FF: Just One Name (4?)

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Notes: See Chapter 1 for premise explanation.

The trivia is from peephole device is based on something that I read about another senior assistant having.

Feedback: inspires me to write more!

Previously…

He slowly opened the door, looked inside, and instantly wished he could've been sucked into the depths

of the earth rather than take this next meeting…

Two gentlemen in dark black suits were patiently standing in Josh's old office. They instinctively turned upon hearing the door open. "Hello, Josh," one of the men said in a friendly manner. "How's Leo doing?"

Josh let out a big puff of air that had been collecting in his mouth as if he was a flounder. He resisted the urge to gulp. Upon first seeing the man who had greeted him, Josh realized that he had completely forgotten about this particular aspect of being high up on the political food chain. These men were hardly the political piranhas that he was expecting; however, Donna was probably just trying to alert him to a unique situation. They had never had to make up code language for what he knew was about to happen.

"Hello, Ron," Josh shook his hand as he glanced at the man standing next to Ron. "Leo is still in recovery mode, but we hope to have him back here as a senior advisor to the president when he feels up to it. What can I do for you today?"

"Well, Josh, it's really more about what we'll be doing for you from now on. As you know, being chief of staff comes with several additions that other members of the administration are not accustomed to having. You'll probably feel a little crowded for awhile, but even Leo got used to it after some time. This is Alexander Webber." Josh's eyes shifted toward Alexander. The two men nodded and shook hands. "He is going to be your primary secret service detail from now on. There will be several other agents who will protect you when he is off duty, but Alexander will be with you most of the time."

The loss of his personal freedom made him cringe slightly, but as always, Josh served at the pleasure of the president. And if serving at the pleasure of the president required that he be watched twenty four hours a day, then that would be all right.

Josh had to look up to make eye contact with Alexander as he was rather tall. Josh was sure that he'd hear from Donna later if women considered this man handsome. Of course, he knew that Donna wouldn't personally find him handsome, because Josh was the only man that she found handsome. She had said so herself. Josh inwardly rolled his eyes at his own silliness and foolishness; evidence to the contrary had been present in her hospital room in the form of her own personal Heathcliff. So much for being her hero, he thought sadly.

After the introductions had been made, Josh was called into a private meeting with the president. He headed toward the Oval Office, with Alexander fast on his heels, on his regular route but was intercepted by Margaret, who grabbed him by the arm and led him in through the Chief of Staff's door. A young man that Josh didn't recognize came in and informed him that the president and the First Lady were finishing dinner with the French Ambassador and his wife but that he would arrive in any minute. After Josh declined anything to drink, the young man closed the door and returned to his work.

Josh sat down in the chair next to the president's desk and covered his face with his hands, blocking out the lights in the Oval Office that were still bright despite the late night hours that were rapidly approaching. Only when he was alone or in the presence of those that he trusted more than life did he allow himself to be so vulnerable.

He had only been chief of staff for a few days but began to realize the isolating tendencies that the job possessed. To be sure, he still saw a fair share of people, but due to his high profile position, people came to the White House to see him rather than him going to the Hill. He saw C.J. and Toby at Senior Staff in the mornings, but he had less time to brainstorm and discuss issues with them like he used to do. Mostly, they came to him when their ideas or input was close to being ready to send to the president for consideration. While Josh enjoyed the challenges of his new job and felt mature enough to handle the pressure, there was still a part of him that resisted all of the changes.

The president entered and interrupted his thoughts. Nothing if not polite and courteous, Josh stood upon his entrance. "Mr. Chief of Staff," the president addressed him with a twinkle in his eyes as both men sat down.

"Good evening, Mr. President. How was your dinner?"

"Oh, it was just splendid. The conversation was intellectual and stimulating." He paused and a playful look crossed his face. "Plus, I think that the Ambassador's wife might have a little crush on me. She kept telling me that I was "mignon" so either she thinks that I'm cute or a piece of meat."

The president's use of the French language made Josh remember the conversation that he had with Toby when Donna was on the CODEL and sending him such long e-mails. He remembered Toby using the French proverb, "Le mot juste." Of course, he had retorted that "Le mot mo'." He also remembered reading her "long" e-mails on the plane when they might have been all that he had left of her. While sitting in the Oval Office with the president, he made a mental note to let Donna talk about anything and everything for as long as she wanted, no matter how frightening the prospect.

Josh grinned. "Perhaps she finds you to be both, sir."

"Well, I suppose there's nothing wrong with being both. Anyway, Josh, the reason that I called you in…"

The young man who had addressed Josh earlier re-entered the Oval Office. "Excuse me Mr. President, Josh, you're both needed in the sit-room right away." Josh's head perked up; this would be his first visit to the sit-room.

"Thank you, Derek. Come on Josh," the president stood up and began to walk with an attentive and enthusiastic Josh at his side. Josh enjoyed being able to have longer conversations with the president. Normally, their conversations were restricted to meetings with other members of the administration or very brief private discussions. "We'll talk on the way. I want to discuss my full plan in further detail, but it begins with the Library that I'm having built and also we need to discuss names for possible…" Behind the two men who were in deep conversation on their way to the situation room, two of the president's Secret Service agents and Alexander followed behind them.

A few hours later

With Margaret having left hours ago, Donna had wheeled herself into Margaret's office area to organize some files for Josh. Most people had gone home. Toby brought her a salad, and C.J. invited her out for a drink, but she declined on account of having to finish unpacking boxes and read over a few things.

After forty minutes of staring at a document, she lifted her eyes over to the wall separating her desk from Josh's new digs. Her eyes danced across the wall and found what Margaret had alerted her to earlier: a peep hole. Donna laughed at the absurd notion, but nevertheless, moved herself over toward the hole. Shrugging to herself as if to say "why not?", she leaned her face against the wall, shut one eye, and pushed the other eye up through the hole as if she were looking through a kaleidoscope. Donna giggled to herself about what would happen if Josh ever saw an eyeball peeking through one of his walls. Fortunately for her, she didn't have to wait too long for an answer. She heard a screech that sounded like a girl and then a loud crash.

"Donna," she heard through the wall. However, this was more like a cry for help and less like a regular bellow. Come to think of it, she thought, he hadn't bellowed for her in a long time. It was rather unusual. The door opened and Alexander smiled at her genuinely.

"Good evening, Miss Moss."

"Please call me Donna." She gestured into the office. "Is he okay in there?"

"Oh, I think so. He just lost his balance or something. Let me help you in there." Alexander effortlessly wheeled Donna into Josh's office and over toward the chair by the couch where Josh was now sitting and turning his neck in several directions in an effort to alleviate the pain.

"I'll be out here," Alexander said, pointing to the area outside of Donna's new office quarters and shutting the door behind him.

She turned her attention to the big baby sitting next to her. "So Mr. Bambi-esque, what happened?"

"Well, Miss Moss, you'll have to forgive me. It's not everyday that I see a big, beautiful blue eye peering through one of my walls while I am calmly leaning against said wall in an effort to de-stress. In fact, seeing an eyeball sticking through my wall is an anti-destressor!"

"An anti-destressor?" Donna raised an eyebrow. "You know, I don't think we're allowed to make up our own words around here."

Josh looked at her. He noticed how her blue blouse brought out the color in her eyes. Directly below her eyes, he saw dark circles. "You're tired," he stated rather than asked. "Why haven't you gone home already? You don't have to wait around for me all of the time. Ginger and Carol don't stay late with their bosses, you know."

"I'll go home when you go home," she replied simply. She also noticed that he had continued to turn his neck back and forth during their short conversation. His shirt sleeves had managed to get rolled up to his elbows again and his tie was loose. In the beginning of each day since he'd become chief of staff, he had been dressed rather sharply, but he always ended up rumpled after the end of the day. She was glad to know that some things would never change. No matter what his job title, he'd always be her adorably rumpled Josh. She wouldn't want him any other way.

"Hey," she said in a quiet voice. He pulled his hands off of his neck and shoulders, strained after so many hours of work. When he turned toward her and looked at her pensively, she continued. "Scoot over closer." He moved his back from the back of the chair over toward the arm of it. She placed her hands on his shoulders and slowly began to massage the knots out. He glanced over his shoulder at her hands that were so elegant and delicate. In an effort to distract himself from the relaxing effect that she was having on him, he struck up a conversation.

"So," he began as she continued her ministrations, "Have you met Alexander yet?"

"Yeah." She batted her eyelashes. "He's really quite dreamy." Josh looked up with a raised eyebrow. "Well, not to me," she said emphatically. Josh grinned, showing his dimples for the first time in several days.

"Yeah," she continued. "I met him late this afternoon when he and Ron Butterfield stopped by our old office. Do you know the meaning of the name Alexander, Josh?"

"No, but I am sure you will inform me."

"That I will. In Greek, it means protector of mankind. I think that's a good, strong name for the man who's protecting my man." At this statement, Josh's eyebrows flew upward.

Yet, he continued to dip his head downward to allow Donna better access to his neck. She continued to gently rub his shoulders and he involuntarily moaned. This made her smile.

"Your man, huh?" Donna sensed a smirk despite not being able to see his face.

"That's right. My powerful, intelligent, handsome man who can barely walk ten feet without slipping, tripping, or just plain old falling smack down on the ground. I'm glad to know that you have someone to catch you when you fall now."

"I had someone like that already." Josh replied quietly. He said it so quietly that Donna almost didn't hear it. Almost. As she rubbed his neck, his muscles loosened up. He found it amazing that Donna's touch could make him feel safer than any armed secret serviceman ever could. Quickly, he felt the exhaustion set over him in waves.

"I don't know if my legs are going to be able to walk out of here tonight."

"Well, it might help if you were a dragonfly. They have six legs. You'd have a couple of additional

legs to help you out."

Josh laughed. "Yes, that would help."

Donna sighed dramatically. "Sadly, they cannot walk." Josh looked at her like she had gone a little nutty.

"Doesn't that make all of their legs a bit superfluous and counterproductive?"

"Perhaps." She looked over his face carefully and changed topics. "How are you?" she asked genuinely as they continued to study each other.

"I'm fine," he replied. She gave him a pointed look. "Really."

"You know, Josh, fine is a positive word covering up a negative emotion. Seriously, how are you?" she asked again.

He sighed. "I'm tired but happy." He glanced at her again. "How are you?"

Her answer mirrored his. "I'm tired but content." The word content unsettled him. He made a mental note to ask her about her wording on that at some point. They abandoned their conversation when Josh had to take a call from the Minority Leader of the House.

Thirty minutes later, they were eating pizza in their new office. As far as they knew, they were the only boss and assistant who regularly scheduled time to eat at least one meal together per day. Since Donna's return and their old closeness had been renewed, they ate at least two meals together per day, mostly discussing work.

Although he couldn't tell her much, Donna was pleased to hear that Josh's first experience in the situation room had gone well. He was on good terms with the Defense Secretary, and the generals had accepted him very quickly. This positive first experience had relaxed Josh because foreign relations had been his biggest worry upon taking the job. A few phone calls with Leo had settled his nerves, though.

"The president has a great new idea for education all across the country," he told her as he drank his Pepsi, which much to his chagrin, was caffeine free. Although no one else knew about it yet, he was excited to share it and knew that Donna would get as excited about it as he was and would never divulge the information to anyone. Both of their loyalties had always been to the president.

"Oh," Donna said between pizza bites. She had originally gotten the pizza just for Josh and Alexander, but Alexander had respectfully declined. He wasn't allowed to eat on the job and after weeks of nasty hospital food, a salad just didn't satisfy Donna's appetite. "I forgot to tell you a few days ago in the midst of all of the excitement, but I rescheduled your education lunch meeting. It's now an education dinner meeting but still with Congressmen Skinner and Santos. Maybe you can mention the president's new plan to them."

"Hmmm," he smiled at the pizza sauce on her face and gently wiped it off with a napkin.

"Not a bad idea, Donnatella." His hand rested on her face a little longer than necessary and then reluctantly pulled away. Donna began speaking to distract herself, as she was sure that she was the only one affected by their recent closeness. Neither noticed C.J. standing in the doorway.

"Hey Josh, did you know that you don't have to be a lawyer to be a Supreme Court Justice?" he looked at Donna like she had lost her mind, although in a slightly amused fashion.

"Why is this information relevant?"

"Well," she said with a thousand watt smile. "If you want to add it to your list of career goals, you don't have to let the fact that you're not a lawyer dissuade you from attaining it." Josh balled up several napkins and threw them playfully at her. He had never been happier in his life.

C.J. had been waiting for an opening to introduce herself into the room, but the two of them talked a mile a minute. She couldn't tear her eyes away from them. She couldn't help but see the bond that they shared. Silently, C.J. wished for a soul-mate.

She left the two workaholics, who were enjoying a rare moment of peace in each other's company, and headed for the briefing room.

"C.J.!"

"C.J.!"

"C.J.!"

"C.J.!"

The press corps had already sprung out of their seats even before she had entered the room. She found it quite disturbing that perhaps they could sense her arrival. Having already discussed the upcoming issue with many of the journalists, she took her first question from Mark, a seasoned reporter from The New York Times.

"C.J., you know what we all want to know. With Josh Lyman as the new Chief of Staff, who will

be filling the shoes as the Deputy Chief of Staff? Can you tell us who has made the short list?"

"Mark, I am so glad that you asked this question. Let me tell you that there is no short list." The cameras blasted furiously and the reporters stood with their pencils gripped tightly and with breath that was bated. "In fact, I have just one name…"

To be continued…

I adore feedback and would love to hear what you think!

Thanks for reading!