2. RENDEZVOUS WITH A SNAKE
The Oval Office
Roger Tribby didn't look like a megalomaniac. He was boring. Even to Josiah Bartlett he was a tedious non-descript, perfectly suited to his role. Yet, at this moment he looked as if all his birthdays had come at once. Bartlett had invited him to speak at the Ambassadorial Reception. He had been lobbying for that for weeks and now Dame Fortune had smiled on him.
"May I ask why, Sir?" Tribby asked,
Bartlett looked at Tribby. He wanted to say because you are the supposedly dead former Mayor of Sunnydale and we are setting you up to get rid of you without firing you for no reason. He couldn't. After all, what had he done wrong? Ever since he was made Agricultural Secretary, and Bartlett still couldn't remember when that happened, Tribby had executed Bartlett's policy on Agriculture perfectly. Farm subsidies had risen, even the Mad Cow Disease problem had been dealt with as per order. Bartlett made the decision, Tribby executed the decision with efficiency. He had been so effective in his dealing with the situation that Bartlett secretly had Leo look into how it was accomplished. Leo couldn't find a conclusive answer. Maybe that's when warning bells should have been rung, but they were so busy celebrating a successful conclusion that nothing was made of it. Then Jack Harkness came up with this bombshell, and backed it with hard evidence, including how Tribby cleaned up the Mad Cow Disease problem. It changed everything, and forced Bartlett to create this shadow Hellmouth committee to back up the real Hellmouth Committee of Donna Moss, Joshua Lyman, Toby Ziegler, Sam Seaborn, Claudia Jean Cregg, and the Sunnydale group. That , and Donna becoming Buffy Summers' replacement in the Vampire Slaying department before Buffy was brought back to life. His committee consisted of SG1 and the SGC; Torchwood, including Jack Harkness and Suzie Costello; UNIT, including Nancy Thorpe, Jo McDonagh and Neve Kirland, as well as the legendary Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart as a technical adviser. Oh, and the CIA in the very attractive shape of Commander Kate Harper to use her Naval title. Add Ron, and some the Secret Service, Leo McGarry, and Charlie Young, and you've got a pretty powerful looking back up tool in case the main Hellmouth Committee got things wrong and the shit hit the fan. He was wondering if Abby should be brought into this, probably as a way to get a voice into the Hellmouth Committee itself without ditching plausible deniability. A way could have been arranged for Abby to officially witness a Vampire, or a demon at work, in front of the official Hellmouth committee. Just a thought.
"We basically agree on the subject that you are planning to talk about," Bartlett said "And maybe it's time that you stepped up to the plate, become more actively involved, so to speak."
Bartlett could see Tribby smile. It was a creepy smile, a dangerous I've finally got what I wanted smile which made Bartlett nervous. A typical snake smile, if snakes could smile. Bartlett got to his feet and held out his hand.
"I'll see you at the reception, Roger."
Tribby accepted the hand and shook it with vigour.
"Thank you, Mr President," Tribby said "I'll deliver the best speech you've ever heard."
"Sure you will," Bartlett said "Make sure you see Toby on the way out."
Tribby left the office. A few seconds later Ron Butterfield. Leo McGarry and Jack Harkness emerged from Leo's office.
"That man is definitely a snake," Bartlett shivered "Never ask me to do that again, Leo."
"We need him here, sir," Leo said "And you know why."
"I only hope that Toby, CJ, Donna, Josh, Sam and the Kids from Sunnydale come up with a plan without involving dynamite," Bartlett said "That was how Buffy and her Slayerettes defeated our slimy Mr Tribby last time wasn't it, Ron?"
"Yes," Ron said "They formed the graduating class into an army to fight Wilkins' minions whilst they lured Wilkins, and his snake counterpart into the school, and virtually dropped the school on him using dynamite."
Bartlett looked at Ron.
"I'm not dropping the White House on him," Bartlett said "I don't care how big he gets. I'd be impeached in ten seconds by both Congress and the Senate."
"You may have no choice, sir," Jack said.
"Get him away from me," Bartlett warned.
"Sir," Leo said "We have enough dynamite in place to destroy certain sections of the White House. The damage would be manageable, and it's a back up plan in any case."
"You will get the privilege of pressing or not pressing the button," Ron said "But, considering a lot of people will have been eaten by then, including Senators and Congressmen, I don't think you'll be given much choice. Impeachment wont even be an issue. You will have to press that button."
Bartlett looked at Ron with a sense of disgust.
"Then let's pray that Donna, Josh, Toby, Sam, CJ and those kids from Sunnydale take the decision out of my hands," Bartlett said "I would hate to be known as the President that deliberately blew up the White House to stop a giant snake."
"You'll be known as the President who took decisive action that saved the planet from destruction," Leo said.
Bartlett gave Leo a look.
"What about Miss Rosenberg?"
"She slipped away from the tour party," Ron said "Donna is taking her to see Sam."
"Why?"
"She wants to give Sam a protective charm to make sure that Sam has his Wolf under control," Leo said.
"It doesn't get rid of the problem, Mr President," Jack Harkness added "It'll just make him sleepy."
"Sleepy?" Bartlett half smiled "Maybe I should borrow it."
"Wouldn't work on you, sir."
"Why not?"
"Genetically attuned to Sam Seaborn's Wolf side," Jack answered "It is just in case the meditation should fail to stop the transformation."
"We could have done with that sooner," Bartlett said.
"You had to order that woman's death," Leo said.
"You didn't know about this charm," Jack added "Nobody did. This was Miss Rosenberg's own concoction."
Bartlett nodded. If only. It was a powerful phrase. If only I'd done this, then that wouldn't have happened. In Sergeant Kate Summerton's case, if only they knew about this charm sooner, then a way could have been found to shoot a dose of Willow Rosenberg's charm into her, and she would still be alive. Damn it to hell!
"Pity," Was all Bartlett could say.
"It is," Jack said.
At that moment Ron held a hand to the ear piece in his ear. He gave the President the thumbs up. Willow Rosenberg had seen Roger Tribby as hoped.
"Let the Hellmouth Committee convene," Bartlett said.
The White House Residence
Bartlett was tired. The world and its problems had been dumped on his doorstep and he was becoming tired of acting as the World's Pooper Scooper yet again. If it wasn't Qumar and the sale of arms to a country who treated their women lower than sewer creatures, it was India and Pakistan threatening to blow themselves and the world to kingdom come because one couldn't come to terms with the others existence. There was one consolation. Abby was back and was promising that Liz, with that idiot Son in Law, Doug, in tow, Ellie and Zoe will all be able to attend Christmas dinner this year. Ellie, his middle daughter, didn't have to deal with some research crisis that was going to tear her away from the only time the Bartlett family got together. He could feel Abby massage his tense shoulders and allowed himself a smile.
"What is it with Josh and Sam?" Abby asked.
"Excuse me?"
"I heard that Sam kissed Josh in front of the entire staff."
"A slight misunderstanding."
"Really?"
"Josh was caught examining Sam in an undressed state," Bartlett said.
"You're kidding."
"There were extenuating circumstances."
"Do tell."
Bartlett looked at Abby. Again the thought entered his mind about telling Abby everything. That Donna Moss had been, and may still well be, a Vampire Slayer; that Josh, Sam, CJ and Toby were not only heavily involved, but Josh, Sam and CJ were getting training in the usage of lethal weapons from Toby, whilst Donna was being trained as a vampire slayer; that the former Vampire Slayer was brought back to life in this very White House; that the reason why Josh was examining Sam was because Sam had been bitten by a Werewolf and had been turned into one. Josh was looking after him, and was examining the wound on Sam's shoulder when they were caught by Bonnie and Ginger. That he had ordered the death of the woman that turned Sam into a Werewolf, and that SG1, and Samantha Carter in particular, had carried out the execution; and finally, the killer, that Roger Tribby was the Mayor of Sunnydale, the same Mayor that disappeared two years ago after Sunnydale High was blown up in an attempt to stop the ascension of a Giant Snake Demon. Now, as Roger Tribby, he was threatening to use the White House as a staging post for his latest attempt to ascend, and if Donna, Josh, Toby, Sam, CJ and Kids from Sunnydale can't stop him, he may have to blow up the White House in order to stop his ascension. Should he tell Abby about all of this.?
"Jed?" Abby pressed.
"You wouldn't believe me."
"Try me."
"You can't tell Josh, Sam, CJ, Toby or Donna that I know this."
"Know what?"
"Hang on."
Bartlett picked up the phone and tapped out a familiar number.
"Leo, can you find Ron and Jack Harkness, I'm telling Abby," Bartlett said.
He heard Leo's very strong objections to this idea.
"Leo, Charlie had to be briefed, and my wife has to be briefed for the same reason. If Tribby is going to turn into a giant snake in front of her, she has the right to know that we may have to blow up the White House to stop it. It is her home as well."
"Giant snake! Blow up the White House!" Abby exclaimed "Jed, what the hell is going on?"
Bartlett held up his hand to stop her.
"Find Ron and Captain Harkness and get them here, now."
Bartlett slammed the phone down.
"Tribby is a Giant Snake?" Abby said.
"Remember that school that was destroyed a couple of years ago?"
"A lightning strike."
"It was blown up by dynamite."
"What!" Abby looked stunned "Why?"
"To stop the Mayor of Sunnydale turning into a Giant Snake Demon and devouring the entire planet."
Abby sat down, she was totally and utterly gob-smacked.
"Jed?"
"It sounds ridiculous but it happens to be true," Bartlett said "The last incumbent of this place sent a specialist army unit to investigate not only what happened but also the demon activity that seemed to be happening in that place."
Abby shook her head, unable to take this in.
"What has this got to do with Josh, Sam, Claudia Jean, Toby and Donna?" Abby said "And the fact that Josh and Sam kissed in front of the staff."
"Sam's a Werewolf."
"You are kidding."
"Josh was helping Sam get over a transformation into a wolf. Unfortunately, Sam was in a state of undress at the time and the scene was witnessed.
Abby burst into laughter.
"Really?"
"We have video proof."
"You were filming Sam?"
"And Josh, and Toby, and CJ, and Donna, especially Toby and Donna."
"Why?"
At that moment there was a knock on the door.
"Come!" Bartlett called.
Charlie entered with Leo, Ron Butterfield and Jack Harkness in tow.
"Sir," Ron said "This is madness."
"I think you're doing the right thing," Jack said "And especially if we have to blow up the White House to stop Tribby. She will need to know why."
"Exactly my argument," Bartlett said "Thank you Captain Harkness."
Both Ron and Leo looked at Jack.
"If we're going to have plausible deniability, then enough important people need to know in order to make it work."
"Like who?" Leo asked "Vice President Hoynes, Secretary of State Berryhill, the entire senior cabinet, maybe we should tell Josh, Donna, CJ, Toby and Sam and tell them that we don't officially know. You know how stupid that sounds, Captain Harkness?"
Jack shook his head in disappointment.
"Leo, you are aware that Josh, CJ, Donna, Sam and Toby have set up a Hellmouth Committee, and you and the President cannot be involved officially."
"Obviously."
"Can't you see," Jack said "Mrs Bartlett is the perfect Hellmouth Committee representative. She could be our unofficial voice in that committee."
Abby whistled loudly.
"Is everything that Jed has just told me true?"
"Yes ma'am," Leo said.
He looked at Jack and the smiling Bartlett, and took in what they had just suggested.
"Getting Abby involved in the Hellmouth Committee is a good idea. It'll be the perfect cover. We could involve Margaret, and maybe Kate Harper as well."
"We'd have to engineer an event that they would witness in front of Josh, Donna, CJ, Toby and Sam," Ron suggested.
"Since you're getting me involved in this Hellmouth Committee, maybe you should tell me what this is all about," Abby suggested.
"Charlie, we do not want to be disturbed for at least two hours," Bartlett said.
"You have an Eight o'clock appointment with Lord John Marbury."
"Two hours, Charlie."
Charlie nodded and left the room. He had heard this all before.
"You were saying, Jed," Abby challenged.
"Buffy Summers was the Vampire Slayer dealing with the Sunnydale problem. It was her and the school Librarian Rupert Giles who blew up the school in an attempt to destroy the demon I told you about."
Abby settled back transfixed.
Two Hours Later
Abby was still sitting there. She was stunned at what she had just heard. The whole Sunnydale thing was a bloodbath, children, teachers, all massacred by Vampires and Demons. It was a battle that eclipsed all battles, a fight between light and darkness, and light won, just. She had heard that the Sunnydale society was set up a hundred years before to help a demon to ascend and devour the planet, and that the demon had, allegedly, been destroyed by Buffy Summers and Rupert Giles. Now it was possible that the same demon was part of Bartlett's cabinet, and was ready to go through the same routine again. She looked at Jack Harkness and Charlie. Bartlett and Leo had gone to the situations room to deal with the India/Pakistan problem, and Ron had gone to a meeting with SG1, the UNIT contingent, and the rest of Torchwood to discuss contingency possibilities if Donna, Josh, Toby, CJ and Sam couldn't stop Tribby, which included blowing up the White House. Jack was meant to be at that meeting but felt that Abby Bartlett needed him at that moment. There was something else on Abby's mind.
"My husband ordered that poor woman's death?"
"He had no choice," Jack said "She was a potential threat to the entire Washington population. She had already bitten Sam Seaborn, god knows what else she would have done."
"She could have had treatment," Abby said "Sam seems to have it under control, we could have used the same technique to help her."
"She had taken a hostage," Jack said "A young girl. The moment she did that it was taken out of our hands."
Abby held her head in her hands.
"We wanted to help her, she wouldn't listen," Jack continued.
Abby shook her head. She couldn't understand what was going on. She couldn't understand why Josh, CJ, Donna, Sam and Toby was part of a Hellmouth Committee, and was fighting demons, vampires and god knows what else. She couldn't comprehend this plausible deniability that her husband was adopting, when it was clear that he was playing a major part in the back-up to the Hellmouth Committee, even to the point of blowing up the White House if Donna, Josh, CJ, Toby and Sam failed. Why didn't he just tell them that he knew and helped them to formulate a plan to make sure that Tribby didn't eat everybody in the Ambassadorial reception on his way to devouring the entire planet She had to understand the full dynamics of what was going on before she could be part of it.
"Donna's a Vampire Slayer?" Abby said.
"She received the call after Buffy died," Jack said.
"The call?"
"A telepathic image of Buffy's death," Jack said "Donna saw what happened to Buffy."
"That would have terrified her," Abby said.
"Donna is a Vampire Slayer," Jack said "It may have initially taken her by surprise, but she would have grown stronger with each image she saw. It was her time."
"What about this Faith?"
"Too mentally unstable," Jack said "We are trying to rehabilitate her, but that is going to take time."
"In the meantime, Donna remains Buffy's back up if anything happens to Buffy. She wasn't 'un-called' after Buffy was brought back to life."
"We don't think so," Jack said "We'll find out later on tonight."
"How?"
"That's one of the reasons Ron was called away," Jack said "Donna, Josh and Sam are going to break into Tribby's office to retrieve the Box of Gavrok."
Abby looked at Charlie, who smiled his encouragement.
"You understand this, Charlie?"
"I'm starting to," Charlie said "And I'm terrified about the implications."
"You and me both, Charlie," Abby said.
She looked at Jack again.
"If they retrieve this Box of Gavrok, could it stop Tribby ascending into a giant snake?" Abby asked.
"If it's destroyed in the right way," Jack said.
"So why aren't you helping them?"
"We are, unofficially," Jack answered.
"Why not officially?"
"Plausible deniability."
"Oh for god's sake," Abby said "That phrase is starting to get on my nerves."
"Sorry," Jack said "But it has to be this way."
Abby rolled her eyes, and looked to Charlie for assistance. Charlie remained stoic, suggesting that even if he wanted to help he couldn't.
"Look after them," Abby finally said "Or you'll have me to deal with."
"Yes ma'am," Jack said.
The Agricultural Building
Carter saw Tribby's guards first and pulled both Daniel Jackson and Nancy Thorpe back into hiding. They ran past their hiding place and all three of them saw what Tribby was hiring as security.
"They look like bloody Hyenas," Thorpe said "Large Hyenas."
"How the hell did Tribby get those into the building?"
"An unusual recruitment policy?" Carter said.
Daniel looked at Carter. It was unlike her to be stumped like that.
"Maybe they're Were-Hyenas," Thorpe offered.
"Humans that turn into Hyenas," Daniel said.
"Are you aware how silly that sounds?" Carter said to both Daniel and Thorpe.
"We all thought Werewolves were myths until Jack Harkness told us otherwise," Daniel said
"And we saw Sam Seaborn and Kate Summerton turn into one," Thorpe added,
Carter shook her head. Her Scientific mind told her that anything was possible, and she had seen a great deal over last few years. She could even believe that people could turn into wolves. But, Humans turning into Hyenas?
"Guys!" O'Neill's urgent voice crackled over the radio "Have you seen the Critters?"
"Yes sir," Carter said "They look like Hyenas."
"Hyenas?"
"Large Hyenas," Carter said glancing at Daniel and Thorpe "They're not far away from Tribby's office."
"How the hell did Tribby get large Hyenas into this building?" O'Neill said "No, don't tell me, just follow them. Donna Moss, Sam Seaborn and Josh Lyman are breaking into Tribby's office now."
Carter took out her Zat gun, and saw Daniel and Thorpe take out theirs. They moved out, keeping a distance from the Hyena squad.
Outside the Agricultural Building
Jo McDonagh, Neve Kirland and Suzie Costello watched Donna being hoisted up to the window by Sam Seaborn. They watched as she almost ripped the window and climb through.
"And she's no longer the Slayer?" McDonagh said.
"Looks like the Slayer to me," Kirland answered.
"That window was locked solid," Costello said "There was no way anybody could have opened that window without smashing a pane of glass. She must still have Vampire Slayer powers."
They then watched Donna almost haul firstly Sam and then Josh up and through the gap she had created in the window. If there was a doubt that she had lost her Vampire Slayer powers, that doubt was dispelled by that action.
"At least that's one question answered," McDonagh said.
Kirland looked at Jo and lifted the radio to her lips.
"Team three to Team Leader, subjects are in."
"Copy that, Kirland," O'Neill said "Get ready for fireworks. There are critters that look like giant Hyenas heading in their direction."
Giant Hyenas? Both Costello and McDonagh mouthed. Kirland just shrugged.
"Orders, sir."
"Tell McDonagh that she's got permission to take any action that she wants to take," O'Neill said "We need help."
McDonagh was already out of the car.
"Received and understood, sir," Kirland said.
Kirland and Costello got out and went after McDonagh.
The Oval Office
Abby entered the office just as Bartlett put down the phone. She moved next to Leo and looked quizzically at Bartlett's Chief of Staff.
"Ron," Leo said.
"Ah!"
Bartlett looked at both Leo and Abby.
"Sam, Josh and Donna are in," Bartlett said.
"Didn't know they were capable," Leo joked "Especially not Josh."
Abby grinned. Bartlett sat behind his desk. He looked worried.
"Tribby has some unusual security. They look like Giant Hyenas."
"Giant what?!" Leo said.
"Hyenas," Abby finished.
"I thought I heard that," Leo said "How did Tribby get them into the building?"
"Equal opportunity recruitment?" Bartlett said "Hardly the point, as it's possible that they may have seen Josh, Sam and Donna."
"Get them out!" Abby half screamed.
"We can't without tipping our hand," Leo said "We have to hope that Donna still has slayer ability."
"What if she doesn't?" Abby asked.
"Then we have a problem."
Abby remembered the threat she had made to Jack Harkness about looking after them. She could see the look on Jed Bartlett's face and knew that she wasn't the only person who had made such a gesture. This was proved by the flash of anger that made him push the majority of his papers off his desk. Leo and Abby looked at each other.
"Sir," Leo said "There was always going to be danger. There was no other way."
"Like that Sergeant?" Bartlett said in anger.
Abby went around to take Bartlett's hands.
"Jed, you didn't know about Willow Rosenberg's charm," She said "You had no choice."
"Plausible deniability sucks," Bartlett said.
"Tell me about it."
The phone chose that moment to ring. Leo, with Bartlett's nodded permission, picked it up.
"Yeah!"
He mouthed 'Ron', and closed his eyes in frustration as Ron relayed what he was hearing from the front line.
"All hell has broken loose," Leo reported.
Bartlett gripped Abby's hand tighter.
The Agricultural Building
All hell had indeed broken loose. Sam, Josh and Donna had been caught by Tribby's hyena security. Now Josh was trying to drag an unconscious Sam out of the building whilst Donna was trying to fight off the demons attacking them.
"Teal'c, we need a diversion," Carter barked down the radio "We need to draw them away from Miss Moss."
At that, Teal'c aimed his staff weapon and fired at the nearest demon. The demon virtually disintegrated causing the demon attacking Donna to break off his attack enough for Donna to pole axe him and start running.
"Go, Donna, go," Daniel muttered.
The Hyena started to go after Donna, but was stopped when both Thorpe and Carter started to open fire at the creature with the Zat guns. The Creature crumbled in a heap, and then disintegrated. Thorpe looked at Carter.
"One shot stuns, two kills," Carter said.
"Nice to have known that," Thorpe said .
The other demons, initially confused by what they had seen, launched themselves at Carter and Thorpe in one direction, and O'Neill, Teal'c and Mitchell in the other.
The Lobby Area
McDonagh, Kirland and Costello entered just as the explosions from Teal'c's staff weapon echoed around the building.
"UNIT," McDonagh said flashing her identification to the startled front desk Security Guards "Well, go on, do your job."
The Security Men headed in the direction of the fire-fight followed by Kirland, Costello and McDonagh, but not before McDonagh watched Josh and Donna get Sam out of the building.
"Good Guys one, Giant Snake nil," She muttered before going after Costello and Kirland.
The Oval Office
A relieved Bartlett put down the phone.
"Josh, Donna and Sam are out," He said "Josh and Donna are taking Sam to the hospital."
"Hospital?" Abby said in concern.
"Sam was being carried out by Josh and Donna," Bartlett said "According to Ron's source, he was unconscious."
"I'll get over there and find out what's going on," Leo said.
"Plausible deniability, Leo," Bartlett said.
"I know."
The Hospital - One Hour Later
Leo arrived just in time to see Rupert Giles, Wesley Wyndham Price and Buffy Summers follow Toby and CJ in. He was joined by Ron and Jack Harkness.
"Sam will be okay," Ron said "They ran into Tribby's demons. SG1 are dealing with them now."
"Hyenas?" Leo asked.
"Giant Hyenas," Jack answered.
Leo shook his head.
"This is getting increasingly difficult to keep quiet," Leo said "Somebody is going to start asking awkward questions."
"We have a cover story," Jack said.
"Which is?"
"The building security helped by a specialist military unit foiled an act of terrorism by a group opposed to President Bartlett's Agricultural policy."
"Pretty lame," Leo said "This specialist military unit was passing by when they saw something suspicious. They went in, caught the terrorist group in the act and wiped them out. Even I would have trouble swallowing that load of garbage."
"It was a secret undercover operation," Ron said "Months of planning, observation, and painstaking detective work before we moved in."
"And you'll be able to make that plausible?"
"They'll swallow it," Ron answered "We'll leave enough evidence to suggest that the story is true."
"Somebody is going to find out," Leo said "Danny Concannon is pretty smart."
"The matter will be dealt with."
Leo looked at Ron suspiciously.
"There will be no rough stuff, Leo," Jack said.
"I hope not."
Leo looked at Sam's room, now packed with both White House senior staff and members of the Sunnydale contingent, the entire Hellmouth committee.
"I suggest waiting before you see 'Spanky'," Jack said.
Leo looked at Jack.
"Claudia Jean Cregg's nickname for Sam," Jack smiled "I quite like it."
Leo scowled. Jack chuckled at the scowl.
The Agricultural Building
Both teams were having trouble pinning down their opponents. The Critters, as Jack O'Neill liked to call them, were fast and strong, and they weren't only Hyenas. Vampires and other, ugly looking, demons were coming out of the woodwork. It meant harder work for everybody. Teal'c had to decapitate one Vampire to save O'Neill's skin. Carter had to do the same to save Daniel and Nancy Thorpe. As for Jo McDonagh and Neve Kirland, they were getting the brunt of it.
"They're all over the bloody building," McDonagh almost shouted down the radio after having to dust another vampire to save Kirland. Two more vamps emerged causing both Jo and Neve to run.
"Where are you?" O'Neill said.
"Third floor," McDonagh answered "The bastards are everywhere."
"Hold them off, I'll have reinforcements sent to you."
"Hold them off!" Kirland said as the radio went off the air "You've got to be kidding."
Two more vampires dressed as Security Guards appeared effectively trapping both McDonagh and Kirland.
"Oh, come on!" Kirland protested.
As the vampires were about to attack they disintegrated into dust. Behind them were Costello, Daniel Jackson and Nancy Thorpe bearing crossbows.
"Down!" Thorpe shouted.
All five went down leaving Teal'c, using his staff weapon, and Mitchell, using a rocket launcher, to blow the other two Vamps' heads off.
"Cutting it close there," McDonagh said whilst helping Kirland rise.
"All part of the service," Mitchell said as he and Teal'c helped Daniel, Thorpe and Costello up. Another SG team arrived, accompanied by Jack Harkness.
"Suzie?"
"I'm fine, Jack."
"Jo, Neve?"
"We're fine," McDonagh said "Let's mop up and go home."
"I'm with Jo," Kirland said.
"Nancy?"
"A bit sore," Thorpe answered "But I'll live."
"Teal'c, where's O'Neill?"
"O'Neill is mopping up some more vampires and demons on the next floor, Captain Harkness."
"I'm also fine," Daniel Jackson said.
"Of course you are, Doctor Jackson," Harkness smiled "Let's go and help O'Neill and, I assume, Carter."
"Indeed," Teal'c said.
The team headed for the stairs.
The Oval Office
Bartlett, Abby and Charlie waited anxiously for news from both camps.
"I should have got myself involved," Charlie said.
"With what?" Bartlett asked.
"The Hellmouth Committee," Charlie said "I could have been some help."
"Help with what?"
"Slaying vampires, beating up demons, anything."
Bartlett allowed himself a smile. He had that thought himself. He hated being a passive observer whilst things were happening all around them. However, he couldn't get involved, and he knew why. Charlie could get involved, but it might be difficult to explain why Bartlett's personal assistant is getting involved with something as dangerous as slaying vampires and not reporting back to Bartlett what he had seen. Getting Abby involved was a little easier. Charlie was at Bartlett's beck and call, Abby, with her own agenda and her own life, wasn't. She could easily act independent of Josiah Bartlett without having to report to him every ten seconds. When Charlie got his law degree things could be different, but until then.
"Plausible Deniability," Bartlett said "If you'd been with them then they would have known that I knew."
"But wouldn't they have the same suspicion when Mrs Bartlett gets involved?"
Even Abby looked at Bartlett at the mention of that question.
"My wife has her own mind," Bartlett said looking at Abby "She wouldn't tell me everything."
"Really?" Abby said.
"No, my sweet, you wouldn't."
"Whereas Charlie would?"
"Not necessarily," Bartlett said "However, he looks after me, therefore he has to be pretty around me twenty four hours a day . He's hardly in a position to serve on a Hellmouth Committee without me officially knowing about it."
"And I can?"
"Yes, Toots," Bartlett smiled "That's what you get for being totally independent of your loving husband."
Abby looked at Bartlett. Charlie allowed himself a smile at the look on Abby's face.
"I hate the thought of Donna, Sam and Josh taking risks like this," Abby said "The SGC, Torchwood and UNIT, yes, that's what they're paid for. But not the Deputy Chief of Staff, his assistant, and the Deputy Communications Director."
"They got into the fight of their own accord," Bartlett said.
"Donna didn't have much of a choice," Abby said.
Bartlett shrugged. That part was true. Donna was given very little choice. Once she received the calling, her future was pretty much sewn up, as was Toby's. Josh , Sam, and Claudia Jean didn't have to get involved. They chose to. Josh, because of his relationship with Donna; Sam and CJ, because they witnessed Josh and Toby fighting Vampires and wanted in on the fight. Sam, because he was a geek, and an adventure freak at heart, and CJ, because she didn't want to be left behind. She was nobody's Lois Lane. At that moment, the phone rang. Bartlett beat Charlie to the phone.
"Yes."
It was Leo. Bartlett listened to what Leo had to say and nodded with relief to Charlie and Abby.
"Get back here, Leo. Bring Ron with you. I want a full briefing in one hour."
He put the phone down.
"Sam's going to be alright," Bartlett said "He'll have a headache, but he'll be fine."
"And Tribby?" Charlie asked.
"He'll have to hire some more vampires and demons as security," Bartlett said.
"From what I'm seeing," Charlie said "Plenty of those around."
"Oh yeah," Bartlett agreed.
"Still, looking on the bright side," Abby said "With all these Vampires and demons around, there's plenty of chance of getting me onto the Hellmouth Committee. Unless you want to take my place, Charlie."
"No, Ma'am, my place is with the President."
"Joining the Hellmouth committee, that's on the bright side?" Bartlett said.
"It's what you want me to do, honey," Abby said with an ironic smile "Just obeying my President's orders."
Bartlett looked at Abby.
"Don't worry, I'll have two vampire slayers looking after me."
Bartlett took Abby's hands, and then pulled her into a hug.
"Be careful."
"I will."