I don't own anything having to do with the West Wing only this story line is my idea. Please review.
Chapter 1
Josh Lyman lay awake, staring at the contoured ceiling of another plain, non descript hotel room. It was yet another sleepless night on another long shot Presidential campaign. The only difference between eight years ago and now was that the woman he loved was directly across the hall. Whoever said that being lonely and being alone were two different things was dead on. He would add to that though, combining the two and the result would be hell on earth.
It all started the day she yelled 'I quit' across the bullpen. He had finally learned that everybody put their own interests first. Loyalty was not something Josh took lightly. He didn't leave people. He still held the guilt from running out of the house like his sister said to on the night she died. In that moment he decided to take Leo's advice and go find his guy. All it took was one quickly booked flight to Houston and he had talked Congressman Matt Santos into running for President. The nine point plan was good and then Matt added a tenth, him. He would be in if Josh was with him. So here Josh was on this crazy ride all over again. He wouldn't ever be Leo to President Bartlet, but he wanted to be Josh to Matt Santos.
Josh knew they were floundering but he knew he had one big play left in him. He got out of bed and booked a flight to California for first thing the next morning. The Congressman wanted to take a day with his family and Josh, who didn't like it at first, was on board in the end. While Matt Santos spent the day with his kids Josh was going to put the band back together.
Sam Seaborn loved his old/new life. He was just an attorney, and actually socialized outside of his job. Sam was getting married next year and he was never going back to D.C. if he could help it. So, on this relaxing Saturday morning as he ran from his Malibu home to get the newspaper politics were the last thing on his mind.
"Gee, you leave the civilized world and you start running everywhere?"
Sam knew that voice; he had known it for the last near twenty years. "What are you doing here Josh?" As he spoke he turned around to look at his old friend and nearly dropped the paper. Sam was shocked to see how nearly unglued Josh looked.
"We need to talk."
West Wing
Donna Moss loved her new job. She was on the ground floor of the sitting Vice President's campaign and he was the front runner. Professionally, she was moving in the right direction and was thriving on the campaign trail. On a Saturday in Iowa as she entered the hotel restaurant for breakfast she noticed the Congressman's staff eating but something was missing and that something was Josh. As she walked past Ned and Ronna she overheard their conversation, "Why did he leave for California so early, and who was he going to see?"
Donna's first thought was the Congressman had given up and left then she saw Santos and heard words that made her heart skip a beat, "Josh went to bring in and old friend from home or so he said."
Donna thought who from Cali-then she realized just where he went. Donna's good feeling that morning suddenly turned sour. If Josh pulled this rabbit out of his hat again life was about to get harder for the Vice President.
West Wing
Sam got in Josh's rental car and they drove back to his house. When they went in the house he heard a very distinct female voice greet Sam. Josh responded first, "Hi Ainsley, on vacation?"
"No I live here Josh," she answered as she first kissed Sam and then gave Josh a big hug.
"Since when," Josh asked after the initial shock wore off.
"About two or two and a half months, I told you I was leaving to get married."
"Oh I remember that, I just never got your future husband's name before you left."
"I figured you being a possible Best Man in the wedding would have known who said hubby to be was."
As both heads turned to Sam he had the 'I'm in trouble' look on his face. He nonchalantly responded, "I was going to tell you but there was Zoƫ and then Gaza and I just felt I needed to be there for you and not talking about my love life."
Josh looked down and took a deep breath as he blurted out, "You guys are perfect for each other than being a mixed marriage." When he finally finished there was a moment of silence and then all three of them laughed out loud. The trio moved into the sitting room and sat down, after refusing coffee Josh stood up and began. "You're probably wondering why I'm here." Before anyone could respond he went on, "Sam, I need you on the trail with me. I know you said you were done but I am at my wits end. This guy is the real deal and I have everyone I once considered a friend against me except you."
Ainsley spoke very softly to Josh, "What about Donna?"
Josh got this far away look in his eyes and brokenly responded, "Donna left me she's with Will running Russell."
"Josh I don't want to go back," Sam finally spoke up to his friend.
Josh took a steadying breath and responded, "I just mean for the campaign. You know I wouldn't ask if this wasn't a last resort. You probably need time to think and I have to get back to Iowa. Just please think about it. I need my best friend on this, if not to win then not to lose my mind losing."
As he turned Josh was shocked that the next words came from Ainsley "Can he beat Russell?"
Josh turned around and simply replied, "Bingo Bob is the easy part, your guy is going to be the tough part."
Before he could turn back she asked another question "Can he beat Arnold Vinnick?" Josh looked her dead in the eye and smiled with his dimples in all their glory.
Sam finally jumped in and said to his future wife "I really do need to think."
"No, you don't, Samuel Norman. Your best friend who swore he was going to leave you alone after you left D.C. is here and he is asking for your help. Go pack and I will handle the firm, they like me better than you anyway. You get on the trail you mop the floor with Russell and then you beat Vinnick in November and make me White House counsel." When she next turned to Josh and continued, "That's condition number one and condition number two is you take your head out of your ass and tell Donna you love her and you're sorry for being a jackass."
Without even a second for Sam to react Josh responded by simply reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a small blue box and opened it. Ainsley gasped and Sam looked on, slack jawed. "I've had it on me since I got on the plane to Germany and have had it everyday since. I had this big speech planned when she woke up and then Colin was there and I just didn't think it was right. I have loved Donna for so long I can't remember a day I haven't loved her." As he finished his speech the soon to be married couple bear hugged him group hug style and then Sam went to pack. A second seat booked on Josh's flight and two hours later Sam and Josh were airborne to Iowa and started carving out a strategy to make Matt Santos the next President of the United States.
West Wing
Will Bailey, Donna Moss, and Vice President Russell were planning an event later that evening in the V.P.'s suite and Donna just didn't seem with it. After the Vice President went to take a call Will walked over to Donna. "You ok Donna?"
Russell came walking back in as Donna said to Will, "Josh went to get Sam, he left early this morning."
"Sam who?" responded V.P. Russell.
"Sam Seaborn, sir," Donna answered.
"So he went to get someone else to work on a fledgling campaign."
"With all due respect Mr. Vice President the last time Josh did that Josiah Bartlet was elected President," Donna coolly said.
Will was dumbfounded and took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "I'm going to call Leo McGarry and see if he has heard anything about this." So Will walked into the other room and dialed the White House. When he was finally connected to Leo he could hear the smirk on the other end.
"Hey Will what's going on, everything ok?"
"I was just wondering if there's any truth to something Donna said to me earlier, she said Josh went to get Sam in California. I'm not looking for any inside stuff Josh may have said I would just like to know if you heard anything."
After a slight pause Leo responded in kind, "Josh did indeed pull Sam back into the fold and just so you know and aren't shocked when you hear I understand Charlie Young is giving the President his resignation as we speak to sign onto the Santos campaign for President."
Will was shocked to say the least and felt a little screwed to say the most. "Thanks for the info Leo. I can't say I'm happy but I should have known Josh was going to surround himself with people he knew to help a candidate he didn't."
"It is a good strategy. Listen you guys are doing fine and you'll have a fight on your hands. Just keep your chin up." Then he hung up.
As Will entered the main room of the suite he looked pale. "What is it, Will?" Donna asked.
"Not only did Josh succeed in bringing in Sam, but also Charlie just resigned and he is on his way to Iowa to join Josh too."
"What does this mean?" the V.P. asked him.
"Sir, I believe once this hits the press we will no longer be the front runner. Not with the Santos campaign adding a heavyweight like Sam and an insider like Charlie."
West Wing
Back at the White House President Bartlet was beaming as he read Charlie's letter of resignation. The President asked Charlie if he was sure of what he was doing; Charlie responded "Yes. Josh took a big chance on me at one point; it's my turn to return the favor sir. He went and got Sam in L.A. today."
When Jed heard this he was a little surprised. He walked over to Charlie shook his hand and asked, "Where do you see this going?"
"Matt Santos is going to win the nomination and be the next President of the United States."
When he finished Jed Bartlet looked at this grown man, so much more confident than when he met him and hugged him like a father would hug a son, "Kick Bingo Bob's ass."
West Wing
After her meeting, Donna ate dinner in the restaurant at the hotel and then went back to her room. At this late hour she was shocked how loud the room across the hall was. When she concentrated on the voices themselves she couldn't help but smile. Josh, Charlie, Sam, and Congressman Santos were batting ideas back and forth and it sounded like a senior staff meeting in Leo's office at the White House. She lost track of how long she stood there listening when the door opened. Josh stood there and looked at her like she was the only woman in the entire world and her heart started to beat faster. He nervously smiled at her and when she turned to go back into her room he hurriedly spoke, "I miss you so much my skin hurts. I know this is terrible timing Donna but after the primaries are over I want to be with you. I want to date you, marry you, and love you forever. I know you probably hate me but I had to tell you." Donna looked up and with tears in her eyes attacked him kissing Josh with everything she had in her. As the kiss deepened they were letting go of the tension and the hurt feelings of the past near decade. When they finally came up for air she noticed he had the smile that was only reserved for her on his face and it melted her heart. "I have to get back to work."
She looked at him and with a face he hadn't seen in years simply said, "Do good in there."
Josh in reaction to that statement quickly stated, "Come with me, not as my assistant but as anything you want. I need the people I trust the most with me. I need the people I love the most with me." Donna was shocked. She turned and opened her door and went into her room, leaving Josh standing there unsure of what to do next.
He went back into his room and Sam looked up at him and with a smug smile on his face said "Did she mark her territory while you were out there?"
This line earned a loud laugh from Charlie, a funny smirk from the congressman and an 'I'm going to whack you' scowl from Josh. They were wrapping the session up when there was a loud knock on the door. The Congressman said "It's probably Helen and that means one of you is gonna get an earful."
"My money is on Josh," Sam smiled. When Josh opened the door he was met with a different blonde.
Donna kissed him in front of the guys and then looked him in the eyes, "Press Secretary. I will accept nothing less. I want to be in on strategy and I am still not getting you coffee."
Before Josh could say anything Congressman Santos chimed in, "Done and so it doesn't look improper you report directly to me."
As Josh took a look around the room he could only think of one thing to say, "Let's go win this thing."
As Primary season dragged on the Santos team picked up a ton of momentum. They went into the convention in the lead but it was too close to call against Vice President Russell. Late on the night before the convention opened Sam was taking his third pass at the Congressman's speech when his phone rang. Without looking at the caller ID he answered, "Sam Seaborn."
The caller in a gruff tone forcefully said, "Write this down and don't ask who this is." Sam did as he was told and began to take dictation and was surprised when he figured out who it was. He was getting the help he needed and he was connecting with an old friend. In closing the caller told him, "Now go beat that cowboy boot wearing stuffed shirt." Then he hung up. Sam sat there staring at what he wrote and after he put it at the end of the speech he smiled and set out to find Josh.
When Josh read the speech he looked at Sam when he was done smiled and simply said, "I didn't know you had it in you."
"I didn't know you told Toby to call me."
"I didn't."
"Son of a bitch," Sam sighed.
Josh simply replied, "Yeah."
West Wing
The next night as the thousands of delegates looked on and millions watched on the television at home both frontrunners addressed the convention. After a turn at rock, paper, scissors, it was decided that the Vice President would speak first. He was introduced by his wife and delivered the speech Will wrote for him very well. The reaction to the speech was not what they were looking for. Josh was backstage and listened to the crowd and began to smile. Matt Santos was a far better public speaker and between what Sam, Toby, and Matt himself wrote, he would bring the house down. Josh wasn't only thinking about the technique but also the message. Had he himself been in another candidate's corner before this night, after the speech even he would vote Santos in a heartbeat. He looked off to his side and saw Donna doing a spin and he smiled as his heart swelled with pride. If everything went as he thought it would he would be celebrating a whole lot more than just getting his guy nominated for President.
Helen Santos was waiting to take the stage and she was shaking with nerves. She fiddled with the pages to her introduction speech for her husband and constantly fixed her suit trying to calm down. She felt someone tap her on the shoulder and she smiled. Helen and Donna Moss had formed a strong bond while she was stumping for her husband. They had a professional respect for each other as Helen watched Donna's skills with the press, and their girl talk about their men made them close personally. "What's wrong Mrs. Santos?"
Helen looked away and responded, "I am scared stiff. I have never spoken in front of this many people and then Ned goes and reminds me about the TV audience. Josh tells me to picture somebody naked and all I think of is Matt and that's a whole different feeling that's not good in front of this many people."
Donna couldn't help but start laughing and shortly there after Helen followed suit. "You will do fine Mrs. Santos. You have always done well on the trail and remember your part is only three minutes long. He's got the hard part." With that little pep talk she began to feel better. Two minutes later Helen took the stage and very eloquently delivered her speech and the crowd roared as her husband took the stage.
His staff looked on as Matt delivered the speech flawlessly. He used the inflection of his voice to raise the delegates to a fever pitch, and as he got to the end they were cheering so loud he had to shout into the microphone to be heard. "Vote for the person who shares your ideals, your hopes, your dreams. Vote for the person who most embodies what you believe we need to keep our country strong and free, and when you have done that you can go back to Seattle, and Boston, to Miami, to Omaha, to Tulsa, Chicago and Atlanta with your head held high and say I am a member of the Democratic party." The noise in the convention center was so loud even the news anchors were being drowned out. Josh had Sam and Charlie join Donna to do any press requests and he took the Congressman and Mrs. Santos back to their staff room to wait while they called the ballot.
"Well Josh what do you think?" Matt Santos asked his campaign manager.
"Well sir I think we are going to have more than your nomination to celebrate tonight. I am more nervous for after we win this thing than you getting the nod on the first ballot." Matt and Helen looked at each other wondering what would make this political ego maniac more nervous than this night, when the light bulb went off in Helen's brain.
"Oh my God you're proposing to Donna tonight aren't you?" Helen shrieked as her hand flew to her mouth to stifle her volume.
Josh pulled out the ring and showed the couple whom he had grown close to over the past few months. Both Matt and Helen smiled and then Josh quickly shoved the ring back in his pocket as he gave his final instructions as he went to leave, "Stay here. Ronna and Ned will be back in a few minutes to keep you company. I'm going to help Sam, Donna and Charlie with spin and I'll be back." Josh stopped himself before he left and made a very important statement, "I would like you to give consideration to putting Leo McGarry on the ticket as V.P. He has vast foreign policy experience and he knows how to run a country. I know he is unknown to you but being honest when Hoynes left he was my first choice to be V.P. for President Bartlet."
Matt looked back to Josh and simply nodded and responded, "I agree he is unknown but if this works out like your nine point plan I'm in because you are." Josh Lyman knew at that point that not only was Matt his guy politically, but he had also found a friend.
West Wing
Josh met up with Sam on the floor as Texas had requested the honor of putting Matt Santos over the top and naming him the Democratic nominee for President. Sam asked Josh quickly, "Holy cow we did it, who in the hell is going to be our V.P.?"
Josh couldn't help but begin to laugh. He just merely looked at Sam, smirked and told him, "It's time to bring in the guy who brought us here the first time."
Sam was floored and tried to form a coherent sentence as Charlie came up behind him and slyly added, "You told him Leo is going to be V.P. huh."
Josh was laughing in earnest now and Sam joined in. "How did you know I just came up with that about fifteen minutes ago?" Josh got out in between laughs.
Charlie hit back with, "There is only one choice. The sitting Secretary of State would be great but they have issues he's tending to, Russell is a joke and Baker doesn't want to. We need a strong V.P. to help combat Sullivan on the Republican ticket." Josh and Sam were impressed by Charlie and his hypothesis. The trio moved through the crowd to get grab Donna and head toward the staff room.
As the quartet made their way back to their staff room Josh knew he had one more person to talk to about Leo before Leo himself. He told the other three to head back to the Congressman and to start working on a nomination speech for Leo and ideas on who to give it. Sam asked Josh with a puzzled tone, "Where are you going?"
"To get the permission of our V.P.'s best friend," Josh replied. Charlie turned and followed right behind him. "What are you doing?" Josh asked Charlie with a little hint of annoyance.
"I'm going with you. I have a feeling if we need an emotional appeal I'm your guy."
Josh chuckled and hit back with, "You just want to see Zoey."
A big smile broke out on his face and he nodded to Josh in confirmation. As they made it to the President's suite they fixed their rumpled clothes and went in to speak to the oldest friend of the man they wanted on the ticket. As the door opened CJ hit Josh with a running start and a big smile. Engulfing him in a huge hug she simply said, "Good job, mi amour." Josh smiled back and told her they needed a moment with President Bartlet. She smiled and nodded and went over to the other door knocked and went inside. After what seemed like forever Josiah Bartlet walked out leaning on his cane with not only a huge smile on his face but a tear in his eye. "Josh you did it again, another dark horse to the nomination, and if Charlie's prediction from a few months ago is right, into the Oval Office as well."
Josh smiled at the President and simply replied, "Thank you sir."
Charlie took this moment to jump in, "Sir we need some help with our choice for V.P."
"Who do you want me to talk to boys?" Jed responded with a knowing grin.
"That's just it sir. We don't want you to do it so much as we want your permission to ask someone." An almost childlike Josh commented back.
"Why would you need my permission?"
"Because you'll be able to tell us if Leo will accept Mr. President," Josh quickly answered back.
Jed's face took on an expression of shock and CJ who had just walked in asked immediately. "What's wrong, sir."
"They want Leo for V.P." Jed quickly told CJ.
"Wow that is genius. The questions about foreign policy they would ask will be answered and who knows more about running this country than Leo."
"The question now is will he accept?" Josh asked the group with his head down.
"You're damn right he will accept, and if he doesn't I will make it an executive order," exclaimed President Bartlet.
Josh, CJ, Charlie and the President all smiled triumphantly.
West Wing
While Josh was having his conversation with the President, Donna noticed Mrs. Santos was acting strange. "Is there something wrong, ma'am?" Donna asked quietly.
Helen spun on Donna with a grin and an unreadable tone, "You know, I told you never to 'ma'am' me, Donna. My name is Helen. No, there's nothing wrong just trying to get a handle on all that's both going on and going to go on tonight."
"I'm sorry Helen it's just that if Josh heard me call you that he might start losing his hair faster," she chuckled as she finished the statement.
Helen Santos looked at her new friend and finally realized she truly had no clue he was going to propose later. "How long till the President addresses the convention and we have to do the hand holding thing with the balloon drop?"
"Most likely an hour or so, do you need help getting the kids ready or anything?"
"No, my mother is here and so is my sister they have it covered," Helen told her. "Where is Josh anyway?" Was the next thing Helen could think to say, "He had to go talk to the President about adding Leo McGarry as the V.P. Not so much permission but taking his temperature if Leo would accept." Helen seemed to panic a little at the last part of her answer. "What do we do if he doesn't accept?" she asked hurriedly.
"He will." Sam's voice came from by the door.
"How do you know that, Sam?" Helen questioned his vigorous response.
"Because when your best friend and the man you think of as a son asks you to do something you do it." A knowing smile was exchanged by the three as the truth of the statement hit home.
West Wing
As he walked around the floor Josh kept scanning for Leo. He finally found him under the bleachers where they had hammered out all the details of the convention. As Josh walked up he didn't just see the man before him. He saw the man that had been his father's friend and also the man that had taught him everything he knew politically. "Hey, what are you doing here, you ought to be on the floor celebrating with your guys," Leo told Josh as he came and sat at the table Leo was working at.
"We still gotta lineup a V.P.," Josh answered.
"I'm sure Russell is a non issue," Leo smirked, "He was a non starter with the Congressman." Leo continued to organize the few papers on the table, "You want me to help you work up a list?"
"No we've got our guy we just don't know if he's going to accept."
"You want the President to pick up the phone push your guy along?" Leo questioned.
"I went and saw the President he told me kick the guys ass all over the school yard if it came to that." Josh smiled as he recounted the end of his talk with the President.
"So who is it?" Leo asked with a big smile on his face.
"You," Josh said as he got up and walked away leaving Leo with a look of utter terror and shock on his face. Leo knew what his next move was; it was time to go see his oldest friend.
