Whitening Toothpaste

Whitening Toothpaste

Chapter Two: Can I Keep Her?

By: Eve Karma

Disclaimer: As much as I try to get some action figures, I still don't own them.

Spoilers: Some from the very end of season two.

Other: As you've probably already noticed, I know absolutely nothing about the government. I just make up grand stuff and hope it works. That's why I'm the queen of plot holes, thankyouverymuch. :) PS. While I think this chapter is better than the last, I still can't write.

*********************************************************************

President Bartlet looked up from the memo he was reading, distracted. He had been discussing the polling results with Leo and Josh. Things didn't look good. And now Sam Seaborn seemed to be bounding into the Oval Office. He was wearing a thousand-watt smile and from the moment he left Kate in the hallway he couldn't stop fidgeting.

"Yes?" The President asked him. He wasn't in the mood for Sam to be happy.

"Mr. President," he began, "I found a lost intern in the hallway."

"What??" Leo turned in his chair and looked at Sam.

"Well," Sam explained, "I found this girl in the hallway. She was supposed to be with the new summer interns, but she was lost."

"And...?" Bartlet was getting impatient.

"Can I keep her?" He blurted, still smiling.

"Oh Geez," Josh groaned, rising from his seat. "I think I'm going to make myself scarce now. I know what happens next."

He left, and Leo followed, shaking his head.

"Sam," the President rose from his desk and walked around to lean against the front of it. "When you say 'Can I keep her,' what exactly do you mean?"

Sam took a deep breath. "It's going to be a very busy few months. You know, since we're going public soon about your...condition."

"It's called MS, Sam, now get on with it." The President wasn't a happy camper.

"Mr. President, I need an assistant. And after talking to this girl, I realize how good she would be for me."

"For you...or for your job?" Bartlet tilted his head and asked.

"Uh, for my job, sir." Sam replied quickly.

"Well..." The President thought a minute before going on. "I don't see a problem with it. You are going to be very busy.....sit down Sam, and tell me more about the 'lost intern.'" he sighed.

***

When Sam reappeared, he seemed surprised to see me chatting it up with Mrs. Landingham and Charlie. Did I mention I make friends quickly?

He called me over to the open doorway where he was standing and whispered, "How did you keep the two of them from clawing each other's eyes out?"

"I fixed the copier." I smiled.

"How did you know how....." He cut off, dazed.

"It's not that hard. I worked in a social services office during my last two years of high school."

He led me through the doorway, and once I was in the room, I stopped dead in my tracks. I looked around me. I looked above me. I wanted to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming, and barely stopped myself. Then I locked eyes with the dignified man sitting calmly behind his desk.

I was in the Oval Office. Ground zero at the White House. And I was standing about ten feet away from the President of the United States of America. Yep. The guy who shows up on CNN a lot.

The President motioned for me to sit down in a chair in front of him. Sam took the seat next to me.

"So," President Bartlet hesitated, looking me over. "This is your 'lost intern', right Sam?"

I smiled curious as to what they had discussed while I was pulling paper out of the copy machine. The President smiled back. So far so good.

After the President learned my name we made small talk. He asked me all the things that Sam had asked me, probably to verify Sam's information.

Then the President asked me if I had any experience working in a busy office. I told him what I told Sam just a few minutes earlier.

"She just fixed Mrs. Landingham's copier, too." Sam added proudly.

The President nodded blankly. He leaned in to speak to me quietly. What did these people have about being quiet all the time? "Kate, Sam needs an assistant. In about a week the White House is going to get very, very busy, and he could use some help. Would you mind not being an intern and instead working in the bullpen with my staff?"

Whoa. This was a shock. A half hour ago I was lost, looking around the "bullpen" as the President called it. Now, Sam Seaborn has.....saved me....I think...and now I'm going to be working in the bullpen? This was crazy. Still, I returned the President's solemn stare and said, "I would be honored. Thank you!"

Is it just me, or did Sam just leap out of his seat and bite his hand? Yes, I'm correct, he did.

"Great," Bartlett said. "Now run along with Sam, he'll get you all settled in." Then, with a smile, he warned Sam, "Make sure she doesn't end up with an office basement or anything like that."

I stood up and Sam made a 'ladies first' gesture towards the door. I stopped and turned back to the President, who was sitting back in his chair, relaxed.

"Mr. President?" I spoke up.

"Yes, Kate?"

"Can I ask why you said it's going to get very busy around here?"

The President looked at me grimly. "You'll know by the end of the day. Don't worry about it, just concentrate on getting used to being here." He gave me a small smile.

As Sam led me out of the Oval Office, I wondered what was going on. Either way, I had to call my mom.

Sam seemed to read my thoughts. "You live at home?" he asked as we walked past Charlie and Mrs. Landingham.

"Yes," I replied, "Why?"

"There will be...many late nights spent here. Much of what you do will need to be kept classified. Go apartment hunting after you leave tonight. You're going to need your own place." was all he said.