Title: Backroom Politics
Author: BrusselsSprout
Pair/Rating: J/D, a hint of Leo/Annabeth UST, PG

Spoilers: Everything's fair game now.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Just playing.

Notes: My version on how Donna gets on the campaign after the Ticket. Leo did it. It's my story and I'm sticking to it. Leo's POV.

How did it get to this? How the hell did I end up in a cheap blue shirt followed around by a blond pixie like a post-modern Prospero? I can't blame it on alcohol, since I don't drink. I could blame it on the doctors who must have screwed up something during my surgery and replaced my heart with some mush so I find myself unable to say no. I can definitely blame it on Josh of course, like so many stressful moments in the last 9 years. I really should have let Jed kick his ass on the curb after the Mary Marsh thing, we all would have been much better off.

But no, I foolishly protected him again and again, and he thinks putting me on the ticket is a good way to show his gratitude – really, a box of chocolate and we would have been square. Backroom politicking is what I'm good at. That's my element. Not this. This is like going to the Chinese opera after an all-nighter in the situation room. Maybe the pixie can find some Advil for me when she gets back. God, I really hate this shirt.

'Leo, your tie is crooked.' Here she is, all perky.

'I'm not too fond of this blue shirt.'

'It's a perfectly fine looking shirt. But if you are really uncomfortable about it, I can see if someone could go back to the hotel and grab one of your peach shirts.' Peach shirts? Who wears peach shirts? She thinks I'm some kind of gigolo?

'They're apricot, Annabeth, not peach.' I correct her.

'You're quite particular about your outfits.' she quips.

'It comes from rolling around in a muddy jungle in the same outfit for weeks on end. After I got out I figured I deserved some pampering.' Why did I say that? Does that make me sound girly? She looks at me suitably impressed. That's what I need: a starry-eyed hero worshipper of a pixie.

'Ronna tells me that Josh apparently turned Donna down. She stormed out of his office after a few minutes. And now he's in his office brooding.' God, please, not this again. This soap opera cannot follow me for the rest of my life. I was already apprehensive when I saw her show up for an interview.

'Yeah, well…' I manage.

'You have to talk to Josh, Leo.' she insists and looks at me pleadingly. 'They used to be so close, this is just not right.'

Really? She wants me to play matchmaker? I may have found that sort of thing amusing once in a while, especially concerning Mallory and Sam, but these two, they are just pathetic. If they couldn't get their act together in 8 years, maybe it just wasn't meant to be. I mean maybe I shouldn't have fixed Donna up with that helicopter, but that was a long time ago, and the kid really deserved a break at that chalet. And I think I more than made it up by sending Josh off to Germany. No, I've done my part.

'It's really not my business, Annabeth. And it's not yours either. Trust me, you want to stay away from this one as far as possible.' I say.

'Leo, we both know that Donna deserves better after all these years.' she keeps pleading. I don't get it, why does she care. Are they all part of a blond sisterhood?

'If Josh didn't hire her, I'm sure he had a good professional reason to do so.' I defend my boy instinctively, knowing full well that it was personal and that this is going to eat at him for the rest of the campaign, and we will all be at the suffering end of his guilt, anger and regret. This is going to be a really long campaign. 'Don't I have a photo-op to do?' I miss Margaret, I was a fool to give her up to C.J.

Well, it's official, I'm turning into a mush. I let the pixie annoy me about Donna until I tell her that I'll see what I can do. Truth is that I really like that kid, she does deserve better after putting up with Josh's moods for all those years, so the rest of us didn't have to. Now, I'm not crazy enough to confront Josh, the man after all is the master of denial, deflection and passive-aggressive recrimination and I have to be careful with my blood pressure. And if I'm to stay away from duck cassoulet and a nice cigar, then I sure as hell will stay away from angry and emotional Josh Lyman. But I do make some phone calls and find out that DCCC is looking for a media relations / spokesperson for the Midwest Coordinated Campaign. I just need someone to do the dirty work, so I dial a number.

'Hey Margaret.'

'Hello, Leo. What can I do for you? CJ and the President are in the middle of a meeting.' I knew that of course.

'Oh well, bad timing. How are you Margaret?'

'I'm ok, thank you. Leo, are you keeping your diet? Do they check your blood pressure every day? What did you have for breakfast?'

'I'm fine, Margaret. Don't worry. Did Donna go back to the White House?'

'No. Why? I mean she could be Cliff Calley's assistant, but Rosie is there now, and it would be awkward, and bizarre and unfair for Rosie if now suddenly…'

'I'm just asking' I cut in trying to stop her monologue 'because I ran into Steve Dwight from DCCC and they are looking for someone on the Midwest Coordinated Campaign with media experience. I thought that Donna could help them out if she's not doing something else at the moment. Just mention it to her, will you? She can give my name as a reference.'

'Ok, I think I call her now. We could meet at the place near the park where Brian from the mailroom's twin brother works. He's a piece of eye-candy …'

'Ok, Margaret. I have to go now to an event. Take care.' I quickly press the button on my cell. Why did I think that I miss Margaret, again?

'Annabeth, do you happen to have an Advil?'

'Here you go, Leo.' she gives me two tablets and a bottle of water. She's really not so bad. 'You have to go and get make-up, you know, we want to project a healthy glow. Don't accept the premise if you don't like the question, we don't need another gaffe.' Sweet Lord in Heaven, what my life has come to. Anyway, I'll call Steve in a few days to make sure my pawns are all in place.

'Leo, can you believe this? They are really screwing us with this security leak story.'

'Hello, Josh.' Why can't he start with good morning, like civilized people do?

'I'm trying to keep us on message, but I can't if the White House keeps screwing us.' He's obviously furious and I've just done 14 straight hours of stumping and gripping and grinning, with Annabeth talking in my ear, so I get a bit annoyed.

'Josh, I'm not your deputy, I'm a candidate, you can't keep calling me about every little bump on the road. You need to staff it out.'

'To whom? These are all kids, they never disagree with me, never offer another point of view. How did you deal with all this?' he sounds like a whiny 5-year-old.

'I hired the right people. I hired Toby, because I knew he would keep us on message and would never back down on important issues, I hired you because you knew how to execute the most long-shot plans we dreamed up and then I trusted the two of you to bring in the right people. You need to hire the right people, you need someone who'll stand up to you.'

'I don't think Toby will join us now.'

'There are other people, Josh. You have to find your own people and you have to start to trust them otherwise by November, you'll be running this show from the lunatic asylum.' I decide not to sugarcoat it. I've learnt over the years that subtle doesn't really work with Josh.

I've just ordered my tomato juice and I'm hoping to read the morning paper in quiet while Annabeth figures out my schedule when a short woman clad in all black with messy hair and a scary eyebrow comes up to my table.

'I guess I should introduce myself Mr. McGarry, I'm Louise Thornton, the new Communications Director of the campaign.' I didn't know about this, maybe Josh took my advice?

'It's Leo. Nice to meet you Louise. You are a DNC media consultant, aren't you?'

'Call me Lou please. Yeah, I do some consulting. I've also worked on some Congressional and Senate races.' She offers.

'Great. So when did you start?'

'Just yesterday. Communications is a mess here. There is no real organization, the Congressman's events are organized by Bram, I don't even know who takes care of yours?' she cocks a scary eyebrow in my direction.

'It's Annabeth Schott, she'll be here soon, so you can meet.'

'Great. I looked over the campaign schedule, and for the events next week in the Midwest I think it would be wise to negotiate with the press in advance coordinating both of your and the Congressman's events. We want to come across as having a united front. I just don't know who to send. Bram has to stay with the Congressman, Josh is giving me a big whatever. Could maybe Annabeth do it?' she looks hopeful.

'Annabeth's job apparently also includes babysitting me, so I don't think she can go. But there's someone in the Midwest Coordinated Campaign who has the relevant experience. Her name is Donna Moss. Annabeth knows her number, you could talk to her.' I'm proud of myself, that was quite the Machiavellian move. I'm a backroom politician after all, this is what I do best. I set the pieces in motion and then sit back and watch, hoping that it plays out in my favor.

I'm having a pretty bad day. It started by being served with a subpoena to appear before Congress about the shuttle leak. If I testify, it could be a huge blow to the campaign, one from which we would never recover. It doesn't matter if I did something wrong or not, the Vinick campaign gets to repeat my name and shuttle leak over and over again, maybe add alcohol and valium every once in a while and 90 % of the country will believe that I sold state secrets for a shot of vodka. I can hear it on Josh's voice that he knows this too, I'm telling him that it's time to figure out an exit strategy for me, but he doesn't want to talk about it. That damned kid still thinks it's his job to protect me. I had no career plans until he dragged me into this, I was just going to retire and wait until my grandson is old enough to teach him baseball and luging.

And to top this off, I had to listen to the same education speech five times and clap enthusiastically. Plus, there's the God gaffe, which turns out isn't really a gaffe but a rather skillful and old-school maneuvering from Matt Santos. I'm starting to see what Josh saw in the guy, he's got the chops, but he should let up a little on the education speech, maybe throw in a joke or two, it's really hard for me not to yawn if it's always the same.

And the icing on the cake is of course the pixie. First, she steals my watch, then she holds my hand during the airplane ride. Come to think of it, it should be illegal to hire people on the campaign of two ex-pilots who are afraid of flying. Anyways, she goes on and on like a Duracell bunny, all smiles and sweetness, and when I ask if she wants to grab some dinner she talks about some tension. Really, I just wanted to go and have a good saffron chicken and feel like a human being for a moment, and dining alone is kind of weird, people stare, the waiters hover, I have to pretend to read. I guess I'll just get some take-away. Anyway, did she think I was inviting her on a date? She's confusing, I have no idea what the hell is going on here.

Josh and I are staring speechless at the TV.

'Toby?' he whispers in disbelief. 'I can't believe it.'

'When I told him he still had a fight in him, this is not what I was thinking about. 'I mutter under my breath.

'What do you mean?' Josh looks at me questioningly. I guess he doesn't know about David's suicide. I really don't want him to find a way to blame himself for this as well, so I quickly tell him 'Nothing.'

'Why did he come forward now?' How the hell should I know?

'I'm guessing Toby fell on the sword to save the campaign.' I say finally. And I'm pretty sure that's true, although I'm thinking CJ being the main suspect was an even bigger factor in his decision.

'Do you think he would have sent the shuttle up anyways?' Josh looks at me. I don't know what to say, I really don't want to take sides. It's not black and white and for once I'm glad it wasn't my decision. It's a military secret after all that this president has inherited from other presidents, but I also know from experience that when you're stuck in a jungle surrounded by enemy, the only thing that keeps you going is the certainty that they will not leave you behind unless there's no other way. I imagine it's the same if you are stuck in outer space, trying not to breathe too fast or too deep. Luckily Lou saves me from answering.

'Josh, the Congressman needs you.' she says. She sits down beside me and looks at the TV. 'Well, at least that solves your subpoena problem.' I have an urge to yell at her that that's my good friend who's going to jail about this, and that there is a way to be human, but then I remember that she doesn't know Toby, she has no idea of the history, of the issues, so I opt instead for changing the subject.

'I heard you fired quite a few people.' I said.

'Well, technically Josh fired them. They were worthless, it's time to bring in some more experienced and talented people.' she looks at me and I have a déjà vu – didn't I say these things to Jed at some point?

'So how did Donna work out?' I decide it's a good opportunity to plant the seed.

'She was great. Do you think she'd be interested in doing more for us?' Oh, good, she took the bait.

'Well, there's one way to find out. You know she worked as a spokesperson for Russel, and did pretty well.' I try to sound nonchalant. I hope she'll act soon, because Josh is becoming more and more tightly wound and we need someone who can handle him and set him down, other than me.

We are stuck in a never-ending cycle of nonsense issues, the latest being this abortion fiasco. I'm running around all day. The highlight of the day is seeing Donna appear on TV as a spokesperson for this. Seeing my strategy work out still gives me pleasant goose bumps. It feels good to be right. So I guess Lou took my advice, she's starting to grow on me.

My phone has been ringing off the hook for the last couple of hours, the Congressman, Josh, everyone wants to run things by me.

'Hello.'

'Leo, it's Lou. Can I ask you what didn't you tell me about Donna?'

'Why?' I decide to play dumb.

'Well, Josh just chewed me out for hiring her. He seems pretty pissed. And he mentioned that she worked for him – you forgot to mention that.' she's trying to sound polite, but I can hear in her voice that she's irritated.

'Well, they did work together for a long time and seemed to get along fine.'

'What do you think I should do about it?'

'You could try to look them in a room and tell them to work it out.' I say sarcastically. God knows we've all been tempted to do just that for quite a few years.

'That's all you got? And what is it with the pro-choice alliance?' Thank God, she changes the subject.

I finally manage to go through the new tracking polls when Annabeth knocks on the door. She brings fresh flowers to decorate my hotel room and tells me it's good for my morale. That girl is a mystery.

'Is it true that you told Lou to lock Josh and Donna in a room?' she asks with a knowing smile.

'It wasn't a serious suggestion. Why?'

'Well, apparently she did just that.' Ok, I definitely like Lou more and more.

'So Donna is hired as a spokesperson?'

'It's not entirely clear. Lou had to interrupt, Donna was doing some more spin but she's on the plane to New York.' she smiles.

Well, I guess having them work out everything was too much to ask for, but at least we are a step closer.

They serve very cold salmon with some sad looking asparagus at the Al Smith dinner. I can't help but poke at my food. Lou's sitting next to me, equally unimpressed.

'So you hired Russel's chicken fighter.' The Congressman says to Josh, who's not eating but fidgeting endlessly with his Blackberry.

'Well, technically Lou hired her.' He looks accusingly at Lou who doesn't seem to be at all fazed by his wrath. 'I'm still…'

'She's great. You should have brought her in ages ago.' Santos says.

'You know her, sir?' Josh looks surprised and I am too.

'Yeah, I almost sat on her once.' Josh looks even more dumbfounded at that revelation. 'She was at the vice-president's office at the night of the stem-cell research vote and she stayed to help out. Really nice girl, great with the organizing. Also very personable.' He clarifies seeing Josh's confusion.

Josh can't help but smile, and I know that he's proud of her at this moment. I'm also pretty sure that the Congressman has just signed off on that particular hiring. I'm hoping that at least the dessert will be something edible.