WW Ficlet (Unbeta'd): A Decade On Interstate 5

[out_there]

andrealyn requested West Wing, Josh/Sam, using a tried and true Futurama quote: "Is desire to mate a feeling?"

Hence, we have this. Only slashy if you squint, and set pre-S1, during the first campaign.

***

A Decade On Interstate 5

Campaigning, Josh was starting to learn, was tiring, difficult, exhausting, but oddly fun. Being stuck in traffic on the campaign bus was all of those things, without the fun part. He started counting the number of blue cars he could see stuck in the gridlock around them and wondered if he could walk across California before the bus got there.

"Is desire to mate a feeling?"

Josh stared at Sam, who was sitting beside him and reading National Geographic. It was the only magazine on this bus that they hadn't already read, scouring for political information. "What the hell?"

"Is desire to mate a feeling?" Sam repeated, tapping the glossy page. "They write about it as if it's an emotion. I would have thought of it as an urge. A primal need."

"Really?" Josh contemplated banging his head on the glass window. There was a chance he'd knock himself out and be able to sleep through this conversation.

Sam's eyes lit up, the way they always did when he discovered something he believed to be interesting. "It's a need, isn't it? It's a dynamic biological imperative. It's not like caring about someone or envying them. It's like hunger. It's not an emotion, it's a driving force."

"Speaking of driving forces..." Josh muttered under his breath as Sam continued.

"Here, they're clearly talking about something that is necessary to the panda's continued existence, and yet, they don't treat it with the seriousness that it deserves--"

"Is there any way we can make this bus move?" Josh called out over the seats. "I'm willing to push, if I have to!"

"It isn't broken down," CJ replied. "We're stuck in traffic. Pushing won't help."

"I'm still willing to try," Josh replied loudly.

"Josh, be quiet," Leo replied firmly. "Or next time, you're travelling with the baggage."

"I'm serious about the panda thing," Sam started and Josh decided to test Leo's patience.

"Can I go sit with the baggage now?"

Leo stood up, glaring at him over the seats. "What?"

"I'm stuck with Discovery Channel Boy. If it's not the otters, it's the pandas, or the tigers, or the whales. I'm a well-educated man, Leo. I don't need to know why the rainforests are being destroyed. I just need to know not to go out there without a guide."

"You are so lucky Bartlet didn't just hear that," CJ warned him quietly.

"Sam?" Toby asked.

Sam twisted around in his seat to see Toby. "Yeah?"

"Did you fix up the latest draft?"

"I was going to do that at the hotel."

"Well, since we've been stuck sitting in this bus for," Toby paused dramatically, "oh, I don't know, a decade? It might be a good idea to do it now."

"Sure." Sam reached for the laptop and glared at Josh.

"Look on the good side," Josh said quietly as the laptop hummed to life. "Now, you can play Solitaire and no one will notice."

Sam's face broke into a somewhat devious grin. "I hadn't thought of that."

"That's because you're a writer, and I'm a mastermind," Josh replied with a smirk.

Sam just snorted.

The End

Comments

[andrealyn]

Oh that was wonderful! I especially love the little, "Can I go sit with the baggage now?" and, well, just overall huzzah! Thank you!

[out-there.livejournal.com]

*beams* I'm glad you liked!

I especially love the little, "Can I go sit with the baggage now?" and, well, just overall huzzah!

It's Josh being a brat, just because he's bored. *g*

And, I've gotta say, I love the icon. Can't read it, but love it.

[celli]

"That's because you're a writer, and I'm a mastermind," Josh replied with a smirk.

hehehehe! Oh, perfect.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Inside Josh's head, he's brilliant. Outside... it's debateable.

[khohen1.livejournal.com]

Oh man. That was gorgeous. I keep having inklings to write TWW, but I don't feel like I've seen the show enough, or know hte history enough. But that Sorkin-speak makes my fingers positively itch. Spot on Sam, spot on Josh, and also, spot on Tobey... who's probably my favorite old curmudgen ever... however that word might be spelled.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

keep having inklings to write TWW, but I don't feel like I've seen the show enough, or know hte history enough.

I watched S3, but didn't start writing until Erilyn leant me the tapes for S1 and 2. Of course, now I mentally live in S2, and try to ignore the later seasons... *g*

spot on Tobey... who's probably my favorite old curmudgen ever... however that word might be spelled.

Toby's such an old grouch. Total utter grouch, but he makes it fun.

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

Ah, much as I love all your other fic, it's especially good to have you writing a little bit of tWW. Especially when you're writing enthusiastic!Sam and impatient!Josh. *happy sigh*

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Glad I could make you happy, Signe. There is a certain appeal to Josh and Sam, before the administration turned them me bitter.

[rosesfade.livejournal.com]

That was cute! I especially like it because I drive to work on the 5 every day. And I need to go do so right now or I'm going to be late. Meep!

[out-there.livejournal.com]

I especially like it because I drive to work on the 5 every day.

How cool! Honestly, it was a road that I picked off a map, and it's thrilling me that you actually drive it.

Now, off to work before you're late. *shoos you*

[meret.livejournal.com]

Hee! This is adorable! You nailed their voices perfectly. Great job! :)

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Thanks!