"Whatever It Takes"
By Tara Patterson
Disclaimer: Aaron Sorkin and NBC own The West Wing and its characters. I'm just taking them out to play in my imagination for a while. The characters of Kelsey and Annie Saufl are mine, all mine. The title is borrowed from a song by Amy Grant and belongs to her.
Harpo Studios and the Oprah Winfrey Show are property of Oprah Winfrey. She's owns it, I'm just borrowing it for story purposes. Madonna High School is located on the Northwest Side of Chicago. It's the high school a certain author attended.
"Sonnet XXVI", "Sonnet XXXVII", and "Sonnet XLI"I are by Elizabeth Barrett Browning from "The Sonnets of the Portuguese". The song "Let Me Into Your Heart" is by Mary Chapin Carpenter and is copyrighted by WhyWalk Music. The poem, "When I Am Gone" is written by Henry Alfred Dixon.
I want to mention that Anne Saufl is a combination of my own mother (Anne) who died of cancer when she was 44 and my grandmother (who's maiden name was Saufl). These two women greatly affected my life and their personalities have shaped this character.
Chapter 1
"Ms. Saufl?"
Kelsey looked up from her magazine at Leo McGarry's assistant, Margaret.
"Yes?"
"Mr. McGarry will see you now."
Kelsey stood up and smoothed out her skirt. She then picked up her briefcase and followed Margaret into the office of the White House Chief of Staff.
"Kelsey, it's good to see you again!" Leo said as the two women entered his office.
"You too, Leo."
"How long has it been?"
"Four months. It was during the President's visit," Kelsey replied.
Leo looked over at his secretary.
"Margaret, would you please hold my calls?"
"Certainly," she replied and then left the room.
Once the door was closed, Leo walked over to Kelsey and gave her a big hug.
"How's your mom?" he asked sincerely.
"About the same. The doctors aren't holding out much hope."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Please give her my love."
"I will." Kelsey paused for a moment before continuing.
"Leo, I know you didn't ask me to come all the way to DC just to find out how my mother is doing."
"You caught that, huh?" he smiled.
"What's going on?"
"Why don't you have a seat and we'll talk," he said.
Kelsey sat down on one of the sofas and Leo sat across from her.
"Comfortable?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Can I have Margaret get you anything to drink?"
"No, I'm fine. Thank you."
"All right, then let's get down to business. Kelsey, I want you to come and work for the President."
"You're not serious?!" she laughed.
"Very much so."
"As what?"
"Deputy Press Secretary," he answered.
"What happened to Marcia Dodds?"
"She's getting married in two months and moving to Colorado," he explained.
Kelsey stared at Leo not knowing whether to laugh hysterically or take him seriously. From the look on his face, she decided to go with the latter.
"Let me get this straight. You want me to quit my job in Chicago, move to Washington and work in the White House as the Deputy Press Secretary?"
"That about sums it up."
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Yes, why do want to hire me?"
"Because you're the best."
"And you know this because…"
"Because I've been watching your career closely. You did a superb job at the Tribune and with all the hard work you've put into that hospital's PR department, we'd be crazy not to offer you this position," Leo answered.
"Who's we?" she inquired.
"We?" Leo quickly thought back to his previous statement. "Myself, C.J. Cregg and of course, the President."
"The President wants to hire me?"
"Yes."
Kelsey was just about to speak when the other door to Leo's office opened. She stood up and stared in awe as President Josiah Bartlet walked into the room.
"Good afternoon, Leo," he said.
"Good afternoon, Mr. President. You remember Kelsey Saufl, don't you sir?"
"Now how could I possibly forget the most beautiful face in the Illinois delegation?" Bartlet proclaimed.
Kelsey blushed slightly.
"Thank you, sir," she replied while shaking the President's hand.
"Mr. President, I was just explaining to Kelsey why we want her to come and work for us," Leo commented.
"And she wasn't buying it, was she?"
"Not one word."
Bartlet shook his head and made a tsk noise.
"Leo, how many times have I asked you to let me sit in on these interviews?"
"Too numerous to count, sir."
"And what's your reason for not letting me?"
"You're too intimidating, sir."
"That's interesting. Ms. Saufl, do you find me intimidating?"
"No, sir," she smiled.
"You see there, Leo, she doesn't find me intimidating," Bartlet remarked, his eyes twinkling.
"I stand corrected, sir."
Bartlet sat down in a chair next to Kelsey.
"Now, Ms. Saufl. Saufl, that's an interesting name. Czech?"
"Bohemian to be more accurate, Mr. President," Kelsey replied.
"Ah," he said nodding his head. "What part of the Czech Republic is your family from?"
"With all due respect, sir. This is the main reason I usually wait until you're out of the country to interview job candidates," Leo interrupted.
"Sorry, Leo," Bartlet said smiling over at his Chief of Staff.
"Tell me, Ms. Saufl, why aren't you accepting this job?"
"Well sir, it's complicated. I like living in Chicago. I enjoy my work and there's my mother to think about too," explained Kelsey.
"Your mother can't receive her treatment in Washington? You do know that we have one of the finest cancer treatment centers here."
"Yes, sir."
"I'm certain my wife could put out some feelers to find some extraordinary oncologists to treat your mother."
"That would be wonderful, sir."
"Still apprehensive about the job?"
"A bit."
"May I call you, Kelsey?"
"Certainly, sir."
"Kelsey, let me tell you a few things about working here. First off, the hours stink. The work is demanding and sometimes your boss can be a bit intolerable."
"Sometimes?!" remarked Leo
Bartlet glared at Leo, a smile on his face.
"And you probably won't have any time for a social life."
"Mr. President, we're trying to get Kelsey to accept the position, not make her run out of here screaming," Leo commented.
"However," Bartlet continued. "You will be helping to make decisions which will affect the entire nation. You'll be working alongside the best and brightest people I know and your name will have a place in history as part of the Bartlet administration. Any questions?"
"Just one," she replied.
"Yes?" the two men answered in unison.
"When do I start?"