Please see Chapter 1 for general info and disclaimers.

*~*

"So that's it then? We're gonna go with Matthew Durkin?"

"I think he's the best choice. He's a relatively new face to the political talk show scene, but he's very well-informed on the issues, gave us some decent positive press time during the MS hearings, and he's viewed by both Democrats and Republicans alike as an open-minded, middle-of-the-road host. And I don't think middle-of-the-road is a bad place for us to be right now."

"Besides, our list of choices was kind of sparse."

"Hey, it's not my fault there aren't many Bartlet supporters out in the talk show world these days. Controversy is what brings in viewers, and the controversy lately hasn't been what a decent and honest man the President is."

"We also shouldn't overlook the fact that Sam has a history with this Durkin guy."

"A 'history'?"

"Oh, please. Don't make it sound like more than it actually is. His sister and I dated for a couple months during my junior year in college. Matt and I would exchange a few words whenever I'd pick her up from their parents' house. That's it, all right?"

"Please tell me she was legal when you were seeing her."

"What? Oh, give me a break, guys. She's the same age as me, if you must know. She just lived with her parents back then to save money. You've all got dirty minds."

"Hey, we can't be too careful where you're concerned."

"So…we're going with Durkin?"

The playful banter between the senior staff came to an abrupt halt as the President attempted to join their conversation. Jed was dismayed to see their gazes still falling to their feet whenever he was in the vicinity. He hadn't entirely believed that his staff would return to normal during the course of only one night, but he had to admit that a small part of him had hoped that just that would occur. Toby finally cleared his throat and mumbled, "Yes, sir, we believe Durkin's show is the best one for Jenn to appear on."

"All right. I'm sure you've all researched our options thoroughly."

"Yes, sir."

"Now, Sam, about this statement you've written for me to say tonight, I have a couple of concerns with it. In the second paragraph, you have me saying that—"

"We can't use this list."

All of the occupants in the Oval Office stopped what they were doing to turn and look at Jenn, who was sitting on one of the office's couches, her right hand holding up the 'unusable' list. Toby took a step towards her and growled, "Excuse me?"

"You can't give this list of questions to…to…whoever it was you guys have picked to interview me. The questions suck."

"The questions certainly do not suck," Toby retorted as he grew angry. "I'll have you know we were up until four this morning finalizing the exact wording that we wanted to use for those questions."

"Well, I feel for the sleep deprivation you've experienced, but I hardly think that's an excuse for sub-par work."

"I wasn't trying to use that as an excuse. The only reason I even mentioned how late we worked on it was to prove that putting that list together wasn't something we took lightly. We all put a lot of time and effort into those questions."

"Is something going on between them?" Jed whispered into Leo's ear.

"It's nothing, sir."

"Are you sure? 'Cause it certainly looks like something."

"Trust me, it's nothing to worry about. Bickering just seems to be Jenn and Toby's preferred method of communication."

"Oh, okay."

Turning his attention to the quarrelers, Leo suggested, in hopes of quelling the potentially volatile situation, "Jenn, maybe it would help if we know what your exact objections to the questions are."

"Okay, well, for starters, they're all leading questions."

"What?!" Toby exclaimed in disbelief. "All those questions do is show how the President's always had your best interests at heart."

"Yeah, and they accomplish that by leading one to believe that my mother was a bad mother," Jenn seethed, the volume of her voice only a couple of notches below a shout. "You can't use this list."

"We can use the list, and we will use it because it contains the best questions possible."

"Fine!" Jenn stood and crossed her arms across her chest as she glared at Toby through narrowed eyes. "It's pretty obvious to me that my opinions mean squat in this room, so I'm just going to leave and let you all return to your precious, little spinning. But be forewarned: if I'm asked those questions tomorrow, you might not like the answers I'll give."

Jed, Leo, and the senior staff watched in stunned silence as Jenn threw open the doors leading to the portico and stomped outside. Jed winced and sighed. "That could have gone a lot better. Leo…"

Jed didn't have to say any more, for Leo already knew what needed to be done. "We'll take care of it, Mr. President. And we'll also address any issues you have with your statement."

"Good. Thanks, Leo."

"Thank you, sir."

As Leo ushered his staff out of the Oval Office, he pulled Josh aside. "This might be a good time for you and Jenn to have that conversation we discussed last night."

"Now?"

"I can't imagine you would have any better things to do," Leo actually managed to say with a straight face.

"Leo," Josh whined.

"You can think of this as one of those perks that comes with getting to be my deputy. Please, Josh?"

"Oh…all right."

Leo broke out into a smile of gratitude. "Thanks. Now hurry and catch up with her before she disappears into her room."

Josh nodded and took a second to collect his thoughts before going off in search of Jenn. Once he stepped outside, he saw that, despite her quick getaway from the Oval Office, she was only about hundred yards from where he currently stood. "Jenn, hey, Jenn!" he yelled as he increased his pace to a run.

Upon hearing her name, Jenn looked behind her to see someone racing towards her. She squinted and asked, "Josh?"

"Hey, how ya doin'?" Josh questioned between gasps as he recovered from his sprint.

Jenn looked at Josh curiously but aloofly replied, "I just threw a temper tantrum in the Oval Office. You?"

Josh chuckled despite himself and then turned serious. "Look, we're about to have kind of a weird conversation, but just go with it, okay?" He paused to formulate his next thought. "I, um, I don't know if Leo's already told you this but…my father also died from cancer."

Jenn's expression fell flat as she muttered, "I'm sorry."

"Th-thank you. He…was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was undergoing chemo and seemed to be all right, but he ended up passing away while I was on the campaign trail to get your father elected."

"That…uh…that must have been difficult…not being there…at the end."

"Yeah, it…it was. Anyway, the reason I'm even mentioning this at all is that I just…I wanted to let you know that if you ever want to talk to somebody about your mom's death…or anything else, I'm here." He hesitated for a moment before jokingly adding, "Literally. 'Cause, you know, I rarely ever go home these days."

Jenn stared back at Josh blankly, uncertain of how she should respond. Was he really suggesting that the two of them should have a heart-to-heart chat about their parents' deaths? Even she wasn't that morbid. "Uh…thanks, Josh. I'll…keep that in mind."

"Really?" Josh asked as he completely failed in hiding his surprise. He'd half-expected Jenn to read him the riot act for suggesting such a strange idea. "Oh, well, that's…that's great. You wouldn't happen to want to have this talk now, would you?"

He breathed a sigh of relief when Jenn firmly stated, "No."

"Oh, okay." He chuckled uneasily and began fidgeting with the way his jacket was hanging on his body. "Just thought I'd check."

They stared at one another in an awkward silence, each frantic for the conversation to be over, before Josh stuttered, "Well, I, uh, I should get back to work."

"Okay."

Josh turned around and promptly scrunched his face together into the sour lemon expression as he began making his way back to the West Wing. The things he was sometimes asked to do as Deputy Chief of Staff never ceased to amaze him.