10,000 Miles in Your Shoes

Everyone said the Bartlet administration was one of the most unproductive times, full of under-qualified people who were not hired based on merit. But as one reporter got to know the six people in the Senior Staff as an assignment, she realized that was entirely untrue.

Chapter One – The ones we don't suit up for

"The Bartlet administration has done nothing to improve the country. The backbone of the staff is not the President but a man, whose health is questionable, and often drives Bartlet to safe ground on issues. The six Senior Staffers work feverishly to make the campaign promises a reality. However, they fall blatantly short, showing us what a true administration should not be." Leo read during a morning briefing. Glasses perched on his nose, he looked up, a grin gracing his face.

"I don't think this is a story C.J." Same finally responded, his face in all seriousness.

"Really Sam? Because I thought it was." Her catty sarcastic response made Leo glance down at the paper again. "We always have Republicans on our case."

"Well, first off, she's a Democrat." Leo pointed out, pausing. "And she's coming to the White House."

"For a visit?"

"No. She's coming here to observe and see how an administration works from the inside. She will be working with all of us."

The message took a moment to sink in but when it did the typical Senior Staff reaction happened. Josh's eyes grew wide, as if in disbelief. Sam stood stoically, deep in thought, while C.J. paced and Toby yelled. For anyone new to the administration they would think it was a comical sight. Four of the United States' greatest minds, and they were as different as night and day in reactions.

"What the hell are you thinking Leo?" She hates us. Who says a week will change anything."

"Three months." Leo corrected.

"She's a reporter?"

"Yes. Her name is Danielle Lancer."

Toby was still fuming but he kept quiet. He would show his anger at a different more appropriate time. He would find a way to embarrass her in front of the President. Already the cogs in his manipulative, bleak mind were working. In the silence Josh spoke, trying to figure out the logistics. "When does she start? Who will she answer to? Where is her office? What does she do?"

"She starts tomorrow. She answers to her supervisor at the A.P. office in L.A. At the White House she'll answer to the President, Josh and I. Although I know that you," he said, indicating Toby, "will order her about. Her office is in the Communications Bull Pen."

"Yes but what does she do?" Josh persisted.

"Sit in on meetings, do some occasional work for each of you, debate issues. They called it 'hands-on observing'. After she finishes her three months she'll write an article for the Los Angeles Times which could be syndicated throughout the United States."

"This might be a good idea." Sam stated quietly. Everyone looked at him surprised, forgetting he was there. "I mean, we have a way to shape how the press…and the people perceive us. This is a really good opportunity."

"The President agrees. Now where are we on the college aid discussions?" Leo commented, proving Sam was right and the discussion was over.

Danielle closed the last box, looking at her empty office. A few hours ago the office was filled with reference books, papers and a generally orderly desk. But now everything was either given to Greg, her assistant, or packed in boxes to be shipped to Washington. Her flight was in less than four hours and she should have been sleeping. Yet, Danielle had an idea there would be more late nights at the White House than here in Los Angeles. Working for the Associated Press in L.A. had been a great opportunity. She had gotten her break as a political journalist through them. Although it was not her work at the AP that got her a stint at the West Wing, she credited it to them.

Four hours later Danielle was on a plane, hurtling toward a place she knew well. Danielle didn't sit quietly. Her nerves combined with a dislike of airplanes caused a very fidgety twenty-eight year old. She was going to the nation's capital to get a first hand look at how an administration worked. Granted her second major in college was political science and she didn't like the President, but nevertheless, she was excited.

Danielle arrived in Washington feeling like she had lost nine hours somewhere. After freshing up at her hotel, she immediately made her way to the White House. She was expected. The guards let her through after making sure she wasn't carrying any weapons. Inside the lobby she was told to wait; Josh Lyman would be out in a few minutes and would escort her to her office.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting Ms. Lancer." A voice called across the marble room.

"Danielle." She said, standing up to shake Josh's hand.

"Well Dani, I don't have a lot of time. Senior Staff is in a few."

"It's Danielle." She corrected. "And I'm not here to be babysat. Show me where my desk is, and I'll be fine."

Josh merely shrugged. "Leo said you were to come to the meeting."

Great, thought Danielle. I get to meet the staff after flying across four time zones in five hours and within five minutes of arriving. This is going to be a fun morning.

"Dani?" Josh asked, motioning towards the door. "Grab your bag and let's go."

"Danielle." She automatically corrected. Dani was the nickname for her twin brother, Daniel, who was a Marine. But she followed Josh to an office she assumed was Leo McGarry's. Placing her bag on a chair she saw eight eyes looking inquisitorially at her. "Alright everyone. This is Dani Lancer." Josh introduced her, still using that nickname.

"How was your flight?" Leo asked, a gracious smile on his face as she stood somewhat nervous.

"Long." She responded, watching at people's reaction to her presence. She already knew everyone's name there anyway. The main behind the President's words looked angry. Like he didn't want her there. Regardless, she shook everyone's hand and stayed in the back, listening.

"Dani, I'll have Margaret show you your desk and let you get settled. There's discussion in the Roosevelt Room at one that you need to attend." Leo spoke before turning his attention to C.J. "I want you to put something in about Dani at the noon briefing." Danielle managed to catch a slight eye roll as she felt floored.

The press were going to know about her? She was that important she deserved a mention? But Danielle's suspicion kicked in soon after. This could just be a way of seducing her into writing a story favorable to the Bartlet cause. She was observing for three months, an extensively long assignment. She would see their bad days as well. In fact, when Danielle had been given the assignment she wondered why it was so long. Her boss had said it had to be that long to get a deep story, one with a broad and fully formed correct opinion. Needless to say, her boss was a Bartlet fan.

The meeting was over a few minutes later and Danielle was escorted by a redhead, she assumed was Margaret to a desk in the middle of a busy area. There, sitting on her desk was nothing more than a mug, a single rose, and a schedule. "Leo wanted to welcome you." Margaret said kindly. "The rose was delivered before you came." Danielle dropped her bag on the floor and bent down to read the message. "Ellie: Knock 'em dead sis. I miss you Your brother Dani. Danielle smiled. So Daniel had heard about her assignment.

"Did they get the wrong person?" Margaret asked. "I thought your name was Dani."

"It's actually Danielle. Thanks for showing me my desk." Danielle said, wanting to be alone for a little bit to get settled. She really wanted to take a nap but it probably wasn't possible. It was eight in the morning Eastern time which meant it was four in the morning L.A. time. Good Merlin was this going to be a long day.

Danielle had finished setting up her desk within five minutes. Her laptop was placed in the middle with the desk calendar under it. She put a collection of pens in the mug and stuck her bag in the drawer. There, perfect.

"Here's the briefing material on the college aide discussions." Someone said, approaching her desk. Danielle looked up to see a blonde woman standing at her desk. "It's a good thing you didn't decorate your desk. Josh hates that."

"Excuse me?" Danielle asked, confused. Who was this woman and why did it matter if she put a few personal things on her desk?

"I'm Josh's assistant, Donna Moss. He wanted you to be well-informed on the topic before the meeting." Danielle took the folder, nearly dropping it in surprise from its weight. "Welcome to the White House." Donna said chuckling.

Danielle glanced at the report and started forming a to-do list in her mind. She needed to email home to let them know she arrived safely and she needed to acquaint herself with the building. But first came reading the report. Grabbing a new highlighter and pen, she began to read. For the next two hours she read, with little distractions. The people in the Communications Bull Pen had just seemed to accept she was there, not wanting to bother the 'new' girl.

"Do you want anything for lunch?" Another nameless staffer asked.

"A salad, no meat thanks." Danielle responded.

"I would have to check if we have salads without…"

"Ginger!" Toby yelled, interrupting the conversation.

"Don't worry about it. I'll find the mess." Danielle said smiling as 'Ginger' ran off towards Toby. Finding the mess wasn't quite as hard as she thought it would be. The real challenge was finding vegetarian food that didn't look wilted or growing something. An apple, orange and some peanut butter became her lunch. As she munched, Danielle reminded herself to go grocery shopping tonight for tofu and veggie nuggets.

"Hey Donna!" Josh called from his office.

"Yes?" Donna appeared in the doorway.

"Did you give her the speech?"

"Which one?"

"Donna!" He whined.

"Josh, which one."

"The lotion desk speech."

"Yes."

"And?"

"Her desk is fine. A laptop, pens and a rose."

Josh's face looked like a mix between anger and laughter. "Leo…" He breathed. It was Joey Lucas all over again.

"Margaret said it was from her brother."

Josh nodded. "She got the report?"

"Josh she's twenty-eight. She doesn't need babysitting."

"Donna, you remember how we acted around Mandy after the memo." Donna nodded in response. "Dani wrote something like that. And now she's inside the West Wing, finding all our secrets and exposing us to the press. She's a reporter."

"So is Danny Cancannon." She pointed out.

"But Danny never betrayed his party." Josh was getting more upset, his voice rising. "He didn't commit treason against his party." Josh was passionate about protecting the party. He was fine with Republicans having a go at the administration. But to have a Democrat say that they were worthless and attack Leo. It meant something so much more than just an opinion. It was most definitely treason in his mind.

"Treason, noun. Comes from the Middle English, tesoun – the act of handing over. The offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family. The Constitution defines it in Article three, Section three as 'giving aid and comfort' to the enemy."

Josh turned sharply to see the exact person he had talked about standing in the open doorway. "I…" He fumbled for words, his face heating up.

"Here's some ideas from the briefing I thought you might want."

"Dani…"

"It's okay. You just have to say thank you."

"Thank you?"

"Is there anything else?"

Josh felt so mortified as she stood there. "No I don't think so."

"Can you point me in the direction of the press room then?"

"I'll show you." Donna offered.

Donna started apologizing immediately after leaving the room. "He's not normally like this Dani."

"First off, it's Danielle. Second, I know I did not come here expecting flowers and chocolates. I wrote an opinion piece this administration, and I might add, my boss, did not like. I am here to learn about President Bartlet. If everyone hates me and calls me a traitor, so be it. But know this Donna. I did not come because you wanted me here. I came because there was a responsibility to the people I had to fill."

"I'm sorry we've…" But Donna stopped, unsure of how to word it.

"I am a Democrat. I believe in gun-control and federal aid to kids in college. I don't dislike the Bartlet team because of their ideals. It is simply because they had so much opportunity and wasted it."

Donna nodded silently, not wanting to upset her. "It would help to have friends. But if no one likes me I will do this…on my own." Danielle was surprised at how confident she sounded. Inside she felt like crying but she couldn't do that. Not here, not now, not in this building she held sacred.

"Here is the briefing room. They'll be starting shortly." Donna left Danielle in the corner as reporters scurried about. Danielle was surprised at how chaotic the roomed seemed and how quickly it changed once C.J. stepped up to the podium.

"Good afternoon everyone."

"Afternoon C.J." They all echoed, children in a class room. The briefing went on and Danielle imagined herself up there, answering questions with ease. Shaking herself from the dream she checked her watch. She had to be in the Roosevelt Room in less than five minutes. And while Danielle had a general idea of where it was, she was so confused and turned around she felt like a child separated from their mother.

Luckily enough for her, the meeting didn't start on time and Danielle was able to slip in unnoticed by the Senators, as the Senior Staff wasn't there yet. "Hi I'm Danielle Lancer." She introduced herself, shaking the senator's hands. Just at that moment Toby and Sam walked in. "I apologize for our tardiness." Sam told them which they accepted with a nod of their head. "You know what this is about?"

"Yes. The President wants discussion on helping parents and students pay for college."

"Well he wants more than discussions Jack." Same commented.

"What does he want then?"

Danielle felt her turn to respond. "He wants a plan that will help students get an education they deserve. He wants every student to have the opportunity that we had. Two in three high school sophomores say they are going to college. Two thirds! But once they get into college the numbers get scary. Only 50 of college freshman graduate. And there are countless more that don't even go to college because of the cost. In America one in three adults are college dropouts. But the numbers don't really prove anything unless we do something! Students can go to college, they can graduate, and they can get jobs that pay above the poverty line. But we have to help them." Danielle finished, looking uneasily at Sam and Toby to see if she overstepped her boundary. They looked a bit shocked, but pleased.

"And you are?"

"Danielle Lancer."

One of the senators in the room raised their eyebrow. "The critic from A.P.?"

"Regardless of what Dani, does she brings up a point. The number one cause of dropping out of college is because of cost. The President wants to change that." Toby said.

At the evening meeting with the President, the five left Dani at her desk until the President called her. "Opinions C.J.?" The President asked.

"She's going to take some getting used to."

"Is that all?"

"No. I don't think she meant to offend us."

"Toby?"

"She couldn't keep her mouth shut in the college aid discussions."

"But she clearly defined your point Toby. She memorized the statistics within four hours of reading the two hundred page briefing." Sam pointed out.

"Yes, but I prefer to make own points." Toby struck back.

"Josh?"

"I…" Josh stalled looking at Leo for support.

"Josh called her a traitor to the party not realizing she was standing in the doorway."

"Josh!" President Bartlet groaned.

"She was very professional. She recited the Constitution and Webster's definition of treason. She also knew the entomology which I thought was odd." Josh said, going off on his own tangent.

"Josh that was a very stupid thing to do."

"I know. I'm sorry sir."

President Bartlet shook his head. Josh Lyman was a very smart individual. He could just do some really stupid things sometimes. "Don't apologize to me. I wasn't the one you said was plotting to overthrow the government."

"Yes sir."

"Charlie!"

"Yes sir?" Charlie asked, appearing as usual from behind the door.

"Can you call Dani?" He nodded, returning a few minutes later with a somewhat nervous looking Danielle.

"Good evening Dani." President Bartlet said in his normal loud, charismatic voice.

"Good evening sir." She had no idea how to bring up the idea that that wasn't her name, so she just had at it. "Sir, it's Danielle. Dani is my brother."

"Well my staff seems to believe you are Dani."

"Yes sir." Danielle said shakily.

"How has your first day been?"

Danielle hesitation causing Leo and the President to smile.

"Welcome to the White House Dani."


Author's Note: The treason definition came from Webster's Online and the Constitution. The figures came from a lecture by my high school principal and Efozzie, a political blog about social change. The link is this : /fun/2007/12/31/college-dropouts-are-the-new-high-school-dropouts/

The title comes from the first season quote by Toby Ziegler. "It's not the ones we lose that bother me Leo. It's the ones we don't suit up for."