Title: "The Lamentable Demise of George" Part 6
Author: Madeleine Mitchell Carr
Email:
Category: General, Josh/Donna
Rating: PG
Summary: Josh, Donna, a chinchilla. General mayhem and confusion. Many misunderstandings ensue. A touch of angst and a pinch of romance.
Josh POV
Spoilers: Post-'Noel'. Glancing references to many other shows, but this has veered pretty much into the realm of the plotless
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Aaron Sorkin and NBC; I'm just borrowing them. Please don't sue me, as I have no money.
Thanks for all the wonderful feedback, guys. I'm thinking of maybe building an extension to accommodate it more comfortably.
Did I mention I was having a not-good day?
My chinchilla is dead. Something is up with Donna. And now I have to go and talk to the President of the United States.
Bite me.
To make matters worse, Mrs. Landingham waves me on through to the Oval Office without the slightest indication that she has any intention of ever offering me a cookie. Perhaps she's heard that I can't keep my pets alive.
Oh dear, now I'm getting maudlin. That frame of mind really won't do when you're about to meet with the leader of the free world.
At the door, I make a valiant attempt to pull myself together and look calm and professional, then I stride in purposefully until I'm standing on the presidential seal.
"Hello Josh. You're looking a little wild-eyed. What's up?"
Damn.
Then I make a snap decision. This is based on a couple of factors. Firstly, the President is about to jet off to Belgium so is unlikely to be further involved in the debacle that is my day, and secondly…well…I like and trust the man.
"My chinchilla died"
The relief of saying it is so great that I almost smile.
The President looks understandably bemused.
"You have a chinchilla?"
"Well, I used to. His name was George."
I can see a glint of humour in President Bartlet's eyes. Much to my own surprise, this makes me feel slightly better.
"As in George Washington?"
"Er…no. George Faraday."
"Like the scientist?"
"I think you'll find that was Michael Faraday, sir."
He pins me with a glare.
"I was referring to the coincidence of surname Josh, not the entire name. I know much about Michael Faraday."
"I don't doubt it, sir"
"I've probably forgotten more about Michael Faraday than you'll ever know."
"Again, sir, I have no doubt."
"Are you mocking me Josh?"
"Never Mr President."
"Good. Just so we're clear on that."
He put his glasses on and rifled through the papers on his desk. Was that it? Was that all he had to say on the subject? Not even a word of sympathy?
"Oh, Josh?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Before we move on to more important, though admittedly less interesting subjects, would you enlighten me on one point?"
He's going to ask the question…
"Who is George Faraday and why did you name your deceased pet after him?"
He did. Damn, I was hoping to avoid that one.
"George Faraday was my room mate at Yale."
"And? You saw a chinchilla and he reminded you of George? Did George look like a chinchilla?"
Actually, this aspect of the 'naming' had not occurred to me before.
"It's funny you should say that, sir because, now I come to think about it, there was something a bit rodent-y about George. I mean, he didn't have whiskers or fur, at least, I don't think he had fur, but he did have a pointy little nose. And he twitched."
Oh God, I'm rambling in front of my President.
"He twitched?"
"Yes"
"All the time?"
"Er…no. Generally only when he heard loud noises"
"Like a rodent?"
"Exactly"
"But that's not why you named you pet after him?"
"No"
The President is beginning to look as if he wished he'd never started the conversation, but is determined to see it through to the bitter end.
"So, why did you name your chinchilla George?"
I sigh, quite loudly I think, because the President shoots me a curious look. All I can think at this moment is that I'm tired and I want my real life back. I want to stop talking about my brief career as a pet-owner and let poor squashed George rest in peace. I want to go somewhere quiet and talk to Donna and tell her I'm worried about her and make her let me help. Maybe I could get her to put her hand against my cheek again…
"Josh?"
"Sorry, sir."
Finish it, just finish it.
"I called my chinchilla after my old room mate, because I really disliked him."
"I'd never have guessed"
Well, that deserved a smile.
"But, I do like the name George. Unfortunately, every time I hear the name George, all I can think of is the really, really annoying and hateful person I shared a room with 15 years ago."
"So this was your way of redeeming the name?"
"Yes"
I hope the look I'm giving him is grateful enough. I knew there was a reason I got this man elected President.
"Okay."
Thank goodness that's over.
"One last thing."
Please, someone stop him!
"Yes?"
"How did he die?"
I sigh again and shift uncomfortably.
"Actually, sir, I think he kind of committed suicide"
The look the President is giving me is totally unreadable.
"Joshua, I am not in the least surprised."
Twenty minutes later, (legitimate) business finished, I find myself wandering back to the West Wing without any clear idea of what to do next. Not that I don't have lots and lots of very important work to get on with you understand, but I'm obsessing about Donna. I'm pretty sure I was jumping to some pretty wild and unsubstantiated conclusions about her back in my office half an hour ago and if I go to talk to her now, I'm bound to say something stupid. I need a second opinion.
I go to see Sam.
"Hey, Josh, what's up?"
He's hunched over his laptop with the meditative look on his face. I think it's an expression they teach at the Speechwriters' Guild.
"Can I ask you something?"
His head comes up and he looks at me expectantly. Too expectantly. It's like he's already guessed what I'm going to ask. There's even a hint of sympathy in his eyes, ready to leap out and smother me if needed.
Does he know something I don't know? About Donna?
"Of course, Josh, you can ask me anything."
Okay, that was said with way too much empathy for my liking. My heart sinking fast, I manage,
" Did Donna seem all right to you, earlier?"
Now he looks surprised. Maybe that wasn't what he was expecting after all.
"What is with you two today?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Donna asked the same thing about you earlier."
Donna did?
"Why would she do something like that?"
He has his 'you're a dunce Josh' look now.
"Gee, I don't know, perhaps it had something to do with her worrying about you because George is dead"
Have I suddenly entered a parallel dimension?
"How did you know about George?"
"Donna told me."
"How did Donna know about George?"
Sam's starting to look slightly concerned.
"You told her, Josh"
He says it carefully as thought I'm a five-year-old, or a Republican.
I have to stop to think for a moment. I told Donna about George? I couldn't have done - I'm pretty sure I would have remembered. The ways of my assistant are tortured and subtle, but I don't think even she has managed to hot-wire her way into my brain.
"No, I'm pretty sure I didn't"
Concern is positively dripping from him now.
"Josh, would you like to sit down?"
TBC
Will the President reveal what he knows? Have I forgotten about Donna and CJ? Will Josh and Sam continue to speak at cross-purposes? (You betcha) Just for a change of pace, we'll let Sam tell the next bit…