Residual Scarring 5/?
See part one for disclaimers
White House Press Briefing Room- Monday afternoon
"C.J.! C.J.!" Dozens of reporters clamored for the Press Secretary's attention like so many baby birds crying for morsels from their mother.
C.J. Cregg looked over her glasses at the group before her and announced her choice for the source of the next question. "Katie." The reporters stilled to hear what that question would be.
"C.J. is there an update on Josh Lyman's condition?"
"Josh Lyman is currently under a physician's care for bronchitis and asthma. He returned to work this morning to resume a light schedule. I have been informed that he will make a full recovery, much to the disappointment of the Republicans, I'm sure."
"C.J.," A new voice spoke up immediately and everyone in the room turned their attention to the middle-aged bearded man in the fourth row.
"Danny."
"There have been several comments made by key Republican leaders that Josh Lyman is no longer fit to meet the demands of his position. Does the White House have a response to these allegations?"
C.J. felt her anger rising and fought the desire to make a sarcastic response. "Josh's current illness has been directly connected to the injury he received last year when members of a white supremacist group shot at the President, his daughter, and his staff. No formal allegations have been made and Josh Lyman has the full support of the White House."
"A Republican Senator has called into question Josh's mental state."
C.J.'s eyes hardened, but she made efforts to keep her tone light and joking. "I frequently call into question his mental state; may I remind you of a certain secret plan to fight inflation?" A chuckle rippled through the room.
"Seriously, C.J."
"The White House has no further comment at this time. That's it for now, folks." C.J. removed her notebook from the podium and exited the room, heading for her office. Danny Concannon fell into step beside her.
"They're making some pretty strong allegations. Look, I like Josh, I really do. He's been through a lot this year and I don't want to see him hurt."
C.J. stopped and turned toward the reporter. "There is nothing to these allegations. Just a bunch of windbags blowing hot air about someone they don't like. He doesn't need this right now." C.J. looked down at her notebook and turned away from Danny. "I've got to go." She walked away from him without another word.
C.J. dropped into the chair behind her desk and pushed her hair out of her eyes with the back of her hand. Danny's questions echoed in her mind as she remembered the events of the morning's Senior Staff meeting in the Oval Office. She was concerned for Josh. She'd been incredibly busy all day, and had not had the opportunity to check on her friend. She pushed herself to her feet and heading out of her office.
She found Josh's door closed and Donna's desk empty. She could hear Josh's voice faintly through the heavy wood. She knocked gently and was relieved when the door was opened from within. Donna gave her a small smile and held a finger to her lips to request silence. Josh looked up from his desk where he was on the phone. He waved briefly to acknowledge her presence and turned his full attention back to the person to whom he was talking.
C.J. turned to Donna and spoke softly. "I came by." Josh looked up sharply and scowled at her. She lowered her voice a little more. "I came by to see how he's doing."
"He's grumpy." Donna replied quietly, earning another scowl from her boss. Donna flashed him a grin that said 'impervious' before mouthing the words "I'll be right out here" as she pointed over her shoulder to her cubicle. Josh continued to scowl, but nodded in response.
The two women moved out of the office, Donna closing the door behind her. "It's been a rough day." She admitted, leaning against the closed door. "He'll tell you he's fine, but.it's been a rough day." Everything about Donna presented an air of professionalism, everything except her eyes. Her eyes spoke loudly of exhaustion and worry.
C.J. resisted the sudden urge to gather the younger woman into a hug and comfort her. "Do you think he came back too soon?"
"Yes, and Leo agrees with me. In fact, he's ordered Josh to take the next few days off to recuperate."
"I got some questions this afternoon from Danny Concannon. Seems that some of Josh's Republican fan club is shooting off at the mouth." C.J. paused and Donna cocked her head to the side, a puzzled expression on her face. "And I quote, 'There have been several comments made by key Republican leaders that Josh Lyman is no longer fit to meet the demands of his position. A Republican Senator has called into question Josh's mental state.'"
Donna closed her eyes, her shoulders sagged. "He doesn't need this."
"My sentiment exactly."
"We need to keep this away from him."
"That's not going to be easy."
"He's on his second, and last, conference call. It seems to be going well. The only other thing he has today is an appointment with his respiratory therapist. I'm keeping his schedule clear for the afternoon."
"Donna!" Josh bellowed through the closed door.
Donna raised her eyebrows, "Oscar bellows for me."
C.J. chuckled, knowing that Josh would not appreciate his assistant referring to him as a fuzzy green character from a children's show. "I'll catch up with you later." C.J. returned to her office as Donna slipped back into Josh's.
Georgetown- Monday Night
"Sir. Sir. We're here." The cabbie's voice cut through the fog in Josh's brain. He forced open his eyes and recognized his street and apartment building.
"Thanks." Josh paid the fare and slowly climbed out of the taxi. He gathered himself and started up the steps to his building. He was so tired. Donna had been the one who suggested that he was in no shape to be driving. At the time he had argued with her, but now he was grateful. He wondered if he even had the strength and energy to make it up to his apartment.
Although his schedule had been light, the day had been long and exhausting. It was a day Josh was ready to be done with. He had thought the appointment with the respiratory therapist was going to be short-they would talk a little and he'd be done and on his way home. He should have known better. They had talked for a while; about his attacks and what his triggers were and how to manage the attacks. But then there had been another half hour of breathing exercises. He had been embarrassed when one of the exercises ended in what he'd come to refer to as 'an episode'. The therapist had assured him it was okay. Josh had left exhausted, sore and discouraged; and with another appointment for the following week.
Josh unlocked the door to his apartment and staggered inside. He wanted nothing more then to collapse into bed and sleep. He only made it as far as the couch.
"Hey! Welcome home!" Sam Seaborn suddenly appeared from the kitchen.
"Jesus!" Josh bolted upright, instantly awake, and whirled around on the couch to face Sam. His eyes were wild. "Sam! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Josh sank back on the couch briefly closing his eyes. The pounding of his heart filled his ears.
"Sorry." Sam sat down next to Josh. "I didn't mean to scare you. I figured you'd notice my car parked out front and my stuff." He motioned across the room.
For the first time Josh noticed Sam's trench coat draped over the back of a chair and blue duffle bag and briefcase by the door. He'd practically had to step over the bag to get into the room. Josh groaned. He took Sam's hand and placed it against his chest.
Sam's blue eyes widened when he felt the hammering of Josh's heart. "I really am sorry, man. I didn't mean to scare you so."
"It's alright. Normally I'd have noticed. It's just. it's been a long day and I'm exhausted. I just want to go to sleep."
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes and suddenly something seemed to click in Josh's mind. He turned to look at his friend. "What are you doing here?"
"Huh?"
"Why are you here?"
"Because I'm your best friend." Sam gave a small shrug, as if his answer was the simplest, most obvious answer in the world. Maybe it was.
"You drew the short straw, huh."
"Actually, I had to fight Donna and C.J. for it."
Josh smirked, his dimples showing. "Now that would have been something to see!" He chuckled.
Sam laughed and looked down. "I'm surprised I won." The two friends shared a laugh; a real laugh. "You hungry?"
Josh tipped his head to the side slightly, thinking. "A little." He finally answered.
"Good!" Sam stood and grabbed Josh's hand to pull him to his feet. "'Cause there's some chicken getting cold in the kitchen." Josh allowed himself to be pulled to his feet and pushed into the kitchen; drawing strength from friendship.
White House Press Briefing Room- Monday afternoon
"C.J.! C.J.!" Dozens of reporters clamored for the Press Secretary's attention like so many baby birds crying for morsels from their mother.
C.J. Cregg looked over her glasses at the group before her and announced her choice for the source of the next question. "Katie." The reporters stilled to hear what that question would be.
"C.J. is there an update on Josh Lyman's condition?"
"Josh Lyman is currently under a physician's care for bronchitis and asthma. He returned to work this morning to resume a light schedule. I have been informed that he will make a full recovery, much to the disappointment of the Republicans, I'm sure."
"C.J.," A new voice spoke up immediately and everyone in the room turned their attention to the middle-aged bearded man in the fourth row.
"Danny."
"There have been several comments made by key Republican leaders that Josh Lyman is no longer fit to meet the demands of his position. Does the White House have a response to these allegations?"
C.J. felt her anger rising and fought the desire to make a sarcastic response. "Josh's current illness has been directly connected to the injury he received last year when members of a white supremacist group shot at the President, his daughter, and his staff. No formal allegations have been made and Josh Lyman has the full support of the White House."
"A Republican Senator has called into question Josh's mental state."
C.J.'s eyes hardened, but she made efforts to keep her tone light and joking. "I frequently call into question his mental state; may I remind you of a certain secret plan to fight inflation?" A chuckle rippled through the room.
"Seriously, C.J."
"The White House has no further comment at this time. That's it for now, folks." C.J. removed her notebook from the podium and exited the room, heading for her office. Danny Concannon fell into step beside her.
"They're making some pretty strong allegations. Look, I like Josh, I really do. He's been through a lot this year and I don't want to see him hurt."
C.J. stopped and turned toward the reporter. "There is nothing to these allegations. Just a bunch of windbags blowing hot air about someone they don't like. He doesn't need this right now." C.J. looked down at her notebook and turned away from Danny. "I've got to go." She walked away from him without another word.
C.J. dropped into the chair behind her desk and pushed her hair out of her eyes with the back of her hand. Danny's questions echoed in her mind as she remembered the events of the morning's Senior Staff meeting in the Oval Office. She was concerned for Josh. She'd been incredibly busy all day, and had not had the opportunity to check on her friend. She pushed herself to her feet and heading out of her office.
She found Josh's door closed and Donna's desk empty. She could hear Josh's voice faintly through the heavy wood. She knocked gently and was relieved when the door was opened from within. Donna gave her a small smile and held a finger to her lips to request silence. Josh looked up from his desk where he was on the phone. He waved briefly to acknowledge her presence and turned his full attention back to the person to whom he was talking.
C.J. turned to Donna and spoke softly. "I came by." Josh looked up sharply and scowled at her. She lowered her voice a little more. "I came by to see how he's doing."
"He's grumpy." Donna replied quietly, earning another scowl from her boss. Donna flashed him a grin that said 'impervious' before mouthing the words "I'll be right out here" as she pointed over her shoulder to her cubicle. Josh continued to scowl, but nodded in response.
The two women moved out of the office, Donna closing the door behind her. "It's been a rough day." She admitted, leaning against the closed door. "He'll tell you he's fine, but.it's been a rough day." Everything about Donna presented an air of professionalism, everything except her eyes. Her eyes spoke loudly of exhaustion and worry.
C.J. resisted the sudden urge to gather the younger woman into a hug and comfort her. "Do you think he came back too soon?"
"Yes, and Leo agrees with me. In fact, he's ordered Josh to take the next few days off to recuperate."
"I got some questions this afternoon from Danny Concannon. Seems that some of Josh's Republican fan club is shooting off at the mouth." C.J. paused and Donna cocked her head to the side, a puzzled expression on her face. "And I quote, 'There have been several comments made by key Republican leaders that Josh Lyman is no longer fit to meet the demands of his position. A Republican Senator has called into question Josh's mental state.'"
Donna closed her eyes, her shoulders sagged. "He doesn't need this."
"My sentiment exactly."
"We need to keep this away from him."
"That's not going to be easy."
"He's on his second, and last, conference call. It seems to be going well. The only other thing he has today is an appointment with his respiratory therapist. I'm keeping his schedule clear for the afternoon."
"Donna!" Josh bellowed through the closed door.
Donna raised her eyebrows, "Oscar bellows for me."
C.J. chuckled, knowing that Josh would not appreciate his assistant referring to him as a fuzzy green character from a children's show. "I'll catch up with you later." C.J. returned to her office as Donna slipped back into Josh's.
Georgetown- Monday Night
"Sir. Sir. We're here." The cabbie's voice cut through the fog in Josh's brain. He forced open his eyes and recognized his street and apartment building.
"Thanks." Josh paid the fare and slowly climbed out of the taxi. He gathered himself and started up the steps to his building. He was so tired. Donna had been the one who suggested that he was in no shape to be driving. At the time he had argued with her, but now he was grateful. He wondered if he even had the strength and energy to make it up to his apartment.
Although his schedule had been light, the day had been long and exhausting. It was a day Josh was ready to be done with. He had thought the appointment with the respiratory therapist was going to be short-they would talk a little and he'd be done and on his way home. He should have known better. They had talked for a while; about his attacks and what his triggers were and how to manage the attacks. But then there had been another half hour of breathing exercises. He had been embarrassed when one of the exercises ended in what he'd come to refer to as 'an episode'. The therapist had assured him it was okay. Josh had left exhausted, sore and discouraged; and with another appointment for the following week.
Josh unlocked the door to his apartment and staggered inside. He wanted nothing more then to collapse into bed and sleep. He only made it as far as the couch.
"Hey! Welcome home!" Sam Seaborn suddenly appeared from the kitchen.
"Jesus!" Josh bolted upright, instantly awake, and whirled around on the couch to face Sam. His eyes were wild. "Sam! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Josh sank back on the couch briefly closing his eyes. The pounding of his heart filled his ears.
"Sorry." Sam sat down next to Josh. "I didn't mean to scare you. I figured you'd notice my car parked out front and my stuff." He motioned across the room.
For the first time Josh noticed Sam's trench coat draped over the back of a chair and blue duffle bag and briefcase by the door. He'd practically had to step over the bag to get into the room. Josh groaned. He took Sam's hand and placed it against his chest.
Sam's blue eyes widened when he felt the hammering of Josh's heart. "I really am sorry, man. I didn't mean to scare you so."
"It's alright. Normally I'd have noticed. It's just. it's been a long day and I'm exhausted. I just want to go to sleep."
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes and suddenly something seemed to click in Josh's mind. He turned to look at his friend. "What are you doing here?"
"Huh?"
"Why are you here?"
"Because I'm your best friend." Sam gave a small shrug, as if his answer was the simplest, most obvious answer in the world. Maybe it was.
"You drew the short straw, huh."
"Actually, I had to fight Donna and C.J. for it."
Josh smirked, his dimples showing. "Now that would have been something to see!" He chuckled.
Sam laughed and looked down. "I'm surprised I won." The two friends shared a laugh; a real laugh. "You hungry?"
Josh tipped his head to the side slightly, thinking. "A little." He finally answered.
"Good!" Sam stood and grabbed Josh's hand to pull him to his feet. "'Cause there's some chicken getting cold in the kitchen." Josh allowed himself to be pulled to his feet and pushed into the kitchen; drawing strength from friendship.