For notes and disclaimer, please see part one.
Previously, on the West Wing/Alias: Crystal is found outside the building and gets sent home with Josh via the Presidential motorcade. The President wants to sit down with Secret Service and CIA to ensure his California trip stays intact to give Sam's campaign as much support as possible, especially knowing Sam's now the one Jordan and his men are gunning for. Crystal lies to Donna, giving her a fake name and history, to keep the rest of the West Wing from knowing what's going on.
Leo's driver Matt was posted at the nearest exit and opened the back door of the nondescript black sedan as Josh and Crystal stepped out of the West Wing. He took the bags from Josh as he and Crystal slid into their seats. Soon on their way to Georgetown, Crystal fought to keep her eyes open and to stop her periodic yawns to no avail. She started to remove the pins from her hair when they stopped at a red light, dropping the pins into her coat pocket. By the time the light turned green, her dark hair had cascaded around her shoulders.
Josh realized he'd only seen her with her hair pulled back. "Better?" he asked quietly.
"If I could remove my contacts, it'd be perfect."
"We'll be in Georgetown soon."
She nodded, leaning her head back. "I can't believe how exhausted I am," she said quietly.
"Close your eyes."
She smiled. "They are closed."
"I'll wake you when we get there."
She nodded slightly, sighing softly. She didn't sleep in the car--in part because of the contacts, in part because she knew she needed to keep her wits about her until they reached his apartment and were securely inside.
The car pulled up in front of a Georgetown brownstone and all three climbed out. "Thanks, Matt," Josh said, taking the bags from him.
"Of course, Mr. Lyman."
Crystal glanced around quickly, sweeping the street before following Josh up to his apartment. "It's nice," she commented once the door was unlocked and they were inside.
"Thanks." He dropped his bag by the door. "You want a drink or anything?" he asked, taking her bag towards his bedroom.
"No, but do you mind if I look around? It's not snooping; it's survival."
He glanced at her. "Go right ahead."
She methodically checked his apartment, making sure the windows were closed and nothing looked out of place. The last room she checked was the bedroom, where Josh was putting clean sheets on the bed.
"We good?"
She nodded, rifling through her suitcase for her glasses and her contacts case. She was thrilled to remove them and slide her more comfortable glasses on.
"If you need anything in the middle of the night, I'm going to be sacked out on the couch. Get the munchies? Help yourself to whatever's in the kitchen. Just... check the expiration date if you want it to taste good."
She looked up at him. "I appreciate this, Josh."
He finished making the bed and looked at her. "Kinda nice to have a Seaborn in D.C." He removed the dirty sheets from the bedroom but returned to retrieve some pajamas from his chest of drawers while Crystal was in his bathroom changing. By the time she emerged from the bathroom with a clean face and in a soft cottony pajama set with teddy bears on them, Josh was gone. She crawled into his bed, under his covers, sighing softly. Snuggling in and getting comfortable, she was out in a matter of seconds.
Josh, on the other hand, was not sleeping so well on his couch. He'd turned over half a dozen times and found himself almost going face-first into his coffee table. Sighing, he decided it would be best not to kill himself. He turned on his TV quietly and channel surfed.
He found a Bond movie, which entertained him for a moment before realizing he was living in 007's world.
He found a paid advertisement for a set of ginsu knives but didn't want a knife that could cut through a steel can. If his steak knife couldn't cut it, he didn't need to be eating it. The Surgeon General told him he shouldn't eat Tupperware anymore; he figured he could get his iron in vitamins instead of from metal.
He grooved to an ad for an oldies music compilation CD, particularly when he heard the Doobie Brother's song.
He settled on C-Span, however. He was in politics. He was sometimes on C-Span. He found it, particularly after midnight, to be the most boring thing on television.
What surprised him most was when he was still watching the British Parliament have at it an hour later. He'd gotten so engrossed in the proceedings that he forgot he had a houseguest whom he told could have free range of the place. Just as the Prime Minister was getting up to nail home a point, he heard his refrigerator's icemaker spit cubes into a glass and leapt off the couch as if he'd been kicked.
Between his kitchen and the living room was a half-wall, allowing both to see the other. "You okay?" she asked, pouring herself a glass of water.
"I, uh... I forgot you were here," he said lamely.
"Mm." She climbed onto his kitchen countertop.
"You okay?"
"Mm-hmm."
"You look awfully tired..."
She nodded, sipping her water. "They're arguing an awful much," she commented with a distinct drawl that he'd never heard from her.
"You have an accent?"
"Mm. Got lots."
"Where are you from originally?"
"Virginia."
"Not California?"
She shook her head.
"I see. Bed uncomfortable or... what?"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you awake?"
"Every hour."
"I'm not sure I understand..."
"I wake every hour," she said, setting her glass down.
"Why?"
"Just to make sure there's no creepy killer sneakin' up on me. That's how I... in Borneo..." She drifted off, covering her face with her hands.
Josh muted the British parliament and crossed to her. "Crystal..."
"Mm?"
"You're safe here..."
"My job sucks sometimes, y'know?"
"Sounds like."
She lowered her hands, resting them on her knees.
"I know you could probably seriously hurt me for saying this, but those are cute pajamas. Teddy bears..."
She smiled a little. "Yeah." Her eyes were downcast, however, and even in the dim light he could see the dark circles beneath them.
"C'mon, Crystal, you're still exhausted and you're not going to be any better off if you don't get some more sleep."
She nodded slightly and slowly slid off the counter. She hadn't judged distance very well and sort of fell into him.
"Easy," he said gently.
"M'sorry," she murmured.
"C'mon, I'll tuck you in."
She nodded but made no moves to walk. He gently tucked her hair behind her ear, noting she leaned into his touch. Scooping her up, he started back for his bedroom. He carefully laid her down in bed, easing his arms out from under her before covering her up.
She opened her sleepy eyes, looking up at him. "Josh..."
"Yeah?"
"You can't sleep on the couch, can you?"
"I, uh..."
"Would it weird you out to share a bed?"
"Would it weird you out?"
She shook her head.
"You sure?"
She nodded.
"I... All right." He moved to the other side of the bed and climbed in. He glanced at her once he was comfortable. Her back was to him, the strap of her camisole top off her bare, lightly tanned shoulder. He realized Sam might hurt him if he kept *too* close an eye on Crystal... and he also realized she could be dead the next day. "G'night," he murmured.
"Mmm..."
~~~
Sydney sat cross-legged on the hotel bed, listening to Marshall Flinkman go through his usual nervous spiel about information while Vaughn closed a file folder, laying down beside her. "But, we're still in the dark on when or where or how they're showing up?"
"I'll be checking for updates in the passenger manifests every hour and running the names again."
"Are you going to sleep at all?" Sydney asked with a soft smile.
"Oh, no, it's not going to be me all night. Another tech should be coming in soon so I can tell him what to do. Can you imagine me on caffeine and no sleep? I'd totally be buzzed and running around like: aah! Security? You want me to put new gadgets together to look cool? I can only if you bring me more coffee!"
Sydney laughed. He seemed to say all of that with one breath. "Well, put us on the list to be notified as soon as you find him."
"Oh, will do, absolutely will do."
"Thanks, Marshall."
"No problem."
After a quick goodbye, Sydney hung up and stretched out beside Vaughn.
"Still no news?" he asked.
Sydney shook her head.
"You still want to call Crystal, don't you?"
"She deserves to know she's not the primary target. Well, that she is, but her cousin will be hit first."
"How do we know Jordan's double didn't just say they were going to California to trip us up? They're actually staying here. They wanted her to think she's safe so she'd get careless, or worse, obvious, drawing attention to herself and so they take care of her, and then go to California for Sam. Maybe they've heard about the President's trip this weekend and will take care of two targets for the price of one."
"So, when they got in the cab, they were going to Jordan's hideout instead of an airport or train station?" asked Sydney.
"Could be."
"This is making my head spin," she said, putting a hand on either side of her head.
"We should get some sleep..."
"Yeah."
Vaughn stood, pulling the covers back on the hotel bed. Sydney crawled under them while Vaughn turned off the lights before returning to the bed and pulling the covers up. He pulled Sydney close, smiling as she put her head on his chest.
Her eyes, however, were wide open. "Her report from Borneo... and with all those pictures..."
"Syd..."
"I've been subjected to rough stuff, but... She survived a bloodbath, Vaughn. Those other agents were... they were executed. Their bodies were decimated... It was brutal and gruesome and that's gotta leave a major imprint on the psyche, something that'll affect you for all times, that you carry with you... She says she walked out of there covered in blood and..."
"You need to let go of this for a while."
"How did she survive?"
"Told you this morning... She's somewhat of a legend."
"Legends are usually dead."
"Sydney, please."
"I'm just... She's been with the CIA since she was seventeen."
"Yup."
"She started when my father was about to leave with Sloane."
"Yeah..."
"She could've met my father. She could've met Sloane."
"Sydney--"
"Maybe she knows something about Sloane that we don't--"
"Syd... you need to slow down it down. You've been so focused on taking down Sloane, SD-6 and the Alliance altogether for so long that you're still focused on that. This case is not connected to anything else we've worked on. It has nothing to do with Rambaldi or K-Directorate. This is about a ruthless assassin who has his sights set on Agent Seaborn."
She nodded slowly.
"C'mon... Let's sleep."
It took a while, but finally, listening to his even breathing, and feeling his hand gently stroke her hair, she fell into a light sleep in his arms.
~~~
Josh woke before his alarm went off and was very aware of how warm he was. Blinking, he focused on the alarm clock. It'd be another half hour before it would alert him that he needed to get out of bed. Then he realized what the warmth was, and that it was moving. He watched as Crystal snuggled closer towards him. Guessing it might be a good idea to wake her up a little early, he'd offer her the first shower.
"Crystal..."
"Mm?"
"You want to get up?"
Her green eyes opened and she blinked, trying to focus on him.
"It's 5:30 if you want to run get a shower..."
"It's..." She sat up, grabbing her glasses. "It can't be 5:30."
"Why not?"
"I don't remember getting up last night except the one time."
"I don't think you did."
She leapt out of bed and made a quick run through his apartment, glancing cautiously out windows and looking for anything out of the ordinary. His TV was still on C-Span and muted. Everything else seemed to be in place. She headed back to his bedroom with her glasses off and rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"We good?"
"I guess so."
"Shower?"
"Yes, thanks."
"Sure." When she started to pass him, he reached out to stop her, his hand on her arm gently. "It's okay. You survived the night without waking up every hour."
"Greg Grayson and Karen Daniels didn't," she said quietly.
"Crystal..."
"I should get a shower."
He let her go, heading into his kitchen to make coffee when his phone rang. Puzzled over who would call so early, he grabbed the phone quickly. "Hello?"
"Josh, it's Leo."
"Hey."
"Is she with you right now?"
"Crystal? She's in the shower."
"All right, listen... The meeting you're going to have with the President today."
"Yeah?"
"You're going to have to back him up. Put your foot down and say what the President says goes."
"What is this meeting?" Josh asked, returning to his coffee maker. "I can say that, no problem, I just want to know what I'm saying it about."
"There's some concern over the President's trip to California."
"Why?"
"Because of Jordan."
"But if she's still--" He stopped dead. "Leo..."
"Yeah?"
"Is she still the target?"
"You can't tell her this."
"That's why Director Conrad let her leave last night..." he said, putting the puzzle pieces together.
"Josh, she can't know."
"Why not?"
"Because Rob Conrad has made that call."
"We can't overrule that decision?"
"We don't want either Seaborn knowing. Ignorance, in this case, is bliss..."
"No, it's not, Leo."
"It is this time."
"No. It's not. Leo, she's been freaking out about security, about if somebody's going to come in and grab her. If she knows they're not gunning for her right now--"
"They're gunning for Sam. Conrad says Crystal is quite protective when it comes to her family. I tend to doubt telling her will really help the situation."
"All right," he said with a heavy sigh.
"You can do this."
"I can drive us in, then?"
"I'm sending my car again. If you want to take it, that's fine. You'll be dropped off first and he'll continue on to Langley for her."
"That means... Riding to the White House without talking about... Yeah, I'll drive myself in."
"I'll see you when you get in."
Josh sighed slightly. "Yeah," he said before ending the call and finishing making the coffee. He'd poured himself the first cup when he heard the water stop running. He figured he'd go ahead and make breakfast while she dressed, watching his bagel slide down into his toaster. He just wouldn't bring it up. He wouldn't say word one about the whole Jordan issue until he was in his own car to the White House. Whereupon he would curse the day Conrad was made Director and Leo decided telling him not to tell Crystal was a good idea.
As he was slathering his toasted bagel with cream cheese, Crystal emerged from his bedroom in a pair of dark slacks and a deep red sweater. Her dark hair was clipped at the base of her neck with a silver barrette and her makeup was done to perfection, hiding the dark circles she still had under her eyes. "Shower's yours," she said, draping her jacket across the back of a chair.
"Great, thanks."
"So, what's the plan for this morning?" she asked, pulling another bagel out of the package to toast.
"Leo's sending his car again to take you to Langley. I'm going to take my own car to the White House."
She nodded, pushing the lever down on his toaster. "All right."
"I'm going to go shower."
"Can I borrow your phone?" she asked.
"Yeah, sure."
She smiled. "Thanks." As he started for his bathroom, Crystal picked up the phone and dialed. After two rings, an automated answer greeted her.
"If you know your party's extension, please enter it now."
Crystal spoke: "Extension one-oh-three-nine alpha."
"Pass code?" queried the automated machine.
"Crystal Anne Seaborn, senior field operations special agent."
There was a series of beeps before the voice returned: "Identity confirmed. Please hold while your call is transferred to one-oh-three-nine alpha." The rings returned, and her bagel popped up. She removed her breakfast from the toaster and started spreading some cream cheese on hers as well when she heard a familiar voice.
"Conrad."
"It's Crystal."
"Crys. Good morning."
"Good morning, sir. Has there been any news since last night?"
"Nothing yet."
"Am I going to have to spend the night at the Farm tonight?" she asked, putting the lid back on the cream cheese. "I mean, was last night a one-shot deal?"
"Unless something changes and so long as your welcome doesn't wear out with Josh, as far as I'm concerned, you're welcome to stay."
"All right," she said, lifting her coffee for a sip.
"With an hour's worth of prep, could you give a history of the Red Crescent Order and one for Victor Jordan to a group at the Farm?"
"Even without the prep hour, yeah."
"We're pulling more agents onto the case and I want everybody to have the base knowledge. Part of the agents you'll be speaking to will be via a telecast to L.A."
"All right."
"We'll get you a techie; you can put together some visuals."
"That's what I'll spend my hour doing." She smiled.
"Sounds good. Listen, I've got to get ready for my own presentation."
"Yes, sir."
"Talk to you later," Conrad said before ending the call.
Crystal sat on the countertop, eating her bagel and listening to the water run in Josh's shower. She thought about all she knew about Jordan, his patterns, his strategies. She tried to figure out where he might be hiding. She started to wonder if Sydney had the right idea the previous morning. Instead of waiting for him to find her, she could draw him out, become obvious. She'd sit down with Sydney and Vaughn at work and discuss pros and cons over such a plan.
She'd finished her bagel and the shower had stopped when she heard a knock at the door. She slid off the countertop and crossed to the door to investigate. "Yes?" she called through it.
"Ms. Seaborn, it's Matt Addison, Leo McGarry's driver."
"Just a minute."
"I'll wait by the car."
"Thanks," she said, heading back towards Josh's bedroom. She knocked.
"Yeah?"
"That's my ride; I'll see you tonight?"
"Yeah, hey wait..." He opened the door, in slacks and an undershirt. "Here's my card... Tell Donna you're... Rebekah and I'll make sure she'll give you my cell if you need anything and I'm not there."
She nodded. "See you later."
Stay tuned...
Lines from the next installment:
"Well, here's the thing," said Bartlet. "I'm going to California this weekend. There's no maybe about it. Ron, if you have concerns about that, you need to work out security with the CIA."
"Sir, matters of your security aren't negotiable," said Butterfield.
Previously, on the West Wing/Alias: Crystal is found outside the building and gets sent home with Josh via the Presidential motorcade. The President wants to sit down with Secret Service and CIA to ensure his California trip stays intact to give Sam's campaign as much support as possible, especially knowing Sam's now the one Jordan and his men are gunning for. Crystal lies to Donna, giving her a fake name and history, to keep the rest of the West Wing from knowing what's going on.
Leo's driver Matt was posted at the nearest exit and opened the back door of the nondescript black sedan as Josh and Crystal stepped out of the West Wing. He took the bags from Josh as he and Crystal slid into their seats. Soon on their way to Georgetown, Crystal fought to keep her eyes open and to stop her periodic yawns to no avail. She started to remove the pins from her hair when they stopped at a red light, dropping the pins into her coat pocket. By the time the light turned green, her dark hair had cascaded around her shoulders.
Josh realized he'd only seen her with her hair pulled back. "Better?" he asked quietly.
"If I could remove my contacts, it'd be perfect."
"We'll be in Georgetown soon."
She nodded, leaning her head back. "I can't believe how exhausted I am," she said quietly.
"Close your eyes."
She smiled. "They are closed."
"I'll wake you when we get there."
She nodded slightly, sighing softly. She didn't sleep in the car--in part because of the contacts, in part because she knew she needed to keep her wits about her until they reached his apartment and were securely inside.
The car pulled up in front of a Georgetown brownstone and all three climbed out. "Thanks, Matt," Josh said, taking the bags from him.
"Of course, Mr. Lyman."
Crystal glanced around quickly, sweeping the street before following Josh up to his apartment. "It's nice," she commented once the door was unlocked and they were inside.
"Thanks." He dropped his bag by the door. "You want a drink or anything?" he asked, taking her bag towards his bedroom.
"No, but do you mind if I look around? It's not snooping; it's survival."
He glanced at her. "Go right ahead."
She methodically checked his apartment, making sure the windows were closed and nothing looked out of place. The last room she checked was the bedroom, where Josh was putting clean sheets on the bed.
"We good?"
She nodded, rifling through her suitcase for her glasses and her contacts case. She was thrilled to remove them and slide her more comfortable glasses on.
"If you need anything in the middle of the night, I'm going to be sacked out on the couch. Get the munchies? Help yourself to whatever's in the kitchen. Just... check the expiration date if you want it to taste good."
She looked up at him. "I appreciate this, Josh."
He finished making the bed and looked at her. "Kinda nice to have a Seaborn in D.C." He removed the dirty sheets from the bedroom but returned to retrieve some pajamas from his chest of drawers while Crystal was in his bathroom changing. By the time she emerged from the bathroom with a clean face and in a soft cottony pajama set with teddy bears on them, Josh was gone. She crawled into his bed, under his covers, sighing softly. Snuggling in and getting comfortable, she was out in a matter of seconds.
Josh, on the other hand, was not sleeping so well on his couch. He'd turned over half a dozen times and found himself almost going face-first into his coffee table. Sighing, he decided it would be best not to kill himself. He turned on his TV quietly and channel surfed.
He found a Bond movie, which entertained him for a moment before realizing he was living in 007's world.
He found a paid advertisement for a set of ginsu knives but didn't want a knife that could cut through a steel can. If his steak knife couldn't cut it, he didn't need to be eating it. The Surgeon General told him he shouldn't eat Tupperware anymore; he figured he could get his iron in vitamins instead of from metal.
He grooved to an ad for an oldies music compilation CD, particularly when he heard the Doobie Brother's song.
He settled on C-Span, however. He was in politics. He was sometimes on C-Span. He found it, particularly after midnight, to be the most boring thing on television.
What surprised him most was when he was still watching the British Parliament have at it an hour later. He'd gotten so engrossed in the proceedings that he forgot he had a houseguest whom he told could have free range of the place. Just as the Prime Minister was getting up to nail home a point, he heard his refrigerator's icemaker spit cubes into a glass and leapt off the couch as if he'd been kicked.
Between his kitchen and the living room was a half-wall, allowing both to see the other. "You okay?" she asked, pouring herself a glass of water.
"I, uh... I forgot you were here," he said lamely.
"Mm." She climbed onto his kitchen countertop.
"You okay?"
"Mm-hmm."
"You look awfully tired..."
She nodded, sipping her water. "They're arguing an awful much," she commented with a distinct drawl that he'd never heard from her.
"You have an accent?"
"Mm. Got lots."
"Where are you from originally?"
"Virginia."
"Not California?"
She shook her head.
"I see. Bed uncomfortable or... what?"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you awake?"
"Every hour."
"I'm not sure I understand..."
"I wake every hour," she said, setting her glass down.
"Why?"
"Just to make sure there's no creepy killer sneakin' up on me. That's how I... in Borneo..." She drifted off, covering her face with her hands.
Josh muted the British parliament and crossed to her. "Crystal..."
"Mm?"
"You're safe here..."
"My job sucks sometimes, y'know?"
"Sounds like."
She lowered her hands, resting them on her knees.
"I know you could probably seriously hurt me for saying this, but those are cute pajamas. Teddy bears..."
She smiled a little. "Yeah." Her eyes were downcast, however, and even in the dim light he could see the dark circles beneath them.
"C'mon, Crystal, you're still exhausted and you're not going to be any better off if you don't get some more sleep."
She nodded slightly and slowly slid off the counter. She hadn't judged distance very well and sort of fell into him.
"Easy," he said gently.
"M'sorry," she murmured.
"C'mon, I'll tuck you in."
She nodded but made no moves to walk. He gently tucked her hair behind her ear, noting she leaned into his touch. Scooping her up, he started back for his bedroom. He carefully laid her down in bed, easing his arms out from under her before covering her up.
She opened her sleepy eyes, looking up at him. "Josh..."
"Yeah?"
"You can't sleep on the couch, can you?"
"I, uh..."
"Would it weird you out to share a bed?"
"Would it weird you out?"
She shook her head.
"You sure?"
She nodded.
"I... All right." He moved to the other side of the bed and climbed in. He glanced at her once he was comfortable. Her back was to him, the strap of her camisole top off her bare, lightly tanned shoulder. He realized Sam might hurt him if he kept *too* close an eye on Crystal... and he also realized she could be dead the next day. "G'night," he murmured.
"Mmm..."
~~~
Sydney sat cross-legged on the hotel bed, listening to Marshall Flinkman go through his usual nervous spiel about information while Vaughn closed a file folder, laying down beside her. "But, we're still in the dark on when or where or how they're showing up?"
"I'll be checking for updates in the passenger manifests every hour and running the names again."
"Are you going to sleep at all?" Sydney asked with a soft smile.
"Oh, no, it's not going to be me all night. Another tech should be coming in soon so I can tell him what to do. Can you imagine me on caffeine and no sleep? I'd totally be buzzed and running around like: aah! Security? You want me to put new gadgets together to look cool? I can only if you bring me more coffee!"
Sydney laughed. He seemed to say all of that with one breath. "Well, put us on the list to be notified as soon as you find him."
"Oh, will do, absolutely will do."
"Thanks, Marshall."
"No problem."
After a quick goodbye, Sydney hung up and stretched out beside Vaughn.
"Still no news?" he asked.
Sydney shook her head.
"You still want to call Crystal, don't you?"
"She deserves to know she's not the primary target. Well, that she is, but her cousin will be hit first."
"How do we know Jordan's double didn't just say they were going to California to trip us up? They're actually staying here. They wanted her to think she's safe so she'd get careless, or worse, obvious, drawing attention to herself and so they take care of her, and then go to California for Sam. Maybe they've heard about the President's trip this weekend and will take care of two targets for the price of one."
"So, when they got in the cab, they were going to Jordan's hideout instead of an airport or train station?" asked Sydney.
"Could be."
"This is making my head spin," she said, putting a hand on either side of her head.
"We should get some sleep..."
"Yeah."
Vaughn stood, pulling the covers back on the hotel bed. Sydney crawled under them while Vaughn turned off the lights before returning to the bed and pulling the covers up. He pulled Sydney close, smiling as she put her head on his chest.
Her eyes, however, were wide open. "Her report from Borneo... and with all those pictures..."
"Syd..."
"I've been subjected to rough stuff, but... She survived a bloodbath, Vaughn. Those other agents were... they were executed. Their bodies were decimated... It was brutal and gruesome and that's gotta leave a major imprint on the psyche, something that'll affect you for all times, that you carry with you... She says she walked out of there covered in blood and..."
"You need to let go of this for a while."
"How did she survive?"
"Told you this morning... She's somewhat of a legend."
"Legends are usually dead."
"Sydney, please."
"I'm just... She's been with the CIA since she was seventeen."
"Yup."
"She started when my father was about to leave with Sloane."
"Yeah..."
"She could've met my father. She could've met Sloane."
"Sydney--"
"Maybe she knows something about Sloane that we don't--"
"Syd... you need to slow down it down. You've been so focused on taking down Sloane, SD-6 and the Alliance altogether for so long that you're still focused on that. This case is not connected to anything else we've worked on. It has nothing to do with Rambaldi or K-Directorate. This is about a ruthless assassin who has his sights set on Agent Seaborn."
She nodded slowly.
"C'mon... Let's sleep."
It took a while, but finally, listening to his even breathing, and feeling his hand gently stroke her hair, she fell into a light sleep in his arms.
~~~
Josh woke before his alarm went off and was very aware of how warm he was. Blinking, he focused on the alarm clock. It'd be another half hour before it would alert him that he needed to get out of bed. Then he realized what the warmth was, and that it was moving. He watched as Crystal snuggled closer towards him. Guessing it might be a good idea to wake her up a little early, he'd offer her the first shower.
"Crystal..."
"Mm?"
"You want to get up?"
Her green eyes opened and she blinked, trying to focus on him.
"It's 5:30 if you want to run get a shower..."
"It's..." She sat up, grabbing her glasses. "It can't be 5:30."
"Why not?"
"I don't remember getting up last night except the one time."
"I don't think you did."
She leapt out of bed and made a quick run through his apartment, glancing cautiously out windows and looking for anything out of the ordinary. His TV was still on C-Span and muted. Everything else seemed to be in place. She headed back to his bedroom with her glasses off and rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"We good?"
"I guess so."
"Shower?"
"Yes, thanks."
"Sure." When she started to pass him, he reached out to stop her, his hand on her arm gently. "It's okay. You survived the night without waking up every hour."
"Greg Grayson and Karen Daniels didn't," she said quietly.
"Crystal..."
"I should get a shower."
He let her go, heading into his kitchen to make coffee when his phone rang. Puzzled over who would call so early, he grabbed the phone quickly. "Hello?"
"Josh, it's Leo."
"Hey."
"Is she with you right now?"
"Crystal? She's in the shower."
"All right, listen... The meeting you're going to have with the President today."
"Yeah?"
"You're going to have to back him up. Put your foot down and say what the President says goes."
"What is this meeting?" Josh asked, returning to his coffee maker. "I can say that, no problem, I just want to know what I'm saying it about."
"There's some concern over the President's trip to California."
"Why?"
"Because of Jordan."
"But if she's still--" He stopped dead. "Leo..."
"Yeah?"
"Is she still the target?"
"You can't tell her this."
"That's why Director Conrad let her leave last night..." he said, putting the puzzle pieces together.
"Josh, she can't know."
"Why not?"
"Because Rob Conrad has made that call."
"We can't overrule that decision?"
"We don't want either Seaborn knowing. Ignorance, in this case, is bliss..."
"No, it's not, Leo."
"It is this time."
"No. It's not. Leo, she's been freaking out about security, about if somebody's going to come in and grab her. If she knows they're not gunning for her right now--"
"They're gunning for Sam. Conrad says Crystal is quite protective when it comes to her family. I tend to doubt telling her will really help the situation."
"All right," he said with a heavy sigh.
"You can do this."
"I can drive us in, then?"
"I'm sending my car again. If you want to take it, that's fine. You'll be dropped off first and he'll continue on to Langley for her."
"That means... Riding to the White House without talking about... Yeah, I'll drive myself in."
"I'll see you when you get in."
Josh sighed slightly. "Yeah," he said before ending the call and finishing making the coffee. He'd poured himself the first cup when he heard the water stop running. He figured he'd go ahead and make breakfast while she dressed, watching his bagel slide down into his toaster. He just wouldn't bring it up. He wouldn't say word one about the whole Jordan issue until he was in his own car to the White House. Whereupon he would curse the day Conrad was made Director and Leo decided telling him not to tell Crystal was a good idea.
As he was slathering his toasted bagel with cream cheese, Crystal emerged from his bedroom in a pair of dark slacks and a deep red sweater. Her dark hair was clipped at the base of her neck with a silver barrette and her makeup was done to perfection, hiding the dark circles she still had under her eyes. "Shower's yours," she said, draping her jacket across the back of a chair.
"Great, thanks."
"So, what's the plan for this morning?" she asked, pulling another bagel out of the package to toast.
"Leo's sending his car again to take you to Langley. I'm going to take my own car to the White House."
She nodded, pushing the lever down on his toaster. "All right."
"I'm going to go shower."
"Can I borrow your phone?" she asked.
"Yeah, sure."
She smiled. "Thanks." As he started for his bathroom, Crystal picked up the phone and dialed. After two rings, an automated answer greeted her.
"If you know your party's extension, please enter it now."
Crystal spoke: "Extension one-oh-three-nine alpha."
"Pass code?" queried the automated machine.
"Crystal Anne Seaborn, senior field operations special agent."
There was a series of beeps before the voice returned: "Identity confirmed. Please hold while your call is transferred to one-oh-three-nine alpha." The rings returned, and her bagel popped up. She removed her breakfast from the toaster and started spreading some cream cheese on hers as well when she heard a familiar voice.
"Conrad."
"It's Crystal."
"Crys. Good morning."
"Good morning, sir. Has there been any news since last night?"
"Nothing yet."
"Am I going to have to spend the night at the Farm tonight?" she asked, putting the lid back on the cream cheese. "I mean, was last night a one-shot deal?"
"Unless something changes and so long as your welcome doesn't wear out with Josh, as far as I'm concerned, you're welcome to stay."
"All right," she said, lifting her coffee for a sip.
"With an hour's worth of prep, could you give a history of the Red Crescent Order and one for Victor Jordan to a group at the Farm?"
"Even without the prep hour, yeah."
"We're pulling more agents onto the case and I want everybody to have the base knowledge. Part of the agents you'll be speaking to will be via a telecast to L.A."
"All right."
"We'll get you a techie; you can put together some visuals."
"That's what I'll spend my hour doing." She smiled.
"Sounds good. Listen, I've got to get ready for my own presentation."
"Yes, sir."
"Talk to you later," Conrad said before ending the call.
Crystal sat on the countertop, eating her bagel and listening to the water run in Josh's shower. She thought about all she knew about Jordan, his patterns, his strategies. She tried to figure out where he might be hiding. She started to wonder if Sydney had the right idea the previous morning. Instead of waiting for him to find her, she could draw him out, become obvious. She'd sit down with Sydney and Vaughn at work and discuss pros and cons over such a plan.
She'd finished her bagel and the shower had stopped when she heard a knock at the door. She slid off the countertop and crossed to the door to investigate. "Yes?" she called through it.
"Ms. Seaborn, it's Matt Addison, Leo McGarry's driver."
"Just a minute."
"I'll wait by the car."
"Thanks," she said, heading back towards Josh's bedroom. She knocked.
"Yeah?"
"That's my ride; I'll see you tonight?"
"Yeah, hey wait..." He opened the door, in slacks and an undershirt. "Here's my card... Tell Donna you're... Rebekah and I'll make sure she'll give you my cell if you need anything and I'm not there."
She nodded. "See you later."
Stay tuned...
Lines from the next installment:
"Well, here's the thing," said Bartlet. "I'm going to California this weekend. There's no maybe about it. Ron, if you have concerns about that, you need to work out security with the CIA."
"Sir, matters of your security aren't negotiable," said Butterfield.