A/N: While my muse is pondering the next chapter of my current fic, I did rewatch a few West Wing episodes and did a reread of one of my own fics – this is a fairly cheerful one and I considered what should come next. The time period for this is "Commencement" and "25" – where Zoe gets kidnapped. I think with a twin, things would be slightly different. And I will be using an idea from another fic I wrote regarding the Vice President – because it works.

Chapter 15: A Long Night

Alexandria Bartlett, Alex to her friends, was out with her sister Zoe and a few friends celebrating her sister's graduation. Her own schooling was going to take more time because she hadn't had the wherewithal to attend as many classes so quickly. And so, she wouldn't graduate until the next year.

Along with her sister, there was also that pompous ass who was Zoe's boyfriend, Jean-Paul, whom Alex really didn't personally like. It was her sister's life, so she kept her opinion to herself. But the boy creeped her out.

However, they also had Abby Scutio with them. The somewhat older woman was a close friend and was always up for a party, despite being a government employee. Since Abby had helped reconnect the two sisters both had an immediate connection with her and she was a good friend.

Zoe was laughing at something Jean-Paul was whispering in her ear. Finally Zoe stood up. "I need to run to the ladies room. I'll be right back." Alex nodded. Zoe turned to Jean-Paul and said, "Get me another Margarita while I'm gone." Jean-Paul nodded to her happily.

Alex was actually alarmed at that. Unlike her sister who had grown up in a loving family and who had people protecting her for the last several years, Alex had grown up in foster care and then in a homeless shelter. She knew how depraved people could get, even people who were 'trusted' for one reason or another. And so, although she didn't look like it, she paid careful attention to what was going on.

And so, when the waitress had delivered the drink to the "charming young man" Alex took pains to appear to look away. And of the side of her eye, she saw Jean-Paul look around and then drop something in Zoe's drink.

Unlike Zoe who chafed at the restrictions put on her and having a Secret Service detail, Alex actually found security in having people look after her. And so, in a split instant decision, she reached into her pocket and pushed the panic button. She also immediately, without seeming hurried, went over to Abby who was dancing.

"Abby!"

Abby Scutio was, at that moment, dancing with another girl; Abby didn't care, she was having fun and she didn't assume a dance was an invitation into someone's bed. She heard the urgency in Alex's voice and looked over. Alex looked nervous. She immediately stopped dancing and asked, "What is it, Alex?"

"I just pushed my panic button. I saw Jean-Paul drop something into Zoe's drink before she came back from the bathroom."

Abby Scutio was, like Alex, completely familiar with the darker side of human interaction. She immediately reached into her pocket and pulled out a small evidence bag (she was a lab tech – sue her if someone didn't like it).

She immediately started walking over to Zoe and Jean-Paul, a smile plastered on her face. Zoe was already looking a little out of it. And so Abby didn't even pause as she stopped next to the couple and with a smile on her face grabbed the glass right out of Zoe's hand and dropped it into the plastic bag.

Zoe reacted, wondering why Abby had done that. Jean-Paul, however, looked both angry and nervous.

Suddenly, the music in the club stopped and there was a loud voice. "Secret Service! Nobody move!"

Abby Scutio, while keeping an eye on the suddenly very frightened French boy, called out into the suddenly silent club, "OVER HERE!"

Most people looked away toward the agents – Jean-Paul saw the viciously smirking woman did not let her eyes wander from him once. As soon as she saw the agents out of her peripheral vision she said, "My name is Abby Scutio, I work for NCIS. Alexandria Bartlett reported that she saw Jean-Paul, her sister's boyfriend, sneak something into her drink. I grabbed the drink and dropped it into the evidence bag in my hand. Would someone arrest this guy right the hell now? I will keep the evidence until things are resolved and I can sign it over."

Jean-Paul, looking frightened and betrayed, was suddenly almost tackled. Zoe, looking horrified, was suddenly surrounded. Alex had found her way next to her sister and looked like she wouldn't be separated by anyone.

The club was shockingly silent as the Secret Service agents worked to secure the scene and their principals. An alert went out that Bookbag and Gemini were located and were with agents. And it was only because of the silence that those in the club heard the sound of gunfire outside the club.

Very tense now, the agents looked around and saw the most defensible area in the club and rushed the women over to that area, waving their guns threateningly at anyone who moved.

One of those within the club suddenly pulled a weapon and the Secret Service agents did as they were trained to do: They dropped him immediately. There were sudden screams.

A few minutes earlier …

The Secret Service agent was watching the board. While they didn't anticipate anything, they knew that there were members of the First Family out and about and so they were very watchful.

Suddenly, an alert lit up and an alarm sounded.

The agent immediately hit the broadcast button. "CODE RED! CODE RED! ALERT FROM GEMINI! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! CODE RED CODE RED!"

Immediately, there was a large disturbance within the office. Resources were being dispatched. A voice came over the radio. "Location?"

The monitoring agent immediately looked at the GPS locator – far more sophisticated than anything available to civilians – and gave the location.

Immediately Secret Service agents, DC police, and FBI were ordered into action.

The kidnappers were waiting down the alley, watching for their inside man to come out with the girl. They had been planning this for months. The additional sister would be a distraction but they were ordered to take her – and kill one sister or the other if necessary. They only needed one.

Suddenly, they heard sirens rushing from nearby locations. They were too close to run and so they tried to hide themselves within the van. Hopefully, this was something else.

However, their hopes were dashed when they saw the cars appear and pull up around the club where their abductee was located.

More and more police vehicles were arriving by the moment and they knew that soon there would be too many to get away from. And so after a quick word, the driver slid into the driver seat and attempted to casually start the van and drive off.

Luck was not with them. One of the agents had spotted the suspicious van and immediately alerted the other cars. Over the police radios they heard the description of the van they were in. Those within the van immediately reached for the pistols and rifles while the driver made a frantic attempt to escape.

Suddenly, the van shook as the felt another vehicle plow them in. One of those in the back was knocked out, as was the driver. The remaining three collected themselves and tried to open the door and shoot those that were trying to stop them.

The last sound heard by those attempting to fight was the hail of bullets that were now coming toward them.

Frantic club-goers were panicking. Many had dropped at the sound of gunfire. Others were attempting to flee. Abby Scutio looked frantically about and saw that no one else seemed to be pointing a gun toward them and the Secret Service were having no luck getting everyone to stop moving. And so she did something that was entirely reactionary – but it happened to work.

Abby called to the agents, "I'm going to try something." She pulled the noisemaker from her pocket. As she was not looking toward the agents and those present knew she was law enforcement, none reacted. Abby had this to blast into any attacker's ear – it was very disorientating. However, it was perfect for this circumstance. And so she sounded the air horn.

The screams suddenly cut off. "LISTEN UP! WHATEVER HAPPENING OUTSIDE IS OUTSIDE! THE BAD GUYS ARE DOWN INSIDE! IT'S SAFER TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE! IF ANYONE COMES IN THE AGENTS WILL NEED TO PROTECT YOU SO IT'S BETTER IF YOU NOT DISTRACT THEM!" When she saw that everyone was listening, she dropped her voice only a tiny bit. "We will wait inside until the Secret Service gives the all clear! When that happens, NOBODY start moving! The agents will be taking the criminal out, as well as those they are protecting! I will also be taken out so that one of the agents can take me directly to my lab so that I can find out what was put into the drink that is currently in my evidence bag! Once that happens, CALMLY wait until the police start releasing you! Any witnesses will need to stay put so that they can get your statement!" And a moment's thought she said, "THANK YOU for your cooperation! Let's keep everyone else safe tonight! That is all!"

And such was the force of her personality that the club immediately calmed. Everyone waited in silence for any more sounds coming from outside. There were a few murmurs but they were remarkably few.

Everyone observed the agents suddenly listening to their earbuds and suddenly stilled. One of the agents called out. "Outside is all clear! Let us take those mentioned out and the agents and the police will start releasing you as quickly as possible!" He nodded to his fellow agents and then activated his microphone. He gave terse directions.

The twins were moved first into an ambulance that was waiting outside – Zoe was going for immediate treatment. Jean-Paul was frogmarched outside and put into a Secret Service SUV. Abby was escorted out and put into another SUV. The sirens blared as she was taken directly to the Navy yard and her laboratory.

Jed Bartett was with his wife at the residence. After having given the commencement speech, he was relaxing. He was only a little worried about his daughters out celebrating, but that was normal. He and his wife were together. It was too bad that neither of the older sisters could have stayed but they had to immediately get back to their jobs and lives after the graduation ceremony.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and Secret Service agents immediately entered. Somewhat alarmed, the President asked, "What is it?"

"Sir. There was an alert from the club where your daughters were. From all indications it was a kidnapping attempt. Because of the apparently organized nature of it, the White House is on lockdown."

Abbey immediately asked, "How are the girls?" She sounded scared.

"We're waiting for details."

Ron Butterfield and several more agents arrived as was standard when there might be a threat. The First Couple sat nervously waiting.

Ron's cell phone rang. He immediately answered it and listened. It took several long moments. "Thank you. How long until we can move?" "I'll alert Eagle. Call me with details as they come in. Thank you." He closed his phone and turned to the first couple.

"There was an attempt to drug Zoe which was spotted by Alexandria. She immediately pushed her panic button. One perpetrator was immediately apprehended and another was taken out when he attempted to pull a weapon. A group waiting outside in a van attempted to escape when they saw the lights and heard sirens. They were stopped and three of the five people waiting were killed when they attempted an armed confrontation. Two were rendered unconscious when a police vehicle was used to stop them from escaping. They are being taken under guard to be treated. When the initial all clear was sounded, your daughters were immediately placed in an ambulance. Your daughter, Zoe, is starting to show some effects and immediate steps were taken to reduce those. The living suspect has been taken to our holding facility. Ms. Abigail Scutio of NCIS, who was out with the twins, has been taken to her lab to immediately analyze the drink residue to find out what she was drugged with. The perimeter will be secured in ten minutes. Once that is done, your motorcade can be dispatched to GW which is where your daughters were being taken."

Both the President and the First Lady felt both enormous relief that the attempt was unsuccessful and extreme worry over the threat their daughters had been under. They immediately prepared to be taken to GW.

They frantically got ready to go and waited with nervous hearts for the perimeter to be declared safe. As soon as the word was given, they were hustled down to the motorcade.

As soon as they were on the road and after the two had calmed somewhat the President asked, "Who was the person who attempted to drug my daughter?"

Knowing it would upset him but knowing the boy was in custody, Ron answered. "Jean-Paul Pierre. He will be interrogated immediately. Immediate questioning resulted in him claiming it was XTC."

Their stomachs dropped. Abbey knew that Zoe would feel particularly betrayed when she came out of it. Jed wanted to send the 82nd Airborne to take the boy out. He cursed for a moment about Zoe and Charlie having broken up – Jed Bartlett trusted Charlie immensely and could never stand that frog ponce.

Abbey was shocked out of her worry for a moment as she listened to him. "Jed! You know you can't control your daughters' lives."

He looked at his wife and she, for the first time since the alert, felt some amusement when he replied, "I am once again seriously considering building a moat around the White House with alligators for any males that want to date my daughters."

It was amusing for Abbey to note that Ron Butterfield seemed to look agreeable to the suggestion. She could only roll her eyes.

When they arrived at GW they were immediately ushered inside to find their youngest daughter waiting nervously looking upset. When she saw her parents she immediately rushed over and latched on to her mother.

Ron Butterfield answered his phone and President Bartlett, from where he was standing with his arms once again around his wife and daughter, looked over curiously. Ron nodded and said, "Thank you. I'll inform the hospital staff." He immediately motioned an agent to pay attention so that they could tell the nurses.

At that Abbey and Alex also looked at Ron. With a serious look he said, "Preliminary findings from the Mass Spectrometer test done at the Navy Yard by Ms. Scutio indicate it wasn't XTC but GHB. Jean-Paul also seems to be under the effect of GHB. A more detailed analysis will be complete in a couple of hours."

The other agent rushed off to alert the staff while the First Family members present were horrified and outraged. Alex turned to her parents. "I'm so sorry! I saw him drop it in her drink and pushed the panic button. I should have prevented her from drinking it instead of alerting Abby!" She felt very guilty.

Before her parents said anything Rob Butterfield immediately disagreed. "Ms. Bartlett, you handled this situation perfectly. Due to who put the drug in Zoe's drink, it was unlikely to be an immediately fatal drug. You have no training and so you immediately alerted your detail using your panic button and went to the most competent person on the scene to deal with it. If you had confronted Jean-Paul and prevented Zoe from drinking it the other suspect could have noticed and pulled the gun he had on him before the agents were surrounding the two of you. You did not cause this. This was done by a sick and twisted individual who was trying to take advantage of Zoe. That there were those who were waiting to take advantage meant it was much more dangerous than you or even he probably knew. You did everything you could to protect your sister. You should be very proud of yourself."

The President and First Lady immediately echoed Ron's sentiment and they thanked their daughter profusely for keeping her head and doing the right thing. Still someone new to having people who loved her, she almost glowed under the praise when she had just earlier been feeling so guilty. She immediately was feeling better about herself.

Meanwhile, the White House situation room was moving at full bore. Leo had been alerted and, although he truly wanted to be at GW with his goddaughter and her parents and sister, he knew that someone had to keep an eye on what was going on.

"So have we figured out who these guys were?"

"The two who were knocked unconscious haven't been identified yet. Nor have the three in the van who were killed. The one who was killed inside the club was an Algerian national who was on the DC radar as a drug dealer." Nancy McNally was careful to give the known details versus the suspected details. "I will say this: The five in the van seem to be of Middle Eastern descent."

Leo went cold. "Bahji?"

Nancy sighed. "We don't know. But it's possible."

Leo considered that. "Was it the five-man cell that was on your radar already?"

She shook her head. "No."

Leo considered that. "Can we move on the group in radar? They might be involved and the President is going to be apoplectic. You weren't here for the incident with the plane shot down but his personal physician was on board and one of those killed – and the President had to be talked down from a full-on invasion. This is his daughter."

Nancy McNally immediately understood. "Let me get on the line with the FBI and see if we can get those guys into custody."

Leo nodded. He stood up and moved from the table to make a call.

Josh Lyman answered his phone. Although no one was in the office, he had heard reports of something happening and so he was on the way back to the White House. He glanced at his caller ID and then answered it. "Leo. What's going on?"

"Attempted kidnapping of one or both of the twins. There might be complications. Where are we on a VP?"

"We're still putting together a short list. We want someone who can win in the next election."

Leo nodded to himself. "Depending on what happens with this, we might need a VP right the hell now. So I need a name of someone who can do the job but who won't scare the Republicans. I need a name right now."

Josh thought quickly. He even pulled off to the side of the street so he could think and not drive. "We need someone with gravitas but who won't run in three years." He paused for a long moment and had a Eureka moment. "Stackhouse. He was going to run as an Independent – and he would have pulled quite a bit of the Democratic vote. He dropped out and endorsed the President. He could do the job – and he'll stand his ground and do what he thinks is right even in the face of impossible pressure to do something else. He's the guy that won't run in three years but who can do the job."

Leo considered that for a long moment. "I'm going straight from the situation room to GW where Zoe is being treated. Assume it's going to be Stackhouse and figure out what we have to do to get him through in the next few days. And get CJ and Toby in to handle the press about the kidnapping."

Josh considered that. "It's going to be a long night."

Leo went and sat down at the table. "I need to go to the President right now. We need to find out ASAP who did this and we need a plan to appropriately respond. And we need it tonight."

Nancy and Fitzwallace looked at each other and back to Leo. Nancy said, "Won't the President be worried it will look like personal revenge?"

Leo stood up and said with stoic resolve. "That's why he's not going to be in the room while you make a plan and put it together. We're going to handle other factors ASAP. That's why I need to go see the President right now." Leo immediately left to move to get a car to take him to GW.

By the time Leo made it to the hospital, initial treatment had been finished and she was under observation. The first family had been allowed in to see Zoe. She was out of it but would likely be able to be moved back to the residence in two to three hours. The Secret Service wanted the First Family back in the White House ASAP.

Leo, walking to the area where he was told Zoe was being treated, saw Charlie waiting with the Secret Service detail. "When did you get here?"

Charlie replied, "I saw the ruckus and recognized the procedures for something dealing with the President or First Family. I came here immediately."

Leo nodded. "Any word?"

"They were just allowed in. I'm waiting because it's family only right now."

Leo considered that. "Did they say to wait out here?"

Charlie shook his head. "When they were told they could go in they just moved."

Leo nodded, smirking to himself a little bit. "I think that if you had asked the President would have said to go with them. Anyway, I need to see my goddaughter and to speak to the President. So come in with me."

Charlie considered refusing – but he was really worried and so let Leo order him inside. He followed the man in the door.

Alex was standing next to Zoe's bed as their Mom was looking her over. She looked when the door open and she saw Leo followed by Charlie. "Uncle Leo!" She immediately rushed over and threw her arms around him. To her more than any of the other First Children, Leo was almost like another parent and she didn't try to hide this at all.

Leo closed his eyes briefly as he hugged Alexandria to him. After a long moment he pulled back and said, "You did good, kid. You looked out for your sister and you saved her and likely you and the agents guarding you girls from a very bad situation. I'm proud of you."

Alex beamed under the praise.

Still wrapped around Alexandria, Leo asked, "How's she doing?"

Abbey, who was watching the interaction with a smile, replied, "She's going to be okay. The paramedics took immediate steps which minimized the reaction. She's coming home in a couple of hours."

Leo nodded grimly in satisfaction and let go of his goddaughter. "Mr. President, I need to speak to you."

Jed looked at Leo's face and noted the serious expression. He nodded and turned to Zoe. Speaking to her as though she was aware even if she was dazed he said, "I'll be right back, kiddo. I have to go talk to Leo." Zoe just looked at him with a blank expression.

The President followed Leo to a small room nearby. "What's going on?"

Leo inwardly sighed. "We don't have all the details yet, but this looks like it might be terrorism. We're thinking a Bahji cell."

The President stilled. "How certain are we?" A rage was building in him at that.

"The five guys waiting seem to be Middle Eastern. The drug dealer who sold the drug that the kid thought was XTC was an Algerian national. This was planned. If it is a Bahji cell, we're going to have to respond."

The President took a long look at Leo and then started pacing. Leo heard his boss and friend start cursing under his breath. Suddenly he stopped. "Do you know I warned Zoey about this type of thing happening three years ago? About her being drugged and kidnapped somewhere with a gun to her head resulting in the US military being run by a terrified father rather than a Commander-in-Chief? I told her this was the nightmare scenario. And now thanks to Hoynes not being able to keep it in his pants," the tone of the President's voice became more angry as he spoke, "we don't even have a VP I can turn this over to! This! This is the nightmare!"

Leo, in an attempt to lance the anger, said, "Then it's a good thing that Alexandria saw it and stopped it from happening."

The President immediately felt a vast relief and a lot of affection for his recently-found daughter. "We're going to be doing something really nice for her. I don't know what, but she's going to know how thankful we are."

Leo nodded. "As far as a VP goes, Josh thinks and I concur that the Republicans won't give us someone who can run in three years. So we decided to go for someone we think can do the job who we can get right now. I demanded a name and he gave me Stackhouse."

The President paused for a long moment, his mind moving at lightning speed. After a long moment to consider all the ramifications he said, "He's a miserable old crank – but he's a bulldog when it comes to principle. Get me on the phone with him as soon as we get back to the White House. Start working on it right now."

Leo nodded. "We'll have a plan as soon as you walk in the office in the morning."

The two men went back to Zoe's room. The President immediately went and hugged his youngest again.

Leo was watching when his phone rang. "Leo McGarry." He paused. "Get the Secret Service to brief you on details. Don't give out the kid's name and don't give out any details on the kidnappers except that there was a drug dealer involved and a group of people who were waiting to kidnap one or both of the youngest daughters. Due to the observational skills of one of the daughters the Secret Service was alerted instantly. The Secret Service, with the assistance of an NCIS employee on the scene, the DC Police, and the FBI, foiled the plot. There have been some arrests. Details to follow as the investigation takes place." He listened for a long moment and then those watching saw Leo's face light up a bit. "I'll tell the President and the rest of them. Tell him good luck and we're pulling for them. Thanks CJ."

He hung up and looked over to the First Family and Charlie. "Andy is giving birth right now. Toby is with her."

Good news was instantly welcome. It lightened up the atmosphere immediately. Abbey said, "I can't wait to see the twins. I wonder if they have the names picked out."