Disclaimer: Same as before

Author's notes: This one has some adult language too, be warned.

Thank you for all the feedback!

Santos' POV

Then Everything Changed.

Chapter 9:

Donna rushes out of the room. I know I haven't known her all that long, but it disturbs me that she's as upset as she is.

What did you do, Josh?

But it's Leo who says it first "Josh, what the hell did you do?"

"I didn't do a fucking thing Leo," I've never seen him like this before, pale, shaking, cussing. But apparently Leo has.

"Josh!" Clearly offended by the f-bomb.

"Sorry, I should not have... Here." He hands Leo the paper he is clutching, white knuckled.

Leo reads the letter turns equally pale and hands it over to me.

That's not a very nice way to start a letter.

"It's a death threat." We get ten of these a day, but none of them are this...graphic.

Leo calls Will into the room. He reads it and mirrors Leo's face and what I can assume mine as well.

"Did she get any thing like this when she worked for Russell?" Panic floods Josh's voice.

"No. I think she would have told me. I don't understand, Donna's nice. Why would some want to kill her?"

"You think only assholes get death threats?"

"No, but they should. What do we do?"

"Call Ron Butterfeild." Leo is beginning to compose himself. We sit in three minutes of silence as we wait for the conference call.

Will breaks it first.

"She's going to quit. She won't put the Congressman's life in danger, she will want to leave."

"She can't." Leo says rather forcefully.

"Why not! Look, I know she's a nice girl, my wife loves her, but I am not about to risk having her here..." I can't really believe the words are coming out of my mouth. Josh's eyes are filled with venom and betrayal.

"Congressman, I understand, but she has to stay on the campaign trail for many reasons. First, we cannot win the election without her. Second, if she is constantly moving it makes it difficult for her to be staked. Third she cannot receive secret service protection if she isn't working for us. Finally, she can't return to the White House. The President could be in danger." Leo, your logic is cold and unfeeling.

But I see what he is saying, I am just a candidate, not yet a president, my life does really matter as much. Besides, the country could not handle President Russell.

"Leo, I can't lose her again." Josh's voice is low, desperate. He's like a man about to break. Since up to three days ago, I didn't know she was his assistant for 8 years, clearly there is a lot of their relationship I don't understand.

"You won't." Leo seems more like a father to Josh, then a boss.

Finally Ron joins the conversation.

"Two days, two letters, each hand delivered to the location she was scheduled to be at. Are the letters becoming more aggressive?"

"Yes." Will answer because he has been rereading the letters.

"You're going to work on this, right Ron?" Something about Leo's voice isn't right, he's trying not to set off Josh.

Too late

"She needs five agents with AK47s following her at all times who will blow off anyone head who gets too close to her."

"Josh, that's just not going to happen," Leo's so calm and collect.

"Why the hell not!"

"Because she can't do her job that way!" Josh sits down in a huff. Ron's concern is psychological. Leo agrees.

"Josh, call Stanley, she needs to be talking to someone and so do you." The flash of betrayal comes back. "You don't handle these things well. Not when it comes to Donna."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Anger weaves in every word. He clearly does know. But he doesn't want to continue the conversation, not will me in the room.

"Josh, you wanted to carpet bomb the entire Middle East because she got into the wrong car." Will states as he rubs his head.

Huh?

"You say that pretty causal for someone who wasn't there. I don't recall see you in Germany when she was hook up with tubes. You weren't there when she nearly fucking died!" Josh screams.

"No, you son of a bitch, I wasn't. But I did hear her cry every night because you were the asshole who never called."

They both look like they're going to throw down. "Gentleman." I have to bust out the Daddy Voice. The daggers in their eyes are now focused on me instead of each other. "Why don't we let Mr. Butterfield and Leo come up with a plan?"

"Josh, you will call Stanley. You will make appointments for both of you. Why don't you go to her? Tell her we'll be there in a few minutes." Leo is going to end up being the voice of reason. Josh's anger heats the air around him as he storms out the room. "Will, you should start prepping on Prop 675." He leaves, but not nearly as ticked.

We exchanged glances.

"Sorry Ron, I know you can't talk about Marilyn with DiMaggio in the room." Huh?

"Leo, these letters are the worse the White House has seen. We need to put agents on her, now."

"I'll let you work on a plan, but I need something to tell Josh. He's going to be a pain in the ass until he has something concrete."

"Tell him a minim of two agents most likely pulled from the Santos detail. We will be adding more to his detail in a day or two."

"Thanks, I'll check in later." Dial tone.

"I still don't see why she needs to stay." I confess the darkest place in my soul.

It's his smile I'm taken back by.

"Donna Moss is a muse. She makes everyone a round her better. She sticks to her values, and ensure everyone else stays to theirs. You've never really seen Josh in action. He is his best when Donna is ten feet away from him. Vinick is a worthy enemy and we need her to win. Without her it's impossible."

His smile fades, "Besides, Josh really can't lose her again."

"Does he love her?"

The smile returns. "You couldn't tell?"