Title: Lightning by Willow
Synopsis: Lightning never strike the same people twice, does it?
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Anything up to S6, set around S4

Part II

Charlie saw Josh and CJ stood next to a car and hurried over to them. "You two okay?" he asked.

"Mr Lyman," an agent appeared at their side before they had a chance to reply. "I need you to come with me."

The agent ushered Josh to an SUV and in through the open door. "CJ and Charlie?" Josh asked.

"Just you," the agent instructed. "We don't have the area secure yet."

"No way," Josh told him and started to get out of the vehicle.

Agent Mayo considered arguing but decided it would be quicker to get CJ and Charlie. "Miss Cregg, Mr Young," he called.

CJ grabbed Charlie and they both climbed into the back of the SUV. Even before the doors were closed the vehicle was speeding off to the airbase.

"You two okay?" Charlie asked again.

"Yeah," CJ told him.

"Josh?" Charlie asked. He didn't like Josh's pallor, he was deathly white. "Josh?" he repeated.

"Yeah I'm fine," Josh replied. "We should phone work. Do we know how the president is?" he asked.

"He's on his way to Air Force One," Agent Mayo replied.

"And he's okay?" Charlie asked.

"I have no idea."

"Phone work," Josh told CJ.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Toby sighed as he made himself a drink of the lemony flu remedy Ginger had sent round for him. He was beginning to think the president deliberately gave one section of every speech in a different way to that agreed on, or maybe he'd just had too much flu medication. He was about to turn the TV off and take the drink to bed, when the presenter interrupted his guests for a newsflash.

"Multiple gunshots were fired into the crowd as President Bartlet left the event," the on scene correspondent reported.

"Do we know if anyone has been hurt?" Gary, the presenter, asked.

"There's been no official statement, but at least two ambulances have been seen leaving with casualties and several more are here. The president's limo and several SUVs sped away during and shortly after the shooting. The area has been sealed off... I'm sorry, Gary, I'm going to have to end there, we're being moved away."

The program returned to the studio. "That was our reporter May Walsh at the scene of what looks like an assassination attempt on President Bartlet. The scene looked very much like the events at Rosslyn three years ago, when President Bartlet and deputy chief of staff, Joshua Lyman, were both shot. As yet we don't have any word on the president or his staff. On the line we have an eye witness, Joe..."

Toby grabbed his car keys and left the apartment, with the TV still talking to itself, and drove to the White House. He tried to call Leo, but there was no answer on his office number and his cell phone went straight to voice mail. He tried calling CJ and Josh, but neither of them picked up. He swore when he joined a queue of traffic waiting to cross an intersection. The radio news was reporting the shooting, but that there was no news on the president or staff. He phoned Josh's office.

"Josh Lyman," Donna answered.

"It's Toby, what's happening?"

"I've just spoken to Josh," Donna told him, "they're all fine. Leo's spoken to the president he's okay as well. Are you driving?" she asked when she heard a car horn sound.

"Yes, I'm coming in," Toby replied.

Donna knew there was no point in telling Toby to stay at home, that he was ill, that there was nothing he could do. "Try not to crash," she advised.

"Are they on their way back?"

"Yeah, they'll be back here in four hours."

"I'll see you in ten minutes," Toby replied and hung up.

(Continued...)