Disclaimer: I own not the things which other's own.
Author's Note: I want to say that I don't like this. But if you do I will be glad. I know kinda what I'm doing. Think of this as a transition chapter. Then you'll fell happier. Needless to say more to come and well queer Josh.
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Josh walked right into the ambush. He had seen it as soon as the door closed behind him, but it was to late to run.
There they were. His worst nightmare, and he had no way to escape. They were pouring drinks, looking casual, but they were on the hunt.
"Come in Josh," the President said. "Have a drink."
Josh had promised no alcohol, at least he vaguely recalled making a promise about alcohol. He still wasn't going to turn down brandy with the President, especially since he had acted completely irrationally earlier.
He moved towards them slowly, and said very quietly. "Thank you Mr. President."
He heard the ice drop, he wanted to jump and run. He felt the liquid pour into the cup; he just wanted to get drunk. Then Leo handed him a cup, and he took it into his hand obliviously.
"So Josh," the President began still pouring drinks, "I hear you've gotten engaged."
Josh stood still. His mouth hung open and he mumbled for words.
"We'll its not official sir," Leo said with a smile.
"Of course, of course," he answered.
Then he turned around and saw Josh standing like an idiot. "Congratulations," Bartlet added holding up his glass.
Josh tried to look somewhat happy in response.
"Now," Bartlet said, as they went to sit down. "Are you going to tell him or am I?" he asked, waving his hand at Leo.
Leo shrugged. "You probably should."
"Well…" he looked like he was making a hard choice. "Josh," he said looking him in the eye.
"Yes sir," Josh said, terrified, throwing the drink down the back of his throat.
"Josh," Bartlet began, slowly with difficulty. "I'm going to need your resignation."
Josh didn't know what to think. He was pretty sure they were joking. They're joking aren't they? He began to panic and fidget. His eyes were about to fall out of his head, and he felt like all his hair disappeared in that instant.
"We can't handle the scandal," Bartlet tried to explain. He averted his eyes from Josh, and rubbed his hands together. "It's just too much right now."
"Sir…. I…." Josh tried to begin.
"It's been a hard decision Josh," Leo said.
"But we think it's best."
"Best?"
"I can't have your relationship be the headline when we have real issues to deal with," Leo told him.
"We can…"
"It's not something we can avoid Josh," Bartlet told him.
All Josh could think about was the problems Donna was going to have. She would yell at him, and then she'd refuse to be with him. And now he didn't even have the President's approval, let alone that of her dead father.
He stood up, and paced a bit.Then he saw Leo. Leo who was smiling, and shaking with… laughter?
Bartlet turned to Leo. "Will you stop laughing!" He said sitting up straight placing his hand on his knee. "We had him. But no… you just couldn't hold it together."
"Sir I…" Josh wasn't laughing. He felt like he needed another drink.
"You should have seen your face," Bartlet laughed, refilling his glass.
Josh was once again speechless.
"Now," Bartlet said, his voice serious. "How's Donna?"
That was a subject Josh had no problem talking about. Maybe it sounded ridiculous but he felt like he could be honest with the President. Maybe it was just the alcohol, but he began to talk quickly and vividly. Still with a another glass of liquor in his body, and another glass in his hand he was bound to do something in the next half hour that would require some apology, or at the least his resignation.
