Title: Campaign Snapshots: General Chaos Part 3/3
Author: Kansas J. Miller
Genre: Ensemble, multiple pairings
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: This is a pre-WH, campaign-fic, but there are spoilers through S5.
Summary: Follows the eight-part "Campaign Snapshots: Primary Colors" series, which can be found at my site.
This takes place in the months following the primary elections but pre- convention. A convention story will eventually be a part of this series.
Thanks to Rhonda, as always.
~*~
As the dusk fell over Manhattan, Kansas, Danny was not looking forward to spending another night in middle-America. It was too wide-open and vast; the sky was too big, and out there in the center of the country, every direction looked like a good way to run. As he ordered a steak and another beer from the hotel restaurant's bar, the reporter considered going back to D.C. It wouldn't be too hard to take over his old White House beat; Danny was scheduled to return there after the election anyway. His editor would understand if he gave a plausible reason: he really just wasn't cut out for on-the-road life; his best work was done when he was sniffing around the familiar institutions of the Washington beltway.
Truth be told, Danny knew he was thinking of leaving just so he could put a little distance between him and CJ. They were both going to lose their minds if they spent another sleepless night chatting till dawn; they were both going to go crazy if they had to be in a room together without touching. The feelings were starting to overwhelm them both; it would be easier to hold up the illusion of "just friends" if a few thousand miles separated her body from his.
It took Danny a moment to realize that Toby Ziegler had taken the stool beside him. The familiar voice and the even more familiar order for a Jack Daniels caused the reporter to turn his head.
"Hey, Toby."
The bearded, intimidating man nodded. "Danny."
"How goes it?"
Toby nodded politely at the bar tender as she slid him his drink. After a long sip, the speechwriter turned to Danny. "We're doing Nightline tonight."
Danny nodded. "Yeah, I saw that Mrs. Bartlet was in for that."
"CJ will probably brief before then," Toby casually remarked, his eyes wandering around the bar.
Danny nodded, wishing he could control the sensation her name alone made in his stomach. "Everyone looks tired today; I heard you guys knocked back a few last night."
Toby smirked. "You either talked to CJ or got one look at Josh today."
Danny grinned. "He's never been able to hold his liquor, boy."
Toby suddenly turned on his stool, facing Danny with purpose. "I know CJ pretty well, Danny, but it doesn't take a fifteen-year friendship with her to see that you two have something going on."
Danny slid his eyes over until he met Toby's dark, brooding pair. Keeping calm, not wanting to give away a thing, Danny swallowed and spoke slowly. "We're building a really good friendship. I like working with her. "
Toby sipped his drink. "She's attractive, she's smart, and there's just something about her. Believe me, I know. But for her sake, don't push it. Don't, Danny, it's just going to lead you both down the wrong road."
Danny squinted his eyes at the speechwriter, not sure if he was offended or just annoyed at the presumption. "What CJ chooses to do with her personal life is far from your business, Toby, or am I wrong?"
Toby cocked his head and smirked. "Nothing is personal when it affects this campaign. Your career and hers, right now, could really do without a relationship muddying up the waters."
"My relationship with CJ isn't going to hurt the Governor," Danny said coolly, cutting into his steak as it was placed in front of him. "I wouldn't let that happen."
"I'd never dream of telling CJ what to do," Toby replied, brushing past Danny's comments. "But I have no problem giving you some helpful hints."
Danny continued to play it easy, chewing his food carefully and trying to ignore the anger boiling inside of him. "Well, here's a helpful hint for you. CJ's an adult. You have no place coming to me – or her, for that matter – with this. Get up, walk away from this conversation right now, and we'll forget it ever happened."
Toby threw a few bills down on the bar and stood up. "I'm just looking out for everybody's best interests."
Danny watched the speechwriter walk out of the bar, and as he turned back to his dinner, an uneasy feeling washed over the reporter. Nothing, he moaned inwardly, nothing was ever cut and dry. Nothing could be easy anymore.
~*~
Donna chewed on a French fry and listened to the CNN news, watching for any mention of the Bartlet campaign's selection of a running mate. Josh and Leo had been waiting for weeks, expecting Senator John Hoynes to announce his endorsement of the Governor, but so far, no such statement had been put out. It was just another testament to Hoynes' animosity towards Governor Bartlet; Josh was especially annoyed, for he had a feeling that it was going to come down to Bartlet *asking* Hoynes to run with him.
"Anything?" he called from the hallway.
Donna, Indian-style on the bed, looked out into the hall where Josh and Leo had stopped to talk. "No!" she called. "But Victor Post, in response to the question of who they'd like to see as running mate, said that it couldn't matter less – 'Governor Bartlet does a fine job of alienating Americans all on his own'."
Josh waved once at Leo and walked into the hotel room, closing the door. "The White House *press secretary* said that? Are you kidding me?"
Donna shook her head and popped another fry into her mouth. "Live at the four o'clock briefing. It's maybe the third or fourth story on all the newscasts I've been watching. Sam and CJ are prepping a response that the Governor can use if Ted Koppel asks him about it tonight."
Josh rubbed his eyes and sighed with frustration. "That White House is full to bursting with idiots."
At that moment, Josh's cell burst to life, jumping across the bed comforter as it simultaneously rang and vibrated. Donna grinned teasingly as she reached back to answer it. "Gosh, I'm surprised you don't miss all of your phone calls."
Josh shrugged distractedly as he sat down at the side table. "Just answer it," he muttered, flipping through the recent polling data that Leo had just delivered.
"Josh Lyman...I'm sorry? No, this is Donna. Wait a minute! Excuse me, Mandy, but it's really not my fault if he didn't return your—"
Josh's head shot up as he heard his assistant invoke the name of his girlfriend. "Mandy?"
Donna stood up off of the bed, anger written on her face. "Mandy! You don't need to—you can't blame that on—Mandy! Stop yelling! "
Josh was taken aback; he stood and reached for the phone. "What's going on?"
Donna practically chucked the phone at her boss. "Your girlfriend is a psycho!" the blonde hissed, stunned at the way Mandy had launched into an attack; the woman was crazy!
Josh put the phone to his ear, slightly concerned as the blonde returned to her seat, annoyance over her expression. "Mandy, you gotta stop bitch-slapping the first person you come across—oh, well, then maybe you need to grow up and get a little anger management therapy...That's right, I said therapy!"
As Josh continued to verbally tangle with his girlfriend, Donna rolled her eyes and moved to answer the door, which was now loudly being knocked upon. As Josh's voice began to rise, Donna cracked open the door, glad to find only CJ and not a member of the Press Corp. No one really needed to witness the shouting match going on inside the room, but at least it was one of their own.
"Hey," CJ grinned. "Could you find out if Josh knows that—what the hell?"
Donna sighed and smiled falsely. "One day, if I work really hard, I might be in a relationship just that happy."
CJ chuckled. "That woman is in a perpetual state of PMS. Have you guys seen the most recent White House briefing?"
Donna shook her head as her face adopted a smirk. "Oh, we saw it all right."
It was CJ's turn to shake her head. "Tell Josh he's got e-mail - the response Sam and I put together. I'm briefing Governor later, so he's got some time to get back to me if there's a problem."
Donna nodded and the two women cringed as Josh's voice reached a particularly angry octave. Without a word, both women exchanged knowing eyes. Donna shut the door and CJ had to chuckle as she headed off down the hallway to find herself some dinner.
~*~
Danny was angry and upset as he headed down the hallway towards his room. Toby Ziegler had some nerve coming to him with a warning against seeing CJ. How did Toby know that anything was going on between them? It wasn't anyone's business, the truth of the matter beside the point. And as it happened, he and CJ hadn't shared anything physical in months! Danny's blood pressure continued to rise as he searched for his room key; if he didn't value his job so much, the reporter knew he'd have half a mind to go and club the hell out of a certain Bartlet senior political advisor.
"Having some trouble there?"
Danny looked up to find an amused, smirking, good-natured CJ. Her lips were curled up into a half-grin, and Danny thought she looked pleased to see him. The reporter could only sigh. "This evening is not going well."
CJ followed Danny into his room as he finally was able to get the door unlocked. She crossed her arms curiously over her chest and watched as the reporter threw clothes and newspapers from his dresser onto his bed. "What happened?" CJ asked, her concern growing as she watched Danny pick up his suitcase.
Danny cast a glance at CJ, fighting his every urge to tell her. "Don't worry about it."
CJ narrowed her brow. "Then why are you thrashing around like you're about to pack up and blow town?"
Danny threw a folded shirt and his toothbrush into the open suitcase before meeting the taller woman's eyes. "Because at the moment, packing up and blowing town sounds like a really good idea."
CJ cocked her head and took a few steps closer to the reporter as he continued to take things off of the side table. "Danny, seriously, what happened?"
Danny suddenly stopped arranging items in his bag and turned to CJ, pulling her close to him without thinking. One arm around her waist, his other hand thrusting up into her hair, and his mouth plundering hers with all the heat of his anger and his passion. CJ responded in kind, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as their bodies magnetically connected. The kiss was not soft or gentle, but charged and emotional, full of all the things that Danny wished he could tell her instead.
When the finally parted for air, both of their breaths were ragged. CJ's blue eyes were wide, and it took her a minute to find words. "What the hell was that?"
Danny searched CJ's expression and moved again to kiss her. Before his mouth could return to hers, CJ's fingers caught his beard. "No. Talk to me."
With a heavy, frustrated sigh, Danny dropped his arms from around CJ's body and he returned to his suitcase. "I'm going back to Washington."
Surprised, CJ stepped aside as Danny headed for the closet. "What? Why?"
Danny stopped in front of the press expert as he retreated from the closet, a suit jacket on a hanger in his hand. "If I told you, you might not like me anymore, and you might like Toby even less, so let's just not talk about it."
CJ cocked her head, annoyance beginning to creep into her tone. "Danny, I'm not in the mood for a game! Are you leaving because of me? If you are that's completely—"
CJ stopped suddenly, a knock on the door breaking into the tension. Without meeting her eyes, Danny moved past CJ to answer it. Flinging the door open without a word, Danny left it open for CJ to see who was there.
Sam cleared his throat, noting the uncomfortable air in the room. "I'm sorry, CJ, Carol guessed you might be here. I need you for five minutes on the thing for tonight."
"Yeah," CJ said distractedly, glancing back at Danny as she began walking out of the room. "Right behind you, Sam."
The reporter kept folding his clothes, not looking up to meet CJ's stare. No matter how out of place he'd been, Toby had also been right; Danny couldn't see CJ socially. Maybe down the road, things would work out, but as Danny continued to pack up his room, he knew that after months of being on the road with CJ and the Bartlet campaign, he really needed just a little time and space. As the hotel room door shut angrily closed, Danny briefly shut his eyes. It was all for the best.
~*~
Josh sat down at the desk in his hotel room and looked through the door that connected his room to Donna's. She, too, was seated at her desk, and though she shared her room with Carol, the blonde was alone right now. Josh grinned.
"Sorry that Mandy went postal on you like that."
Donna looked up and smirked. "Sorry you're dating her."
Josh cocked his head. "Are you going to offer any better alternatives?"
Donna's grin widened and she fought a laugh. "Well, Joshua, knowing how arrogant you can be sometime, I can't say you don't always deserve what Mandy doles out. However, I did hear it through the grapevine that Sarah Wissenger had her eye on you. She's cute..."
Josh coughed. "Sarah? From the Manchester office?"
Donna rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Like I said, gossip seems to find its way around this campaign pretty quickly."
Josh's face fell in all seriousness and he got up from his desk. After walking the ten steps into Donna's room, he shut the door and joined her at the desk. "Gossip really does get around on this campaign. All campaigns, actually. Everyone knows everything; nothing is private. It really is hard to keep secrets when you're out on the road like this."
Donna's expression also grew serious and her stomach adopted nerves. "Are you trying to hint at something?"
Josh cocked his head and held Donna's gaze. "Sam just broke an engagement, Donna, and he's not in the best place, personally. Be gentle with him if you two are going to—"
Donna stood up, her face full of horror. "Did you hear something?"
Josh's voice dropped to a more calming level as he motioned for his assistant to sit back down. "Shhh. I guessed; it wasn't hard. Sam and I have been friends for quite a while."
Donna felt her face flushing with embarrassment, and she covered her eyes with both hands. "Oh my God."
Josh waited for Donna to uncover her eyes, and he was unnerved at the slight twinge of jealousy he felt flash through him. Why should he mind if Sam had been spending some time with Donna? It was no big deal...after all, he had Mandy. But as he continued to watch the blonde fight her embarrassment, Josh couldn't help but wish he were in Sam's position. It scared Josh, but mostly, it just made sense.
~*~
After she had finished working with Sam, CJ fumed her way down to the hotel lobby, where she knew she would find her old friend Toby. True her to hunch, the bearded speechwriter had his laptop set up in a corner. He sat in a low easy chair, working away in solitude as the eight o'clock hour approached.
CJ forwent a greeting. "What did you say to Danny Concannon?"
Toby looked up and lowered the screen of his laptop. His reply was calm. "We spoke earlier tonight, in the bar."
CJ's eyes were angry and her hands were placed threateningly on her hips. She was not in the mood for Toby's characteristic evasions. "And *what* did you speak about?"
Toby waved a hand casually through the air, knowing he wasn't at all hiding the truth from his old friend. "We talked about our jobs, the campaign, how well things seem to be going."
"Bull shit, Toby! Cut it!" CJ cried, not caring one bit who was in the lobby to hear her vicious tone. She narrowed her eyes at her longtime friend. "Stay out of my personal life!"
Toby stood up, following CJ as she brusquely breezed past him. She was heading angrily through the lobby towards the pool deck. Grabbing her by the elbow before she could reach the terrace door, Toby spun the tall woman around. "No. I won't stay out of your personal life when I can see it affecting your job – our job – a Presidential election, CJ! Don't be stupid! You can't creep around with a reporter!"
CJ seethed, her face just inches from Toby's and the anger spitting fire between them. Toby was right, and it ate her up inside. She took a deep breath and wrenched her arm away from his hand. "Don't touch me, ever again."
Toby's heart drummed in his chest as CJ breezed furiously past him. He turned and watched as she walked through the lobby, her heels clicking angrily on the tiled floor. Taking a deep breath, Toby returned to his laptop, more distracted than ever. There was nothing he could do now, and besides, it was all for the best.
~*~
Abbey Bartlet was happy to see her husband. Being separated from him while he was on the road campaigning was hard, but there was nothing Abbey could do while her daughter was still at home. She was due to graduate high school in six weeks, old enough to stay home alone, but Abbey was unwilling; being a parent transcended all things, even a Presidential campaign.
"Has she given any more thought to going straight to college in the fall?" Jed asked as he rolled up his sleeve.
Abbey glanced back at her husband before continuing to root through her medical bag. Coming up with the proper syringe she needed, the brunette doctor sighed. "Now that you've got the nominations sewn up, Jed, I think what she really wants is to take a year off and be out on the road with us. I'm inclined to say yes – how many times in a lifetime does that chance happen?"
Jed had to concede. "And it's not like she hasn't already amassed Lord-knows how many AP credits."
Abbey nodded as she took Jed's arm in her hand and swapped his skin with rubbing alcohol. "I'll let her know that you're on board when I call her later. Hold still and this won't hurt too badly."
Jed winced as he felt the needle slip under his skin; the injections were painful but necessary. Abbey was skilled, but Jed loathed the situation.
CJ's voice suddenly broke into the room as the door cracked open. "Good evening, Governor, Mrs. Bartlet. I just wanted to brief you on—oh, I'm sorry," CJ's tone nervously dropped she quickly backed out of the room.
Abbey and Jed exchanged sudden and worried glances, and Abbey quickly finished up the medical procedure. "That's okay, CJ, we'll be ready in a moment, " she called, hoping the press secretary hadn't gotten a clear view of what they'd been doing.
Jed's expression was full of tension, and again he cursed the situation. He should have told Leo about this upfront; he should never have been out on the campaign trail like this. But then again, it was all so inevitable. "Damn-it," the Governor muttered, staring down at the hotel room floor. "Damn-it!"
Abbey quickly disposed of the needle she'd used, and after removing all of the medical apparatus from sight, she joined her husband on the bed. Sitting beside him, she slipped a hand through his and said nothing.
~*~
CJ, Sam, Toby, and Josh, stood in a silent line behind the cameras. The Governor and Abigail Bartlet were both seated behind a set desk, made- up and wired, ready for the interview to begin. CJ looked at the large, red- lettered countdown clock. Two minutes.
As she waited, CJ's thoughts swirled. She wasn't sure what she had seen when she'd walked into the Governor's suite earlier in the evening. CJ knew she probably should have knocked a bit louder, but no one had answered, and walking in somehow seemed appropriate. Had Abbey been using a needle, giving the Governor an injection of something? Or was her already- emotional mind playing tricks on her? CJ felt a rock in the pit of her stomach, and she knew she would never ask the question.
Toby stole a glance at CJ, hoping she would cool down and forgive him for approaching Danny. He understood CJ's anger; Toby could see that she'd been affected by Danny and whatever had been brewing between them. But it just couldn't go on, no matter how insensitive he looked saying it out loud. He'd heard via the grapevine that Danny had left the campaign trail. Toby sighed and felt a sudden urge to smoke. He'd bet good money that Danny Concannon was planning to install himself back in the White House Press Room. If they won the election, Toby knew he'd have to find a way to keep them apart.
Sam had noticed that CJ and Toby were not speaking, but there were other things on his mind as he stood in the ABC studio. Donna had come to him before they'd left for the taping. Josh was onto them, and not that they had any real secrets to keep, but Sam knew it couldn't become common knowledge. He'd already made more mistakes than he could count in his personal life; Sam knew he couldn't sacrifice another ounce of his energy on women. The White House was hanging in the balance, and they still had over five months of hard campaigning to go. Sam was about to become a single-focus man.
Josh stood next to his longtime friend and wondered just what had happened between him and Donna. Had they kissed? Or was it more? How many times? Would it happen again? Josh knew he was obsessing, and more so than the constant stream of thoughts, Josh was upset by the *implications* of his sudden preoccupation. What did he care how Donna spent what little personal time the campaign afforded her? It wasn't his business, or so Josh tried to tell himself as he stood staring into the space behind the line of Nightline cameras.
As the large clock announced that a full minute remained before the Bartlet segment, Jed studied the four members of his staff who had accompanied him to the Nightline interview. They each looked consumed, their faces full of distraction and anxiety, and no one was saying a word.
Jed sighed, knowing how hard those four and so many others had been working since the fall. It was a terrible weight to bear, seeing their toil, feeling the passion that they all shared. They were in this race together, a Presidential bid not so much one man against another, but a whole body of minds fighting for a common ideology. They were in this thing for change, for revolution, for the natural progression of transformation that their nation was surely destined for. Jed Bartlet hoped he would not let them down, and as the clock ticked closer to zero, he knew that they still had miles and miles to go.
End
Author: Kansas J. Miller
Genre: Ensemble, multiple pairings
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: This is a pre-WH, campaign-fic, but there are spoilers through S5.
Summary: Follows the eight-part "Campaign Snapshots: Primary Colors" series, which can be found at my site.
This takes place in the months following the primary elections but pre- convention. A convention story will eventually be a part of this series.
Thanks to Rhonda, as always.
~*~
As the dusk fell over Manhattan, Kansas, Danny was not looking forward to spending another night in middle-America. It was too wide-open and vast; the sky was too big, and out there in the center of the country, every direction looked like a good way to run. As he ordered a steak and another beer from the hotel restaurant's bar, the reporter considered going back to D.C. It wouldn't be too hard to take over his old White House beat; Danny was scheduled to return there after the election anyway. His editor would understand if he gave a plausible reason: he really just wasn't cut out for on-the-road life; his best work was done when he was sniffing around the familiar institutions of the Washington beltway.
Truth be told, Danny knew he was thinking of leaving just so he could put a little distance between him and CJ. They were both going to lose their minds if they spent another sleepless night chatting till dawn; they were both going to go crazy if they had to be in a room together without touching. The feelings were starting to overwhelm them both; it would be easier to hold up the illusion of "just friends" if a few thousand miles separated her body from his.
It took Danny a moment to realize that Toby Ziegler had taken the stool beside him. The familiar voice and the even more familiar order for a Jack Daniels caused the reporter to turn his head.
"Hey, Toby."
The bearded, intimidating man nodded. "Danny."
"How goes it?"
Toby nodded politely at the bar tender as she slid him his drink. After a long sip, the speechwriter turned to Danny. "We're doing Nightline tonight."
Danny nodded. "Yeah, I saw that Mrs. Bartlet was in for that."
"CJ will probably brief before then," Toby casually remarked, his eyes wandering around the bar.
Danny nodded, wishing he could control the sensation her name alone made in his stomach. "Everyone looks tired today; I heard you guys knocked back a few last night."
Toby smirked. "You either talked to CJ or got one look at Josh today."
Danny grinned. "He's never been able to hold his liquor, boy."
Toby suddenly turned on his stool, facing Danny with purpose. "I know CJ pretty well, Danny, but it doesn't take a fifteen-year friendship with her to see that you two have something going on."
Danny slid his eyes over until he met Toby's dark, brooding pair. Keeping calm, not wanting to give away a thing, Danny swallowed and spoke slowly. "We're building a really good friendship. I like working with her. "
Toby sipped his drink. "She's attractive, she's smart, and there's just something about her. Believe me, I know. But for her sake, don't push it. Don't, Danny, it's just going to lead you both down the wrong road."
Danny squinted his eyes at the speechwriter, not sure if he was offended or just annoyed at the presumption. "What CJ chooses to do with her personal life is far from your business, Toby, or am I wrong?"
Toby cocked his head and smirked. "Nothing is personal when it affects this campaign. Your career and hers, right now, could really do without a relationship muddying up the waters."
"My relationship with CJ isn't going to hurt the Governor," Danny said coolly, cutting into his steak as it was placed in front of him. "I wouldn't let that happen."
"I'd never dream of telling CJ what to do," Toby replied, brushing past Danny's comments. "But I have no problem giving you some helpful hints."
Danny continued to play it easy, chewing his food carefully and trying to ignore the anger boiling inside of him. "Well, here's a helpful hint for you. CJ's an adult. You have no place coming to me – or her, for that matter – with this. Get up, walk away from this conversation right now, and we'll forget it ever happened."
Toby threw a few bills down on the bar and stood up. "I'm just looking out for everybody's best interests."
Danny watched the speechwriter walk out of the bar, and as he turned back to his dinner, an uneasy feeling washed over the reporter. Nothing, he moaned inwardly, nothing was ever cut and dry. Nothing could be easy anymore.
~*~
Donna chewed on a French fry and listened to the CNN news, watching for any mention of the Bartlet campaign's selection of a running mate. Josh and Leo had been waiting for weeks, expecting Senator John Hoynes to announce his endorsement of the Governor, but so far, no such statement had been put out. It was just another testament to Hoynes' animosity towards Governor Bartlet; Josh was especially annoyed, for he had a feeling that it was going to come down to Bartlet *asking* Hoynes to run with him.
"Anything?" he called from the hallway.
Donna, Indian-style on the bed, looked out into the hall where Josh and Leo had stopped to talk. "No!" she called. "But Victor Post, in response to the question of who they'd like to see as running mate, said that it couldn't matter less – 'Governor Bartlet does a fine job of alienating Americans all on his own'."
Josh waved once at Leo and walked into the hotel room, closing the door. "The White House *press secretary* said that? Are you kidding me?"
Donna shook her head and popped another fry into her mouth. "Live at the four o'clock briefing. It's maybe the third or fourth story on all the newscasts I've been watching. Sam and CJ are prepping a response that the Governor can use if Ted Koppel asks him about it tonight."
Josh rubbed his eyes and sighed with frustration. "That White House is full to bursting with idiots."
At that moment, Josh's cell burst to life, jumping across the bed comforter as it simultaneously rang and vibrated. Donna grinned teasingly as she reached back to answer it. "Gosh, I'm surprised you don't miss all of your phone calls."
Josh shrugged distractedly as he sat down at the side table. "Just answer it," he muttered, flipping through the recent polling data that Leo had just delivered.
"Josh Lyman...I'm sorry? No, this is Donna. Wait a minute! Excuse me, Mandy, but it's really not my fault if he didn't return your—"
Josh's head shot up as he heard his assistant invoke the name of his girlfriend. "Mandy?"
Donna stood up off of the bed, anger written on her face. "Mandy! You don't need to—you can't blame that on—Mandy! Stop yelling! "
Josh was taken aback; he stood and reached for the phone. "What's going on?"
Donna practically chucked the phone at her boss. "Your girlfriend is a psycho!" the blonde hissed, stunned at the way Mandy had launched into an attack; the woman was crazy!
Josh put the phone to his ear, slightly concerned as the blonde returned to her seat, annoyance over her expression. "Mandy, you gotta stop bitch-slapping the first person you come across—oh, well, then maybe you need to grow up and get a little anger management therapy...That's right, I said therapy!"
As Josh continued to verbally tangle with his girlfriend, Donna rolled her eyes and moved to answer the door, which was now loudly being knocked upon. As Josh's voice began to rise, Donna cracked open the door, glad to find only CJ and not a member of the Press Corp. No one really needed to witness the shouting match going on inside the room, but at least it was one of their own.
"Hey," CJ grinned. "Could you find out if Josh knows that—what the hell?"
Donna sighed and smiled falsely. "One day, if I work really hard, I might be in a relationship just that happy."
CJ chuckled. "That woman is in a perpetual state of PMS. Have you guys seen the most recent White House briefing?"
Donna shook her head as her face adopted a smirk. "Oh, we saw it all right."
It was CJ's turn to shake her head. "Tell Josh he's got e-mail - the response Sam and I put together. I'm briefing Governor later, so he's got some time to get back to me if there's a problem."
Donna nodded and the two women cringed as Josh's voice reached a particularly angry octave. Without a word, both women exchanged knowing eyes. Donna shut the door and CJ had to chuckle as she headed off down the hallway to find herself some dinner.
~*~
Danny was angry and upset as he headed down the hallway towards his room. Toby Ziegler had some nerve coming to him with a warning against seeing CJ. How did Toby know that anything was going on between them? It wasn't anyone's business, the truth of the matter beside the point. And as it happened, he and CJ hadn't shared anything physical in months! Danny's blood pressure continued to rise as he searched for his room key; if he didn't value his job so much, the reporter knew he'd have half a mind to go and club the hell out of a certain Bartlet senior political advisor.
"Having some trouble there?"
Danny looked up to find an amused, smirking, good-natured CJ. Her lips were curled up into a half-grin, and Danny thought she looked pleased to see him. The reporter could only sigh. "This evening is not going well."
CJ followed Danny into his room as he finally was able to get the door unlocked. She crossed her arms curiously over her chest and watched as the reporter threw clothes and newspapers from his dresser onto his bed. "What happened?" CJ asked, her concern growing as she watched Danny pick up his suitcase.
Danny cast a glance at CJ, fighting his every urge to tell her. "Don't worry about it."
CJ narrowed her brow. "Then why are you thrashing around like you're about to pack up and blow town?"
Danny threw a folded shirt and his toothbrush into the open suitcase before meeting the taller woman's eyes. "Because at the moment, packing up and blowing town sounds like a really good idea."
CJ cocked her head and took a few steps closer to the reporter as he continued to take things off of the side table. "Danny, seriously, what happened?"
Danny suddenly stopped arranging items in his bag and turned to CJ, pulling her close to him without thinking. One arm around her waist, his other hand thrusting up into her hair, and his mouth plundering hers with all the heat of his anger and his passion. CJ responded in kind, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as their bodies magnetically connected. The kiss was not soft or gentle, but charged and emotional, full of all the things that Danny wished he could tell her instead.
When the finally parted for air, both of their breaths were ragged. CJ's blue eyes were wide, and it took her a minute to find words. "What the hell was that?"
Danny searched CJ's expression and moved again to kiss her. Before his mouth could return to hers, CJ's fingers caught his beard. "No. Talk to me."
With a heavy, frustrated sigh, Danny dropped his arms from around CJ's body and he returned to his suitcase. "I'm going back to Washington."
Surprised, CJ stepped aside as Danny headed for the closet. "What? Why?"
Danny stopped in front of the press expert as he retreated from the closet, a suit jacket on a hanger in his hand. "If I told you, you might not like me anymore, and you might like Toby even less, so let's just not talk about it."
CJ cocked her head, annoyance beginning to creep into her tone. "Danny, I'm not in the mood for a game! Are you leaving because of me? If you are that's completely—"
CJ stopped suddenly, a knock on the door breaking into the tension. Without meeting her eyes, Danny moved past CJ to answer it. Flinging the door open without a word, Danny left it open for CJ to see who was there.
Sam cleared his throat, noting the uncomfortable air in the room. "I'm sorry, CJ, Carol guessed you might be here. I need you for five minutes on the thing for tonight."
"Yeah," CJ said distractedly, glancing back at Danny as she began walking out of the room. "Right behind you, Sam."
The reporter kept folding his clothes, not looking up to meet CJ's stare. No matter how out of place he'd been, Toby had also been right; Danny couldn't see CJ socially. Maybe down the road, things would work out, but as Danny continued to pack up his room, he knew that after months of being on the road with CJ and the Bartlet campaign, he really needed just a little time and space. As the hotel room door shut angrily closed, Danny briefly shut his eyes. It was all for the best.
~*~
Josh sat down at the desk in his hotel room and looked through the door that connected his room to Donna's. She, too, was seated at her desk, and though she shared her room with Carol, the blonde was alone right now. Josh grinned.
"Sorry that Mandy went postal on you like that."
Donna looked up and smirked. "Sorry you're dating her."
Josh cocked his head. "Are you going to offer any better alternatives?"
Donna's grin widened and she fought a laugh. "Well, Joshua, knowing how arrogant you can be sometime, I can't say you don't always deserve what Mandy doles out. However, I did hear it through the grapevine that Sarah Wissenger had her eye on you. She's cute..."
Josh coughed. "Sarah? From the Manchester office?"
Donna rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Like I said, gossip seems to find its way around this campaign pretty quickly."
Josh's face fell in all seriousness and he got up from his desk. After walking the ten steps into Donna's room, he shut the door and joined her at the desk. "Gossip really does get around on this campaign. All campaigns, actually. Everyone knows everything; nothing is private. It really is hard to keep secrets when you're out on the road like this."
Donna's expression also grew serious and her stomach adopted nerves. "Are you trying to hint at something?"
Josh cocked his head and held Donna's gaze. "Sam just broke an engagement, Donna, and he's not in the best place, personally. Be gentle with him if you two are going to—"
Donna stood up, her face full of horror. "Did you hear something?"
Josh's voice dropped to a more calming level as he motioned for his assistant to sit back down. "Shhh. I guessed; it wasn't hard. Sam and I have been friends for quite a while."
Donna felt her face flushing with embarrassment, and she covered her eyes with both hands. "Oh my God."
Josh waited for Donna to uncover her eyes, and he was unnerved at the slight twinge of jealousy he felt flash through him. Why should he mind if Sam had been spending some time with Donna? It was no big deal...after all, he had Mandy. But as he continued to watch the blonde fight her embarrassment, Josh couldn't help but wish he were in Sam's position. It scared Josh, but mostly, it just made sense.
~*~
After she had finished working with Sam, CJ fumed her way down to the hotel lobby, where she knew she would find her old friend Toby. True her to hunch, the bearded speechwriter had his laptop set up in a corner. He sat in a low easy chair, working away in solitude as the eight o'clock hour approached.
CJ forwent a greeting. "What did you say to Danny Concannon?"
Toby looked up and lowered the screen of his laptop. His reply was calm. "We spoke earlier tonight, in the bar."
CJ's eyes were angry and her hands were placed threateningly on her hips. She was not in the mood for Toby's characteristic evasions. "And *what* did you speak about?"
Toby waved a hand casually through the air, knowing he wasn't at all hiding the truth from his old friend. "We talked about our jobs, the campaign, how well things seem to be going."
"Bull shit, Toby! Cut it!" CJ cried, not caring one bit who was in the lobby to hear her vicious tone. She narrowed her eyes at her longtime friend. "Stay out of my personal life!"
Toby stood up, following CJ as she brusquely breezed past him. She was heading angrily through the lobby towards the pool deck. Grabbing her by the elbow before she could reach the terrace door, Toby spun the tall woman around. "No. I won't stay out of your personal life when I can see it affecting your job – our job – a Presidential election, CJ! Don't be stupid! You can't creep around with a reporter!"
CJ seethed, her face just inches from Toby's and the anger spitting fire between them. Toby was right, and it ate her up inside. She took a deep breath and wrenched her arm away from his hand. "Don't touch me, ever again."
Toby's heart drummed in his chest as CJ breezed furiously past him. He turned and watched as she walked through the lobby, her heels clicking angrily on the tiled floor. Taking a deep breath, Toby returned to his laptop, more distracted than ever. There was nothing he could do now, and besides, it was all for the best.
~*~
Abbey Bartlet was happy to see her husband. Being separated from him while he was on the road campaigning was hard, but there was nothing Abbey could do while her daughter was still at home. She was due to graduate high school in six weeks, old enough to stay home alone, but Abbey was unwilling; being a parent transcended all things, even a Presidential campaign.
"Has she given any more thought to going straight to college in the fall?" Jed asked as he rolled up his sleeve.
Abbey glanced back at her husband before continuing to root through her medical bag. Coming up with the proper syringe she needed, the brunette doctor sighed. "Now that you've got the nominations sewn up, Jed, I think what she really wants is to take a year off and be out on the road with us. I'm inclined to say yes – how many times in a lifetime does that chance happen?"
Jed had to concede. "And it's not like she hasn't already amassed Lord-knows how many AP credits."
Abbey nodded as she took Jed's arm in her hand and swapped his skin with rubbing alcohol. "I'll let her know that you're on board when I call her later. Hold still and this won't hurt too badly."
Jed winced as he felt the needle slip under his skin; the injections were painful but necessary. Abbey was skilled, but Jed loathed the situation.
CJ's voice suddenly broke into the room as the door cracked open. "Good evening, Governor, Mrs. Bartlet. I just wanted to brief you on—oh, I'm sorry," CJ's tone nervously dropped she quickly backed out of the room.
Abbey and Jed exchanged sudden and worried glances, and Abbey quickly finished up the medical procedure. "That's okay, CJ, we'll be ready in a moment, " she called, hoping the press secretary hadn't gotten a clear view of what they'd been doing.
Jed's expression was full of tension, and again he cursed the situation. He should have told Leo about this upfront; he should never have been out on the campaign trail like this. But then again, it was all so inevitable. "Damn-it," the Governor muttered, staring down at the hotel room floor. "Damn-it!"
Abbey quickly disposed of the needle she'd used, and after removing all of the medical apparatus from sight, she joined her husband on the bed. Sitting beside him, she slipped a hand through his and said nothing.
~*~
CJ, Sam, Toby, and Josh, stood in a silent line behind the cameras. The Governor and Abigail Bartlet were both seated behind a set desk, made- up and wired, ready for the interview to begin. CJ looked at the large, red- lettered countdown clock. Two minutes.
As she waited, CJ's thoughts swirled. She wasn't sure what she had seen when she'd walked into the Governor's suite earlier in the evening. CJ knew she probably should have knocked a bit louder, but no one had answered, and walking in somehow seemed appropriate. Had Abbey been using a needle, giving the Governor an injection of something? Or was her already- emotional mind playing tricks on her? CJ felt a rock in the pit of her stomach, and she knew she would never ask the question.
Toby stole a glance at CJ, hoping she would cool down and forgive him for approaching Danny. He understood CJ's anger; Toby could see that she'd been affected by Danny and whatever had been brewing between them. But it just couldn't go on, no matter how insensitive he looked saying it out loud. He'd heard via the grapevine that Danny had left the campaign trail. Toby sighed and felt a sudden urge to smoke. He'd bet good money that Danny Concannon was planning to install himself back in the White House Press Room. If they won the election, Toby knew he'd have to find a way to keep them apart.
Sam had noticed that CJ and Toby were not speaking, but there were other things on his mind as he stood in the ABC studio. Donna had come to him before they'd left for the taping. Josh was onto them, and not that they had any real secrets to keep, but Sam knew it couldn't become common knowledge. He'd already made more mistakes than he could count in his personal life; Sam knew he couldn't sacrifice another ounce of his energy on women. The White House was hanging in the balance, and they still had over five months of hard campaigning to go. Sam was about to become a single-focus man.
Josh stood next to his longtime friend and wondered just what had happened between him and Donna. Had they kissed? Or was it more? How many times? Would it happen again? Josh knew he was obsessing, and more so than the constant stream of thoughts, Josh was upset by the *implications* of his sudden preoccupation. What did he care how Donna spent what little personal time the campaign afforded her? It wasn't his business, or so Josh tried to tell himself as he stood staring into the space behind the line of Nightline cameras.
As the large clock announced that a full minute remained before the Bartlet segment, Jed studied the four members of his staff who had accompanied him to the Nightline interview. They each looked consumed, their faces full of distraction and anxiety, and no one was saying a word.
Jed sighed, knowing how hard those four and so many others had been working since the fall. It was a terrible weight to bear, seeing their toil, feeling the passion that they all shared. They were in this race together, a Presidential bid not so much one man against another, but a whole body of minds fighting for a common ideology. They were in this thing for change, for revolution, for the natural progression of transformation that their nation was surely destined for. Jed Bartlet hoped he would not let them down, and as the clock ticked closer to zero, he knew that they still had miles and miles to go.
End
