Reissuing Ultimatums
Sam was hardly ever on time for the morning senior staff meeting and it was rare that he arrived early. Today was one of those rare days. Sam arrived just a few minutes early for senior staff and found himself waiting next to Margaret's desk. Leo's door swung open and as Margaret motioned for Sam to go in he found himself nearly run over by Admiral Fitzwallace, who was on his way out. Sam stopped just short enough to avoid a major collision.
"Excuse me. I'm sorry, Admiral." Sam apologized.
"No Sam, I wasn't looking where I was going." The admiral countered.
Sam expected the conversation to end there, but just as Sam was about the walk into Leo's office, Admiral Fitzwallace turned to continue talking to him.
"Sam! I had the pleasure of meeting your sister this weekend."
"Really, sir. How did that happen?"
"We were both at a wedding in Annapolis." The admiral stated.
"That's great." As Sam replied, he wondered how Admiral Fitzwallace would have known Juliana was his sister. "If you don't mind me asking, admiral, how did you know Juliana was my sister? Was she wearing a nametag that said 'Hi, my name is…Sam Seaborn's sister'?"
Admiral Fitzwallace let out of hearty laugh. "No, Sam, nothing so embarrassing. Josh introduced me to her."
At the mention of Josh's name Sam got a sinking feeling in his stomach, one he felt would turn to disappointment and anger. Sam was only half listening to the admiral as he continued.
"My wife and I saw your sister and Josh as they were walking to their inn. They're a cute couple, if I do say so myself. It's good to know that two people can work as hard as they do and still find time to be happy together."
Sam was listening enough to hear the pertinent details. Admiral Fitzwallace took his leave and Sam walked into Leo's office. CJ and Toby had walked in while Sam had been talking outside, and just as Leo was about to start Josh breezed in, almost late as usual. Upon seeing Josh, Sam began to seethe. Sam specifically remembered telling Josh to stay away from his sister. As his best friend, Sam expected Josh to be able to understand and handle that. Now he was angry that his best friend had betrayed him.
"Ok." Leo began. "I hope everyone had a good weekend." Leo had meant his statement to be rhetorical and to move on, but Sam felt the need to comment.
"Josh had a good weekend." Sam said icily. Everyone looked at Sam, surprised. Then their gaze settled on Josh.
Without thinking, Josh gave a little smile. He had had a wonderful weekend. Josh was, however, confused as to why Sam would have said anything. As Josh looked over at Sam, he could tell that Sam knew.
"You could tell them what you did with your girlfriend." Sam said coldly, a bit quieter than his first declaration. Josh hung his head, not wanting to take up this argument in Leo's office. It was clear, though, that Josh would have to talk to Sam about this at sometime.
"I don't know what's going on, but I'd like to talk about a release on NAFTA. Take care of your weekend business another time." Leo said firmly, putting an end to Sam's campaign. Leo looked at his senior staff, making sure that he had their attention. He gave one final look to Josh, to make sure that he understood what he needed to do.
Senior staff ended a few minutes later without any more eventful moments. Sam was the first to leave, walking quickly out of Leo's office.
"Sam we need to talk." Josh was walking through the bullpen, behind Sam. "Hey! You can't just keep walking away from me." Sam did nothing to acknowledge Josh's request.
"Not out here." Sam said almost inaudibly, but firmly. He stepped into Toby's office and turned to look expectantly at Josh, signaling for him to follow. Josh walked into Toby's office and closed the door behind him.
"Sam, you don't understand…" Josh tried to say, but he and didn't see Sam's fist coming until it connected with his jaw. The force with which Sam punched Josh sent Josh flying into Toby's office door.
"I thought we were friends." Sam said, shaking his hand. Josh swung at Sam hard enough to send Sam flying to Toby's desk.
"We are. This has nothing to do with you."
"You're sleeping with my sister." Sam's voice was now audible outside of Toby's door, Sam aimed for Josh's jawbone. He never gave a though to the fact that he was engaged in a fist fight in the white house. "You lied to me! You betrayed me!"
Sam's punch sent Josh toppling over the coffee table and onto Toby's couch. Josh was up in a matter of seconds and rushed at Sam. Josh was in mid-swing when CJ opened the door and stepped in. Putting herself in between the two men, CJ deftly ducked Josh's hand and struck him on the shoulder.
"That's enough!" CJ shouted. "What's going on?"
"He's screwing my sister!" Sam yelled, out of breath with rage.
"And I've enjoyed it!" Josh yelled right back.
Sam seethed with anger, unable to respond. He took a step towards Josh, but CJ stepped into his line. CJ did nothing more than turn to Josh, raise her eyebrows and give him a look that read 'you stupid ass'. CJ seemed to be standing guard between two seething men. Sam gingerly touched his cheek where Josh's fist had connected. Josh dabbed at the touch of blood stealing from his lip. Sam made a slight move towards Josh. Protectively CJ stepped up and put a hand on his shoulder to halt and restrain him.
"I told you to leave her alone." Sam growled angrily, but with a lowered voice.
"I don't see how this is any of your damn business!" Josh shouted back, not mimicking Sam's lowered voice. Sam and Josh shot looks at hatred at each other, neither breaking their stares when the office door opened.
The office door swung open and Toby walked in. Only CJ turned to look at the new addition to the tense group. As Toby walked in, he breezed past Josh and CJ and pushed past Sam to the edge of his desk. He threw his file onto his desk and turned to face the occupants of his office while he talked.
"Why in the hell are you doing this in my office?"
"Josh is sleeping with my sister." Sam spit out, never taking his eyes off of Josh.
"Is that a crime?" Toby said casually without concern. "It is in fact the case that I really don't care. Get out." Toby turned back to his desk and began shuffling through his files. Josh and Sam both turned to leave, almost colliding and running each other over in the doorway. Upon exiting the office, each pivoted to walk their own way, only Sam muttering over his shoulder "End it." Never looking at Josh.
Toby looked at CJ. "Do I want to know how you're involved?"
"Probably not." CJ said with a smile.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. It was uneventful, but a tense cloud of silence hung over the west wing. Sam was completely avoiding Josh. Donna spent the entire day messengering message and files from Josh to the communications bullpen. She was sure that she was developing blisters due to the mileage that she was incurring between Josh and Sam's offices.
"What's going on with you two?" Donna asked Josh, leaning casually against the doorframe to his office. Josh didn't reply directly.
"Don't you have work to do?"
"I'm just saying, if I'm wearing through a new pair of shoes because of some silly fight that you two have had, I think I have the right to know. I think I've got a brand new callous and just because you refuse to go to that side of the building. So, what's going on?"
"We got in a fight." Josh looked up at Donna. "Okay?"
"Josh, I'm not deaf. Everyone knows that you two got in a fight. Practically everyone heard it. I'm just saying, you should tell me what you were fighting about."
"Why is that again?"
"Because I'm you're assistant and currently I'm running interference for you." Donna stated matter of factly.
Josh sighed and leaned backing his chair. How did this happen to him? Sam was the maverick, the idealistic endeavoring politician. Sam Seaborn was loyal and passionate, sometimes too passionate and too concerned with right and wrong. Josh was the dependable one. But at the same time he was disarming to friends and foes alike. Still, Josh had always considered himself trustworthy and loyal. How did he end up with the girl and betraying his best friend all at the same time?
A thundering knock shook Josh out of his thoughts. He glanced towards the office door to see Juliana standing in it.
"Why did my brother just slam a door in my face?"
"Donna!" Josh bellowed. Donna appeared instantly behind Juliana, and looked expectantly at Josh. "Why do I employ you again?"
"Merely so you can shout my name. Oh, Juliana Wexler is here." Donna was smiling devilishly.
"So, I'll ask again. Why did Sam just slam a door in my face? It's like, I don't know, he isn't talking to me or something." Juliana interrupted the duo's banter.
"Funny," Donna replied from in back of Juliana before walking back to her desk. "Sam and Josh aren't speaking either." Donna disappeared from the doorway and Juliana walked in further.
"I was meeting with Ed and Larry. Or is it Larry and Ed? Whatever. I went to see Sam and he slammed his office door in my face. Josh! He slammed the door in my face! He wanted me to lose a nose! What's going on?"
Josh rose silently from his desk, walked around Juliana and closed the door.
"We had a disagreement."
"And did this disagreement involve me?"
"Yeah. Admiral Fitzwallace ran into Sam this morning and said something about seeing us together over the weekend. Sam made a scene in the middle of senior staff. Then Sam hit me and I kind of hit him back. It would have been more of a fight, but CJ stepped in. And, hey, if CJ ever challenges me to a duel or something remind me never to take her on." Josh tried to lighten to events of the day by throwing in his last joke, but from the look on Juliana's face he could see that he hadn't succeeded.
"You had a fist fight in the white house!" Juliana's voice rose to a louder level. People outside Josh's office turned to stare momentarily, and then turned back to work.
"I can't do this. You need to leave." Josh said sternly. He dropped his head into his hands and run his hands through his hair. He exhaled loudly as he through his body into the back of his chair and leaned his head to look up at the ceiling. Juliana didn't move. At the moment she was quite torn. Juliana felt that in some way she should be showing concern for Sam and Sam's feelings. But just standing here Juliana could tell that Josh was stressed, frustrated and troubled.
"I'm not going anywhere until we talk about this." Juliana stated simply, trying not to be defensive or pushy with her voice, just trying to be there.
Josh stood up and walked to the door. He paused briefly in the doorway and looked out into the west wing before shutting it and pacing towards his desk.
"I can't do this, us, anymore. This needs to end." As Josh spoke, almost in a whisper, Juliana kept her eyes on him. Studying his motions. Juliana thought that if Josh ran his hands through his hair any more or any more forcefully, he'd be bald by the end of the day.
"So, just because Sam is irrationally angry, you've decided that this isn't worth it?" Juliana asked. She was trying to gage Josh emotions and rationalize his thinking. This is what she was good at. She was good at reading people and then maneuvering their thoughts.
"It's not just Sam! It's everything! Ever since you blew into my life, it's been turned upside down. It's like you're this hurricane and you're leaving this wide path of chaos in your wake." Josh had stopped running his hands through his disarrayed hair. He no leaned on his desk, leaning towards Juliana with his arguments. Most of the time when he talked, he looked straight at Juliana, who met his gaze, but some times he dropped his gaze to the desk. "You're not just turning my life upside down, you're effecting the whole city. The entire democratic party, if you will."
"It needed some shaking up." Juliana interrupted with a smile. Josh continued without acknowledging her comment.
"Since you've come around I've been avoiding my best friend. Things have been stressed between us at work, and that makes it hard to work. And now, he won't even talk to me!"
"Josh, it takes two to have a fist fight." Juliana stated matter-of-factly. Josh looked up at Jules in wonder, with a look that asked how she knew about the fight. Juliana read the look and as Josh opened his mouth to ask, she answered his question. "Of course I know about the fight. Not even the CIA could have kept this a secret, though they're not the best at secrecy right now. A fight in the west wing? Come on, Josh! Five minutes later every assistant in this place was talking about it."
"Whatever." Was Josh's only response before he continued. The break Josh had taken to listen to Juliana didn't calm down his emotions. He continued on his rant with passion. "It's like I'm not me anymore here at work. Since you, I've been off my game. We failed on the foreign opps bill, I can't get anywhere with congressmen on foreign aid and, god, the budget…you're killing me here."
"Sounds like a personal problem." Juliana said flippantly. She looked up at Josh and raised her eyebrows, challenging him to blame more on her.
"We need to end this." Josh said in almost a whisper.
"You and Sam are having problems. That's because he's being an overprotective ass and you were a coward for not talking to him sooner and standing up for what you wanted. This is hardly my problem. God, and as for your work? I do a job and I do it well. If that happens to be too intimidating for you then maybe you need to go and find a nice position in food service somewhere. I hear they're hiring. You were great at your job before I came to town, you're great now, and you will continue to be great long after I leave. It just happens that the Republicans finally hired someone that can stand up to you every now and then. And it just happened to be me. Get over it." Juliana was fed up now and it showed in her voice. She was trying to keep it down so as not to be heard outside Josh's office, but with her frustration rising and her patience wearing down it was hard to do. Josh had yet to say anything. He had been standing, not defensively, but dejectedly. With Juliana's last words, Josh slammed a file down on his desk for emphasis and yelled in frustration.
"So you're telling me that this is all my fault? That in some unstable way, I've created this little hurricane of terror?" He yelled.
Juliana laughs darkly. "Josh, look me in the eye and tell me that this is all my fault. That without me, things would be just peachy in your world."
"Jules…" Josh knew that he couldn't do it and Jules did too. With the tension mounting, Josh yelled, because yelling it what he did best in tense situations. "Arrgh. You're a Republican. Anyway you look at it, it doesn't work! What the hell else do you want me to say?"
Juliana recoiled as if Josh had tried to hit her. She began to back away toward the door with anger on her face and hurt in her eyes. "Fine, Josh. Whatever you want." Juliana's entire demeanor had changed. Now, every word was icy and cold.
Josh stood in his office watching Juliana walk out the door, confused at her reaction. It took him only seconds to realize that his angry outburst was misdirected and very stupid. Josh opened his mouth to speak, but it was seconds before any sound came out.
"Jules….wait…."
"The funny thing is, Josh, that you never asked me." Juliana's words
coming out clipped and short. "You never asked if I was a Republican. You only assumed things."
Juliana fled from Josh's office, but only in theory. Josh noticed that as Juliana entered the bullpen the common staffer would, from her poise and demeanor, think they had just had a business meeting – except, of course, for the yelling that preceded Juliana's exit. Josh was left standing alone in his office and pondering Juliana's last words. 'You only assumed things.'
Hours later, Josh could still hear Juliana's last few words echoing in his head. He couldn't for the life of him figure out why her emotions had turned so icy so quickly. Josh rubbed his temples. His head was pounding and the work and files lying scattered on his desk had hardly been touched.
"Donna!" Josh yelled.
"Yes, master?" Donna said smugly as she appeared in his doorway.
"Do I keep you in a bottle somewhere? What's with the master thing? No, forget it. I don't want to know. Donna, I need everything there is on Juliana Wexler. Now, please."
"Sure thing. Do you want note cards or bullets?"
"Whichever." Donna was about to disappear around the corner, when Josh called out to her again as he furiously scribbled something on a sheet of paper. "Donna? Can you have someone get this to Juliana Wexler please?"
Josh continued to write and when he finished, he folded the note and handed it to Donna. Donna nodded without asking and left.
"Juliana, this was just delivered for you." An assistant dropped handed the envelope to Juliana and walked back out of the office, closing the door softly on her way out. Putting down the small manila envelope, Juliana gently rubbed her eyes and the bridge of her nose. The envelope made a crisp, crackling sound as her finger under the flap. She turned the envelope over and dumped its contents out onto her desk. All that fluttered down onto the desk was a plain piece of paper, folded in half. Juliana picked up the note, unfolded it and read the words that were revealed.
Jules. Meet me at the WWII memorial at 9:00. Josh.
Juliana stared at Josh's note for a few minutes. Why did he think he could just summon her whenever he wanted? Just to prove that she didn't wait for his beckon call, Juliana considered not meeting Josh. She thought about just letting him stand and wait out in the cold, Washington night.
At 8:50, Juliana's mind was still debating whether or not to go meet Josh. Finally, she threw down her pen and stood up with a huff. Striding across her office, Juliana grabbed her coat and walked out of her office, flippantly informing her assistant that she'd be back in thirty minutes. Outside, the wind had picked up and cold gusts whipped around Juliana, her hair blowing behind her in the breeze. As she approached the memorial, she could see Josh. The lights radiating from the fountain lit his silhouette from behind. He was surrounded by a warm glow coming from the shining pillars all around him. The night was too cold and too late for tourists to still be out seeing the monuments and the memorial was almost void of people. When Josh finally heard the clicking of Juliana's heels on the hard surface he turned, revealing that he was holding too steaming cups of coffee, and smiled. Juliana didn't smile back; she simply looked at him curiously.
"Here." Josh said, holding a cup out for Juliana. "I brought a peace offering." Juliana took the cup and smiled as she sipped the drink. Josh had remembered her fondness for mocha lattes, with extra whipped cream.
"So, what is this?" Juliana motioned to the memorial with her free hand. "Some kind of common ground?"
"Yeah, it kind of is." Josh acquiesced. Juliana had been smiling, but it faded as she remembered Josh's summons and their previous conversation.
"Josh, who do you think you are? You can't just summon me to rendezvous with you any time that is convenient for you!"
"Jules, that's not what this is." Josh pleaded. "Although, I am the Deputy Chief of Staff for President Bartlett and I can do that."
"See, that's your problem. You're so arrogant sometimes, that you can't see that I'm right. This is why people resent you."
"Whoa! People don't…" Josh stopped, laughed and shook his head. He threw up his hands in mock defeat. "I didn't come here for this. I didn't ask you to meet me here just so that we could fight."
"Then stop being such an ass."
"Okay. I'm gonna let that one slide. See, all day I haven't been able to get something out of my head. You told me that I didn't know much about you and I just assumed things. And I started thinking, well yeah, I have assumed a lot. So I had Donna do some research…"
"What did she do, give you talking points?" Juliana asked snidely.
"More like note cards. But there's some fascinating information on those things. You were born and raised in Orange County, California. You were on some type of junior surfing circuit. You skipped the 10th grade. You went to college in Europe, where you evidentially dated the crown prince of Sweden. You speak 6 languages, like 3 wasn't enough. You have worked for the governor of California, the mayor of New York City, the president of Peru, and various committees abroad. Your favorite flavor of ice cream is Winter White Chocolate from Baskin and Robbins. And, this has got to be my favorite fact; you have a phobia of chicken sandwiches. Yeah, we'll definitely talk about that one later." Josh had been confidently ticking off facts on his fingers. The more he talked, the more he strutted back and forth in front of Juliana.
"What does this prove?" Juliana asked. "That Donna is very thorough?"
"Well, that too. See the thing is, that even with all the information Donna dug up, you're still somewhat of an enigma. So I pulled your FBI file."
"Is that even legal?"
"What? Yes! I have the clearance!" Josh protested, taken aback that Juliana would question his authority. "So, that's when I found what I was looking for."
"What's that?"
"You're a registered Democrat?" Josh had turned to face Juliana and asked her while staring into her eyes. There was a playful look that danced across his face. It mixed with an shocked disbelief.
"Yes. I pay taxes too. Would you like to see my tax returns? Or do you an in at the IRS too." Juliana scoffed at Josh's question. Josh threw his head back and let out a grunt of frustration.
"Arrgghh. You're impossible!" Josh yelled. "You're a democrat!"
"Yes." Josh hadn't expected Juliana to meet his eyes with this confession, but she did.
"But, you're working to undo everything we do. How…"
"I believe in the fight, Josh. I believe that healthy debate and a good political fight is what keeps everyone honest and working for the people instead of themselves. I work to make sure that both sides are on their toes and working hard to serve their constituents. It doesn't matter what I'm registered as, it matters how much I push to keep the process going."
"You're wreaking havoc! You're a havoc wreaker. You're like a modern day Benedict Arnold." Josh fumed.
"Okay. Here. Take it back." Juliana shoved her half-empty coffee cup back into Josh's hands. "I didn't come here to be insulted." Juliana turned to walk and began to walk away. The cold, winter breeze had picked back up and as the wind blew past her ears, she almost didn't hear Josh speak.
"Wait." Juliana turned back to Josh. He wasn't exasperated anymore; instead he wore an apologetic look. "Wait. I didn't mean it."
"You could have fooled me."
"Okay, well maybe I did for a minute…but don't leave!"
"Josh! You make it sound like I should be ashamed of what I do. I'm not. I'm proud of my career. I'm not embarrassed by who I am. My life is fulfilled. And I'm not ashamed of being seen with you. I don't have a problem with there being an 'us'."
"Please, take this back." Josh held out Juliana's coffee. Juliana sighed and took it back, looking at Josh, smiling and shaking her head. "I've been a real nut." Josh noticed the questioning look on Juliana's face and decided to try his apology again. "Okay. I've been an idiot."
Josh walked away from Juliana and stared at the fountain. His gaze shifted from the fountain to the Lincoln Memorial in the distance. Juliana walked towards Josh, even though his back was still to her. Her face was questioning as if she could tell what was going through his head, but she was still afraid to ask. Finally, Juliana broke the silence. She walked up behind him, wrapped herself around his right arm and pressed a penny wordlessly into Josh's hand. Josh took his hand, held it out in front of him and fingered the penny as he considered it.
"Penny for your thoughts." Juliana explained.
"Give me another chance." Josh stated simply. He didn't ask. He didn't
beg. He simply stated it matter-of-factly. "I want you in my life. I need you. You keep me on my toes." Josh added the last part with a smile. Juliana smiled back and hugged Josh's arm a little tighter.
"That is what they pay me for."
"Hey! Let's go back to my place. I have dessert." Josh announced. He seemed to be bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Real dessert? Or something that qualifies as dessert in your own little world?" Juliana asked skeptically.
"I think there are Jell-O pudding cups. Do they count?"
"I guess they'll have to do." Juliana slipped her hand into Josh's and tugged at him to start walking. She was pulling him in the direction of the capitol building.
"Uh, where are we going?" Josh asked, not moving very far from his place at the memorial.
"My things are in my office. Walk me there and then we'll go back to your place."
Juliana smiled at the challenge she had presented to Josh. Josh, knowing what he was being dared to do, smiled back.
"Okay. Let's go." Josh said confidently.
Less than ten minutes later, Josh found himself walking past the night guardsman at the entrance to Juliana's office building.
"Evening, Ms. Wexler." The guard said warmly.
"Hi there, Steve. Having a good night?" Juliana made polite conversation.
"Yes I am." Then Steve caught sight of Josh standing just behind Juliana. "Oh, good evening Mr. Lyman. I didn't see you standing there. What'cha doing Ms. Wexler? Bringing the dates back to the office." Josh was caught off guard and taken aback by Steve's cordial nature. He felt like shrinking at Steve's last comment.
"It's always good to try something new!" Juliana flipped back to Steve as she began to walk to her office. Turning around, walking backwards and giving a small wave, she finished her conversation with Steve, while pulling Josh along by his coat sleeve. "You have a good night, Steve!"
Moments later, Josh and Juliana were walking through the outer office towards Juliana's office door. Juliana noticed that her assistant had left during her absence.
"I'll just be a minute." Juliana assured Josh as she skipped into her office. "I just need to put something away and grab my bag."
Josh smiled and nodded. He walked around the outer office, looking at various things on the walls. Hearing footsteps behind him, Josh joked about the décor.
"You've got some pretty scary things on the walls here." Josh quipped.
"Why thank you." Came a deep, masculine voice. "It's more like a talisman. Keeps democrats like you away." Josh spun around, startled. He had been expecting Juliana to walk into the room, instead Josh found himself face to face with the Senator Pickens, the Senate Majority Leader.
"Senator. Good Evening." Josh stammered to get out. His heart was still beating at twice its normal speed.
"Hi Josh. Calm down." The senator smiled. "I was joking, you know. Did we have a meeting? What are you doing here so late?" Josh was a little unsure of where to take this conversation.
"No. We, uh, didn't have a meeting. I'm just here, well, to see, or really to meet, well…" Josh was saved by Juliana's arrival in the room. The Majority Leader looked from Josh to Juliana and back to Josh, shaking his head slightly and smiling.
"I see." The Majority Leader said softly.
"Oh, good evening senator." Juliana said with enthusiasm when she caught sight of him. "I was just getting ready to leave. Is there anything you need?"
"No, nothing, Juliana. I was just wondering who was out roaming the halls this late."
"We just stopped in to grab my things. I'll see you tomorrow." Juliana finished her conversation, grabbed Josh by the arm and walked out of the office. Juliana couldn't tell if Josh was shocked, ashamed or mortified by their previous encounter. Much to Juliana's vexation Josh maintained a maddening silence as they made their way to Josh's car. Josh sighed, his first audible intonation since they had left Juliana's office.
"Well, this just wasn't how I expected it to go." Juliana wrapped her arm around Josh's arm in a warm response.
"Which part was unexpected? The fight in the white house? Me yelling at you? You finding out that I'm a democrat? Or was it getting caught on a date by the Senate Majority Leader?" Josh could tell that Juliana was having some fun at his expense. He playfully shoved her in the shoulder with his free hand.
"All of it really."
"Well, all of that is over now. Come on, Josh. Woo me with your Jell-O pudding cups!"
"That I can do!" Josh announced happily. Josh and Juliana made their way over to Josh's car and, acting like any other couple in Washington DC, made their way to Josh's house to enjoy Jell-O Pudding cups.
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