DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters or dialogue taken directly from the show. I do not claim to be a political expert, I am far from that, I am a biology major. Therefore I would like to preface this story with the notion I wrote this story out of pure love of the show and the characters. Thank you & enjoy.

Part 12: Monday, August 7, 2000, 11:30pm.

I called Erin and had her bring me over a change of clothes. When I got to the White House she was waiting for me at the entrance, black skirt, purple top and my comfortable high heels in hand. She didn't say anything, just handed me my stuff and followed me to the bathroom. Once in I changed and fixed myself up in the mirror.

"Erin, am I complete failure at life?"

"No."

"Are you lying?"

"No."

"If Josh dies tonight I think I'll resign," I looked at her. "I'll offer to take his place."

She sighed.

"Mack, don't think of that. Just focus on what you can do here at the White House."

"Yeah," I turned back to fixing my make-up, threw my brown hair up into a clip and paraded out. "Erin, call Mary and let my brother know what's going on."

"Okay … what is going on Mack?" she raised an eyebrow.

"I'm staying here and will be unavailable until either Josh dies or is out of surgery and when I can speak to the President."

"Okay."

I knocked on CJ's door. "Can I come in?"

"Sure."

I shut the door behind me and stood with my arms crossed.

"That bullet didn't just hurt Josh, you know," I said softly.

"I know," she removed her glasses. "Mack, go back to the hospital and be there if you want. We can deal without you – "

"No, he'd want me helping out and fighting," I smiled. "Are you briefing soon?"

"Yeah … " she looked tired and distraught.

"CJ what do you want me to do?"

"Nothing," she forced a smile. "You really do too much and I think you should just take it easy Mack."

"I'll go find out what I can on the 25th."

"Sure."

"Oh, CJ, you have a scratch on your neck."

"I know it happened when I got pushed down. I lost my necklace … " she got up, grabbed her pad and followed me out the door. "Mack, actually there is one thing you could do for me."

"Sure."

"Make sure that we've covered our ass as far as PR. Watch my reports and make sure I don't say anything too stupid or something that could get us in trouble such as the time I blatantly lied about the FEC."

"Sure," I gave a half smile and went to Josh's office. "Erin!"

- - - - -

New Hampshire was warm and rainy during April. I was visiting to see Jed speak at the University of New Hampshire. He was about 7 months away from being elected President of the United States. The rain was relentless that evening in Durham. Secret Service tried holding umbrellas but the wind was taking them.

"Alex, I'm in New Hampshire," I talked into my cell phone as the cab pulled up to the University. "Yes I told you this a month ago. I'm seeing Jed speak. I'll be back in DC in two days."

"Do you need anything Mack?" Erin was with me this trip. She was carrying my laptop, notebook, notepad and present for Jed.

"A new brother," I grumbled as I got out, paid the cabbie and walked into the gymnasium.

"Anything else?"

"Did you bring me a change of clothes?"

"Yeah," she also had a garment bag slung across her back.

"Let's do this … "

I changed from jeans and sweatshirt to navy skirt, yellow blouse and navy heeled sandals. Erin put my hair in a bun because she knew that I would be writing down everything Jed said that night and I had a bad habit of sticking pencils randomly in my hair.

After Jed spoke, I met up with him and Leo.

"McKayla," he said when he saw me. "How are you?" He kissed my cheek.

"Good, you remember Erin?"

"Of course."

"Erin, can I steal McKayla for a minute?"

"Of course Sir."

"I want you to meet the staff."

"Jed – "

"You don't have to talk to Josh if you don't want."

"CJ, come here!"

"Yes Sir?"

"CJ do you know who this is?"

She looked down at me. I looked up and stared wide-eyed at a towering 6-foot woman. She was pretty, but her height made her intimidating. I tried to smile, but I was mostly unnerved by feeling so short. She looked me up and down and finally gave a sign of recognition.

"Are you Mack Adams?" she laughed.

"Yeah, nice to meet you," I shook her hand.

"The daughter of the former President of the United States right here in our midst! Imagine CJ, maybe in a year this will be us!"

I looked at CJ. We were confused by the statement.

"Um, what, Sir?" she asked.

"Maybe in a year I'll be President."

"Right Sir.

"Sam! Come meet my goddaughter. McKayla, this is Sam Seaborn, he's young, good looking and not right for you, so stay away from him. Sam, she's too much for you to handle."

"I'm engaged Sir," I smiled.

"Right. And she's taken. You can look, but no touching."

"Can I shake her hand?"

"Lest you loose it to my sharpened axe!"

"The one sticking out of your back pocket, Sir?" Sam raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly."

"Nice to meet you Sam," I shook his hand. CJ walked away, but Sam lingered.

"Sam, is Josh around?"

"Yes Sir, do you want me to – "

"No!" I yelled.

"Bring him over would you Sam?"

"Um, sure … " he shot me a confused look.

Josh came over and as soon as he saw me, his face fell.

"Sir, you know Mack?"

"Know her? She's my goddaughter Josh!"

"Great … " he muttered.

"Excuse me, Josh?" Jed joked.

"I mean, yay, yippee, I'm really excited for you Sir," he replied sarcastically.

"You know I'm equally psyched to see you too Josh," I stuck another pencil in my hair making it resembled pincushion with crochet needles sticking out.

"So McKayla, think I'm gonna win that bet?"

"No Sir," I smiled.

- - - - -

"Mack, wake up."

"Huh?" I opened my eyes and looked around. I had fallen asleep again at the hospital. Donna was waking me. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. The President wants to talk to you."

"Okay," I rubbed my eyes. "What time is it?"

"4:30."

I sighed and walked over to his room.

"You wanted to see me Sir?"

"Yeah," he was lying in bed with Abby at the foot. "Close the door."

I shut it and walked over to his bedside.

"I don't know what I'm telling you this, but I am and you know that you this shouldn't be repeated."

"Of course Sir."

"McKayla, it's about Charlie."

"What about him?"

"He was the target of the shooting according to the statement given by the young man they arrested."

I paused.

"Oh dear … "

"Yeah," Abby put her hand on mine.

"Does Zoey know?"

"Yeah," he sighed.

"Sir, do you mind if I talk to Charlie?"

"I was hoping you would."

"Yes Sir … " I nodded and went to find Charlie. He was in a secluded corner of the hospital with Zoey. She was trying to talk to him but I could sense stubbornness from his side. "Zoey, Charlie?"

"Mack," Zoey turned and gave me a hug.

"Hey kid," I embraced her. "Do you mind if I talk to Charlie alone Zoey?"

"Okay … I'll be back Charlie."

He didn't say anything, just stared at the floor leaning on the wall.

"Charlie, I know we haven't been close colleagues, but we are colleagues nonetheless and I think it's time I talk to you about something – "

"Miss. Adams – "

"Charlie, you know me well enough to call me Mack."

"Okay, Mack. I don't think anything you have to say will make me feel better right now."

"I'll beg to differ," I looked at him. "Will you hear me out?"

He sighed. "Sure."

"When I was a freshman in college my father was in office as President. That was hard because he lived in DC but I went to Stanford. I was just like Zoey, a little rebel, trying to dodge secret service and trying to just live a normal life. What I realize in hindsight is that I was just being stupid."

I paused.

"That's it?"

"No," I sat on the floor. "Do you know what happened Charlie? Do you remember what the headlines were for months?"

He shook his head and sat next to me.

"Well I was stalked. People knew how easy it was to talk to me and that I wasn't big on secret service and sometimes they took advantage of that fact. I was stalked for the entire school year and had no idea until the summer when I always felt like someone was following me and then I was finally attacked at a bar. I was out with friends, listening to a jazz band play and a fight broke out that was staged and these men attacked me," I said softly. "Charlie, we are all victims of life, some are more blatantly attacked than others. You were a victim of an attempted murder and because of your high profile the President and a close friend became unintentional victims."

He seemed to be fighting back tears.

"Charlie, none of this is your fault and you must let go," I put my hand on his shoulder and then stood. "Listen to me Charlie, you are a good, strong young man. You are a good boyfriend and good friend. We all love seeing you around the office, and don't think for one moment we want you to leave because someone shot at you and had bad aim."

Our eyes met for a moment and then I turned to go to Josh. When I got there Donna was looking in also. We watched in silence for a few minutes.

"Is he going to be okay Mack?" Donna asked.

"I hope so," I muttered. "Donna, do you think I'm a horrible person because I wouldn't tell Josh that I loved him?"

She forced a smile. "No, of course not … " The look she gave after she said that was one I'll never forget. But it only lasted a second until she turned her head back towards the glass.

"Donna?"

"Yeah?"

"I do love him very much. And I would never leave him … "

"I know … you're not the only one."

My head turned towards her but she wasn't looking at me, but at Josh.