Title: The Gathering Storm
Author: Willow
Summary: Tensions in the White House mount as the rift between Jed and Leo grows.
Spoilers/Episode: Set in an a/u that starts after season 5, Memorial Day. This chapter takes place a week after chapter 2.
Characters: Ensemble
Rating: PG

Friday

Josh and Jed had just finished their fifth meeting of the afternoon. "You understand any of that?" Jed asked as he sat back behind his desk.

"Not really," Josh replied. "How can they possibly know what the economy will be like in ten years time? They have no idea who'll be in government here or throughout the world. They don't know which countries will be at war, what other countries economies will be like by then. They can't possibly predict our balance of trade without knowing what our trading partners economies will be like, or even who they'll be, in ten years."

"Yes," Jed agreed. "See you did understand."

"I understood that it doesn't matter if they're wrong because none of us will be in these jobs by then," Josh smiled.

"That's just how Leo would put it. You're catching on," Jed said with a small smile. "Who's next?"

"I'm done, your next meeting's on Homeland Security. I may know very little about economics, but I know nothing about defense."

Jed watched Josh collect his papers. He enjoyed having Josh staff his meetings. Josh knew just when to speak and when to say nothing, he knew exactly how each meeting effected the last and the next, and he was adept at passing on that information to Jed without it seeming as if the president didn't know what was going on. After almost six years, Jed and Josh had a very good system worked out for the best way to handle meetings. However, Jed knew that Josh wasn't happy about taking on meetings that Leo would normally staff, he also suspected that if he threw much more work at him, Josh might just buckle under the weight. Therefore, as much as he would find it interesting to have Josh staff a defense meeting, he let him leave and waited for Leo.

Josh left the Oval Office and walked past the Roosevelt Room to Leo's office. "Hey," he said.

Leo looked up and took his glasses off. "How's it going?" he asked.

"Busy," Josh replied. "You?"

"Yeah," Leo agreed. "What's up?"

"This report from Coles & Ashland's committee about health checks in schools. We're not going to get involved in that, right?"

"You think it could be controversial?"

"Checks on 14 year olds for sexually transmitted diseases?" Josh asked with a smile. "I think it may be a little controversial, yes."

"Well to be fair, they want to offer free checks to any school kids who are concerned, which could reduce long term effects, not to mention curbing the spread of these diseases."

"Somehow I don't think that's how the AAF & Mary Marsh will see it."

"Which is why we'll be arranging meetings with them."

"I can hardly wait," Josh sighed. "What you doing on Sunday?" he asked.

"Meeting Mallory. You?"

"Barbecue at CJ's."

"Doesn't she get sick of hosting your party every year?"

"You might not want to remind her of that," Josh grinned.

........................................................................................

Sunday 4th Of July

Josh, Toby, Donna, Will and Charlie were all assembled at CJ's apartment for their 4th of July celebrations. They were planning on going to watch the fireworks later, but for now Toby and Josh had taken charge of the barbecue, with Charlie supervising. Will and Donna were making salad and CJ was sorting the drinks.

"What's Leo doing?" Toby asked.

"Meeting Mallory," Josh told him.

Toby nodded. Although he tried to make out that caring about his colleagues wasn't in his nature, he was worried about Leo. "Is he alright?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because he doesn't look it."

"I know," Josh agreed. "I think all this crap with the president is getting him down."

"The president isn't exactly happy about it," Charlie told them.

"Then he should do something about it," Josh replied.

"I don't think it's that easy," Charlie said.

"Why?" Josh asked. "I hate to sound like a school kid, but he started it."

"In fairness we don't know who or what started it," Charlie replied.

Josh glared at Charlie, "So you think this is Leo's fault?"

"I don't know who's fault it is, but I'm sure there's more to it than we're seeing," Charlie told him. "Do you really think the president would shut Leo out without good reason?"

"That's how it looks," Josh replied. "When I left for Germany everything was fine, when I came back it certainly wasn't."

"So you just assume that's the president's fault, that he shut Leo out for no reason?" Charlie asked. "In case you'd forgotten, Leo's quite capable of doing that."

Josh didn't need to ask what he was referring to. "That was completely different," he replied.

"Why?" Charlie asked.

"Okay, stop it," Toby interrupted them. "We're not at work, this is suppose to be a party."

"Yeah," Josh replied. He picked up his drink and went inside to find Donna.

"Sorry," Charlie told Toby. "I'm just sick of everyone assuming this is the president's fault, especially Josh."

"Josh is in a difficult position," CJ told him. "He's the one taking over Leo's work and he feels guilty about that. I know you're loyal to the president but so's Josh."

"He's just more loyal to Leo," Charlie said. "That wasn't a criticism," he quickly added. "I understand why he is."

"I don't know whether he's more loyal to Leo, I think it's a different type of loyalty," CJ said. "He's known him since he was a child; he's actually know him longer than the president has."

Charlie nodded. "I'll talk to him," he said and walked into the kitchen to find Josh because, even though he wasn't going to change his opinion, he didn't want bad feeling between them.

"You think I should go and referee?" CJ asked Toby.

"Donna's in there," Toby replied.

Charlie found Josh sat on a stool in the kitchen drinking a beer while watching Will make coleslaw. "Hey," Charlie said.

"Hey," Josh replied. "You want one?" he offered Charlie a beer.

"Thanks."

"Will can cook," Josh smiled. "Or at least he can make coleslaw."

"I can cook," Will protested. "I'm actually a good cook."

"Then shouldn't you be outside helping with the barbecue?" Charlie asked.

Will looked at Charlie and shook his head. "Me, Toby and hot, sharp implements? Are you insane?" he smiled.

"Good point," Charlie agreed.

Will had wondered why Josh had come in from the garden to sit watching him cut up cabbage. Now he could sense these two needed to talk. "I'll take this out to them," he said and left the kitchen.

"Where's Donna?" Charlie asked.

"Bathroom," Josh replied.

"Sorry," Charlie offered. "About before."

Josh shrugged. "You might be right, there may be more to it. But Leo seems to be the one who's suffering."

"In much the same way you did last year," Charlie couldn't help but point out.

"That was different," Josh replied.

"Why?"

"I don't know," Josh admitted.

"Would you have sided with Leo if this had happened last year?" Charlie asked.

"I'm not siding with Leo," Josh argued. "And yes, probably."

"I don't understand," Charlie said. "Last year you were so angry with him."

"Yeah," Josh agreed.

"Then...?"

"I don't know," Josh repeated. "He's Leo. I don't know, I can't explain it." And that was true, Josh really couldn't explain the loyalty he felt to Leo, at least not out loud. Mallory had once told him that Leo thought of him as a son, which was fine by her because she'd always wanted a big brother. Josh knew that that did have a lot to do with it, he did see Leo as a father figure. But Charlie was wrong, he hadn't been angry last year, he'd been hurt, which may have manifested itself as anger on the surface but it wasn't how he'd felt inside.

"You think they'll sort it?" Charlie asked.

"I hope so. I don't think any of us can go on like this for another two years."

"You two look very serious," Donna said when she joined them.

"We're too hungry to do anything else," Josh smiled. "You want some food?" he asked Donna.

"Yes," Donna replied, "but I don't want my burger cremated," she smiled.

"Your wish is my command," Josh grinned and went outside to get food for himself and Donna.

Once Josh had left, Donna turned to Charlie, "What's going on?"

"I don't understand why he's so blinkered where Leo and the president are concerned," Charlie admitted.

"He's always defended Leo," Donna told him. "You remember Lillienfield and his drugs campaign. Gibson during the hearings. O'Neal earlier this year."

"Doesn't seem to be a two way street," Charlie commented.

"It is, normally," Donna told him. "I thought you liked Leo?"

"I do," charlie protested.

"You're just fed up with everyone blaming the president for what's going on?"

"Yeah."

"Josh understands that," Donna told him. "Let's get some food."

They joined the others in the garden where Josh handed Donna a plate of food. "Thank you, is this to stop me steeling yours?" she asked.

"It's to make sure you eat something," Josh replied.

"I eat."

"You skipped lunch on Friday."

"I ate at my desk," Donna protested. "I'm not off my food. Stop fussing and go and talk to Charlie."

Josh dutifully did as he was told and went to find Charlie, who was back in the kitchen.

"They okay?" CJ asked when Donna sat next to her.

"They're both loyal to their bosses, trouble is their bosses aren't speaking to each other."

"You must be so glad to be back at work," CJ smiled.

Josh found Charlie rooting through CJ's cupboards. "What you lost?" he asked.

"Relish."

"Outside?" Josh suggested.

"Empty, CJ said there was more in here. Ah ha," Charlie smiled as he found the burger relish. "We okay?" he asked Josh.

"'Course we are," Josh replied."We'll just have to agree to differ on this one."

"Or we could devise a cunning plan to get them talking," Charlie suggested with a grin.

"Like getting them trapped in an elevator together?" Josh smiled.

"Or a lockdown with them both in the same office for a a few hours," Charlie said as they walked back into the garden.

"Well it worked for Toby and Will," Josh agreed. "Sort of."

"They're ignoring each other," Charlie said.

"Which is an improvement on yelling at each other," Josh pointed out.

"So a lockdown it is then?" Charlie smiled.

"You think we could get fired for that?" Josh asked.

"I think we could get 10 years in prison for it," Charlie told him.

.................................................................................

By midnight, they were all at Josh's apartment, where they'd gone to after the fireworks. Will was watching the street below, from a chair by the window. CJ and Toby were sat on the couch, she had her feet up and was leaning against him. Charlie was sat in the recliner and Josh and Donna had swapped their usual roles; she was sat in a chair while he was sat on the floor leaning against her leg, her broken leg was up on the coffee table.

"Fireworks were good," Will commented.

"Noisy, hot and crowded," Toby grumbled.

"Grouch," CJ teased.

"How come I have to sit on the floor," Josh asked. "I mean, this is my apartment."

"You're the perfect host," CJ told him and Donna laughed.

"That isn't funny, I'm a good host," Josh protested. "I have to be seeing as everyone usually ends up here anyway."

"Why is that?" Will asked.

"Josh has a large refrigerator," Charlie told him, "it holds a lot of beer. Speaking of which," he smiled.

"Help yourself," Josh told him. "And get me one."

"You have work tomorrow," Donna said.

"Very true," Josh agreed. "I'm also nearly 44 years old and if I want another beer..... "

"Okay," Donna agreed indulgently.

"Could we have watched the fireworks from here?" Will asked, still staring out of the window.

"Yeah, from the roof," Josh replied.

"Then why didn't we?" Toby asked.

"Everyone wanted to follow the crowds," Josh replied.

"I don't like crowds," Toby complained.

"Is there anything you do like?" Will asked and then looked at the others. "Did I say that out loud?"

"Unfortunately," Donna agreed.

"I didn't mean.... " Will began.

"I like loyalty," Toby told him.

"Here we go," Josh laughed and Donna flicked his ear. "Oww," he complained.

"I'm loyal," Will said.

"To yourself," Toby replied.

"To the Democrat Party, to the people I work for and with," Will said.

"To the people you work for?" Toby asked incredulously. "If that's what you call loyalty...."

"Stop it," Josh told him. "There's been enough arguing for today with me and Charlie."

"What have I done?" Charlie asked as hereturned from the kitchen.

"Argued with me," Josh told him.

"Ah yes, but now we know what to do about them."

"You do?" Donna asked.

"They have a cunning plan," CJ told her, "They're going get Leo and the president trapped in a room together for a few hours, that way they'll have to talk."

"What about the Secret Service?" Donna asked.

"You think they'll help?" Josh asked.

"No. I meant how will you get past them?"

"That's a good question," Charlie agreed.

"It's Sunday night," Josh said. "Let's not worry about small details for now," he smiled.

"I think the Secret Service are more than a small detail," CJ said.

"Sam called me earlier," Josh told them. "He's coming out next month." He saw the disbelieving looks on his friends' faces. "No really, this time he is. He has an interview in New York on the 13th, he's coming here after that."

"So he's really serious about moving back east?" CJ asked.

"Yeah," Josh nodded. "Chloe's job starts in September so she's definitely moving."

"Then we'll have a proper night out," Donna said. "He'll miss your birthday though," she told Josh.

"Yes," Josh agreed. "But we're not doing anything special anyway, are we?"

"No," Donna agreed. "Of course not."


END OF CHAPTER 3