The Portland Trip Rewrite

Author: Anne

Disclaimer: I own nothing. bows to the folks over at NBC and Aaron Sorkin

Chapters: (1/1)

Pairing: Josh/Sam

Rating: K+

Spoilers: Some for ‘The Portland Trip’, but I think that’s all.

Summary: Josh admits his feelings for someone to Matt Skinner. Altered Timeline.

Author’s note: This is my very first attempt at writing slash. I’m mainly a J/D and S/A fan, but I decided to go out of the box and see where it would take me. Read and Review. Constructive criticism (no flames) is appreciated! Oh, and if anyone has another title…please, do tell me.

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“It passed.”

“I know.”

“It passed in the Senate…”

“I know, man!”

“…with 85 votes. 29 Democrats voted for it. It passed in the House with 342 votes. Our polling numbers are the same as yours. 60 of Americans oppose legally sanctioned gay marriage. The people want the bill. Congress wants the bill. The President needs to sign the bill.”

Joshua Lyman, Deputy Chief of Staff, sat back in his chair and sighed at the Congressman sitting across from him in the Mess of the White House; he looked down at his plate of food and said, “Public opinion can be wrong.”

Congressman Matt Skinner gave Josh a once-over and asked, “You’re taking this too personally. What are you not telling me?”

“I’m telling you public opinion can be wrong!” Josh yelled, “The public opposed interracial marriage and…”

“That’s not it, Josh. What are you not telling me?” The congressman pressed again. Josh stared at him for a beat, then suddenly got up and left the table. Matt simply got up and followed Josh back to his office and closed the door behind him.

“Josh…”

“When this bill was being discussed on the floor, some very ugly things were said about homosexuals,” Josh quietly said to him.

“Yes.”

“They were said by members of your own party. In fact, they were said by one of the guys who escorted you here tonight, who's sitting out in the lobby.

“Yes. They were.”

“Then how can you support this bill when it and they insult who we are!” Josh cried out.

“We?” Matt said, taking a step back, “Josh…you’re…who?”

“It’s…kinda complicated,” Josh admitted, sitting down in his chair.

“Does anyone else…”

“Sam.”

“Oh…” Matt understood at once, sat down, and smiled.

flashback – several days ago

“Josh, you look like someone died right in front of you,” Sam commented to Josh, after they, Toby, CJ, Leo, and the President had just finished discussing the Marriage Recognition Act, “What’s up?”

“Can I talk to you for a sec?” Josh asked, without directly looking at Sam, “In my office?”

“Sure.”

The walk to Josh’s office was quick, but the seconds felt like centuries to Josh. When they finally made it to his office, Josh told Donna not to disturb him for a while and shut his office door.

“I can’t believe that the Congress is even thinking about passing this bill,” Sam told Josh, “It’s just plain wrong. I don’t care what the law says. They’re making judgments on love and what it should or shouldn’t be.”

“Sam…I need to tell you something,” Josh paused him, “I know I’ve been acting crazy with this bill…taking it too personally, like Leo said…”

“You’re not overreacting on this Josh, and neither is the President, we…”

“Sam, I really need to tell you this…and I need you to listen to me.”

Sam was slightly taken aback, but nonetheless said, “Ok,” and sat down in one of the chairs. “Sam, I’m gay,” Josh heaved in and spoke in one great breath.

Sam looked at him for a moment, smiled, and asked, “You seem to have been holding that in for a while, why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

“Because…well…I thought…I don’t know…” Josh said, “You’re not…freaked out or anything?”

“Of course not!” Sam answered.

“Well…I think this will then,” Josh took in another great breath, “I like you.”

present day

“Call him,” Matt told him.

“What?”

“Call him,” Matt repeated.

“He’s on Air Force One! I’m only supposed to call…”

“Tell them you have a question about the wording in the bill and you need Sam to clear it up for you.”

Josh gave the Congressman a somewhat confused and puzzled look before he picked up the phone and dialed Air Force One. After a few minutes, Toby’s voice came over the phone. “Yea?”

“I need to talk to Sam about something on the bill and…what in the name of everything is going on up there?”

“The President is making CJ lead the press in a rendition of the Notre Dame fight song,” Toby chuckled.

“Damn, what I wouldn’t give to see that. Can you put Sam on?” Josh stood and started pacing around his desk.

“Yea, hold on, he’s a bit cranky…he’s not writing well,” Toby said. Josh heard a few voices and then Sam’s voice came over the phone.

“Sam,” Josh started.

“Hold on a sec, Josh,” Sam said. Josh suddenly couldn’t hear the singing anymore, so Sam must have gone somewhere quieter, “Yea.”

“You’re not writing well?”

“What about the bill?” Toby was right. Sam was cranky.

“This isn’t about the bill. I…I needed to talk to you,” Josh looked at Matt who gently nodded his head, “about the other day.”

“Me too,” Sam seemed somewhat relieved, “I think I’ve been freezing up because…Josh, I’ve been…”

“Sam, take a deep breath and start over,” Josh gave a small grin.

“Ok, I’ve been thinking about you…a lot…and I…I like you too,” Sam managed to say, “I was freezing up because I couldn’t admit it to anyone, I think myself included and…Josh…are you still there?”

Josh was grinning goofily at the Congressman, “Yea. I’m still here, buddy. Listen, you’ll get your swing back. Just relax. Got it?”

“Yea,” Sam was smiling to himself.

“We’ll do something when you get back, alright?”

“It’s sounds great,” Sam replied, “Oh, and Josh?”

“Yea?”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” And Josh hung up.

“Now you see,” Matt said, “Was that so bad? Now getting back to the bill…”

a few days later

“…and I want you all to go home and get a good rest! That’s an order!”

“Yes, Mr. President,” Toby, CJ, and Sam chimed at same time. The three went to a limo where Josh was waiting to greet them.

“So, how was the trip?” Josh asked with a smirk on his face.

“Remind me never to make a crack about Notre Dame again,” CJ sighed before ducking into the limo.

“The President was good, and now we’re all ordered to go home and sleep, or at least not be at the White House,” Toby said before he got into the car too. And last, but most certainly not least was Sam.

“Still frozen?” Josh smiled at him.

“Not a chance,” Sam countered.

“Get in this car! I want to get my stuff and go home!” Toby yelled.

“Have dinner with me?” Josh asked quietly. Sam grinned and got in the car, followed by a beaming Josh.

-Fin-

Sequel or no sequel; that is the question! Read and review, please!