The two women began walking down the darkened alley, both nervous and jittery. As women, this was something that went against everything they had been taught to do. You simply didn't walk down dark alleys in the middle of the night.

"CJ, what is that?" Abbey stopped and grabbed CJ's arm as they saw a moving shadow in the moonlight behind the dumpster.

"I…I don't know." CJ's voice quivered with fear. " But I could use a Secret Service agent right about now."

Abbey silently agreed. Oh God, how stupid had she been to do this? What had she been thinking? She knew better than to tempt fate like this.

A loud clatter caused the two women to gasp in fear, then hold their breath as they waited for some Michael Myers psychopath to come out from behind the dumpster with knife in hand. They stood clutching each other for what seemed like minutes but was probably only a few seconds before the mangy form of a stray cat darted across their path.

"A cat?" CJ let her breath out. "I was about to pee my pants over a cat?"

Abbey laughed nervously. She felt silly for being so afraid. Her laughter, however, was cut short and turned into a gasp of terror as a strong hand gripped her elbow and she felt a large form press against her from behind.

"It isn't safe to play in dark alleys." The deeply masculine voice caused Abbey's blood to run cold with fear and she whipped around to face her assailant. The man caught her hand just before it connected with his face.

"Whoa, hold on there, Bruce Lee."

"Josh!" She gasped with incredulity, as she was able to focus on her husband's deputy chief of staff along with Sam, who was having his arm punched by an enraged CJ. "You IDIOTS! What were you thinking sneaking up on us like that?"

"We were thinking about protecting two foolish women who went out into a dark alley." Sam said.

"By giving us HEART ATTACKS?" CJ asked. "Yeah, that was really helpful. You two really take the cake."

"What are you doing here, anyway?" Abbey asked.

"We saw you both sneaking around in the parking lot dressed like something out of "To Catch a Thief" and we knew something was up. We wanted to keep you out of trouble."

"Believe it or not BOYS, we are grown women. We can take care of ourselves." Abbey had just about had it with this macho attitude they had going. She and CJ had come up with this plan and they had been implementing it just fine until these two bozos had shown up.

"Didn't look that way from where I'm standing," Josh said arrogantly. "What if it hadn't been me grabbing you from behind. What if I'd been one of those toothless guys from the bar who were drooling in their beer over the two of you, you know the ones straight out of "Deliverance".

"Then you'd be laying on your back right now with your nose broken and your privates kicked up into your belly somewhere." Abbey gave him a steely look. "Ron taught me some pretty good self-defense moves. You're just lucky I recognized it was you."

"I forgot about that," Sam paled, and his hand moved instinctively to protect his crotch. "We could have gotten hurt."

Josh gave him a disgusted look and was just about to inform him that there was no way that some 5 foot 3 inch 110 pound WOMAN was going to get the best of HIM when CJ grabbed his arm.

"Everyone be quiet," she hushed them. "Look, there they are." All four looked up to see the two people standing across the street from the alley. They began to move stealthily forward as a unit. As they reached the edge of the alley Abbey slipped the small digital camera out of her pocket. After receiving it as a birthday gift, she had become very proficient with it as she chronicled every amazing new step her babies took into toddlerhood. It was hard to see with the naked eye just to whom Danny was speaking, but as soon as Abbey zoomed in with the camera her eyes widened with astonishment.

"Oh God" all the air left her lungs with those two words as she continued to snap pictures. "I can't believe it's HER!"

* * * *

"Sir, we've been able to pick up Ms.Cregg's car," Ron told Jed. "They're just about a mile from the White House. Would you like us to pull them over and bring her in."

The relief in Jed was readily apparent as he sank to the chair with a deep sigh. He sat that way for a few moments giving thanks, then turned back to Ron. With Abbey safe, he was free to let his anger take him where it may.

"No, Ron. Follow them in, but don't let them know that you guys are on to them. I think I'd like to be the one to catch my wife in the act."

"Yes sir."

Oh yes, Jed thought. His pretty little wife thought she'd pulled a real fast one over on him but boy was she going to be in for a rude awakening.

"Sir, can I ask what kind of diabolical plan you are hatching?" Millie asked.

"I'm not hatching anything, Millie. But I do think now that we know Abbey is safe, you should head home. I'm sure Dave is waiting up for you."

" I think I'll stay right where I am. You have that look in your eye."

"What look?"

"The look that says that Abbey may think she's not married to a homicidal maniac, but who's to say."

Jed nearly grinned at that description. "Millie, go home."

* * * *

Abbey glanced at her watch as she quickly made her way down the hall toward her bedroom. It was a little after midnight; Jed should already be on his way home from Andrews. With a little luck she could undress and be in bed before he got home and he would be none the wiser. She was filled with a strange mixture of elation, shock, and downright anger. She still couldn't believe that she'd actually gotten away with her night out, although her nerves were still stretched taut with the fear of being caught. Hell, she felt like she was a teenager again sneaking in past curfew. She couldn't wait to show Jed the evidence in the little camera she carried in her pocket even though he would never get to know that SHE had been the one to snap the photo's. As she opened the door to the darkened living room of the residence she was already pulling off the uncomfortable wig and taking out the pins that were picking into her scalp. Before she could make her way to the wall switch, the room was suddenly blazing with light. Abbey jumped with surprise and spun around holding the wig to her chest.

"Hello, Buttercup." It was said sweetly but Abbey could definitely pick up the steely undertones in Jed's voice.

He eyed her form in the tight fitting black jeans and black sweater and the way her hair was pulled back into a tight bun that would fit under the wig. "Been out playing cat burglar, have you?"

"Jed…I…I can explain."

Jed began to move around her in a predatory circle, eyeing her up and down. "Not that it isn't a good look for you, but really Abigail, I don't know whether I should shake you or take you over my knee. What on EARTH were you thinking?"

"Don't talk to me like I'm one of your daughters," Abbey snapped. "I'm not a child in need of punishment."

"Then maybe you shouldn't act like one. Christ, I expect this kind of behavior out of Zoey, but you KNOW better, Abbey. Do you have any idea of what could have happened to you while you were out there playing Nancy Drew."

"Actually, I like to think of myself as more of a James Bond girl."

"This isn't FUNNY, Abigail," he exploded. "Dammit, I've been sitting here for over an hour wondering what the hell I was going to do if something happened to you out there. Do you know how many people would love to hurt me by hurting YOU? Terrorists, white supremacists, crazed pro-lifers…"

"Enough Jed. I know the list as well as you do."

"And that isn't even counting the general psycho's like Marcus Hughes who fixate on you." Jed watched her face pale at the mention of that name and knew that he had finally gotten through to her. He had just made the danger a true reality. He didn't have to lecture her, she knew from personal experience what kind of evil was out there.

"I'm sorry, " she said softly, contritely. "I didn't mean to make you worry. You were never supposed to know about tonight."

"That doesn't make any better, Abbey. In fact it makes it worse."

Abbey thought of how she had felt in that alley the moment before realizing her assailant was Josh. What if it had been a terrorist or a member of a hate group? What if they had taken her and used her to manipulate Jed? "I know," she said, defeated. "In retrospect I guess it wasn't the best idea I've ever come up with. I don't ever want to put you in the position where you have to choose between me or the country. I'm really sorry." Her last words were said softly as she moved closer to him and took the lapels of his jacket into her hands.

"Don't do that," he broke away.

"Don't do what?" She gazed up at him from under her lashes.

"THAT, you know exactly what you're doing, Abbey. Don't go all soft on me. Fight back. I can't stay angry with you if you're apologizing and, baby, I DO want to be angry with you tonight. You scared 10 years off my life."

"You can't stay angry with me," she purred, moving back up to grab his lapels. "You love me. I see it right there," she ran her finger under one eye, "and right there" she ran it under the other."

"That doesn't mean I don't want to punish you."

"Ooh, do you promise."

Jed looked down into her hazel eyes that were dancing with mischief and he laughed in spite of himself. "You're incorrigible, you little minx." He kissed the tip of her nose and pulled her into his embrace, thankful that he had her safe and sound and just where he wanted her.

"So, you want to see who gave Danny the picture?" She asked the question against the base of his throat.

"Well, since you went to all that trouble to find out, I guess I could take a look." He tried to sound blasé but he really did want to see who it was.

"OK" she jumped out of his arms with excitement and raced over to get her camera. Jed smiled at her enthusiasm. Abbey had always been more interested in finding out who had given Danny the picture than he had been. For a long time he hadn't really cared, he had been dealing with the pain and trauma of what was IN the photo and everything else just paled in comparison to that. But, now that he was coming to terms with what had happened, he found that his curiosity was piqued and he wanted to know who it was that had tried to destroy him. "Get a load of this." Abbey began the playback on the digital camera.

"Well, I'll be damned." His eyes widened with shock as he saw photo after photo of his opponent's wife accepting the photos back from Danny with an angry look on her face.

"No, she's going to be damned," Abbey said firmly. "Janet Ritchie. Just wait until I see her next week at the play."

"Abbey, maybe it would be best if you're not involved. Let me deal with Rob or…"

"No way, buster. You're not taking this one away from me. I figured out who it is and I'm going to confront her with it."

"I don't know. I don't think we should let this get personal. Bruno will kick her ass for you." Jed wanted Janet Ritchie stopped just as much as Abbey, but he was still so raw over what was IN the photo, it was hard for him to get as worked up over who had brought it to his attention.

"I don't want someone kicking her ass FOR me. I want to do it. This IS personal, Jed. This has nothing to do with which of our husbands will make a better President. She wanted to slander me, defame my character and make you look like an emasculated fool. She wanted to break up our marriage and she nearly succeeded in breaking up a 30-year friendship. Oh yes, this is completely PERSONAL."

"OK, OK, she's all yours. Just don't leave any scars." God was she cute when she was all fired up.

"I'm not making any promises."

* * * *

The next morning as they dressed for work, Jed entered the bathroom to see Abbey in just a half-slip and a lacy bra. She was turning from side to side in the mirror studying her body from each angle and thrusting her chest out.

"Can I ask what you're doing?" He asked with amusement.

"Do my boobs look like they're getting smaller to you?"

"Well, they're smaller than when you were breast feeding if that's what you mean."

"No, I mean recently."

"Thelma and Louise look just fine to me," he grinned, and moved to stand in front of her. "But let me give them the old Jed Bartlet test." He covered each breast with a hand, lifting, weighing and molding, as if he were checking a melon for ripeness. His brow was furrowed as if he were in deep concentration.

"OK, Jed" she slapped his hands away. "I didn't ask the question as part of foreplay."

"Well, they feel the same to me and I AM the expert. I know those breasts like the back of my own hand. What made you think you were smaller?"

"Oh, just something a guy said at the bar." She turned to leave the bathroom but Jed grabbed her elbow.

"Unh uh. You aren't just waltzing out of here after making that provocative little statement. Why was some man at the bar commenting on your breast size?"

"He wanted me to dance with him and he told me that I looked like a blonde Abbey Bartlet but he said that the real Abbey was taller and had bigger boobs."

"So you're worried that your boobs aren't as big as…your own boobs?" He chuckled and Abbey broke free of his hold and left the room flashing him a look of irritation.

"It's the camera, Abigail," he called out after her, still laughing. "The camera adds 10 pounds. Lucky for you those pounds show up right in your chest." He ducked as he dodged a pillow Abbey threw at him. "Hey be thankful he didn't say your butt." The next pillow hit him square in the face.

* * * *

CJ entered the Oval Office taking a deep breath to fortify her against the explosion she knew was coming. Abbey had called her before she left on an overnight trip to Sacramento to give her the heads up on how the President had caught her in the act. It was just as she had suspected. The President knew everything and she was about to get her butt chewed for her participation in the First Lady's spy games.

"Sir, before you begin I know that what I did was wrong. I should have listened to my instincts and followed Danny on my own, but in my defense the First Lady is very persuasive and…"

"CJ," the President's face was serious and she was unable to gauge just how angry he was. "I didn't call you in here to discuss your part in my wife's little caper, although we will revisit that issue in the future."

"Then, I don't understand." She gave him a puzzled look as she turned to see Ron Butterfield standing in the room.

"CJ, you're getting secret service protection, but I can't order it without your signature so here, sign the paper." He thrust a piece of paper at her. CJ was aware of the death threats that had come after she had made what some viewed as "anti Islamic" comments. She hadn't expected the President to become involved.

"Sir, I think you're overreacting…"

"OVERREACTING? You're a member of my family CJ and I will NOT permit this. The last time something like this happened my wife, my children and my dog were nearly killed and I ended up with an armful of stitches. Overreacting? You're lucky I don't put 10 agents on you."

"I understand, sir," CJ swallowed. Her heart had swelled at his inclusion of her into his family and his obvious concern for her well being. It gave her a warm feeling inside to see that he was being just as overprotective of her as he was to his own family. It had been a long time since she had felt that kind of dominant caring. Her father was sick and wasn't able to remember half of what she told him. She rarely spoke to her brother except at holidays and special occasions. The Bartlet's and the other senior staffers, they had become her family. To a woman who lived alone and was without a significant other the proof that somebody truly cared about her safety was heartening. "I do understand how you feel, but is there any evidence that this person is not just another crackpot. I mean what makes you so sure that he will try to make good on his threats.

Jed nodded to Ron and Ron handed a folder to CJ. Fear gripped CJ's heart like a fist as she saw photo after photo of herself doing normal everyday things.

"OK" she said softly and moved to sign the papers. She left the Oval Office with shoulders squared and her spine straight never letting on that those pictures had shaken her to the core.

* * * *

Abbey made her way purposefully down to CJ's office. She had barely returned from California before she headed down to see how her friend was coping with the threats.

CJ looked up from the file she was reading to see Abbey standing in the doorway with a concerned look on her face.

"The President told you." It was not a question.

"Of course he told me, CJ. Did you think he wouldn't?" Abbey closed the door behind her and sat down on CJ's couch. "He's worried sick."

"Don't let him get all worked up. It's not a big deal, really. I'm fine."

"This is ME you're talking to CJ, not one of the guys. You don't have to be macho."

"I'm not, Abbey. I'm sure this will all blow over."

"CJ, I've been there. I know what it's like to look at those pictures and know that while you were innocently going about your business somebody was watching you, stalking you."

CJ's eyes filled with tears as she let her guard down just a bit for the first time. "I guess it did throw me. I know this is silly, they're just pictures, but I feel so violated." She sat down next to Abbey on the couch, knowing that if anyone would understand it would be her.

"It's not silly," Abbey said, taking her hand. "I felt the same way."

"It's just so creepy to think of someone following me and watching me like I'm being…"

"Hunted?"

"Yes."

"I know that feeling. I was always looking over my shoulder, always assuming the footsteps behind me were his. It's Ok to be scared, CJ. Hell I spent months being scared to death. I damn near gave myself an ulcer. I just wanted you to know that I know exactly what you're going through and I'm here for you if you need to talk."

"Thanks. I may take you up on that."

"CJ, is the First Lady…" Leo poked his head in the office and stopped when he saw the person he was looking for. "Oh, here you are, Abbey."

"Is something wrong, Leo?" Abbey knew something serious had to be up or Jed never would have sent Leo for her.

"We have a bit of a problem. We've gotten intelligence stating that a terrorist attack against the United States is imminent. The President wants you to pack a few things for you and the kids and he's going to have you flown up to New Hampshire."

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. If he doesn't know where the attack is happening why do I have to leave?"

"Because our information leaves us to believe that the White House may be a target. Abbey, please go, we…he wants you safe."

"MAY be a target. I'm not going anywhere, Leo. I've told him a hundred times I DON'T leave the White House, at least not without him. I'll go pack up some things for the twins and I'll have Izzy bring them up to New Hampshire to stay with Liz but I'm not going anywhere and if Mr. Jed Bartlet has a problem with that he can come and find me in the residence."

TBC...