AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT
Finally, Donna shifted in her seat, trying to shook off the shock Ron’s debriefing caused. Sam was in the Situation Room. Her friend Sam. As if he hadn’t had enough these past years. Another engagement fell through, his mother died and his father married his mistress. But Sam being Sam weathered these events with head held high, and Donna could only admire him for that. And now, he was in the Situation Room where his life was in danger. She looked over to Ainsley and suddenly realized why her friend seemed to be on the verge of tears since she entered the PEOC. She knew how Ainsley felt about Sam and secretly rooted for them. She wished Fate wouldn’t be so cruel and deny Sam another shot at happiness. She knew that Ainsley didn’t tell Sam how she felt and she knew that Sam was still not comfortable with the thought of another relationship, but she also knew that they both needed this chance. She went over to Ainsley and hugged her tight, trying to reassure her with her mere presence. She knew the power of a hug, she just hoped that Ainsley would feel better after one. Her friend finally nodded slightly, and Donna let go of her. She looked over the room and noticed that there was a door at the far end, probably leading to another room. She figured that there must be also be a bathroom somewhere in the vicinity, after all they designed this room for the possibility of a nuclear attack. Yes, this facility could provide shelter for a long time.
“Did you reach Josh, sir?” she asked then the President, trying to clear her mind of her dark thoughts.
“Yeah, they should be at the Embassy by now,” President Santos said. “Of course, he has to find out our number,” he said, pointing at the phone in the middle of the large table.
“I see,” Donna said. “What do we do in the meantime?”
“We wait?” Matt Santos asked back.
“I’m not able to sit around doing nothing,” Donna said. “There has to be something we can do! May I have my cell back?”
“You want to call Josh?”
“No, sir, he doesn’t need the distraction right now. I want to call Annabeth. If something gets out I don’t want them to be ambushed by a bunch of reporters,” Donna explained.
“Yeah, good thinking,” Santos said.
“Also she could tell your wife that everything is okay,” Donna said, dialing Annabeth’s number.
“I don’t think she will be satisfied unless she hears from me but it’s better than nothing, I guess,” Santos said. “Tell Annabeth to get one of Helen’s agents, I want a read on my children as soon as possible.”
“Hi, Annabeth!” she greeted the Press Secretary. “Listen, I know it’s early, but there is a situation here in Washington. I can’t really go into details, this being not a secure phone at all but we are okay. I mean the President and I are okay. Could you get hold of one of the First Lady’s agents?”
“Yes,” Donna heard Annabeth and she thanked the powers high atop the whatever that Annabeth wasn’t the kind of woman who panicked easily.
“This is Raymond, Ms. Moss, what can I do for you?”
“I would like you to contact Zane and up the kids’ security detail. We have a credible threat here. This isn’t a secure phone, but I’ll give you Ron, and he can tell you what to do,” Donna said and handed her phone to Ron Butterfield. Ron gave some cryptic orders and then handed back the phone to Donna.
“What are we going to do?” Annabeth asked.
“You will do what the agents tell you, Annabeth. Also Josh. He might call you later with instructions, make sure that your phone is charged and take it with you even if you are going to the bathroom.”
“Okay. Take care of yourself, Donna,” Annabeth made her goodbyes then and hung up.
“Okay, what do we do now?” Donna asked, turning back to President Santos.
Ron lifted his hand to silence them for a moment. He pressed his hand to his ears, nodded and then turned to the three of them.
“Mr. Lyman ordered back the agents I sent over to the State Department,” Ron imparted.
“Why did he do that?” Santos asked.
“He didn’t want to make them aware of the situation,” Donna guessed. “What takes him so long?”
“There are perhaps a handful of people who know the number of this phone. Josh is usually one of them, but the information is in a special kit which I’m sure is in his office right now,” Matt Santos explained.
“I see. Okay, I think I should take a look at that videophone,” Donna said, still not being ready to sit around and wait.
“Knock yourself out,” President Santos said, and Donna saw him slump down into one of the chairs next to Ainsley.
Ainsley was entirely too quiet for her liking, but she knew that she would be the same if Josh were trapped in the Situation Room.
She opened the cabinet’s doors and took a look at the phone. There was nothing wrong with it, except there were some cables hanging loose from the display. Donna studied the cables, trying to figure out where to plug them in. That’s when the phone on the table rang. She abandoned her post and hurried back, sitting down next to President Santos.
“Mr. President,” Josh’s voice came through.
“Josh, thank the Lord!” President Santos exclaimed. “Is everything alright at your end?”
“Yes, sir. Secretary Vinick is talking to the CIA guy and I just got off the phone with Nancy,” Josh said. “What’s up at your end, sir?”
“We are alright, Josh,” President Santos told him. “Say something, Donna.”
“Hi, Josh. We are okay. You should phone Annabeth later, I told her to await your call.”
“Okay, I’ll do that. Ron?” Josh inquired then.
“We were heading down to the Situation Room when one of my agents sent a distress signal. There was static and since then we are experiencing range limitations,” Ron informed him.
“Yeah, I know about that. Sorry I had to call back your guys, but I don’t want them to alert someone accidentally.”
“It’s okay, we just didn’t know how to contact the outside world otherwise. No one picked up at State,” Donna explained to him.
“I know. Ron, who else was in the Room?” Josh asked.
“Well, the Joint Chiefs and Mr. Slatterley, also the Vice President…” Ron wanted to continue but Josh interrupted him.
“That’s what I was afraid of,” he said, letting out a tired sigh.
“Josh, did you have any luck with finding out what’s happening?” President Santos asked.
“Nancy’s deputy picked up the phone. I told them that you are on your way; you just had to talk to the Secretary hence the delay. I’m afraid we are running out of time. I managed to talk to Sam so that’s good news, but I fear that…”
“Josh, Ainsley is here,” Donna interrupted him at that moment.
“Oh, gosh! I’m sorry, Ainsley! Listen, I reassured him that the President was okay and made him promise not to do anything foolish.”
“Thanks, Josh,” Ainsley said, quiet tears rolling down her face.
“Anyway, I’m sorry, this will be hard to hear but I don’t think we have a whole lot of time,” Josh said. “Sir, I’m afraid we have to face reality and I want you to put yourself in a mental state where you pull out the 25th.”
“Josh, I’m perfectly capable of going about my business as the President of the United States,” President Santos said.
“Sir, I didn’t say to sign a document right now,” Josh said, his voice tense. “I just want you to prepare yourself. I don’t know how far this goes or who else is involved but if I can’t reach you the next time I try, I have to seek out the next one in line.”
“You think they will cap the line?” Matt Santos asked.
“Sir, the Secretary said it’s hard to stage a coup de etat in the United States. I would think it’s equally hard to hold the occupants of the Situation Room hostage, yet they managed to that. I wouldn’t put anything past them. They want to reach their goal and they won’t shy away from anything.”
“Yeah, that sounds about right. Okay, get back to us as soon as you know something, Donna is trying to assemble the videophone, so try that next time, please. And Josh,” President Santos said, his voice becoming shaky a bit.
“I know, sir. I’ll make sure they are safe,” Josh promised and then hung up the phone.
Donna squeezed Ainsley’s hand again, and then stood up to resume her previous activity. Ten minutes later, she let out a victorious shout and turned to the President proudly.
“Ron, that’s another room, right?” she asked then when she took in the President’s condition.
Ron only nodded.
“Okay, and I think it’s safe to assume that there are beds there, right?” Donna asked the agent.
“Yes, ma’am,” Ron said.
“Okay,” Donna said, nodding. “Sir,” she addressed the President then.” Sir,” she called again when the President didn’t look up.
“What?” Matt Santos asked back.
“Sir, you should rest for an hour. I’ll wake you when Josh calls,” Donna said.
“Donna, there is a…”
“Sir, we need you to have a clear head. You had an all-nighter yesterday and today too. We need you to actually function when it comes to making a decision,” Donna told him. “We need you to be able to concentrate. As your Special Advisor, I advise you to lie down and rest for an hour.”
“But…” Matt Santos tried to protest, but Donna cut him off.
“Sir, please,” she implored.
“Fine, but you come to wake me when Josh calls,” the President agreed and voiced his condition.
“I promise, sir,” Donna said with a nod.
They watched Ron’s and Matt Santos’ retreating backs and then Donna turned to Ainsley.
“Let’s find something to eat,” she suggested, making her friend smile a little bit.
GO TO PART SIX