A/N: I'm home again, this chapter is beta-ed and all is well. While I was away, I finished writing this in my notebook. There are ten chapters in all and I'll hopefully (no promises here) have it all posted by the end of October. But there's also marching band and that pesky school thing, so I don't know.

Chapter 3

Inside the Deputy Communications Director's office, David Calloway stood up and stretched. He'd been working on this speech for four solid hours and his eyes were about to ooze out of his head. Time to take a break. Maybe go down to the mess and get a muffin.

He passed through the Communications bullpen toward Donna's office. After working there for three months, David had a pretty good idea where the mess was but it would be a good excuse to go talk to the Deputy Chief of Staff.

She was just getting off the phone as he came in. "Hey Dave!" she said, flashing him a smile.

Suddenly his throat was too dry. "H-hi." He choked out.

"You need something?"

"The mess. I forgot—"

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm just taking a break." He revised quickly, not wanting to sound like an idiot. Then, remembering that she was his boss, added, "A quick break."

"Oh."

He leaned against the wall, casting around for conversation. "Nice painting."

Why did she start cracking up when he said that? "So..." he was running out of ideas, "Want to go get a muffin?"

"I can't." she said, "I've got all this to do."

"Oh okay. Want me to bring you up one?"

"No thank you."

He left. After he turned the corner he smacked his head with his fist repeatedly. Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid. Could he have come off any dorkier? He felt like a geeky high school freshman trying to get the senior prom queen.

Back in her office Donna didn't know whether to laugh or cry. David's talk about muffins had brought back memories of an eccentric (to say the least) redhead she'd loved like a sister.

"Hey CJ."

CJ wheeled into Josh's office holding a piece of paper. "Hey," she said, "I was wondering if you'd seen this."

"What's 'this'?"

"Apparently they're discussing plans to build a memorial for everyone who was-was killed at the State of the Union. A monument."

"No, I didn't hear that." Josh said, "Find out about it."

"Alright. And I have to leave early. Doctor."

"And I need to know, why?"

"Right. Just thought I should..."

The door opened and Willa came in. "I've got Bruger on line three." She said.

"Thanks." Josh said, "Bye CJ. Good luck."

"Bye."

As CJ wheeled past Willa's desk, the assistant sat down, pulled out a Newsweek and began reading. But CJ could see a corner of Cosmo peeking out.

Wow, she thought, Willa, whether Donna rips you apart or you get sacked, your days here are numbered.

"Ms. Cregg, I'd like to talk to you."

The doctor sat down in her chair so that she was face to face with CJ.

"As you can see, the bones are fully healed. But there is still severe damage to your muscles and nerves throughout your lower back and thighs. The muscles can be improved with therapy and time but we're not so optimistic about the nerves. A beam must have landed on your back or something because the damage to your spinal cord is extensive."

"But it can be fixed, right?"

The doctor was grim. "I can't say anything for sure but it is not likely that you'll be able to walk again."

CJ opened her apartment door and made her way inside, the doctor's words still ringing in her ears. "It's not likely you'll ever be able to walk again."

No. She had to. She had to be able to stroll into the press room and command order. She needed to tower over Josh and intimidate him into making smart choices. She needed to be able to jump up and down and dance and celebrate with the rest of them when things went right.

They were wrong. She could walk. She just needed to work at it. She reached down and moved both her feet onto the floor. Then she gripped the sides of the chair and rose shakily to her feet.

Her legs collapsed and she fell, hitting her lip on the chair. She wiped the blood with her hand, then pulled herself onto the sofa and cried.

TBC

Lexi Lyman – Yes, I know you did, but I appreciate you reviewing again all the same. And to show my appreciation, drum roll please...A LIFETIME SUPPLY OF BOLOGNA LOLLIPOPS!!! And no, not a Bartlet ghost in the Oval Office but...

WhiteCamellia – I'd heard rumors about it. I've also heard that it's going to be the last year of the administration but not necessarily of the show. But I can't think of what they would do afterward. It's sad but hey, look on the bright side. They need to tie up all the loose ends. We may even (gasp!) find out what happened to Sam. Rob Lowe's new Dr. Vegas show looks really bad so there may be a chance he'll come back. There's kind of a funny story involving that that if you can stand to read me jabber any longer I'll tell you. My mom, who is also a big WW fan, was watching TV one day and I was in the next room on the computer with the door open. She yelled into me, "Nooo, Sam come back! Mandy, Sam Seaborn's got another new show and it looks really bad. Come back to the West Wing Sam!"

Yes, I admit it. My name is Mandy. Please don't hold that against me.

Shadowesque13 – Perhaps. And no, Josh hasn't really changed anything. It may be a bit messier than Leo had it, but it is still basically in tact. And Fiona will return. She has a kind of medium-sized part in this story near the end. And I guess I could have used the time to plot and plan but not write, but being the twitchy little rabbit that I am I finished the story. I think it improves at chapter 5. That's when I started writing again after I'd had a rest and I think the quality has improved from there.

Pendray – Well, no more federal buildings are going to blow up, but interesting things will occur. I'll update as frequently as I can.

Laurie Beth – Yes, I will be exploring how the two of them have been effected by their losses and injuries in later chapters. Chapter 6 especially deals with that. And I'm glad that you and other people like Fiona. I'm always kind of wary when I invent new characters, especially young women. I don't have to worry about someone like Fryer turning into a Mary Sue but people like Fiona and Christina I have to be careful with. So thanks for taking to her.

Bartlegg – Thank you. That was just what I needed to hear. I've been worrying about trying to live up to the response to My Fellow Americans and whether or not this was good enough and it was stressing me some so I really appreciate what you told me. You're absolutely right. But now you know that the next few chapters will involve aliens marrying CJ, Mary Sues up the wazoo and all other lousy plot devices. Heehee, just kidding. Yeah...

Love to everyone who reviewed. I know I say it a lot but you guys rock beyond comprehension. See you soon. To everyone who's starting school soon or already has, good luck and remember that the boring classes are where you usually think of the best ideas for fics.

Later!