Donna's heart was practically beating out of her chest. She had to have heard that wrong. Glancing into the rear view mirror to make sure Audrey was still sleeping, she turned to volume up to listen to the news.

She'd heard it all correctly.

The bile rose in her throat as her mind raced. Jail? Indictment? She knew better than to call the White House. The odds that Leo was even available with something like this going on were slim to none. Josh said Leo would call, so he would. He'd call, she told herself, and tell her that this was all a mistake… right?

She continued to listen, a reporter from WPBF Channel 25, coming on the air and discussing the day's unfolding events with the anchor. "Reporting Live from West Palm Beach," the anchor signed off.

West Palm Beach? "Oh my God," Donna muttered. They were standing in front of Edith's condo, weren't they? They were waiting for a comment.

Donna quickly turned on her signal, safely maneuvering through two lanes of vehicles to take the next exit on the freeway and turn around. She couldn't possibly walk Audrey directly into the maelstrom.

"Mmmph," Audrey stirred briefly and Donna immediately cut the sound to the radio. She'd get the facts from Leo later. She couldn't risk the possibility of Audrey hearing something on the news and talk station.

Donna had always been quick on her feet, formulating a plan and altering her route. She glanced in the rear view mirror and watched Audrey sleep peacefully. She didn't have time to think about anything but Audrey. Josh had entrusted her with the most important part of his life, and she wasn't going to let either of them down.

Only a few moments into their altered course, Donna's cell phone began to ring. She glanced at the scree, seeing an unfamiliar number, and silenced the phone. She would wait for Leo's call, just as she'd instructed.

Her anxiety grew by the second as her mind wandered in the quiet vehicle. What was his plan? How did this end? Why would he do this?

Her phone rang once again, the Chief of Staff's direct line flashing across as the caller ID.

"Leo?" She was eager to speak with someone who had more information. "Leo, what's happening?"

"Donna." Leo, normally cool and collected under pressure, sounded as flustered as she'd ever heard him. "Are you alright? Where's the baby?"

"We're both okay. I have her and we're in the car. Leo, what's happening? Tell me you're in the room."

Leo sighed. "I'm not. I had no idea about any of this until he'd gone through with it. Donna, you have to know that I'd never ask him to do this. And neither would the president."

Donna was stunned into silence. She couldn't understand how things had apparently spiraled out of control without the knowledge of the White House Senior Staff.

"Where is he, Leo?"

"He's already in custody, Donna," Leo stated as calmly as he could manage. He didn't want to upset Donna even more.

"And what's going to happen to him?" She felt the tears pool in her eyes, glancing back once again to make sure Audrey was still asleep.

"I don't know yet. I'm working on it- we all are. But Donna, I just don't know yet."

Donna swallowed hard, listening to Leo try to recount all of the information he'd gathered that morning.

"He was charged with one count of Contempt of Congress and one count of making false statements," Leo explained.

"But he didn't-" Donna was beginning to panic.

"I know he didn't, Donna." Leo assured her. "From what I can tell they also brought one count of Lying to Congress, but he made a deal to have it dropped. He said he'd take the fall for the other two in exchange for the House to drop the investigation of the President's MS disclosure."

"Why would be do that?" Donna's voice was beginning to break.

"He made a deal for thirty days, Donna. He was going to go away for thirty days and then it would all be over."

"Leo…" she could hear it in his voice. Something wasn't right. She just knew it.

"He went in this morning," Leo steeled himself. He didn't want to have to say it out loud. He didn't want it to be real. And he didn't want to break Donna's heart. "He made arrangements to surrender himself to federal custody. When they read the charges he plead nolo contendere, Donna. Do you know what that is?"

"Yes." Her face brightened for a moment. He'd plead no contest! Of course he had. He hadn't actually done anything wrong!

Leo sighed. "When he entered the plea for nolo contendere instead of guilty it pissed them off, Donna. They wanted someone to pin this on and they wanted it to be Josh. So instead of the agreed upon thirty days, they threw the book at him."

"Wha- What does that mean?" She tightened her grip on the steering wheel, bracing herself for what was to come.

"Twenty four months, Donna. They're sending him to prison."

Donna couldn't breathe. There were a thousand things racing through her mind. This was a waking nightmare.

"Leo, no!" She took in a shaky breath. "Leo," she pleaded. "Please. Help him. Please." She was desperate.

"I'm doing everything I can," he assured her in a tone that reminded Donna that this was probably breaking Leo's heart too. "If anything changes I'll call you, alright? And if you need anything you call me. Margaret will put you right though. Sam, Toby and CJ will probably check in at some point. We're all going to find a way to get him through this, kid."

"Thanks, Leo. I know you're- Wait. Wait." Donna's mind began to race, the gears clicking to place. "Leo, I have to go. I'll call you back."

"Donna?" The Chief of Staff was startled by her abrupt change in demeanor.

"I have to make a call, Leo. I think I know what to do."

"You're inside on this?" His surprise was obvious.

Donna swallowed, sitting up a little taller in the driver's seat. "Well, no. But I think I may know who is."

There was a brief moment of silence on the phone.

"Make the call, Donna," Leo commanded without the slightest bit of hesitancy in his voice. If Josh trusted her, Leo did too.

"Yes, sir." Donna closed her phone and took the next exit, pulling into the parking lot of a store that hadn't yet opened. She was in a well lit, open area where she felt safe, but could stand outside of the car and had a conversation she certainly didn't want Audrey or the general public to hear.

Her heart thumped in her chest as she stood outside of the chicken in the cold winter morning and she dialed the number, but the phone picked up on the first ring.

"Donna," he began with urgency. "I hoped you'd call. I'm so sorry."

"How could you?" She willed herself not to break. "How could you let this happen, Cliff?"

"Donna listen to me," he spoke in a whisper. "It wasn't supposed to be this way. I had no idea that they'd disregard the agreement. Things are out of control but I'm trying to… look, I can't get into it yet. But I'm trying to help him."

"Why should I believe you?" There was venom in her voice. "If you wanted someone to take the fall you should have come to me with the subpoena last November! It should have been me!"

"Donna, it's not about that. It has nothing to do with that, I assure you."

"And why should I believe you?"

"Because you have no other choice right now," Cliff reminded her. "And while I don't agree with the Bartlet administration on much, I don't think this was the right thing to do either."

"He has a little girl, Cliff." Her tone softened as she stared through the window at Audrey, who was clearly growing more apprehensive of her current situation as she sensed Donna's stress level rise, holding onto her bunny for dear life.

"I know, Donna. And he has you, too."

"What?"

"Donna- we both know… I read it… Look, it doesn't matter. We're on the same side today. But the clock is ticking. I'll call you later. Stay by your phone. And be careful out there."

"Thanks," she muttered, ending the call and getting back on the road. She felt so helpless. She wanted to fix this for him. To make it all go away. But Donna knew the best thing she could do was make sure the people he loved were safe.

She picked up her phone once again and called Edith, who was understandably terrified for Josh. Knowing full well that the older woman didn't always thrive in stressful situations, Donna took control once again. "There are reporters outside of your building," she stated calmly. "We need to get you out of there. I need you to pack a weeks worth of clothing and head to the airport. Don't tell a soul where you're headed, alright? Book the next flight for Chicago. My brother Chris, the one you met last spring, will pick you up from the airport. Edith, don't speak to or leave with anyone but Chris. Audrey and I will meet you at his place tonight and we'll go from there tomorrow. I have a plan, Edith. You're going to have to trust me."

Edith agreed, seemingly relieved that she could simply follow Donna's instructions. She trusted Donna with her life, and with Josh and Audrey, and she didn't question Donna's plan, assuring her simply that she'd see her that evening.

Donna accelerated a bit, mindful of driving safely but knowing they needed to cover a long distance today, and they'd have to make several stops for Audrey to get out of the car, and potentially for Donna to speak with Cliff and Leo. She checked the ringer on her cell phone, making sure she wouldn't miss a call.

"Donna?" Audrey rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked around the vehicle. She was already squirming around in her car seat. "How much longer until we get to Bubbe's?"

"Well,Sweet Pea, we had to make a little change in plans."

"NO! Donna, I wanna see Bubbe! I want Daddy! I wanna go hooome!"

Donna wasn't surprised at the meltdown,she was only surprised that Audrey lasted as long as she did. She used the rear view mirror to look at the little girl in the back seat.

"Audrey, look at me."

"Oh, sweetie. I know you're confused right now. But just remember, I'm here. I love you and I'm going to take care of you. Now. . . here's what we're going to do. We're going to count yellow cars until we get to the next town. Then we are going to get out and stretch our legs and find a little snack. Instead of us going to Bubbe's, she's going to meet us. But I can't tell you where yet because it's a mystery. We are on a little adventure Audrey. You and me, we're going to stick together and we are going to be just fine. Okay?"

Audrey hiccuped, her cheeks tearstained, and looked at Donna intently before nodding her head slowly.

"Okay, Donna. You n me."