C.J. automatically woke at 5:15am, as usual, but the sleeping pills had made her so groggy that she didn't stay awake for long. Her previous dreamless sleep was now haunted by images, not of what did happen, but of what was promised. Zoey was covered in blood, crumbled in a corner while Riyad had her backed into a corner, tearing at her clothes. Waking again after 7:00am, she felt weak and shaky after the intense dreams and drug induced sleep. Dressing, she knew she couldn't sit around her place all day wondering what was going on at The White House. Covering her bruises and cuts the best she could with make-up and clothing, she swore off a cup of coffee, knowing that she didn't need to be any more jittery than she already was. Emerging from the front door, she saw that the Secret Service Agent who had been posted last evening had been replaced by another. Across the street were several reporters which took a picture or two as she went down the steps.

The Agent spoke into their earpiece and C.J. thought she heard the word 'Flamingo'.

"Good morning," She greeted the Agent.

"Where to?"

"I'm going to the White House." C.J. told him, not used to being driven around but her car was in the staff lot at the White House anyway. The dreaded attention began the moment she stepped into the door. The front security guard gaped openly at her bruised face but she walked by him just like any other day. She nearly made it all the way to her office before being noticed by Toby, who stopped her in the hall.

"C.J., what are you doing here?" He asked, knowing right after he said it that it sounded insensitive. He was never very good at having the right words at the right time with people he cared about, "I mean you're supposed to be taking it easy."

"I can take it easy in my office, Toby." C.J. said casually.

Toby sighed, looking for something else to say that might make her go home, but decided that it was useless to try, "I'm doing the morning briefing in about ten minutes."

"Okay." C.J. said as if she hadn't been through any trauma in the last day. She ignored Carol's sympathetic eyes as she slipped into her office and closed the door. Ten minutes later, she turned on the television to watch the briefing, not for a moment wishing she was the one giving it.

Reporters swarmed the briefing room when Toby went in. He barely got to the podium before the room was completely filled with voices calling his name. Toby cleared his throat, "President Walken ordered an attack yesterday evening on Qumar. American intelligence confirmed that each of the bombed sites was a Kazir terrorist training camp."

"Toby!" Katie called out, "Is there any reason to believe there will be even more backlash in response to the bombings? What are you doing in order to prevent any harm coming to Americans?"

"We will continue to do what we always do; trust our own intelligence and military agencies and respond to any threats." Toby answered.

"Toby!" Mark shouted above the others and Toby pointed him out, "The details on the rescue of Zoey Bartlet and C.J. are very vague, is there anything more you can tell us?"

"The President is going to release a statement later today once we have more information."

"Toby!" Came another voice, "From what we know, Zoey Bartlet received few injuries while photos of C.J. show signs of violent abuse. Why were the kidnappers focusing violence on C.J.?"

"There is no way to know that, they're dead." Toby snapped, annoyed.

"Will either C.J. or Zoey Bartlet be issuing statements about their captivity?"

"I don't know."

"Did either suffer sexual abuse at-"

Toby interrupted him, "This is a White House briefing, not a tabloid round table. If you have questions about terrorist actions or the President's defense plan, then I can help you out."

In her office C.J. turned the television off. She was unused to being the story and listening to people asking about whether or not she suffered at the hands of Qumari terrorists. They seemed to be almost hoping for an affirmation, for a story, and that was too much for her to watch.

Danny's jaw set as he sat in the third row of the briefing room with his notepad, he wanted to hit the reporter who was acting like an Enquirer writer. He was about to raise his hand and change the subject when someone else did it for him.

"Toby, is there any concern whether or not this has upset the President's MS?"

Toby sighed, "No."


In less than an hour back at the office, C.J. found herself in the Oval Office, apparently it had gone through the grape vine that she had come in. She had a prepared argument about why she should stay at work instead of sit around at home.

"Have a seat, C.J." The President, who was now officially back in office, offered, sitting in one of the upholstered chairs in front of his desk. She sat across from him, poised for a fatherly attack of advice and goodwill that she was not in the mood for.

"I was hoping you'd take the day off-"

C.J. cut him off, "Yes, sir, well, I'd prefer to be here if simply to gain back a sense of normalcy. Honestly, sir, being at home alone wouldn't be very restful…" She stopped when he cleared his throat.

"I was going to say I was glad you came in. Zoey was surrounded by family after the hospital and I feel like we left you without a life line last night. I wanted to apologize for that."

There was a long pause between them. She had felt very alone, but it was certainly not the President's responsibility to comfort her, "There is no need for that, sir. Your daughter needed you."

"Zoey told me in more detail what happened."

Another pause.

The President continued after a moment, "You got my daughter out of a deadly situation with little regard to your own safety. She came out of it with nothing more than a mild muscle strain and I have you to thank for that. I owed you more than an escort home." He allowed his words to sink in, "I brought in someone you could talk to."

C.J., who had not been able to look at the President since the conversation began, finally made eye contact.

"If you want to." He continued, "Also, I'm making a statement in a few hours. I'd like to recognize you for your brave actions yesterday."

C.J. gave him a half smile, "As long as you skim past it quickly."

"Fine, I'll make Danny the big story."

"Rightfully so, sir."

"Don't downplay your part in this, C.J. Zoey was only minutes behind Danny in getting the rescue team to the right location." The President had taken on a fatherly scolding tone.

"Yes, sir." C.J. hated to imagine even a few more minutes with Riyad.

"You're alright, though?"

"Yes, sir."

"Alright. No briefings for you today, take it easy."

"Thank you, sir." C.J. said, leaving the office.


By the time she reached her office, Toby was inside, sitting on her couch, "Hi." He said.

"Hey." She returned.

He closed the door and she gave him an inquisitive look, "I didn't want to be insensitive, I'm worried."

"About me?" C.J. asked, sitting at her desk, "Don't be."

"You're walking around here like nothing happened."

"As opposed to what?" She asked, suddenly defensive, "What should I be doing instead?"

"I don't know, talking to someone."

"I don't know what to say." She finally admitted, softly.

"I know you don't want to call attention to it because you don't want to be seen as fragile or whatever, but you've been through...something. You watched people die and I know something happened between Zoey going through the window and half the military arriving."

There was a long silence, and C.J.'s eyes refused to meet Toby's, "Yeah."

Toby felt his face heat up, waiting for her to confirm it.

"No, I mean, he was going to, but half the military arrived." She said, her tone almost glib.

Toby felt a rush of relief, "It still doesn't mean you don't need to talk."

C.J. still couldn't look at him, "I just need a little time to work it out in my own head first."

"Alright." Toby said, getting up to leave, "But, from someone who internalizes everything, don't let it fester too long." He waited in the doorway for a moment, willing her to look at him.

Finally, she did, "Okay."