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 13: Tuesday, November 7, 2000
Three months had passed since we had been shot at. Josh was recovering wonderfully. He returned to his own apartment so that he wouldn't be in my way and he took the fish with him. But he insisted that once he was 100 better we were moving back in together and the fish were coming too. I prayed he killed he fish by accident.
The elections for the House were that day and we were all a little on edge. I was helping the White House out on this particular day. The tension that had surfaced from August 7th still lingered in the air. Toby was attempting to crack down on crime and at the same time Sam was trying to dig himself out of a small ditch with his friend that he had convinced to run for Congress.
"Mack I need to talk to you for a sec."
"Sure Sam," I grabbed my notepad. "Erin, give me the next five minutes of Leo's time. Samuel, speak to me."
"I need advice."
"I know I'm a doctorate, but in international relations," I smiled, but was returned with a blank stare. "Sorry, what's wrong?"
He sighed. "You know my friend Tom?"
"The one you tried getting elected?"
"Yeah."
"He's not going to win," I replied flatly.
"Yeah I know. That's the problem."
"Oh."
"He has a baby on the way, Mack and I made him change his entire lifestyle so that we could possibly take control of the House. He was perfect for the position, but obviously not perfect enough. He's coming in today and I don't think I'm going to be welcomed with hats and horns."
"Don't linger on this Sam," I put a hand on his shoulder. "He will forget, if not, then he's not worth your time because any true friend of yours would realize that you only have the best interest of others in your heart. It will be okay … "
He looked up at me.
"Yeah … thanks."
"Sure," I smiled.
"Hey Mack?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you be there when he comes in?"
"Sure Sam," I walked out and scribbled a memo on my pad. "Erin!"
"He's free now."
"Thank you. And get me an umbrella; it looks like it's going to rain cats and dogs. Margaret is he free now?"
"Go on in Mack," she typed away.
"Hey, how's the calorie count in the muffins these days?"
"Mack!" she yelled.
"Are you torturing Margaret?" Leo asked as I closed the door behind me.
"Of course not."
"What's up?"
"We're not going to win this, Leo," I sighed.
"You don't know that. There are plenty of tight races to keep a close eye on," he was looking through a folder. He set the papers down and looked up at me. "Why do you say that?"
"Because I have a gut feeling and it's a really bad one."
"Do you get these often?"
"Does it help to say I felt a good feeling the night Jed was elected?"
He paused for a moment. "Considering all of us were feeling nothing but nauseous I'd say that's a step up."
"Leo."
"Mack, seriously, it's a feeling, not actual numbers. Until we get the final polls we don't know for sure. Is that all?"
"Yeah," I turned but looked back. "You know Sam's distraught."
"He'll get over it … "
"They were friends Leo," I said resentfully. "This isn't what politics is supposed to do. We are supposed to unite people, not drive them apart."
"Did you tell him that yourself?" Leo replied indignantly.
"Of course not, but you know as well as I do that we are just as guilty as every other administration before us as far as screwing people over when it doesn't go our way."
"What can I say, Mack? This is politics and whether we like it or not, this is how the game is played. Now you can either step up to the plate or sit on the bench. Which will it be?" he was gaining momentum and stood.
I sighed. "I'll talk to you later."
- - - - -
Later that day the sky opened up and began thundering and lightening. I knew it wasn't a good day. I was walking by Sam's office when I saw two people waiting. Only assuming it was the friend he had screwed, I told Kathy to find Sam and bring him over. I saw him rushing over, a little shaken and a little nervous. I patted his arm as he walked in and I followed.
"Tom, Sarah."
"Thanks for calling us Sam."
Sam looked over at me, and then he turned back to Sarah.
"I'm sorry."
"You're sorry? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD BE SORRY ABOUT – "
"Sarah, please."
"NO, WE – "
"You gave up what you knew was secure," I said softly. She looked like she was going to rip my head off and then dangle it to some sharks.
"And who the hell are you?"
"Mack Adams, daughter of former President Whitman. Pleased to meet you." They just stared back at me. "We understand your frustration and if it's any consolation, we too are upset that you were not elected."
"It is not," Sarah shot.
"Well I am sorry you feel that way, but in defense of my colleague I would like to say one thing," I stepped closer to her. "You have no idea what it is like to run a country. You have no idea the ups and downs and turmoil we must endure. We chose the best people to make us better so we can make the nation better. Frankly, I would feel privileged to be thought of as the best for the job. However I am not you and all I can say is that you did not lose anything from this – maybe a few months off your job, but that would be about it. You'll both swing back into your regular schedules with no problem and will probably forget all about Sam Seaborn who tried so valiantly to get your husband elected, but at least you can say this one thing: you tried. What's worse, going through life and a few failures and bumps in the road or never trying and saying we almost won?"
They didn't respond.
"You know the way out, please leave now," I said sharply.
Sarah was speechless and her husband had to drag her out of the office. Once they were gone I turned to Sam who seemed at a lose for words.
"Thank you Mack … "
"You're my friend and colleague and I would do anything to defend you Sam. But I know how you feel. And in time you too will forget that this misfortune occurred," I walked out the door.
- - - - -
I waited in the White House until all the exiting polls were in. When the final was announced I slumped into a chair. I put my head in my hand and sighed.
"7 Republicans and 5 Democrats … " I muttered.
"Mack do you need anything?"
"No," I took off my headset and placed it on a random desk. "I'm going to see Josh. You can go home, there's nothing else that we can do. Good night Erin."
I took a cab over to Josh's where CJ, Toby, Sam and Donna were all sitting on the stoop. I paid and stood on the curb watching them for a moment. Though discouraged they still seemed happy just to be in each other's company and alive. My pager went off and looked down – it wasn't a number I knew so I put it on silent and along with my cell phone.
"Good evening all," I smiled.
"Hey," Josh got up and gave me a kiss. "Beer?"
"Why not," I smiled as Sam cracked one open for me. I sat down next to Josh and stared up at the sky. "What a day it has been … "
"Do you think tomorrow will be better?" Josh asked absently.
"It can only go up," Sam sighed. "I don't know about you guys, but my day was pretty shitty."
"Yeah … " we all agreed.
A beeping brought us out of our daze. Then there was lots of beeping. Everyone's beeper was going off.
"What the hell?" I looked down at mine and it was flashing the same number from before. I opened my cell and saw 10 missed calls within the past 5 minutes. I dialed Erin. "What's going on?"
"Just get to the White House now and bring everyone with you."
In two minutes Josh was dressed and we were all piling into the car heading towards the White House. When we arrived there were police cars and lots of important people with badges walking around.
"What is going on here?" Toby frowned.
"McKayla Adams?" an official looking man walked up to me.
"Yes?"
"Special Agent Robert Cass," he showed his FBI badge.
"What's going on?"
"Come with me – "
"No, tell me here."
He sighed. "Your brother was just killed in a car accident."