C.J. made every effort to swallow her fear as the group of terrorists whisked her along the street. What C.J. noticed most during those quick moments was the fact that the street was empty. No people, no cars.....just her, a helicopter and a group of heavily armed men.

The leader held the press secretary toward the rear of the group as the first six men clamored aboard the chopper. The pilot was a middle aged black haired man in a Navy uniform with the rank of lieutenant. He caught C.J's attention and gave her a brief nod.

Before C.J. could even begin to think of what to do the world erupted around her. The red haired woman instantly covered her ears as bullets sprayed the air around them. She tried to break free of the lead terrorist's grasp but the man was too strong.

Blood splattered on C.J.'s clothes as four terrorists fell to the ground at her feet The leader cursed in his native language as he whirled back in the direction of the embassy firing widely at the unseen attacker.
But in the end Black Moon was no match for the National Guard's best sharpshooter.

In minutes it was all over.......C.J. was the only one left standing. The navy pilot took care of the terrorists that the sharpshooter didn't get.

As soon as the gunfire stopped the silence was split by sirens, which seemed to be coming at the chopper from all directions.

C.J. squeezed her eyes tightly shut refusing to look at the carnage at her feet. Her hands were still covering her ears as she leaned shakily against the helicopter. She jumped as the Navy pilot placed a reassuring hand on her left shoulder.

"Ms. Cregg, are you hurt?"The pilot asked as he moved to stand in front of the woman, not quite believing that she could've come out of the gun battle unscathed.

Slowly C.J. opened her eyes and she forced herself to focus on the man's question. But for some reason her mind refused to form a single coherent thought.

The pilot gently grasped her shoulders as he reached up and tenderly pried her hands away from her ears. "Ms. Cregg? Are you hurt anywhere?"

C.J. shook her head just as three police cars screeched to a halt. As C.J. glanced at the approaching officers it started to sink in that this nightmare was finally over.

The pilot gently placed an arm around her waist and escorted her to a waiting ambulance. "Not that I don't believe you, Ms. Cregg, but let's get you checked out just to be on the safe side."

********

The first person Josh saw when he stepped inside Donna's hospital room was Charlie Young. Charlie instantly stood and walked over to the deputy chief of staff.

"How is she?"Josh asked his gaze never leaving Donna's still form.

"They're worried about the amount of blood loss."Charlie replied in a hushed voice.

"But?"Lyman prompted in a tight voice.

"She's picked up a high fever, docs haven't been able to bring it down yet."Young stated quietly.

"Has she woken at all?"Josh asked as he took a step past the President's personal aide.

Charlie shook his head sadly. "No, but the doctors said that was normal with what she's been through."

"Can you give me a minute with her?"Josh asked as he reached the foot of her bed.

Charlie nodded. "Sure. I'll let the others know where you are."

"Thanks, Charlie."Josh replied quietly as the young man left.

**********

After some misinformation Danny finally found C.J. sitting on a chair next to Sam outside of Donna's hospital room.

"Thank God, you're all right."Danny commented anxiously as he reached them.

Sam grinned as he glanced from C.J. to Danny and back again. "I don't think he means me so I'll go over there and talk with Charlie."

Neither Danny nor C.J. seemed to notice his departure.

"Why are you sitting here?"Danny demanded as he spotted the blood on her dress. "I'll get a doctor."

C.J. reached out and placed a hand on the reporter's left arm halting him. "Danny, it's not my blood."

Wordlessly Danny dropped into the chair next to her. He placed an arm around her shoulders and drew her into an embrace. C.J. rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, her right hand closed tightly around his.

*************

Bartlet glanced up from his desk as Toby entered the room. "It's over?"

Ziegler nodded grimly. "Yes, but there was a hitch with the plan."

The President stood and walked around the corner of his desk. "What?"

"At the last minute the leader grabbed C.J. as a hostage as they were exiting the embassy."Toby replied as he came to stand next to the older man.

"Is she alright?"Bartlet demanded concern clearly in his voice.

Toby nodded still amazed by the turn of events. "I still don't know how, but she's fine. All of the terrorists fell dead at her feet but somehow she came out of it without a scratch."

"Thank God."Bartlet replied quietly as he sat down on the corner of his desk. "How are the others?"

"None of the party guests were hurt, at least not physically."Toby stated as he glanced down at a small pad of paper. "One woman was admitted to the hospital for a stress related illness."

Bartlet nodded. "How are Sam and Josh?"

"Josh is with Donna, she's still unconscious with a high fever."Toby replied quietly. "Sam's fine he's keeping C.J. company."

***********

Josh pulled a small chair over to Donna's bed and sat down. He took her right hand in his and for several long moments he just sat there holding her hand.

She looked so tiny and frail.....a far cry from the vibrant, brilliant woman who kept him sane more times than he cared to count.

"I'm not going to let you go."Josh whispered in a choked voice as he tenderly reached up and tucked a stray blonde hair behind her right ear. "You mean far too much to me."

Josh glanced out the window and saw that dawn was starting to color the sky. When he looked back at Donna he found himself staring into Donna's bright blue gaze.

"Joshua."Donna stated in a weak voice. "Next time you need a date for an embassy party, don't think of me."

Lyman laughed as he stood dropping her hand. He leaned forward and cradled her face with his hands as he captured her lips with his in a soft kiss.

"I promise."Josh replied quietly as they broke apart. "No more embassy parties for us."

Donna smiled before drifting off to sleep.

**********

Sam and Charlie stood a few feet away from Danny and
C.J. in the doorway of a small waiting room.

"What time is it, anyway?"Sam muttered wearily.

Charlie glanced at his watch. "Almost six."

Sam nodded as he turned to look out the small window.
Faint streams of sunlight were just starting to show.
It was amazing that the recent events had all occurred
in just one night.

Charlie leaned against the doorway exhausted both
physically and emotionally. The night's events had
taken their toll on everyone. It was only then that he
noticed that the tv in the corner of the room had the
morning news program on.

"Sam."Charlie called as he noticed the embassy picture
appear above the reporter's right shoulder. "Turn the
volume up."

Seaborn reached up and hit the right button before
coming and standing next to Charlie.

/".....In breaking news.....never play poker with the
President of the United States. In a daring rescue
plan the President used one of the White House
reporters to make a fictional news broadcast on a
close circuit television. This convinced the terrorist
group that the President had indeed given into their
demands and when they went outside to get on the
waiting helicopter they were taken out by the National
Guard.

We will update you as soon as more information becomes
available.....this is Susan Johnson reporting for
Washington Daybreak."

End