CHAPTER 11

January 27

11:30 AM. EST. Mercy Hospital

The President and First Lady's funeral was broadcast on national television. By now most of the patients were spread out into semi-private or private rooms, so nearly every TV in the hospital was tuned into CNN to watch.

CJ, Josh, Donna, and Carol were all sitting in Josh's room watching. It was a beautiful service in Manchester. People were spilling out the doors and even the priest was crying as the First Lady's coffin was carried in. The President's body hadn't been found.

The service lasted a little more than an hour. Several people got up and made speeches, including Zoey Bartlet. She was surrounded by Secret Service agents. The halls of the hospital were silent except for the sounds of weeping from the rooms.

Leo's funeral was that day also. It was in Washington D.C. and he was going to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. They didn't broadcast his whole funeral but many stations showed clips from it. Josh couldn't even watch the clips CNN showed after the Bartlets' funeral was over.

Sam and Toby's were the next day, across the country from each other. One in New York City, the other in Orange County. No news stations covered them and the newspapers, with the exception of those places, only had two or three lines about them. Josh had tried to sneak out of the hospital to get the Orange County but he'd been caught before he could get to the front doors. It didn't help that his foot had been crushed by a falling beam during the blast and he was crawling by the time the nurse caught him. If it hadn't been for the damn johnny I'd have made it out, he thought as the man forced him into a wheelchair.

"I have to go to Orange County." He said, trying to sound more authoritive than he looked, staring up as the nurse wheeled him down the hall.

"I'm sorry, sir," the nurse said, sounding very unsorry, "But you can't leave the hospital yet."

"But—"

"No." The man steered him into his room. "I'm sure that whatever business you have in Orange County can wait until you're better."

Josh didn't say anything as the man left. Then he picked up a bedpan and lobbed it at the door. It hit the wall nearby and cracked in two, falling to the floor with a crash.

January 29

12:45 PM. EST. The White House

Tina barreled past the agents and into her father's arms. He gripped her tighter than he ever had, even after her mother died.

"Oh my God, I've missed you." Tina said, "I tried to come earlier, but I couldn't. National security, they said..."

"I know." Fryer said. "It's okay. I knew you were safe."

He looked over her head and saw the three Bartlet girls standing awkwardly by the helicopter. He let go of Tina and approached them.

"Your father was an incredible man." He said, "I have no idea what to say to you."

They'd all been crying. That was obvious from their red eyes. But they all stood dignified right now.

"Thank you sir." Ellie said, holding out her hand to shake.

They all wanted to go into the Residence and rest. Liz's husband and kids would be there in a few hours and she wanted to be more together for them. When they had left, Fryer and Tina went into the room he'd been staying in. Tina tripped over one of the boxes Fryer had had sent up from the Oval Office.

"You went through all of these?" she said wonderingly, standing up and tip- toeing through.

"Most. You can go through them later and find a staff and chief and such."

"Speaking of which, you promised you'd tell me who you chose. Who is it?"

"Promise not to leak?"

She pouted with mock hurt. "Of course."

He told her. Her eyes widened. "He'd be so great."

"You just think he's cute."

"WHAT?"

He smirked. "I heard you talking to Kerri that day. 'He's a total babe. Who'd of thought a politician could be so hot,'" he mimicked as she sputtered indignantly. "Come on." He said suddenly. "We have to get going."

2:05 PM. EST. Mercy Hospital

The staff was going nuts. The new President was coming to visit. He was mostly there to talk to the injured staffers but he was also going to visit all the survivors.

Josh's old friend, the nurse he'd threatened with the IV, brought him down to CJ's room. Fryer had asked to see them together. She was dying to know what was going on, but didn't want to show it. So she left him there with an indifferent shrug, vowing to get the information through the gossip lines.

Fryer came in, followed by Tina, Charlie, and three agents. Charlie hadn't been able to come at all up until now because he'd been so busy with Fryer. CJ grabbed him by his tie and pulled him low enough to give him a smacking kiss.

"We have a few things to discuss." Fryer said after all the greetings were done. He sat down at the end of CJ's bed. "It may be a bit too soon, but I need to know. CJ, do you still want to be White House Press Secretary?"

She thought for a second. "Yes."

He turned to Josh. "Yes." Josh said immediately.

Fryer shook his head. Every jaw dropped, including those of the agents who quickly shoved them back into place and resumed staring emotionlessly.

Josh gaped, his mouth opening like he was going to say something, then lost it. Finally it was CJ who broke the silence.

"I quit."

The agents just barely managed to keep their jaws in place this time.

"If he goes, I go." CJ continued.

"He's not going anywhere." Fryer said, "But I can't hire him as my Chief of Staff if he's still the deputy."

It took a few minutes for this to sink in. "Ch-chief of Staff?" Josh repeated.

"That is, if you want it."

"Yes, yes definitely." He stared wide-eyed at everyone. "It's just...wow."

Fryer smiled at CJ. "You still want to quit?"

"No sir." She said quickly, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I liked that you did that. You're a loyal person, CJ. I feel like I can trust you."

"You can, sir. Definitely."

Fryer turned to Donna, who was turning purple in Josh's death grip. "Donna, I'd like you to be Josh's deputy."

She pried Josh's arms off her neck. "But sir, I—"

"You what?"

"I dropped out of college. I don't have the knowledge or skill to do this."

"Oh, come on Donna." CJ said, "Look who's been doing it for the past few years."

"Yeah." Josh agreed, "And...Hey!"

"If you can manage to sign up for some political courses, great. Do so. You're probably right about not having some of the knowledge. But Donna, with the work you've done in the past week, I won't believe that you don't have the skill. Do you accept the job?"

"Yes, sir." She said quietly.

Fryer checked his watch. "We have to leave. Donna, be back by seven. I have some interviews you'll need to sit in on. Josh, CJ, see you soon."

9:25 PM. EST. Margaret's house.

No wonder he drank. If Margaret hadn't been completely turned off of alcohol by always having to nag Leo, she'd probably be drinking right now. But for now the pills were okay. They didn't block the pain entirely but they did numb it somewhat. She could sleep, which was all she really wanted to do.

She never really had nagged him about the pills, had she?