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 5: Wednesday, December 8, 1999

"Mack I don't understand why you're doing this," Alex said as I gathered up my laptop two days later. "There are plenty of people there to help them out, why you?"

"Because I know Leo and the President."

"Yeah, so do I but they're not calling me in for counseling."

"Well I'm not a Senator," I looked at him. "Dad's the President's personal physician. It's okay if I'm in the White House for a couple of days, at least to help smooth over the worst of it. You know Leo has skeletons in the closet, we just don't know which ones Lillienfield is planning on revealing to the public."

"You know which ones," he said.

"I have to do this, Alex," I put my hand on his for a moment and then raced over to the White House.

Josh was the first person I saw.

"Hey." I could barely make eye contact with him since the other day's events.

"Hey," he was running around aimlessly.

"Josh, are you okay?"

"What? Yeah, fine, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yeah," I followed him to his office. "Where do you want me to put my stuff?"

"Oh, just wherever," he closed the door. "Leo wasn't into just alcohol was he?"

I set my laptop bag down and draped my coat over the seat.

"No, he wasn't."

"What am I up against, Mack?"

"Why not talk to him?"

"Will you come with me?"

"Does he know I'm here?"

"No."

"Josh – "

"Mack," Josh looked right into my eyes. "Mack, I really just want someone else there."

"Okay, Josh, lead the way … " I followed him to Leo's office.

"Sir, Josh and McKayla Adams were wondering if you had a moment."

"Sure."

"Good morning Sir," Josh muttered.

"Good morning Leo," I stood beside Josh.

"McKayla, I didn't know you were here. What's wrong up at the Hill?" he frowned.

"Nothing Leo," I looked over at Josh. "I've come to stay with you and help for a few days – "

"What? And who issued this order?"

"I did … Sir," Josh replied timidly.

"Well, Josh, I guess you're the guy with the worst job in the building this week."

"Yeah, I was interrogating this intern from Legislative Liaison's office. She broke down crying about a bong she had made out of an eggplant."

"You can do that?" Leo and I asked at the same time.

"I always used a potato," Josh shrugged.

"You've always been industrious," Leo smiled. Josh looked over at me briefly.

"Lillienfield's not after the kid in the Liaison's office. He's not after the senior staff," we both sat down next to Leo. "Leo, you know that the worst kept secret in Washington is that you're recovering alcoholic, right?"

"I had a hunch," he joked.

"Leo you're a Boston Irish Catholic. Back there and back then a drinking problem wasn't a problem. This isn't what he's after. Were maybe into something that wasn't so acceptable?"

Leo's head shot towards me. I took his hand and nodded – it was time to confess.

"Pills."

"Were you in treatment?"

"Sierra Tucson, six years ago."

"Leo – " Josh tried to speak.

"Records kept by this facility are confidential," Leo responded with confidence.

"He's got them."

Leo looked over at me.

"I believe it," I replied quietly.

"You're Leo McGarry. You're not gonna be taken down by this small fraction of a man," Josh got up at went to the door. "I won't permit it. Mack, c'mon."

"What do you want me to do Josh?" I turned to Leo. "What do you want me to do?"

"I don't know, McKayla."

"Come with me," Josh said. "Your stuff is in my office and I know Donna wouldn't mind having a companion."

"Okay, off you go," Leo stood and we left.

The next couple of days were a race to prepare everyone for impact. Leo's secret was out, and Judge Mendoza had just replaced the prize-winning Judge Harrison. I never really like Harrison anyways. Christmas was slowly creeping upon us and while shopping for some Christmas gifts I ran into Josh.

It was Wednesday, December 15th, a cold, crisp morning. I was perusing the shops of Georgetown. So far I had gotten presents for my mother and father. I still had my dad's parents, three siblings, Jed, the Bartlet family, Leo, CJ, Donna, a few staff members, and a few other relatives and family friends. I sighed as I wondered if I had to get Sam and Josh gifts since Sam and I had slept together one night and then made a truce and Josh had kissed me.

"That's stupid," I muttered with a laugh as I browsed a local bookshop and thought at about getting Josh and Sam gifts.

"What is?"

I spun around.

"Josh," I blushed.

"Hey Mack," he smiled coyly. "So what's stupid?"

"Um, nothing, I was just, I – I was just talking to myself," I smiled as I fumbled over my words. "What's up?"

"Nothing much, I'm just spending a few minutes finding presents for a few estranged family members."

"Sounds lovely."

"How about you?"

"I've got a list a mile long and barely started."

"How many people could you have to buy gifts for?" he leaned on the bookshelf.

"A lot."

"Am I one of them?"

"I don't know," I shrugged. "Are you?"

"You can't resist me."

"Oh Josh I think I can," I laughed. "I've only been doing it for the past, what fifteen years or so?" I looked up at him with a smile. "Why now Josh? Why start being nice to me now?"

"Because … now I know you don't hate me. And I've screwed up too many other things in my life to let myself screw this up."

"Well, what do you want out of this newfound relationship, Josh? Sex?"

"Heh," he laughed. "Sex would be wonderful, but no. I just want to get to know you."

"Josh, how long have I been the girl next door?"

"For too long," he muttered and stood straight. He sighed. "Listen, I gotta go, I have stuff to do. I guess I'll see you around, maybe if I'm up at the Hill or something … "

"Sure."

He put a book back on the shelf and walked away. I looked down at my hands and the book I had randomly grabbed. It was a copy of Romeo and Juliet. It was one of my favorite plays; in college I acted in play as Juliet and still remembered every word. I ran after Josh.

"Josh! Josh!"

He turned around.

"Wait!" I ran to him, he seemed down.

"What? I get the hint, Mack, I'm okay," he turned and kept walking.

I ran up to him and spun him around. I pulled his lips to mine.

"You idiot, don't walk away," I was a nervous wreck.

"That's a great way to get me to stay – "

"Does this help?" I kissed him again.

"Yeah just a little," he smiled.

"Happy holidays," I said softly, then quoted from Romeo and Juliet. "' My only love sprung from my only hate!; Too early seen unknown, and known too late!'"

"What?"

"It's from Romeo and Juliet. A little relevant don't you think?"

"Ironically. Let's just not kill ourselves, okay?"

"Would you like to have dinner at my place tonight?"

He looked down at me. I thought he was going to say no.

"Sure, I would love to. I'll call you when I'm done with work."

"You're never done," I smiled. "I'll come when I'm ready to have you over."

The evening entailed candles, a fire, pot roast and a special dessert right from mother's own cookbook, chocolate soufflés. I swung by the West Wing around 7:30 and surprisingly didn't meet anyone that would question what Josh and I would be doing.

He looked extra nice that night, there was something about his shirt, it was extra white and his tie was extra blue. I wore a black skirt that went half way down my calves, a baby blue shirt and white sheer cover-up.

"You look hot," Josh commented as I held the door open and gave me a kiss on the forehead.

"Thank you, Josh, you look pretty hot yourself."

"I know, it comes with the whole package," he smiled.

"Would you like anything to drink?"

"What's on the menu for tonight?"

"Pot roast."

"How about some wine?" he took his jacket off.

"You can just drape it over one of the chairs," I motioned to a line of barstools at the island in my kitchen, which was off to the left as soon as you entered.

"Nice place you got here," Josh mused as he turned to his right where the dining table was and then walked straight where the floored dipped down a little and opened into a family room with an entire wall of glass. "Can I have a tour?"

"You want a tour of my … apartment?" I asked with skepticism as I handed him a glass of red wine.

"Yeah, why not?"

"Okay, well up there is the kitchen – "

"It's nice."

"Thanks. And on the other side is the dining area. Um, branching off to the left here is where my bedroom, study, bathroom and mini gym are. On the other side are two guest bedrooms, laundry room and bathrooms for everyone else to use. That's it," I said quickly.

"You know usually in a tour you get to see the place, but you're a Whitman, I'll excuse you," he smiled.

"Maybe you'll get a tour of my wing after dinner," I stepped down into the family room and brought him over to the tiled area right next to the windows where dinner was set up on a little glass table. "Hungry?"

"Sure," he smiled and sat down as I began serving.

After dinner we sat in front of the fire just talking.

"Mack, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," I replied as we sat on the couch.

"If I had asked you out when I first met you and we hadn't fallen into mutual dislike, do you think we would've stayed together and gotten married?"

I turned to him.

"What?"

"It's – it's just a question."

"Um, I don't know. I mean I'm just starting to know you, I don't think any one of us could answer that question."

"Yeah, I suppose not … Mack, did you date the Senator from Ohio?"

"No," I laughed. "That's a rumor that got started by accident. We got drunk at a party one night and we had one night together, and after that he seemed convinced that we had something so he kept sending me flowers, but there was nothing."

"Did you sleep with Sam?"

I turned to him with wide eyes.

"Or not … "

"Why?"

"I was just curious," he shrugged. He glanced at the clock over the mantle. "I think I should be getting back. I still have stuff to do and Toby – "

"Want to see the bedroom?"

" – Toby can do it all himself. Okay."

"If I told you, you were the second White House senior staff member I slept with within the past couple of months, what would you say?" I asked as we laid in my bed.

"I would say don't leak this to the press," he looked over at me.

"I'm not that dumb Josh Lyman," I replied and stared up at the ceiling.