Hour One
Ron arrived, still in his tux. He had just seen his daughter and new son-in-law off when the emergency call came in from the Chief of Staff. He didn't take any time to change. There was serious trouble or else the Chief of Staff would be calling someone else to handle Secret Service business today.
He hurried into Leo's office to find the Senior Staff sitting on the sofa and chairs, looking at pieces of paper being handed around the room.
"What's wrong, Leo?"
"Guys, hand Ron those documents. I just got them fifteen minutes ago." Ron took them and his face went pale as he pursued them.
"Leo, I didn't know…This must mean Agent Marks…"
"Ron, we don't have time for speculation. We have to find out what's going on. And are they still on Nantucket in that house? We have to get some information. I've also asked…"
At that point Nancy McNally ran in the room. "What's going on, Leo?"
Ron handed her the documents.
"Oh my God!"
"Yeah. You have to find a way to get us some information. Are they still in the house? Have these thugs moved them out of the house or even off the island? What kind of rescue attempt can we plan?"
"Leo..."
"Nancy, I don't want to hear guesses. I only want to hear facts. I want to hear plans. I want you and Ron to call anyone you need to, but I have to have some facts and a plan. I will not let the President and First Lady stay there any longer than necessary. And I will get them back alive. Does everyone hear me? I don't care about the terrorists and that's what these guys are. You can kill them all as far as I care, but the President and First Lady will be brought out alive."
"Yes, sir."
"Yes, sir."
Ron and Nancy left to go to the Situation Room to talk about options. First, they had to get more information, and that would drive any plan for rescue.
"Leo?"
He turned to CJ. "Yes?"
"Leo. What if the press gets wind of this? I mean this is big and it's bound to leak at some point."
"I hope it doesn't. That's all I can say at this point. Amy, I want you and Toby to get hold of Russell and make up some reason to get him to the White House. I will tell him what's going on, but not before he's in my office and we can control where he is when I tell him. Sam, help CJ prepare some press statements that might be of some use if this spins out of control. I do not, I repeat, I do not to want you to contact any of your assistants to help you in any way. At least not yet. If the need arises, it will be my call to bring them in."
"Leo?"
"Yes, Sam?"
"What about the Bartlet girls? Are you going to tell them?"
Leo looked at Sam, and then down at his desk. "I haven't decided yet."
While this occurring at the West Wing, Agent Abraham and his gang of six men were contemplating the end of a long journey. Previous generations of men and women had died for their cause because of unwanted western intervention in their countries. All their brethren had ever wanted was to be left to raise their families in the path of the Quran, but western governments had always thought their ways were better. So many people had given their lives in the battle for their way of life. These seven men were only the latest in trying to find a way to achieve revenge for interreference in their way of life. And they were the closest yet to getting that revenge.
Through years of careful planning, they had been able to hide their familial connections to their Arab revolutionaries and work their way into the highest levels of American Presidential security. If it hadn't been President Bartlet, it would have been the next President. Based on excellent service and seniority in the federal service, it was just a matter of time before they were appointed to the Presidential detail. So it wasn't anger against this specific President driving their actions, but against the United States in general and whoever was the leader of the Great Satan.
After sending the fax, Abraham injected the President with an antidote to the sedative and watched as his prisoner slowly regained consciousness. The gag was removed so Abraham could listen to the words of the leader of the Great Satan.
Jed slowly realized he was regaining consciousness, but he was no longer sitting in a chair. In fact, he was head down with his feet elevated on some kind of hard surface with his hands restrained behind him. He opened his eyes and, as they gradually focused, he saw four men wearing black hoods looking down at him.
"What is going on? Where am I?" He could turn his head side to side, but not front to back.
One of the men spoke.
"We are members of the Gang of 8. Remember us now?"
A memory of typed notes came into his mind. These were the people that caused the incidents with his Senior Staff, Leo, Abbey and then the shooting at the church.
"Yes, I remember."
"Well, we have you now. And your wife."
"Abbey? Where is she? Is she okay? I want to see her."
"She's fine for now. And no, you can't see her. As long as you cooperate, she will be fine. If you don't, well, let's just say what we didn't finish before, we will finish now."
"I swear if you hurt her…"
The man to whom he had been talking to had given him a swift kick in the ribs and Jed let out an unexpected cry of pain.
"You don't have any say in this. So shut up. She's fine. For now."
"What do you want from me? The United States doesn't negotiate with terrorists."
All four men laughed under their black hoods. "We are not terrorists. We only want what's ours. Right now, you and your wife are ours. In fact, while we really only wanted you, we consider ourselves lucky because we have her as well. And we know you Americans are weak when it comes to someone you love. So right now, just lay there and think about what seven men can do to that pretty lady. Maybe then, you'll be willing to give us what we want."
He motioned to the others to put the gag back in place. Jed tried to resist, but was no match for their strength. They then shut off the lights and left him in the dark to contemplate their last sentences. He tried not to think about it, but it consumed his every thought. And played with his mind.