"Donna, you still coming to the Embassy party tonight?"Josh Lyman asked as he poked his head out of his office.

The blonde woman blinked in surprise. "Embassy party?"

Josh frowned. "I told you about that, right?"

Donna shook her head. "No."

"You sure I didn't tell you about it?"Josh asked as he walked into the bullpen.

Donna nodded as she placed a letter into the fax machine. "I keep track of your schedule, remember? You made no mention of a party."

The brown haired man shrugged. "Well there is one tonight "

"Can't go."Donna replied knowing it was a futile gesture. This had been her first full night off in eons she wasn't letting this go without a fight, or a raise.

Josh raised an eyebrow. "You have plans?"

Moss nodded. "First night off in months Josh, you promised."

"I know and I'll make it up to you."Josh replied as he sat on the corner of her desk. "Just show up for a couple hours and then duck out."

Donna sighed. "If I go I want three nights off a week."

"You know I can't promise that, Donna."Josh replied.

"Have a good time."Donna stated as she stood and walked over to the copy machine.

"Okay, two nights, best I can do."Lyman relented as he rose to his feet."Be ready by six."

*******

"Why are we here?"C.J. Cregg asked as the quartet of White House staff members stood just off the main room near the stairs of the Embassy.

"White House needed to be represented."Sam Seaborn replied with a grin as he snatched a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

The press secretary shook her head. "There's an Embassy party every week. What's so different about this one."

"I was asking the same thing."Donna interjected.

"This is the Saudi Arabian embassy."Josh replied as he watched guests spill out from the main room into the hallway and onto the small patio. For late February the night was unseasonably warm.

"So?"Sam replied as he took a sip of champagne.

"We have troops in Saudi Arabia."Lyman replied as he absently tugged at his bow tie.

C.J. glanced at him. "We've had troops in Saudi Arabia for years."

Josh grinned. "It's a party guys and we get paid to be here so just relax and enjoy."

***********

Chief of Staff Leo McGarry was just flicking off the light in his office when Toby Zeilger appeared in the doorway.

"Whatever it is, Toby, forget it."The older man stated as he grabbed his jacket and briefcase and walked around his desk. "Mallory and I have had this trip planned for weeks."

The brown haired man nodded as he stepped into the room. "I know Leo and I 'm sorry. But we've got a situation breaking on one of our bases in Turkey."

Leo stepped out into the hall. "How do I know this can't wait until Monday."

Toby shook his head. "A teenage boy was shot and killed."

"By one of ours?"Leo asked even though he already knew the answer.

The communications director nodded. "Guard claims the boy had a gun but no weapon was found on him."

"Does the President know?"Leo asked.

"Yes."Zeigler replied.

McGarry sighed. "Let me call my daughter and I'll meet you in the Oval office in a few minutes."

*******

"How long have we been here?"C.J. asked Donna as the four friends started to move back into the main room of the Embassy.

Donna glanced at her watch. "About an hour."

"Is that all?"C.J. replied just as Sam glanced back at them.

"You're having fun, admit it."Sam commented with a grin.

Glass shattering behind them interrupted the conversation causing the group to come to a stand still.
They turned just in time to see fifteen masked heavily armed men burst through the front door and spread throughout the Embassy.

One of the gunman who had been at the center of the group wrapped an arm around a startled Donna and dragged her in front of one of the reporters covering the party.

Josh instinctively started toward his assistant but Sam placed a restraining hand on his friend's arm.

The gunman shoved the reporter roughly away from the cameraman. "Turn it on!"

"It is on."The young blond haired man replied struggling to keep the fear out of his voice.

The gunman slammed his semi-automatic rifle against Donna's temple. "People of America."The man stated in a Middle Eastern accent. "Your government has two hours to remove the sanctions from Iraq or we will kill every person in this building. "

Donna closed her eyes not quite believing what was happening.

The gunman shoved Donna closer to the camera as he aimed the gun at the back of her head. He squeezed the trigger just as the Embassy lost all power.

******

White House reporter Susan Johnson rapped lightly on Danny Concanon's open office door. "Hey Danny wasn't C.J. going to that Saudi Embassy party tonight?"

Danny nodded as he glanced up at the blonde woman. "Yeah, why?"

Susan's face was grim as she pointed to the small TV in the corner of the office. "Just turn on channel four."

********

At Margaret's small scream Kathy glanced up at the bank of monitors that covered the right wall of the bullpen.
The dark haired young woman moved to stand next to her friend as she scanned the monitors trying to find what had upset her friend.
Then she saw it.....on the far left monitor one of the local stations had been covering the embassy party. Now it showed a masked man pressing a gun against Donna Moss's head.

"Get Toby."Kathy ordered shakily once she found her voice

*********

"Was that live?"Danny asked in a tight voice his gaze fixed on the now dark TV screen.

Susan shook her head sadly. "No, channel five's cameraman was the unlucky one to be at the party. They ran it live and since then every station in town has run that."

The red haired reporter stood as he grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair. "Is she alive?"

Susan shrugged. "We don't know. They killed the power deliberately so we wouldn't know her fate."

"Did they say who they were?"Danny asked as he double-checked to make sure he had a pad and pen.

Susan shook her head. "No, but the latest rumor is that they're a group called Black Moon, new to the terrorist game."

"Obviously not that new."Danny replied grimly as he found what he needed and stepped past her into the hallway.

"Where are you going?"Susan asked with concern knowing Danny's feelings for the White House press secretary.

"To find out how the hell these guys came out of nowhere to capture an embassy party."Concanon replied sharply.

******

The power came back on as quickly as it had gone off. The gunmen quickly forced the partygoers to sit where they were.
C.J., Josh and Sam sat with their backs against the wall nearest to the embassy's main room. Which left them a clear view of Donna Moss's still form twenty feet away.

"If everyone remains calm and cooperates fully,"The lead gunman began as slowly walked around the foyer looking each party guest in the eye,"No one else will get hurt."

"You won't get away with this!"Josh shouted gaining the man's attention. "The government's policy is not to give in to terrorist demands."

Sam grabbed Josh by the shoulder before his friend could rise to his feet. "Josh, this isn't helping."

The leader stalked across the room and hit the deputy chief of staff across the temple with the butt of his gun. "No one will talk!"He shouted as he walked back to the center of the room where Donna lay. "No one talks, no one moves, no one gets hurt. Is that understood?"

Silence engulfed the room like a thick rain cloud on a summer's day.

The leader nodded before lowering his weapon and walking into the main room of the embassy leaving his henchmen to stand guard.

C.J. quickly took Sam's handkerchief out of his breast pocket and pressed it against the deep cut on Josh's temple.

"Is Donna alright?"Lyman asked weakly as he struggled to sit up.

Sam gently pushed his friend back down as he exchanged a concerned glance with C.J..

"I don't know, Josh."C.J. replied quietly, "We can't tell from here."

*******

Danny Concanon scurried through the familiar White House pressroom. He almost made it to C.J's office before four secret service agents blocked his path.

"No press."A tall burly man in his forties with thinning blond hair snapped as he shoved Danny none too gently back into the pressroom.

Danny glared at them in frustration as he yanked off his press pass. "See? I'm not here as a member of the press. I have some information that the President really needs right now."

The men didn't budge which forced Danny to resort to plan C. He yanked out his pad of paper and quickly scribbled a note before he folded it in half.
Danny replaced his note pad and returned to the secret service agents and handed the note to the one who looked the friendliest.

"Please, can you at least give this to Mrs. Landingham as soon as possible?"Danny asked knowing that the secretary was his one link to the President.

The men glanced at each other before the one holding the note nodded.

"She'll get it."The sandy haired young man promised quietly.

Danny nodded his thanks before turning and leaving the pressroom.

President Jed Bartlet's face was grim as he faced the two remaining members of his senior staff as they sat in the Oval Office.

"How the hell did this happen?"Bartlet demanded as he stood and walked around the left corner of his desk.

"The party had light security since the ambassador wasn't on the premises."Toby Zeigler replied quietly.

"Do we know if the others are hurt?"The president asked knowing that Josh Lyman would be a force to be reckoned with if Donna Moss had been killed.

Leo McGarry shook his head sadly. "Not yet. The police and FBI have secured the perimeter of the building and are trying to establish negotiations with the terrorists.

Bartlet leaned back against the corner of his desk. "Leo, wherever the negotiations are being held I want to be there."

Leo exchanged a concerned glance with Toby before replying. "Sir, I know how you feel but you being there is impossible."

Bartlet shook his head. "Nothing's impossible, Leo. This group whoever they are has my staff at gunpoint."

"Which is exactly why you can't be there, Mr. President."Toby replied firmly.

******

Josh angrily batted C.J.'s hand away as he struggled into a sitting position. "I'm fine, C.J.."

C.J. shook her head as she exchanged a concerned glance with Sam. "The cut may have stopped bleeding, Josh but you may have a concussion."

Lyman ignored her as he leaned back against the wall ignoring the wave of pain and dizziness that came with the movement. It had been nearly an hour since the terrorists had taken over the embassy party and Donna hadn't moved.

He knew C.J. and Sam assumed she was dead and was trying to shield him from that knowledge but Josh didn't want to believe it.
He couldn't believe it.
If Donna was dead her blood was on his hands....he was solely responsible for her death. He had practically dragged her to this party.
It was supposed to be her night off....he should've let her go.

Sam watched Josh warily. He wasn't sure if Donna was dead but he was fairly sure that she had at least been shot. The pool of blood on the left side of her body was a clear sign of that.
He knew Josh blamed himself for her being hurt and Sam wasn't sure how Josh would handle another confrontation with the terrorists.
For all of their sakes Sam had to calm his friend.

"Josh."Sam began quietly as he turned to face the deputy chief of staff. "This isn't your fault."

Lyman glared at the younger man. "Shut up, Sam."He replied in a weary voice his gaze never leaving Donna's still form. "Just shut up."

*****

"Do we have any idea who this group is?"Bartlet demanded as he paced the Oval Office.

Leo shook his head. "Could be any one of a number of splinter groups that have formed over the last three years or so. CIA and State are working on Intel."

Jed glanced at his chief of staff. "Are they aware we have a clock?"

McGarry nodded grimly. "Yes,Sir. They're going to give us updates every twenty minutes."

Bartlet glanced at the clock on his desk with a worried frown. "Better make that every ten minutes, Leo. We just passed the hour mark."

Leo stood. "Yes, Sir."He replied and quickly left the room praying that whatever information they got would arrive in time.

"Sam,"C.J. called quietly as she leaned against the wall,"What's our clock?"

Seaborn glanced at his watch then warily at the four-armed terrorists patrolling the room. "We've got just under an hour left before the deadline runs out."

The Press Secretary gestured toward the flashing police lights outside. "They obviously have the place surrounded. What are they waiting for?"

Sam motioned toward the terrified partygoers clustered around them. "Look around, C.J.. This place is full of Washington's upper crust. The cops don't want to make a rash move that will end in a fatality."

Josh Lyman couldn't stand it any longer. One way or the other he had to know if Donna was dead. No matter what the risk.
He had made it half way to Donna's still form before Sam noticed he was gone.

"Damn it, Josh."Seaborn called in a loud whisper. "Get back here."

Lyman ignored him as he risked a glance at the gunmen. One was by the stairs, one by the front door and one by the far window, and one was with the leader in the main room behind them. None had noticed him yet.
It was only when Josh reached Donna's side that he saw the large pool of blood emerging from her left side.
"Oh God."Josh whispered as he quickly reached for a pulse. He had to look away from the blood or he knew he'd faint.
Josh nearly jumped out of his skin when his fingers found a pulse.

"Donna?"Josh called softly as he gently turned her onto her back risking a glance at the terrorists.

"She alive?"Sam asked with concern as he reached his friend's side.

"Yeah."Lyman replied relief clearly in his voice,"Help me carry her back. We need to get the bleeding under control."

******

"What do the press know?"Bartlet asked quietly.

Toby Zielger shook his head slightly. "Considering we found out about the attack from the Press I'd say they know more than we do."

Before Bartlet could reply his long time secretary stepped into the room.

"Sorry for the interruption, Sir."Mrs Landingham stated quietly as she stepped into the room, "But the Secretary of State is on the phone regarding the situation in Turkey."

"Tell him I'll call him back."Bartlet replied as he stood.

"He said it was urgent, Sir."Landingham replied as she stepped out of the office.

"It always is."The President muttered under his breath.

******

C.J. glanced at the guards warily as Sam and Josh quickly carried Donna's still form back to their spot near the wall.
"Is she alive?"The red haired woman asked with concern as the two men gently laid Donna onto her back.

Sam nodded tightly. "Yeah, but barely. Looks like the bullet grazed her left side."

C.J. glanced at him in surprise. "When did you go to medical school?"

Sam shrugged. "That's what my parents wanted me to do so I took a few medical courses before switching to law."

Josh quickly took off his tuxedo jacket. He folded it up and pressed it firmly against Donna's wound.
"We've got to get her to a hospital."Josh stated in a tight voice barely keeping a reign on his emotions. He glanced down at his wadded up coat, his hands were covered in blood. He swallowed hard and looked away.

"I don't think these guys are going to let us just walk out of here."C.J. replied as she took off her red shawl and gently placed it over Donna not liking at all how pale the younger woman's face was.

Josh's eyes narrowed dangerously. "They will if they want a chance in hell of the President agreeing to their demands."

C.J. tried to grab Lyman's right arm as he stood but he shook her off. Sam quickly took his place continuing to apply pressure to Donna's wound.

"Josh!"C.J. called not caring who heard. She'd never seen that look on his face before and she wasn't sure what he was going to do.

The Deputy Chief of staff ignored his friend as he crossed the short space to the main room of the embassy. Three terrorists quickly blocked his path.
Josh tried to move around them and was rewarded with the barrel of a gun smashing into his rib cage. Fiery pain swept through his mid-section causing him to instantly double over.

Sam instantly started to stand to go to his friend's aide but C.J.'s restraining hand stopped him.

"Sit down!"The terrorist on the right of the trio ordered as he raised his gun.

Despite the deadly circumstances Josh glared at the man as he straightened ignoring the pain. "You have no idea who I am, do you?! My name is Josh Lyman and I'm Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States."

Recognition flashed across the men's faces as Josh took a step forward. "Yeah that's right. So if your leader there wants any chance of getting what he wants he'll let me talk to him."

"Let him in."A voice commanded from the room beyond.

The trio of terrorists reluctantly parted allowing Josh entrance into the room.

C.J. exchanged an anxious glance with Sam. "Does he know what he's doing?"

"God,I hope so."Sam replied quietly as he glanced down at Donna's still form.

******

Mrs. Landingham returned to her desk and sat down. As she picked up a file she noticed a folded piece of paper that she was sure hadn't been there a few moments earlier.

Recognizing Danny Concanon's handwriting the blonde woman skimmed the information. Standing quickly she retraced her steps to the Oval Office.

********

As Josh stepped into the center of the room he saw that the leader of the terrorists was sitting in a plush black wing-backed leather chair near the small fireplace at the back of the room. Lyman's blood began to boil as he watched the man sip champagne and munch caviar. One of his closest friend's was bleeding to death less than twenty feet away while this bastard sat drinking champagne like he was a King.

"You claim to be someone of importance."The terrorist began as he gestured for the guards to step away from Josh.

Josh warily glanced at the heavily armed men before approaching the man who was maybe a year or two older than Sam. Lyman tried not to wince as pain shot through his ribcage with every step. He had to keep it together.

"Yes."Lyman replied hoping his voice sounded calm. "I can get you in touch with the President faster than anyone else can. But I'll only help you on one condition."

The leader smirked. "You're in no position to make demands, Mr. Lyman."

Josh took a deep breath to control his temper. "There's a woman in the next room who needs to go to a hospital."

The terrorist set down his glass of champagne on a nearby table. "Why would I do this?"

Josh forced himself not to glare at the man. Donna needed him to keep his emotions in check. "She works for the President and it would go a very long way with him if you allowed her to get the medical attention she needs. Trust me if she dies you won't get any of your demands."

For several long minutes Josh thought the man was going to refuse. Then the leader motioned to one of his men standing near the door. They exchanged a few words in Arabic before the second man nodded and quickly left the room.

Josh watched him go before turning his attention back to the leader. The man stood and walked toward Josh.

"Very well, Mr. Lyman, the injured one may leave."The terrorist stated calmly.

Josh felt relief wash over him as he realized that Donna would finally be safe. "Let one of my friends go with her to the hospital."

The leader glared at him. "No! No one else leaves!"

Lyman shook his head. "The President won't deal unless he knows she's being taken care of."

The terrorist took a cellular phone from one of his men and slammed it into Josh's right hand. "The injured one leaves and no one else! Make the call! Now!"

Josh reluctantly opened the phone as the risked a glance back at the other room. He was just in time to see two Paramedics enter the Embassy.

********

Sam glanced worriedly at C.J. as he continued to apply pressure to Donna's wound. Her breathing had become shallow making Sam wish he had taken more than two medical courses.

C.J. glanced up as a terrorist left the main room and walked quickly toward the main door where he spoke quietly with three others.

"Wonder what's going on?"The press secretary asked as she tried to look into the main room to see who Josh was.

"Whatever it is it better be good news."Seaborn replied grimly as he pulled his jacket tighter around Moss's shoulders. "I think she's gone into shock."

"They're letting paramedics in."C.J. stated with relief as she glanced down at Donna's still form.

Sam nodded as he looked at the door to the main room. "I just hope that Josh didn't make a deal with the Devil that he can't reinforce."

*********

Danny Concanon arrived at the Saudi Arabian embassy just in time to see an ambulance pull away. He stood watching it leave for a moment his thoughts instantly flying to C.J. Forcing aside his emotions as best he could Danny forced him way through the crowed of onlookers, police and reporters.

After a few moments Danny spotted an old friend, Detective Mark Newman leaning against one of the police cars.
Mark spotted him before Danny could duck under the police barricade. "Forget it, Danny."

Concanon shook his head as he snagged the blond haired man's arm. "Mark, do you realize who those hostages are?"

Newman nodded. "Yeah, half the upper crust of Washington which is why you're not getting a statement from me."

"Listen to me, Mark."Danny replied tersely. "You have half of Bartlet's senior staff....."

Newman sighed knowing Concanon wasn't going anywhere any time soon. "We know."

"It was one of them in the ambulance, wasn't it?"Danny demanded.

Mark glanced around quickly before nodding. "Yes."

"Who?"Danny asked in a tight voice.

"Danny, you know I can't tell you....."Newman replied nervously.

"They're friends of mine....."Danny countered, "This is off the record."

"Donna Moss."Mark replied finally in a quiet voice.

"How bad?"Concanon asked as he recalled the TV news report.

"I'm no doctor, Danny,"Mark replied grimly as he glanced in the direction the ambulance had gone,"But I've seen my share of gunshot wounds......she lost a lot of blood....doesn't look good."