ACT THREE

INT. WHITE HOUSE, CHIEF OF STAFF'S OFFICE

As Sam looked on, Josh and the President stood staring at the grim images on the television screen in shocked silence.

"That's at the U.S. Embassy?"  Santos finally asked; his voice rough and laced with horror.  "It can't be. They can't be sending Helen there…"

"And Donna," Josh interjected through clenched teeth, but he didn't take his eyes off the screen.  

Sam's eyes darted from the violent images on the television to the two men in the office and back again. While he was extremely worried for everyone in Amiir, at the moment he knew he needed to be the one to keep some emotional distance. He needed to make sure the two powerful men in front of him were thinking clearly. "It probably looks a lot worse on television."

"Or what we're seeing isn't even the tip of the iceberg."  Josh suddenly stood up ramrod straight. He locked his hands behind his head and spun so his back was to the TV.  He paced to the other side of the room.

Sam tried his best to sound comforting. "Josh, we don't know-"

"SHE SHOULDN'T BE THERE!" Josh bellowed as with one hand he angrily knocked over one of his visitor's chairs. "She shouldn't be… anywhere near that." Josh pointed to the screen accusingly.  "That is not a place for her!"

After his outburst Josh turned back to his desk and silence reigned for a long moment. Finally Santos turned to Sam and spoke in even, firm tones. "I want to see Ron Butterfield… now."

"Yes, Sir." Sam spared a concerned glance at Josh before he took off to locate Ron.

Once Sam was gone Santos watched his Chief of Staff for a moment, and then took a few steps towards him. He bent down and righted the chair Josh had just knocked over.   "I want you to know I haven't forgotten that this is as personal for you as it is for me. It might seem like I have, but I haven't. I know Donna is there too, and she's as important to you as Helen is to me."

Josh hung his head exhaustedly and turned around to face Matt. "I'm… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have... lost it."

Matt ignored the apology. "This is a package deal.  Helen and Donna, Annabeth and Arnie, everyone else we have over there. We need to get them out. All of them."

Josh blew out a breath he'd been holding in and then rested his hands on his hips, arms akimbo.  He glared at the television screen, and his heart clenched in his chest. "Sending them into the middle of that can't be our best option. It just can't."

"No, it can't." Santos joined him at staring down the screen. "Earlier in the Sit Room you said it was going to escalate.  You were right. We should have forced them into an alternate plan right then and there."

CUT TO:
INT. SUBURBAN, NEAR THE U.S. EMBASSY

The black Suburbans had turned down a rather narrow alley way and had slowed down to a crawl.  The driver cracked his window slightly and a cacophony of angry sounds flooded the vehicle.  He quickly rolled it back up.

"What was that?"  Helen's fingers clawed into her armrests as she turned in her seat trying to get a good look out the window. However, whatever was causing the noise wasn't visible from their current location.

The agent beside Annabeth answered. "Ma'am, I'm pretty sure what we're hearing is rioting. Part of the unrest we talked about earlier."

"Rioting? Where? It sounds so close."

"In front of the Embassy."

"In front?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Of the U.S. Embassy? The place we're going?  That's where the rioting is?" Helen's questions spilled out one after the other, her voice rising to the edge of hysteria.

The agent nodded solemnly and turned his attention back to his window.

With panic mounting in her gut, she turned to her Chief of Staff.  "Donna?"

Donna's imagination was currently conjuring up images of their vehicle being besieged and turned on its side by irate insurgents.  But as she looked over to Helen she knew she had to quell her own fears. With a deep cleansing breath she forced herself to think pragmatically.  "It's not surprising.  If there are factions not happy with the idea of a U.S. presence in Amiir, the place you might protest is in front of the symbol of that presence. In this case the U.S. Embassy."

"A protest?"

"Essentially.  But one that gets a little out of hand with Molotov cocktails and looting."

"Molotov cocktails!? You're not making me feel any better."

"What I mean is it's doubtful it's any kind of organized, armed resistance and that's a good thing."

Helen let out a mirthless bark of a laugh. "Oh boy, we really are taking small victories now aren't we?"

"Small, large, right now I'll take them anyway they come." Donna replied as she gingerly touched her ever swelling wrist.  

"I hate to bring up a sticky point," Annabeth turned to the agent next to her, "but if there's rioting in front of the Embassy how are we going to get inside?"

"That's why we've been traveling via alley ways for the last five minutes. We'll be going in the back of the building."

The agent in the front seat turned toward them once again. "And we'll be going now. Ladies, when you get out of the vehicle, it's imperative that you're as quiet as possible.  Silence until everyone is safe and sound inside the Embassy.  Is that clear?" He looked to each of the three women and received a nod of understanding from each one in turn.

"When the car stops, you'll get out of the vehicle one at a time. Once you're out you'll have a Marine escort on either side of you.  And you're going to run for the door. No looking back, no stopping. Got it?"

Once again they all nodded in understanding, each of them also looking a little like they might lose their breakfast at any minute.

When the car came to a complete stop at a small gate, it opened and the comforting sight of several Marines greeted them.  The agent turned to the First Lady. "Mrs. Santos, are you ready?"

Donna's own heart was beating a mile a minute, but she reached over with her uninjured but sweaty palm and gave Helen's arm a reassuring squeeze.  "It's all part of the adventure."

The First Lady nodded and took a deep breath before answering, "Yes."

With her affirmation the heavy metal door of the Suburban swung open and Helen made a run for it.

CUT TO:
INT. CHIEF OF STAFF'S OFFICE

"You're sending them there?" The President's booming voice greeted the head of his Secret Service detail the second he walked into Josh's office with Sam.

"Sir-"

"How in the hell are they even supposed to get through that!? They're going to be sitting ducks. There has to be another way. Hell, they're probably safer driving around than they would be trying to go through that mess!"

"Sir-"

"I hope you have a Plan B," Matt pointed to the screen emphatically. "Because clearly the Embassy is not a solution!"

"Sir!" Ron didn't raise his voice, but he spoke forcefully enough to gain the President's attention.

The President just leveled his gaze at him as Sam watched and Josh paced behind his desk.

"They've made it to the Embassy. They're all safely inside."

Josh's head popped up and he stopped pacing. "Everybody?"  

"Yes. Everyone who was with the First Lady's delegation."

"Donna?"  Josh asked needing even further clarification.

Ron met his eye. "Yes."

The simple word had Josh sagging against his chair with relief.

"So you're in contact with the Embassy?" Santos sighed, before insisting, "I need to talk to my wife."

"We're not in contact with the Embassy exactly. The power is out and the communications there-- both landlines and cellular-- are tied to an old microwave tower. That tower has apparently been compromised."

Again the President pointed incredulously to the television. "Are you telling me that CNN is beaming live pictures from right outside the Embassy, but the combined efforts of the U.S. Navy, the CIA and the Secret Service can't get me on a phone with my wife?"

"Actually, it's Al-Jazeera and CNN is picking up their feed."

"Well, the point is someone is getting a signal out!"

"As are we.  We're in contact with the head of the security detail via the MSG outpost."

"Great, have them put my wife on the damn phone."

"Sir, she would have to physically leave the Embassy and walk across the yard and that is not in the best interest of her safety right now."

Santos finally gave up and sat down hard on the couch in Josh's office.   Josh came from behind his desk and addressed Ron. "They're all okay?"

"Yes, I've been assured that they are all fine and that the property is secure. The Marines have things well in hand."

"Good." Josh then leveled a steely gaze at the man. "Now when are you going to get them the hell out of there?"

CUT TO:
INT. U.S. EMBASSY AMIIR – UPSTAIRS

Arnold Vinick peered out the small window where he could see bits of what was happening on the street in front of the Embassy.  It was small, but intense and volatile. However, he knew exactly how it would look on TV. It would look like a massive rebellion.

"Mr. Secretary?"

He was surprised to find his thoughts interrupted by Annabeth.  "Yes."

"Is everything okay?"

He seemed perplexed at the question. "With me? Yes, I'm fine..."

"Oh, you took off so quickly after you greeted us, I just wanted to make sure."

Vinick shook his head. "I just wanted to give you some privacy with the doctor.  How's Donna's arm?"

"Dr. Perez is looking at it now."

"Good." Vinick eyed her oddly; he wasn't sure what to make of the chirpy, diminutive woman.

"Is there anything I can get for you?"

He smiled indulgently at her. "Thank you, but really I'm fine."

Annabeth's eyes traveled down him for the first time and went wide when she saw the light blood stains on his pants and shirt. "You are not fine, I'll be right back."

She was gone before he could protest.

CUT TO:
INT. U.S. EMBASSY, AMIIR

Helen was pacing, and Donna was seated in what passed for a comfortable chair in a meeting room on the second floor of the sparse Embassy. With the power being out, there was no air conditioning, and the room was starting to get muggy.  And hot.

Dr. Perez pulled up a chair so that he was seated directly in front of Donna. Gently, he took a hold of her arm. "Let's have a look-see here."

"I'm sure it's nothing." Donna tried to brush it off even as she winced loudly as he pressed on the tender flesh, looking for deeper injures.

"Sorry about that.  It's sure swollen and starting to bruise, but the good news is I don't think it's broken, probably just a bad sprain."

With the heat, Helen had unfastened the top button of her blouse and was now tugging at her collar trying to keep it from sticking to her skin.  "Is there anything you can do for her now?"

Dr. Perez smiled kindly at both women. "I'll go downstairs and see if there's an ace bandage in the First Aid kit.  That should at least keep it steady until we can get out of here. I'll also see if I can scrounge up some ice that hasn't melted yet."

The doctor got up and was almost out the door when Helen stopped him. "Jeff?"

He tuned back around. "While you're down there if you happen to stumble upon any information about when exactly we're getting out of here… that would be great."

He gave her a commiserating look. "Sure thing."

Once he'd gone, Helen turned back to Donna. "How are you doing, really?"

"Its fine, I'm fine. It hurts a little, but you heard Dr. Perez it's just a sprain. No big deal in the scheme of things."  Donna pressed her lips together to keep from saying more as she reached down to scratch her thigh. She knew from injuries that were a big deal. She also knew about pain.  This was certainly not fun, but it didn't compare.

"If there's anything I can get you… you better ask," Helen ordered before practically flopping back into the chair next to Donna's. "I can't believe this is happening," she muttered in disbelief. "Assassination attempt. Rocks hurled at our car. Rioting. Up until this morning we've received such a warm welcome by the people here."

Donna looked earnestly at Helen. "Don't confuse the terrorist actions of a very small minority with the will of the greater nation.  That's always a mistake."

Helen gave a small nod in agreement. "We can't forget the rest of the trip because of this."

"Exactly." Donna replied as she leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.

They were silent for a couple of seconds, before Helen started unconsciously wringing her hands with nervous energy. "Matt and Josh are probably going crazy."

"Yes." Donna agreed without opening her eyes, but she winced again. This time not in pain, but at the thought of what Josh was currently going through. "I was talking to him when we were hustled away from Kamroy. The Secret Service hung up on him.  I'm sure that drove him a little crazy."

"Well, I haven't talked to Matt much this weekend.  I've actually been avoiding talking to him unless it's to check on the kids and for that I've mostly been going through the Nannies."

"None of that matters right now."

"Yeah." Helen sighed in agreement. "But I'm not sure which is worse."

"What?" Donna opened her eyes and tilted her head towards Helen.

"The fact that we were barely speaking when this terrible thing happened or that I can't continue to be mad at him for the heavy handed way he forced this trip on me… knowing how worried and guilt ridden he's feeling right now."

CUT TO:
INT. WHITE HOUSE, CHIEF OF STAFF'S OFFICE

Sam had excused himself to check on the communication staff so Matt and Josh were left alone in Josh's office.  Both men were seated in chairs staring at the television, willing it to give them some good news.  It wasn't.  

Santos broke the silence between the men.  "She's mad as hell at me."

Josh looked over at him. "Sir?"

"Helen… she's mad as hell at me.  She wasn't happy about going on this trip and… and I coerced her into going. We've barely spoken since she left and the most news I've had about her that wasn't in an official briefing came from you earlier tonight."

Josh sat silently for a few minutes, but his eye twitched.  There was a small part of him that blamed the President for Donna being in the current situation.  The quickly conceived trip had been ill-advised from the outset. However, dwelling on that didn't do anyone any good at the moment, so Josh pushed it aside.  "If it makes you feel any better, Donna told me tonight that Helen was really enjoying the trip and her role as Goodwill Ambassador."

"I'm guessing that was before she had to hole up in an ill-equipped Embassy while that…" He motioned to the images on the television, "is going on right outside."

"I'm sure Donna is taking good care of her," Josh replied with a bit of misplaced defensiveness.

"I'm sure she is."  Santos cracked his knuckles and then softly hit the armrest of his chair with his fist. "I didn't tell her."

"You didn't tell her what?"

"What Peter's teacher told you on Friday.  That Peter is having problems at school. She asked about the meeting, and I didn't tell her. Instead, I hedged because I thought she would turn around and come home and I needed her to stay.  I'm not sure she's going to forgive me for that.  And I won't blame her if she doesn't, it was… reprehensible."  

Josh brought one hand up to rub his tired eyes. "You didn't want her to worry when there was nothing she could do.  Since I took that meeting I feel comfortable saying that I don't think it's anything that would have been solved by Helen coming home a day or two early.  Helen will come home, and you'll deal with whatever it is together."

"I hope so," Santos muttered before leaning forward and picking up a framed photo from the table by the couch. He'd never really taken the time to notice the details of Josh's office.

"Is this from the trip you took right after election?"

Josh glanced at the photo of himself and Donna dressed casually near the water.

"Actually, that's from our trip to Chesapeake Bay this summer." He smiled at the memory.  "I had to remove the photo from our tropical vacation after Donna in a sarong proved to be too much of a distraction for several cabinet members.  And I didn't think you'd want me murdering any of the Secretaries with my bare hands during our first year."

Santos managed a small huff of a laugh and set the photo back down as both men continued watching the news coverage.

CUT TO:
INT. COMMUNICATION'S BULLPEN

Sam was a tad surprised to find the bullpen completely empty.  One glance in Lou's office told him there was no one in there. She was probably still down in Lester's office, since his briefing had ended just a few minutes prior.  Without knocking, Sam swung the door to Otto's office open.  He did not find Otto, but he did find quite an attractive young woman in a red bustier and fishnet stockings.  

"Oh, hello," Sam's eyes darted around, a bit discombobulated by this turn of events. "Uh… do you know where Otto is?"

Her eyes went wide and Sam detected embarrassment. "I think he's at the briefing, I'm not really sure."

"Right, of course." Sam was about to close the door, but then opened it again. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

As Sam closed the door he stood in the bullpen for several moments assessing the conversation he'd just had with a seemingly very nice, but scantily clad stranger in Otto's office. But before he could draw any conclusions, Bram and Otto appeared from down the hallway.  They both stopped short when they saw him.

Otto swallowed nervously and then gestured towards the direction they'd just entered from. "We were just at Lester's briefing. It went well."

"I know. I saw it."  Sam tilted his head curiously at them. "I just came to tell you, the First Lady, Donna and Annabeth are all safe inside the Embassy."

Bram smiled with genuine relief. "That's great news."

Otto sighed in agreement, "Really great news."

"So now we just have to wait for them to secure the airstrip and they'll get them out of there."

"Great." Both men bobbed their heads in unison.

"Okay, then let's get back to it." Sam started to walk back towards his office.

Bram released the nervous breath he'd been holding just as Sam stopped at the edge of the bullpen and turned back. "Hey, Otto?"

"Yeah?"

"There's a very attractive young woman in your office wearing an outfit straight out of a men's fetish magazine. Why is that?"

For a moment Otto looked like he'd been caught red handed, but then he turned and glared at Bram.

Knowing the jig was up; Bram stepped forward and admitted, "She's with me."

"Oh," Sam's eyes went wide with understanding. "Well, that right there makes a lot more sense than when I thought she was with Otto."

"Hey!" Otto tensed with indignation. "I could bring a prostitute to work if I wanted!"

"Prostitute?" Sam choked on the word.

"No, she's not a prostitute." Bram replied quickly and then brought one hand up to rub his temples. "Yes, maybe she is… I don't know if she's a prostitute or not."

"Bram." Sam was suddenly much more understanding.  "No one is more sympathetic than I when it comes to falling for a girl of questionable profession, but tonight is not the time."

"I know. I really know that. But I didn't bring her here on a date.  I expensed a dinner with her during the campaign. October 22nd to be exact, but I don't know why, and they flagged it.  So now she's here so I can find out why I would have expensed… her. But seriously I really don't think she's a prostitute… probably."

Sam held up one hand.  It had been a helluva night and it wasn't nearly over.  But this seemed like a passable way to kill a few minutes. "Let me handle this." He pushed the door into the office and strode inside, being careful to shut the two younger men outside.   

"Hello," Sam said cordially as he proffered his hand, "I'm Sam Seaborn.  Deputy Chief of Staff."

"Sierra Jones." She accepted his outstretched hand and shook it.  "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Seaborn."

"Please, call me Sam. Sierra… that's an interesting name."

"My parents were hippies and thought the name Jones needed some spicing up."

"Ahhh," Sam smiled easily at her. "Sierra, I don't suppose you'd be so kind as to tell me why Bram might have expensed the meal you had together on October 22nd of last year."

She returned his smile. "Certainly… Mr. Seaborn.  I work for Senator Pallard. I’m an administrative aide in his office, and Bram and I were going over the Senator's availability for the last two weeks of the campaign, booking him for numerous campaign appearances. We also laid all the initial groundwork for the big rallies in Columbus and Cleveland that were quite important that final week."

Sam's lip quirked upward.  "Really? Thank you Sierra, that's what I needed to know."

Sam made it all the way to the door, before he turned back. "Forgive me, Sierra, but I have to ask. Why the fishnets?"

CUT TO:
INT.  – COMMUNICATION BULLPEN

"So?"  Bram asked anxiously as Sam strode out of Otto's office and started back towards his own.

Sam glanced over at him as Bram matched his step and Otto trailed along behind. "You're in the clear. She works for Senator Pallard and the meeting was definitely campaign related."

"Undies girl works for Pallard?" Bram asked skeptically.

That question definitely gave Sam pause, but he continued walking. "I'm not even going to ask what you mean by that."

"So does that mean she's not a hooker?" Bram sounded hopeful for the first time all night.

"She could still be a hooker on the side; she wouldn't be the first part-time call girl in D.C." Otto piped up helpfully from behind.

Sam turned back and gave Otto a withering stare.

Otto yelped, "Hey, he's the one with the hooker, not me!"

With a roll of his eyes, Sam started walking again.  "Bram, some things you just have to find out on your own. Now I think you should both go do some work, we're still in
the middle of a crisis."