Disclaimer – I don't own any of these characters – they are the property of NBC, John Wells and the fabulous Aaron Sorkin.

Rating – PG for now

Pairings – Josh/Ellie, Ellie/OC

Spoilers – None

Summary – Josh Lyman meets Eleanor Bartlet during the campaign and falls in love with the young, married medical student. For the purposes of my story, Ellie is several years older in this story and very different than she is on the show.

I've had this story in my head for years, and have finally forged the courage to begin writing. Here's hoping you enjoy it!! The song by Evanescence, "My Immortal" is the soundtrack for the story.

Ellie stood at the podium in Syracuse, whipping the assembled crowd into a frenzy. Josh watched her, amazement at her pubic speaking ability mixed with sheer awe. She looked so comfortable behind the microphone, introducing her father; Josh could picture her as the wife of a politician.

"Ladies and Gentleman, without further ado, here he is, the next President of the United States, Governor Josiah Bartlet!"

The Governor took the stage to much fanfare, embracing his middle daughter and planting a kiss on her cheek. Ellie beamed with pride as she watched him step up to the microphone and she took her seat beside her husband on the stage. David immediately placed his arm on the back of Ellie's chair, leaning over and whispering something into her ear.

She glanced up and caught Josh's eye. He gave her a thumbs-up and Ellie grinned. David tightened his grip on his wife's shoulder, his eyes darting quickly between her and Josh before returning his attention to the Governor's speech.

"She's amazing, isn't she?" Sam whispered in his ear. Josh spun around to face him.

"Yeah," he answered, almost inaudibly.

"Josh?" Sam question, observing the fact that his best friend was intently watching Eleanor.

"I'm not in love with her, Sam," Josh answered the younger man's unspoken question.

"Yeah," he replied quietly.

"Soooo?" Ellie drawled, capturing Josh's elbow as the group made their way out of the hotel ballroom. "How did I do?"

"Eh," Josh scrunched his face up, "I've seen better," he teased.

Ellie stopped in her tracks and stared at him. "Are you kidding me?" she cried. "I had them eating out of the palm of my hand and you say 'I've seen better'? I thought you were supposed to be some kind of political genius."

"About time you realized it," he shot back with a grin. "I'm just kidding, you did great."

"Just great?" she pouted.

"You did fantastic, Doc," he answered honestly, eliciting a huge smile from Ellie.

"Thanks, I learned from the master," she replied.

"Really, Ellie, I didn't have much to do with that speech."

Ellie slapped him on the arm and rolled her eyes. "I was talking about my father, Neanderthal," she shot back. "Really, your ego is the size of Texas."

"Actually, it's about the size of Mexico, but I don't want to get technical."

Ellie rolled her eyes again and sighed dramatically. "David and I are going out for drinks and I think Toby and C.J. are coming, you want to join us?"

Josh glanced back to where David was standing, talking to his father and Sam. "Nah, I think I'll sit this one out, I need my beauty sleep," he explained, "Some of us aren't as naturally gorgeous as you are."

Ellie beamed. "Okay, already, you're forgiven for the 'Eh'. I'll see you later." Ellie spun around and walked away. She grasped David around the waist and whispered something to him. David laughed and kissed the top of her head. Sam glanced back at Josh, and Josh could see his best friend sigh. He slowly made his way over to where Josh was standing.

"Not in love with her, huh?"

"I'm not," Josh answered defiantly.

"Maybe if you keep believing that..." Sam trailed off. "Let's go get a beer," he suggested.

"Yeah," Josh answered quietly, casting another glance at Ellie before he left. She looked over at him and smiled.

"Donna!" Josh yelled, bent over his computer the next afternoon, furiously punching buttons. "Donna!"

Ellie walked into the living room adjoining Josh's suite and stepped up beside him. "You're yelling again, Josh," she commented, looking over his shoulder.

"It's what I do best," he answered irritably, "Deal with it."

"What have you done?" Ellie asked, examining the computer screen, which was completely black.

"I was reading the final draft of the Governor's Convention speech, and now, it's just gone," he cried.

"It can't be gone, Josh."

"Okay, you try and find it," he muttered, handing the laptop to her forcefully.

"Manners, manners," she chided him, sitting down on the arm of the chair while he slumped back. Ellie moved the mouse button around and punched a few keys, handing the computer back to him.

He stared open-mouthed at the screen – the contents of the speech again in plain view. "How," he stammered, "how did you do that?"

"You locked the screen....again," she added. "You've got to stop doing that."

"I'd stop doing it if I knew what the hell I was doing!" he screamed at her retreating form. "Where are you going?"

Ellie stopped and turned around to face him. "Tonight the first night of the Convention, Josh. I've got daughter stuff to do instead of being the assistant to the assistant to the Chief Campaign Neuroses King," she rattled off the lengthy nickname she and Donna had given him.

"You're a funny, funny woman, Ellie."

"Thank you," she answered with a flip of her hair.

Josh heard the lock on the door click and Donna pushed it open with her foot, balancing lunch in her arms. "Where have you been?" Josh asked irritably.

Donna sighed and lay lunch down on the table, ignoring him. She unwrapped a turkey sandwich and handed it to him. "Eat," she commanded.

"I've got to finish this speech," he answered.

"Do two things at once," she shot back. Ellie sauntered back into the living room and placed her hands on her hips.

"He locked the computer screen again," she tattled.

"Josh! We went over that for almost an hour!" Donna screeched.

"Will you BOTH just go away!" Josh hollered, jumping up from the chair with his laptop and sandwich, stalking into the bedroom and slamming the door.

"What was that all about?" Ellie asked curiously, staring blankly at the closed door.

"He's had his panties in a knot for two days," Donna sighed.

"What about?" Ellie wondered aloud.

"Your husband," Donna answered, stopping mid-way into picking up the pens and papers Josh had scattered over the floor when he stood. She stared at Ellie with her mouth open. "Ellie, I..." she stammered.

"What about David?" Ellie asked, her eyes now tinged with hurt. "Josh doesn't like him...what?"

Donna closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "No, he just really likes you. Ellie, I think he's got a crush on you."

Ellie's eyes scanned the floor, as if the patterned carpet could provide her an answer as to why her boss suddenly had a crush on her. She looked up at Donna, tears welling up in her eyes. "I have to go," she said quietly, heading for the door.

"Ellie," Donna called after her, but she was gone.

TBC....