Calling The Question

by: Evelyn

Leo stopped outside the door of Josh’s office when he heard a crash. He opened it slowly to see Josh standing next to his desk, fists clenched.

“Josh?” Leo said tentatively.

Josh looked blank for a second, then took a deep breath, and flatly said, “She’s job hunting in Madison.”

“Already? It hasn’t even been 24 hours since she left.” CJ had filled Leo, Toby, and Sam in on what had happened the night before when they’d met for Senior Staff in the morning.

“Yeah, well, you know Donna. When she makes up her mind about something...” his voice trailed off.

“What are you going to do about it?” Leo asked.

“I think I’ve done a fine job in thoroughly screwing this up so far, what do you suggest I do now?” Josh asked angrily.

“Go home, Josh, and start packing,” Leo ordered.

“What good will that do? Don’t you think I’ve thought of taking the first plane to Madison and dragging her back here,” Josh countered. “Hell, she won’t even talk to me on the phone.”

“I don’t think the caveman approach will work with Donna,” Leo said. “But you’d better figure out something that will. You’re no good here.”

“I may be a total loser with women, but I can still do my job. Hell, Leo, it’s all I’ve got,” Josh pointed out.

“Josh, you blew off Senior Staff, then missed an 8:30 meeting with the Majority Leader and four crucial members of Congress about the education reform bill. A meeting, I might add, that was set up three weeks ago after much begging, pleading, and cajoling. All on behalf of a bill, I further point out, that we’ve been trying to ram through the House for the last two years. So Mr. Democrat of the Year, get your head out of your ass, go home and sort out your life before we’re all out of jobs thanks to your deft and expert handling of the members of Congress,” Leo finished hotly.

Josh looked at Leo, picked up his backpack, and for the first time in 15 years, walked out of the office at 10:00 in the morning to go home.

Leo walked back to the Oval Office and asked Charlie if the President was free.

“He’s in with the First Lady,” Charlie said. “Do you want me to interrupt?”

“Yeah, it’s important,” Leo said nodding his head.

Charlie was back in a moment and said, “Go on in.”

Leo walked into the Oval Office. The President and Mrs. Bartlet were sitting on the couch, obviously in the middle of a discussion.

“I’m sorry, Mr. President. We have a thing...a thing with Josh,” Leo began.

“And Donna,” Abbey added.

Leo looked surprised and asked, “How did you know?”

“I got played last night,” Abbey said angrily.

“What happened?”

“Amy Gardner used me to get to Josh and I bought right into it. I knew the minute she demanded that Donna get the coffee...”

“What the hell is the problem with coffee?” Leo interrupted. “CJ was going on and on about Donna bringing Josh coffee last night, and Toby and Sam practically fell out of their chairs. Margaret brings me coffee every morning. What’s the big deal?”

“Oh for crying out loud,” The President snapped. “Of course Margaret brings you coffee. She’s not in love with you and you’re not in love with her. In all your years of marriage, did you ever order Jenny to bring you coffee?”

“But CJ says Donna has refused to bring Josh coffee since the first day he hired her.”

“Exactly,” the President nodded. “Doesn’t that tell you something that we’ve all known for the last three years but refused to acknowledge?”

“Yeah,” Leo said slowly. “So now what do we do. If this doesn’t get resolved, we’re gonna have to get a new deputy chief of staff. You know, one that doesn’t piss off the leadership of our own party. I spent 40 minutes on the phone trying to placate one very angry Majority Leader. He asked where the hell was Donna, since he apparently tried to call Josh when he didn’t show up for the meeting. Josh answered the phone himself and then slammed it down, I’m assuming because it wasn’t the call from Madison he was hoping for.”

“Jed, now’s the time. You should have done it months ago when you first thought about it,” Abbey urged.

“I know, I know. I just thought he needed her more than I did,” Jed answered. “Charlie?”

Charlie leaned into the Oval Office expectantly.

“Get me the number of Mrs. Carolyn Moss in Madison, Wisconsin.”

Chapters - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Sequel - Like A Bad Penny

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