Chapter 2: Breaking News (March 2019)

Two months after the Inauguration, the town car carrying Donna back from Andrews Air Force Base arrived in her driveway. Donna was exhausted. She had just accompanied Sam and Ainsley on a week-long speaking tour in the Midwest: three states, five major cities. She thought it had gone very well, and had also received some mind-bendingly good news on the plane ride home: Sam's job approval rating was up to almost 98%, unheard of for a President in the first 100 days.

It had all been good. But now she was anxious to get inside and hug her kids, and sleep in her own bed. After being cleared to go in by her Secret Service detail, she opened her front door.

"Josh?" she called. "Kids? I'm home!"

The house was relatively quiet. It was after 7, so she knew the kids were probably finishing up homework-or, in Leo's case, in the midst of bathtime, a suspicion she quickly confirmed by the sound of running water and muffled giggling from directly above.

Donna headed upstairs, looking around at the roomy four-bedroom townhouse she and Josh had owned since a couple of months after they learned they were expecting twins. She headed around the corner to the yellow poster-laden room where her twin daughters had slept since their birth. The decor had changed, but not its occupants.

She gently knocked on the door, which opened to reveal the twins, Anna on her bed reading and Abby at her desk finishing homework.

Anna noticed her first. "Mom! You're back!", she cried, jumping up to hug her mom. Abby joined her a split second later.

"My girls." Donna murmured, running her fingers through her daughters' brown locks. They pulled apart. "How was your week? Did Dad run the house OK while I was gone?"

"Yeah, it was great!" Anna replied.

"Dad, contrary to popular belief, managed this house as well as you would have." Abby affirmed.

Donna laughed. "I'm sure he did. Homework's finished?"

"Yep!" they both said.

"All right, well, I'm going to go find your dad and brothers."

She headed across the hall to Matty's bedroom with army-green paint and soccer paraphernalia. She smiled, seeing her eight-year-old son drawing at his desk.

"Hi, honey." she said.

Matty turned around at the sound of his mom's voice. "Hey, Mom." he said quickly, immediately turning back to his drawing.

Donna chuckled. "'Hey, Mom'? Is that all you have to say? I've haven't seen you for a week!" She stepped through the doorway, picking up stray pieces of clothing, before crossing her son's room and stopping behind her son, kissing the crown of his head. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, Mom." Matty said, turning around to give Donna a quick hug. "Are you still coming to my soccer game this weekend?"

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it!" Donna replied. She looked over Matty's shoulder. "What are you working on?"

"A drawing for my art class."

"Can I see it when it's done?"

"Sure." Matty said. Unlike Anna and Leo, who took after talkative Josh, Abby and Matty were more like Donna: quiet and thoughtful, liked to concentrate on what they were doing. Donna knew that was her cue to leave. She walked out of Matty's room quietly, leaving the door ajar. She followed the trail of dull noise to the kids' bathroom.

She opened the door. A broad smile came across her face as she watched Josh wrapping a giggling Leo up in a towel and drying off his hair the way she had shown him countless times.

Leo looked up. Just the way his face lit up at the sight of his mother made Donna blink back tears. "MOMMY!" he cried, launching himself at her the way he had after the inauguration.

"Hi, sweetheart!" Donna said, kneeling down to Leo's level and holding him close. "I missed you!"

"I missed you, too, Mommy." Leo said happily.

"Leo, why don't you get your pajamas on and Mommy will come read to you in a bit, OK, buddy?" Josh said, standing up from his position on the floor.

That was fine with Leo. He ran into his room next to the bathroom.

Before Donna could say anything, Josh kissed her deeply. "God, I missed you. Welcome home."

"I missed you too." Donna replied, smiling as they pulled apart. She and Josh walked out of the bathroom hand in hand.

"How did the trip go?" Josh asked her.

Donna grinned. "Really well. The response to the President's speech was overwhelmingly positive, and having the First Lady visit a couple local schools to read to the kids didn't hurt either."

"Good." Josh said. They had reached their bedroom, and Donna started to unpack her suitcase.

"You have to do that now? I thought we could spend some time together tonight."

"We will," Donna said, kissing him. "it's just that I'm not going to have time to do it in the morning, and I need some of the stuff that's in here. It'll take me five minutes, I promise."

As soon as she finished unpacking, and had read a storybook to Leo, they made their way back downstairs, where a new episode of Blue Bloods was waiting on the DVR. The other three put themselves to bed, so she and Josh had the evening to themselves.

Their evenings had changed quite a bit from the early days of their marriage, where an early evening away from the office would result in a hastily-eaten dinner and then spending the rest of the evening in bed. But Donna, snuggled up to her husband on the couch watching one of their favorite TV shows, wouldn't trade the quiet evenings they had now for anything.

…

The next day, a Wednesday, Donna arrived at work relatively early, since the kids hadn't had any problems getting out the door. The daily Senior Staff meeting revealed that no crises, national or otherwise, had arisen since she had been gone. In fact, everyone was elated that the President's speaking tour had gone well. They all suggested ways that they could capitalize on the President's recent success. As the morning continued, the President was pleased with the Senior Staff ideas. As Donna headed into her office, the good news of the morning making her ready to face the day, she had no idea that within a couple of hours, her world would be completely shaken.

It was about 11:45, and Donna was working at her desk when she thought she heard a commotion from out by her assistant Ryan's desk.

"Mr. Larvell, you can't just go in there!"

Donna looked up as Scott burst through the door. She was startled. "Scott?"

As she took in the Communication Director's face, she realized that his face was ashen. She stood up.

"Scott, what is it?" She wasn't overly worried, just concerned. This was the first time she had ever seen him rendered speechless.

"Donna, you better come see what just came through on the AP wire." Scott said quietly.

"Scott-"

"Donna, just come." Scott's voice was firm.

Without a word, she followed Scott quickly out to the communications bullpen, where several other members of Senior Staff were intently reading a news wire, their faces wearing equal expressions of shock.

"What happened?" Donna asked firmly.

Deputy Chief of Staff Lou Thornton was the first to speak up.

"Donna...President Bartlet died last night."

Lou crossed the room and, with a sympathetic expression, handed Donna the wire.

As she read the three lines of the AP news blurb, she dropped into the nearest chair.

Former President Josiah Bartlet died unexpectedly at his home last night in Manchester, New Hampshire at the age of 76 from complications due to multiple sclerosis. The former Nobel Laureate in Economics and Governor of New Hampshire was President from 1999 to 2007. He is survived by his wife, Abigail, his three daughters, and six grandchildren.

Somewhere in the fog of shock, she could hear Scott say something about the news breaking on CNN and all major news networks within the hour. She felt a hand on her shoulder as Lou sat down next to her.

"I'm sorry. I know you and him were close."

Donna looked up. She could feel tears running down her face. "Thanks." she said quietly.

Press Secretary Madison Retton-ever methodical-was the first to break the respectful silence. "Someone needs to tell the President."

"I'll do it." Everyone turned as Donna stood up. "I-we both worked for him. He-he needs to hear it from me."

Lou looked around at the others, then back at Donna. "Donna, are you sure?"

Donna nodded. She thankfully had remembered to apply waterproof mascara that morning, so all she needed was to wipe her eyes. She stood up, accepted hugs and murmured sympathies from her Senior Staff, and headed to the Oval.

As she approached the door that separated her office from the Oval, she took a deep breath. This would be, without a doubt, one of the toughest things she would ever have to do as Chief of Staff.

She opened the door to find Sam working busily as his desk. "Mr. President?" she said, her voice cracking. She mentally cursed herself for not being able to hide her emotions. She cleared her throat as Sam looked up.

But Sam had heard the catch in her voice. He stood up from his desk. "Donna, hi. Is everything OK?"

Now he could see the glistening in Donna's eyes, and the tears she was struggling to blink back.

"Donna, what happened? Is it Josh, the kids?"

"No, no, nothing like that." Donna assured him. "But Mr. President-Sam-President Bartlet died last night."

She paused as she watched the news begin to sink in. Sam's face lost all color, and he sat back down at his desk. "When?"

"Sometime last night, in his sleep. That's all I know. It came over the AP wires."

Sam nodded. He rubbed his temple. He was going to have to try hard to separate his professional and personal life on this.

"Bonnie!" he yelled, suddenly standing up and crossing the room to talk to his secretary. "Get me the Bartlet farm in Manchester."

"Right away, Mr. President."

He turned back to Donna. "Are you OK? Do you need to go home?"

Donna shook her head. "No. I feel like I need to be here."

"Okay. Do me a favor and call Ainsley. Tell her what happened and to come over here."

"Of course, Mr. President." Donna replied. As she rushed back into her office and picked up the phone to dial the East Wing, she could hear the unmistakable sound of a CNN Breaking News Alert: "This is Isaac Winters with some breaking news at this hour: former President Josiah Bartlet is dead at 76. The 42nd President died unexpectedly in his sleep last night from what is believed to be complications from multiple sclerosis, a condition Bartlet has been battling for approximately the last 30 years. We now go to our on-the-scene reporter, Gail Redmond, live at the Bartlet home in New Hampshire, where we understand his son-in-law Charles Young is about to give a statement…"

…

C.J. was busy working in her office, when like Donna, she heard a commotion from outside. "Somebody turn on CNN!" she heard one of her employees yell. CJ hurried out of her office. If something big was happening in the world, sooner or later it would affect the foundation.

She was not prepared, however, for what she found.

The flashing news headline "Remembering 42: Josiah Bartlet Dead at 76" met her eyes almost instantly. She gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. There's no way this is happening, she thought. She felt her knees buckle, and felt one of her junior partners, Michael, grab her before she hit the ground and ease her into a chair.

"CJ, you OK?" Michael asked. He was genuinely concerned.

"I-I don't know." CJ admitted. For the first time since her father had died, she felt her world spinning.

"CJ, you want me to call Danny?" her assistant Maggie asked.

CJ just nodded.

"I'm really sorry, boss." Michael said sincerely.

CJ met his eyes. "I'm sorry I broke down, I just…" She trailed off. How do you explain to someone that you loved your former boss like a father?

…

Will and Kate were out to breakfast at one of their favorite delis in Portland, a tradition that had started when they started working in the same downtown area.

Kate didn't see what had happened. She was too busy eating her eggs, hoping to get back before her 10:00 appointment.

Suddenly, she heard Will gasp.

Her head shot up. "Will? Honey?"

Will was staring past her at the TV in the corner of the deli. She followed his gaze just in time to see the same "Remembering 42" headline on NBC News.

"Oh, my God." she said. She was never one to show emotion, but she felt herself tearing up at the realization that both had lost a man close to them.

She turned back to Will, who smiled sadly. "He was old and sick. Anyone who was at the inauguration knew he didn't have much time left."

Kate nodded. "Yeah, I guess that's true." She sighed. "He was a good man."

"Yeah." Will said, covering his wife's hand with his own.

…

Toby was in the middle of a lecture on policy analysis when the news broke.

He was standing with his back to the lecture hall, saying, "Public policy begins with a law or a bill, struggling to fight it's way through Congress or committee." He turned around. "It can be any type of bill-environmental, economic, political-"

He was distracted by a girl in the front row staring intently at her phone.

"What have I said about using your phone in class?" he asked sharply.

As the girl looked up, he could see her facial features working, as if she wasn't sure how to tell him what she had just read.

"Um, sir...I think you need to see this."

She held out her phone and he took it. As soon as he read the words "Josiah Bartlet dies at 76" his heart sunk.

His head snapped up."Class is dismissed. Chapter 3 response is due for next class."

The class sat still, unsure of what to do.

"Didn't you hear me?" Toby snapped. "Go! Go home!"

The class gathered up their belongings and scattered.

Toby paced the room. Unsure of what to do, he pulled out his cell phone and called the one person he wanted to make sure had heard the news.

"CJ?"

…

Josh was also heading out to lunch when his phone started buzzing.

CJ: Did you see the news? Please call me ASAP.

Will: Josh, you all right, man?

Annabeth: So sorry.

Toby: I'm sure you've heard by now, so call me when you get a chance.

Charlie: Josh-I'll get arrangements for you as soon as I have them.

Josh was puzzled by the last one from Charlie. What arrangements? He quickly went back up to his office and saw his co-workers clustered around the TV. The sound was turned up.

"What's going on?" Josh said.

His co-worker Andrew turned to him and simply gestured to the TV. Then Josh was finally hearing the words: "Bartlet made an indelible impression as President, and was a strong supporter of his party successors, Matthew Santos and current President Samuel Seaborn. We'll have more details as we get them throughout the day, but for now, back to you in the studio. If you're just joining us-Josiah Bartlet, 42nd President of the United States, dead at the age of 76."

Josh felt his head spinning. There's no way he could've possibly have heard that right. But then he looked down at his texts-his friends, coworkers from the Bartlet years all checking to make sure he was OK. Then he saw Charlie's. Funeral arrangements, he realized. A chill went up his spine. He walked back to his office in a daze, ignoring the calls of his co-workers. He sat down and put his head in his hands. Everyone in his family and friend circle was going to be devastated. His family-oh, man, how was he going to tell the kids? And Donna…

His head shot up. Donna. Did she know? Well, of course she knew, he told himself. If it was on the news already, then surely the White House had to know by now. And she would've been the first point of contact.

Suddenly, he picked up the phone and dialed the White House switchboard. He had to talk to her, if only just to hear her voice. If she wasn't busy, of course.

A/N: Sad, I know. But I felt like it had to be done. I've had this story in my head since the day I finished The West Wing. There will be happier moments ahead, I promise!

A note-I know that in IRL, there's no way the AP would've known before the current President, but just go with me on this.