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I'm Not Fine

"…And after the Congressman enjoyed the weekend with his family spending time at the beach, he is looking forward to returning to the campaign trail." Lester stated after informing the press what was on the agenda for the next couple of days.

"Is it true Leo McGarry had a doctor's appointment yesterday?" A reporter called out. "And was it an emergency appointment?"

"Yes, he did have a check up with a doctor yesterday but it was not an emergency appointment" Lester said firmly. "Guys, we all know Leo McGarry's medical history so please tell me we don't have to go through all this again….Mr McGarry, like many other American people has regular check ups with his doctors to make sure not only is he fit and healthy but he stays that way…"

"What was the outcome of the appointment?" Someone else asked.

"They are pleased with his test results and did adjust some of his medication but I'm not going to go into the details now, you'll all be given a handout and a statement from the doctor himself about Mr. McGarry's health." Lester informed them. "Now lastly, the Congressman and Mrs. Santos would like to congratulate campaign manager Joshua Lyman on his marriage to Donnatella Moss…."

Lester couldn't help a smile as the press froze in stunned silence but only for a second before erupting with questions.

"Guys…guys…" Lester raised his voice to be heard. "Do you want to hear what I have to say?!"

There were a few more murmurs but once again they stopped shouting to listen.

"Josh Lyman and Donna Moss were married here in Florida yesterday with only Josh's Mom present." Lester told them. "Even though their romantic relationship had been a short one, the two of them have had a close friendship for many years and decided they didn't want to wait any longer until they were man and wife…"

"Did the congressman know?"

"They surprised us all this morning with the announcement." Lester replied. "That being said, they have the full support of this campaign and everyone is happy for them…Except Lou….she may be having a nervous breakdown."

Laughter rippled through the crowd before more questioned were asked.

"Were they in a relationship while he was her boss when they worked at the White House?"

"No, like I said, a romantic relationship between the two of them is a recent development." Lester replied.

"Has President Bartlet been told of the marriage?"

"He was one of the people that was told this morning, yes." Lester answered and quickly continued before someone could shout out another question. "And before you ask, I don't know what was said during the conversation."

"Is there a reason why they decided to marriage so quickly?"

"Come on, guys…you're destroying all the romance in this story…" Lester groaned slightly. "Josh and Donna are both single consenting adults…They've been best friends for a long time and the nature of their relationship changed and if you speak to almost anyone who knows them, they will tell you it's about time…they just decided they didn't want to waste any more time….Right, that's all I have for you at the moment…I'll catch you guys later…"

XxXxX

Donna found Josh alone in their hotel room and was surprised to see that he wasn't working, just sat on the end of the bed, staring into space.

"Did you see the Press Conference?" Donna asked and he just nodded. "Lester did well, I think."

"Yeah, we're still going to get questions and so is the White House but I think in the end it'll work out." He answered, running a hand over his face as she took a seat next to him. "It also depends on how the Vinick campaign reacts to it…If they make a big deal out of it then it'll distract from our issues."

"It'll be fine." She took his hand, lacing her finger through his. "The President is hoping you'll have time to call him today…"

He looked across at her. "Was he upset?"

"Upset?" She frowned a little. "No, he was surprised but no not upset…He is happy for us…Is that why you didn't want to talk to him? You were worried he'd be angry?"

"No…" He let out a long breath. "No, I guess I knew he'd understand…I just… I knew he'd asked what the rush was…."

"And you didn't want to tell him the truth?" She guessed.

"I did…that's the problem."

"Josh…"

"I don't think I would have been able to lie to him, Donna…" He told her. "And I don't think I would have been able to hide it from him either."

"So, don't." She claimed. "He'd want to know."

Josh shook his head a little. "With his own health, the mess in Kazakhstan added to Ellie's wedding…He doesn't need to be dragged into this as well."

"There will still be time after the election." Donna squeezed his hand, her voice shaking a little.

"I guess." He sighed. "I'm sorry, I freaked…"

She smiled. "Don't worry about it. I mean, how many women get to say they got to tell the President of the United States they got married?"

"He was really happy for us?"

"Yep and he's expecting us join him and the First Lady for dinner when things have calm down."

"I bet he'll make us listen to the history of wedding ceremonies…" He put his arm around her back to pull her closer to him. "Thank you."

"For talking to the President?" She tilted her head up a little from where it rested on his shoulder to look up at him.

"Yes but not just that…Everything." He replied. "For marrying me, being there for me and for understanding my reasons even if you think they're stupid."

"I don't think they're stupid." She claimed. "I just don't want you to regret anything or to think you have to face this alone."

"I know I'm being stubborn about this and maybe once the election is over things will change… I know if I call them they will be here for me but I don't know… It just doesn't seem the right time."

"There is a lot going on." Donna replied. "So, as promised…I'll drop it."

"For now?" He guessed.

She gave him a smile and stood up, pulling him to his feet as well before giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "For now….Come on, we got a man to make President."

XxXxX

"She was his assistant for 7 years…He hired her and gave her a White House position when she had no experience and no college degree…" Bob reported after showing Vinick the Santos' Press Conference. "She then went from an assistant to Spokeswoman for a Presidential campaign…"

"Didn't she work for Russell before joining the Santos' campaign?" Shelia asked, glancing around the room.

"She did…Took a couple shot at Santos too." Jane added. "I'm surprised they hired her."

"So, I'm guessing we're having this discussion because you think I should say something…" Vinick questioned with a hint of sarcasm.

"Senator, this young, blonde inexperience woman was given a west wing position." Bob claimed. "Josh Lyman has used his power to get his girlfriend a job…"

"Neither of them was married, were they?" Vinick asked. "And it's not like he gave her access to the situation room…He hired her 7 years ago…if something was going to be made of it then it would have been already been said….And not for nothing, whenever I had dealings with the Deputy Chief of Staff's office, I always found his assistant professional and efficient."

"Sir, if Santos wins then Josh Lyman is likely to be named as his Chief of Staff…Don't you think the public should take his morels and ethic into consideration too?" Jane argued.

Vinick looked from the three of them before his eyes settled on Bruno who had been silent throughout the whole conversation.

"What's your take on this?" He asked. "You've worked with them? Did you see any unprofessional behavior?"

"Every single day…"

"There you go." Bob waved his hand towards Bruno.

"But this is not a fight you want or would win." Bruno added before anyone else could say anything.

"Why do you say that?"

"If Josh Lyman and Donna Moss have been sleeping together then it wasn't before Bartlet won re-election… and I'd bet money on what they said in the press conference is right… It's a recent development."

"But you just said…"

"He didn't treat her like an assistant...You got one thing right, she was probably one of least experience assistants in the West Wing yet she was trusted with a lot more than the others."

"And you don't think that warrants being looked into?" Bob asked.

"She did her job well and proved she was an asset to his office…." Bruno claimed. "Besides, I questioned it during the campaign when I saw how close they were and Leo McGarry pointed out that while Josh was her boss, he had no control over her salary or staff reviews… The only thing you might be able to get points on is the no experience but she worked for no money during Bartlet's first campaign and they'll just say she earned her experience then."

"He's married her, Bruno!" Jane exclaimed. "His young, hot, blonde secretary…"

"Yeah, eight years later!" Bruno stood up and turned to face Vinick directly. "Sir, if you go out there and start asking questions about their relationship then you'll have a whole queue of people wanting to tell stories about them…"

"And that would be bad because?" Bob questioned.

"Because Hollywood will turn it into a box office smash hit." Bruno shot back.

"Oh please!" Jane rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"Senator, I know you've worked with Josh before… You may not agree with everything he says or does but do you really believe he is some sleazy guy sleeping his way around Washington?"

"So, this is about you supporting your old friend…" Jane started but Vinick held up a hand to stop her.

"Josh Lyman is an arrogant, cocky, loud mouth who thinks he knows best." Vinick stated. "But Bruno is right…He's not that kind of man."

"Can you honestly tell me that reason you took Matt Santos' campaign so seriously to begin with wasn't because of who was running it?"

"I took him seriously because Russell was such a weak candidate and Hoynes was a laughing stock…" Vinick answered. "I'm not surprised Josh went out and found another candidate from that choice."

"Sir, for some reason unbeknown to me, the public like Josh Lyman…" Bruno claimed. "I believe they will take his side on this if we make a big deal out of it…"

"I think it's you who likes Josh Lyman…" Jane muttered, sitting down on the couch.

Vinick looked towards his most trusted advisor. "Shelia."

She looked around the room before back to him. "I think Bruno is right…this isn't an issue that either Santos or you want to be dealing with this close to Election Day and it's too big of a risk to take to think this will work out bad for them…"

"Josh wouldn't have done this if he thought for a moment it would harm his campaign." Bruno added. "They have a plan on how to deal with this if we go negative."

"Maybe they did this for some good press." Bob suggested. "If we get asked, our comment should be that we're running a serious campaign and not worrying about wedding dresses and china patterns."

"Maybe not those exact words but that could work." Sheila agreed.

"Bruno?" Vinick turned to him again but found the other man in deep thought. "Bruno?"

"I'm sorry, Sir?" He snapped back to attention when he realized the senator was talking to him.

"Our comment should be we're too busy running for President to care about someone else's marriage." Bob supplied.

"You really do have a way with words, you know that?" Sheila shot at him sarcastically.

"If I asked the question then I'm going to pass on my congratulations and best wishes." Vinick announced. "In fact, I want to send a card over with some flowers…"

"Sir, I think that's going a little far…" Jane stood up again. "I really think we should revisit the abuse of power line…"

"No." Vinick waved her off. "If that was an issue then it would have come out years ago or the press will find it now…We don't need to do the dirty work…I'm going to congratulate them and move on. That's it."

"I'll get someone to arrange the flowers." Shelia told him, getting to her feet.

Bob and Jane exchanged looks but didn't comment any further and instead followed Shelia out the room, leaving Vinick alone with Bruno who looked deep in thought again.

"So, what are you really thinking?" Vinick questioned, reaching for a bottle of water.

"Sir?"

"You looked like you had an epiphany in the middle of that discussion…"

"Just thinking about some rumors I've been hearing…" Bruno commented. "And wondering if it's all connected to this…"

"What rumors?"

"That Ben Josephs has been asked to join the congressman on the last stage of the campaign."

"You think they're going to replace Josh Lyman as campaign manager?" Vinick questioned. "We can't really comment after bringing Jane in ourselves…"

"My sources say it's Josh's idea."

"Why would he...?"

"Maybe he can't do the job himself for much longer…"

"It's one thing making some staff changes but a campaign manager quitting this close to the election would make people seriously doubt a candidate." Vinick stated. "You really think Josh would do that?"

"No, sir I don't but maybe he doesn't have a choice."

"I don't understand…"

"I'm not at all surprise to learn about a romantic relationship with him and Donna Moss…but they've waited all this time, why would they choose now to elope…they must have known they would get some interest and there's a chance it might not be good for the campaign…"

"What do you mean he might not have a choice?" Vinick returned to Bruno's earlier statement; he really didn't care about Josh Lyman's marital status.

"When I spoke with him about the New York cancer event, he looked tired…"

"We're all tired…" Vinick snorted.

"Yeah but this was different…I've seen him look this before."

"During Bartlet's reelection?"

"Yeah…"

"He was having chemotherapy treatment then."

"Yeah."

"You think he's having treatment again?" Vinick asked. "That's he's sick?"

"There is no way he could receive treatment and run a presidential campaign at the same time…"

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Sir, if you didn't have long left to live…What would you want to do?"

"Win the election for a start…" He stated.

"And marry the woman you love." Bruno added. "And to hell with what everyone thinks."

Vinick sighed. "Well, they're not going to share the news with us before they release a statement and like with the whole marriage thing, it's probably in bad taste to go to the media ourselves."

"That's if they do release a statement."

"You think they'd cover this up?" Vinick asked causing Bruno to shrug. "Even so, if we say something and we're wrong we're going to look pretty stupid…"

"That's true…" Bruno agreed. "But…"

"Hang on, you think it's a bad idea to comment on their marriage but Josh Lyman's health is another matter?"

"Bob and Jane were right about something, a lot of people are expecting him to play a big role in a Santos' administration…" Bruno argued. "If he's not up to the job then maybe the public should know."

"I don't think the public will vote based on whether Lyman returns to the White House or not."

"Sir, a lot of people would see this as the democrats covering up another illness." Bruno added. "And it involves a lot of the same people…"

Vinick sent him a look. "We could ruin his career…and probably Leo McGarry's too."

"Sir…"

"I want to win this thing but I'm not using Josh Lyman as a stepping stall just because he's been unlucky enough to get cancer for a second time…" Vinick ranted as he turned to walk away but looked back quickly. "Besides, we don't even know if it's true…this is just something you thought up." Vinick waved a hand in the air. "I don't want any of this coming from us…I don't even want a hint of it leaving this room."

"Okay…"

"I mean it, Bruno."

"I got it." He held up his hands.

"Good." Vinick replied before stalking out the room, leaving Bruno alone.

After gathering up everything he needed to take with him Bruno entered the main office to see the Senator leaving that too with the rest of the staff watching him curiously.

"Everything okay?" Shelia asked him.

"What did he say?" Bruno nodded in the direction Vinick had just gone.

"Well, he's cancelled the flowers." Shelia told him.

"He did?"

"Yeah and instead making a donation to charity in their name." Jane commented. "He won't let us let it slip to the press either…"

"What charity?"

"Cancer research." Sheila answered. "He's been donating to them for years…"

"What did you two talk about?" Jane asked him when she noticed the small smile on his face.

"Nothing…" Bruno shook his head but was unable to stop the smile…He had never felt more right about making that man President of the United States.

TBC

Okay, I admit it…I liked Vinick! Maybe it was because it's Alan Alda/Hawkeye...

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