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.

A/N – My obsession with the men of Band of Brothers continues. In my sick and twisted imagination, now that I've killed off Ron Livingston, I need a new hottie to fill his shoes. Dr. West looks bizarrely like Damian Lewis, the very handsome British gentleman who plays Captain Winters in the mini- series.

Josh strode up beside C.J. at the Inaugural Ball as the President was making his speech. "C.J?" he asked quietly.

The Press Secretary was watching the President and didn't hear him, so he tried again. "C.J!" he said a little louder.

"Wha?" she stammered, turning to face Josh. "What's up Sparky?"

"What do you know about Doctor Curtis West?" he demanded, his eyes darting over to where Curtis and Ellie were sitting, watching the President's speech. Curtis's arm was draped casually across the back of her chair and the simple, intimate action was driving Josh mad with jealously.

"You mean other than the fact that he's gorgeous?" C.J. asked.

"Yes, C.J.," he replied angrily, "I mean other than the fact that's gorgeous."

"Doctor Curtis Phillip George West, age 35," she rattled off, "graduated from Oxford University with a degree in biology, then from Oxford Medical School. Trained for a few years as a neurosurgeon, then joined the Doctors without Borders program and has been in the Congo pretty much ever since."

"What's his shoe size?" Josh asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"Can't help you there," she shrugged. "Feeling a little jealous that your ex-girlfriend is here with someone else?"

"First of all, where do you get off calling her my ex-girlfriend? I don't recall any break-up," he angrily. "Second of all...."

"You don't have a second of all?" she asked after his long pause.

"Give me time, I'll think of one," he muttered as the President finished his speech. The assembled crowd rose to their feet, engaging him in a standing ovation that seemed to last forever. When the applause finally subsided, Bartlet thanked them and introduced the entertainment for the evening, Harry Connick, Jr., who immediately launched into one of the Bartlets' favorite songs – "The Very Thought of You."

The President led Abbey out onto the dance floor and was followed almost immediately by Zoey and Charlie; Liz and her husband Doug; and Ellie and Curtis. Josh felt the bile rising in his throat at the sight of Curtis wrapping one arm around Ellie's waist. His other hand captured hers, bringing their intertwined fingers between them and Ellie smiled. She smiled brighter than he'd ever seen her smile. Flash bulbs popped incessantly around them – something Josh should have been prepared for. He could almost see the headlines tomorrow – "Ellie Bartlet has a new love"; "Josh Lyman helpless as British doctor woos President's daughter".

"You need a drink," Sam stated plainly, hurtling Josh's thoughts back to reality. He took the vodka martini his best friend offered and downed it.

"Thanks," Josh muttered, watching Ellie laugh as Curtis twirled her.

"If it's any consolation," Sam offered, "he seems really nice. I met him earlier and he's really quite charming. Did you know that his cousin is Queen..."

Josh turned and glared at him. "Sam."

"Yeah," Sam answered. "I'll shut up now."

"Thank you," Josh muttered. "They're comfortable," he added absent- mindedly.

"Huh?" C.J. asked.

"Ellie and Dr. Congo," he answered, pointing at them with his drink. "They look comfortable together. They've danced together before."

C.J. nodded and shrugged. "Probably. They've known each other since birth. Does that bother you?"

"The whole damn thing bothers me, C.J.!" he bellowed. "My girlfriend is out there dancing with a handsome British doctor, the press is swarming all over them, and I'm just standing here."

"What do you want to do, Sparky?" C.J. asked. "Run out onto the dance floor and break them up?"

"Yes!" he shouted.

"Well, don't," she advised. "Not unless you really want to create headlines."

"So, I'm supposed to just stand here?" he demanded, his hands planted firmly on his hips.

"Yes," C.J. answered haughtily. "She engineered this, Josh. She brought Curtis to a very public event, knowing that there is absolutely nothing you'd be able to do about it."

"You seem proud of her," he shot back irritably.

"She's a girl after my own heart, Josh, I have to admit it," C.J. answered with a shrug.

"Well, it's wrong," he spat out.

"Hate that for you," she answered as the song ended. The crowd applauded and Harry launched into a song from his new album. Josh shifted his weight uncomfortably from one foot the other, tugging on his bow tie as he watched Curtis pull Ellie even closer to him, an action she really didn't seem to mind.

"I gotta get out of here," he muttered angrily, heading for the exit. He stepped out into the crisp Washington night, ripping his bow tie from his neck. He ran a hand through his hair and blew out a deep breath.

"J?" He turned to face the familiar voice. An old friend from college, Amy Gardner, was leaning against a column, her black halter gown slightly obscured by her coat. He'd had a meeting with her three weeks ago and she'd thrown a water balloon at him.

"Hi," he said, fighting the grin tugging at his lips. "What are you doing here?"

"I was invited," she answered with a smile. "What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be inside celebrating your victory?"

He surrendered finally to the grin. "I wasn't really feeling like celebrating."

"Neither would I if my girlfriend was inside dancing with some hot guy," she mused.

He wasn't sure what possessed him, but he raised his hand, stopping her. "Ex-girlfriend," he clarified, the words surprising even him.

She grinned. "You wanna dance?"

"With you?" he asked curiously.

"Nah, I was just asking in general, J."

"Oh, okay," he answered, reaching out to take her hand. They stopped just inside the door for Amy to return her coat to Coat Check; then he led them back into the ballroom and onto the dance floor. If Ellie noticed them, she didn't acknowledge it. She was laughing brightly at something Curtis was telling her. He pulled Amy in close, catching a wisp of her perfume when he wrapped his arms around her tightly. "You look beautiful," he told her.

"Thanks," she answered. "I dressed up just for you."

He was taken aback. "Really?"

"No," she replied.

"Amy, you crack me up," he laughed, dipping her in time to the music.

TBC...