A/N to anyone who read Another Name In a Textbook: This story, while along
the same lines, is not connected to that one. So please don't try to fit
them together because that will just cause headaches all around.
Also, to all who are interested, the sequel to My Fellow Americans, which is not titled yet, will be up within the next few weeks. I wrote the outline up and have started the first chapter, but I want to get a few done before I post. Plus, finals week. So Chapter 1 will be up before July.
Spoilers: In The Shadow of Two Gunmen part 1. Obviously diverts from there.
Disclaimer: The West Wing is not mine, nor are any of the characters in this story, with the exception of Carl. And maybe the ambassador to Japan.
CHAPTER 1/6
It was nine thirty on an early autumn Thursday. In the White House it was business as usual. In the Communications bullpen, Sam and Toby were working on a speech for the retirement of the ambassador to Japan. Toby suggested the occasional use of punctuation while Sam typed feverishly. Down the hall, CJ was with her staff, preparing for the day's fight with the press. Sipping her coffee, she was reading over a report that the President would be supporting proposed tax cuts while her assistant Carol talked on about yet another problem with Vice-President Hoynes. All through the West Wing people were typing, chatting, arguing, flirting, threatening, and working. Just a normal day.
Donna sat at her desk typing a report for Leo. For a while it had been strange to have her orders coming directly from him but after nearly a year and a half she'd gotten used to it.
Her eyes strayed to the empty office beside her. All of his things had been cleared out about a week after the shootings. Most of it had gone to his mother, but she'd given Donna a framed photo that was currently collecting dust in her drawer. Now the room was bare except for the desk and chair. She remembered that day she'd sent the chair to her friend to fix. That night they went to Rosslyn. That was the night—
She shook her head. She wouldn't think about it. Not now. Occasionally she still cried at night, but never here. Now she had work to do.
"Carl, it's nice to see you again."
Carl Rooney shifted in his chair. "You too, Mr. McGarry."
"Do you know why I called you?"
"Something about a position?"
"Yeah. I want you to be White House Deputy Chief of Staff."
Carl's jaw dropped. "Me?"
"You. We've known each other for a while. I think you'd be right for the job."
"But..."
Leo knew what he was thinking. "This is damn near impossible," he said, "Even after so long. But I need a deputy and I think that you're the guy to do it. Do you accept the job?"
Carl thought for a second. "The President wants you too," Leo said, "I told him that you were a vital part of my staff a few years ago."
"I suppose."
"It's a good job. Respectable if you do it right."
"Could I just have a few minutes to think about it?"
"Sure."
Deputy Chief of Staff. How badly would the rest of the staff take that? He'd be trying to replace their dead friend. But maybe they would understand. Plus, he could definitely use the job. His mother had cancer and he was paying her medical bills.
"I'll do it." He said.
"Good." Leo said. He shook Carl's hand. "Welcome to the White House. Let's go introduce you to your staff."
Donna saw Leo come in with another man. He was short and nervous looking, with gray-blonde hair. She stood up and waited for one of them to speak.
"Donna, sit down." Leo said, slightly exasperated. He'd been telling her this for months.
She sat. "This is Donna Moss. She's Senior Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff."
Donna held out her hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Donna, this is Carl Rooney. I'm hiring him as my deputy."
Donna froze, her hand still in Carl's. Deputy?
TBC......
A/N: Yes, I am aware that Leo probably would've hired a new deputy long before now, but for the sake of the story, let's just say he had his staff doing extra work to make up for Josh not being there. So please don't argue that point in any reviews.
Also, to all who are interested, the sequel to My Fellow Americans, which is not titled yet, will be up within the next few weeks. I wrote the outline up and have started the first chapter, but I want to get a few done before I post. Plus, finals week. So Chapter 1 will be up before July.
Spoilers: In The Shadow of Two Gunmen part 1. Obviously diverts from there.
Disclaimer: The West Wing is not mine, nor are any of the characters in this story, with the exception of Carl. And maybe the ambassador to Japan.
CHAPTER 1/6
It was nine thirty on an early autumn Thursday. In the White House it was business as usual. In the Communications bullpen, Sam and Toby were working on a speech for the retirement of the ambassador to Japan. Toby suggested the occasional use of punctuation while Sam typed feverishly. Down the hall, CJ was with her staff, preparing for the day's fight with the press. Sipping her coffee, she was reading over a report that the President would be supporting proposed tax cuts while her assistant Carol talked on about yet another problem with Vice-President Hoynes. All through the West Wing people were typing, chatting, arguing, flirting, threatening, and working. Just a normal day.
Donna sat at her desk typing a report for Leo. For a while it had been strange to have her orders coming directly from him but after nearly a year and a half she'd gotten used to it.
Her eyes strayed to the empty office beside her. All of his things had been cleared out about a week after the shootings. Most of it had gone to his mother, but she'd given Donna a framed photo that was currently collecting dust in her drawer. Now the room was bare except for the desk and chair. She remembered that day she'd sent the chair to her friend to fix. That night they went to Rosslyn. That was the night—
She shook her head. She wouldn't think about it. Not now. Occasionally she still cried at night, but never here. Now she had work to do.
"Carl, it's nice to see you again."
Carl Rooney shifted in his chair. "You too, Mr. McGarry."
"Do you know why I called you?"
"Something about a position?"
"Yeah. I want you to be White House Deputy Chief of Staff."
Carl's jaw dropped. "Me?"
"You. We've known each other for a while. I think you'd be right for the job."
"But..."
Leo knew what he was thinking. "This is damn near impossible," he said, "Even after so long. But I need a deputy and I think that you're the guy to do it. Do you accept the job?"
Carl thought for a second. "The President wants you too," Leo said, "I told him that you were a vital part of my staff a few years ago."
"I suppose."
"It's a good job. Respectable if you do it right."
"Could I just have a few minutes to think about it?"
"Sure."
Deputy Chief of Staff. How badly would the rest of the staff take that? He'd be trying to replace their dead friend. But maybe they would understand. Plus, he could definitely use the job. His mother had cancer and he was paying her medical bills.
"I'll do it." He said.
"Good." Leo said. He shook Carl's hand. "Welcome to the White House. Let's go introduce you to your staff."
Donna saw Leo come in with another man. He was short and nervous looking, with gray-blonde hair. She stood up and waited for one of them to speak.
"Donna, sit down." Leo said, slightly exasperated. He'd been telling her this for months.
She sat. "This is Donna Moss. She's Senior Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff."
Donna held out her hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Donna, this is Carl Rooney. I'm hiring him as my deputy."
Donna froze, her hand still in Carl's. Deputy?
TBC......
A/N: Yes, I am aware that Leo probably would've hired a new deputy long before now, but for the sake of the story, let's just say he had his staff doing extra work to make up for Josh not being there. So please don't argue that point in any reviews.