NOTE: This is my first attempt at a West Wing fan fiction. Reviews welcomed. Please be gentle. This fan fiction will have very little political take, as I am not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to politics. Why I'd admit that, I have no idea. This is based more a relationships. (I decided to take the old one down. I needed to make changes and I didn't realize that you couldn't do any editing after you post it on site. I took some very helpful advice and brought it to good use..I hope. Thanks again kursk and reverendkilljoy! I hope this is better to your liking. Sorry for any of you who read the old..there is a drastic change to this one though...

Now on to the story.

Spoilers: Mainly "What Kind of Day Has It Been"

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the cast or the show. I would love to own a clone of Joshua Lyman though...lol

CHAPTER 1

One by one

August 11th, 2000

INT. Josh Lyman's office - day

Donna Moss walked into the empty office, holding a picture in her hands. The atmosphere of the office seemed cold, gloomy and dark. Which matched the weather outside. She walked slowly over to the desk, graced it with her fingertips, and sat down at the desk but this time in his chair. She looked at the picture. (It was of her and Josh at a Christmas party. Josh sports a silly grin as he gazes back at Donna.) The glass of the frame mirrored back at her. She took a second glance at the picture as she noticed something different about it, there through the glass, she could've sworn she saw a silhouette of Josh right behind her. She smiled for just a second. Donna had to look over her shoulder to see if she was dreaming or imagining this. Nothing was there. She turned back to the picture and the image was gone. Was she dreaming? Was she going crazy? Or was it just she missed him so much? Tears streamed down her face. Falling one by one onto the desk. She was completely still and continued to stare at the picture.

"Why didn't I ever tell him?" she said in a shaky voice.

July 28th, 2000

INT. Josh Lyman's office - day

Josh was sitting at his desk, looking over a report when Donna walked in. She stood there waiting for him to say something.

"Donna?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you just standing there?"

"I was waiting for you to finish."

"Why?"

"Uh, well…I don't know. I figured if I came running in here and started the day yelling at you, you'd get mad."

"Why would you come in here to yell at me? What did I do now?"

"Oh, Josh. Do you really have to ask?"

Before he could answer or react, he heard Toby Ziegler yelling in the bull pen.

"Where the hell is he!"

Toby walked into the office and slammed the door behind him.

That got Josh out of his seat instantly.

"What the hell, Toby," Josh asked a little sharper than he intended.

"You really think you are in position to give me lip?"

Toby slapped down the newspaper in front of him and pointed to the article in question.

"Did you have any idea there was press around when you said this?"

Josh looked at the article heading. Ignoring Toby's question. It said 'AT THE WHITE HOUSE: SENIOR STAFFER OPENS HIS MOUTH ONCE AGAIN AND MAKES THREATS TO THE CHRISTIAN RIGHTS CLUB!' He looked up at Toby, eyes wide.

"I didn't say this? Why is it always me being accused when something is in the papers? It wasn't me this time. I swear it wasn't."

"Then who was it? Who else has a mouth just as big as his ego?"

"It was…," He paused. He couldn't say it. He looked down and mumbled something under his breath, that no one could hear.

Toby knew he said something but had no idea what, "What was that?"

Josh looked at Toby in the eyes.

"I didn't say anything."

"Yes. Yes, you did. So tell me what you said. Who was it?"

"I can only take so much. I said, it was Sam," He stopped, regretting what he just said. "But, Toby don't…"

Before he could finish Toby was gone.

"Oh boy." Josh sighed.

Donna could only stand there with her mouth wide open, unable to move from her spot.

INT. Sam Seaborn's office.

Sam was working feverishly on his laptop. He wanted to finish the speech before the deadline. The deadline that Toby made. Even though the actual speech was 2 days away, Toby wanted to be able to spend time on it to make sure Sam used punctuation, see if it was readable and make any changes necessary. Toby wanted it done and in his hands by 8 AM tomorrow morning, giving Sam the rest of the day to write a 20-minute speech. Which seemed like a long time but it was a big important speech. And it didn't help the fact that Sam barely started it. Sam's mind started to wonder, maybe he just needed a break from his thoughts? Totally forgetting what he was doing, he started thinking about Mallory and how wonderful the night they had the night before. He knew he wanted to see her again tonight and finish what they had started. Sam was beginning to feel like she was the one and felt that things were escalating to a new level for them. He smiled as he pictured her in a beautiful blue silk, short cut dress, slit all the way up to her... His thoughts were quickly interrupted as Toby threw open the office door and slammed it after him.

INT. Communications bullpen.

All the junior staffers and assistants were eyeing Sam's office. Wanting to find out what the yelling was all about. They could hear the voices grow louder with every word. Mainly Toby's voice carried.

Moments later Ginger and Bonnie walked over to the door just as the door flew open and Toby stomped out toward the Operations bullpen. Bonnie stood still watching Sam, who stood behind his desk fuming. Sam sat down, and sighed deeply. He picked up the receiver and started dialing.

"Hey! It's me. We have a slight problem."

INT. Josh's office. The next morning.

Josh was sitting at his desk, watching TV. As Sam entered his office. He didn't look too happy. Josh knew why he was standing there though. So he got up and started walking toward Sam.

"Sam, listen…"

"No. Why would you?"

"Look, Sam. I wasn't thinking…"

"No you certainly weren't."

Sam turned to leave, paused and turned back having more to say.

"I stood up for you! And this is what I get?"

He turned a final time and walked off. Josh sighed and closed his eyes.

Flashback

TWO DAYS BEFORE.

INT. A restaurant.

Sam and Josh were sitting with AL CALDWELL, MARY MARSH, JOHN VAN DYKE, discussing Christian rights. The whole idea of this meeting was to fix a few broken bridges between them. Only months ago they had a big blow up when Josh called out Mary Marsh on Capitol Beat. Josh wanted to fix things for his own personal reputation and also it was something that had to done for them to continue their support for the Bartlet administration. Everything was going fine until a familiar subject veered it's ugly head.

"You are way outta of line, Mary!" Sam said, anger rising in him.

"Sam…," Josh tried to stop him.

Sam shrugged him off, "No! No, Josh. They're doing it again!"

"Doing what exactly?" Mary questioned.

Sam sighed as he started, "Look, you don't like Jews. You make that abundantly clear, but…"

"Sam!" Josh warned.

"I didn't say anything that hasn't been said before," Mary explained.

"I don't care! You are judging his nature and using it as an excuse to win over…," Sam was cut off.

"Sam, don't!" Josh yelled.

"Maybe we should just leave," John interrupted before things could get out of hand.

John, Mary and Al started to get up to leave. But Sam wasn't done.

"And next time you come in here and bring your garbage of what we should believe and I swear to God if you make ANY unsightly remarks about how bad Jews are. I will hunt you down and physically beat the living hell outta you! I have had it with you! I thought judgement was something you don't do in your world? You might want to take a refresher course to be considered human!"

John turned his heals toward Sam.

"Think what you will, but did you just make a threat?" John asked.

"Don't make it be," Sam smiled icly. His gaze turned toward Josh. "Are you going to say something?"

"No, I think you've said plenty."

"Well, you'll be hearing from us. Don't you worry about that," John added before heading out of the restaurant.

Josh and Sam sat there for a long moment.

"Well, that went well, don't you think?" Josh smiled. Sam sighed. He was beginning to regret what he had just said.

End of flashback

Josh was still sitting in his office chair. He had his head in his hands. He raked his hair vigorously with his hands and leaned back in his chair.

"I have to fix this."

He got up and walked out of his office.

TBC

NOTE: I am not sure if these dates follow the actual events of the show. Because it was never said for sure what date the shooting occurred.