Josh’s POV,
It’s all over but finish off the wounded.
The last ballot was cast four hours ago and we’ve got it in the bag. Having the Governor invite
Hoynes to lunch yesterday was a stroke of genius on Leo’s part. It made it look like he was
coming to us, hat in hand. In a business where perception is everything, Hoynes let himself be
out maneuvered. Had I still been working for him I’d have stomped on that invitation with extreme
prejudice. But Hoynes’ soon to be ex-campaign manager, Mike Vorland, let his guy walk right
into it. He deserved to lose. And, savvy old pol that he is, the Senator should have seen it
coming a mile away, but he didn’t. Or at least he didn’t want to. Leo counted on John being too
arrogant to pass it up, and he was right. What Hoynes had seen as an act of political noblesse
oblige the talking heads had seen as a sign of weakness, and they’d said so…..and the
delegates had been listening.
The official tally was 3823 delegates going to the Governor. More than enough votes and plenty
to spare. Once everyone saw the handwriting on the wall, there was a stampede to pile onto the
Bartlet bandwagon in a major display of “me too-ism”. No one wanted to face the general
election with a weakened and disgruntled Presidential candidate at their back.
However, Hoynes had held onto Texas and the Southwest, so there’s one chore left to do. I’d
rather twist a dragon’s tail than be doing this, even though it has to be done, but as chief
strategist and the guy who used to work for the obvious choice form VP, I have to be here.
Currently we’re waiting outside the Governor’s suite with Vorland and two of his flunkies for the
final word on Hoynes. The Governor gave everyone one last chance to speak their piece and
nobody flinched. And, speaking of finishing off the wounded, this time Hoynes really was coming
to us hat in hand. I thought I’d feel better about that. That maybe I’d feel some sense of
vindication to go with the thrill of the win. I didn’t though. They’ve been in there about fifteen
minutes…..
*SLAM*
Hoynes just stepped out the door and slammed it behind him. This is *so* not good. In all the
years that I worked for him I don’t think that I’ve *ever* seen him this pissed off. He gave us all a
seething glance and settled on me. If his eyes had been guns, I’d have been well ventilated.
“Josh,” he snapped. “Walk with me.”
He stalked off towards the elevator bank with his guys in pursuit and I looked at Leo for direction.
“What do you want Josh?” he snapped “It obviously didn’t go well. We need Texas in the
general election. Get after him and fix it!”
As I took off after the Senator the others were filing back into the suite. I caught up with him as
the elevator doors popped open on an empty car. He stepped in and told his guys to wait for the
next one, even as he waved me in. The car hadn’t dropped two floors when he hit the emergency
stop button, after which he turned and looked me up and down.
“Well, you won. You got your ‘real thing’, much good may it do you.”
I held his gaze without blinking. “To the victor go the spoils sir. Can you pretend that you wouldn’
t be gloating a bit if it had gone the other way? You can have your share if you want it. And it’s
the right thing to do, for the Party.”
Hoynes shook his head. “I don’t know that I want to risk it. How you could have hitched your
wagon to…” He paused and studied my face, as if calculating what he saw there. The he
grinned. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
I stirred uncomfortably. “What do you mean?” I hope to hell that he isn’t talking about what I
think he was talking about.
He laughed out loud and hit the button again. “What the hell. Maybe I’ll be president sooner
than anyone thinks. Go back and tell Leo that you got me. I’m on board. I’ll call the Governor to
confirm it when I get back to my suite and I’ll have my people start the spin when Claudia does.”
My mind was still mulling over the fact that he had called CJ ‘Claudia’ when the car stopped well
short of the lobby. The door opened and there was Donna.
“Josh!” She paused and added, “Hello Senator.”
“Good evening…Miss Moss isn’t it? I’ve seen you around, but I don’t think that I’ve had the
pleasure. And you can drop the Senator and call me John, or in a couple of months you can call
me Mr. Vice President. Josh just talked me into the job.” he said as he reached out and grasped
her hand. It’s worth noting that she didn’t offer her hand, but he took it anyway and shook it
slowly. Typical of him. My hackles stood up as he gave her that oily smile that I came to know so
well when I worked for him. It was his ‘try to charm their clothes off’ smile.
“Yes sir,” she said abruptly, and then she turned to me. “Josh, you need to talk to the advance
guys. Now that the party has made its choice and we’re going to have DNC funding they’re
starting to get out of control with the event planning.”
Hoynes relinquished her hand and frowned. That frown was probably more for the fact that she
was apparently impervious to his snake-oil charm than it was about her oblique reference to the
Governor’s new status.
God, I love her. “I’ll be right with you.” The door started to close, but I stopped it with my hand
as I turned to Hoynes and said, “I’ll get off here if you don’t mind Senator. I’ll head back up and
give them the good news.”
Hoynes shrugged. “However you want to play it, Josh. You’re your own man now.”
I stepped out of the elevator and turned to look at him, but I couldn’t hold his eyes. He kept his
gaze on Donna until the doors were almost closed, but at the last second he looked at me, and
grinned. It was like he was saying ‘Way to go, Josh’. I felt like I wanted to take a shower, or
make Donna take a shower, just to get the psychic stench off.
I punched the button for another elevator and when it arrived, Donna and I both got aboard for
the ride back up to the President’s floor. No sooner had the doors closed than her arms were
around my neck. We hadn’t had time for anything remotely physical during the chaos of the last
thirty hours, so her touch came with a welcome release of tension. I could feel her shaking a bit,
so I wrapped my arms around her and held on tight.
She drew back after a moment and gave me a ghost of a smile as she said, “Well, I can honestly
say that I now know for certain what it feels like to have someone undressing me with his eyes. I’
ve had it happen before, but it was never quite that blatant.”
“I’m sorry. I just…he’s…he is the way that he is. Warts and all.”
She pulled away from me and straightened her dress. She was working on my jacket and tie
when the elevator stopped and the doors opened on the restrained bedlam of Bartlet for America’
s floor of the hotel. “Those are some pretty big warts there, Joshua.”
I steered her into an alcove off the hall so we could talk for a minute.
“Well if anyone asks you to try and turn him into a prince for them, tell them to go to hell.”
She smirked. “Getting a little possessive? And I think it’s a frog that you have to kiss to get a
prince, not a toad. And toads have warts, frogs don’t.”
I grinned at her display of trivia. “So I’m possessive. And I like that, John Hoynes, the
presumptive VP really *is* a toad, but a toad who has the state of Texas in his pocket.”
“I think I’d kiss an actual toad before I ever let that man anywhere near my lips.” She sighed. “It
doesn’t matter. Frog, toad, or whatever.” She looked at the door then leaned in for a quick
kiss. “You’re the only man I want to be kissing. Now you’d better get down to the suite before
Hoynes calls to confirm his acceptance and finds out that they’ve picked someone else.”
I gave her hand a quick squeeze as a backed away, and then, dropping her hand I spun and
charged off down the hallway to spread the news that we had a VP.
We still hadn’t defined what we were to each other, and those that knew about us didn’t want us
to have the chance to do so. But I would be damned if I’d let that sway me. It would take time,
patience, and stealth, but we would have time to talk and find a way to make it work.
Donna’s POV
I waited a moment to let Josh get clear and then I stepped out into the hallway myself. I caught
sight of him as the Secret Service agents posted at the Governor’s door let him into the suite.
Half a heartbeat letter I heard elated shouting echoing down the hallway as Josh broke the
news. I sighed and turned in the opposite direction only to find the Mandy blocking my way.
Funny, I didn’t recall seeing any flying monkeys around. Oops, did I say that out loud?
She frowned for a minute then switched to the usual plastic smile that she uses when she thinks
that she’s in control of the situation. Either she must have decided that she misheard me, or that
I couldn’t possibly have said what I said. What? Little old me stand up to the big bad media
director?
“From the sound of it, I guess that Hoynes is on board?”
I nod. “Josh just gave them the news.”
“He can be quite the charmer,” she said, with a broad smirk.
God, how I hate that smirk. It’s like she was born with that snide half smile of hers glued to her
face and patented it shortly thereafter.
“Josh?”
“No, the Senator. He’s really quite a nice guy once you get to no him.”
It took everything I had not to laugh, but I managed it. Who was she trying to convince? I may be
pretty new to politics, but John Hoynes’ type wasn’t new to me. I lived with one of his type for
years. That sort of thing gives you a life time immunity. What does it say about a woman, that
she thinks that someone like Hoynes is a ‘nice guy’? “I wouldn’t know,” I answered. “You’d better
get down there. They’re going to need you shortly.”
Mandy’s face clouded over. I could thoughts racing through her head. A volunteer had just told
her how to do her job. A volunteer whom she suspected of screwing her ex no less. It was not to
be borne!
So I did the only thing I could do. I grinned. “I’ve got to get to work. We’ve got a lot of stuff to do
before any of us can call it a night. I’ll see you later Mandy.” Not.
With that I took off at a brisk pace down the hall, trying to put as much distance between myself
and her as I could.
The Next Day…..
Josh’s POV
It’s been murder today. Let me list a few of my many problems. I didn’t get any time alone with
Donna last night. Sam and CJ are tag-teaming us. We’ve been in meetings non-stop all morning
and afternoon to manage integrating the two campaign staffs. I didn’t get any time alone with
Donna last night. Erica Lee has been assigned to me as temporary staff liaison for said
integration process. This must be Hoynes’ idea of either a joke or a gesture of friendship. Either
way Donna isn’t happy about that. I’m not happy that Donna’s not happy. The Governor may
have an undisclosed health issue, and the Senator may know about it. And speaking of my bright
and beautiful assistant, did I mention that *I didn’t get any time alone with Donna last night?*
I probably won’t get any tonight either. Time I mean. Get your mind of the gutter Lyman!
Now we’re standing backstage waiting for our guys to finish their acceptance speeches. The
peons have done all that they can to pull this campaign together for today. Immediately after the
Convention wraps with those speeches we have to get the Governor and the Senator in the
same room and hammer out some ground rules. Or as Leo would say, lay down the law.
Leo’s POV
Well that’s it then. We have a ticket. Once Hoynes stepped onto the dais with Jed it was
irrevocable. Why do I have the feeling that someday I’m going to regret it?
The staff members of both campaigns have been having marathon meetings all day, trying to
iron out the details that will let the two staffs merge together to a single purpose. Some liaison
people have been assigned to both sides until the work is done and we have a single working
campaign staff. Some heads have had to roll. Mike Vorland is out of a job, as are about a third
of his deputies, and a lot of junior staff are moving on to other jobs already, but the rest of
Hoynes campaign staff, those that want to stay will be merged with ours. Josh and his assistant
are spearheading that merger as we speak. In the end Hoynes will keep a small traveling staff
that will be answerable to the main campaign first and him second.
Jed and John are both coming back stage now after two encores to a hall full of screaming
delegates. There’s something about a Convention that always leaves me juiced beyond what
the booze and pills ever could. I’m still an addict, and I know it. But this is a healthier addiction
than any of the others. It’s time to have a come to Jesus meeting with John. He needs to realize
beyond any doubt that he’s coming aboard with us, and not the other way around. And I’m not
going to have his zipper issues getting in our way.
Josh’s POV
Well here we are, just one big happy family. Yeah, I have to learn to watch the sarcasm. It’s the
Governor and his staff and the Senator with his people, and all of us in a room with Barry
Goodwin as mediator. Leo didn’t want him here and neither did I, but the DNC is going to be
paying the bills now, so they want a seat at the table.
We’ve spent the last hour and a half thrashing out the beginning of the campaign itinerary.
Hoynes wanted to spend some time in New England, for reasons best known only to himself, and
later in the campaign that may be a good idea. But right now we have to learn to walk together
before we can run. Both candidates will stick to the states where they were strongest and
doubles team the ones where they’re not. That makes the South Hoynes’ territory and the
Northeast and Midwest, with the exception of Ohio and Michigan, the Governor’s playground.
The idea is for Sam, I, and the rest of the combined staff to get back to DC posthaste and set up
the campaign headquarters. Leo, Toby, and CJ will stick with the Governor. The two candidates
will split up and make one quick pass through their separate territories to meet up in ten days in
DC. The latest reports said that the Republican challenger was still in DC. He obviously
expected us to take a breather before starting the general campaign. Hitting the ground running
like this would catch him with his pants down and give us several days to get our message out
there before he could get organized. A stern chase is a long chase, and we wanted him to have
an unobstructed view of our dust all the way until election day.
The meeting was going to break up when Hoynes cleared his throat. “There’s one more thing,”
he said. “The liaisons between our two organizations have proven very effective in the
integration process. I’d like to recognize them for their efforts in making a positive start to a
successful campaign. One of our people who served that purpose well was my chief researcher
Erica Lee. Since she’s expressed a desire to stay with the main staff at the DC headquarters, as
have a few others on my staff, I’d like to draft a few of your junior staffers as replacements. Here’
s a list of the proposed transfers.”
He pulled a sheaf of papers out of a manila folder on the table and handed it across the table to
the Governor. It was multiple copies of a one page list with two dozen names on it. Most were
female and all were young. But what really got my attention was the name halfway down the
page. Donna Moss. I looked up at him and though his face gave away nothing, his eyes spoke
of retribution. As for me, Sam is right. I have lousy poker face, and right now I’m pretty damn
sure my expression borders on being homicidal. He’ll get his hands on Donna over my dead
body. I drew a breath for an angry outburst, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me before I
could get started.
Leo’s POV
Ok, the other shoe has dropped. It’s time to deal with this. We aren’t going to let him pick off the
menu to restock his harem. Then there’s the fact that I think my deputy was ready to lunge
across the table at him. And he knows Hoynes better than any of us.
“Staffing issues are my territory. I don’t think that the others need to be here for this. The
Governor should get to bed early, and so should the rest of you. I want everyone to have at
least one solid night of sleep before we light the fuse on this thing. Senator? Josh? Why don’t
you stick around for a few minutes?”
Josh’s POV
The Governor and Senator said their goodnights and everyone drifted out of the room chattering
excitedly, which left me with Leo and Hoynes regarding each other across the table.
Leo nodded at Hoynes. “John, I’m glad that you had the good sense to send your staff off for a
well-deserved early night. Because after we get done talking, you’d have to work pretty hard to
hold their respect.”
Hoynes glared. “Respect? You’re a fine one to talk Leo. Been keeping up with your meetings
have you?”
“As well as I can,” Leo said with a shrug. “What counts is that between the last meeting and the
next meeting I don’t take a drink.” He paused before continuing. “And speaking of taking the
pledge, you’re going to swear off chasing skirts for the rest of the campaign.”
Leo skidded the list back across the table. “This is bullshit and you know it. We’re not your
pimp. If your staff wants to leave you then tough. If you need new ones, then have your
manager hire some. But the ones that we have, we need. If you want to approach them and
offer them a better deal, then maybe we can work something out to keep everyone happy. But
we hired them in good faith, and we’re not about to just deliver them up to you to your supply of
impressionable young women. The Governor’s honor means more to him than that.
For a moment Hoynes appeared to be in a towering rage. But he’s a veteran politician, so he
got his game face back on in a hurry.
“If that’s the way it is…” he began coldly.
“It is,” Leo said sharply
Hoynes glared again. “As I was about to say, if that’s the way it is, then I can live with that. The
list was something of an integrity test anyway.”
In a pigs eye. If we’d caved…..
“In spite of what you think and all rumors to the contrary, I’m not some philandering idiot who
runs around trying to stick it to every woman who will hold still long enough.”
He certainly did a convincing imitation of one when I worked for him. You have to give him this.
The man knows how to lie with a straight face.
“But Leo, don’t talk to be about your candidate’s honor like it was something delivered from on
high.” Hoynes smirked. “You don’t know him like I do. And with that, I’ll bid you both good
night.” He stood up and left us sitting there.
Honor? We don’t know Bartlet like Hoynes does?
Shit.
TBC