Title: Peripheral Vision
Author: Tinkerbell99
Rating: T
Disclaimer: The characters are not my creation, they belong to someone else.
Summary: And so it was that Donna joined the campaign, but what else happened that day? Told from the points of view of those on the outside of the main event.
POV: CJ
I can't keep screwing up like this.
"That's right, anybody who answered 'we didn't have the candidate-'"
"I blew it. What's next?" See, that's the thing. He didn't blow it. I'm the press secretary, and from what I understand, I should be able to, you know, deal with the press. Having the candidate on television at the appropriate time in front of an audience qualifies as press. I'm the one who blew it. Now I have the Governor taking the blame for my mistake.
I open my mouth to correct him, but he has already moved on and so has everyone else in the room. The meeting moves on, and I can barely sneak a word in edgewise. When the verbal tornado ends, everyone scatters and I'm left wondering what exactly I've gotten myself into.
The mix-up this morning really wasn't the Governor's fault. He was supposed to be televised at an appointed time, and I missed it. Instead of preparing him for possible national exposure, I left him in some guy's kitchen packing boxes of silverware. I'm still not sure how or why that even happened. I can only imagine what Toby must be thinking. I don't even want to know what Leo must be thinking. And as for the Governor…at least he doesn't seem to know my name.
It hasn't been a good day.
Josh starts venting to Leo about being "bathed in the warm embrace of the candidate" as I head to my makeshift office and try to bathe myself in an actual warm cup of coffee. You wouldn't think that would be difficult since we've all been living off of caffeine for the last several months. Unfortunately, it looks like somebody beat me to the pot. I don't know why men can't put water in a machine and press a button. It isn't really that hard. I could really use a drink. Coffee, vodka, whatever.
When Toby asked me to come to New Hampshire, I asked him if Jed Bartlet was a good man. I've always trusted his judgment. I've always trusted him. I hadn't seen Toby for nearly two years when he showed up at my house, but when he asked me I barely stopped to pack my bags, much less to question my decision.
I've always trusted Toby's judgment. And he was right. Jed Bartlet is a good man. It was the other thing I asked him about that still troubles me. He said I could do this.
I don't know if I can do this.
Everyone else in this building has some sort of a clearly defined purpose or a stellar resume. I still feel like the only girl in the "boys only" tree house. Somebody must have let me up here by mistake. If I'm not pushed out soon, I may jump.
"CJ?"
"Yeah?" Toby comes around the corner and enters what could only charitably be called my cubicle. Actually it's the area between two filing cabinets and a stack of Xerox paper. He's carrying what is undoubtedly the last warm cup of coffee in the building. I try not to be jealous.
"Channel Seven wants the Governor on at six o'clock tonight." He's shifting his weight back and forth in my entryway.
"This is instead of the thing from this morning?" The thing that I screwed up.
"Yeah."
"Okay." He's still in my doorway, looking like he wants to say something. He should let me have it for the screw-up earlier. He should tell me I'm completely incompetent and tell me I can't read a watch. He should…but that's not Toby. At least not yet. "I'm on it."
Part of me is grateful for the reprieve. Part of me wishes he'd admit he made a mistake and let me go back to California. It's becoming increasingly clear that I'm not cut out for this.
He shifts his coffee to his left hand, looking uncomfortable as he brushes imaginary dust from my desk. "You know it wasn't…never mind." He starts to turn, but stops, a little smile on his face. "If you're looking for some entertainment, Margaret is harassing Josh about the overflow."
"Overflow?"
"I've really found it's best not to ask. Oh, and Josh found himself an assistant." I hear Sam call Toby's name, and with a wink, he leaves my office.
Toby rarely winks.
I make a quick call to Channel Seven (just to confirm) and assign an intern to confirm (again) in ten minutes. I'm trying not to screw up the same thing twice in one day. Then I head out in search of coffee and Josh Lyman. I didn't like the look of that wink Toby gave me. It seemed like the type of wink that would cause a lot of trouble for me.
Ten minutes later, I've officially been introduced to Donnatella Moss of Madison, Wisconsin. Five majors and two minors in two years. Blonde hair and long legs. Cute girl, newly single. Working for Josh Lyman.
I knew I didn't like that wink.
I like her, though. I liked her from the moment she smacked Josh with a file folder. I like that she knows which calls to refer to the press office and which ones to refer to the dial tone. I like that she doesn't take any crap from Josh and told him to make his own damn coffee.
Maybe now there will actually be some left in the pot.
If I'm still around to drink it.