“SAM! HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?”
I look up, glasses threatening to slide off my nose, as Toby storms in, waving something at me. He puts it down in front of my laptop and stabs angrily at a highlighted section of the Washington Post. I scan it quickly. Oh, this is bad.
I look up at him, and meet his eyes. Whilst they almost seem angry, I can see a hint of distress and sympathy flicker there. I sigh, and stand up, taking the paper, and head for Josh’s office. I know he’s in a bad mood this morning - I managed to spill coffee over his favourite suit at breakfast. It’s his own fault: he should know better than to kiss me whilst I’m holding a mug.
Wordlessly, I walk into the office and lay the paper in front of him. He looks up at it, eyes darting across the page before he stands and storms towards CJ’s office.
“Josh! Please, don’t get angry!” I call, trying to catch up with him. He turns wildly, and shakes the offending paper at me.
“THIS, Sam, is the Washington Post! I expected better from them, especially Danny Concannon! Wait until I find CJ…”
“JOSHUA!” comes the hysterical shriek, followed by CJ, paper in hand, striding towards Josh and myself. Leo is behind her. I close my eyes, and feel a great desire to disappear through the floor.
“My office, all of you,” Leo says, quietly. I open my eyes again, and follow him. Various staffers are looking at us and giggling. Suddenly, I’m incensed. What is this about after all? No one would bat an eyelid if CJ and Toby started dating. I’m about to go and strangle an intern, when Josh carefully takes my arm and keeps me with him. It’s a strange day when Josh is restraining me - in fact, this must be a first!
Leo shuts the door behind us and stands behind his desk. No one sits.
“Well, it seems the Press knows something we don’t.”
I glance over at Josh, who’s staring at the floor. However, I’m past caring. No one dictates my life to me, not even Josh. Well, maybe a little, but not these homophobic members of the Press Corps. I look directly at Leo, and see something akin to fatherly concern in his eyes. I’m immediately grateful, and worried that I’ll start crying whilst three feet from the Oval.
“I’m sorry, Leo, we probably should’ve told you.”
“It’s ok, Sam. This is your life, it’s not my business any more than it’s Danny Concannon’s.”
Leo looks at CJ then, who isn’t really listening. She’s too busy looking over at Josh, who hasn’t said a word. Toby speaks up.
“This article implies that our policy is dictated by the sexual orientation of our staffers. I’d like to correct them on that point, without commenting on what frankly isn’t their business.”
I look at Toby, and he gives me a slight smile. I realise then that there are no enemies in this room. Our friends are as supportive as ever, as they were over Laurie. Laurie - during my period of denial, when I was still trying to convince myself that I wasn’t in love with Josh. Along with Mallory. Chapters in my life I’d rather forget. Now is all that matters. Now with Josh and I, and what we have and will continue to have.
“Josh, what do you think?”
Josh looks up slowly, all eyes on him. His face is unreadable, it scares me. Maybe he’s decided that we can’t weather the political storms, maybe he wants to deny we ever happened. Maybe he’s trying to salvage his reputation in politics, because, let’s face it: dating the White house idiot, especially in a homosexual relationship, isn’t good for business.
“I think CJ should have Danny’s ass for saying these things about my Sam.”
I immediately get a head-rush, and I’m sure I’m going bright red. *My* Sam. I hadn’t read the article properly, but whatever was in had got Josh is full attack-mode. Leo glances back at his copy of the paper - obviously he’d missed it too - before looking up at Josh, horror on his face.
“They’re implying…after her…I don’t…”
Leo looks down again. I haven’t often seen Leo lost for words, but he appears to be getting angrier. Everyone is looking at their copies, except Josh and me, simply because I gave mine to him. I feel CJ and Toby looking at me, and meet their eyes. There is pity and anger - anger at Danny Concannon. I want to read this article again!
Suddenly, I hear a commotion next door and a loud shout of ‘LEO!’ A few moments later, the President is rocketing through the door, breathing heavily and red-faced. He looks at us all, before laying down The Washington Post.
“ WHERE DOES HE GET THE NERVE TO WRITE THIS CRAP, LEO?”
“Mr President, please stay calm…”
“NO, LEO! I WON’T!”
“Sir, please, this isn’t helping.”
I’m not entirely sure why I said that, but suddenly everyone is looking at me.
“But, Sam, what they’re staying about you…”
“I don’t know, sir, and I don’t care. Because it’s probably wrong and trust me, this day can’t get worse. Whatever it implies, I don’t give a damn.”
The President smiles at me, and touches at my shoulder.
“That’s my boy. CJ, I want Danny Concannon in my office *now*. And Josh? Don’t do something you’ll regret.”
With that, the President sails out the door and Leo looks at us all.
“Staff in an hour. Get back to work.”
I run. I’m in my office with the door locked before anyone can call me. I rest my head against the desk and take deep breaths. Someone's about to get fired (hopefully, anyway), someone's about to seriously lose it. I think that may be me.
"Sam?"
His voice is soft outside my door. He can't see me like this, all flustered over nothing. But, I open the door and I stand there. He takes one look at me, and crushes me in his arms. I bury my head in his neck and I don't give a damn who sees us. He murmurs about dinner and killing reporters, his hand resting on the back of my head. It's like we're all that's here, all that matters. Somehow, we end up in my office with the door locked, and he kisses me softly.
"Are you alright?"
"I didn't read it properly," I say, trying to distract him, "I don't know what he wrote."
Josh guides me to my chair, before smoothing out the paper before me. He points to a paragraph, his hand trembling slightly. I read aloud.
"'After the scandal involving Seaborn and a prostitute' - she was not..."
"Keep reading," Josh is trying to keep the edge out of his voice, but it isn't working. Danny better stay out of his way.
"'...he looked to be on the way out. It has been speculated that...'"
I trail off, not believing my eyes. //he slept with Lyman to maintain his position.// I am at a loss for words. These implications, this shadow on our relationship. That I would *ever* use him that way, it's unthinkable.
That our relationship dictated policy, I can live with. But to attack Josh's professionalism and my integrity - it is beyond thought. I look up, to see Josh watching me. He looks like the world is ending. Realisation hits - I know I'm the strong one, I'm the one who keeps everything together. Josh needs me to do that now.
I get up and kiss him. He seems surprised, but let's me continue. I pull away, somewhat reluctantly, yet deciding that going too far in my office is not the way to demonstrate our innocence. Innocence - there is no guilt! Just bitter accusations and...
My thoughts are interrupted by a thunderous voice echoing through the west wing.
"AND I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU IN MY WHITE HOUSE AGAIN!"
We open the door, to see the show. The President is in the corridor, bright red and breathless, Charlie all-but restraining him. Danny Concannon is hurrying away, making the mistake of navigating the Communications Bullpen. He sees us, and he tries to say something to me. Josh stands in front of me, his body tensed.
"Don't you dare come near him."
His voice is shaking, but it is full of steel. Donna suddenly appears, brandishing a folder. She smiles menacingly at Danny.
"Should I escort you from the building?"
Danny tried to muster some dignity but realises he's surrounded by Senior Staff, assistants and Secret Service agents. I wonder at this, at how loyal these people are to Josh and myself. It moves me.
"I can find my way."
He glances at CJ, who pointedly turns away from him. He walks away.