DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters or dialogue taken directly from the show. I do not claim to be a political expert, I am far from that, I am a biology major. Therefore I would like to preface this story with the notion I wrote this story out of pure love of the show and the characters. Thank you & enjoy.

Part 3: Sunday, November 21, 1999

"So I had a wonderful time tonight," Sam said as we walked away from the restaurant.

"Yeah, so did I," I smiled. "Do you think I got too dressed up?"

Sam stepped back and looked at my red silk dress, red heeled sandals, and pea coat.

"No, not at all," he assured.

"Okay, because you only wore a suit and – "

"Mack, you look fine," he smiled uncomfortably as we walked on.

"Sam, what's on your mind?"

"Nothing. Why? Do I look like – "

"Yeah," I stopped and pulled Sam to a bench. We sat and looked into his eyes. "You seem a little preoccupied, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just, you know, stuff," he forced a laugh.

"Sam, I've grown up in politics, I know what haunts you, don't pretend there is nothing wrong when there is. You don't have to tell me, I'm not trying to be a therapist … " I trailed off and took his hand. "Just, can I give you one piece of advice?"

"Sure," he sighed.

"Don't hold it in. No matter what, you must find an empty room, someone else to just yell at, you cannot let your emotions in."

"So what are you suggesting? I go down to the boiler room and just start yelling at the wall? Or perhaps use Toby as my straw man?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Good advice, but won't happen," Sam sighed.

"Sure it can. If you want it to, it will happen. C'mon, try me out, yell at me," I sat up.

"No, thank you, it's okay."

"C'mon Sam, you can do it, I know you have it in you. I can just picture what the smack downs between you and Toby Ziegler are like. C'mon just pretend I'm Toby."

"Okay, that's wrong on so many levels. I don't think I can kiss you tonight."

"Whoever said you were going to get a kiss?" I smiled coyly. "Just start telling me your problems, every little thing that's pissing you off right now. I can take it Sam Seaborn! I have three older siblings and a father who used to be the President of the United States! I've taken Jed Bartlet to school on more than one occasion in a yelling match, I can handle a lousy day from the Deputy Communications Director."

"Okay, well, for one, my alarm clock came unplugged last night and I woke up an hour late and barely walked into the West Wing today in time for the staff meeting. I got reamed out by Toby for not completing a statement about foreign policy that is two weeks ahead of schedule. And on top of that Congressman Thompson decided to disown the Democratic Party today."

I looked at him with skepticism.

"That's it?."

"Fine, you want to really know what's erking me? Okay, just the other night Josh pushed the panic button at a Georgetown bar and some punk ass kid called me a fairy boy. I've been getting shit from people left and right about Laurie, this call girl I slept with, but I of course I didn't know she was a call girl at the time, and now we're trying to push a piece of crap legislation through the House just so we can get our numbers up! I know the bill is shit, you know it, we all know it except the American people who are dumb enough to believe whatever bullshit, candy-coated jargon we're clever enough to come up with! I'm sick of alluding people Mack! We're pushing people left and right, buying our way through this term! It will be a miracle if the President's ratings are above 25 by the end of this year!

"We have our first Christmas coming up in the White House and we don't even have a formal party plan established yet! Hell, we haven't even begun thinking of the State of the Union, which I might add, I feel completely inept to write! Whatever I scribble down on paper is not good enough for the almighty Toby and when it is I rarely receive credit! I'm passed around to whoever needs me like I'm the rookie card of the minor league's third string catcher! Yes I admit that I'm young, but I don't deserve to get smacked around like some ping-pong ball! Do I even have a purpose? What is my purpose in this administration? The poster boy from Princeton? Is that what I am? Is it? Mack?"

In the middle of his ranting he had leaped up and started pacing. I looked up at him with sad eyes. I stood and help his hand. For a moment words were not necessary, just my presence. I was his wall and that's all he needed.

"Sam," I said softly. "See, this is good … this is healthy, but I cannot give you any advice. I cannot respond to you."

"What? Why?"

"Because," I smiled, "a wall is not going to say anything except maybe ask the same questions right back at you."

He stifled a laugh.

"So are you trying to tell me something? Are you making a metaphor?"

"It can mean whatever you want, Sam Seaborn," I pulled him closer to me. "But just keep in mind, no wall, or therapist or senior staff member is going to tell you the right thing. The right thing will come from within you, and this isn't just some bullshit I'm pulling out of my ass. I know what I'm talking about.

"When I went through therapy after being attacked, my therapists told me to talk to a wall every night and just listen to my words reverberate and come back at me. You'll find that you know more than you think you do. In time the answers will come. Not all, but some, and then you'll realize where the true answers lie."

He looked down at me and pushed my hair back behind my ears.

"You should be working for us."

"Maybe some day I will," I smiled as he leaned over and kissed me. When he pulled away I looked up at him and smiled. "It would be prudent to not tell anyone about this, especially a certain insane Deputy Chief of Staff for fear of having my head blown off and also if my brother hears it may be the end of your life."

"Great."

"He's very protective of me," I said in a mock tone.

"C'mon," Sam put his arm around me and we walked back to my apartment.