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Josh knew being President was the hardest job in the world. Even with all his help and support, he could still see the job wear Sam down. Thus Josh considered it part of his job to make sure Sam got the rest he needed. So when he caught Sam falling asleep while reading an intelligence report, he knew they both needed a vacation.
The next day Josh had his and Sam’s schedules wiped clean for the weekend. All public appearances were shifted to the Vice-President, and everything else could wait a few days. After that was done, Josh caught Sam in between meetings and pulled him aside.
“We’re going to Camp David this weekend, and neither one of us are going to do anything presidential when we get there,” Josh said with some authority.
Sam shook his head, obviously disappointed. “As good as that sounds, we can’t just-”
“Sam, we haven’t had the weekend off in almost two months. You look completely exhausted. And before you ask, I took the liberty of clearing our schedules. We’re leaving Friday afternoon and not coming back until Monday morning.”
“Okay, but why Camp David?” Sam looked a little stunned at the sudden time off.
“Because if we stay here we’ll just end up working. We need to get away, and we have a perfectly good vacation house at our disposal.”
“Fair enough, but it’s actually a vacation compound, not a house.”
“Whatever, until then, just don’t fall asleep on me again, okay?” Josh emphasized the last point by patting Sam on the arm.
“I’ll try my best,” Sam answered, and went back to his transportation briefing.
Thus a few days later Sam and Josh found themselves lying naked in bed on a bright Saturday morning at Camp David, legs tangled as they simply held each other and basked in the morning light.
“How long has it been since we were able to just lay here like this doing nothing for more than two minutes?” Josh asked.
“Way too long,” Sam replied, voice slightly muffled.
They were quiet for a moment before Sam spoke again. “You know, they’re already talking about sites for my Presidential Library.”
Josh snuggled deeper into Sam‘s shoulder and closed his eyes. “I wouldn’t worry about it,” he said dismissively. He didn’t want to be thinking about anything right now.
“It made me think about what we’re going to do after my time is up.”
“That’s a long time from now.”
“Yeah, but it’ll be over before we know it. Bartlet’s eight years went by in a flash.”
“So what are you thinking?” Josh asked, moving his head so he could talk clearly. Obviously this was something weighing on Sam’s mind.
“I don’t know. Charity work, public speaking, the usual.”
“We could get a dog, maybe get a family.”
“I thought you were okay with not having children?”
“I meant a family of dogs.”
“Oh.”
“But we can revisit the issue of kids later. I mean, we’re not that old.”
“Yeah."
There was another moment of silence as Josh turned the idea over in his mind. He really hadn’t thought about having children for a while now. His job was always more important, now more than ever.
“I think you should run for President,” Sam said, breaking the silence.
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
Josh didn‘t even think about that one. “Nah, I piss people off too easily.”
“You were great during my campaign.”
“Yeah, but that was just me telling everyone how great you were.”
“Doesn’t matter, you were still great at it.”
There was a pause before Josh spoke. He had never even considered the possibility of running for anything. He belonged behind the scenes, where being demanding and outspoken were practically prerequisites for the job. Yet he couldn’t deny his campaigning in front of the cameras for Sam helped him get elected. If he could do that, what difference would it be if he campaigned for himself? “If I were to be President, what would you do?” Josh finally asked.
“Probably the same thing you’re doing now, although I imagine I would pose for more pictures than you do.”
Josh tried to imagine Sam as First Gentleman and was surprised at how right it felt. Almost as right as Sam being President.
Sam interrupted his thoughts. “It doesn’t have to be right away, maybe after Santos gets his eight years in.”
That sent Josh back to reality. “Okay, how long have you thought about this? Because you are making some strong arguments.”
“Honestly, about two minutes ago.”
“Well, for all I know, when we’re done here we may not want to set foot in Washington ever again.”
“Somehow I doubt it.”
Suddenly the phone rang, and Sam grumbled. “This better be important,” he said, untangling himself from Josh and picking up the phone. “Hello?” he answered into the receiver. After a pause Sam sighed. “Fine, give us a minute,” he replied, and hung up the phone.
Josh refused to move. “Let me guess, situation room.”
“Yep,” Sam said, putting on his pajama bottoms and getting out of bed. “You can stay here if you want, keep the bed warm for when I get back,” he added with a grin.
Josh finally sat up and flung back the covers, putting on his own shorts before getting up. “And leave you alone in a room full of military brass?”
Sam sighed. “You would think ‘I outrank them’ would be enough to not feel like the red-headed step-child everyone barely tolerates.”
Josh herded Sam towards the shower. “That’s why you have me in there.”
“Don’t you get intimidated by them?”
“Of course, especially since at least half of them probably think I have no business being there.”
“Yet you still act like you own the room.”
Josh smiled. “Anything to help you feel more confident.”
The emergency was a missing spy plane, lost over international waters. There was really nothing Sam could do about it, as any recovery mission wouldn’t be in the area for hours. Josh idly wondered if this was some sort of power struggle thing, getting the President up earlier than necessary, but decided he was being paranoid.
After they were done in the situation room, Sam and Josh decided to go for a walk.
“I’ve been thinking about what we’re going to do after we leave the White House some more, and I’ve come to a conclusion,” Sam began as soon as they were far enough away from everything.
“Oh really, what’s that?” Josh raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“All this time we’ve had a plan, to get to the White House. We worked outrageously hard at it, and we finally made it. I say we don’t have a plan after we leave. We’ll do whatever we want whenever we feel like it.”
“No plan at all?”
“No plan at all.”
Josh thought about it as they continued walking. Not having any kind of plan felt like being lost at sea. Then again, maybe he was so used to following a set path he forgot how good spontaneity was. Like suddenly ditching the frontrunner for some no-name candidate. “I suppose we could hold off on deciding anything,” he finally said. “It’s not like we don’t have enough to think about as it is.”
“So no plan it is,” Sam said, nodding.
Suddenly Josh felt freer than he had in months.
When he returned to the White House on Monday, Josh felt fully refreshed and ready to take on the world again. Sam looked better than he had in months, the metaphorical spring back in his step.
“Told you we needed a vacation,” Josh said as they entered the Oval Office.
“Yes you did, and you were right,” Sam replied. “I’m rejuvenated and can’t wait to get back to work.”
“Good. From now on, I’m scheduling a weekend off at least once a month.”
“Even if we’re swamped with work?”
“Especially if we’re swamped with work.”
Sam turned towards Josh and lowered his voice. “I probably don’t say this enough, but thanks for looking out for me. This job would’ve killed me ten times over by now if it weren’t for you.”
“No problem. I consider that the most important part of my job.”
“You really are the sweetest person I know.” Sam gave him that brilliant smile he loved so much, and Josh couldn’t help his cheeks getting a little warm.
“Just to you, though,” Josh whispered, and turned back to the room to face the busy day ahead. Now that Sam was back to his optimistic self, it was time to get down to business as the White House’s First Gentleman from Hell.