DISCLAIMER: None of these people belong to me. They were the brainchild of Aaron Sorkin and belong to NBC, John Wells, and some other people that are NOT ME!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This idea was inspired by Reagan's funeral, but I haven't written it until now. This story might take a while because I'm busy with school and stuff but I'll try my hardest. This chapter is written in present tense, but the next ones might be written in preterite tense. I dunno. It depends on how I feel. Please review this. I write faster with reviews.


"The Hardest Goodbye"

Prologue

This can't be right. This isn't happening. That wasn't Leo's voice on the phone. Someone is playing a sick joke on me.

It's supposed to be a happy time right now. Sam was just inaugurated as President, Zoey and Charlie just had another baby, and my life isn't in shambles. So why is this happening? It must be a bad dream. A really bad dream.

Nevertheless, I should tell someone. Better hear it from me than CNN.

I scan the crowd in search of someone... anyone. My husband is onstage making his speech about the new budget. I obviously can't bother him. Josh and Charlie are watching on some monitors nearby. I push my way over to the crowd to get to them. "Josh!"

He turns to me and smiles. How can anyone smile at a time like this? Well, I guess I can't blame him. He doesn't know yet. "Donnatella! Sam is speaking magnificently tonight!"

"He always does," Charlie chimes.

"My deputy speaks correctly."

"You enjoy referring to me as your deputy, don't you?"

"That I do Charles."

"Josh!" As I reach them I'm out of breath.

"Calm down, Donna. He isn't doing that magnificently," Josh smirked.

"There's something I need to tell you!"

Josh's grin slowly melts into a look of worry. "What is it?" The knot in my stomach just grew about fifty times larger. I can't breathe. How on earth am I going to tell them this? It's just not possible. "Donna, are you all right?"

Tears begin to form at the back of my throat as reality hits me. He's really dead. I have to tell them. "President Bartlet is dead!"