to travel to Columbia. She has </div> <div> spent the last </div> <div> week and a half talking to the people who were at ground zero of </div> <div> the "drug war". She </div> <div> listened to their stories and she felt their pain. Many of them were </div> <div> trapped in situations </div> <div> that they couldn't escape. Caught between the government and the all </div> <div> powerful drug </div> <div> cartels.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> During their entire visit, the team had been carefully monitored. </div> <div> They went </div> <div> nowhere without an escort. Several times, Donna had gotten an uneasy </div> <div> chill up her spine </div> <div> but it had passed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There were only three more days until she left for home and there </div> <div> were still so </div> <div> many people to talk to. Today, she was going to talk to a group of </div> <div> farmers. They wanted </div> <div> very much to grow a legitimate cash crop but growing coca for the </div> <div> drug cartels was the </div> <div> only way they could feed their families, and keep them safe. They </div> <div> wanted some help </div> <div> from the US in the form of protection and subsidies.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The remainder of Donna's group began to file out into the compound, </div> <div> eager to get </div> <div> a start on the day. They carried various cameras and pieces of </div> <div> recording equipment to </div> <div> capture the faces and voices of the people they interviewed. They </div> <div> believed that if the </div> <div> world could see these people, and hear their voices, it would go </div> <div> along way towards </div> <div> bringing the needed changes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As they began loading their things into the jeeps, gunshots split the </div> <div> air. Donna </div> <div> looked up and saw a dozen armed men in fatigues flooding the area. </div> <div> They were yelling </div> <div> commands in Spanish. Everyone was in a panic. Donna couldn't </div> <div> understand what the </div> <div> men were saying but she gathered by their motions that they wanted </div> <div> her to put her hands </div> <div> in the air and she complied. Throughout the compound, she could hear </div> <div> sporadic raised </div> <div> voices and gunshots.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna heard a commotion and looked to her left. One of the male </div> <div> members of the </div> <div> party, an Englishman named Tad who worked for the UN, was putting up </div> <div> quite a bit of </div> <div> resistance.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Who are you?" Tad yelled. "What do you want? We are a UN observation </div> <div> team. </div> <div> We came here in peace. We are on a fact-finding mission. You have no </div> <div> reason to harm </div> <div> us."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Silence," yelled the man who appeared to be the leader of the </div> <div> commandos, </div> <div> angrily waving his gun in the air.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I insist that you let us go immediately," Tad yelled as he continued </div> <div> to struggle. </div> <div> "We are here under the flag of the UN."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Soon a few others in the group began to yell also. Suddenly, the </div> <div> rebel leader </div> <div> raised his gun and fired two shots right through Tad's head. Everyone </div> <div> in the group froze </div> <div> as Tad fell to the ground, quite obviously dead. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> In fractured English the leader said, "If you do not want to end up </div> <div> like your </div> <div> friend, you will keep your mouth shut and do as I say."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The intercom buzzed on Josh's phone. "What the hell?" he said to no </div> <div> one in </div> <div> particular. He despised the intercom, aside from the fact that he had </div> <div> no idea how it </div> <div> worked. He much preferred just yelling when he need his assistant's </div> <div> attention. He rose </div> <div> from his chair, crossed the room, opened the door and peered out.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes?" he said with exaggerated patience.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The temp looked up, startled to see him in the doorway.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Margaret called," she said "Mr. McGarry needs to see you in his </div> <div> office immediately." </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Did she say what it was about?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, she just said to tell you that it was important and that you </div> <div> should get there ASAP."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh said heading down the hall, "Then that's where I'll be if </div> <div> you need me."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Go right in," Margaret said as Josh entered Leo's outer office.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's up?" Josh asked her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I have no idea but I think it's serious," she said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh nodded, and then opened the door to Leo's inner office </div> <div> hesitantly. Leo was talking </div> <div> on the phone in an obviously aggravated tone. He waved for Josh to </div> <div> sit down.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Get back to me as soon as you can," Leo growled as he slammed down </div> <div> the phone.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He punched the intercom and soon Margaret's voice crackled from the </div> <div> other end.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes,sir?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Get Toby, Sam and CJ in here right now."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The older man began to pace back and forth in front of his desk. He </div> <div> opened his mouth to </div> <div> speak, then closed it, the opened it again but the words just </div> <div> wouldn't come.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "C'mon Leo, you're scaring me." Josh said with a bit of nervous </div> <div> laughter. "What's </div> <div> wrong?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I just got a call from the State Department," Leo said as he sat </div> <div> down on the edge of his </div> <div> desk, finally finding his voice. "They are getting some intel on </div> <div> a….well ….a situation </div> <div> that needs our attention."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What kind of situation?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "A possible hostage situation." Leo said choosing his words carefully.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So where's this weeks hot spot?" Josh asked as an inexplicable fear </div> <div> began to build in the </div> <div> pit of his stomach.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo took a deep breath before he said, "Columbia."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, Leo," Josh said shaking his head violently. "Don't tell me this."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry, Josh. It looks like it's Donna's group."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What are you saying? Are you telling me that Donna is……..? Is she…?" </div> <div> Josh's voice </div> <div> cracked. He couldn't bring himself to say the words that he feared </div> <div> the most.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We don't think so at this point," Leo said. "The reports we are </div> <div> getting are that there are </div> <div> casualties, however, they all appear to be male."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And the rest of the group? Where are they?" Josh asked, even though </div> <div> he already knew </div> <div> the answer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We think they have been marched up into the hills and are being kept </div> <div> at an undisclosed </div> <div> location."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do we know this for sure?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We're waiting for confirmation."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Anyone claiming responsibility?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not yet."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh dropped his head to his hands. He couldn't believe this. Donna </div> <div> had been so happy to </div> <div> be going to Columbia. It was all she talked about for weeks. He was </div> <div> sure that this was </div> <div> some horrible mistake. 'Any minute', he thought, 'the phone is going </div> <div> to ring and it will </div> <div> be Donna giving us her flight information for the trip home.' </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Toby and Sam entered Leo's office at the same time and saw Josh </div> <div> sitting in the chair, </div> <div> head in hands.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's wrong?" Sam asked, immediately alarmed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Apparently, Donna's group was involved in an incident in Columbia." </div> <div> Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They all turned at the sound of a gasp from the doorway.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh, no," CJ said "I just got the news of that incident over the </div> <div> wires. Please tell me it </div> <div> isn't Donna's group."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We have early intelligence that it is." Leo said quietly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What did the wire say, CJ?" Josh asked, the desperation clear in his </div> <div> voice. "Did they </div> <div> give any details?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not really," CJ said trying to force her brain back into </div> <div> action. "They are just reporting </div> <div> that rebels have seized members of a UN mission. They are reporting </div> <div> seven casualties, </div> <div> four Columbian guards and three UN employees. All of the dead appear </div> <div> to be men at this </div> <div> point. There is no concrete news of the fate of the others, but there </div> <div> is evidence that they </div> <div> were taken to a rebel stronghold somewhere deep in the forest."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So we know the group? We know who is responsible?" Josh asked, </div> <div> grasping for hope.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "There is no way of knowing exactly until someone claims </div> <div> responsibility." Toby said as </div> <div> he stepped over next to Josh and placed his hand supportively on the </div> <div> younger mans </div> <div> shoulder.   </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So what's the next step?" Josh asked trying to gather his thoughts </div> <div> and formulate a plan.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "This isn't our problem to handle," Leo said. "It's in the lap of the </div> <div> UN."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What are you saying?" Josh asked incredulously. "Are you saying that </div> <div> we do nothing? </div> <div> That we just let Donna rot down there and go on with our lives? Just </div> <div> trust the UN to </div> <div> handle things?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, that's not what I'm saying," Leo said trying to remain </div> <div> calm. "I'm saying that we </div> <div> will do everything we can to get Donna home safely. We will offer any </div> <div> support and </div> <div> assistance that we can. But this can't be an official government </div> <div> operation, Josh. You </div> <div> know that. There are certain limitations to what we can do."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I need to be alone. I need to think," Josh said as he began moving </div> <div> towards the door.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh," Leo said in a voice that froze everyone in the room. Slowly </div> <div> Josh turned and </div> <div> looked at his boss and mentor. And for the first time, he saw the </div> <div> fear and the sadness in </div> <div> Leo's eyes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Don't you think I'm worried about Donna too?" Leo said quietly. "I'm </div> <div> the one who sent </div> <div> her there. I put her in that position. If something happens to her, </div> <div> it's on my head. So </div> <div> please don't act like you're the only one who has a stake in getting </div> <div> her back."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I didn't mean to imply that," Josh said. When he reached the doorway </div> <div> he turned and </div> <div> addressed Leo again, wanting to erase some of the pain in his voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She wanted to go, Leo," Josh said. "She was thrilled that you </div> <div> thought enough of her to </div> <div> give her the assignment. It was the happiest I've ever seen her. She </div> <div> wouldn't blame you </div> <div> for this, and she wouldn't want you to blame yourself."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" Sam asked as he entered Josh's office and sat down in </div> <div> the visitor's chair.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I wasn't even here to say goodbye to her, Sam. Did you know that? I </div> <div> let her go without </div> <div> saying goodbye."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I didn't know that," Sam said looking at Josh with concern. "I'm </div> <div> sure she understands."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sure she does, too. That's the problem, Sam. No matter how badly </div> <div> I treat her, no </div> <div> matter what horrible things I say to her, she always forgives me. She </div> <div> always understands. </div> <div> I knew how important this was to her. But I had a meeting with Matt </div> <div> Skinner and it ran </div> <div> long….. I should have cancelled it. I should have made sure I was </div> <div> back. I should have </div> <div> taken her to the airport. I should have told her how proud I was of </div> <div> her. I should have told </div> <div> her…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Stop it, Josh." Sam said sternly. "Stop beating yourself up. There's </div> <div> no point in living in </div> <div> the past. Just remember all of these things, and tell Donna when she </div> <div> gets back."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She has to come back, Sam." Josh said choking back tears.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She will," Sam said with much more confidence than he felt.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna sat up against a pole, her arms bound behind her, holding her </div> <div> tightly against the </div> <div> rough wood surface. Her feet were sore and blistered from the long </div> <div> hike into the forest </div> <div> and the bindings at her ankles were cutting off the blood supply. The </div> <div> blindfold that had </div> <div> been placed over her eyes as they approached the camp had been </div> <div> removed. She carefully </div> <div> surveyed the situation around her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She saw eight others from her group tied up in much the same way as </div> <div> she was. Five men </div> <div> and three women. Including her, that made 9 altogether. There had </div> <div> originally been 15 </div> <div> members in her group. She blinked back tears as she thought about the </div> <div> fate of the others. </div> <div> She knew for certain that Tad was dead; she had his blood spattered </div> <div> on her shoes. Things </div> <div> at the compound had been very confusing but there had been a lot of </div> <div> shooting and Donna </div> <div> feared that others had died there as well. There were at least a </div> <div> dozen of them when they </div> <div> first started marching into the woods. The hike had been arduous, </div> <div> uphill over rocky </div> <div> terrain. They were given no water and were not allowed to rest. </div> <div> Several times along the </div> <div> way, people had stopped, unable to walk any further. Donna had tried </div> <div> to encourage them, </div> <div> tried to get them to keep going. And when they could go no further, </div> <div> Donna had heard the </div> <div> pleading, and then the gunshots. She tried to drive those thoughts </div> <div> from her mind.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The mission leaders had warned everyone very clearly about the danger </div> <div> before they left </div> <div> the states. Donna had listened intently while they described the </div> <div> unstable political </div> <div> situation, and carefully listed all of the people who had been held </div> <div> captive or killed in </div> <div> Columbia in the previous 10 years. She had come here with her eyes </div> <div> wide open. She had </div> <div> understood and accepted all of the possibilities.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> But, in her heart of hearts, she had never allowed herself to </div> <div> consider this possibility. She </div> <div> knew that she needed to clear her mind. To be strong. Others had come </div> <div> through this kind </div> <div> of situation and she could too. She just needed a little time to let </div> <div> her brain catch up with </div> <div> the reality of the situation.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She knew that the President would not be able to act directly to get </div> <div> her back. She was an </div> <div> unofficial representative of the administration; this was not a </div> <div> government operation. The </div> <div> UN would be handling the negotiations. She had watched these dramas </div> <div> unfold in the past. </div> <div> She knew that the world she currently found herself in was much </div> <div> different from the one </div> <div> she was used to. There would be no high speed faxing, no cyber </div> <div> communication. All </div> <div> talking would go on through back channels and third parties. There </div> <div> was a good chance </div> <div> that she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. So she needed to prepare </div> <div> herself, both </div> <div> mentally and physically. She was ready to do whatever she needed to </div> <div> do to hang on, to </div> <div> stay alive. She would not give up, and she would be ready when </div> <div> release finally came.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She knew that her survival was at least partly in her own hands. She </div> <div> had to focus. She </div> <div> had to cooperate. She had to do whatever was necessary to get home. </div> <div> She leaned her head </div> <div> back against the pole and tried to remain calm.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> It had been 18 hours since the news had broken of the incident, and </div> <div> there was no </div> <div> significant new information to report. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The people on the ground in Columbia had managed to confirm the </div> <div> identities of the dead </div> <div> in the compound. They were definitely members of Donna's group. Any </div> <div> slim hope that </div> <div> Josh had held out that it was all a mistake had disappeared with that </div> <div> confirmation. But </div> <div> Donna wasn't among the dead so at least that was a piece of good news.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh wandered over to Leo's office. Margaret wasn't at her desk so </div> <div> Josh knocked on the </div> <div> door to the inner office.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Come in," said a tired voice from the other side of the door.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh entered and saw Leo sitting on the couch in his office, feet </div> <div> propped up, reading daily </div> <div> briefing memos and looking worn out.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Anything new?" Leo asked</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No," Josh said quietly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> An uncomfortable silence hung in the air for a few moments.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo, she wanted to go." Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Funny, but that doesn't make me feel any better." Leo answered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Me either." Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo cleared his throat. "I've talked to Collins over at UN security. </div> <div> They are trying to </div> <div> make contact with the rebels through back channels. No luck so far. </div> <div> He's going to keep </div> <div> me updated."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good," Josh replied tiredly. "I'm going back to my office. Let me </div> <div> know if you hear </div> <div> anything."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Why don't you go home, Josh? It's been a long day. I'll call you if </div> <div> there's any news."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks, but I think I'll stay here for awhile."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Suit yourself," Leo said. "But I think we better prepare for the </div> <div> possibility that this may </div> <div> take a while to resolve."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know," Josh said resignedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He left Leo's office and walked back towards the bullpen. It already </div> <div> seemed like forever </div> <div> since he had gotten the news and, in reality, it hadn't even been 24 </div> <div> hours.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He looked at Donna's desk and saw a picture of the two of them at </div> <div> the inaugural ball. </div> <div> 'Hold on, Donnatella.' He thought to himself. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He sat at his desk, shuffling papers and trying to focus on work. As </div> <div> midnight approached, </div> <div> he absentmindedly placed an entry on his desk calendar. May 25---Day </div> <div> One </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh leaned against the wall in Leo's office, while the older man </div> <div> dialed the phone and </div> <div> waited to be connected. This had become their ritual over the last </div> <div> several weeks. They </div> <div> would meet for a few minutes, first thing every morning, to check the </div> <div> wires for any new </div> <div> information and to receive a briefing from Doug Collins at the UN.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As much as they both wanted to devote all of their time and energy to </div> <div> getting Donna </div> <div> back, they couldn't. There was still the people's business to </div> <div> conduct, but this time each </div> <div> morning gave the two men a chance to connect. Gave each a chance to </div> <div> make sure that the </div> <div> other was all right. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh knew that Leo was carrying a heavy burden. He felt responsible </div> <div> for Donna being in </div> <div> Colombia. He felt that he had put her in harm's way. Leo viewed Donna </div> <div> almost as a </div> <div> daughter. The thought of never seeing her again, of her never coming </div> <div> back, was more </div> <div> than he could stand. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo looked at Josh leaning tiredly against the wall. He knew that </div> <div> under the strong mask </div> <div> he wore on the outside, Josh was in excruciating pain. He and Donna </div> <div> had such a complex </div> <div> relationship, one that defied all normal explanation. He may not have </div> <div> been able to define </div> <div> their relationship but Leo knew one thing for sure; if Donna didn't </div> <div> make it back, Josh </div> <div> would never be the same.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Morning, Doug," Leo's voice said, breaking the silence. "I'm putting </div> <div> you on </div> <div> speakerphone."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Morning Leo, Josh." The now familiar voice said from the other end.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Morning," Josh said "Anything new?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There was a momentary silence on the other end of the phone that </div> <div> immediately brought </div> <div> both Josh and Leo to full alert.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What is it?" Josh demanded. "Do you have new information?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Doug Collins began to speak in as calm a tone as he could manage. He </div> <div> had dreaded this </div> <div> phone call since the minute that the new intel reports had hit his </div> <div> desk.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Our team on the ground in Colombia entered the jungle today in an </div> <div> attempt to locate the </div> <div> rebel stronghold. They were acting on information from several </div> <div> different sources. They </div> <div> entered the forest at the site of the abduction."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo's mind was whirling. He could tell by the tone of Collins' voice </div> <div> that bad news was </div> <div> coming. He glanced quickly at Josh who was staring at the floor, lips </div> <div> moving in a silent </div> <div> prayer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Just say it, Doug," he barked more harshly that he had </div> <div> intended. "What did they find?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "They found three bodies along the trail," Collins said. "They appear </div> <div> to have been dead </div> <div> approximately 3-4 weeks. We have reason to believe that they were </div> <div> members of the UN </div> <div> team. Two females and one male."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Both Josh and Leo fought hard to control their emotions as their </div> <div> hearts leapt to their </div> <div> throats.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Have you identified them yet?" Leo asked in a shaky voice as his </div> <div> knees gave out and he </div> <div> sunk down into the couch.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not yet," Collins answered. "Due to the heat, the fairly advanced </div> <div> state of </div> <div> decomposition, and the wild animals, it's going to take a little time </div> <div> to make positive </div> <div> identification."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How soon will you know?" Josh asked, in a strangled whisper.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It depends," Collins answered sympathetically. "If you could get me </div> <div> a copy of Ms. </div> <div> Moss's dental records, it might help speed things up."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh's mind reacted instinctively. This was his specialty, completing </div> <div> the task at hand. </div> <div> This was one way, albeit a small one, where he could feel as though </div> <div> he was doing </div> <div> something constructive.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll get them faxed over to you within the hour." Josh promised.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good. I'll keep you informed. The second I know something, you'll </div> <div> know." Doug said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh said as he reached over Leo's desk and disconnected </div> <div> the phone. He </div> <div> turned to face Leo who was sitting on the couch, staring silently at </div> <div> the wall.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I have to go check Donna's rolodex for the name of her dentist and </div> <div> call him," Josh said </div> <div> placing his hand on his mentor's shoulder. "Are you, ok?" </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo just stared ahead as though he hadn't heard the question. "Leo?" </div> <div> Josh repeated. "Are </div> <div> you ok?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," the older man said suddenly snapping back to reality. "Go </div> <div> take care of getting </div> <div> the records. I'll cover for you at staff. Get there as soon as you </div> <div> can."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will," Josh promised as he headed for the door, casting a worried </div> <div> glance over his </div> <div> shoulder at Leo. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna shifted her position in an attempt to alleviate some of the </div> <div> pain in her back. She </div> <div> was beginning to feel the consequences of sitting in the same </div> <div> position, arms tied tightly </div> <div> behind her, for upwards of 20 hours a day. Sleeping in that position </div> <div> with her head leaning </div> <div> forward was not helping the matter at all.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She tried to move just enough to put a small amount of distance </div> <div> between herself and the </div> <div> pole she was tied to. The rough wood had caused a series of scrapes </div> <div> and cuts all the way </div> <div> down her body. As the sun rose higher in the sky and the temperature </div> <div> began to soar, the </div> <div> sweat running down her back would cause a painful sting. Day after </div> <div> day, Donna tried not </div> <div> to lean back against the pole, tried to give the cuts on her back </div> <div> time to heal, but </div> <div> eventually the discomfort of her position led her to lean back again.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly, one of the guards was standing directly in front of her. He </div> <div> was very young; </div> <div> Donna doubted that he was more than a teenager. But his eyes showed a </div> <div> lifetime of pain </div> <div> and suffering. Donna had noticed that most of her captors were young. </div> <div> And they all </div> <div> shared the same haunted look and the same simmering anger. She had </div> <div> learned early on in </div> <div> this crisis to follow their instructions. As long as she followed </div> <div> their orders, everything </div> <div> was fine. Donna realized the futility of trying to engage any of her </div> <div> captors in a </div> <div> discussion. She decided that her best bet to stay alive-her only bet </div> <div> to stay alive-was to </div> <div> do as they said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> One young man pointed his gun directly at Donna while another guard </div> <div> moved behind her </div> <div> and untied her hands, then came around and untied her ankles. This </div> <div> had become a </div> <div> morning ritual.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna was led at gunpoint to the edge of the forest that served as </div> <div> the camps only </div> <div> bathroom. The guard waited impatiently for Donna to finish as she </div> <div> tried to force her </div> <div> stomach not to react to the growing stench.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Finally, he led her to a small lake where she rinsed her hands and </div> <div> splashed water on her </div> <div> face and neck. She waded in to the water up to her thighs to try to </div> <div> relieve the painful </div> <div> sunburn on her legs.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The guard waved his gun and motioned that it was time for her to get </div> <div> out of the water. </div> <div> Donna reluctantly returned to the shore.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Finally, she was returned to her original location and was pushed </div> <div> back into a seated </div> <div> position. A small saucer of food was placed in front of her. Her </div> <div> hands were allowed to </div> <div> remain untied, only long enough for her to eat the food, which </div> <div> consisted of stale bread </div> <div> and a very thick stew. As she ate, Donna tried not to think about </div> <div> what the ingredients </div> <div> might be.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> After her breakfast was gone, the guards snatched away the plate and </div> <div> retied Donna's </div> <div> wrists and ankles. They then moved down the row and began the process </div> <div> again with the </div> <div> next prisoner.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna looked to her right at the other prisoners. She wanted very </div> <div> badly to talk with them </div> <div> but the guards quickly stopped any attempts at communication. She </div> <div> tried to remember all </div> <div> of the information they had shared before the abduction. Talk of </div> <div> spouses and children and </div> <div> families. She hoped that they could use their loved ones to find the </div> <div> strength they would </div> <div> need to survive this ordeal. The prisoner who was currently doing the </div> <div> same circuit that </div> <div> Donna had just finished had vacated the post immediately to her </div> <div> right. She tried to make </div> <div> eye contact with the next prisoner down. She was a Canadian named </div> <div> Taryn, a nurse by </div> <div> profession. Donna remembered her saying that she had a fiancée at </div> <div> home in Toronto. He </div> <div> was a medical student. When he graduated, they wanted to work with </div> <div> Doctors Without </div> <div> Borders. They wanted to help the disadvantaged children of the world </div> <div> before they settled </div> <div> down to have their own family. When Donna met her eyes, she saw </div> <div> nothing but despair </div> <div> and hopelessness. She tried to silently encourage Taryn, tell her to </div> <div> hang on, but she saw </div> <div> very little reaction from the other woman.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Finally, Donna settled back against the post and closed her eyes. She </div> <div> allowed her mind to </div> <div> drift back to Washington and to the White House. It would be just </div> <div> about time for the </div> <div> morning senior staff meeting. She thought about how Bonnie, Ginger, </div> <div> Cathy, and Carol </div> <div> would use this time while all of their bosses were occupied to catch </div> <div> up on the latest </div> <div> gossip. She wondered who was replacing her, and hoped that Josh </div> <div> hadn't alienated the </div> <div> entire secretarial pool. Her mind settled on Josh and tears filled </div> <div> her eyes. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She wondered why she had been so stubborn on the day she left. She </div> <div> had hoped that he </div> <div> would offer to drive her to the airport but he had headed over to the </div> <div> hill for a meeting </div> <div> with Matt Skinner instead. So Donna had left, without leaving him a </div> <div> note. At the airport, </div> <div> she had thought about calling, even about leaving a message on his </div> <div> voicemail but she had </div> <div> decided against it. Now she cursed herself for being so childish. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Immediately, she slammed her feelings down and regained her </div> <div> composure. Getting </div> <div> emotional now would definitely not help her situation. She had to be </div> <div> strong; she had to </div> <div> stay in control. But mostly, she had to stay focused on the situation </div> <div> at hand. She would </div> <div> have plenty of time to deal with all the other things after she got </div> <div> home. She bowed her </div> <div> head and asked for the strength, the courage and the wisdom to get </div> <div> her through another </div> <div> day.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh sat at his desk, trying desperately to focus on the folder in </div> <div> his hand. He had read the </div> <div> same paragraph five times and still had no idea what it said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He heard a knock, and looked up to find Leo standing in his doorway.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Did you hear something?" Josh asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not yet," Leo said. "But I was going stir crazy sitting in my office </div> <div> waiting for the phone </div> <div> to ring. I told the switchboard to forward all of my calls down here."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I guess you might as well have a seat then," Josh said gesturing to </div> <div> the visitor's chair.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How did the meetings on the hill go this afternoon?" Leo asked </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good," Josh said. "We've got the votes we need to pass."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Excellent." Leo said distractedly. "Did you get the research we need </div> <div> on the </div> <div> transportation subsidies bill?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not yet," Josh said. "It's taking a little longer to get research </div> <div> done around here…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh stopped mid sentence, choking on his words.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Without Donna." Leo said finishing his sentence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah." Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry, Josh. I should never have suggested that she go on this </div> <div> thing to Colombia. I </div> <div> should have recommended her for something else. Something domestic. I </div> <div> should have…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Don't beat yourself up, Leo." Josh said putting down the folder and </div> <div> leaning forward. </div> <div> "Donna was ecstatic when you offered her this chance. She couldn't </div> <div> wait to go. None of </div> <div> us could have known it was going to turn out like this."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo looked down and scrubbed his face with his hand. "I can't even </div> <div> close my eyes at </div> <div> night without seeing her face."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know the feeling," Josh said ruefully. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Both men sat lost in their own thoughts, until the silence was broken </div> <div> by the voice of the </div> <div> temp standing in Josh's doorway.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Mr. Collins from the UN on line one," she said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh immediately punched the speakerphone button then hit line one.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Doug, it's Josh. Leo is here too. What's the news?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The bodies have been positively identified," Doug said speaking </div> <div> quickly to get the news </div> <div> out as soon as possible. "Ms. Moss is not among them."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh thank God," Leo said as he loosened his grip on the arm of the </div> <div> chair.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We just got the information about two minutes ago," Doug said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks for calling so quickly," Josh said. "We really appreciate it. </div> <div> And please pass </div> <div> along our personal condolences, along with those of the entire </div> <div> administration, to the </div> <div> families of the victims."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Will do," Doug said. "I have some other people to contact now. I'll </div> <div> talk to you again in </div> <div> the morning. We'll discuss the next step."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, Doug. Thanks again." Josh said as he disconnected.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He looked across the desk at Leo and saw an amazing look of relief </div> <div> flooding across his </div> <div> face. He realized, more so at that moment than at any one before, how </div> <div> this situation was </div> <div> affecting the man he thought of almost as a second father. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Let's go get some dinner," Josh said. "Donna will kick both of our </div> <div> asses if she gets </div> <div> home and finds out that we haven't been taking care of ourselves."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We wouldn't want that would we?" Leo said, managing his first small </div> <div> smile of the day. </div> <div> "Because she is coming home."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes she is," Josh said. "And when she does, we've both got a lot of </div> <div> things to talk to her </div> <div> about."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, we do." Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Before they left to eat, Josh made another entry on his desk </div> <div> calendar: June 22-Day 29.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh walked slowly through Donna's apartment. He couldn't believe </div> <div> that she had been </div> <div> gone for two months. He checked to make sure everything was ok. He </div> <div> watered the plants, </div> <div> and made sure that all the windows were secure. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> This had become another ritual that he performed in Donna's absence. </div> <div> Several times a </div> <div> week, mostly just when he needed to feel close to her, he would let </div> <div> himself into her </div> <div> apartment. He moved slowly from room to room, picturing Donna there, </div> <div> allowing </div> <div> himself to believe, even for a moment, that things were normal. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He collected her mail on these visits. He carefully placed all of the </div> <div> personal mail in a box </div> <div> on the coffee table and placed the bills in his backpack to take back </div> <div> to the office. He </div> <div> would put them in the lockbox in his desk with his own bills, so he </div> <div> was sure that the temp </div> <div> would make certain they were paid. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> This was another concrete thing he could do for Donna; take care of </div> <div> the little details of </div> <div> her life so she wouldn't have to worry when she got back. He wished </div> <div> he could do more </div> <div> but his hands were tied. This was not, as he was reminded daily, a </div> <div> government operation. </div> <div> He knew that these situations were difficult, and he was satisfied </div> <div> that everyone involved </div> <div> was doing their best, but that did nothing to relieve his feelings of </div> <div> helplessness.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He was jostled from his reverie by the ringing of his cell phone.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh Lyman," he said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh, Doug Collins just called." Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Does he have anything new?" Josh asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No one is being released," Leo said with regret in his voice "But </div> <div> they have agreed to </div> <div> allow a neutral third party to visit, probably some sort of religious </div> <div> leader. They haven't </div> <div> chosen the person yet. They're working out the details now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm on my way back to the office," Josh said as he began moving </div> <div> towards the door. "Call </div> <div> me if you hear anything else."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna looked around, trying to take in her new surroundings. They had </div> <div> arrived at this </div> <div> new location only yesterday. In all of the confusion, she hadn't </div> <div> really had time to notice </div> <div> much.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Without warning, the captives had been blindfolded, placed in jeeps, </div> <div> and driven away. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna had initially feared that they were going to be taken further </div> <div> into the woods and </div> <div> killed. Then she noticed that her captors were packing up all of </div> <div> their belongings and </div> <div> placing them in the jeeps. Wherever they were going, the rebels </div> <div> weren't planning on </div> <div> returning.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She wondered what had sparked this sudden move. She allowed herself </div> <div> to hope, </div> <div> momentarily, that it meant that the people, who were searching for </div> <div> them, trying to win </div> <div> their release, were getting closer. 'It's possible' she thought, even </div> <div> though she had seen no </div> <div> outward signs of a rescue attempt. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> They had driven for what seemed like hours, higher and higher into </div> <div> the mountains. The </div> <div> weather was noticeably colder at this altitude. Donna could hardly </div> <div> believe that she was </div> <div> only a few hours away from the tropical climate of the lower </div> <div> elevations. The cool air </div> <div> chilled against her sunburn, forcing her to shiver almost </div> <div> uncontrollably.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> When they reached the new location, the hostages were herded into a </div> <div> medium sized lean-</div> <div> to. Donna was glad to have at least partial protection from the </div> <div> weather. The first night </div> <div> they spent there had been surprisingly cold. Donna curled herself </div> <div> into as small a ball as </div> <div> possible and pressed against the wall of the lean-to, attempting to </div> <div> conserve as much body </div> <div> heat as possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Though her hands and feet were still bound, Donna was no longer </div> <div> chained to a pole so </div> <div> she was able to lie down to sleep for the first time in months.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The guards still watched closely and clamped down on any attempt at </div> <div> communication. </div> <div> Donna was beginning to feel the strain of having no one to talk to. </div> <div> She was used to all of </div> <div> the fast paced verbal communication of the White House, and </div> <div> especially the banter with </div> <div> Josh that she enjoyed so much. She tried to keep her mind as sharp </div> <div> and as focused as </div> <div> possible. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> From time to time, she attempted to make eye contact with the other </div> <div> captives, to engage </div> <div> in a little non-verbal camaraderie. These attempts sometimes left her </div> <div> feeling more </div> <div> isolated and alone, as she often saw hopelessness looking back at her </div> <div> from the eyes of the </div> <div> others.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She let her mind wander back to Washington, to all of the things that </div> <div> she had to look </div> <div> forward to. All of the things that were worth fighting for, worth </div> <div> surviving for. She tried to </div> <div> concentrate on her friends, and her job, and all of the things that </div> <div> she still wanted to </div> <div> accomplish. And, as always, there was Josh. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh paced back and forth nervously in Leo's office. It had been four </div> <div> days since they had </div> <div> found out that the rebels were going to allow a third party visit </div> <div> with the hostages. It had </div> <div> taken a few days to work out the details. The visitor would be a </div> <div> Roman Catholic priest by </div> <div> the name of Father Nugent. He would be allowed a brief visit with the </div> <div> hostages in return </div> <div> for much needed supplies. His religious convictions precluded any </div> <div> ammunition or guns </div> <div> changing hands, but he would bring the rebels much needed food, </div> <div> clothing, blankets, and </div> <div> batteries for their radios. He would also bring them a dozen high-</div> <div> powered walkie-talkies </div> <div> and several sets of binoculars.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> In return, he would be allowed 5-10 minutes to talk to each hostage </div> <div> privately. He would </div> <div> be making the visit alone. He would fly the supplies to an airfield </div> <div> at the base of the </div> <div> mountain. From there, he would be picked up, blindfolded, and taken </div> <div> to the camp. After </div> <div> the visit, he would be blindfolded and driven back down the mountain. </div> <div> This was a </div> <div> procedure that Father Nugent was fairly familiar with. He had served </div> <div> as the go between </div> <div> in other hostage situations.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> His faith helped him to overcome his fear and face the very real </div> <div> possibility that he could </div> <div> become a victim himself. He believed that if he could bring some </div> <div> small measure of </div> <div> comfort to the hostages, and to their loved ones, then whatever risks </div> <div> he faced himself </div> <div> were worth it.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Father Nugent had agreed to stop briefly in Washington on his way to </div> <div> New York and </div> <div> ultimately to Colombia. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Both Josh and Leo jumped when Margaret knocked firmly on the door and </div> <div> poked her </div> <div> head in to announce Father Nugent's arrival.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> After a round of introductions, they all settled in; Josh and Leo on </div> <div> the couch, Father </div> <div> Nugent in the chair facing them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you for coming Father," Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's my pleasure," the priest said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> An awkward silence fell over the room. Father Nugent had been in this </div> <div> type of situation </div> <div> many times before. He recognized that the two men across from him </div> <div> were experiencing a </div> <div> myriad of emotions. He decided to make it easier for them by breaking </div> <div> the ice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How long have you known Ms. Moss?" he asked</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Three years," Josh answered. "She joined the campaign in New </div> <div> Hampshire and has been </div> <div> with us, for the most part, ever since." Josh didn't feel the need to </div> <div> explain to the priest </div> <div> about the three weeks that Donna had spent away from the campaign, </div> <div> the three weeks </div> <div> when he thought he had lost her, that she would never come back to </div> <div> him again. But she </div> <div> had come back-and Josh prayed that she would come back this time </div> <div> also. The last time, </div> <div> the decision to return had been solely in her hands, this time it was </div> <div> up to a group of gun-</div> <div> toting thugs.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo noticed that Josh's mind seemed to be drifting so he decided to </div> <div> speak. "I want to… </div> <div> actually we all want to make sure that Donna knows how much we love </div> <div> her, and how </div> <div> much we miss her, and how hard we are working to get her back. We </div> <div> need her to </div> <div> understand that we are doing our best."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sure she already understands that, but I will make sure that I </div> <div> tell her," the Father </div> <div> said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh fingered the letter in his pocket. He had spent the last four </div> <div> days deciding exactly </div> <div> what he would say if he had a chance to talk to her right now.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do you think there is any chance that you would be able to give her </div> <div> a letter that I wrote </div> <div> for her? Would that be allowed?" he asked Father Nugent.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Every situation is different, Mr. Lyman, but if you give me the </div> <div> letter, I'll certainly do </div> <div> whatever I can to make sure she gets it."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh pulled the unsealed letter from the inside pocket of his jacket </div> <div> and began to hand it to </div> <div> the priest. Suddenly Josh stood bolt upright. "I forgot one thing," </div> <div> he said. "I'll be right </div> <div> back. Please wait for me."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will," the priest assured him sensing the desperation in Josh's </div> <div> eyes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As Josh bolted from Leo's office towards the bullpen, Leo turned to </div> <div> the priest. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I want you to assure Donna that I am keeping a close eye on Josh. I </div> <div> know she'll be </div> <div> worried."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will," the priest said. "I'll also tell her that she's a very </div> <div> lucky girl to have people who </div> <div> care about her as much as you obviously do."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She's a good girl," Leo said. "And I'm the one who sent her there. I </div> <div> gave her the </div> <div> assignment. Please tell her I'm sorry. Tell her that I never thought </div> <div> it would turn out like </div> <div> this. Tell her that if I had known I never would have sent her."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The priest placed a comforting hand on Leos shoulder. "I'll tell </div> <div> her," he said</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh reentered the office as he finished sealing the envelope.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It would really mean a lot to me if you could arrange for her to </div> <div> read this." Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll do my best," the priest said. "But now I have to be going or </div> <div> I'll miss my flight to New </div> <div> York. It was nice meeting both of you. I'll contact you as soon as I </div> <div> can after the visit to </div> <div> tell you how it went."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you, Father. We would appreciate that," Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As the priest reached out to shake Josh's hand, he took note of his </div> <div> watery eyes and </div> <div> quivering chin. He didn't know what was in the letter he now carried </div> <div> in his pocket, but he </div> <div> became more determined than ever to make sure that Donna got to read </div> <div> it.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna wasn't sure what was going on but she could tell by the </div> <div> excited voices of her </div> <div> captors that something was happening. She looked up and saw a large </div> <div> truck enter the </div> <div> camp.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Immediately the men went to the back of the truck and began going </div> <div> through the boxes. </div> <div> 'They must have found some way to replenish their supplies,' Donna </div> <div> thought to herself. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna saw a man that she didn't recognize coming around the corner of </div> <div> the truck.</div> <div> He appeared to be a priest. The rebels lowered their guns and showed </div> <div> the man a </div> <div> tremendous amount of respect. He was conversing with them in Spanish. </div> <div> One of the </div> <div> rebels, the one who appeared to be the leader, motioned towards the </div> <div> lean-to. The two </div> <div> men, along with several other guards, began to approach.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> When they were within 10-15 feet, the priest said something to the </div> <div> leader. He motioned </div> <div> for the guards to stay where they were. The priest then approached.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna watched carefully as he moved towards one of her fellow </div> <div> captives at the other end </div> <div> of the lean-to. He knelt in front of the man; an Irishman named Ian, </div> <div> and spoke in soft and </div> <div> gentle tones. After several minutes, he kissed Ian on the forehead </div> <div> and moved to the next </div> <div> captive.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As he got closer, Donna could hear him murmuring messages of hope and </div> <div> strength from </div> <div> family and loved ones back home. He held each captives bound hands </div> <div> and looked deeply </div> <div> into their eyes. He seemed to be trying desperately to impart some of </div> <div> his own faith on </div> <div> each one. Several times, Donna saw the priest hand one of the </div> <div> captives an object, Donna </div> <div> assumed that they were small mementos of home sent by loved ones to </div> <div> help the captives </div> <div> find strength.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She had had only </div> <div> minimal contact with </div> <div> her parents since she went to work for the Bartlet campaign. They </div> <div> strongly disapproved </div> <div> of her choice of jobs. She wondered if they would have even taken </div> <div> time to talk to the </div> <div> priest, if they even cared if she came home. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She was lost in her own painful thoughts when she heard a voice </div> <div> say, "Donna Moss?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," she said as she opened her eyes and saw the priest kneeling in </div> <div> front of her. </div> <div> Something in his eyes made Donna feel instantly better. She finally </div> <div> had the human </div> <div> contact she had been craving.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How are you doing?" he asked her as he took her hands in his.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm doing well, Father," she said. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna held her breath and waited for the cleric to speak again. To </div> <div> tell her if anyone at </div> <div> home was missing her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I was summoned to the White House for a visit yesterday." He said </div> <div> with a small smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Really?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," the priest said rubbing her hands comfortingly. "There are an </div> <div> awful lot of people </div> <div> in that building who are very worried about you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Tears welled up in Donna's eyes. "Will you tell them that I'm alright </div> <div> father? Tell them </div> <div> that I'm hanging in there?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I certainly will, Donna." He said</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There were three people in particular who wanted to make sure that I </div> <div> conveyed their </div> <div> personal message. The President himself called me into a private </div> <div> meeting as I was </div> <div> leaving the building and asked me to tell you that he misses you, and </div> <div> that he is praying </div> <div> for you, and that he is doing everything in his power to get you </div> <div> back."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Tell him I said thank you," Donna said as tears ran down her cheeks.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo McGarry asked me to pass along those same sentiments on his </div> <div> behalf, and also </div> <div> asked me to tell you that you don't have to worry about Josh, because </div> <div> Leo is keeping an </div> <div> eye on him."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good," Donna said with a small sigh of relief. She was glad that </div> <div> someone was looking </div> <div> after Josh while she was gone.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo also wanted me to tell you that he's sorry that he put you in </div> <div> this position."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No," Donna said cutting the priest off before he could say </div> <div> anymore. "Please tell him not </div> <div> to feel that way. I came here of my own free will, and I was grateful </div> <div> for the chance. He </div> <div> has nothing to feel guilty about. Nothing at all. Promise me you'll </div> <div> make him understand </div> <div> that, Father."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll do my best," the priest answered softly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Finally he reached into his pocket and pulled out the envelope. He </div> <div> turned and spoke to </div> <div> the rebel leader in Spanish for a few moments. They seemed to be </div> <div> having a bit of a </div> <div> heated discussion. Finally the young rebel grunted "Si". </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The priest turned back to Donna and removed the bindings from her </div> <div> hands. Then he </div> <div> handed her the letter. Donna recognized the writing on the outside of </div> <div> the envelope as </div> <div> Josh's.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Mr. Lyman wanted me to make sure that you received this letter," the </div> <div> cleric said. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Donna said taking the envelope and turning it over in </div> <div> her hands.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The rebel leader spoke again and the priest turned back to Donna.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I have to go now," he said softly. "But I'll try to arrange to come </div> <div> back as soon as </div> <div> possible."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna looked at the envelope in her hands. She was suddenly torn. She </div> <div> had no idea what </div> <div> Josh had written to her. For all she knew, it could have been a </div> <div> letter telling her that she </div> <div> had been replaced. But one thought was crystal clear in her head. She </div> <div> had been given a </div> <div> second chance, a way to tell Josh how she felt in case she never got </div> <div> back to the states.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Father?" she said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The priest turned back to her and said "Yes, Donna?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Will you give Josh a message for me?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Of course I will."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Tell him I love him," she said softly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'd be happy to." The priest said as he kissed her on the forehead </div> <div> and rose to go.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna began to open the letter and then looked hesitantly at the </div> <div> guard. He nodded his </div> <div> head and grunted what seemed to be his tacit approval of her </div> <div> continuing.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She pulled the piece of stationery out of the envelope and began to </div> <div> read.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> My Dearest Donnatella,</div> <div>  I’ve started this letter a dozen different times but torn each </div> <div> one up. I'm not exactly sure </div> <div> what I should say to you.</div> <div>      More to the point there are a million things I want to say and </div> <div> don't know which one to </div> <div> say first.</div> <div>      I pray every minute of every day that you are well and as safe </div> <div> as possible under these </div> <div> conditions. I would give anything to have you here with me. I would </div> <div> change places with </div> <div> you in a heartbeat if I could.</div> <div>      Please know that you have every ounce of strength that I can </div> <div> possibly send you. I'm </div> <div> begging you to hold on-we WILL find a way to get you home safely.</div> <div>      Everyone here sends their love and support. You are never far </div> <div> from our thoughts. I can </div> <div> hear you now reminding us all that we have a country to run, but some </div> <div> things are just </div> <div> more important.</div> <div>      I'm sorry that I wasn't here when you left Donna. I was being </div> <div> childish and I'm very, </div> <div> very sorry. You need to come home so I can make it up to you. So I </div> <div> can make a lot of </div> <div> things up to you.</div> <div>      But mostly you need to come home because I've come to realize </div> <div> something. I can't </div> <div> live without you, Donnatella. I need you here with me. Not just here </div> <div> at work with me, </div> <div> although definitely that too. I mean here with me, 24 hours a day. I </div> <div> miss you, Donna. I </div> <div> need you. And most importantly, I love you.</div> <div>      I'm sorry that I never told you that before. And I know this is </div> <div> a crappy way to say it. </div> <div> So you hold on until we can get you home and I'll take you to Hawaii </div> <div> and tell you on the </div> <div> beach under the moonlight.</div> <div>      Hold on, Donnatella. I'll never give up and I don't want you to </div> <div> either.</div> <div>                           Forever,</div> <div>                                Joshua</div> <bR> <bR> <div> P.S. I've enclosed a little memento in the envelope. I hope it helps </div> <div> remind you of me until </div> <div> you get home.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna could barely see through the tears in her eyes but she peered </div> <div> into the bottom of the </div> <div> envelope. She smiled at what she saw nestled in the corner-one small </div> <div> single coffee bean.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Before she had a chance to reread the letter, to commit it to memory, </div> <div> the guard </div> <div> approached her. She was afraid that he was going to take the letter </div> <div> from her but he simply </div> <div> motioned for her to put it back in the envelope. She did so and then </div> <div> folded it carefully </div> <div> and put it in the pocket of her shorts. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The guard then reached down and roughly rebound her wrists. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna looked across the lean-to at her fellow captives. Everyone </div> <div> seemed a bit more </div> <div> settled after visiting with the priest and receiving a few words from </div> <div> home. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna leaned back and looked up at the stars. She tried to remember </div> <div> the words that Josh </div> <div> had written. Finally she realized that the words weren't what was </div> <div> important, it was the </div> <div> feelings that were important. Joshua loved her, as much as she loved </div> <div> him. She looked </div> <div> towards the sky with a renewed determination to survive.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I love you, Joshua," she whispered. "I'll be home soon."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh sat on the balcony of his Georgetown apartment looking at the </div> <div> Washington skyline. </div> <div> He barely even noticed the gorgeous summer evening. The sound of his </div> <div> phone ringing </div> <div> startled him. He went to the living room and picked up the receiver.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh Lyman," he said quietly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hello, Josh. This is Father Nugent."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Did you see Donna?" Josh asked anxiously. "How is she? How is she </div> <div> holding up?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> All of the questions tumbled forth at once. Josh wanted to know </div> <div> everything immediately.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, I got to visit with her." The priest said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How does she look? Is she healthy?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. She </div> <div> seems to be a very </div> <div> determined young lady."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes she is," Josh said with a smile. "Did she get my letter?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I handed her the letter myself," Father Nugent said. "I had to leave </div> <div> before she read it but </div> <div> I have every reason to believe that she did. I was assured by the </div> <div> rebels that she would be </div> <div> allowed to read it."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Josh said in a voice that came out barely above a </div> <div> whisper.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She had a message she wanted me to pass on to you," the priest </div> <div> hesitated. He knew that </div> <div> Josh loved Donna, he had known it since the minute he saw his face in </div> <div> Leo's office. And </div> <div> though he couldn't say for sure, he suspected that the contents of </div> <div> the letter he had </div> <div> delivered stated as much. But he felt funny being the one who had to </div> <div> pass along the fact </div> <div> that Donna felt the same way. Nevertheless, he was certain that it </div> <div> was a message Josh </div> <div> needed to hear.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What is it?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She asked me to tell you that she loves you," the priest said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There was a long period of silence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Josh choked out.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You're welcome. And if there's anything else I can do for you, </div> <div> please don't hesitate to </div> <div> ask."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I won't. Thank you for calling, Father." Josh said as he returned </div> <div> the phone to its cradle.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He returned to the balcony and sat back down in the chair. This time </div> <div> instead of looking at </div> <div> the skyline, he looked at the sky. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I love you, Donnatella." He said. "I'm gonna find a way to get you </div> <div> home soon."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> July 30-Day 67</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh stood in his office, shifting uncomfortably in his tuxedo and </div> <div> looking at the reflection </div> <div> of his very crooked bowtie in the window. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> 'If Donna was here,' he thought 'this stupid tie would be straight.' </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you ready?" Toby asked from the doorway, causing Josh to jump.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not really," Josh sighed, "But since I've been ordered to attend I </div> <div> guess that's pretty </div> <div> much irrelevant, huh?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It'll do you good," Toby said in an attempt to be </div> <div> conciliatory. "Maybe you can actually </div> <div> relax a little."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh yeah," Josh said sarcastically. "The State Dinner for the King of </div> <div> Norway, that's my </div> <div> idea of a relaxing evening."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna huddled against the back of the lean-to in an attempt to stay </div> <div> as warm as possible. </div> <div> Even though the sun had just gone down, the temperature was already </div> <div> plummeting.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The visit from Father Nugent had provided the rebels with thick wool </div> <div> blankets to use as </div> <div> protection against the mountain weather. After he left, each of the </div> <div> hostages had been </div> <div> given a thin threadbare cotton throw, which were what the rebels had </div> <div> previously been </div> <div> using. They also each been given a pair of dark blue sweats. These </div> <div> items provided only </div> <div> minimal protection against the ever-colder weather but Donna was </div> <div> grateful for whatever </div> <div> small amount of warmth they could provide.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The cold air, along with the lack of adequate nutrition and clean </div> <div> drinking water, was </div> <div> beginning to take it toll. Several of the hostages appeared quite </div> <div> ill. Donna could hear </div> <div> them moaning and coughing in the night. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She had been lucky so far. Aside from an almost overwhelming fatigue, </div> <div> she felt good. </div> <div> Some of the others appeared to have stopped eating, but Donna forced </div> <div> herself to eat </div> <div> whatever was put in front of her every day. She knew that she had to </div> <div> maintain her </div> <div> strength. Most days, she tried not to think about what she was </div> <div> eating. She began looking </div> <div> at the plate that was thrust in front of her twice a day as simply a </div> <div> means to stay alive, </div> <div> nothing else. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> There would be time to rediscover the wonder of food when she </div> <div> returned to the states. </div> <div> She would make Josh take her to every restaurant in the greater </div> <div> Washington, DC area, </div> <div> from pizza joints to five-star spectaculars. She would once again </div> <div> look forward to a good </div> <div> meal. But that was in the future, for now she had to deal with the </div> <div> reality of her situation.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As night fell, she could hear the sound of gunshots in the distance. </div> <div> They had been coming </div> <div> nightly for about a week now. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Her captors seemed to be on high alert, although none of them left </div> <div> the camp to engage in </div> <div> the battle. Donna watched them carefully for any signs that they </div> <div> would be moving again. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> As much as she hated the sunburn on her alabaster skin, she hoped </div> <div> that maybe they </div> <div> would move back down the mountain to a warmer climate. She was </div> <div> frightened by what </div> <div> would happen in the coming months, as winter approached.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh sat at the table, mindlessly moving the food around on his plate </div> <div> without really eating </div> <div> any of it.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's not that bad, is it?" Leo asked slipping into the chair next to </div> <div> him</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What?" Josh looked up.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The food? If you keep pushing it around like that, people are going </div> <div> to get the idea that </div> <div> the White House chefs are falling down on the job."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm just not hungry," Josh said letting his fork drop to the table </div> <div> and abandoning any </div> <div> pretense of eating.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Look," Leo said. "I know how hard this is for you, Josh. It's hard </div> <div> for all of us. But you </div> <div> have to eat. You said it yourself, Donna will kick your butt when she </div> <div> gets back here if she </div> <div> finds out you haven't been taking care of yourself. You have to be </div> <div> strong. You can't lose </div> <div> faith."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I haven't lost faith," Josh countered edgily. "I just don't feel </div> <div> right about sitting here </div> <div> enjoying all of this food and drink and music when Donna is living </div> <div> like…well I don't </div> <div> even want to think about what kind of conditions Donna is living in. </div> <div> I wonder if she's </div> <div> getting enough to eat. I wonder if she's sleeping. What if she gets </div> <div> sick, Leo? What if she </div> <div> is sick or hurt and we don't even know about it?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I don't know how to answer that, Josh," Leo said angrily. "Believe </div> <div> me, some nights I sit </div> <div> in my living room and, no matter what I do, I can't stop the images </div> <div> of what it must be </div> <div> like for her. Every worst-case scenario in the world runs through my </div> <div> mind. And I wonder </div> <div> how it is that I can hold this position of power, the so-called </div> <div> second in command, and yet </div> <div> I can't just go down there, kick some ass and bring Donna home."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh stared, open-mouthed as the flood of emotion continued.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You tell me. What the hell good is all this power, Josh? What good </div> <div> is it; if I can't use it </div> <div> to help someone I really care about? What's the point? I'm beginning </div> <div> to wonder if it's </div> <div> time for me to just walk away, time to let someone else take a shot </div> <div> at it." Leo said as he </div> <div> banged his fist angrily on the table.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As Leo's voice escalated, people in the vicinity began to stare.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Let's get out of here," Josh said, as he grabbed Leo's arm and </div> <div> headed towards the door. </div> <div> He really didn't think making a scene in front the entire Norwegian </div> <div> delegation was the </div> <div> way they wanted to go right now.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The two men slipped through the portico doors and out into the </div> <div> Sculpture Garden. The </div> <div> evening air was crisp now that fall was here. Josh couldn't believe </div> <div> it was October </div> <div> already. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He watched as Leo paced angrily. He wanted to find just the right </div> <div> words.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I understand how helpless you feel, Leo," he began. "Sometimes I </div> <div> just want to grab the </div> <div> nearest F15 and go down there and get her out myself. It kills me to </div> <div> think of what she's </div> <div> going through. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The only thing that keeps me coming here, to this job, every day is </div> <div> the fact that I know </div> <div> that's what Donna would want. She doesn't want us to give up, Leo. </div> <div> The best way we can </div> <div> honor her is to keep fighting for something that she believes in. And </div> <div> she does believe in </div> <div> this administration. That's why she came back to us in New Hampshire, </div> <div> and that's why </div> <div> she stayed. And that's also why she went to Colombia. And if we give </div> <div> up now, if we let </div> <div> this beat us, then we've let Donna down. And that's not something I'm </div> <div> willing to do. I've </div> <div> let her down enough times in the past, I won't do it again. I love </div> <div> her too much for that."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo looked at the young man standing in front of him, the man he </div> <div> loved like a son. He </div> <div> could see the pain in his eyes but he could also see something else. </div> <div> A strength that Leo </div> <div> had never seen before, a determination that went far deeper that any </div> <div> he had ever exhibited </div> <div> in the pursuit of getting legislation passed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Even though Leo had suspected Josh's feelings for Donna for a long </div> <div> time, he had never </div> <div> realized, until this moment, how deep those feelings ran.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Maybe you're right," Leo said scrubbing his face with his hands.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know I am," Josh answered. "And believe me when I tell you, if </div> <div> Donna gets back and </div> <div> finds out you gave up, she'll let you have it. And an angry </div> <div> Donnatella Moss is something </div> <div> you want to avoid at all costs."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you speaking from experience?" Leo asked with a smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh yeah." </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The distant sound of gunfire invaded Donna's dreams.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly she was standing outside the Newseum. She was waiting for </div> <div> Josh to come out </div> <div> of the building. She saw him coming towards her and she called to </div> <div> him, but he didn't </div> <div> hear her. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She heard shots and then everything began moving in slow motion. </div> <div> People were hitting </div> <div> the ground. Everyone was screaming. She was surrounded by chaos.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She could hear the crackle of the secret service mics. She could hear </div> <div> them calling out </div> <div> instructions.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She looked around frantically for Josh. Suddenly she saw him, blood </div> <div> pouring from his </div> <div> chest. His eyes open and staring straight ahead.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She rushed to his side. She tried to stop the blood but it was as if </div> <div> she wasn't even there. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She screamed out his name but he didn't hear her. None of them heard </div> <div> her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> All she could focus on was the blood. There was so much blood. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Then all of the sudden she was standing on the observation deck at </div> <div> the hospital, looking </div> <div> at Josh's open chest.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> His heart wasn't beating. The doctor's were working frantically but </div> <div> Donna was terrified </div> <div> that it wasn't going to be enough.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She wanted to go to him but again she couldn't move. She called out </div> <div> to him, to anyone, </div> <div> but no one heard her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The beeping of the machines kept getting louder in her ears. She </div> <div> looked around for </div> <div> someone to help her but there was no one there.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Desperation and panic to rise in her throat until she felt like she </div> <div> couldn't breathe. Donna </div> <div> felt as though she was falling into a deep hole and she could, at </div> <div> last, hear herself </div> <div> screaming over and over at the top of her lungs."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The sound of someone speaking angrily in Spanish caused Donna to sit </div> <div> bolt upright. Her </div> <div> mind was whirling, as she looked around, unable to immediately take </div> <div> in her </div> <div> surroundings.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She saw one of the young rebels standing in front of her. She heard </div> <div> him ordering her to </div> <div> be quiet in broken English. He was also saying something in Spanish </div> <div> that Donna couldn't </div> <div> understand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She shook her head to try to regain her grip on reality. By the looks </div> <div> on the faces of her </div> <div> fellow hostages, she realized that she must have been screaming out </div> <div> loud.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh and Leo made their excuses and left the State Dinner early. As </div> <div> they walked to their </div> <div> cars, Josh eyed the older man with concern.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you sure you're ok, Leo?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you sure you are?" Leo asked in return.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Point taken," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll see you in the morning." Leo said "Maybe we'll get lucky and </div> <div> Collins will have </div> <div> some good news for us."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll keep my fingers crossed." Josh said as he climbed into his car.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo sat in his darkened living room listening to the silence. He was </div> <div> wracking his brain </div> <div> trying to come up with one more thing that he could do to help Donna. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> 'There has to be something I'm overlooking,' he thought.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He remembered the look in Josh's eyes at in the Sculpture Garden and </div> <div> he prayed that he </div> <div> could be infused with some of that conviction. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> True this was not, and never could be, a US government operation. But </div> <div> there had to be </div> <div> more that he could do. He resolved to start making phone calls first </div> <div> thing in the morning. He would </div> <div> call everyone he had ever known if that was what it took.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> A lifetime in politics had earned him a lot of markers, and he would </div> <div> call in every single </div> <div> one, if he had to, to get Donna back.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh turned the key in Donna's lock and slipped into her apartment.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> At first, he had felt like a trespasser coming here when Donna was </div> <div> gone, but now he drew </div> <div> a tremendous amount of comfort and strength from having her things </div> <div> around him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> His conversation with Leo in the Sculpture Garden had been very </div> <div> unsettling. He had </div> <div> known that Leo felt responsible for Donna's predicament but he hadn't </div> <div> realized how deep </div> <div> the feelings of helplessness went.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He mentally renewed his commitment to keep an eye on Leo and to make </div> <div> sure that he </div> <div> was all right.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> But his feelings of discomfort went deeper than what had happened </div> <div> with Leo. He had felt </div> <div> an unsettled feeling in his heart since before he left the party.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He wasn't sure what it was but he knew it had something to do with </div> <div> Donna. It was almost </div> <div> as though he could feel her calling him. Feel her trying to reach </div> <div> him. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He focused all of his energy on thoughts of her. He stripped down to </div> <div> his t-shirt and </div> <div> boxers and crawled into her bed. He hugged her pillow to his chest </div> <div> and tried to find a </div> <div> way to reach out to her, to send her some of his strength.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Even before he admitted to himself that he loved her, there had </div> <div> always been a connection. </div> <div> He had always felt somehow able to reach her without words. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Despite the distance between them, that was what he was trying to do </div> <div> now. Worse than </div> <div> anything in the world, he wanted to reach out to her, to be a source </div> <div> of comfort and </div> <div> strength whenever she needed him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I love you, Donnatella." He said. "Hold on." </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna sat straight up against the back of the lean-to staring out </div> <div> into the dark night sky.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Her heartbeat and breathing had slowly returned to normal, but every </div> <div> vivid image of her </div> <div> dream remained. She saw the blood on Josh's chest. She saw his still </div> <div> heart in the </div> <div> operating room. And she felt the desperation of trying to reach him </div> <div> and being unable to </div> <div> do so.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She knew that she couldn't let these dreams defeat her. She had to </div> <div> look at them for what </div> <div> they were, just a product of her over tired subconscious.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh was back in DC and he was fine. He was doing everything he could </div> <div> to get her back.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She leaned her head back and concentrated just on happy times, </div> <div> blocking out all of the </div> <div> bad memories and all of the images from the dream.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> From out of nowhere, Donna felt an inexplicable calmness flood </div> <div> through her body. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> All of the residual fear from the dream dropped away and was replaced </div> <div> with a resolute </div> <div> strength. It was like nothing Donna had ever experienced before.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She fought back tears as she realized that Josh had heard her </div> <div> screaming after all. Somehow he had </div> <div> heard her, and he wanted her to know that he was trying to get to her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I love you, Joshua," she said, "I'll be home soon."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> October 1---Day 100</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "You look tired," CJ commented as they left the morning staff </div> <div> meeting. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," Josh said as he continued down the hall towards his </div> <div> office.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh, I'm just saying……." CJ began.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I said I'm fine, CJ. Just drop it will you please." Josh said in a </div> <div> tone much harsher than </div> <div> he had intended.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah, you seem fine," CJ yelled back sarcastically.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you with me?" Toby's voice brought Josh's thoughts crashing back </div> <div> to reality.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you paying attention to what I'm saying or am I talking to </div> <div> myself?" Toby sighed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What the hell do I need to pay attention to," Josh shouted. "These </div> <div> ridiculous tobacco </div> <div> people say the same stupid things and make the same stupid arguments </div> <div> over and over and </div> <div> they don't even notice, or else don't care, that their stupid </div> <div> arguments don't even make </div> <div> sense."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh punctuated his sentence by throwing a stack of file folders </div> <div> across Toby's office, </div> <div> before stalking out.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hey, Josh," Sam said poking his head in Josh's office door. "Wanna </div> <div> head out and grab a </div> <div> beer?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not tonight, Sam."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "C'mon, buddy" Sam whined. "We haven't been out in months."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not tonight, Sam. I have stuff I need to get done."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Fine," Sam said sounding a little wounded. "I'll be at Houlihan's if </div> <div> you change your </div> <div> mind.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ finally decided to take matters into her own hands. She boldly </div> <div> walked into Josh's </div> <div> office without waiting to be invited and plopped down in the </div> <div> visitor's chair.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Something I can help you with?" Josh asked without looking up from </div> <div> the folder he was </div> <div> reading.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I just wanted to check in with you," CJ said "See how you were </div> <div> doing. It seems like we </div> <div> haven't had a chance to talk in quite awhile."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh's eyes automatically went to his desk calendar. October 13---Day </div> <div> 142. Donna had </div> <div> been held hostage for almost five months. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry, CJ. I've just got a lot on my plate right now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Don't you think I know that?" CJ asked as a hint of anger crept into </div> <div> her voice. "But </div> <div> shutting out your friends isn't the answer, Josh."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry if that's what it seems like I'm doing. It isn't my </div> <div> intention to…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Save it, pal. I know you too well. You're burying yourself in your </div> <div> work, keeping </div> <div> everyone at a distance, and keeping everything inside."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "CJ, I……." Josh started.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, you let me talk. You did this once before, Josh. After the </div> <div> shooting. You kept </div> <div> everything bottled up and things just kept getting worse and worse </div> <div> till you put your hand </div> <div> through a window and almost attacked the president in the middle of </div> <div> the oval office. Is </div> <div> that we're heading for again? Because if it is, I'd like a little </div> <div> advance warning this time."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "CJ, I'm fine." Josh said, even though the words sounded hollow and </div> <div> insincere, even to </div> <div> him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No you aren't fine. And under these circumstances, no one expects </div> <div> you to be fine. We're </div> <div> all hurting, Josh. We all miss Donna. Maybe not in the same way you </div> <div> do but we all miss </div> <div> her."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh finally allowed himself to raise his head and meet CJ's eyes. He </div> <div> was struck by the </div> <div> concern that he saw there. He knew that she was right; he had been </div> <div> pushing people away, </div> <div> more and more as the situation drug on.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry, CJ." he said softly. "I just feel so helpless and I don't </div> <div> know what to do. </div> <div> Nothing I try seems to make any difference. I want to fix this worse </div> <div> that I've ever wanted </div> <div> to fix anything and I can't."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ immediately responded to the sadness in her friend’s eyes. She </div> <div> moved around the desk </div> <div> and wrapped Josh in a hug. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's ok," she said soothingly. "We all understand how you must feel. </div> <div> We just want to </div> <div> help you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know." He said. "I'm sorry."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "There's nothing to be sorry for, Josh. None of us can know how we </div> <div> would react in your </div> <div> situation. I am fairly sure, though, that I wouldn't be holding up as </div> <div> well as you are."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sure you would be, but I hope to God you never have to find </div> <div> out." Josh said </div> <div> sincerely.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Listen to me," CJ said wiping her eyes and sitting on the corner of </div> <div> Josh's desk. "We all </div> <div> learned a lot of lessons from the aftermath of Rosslyn right?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'd like to think so," Josh said quietly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And the most important one was that, together as a group we can </div> <div> overcome anything </div> <div> right?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Right," Josh said, a small smile playing across his lips.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Then that's how we handle this from now on, as a group. Agreed?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Agreed."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok then," CJ said. "That's enough of the sentimental mushy crap. </div> <div> Let's get down to </div> <div> work and get Donna back here where she belongs."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh smiled as he watched CJ shift seamlessly into take-charge mode.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Katie told me that they have a reporter on the ground in Colombia </div> <div> digging into the rash </div> <div> of abductions. She was going to see if he had dug up anything new, </div> <div> I'll give her a call </div> <div> and see what she found out. I'll get back to you if there is anything </div> <div> to report." She said as </div> <div> she moved towards the door.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh called to her just as she reached the doorway.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "CJ?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hey,no problem. That's what friends are for."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna was startled awake by the sound of loud voices just outside of </div> <div> the lean-to. She </div> <div> opened her eyes and saw a large group of men that she had never seen </div> <div> before. They were </div> <div> dressed in fatigues and looked dirty and unshaven.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They were standing face to face with several of her captor's, </div> <div> including the man who </div> <div> Donna had come to think of as the leader of the group.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She couldn't understand what was being said but judging by the raised </div> <div> voices and angry </div> <div> looks, Donna guessed it was a fairly adversarial conversation. Many </div> <div> of the men were </div> <div> shaking their heads violently and waving their guns in the air.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The intruders seemed much older than the rebels Donna had become </div> <div> accustomed to. </div> <div> There was something in their demeanor that was different. They were </div> <div> more intense than </div> <div> the young rebels. They seemed more like soldiers.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As the argument escalated, Donna became more and more frightened. The </div> <div> air was </div> <div> charged with an intensity that made her feel very uneasy.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> All of the hostages were awake now, watching what was unfolding under </div> <div> the moonlight </div> <div> in front of the lean-to.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The voices reached the point of violent shouting. There was one man </div> <div> in particular among </div> <div> the soldiers who seemed to be calling the shots. All of the others </div> <div> seemed to be following </div> <div> his lead, and he was getting angrier and angrier.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Without warning, he raised his weapon and fired several bullets into </div> <div> the chest of the rebel </div> <div> leader. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna heard herself scream as the entire situation dissolved into </div> <div> chaos. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Several of the young rebels raised their own weapons but the soldiers </div> <div> quickly disposed of </div> <div> them. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The shooting went on for only a few short minutes but it seemed like </div> <div> hours. When Donna </div> <div> finally raised her head, she saw at least eight of the rebels lying </div> <div> on the ground dead. The </div> <div> remaining of her original captors had dropped their weapons and they </div> <div> were standing with </div> <div> their hands in front of them as a gesture of surrender.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna tried to come to grips with what was happening. She wanted to </div> <div> assess the new </div> <div> situation and decide the best course of action.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The man who was clearly the leader of the soldiers stepped forward </div> <div> until he was standing </div> <div> directly in front of the lean-to. He looked the hostages over and </div> <div> then spoke in almost </div> <div> flawless English.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Which one of you is Donna Moss?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's blood ran cold. How did this man know her name?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Speak up," he said again angrily.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna realized that she had no choice. "I am," she said</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The man came and knelt directly in front of her. Donna felt the hair </div> <div> on the back of her </div> <div> neck stand up. She looked into his eyes and saw nothing there. His </div> <div> lips spread into a </div> <div> wicked smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is it true that you work for the President of the United States?" he </div> <div> asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna answered quietly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Excellent," the man said. "You will be very useful to us."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna tried to blink back the tears that were quickly forming in her </div> <div> eyes. She was trying </div> <div> to figure out what was going to happen next. How did this man intend </div> <div> to exploit the fact </div> <div> that she worked at the White House? Donna knew that the President </div> <div> couldn't get </div> <div> involved directly in any negotiations. She wasn't sure that this man </div> <div> knew that.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> After yelling instructions in Spanish to the others, he turned back </div> <div> towards the lean to.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Get up now." He said to the captives. "Prepare to move."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna struggled to a standing position as quickly as possible. She </div> <div> heard some </div> <div> protestations from some of the other hostages. Apparently the soldier </div> <div> had heard them too </div> <div> because he turned to look at the other end of the lean-to.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We can't travel," Ian was saying to him. "We're sick and we're weak </div> <div> and we won't be </div> <div> of any good to you anyway. Just leave us here."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The soldier looked at the group of four hostages still seated on the </div> <div> far end of the lean-to.</div> <div> Donna wanted to scream for them to get up. She wanted to tell them to </div> <div> do as they were </div> <div> told, but she knew better.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She watched the soldier approach them as an icy chill raced up her </div> <div> spine.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So you wish to be left here?" the soldier asked flatly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Ian said. "We are too weak to travel. We came to this country </div> <div> to help your people. </div> <div> You have no reason to fear or distrust us. But we are sick now and </div> <div> not up to traveling </div> <div> again. Please just let us go."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do you feel the same?" the soldier asked gesturing to the three </div> <div> others gathered around </div> <div> Ian. They were the only four that had failed to get up. Failed to </div> <div> follow instructions.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They all nodded their agreement.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The soldier turned as if to walk away but Donna knew what was coming </div> <div> next. She </div> <div> wanted to scream but the sound stuck in her throat.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The soldier turned around, raised his machine gun, and mowed down all </div> <div> four of the </div> <div> hostages at the far end of the lean to before they had a chance to </div> <div> react.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna stared in horror as their blood splattered all over the back </div> <div> wall of the lean-to.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Anyone else object to being moved?" the soldier asked flatly as he </div> <div> looked at the other </div> <div> hostages.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No," they all said in unison.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Another of the new men approached Donna, picked her up and threw her </div> <div> over his </div> <div> shoulder. He carried her across the compound and threw her roughly </div> <div> into the back of a </div> <div> truck A few seconds later she found herself covered by a tarp.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna tried desperately to regain control of her emotions. As the </div> <div> truck fired up and </div> <div> rumbled away, Donna realized that the rules had just changed </div> <div> dramatically.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> It had been two days since Josh and CJ had had their discussion about </div> <div> working as a team </div> <div> and he was trying to be more open with his friends.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He was having lunch in the mess with Sam and Toby. They had started </div> <div> of discussing the </div> <div> latest movement on the Patient's Bill of Rights but the subject had </div> <div> quickly turned to </div> <div> Donna.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "If we could just get into some kind of negotiation mode," Josh </div> <div> said "At least then we </div> <div> would know a little more about what we are up against. I just feel </div> <div> like we're spinning our </div> <div> wheels here. We have no idea what it is they want, or what they hope </div> <div> to gain by holding </div> <div> hostages."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I've talked to every person I know who might have some insight on </div> <div> the case," Toby said </div> <div> rubbing his hands across his tired eyes. "They all tell me the same </div> <div> thing. The situation </div> <div> within the rebel factions inside of Colombia is chaos. They are not a </div> <div> well-organized </div> <div> group. They are actually hundreds of smaller splinter groups. The </div> <div> trick is in finding out </div> <div> exactly which group we are dealing with."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And how exactly do we do that?" Josh asked with a heavy sigh. "I've </div> <div> been trying to find </div> <div> out for months with no luck at all."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well," Toby said dryly. "I guess we just keep asking until we get an </div> <div> answer. I'll make a </div> <div> few more calls this afternoon."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh said. "And…um…I just wanted to apologize. I know that </div> <div> I've been tough </div> <div> to deal with lately."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Just lately?" Toby asked with a teasing smirk.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh smiled in return. "Well, you know what I mean. I've been more </div> <div> difficult than usual </div> <div> lately. I'm sorry that I was shutting you guys out. I just…well..I </div> <div> should have known </div> <div> better than to try to handle things alone."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Have you talked to Donna's parents?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh waved his hand dismissively. "I don't even want to talk about </div> <div> them. Doug Collins </div> <div> told me that he talked to the people who are acting as go betweens </div> <div> for the families at the </div> <div> UN. Donna's parents have called a grand total of once in the entire </div> <div> time she's been gone. </div> <div> When the liaison called them back to see if they understood what was </div> <div> going on, they said </div> <div> that they did and that they would call if they had any further </div> <div> questions. They haven't </div> <div> heard a word from them since."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hard to believe," Sam said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Tell me about it," Josh countered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well," Sam said cheerily. "Donna has a family here."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "True," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ sailed across the mess and sat down at the table.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I may have something," she said</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What? What is it?" Josh asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Remember I told you that Katie's paper has a reporter inside </div> <div> Colombia doing a piece on </div> <div> all of the different rebel factions?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, she just called me and told me that they are willing to do a </div> <div> satellite linkup so we </div> <div> can talk to him directly," CJ said excitedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Really?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes. It seems as though they have hooked up with a British film crew </div> <div> that is down there</div> <div> making a documentary but also doing a few live reports for British </div> <div> TV. They are willing </div> <div> to give us a chance to link into their satellite feed. I don't know </div> <div> how long we will have, </div> <div> but it would be good to have a chance to talk to someone on the </div> <div> ground."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Definitely. That would be a big help." Josh agreed. "When and where </div> <div> is this going to </div> <div> happen?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I've got to make a few calls and confirm some things, but I think we </div> <div> should be able to </div> <div> set it up in the Conference Room. Since we're just linking in, the </div> <div> amount of equipment </div> <div> needed will be minimal. As for when? I'll get back to you. Sometime </div> <div> tonight I think."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks, CJ." Josh said as they all rose to head back to work.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll get back to you as soon as I know anything," she said as she </div> <div> headed back towards </div> <div> her office.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Twelve hours later, they were all gathered in the Roosevelt Room </div> <div> waiting for the link up </div> <div> to occur.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo, Toby, Sam, CJ and Josh sat on one side of the conference table </div> <div> while the monitor </div> <div> that would hopefully soon allow them to talk to the reporter in </div> <div> Colombia faced them from </div> <div> the other side. The technician that the paper had sent over continued </div> <div> to fiddle with the </div> <div> wires nervously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's the reporters name again?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Jack Hawthorne," CJ said looking quickly at her notes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok. We're ready to go." The tech said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He pushed a button and the monitor sparked to life. This wasn't the </div> <div> glitzy graphics that </div> <div> people had come to associate with network news reporting. It was just </div> <div> a grainy image of </div> <div> a man standing in the jungle.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Mr. Hawthorne," Josh said not wanting to waste any of their precious </div> <div> time. "This is Josh </div> <div> Lyman speaking."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, Mr. Lyman," the reporter said holding his hand over the small </div> <div> receiver in his ear in </div> <div> order to hear better. "The paper has filled me in on your situation. </div> <div> I'm aware of who is </div> <div> sitting in on your end so we don't need to waste any time on </div> <div> introductions. I'm not trying </div> <div> to be abrupt, but I don't know how long this satellite link will hold </div> <div> up and I have quite a </div> <div> bit of information for you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You know something about Donna?" Josh asked anxiously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Hawthorne answered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is she alright?" Josh asked desperately.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Right now, I have every reason to believe that she is ok."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What have you found out?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yesterday, we got a tip on some rebel activity that was occurring </div> <div> high in the mountains. </div> <div> Skirmishes between rebel factions aren't all that unusual here but </div> <div> our sources told us that </div> <div> this was a major consolidation attempt by a group called the ESF. </div> <div> They are one of the </div> <div> stronger splinter groups. They have been making a push lately to </div> <div> bring other weaker </div> <div> groups under their banner."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Both Toby and CJ were scribbling notes frantically as the reporter </div> <div> spoke.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "First thing this morning, we entered a camp high in the mountains. </div> <div> What we found there </div> <div> confirmed what we had been hearing."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What did you find?" Sam asked carefully.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Hawthorne looked at the ground, the back at the camera before he </div> <div> could continue.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We found twelve bodies."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh and Leo both let out audible gasps.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "But you're sure none of them are Donna?" Josh managed to choke out.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm quite sure." Jack Hawthorne assured him. "My wife and I had the </div> <div> pleasure of </div> <div> meeting Ms. Moss at a fundraiser in New York during the campaign. I </div> <div> can assure that </div> <div> none of the bodies are hers."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Josh said in a voice barely above a whisper.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We did, however, find the bodies of what we believe to be four </div> <div> members of her original </div> <div> group along with eight rebels. They were all dead from multiple </div> <div> gunshot wounds."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What the hell happened?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "From what we can piece together, the ESF moved in to try to fold </div> <div> this group in under </div> <div> their banner. Apparently a scuffle ensued that left eight rebels </div> <div> dead. As far as what led to </div> <div> the killing of the hostages, we have no idea."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do you know where they are now?" Toby asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, they have disappeared up into the hills again."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh's mind flashed back to something the man had said earlier.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You said that you had reason to believe that Donna was ok. What do </div> <div> you know?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hawthorne gathered his thoughts and decided on the best way to </div> <div> proceed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We pick up a considerable amount of information by monitoring the </div> <div> radio traffic. Many </div> <div> of the rebel factions communicate by short wave radio and walkie-</div> <div> talkies and we are able </div> <div> to pick up a great many of their conversations. All day we have been </div> <div> picking up </div> <div> transmissions regarding a specific hostage that is now in the hands </div> <div> of the ESF."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Hawthorne answered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What are they saying?" Josh asked, unable to hide the fear in his </div> <div> voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Apparently, they know who she is. They know she works in the White </div> <div> House."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh my God," Josh choked, barely able to talk around the lump in his </div> <div> throat. "How do </div> <div> they know? How did they find out?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> This was the one piece of news Josh had desperately hoped would stay </div> <div> hidden. He didn't </div> <div> know how the rebels would react if they knew, but he had been afraid </div> <div> that it would place </div> <div> Donna in the position of being used as a bargaining chip.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We're not sure how they found out, but the point is that they know." </div> <div> Hawthorne said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What now?" Josh asked, half afraid to hear the answer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well," Hawthorne continued, "This could actually end up working in </div> <div> her favor."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How so?" Josh asked skeptically.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The ESF is a far more organized faction than most. While its true </div> <div> that they are bloodier </div> <div> and more brutal than many of the other factions, they are also far </div> <div> more pragmatic."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh blanched at the thought of Donna's new captors.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And how exactly is that good news?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "From what we hear over the radio, the ESF considers Ms. Moss a very </div> <div> important </div> <div> commodity. They think that they can use her to advance their own </div> <div> position by trading her </div> <div> for much needed weapons and supplies. They aren't likely to let </div> <div> anything happen to her </div> <div> before they get a chance to trade her for what they want."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's a small comfort," Sam said wearily.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "But at least it's a comfort," Hawthorne said with the attitude of a </div> <div> man standing directly </div> <div> in the middle of Hell. "It's more than families of the four people we </div> <div> found this morning </div> <div> have."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "True," Sam said sheepishly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There was silence in the room for a moment as everyone tried to </div> <div> digest all of the new </div> <div> information they had heard.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How soon should we expect them to make contact?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hard winter will be hitting the high country in about 6 weeks. They </div> <div> seem to be leaning </div> <div> towards remaining in the mountains and incorporating as many of the </div> <div> smaller groups as </div> <div> possible before they come back down to base camp. I would expect them </div> <div> to make contact </div> <div> within 8 weeks."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That long?" Josh said despondently.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Things don't move at cyber speed down here," Hawthorne reminded him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know. I'm sorry. I was just hoping that …." Josh trailed off, </div> <div> trying to accept the fact </div> <div> that there wasn't going to be a quick resolution.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know." Hawthorne said softly. "I'm sorry."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ reached over and placed her hand reassuringly on Josh's shoulder.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Who will they make contact with?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hard to say," Hawthorne answered. "They will choose someone that </div> <div> they think can get </div> <div> access to the White House."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do they realize that this isn't a government operation," Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Their leader is a man named Armand Gutierrez. He is Colombian born </div> <div> but American </div> <div> educated. He is a very smart man. He realizes the limitations but he </div> <div> will try to exploit the </div> <div> personal relationship."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So who will they contact?" Leo asked again.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hawthorne looked intently into the camera.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I am willing to set myself up as the go between, if that's what you </div> <div> are asking, Mr. </div> <div> McGarry."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's exactly what I'm asking." Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can let the rebels know through channels that I'm their best bet </div> <div> when it comes time to </div> <div> deal."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you sure you're prepared to do this." Toby asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Positive," Hawthorne answered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's the procedure," Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll simply float the news through the rebel groups that certain </div> <div> unofficial factions in the </div> <div> US are willing to deal for Ms. Moss's return."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good," Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Then we wait." Hawthorne said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We'll be in touch, Mr. Hawthorne. We will be giving you information </div> <div> about how to </div> <div> make contact. We won't be able to run this through the White House. </div> <div> It will have to be </div> <div> completely unofficial." Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I understand."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Jack?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No problem."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> After the monitor went black, Toby turned to Leo.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How are we going to handle this, Leo?" He asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We'll hear them out. We'll open up a dialogue. We'll do whatever we </div> <div> have to do. We'll </div> <div> get Donna back."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna sat shivering on the floor of the small hut, half from cold and </div> <div> half from fear.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She had been separated from the other hostages upon their arrival at </div> <div> the new camp.</div> <div> She managed to get a quick look at their faces before she was taken </div> <div> away and she saw the </div> <div> same look of terror and shock that she knew must be written on her </div> <div> own. The sight of 4 </div> <div> of her fellow hostages lying dead in the lean-to was burned into her </div> <div> brain. As long as she </div> <div> lived, she knew that she would never forget that sight.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She briefly wondered if they had known what was coming and had given </div> <div> up. She </div> <div> wondered if, at some point, they somehow made the decision that they </div> <div> didn't want to go </div> <div> on anymore and managed to goad the soldiers into killing them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna knew that she would never make that decision. She would fight </div> <div> till the bitter end. </div> <div> She would do whatever she needed to do to survive.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She knew that the soldiers intended to use her as leverage, but she </div> <div> also knew that the US </div> <div> government would not be in a position to negotiate her release. She </div> <div> wondered if Josh and </div> <div> Leo and the others would work some kind of deal. She had seen it </div> <div> happen many times, </div> <div> back room hush-hush deals. Donna wondered if she was important enough </div> <div> to warrant one </div> <div> of those deals.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She glanced around the small hut that was apparently to serve as her </div> <div> temporary home. </div> <div> The floor was dirt but at least she had four walls to protect her </div> <div> from the elements. She </div> <div> was still bound at both the wrist and ankles, even though an armed </div> <div> guard stood directly </div> <div> outside the door. She could hear him pacing back and forth. She could </div> <div> hear the clang of </div> <div> his gun as he tapped the barrel with his palm in what was apparently </div> <div> an unconscious </div> <div> habit.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She could hear a great many voices not too far from her hut. She </div> <div> realized that she was </div> <div> now dealing with a much bigger group than she had been previously. </div> <div> She couldn't decide </div> <div> if she thought that this was a good thing or a bad thing.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly, the door of the hut opened and the man who Donna had </div> <div> identified earlier as </div> <div> being the lead soldier stepped in.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good evening, Ms. Moss," he said as he towered above her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna looked up at him with uncertainty, not sure what she should say.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "My name is Armand Gutierrez. You are going to be with us for awhile </div> <div> so I just want to </div> <div> set up a few ground rules," he said as he knelt in front of Donna. He </div> <div> reached out and </div> <div> grabbed her hair and pulled tightly until Donna cried out.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I am in charge here." The soldier spat. "You do as I say, for as </div> <div> long as you are here, and </div> <div> everything will be fine. But if you cross me, or if you become </div> <div> difficult, I will not hesitate </div> <div> to treat you just as I did the other hostages back at the camp. Do </div> <div> you understand?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna said through her tears.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Very well," the soldier said. "Then we should get along just fine."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> With that, he turned on his heels and left.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna sat back against the wall as her tears flowed freely down her </div> <div> cheeks. 'Yes,' she </div> <div> thought. 'Things have definitely gone from bad to worse.'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh walked through the halls of the West Wing completely oblivious </div> <div> to everything </div> <div> around him. He was lost so deep in his own thoughts that he didn't </div> <div> see Leo until he </div> <div> almost walked right into him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Sorry," Josh mumbled.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Been shopping?" Leo asked, eyeing the large bag in Josh's hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's a DVD player," Josh said with a small smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You need a DVD player for your office?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No," Josh said sheepishly. "It's for Donna. It's a birthday present."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo's face suddenly turned serious. He had forgotten all about </div> <div> Donna's birthday. </div> <div> Margaret usually reminded him when there was a special occasion </div> <div> coming up. 'Maybe </div> <div> under the circumstances she decided not to mention it,' he thought.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry," Leo mumbled. "I'm really bad with dates."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's ok," Josh assured him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Today?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, Thursday," Josh said quietly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ah," Leo replied.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I figured I'll just keep it for her until she gets home," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good idea. I'm sure she'll love it."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah, I know she really wants one. She's been bugging me about </div> <div> buying her one for a </div> <div> year."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh got suddenly quiet. Leo took a few more steps, and then realized </div> <div> that Josh was no </div> <div> longer walking beside him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What is it, Josh?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I should have bought it for her sooner, Leo. In case...."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo saw the doubt creeping into the younger man's eyes. He knew that </div> <div> this situation was </div> <div> wearing on Josh. It had been two weeks since the satellite hookup </div> <div> with Jack Hawthorne. </div> <div> In that time, they had gathered all of the information possible on </div> <div> the ESF. Not only were </div> <div> they one of the bloodiest rebel factions in Colombia; they had a long </div> <div> history of hostage </div> <div> taking. Leo knew that Josh was worried about how Donna was being </div> <div> treated; he was </div> <div> worried about the same thing. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Don't even say it, Josh.," he admonished. "Don't even allow yourself </div> <div> to think it. I know </div> <div> this is a tough time but we'll get through it. Donna is coming home. </div> <div> We have to believe </div> <div> that."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know. You're right. I don't mean to sound like I'm giving up hope. </div> <div> I'm sorry, I'm just </div> <div> a little tired and reading those Human Rights Abuse Watch reports </div> <div> last night didn't do </div> <div> anything to lift my spirits."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I understand." Leo said. "I have a meeting with the President now, </div> <div> but I'll talk to you </div> <div> after staff ok?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh sighed as he walked away.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo?" </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The President looked at his longtime friend sitting in the chair </div> <div> across from him. Physically he was </div> <div> only a matter of feet away, but his mind was somewhere far off.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo?" he repeated.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Still no response.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I've decided to go ahead and drop the bomb on China," the President </div> <div> said dryly. </div> <div> "They've been causing us a bit of a problem lately and I </div> <div> decided 'What the heck? we can </div> <div> do ok without them.' Do you think that's alright?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry?" Leo said distractedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I asked if you think it's alright if I go ahead and give the order </div> <div> to bomb China?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What?!?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I was just trying to say something that might be interesting enough </div> <div> to break into your </div> <div> thoughts. Care to tell me where your mind is this morning?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry, sir," Leo sighed. "I'm just a bit distracted."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So I've noticed. Could this have anything to do with the daily </div> <div> briefing you've been </div> <div> receiving from Doug Collins at the UN?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Leo said as he rubbed his tired eyes. He had tried to keep </div> <div> this entire matter as far </div> <div> away from the President as possible but he was well aware that he </div> <div> couldn't hide it </div> <div> entirely.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Look, Leo" the President said leaning towards his friend. "I know </div> <div> that you have been </div> <div> trying your hardest to keep me out of the loop on this one, and I </div> <div> know why. I understand </div> <div> how it would look for me to get personally involved in this, </div> <div> especially since it isn't </div> <div> technically a government matter."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It isn't even un-technically a government matter. This is a UN </div> <div> matter. We are just </div> <div> advisors and, even at that, they aren't obligated to accept our </div> <div> advice in anyway."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know that."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We can't go in there in any official capacity and try any kind of </div> <div> rescue mission. For one </div> <div> thing, it would look bad, and for another thing, those missions </div> <div> seldom work as planned."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Then what's your plan?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo sighed and dropped his head to his chest. He had known Jed </div> <div> Bartlet for many years </div> <div> and he knew this much; once he made up his mind to get involved in </div> <div> something, there </div> <div> was no stopping him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Work behind the scenes." Leo said. "Develop a dialogue. Find out </div> <div> what they want, then </div> <div> do what we need to do to get Donna home."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Fine, let me help," the President said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You can't. You absolutely have to stay untouched in this whole </div> <div> thing. All of this is going </div> <div> to be done through back channels. We are going to have to deal people </div> <div> who are probably </div> <div> murderers and drug dealers and God knows what else. We can't take a </div> <div> chance on having </div> <div> your name associated with this operation."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Why not?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It wouldn't look good." Leo said, attempting to point out something </div> <div> that he believed to </div> <div> be obvious.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "To who?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "To anybody." Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo, why don't you let me worry about that? I completely understand </div> <div> the delicate nature </div> <div> of these kinds of things. But I also know that there has to be </div> <div> something I can do to help. I </div> <div> think of the people who work here as more than employees. I want </div> <div> Donna back too. So </div> <div> tell me where we stand."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo saw the look of determination in Jed's eye that told him there </div> <div> was no use in arguing </div> <div> anymore.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We have a man on the ground trying to establish himself as a go </div> <div> between."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Who?" Jed asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "A reporter named Jack Hawthorne. He's in Colombia doing some </div> <div> documentary work. He's </div> <div> been reporting on the rebel factions in the area for a while now. He </div> <div> is very </div> <div> knowledgeable about both the region and the local players."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Can we trust him?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I think we can," Leo said. "Besides, he's our best option right now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok then," the President continued. "What's his take on the </div> <div> situation?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He believes that the captors will be spending another 6 weeks or so </div> <div> in the mountains </div> <div> before they return to the base camp. They are trying very hard to </div> <div> consolidate some of the </div> <div> smaller factions under their banner. Eventually though, they will </div> <div> work their way back </div> <div> down the mountain. At that point, he thinks they will try to trade </div> <div> Donna for the supplies </div> <div> they need. He's going to attempt to make contact now, so that </div> <div> everything will be in place </div> <div> when they're ready to negotiate."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do we know what kind of "supplies" they will be asking for?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not exactly, but I could take a pretty good guess that there will be </div> <div> some kind of </div> <div> weapons involved."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Have you decided how you will handle that?" Jed asked pointedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo stumbled over the answer to that question. He knew that Jed was </div> <div> being sincere when </div> <div> he said that he wanted to help, but he also knew that they were </div> <div> treading on very </div> <div> dangerous ground. If there was a back room deal made that involved </div> <div> weapons, or </div> <div> anything for that matter, the President needed plausible deniability. </div> <div> Leo was willing to go </div> <div> down for this, but he wasn't willing to take the President with him</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What are you willing to do?" the President asked again pointedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Whatever it takes," Leo said</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna sat quietly in the corner of her hut, forcing herself to eat </div> <div> the thick, bitter stew that </div> <div> had been placed in front of her. She swallowed it down while </div> <div> reminding herself that she </div> <div> had to eat in order to maintain her strength. As she finished, a </div> <div> soldier arrived, unshackled </div> <div> her ankles and pushed her out the door.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> It was her first real chance to look at her new surroundings. She saw </div> <div> that the compound </div> <div> was made up of a dozen or so huts, most very small. Around the huts </div> <div> she saw dozens of </div> <div> tents of various sizes and varieties. Some were obviously regulation </div> <div> army tents, while </div> <div> others were simply old tarps strung between trees.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There were a large number of soldiers milling about. Some seemed to </div> <div> be patrolling the </div> <div> perimeter of the camp, some were sitting on the ground outside of the </div> <div> tents playing some </div> <div> sort of card game, and still others were huddled around what appeared </div> <div> to be a short wave </div> <div> radio. They all had one thing in common though, they were armed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna saw the young rebels who had been her original captors </div> <div> unloading things from </div> <div> the back of a truck. She assumed that they were unloading the </div> <div> supplies that had been </div> <div> pilfered from the previous camp.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna was led to the biggest hut in the compound. The soldier who was </div> <div> escorting her </div> <div> knocked on the door to indicate their arrival. Then he pushed Donna </div> <div> inside while he </div> <div> remained outside.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna stumbled through the door and found herself face to face with </div> <div> Armand, the man </div> <div> who had shot her fellow hostages just yesterday. His cold eyes made </div> <div> the hair on the back </div> <div> of her neck stand up. Donna suddenly felt more frightened than she </div> <div> had since her </div> <div> ordeal had begun.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Please have a seat, Donna," Armand said indicating the chair in the </div> <div> corner.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna bristled at his use of her first name. Something about the </div> <div> taunting way he said it </div> <div> made her want to cry.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you adjusting to your new surroundings?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna remembered his instructions from the previous day about </div> <div> following his rules and </div> <div> she decided to simply go along. The memory of the blood stains in the </div> <div> lean-to and the </div> <div> bodies of the four dead hostages were still fresh in her mind.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna said softly but firmly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand approached her and knelt directly in front of her chair. He </div> <div> reached out and </div> <div> grabbed Donna's arms tightly. When he saw her begin to wince with </div> <div> pain, he smiled and </div> <div> squeezed harder.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Tell me," he said "Exactly who should I call at the White House to </div> <div> talk to about making </div> <div> a deal to get you home?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna knew that she was walking on very thin ice. Surely this man </div> <div> knew that he would </div> <div> not be able to get a direct call in to the White House. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Immediately after President Bartlet had taken office, Donna had been </div> <div> trained on how to </div> <div> handle such matters. How to route a call to the White House in such a </div> <div> way to alert </div> <div> someone that she was in trouble. But now she was half a world away </div> <div> and she doubted </div> <div> that those same techniques would work. She wondered just how much </div> <div> information she </div> <div> should give out.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I wasn't in Colombia as a representative of the US government," she </div> <div> said calmly. "The </div> <div> White House won't be in any position to offer you anything for my </div> <div> release."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand released her arms and reached up to grab her long blonde hair </div> <div> as he had done the </div> <div> night before. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Pulling it tightly he said, "Please don't play games with me Miss </div> <div> Moss. I thought I made </div> <div> it clear it to you that I don't appreciate that."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm not playing games," Donna said through her tears. "It's the </div> <div> truth."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand released her hair and began pacing angrily around the room.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I spent a great many years in the US," he said. "I know how things </div> <div> work there. I know </div> <div> just how many things your government does behind closed doors. You </div> <div> may not have </div> <div> been here as an official government representative, but I am sure </div> <div> that there is someone </div> <div> there who wants you back."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna immediately felt for Josh's letter, which she had tucked in the </div> <div> waistband of her </div> <div> sweat suit. She thought about what he had said. She knew that he was </div> <div> trying to win her </div> <div> release. She felt confident of that. But she didn't know what she </div> <div> should do in this kind of </div> <div> situation. She wondered if giving Armand a way to contact Josh and </div> <div> Leo would be a </div> <div> mistake.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand approached her once again.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I assure you," he said, "this is going to be strictly a business </div> <div> proposition. If they give me </div> <div> what I want, then I will return you to them unharmed. I am a soldier, </div> <div> a man of my word. </div> <div> What I say I will do is what I do."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna stared into his face looking for some sign that she could </div> <div> believe what he was </div> <div> saying.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Just then, another soldier knocked on the door. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What?" Armand asked angrily.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The younger man stepped into the hut.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry to interrupt you, sir but we are getting a very </div> <div> interesting message over the </div> <div> radio. A man who claims that he speaks for certain people in the US  </div> <div> who are willing to make a deal for the </div> <div> ladies return. He says that he can be the conduit for the </div> <div> negotiations."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's heart soared. For the first time she began to think that </div> <div> there was a real concrete </div> <div> chance that she might make it home soon.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Who is this man?" Armand asked, his curiosity obviously peaked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He is an American reporter. He says his name is Jack Hawthorne."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand turned to Donna. "Is this someone you know?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No," Donna answered. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Where is this man now?" Armand asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We aren't sure of his exact location but we know that he has been to </div> <div> several of the other </div> <div> camps so he must be somewhere close."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand thought for a minute then turned to the young soldier.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Bring Mr. Hawthorne to me."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh entered Houlihan's at a little after 2:00 and saw Sam, Toby, CJ </div> <div> and Leo already </div> <div> seated at a booth in the back. The lunchtime rush was winding down so </div> <div> most of the tables </div> <div> around them were empty.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's up?" Josh asked as he slid in beside CJ. "I was halfway back </div> <div> to the office from </div> <div> my meetings on the hill when I got your page."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I needed a chance to speak with everyone together, outside of the </div> <div> office." Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "About what?" Josh asked wondering if he was the only one at the </div> <div> table who was </div> <div> confused.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I had a meeting with the President this morning," Leo said. "He gave </div> <div> me his tacit </div> <div> approval to begin trying to reach a settlement to bring Donna home."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Really?" Josh said, his voice a mix of joy and amazement. "Isn't he </div> <div> worried..?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He knows exactly what he's doing." Leo answered. "Still, I'm </div> <div> assuming that each of </div> <div> you understands what would happen if the Presidents name became </div> <div> entangled with the </div> <div> wrong people. I assume that you will all use the utmost discretion in </div> <div> this matter. The </div> <div> President has graciously offered to use whatever pull he might have </div> <div> to open any avenue </div> <div> that might be helpful, however, I still do not want him to know any </div> <div> of the final details </div> <div> until, and unless, it is absolutely necessary. It is critical that he </div> <div> maintain plausible </div> <div> deniability."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They all nodded in agreement.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So what's our next step?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We need to try to anticipate their next move before they make it. </div> <div> It's vital that we stay </div> <div> one step ahead. We need to be prepared for any contingency," Toby </div> <div> said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," CJ said grabbing her notebook and beginning to furiously </div> <div> scribble notes to herself. </div> <div> "I'll get to work setting up a communications network that we can </div> <div> use. Once we get to </div> <div> the negotiation stage, we won't be able to do anything inside of the </div> <div> White House. I'll set </div> <div> something up through Hawthorne's paper as well as British TV since </div> <div> it's their film </div> <div> crew."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good," Leo said. "We need to set up a way that we can be contacted </div> <div> 24/7. Keep it to the </div> <div> fewest number of people that you possibly can."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Will do," CJ said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll cover the supplies angle," Sam said. "Chances are at least part </div> <div> of what they request </div> <div> is going to be food, medicine, possibly electronic supplies. I'll </div> <div> start trying to line that </div> <div> stuff up now. It will save us time in the end."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok then that's covered," Leo said, placing another checkmark on his </div> <div> mental to-do list.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "They're probably going to ask for cash," Sam said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I've got that covered." Josh said. "I've liquidated every single </div> <div> investment I have. </div> <div> Everything has been moved into ready cash. I've already tapped </div> <div> anybody I can think of in </div> <div> case what I have isn't enough."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Cash won't be a problem," Leo said looking at Josh. He knew that </div> <div> Josh was willing to </div> <div> give every penny he had to his name to get Donna back. There was no </div> <div> way a few dollars </div> <div> would stand in the way of her return, Leo would make sure of that.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Now we come to the topic nobody wants to mention," Toby said grimly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I talked to the President about it this morning." Leo said. "This is </div> <div> the part he most needs </div> <div> to be kept away from. We can't be dealing with another arms for </div> <div> hostage's scandal. </div> <div> Especially considering that Donna was not in Colombia as </div> <div> representative of the US."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So what do you suggest?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Black market." Toby said matter-of-factly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm afraid so," Leo agreed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The best-case scenario would be that we could find a way to get them </div> <div> to accept cash and </div> <div> let them procure their own weapons. But we have to believe that they </div> <div> are going to </div> <div> demand at least some surface to air type weapons, types not readily </div> <div> available on the </div> <div> South American black market." Toby said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What do we do then?" Josh asked. He knew that he was willing to do </div> <div> whatever was </div> <div> necessary, but he wasn't sure that his friends were as willing to </div> <div> throw their careers away.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Whatever it takes," Leo said defiantly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Whatever it takes," they all repeated one by one.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Hawthorne sat blindfolded, his wrists bound, in the passenger </div> <div> seat of a jeep climbing </div> <div> higher and higher into the mountains. He had received a radio message </div> <div> just a few hours </div> <div> earlier that the leader of the ESF was willing to meet with him</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He had hoped to be able to open up a dialogue as soon as possible but </div> <div> this was quicker </div> <div> than he had anticipated. He was alone; his film crew had been forced </div> <div> to remain behind.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He could hear the sound of people yelling in the near distance and </div> <div> decided that they must </div> <div> be getting close to the camp.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The jeep ground to a stop, and Jack was pulled roughly from the </div> <div> passengers seat. His </div> <div> hands were unshackled and the blindfold was removed. He reached to </div> <div> the floor of the </div> <div> jeep for his bag.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The soldier who had driven him up the mountain growled, "Follow me."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hawthorne followed him across the dirty, noisy compound towards the </div> <div> large hut that sat </div> <div> near its center.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Just as they approached, Armand Gutierrez walked out of the hut.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Mr. Hawthorne, I presume." He said. "How nice to meet you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The two men stood sizing each other up.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How do I know that you have the ear of the American's as you claim </div> <div> you do?" Armand </div> <div> asked him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hawthorne eyed the man warily." I need to reach into my bag to show </div> <div> you the proof." He </div> <div> said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Fine, but no tricks," Armand said as he placed his finger on the </div> <div> trigger of his gun.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No tricks," Hawthorne assured him as he reached into the bag.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He withdrew some papers and handed them the Gutierrez. "These are </div> <div> satellite </div> <div> transmission records. They show the reports that we are beaming back </div> <div> to British </div> <div> television. You can also see very clearly on there, a link up to the </div> <div> White House. It should </div> <div> prove to you that I can contact them directly."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "This will be how you communicate with them?" Armand asked </div> <div> skeptically.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No," Hawthorne answered. "I'm sure you are well aware of the US's </div> <div> position in all this. </div> <div> Since this will not be a government operation, all communication will </div> <div> be done privately. </div> <div> We are working out the details now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And exactly how can I be sure that they will deal?" Armand asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can assure you that there are many people within the US government </div> <div> that are willing to </div> <div> deal with you to gain the release of Ms. Moss."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand stood perfectly still for a short time. He seemed to be </div> <div> considering all of his </div> <div> options. Finally he spoke again.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Fine. I will trust you for now Mr. Hawthorne, but I warn you, do not </div> <div> cross me."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The reporter breathed a sigh of relief that he had at least managed </div> <div> to open up a line of </div> <div> communication. It was true that his motives were not altogether </div> <div> unselfish. If he could pull </div> <div> this off, he had a good shot at a Pulitzer. But he had met Donna Moss </div> <div> before, he felt as </div> <div> though he had a personal connection with her. He could also vividly </div> <div> remember the </div> <div> desperation in Josh Lyman's voice during the satellite hookup. He </div> <div> wanted this to work </div> <div> out for his own benefit, but he also wanted very badly to help get </div> <div> Donna home.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I have no intention of crossing you. I just want both parties to get </div> <div> what they want."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Fine," Armand said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "May I see her?" Hawthorne asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand seemed to be trying to think of a reason to deny the visit so </div> <div> Hawthorne </div> <div> continued. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You wanted me to give you proof that I could provide what I said I </div> <div> could provide," </div> <div> Hawthorne stated matter-of-factly. "I expect that they will want the </div> <div> same thing."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What kind of proof?" Armand growled.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Hawthorne was led to a small hut on the outskirts of the </div> <div> compound that was being </div> <div> guarded by a man with a very large gun.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand nodded and he was allowed to go inside.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna looked up expecting to see Armand or one of the other soldiers. </div> <div> She was surprised </div> <div> to see an American. For an instant, she wasn't sure what to think.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna Moss?" he said softly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna said struggling to sit up.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You probably don't remember me but my name is Jack Hawthorne. My </div> <div> wife and I met </div> <div> you at a fundraiser in New York during the campaign."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna searched her memory but couldn't place him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's ok," he assured her. "It was a long time ago."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I heard them mention your name earlier," Donna said. "Why are you </div> <div> here?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm here to help get you home. There are quite a few people back in </div> <div> the US who </div> <div> desperately want you back there. Most of them work in a big White </div> <div> House," he said with </div> <div> a smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's eyes filled with tears. She knew in her heart that everyone </div> <div> at home would be </div> <div> trying to get her back, but sometimes, in the dark of night, her fear </div> <div> took over.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> On those nights, she wondered if she would ever get home again. On </div> <div> those nights, she </div> <div> worried that she had been go so long that everyone had given up. And </div> <div> on those nights, </div> <div> she couldn't hold back the tears. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She knew it was just the situation she was in playing tricks on her </div> <div> mind, but some nights </div> <div> her fear and loneliness became almost suffocating.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You've talked to them?" Donna asked meekly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," he assured her. "They wanted me to tell you that they are </div> <div> doing everything they </div> <div> can to get you back. That they are thinking of you and they love you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Donna said as tears of relief began to roll down her </div> <div> face.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Hawthorne wanted desperately to give her something that she </div> <div> could hang on to. </div> <div> Something to sustain her until he could find a way to win her </div> <div> release. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He thought back to a cell phone conversation he had had with Josh </div> <div> Lyman just a few </div> <div> hours after the satellite hookup. He was amazed that the call had </div> <div> even made it through as </div> <div> deep in the jungle as they were. But Lyman said that there was </div> <div> something he had </div> <div> forgotten to say before. A message that he wanted Jack to pass along </div> <div> if he got a chance. </div> <div> Jack realized that this was probably the perfect time to share it </div> <div> with her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "As a matter of fact, I have a message for you from Josh," he said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree at the mere mention of </div> <div> Josh's name. Somehow </div> <div> Jack knew that there was something more to their relationship than </div> <div> just boss and </div> <div> assistant.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What did he say?" Donna asked eagerly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He said to tell you that he meant what he said about Hawaii," Jack </div> <div> said. "Do you know </div> <div> what that means?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna said through her tears as she thought about what Josh </div> <div> had written in his </div> <div> letter. "I know exactly what that means."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> There was an insistent knocking on the door of the Oval Office in the </div> <div> middle of the </div> <div> morning senior staff meeting.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," the President barked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh's temp peeked her head timidly in the door. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry to interrupt, sir," she said. "This package just arrived </div> <div> by messenger and they </div> <div> said that Mr. Lyman was to get it right away, top priority."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Josh said standing up and reaching for the envelope.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He turned it over and looked the address.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It came by overnight courier from South America." Josh said </div> <div> excitedly. "It's from Jack </div> <div> Hawthorne."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Open it," CJ said rising to stand beside him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh pulled the tab on the envelope, reached in and pulled out </div> <div> videotape.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No note, just a tape," Josh said</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Pop it in the VCR," the President said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Here?" Josh asked, looking questioningly at Leo. "Maybe I should…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, here," the President said taking the tape from Josh and placing </div> <div> it in the slot.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The image that lit up the screen made Josh's heart stop. His breath </div> <div> caught in his chest. He </div> <div> felt tears spring to his eyes and he made no attempt to stop them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> It was Donna. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She looked tired. She looked disheveled and dirty. Her hair hung dull </div> <div> and lifeless over </div> <div> her shoulders with none of the usual shine. She had large dark </div> <div> circles under her eyes. </div> <div> Josh noticed that her normally tiny wrists looked even smaller. Her </div> <div> lips were badly </div> <div> chapped.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> But still, there she was. And then she began to speak.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hi," she said. "I just wanted to tell you all that I'm ok. They're </div> <div> treating me all right. Jack </div> <div> said I only have a few minutes to talk. So I just wanted to tell you </div> <div> thank you for </div> <div> everything you're doing to get me home. I'll be strong till it </div> <div> happens, I promise. I can </div> <div> hold on. Please don't worry about me. I'll see you soon I hope. I </div> <div> love you all. Bye. Oh, </div> <div> and Josh-Aloha."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The entire room remained silent as they stared at the black screen.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The president moved over to the VCR, punched the eject button, and </div> <div> handed the tape to </div> <div> Josh who hadn't moved, and didn't seem to have even breathed, since </div> <div> the tape began. </div> <div> Then he turned and addressed his entire senior staff.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Whatever it takes."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> November 1---Day 160</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh sat alone in his apartment, rewinding and re-watching the tape </div> <div> of Donna. He had </div> <div> spent the last two hours memorizing every single nuance. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He could perfectly time the small pause after she said "Hi". He </div> <div> memorized her small, sad </div> <div> smile after she said she was ok. He knew that her eyes would glance </div> <div> nervously downward </div> <div> after she said that she was being treated all right. That glance always </div> <div> made his heart skip a </div> <div> beat, because he was afraid that it meant she wasn't telling the </div> <div> entire truth. Even half a </div> <div> world away, she couldn't look him in the eyes when she wasn't telling </div> <div> him the truth.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He watched her blink back tears when she thanked them for everything </div> <div> they were doing </div> <div> to bring her home and he saw the strength and courage come back into </div> <div> her eyes when she </div> <div> promised to be strong. He could feel her determination as though she </div> <div> was sitting right </div> <div> beside him. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> His breath caught each time he saw two small tears run down her face </div> <div> as she said, "I love </div> <div> you all." But the best part, the part he lived for, was hearing her </div> <div> say Aloha and seeing the </div> <div> love in her eyes when she said it. He sat mesmerized by her face </div> <div> until the screen went </div> <div> black again.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> And then once again, he hit the rewind button. It was only 45 seconds </div> <div> of videotape, but </div> <div> right now it was all he had to hold on to. He hit play and waited for </div> <div> her face to appear.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh, Sam, Toby and CJ sat finishing their coffee in the corner booth </div> <div> at Houlihan's. It had </div> <div> become their habit to meet every morning for breakfast. It gave them </div> <div> a chance to share </div> <div> information and exchange ideas about Donna's situation. It also </div> <div> helped them to keep the </div> <div> matter out of the White House and as far away from the President as </div> <div> possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Have you heard anything from Jack Hawthorne?" Josh asked CJ.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not for a few days," CJ said quietly. "The paper hasn't heard from </div> <div> him either."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh's brow crinkled with concern.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do they think there's something wrong?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not necessarily," CJ said trying to instill in her voice a </div> <div> confidence that she really didn't </div> <div> feel.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What about British TV? Have they heard from their film crew?" Josh </div> <div> asked unable to </div> <div> keep the worry out of his voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I talked to them this morning. It seems that the crew has been </div> <div> incommunicado for </div> <div> several days also."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Where in the hell are they?" Josh said as his voice began to drift </div> <div> across the now bustling </div> <div> restaurant. "This can't all fall apart now. We are supposed to be </div> <div> hearing something in the </div> <div> next week or so."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Let's not panic," Toby said. "There could be any number of reasons </div> <div> that they have </div> <div> fallen out of touch. Let's not assume the worst."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You're right," Josh said. "It's just that we're so close. I mean, </div> <div> with a little luck we could </div> <div> have Donna back by the New Year. I just don't want anything to go </div> <div> wrong now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "None of us do. I told Katie to page me right away if they heard </div> <div> anything at all from </div> <div> him," CJ said as she drained the last of her coffee. "Now we better </div> <div> get going or we're </div> <div> going to be late and Leo will not be pleased."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Twenty minutes later, they all sat in Leo's office waiting for the </div> <div> morning meeting to </div> <div> begin. They needn't have worried about being late. It was already 15 </div> <div> minutes past the </div> <div> scheduled start time and Leo had yet to arrive.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly, the connecting door to the Oval Office opened and the </div> <div> President walked in, </div> <div> followed by a very grim faced chief of staff.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The senior staff stood and greeted the President with the normal </div> <div> round of "Good </div> <div> morning, Sir's," but none of them could ignore the grave looks on the </div> <div> faces of the two </div> <div> men standing before them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What is it?" Josh asked, fairly certain that he didn't want to hear </div> <div> the answer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Why don't you sit down, Josh?" the President said in a shaky voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh, God," Josh said. "What is it? What's wrong?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Take a seat, Josh," Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Tell me what's wrong," Josh said, his voice rising.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ stood up and walked over to where Josh was standing.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Come on," she said. "Just come over here and sit down and let's hear </div> <div> what they have to </div> <div> say."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Sam and Toby exchanged worried glances as Josh and CJ moved across </div> <div> the room and sat </div> <div> on the couch.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The President leaned against Leo's desk, while Leo moved over and sat </div> <div> on the coffee </div> <div> table facing the sofa.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ clasped Josh's hand tightly in hers. She cast a nervous glance </div> <div> sideways at Toby. His </div> <div> normally even countenance was showing fear around the edges.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We just got out of a security council briefing," Leo said evenly. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And?" Josh asked forcing himself to take deep, measured breaths.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As hard as he had searched for them, Leo realized that there were no </div> <div> words that could </div> <div> possibly soften the blow of what he was about to say.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The government of Colombia has begun an effort to purge the rebels </div> <div> from the </div> <div> mountains."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh lowered his head and gripped CJ's hand tightly. All of blood </div> <div> seemed to have rushed </div> <div> from his head and for a moment, he felt like he was going to pass out.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As he closed his eyes, images of Donna on the videotape flooded his </div> <div> mind. He saw her </div> <div> promising to be strong, promising to hold on. He could see her blue </div> <div> eyes; wet with tears, </div> <div> trying to reassure him, reassure them all, that she was all right.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He wanted to just bury his head and cry, or scream at the top of his </div> <div> lungs. They were so </div> <div> close and now this. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh tried valiantly to push down the fear that was rising in his </div> <div> throat. If they were going </div> <div> to get Donna back, he would have to remain strong and in control. He </div> <div> could do that much </div> <div> for her. He could put aside his own fear. After all, whatever pain </div> <div> and discomfort he was </div> <div> feeling paled in comparison to what Donna was going through. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He had a nice, warm bed to sleep in at night. Of course, most of the </div> <div> time, on the nights he </div> <div> even bothered to go home, he found himself driving to Donna's </div> <div> apartment and sleeping </div> <div> in her bed. He felt closer to her in her apartment. He wondered how </div> <div> Donna slept. Bound </div> <div> no doubt, on the ground in some grungy Godforsaken jungle surrounded </div> <div> by bugs and </div> <div> snakes and who knows what else.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh had plenty of food to eat. In fact, it seemed like everyone in </div> <div> the west wing had taken </div> <div> it upon himself or herself to see that he ate correctly. Every time </div> <div> he sat down, someone </div> <div> seemed to be sticking food in front of his face.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He knew that none of them wanted to face the wrath of Donna when she </div> <div> came home and </div> <div> found out that they had not been watching out for him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He remembered the way that Donna looked in the video. So tiny and so </div> <div> frail. Her face </div> <div> was drawn and her wrists looked thinner than usual. Even in a sweat </div> <div> suit, Josh could tell </div> <div> that she had lost quite a bit of weight, and Donna really couldn't </div> <div> afford to lose any </div> <div> weight. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh went through the biggest part of his day feeling perfectly safe. </div> <div> In fact, it wasn't even </div> <div> an issue he gave any thought to, especially inside the west wing. He </div> <div> wondered if Donna </div> <div> had felt safe for even one second since her ordeal began. He prayed </div> <div> that she was </div> <div> at least able to find some respite in sleep. He hoped that she </div> <div> managed to have peaceful </div> <div> dreams when she closed her eyes, but he doubted that was the case. He </div> <div> hoped that his </div> <div> letter had brought her some measure of solace and given her something </div> <div> to hold on to.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As CJ clutched his hand tightly, Josh realized the most important </div> <div> difference. He had his </div> <div> friends around for support. He had people who cared about him </div> <div> watching over him. He </div> <div> had the sheer physical presence of those he loved. And Donna was </div> <div> alone. Josh had an </div> <div> entire building full of people helping to sustain him, helping to </div> <div> keep him strong. Donna </div> <div> was half a world away, living under hellish conditions, and she had </div> <div> to sustain herself, had </div> <div> to keep herself strong.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He wanted to hear all of the news, and he vowed to himself that he </div> <div> would not weaken. </div> <div> He would be strong for Donna.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh raised his head and looked around the room. All eyes were on </div> <div> him, seemingly </div> <div> waiting for his reaction. He looked Leo directly in the eye.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What do we know?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo breathed a sigh of relief. He was barely able to keep himself </div> <div> under control at this </div> <div> point and he did not know how he would have handled a rampaging Josh </div> <div> Lyman.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Sensing the fact that the Josh and Leo's emotions were close to </div> <div> boiling over, the </div> <div> President spoke.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "At some point in the last 24 hours, the Colombian government began a </div> <div> move to crack </div> <div> down on the rebels. They have begun attempting to take over certain </div> <div> bases, especially in </div> <div> the mountain regions.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Why now?" Toby asked</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We don't know," the President said rubbing his eyes wearily. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Didn't we have any intel that this was coming?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm afraid we were caught completely off guard," Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do we have any way of knowing exactly which areas they are in, and </div> <div> which groups they </div> <div> are moving against?" Toby asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Unfortunately no," the President said. "The situation on the ground </div> <div> is very chaotic. Each </div> <div> of the teams of soldiers seems to be acting somewhat independently."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do they know the situation?" Josh asked in a measured tone.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We have been in contact with the government and we have expressed </div> <div> our concerns </div> <div> about all American citizens in the country. We have also let them </div> <div> know about Donna."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Have we called the American Embassy and told them to be on the </div> <div> lookout? If she </div> <div> manages to escape in the chaos, that will be the first place she </div> <div> goes," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We have alerted all of the embassies in the area and asked them to </div> <div> keep their eyes and </div> <div> ears open," Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good," Josh said. "When is the next briefing?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I have asked for hourly updates," the President said quietly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is there anything else we can do?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Pray," Toby said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The room fell silent, each person lost in his or her own thoughts. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," Leo said, finally breaking the silence, "We have a few other </div> <div> things to cover."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Lets do it," Josh said leaning back into the couch cushions.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo waded through all of the issues on the agenda for the morning </div> <div> staff meeting as </div> <div> quickly as possible. He tried to shift some of Josh's workload subtly </div> <div> over to Toby who </div> <div> realized what was going on and graciously accepted the increase </div> <div> without comment.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "That about covers it," Leo said closing the folder he had been </div> <div> holding, "Unless anyone </div> <div> has anything else."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No," they all said in unison.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," Leo said, "Then let's get to work. Josh, I need you to stay </div> <div> behind for a few </div> <div> minutes."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ, Sam and Toby left the office, each giving Josh a supportive pat </div> <div> on the shoulder </div> <div> before they left. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> After the door closed, Josh sat facing Leo and the President.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you alright?" the President asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, I wouldn't exactly say I'm alright but I'm not going to fall </div> <div> apart if that's what </div> <div> you're asking," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Look, Josh," Leo said, "If you need some time…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I don't," Josh assured him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh…" the President said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I said I don't need any time. I mean it. I'm fine, or as fine as I </div> <div> can be under the </div> <div> circumstances. There's nothing that I can do at home other than sit </div> <div> around and obsess. I'll </div> <div> be better off here trying to get some work done."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Listen," Josh said with his hands on his hips, "I understand what </div> <div> you are trying to do </div> <div> and I appreciate it. I really do. But I'm fine. Am I worried? -Yes. </div> <div> Am I preoccupied? -</div> <div> Yes. Am I going to be able to get this out of my mind for a second? -</div> <div> No. But Donna is </div> <div> living through Hell half a world away and she has shown more strength </div> <div> and courage in </div> <div> the last 206 days than I'll ever have to show in my entire life. Now </div> <div> if I go to pieces, how </div> <div> am I honoring her? I owe it to her to stay strong. The second that </div> <div> there is anything I can </div> <div> do, the second that there is some concrete action I can take, then </div> <div> I'll take you up on your </div> <div> offer of time off. But for right now, I need to stay here and keep </div> <div> fighting for the things </div> <div> Donna believes in and do whatever it is I can to keep it all together </div> <div> until she gets home."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The President and Leo exchanged glances and then Leo spoke.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "If that's the way you want it, fine. But if you change your mind…."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll let you know," Josh assured him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh turned, as he was about to leave the room and caught a glimpse </div> <div> of the fear and </div> <div> sadness in Leo's eyes, the emotions that he was trying desperately to </div> <div> hide on Josh's </div> <div> account. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She's still alive, Leo," he said in an amazingly sure voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How do you know?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Both Leo and the President stared intently at Josh waiting for an </div> <div> answer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can't explain it," he said. "We're connected. I can feel her, in </div> <div> here," he said indicating </div> <div> his heart. "If she was gone, I would know it."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna was jolted awake by the sound of machine-gun fire in the </div> <div> compound. It took a </div> <div> minute for her to realize that it wasn't a dream.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She could hear the soldiers shouting to each other in Spanish. Their </div> <div> voices were loud and </div> <div> some sounded very panicky.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As Donna came completely awake, she registered the sound of </div> <div> helicopters directly </div> <div> overhead.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She made her way over to the door of the hut, managed to crack it a </div> <div> few inches and </div> <div> looked out. There was no armed guard in front as there had been every </div> <div> moment since her </div> <div> arrival. But the scene she saw before her made her blood run cold.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The compound was flooded with soldiers in varying states of dress. </div> <div> Many were just </div> <div> emerging from their tents, still half asleep. They were firing wildly </div> <div> towards the perimeter </div> <div> of the camp. Occasionally they would take aim at the helicopters </div> <div> overhead. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> After each burst of gunfire, Donna would see men drop to the ground, </div> <div> bloody and dying. </div> <div> She could hear their moans and their cries. Even though she spoke no </div> <div> Spanish, she could </div> <div> tell that they were crying for help. Some of them appeared to be </div> <div> praying.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She could hear Armand's voice as he moved among the soldiers shouting </div> <div> commands. She </div> <div> doubted that they were even being heard in the chaos, let alone </div> <div> obeyed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna crouched as low to the ground as possible while hundreds of </div> <div> bullets per minute </div> <div> continued to fill the air. She wondered if they were under attack </div> <div> from another rebel </div> <div> faction. She quickly discarded that idea. These were almost </div> <div> undoubtedly government </div> <div> forces. None of the rebel factions had this much firepower, let alone </div> <div> helicopters.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna saw the door to a hut on the other side of the compound open </div> <div> and Taryn, the </div> <div> Canadian nurse from her original expedition stick her head out. It </div> <div> was the first time </div> <div> Donna had seen her fellow hostages since they were separated upon </div> <div> arrival. Her heart </div> <div> leapt at the sight.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Taryn had a desperate hunted look on her face and Donna wondered if </div> <div> she looked the </div> <div> same way. Taryn motioned for Donna to make her way across the </div> <div> compound to the other </div> <div> hut. Donna looked out at the whizzing bullets and hesitated. As much </div> <div> as she would like to </div> <div> have the chance to connect with her fellow hostages, she wasn't sure </div> <div> if she should chance </div> <div> the 50-yard run across the compound. The bindings on her ankles had </div> <div> been loosened to </div> <div> allow her to walk but they were certainly far too restrictive to </div> <div> allow any running.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> But if these were government troops, Donna reasoned, they might be </div> <div> looking for a group </div> <div> of hostages as opposed to an individual. Donna might have a better </div> <div> chance of being </div> <div> rescued if she joined the others.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She stood frozen in the doorway of her hut trying to decide what to </div> <div> do. Suddenly she </div> <div> heard the unmistakable sound of a grenade whizzing through the air. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna gasped in horror as the grenade made a direct hit on the hut, </div> <div> which housed the </div> <div> other hostages. A hut she had been considering running towards only </div> <div> minutes earlier,</div> <div> It only took a few seconds for the entire building to be engulfed in </div> <div> flames. Donna tried </div> <div> desperately to close her ears to the screams. She fell back into her </div> <div> hut trying to block out </div> <div> the mental images. They were bound at the ankles and wrists; there </div> <div> was no way for them </div> <div> to escape. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> It took several minutes before Donna realized that the loud screams </div> <div> penetrating her </div> <div> consciousness were her own. She tried mightily to get her emotions </div> <div> under control but she </div> <div> was quickly being overcome by panic.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The fire that had been started by the grenade had burned the small </div> <div> thatch hut to the </div> <div> ground in seconds. Donna could now make out the forms of her dead </div> <div> fellow hostages, </div> <div> burned to death while they were bound and unable to escape. The smell </div> <div> of burning flesh </div> <div> assaulted Donna's nostrils and she turned back into the hut and threw </div> <div> up.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The smoke in the compound was getting thicker as more and more </div> <div> grenades hit their </div> <div> target and started small fires. Many of the tents were on fire and </div> <div> the embers were blowing </div> <div> around wildly starting other fires as they went.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's mind was whirling wondering what her best of course of action </div> <div> would be. The </div> <div> panic and the chaos were making it almost impossible for her to think.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She began to wonder what the others had gone through being burned </div> <div> alive. That had </div> <div> always been Donna biggest fear as a small child. She used to cry </div> <div> during school fire drills </div> <div> until she was completely sure that it wasn't a real fire. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She had forced her parents to allow her to sleep in a ground floor </div> <div> bedroom and had </div> <div> insisted that her bed be placed right underneath a window. She had </div> <div> never quite been able </div> <div> to place where the fear came from but it was very real and now it </div> <div> seemed to be very close </div> <div> to coming true.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna sat back against the side of the hut as tears overcame her. She </div> <div> cried until her entire </div> <div> body shook. She couldn't believe that just a few short weeks ago she </div> <div> had thought there </div> <div> was a real chance that she would be going home soon.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As she thought of home, she began to cry even harder. She cried for </div> <div> all of the things that </div> <div> she would never get a chance to do or say.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly, she felt Josh's letter against her skin and she pulled it </div> <div> out of the waistband of </div> <div> her pants.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She could barely read through the tears in her eyes,</div> <bR> <bR> <div> ***** Please know that you have every ounce of strength that I can </div> <div> possibly send you. </div> <div> I'm begging you to hold on-we WILL find a way to get you home </div> <div> safely.*****</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna realized that if she gave up now, there was no chance she would </div> <div> ever get home </div> <div> again. If they were fighting hard to get her back, what right did she </div> <div> have to give up?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> *****Everyone here sends their love and support. You are never far </div> <div> from our thoughts. I </div> <div> can hear you now reminding us all that we have a country to run, but </div> <div> some things are just </div> <div> more important.*****</div> <div> She thought about how everyone in the Bartlet administration had </div> <div> become her family. </div> <div> They had accepted her as one of their own right from the day she </div> <div> walked into campaign </div> <div> headquarters in New Hampshire. They had accepted, and in fact even </div> <div> embraced, her </div> <div> quirkiness. They never made her feel like less than she was, even </div> <div> though she was far less </div> <div> educated and less qualified than the rest of them. Donna had </div> <div> flourished in that wonderful, </div> <div> nurturing environment.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Her own family gave a Donna a very conditional kind of love. As soon </div> <div> as she ventured </div> <div> outside the bounds of what they saw as her future, they withdrew </div> <div> their love and support. </div> <div> They gave the distinct impression that it would not be returned until </div> <div> she chose to live her </div> <div> life within their rules. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> *****Hold on, Donnatella. I'll never give up and I don't want you to </div> <div> either.</div> <div>                           Forever,</div> <div>                                Joshua*****</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna reached down deep and found a new resolve. She hadn't fought as </div> <div> hard as she had </div> <div> to stay alive just to have it end like this.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She looked out the door at the chaos again and tried to formulate a </div> <div> new plan. The gunfire </div> <div> didn't seem to be abating any.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She tugged desperately at the binding on her wrists attempting to get </div> <div> free. If she could </div> <div> just manage to slip one wrist out, she would then be able to untie </div> <div> her feet. Donna saw the </div> <div> white fabric around her wrists begin to turn red as she scraped the </div> <div> skin raw and bloody in </div> <div> an attempt to escape.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The smoke was getting thicker and Donna continued to pull at the </div> <div> material, oblivious to </div> <div> the pain and the blood. Finally, one of her tiny wrists slipped from </div> <div> the binding. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> It took Donna a second to realize that she was free. She quickly </div> <div> removed the bindings </div> <div> from her wrists and reached down and began to work on the ones around </div> <div> her ankles.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The noise was becoming deafening. The gunfire seemed to be getting </div> <div> closer and closer. </div> <div> Donna tried to block out the screams and the moans of dying men. The </div> <div> smell of </div> <div> gunpowder stung her nose and the smell of human blood made her </div> <div> stomach churn.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Once she was free from her restraints, she moved cautiously towards </div> <div> the door of the hut. </div> <div> She had decided that her best course of action was to try to make it </div> <div> out of the camp and </div> <div> into the jungle. Maybe one of the government soldiers would see her </div> <div> then and help her. At the </div> <div> very least, maybe she could hide in the jungle until she could find a </div> <div> way to call for </div> <div> help. One thing was for sure, she wasn't going to just sit there and </div> <div> die without trying </div> <div> anything.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Before Donna could move more than a few feet outside the relative </div> <div> protection of her </div> <div> small hut, a grenade hit the ground no more than 50 feet from where </div> <div> she stood. The </div> <div> explosion knocked Donna backward into the hut. She lay on the ground </div> <div> dazed and </div> <div> confused, attempting to get her bearings back. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She tried to stand up but a sharp shooting pain in her knee brought </div> <div> her right back down to </div> <div> the ground.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna began to scream for help. Maybe, if these were government </div> <div> soldiers, one of them </div> <div> would hear her voice and come to her aid. Donna looked at the carnage </div> <div> going on around </div> <div> her and wondered cynically if any of the people involved in this </div> <div> battle had much of a </div> <div> concern for human life.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly, Donna realized that the smoke was getting thicker. The fire </div> <div> that had consumed </div> <div> much of the camp was moving closer. She tried to stand up but the </div> <div> combination of the </div> <div> pain in her knee, the ringing in her ears from the explosion and the </div> <div> smoke all around her </div> <div> made that impossible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna grabbed Josh's letter and held it close to her heart. She asked </div> <div> him to send her </div> <div> some strength now; the strength to face whatever was going to happen </div> <div> next.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I love you, Joshua," she said out loud because she needed to hear </div> <div> the words. She needed </div> <div> to put them out in the universe with the hope that they would some </div> <div> day make it back to </div> <div> his ears.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna could feel the world swimming around her, as she could no </div> <div> longer fight the </div> <div> smoke. Her head was as low to the ground as possible and yet she </div> <div> still couldn't find any </div> <div> fresh air. </div> <div> She sobbed desperately as the blackness began to envelop her.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> At first Donna thought it was a dream. She felt a pair of strong arms </div> <div> pulling her up off the </div> <div> floor of the hut. She felt herself being thrown over someone's </div> <div> shoulder. Her mind was </div> <div> trying desperately to get a clear picture of the situation. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She tried to speak but the burning in her throat made it impossible. </div> <div> She couldn't keep her </div> <div> eyes open because of the stinging smoke. She felt her entire body </div> <div> trembling with a </div> <div> mixture of fear and exhaustion.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Whoever was carrying her was running now, towards the edge of the </div> <div> compound.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She felt herself falling and then her back made contact with </div> <div> something metal. The jarring </div> <div> fall made her knee throb angrily. She was trying desperately to open </div> <div> her eyes and take in </div> <div> her surroundings.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She heard the unmistakable sound of an engine roaring to life and </div> <div> then she realized that </div> <div> she was in the back of a truck. She could feel the bullets whizzing </div> <div> by just over her head </div> <div> and she shrank down attempting to make as small a target as possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They began to move. Donna heard a harsh ping as a bullet bounced off </div> <div> of the fender of </div> <div> the truck. The truck rattled along over ruts both new and old; some </div> <div> had been made by the </div> <div> weeks of moving trucks in and out over the soft ground, others were </div> <div> new ruts caused by </div> <div> the explosions of grenades and small bombs.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Each movement made the pain in Donna's leg and head worse. She tried </div> <div> to gather her </div> <div> thoughts as the truck sped down the mountain. Once they gained some </div> <div> distance from the </div> <div> camp, Donna began breathing in the fresh air in large gulps.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She could hear the men in the cab speaking angrily in Spanish. The </div> <div> wind rushing past her </div> <div> ears made it difficult to make out either words or voices.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She raised herself up on her elbows and forced her eyes open. Her </div> <div> head was swimming </div> <div> but she could vaguely make out the figures in the cab of the truck.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> One of them seemed to notice that she had awakened and turned to face </div> <div> her. Even </div> <div> through her blurry vision, Donna recognized Armand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Lay back down and do not move," he barked at her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna did as she was told. So she was still in the hands of the </div> <div> rebels after all. Donna </div> <div> fought back tears momentarily but then realized that at least she was </div> <div> still alive, and that </div> <div> was more than she could say for any of the other hostages.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She had made it this far and she would make it all the way home. She </div> <div> would get back to </div> <div> Josh and to all of her friends.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand was even more on edge than before. She knew that she would </div> <div> have to deal with </div> <div> him very carefully. She began to reassess her situation immediately. </div> <div> She needed to find a </div> <div> way to make Armand see her as a valuable tool in getting whatever it </div> <div> was he wanted. She </div> <div> managed a small smile as she remembered another time, in another </div> <div> place, trying to </div> <div> convince another man that she could be valuable.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The sun was setting over the monuments on a cold winter night in DC. </div> <div> Josh stared out his </div> <div> window but didn't really see anything. His mind was filled with </div> <div> thoughts of Donna.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He had been trying all day to get more information but the hourly </div> <div> briefings yielded little, </div> <div> if anything, new. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He had tried valiantly to concentrate on the legislative agenda on </div> <div> his desk to no avail.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> When he couldn't hold back the rush of emotions any longer, he picked </div> <div> up the remote </div> <div> control and turned on his TV. He hit the power button on the VCR and </div> <div> waited for </div> <div> Donna's image to appear on the screen.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He sat and watched the tape in silence. There was no way that she </div> <div> could be gone. They </div> <div> had fought too hard, and they were too close.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He was lost in his own thoughts when Sam rushed into his office </div> <div> without knocking.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo's office, now," he said hurriedly half pulling Josh from the </div> <div> chair.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's up?" Josh asked as they began to move through the hallways.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We've located Jack Hawthorne," Sam said breathlessly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Where? Does he know anything? Has he seen Donna?" Josh asked </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure," Sam said. "They're putting the call through now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh and Sam barged into Leo's inner office.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do we know anything more?" Josh asked his mentor, hoping for some </div> <div> good news.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Nothing yet," Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ and Toby entered the office and searched the faces of the men </div> <div> already there for some </div> <div> good news.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There was a tremendous rush of static from the speakerphone and some </div> <div> garbled voices. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> All at once, the far-off, tinny voice of Jack Hawthorne came through.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry to call you directly at the White House," he said, "but </div> <div> there is absolutely no </div> <div> way I can get any kind of satellite transmission out of here right </div> <div> now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's fine," Leo said. "Just tell us what you know."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Have you seen Donna?" Josh jumped in. "Is she alright?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Hawthorne hesitated, knowing full well that he had absolutely no </div> <div> good news to give </div> <div> out.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Right now, I'm in the camp where Donna was being held," he said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Everyone in the room could tell by his tone of voice that things were </div> <div> very bad.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's going on there?" Leo asked</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "This place looks as bad as any war zone I've ever been in. As far as </div> <div> I can tell, they were </div> <div> overrun by government troops sometime in the last 24 hours," </div> <div> Hawthorne said. "There's </div> <div> virtually nothing left here. Dozens of soldiers are dead; all of the </div> <div> equipment is destroyed. </div> <div> Whoever survived this, if anyone did, is gone."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh's knees suddenly felt weak and he sank down in the chair beside </div> <div> Leo's desk.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Any sign of the hostages?" the President asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The silence on the other end of the phone was deafening. Josh felt as </div> <div> though time stood </div> <div> still.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What?" he implored the reporter. "Please tell me."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> We found several bodies, people who were bound at the ankles and </div> <div> wrists.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna?" Josh choked out.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We can't be sure," Hawthorne said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Why not?" Leo practically screamed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The bodies are burned beyond recognition," Hawthorne said softly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ let out a muffled cry and fell into the couch. She could no longer </div> <div> contain her sobs. The </div> <div> thought of dying like that, tied and burned to death was too horrible </div> <div> to imagine. Sam sat </div> <div> on the couch next to her and placed a comforting arm around her </div> <div> shoulders. He was </div> <div> trying very hard to push the images of a fiery death out of his own </div> <div> mind. He looked </div> <div> carefully at Josh trying to gauge his reaction.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How many bodies?" Toby asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's hard to tell," Hawthorne said. "At least four."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Were they all in one place at the time of…" Toby hesitated. "The </div> <div> time of the fire."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It appears so," Hawthorne said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Wait," Josh said desperately grabbing for anything to hold on </div> <div> to. "Didn't you say that </div> <div> Donna was being kept separate from the rest of the hostages? Didn't </div> <div> you say that she was </div> <div> in a separate location?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "When I was here, yes she was."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And there's no sign of her?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "As I said," Jack replied, "It's hard to get a handle on anything </div> <div> here. We're going to have to wait </div> <div> for some kind of formal identification and that may take awhile."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh was silent.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm keeping my ear to the ground," Hawthorne assured them. "I'll let </div> <div> you know as soon </div> <div> as I hear anything."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Before any more could be said, the static became louder and suddenly </div> <div> the entire line went </div> <div> dead.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm going down there," Josh said determinedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh, you can't go," Leo protested.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can and I will," Josh insisted.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The people on the ground there are doing everything they can. They </div> <div> will let us know as </div> <div> soon as…."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I understand that. But I need to go, I need to see for myself."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh, please…."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Listen, I'm not pulling the pity card out here, but I think I've </div> <div> done a lot for this </div> <div> administration. You told me that if I needed some time I could have </div> <div> it, well now I need it. </div> <div> I love my work here but if you force me to make a decision right now, </div> <div> I'll leave."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh began to pace the room looking for just the right words to make </div> <div> them understand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I feel completely helpless here. I need to feel like I'm doing </div> <div> something, making some </div> <div> kind of effort to get Donna back. I've sat here for close to 7 months </div> <div> doing nothing. I've </div> <div> been a good boy; I've followed everybody's instructions. But now the </div> <div> rules have </div> <div> changed. Now all Hell has broken loose down there. Donna needs </div> <div> someone there who is </div> <div> looking out just for her. She's alone and I'm sure she's scared to </div> <div> death. I need to go down </div> <div> there. I need to find her."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And what if you don't find what you're hoping for?" Toby asked </div> <div> somberly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "One way or the other, I bring her home," Josh said. "I love her, and </div> <div> I owe her that </div> <div> much."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh," Leo began, feeling that he had to make the argument even </div> <div> though he knew it was </div> <div> futile. "The situation down there is too unstable. It's not safe."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I understand that. But Donna needs me and my mind is made up."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We won't be able to protect you, or offer you any official </div> <div> assistance." </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know that," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo looked helplessly at Josh. He wanted to order him not to go but </div> <div> he knew that would </div> <div> be useless. And he couldn't really blame Josh; he knew that he would </div> <div> be doing the same </div> <div> thing in the younger man's position.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Then go with my blessing," Leo said with watery eyes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ stood up at wrapped Josh in a warm hug.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You be careful," she said. "And you tell Donna we all love her as </div> <div> soon as you see her."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will," Josh said with a smile. He wasn't sure whether CJ really </div> <div> felt that optimistic or </div> <div> whether she was doing it for his benefit, but either way he </div> <div> appreciated it.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good luck, buddy," Sam said throwing his arm around Josh's </div> <div> shoulder. "I'll take care of </div> <div> everything here till you get back. Don't worry about a thing."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks, Sam."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Toby tore a page from the notebook he had been furiously scribbling </div> <div> notes in.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Here is a list of people who will be able to help you once you are </div> <div> in Colombia," he said </div> <div> as he thrust the paper into Josh's hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh said, meeting Toby's eyes and reading all of the </div> <div> unspoken words there.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Finally the President spoke up.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> To Hell with the rules, Josh," he said. "As soon as you hit the </div> <div> ground down there and </div> <div> assess the situation, you let us know what you need and we'll make </div> <div> sure you get it. Head </div> <div> for the Embassy, they have secure communication back here. I'll call </div> <div> and tell them to </div> <div> expect you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you sure, Mr. President?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm positive," the President intoned. "I want both you and Donna </div> <div> back here safe and </div> <div> sound as soon as possible."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "But, how will it look, sir…?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You let me worry about that," the President said. "You just go down </div> <div> there and do what </div> <div> you need to do. Remember, Josh, whatever it takes."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you, sir," Josh said as he turned to go.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna awoke in total darkness. It took a few minutes for her mind to </div> <div> register the small </div> <div> shaft of light coming from underneath the door. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Her hands and ankles were once again bound. There was sharp pain in </div> <div> her wrists where </div> <div> she had rubbed them raw in her to attempt to escape back at the camp. </div> <div> She pulled her </div> <div> hands to her face and felt dampness on the bindings. She knew that </div> <div> the cuts must still be </div> <div> seeping blood. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She attempted to reposition herself slightly and an excruciating pain </div> <div> shot through her </div> <div> knee. Memories of being thrown backward by the grenade blast came </div> <div> flooding back. </div> <div> Someone had wrapped a bandage tightly around her knee. She realized </div> <div> that it must have </div> <div> been bleeding but, in the chaos of the camp, she hadn't noticed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As she slowly became more aware of her surroundings, she realized </div> <div> that she was in a </div> <div> closet of some kind. She could easily reach out and touch the walls </div> <div> on all four sides of </div> <div> her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She could hear Armand's voice outside the door. She wasn't sure whom </div> <div> he was speaking </div> <div> to, but he was speaking in English.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I want you to find Mr. Hawthorne," he hissed, "And bring him to me </div> <div> as soon as </div> <div> possible."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, sir," the other voice said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Make it clear to him that we are short on both time and patience. We </div> <div> have to make a </div> <div> deal and we have to make it now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll get word to him, sir," the other voice said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna heard movement, then the opening and closing of a door. A few </div> <div> minutes later the </div> <div> door of the closet was flung open. Armand reached in and pulled Donna </div> <div> into a standing </div> <div> position by the hair. She tried to avoid crying out but the </div> <div> combination of him pulling her </div> <div> hair and the sudden influx of weight on her sore knee caused her to </div> <div> scream out in pain.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand dragged her across the room and pushed her down into a hard </div> <div> wooden chair.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "This is your last chance, Ms. Moss," he sneered. "You had better </div> <div> hope that someone is </div> <div> willing to make a deal to get you back. Because right now, I have </div> <div> absolutely nothing to </div> <div> lose."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I understand," Donna nodded.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You are my ticket out of this country," he said. "I need to go away </div> <div> for awhile and lay </div> <div> low. Someday I will come back to Colombia in triumph but for now we </div> <div> must regroup."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna wasn't sure what her response to that should be so she remained </div> <div> silent.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand reached down and squeezed Donna's chin roughly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I have sent someone out to make contact with out Mr. Hawthorne. You </div> <div> had better say a </div> <div> prayer that he still has the ear of the Americans, because you are </div> <div> only getting one chance </div> <div> at this."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Tears began to sting Donna's eyes. Armand released her face and she </div> <div> looked around </div> <div> quickly trying to assess her surroundings. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> To her left, she saw a tiny kitchen area. The refrigerator didn't </div> <div> have a door on it and </div> <div> seemed to be used mostly to store ammunition. Donna saw something </div> <div> cooking on one of </div> <div> the burners of the stove so she knew that it must be in working order.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There were two other small rooms. The room in which she was currently </div> <div> sitting had and </div> <div> old ramshackle dining room table and half a dozen mismatched chairs. </div> <div> The light fixture </div> <div> was cracked and hanging down almost to eye level. There were water </div> <div> marks all over the </div> <div> ceiling that showed that this was definitely a building in disrepair.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> To her right was a room that seemed to serve as both a living room </div> <div> and sleeping quarters. </div> <div> There was a short wave radio sitting on the table and guns and </div> <div> ammunition strewn all </div> <div> about the room.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand moved to the stove and took a pot from one of the crude </div> <div> burners. He poured the </div> <div> liquid into a cup and moved back towards the living room. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> As he passed, Donna caught the distinct odor of coffee. It didn't </div> <div> smell like very good </div> <div> coffee but it was nevertheless, coffee. Donna felt instinctively for </div> <div> the letter tucked in the </div> <div> waistband of her pants, and she continued to feel until she could </div> <div> feel the small coffee </div> <div> bean tucked in the envelope.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She took a deep breath and vowed to do whatever she needed to do to </div> <div> get back home.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh fastened his seatbelt and took a deep breath as the plane began </div> <div> its descent into </div> <div> Colombia. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hold on, Donnatella," he whispered. "I'm on my way."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> December 18--Day 207</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you sure you want to do this, Mr. Lyman?" the young man asked, </div> <div> never averting his </div> <div> eyes from the road.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm positive," Josh said. "And I've asked you to please call me </div> <div> Josh."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes sir," the young man answered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh couldn't help but smile at the formality. He hadn't expected to </div> <div> be assigned a driver, </div> <div> but as soon as his plane landed at the airport, Thomas had been </div> <div> waiting for him at the </div> <div> gate and announced that he would be available full time to drive Josh </div> <div> anywhere that he </div> <div> needed to go.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 'I guess the President really did call ahead,' Josh thought to </div> <div> himself as they made their </div> <div> way to the parking lot.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Upon his arrival at the American Embassy, Josh was greeted personally </div> <div> by the </div> <div> Ambassador, who made it clear that all of the resources of the </div> <div> Embassy </div> <div> were at Josh's disposal. The staff would be available to give help </div> <div> whenever and wherever </div> <div> needed. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Thomas eagerly showed Josh to a small conference room, which had been </div> <div> set aside for </div> <div> his use. The staff had moved in a desk, several chairs, a telephone </div> <div> and a fax machine. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> As soon as he was settled, Josh began calling the people on the list </div> <div> that Toby had given </div> <div> him. He wanted to touch base with them and let them know that he was </div> <div> in </div> <div> Colombia. All of them were very helpful and assured Josh that they </div> <div> would offer any </div> <div> assistance possible once the demands were made.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Once he had managed to acclimate himself to the country and get a few </div> <div> hours sleep to </div> <div> stave off total exhaustion, Josh announced to Thomas that he wanted </div> <div> to visit the </div> <div> compound in the mountains where Donna had been held.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Everyone involved tried to dissuade him from the idea, claiming there </div> <div> was nothing to be </div> <div> gained by it, but Josh insisted. He felt a strong need to see the </div> <div> place where Donna had </div> <div> been held. It was as though if he could see it, he could convince </div> <div> himself that Donna had </div> <div> been able to survive it. If her life had ended on that spot, he felt </div> <div> certain that he would be </div> <div> able to feel it. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The jarring bounce of a pothole brought Josh back to the present </div> <div> moment, sitting on the </div> <div> passenger side of a jeep while Thomas skillfully navigated his way up </div> <div> the winding </div> <div> mountain roads. He continued trying to prepare himself for whatever </div> <div> lay ahead. He tried not to imagine </div> <div> the fear that Donna must have felt as her captor's brought her up </div> <div> this same road.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As they entered the clearing on the approach to the camp, Josh's </div> <div> breath caught in his </div> <div> throat. What lay before him was nothing more than a burned out </div> <div> wasteland. Everywhere </div> <div> he looked, he saw piles of rubble and ashes. The smell of fire was </div> <div> almost overwhelming, </div> <div> even after so many days.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> All of the bodies had been removed but the smell of blood and death </div> <div> still hung heavily in </div> <div> the air. Brown, puddle shaped stains on the ground indicated where </div> <div> bleeding bodies had </div> <div> fallen.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh looked around, trying hard to control his feelings of </div> <div> overwhelming sadness and utter </div> <div> despair. He tried not to think about how Donna must have felt during </div> <div> the battle. She was </div> <div> one of the strongest women he had ever known, but he knew that it </div> <div> would have been </div> <div> impossible to live through this kind of Hell and not be terrified.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He saw the burned out shells of trucks and jeeps, riddled with bullet </div> <div> holes. Once they had </div> <div> been destroyed, the people in the camp had been sitting ducks. He </div> <div> said a quick prayer that at least one vehicle had managed to survive, </div> <div> one vehicle that </div> <div> could have carried Donna away from this Hell on earth.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Thomas followed Josh's every step, careful to remain a respectful </div> <div> distance behind. He </div> <div> wanted to give Josh time alone with his thoughts, but he also wanted </div> <div> to make sure that he </div> <div> was close in case Josh needed anything. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh stared in horror at the bullet holes all around him, and the </div> <div> spent bullets and shell </div> <div> casings littering the ground. Several small trees had actually been </div> <div> cut in half by the </div> <div> machine gun fire. He fought back memories of Rosslyn and tried to </div> <div> stay focused. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> 'The sound alone must have been terrifying,' he thought.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He wondered if there was any other way Donna could have escaped. </div> <div> Would she have </div> <div> chanced trying to get away on foot?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "They searched the surrounding jungle?" he asked Thomas. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, sir," Thomas answered. "A full search was done 500 yards deep </div> <div> in every direction. </div> <div> If someone had been hiding in there, they would have been found."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh said. "I just wanted to make sure…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I understand," Thomas said sympathetically.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh took one last long look around, trying to soak in as many </div> <div> details as possible, then </div> <div> turned back to Thomas, who seemed to be studying him intently.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Let's go," he said. "We have a lot of work to do."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Dec 20---Day 209</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's eyes squinted against the sudden onslaught of light as the </div> <div> closet door was torn </div> <div> open. She braced herself for the inevitable yank on her long hair </div> <div> but, this time, it didn't </div> <div> happen.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Instead, Armand squatted down and placed his head very close to hers. </div> <div> He smelled </div> <div> like a strange combination of sweat and stale liquor. The cigarette </div> <div> hanging from his </div> <div> mouth was creating a smelly cloud around his head. He moved his nose </div> <div> to within inches </div> <div> of Donna's and exhaled smoke directly into her face. Donna coughed </div> <div> and fought to keep </div> <div> her eyes open despite the stinging.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I am on my way to meet with Mr. Hawthorne," he said menacingly. "You </div> <div> had better </div> <div> hope that I like what he has to say, because if I don't, you will be </div> <div> dead as soon as I </div> <div> return."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna forced herself to meet his eyes. She knew that he was trying to </div> <div> get her to show </div> <div> fear and she was determined not to do it. She leveled her gaze at him </div> <div> and said,</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well then, I guess I should say 'Good Luck'."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand's face grew angry as he stared into her steady blue eyes. He </div> <div> saw something there </div> <div> that he had never seen before. In the past, when he had looked into </div> <div> the eyes of hostages, </div> <div> he had always seen fear and terror. In her, he saw strength and </div> <div> determination. In an </div> <div> instant, he understood why so many people would be so eager to get </div> <div> her back.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> But still, he had to maintain the upper hand. Had to assert his </div> <div> control over her. And so </div> <div> with a maniacal grin, he leaned forward and extinguished his </div> <div> cigarette on her shoulder.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I told the guard outside to shoot you if you tried anything </div> <div> foolish," he whispered as he </div> <div> listened to the sizzle and smelled the faint smell of burning flesh.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As he slammed the closet door shut, he heard her strangled sobs, and </div> <div> he smiled.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Hawthorne lay curled up in the trunk of a car speeding through </div> <div> the city. Every bump </div> <div> in the road sent a shooting pain through his back and neck. He </div> <div> shifted to try to achieve </div> <div> some kind of comfortable position and thought back to the events that </div> <div> had brought him </div> <div> to this point.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He had spent the last several weeks moving from camp to camp, </div> <div> following in the wake of </div> <div> the government soldiers and documenting the chaos and destruction. </div> <div> The fighting going </div> <div> on in the mountains was making communication with the base camp, let </div> <div> alone the outside </div> <div> world, nearly impossible. Jack was grateful to the members of the </div> <div> British film crew who </div> <div> had volunteered to wade into the middle of the danger right along </div> <div> with him. This was a </div> <div> story that Jack felt needed to be told, and the fact that it had </div> <div> Pulitzer written all over it </div> <div> was just a bonus.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Still, the last several weeks had been tough on him emotionally. He </div> <div> had seen enough </div> <div> blood and misery to last him a lifetime. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He had visited the ESF camp within hours of its being overrun by the </div> <div> government </div> <div> soldiers. The crude huts and tents that had comprised the makeshift </div> <div> camp were still </div> <div> smoldering and there were dead and dying bodies laying everywhere. He </div> <div> looked around </div> <div> and thought to himself that there was absolutely no possibility that </div> <div> any of the rebels, or </div> <div> anyone for that matter, had escaped alive.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He knew that the people at the White House desperately wanted to </div> <div> believe that Donna </div> <div> Moss had survived the carnage. He heard it in their voices when he </div> <div> had managed to </div> <div> get a call through to tell them about the attack on the camp. He knew </div> <div> that were clinging </div> <div> to some small hope, but, in his own mind, he thought that there was </div> <div> no way she could </div> <div> have survived. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> But then he was contacted via short wave radio at a camp in the </div> <div> mountains. He was told </div> <div> that he needed to return to the city because his services were </div> <div> needed. He had </div> <div> been intrigued by the cryptic message and found himself unable to </div> <div> resist it.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> When he had finally managed to make his way back into town, he had </div> <div> been contacted </div> <div> again almost immediately. He was stunned to hear that the message was </div> <div> from Armand </div> <div> Gutierrez. His heart began to race at the thought that there might be </div> <div> some hope after all.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He had initially balked at the idea of getting into the trunk, but </div> <div> then realized that they </div> <div> were dealing with a different situation than in the mountains. He </div> <div> knew that Armand was </div> <div> probably running scared and was afraid of detection. There were far </div> <div> too many landmarks, </div> <div> far more of a chance that Jack could decipher where they were going </div> <div> here in the city.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> So, after a few minutes hesitation, he had gotten willingly into the </div> <div> trunk. After everything </div> <div> that he had seen in the last few weeks, the chance to help bring </div> <div> about a happy ending was </div> <div> just too tempting to pass up.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The car stopped and Jack waited. He listened as footsteps moved </div> <div> towards the back of the </div> <div> car, he heard the key slide into the lock and a second later the </div> <div> trunk popped open. Jack sat </div> <div> up and took a deep breath of fresh air, glad to be away from the </div> <div> gasoline fumes that were </div> <div> beginning to make him dizzy.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He saw that they were parked in front of an apparently deserted </div> <div> garage-like structure. </div> <div> Abandoned vehicles littered the area. The front corner of the roof </div> <div> had collapsed </div> <div> completely. Through the front window, Jack saw three men huddled </div> <div> around a table; one </div> <div> of them seemed to be writing something that interested the other two. </div> <div> From where he was </div> <div> at, Jack couldn't make out their faces.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> He crawled out of the trunk and stretched, trying to work some of the </div> <div> pain out of his </div> <div> cramped muscles. He tried to shake the remnants of the ride out of </div> <div> his head. Whatever </div> <div> was going to happen, Jack had a feeling that he needed to be sharp.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The door of the garage swung open and three men began to stride </div> <div> purposefully towards </div> <div> him. As they moved closer, Jack recognized the face of Armand </div> <div> Gutierrez. He tried not to </div> <div> let his face register the shock he was feeling. He had been sure that </div> <div> Gutierrez was dead.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So nice to see you again, Mr. Hawthorne," Armand said smarmily.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I've been waiting for your call," Jack said evenly, not wanting to </div> <div> engage in any verbal </div> <div> power struggle.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good, does that mean that you are still in a position to carry my </div> <div> message to the </div> <div> American's?" Armand asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That depends. Do you still have what the American's want in return?" </div> <div> Jack asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The young lady is still alive if that's what you're asking."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack breathed a sigh of relief. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's exactly what I'm asking. The Americans have assured me that </div> <div> they are willing to </div> <div> negotiate with you in good faith, but only if you are in a position </div> <div> to return Ms. Moss to </div> <div> them unharmed."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The blood began to rise in Armand's face and he took a few menacing </div> <div> steps in Jack's </div> <div> direction.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I am the only person who is in a position to return Ms. Moss to </div> <div> them." Armand yelled </div> <div> "But if they cross me, I will not hesitate to kill her."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack held his ground but stood very still. He knew that it would do </div> <div> no good to antagonize </div> <div> the man who held Donna's fate in his hands.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "They won't cross you, but they will want certain assurances." he </div> <div> said evenly, trying to </div> <div> restore calm.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "All those things can be worked out," Armand said thrusting a </div> <div> tattered piece of notebook </div> <div> paper at the reporter. "These are my demands. As soon as they agree </div> <div> to these, I will </div> <div> arrange some kind of proof that the lady is alive."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack skimmed the list and said, "These things will take some time."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Time is not a luxury I can afford right now," Armand spat "However, </div> <div> there are a few </div> <div> things I need to do before I will be prepared to leave the country. I </div> <div> need a few weeks to </div> <div> gather some of my people who scattered after we were so brutally </div> <div> attacked by the </div> <div> government forces." Armand stopped and seemed to be doing a little </div> <div> mental calculation. </div> <div> "They have thirty days, no longer. After that, I will kill the woman."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll pass the message along. How do I get in touch with you if I </div> <div> need clarification on </div> <div> anything?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will contact you in a week, Mr. Hawthorne. Through the same </div> <div> channels I used before. </div> <div> But please tell the Americans that I am not in a compromising kind of </div> <div> mood. My </div> <div> demands are non negotiable."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll tell them," Jack said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As Armand turned around and walked away, Jack Hawthorne climbed back </div> <div> into the </div> <div> trunk, eager to call the White House and share what he had learned.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo was momentarily startled by the ringing of the cell phone tucked </div> <div> in the top drawer </div> <div> of his desk. He knew that there was only one person who had the </div> <div> number. He snatched </div> <div> the phone from the drawer and flipped it open.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo McGarry," he said, "What's do you have for me, Hawthorne?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I have some news for you. Is it safe to talk on this phone?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Leo said assuredly. CJ had given each of them a cell phone, to </div> <div> be used only for </div> <div> communication with Jack Hawthorne. They were part of the elaborate, </div> <div> but effective, </div> <div> communications network that she had set up through Katie's paper.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I met with Gutierrez today," Hawthorne continued. "I have a list of </div> <div> demands."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Give them to me," Leo said grabbing a pencil.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "One million dollars cash in American funds. American passports and </div> <div> paperwork for an </div> <div> undetermined amount of people, a list of whose names will be given at </div> <div> a later date. </div> <div> An airplane and pilot to fly them to the South American destination </div> <div> of their choice, to be </div> <div> revealed once the plane is in the air."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo stopped writing. "Is that it?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Isn't that enough?" Hawthorne asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes it is," Leo said, secretly breathing a sigh of relief that the </div> <div> demands weren't more </div> <div> extensive.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "When is our next contact?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "A week," Hawthorne said. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What kind of time limit are we looking at?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He said that he needs some time to gather his troops together. 30 </div> <div> days maximum."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Fine," Leo said, glancing at the calendar on his desk. "I need you </div> <div> to do something for </div> <div> me."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What?" Hawthorne asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I need you to get over to the American Embassy and talk to Josh. </div> <div> Tell him everything </div> <div> you just told me."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh is here?" Hawthorne asked incredulously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Leo said. "He'll be handling everything on that end."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, I'm on my way there now."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Margaret," Leo said as he passed through his outer office. "Please </div> <div> have CJ meet me </div> <div> right away in Toby's office."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Sure thing," Margaret said picking up the phone and dialing CJ's </div> <div> extension as her boss </div> <div> stalked off down the hall.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo was glad to find Sam already in Toby's office when he arrived. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Did you need something?" Toby said as he looked up and saw the chief</div> <div> of staff standing in the doorway.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Let's wait till CJ gets here," he said pointedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is this about…?" Sam began, then hesitated as he noted the open door </div> <div> and all of the </div> <div> activity in the bullpen.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> A few minutes later CJ walked in.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's up?" she asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo closed the door, then turned and faced the three of them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Jack Hawthorne just called me," he said. "He met with Gutierrez this </div> <div> morning. We have </div> <div> a list of demands."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What are they?" All three asked in unison.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo repeated the demands as Hawthorne had given them to him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It could be worse," Toby said scrubbing his face with his hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "My thoughts exactly," Leo said. "I think we need to be prepared for </div> <div> the fact that these </div> <div> may change."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Or maybe we should just be thankful that he is desperate and willing </div> <div> to settle for </div> <div> whatever he can get," CJ said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's possible also," Toby agreed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The money is no problem," Leo said matter-of-factly. "I'll take care </div> <div> of that."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The passports are do-able," Toby said without looking up. "I'll </div> <div> start working on them </div> <div> and then we can just fill in the details later."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you sure you want to do this?" Leo asked. "Falsifying documents </div> <div> is a pretty dicey </div> <div> business."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I told you before, Leo, I'm in," Toby said. "Whatever it takes."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo looked around the room as each person silently confirmed their </div> <div> willingness to move </div> <div> forward.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The plane is going to be a dicier issue," Sam said. "It's not going </div> <div> to be as easy to get one </div> <div> of those in under the radar, no pun intended. Not to mention that we </div> <div> are going to need a </div> <div> pilot and crew."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Exactly," Leo said. "Let's put a few discreet feelers out and see </div> <div> what we can come up </div> <div> with. We have one week before the next contact, and a 30 day final </div> <div> window."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It won't take 30 days," Toby said confidently.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well apparently Gutierrez needs some time to reassemble his troops."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Have you talked to the President?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not yet," Leo sighed. He knew that trying to keep this information </div> <div> from his old friend </div> <div> would be pointless. "I'm on my way to tell him now. I just wanted to </div> <div> be able to report to </div> <div> him that we are already working on it."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And to that end," Toby said. "I think we all have a few phone calls </div> <div> to make."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," they all agreed as they scattered from Toby's office, each one </div> <div> determined to meet </div> <div> the demands of her captors and bring Donna home.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Mr. Lyman?" Thomas said as he entered the room. "There's a Mr. </div> <div> Hawthorne at the </div> <div> front gate. He is here to see you and said that you would know he is."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Josh said immediately. "Send him right in."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Will do, sir," Thomas said as he exited the room. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> In the five days that he had been in Colombia, Josh had realized that </div> <div> Thomas was never </div> <div> going to be able to address him in a less formal way.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There was a light rap on the door. Thomas ushered in Jack Hawthorne, </div> <div> then quickly </div> <div> excused himself.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Jack," Josh said moving forward and shaking the reporters </div> <div> hand. "It's nice to finally </div> <div> meet you in person."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ditto," Jack said, realizing that Leo McGarry must not have had time </div> <div> yet to call his </div> <div> deputy. "I didn't know that you were here in Colombia or I would have </div> <div> called you this </div> <div> morning."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I arrived a few days ago……Wait…called me this morning? Why? Do you </div> <div> have some </div> <div> news? Do you know something?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I met with Gutierrez about an hour ago," Jack said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What? What did he say? Is……" Josh stopped himself in mid-sentence. </div> <div> He wanted to </div> <div> hear the answer so badly but at the same time he was terrified to ask </div> <div> the question. Finally </div> <div> he gathered all his courage and asked softly, "Did you see Donna?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No," Hawthorne said. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh's heart sank. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I didn't see her, but Armand assured me that she is alive."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> From the depths of despair to the summit of happiness in three </div> <div> seconds flat. Josh's voice took </div> <div> on a worried tone.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Why didn't he let you see her? Do you believe him when he says that </div> <div> she is alive? Do </div> <div> you think he's telling the truth?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hawthorne looked Josh straight in the eye and spoke sincerely.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I really think he's telling me the truth, Josh. He told me that he </div> <div> would make contact with </div> <div> me again in a week. I told him that I would need concrete proof then </div> <div> that she was alive. </div> <div> He didn't even flinch."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hawthorne saw the doubt still reflected in Josh's eyes so he </div> <div> continued.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He's not the same man I met in the camp, Josh. This battle has </div> <div> changed him He's used </div> <div> to being the top dog and now his little rag tag army is in tatters. </div> <div> His comrades are </div> <div> scattered all over the countryside. He's scared, although he would </div> <div> never admit it, and </div> <div> he's desperate. It makes it much harder for him to hide his emotions </div> <div> and intentions. He </div> <div> knows that she is the key to getting what he wants. He managed to </div> <div> escape the camp </div> <div> somehow and I think that he was smart enough to make sure she got out </div> <div> safely too. I </div> <div> really believe she's alive, Josh. I wouldn't say so if I didn't."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Josh said in a soft voice. "I didn't believe that it was </div> <div> possible she was dead, I </div> <div> just needed a little reassurance, you know what I mean?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah, I do," Jack said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The two men stood quietly for a several minutes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What are the demands?" Josh asked snapping back to matter at hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I called Mr. McGarry as soon as the meeting was over so I'm assuming </div> <div> he's already at </div> <div> work on them," Hawthorne said. "He wants one million dollars in </div> <div> American currency, </div> <div> US passports and papers for him and all of the men he chooses to take </div> <div> with him. A plane </div> <div> and crew to give them safe passage to the South American country of </div> <div> their choice. Once </div> <div> they are on the ground, the plane and crew will be released."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna never gets on that plane," Josh says vehemently, never </div> <div> thinking for a moment </div> <div> that they wouldn't  find a way to meet the hijackers demands. "She is </div> <div> released on the </div> <div> ground, before the exchange. No negotiations on that. Do you </div> <div> understand me?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I understand," Hawthorne said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I mean it, its non-negotiable," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I understand. I'll make that point perfectly clear at our next </div> <div> meeting."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And when is that?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He is going to contact me in a week," Hawthorne said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I want to be there for your next meeting," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hawthorne looked sympathetically at Josh.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's not possible and you know it. I'm the only one that he will </div> <div> talk to. We don't want </div> <div> to spook him now, not when we are this close."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know. You're right. I just…I want real proof…I want to know that </div> <div> she's ok," Josh </div> <div> said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll get it for you. I promise." Jack said.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The door to the closet flew open and once again Donna found herself </div> <div> face to face with </div> <div> Armand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You may just be in luck," he sneered. "Mr. Hawthorne still believes </div> <div> that the American's </div> <div> are willing to make a deal for your safe return.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hr reached down and placed his hand on Donna's sore and swollen knee. </div> <div> Donna knew </div> <div> what was coming and braced herself against the pain as he squeezed. </div> <div> She bit her lip to </div> <div> keep from crying out but when the pain got to be too much, she let </div> <div> out a small scream.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As the door slammed closed again, she heard his evil laugh.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo McGarry," the Chief of Staff said as he picked up the ringing </div> <div> extension on his desk. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo, it's Josh"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How are you, Josh?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm fine, Leo. How are things on your end."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Things are good here. Did you meet with Hawthorne?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah. The demands aren't as bad as I thought they might be."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Me either."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Still, they could be tricky."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We're working on that from this end, Josh. You just take care of </div> <div> what needs taken care </div> <div> of down there."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Will do. But Leo, how are we going to work the plane thing?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "CJ, Sam and Toby are working on it now. Don't worry, we'll find a </div> <div> way."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, keep me informed will you?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Absolutely."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As Leo hung up the phone, he looked down at the calendar on his desk. </div> <div> He had taken it </div> <div> from Josh's office the day after he left for Colombia. For some </div> <div> reason he had felt the </div> <div> need to continue what Josh had started. He grabbed a pencil and </div> <div> filled in the next block.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> December 23---Day 211</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh wandered back down the hall towards his makeshift office. He </div> <div> could hear the strains </div> <div> of the Embassy holiday party fading into the distance.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Thomas had convinced him to attend, if only for a short while. He </div> <div> knew that his young </div> <div> driver had hoped that the lights, and the cheer and all of the multi-</div> <div> denominational </div> <div> decorations might lift his mood and give him a chance to relax.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh appreciated the thought, but knew that nothing would lift his </div> <div> mood tonight. He </div> <div> entered the office and sank down into his desk chair. All he could </div> <div> think of was how much </div> <div> Donna loved Christmas. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Hawthorne cradled the phone against his ear and spoke softly to </div> <div> the person on the </div> <div> other end.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I wish I was there too, sweetheart. I'm sorry that you have to be </div> <div> alone on Christmas. I'll </div> <div> make it up to you," he promised.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know that you will," answered the sweet, soft voice on the other </div> <div> end of the phone. </div> <div> "And I know that what you're doing there is important. Just please </div> <div> promise me that you </div> <div> are going to come home safely."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I promise," he whispered.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Isn't it about time to take care of this gift exchange fiasco so we </div> <div> can all get back to </div> <div> work?" Toby asked grumpily.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Look, I know this isn't your holiday," CJ said "But you were the one </div> <div> who wanted to </div> <div> participate, so let's just try and be a little cheery about it."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know that I agreed to participate," Toby countered "but it's just…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's hard to feel cheery," Sam said picking up his bosses </div> <div> thought, "without Josh and </div> <div> Donna here."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They all nodded in sad agreement as Leo and Margaret approached the </div> <div> group.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We, and by that I mean all of the assistants and support staff, have </div> <div> made a decision," </div> <div> Margaret said nervously. "I've already run it by Leo but I wanted to </div> <div> make sure that we </div> <div> have everyone's approval."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What is it?" Sam asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We would like to hold off on the gift exchange, and for that matter </div> <div> the party. We want to </div> <div> leave the bullpen decorated as is and just put the entire holiday on </div> <div> hold until Donna and </div> <div> Josh get back so we can all celebrate together."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ quickly blinked back the tears that were forming in her eyes. "I </div> <div> think that's an </div> <div> excellent idea," she said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Everyone in the group nodded their agreement.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna leaned her head back against the wall and tried to forget about </div> <div> the pain for just a </div> <div> few minutes. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She could hear church bells and celebratory shouts in the distance. </div> <div> All of the sudden she </div> <div> realized that it must be Christmas Day. Was that possible? Had she </div> <div> really been gone that </div> <div> long? </div> <bR> <bR> <div> At the beginning, she had carefully chronicled every day in her head, </div> <div> keeping meticulous </div> <div> track of how long she had been held captive as well as what the </div> <div> accurate day and date </div> <div> was. After a while, the reality had become too overwhelming and she </div> <div> had begun to let </div> <div> each day simply melt into the next.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She did a little calculating in her head. She knew that she been </div> <div> captured on May 25th. If </div> <div> this indeed Christmas, it would mean she had been held for seven </div> <div> months. Donna closed </div> <div> her eyes and held back the tears as the reality of that number began </div> <div> to sink in.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> December 25---Day 213</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Hawthorne was spending all of his time wandering around the city </div> <div> and being as </div> <div> visible as he could possibly be. He was afraid to return to his work </div> <div> in the mountains. He </div> <div> wanted to be available to meet as soon as Armand contacted him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He had just stepped out of a cab in front of his hotel when a man </div> <div> approached him and </div> <div> said, "Please come with me, Mr. Hawthorne. Mr. Gutierrez would like </div> <div> to see you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack was not at all startled or surprised. He had believed all along </div> <div> that he would be </div> <div> contacted in an indirect manner and had, in fact, been waiting for </div> <div> it. The element of </div> <div> surprise would mean that Armand could feel confident that the </div> <div> reporter had not had time </div> <div> warn anyone and that he would not be followed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The two men walked calmly into the hotel parking garage where Jack </div> <div> was once again </div> <div> placed in the trunk of the car. They drove for what seemed like a </div> <div> longer distance this time </div> <div> before coming to a stop.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The trunk opened and Jack climbed out, careful to keep his hands in </div> <div> front of him and </div> <div> avoid sudden moves.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Before him stood a run down old apartment building. He noticed some </div> <div> electrical wires </div> <div> that looked they had been strung by an amateur and some radio and </div> <div> television antennas </div> <div> on the roof. Before he could assess the situation further, the man </div> <div> who had picked him up </div> <div> said, "Follow me."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They entered the building and picked their way down a filthy garbage </div> <div> strewn hallway. </div> <div> When they reached the last door on the left hand side of the hallway, </div> <div> the man knocked </div> <div> three times and uttered something in Spanish.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The door opened and Jack once again found himself face to face with </div> <div> Armand Gutierrez.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So, Mr. Hawthorne," Armand said getting directly to the point, "Did </div> <div> you pass my </div> <div> demands on to the Americans?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, I did."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And they are willing to meet all of your demands."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's that simple?" Armand asked skeptically.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, it's that simple. They have only one counter demand."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And what is that?" Armand asked angrily.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ms. Moss never boards the plane. The exchange takes place on the </div> <div> ground. She is free </div> <div> before you get on the plane. They have assured me this point is non-</div> <div> negotiable. If you </div> <div> agree to that, they are willing to meet all of your demands."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand considered for a moment and then sneered, "That is acceptable."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack thought that Armand seemed startled that his demands had been </div> <div> accepted without </div> <div> question. It seemed to throw him a bit and Jack decided that now </div> <div> would be a good time to </div> <div> try to gain the upper hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good. As soon as you get me the information that you need on the </div> <div> passports and </div> <div> paperwork, I will get it to them and we can get moving. In the </div> <div> meantime, I would like to </div> <div> see Donna so that I can give the Americans my personal guarantee that </div> <div> she is alright."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand looked momentarily shocked but gestured towards the closet.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> It took Jack a minute to realize what he meant but then he moved over </div> <div> and opened the </div> <div> door.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna flinched expecting to see Armand but breathed a sigh of relief </div> <div> when she realized </div> <div> that it was Jack Hawthorne.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He immediately dropped to his knees and put his hand on her shoulder. </div> <div> She looked </div> <div> considerably worse than she had looked last time he had seen her in </div> <div> the camp. She had </div> <div> blood-covered bandages on her knee and wrists. Her face was pale and </div> <div> drawn. She had </div> <div> huge dark circles under her eyes. Jack lifted his hand to her </div> <div> forehead. She appeared to be </div> <div> running a fairly significant fever.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" he asked her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll be fine," she said resolutely. "What's happening?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's happening," he said, "is that we are going to get you out of </div> <div> here very, very soon. </div> <div> We're very close. It's not going to be long now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," she said. "I can hold on. I'll be fine. I promise."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's enough," Armand growled.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You listen to me," Jack said looking directly into her eyes. "You </div> <div> hold on. I'll be back </div> <div> soon."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> This time when the door closed, there was a small smile and the only </div> <div> tears were tears of </div> <div> happiness.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well?" Josh asked anxiously as Thomas ushered Jack Hawthorne into </div> <div> the office. Jack </div> <div> had called and said he was on the way over, he had said that he had </div> <div> been in contact with </div> <div> Armand, but he had refused to offer any details over the phone "How </div> <div> did it go? Did you </div> <div> see Donna?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I saw her," Jack assured him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How is she?" Josh asked</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She is definitely very much alive," Jack said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank God," Josh said. "Is she ok?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm not going to lie to you, Josh. She is starting to show the signs </div> <div> of being in captivity </div> <div> for a long period of time. But I got a chance to talk to her and I </div> <div> can assure you that her </div> <div> fighting spirit is still very much intact. She told me that she will </div> <div> be able to hold on and I </div> <div> believe her."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Signs of being in captivity?" Josh asked, feeling slightly nauseous.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack decided that it was best to tell Josh as many details as he </div> <div> could. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She looks tired, Josh. She's very thin. She has some kind of injury </div> <div> to her knee but I </div> <div> didn't get a chance to ask her about it. She's running a bit of a </div> <div> fever but I don't think it's </div> <div> anything to worry about. She has some bumps and bruises. But she's </div> <div> strong, Josh. She's </div> <div> going to be ok."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack could actually see the relief wash over Josh's body, only to be </div> <div> replaced by a concern </div> <div> about the news of her health and a renewed determination to get her </div> <div> to safety as soon as </div> <div> possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Josh said. "Thanks for everything. I know you're putting </div> <div> yourself in danger </div> <div> doing this and I appreciate it."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No problem," Jack said with a smile. "You can just make sure I get </div> <div> an invite to the next </div> <div> big White House shindig. I need to make it up to my wife for being </div> <div> away at Christmas."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Consider it a standing invitation," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly, they heard bells and whistles and clapping and singing from </div> <div> outside of the </div> <div> embassy. Josh was temporarily confused until Jack said "Happy New </div> <div> Year."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh looked at the clock on the wall and realized that it was 12:01. </div> <div> He hadn't even paused </div> <div> for a moment to think about it being New Years Eve.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, it isn't yet," Josh said quietly, "But at least now there's a </div> <div> good chance it will be."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo reached into to his pocket and pulled out the ringing cell phone. </div> <div> He stepped into </div> <div> Josh's empty office to escape some of the noise of the celebration </div> <div> going on in the </div> <div> bullpen.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo here," he said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Its Josh," said the voice on the other end of the phone.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do you have news?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There was a silence on the other end of the phone and Leo stiffened.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Jack saw her today, Leo. Donna's alive." Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo could hear the tears in Josh's voice. When he spoke again he was </div> <div> fighting back his </div> <div> own.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is she ok?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He said that she needs sleep and food and probably a Dr. but he said </div> <div> that she's ok. And </div> <div> he said that she's strong, she told him that she could hang on."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank God," Leo said, immediately sending up a silent prayer of </div> <div> thanks. "What's next?"  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Armand said he would be in touch soon with the passport and </div> <div> paperwork info. How is </div> <div> everything else coming?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The money is set and ready to go." Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "But Leo where………?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The money is set, Josh. End of story."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Alright," Josh said. He recognized the familiar tone in Leo's voice </div> <div> that signaled the end </div> <div> of the topic.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The plane is just about set too," Leo continued.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Really, who…?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The President is taking care of it."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "But I thought….."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Look, Josh. It's his decision. I've known the man a long time and I </div> <div> trust his judgment. </div> <div> He feels like he is in the best position to handle this and he's </div> <div> probably right. He hasn't </div> <div> even let me in on all the details yet but if he says it's handled, </div> <div> then you can believe it's </div> <div> handled."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok. Tell him I said thank you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Tell him yourself as soon as you and Donna get home."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks, Leo. I'll call you as soon as I have any more information."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Please do."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> For the first time in weeks, Leo felt a smile cross his lips. He </div> <div> could finally see the light at </div> <div> the end of the tunnel.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Happy New Year, Josh," he said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah, it just might turn out to be that after all," Josh said with a </div> <div> smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> January 1---Day 221</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Hawthorne was getting used to having mysterious strangers </div> <div> approach him on the </div> <div> street. He wondered if he should be concerned that it no longer even </div> <div> scared him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He was standing at an open-air fruit market when a man carrying a </div> <div> large manila envelope </div> <div> approached him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Mr. Hawthorne," the man said. "Mr. Gutierrez asked me to give you </div> <div> this envelope. He </div> <div> said that you would know what to do with the contents."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack peered in the large envelope and saw various pictures and papers </div> <div> full of personal </div> <div> information.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Tell him I'll take care of it," Jack said calmly. "How do I contact </div> <div> him when it's done?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You can contact me, and I will get word to him," the man said as he </div> <div> handed Jack a piece </div> <div> of paper with a phone number on it. "Needless to say, that number is </div> <div> for your eyes only."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I understand," Jack assured him. "I'll call you soon to set up a </div> <div> time for the exchange."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Very well," the man said and disappeared back into the crowd.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Thomas quickly led Jack into the room that Josh was using as a </div> <div> temporary office. Josh </div> <div> had made it clear that anytime Jack showed up at the gates, day or </div> <div> night, he was to be </div> <div> escorted in immediately.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh saw the manila envelope in Jacks hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is that what I think it is?" he asked excitedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yep," Jack beamed. "It's the passport information. It's all here."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Great," Josh said as he picked up the phone and asked the </div> <div> receptionist to give him a </div> <div> secure line to the White House.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh waited impatiently until he heard, "Toby Ziegler's office."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ginger," he said "It's Josh. Is he in?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Sure, Josh. Hold on one second."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There was a brief pause and then Toby's familiar voice came on the </div> <div> line.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We got the passport info," Josh said without preamble. "Now what?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Write down this number," Toby said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh scribbled the number on the desk pad.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Call it, tell them who you are. You won't need to say anything else. </div> <div> They are waiting for </div> <div> your call. They will send a courier over to get the envelope and they </div> <div> will courier it back </div> <div> to you when it's finished."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Toby, look," Josh hesitated for a moment. "I'm not doubting you for </div> <div> a minute, but I </div> <div> have to ask. These guys are reliable right?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Absolutely, Josh. Call them."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh's hands were shaking as he dialed the number that Toby had given </div> <div> him. This was </div> <div> the last piece of the puzzle that needed to be taken care of, and </div> <div> then they could get Donna </div> <div> back to where she belonged.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> January 9---Day 229</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh had slept only sporadically since the courier had picked up the </div> <div> package. He had no </div> <div> idea how long it would take to create the fake documents. Toby had </div> <div> told him to be </div> <div> patient, it was important that the documents were done right. If </div> <div> Armand did not feel that </div> <div> they were good enough, it could blow the entire deal. Josh couldn't </div> <div> let that happen. They </div> <div> were so close now that he could feel it. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo assured him that there was a plane on the ground in Colombia </div> <div> waiting for </div> <div> instructions. The President had taken care of all the details.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh was concerned that the President had become so personally </div> <div> involved. He worried </div> <div> about a scandal if anyone found out. But he was so grateful to know </div> <div> that everything was </div> <div> in place, that he didn't question it. There would plenty of time to </div> <div> deal with the fallout </div> <div> later, after Donna was home safely.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Thomas barged excitedly into the room and said, "Mr. Lyman, there's a </div> <div> courier out </div> <div> front."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh reached the Embassy gate on a dead run. The courier stood there </div> <div> calmly holding the </div> <div> same large manila envelope from the previous week. Josh took it and </div> <div> quickly looked </div> <div> inside.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He saw US passports and other documents and breathed a huge sigh of </div> <div> relief. When Josh </div> <div> looked up to thank the courier, he was gone.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh was pacing like a caged animal around his makeshift office. It </div> <div> had been over two </div> <div> hours since Jack Hawthorne had come and picked up the paperwork. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He had promised that he would call back as soon as a meeting time had </div> <div> been arranged.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh's heart leapt as the phone rang. He answered it before the first </div> <div> ring had finished.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Lyman," he said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Day after tomorrow," Jack said. "First thing in the morning."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> January 16---Day 236</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As much as Josh had wanted to insist that Jack take him along for the </div> <div> exchange, he knew </div> <div> that it would have been a mistake. There was a chance that the rebels </div> <div> might recognize </div> <div> him and be spooked. Josh wasn't willing to take any chances at this </div> <div> point.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack had asked for, and received, permission to allow one other </div> <div> person to accompany him </div> <div> to act as a driver. Thomas had volunteered immediately. Both Jack and </div> <div> Josh made it </div> <div> crystal clear to Thomas that this could be dangerous, but he insisted </div> <div> that he wanted to go. </div> <div> Josh's assurance that Thomas was trustworthy was enough for Jack and </div> <div> he agreed to let </div> <div> the younger man accompany him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The two men had set out before daylight to prepare for the exchange. </div> <div> Josh watched them </div> <div> drive off from the Embassy window and realized that all he could do </div> <div> now was wait and </div> <div> pray. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> At the last minute, Jack called Leo and gave him the details on </div> <div> where to send the plane. </div> <div> He had received Leo's personal assurance that the money was waiting </div> <div> on the plane and </div> <div> that the crew was in place and ready to go.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack and Thomas arrived at the old airfield as the sun was coming up </div> <div> and waited. The </div> <div> plane arrived shortly after they did. Two hours later, they saw </div> <div> several vans and panel </div> <div> trucks approaching.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "This is it," Jack said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Let's do it," Thomas replied.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The two men got out of the van and faced the group of soldiers </div> <div> forming in front of them.</div> <div> Armand was the one of the last ones out of the first truck and he </div> <div> pulled Donna out behind </div> <div> him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand eyed the plane sitting on the runway. "Do you have everything </div> <div> I asked for?" he </div> <div> sneered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack looked into Donna's eyes and in an instant he knew that he had </div> <div> to make sure that </div> <div> nothing went wrong. She had suffered so much and now he was on the </div> <div> verge of getting </div> <div> her home. Forget the Pulitzer, Jack knew what was really important. </div> <div> He hoped that if it </div> <div> were ever his wife in that situation, someone would step up to help </div> <div> her. He opened his </div> <div> mouth and began to speak the words that had been told to him </div> <div> personally by the President </div> <div> of the United States.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, I do." Jack said. Then he uttered a quick prayer for strength </div> <div> and continued. "So let </div> <div> me tell you how this is going to work."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand lifted an eyebrow but remained silent.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "There is one million dollars American cash aboard the airplane. One </div> <div> unarmed man will </div> <div> be allowed to go on to the airplane and verify what I am saying. He </div> <div> will also verify the </div> <div> presence of a full flight crew. He can then stay on the plane or he </div> <div> can exit, that's your </div> <div> choice. The door to the plane will then be closed and locked. I will </div> <div> hand over the </div> <div> passports and papers to you and you can verify their authenticity. </div> <div> Then you are free to </div> <div> leave at any point you wish after you have released Ms. Moss. The </div> <div> plane will not be </div> <div> unlocked until she has been released."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You have given this a great deal of thought, Mr. Hawthorne." Armand </div> <div> hissed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Those are the rules. Take them or leave them."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand motioned for one of the men to check the plane. The man </div> <div> hesitantly dropped his </div> <div> gun on the ground, then jogged up the steps.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> A few minutes later, he reappeared and assured Armand that both the </div> <div> money and the </div> <div> flight crew were aboard. A moment later, the airplane door slammed </div> <div> shut.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Armand moved towards Jack. "The papers?" he said, holding out his </div> <div> hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack handed him the manila envelope. Armand opened them and gave them </div> <div> a quick </div> <div> inspection. He nodded his satisfaction then moved back towards the </div> <div> group.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "As soon as Ms. Moss is released, the plane will be unlocked," Jack </div> <div> said evenly, </div> <div> recognizing that they had reached the moment of truth.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Very well," Armand hissed, as he grabbed Donna by the hair and </div> <div> pushed her towards </div> <div> the reporter.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack quickly reached out and grabbed Donna to keep her from falling. </div> <div> With one arm </div> <div> around her waist, he led her to the waiting van and opened the back </div> <div> door. He half lifted </div> <div> her in so that she could lie where the back seats had been removed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's ok," he whispered to her. "It's almost over now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Get in the van," he barked at Thomas, who quickly obeyed, slid into </div> <div> the drivers seat and </div> <div> started the engine.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack calmly walked around to the passenger's side, made sure that </div> <div> every other door was </div> <div> locked, then signaled the pilot as he had been told to do. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The second he climbed into the passengers seat, the door of the plane </div> <div> opened. Armand </div> <div> and the soldiers began to move towards the steps.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Drive," Jack ordered Thomas, and with that they roared away from the </div> <div> airfield.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As soon as they were out of sight, Jack climbed into the back of the </div> <div> van with Donna. She </div> <div> was sobbing uncontrollably, half from fear and half from relief.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He quickly untied her hands, carefully trying not to disturb the </div> <div> wounds on her wrists.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Where are we going?" she asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh wanted us to drive immediately back to the Embassy," Thomas </div> <div> reminded Jack.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna looked at Jack with amazement. "Josh is here?" she asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes he is," Jack beamed, as he saw a look of utter joy come upon </div> <div> Donna's face. "And I </div> <div> think you should call him before he has some sort of attack."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's hands were shaking violently so Jack punched in the numbers </div> <div> on the cell phone </div> <div> before gently handing it to her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Lyman," the voice answered before the first ring had finished.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The sound of his voice made Donna sob even harder. She tried to speak </div> <div> but nothing </div> <div> would come out. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh could hear the soft crying on the other end of the phone.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna, is that you?" he asked breathlessly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," she sobbed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Where are you?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We're on our way there," she said.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> January 18---Day 238</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh leaned back against the wall of his makeshift office as his </div> <div> knees turned to Jell-O. </div> <div> The entire world seemed to be spinning around him. He could feel his </div> <div> heart pounding </div> <div> wildly in his chest and he made no attempt to brush away the tears </div> <div> that were coursing </div> <div> down his cheeks. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He focused all of his attention on the phone in his hand, wishing it </div> <div> could somehow </div> <div> magically transport him to Donna's side. He listened to her sobbing </div> <div> softly on the other </div> <div> end and wondered if she could hear that his tears matched her own.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna, are you alright?" he asked quietly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I think so," she sobbed. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you hurt?" he asked, unable to hide the fear in his voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh was frustrated by the distance between them. He wanted to see </div> <div> her with his own </div> <div> eyes; he needed to assure himself that she was indeed alright. He </div> <div> remembered what Jack </div> <div> had said about her showing "signs of being in captivity"; those words </div> <div> had echoed in his </div> <div> ears since the moment he had first heard them. He was glad that the </div> <div> Embassy had a fully </div> <div> stocked infirmary on site. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He pushed away all of the mental images of bruises and blood and </div> <div> concentrated only on </div> <div> the sound of her voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How far away are you?" he asked, knowing that any amount of time was </div> <div> going to feel </div> <div> like an eternity.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He heard her repeating the question, and then heard Thomas's voice in </div> <div> the background </div> <div> say, "We'll be there in about 45 minutes."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's going to be the longest 45 minutes of my life," he said, </div> <div> glancing at his watch.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna pushed herself into the corner, with her back wedged between </div> <div> the rear side of the </div> <div> driver's seat and the side of the van. She had one leg pulled up to </div> <div> her chest, the other </div> <div> sticking straight out in front of her. Jack eyed the blood-covered </div> <div> bandage and saw her </div> <div> wince in pain as she tried to find a semi-comfortable position. She </div> <div> was clinging </div> <div> desperately to the cell phone, holding on to it as though it were her </div> <div> lifeline. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack looked at Donna, and how intent she was on listening to Josh's </div> <div> voice, and suddenly </div> <div> he felt like he was intruding. He reached towards the back of the van </div> <div> and grabbed a </div> <div> blanket and a bottle of water out of the box of emergency supplies </div> <div> that Thomas had </div> <div> packed. He twisted the cap off of the bottle and handed it to her. </div> <div> She downed the entire </div> <div> bottle in what seemed like one gulp and shot him a grateful look that </div> <div> made his heart melt. </div> <div> He covered her with the blanket, tucked it up around her shoulders, </div> <div> and then moved back </div> <div> to the front of the van to give her some privacy.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Keep talking to me, Donna," Josh begged. " I just need to hear your </div> <div> voice. Are you sure </div> <div> you're ok?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I think so, but it's hard to say. I'm just so glad to be out of </div> <div> there that I'm kind of numb </div> <div> right now," Donna said as she closed her eyes and focused only on the </div> <div> sound of his voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can imagine," he sighed. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> They spent a moment just listening to each other breathe. Donna </div> <div> marveled at the fact that, </div> <div> even after this long separation, and even though they were miles </div> <div> apart, she could still feel </div> <div> the connection with Josh. It was almost as if he was right there </div> <div> beside her. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She reached into the waistband of her pants and pulled out Josh's </div> <div> letter. She held it next </div> <div> to her heart, recalling all of the times that she had found strength </div> <div> and comfort in the </div> <div> things he had written. His words had helped her to believe that this </div> <div> day would actually </div> <div> come.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can't wait to see you," she said, closing her eyes and picturing </div> <div> his face.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can't wait to see you either," he said in a voice barely above a </div> <div> whisper. "And it won't </div> <div> be long now. I promise." </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly static crackled over the line. Donna's voice began cutting </div> <div> in and out. Josh </div> <div> yelled frantically into the phone, eager to maintain contact.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "DONNA!!" he said. "DONNA!!" </div> <bR> <bR> <div> All he heard coming back at him was static, and then silence.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna continued to clutch the phone, plaintively saying Josh's name </div> <div> over and over into </div> <div> the receiver.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What happened?" Jack asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I think we got cut off," Donna said tearily.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Don't worry," he said leaning between the seats and taking the phone </div> <div> from her </div> <div> trembling hands. "We'll be there before you know it."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh hurried down the hall towards the Ambassador's office, </div> <div> repeatedly dialing Jack </div> <div> Hawthorne's cell phone. He continued to get the same "caller </div> <div> unavailable" message each </div> <div> time, yet he continued to try again and again.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 'Nothing has happened,' he thought, trying desperately to sooth his </div> <div> jangled nerves. ' It's </div> <div> just the damn unreliable cell service around here.'</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He entered the Ambassador's suite and glanced at the secretary </div> <div> sitting just outside the </div> <div> entrance to the inner office. She signaled for Josh to go right in. </div> <div> The Ambassador had </div> <div> been informed of all that was going on and was ready to offer any </div> <div> assistance he could.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Have you heard anything?" the Ambassador asked eagerly as Josh </div> <div> entered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "They're on the way back," Josh said as tears again sprung to his </div> <div> eyes. The reality </div> <div> suddenly hit him when he heard himself saying the words out loud. The </div> <div> day he had </div> <div> waited and worked so hard for had finally arrived.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is Ms. Moss alright?" the Ambassador asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I don't know. I think so," Josh said trying to gather his scattering </div> <div> thoughts. "She said </div> <div> she was okay, but Jack said that she had some injuries last time he </div> <div> saw her."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll call the infirmary," the Ambassador said reaching for the </div> <div> phone. "I'll make sure that </div> <div> they have a full staff on duty. We'll have them give her a thorough </div> <div> check-up as soon as </div> <div> she arrives."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Josh said as he punched the numbers in on the cell </div> <div> phone. Again he got </div> <div> nothing but the mechanical voice of an operator saying that the </div> <div> caller was out of range.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The Ambassador could see the desperation in Josh's eyes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Listen," he said. "I'm going to call the front gate and tell them to </div> <div> wave the van straight </div> <div> in. We'll bring them directly into the underground garage. I'm sure </div> <div> they'll be here soon."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Josh said as he moved towards the door. "I'm sure you're </div> <div> right."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna leaned her head back against the van seat and tried to get her </div> <div> emotions under </div> <div> control. Her hands were trembling as she pulled the blanket tighter </div> <div> to ward of the chill </div> <div> that was suddenly spreading over her entire body. She tried to </div> <div> breathe deeply. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> 'I've held on for so long, now is not the time to break down,' she </div> <div> thought. 'I'm going to </div> <div> be fine. In a little while I'm going to see Josh and then I'm going </div> <div> to get back to the states </div> <div> as soon as possible."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's mind was flooded with images of home. She wanted nothing </div> <div> worse than to get </div> <div> back there. She knew that what had happened to her was an aberration </div> <div> in an otherwise </div> <div> beautiful country. Still, she felt a desperate need to get back to </div> <div> the United States, and </div> <div> back to the safety of Washington.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh paced back and forth frantically in the underground parking </div> <div> structure. His heart felt </div> <div> as though it was beating a million miles an hour. He was taking deep </div> <div> gulping breaths in </div> <div> order to keep from passing out. He clasped his hands together in a </div> <div> futile attempt to stop </div> <div> them from shaking.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He looked at his watch again and tried not to worry. It had been </div> <div> close to an hour since he </div> <div> had talked to Donna. An hour that seemed like an eternity. Time </div> <div> seemed to be standing </div> <div> still as he listened intently for the sound of the Embassy gates </div> <div> swinging open.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh please, God," he said. "Please. We're so close. Please don't let </div> <div> anything have </div> <div> happened."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly, he turned towards the entrance to the parking garage. He </div> <div> was sure that he had </div> <div> heard the mechanical whirring of the main gates. He watched the door, </div> <div> counting the </div> <div> seconds, trying to remember exactly how long the driveway actually </div> <div> was. And then there </div> <div> it was, a white van. The same van which he had watched Jack and </div> <div> Thomas leave in </div> <div> earlier.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As the van moved into the garage, he froze momentarily. Finally he </div> <div> willed his feet to </div> <div> move. As soon as the van stopped, he raced to the side door.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh tore open the sliding door and crawled into the rear </div> <div> compartment. In an instant, he </div> <div> was next to Donna. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> A lump formed in his throat and he found himself  barely able to </div> <div> breath, let alone talk. He </div> <div> cupped her face in his hands, letting the reality of the moment soak </div> <div> in. She was finally </div> <div> here, right in front of him. He had dreamed of this exact second for </div> <div> so long and now it </div> <div> has finally arrived. A huge grin spread across his face.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna reached up and touched one of Josh's dimples, and suddenly a </div> <div> flood of emotions </div> <div> were released.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh God, Donna," Josh said as he gently wrapped her in his arms. He </div> <div> was careful not to </div> <div> cause her any physical pain but his intense desire to feel her next </div> <div> to him could not be </div> <div> denied.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh," she breathed in his ear, as she plunged her hands into his </div> <div> hair. "Please tell me this </div> <div> isn't a dream."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It isn't a dream," he whispered as he stroked her hair. "I promise </div> <div> you it isn't a dream."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "If it is, please don't ever wake me up," Donna said in a shaky voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh stroked her back to try to reassure her. He was shocked to feel </div> <div> how thin she was. He </div> <div> could feel her shoulder blades, her spine, and every bone in her </div> <div> torso. He moved his </div> <div> hands to her shoulders and realized that they were skin and bones. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He placed his cheek against hers and felt the fever on her skin. As </div> <div> much as he wanted to </div> <div> stay in that position, holding her close to him forever, he suddenly </div> <div> became very </div> <div> concerned about her health.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Let's go," he said soothingly. "I want the doctor to take a look at </div> <div> you right away."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna seemed reluctant to untangle herself from Josh. Her arms </div> <div> remained tightly </div> <div> wrapped around his shoulders and she didn't lift her head from the </div> <div> crook of his neck.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Come on," he said. "You need to see a doctor."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As Josh pulled back the blanket that was still covering Donna's lower </div> <div> body, his eyes </div> <div> came to rest on the bloody bandage around her knee. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What happened?" he asked, all the pain in his heart evident as he </div> <div> reached down to touch </div> <div> the affected area.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna flinched as his hand lightly made contact with her leg.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh, God I'm sorry," he said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's ok," Donna said as she stroked his cheek reassuringly and </div> <div> placed her hand over his. </div> <div> "Whatever physical pain it might cause me, it's worth it for the </div> <div> chance to feel the touch </div> <div> of your hand again."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You're going to be feeling the touch of my hand every single day for </div> <div> the rest of our </div> <div> lives," Josh said lovingly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm counting on that," Donna replied with a sly smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna winced as a cramp shot through her leg and Josh's mind snapped </div> <div> immediately </div> <div> back to her physical condition.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Where else are you hurt?" he asked as his eyes continued to move </div> <div> over Donna. At the </div> <div> bottom of her sweat pants, he saw raw, red skin-the remnants of ankle </div> <div> bindings that </div> <div> were too tight. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The cuts on her wrists were red and angry looking. There were small </div> <div> trails of blood </div> <div> running onto her hands. The cuts were dirty and swollen and obviously </div> <div> infected.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> His eyes continued to move up her body, checking for any other </div> <div> injuries. They stopped </div> <div> on what appeared to be a burn hole in her shirt. Through the hole, </div> <div> Josh could see the red, </div> <div> blistered skin underneath. He pressed down his anger at the people </div> <div> who had done this to </div> <div> her. He knew that there would be another time and place to deal with </div> <div> it.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The sight of her gray complexion and her dull, lifeless hair made </div> <div> Josh choke back a sob. </div> <div> He noticed the large black circles under her eyes and wondered how </div> <div> much she had </div> <div> actually slept since her capture.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly, their eyes locked, and Josh saw a sight that made his heart </div> <div> soar. When he </div> <div> looked into Donna's eyes, he saw that her fighting spirit was still </div> <div> very much intact. After </div> <div> everything she had been through, he saw only strength shining back at </div> <div> him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Let's go," he said as he gently cradled her body to his and crawled </div> <div> backwards toward </div> <div> the door. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He stepped out of the van, and then gingerly lifted Donna out. She </div> <div> laid her head down </div> <div> against his shoulder as he cooed gently in her ear. She felt so tiny </div> <div> and frail, but Josh knew </div> <div> that frail was a word that should never be associated with the woman </div> <div> he held in his arms. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> A nurse approached pushing a wheelchair.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's ok," Josh said as he moved past her and began the walk to the </div> <div> infirmary. "I've </div> <div> got her."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The doctor was waiting with a full medical team when they arrived. </div> <div> Josh laid Donna </div> <div> down carefully on the table in the center of the room.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He grasped her right hand tightly in his and stroked her hair back </div> <div> from her face with his </div> <div> other hand. His eyes were glued to hers, as if she might disappear if </div> <div> he lost eye contact </div> <div> with her</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He smiled a reassuring smile at her and she rewarded him with a full </div> <div> wattage grin. Josh </div> <div> felt like he was alive for the first time in almost eight months. It </div> <div> was as if someone had </div> <div> turned the lights back on, lights that had been dim for a very long </div> <div> time, for 238 days to be </div> <div> exact.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The doctors and nurses went right to work, shouting numbers back and </div> <div> forth to each other </div> <div> as they each performed their assigned tasks.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Would you please step outside, Mr. Lyman?" the nurse asked politely.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh hesitated, searching Donna's eyes for some sign of what to do </div> <div> next.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It really would make this whole process go much more quickly," the </div> <div> doctor said kindly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll be ok," Donna said confidently.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?" he asked, still holding tightly to her hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, just don't go too far," she said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," he said hesitantly, "I really should call and let everyone know </div> <div> what's going on."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's a good idea. Tell them all I love them, please and that I </div> <div> can't wait to see them. </div> <div> Tell them I'll be home as soon as I can."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will," Josh said, reluctantly releasing his grip on her hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He reached down and stroked the side of her face gently. Donna </div> <div> grasped his hand and </div> <div> planted a kiss in his palm.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll be right outside if you need me," he murmured as he brushed a </div> <div> soft kiss across her </div> <div> cheek.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks," she smiled </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh backed across the room, never taking his eyes off Donna. Once he </div> <div> reached the door, </div> <div> he hesitated, not wanting to let her out of his sight, then ducked </div> <div> outside to let the doctors </div> <div> and nurses do their work.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is there a phone here I can use?" he asked the young receptionist </div> <div> sitting near the </div> <div> entrance to the infirmary.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Sure, you can use the one in the doctors office," she said </div> <div> indicating the door </div> <div> immediately to his right.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You'll call me right away if she needs me?" he said, realizing it </div> <div> came out sounding </div> <div> more like a command than a question.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes sir," she said gently. "I'll come and get you right away."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Josh said as he moved towards the office door. He picked </div> <div> up the phone </div> <div> sitting on the desk and asked the secretary for a secure line to the </div> <div> White House.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The tension in the Chief of Staff's office was becoming close to </div> <div> unbearable. The entire </div> <div> senior staff had been gathered there since Leo had received the call </div> <div> with instructions on </div> <div> where to send the plane.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Toby sat brooding in the overstuffed armchair. The notebook </div> <div> containing the speech that </div> <div> he had been trying to work on lay abandoned on his lap. He had been </div> <div> focused on the </div> <div> same point on the wall for almost half an hour.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ and Sam sat nervously on the couch, pretending to look over the </div> <div> daily briefing reports </div> <div> and failing miserably. CJ was obsessively shuffling and reorganizing </div> <div> the papers while </div> <div> Sam twisted and untwisted his hands nervously in what looked like </div> <div> some manic game of </div> <div> Here is the Church.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo sat tapping his fingers on the desk, stealing furtive glances at </div> <div> the other staffers. His </div> <div> eyes kept falling back to the calendar on his desk. Day 238, he had </div> <div> written that only </div> <div> minutes after he had received the call from Jack Hawthorne. He prayed </div> <div> that it was the last </div> <div> entry that he ever had to make on that calendar.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Finally Margaret burst through the door. She didn't even bother to </div> <div> knock. She was so </div> <div> excited she could barely force the words out of her mouth.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's Josh," she said. "Line one."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> All four of the people in the room shared one last nervous glance </div> <div> before Leo punched the </div> <div> line on the phone and then hit the speakerphone button. Margaret </div> <div> stayed in the back of the </div> <div> office, eager to hear news of Donna.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh?" Leo said cautiously. "What's going on? Is there any news?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She's back," Josh shouted joyously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly the room erupted in cheers.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ inadvertently tossed all of the papers she had holding into the </div> <div> air, and they sailed </div> <div> about the room, floating to the ground like giant confetti. She threw </div> <div> her arms around Sam </div> <div> and hugged him tightly as she dissolved into tears.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Toby actually let a wide grin spread across his face. "I had never </div> <div> had any doubts," he said </div> <div> as he quickly pasted his usual grumpy demeanor back on his face.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Margaret bolted from the room, anxious to spread the news to the </div> <div> other assistants. With </div> <div> the help of the White House grapevine, everyone in the building would </div> <div> soon be </div> <div> celebrating the news of Donna's release.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo dropped his head to his chest and didn't make any attempt to stem </div> <div> the flow of tears. </div> <div> It felt as though the weight of the world had just lifted off of his </div> <div> shoulders.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Shhhhhhh," Leo hissed as he suddenly remembered that his deputy was </div> <div> hanging on the </div> <div> other end of the phone.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How is she?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She's with the doctor now, they're checking her over but she seems </div> <div> ok," Josh said </div> <div> sincerely.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hearing the tone of obvious happiness and relief in Josh's voice made </div> <div> Leo relax. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank God," he said</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So you'll let us know if she needs anything? If either of you need </div> <div> anything?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She wants to come home, Leo. She's just…she's in a hurry to get back </div> <div> home."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And we are all anxious to see her, too. Let me know as soon as the </div> <div> doctor says that she </div> <div> can travel and I'll take care of all of the arrangements."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks, Leo. I'm going to go now. The doctor should be out any </div> <div> minute and I want to </div> <div> talk to him."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, keep us updated." Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Give Donna my love, Josh," CJ said. "And tell her I can't wait to </div> <div> see her."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Will do."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That goes for all of us," Sam said</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As soon as the phone disconnected, the room erupted in cheers again. </div> <div> The celebration </div> <div> was interrupted when the connecting door to the Oval Office opened </div> <div> and the President </div> <div> strode in.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Each member of the staff tried to compose themselves and treat the </div> <div> President's entrance </div> <div> with the proper respect and decorum.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Should I assume we got some good news from Josh?" the President </div> <div> asked with a twinkle </div> <div> in his eye.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes sir," they all chorused.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna is back at the Embassy now. The doctor is examining her, but </div> <div> Josh said that she </div> <div> seems to be doing as well as could be expected." Leo said, beaming </div> <div> from ear to ear.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Then this really is a red letter day," the President said, slapping </div> <div> Leo heartily on the back.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes sir," Sam agreed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Then let's get back to work." The President said clasping his hands </div> <div> in front of him. "CJ, </div> <div> I have a feeling that this is going to be a busy day for you. First, </div> <div> we want to happily </div> <div> announce the news of Donna's release."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes sir," CJ said as her tears were replaced with a broad smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We may also have to deal with another story coming out of Colombia. </div> <div> Something about </div> <div> the mid-air capture of some rebels," the President said waving his </div> <div> hand dismissively, as if </div> <div> to cushion the shock of the news.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Sir?" Leo asked suspiciously, "Do you know something we don't?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Many, many things," the President with sly laugh. He moved back </div> <div> towards his office, </div> <div> then turned and faced the staffers. "As soon as I have the details, </div> <div> I'll let you know."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> And the remaining four people in the room stared at his retreating </div> <div> form, looks of </div> <div> complete shock on their faces.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh paced nervously outside of the exam room, staring at the door as </div> <div> if he could will it </div> <div> to open. When the doctor finally emerged, Josh pounced on him </div> <div> immediately.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How is she?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'd say she is amazingly good condition for someone who has been </div> <div> through what she's </div> <div> been through," the doctor answered evenly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank God," Josh said, letting out a breath he didn't even realize </div> <div> that he had been </div> <div> holding.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She is moderately dehydrated. I've started her on IV fluid and we </div> <div> should be able to get </div> <div> that under control fairly quickly. Her pulse and blood pressure are </div> <div> in the normal range. </div> <div> Her temperature is elevated but that is directly related to her other </div> <div> injuries."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How so?" Josh asked, the concern creeping quickly back into his </div> <div> voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She has several fairly significant cuts and abrasions. On her </div> <div> ankles, her wrists, her </div> <div> shoulder and her knee. The lack of treatment for these has caused </div> <div> infection. I cleaned </div> <div> them all out well, and bandaged them to keep any further dirt from </div> <div> getting in."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is the infection serious?" </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We've started her on high dose antibiotics and I'm confident it will </div> <div> be cleared up in a </div> <div> few days."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What about her knee?" Josh asked blinking away the memory of the </div> <div> bloody bandage </div> <div> and the way she flinched when he touched it.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I removed a fairly large chunk of metal from just below the kneecap. </div> <div> That reduced the </div> <div> pain significantly. I've cleaned it out and bandaged it, but I </div> <div> recommended strongly to Ms. </div> <div> Moss that she see a specialist as soon as she gets back to the </div> <div> states. They will probably </div> <div> want to scope her knee to check for any other smaller fragments and </div> <div> clean up any scar </div> <div> tissue."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "When do you think she will be able to travel?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "As I said, Mr. Lyman, she is in remarkably good physical shape for </div> <div> someone in her </div> <div> position. However, she has expressed her desire to return to the </div> <div> states as soon as possible, </div> <div> in no uncertain terms."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh smiled. Even after what she had been through, Donna still knew </div> <div> how to get her point </div> <div> across.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Normally, I would suggest that a patient be a little stronger to </div> <div> make such a trip. These, </div> <div> however, are special circumstances. In this case, the emotional </div> <div> dividends of letting her </div> <div> return home far outweigh my concerns about her physical stamina. She </div> <div> needs to stay on </div> <div> the IV's that I've set up for her but, if that can be arranged, I see </div> <div> no reason why she can't </div> <div> travel as soon as the arrangements can be made."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you sure it's safe?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Your friend is a very strong woman, Mr. Lyman. She survived eight </div> <div> months imprisoned </div> <div> in the jungle, I think she can handle a simple plane ride."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sure you're right," Josh said with a smile. "I'll make all the </div> <div> arrangements." </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> After a quick call to Leo, Josh slipped back into Donna's room. He </div> <div> was shocked to see </div> <div> her sitting on the edge of the bed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hey handsome," she said, looking up as he entered the room.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh shook his head and bounced across the room to sit beside her on </div> <div> the bed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You're amazing you know that?" he said incredulously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna smiled sweetly. "What makes you say that?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Because despite all you've been through, you're up and around and </div> <div> harassing the </div> <div> doctors about letting you go home."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm serious about that, Josh. When can I go home?" Donna said, as </div> <div> her lips formed the </div> <div> pout he remembered so well.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo is making all of the arrangements. He'll call as soon as he </div> <div> firms up the details. But </div> <div> how does tonight sound?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Really? Tonight? Oh thank you, Josh. Thank you," she said as she </div> <div> threw her arms </div> <div> around his neck, completely disregarding her IV lines.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh held her tight, reveling in the feel of her heart beating next </div> <div> to his. He placed his </div> <div> hands on her back and smiled a relieved smile as he felt her </div> <div> breathing, strongly and </div> <div> evenly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How in the world did you manage to stay so strong, Donna?" he asked, </div> <div> no longer able to </div> <div> contain his complete utter awe of the woman he was holding in his </div> <div> arms.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna pulled away slightly and reached underneath the pillow to </div> <div> retrieve a tattered </div> <div> envelope. Josh immediately recognized the letter that he had given to </div> <div> Father Nugent to </div> <div> give to Donna.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You still have it?" he asked in amazement.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Always," she answered. "I'm going to keep it with me forever."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He placed his forehead against hers.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I meant what I said you know. I really do love you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I love you too, Josh."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They stared intently into each one another's eyes for a few moments </div> <div> before an irresistible </div> <div> force drew them together. As their lips met, Josh felt a surge of </div> <div> electricity pass through </div> <div> his body. Donna sighed and parted her lips, allowing Josh to deepen </div> <div> the kiss. When they </div> <div> finally came up for air, Josh wrapped his arms around Donna and </div> <div> buried his face in her </div> <div> hair.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He heard a very soft voice whisper in his ear, "And I'm holding you </div> <div> to what you said </div> <div> about Hawaii."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna placed her head against Josh's chest and enjoyed the sound of </div> <div> his laughter.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> It was almost nightfall before a plane could be arranged to take Josh </div> <div> and Donna back to </div> <div> the states. Leo had managed, somehow on amazingly short notice, to </div> <div> get a medical </div> <div> transport to do the job.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna had objected, claiming she didn't need a doctor on the trip but </div> <div> Josh insisted that </div> <div> someone needed to be on board to maintain her IV's. He finally got </div> <div> her to cave in by </div> <div> insisting that either they took the medical transport, or they waited </div> <div> a few days until she </div> <div> was stronger</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The stretcher was loaded on the plane and securely fastened to the </div> <div> floor in the medical </div> <div> bay. The paramedic checked to make sure that all of Donna's IV's were </div> <div> secure then </div> <div> moved to the front of the plane and strapped himself in next to the </div> <div> pilot. Leo had </div> <div> obviously briefed the crew on the situation, and on Donna's reticence </div> <div> to have medical </div> <div> personnel on board, because they were being as unobtrusive as </div> <div> possible. Josh made a </div> <div> mental note to thank Leo as soon as they got back.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As the pilot signaled that they were ready to take off, Josh looked </div> <div> around and noticed that </div> <div> the only seats were near the front of the plane. There was absolutely </div> <div> no way he was </div> <div> leaving Donna's side. He settled himself on the floor directly beside </div> <div> the stretcher and </div> <div> took Donna's hand in his, stroking her knuckles with his thumb.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah," she said. "I'm just happy to be going home."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And everyone there is going to be happy to see you. But I really </div> <div> want you to try to get </div> <div> some sleep while we're in the air."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As soon as the plane was airborne, Donna sat up.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What are you doing?" Josh asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna didn't answer, but rather slid off of the stretcher, careful not </div> <div> to disturb her IV lines, </div> <div> and crawled into Josh's lap.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He immediately pulled her to him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you for never giving up on me, Joshua," she said </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you for never giving up on me, Donnatella," he replied.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Once the medical transport plane reached cruising altitude, the </div> <div> lights were dimmed and </div> <div> the only noise that could be heard was the soft whirring of the </div> <div> engines. Josh stroked </div> <div> Donna's hair rhythmically as she slept in his arms. Her long frame </div> <div> was curled up tightly </div> <div> in his lap. Her head rested in the crook of his neck and her warm </div> <div> breath was like a soft </div> <div> breeze across his throat. Josh leaned his head back, finally allowing </div> <div> himself to give in to </div> <div> the sleep that had been threatening to overtake him for the last hour.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly, he felt her entire body jerk as she pulled away from him. </div> <div> Even in the dimly lit </div> <div> plane, he could tell that her eyes were as big as dinner plates. Her </div> <div> breathing escalated and </div> <div> Josh could feel her pulse pounding when he grabbed her wrists. Her </div> <div> arms flailed wildly, </div> <div> dislodging one of her IV's. She tried desperately to push herself </div> <div> away from him but he </div> <div> held tightly to her tiny waist.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna," he said firmly, trying to keep the fear out of his </div> <div> voice. "Donna."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She continued to struggle. Her muscles tensed as she whimpered </div> <div> softly, her eyes darted </div> <div> back and forth looking for an avenue of escape.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna," he repeated, this time more sharply. "It's ok, I'm here."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly, Donna's struggling subsided. She stared at Josh for a few </div> <div> seconds, eyes wide </div> <div> with fear. Then she collapsed into his arms sobbing uncontrollably.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's ok," he murmured softly as he stroked her back. "It's ok. I'm </div> <div> here. Everything is </div> <div> going to be ok."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I thought it had all been a dream," she sobbed into his shoulder. "I </div> <div> dreamed I was still </div> <div> back in that place."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's ok, Donna," he said reassuringly. "You're safe now. I'm right </div> <div> here."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna pulled her tear-stained face away from his shoulder and looked </div> <div> into his eyes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry," she said with a shaky breath. "It was just so real. I </div> <div> thought I was back there. </div> <div> I woke up and Armand was looking at me, telling me that no one was </div> <div> coming to help me, </div> <div> telling me that no one was willing to make a deal and…."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Shhhh.. It's ok," Josh said softly rubbing her back. "It was just a </div> <div> dream, Donna. I know </div> <div> it seemed real but it was just a dream. I never would have stopped </div> <div> looking for you, you </div> <div> know that right? I would have looked for you till I found you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know," Donna said, instinctively reaching for the letter that was </div> <div> now nestled safely in </div> <div> the pocket of the hospital scrubs she had been given at the infirmary.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I love you, Josh," she said as she leaned and placed a soft kiss on </div> <div> his lips.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I love you too," he assured her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh reached down to take her hand and felt a small trickle of blood </div> <div> coming from the site </div> <div> of her dislodged IV. He signaled for the paramedic who came back and </div> <div> gently reinserted </div> <div> the tube.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Once the IV's were back in place, Josh leaned back against the wall </div> <div> and gently resettled </div> <div> Donna in his lap. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Try to go back to sleep," he whispered. "I'll be right here."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not yet," Donna said with a shaky sigh. "I'm not ready to go back to </div> <div> sleep just yet. I </div> <div> want to hear you talk to me. If I can hear your voice then I know </div> <div> it's not a dream."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh pulled her tighter. He wished that he knew the magic words to </div> <div> say to make the </div> <div> nightmares disappear. He knew all too well how realistic and </div> <div> terrifying they could be. He </div> <div> also knew that all he could do was be there for her when she woke up </div> <div> to hold her and try </div> <div> to calm her fears.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll talk to you all night if you want," he said soothingly. "What </div> <div> do you want me to talk </div> <div> about?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Tell me what's been going on at work since I've been gone," she said </div> <div> as she snuggled </div> <div> closer in to his chest, trying to think of a topic as far away from </div> <div> the jungles of Colombia </div> <div> as she could get.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, you might hear a few horror stories from the temp pool," he </div> <div> said with a small </div> <div> smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna laughed. "Well it's nice to know that things haven't changed </div> <div> since I've been </div> <div> gone."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The paramedic moved towards the back of the plane and informed them </div> <div> that they would </div> <div> be landing in about 20 minutes. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We're almost home," Josh whispered in Donna's ear.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank God," she sighed. "I've been waiting for this for a long time."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Me too," he said. "But I never doubted for a minute that we would </div> <div> get here."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Me either," Donna said. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Maybe you should get back up on the stretcher and lay down," he </div> <div> suggested.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna wrapped her arms tighter around his waist. "I'm fine right </div> <div> here," she said with a </div> <div> smile. "That is, unless you're tired of me already."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Never," he said, a slight catch in his voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh braced himself against the wall and they remained sitting on the </div> <div> floor, holding </div> <div> tightly to each other until the plane rolled to a stop.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It'll just take a few minutes to get the steps in place," the pilot </div> <div> called out over his </div> <div> shoulder.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh said as he gingerly lifted Donna up and sat her on the </div> <div> edge of the stretcher. </div> <div> His legs were stiff from sitting in the same position on the floor </div> <div> for so long and he needed </div> <div> to stretch before he even attempted to get off of the plane.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They could hear the sound of the crew working just outside. After a </div> <div> few minutes, the </div> <div> door swung open and Leo bounded aboard.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo," Josh said in a startled voice. "I didn't expect to see you </div> <div> here."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well," Leo said sitting down next to Donna on the stretcher, "I </div> <div> couldn't wait a minute </div> <div> longer to see Donna with my own eyes."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna said, "I'm so glad to see you too, Leo," as she wrapped her </div> <div> arms around his </div> <div> shoulders. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm so sorry, Donna," he whispered into her ear.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You have nothing to be sorry for, Leo," she answered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You wouldn't have been there if it hadn't been for me," he reminded </div> <div> her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Please don't do this," she begged. "There was no way you could have </div> <div> predicted what </div> <div> would happen. It wasn't your fault." </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He held her wordlessly, wondering if he would ever be able to </div> <div> convince himself that she </div> <div> was right. Finally he pulled away and looked paternally into her </div> <div> eyes. "Let's go," he said. </div> <div> "It's getting late."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What time is it?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "3:25 AM," Leo answered. "I've got an ambulance waiting to take you </div> <div> over to GW. The </div> <div> President's own personal physician is waiting to take a look at you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, Leo," Donna protested. "I don't need…."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo cut her off with a wave of his hand. "The President was adamant. </div> <div> And I must say that </div> <div> I agree with him 100%. You need a complete check-up. Plus, Josh tells </div> <div> me that the doctor </div> <div> at the Embassy recommended that you see a specialist for your knee. </div> <div> So, it's off to the </div> <div> hospital we go and I don't want to hear another word about it."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," Donna said. "But Leo, is there any way we can do it without the </div> <div> ambulance. I </div> <div> don't really want to ride..I mean I hate…" Donna began choking back </div> <div> tears as she </div> <div> wrapped her arms around Josh's waist. "I'll go. I just don't want to </div> <div> ride in an </div> <div> ambulance."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo looked at Donna's pleading eyes and then at Josh. "Good Lord, how </div> <div> in the world do </div> <div> you ever say no to her?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Welcome to my world," Josh laughed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," Leo sighed. "As long as the paramedic says it's ok, we can go </div> <div> in my car."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh sat in the private waiting room at GW while Leo quickly phoned </div> <div> the others to let </div> <div> them know that Donna had arrived home safely.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, needless to say, no one complained about me waking them up at </div> <div> close to 4 AM </div> <div> this time. They were all so happy to hear that Donna was home they </div> <div> didn't even look at </div> <div> their watches," Leo said as he took the seat next to Josh's.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can't believe this day is finally here, Leo" Josh said dropping </div> <div> his head back and </div> <div> running his fingers through his hair. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know exactly how you feel," Leo said. "But you never gave up hope, </div> <div> and you did what </div> <div> you had to do. I'm proud of the way you handled this whole situation, </div> <div> Josh."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh looked at his mentor, struggling to find the words to respond. </div> <div> The moment was </div> <div> interrupted as the doctor walked into the room and both men rose to </div> <div> their feet.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How is she?" Josh asked immediately, even though he had seen her </div> <div> with his own eyes </div> <div> only an hour earlier.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She's doing very well," the doctor answered, motioning for the two </div> <div> men to sit as he took </div> <div> the chair across from them. "All of her vital signs are normal. The </div> <div> IV's are doing their </div> <div> job. Her hydration level is rising. Her fever is down to 100.7. All </div> <div> in all, she seems to be </div> <div> rebounding better than anyone could have anticipated."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So I can take her home?" Josh asked hopefully.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, as I explained to Ms. Moss, I would like to keep her here for </div> <div> a day or two. It will </div> <div> give us a chance to take care of a few vitamin deficiency issues and </div> <div> also to go in with the </div> <div> arthroscope and clean up that knee a little."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "But she's ok right?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She's going to be fine. What she needs is some rest and relaxation. </div> <div> She needs some time </div> <div> to get her strength back. My prescription would be for plenty of </div> <div> sleep, lots of good </div> <div> healthy food, plenty of liquids, and plenty of attention from her </div> <div> friends."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I think we can handle that," Josh assured him. "Can I see her?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The nurses are getting her settled as we speak. Considering </div> <div> everything she's been </div> <div> through, I'll allow you unrestricted visitation."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you doctor," Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh and Leo watched the doctors retreating back for a few minutes </div> <div> then Leo spoke </div> <div> again.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You go spend some time with Donna," he said. "I'm going to head home </div> <div> and grab a </div> <div> shower then head back to the office."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, I'll be here if you need me."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And Josh, it wouldn't hurt you to get a little sleep yourself."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll try," Josh promised.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly his eyes dropped to the floor and he said, "Listen, Leo. I </div> <div> just wanted to say </div> <div> thanks for everything. The money and…."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Don't mention it," Leo said in a voice that let Josh know it was </div> <div> time to drop the subject. </div> <div> "Now you go, and tell Donna I'll be back to see her later."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Sam strolled down the hospital corridor carrying a large bouquet of </div> <div> flowers. It was early </div> <div> and he was sure that Donna would be asleep, but he wanted to see for </div> <div> himself that she </div> <div> was back and safe. He pushed open the door to her room as quietly as </div> <div> possible and peered </div> <div> in.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh was sitting on a chair beside her bed, holding her hand tightly </div> <div> in his and leaning </div> <div> over with his head very close to hers. They were deep in </div> <div> conversation, both smiling </div> <div> happily, both very much awake.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They looked up at the sound of the door opening.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Sam!!!" Donna said excitedly, holding out her arms towards him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He crossed the room and enveloped her in a tight hug. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hey, Darlin," he said happily as he pulled away.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh smiled as he watched the tears flowing down the faces of both </div> <div> his best friend and the </div> <div> woman he loved. He knew that Sam loved Donna too, in a totally </div> <div> platonic way, and that </div> <div> her time in captivity had been hard on him.  It had been Sam who </div> <div> called Josh twice a day </div> <div> while he was in Colombia, desperate for any new piece of news.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Sam handed Donna the flowers and said, "These are for you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you, Sam" Donna said. "They're beautiful."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So are you," Sam said leaning over and planting a kiss on her cheek. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna blushed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's so good to see you," he said with a huge smile. "I have lots to </div> <div> tell you. I've been </div> <div> keeping notes the entire time you were gone so I wouldn't forget </div> <div> anything. </div> <div> Unfortunately, I don't have time to stay and talk now because I have </div> <div> to get to staff. I just </div> <div> wanted to see you before I went in."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks for coming Sam," Donna said with a smile. "We'll make time </div> <div> for a long talk </div> <div> soon."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "My pleasure," he answered. "I'll be back as soon as I can, ok?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, thanks," Donna said. "Tell everyone at work that I said hello."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will," he assured her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It was really sweet of him to come by," Donna said as the door to </div> <div> her room swung </div> <div> closed behind Sam.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I think you better get used to it," Josh smiled. "Something tells me </div> <div> that half the staff of </div> <div> the White House is going to pass through that door today."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Speaking of the White House…." Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What?" Josh asked feigning innocence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Don't you have to go in to work today?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "They know where I am if they need me," he said matter-of-factly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh," Donna admonished.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I just don't want to leave you here alone," he said softly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know. And believe me, I wish that you could just stay here with me </div> <div> every second too. I </div> <div> want nothing more than to pretend that we are the only two people in </div> <div> the world. But </div> <div> considering your job, we both know that's not possible. Now you said </div> <div> yourself that there </div> <div> would be people stopping by all day, so I won't be alone. I would be </div> <div> willing to bet that </div> <div> there is a mountain of stuff on your desk that needs taken care of."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sure there is but…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No buts, Josh. You need to go in to work."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you trying to get rid of me," he laughed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Never," she smiled. "But I know that now that you are back in town, </div> <div> there is no way that </div> <div> you are going to make it through an entire day without someone </div> <div> calling you to come in </div> <div> and handle some emergency. So consider this a preemptive strike."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh reluctantly agreed, "but only for an hour or so, just to </div> <div> touch base."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good, and be nice to the temp so she keeps everything on order. I </div> <div> don't want to come </div> <div> back to a mess."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh couldn't help but beam at the thought of Donna back at work.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ threw open the door to Donna's hospital room and tears immediately </div> <div> sprung to her </div> <div> eyes. She froze for a moment, just taking in the sight of Donna </div> <div> sitting up in bed flipping </div> <div> through a magazine. Finally, she bolted across the room and wrapped </div> <div> Donna in a firm </div> <div> embrace.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I am so glad you're ok," she said, as she pulled back to look </div> <div> directly into Donna's eyes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's so good to see you," Donna said, holding CJ's gaze as a million </div> <div> unspoken messages </div> <div> passed between them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I came by as soon as the morning briefing was over," CJ </div> <div> said. "Everyone asked me to </div> <div> tell you they were thinking about you and can't wait to see you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Donna said. "I can't wait to get back to work."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, you need to take some time off."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Actually, I want to get back to work as soon as possible. All of </div> <div> these months CJ, the one </div> <div> thing that sustained me was thoughts of home. Of getting back here."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And getting back to Josh?" CJ asked with a soft smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is that going to be a problem, CJ? I mean our relationship-Josh's </div> <div> and mine."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I won't let it become a problem," CJ assured her. Anyone in the </div> <div> press who tries to make </div> <div> an issue out of this is going to have me to deal with, and it won't </div> <div> be pretty."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I've really missed you," Donna said with a smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ditto," CJ said with a wide smile of her own.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So tell me everything that's new. I missed watching your morning </div> <div> briefing because they </div> <div> were running some tests on my knee."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not much to tell really," CJ said. "The entire press corps sends </div> <div> their best regards."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Tell them I said thank you." </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And there is one other thing that I wanted to mention to you before </div> <div> you see it on the </div> <div> television," CJ said nervously, not at all sure how Donna would take </div> <div> the news.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Armand Gutierrez and the other rebels have been captured and are </div> <div> currently being held </div> <div> awaiting extradition to the US to face drug trafficking charges as </div> <div> well as a whole slew of </div> <div> other offenses. The UN is also very interested in pursuing kidnapping </div> <div> and murder </div> <div> charges."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "But how…I mean I saw them get on the plane," Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I don't even know all of the exact details yet, Donna. All I can </div> <div> tell you is that the </div> <div> President made all of the arrangements himself. He is a Nobel Prize </div> <div> winner and Armand </div> <div> and his friends are apparently not the sharpest knives in the drawer. </div> <div> I don't think it was </div> <div> much of a contest. For one thing, they never paused to think that the </div> <div> galley fully loaded </div> <div> with liquor might be an attempt to throw them off their game. Second, </div> <div> they didn't seem </div> <div> to notice that the plane left Colombia flying north instead of south. </div> <div> All I know is that by </div> <div> the time they landed in Mexico, a country with very friendly </div> <div> extradition laws I might </div> <div> point out, they were already in the custody of UN troops. I'll give </div> <div> you more details as </div> <div> soon as I get them."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, thanks," Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you alright?" CJ asked, "I mean if there is a trial, there's a </div> <div> chance you'll have to </div> <div> testify. I mean you are…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ stopped in mid-sentence, unsure of whether or not Donna was ready </div> <div> to discuss her </div> <div> ordeal.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I am the only survivor," Donna said quietly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," CJ said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," Donna said. "If I </div> <div> need to testify than I </div> <div> will."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Let's not even think about that now. There is so much I have to tell </div> <div> you. We got a new </div> <div> water delivery guy," CJ said with a twinkle in her eye. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ began catching Donna up on all of the west wing gossip from the </div> <div> last eight months. </div> <div> They were giggling hysterically over the latest adventures of the </div> <div> staff when they heard a </div> <div> cough from the doorway. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> They turned around to see Toby standing stiffly just inside the door, </div> <div> holding a large </div> <div> bunch of balloons in his hand. He shuffled his feet slowly back and </div> <div> forth, as the multi-</div> <div> colored ribbons draped all around his side. He looked at both of the </div> <div> women with a look </div> <div> that clearly said "HELP!"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Toby!!" Donna said as a large small broke out on her face.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hello, Donna," Toby said nervously. "It's very nice to see you </div> <div> again."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's nice to see you too. Are those for me?" Donna asked gesturing </div> <div> towards the balloons.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes they are," Toby said approaching the bed and placing the </div> <div> balloons on the bedside </div> <div> table.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We'll they're beautiful," Donna said quietly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> After an awkward silence in which Toby stared at his shoes intently </div> <div> and CJ tried very </div> <div> hard not to laugh out loud, Donna spoke again.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks for coming by, Toby. I appreciate everything you did to help </div> <div> get me out of </div> <div> Colombia."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It was nothing," Toby said, allowing a small smile to pull at the </div> <div> corner of his mouth. His </div> <div> eyes rose up to meet Donna's and he saw by her smile that she </div> <div> understood how happy he </div> <div> really was, even if he couldn't express it in words. "Now I'm sorry </div> <div> to break this up but </div> <div> we really must get back to work. CJ, I have some notes I need to go </div> <div> over with you before </div> <div> the afternoon briefing."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh fine," CJ said in mock exasperation as she leaned over and gave </div> <div> Donna a goodbye </div> <div> hug. "But you're buying me lunch on the way back."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna smiled as she watched Toby and CJ walking out the door, still </div> <div> bickering over who </div> <div> was paying for lunch.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hello, Margaret," Josh said with a smile as he entered Leo's outer </div> <div> office. "Is he in?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He's on the phone right now. Is it important?" Margaret said looking </div> <div> up from her </div> <div> typing.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not really. I just wanted to drop off some notes on the thing."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Excuse me?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Never mind. Could you just give these to him as soon as you get a </div> <div> chance?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No problem." Margaret said, taking the folder from Josh and placing </div> <div> it on the pile on the </div> <div> corner of her desk.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh and I meant to ask you, have you noticed that the bullpen is </div> <div> still decorated for </div> <div> Christmas?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Margaret said dryly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, it's not my holiday so I can't say I'm up on every little </div> <div> nuance, but isn't it just about </div> <div> time to be taking those down and preparing for. I don't know…whatever </div> <div> comes next?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We left them up for a reason, Josh. Haven't you noticed that all of </div> <div> the gifts are still </div> <div> under the tree?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can't say that I looked that closely."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We're waiting until Donna gets back. Then we're going to have the </div> <div> Christmas party."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh stood looking at Margaret with his mouth open. He had been so </div> <div> consumed with his </div> <div> own worry that he had overlooked the affect Donna's captivity had had </div> <div> on everyone in </div> <div> the west wing, especially the other assistants.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's really sweet, Margaret. I know that Donna will appreciate </div> <div> it," he said sincerely.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Don't tell her ok? It's going to be a surprise." Margaret said </div> <div> conspiratorially.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "OK. I'm on my way to see her now, but mum's the word. Would you tell </div> <div> Leo I'll be at </div> <div> the hospital if he needs me?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Sure thing," Margaret said as she returned to her typing.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh entered Donna's room holding a large brown paper bag behind his </div> <div> back. She was </div> <div> sitting on the bed, surrounded by magazines. Her hair was pulled back </div> <div> into a ponytail and </div> <div> both IV lines had been removed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hey handsome," she said, grinning from ear to ear.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hey beautiful," he said as he planted a kiss on her lips.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's behind your back?" she asked curiously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "A surprise for you," he answered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh goody, what is it?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh held the bag out in front of him and said, "Take a guess."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Wow. It smells fabulous. Oh Josh, it's food," she said excitedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yep."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Chinese food," she said with a ravenous look.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yep, from Wong's."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You're an angel," she said opening the bag and peaking in.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The doctor said you need to eat and I didn't figure that the </div> <div> hospital food was going to   </div> <div> do anything for your appetite."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Wow," Donna said, "This is great."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I wasn't sure what you would be in the mood for so I got a little of </div> <div> everything."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You're too good to me," Donna said teasingly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The doctor walked in and found them sitting side by side on the bed, </div> <div> surrounded by </div> <div> Chinese food cartons and talking animatedly about the program that </div> <div> was on CNN.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, Donna," he said. "I guess I don't need to ask how you are </div> <div> feeling this evening? </div> <div> How's your appetite?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Fine thanks, Dr.," she said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's good. Everything looks good," he said as he glanced at her </div> <div> chart.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "When can I go home?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, if this keeps up, I see no reason why you can't go home </div> <div> tomorrow after the </div> <div> arthroscopy on your knee."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna squealed with delight. "Thank you, Dr."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You'll need to take it easy for awhile. The knee will need a few </div> <div> weeks to heal. But </div> <div> basically I'd say the it's ok to resume your normal life, within </div> <div> limits, as soon as you feel </div> <div> up to it."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Can I go back to work?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That depends. If you can start off with a light schedule, reasonable </div> <div> hours, plenty of </div> <div> breaks during the day then I don't see why not. I'll be in to see you </div> <div> in the morning before </div> <div> the procedure. I suggest that you try to get some rest."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will," Donna said as the doctor replaced her chart, snagged an egg </div> <div> roll from the </div> <div> container, and strolled out of the room.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Did you hear that? I'll be back to work in no time."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He said 'within limits', Donna. I don't want you trying to do too </div> <div> much too soon."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I won't, Josh. I promise. I just really want to get back to work. </div> <div> Besides, if I don't go </div> <div> back, I'll never get a chance to see you," she smiled. "I'll just lay </div> <div> around my apartment </div> <div> all day…..oh my God…..my apartment…I haven't paid…I mean is it </div> <div> still…?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Don't worry about it," Josh assured her. "It's all taken care of."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "But…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No buts, remember," he said mirroring her earlier words back to </div> <div> her. "It's all taken care </div> <div> of."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks," she said as she leaned backwards against the pillows.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Anytime," he said as he lay down beside her and pulled her into his </div> <div> arms.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "CJ told me about Armand when she was here earlier," Donna said </div> <div> haltingly. "Do you </div> <div> really think there will be a trial?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure," Josh said. "But I promise you one thing. If there is, </div> <div> I'll be right there with </div> <div> you every step of the way."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good," Donna said as she laid her head on Josh's chest. "Because </div> <div> together we can </div> <div> handle anything, right?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Absolutely," Josh said as he planted a firm yet gentle kiss on her </div> <div> lips.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna, I think it's too soon for you to be going back to work," Josh </div> <div> said as he stood in </div> <div> the kitchen watching her gather up her things.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You've expressed that sentiment many, many times, but I'm going so </div> <div> just get used to </div> <div> it," Donna said with an exasperated sigh.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "But Donna…."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Please, Josh. Can we not do this? The doctor said that it was ok for </div> <div> me to resume my </div> <div> normal life."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna, it's only been a week. And the doctor also said that you </div> <div> should be getting lots of </div> <div> sleep, but that hasn't been happening has it?" </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna froze, tears springing to her eyes and Josh realized that he </div> <div> had spoken much more </div> <div> sharply than he had intended.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He closed the distance between them in a matter of seconds and </div> <div> wrapped his arms around </div> <div> her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean that the way it came out."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna took a deep, shaky breath.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "If I'm keeping you awake, Josh…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's not it and you know it," he said. "I know how terrifying </div> <div> nightmares can be, </div> <div> remember?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna said wrapping her arms more tightly around his waist, "I </div> <div> remember."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm just worried about you. That's all."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know," Donna sighed, "and I appreciate it. But I can't just sit </div> <div> around my apartment all </div> <div> day staring at the walls. That really won't help anything and it </div> <div> won't keep me from </div> <div> thinking about what happened."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh searched his brain for the right words to say. He didn't want </div> <div> Donna to suffer </div> <div> anymore than she already had. He wished he had a magic formula to end </div> <div> all of her pain </div> <div> but he knew it wouldn't be that easy. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What did Dr. Eckenrod say about it?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh had been careful not to push for details of Donna's meeting with </div> <div> the psychologist </div> <div> that Doug Collins had recommended. He knew that she would tell him </div> <div> when she was </div> <div> ready. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She said that nightmares aren't uncommon for someone in my </div> <div> situation. She also said </div> <div> that I can't let them cripple me, and I need to get things back to </div> <div> normal as soon as </div> <div> possible," Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," Josh relented. "I just want you to promise me that you'll tell </div> <div> me if you need a </div> <div> break."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I promise," Donna said as she picked up her tote bag. "Now we better </div> <div> go or you're </div> <div> going to be late for staff."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "OK, let's do this," Josh said, grabbing his backpack.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna reached the door of her apartment, and then suddenly she </div> <div> turned to face Josh. She </div> <div> reached out and stroked his cheek gently.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," she said softly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "For what?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "For being here," she said. "For letting me do what I think is best. </div> <div> For worrying about </div> <div> me."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "My pleasure," Josh said leaning down and brushing her lips with a </div> <div> quick kiss.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's arrival back in the west wing caused the expected commotion. </div> <div> Even though </div> <div> most of the people had already visited her either in the hospital or </div> <div> at home, they </div> <div> celebrated again as though they hadn't.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As Donna entered the bullpen, her jaw dropped. In the corner stood a </div> <div> Christmas tree, still </div> <div> fully decorated with a pile of packages underneath. There were </div> <div> wreathes hanging on all </div> <div> of the office doors, and brightly colored twinkle lights strung along </div> <div> every window and </div> <div> doorway. There was mistletoe hanging from the ceiling and poinsettias </div> <div> on almost every </div> <div> desk. 'It still looks like Christmas,' Donna thought.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Why are the decorations still up?" she asked as she continued to </div> <div> soak in the holiday </div> <div> atmosphere.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Don't ask me," Josh said shrugging his shoulders.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna was still trying to figure out exactly what was going on as she </div> <div> entered her cubicle </div> <div> and caught sight of her desk. Her familiar stapler, her pencil holder </div> <div> and her pictures were </div> <div> all still in place. A lump formed in her throat as she opened her top </div> <div> left desk drawer and </div> <div> saw her copy of The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's exactly the way I left it," she said turning towards Josh, a </div> <div> look of wonder on her </div> <div> face.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I made the temps work at a different desk," Josh said sheepishly. "I </div> <div> know how you hate </div> <div> it when people move your stuff around."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Donna said softly as she brushed away her tears.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No problem, now I guess it's time to get down to work," Josh said, </div> <div> trying to change the </div> <div> subject before Donna got too emotional.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good idea," Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Just as she was about to settle into her chair, Margaret charged </div> <div> around the corner like a </div> <div> woman on a mission.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna!" she said excitedly, as she threw her arms around her friend </div> <div> in a huge hug,  "It's </div> <div> great to have you back."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hi, Margaret," Donna said cheerily. "It's great to be back. Do you </div> <div> know what's going </div> <div> on with all the decorations? I mean, shouldn't they be taken down by </div> <div> now?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh, I'm not sure, We've just been so busy we haven't had a chance to </div> <div> get to it yet," </div> <div> Margaret said as she waved her hand dismissively.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll do it this afternoon," Donna offered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Sure," Margaret said with a smile as she gave Josh a quick wink.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Did you need something?" Josh asked, trying to encourage Margaret to </div> <div> get to the point.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh, I almost forgot," she chuckled. "The President would like to see </div> <div> you, Donna."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Me?" Donna asked nervously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes you," Margaret said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "When?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Right now, if that's possible."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And, Josh," the redhead said with a conspiratorial gleam in her </div> <div> eye. "Leo wanted me to </div> <div> tell you that staff has been postponed. He'll get back to you with an </div> <div> exact time."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, Margaret. Just let me know," Josh said as he finally realized </div> <div> what was going on.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Will do," Margaret chirped.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You better not keep the President waiting," Josh said, looking at </div> <div> Donna with a bemused </div> <div> smile. "Apparently I have some free time so I'll be in my office when </div> <div> you get finished."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna was ushered into the Oval Office as soon as she arrived. The </div> <div> President </div> <div> immediately stood to greet her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna," he said as he enveloped her in a huge bear hug. "It's so </div> <div> nice to have you back."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you, sir. It's nice to be back," Donna answered, returning his </div> <div> hug.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Sit, sit," he said motioning towards the couch. He sat down across </div> <div> from her and took her </div> <div> hand in his.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "So how are you feeling?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm good, sir," Donna answered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The First Lady and I have been very concerned about you," the </div> <div> President said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I appreciate it, sir; but really I'm fine," Donna assured him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You feel up to being back at work?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, sir. I can't wait."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That slave driver of a boss of yours didn't force you to come back </div> <div> early did he?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Quite the opposite as a matter of fact."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, good then. But don't overdo it. If you need any help, anything </div> <div> at all, you just let </div> <div> me know."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you, sir. I will."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Leo tells me that Doug Collins recommended a psychologist who </div> <div> specializes in patients </div> <div> who have suffered through the kind of thing you've been through."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes sir. Dr Eckenrod. I talked to her on the phone yesterday for </div> <div> several hours."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Was she helpful?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Definitely, sir."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good. If you need any time off or anything like that…."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you, sir. I think I'm ready to get back into the swing of </div> <div> things."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There was a soft tap on the door and then Charlie poked his head in.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's time, sir," he said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh, I'm sorry," Donna said standing up. "I must be keeping you from </div> <div> a million things."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Not at all," the President assured her. "In fact, I'm going to walk </div> <div> back to the bullpen </div> <div> with you. I need to talk to Josh for a moment."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can send him up, sir."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "That's ok. I could use the exercise," the President said.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna and the President continued to chat on their way down the hall </div> <div> while Charlie </div> <div> walked a little ahead. The President was filling Donna in on </div> <div> everything that had been </div> <div> happening with the first family since she had been gone. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> As they rounded the corner into the bullpen, Donna froze in her </div> <div> tracks. All of the </div> <div> Christmas lights were twinkling, there was Christmas music playing </div> <div> and a large banquet </div> <div> table had been laid out with cookies and eggnog. It seemed like the </div> <div> entire White House </div> <div> staff was there.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Merry Christmas," Margaret said as she approached Donna and placed a </div> <div> red Santa hat </div> <div> on her head.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's going on?" Donna asked amazedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's the Christmas party," Margaret answered. "HO HO HO!"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "But, it's almost February," Donna said as her head swiveled around, </div> <div> taking it all in.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We wanted to wait until you were back," Ginger smiled. "It just </div> <div> wouldn't have been the </div> <div> same without you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You guys are too much," Donna said with tears pouring down her </div> <div> cheeks. "I can't </div> <div> believe you did this."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna hugged all of the other assistants as they gleefully led her </div> <div> over to the tree to check </div> <div> out the packages. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh stood back and watched her with a smile. It felt good to see her </div> <div> surrounded by so </div> <div> many people who loved her and were concerned about her. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> 'Maybe coming back to work was a good idea after all,' he thought.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The party was in full swing. The assistants were leading everyone is </div> <div> a rousing rendition </div> <div> of Jingle Bells while Sam, CJ, Toby and Josh stood in the corner </div> <div> debating the relative </div> <div> merits of real versus artificial pine wreathes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo approached Donna. "Merry Christmas," he said as he reached up </div> <div> and tugged her </div> <div> Santa hat over her eyes. Donna giggled and swatted him on the arm.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "This is what you postponed the staff meeting for?" she asked </div> <div> incredulously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yep," Leo answered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Did Margaret threaten you?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No. I wanted to do it. You deserve it," Leo said as he planted a </div> <div> kiss on her cheek.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Unfortunately I am going to have to steal Josh, CJ, Sam and Toby </div> <div> because we have a lot </div> <div> of things to cover, and I don't think the real versus fake debate is </div> <div> going to be settled </div> <div> anytime soon, but you guys enjoy the rest of the party."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks, Leo," Donna said, enveloping him in a warm hug.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No problem," he said, returning her embrace.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Have fun," Josh said, holding a sprig of mistletoe over her head and </div> <div> planting a kiss on </div> <div> her lips before departing the bullpen for Leo's office.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "You look beat," Sam commented as the members of the senior staff </div> <div> headed back to see </div> <div> how the Christmas party was proceeding.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm just a little tired," Josh said. "Donna hasn't been sleeping </div> <div> very well."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She ok?" CJ asked, her brow wrinkled with concern.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "She's having nightmares," Josh answered worriedly. "The doctor said </div> <div> that they are </div> <div> normal and that they will go away eventually, but they are really </div> <div> awful while they are </div> <div> going on."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Anything we can do to help?" Toby asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, thanks though," Josh said. He stopped walking and turned to look </div> <div> at the others. </div> <div> "You know what? I used to think that waking up from a nightmare, </div> <div> covered in sweat, </div> <div> short of breath with a clutching feeling in your chest was the worst </div> <div> thing that could </div> <div> happen. But now I know I was wrong. The worst thing is the total </div> <div> feeling of helplessness </div> <div> you get when it's happening to someone you love."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know it must be tough on you," Sam said sympathetically.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I just hate seeing her like that," Josh said, shaking his head.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "All you can do is be there for her," Sam sighed, wishing he had some </div> <div> better advice to </div> <div> give.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know. I just wish I could do more," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh, when you woke up from your nightmares after the shooting, and </div> <div> Donna was there, </div> <div> how did you feel?" CJ asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Better," Josh answered, remembering the way that Donna had held him </div> <div> and soothed him </div> <div> back to sleep on those awful nights.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And I'm sure she feels the same way."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks, CJ. I hope you're right," Josh smiled, realizing how often </div> <div> CJ seemed to know </div> <div> exactly the right thing to say.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Aren't I always," CJ laughed. "You just let us know if there's </div> <div> anything we can do."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will, thanks," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> When they rounded the corner into the bullpen, they saw the party had </div> <div> ended. The lights </div> <div> had been turned out and some of the staff members from the Mess were </div> <div> dismantling the </div> <div> banquet table.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh entered his office and found Donna staring out the window, </div> <div> still wearing her Santa </div> <div> hat. Her back was to him but he could see her shoulders shaking </div> <div> slightly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked "Didn't you enjoy the party?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The party was great," she said turning around. "I just can't believe </div> <div> that they waited for </div> <div> me. I mean they left all the decorations up and…"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know," Josh said removing his handkerchief from his pocket and </div> <div> handing it to her. </div> <div> "They just really wanted to do something to show you how much they </div> <div> care."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I really am lucky, to have such good friends. And look what Margaret </div> <div> got me," she said </div> <div> holding out the gold locket around her neck.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's pretty," Josh said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And it's just the perfect size," Donna beamed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Perfect size for what?" Josh asked quizzically.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna opened the locket and showed Josh a single small coffee bean </div> <div> nestled inside.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I can't believe you still have that," Josh said wistfully as he </div> <div> remembered the day that he </div> <div> placed it in the envelope with his letter.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It gave me strength, Josh. I held on to it for dear life. And now it </div> <div> will always be with </div> <div> me."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh didn't know what to say. He struggled for words to convey his </div> <div> feelings and finally </div> <div> settled on, "I love you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I love you too," Donna smiled. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh Lyman's office," Donna said as she picked up the phone.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna, it's Leo. I'd like to see you and Josh both for a minute if </div> <div> you are available."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Is anything wrong?" Donna asked nervously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, I just need to see you in my office."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh and Donna arrived in Leo's outer office and Margaret waved them </div> <div> right in.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's up, Leo?" Josh asked as they entered the office.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo motioned for them to sit on the couch. "I just got a call from </div> <div> Doug Collins."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What did he want?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo seemed to be thinking of the best way to break what he was afraid </div> <div> was going to be </div> <div> difficult news. "He is coming to Washington tomorrow. He needs to get </div> <div> an official </div> <div> statement from you about what went on during your time in captivity."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo paused for a moment to gauge her reaction and noticed that </div> <div> Donna's whole body had </div> <div> stiffened.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He wants to get moving on this case ASAP," Leo continued. "Since you </div> <div> were the only </div> <div> survivor, they need your statement to proceed with filing charges."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I understand," Donna said, as she swallowed hard.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "If it's too soon…" Leo said</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, it's ok. I'll do it."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh wrapped his arm around Donna's shoulders. "I'll be right there </div> <div> with you," he said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks," Donna answered in a shaky voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh was startled awake by the sound of a blood-curdling scream..</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna?" he said sharply reaching next to him on the bed. "Donna?" he </div> <div> said again as his </div> <div> arms failed to find her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Frantically, he reached over and turned on the light.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> It was then that he saw her, curled up in the corner of the room, </div> <div> eyes wide with terror, </div> <div> trying to fight off some unseen enemy. Her back was pressed against </div> <div> the wall and her </div> <div> arms were flailing wildly. The look of complete and total desperation </div> <div> in her eyes broke </div> <div> his heart.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He jumped out of bed and rushed to her side. He knelt in front of her </div> <div> and tried to wake </div> <div> her up without frightening her any further.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna," he said gently but firmly. "Donna."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She was sobbing harder now, gasping for breath. She was using both </div> <div> her hands and feet </div> <div> to try to push Josh away.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Please no," she sobbed. "Please no."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna, wake up," Josh said as he grasped her wrist. "Wake up now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly, Donna's eyes registered recognition. For a split second, </div> <div> everything seemed to </div> <div> freeze.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh God," she said as wracking sobs consumed her body. "It happened </div> <div> again."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's ok," Josh assured her as he gathered her trembling body into </div> <div> his arms. "It's ok. It </div> <div> was just a dream."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It was so real," Donna sobbed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know," Josh said stroking her back. "I know. But it's all over </div> <div> now."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh pulled Donna into his lap and stroked her back to help her calm </div> <div> down. He simply </div> <div> held her, trying to help her calm down for nearly half an hour. </div> <div> Finally, her sobs subsided </div> <div> and her breathing returned to normal.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry I woke you," she said softly, not lifting her head from </div> <div> his shoulder.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Don't be silly," he said. "Let's just get you back in bed."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I need to get a glass of water first," Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, I'll get it," Josh said as he stood up and gently pulled Donna </div> <div> up with him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> After she had crawled back under the covers, he went to the kitchen </div> <div> and returned with a </div> <div> cold bottle of water.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna drank hungrily, finishing almost the entire bottle.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Anything else you need?" Josh asked, unable to hide the concern in </div> <div> his voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> When Donna said no, he pulled back the covers and crawled in beside </div> <div> her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He wrapped his arms around her and she immediately clung to his </div> <div> chest. He stroked her </div> <div> back and cooed softly in her ear.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It's ok. I'm here. It's ok," he said over and over.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Several hours later, Josh rolled over in his sleep and stretched out </div> <div> his arm. He sat up with </div> <div> a start when he realized that Donna was no longer beside him. After a </div> <div> quick check of the </div> <div> bathroom, he wandered out into the living room.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He spotted Donna curled up on the couch, wrapped in an afghan </div> <div> watching an old movie </div> <div> on TV with the volume down as low as possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" he asked as he lowered himself down to sit beside her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm fine," she said, trying desperately to hide her tear filled eyes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You don't look fine," he said as he wrapped her in his arms. "Did </div> <div> you have another bad </div> <div> dream?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No," Donna admitted hesitantly. "I was just…well I was afraid to go </div> <div> back to sleep."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Why didn't you wake me up?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "One of us needs to get some rest."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Wrong. I don't want you sitting out here alone. You wake me up, </div> <div> Donna. I want to be </div> <div> with you. We're in this together remember."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna stared at the clocks on the bullpen wall. She wasn't sure if </div> <div> she wanted them to </div> <div> move more quickly or more slowly. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The meeting with Doug Collins was scheduled for 7:00 PM. Donna was </div> <div> not looking </div> <div> forward to recounting all of the details of her imprisonment, but she </div> <div> knew that it had to </div> <div> be done. She decided that she would just as soon get it over with.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo had arranged to hold the meeting in the Mural Room. He thought </div> <div> that it would be </div> <div> better to hold it in a place where Donna felt absolutely secure. He </div> <div> wanted to make this as </div> <div> easy for her as was humanly possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As 7:00 approached, Donna began nervously preparing. She printed out </div> <div> a copy of Josh's </div> <div> schedule for the next day and placed all of the notes he would need </div> <div> for his morning </div> <div> meetings in one nice neat stack. She made one last check for messages </div> <div> then turned on his </div> <div> voice mail.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you ready?" Josh asked, coming out of his office just as she </div> <div> shut down her </div> <div> computer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "As ready as I'll ever be," Donna replied, not quite managing to </div> <div> reach the confident tone </div> <div> she was trying for.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok then, let's go," he said as he gently grabbed her elbow.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna knew that there were things that were bound to come up in this </div> <div> meeting that she </div> <div> had not yet told Josh about. Details that were so disturbing she </div> <div> hadn't yet shared them </div> <div> with anyone. She had tried to block them out of her mind and she had </div> <div> been successful for </div> <div> the most part. But at night, when her guard was down, that's when the </div> <div> memories flooded </div> <div> back.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Dr Eckenrod suggested that the things she was refusing to face might </div> <div> very well be the </div> <div> key to her nightmares. The doctor felt that getting those experiences </div> <div> out in the open </div> <div> might very well help lessen their hold over her. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> When she looked in Josh's eyes, she believed that he was ready to </div> <div> hear whatever she had </div> <div> to say. She knew that she just needed to find the strength to say it.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you sure you want to sit in on this?" she asked, seeking one </div> <div> last dose of reassurance.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Positive," Josh said as he leaned over and gave her a quick hug.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As they were making their way towards the Mural Room, they heard </div> <div> someone calling </div> <div> them from down the hall.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hi there," CJ said nervously as she fell into step beside them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hi CJ," Donna answered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you headed out for your meeting with Doug Collins now?" CJ </div> <div> asked, trying to </div> <div> sound casual.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yep," Donna answered, unconsciously playing with the hem on her </div> <div> jacket.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Look…" CJ said, "well, I'm not trying to intrude but….well, the </div> <div> thing is… I'd be happy </div> <div> to come with you for---you know---moral support. If you want me to </div> <div> that is."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Tears welled up in Donna's eyes as she fought to keep her cascading </div> <div> emotions under </div> <div> control.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks, CJ, that would mean a lot to me," Donna said sincerely.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As they entered the Mural Room, they saw Sam and Toby arranging </div> <div> chairs around the </div> <div> large conference table.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Moral support?" Donna asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We just wanted you to know that we're here if you need us," Sam said </div> <div> as Toby </div> <div> nervously stared at the ground. "We can leave if we are intruding."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, I'm glad you're here. Thank you both," Donna said softly. The </div> <div> outpouring of love </div> <div> and support she had received today from the people at work had </div> <div> astounded her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Just then, the door opened and Leo stepped in followed by a tall </div> <div> blonde man in a suit and  </div> <div> a casually dressed woman. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna," Leo said, "I'd like you to meet Doug Collins, I think you've </div> <div> talked to him on </div> <div> the phone. He works in the Secretary General's office at the UN."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Nice to meet you," Donna said as she shook his hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And this is Dr. Eckenrod, I believe you spoke to her on the phone </div> <div> also," Leo said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna said trying to hide her shock. "I didn't know that you </div> <div> were going to be </div> <div> here Dr. Eckenrod."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I asked her to join us. I thought it might be best," Doug Collins </div> <div> said as he put his </div> <div> briefcase down on the table. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What he means," the doctor said reassuringly, "Is that these types </div> <div> of meetings can be </div> <div> very stressful. Especially coming so soon after your return home. So </div> <div> I'm just here to </div> <div> observe and of course I'm happy to offer any assistance that I can."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Although I am very pleased to see that you apparently have a very </div> <div> strong support </div> <div> system already in place," she said as she looked approvingly around </div> <div> the room.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes I do," Donna smiled affectionately at all of her friends as she </div> <div> squeezed Josh's hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The remainder of the introductions were dispensed with quickly and </div> <div> they all settled down </div> <div> around the table.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna perched on the edge of her chair. Josh placed his arm </div> <div> protectively around her </div> <div> shoulders and then dropped it down to rub her spine soothingly.    </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Together," he whispered softly in her ear.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Together," Donna said as she squeezed his hand in response.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Doug Collins cleared his throat to signal that he was ready to begin.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I want to make this as painless as possible for you Ms. Moss," he </div> <div> said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We would appreciate that," Leo said pointedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They quickly moved through all of the basic questions. They covered </div> <div> Donna's full name, </div> <div> age, and occupation. They also ascertained that she was in Colombia </div> <div> as an observer for </div> <div> the administration, not in any official capacity.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They discussed the initial capture only briefly. At this point, there </div> <div> was no chance of </div> <div> bringing charges against the original kidnappers. Officials had no </div> <div> way of knowing their </div> <div> exact identity or even if any of them were still alive. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> They did, however, have Armand Gutierrez in custody and they wanted </div> <div> desperately to </div> <div> build an airtight case against him. They had quite a bit of proof of </div> <div> his drug trafficking </div> <div> activities but they wanted him on the more serious charges of </div> <div> kidnapping and murder.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> UN teams always knew the danger before they entered a foreign </div> <div> country. In many cases, </div> <div> they were entering highly volatile and unstable situations.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Regardless, Doug Collins wanted to send a clear message that their </div> <div> teams were not fair </div> <div> game for kidnappers and terrorists. Donna's statement could be just </div> <div> the ammunition they </div> <div> needed to make an example out of the men they had in custody.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do you remember the first time you saw the man you know as Armand </div> <div> Gutierrez?" </div> <div> Collins asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna said as her hands began to tremble.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh moved his chair closer to hers. He left one hand on her back, </div> <div> and reached out with </div> <div> the other to take her hand and try to calm her trembling.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Can you tell me about that day?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We were at the second location then," Donna began. "I don't know how </div> <div> long we had </div> <div> been there. I woke up to the sound of shouting. When I looked out, I </div> <div> saw a large group of </div> <div> men I had never seen before. They were all dressed in army fatigues, </div> <div> and they were all </div> <div> carrying guns. One of those men, I came to know later, was Armand </div> <div> Gutierrez."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Did they appear to be welcome guests?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I don't think so. I woke up and I heard arguing. It was obvious that </div> <div> the men were angry. </div> <div> I couldn't understand what they were saying though because I don't </div> <div> speak much </div> <div> Spanish."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Sam leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, intent on </div> <div> hearing every word </div> <div> Donna had to say no matter how difficult it might be. He was </div> <div> determined to help both </div> <div> Josh and Donna in any way possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "But they were arguing?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Definitely," Donna said as the memories of that day flooded back.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And then what happened?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Armand kept getting angrier and angrier," Donna said. "He didn't </div> <div> seem to be getting </div> <div> what he wanted. All of sudden he lifted his gun and he shot the </div> <div> leader of the original </div> <div> group and killed him."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna paused for a minute and Josh could tell that her mind had </div> <div> transported her right </div> <div> back to that day. He rubbed her back a little harder to remind her </div> <div> that he was there.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What happened next?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Everything kind of went crazy. Everyone began shouting and then </div> <div> Armand's men raised </div> <div> up their guns and killed several of the rebels," Donna said as she </div> <div> began to fight back </div> <div> tears.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Were any hostages injured at this point?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No not yet," she said quietly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Toby shifted nervously in his seat as he noticed the slight catch in </div> <div> Donna's voice. He had </div> <div> read many horrifying accounts of the way the ESF treated hostages </div> <div> during his research on </div> <div> Armand Gutierrez. He was certain that there were things about her </div> <div> time in captivity that </div> <div> Donna had yet to share with anyone. He regretted not having told her </div> <div> already how in awe </div> <div> of her strength he was. She caught his eyes briefly, and he flashed </div> <div> her a small supportive </div> <div> smile. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What happened next?" Collins continued.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Armand asked for me by name. He specifically said that he was </div> <div> looking for Donna </div> <div> Moss," Donna said, her voice growing shaky.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Leo bristled. He had known all along that Donna had been singled out </div> <div> because of her </div> <div> association with the White House. His old feelings of guilt over </div> <div> being the one that sent </div> <div> her on the assignment threatened to resurface. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> He quickly came back to reality when he realized that this meeting </div> <div> wasn't about him and </div> <div> any feelings of guilt he might have. He needed to be strong for </div> <div> Donna , to give her </div> <div> whatever comfort and support he could.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "And what did you do?" Collins asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna stared at him as she remembered the terror and panic she had </div> <div> felt when she first </div> <div> heard Armand say her name.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I hesitated at first, but then I raised my hand," Donna said dazedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What did he do?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He said that he was going to trade me back to my friends in </div> <div> Washington for the things </div> <div> he needed."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ's jaw clenched at the thought of a man who was willing to use </div> <div> another human being </div> <div> as currency.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok now, Donna," Collins said, proceeding with caution, "When aid </div> <div> workers reached </div> <div> that camp they found eight dead rebel soldiers and four dead </div> <div> hostages."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna said as she began to twist the hem of her skirt </div> <div> nervously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh stroked her spine a little harder, trying to transfer all of his </div> <div> strength to her through </div> <div> his fingertips.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Can you tell us what happened?" he asked gently.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna took a deep breath and began to speak.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We were very tired at that point. The weather was turning colder at </div> <div> night and it was </div> <div> difficult to get any sleep. Some of the hostages refused to eat the </div> <div> stew that we were given </div> <div> everyday. We were so thirsty that it was hard to think straight."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's cheeks began to flush and she felt like her heart was going </div> <div> to pound right out of </div> <div> her chest. Her breathing became shallow and she began to hear a roar </div> <div> in her ears. She </div> <div> swallowed hard and continued.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Some of the others were starting to lose hope, I could tell. I </div> <div> wanted to talk to them, to try </div> <div> to encourage them to go on, but we weren't allowed to have any </div> <div> communication at all. I </div> <div> tried to catch their eye, I tried everything I could think of but </div> <div> nothing worked."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> There was a note of desperation creeping into Donna's voice that she </div> <div> was unable to hide. </div> <div> For the first time, she was allowing herself to share the horrific </div> <div> memories of that day with </div> <div> others. Once she started, she knew that there was no turning back.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "When Armand told us that we would be relocating, Ian and several of </div> <div> the others begged </div> <div> to be left behind. They said that they were too tired and weak to be </div> <div> of any use to anyone. </div> <div> They told Armand that they were peacekeepers and that they meant him </div> <div> no harm. They </div> <div> begged Armand to simply leave them behind. He told us all to stand up </div> <div> but they wouldn't </div> <div> do it, they just stayed on the ground. I wanted to scream out to them-</div> <div> tell them to get up </div> <div> but the words just wouldn't come."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ let out a sob. She was stunned by the palpable feelings of fear </div> <div> and panic emanating </div> <div> from Donna's body. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What happened next?" Collins asked in a measured tone. He didn't </div> <div> want to push Donna. </div> <div> It was obvious that these were difficult memories for her to relive. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Armand turned away like he was considering their proposal. I knew </div> <div> that he wasn't." </div> <div> Donna's voice began to rise and her eyes darted nervously around the </div> <div> room. All of the </div> <div> sudden he turned back around and just killed them with his machine </div> <div> gun. He just mowed </div> <div> them right down. They didn't even have time to scream."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's sobs suddenly broke free. Both Josh and Leo reached out their </div> <div> hands to try to </div> <div> comfort her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "All four of them at once?" Collins asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna choked out.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh leaned over and pulled Donna to him. He wrapped both arms around </div> <div> her and stroked </div> <div> her back while she sobbed into his shoulder.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do you need a break?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, let's just finish this," she answered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What happened next?" Collins asked, desperately trying to regain his </div> <div> own composure.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Then I was thrown in the back of a truck, a tarp over me, and next </div> <div> thing I knew we were </div> <div> at a different camp," Donna said quickly, trying to distance herself </div> <div> from the memories.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Did you have any idea where you had been taken?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I didn't have any idea where I had been in the first place so I had </div> <div> no point of reference," </div> <div> Donna snapped.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry," Collins mumbled.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, I'm sorry," Donna said apologetically. She took a few deep </div> <div> breaths and tried to </div> <div> regain control.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What happened once you reached the new camp?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Things got markedly worse," Donna said, as a dark shadow crossed her </div> <div> eyes. She began </div> <div> to clench and unclench her fists.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh looked desperately at Leo, hoping that his mentor could give him </div> <div> some guidance. He </div> <div> hated seeing Donna in so much pain; however he knew that she would </div> <div> have to face these </div> <div> memories sometime. Leo nodded at Josh, as if to assure him that </div> <div> talking about what </div> <div> happened was the right thing for Donna.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How so?" Collins asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The original captors were all young boys. They seemed to be true </div> <div> believers in the </div> <div> cause," Donna said. "These men were soldiers, they were more like </div> <div> mercenaries. The </div> <div> living conditions with the first group had been far from ideal but we </div> <div> had managed to get </div> <div> to some kind of routine. But everything changed once we got to the </div> <div> new camp."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "In what way?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "First off, I was separated from the other hostages," Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Why?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I don't know. I think it had to do with the fact that Armand knew I </div> <div> worked in the White </div> <div> House. I guess he thought that I was his ticket to getting what he </div> <div> wanted so he wanted to </div> <div> keep me apart from the others."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Was that the last you saw of the other hostages?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No," Donna said. All of the blood drained from her face and she </div> <div> began to shake </div> <div> violently. That first night in the new camp was something she had </div> <div> tried desperately to </div> <div> forget. She had pushed it from her mind in order to maintain her own </div> <div> sanity. But since </div> <div> she had gotten home, the scene had repeated itself every night in her </div> <div> dreams. She just </div> <div> hoped that her friends would understand what she had done. She had </div> <div> come too far to turn </div> <div> back. She took a shaky breath and continued.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "The first night, I heard a commotion outside of the hut. I inched </div> <div> over to the door and </div> <div> looked out. The men were all standing around drinking and laughing. </div> <div> They had dragged </div> <div> the other two women hostages out of the hut. They were lying on the </div> <div> ground, still tied up. </div> <div> The men were grabbing at their clothes and laughing."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The skin on her palms became raw as she dug her fingernails in harder </div> <div> and harder. Josh </div> <div> reached over and took her hand in his; trying to keep her from doing </div> <div> any further damage. </div> <div> She immediately began to squeeze as hard as she could.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I could hear the women screaming and begging them to stop. Then </div> <div> Armand came out of </div> <div> his hut. He was laughing and carrying on just like his men."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna pulled away from Josh's grasp and sprung to her feet. She began </div> <div> to pace </div> <div> frantically. He rose to follow her but Toby placed a restraining hand </div> <div> on his shoulder. Josh </div> <div> sank back into his chair watching helplessly as Donna replayed that </div> <div> horrible night in her </div> <div> head.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "He raped them both," she choked out in a voice barely above a </div> <div> whisper. "I closed my </div> <div> eyes but I could still hear them screaming. They just kept begging </div> <div> him to stop. After he </div> <div> was done, the other soldiers passed the women around. Finally they </div> <div> stopped screaming </div> <div> and I could just hear them whimpering. Then they threw them back into </div> <div> the tent."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> CJ wanted to cry out loud but she slammed her emotions back down </div> <div> instead. This was </div> <div> something that the men in the room could never fully understand, a </div> <div> terror that they would </div> <div> never know. She knew that she could be a strong source of support for </div> <div> Donna on this </div> <div> issue. Whatever Donna said next, CJ promised herself that she would </div> <div> stay strong.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do you need a break?" Leo asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No," Donna said. "I want to get this all out."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok. What happened next?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Armand came to the hut I was in," Donna said, her eyes growing wide </div> <div> as she relived the </div> <div> moment in her head.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Sam squeezed Josh's shoulder as he saw his friends emotions begin to </div> <div> spiral out of </div> <div> control. Josh's breathing quickened and he was pressing his clenched </div> <div> fists violently into </div> <div> his thighs.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Did he assault you?" Collins asked softly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Time seemed to stand still as everyone awaited Donna's answer to that </div> <div> question. She </div> <div> looked directly at Josh and she was amazed at what she saw in his </div> <div> eyes. He looked at her </div> <div> with a look that conveyed nothing but love and support. Yes there was </div> <div> also anger and </div> <div> fear, but somehow Donna knew that whatever her answer to that </div> <div> question, it wouldn't </div> <div> change how Josh felt about her. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No, because…" Donna's sobs strangled off the words before she could </div> <div> speak them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Because why?" Collins asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sorry," she sobbed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What are you sorry for?" he asked sympathetically.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "When he came into the tent, he had this look on his face. I knew </div> <div> what he wanted. I just </div> <div> wanted to stop him so I told him…" Donna stopped, her eyes suddenly </div> <div> glued to the floor.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What did you tell him?" Collins prompted her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I told him that I was HIV positive," she sobbed. "I couldn't think </div> <div> of anything else to say. </div> <div> I know that's not the kind of thing that a person should lie about. I </div> <div> just didn't know what </div> <div> else to do."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna was taking in breath in huge gulps now, trying desperately to </div> <div> get her sobbing </div> <div> under control. She was leaning hard against the wall and it seemed to </div> <div> be the only thing </div> <div> holding her up.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Dr Eckenrod rose and crossed the room to stand beside Donna.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You have nothing to be sorry for," she said gently rubbing Donna's </div> <div> arm. "Actually, you </div> <div> should be quite proud of yourself." </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Why?" Donna asked, looking directly into the doctor's eyes, wanting </div> <div> desperately to find </div> <div> an answer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You thought quickly on your feet. You saved yourself from a horrible </div> <div> situation. There is </div> <div> absolutely no shame in what you did."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Still…" Donna said looking back down at the floor. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Dr Eckenrod continued to pat Donna's forearm.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The entire room sat fell silent for a moment as everyone took a few </div> <div> deep breaths and tried </div> <div> to compose themselves. Sam relaxed his grip on Josh's shoulder as he </div> <div> felt a small amount </div> <div> of tension drain from his friend's body. He knew that Josh would have </div> <div> still loved Donna </div> <div> no matter what had happened, but he was glad that this was one issue </div> <div> that they wouldn't </div> <div> have to confront.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Toby and CJ shared a knowing glance as each of them breathed an </div> <div> inward sigh of relief. </div> <div> Leo looked pointedly at Doug Collins as if to say 'Let's wrap this up </div> <div> soon."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Tell us what happened the day the government troops arrived." </div> <div> Collins said, trying to </div> <div> gather the information they needed as quickly as possible and give </div> <div> Donna a much-needed </div> <div> chance to heal.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's pacing returned with a vengeance. This time, Josh gave into </div> <div> his urge to go to </div> <div> her. He crossed the room and leaned against the wall so that he would </div> <div> be close by if she </div> <div> needed him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "All I remember is the chaos. The gunfire was continuous. I looked </div> <div> out the door and </div> <div> bodies were falling everywhere. The noise was deafening. I looked </div> <div> across the compound </div> <div> and I saw Taryn, she was one of the other hostages, sticking her head </div> <div> out of the door of </div> <div> their hut. She was motioning for me to join them. I had no idea what </div> <div> was happening but I </div> <div> thought that I would have a better chance if I made it to the others </div> <div> than if I stayed by </div> <div> myself. Just as I was about to try to make it across the compound, a </div> <div> grenade hit their </div> <div> hut," Donna cried as she leaned against the wall next to Josh, </div> <div> reaching out and grasping </div> <div> his hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "It seemed like it only took a few seconds and it was in flames. </div> <div> There was no way for </div> <div> them to escape. They were tied up. I could hear them screaming. I </div> <div> could smell flesh </div> <div> burning."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's knees threatened to give out on her as she slumped against </div> <div> Josh's side. He </div> <div> gently placed his arm around her waist and led her back to her chair. </div> <div> He sat down beside </div> <div> her and placed his arm around her shoulder.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> What happened next?" Collins asked</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I fell back into my hut. Burning embers were flying everywhere. I </div> <div> was afraid that my </div> <div> hut would catch on fire next. So I decided to try to make it to the </div> <div> woods and hide out. As </div> <div> I started out of the hut, there was an explosion about 50 yards ahead </div> <div> of me. I can </div> <div> remember falling backwards. The world was spinning. I remember a pain </div> <div> in my knee. </div> <div> And the smoke just kept getting thicker and thicker. I thought I was </div> <div> going to die."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna's hands instinctively flew to her neck and she squeezed the </div> <div> locket containing the </div> <div> coffee bean in her hand.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "All of the sudden I felt someone picking me up. They carried for a </div> <div> little ways and then I </div> <div> was in the back of a truck again speeding down the mountain. I </div> <div> remember being grateful </div> <div> for the fresh air. Next thing I remember, I woke up in a closet."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You knew it was a closet?" Collins asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes, I could tell that were indoors. It was dark, but I could reach </div> <div> out and feel the walls </div> <div> on all four sides of me. I had a bad pain in my knee and my head was </div> <div> pounding. Armand </div> <div> told me that he was going to meet with Jack Hawthorne. He said that  </div> <div> I had better hope </div> <div> that someone was willing to pay for my return because if not, he was </div> <div> going to kill me as </div> <div> soon as he got back."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Suddenly the statement on Donna's face changed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Armand was much different in the apartment," she said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How so?" Collins asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Much more scared. Much less in control. I could almost see the panic </div> <div> in his eyes. He </div> <div> would pull me out of the closet by my hair. He intentionally grabbed </div> <div> my sore knee. He </div> <div> put his cigarette out on my shoulder."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh fought back his anger. He knew that there would be no need for a </div> <div> trial if he could </div> <div> just have five minutes alone in a room with Armand. But Donna did not </div> <div> need to deal with </div> <div> his anger right now, so he pushed it down and returned all of his </div> <div> attention to her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do you know why?" Collins asked, realizing that Donna had a far </div> <div> better insight on </div> <div> Armand than anyone else in the room.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm not sure. It was like he needed to feel intimidating again."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Were you more frightened in the apartment than you had been in the </div> <div> camp?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "In a way, because he was so clearly out of control. But once he came </div> <div> back from the first </div> <div> meeting with Jack, and he didn't kill me, I knew that he must have </div> <div> heard what he wanted </div> <div> to hear. Then when I saw Jack, and he assured me that everything was </div> <div> going to be ok, I </div> <div> just used that to keep strong. That and Josh's letter," she said, </div> <div> meeting Josh's eyes and </div> <div> managing a small smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What happened the day of the exchange? Did you know you were going </div> <div> to be released?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "No. He just pulled me out of the closet and threw me into the van. </div> <div> He didn't tell me </div> <div> anything until we pulled into the airstrip and I saw Jack. Once Jack </div> <div> helped me into the </div> <div> van, I never saw Armand again."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you Ms. Moss," Collins said. He had several more questions but </div> <div> decided that the </div> <div> information he had would be sufficient. "I can't thank you enough. </div> <div> You've been very </div> <div> helpful. I'm sure this will give us enough to file charges. I'll have </div> <div> this transcribed as soon </div> <div> as possible and then I'll get it to you for your signature."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Collins began to stuff his papers into his briefcase and grabbed the </div> <div> tape recorder he had </div> <div> been using.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok," Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna, I want you to call me if you need anything at all," Dr. </div> <div> Eckenrod said as she knelt </div> <div> in front of Donna's chair.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will," Donna said, "Thank you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I want you to remember what I told you. There is absolutely nothing </div> <div> wrong with doing </div> <div> whatever it takes to survive."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you,"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Survivors guilt does nothing to honor the memory of those who didn't </div> <div> make it back. </div> <div> They wouldn't want you to feel this way. They would have celebrated </div> <div> your life. They </div> <div> would have wanted you to go on."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Remember Donna, crying doesn't make you weak. Neither does asking </div> <div> for help. Look at </div> <div> your friends, they want to help you. Lean on them. There are a lot of </div> <div> people in this world </div> <div> that have to face trauma alone. You are lucky, Donna. All of these </div> <div> people want to help </div> <div> you. Let them help you. It doesn't mean you're fragile. In fact, it </div> <div> takes a strong person to </div> <div> admit when they need help."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you doctor," Donna said.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As Leo escorted the Dr and Doug Collins from the room, Donna sunk </div> <div> into Josh's arms.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah," she said, and a small smile crossed her lips when she </div> <div> realized that she was, in </div> <div> fact, telling the truth.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you ready to go home?" he asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," she said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She turned and looked at Sam, CJ and Toby as Leo reentered the </div> <div> room. "I was thinking </div> <div> maybe we could all go back to the apartment and get some Chinese </div> <div> food. Maybe we </div> <div> could…you know..talk some more," she said cautiously.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Sounds like a good idea," Leo said. "I just need to grab a few </div> <div> things from my office and </div> <div> then I'll meet you there."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "CJ and I will stop at Wong's and pick up the food and meet you at </div> <div> your place." Toby </div> <div> said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll stop and pick up some beer and soda," Sam said.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna smiled as she and Josh left the Mural Room and headed out. Dr </div> <div> Eckenrod was </div> <div> right; she was lucky to have a man who loved her and a lot of </div> <div> incredible friends.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Springtime had exploded in DC, bringing with it unseasonably warm </div> <div> temperatures and </div> <div> cherry blossoms in full bloom. All around, the sights and smells of </div> <div> nature's rebirth </div> <div> assaulted the senses. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> It had been four months since Donna's return from Colombia and she </div> <div> was showing the </div> <div> signs of a rebirth of her own. She finally felt like her life was </div> <div> returning to normal.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Her nightmares hadn't disappeared completely, but they occurred far </div> <div> less frequently and </div> <div> were usually far less intense than they had been right after her </div> <div> return. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The knowledge that she would have to travel to New York to testify at </div> <div> the trial of </div> <div> Armand Gutierrez  was the only thing that was keeping her from </div> <div> putting the entire </div> <div> experience behind her. She knew that she would always have the </div> <div> memories, but once the </div> <div> trial was over with, she would finally be ready to close that chapter </div> <div> of her life.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Doug Collins and the people at the UN had been very helpful. They had </div> <div> done everything </div> <div> possible to expedite the trial. They had also agreed to work off of </div> <div> her statements instead </div> <div> of subjecting her to the standard round of intense pre-trial </div> <div> preparation. Having witnessed </div> <div> her initial statement, Collins was quite sure that Donna would be an </div> <div> effective witness </div> <div> without any coaxing or coaching.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She had actually been relieved when he called and said that the trial </div> <div> would be taking </div> <div> place at the end of May. She was anxious to tell her story one last </div> <div> time, anxious to see </div> <div> Armand pay for what he had done to her and to the other hostages.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna had been lucky enough to meet many of the families of her </div> <div> fellow hostages at a </div> <div> memorial service that had been held in New York several months </div> <div> earlier. She wished </div> <div> desperately for something to say that would ease the pain she saw in </div> <div> the faces of the </div> <div> parents, spouses and children of the people who had not been lucky </div> <div> enough to make it </div> <div> back. She finally realized that the only thing that would bring them </div> <div> some small measure </div> <div> of comfort would be the knowledge that the man responsible for the </div> <div> deaths of their loved </div> <div> ones was punished. Donna resolved at that moment to stand up in front </div> <div> of the court and </div> <div> tell her story loud and clear. Hers was the only voice that could </div> <div> tell first hand of the </div> <div> atrocities that Armand had committed, and she was determined to let </div> <div> the whole world </div> <div> know so that he could be punished.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "I think that takes care of everything," Donna said as she placed a </div> <div> stack of folders in </div> <div> Josh's backpack. "Sam is going to cover the thing with Watkins for </div> <div> you and everything </div> <div> else I put off until next week."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm sure everything will be fine," Josh assured her. "Stop worrying."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I just hate dragging you away from work when there is so much going </div> <div> on," she fretted.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna, please don't start this again. I am going with you to New </div> <div> York. I wouldn't be </div> <div> anywhere else," he said as he stepped directly in front of her and </div> <div> placed his hand on her </div> <div> chin, tilting her head up to look in her eyes.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and </div> <div> planted a soft kiss on </div> <div> his lips. "I'm not sure that I could do it alone."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Well, you aren't going to have to worry about that because you are </div> <div> never going to be </div> <div> alone again," he said as he placed his forehead against hers.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> They stood in a comfortable silence, staring deeply into each other's </div> <div> eyes until a knock </div> <div> on the door startled them back to reality. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Come in," Josh called.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You two almost ready to go?" Leo asked as he stepped into the office.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> All set," Josh answered. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good," Leo said. "Are you sure you're ok with this, Donna?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll be fine, Leo," she assured him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I want you to call me if you need anything. Anything at all," he </div> <div> told her as he gave her a </div> <div> quick hug.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I will. Thanks, Leo."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, I have a car waiting out front to take you to the airport. You </div> <div> better get going or you </div> <div> are going to miss your flight."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks, Leo," Josh said. "Margaret has the number of the hotel in </div> <div> case you need to </div> <div> reach us."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The flight into New York was uneventful. Donna had been quieter than </div> <div> usual but it </div> <div> seemed to Josh to be a determined quiet. It was as if she was </div> <div> conserving all of her </div> <div> strength and energy for her testimony. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> They ordered a light dinner from room service, and then Donna </div> <div> wandered out onto the </div> <div> balcony as Josh called Sam to check on how things had gone with </div> <div> Senator Watkins. He </div> <div> ended the phone call as quickly as possible and went to join her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "How are you feeling?" he asked as he watched her taking in the </div> <div> beautiful nighttime </div> <div> skyline.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "A little nervous," she admitted.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll be right there with you," he said as he rubbed her back </div> <div> soothingly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know," she smiled. "That's why I'm only a little nervous as </div> <div> opposed to completely </div> <div> terrified..</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You can do this," he said, wrapping his arms tightly around </div> <div> her. "You are an amazingly </div> <div> strong woman."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thanks for having so much faith in me, it means a lot" she said as </div> <div> she buried her head in </div> <div> the crook of his neck. "I love you, Josh."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I love you too," he whispered. "Now we had better try to get a </div> <div> little sleep. Tomorrow is </div> <div> going to be a long day."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh lay awake for a long time with his arms wrapped securely around </div> <div> Donna. He </div> <div> listened to her soft, even breathing waiting for any signs that a </div> <div> nightmare might be </div> <div> arriving. He had been dreading Donna's court testimony for months. </div> <div> She had been so </div> <div> strong and so brave up to this point, he hated to see her have to go </div> <div> through any more </div> <div> pain. He gently stroked her hair as he sent up a quick prayer that </div> <div> things go as smoothly as </div> <div> possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh and Donna arrived at the courthouse the next morning at 8:00 AM </div> <div> sharp. He could </div> <div> feel her hands begin to tremble as they made their way towards the </div> <div> assigned courtroom. </div> <div> Doug Collins was there to meet them and immediately introduced them </div> <div> to the attorney's </div> <div> who would be trying the case. They briefly explained several </div> <div> procedural matters so that </div> <div> Donna would know what to expect once she got inside the courtroom. </div> <div> She expressed her </div> <div> fears about the cross-examination by the defense lawyers, and the </div> <div> attorney's assured her </div> <div> that they would do everything they could to make it as painless as </div> <div> possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna was clutching Josh's hand tightly and trying to take some deep </div> <div> cleansing breaths </div> <div> when suddenly, she could hear audible gasps and a hum of excitement </div> <div> coming from </div> <div> behind them. She turned around in time to see Armand Gutierrez being </div> <div> led towards the </div> <div> courtroom door.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh placed his arm protectively around Donna's waist as he attempted </div> <div> to move her down </div> <div> the hallway and out of sight of the man who had caused her so much </div> <div> pain. No matter how </div> <div> much he prodded, Donna wouldn't move. She seemed rooted to the spot. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'll get them to take him in the back way," Collins said as he </div> <div> headed towards the </div> <div> oncoming scrum.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "NO!" Donna said. "It's ok. Let them come in this way."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you sure?" Josh asked, not even trying to hide the concern in </div> <div> his voice.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yes," Donna said confidently.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She squeezed Josh's hand tightly and tried to ignore her wildly </div> <div> beating heart. Everything </div> <div> around the two of them seemed to fade away as Donna fixated solely on </div> <div> the man who had </div> <div> been her tormentor for so many months, the man who had continued to </div> <div> torment her in her </div> <div> dreams long after she was out of his physical presence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The tension in the air got thicker as Armand approached. Donna had </div> <div> wondered on many, </div> <div> many occasions what this moment would be like. She had expected to </div> <div> see a different man </div> <div> than she had known in the jungle. She had expected that a team of </div> <div> attorneys would have </div> <div> gotten a hold of him and made him look like a model citizen. But </div> <div> Armand was an </div> <div> unrepentant soldier to the very end.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As he moved closer, Donna had to stifle a shocked chuckle. Not only </div> <div> was he </div> <div> wearing the same type of battle fatigues that she had seen him wear </div> <div> many times, he had </div> <div> on a tattered Che Guevara t-shirt underneath. Donna wondered if </div> <div> anyone else saw the </div> <div> irony in that.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 'How appropriate,' Donna thought as she saw that both his wrists and </div> <div> ankles were </div> <div> shackled. 'Now he knows how it feels.'</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh's arm tightened around Donna's waist pulling her more tightly to </div> <div> his side. Donna refused to take her </div> <div> eyes off of the man moving towards her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Right before he turned into the courtroom, Armand made eye contact </div> <div> with Donna. She </div> <div> locked eyes with him and refused to look away. Donna's mind was </div> <div> suddenly full of  </div> <div> memories of the time in the camp, the faces of the other hostages, </div> <div> the sound of their </div> <div> screams, the evil that she saw in those eyes as he tormented her in </div> <div> the closet. It took </div> <div> every bit of strength she had but she didn't turn away. After what </div> <div> seemed like an eternity, </div> <div> Armand sneered and allowed himself to be led into the courtroom.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Are you ok?" Josh asked</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yeah," Donna said as she leaned into Josh's shoulder. "I really </div> <div> think I am."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna looked out over the packed courtroom as the attorney's moved to </div> <div> the sidebar to </div> <div> discuss some bit of legal minutiae. She had been on the stand for </div> <div> close to three hours. At </div> <div> first she had been nervous, but her confidence had grown with each </div> <div> question she </div> <div> answered. As she spoke, she looked out at the faces of the victim's </div> <div> friends and relatives. </div> <div> The look of gratitude and relief that she saw on their faces spurred </div> <div> her on. When the </div> <div> moment came that she was asked to identify the man who had committed </div> <div> all of the </div> <div> atrocities, Donna looked Armand right in the eyes and identified him </div> <div> with a strong, clear </div> <div> voice. At that moment, she knew for certain that, whatever the </div> <div> outcome of the trial, she </div> <div> had won. Armand had not destroyed her, in fact he had made her </div> <div> stronger.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh watched Donna's testimony unfold with nothing short of awe. He </div> <div> thought back to </div> <div> the young woman who had hired herself as his assistant back in New </div> <div> Hampshire. Even </div> <div> though he had always known that she was much stronger than most </div> <div> people gave her </div> <div> credit for, even he was amazed at the way she had handled her entire </div> <div> ordeal.  He listened </div> <div> as she recounted  what had happened in Colombia in a voice that was </div> <div> shaky but strong. </div> <div> He watched her give gruesome details of her time in captivity </div> <div> without ever once faltering. And when she was asked to identify the </div> <div> man who had held </div> <div> her captive, she looked directly at Armand as she pointed him out, </div> <div> never breaking eye </div> <div> contact. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "I was really proud of you back there," Josh said as they sat on the </div> <div> plane on the </div> <div> way back to DC.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh," Donna blushed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I'm serious," Josh said. "You are so strong. I don't think I could </div> <div> be that strong."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I couldn't have done it without you," she said earnestly. "I mean </div> <div> it, right from the </div> <div> very beginning. When I was in Colombia, I used your letter to hold on </div> <div> to hope. Then </div> <div> once I got back, you saw me through all of the nightmares and </div> <div> everything else that </div> <div> happened. No matter how terrible the details were, you never turned </div> <div> away. And back </div> <div> there at the courthouse, having you there beside me helped me find </div> <div> the strength I needed. </div> <div> I honestly don't know what I would do without you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh reached up and gently wiped away the tears that were falling </div> <div> down Donna's face </div> <div> with his thumbs. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You'll never have to find out," he whispered.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh headed back from senior staff the morning after they returned </div> <div> from New York </div> <div> wearing a big smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Donna, would you please join me in my office," he said cheerily.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What's up?" she asked as she followed him through the door.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh moved towards his desk and removed an envelope from his top </div> <div> drawer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Does this good mood have something to do with what we are going to </div> <div> be working on </div> <div> next?" she asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "In a way," Josh laughed. "In fact, I think I can safely say that you </div> <div> are going to </div> <div> absolutely love what we are going to be working on next."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "What is it?" Donna asked excitedly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh handed her the envelope. Donna eyed him suspiciously, then </div> <div> opened it up and pulled </div> <div> out two airline tickets.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "We're going somewhere?" she asked.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yep," Josh beamed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He watched the statement on her face change from curiosity to pure </div> <div> bliss as she opened  </div> <div> the tickets and realized that they were for a flight to Hawaii.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Oh," she screamed. "Are you serious? Are we really going to Hawaii?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Yep," he answered. That was all he could manage to get out before </div> <div> she launched </div> <div> herself at him and covered his face with kisses.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Do you have work to do there?" she asked him as she pulled away just </div> <div> enough to let </div> <div> him, answer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Nope," he said. "It's 100% vacation."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Josh, are you sure you can get the time away?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I promised you a trip to Hawaii and that's what you're going to </div> <div> get," he said. "I've just </div> <div> been waiting until this whole mess was completely over with. Can you </div> <div> be packed and </div> <div> ready to leave in two days?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I could be ready to leave in two hours," she assured him. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Good, then we need to get everything in order around here and then </div> <div> it's off to Hawaii."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Donna quickly put everything in order at the office and spent the </div> <div> rest of the next two days </div> <div> shopping and preparing for the trip. She treated herself to some new </div> <div> clothes and shoes, </div> <div> made sure that she had plenty of sunscreen, and even bought several </div> <div> new bathing suits.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As she stood in front of her open suitcase, her mind wandered to Josh.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> She couldn't believe that he had taken care of all the arrangements </div> <div> himself. She was </div> <div> touched that he had gone to so much trouble, although she had a </div> <div> suspicion that CJ may </div> <div> have been drafted into helping with the actual planning. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> She was looking forward to spending some time with Josh, away from </div> <div> the White House. </div> <div> He had been taking such good care of her since her return home; it </div> <div> was time for her to </div> <div> take care of him. Donna was on a mission to make sure that Josh </div> <div> relaxed and enjoyed </div> <div> himself. 'I'm going to give him a vacation he'll never forget,' she </div> <div> thought with a smile.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Josh nervously fingered the ring box in his pocket. He was going to </div> <div> have to find a way to </div> <div> slip it in without Donna noticing. He was sure that she would inspect </div> <div> his suitcase before </div> <div> they left to make sure that he hadn't forgotten anything important; </div> <div> he would do it after </div> <div> that.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> He thought back to the look on Donna's face when she opened the </div> <div> envelopes with the </div> <div> airline tickets in it. He hadn't seen her that excited in a long </div> <div> time. He was going to make </div> <div> it his mission to keep that look on her face the entire time they </div> <div> were in Hawaii. 'After </div> <div> everything she's been through in the last year,' he thought, 'she </div> <div> deserves a vacation she'll </div> <div> never forget.'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> "Ok, are you sure we have everything?" Donna asked as they stood in </div> <div> the airport waiting </div> <div> for the plane to board.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I have everything I need," Josh said with a smile as he wrapped his </div> <div> arms around her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you," Donna laughed. "But that's not what I meant."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I know what you meant, and if we forgot anything we will just buy it </div> <div> there."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Thank you, Josh."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "For what?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "For planning this all, for giving me my dream vacation."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "You're welcome, sweetheart. But you haven't seen anything yet." </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The End</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> E-Mail me at:kuebsr@yahoo.com</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>