The Politics of the Past

Chapter 5: The Win

Election Night — The Bartlet Campaign Headquarters

The room was filled with energy, excitement, and a sense of disbelief. After months of grueling work, late nights, and political maneuvering, Governor Jed Bartlet had just been announced as the President-elect of the United States. The atmosphere was electric, but there was also a quiet undercurrent of exhaustion running through the campaign team.

Josh Lyman stood near the bar in the corner of the room, clutching a half-empty glass of whiskey. His tie was loosened, his jacket discarded somewhere, and his usually sharp demeanor was a little hazy. The weight of the victory had settled on his shoulders like a ton of bricks—an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, but also a realization that the next chapter was already beginning.

Erika Jefferson, having just wrapped up a conversation with CJ, Sam, and Leo, walked over to the bar, scanning the room for a moment before noticing Josh standing there. The sight of him, usually so composed and energetic, looking so... tired, was a stark contrast to the image of the confident political strategist she had come to know.

"Josh," she said, her voice gentle, though there was a teasing edge to it. "I'm surprised to see you standing still. I thought you'd be celebrating with the rest of the team."

Josh turned to her with a lopsided grin, the whiskey clearly affecting his mood. "I'm celebrating," he said, his voice a little too loud. "I'm celebrating the fact that we—" He stopped and looked at her, as if suddenly remembering something.

Erika raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "That we what, Josh?"

Josh hesitated, the haze in his mind not helping with his next words. He was tired, emotional, and more than a little bit tipsy. It had been a long road to get to this point, and as much as he wanted to revel in the victory, something had been gnawing at him all night. Something he'd kept buried for years.

"Erika, I... I don't know if I can keep pretending that everything is fine," he said, his voice wavering slightly. "I mean, we did it. We got him elected. And I'm proud of that. I am. But it doesn't... it doesn't change the fact that I—" He paused, his expression turning more serious as he struggled to get the words out.

Erika, sensing his sudden shift in demeanor, stepped a little closer, her tone softer now. "Josh, what are you trying to say?"

Josh stared at her for a moment, and then, as if the floodgates had been opened, the words spilled out, unfiltered. "I still love you, Erika. I always have. I never stopped. But I was too stupid to admit it when I had the chance. I—I pushed you away, and I... I ruined everything."

Erika's breath caught in her throat. She wasn't expecting this. Not now. Not after everything that had happened. But looking into his eyes, the raw vulnerability that had always been hidden beneath the layers of political calculation, she saw the truth. He was being honest. And for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel the familiar walls go up inside her.

"Josh..." Her voice trailed off as she fought to find the right words. She had long since put their past behind her, buried the pain, but hearing him say it out loud—admitting it—tugged at something deep within her. The past wasn't as far gone as she'd thought. Maybe it never truly would be.

"Erika, please," Josh continued, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know how I expected this to happen, but I can't pretend like we're just colleagues anymore. I can't do it. Not after all that we've been through. I—I never stopped thinking about you."

Erika stood there, torn. The years of separation, the heartbreak, the unanswered questions—they all rushed back in an overwhelming wave. But in the midst of it all, she knew one thing: this was not the right moment. Not like this.