Author: Cindy Brewer
Email: cindyryan7@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: I don't own them and am making no profit

Author's notes: This is a sequel to "Pandora's Box". I
think this story stands on it's own but it would help
if you've read PB since this makes several references
to it.:)

Set between 'Take this Sabbath day" and Celestial
Navigation.Many thanks to Vicki for betaing.


Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman glanced up from his
desk as Kathy knocked on his open office door. "Kathy,
unless you have some form of caffeine with you
whatever you have to say can wait until I get some
coffee."

The dark haired young woman shook her head as she
stepped into the room holding a pink message slip.
"Donna had to run a file to Leo but she wanted you to
get this message as soon as possible."

Josh frowned as he stood and walked around the corner
of his desk and headed toward Sam's assistant. "Kathy,
nobody else is up at this hour of the morning."

Kathy handed him the message. "Except those who work
on the Hill. It's from Lillienfield."

Josh snatched the paper from her. "What the hell does
he want at six in the morning?"

Kathy shrugged as she headed out the door. "I don't
know, Donna took the message."

"Thanks, Kathy," Josh replied as he followed her out
the door scanning the bustling communications bullpen
for his assistant. "DONNA?!"

The blonde woman in her late early thirties touched
his left shoulder in response causing him to jump.
"I'm right here."

Josh jumped back slightly. "Don't do that! Did you get
CIA training that I don't know about?"

Donna glared at her boss. Everyone in the West Wing
had worked late the night before getting the health
care bill ready to be sent to the Hill next week. On
top of that the President had called a five thirty
senior staff meeting for this morning so he could be
brought up to speed on everything before he left for
the Russia summit.

"Josh, I haven't had any caffeine yet so please don't
start," Donna replied as she moved toward her desk.

"Kathy just gave me this message," Josh commented as
he thrust the piece of paper in front of her. "Does
this really say that Lillienfield wants to meet now?"

Moss's expression instantly turned sober as she
remembered the brief phone call. "He didn't tell me
anything, just that he wanted to see you as soon as
possible. I thought you and Sam made a deal."

Josh walked back into his office and snatched his coat
from a chair. "We did," he replied firmly as he walked
back into the room.

"Then what does he want?" Donna asked with concern.

Lyman placed a hand on her shoulder as he maneuvered
them over to her desk. "Guess we'll find out, but
don't tell anyone about this. Especially Leo."

Donna frowned. "Josh...."

"I mean it," Josh replied grimly. "I'll be back as
soon as I can."

*******

Josh arrived at the foot of the Washington Monument in
pouring down rain.

"About time," Peter Lillienfield snapped as Josh
ducked into the entranceway.

Lyman glared at the older man. "You're lucky I'm here
at all."

Lillienfield chuckled as he leaned against the wall.
"Careful, Josh, hostility like that will get you
nowhere."

"What do you want?" Josh demanded as he shook rain off
his leather coat.

"The deal to salvage McGarry's career is off the
table," the Congressman replied with a cold smile.

Josh barely controlled the urge to deck the man. "The
deal is concrete there's no way you can renege on it
now. If you even try you'll have a war with Bartlet
that you will not win."

Lillienfield took a step toward Lyman. "I like a fight
which is why I thought I'd be a good sport and give
you a heads up on a story the Post is going to run in
tomorrow's edition."

Josh snatched the folded newspaper from him but didn't
get a chance to open it before the congressman turned
to leave.

"I'll be in touch within tweleve hours," Peter replied
as he paused in the doorway turning back to face a
fuming Lyman. "I'm sure once you read the article
you'll be willing to talk more about our so called
deal. Have a pleasant morning, Mr. Lyman."

Josh glared at the Congressman's retreating back
before flipping the paper open so the front page was
showing. He was expecting another attack on Leo but
what he saw in five-inch bold type made his blood run
cold:

/WHITE HOUSE STAFF MEMBER LEADS DOUBLE LIFE AS
PROSTITUTE, CONTRACTS AIDS/

"Donna," Josh whispered as he quickly read the article
wondering how the hell Lillienfield had gotten a hold
of Moss's medical records.

*********

At seven thirty Sam Seaborn was about to head to the
Hill for what was sure to be a mind-numbing meeting on
the upkeep of the city's parks when his phone rang.

"Seaborn," Sam said as he sat down on the corner of
his desk.

"Meet me at Reeves," Josh replied in a quiet, angry
voice.

Sam blinked in surprise. "Where are you?"

"Just meet me, Sam," Lyman replied as he signaled to
make a left turn.

"I have a meeting on the Hill in twenty minutes," Sam
protested half-heartedly.

"Blow it off," Josh replied tightly. "I had a meeting
with Lillienfield this morning."

"On my way," Sam promised quietly as he hung up the
receiver.

"Kathy?" Sam called as he walked out of his office
gaining his assistant's attention. "Cancel my morning
appointments."

"All of them?" Kathy asked in surprise.

"Just do it," Sam replied as he walked past her. "I'll
do what apologizing I have to do later."

end of part 1 TBC