"Sir?"Leo McGarry called as he reentered the Oval office. "We just got word they released one of the hostages."

Bartlet sank down onto the corner of his desk. "That's a good sign....."He glanced up at his best friend. "Why just the one?"

"Show of good faith."Leo replied quietly, "They wanted to release the injured."

Jed caught something in McGarry's tone. "Was one of ours?"He asked tightly.

The chief of staff nodded. "Donna."

Bartlet closed his eyes briefly. "How bad?"

Leo shook his head. "We don't know yet.....she's at St. Anne's."

"Get somebody over there, Leo."Bartlet ordered as he stood.

Leo turned to leave. "Yes, Sir."

Bartlet's question halted him half way to the door. "Leo? Anything on the tip Danny gave us?"

"Not much,Sir."McGarry replied quietly as he glanced down at the small pile of computer printouts he was carrying. "They're small in number....thirty or so....from Iraq.....formed about five years ago."

"We need more Intel than that Leo....."Bartlet broke off as Mrs. Landingham poked her head into the room.

"Yes, Mrs. Landingham?"Jed asked in a tired voice wondering what else could possibly go wrong.

"Josh is on the phone, Sir."The secretary replied quietly

Bartlet blinked in surprise and glanced at Leo. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Sir."Mrs. Landingham replied."He's calling from a cell phone."

Sam had never been good at being helpless. The dark haired man stood and walked over to the doorway of the main room straining to see inside. However he was stopped at every step by a terrorist pressing a gun in his face.
Reluctantly Sam returned to his seat next to C.J.

"Did you see anything?"The press secretary asked in an anxious whisper.

Sam leaned back against the wall. "He's still standing, but we're running out of time. The two hour time limit's almost up."

"I hope Donna pulls through."C.J. stated quietly as she pulled her knees to her chest.

Sam glanced at the open door of the embassy. "So do I. I honestly don't know what Josh will do if she doesn't."

**********

Danny hadn't wanted to leave the Embassy especially without knowing what was going on with C.J., but he also knew he couldn't do anything for her there.
As the elevator doors opened onto the third floor Danny instantly spotted Charlie Young leaning against the wall flanked by two secret service agents.

The young black man walked toward him shaking his head. "Danny....."

Concanon held up his hand. "I know you can't give me a statement. I don't care about my job right now. I just came to find out how Donna was."

Charlie turned back signaling the agents to stay where they were. He turned back to face Danny just as the reporter came to stand next to him.

"She's hanging in there."Charlie replied quietly.

"But....."Danny prompted as they moved out of the way of a pair of doctors.

"They're worried about the blood loss and she's picked up a fever."Charlie commented as he leaned against the wall.

********

Bartlet impatiently waved the CIA director and the FBI director into the Oval office. Josh had already been on hold for ten minutes and Jed didn't want to waste another precious second.

"Can I pick up the phone now?"The President asked as the men stopped next to Leo.

"Yes, Mr. President."The CIA director replied as he attached a sophisticated tape recorder to the phone line. "Try to get your man to get the head terrorist on the phone we need to get a voice match."

Bartlet nodded as he sat on the corner of his desk and picked up the receiver. "Josh? Are you alright?"

"For the moment, Sir."Lyman replied.

"What about the others?"Jed asked with concern.

"Sam and C.J. are fine."Josh replied glancing at the head terrorist warily. "Donna was..........shot."

"We know."The President replied sadly. "She's being taken care of."

"Thanks."Josh replied just as the phone was ripped out of his hand.

"We've been extremely patient, Mr. President."The terrorist stated coldly as he roughly shoved Josh away. "We've shown good faith and we expect something in return."

Bartlet stood as his hand tightened on the receiver. "You hurt one more of those people and you won't get anything from me!"

The terrorist laughed. "You're in no position to make threats, Mr. President. You have our demands, I expect to see results in twenty minutes. Or we will start tossing a body out every five minutes."

Jed winced as the line went dead.

******

Josh bit back the cry of pain as he landed hard on the floor next to Sam. He closed his eyes for a moment expecting to feel the rifle smack him across the face. When no more pain came Josh opened his eyes and looked around.

"You okay?"Sam whispered his gaze never leaving the terrorists who were standing in the center of the room.

Josh nodded. "Fine."

"What happened?"C.J. asked quietly from Sam's right.

"He talked to Bartlet."Josh replied grimly. "How was Donna when the paramedics left?"

Sam exchanged a concerned glance with C.J. before replying. "They got her stabilized, Josh."

That got Josh to look at him worry clearly etched on his face. "She wasn't awake, was she?"

"No."C.J. replied sadly.

Before ether of them could ask Josh for more details the head terrorists right hand man walked toward the left side of the room. He scanned the group of frightened party guests for a moment before roughly yanking a young brown haired woman to her feet.

The head terrorist came to stand next to the younger man who had the hostage in a chokehold. "We have talked with your President."The man stated bitterly as he glanced at the crowd. "He is aware of our demands and of our act of good faith. And yet he has done nothing in return."

"You haven't given him enough time to respond."Sam called out gaining the older man's attention.

The terrorist shrugged as he returned his attention back to the terrified woman. "He has fifteen minutes to meet our demands or she is the first to die."He whirled back to the White House trio. "Followed by her."

C.J. blanched, though as she returned the man's gaze she did her best not to show her fear.

*************

"Did we get enough?"Bartlet demanded as he turned to face the directors of the FBI and CIA.

The CIA director checked the machine one last time before turning to face the President. "Yes, Sir. I think we got just enough to run through the voice match program."

"So why are you still standing here?"Jed demanded.

The red haired man nodded and quickly packed up the equipment. "We'll do our best, Mr. President."

"You better do more than that Mr. Stewart."Bartlet replied angrily hating that his hands were tied by all the red tape.

Stewart nodded and quickly left the room.

Bartlet turned back to McGarry. "Leo, get me the head of the U.N.."

"Sir, the policy against terrorism is very clear...."Leo replied awkwardly.

Jed glared at his old friend. "I'm well aware of the policy, Leo. Just get the man on the phone. For the sake of those people I want to know I did everything I could possibly do."

"Yes, Sir."Leo replied as he stood and walked out of the oval office.

After Leo left Bartlet motioned Toby to move closer. "Toby, is Danny still with Charlie?"

Zeigler nodded. "Yes, Sir."

Bartlet nodded. "Tell Charlie to keep him there."

Toby raised a questioning eyebrow but didn't press the matter. "Yes, Sir."

***********

Danny stared at Charlie in disbelief. "He wants me to do what?"

Despite the situation Charlie grinned. "Be a reporter."

"I am a reporter."Danny replied as he stepped away from the wall.

Charlie shook his head. "He needs you in front of the camera."

"I don't do well in front of the camera."Danny replied his palms already starting to get sweaty.

"Danny...."Young started but the reporter held up his hand.

"Forget it, Charlie."Danny replied with a shake of his head. "You guys really don't want me in front of a camera, I mean it, it's scary. That's why I became a newspaper reporter. I get clammy, my throat dries up, my hands shake....."

Charlie placed a hand on the older man's shoulder drawing him away from a trio of medical students. "It's part of his plan to get CJ and the others out."

Danny instantly forgot his fear. He'd do whatever he had to do, to get CJ out of danger. "Just tell me where and when."

************

"Everything in place?"Bartlet asked as Toby came to stand next to him.

Ziegler nodded. "If this works I'm going to buy the Brooklyn Bridge."

"It has to work, Toby."Bartlet replied grimly as he leaned against his desk. "I don't want this to come down to the Swat team bursting in and shooting up the place. If I have to call them in the odds....."

"I know, Sir."Toby replied quietly his thoughts on his friends.

********

C.J. glanced to her left where there was a small office just off the main entrance of the embassy. The door was open and perched on a small coffee table was a television apparently linked to a close circuit network similar to what the White House had.
The press secretary blinked in surprise as the image on the screen suddenly shifted and Danny Concanon's familiar face appeared.
C.J. elbowed Sam in the ribcage to gain his attention. "Look."She whispered gesturing toward the office.

Sam's eyes widened as he recognized Danny. "We see it how do we get them to notice it?"

"Notice what?"Josh whispered.

However one of the other party guests took the problem out of their hands. The balding man in his early fifties stood gaining the head terrorist's attention.

"Did I say you could stand?!"The terrorist barked stalking toward the frightened man.

The man however stood his ground and motioned toward the office. "That guy's a White House reporter....you might want to turn the volume up and hear what he's saying."

The terrorist glanced at the television before roughly shoving the man into a sitting position. He turned and walked toward one of his men. "Go turn it up."

"This could be a trick."The younger man replied glancing warily at the trio of White House employees.

The leader grabbed him by the collar and propelled him toward the office. "Don't you think I know that?! Do what I say!"

The younger terrorist regained his footing and quickly entered the office. He picked up the TV and brought it into the room as far as the cord would allow. As he set it down on the floor he cranked the volume almost all the way up.

/.......to recap this historic moment.....just moments ago President Josiah Bartlet and the Secretary of the United Nations struck a deal that will free the hostages trapped in the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington. Details of the deal have not yet been released.....stay tuned for more details on this breaking story. This is Danny Concanon reporting for channel three..../

A terrorist holding a young woman whirled her around so they were facing his boss. "That means nothing! There is no car, no helicopter....."

"The President keeps his word."Josh stated quietly drawing the men's attention. "If he says it'll happen it'll happen."

The head terrorist chuckled. "Since when do American politicians keep their word?"

"This one does."C.J. interjected wondering what Bartlet had up his sleeve.

Before the head of Black Moon could reply they all heard the sound of a helicopter approaching.

One of the terrorists closest to the window looked out and saw a green helicopter landing in a large parking lot a few buildings down.

********

Detective Mark Newman stared at the Assistant Director of the FBI as if she'd suddenly grown four heads. "Bartlet wants us to do what?"

"Leave."Valerie Gibson replied as she tucked a stray piece of blonde hair behind her left ear.

Newman shook his head in amazement. "We've got over fifty hostages including half of his senior staff under the gun and he wants us to leave?!"

Gibson nodded. "Yes, and you have less than ten minutes to do so."

******

"Is the fact that the cops are leaving a good or bad sign?"Josh whispered as he stared incredulously out the window

"I'm hoping it's a good thing."C.J. replied quietly as she drew her knees to her chest. She knew how terrified Danny was of speaking in front of a camera and she was pretty sure that the President knew that as well. So it was a safe bet that Bartlet's back was up against the wall. C.J. shuddered, if the President's plan didn't work she didn't want to think of how much innocent blood would be shed.

"Now that's more like it."The head terrorist commented with a wide smile. He turned away from the entrance and strode toward the back wall where C.J. sat.

"I've always admired a woman in red."The leader stated as he reached forward and snagged CJ by the wrist yanking her to her feet.

Josh rose to his feet. "You got what you want. You have a safe passage, you don't need her."

The leader's eyes narrowed sharply. "You have been nothing but trouble......"He began as he aimed his gun at Lyman's head.

Josh stiffened and Sam slowly rose to his feet searching for a way to help his friends.

C.J. placed a hand on the barrel of the gun gaining the man's attention. "I'll go with you willingly if you promise not to hurt them."

"C.J......"Sam warned as he took a step forward.

For a long moment the head terrorist remained silent his weapon still trained on Josh. Sam wasn't even sure he had heard CJ's offer.

Finally the man lowered his weapon and turned on his heel dragging C.J. toward the door.
The leader paused in the doorway keeping a tight grip on C.J. despite her offer. He turned to face the group of party guests. "If anybody tries to follow us this woman won't be the only dead body lying on the street."

The young woman who had been held by the terrorist earlier cried out as the man roughly shoved her. She stumbled, lost her balance and fell hard to the floor near the small television.

The terrorists turned as a group and left the embassy with their single hostage.

Josh instantly started toward the door but Sam held him back.

"I want to help her too."Sam replied quietly. "But we have to trust Bartlet."

Lyman whirled to face his friend. "I don't think them taking C.J. was part of his plan."

*********

Outside the embassy the members of Black Moon quickly made their way toward the helicopter. None of them noticed the lone member of the National Guard perched on the Embassy roof, rifle poised.

*********

C.J. made every effort to swallow her fear as the group of terrorists whisked her along the street. What C.J. noticed most during those quick moments was the fact that the street was empty. No people, no cars.....just her, a helicopter and a group of heavily armed men.

The leader held the press secretary toward the rear of the group as the first six men clamored aboard the chopper. The pilot was a middle aged black haired man in a Navy uniform with the rank of lieutenant. He caught C.J's attention and gave her a brief nod.

Before C.J. could even begin to think of what to do the world erupted around her. The red haired woman instantly covered her ears as bullets sprayed the air around them. She tried to break free of the lead terrorist's grasp but the man was too strong.

Blood splattered on C.J.'s clothes as four terrorists fell to the ground at her feet The leader cursed in his native language as he whirled back in the direction of the embassy firing widely at the unseen attacker.
But in the end Black Moon was no match for the National Guard's best sharpshooter.
In minutes it was all over.......C.J. was the only one left standing.
The navy pilot took care of the terrorists that the sharpshooter didn't get.

As soon as the gunfire stopped the silence was split by sirens, which seemed to be coming at the chopper from all directions.
C.J. squeezed her eyes tightly shut refusing to look at the carnage at her feet. Her hands were still covering her ears as she leaned shakily against the helicopter. She jumped as the Navy pilot placed a reassuring hand on her left shoulder.

"Ms. Cregg, are you hurt?"The pilot asked as he moved to stand in front of the woman, not quite believing that she could've come out of the gun battle unscathed.

Slowly C.J. opened her eyes and she forced herself to focus on the man's question. But for some reason her mind refused to form a single coherent thought.

The pilot gently grasped her shoulders as he reached up and tenderly pried her hands away from her ears. "Ms. Cregg? Are you hurt anywhere?"

C.J. shook her head just as three police cars screeched to a halt. As C.J. glanced at the approaching officers it started to sink in that this nightmare was finally over.

The pilot gently placed an arm around her waist and escorted her to a waiting ambulance. "Not that I don't believe you, Ms. Cregg, but let's get you checked out just to be on the safe side."

********

The first person Josh saw when he stepped inside Donna's hospital room was Charlie Young. Charlie instantly stood and walked over to the deputy chief of staff.

"How is she?"Josh asked his gaze never leaving Donna's still form.

"They're worried about the amount of blood loss."Charlie replied in a hushed voice.

"But?"Lyman prompted in a tight voice.

"She's picked up a high fever, docs haven't been able to bring it down yet."Young stated quietly.

"Has she woken at all?"Josh asked as he took a step past the President's personal aide.

Charlie shook his head sadly. "No, but the doctors said that was normal with what she's been through."

"Can you give me a minute with her?"Josh asked as he reached the foot of her bed.

Charlie nodded. "Sure. I'll let the others know where you are."

"Thanks, Charlie."Josh replied quietly as the young man left.

**********

After some misinformation Danny finally found C.J. sitting on a chair next to Sam outside of Donna's hospital room.

"Thank God, you're all right."Danny commented anxiously as he reached them.

Sam grinned as he glanced from C.J. to Danny and back again. "I don't think he means me so I'll go over there and talk with Charlie."

Neither Danny nor C.J. seemed to notice his departure.

"Why are you sitting here?"Danny demanded as he spotted the blood on her dress. "I'll get a doctor."

C.J. reached out and placed a hand on the reporter's left arm halting him. "Danny, it's not my blood."

Wordlessly Danny dropped into the chair next to her. He placed an arm around her shoulders and drew her into an embrace.
C.J. rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, her right hand closed tightly around his.

*************

Bartlet glanced up from his desk as Toby entered the room. "It's over?"

Ziegler nodded grimly. "Yes, but there was a hitch with the plan."

The President stood and walked around the corner of his desk. "What?"

"At the last minute the leader grabbed C.J. as a hostage as they were exiting the embassy."Toby replied as he came to stand next to the older man.

"Is she alright?"Bartlet demanded concern clearly in his voice.

Toby nodded still amazed by the turn of events. "I still don't know how, but she's fine. All of the terrorists fell dead at her feet but somehow she came out of it without a scratch."

"Thank God."Bartlet replied quietly as he sat down on the corner of his desk. "How are the others?"

"None of the party guests were hurt, at least not physically."Toby stated as he glanced down at a small pad of paper. "One woman was admitted to the hospital for a stress related illness."

Bartlet nodded. "How are Sam and Josh?"

"Josh is with Donna, she's still unconscious with a high fever."Toby replied quietly. "Sam's fine he's keeping C.J. company."

***********

Josh pulled a small chair over to Donna's bed and sat down. He took her right hand in his and for several long moments he just sat there holding her hand.

She looked so tiny and frail.....a far cry from the vibrant, brilliant woman who kept him sane more times than he cared to count.

"I'm not going to let you go."Josh whispered in a choked voice as he tenderly reached up and tucked a stray blonde hair behind her right ear. "You mean far too much to me."

Josh glanced out the window and saw that dawn was starting to color the sky. When he looked back at Donna he found himself staring into Donna's bright blue gaze.

"Joshua."Donna stated in a weak voice. "Next time you need a date for an embassy party, don't think of me."

Lyman laughed as he stood dropping her hand. He leaned forward and cradled her face with his hands as he captured her lips with his in a soft kiss.

"I promise."Josh replied quietly as they broke apart. "No more embassy parties for us."

Donna smiled before drifting off to sleep.

**********

Sam and Charlie stood a few feet away from Danny and
C.J. in the doorway of a small waiting room.

"What time is it, anyway?"Sam muttered wearily.

Charlie glanced at his watch. "Almost six."

Sam nodded as he turned to look out the small window.
Faint streams of sunlight were just starting to show.
It was amazing that the recent events had all occurred
in just one night.

Charlie leaned against the doorway exhausted both
physically and emotionally. The night's events had
taken their toll on everyone. It was only then that he
noticed that the tv in the corner of the room had the
morning news program on.

"Sam."Charlie called as he noticed the embassy picture
appear above the reporter's right shoulder. "Turn the
volume up."

Seaborn reached up and hit the right button before
coming and standing next to Charlie.

/".....In breaking news.....never play poker with the
President of the United States. In a daring rescue
plan the President used one of the White House
reporters to make a fictional news broadcast on a
close circuit television. This convinced the terrorist
group that the President had indeed given into their
demands and when they went outside to get on the
waiting helicopter they were taken out by the National
Guard.
We will update you as soon as more information becomes
available.....this is Susan Johnson reporting for
Washington Daybreak."

End