"Nice to see you, sir."
The former President Josiah Bartlet smiled up at his former Chief of Staff, Claudia Jean Cregg. The exchanged a kiss on the cheek, "Look at that tan. I was gonna ask you to come to the farm for a week, but we should come to you."
"You'd love it, sir, Santa Monica is your kind of town." C.J said with a smile.
"Really?" President Bartlet asked, surprised.
"Not really, no."
He chuckled at the joke, and offered a hand to Danny Concannon, C.J.'s husband, "Abbey wants a picture of the baby."
"I thought we emailed you one," Danny said, shaking hands and smiling.
"Something she can tape to the fridge."
"Oh, I'll see what I can dig up." He smiled at his wife.
The President moved on to Toby Ziegler, "Glad you could make it."
Toby nodded, humbly, "Thanks for the invitation, sir."
"How's Columbia?" The President wanted to know.
"Not such a bad place to spend some time."
The President moved on to greet Kate, Will, and Charlie before C.J. asked, "All set with your speech?"
"I think so. A little meandering in the middle, but..."
Everyone began speaking at once, offering to help with the speech.
President Bartlet put up a hand, "No, thank you, I'll be fine." He said, good naturedly.
Josh interrupted the informal meeting, coming up the stairs hurriedly, "Sir, can we get you to..." He paused, smiling around at everyone present. "Wow. Quite a collection of dignitaries. Sorry."
"You were saying, Josh?" The President pressed.
"The President's here." Josh announced, of course meaning the current President, Matt Santos.
With a fond glance at Danny, C.J. followed Josh and the former President outside as the motorcade filed up at the curb. They all waited on the steps in front of the grand doorway as the tall form of President Santos smoothly exited the car and walked with long strides toward the former White House Administration.
"Good afternoon." He greeted, waving.
For that moment, all was right in the world. Old friends were meeting again and would be able to spend a few hours together, reminiscing and catching up. The moment ended with a gunshot. A car careened away from the street toward the library. Secret Service Agents opened fire seconds before the fire was returned.
"No damn beaners in the White House!" Hateful shouts bellowed from the vehicle that now had flat tires. No one had time to react. Secret Service, trained as they were, went in to action immediately, protecting both Presidents. Instinctually, everyone ducked down low. It was over almost as soon as it began. Santos was already back in the motorcade which had sped off, Bartlet had been whisked inside. As the car rolled to a stop, the driver and passenger who had opened fire all shot dead, everyone looked around in shock.
On the top of the steps, in her husband's arms, was C.J., bleeding from a gunshot wound in the chest, just below the diaphragm. A stray bullet had hit her and, seeing her fall back, Danny caught her. Her blue eyes darted around in confusion as she gasped for breath.
Danny leaned over her, "C.J.?" He pleaded.
Her eyes finally focused on Danny's. Impulsively, he put a hand over the wound, his other hand cupped her face, "Help!" He shouted, though everyone had noticed their predicament just then anyway.
Toby knelt down at Danny's side and looked up, "Get that ambulance back here." He shouted at Josh.
The ambulance that followed the motorcade had driven off with the President and Josh was on his cell phone, desperately trying to get it back.
"C.J." Danny repeated desperately, brushing her hair back gently with a shaking hand. Lifting his other hand, which was now covered in blood, he examined the extent of the wound, "Oh God," He muttered frantically, his sight now being fogged out by tears, "No, no."
Toby took off his coat and placed it under C.J.'s head. He was silent but his own eyes were filling with tears.
President Bartlet was being prevented from going back outside by the Secret Service, "What the hell is going on out there, is anyone hurt? Why can't you let them in?"
"We haven't gotten the all clear, sir."
The sirens blared now and President Bartlet stilled, "Oh, God…"
The EMT's rushed from their vehicle with a gurney. They shoved Danny and Toby aside who stood out of the way quickly. With a calm that could only be gotten from years of practice, the two EMT's transferred C.J. onto the gurney and put an oxygen mask in place. Covered in his wife's blood, Danny rushed to follow them inside the back of the ambulance. He sat out of the way, watching, waiting, and hoping. He listened as emergency surgery was scheduled and the sirens moved traffic out of their way. When the ambulance stopped, everyone shifted forward with the force of it. They unloaded the gurney and Danny followed. Stopping just before the doors, the EMT waved at the surgery team, telling them they were ready.
Danny took C.J.'s hand and her weak eyes rested on him, "Hey," He said, putting on an encouraging smile, "You're gonna be fine. I love you." He kissed her forehead and her eyes fluttered shut. Caught by a nurse, he was pulled away as the surgery team took his wife out of sight.
"Sir, can I show you the waiting room? "The nurse asked, softly.
Danny nodded and followed, head held low. He was asked a few basic questions, filled out a form and was sat down in a private waiting room. He wasn't alone long before Josh, Toby, Will, and Kate arrived. Josh spoke first, "What do they know?"
Danny shrugged, "Nothing yet, she's in surgery."
A doctor walked in almost immediately after, "Daniel Concannon?"
Danny stood, "Yeah."
"I just wanted to give you an update."
Everyone stood silent at attention, waiting.
"They're performing surgery now to repair the liver. The bullet nicked the heart as well. There's a lot of internal bleeding. We won't know much for the next hour while they try and stop the bleeding but we'll keep you updated." The doctor nodded a greeting to everyone before leaving.
Deflating, Danny sat back down. He wasn't sure what he was expecting but he was certainly hoping for better news than that. Josh sat beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. It wasn't long until Abbey Bartlet and President Bartlet joined them. Everyone stood as the President entered. They both wore very somber faces.
"Danny." President Bartlet took his hand, "What's the news?"
Danny cleared his throat, "Nothing yet." He didn't want to explain what the doctor had said and test his voice further. It was catching in his throat. Abbey took him in a hug and he had to grit his teeth to keep his cool.
"She'll be fine, Danny." Abbey said into his ear.
All Danny could do was nod as they parted, now definitely unable to speak without breaking. Donna was the last to arrive, grasping hands with Josh before approaching Danny. They hugged.
"No one else was hurt, were they?" Danny asked Josh.
Josh shifted, "No."
Danny nodded, "Good."
Everyone fell silent and settled back down. Another half hour passed in a daze. Josh was in and out of the waiting room on his cell phone. He still had a job to do after all.
"Sir, I just want to give it awhile longer. At least until we hear something more." Josh was saying into his phone after having stepped out.
"Josh, we have a lot on tap for today, I need you here."
"I understand, sir, give me another hour."
"Josh…" Santos' voice had the edge of a warning to it. That was one thing Josh missed about President Bartlet that Santos lacked. He had a sort of emotional detachment, trying to be the best President he could be. It made for a lousy husband and the First Lady was feeling the effects.
"Sir, these are my friends. I know you hardly knew them, but it's important that I be here for a while longer until we hear something more." Josh said, firmly.
Santos had little choice, "Alright, keep me updated as well."
"Yes, sir." Josh slipped back into the waiting room. As soon as he sat down, the doctor came back, he look ragged.
Danny, who had been watching the door intently, stood first. The rest followed, watching the doctor with expectant faces. Danny was the first to suspect something had gone awry. If things were going well, it would have taken longer. This fast and surgery might have just ended abruptly.
"Mr. Concannon." He began with a sigh...