Title: Stay Anyway 29/32

Author: Amber (Ambino1111@prodigy.net)

Disclaimers & other notes in Part 1

*****

"We have a problem." "I find myself in complete agreement with that assessment, sir." - Captain Picard and Commander Data, Star Trek: The Next Generation

*****

Ever since I've worked in the White House, I have gotten used to having the television on in the background. I have gotten so used to hearing the soothing voices on CNN or the familiar sound of CJ's press briefings that I never take any special notice anymore.

I am sitting in Toby's office, absently tapping a pencil on a blank legal pad. Toby's in some meeting with Leo about some unsettled wording of a particular sentence. All I know is that Toby wants me to revise the second-to-last paragraph of the Campaign Finance Reform proposal, save for the questionable sentence, before he returns.

Like that's going to happen.

I continue tapping the pencil on the pad, my eyes absently wandering the office. Without any particular reason, they settle on the image of the President on the TV screen. The volume is turned low, but I can tell where he is in the speech. He's almost done. As soon as he finishes, CJ will conclude the briefing and come back here to drag me to the mess for our lunch meeting.

Which reminds me - where is Lisa? She and Alex are late, although I did tell her the briefing was going to run a little long. I hope she arrives soon. I miss her. And, as selfish as it sounds, I don't want to face CJ's wrath alone.

CJ can be intimidating at times.

There is no reason for me to be staring at the TV, but nevertheless I am. There is something wrong with the image. Then I notice what.

The President is no longer speaking. He looks flushed and surprised.

Uh oh.

I leap out of my chair and crank up the volume. I have never heard the Press Room so silent before.

Then I hear what sounds unmistakably like a child yelling "Daddy!" over and over again.

My brain suddenly snaps to, and quickly puts two and two together. Lisa's late. The President looks shocked. And CJ, who is currently running up to the podium, looks like she's going to faint.

Lisa's words come back to me, clear as day: "We used to watch the news together, Alex and I, and I'd tell him that his daddy lived in the big white house in DC."

I run out the door of Toby's office, pumping my legs as hard as I can to make it to the Briefing Room before all hell breaks loose.

No such luck. I arrive, breathless, and take in the scene. Lisa is in the hallway, face beet red as she tries to blend into the wall behind her. CJ sees me enter the eerily quiet room, breathless, and I momentarily freeze under her glare.

"There will be no more questions until my three o'clock briefing," She announces matter-of-factly, gently-but-firmly pushing the President towards me. I back up into the hallway, gesturing to Lisa to follow me.

CJ joins us in the hallway only seconds later. Behind her, a sudden explosion goes off as every single reporter finally realizes what has just happened.

I notice Alex's form clutching onto the right leg of the President, face buried in his pants. CJ's gaze includes Bartlet, Lisa, and me.

"Oval Office. Now!" She instructs, pushing the President away from the room that's loudly chanting her name.

I take Lisa's hand in mine and tug her after CJ and the President. She looks up at me, her green eyes clouded with embarrassment and horror.

"It'll be okay," I whisper reassuringly. I'm not sure which of us I'm trying to convince.

TBC