It's not really a sequal as such but it is still in the timeline with a little bit of J/D. Happens election night. Hope you like.
Leo stood in the doorway watching the figure. Even from a distance he could see the exhaustion written in his face, feel the hours he had put in to win the campaign. He was slouched into a large armchair, swilling a cut glass half full with whiskey. The half empty bottle stood upright on a small polished side table, only an arms each from Josh. Leo could smell the alcohol, practically taste it on his lips but he wouldn't ask for drink. He stepped into the room making himself known to Josh who looked up from his reverie. Leo walked further into the room, falling into the identical chair opposite. They sat in silence for a while, appreciating the silence that was missing from everywhere else.
"I thought you'd be out celebrating or something" Leo spoke first.
"Yeah?"
"Big night for you"
"You too" Leo smiled gently, memories of the last couple of hours still brazenly fresh in his mind. It was hard to forget though. Only a few people feel these kinds of moments.
"So I hear you're the new chief of staff" Leo resumed.
"So I hear you're the new Vice President" Josh replied.
"Thanks to you" It was Josh's turn to smile.
"I was just doing my job Leo, it's what I'm paid to do, it's what I've always done, it's nothing special"
"You've been sitting here alone to long, that whiskey's gone to your head" With mention of the drink in his hand, Josh lifted the glass to his lips and too a gulp of the burning single malt. "Why are you here Josh? Everyone's looking for you"
"Because tomorrow we're setting up offices getting ready for the transition, writing speeches, choosing staff, the list goes on… I just wanted five minutes to myself"
"You want me to go?" Josh didn't answer. "You know you've made history tonight, I know the feeling cos I felt it the night Jed won 8 years ago"
"It's not the same"
"No, no I guess not, but everyone's proud of you anyway…. The President, Santos, Me. It was you who turned up his door one afternoon and told him to run; you lead the whole thing, every convention and party and fundraiser. You got me VP Josh, You've got my old office"
"At last" Leo didn't take his comment to heart. He'd always known what would have happened if he's stayed with Hoynes. He'd seen the way Josh would look at his office with so much jealously and envy. Knowing that if he'd never took that train to Nashua, New Hampshire, he would have had that office to himself.
"Instead you got the dingy office at the end, I know Josh, I know what you gave up"
"I haven't got everything now Leo"
"I know"
" I haven't got her, she'll always just escape my grasp"
"So near yet so far huh?"
"Promise me you'll keep her on, give her a decent job with decent hours and a good boss"
"I was thinking my Chief of Staff"
"She deserves it"
"Yes she does…" Josh could see her now. Surrounded by everyone else in the large ballroom. Her long blonde hair loose and she would be happy. A huge genuine smile lighting up her face. "Why don't you just tell her how you feel?"
"She gave up on me a long time ago Leo, there this part of her that hates me for keeping her from bigger things…blames me for Gaza"
'Okay Josh, I'm two minutes away from calling Stanley up and having you taken away by men in white coats. For one of the most brilliant minds in the country you aren't half stupid" Josh sent a sharp glare at Leo, showing his displeasure at Leo's words. "I mean it Josh, Donna doesn't hate you and she certainly doesn't blame you, she blames the people who blew up the car in the first place. You're so blind that you can't see how much she loves you, just as much as you love her"
"How do you always know exactly what to say?"
"When your boss and close friend is storming the halls of the west wing threatening to blow up half the world like a madman it helps to know what to say" Josh laughed at the image Leo had conjured. His laughter died quickly, leaving the two men in silence once more. Josh was lost in his thoughts, the mammoth task that lay ahead of him and the many sleepless nights he was going to endure, the doctors that would plead with him to slow down and the newly appointed President Santos who would expect too much of him.
"I've decided something" Josh began.
"What?"
"I'm going to get a wristband, get the letters WWLD printed on it and wear it to work every day" Leo gave him a confused look. "What Would Leo Do" Josh answered, smiling slightly. Leo laughed loudly.
"You don't think I should get one with What Would Hoynes Do?" It was Josh's turn to laugh.
"You don't think everyone would laugh you out of politics?"
"Definitely …..You would seriously turn to me for help like that?"
"Please, I'm going to be so lost I won't even be able to find my way to work in the morning"
"Nah, I doubt that, I'm pretty sure you were born for the job Josh. You'll know exactly what to do and you'll make me look like an intern, you always have"
"I thought you were warned not to stroke my ego"
"You looked like you needed it… wanna go celebrate?" Josh downed the last of the whiskey and dropped the glass on the carpet. He stood up slowly and held out his hand. "You Ready?" Leo asked, looking up firmly into Josh's eyes.
"Are You?" He replied. In answer, Leo took Josh's hand graciously and with the help he pulled himself up in line with Josh.
"You gonna tell Donna how you feel?" Leo asked as they led each other out of the room.
"Well I'm kinda drunk so I'm guessing it's a given"