Author: coffeeplease
Rating: R (bad words)
Category: General, AU, Angst, I guess
Spoiler Info: Everything up to A Good Day
Disclaimer: WB, NBC, John Wells, Aaron Sorkin....
owners. I just lease and try not to stain the carpet.
Lawsuits dont look good on me.
E-mail address for feedback: jamhandy1@...
Archiving permission: Sure, just tell me first
Notes: This is the same universe as Grocery Store
and Race Car, but set in the present or near
future. The fight between Josh and Will. Feedback is
like air, water and coffee. Some may not like Josh and
Will in this, but, hell, boys will be boys...
Will Bailey!
He wasnt wearing his glasses when he opened the door,
all he could see was a blur of blue, black, skin and
brown hair. Josh had jeans on, Will surmised, and a
black sweater. If he had glasses on, he would see how
hastily the ensemble had been put together. The fly
wasnt even buttoned all the way up.
Will leaned to the side of the door. Not being able to
see made him braver than he normally would be. What
do you want, Josh? Its like two in the morning.
Josh barreled into Wills room. Youre used to White
House hours, Will. Whats the matter, getting soft on
the road?
I dont need to stand here and listen to you bitch,
Josh. Will let the door shut and went to the night
stand to get his glasses. Even without them, he could
see anger bursting out of blurry Josh like daggers. It
probably wasnt smart to have let him in the room.
Will then remembered he hadnt let Josh in the room.
Actually, yes, you do. Joshs voice was calm, unlike
the furious pounding on the door a few minutes ago. He
looked messy but determined, not unlike how he always
looked, but Will detected something that made his
stomach flip-flop. Simmering rage.
Do you know what Ive been doing all-night, Will? Do
you? Ive been taking care of Donna. Do you know what
shes been doing all-night? Crying. Well, no, shes
actually been sobbing all-night. Joshs decibel rose
with every sentence. Will actually had to tell his
knees not to shake. She thinks youre going to fire
her.
Will was no stranger to rage. He felt his own emotions
begin to boil, but he knew the best thing was to
remain calm. Thats not my call to make.
Dont bullshit me.
And its not like the inner workings of the Russell
campaign are your business, Josh. Will couldnt make
his voice go down. In fact, they are extremely not
your business.
This isnt about the campaign. This isnt about
politics.
Then what the hell is it about? Will yanked a chair
away from the table and sat down. He really wanted
sleep, but first he felt like throwing up. Or running
back to Orange County as fast as his legs could carry
him.
Josh rapped the silent television set a few times with
his fist. Its about Donna and its about the fact
that you are jealous...
Oh, is that right?!?
You wanted to have the same relationship with her
that I had. Thats what you told her in New Hampshire,
back when she got hired. What were your exact words...
I think we can be as close as partners as you and
Josh were... As close, huh?
I meant working relationship.
And what do you think that working relationship was
to us over the years, Will? Do you have any idea...
Yeah, I have some idea. Will wanted to kill, kill
Donna for telling Josh that. Of all the things to
say... and, in a way, it proved his point. Donna
couldnt really be trusted now that she was with Josh.
What else had she said to him, about Will, about
Russell? He didnt want to fire her, didnt want
things to be this way. But she had made this choice,
not Will.
No, you really dont. You wouldnt fly to Germany to
be at her side, you wouldnt fly to Michigan to be at
her side. And do you really think that one
presidential campaign could compete with two
campaigns, seven years at the White House, hearings,
kidnappings, me getting shot... Joshs voice trailed
off and his face contorted for a second. Do you have
any idea what we went through?
I was there for some of it. Wills palms had begun
to sweat. They were making marks on the wood table.
Josh laughed without humor. Hardly. You helped me
throw a few snowballs at her window once.
What the hell do you want, Josh? Will stood up and
began walking towards Josh. Without shoes, he was
considerably smaller and he tried not to feel
intimated. So far, it wasnt much working. Whether or
not Donna keeps her job has nothing to do with you.
Actually, it has everything to do with me if youre
going to fire her for being with me.
I cant technically do that.
Youre damn right you cant.
But I can if it becomes detrimental to the campaign,
which it will! He hadnt meant to shout the last
part, he really hadnt. Joshs eyes were extremely
wide and the side of his mouth was twitching slightly.
Donna and I dont talk about the campaign...
And how would anyone know if you did or didnt? And
why should I believe you? Or her?
Hell, Will, Joshs teeth were clenched and his hands
were in fists. Call me a liar any day of the week but
dont you dare question Donnas integrity.
Why shouldnt I? Will was pacing the short area he
had in the room. Josh had really claimed most of it,
standing in the space between the bed and the
television. I know shes told you things. Youve told
me tonight the things shes told you. And this is just
like you. The perfect political operator. Find some
woman to sleep with on the opposing campaign and have
her...
The taste of blood filled Wills mouth. He had just
been talking, yelling and then there was blood
dribbling down his chin. Blood on Joshs fist. Josh
who was now two inches away from Wills face. Will
brought a hand up to touch the place where Joshs fist
had connected. Joshs eyes were small and surpentine
and too close to Wills. The glasses did nothing to
diminish or protect.
The voice coming out of Joshs mouth was very low.
First, I would never date someone just to win an
election, so that shows how little you know me and
apparently how little you think of me. Second, I am
not the perfect political operator. My relationship
with Donna isnt good politics for anyone, never has
been. But you know, I dont care. I dont really care.
Because Donna is far more important to me then this
campaign, this election, my candidate, your candidate,
anyones candidate. And shell always be. Shell
always be more important than my career and I know you
dont understand that. Because nothing is more
important you than your precious career and electing
Bingo Bob or a dead man to office, not that theres a
difference between Bingo Bob and a dead man.
Josh backed away a few feet and released Wills
shoulders. Will hadnt even realized that Josh was
gripping his shoulders and shaking them. The bleeding
had stopped, but his jaw felt unbelievably sore.
Josh continued talking, massaging his fist. You are
jealous Will, not only because I have Donna but
because I have something that means more than my
career. I feel sorry for you. I used to be you. But
now Im not anymore and I cant even understand why I
put my career ahead of her for so many years...
I cant believe you fucking punched me, Will ground
out. He strode past Josh, as confident as he could
with his legs shaking and went into the bathroom to
get a towel.
Of course you dont, Josh laughed, almost heartily,
and Will thought for a second that Josh had lost his
mind. Because punching you isnt good politics, so
you dont understand. It wont help Santos win, so you
dont understand why I would do that. Jesus Christ,
are you just a machine?
Will came out of the bathroom. Machines dont bleed
when you punch them.
Im sorry.
No, youre not. Will sighed at sat down on the bed.
Look, I realize that you love her and that she loves
you. I realize that and normally, I wouldnt care. But
I am that guy now and I need to care and you would
have cared, too. Im trying to win an election, thats
what Im trying to do. And so are you and so is Donna.
You two can play Romeo and Juliet until the crows fly
home, but youre doing it on my dime and so I get to
have a say.
Theres always been someones fucking dime!! Josh
screamed. Will recoiled in horror. And we certainly
behaved ourselves for eight years. You ever love
someone for eight years, Will? Eight years and youre
never able to touch them, to kiss them because if you
did theyd get fired or youd get fired or thered be
some scandal that the administration just couldnt
afford? We stayed apart eight years for Jed Bartlet
and Leo McGarry. But you arent them and this isnt
the White House.
Youre making arguments about love and this isnt
about love, this is about politics, pure and simple.
This is only about love, Will. Its sad to me that
you really cant see that. Josh made to exit. Nothing
had been resolved, but he looked a bit better. Will
surmised that hitting him had helped Joshs mindset.
He knew that whatever was happening between Santos
campaign manager and his own staffer wasnt just a
rumble between the sheets. But he had really no
idea....
And it disturbs me to see Josh Lyman this far gone.
This far gone... Again, Josh gave a bitter laugh.
Will, you really dont get it. The only reason Im
upset.... I dont care what you do to me, do to
Santos, do to Russell, whatever.... but you hurt
Donna.... you hurt Donna.... she cried herself to
sleep. And thats all Ive been thinking about this
entire time, is that you hurt her. And you better not
do it again.
Is that a threat?
Yes. Josh threw open the door. For the last time,
Will, this isnt politics, this is love. You think Im
vicious in the political arena? Well, Ive found
something that means more to me than that. You hurt
her again, I swear to God, youll wish you were a dead
man instead of running a campaign for one. Josh went
into the hall.
The door shut.