Playing (White) House.

By Jaye Reid

Commenced:  02.10.2001

Completed:  14.01.2002

Category: General, Josh, J/D

Rating: PG-13 for a word or two.

Spoilers: Vague references to season 1 & 2

Disclaimer: Not mine, no matter how much I wish on the evening star <g>.  Anyone you recognize is the property of AS and WB.  Anyone you don't recognize belongs to me!

Summary:  Josh receives some life changing news.

Author's notes:  It's finally finished!  I've been working on this for ages, at it kept getting longer and longer.  I write in dialogue - I can hear the characters in my head and see the scenes like I'm watching an episode.  Having to then describe them is then the tricky bit for me <g>

Feedback - would be nice.

Archiving: Anywhere, just keep my name on it.

Dedication: For Bridget, who does a brilliant job beta reading my work, and encouraged me to write a bit of tough Josh.

~*~*~*~

"Hey Donna, what time is it?" Josh asked, strolling from his office to Donna's desk whilst playing with his watch.

"What does it matter Josh?  I tell you where you have to be, and you know that watch doesn't keep time," she replied as she reached for her ringing phone  "Josh Lyman's office."

"Well if I'm not here, you can't tell me where I'm supposed to be," he continued, ignoring the fact that her attention was now elsewhere.

Donna held her hand up to him as she tried to concentrate on the phone call.

"No Carl, I don't have any appointment in the diary, he's actually on his way out... hold on..." Donna turned to Josh, "You didn't make an appointment to be seen this afternoon and not tell me did you, Josh?"

"No... Well not that I remember... come on, what time is it?" he whined like an impatient two year old.

"Hang on Josh!" she chided as she returned to the call.  "Carl, there's nothing in the book.  Tell her if she wants to see him, she needs an appointment.  Did she mention *what* she wanted?"

"Who is it?" Josh whispered.

"Josh, you don't need to whisper," Donna laughed.  "She can't hear you, and I'm talking to Carl down at the gate.  Apparently there is a British sounding woman, so Carl says, asking to see you."

"British, like as in from England?" he asked.

"Well, I dunno Josh... Do you *think* that is where 'British' people come from?" she scoffed.

"Well, technically, British people encompass..." He was silenced by Donna holding her hand up at him again as she tucked the receiver between her shoulder and chin to reach for a pen.

"Fine, don't listen to me then..." he mumbled.

"She won't say, but she *has* to talk to Josh does she?  Well does she look sane?  Oh okay... hang on - again" she said into the phone before turning to Josh.  "This woman refused to tell Carl what she wants but she says I should mention the name 'Eliza Waite' to you and that you will..." Donna stopped when she saw the expression on Josh's face at the mention of this name.  "Josh?  Are you okay?  Do you want to see this person?"

"Um... yeah, it's okay," he stammered distantly.  "Ah... get them to let her in."

"You have a meeting up on the Hill in less than half an hour don't forget," Donna added.

"Um, yeah sure... look I'm gonna be um... in my office," he continued as if he was running out of oxygen, correcting the time on his watch now forgotten. "Can you just like, show her through when she gets here?"

"Sure Josh," Donna replied, looking rather concerned at him as he headed for his office.  It wasn't that he suddenly seemed inarticulate, because, well... that wasn't anything new.  He could be *very* articulate when he wanted to be, but this was different.  Donna was more than curious to know who this woman was that could knock the air out of Josh Lyman.

"Carl... get someone to bring her through."

~*~

Donna knocked on Josh's door and opened it just enough to stick her head around.  Josh jumped in his chair nervously.

"Is she here already?" he questioned.

"No... No, not yet.  Are you okay Josh?  Is there anything I can get you?" she asked with a concerned tone.

"Coffee would be good," he replied giving her a half smile, losing some of the tension in his face.

"Okay... *other* than coffee?" she replied as she stepped inside the office, glad they were back to this game.

"Nah, thanks anyway," he replied.  "Just bring her in when she gets here."

"Okay," Donna replied, closing the door.

Within a few seconds the door opened, it was Donna again.

"You forget something?" Josh asked as he sat down.

"No," she replied as she opened the door wider, "she's here."

Josh stood and looked passed Donna to a young woman standing outside his office.  He frowned slightly, Donna noticed.

"You're not Eliza," was all Josh said, looking at her.

The visitor stepped forward to the doorway and Josh could see her more clearly... there was something vaguely...  A gauntlet of emotions, thoughts and realizations hit him all at the same time.  He didn't really need her answer.

"No, obviously I'm not.  I'm Emmeline Preston," she replied tentatively.

The two stood staring at each other, Donna still caught between them, even more concerned.

"Josh, you have a meeting up on the Hill," said Donna, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"Um, yeah thanks Donna.  Ahh... Emmeline..."

"Please, Emma or Em. I actually prefer Em," she interrupted.

"Okay, ahhh Em, I have to go do this thing.  And well, it's an important thing... boring as hell if you must know, but important.  Can you... ahhh... I mean do you have time to stay around until, if you're hungry..." He turned is inarticulate attention to Donna as he picked up his backpack.  "Could you perhaps take Em down to the mess..."

"Sure Josh," she replied cutting him off.  She doubted that anything else he had to say was going to be coherent.

"Is that okay with you Emmel... Em?" he asked as he stood in front of her.

"I'm here now," she replied.  "I guess it won't matter a little longer, but I would really like to talk."

"We will *definitely* talk.  This is what I think it's about, isn't it?" he asked cryptically.

"Yeah," she smiled, "I think so."

"It's just going to be a little while... actually Donna, what is on my schedule for later?" he asked turning to her.

"You have a meeting with Sam and Toby at seven and you wanted to go over the figures on that other *thing* when you got back," she replied.  "I expect it would take up most of the evening."

"Can you schedule some time for us to go over them later and reschedule Sam and Toby for whenever you can fit me in with them?" he replied.

"I can do that," she replied as she turned to Em.  "Do you want a coffee?"

"Sure, coffee would be good," Em replied.

"Okay firstly, you don't get *me* coffee Donna, although I am willing to overlook that point *this* time, but yeah secondly," he added as he passed by them in the doorway, "low key please?"

"Of course Josh, no problem," she replied cautiously.

"Well on that note, I off to beat a congressman into submission," he stated with a wave of his hand and yet another nervous glance at Em.

"Play nicely Joshua," Donna called after him as he disappeared down the hall.

"Don't I always," he called back as he turned to her whilst walking backwards.

"No," she tossed back.

He shrugged and turned back around on his way out.

~*~

Donna took Em to the mess, and considering Josh's 'low key' comment, she decided that they would get a coffee and some cake and take it back to the office.  They were now enclosed in Josh's office, to avoid glances from other staff.

"I guess I am stopping you from doing something important?" Em asked as she sipped at her coffee.

"No, it's okay... the chance to take a break for a little while won't hurt me at all," she smiled back.

"Well please, if I am keeping you from something because you have to baby sit me, I don't mind just sitting here - really.  I have a book with me, I could just read," Em added.

"I don't consider sitting in my boss' chair drinking coffee and eating cake as 'babysitting' at all," she replied.  "You are obviously someone who..." Donna caught herself mid sentence as she looked across the top of Josh's desk to Em sitting opposite her.  "You are obviously someone that Josh wants to see, and well...as I am sure he will tell you, he is 'da man.'"

Em smiled reflectively, and prepared to wait.

~*~*~

"Josh?"

"Yes Sam?" he replied as his friend broke into pace with him as he returned to the building.

"Donna cancelled the meeting with us and Toby for later," he stated.

"Why yes, Sam," Josh continued without breaking stride, "she's my assistant and when I ask her to cancel or reschedule an appointment for me, she generally does it.  Did she not reschedule it for me?"

"Well, yeah... she *did*, but she wouldn't tell me why?" continued Sam.

"That's probably because I didn't *give* a reason," Josh replied.

"Oh okay... it's just that..."

"What time did she reschedule it for?" Josh interrupted.

"Um, six I think?" he replied.

"What, six tomorrow morning?" Josh cringed.

"No, tomorrow PM, not AM," Sam, replied.  "Toby and I have a fairly busy schedule tomorrow."

Josh sighed, silently thanking Donna, knowing that it could have easily been AM.

"Sam?" Josh asked as they continued along.

"Yeah?"

"Where are you going?" Josh asked, stopping in the middle of the bullpen outside his office.

Sam stopped and looked around.  "Um, no where really... I was just talking to you and somehow I got here...  I did it again didn't I?  I'll just head back to my office now," he said absentmindedly.

"Okay," replied Josh and continued to his office.  He noticed the door was closed, and Donna hadn't been at her desk.  He opened the door to see Donna leaning back in his chair and laughing.

"Don't get too comfortable in that chair Donna.  Too many people think you should be in it already," he quipped as he dropped his backpack on the floor.

"It's all yours," Donna replied, rising to her feet.  "I'm just going back to my desk."

"Thanks Donna," Josh replied sincerely.

A sincere Josh, Donna noted... have to mark *today* in the diary.

"That's fine Josh," she replied.  "Oh and by the way... the congressman?"

"Had him for breakfast.  I *am* da man!" he grinned, and then his expression softened, as he glanced at Em.

Donna obliviously rolled her eyes and looked to Em, "See what I mean?"

"Yeah..." Em smiled, exchanging a look between her and Josh.

Donna noticed the look and decided it was time to disappear.  "I'll be at my desk if you need anything."

"Actually Donna, could you make a reservation for me at... Em... do you like Italian food?"

"Yes I love Italian," she replied.

"Donna, you know that place we..."

"The one where..." she asked, understanding the always cryptic, half sentence conversation they shared so regularly.

"Yep that's the one... could you make reservations for two for me there for say... seven?"

"See what I can do," she replied as she rested her hand on his arm briefly before headed out the door, closing it behind her.

~*~

"Okay, Em," said Josh as he sat in his chair and looked at the young woman in the chair opposite him.

"You know who I am, don't you?" she asked.

"Well it took a bit, but I'm guessing your mother is Eliza," he stated, leaning back in his chair.  "And I've been doing some thinking..."

"Was."

"Sorry, *was*?" a puzzled Josh asked.

"You said Eliza *is* my mother..." she took a deep breath, "Mum died not quite a year ago."

"Eliza... really?  I mean well, it's not something you'd say if it... really?" he faltered.  "But she was only... hell we were the same age."

"Yes," she replied sadly.

"I'm sorry to hear that, she was a...  you know, you look a little bit like her," Josh added.

"I know, but she told me I looked a bit like my father..."

Josh ran a hand through his hair.  The inevitable had arrived.

"I am aren't I?  Actually, you look a lot like my sister Joanie.  You reminded me of her when I saw you standing in the doorway," he stated.  Josh reached across the front of his desk and picked up the picture of his sister, taken not long before she died.  "That's when I knew... I knew who you were." 

"Mum told me you were my father, not long before she... and I don't have any reason to believe she was making it up," Em replied calmly.  "I mean I knew 'Dad' really wasn't.  I've always known that.  I remember when I was little thinking that I was adopted until I totally understood the concept that Mum was actually my mother, but that Dad wasn't really my father."

"So you have known about me since..." Josh started as he placed the photo back in its place.

"When you were hurt, it was all over the news in London," Em replied.  "We were watching the news together... just before she got really bad.  She had cancer.  She'd battled it for years, it had been in remission but..."

"It's okay, I understand.  I lost my father after a long battle with it too," he added.

"It's a horrible, horrible thing isn't it... well," she took a deep breath.  "We were watching the news and when they said your name... she went sort of strange.  She got me to change the news channel and find out if another bulletin would say the name again, in case she heard wrong the first time.  And when it did on the second bulletin and they had a picture of you...  she recognized you."

"Slow news week in the U.K. huh?" he said with a half laugh.  "And she... you didn't know about me at that stage?"

"As I said, I knew there *was* a *you* obviously, I just didn't know who and it never really came up in conversation.  I never liked to ask, I figured she would tell me when she was comfortable to tell me.  Anyway, after she saw your picture on the news, she called Dad in and told him that it was time I knew the truth.    She said you could have died and not known... and I would have missed the chance to know you.  So she told me everything."

How much *everything* did she tell you?" he replied raising an eyebrow.

"Just that you were in England on some sort of scholarship program and she met you at University.  She said she had listened you debate some unsuspecting soul into the ground.  When the other guy had scurried away, she said you were, as you *still* put it 'da man.' She said you guys barely left each others side after that."

"She used to tell me I was 'da man.'  And yeah, it was a shocking accent she tried to use the first time," he laughed.  "She'd watched to many American gangster movies I think."

"She also said her parents weren't impressed she was seeing you?" continued Em.

Josh chuckled, "No, they were fairly pi... they weren't impressed that she was interested in some 'self opinionated, brash American' who would 'only break her heart.'  Well, they were putting her through University so we decided to make it *look* like we broke up.  But well..."

"She told me.  She said when it was time for you to leave, you wanted her to go with you, or that you would come back."

"She wouldn't, she said it was better to end it... us, because I still had so much to do," added Josh.

"You were going to Yale and study law," she told me.  "Looks like you did better than that."

"I did study law. Graduated even, but this, this is definitely bigger.  Your mother had her degree; she wanted to travel to Egypt and study anthropology over there, go on and do her thesis.  Did she?  I mean if you..."

"No, she dropped out of University after you left.  Her parents, my grandparents, - they didn't want her to have me.  They were willing to pay for her to go and have... get rid of me... but well, obviously she didn't because I am still here," she smiled.  "She refused to tell them who my Dad was, they didn't know you were still seeing each other.  They refused to help her, so she left.  She never really had anything to do with them after that.  She went to London and got a research job for a little while.  Sometime after I was born, she met Dad."

"And he became 'da man'."

"I never heard her call Dad that.  She loved Dad, but I guess there was always a little piece - I guess because of me."

"If I had known Em, honestly..."

She held her hand up to stop him.  "It's okay, I know.  Mum knew too.  She said if you had known about me, you would have wanted to stay or bring her back here.  She didn't want you to give up everything you had worked so hard for just for her.  She said it was best this way."

"So you decided to..."

"I'm not here to cause you any trouble - really.  I could never, I'm just here to say hello."

"Does your ahhh... *Dad* know you are here?" he asked.

"He put me on the plane.  Dad understood this was something I really had to do.  I think he'd been waiting for it for so long, it was inevitable when it finally happened."

"Okay... well, how long are you here for?" Josh queried.

"A week.  I'm on break before I start University.  Ah... can I just say at this point well, you're taking this much better than I expected?  I mean, out of the blue I wander in here and well, I know you are important... you could have just had me thrown me out.  You seem sort of okay about this?  I would have expected that you would have demanded proof.  I even brought things, photos and stuff to try and convince you of..." she rambled as she started searching through her bag.

"Em... stop.  You don't have to.  Look, I know most people would think I was an idiot for not demanding 'proof' - hey there are plenty of people who think I am an idiot anyway... but, I know Eliza wouldn't have told you something that wasn't true, and well... as I said, you look too much like Joanie for it *not* to be true.  I guess I have had the past two hours to think about it while I was up on the Hill."

"I thought you were beating a congressman into submission?" she smiled.

"I was, but I am very multi-skilled," he replied.

"Hmm, not what your Assistant says," she chucked.

"Okay... we will have to discuss what my Assistant has told you.  If it's good, then half of it is probably true..."

"And if it's bad?" Em asked.

"Well it's probably *all* true!" he laughed.

"So it's okay?" Em asked tentatively.

"Very okay... but I *do* want to see these photos," he replied.  "I don't know where the few I had disappeared to."

"Sure... over dinner?" she smiled.

"Dinner, yes!  DONNA!" Josh yelled.

Em jumped in fright at his raised voice, Josh noticed.

"Sorry, this is the only way to get her attention," Josh grinned.

"You couldn't use say an intercom?" Em asked.

"Yeah I could, but this is more fun!" he chuckled.

The door opened.  "You hollered?" Donna asked.

"Hollered?  Oh, now is *that* a Wisconsin word?" smirked Josh.

"Only if the expression 'justifiable homicide' is as well," Donna deadpanned.

"No, I think that would be a Washington expression.  Pertaining to Capital Hill more than likely," he continued.

"Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"What?"

"*What* what?"

"What did you call me for!" she complained.

"Oh yeah... that," he grinned.  "How did you go with the reservations?"

"Seven-thirty okay?" she replied.

"Perfect, thanks Donna."

Oh, thought Donna, another sincere thank you.  At this rate she was wondering whether she would have to make an appointment for him with Stanley.

"Nothing else Josh?" she asked as she started to close the door.

"What time is it?" he asked.  "Since you won't let me set my watch."

"It wouldn't matter if you set your watch Josh," she replied opening the door again slightly, "it still won't keep time after anything more than half an hour."

"Good watch?" Em asked.

"I like the look of it," Josh replied pulling at his sleeve a little to show her.  "Actually, funny you should mention it, but you want to know who gave it to me?"

"I know the answer to that one don't I?" Em smiled.

"Yep," he grinned.  "'cept it doesn't keep time anymore, but I like it.  So, Donna... what time is it please?"

Donna looked down at her watch, "It's nearly quarter to six."

"Go home Donna.  See you in the morning," replied Josh.

Donna looked at him in surprise.  "Okay, who are you and what have you done with my boss?" she quipped.

"Don't be like that Donna, or I will make you stay.  You'll have Em thinking I'm some sort of tyrant," he replied.

"Not arguing with either of those statements, I'm leaving!" she laughed.  "Em... it was nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Em replied.  "Maybe I might see you again before I go?"

"More than likely," Josh added.

Donna nodded and headed out the door.

~*~*~

Donna was just debating whether to go to bed when her phone started ringing.  She pushed the magazine off her lap onto the sofa and hit the mute button on the television before getting up and answering the phone.

"Hello?"

"Donna."

"Josh?  What are you doing phoning me?" she complained.  "Don't tell me you went back to the office after dinner... Josh, you said I could knock off work for the day.  It might be dark outside, but it *is* still today!"

"Relax Donna," came his cheery reply.  "I just walked Em back to her hotel, I'm home and I just thought I would call you and say *hi*"

"Say Hi?  Have you been drinking Joshua?" she questioned suspiciously.

"No, I have *not* been drinking," he replied.

"So, you really just called to say hi?" she repeated.

"Really.  Em is so... Um, this thing with Em.  I should have told you before you left today.  You are my... friend and I should tell you." he rambled.

"Josh, you don't have to tell me, okay?  I think... actually I already know.  She looks like you Josh and well, there's a photo of your sister on your desk that I really noticed today.  You were expecting her mother weren't you?" Donna asked.  "That's who Eliza is."

"Was Donna, apparently Eliza died last year," came the solemn reply.  "I didn't know about her Donna.  If I had known about her, you know... I would have been there for her and her mom.  I'm not a total bastard."

"Of course you would have Josh.  I don't doubt that for a second!  Now you've both got a lot of catching up to do.  I will try and see if I can move your schedule around.  Free up a bit of time for you," she replied.

"She's only here for a week Donna, so that would be great if you could," he replied, now sounding tired.  "It's been one hell of a day."

"Consider it done.  Now, I was about to go to bed and utilize the extra hours of sleep you granted me.  Good night Josh," she replied.

"Night... Oh Donna!  You still there?"

Donna fumbled at for the phone, almost hanging up.

"Yes Josh?"

"Sorry I almost forgot..."

"What Josh?"

"I'm someone's father and it's not such a bad feeling."

"You're really okay about this aren't you?" she said with a smile.

"Yeah, you know... I surprise even myself sometimes," he chuckled.

"Goodnight Joshua."

"Night."

~*~*~

"Okay Josh!" CJ blasted as she stormed into his office.  "Tell me, exactly how stupid *are* you?"

Josh looked up from the report he was studying.

"You don't think the tie goes with the shirt?" he quipped, hoping to defuse whatever it was that he had done that CJ was so damn mad about - especially *this* early in the morning.

"Fuck the tie Josh, what the hell were you thinking?" she shrieked.

Josh looked at her seriously.  It wasn't often that she uttered expletives at him, and certainly not when his office door was wide open for all and sundry to hear her.

"Close the door CJ, *then* tell me what the hell your problem is?" he stated.

She turned and slammed the door closed behind her.

"In any other job it wouldn't *be* my problem if the people I work with couldn't control themselves... but in *this* job it becomes my problem when someone from the press corps comes whispering in my ear!" she replied angrily.

"Okay CJ, we're gonna back it up here a bit.  Would you mind telling me what the hell this is about?" Josh asked, starting to get annoyed with the decibel level that was being leveled at him.

"For Christ sake Josh, you were seen last night!  First you don't have the sense to take her somewhere that the press wouldn't see you, and then you had the stupidity to take her to some damn hotel!  Who the hell is she?  Some tidbit you picked up from somewhere!"

"Back it up right there CJ!  This conversation is *not*, I repeat *not* going to happen.  Who she is, quite frankly is nobody's business!" he snapped.  "And if I *ever* hear you come in here, accusing me of something you know *nothing* about..."

"Don't give me that crap Josh, you know damn well that you are the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Whitehouse!  What you do affects everyone around here.  If you can't keep it in your pants for five damn minutes..."

"Claudia Jean!  Hell... I love ya CJ, but you're skating so close to the edge. Yes, I *am* Deputy Chief of Staff.  So many people around here seem to forget that," he yelled as he stood and round the desk so he was now standing toe to toe with her.  "Do you know what that means CJ?  I'll tell you what that means... it means that if Leo aint here, I'm Acting Chief of Staff.  I'm the guy. I am the guy who has the say around here..."

"Josh I..."

"Just shut up CJ, I'm not done yet," he yelled.  "Now if the press want a comment, you know what to say.  The same thing that you say any other time. 'We do not discuss the private lives of the people who work at the Whitehouse' end of story!  I know you've always said, 'you're the first call' but I will *not* have you, or anyone else for that matter, try and put a 'spin' on anything I damn well do!  You might want to pass that message on to Toby and Sam if you feel the need."

He walked back around to his chair and sat down, pulling a file from across his desk.

He looked up, "This conversation is over CJ, close the door on the way out!"

CJ was still reeling from the tirade from Josh as she left his office.  She found Donna standing on the other side of the door when she closed it, along with other workers in the general vicinity all looking in their direction.

"You heard?" CJ asked.

"Yes," Donna cringed.

"I swear I've never..." CJ started, still shell-shocked.  "I mean, didn't he *think* someone would see him."

"I made the reservation for him CJ, honestly... what anyone thought was the last thing on his mind," Donna replied.

CJ gave a maniac chuckle, "You did what?  Hell at least Sam found one that was over the age of consent!  From what I hear about *this* one, Josh is almost old enough to be her father!"

"Funny you should say that CJ..."

Donna doubted that she should really be the one to say anything, but she soon recognized that this was a train on a collision course if something wasn't done.  Friendships that had been built up over several years were at risk of disintegrating.  Donna pulled CJ aside so they were out of earshot and sight of anyone else in the office.

"Funny I should say what?  Because at the moment Donna, I don't find much about this funny at all." replied CJ.

"That Josh is..."

"What old enough to be her father?  Well from the questions I have been..."

"There's a good reason for him to be 'old enough'" replied Donna, dancing around the edge of the discussion without actually having to say anything.

"What Donna?  What possible good reason would there be for that..." CJ stopped mid sentence as the penny finally dropped.

"Perhaps because he is?" Donna asked quietly.

"Oh my God.  You honestly mean that, Josh is... the young woman is...  Oh my God, I just accused him of... and she's his..."

"Yes, we all know what you accused him of, and well now, I guess you can understand why that accusation didn't sit very well with him," Donna replied.

"Why didn't he just tell me?  He knows how it works.  I'm the first call.  I'm the one who needs to be told so I can stop the press thinking...  Oh hell, I have to go in there and apolo..." started CJ as she stepped towards Josh's office, before Donna held her back.

"I don't think it would be a good time right at this moment to go back in.  Give him some time to cool off," Donna warned.

"Yeah, I guess," she replied before straightening her shoulders.  "I've got to get ready for the 10 o'clock where I am going to tell people that 'we don't comment on the private lives of the people within the Whitehouse.'"

"Okay... bye CJ," Donna replied as the Press Secretary left.

Donna took a deep breath and decided to brave Josh.

"Josh?" Donna queried after she knocked and gently opened his door.

His face was resting in his hands as his elbows leaned on the desk. 

"Josh?" she continued as she entered the office and closed the door behind her.

"Don't worry," Josh finally said, looking up at Donna.  He looked like hell she thought as she watched him pinched the bridge of his nose, obviously warding off a headache.  "I'll apologize to her."

"Why?" she asked.

"Why?" he questioned.

"Yes Josh, why?  Was any of what you said not true?" Donna asked.

"To be honest, I don't remember everything I said," he replied leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes.  "I was just so damn..."

"Angry?  Yes we heard.  And no, I can safely say that there was nothing you said to her that wasn't true," Donna replied.

"You heard?  We were that loud huh?" he sighed.

"Josh they probably heard you over on the Hill."

"I'm so gonna get fried for this," he replied.

"Josh... you were right.  And I'm so guilty too," said Donna sitting down in the chair opposite Josh.

"Guilty?  Of what Donna?" he asked giving her a puzzled frown.

"Of not showing you the respect that I should," she replied fidgeting.  "You *are* the Deputy Chief of Staff and I guess we *all* need to be reminded of the fact."

"Okay... do you think you could go out to the office across from here?  My assistant Donna Moss has a desk there.  Get her, bring her here before turning yourself over to the Secret Service guys outside the Oval Office," he stated without blinking.

"Josh, I'm trying to..."

"No Donna... don't give me that.  You *have* to boss me around, you're my assistant.  I rely on you to keep me grounded.  I couldn't do this without you... you gotta know that," he declared.

"But..."

"No buts Donna.  The day you start treating me any different to the way you always have, is the day I know I am losing it.  Unless of course you want to start bringing me coffee, that I could handle," he grinned.

"And we both know it'll be a cold day in hell when that happens," she replied.

"Well I could only..." started Josh when he was interrupted by the phone.  Donna reached over and answered it.

"Josh Lyman... yes... yes... I'll let him know," she said before hanging up.  "Um Josh that was Margaret, Leo..."

"He wants to see me?"

"Yes, he's ahh... in the Oval Office with the President."

"Well it was nice working with you Donna.  I'll be sure to give you a good reference," he quipped as he stood and headed for the door.

"Josh..."

"Yeah?"

"Tell 'em that if you go, I go too," she smiled.

"It might just work, Donna.  They could do without me, but they *know* they couldn't do without you."

"Well, we won't have to find out because you didn't do anything wrong Josh," she replied.

"I'm expecting Em in around one for lunch. She said she enjoyed your company yesterday.  Thanks for staying with her.  You can join us if you want.  We're just going to grab something here and enjoy the sunshine.  But if they kill me..."

"She's nice Josh, I'd like that.  Don't worry, I'll be sure to let her know where to take the flowers if you don't come back," Donna smiled.

"Thanks."

***

Josh headed to the Oval office.  Charlie was sitting outside and motioned to Josh to go straight in.

"You wanted to see me?" Josh asked calmly as he closed the door behind him, noting that Leo was alone.

Leo stood up on his arrival.  He looked tired Josh thought.

"Take a seat Josh," said Leo calmly.

Josh did as he was told, and sat in the offered chair.

There was silence.

The door from the residence opened and the President entered.

"Sir," Josh said as he stood.

"Sit Josh, I believe we have a situation," the President replied.

"Sir, Leo... look I'm sorry I came down on CJ like I did..."

"Forget that.  She'll get over it.  Quite frankly I'm surprised it has taken this long before you tried to make them realize just where your place is with this administration.  So, listen for a minute Josh.  I am led to believe that I have gained a granddaughter?" Jed Bartlet asked.

"Sir?" queried Josh.

"Well after having three daughters, I've always looked on you as the son I never had.  If you were just some guy working here, with all the grief you cause, I would have kicked you out after the 'secret plan to fight inflation!'  You know I *still* think that was pretty dumb," Bartlet joked.

"Sir, how did you find out that...?" Josh asked.

"Josh, he is the leader of the most powerful country in the world.  He has the CIA, the FBI the Secret Service all under his control.  How do you *think* he found out?" Leo quizzed.

"Actually CJ told me.  Apparently after you did your block at her, Donna gave her a heads up on this," the President added.

"Of course that's how he found out," muttered Leo.  "Who needs the CIA, FBI, Secret Service..."

"And?" Josh asked.

"And, CJ is going to her ten o'clock and tell them to back off that we don't comment of the private lives of our staff," stated Leo.

"But you know it won't stop there don't you Josh," said the President.

"She's only here for a week Sir, can't they just back off?" complained Josh.

"Josh, I hate to ask, but I think I'm going to have to get some details," Leo asked.

Josh nodded and sighed.  "Her mother and I were together while I was in England - remember, Fullbright scholar."

"When do you let us forget it," chuckled Leo.

"It wasn't a fling, Sir.  It was real.  But she had her life.  I didn't know about Em, Eliza never told me and we had mutually gone our separate ways before I came home.  Eliza died last year.  I don't want Em subjected to any of this crap."

"I agree, she's been through enough at her age," Bartlet replied.  "So I think the best way to settle this is for them to know Josh.  I'm going to give the press corp. a brief 'informal' chat before CJ's ten o'clock.  This is what I want to tell them Josh.  That you have been blessed at this point in your life with the knowledge that you have a seemingly healthy, happy, well adjusted - and only God knows how you managed the last one - teenage daughter who you are just getting to know.  Then I'll invoke my 'this is my family' rule and that will be the end of it!"

"You?  You'd do that?  I don't know what to...," Josh smiled, visibly relieved.

"There is a condition on this Josh," the President added.

Josh swallowed, "And that would be?"

"I'd like to meet my new granddaughter if I could?" he asked with a grin.

Josh smiled back.  "She'll be here around one to have lunch with Donna and myself.  Her name is Emmeline, although she prefers Em."

"So what's it like Josh?" asked Leo.

"Strange," said Josh reflectively.

"What were you going to do for lunch?" the President asked.

"We were just going to grab something from the mess, and go for a walk outside.  I have a meeting at two," Josh replied.

"May I suggest that you might like to give me a call when you get to the strolling part, and I will join you," the President remarked as he stood.

Josh also rose to his feet.  "Thank you Sir, I look forward to it and I am sure she will too."

"Leo, I'm going up to the residence for a bit... might find a nicer tie for the press gathering.  I have one given to me by Lizzie when she was just a kid.  It makes I nice statement," grinned the President.

"Oh please, not the green one?" cringed Leo.

The President smiled, "Yes exactly the green one.  I love that tie."

"You love a green tie?" asked Josh curiously.

"Well no, to be honest, I hate the tie... but I love it when I can phone Elizabeth and say 'hey... guess what sweetheart?  Remember the special tie you gave me when you were 12, I wore it today to a meeting with the press', that's what I love," he smiled and headed out of the office.

"Do you want to sit in on the ten o'clock?" Leo asked Josh as they watched the President leave.

"Nah... after this morning with CJ, I think I will keep out of her way," he replied as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Funny, I think she was probably thinking the same thing!" Leo laughed.  "Honestly Josh, you had a point.  Might not have been the best way to get it across to a staff member..."

"I'll try to keep my temper a bit better next time Leo," Josh replied.

"No you won't, we both know you better than that.  You have a passion that unleashes, no matter what the fight or cause.  We just have to keep channeling it in a positive direction."

"Thanks Leo," Josh smiled.

"Now, back to work!" Leo commanded as he swatted Josh on the arm.

"Going back," replied Josh with a smirk as he headed out the door.

"Oh and Josh, do you think perhaps I could meet this young lady at some stage of the week as well?" Leo asked.

"How about dinner with us tomorrow night?  My place, I'll cook," Josh replied.

"You're cooking?  I think it'll be worth it just to see you in a kitchen!  You're place does have a functioning kitchen doesn't it?" he joked.

"Just for that I'm gonna make you do the dishes!" Josh laughed as he disappeared down the hallway.

**********

When Donna returned from running messages, she found Josh already back in his office.

"Well you're not packing your stuff, so I take it all is well with Leo?" she asked as she took a seat opposite him.

"Yeah, the President is even going to talk to the press and tell them to back off," Josh replied, leaning back in his chair.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I know," Josh replied.

"Well, they'll listen to him.  If not, he'll revoke their credentials and it'll be the last White House report they get to file for a long time," Donna added.

"You know she promised him she'd ring every day," said Josh, changing the subject.  "Her *dad*, everyday while she's here."

"Well, she's only young Josh.  She's by herself in another country.  I bet he's worried about her.  She likes him to know she's okay, and well... she probably misses him too.  You'd want her to do the same if it was you."

"That's just it Donna, it should have been me," he replied.

"Yes Josh, but it's not.  And you can't change that so there's no point beating yourself up over it."

"I never thought that much about being a, you know, father.  But now that I sort of am, well..."

"Sort of Josh?"

"Okay, well... I wonder if I'll get to do it properly one day.  I'm probably outta time at my age."

"I'm sure you will Josh."

"You think so?"

"I know.  I can picture you with little kids of your own Josh.  It's a nice picture."

"Really?"

"Yes I could.  But as much as I would love to stand here and play house with you, because goodness knows the guttering is full of leaves and the front lawn needs raking too, you've got... two minutes to be in Sam's office."

"Well okay *dear*, just make sure my dinner is on the table when I get home."

"Don't be so obtuse!"

"Or what?" he laughed.

"Go!  Get out of here!"

"This is my office Donna," he replied.

"Yes, but you're late."

"Going!" he laughed.

~*~

Josh wandered from Sam's office after the meeting.  Although he felt he had spent more time refereeing the verbal assaults between Toby and Sam, rather than discussing the wording for the presidents environment proposal, and he still had to listen to them do it all over again later in the day.

"Hey Josh!"

"CJ.  How did the 10 o'clock go?"

"Fine.  Do you have time to walk with me for a bit?" she asked as she fell into step with him.

"Always time for you Claudia Jean."

"Don't do that," she replied.

"What?"

"Sound so civil to me.  I really don't deserve that."

"Hey CJ really..."

"No Josh," she said as she stopped him in the hallway.  "I should have asked.  It was unprofessional of me to just storm into your office, angry as hell..."

"Yes, you were a bit angry.  I noticed that.  And to think Donna says I don't pay enough attention to..."

"Josh!  Look, what I wanted to say was that I'm really..."

"Don't CJ.  We *both* wandered off the reservation there for a bit - but it's fine - really."

"Okay then, so 'Pops' what's it like?"

"You know," he grinned, "this isn't the first time I've been asked, but I can't come up with anything better than 'I don't know'.  I mean, its' not like I contributed to her life in any way, shape or form."

"Accept for the... well you know... obvious..." she replied.

"Well, yeah obviously *that* because, like biologically speaking of course... but she calls some other guy Dad.  I think I'll be okay with that 'though," he added as they started walking again.  "I just hope that we can be friends or something I guess."

"You are a good friend to so many.  I'm sure you will be to her," smiled CJ.

"Yeah, I hope."

"You'd be a pretty good Dad too," she laughed.  "You're definitely got the protective mode happening."

"You know, Donna said the same thing," he replied.  "She said I'd be good at it."

"Donna said?" questioned CJ.

"Yes, but she didn't have time to play house with me so I guess I missed out there too," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Playing house?  With you?"

"Yeah CJ... is there an echo in here?" he replied.

"She didn't want to?  Gee, I can't imagine why not?" CJ said with a sarcastic laugh.

"Strange, perhaps it was the visions of half a dozen miniature versions of me running around that spooked her?" he pondered with a half smirk.

"Really?" laughed CJ.

"More the fact that he'd expect me to bring coffee," Donna chipped in appearing from nowhere.

"Donna!  I really wish you'd stop sneaking around here!" he complained as he instinctively and dramatically held his hand over his now pounding heart before continuing.  "See here... me... man who has undergone major surgery during his lifetime and shouldn't be tormented by his assistant sneaking up on him."

"I didn't *sneak up* on you Josh.  I was standing here long enough to hear what you said, so how could that be sneaking?" she asked as she handed him a file.  "You have a meeting in Leo's office in 10 minutes and I need fifty dollars."

"Okay... meeting in 10 minutes - Leo's - and *why* do you need fifty dollars?" he asked as he took his wallet from this back pocket.

"Can I have a fifty too?" asked CJ innocently.

"No," Josh replied as he took a fifty-dollar note from his wallet and handed it to Donna.  "What do you need it for?"

"The boy," she replied with a smile as she took the note from him, amazed at how easy it was.

"What boy?" asked CJ, curiously.

"Yeah?" added Josh.

"You know Josh," she replied as she turned and began to walk away with his money.