Chapter 15

Homecoming

"…Golden Eagle, calling command-cuckoo nest destroyed, repeat; nest destroyed. Searching for fledglings…" The President sighed with relief although he did have to wonder who came up with these codes. Fledglings? They were going to have fun needling Josh about that one.

"Received, Golden Eagle. Can you confirm escaped cuckoos?"

"Negative, command. Wait- receiving word from sparrow hawks One…" The Qumaran soldiers- he held his breath again.

"Negative, command. No cuckoos escaped. Repeat, no cuckoos escaped."

The Armymen around the table nodded and allowed smiles of satisfaction at a job well-done to emerge. But there would be no celebrating yet…

"Flying over perimeter now. Approaching Bremner pass…" He gave height, direction and co-ordinates which the President ignored. He didn't care about which way the damn wind was blowing! He wanted to know if seventeen Americans had been found!

"Control- come in control!"

"Receiving."

"Unknown bird below- trying to attract attention- swooping in now…Others are out… We've found them Command. Fledglings unconfirmed. Going in now."

"Careful, Golden Eagle."

In the situation room a group of people waited tensely. Leo and the President both sat, outwardly calm, waiting for news. Nancy was there too along with the brass who had engineered the operation. A crackling hissing sound made everyone sit up straighter or lean towards the radio. There was not a sound in the room; no-one even dared breathe lest they miss the news. It took a few minutes during which the President grew more and more…fidgety, was the only word. Leo glared at him unobtrusively and the President sighed gently and stopped. Okay, so it wasn't exactly Presidential to be squirming like a kid needing to go to the bathroom, but nerves were getting at him now. Leo tapped the table with the tip of his biro, not noticing the reflexive action and it was the President's turn to scowl back. Two could most definitely play at that game. Leo stopped sheepishly and the Airforce people decided diplomatically not to notice.

"Golden Eagle to command." Oh just spit it out! "Command, seventeen fledglings accounted for! Repeat…" The tension broke and people began smiling and shaking hands. The President leaned over and formally shook the hands those responsible for the rescue. He found himself grinning for the first time in days- had it really only been days?

"Calling in the other birdies- we have wounded. And we need one to go to location N29 47' W14 46'. Target, small village- for one critical in the care of friendlies. Permission?"

"Granted."

The President frowned, worried. Wounded? And one critical. They had rescued them, but was it too late?

A short time later the pilot's voice came over the comm. again.

"Command, Golden Eagle- all birdies loaded- no criticals. Four wounded for nest two. Critical at co-ordinates N29 47' W14 46' out of danger, prepped for transport. Returning to nest. Over and out."

"Received, Golden Eagle. Good work. Over and out."

Comm. silence. That was it.

"Where are they landing?" asked the President.

"In the copters with no criticals they'll make D.C. within five hours. We want to get them out and away from any potential revenge attacks within our own borders. Just as a precauion. The separate helicopters with the critical and wounded will stop at ----------. Get them treated right away."

The President had to hide his disappointment. Damn- he wouldn't make it back. Unless…

Well, thought Leo, half-admiring, half-exasperated, once the President made up his mind there was no changing it, that was for sure. The Security people had thrown their eyes to heaven but had to do it , which was why it seemed like most of the Senior staff were in the Presidents jet, flying halfway across the country at three o'clock in the morning. Most of them had been in the White House, waiting for news and there was no stopping them once they'd heard that an expedition to ----was happening. Not that the President had even tried- he wasn't that foolish. It was a bit unusual that they could all be spared at the same time- especially just after what could have been an international crisis but where there's a will there's a relative…uh, way.

The mood in the jet was nervously celebratory. First of all they were delighted and joyful that all involved had been rescued- most definitely including one of their own. But the knowledge that he was wounded, as well as knowing more-or-less what had gone on in those last few horrible days was enough to put a dampener on the mood.

CJ was sitting uncomfortably in a seat. The jet was big and the seats well-spaced but CJ had legs that were rather too long for this sort of thing. She always felt cramped. At least she had a window seat for this one she reflected, staring out at the false dawn brightening the sky. She was surprised to realise she felt nervous. She turned the emotion over in her mind, examining her reasons from all angles. She supposed she had her reasons. After all they were going to see Josh in another hospital after another traumatic event. She still remembered vividly that long terrible night in May a year ago last Friday. She knew that though it wasn't nearly so bad- probably just a check-up or minor injuries or something- it still wasn't going to be easy. Not only that but she felt almost…voyeuristic for having seen those pictures of his captivity beamed across the world. Yeah, that one was going to be a bit awkward for everyone involved. So yeah, she supposed she had every reason for feeling a bit apprehensive.

Sam was another one of the non-talkers. He was just relieved that he'd gotten to speak to his friend and verify their safety. Josh was okay, but…hospital, (gunshot wound), that awful coughing, (PTSD) captivity (the waiting) STOP IT! This was not the same as last time. Josh was in no danger (probably). Now he was just winding himself up. Josh would get his check up and walk out of there- well, no, alright, hed probably have to stay in overnight- but he'd meet them with some dumb wisecrack that could reassure him that Josh- not PTSD Josh, not possible heart-attack Josh, but the real one, his best friend- was fine. He realise that he shouldn't be sitting here dwelling on it like this. He was traumatising himself enough. So he tried to put the pictures of that little room and the gun being held to one of his friend's head out of his mind. He shook himself and turned to CJ. But she was lost in her own little world so he sighed and turned to Toby.

"You okay?" he asked the dour man.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I mean, it's only been a week since we saw the man. Shouldn't even be here, everyone flying off to the other side of the country because the man can't keep himself out of trouble for ONE WEEK! No reason why we all shouldn't be fine! It's May again, the birds are…are twittering in the trees!" (here he waved his hands around for emphasis) "…and we're flying across America in the President's jet to..to another damn hospital to see someone who'll probably not want to see us anyway and then it'll all lead up to ANOTHER DAMN CHRISTMAS, SO WHY THE HELL WOULDN'T I BE FINE!" At this point everyone was staring at him apart from the unfortunate Sam who edged away slightly as Toby muttered out the window ignoring the stares.

There was silence again for another while. Zoe and Donna played a few games of cards. Simply games that didn't require much concentration but at least kept the hands busy. Donna didn't even notice if she won or not.

The President and Leo were perhaps the calmest appearing. Both of them had at least confirmed with their own ears that they were alive and that the critical was a woman and not Josh. The President couldn't help wondering who the extra person was. There had been seventeen survivors of the…the three hundred. One critical in the village. Seventeen picked up together at the Pass. So one extra.

They'd arrived about an hour before the flight with the wounded was due in. An hour of waiting in an admittedly comfortable waiting room. They had disembarked at 0700, driven to the hospital where the helicopter would bring the wounded and led to the private room where they were left as politely as possible. The Secret Service agents were on high alert outside the door and patrolling the area terrified that something might happen on their watch.

Zoe was sitting in the window seat, staring out at the hospital grounds when she heard the steady whompwhompwhomp. It didn't register for a few moments as it grew louder and louder but suddenly the head came yup from her knee where it'd been resting and eyes eagerly searched the sky. Military helicopters!

"It's here! There it is!" she cried, straining her eyes to the spots in the air. CJ looked up and Sam out the window also as the big greenish machines roared overhead to the helipad on the roof. She was chafing to run upstairs and find its passengers but at that moment a nurse came to speak with them, with one large Secret Serviceman looking at her suspiciously.

"Sirs, your people are here, but we'd ask that you wait here until we bring them in and give them a check-up." She looked nervous- this was the President she was addressing! "It will take about half an hour if everything is okay."

The President was allowed in first to see the wounded, rather sooner then expected. They were warned thatonly the wounded hadbeen treated so far, and thatthere were a good few people still waiting for treatment.Jed Bartlett walked down the corridor with Leo, remembering the last time this had happened. He shook the annoying thoughts out of his head as they reached the doors. Inside was three of the wounded- the critical was even then being rushed into the emergency room. There were about fourteen people in there he was surprised to note, including those in the bed. Apart from the nurses, there were perhaps nine or ten people dressed in what appeared to be lifejackets- bulging, ill-fitting clothes, picked more for warmth that anything else. They weren't talking much, quietly and amongst themselves. He saw their faces- happy, relieved, drawn, shocky. People began to notice him- he was a bit hard to miss in here!

"If you're looking for Lyman, him and the other wounded are down there." spoke up one man looking at him with little or none of the awe that most people used. He was surprised but nodded in thanks and strode on ahead. He noticed that again and again. Oh, people were polite, moved out of the way or nodded but there was none of the usual reactions. He felt slightly relieved. As he neared th other end of the long room where the curtained off beds were he heard voices.

"Hey at least you get to go home! I'm in at least overnight!"

"Well, I'll be going back to work probably. That was some holiday!" corrected the other voice cheerfully.

He paused for a second, suddenly a bit curious. Leo scowled at him but didn't make any effort to move forward.

"Hey, Josh. Wanted to say thanks. For…getting us out of there. And for…well, you know…"

There was another pause before the familiar voice replied, sounding unusually serious.

"No problem. As far an I'm concerned what I said was what happened."

"And in the trial?" A sigh. "Perhaps I should just admit it…did I ever really apologise to you for..for that?"

"You did. It's okay- I understand why you did, even..even if I didn't forget it yet. But anyway…hello sir." he hd spotted a shadow begind the curtain. And turned around. The President was dying of curiosity but one look at Josh's face made him put the annoying question to one side for the moment. Perhaps later he could weasel it out of him. Josh stood, grinning from the chair beside the bed in which another man was lying.

"Josh! Glad you made it out of there…" He shook hands formally before figuring to hell with it and pulling the younger man into a brief hug. Josh was surprised by this but started to respond before coughing again. The President frowned and looked around for someone to call. Josh waved it off, pulling himself under control.

"Sorry…just had trouble with the pills and everything. It'll go away soon." He backed away slightly, swallowing as Leo came to the fore, glaring at him.

"If you EVER do something like that again, I swear I'll do you some damage myself!" The man in the bed snorted and Leo looked at him. Hamilton looked unconcernedly back at him.

"You'd have to get through most of the people on that trip first. And then Claire." he sniggered a bit. "Good luck to you!" Josh laughed and Leo turned back to him.

"Are you alright?" Josh nodded.

"I will be." Leo stared at him for a second and nodded.

"Come on then- the others would like to meet you."

"Hang on a second. Mr. President, would you meet someone first? His name is Steven Hennessy. He was a prisoner in the…compound where myself and Tony Hamilton- in the bed- were held. He got out6 with us. Er…I'd better talk to him first, perhaps." the Presidednt nodded in surprise- so that's who the mysterious seventeenth person was!

When he met the man steven was in another bed, down the hall. Thin, painfully so but in a hospital gown as opposed to the mixed ragbag of most of the others.

"Hey Steven- this is President Bartlett. He got us out of there. I wanted you to meet him- like all of us he didn't know you were in there for so long- in there at all." The man who had glared in confused anger and terror at the new arrivals glanced at Josh, puzzled while the words filtered through. His face relaxed.

"I realise that now." he replied in a pleasant, cultured if rusty voice. He held out a hand to the President which the other man took.

"It's an honour to meet you, Mr President, although a month ago I might not have thought so."

"Pleased to meet you Mr. Hennessy. And I can't express how sorry I am that you were traped in the terrible place for so long. All the men responsible have been captured and will go on trial for what they did." The man sighed and looked away slightly.

"Perhaps so…" he muttered philosophically before going silent.

"Nooo…pe Nope, that's all you're getting out of him." sai Josh shrugging as a gentle snore came from the bed. He shrugged.

"What they did to him…" his face set and he turned away. "Thank-you for meeting him Sir. It did help him." The President nodded and Josh brightened up. "The others are here, did you say?"

As they entered that long room again there were reunions going on, people weeping and hugging as they welcomed back those thought dead. Again they noticed the Presidents group enter and this time people stood up and took notice. A woman in the middle of the crowd of the rescued started clapping. One by one others in the room took it up. Now while this wasn't an unusual occurrence for the President he knew it wasn't for him this time.

"To Josh, Claire and Reid!" someone cried and the clapping increased as the other two were pushed into the middle before the other survivors converged on them. The President had been a few steps behind and watched in amusement from the doorway as the three mentioned were cheered, wondering what these three had done in particular.

Someone wolf whistled Claire and Josh who were together in the middle before Claire laughed and put her arm around him.

"Mine!" she barked, fake-viciously and Josh laughed too, putting his own arm around her affectionately.

"Guess we missed something there." he muttered to Leo who nodded, eyebrows raised.

Josh looked around him happily. They were home! As the other senior staff piled through the door everything got confusing again but he didn't mind. They'd survived that place and while it would never entirely leave him he knew he'd been lucky. He discovered that when push came to shove he could lead, that he wouldn't break in an emergency. He'd lost some, made mistakes and he wished that Terris, Jessi and Johnson had survived for all that they'd betrayed them and nearly gotten him killed, but he'd made it. They all had. They'd all found new aspects of themselves, both good and bad, while lost in the snow. But he felt he'd got the best of the deal as he smiled at the woman beside him who looked back laughing, he'd found Iris Claire Jackson!

Well, that's it. The End, I guess.

Well, you made it people! 44,212 words and how much time! And twenty wonderful people called reviewers. Give yourselves a pat on the back and thank you for encouraging me along the way. It's been some trip and I couldn't have done it without ya! This started off as being the prequel to something else but evolved into it's own full story. Do you want more? If so (hell, if not), well, you know where the button is! Please take a moment or two to tell me what you though about he whole thing!
A.

Special thank you to all the wonderful reviewers:

Caia- my first reviewer!

ladypigather- who supportedfrom the beginning!

The Weather Gal- for her encouragement

lisa- also for telling me that there was a problem with my updates!

mjdtwain- for a wonderful review! Thanks muchly!

Lynnie- fellow Josh nut!

juventus- for a slightly confusing but appreciated review! Thankyou also, I'm glad you liked it!

Lee,Joshfan, AureliaSea13, Simanis, and 'me'- for helping nudge me into finishing this

Joy- far an effusive and well-recieved review!

Elizabeth Bennet-Darcy- for her comments. Yeah I was hoping no-one would notice that I'd mixed up Kuhndu and Qumar. But i do research:)

missjasadin and jnp- for their reviews and helpful comments!

And of course Serensez- for a wonderful long review with interesting pointers and her reactions!

Thank you all!