Chapter 12
If there was any one thing that Josh Lyman loved about politics, it was the general predictability of it.
Sure, sometimes things went off the rails and sometimes you got a whopping surprise, but generally
speaking it was incredibly predictable. That was why he had it timed, almost to the minute, when
Senator Lee would make an impromptu appearance in his office.
Carol kept him cooling his heels outside Josh’s office for over an hour, just as she’d been instructed
to do, before telling him they’d managed to squeeze him in for five minutes before Josh’s next
appointment.
“Senator, what can I do for you?” Josh asked without looking up from where he was scrolling through
his emails.
“I was hoping I could do something for you.” Michael replied jovially.
“Such as?”
“Sponsor the new bill; help get it through the Senate.”
“We’ve already got that covered, but thanks.” Josh turned his attention back to his computer.
“I know the program backwards and forwards. I could be helpful to you here.” Senator Lee insisted.
“You know PART of the program backwards and forwards. We’ve had to change some things to
incorporate it more seamlessly into our earlier Bill. You can’t help us with this, Senator.”
“Uh-huh.” Michael paused. “Donna is doing a fantastic job with the First Lady.”
“Uh-huh.” Josh repeated. There was no way he was discussing Donna with this punk; US Senator or
not.
“I hope that I can perhaps be of some help in the future.” Senator Lee offered.
“Perhaps.” Josh allowed. He didn’t like the guy, but there was no use in burning the bridge
completely.
“Just for your information…” Michael said as we walked toward the door, “Meyers and Dobson were
all over the plan to tank your bill. They weren’t the mastermind, but they were the lead cheerleaders
and they’d love the opportunity to take you and the President out at the knees.”
Josh’s head shot over to Michael. “Good to know; thanks.”
Once Lee had left, Josh sat back in his chair and considered how he could use that information to
help move his plan along.
******************************************************
“What’s your head count?” Josh asked Donna when he finally reached her by phone early that
evening.
“Hi, Donna. It’s nice to finally hear your voice.” Donna snarked.
“I don’t do mushy over the phone; especially not over cellular phones. What’s your count?”
“What’s it worth to you?” Donna purred into the phone.
“What?” Josh pretended outrage but the chuckle ruined the effect.
“I have information that, by your own admission, is valuable to you. I’m asking you what you’ll give at
this moment to have my valuable information.” Donna expounded.
“Well…I can’t really offer you my BEST deal at the moment as we’re several thousand miles apart.”
Josh noted. “Besides, I think that I might have something you might find very valuable too.”
Donna blushed as her mind wandered exactly where Josh had intended that it would. ‘Fair point.”
She admitted and dropped her voice lower. “Of course, that’s really a mutually valuable commodity
isn’t it?”
“Indeed it is.” Josh cleared his throat. “What’s your count?”
“We’ve got a majority of the delegation from California so far, but Santiago is still ducking me.”
“I’ll handle Santiago.”
“How?”
“You don’t trust me, Donnatella?”
“I trust you implicitly. How are you going to handle her? She’s an important voice for a lot of our
issues.”
“O Ye of little faith. I took care of Senator Lee just fine.” Josh retorted and immediately wished he’d
left that part out.
“Oh, really? Do tell. Because I sent him packing from the west coast back to the east coast all by
myself.”
“Let’s call it teamwork, then.” Josh considered. “I’m becoming fond of the idea of us crossing barriers
east and west in the epic struggle for good; joining forces, becoming one, unifying figures…” he let
the double entendres play out and waited a beat for Donna’s reply.
“Have you been drinking?” Donna asked. “Because I really think you shouldn’t be drinking at all while
you’re Chief of Staff, but especially not while you’re physically in the White House.”
“I have not, in fact, been drinking anything but Coke today. But I do have a bottle of wine chilling in
the fridge for when you get home.”
“That sounds perfect.” Donna told him quietly. “I talked to the women’s groups and they’ve agreed to
feed back what I told them to.”
“I KNEW you could read my mind!” Josh smiled full out but tamped it down when his senior staff
began filing in. “I’ve got to go.”
“Senior staff.” Donna guessed.
“Uh-huh.” Josh answered shortly.
“They’re all standing in front of your desk right now?” she pressed.
“Uh-huh.” He confirmed.
“Then this wouldn’t be a very good time to tell you the plans I have for you when I get back tonight, I
suppose.” She surmised.
“Ummmm…probably not, no.” Josh shifted uncomfortably in his chair and tried to turn away from the
assembled group.
“Oh, that’s too bad. I have very specific, detailed plans for you that include a special garment and
some of that wine you’re chilling.” She crooned.
Josh groaned and shut his eyes. When he opened them again he noted that each member of his
team was giving him a strange look. “I’ll get back to you on that.” And he quickly hung up.
“Everything…okay?” Sam questioned on behalf of the team.
“Uh, yeah, just some news…disappointing news…you know.” Josh tried to get back on track. “Give
me some good news, people.” He switched into his Chief of Staff mode.
“Leadership is on board, but we’re getting some resistance from the southern coalition.” Sam noted.
“You mean to tell me that spending additional money on children and education isn’t playing well in
the south? Get. Out.” Josh deadpanned. “Lou, I want stats on emergency room visits and juvenile
detention for any state that’s balking right now. The First Lady is going to pay them a visit tomorrow.”
“The First Lady? Are you kidding me?” Amy spoke up. “Our first major policy initiative and you’re
handing it over to the First Lady?”
“The First Lady is going to hand the votes over to us. She’s not going to start a coup or anything.”
Sam pointed out.
“She’s incredibly popular.” Lester chimed in. “Why not use it to our advantage?”
“The women’s groups aren’t going to fall in line with this one. They think relegating it to the First
Lady’s office is a sign that this administration isn’t taking them seriously.”
“You made calls to them?” Josh asked. “That’s not exactly within your purview as leg affairs director.”
“I have relationships with them. I thought I could help.” Amy defended herself under Josh’s stare.
“Well, thanks for trying anyway.” Josh choked on it, but he got it out. “The only thing that could tank
us now is the President.”
“Excuse me?” Amy asked in surprise.
“He wasn’t thrilled with this change in plans. If any Members of Congress started making trouble
directly with him, it could blow this all out of the ballpark.” Sam agreed. “Don’t worry, Josh. I’ll make
sure everyone stays on the reservation.”
“I’m counting on it, Sam. Donna and I are both counting on it.” Josh nodded. “Lou?”
“The press is getting exactly what we’re feeding them.” Lou told her boss. “Everyone is staying on
message.”
“Let’s keep it that way.” Josh advised. “The First Lady and Mrs. Baker get in late tonight, and
Annabeth is making sure there’s no press contact when they get here. We’ll have a schedule for
them on the hill starting bright and early so we can get press coverage all day. Sam, how’s the actual
Bill coming?”
“We’ll have it done and ready for your review before the First Lady’s plane gets in.”
“Excellent.” Josh slapped Sam on the shoulder. “We’ll meet again at 8 and then call a full lid.”
***********************************************************
“Ronna, I need 15 minutes with the President.” Amy informed the younger woman.
“Josh didn’t tell me anything about-“
“He got called in over Kazakhstan again. It’s for Congressmen Meyers and Dobson; about the Ed
Bill. They need to see him tonight.” Amy insisted and Ronna hesitated. “Fine. Wait for Josh. But
there will be several pissed off important people; including the President and his Chief of Staff.”
“You can have 10 minutes at 9:00, but that’s it.” Ronna stared back at Amy. “With Mrs. Santos gone,
the President promised he’d be back in the residence by 9:15.”
“That’s no problem.” Amy assured her. “Thanks for the help. It’s going to make a significant impact
on the Bill, Ronna.”
***********************************************
Amy was conspicuous by her silence at the last meeting of the day, but nobody brought it up
because they appreciated it too much.
It had been a long couple days, so everyone was happy to head home after the last meeting; even
Josh, who had been the only person Amy had been concerned about.
So it was with an easy air that Amy escorted the two Congressmen into the Oval office at 9:00 for
their sit down with the President. Both men had been impressed that she’d been able to arrange it.
“Gentlemen, please come in. Can I offer you a drink?” President Santos was nursing what appeared
to be scotch.
“No, thank you sir.” Dobson began. “We know you time is severely limited and we don’t want to waste
any of it.”
“I appreciate that.” Matt replied amiably. “What can I do for you?”
“It’s what we’re hoping to do for you sir.” Meyers joined the conversation. “There’s going to be some
blowback on the Education Bill. A lot of Members feel that they’re being strong armed by Lyman to
back a huge Federal spending bill, when he’s just doing it to save face for himself and
his…girlfriend.”
“The original bill was fine.” Dobson took up the narrative. “But when his…when Donna Moss kicked
up too much dirt with her alternate bill he had the speaker pull it off the floor. A lot of us are asking
who’s running the show here; the President or the First Lady.”
President Santos took this in. “I am, gentlemen, and there can’t be any doubt about that. Josh has
left for the evening, but I’ll address it with him in the morning.”
“In the morning, he’ll have sent out the First Lady and Mrs. Baker to the Hill to work the vote.” Amy
noted.
“Hmmmm…” The President stood up and walked the length of the room; twice. “I’ll make a statement
in the morning briefing explaining exactly what my position is and what I expect Congress to do about
the Ed Bill.”
“Thank you, sir. Amy was right. You’re a straight shooter.” Meyers shook his hand.
“That’s the only way they come in Texas, gentlemen. Thanks for coming by. Goodnight.” The
President dismissed them.
“Do you need help drafting a statement, sir?” Amy asked once they’d left.
“No. I’d prefer to do this myself. Goodnight, Amy.” Santos picked up his briefcase. “And thanks…for
showing me what’s really going on here Amy.”
“You’re welcome, sir.” Amy left the Oval office with a self-satisfied grin.
***********************************************************
Donna let herself into the apartment quietly, unsure whether or not Josh would be asleep. Normally,
it wouldn’t have been a questions; it was just after midnight. But the last couple days hadn’t
contained much rest for the Chief of Staff so he might be conked out by now. The Secret Service
agent outside the door had indicated that they’d been there since 8, so she gave it a 50/50 shot that
he was still awake.
The light was off and she gave her eyes a moment to adjust to the dark when she was grabbed from
behind and pushed against the door. She let out a muffled noise as Josh kissed her heatedly.
“Mr. Lyman?” Came the agent’s voice beyond the door.
“We’re fine.” Josh chuckled. “See what you did, now?”
“What I did?” Donna smacked him across the shoulder she’d been hanging onto for balance.
“With the state you left me in after your phone call this morning I couldn’t help myself.” Josh admitted
while his hands ran down her body and divested her of her coat and bags.
“What the hell was that crap about an Inn in Wisconsin?” he asked as he continued his mouth’s
assault on her face and neck.
“It looked very picturesque.” Donna replied while tilting her head back to give him better access. “I
thought it should be under consideration.”
“I am not honeymooning in Wisconsin, Donna.” Josh wanted to make that point absolutely clear, but
it lost some of it’s vehemence when accompanied by the moan he let out when she reached down to
touch him intimately. “Although I can see the possible merits in the situation.”
“That’s what I love about you. You can always see both sides of the issue.” Donna smiled and began
moving him toward the bedroom. “Although I must point out that planning a wedding through email
isn’t exactly romantic and it’s hardly the typical route to getting there.”
“It was plenty romantic; making plans for a lifelong commitment across the expanse of the country.
And since when have we done anything in a typical fashion?” Josh chuckled.
“True; very true.” Donna pulled his t-shirt over his head. “God, I have missed you so much! How
could it just be 48 hours?”
“It was very bad.” Josh agreed, unbuttoning her blouse. “We shouldn’t be apart for more than 12
hours, tops from now on!” He pushed the blouse and bra off of her in one smooth motion. “Hold on!
Is this a tan line? Were you tanning? I thought we had an agreement about the tanning?”
“It’s from the sundress I was wearing, I swear!” Donna laughed. “I didn’t have a moment to even think
about tanning; what with you changing policy over here left and right.”
“I believe it was YOUR policy decision that effected the change, Donnatella.”
“The East wing doesn’t take part in policy decisions, Joshua.”
“It appears that it does now.” Josh muttered.
“It does. Doesn’t it?” Donna smirked. Josh looked up at her face expecting to see some gloating, but
what he saw there was excitement. Excitement over the possibilities their professional partnership
could bring to them, to the White House, and to the country. Once again, her excitement and
idealism infected him and he felt it building within him.
“I love you.” Josh told her quietly before he joined their bodies.
Pizza was delivered around 1:30 and was eaten in bed while they caught up with each other.
“She didn’t get at all suspicious when Ronna let her in without your seal of approval?”
“Apparently, she felt Ronna was sufficiently intimidated.” Josh swallowed a bite of his half of the pizza
which was covered with sausage and pepperoni. “She didn’t waste any time either. The President
said she got both Congressmen sufficiently ramped up and let them do the dirty work. Then she just
offered to help clean it up.”
“Unbelievable.” Donna shook her head. “Barbara Knight, from NOW, said Amy spent 30 minutes on
the phone with her trying to convince her that Mrs. Santos was being used by me to try to pump up
my resume and that NOW’s issues were being ignored by the west wing.”
“I warned the President that Amy was NOT a team player, but I guess he had to see that for himself.”
“Everyone’s going to see it tomorrow. Will she be given the option to resign?” Donna asked.
“I don’t know. That’s not my call.” Josh answered carefully.
“What are you thinking, Joshua?”
“I’m thinking this will be the second time I help her lose her job.” Josh answered honestly.
“Oh, and she has no responsibility in it? Either time?”
“I didn’t say that.” Josh took another bite of pizza and grabbed the glass of wine out of Donna’s hand
for a drink.
“You’re thinking it though…or some variation of it. Or is it that the President hired her despite your
objections?”
“I really don’t care to talk about this anymore. We have more important decisions to discuss.”
“Such as?”
“An Inn in Wisconsin?”
Donna smiled and let him change the subject. “Maybe.”
“Maybe NOT.”
“Hawaii?”
“Cayman’s closer.” Josh pointed out.
“What difference does that make?” Donna laughed.
“Less time in the airplane means more time for other activities.” Josh explained and kissed her
shoulder as he moved behind her. Tossing the last bite of his pizza slice in his mouth, he used his
hands to knead her shoulders.
“I don’t know…I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii and you can give me shoulder rubs on an
airplane.” Donna reasoned as she tilted her head back in relaxation.
“Hawaii for our first anniversary.” Josh bargained.
“Our anniversary is in February.” Donna teased.
“Not that anniversary.” Josh chided her and took the wine glass from her hands before setting it
down on the bedside table.
“What anniversary then?” Donna prodded and Josh knew she was going to make him say the words;
sober this time.
“The anniversary attached to this.” He produced a small ring box from the bedside drawer that he’d
had couriered over to his office late today.
Donna had seen it among the pictures he’d sent for her perusal, but seeing it in person was
completely different. She had told him in her email, honestly, that it didn’t matter to her what the ring
looked like, it was the commitment of it that she was looking for. Still, if she had had to pick one, this
is the one she’d have picked.
“How did you know?”
“I’m tuned to you.” He teased. “So…will you marry me Donnatella Moss? I love you and I want to
spend the rest of our lives together…make a family together…”
Donna leaned back against him and took a deep breath. She tried to compose herself enough to
answer.
“Yes.” She turned in his arms and kissed him soundly. He slid the ring on her finger and found her
eager to seal the deal. Sleep was highly overrated anyway…