Author: Willow
Summary: An undisclosed threat gives everyone chance to talk.
Spoilers/Episode: Set in an a/u that leaves the show's timeline at the end of season 5. This chapter takes place immediately after chapter 5.
Characters: Ensemble
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing them for a while, they belong to Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, John Wells, NBC......
PART II
"Where's Josh?" Leo asked Max, one of the Secret Service agents assigned to the evacuation.
"He said he's staying here, Mr McGarry. Sir, we have to....... " Max called as Leo walked away to Josh's office.
"Josh, we have to leave," Leo stood in Josh's doorway. "Now, come on."
"I'm staying, I told Max."
"Oh for the love of God, Josh, this isn't a game, you're the deputy chief of staff, the president needs you."
"The president has you. I'm needed here. Anyway, it'll give the two of you a chance to talk," Josh smiled weakly.
"Yeah, that'll be fun. He's going to want to know why you haven't come."
"Then tell him. I think they're waiting for you," Josh indicated three very impatient looking agents.
Leo sighed and nodded. He'd known when Josh took the NSC card back, that he would never use it. "If you're staying, you're having protection."
"Leo," Josh started to object.
"No argument. The NSC card isn't a joke, Josh, if you're not evacuated you get protection. You don't go anywhere without your agents and you do as they tell you."
Josh nodded.
Leo walked across the office toward his deputy and Josh met him half way. They looked at each other for a second and then hugged. "Be careful," Leo ordered.
"You too," Josh replied. "Go on, we'll be fine." Josh stood and watched as the agents whisked Leo away. Part of him wanted to run after them and go to safety, but he couldn't leave the people he loved behind, he couldn't do that again.
"Why are you still here?" CJ's voice brought his thoughts back from his memories, back to now.
"Someone has to stay and be in charge round here," Josh smiled a little half heartedly.
CJ stood in the doorway and shook her head. "Well Toby's gonna be pissed, he thought that would be him. I'm going to brief."
"You know what to say?" Josh asked, rather unnecessarily.
"Just a precaution, no need to be alarmed, we don't comment on Secret Service procedure," CJ told him and then smiled. "Josh Lyman's in charge, which will probably cause them to be alarmed so, I may not mention it."
"Hey, that's..." Josh started to protest and then grinned, "probably true."
.....................................................................
Friday Afternoon
"You sent everyone home?"
Josh looked up and found Donna in the doorway. "That included you, this isn't exactly a safe place to be."
"Everyone's here," she told him, meaning everyone who mattered. "I want to stay. You know there are agents in the bullpen?"
"Yeah, Leo's condition to me staying. Did you call your mom?"
"I did."
"What she say?" Josh asked.
"You're an idiot."
"I'm an idiot?" Josh smiled because he could imagine Marjorie Moss calling him that.
"You don't have to be here," Donna pointed out.
"Neither do you, you could go home."
Donna shrugged. "Have you called your mom?"
"Not yet, she's going to yell at me."
"More than likely," Donna agreed. "Phone her," she instructed. "Debbie and I are going to make sure we know who's here and that they all know what to do. I know the agents and guards are keeping tabs on everyone, but we want to make sure."
"Okay. We should all stay in the same area. Although most people should have gone now."
"I'll let you know who's still here. Go phone your mom."
............................................................................
Twenty minutes later, Debbie and Donna were sat in Josh's bullpen wondering what to do next. "This ever happened before?" Debbie asked.
"Not this serious," Donna replied. "The most serious we've had was Marine One waiting for the president, but he's not been evacuated before."
"It's kind of eerie," Debbie replied. "Why hasn't Josh gone?"
"'Cos he's an idiot," Donna said.
Debbie smiled knowingly, "Yet you're glad he's stayed."
"Part of me is, part of me wishes he was safe someplace else. So where's your mystery man tonight?"
"He's safe well away from here. And he isn't a mystery."
"So what does he do?" Donna asked.
"He's in public relations," Debbie replied.
"How old is he?"
"About my age, little older maybe."
"If he isn't a secret, why haven't we met him yet?" Donna grinned.
"He's shy," Debbie smiled. "I kind of like that in a man."
"Working here, it must be a nice change."
"Well you certainly don't go for the quiet ones," Debbie grinned. "Where is he anyway?"
"Who?"
"Josh, who else." Debbie had no idea what Donna saw in Josh, but she knew how they felt about each other.
"He's phoning his mother, who'll be telling him off for not leaving with Leo and the president."
....................................................................
Friday Evening, Secure Location
"You should get some rest," Abbey instructed.
Leo looked up from the report Josh had faxed him. "It's only 8.30," he smiled.
"I know," Abbey agreed as she sat down, "But how often are you away from the office this early?" she smiled. "Where's Mallory?"
"She was already staying with Josie in Atlanta."
"You called her?"
"Yeah, she's worried, but at least she's safe down there," Leo replied.
Abbey sat down. "I thought Josh would be with us?"
"He refused to come. Didn't want to leave people behind."
Abbey read 'people' as Donna, but she was surprised Leo had let him get away with that.
Leo saw Abbey expression. "I understand his reasons," he told her.
"Will his mother understand them?" Abbey asked.
"Better than anyone," Leo replied. "It'll be me she tells off for not forcing him onto the helicopter."
"I don't imagine anyone has been able to force Josh to do anything since he was 9," Abbey said.
"No," Leo agreed.
"He needs a good woman in his life," Abbey mused. "In fact you all do."
"We do?" Leo asked with a smile.
"Well, obviously CJ, Margaret and Debbie need good men in their lives, but you know what I mean."
"I'm afraid I do."
Abbey studied Leo for a few seconds. At Camp David and for a while after she'd been worried about him, he'd looked pale and tired, but now he looked like his old self again. She had the feeling that there was definitely something good going on in Leo's life at the moment, although she didn't know what. She was fairly sure it wasn't a woman, she knew he hadn't seen Jordan Kendall for months and she hadn't heard he was seeing anyone else, but something had picked him up.
"Go on," Leo prompted.
"What?"
"I'm waiting for the health lecture to begin. You and Margaret are like a tag team."
"No, no lectures," Abbey assured him, "at least not on health. He misses you, you need to talk to him, Leo."
"What if he doesn't want to talk to me?"
"Force him to listen," Abbey replied. "You two are the stubbornest pair I've ever met. Even if you don't want your friendship back the way it was, you still have to work together."
"I never said I didn't want his friendship," Leo replied.
"Then talk to him."
Part 3...............