Title: All About Soul
Category: Josh/Donna
Rating: PG
Summary: Answer to challenge if Donna had been shot instead of Josh.
Author: StarGazr
E-Mail: StarGazr1152@msn.com
Disclaimer: All characters from The West Wing belong to Aaron Sorkin and all of his buddies at NBC. The lyrics at then end belong to the great Billy Joel. I'm taking dramatic license in my hospital scenes. I know that if you have a concussion you should stay awake, but if I did that, the story wouldn't work. :) If you want to archive or forward this this somewhere... let me know where so I can go look. :)
Author's Note: This is my first West Wing piece, but I have been writing X-Files stories for years. All though I loved the flashback scenes in "Shadow" I have changed them. Feedback is ALWAYS welcome!
Dedication: Susan Proto- You are amazing. It doesn't matter what I write, you always know were the commas go! Thank you for sticking around all this time. All the gang in my AP US History class- the map can't go that way?! Yes it can!! There's no "absolute reference!!" Mom, without you, I would have never sat down and watched this amazing show. I love you!
All About Soul
"Donna please! I have to finish this!" Josh Lyman yelled.
"Just say I can come along, and I'll help you finish," Donna Moss continued to argue with her boss. She was perched on Josh's desk, blocking access to his laptop.
"Donna, I swear if you don't get down right now, I'm going to pick you up and bodily move you," Josh stood and made a move for her.
"All right, all right!" She hopped down. "Josh," she continued calmly, "do you remember why I came on the campaign?"
"Yeah, Dr. Freeride dropped you like a bad habit," he answered, typing away on his laptop.
Donna reached forward and snapped the laptop closed. He leaned back in his chair, signaling for her to speak. "I came on the campaign because I believed in what Bartlet was saying. What he said made sense," she leaned over his desk, "I want to hear him speak at the town meeting tonight, Josh. Take me with you, please?"
Josh knew he had lost this battle. "All right, we're leaving here with the motorcade at 4:30. You can ride with me, CJ, Toby and Sam. Leo's going with the President, Zoey, and Charlie.
"Thank you so much, Josh!" She said smiling, then she walked out into the bullpen.
"Hey! You promised you'd help!" Josh whined from his office.
"It's 4:22. We gotta go!" Donna grabbed her coat and headed back into his office. "You can finish in the morning, come on." Josh slid into his jacket and overcoat as she straightened his sloppy tie.
"Josh," As the two were walking into the hall, they were stopped by Sam Seaborn. He appeared to be out of breath, "have you seen Toby?"
"No, I thought he was with you," Josh pointed out.
"Yeah, but as you can see," Sam spread his arms in exaggeration, "he's not. Think he might be with CJ?"
"Maybe, let's go check. We gotta light a candle under her butt anyway," Josh turned and headed for the Press Secretary's office.
"You promised, Toby!" A loud scream came from CJ Cregg's office. Josh, Donna, and Sam appeared in the doorway to witness Toby Ziegler in a stand-off with CJ.
"Well even if I did, I'm taking it back. This won't kill you, CJ." Toby turned away to see the small gather group. "I told her she's gonna ride with the press, and she's pissed."
"Ah, I thought she was coming with us," Josh asked.
"I was, but now the press corps is coming and Toby wants me to brief them!" She hurled her gloves at Toby's head.
He caught them and said, "We don't have time to do it here, just go with them." He handed her the gloves and she stormed out of the office, the small group in tow. They headed back down the hall to the West Wing exit.
Leo McGarry, stood waiting for them. "Usually it's him we're waiting for, not you stooges," he said, holding the door.
"Yes, sir," they all mumbled with heads lowered. They all piled into their respectful vehicles and the motorcade pulled away, heading for Rosslyn, Virginia.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Later that Evening
"Thank you, thank you very much. That was a joke about politicians," the audience laughed at their President's joke. "Two politicians are having an argument. The first one yells, `but you're lying!' and the other one answers, `yes, I know, but hear me out!'"
Zoey Bartlet's personal bodyguard, Gina, was on the catwalk doing a grounds check. "We're moments away. I'm going to get the door," she informed another agent.
"I don't think I answered the last one. Suzanne's got me telling jokes. Here's an answer to your question that I don't think you're going to like. A man once said this, `decisions are made by those who show up.' So are we failing you, or are you failing us?" Bartlet smiled and shook a man's hand, "A little of both. There's a guy on my staff named Charlie Young, he showed me a report from the Center of Policy Alternatives--" Charlie looked at Zoey, who looked back at Charlie, "--that says that 61% of you agree with the statement `The older generation has failed my generation.' When asked how the older generation sees you, your top answers are `lazy,' `confused' and `unfocused.'"
Danny Concannon asked Josh, who was standing in the lobby with Donna, "What was that source again?"
"Center for Policy Alternatives," he answered, "CJ will have copies for you on the bus ride back."
Back on the stage the President continued, "If I take my jacket off, can I trust you all to read nothing more into it than I've been talking for two hours and it's a little hot under these lights?" The audience applauded as Bartlet took off his jacket.
CJ walked behind reporters at who were sitting at laptops. She hit Danny in the back of the head. "Follow me."
"Why?" He asked as he followed her.
Outside, Agent Ron Butterfield called to Gina. "Gina! Straight to the car."
"He's not going to work the rope line?" She inquired.
"There's a softball game the President wants to watch," he explained.
"They show softball on TV?"
"Well, yeah."
"And the President watches it?" Gina asked. Gina and Butterfield walked past a menacing looking young man wearing cap, grey shirt, and the biggest "Bartlet" button in the world. He watched them pass, and then turned his attention to a office building window on the other side of the alley.
Back on stage, Bartlet saw Toby and Sam waving their arms. "The Signal" he remembered. "They're telling me that we're out of time. I just want to mention that at several points during the evening, I was referred to as both a liberal and a populist, and a fellow fourth from the back called me a socialist, which is nice, I haven't heard that for a while. Actually, I'm an economics professor. My great-grandfather's great-grandfather was Dr. Josiah Bartlet, who was the New Hampshire delegate to the second Continental Congress, the one that sat in session in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776, and announced to the world that we were no longer subjects of King George III, but rather a self-governing people. `We hold these truths to be self-evident,' they said, `that all men are created equal.' Strange as it may seem, that was the first time in history that anyone had bothered to write that down. Decisions are made by those who show up. Class dismissed." Bartlet looked down at his smiling daughter, "Thank you everyone. God bless you. And God bless America."
"Way to go," Josh whispered to the televisions he was watching. He turned to see Donna smiling. "Come on, we gotta go."
"That was really long Josh," Donna said as the walked outside. The crowd was cheering and yelling.
"Yeah, but it was really good," Donna nodded in agreement, wrapping her arms around her. "You cold?" Josh asked, glancing over at her. She shook her head and Josh directed them to follow the President.
"I'm gonna head back to the car at this next turn. You coming?"
"Yeah, I'll follow you. I gotta grab CJ first, and see Sam. You go warm up in the car."
"Joshua, I'm not cold!" Donna yelled as he made his way to the other members of the White House senior staff. She silently walked to the second limo and climbed in, waiting for Josh. It was quiet and she had time to think.
Donna leaned her head against the headrest thinking about the past two years. Being in the White House was more than she ever imagined. Josh could be arrogant sometime, but she loved him, that's why she'd stuck around all this...
`Love him? Where did that come from?' Donna thought to herself. It was possible thought, she couldn't leave his side sometimes. `But love?' She thought.
"Donna?" The driver called, shattering her thoughts.
"Yeah, Ryan?" Donna rolled down the window.
"Gina's asking for you."
"I'll get out, thanks." Donna rolled up the front window and got out of the car. "What's going on, Gina?"
"Where's Josh?" She asked. Her eyes were raking the crowd. Zoey was with her.
"He's with the senior staff. Hi, Zoey."
"Hey, Donna. Is Charlie with him?" She too was scanning the crowd.
"I'm not really sure. What's going on?" Donna followed Gina as she headed for the gates. From there she could see Josh talking to CJ. CJ didn't look happy, but Sam was laughing, so it couldn't be too bad.
"I don't know... damn! Zoey, stay with me," she turned back to Donna, "stay here or go back in the car. I saw something." She headed the other way, Zoey in tow.
"I'll wait here, for Josh," she turned back to the gate, watching Josh. He looked over and saw her. She waved sheepishly.
"Josh?" CJ called. She then followed his line of sight in time to see Donna redirect her staring at Josh to the President. "You're pathetic!" She slapped Josh's arm and walked away.
"OW! I don't understand, CJ!" Josh cried innocently.
"CJ's right, Josh. Not only are you pathetic, Donna is too," Sam informed him and trotted up behind Leo and Toby, leaving Josh alone.
"Thanks guys," he muttered. He began heading toward the President and Chief of Staff. `Damn CJ and Sam, I hate this feeling,' he silently thought. Donna kept his life on track. `I treat her bad sometimes though. But she hasn't left me. I guess that's why I love her.' He stopped dead in his tracks. `What in the...' he thought.
"Josh," Leo called. "Come on, it's almost over," Leo walked beside him. Josh turned to see Donna watching. He held up his fingers indicating two more minutes. She nodded and he winked. "Did you just wink at Donna?"
Josh turned around to Leo, "I-- uh--"
Leo shook his head, "You're pathetic," he turned back to the rest of the staff.
Josh threw his arms up in the air, "I'm pathetic," he announced to himself.
"He's pathetic," Zoey said to Donna.
"Who?" Donna turned to the President's daughter.
"I don't spend a lot of time in the White House, but when I'm there, I notice a lot." Zoey explained. "You're boss digs you, Donna, and he's really bad at hiding it."
"I-- uh-- there's Charlie," Donna told her, changing the subject. Zoey called for him and headed his way. She turned back and smiled at Donna.
The crowd was cheering and yelling congratulations to their President. Gina looked around frantically, spotting the creepy looking boy looking up at office building past her head.
"Gina?" Zoey called out. The boy turned to walk away and his cap is knocked off - revealing a bald head. Gina turned around to see what he was looking at, and Charlie turned with her.
Gina saw several men in an office building, raising their guns and just as the first shot was about to go off, Gina yelled, "Gun!" She turned, and knocked Zoey to the ground by the limo. The men continued shooting into the crowd. Gina pulled Charlie down and shieled them from the gunfire, yelling, "Get down, get down!"
Secret Service agents began firing up at shooters, several others pulled Bartlet back and down to the ground. Gina shoved Zoey into the limo as Donna watched from behind the gates in horror.
The Secret Service agents fired, with the crowd screaming and scurrying around them. Snipers fired at the gunmen as the gunmen continued their assault on the crowd. Bartlet was shoved head first into the limo.
Back in the crowd an agent slammed into CJ, who was standing next to Sam. Sam tackled CJ, bringing them both to the ground as a police car window shattered right in front of them. Toby was caught on the ground, being trampled by the screaming crowd, at the bottom of the gate. Leo and Josh were being held down to the ground by agents, ordering them stay down.
"Oh, god," Agents were yelling, "we've got people down. People down, people down! Who's been hit? Who's been hit?" They were yelling.
What felt like minutes later, the gunshots ceased. Josh's heart leapt into his throat as he got to his feet. Sam stood up next to him, helping CJ to her feet. CJ's legs wouldn't hold her up, so she leaned into Sam, cradling her head. "Where--" Josh started for the gates.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Lyman. You need to get in the car. We need to get you to the White House!" A Secret Service Agent pushed him and Leo toward a car, another headed for Sam and CJ. Josh had no clue as to how long they had been lying on the ground.
"Is the President dead?" Josh heard CJ ask in a frantic voice as she, Sam, and a weary looking Toby were pushed into a car.
"Donna," Josh said. She wasn't with him or the others. "I have to find Donna!" he shouted at the persistent Agent.
"Mr. Lyman, I have orders to put you and Mr. McGarry in the West Wing." With that Josh was shoved into the car. The Agent climbed up front and yelled for them to move. Josh couldn't breathe, he had forgotten how.
"Joshua, you need to focus. Donna will be OK. She's probably with Gina and Zoey." Leo assured him.
"No, I saw her at the gate. She'd have stayed there if she'd seen..." he couldn't just sit there any longer. He quickly unlocked the door and leapt out.
"Josh!" Leo yelled. The car came to a halt.
"Mr. McGarry!" Another agent who was in the car stopped Leo from running after Josh.
As Josh ran toward where he'd last seen Donna, the Secret Service agent was in hot pursuit.
He rounded a sharp corner and came to the main gates of the Town Hall. Josh stopped in his tracks when he saw Donna sitting against the wall; her arms wrapped around her midsection. "Oh God, Donna. I thought I'd lost you."
"Josh--" she said softly. Josh knelt down to hear her and that's when he saw it: blood; a lot of blood; Donna's blood. She slumped over into Josh's arms. His arms were shaking as he caught her pale form.
"NO... Oh, God. Help! Someone help us!" He cried. The agent who was chasing Josh ran up. He took one look at the scene before him and yelled for paramedics into the microphone that was hidden in his sleeve. "Hang on, Donna. Please don't... I should have kept you with me," he whispered. There was so much blood.
"Josh, I... it hurts," she choked out.
"Shhh, I know, I know," he kissed her forehead.
"I have to tell you..." She started.
"It's OK," he insisted. "Tell me later, OK?" Josh smoothed her hair.
Donna nodded and closed her eyes. Before he could panic, two medics pulled up and came to their aid. As the took her from him, Josh looked down at his bloodied hands. `Why her?!' he demanded silently.
Josh was just about to board the ambulance when the agent ordered to take him to the White House grabbed his shoulder. "Sir, I have my orders."
"Look, my assistant-- my friend may--" he couldn't bring himself to say it. He couldn't lose Donna. Instead he said, "I'm going to the hospital to be checked for a concussion."
"Coming or staying?!" The paramedic asked.
Josh's eyes pleaded with the agent. "Mr. Lyman may have a concussion, take him!" The agent then stalked away to the car with Leo in it.
Josh leapt into the ambulance and sat next to Donna. She had an IV in her pale arm and the paramedics were trying to control the bleeding. He took Donna's hand and held it gently fearful that he might break her. His head really did hurt. Josh laid his head back as he held onto Donna's hand. He felt the vehicle spinning. Josh could faintly hear someone calling him as everything faded to black. His last thoughts were of Donna and a miracle.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Flashback - 3 years earlier Josiah Bartlet Campaign Headquarters
"Margaret, is Leo here?" Josh Lyman asked, leaning into the doorway.
"Do you see him here?" Margaret responded, not looking up from her typing. She sighed when Josh wouldn't leave. "He left these papers for you to go over for tonight's meeting. And he wants to see you in his office in two hours."
"So, he'll be here in two hours," Josh asked, looking over the highlighted papers.
"I just said that didn't I?" she said, and Josh nodded. He decided to leave Leo's secretary alone for the time being. "Oh," she added, "I left a gift for you in your office."
"I always knew you cared, Margaret," Josh called as she headed for his office.
"You're right," she mumbled, "I really care."
Josh entered his office, looking over his desk. Something was different. "I see no nicely wrapped gifts." Confused, he went back into the hall. This time he saw a young woman sitting in a chair. "Hi," he said.
"Hi," she responded, getting out of the chair. Neither one said anything.
"Um, can I help you, Ms..."
"Moss. My name is Donna Moss and I'm here to volunteer." Josh made a motion for her to join him in his office. "When I got her the woman down the hall told me to wait out here."
Josh stopped midway into his chair. "Margaret sent you in here?"
"Yes. Are you Josh Lyman?"
"No nicely wrapped gifts," he muttered, sinking into his seat.
"Excuse me?" Donna set down her bag, and took a seat across from Josh.
"Never mind. Yes, I'm Josh Lyman. Why are you here again?"
"I'm your new assistant?" she asked.
"I didn't have an old one," he pointed out.
"OK-- well I drove here from Madison, Wisconsin to volunteer on the campaign and where I got here-- Margaret sent me to you," Donna explained.
"Of course she did," he mumbled. "Can you type?"
"Yes."
"Can you make schedules?"
"If you tell me what you need in them."
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. There had to be something he could get her on. "Are you organized?"
"More so than you, Mr. Lyman," she replied with a smile.
"Are you implying that I'm unorganized, Ms. Moss?" He leaned over the desk.
"Well, I did come in here and couldn't find you calendar," she told him. Josh looked down at his surprisingly clean desk. "So, I found it for you."
"Where's all my stuff?!" Josh launched out of his chair.
"I put your papers in the filing cabinet, your books alphabetically on the shelf, and I put your pens, clips and other things in containers on your desk," the young woman replied simply. "Margaret seemed impressed that I made it through the papers. She said the last girl on the campaign took one look and walked right back out the door. Are you mad?"
Josh looked down at his desk; it was so neat. He could see his calendar. Looking up at Donna, she could see his confused expression. "I have a filing cabinet in here?"
Donna let out a laugh. "Yes, you do, over there," she pointed to the right wall of his office. Suddenly the phone rang.
The two stared at each other. "Go ahead," he said. "Let's see what you've got."
She picked up. "Bartlet for America, Josh Lyman's office. No, I'm sorry, he's going into a meeting with the Governor at seven." She moved around the desk glancing at his newly found calendar. "I can schedule him in for next Tuesday... lunch would be fine. OK, I'll pass it along. Have a nice afternoon... thank you." Donna hung up and handed the message to Josh. "You have a lunch meeting with Congressman Bergman Tuesday, Mr. Lyman."
Josh took his message. "You're good. That'll probably be my last lunch in New Hampshire, too."
"I don't understand," Donna looked confused.
"We're packing up and going to North Caroling next week." Josh looked at here, waiting to see her reaction.
"Wow, um..." Donna went to get her bag and coat, defeated.
"You wanna come along?" Josh offered. Donna turned around with bright eyes. "I can't--"
"I'll pay my own way. I want to help. Mr. Lyman, I think I can be good at this, I think you'll find me valuable."
Josh walked over and handed her his access pass. "You may need this if you're going to be following me around everywhere. And you can call me Josh. `Mr. Lyman' makes me sound old."
Donna smiled and took his pass. "You can call me Donna. Thank you, Josh. I'll make you the most organized man on this campaign."
"I want more than that," he helped Donna into her coat. "I want to be the most organized man in the White House come January."
"I can do that too."
"So, Donna. I'll see you tomorrow morning at eight?" Josh headed back to Leo's office. He turned back to his new assistant. "I'll introduce you to the team."
"OK, I'll see you in the morning. Thank you again," she said as she got on the elevator.
Josh smiled to himself as he entered Leo's outer office. "Margaret..."
"He's not back yet. You still have another," she looked at her watch then up at Josh. "Hour and a half."
"Actually I came to see you. Thank you for the wonderful gift." He smiled then turned and went to find his friend, Sam. He had to tell him about the bright, new addition to the campaign.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
White House - West Wing Monday Night
"Where is Leo?" Toby asked, joining CJ and Sam in the Roosevelt Room. "And come to think of it, where's Josh?"
"No one's seen them?" CJ asked. She was massaging her sore neck.
Sam shook his head, futility trying to open a bottle of aspirin. "I saw Josh get pushed into a car. I guess Leo's with him."
"Has there been any word on the President?" CJ inquired. She reached over and took the aspirin bottle, popping it open. She grabbed two and passed them to a frowning Sam.
"I'm getting vague reports," Toby said as he reached for the ringing phone. "I think he was taken to George Washington. He's alive though. Hello? This is Toby Ziegler... yes..." his face fell.
CJ leaned in closer. Sam took his pills and stood beside them. "We're on our way." He hung up the phone and looked up at his two friends. "The medics just arrived at GW. Donna's been shot," CJ gasped and covered her mouth. "Josh went with her and lost consciousness in the ambulance," Sam closed his eyes. "They feel we should come over right away."
"I'll get our coats." CJ said. "Where's..."
"ER. Mrs. Bartlet wants him examined and Leo's with them. Let's get going. We'll take my car," Toby yelled after CJ. She returned with his keys and they left for the hospital.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
George Washington Memorial Hospital Emergency Room Monday Night
Jed Bartlet sat in awe as he watched his wife intimidate the doctors. "Abbey..." The First Lady turned, "I'm fine. Where's Zoey?"
"She's with Leo and Charlie out in the hall. Lie still, Jed," she ordered.
"I'm fine! I wanna see Leo. Leo!" He bellowed.
"Sir?" Leo entered with Zoey on his heals.
"Where is everyone?" Leo was silent. "Oh God. Please, Leo... no..."
"The medics from the site just arrived. Donna's been shot and Josh passed out on the way over with her. The rest of the Senior Staff is..."
"Right here, Mr. President," CJ announced as she, Toby and Sam entered with three angry doctors following them.
"Thank God," Jed whispered. "It's OK, they're with me." The doctors nodded and made a quick exit.
"We heard about Josh and Donna. How are you, sir?" Sam asked.
"I'm fine," Abbey shook her head in argument. "Yes, I want to go see Josh." Jed got out of them bed.
"No! Please Jed. Let the doctors finish with the examination."
"Mrs. Bartlet," the ER doctor interrupted. "I've finished the tests you've requested. Mr. President, you're going to be just fine."
Abbey sighed in relief. Jed got up, hunting for his clothes. "I'll go with you, sir," Leo said. Turning to the others he said, "I want you three to start working on a press release. I would like CJ on the air in two hours." He laid a reassuring hand on CJ's arm and she nodded.
"I'll be with Zoey. Don't over-do yourself, Jed," Abbey said. Jed nodded and kissed her cheek as she exited the room.
Leo got off the ER phone and came over to the President. "Josh is in the ICU," he said. "He's awake and extremely alert."
"Oh, God."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
This ends the first part... please review :-)
Disclaimer: All characters from The West Wing belong to Aaron Sorkin and all of his buddies at NBC. The lyrics at then end belong to the great Billy Joel. I'm taking dramatic license in my hospital scenes. I know that if you have a concussion you should stay awake, but if I did that, the story wouldn't work. :) If you want to archive or forward this this somewhere... let me know where so I can go look. :)
Author's Note: This is my first West Wing piece, but I have been writing X-Files stories for years. All though I loved the flashback scenes in "Shadow" I have changed them. Feedback is ALWAYS welcome!
Dedication: Susan Proto- You are amazing. It doesn't matter what I write, you always know were the commas go! Thank you for sticking around all this time. All the gang in my AP US History class- the map can't go that way?! Yes it can!! There's no "absolute reference!!" Mom, without you, I would have never sat down and watched this amazing show. I love you!
All About Soul
"Donna please! I have to finish this!" Josh Lyman yelled.
"Just say I can come along, and I'll help you finish," Donna Moss continued to argue with her boss. She was perched on Josh's desk, blocking access to his laptop.
"Donna, I swear if you don't get down right now, I'm going to pick you up and bodily move you," Josh stood and made a move for her.
"All right, all right!" She hopped down. "Josh," she continued calmly, "do you remember why I came on the campaign?"
"Yeah, Dr. Freeride dropped you like a bad habit," he answered, typing away on his laptop.
Donna reached forward and snapped the laptop closed. He leaned back in his chair, signaling for her to speak. "I came on the campaign because I believed in what Bartlet was saying. What he said made sense," she leaned over his desk, "I want to hear him speak at the town meeting tonight, Josh. Take me with you, please?"
Josh knew he had lost this battle. "All right, we're leaving here with the motorcade at 4:30. You can ride with me, CJ, Toby and Sam. Leo's going with the President, Zoey, and Charlie.
"Thank you so much, Josh!" She said smiling, then she walked out into the bullpen.
"Hey! You promised you'd help!" Josh whined from his office.
"It's 4:22. We gotta go!" Donna grabbed her coat and headed back into his office. "You can finish in the morning, come on." Josh slid into his jacket and overcoat as she straightened his sloppy tie.
"Josh," As the two were walking into the hall, they were stopped by Sam Seaborn. He appeared to be out of breath, "have you seen Toby?"
"No, I thought he was with you," Josh pointed out.
"Yeah, but as you can see," Sam spread his arms in exaggeration, "he's not. Think he might be with CJ?"
"Maybe, let's go check. We gotta light a candle under her butt anyway," Josh turned and headed for the Press Secretary's office.
"You promised, Toby!" A loud scream came from CJ Cregg's office. Josh, Donna, and Sam appeared in the doorway to witness Toby Ziegler in a stand-off with CJ.
"Well even if I did, I'm taking it back. This won't kill you, CJ." Toby turned away to see the small gather group. "I told her she's gonna ride with the press, and she's pissed."
"Ah, I thought she was coming with us," Josh asked.
"I was, but now the press corps is coming and Toby wants me to brief them!" She hurled her gloves at Toby's head.
He caught them and said, "We don't have time to do it here, just go with them." He handed her the gloves and she stormed out of the office, the small group in tow. They headed back down the hall to the West Wing exit.
Leo McGarry, stood waiting for them. "Usually it's him we're waiting for, not you stooges," he said, holding the door.
"Yes, sir," they all mumbled with heads lowered. They all piled into their respectful vehicles and the motorcade pulled away, heading for Rosslyn, Virginia.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Later that Evening
"Thank you, thank you very much. That was a joke about politicians," the audience laughed at their President's joke. "Two politicians are having an argument. The first one yells, `but you're lying!' and the other one answers, `yes, I know, but hear me out!'"
Zoey Bartlet's personal bodyguard, Gina, was on the catwalk doing a grounds check. "We're moments away. I'm going to get the door," she informed another agent.
"I don't think I answered the last one. Suzanne's got me telling jokes. Here's an answer to your question that I don't think you're going to like. A man once said this, `decisions are made by those who show up.' So are we failing you, or are you failing us?" Bartlet smiled and shook a man's hand, "A little of both. There's a guy on my staff named Charlie Young, he showed me a report from the Center of Policy Alternatives--" Charlie looked at Zoey, who looked back at Charlie, "--that says that 61% of you agree with the statement `The older generation has failed my generation.' When asked how the older generation sees you, your top answers are `lazy,' `confused' and `unfocused.'"
Danny Concannon asked Josh, who was standing in the lobby with Donna, "What was that source again?"
"Center for Policy Alternatives," he answered, "CJ will have copies for you on the bus ride back."
Back on the stage the President continued, "If I take my jacket off, can I trust you all to read nothing more into it than I've been talking for two hours and it's a little hot under these lights?" The audience applauded as Bartlet took off his jacket.
CJ walked behind reporters at who were sitting at laptops. She hit Danny in the back of the head. "Follow me."
"Why?" He asked as he followed her.
Outside, Agent Ron Butterfield called to Gina. "Gina! Straight to the car."
"He's not going to work the rope line?" She inquired.
"There's a softball game the President wants to watch," he explained.
"They show softball on TV?"
"Well, yeah."
"And the President watches it?" Gina asked. Gina and Butterfield walked past a menacing looking young man wearing cap, grey shirt, and the biggest "Bartlet" button in the world. He watched them pass, and then turned his attention to a office building window on the other side of the alley.
Back on stage, Bartlet saw Toby and Sam waving their arms. "The Signal" he remembered. "They're telling me that we're out of time. I just want to mention that at several points during the evening, I was referred to as both a liberal and a populist, and a fellow fourth from the back called me a socialist, which is nice, I haven't heard that for a while. Actually, I'm an economics professor. My great-grandfather's great-grandfather was Dr. Josiah Bartlet, who was the New Hampshire delegate to the second Continental Congress, the one that sat in session in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776, and announced to the world that we were no longer subjects of King George III, but rather a self-governing people. `We hold these truths to be self-evident,' they said, `that all men are created equal.' Strange as it may seem, that was the first time in history that anyone had bothered to write that down. Decisions are made by those who show up. Class dismissed." Bartlet looked down at his smiling daughter, "Thank you everyone. God bless you. And God bless America."
"Way to go," Josh whispered to the televisions he was watching. He turned to see Donna smiling. "Come on, we gotta go."
"That was really long Josh," Donna said as the walked outside. The crowd was cheering and yelling.
"Yeah, but it was really good," Donna nodded in agreement, wrapping her arms around her. "You cold?" Josh asked, glancing over at her. She shook her head and Josh directed them to follow the President.
"I'm gonna head back to the car at this next turn. You coming?"
"Yeah, I'll follow you. I gotta grab CJ first, and see Sam. You go warm up in the car."
"Joshua, I'm not cold!" Donna yelled as he made his way to the other members of the White House senior staff. She silently walked to the second limo and climbed in, waiting for Josh. It was quiet and she had time to think.
Donna leaned her head against the headrest thinking about the past two years. Being in the White House was more than she ever imagined. Josh could be arrogant sometime, but she loved him, that's why she'd stuck around all this...
`Love him? Where did that come from?' Donna thought to herself. It was possible thought, she couldn't leave his side sometimes. `But love?' She thought.
"Donna?" The driver called, shattering her thoughts.
"Yeah, Ryan?" Donna rolled down the window.
"Gina's asking for you."
"I'll get out, thanks." Donna rolled up the front window and got out of the car. "What's going on, Gina?"
"Where's Josh?" She asked. Her eyes were raking the crowd. Zoey was with her.
"He's with the senior staff. Hi, Zoey."
"Hey, Donna. Is Charlie with him?" She too was scanning the crowd.
"I'm not really sure. What's going on?" Donna followed Gina as she headed for the gates. From there she could see Josh talking to CJ. CJ didn't look happy, but Sam was laughing, so it couldn't be too bad.
"I don't know... damn! Zoey, stay with me," she turned back to Donna, "stay here or go back in the car. I saw something." She headed the other way, Zoey in tow.
"I'll wait here, for Josh," she turned back to the gate, watching Josh. He looked over and saw her. She waved sheepishly.
"Josh?" CJ called. She then followed his line of sight in time to see Donna redirect her staring at Josh to the President. "You're pathetic!" She slapped Josh's arm and walked away.
"OW! I don't understand, CJ!" Josh cried innocently.
"CJ's right, Josh. Not only are you pathetic, Donna is too," Sam informed him and trotted up behind Leo and Toby, leaving Josh alone.
"Thanks guys," he muttered. He began heading toward the President and Chief of Staff. `Damn CJ and Sam, I hate this feeling,' he silently thought. Donna kept his life on track. `I treat her bad sometimes though. But she hasn't left me. I guess that's why I love her.' He stopped dead in his tracks. `What in the...' he thought.
"Josh," Leo called. "Come on, it's almost over," Leo walked beside him. Josh turned to see Donna watching. He held up his fingers indicating two more minutes. She nodded and he winked. "Did you just wink at Donna?"
Josh turned around to Leo, "I-- uh--"
Leo shook his head, "You're pathetic," he turned back to the rest of the staff.
Josh threw his arms up in the air, "I'm pathetic," he announced to himself.
"He's pathetic," Zoey said to Donna.
"Who?" Donna turned to the President's daughter.
"I don't spend a lot of time in the White House, but when I'm there, I notice a lot." Zoey explained. "You're boss digs you, Donna, and he's really bad at hiding it."
"I-- uh-- there's Charlie," Donna told her, changing the subject. Zoey called for him and headed his way. She turned back and smiled at Donna.
The crowd was cheering and yelling congratulations to their President. Gina looked around frantically, spotting the creepy looking boy looking up at office building past her head.
"Gina?" Zoey called out. The boy turned to walk away and his cap is knocked off - revealing a bald head. Gina turned around to see what he was looking at, and Charlie turned with her.
Gina saw several men in an office building, raising their guns and just as the first shot was about to go off, Gina yelled, "Gun!" She turned, and knocked Zoey to the ground by the limo. The men continued shooting into the crowd. Gina pulled Charlie down and shieled them from the gunfire, yelling, "Get down, get down!"
Secret Service agents began firing up at shooters, several others pulled Bartlet back and down to the ground. Gina shoved Zoey into the limo as Donna watched from behind the gates in horror.
The Secret Service agents fired, with the crowd screaming and scurrying around them. Snipers fired at the gunmen as the gunmen continued their assault on the crowd. Bartlet was shoved head first into the limo.
Back in the crowd an agent slammed into CJ, who was standing next to Sam. Sam tackled CJ, bringing them both to the ground as a police car window shattered right in front of them. Toby was caught on the ground, being trampled by the screaming crowd, at the bottom of the gate. Leo and Josh were being held down to the ground by agents, ordering them stay down.
"Oh, god," Agents were yelling, "we've got people down. People down, people down! Who's been hit? Who's been hit?" They were yelling.
What felt like minutes later, the gunshots ceased. Josh's heart leapt into his throat as he got to his feet. Sam stood up next to him, helping CJ to her feet. CJ's legs wouldn't hold her up, so she leaned into Sam, cradling her head. "Where--" Josh started for the gates.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Lyman. You need to get in the car. We need to get you to the White House!" A Secret Service Agent pushed him and Leo toward a car, another headed for Sam and CJ. Josh had no clue as to how long they had been lying on the ground.
"Is the President dead?" Josh heard CJ ask in a frantic voice as she, Sam, and a weary looking Toby were pushed into a car.
"Donna," Josh said. She wasn't with him or the others. "I have to find Donna!" he shouted at the persistent Agent.
"Mr. Lyman, I have orders to put you and Mr. McGarry in the West Wing." With that Josh was shoved into the car. The Agent climbed up front and yelled for them to move. Josh couldn't breathe, he had forgotten how.
"Joshua, you need to focus. Donna will be OK. She's probably with Gina and Zoey." Leo assured him.
"No, I saw her at the gate. She'd have stayed there if she'd seen..." he couldn't just sit there any longer. He quickly unlocked the door and leapt out.
"Josh!" Leo yelled. The car came to a halt.
"Mr. McGarry!" Another agent who was in the car stopped Leo from running after Josh.
As Josh ran toward where he'd last seen Donna, the Secret Service agent was in hot pursuit.
He rounded a sharp corner and came to the main gates of the Town Hall. Josh stopped in his tracks when he saw Donna sitting against the wall; her arms wrapped around her midsection. "Oh God, Donna. I thought I'd lost you."
"Josh--" she said softly. Josh knelt down to hear her and that's when he saw it: blood; a lot of blood; Donna's blood. She slumped over into Josh's arms. His arms were shaking as he caught her pale form.
"NO... Oh, God. Help! Someone help us!" He cried. The agent who was chasing Josh ran up. He took one look at the scene before him and yelled for paramedics into the microphone that was hidden in his sleeve. "Hang on, Donna. Please don't... I should have kept you with me," he whispered. There was so much blood.
"Josh, I... it hurts," she choked out.
"Shhh, I know, I know," he kissed her forehead.
"I have to tell you..." She started.
"It's OK," he insisted. "Tell me later, OK?" Josh smoothed her hair.
Donna nodded and closed her eyes. Before he could panic, two medics pulled up and came to their aid. As the took her from him, Josh looked down at his bloodied hands. `Why her?!' he demanded silently.
Josh was just about to board the ambulance when the agent ordered to take him to the White House grabbed his shoulder. "Sir, I have my orders."
"Look, my assistant-- my friend may--" he couldn't bring himself to say it. He couldn't lose Donna. Instead he said, "I'm going to the hospital to be checked for a concussion."
"Coming or staying?!" The paramedic asked.
Josh's eyes pleaded with the agent. "Mr. Lyman may have a concussion, take him!" The agent then stalked away to the car with Leo in it.
Josh leapt into the ambulance and sat next to Donna. She had an IV in her pale arm and the paramedics were trying to control the bleeding. He took Donna's hand and held it gently fearful that he might break her. His head really did hurt. Josh laid his head back as he held onto Donna's hand. He felt the vehicle spinning. Josh could faintly hear someone calling him as everything faded to black. His last thoughts were of Donna and a miracle.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Flashback - 3 years earlier Josiah Bartlet Campaign Headquarters
"Margaret, is Leo here?" Josh Lyman asked, leaning into the doorway.
"Do you see him here?" Margaret responded, not looking up from her typing. She sighed when Josh wouldn't leave. "He left these papers for you to go over for tonight's meeting. And he wants to see you in his office in two hours."
"So, he'll be here in two hours," Josh asked, looking over the highlighted papers.
"I just said that didn't I?" she said, and Josh nodded. He decided to leave Leo's secretary alone for the time being. "Oh," she added, "I left a gift for you in your office."
"I always knew you cared, Margaret," Josh called as she headed for his office.
"You're right," she mumbled, "I really care."
Josh entered his office, looking over his desk. Something was different. "I see no nicely wrapped gifts." Confused, he went back into the hall. This time he saw a young woman sitting in a chair. "Hi," he said.
"Hi," she responded, getting out of the chair. Neither one said anything.
"Um, can I help you, Ms..."
"Moss. My name is Donna Moss and I'm here to volunteer." Josh made a motion for her to join him in his office. "When I got her the woman down the hall told me to wait out here."
Josh stopped midway into his chair. "Margaret sent you in here?"
"Yes. Are you Josh Lyman?"
"No nicely wrapped gifts," he muttered, sinking into his seat.
"Excuse me?" Donna set down her bag, and took a seat across from Josh.
"Never mind. Yes, I'm Josh Lyman. Why are you here again?"
"I'm your new assistant?" she asked.
"I didn't have an old one," he pointed out.
"OK-- well I drove here from Madison, Wisconsin to volunteer on the campaign and where I got here-- Margaret sent me to you," Donna explained.
"Of course she did," he mumbled. "Can you type?"
"Yes."
"Can you make schedules?"
"If you tell me what you need in them."
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. There had to be something he could get her on. "Are you organized?"
"More so than you, Mr. Lyman," she replied with a smile.
"Are you implying that I'm unorganized, Ms. Moss?" He leaned over the desk.
"Well, I did come in here and couldn't find you calendar," she told him. Josh looked down at his surprisingly clean desk. "So, I found it for you."
"Where's all my stuff?!" Josh launched out of his chair.
"I put your papers in the filing cabinet, your books alphabetically on the shelf, and I put your pens, clips and other things in containers on your desk," the young woman replied simply. "Margaret seemed impressed that I made it through the papers. She said the last girl on the campaign took one look and walked right back out the door. Are you mad?"
Josh looked down at his desk; it was so neat. He could see his calendar. Looking up at Donna, she could see his confused expression. "I have a filing cabinet in here?"
Donna let out a laugh. "Yes, you do, over there," she pointed to the right wall of his office. Suddenly the phone rang.
The two stared at each other. "Go ahead," he said. "Let's see what you've got."
She picked up. "Bartlet for America, Josh Lyman's office. No, I'm sorry, he's going into a meeting with the Governor at seven." She moved around the desk glancing at his newly found calendar. "I can schedule him in for next Tuesday... lunch would be fine. OK, I'll pass it along. Have a nice afternoon... thank you." Donna hung up and handed the message to Josh. "You have a lunch meeting with Congressman Bergman Tuesday, Mr. Lyman."
Josh took his message. "You're good. That'll probably be my last lunch in New Hampshire, too."
"I don't understand," Donna looked confused.
"We're packing up and going to North Caroling next week." Josh looked at here, waiting to see her reaction.
"Wow, um..." Donna went to get her bag and coat, defeated.
"You wanna come along?" Josh offered. Donna turned around with bright eyes. "I can't--"
"I'll pay my own way. I want to help. Mr. Lyman, I think I can be good at this, I think you'll find me valuable."
Josh walked over and handed her his access pass. "You may need this if you're going to be following me around everywhere. And you can call me Josh. `Mr. Lyman' makes me sound old."
Donna smiled and took his pass. "You can call me Donna. Thank you, Josh. I'll make you the most organized man on this campaign."
"I want more than that," he helped Donna into her coat. "I want to be the most organized man in the White House come January."
"I can do that too."
"So, Donna. I'll see you tomorrow morning at eight?" Josh headed back to Leo's office. He turned back to his new assistant. "I'll introduce you to the team."
"OK, I'll see you in the morning. Thank you again," she said as she got on the elevator.
Josh smiled to himself as he entered Leo's outer office. "Margaret..."
"He's not back yet. You still have another," she looked at her watch then up at Josh. "Hour and a half."
"Actually I came to see you. Thank you for the wonderful gift." He smiled then turned and went to find his friend, Sam. He had to tell him about the bright, new addition to the campaign.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
White House - West Wing Monday Night
"Where is Leo?" Toby asked, joining CJ and Sam in the Roosevelt Room. "And come to think of it, where's Josh?"
"No one's seen them?" CJ asked. She was massaging her sore neck.
Sam shook his head, futility trying to open a bottle of aspirin. "I saw Josh get pushed into a car. I guess Leo's with him."
"Has there been any word on the President?" CJ inquired. She reached over and took the aspirin bottle, popping it open. She grabbed two and passed them to a frowning Sam.
"I'm getting vague reports," Toby said as he reached for the ringing phone. "I think he was taken to George Washington. He's alive though. Hello? This is Toby Ziegler... yes..." his face fell.
CJ leaned in closer. Sam took his pills and stood beside them. "We're on our way." He hung up the phone and looked up at his two friends. "The medics just arrived at GW. Donna's been shot," CJ gasped and covered her mouth. "Josh went with her and lost consciousness in the ambulance," Sam closed his eyes. "They feel we should come over right away."
"I'll get our coats." CJ said. "Where's..."
"ER. Mrs. Bartlet wants him examined and Leo's with them. Let's get going. We'll take my car," Toby yelled after CJ. She returned with his keys and they left for the hospital.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
George Washington Memorial Hospital Emergency Room Monday Night
Jed Bartlet sat in awe as he watched his wife intimidate the doctors. "Abbey..." The First Lady turned, "I'm fine. Where's Zoey?"
"She's with Leo and Charlie out in the hall. Lie still, Jed," she ordered.
"I'm fine! I wanna see Leo. Leo!" He bellowed.
"Sir?" Leo entered with Zoey on his heals.
"Where is everyone?" Leo was silent. "Oh God. Please, Leo... no..."
"The medics from the site just arrived. Donna's been shot and Josh passed out on the way over with her. The rest of the Senior Staff is..."
"Right here, Mr. President," CJ announced as she, Toby and Sam entered with three angry doctors following them.
"Thank God," Jed whispered. "It's OK, they're with me." The doctors nodded and made a quick exit.
"We heard about Josh and Donna. How are you, sir?" Sam asked.
"I'm fine," Abbey shook her head in argument. "Yes, I want to go see Josh." Jed got out of them bed.
"No! Please Jed. Let the doctors finish with the examination."
"Mrs. Bartlet," the ER doctor interrupted. "I've finished the tests you've requested. Mr. President, you're going to be just fine."
Abbey sighed in relief. Jed got up, hunting for his clothes. "I'll go with you, sir," Leo said. Turning to the others he said, "I want you three to start working on a press release. I would like CJ on the air in two hours." He laid a reassuring hand on CJ's arm and she nodded.
"I'll be with Zoey. Don't over-do yourself, Jed," Abbey said. Jed nodded and kissed her cheek as she exited the room.
Leo got off the ER phone and came over to the President. "Josh is in the ICU," he said. "He's awake and extremely alert."
"Oh, God."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
This ends the first part... please review :-)