CHAPTER 12
January 31.
4:07 AM. EST. The White House
The phone was ringing. Fryer shot up from his bed and grabbed it. "Hello?" he gasped, his heart pounding.
"Sir, this is Agent Christian from the FBI."
"Caleb," Fryer laughed weakly. "Don't you know not to scare an old man like that? I nearly had a heart attack."
"I'm sorry sir, but we have big news."
"What's that?"
"Several people involved with planning the bombing on Capitol Hill have been arrested."
Fryer fell back against his bed. "Congratulations, Agent Christian." he said.
"Thank you sir." Christian said. His voice was sad.
"What's wrong?" Fryer asked.
"Well sir, it seems that one of our men was involved."
"Who?"
"Tom Dunlay. Age twenty-seven. Killed in the blast. We were all thinking he'd died a hero's death, sir."
"I'm sorry." Fryer said. He tried to think of anything else to say, but found nothing.
"Thank you."
"I want updates every half-hour."
"Yes sir."
7:15 AM. EST.
"Josh?"
"I'm up here, CJ."
The hallway was longer than it had been. She was walking toward his voice, aware the whole time that there were footsteps behind her and hot breath down her neck.
A hand grazed her waist from behind and she broke into a run. Josh grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the bathroom but it wasn't Josh, it was someone else, someone with no face and Josh was dead and there was a gun at her temple. The gun went off---
CJ's eyes flew open. The sun was just starting to peek into her window. Hands shaking, she sat up and poured a glass of water from the pitcher on her table.
It was a few minutes before she could get the feeling of the gun out of her mind. Why a gun? There hadn't been a gun. The only time she'd actually ever seen a gun or heard one was in Rosslyn. Sam had saved her life that night but he hadn't told her. He didn't want her to be -- what was the word? She couldn't remember.
"Hey boss."
Carol poked her head in the room. "Hey!" CJ called, waving her in.
Carol sat down. "How's it going?" she asked.
"Pretty good. I still can't feel my legs though. What's new with you?"
"Danny wants to come see you."
CJ frowned. "Okay, I guess. But he's not getting a quote."
"No, I don't think so." Carol said, "I'm not sure what he wants, but he said it was important."
"Fine. Do you know when he's coming?"
"Sometime in the next few days. He also said that he found out who it was that found you and Josh if you're interested."
CJ choked on a sip of water. "How'd he find out?"
"One of his 'sources'." Carol replied. "He said it was a girl, Fiona Jeremy. She's a Red Cross volunteer and a freshman at Long Island University Brooklyn."
CJ didn't say anything for a long time. "Ma'am?"
"Carol, you think you could get me some paper and a pen?"
"Sure."
"Thanks."
Carol left and came back about fifteen minutes later with a notebook and pen. CJ wrote "Dear Fiona" at the top of the first page, then stopped. What could she possibly write to the person who saved her life?
February 2
12:15 PM. EST. The Oval Office
Gary Freeman was nice enough and an excellent writer but how could he possibly replace Toby Ziegler? Donna felt sick to her stomach as Fryer said, "You're hired." It was official. The Bartlet administration was no more. It was now the Fryer administration.
At nine that morning they'd had a meeting with Randall Oswald. Now Fryer had a vice-president. He had everyone he needed except for a Deputy Communications Director.
"Charlie."
Charlie leapt to his feet as Fryer came into the room.
"No, sit down." Fryer said. He pulled over Debbie's empty chair and sat down. "Charlie, how would you feel about becoming deputy for Gary Freeman?"
"Deputy Communications Director?"
"Yes."
Charlie was quiet for a moment, then said, "I'm honored you asked, sir, but I'd really prefer to stay an aide."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, sir."
Fryer stood up. "If you're certain, then I would be honored if you would continue to be aide to the President."
"Yes sir."
Fryer grinned. "Get back to work."
"Yes sir."
As he was walking back into the office, Fryer shook his head. That was a good kid right there.
"Oh, Charlie."
"Yes?"
"They caught them."
"That's excellent news, sir."
"Yeah. Well, I'll be in my office."
He left. Charlie went back to work, a broad grin crossing his face.
February 4
5:00 PM. EST. Mercy Hospital
"Hey CJ."
CJ opened her eyes. "Hi Danny."
He soberly sat down next to her. "Carol said you want to talk about something important."
"Yeah. I'm going to write a book."
CJ groaned. "No, Danny. The last thing we need right now is some glitzy tell-all book."
"Not that." Danny said, "Not a piece of tabloid crap. A real book, a book worthy of the Bartlet administration. I would like it if, when you're ready, you and the rest of the staff will help me write that book."
CJ swallowed, trying not to cry. She took a deep breath, nodded, then lost it into Danny's shoulder.
