Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

The Journey to Love: Love and Politics	By : sissouthernink1994 Category: S through Z > West Wing Views: 2272 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Full disclaimer below with more to follow for each chapter. This is a work of fiction. I don't own The West Wing- the building or the show. I don't know President and Mrs. Obama, I'm not getting paid for this.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
A/N: Sam’s thought regular italics, Josh’s bold print

Chapter 8: The Words of Woo

                The buses rolled into town a little after four the next morning. Everyone received their room assignments and shuffled off to catch a few more hours of sleep before the business day officially began. Sam nervously walked to his room. This time he was sharing with Tate who was interning and assisting C.J. He hoped that he wouldn’t have a repeat of the last time he roomed with Toby. Since he had the chance to write out his feelings, maybe be it wouldn’t be so bad.
Josh started his day like he normally did. He showered, dressed and was on the search for coffee. He didn’t get as much sleep as he wanted but what sleep he had gotten would have to suffice. There was a campaign to run. Josh had gotten his cup of coffee and sat at one of the tables in the dining room. He unzipped his backpack to take out his planner so he could go over the agenda for the meeting when a beige envelope fell out. He had confused look on his face as he picked it up. It didn’t look like something that belonged to him. Maybe I picked it up by accident, he thought. He turned it over and saw his name. He didn’t recognize the handwriting.
                Inside the envelope was a piece of paper and another blank envelope with another piece of paper, as if it was for a reply to an invitation. The blank envelope held a blank sheet of paper with “1R” written in a circle in the top left. The other piece of paper had a “1” written in a circle but the page was nowhere near blank. It was filled with words that were beautifully and carefully scripted. This made the handwriting hard to recognize. Josh began to read the words.

The journey to love begins with one step, so now I am taking my first.
My feelings need releasing before my heart should burst.
I can truly say that what I am feeling I have never felt before,
And my hand is shaking as I my will compels me to open the door.
And there you stand,
Unknowingly holding my heart in your hand.
As I step closer, will you step too,
As I reveal my intentions to you?
My life and love I wish to share
With you, my dear Joshua so fine.
The right path has finally shown itself and now I am well aware
Of the fine line
Between us that will be crossed, because I dare.
My fear is at bay
As I venture to say
Or ask if you will meet me half way?
This journey of love with you I wish to take,
Longing for the beautiful life we could make.
When the time is right, I will reveal my name
Until then let Love lead us in her game.
Through my words you will discover
That I want to be more than just a lover.
My heart is already thine,
And I eagerly await when yours shall be mine.

                Josh was shocked. He didn’t know what to think. Who could have sent this? A secret admirer? Doesn’t this woman know how busy I am? I don’t have time for this! I’m trying to get Bartlet elected as president. Josh reread the poem. He was trying to find a clue, one little hint about who could have given this to him. He couldn’t recognize anything. He was so engrossed in the poetry and trying to figure out its mystery sender that he didn’t even hear Toby and Leo join him at the table.

“Is that an invitation?” Leo asked as he pulled out a chair. He motioned to the dining room attendant to bring him a much-needed cup of coffee when she was available.
“What?” A bewildered Josh looked up from the page.
“What are you reading?” Toby asked.
“Uh…someone left me some love poetry.”
“Really? Who?”
“Secret admirer, I guess? I wish I knew Leo. There’s no name and I don’t recognize the handwriting.”
“May I?” Toby asked. Josh handed him the poem and sighed.
“There’s a 1 at the top of that page and an R1 at the top of this blank one. Doesn’t make sense.” Toby chuckled a little. Governor Bartlett joined the men at the table with the Secret Service not far away. The server in the dining room brought over a carafe and three coffee cups. The men thanked her as she filled their cups and refilled Josh’s.
“You are not dealing with just any secret admirer Josh. Your admirer has very skilled handwriting and a way with words.” He passed it to Leo so he could take look. “I detect extreme intelligence here too.”
“So what’s the blank page for?”
“I believe you are to write a response.”Jed replied. “It’s a woo thing.”
“A woo thing, sir?” Josh asked. “What is that?” Leo passed the paper to Jed so he could read it.
“Wooing is the art of doing creative things to win the affections of the person desired. They have sent their intentions and want you to send a response. The letters or poetry becomes a story that can be told to children and grandchildren once the couple is on their way to happily ever after.”
“A response? This woman wants me, expects me to write her a poem in the middle of an election year. If she’s on this campaign with us then she knows what my job is. I don’t even know who it is or how she put the envelope in my planner.”
“She went through a lot trouble. Maybe there are clues within the poem it self.”Leo suggested. The governor handed it back to Josh. He looked at it and shook his head.
“Even if I did write a response, how am I supposed to give it back to her?”
“That’s a very good question.” Toby said.
“I wonder who it is. Who could she be to have such close access to my stuff?” Josh thought a moment. “Donna. I bet it’s Donna.”
“It’s not Donna.” Jed stated.
“You sure?” Leo asked. “I’ve seen how nervous she can be around him.” Jed shook his head no.
“No? How do you know?” Josh asked.
“Any even better question to ask is what makes you think this was written by a woman?”Jed asked looking at Josh over the top of his glasses.
“Who else could have written it but a woman? I can’t see any men traveling with us writing something like this. And to me.”
“I have a few ideas.” Leo said. “They, like you, keep their sexuality to themselves and so far no one’s work as been affected.”
“Wait…you?” Josh whispered. “You know? How do you know? About that?”
“Josh, Noah and I were real friends. He trusted me with his fears. When you first came out to him, he called me up. He thought he might have done something wrong in raising you but after we talked, he had a better understanding. He couldn’t even talk about it with your mom at first; they talked and worked on an understanding. Seeing the man you’ve become right this moment would have made your dad so proud of you.”
“I appreciate that. Now if I could just figure out who it is.”
“The writing was tastefully done. Maybe we should hire her as a writer.” Toby teased. Jed looked at them and smiled.

“Maybe we already have.” The rest of the gentlemen showed their confusion on their faces. “Read between the lines Josh and I think you’ll discover who you should send the response to.” At that moment, Mrs. Bartlet and their youngest daughter Zoe entered. Jed looked over and stood up with his coffee cup. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have breakfast with two of my favorite ladies.” Josh sighed and placed the poem back in the envelope. He’d have to figure it out later on in the day.

                It had been a long day and Josh just wanted it to end and never comeback to his mind. He sat in a corner booth in the diner next door to the hotel. He was glad it was a 24-hour place. Finally a few moments of peace and quiet. And some comfort food. It wasn’t his mother’s pot roast and mashed potatoes but it brought a much-needed genuine smile to his face. It was late and he shouldn’t have been eating that type of heavy food so late at night, but he didn’t care- it was comforting. He took the envelope out of his planner and looked at the poetry again. A minute later C.J. joined him at the table.
“Why are you out so late?” Josh asked.
“I wanted coffee and dessert.” The waitress came over and she ordered a peach cobbler a la mode and coffee. “Besides, I’m not ready for sleep yet. As tired as my body is, I just can’t seem to turn my mind off. I’m sure there’s a great thesis project in that statement somewhere.”
“I think we’re all getting that way.”C.J. looked at Josh as he was reading the poem for probably the tenth time that day.
“Interesting read?” She asked. He shrugged.
“It is if you like being admired secretly by poetry.”
“Well, there is an upside to this day after all.”
“What are you talking about? It’s after midnight.”
“Ah, yes but until my head hits the pillow it’s still today. May I?” He passed the paper to her.
“I’m supposed to write a response but I don’t know who I’m writing to.”
“It’s very pretty.” She made a strange face as the waitress brought her cobbler and coffee.
“Is that look for dessert or the poem?”
“The poem. Something seems…familiar about a line or two.”
“Really? Familiar how, like plagiarized or something?”
“No, like something I’m heard recently.”
“Is it the words, the style?”
“No, the cadence I think.” She placed the paper on the table and turned it towards Josh. “Look here…this phrase…
As I step closer, will you step too,
As I reveal my intentions to you?
My life and love I wish to share
With you, my dear Joshua so fine.
The right path has finally shown itself and now I am well aware
Of the fine line
Between us that will be crossed, because I dare.
My fear is at bay
As I venture to say
Or ask if you will meet me half way?
The cadence seems familiar.”
“So you have an idea who wrote it?”Josh asked
“Uh…maybe. I don’t want to speculate just yet.”
“C.J. come on. I need a little help here. I don’t have a clue.”
“I think there’s a clue and I think it’s in the cadence of that phrase.”
“Even if I had the brain power to write a response, I still don’t know who it is.”C.J. thought a moment.
“When you write the response, put the envelope on our bulletin board. Besides their luggage, it’s the only thing that everyone knows the location of. Whoever it is will definitely recognize the envelope and take it. Maybe you’ll get lucky and see who it is.”
“How will I address it? And what of someone takes it?”
“It won’t get taken by the wrong person. Trust me. No one takes things from the board without knowing exactly what they are getting.” Josh yawned and shook his head.
“I’m too tired to think about it now.”
“Promise me you’ll do that at least until you find out who it is?”
“Promise.” Josh said as he took his check to the register.
                Sam was coming back from the hotel gym. It was a sleepless night for him as well. He had started to pour his heart out to Josh and he wasn’t sure how it was all going to pan out. He thought working out might tire him out a little. His heart nearly jumped out of his body when he heard Josh call out his name.
“Sam!” Oh God, Sam thought. Of all the people, I had to run into-
“Hey Josh. What are you still doing up?”
“I just left the diner next door. I could ask you the same thing.” Josh replied. Sam blushed as he scrambled for an answer. He couldn’t just say, I’ve been fantasizing about you and needed to work out some frustration. But instead, he said…
“Just working out.”
“Not working out too hard are you? You look a little flushed.”
“I’m fine Josh.” No, I’m not.
“Ok, I’m gonna go to bed.” He started to walk away and Sam was almost glad to see him go (almost) when Josh turned around. “Hey Sam, can you look at something for me?”
“Sure.” was Sam’s reply before he saw what Josh wanted him to look at. Josh handed him the poem. His poem. His heart on display. Ok, Sam. You don’t do this often, but now’s the time to play dumb. “What’s this?”
“Love poetry from a secret admirer.”
“Someone admires you?”
“Doesn’t everybody?” He replied laughing a little. “Yeah and secretly. Does any of it sound familiar to you? C.J. said the cadence around here” he said pointing to it “sounded familiar to her.” Oh my God, C.J. has read it!!
“Really?” Sam pretended to look at it. He knew it inside and out. He might be in trouble now. C.J. had a good ear for hearing things. “Just out of curiosity, who else has read it?”
“Uh…Toby, Leo, the governor.”Uh no, he thought. Well, at least I wrote it differently enough so Toby didn’t recognize it. “Bartlet thinks a man wrote it. I’m thinking a woman. Anything about it look familiar?” Sam fought everything within him to push Josh into a corner and kiss his clueless, cute behind until he got the point. But instead:
“Nope. Sorry man. Maybe something will come to you.”
“Yeah, maybe. Night Sam.”
“Night Josh.” They parted ways in the lobby.
                Once he was in bed, Josh looked at the poem again. There had to be something he was missing. He thought about the phrase C.J. mentioned. Where’s the clue? All great writers leave a clue to who they are. So my admirer, who are you? Josh read the phrase again and this time something stuck out.

The right path has finally shown itself and now I am well aware
Of the fine line
Between us that will be crossed, because I dare.

What line will be crossed? There must be a boundary between us if there is a line to cross. And what is this right path? Was there a wrong path? Maybe this person has known me a long time for there to be a line. Well, there’s Leo. Yeah, pretty sure he’s not writing me poetry. Who else…and Sam.

Was that the answer? Sam? It was starting to make sense. The fine line had to be their friendship. It had to be. Sam was daring to go from friends to lovers. And he was aware that there was a right path. Maybe Lisa was the wrong one? The risk for friends moving to lovers was a great one. What happens if they can’t remain lovers? Will the friendship return or will all feelings be lost? Now I see the dare. But he denied it? If he wrote it, why deny he’d seen it? Then the governor’s words came back to his mind. Ah, the response. He needs to know if I feel the same way. He wants me to meet him halfway. Wow. Sam has feelings for me. The revelation both humbled and shocked Josh. He didn’t know what to think. Sam thought of him in a romantic way. How did I manage that? He grabbed his planner and began to write.

                It was nearly lunchtime when Sam had a chance to go and look at the bulletin board. He grabbed the few notes he saw with his name on them and was about to leave when a parchment colored envelope caught his eye. There was no name on it but he knew it was the same brand that he’d bought. How do I get it off the board without anyone realizing it? I’m sure Josh is watching or has someone watching. Sam looked around; no one was near. He stood right in front of the envelope and removed the pushpin. He wished he had actually worn his jacket over to the board instead of it being on his arm. It would have been just perfect to slip it into his inside pocket. Instead, he slipped it into the back of his legal pad he was carrying with him. He was going to write on a few speeches while eating lunch. Instead of going to the diner next door like most of the campaigners, he decided to walk the opposite direction to the IHOP just a few blocks away.
                As he waited for his soup and salad to arrive, he took a sip of his sweet tea. He nervously glanced around the restaurant; just make sure no one from the campaign was there. Satisfied that he was the only one, he took the envelope from his legal pad and opened it. Sam was pleased when he saw handwriting on the paper.
I am humbled and awed
That you want to love someone so flawed.
As per you request,
I am stepping up to the test
To meet you half way.
If you want to cross the line, then let’s cross it.
Maybe we will find that we are the perfect fit.
I wonder how long we have been waiting to say
The true feelings of our hearts,
Longing for the day
That we can see ourselves a beautiful work of art.
Because we both dare,
What we will share
Will be most special and rare.
You heart I gently hold,
A gift more precious than gold.
And as our feelings we pursue,
I feel my heart soon will belong to you.

Sam felt his eyes water a bit at the emotion of Josh’s words. He’s going to meet me half way. He has feelings for me too!!

                Josh walked back into the campaign’s set up room and glanced at the bulletin board. His envelope was gone. He smiled at the fact that C.J.’s plan worked. The person, who was supposed to take it, actually took it. And he was feeling that person was Sam. Josh hoped the words conveyed what he was feeling. He hoped now that they were starting that neither of them got cold feet and decided to quit. Being in a love relationship with Sam would so different for Josh. Sam was just the opposite of all the men and women he dated, but he now seemed like the perfect fit. It was all starting to make sense.
                That night as he drifted off to sleep Josh wondered how long it would be until he could read another part of Sam’s soul. He wondered how long they could keep up the write and response? At some point, the letters and words would need to give way to conversations. He was looking forward to that. Little did he know that Sam was looking forward to it as well.
- 7
- 8
- 9
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Journey to Love: Love and Politics