A Silence Full of Sound [hiatus]

2.2 - Ria: The Deputy Chief of Staff

She glanced at the clock again and dialed a number on her phone as she started to stack the papers and research, organizing them as she went. She glanced over at the captions and smiled when she read the subsequent "hello" that flashed up on the little LCD screen.

"Hi, Roger."

"Ria. Don't tell me you're working."

"Are we going to have this conversation again?"

"No."

"Good, because you and I both know you'd lose."

This time, she knew the pause that ensued was punctuated by laughter. "Maybe, but I'd give you a run for your money."

"I know that all too well." There was a pause as she fiddled with her pen, clicking it over and over.

"What do you need to tell me?" She knew that Roger could hear the clicking of the pen over the receiver.

"I took on another case. Well, more like had it thrust upon me by ATVA."

"Who is it?" She knew Roger well enough to know that his interest was piqued.

"Joshua Lyman."

"Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bartlet, Joshua Lyman?"

"Is there another Josh Lyman you know of?" she asked teasingly.

"No."

"I didn't think so."

Roger was impressed, she could guess that much. Honestly, so was Ria as she dwelled on it a little bit. She hadn't processed the news quite yet. Not entirely, anyway, her mind still partially consumed by bitter thoughts of survival and pain. They weren't as circular as before, but they were still there at the back of her mind, droning on in the silence as she waited for words to pop up in front of her. The White House was a big deal. While she wasn't all that well-versed in politics, she knew that her job was about to get slippery and slightly more overwhelming. There was nothing easy about the White House, and there was nothing easy about treating a member of the administration.

She vaguely remembered reading something last year about the Chief of Staff. At the moment, she couldn't remember exactly what it was about, but it was something that had been leaked to the press, and they'd run with it. She remembered there had been mentions of some kind of hearings, but, again, her thoughts had been consumed with other things recently.

Her mulling was interrupted by a nudge on her ankle again, and her gaze fell to the screen. Cocoa wasn't fully trained as a hearing dog yet, but she knew, at least, to get Ria's attention when her name was called.

"Sorry. What was that? I missed what you said."

"It's okay. I figured you were distracted. How is Cocoa doing?"

"She knows to notify me if she hears my name. It's a start."

"When is she going in for her full training?"

"Next week. I'll have to call her trainer soon."

Another pause as she waited for Roger to speak. Cocoa peered up at her, her tail thumping gently against the hardwood floor.

"Roger?"

"Yeah. I was just looking at your schedule for this month. You're pretty booked up. When are you going to go see him?"

"Depends on if I take him on or not. Stanley is going to fax the paperwork over to you. It's why I called."

"You just knew I was going to be here, didn't you?"

She laughed lightly and nodded, even though he couldn't see it. "I know you too well."

"I know you too well too." She could almost see him smiling fondly over at her, and it made her own lips curve into a grin.

She was grateful for Roger and all the things he'd done for her. Getting her mental health back on track was a wonderful thing, and Roger had really taken the time to help her. She didn't know what she would do without him and, the way this month was shaping up, she hoped he'd stick around for a long time.

"So, Josh Lyman. Did Stanley call you because he has PTSD?"

"Yeah."

"Ria, you know this is dangerous." She couldn't hear the warning tone in his voice, but she could imagine it.

"I'll be fine. I'm getting better."

There was a pause in the captions. "I think you think that, but I don't know if you really are."

"Listen, Roger, I love you, but you need to let me do this."

"It's the politics, isn't it? You want to feel closer to him, and you think being in the White House will help."

She was quiet for a long moment. She hadn't been close to anyone in over five years. Being in the White House wouldn't change that. Ria knew that, but the statement still made her pause and think. She had gotten a political science major because of Jack. Jack. Just the thought of him made the air escape her chest, and she felt like she couldn't breathe, but it was much better than it had been when she and Roger first met. It was slowly getting better, but thinking of him in this context...

She blew out a long breath."I just thought I might as well put my whole college career to good use." She shrugged. "Plus, you know I like politics."

"You've been out of the loop for a while."

"Killjoy," she murmured fondly.

"Look, I'll be on the lookout for the paperwork and Josh's file. You stay at home. Come in tomorrow. Your first patient's at one. We'll break it down and make a decision together. I take it you told Stanley wherever you go, I go."

"He told me that it's being taken care of."

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow, Ria. Don't work too hard."

"You either."

"You know I won't."

She murmured a fond goodbye, and he did too before she hung up. Cocoa was still sitting by her ankle, and the little Spaniel started tugging at a loose bit of her socks. She peered down at the pup affectionately and decided to forgo calling her trainer. She'd spent too much time on the telephone as it was, and her eyes were starting to get swimmy. So, Ria stood from her desk and pushed the chair in, Cocoa still tugging at her sock. Ria bent down and gently swatted at her behind.

"Stop that, little one. I don't want a hole in my sock."

Cocoa immediately let go of the fabric. Ria shook her head. If the little pup kept being as rambunctious as she was now, she wondered if she would even make it as a hearing dog. She figured not, but it was worth a shot. Besides, the trainer she knew, Brenda, was the best in the business. If anyone could whip Cocoa into shape, it would be her.

She peered down at Cocoa again. On second thought, she better contact Brenda. She booted up her computer and sat back down at it to compose the message.