So here is my offering for this challenge. This was requested by AmorTv90. Request was 'A terrorist is stalking the McCord family and they want Elizabeth in exchange for one of the kids.' I hope you enjoy this attempt at meeting your request.
Stalked Chapter 1
The face on the monitor froze in what Blake could only describe as horror. He tore his eyes from the screen to look at the rest of the Secretary's staff. The entire group looked as fearful as he felt, although he was aware that the receiving of the message did mean that Stephanie McCord was alive, something they did not know five minutes before.
"We need to tell the Secretary." Blake stated after a minute's silence.
"No"
Blake turned incredulously towards Deputy Stephen Cushing as he continued speaking. "The Secretary doesn't hear any of this until the President signs off, are we clear?"
"Sir, we cannot keep this from her, she is worried sick!" Blake began to get agitated.
"Mr Moran, as we covered just yesterday, the only way this entire scenario is going to play out is if the Secretary has nothing to do with the negotiation. You heard the President when he relieved her from her duties."
"I appreciate that Sir, but surely she should be told that we actually know Stevie is alive."
Nadine sat up in her chair and cleared her throat. "Blake we are all concerned for the Secretary and her family but she will only be a liability if she gets involved in searching for her daughter. The best thing we can do for her is find Stevie and return her to the United States."
"I'm with Blake, she should at least be told." Matt spoke up from the other side of the table.
"I'm not sure how Madam Secretary runs this office, but this is not a democracy. You are not to tell the Secretary anything. If you cannot abide by this rule then you may take some personal time and return with the Secretary when this situation is resolved." The glare Stephen Cushing gave the staff was designed to instigate fear, it didn't really have the planned effect, as all many of the staff felt was the need for a mutiny.
However, Deputy Cushing took the silence to mean compliance and continued. "The FBI are convinced that their intel from Scotland Yard is valid and are sending men to that location, they don't believe Stephanie is still there but they hope to get some new leads. Now our job is to keep the State Department running so let's ensure it is possible to get on with the business of the day. "Daisy", he turned to the press secretary, "try to ensure that the press are kept away from the Secretary's house, if the kidnapper doesn't get what he wants he is likely to release this video. Jay, the kidnapper has specific requirements, it is likely that he is being given information that is need to know, I want you to find out if the leak is here in the State Department. Nadine, keep liaising with the White House and the FBI to stay on top of this. Blake, I am concerned about your objectivity, you would perhaps be better off with the Secretary and her family and seeing how you can help them through this."
Blake was about to complain at this when Nadine spoke up. "I think that is an excellent plan. Blake, give the Secretary our regards and ensure that she knows we are doing everything to help. Thank you Sir, let's all get back to work."
They stood and filed out the conference room and Blake dutifully walked behind Nadine with Matt following. "What about me Nadine?" Matt asked.
Nadine waited for the wider group to disperse and it was just her, Jay, Daisy, Blake and Matt. She leaned in to the group and spoke quietly. "You, Matt, you have the most important job, you will be passing all the information I get to Blake to give to the Secretary!" She eye-balled all four and walked off leaving the younger members of her team with grins spreading across their faces. Nadine had almost convinced them that she was following Cushing's orders.
_MS_
Blake showed his credentials to the agents outside the McCord family home, even although he was well known, security had been tightened around the family. He was allowed through and opened the front door and walked in.
"Ma'am, its Blake." He stated as he looked into the sitting room and walked towards the kitchen at the back of the house.
"Blake! What's going on, what do you know?" Elizabeth practically ran through the house to meet her personal assistant.
Blake handed over a letter from his jacket pocket while catching her eye and stating. "No news yet, I'm so sorry but Deputy Cushing felt I could be of help here. How are you, can I get you anything?"
Elizabeth was unsure what was going on and the whole situation meant she was a little slow on the uptake. She was pulled from her muddled thoughts as Henry, who had come down the stairs on hearing Blake arrive, took the letter from her, opened it and read it.
"Ma'am, Nadine believes there is a chance your house has been bugged. We received a video of Stevie, she is alive and the FBI are all over it. I can't talk about any of this because the President ordered that you not have any information."
Henry re-read the letter, handed it to Elizabeth and hugged a surprised Blake. "Thanks for coming Blake, can we get you a coffee, there are some things we could do with but come through to the kitchen and take a load off."
By the time Blake and Henry had made it to the kitchen Elizabeth had joined them and hugged Blake silently. She had suspected the house would be bugged, if only to ensure that she didn't go off the grid if she received word of what the kidnapper wanted for Stevie's return. She sat heavily at the table at the end of the kitchen, she had to focus on the word kidnapper because if she used the word fiancé, she might completely break down.
AN: I will post the story quite quickly, it has 7 chapters. I know the idea may be completely off what was desired but it got stuck in my head and had to been written.