Hey, here's the next chapter. I've been struggling to write for the past few weeks. I know I have other stories to update but I just can't seem to get them write. I'm working on it though. This chapter was hard to write as well so I hope you like. Please review and let me know!!
Enjoy!!
I'm Fine
"C.J?"
"Daniel?" She replied, not bothering to slow her pace but glanced back at the reporter as he ran along the corridor to catch her.
"What's going on?"
"Right this second or in the world generally?"
"What's going on with Josh?" He corrected.
She briefly tensed but recovered quickly, hoping Danny wouldn't notice. "Nothing that I know of...What have you heard?"
"The same as everyone else in this city." He took her elbow, stopping her and turning her to face him. "Rumour is, that he's leaving to work for the Vice President."
C.J smirked at the idea. "John Hoynes and Josh Lyman working together again, now that's something I'd pay money to see."
"You're avoiding my question."
"About Josh leaving to work for Hoynes?" She started to walk again. "Really, Danny...I never had you down for one that listens to the rumour mill."
"It's my job to listen." He continued to follow her. "Not that I believed it..."
"Then why are you here bugging me now?"
"Because you started doing his job."
This time it was C.J who stopped. "I'm not doing his job."
"You're meeting with Congressman Levi about the Education Bill." He pointed out.
"I worked just as hard on that bill as Josh did." She shot back. "And why do you know that?"
"I make it a daily task to find out what you're up to." He said sweetly.
She rolled her eyes. "Scary thing is, I don't think you're joking."
"Why are you doing his job, C.J?"
"Stop saying that!"
"C.J..."
"He's unavailable for a few days that's all... He's got some important appointments today and tomorrow so I'm helping him out a little." She explained, knowing she wasn't exactly being honest but wasn't lying either.
"What's the appointments about?"
"If you're that interested then you should have made him your daily task." she said sarcastically before walking away again.
This time he didn't follow her, instead he just watched her leave. He knew there was something big happening. He really hoped he was wrong about Josh leaving to support the Vice President because that not only meant that Jed Bartlet wasn't running for a second term but also Josh would end up back where he started before he joined 'Bartlet for America.'
XxXxX
Josh waited alone in a small private waiting room at the hospital. He had only arrived 10 minutes ago but the waiting around was already starting to get to him. He just wanted to get this all over and done with. Then hopefully he could go back to work tomorrow and sort out the mess he had left there.
"Mr Lyman?"
His head snapped up quickly and he saw a nurse stood in the doorway with a clipboard in her hand.
"Yeah, that's me."
She smiled warmly at him. "If you'd like to come with me."
He took a deep breath before pushing himself to his feet and followed the nurse.
"My name is Julia..." She told him, closing the door once he had walked in. "If you can just get comfortable on the bed."
Josh hesitated, glancing around the room that look familiar to the room he had been in after the shooting.
"Mr Lyman?" She prompted.
He snapped back to reality and moved towards the bed.
"Okay, now if you could just roll up your sleeve and we'll get started." She smiled reassuringly at him.
Josh couldn't help but watch as she started to prepare the IV.
"The doctor explained how the treatment works?" She asked, gently taking hold of his left arm.
He looked down to watch but then quickly moved his eyes to the wall in front of him while she inserted the IV.
"Uh, yeah..." He winced, his whole body tensing.
"Almost done." She told him.
He squeezed his eyes shut and didn't reopen them until he felt her step back.
"You'll be receiving the treatment for four hours today." She pressed a few buttons on the machine to start it before looking at him. "Did you have any questions?"
"Uh, no..."
"Okay, well just press the call button if you need anything." She smiled again. "I'll come back and check on you in a bit."
"Thanks." He replied, quietly, staring at the machine.
She reached the door before turning back to him. "Mr Lyman, I'm sorry, this is none of my business but isn't there someone who could sit with you today."
He gave her a small smile. "Yeah but they have work."
"I would have thought for something like this..."
"They wanted to come." He claimed. "It was my choice. Their jobs are too important."
She paused for a moment. "You work in the White House, right?"
"Yeah."
"With the President?"
Josh smiled faintly. "Uh, yeah."
"I voted for him."
"Really? That's great...Thank you." Josh replied.
"Just press the button if you need anything." She smiled gently.
"Thanks." He said softly, as she left the room, leaving him alone.
He sighed loudly, this is how he wanted it. He wanted to do it alone but he couldn't help but wonder whether there was a small part of him that wished someone would turned up anyway.
XxXxX
"Has there been any news?"
Leo got to his feet straight away, when he heard the voice coming from the connecting door.
"He's started the treatment about an hour ago." Leo informed Jed, retaking his seat when he was given permission. "Other then a little bit of nausea, everything has gone fine."
Jed nodded thoughtfully. "Good."
"Margaret is going to be making phone call every couple hours." Leo continued. "Just to get an update, I'll let you know when we find out any more."
"I'd appreciate it." He half turned but then looked back at Leo. "Abbey and I talked about re-election."
He could tell by Leo's face that he was surprised by the comment.
"Re-election?"
"We had a deal." He said quietly, lowering himself into a chair. "One term."
Leo stared at him. "So, you're not running again?"
He glanced up at him, their eyes meeting but Jed didn't say anything.
A small smile formed on Leo's face. "But you're reconsidering your deal?"
He sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. "I was...before all of this."
"If you're worried about Josh..."
"It's not just Josh." He stood up again and Leo got to his feet too. "But we don't know when he'll be able to return to work full time...Do you really think we can win a campaign without him."
"Lets not worry about that now."
"I'd have to come out about the MS."
"Is that something you want to do?"
"It's something I should have done right from the start." Jed stated. "God, Leo how would we win this?"
"The same way we did last time."
He shook his head. "Too much has changed."
"Sir..." He started but was cut off.
"A President who hide a serious illness...A Chief of Staff with a history of alcohol and drug abuse...a Deputy Chief of staff...with...with cancer." He listed. "Maybe it all is too much."
Leo's mouth was open slightly, staring at his friend for a few seconds in silence. "With all due respect, the MS and my alcoholism was there during the campaign and we still won."
"No one knew about me." Jed raised his voice slightly.
"We can deal with this, Sir." Leo said confidently. "It'll be hard...harder then last time but we can do it."
"You really think that?"
"Yes." He nodded. "We should at least try."
"Will they want to work for me after they find out?" Jed asked, quietly.
"Sir, I think they..." He stopped himself, he had no idea what the answer was. He thought about it ever since he found out himself. They were all loyal, too loyal sometimes but he knew this was something that could break them apart.
C.J would have to follow her heart and not her head because she would be the one taking questions from the press about it. They would notice if she didn't support the President completely. Sam would take the news hard. He didn't have a political mind like Toby and Josh. He would take it personally and probably be the one that would consider leaving.
He had no idea how Toby would react. He would want answers whether the President wanted to give them or not.
Then there was Josh...
Leo started to wonder if he should have accepted his resignation and save him from all of this.
"Leo?"
He looked up and sighed quietly. "We won't know how they feel until they're told."
Jed nodded, slowly. "I should get back to work."
"Yes, Sir."
"I just wanted you to know that Abbey and I discussed it." He added. "I haven't made a decision yet."
"Okay, thank you, Sir."
Jed reached the door before turning back to Leo. "You'll let me know about Josh?"
"Of course."
Jed hesitated again before disappearing into this office.
Leo sat back down behind his desk with a sigh. Maybe Jed was right. Maybe to much had changed.
XxXxX
"What's up with you?" Toby asked Sam, who was sat on the couch in his office.
"Um?" Sam looked up at him.
"The meeting finished 10 minutes ago and everyone has left...Yet you're still sat there."
"The meeting finished?" He glanced around the room.
"Yeah."
"Did we decided on anything..."
Toby sighed and ran a hand over his face. "No, not really...What the hell is going on with you today?"
"Nothing..."
"You came in late... you haven't paid attention all day..."
"I have a headache."
"Hung over you mean."
Sam stood up. "I'll leave you to get back to work."
"Sam?"
"What?"
"Going on and getting drunk isn't going to help anyone."
"It helped me."
"Yeah, it looks like it." Toby rolled his eyes and moved towards the door, closing it. "You're not that person, Sam...You're not the person that goes out and get drunk when things are bad... you're... it just not you."
"God, Toby it was one night." Sam exclaimed. "I haven't got a problem... I just found out my best friend is dying...I'm sorry I'm not like you...I'm sorry I couldn't stay in this White House and continue to work knowing that Josh is sick!"
"He's not dying, Sam." Toby said quietly, his eyes falling the floor. "He's fighting this."
"It was just one night, Toby." Sam whispered after a few seconds. "C.J came and got me before I made a fool out myself... It's no big deal."
Toby nodded, accepting his answer. "Just don't let it happen again."
Sam stared at him when he opened the door again.
"Now go down some work... You've done nothing all day." He ordered.
Sam sighed, leaving the office and walking straight into his own. Sitting down at the desk, he opened this laptop and after a few minutes the silence was broken by the sound a rubber ball hitting the wall. He groaned, rubbing his tired, painful eyes and let his head fall down to the desk.
XxXxX
"Margaret!" Leo yelled, dropping the newspaper onto his desk just as his assistant appeared in the doorway. "Get C.J, Toby and Sam in here right now!"
She nodded quickly and rushed back to her desk to follow her orders. Leo pulled his glasses off and ran a hand over his face.
"Has something happened to Josh?"
He looked and saw Sam stood in front of the desk, guessing the Deputy Communication Director had probably ran from his office when he got the call in fear for his friend.
"What?" Leo questioned then shook his head. "No, no he's fine... I told you last night, he finished the treatment yesterday and there had been no complications...He'll probably be released in the next couple of hours..."
"Then what's going on?"
"Hey, has something happened?" Toby asked as he walked in with C.J close behind him.
"Have you seen this?" Leo held up the paper.
"Yes, we're going to have to comment..." C.J stated as Toby reached for the newspaper.
"White House Falling Apart?" He read the headline, his eyes flicking up to look at the other before continued to read the article out loud. "Is the Bartlet's White House falling apart around him? It's become increasing obvious in the past few weeks that the Administration is shrugging but the question is 'what with?' There are rumours that Deputy Chief of Staff Joshua Lyman has been poached by Vice President Hoynes, which has caused questions about whether or not President Bartlet will be running for a second term. Rumours of Lyman's departure have escalated since Press Secretary C.J Cregg has been taking meeting for him while Deputy Communication Director Sam Seaborn replaced Cregg at the 2 o'clock briefing yesterday."
"Where the hell are they talking about?!" Sam asked, cutting Toby off.
"Danny came to talk to me yesterday...Asking me about the rumour and why I was taking his meetings." C.J informed him. "I'm sure if Danny picked up on the tension that's been around here lately, then other people would have too."
"One source from inside the White House claims that Lyman has distances himself from everyone else, refusing to socialise with anyone outside of work. 'He's been acting like a man on his way out but no one knows what's caused the decision.' the source tells us." Toby read on, raising his voice as he spoke each word. "There's a god damn leak!"
"Toby..."
"Someone's been talking and there's probably reporters camped outside of Josh's apartment right now!" He yelled, starting to pace in front of the desk. "They're going to take one look at him today, work out that he's sick and we haven't decided on what the hell we're going to say!"
"Look on page two."
Toby stopped and looked at Leo before opening the paper. "Oh great, just brilliant."
"What?" Sam asked, taking it from him and saw a photo of himself and C.J outside the bar. "What the..."
"We got to get Josh here." Toby claimed.
"No." Leo answered.
"We've got to put out a statement." He argued.
"Josh is going to go home and get the rest he needs."
"Don't you think it'll be better for us to release this rather then them working it out for themselves?"
"They're not going to work it out." Leo insisted. "If they want to believe that Josh is going to go work for the Vice President, then fine...let them...it'll only be until he's fit enough to tell them the truth."
"Leo..."
"For god sake, Toby!" Sam exclaimed, startling them all. "He's just finished his first round of chemo...give the guy a break!"
"Sam, they're printing pictures of you drunk...claiming that C.J was practically holding you up!" Toby grabbed the paper, waving it around. "They're saying that maybe you're not up to your job, any more."
"Well, maybe they're right!" Sam shot back.
"Okay, everyone just calm down." Leo stood up and moved around the desk. "C.J, what did you say to Danny yesterday."
"I laughed at the idea of Josh and Hoynes working together again..." She shrugged. "That Josh had some important appointments, so I was helping out with some of the meetings since I worked on the Eduction bill with him."
"Right, good... you get any questions about this...just tell them that."
"What about Sam at the bar?" C.J asked, glancing at Sam.
Leo sighed. "Just say it was a one off and that its not how it seems in the photo."
"What about Josh?" Toby asked.
"Like I said, Josh is going to get some rest."
"Can't we at least..."
"No, Toby we can't!" Leo snapped, cutting him off. "If Josh pushes himself to hard then he could end up back in hospital. Not only is it his health at risk but how would we explain to everyone that he collapsed because he came back to work too soon."
"Why is it all you two care about work?!" Sam questioned.
Leo turned and glared at him. "This isn't just about work."
C.J looked uncomfortable between the three men. "Uh, have you talked to Josh, today...How is he?"
"He throw up a few times during the night but feels okay this morning." Leo answered, his eyes still on Sam but then moved back behind his desk and sitting down. "He should be released soon."
"When will he be back in?"
"Tomorrow if and that's a big if..." Leo looked at Toby as he spoke. "He feels up to it."
Toby sighed and rubbed his forehead. "We need to do something."
Leo sat back down at the desk. "Stick to Josh is busy for a few days and then when he gets back we'll decided on how to handle this."
There was a knock on the door and everyone fell silent as Margaret walked in.
"You have a visitor."
Leo waited for her to continued but she didn't. "Well, who is it?"
"I told him he's not allowed to be here."
"Excuse me?"
"I told him you'd be mad."
"Margaret, who the hell is it?" He sighed.
She opened her mouth to answer but instead turned and left the room.
"Okay, well that was weird." Sam commented as they all stared at the empty space where she just was.
"Margaret?!" Leo yelled out to her but instead of her returning, someone else walked in. "Josh?!"
"Before you say anything..."
C.J grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the couch, forcing him to sit down. "Oh my god, you really shouldn't be here."
"I'm fine." He shrugged her off but didn't attempt to get up.
"Josh, you look white as a ghost." She pointed out. "You've just been let out of hospital..."
"Can we please..." He tried to cut in.
"Margaret!"
This time she came back into the office.
"Get a car to take Josh home." He ordered.
"Leo, just listen..."
"No, you're not working just hours after having chemotherapy." Leo shot him a lot.
"We need to make a statement."
"Thank you." Toby added causing everyone else to turn and glare at him.
"Josh, we've got this covered." Sam assured. "Go home."
"I'm here now."
"Not for much longer." Leo told him.
"I want to talk to the press."
"What?"
"I think we should do it at the briefing, tomorrow." He continued. "But I want to be the one to do it."
"You want to stand in the briefing room and tell the world that you have cancer?" C.J stared at him.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because... I don't know...I just, it's just something I need to do."
"I can do it for you." Sam offered. "We can prepare a statement together and I could read it..."
"No, Sam."
"Look, if this is about when you told..."
"It's not...it's about me...it's about what I want..."
"What is it that you want?"
Everyone turned quickly and Josh automatically jumped to his feet when they heard a voice behind them. C.J had to reach out and steady him, to stop him from falling.
"Josh, would you sit back down." The President ordered, looking at him in concern.
"Thank you, Sir." He answered, lowering himself back to the couch.
"Have you been listening to your doctors."
"Yes, Sir."
"And they told you the first thing you had to do once you were let out of the hospital was to come into work?"
"Not exactly, Sir...No."
"I didn't think so."
"Margaret is arrange for a car to take him home." Leo informed Jed.
"Ah good..." He nodded, moving and sitting down next to Josh. "Now back to my first question...What is it that you want?"
"I want to make an announcement tomorrow at the briefing."
"About the leukaemia."
"Yes, Sir."
"Why tomorrow."
"There's been some press." Toby answered, causing Jed to look over him. "They've noticed his absence and that there been a strange atmosphere."
He slowly nodded, taking in the news before turning his attention back to Josh. "Are you ready for this?"
He shrugged. "I'm not ready to have cancer...I'm not ready to have the treatment but I don't have a choice in that... I have to get on with it and that means getting it out into the open."
"Anyone have anything else to add?"
They all look at each other, hoping someone else would be able to come up with a reason for Josh not to go public.
"I think... I think it's too soon." Sam said quietly, his eyes fixed on his shoes. "It...it makes it all seem to real..."
"It is real, Sam." Josh said, hoarsely, rubbing his eyes but admittedly regretted it when he was overcome with dizziness. Screwing his eyes shut he leaned back against couch then he felt a reassuring and comforting hand on his arm. He opened his eyes and saw the President watching him in concern just like everyone else in the room.
"I should probably get home, right?" He said lightly, trying to ease the atmosphere.
"That's the most intelligent thing you've ever said." Leo got up and walked around the desk.
"I'm serious about the announcement tomorrow." Josh slowly stood up with the help of C.J and Leo.
"Anyone object?" Leo asked the rest of the staff.
C.J shook her head. "If it's what you want..."
"Sam?" Leo looked at him.
He looked down at his feet. "Yeah, if you're sure."
"Toby?"
"I think it'll be good..." He said quietly, unsure what reaction he'd get. "It'll show everyone that we're handling this."
"Yeah." Josh nodded. "Exactly."
Sam sighed but didn't say anything cauisng Josh to look at him questionably.
Jed patted Josh's hand. "I want to make a statement showing you my support."
"Thank you, Sir but..."
"I want to do it." Jed said firmly, cutting him off.
"Thank you."
"Now get out of here."
"Yes, Sir."
"I'll walk you out." C.J offered, taking hold of his arm.
"C.J, you don't need to carry me." Josh teased as they followed Sam and Toby out the office.
"Hey, it either me or Toby." She replied. "Take your pick."
"Okay, you win." He laughed lightly. "So, you treating my assistant well?"
"It's been one day, Josh."
"Just remember I have her back tomorrow."
"You're really coming in?" She looked at him in concern
"I'll be fine, C.J." He assured her as they both stopped. "I'm a bit tired and sore but I'll rest for the rest of day and a get a good night sleep."
"Just...just don't push yourself, okay?"
"I promise you that if I don't feel better then I won't work tomorrow."
"Right, good." She nodded and they started to walk again.
"Listen, I just want to have a word with Toby."
"No work today, Joshua!"
He rolled her eyes. "I just want a conversation."
"Josh!"
"C.J, it'll be 5 minutes." He claimed. "I'm wasting more energy arguing with you now."
"Fine but don't think you can guilt trip me everytime."
"I can still try though right?" He asked, grinned.
"I wouldn't expect anything else."
When they reached Toby's office, they found his door already open and saw he was sat at his computer. Josh knocked lightly on the door causing him to look up.
"You got a minute?"
Toby glanced at C.J before back to Josh. "Sure."
"5 minutes, Josh."C.J pointed at him. "A second over and I'm sending for the First Lady."
"Okay, fine whatever." He rolled his eyes, moving into the office fully and closed the door behind him.
"What's going on?" Toby leaned back in his chair and picked up a small pink rubber ball, watching as Josh slowly lowered himself onto the couch.
"It's Sam..."
"If it's about the newspaper..." Toby started but Josh cut in.
"No, it's not that...He was upset...Who cares that he had a few to many." Josh rolled his eyes. "One minute he's telling me not to worry about anything because everything here is covered...then the next he's saying its too soon to speak about all of this."
"Yeah...so what do you want me to do?"
"You're the bad guy around here at the moment...You care about carrying on with working..."
"It's not..."
"It's okay." Josh assured him quickly. "It's a good thing, I understand... hell, I want you to be that guy."
"It's a shame no one else agrees with you." Toby sighed. "The President, Leo, C.J they understand...they don't like it but they know they need to carry on working...but Sam..."
"Is on a road to distraction." Josh finished him off. "He's already got me dead and buried before I've even become this fight."
Toby's eyes dropped down to his desk and his hand involuntary tightened around the rubber ball. The words hitting him harder then he ever thought was possible. The way that Josh had said 'already,' suddenly made him think about how no matter how strong or hard Josh fought this, he could still lose...he could still die.
"You're going to write something for the President?" Josh asked, quietly.
"What?"
"For tomorrow? The President said he wanted to realise a statement...You're going to write something for him?"
"Yeah, it was what I was working on before you came in."
"Get Sam to help you." He suggested, carefully getting to his feet. "Make him work, hard...Get his head back into the game."
Toby glanced at the window that showed Sam's office and saw it was empty. "You think it'll work."
Josh shrugged. "Just get him to stop thinking so much."
"I'll give it a shot."
"Right, I'm out of here."
"5 minutes up already?"
"Actually, I think it's been more like 10 but I guess C.J has forgotten." Josh grinned. "When she does finally remember me...tell her I've managed to find my own way home."
Toby smiled slightly. "Josh?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't really care just about work."
"I know." He nodded.
"I just..." He started then stopped, pausing for a few second before continuing. "I just wanted to make sure you did."
Josh smiled and nodded again, turning towards the door.
"Oh and Toby?" He turned back again. "You can't let the President talk to the Press tomorrow about this."
"What?"
"If he does then it'll seem more important then it is." He replied. "Just have C.J read the statement on his behalf.."
"Josh."
"Seriously, Toby...I'm not front page news...Not when there's better things happening...Like the Eduction bill." He claimed. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Toby just stared after him as he left the office and slowly made his way down the corridor. He knew that the President wouldn't agree with Josh and he knew what everyone else would say because to them... He really was more important.
TBC
Please review and let me know what you think!!