Mr. Lyman Calls Me Fred
Disclaimer: The characters of West Wing do not belong to me in any way shape or form
Spoilers for Isaac and Ishmael
A/N: This is my first WW fanfiction, it was just an idea that popped into my head the other day.
I remember the first day I met Mr. Lyman. Right away he decided that he didn't like the name Billy and that he was going to call me, Fred. The entire time I spent with him and my classmates trapped in the White House Cafeteria he called me Fred. And at the end he pulled me aside and told me to keep asking questions.
And I did. I asked questions all through high school, and that got me into Georgetown where I saw him again.
He was a guest lecturer in one of my political science classes, he walked in and the first thing out of his mouth was "Damn, I thought I'd be able to do a lecture without any questions. How are you doing, Fred?" The class looked at him funny; there was no one in the class named Fred. But I smiled and said, "I'm fine, Mr. Lyman. How are you?" His response was cut off by the gum chewing girl behind me exclaiming to her neighbor, "Fred? That's Billy Fernandez; I knew politicians went senile before the rest of us!" Mr. Lyman turned to her and said, "Billy is just the name his parents gave him. Fred is his real name; he just didn't know it until I told him." He gave his lecture talking about his career moves from Hoynes' campaign manager to Bartlet's campaign manager to DCOS for Bartlet, to COS for Santos, to Senator from Connecticut. And at the end he pulled me aside and told me to keep asking questions.
And I did. I asked questions all through college and that got me an internship in Congress where I saw him again.
He was in the hallway talking to another Senator when he looked up and called out "Fred, over here!" My fellow interns looked at me in awe and confusion as I made my way over to Senator Lyman and Senator Billings. "Thomas," Mr. Lyman said to the other man, "this is a kid who will take our place some day." Senator Billings shook my hand and then Mr. Lyman pulled me aside and told me to keep asking questions.
And I did. I asked questions all through my internship and all through the various jobs I got in Washington and through my terms in the House and Senate, and that got me to a hotel room waiting with my campaign staff to see if I would be the next president, where I saw him again.
The TV station was asking former Washington players about who they voted for and why, "I voted for Fred," Mr. Lyman said, "because I know he'll ask the American people all the right questions."
The End
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