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Title: Introducing Jamie Disclaimer: The characters, excluding Jamie, belong to the West Wing and Aaron Sorkin.
Josh couldn't remember the last time he'd gone out to lunch…with a friend, not a colleague…in a restaurant, not an office…and just for fun, not for business. Truth be told, he shouldn't be doing it today-there were a million things he should be doing back at the White House. But he had never been able to tell this person "no." He was almost giddy with excitement as he stepped out of his car, taking the ticket stub from the valet. Not only was he having lunch out, he was having lunch with one of his favorite people, Jamie. Josh removed his sunglasses as he walked into the restaurant, giving his eyes only a second to adjust before he started scanning the room. The restaurant was full of people-mostly men and women in suits making sales, closing deals, or "kissing up to one another." Josh's eyes scanned from table to table until he found the one he was looking for. Jamie sat at a corner table by the window. As he made his way to her, he saw her chewing on the end of her pen as she read over a file, making notes in the margin. She was even more beautiful than he remembered, wearing a brick red suit, with her dark hair pulled back at the nape of her neck. Her simple gold earrings and necklace completed her classic outfit making her look every inch of the sophisticated lawyer she was. Josh smiled as he made his way to her table. Sensing his approach, Jamie looked up and smiled when she saw her old friend. Feeling every bit as excited as Josh, Jamie stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck as they enveloped each other in a fierce hug, unaware and uncaring of the glances from the other patrons. "Jamie, it is so good to see you," Josh said, holding her to him. "I've missed you so much, Josh," she replied. Josh released her from his embrace, but held both of her hands in his. "You look wonderful," he said sincerely. "So do you," she replied, then took a closer look at her friend, "Well, actually you look a little tired. Is my dad working you too hard?" "Much too hard," Josh informed her as he pulled out her chair then took his own. He leaned up on the table and smiled at her, "It really is good to see you. Do you realize it's been almost a year?" "I know," she said guiltily, "And I'm sorry. But with the move and starting the new job…" He interrupted, "Assistant District Attorney for the city. Congratulations." "Thank you." She said with a smile. "How do you like it?" He asked. "It's great," she began, "but I was handed a backlog of work on my first day and I haven't been able to get caught up." They are interrupted by the waiter who brings them their drinks-iced tea for Jamie and club soda with lime for Josh. Josh looked at her, pleasantly surprised, "You remembered." "Of course I remembered," She said matter-of-factly, "I had many meals with you during the campaign." They continue to reminisce through lunch. As they were finishing up, Josh leaned back in his chair and looked at Jamie. "So James, what's the real reason you wanted to have lunch?" "What?" she asked innocently. "Isn't it enough that I missed an old friend?" Josh narrowed his eyes at her, "You've been here for almost six months and this is the first time I've heard from you." Jamie looked down at her napkin, not willing to look him in the eyes, "I told you-I've been too busy to see anyone." Josh continued, "And why did we meet here? Why didn't you want come to the White House? Sam and Leo would love to see you too. Not to mention your parents. What's up Jamison?" Jamie cut her eyes at him, "Don't look so smug." Josh smiled and covered her hand with his own, "What gives Brown Eyes?" "I have a little problem…" Jamie began. "Are you pregnant?" "What?" Jamie couldn't believe he just asked that. "What do you think I am? Some irresponsible teenager?" "It was the first thing that came to mind," Josh said defensively. "And you really think I would come to you with that problem?" Josh was hurt. "Why not? We used to talk about a lot of personal stuff on the late night drives on the campaign bus. I can be a sensitive and caring guy when I want to be." Jamie just shook her head. "Then what is it?" She removed some papers out from her bag and handed them to Josh. "These started coming to the office about a month ago." Josh scanned them quickly, then went back to read them closer. "These are threats!" "And that's why they're a problem," she explained. Josh immediately became concerned. "What's being done about them?" "The police are investigating," she told him, "But when the last one mentioned me by name, my boss thought I should tell the Secret Service about them." "You haven't told the Secret Service?" he growled, "Not even your details?" "They came to the office," she explained, "not my home." Josh was angry at her uncaring attitude, "Jamie, you have to take these things seriously. Or don't you remember what happened last year?" "Yes, Josh," she said through tight lips, "I remember it all too well. But these were not directed at the daughter of the president. They were directed to the District Attorney's Office." "And this last one," he held up, "is directed at you personally." "But as an ADA," she replied, exasperated. Realizing that fighting with her is useless, Josh tried to get control of his emotions. "You should still tell someone." "I'm telling you," she reminded him. She knew that Josh was only concerned for her well-being, but she was frustrated at being made to feel like a child. "We have to tell the Secret Service," he said patiently, "They are in charge of protecting you and need to know stuff like this." "I know," she told him, then looked at him sweetly, "I was just hoping we could do it without my father finding out." "He's your father; He needs to know." "No he doesn't, Josh," she pleaded, "He has too much stress on him as it is." He tried to ignore her big brown eyes, "I don't know Jamie…" "Josh, you know how he'll react." "Yeah, I know exactly how he'll react," he agreed, "He'll be scared for you like I am now." "And then he'll call in the marines and have them all over my house and office," she told him. Knowing she was probably right, Josh relented. "Okay, I won't tell your father-yet. But I am going to the Secret Service. And you're going to do whatever they suggest." She smiled at him, "Thank you." Josh covered her hand with his and put a serious note in his voice and expression, "I mean it Jamie; you have to promise me you'll be careful. Keep your agents with you at all times and none of this slipping away from them like you enjoy doing." "Okay," she agreed. He continued, "And you have to let me know what's going on. If you get another threat directed at you or if anything else like this happens, you're to call me immediately." She tried to mirror his narrowing eyes and furrowing brow, "Yes sir." "I'm serious," he told her with more than a hint of frustration in his voice, "You have to promise me or the deal's off." "I promise Josh," she told him sincerely. Josh leaned back in his chair, exhaling loudly, "You Bartlets are going to be the death of me yet." She smiled at him, "You love us and you know it." Josh shook his head as he threw some bills on the table. He stood up then pulled her chair out. "Come on. I came all the way out here so the least you can do is show me where you work." He casually put his arm over her shoulders as they left the restaurant. The following afternoon Jamie walked through the West Wing. Sam was working at his desk but looked up and saw her walk past his office. "Jamie," he shouted, running out of his office to greet her. She stopped and turned, seeing him just as he embraced her in a hug, "Sam! It's so good to see you. I've missed you." "I've missed you too," he told her, pulling back to look at her. "Josh told me he had lunch with you yesterday and I got very jealous." "Don't be," she said as she played with his tie, "You're my favorite." This brought a smile to Sam's face. "Good. Be sure to tell that to Josh." Jamie frowned at the mention of Josh's name. "You'll have to tell him. I'm not speaking to him." "Why?" Sam asked her. "What happened?" She rolled her eyes as she thought about it. "I'll fill you in later. Right now, I have to go see my father. I was summoned." Sam, knew he was missing something, but decided it was probably better that he didn't know what it was. "Okay. Why don't you stop by my office when you're through and I'll take you out for a drink? You can tell me all the reasons why I'm better than Josh." "Okay," Jamie agreed and kissed his cheek. As she started walking to her father's office, she mumbled, "If they'll let me out of this place." "What?" Sam asked. "Nothing," she told him, "I'll see you later." Jamie rounded the corner to the Oval Office and walked up to Mrs. Landingham's desk. "Hi Mrs. Landingham." Mrs. Landingham looked up from her work and greeted Jamie with a warm smile. "Jamie. It's good to see you. I heard about your new job. Congratulations." "Thank you." Jamie tried to be cheerful, but it was hard knowing what she was about to face. "My dad wanted to see me. Is he in?" "Yes," Mrs. Landingham told her, "And he told me to send you in the moment you got here." That figures, Jamie thought to herself. "Thanks," she tells Mrs. Landingham. She looked at the door and forced herself to take a deep breath and put a smile on her lips before she opened the door to the Oval Office. "Hi Daddy," she greeted her father cheerfully. The president looked at his daughter-this daughter who had put more gray hairs on his head than the other two daughters combined. "Hello daughter," he greeted her, with a frown. Jamie tried to ignore the frown as she walked over to him and kissed his cheek. "We need to have a talk," he told her. How many of their conversations had begun with those words, both father and daughter wondered. Jamie turned to a friendlier face, "Hi Leo," she said before giving him a hug. "Hi sweetie," Leo greeted her, lovingly. "I'm in big trouble huh?" she whispered. "No conspiring with your godfather," the President called out before Leo could reply. The president then pressed his intercom, "Mrs. Landingham will you please ask Josh to come in here." The President leaned against his desk and Jamie and Leo sat down in chairs. The President's eyes bore down on his daughter, "Is there something you want to tell me?" "Daddy, it's really not a big deal," she tried to keep her voice calm. "Threatening letters are not a big deal?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm. Jamie quickly decided she needed to act just as authoritative as her father and slipped into lawyer mode, "That's all they are-threats. The police are tracking down…" She was interrupted by Josh's entrance into the office. Josh took in the scene and an impending feeling of doom washed over him. "You wanted to see me sir?" he asked the President. "Yes," the President told him. "Have a seat." Josh took the seat next to Jamie. Jamie looked over at him and whispered, "Traitor." Before Josh could respond, the President's head snapped up, "What? Josh you knew about this?" Jamie got a surprised look on her face and turned to Josh, "You didn't tell him?" "No. I told you I wouldn't." He couldn't believe that she didn't take him at his word. "I didn't tell anyone except the head of the Secret Service and he swore he wouldn't tell anyone." Jamie was confused. "But you were the only one who knew besides the people in my office and the police, and they certainly wouldn't tell him." She looked at her father, "How did you find out? "Now look," the President began, "I'm asking the questions here and I want to know why YOU didn't tell me?" "I had a silly idea that you might over react," she said sarcastically. "Overreact?!" he said with a raised voice. "Do I need to remind you what happened the last time threats were made against one of my daughters?" "These were not made against your daughter; they were made against the assistant district attorney," she said, matching her father's raised voice. "One and the same," he replied sternly. Jamie grabbed the arms of her chair in exasperation. "They weren't made because of your job, Daddy, they were made because of mine!" The President knew she was right, but didn't want to admit it. He started pacing around the room, "Who's making the threats?" "We aren't sure yet," she replied, not quite sure what her father was planning. She thought she would have to argue with him a bit more before he saw things her way. "Well who could it be?" he asked her impatiently. "It could be anyone," she told him. "I may have only had the job six months, but I've made quite a few convictions in that time. And apparently someone is mad about one of them." His daughter was trying to make light of this and he didn't like it. "I'm upping your details." He walked behind her. "No, you're not," Jamie said. He stopped pacing and looked at her, "Excuse me." "I said no you're not!" She replied, standing and turning to face him. She then saw the look in his eyes, and quickly added, "Sir." She was tempted to sit back down but decided she had to hold her ground if she was going to win this battle. "They've increased the security in our office and the secret service men still hang out wherever I go. They've been informed of the threats and they're working with the city police. They don't need the President butting in." "Jamie," Leo said in a calming voice, "Give your dad a break. He's just acting like any father would." She wouldn't give an inch, "Most fathers don't have the national guard at their disposal." The President looked at his daughter in frustration, "You've always been too sassy, young lady." "It comes from poor upbringing I suppose," Jamie said with a hint of a grin, feeling victory within her grasp. The President made a subconscious decision to take his frustration out on Josh. He turned to him, "You knew about this and you didn't tell me?" "I…," Josh started. Jamie interrupted, "I made him promise not to Daddy." "I did pass all of the information on to the Secret Service, Mr. President," Josh explained. "And they're going to keep me informed about everything." Leo tried to bring peace, "It looks like everything's being handled, Sir. There's nothing more you can do." The President didn't say anything for a moment, then looked at Josh, "And you'll let me know if they find out anything." "Of course, sir," Josh told him. The President knew he was overreacting. He knew his daughter was a grown woman. He knew Josh had everything under control. And he also knew there was nothing more to say. "Okay," he finally spoke. Then he looked at his daughter, with a frown on his face, but a gleam in his eye. "Get out of here. Go see your mother." Jamie smiled at her father. "Thanks Dad," she told him and kissed his cheek before she left the men alone. "I don't like this," the President said aloud to both Leo and Josh. Leo tried to reassure him, "Everything is being done. She'll be fine." "I still don't like it," the President said emphatically. "I don't either," Leo replied honestly. Josh looked up at the president, "Sir, if you didn't know I knew, why did you call me in here?" "I was going to ask you to handle this situation," the President told him as he went to sit down behind his desk, "But I see my daughter beat me to it." Josh, knew that he was pushing his luck, but still curious, he asked, "And if you don't mind me asking sir, how did you find out about it?" "CJ," the President replied, "Apparently Danny heard it from someone who has a source at the police department." "I see," Josh got up to leave. "Josh," the President stopped him, "Stay on top of this. I don't have to tell you how important this is." "No sir, you don't." Josh reassured him. A few hours later, Jamie came into Josh's office. "Hi handsome," she greeted him. Josh looked up at her then looked back at his computer, not saying a word. Jamie knew she had screwed up by thinking Josh had told her dad. But Josh would forgive her, he always did. Sometimes it just took a little work. "Oh, come on Josh," she crooned, "not the silent treatment. You know you're not very good at it and I'll get you to talk eventually. Save us both the hassle. Just yell at me and then we can move on." She was right. He wasn't good at the silent treatment and he could never stay mad at her for very long. But he was going to really make her work for his forgiveness this time. He continued to stare at his computer screen. "I gave you my word," he said solemnly. "I know," she said thoughtfully, "But considering that you were the only person I told, and the day after I told you I got summoned to my father's office, what was I supposed to think?" Valid points, but he wasn't giving in just yet. "You got me into big trouble with your father." He took his hands off the keyboard, but kept his eyes on the computer screen. She did feel bad about that. "Did he yell at you after I left?" Josh considered manipulating the truth a bit, but then decided against it. Jamie could always see right through him. "No," he told her honestly, "But that doesn't mean I'm not in trouble. Your father can carry a grudge." "I know. And I'm sorry," she said sincerely. Josh tried to suppress a grin as he started back to work on his computer, "I don't know if that's good enough." Jamie moved to stand behind his chair and massaged his shoulders. "Josh, I really am sorry. Let me buy you a drink and make it up to you." Josh started caving as he closed his eyes, enjoying the massage. "I don't see you for a year and the minute you walk back into my life, I get in trouble with your father. It's like the campaign all over again." Jamie smiled, knowing that he was giving in. "Okay, drinks and dinner then." "I want steak," he told her. Jamie smiled and gave his shoulders one final squeeze. "You got it. Now, let's go. Sam's coming too." She moved from behind his chair and Josh got up and grabbed his jacket as they walked out the door. "That's another thing. What's this I hear about him being your favorite?" Jamie smiled and took his arm, "Oh. I just said that when I was mad at you." Josh grinned as they started walking towards Sam's office, "So I'm still your favorite?" Jamie sighed, "I like you and Sam equally, Josh." "Oh come on, you like me a little more don't you? You can admit it. We don't have to tell Sam." Jamie laughed at him as they continued walking. # # #
TBC
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