The Shot heard around the Wing Author: DennisPatrick Email: Etrnlvamp2000aol.com Category: Romance and Angst Characters: Mainly Josh and Donna but most of the cast does make an appearance or two. Pairings: J/D sort of
Rating: PG (for some adult language) Summary: This is a companion piece to the first part of The Shot heard around the Wing. In this we find out what Josh was thinking while he was in surgery. Disclaimer: None of the characters in this are mine. They are the property of John Wells's productions and the fine ignorant people at Warner Brothers who refuse to allow the fans to write letters to the cast. But hey I don't make very much money I sell cell phones for a living. So please don't sue me. I do reserve the right to create a character or two when I develop this series. Author's notes: I know it's been a couple of years since the shooting. But, I have been watching season one and reading the scripts for In the Shadow of Gunmen Part I and II. And now with the fifth season coming to a close and the prospect of Donna dying is just too much for a guy to take. But hey if you want to know my opinions then feel free to email me and we can talk. Please write feedback it's my lifeline whenever I write. Anyways here is Part II of The Shot heard around the Wing.
I am not totally sure of where I am right now. All I know is I am surrounded by noises they sound like machines beeping. I have no idea of how I got here. One of the last things I remember is having a nice little session of banter with Donna on the phone just as President Bartlett was finishing up the town hall meeting. I was going to go over to Donna's and tell her about how much I love her and that I have been for awhile now and that I want to give us a try.
As soon as I hung up my cell phone I walked outside and was just about to catch up with the rest of the senior staff I hear a loud bang that I can't place. I think I have heard the sounds before in a movie or something but I am not quite sure. The whole crowd that came to hear the president speak are now turning to a mob I get pushed up against a steel rod fence and I fall down to my knees and am gripping the bars as hard as I can. I all of a sudden feel something hot burn into my skin and I look down and see blood going down the front of my shirt. How did this happen? Who could have gotten a weapon anywhere near the president? My eyelids just start to feel very heavy and the last thoughts that go through my mind are: Thank God Donna wasn't here, and maybe I won't get to tell her I love her.
I am not sure how much time has passed since I passed out I remember Sam saying something but I wasn't really there I was back in Senator Hoynes conference room in the Capitol building in DC.
"Social Security—"Hoynes starts to say "Senator—"I say interrupting him "Social Security is the black hole—"Hoynes tries to continue before I interrupt him again "Senator—" "Social Security—"Hoynes tries again "Senator—" "Social Security—"Hoynes tries again I give up. "Yes—"I say cause I am tired of hearing this. "Social Security is the black hole of national politics." Hoynes says "Yes" I say just to get him to get off of it. "Josh was cutting me off because he know I was gonna say that. He knew I was gonna say that 'cause I've said it, what—"Hoynes says "A few hundred times, Senator." I tell him "It is the black hole of national politics and I would just as soon not get lost in it 13 weeks before the New Hampshire primary." Hoynes finally finishes. "It is the third rail. You step on it and you die." Hoynes continues on his little myriad issues about Social Security. "Of the 537 federal elected officials, there are 30 who've put their names on Social Security reform legislation and you're one of them, why not say so?" I ask "He will say so, just not now." Some stupid aide says "Mark, at 400 billion dollars, Social Security represents one-fourth of the Federal budget and it's gonna be bankrupt in exactly 17 years, right around the time you're going to check you mailbox. Half of the elderly population will be living in poverty. This now qualifies as a priority. And running for President of the United States not putting Social Security front and center is like running for president of the Walt Disney Corporation by saying you're gonna fix the rides at Epcot." I tell this dumpkiss "We're gonna get to Social Security, Josh, it's a long campaign, for now we focus on the tax cuts." Mark says "It's what magicians call misdirection." Some aide says "Really, 'cause it's what the rest of us call bull—"I say before being interrupted "Knock it off. I have a vote. The rest of you should stay here and work on the ethanol tax credit. Josh, come with me, would you?" Hoynes says so I get up and follow him out into the hallway. "You don't seem to be having a very good time lately." Hoynes starts off "I don't think the point of this is for me to have—"I start to say "I'm saying you've been pissed off at every meeting for a month." Hoynes continues "Senator, you're the prohibitive favorite to be the Democratic Party's nominee for President. You have 58 million dollars in a war chest with no end in sight, and I don't know what we're for." I tell him cause I am tired of this bull. "Josh—"Hoynes starts before I interrupt him "I don't know what we're for, I don't know what we're against. Except we seem to be for winning and against somebody else winning." I tell him "It's a start." Hoynes says like that's the answer. Senator—"I start but am interrupted "Josh, we're gonna run a good campaign. You're gonna be very proud of it. And when we get to the White House, you're gonna play a big role. In the meantime, cheer up. And get off my ass about Social Security. I've got a vote." Hoynes says as he heads off down the corridor.
All of a sudden everything around me goes blank with a bright white
light. Then I start to hear voices. At first they are just a bunch of
voices all mixed together but slowly they start to separate. Then all
of a sudden I see my sister, Joanie, standing there smiling at me. I
am so happy I have missed her so much. Then she starts to speak.
"Josh, you finally came back to me. I have missed you so much. I am so
happy you are here to be with me and papa." Joanie says and I start to
cry what does she mean I am here to be with her and papa. They are
dead I can't be here with them I need to get back to Donna. Then all
of a sudden somebody steps into my view it's my father.
"Son, I am glad to see you. I wish I could have told you how proud I
was of you the night you guys won the Iowa Caucus, and then whenever
you were standing there by the president while he was being sworn in.
Joanie and I were both standing there right behind you just looking at
you with so much pride. I know you thought I might have been ashamed
of you because you didn't give me any grand-kids but I want you to
know that you did what you thought was right and that couldn't have
made me more proud of you. I love you so much, Son.' My dad says and
gets all misty eyed. I hate that I am going to break his heart but I
got to go back to Donna.
"Papa, Joanie, I am sorry but I can't stay I have to go back." I
manage to get out over the lump in my throat.
"What, what do you mean you have to go back? Its your time to be here
with us so we can be a family again!" Joanie yells at me she's mad at
me and I understand but I haven't gotten to tell Donna that I love
her. I have to go back.
"Son, why do you want to go back to a place where pain and hate is
part of your everyday life. They proved that today whenever you were
shot by somebody." My dad says always the lawyer.
"Because there is a woman back there I haven't told my feelings to and
I need to tell her and see if maybe she returns my feelings. Cause I
want what you and mamme had, papa. Please understand if I could I
would stay with you but I have to go back I am not ready to die yet I
still have grandchildren to give to mamme." I tell them
"I understand son. I just hope she is worth the sacrifice that you are
going to make here. I love you son; I always will just be smart and do
well with your life. We will see you when it is your time." My dad
always knew how to understand my decisions.
"Well, I don't like it that you are going but I just want you to be
happy, Joshua. I love you and I can't wait for our time to be together
again." My sister tells me as she hugs me and kisses me on the cheek.
The next thing I know I feel some pain in my chest but it tells me
that I am alive. Thank you God. I can tell Donna that I love her. I
open my eyes and I barely can make out the two people who are by my
side but they aren't who I want to see. Then I hear one of them talk.
"What did you say, Josh?" President Bartlett asks me
"Donna" I manage to croak out I am saving my voice for her.
"Okay we will get her in here right away. Leo lets get out of here and let the man see the woman he loves." The president says. I manage to give him a half smile.
I see Donna come into the room and she looks so beautiful. I can see she has been crying and I know it's because of me. But I hope what I am about to tell her will make her smile reach her eyes better than the fake one she has on right now.
"Donna?" I try to speak softly to save my strength.
"Josh it's me." Donna says with her beautiful voice.
Okay now I have to give her the dimples this moment calls for dimples.
"Donnatella, I love you" I finally tell her. It's all or nothing.
"I love you to Joshua, I always have." I knew she did but it feels good to hear it. Then she leans over and kisses me on the forehead. And I know everything will be alright, we will get through this together. And maybe just maybe my mother will soon be a grand mother.
Rating: PG (for some adult language) Summary: This is a companion piece to the first part of The Shot heard around the Wing. In this we find out what Josh was thinking while he was in surgery. Disclaimer: None of the characters in this are mine. They are the property of John Wells's productions and the fine ignorant people at Warner Brothers who refuse to allow the fans to write letters to the cast. But hey I don't make very much money I sell cell phones for a living. So please don't sue me. I do reserve the right to create a character or two when I develop this series. Author's notes: I know it's been a couple of years since the shooting. But, I have been watching season one and reading the scripts for In the Shadow of Gunmen Part I and II. And now with the fifth season coming to a close and the prospect of Donna dying is just too much for a guy to take. But hey if you want to know my opinions then feel free to email me and we can talk. Please write feedback it's my lifeline whenever I write. Anyways here is Part II of The Shot heard around the Wing.
I am not totally sure of where I am right now. All I know is I am surrounded by noises they sound like machines beeping. I have no idea of how I got here. One of the last things I remember is having a nice little session of banter with Donna on the phone just as President Bartlett was finishing up the town hall meeting. I was going to go over to Donna's and tell her about how much I love her and that I have been for awhile now and that I want to give us a try.
As soon as I hung up my cell phone I walked outside and was just about to catch up with the rest of the senior staff I hear a loud bang that I can't place. I think I have heard the sounds before in a movie or something but I am not quite sure. The whole crowd that came to hear the president speak are now turning to a mob I get pushed up against a steel rod fence and I fall down to my knees and am gripping the bars as hard as I can. I all of a sudden feel something hot burn into my skin and I look down and see blood going down the front of my shirt. How did this happen? Who could have gotten a weapon anywhere near the president? My eyelids just start to feel very heavy and the last thoughts that go through my mind are: Thank God Donna wasn't here, and maybe I won't get to tell her I love her.
I am not sure how much time has passed since I passed out I remember Sam saying something but I wasn't really there I was back in Senator Hoynes conference room in the Capitol building in DC.
"Social Security—"Hoynes starts to say "Senator—"I say interrupting him "Social Security is the black hole—"Hoynes tries to continue before I interrupt him again "Senator—" "Social Security—"Hoynes tries again "Senator—" "Social Security—"Hoynes tries again I give up. "Yes—"I say cause I am tired of hearing this. "Social Security is the black hole of national politics." Hoynes says "Yes" I say just to get him to get off of it. "Josh was cutting me off because he know I was gonna say that. He knew I was gonna say that 'cause I've said it, what—"Hoynes says "A few hundred times, Senator." I tell him "It is the black hole of national politics and I would just as soon not get lost in it 13 weeks before the New Hampshire primary." Hoynes finally finishes. "It is the third rail. You step on it and you die." Hoynes continues on his little myriad issues about Social Security. "Of the 537 federal elected officials, there are 30 who've put their names on Social Security reform legislation and you're one of them, why not say so?" I ask "He will say so, just not now." Some stupid aide says "Mark, at 400 billion dollars, Social Security represents one-fourth of the Federal budget and it's gonna be bankrupt in exactly 17 years, right around the time you're going to check you mailbox. Half of the elderly population will be living in poverty. This now qualifies as a priority. And running for President of the United States not putting Social Security front and center is like running for president of the Walt Disney Corporation by saying you're gonna fix the rides at Epcot." I tell this dumpkiss "We're gonna get to Social Security, Josh, it's a long campaign, for now we focus on the tax cuts." Mark says "It's what magicians call misdirection." Some aide says "Really, 'cause it's what the rest of us call bull—"I say before being interrupted "Knock it off. I have a vote. The rest of you should stay here and work on the ethanol tax credit. Josh, come with me, would you?" Hoynes says so I get up and follow him out into the hallway. "You don't seem to be having a very good time lately." Hoynes starts off "I don't think the point of this is for me to have—"I start to say "I'm saying you've been pissed off at every meeting for a month." Hoynes continues "Senator, you're the prohibitive favorite to be the Democratic Party's nominee for President. You have 58 million dollars in a war chest with no end in sight, and I don't know what we're for." I tell him cause I am tired of this bull. "Josh—"Hoynes starts before I interrupt him "I don't know what we're for, I don't know what we're against. Except we seem to be for winning and against somebody else winning." I tell him "It's a start." Hoynes says like that's the answer. Senator—"I start but am interrupted "Josh, we're gonna run a good campaign. You're gonna be very proud of it. And when we get to the White House, you're gonna play a big role. In the meantime, cheer up. And get off my ass about Social Security. I've got a vote." Hoynes says as he heads off down the corridor.
All of a sudden everything around me goes blank with a bright white
light. Then I start to hear voices. At first they are just a bunch of
voices all mixed together but slowly they start to separate. Then all
of a sudden I see my sister, Joanie, standing there smiling at me. I
am so happy I have missed her so much. Then she starts to speak.
"Josh, you finally came back to me. I have missed you so much. I am so
happy you are here to be with me and papa." Joanie says and I start to
cry what does she mean I am here to be with her and papa. They are
dead I can't be here with them I need to get back to Donna. Then all
of a sudden somebody steps into my view it's my father.
"Son, I am glad to see you. I wish I could have told you how proud I
was of you the night you guys won the Iowa Caucus, and then whenever
you were standing there by the president while he was being sworn in.
Joanie and I were both standing there right behind you just looking at
you with so much pride. I know you thought I might have been ashamed
of you because you didn't give me any grand-kids but I want you to
know that you did what you thought was right and that couldn't have
made me more proud of you. I love you so much, Son.' My dad says and
gets all misty eyed. I hate that I am going to break his heart but I
got to go back to Donna.
"Papa, Joanie, I am sorry but I can't stay I have to go back." I
manage to get out over the lump in my throat.
"What, what do you mean you have to go back? Its your time to be here
with us so we can be a family again!" Joanie yells at me she's mad at
me and I understand but I haven't gotten to tell Donna that I love
her. I have to go back.
"Son, why do you want to go back to a place where pain and hate is
part of your everyday life. They proved that today whenever you were
shot by somebody." My dad says always the lawyer.
"Because there is a woman back there I haven't told my feelings to and
I need to tell her and see if maybe she returns my feelings. Cause I
want what you and mamme had, papa. Please understand if I could I
would stay with you but I have to go back I am not ready to die yet I
still have grandchildren to give to mamme." I tell them
"I understand son. I just hope she is worth the sacrifice that you are
going to make here. I love you son; I always will just be smart and do
well with your life. We will see you when it is your time." My dad
always knew how to understand my decisions.
"Well, I don't like it that you are going but I just want you to be
happy, Joshua. I love you and I can't wait for our time to be together
again." My sister tells me as she hugs me and kisses me on the cheek.
The next thing I know I feel some pain in my chest but it tells me
that I am alive. Thank you God. I can tell Donna that I love her. I
open my eyes and I barely can make out the two people who are by my
side but they aren't who I want to see. Then I hear one of them talk.
"What did you say, Josh?" President Bartlett asks me
"Donna" I manage to croak out I am saving my voice for her.
"Okay we will get her in here right away. Leo lets get out of here and let the man see the woman he loves." The president says. I manage to give him a half smile.
I see Donna come into the room and she looks so beautiful. I can see she has been crying and I know it's because of me. But I hope what I am about to tell her will make her smile reach her eyes better than the fake one she has on right now.
"Donna?" I try to speak softly to save my strength.
"Josh it's me." Donna says with her beautiful voice.
Okay now I have to give her the dimples this moment calls for dimples.
"Donnatella, I love you" I finally tell her. It's all or nothing.
"I love you to Joshua, I always have." I knew she did but it feels good to hear it. Then she leans over and kisses me on the forehead. And I know everything will be alright, we will get through this together. And maybe just maybe my mother will soon be a grand mother.