Disclaimer: The West Wing and its characters are the property of Aaron Sorkin, John Wells productions, Warner Brothers, and NBC no copyright infringement intended.
Author's note: To be honest I really don't know where I got this idea. I hope you like it. Feedback is a good think. Thanks a million to Kat for reading this.
Spoilers: In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Bartlet's Third State of the Union, The War At Home.
Rated: K
Title: "The Thirteenth Man"
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I remember hearing stories about Hoover, the ruthless head of the FBI. They say he had dirt on everyone in the government and beyond and that's how he got what he wanted. I often wonder if I'm in a similar situation, being the thirteenth man isn't all it's cracked up to be. Every time I see him, I think 'Please, God, grant him strength today because I'm not ready yet.'
We made a deal three years ago. I would be it, carry on the party and for that I wouldn't say a thing. Today I found out from the fourteenth man that that deal would not come to be. I will be the one, God willing, in six years if we win re-election. If I win the nomination in six years.
Fear is the best way to describe it. I've talked privately to Leo and Abbey about it but I still have this fear. What if I'm not accepted? The country fell in love with Jed Bartlet. That's how he kicked my ass. Hell, I couldn't even deliver my home state for him. Can I lead a country? If something happened to him could I lead? If he should collapse again, be shot at again, or be unfit to lead this country, can I lead it?
The President of The United States has a condition. He has an illness that is eating his brain. It will take him away from us, the people who care about him most, and aren't I lucky I'm the thirteenth man. The thirteenth man to know about it and the second man, according to the Constitution, in the line of succession. Grant me strength because I'm the thirteenth man.