crack_van | Descanso by Marguerite (PG-13)

Hi, I'm doing the recs for The West Wing this month. As season five has only just been released on DVD over here and there's no sign of season six, this month's recs are only going to be season one-five and I'll stick a warning on the season five ones to stop people being spoiled. Okay? Right.

SPOILERS FOR SEASON FIVE: JEFFERSON LIVES

Title: Descanso
Fandom: The West Wing
Pairing: Ensemble. Gen
Rating: PG-13
Author on LJ:

megwriting
Author Website: Gray Area
Why this must be read:

Glancing back through previous recs and I see that Marguerite has been recced before. This isn't surprising; she's a stunning writer. I actually downloaded this one ages ago and forgot to read it so it was only when I stumbled across it recently (when I should have been doing something else, naturally) that I read it.

Firstly, she has a superb grasp of the individual character voices which is not as easy as she makes it appear. Secondly, this story hangs together like an episode of TWW; it has charming flashbacks to earlier points in the administration, a powerful message and some deep-seated emotional angst and moves around a visit Zoey and her father make to a SADD (Students Against Drink Driving) event.

I have a lot of favourite moments in this story but my absolute favourite has to be the conversation between Josh and and a Zoey who is trying to come to terms with what happened to her. Somehow Marguerite navigates this potentially deadly ground without either of them slipping out of character and she gets it so right that it surprises me that it didn't feature in season five.

A small motorcade, Will discovered to his dismay as he waited under the canopy,
consisted of only ten vehicles and three dozen armed guards. He tried to imagine
what a huge motorcade might be - a dozen hummers and the 82nd Airborne as
backup, perhaps - but gave up after a few moments. "Where's Toby?" he asked as
Charlie came up to finalize some details with Ron Butterfield.

"He said to tell you he can't make it. You're flying solo. Or, rather, you're
riding solo."

"Alone?"

Charlie smirked. "That's usually what solo means, only in this case 'solo' means
the only person from the Communications Department. And no CJ this time."

Will's stomach lurched. "Okay, can I just say that this is really bad?"

"You're traveled with the President before," Charlie said, amusement taking the
edge off his voice. "That's no reason to come unhinged."

"Okay, what's a good reason to come unhinged?"

"How about this: Zoey wants you to write a few remarks for her, in case press
gets to her. She'll be out in a minute." His grin widened. "Riding with Zoey and
torturing you. I can't wait for this trip."

Descanso by Marguerite

Descanso by Marguerite (PG-13)

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