Title: There’s Snow Misunderstanding.
Timeline: approximately 1 year after Santos takes office
Rated: PG (for a little language here and there)
Author: Cathy Miller (WWW.cathyswestwing.com)
A/N: This is for Anne Marie, Jennifer, and Mary…You ladies can all stop snickering right
now…
Donna sighed as she looked out the window and saw that a few inches of snow had fallen
that afternoon. Josh had called to tell her he was going to be very late and although she
loved the new home they’d just moved into, she was feeling rather lonely inside it. She
looked at the curved walkway to their door and idly wondered if they even owned a
shovel…
Deciding to find out, Donna slipped on her shoes and walked out into the attached
garage. There, leaning up innocently against the wall was a brand new shovel. She
grabbed it impulsively and went back into the house. She was about to go upstairs to
change when she thought better of it. She’d changed into a comfy pair of sweatpants and
a t-shirt when she’d come home. She wasn’t going to see anyone outside, so why should
she change into something else? Donna found her boots and gloves easily enough, but
couldn’t locate her casual coat. It was probably still in one of the boxes piled into their
living room. No problem, she’d wear her light blue dress coat. She would be the classiest
snow shoveler in their new neighborhood.
Determined, she went out the front door with the new shovel. The falling snow was lovely
and everything was quiet outside. This was going to be nice. A new home owner taking
care of her newly acquired walkway. She hefted the first shovel full of snow thinking it was
heavier than she thought it would be but continued to work her way down the walkway.
She was very proud of her effort once she’d finished and surveyed her work. Donna
thought she would just clean up the edges a little and then go inside for some hot
coffee…maybe she’d even make a fire…
Tired now, she was having trouble scooping the snow and she had to really put her
shoulder into it. Simultaneously, the end of the shovel hit something hard under the snow
and got stuck. The resulting force pulled the handle from her hand before flipping
completely around; the bottom edge catching her smack on the forehead.
Donna saw stars…”Son of a Bitch…” she cried out before she remembered she now lived
in a quiet suburban neighborhood. The force of the shovel and the ensuing pain had
driven her to her knees. Donna kept blinking her eyes trying to focus on the landscape in
front of her. ‘Don’t panic’ she thought to herself, ‘it hurts like crazy, but it’s just a bump’.
Realizing the truth of that, Donna immediately picked up a handful of the snow
surrounding her and placed it at the point of impact to help reduce the inevitable swelling.
Josh was going to give her so much shit about this. She’d have a bruise too, she was
sure.
Resigned, she sat flat on her bottom holding the snow to her injury until she felt it start to
melt and run down her face. Donna considered going inside to get an ice pack, but she
was feeling a little dizzy so she opted to stay put and simply use more snow. She tossed
her current handful down and scooped up a new ball of snow when she noticed
something strange; the snow she’d been holding was red….oh. shit.
Donna looked down at herself and saw a bright red trail of blood running down the length
of her powder blue dress coat. She was so stunned by the sight that she couldn’t move
for a moment. That was when she heard the car honk. She squinted her eyes to focus on
the car, when an older man jumped out of the car and ran over to her.
“What happened? Are you okay? Do you need some help?” He asked her without waiting
for a response.
“I…I…I’m bleeding.” Donna sputtered.
“You sure are.” He agreed and looked closer at her. “That’s going to need stitches.” He
determined. “Why don’t you let me drive you to the emergency room?”
“Stitches?” Donna repeated blearily.
“I’m afraid so.” The man agreed and he pulled out a clean, cotton handkerchief, folded it
in half and held it to her head. “And you shouldn’t be driving. I’m Herb Christianson. I live
2 houses down from you. My wife Margaret brought over the brownies?”
“Oh!” Donna remembered the kind woman who’d come over on moving day with the
wonderful brownies. “That would be very nice if you’d take me. My husband isn’t home
yet, and I don’t even know where the closest emergency room is.”
Herb helped lift her up and half-carried, half-dragged his new neighbor to his car. When
he tried to help her in, he noticed the shovel was still in her other hand. “Why don’t you
just let me take the deadly weapon there, okay Dead-eye?”
Donna released her hold on the handle but corrected him on her name. “Donna. My
name is Donna.”
“Dead-eye Donna. It has nice ring to it don’t you think?” Herb chuckled. “Relax, Donna. I’ll
have you to help in no time. You just sit back and keep that kerchief on the wound. Head
wounds bleed like a bitch, don’t they?”
Herb drove them off, quickly and carefully to the nearest E.R. Once they arrived Herb
escorted her to the check in desk where they asked for a name and the $20 co-pay.
“I’m Herb Christianson and this is Donna.” Herb explained.
“I…I left without my purse.” Donna explained.
“Don’t worry about it.” Herb pulled out a twenty from his wallet and gave it to the bored
looking E.R. receptionist.
She heaved a sigh. “Fine. $20 received, here’s your receipt Mr. Christianson. What are
you being seen for today?” she asked while looking straight at Donna.
Donna blinked, certain she hadn’t heard correctly. She was bleeding profusely from her
head, and this moron wanted to know what she was being seen for? Herb seemed to
recognize the absurdity of the question too.
“Her arthritis is bothering her a bit.” He deadpanned and Donna gave an hysterical burst
of laughter. “What do you think she’s being seen for? And will you please push that
wheelchair over here? She’s feeling a bit woozy.”
“Okay. Fine.” The receptionist agreed. “Here’s a wheelchair. They’ll call you back as
soon as possible. Have a seat in the lobby.”
Herb placed her gently in the wheelchair and pushed her into the lobby waiting room.
“You don’t need to wait with me Herb.” Donna objected. “You’ve done more than enough
already.”
“Leave you alone and bleeding? That wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me. Besides,
Margaret would have my head on a platter if I did something like that.”
“Thanks, Herb. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem, Dead-eye. No problem at all.” He patted her hand.
****************************************************
Josh’s town car pulled into the driveway and right into the garage only ten minutes after
Donna had left with Herb. He didn’t look up from his paperwork until he heard his detail
open the door for him. He’d given up on opening it himself since it always resulted in a
lecture from someone on the detail.
“Donna!” he called out when he entered the house even though he knew she said she
hated it. Now that they had a big house, he felt the bellowing was legitimate…’or maybe
not’, he thought when there was no reply. “Donna? I got done earlier than expected.
Where are you?” he shouted again. She usually at least shouted back to him that he
shouldn’t shout. Tonight? Nothing.
“Mr. Lyman!” Grant, the senior Secret Service on his detail called to him from the front
door. “Is Mrs. Lyman inside?”
The alarm in Grant’s voice triggered some alarm in Josh’s body. He took the stairs, two at
a time, and searched the second floor for his wife, repeatedly calling her name, but to no
avail. He ran back downstairs and met up with Grant who was holding Donna’s purse
which contained her car keys and her cell phone.
“Her car is here.” Josh noted. “Could she have walked over to a neighbor’s house? She
wouldn’t have left without her cell phone and purse.” He reasoned.
“Sir, there’s something you need to see.” Grant said levelly and took Josh by the arm to
lead him out the front door. Josh looked in the direction Grant pointed to and saw the
bright red spots on the snow and several agents already investigating.
Josh took two steps forward before Grant stopped him. “Let’s let them work so we can
figure out what this is.” Grant suggested.
“I want to talk to Ron Butterfield…right now.” Josh said quietly.
“I’ll alert him, sir, but we don’t know what we’re looking at yet.”
“I’m looking at an empty house and my wife’s blood all over the front yard.”
“We don’t know whose blood it is. Stay calm. This might be a simple misunderstanding.”
“There’s no misunderstanding, Grant. Donna doesn’t leave her purse and cell phone and
run off. She certainly doesn’t change plans without letting me know. And there’s blood all
over the yard.”
Grant opened up his mouth to reply but closed it again when another agent came up to
them.
“What have you got for me, Steve?” Grant asked.
“We took a sample of the blood on scene to compare it to the vic- to Mrs. Lyman’s.”
Steve corrected himself when Josh glared. “We’re checking local hospitals to see if Mrs.
Lyman is being treated anywhere. It APPEARS, from the tracks in the snow, that
someone got out of a vehicle and stopped where the blood appears to be heaviest. Then
there are two tracks leading back to where a vehicle would have been parked with a
blood trail The second set of footprints are considerably larger than those of Mrs. Moss;
so we’re hypothesizing that it was a man that took her to the car.”
“Okay, that’s it.” Grant got on his mic. “I want a crime scene unit here an hour ago. Steve,
you and Trent protect the site and make sure no one disturbs the car tire tracks. We’ll
want to get a make and model of the car from them. Mr. Lyman, I’m going to ask you to
go back inside in case there’s a phone call of some kind for you.” Grant said as he led
Josh back indoors. “Speaking of which, did you check the answering machine? She may
have left a message for you.”
“You don’t think there’s a message from Donna.” Josh countered as he hit the message
button on the answering machine which replied that there were no new messages. “You’
re thinking about a ransom or a claim of responsibility, aren’t you?”
“That’s a possibility.” Grant allowed, but got no further when his cell rang. “Grant
Messier….Yes, Agent Butterfield, we have a situation here and I need to run it by you…”
Grant moved away from Josh for a personal chat with Ron. Josh watched out the window
as several more Secret Service vehicles parked nearby, carefully avoiding the street right
in front of their house. ‘Please God’ he begged silently, ‘Please let her be okay’.
*************************************
“It’s been over an hour. I can’t believe they haven’t even looked at you yet.” Herb
complained.
“It’s a very busy E.R., I’m sure they’re doing the best they can.” Donna tried to mollify him.
“Did you get in touch with Margaret?”
“No, she must be out shopping or something. I left a message for her. Do you want to try
your husband? You can use my cell phone.”
“I don’t think we’re supposed to use cell phones in here.” Donna told him. “Besides, Josh
said he wouldn’t be home until much later. Even after an hour wait, we’ll still beat him
home…Herb, I’m really fine here. You don’t need to stay with me.”
“Nonsense. I’m an old, retired man. I’m in no hurry to rush off. I’ll just run to the gift shop
and pick up a crossword puzzle or something.” Herb said as he stood up. “Do you want
anything?”
“No, thanks.” Donna smiled her appreciation of his thoughtfulness and glanced once
again at the clock. This adventure was really too much.
**********************************************
“What did they say?” Josh asked as soon as Grant got off the phone. Grant was saved
from a reply by the entrance of Ron Butterfield.
“Let me have your report, Agent Messier.”
“Yes, sir. We have been able to positively identify the blood type in the snow as a match
to Mrs. Lyman’s blood type. The tire tracks have been identified and we’ve taken casts of
the second set of footprints. They appear to be a size 12. My team is canvassing the
area to determine if anyone saw anything earlier. We know she arrived home at 6:07 pm,
because that’s when the alarm was shut off. Mr. Lyman and our team arrived here at 6:45
and there was no sign of her at that time, except for her car in the garage and her purse
on the kitchen island. The purse contained her wallet, her cell phone, and some cash as
well as credit cards. We’ve called neighboring hospitals and Urgent Care facilities within a
20 mile radius, but no one has treated anyone named Lyman.”
Ron hesitated a moment in deference to Josh’s presence. “Have there been any
reported…”
“No, sir. No Jane Doe’s either.” Grant anticipated Ron’s train of thought. Josh sat down
heavily on the new living room couch they’d purchased for their new home. “There have
been no calls to either the Lyman home number or Mr. Lyman’s cell.”
“Is that good news?” Josh asked Ron.
“It could be.” Ron hedged. “We really don’t know yet. Agent Messier, will you give us a
minute?”
“Yes, sir.” Grant went outside to give them privacy.
“Josh, there are already some news vehicles outside. We’re not commenting, of course,
but it won’t take long for someone to put two and two together and report it live TV. You
need to call Donna’s parents, and anyone else who might be alarmed by these events
and let them know what’s happening before they find out on CNN.”
“We should have heard something from her or whoever took her by now, shouldn’t we?”
“It would help us know what we’re dealing with here, but every minute that goes by
potentially puts her in more danger and further away from us.” Ron admitted. “A couple
things to keep in mind; 1) There wasn’t enough blood at the scene to think she was
severely wounded. 2) We still don’t know for sure what happened here. There could still
be another explanation.”
“Like what?” Josh demanded.
“I’m not going to speculate about what might have happened. We’re going to investigate
to determine what happened. Call whoever you need to call. You might want to make a
short statement to the press to head them off at the pass. I’ll let you know the very
second we know anything.” Ron promised.
“Yeah…okay. Thanks, Ron.” Josh picked up the phone and started making calls. Donna’
s parents were shocked as was his mother, but they all decided to stay put until they had
more information. Josh made a 3 sentence statement to the news media then went back
inside their house and slammed the door.
***********************************
“Donna Christianson?” the nurse called from the doorway. Donna startled. She didn’t
know too many Donna’s and the combination of her first name and Herb’s last name
sounded just like something that brain dead receptionist would come up with.
“Excuse me, I think you might be looking for me. Donna Moss?”
“I have Donna Christianson, here.” The nurse replied.
“Yes, but I think you might mean me.”
“Head laceration?” the nurse confirmed.
“That’s right.” Donna agreed. “I think the receptionist might have been a little…confused.
“Donna Christianson?” The nurse called again. When no one else replied the nurse
shrugged her shoulders. “This must be you, then. Come on back with me so the Doctor
can take a look at you.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Herb asked.
“Would you mind?” Donna asked. Ever since Gaza, hospitals made her very anxious.
They followed the nurse back. Not a minute later a breaking news bulletin flashed across
the screen noting that Donna Lyman, wife of the White House Chief of Staff was missing
and presumed injured.
It took another agonizing 45 minutes before the Doctor finally saw her.
“How’d this happen, Ms. Christianson?” The Doctor asked.
“It’s Donna. I was attacked by a shovel.” She admitted. “It’s really quite embarrassing.”
“It looks like the shovel won.” The Doctor joked. “Let’s get you sewn up and on your way
home, shall we?”
“That would be great.” Donna smiled at Herb.
**************************************
Josh was pacing while he talked to the President on the phone. “We don’t really know, sir.
There was a very small window of opportunity and I have no idea how a stranger could
lure Donna out into the yard like that…I know sir. The Secret Service is the best there is,
it’s just…I can’t stop thinking about her being hurt and bleeding somewhere….Yes, sir, I’ll
let you know the minute I know something.”
Josh hung up the phone. He needed to call the Moss family with an update, but first he
needed a drink. He pulled open a beer and took a long swallow thinking about all the
beers that he and Donna had shared.
“Mr. Lyman?” Grant called to him. “We completed the neighborhood canvass. No one
remembers seeing or hearing anything unusual. The wheels we identified come standard
with a couple makes and models. We’re running those with anyone in our database. It’s a
long shot, but you never know. Steve went over what you should say if you get a call,
right?”
“Yeah…I don’t know whether or not to hope I get one.” Josh muttered. Grant put his hand
on Josh’s shoulder.
“Your wife is a very smart and strong woman.” He reminded his protectee.
“Yeah, yes she is.” Josh agreed and began pacing again.
************************************
“You’re very brave, Donna.” Herb told Donna while he took her arm to lead her to where
he’d parked the car.
“Thank God Josh wasn’t home yet. The blood alone would have made him faint. The
stitches? They would have been his undoing.” Donna chuckled.
“When we get back, I can flip the snow around a bit so he doesn’t get alarmed.
“That’s not necessary, Herb. You’ve done enough already. I don’t know how I’ll ever be
able to repay you.”
“Maybe you could get me an autograph from President Santos?” Herb replied. “We’re big
fans.”
“That’s the least I could do.” Donna promised. “Let’s go home. Josh should be on his way
home soon.”
Herb drove carefully home, but stopped abruptly when he saw that there were barricades
at the end of their block.
“Now what in the hell is this all about?” Herb asked rhetorically.
Donna looked too, and recognized the vehicles as standard Secret Service vehicles.
“Oh, this may be our fault, Herb. When the President comes, they have to block off a
certain perimeter. I’m guessing the President didn’t want to wait any longer to see our
new house. I’m sorry.”
“The President is here? On my block?”
“That’s what I’m guessing.” Donna thought she might be able to introduce Herb to the
President instead of getting a Presidential autograph.
At the Secret Service Agent’s signal, Herb rolled down his window.
“May I see your driver’s license, sir?”
“Certainly.” Herb agreed and handed over his ID. As the first agent looked at the ID, the
second agent on the other side of the vehicle, noticed blood on the white car door. He
immediately pulled out his weapon and opened Donna’s door.
“Federal Agent. Keep your hands on the wheel sir.” The first agent followed suit on the
opposite side. “There’s blood on the car door and the make matches the tire prints.”
“Get out slowly, sir, and keep your hands up.”
“What is going on?” Donna demanded.
“Are you Donna Lyman?” the first agent asked.
“Yes, what’s going on?”
“There’s a weapon in the back.” The first agent noted. “A large shovel.”
“That’s not a weapon, it’s a shovel, and it’s mine.” Donna exclaimed. “Herb is our
neighbor he isn’t dangerous.”
“How were you injured then, ma’am?” the second agent asked as the first agent radioed
back the information that they had Donna Lyman with them. Donna tried to explain
quickly and save Herb from the handcuffs hovering just above his wrists. Within seconds
though, Josh was sprinting down the street.
“Donna!” He shouted from ½ a block away.
She stopped her narrative long enough to respond, “Don’t shout!” at him and he full out
laughed while he continued toward her. As soon as he got close enough he pulled her
into his arms.
“Thank God! Are you okay? What happened?” Josh asked.
“I’ve got a few stitches, and a mild concussion but otherwise I’m fine.” Josh stepped back
from her a minute to survey the damage and frowned heavily.
“Is this the guy that hurt you, Donna?” Josh asked angrily, motioning toward Herb.
“NO! That’s what I’m trying to tell everyone.” Donna stated in exasperation just as Ron
and Grant arrived.
“Mrs. Lyman, why don’t you start at the beginning?” Ron suggested.
Donna took a deep breath and talked very fast; it was her forte after all.
“…I wasn’t expecting Josh home for hours, and I didn’t have my purse or cell, so I didn’t
call. I’m so sorry for the misunderstanding. Herb Christianson has done nothing but come
to my aid when I was bleeding in the snow.” She insisted. “He was wonderful to me…and
he’s a big fan of President Santos.” She added knowing that would make an impression
on her husband.
Josh walked around the car with his arm still around Donna to shake Herb’s hand and
offer some sincere thanks.
“I promised him an autograph from the President to help repay him for all the help today.
We had to wait in the E.R. forever.”
“I’ll do you one better than that. I’ll set up a meeting for you and you can have your
picture taken with him.”
“And his wife Margaret.” Donna added.
“And anyone else his heart desires. Thank you so much for helping Donna. I don’t know
what I’d do if anything ever happened to her.”
“My pleasure, Mr. Lyman. You’re a lucky man.” Herb replied.
“You don’t have to tell me.” Josh stated for the record. “And it’s Josh.”
“Will you come over and have some coffee or cocoa with us?” Donna offered.
“Maybe another time.” Herb begged off. “Have a good night, and take care of your head.”
Herb said as he got back into his car and the Secret Service cleared his way back to his
house.
Ron and Grant walked back with Donna and Josh while they talked through the events of
the day; the accident, Herb’s help, why she hadn’t called, and even the stupid
receptionist who had screwed up her name on the chart; which was why their phone calls
to local hospitals didn’t garner any results.
Josh got Donna directly to bed and brought her cocoa to her there, but then turned
around to leave again.
“Hey, where are you going?” she asked.
“Next door. I want to hire the kid over there to clear the walk and the driveway from now
on. You’re shoveling days are over.” He called back to her and she smiled into her cup.
At least one good thing had come out of this. She’d never have to shovel again.
The End.