Okay, this is an independent story by Rhiannon and AJ. It has nothing to do
with any stories the two are currently working on...
The Valley of the Shadow
by: Rhiannon & AJ
disclaimer: Just two kids playing with another kid's toys...
On the first day of his vacation, President Josiah Bartlet woke early. He
rolled over and sought the warmth of his wife's body next to him. He wrapped
his arms around her and felt her snuggle further into his embrace. Laying
there, with his arms around his wife, he felt his body relax completely. It
was a moment he wished would never end.
The Bartlet's had flown to Camp David the afternoon before for a well earned
vacation. He'd left word with Leo that the only reasons he should be
contacted were if someone was dead or dying, or if someone was threatening to
blow up the world... Anything else would result in the immediate death of the
caller.
"Abbey?" Jed whispered.
"Hmm?" she murmured.
"I've got an idea... Let's go for an early morning swim, we can watch the
sunrise at the pool."
She shook her head, "I've got a better idea. Why don't we stay here and go
back to sleep?"
"Come on Abbey." Jed said, turning on his whining voice. "Please?"
Abbey groaned, "Okay..."
Jed grinned, "Great! Come on, let's change." He rose out of bed, pulling
Abbey along with him. He propelled her to the bathroom and retrieved their
swimsuits.
Moments later, the First Couple emerged out of the house and walked together
to a bench beside the pool. Abbey shook her head as she observed the Secret
Service agents standing around the deck area, "They never go away, do they?"
Jed glanced over at the men in black suits, "Should I even answer that?"
"No." Abbey replied, laying back in her husband's arms. She felt Jed wrap his
arms around her. She waited for a few minutes before speaking again, "I
thought you wanted to go swimming?"
"I changed my mind..."
"You just wanted to make me put a swimsuit on, didn't you?"
"Yep!" Jed chuckled. "And if you don't mind me saying so, you look most
becoming."
Abbey shook her head as she sat up, "Well, since you drug me out of bed, I'm
going to make use of this swimsuit and actually swim."
"And I get to watch? Oh goody!"
Abbey laughed, "You're a sick man Jed Bartlet." She walked over to the edge
of the pool and removed her robe. At that moment, Jed whistled and Abbey
turned around and threw her robe at him.
He laughed as he caught the robe. He watched as she dove in. He turned around
and put her robe on the back of the bench.
Suddenly Abbey's screams ripped through the early morning calm. Jed whipped
around and found himself suddenly frozen when he heard the blood chilling
screams emanating from his wife.
All at once the Secret Service swarmed the pool deck. Seeing them jump
started Jed into action, "ABBEY!"
He started to jump in after her, but several men held him back. He fought
them as he watched Abbey's hysterics grow worse. Two men reached into the
pool and brought Abbey up out of the water, screaming and writhing in pain.
Jed sprinted to her side. She was clutching her eyes with her hands, still
sobbing and shaking with pain. Jed gathered her up in his arms and looked at
the men around her. Speech was irrelevant, they all had one objective in
their minds...
Jed rose, with Abbey in his arms, and lead the stampede toward help.
TBC....