Sam's POV:
Finally! I've been waiting down here for 20 minutes; waiting for him
to show his face. If I had doubts before, the relaxed, happy expression
and the Josh Lyman `Victory is Mine' swagger erase all of them.
The problem is that I'm not the only one around here who can read
Josh. This campaign is way too close knit and interdependent for others
to miss the signs too.
"I need to talk to you." I take his arm and start to pull him
out of the breakfast buffet area.
"Hold on. I need something to eat." Josh protests. "I'm
starving!"
"I'll bet you are." I mutter as I continue to pull him
behind me.
"Sam!" he half laughs half moans. "It's going to be a
very long day and I need some food. You don't want me waging war on
John Hoynes without fuel do you?"
"I'd prefer you didn't do it on little or no sleep either,
but that didn't seem to matter to you last night." I shoot back
and he freezes; right in the middle of the hallway.
"Sam, it's not what you think."
"I think you spent the night with Donna. Did you spend the night
with Donna?"
"Yeah." He answered honestly at least.
"Then it seems to be exactly what I think." I counter.
"I meant it isn't- " he lowered his voice. "It isn't
some campaign thing. Donna is special to me." He's keeping eye
contact with me and I can see the seriousness in them. He's begging
me to understand this. I'm not sure I can. I have never seen Josh
put anything or anyone before politics before; and I've known the
man for a long time. He's got serious work to do today. We're
fighting tooth and nail for the nomination and he's spending the
night with his assistant?
"I'm not judging." I state and he scoffs.
"Of course you are."
"Look, you're the one who recruited me to come work for this
man; for this campaign. `He's the real thing, Sam,' you
said."
"He is!" Josh insists.
"Then how can you risk screwing it all up at this point. It's
all kinds of stupid. What if someone finds out? If I can figure it out,
the others can't be far behind. You need to keep your head in the
game."
"My head is in the game!" he shouts loud enough to draw the
attention of several people around us, including C.J. who has been
looking for him too. He seems to realize he's gotten a little loud
because he lowers his voice again and moves forward until we're toe
to toe. "I've worked 24/7 for Governor Bartlet. I left the
campaign for the front runner to get Jed Bartlet elected. Now you're
telling me I'm not entitled to any personal life on top of all the
other sacrifices I've made?"
"We've all made sacrifices, Josh. This isn't about Donna. I
like Donna. I like her a lot and for what it's worth, I think
you're good for each other. But you can't do this. Not now. Not
in the middle of the convention. If you really care about Donna, and I
believe you do, you do not want to open her up to this kind of gossip or
worse some political scandal." I warn him as C.J. cautiously
approaches us.
"Hey, I've been looking for you." She mentions to Josh who
still hasn't broken eye contact with me. "Where've you
been?"
"What do you need C.J.?" finally he turned toward her, but he
bit off the words, and C.J. looked between us before she answered.
"Rumor has it that the California delegation is going for Hoynes
now." C.J. stated. "How do you want me to spin it?"
"There's a lot of flirting and bantering during a campaign. If
you want to know who someone is really serious about; wait and see who
they go home with." Josh smirked.
"And that means…" C.J. prompted.
"California isn't going for Hoynes." Josh said walking away.
"How do you know?" she called after him.
Josh stopped and looked right at me again. "Because it's my job
to know. And I'm very good at my job." The he turned and walked
out of the hotel without any breakfast.
"Something you want to share with the class there, Spanky?" C.J.
asked me.
"Just a roommate spat." I smiled. "It bugs the shit out of
me when he leaves his clothes all over the floor."
"Hmmm…that can be awfully annoying." C.J. agreed. "I
wonder if it bothers Donna as much when he leaves them on her hotel room
floor?" She ponders and I close my eyes in resignation.
"C.J…."
"Should I try talking to him?" she offers.
"I think I've done enough damage on that front for now. Leave it
be."
***********************************
Josh's POV:
I can't even believe the conversation I just had with Sam. Sam; who
has known me forever, who knows what my priorities are, who knows that
this election means to me. If he thinks I'm having a cheap affair
with my assistant…what is everyone else going to think?
I try to shake off the conversation when I stop in front of room 422 and
knock briskly on the door. It opens to Congressman Rodriguez who
actually manages to look surprised to see me. I don't bother with
the drama.
"You can't be seriously thinking about throwing it to
Hoynes." I say as I walk past him into his hotel room. "I told
my team California is for the Governor. Don't make a liar out of me,
Carl. I get belligerent whenever that happens."
"Josh…I didn't expect to see you this morning."
"You should have. Did you think I'd sit in the war room wringing
my hands while you leak it that you may go for Hoynes?"
"Rumors happen, Josh. I haven't cast any votes for anybody
yet."
"That's what I told C.J. Cregg. Rumors are just rumors, and
can't be taken seriously."
"Exactly." Rodriguez agreed.
"Except that people do take rumors seriously, Carl, especially at a
political convention. A rumor gets started that California may swing
another way, tilt the table, and suddenly other delegations don't
want to be supporting the losing guy so they jump ship too."
"Josh, I don't think-"
"No, you don't think, Carl. You don't think in the long
term; the big picture. So let me help you out here, Carl. Let me be your
friend. You need friends in this party, Carl."
"I have friends in this party, Josh."
"No, you have political allies, but you won't have them for long
once you've tried to screw over the Democratic nominee."
"We don't have a nominee yet." Rodriguez counters.
"Sure we do." I smile now, but no one who knows me would mistake
it for a friendly smile and Rodriguez knows me. "We just haven't
announced it yet. It's going to be the Governor. I've done the
math on this one, Carl; it's all over but the shouting and the
balloons. I ask you, who's better at number crunching delegates than
I am?"
"Hoynes has a lot of friends in our delegation. He's pulling in
all the markers, putting the pressure on."
"Doesn't matter. It's going to be Governor Bartlet
you're going to need on the stump this fall. How well do you think
your re-election is going to go when the Governor's schedule
can't be freed up to make an appearance with you? When the DNC
chokes off your funding?"
"Are you implying you'll try to sink my re-election if
California doesn't go for Bartlet?"
"No, I'm stating straight out that I will sink your election if
you don't quash this rumor, and I mean this morning, and start
singing a chorus of Bartlet for President at the top of your lungs."
I move in until we're less than two feet apart. "I'll expect
to see your denial on air within the hour or I swear to God Carl, your
district is going to see the most well funded write in campaign for some
upstart Democrat I pick out of a hat."
I'm done with him, so I leave his room slamming the door behind me.
Now I need to find Mooreland. He won't be waiting for me in his
hotel room. He'll have gone gopher by now. I flip open my cell.
"Donna, I need Mooreland from the California delegation. Call me
when you got him." I hang up as soon as she says `got it'
and I have a moment to regret the fact that I didn't say
anything…nice to her. I mean, we just spent the most amazing night
together, and all I did was bark out orders to her.
I decide to take the stairs down to work off some of my stress, and by
the time I hit the ground floor, Donna calls back with Mooreland's
location. The woman is simply amazing.
Now this time, I'm pretty sure the surprise on my quarry's face
is genuine.
"Alex Mooreland. What a surprise to find you here!" I proclaim
boisterously as I invade the inner sanctum of the sauna completely
clothed. He practically scurries off his wooden bench, but I make sure
to block the exit. This little weasel is not getting away.
"Josh…what are you doing down here? Shouldn't you be
upstairs planning for the Bartlet coronation?" he gives a weak
chuckle.
"Yes, I should be. I'd like to be. But unfortunately, I have to
be down here for a come to Jesus meeting; and I'm Jewish so you can
imagine what it takes to get to me to call one of those."
"Who's coming to Jesus?" he asks in a squeaky voice.
"You." I say simply and sit down next to him, but still between
him and the door.
"Josh, I have to support Hoynes. You know I do. You know why I
do." He leaned toward me and whispered. The other two gentlemen in
the sauna begin to be uncomfortable with our discussion and leave.
"Yes, I know why you do; or think you do, but the information he has
on you? He only has it because I dug it up. You can't be blackmailed
both ways on the same information. Tell John he's lost this round
and you're with Bartlet."
"And when he threatens to leak it?" Mooreland practically
whimpers. He's such a spineless wimp. We shouldn't even let him
attend the convention let alone vote in it.
"Then you bring out your heavy guns. Who was the first one we found?
The one he was screwing when he and Suzanna returned from their
Honeymoon? He'll fold like a house of cards. Do it, Mooreland, now.
It will help Hoynes save face at the convention, and it will keep him in
the running for the VP spot. Tell him I said so." I loosen my tie
and stand up. Next time you decide to play possum, find a better spot
than the sauna. Now I'm going to have change my clothes before my
Ted Koppel interview."
I walk slowly up to the stairs to the room I'm sharing with Sam. My
bad luck for the day holds and he's in the room working on a
re-write. When he sees me, he puts his laptop down and turns his body to
face me.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have budded in, I just never saw you
put a woman before your work before. It freaked me out a little. These
are pretty high stakes." Sam finishes his speech.
"I need to change. I've got 10 minutes before Koppel." I
took a quick shower and got re-dressed in record time. When I opened the
door to the hallway Donna was there waiting…with note cards, of
course.
"Look these over before Koppel. They include the latest
numbers." Knowing how thorough she is with everything she turns that
brain to, I take the cards without comment and walk directly on to the
set. Someone clips a mic on me and 30 seconds later I'm predicting a
landslide vote for the Governor on the first ballot.
What about those rumors about California defecting got Hoynes? Nah,
there's nothing to that. I've locked down each and every vote
myself.
I get off the set a half hour later to find Donna still standing there
waiting for me. I can't make eye contact with her right now. So I
avert my eyes from Donna only to find they're being held hostage by
the chocolate brown eyes of Erica Lee. Shoot me now.
"Joshua, nice thrust and parry; although those were always strong
skills of yours."
"And yours. What are you doing here, Erica?"
"The Senator would like a private word with you and he thought you
may agree if the invitation was delivered in a unique, attractive
package."
"Is that the line he used on you, Erica? He couldn't resist such
an unique, attractive package. I'm sure he's used it with great
success through the years." I pause and let that sink in. "I
don't take meetings with Hoynes anymore, and I'm busy."
"Busy working Mooreland and Rodriguez. I think Mooreland is still
shaking."
"Like that takes much." I note. "Go away Erica. We don't
play for the same team anymore."
"We could…We made a really good team once upon a time." She
drawled.
"Until he dumped you and moved up the cognitive/social ladder."
Mandy interrupted.
'Great,' I think, `just one more player to hit the
trifecta.'.
"Josh, Leo wants you in the war room." Donna said quietly
seething at the trio gathered there.
Without another word, I turned and followed Donna upstairs
***********************************
Donna's POV:
Something is wrong; very wrong. He won't look at me, and while I
understood why when we were in front of the wicked witches of the east
and the west, now we're alone in the elevator.
"You did well with Koppel. You made it sound like the California
rumor was nothing." I note.
"That's why I get paid the big bucks." He sighs and drops
his head against the elevator wall. "I make the problems go away and
put the campaign before everything."
The elevator doors open up and we walk in silence until we're in the
war room.
"California is taken care of." Leo confirms.
"Of course. Isn't that why you hired me?" There's a bite
to Josh's tone that doesn't quite jive with the question
Leo's asking him and I can tell that Leo thinks so too by the look
he gives Josh.
"Among other things." Leo notes. "Where are we on the
count?"
"We need 2,162 and we're at 2,210." Josh replies and Leo
sighs.
"That puts us over. Why is that not good news?" I ask quietly.
"It's a squeaker." Toby answers. "We want him to come
out the uncontested victor of the Democratic nomination, not the barely
won a by nose candidate who got the nod cause the Democrats couldn't
make up their damn minds."
"Oh." I answer. Toby has a way of explaining things that kind of
cuts to the heart of the matter. I know a lot of people think he's
too abrasive, but I like him. He's got a wicked sense of humor.
"Josh-"
"I'm on it, Leo. I was on it before you summoned me, but it
can't be me talking to Hoynes."
"If you approach him, he might-" Sam began.
"Sam, we've been over this. The approach is not the problem.
He's already approached me. It's a power play and we know each
other far too well to bullshit through it. It's got to be the
Governor, Leo." Josh sat forward and met his mentor's eyes.
"He's got to meet with Hoynes, mano e mano, and offer him the VP
slot. I'm not going to be able to shake many more votes loose
without a unified ticket."
"I'll talk to the Governor now. If he gives me the green light,
I'll set it up for lunch." Leo agrees. Josh sits back in his
chair and I had him a revised all sheet.
"I'm going to get started on this." He announces to the
group at large and waves the small phone book that comprises his call
sheet in the air. I get up to follow. I know he's busy. We're
all very busy; but I also know there are several strategically located
linen closets along the route he's taking, so I stick close, sure
that the thought will occur to him.
"Donna, can you find C.J. and have her leak it that we'll be
making a VP announcement soon?"
"It would probably be easier just to call her." I tell him.
"It would be better if you did it in person. In fact, I'm going
to be tied up with this stuff for awhile. Can you staff C.J. for
now?"
Okay, it's not that unusual for me to get shuffled to C.J., Sam, or
Toby when the need arises, but usually they ask first. Then Josh whines
and tells them to get their own assistant. Then Leo tells him to grow up
and share like a big boy. Then Josh grudgingly lets me go for awhile and
checks every 15 minutes to see if I'm done yet. It's a little
twisted, but it's our system. Josh has NEVER voluntarily let me go
and he's certainly never suggested that I go staff someone else.
"What's going on?"
"C.J. is swamped and I'm going to be tied up with phone calls
for awhile."
"Josh?"
"Just…please staff C.J. for now. She could use your help."
Josh repeats and walks away without another word.
I try not to read too much into all this. It's a very stressful
time. I'll staff C.J. and check in with Josh later. I'm sure his
sudden change in attitude had nothing to do with the appearance of Erica
Lee…or Mandy Hampton…The man is trying to get Governor Bartlet
the Democratic nomination. It's a big job.
I find C.J., and as Josh predicted, she could use the help. I set to
work using my organizing talents and believe me when I say there is
plenty to organize. Still, half my brain is focused on other things and
when I hear Josh's name come out of C.J.'s mouth my head shoots
up to see what's going on.
"He did? Josh, that's great. Can I leak it?" C.J. nodded
even though Josh couldn't see her. "Got it. I'll put it out
right away." C.J. hung up the phone. "Donna, can you help me
with a release? It needs to be factual and yet cryptic at the same time.
Hoynes has accepted the Governor's invitation to lunch."
"How about; Governor Bartlet has invited Senator Hoynes to his suite
for lunch today to discuss convention matters related to the
ticket."
"Change `related to the ticket' to `related to the Vice
Presidential nomination' and it's a go. You're a natural at
this, Donna. I should steal you from Josh."
"That might not be too hard." I mutter, but I didn't mutter
low enough, because C.J. heard me.
"Everything okay, Donna?" she asked moving closer to me.
"Sure. I'm just glad Josh thought of sending me here to work
with you."
The look of shock on C.J.'s face isn't at all reassuring. See? I
told you there was a system.
"Josh sent you? I just assumed Leo sent you." C.J. admits.
"No, it was Josh." I try not to look at C.J. because I'm
afraid if I do, she might see too much. I think she already suspects I
have a crush on Josh. But suspecting and knowing are too different
things.
"Well, he seems a little off today." C.J. notes. "I
overheard him and Sam going at it earlier; and those two never fight.
Something about Josh being gone all night. I hope he's not hooking
up with Mandy again."
"I don't think so." I offer. "He's been avoiding
her."
"Good. Although she would be preferable to the alternative."
"The alternative?" I ask.
"Getting involved with a staffer. That could be game over if it came
out." C.J. relays and I try not to flinch. "Maybe that's
what Sam was reminding him of earlier."
"Maybe." I agree and try to focus on the job in front of me. Oh,
God, what have we done? Sam knows Josh was gone all night. Josh said he
wouldn't lie to Sam if Sam asked where he spent the night. C.J. said
it would be game over if someone found out Josh was involved with a
staffer. Shit. Shit. Shit.
I need to talk to Josh, but I can't exactly make a beeline for him
right now. C.J. is already suspicious. It takes literally hours before I
can escape undetected. When I can, I go to the only person I can trust
right now.
"Sam, where's Josh?" I ask him and I see the hesitation
before he tells me Josh is waiting outside the Governor's suite for
the result of the meeting with Hoynes. Without another word I walk
briskly upstairs and see Josh leaning against the hallway wall with his
eyes closed. He looks tired…and sad.
"Josh?" I call softly not wanting to startle him. His eyes open
and I see a quick moment of heat there before the shutters close over
them. "Any word?" I ask indicating the closed door of the
Governor's suite.
"No. He kicked us all out. It's just the Governor, Hoynes, and
Dr. Bartlet in there."
"Have you eaten?" I ask as much out of habit as out of concern
and his mouth twitches.
"Not yet."
"It's nearly 2, Josh. You put it off any longer and you can just
call it dinner."
"Ah-kay." He jokes and I lean closer to him.
"You need to eat, Joshua."
"Yeah..." he shoots another worried glance at the door.
"This is a pretty big meeting?" I ask.
"Yeah, everything from now on is very, very big."
"I got that idea when I was talking to C.J. earlier." I tell
him. "She's concerned that you might be getting closer to Mandy
again." And I'm more than a little relieved to hear the
disbelieving snort come from him. "That's what I told her. Then
she said it would be better for you to get involved with Mandy than it
would be for you to get involved with a staffer. She said that would be
game over for you."
"Donna-"
"Is that what she saw you and Sam fighting about? Us?"
"We weren't fighting, Donna. Sam and I don't fight."
"That's what C.J. said, and part of the reason she was so
surprised to see that you were. Was it about us?"
Josh turns his body toward mine and I can see the intensity is his face
when he answers "Yes."
"But I'm going to figure something out, I swear. I just
can't right now. Not during the convention." He hastens to add.
"I understand." I answer and try to keep my lip from quivering.
"I'm not sure you do, but if you can just be patient a few
days-"
"Sure." I reply, but it's a little too fast and a little too
bright and Josh notices that fact.
"Donna, please trust me for just a few days." He reaches out and
brushes the back of his hand down my face. I just want to melt. "We
just need to be careful right now, but-"
He breaks off suddenly when John Hoynes opens the hotel room door and
storms out. The Senator stops short when he spots us and reverses
direction back to where we're standing. Josh's hand drops away
from my face and he turns his body as if to shield me from the Senator.
"Josh…"
"Senator."
"Mooreland was a nice touch. It's too bad we couldn't have
met privately earlier. It might have alleviated part of this
problem."
"That wasn't possible, sir." Josh replies and Senator Hoynes
looks over Josh's shoulder at me.
"No, I can see where Erica's invitation may have fallen
short." He smirks and it makes my skin crawl. Then he turns to walk
away.
"How did the meeting go, Senator?" Josh ventures.
"I'll be in touch with your boss." The Senator threw over
his shoulder as he got into the elevator.
"That didn't sound too good." I whisper from behind Josh.
"No, I didn't like any of that at all." He replies still
staring at the closed elevator doors.