The world was upside down. Suddenly John had everything he wanted and he hated it. He was the acting President, well technically, the initial matter of unsigned paperwork was still hush hush but to the press and public John Hoynes was in charge. The price for it however was one John did not want to pay.
The first sign of something wrong had been when the Secret Service had suddenly descended upon the Vice President as he been making a light hearted commentary about a sports team to a few members of the public. The sight of so many agents charging at him had caused John to fill with a rush of alarm. The first thought had been 'what have I done', 'what's happened' came after. He had been bundled away in a rush of identically dressed men and down to the war room for sanctuary and an update from the grim faced Leo.
There had been several shootings in Rosslyn, the President had been one of the casualties and was in hospital. Everything else was unclear.
That had been three days ago but things still weren't much clearer for John. He was exhausted, he had hardly slept and the days were starting to merge. There were so many Secret Service agents in the Eisenhower John was starting to feel suffocated. Between them and Suzanne, John couldn't get a moment of peace. Of course Suzanne had come, rushing to ensure she didn't miss her chance to take the stage as the acting leader's wife. Except John still wasn't President, not even acting, that pesky paperwork notion had been fixed but John wasn't taking the title, he couldn't, not this way. As he had informed the public yesterday with a reassuring smile he was just carrying out yet another of the Vice President's duties- taking over from the President should the time call for it.
The President was going to be fine, that relieving news had come late last night, he was grumpy and sore but the surgery had been a success. He'd need rest of course, the man had been shot and more than that, he had never been completely healthy to begin with. That was a dark secret John had pondered several times since news of the shooting, had the doctors been informed of Jed's M.S? John figured they must have and since nothing had leaked to the press he was guessing the surgeon was yet another name to add to the growing list of those who knew of the President's vulnerability. Interestingly, as far as John could tell, none of Jed's trusted key staff knew about it save Leo and he wondered what the reaction would be the day that news came.
The President's team were all back in the White House fulfilling their duties save one. Another casualty of the shootings, his fate reminded murky. Josh Lyman had taken a bullet to the chest and had lost three pints of blood, he had gone into shock and went through hours of emergency surgery and a rushed blood donation before he had been left stable but critical. He still wasn't conscious and the atmosphere in the White House reflected it- the air was heavy with fear and uncertainty.
The motive for the shootings was racism, the shooters had been caught and confessed, they were white suprematists targetting Charlie Young for daring to date Zoey Bartlet. John couldn't believe it, no one could. The Secret Service had been aware of threats made but no one had realised how vulnerable they had been. The worst of it was that the shooters hadn't even been intelligent would be terrorists, no, they had been rage-blinded citizens with guns who had saw an opportunity and took it. Shooting the President should never have been as easy as this.
Now the world was suddenly ten times scarier than it had been. The increased presence of the Secret Service and the army around Washington D.C was obvious. They were divided between the President who would be returning to the fortress that was the White House today, and the ruling Vice President.
John didn't think he was a target, not when the shooters had been caught, they had acted alone, there was no terrorist cell and their motivation didn't spread to John. Except there was still a belief that Colombian rebels were unhappy with Cadence McGarry but also with John for openly showing his support for the Colombian President. That was a mess John had forgotten in the initial chaos of the shootings until Ron had reminded him of it.
The Secret Service head admitted there were only whiffs of it and nothing concrete. Certainly, Agent Casper had reported, there was no suggestion of a threat to Cadence. Of course with Cadence refusing to reveal what had happened during her missing hours in Colombia no one could be certain what threat from there might still exist. Right now John's status had elevated and they couldn't take a chance. Against John's desires, Cadence was out in the cold. Right when John needed a good Public Relations staffer the most, the Secret Service wanted her safe in the shadows.
Leo had agreed. He saw the situation through a father's eyes and his fear was all the worse because Josh, who consciously or unconsciously he viewed as a son, had been seriously injured and suddenly everyone in Leo's life seemed vulnerable.
John hadn't argued over it too hard. Things had become complicated with Cadence and he didn't need that distraction presently. How could he attempt to lead the country if he was smelling her perfume and thinking of her? How could he conceal his desires from Suzanne if Cadence was always there? John feared his wife might notice if he let a look linger too long on Cadence and now sure as hell wasn't the time for that kind of scandal. The Secret Service had given him an easy out from his predicament and he taken it with only a vague show of protest.
The problem, and what made John feel most guilty, was that he hadn't told Cadence. The Secret Service had wanted them apart ASAP, just while John was so prominently in the public eye and while there might be a suggestion that the White House was open to attack. If some uneducated gun nuts had been able to strike such a terrible blow upon the President himself then why not the better organised rebels of Colombia upon the Vice President? John understood the logic but he didn't like it. Worse was the reassurance that the C.I.A were doing everything in their power to keep on top of potential foreign threats, including rogues in Colombia. That promise was worthless to John, hell Wolfe was still the Director, obviously he had too many secrets on top officials.
Leo had told Cadence in the end and ushered her away from the Eisenhower. Temporarily everyone insisted. John's staff were told she was on leave, probably accurate enough given she had continued to be on edge and John couldn't imagine this latest news had helped her psyche much. The problem was that John could only imagine, there was no way for him to confirm how she was coping.
It was half five in the morning. The sun was limping up slowly over the horizon promising a dreary grey day. John was passed the point of exhaustion and heading for delirium, he had tried sleeping since one this morning. Hell he'd even opted for sex with Suzanne in an attempt to tire himself out but it had only worked that way for her.
John rose quietly and headed through to the bathroom. He reached for the crystal low ball glass sitting there and then for the small bottle of vodka nestling in the medicine cupboard since last night. He didn't even think about it, he just poured a shot and downed it. He wasn't getting through this day without it. He knew a cupful of coffee would mask the scent and banish the stupor that came with it, mixing the edge he craved from it with the rush of caffeine, which would either get him through the day or give him a heart attack.
C.J watched John Hoynes as he delivered another speech to the waiting press pool. She stood at the side of the room with Toby, taut and serious faced but a little more together than she had been three days ago. It had been insulting to hear the critiques of her state when she had delivered the news of the shootings. C.J had been there when it had happened, she had felt it all first hand and going from there to the White House so suddenly to talk about it in what felt like mere minutes after had been a surreal insanity she had not been prepared for. How could anyone prepare for that? She had been preoccupied yes, of course she had, wondering and worrying about the President and Josh and fixating over trying to find out who had pushed her down when the shooting had started and saved her in one quick, heroic gesture when she had stood frozen as an easy target.
C.J's rage had simmered now. She knew, unlike the still seething Toby, that there was no point in holding onto the rage. It was done. The President was going to live and the shooters had been arrested. Josh's life was in the hands of medics and God, and hatred wasn't going to help him one way or the other.
"He's not my President," Toby grumbled quietly as he watched John with a critical gaze.
"He's not trying to be," C.J remarked with a hint of sympathy.
C.J understood that John wasn't making an attempt to usurper the throne despite now having the chance, he was just trying to keep things going. John, like everyone else in the White House, wanted the President to have the time he needed to rest and recover.
"Hmm defending a man we usually hate," Toby grumbled, "are you maybe still in shock?"
C.J gave a small smile despite herself and dipped her head slightly. She wasn't going to tell him but she was grateful to Toby for finding a way to make her smile in all this madness whether he had meant to or not.
The President had returned to the White House this morning at 10:05 with the First Lady acting as his shadow, his fierce, commanding shadow who made it clear that she would devour him if he tried to resist her orders. Abbey Bartlet had gone through many modes in a short space of time- worried wife, consoling mother, confident First Lady, and now she was in doctor mode, demonstrating the role she had practised before her husband had become one of the world's most powerful people.
"Mr Vice President, what about Josh Lyman? Any update there?" This query came from a female reporter.
C.J watched in surprise as for a moment John lost some of his composure and his blue stare instantly filled with grief. She knew Josh had been on John's team but she didn't think things had ended amicably with Josh jumping ship and whilst John certainly wasn't heartless C.J hadn't expected to see him so openly distraught for the man.
John frowned and looked down at the podium as he considered his answer.
C.J and Toby waited for it with everyone else, both knowing there wasn't much to say. Sam and Donna were at the hospital at the moment but so far there was no change.
John looked up again with a serious stare. "Josh Lyman remains critical," he informed them sombrely. "As part of our White House family our thoughts are always with him and we remain hopeful for his recovery."
"White House Family," Toby grumbled as he watched John with distaste and frowned. "He's getting too cosy."
C.J gave another small smile at Toby's disdain and rolled her eyes as she shook her head. "Toby he's not the enemy," she reminded him.
Cadence was watching John's speech when her phone rang. She still had her long curtains drawn and the only light in the room came from the television. She instinctively reached out from underneath her swan blanket to fumble for the phone on the end table beside her couch.
"Hello?" Cadence queried calmly.
"Hey Cady," Zoey Bartlet's quiet voice answered.
"Zoey? Hey, how are you?" Cadence blurted out.
Cadence hadn't spoken to Zoey since she had left for Rosslyn. She had gotten her updates regarding Zoey from her father and knew, just like the public, that the attack had been one directed at Charlie rather than the President.
"I'm at the White House," Zoey confessed, her voice still quiet and full of woe. "Dad came back this morning. Could you come visit?" she asked hopefully.
Cadence winced as she leaned back in the couch and pushed her free hand up into her brow. "Sorry Zoey," she retorted sincerely, "but I have to stay away for a while."
"What?" Zoey quipped in shock. "Why? I really want to talk to you, I thought you'd call Cady," she admitted.
Cadence frowned as she filled with guilt. "Zoey your dad was shot, I knew you would be at the hospital and with your mom. I just..." Cadence swallowed hard before she continued. "Zoey I told you to go," she reminded her. "It was such bad advice, I'm so sorry."
"What? Cady is that why you haven't been here?" Zoey demanded. "I don't blame you! I had to go, for dad and I wanted to go, these people have no right, God it's why dad and Josh got hurt though because Charlie and I were there," her voice grew quieter as grief filled it.
"No, Zoey, it's their fault," Cadence corrected sternly, "only the shooters are to blame for this mess."
"Well then," Zoey retorted as her own voice took on some authority, "you can't blame yourself for me going, can you?"
Cadence sighed and smiled ruefully as she realised she helped Zoey make her argument. "I suppose not Zoey but I've been thinking about it since you all got hurt. I've been asking dad about all of you every day."
"Well I'm here, come see me in person," Zoey pleaded. "I want to talk to someone, Charlie's completely in shock, mom is running after dad and he just keeps brushing things aside. I just need to talk," she murmured as her quiet woe returned to her voice.
"I understand," Cadence sympathised, "but you remember Colombia B.B, well there's a slight fear some rebels there might think we're ripe for attacking because of this so it's better if I'm not seen publicly for a bit, it'll only antagonise them maybe," she murmured with uncertainty.
Cadence glanced over to her closed front door. She was trusting that one of Agent Casper's appointed people was standing on the other side of it even though she couldn't see or hear them. The thought that if they were taken down the only thing standing between Cadence and a threat was such a simple door made her feel uneasy.
"It's just," Cadence continued, "now John, that is the Vice President, is acting up, well he annoyed a few people in Colombia too by being seen with their President and...well, siding with me," she concluded awkwardly. "So I have to stay away."
Cadence had been wondering about John as much as she had wondered and worried about the President, Zoey and Josh. John had effectively banished her from the West Wing without a word, it had all come from Leo, for her own safety and for John's too. Cadence understood but it still hurt that John hadn't spoken to her directly about it or even reached out to see how she was.
"Can I come to you?" Zoey piped up.
"Sorry B.B but you know that's not a good idea, then you're put at risk," Cadence retorted.
Cadence filled with fresh guilt, she knew Zoey was desperate for someone to talk to but she also knew she wouldn't forgive herself if something happened to the youngest Bartlet daughter because Cadence had permitted her to visit. The racists claimed to have been acting alone but who could know for sure? What if people were still targeting Zoey and/or Charlie after having missed them both?
"We might only be reaching the eye of the storm," Cadence murmured softly, "but not the end of it. I need to be sure there's no major danger for you."
"But there's always danger!" Zoey protested angrily.
"I know," Cadence retorted calmly, "but the level seems a little high lately. Look, I'm glad you and Charlie didn't get hurt and I'm happy to hear from you, I really am but let's just talk on the phone for now, okay? It's still something B.B," she added with a hopeful voice.
"Cady you really haven't been around much," Zoey snapped. "First you vanished after the campaign, I mean my dad became President, I needed someone to talk to then, someone who would have some inkling about it and who was close to me, that was you! Your father was part of it, you'd be able to access the White House with me, you'd understand the pressure and the suffocation I feel being guarded and followed and threatened! Except you weren't there, you just up and ran off leaving everyone else with it like you always do! Now everything's gone to hell, Charlie was targeted, my dad was shot and you're hiding again!"
Cadence winced as she heard the loud bang that came before silence indicating that Zoey had slammed her phone receiver down.
Cadence leaned back in the couch and pushed her hand up through her hair wearily.
"Shit," she cursed quietly.
Cadence hung up her receiver and looked back to the television. The speech was done, John and the view of the White House's press room were gone and now the news was rolling. There were some mugshots of the shooters as the reporter continued to discuss the story.
Cadence leaned forward for the remote and turned the television off. She frowned at the sudden silence she was left with. Now she didn't know what to do. Without her job her time was empty. She hadn't made any friends in D.C and when she bothered to socialise it was with work colleagues. All of whom she was avoiding for their safety. She wondered what story they had been fed about her this time. It made her bitter as she considered how she had only just started to win back most of them after the scandal of Colombia. Cadence figured she probably deserved to be isolated from them given she had committed the immortal sin of screwing the boss.
Cadence's thoughts turned to Josh Lyman. The news had given her no new information regarding his state. She knew from her father that he was critical but stable, out of surgery but yet to awake. She felt horrible as she thought about her last words to him. She had called him an asshole and scorned him for interfering in her love life when she was the one who had consented to him effectively setting her up on a date in the first place. She knew she owed him an apology, Congressman Landis too she realised, she hadn't called him, which had been cruel and confusing given how well their dinner date had gone.
Cadence glanced up at her clock. It was just after eleven. She could try and call Zoey back but she knew the youngest Bartlet needed time to cool off and Cadence had no defence for her accusations anyway. Zoey was right, Cadence always did run from the painful times, Robbie's murder had led to a suicide attempt and a stint in a mental hospital, her miscarriage during John's campaign had led to a trip to Colombia and now here she was away from the trouble again but this time it was ironically against her will. This time Cadence wanted to be standing alongside John and helping him through a tough and challenging period but she couldn't because she would be a risk and a distraction. She wanted to be with Zoey too after hearing the teenager's voice falter with upset but Cadence couldn't forget the cold stares Gina had given her, silently accusing her of being a risk to the Bartlet daughter and that had been before the shootings.
Cadence picked up the phone to dial Mallory but remembering that her sister would be at work in the classroom. She sighed as she pondered who else she could get to go to Zoey in her stead, if she contacted her father or the First Lady that would only add to Zoey's rage. She had no idea where Zoey's sisters where at the moment but figured they had to be near after what had happened with their father. She realised she had no to ring at the moment to console Zoey and figured she would just have to ring herself in an hour or so and hope for mercy.