Fic: Stuck (1/?)
Title: Stuck
Author: greta_garbo
Fandom: The Newsroom
Pairing: Don/Sloan
Rating: PG
Word Count: 750+
Spoilers: General season one
Disclaimers: All your characters are belonging to Sorkin
Summary: A series of fics with Don and Sloan getting stuck in various places together. Part One: Taxi
“I can’t believe this. I can’t believe this,” Don muttered.
“You need to calm down,” Sloan said, not glancing up from her blackberry.
“What the hell is happening up there that we haven’t moved in 34 MINUTES!?” he shouted, ignoring Sloan.
Finally looking up from her blackberry in annoyance, Sloan glared at Don. “God, you are the most impatient person on the planet.”
“I would bet decent money that that’s not true.”
“This is the second time I’ve been stuck with you in an unmoving vehicle. You haven’t reached Stuck on the Tarmac levels of annoying yet, but you’re coming close.. You need to calm down. You’re the one getting the award. I don’t think they’re allowed to start without you.”
Realizing she was right, Don calmed down. He looked out his window and let his mind wander. Unfortunately, when he let his mind wander it usually ended up settling on…
“Did you see how Maggie just practically leaped into the taxi with Jim?”
Sloan put her blackberry in her lap in frustration. “And now you’ve surpassed Stuck on the Tarmac levels of annoying.”
“It’s just-”
“It wasn’t just Jim in that cab. It was Neil, too.”
“So she gets a free pass for wanting to be around Jim more than she wants to be around me just because Neil is around, too.”
“Well, at least you know nothing is going to happen as long as he’s around.”
“That’s comforting.”
“Unless Neil’s in on it and is keeping their secret.”
“What?”
“It could be a whole plan to throw off suspicion.”
“Aren’t you trying to make me feel better?”
Sloan took a moment. “I’m honestly not sure.”
“Thank you so much for your support,” Don sniped.
They were silent again for several moments. Until-
“Is he like… better looking than me?”
Sloan slammed her blackberry, which she had just picked up again, back to her lap. “Are you kidding me?”
“No, seriously, tell me. I can take.”
“Can you?”
“Sloan.”
“No! I don’t know! Jim…. He’s cute, I guess. But scrawny and wiry…” Sloan trailed off.
“Whereas I’m?” Don asked after a few moments.
Sloan’s focus snapped to Don. “I-I don’t know,” she stammered. “You’re….not wiry.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Look, Jim’s not my type, okay? But women don’t all have the same type.”
“You’re terrible at making people feel better.”
“I’m not trying that hard.”
Sloan turned and looked out the window while Don continued to study her. “So what is your type?”
“Oh my god!” she shouted, turning back to him. “What do I have to do to get you to shut up?”
“Can you make the traffic move?”
“No.”
“Maybe you could…. Flirt with the driver a little bit.”
Her face went quickly from annoyed to indignant. “So what, any time you’re inconvenienced you’re just going to pimp me out to the nearest guy who might be able to help?”
“Just so you two know,” the driver said from the front of the cab, “I have no control over how quickly the traffic moves. No matter how pretty the lady is.”
“Aw. Thanks!” Sloan beamed.
“Yeah, just keep facing forward,” Don grouched, slouching in his seat.
Silence enveloped the pair for several moments before Sloan tentatively said. “Look, the fact that so many people are annoyed by you talking about Maggie should probably tell you how much you’re talking about Maggie. And the amount that you’re talking about Maggie should probably tell you that you have a problem with Maggie.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Look, I don’t know if there’s anything going on with Maggie and Jim. But the fact that you’re this worried about probably means that she’s given you some reason to worry at some point.”
“So you’re saying there is something up with her and Jim?”
“No,” Sloan sighed. “I’m just saying… maybe you deserve better than that. Better than not knowing for sure if your girlfriend really loved you.” She turned to look at him. “Maybe you deserve to know that someone cares about you.”
Their eyes locked and stayed locked, until the movement of the cab jostled them. Sloan turned to look out of the windshield.
“We’re moving forward."
FIN