A/N: This is the latest and last installment in this series. I might return with a sequel, but now I feel that this is it. I think I tied up the loose ends and now I'll leave it to Sam to master the presidency on his own. :) If you liked it and read it along, please leave a review so that I know what to do better or otherwise should I write a new series. Any praise, concrit or ideas are welcome. Thank you for your support, and special thanks goes to kursk, winjan, speedsgirl, cpneb, Alucard and missjasadin for their encouraging reviews.

The President's Men

January 8

19.34 pm

The East Sitting Hall

"Hi, Ainsley!" Josh greeted the First Lady who was watching her husband deep in thoughts.

"Hi, Josh," Ainsley whispered back, looking deep into Josh' eyes. "You are here to fix this?"

"I'll try. I left Donna and Leo in Claudia's room, would you tell one of the agents that I need Donna here?" Josh asked.

"Should I go?" Ainsley offered, after she asked one of her agents to get Donna.

"Definitely not. Ainsley, are you ready? Are you ready to go on a campaign trail, to bare yourself and your family? Are you ready to take up on the world? Are you ready to do this for Sam?" Josh asked.

"I'm ready. If that's what he wants. I'd follow him everywhere," Ainsley told Josh serenely.

"Okay. Then I need you here. You are in this together. His decision is your decision. Get used to it. Also, get used to the idea that you'll lose Charlie when we go into his first presidential term," Josh warned her.

"I know. Sam wanted him as Deputy," Ainsley said with a nod.

"And he'll help with the campaign. He'll need that experience," Josh said.

"You think too that one day he'll make a fine president?" Ainsley asked back.

"Yeah, absolutely," Josh said solemnly. "Hi, Donna," he said, leaning over to his wife, kissing her temple.

"Hi, Ainsley," Donna said and flashed a smile at her friend.

"Hi, Donna. Thank you for coming. To tell the truth, I don't know anymore what to do. Andie was here today, she said everything is fine in the Situation Room, he acts okay there."

"Because that's the room where he experiences success," Donna said. "He can see the whole board, he knows what to do and what to say there. He knows how to handle Will there. In the Oval, well, we need him back soon or heads gonna roll. I never really liked Kate Harper, but I could kick her butt right now," Donna was seething. "I mean it sounds like hypocrisy but if Josh' condition wouldn't have been so serious, I wouldn't have thought about cutting him off of politics."

"No, that was a completely other thing, Donna," Ainsley reassured her. "I see Kate's point, but I also think that she knew what she did, whom she married when she married Will. But we won't bitch about her anymore, it's completely useless anyway."

"Okay," Donna said with a nod. "When did he come over?" she asked Ainsley with a nod towards Sam.

"An hour and a half ago. We had dinner with the kids, he was joking around, but he is in this brooding stance since then," Ainsley said, her voice full of concern.

"Okay, let's go," Josh said, and the three of them approached the President of the United States.

"I thought you'd never come over," Sam remarked bitterly.

"I was talking to Ainsley about personal matters that only concern her and me," Josh retorted.

"Okay," Sam said with a shrug. "What can I do for you three?" he asked then, looking at them appraisingly.

"Well, for first you could get it together and be a man," Josh baited him.

"Josh!" Ainsley hissed to their friend.

"No, let him kick me, Ainsley," Sam said, "he is not allowed to do that often."

"I'd never kick you if you'd be down, Sam," Josh said, sitting down opposite Sam. Ainsley took place next to Sam, and Donna next to Josh.

"Why not?" Sam asked taken aback.

"Because that's not what friends do," Josh explained.

"So, in your opinion I'm not down?" Sam asked back.

"No, not as such," Josh said, using one of Ainsley's trademark remarks, eliciting a smile from Ainsley and a growl from Sam.

"What does that mean?" Sam asked.

"It means that you are on your knees and you're begging me to fix this," Josh said.

"Great," Sam said grumpily but the effect was ruined by the grin that appeared on his face the next second. "You seem familiar," he baited Josh a bit.

"Yeah, he is your old friend, Josh 'look-at-my-ego-the-size-of-Texas' Lyman," Donna growled, making both Sam and Ainsley laugh while Josh complained.

"Well, okay, I'm gonna fix this, and then we can haggle over the price," Josh said.

"It's your civic duty to help your President," Sam told him jokingly.

"Yeah, I know," Josh said with a sigh. "But maybe you'll be so gratuitous that you'll surprise me with a gift beyond belief," he added then with a smirk.

"Okay, don't make me beg, Josh," Sam warned him.

"I'd never, Sam," Josh retorted solemnly and earned himself a kiss from Donna. "That was nice," he said with a smile and then took her hand into his. "Okay, here is the plan. When Will leaves, you'll name Donna as your Chief of Staff," Josh started.

"So you accept?" Sam asked Donna with a grateful smile.

"Yes, I told you I want to, I just had to talk this through with Josh. I'd never make a decision like this without his consent," Donna explained.

"Yeah, I know."

"Okay, could we do it so that I'm not interrupted after every sentence?" Josh asked in mock hurt.

"Of course, Josh, continue," Sam told him.

"Thank you," Josh said and then started again. "Until then Donna is there when a big decision is made, she won't go near the Situation Room but she will be there every time the NSC is in session. Her working hours will be cut, she will come home around 6, bar a national emergency. We'll have dinner with our son, and when he goes to bed at 8, we'll be learning the fine points of international trade and policy. Domestic policy is Donna's strength, so no problems there. Will is leaving end of June, Donna takes a leave of absence in May. She will finally be able to finish her thesis paper, making her able to get her PhD next year," Josh said. "She won't be coming to the office everyday, but she will keep herself updated," he explained and looked at Ainsley who raised her hand, making Sam chuckle.

"Yes, Ms. Hayes?" Josh asked in teacher mode.

"I just wanted to congratulate Donna," Ainsley said.

"Thank you," Donna said with a smile.

"Okay. Where was I? Oh, yeah, June. Donna takes over in June, and I'm going to come onboard as Special Counselor. I won't have an office, whenever I need space I'll be working in Donna's office or with you in the Oval," Josh went on. "I won't be called unless Donna needs me, and only then. Is that clear?" he asked Sam.

"Yeah, you are going to help Donna, not me," Sam said with a nod.

"Which basically means that he'll help you," Ainsley inserted.

"Thank you," Josh said. "I'm bringing Billy Fernandez and Winnie Hooper onboard effective immediately.

"Who are they?" Sam asked.

"Billy ran Ramirez' campaign for the gubernatorial seat of New Mexico," Josh explained. "He'll be working with Ryan. You might remember him from a Presidential Classroom, you know when we were talking with the kids about terrorism and assassins," he explained and after Sam's nod, he continued. "Winnie is one of Tanner's staffer. She will be working with Donna. When Donna takes her leave of absence in May, Winnie is going to take over her duties as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. Billy is going to be Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategical Planning, and Ryan stays with Policy. You'll swing into full election mode in July. It's a bit late to take the full swing, but you are the incumbent and you'll need these six months to settle into office, to make a difference. Donna, being the most experienced with three elections in her bag, will be running the show with the active help of Billy and Charlie," Josh finished.

"Charlie?" Sam asked and then cast an unsure look at Ainsley.

"Oh, yeah, be ready to take Ainsley along the road, she will be your best friend, your companion, she will be your rock in the stormy sea, she will share your burden. And that will be your new motto from now on, Sam. Share the burden," Josh concluded.

"I had an old motto?" Sam asked grinning.

"'I'll do it,'" Josh said. "That was your old motto. You are the President of the United States. You have to make the ultimate decisions but you have to share the burden, Mr. President."

"So now we are back to Mr. President," Sam joked.

"Yeah, get used to it," Josh retorted with a smirk.

"Say, Winnie Hooper is a familiar name too," Sam said then.

"Yeah?" Josh asked with a smirk.

"Oh, so you knew her from before?" Sam asked back, still unsure whether he knew the name or not.

"Yeah, just as with Billy, I was watching her," Josh said. "Occasionally helping her when I was Chief of Staff."

"Why?" Sam asked him.

"I thought the two of them will be great players one day," Josh said with a shrug of his shoulders. "To tell the truth, I was helping Ryan a bit too."

"Josh, you went all softie in your old age," Sam said with mock accusation.

"Well, I thought they would be good assets when you ran for presidency," Josh confessed. "I just thought that I'd be running your show."

"You wanted to?" Sam asked taken aback.

"Sam, you are my best friend. I wanted to help you!" Josh exclaimed.

"Thank you. And now back to Winnie. Who is she and why were you watching her?" Sam asked.

"Sam, you think I wouldn't watch a girl who kicked your ass when she was still an intern?" Josh asked then with a grin full of dimples.

"She is not that girl!" Sam exclaimed with indignation.

"Get used to the idea, Seaborn. She kicked your ass, she will be working for you," Josh said.

"Really?" Ainsley asked Josh.

"Yeah, she did. I guess you two will connect. But you are not allowed to take her away from Sam, Ainsley," Josh warned her.

"Why not?" Ainsley asked, pouting.

"I have plans for her," Josh said.

"Josh Lyman, you'll never cease to amaze me!" Ainsley exclaimed then. "You are not a player anymore yet you are set out to shape the future of America."

"What are you talking about?" Sam asked them.

"He thinks Charlie should run for president one day," Ainsley said. "And I guess he thinks that Winnie should run too."

"Really?" Sam asked back incredulously.

"Really. I would like Donna to run for a seat in Senate when your second presidential term is over, but she doesn't want to think about that right now," Josh admitted.

"Wow, you are really a monomaniacal genius," Sam said with a smirk. "You'll never retire from politics," he added then.

"I've retired from politics, Sam. And after the interim period, I'll never come close again. I'm ready to be a soundboard but I'll never run anyone's show, I'll never again come onboard. I'm done with that kind of excitement. I want to see Leo attend university and I want to see my grandchildren," he whispered and squeezed Donna's hand.

"Okay, I can accept that," Sam said.

"Oh, and Ainsley, when Sam wins, you'll need a new Chief of Staff," Josh added.

"Yeah, I know," Ainsley said with a sigh and then looked at Josh who sported an enigmatic smile. "You found me someone?"

"Yeah," Josh said. "Ainsley, who 'da man?'" Josh asked, looking really pleased with himself.

"You are, Josh. You 'da man,'" Ainsley gave in with a smile. "Who is he?" she asked.

"He is a she, and her name is Zoey Young," Josh said.

"Really, Zoey?" Ainsley asked. "I never knew she wanted such a position."

"I never knew that either," Donna inserted.

"Well, Zoey and I are really good friends so I know her little heart's desire," Josh joked. "But seriously now, she would be thrilled."

January 8

21.35 pm

The Lyman's home

"I'm totally exhausted," Josh said. He came back to the sitting room after paying the baby-sitter and seeing her out. "I'm gonna take a shower and then head to bed. Care to accompany me?" he asked then, wiggling his eyebrow at Donna.

"Take that shower, I'll take a look at Leo and then watch some news," Donna said.

"Are you mad at me?" Josh asked unsurely.

"No, right now I love you so much that my mind is fried," Donna confessed.

"Is that bad?" he asked again.

"No, Josh, but I'd appreciate if you'd leave me alone for five minutes," Donna snapped. "Sorry, I didn't want to snap. Just take a shower, and I'll join you in bed later."

Josh retreated, leaving Donna alone who then stood up and went to check on Leo. Her son was sleeping on his stomach, a clear sign that he was his father's. Donna's heart was so full of love that her mind was really fried. She loved Josh and Leo so much. Her emotions ran so high that she was not even able to formulate a single coherent thought. But she knew she had to. She knew she had to talk to Josh.

She went back into the sitting room and watched CNN for a while before switching to Fox News. They were airing an interview with the Senate Minority Leader, he was careful but Donna heard the signs of his dissatisfaction with Sam. This triggered her mind, and she was finally able to feel and think at the same time. Then she heard that the shower stopped. She donned her robe and took a shower, then slipped into bed next to Josh.

"Hi," Josh greeted her sheepishly.

"We've never talked about a leave of absence, Josh," Donna started.

"Are you mad at me because of that?" Josh asked, his voice betraying his insecurity.

"No, I'm not mad. Why did you say that?" Donna asked.

"Because I know how important that is to you. If you are going to be his Chief of Staff, there is no way that you'll be able to finish the paper in the foreseeable future," Josh explained.

"Thank you," Donna said and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"About the Senate seat…." Josh started but Donna interrupted him.

"I don't want to talk about that, Josh," she said.

"I just wanted to apologize, I didn't want to bring it up with Sam, but I couldn't help it," he apologized.

"You are forgiven. But you can't sic him on me to try to convince me about that," Donna warned him.

"I'd never do that," Josh denied but then felt Donna stiffen. "Okay, I'd do that, but I won't. You have to be ready, and I'll wait, Donna. I don't mind if you say no, just please think about it. I think you'd be a fabulous senator."

"Your confidence in me, Josh, is… I don't know what to say. I'm amazed and I feel loved," Donna said.

"I could show you love," Josh joked.

"Josh, I want to talk," Donna admonished him. "We wanted another kid," she then dropped the bomb.

"I know. But this is important. We have Leo and we couldn't wish for a better kid than him," Josh reassured her.

"You won't feel cheated?" Donna asked concerned.

"I won't if you won't," Josh assured her. "And we could always think about adoption," he added as an afterthought.

"Adoption?" Donna asked taken aback.

"Yes?" Josh asked back unsurely. "Or don't you think it would be an option?"

"Oh, Josh, I really don't know how to say I love you because what I feel cannot be expressed through words," Donna said, her lips trembling, her eyes misty.

"Then show me," Josh whispered into her ear.

THE END