Chapter 2

The silence continued to coat the room. The shadows continued to dance on the walls.

Jed sighed, thinking about the ups and downs of the past eight years. The achievements. The near misses. The losses.

Jed's POV:

I guess I have made some difference in some areas. I increased funding for education, for medical research, and for terrorism. But there have been some misses as well. And that bothers me. So close and I couldn't close the deals. China was a major miss. My relapse did nothing to help that. I thought I had it all arranged but then it fell through. But the losses…they're the hardest for me to deal with. I don't mind the political losses. That's a fact of life in politics and I knew that going in. I would have liked to have won more than I did but I knew I was going to lose some battles. I guess I can accept that.

But it's the people I've lost that bother me the most. Why did they leave? I guess they each had their reasons.

Sam was the first to go. He was a good speech writer. One of the best I've ever known. I always thought he would do well in politics. But he chose differently. Last I heard he was in a prestigious LA law firm and engaged to be married. But Josh wants him to be Deputy Chief of Staff. I haven't heard his decision. I think he'll do well but then this is the White House and in this place your time is not your own. But Sam's smart. He'll make the right decision.

Then Josh moved on. He thought I was angry at him for leaving. But I wasn't. I knew it was time for a new challenge. He moved up as well. Santos has recently announced that Josh would be his Chief of Staff. Well, that was a no brainer. Just like Leo got me elected twice, Josh got Santos elected. I once told the Secretary of Agriculture to choose his best friend for Chief of Staff. I don't know if Josh is Santo's best friend, but Josh will serve the new President well. Josh served me and Leo well. There was no one better when it came to domestic politics and wrangling Senators and Congressmen into the party line. Those skills will benefit the new President as well.

Toby. You served me well, Toby. You had a magic way with words and yes, there were even times you had a magic way with me. You always said it plain. And sometimes a President needs that voice to clear away the cobwebs and drive him to make the right decision. But Toby, why did you do it? I didn't want to believe that you leaked the secret information but when you said what you did, what choice did I have? I have a pardon in my desk, just waiting for my signature. But I don't know what I'll do. I'll decide in the morning.

CJ. Claudia Jean. I wasn't real sure about you during the campaign but you certainly have withstood those daily press battles and always came back for more. Well, almost always. There were many times where you had reporters for breakfast, lunch, and supper. How did they taste? Then I picked you for Chief of Staff. There was no other person I had come to trust as much as I did Leo. There were some rough days there, especially when you tried to protect me after the trip to China. But then, somehow, you changed. You got tougher. I wonder how much mentoring Leo gave you because you have really shown your mettle these past few months. I heard from Abbey that you're heading to California tomorrow. Abbey said that Danny had been named an Associate Editor of the LA Times and wondered if that had anything to do with your decision. Of course. It has EVERYTHING to do with it. You'll be missed but it's time you get some happiness of your own.

But I miss two people most of all. Delores and Leo. People so different but yet they had an incredible impact on my life. But they are gone. Before I had a chance to say goodbye. Both gone before their times. Both gone because of my actions.

The shadows moved again.