AUTHOR'S NOTE: Things are coming out pretty fast and furious here. I'm working overtime at the office AND coming home to write these chapters. But with slimwhistler's help, I've got an outline now and know what's coming, so the muse just needs to stay on target (I can never say that phrase without thinking of Star Wars) and we'll be just dandy.

I need to say again, because I don't think I was clear – Leo being offered the VP spot does not happen in this story. This story has to go places and Leo with it and I'm too damned lazy to rework things to fit what John Wells threw at us. Also, some of the campaign positions are made up (a) because I wrote the initial portion of Photographs from spoilers waaaaayyy back when and these characters weren't even involved in the campaigns and (b) because they sounded good and I know little about actual political campaigns.

PHOTOGRAPHS (19)

"Sir? Donna Moss is here to see you."

Matt looked up from his papers and watched the blonde enter the room. The Convention was over and he was pulling the top minds from Russell's campaign for spots in the national theater. He was no longer just the third-place hopeful, but the hope of the Democratic Party and his staffing needs heavily outweighed his current available manpower.

"Ms. Moss," he said, rising from his chair.

"Congressman Santos," Donna replied crisply, shaking his hand and taking a seat across from him. She didn't know why she was here. Both she and Will agreed they couldn't work for Josh. It would be humiliating and, well, weird. But when the Santos campaign called, she said she'd meet with them. After all, there were still things like rent and bills and at the moment, she was unemployed. It wouldn't hurt to see what was being offered.

"I spoke to Will Bailey this morning and he has nothing but glowing things to say about you," Matt said, sitting down in his chair and leaning back. The Chicken-Fighter was here in his office and he was certain the staff outside was buzzing. After the incident with the chickens and the few instances when she and Josh Lyman were seen together, Donna Moss had become the subject of quite a bit of speculation. Some of it even occurring in the Santos household.

"Will is kind, Congressman. I'm sure what he said was..."

"What he said was true, Ms. Moss."

"Donna, please, sir. Call me Donna," smiling, she met his eyes. He didn't seem the unqualified hick they had portrayed in their ads when she worked with Russell. The gleam in his eye and his measured words revealed an intelligence that had escaped Will and Bingo Bob. They had been fighting Josh the entire time when they should have been fighting the candidate.

"Donna it is then," he said smiling. The blonde across from him smiled softly and looked down at her hands.

"I haven't forgotten what you did the night of the stem-cell vote, Donna," Santos said, shuffling some papers on his desk, "It was brave and courageous and we owe you a great deal."

"That vote was important, Congressman," she replied somberly. "I did that because I could. It had nothing to do with the campaign."

Matt looked up and studied her face. She wasn't lying. This one could be duplicitous, but she could also be, and seemed to be most often, genuine. She was like his wife in that respect. Crafty when necessary, but painfully honest when it counted.

"I want to know if you are interested in coming to work for us." There, it was out in the open. Matt knew there was a background between Josh and Donna and he was crossing his fingers that it wouldn't affect her decision to come work for them. She had a good mind – hell, she was the one who shut down Rafferty's health plan (something Ricki would have to get over during the campaign), she had outted Hoynes when he tried to duck the sex scandal, and she could apparently render Josh Lyman speechless.

How could he not hire her?

"Sir, I'm not sure you are aware..." Donna began.

"I know you worked for Josh at the White House. I know you left that job to work for Russell's campaign as Communications Director. I don't need to know more than that."

Donna studied the man in front of her and marveled at how gracious he seemed. Of course, the victor always had the luxury of being gracious but she sensed that with Matt Santos it was his normal demeanor.

"Sir, I'm not sure you are aware of my experience in this field. While I did work at the White House, and on both of President Bartlet's campaigns, I don't have a college degree, and the position with the Russell campaign was my first outside of..."

"Donna," he said softly, putting his hands on the desk in front of him. "How many of the people outside there do you think are qualified for what they are doing?" He pointed to the door, indicating his staff on the other side. "They came with me on this ride. Your qualifications far outstrip most of theirs. I don't give a damn about the college degree. Your experience itself is invaluable."

Smiling and lowering her eyes, Donna felt the first surges of pride reappear since the loss at the Convention. And then she remembered Josh.

"There's something else, Congressman..."

Damn, Matt thought, I could kick Lyman's ass right now.

"I'm not sure I can work for Josh again," she said quietly, looking up to meet Santos' eye.

"Hell, Donna, I'm not sure I can work with him now," Matt said laughing and running his hands through his hair.

Sighing heavily, Donna then smiled. Josh did seem to have that affect on people.

"I'm very sorry, Congressman. It's a tempting offer, but I don't think come back to work for him or even with him. There are reasons..." Donna's voice trailed off and she looked back down at her hands.

There were a few moments of silence.

"What if..." Matt said quickly, "What if you work with him, but it's not here with him?"

Donna looked puzzled, "I'm sorry?"

"What if you worked as a part of the campaign, but it wasn't with Josh on a daily basis? You wouldn't even have to see him, for the most part."

"I don't think I'm following you...Work for the campaign, but not work with the campaign?"

Matt stood up and began to pace, rubbing his chin with his hand. His children would have immediately been able to tell Donna that their father was in thinking mode.

"We have been unable to get a coherent grasp on our national issues and how to uniformly present them on a state-by-state basis. During the primaries, everything came down to last minute, the communications between different state offices was awful, and we dodged the bullet so many times it became a daily routine. I have been wanting to establish a roving issues director - one that would travel between the crisis states and co-ordinate directly with me and the senior staff. Our budget wouldn't allow it before, but now..."

Santos was excited now. This was an idea he had raised early on but had been voted down due to finances and lack of manpower. There were too many other things that needed the money and the bodies.

"It would involve a lot of traveling, but you're used to that right?" Donna nodded and watched the man before her grow more and more animated, "I want someone who has good communications skills, works well with a variety of people, thinks independently and is incredibly organized. It's a position that is tailor made for you."

Donna was floored. It was the perfect spot. She could work for the campaign, but she wouldn't be around Josh daily. She wouldn't have to feel like she was right back at square one, holding his hand and answering his phone. She wouldn't have to relive her past.

Matt Santos' enthusiasm was contagious and before she knew what had happened, she had not only agreed to take the position, but had agreed to fly up to Seattle to meet with the staff out there the next day.

"Congressman, I don't know what to say..." she said as she stood to leave.

"You don't have to say anything. I'm pleased that you could join us," he replied smiling and rising from his chair. "Do you want me to tell..."

"Please." Donna said quickly, knowing she wasn't up to the task of telling Josh that she was leaving again. Actually, she remembered, she hadn't been the one to tell him she was leaving the first time.

I am such a coward.

"So, Rhonna will get all of your information today and I expect to hear from you tomorrow evening regarding the situation in Seattle?"

"Yes, sir." The confidence in her voice was unmistakable.

"Thank you, Donna," Matt said, holding out his hand.

"No, Congressman. It is I who should be thanking you."

XXX

Josh rolled into the hotel room they had been using during the Convention as a war room (one away from the Convention Center), smiling and shaking hands the entire way. It was a whole new ballgame from this point forward and there were only two words he could think of after hearing Matt's acceptance speech the night before.

What's next?

Josh nodded to Rhonna and picked up his phone messages. The brunette was handling some paperwork and talking to someone about W-4s and payroll. Looking over to the television, Josh felt himself drawn to the coverage of the previous evening's events.

You'd think I hadn't seen it all... in person, no less.

Remembering the night before, Josh thought back to his trip to the Russell war room high atop the Convention Center. The mood was one of disappointment and rather than gloating, he felt slightly saddened by the collective grief around him. These people had worked just as hard as the Santos campaign, sacrificed just as much, and had absolutely nothing to show for it but fatigue and frequent flyer miles.

He had gone with beer for Will and Donna. A peace offering of sorts. And as the three quietly watched the remaining portion of the Santos/ Rafferty acceptance, there was a feeling of finality in the air. Thus ended one chapter, only for another to begin.

When the beer was gone, Donna silently left the room and Will in her wake not long after. Josh resisted the urge to run after Donna. He wanted to tell her he was sorry. He was sorry they lost, he was sorry she left, he was sorry the two of them couldn't even talk anymore without dancing on glass. But Will was there, silently watching, and once Will was gone, Josh knew that the opportunity, once again, had slipped silently by.

But today was a new day. And the job at hand was no easier than the one that had culminated in last night's speech. But hey – they were performing miracles here. That is, if one could believe the pundits on CNN.

"Josh?" Matt stuck his head out of the bedroom. "I need to talk to you for a minute."

Shoving his phone messages into his pocket, Josh sauntered into the bedroom. Matt settled into a chair and smiled.

"So..."

Josh broke into a wide grin that made his dimples look like they would touch one another. "Funny thing happened when I went to the Convention..."

Santos laughed and put his hands behind his head. "You thought last night was funny? Something funnier happened today."

"What's that?"

"I hired Donna Moss."

Josh's smile instantly fell and his mouth gaped open.

"You did what?"

"I hired the Chicken-Fighter. I wanted her on our side." Matt was silently gauging the other man's reaction.

What is it with these two? How blind can they possibly be?

"Well... Wha?" Josh was stammering and running his hand through his hair, "Ummm... What's she going to be doing?"

"Roving national issues director. We have the money now."

Falling heavily into a chair, Josh rubbed his eyes. "When did this happen?"

Matt looked at his watch and replied, "About two hours ago. And in an hour, she'll be on a plane to Seattle to meet with our Northwest headquarters."

Speechless, Josh sat and looked at the Congressman. He knew that there was rampant speculation throughout the campaign about his "relationship" with Donna. He had ignored the whispers and the glances. And the pity. He knew that Matt had heard them as well and he was unsure of how to handle the curveball just thrown to him.

"Who is she reporting to?"

"Primarily? Me. But you as well. This was the position that I wanted made and I want to know what is going on out there." The emphasis on the "I"portion of that sentence was not lost on Josh.

Josh sighed and realized there was nothing else to say. Looking at Matt, he knew that he couldn't argue out of this one – he'd boxed himself in by saying nothing for so long that he simply had to pretend that there was nothing wrong with the arrangement. Even though his heart was devastated she'd be on the road constantly and his head was furious she was even employed by the campaign.

Right back to square one.

Clearing his throat, Josh said quietly, "Okay, so what's next?"

XXX

The plane was quiet and Donna was nervous at the aspect of a whole new round of meet and greets with the local campaign staff. Except this time, she was the FNG (fucking new guy) and the ball was in a completely different court.

Looking out the window, Donna realized that Josh had been right all along. Matt Santos was the real thing. She had known it the night of the stem-cell vote when she heard him talking with the other member of the Senate into the small hours of the morning. If you had heard that kind of idealism in motion once, and she had certainly done that in her years in the White House, you would always recognize it again.

Smiling, she straightened the papers on the tray-table in front of her. It was time for her to start doing her homework. There was a new universe of players in front of her and a completely new enemy. She wanted to do right by Matt Santos. There was something in his demeanor that required it, as Jed Bartlet had required it from his staff.

It was time to start learning about the Santos/Rafferty campaign and how they would all get back to the White House.

(To be continued.)