Phone Calls 14
Josh’s POV:
I’ve been waiting for it. I didn’t even attempt to close my eyes because I knew it was
coming. Between the alcohol and the stress of the day, she fell asleep as soon as her
head hit the pillow, but at 2:17 AM she wakes up screaming.
We go through our usual routine, it’s happened often enough that we’ve developed a
post-nightmare routine. Stanley told me what to look for, but aside from the occasional
nightmare, I’m not seeing anything troubling. Considering the trauma she’s been
through it’s amazing that’s all she’s experiencing and I credit the therapy she’s been
doing via telephone. Donna’s shared some of their conversations with me and now
she’s able to describe the dreams to me after she’s had them.
I was shocked the first time she told me it was me trapped in the Suburban in her
dreams most nights. Then I thought back to my dreams that awful summer and
realized the worst ones were the ones where Donna was with me coming out of the
Newseum that night. It seems like our subconscious minds were aware of the deep
connection between us far before we were conscious of it.
I know she’s disappointed in me that I didn’t call Toby even though intellectually she
understands why I can’t. She and Toby have had a special bond ever since Rosslyn.
Donna told me how it was Toby that broke the news to her about what happened to
me. It was Toby that first told her about the President’s M.S. They connect, these two,
in a way that Toby won’t allow with anyone else in the White House.
So a nightmare isn’t surprising after a day filled with Toby confessing to a Federal
crime and a blunt conversation about Rosslyn and assassination attempts with the
other women (yeah, she told me about that).
After I’m sure that Donna’s is again sleeping peacefully; I slip out of the bed and close
the bedroom door behind me. I pick up my cell phone and dial the number I’ve been
itching to call all evening.
“Do you have any idea what the hell time it is here.” I hear instead of hello.
“No.” I reply honestly. “Donna says my watch is crap so I don’t even know what time it
is here.”
“I knew you were going to call. I should have just stayed awake.”
“Yes, you should have, but how did you know I was going to call?”
“You can’t call anyone at the White House. Leo is going to be called, so you can’t
discuss it with him. There certainly can’t be calls between the Santos and campaign
and Toby Ziegler, so I win by default.”
“Default, huh? Did you call him?”
“I left a message, but the man’s facing Federal charges so I don’t imagine calling his
former deputy is high on his priority list right now.”
“Donna left one too. Did you offer your services?” I tease him.
“Did you?” He retorts. “I did some digging and found out he’s got Waterman
representing him. She’s very good. Luckily for him, he doesn’t need either of us to
represent him.”
“I can’t get my head around it. He would never have-“
“Maybe not before, but with David’s suicide and then the space station emergency,
something might have just snapped.”
“I feel like I should be there for him. He needs his friends right now.”
“He would be the first one to tell you not to be stupidly sentimental and concentrate on
the campaign. He’ll understand.”
“Donna doesn’t.” I add. “Or maybe she does, but she’s disappointed in me.”
“So is this about Donna or Toby?” Sam asks, getting to the crux of the question.
“Both I guess…they’re connected. I’m on this new footing with Donna and I feel she’s
looking at me differently.”
“Of course she’s looking at you differently. Aren’t you looking at her differently now
that you’re together?”
“That’s not what I mean…During the convention, when everyone got hot to draft
Baker? We got a tip about his wife and her depression. I lobbied the Congressman to
leak it. I lobbied hard and was about to do it despite what he said, when they got it
from another source.”
“And?”
“Donna lobbied hard against it. We butted heads hard against each other and at the
end of the day, I could just see her disappointment in me. I think I’m losing my edge.”
Sam’s laugh startled me. “What is so funny about that?”
“That’s the one thing about you two that HASN”T changed, you idiot. She has always
kept you grounded and inspired you to be a better person; a better political leader.
You keep each other balanced. It’s a good thing.”
“I guess I hadn’t looked at it like that.”
“That’s what I’m around for, although you hardly ever call anymore.”
“What? Are you channeling my mother now?”
“Get some sleep. I’ll call if I hear anything from any mutual friends.”
“Thanks Sam.”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It’s nearly three weeks later when Donna gets off the phone and walks over to where I’
m working on the white board.
“Scrap the media buy in South Dakota.” She tells me point blank.
“What?” I’m looking at her like she’s on crack because we literally just had this
discussion and she was adamant that we keep our money there; that we were still
viable. “You’re the one who said-“
“I changed my mind, Joshua, it’s a woman’s prerogative. Scrap the media buy in South
Dakota and move the money to Ohio.” When I continue to stare at her she gives me
her reasoning. “I have a feeling; women’s intuition.”
“Nuh-huh. You can’t use woman’s prerogative and women’s intuition in the same
argument; there are rules. Who were you on the phone with?”
She breaks eye contact with me and starts to change things on the white board.
Something is rotten in Denmark.
“One of our media consultants in the Mid-West.” She replied a little too quickly. “He
had some good insights.
“Who?” I question further.
“Bob.” That’s it? Just Bob?
“You had a two minute conversation with a Mid-West media consultant and you want
to change our whole media buy?” What is going on here Donna? “Bob who?”
“Who knows last names, anymore. Do you know how many media consultants we have
working for us?”
“The Queen of information can’t remember the name of the media consultant she just
got off the phone with?” She shrugs her response. “Get him back on the phone. I want
to hear Bob’s great insights myself.”
“He may have left the office already, it’s pretty late there and-“
“Donna..”
“I don’t think it’s my job to get people on the phone for you anymore.” She responds.
“It is if you want me to move money from South Dakota to Ohio!” I go toe to toe with
her and my voice must have been pretty loud, because the whole room has gone
quiet.
“Fine.” She spits out and walks over to the phone. She dials the phone and says
something quietly into the receiver before stretching her hand with the phone in it
towards me. “Bob, for you.”
I take the phone from her and she marches out of the room.
“Josh Lyman.” I say tentatively.
“Forget the source and follow the advice.” Comes the voice of Toby Ziegler.
“Son of a-“
“Yeah, yeah, move it to Ohio, Josh. Move it today. Democratic numbers are trending
up on the down ticket races there, a little push and those electoral votes could all be
yours.”
“Anything else Obi-wan?” I ask him sarcastically.
“Not at the moment, but I’ll get in touch with Donna if anything else comes to mind.
Bye.”
“Wait, To- Bob?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.” I tell him sincerely.
“Yeah.” He answers quietly and hangs up. I hand the cordless phone to a passing
intern as I leave in search of my two-timing woman.
She is at present surrounded by press and staff; don’t think for one moment that isn’t
by design. I think about the most subtle way to get her out of the room and finally
come up with one I like best.
“DONNA MOSS!” I shout above the din, and her startled look meets mine. I crook my
finger at her and smile grimly. She disentangles herself from the crowd and follows me
back into my office, looking like a lamb being led to slaughter.
I shut the door behind us and she launches into her defense.
“I didn’t do it to undermine you in any way. We started out talking about personal
things and then we sort of drifted into the politics. After I heard some of the things he
said, I couldn’t get them out of my head.”
“The border patrol response?” I ask her.
“His.” She responds.
“And you didn’t have any trouble taking credit for his idea?”
“HE didn’t have any trouble with me taking credit for his idea and it wasn’t about credit,
it was about getting Santos elected President.”
“Why didn’t you just come to me and say…”
“What Josh? What would you have liked me to say? I didn’t want to put you in that
position.”
“Well I’m there now, aren’t I?...Bob the Mid-West media consultant…how could you
feed me such a line?”
“In all fairness you haven’t ever had trouble swallowing lines I’ve given you before.”
“Donna…”
“It’s good advice. You know it is. Why do you care who it comes from? Do you need to
know who the original source was? Does Santos?” She takes my hand and turns me
around to face her. “He’s trying to help. He wants so badly to be a part of this; part of
your life. This is the only way he can do it. Don’t shut him out.”
Is this what Sam meant about keeping me grounded; helping me see what’s
important? I look at her face and the hope I see in her eyes there; yeah, that’s exactly
what Sam meant.
“Move the media buy to Ohio.” I tell her and she gives me one of those smiles that she
saves just for me. “And let’s keep contact with Bob to a minimum shall we?”
“I’ll be careful.” Did you notice that she didn’t directly respond to my command? Yeah,
I did too.
*************************************************************
Phone Calls 15
Santos’ POV:
We’ve gone completely dark since news of San Andreo hit and I can feel Josh getting
jumpy on the couch next to me as we watch the coverage. If he wasn’t sitting here with
me, he would probably be in the Oval advising the President right now. Does he wish
he was? I know I’ve given him a lot of grief and the campaign itself has been an uphill
battle, but I wonder if he’d prefer to be sitting in the Deputy Chief of Staff’s office right
now.
Then Donna comes in. She hands him a bunch of papers; I’m guessing updates from
news media, and then sits on his lap. This I’ve never seen before. Sometimes Josh will
reach for her hand or put his hand on Donna’s back as we’re walking, but she’s sitting
right on his lap in the middle of the suite and he’s holding her there with his arms
around her. Both of them are watching the television screen with rapt attention.
I feel Helen’s hand on my shoulders and I turn my head to see her and offer her a
reassuring smile. She squeezes my shoulders and inclines her head toward Josh and
Donna. I nod silently in acknowledgement.
We have a little wager going, Helen and I, about when Josh will finally marry this
woman who he is so clearly in love with and devoted to. I recognize the signs having
been in his shoes myself. There must be some way I can help him win fair
maiden…and win the bet with my wife.
Ronna comes running in with a piece of paper, clearly agitated and vacillating
between whether to give it to Josh or me. Josh just watches her, amused at her
indecision, so I take pity on her.
“What is it Ronna?”
“The Congressman- I mean the Senator- Senator Vinick- he wrote a letter to the
nuclear board pushing the San Andreo nuclear facility. He was the main force behind
getting it in San Andreo and getting it open quickly.”
“Let me see that.” I demand. Josh, Donna, and Helen are all trying to read it over my
shoulder.
“If we have something that ties him to that nuclear accident, we should leak it before
he gets to do the sympathy tour with the President.” Lou agrees.
“We can’t.” Donna argues. “If it gets traced back to us, it will paint the Congressman
as making political hay out of a tragic accident.”
“Josh?” I ask him for his opinion.
“It’s got to get out but it can’t come from us. We wait.”
“Wait until Bartlet embraces Vinick in a radioactive haze?” Lou interjects. “Leak it now
Congressman. We can cover our tracks.”
“It’s just what Vinick’s waiting for.” Donna explains. “They’ll trace it back to us and then
Vinick’s touring the wasteland with the sitting President while we’re throwing partisan
spitballs. We can’t do that. The press will find it on their own.”
“When, tonight? Tomorrow? It’ll be too late then.” Lou and Donna are now toe to toe.
“This isn’t damage that can be undone, once they paint us scoring political points-“
Donna starts.
“We should be so lucky to score political points off of-“ Lou interrupts.
I whistle. “People…over here.” I re-direct them to talk to me.
“There is a timing issue.” Josh admits. “But we can give the press a little time to
uncover it on their own. That would be the best option.”
“Fine. We wait.” I decide and Helen gives my shoulders another squeeze.
“Why don’t you come and lay down for awhile? Get some rest since we’re dark
anyway.” She suggests.
“I’m not tired.” I tell her.
“Even better.” She smiles and being the bright individual that I am, I follow my wife
back to our suite. Josh is on his own.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Josh’s POV:
“They’ll find it.” Donna assures me. I think she’s trying to stop me from going off the
reservation on this one.
“When?” I ask without lifting my head from the back of the couch.
“They’ll find it.” She repeats more adamantly; like saying it louder or with more
conviction will make it true. I love that about her.
“Lou has a point you know. If it comes out to late, we will have blown the political
opportunity of the century.”
“Timing is everything.” She agrees. “Matt and Helen disappeared rather abruptly, don’
t you think?” she asks me tongue in cheek.
“I’m glad he has something to distract him from bugging me.” I say without thinking.
“Bugging you? Isn’t it the other way around?”
“Not lately, he’s got this bee in his bonnet…” Nope. No way out of this one.
“About what exactly? Anything I can help with?” See, she looks all sweet and innocent
here, but I know that she knows what’s going on. The Congressman knows I know that
she knows. That makes sense doesn’t it? If they think I don’t know about the little
wager they have going on about Donna and me, they have seriously underestimated
my networking skills.
I’m bored, anxious, and in the political fight of my life, so I take this opportunity for a
little payback.
“He keeps going on and on about proposing to you.” I tell her honestly. “I’ve told him a
hundred times; you’re a modern, independent woman and you’re not looking for that
kind of commitment.” She blinks – twice. “I mean, it’s great for him and Helen, don’t get
me wrong. But you and I are a totally different situation.” She blinks again.
“Totally different.” She agrees quietly. “They have a whole house and kids routine;
lived in the same place for the last 8 years.”
Hey, wait a second. She’s not supposed to agree with me.
“Well, we could too; if we wanted to.” I offer.
“Are you kidding me? You get itchy when your car is parked too long in the same
place. And this is my first real exposure to National politics; I mean, as a responsible
decision maker. I’m just starting to make a name for myself.” She gets up and pours
herself some water.
“Donna?” I get up and cross over to her. “What the hell are you talking about?” At that
comment, she tosses her water in my face.
“What the hell are YOU talking about! You’re bored and riddled with anxiety so you
decide to mess with me and the subject you choose is marriage?”
“Bad call?”
“You think?” She turns on her heel and leaves me in the proverbial dust. Well, at least
I don’t need to shower now.
I walk down the hall, dripping wet, and reach for my key card only to discover I don’t
have one. I briefly consider going to Bram’s room for a towel, but two things stop me:
1) I’ll have to explain my current condition to him 2) I can’t remember what the hell his
room number is. There is list of staff and where they’re staying; we’re very organized
like that. Sadly for me, the list is in our room with a very pissed Donna.
I raise my hand to knock on my own damn door, when it flies open and she tears out
right past me back to the war room.
“They’ve got it!” she shouts as she bangs on doors between our room and the war
room. Everyone rushes to the television to watch as 3 different correspondents on
three different channels announce breaking news.
“YES!” I give Edie and Lou high fives and we watch with great relief as the story of the
letter breaks…just as Donna predicted it would. I turn to share a victory smile with her,
but she won’t look in my direction. She smiles at Bram and Otto though. Enough of
this!
“Donna, I need a word…in private.”
“We need to stay on top of this right now, Josh.”
“There’s nothing to stay on top of. We’re staying dark. Nobody answers a phone or
gives a comment. Got it?” I ask the room in general and get affirmative responses.
“See, we’re all good. Come with me.”
I walk her out onto the balcony where we can have a little privacy, but we’re still visible
enough that I’m marginally sure she won’t hit me.
“I shouldn’t have teased you about that, but you knew what Santos was riding me
about, too.” I’m going for a mutual responsibility argument here. She takes a moment
to consider my point.
“It’s not something to joke about.” She maintains.
“Or pressure someone about.” I agree.
“I wasn’t the one-“
“I’m just saying.” This stops her tirade and she looks me in the eye again.
“I’ll get the Congressman to back off.” She offers.
“Maybe if you get Helen to call off the bet?” I suggest and her mouth twitches.
“I had nothing to so with that, you know.” She tells me sincerely.
“I know.” I assure her. “That’s not how you operate. Are we okay now?”
“Yeah, we’re okay now. Although I’ll be better once you admit I was right about the
story.”
“I agreed with you on that.” I protest.
“You were all ready to leak it. Admit it.”
“I admit nothing of the kind.” Donna’s cell phone rings and she stops tormenting me
long enough to answer it.
“It’s for you…it’s Bob.” She tells me smiling. “He thinks I’m brilliant.”
“So do I.” I kiss her before taking the phone from her. I’m sure Toby has an opinion or
two to share.
*********************************************************
Phone Calls 16
“Wake up, Donna. We’re tied. We’re tied Nationally!”
“You had so better be drunk right now, Josh Lyman.”
“I’m not drunk. I’m high! 44-44 Nationally…tied! Did you go back to sleep?”
“Go back to sleep? I’m not convinced I’ve been to sleep at all. Shut up and leave me
alone.”
“For the first time in this campaign, we’ve tied with Vinick and you want to sleep
through the day?”
“Yes?” There’s a pounding on the door and Donna puts a pillow over her head as
Josh goes to answer it.
“Are these guys messing with me?” Santos asks as he enters the room. “We’re tied
nationally?”
“Uh-huh.” Josh confirms and is swept up into a backslapping hug from Santos while
more and more members of the staff drift in lured by the sounds of laughter and
shouts of joy. Donna doesn’t move.
“Donna, you seriously have to get up now. The next President of the United States-“
“Needs to get out of my room immediately.” She threatens from underneath her pillow.
“Along with the rest of you.”
“This is my moment of Jubilee. I can’t believe you won’t get your lazy ass out of bed to
celebrate with me.”
“I have been up for the past 32 hours. It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than a
national tie to get me up and celebrating.”
“Okay, how about an engagement?” Josh suggests
“An engagement? Who got engaged?” Donna mumbles
“We did. You and me…or is it supposed to be you and I?”
“It’s you and I.” Otto corrects him and Josh laughs as he pulls the pillow from off of
Donna’s head.
“You can’t be serious.” She mumbles.
“Sure I can.” Josh’s dimples appear and Donna wakes up a bit.
“You’re doing this now…while half the campaign staff is in our room talking about the
ramifications of the latest national poll.”
“Not anymore. Now they’re mostly waiting to see you hit upside the head with
something. Right guys?” Josh queries and the assembled group ignores him for the
most part. “Would it help if I got down on one knee.” He matches his actions to his
words and causes Donna to sit up.
“Josh we need to get surrogates on these new numbers now.” Says Leo McGarry as
he enters the room staring at the sheet in his hands. When he looks up and surveys
the scene; he looks puzzled.
“What the hell is going on?” he asks Josh.
“Josh is trying to get Donna out of bed by proposing.” Lou summarizes.
“I’m not going to criticize son, but it’s usually the other way around.” He gives a
trademark McGarry smirk.
Josh turns his attention back to Donna. “Well?”
“You are actually serious? Not drunk or high on campaign polls?”
“What does a guy have to do to be taken seriously around here?” Josh rises again
and turns away from Donna.
“Usually, a guy brings a ring, some romance, and some privacy when he wants to be
taken seriously.” Donna counters and stops Josh in his tracks.
“Maybe I screwed up on the privacy thing, but you could spin it that I wanted all the
people who’ve shared this journey with us present for this moment.”
“Joshua…”
“You don’t think this is romantic? We just tied Vinick for the first time nationally on the
first campaign we’ve ever run together. Not to mention the fact that we first met on
another successful Presidential campaign. I think it’s got romance written all over it!”
“Somebody call Hallmark.” Donna retorts.
“Fine. Go back to bed; get some sleep. I’ll just go down the hall and find someone who
thinks getting engaged today is romantic.” Josh threatens.
“Good luck with that.” Donna answers as she replaces the pillow over her head, calling
his bluff.
Leo pats Josh on the shoulder. “Let’s give them the room, people. Try to get your
partner down the hall for a strategy meeting soon, okay?”
Leo closes the door behind him.
“We’ve got privacy now, babe.” Josh sits on the bed again and brushes his hand
through her hair.
“How about a ring? Got one of those?”
“Okay, it may take awhile to find one. What city are we in again?” Josh asks her.
Donna sits up, resigned to have this conversation with him.
“I thought we agreed this was not a joking subject.”
“We did. I’m not!” Josh insists and Donna looks closely at him.
“You want to get married.”
“Well, not today. Mom will want to be here and you look like hell right now.”
“Nice.”
“Let’s get married, Donnatella. We can include the plans in our strategy meeting.”
Josh notes and Donna gets out of bed to find some clothes.
“Fine, but this does not get you out of ring shopping.” Donna informs him as she takes
her clothes into the bathroom where she starts a revitalizing shower.
***********************************************************
Phone Calls 17:
Josh’s POV:
“You shame the family.”
“Sir-“
“After all the years together, after all the wisdom I’ve imparted to you, you propose to
the woman of your dreams, whom you don’t deserve incidentally, in a crowded hotel
room without roses or a ring?”
“Sir-“
“Fix it Joshua.” The authoritative voice of Josiah Bartlet commands. “Fix it before she
gets back from Philadelphia tomorrow.”
“How do you know where my fiancé is until tomorrow?”
“Don’t be ridiculous Josh. After you fix it, talk to her about having the wedding at the
farm.”
“At the…farm, sir?”
“Yes, it would be a beautiful spot for the wedding, and the Secret Service will have
already cleared the area…unless we aren’t being included in the wedding service.”
“No, sir. I mean, yes sir, of course we would want you and Dr, Bartlet there, we just
haven’t really gotten around to making any kind of plans yet.”
“Well, I suppose you’re a little busy running a Presidential campaign, so I’ll let you off
that particular hook. But fix this other mess with Donna right away, understand?”
“I’m on it, sir. How are you doing?”
“I’m ready to pass the keys over to you and the Congressman, Josh, that’s how I’m
doing. Make sure that happens.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll do my best.”
“Goodbye Joshua.”
“Goodbye Mr. President.” I hang up the phone and breath a sigh of relief.
“Joshua, we need the campaign manager’s perspective on a new endorsement.” Lou
tells me. Seriously, can’t anyone make a decision on their own around here? Oh, that’
s right, I discourage that.
“The Santos/McGarry ticket is proud to have yet another endorsement to add to the
millions already issued. We believe this new endorsement reflects the growing trend
that is sweeping the nation and indicates-“
“Yeah, it’s from Jenna Jammison.” Lou interrupts me. “She’s a big fan.”
“Where do I know that name from?” I ponder out loud and Bram snickers.
“Think ‘entertainment industry’.” Lou tells me.
“Movie star?” I hazard a guess.
“Porn Queen.” Bram corrects.
“No, no, no, no. We are staying on message people.” I insist.
“Well unless that message is safe sex…” Lou dangles that in front of me. “We’re
getting questions. She wrote the Congressman a check.”
“As long as he didn’t write her one.” Bram quips.
“Return the check. Return it now. Say ‘while we appreciate her interest in the
campaign, we do not feel that her interests are best served by accepting the check’.
Got it?” I ask.
“Got it. I’ll have Donna dump it out with the trash?” she confirms.
“Right. Speaking of our Philadelphia contingent, have we heard from them yet?
Shouldn’t they be done already, and checking in with their fearless leader?”
“Santos got off the stage 20 minutes ago.” Otto yells over. “Donna said there was a
great turnout.”
“Didn’t she want to talk to me?” I’m seriously insulted.
“You were a little busy getting reamed out by the leader of the free world.” Lou
explains.
“Ah-kay. Can someone please bring me the numbers for Miami? Vinick just made
another media buy down there. Are they seriously trying to take the Latino vote from
us?” I get no answer and I look up to see why many interns are not scurrying to do my
bidding.
Once again, the words “Breaking News’ are scrolling across the television set and Lou
turns up the volume.
“Reports are sketchy at this time, but we have confirmed that there was an explosion
in Philadelphia. This is just a short time after Presidential hopeful, Congressman
Matthew Santos, finished his speech there. We have Laura Durbin at the scene. What
can you tell us Laura?”
“It’s pandemonium here, Alex, police and Secret Service have completely locked down
the 5 block radius. No one is getting in or out. We have tried to confirm the safety of
Congressman Santos, but no one can tell us anything at this time. It may be some time
before we get ANY details.”
Lou and I exchange glances.
“They were off the stage and out of the venue 20 minutes ago.” She repeats what
Otto told us.
I shake my head. “He always takes questions.” My fingers are flying on the Blackberry.
When the call doesn’t go through, I hit ‘end’ and ‘send’ immediately. I can make out
staffers answering phones and trying to get information all around me, but I don’t ask
or answer anything myself. Answer the phone, Donna. Call me, Donna.
She has to know how worried I am. If there was a way for her to get through, she would
have gotten through already. I refuse to believe it is anything other than security
chaos and jammed phone lines that are keeping me from hearing her voice. Then
another though occurs to me. Would the explosion trigger some kind of anxiety attack;
bring back Gaza. Now I abandon Donna’s number and dial Stanley’s. What do you
know, busy!
Will someone please call and tell me what’s going on???