Author: Faye Dartmouth (fayedartmouth@hotmail.com)

Summary: When the political situation in Russia gets sticky, the White House
seeks assistance from an American diplomat and his office.

Warnings: Just so you all know, I don't know anything about politics except
for what I learned in my government class at school. So don't go crazy if
my political story line sucks-I'm only 17, I can't even vote yet, why would
I know anything? Oh, and about Russian names-if I was a really good person,
I would've done some research but sadly, I'm not since I spend too much time
every night laying out yearbook spreads and doing calculus homework (yes,
the joys of being a high school student). So I made them up. Vladimir
Putin is actually the somewhat new Russian President but he's not been shot
at or anything, I really just made that up. I also have no intent or desire
to shoot him, so I hope I don't make you think I do. Alexandr Kovac is
totally fictional, as is General Markov. I'm sorry if that's completely
unbelievable but truthfully those characters weren't the purpose of the
story. So, enough babbling now and on to the story (oh, and feedback is
always nice)

Disclaimer: I really don't own them but someone does but I don't mean any
harm. I made up some of these characters, namely Caelan Reed and Gary
Johansen.

Russian Roulette
CHAPTER 1

Secretaries were bustling about the office, running errands and performing
odds and ends for their respective bosses. Political things were
happening-public appearances and Senate votes and national issues. All in
all, life in the West Wing was sailing along as smoothly as it ever did.
But unbeknownst to the entire staff, something was about to rock the boat.

Of the many TVs running the building, many were tuned to CNN or any news
station. And they all broke the same story. It caught Donna's attention as
she was typing up a memo for Josh. The anchorman was saying, "It is now
reported that Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has been shot at while
speaking in Moscow."

Her mouth went slack, and she immediately got up and stumbled back to
Josh's office, opening the door without knocking.

"Donna, I'm on the phone," he hissed at her.

She looked at him and shook her head. "You've got to see this," she said.
Reluctantly, Josh hung up the phone and watched as she changed the channel
from weather to news. When he heard the basic report, he sat there, staring
dumbly, stunned as well.

Toby was watching in his office and stared blankly at the news, when he
heard Sam say next door. "What?!" Toby waited for a second then Sam came
into his office hurriedly. "Have you heard?"

They watched in silence as the report continued. "While making a speech in
Moscow, the Russian leader was shot at-there are various reports of how many
shots were fired-everything from one to six. There is no word on how many
of the shots hit the Russian President, but he was whisked away from the
scene," the anchorman said. He held his earpiece a moment, listening. "It
has now been confirmed that the Russian President was rushed to a local
hospital where he has been announced dead. To update you, the Russian
President has been shot and killed at a speech in Moscow. They have
suspects in custody, and they are reportedly from the radical groups that
have been prevalent in Russia for as long as one can remember."

A knock came at the door and Ginger poked her head in. "Leo wants to see
you in his office right now," she said, her voice reflective of the
instability of the situation that was developing.

"Thanks," Toby said, as he stood up. Then to Sam, he said, "Just when we
think we can put one problem away, it always comes back and bites us."

Sam shook his head. "Yeah, well, the problem with this bite is that we
don't know if it's poisonous or not yet."

They were walking now, side by side, nearly at Leo's office. "So we better
start sucking out the blood just in case, right?"

"Something like that," Sam said, as the came to the door. They went inside
to find the rest of the Senior Staff already assembled, looking somewhat
grim.

"Great, now that you're all here, I would like to know what we know about
the situation in Russia," Leo said.

The staff all looked at each other, shaking their heads. Josh finally
said, "I've tried reaching the US Embassy in Moscow but I haven't gotten
anyone on the phone yet. Donna's still working on it."

Leo sighed heavily. "Okay, look. I want to know what all of this means.
The situation with Russia has never been exactly ideal but it's been getting
better ever since Putin got elected into office. Who's their vice
president?"

"Alexandr Kovac," Josh said. "But he's not much of anybody. They added
him to the ballot just for the politics. The guy's a nobody."

"So is it safe to assume that the Russian people will be in a little bit of
a panic?" Leo asked.

"Probably," Josh said, who had become the apparent Russian expert. "But
it's hard to say. I don't exactly know much about Russia except that Putin
was the President, and he's been fairly friendly to the US."

"Well, considering the country's history and instability, I doubt they'll
react well to having the little consistency they had obliterated," Sam said.

"But we don't know anything," Leo said.

"Technically, no," Sam said.

"Well, I want someone to stay on top of this. Josh, why not you since you
seem to know more than any of us," Leo suggested. "But we all have to stay
alert in case it takes a turn for the worse."

"But, I don't actually know-"

"Then call someone who does," Leo said curtly. "If you need help, Sam will
back you up on it. So that's all people. I don't want this getting out of
control, and I want to be kept in the loop."

"What should I tell the press?" CJ asked before anyone could leave.

"I don't know," Leo replied. "Say that we're saddened by the Russian
people's loss. It stinks that he got killed."

"I'm not sure that would go over so well," CJ said.

"What do you think you should say?"

"Does the White House have an official position as of yet?"

"Just say that… the President is disturbed and saddened by the events and
offer condolences to the Russian people for now. If things get stickier,
we'll probably get more involved but let's just stay distanced until then."

"Okay," CJ said. "Thanks."

"Anything else?" Everyone shook their heads. "Okay, now go do what you're
paid to do."

Nods followed and the senior staff dispersed. Josh meandered back towards
his, slightly downtrodden. He didn't need any more stress in his life, and
this whole Russian thing was just another thing to consume his time. As he
neared his office, he came past Donna's desk. She abruptly noticed him and
got up, following him into his office.

"So?" she asked expectantly when Josh had settled behind his desk.

"So what?" Josh asked, beginning to sort through the mound of papers.

"What happened?" she asked more specifically, clearly mildly perturbed.

"So… nothing," Josh said. "I've got to contact someone who knows something
about Russia. Let's make that you're job."

"Someone like… who?" she said curiously. "I mean, I could get you a school
kid who just finished a report on Russia or something."

"Donna, I was thinking of someone a little more in touch with current
politics. Don't we have an ambassador or something to Russia? The US
Embassy in Russia?"

"Well, talking to the US Embassy in Russia is going to be difficult
considering that they're… well, in Russia."

"Just find someone," Josh said desperately.

"Okay," Donna said as if Josh were being unreasonable. "Is there any
particular hurry?"

"Yes. I mean, the Russian President was killed this morning, we should
really know what's going on."

"Okay," Donna said again, jotting a note down on her notepad. "I'll get
back to you."

Already buried in his work, Josh said, "Wonderful."

TBC....

New Character Stories Index Ch 2