Title: Hiding the Truth Author: LiterateSamwise Spoilers: He Shall Come from Time To Time, Bartlet's Third State of the Union, 17 People, Ways and Means, Manchester... *maybe*. The main spoiler risk though is 20 Hours in America... there may be more, but, I'm not too sure. Summary: A monologue centered on Bartlet's thoughts about his MS and reelection

Disclaimer: I own nothing, Nothing! Sorkin, NBC... various other affiliations... they own it! Not me! Please! Don't sue me!

A/N: Okay, this is one of the various things I wrote with the intent and purpose of perfoming in my theatre arts class and, well, didn't actually do that. So, I figured, I'd put this up here for people to see. Why not?

Another A/N: My other WW fics, if anyone cares, *are* still in progress. Just... slow progress. My fic on Toby and his family (written before Holy Night) is complete. So, if you're looking for a nice story... check it out... please?

((Lights open on man sitting at a table with papers and a pen.))

::quietly, shaking head slowly::

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie... It's been four years and I still can't fool you? I suppose by now Abbey has you trained well enough that you can tell. God bless her but God help me. Why did I go and marry a doctor?

::picks up pen and attempts to sign paper. hand begins to shake.::

::sadly with attempted humor at irony::

I'm the President of the United States of America and I can't even sign my own name. God... will there soon be a day I can't even remember my name? Is that what I get for breaking my promise to Abbey? For running again?

::looks up::

I'm not sorry I did.

::sigh::

::looks back down at paper::

I can do this.

::tries to sign paper again but is unsuccessful::

::frustrated::

Damn...

I was diagnoised with MS nearly eight years ago. I haven't had an attack in two. It shouldn't be this bad... Maybe I should have had Charlie call the doctor. Abbey atleast.

But, no. What would the American people think? It's election day. How would that headline look? And what about my staff? What would they think? They've all worked so hard for the reelection... I can't disappoint them. Toby and Sam have written so many speeches for this, CJ has been hounded by the press even more the past few months, Josh hasn't slept since January. And Leo. By God if I don't deserve to win, that man does. I can't let them down. I can't.

::in a manner trying to convince himself::

Besides, it'll pass.

It will.

::tries to sign paper again:: ::hand steady, he signs::

::more confident::

It will.

::flips to next paper and reads it, then signs. continues::

((Lights Fade Out))

A/N: I'm in High School. So, I hope you didn't expect too much. I'm not so good at writing... and my teacher couldn't give me much feedback... he's not a WW fan. So... what'd everyone think?