Here is another chapter for you guys! I tried my best to make everyone react and speak as realistically to the show as I could and that definitely wasn't the easiest task, funnily enough. I did a lot of research regarding the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack and when it would be safe for emergency personnel to intervene. Unfortunately, it isn't always in minutes following because the threat of danger has to be eliminated first. As always, please feel free to leave reviews because I always read them and take each one into consideration. Happy reading!

—

The White House Bunker

As Russel and Dalton entered the briefing room, military and high-ranking personnel were already seated around the table tasking away. When they saw Conrad enter, they rose to their feet swiftly before being gestured by the President to sit back down.

"What's the latest update?" The President asked.

"At least fifteen dead and thirty injured—of those thirty, ten are in critical condition, sir. Those are only the people accounted for outside. We haven't received any word on whether or not it's safe for response teams to enter." Replied one of them.

An expression of desolation and despondency pillaged Conrad's facial features.

"There is also no word of Bluebird yet, Mr. President."

Conrad had to grab ahold of the back of one of the chairs to steady himself and a few members of his staff went to his aid, but he brushed them off and informed them that he was fine. In reality, he felt as if the world was closing in around him. He knew there were going to be fatalities and that was already hard enough to grapple with, but if Elizabeth were among them, he didn't think he could take it.

"We have confirmation with the FBI that a perimeter has been secured. All roads going to and leaving the airport are blocked as well as the surrounding areas. All airports are shut down and flights are grounded." Another voice informed.

"Tell them that anyone coming and going from the area needs to be rightfully identified. We can't have unknown people getting through." Their superior demanded.

"Do we know who's responsible?" Russel asked.

Admiral Ellen Hill spoke this time. "It's still too early to determine. Witnesses claim that a man quickly approached the secretary saying something along the lines of 'stop the boats'."

Russel nodded and said veraciously, "Ah, so this confirms my theory about Yasmin Nazar being the proxy target."

"Good news is that it has been confirmed that the thermo UAVs and air sniffers didn't detect any biological or radiological chemicals in the area." Admiral Hill continued.

The President's Chief of Staff rested his hands on the table, marginally slouched over.

"We've got to give them something. This is going to hit all the major news outlets within a matter of minutes."

President Dalton nodded in agreement. "Which is why we need to alert every single one of our embassies."

An unnamed voice answered, "Already on it, sir."

"The National Strategy for Homeland Security is waiting for your permission to activate the National Response Framework, sir. What should I tell them?" Admiral Hill pursued.

The President was preoccupied in deep thought and his eyes were gazed down at the floor.

"Mr. President?"

Conrad let out a heavy sigh and ran his hand down his face in a conflicted gesture. "Tell them to go ahead."

"Sir, we should also contact the McCord children and let them know what has happened—that is if the media hasn't gotten ahold of the story yet." Russel suggested.

"Yes. Right, of course." Conrad was completely inundated with the Dulles attack that his coherent thoughts were going right down the drain. "Call them immediately."

—

The McCord Residence

The McCord children were completely oblivious and unaware of what was transpiring. Allison and Stevie were busy making brownies for the celebration that was to take place at the State Department building that evening. Jason, however, was sitting at the edge of the couch hunched over in momentous focus; his eyes fixated on the television screen. He was in his typical insurgent world, preoccupied with playing his violent video games.

Allison looked up from beating the eggs when a loud explosion came from the television followed by rapid gunfire and Jason's subjugated shout of victory.

"You know mom doesn't like you playing those video games." She said deliberately.

"Well, Dad does so—" Jason replied flatly, his eyes not leaving the screen.

"Well, then I don't like you playing those and I'm sure Stevie doesn't either." Allison folded her arms across her chest in annoyance and turned her gaze to Stevie as if to get her consensus.

"Correct. No, I don't. Our family deals with enough existent violence and actual fatalities on a daily basis. We don't need your stupid video games to add to that." Stevie said in agreement.

Jason scoffed and shook his head. "Just leave me alone. You're making me lose my concentration."

"You could be helping us, you know. This is a big deal for Mom and you know how much she loves brownies." Stevie retorted.

Once again, Jason replied with no interest, "I can't stop now. I'm on a role here!"

Frustrated, Allison slammed her hand on the countertop. "You know what? I give up!"

"Finally." Their brother mumbled.

Stevie's phone began to ring and the timing couldn't have been better, or so she thought. She wiped her hands on her apron and answered it.

"Hello, this is Stevie."

"Stevie, it's Russel Jackson." It was clear that he was disturbed by something in the way his voice carried; deep and raspy, yet soft.

"Oh, Mr. Jackson! Was I supposed to be at that meeting today? I'm so sorry, I completely forgot! I-I'll leave right now!" She was in complete panic mode.

"No, no. The ...uh... meeting has been postponed." He replied apprehensively.

"Oh, thank God! I thought you were calling about some bad news that involved firing me. You scared me for a second there." She jested.

"I did call to relay some bad news and it does involve you—all three of you."

The line went silent.

"Mr. Jackson?" Panic had now flooded into Stevie's chest and her breathing was rapid. Alison took notice and quickly went to her older sister's side.

"A bomb was detonated at Dulles and your mom was the primary target." Russel was trying to keep his emotions in check. He was usually really good at concealing them, but he was having a rough time of it today.

"Oh my God!" Stevie's hand flew to her mouth.

"We also have confirmed reports that your father was also there. Unfortunately, we have no exact location on them as of right now, but we have every response team and high-ranking professionals working on that as we speak."

Allison knew their mother was in trouble. She didn't need to hear the conversation to understand. She ran to the table in front of the television where Jason was playing his video game and changed the channel back to cable news.

"Hey, hey, hey! What are doing? I was almost at my highest level!" He whined.

Allison's jaw dropped at what she saw unfolding on public television. Jason noticed her expression and followed her gaze to the screen and his own heart skipped a beat.

Travelers and airport employees were fleeing the building, scattering like ants. Response vehicles were spread out all over the place with their lights flashing and the SWAT team and FBI had their guns drawn. Stevie walked over and joined them in front of the TV in complete shock and disbelief.

"Yes." Stevie responded on the phone. "We are watching it on the news right now."

"We are sending security detail to your house this very minute for precautionary measures." Russel paused for a minute before speaking again. "We are going to do everything we can to bring your parents home. I'll call you when we have further information."

Stevie hung up her phone and sat down on the couch with her two younger siblings, embracing them in a group hug.

"Mom and Dad are going to be okay. They've been through situations like this before and have made it. They're going to be fine." Deep down Stevie knew that she was only trying to convince herself that everything was going to turn out fine, but in reality she couldn't possibly predict the outcome.

—

Dulles International Airport

The fire alarms continued to blare throughout the interior of the building, but Henry and Elizabeth had both acclimated to the noise and it barely phased them now.

Elizabeth was now talking in complete sentences, much to Henry's relief, but her words were still slurred and her voice was weak. He also took notice that her complexion was turning very pale, which usually meant a significant amount of blood was being lost. However, since it was so dark and the only light being illuminated around them was burning debris and the glow of faint sunlight shining lightly on Elizabeth's face, he couldn't tell where it was coming from. There were several instances when Henry had to slap Elizabeth's cheeks to keep her from drifting off to sleep and it made him feel so helpless, more so than he was already was.

Where the hell are the emergency responders?

He continued to caress his wife's face, feeling the blood starting to dry on her skin beneath his fingertips. Elizabeth let out a faint chuckle.

"What's so funny, babe?" He pondered.

"I always seem to be targeted with some kind of explosive device. I can name three already." She quipped.

Henry was not sure how to respond to her observation and it took him a few seconds to come up with a reply.

"And yet you've survived every single one of them and this one will be no different." There was a brief silence in their conversation before Henry muttered in vexation, " You'd think because a member of the cabinet was the main target of this attack, they'd be in here already."

"They know what they're doing, Henry."

"Well, are they aware that the Secretary of State is critically wounded and in a very vulnerable position?" His voice started to raise, his anger escalating. "There are others who also need attention and Matt can't possibly get to all of them, let alone treat them! His knowledge is extremely limited in that area. If the medics don't get here soon, a lot more people are going to die today."

"Are you done ranting because...Oh, God, I'm gonna pass out." Elizabeth swallowed hard.

"No, baby. No you're not." Henry began shaking her to try and keep her awake. "Stevie, Allison and Jason will want to see you conscious when they visit you at the hospital."

The mention of their children made Elizabeth try harder to push the feeling of sleep away. She had to show them—no , tell them that she was okay, but she had to fight the urge to close her eyes in order to do that.

Just think about the kids, Elizabeth. She thought. Think about the kids.