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.

This is a VERY short chapter – but it sets the stage for everything else to come.

Ellie placed a final item, her hairbrush, into her suitcase and snapped the latches shut. She turned to place the case on the floor and noticed Josh standing in the doorway, staring at her. It wasn't the first time she'd caught him like that, but she was still caught off guard by the intense feelings his gaze created in her.

"You're leaving?" he asked quietly, stepping inside the room.

"Kind of looks that way," she answered, just as quietly.

His eyes traveled over the suitcases sitting on the floor beside the bed. "Why?" he asked.

Ellie smiled weakly and sat down on the bed. "David is going to be home for a while and I'd like to spend some time with him before my residency begins," she explained. She hoped he couldn't sense that she was lying through her teeth.

Josh swallowed hard and sat down beside her on the bed. "Ellie, if I've done anything..."

Ellie shook her head and stared at him. "No, Josh, why would you think that?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, things have just been different the past few days. I get the feeling that you're mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you," she said quietly.

"Then why?" he said desperately, turning to face her. "We can use David on the campaign trail. He's in the military, Ellie, we can use that."

"First of all, Josh," she answered, "I don't want you using my husband. Second of all – he's gone all the time and I want to be with him as much as I can."

"But you can be with him here."

She shook her head. "No, Josh, I can't. I'm busy on the road, constantly. That's not exactly good quality time."

"I'm going to miss you," he said absent-mindedly.

She laughed. "Josh, you won't have time to miss me. The elections are twelve weeks away."

He smiled his lop-sided smile. "Eleven weeks, two days, sixteen hours and 52 minutes," he clarified, looking at his watch and then added, "I'll find time to miss you." He sensed her discomfort at his revelation. Bravery, or stupidity, somehow found him. "You're leaving because of this, aren't you?" he asked quickly.

Ellie swallowed hard and stood. "I don't know what you're talking about, Josh."

He grabbed her arm. "I'm not crazy, Ellie, there's something between us, isn't there?"

When her eyes met his, there was such sadness behind them that Josh was heartbroken. "Josh, please don't do this," she whispered, "I'm married."

"I know, and that sucks, but just tell me I'm not crazy, Ellie," he begged.

Ellie reached down and touched his cheek with her fingertips. "You're not crazy."

She bent down and picked up her purse; then walked toward the door. She opened it and turned back to him. "Goodbye, Josh."

TBC....