Title: Go West, Young Man
Author: Cathy Miller (all Chapters posted on my website www.cathyswestwing.com)
Rating: Mostly PG; will warn readers of any change
Disclaimer: Not even within driving distance of being mine
Feedback: Required in order to produce additional Chapters
A/N: This is dedicated to Mary R, without whom this story
wouldn't be nearly what it became.
“Sam, did you hear me?”
“I don’t think so. Is this some kind of joke?” he replied.
“It’s been my experience that the DNC isn’t usually populated by people hoping to
break into stand-up but-“ Josh joked.
“Then why are they talking about me running for Governor in California?”
“They remember how you threw yourself on the grenade in the run for the 47th. You’ve
remained active in California politics. They’ve watched as you’ve proven yourself as
Deputy Communications Director and now Deputy Chief of Staff. You’re a protégé of
Bartlet, Santos, and last but not least, yours truly. My wife insists you’re handsome and
charming, though I don’t see that myself, and those qualities come across well during a
campaign.”
“Josh.”
“You’d have to get through the primary first, but once you’ve run that gauntlet you’ll
have the full backing of the DNC and the White House.”
“You’ve given this some thought.”
“I have. In fact, I’ve been waiting for this to come up. It’s time, Sam.”
“What do you know about whether or not it’s time for me to run?”
“I’ve put 2 men in the White House. Some might say I have good judgment about this.”
“Ainsley is still on maternity leave for God’s sake. I’m supposed to go home and tell her
to pack for the campaign in California? I’ll be sleeping on the street!”
“You have an infant at home, Sam, nobody’s sleeping there. You’d get more rest on
the street.”
“Caitlin sleeps very well, I’ll have you know.”
“I bet she’d love the sound of the ocean. They say that it reminds babies of when they
were in the womb. You should take her someplace where she can hear the ocean.”
“Josh…”
“You know which of our great states has tons of oceanfront property?”
“Josh…”
“Go talk it out Sam; you and Ainsley and Caitlin. See what they have to say. See what
you think.”
“And what are you going to do for a Deputy around here if I go off on this wild goose
chase?”
“We’ll probably have to close the White House down once you’re gone, but-“
“Would you be serious for a minute? We’ve got a lot going on around here right now.”
“IF you decide to do this, you’ll take a leave of absence and I’ll appoint an interim
DCOS. That shouldn’t be your concern right now. Go home and talk it over with your
family and get back to me with a ‘yes’..”
“Right. Now I know how the President felt when you dropped this “how about you run
for office’ bombshell on his doorstep.” Sam groused as he left.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
“Ains?” Sam called quietly for his wife when he got home. Something smelled good in
the kitchen so he followed his nose. He found his wife dancing around the kitchen to
whatever was playing on her Ipod as she finished dinner preparations. He tapped her
on the shoulder and she jumped.
“God, Sam, don’t DO that to me. My heart can’t handle that kind of surprise.” Just wait,
he thought, until I tell you hear the next surprise.
“Caitlin sleeping?” he asked as he pulled his wife close to him for a hug and a kiss.
“Just. She should sleep for the next couple hours. We might have an uninterrupted
dinner for a change.”
“If we’re going to have a couple uninterrupted hours, I have things I’d rather do than
eat dinner.” Sam’s kisses turned more heated and Ainsley responded eagerly. Having
a baby in the house had taught them to take advantage of the alone time they were
afforded. It was nearly an hour later before they resumed conversation.
“I had an interesting meeting with Josh today.”
“Yeah? What about?”
“A Governor’s race that the DNC is all hot to get behind.”
“I’m guessing that with President Santos’ numbers so high, lots of states are going to
be clamoring for him to campaign for the down ticket races.”
“Yeah. It will be a repeat of the mid-terms only with more demands.”
“I’m glad I’m not Helen Santos. All that campaigning has got to wear you down.”
“Well, she’s been campaigning on the National stage; that’s a lot different than a State
race.” Sam hedged.
“Still, being on the road all the time, and with children too. What a zoo!” Ainsley went
on about the tribulations of campaigning while her head rested on her husbands’ chest.
“Sometimes I think the place to make a real difference is on the State level.” Sam tried
again.
“Maybe if you’re an appointee. It doesn’t matter I guess. I’m just glad that we’re settled
here. Routine is huge for children. It gives them a foundation.”
“Uh-huh.” Sam gave up.
“So which race is the DNC all hot about?”
“California.” He replied.
“Oh, you know who would be good there?”
“No, who?”
“Oh! What is his name? He’s a good friend of Josh’s…used to live out there…Oh, what
is it?” She broke off as Sam rolled her over and tickled her mercilessly.
“Ainsley Hayes-Seaborn, you were playing with me!” he accused.
“Donna thought it would help soften the ground if she talked to me first.”
“I’ll kill you both!” Sam threatened.
“That’s going to make it harder to win the nomination, not to mention the Governor’s
seat.” That comment stopped Sam in mid-tickle.
“You mean you’re alright with this? We have a new baby, we just bought a condo, our
jobs-“
“All of that is workable, if this is what you want.” Ainsley told him seriously.
“What about what you want?”
“I want our family to be together. The rest is frosting on the cake.”
“It’s always food with you.” Sam teased.
“It’s a metaphor. I might have a few issues I’d like to bring to the forefront in a statewide
debate.”
“Ainsley…”
“Sam, we talked about this before. I knew this day would come. What does Josh say?”
“He said it’s my time.” Ainsley nodded in agreement.
“Then I think you should listen to your friend and political advisor.” She told him. “And
your wife, of course. Your wife is very wise.”
“She is.” Sam agreed and kissed her and then picked up the phone to dial a number
he knew by heart.
“Let’s go for it.” He said when the phone was answered.
“Donna it’s Sam. What time is it?” Josh asked.
“7:40. Why?” Sam asked puzzled.
“I bet Donna $50 you’d call before 8:00. Donna you owe me 50 bucks!” he shouted to
his wife as Sam chuckled.
“Keep laughing buddy, because if I’m in this, you’re in this too.” Sam announced.
“Excuse me?” Josh replied, his voice squeaking.
“I want the same deal that you had with Santos; I’m in if you run the show. I don’t trust
anybody else.” Sam explained. “Not with my campaign or my family.”
“Uh…I’m going to have to get back to you on that one.” Josh stalled.
“No problem; talk to your family and get back to me with a ‘yes’.” Sam enjoyed tossing
Josh’s words back at him.
********************************************
“I need to talk to you, Donna.”
“I’m not paying you $50 bucks, Josh. I never shook on that bet.” Donna called back to
him.
“We can just set the bet aside.” Josh offered and made Donna immediately suspicious.
“Sam is ready to file, but he had some concerns and a condition.”
“Absolutely not.”
“You haven’t even heard what it is. You can’t say no when you haven’t even heard
what his condition is! You think you can just divine the information that Sam just shared
with me and unilaterally say ‘no’ to your imaginings?” Josh spouted.
“Sam wants you to run his campaign.” Donna stated.
“Well, okay, you got that one right, but you still don’t get to unilaterally-“
“You think you and Sam can abandon the President at the same time? You think we
should just uproot our family and move out to California before Sam even files?”
Donna pointed out.
“Those are two good points, but-“
“And I’m sure that you wouldn’t agree to Sam’s condition without speaking to me about
it first, right?” Donna prodded. “I mean, running his campaign would either necessitate
me quitting as the First Lady’s Chief of Staff-“
“I’m certainly not asking you to-“ Josh tried to get a word in.
“Or, I will be working as the Chief of Staff while being a single parent here while you are
in California.”
“Well…yeah.” Josh agreed. “I told him I’d have to discuss it with you first, of course.”
Josh wasn’t a complete idiot and he’d learned a few things in the years that they’d
been married.
“So what are you saying here, Josh?”
“I guess it would be foolish to act on either option before the primary.” Josh admitted.
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Donna rewarded him with a kiss. “I’m sure Sam will
understand.”
***********************************************
“Scott Holcomb is available.” Josh offered after he sat down with Sam to discuss the
situation.
“Oh, well, then I definitely don’t need you.” Sam replied.
“Everybody needs me, but you have to get through the primary before you get me.”
Josh quipped. Josh had reasoned that they couldn’t both bail on President Santos at
the same time, and Sam was uncomfortable asking Josh to uproot his family before
they knew if he’d get through the primary. So they struck a compromise; Sam would get
a California strategist to work with him through the primary and once he had the
nomination (which Sam still thought was doubtful) Josh, Donna, and their son Ben
would head west.
“Are you sure you can’t talk Joey Lucas into helping me out?”
“She’s a little busy with her own campaign, but I’m sure she’d be happy to coordinate
some events with you.” Joey Lucas was running for US Representative in California
and was making good headway.
“So that leaves me where?” Sam sighed.
“I’d go with Jamison, but that’s just me.” Josh noted. “He has the most statewide
experience.”
“I don’t know.” Sam hedged. “Was I drunk when you talked me into this?”
“No, just sleep deprived from having a newborn in the house.” Josh replied. “President
Bartlet wants to come out to stump for you, but I’d hold off on that for a bit until you’ve
reacquainted yourself with the California electorate.”
“How’s Bill doing?” Sam changed the subject to that of his successor as DCOS.
“He’s still in shock.” Josh laughed. “But he’s going to be fine. It’s Lou who’s ready to set
the building on fire.”
“You told her she’s next in line if you end up in California with me?” Sam asked,
incredulously. “I thought we’d agreed not to say anything about that until we saw how
things were going in California after I file?”
“Are there witnesses to this alleged agreement?” Josh asked just as his wife entered
the office.
“Don’t start with me. I’m a real lawyer and on this playing field, I can beat you.” Sam
claimed.
“Do you believe this blaspheming, Donnatella?” Josh asked his wife.
“Of course not, Joshua.” Donna replied without even asking what the conflict was
about. “You ready for filing day, Sam?”
“I haven’t even picked a campaign manager yet, what do you think?” Sam snapped.
“He’s a little snarky tonight, Donna. I wouldn’t take it personally.” Josh told her and
handed her a beer from his frig.
“Shouldn’t you be leaving to pick up Ben?” Sam asked them, but Josh shook his head
‘no’.
“Donna’s parents are in town visiting, so he’s home with them this week.” He explained.
“I don’t know Jamison.” Sam finally hit on the real reason for his grouchiness and
Donna sat down next to him.
“It’s only temporary.” Donna assured him. “Just through the primary.”
“I get why HE’S so sure I’ll get the nomination; he’s a raving egomaniac when it comes
to politics.” Sam said, jerking his thumb toward Josh. “But why are YOU so sure I’ll get
the nomination?” he asked Donna, completely ignoring Josh.
“Because Josh is sure.” She answered simply. “And he’s a raving egomaniac about
politics, because unfortunately, he’s almost always right.”
“But when he’s wrong it’s usually a whopper.” Sam pointed out.
“Fair point.” Donna agreed and had Josh choking on his swallow of beer. “Still, I don’t
think he is about this. What are you really worried about, Sam?”
“That I’m going to get clobbered again like I did when I ran for the 47th and I will be
finished in politics.”
“This is different.” Donna contradicted him. “That was a Hail Mary play then and
everyone knew that. Plus, look what you’ve done since then. We all believe in you,
Sam.”
“Thanks, Donna.” Sam said sincerely. “It’s just once I file…”
“It will be fine, Sam.” Josh promised. “You just concentrate on Taylor.”
Taylor was the likely Republican nominee for Governor and a current State Senator.
“You don’t think it’s a little pre-mature to concentrate on a Republican opponent when
there are 6 Democratic ones in the primary?”
“You’re looking beyond the primary.” Josh dictated. “It puts you above all the other
Democratic infighting. Just concentrate on Taylor.”
*******************************************
“It’s just a filing.” Sam told her again. “You really don’t have to come.”
“It’s a photo op.” Ainsley countered. “And it’s the first impression a lot of people will get
of you.”
“I ran for office in California before you know.” Sam pointed out.
“I really don’t think you want to remind people of that, Sam.” Ainsley winced. “See, this
is the kind of thing I can help you with; avoiding PR disasters.”
“The California 47th hasn’t seen a Democratic victory in the last…100 years and I
finished 8 points down after the President called the French poncy haridressers and
threatened to shove a loaf of bread up their asses during one of my campaign events,
and then my campaign manager was arrested for assault.”
“Wow. That was impressive. Someone’s been practicing.” She teased.
“You know some reporter’s going to bring it up.” Sam noted.
“You can handle it.” Ainsley assured him. “Caitlin and I will help.”
“You and Caitlin will help how, exactly?” Sam asked skeptically.
“We’ll distract them with our brains and beauty.” Ainsley announced.
“Well, that could work, I guess.” Sam admitted.
“You guess?” Ainsley repeated.
“Yeah, what I meant to say there, was that my concern is that no one will even pay
attention to me with you and Caitlin there.” He quickly amended.
“That’s what I thought you meant.” Ainsley nodded. “We’ll go out, file, and spend a few
days in the sun.”
“Sure…what could go wrong with that plan?” Sam asked rhetorically.