Disclaimer: Haven't we all figured this part out about now? I mean, come on!

A/N: Just got back from DC the other night! Fun stuff, I got 2 personal tours of the Capitol by interns in my Congressman's office! Got to go in the Pentagon...oh, it's been a busy week.

A/N2: Okay, last chapter I had trouble getting my section separating lines to work so if they aren't there, I'll fix it later when I get the chance.

Chapter 7

"Do you really have to leave?"

"Yes, Josh," Sam answered patiently, "it's kind of hard to make a living while being on vacation constantly. See, eventually they stop paying you."

"Yeah, but couldn't you just stay around a little while longer?" Josh whined.

"I've been here for two weeks already! What do you want from me?"

"You know," Josh said thoughtfully, "you could just stay here. Forever."

"No!" Sam insisted, "I really couldn't. I am leaving the day after tomorrow so my boss doesn't fire me! California, sun, my job, remember?"

"Oh, fine," grumbled Josh. He brightened up quickly though. "We'll just have to take you out tomorrow night and get you drunk before you leave!"

"Not too drunk though, okay?" Sam pleaded. "There's nothing quite like a hangover on a plane."

"We'll see," Josh said mischievously.

There was a knock on the office door. "Come in," Josh called.

The door opened and Donna entered, coat in hand. "It's getting late," she said, "I'm heading home. Coming?"

"Nah," Josh shrugged, "I'll walk." Donna eyed him expectantly. "Come on, it's not that far," Josh insisted, "And Sam's hotel is on the way if anything comes up."

"Alright," Donna gave in, "but if you're tired and sore in the morning, don't come complaining to me."

"Yeah, yeah," Josh waved her out the door and began getting his things together for the several block walk to his Georgetown apartment.

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"You coming by the office tomorrow?" Josh asked.

"Maybe late in the day," Sam said, "if you're getting me drunk I should be packed to go beforehand."

"Fair enough," Josh laughed, "I'll see you then."

The two turned their separate ways to their hotel and apartment, respectively.

As Josh approached the last block to his apartment, he passed by an alleyway. He heard an odd noise and turned to take a look down it. Not seeing anyone or anything he continued on his way.

"Strays," he muttered, although a bit nervously. It wasn't unheard of a person being mugged in this area after all.

He turned around for one last look behind him as a figure launched itself out from a dark corner, mask over his face and what seemed to be a baseball bat in hand. Startled at being seen before expected, the masked figure got over his shock. Josh had frozen as well and barely had time to react as the bat come swinging towards his stomach. He tripped over backwards and landed uncomfortably over his backpack, though he was more focused on the pain in his lower abdomen.

Josh cringed, expecting a swing at his head, when he heard more footsteps, running towards them. He pleaded in his head for it not to be someone else who wished him dead.

His silent plea appeared to be answered as the masked person ran away and a hand reached down to help him up.

"Mr. Lyman?" the incredulous voice asked. "Are you alright?"

"Urgh," Josh grunted as he got to his feet, recognizing Manish, a man who lived a couple floors below him.

"Do you want me to call the police? An ambulance?" the anxious man said.

"No thanks," Josh finally found his voice, "I'm fine. Just a little startled is all. It's a good thing you came when you did though. What are you doing out here this late?"

"Late night at work," explained Manish, "going away party for a co-worker who's going to Wisconsin." He watched Josh pick up his pack and wince a little as he straightened up. "Are you sure you don't need to see a doctor?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," Josh assured his anxious neighbor. "Thanks a lot though. I shudder to think what would have happened if you hadn't shown up when you did."

"No problem," the man said, still looking a little worried. "Why don't we get you back to your apartment?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me."

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"Senior staff in fifteen minutes," Donna called as Josh walked stiffly passed the bullpen. Josh nodded and disappeared into his office. Donna grinned and followed him in.

"So, are you sore and tired?" she asked.

"You have no idea." Josh stated monotonously, wincing as he sat down.

"So you're going to listen to your all knowing assistant from now on, right?"

"Unlikely, but I'll at least pretend for a while."

"Ah, there's the Josh I know and love."

"Damn right."

"See, and I was thinking of bringing you coffee."

"Yeah, but we both knew that was never going to happen."

"Fair enough," Donna conceded.

"Yeah," Josh said vaguely. "Where's my memo on- -,"

"Right here," Donna presented said memo from the corner of the cluttered desk.

"Excellent," Josh said, "I'm off."

When he reached the Oval Office, he found the door was closed and Toby and C.J. were waiting by Charlie's desk.

"Mi amore!" C.J. exclaimed. "How are you on this fine morning?"

Josh gave Toby a quizzical look.

"She's been like this all morning," Toby muttered. C.J. hit him playfully just as the door opened.

"Claudia Jean, what have I told you about hitting the other classmates," the President asked.

"Good morning, Mr. President," they all chanted dutifully as they filed into the office.

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"Are you alright, Josh?" Leo asked as they walked out. "You look a little pale."

"I'm fine," Josh insisted, "stop being so paranoid. Just a little tired."

"Don't overdo it though, okay? What have you got now?"

"Erm...meeting with Senators Eisenhauer and Gates. Mural room."

"About the thing with the- -,"

"Yeah. I'll report back to you when it's over. Shouldn't take too long."

"Do a job."

Josh walked to the Mural room and opened the door. Both senators were already there waiting for him.

"Senator, senator," Josh shook both their hands. "Have a seat."

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"Another three million for- -,"

"If you say what I think you're about to say- -,"

"Josh- -,"

"We've already given you twelve!"

"Yes, and we need another three."

"One."

"Two and a half."

Josh was silent.

"Josh?" questioned Gates. "Josh, are you alright?"

Josh's breathing had become more labored and he didn't seem to hear what they were saying.

"Josh?"

People calling his name was the last thing to register in his mind before Josh lost consciousness.

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"Yeah?" called Leo as Margaret appeared in his doorway.

"Leo, Senator Eisenhauer's on the phone. He says it's urgent."

"Okay. Wait, isn't Eisenhauer in a meeting with Josh?"

"Yeah," answered Margaret, "the operator put it through from the Mural room."

Waving her out, Leo picked up the receiver. "Senator?" he questioned. "What seems to be the problem? Isn't Josh there?"

"Leo," the voice on the other end sounded agitated, "Leo, Josh just fainted."

"He WHAT?"

"He passed out right in the middle of the meeting!"

"Did you call GW?"

"Yeah, they've got an ambulance on the way."

"Okay," Leo said, trying to organize his thoughts, "okay. I'll be right over. Try to keep things under the radar a little, the people who need to know will know." The receiver clicked on the other end. Leo scribbled a quick note and hurried out the door. He made his way to Charlie's desk and handed him the folded note.

"Charlie, I need you to find the First Lady and give her this," he said quickly and then left.

Charlie looked a bit bewildered and then pulled up a calendar on his computer. He groaned.

"What wrong with you?" asked Debbie.

"The First Lady's in a meeting with the Women's Caucus."

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"So, as I was saying- -," the First Lady was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in," she called. Charlie entered the room and motioned towards the note in hand. "Oh, what does that jackass want now?" she growled in annoyance. "Sorry ladies, I'll be back as soon as possible." She exited the room.

"I beg your pardon, Ma'am," Charlie corrected, "but it was Leo who told me to get you, not the President." He handed her Leo's note.

"You automatically assumed I meant the President when I said jackass?" asked Abbey teasingly.

"I...well...,"

"I'm just kidding, Charlie. Now what's- -," she read over the brief notes a few times before jumping into action. "Excuse me," she said hurriedly and swiftly headed towards the Mural room. Charlie just shook his head in confusion.

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"What happened?" Abbey demanded of the two Senators, as she kneeled down by Josh, noticing his weak pulse and labored breathing.

"We honestly couldn't say," Gates said, "He was sitting there, arguing funding with us, and all of a sudden he just seemed to tune us out, and he starting breathing funny. He collapsed in a matter of seconds. An ambulance is on the way," he added.

Abbey nodded. "Has anyone said anything to Donna?"

"Oh, holy hell- -," Leo sighed. Just then, Donna appeared in the doorway.

"Secret Service is clearing people out of the bullpen, what's going- -," she stopped, registering the scene before her. "Oh my god! What happened?" she looked accusingly at the people in the room before rushing to where Abbey was kneeling on the floor.

"Calm down, Donna, or you'll have to leave," Leo said, though he himself looked anything but calm. "Josh fainted, we don't know why. An ambulance from GW is on the way." He turned back to Abbey, looking thoughtful. "You know, he didn't look too great earlier, but he just passed it off as being tired."

"He walked home last night with Sam, his hotel's just a couple blocks away," Donna supplied, trying to be helpful.

"He walked?" asked a baffled Leo. "I tell him to take it easy, and he walks?"

"I told him not to," Donna said, "but he insisted. And he came in this morning barely able to walk, sit or stand up without wincing."

"That doesn't really make sense," said Abbey, "it sounds more like he hurt or broke a rib or something along those lines. Which he didn't, it's easy enough to feel if you know what to feel for."

As gently as she could, she untucked Josh's shirt. "I'm going to check for bruising. It's possible he fell and hit something the wrong way." She inhaled sharply as she pulled the shirt over Josh's stomach. Donna gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth.

A line bruises, ranging in color, crossed over Josh's stomach. Before anyone could do or say anything, the door burst open.

"Everyone out of the way," someone demanded. A stretcher was wheeled in. Josh was moved on to it and it was swiftly rolled away, Secret Servicemen flanking the paramedics and going ahead to be sure the path was cleared.

"Abbey, you and Donna should go ahead to the hospital. I need to be here, at least for the moment, and I need to tell the President what's happened, along with the other senior staff. Call and keep me informed, would you?"

They nodded their agreement to Leo and took off with Abbey's Secret Service protection to get in the car.

Leo turned to the two Senators. "You two should probably go back to your offices. We would appreciate if you could keep this under wraps until we find out more and C.J. alerts the media, but obviously you are free to do as you please."

"No, no, we'll keep quiet. Could you possibly call when you've found something out?" Gates inquired.

"Sure thing," Leo replied. He left the room and made his way to the Oval Office.

"What's he got now, Charlie?"

"Nothing, but he's expecting a call from the Attorney General in a few minutes. Hey, is everything okay, Leo?"

"We'll see," Leo answered vaguely, letting himself into the office.

"Hey, Leo!" exclaimed the President. "What have you done with my wife? Charlie tells me you made him get her out of her woman's thing, and you know I'm the one who will have to suffer the consequences of that later tonight."

Leo said nothing, closing the door of the office behind him.

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A/N: Whew! Sorry it's been so long, but...well...I don't really have an excuse, so deal with it!!! MUAHAHAH!!!!!!!

You know you all want to review...why fight that inner urge??? Your comments can only make my story better! Well, we'll see about that... heeheehee...

Cheers!

Lexi Lyman