The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
June 20, 2001
4:30 p.m.
"Okay, and make sure that the dais
is setup no later than 6:30. We have to do a mike check and the Secret
Service needs to be able to check things out," Donna said into the telephone
receiver.
"Yes, Ms. Moss," came a reply from
the other end. "We will take care of it. Will you be needing any of our
staff?"
"Let's see," Donna said peering into
her binder. "I'll only need them from 2:30 to 4:30 so that they can set
up the tables and decorations. Then the White House staff will take over
from there."
"Very well. And thank you once again
for choosing the Watergate Hotel to host the President's Kick-Off Celebration."
"Thank you," Donna replied hanging
up the phone.
"Well, Donna" CJ said as she kicked
her heels up on her desk, "I must say that you've managed to get a lot
farther in two days than the last person did four years ago."
"I've had a lot of time on my hands,"
Donna replied with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"So, what have you got so far?"
"Well, the balloons are ordered and
the caterer's been called. The invitations have gone out. The Secret Service
has the possible guest list and is checking out the Watergate Hotel as
we speak. The only thing left is the President's speech."
"Did you hear that he wants to write
it himself?" CJ said as a grin appeared.
"Yes, and after Toby and Sam regained
consciousness, what happened?" Donna said grinning.
"There's still fighting with him about
it."
"Oh, boy," Donna said rolling her eyes.
"Are we ready to go?"
"Yep," CJ said, planting her feet back
on the floor and grabbing her notebook. "Let's roll, sister."
*****************
The Oval Office
June 20, 2001
5:25 p.m.
Donna stood nervously tapping her foot
outside the Oval Office while waiting for the President to finish with
Josh and Sam. The door finally opened and the two deputies walked out.
"Thank you," Sam said gratefully as
they paused outside the office. Charlie instantly entered to check in with
the President while Donna waited. "Toby and I were almost sure he was going
to write the thing himself."
"I just told him he should," Josh said,
not sounding pleased with the outcome.
"I know," Sam said. "I was there. You
cinched it."
"I told him he should," Josh said again.
"I know and he realized what a bad
idea it was after hearing you agree with him," Sam said with a grin. "That
was helpful."
"Sure," Josh replied dejectedly. "So
long as I have a purpose. You do realize he's going to read us what he
wrote. He's not going to let all that work go to waste."
Sam's expression turned dark and foreboding.
His shoulders drooped and he groaned quietly. He and Josh started to leave
the outer office and appeared to notice Donna for the first time.
"Hey Donna," Josh said.
"Hey," Donna replied as she walked
past him when Charlie signaled her to enter. Josh stopped for a brief moment
and turned around to face the retreating figure. Josh hung his head and
continued back to his office.
Inside the Oval Office, Donna approached
the President's desk and opened her bulging folder.
"Donna, show me what you've got," the
President said as he put on his glasses.
Donna handed him the folder and the
President reviewed all of her impeccable notes--all typed. The President
nodded and grinned.
"This is wonderful, Donna," the President
remarked. "What's next?"
"Well, sir," Donna answered, "All that's
left is to do is to start on the follow-up calls to Senators and Congressmen
and we're set."
"Nice. Well, I don't see any reason
to have a meeting on Friday, then. We'll postpone it until next Wednesday."
"Certainly, sir. By then I should have
a decent head count."
"Anything else?" the President asked.
"No, sir. Thank you, Mr. President."
"Thank you."
Donna turned and walked out of the
Oval Office with an added spring in her step. She was starting to feel
important again. She decided that she could deal with Josh's attitude and
newfound independence--at least for the moment. She had more important
concerns than some old Deputy White House Chief of Staff's sudden urge
to be left alone all the time.
*****************
The White House
The Presidential Residence
June 30, 2001
10:36 p.m.
Donna sighed heavily before knocking
on the door to the President's residence. This was a once-in-a-lifetime
experience for her, and she didn't want to screw it up. Normally, this
place was reserved for senior staff members. But Donna convinced herself
that the President believed in her more and more as the days went on and
would not have invited her if he didn't trust her.
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK
"Come in," the President said.
Donna opened the door to see the President
sitting in a chair.
"What's the final verdict?" the President
asked.
"Well, sir," Donna replied, "Representative
Thurman and Senator Leahy have finally RSVP'd. That completes the list
of invitees. Senator Edwards will be introducing you, with Representative
McIntyre and Senators Nelson and Feinstein each making a brief ten minute
speech."
"Donna, let me say that you've did
a fantastic job getting this together in under the deadline you imposed
upon yourself."
"Thank you, sir," Donna said lowering
her head to avoid the President seeing her blush.
"Donna, you do understand that you
are going to this event. You must see how your hard work paid off."
"Yes, sir."
"Excellent. Thank you, Donna. Now go
home."
"Thank you, sir." Donna said on her
way out. Once she was out of the President's residence, she pumped her
fists in the air. The Secret Service Agents looked at Donna with curiosity.
"Sorry, guys," Donna said feeling a
little embarrassed. "I was just excited."
The Secret Service Agents nodded, each
of them trying to hide a grin.
Donna bid a hasty retreat down the
hall.
*****************
The Watergate Hotel
5 July 2001
10:05 p.m.
"Thank you all for coming out tonight
to this event. We're officially off and running. With your continued support,
we're gonna win in February, we're gonna win on Super Tuesday and we're
gonna win in November! God Bless You and God Bless America!"
The crowd rose to their feet in unison.
The applause and cheers resonated throughout the ballroom of the Watergate
Hotel. The Bartlet staff, each wearing formal attire, joined in. Leo and
Toby celebrated with a hearty handshake, CJ and Sam gave each other a high-five
and Josh gently placed his hand on Donna's shoulder, but recoiled suddenly
when he caught Leo's scolding glare.
"Okay troops, gather 'round," Leo said.
"We hit a homerun with the speech. This weekend's the one and only time
we have to relax. Then it's crunch time with a capital 'C'."
"Please," Toby said in disgust, "not
the barbecue!"
"Yes, the barbecue," Leo replied. "Donna,
the President's very appreciative of all the hard work you did getting
this thing organized. He'd like you to join us at the farm."
"M-me?" Donna said, taken slightly
aback. "I'd be honored."
Josh, standing at Leo's shoulder dropped
his chin instinctively and smiled slightly. He was barely aware he had
done it but once he realized it, he put a stern look on his face again.
He surveyed the eyes of his colleagues. None appeared to notice.
"All right, now that that's done, I
want everybody at the White House tomorrow at 6:30 am for a 7 am departure,"
Leo continued.
"Which means we'll leave by nine,"
CJ said dryly.
"We told the President we have a 5
am departure so we can leave by 7," Leo responded. "Now go."
The group disbanded and headed for
the exit. Leo was beside CJ, giving her last minute instructions on the
press conference that followed the speech. Sam and Toby were arguing over
the section of the speech that the President skipped. The President had
already exited surrounded by his Secret Service detail. Josh and Donna
completed the parade. They walked together in silence. This manner of walking
was becoming the norm for them. Josh had his hands shoved deep into the
pockets, and Donna pulled her wrap closer.
When he noticed that everyone was in
deep conversation, Josh pulled back slightly, letting Donna walk ahead.
He studied her lines, her movement, the way her blonde hair swayed, her
dress.
That dress…where had he seen it
before?
Oh. It's that dress. The
red one from the date with the lobbyist.
The group came to the automatic doors
that led them to the warm and slightly humid night air. The rhythmic swoosh
of the doors startled Josh. Certain things, sudden movements or sounds,
still jarred him--yet another lingering reminder from that night in Virginia.
The staff piled into their respective
vehicles--all except Josh and Donna. They stood on the curb with Josh looking
at the DC skyline and Donna gazing up at the stars.
"I see you kept the dress." Josh said,
his gaze shifting from the horizon towards the ground, but never at Donna.
"Yeah. I decided that after my miserable
date with Todd, I deserved a little pick-me-up."
"Good, I mean, it looks good on you--fabulous
actually," Josh said, rocking back and forth on his heels.
"Thank you," Donna whispered.
"Do you have a ride home? I didn't
see when you got here."
"Yeah, my roommate Ashley came with
me," Donna said pointing towards a tall, ebony-haired woman.
"Well, okay then."
"Okay."
"Good night Donna," Josh said. "See
you tomorrow. Sleep well."
"Thanks," Donna replied. "You, too."
Josh watched as Donna headed away from
him and towards her roommate. Ashley looked at Donna and smiled. Her gaze
then shifted to Josh. Ashley's stare went from warm and welcoming to cold
and harsh. Josh knew her demeanor towards him was mostly because of the
way he treated her cats, especially when Josh came over drunk. But this
look had nothing to do with those furballs. This look was all about Donna.
Ashley's just trying to look out
for Donna's well-being, Josh thought.
Josh sighed heavily and headed towards
his car. He unlocked the door and paused before getting in.
How was he going to make it through
the weekend? He knew there was only one answer: keeping busy and staying
as far away from Donna as possible.
*****************
Donna arrived at the White House at
six a.m. with her weekend bag packed and her stomach telling her she should
not go. She was nervous. This was the annual gathering of the senior staff.
She felt she was a part of the administration, but the senior staff was
part of the inner sanctum, the elite enclave who had the ear of the President
of the United States. She was an assistant whose claim to fame within these
walls was that she was the person who kept the craziest member of the staff
in line on occasion.
She shook her head and chastised herself.
Josh was difficult; he was unique; he was particular. He was not crazy.
She knew she would be early but she
came to the office anyway, hoping some task there could make her feel more
grounded and stem the jitters in her bones. She walked through the halls,
passing a cleaning crew finishing their early morning rounds. The halls
were lit but most of the commotion typically present on a weekday was missing.
There would be staffers around later, but this was a Saturday; things would
be quieter on the whole anyway.
But quiet was not what she found when
she approached her desk. Josh's door was closed, a rare enough sight that
she took notice. Light was seeping under the door, another oddity for a
room that remained cloaked in darkness most days and nights save the single
lamp that sat on the corner of his desk. Inside, Donna could hear voices.
She sat quietly at her desk, trying
not to eavesdrop blatantly; however, she was certain she heard the second
door to the office, the one leading to the hallway, open and close. A moment
later, the door near her desk was ripped open and Josh stepped out sputtering
to himself.
"Just say screw 'em all and save myself
the headache," he seethed as he passed her desk. "Hi Donna."
He stopped in mid-step and turned around.
He looked at her questioningly. She was dressed as casually as he was--jeans
and T-shirt. He looked at the clock, back at her, then to the clock again.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Waiting," she replied. "What's up?"
"For what?"
"What?"
"What are you waiting for?" he asked.
"I'm going to Manchester with the rest
of you," Donna said. "Leo said the President wanted me to go."
"Oh, right," Josh said, shaking his
head. "I forgot. Well, have fun."
He walked away; Donna instinctively
followed, catching up with his long strides easily and falling into step
beside him within seconds.
"Aren't you going?"
"I've got things to do," he said. "There
was a... Never mind."
"What?" she asked. "Josh, you don't
tell me anything anymore. I feel like I'm being punished. You said after
the thing last night that I would be busy again. Well?"
"You're going with Sam and everyone,"
Josh said. "Enjoy your weekend in the country. I'm probably going to be
here dealing with the New York delegation."
"All of them?" she asked astounded.
"No, just the House Democrats from
the City," he sighed. "HUD is... Look, it's too complicated to explain
in 10 seconds. I've made my decision, and I need to tell Leo."
"Is there anything I can do?" she asked
earnestly.
He sighed again and shook his head
as he clasped her upper arm for a moment. The look in his eyes for a split
second screamed he had a list of things he needed her to do, but he faded
just as quickly. He let his hand fall away and shook his head.
"No," he said. "Just have fun."
He walked away, his mood darkening
as he approached Leo's office. He was partially glad he wasn't going on
the trip. It would save him from further awkward moments around Donna or
from incurring further bouts of Leo's stony stare--something he was seeing
more frequently but why precisely he was not sure. Josh was not pleased
to be staying in sweltering Washington while his colleagues were heading
to the fresh air of New England; even 48 hours of listening to the President
pontificate on the beauty and sanctity of New Hampshire was preferable
to wrangling with a handful of cranky congressmen looking to create some
waves in time for their own campaign announcements. The problem with any
political party, Josh thought for the umpteenth time, is that the members
may all run under the same banner but they do not all play for the same
team.
*****************
Sam sat in his office, quietly humming.
He furiously typed away on his laptop, finishing a briefing memo on the
latest information regarding Mad Cow Disease. He pressed a button and saved
what he thought to be an excellent piece of work regarding the seizing
of sheep from a Vermont farm, for fear of them being infected with the
disease.
Excellent, that is, until Toby gets
his hands on it.
BANG…
BANG…
BANG…
"Oh, jeez, not this again," Sam muttered
as he stood up and walked the two feet from his office to Toby's.
"I'm here," he said.
"Good," Toby replied as he put down
the balls. "Have you finished the memo?"
"Yes, you'll get it when we're on the
plane."
"Why?" Toby inquired with a hint of
irritation in his voice.
"Because you'll be less likely to throw
me off the plane at 30,000 feet."
"Don't bet on it." Toby grumbled. "Sam,
what the hell are you wearing?"
"This?" Sam asked, pointing to a rather
strange-looking hat that rested sideways on his head. "This is my lucky
fishing hat."
"Well it looks ridiculous with all
those…things hanging from it."
"Those would be lures," Sam replied
matter-of-factly. "And I'll have you know that I have caught many a fish
with these and look forward to using them at the lake on the President's
residence."
"Don't wear it on the plane or anywhere
near the President. I don't want to see it until well after we've landed
and you are still far away from the President."
"I don't see any reason why I have
to take it off," Sam said.
"Sam! Unlike you, I don't care to hear
the history of the fish that are in his pond for the entire plane ride,
car ride, and whatever else ride I'm going to be subjected to!" Toby yelled.
"Well, you're just mad because you
have to go to the retreat. You've complained every year and every year
I have had to hear it because I've had to room with you. This year I'm
not going to. You're bunking with Leo. Let him deal with your tirades."
Sam said.
Sam turned and left Toby's office,
his fishing hat just barely being missed by the projectile thrown at his
head.
*****************
CJ sat on the couch in her office,
rummaging through her carry-on bag. She wanted to make sure that she didn't
forget anything. CJ left behind her laptop, for fear of pulling up her
press notes on the high amount of toxins in the bodies of the American
public. No, this time she wasn't going to work. If she needed a laptop,
she would borrow Sam or Toby's because she knew that one, if not both,
would have it. Writers never stop writing. And truthfully, that's why they're
the best at what they do.
CJ mentally checked items off her
list: Sunscreen-check. Sunglasses-check. Bug spray-check. Calamine lotion-check.
Romance novel-check. CJ rolled her eyes at the last one. Why did she even
bother to ask Carol for Purple Passion-the Triumphs and Tragedies of
Savannah? Because she needed an escape from what was sure to be an
excruciating weekend. At least Donna was there to keep her company. CJ
figured that her and her "cohort" could have a little fun at the boys'
expense.
CJ buried the book in her bag, zipped
it up, and headed for the helopad.
*****************
"I'm sleeping with you tonight," Sam
announced as he walked into Josh's office.
"Excuse me?" Josh said, covering the
mouthpiece on the phone in his hand.
He was on the phone--on hold--looking
perturbed. The New York delegates had absconded to the City with their
gripes not long after offering their scathing comments to the Post, and
it appeared they were inspired to do so by another in the other wing of
congress in the form of Seth Gillette.
"At the farm," Sam said. "I'm staying
with you this year."
"Well, you'll have your own bed," Josh
said. "And if I don't get what I need out of this call, you'll have your
own room entirely."
"Yeah," Sam nodded. "I can't sleep
with Toby anymore."
"Okay, you have to stop saying it like
that," Josh warned. "What is that?"
He pointed at the tattered hat on Sam's
head adorned with hooks and tiny feathers and stuff that Josh was certain
just didn't belong so close to a person's eyes.
"This is my lucky fishing hat," Sam
explained. "I'm going to wear it when I go fishing. You got the HUD thing
settled?"
"No," Josh said. "That's why I'm still
in here."
"Leo said I'm to beat you unconscious
if you won't come with me peacably," Sam said. "No excuses--you're going.
We should get moving. The President's on his way from the residence."
Josh held up his hand to silence Sam.
He listened for a second then thanked the caller. He slammed the phone
back into it's craddle and cursed under his breath.
"I hate senators," Josh said as he
stood and grabbed his duffle bag.
*****************
The farm in Manchester was at the end
of a dirt road and surrounded by acres of meadow and dense stands of maples
and pines. The house itself, a rambling, 200-year-old clapboard dwelling
was stately in it's rustic charm. It could have been any New England homestead
except for the slew of secret service agents both seen and only suspected
and the fleet of black Chevy Suburbans parked along the long, circular
driveway. To the north of the home was a vast, spring fed pond that covered
nearly 15 square acres.
The staff tromped dutifully into the
big house via the backdoor as that was how visitors came to homes in New
England. Only the Jehovah Witnesses and trick-or-treaters came to the front
doors. They dropped their bags in their respective rooms. Per Sam's finagling,
he was paired with Josh; Toby was with Leo; and for the first time ever,
CJ had a roommate: Donna.
"Okay, sister," CJ said as she and
Donna unpacked their few pieces of clothing. "This year is my year. It's
you and me."
"For what?" Donna asked.
"Every year those two find someway
to...," she paused. "Well, they just act like little boys at summer camp,
and I always come out looking like a fool or feeling like one."
"This is Sam and Josh?"
"Yeah," CJ said. "Last year, I let
my guard down. Josh had just gotten out of the hospital a little while
before we came up here so I didn't think he was up for anything. Well,
he and Sam used that. Used my better nature."
"What did they do?"
"Nevermind," CJ said, her face taking
on a red tinge. "A word of advice: Don't let your shoes get out of your
sight and don't put them on in the morning unless you make sure they're
empty."
Donna nodded. She was still feeling
awkward about being there, even more so now that CJ was recalling past
visits to the compound.
"So, what do we do?" Donna asked.
"We watch each other's back," CJ said
triumphantly. "That's first. Then, when I think of it, we get those two
back for everything."
"But they haven't done anything to
me," Donna said.
"Ah, don't bet on it," CJ said in a
conspiratorial tone. "We've been here 20 minutes. That's long enough normally.
But not this year. No, this year, Donna."
"We have each other's back?" she responded
reluctantly.
"Sisterhood," CJ said, clapping her
arm over Donna's shoulder. "Now we'd better get going. It's almost 11.
The President gives us a little talk to start things off."
*****************
The sun, like radioactive egg yolk,
bore down from the sky on the staff as they stood on the lawn, listening
to the President speak. Tree frogs piped in a chorus of backgroup music
as Bartlet rambled through his discourse from the top steps of the porch.
"Do you see him?" CJ asked in a whisper.
"No," Donna said looking at those gathered.
"Should we be worried?"
"Cautious," CJ said as the president
continued his speech.
"Because, without teamwork, where would
any leader be?" Bartlet asked. "Even the greatest leaders in history..."
He was using index cards to keep his
speech on track. He had been speaking for 30 minutes from the shade of
his porch. The White House senior staff, his family and those staffing
the farm for the retreat were sweltering in the blazing sun.
"How much longer can it be?" Toby asked
under his breath to Sam who was sweating bullets beside him and had shed
his hat to use it as a fan.
"He was doing some revising on the
plane," Sam said without moving his lips. "We should have let him us this
thing at the Kick Off."
"We'd still be there," Toby replied.
"I know," Sam said. "At least the Watergate
has airconditioning."
"It reminds me of an entry in the log
kept by the reknowned explorer Magellan..." Bartlet continued.
"I think he's in the house," CJ said,
gesturing with her chin.
"Shouldn't he be out here listening?"
Donna asked.
"We're not," CJ said. "We're just out
here."
"Which brings me to the point," Bartlet
said finally.
"Thank God," Toby sighed.
"We are a team," the president said.
"We pull together in a time of crisis; we console in times of sorrow; we
rejoice in times of... Where the hell is Josh?"
Bartlet scanned the 20 faces before
him. He turned to Leo who was leaning on a porch railing partially in the
shade. Leo pointed to the house.
"Josh!" Bartlet bellowed. "Get out
here!"
Josh appeared moments later, his cellphone
glued to his ear and a scowl on his face.
"Can we get rid of North Dakota?" Josh
asked.
"No," Bartlet answered instantly.
"You didn't even give yourself a chance
to consider it," Josh pointed out.
"You don't say," the President remarked
dryly.
"I'm just saying that it might be worthwhile,"
Josh continued. "We could swap it for a piece of Canada--Saskatchewan maybe.
I know people."
"Hang up the phone," Bartlet said.
Josh spoke briefly it the phone and
shut it off.
"Are you finished?" Bartlet asked.
"The tone in your voice tells me the
correct answer is yes."
"Smart boy," Bartlet said. "Now shut
up. I was coming to the point."
"In under 40 minutes no less," Josh
said as he descended the steps to join his colleagues.
"Shut up or he'll start from the beginning,"
Toby groaned.
"Where was I?" Bartlet asked.
"You were coming to the point," Leo
sighed.
