Chapter Six
Wednesday, February 4
". . . all set on what needs to be done on each section?" Toby finished asking his staff gathered in the Roosevelt room.
Nods and murmurs of assent answered him.
"Good," Toby stated. "Sam and I will schedule each team accordingly. Background research will go first, position papers next, then section drafts. Unemployment, health care, welfare, and budget all come to me. Education, energy, environment, Veteran's Affairs, and internet security, see Sam."
A hand suddenly popped up amid the crowd. "What about 286?" Ed called out.
Sam glanced at Toby before replying. "Leave 286 to me and Josh," he replied. "Just focus on your section for now."
"Let's get to work," Toby stated, dismissing them.
As one, everyone collected their files and moved out of the room, groups forming as they left. Sam and Toby lingered, gathering their own notes.
"That's still more groups on your list," Toby told Sam. "You're not going to try to stay late again, are you?"
Sam shook his head. "Even if I wanted to, I don't think Jamie would let me. I had to promise him and Jake that we could reschedule our dinner for tonight after I stood them up last night."
"So they're sticking around then?" Toby asked.
Sam smiled fondly. "They both extended their stay. Don't be surprised if they start showing up in the bullpen."
"Yeah, well, I'm glad someone is able to get you to see sense and take it easy," Toby stated.
"It's weird, though," Sam said. "I mean, no one ever cared before if I worked late. You just stayed until you got the job done."
"Sometimes, yes," Toby agreed. "Right before big events like the administration goals speech, likely. All the time? That's a straight shot to ulcers and burnout. The key word here is 'moderation'."
Sam had a witty retort ready on his tongue, but he didn't get the chance to release it when Josh suddenly burst into the room. "He's here! He's here!"
"Who's here?" Toby demanded in concern.
"And do we need to hide you?" Sam added.
"No!" Josh rolled his eyes. "Winters is here! For his meeting with the president! I can finally get a leg up on Hoynes! He's been making a huge mess for me on the Hill."
Toby glanced at Sam, who looked away.
"We haven't heard anything about a mess," Toby stated.
"He's been using every spare minute he has to visit his 'friends' on the Hill, or call them," Josh told them. "He has been blocking me every step of the way." Josh turned to Sam. "You've gotta help me with your uncle, man. Do whatever he wants to get him on our side so we can put 286 on the floor and show Hoynes once and for all who's running the show."
Sam shifted from one foot to the other, frowning. "He's not that bad."
Josh scoffed. "You don't know Hoynes like I do, trust me. The guy is so pigheaded that he'd just as soon destroy 286 before he allowed someone else to take it from him." He glanced at his watch. "I have to get going." He pointed at Sam. "Get the scoop from Winters tonight and call me immediately after."
The door had barely swung closed behind Josh when Toby turned to Sam. "He's an idiot."
A humorless laugh bubbled out of Sam. "He's not wrong," he said. "He has known John longer than me. He can't be that misinformed."
"He knows Senator Hoynes, former boss," Toby corrected. "He doesn't know John Hoynes, dad. They're not the same guy."
Sam scooped his notes and folders into his arms. "Yeah," he murmured. "You're right."
"Of course I'm right," Toby retorted. He checked the time. "We've got twenty minutes until CJ's next press briefing. Let's go and give her the updated list for the administration goals speech in case she gets some questions about it."
Sam nodded and followed Toby from the room, unable to shake the niggling doubt in the back of his mind.
President Bartlet stepped into the Mural room, a jovial smile fixed on his face. Upon his entrance, Chris Winters stood and extended a hand to shake. "Mr. President, it's a pleasure to meet you. Christopher Winters."
Bartlet shook the proffered hand. "Likewise, Congressman. I hope you've been well cared for since your arrival."
"Very, Mr. President," Winters replied. "Your staff have been most hospitable."
The two men took seats opposite each other in plush armchairs. "I was glad to hear that you'd be willing to work with us on getting 286 on the floor."
"I am, of course, always happy to be of service," Winters stated.
"So what can I do for you?" Bartlet asked.
"I know you're a busy man," Winters stated. "So am I, so I'll get right to the point. 286 is an uphill battle with the opposition from Hoynes' supporters. Spending time on this bill will take time away from the other projects my committee also needs to send to the floor."
"And you'd like White House backing on said projects," Bartlet surmised.
"It would be a mutually beneficial arrangement," Winters agreed.
Bartlet nodded contemplatively. "Sam did mention something to that effect. You know, of course, that I can't just blindly agree without reviewing the bills in question."
"Of course," Winters replied. "I'm gratified to hear that Samuel passed the information along. He's a bright boy, but he still clings to antiquated notions of decisions made without a quid pro quo."
"It sounds like you know him well," Bartlet observed.
For the first time in their conversation, real emotion appeared on Winters' face. "He hasn't told you?" he asked in surprise.
"Told me what?" Bartlet asked.
Winters sat back slightly. "His mother is my younger sister."
Bartlet's eyebrows rose to his hairline. "No, he never mentioned that to me. Though Sam tends to be pretty tight-lipped about his personal life."
Winters nodded in satisfaction. "Another lesson he has had some trouble learning. Truthfully, if not for my guidance over the years, Samuel would have found himself taken advantage of and tossed aside."
There wasn't anything specific in Winters' words that Bartlet could point to that suggested anything nefarious. The way they were uttered, however, sent ripples of unease through the president. He locked down the feelings and the recollections they unearthed of a hard, powerful man from his own past so he could continue the conversation.
"Well," he said, "we are very grateful for your help. If you'll leave some notes on those bills with my secretary, I'll have a look at them and get an answer to you by the end of the week."
Bartlet stood, bringing Winters to his feet. The two men shook hands, and Bartlet exited the room, distracted by thoughts of his past.
Winters walked through the corridors of the West Wing, giving an occasional imperious nod to several people. He searched the faces he passed hoping to catch sight of one in particular.
He was joined suddenly by Josh Lyman. "Good afternoon, Congressman,"
Winters favored him with a tight smile. "Hello, Josh."
"I heard you were in the building," Josh stated. "I hope that your meeting with President Bartlet went well."
"It did, thank you," Winters replied. Inspiration struck. "I was actually looking for Samuel. Do you know where I can find him?"
"I believe he's finishing up a briefing with the president's press secretary," Josh answered. "I'll take you to him."
Josh took an abrupt turn down a hallway, leading Winters through the maze of staffers, assistants, and desks. They crossed into an office where a brunette woman was working, Josh greeting her warmly. "Hey, Carol. Are they about finished?"
"Should be, CJ's briefing soon," Carol replied.
Leaving Winters to wait with Carol, Josh knocked on CJ's door and stepped inside. "Hey; Sam, could I borrow you for a few minutes?"
CJ and Sam had been standing together with their heads bent over a piece of paper with Toby standing opposite them, hands on hips. All three turned to look at Josh.
"We're nearly done," Sam told Josh. "Give me a minute?"
Toby waved a hand. "Nah, it's okay. I think we're good. Go on."
Sam stepped around CJ to join Josh in the doorway. "What's up?"
Josh stepped aside, revealing Winters watching them from beside Carol's desk. "Your uncle was looking for you."
Sam felt his heart leap into his throat, but managed to control his expression. "Uncle Chris . . . good afternoon."
Winters nodded. "Is there someplace we can go and speak privately?"
The last thing Sam wanted was to be left alone in a room with his uncle, but before he could think of an excuse, his ever-helpful best friend spoke for him.
"You can use Sam's office," Josh stated.
"That would be acceptable," Winters agreed. He gestured to the door. "After you?"
Sam tossed Josh an annoyed glare. Josh merely returned it with a significant look of his own, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Sam huffed lightly and headed into the bullpen with Winters right behind him.
No one seemed to look twice as Sam led one of Congress' more notorious members through the middle of the communications bullpen. Sam felt both relieved at not being noticed and vaguely disparate for someone to come and call him away. He couldn't think of a single reason why Winters wanted to speak with him, and was unable to come up with a possible defense.
As Sam was closing the door to his office, he caught sight of Elliot watching him through narrowed eyes. Though his protector wouldn't be in the room with him, San felt a little better at knowing help wasn't far away. He shut the door and turned to face his uncle.
Winters had moved deeper into the office and was examining the bookshelves. His sharp gaze slid over the chaotic piles of books and folders covering most available surfaces, and Sam fidgeted nervously at the mess.
"What brings you here, Uncle Chris?" Sam asked, hoping to get their impending conversation over with quickly.
Winters turned to study the awards and caps that Sam had begun to place on the credenza behind his desk. "President Bartlet is going to receive notes on six bills to review that I would like White House backing on when they go to the floor. You are going to do everything in your power to guarantee me his support on the bill to provide subsidies to orchards."
The order was not at all what Sam was expecting. "I'll do my best, but I think you're grossly overestimating my influence on President Bartlet," he stated.
Winters turned sharply at that, straddling Sam into flinching back. His foot caught on a stack of books, and he fell against the door with a loud thud.
Seconds later, Sam felt himself being pushed forward as the door opened. He regained his footing and moved aside in time for Elliot to enter the office.
Elliot glanced from Sam to Winters, then back to Sam. "Everything okay in here?
Sam nodded. "I tripped," he said lamely, gesturing at the now disheveled pile of books on the history of educational policy at his feet. "Sorry; we're okay."
Elliot gave him a look telling Sam that the Secret Service agent didn't quite believe him. Sam shook his head and waved him out of the office, closing the door behind him.
"I'm a very busy man, Samuel," Winters said, picking up the conversation once more. "A lot of people want my time and support for their little pet projects. If President Bartlet wants my help on 286, he needs to make it worth my time and effort. A lesson I had thought you learned already."
Sam fought back the shudder at the memory that had been drudged up. "I can't promise you that."
"Then you had better think of something," Winters told him. "Because with no White House backing on the subsidy, 286 will never get out of my committee."
Sam skirted around the room as Winters strode from the office. No sooner had he left did Elliot return. Elliot took in his shaken charge with concern. "Sam? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Sam assured him, sinking into his chair behind his desk.
Elliot folded his arms over his chest. "Pull the other one."
The sarcasm did more to soothe Sam's frayed nerves than the concern. "Nothing's wrong," he insisted. "I just got some difficult news."
"More difficult than finding out you were abducted as a baby?" Elliot countered.
Sam's head snapped up, startled. Elliot shrugged.
A laugh escaped Sam's lips, the last of his tension draining from him. "I guess not, when you put it like that."
A glimmer of amusement shone in Elliot's eyes. "You have another hour before you have to leave if you want to meet up with your brothers on time," he said. "However, Josh is ready and waiting to pounce the minute you're alone; do you need me to distract him?"
Curiosity halted Sam's immediate denial. "How?"
"I happen to know that Ms. Moss gave him a task that needed his immediate attention almost an hour ago, and that he hasn't done it yet," Elliot answered.
"How do you know that Donna hasn't already figured that out?" Sam asked, amused.
"I don't, but you only need a few minutes' distraction to make your escape," Elliot replied.
"We may as well get it over with now," Sam said, grinning. "I wouldn't put it past him to show up at my door in the middle of the night if I don't talk to him now."
Elliot nodded and slipped out the door. Seconds later, Josh came bursting into the office, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Well?" he demanded.
Sam took a deep breath, bracing himself.
end chapter 6
A/N: just a short chapter for this round. Thank you so much for the reviews; they're making my day and helping to motivate me to keep typing. :)