Title: A New Direction
AUTHOR: Anjsunicorn
SPOILERS: None. If any come in later, I'll let you know.
RATING: PG-13. If it changes later, I'll let you know.
CATEGORY: general, new character, may move into couples in later stories
SUMMARY: A job opening could bring a in a new Senior Staffer.
DISCLAIMER: The recognizable characters belong to Aaron Sorkin. The rest are mine.
NOTES: This has been floating around in my head for a while, and I can't ignore it alone any longer. A long, complicated series is brewing, but I want to see how this story is received before I continue. Any feedback is good, since this is my first fanfiction. Also, for now, we're ignoring the president's MS announcement. This either takes place before it's an issue, or after everything is done and he's still in office.
She walked through the corridor quickly. Checking in with the security detail, she was given a pass and directions through the West Wing. She knew she was early for her appointment, as was her habit, but didn't slow her steps. Anticipation and nerves warred within her. The anticipation shone in her dark eyes, but the nerves were carefully hidden, masked by the calm smile on her face. Heels clicking briskly on the tile floor, she continued to navigate her way until she arrived at the Chief of Staff's office. His assistant was not at her desk, so she quietly opened the door. For a moment she watched him skim one file before reaching for another. Hearing her clear her throat, he looked up quickly, a smile spreading across his face as he recognized the woman before him.
"Dija miss me, Leo?"
He stood and moved around to her. "God, Livy, it's good to see you. How are you? Here, sit down." He motioned her to the couch. "You look wonderful," he commented, taking her hands. He felt the slight tremble, wondered about it, but let it go.
"With a reception like this, you may never get rid of me," she joked. Leaning back to rest against the couch, she sighed before smiling slightly. "You look good Leo. You're in your element."
He chuckled slightly. Glancing around the room before returning to face her, he smirked. "I've come a long way, huh, kid."
Her face grew serious as she regarded the man before her. "Yes, you have."
His eyes softened and he leaned over to hug her. Pulling back, he said, "It's has been too long Livy. How's Phillip?"
"Good, busy," she replied. "He says 'Hi' and wanted to know when you were going to come by and see him ride."
Leo sighed, glancing at the files piled on his desk. "As soon as these files stop coming in," he said wryly. Turning to face her, he gazed at the young woman before him. Even 20 years after the fact, Leo could still see the little girl who would run to him, expecting to be thrown in the air, squealing with joy when he would oblige her. Brown hair still curled around a slim face that was dominated by dark eyes. He noted the shadows under them that couldn't be covered by makeup. The stubborn chin was evidence of her personality, given to her by her father. From her mother she had inherited her slim build. Looking at her now, Leo also saw in Olivia Conroy the strength of character that had been visible in both her parents. "How are you, Livy, really?"
Sighing softly, Olivia rested her head against the couch and grew thoughtful. "It's getting better. It's a lot of adjusting, but we're making it. It helps that Phillip is so good; if he gave me problems, it would be much harder. But we're getting there." Shaking off the feelings of melancholy, she sat up and glanced at Leo. "But that wasn't why you called me in, was it?"
Standing, he mock glared at her. "If it hadn't been for Abbey running into you at the art exhibit, I wouldn't have known how to get a hold of you. You didn't think to call your godfather to invite him to your graduation from Georgetown? What are you doing now?"
Settling back into the couch, she grinned at him. "Well, since those files keep coming in, I didn't think you'd be able to make it." She shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal. I didn't even go to the ceremony. Instead Phillip and I spent the day together." Looking at him questioningly, she asked, "Did you really call me in just to lecture me? Because if so, at least do it over lunch."
Rolling his eyes, Leo grabbed a file from his desk. "I see they didn't manage to teach you patience along with your masters?"
"Nah," she smirked. "It was an additional fee."
"Ha, ha." He handed her the file. "Why don't you take a look at this and tell me what you think."
Opening the file he handed her, she skimmed the top page. "A job opening for a Deputy Press Secretary. Where?" Looking up, she caught the look he was giving her. "Here?" she asked incredulously.
Just as he was beginning to answer her, two men barged in his office, yelling.
"Leo, this plan for going after the House votes sucks!" stated the smaller man, continuing to pace in front of Leo's desk. The other, slightly taller man rubbed his forehead before speaking harshly.
"We know it sucks, but we need these votes. Now if you have a better method, I'd love to hear it. But if you don't, shut up and get to work." His voice had rose as he spoke until he too was yelling.
Neither man had noticed Olivia yet and she watched, fascinated, as they continued to argue. One man was full of energy, practically bouncing in place when he finally stopped pacing. The other remained motionless, except for emphasizing his words with motions of his hands. But they both argued with the same intensity until finally a roar cut through the air.
"Enough!" Leo looked at his Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director. "In case you hadn't noticed, I have a guest and would appreciate it if you two would knock before bursting into my office with your latest school yard fight."
Both men glanced to the couch where Olivia was sitting. They had the grace to look abashed. The smaller man moved over, offering his hand.
"Josh Lyman, Deputy Chief of Staff." He smiled, showing his dimples. As she shook hands with him, the other man joined them. "Toby Ziegler, Communications Director." His bearded face regarded her solemnly.
"Olivia is a family friend." Leo moved to stand beside her.
"Down for the tour?" Josh asked.
"No, I'm still not entirely sure why I'm here," she said, looking quizzically at Leo.
As he was about to answer her, another door flew open and yelling was again heard.
"Leo, did you know I'm not allowed to pick flowers from the Rose Garden. I need a bouquet for my wife, and one would assume that since I have a rose garden, I would be able to get flowers easily. But they've informed me I'm not allowed to pick those flowers. Now I ask you, what is the point of have a rose garden if you can't pick the flowers?" The President had walked in the room, stopping short as he saw the people gathered in Leo's office. "Did you decide to have a party and not invite me? That's not very nice, Leo."
Leo let out an exasperated sigh before tugging Olivia forward. "No, Mr. President, I'm not having a party, although there is someone here you will want to see."
"Olivia!" The President opened his arms and she went over for a hug. "Abbey told me she had seen you." He looked at her sternly. "Please don't tell me you're here to see this old bear and neglecting to visit me."
"You were my next stop," she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. He kept his arm around her as they both turned to face Leo. "But I'm still waiting to hear why I'm here," she commented.
"Well, if we wouldn't keep getting so rudely interrupted," Leo started, glaring at the men in the room, "I'd have told you that I want you to take the position as our new Deputy Press Secretary."
AUTHOR: Anjsunicorn
SPOILERS: None. If any come in later, I'll let you know.
RATING: PG-13. If it changes later, I'll let you know.
CATEGORY: general, new character, may move into couples in later stories
SUMMARY: A job opening could bring a in a new Senior Staffer.
DISCLAIMER: The recognizable characters belong to Aaron Sorkin. The rest are mine.
NOTES: This has been floating around in my head for a while, and I can't ignore it alone any longer. A long, complicated series is brewing, but I want to see how this story is received before I continue. Any feedback is good, since this is my first fanfiction. Also, for now, we're ignoring the president's MS announcement. This either takes place before it's an issue, or after everything is done and he's still in office.
She walked through the corridor quickly. Checking in with the security detail, she was given a pass and directions through the West Wing. She knew she was early for her appointment, as was her habit, but didn't slow her steps. Anticipation and nerves warred within her. The anticipation shone in her dark eyes, but the nerves were carefully hidden, masked by the calm smile on her face. Heels clicking briskly on the tile floor, she continued to navigate her way until she arrived at the Chief of Staff's office. His assistant was not at her desk, so she quietly opened the door. For a moment she watched him skim one file before reaching for another. Hearing her clear her throat, he looked up quickly, a smile spreading across his face as he recognized the woman before him.
"Dija miss me, Leo?"
He stood and moved around to her. "God, Livy, it's good to see you. How are you? Here, sit down." He motioned her to the couch. "You look wonderful," he commented, taking her hands. He felt the slight tremble, wondered about it, but let it go.
"With a reception like this, you may never get rid of me," she joked. Leaning back to rest against the couch, she sighed before smiling slightly. "You look good Leo. You're in your element."
He chuckled slightly. Glancing around the room before returning to face her, he smirked. "I've come a long way, huh, kid."
Her face grew serious as she regarded the man before her. "Yes, you have."
His eyes softened and he leaned over to hug her. Pulling back, he said, "It's has been too long Livy. How's Phillip?"
"Good, busy," she replied. "He says 'Hi' and wanted to know when you were going to come by and see him ride."
Leo sighed, glancing at the files piled on his desk. "As soon as these files stop coming in," he said wryly. Turning to face her, he gazed at the young woman before him. Even 20 years after the fact, Leo could still see the little girl who would run to him, expecting to be thrown in the air, squealing with joy when he would oblige her. Brown hair still curled around a slim face that was dominated by dark eyes. He noted the shadows under them that couldn't be covered by makeup. The stubborn chin was evidence of her personality, given to her by her father. From her mother she had inherited her slim build. Looking at her now, Leo also saw in Olivia Conroy the strength of character that had been visible in both her parents. "How are you, Livy, really?"
Sighing softly, Olivia rested her head against the couch and grew thoughtful. "It's getting better. It's a lot of adjusting, but we're making it. It helps that Phillip is so good; if he gave me problems, it would be much harder. But we're getting there." Shaking off the feelings of melancholy, she sat up and glanced at Leo. "But that wasn't why you called me in, was it?"
Standing, he mock glared at her. "If it hadn't been for Abbey running into you at the art exhibit, I wouldn't have known how to get a hold of you. You didn't think to call your godfather to invite him to your graduation from Georgetown? What are you doing now?"
Settling back into the couch, she grinned at him. "Well, since those files keep coming in, I didn't think you'd be able to make it." She shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal. I didn't even go to the ceremony. Instead Phillip and I spent the day together." Looking at him questioningly, she asked, "Did you really call me in just to lecture me? Because if so, at least do it over lunch."
Rolling his eyes, Leo grabbed a file from his desk. "I see they didn't manage to teach you patience along with your masters?"
"Nah," she smirked. "It was an additional fee."
"Ha, ha." He handed her the file. "Why don't you take a look at this and tell me what you think."
Opening the file he handed her, she skimmed the top page. "A job opening for a Deputy Press Secretary. Where?" Looking up, she caught the look he was giving her. "Here?" she asked incredulously.
Just as he was beginning to answer her, two men barged in his office, yelling.
"Leo, this plan for going after the House votes sucks!" stated the smaller man, continuing to pace in front of Leo's desk. The other, slightly taller man rubbed his forehead before speaking harshly.
"We know it sucks, but we need these votes. Now if you have a better method, I'd love to hear it. But if you don't, shut up and get to work." His voice had rose as he spoke until he too was yelling.
Neither man had noticed Olivia yet and she watched, fascinated, as they continued to argue. One man was full of energy, practically bouncing in place when he finally stopped pacing. The other remained motionless, except for emphasizing his words with motions of his hands. But they both argued with the same intensity until finally a roar cut through the air.
"Enough!" Leo looked at his Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director. "In case you hadn't noticed, I have a guest and would appreciate it if you two would knock before bursting into my office with your latest school yard fight."
Both men glanced to the couch where Olivia was sitting. They had the grace to look abashed. The smaller man moved over, offering his hand.
"Josh Lyman, Deputy Chief of Staff." He smiled, showing his dimples. As she shook hands with him, the other man joined them. "Toby Ziegler, Communications Director." His bearded face regarded her solemnly.
"Olivia is a family friend." Leo moved to stand beside her.
"Down for the tour?" Josh asked.
"No, I'm still not entirely sure why I'm here," she said, looking quizzically at Leo.
As he was about to answer her, another door flew open and yelling was again heard.
"Leo, did you know I'm not allowed to pick flowers from the Rose Garden. I need a bouquet for my wife, and one would assume that since I have a rose garden, I would be able to get flowers easily. But they've informed me I'm not allowed to pick those flowers. Now I ask you, what is the point of have a rose garden if you can't pick the flowers?" The President had walked in the room, stopping short as he saw the people gathered in Leo's office. "Did you decide to have a party and not invite me? That's not very nice, Leo."
Leo let out an exasperated sigh before tugging Olivia forward. "No, Mr. President, I'm not having a party, although there is someone here you will want to see."
"Olivia!" The President opened his arms and she went over for a hug. "Abbey told me she had seen you." He looked at her sternly. "Please don't tell me you're here to see this old bear and neglecting to visit me."
"You were my next stop," she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. He kept his arm around her as they both turned to face Leo. "But I'm still waiting to hear why I'm here," she commented.
"Well, if we wouldn't keep getting so rudely interrupted," Leo started, glaring at the men in the room, "I'd have told you that I want you to take the position as our new Deputy Press Secretary."