Chapter 9
The whole day was one giant headache. Josh ended up going toe to toe with Hoynes and Davis about
Russell as VP, despite his earlier edict that he alone would deal with the VP issue with the President. Things
only went downhill from there. His office might as well been a revolving door for all the coming and going it
saw. Many Bartlet staffers were delighted Josh was back, but just as many were only waiting for his return
before they tendered their resignations. They didn’t appear to have the stomach for serving at the pleasure
of President Hoynes.
There now seemed to be two distinct arms in the West Wing; the Bartlet people and the Hoynes people and
neither trusted the other. To top it all off, the exits Josh was getting indicated they would not be taking back
the house. However, after being cooped up inside for months, and pointing out to Donna that he was
technically ‘home’ on the front stoop, he was delighted to be sharing a beer with Donna on said stoop,
surrounded by his friends. The Secret Service wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but they made it work.
“Does the Chief of Staff have a comment on the Democrat’s failed attempt to take back the house?” Danny
asked.
“None that you can print in a family paper.” Josh groused and took another sip of beer.
“We’re all off the record here.” Donna reminded Danny of the rules even though she was 99% certain he
was just yanking Josh’s chain.
“I wonder what it’s like to be a normal person on an Election night.” Sam pondered.
“None of us have any idea of what it’s like to a normal person.” Toby opined.
“C.J. does. She’s a normal person now.” Sam looked over at her hopefully.
“Not yet.” She shook her head sadly. “I think it takes like 90 days or something for your brain and body to
be exorcised from the collective.”
“Oh.” Sam was totally deflated.
“I think you guys did well, considering. There was a lot on your plates and you were dealing with personal
tragedy on top of what the country was going through.” Danny commented. There was complete silence for
a few minutes while everyone contemplated what he said.
“I miss him so much.” Sam finally offered. There were nods of agreement among everyone seated on the
steps.
“His lectures on whatever trivia was on his mind at the time.” C.J. laughed.
“If I NEVER hear another word about National Parks again…” Josh moaned.
“His economic statistics!” Toby noted.
“His reticence to discuss sex ed.” C.J. quipped.
“His devotion to his family.” Donna added. “Has anyone talked to Mrs. B. or the girls lately?”
Silent head shaking followed. “Maybe somebody should have called tonight?” Sam asked and several
heads swiveled to Josh.
“I just couldn’t…not tonight.” Josh admitted. “I’ll…give her a call tomorrow.”
“Remember when the campaign was in South Carolina and the President accidentally got on Wiley’s bus?”
Danny asked and all of them burst out laughing but C.J.
“I spun that so well!” She objected. “I turned it into a Bartlet meets Wiley on his own turf to battle issues.”
“You were amazing, babe, seriously, but anyone who’d met the Governor by then didn’t buy it for a second.”
Danny patted her thigh and kissed her cheek.
“Luckily, the only thing the public saw was footage of the President waving and smiling as he came off the
Wiley bus.” Sam added. “I thought Toby was going to have heart failure!”
“It could have blown the whole thing!” Toby objected. “We were barely holding on to things then.”
“Toby saw his first political win flying out the back of a campaign bus.” Josh teased.
“This from the man wearing pajamas on his front stoop.” Toby countered weakly.
“I promised Donna I’d be home in my pajama’s by now. I am a man of my word.” Josh shot back and Donna
rewarded him with a kiss.
“You should at least get pajama’s that fit.” Toby groused.
“C.J. gave me these.”
“You gave Josh pajamas?” Danny asked her.
“As a ‘get well’ gift.” C.J. defended herself. “They do look a little large though.” C.J. appraised them.
“If you think they look large on me, you should see them on Donna.” Josh chuckled and Donna took his
beer away.
“You’re cut off.” She said snippily and slapped his hand away when he reached for it again, but her eyes
were dancing so Josh figured he wasn’t in too much trouble.
“I’m being assaulted over here, Agent Williams.” Josh reported.
“I think you can take her, sir.” Williams said in what appeared to be complete seriousness.
“We should let you get some sleep.” C.J. noted. “You sorry suckers all have to go to work tomorrow.”
“I’m scheduled to do Capitol Beat.” Sam whined. “I’ll pay anybody here $500 to take my place.”
“I’ll do it.” Donna volunteered.
“Now you’re cut off.” Josh laughed and took the beer back. “You’ll be fine, Sam. Thanks for coming over,
everybody.”
“Thanks for the beer.” Danny replied. “Night Donna.” Danny kissed her cheek.
“Night. Drive safe tomorrow.” Donna advised.
“Drive safe?” Josh repeated.
“Yeah…it can be dangerous the day after an election. Lots of people hung over and depressed.” Donna
opined.
“Uh-huh.” Josh replied suspiciously.
“Night everyone.” Donna called out as people drifted off and she gathered the empty bottles.
“Hey Josh.” Toby called to him.
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad you’re back…very glad.” He said in a quiet, embarrassed tone.
“Thanks Toby.” Josh said sincerely and followed Donna back upstairs.
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“The bus wasn’t clearly marked.” President Bartlet said peevishly.
“What?”
“The bus. In South Carolina.” The President elaborated. “It wasn’t clearly marked. You should have marked
it better.”
“I should have?” Josh laughed. “That was my fault was it?”
“You were in charge of strategy. I think it would have been a better strategy to have the campaign busses
marked more clearly.”
“Ah-kay.” Josh was not going to argue the point in a dream. “Or you could have paid attention to where you
were going rather than have your face buried in a newspaper.” Then again, maybe he was.
The President made a disgusted face but changed the subject. “You can’t let Hoynes pick Russell.”
“Clearly you have overestimated the influence I have on the current President.”
“You have more than you realize or he’d have appointed Bingo Bob already.” Bartlet pointed out.
“There’s only so many fronts I can fight him on. This battle may not be worth the war.”
“Maybe, but you can’t let him run over you either. Leo and I had a balance. You need to find that with John.”
“I’m working on it.” Josh told him. “Where the hell are we?” They seemed to be walking through a residential
neighborhood but it was too dark for Josh to make it out clearly.
“Where your mind wanted to walk.” Jed said obliquely. “We could sit for awhile?” He suggested, but Josh
shook his head and kept walking. He felt compelled to keep walking.
“I’ve got to find a way to unite the staff.” Josh thought out loud.
“Great, and for an encore you could make peace in the Middle East.” Jed suggested.
“You’re saying it’s impossible?” Josh asked.
“Unlikely.” Bartlet corrected. “There are two very different agendas. You and your team are trying to finish
my legacy, Hoynes and his team are trying to start theirs.”
“So unifying them is unlikely.” Josh repeated.
“Unless you can find common ground.” Jed nodded. “Let’s sit.” Jed sat on a bench on a street corner.
“What’s that sound?” Josh asked.
“I’m not sure.” Bartlet hedged. “How is Donna adjusting to her new job?”
“She seems to like it.” Josh said absently. “She loves learning new things.”
“She’s always had a curious and elastic mind.”
“It sounds like music…” Josh tilted his head to listen more carefully. “Piano music.”
“Josh…it’s time to wake up now.” Jed instructed and like the flick of a switch, Josh woke up.
“You’re up before the alarm went off?” Donna questioned when Josh wandered out into the kitchen.
“Yeah…” Josh nodded. “What are you doing up so early?”
“Couldn’t sleep, I guess.” She tried to blow it off, but Josh caught the nerves.
“It’s going to be fine, Donna.”
“It’s an important appointment.” She said quietly.
“It’s just another appointment.” Josh corrected.
“No, they’re doing the stress test and the-“
“Donna…relax. I’m doing great.” Josh held out his arms to the side as if anyone could tell just looking at him
that he was the picture of health. Only Donna saw past the exterior and into the troubled eyes of her lover.
Something was bothering him and she just didn’t know what to do about it.
“You’re getting stronger every day.” She agreed. “Which is why you’re going into work today after your
appointment even though it’s a Saturday.”
“I have to go in. I’m meeting Ainsley Hayes to help her get settled into her new office.”
“Why don’t you just ask Sam to do it?”
“Sam has been blasted by her in three different mediums now. I don’t really think he’s interested in helping
her move anywhere but out of state.” Josh noted.
“Is the President still giving you grief about it?”
“He was until he saw how well the new hire polled.” Josh reported. “Seems America thinks she’d be a better
VP than Russell but I’m sure all that will change with his big speech Monday.” Josh said sarcastically. Many
people were concerned about Russell’s lack of experience, but the Republicans loved the pick since they
thought it weakened Hoynes so he’d be confirmed on Monday; over Josh’s objections.
“How’s Will working out?” Donna asked.
“Who’s Will?”
“Will Bailey? The ghost writer Tillman was using? You approved hiring him to help with the speech writing so
Toby could concentrate on policy?” Donna reminded. “You should work on knowing the basic information of
your staff, Joshua….like their names, for instance.”
“He’s not a permanent hire. He’s just on contract for awhile.” Josh defended himself. “I can’t remember the
name of every person working for me temporarily on contract.”
“Right.”
There was a loud knock at the door and Josh jumped.
“It’s just the door.” Donna said quietly and went to answer it. It could only be one of the Agents. They were
alerted when anyone else entered the building for them. “Morning.”
“Morning, ma’am. I have papers for Mr. Lyman.”
“Come on in. Would you like some coffee?” Donna was still trying to figure out how to treat these men and
women charged with protecting Josh’s life.
“No, thank you ma’am.” Agent Howe replied but Donna caught a little smile. “A bagel?”
“Well…okay.” He relented and Josh took the papers from him. Nobody could resist Donna for long.
“Are you taking Josh to GW today, Agent Howe?” Donna asked.
“Yes, ma’am. You just let us know when you’d like to leave.” He reported. Josh gave him a look and he
amended his remark. “When Mr. Lyman would like to leave.” Donna smiled.
“I’m trusting you with the task of making sure Mr. Lyman goes INTO the doctor’s office and completes his
tests. I have to go to the White House.” Donna instructed him.
“I can’t force a protectee to-“ Howe replied with a mouthful of bagel.
“She’s messing with you, Agent Howe.” Josh interrupted. “I’ll be ready to go in 30 minutes.”
“Yes, sir.” Howe nodded and let himself out as he finished his snack.
“He would’ve done it.” Donna pouted.
“He doesn’t need to. I’m going.” Josh kissed her gently. “I gave you my word.”
“Well, according to Dan Rather, that’s worth your weight in gold.” Donna teased.
“Stop it.” Josh moaned. She’s been teasing him about Rather’s commentary all week. He’d painted a very
flattering picture of a wounded warrior coming back to the battlefield to serve his leader once again. It had
tickled Donna…and amused Toby and Sam, but Josh was just embarrassed. He was not the story.
“I’ll see you at the office after?” She asked.
“We have a date for lunch.” Josh acknowledged. Lunches together were harder to come by with both their
new responsibilities, but they both made a supreme effort to check in during the day. Neither of them were
willing to take any chances on what they finally had together.
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“Donna Moss?”
“Yes.” Donna looked up from her over laden desk to see a man in uniform.
“I’m Jack Reese. Nancy McNally’s new aide?”
“Oh, Commander Reese, yes. She told me you’d be stopping by with the latest info for the President. I’ll
take that, thanks.” Donna took the sealed file. “How are you adjusting to life at the White House?”
“It’s the first time I’ve been off a sub for awhile, so I’m still getting my…I guess you’d call them my land legs.”
“It’s good to have you here. Nancy has been singing your praises.”
“I hope I can live up to them.” Jack grimaced.
“If you need any help finding your way around or anything, let me know.” Donna offered.
“Thanks. I appreciate that. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again soon.” Jack saluted jauntily and left Donna’s
office. She was wondering just who she could set up with such nice guy. Was Ginger seeing anyone?
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“Josh…good to see you again.” Dr. Cooper told him. “That scare is healing very nicely.”
“The Surgeon General herself told me it’s beautiful work.” Josh smiled tightly. He was tired of having his
body parts dissected by the various specialists. He just wanted to get the hell out of here.
“She’s right as usual.” Dr. Cooper opened Josh’s chart and reviewed the various reports and test results.
“Pressure’s still a bit high, but that’s hardly shocking considering the circumstances.”
That’s one thing that Josh liked about Dr. Cooper, he didn’t make unreasonable demands and he seemed
to understand the pressures and stress that was inherent in Josh’s life.
“Hardly.” Josh agreed.
“We can try to change up some medication.” Cooper considered.
“Okay.” Josh would agree to anything if it would bring an end to this, but the Doctor seemed to hesitate.
“What?”
“I’m just looking at your regimen.” Dr. Cooper explained. “Sometimes drugs have bad interactions. In this
case, the alternative blood pressure meds may affect your energy level and your sex drive.”
“Excuse me?”
“Have you had any problems in those areas recently?”
“Excuse me?”
“With your energy level or sex drive.” Cooper clarified.
“Ummm…I’m still working short days.” Josh answered.
“Short meaning?”
“10 hours.” Josh shrugged.
“Uh-huh.” Dr. Cooper’s tone made it clear that they might have to return to that subject. “And your sex
drive?”
“I…uh…” Josh stammered.
Dr. Cooper paged through his notes. “There haven’t been any problems in the past right?”
“NO!” Josh assured him.
“Then you and Donna?” Dr. Cooper asked again.
“Donna and I aren’t…we haven’t…” Josh struggled to explain.
“I’m sorry, I guess I misunderstood, I thought you were living together.”
“We are. It’s just…new. Since the shooting.” Josh stammered a bit. “I just had, you know, heart surgery!”
“I’m aware.” Cooper chuckled. “It’s just that once our patients get the all clear to resume sexual
activities…they usually do.”
“Well, when I do…then I’m sure I will.” Josh said defensively.
Dr. Cooper laughed again. “You really don’t listen to me, do you Josh? You got the all clear two weeks ago.”
“Two weeks ago?” Josh repeated.
“Yes.”
“Two. Weeks.” Josh mused out loud.
“Yes.” Cooper nodded. He knew Josh Lyman held a very important job and had a very good reputation in
his field. However, Cooper had noticed a…disconnect between things that interested him and things that did
not. A lot of the medical information clearly did NOT and since Donna had stopped coming with him to
appointments…maybe he should write things down?
“Two weeks?” Josh shook his head. “That doesn’t seem possible. I’m sure I would have remembered that.
Are you sure you told me that?”
“Most definitely. It was in relation to our discussion about medication.” Cooper prompted him.
“Oh.” Josh’s lips twitched. “It’s possible I wasn’t paying close enough attention. I had this briefing paper that I
had to report on when I got through here and-“
“I understand.” Dr. Cooper waived him off. “I’m going to have my assistant type up a review of our
appointments from now on. That might help you keep track of what we discuss. In the meantime, let’s give
this medication another two weeks and monitor the blood pressure every day. I’m having those instructions
underlined in the notes, Josh. If the numbers stray close to the danger zone, you’re back in here
immediately to try another medication. Understood?”
“Perfectly.” Josh promised. “Two weeks?”
“I’ll see you in another two weeks.” Dr. Cooper ended the conversation and held the door open for Josh.
“Go home, Josh.”
“Unfortunately for me I have to go to the White House, now.” Josh muttered pondering the 14 lost days.
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“Why am I hearing about this?” Toby asked rubbing the back of his neck.
“I need help with the President’s introduction.” Will admitted.
“For Russell?”
“Yep.” Will nodded.
“Ask Sam.” Toby decided.
“He’s busy right now.” Sam reported.
“Doing what?”
“Arguing with Ainsley Hayes about something.”
“Well…wait ‘til he’s done and then have him do that with you.”
“I waited awhile. Then my head started to hurt.” Will continued. “I think they’re having too much fun fighting
to actually stop the fighting.”
“We’ll put a stop to that. Nobody is going to be having any fun around here.” Toby determined and marched
over to Sam’s office where indeed he and Ainsley were going toe to toe over…something.
“Hey!” Toby interjected. “Quit that and help Will with the thing for Bingo Bob.”
“We have to have this language cleaned up by 2. Josh wants it when he gets back.” Sam countered.
“And the President wants his intro for Russell, you know, now.” Toby reminded him and saw Sam shrug.
“Sam….can I speak to you privately for a minute?” The two men walked back to Toby’s office.
“Will needs help with the speech.” Toby reiterated.
“For a President we don’t believe in to introduce a Vice President we don’t care about?” Sam scoffed. “No
thanks. I’ll keep working on the bill. Ainsley and I are going over to meet with the minority leader as soon as
Josh gives his approval on the new language.” Sam started to leave.
“You’ll tell me first, right?” Toby asked.
“Tell you what?”
“When you decide to quit. You’ll tell me first, right?” Sam didn’t answer the question; he just looked at Toby
solemnly before opening the door and going back to his office and the delightfully crazy Ainsley Hayes. A
minute later, Will was back.
“I’m sorry to be such a pain, but I really need-“
“Let’s get it over with then.” Toby decided and took Will’s laptop from him. “’Redoubtable choice’? I don’t
even know what that means.”
“That’s okay, neither will anyone else.” Will replied. Toby tried to hide the smirk, but failed. Inspired, Toby
decided to top that, and soon the two of them were on a roll. He rationalized that they needed a humorous
break in their day and this…interesting introduction would never see the light of day anyway.
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“That’ll work, Sam, thanks.” Josh told him.
“Ainsley came up with the compromise measure.” Sam gave credit to the woman next to him.
“I knew there was a good reason I hired her.” Josh quipped. “Even though not everyone agreed with me.”
Josh innocently reminded Sam of his initial objections to hiring the woman who had smacked him down on
Capitol Beat.
“That’s really hard to understand.” Sam deadpanned.
“When are you taking this to the hill?”
“Right now. The minority leader is waiting for us.” Sam reported. He turned to face the door when Donna
knocked briefly and came in. “Hi Donna.”
“Hi.” Donna exchanged a look with Josh. “I got a message you wanted to see me?”
“Yeah, just a second.” Josh held up a finger in a bid for waiting patiently. “You’ll let me know if any of the
leadership needs further prompting from us?”
“We’re on it.” Sam declared. “We just need to make a short pit stop for a snack and then-“
“A snack?” Josh repeated smiling.
“We’re…hungry. We’ve been working on this all morning.” Sam defended them both.
“Ah-kay.” Josh was still smiling. “Good work, you two. You make a good team.”
Ainsley beamed from the compliment and with a shy thanks, she left with Sam.
“Commander Reese stopped by with the latest intel from Nancy McNally.” Donna shared as Josh got up and
closed his doors. “Josh? Did everything go okay with the Doctor?” Damn, she knew she should have gone
with.
“Oh, yeah.” Josh smiled. “Dr. Cooper is…great.”
“That’s nice, but I was really more concerned about how you are doing.”
“Better and better by the minute.” He told her while he advanced on her.
“Josh?”
“What time can you get out of here?” He asked huskily and bent to kiss her neck.
“Uh….ummmm….The President asked me to sit in on a conference with Commerce Secretary and
Congressman Russell at 4, but after that…”
“Excellent.” Josh’s smile got wider. “Let’s go home after that.”
“Okay.” She was amused by his amorous attention. “We can stop and get some dinner on the way home
and-“
“No. No dinner.” Josh contradicted.
“We will need to eat sometime Josh, and then we’d have to go out again.” Donna pointed out.
“Not hungry for food.” He whispered in her ear before taking her earlobe into his mouth. “Are you?”
“Not…necessarily.” Donna hedged. Did this mean what she thought it meant? Things had been fairly
innocent between them since he got home from the hospital though they slept together every night. There
were kisses and touches. Josh often took her hand when they were walking or even just sitting together on
the couch. But neither had made a move toward any more serious level of intimacy; partly because it was all
still so new and untested water and partly because of Josh’s precarious health. Was he now telling her the
second part was no longer an obstacle? “Just what did Dr. Cooper tell you today?”
“That I should pay closer attention to what he tells me during our appointments.” He kissed her gently on
the lips with a love and tenderness that was palpable. “Also, he said that my medications may affect my
energy level and sex drive. I really don’t think it’s affecting either, though, in all fairness we should test that
theory.”
“We’d want to be sure about any kind of side effects.” Donna whispered back and ran her hands up the
side of his body. With all the PT he’d been doing he was in very good shape.
“Naturally.” Josh kissed his way across her face. “So, we’ll blow this place right after Commerce?” She knew
he was asking her about more than just their timetable. He needed to understand she had no doubts or
hesitations at all.
“If it were with anyone other than the President of the United States I’d leave with you right now.” She told
him sultrily.
“Damn.” Josh responded in kind. Margaret, of course, chose that moment to knock.
“Oh, sorry.” She apologized as they broke apart. “Senator Stackhouse is on the line for you.”
“Thanks….Margaret.” Josh sighed and squeezed Donna’s hand before he let go of her. “Right. After.
Commerce.”
“Deal.” Donna smiled. “Later, Margaret.”
“Soooo...” Margaret drew out the syllable.
“So?”
“Things are going pretty well with you and Donna, huh?”
“Yeah.” If it’d been anyone but Margaret, Josh would have given no reply at all. “Is it part of your job to keep
track of my love life, too?” He teased.
“No, but Leo promised to spot me an extra twenty for any firsthand information I can pass along about you
two.” Her eyebrows wiggled.
“In that case, you can tell our former boss that he should get one of his tailor made suits ready for a special
occasion.” Josh winked.
“Really?” Margaret gaped.
“I know what you make Margaret. If you don’t get at least a Franklin out of him for that, you’re not the
woman I thought you were.” Josh turned his attention back to the phone and hit the button on the blinking
line.
“Hello, Senator, what can I do for you?”
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Chapter 10
Josh and Donna were engaged in a battle. A very serious battle with very serious consequences. It was
called ‘How far do you dare go with your significant other in a car driven by Secret Service Agents’. Donna
couldn’t determine whether he was extremely brave, or if he simply didn’t care what they saw or heard,
because he appeared to be willing to go pretty far.
“Josh...” Donna moaned when his hand reached her breast. True, it was still outside her clothing but…
“I have waited for this for so long.” He breathed into her ear.
“Me too.” She answered. “But Josh…” Her eyes drifted back to the Agents in the front seat. They appeared
to be paying them no attention, but-
Josh’s right hand covered her breast while the fingers of his left trailed down her throat. She was half turned
in her seat to face him so it took very little to lean closer and kiss him. This kiss was different than all the
others they had shared. It was full of fire and heat. For the first time in her life, Donna thought she might
actually pass out from the intensity of it…and they were both still fully clothed. Oh. My. God.
Josh’s head fell back against the seat and that required Donna’s getting even closer to him to maintain lip
contact.
“Sir?....Mr. Lyman?” Damn those Agents could be annoying, thought Josh. Agents!
“Uh…yeah.” Josh pulled Donna away from him enough to answer and realized they were outside his
brownstone. “Let’s move this party inside?” He suggested softly and Donna opened her eyes to reply,
“‘Sounds good to me” with lips swollen from kissing. He took her hand and helped her from the car, walking
past Agents who were careful to avert their eyes from the couple exiting the car and entering the building
with a very specific agenda in mind.
Josh might not acknowledge it. He might not even notice it, but Donna saw the respect they gave Josh;
above and beyond what was required in their job. Ever since Rosslyn, Josh had become like one of their
own, an adopted brother. The Agents discreetly held the front door open for them and made no comment or
so much as a facial twitch as to the position they’d found them in when they were still in the car.
Josh unlocked his door and followed Donna inside, but once inside the door he had an attack of nerves.
This was important. Donna was THE ONE. He didn’t want to blow this. He couldn’t blow this. Donna, though,
seemed to have no such issues. She was halfway to the bedroom before she realized she’d lost Josh at the
door.
“Josh?” She froze. There was NO WAY she had misread his intentions and there was NO WAY he had
misread hers. What was the problem? “Josh?” She repeated and retraced her steps to him, but he held his
hands up to ward her off.
“Just let me say this.” He requested.
“Okay…” She replied hesitantly.
“This…is very important to me. YOU are very important to me.” Josh corrected and took a breath. “I want
this to be…We only get one first time and-“
“Josh…” Donna interrupted him. “I love you. Make love with me.” As if she’d flipped a switch, her words put
his body in motion. He made the distance between them in nanoseconds and took her into his arms. He
started pulling her blouse out of the waistband of her slacks while she took the pager and cell phone from
his belt and tossed them over her shoulder chuckling. They were nearly naked by the time they crossed the
threshold into the bedroom. Josh was reveling in touching the alabaster skin his hard work was revealing.
Donna encouraged him; calling his name and moaning at each touch.
When she reached and touched him he called out her name so loudly, that she shushed him and started
laughing. “Josh! They’re right outside the door!”
“Who?” He couldn’t seem to follow her train of thought.
“The Agents!”
“I’m in here making love with you and you’re thinking about the Agents?” he tickled her in retaliation.
“Well, they’re so big and strong.” She played along. “Live action hero’s right outside the door.” She purred.
“I can’t help think about them.”
“Maybe I can distract you from thoughts of the Agents.” He moved over her.
“You could try.” She practically dared him and the smirk on her face told him she had every confidence in
his ability to do just that. He entered her slowly and he watched her, transfixed, as her eyes closed in
pleasure. He built their rhythm slowly and purposefully, drawing out each moment of pleasure. Barring a
national emergency, he wasn’t due back at the office until Monday morning. He intended to spend every
moment between now and then exactly where he was now. Maybe, he’d take breaks for food…maybe.
Donna felt her climax building and urged Josh to go faster but he was determined to take another path. He
had to use words; they were so much a part of their relationship. So he used them to tell her how beautiful
she was, how much he adored her, how grateful he was to have her in his life and the words worked one
kind of magic even while his body performed another. It was the ultimate melding of bodies, minds, and
souls. They crossed the last barrier together and it took several minutes for their hearts to slow down and
their bodies to begin to cool. Josh used his last bit of strength to pull the comforter over them.
“I’m thinking no medicinal side effects. How about you?” Donna inquired and Josh burst out laughing.
“God, I love you.” He told her and kissed her ear. Soon, he felt her fingers trace the scars on his chest. It
made him self-conscious and he pulled her fingers away.
“It’s healing. You’re healing.” She noted.
Josh shrugged. Yes, physically he was clearly getting better. It was his mind that he worried about. He
couldn’t shake the dreams; the good ones with the President or the nightmares about the shooting. He
dreaded going to sleep some nights. Then the lack of sleep led to the anxiety attacks and the higher blood
pressure. It was a vicious circle. He literally shook off the negative thoughts and concentrated on the reality
that the love of his life was in bed beside him.
“Thanks in no small part to you.” He admitted.
“I prefer to think of it as teamwork.”
“We do some pretty awesome teamwork.” He leered giving the phrase an entirely different meaning from the
one she’d intended.
“Yes, we do.” She chuckled and kissed his chest. “And we should again.” She suggested. Josh couldn’t
have agreed more.
<><><><><><><><><>
“Margaret? I need some Tylenol!” Josh called out. How could his mood, so high from his perfect weekend
with Donna, have plummeted down so far, so fast?
“I take full responsibility.” Toby noted and Josh rolled his eyes. Will just stood silently, eyes wide with fear.
How their ‘mocking introduction’ of the Vice President had made it to the tele-prompter was unclear, but the
depth of the President’s displeasure over the incident was not.
President Hoynes had absently read through the first paragraph before he’d realized exactly what he’d
been reading. Then there were a few seconds of stunned shock when the President wasn’t sure how to
proceed. Finally, he’d put a few sentences together off the cuff and introduced the new Vice President.
Russell’s speech had gone much smoother and Josh was convinced that fact was the only thing standing
between the two men in front of him and the demands for their immediate resignations.
“Well good because the President is looking for someone to take full responsibility.” Josh replied and
gratefully took the Tylenol from Margaret’s hand.
“I wrote it, too.” Will spoke for the first time. “We wrote it together.” Josh had to give the kid points for
stepping up, but he wasn’t nearly high enough on the food chain to satisfy the President’s blood lust at the
moment.
“Congratulations.” Josh drawled. “I hear they’re hiring on Letterman.”
“We were blowing off steam.” Toby explained. “It was never meant to see the light of day. I am SURE I sent
the clean copy to the printer for the prompter.”
“Then how’d the Letterman version get on the prompter?” Josh asked.
“It’s a mystery.” Toby shrugged. “Come on, Josh, it isn’t like anything we wrote was untrue!”
“That’s not the defense I’d go with Toby.” Josh pointed out. Josh looked over the printed text again. Putting
aside the fact that it completely dissed the President’s choice for VP, it was fairly hysterical. He looked up at
the men standing in front of him. “Gives hope to the millions unfavoured by the exceptional...?”
“That was mine.” Toby admitted.
“He’s going to come busting in here in a minute demanding to know who’s responsible.” Josh said factually.
“Who? The President?” Toby looked over at the door that connected Josh’s office to the Oval.
“Grima Wormtongue.” Will muttered.
“Excuse me?” Josh requested that Will repeat himself.
“Davis?” Will said louder. “I’m just guessing here, really.”
“Your guess is very good. Yes, Davis.” Josh confirmed. “So you two better make yourself scarce before that
happens.”
“Really?” Will looked between Toby and Josh for confirmation that they were being spared.
“Really. Just save the humorous mocking for the Correspondent’s Dinner, okay?” Josh requested.
“I swear.” Will literally crossed his heart and turned to beat a hasty retreat, but Josh called him back for one
more warning.
“Will?” Josh stopped him just before he hit the door.
“Yeah?”
“I’m pretty sure the President and his resident Grima are both familiar with the Lord of the Rings, so watch
the references.”
“Yes, sir.” Will turned red in the face and left without another word.
“You are…such a geek.” Toby complained.”
“This geek is about to save your ass so…”
“It wouldn’t need saving if Hoynes had taken ANY of your suggestions for VP.” Toby countered.
“Or if you’d learned to curb your sarcastic wit while writing important introductions.” Josh shot back.
“Important introductions? Russell rates as an important introduction?” Toby scoffed. “You’ve got to be
kidding me! Nobody from the Bartlet Administration is doing anything important, save maybe you.”
“Toby…”
“It’s why Sam is running up to the hill with the token Republican instead of writing the President’s speeches,
remarks, or dirty jokes!” Toby exploded.
“Damn it, Toby!”
“Forget me. Hoynes hates my guts. He always has and it’s mutual. But Sam? He’s one of the most talented
writers Hoynes could ever HOPE to work with and he blows Sam off.” Toby took a second to breathe. “And if
you EVER tell Sam I said anything remotely like that I will drop kick you out of here.”
“You and what army? I’ve got a detail now.” Josh blew off the threat.
“Don’t care. I’m from Brooklyn.”
“You’ll be going BACK to Brooklyn if you don’t-“
“The President wants to see you.” Davis claimed when he busted through the connecting door.
“Don’t ever come into my office without knocking again.” Josh stood up behind his desk. “I’m in a meeting.”
Davis surveyed the lay of the land and felt the tension in the room. “It was only a matter of time before your
wise ass attitude got you kicked to the curb.”
“It’s a private meeting, Ron. Let the President know I’ll be in as soon as I’m done here.” Josh ordered.
“And Ron?” Toby turned to face him. “Anytime you want to meet me out on the curb…”
Davis angrily slammed the door shut.
“Look, I’ll give the man my resignation if it makes it easier for you.” Toby offered.
“That will make it easier for YOU. Me? Not so much.” Josh deduced shrewdly. “Toby can you TRY to make
this…There is a limit to the fronts on which I can effectively battle right now.”
“I know.” Toby had the grace to look chagrined. “I know.”
“I need to go see the President.” Josh sighed and Toby nodded.
“Josh?” Toby stopped him. “You’d have never dreamed of bursting into Leo’s office like Davis just did. You
had too much respect for Leo and his office.”
Josh acknowledged the hit and realized that he’d probably bent too far over backwards to try to
accommodate the team Hoynes had brought in.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
“Mr. Lyman, you have an unscheduled visitor.” The Agent announced.
“Who is it?” Josh was personally of the opinion that having a detail was far better than having caller ID. He
NEVER had to deal with unwanted visitors anymore.
“Mrs. Danny ConCannon.” Agent Howe replied.
“I’m sorry?” Josh bobbled his can of beer.
“C.J.’s here!” Donna exclaimed and rushed out in to the hall where squeals of delight could soon be heard.
“Oh, the ring is gorgeous!”
Josh got up and met them at the door. “MISSUS DANNY CONCANNON?”
“I just said that for the shock value. I’m keeping my name.” C.J. kissed his cheek.
“We’re discussing the name change.” Danny corrected but was ignored by all but Josh.
“You work fast.” Josh noted.
“Slow actually. I had to strike while the iron was hot. Who knows where she’ll be working next? What conflict
she’ll dream up.”
“I did not dream up a conflict.” C.J. countered.
“You really did, but I loved that about you.” Danny kissed her and Josh had the pleasure of watching C.J.
turn red.
“Oh, congratulations!” Donna effused and hugged them both again. “We’re so happy for you! Aren’t we
Josh?”
“Happy and surprised.” Josh agreed. “At least one of us is surprised.” He turned a look on Donna.
“It was a secret. A Sisterhood secret. I had no choice but to keep it sacred.”
“We’ll be discussing that later.” Josh determined. “Come in, sit down. We’ll catch you up on things.”
“We eloped.” C.J. laughed. “We didn’t drop off the planet. What the hell happened to Russell’s introduction,
by the way?”
“Ask your friend, Toby.” Josh drawled. “He and Will got a little creative in their work.”
“Well, whatever happened, it was worth it to see Hoynes’ face turn that shade of purple.” Danny remarked.
C.J. had shared with Danny what had happened between her and John Hoynes during the campaign; she
didn’t want those kind of secrets between them. But the venom in his voice now when he spoke about
Hoynes made her more than a little nervous.
“Let’s call Toby. Sam too.” C.J. suggested. “We can have an impromptu… get together!”
“We can try Toby but Sam has plans with Ainsley.” Donna reported.
“Ainsley Hayes?” C.J. repeated. “When did this happen?”
“It’s come on gradually.” Donna relayed.
“This I’ve got to see. I’ll invite her too.” C.J. decided and pulled out her cell phone.
“Ceej. Did it occur to you that Josh and Donna might have had plans?” Danny asked.
“Not plans that are more important than catching up with their friends.” C.J. argued.
“Yeah, except they’re already caught up with everyone but us and-“
“Josh and Donna don’t mind us dropping in, right?” C.J. turned strategically to Donna.
“Of course not, right Josh?”
“Of course not.” He answered wisely. He’d been looking forward to resuming their weekend activities this
evening when he was done revamping the budget memo. However, he was smart enough to know that if he
pissed off C.J., and in turn Donna, he wouldn’t be resuming their weekend activities for a long time.
He stuck his head out the door to let Agent Howe know their guest list was going to be expanding. He was
more resigned than excited about the proposed evening, but by the time everyone got there, he’d already
gotten more into the spirit of the gathering and by the time everyone left his spirits had lightened
considerably and taken the bad taste out of his mouth from his argument with the President.
He dropped into bed, after being rewarded for his patience by Donna, exhausted and happy.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
“Toby’s right.” Bartlet told him. “And if you don’t think it pains me to say that…”
“Right about what, sir?”
“The lack of respect between Davis and you. He needs to pony up or leave.” Bartlet decreed. “And it should
be leave.”
“He’s President Hoynes’ choice. I’m trying to be respectful too.”
“You wouldn’t take that from anyone when you were DCOS, why are you willing to do it now?”
“Because it’s not you in the Oval or Leo in the room next door to it!” Josh exploded. “I’m holding this team
together with superglue and duct tape.”
“You think you are, but you’re really not.” Bartlet contradicted him. “You need to watch your back with Davis,
Josh.”
“Since when are you so politically aware of people’s motives?” Josh asked acerbically.
“Since my perspective recently changed.” Bartlet shot back and that sobered Josh immediately.
“Yes, sir, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t do that.” Jed implored him.
“Do what?” Josh asked.
“Back down from me like that. You never did that before.”
Josh sat on the curb of the street they were walking on. “I’m doing lots of things I never did before.”
“Josh…”
“That damn song keeps playing over and over.” Josh complained rubbing his head. “I can’t make it stop.”
“Josh…” Jed’s voice rose in urgency.
“I can’t make the music stop. I can’t make you go away.” Josh complained. “I just want to..” Josh stood up
suddenly. “Joanie.” Everything around him crystallized. It was his sister playing the music. It was his family’s
old neighborhood that they’d been walking through. They’d been getting closer and closer to his old house.
He broke out in a dead run. Jed, realizing he couldn’t stop the younger man was forced to simply watch.
The flames had already engulfed the house when Josh got to the edge of the yard. He looked around
helplessly for a fire engine or someone to help him.
“It’s too late.” Jed told him when he approached Josh. “This is all ancient history, Josh.”
Josh whirled on him. “Then make it STOP!” He begged.
“I can’t.” Jed shook his head sadly. “And you can’t either. Not by yourself.”
Josh looked from the President to his childhood home, his heart going faster and faster; his breath coming
in gasps. “Donna doesn’t need to hear about this.”
“I didn’t mean Donna, but she wouldn’t be a bad place to start.”
“She just finished nursing my broken body through all this. Now she’s supposed to help me fix my broken
mind?” Josh laughed and it concerned Jed that there was an hysterical tinge to it. “She’ll bolt so fast…And
who could blame her?” Josh was not risking what he’d finally found with Donna. No. Way.
“She wouldn’t do that, Josh.” Jed’s calming voice did NOTHING to calm Josh.
“Help! Somebody help, Damn it!” Josh ran further down the street he could feel himself spiraling out of
control.
“Josh…” Jed tried again.
“She’s inside! She’s in there and-‘’
“Josh, she’s not.”
“Oh, God!” Josh tried to get closer to the house but the heat threatened to knock him over and smoke was
everywhere.
“Josh, don’t!” Jed directed him, but it had less than no effect. Josh continued to try to get closer to the
house. Soon, he was gasping for breath from the smoke and couldn’t even speak.
“JOSH!” Donna called shaking him. “Josh, please open your eyes! Look at me, Josh.”
When she continued to get no response, she panicked.
“Jerry! Jerry, help!” Donna shouted and Agent Howe came busting through the front door and was at her
side in seconds.
“He’s having trouble breathing! I can’t wake him up.” She relayed. Howe checked his pulse while he
attempted to rouse Josh. His partner was already calling the ambulance. Donna stood back to get out of
their way but one hand held on to Josh’s while her other hand covered her mouth in shock and fear.
Jerry was now barking orders to his partner and the rest of the detail. They had to have advance clear the
way at the hospital. “He’s breathing, Donna, but his pulse is through the roof and erratic.” He reported.
“Is he having a heart attack?” She asked.
“I don’t know.” He answered honestly and held one hand up to his earpiece. “The ambulance is here. Grab
some clothes so you can go with us.” He instructed. Donna looked down at her shorts and t-shirt and
realized that wasn’t how she wanted to arrive at the hospital. She quickly threw on some sweats over her
clothing and grabbed her purse. Who knew how long they’d be there? The EMT’s had him loaded into the
ambulance in no time, with Donna squeezed in back and Jerry riding in front while the rest of the detail
trailed after them.
By the time they got to the ER Josh was talking, though he was making no sense and his eyes remained
stubbornly closed. “I can’t breathe…the smoke…”
“I know, baby. We’re at the hospital now. They’re going to help you breathe. Try to stay calm.”
“Josh, I’m Dr. Evans. I’m the attending tonight.”
“His Doctor is David Cooper.” Donna supplied and Evans nodded.
“We’ve already paged Dr. Cooper.” He told her. “Josh, can you open your eyes for me?”
Josh shook his head ‘no’. “Smoke…burns my eyes.” Evan tossed a puzzled look at Donna who shook her
head and shrugged to indicate he wasn’t making any sense to her either.
“Okay, we’ve cleared the smoke, Josh. It’s safe to open your eyes now.” Evans told him. Josh blinked
blearily. “That’s right. Look over at me, now.”
“Donna?” Josh’s eyes continued to scan the room until they landed on her.
“I’m right here, Joshua.” She replied. “Do what the Doctor says, now.”
“Sorry. Should’ve listened.”
“To what?” Evens asked.
“Told me not to…go near the house…”
“Who told you, Josh?” Evans asked, more to keep him talking than an actual desire for information. His
Oxygen level was coming up with the interventions they were using.
“President…Bartlet.” Donna gasped.
“He’s hallucinating?” She asked in a whisper. Evans nodded hesitantly. All manner of things whirled through
her head. She desperately wanted to call Abby Bartlet, but until she had some information from the doctors
here, she thought it would be fruitless.
“Josh…What are you doing waking me up at 3 in the morning man? Just because you Government people
keep vampire hours…” Dr. Cooper greeted him as he was handed several pieces of paper that Donna
assumed was the latest medical data being spit out by the variety of machines he was now hooked up to.
“Dr. Cooper.” Donna replied with relief.
“Good morning Donna.” Cooper smiled. “You’re not looking so good. Maybe you should sit down.”
“After you tell me Josh is okay.” Donna insisted.
“Josh is okay.” Cooper responded immediately and saw that his humor fell flat with Donna. “You didn’t tell
me it had to be based on anything.” He defended himself.
“You’re making jokes with me now? Seriously?” Her voice turned steely.
“His oxygen is getting better, and so is his heart rate.” Cooper tried to comfort her. “He’s in the safest place
for him to be and I’m on the case, so it’s going to be fine.” He patted Donna’s shoulder. “He was
unconscious when he was brought in?” He asked the attending.
“Yes. Shortly after he arrived he started to talk but he seemed to be hallucinating as well.” Evans reported
and shared a look with Donna.
“Was it a heart attack? Could it be his medication?” Donna asked.
“It could be a lot of things, Donna, and we’re going to look at all the possibilities and run some tests.”
Cooper explained and started giving orders. Donna sagged into the chair in the corner where she could
clearly see Josh and the myriad pieces of medical equipment everywhere.
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