Disclaimer: Not mine

Author's note: Cindy Martin is a new character I created, I don't know how much I am going to use her, since I can't seem to use the regular characters all that often. A lot happens in not a lot of time. Although Cindy's phone call was one of my orginal ideas, but in the first draft Donna was SUPER cranky. I decided to tone her down a little. I also like CJ's scene too. Enjoy!

Cindy's POV, Donna's POV, CJ's POV back to Donna's POV

Then Everything Changed

Chapter 28

My name is Cindy Martin, this is my fourth year as a nurse in the ER. I love working in a hospital, no two days are the same, I meet lots of new people and I feel like what I am doing really affects people. Or at least those were my illusions for the first year. I still love it, but it's for a different reason. I love to watch people.

No one goes to the hospital for stupid crap, if you are here, your life could be forever altered. It is moments like these that show to true strength of humanity. The birth of a new child, the loss of a loved one, I've have seen men and women weep, laugh, scream and moan. I have seen my share of people passing out as well.

In my four years I have never seen anything quite like this. I was watching Good Morning America, when the news footage broke in. That guy who is running for president was just attacked. I know I live in DC and I should care about politics, but I couldn't give a rat's ass about it. As far as I can tell one of the guys is old and the other one is hot.

We got the phone call. They were coming here. Everyone was ready and prepped. The extents of the injuries were unknown. Thirty seconds before they arrived, this blond woman showed up yelling into a cell phone. She had with her a man in a black suit, his face was bleeding from superficial scratches and an armed DCPD.

When I saw her, my only thought was 'she shouldn't be here.' Three men entered the hospital she called out to them, providing information about their families. It was the interaction between the final man that peeked my interest. He was by far the worst off. This woman ran beside him and whispered words of comfort, her eyes pooled with water. This was the scene I was used to seeing. Normally people shout out words like, "I love you." "Don't leave me." "I'll be here when you get back." All she said was, "I know."

What could she know? The possibilities are endless. Does she know what happened?

Does she know where his keys are? Does she know the truth, whatever that could be?

Her words still resonate with me.

As this man leaves her sight another man in a black suit grabs her and supports her.

Before the next two men make their way in her cell phone rings. She starts a conversation. Now this is too much, not only shouldn't she be here but she can't talk on her cell phone. Its time I step in.

"Miss, you can't talk on the phone. You are going to have to put it away or give it to me."

"I am sorry but this is important. No sir, a nurse is here and she won't let me keep my phone. He wants to talk to you." She isn't mean or snotty about it, as most people are. She understands my job, but does not accept my answer. Whoever she is talking to will not convince me to break all the rules of the hospital.

"Hello, who am I speaking to?" I have to say this is a nice cell phone.

"Hello, this is President Bartlet." Oh my god.

"Oh my god, the real president?" Oh my god!

"Yes, do you know any fake presidents?" Oh my god!

"Um. No." Oh my god!

"Now, Miss what is your name?" Oh my god!

"Cindy Martin." Oh my god!

"Cindy the woman you took this cell phone from is named Donna Moss. She is one of my daughters. She is not my daughter in the literal sense of the word, but she is a part of my family. All of those men who pulled into your hospital, they are my sons and brothers. Nothing frightens me more then when something hurts my family. Do you understand?" Oh my god!

"Yes, sir." Oh my god!

"Now I need to know what is going on with my sons and brothers, and since I can't be there I am going to ask that Donna keep me informed. Do you think it will be ok if she keeps her cell phone in the emergency room, if just this one time?"

"Yes sir." Oh my god!

"Good because if she can't give me this information, then I am going to have to send someone else down to get it. Do you know who I am to send down there?"

"No, sir."

"My wife. Trust me Cindy, you do not want my wife down there. Now if Donna needs anything you will make sure she gets it right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Wonderful. I am going to send down a piece of paper saying that I gave you permission to allow her to keep her phones for White House business, this way you won't get in any trouble. It was nice talking to you. Can I talk to Donna again?"

"Yes, sir." She smiles at me, do I look like a dork? Did I just really speak to the president?

"Sir, I will keep you in the loop. Thank you Mr. President." She closes her phone and smiles back at me. "He wasn't too tough on you? Was he?" I shake my head. "Did he threaten you with Abby?" I nod. "Sorry about that, he worries a lot. Listen I am afraid I will be here for a while but I want to thank you up front for all the work you do today. Trust me, its going to be a long day." She smiles.

I just spoke the president. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! The real one. This Donna person must be the most amazing person in the world, she didn't even seemed phased by it.

My star stuck feeling fades when the final two men enter the hospital. She returns to her cell phone.

I phone CJ to tell her about the injuries, I really don't want the press spinning this out of control. But on the other hand I don't think it is wise to make it a matter for the White House either. I justify it as keeping a friend in the loop not the Chief of Staff.

I run down the injuries as far as I can tell.

Toby and Will are able to walk in to the Hospital, that's a good sign right? Will's hand it torn and mangled beyond recognition. He seems almost glossy from the blend of blood, and sweat. I've never seen him shake before, its nothing spectacular, his looks like everyone else when the shake. But there is something different about this, Will's morals have always been weak but I have never seen him physically weakened before. Something about it strikes me to the core.

"Donna?"

"Will." All venom has left me, he needs my help and I am going to provide it. "Do you want me to call Ellise?"

"Sure." He can barely focus, vomit stains his shirt. "Why are you here?"

"Because you need me." Duh. He shakes his head. I guide him to a chair and have him wait. His wounds aren't life threatening, the doctors are more concerned about Josh and Leo for now and since he isn't running for president, he is going to have kill time until they get around to him.

I forgot I still have CJ on the phone. Toby walks behind Will, his description of his injuries seemed to be accurate. A massive head wound, bleeding into his eyes. He sees me, and grabs my arm.

"Donna. You're here."

"Of course Toby."

Something's wrong, he isn't just scared, he's terrified. Is it for himself? For his friends? What is it?

"My arm hurts." He is holding his arm, but there doesn't appear to be any other wounds.

"You have to wait a few minutes."

"Donna my arm hurts." It takes me a second, why didn't I see it sooner.

"Cindy! Toby is having a heart attack he needs medical attention now." My scream carries thought the hallways. A swat team of doctors and nurses swarm on him and he disappears.

I don't know how she is handling this. These are the men who hurt her, used her, left her and now she is the one helping them.

Could I put aside all my emotions and focus on a job at hand? Sure, it's a daily event. Does she even have time to process her emotions?

None of this is new to her, Josh, hospitals, pain. Does it get easier each time around?

I can hear her talking to Will, calm and sweet. It is more then he deserves, but does she even care about that now?

Toby. How is Toby? Give me details.

"Cindy! Toby is having a heart attack he needs medical attention now."

The phone falls from my hand. Everything goes fuzzy. Heart attack, but those can kill people.

It nearly killed Leo.

Was he always sick? Did he know? Why didn't he tell me?

Toby, my Toby.

Margaret comes in, I don't know when she got here. She picks up my phone, which seems to be a struggle with her enormous belly. Why are the papers on my desk wet? Perfect circles on FDA files. I touch my face. Wet.

"You have a call on line two." She rubs my back, not once did I think to console her. She's been through this before too.

She hands me the phone.

"CJ." I know this voice. I love this voice.

"Come home." I plead with the voice.

"I am already on the plane."

Thank God. The tears don't seem to want to stop.

The hallways are crowded with bodies, all of them in suits and ear pieces. Jackson wasn't lying, he did call in reinforcements. The halls are quite for now. The pain in my side starts to gnaw at me. Don't focus on it, you have others things to worry about. Where is Ronna?

Will is finally wheeled away, just leaving me with the agents. I turn to the new guy.

"What happened to your face?" He's bleeding, it nothing compared to all the devastation I've seen today, but there is no reason for the injury.

"Are you kidding me?" Why is he so shocked? "You scratched the hell out of me in Ms. Cregg's office." Really I don't remember any of that.

"I am so sorry. Cindy can we get some neosporin for this guy. The rest of the agents will need to get some help too." Cindy grabs New Guy for a few minutes. Jackson turns his attentions to me.

"Ms. Moss are you sure you are feeling ok? You look so pale and your breathing is shallow."

"I am fine, Jackson."

"It's just you look awful."

"Gee, thanks."

Ronna and Ned come running in.

"Donna!" we embrace and pain showers my whole body.

"Ronna are we all accounted for?"

"Yes. I though we lost an intern at the bomb site but they were pushed to the back of the crowd. He just checked in two minutes ago. Everyone on the East Coast has checked in, we are still waiting for the head count from the Mid West and the West Coast."

"Great job."

"How is everyone?"

"I don't know, so far, none of the wounds look fatal, but I am not a doctor. I should be getting information in a few minutes. Did you speak to the press?"

"No, but we have been getting a lot of questions. The Press is spinning it out of control, saying it was a terrorist attack and such. We need to issue a statement."

"Not right now, I don't want anything out there until we have all the facts first. We'll issue a statement or have a conference only after everyone is out of surgery."

Ronna and Ned exchange doubtful glances.

"What is it?"

"Well, um, you don't work for us any more." Ned looks down at his shoes.

"Ok raise your hand in you have been through something like this before." My hand is the only one above my head. "Raise your hand if you have constant contact with the White House and all access to government information agencies." My hand is alone in the air. "Look guys, lets not worry to much about who works where, for now we have a problem and I know the solution. If you don't want my help I can leave."

"No STAY!" Ronna shouts.

"Ok, Ronna start canceling event three days out. We may need to go farther out later." She nods starts to get on her cell phone. "Guys it is going to be long and rough day. If you need a break, let me know. No one plays the hero today. We need to depend on each other. We are own backbones today."

They agree and start to working. Some how I wish I could take my own advice.