Whitening Toothpaste
Chapter Six: So...?
By: Eve Karma
Disclaimer: We all know who owns them and who doesn't so don't try to sue me :)
Spoilers: A little bit from The Fall's Going to Kill You through Two Cathedrals
Other: Just read the chapter, okay? :)
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When I arrived back at the office, Sam looked considerably more awake. He was still holding my coffee and sitting in my chair, but this time there was a very large stack of papers sitting on my desk.
"I suppose I'll be earning my paycheck today?" I remarked.
"Sorry," Sam looked up at me apologetically.
"No, really, it's fine," I said with a laugh and a wave of my hand. "I think I might be better off if I work through everything that happened yesterday."
"I thought you would feel that way."
"Hey, you should work for Cleo."
He gazed at me blankly.
"Never mind," I shook my head when I realized he didn't get the joke. I pointed a crimson fingernail at the pile of papers. "What's the story with those?"
"These," he answered me, "Are transcripts of every one of CJ's press briefings. I need you to go through them and find anything that could have mislead the press in terms of the president's health. I need the information by three, can you handle it?"
"Compared to yesterday, these will be cake." I smiled wearily. "Wait...is this all being blamed on CJ?" I cried.
"I sure hope not."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
At 11:30 I knocked on Sam's door. "Come in," he called. He was typing on the computer and chewing a piece of gum. Actually, I think he was grinding his teeth on it. He looked up at me. "You're done? Already?"
"Yep," I said placing a sheaf of papers down in front of him. "Five notable occasions. Out of, like, a lot."
He glanced at the paragraphs circled in red ink. "Any calls?" he asked me.
"Just one," I answered, "Your mother."
"Really? Mom?" Sam sat up straighter. "What did she want?"
"She was just checking in. I told her you'd call when you weren't working on...that." I pointed at his computer. "Anyway, she's really nice!"
Sam smiled. "You didn't tell her that I've been wearing the same clothes for two days, have you?"
"Nope, don't worry."
"You can take lunch now if you want."
"Yeah, I think I'm going to go down to payroll first. Get my address changed."
"You moved already?"
I nodded.
"Gosh, you really are something," he laughed. "Where?"
"Arcadia Falls," I referred to my new apartment complex.
"You're kidding!?"
"Why??"
"I live a block south! Mulberry Hill?"
"Yeah, I've driven by it a few times. Nice place!"
There was an awkward pause. I didn't know what to do. Finally I spoke again. "So, um, I'm going to walk over to the Reagan Center for lunch, do you want me to bring you anything?"
"Would you mind running into the drugstore for me while you're out?"
"Sure," I said, "What do you want?"
He grabbed a sticky note, scribbled on it, and handed it to me. "Kate, do me a favor?" he asked as he held out the paper. "Don't tell anyone that's what I sent you to buy?"
"That's fine," I said. "See you in a bit."
As I closed the door behind me I looked down at the note. He wanted a certain brand of whitening gum. "So that's the trick!" I mumbled to myself. "No wonder!"
***
Josh entered Sam's office without knocking.
"Hey," Sam said without looking up.
"Take a break, Sam, there's no plane to catch."
"Fine." Sam looked at him and folded his hands on his desk. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, this may seem kind of shallow of me-"
"It probably is," Sam interjected.
"But I was wondering how it was going with you two."
"Who?"
"You and Kate. Who, by the way, is missing." Josh told him, motioning to the front desk.
"She's at lunch." Sam informed him.
"Well?"
Sam thought for a moment before Josh stopped him. "Hey! I know that look. You're crazy about her! I knew it," he said, standing up and pointing.
"Josh..."
"So?"
"She lives down the block from me."
"So?"
"You know how much sexual tension that creates?"
"So?"
"Will you stop that?!"
"Well, do something about it, Sam!"
Sam rolled his eyes. "And you're one to talk. Anyway, A-it's her second day working here. B-With all due respect, we're busy dealing with a sick, dishonest President and his dead mentor. And C-" as Sam reached behind him to grab his dictionary and set it with a slam in front of Josh, "Look up 'scandal' in that." He smiled sarcastically.
"I think I finally shut up Josh Lyman," Sam thought, until Josh asked,
"So...what's your point, there, Sam?"
***
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