Hey! Welcome to the long-promised sequel to My Fellow Americans.
Everybody's great reviews at the end of the original really inspired me to
do the best I can with this one and I hope it lives up to your
expectations. It's going to be more mundane than the first. Basically they
are trying to get the White House up and running again while at the same
time come to terms with what happened. This first chapter is unbetaed due
to the fact that I'm pretty sure my beta reader is somewhere in DC right
now. So I apologize for any mistakes. Also, I decided not to put in the
dates and times when all the events occur this time. It just gets too
confusing and I am easily confused. Another also, updates may not be as
frequent as they were last time. I'm having a booger of a time getting this
written. I'm having fun with it and I've got the outline, but it's just
tough to write. And I'm also working on an original story at the same time.
So sorry in advance about that.
Disclaimer: Not mine. How I wish it were, though you may not agree with me after the way I've treated them. I'm not making any profit off of this.
Chapter 1/10
CJ was waiting by Debbie's desk, drumming her fingers listlessly on her wheelchair. Charlie was sitting at his desk typing. "He'll just be another minute." He told CJ, "He just has to finish up with Corin."
CJ nodded, picking up a newspaper from the pouch she'd fitted to the side of the chair. The special elections for new senators and representatives had ended about three weeks earlier and they were going to be in session soon.
It was now mid-July, six months after that horrible night when the Capitol Building had been blown up by terrorists during the State of the Union. Of all the people attending, only about hundred of them had survived. Of the White House staff those hundred included only her and Josh. The President and the rest of the senior staff had all been killed. For months the country had been in mourning and it still was, but now it was time to get back to work.
Former Secretary of Education/Current President of the United States Bill Fryer opened the office door. "Hey CJ." He said, beckoning her in.
She wheeled herself in and stopped in front of his desk. After five months Fryer had finally gotten up the nerve to sit in what he still thought of as Jed Bartlet's seat. He sat down and faced her. "I was just talking to George Corin." He said, "Can you believe the gall of that man? He calls me up and makes an appointment to discuss God-knows-what and instead campaigns for my Cabinet. Honestly! I would have chosen him if I liked him." He shook his head. "Anyway, the reason I called you. Have you seen the cartoons?"
"The ones about—"
"My daughter." He took out a newspaper and slapped it down on the desk. He flipped through it to the Opinions page. The cartoon showed the First Lady, Christina Fryer, in a diaper and bonnet, sitting behind a desk with a plaque that read First Lady and a stack of papers with finger-paint splattered all over them.
"I want those stopped." Fryer said.
"Freedom of the press, sir." CJ said, "I can't do that."
"I'm not asking you to order them too." Fryer said, "I know the Bill of Rights, CJ. But what if you offered them an exclusive with the First Lady. Show the idiots at this paper what she's really like."
"Good idea, sir." CJ said, cringing inside. It was a horrible idea. It would seem like they were desperate to get her some good publicity. "I'll offer it after my briefing this afternoon."
"Good. Thank you."
"Anything else, sir?"
"No. You can leave."
"How are we possibly at forty-three percent?" Josh demanded.
"He hasn't done anything." Kenny replied, translating Joey's rapid signs. "He needs to do something big."
"What, rebuilding the government wasn't enough?"
"It's been six months. We've had the elections, everything is back up. You need to take a stance on something, show the people that he's not a pushover."
"Like what?"
"I don't know! You're his Chief of Staff, not me! Talk about it. What bills are being proposed?"
"No idea."
"Find out. Then support one."
Josh looked at his watch. "I've got Senior Staff right now." He said, "Thanks for coming."
"I'll put out another poll. See what issues are most important right now."
"Yes. Thanks."
Joey and Kenny left just as the staff filed in. Donna was first, entering with a look of disgust on her face, obviously directed at his new assistant. Then CJ and the new Communications Director, Gary Freeman. Lastly came the new Deputy Communications Director, David Calloway. They positioned themselves in their now-usual seats.
Job approval's down to forty-three percent." Josh told them, "That's five points in a month. The public wants us to do something."
"Wasn't—"Donna began, but Josh cut her off.
"That's what I said. But according to Joey, it's time to take a stance on something."
"Like what?" David asked. He was a lanky twenty-seven year old former creative writing teacher from Berkley. He didn't have very much experience in politics, but his writing skills were renowned throughout the American education system.
"What bills are being proposed?" Josh asked.
"They're going all at it." Donna said. "There's one on censorship on television, one about smoking in public, one on college tuition costs, campaign finance reform—"
"That's it!" Josh said, "Campaign finance! Do you have the exact wording of the bill?"
"I don't think they have the exact wording of the bill."
"Who's 'they'?"
"Edward Bruger, Senator from New Mexico."
"Democrat?"
"Yeah."
"Is he for or against?"
"For."
"Good. So are we. Set up a meeting with Bruger and his staff. Get to work on the writing. Tell him he has the full support of the White House."
"One thing." Gary said.
"Hmm?"
"How does the President feel about campaign finance reform?"
"He supports it."
"Have you talked to him about it?"
"Well, no."
"We should probably at least mention it to him. It wouldn't be a good idea for the White House to pledge its full support if the President doesn't agree with the bill."
"You're right. Donna, still set up the meeting, but don't pledge full support. But Gary, I'm pretty sure I'm right."
Donna's cough sounded suspiciously like it was covering a laugh. Josh decided he didn't want to go down that road. "CJ, what do you have today?"
"Briefings and a meeting with Vanderbilt."
"Why?"
"Seating on Air Force One."
"Fun. Donna?"
"Meetings."
"David?"
"I'm writing the speech for the Daughters of the American Revolution luncheon."
"Gary?"
"Meeting with the Senators from Massachusetts."
"Why?"
"I'm not quite sure, honestly."
"Godspeed. We're done."
CJ wheeled herself out, talking to Gary about her briefing. Then Donna left. As she passed Willa's desk, she shot the oblivious assistant a look that could have melted stone. Then David left. As he watched the younger man leave, Josh suddenly remembered that there had been a typo in the Daughters Chapter leader's name.
"Sam!" he called, shuffling the papers on his desk to find the name. "Sam, wait up!"
As David hesitantly turned around, Josh realized what he'd just done.
"Yes sir?"
"There's a – Never mind. Go."
"David hurried out. Josh sat down at what he still thought of as Leo's desk, his knees shaking. How had he just done the one thing he'd sworn he'd never do?
TBC...
Since this is chapter one and there's no reviews for it (yet, right? Haha), I'm going to respond to some of the reviews I got for the last chapter of My Fellow Americans.
Alasse- I had trouble deciding who to kill off when I was first planning the story, whether it would be Josh or Sam. I settled on Josh because I love him and he could add some interesting interactions (try saying that 3 times fast) with the other people. Because he's got the brain capacity of frozen yogurt. Just kidding. ducks mob of furious Josh fans
Bartlegg – I wish I was one of the writers for a season finale. Here's what the first lines would be:
Enter SAM, stage right.
SAM: Hello everyone! I'm back for good.
Anonymouscritic – Mook.
Vampedme – Thank you for reviewing. I appreciate constructive criticism, but I really could have done without the sarcasm. Some of your complaints were legitimate; others would have been answered later in the story. I don't know very much about bombs and other explosives, but I'm trying to be realistic as I can. Please keep in mind that I'm only a high school student trying to have a little fun in my off time by writing this.
Witezon – The vice president was at the State of the Union. They found his body along with I think the First Lady's and Fitz.
AEM1 – Thanks. I hope I lived up to your expectations.
Sunset – Thank you. I try my best but it does come out a little awkwardly sometimes.
Mayachild – There is indeed a sequel and I hope you enjoy it. This is going to be the only sequel though, as you'll be able to tell later. I don't want it to turn into Land Before Time: The West Wing version.
Lady Myranel – I thought about that too. I hope I don't ruin my first story with a sequel. I'll do my best, but if I get reviews saying stop, I'll leave it where it stands.
TheRealMcCoy – Both! Though I'm going to be taking a break from West Wing for a little while after this. I'll come back, but I really don't want to get burned out.
Ryanne – There will be a little bit about Brandy and her hero in this...
Pendray – Thank you very much for the lovely compliments.
Amy Rose – Thank you for your luck. I ranged between an A and a C- on the finals! But my Geometry was a take-home that took me several days, so I did not have a chance to start this during it. So there is probably less Geometry brain fry (love the term AEM1!) in this one.
Lexi Lyman – Come home soon and let me know if this chapter sucked. And you well better get to work on that story! (
Laurie Beth – Donna and Willa go at it? Ooh, great idea. grabs pen and starts scribbling furiously There's definitely going to be something with them in here.
Glacier-daughter – I'm not an ABBA fan so I haven't heard that song but I'm making up a tune and it's getting stuck in my head. Grr...heehee.
Bartlet4america19 – Yeah, I guess he was there. In sort of a supernatural way. Thank you for the compliment. I'm at loss for words. (shoot. Haha)
Yeah, that's all of them, I think. Sorry if I missed you. You can yell at me in a review.
See ya...
Disclaimer: Not mine. How I wish it were, though you may not agree with me after the way I've treated them. I'm not making any profit off of this.
Chapter 1/10
CJ was waiting by Debbie's desk, drumming her fingers listlessly on her wheelchair. Charlie was sitting at his desk typing. "He'll just be another minute." He told CJ, "He just has to finish up with Corin."
CJ nodded, picking up a newspaper from the pouch she'd fitted to the side of the chair. The special elections for new senators and representatives had ended about three weeks earlier and they were going to be in session soon.
It was now mid-July, six months after that horrible night when the Capitol Building had been blown up by terrorists during the State of the Union. Of all the people attending, only about hundred of them had survived. Of the White House staff those hundred included only her and Josh. The President and the rest of the senior staff had all been killed. For months the country had been in mourning and it still was, but now it was time to get back to work.
Former Secretary of Education/Current President of the United States Bill Fryer opened the office door. "Hey CJ." He said, beckoning her in.
She wheeled herself in and stopped in front of his desk. After five months Fryer had finally gotten up the nerve to sit in what he still thought of as Jed Bartlet's seat. He sat down and faced her. "I was just talking to George Corin." He said, "Can you believe the gall of that man? He calls me up and makes an appointment to discuss God-knows-what and instead campaigns for my Cabinet. Honestly! I would have chosen him if I liked him." He shook his head. "Anyway, the reason I called you. Have you seen the cartoons?"
"The ones about—"
"My daughter." He took out a newspaper and slapped it down on the desk. He flipped through it to the Opinions page. The cartoon showed the First Lady, Christina Fryer, in a diaper and bonnet, sitting behind a desk with a plaque that read First Lady and a stack of papers with finger-paint splattered all over them.
"I want those stopped." Fryer said.
"Freedom of the press, sir." CJ said, "I can't do that."
"I'm not asking you to order them too." Fryer said, "I know the Bill of Rights, CJ. But what if you offered them an exclusive with the First Lady. Show the idiots at this paper what she's really like."
"Good idea, sir." CJ said, cringing inside. It was a horrible idea. It would seem like they were desperate to get her some good publicity. "I'll offer it after my briefing this afternoon."
"Good. Thank you."
"Anything else, sir?"
"No. You can leave."
"How are we possibly at forty-three percent?" Josh demanded.
"He hasn't done anything." Kenny replied, translating Joey's rapid signs. "He needs to do something big."
"What, rebuilding the government wasn't enough?"
"It's been six months. We've had the elections, everything is back up. You need to take a stance on something, show the people that he's not a pushover."
"Like what?"
"I don't know! You're his Chief of Staff, not me! Talk about it. What bills are being proposed?"
"No idea."
"Find out. Then support one."
Josh looked at his watch. "I've got Senior Staff right now." He said, "Thanks for coming."
"I'll put out another poll. See what issues are most important right now."
"Yes. Thanks."
Joey and Kenny left just as the staff filed in. Donna was first, entering with a look of disgust on her face, obviously directed at his new assistant. Then CJ and the new Communications Director, Gary Freeman. Lastly came the new Deputy Communications Director, David Calloway. They positioned themselves in their now-usual seats.
Job approval's down to forty-three percent." Josh told them, "That's five points in a month. The public wants us to do something."
"Wasn't—"Donna began, but Josh cut her off.
"That's what I said. But according to Joey, it's time to take a stance on something."
"Like what?" David asked. He was a lanky twenty-seven year old former creative writing teacher from Berkley. He didn't have very much experience in politics, but his writing skills were renowned throughout the American education system.
"What bills are being proposed?" Josh asked.
"They're going all at it." Donna said. "There's one on censorship on television, one about smoking in public, one on college tuition costs, campaign finance reform—"
"That's it!" Josh said, "Campaign finance! Do you have the exact wording of the bill?"
"I don't think they have the exact wording of the bill."
"Who's 'they'?"
"Edward Bruger, Senator from New Mexico."
"Democrat?"
"Yeah."
"Is he for or against?"
"For."
"Good. So are we. Set up a meeting with Bruger and his staff. Get to work on the writing. Tell him he has the full support of the White House."
"One thing." Gary said.
"Hmm?"
"How does the President feel about campaign finance reform?"
"He supports it."
"Have you talked to him about it?"
"Well, no."
"We should probably at least mention it to him. It wouldn't be a good idea for the White House to pledge its full support if the President doesn't agree with the bill."
"You're right. Donna, still set up the meeting, but don't pledge full support. But Gary, I'm pretty sure I'm right."
Donna's cough sounded suspiciously like it was covering a laugh. Josh decided he didn't want to go down that road. "CJ, what do you have today?"
"Briefings and a meeting with Vanderbilt."
"Why?"
"Seating on Air Force One."
"Fun. Donna?"
"Meetings."
"David?"
"I'm writing the speech for the Daughters of the American Revolution luncheon."
"Gary?"
"Meeting with the Senators from Massachusetts."
"Why?"
"I'm not quite sure, honestly."
"Godspeed. We're done."
CJ wheeled herself out, talking to Gary about her briefing. Then Donna left. As she passed Willa's desk, she shot the oblivious assistant a look that could have melted stone. Then David left. As he watched the younger man leave, Josh suddenly remembered that there had been a typo in the Daughters Chapter leader's name.
"Sam!" he called, shuffling the papers on his desk to find the name. "Sam, wait up!"
As David hesitantly turned around, Josh realized what he'd just done.
"Yes sir?"
"There's a – Never mind. Go."
"David hurried out. Josh sat down at what he still thought of as Leo's desk, his knees shaking. How had he just done the one thing he'd sworn he'd never do?
TBC...
Since this is chapter one and there's no reviews for it (yet, right? Haha), I'm going to respond to some of the reviews I got for the last chapter of My Fellow Americans.
Alasse- I had trouble deciding who to kill off when I was first planning the story, whether it would be Josh or Sam. I settled on Josh because I love him and he could add some interesting interactions (try saying that 3 times fast) with the other people. Because he's got the brain capacity of frozen yogurt. Just kidding. ducks mob of furious Josh fans
Bartlegg – I wish I was one of the writers for a season finale. Here's what the first lines would be:
Enter SAM, stage right.
SAM: Hello everyone! I'm back for good.
Anonymouscritic – Mook.
Vampedme – Thank you for reviewing. I appreciate constructive criticism, but I really could have done without the sarcasm. Some of your complaints were legitimate; others would have been answered later in the story. I don't know very much about bombs and other explosives, but I'm trying to be realistic as I can. Please keep in mind that I'm only a high school student trying to have a little fun in my off time by writing this.
Witezon – The vice president was at the State of the Union. They found his body along with I think the First Lady's and Fitz.
AEM1 – Thanks. I hope I lived up to your expectations.
Sunset – Thank you. I try my best but it does come out a little awkwardly sometimes.
Mayachild – There is indeed a sequel and I hope you enjoy it. This is going to be the only sequel though, as you'll be able to tell later. I don't want it to turn into Land Before Time: The West Wing version.
Lady Myranel – I thought about that too. I hope I don't ruin my first story with a sequel. I'll do my best, but if I get reviews saying stop, I'll leave it where it stands.
TheRealMcCoy – Both! Though I'm going to be taking a break from West Wing for a little while after this. I'll come back, but I really don't want to get burned out.
Ryanne – There will be a little bit about Brandy and her hero in this...
Pendray – Thank you very much for the lovely compliments.
Amy Rose – Thank you for your luck. I ranged between an A and a C- on the finals! But my Geometry was a take-home that took me several days, so I did not have a chance to start this during it. So there is probably less Geometry brain fry (love the term AEM1!) in this one.
Lexi Lyman – Come home soon and let me know if this chapter sucked. And you well better get to work on that story! (
Laurie Beth – Donna and Willa go at it? Ooh, great idea. grabs pen and starts scribbling furiously There's definitely going to be something with them in here.
Glacier-daughter – I'm not an ABBA fan so I haven't heard that song but I'm making up a tune and it's getting stuck in my head. Grr...heehee.
Bartlet4america19 – Yeah, I guess he was there. In sort of a supernatural way. Thank you for the compliment. I'm at loss for words. (shoot. Haha)
Yeah, that's all of them, I think. Sorry if I missed you. You can yell at me in a review.
See ya...