Title: Flashes of a Time to Come

By: Bartlegg

Pairing: CJ/Josh , maybe others later on

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: These characters are owned by NBC, WB, John Wells Production, and were created by Aaron Sorkin

Feedback: Gladly accepted

CHAPTER I

Claudia Jean Cregg passed through the metal detector that served as the electronic barrier between the west wing and the dangerous outside world. With a jolt the machine sprang to life, emitting a continuous series of beeps. Beep. Beep. Beep. She turned around to face the grumpy security guard; only no one was there. Confused, she kept on walking at a brisk pace. Seeing that the halls were empty, she peeked inside Josh's office. Josh was sitting like a cardboard cut out at his desk.

"Hey Josh"

Josh said nothing. He just sat, staring into her eyes with his own soul penetrating ovals. The beeps never stopped nor died in volume. Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Josh, are you okay?"

A frantic chill ran up and down her spine as Josh continued to stare at her. His eyes glued her to the spot, she couldn't move if she tried. Suddenly he opened his mouth, in a wide horizontal fashion, but only one sound reached CJ's prickled ears.

"Beep. Beep. Beep."

Beep. Beep. Bee-

CJ awoke with a jolt and smashed her hand on the snooze button, ceasing the annoyingly terrifying electronic emissions that haunted her dream. She lay in her bed, soaked with sweat, and pondered her dream's meaning. She loved dreams, even nightmares were fine, as long as she remembered them in the morning to decipher them. Only this stumped her.

Why the hell would she dream about a silent robo-scary Josh Lyman? She could think of nothing symbolic, save Josh's grim stare, to get her going on the meaning; so after a few minutes of thinking she got out of bed and prepared for work. This would have to wait.

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Carol looked over the news reports listed on the Internet and concluded that it was indeed a slow news day. When CJ finally made her way to the office, Carol told her the only interesting thing she found.

"Hey CJ, they found a potato chip shaped like the president in Provo, Utah"

CJ stared at her for a second, letting it fully register. Then she burst out laughing.

Carol continued, "They're selling it on ebay. I think you should buy it"

"Does it really look like him?"

Carol got a big picture of it up on her screen. "I'd say it does."

"Place a bid for me, will you?"

Obviously excited, Carol did what her boss asked. "How much?"

"Make it twenty. And if someone goes higher, re-bid, but don't go higher than... oh I don't care. Just get it."

"Sure, the press conference is in five minutes."

"Thanks."

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"Donna!"

Josh was sitting at his computer with a huge grin. Donna wasn't going to believe this.

"Donna!"

Donna appeared in the doorway in a flash. She did not have a huge grin.

"You cackled."

"Come here and look at this, your not going to believe it. Someone's selling a potato chip shaped like the President on Ebay."

"No way!" Donna looked at the screen and giggled. "Lets bid on it. We could frame it and give it to him."

"Its already up to twenty dollars, lets try twenty-five"

"Do thirty- I really really want to give it to him, come on Josh, for the look on his face..."

Josh typed in the bid and turned to face Donna. "Don't I have a meeting right about now?"

"You have a meeting with Congressman Hackle in the Roosevelt room."

"When?"

"Now. But I figured you would want to make him wait."

Josh looked at his assistant with a mischievous smile. "Punishing the republicans, are we now?"

"They make me mad"

"I thought you wanted your money back?"

Donna considered Josh's comment. "I do. It would be nice if Democrats did that too. Then I wouldn't complain so much."

"So all it would take to give me some peace and quiet is a Democratic tax cut? Why didn't you tell me before! Get Leo on the phone. I'm going to propose a plan."

"Really!"

"No."

"Your late for your meeting you empty headed communist duck." Donna turned on her heels and left as Josh grabbed some files to take with him to the Roosevelt Room. He was already mentally preparing himself to tackle anything congressman Hackle had the fascist nerve to say.

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"...And the sound barrier was broken by a land vehicle for the first time in the nation of Canada....and that's all I have. Yes, Mark."

Mark appeared flabbergasted, as was the rest of the press. "CJ, that's it?"

"That's all folks," the press secretary replied with a confident smile. Katie couldn't hold it in.

"CJ, aren't you aware of the FBI report concerning an investigation into the security at the White House?"

"Well, no."

Katie continued, "It cites 'significant lack of preparation' for a terrorist attack"

CJ was irked. Why didn't Carol mention this to her? "I'll look into it and have more for you this afternoon. Have a nice morning."

"Bye CJ" the press replied, ignorant of their valediction's ominous double meaning, for CJ would never talk behind that sturdy wooden podium again.