3. I WENT TO A MARVELOUS PARTY
WHITE HOUSE RESIDENCE
It was two hours before the Ambassadorial reception, and Josiah Bartlett was already fed up. He had spent most of the day with Lord John Marbury, the egotistical Ambassador for Great Britain discussing the India/Pakistan problem. At the back of his mind was the bizarre problem concerning a giant snake that was due to devour the entire world unless Donna, Sam, Toby, Josh, Claudia Jean and the Sunnydale contingent of Rupert Giles, Wesley Wyndham Price, and the Slayer herself, Buffy Summers can stop Roger Tribby, his Agricultrual Secretary changing into a sixty foot snake during a reception that he was hosting. Failure meant that President Josiah Bartlett, the duly elected President of the United States of America, protector of the constitution of the United States, may have to drop the symbol of the constitution, the White House itself, on the head of this snake using dynamite. It rather put the India/Pakistan spat in the shade didn't it. After all by the time this night ended, it was possible that either the White House, and Bartlett's Presidency, would be a pile of rubble all over the lawn, or everybody would be the dinner of a very large snake. God knows what would happen after that, if, of course, it got as far as that. Nuclear weapons used to attempt the destroy the snake, leaving most of Washington DC, and possibly most of the North Eastern area of the United States as a desolate radioactive waste with millions dead? Some legacy he would leave if that happened. President Josiah Bartlett, the President who nuked his own people just to stop a giant snake devouring the world.
"Over my dead body!" Bartlett said.
"Jed?"
"Sorry, Abby," Bartlett said "Just thinking of the consequences if the Hellmouth Committee and we can't stop Tribby tonight."
"I suppose arresting him wouldn't be out of the question?"
"For what," Bartlett said "Techinically, he has done nothing wrong."
"So you are relying on the senior White House staff, a former school Librarian, a Private Investigator and a girl barely out of her teens stopping a giant snake so that you wont have to blow up the White House in order to prevent him devouring the entire world."
"Seems that way, toots."
Bartlett fixed his tie and shuddered at the enormity of what was about to happen.
"Maybe I should persuade the Giant Snake to go to Mumbai," He said "It could rip a few heads off over there, and I'll have peace for the brief time that I'm alive."
"You don't mean that, Jed," Abby said emerging from another room.
Bartlett looked in admiration at his beautiful wife. The gown she had chosen was perfect to wow a lot of stuffy Ambassadorial types. It had plenty of cleavage but was elegant enough not to be smutty.
"Maybe we could skip the reception," Bartlett said "And go somewhere else."
"Like?"
"A club, an elegant swanky hotel," Bartlett smiled "We could dance till dawn."
"One, you'd be missed and two, they'd be carting you off to a hospital before two."
"Toots, you are no fun."
"Just a little vengeance for you landing me with Vampires and Demons."
"Thought you'd like staking one or two," Bartlett quipped "Go on, admit it, you're looking forward to it."
Abby shrugged. There was a part of her that wanted to be handling crossbows and dealing with the growing vampire problem alongside Toby, Sam, Josh, Claudia Jean and Donna. She was already being taught use of a crossbow by the very handsome, but very gay, Jack Harkness, and Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter of Stargate Command, and was becoming more adept at it every day. Maybe that was the way she could introduce herself to the Hellmouth Committee. She could turn a Vampire to dust before their very eyes and ask what the hell that was about. She and her partner in those sessions that is, the surprising Margaret Hooper, Leo McGarry's super efficient but slightly ditzy secretary. She looked a ditz, but god she was well coordinated.
"Where are you, Toots?" Bartlett asked.
"Margaret."
Bartlett nodded. Margaret was Abby's partner in crime where the Hellmouth Committee was concerned. It was Abby who persuaded her to do it after Bartlett and Ron Butterfield had briefed her about the whole Donna the Vampire Slayer business as well as Josh's, CJ's, Toby's and Sam's involvement in that affair. She took it well, calmly in fact.
"I'm hearing she's doing well," Bartlett said.
"She's better than me at handling crossbows," Abby said with a grin.
"I'm hearing you're pretty good as well."
"Stitch me up again, and you'll be finding out how good."
Bartlett held up his hands in defence.
"Margaret was totally briefed about everything?" Abby said "Even the real reason why Sam and Josh were seen as they were."
"Ron and I gave her the works," Bartlett said "She knows everything."
Abby smiled. She knew that already. She and Margaret discussed it during practice and had a good chuckle at Sam and Josh's expense. It was a nice way for Abby and Margaret to bond. Of course, Margaret had to keep everything she knew to herself, even go along with the banter concerning Sam kissing Josh in front of the entire staff. Abby knew that Margaret wanted to stop the gossip and the innuendo knowing what she now knew. Jack Harkness, Samantha Carter and she were insistent that Margaret couldn't do that. There had to be Plausable Deniability, god how Abby was starting to hate those two words, if this was going to work. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Yes!" Bartlett barked.
Charlie entered with Ron and Jack O'Neill. Beside them was the legendary Brigadier Aliaster Gordon Lethbridge Stewart. All four were resplendent in tuxedos.
"Aliaster."
"Mr President," Lethbridge Stewart said
Bartlett shook Lethbridge Stewart's hand.
"How is Doris?"
"She's doing well."
"Don't stand there," Bartlett said "Have a seat."
Whilst Ron, O'Neill and Lethbridge Stewart took a seat, Charlie went back out suggesting that he would help to deal with the Ambassador's arrival. At the same time Abby took a seat next to Bartlett.
"How are preparations going?" Bartlett asked.
"Well, Mr President," O'Neill answered.
"Colonel O'Neill?"
"Yes, sir."
"Go on, Colonel, we're listening."
"We have spotters, all heavily armed with the usual vampire killing stuff," O'Neill continued "They are situated in the garden, and in the White House itself. If Tribby turns snakey, we can deal with it."
"And the dynamite?"
"In place," Ron answered "Ready for you to press the button."
"With a bit of luck, sir, you wont have to," Lethbridge Stewart added "Colonel O'Neill's and my team are more than capable of handling this giant snake."
"But we need the back-up in case the Sunnydale contingent and my senior staff can't handle the situation, I know," Bartlett said "What about the Sunnydale contingent, Ron?"
"My understanding is that CJ will be collecting Mr Giles, Mr Wyndham Price, and Miss Summers when they arrive," Ron said "Mr Giles will be CJ's date. Mr Wyndham Price will be Donna's, and Miss Summers will be Sam's."
"A bit young for for Sam?" Abby said.
"Only thing they could manage," Bartlett smiled "I don't think Miss Summers will want to be seen with Toby, or Josh for that matter."
"What about Josh and Toby?"
"No dates," Ron said.
"My understanding is that Josh and Toby are going to try and head Tribby off," O'Neill said "One of Toby Ziegler's secretaries called Tribby to set up a meeting."
"Which he's going to duck," Bartlett said "Josh and Toby are going to be walking into a trap."
"Don't worry, the rest of SG1, Torchwood and a few of the Brigadier's people will be looking after them."
There was another knock on the door. It was a knock that Bartlett was dreading. It meant one thing, time for another session with a certain very eccentric British Ambassador concerning a thorny problem.
"Yes."
Charlie entered. Behind him was the aforementioned Lord John Marbury. However, Marbury's eyes were not on Bartlett and Abby. They were on Lethbridge Stewart.
"Aliaster?"
Lethbridge Stewart closed his eyes. That reaction told everybody in the room that he obviously had the same opinion as Bartlett, Abby and probably the rest of the White House.
"My lord," Lethbridge Stewart said.
"What's UNIT doing here?" Marbury asked.
"Just introducing myself officially to the President, my lord," Lethbridge Stewart said "I'm attending the Ambassadorial reception as the Secretary General's official representative."
"Official representative? Really, Aliaster, don't kid a kidder," Marbury said "You're here on official UNIT business. What is it? Aliens in the White House? Is there a big ugly creature from the planet Spod lurking somewhere? Where's your unpaid scientific adviser, what do you call him, Doctor John Smith?"
Lethbridge Stewart rolled his eyes. Bartlett smiled.
"He's here to advise me on alien matters, John," Bartlett said "We have to be prepared for all eventualities."
"So that's why Colonel O'Neill's here," Marbury said.
Jack O'Neill also cringed.
"Ron, can you take the Brigadier and the Colonel to the reception," Bartlett ordered.
"Yes, Mr President," Ron got up "Gentlemen."
Two relieved men got up and followed Ron.
"Aliaster, we have to have a drink some time," Marbury said.
"Of course, my lord."
Ron escorted Lethbridge Stewart and O'Neill out leaving Charlie to shut the door as he also exited. Abby disappeared into another room.
"Mr President, what's Lethbridge Stewart really doing here?"
"He is advising me on alien matters," Bartlett repeated.
"Abigail as well?"
"We need to know what an alien looks like if they ever decide to knock on the door of the White House."
Marbury gave Bartlett a look.
"Can we talk about India and Pakistan and how we can stop them blowing each other to hell?" Bartlett quickly added.
"Of course."
THE WHITE HOUSE CAR PARK
Jo Mcdonagh was sweltering. It was a hot summer's evening. A little too hot to be sitting in cars with three other sweaty people, Neve Kirland, Nancy Thorpe and Jack Harkness himself, waiting to protect a couple of idiots who couldn't see the wood from the trees. She switched on a tiny fan and let the cool breeze it generated relax her. She noted Jack watching her through the rear view mirror and looked back. She saw Jack smile.
"Feeling better, Jo?" Jack asked.
"Not particularly," Mcdonagh answered "This is absolute madness."
"Why?"
"We are acting as back up to the Deputy Chief of Staff and the Communications Director whilst they are walking into an obvious trap," Mcdonagh said "And we can do nothng to warn them. We have to let it happen and hope they don't get eaten alive by a couple of Vampires."
"The curse of plausible denability," Jack said.
"Some curse," Mcdonagh said "We have these two trying to head off the Agricultural Secretary, who's probably going through security as we speak. We have the Press Secretary, the Deputy Communications Director, and the Deputy Chief of Staff's Personal Assistant trying to ensure that the Agricultural Secretary doesn't turn into a bloody snake in front the President of the United States, the press core and a whole load of Ambassadors, and we have a White House packed full of dynamite in case they fail. If, of course, the snake doesn't eat the President before he can press the button."
"Nicely summed up, Jo," Neve, sitting in the driver's seat, joked.
"It's madness!"
"So what do we do?" Jack asked.
"We have enough to take Tribby in," Mcdonagh said "We have enough to light some flames up his arse and make him confess."
"And cause him to turn into a snake and wipe out a lot of people while we try to stop him," Jack said "If the Slayer and her friends has some magical way to stop him, I say we let them try."
"We could at least be handling this," Mcdonagh argued "Give the Slayer and her friends less bad guys to deal with."
"And we will be," Jack said "Once we ensure that the Deputy Chief of Staff and the Communications Director don't get their arses burnt."
"Here we go," Nancy interupted.
They looked up to see Josh and Toby, dressed in tuxedos but with Josh carrying a ruck sack that was totally anachronistic to the tuxedo. That was Josh Lynam, a walking anachronism. They watched Toby and Josh get into the car and move out of the White House car park.
"Ok, Neve," Jack said "Nice and steady."
Kirland started up the car and followed Josh and Toby.
THE AMBASSADORIAL RECEPTION
The Dignitaries were starting to arrive and, as hosts, Bartlett and Abby were around to meet and greet them. At first it was stuffy, formal and boring as hell, and made Bartlett wish that Tribby would turn up and turn into a snake there and then. It certainly would liven things up, especially if he could chew up a few of these fawning stuff shirts while he was at it. The downside to that idea was that he would probably chew him up as well, drat it!
"Enjoying yourself, sweetheart," Abby whispered as the Japanese Ambassador was introduced to him.
"Wonderful," Bartlett said as he accepted the Japanese Ambassador's hand.
"Mr President," The Japanese Ambassador said "It is good to see you again."
"Nice to see you as well, Hiro," Bartlett smiled "Is your wife keeping well?"
"She is very well."
"I notice she isn't with you," Abby said.
"Something came up," The Japanese Ambassador said "She sends her apologies."
"Something we can help with?" Bartlett asked.
"No," The Japanese Ambassador said "Thank you for the offer."
Both Abby and Bartlett saw that Charlie was hovering.
"Excuse us," Bartlett said.
"Certainly, Mr President," The Japanese Ambassador said.
Bartlett and Abby left the Japanese Ambassador, who was now talking to another Ambassador from a neighbouring country, to join Charlie.
"They're here."
"Who?" Bartlett asked.
"Rupert Giles, Wesley Wyndham Price and Buffy Summers."
Both Bartlett and Abby looked over to the entrance to see CJ entering with the man that he ran into when Buffy Summers was brought back to life in the White House, the Librarian known as Rupert Giles, followed by a younger man with Donna Moss, whom Bartlett assumed was Wesley Wyndham Price, and Sam Seaborn with that very same young woman, Buffy Summers. They all went in different directions, obviously trying to make sure that they fitted into this auspcious gathering as best as they could
"She's looking well for a woman who was dead a short time ago," Abby said.
Bartlett gave Abby a look, and then shrugged. He was never going to forget that video that showed his senior staff and the contigient from Sunnydale, including a Vampire, bringing Buffy back to life. The body, Bartlett reminded himself, that Buffy was in was actually a robot which had miracuously turned into flesh and blood. He couldn't quite get over that. They watched Sam being approached by a man who Sam, and Bartlett himself, detested more than life itself, and watched with satisfaction as it became obvious that Buffy had crushed his hand whilst shaking it.
"Atta girl," Abby whispered.
Then he saw something that made him sweat. Leo McGarry was approaching Donna and Wyndham Price.
"Damn it, Leo, what are you doing?" Abby said.
"Probably asking where Josh and Toby are," Bartlett answered.
"Oh!"
"Anyway, he wont be there for long."
Bartlett nodded to Lord John Marbury approaching Leo, Donna and Wesley. He noted Wesley Wyndham Price engaging Marbury in a chat whilst Leo scooted in his direction.
"Nice timing," Bartlett muttered.
Abby swiped Bartlett's arm. Leo joined Bartlett and Abby.
"That man is a pest," Leo grumbled.
"We need him, Leo," Bartlett said with half a smile "Any news on Josh and Toby?"
"Nothing, yet."
"What about Tribby?"
"He's given Josh and Toby the brush off, he's on his way here."
Abby took Bartlett's hand. At the same time Bartlett closed his eyes and prayed to every imaginable god that Josh and Toby would be safe.
"Mr President."
Bartlett opened his eyes and saw CJ's assistant, Carol, standing there with another Ambassador to be formally announced.
SURVAILENCE CAR NUMBER TWO
Sam Carter could see Josh and Toby through her binoculars. They had just pulled up into a parking slot and was getting out of the car after a brief conversation which to Sam looked a little heated, as if Josh was questioning what the hell he was doing there. She looked at Teal'c, Daniel Jackson and Suzie Costello. Teal'c was his usual stoic self, Daniel was a little more angsty than usual. Sam couldn't blame him considering it hadn't really been a good couple of months for him. The death of Sergeant Summerton hit him harder than most. He was convinced that given a little more time, he could have got through to her. Sam had told him, Jack O'Neill, both Jack's in fact, had told him, hell, even Teal'c told him that he had no chance. The Werewolf in her had completely taken over. He didn't want to lose anybody else, especially not the President's Communications Director and his Deputy Chief of Staff. He had a lot to prove to himself. Suzie Costello, however, was an unknown quantity. There was something in Miss Costello which suggested that she driven and curious, a little too curious for her taste. She wasn't bad, but, she was the type of person who could do something stupid in the name of curiosity.
"What the hell are they doing?" Costello asked.
Josh and Toby were looking around and then started to head towards the building. The lights were all out, which to all SG and Torchwood teams semed a little suspcious.
"Team two to Team one, subjects in sight and heading to the building," Carter said into her Walkie- Talkie.
"Copy that, Team Two," Jack Harkness said over the Walkie-Talkie "Anybody else?"
"So far they're alone," Daniel Jackson said "I don't think Tribby's going to turn up."
"Heads up," Costello said "Somebody has."
A number of bulky figures appeared and moved to encircle the two men. The bulky figures had one thing in common, they were all vampires.
"Oh shit!" Costello said for them all.
"Copy that, Suzie," Harkness said over the Walkie Talkie "All teams get ready to deploy on my mark. We have to protect our super heroes here."
THE AMBASSADORIAL RECEPTION
Bartlett could see Claudia Jean Cregg almost flirting with the handsome, and very tall, Rupert Giles.
"Nice to see CJ enjoying herself for a change," Abby whispered "She's been through a lot recently."
"More than a lot," Bartlett agreed.
They looked around and saw Sam with Buffy Summers. They could hear Sam getting a lot of comments about how young Buffy was, most of them were suggesting that Sam had invited another hooker to another White House shindig, something which Sam to his credit was ignoring. So was Buffy. But then she was focused on the task ahead. Bartlett admired that in Buffy. He had been reading the briefing notes about the oldest living slayer. He had read that she had in fact died twice at the hands of the Master, the head Vampire or so Bartlett was lead to believe. That brought first a young woman called Kendra, and then after Kendra died, Faith into existence. The second death, caused by jumping into a swirling vortex in an attempt to save her sister, Dawn, was the catalyst which made Donnatella Moss a Vampire Slayer. Both times she had been brought back to life, the second time with the help of Donna Moss, Josh Lynam, Sam Seaborn, Toby Ziegler and, of course, Claudia Jean Cregg.
"I want to meet one of them," Bartlett announced.
"Which one?" Abby asked.
"CJ's date," Bartlett said "Mr Giles."
They could see Giles reacting to the press core taking photographs of him and CJ together.
"Maybe he'd like to get away from the attention," Bartlett added.
"Wouldn't that be tipping your hand?" Abby said with a smile.
"I'll be careful, toots."
"I'm going to make sure of that."
Bartlett signalled to Charlie to have a word with CJ. He then accepted the hand of another ambassador.
SURVAILENCE CAR NUMBER ONE
Jack, McDonagh, Kirland and Thorpe were out of the car. They could see that Josh and Toby were at least ready to fight their way as suggested by the way Josh had whipped the bag off his shoulder and had got the Holy Water and a stake out of that bag with a practiced ease.
"They've been training," McDonagh commented.
"Thank god for that," Jack said.
They saw that the Vamps were taken by surprise for a moment, but only for a moment.
"So the puny humans want to dance," They heard one of the Vamps say "I could do with working up an appetite."
They saw the Vamps move in on Josh and Toby.
"Jack!" Susie Costello called from her Walkie-Talkie "We have to go in now."
Jack could see McDonagh, Kirland and Nancy Thorpe making the same suggestion with their eyes. If only Josh and Toby could reach their car and get in, and get the hell out of there.
"Sod Plausible Deniability!" Susie said again "They're going to be toast if we don't act soon."
"All teams get ready," Jack said "We go in on my mark, and I'll give that order if our super heroes are about to lose, is that clear?"
"Sod it, Jack!" Mc Donagh growled.
"Is that clear!"
Jack heard mumbled agreements from around him and from the radio. Ahead of them, Josh and Toby had begun their fight for survival.
THE AMBASSADORIAL RECEPTION
Bartlett was actually enjoying his conversation with Rupert Giles. Unlike the people he had to deal with day in, day out, Rupert Giles was actually interesting to talk to. They had one or two interests in common, enough to suggest that Bartlett if he didn't have probably the most difficult role any person could deal, that of President of the United States, could probably deal with the second difficult role, that of being the official watcher to a Vampire Slayer. But then, he wouldn't wish such a role on anybody. Bartlett knew that the survival rate of a slayer was at the very most two years. Buffy Summers was lucky. She had survived five. Technically, she died twice, but because she had supporters willing to give up their lives to save her, she had been restored to life both times. That would have been how Donnatella Moss would have survived. She already had a support mechanism in Josh, Toby, CJ and Sam, and he suspected that the Sunnydale crowd would have chipped in, as would have Torchwood, UNIT and the Stargate contingent. He was glad, however, that Donna didn't have to face that, because it meant a lot of sneaking around, and a lot of secrecy. Hardly conducive to the running of the greatest democracy in the world. The one thing that interested Bartlett was Giles's ability to translate ancient texts, a skill that Bartlett would have killed for.
"And you work from the original Sumerian?"
"Ah, er, some of the uh, later texts are translated into Latin," Giles pushed his glasses up on his nose, Bartlett allowed himself a smirk at Giles's uncomfortable action "Alas, not always very well, so I prefer to, ah, translate it for myself where I can."
Bartlett was seriously impressed. The language itself was difficult to master, but to have the courage to use his own judgement in translation put Bartlett in awe of Rupert Giles. Why did he have to use that skill to fight evil?
"Fascinating!" Bartlett said, and he meant that.
From the bar Abby could see that CJ was hovering over Bartlett and Rupert Giles. She could just about make out the look of concern on her face and decided that it was time to try and save Giles from her husband.
"I see the President's stolen my date," CJ said to Donna and Wyndham Price.
Abby moved beside CJ.
"Oh dear, is my husband monopolising your nice Englishman?"
"Well, it's hard to say who's monopolising whom, but they seem to be enjoying themselves, Ma'am," CJ answered.
Abby shook her head with sympathy.
"I'd better break this up before he decides to leave the party and run off to get his books."
With half a grin, Abby stepped up to her husband, and was relieved when her husband absently slipped an arm around her.
"Hey there, Babe," Bartlett said.
"Jed, there are people at this party who came specifically to talk to you."
She nodded in the direction of Lethbridge Stewart, who was in danger of being cornered by Lord Marbury, who was becoming a serious pest.
"Yeah, but I don't want to talk to them," Bartlett grumbled.
Abby glared at her husband, a glare which didn't go unnoticed. Giles coughed a little.
"I'm sorry, Mr President, I've been taking up your time," Giles apologised quickly.
"Not at all, not at all," He insisted jovially as his wife tried to drag him away "It's been very interesting talking to you."
Bartlett turned to Abby.
"Do I have to?"
"Deal with it, Pumpkin."
She led him off in the direction of a group of chatting ambassadors. As she did so, she saw Giles taking off his glasses and polishing them and CJ briefly talking to him before he, Wyndham Price and Buffy went off to compare notes, leaving CJ and Donna to compare their own notes.
"Did you have to be so rough, toots?" Bartlett whispered.
"You were overdoing it."
"Can I help it if he was more interesting to talk to than some stuffy Ambassador," Bartlett half joked.
"Interesting?"
"We could have talked all night, Abby," Bartlett said "He really knows his stuff."
Abby smiled. Under normal circumstances she probably wouldn't have minded, but circumstances wasn't normal, far from it. For a start, Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart definitely needed saving. They went past the chatting Ambassadors, who nodded in acknowledgement before they went on with their increasingly heated conversation.
"I'm going to break that up soon," Bartlett said.
"The Brigadier first," Abby said.
They approached Lethbridge Stewart and Marbury. Lethbridge Stewart was more than glad to see him.
"Mr President," Marbury said first "I'm not buying it. There's something going on. The Brigadier's here, Colonel O'Neill's here, and I've seen people from Torchwood, UNIT, and Stargate Command mingling with the guests."
"Trust me, John," Bartlett said "There is nothing going on."
Abby was virtually holding her breath. She could see that Lord John Marbury was far from convinced
"So why are Torchwood, UNIT and Stargate Command here?"
"The President invited us," Lethbridge Stewart said.
Abby cringed at Lethbridge Stewart's suggestion. Bartlett's next words were important.
"As my personal guests," Bartlett quickly added "There has been a lot of alien activity recently. We're about to hold a conference about how to deal with the threat. Your Prime Minister knows about it."
"Ricky knows about it?"
"Of course."
Be careful, Pumpkin, Abby thought.
"And there is to be a British representation at this conference?"
"That's why I'm here, your lordship," Lethbridge Stewart answered.
"UNIT only?" Marbury pressed.
"And Torchwood," Bartlett quickly added "If you can think of anybody else who needs to be involved, please feel free."
Abby could see Marbury looking suspciously at Bartlett. He then nodded and got to his feet. Abby could feel her breathing returning to normal. At that moment, the band started playing waltz music
"Fancy a dance, Abigail?"
Abby looked at her husband, who nodded his agreement. She allowed Marbury to take her hand and guide her to the dance floor.
"Thank you, Mr President," Lethbridge Stewart said.
Bartlett nodded in acknowledgement
"You are aware that Lord Marbury is going to check," Lethbridge Stewart said.
"I know, Aliaster, I know."
This was the one time in which he hoped that Tribby would arrive so that this snake problem could be dealt with. Lying was becoming a habit that President Josiah Bartlett could do without.
SURVAILENCE CAR ONE
Jack Harkness could see Josh lashing out blindly as one of the vampires got too close for comfort. He saw that it was by pure chance that Josh's attack made contact forcing the vampire back. He could feel Mcdonagh tensing beside him, urging him to give the signal.
"Hold on, Jo," He said "It's not time."
He could hear Mcdonagh take a sharp intake of breath and could see Kirland squeeze Mcdonagh's hand as if to calm her down. He had noticed that about Kirland and Mcdonagh. There was something there, some sort of chemistry that he had only seen in certain relationships. Thorpe was the outsider, but still part of the team as he could hear when she saw another vampire suddenly lunge at Josh and Toby. He heard a massive exhale of relief when that vampire exploded in a shower of dust as Josh's second attack finally hit home.
"Hey, he killed Kevin!" One of the vamps exclaimed.
The incongruity of a vampire called Kevin had caught Josh by surprise. Jack could see that look of surpise and the hesitation that followed and almost wanted to make the call there and then. However, he had to hang on. They couldn't move just yet
"Shit, Josh!" Jack exclaimed "Focus."
Josh was further surprised by a vampire grabbing him from behind and biting him in the side of the neck.
"Jack!" Costello was screaming "For fuck sake!"
He was about to make the call when he saw Josh instinctively bring his rucksack up to whack the vampire. The vampire was suddenly howling and reeling backwards.
"Holy water!" McDonagh said.
"Yep," Jack said with half a smile "Now they have a fighting chance."
They could see the Vampires drawing back and eyeing them warily. Toby had snatched up an undamaged water bottle and was holding it as if it was a grenade, Josh had managed to scramble a crossbow out of his backpack and was brandishing it in a menacing manner.
"Get the hell out of there!" Jack muttered.
They both backed slowly towards the exit. Toby kicked the door open behind them and they sprinted to their car.
"Now!"
Just as Josh and Toby got into their car, a vampire trying to stop them exploded in a shower of dust due to a staff blast from Teal'c. The car sped away into the distance leaving the vamps confused at the nature of this sudden and violent death of one of their number. One of them turned to see Jack Harkness, Jo McDonagh, Nancy Thorpe and Neve Kirland approach from one direction and Sam Carter, Daniel Jackson, Teal'c and Suzie Costello move toward them from another.
"Who the hell!"
"The A Team!" Jack said without humour.
Another vampire blew up in a shower of dust due to an arrow shot from a crossbow held by Sam Carter.
"Wanna dance?" Jack said.
The vampires, totally confused by what was going on, decided to launch an attack. The first of them headed towards Nancy Thorpe and Kirland
"Bad move," McDonagh said as she stuck a stake into the attacking vampire causing him to disintegrate. Another blew up just in front of her, another victim of Teal'c's staff weapon. The fight was on.
THE WHITE HOUSE GARDENS
The air was still, the night outside the White House was quiet. Yet there was tension in the air. The Secret Service had seen Josh and Toby leave and saw Jack Harkness and his team attach themselves behind. There was word that a fight had just erupted in a nearby building involving Josh and Toby but they could do nothing. They knew that Tribby was on his way, in fact fairly close but couldn't stop him in case he turned all snakey there and then. They also knew that if all plans to stop him fail then the President would have no choice but to drop the White House on him and hope that the action would finally get rid of him. They never felt so helpless in their lives, even though they had one of the SGC's finest with them.
"You guys okay?" John Shepherd asked.
Bill Curtis, one of Ron Butterfield's finest, gave Shepherd a look.
"Considering that we're hoping that the Deputy Chief of Staff and the Communications Director can somehow stop a snake from descending on us," Curtis said with a hint of sarcasm "I'm dandy."
Shepherd grinned.
"Copy that, Curtis."
Curtis smiled. Then he froze as a strange sound started. Within a matter of seconds it got louder then it came to a stop. Every Secret Service man and SG trooper took out a weapon.
"Call it in," Shepherd ordered.
Shepherd gestured for Curtis and two others to follow him. Within seconds they could see the cause of that noise in front of them. It was an old fashioned London Metropolitain Police box. Shepherd stopped the men and gestured they got into hiding. As they did so, they watched a man wearing a dark leather jacket and dark trousers emerge.
"I think we're in time," The man said "The White House hasn't been destroyed yet."
"You sure, Doc?" A female voice, with a thick Brooklyn accent, said from inside the box.
"Laverne, surely you, Shirley, Kate and Allie can trust me by now."
"Yeah, right."
The owner of that second, slightly more gravelly, voice emerged. She was a tall woman, probably in her late thirties, with long curled brown hair.
"Kate?"
"Doctor, you have got us into so much trouble recently, I'm beginning to wonder what is safe and what isn't."
"After all we are talking about a giant snake that should already be dead," Another woman, this time a smaller blonde about the same age as the woman called Kate, said whilst emerging from the box.
Another woman, this time with dark hair, poked her head out.
"Where is that Giant Snake?" She said.
She was pushed out by the owner of the first voice, a tall woman with thick blonde hair and an 'L' sewn on her lapel.
"If I even see a Giant Snake, Vernie," the dark haired woman said "I'm back in the TARDIS."
"Shirl, you'll be fine."
Shepherd and Curtis looked at each other. They had both heard the word TARDIS.
"The Doctor?" Curtis asked.
"Could be."
They watched the quintet leave the box and head towards the White House. Shepherd raised a walkie talkie to his lips.
"Greyhound Seven to Greyhound Control," He said "The Doctor and his companions are here. He has four women, repeat, four women with him."
They watched as Secret Serice men descended on the Quintet.
"Oh shit!" Shepherd exclaimed.
He was on the Walkie-Talkie again.
"This is Greyhound Seven, call the dogs off, this is a friendly."
Both Shepherd and Curtis were rushing over to extracate the Doctor, in his ninth incarnation, Laverne De Fazio, Shirley Feeney, Kate McCardle and Allie Barsky from those neanderthals.
"Guys," Shepherd said "They're clean."
The Secret Service men looked at Curtis for guidance. Curtis nodded.
"Thank you," Laverne De Fazio said to Shepherd and Curtis "I can breathe again."
Ron Butterfield and Leo McGarry emerged from the White House to join the gathering.
"Doctor," Leo said "You are a sight for sore eyes."
Laverne, Shirley, Kate and Allie looked at the Doctor and saw that cheesy smile on his face.
"I'm assuming that the Giant Snake hasn't struck yet," The Doctor said.
"He could be here any minute," Ron said.
"And Josh Lyman and Toby Ziegler hasn't been able to stop him?"
"That's correct," Leo answered.
"Then we haven't got a lot of time," The Doctor said "Oh by the way, these are my companions Laverne De Fazio, Shirley Feeney, Kate McCardle and Allie Barsky. They are fully cleared."
Ron looked at the other Secret Service men, and they scattered back to their posts. Leo looked at Shirley closely.
"I know you, don't I?"
"I don't think so," Shirley said.
Leo thought for a moment. His mind went back to Vietnam to the time when he was stuck in the jungles trying to evade the Vietcong. There was a nurse, she had a German accent, but she looked like Shirley Feeney as she was now. It couldn't be her, he thought, that nurse would be in her early to mid fifties now. This woman was early to mid thirties at best. He smiled.
"Come on, let's take you to see the President."
THE AMBASSADORIAL RECEPTION
Bartlett was in a very uninteresting conversation with the Ambassador from Greece and was looking for an escape, anything, even John Marbury, who was now in conversation with the Indian Ambassador, would be a help. Abby was in deep conversation with Amy Gardiner. How the hell that woman got herself an invite to this reception god only knows. He could also see Sam in conversation with Buffy Summers, and Buffy grinning about what he was saying. Presumably they were talking about Sam being turned into a werewolf and the kiss that he gave Josh. That was going to be the talk of the White House for months. CJ and Giles were in deep conversation as well. Donna was looking lost. She and Wesley Wyndham Price weren't really that compatible, but he needed an escort, so she was stuck with him. He could see Charlie waving to him.
"Sorry, Constantine," Bartlett said "I have to go."
"Certainly, Mr President."
Bartlett went over to Charlie.
"Well?"
"He's here."
"Tribby?"
"The Doctor."
Bartlett looked at Charlie.
"You sure?"
"One hundred percent," Charlie said "He has four women with him. A Miss Laverne De Fazio, a Miss Shirley Feeney, a Mrs Kate McCardle and a Mrs Allie Barsky."
Bartlett took a deep breath.
"Then I'd better see them," Bartlett said "Where are they?"
"The Oval Office."
"Get my wife and Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart, and probably Jack O'Neill as well."
Charlie nodded and headed in the direction of Abby and Amy Gardiner. Again Bartlett took a deep breath and headed out of the room. This had now taken a massive turn. The Doctor was here.
THE CAR PARK (SURVAILENCE CAR ONE)
The battle was over. The last vampire was dust ready to be swept up. Roger Tribby, if he survived the night, would need more new staff. Teal'c and Daniel Jackson were cleaning up some dust ready for examination. They were hoping to find a cure for vampirism, or so Daniel Jackson was saying. Well good luck, Jack Harkness thought, once you're dead you should always remain dead. An interesting thought from a man who could never die, but he firmly believed it. The Doctor and Rose Tyler had cursed him for all eternity in their ultimate victory over the Daleks, the victory that cost the Doctor his ninth body.
"Jack."
Jack looked at Jo McDonagh.
"Sorry," She said.
"For?"
"Trying to force you to go too soon," McDonagh said "That action could have got Lyman and Ziegler killed."
"It could have."
Jack grimaced at the thought.
"Everybody wanted to go in," He said "Even I did, but, I knew we had to wait. One of the problems of being a time agent."
"You knew what was going to happen."
"Yep," Jack said "And we had the curse of plausible deniability to contend with. Not a great combination."
"Jack!"
Jack looked at Sam Carter.
"He's here."
"Who?"
"The Doctor."
Jack tensed.
"Which one?"
"He has short hair and a leather jacket."
"Is his companion a short blonde haired woman that goes by the name of Rose Tyler?"
"No, he has four companions," Sam said "Laverne De Fazio, Shirley Feeney..."
"Damn it!" Jack cursed "Damn it to hell."
"Jack?" McDonagh queried.
"We haven't met yet," Jack said "If we meet, it could disrupt the time line."
"We need you, Jack," Sam said.
Jack Harkness took a deep breath. There may be a way around this. He would have to take a name in vain, but since the Doctor would, or should never meet Captain John Hart.
"Right, I'm going to have to ask you to take a leap of faith," Jack said.
Both Jo McDonagh and Sam Carter looked at each other.
THE OVAL OFFICE
Bartlett entered to see Leo and Ron with two blonde women, two brunettes and a man wearing a leather jacket.
"Ron, Leo?"
"Mister President, this is the Doctor," Ron said.
The Doctor held out his hand and smiled that cheesy smile.
"President Josiah Bartlett," The Doctor said enthusiastically "This is fantastic."
Bartlett was taken a little by surprise by this enthusiasm. He accept the Doctor's hand and found that it was a warm handshake.
"You are one of the greatest Presidents that this country has ever had," The Doctor continued.
"Thank you."
He could feel his wife, who had just joined him, smirking. However, there was something else that had caught the Doctor's attention.
"Brigadier Aliaster Gordon Lethbridge Stewart, it is so good to see you again."
"Doctor?"
"I have changed, but it is me."
The Brigadier shook the Doctors hand. The Doctor pulled him into an embarrased hug.
"You've hardly changed," The Doctor said.
"Doctor," Lethbridge Stewart said "You are a constant surprise."
A cough from behind them attracted their attention. It had come from Kate McCardle.
"Josiah Bartlett, Abigail Bartlett, Brigadier, may I introduce to my companions, Laverne De Fazio, Shirley Feeney, Kate McCardle and Allie Barsky," The Doctor said.
Firstly Bartlett, then Abby and then the Brigadier shook Kate's, Laverne's, Shirley's and Allie's hand. The door opened again and Jack o'Neill entered. Expectant eyes turned to him.
"Just heard word from the team," O'Neill said "Josh Lyman and Toby Ziegler have managed to escape Tribby's trap, and the vampires have been dealt with."
"Tribby?" Leo asked
"As we thought, they missed him," O'Neill said.
"Which means that he's either here, or he's on his way," Allie surmised.
O'Neill looked at Allie.
"Allie Barsky," The Doctor said "A New York housewife, this is her friend Kate McCardle."
Kate waved.
"And this is Laverne De Fazio and Shirley Feeney."
Shirley gave O'Neill a shy look, whilst Laverne echoed Kate's wave.
"So you must be the Doctor," O'Neill said.
"Guilty as charged," The Doctor said "Now lets see how we can help stop a big snake from devouring this world."