Author's Notes: Hey guys sorry its taken so long to update but I have been having some issues with my phone company and now they are gone so hey I'm back. Thank you for all of you loyal readers and thank you so much for the reviews. Remember Vote for Kerry/Edwards on Nov. 2 Well got to go please read and review more will come when I get more feedback.
1 Year Later
"Josh do you know how much longer till the President is done with this town hall meeting?" Donna asks her husband
"Well, I am not sure honey. Hopefully soon are you okay cause you look kind of pale and you know that's hard for you." Josh says with a chuckle.
"I just don't feel right. I have a bad feeling about tonight."
Just as Josh was going to respond they hear the president finishing up his speech and thanking everybody. They are waiting in the back as the President and the rest of the senior staff make their way out of the building when all of a sudden they hear gunshots.
The next thing they see is everybody running for cover but in the chaos Josh sees Leo go down and Toby grabbing his shoulder. In the next instant Josh and Donna both are grabbed by secret service agents and put into a car and taken back to the White House.
"What the hell is going on? I want answers people" Josh screams at Nancy McNally and Admiral Fitzwallace.
"Josh we don't know anything yet its still to early all we know is that there were three shooters from the building across the street. Secret Service agents got them through the windows." The entrance of a somber looking Donna who is bringing in a message for Josh interrupts Nancy. Josh opens the note and as soon as he reads it the note slips from his hands and he falls back into his chair. Nancy reaches over and grabs the note and reads it aloud.
"President Bartlett and Leo McGarry did not survive their surgery."
"Admiral Fitzwallace I think we need to do something and I mean now." Josh all but hollers. Just as Fitzwallace is about to respond the door opens and the Vice President walks in with his shoulders sagging.
"Good evening Mr. Vice President." Everybody choruses.
"Please take your seats guys and I appreciate the sentiment but this is not a good evening. I take it you all have heard the news?" everybody nods their answer.
"Sir, I was wondering if anybody has contacted Mallory and if not I could do it. I mean we grew up together it should probably be me telling her." Josh asks
"I am not sure if she has Josh but go ahead and while you are out there see how the rest of the staff is doing cause I know some of them got banged up out there too."
Josh gets up and exits with Donna
"Now I don't care when the last time any of you have slept as of right now I am in a sense the Commander In Chief and the first thing I want done is to find out who did this and why and I want their asses on a platter for dinner by tonight do I make myself clear?" Hoynes states with authority.
"Yes, sir" everybody choruses.
Hoynes exits
Operations Bullpen"Mallory I am so sorry about your dad you know I thought of him as a father. If there is anything you need just tell me and you will have it." Josh says as he pulls Mallory into a hug. She is sobbing uncontrollably.
"Josh!" Donna hollers
"Yeah what is it I am kind of busy right now."
"They got an id on the group that is responsible it's the Lambs of God. They stated in a videotape they sent to the press that they were tired of having a hypocrite and inefficient leader in the White House especially one who trampled on the morals of GOD." Donna states with disgust.
"Wait a minute. The Lambs of God, aren't they that group that sent a death threat to Annie during our first year in office? I thought they were disbanded." Josh states with anger.
"Yeah that's them. I thought they were disbanded too but it turns out they were still together. Have you heard anything about Toby? I thought I saw him grabbing his shoulder outside the hall. I don't know how Andrea and the twins could survive if anything happened to him." Donna says
"Actually I was hit but it was just a flesh wound or so they say, all I know is that it hurts like hell. So have you all heard the news?" Toby says as he walks through Josh's door.
"Oh my god Toby. I was so worried about you." Donna says as she goes over and hugs the Communications Director.
"I appreciate the sentiment there Donna at least you are being nicer than the mother of my children she really tore my head off when she got to the hospital. Huck and Molly are fine they were a bit shaken up but otherwise they were fine. So what's going on I have been alittle out of the loop for the past couple of hours." Toby says
"Well Tobias lets see bout a half an hour ago Chief Justice Reinquist swore Hoynes in so now he is the president. Josh here just got a promotion that he didn't want to Chief of Staff. And, ah yes the Lambs of God are claiming responsibility for the assassination of President Bartlett." CJ says from the door connecting her office to Josh's.
"Hey Donna could you go and call the sitter and tell her we are going to be late getting home tonight. I don't want her to leave Noah alone." Josh says to his wife.
"Sure actually I was kind of wondering if she could bring him here I want to hold him and tell him how much I love him." Donna says with tears in her eyes
"How bout this go get Noah yourself and bring him in I want to see him too." Josh says as he kisses his wife on the cheek.
Donna exits"Wait a minute the Lambs of God? Aren't they the group from a couple of years ago.." Toby says but is interrupted
"Yeah Toby they are trust me I am going to have words with Reverend Caldwell later on but for right now we need to assure the American people that the government is in control and that we are in the process of capturing the criminals responsible. CJ did you get all of that?" Josh says
"Yeah assure America that we are in charge and that justice will be served, has anybody seen the Bartlett's?" CJ asks
"No not yet but I just got done talking to Mallory and lets just say she wasn't in the greatest of conditions when she left. Look guys right now we need to keep doing our jobs and not worry about this other stuff that's what the President and Leo would want. Now CJ you have a briefing in five minutes, Toby get a message of condolences to the families ready for release. Let's get to work." Josh says
TBC