Author's Notes: since I started the 'map' of this story before that awful "Angel of Death" storyline I am totally disregarding it and using Melissa in this piece.

Chapter 24

Sam walked with Skye through the crowded airport and towards the car rental agency.  "You know I could just have my driver drop you wherever you're going," she pouted as he shifted his bag's strap on his shoulder.

"Then how would I get around town?" he asked as he looked at her.

Skye smirked as she put a hand on his arm, "I don't know.  I kinda like the idea of you being at my mercy."

"So, you'd be willing to be at my beck and call, huh?"

"You so wish!" she shot back as she pushed away from him.

"I really do need to be able to get around," he laughed.

"And you know the town sooo well?"

"I'll use a map."

"My driver's better," she sulked.

"As much as I'd love to take you up on that offer. . ." he shrugged.  "Why don't you give me your number and I'll call you if I get the chance."

"If?!?!"

Sam laughed slightly at her outraged tone, "Like I said, a good friend's in the hospital.  Plus I have got work to do on a trial, not to mention I'll probably get roped into writing press releases.  I will promise that I'll try.  Besides, if your brother's in as much trouble as you think he is. . ."

"My brother tends to over exaggerate," she sighed as she fished her business card out of her purse and handed it to him.

"I'll call," Sam assured as he put the card into his pocket.

"I'll hold you to it," Skye shot back before turning and walking away.  Shaking his head as he watched her, Sam turned towards the car rental representative his mind shifting to getting a car and directions.

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Ron Butterfield followed the red headed nurse at a discrete distance, a frown on his face.  The injection into the IV he wouldn't have questioned, but the fact that she had kept the syringe raised quite a few suspicions in his mind.  Part of him wanted to get in touch with the former First Lady; the other to get answers.  Right now the two voices in his head could compromise, as the woman in question was headed in the directions FFLOTUS was in, that however changed as she slipped into a nearby door.

His frown growing as the speed of his steps increased and he went to the door, opening it just enough to look in to see the woman sink onto a trash can and bury her head in her hands, and hear her anguished: "what have I done?"

Shaking his head at her words, he slipped away and towards Ramsey's office, wishing it didn't always seem to fall to him to tell the Bartletts that one of their 'kids' was in danger.

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Jax sank into the chair behind his desk managing to undo his tie and shuffle papers on his desk trying to find the contracts he needed as he half listened to the person on the other end of the line.  "Jasper, are you even listening to me?"

"Um, sorry, Jer.  I'm trying to find that damn contract."

"What? That pretty assistant of yours finally quit for a job where she'll be appreciated?"

"That's not even funny right now, Jerry," Jax sighed.

"Why? Personally, I find it amusing that you find these assistants who run your office so completely that it falls down when their now there.  Remember how long it took you to get things together after V left?" Jerry shot back, amusement evident in his voice.  "So when is she coming in? I'll call back and get a straight answer from her."

"You're going to have a long wait there."

"Oh?"

Jax inhaled sharply as he put aside the papers he'd been shuffling, "Donna's in the hospital.  AJ threw her down a flight of stairs at the party last night."

"Isn't that just charming!" Jerry said on a sigh.  "So Scorpio get him on something for once?"

"He's trying to."

"I could make some calls you know.  Should've done it a long time ago, but I thought Corinthos would've been smarter.  Should've known better."

"You really want me to comment on that?" Jax asked, causing Jerry to chuckle.  "As for the calls, don't.  I'm handling it.  Or rather I will be as soon as I get Donna's friends in line."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I called her 'contact person,' and he's already making waves.  Just gotta get him to see he's only hurting her by getting involved in things he doesn't know anything about."

"Umm, Jasper, considering you're going up against the Quartermains--- whom I know you'll no doubt squash sooner or later--- shouldn't you take whatever help is offered?"

"If Leo McGarry wasn't going to ruin our chances. . ." he started as Jerry laughed in recognition of the name.  "What?"

"Just you're right.  I don't need to make those calls.  Seems little Miss Moss has some high place markers of her own."

"Meaning?"

"Oh, I'm sure you'll figure it out all on your own, little brother.  Once you get your head out of your ass and start using it, that is."

"Jerry. . ."

"Look, I gotta go meet Dad and Lady Jane for a late lunch.  Call me on my cell if you ever find those papers," he answered before hanging up.

Shaking his head as he looked at the phone with a frown, Jax couldn't help but wonder exactly what type of trouble McGarry was bringing with him. . .

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Josh leaned against the wall of the elevator trying to control his breathing and fend off a panic attack, as he had since V had pulled away from the airport with lights flashing.

He had tried to remind himself of all the times since Roslynn that he'd ridden in cars with flashing lights as part of a Presidential entourage, but it didn't work as the lights flashed against his eye lids.  There was no pressing bill to talk about or banter between friends to distract him.  Besides it wouldn't change the destination.

And now it was getting worse.  Hospital smells bringing on sense memories he'd rather forget.  Swallowing back the metallic taste that rose in his mouth, he continued his breathing exercises. 

"Josh?" V asked, her voice full of concern as she watched him.  His color was becoming paler and his breathing was growing more and more ragged.

"Huh?" he asked as he forced his eyes open.

"We're at the floor."

"Oh," he forced out as he pushed himself away from the wall, hoping his rubbery legs would hold him.

"You OK?" she asked when his steps faltered slightly on their way down the hall.

"Ah huh."

V stared at him and then shrugged, deciding not to question his odd mood.  "Her room's right here," she told him as they came up to the window outside of the room, before continuing to the door.  She turned the handle and started to go in, only to stop and turn as she realized that Josh wasn't right behind her.  "Josh?" she asked, her concern growing as she saw him standing frozen in place, a look of panic flashing across his features.  Without thinking, she started to cross to him.  "Josh, what's wrong?" she asked as Melissa Bedford came towards them.

"V. I'm sorry to interrupt, but Ms. Moss has a restricted visitors list and. . ."

"And what?" V asked, turning her attention towards the nurse, surprised that Josh showed no outward reaction.

"You're not on it."

"Who gave you the list?"

"Amy said Jax left it."

V cursed inwardly, knowing exactly what her fiancé was up to.  "Jax gave you a partial list because he didn't have all the names. . ."

"Still. . ."

"Well, Josh has her medical power of attorney so he'd be the one to ask. . ." V said as she turned to him; worry growing as she took in his clammy pallor.  "Josh?"

"Water," he gulped through ragged breathes as he searched his pockets for medication.

V looked to Melissa who nodded and went into the room to get the requested item as V moved to him.  "What wrong? Is it your heart?" she asked as she slipped her hands past his and fished in his pockets for a pill bottle.

"He has a heart condition?" Melissa asked as she returned with the cup of water and tried to assess the situation.

"Not heart. . ." Josh managed to get out between gulps for air.  "Thing. . ." he added as his hands clapped over his jacket, one closing tightly over a bottle through the fabric.

"Josh let me help," V said softly as she loosened his fingers with one hand and slid the other into the pocket to pull out the bottle.  "How many?" she asked as she pushed him back towards the wall so he wouldn't fall to the ground.

"I. . . can't. . ." he started, shaking his head as he leaned against the wall in the futile hope of remaining upright.

Melissa took the bottle from V. as Josh slid down the wall and to the floor.  "JOSH!" V said, panic in her voice as she bent over him, watching helplessly as he put his head in his knees.

"Here," Melissa said trusting the pills into V's hands as she bent down, watching as V put the medicine in the man's hand. 

Josh started at it for a moment, before Melissa also bent down and took his hand in hers, using gentle pressure to force him to start to bring it to his mouth.  Shaking, he brought it up to his mouth and shoved the medicine into his mouth, then reached for the glass of water Melissa held out to him, and took a drink, before handing it back to her and putting his head in his lap.

"You ok?" V asked as she rubbed his back, watching as he nodded his still buried head.

"You really shouldn't wait so long before taking your medication," Melissa chided gently as she handed the pill bottle to V.

"Thought. . . could. . . fight. . . it . . .off. . ." he admitted as he raised his head and leaned it back against the wall, closing his eyes to fight off the embarrassment he felt.  "I . . . um . . .I didn't do or say anything. . ."

"No, just froze," Melissa told him, understanding where he was going with his question.  "You sure you'll be ok?"

"Yeah.  Once I Donna. . ." he sighed uneasily.

"Are you sure?"

"I need to.  It. . it'll help. . .  It'll put some of the fears to rest. . ."

"OK," Melissa said, then asked him a question she knew would prove whether he really was ready or not: "You have the MPA?"

"Leo had it faxed earlier today," Josh said stiffly as he pushed himself to his feet with V's help.

"Go on in then.  I'll get the rest of the names of authorized visitors from V," she smiled as she walked with him towards the door, V. a couple of steps behind.  "Just to prepare you, she's pretty banged up," she added.

"Nothing's gonna prepare me for this," he admitted gruffly, "but I don't plan on losing it in there."

"I could give you a name. . ."

"Someone's already getting me one," he said softly as he took a deep breath and entered the room.

"You really think he's gonna be ok?" V asked as the door closed.

Melissa shrugged as she turned, "he'd probably be the best judge.  No one else is inside his head."

"What do you mean by that? What's wrong with him?"

Melissa sighed, "I probably shouldn't say anything, and I could be wrong. . ."

"Please.  Josh is. . . well, he's like a brother to me.  I'm going worry either way.  I'd kinda like to know what I'm worrying about."

"The medication he's on is used to treat a variety of panic based disorders, but from the name of the prescribing doctor, I'd have to guess Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  If it makes you feel any better, the prescription's. . . well, it's not that recent."

V inhaled at that as she watched him through the window, "I guess I can't be completely surprise.  I just hope. . ."

"Nothing. . ." V sighed as she rubbed at her collar bone and turned to watch Josh's slow approach to the bed before turning her attention back to Melissa.  "So, how about I give you the rest of the names?"

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Abbey looked up as the door to Chris's office opened and frowned as she watched Ron walk in, his body language and facial expression telling her something was wrong.  "Oh, Christ, now what?" she asked as she took off her glasses and rose.

Chris started at the man's impassable expression and then back to the former First Lady, "you can tell something's wrong by looking at him?"

"After five years and more crisis's than I'd care to count, you bet," Abbey told him before returning her attention back to the head of the Secret Service Detail that protected her and her family.  "Now what the hell is wrong, and who am I going to want to throttle?"

"Now, I could be wrong, but. . ." he started.

"Ron, cut the crap.  Because if it weren't something you wouldn't come in her like that.  So. . ."

Ron inhaled as he looked between the 2 doctors, "I was down by Donna's room.  There was a nurse. . ."

"This is a hospital," Chris interrupted on a shrug.  "And I have to say it's about time someone was in there following orders."

"That include injecting something into an IV and pocketing the syringe?" the agent shot back.

"What?!?!?" Abbey asked as she reached for the file and Chris stood.  "We didn't order. . ." he said answering her unanswered question, and started towards the door.

"How long ago?" Abbey asked as she followed suit.

"Maybe 10-15 minutes," Ron informed as he joined them, the detail that had been covering the door on all of their heels.

"And you're just now telling us?" Abbey muttered, "remind me to brief you on a few things about medicine."

"Excuse me for following the suspected perp."

"Sometimes perps aren't the ones that need to be worried about!"

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Josh walked slowly towards the bed, gulping as he came to the foot of it and was able to get his first look at Donna.  Well, she always said her alabaster skin bruised easily, he thought as his eyes traced the bruises coloring one side of her face and lower.  "Well, this sure is one way to get us to visit, Donnatella," he said past the lump in his throat as he rounded the bed to sit in the chair next to it and picked up her hand.  "Ok, I sound like the insensitive bastard you always accused me of being.  I just. . . damnit, you of all people know how bad I am at things like this. . ." he paused letting her hand fall back to the bed as he placed his elbows on his knees and looked down between them.  "I guess I just don't know what to say. . .I can hear you now, you know.  'What a miracle! Josh Lyman at a lost for words.  Let me write down the date.' But I am, Donna.  The banter just isn't coming. . . Hell, we both know I can do it one sided if I have to." He sighed as he looked back at her, trying to find the words he needed as he stared at her.  Without thinking he took her hand once more and linked his fingers with hers.  "I didn't stop for a beer.  I know it took me forever to get here, but well with being a couple of states away I couldn't exactly run red lights now could I? Your boss sure as hell dragged his feet on getting flight accommodations.  But then again, I had V run her lights so we could run red lights once I finally landed. 

I walked off the campaign this morning.  Took me less then five minutes to get all I needed in my book bag and walk out.  Guess I know my priorities after all.

You know, I did call you back last night.  You'll probably hear the message when you get home.  Can't believe you thought I didn't look good during that interview.  My fan base loves that look.  Ok, ok, I know what you're going to say.  You're not exactly a member of my fan club are you?" he teased as the tone of one of the nearby machine changed and sped up.

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Melissa placed the pen down on the folder and looked at V, "and that's everyone?"

"For now.  A couple of other people might be coming in in a few days, but hopefully Donna will be awake by then to let her own wishes be known," V replied as a slight commotion caught Melissa's attention.

"What the hell?" the nurse muttered as Chris Ramsey rounded a corner with the former First Lady and her detail.

"Any change in Donna's condition?" Chris called over to the nurse who hurried towards the group, a concerned V looking towards them.

"None since I last checked."

"How long ago was that?" Abbey asked.

"5-10 minutes ago.  Maybe not even then.  It was right before V and Mr. Lyman got here."

"Josh is here?" Abbey asked as she shot V a look.  "I thought Leo told everyone to meet at the hotel first."

"It was something about a promise because of her ex," V started to explain.

"Never mind.  I should've known Josh wouldn't follow a directive!" Abbey sighed as she looked through the window and to the man and woman inside.  "I just hope. . ." she started as an alarm sounded.  "So much for that.  Ron, you get him out of there as soon as I signal you to.  Use force if you have to." she snapped as she, Melissa, and Chris hurried into the room. . .