Hello everyone!
So, I'm back and I bring gifts with me! Here's story two in my CJ/Josh series. It continues straight on from Fools in Love and will be set over events in season 2. This first chapter is set during In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: part 1.
As always, a huge thank you to my wonderful, beautiful and talented friend ShaeLynn1! Couldn't do this without my lovely!
Anyway, hope you all enjoy this and please let me know what you think :D
Calliope Jae x
Chapter 1: Hearts and Minds
Monday night: 9.37pm
The Newseum
CJ was leaning against a police car trying to listen to what the paramedics were saying to her. They were shining lights in her eyes, taking her pulse and asking her questions she didn't know the answers to. She felt confused. She couldn't remember what happened. One of the paramedics was dabbing at her head with something that stung so bad it made her eyes water. He was talking to her but she wasn't really taking it in.
"Is the President dead?" She asked him as he stood up to leave. He shook his head.
"I wouldn't know anything about that," he looked at her apologetically and ran off into the crowd. CJ pushed herself away from the car and looked around for her briefing book; she found it near the police car. As she bent down to pick it up she noticed the window had been blown out and remembered it shattering around her as someone pulled her to the ground. She stared at the window for a few seconds; if she hadn't been pulled down she would have been hit. The thought made her feel sick and she brought a hand to her head as the pain there reached a whole new level. She heard someone behind her talking and she spun around to see who it was.
"What?" It was Sam standing there looking at her.
"Are you alright?" He asked, looking toward her head and the bloodied gauze she was holding to it.
"Yeah," she brushed his concern off quickly, "Where's the President?"
"He's on his way back to the White House, so is Zoey. They just put Leo in a car." He paused and stroked her arm. "Are you alright?" CJ sighed.
"Someone pulled me down." She knew she kept saying it but that some one had saved her life and not knowing who it was, was eating away at her. Sam looked into her eyes but said nothing. They both saw Gina run towards them and Sam reached out for her.
"Gina!" She shook her head at him.
"Can't talk right now!" She went running to a guy and they started talking furiously. CJ searched the area for everyone else.
"Where are Josh and Toby?" She said out loud. Sam was wondering the same thing as he too was scanning the crowd for them. Suddenly, CJ heard Toby's voice and she spun around to see him standing at the top of the steps.
"I need… I need a doctor! I need help!" He shouted as she and Sam ran towards him. CJ scanned his body but she couldn't see anything, he didn't look hurt. As she got closer she watched as he bent down to catch some one that was falling sideways onto the floor. Her heart stopped.
Josh.
She felt her body turn ice cold when she saw his blood. There was so much, why was there so much blood? She knelt down next to him and took hold of his hand. Toby was talking to him, telling him to keep his eyes open. Sam knelt down at Josh's head and he cradled him on his knees as he was trying to get Josh to focus on him. CJ felt like she couldn't breathe. Josh gripped her hand and pulled her toward him, he needed to see her and he needed to know she was ok. She suddenly came into his line of sight and he could see tears streaming down her cheeks. He didn't say anything, just looked into her eyes. CJ touched his face and tried to smile at him through her tears.
"We're here Josh, we're all here," she assured him and squeezed his hand one last time before being pushed out of the way by a group of paramedics. She stood up and stumbled away from him, she felt some one wrap their arms around her. Toby. She turned to look at him and they told each other they were fine with one look. Sam came up behind them and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"They're taking him to the hospital now." CJ and Toby nodded but Sam's eyes were focused on CJ.
"We'll meet you there Sam," Toby set off to find a car but stopped when he noticed CJ wasn't walking behind him. Sam had hold of her hand.
"You should go with him in the ambulance." Sam knew that even though he was his best friend, Josh would rather have CJ there with him. She nodded to Sam, thanked him quietly and ran after the paramedics.
In the ambulance CJ sat out of the way as the paramedics rushed around Josh trying to keep him stable. She couldn't believe what was happening. Her whole body felt numb and some where in the back of her mind she knew she was in shock. She was cold and shaking but that didn't matter to her, all that mattered was that Josh had been shot. Josh. He didn't deserve this, none of them did. One of Josh's arms broke away from the straps holding him in place and he started to frantically search for something.
"CJ?" He cried out for her. He'd seen her climb in the ambulance and he needed to know where she was. CJ looked to the paramedics and they nodded before she reached over and grasped his hand, holding it tightly.
"I'm here," she said. She couldn't move from her seat and Josh was trying to twist his head so he could see her. The paramedics jumped up to stop him before he undid all their work and started bleeding again. CJ held onto his hand tighter.
"Josh you have to keep still!" She was panicking at the looks on the paramedics faces. "Please Josh," she begged him desperately, "I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere but you need to keep still." She seemed to get through to him as he stopped moving and the paramedics checked him over again. The ambulance slowed down as they arrived at the hospital. The doors were flung open as doctors and nurses rushed in to help Josh. She climbed down and followed everyone inside. She turned to see Toby and Sam running over to her. As they entered the emergency room they saw Leo and Gina walking towards them.
"It's Josh," she called to them when she noticed their confused expressions.
"Josh!" Leo turned wide-eyed to Toby. "What happened?"
"I don't know he was..." Toby and Leo continued to talk as they walked but CJ tuned out, trying to listen to what the doctors were saying, hoping to find out what was happening.
They rounded a corner and she felt Sam run past her, he was shouting something to Josh but for some reason she couldn't work out what he was saying.
Toby turned around and grabbed CJ's hand, he clasped it tight in both of his and held a door open for her as they followed the gurney in to the pre-op area. Sam ran over to Josh and was talking to him, trying to get him to calm down. CJ could feel new tears streaming down her face and someone wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into a small hug. Toby still had hold of her hand and he tried to lead her out of the room but she wanted to stay.
"Get them out of here!" A doctor shouted. A nurse pulled Sam away and they were all ushered out in to the corridor. Whoever it was that had wrapped an arm around her waist, now had a tight hold on her and she tried to turn to see who it was.
"Charlie," she gripped his head in her hands and he wrapped both arms around her. "Are you ok?" She asked him.
"Yeah," he pulled her into a bone crushing hug and when they pulled apart they saw Zoey walking towards them. Charlie frowned. "What are you doing here?" He made his way over to her and Zoey broke down in tears.
CJ leant against the nearest wall and took in a deep breath. She watched Sam make his way over to her after talking to Zoey and Charlie for a few minutes.
"What's going on?" She asked him quietly.
"CJ..." Sam looked over at Toby who was hovering slightly to the side of her.
"What happened?" CJ asked, fear and apprehension building in her body at the look on Sam's face.
"The President was shot." CJ and Toby gaped opened mouthed at Sam.
"He was shot?" Toby grabbed CJ's arm for support.
"Is he ok?" She asked quickly, "What... I don't understand, he was..." Sam held his hand up trying to calm her down.
"He's fine, they just want to go in and make sure." Sam watched his two friends as they let the horrifying news sink in. CJ brushed a few strands of hair from her face and pushed away from the wall. She began to pace back and forth.
"They'll both be fine, CJ." Sam glanced over at her and she choked back a sob, hoping he hadn't heard it but he had. He walked towards her and drew her into his arms. "I'm sorry, CJ..." he was whispering comforting words into her hair but she was distracted by the colossal headache forming behind her eyes and she reached a hand up to her head. Sam pulled back, concerned eyes sweeping over her face. "How is your head?"
"Fine, I..." Sam took hold of the hand at her head and he turned it over in his.
"We need to get you cleaned up," he said, interrupting her. CJ frowned but let him pull her towards the nearest restroom and she knew without turning to check, that Toby had followed them.
Once inside, CJ noticed her hands. They were covered in blood. Josh's blood. She felt bile rising in her throat and she closed her eyes, willing the feeling to go away. Sam filled a sink with warm water and lathered soap in his hands. He took hold of one of CJ's shaking hands and started to wash away the dried blood. Toby pushed away from the wall he was leaning against and copied Sam, washing her other hand. CJ looked at their reflections in the mirror over the sink and she felt tears sting her eyes. She let them fall freely, never feeling more safe and loved than she had right now. Sam rinsed the soap from her hand and dried it, passing Toby some tissue so he could do the same thing. She smiled at Sam when he laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"He's going to be ok, Ceej, they both will." He said, softly. She kissed his cheek as a thank you for everything. "I'm going to get us some drinks."
"We'll be in the waiting room," Toby said, watching Sam walk out of the restroom. He turned his attention to CJ who was rubbing a hand over her neck and staring at the floor. "Sam's right you know."
"Hm?" she said, looking up at him.
"Josh will be ok, we all will."
"You sound so sure," she said, looking into his eyes.
"I am." They walked towards the waiting room together and Toby gently pushed CJ in the direction of where Abbey was sitting.
"You holding up all right?" Abbey asked, as CJ sat down next to her.
"I'm fine," CJ gave the First Lady a small smile. "How is the President?"
"He'll be fine CJ, I'm not worried about Jed."
"But you're worried about Josh?"
"Yes." CJ closed her eyes and leant forward resting her elbows on her knees, she let her head fall into her hands and she forced back the tears that were threatening to fall again. "CJ?" Abbey laid a consoling hand on CJ's back but CJ couldn't look at her. If Abbey was worried about Josh's health then it was worse than any of them could have imagined.
"Do you know what they're doing for him?" She asked, finally lifting her eyes to her friend.
"I have an idea, but I think we should wait to see what the doctors say." Abbey took hold of CJ's hand.
"I'd like to know what you think is going on in there."
"I haven't assessed the damage so I can't make an accurate guess," Abbey's heart was breaking for CJ and she wished she had more to offer her. "I asked for regular updates so I'm sure someone will be along shortly to..." Just then the hospital administrator, Lewis, stepped into the waiting room. He beckoned Abbey out and she patted CJ's knee before following Lewis into the hallway.
CJ leant back in her chair and looked around at everyone in the room. Zoey was pacing the floor, biting her nails and when she looked up at CJ, she gave her a watery smile. CJ pushed herself up and made her way over to Zoey.
"How you doing, Zo?" CJ asked, but Zoey couldn't find any words to describe her feelings and instead took a few unsteady steps into CJ's welcoming arms.
"I'm scared," Zoey took a deep breath. "For my dad and Josh, do you think they'll be ok?"
"They're in good hands," CJ looked over to Toby and she found strength in his eyes. "They'll pull through, we all will." Zoey looked up into CJ's face and she nodded. CJ hoped her words were enough to sooth some of Zoey's fears. She continued to hold Zoey for a few seconds and when she felt the younger woman tense in her arms she knew someone had come back through the door. They both turned to see a straight faced Abbey walking into the room.
"The President is going to be fine," Abbey gave them a brief smile and the whole room breathed a sigh of relief. CJ hugged Zoey to her again and Zoey gave a nervous chuckle at the good news. Abbey continued. "The bullet seems to have gone out of its way not to hit anything." Abbey cleared her throat and stole a quick glance towards CJ. "Now, here's what's happening with Josh."
CJ took a step back and sat down in one of the chairs. Zoey sat with her and held one of her hands, the role of comforter somehow reversed.
"The bullet seems to have punctured his lung causing it to collapse. The surgeon managed to re-inflate it but there was also laceration damage to a major artery. Their plan is to stay in and repair it primarily." Abbey glanced back at CJ who had covered her face with her hands. Toby had made his way over to her and was sitting next to her and Zoey.
"How long do you think it will take?" Sam had moved to stand next to Abbey, halting his pacing around the room.
"It could be nearly 16 hours before he's out of surgery." Sam nodded and started to pace again, deep in thought.
The room fell silent once more and CJ couldn't stand the quiet. She began to tap her foot on the floor and she tried to focus on the TV in the room, she followed the words across the screen but she wasn't really reading them. Her thoughts drifted to Josh and she could taste acid in the back of her throat. She stood up quickly, surprising Zoey and Toby, and darted from the room. Abbey followed CJ into the restroom where she had ran.
"CJ?" Abbey stood outside the closed cubicle and waited for CJ to come out. When she did, Abbey handed her some tissue and led her over to the drinking fountain. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah," CJ took a few tentative sips of water, then leant against the wall. She let her head fall against the cool tiles and she let out a long breath. Both women were quiet for a few seconds and CJ's mind automatically went to what would be happening at The White House at this moment. "I shouldn't be here," she said quickly, her body jerking away from the wall.
"What?"
"I shouldn't be here, there are things that need to be done." She bawled her hands into fists as she started to mentally prepare all the things she would have to do. Abbey stood in front of CJ, stopping her from going anywhere.
"Someone will be taking care of it, you're..." CJ shook her head.
"Everyone's here Abbey, Sam and Toby... there here and I'm... the press will be going crazy!" Her voice was shrill and she tried to step towards the door but Abbey stopped her again.
"CJ, you can't..." CJ gave her a stern look.
"I need to brief the press, I need to keep control of this... I need..." she stopped talking and Abbey realised what the younger woman was doing.
"CJ," Abbey took hold her shoulders. "Claudia Jean, listen to me. I know you're feeling powerless and exposed but you're in the right place for now. You're not going to do any good out there in front of the hounds. You need to stay here." CJ nodded and took a deep breath. She took unsteady steps backwards until she hit the wall and sank down, hugging her knees to her chest. She breathed deeply and tried to organise the thoughts flooding her brain, but no matter what, there was one thing that she couldn't stop thinking about.
"He could die, Abbey." It was the first time she'd voiced and her breath caught in the throat. She let tears fall down her cheeks as hard sobs racked her body. Abbey took a few steps towards her and knelt down. She grasped CJ's head in her hands and forced her to look her in the eye.
"You can't think like that CJ, you have to stay positive." CJ nodded but she couldn't stop more tears from falling.
"I'm trying, Abbey." She managed to choke the words out and took a deep breath. Abbey dried her friends cheeks with the tissue she had given her earlier. "I'm trying." CJ said again, a little more convincingly. Abbey nodded and took hold of her hand, they walked back to the waiting room to see Toby storming around the place, shouting loudly.
"I don't understand why they were walking past him, they just... how could...?" Toby rubbed his hands over the back of his head and clenched his teeth when CJ and Abbey walked in.
"What happened?" Abbey asked,
"The doctor came in again, he said Josh lost a lot of blood at the scene..." Zoey shot a fleeting look at her mother, her eyes filled with tears and Abbey squeezed CJ's hand before making her way over to her daughter.
"People were just running past him, no one... not one person stopped to see what had... they just left him there to die, CJ!" He turned to look at her, his hands stretched out to her.
"Toby," she quickly ran towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She gripped him tight, hoping to keep him in one piece as his protective walls began to crumble.
"They must have seen him, they must..." his voice trailed off and he allowed his arms to finally circle CJ's waist. He buried his head in her shoulder and took several deep breaths, allowing his body to calm against hers. He pulled back somewhat to look into CJ's face. "They just left him there," he said quietly.
"But you were there Toby, you found him and you got him the help he needed. You were there," she stepped away from him, knowing instinctively that he wanted his space.
"I was there," he repeated after her. CJ nodded and pulled him down into a chair, she sat across from him and Sam soon joined them. They sat together, quietly ruminating on the night's events and the friend that was not with them.
-x-
Later that night: GW Hospital
CJ was stood outside the hospital waiting for a car to take her back to the White House. Considering it was August, the night air was cold and she shivered slightly, wishing she had a jacket. Suddenly, someone slipped something over her shoulders and she turned to see Charlie standing next to her, fitting his jacket around her snugly.
"You looked cold," he said.
"Thank you," she gave him a small smile and they stood silently for a few seconds.
"I thought you would have stayed here," he said, looking out towards the group of reporters behind the barriers.
"I have to brief," she couldn't bring herself to look towards the reporters, she was hurting and vulnerable and she didn't want them seeing her like this. The car soon arrived and Charlie held the door open allowing her to climb inside first.
"I know, you know," Charlie said once they were in the car.
"Know what?"
"About you and Josh," his voice was morose and CJ couldn't hide the surprise written on her face.
"How did you..?"
"It's my job to be invisible CJ, I see everything." He was looking into his hands, he seemed ashamed about bringing this up.
"What did you see?" She asked, panic coursing through her muscles.
"Nothing really... the glances and touches, the smiles..." he paused. "No one else would have seen them CJ."
"Charlie..." she breathed his name and he brought his eyes to look at her.
"I think you're good together," he gave her a smile and CJ felt some of the panic subside. "And when he wakes up, I think you should tell him you love him."
"I..." CJ was stunned into silence at Charlie's words. Had he seen something in her that she hadn't even uncovered herself? "What makes you...?"
"I see it in those little things CJ, the actions might be small but the emotion that comes through definitely isn't." CJ shook her head, smiling genuinely for the first time since they left the Newseum.
"How did you get to be so wise, Chaz?" He chuckled.
"I've learnt a lot working with you guys," he smiled at her again and CJ took hold of his hand.
"We've learnt a lot from you too Charlie and I'm glad Josh hired you to work in The White House." She squeezed his hand and he returned the gesture.
"Me too." They remained holding hands as they travelled the rest of the way in silence and when they arrived, CJ gave Charlie his jacket back and patted his shoulder as she started for her office.
"Thank you, Charlie."
-x-
Tuesday morning: 1.05am
CJ arrived back at the hospital alone and the guards stationed outside the main entrance greeted her when they opened the doors. She made her way through the corridors and found herself outside the President's room. Abbey saw her through the half-shut blinds and came out to see her.
"How is the President?" CJ asked.
"He's a little fuzzy but you can see him if you like," Abbey motioned for CJ to move inside but she hovered at the door.
"Are you sure..?"
"He'll be up for a little conversation and he'll want to see for himself that you're ok," Abbey opened the door and went inside, she held the door open for CJ and she followed the First Lady in.
"Jed, CJ's here." Abbey helped him sit up in his bed and the President looked over to the door. His face broke into a smile at the sight of his Press Secretary.
"What's doin' C-Jean?" He held his hand out to her and CJ smiled, making her way over to him. She took hold of his hand and leant in to kiss his cheek.
"How are you feeling, Sir?" Jed patted the side of his bed for her to sit down and CJ glanced at Abbey for the ok before taking his offer.
"I feel like I'm floating," he gave her a sleepy smile.
"The pain meds," Abbey said, dabbing a damp cloth over his forehead.
"Whatever it is, it feels good." He chuckled.
"I'm sure it does, Sir." CJ gulped backed relieved tears to hear the President making jokes. He seemed like himself, and had it not been for the heart monitor and IV bag hanging next to him, she could almost believe this wasn't happening.
"Everyone working hard?" He asked.
"Yes, Sir." CJ glanced over at Abbey and one look from her told her that she hadn't told him about Josh. CJ remained silent, knowing Abbey was right to keep it from him now but she also knew Jed would be furious once he found out.
"You scratched your neck," he said, lifting his finger to point it out. CJ's hand instinctively reached up to it.
"My necklace came off when someone pushed me to the ground..." she trailed off as she realised why Arthur's question had bothered her so much during the briefing.
"Someone pushed you down?" Abbey asked, coming over to CJ.
"When the shooting started, someone... I can't remember..." she shook her head and looked back to the President. "I'm sorry, Sir... I should get going." She stood up quickly and left the room. She walked out of the hospital and into the street, she wrapped her arms around her body trying to keep herself warm and kept walking. It wasn't until she could see the bright lights illuminating the White House that she realised how far she'd walked. As she slowly stepped towards the building, Toby was coming out towards her.
"Where have you been?" He asked, anger giving his words a deadly tone.
"I was at the hospital." Toby waved his hands at her.
"Abbey called, said you were leaving but you seemed a little out of it. I was waiting for you..." he grabbed her shoulders. "You've been gone for half an hour, I almost sent out a search party. What were you doing?"
"I was walking, I walked back." Toby clasped his hand over his mouth and cleared his throat.
"Come inside, you're freezing," he pulled her into his arms, hoping to share some of his body heat with her.
"I don't remember what happened," CJ said quietly.
"What?"
"I don't remember... we came out of the Newseum and I talked to you then... nothing." She stopped walking and turned to Toby. "I don't remember what happened."
"I wish I could forget," he said, stroking a hand through her hair.
"Someone pulled me down," she said clearly and Toby realised what she was getting at.
"Someone saved your life?" He asked incredulously.
"I don't remember but I saw the car, the police car and the window was broken. I think... I remember the glass shattering over our heads as we fell..." She started to get worked up as she was trying to recall what had happened to her.
"CJ," Toby turned her head so she was looking straight into his eyes. "CJ, don't think about this now."
"But I..."
"It will come, CJ. You're body is still in shock and this is its way of healing itself. Don't force yourself to relive it just yet." CJ nodded and allowed him to take her to the warmth of the White House.
Once inside, CJ stepped away from Toby and made her way towards her office, knowing he was watching her. She glanced back to give him a encouraging nod, telling him she was going to be ok. She stepped into her office and made her way over to her desk. She collapsed into her chair and turned all the TVs on. She partially listened to them, hearing snippets from each reporter as she tuned in and out of what was going on. Carol stood in the doorway watching her boss, silently thanking God that she was ok. The look on CJ's face was breaking Carol's heart and she could only hope and pray that Josh would pull through his surgery.
Hope you enjoyed it! x
Please leave a review or pm me, all comments are greatly appreciated! xxx